Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 5: Choosing Top Fantasy Football Locks and Flops

Week 4 marked a return to form for several high-profile players. The group included Aaron Rodgers and Jamaal Charles, who provided the type of monster games their fantasy owners expect regularly after spending a high draft pick on them.

Perhaps it's a sign some stability is finally emerging after a rather chaotic first couple weeks. That would be music to the ears of the fantasy world. The already difficult task of perfecting a lineup became even more tricky with the lack of consistency early on.

That said, there are still a couple decisions each week that are going to keep fantasy owners on edge until the lineups lock. So let's examine some players on the fringe and project whether they belong as starters or reserves for Week 5.

Start 'Em

Position	Player	Team
QB	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT
RB	Justin Forsett	BAL
WR	Marques Colston	NO
TE	Eric Ebron	DET
D/ST	Eagles	PHI
K	Shaun Suisham	PIT

Ben Roethlisberger put together his best fantasy performance of the season last week with 22 points. He should have little trouble backing it up with a similar outing this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who rank last against the pass and are giving up 38 points per game.

Even in a backfield without a set rotation, Justin Forsett is emerging as a reliable option because of his consistent work on passing downs. That should be particularly valuable this week against the Indianapolis Colts, an opponent that will force the Baltimore Ravens to throw a lot to keep pace.

Marques Colston has been one of fantasy's most frustrating commodities so far. He hasn't scored more than nine points and posted a zero in Week 2. He should finally get back on track this week while facing off against the 28th-ranked Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass defense.

Slowly but surely Eric Ebron should begin to take on a larger role for the Detroit Lions. He caught three passes for 34 yards and a touchdown last week. Look for him to crack a double-digit fantasy score for the first time this week as he faces the Buffalo Bills, who rate 25th against the pass.

Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site notes the increased usage last week, which leads to a brighter outlook in the coming games:

The defense and special teams of the Philadelphia Eagles scored three touchdowns en route to 23 fantasy points in Week 4. Don't expect them to match that level of play this week, but they remain a strong option against a St. Louis Rams offense filled with question marks.

If you're a believer of patterns, Shaun Suisham is due for a good week after alternating double-digit and single-digit scores so far this season. Far more importantly, he should have no shortage of scoring opportunities against the Jags.

Sit 'Em

Position	Player	Team
QB	Kirk Cousins	WSH
RB	Reggie Bush	DET
WR	Sammy Watkins	BUF
TE	Jason Witten	DAL
D/ST	Patriots	NE
K	Robbie Gould	CHI

Kirk Cousins was a popular plug-and-play choice last week. He didn't deliver, throwing four interceptions en route to just five fantasy points. While he remains a solid long-term option, the Seattle Seahawks secondary should scare people away for Week 5.

Last season, both Reggie Bush and Joique Bell were reliable options. The rotation hasn't been nearly as efficient this time around, though. Moreover, even if Bell is unable to overcome a concussion in time to play, Bush is a risk not worth taking against the third-ranked Buffalo Bills rush defense.

The team noted how the veteran back talked about the seemingly endless line of tough defenses they have had to face in the early going:

Yes, the switch to Kyle Orton improves Sammy Watkins' season-long outlook. Just don't expect to see a dramatic jump in production right away. They still have to build a rapport, which won't be easy against the Lions, which have the league's second-best pass defense so far.

The lackluster outings continued for Jason Witten last week. He scored just six points, but that actually marked a new season high. For now, he belongs on the bench until it's clear he's moving back into a larger role in the passing game.

Following a solid start to the season, the Patriots likely cost a lot of fantasy owners their matchups last week by ending up in the negatives. They should be removed from all lineups before facing off with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night.

Robbie Gould isn't getting enough field-goal chances to maintain fantasy value. He's attempted just five through four weeks. Although he's connected on them all, it's not enough to warrant starting at a position where that's the main driver of points.