Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 5: Final Review Before Thursday Night Football

Generally on this weekly edition of "Start 'Em, Sit 'Em" I focus on a few players set to be in action on Thursday night and save the rest for players in action on Sunday or Monday. But with enough intriguing options on TNF this week, the entire column this week will be dedicated to the matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. 

From a questionable quarterback to a running back committee—and another back who has disappointed this season—Thursday night's game is a very interesting one from a fantasy perspective. Let's break down whom you should be starting and sitting.

Start 'Em: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

This one may seem obvious to some, but plenty of folks needed to R-E-L-A-X before last week. Rodgers stumbled a bit out of the gate for fantasy owners, sandwiching his strong 27-point effort in Week 2 with nine fantasy points in Week 1 and 10 points in Week 2. 

But he put together an epic performance against the Chicago Bears, throwing for 302 yards and four scores, the Packers didn't punt once the entire game and Rodgers didn't turn the ball over. So everyone can just go ahead and relax now.

At first glimpse, the Minnesota Vikings appear to have been pretty stingy to opposing quarterbacks, giving up just 13.3 fantasy points per week, sixth in the NFL. But look closer—Both Drew Brees and Matt Ryan notched 19 fantasy points in the past two weeks, while the Vikings were in fact stingy against the inept passing games of the St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots.

And anything Brees or Ryan can do, Rodgers can do better. Or at least as well. Expect nothing short of a big performance from the Packers quarterback.

Sit 'Em: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Let's see, should I start a rookie quarterback on a short week who will be starting just his second game in the pros and is coming off of an ankle injury, thereby potentially making him a game-time decision?

Um, no.

Even if he did play, Bridgewater's fantasy ceiling wouldn't be high enough to make the risk worthwhile. In Week 1, Russell Wilson scored 17 fantasy points on the Packers. In Week 2, Geno Smith scored 17 points on the Packers. In Week 3, Matt Stafford scored just three. In Week 4, Jay Cutler notched 16 points. 

So Brigewater's ceiling would probably be 15-17 points in this contest. That's really not worth the risk. In 10- or 12-team leagues you shouldn't be starting Bridgewater anyway, but if you are in a deeper league or two-QB format, you can do better than the rookie this week.

Start 'Em: Matt Asiata, RB, Minnesota Vikings and Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers

I'll be honest, folks, I think Asiata is locked and loaded as an RB2 at this point or, at the very least, a very nice flex option. Since taking over the starting gig, he's earned 46 fantasy points in three games and has four touchdowns. The Vikings are a very good running team and Asiata's continued usage will overrule the fact that he's not terribly talented. 

Plus, the Packers are giving up 23.5 fantasy points to opposing running backs per week, 29th in the NFL. You can continue to start Asiata with confidence. 

You might not have as much confidence in Lacy, and you're justified in your concern. He has just 21 points after four games, after all, the same number as Shone Greene. Yes, you read that right, Shonn freaking Greene.

Still, the Vikings have allowed a total of 21, 17 and 27 fantasy points to opposing backs in the past three weeks, so the precedent is in place for Lacy to have a breakthrough performance. 

Sit 'Em: Jerick McKinnon, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

I'll add one caveat here—McKinnon is a nice start for owners in deeper leagues who are kind of desperate and need a lottery ticket at the flex for the week. I know—I'm in that very boat. 

But I'm also not expecting much, if only because McKinnon's breakout performance feels like the exception, not the rule. After all, coming into Week 3 he had five carries for seven yards, and his head coach Mike Zimmer has come out and said he'll continue to be a “change-of-pace back for us,” per Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. 

If you don't mind playing the lottery this week, give McKinnon a start. Just know it's just as likely he'll give you three points as it is he'll reach double digits again.

Start 'Em: Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers

Oh, let's see. Nelson is currently the No. 2 wide receiver in fantasy points and Randall Cobb is No. 5, and the Vikings just gave up 15 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns (34 fantasy points) to the Atlanta Falcons wide receivers last week. 

So you should definitely sit both. Yup, sit them. 

Wait, no, that's incorrect. Start each with confidence, because they should put up solid points for your team. 

Sit 'Em: Cordarrelle Patterson, Greg Jennings and Jarius Wright, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Jim Mone/Associated Press

I'm not buying Wright's breakout performance last week. He's only on the field in three-receiver sets, for one thing, and a lot of the short passes that went his way last week should be going to the athletically superior Patterson. 

Speaking of Patterson, he's become the forgotten man in this offense. In Week 1, he turned six touches into 128 yards and a touchdown. He's had just 11 touches for 148 yards in the three games since, with no touchdowns. Easily Minnesota's most dangerous player, he's also apparently the only one who can turn invisible when the coaches are drawing up the game plan. 

His lack of recent usage makes him a very risky play. Sure, he's always one carry or pass away from breaking off a 50-yard touchdown, but are you willing to risk him breaking off a long touchdown each week at the expense of perhaps starting a safer option in your lineup? 

Until Patterson starts to produce again, I don't think you should. 

One other thing to consider about the Minny's wide receivers—if Bridgewater can't play, Christian Ponder would step in as the starter. And Ponder, quite simply, isn't very good. His presence wouldn't hurt Minnesota's entire offense, but it would make the team's wideouts virtually unstartable in Week 5.

All point totals and points-against statistics via ESPN standard-scoring leagues. 

Hit me up on Twitter—I'll answer your fantasy questions and make some corny jokes, too. It's more fun than a Jay Cutler Fumblerooski.