Week 5 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Each Position's Top 10 Players and Stat Predictions

The first month of the 2015 NFL season is in the books, and Week 5 kicked off on Thursday night with the Arizona Cardinals vs. the San Francisco 49ers.

This is an important point in the season for fantasy football enthusiasts, as the second month can erase both hot starts and slow beginnings. We're here to help you start that second month right with some start 'em, sit 'em advice and player rankings.

We'll break down some of the best players at each skill position, make our own stat projections and identify some players to avoid. We'll base our picks on factors such as past performances, matchup, roster makeup and health, where applicable.

Our rankings are based on the points-per-reception (PPR) format.

Rank	Player	Opponent	Start/Sit	Proj. Stats
1	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	NYJ	Start	289 YDS, 3 TD
2	Andrew Luck, IND	CHI	Start	344 YDS, 2 TD, INT
3	Tom Brady, NE	@ CLE	Start	304 YDS, 2 TD
4	Philip Rivers, SD	@ OAK	Start	356 YDS, TD, INT
5	Aaron Rodgers, GB	NYG	Start	306 YDS, TD, INT
6	Carson Wentz, PHI	@ DET	Start	264 YDS, 2 TD
7	Joe Flacco, BAL	WAS	Start	276 YDS, TD
8	Brian Hoyer, CHI	@ IND	Start	312 YDS, TD, 2 INT
9	Andy Dalton, CIN	@ DAL	Start	289 YDS, TD, INT
10	Jameis Winston, TB	@ CAR	Start	301 YDS, TD, 2 INT
-	Tyrod Taylor, BUF	@ LA	Sit	212 YDS, TD, 2 INT, FUM
-	Case Keenum, LA	BUF	Sit	202 YDS, INT
-	Brock Osweiler, HOU	@ MIN	Sit	224 YDS, 2 INT

Quarterbacks

Let's start out by addressing Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who has a favorable matchup this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

If Newton is healthy, he immediately jumps to the top of our start list, because the Buccaneers defense isn't good. Pro Football Focus rates Tampa 30th in overall defense.

The problem is that Newton is in the concussion protocol and may not start Monday night.

According to the Associated Press' Steve Reed, Derek Anderson has been taking first-team reps in practice, and the Panthers aren't interested in rushing Newton toward the playing field.

"We are not forcing players to get onto the football field," Panthers coach Ron Rivera said, per Reed. "We will do exactly as the protocol tells us and what the doctors and experts tell us."

If you're a Newton owner, don't be afraid to stash Anderson on your bench and play him if necessary. Given the matchup, he could have a productive fantasy outing.

According to PFF, the three other worst defenses are the Detroit Lions (No. 32), Indianapolis Colts (31) and Washington Redskins (29). This is why quarterbacks Carson Wentz, Brian Hoyer and Joe Flacco are all starting-caliber options this week.

Barring a meltdown like he had against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is a must-start regardless of who he faces. This week, though, he gets the New York Jets. The Jets are rated dead last in pass coverage.

Expect Big Ben to have a big day.

Don't expect a ton out of Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor. He's traveling all the way to Los Angeles and is facing a Rams defense that is rated first in pass rush.

Rank	Player	Opponent	Start/Sit	Proj. Stats
1	Melvin Gordon, SD	@ OAK	Start	122 YDS, 2 TD, 2 REC, 22 YDS
2	DeMarco Murray, TEN	@ MIA	Start	112 YDS, 2 TD, 2 REC, 14 YDS
3	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	NYJ	Start	89 YDS, 1 TD, 5 REC, 64 YDS
4	C.J. Anderson, DEN	ATL	Start	104 YDS, 1 TD, 3 REC, 42 YDS
5	Frank Gore, IND	CHI	Start	88 YDS, TD, 3 REC, 36 YDS
6	Jordan Howard, CHI	@ IND	Start	134 YDS, 2 REC, 29 YDS
7	Ezekiel Elliott, DAL	CIN	Start	102 YDS, TD, 1 REC, 6 YDS
8	LeSean McCoy, BUF	@ LA	Start	66 YDS, 5 REC, 55 YDS
9	LeGarrette Blount, NE	@ CLE	Start	104 YDS, TD
10	Theo Riddick, DET	PHI	Start	54 YDS, 6 REC, 48 YDS
-	Matt Forte, NYJ	@ PIT	Sit	44 Yds, 2 REC, 16 YDS
-	James White, NE	@ CLE	Sit	12 YDS, 4 REC, 22 YDS
-	Matt Asiata, MIN	HOU	Sit	54 YDS

Running Backs

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We love Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell, who looked as fresh and dangerous as ever last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, we like the role and the matchup for San Diego Chargers back Melvin Gordon just a bit more.

The Chargers head into Oakland to face a Raiders squad that has steadily improved its pass defense. That defense also features one of the top cornerbacks playing right now. David Amerson is rated fifth among all cornerbacks and could help neutralize Travis Benjamin and the deep passing game.

This could leave Gordon and the running game as San Diego's best way to attack the Raiders on the road. Oakland is rated a mere 30th in run defense. Don't be surprised if he produces another 100-yard outing and a couple of scores.

We're less thrilled about New York Jets running back Matt Forte, even though he faces a relatively favorable matchup. The Jets head into Pittsburgh Sunday night to face a defense that is rated 19th against the run.

However, there are a couple of problems for Forte. First, if the Steelers get off to an early lead—they led 22-0 in the first quarter last week—he is likely to see fewer rushing opportunities as the game goes on.

Second, Forte has been seeing his workload diminish over the past couple of weeks anyway. Don't be shocked if Bilal Powell actually has the best day among Jets running backs.

Rank	Player	Opponent	Start/Sit	Proj. Stats
1	Antonio Brown, PIT	NYJ	Start	8 REC, 144 YDS, TD
2	A.J. Green, CIN	@ DAL	Start	6 REC, 88 YDS, 2 TD
3	Julio Jones, ATL	@ DEN	Start	7 REC, 112 YDS, TD
4	Jarvis Landry, MIA	TEN	Start	11 REC, 130 YDS
5	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	@ PIT	Start	6 REC, 78 YDS, TD
6	Odell Beckham Jr.	@ GB	Start	8 REC, 99 YDS
7	Jordy Nelson, GB	NYG	Start	6 REC, 118 YDS
8	Mike Evans, TB	@ CAR	Start	5 REC, 66 YDS, TD
9	Jordan Matthews, PHI	@ DET	Start	7 REC, 101 YDS
10	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	@ IND	Start	5 REC, 55 YDS, TD
-	Phillip Dorsett, IND	CHI	Sit	3 REC, 47 YDS
-	Chris Hogan, NE	@ CLE	Sit	3 REC, 44 YDS
-	Kenny Stills, MIA	TEN	Sit	3 REC, 42 YDS

Wide Receivers

We like Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown for many of the same reasons we like Roethlisberger and Bell. Brown is essentially a matchup-proof receiver, and he happens to have a solid matchup in Week 5.

The Jets defense may even be without cornerback Darrelle Revis, though his inconsistent play of late may make this less of a factor. Still, it's never good to be down a cornerback against the Steelers. According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, Revis was still out of practice as of Thursday:

"

Meanwhile, from the Jets: WR Eric Decker (shoulder) and CB Darrelle Revis (hamstring) did not practice again today.

— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) October 6, 2016"

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green is also a must-play. He's had a couple of average games this year (against the Steelers and Denver Broncos), but he's also topped the 170-yard mark twice.

We're guessing he'll land somewhere in between those two extremes this week against the Dallas Cowboys.

One receiver we don't feel so good about is Indianapolis Colts wideout Phillip Dorsett. Sure, he has an enticing matchup against an average Chicago Bears defense—rated 19th overall by PFF—but he just doesn't seem to be a big part of Indianapolis' game plan.

Twice this season, Dorsett has caught just a single pass. Last week, his lone pass went for 64 yards and a touchdown, which is why he may have landed on a few fantasy radars. Unless Dorsett manages to break one of those big ones, though, his fantasy production is likely to be low.

Rank	Player	Opponent	Start/Sit	Proj. Stats
1	Jordan Reed, WAS	B@AL	Start	7 REC, 84 YDS, TD
2	Greg Olsen, CAR	TB	Start	7 REC, 77 YDS, TD
3	Rob Gronkowski, NE	@ CLE	Start	5 REC, 89 YDS, TD
4	Dennis Pitta, BAL	WAS	Start	6 REC, 91 YDS
5	Kyle Rudolph, MIN	HOU	Start	7 REC, 78 YDS
6	Zach Ertz, PHI	@ DET	Start	3 REC, 36 YDS, TD
7	Zach Miller, CHI	@ IND	Start	5 REC, 66 YDS
8	Hunter Henry, SD	@ OAK	Start	5 REC, 64 YDS
9	Delanie Walker, TEN	@ MIA	Start	5 REC, 56 YDS
10	Cameron Brate, TB	@ CAR	Start	5 REC, 54 YDS
-	Clive Walford, OAK	SD	Sit	4 REC, 34 YDS
-	Lance Kendricks, LA	BUF	Sit	3 REC, 31 YDS
-	Charles Clay, BUF	@ LA	Sit	3 REC, 27 YDS

Tight Ends

Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Hopefully, this will be the week that New England Patriots receiver Rob Gronkowski makes his return to fantasy stardom. Gronkowski missed two games with a hamstring issue and produced just one catch and 11 yards between the two games in which he did appear.

According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, Gronkowski said hamstring issues have been holding him back. 

"Hopefully this week it's go time," Gronkowski added, per Pelissero.

This would indeed seem like the perfect time for Gronk to get his fantasy production back in order. He's going up against the Cleveland Browns, who are rated just 24th in pass coverage.

Last week, the Browns surrendered nine receptions, 73 yards and two touchdowns to Redskins tight end Jordan Reed.

Reed should also have another strong week, as he seems to be the focal point of the Washington passing attack. Reed is second in the NFL at the position with 33 targets so far.

Panthers tight Greg Olsen is first among tight ends with 38 targets. Expect him to also see plenty of work and to produce.

Don't expect as much production from Buffalo Bills tight end Charles Clay, who has just seven targets and five receptions over the past two weeks. He's facing a brutal Rams defense in a hostile environment and doesn't seem to be a big part of the game plan anyway.

Team and player ratings and rankings courtesy of Pro Football Focus.