Fantasy Football: 7 Players to Sit in Week 6

Not that we've reached Week 5 of the NFL season, fantasy football owners are getting a better grasp of which of their players are reliable starters and which are permanent backups.

Week 6, however, is an exception.

A number of big-name, early-round draft picks set to under-perform and should surprisingly take a seat on your bench this week.

Sit the following players, as they are bound for poor performances in Week 6.

Michael Vick

Michael Vick has given fantasy owners no reason to trust him this season. After a lackluster performance in Pittsburgh, it's time to bring in the backup.

Vick is clearly no longer the fantasy monster he was in 2010. He hasn't topped 50 yards rushing all season, only has one rushing TD on the year and kills his value with turnovers. 

He makes mistakes when rushed in the pocket, and the Lions boast a ferocious, underperforming pass rush.

Expect more of the same from Vick in Week 6—fumbles, interceptions and a bench-worthy fantasy week. 

Martellus Bennett

If you have a decent backup TE, sitting Giants TE Martellus Bennett is an absolute no-brainer.

Bennett hyperextended his knee in Week 5. Although he played through the pain, he had a noticeable limp and is very questionable in Week 6.

Bennett not only carries injury risk, but also only has two fantasy points in the last two weeks.

Against a tough 49ers defense, sit Bennett and look at the waiver wire for better options.

Steven Jackson

Steven Jackson hasn't reached double-digit fantasy points all year, a trend that will continue at least through Week 6.

Jackson's yards per carry are down to 3.5 from a career average of 4.2. At 29, is this at all a surprise?

What's worse about Jackson's situation, however, is the lack of carries.

He's getting carries at a historically low pace, doesn't have a touchdown all season and isn't being used in goal-line situations.

It looks like this is the beginning of the end for S-Jax, so get him on your bench.

Stevan Ridley

To the ire of Coach Belichick, Stevan Ridley coughed up a fumble late in the game against Denver, almost allowing Broncos to get back in contention.

As a result, Ridley lost carries in the fourth to RBs Brandon Bolden and Danny Woodhead, who had 21 carries combined.

Ridley, therefore, could see fewer carries this week as a result of the fumble and a real good Seahawks run defense. 

Despite 19 points last week, feel free to sit Ridley if you have a good back on your bench. He'll likely only see 15 carries and around 60 yards.

Shonn Greene

By some sort of fantasy miracle, Shonn Greene is still owned in 97% of ESPN leagues.

If you're one of those people who own Greene, make sure he gets a seat on your bench this week. Or better yet, cut him.

Greene's chances have run out. He's averaging a miserable 2.9 yards per carry and has seen his carries dwindle from 27 in Week 1 to eight in Week 5.

Although the Jets have a favorable matchup against the Colts this week, it's possible that Rex Ryan will make a discrete depth chart change and pencil in Bilal Powell as the starter.  

If someone good pops up on waivers, give Greene the boot.

Fred Jackson

Bills RB Fred Jackson is 31, plays in a crowded backfield alongside C.J. Spiller, is averaging less than three yards per carry, looks beat up every week and has shown no signs of returning to 2011 form.

Why start him?

Stash Jackson on your bench until he earns more carries and regains some of his explosiveness.

Ahmad Bradshaw

Ahmad Bradshaw exploded for 26 points last week. He's now a regular starter and should be played every week—except this one.

The Giants take on the 49ers' legendary rush defense. They didn't surrender a rushing touchdown until late December last season and only give up 79.5 yards per game. 

Furthermore, the 49ers look like the best team in the NFL right now. If San Francisco takes an early lead, the offense will turn to Eli Manning and the pass game, making Bradshaw basically useless from a fantasy perspective.

Politely thank Bradshaw for the 26 points last week, but sit him down in Week 6 if you have solid options off the bench.