Fantasy Football Week Five Sit Em & Start Em: Ravens Joe Flacco and More

QB Start—Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

After posting a 23.8 QB rating at Cincinnati in week two, Flacco responded with a pair of plus efforts. In his last two starts, he's completed 46 of 68 passes for 514 yards, with four touchdowns against just one interception. 

More importantly, his confidence should be peaking after his late game heroics against the top-rated Pittsburgh defense. With his tools, a confident Joe Flacco is mighty dangerous. 

All three of his wide-receiver threats were involved in week four, including crunch-time connections with T.J. Houshmanzadeh. 

A healthy Ray Rice or not, the Ravens are quickly transitioning into a passing team. Flacco is approaching must-start territory. 

QB Sit—Bruce Gradkowski, Oakland Raiders

When Bruce Gradkowski becomes a legit fantasy option, you know NFL quarterbacking is in a desperate state of affairs. 

Despite relative success (for his standards) since replacing Jason Campbell, his performance is more fad than trend. 17 of his 24 completions in week four went to tight end Zach Miller and running back Darren McFadden. With Run DMC unlikely to suit up in week five, who will pick up the slack? 

Not only does Gradkowski lack the arm strength to get the ball down the field, he also lacks NFL-caliber receivers to target. Louis Murphy remains questionable for week five (clavicle), and Darrius Heyward-Bey wishes he was back in the ACC. 

His greatest attribute is his legs, but you can't survive on dump-off passes forever. In its last six quarters, the San Diego passing defense has allowed a frightening 165 yards through the air. Emergency option only. 

RB Start—Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals

Benson is off to a horrific start, averaging 3.3 yards per carry with a high game of 81. He's not the "make you miss" style back who can create yardage on his own. 

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