Week 5 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Fantasy Expert Advice from Around the Web

Week 5 got underway with an exciting NFC West showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. The game even featured a couple of pleasant fantasy-related surprises.

Mac Jones and Jake Tonges continue to do reasonable impressions of 49ers quarterback Mac Jones (toe) and tight end George Kittle (injured reserve, hamstring), respectively.

Finding sleepers and surefire stars is easier in theory than in practice, of course—especially when bye weeks are involved. The Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers will be off this week.

Let's take a look at some of the more difficult lineup calls of Week 5 and check in with some fantasy experts from around the web.

Start: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar

As a team, the Cleveland Browns are in a tough spot. Cleveland has pivoted to rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel for a battle with the Minnesota Vikings in London.

The Vikings, for the record, have been overseas since last week, when they played the Pittsburgh Steelers in Ireland. Minnesota has also been stout defensively, more often than not, and ranks seventh in total yards allowed.

However, Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins should be trusted this week. Minnesota's defense has been somewhat vulnerable to opposing backs—it has allowed the 15th-most fantasy points to the position—and Judkins is an explosive, high-volume runner.

"Judkins should have another strong outing this week against a Vikings defense that has allowed the ninth-most rushing yards per game, the 13th-highest explosive run rate, and the seventh-most yards before contact per attempt," Derek Brown of FantasyPros wrote.

Managers may be wary of Gabriel's ability to keep the defense honest, but Cleveland didn't get much out of Joe Flacco, and Judkins still delivered.

Sit: Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Samantha Chow

The good news for Zach Charbonnet managers is that the Seattle Seahawks back returned from a foot injury to log 14 carries and find the end zone in Week 4. He also remains one of the top handcuffs in fantasy.

As Justin Boone of Yahoo Sports noted, though, Kenneth Walker III is the back to truly trust out of Seattle's backfield, while Charbonnet is a touchdown-dependent option.

"Walker continues to be far more productive with his touches," Boone wrote. "Regardless, Charbonnet is a TD-or-bust flex option who would instantly be a top-12 fantasy back if Walker missed time."

Walker is healthy, and this isn't the week to bank on a touchdown from Charbonnet. The Seahawks will host a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that has been great against the run.

The Bucs have surrendered three rushing touchdowns this season but only 340 rushing yards and 3.3 yards per carry. As RB2 in a split backfield, Charbonnet's floor and ceiling are both low.

Start: Deebo Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

It looks like the Washington Commanders will have Jayden Daniels (knee) back behind center this week. They'll need him against a tough Los Angeles Chargers defense on the road.

"I plan on going out there on Sunday," Daniels said, per ESPN's John Keim.

Daniels' return should also benefit wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who appears ready to play despite missing practice early in the week with a heel injury.

"He should be good to go again as the Commanders top receiver with Terry McLaurin expected to remain sidelined," FantasyPros' Ari Kaslow wrote.

As Kaslow noted, Terry McLaurin (quad) has already been ruled out, as has fellow wideout Noah Brown.

The Chargers have been good against opposing receivers, allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to the position. However, Samuels' high-volume role as a runner and receiver should allow him to pull through.

Samuel had six catches, 81 scrimmage yards and a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4.

Sit: Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

The Cincinnati Bengals offense, unsurprisingly, hasn't been the same since Joe Burrow landed on injured reserve with a toe injury. Jake Browning had things looking functional in Week 2, even if he threw too many danger balls, but the offense has been flat-out bad over the last two weeks.

Things should be a little bit better this week with the Bengals playing at home for only the second time this season. Browning may even be able to get Ja'Marr Chase going against a Detroit Lions secondary that is respectable but not elite—it has allowed the 13th-fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs.

Tee Higgins, though, deserves to stay on the bench until Cincinnati finds a better matchup or starts getting more from its quarterback. It's probably too early to dump Higgins entirely, though, according to Griffin Missant of Sporting News.

"He currently has no value, but he's too good a player to just drop," Missant wrote. "The only thing you can do is hold Higgins and similar to Chase, hope for a QB change at some point."

Higgins had just three receptions for 32 yards in Week 4.