Fantasy Football Week 5 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Including Injury Updates
Fantasy football is in full swing, and many people are finding themselves needing a major week to keep pace with the leaders.
For the unlucky people who find themselves at the bottom of their league standings, Week 5 is a perfect time to look at those risk/reward players who will either make or break your week.
Injuries are an unfortunate part of the NFL, and some key players will either not play this week or see a limited role, including Raiders running back Darren McFadden.
Next I will reveal five players who should find a spot on your starting roster and give your team a chance to have a big week.
Start: Randy Moss
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Randy Moss' return to Minnesota after spending three-plus seasons in New England has been the highlight of the NFL the past few days.
Brett Favre finally has a No. 1 receiver who is healthy, since Sidney Rice's recovery from offseason hip surgery is taking longer than anticipated.
Favre is playing a solid Jets defense, but the threat of All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson will keep the Jets from loading the box to stop the run.
Moss will stretch the field Monday night and test the health of Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.
Randy has not caught a lot of passes this season, but he does have three touchdowns.
Moss is 100 percent certain to get much more than one target this week. Last week Tom Brady threw Moss' way just a single time.
Moss is not only playing to win in Minnesota; he also needs to show the front office he deserves a new contract, which will give him the motivation to perform at a high level the rest of the season.
Whether a good idea or not, Favre will want to see what Moss can give him, and the experiment could prove rewarding for owners of Moss.
Start: Michael Bush
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The Raiders' rushing attack has been decimated by injuries this season. Neither starter Darren McFadden nor backup Michael Bennett practiced on Wednesday due to injuries.
Michael Bush began the season banged up, but he is almost certain to start on Sunday for the Raiders.
Bush took the majority of the reps on practice Thursday, according to Yahoo! Sports, and should be a focal point of Oakland's offense this week.
With McFadden seeing most of the action through four weeks, Bush has been slowly integrated into the offense but is a goal line threat every week.
His physical style of play makes him an ideal goal line worry for defenses, and with an improved number of carries, and possibly receptions too, Bush is a worry-free choice to start at running back in Week 5.
Start: Roy Williams
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Roy Williams had a message for his many critics during the Cowboys' bye week: "I'm still a Pro Bowler."
If he performs like he did in Week 3, when he torched the Texans secondary for 117 yards and two touchdowns, he will make the Pro Bowl.
Williams has not lived up to the hype since Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gave up a lot of draft picks to acquire Williams to help quarterback Tony Romo.
Williams finally woke up in Week 3, and Romo and the 'Boys look like they're headed in the right direction.
Tony Romo relies on his receivers a lot due to a lack of a running game, and against Tennessee's weak pass defense in Week 5, the Romo-Williams partnership will strike gold again.
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Start: Brett Favre
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Four weeks into the NFL season, Brett Favre might have thought retirement would have been the right choice. Now that Randy Moss is part of the Vikings offense, Favre has a glimmer of hope.
Favre and Moss have always been a match made for each other. Moss is a deep threat that stretches the field better than any other receiver in the league.
The threat of Moss and All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson will keep defenses from blitzing Favre as often as they have through four weeks.
The best way to help Brett Favre is by protecting him.
Against the Jets, Favre will be facing a tough defense, but Jets corner Darrelle Revis' hamstring remains an issue, and defensive tackle Kris Jenkins is out for the remainder of the season.
Favre will pass early and often Monday night in order to see how Moss will fit into the offense. Expect many deep passes to Randy Moss, and if they connect, we could see some big scoring plays from Brett.
Start: Jamaal Charles
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Jamaal Charles is always a big play threat. With great speed and excellent juke moves, Charles is one of the most electrifying players in the NFL.
This week his opponent is the Indianapolis defense, one of the worst in the league.
Charles is a great runner, splitting carries with veteran Thomas Jones, but Jamaal's best offensive ability is catching the ball on screen passes or quick passing plays.
Matt Cassel looks Charles' way often with the screen pass, and it's a play that could be very effective vs. the Colts, who tackle very poorly as a team.
Jamaal has not been as consistent as fantasy owners were hoping for this season, but it only takes one huge run or reception for Charles to make an impact. If your league rewards extra points for 100-yard rushing or receiving games, start Charles this week.
Sit 'Em Down: Injuries and Matchup Problems of Concern
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Matchups and injuries are the two most important things fantasy owners look over when choosing which players to start and sit.
This week, there are several key players who are too injured to perform well or are facing a defense that plays to a certain offensive guy's strength.
All of these players carry much more risk than reward.
Sit: Austin Collie
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Austin Collie has been nursing a foot injury for over a week now. He did not play a major role in the Colts offense last Sunday in their loss to the Jaguars despite catching a one-yard touchdown in the final minutes.
Collie missed practice Wednesday, according to Rotowire.com, and many believed it was a precautionary measure.
However, Collie was seen wearing a protective boot on his injured foot Wednesday and did not practice yesterday, according to the Colts' official website.
Collie's injury does not seem to be healing well, and the Colts already have plenty of receivers who can catch at least seven passes from Peyton Manning.
Kansas City has one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL, making this week a favorable matchup for Collie.
His health is a big risk, and he will surely see a limited role similar to what he was given last week in Jacksonville.
Use caution with Collie, but on my team, he will be on the bench.
Sit: Darren McFadden
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Darren McFadden has started this season like many thought he would when the Raiders selected him in the first round from Arkansas a few years ago.
McFadden has not only been an effective running back, but an excellent receiver too. Last week, McFadden had 82 yards receiving and over 100 total yards.
Darren is nursing a hamstring injury this week, and Raiders head coach Tom Cable is not optimistic his running back will play.
When asked by the media if McFadden will play this week, Cable responded, "Very, very, doubtful," according to NFL.com.
McFadden did not practice Thursday, and Michael Bush will be his replacement.
Darren McFadden will not start on Sunday versus San Diego and should be put on the bench for this week.
Sit: Marques Colston
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Everyone on the New Orleans Saints offense has struggled this season, and Marques Colston is at the top of the list.
Drew Brees has so many excellent receivers to pass to, and Pierre Thomas is having a good season on the ground, making Colston a decoy in the passing game.
Colston is not a focal point of the Saints offense, and he has yet to top 70 yards receiving and hasn't scored a single touchdown.
Colston was listed this week nursing a rib injury but is fully expected to play Sunday versus Carolina.
Brees and the Saints offense will wake up eventually, but if you have another quality receiver on your team, sit Colston.
Marques needs to prove to fantasy owners he can play like a No. 1 receiver consistently this season before we risk any more pathetic performances from him.
Sit: Mark Sanchez
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Mark Sanchez was on everyone's start list just a week after he beat the New England Patriots with a brilliant passing performance in Week 2.
Sanchez's opponent Monday night is the Minnesota Vikings defense, a unit that is starting to regain its menacing form of a year ago.
The resurgence of veteran running back LaDainian Tomlinson has eased the offensive burden on Sanchez, and LT may be the best offensive player the Jets have right now.
This matchup is not ideal for Mark Sanchez, so bench him and find a quarterback who will attempt more passes.
The Jets have a great rushing attack, and if they get a lead early, Sanchez will pass very few times.
Sit: Andre Johnson
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Andre Johnson hasn't lived up to the high praise he received this summer, when many NFL experts anointed him the league's best receiver.
To be fair to Andre, injuries have slowed him a bit, and he only took some of the reps in practice today and remains a game-time decision for Sunday, according to the Texans' official web site.
Johnson's health is a bit better than it was this time last Friday, but use caution: The Texans are playing a Giants defense that looks amazing and is playing at a high level.
The Giants defense tallied 10 sacks last week versus Chicago, and Houston's offensive line is not very good.
Matt Schaub will not have a lot of time to throw the ball, eliminating many of Andre's deep routes, which take time to develop.
Sit Andre this week, but he should be ready to go at full strength next week. Monitor this situation right up until kickoff.
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