Fantasy Football: Week 5 Start'em Sit'em

Let’s get the second quarter of the fantasy football season underway with some helpful start—bench advice for your squad. This week players like Tom Brady, Rashard Mendenhall, and Brandon Marshall are on bye weeks, and it will be important for fantasy owners to get the right bench options in the lineup to pull out a victory.

Quarterbacks

Start

Eli Manning @ Texans: Don’t concern yourself with Eli Manning’s poor performance last week as he plays against one of the worst pass defenses in football this week. The Texans will continue to put points on the board, and that means the Giants will be throwing the football all game to keep up. Look for Manning to post over 300 yards and at least two touchdowns in week five.

Bench

Carson Palmer vs Buccaneers: Carson Palmer had his first big fantasy game last week against the Browns, but I wouldn’t put my faith in him just yet. The Bengals didn’t do much until they were down by multiple scores in that game and that shouldn’t be the case at home against the Buccaneers. Expect the Bengals to run the football often against Tampa Bay.

Running Backs

Start

Michael Bush vs Chargers: This one depends on if Darren McFadden is a go or not. Some around the Raiders believe McFadden’s hamstring injury should cost him multiple games and that means Bush would see feature back duties. If Bush plays well he should see more work when McFadden comes back to playing shape.

Expect Bush to run for close to 100 yards and find the end zone if McFadden is gone.

Bench

Shonn Greene vs Vikings: The Jets had plenty of time to get the football to Shonn Greene in the second half blowout over the Bills last week. This week the Jets will face the Vikings, and Tomlinson is the only runner worth using.

Greene will be worth starting when the Jets play teams like the Bills but for now he’s not useful in contests against tough run defenses.

Wide Receivers

Start

Mark Clayton @ Lions: Mark Clayton is not only providing fantasy success, but showing up weekly. Maybe Clayton won’t have monster games, but he can at least help your squad this week against the Lions.

Bench

Mike Sims-Walker vs Anyone: It’s time to cut Mike Sims-Walker from your team as he has two weeks this season without a catch. For whatever reason David Garrard isn’t even trying to go Walkers way, and this has been consistent for a month now.

Move on from this bust receiver and don’t let him disappoint you any longer.

NFL fantasy football player rankings writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com

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