Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 5: Rounding Up Latest Expert Advice on the Web

Fantasy football experts aren't perfect, but they do give us some helpful advice on who to play and who to sit in a given week.

While that's especially beneficial early in the season when there aren't many games to base lineup decisions on, it's also still helpful as the year goes on. And if you're having a bad fantasy season, then deferring to what the experts are saying can sometimes be the right move.

Using the consensus rankings at FantasyPros, here's a look at who you should start and sit in Week 5 when making some tough lineup decisions, along with what other experts are saying about some of these players.

Players to Start/Sit Based on FantasyPros Expert Rankings

Start 'Em

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray at Cincinnati Bengals (QB9)

Cincinnati Bengals RB Joe Mixon vs. Arizona Cardinals (RB10)

Indianapolis Colts RB Marlon Mack at Kansas City Chiefs (RB13)

Minnesota Vikings WR Adam Thielen at New York Giants (WR12)

New England Patriots WR Julian Edelman at Washington Redskins (WR16)

Chicago Bears WR Allen Robinson at Oakland Raiders in London (WR20)

Carolina Panthers TE Greg Olsen vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (TE7)

Murray has had a solid start to his NFL career, and he's faced some quality opponents through the first four weeks of the season. In fact, he's played well against those tough teams, passing for 349 yards against the Ravens in Week 2 and scoring his first career rushing touchdown against the Seahawks in Week 4.

In his weekly "Love/Hate" column for ESPN.com, Matthew Berry included Murray among quarterbacks he loves this week, noting that the Bengals have allowed opponents to complete more than 72 percent of their passes against them this season, the fifth-highest rate in the NFL. 

But the Bengals should also have a strong offensive showing in that matchup, and Mixon should get a lot of the workload. He's been disappointing through four weeks, rushing for 149 yards and averaging 3.2 yards per carry, but he should have a better showing against the Cardinals, who have allowed at least 23 points in each of their first four games.

Berry included Mixon among his running backs he loves this week.

"With multiple catches in all four games this season and in 15 of his past 16 games, Mixon gets terrific volume," Berry wrote. "He's responsible for 75.3 percent of the Bengals' rushing yards this season, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL. The Cards are 28th against the run and just resurrected Chris Carson."

Another player of note is Thielen, who voiced some frustration to the media about his offense after the Vikings' loss to the Bears last week. It wouldn't be surprising to see him get some more targets this week against the Giants.

Scott Barrett, a senior fantasy football analyst for Pro Football Focus, notes that Giants cornerbacks DeAndre Baker and Janoris Jenkins rank second and third in most yards allowed in coverage at the position this season. Baker has allowed 307 yards, while Jenkins has given up 297. It seems like the perfect bounce-back opportunity for Thielen, who had only two receptions for six yards last week.

Sit 'Em

New York Giants QB Daniel Jones vs. Minnesota Vikings (QB19)

Buffalo Bills RB Frank Gore at Tennessee Titans (RB32)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Peyton Barber at New Orleans Saints (RB40)

Washington Redskins WR Terry McLaurin vs. New England Patriots (WR47)

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Dede Westbrook at Carolina Panthers (WR53)

San Francisco 49ers WR Marquise Goodwin vs. Cleveland Browns (WR57)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE O.J. Howard at New Orleans Saints (TE14)

Jones is 2-0 since taking over as the Giants' starting quarterback, and he's impressed by throwing for 561 yards and three touchdowns in those games. However, those victories came against the Buccaneers and the Redskins, and the Vikings have a better defense than either of those teams.

Despite his strong start, Jones is still susceptible to some NFL growing pains, and those could show up this week in a challenging matchup.

CBS Sports fantasy football analyst Jamey Eisenberg suggests staying away from Jones, noting that although Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr all threw for multiple touchdown passes against the Vikings, only Ryan had more than 245 yards.

McLaurin scored a touchdown in each of his first three career games, but he missed last week's contest against the Giants with a hamstring injury. Although he may return to the Redskins' lineup this week, he's not a smart play with Colt McCoy starting at quarterback for Washington against New England, which has allowed only 27 points this season.

Berry has McLaurin among his wide receivers he hates this week, mostly because of that strong Patriots defense.

"Even in expected junk time here, it's worth noting that no player has even 80 receiving yards in a game against New England this season, and opponents have two red-zone completions against the Patriots for the season," Berry wrote.

While Howard could be targeted more as the Buccaneers are likely to trail the Saints at some point, the Tampa Bay tight end has had a disappointing start, posting only 10 receptions for 131 yards through four games. Brandon Funston of The Athletic notes that there are 10 tight ends he'd bet on over Howard for the rest of the season, which makes Howard expendable in most leagues moving forward.

Howard may have a solid showing here and there later in the year, but he's proving to be unreliable, and this is not the week to start him.