Week 5 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: 2011 NFL Fantasy Football Bench Advice

Start’em

Matt Ryan vs. Packers -

Another week, and Matt Ryan lands on our start-worthy options once again, as the Falcons take on the Packers at home. While Green Bay should win this game, expect Ryan to throw the football over 50 times, and that means good things for his fantasy owners.

Julio Jones is turning out to be a quality No.2 option playing opposite White and while Ryan took some heat in fantasy circles early on, it’s now looking like he will be a top ten quarterback after all. With the Falcons defense unable to stop the pass, the Falcons will be throwing to win games, or at least fight their way back into opportunities to win.

Victor Cruz vs Seahawks -

Mario Manningham was demoted out of the starting lineup because of poor route running, and Victor Cruz took advantage, racking up six receptions for close to 100 yards against the Cardinals. Look for Cruz to put up another solid game as the Giants host the Seahawks' shaky secondary.

Percy Harvin vs Cardinals -

While the Vikings are limiting Percy Harvin’s workload, he’s still a WR-3 weekly because of his work in the ground game. Harvin has had no less than two carries in each game, and his four carries for 67 yards vs the Chiefs is a reminder that this guy is a versatile threat.

Minnesota only has a few play makers in the offense, so expect Harvin to continue to post around or over 100 total yards from scrimmage weekly.

Plaxico Burress @ Patriots (If Mangold Is Back) -

I know Rex Ryan says that, “ground and pound is back,” but I hardly believe a word the guy says anymore. Shonn Greene is a bust, pure and simple, and this should come as no surprise to those who’ve watched this running back play over the past two seasons.

As for LaDanian Tomlinson, he should get work in this game, but expect him to be active in the passing game. The Patriots struggle against the pass with a young, beat up secondary. Burress continues to see action in the passing game, and if the Patriots build a big lead, the Jets will have no choice but to air it out with Mark Sanchez in the second half.

DeAngelo Williams vs Saints -

If there’s a team DeAngelo Williams has success against, it has to be the Saints, as he’s posted some big days against this group in years past. Williams was horrible through the first three games of the year, but he got things going last week against the Bears. While Jonathan Stewart will be in the mix, look for Williams to have respectable flex play numbers in this contest.

Mark Ingram @ Panthers -

I’ve been on the Mark Ingram bandwagon since New Orleans drafted him in April and I’m still a believer. While Darren Sproles has had a nice start to the season, take a look at the number of carries Ingram had last week in contrast to that of Sproles and Pierre Thomas. While Thomas and Sproles managed 13 touches combined in the running game, Ingram had 17 vs the Jaguars.

While Ingram only managed just over 50 yards, his failures were in large part because Jacksonville has actually played the run well this year, and the Saints didn’t blow them out early.

Don’t expect New Orleans to blow out the Panthers, but Ingram should take advantage of a Panthers defense that gave up over 200 yards to Matt Forte and has gashing holes in the A, B and C gaps. Ingram should see at least 17 carries in this one and will likely post his first 100-yard game and a touchdown.

Sit’em

Matt Schaub vs Raiders -

While the Raiders haven’t been the greatest vs the pass this year, the Texans would be wise to build off of last week’s success on the ground and do to the Raiders what the Patriots did. Oakland has done a good job of not giving up the big play over the top and tend to make opponents work down the field.

While Schaub won’t have a problem doing that with his tight ends, he’s going to be without Andre Johnson for three weeks or more because of a bad hamstring injury. Arian Foster was terrific in his return game as a feature back against the Steelers, and after Stevan Ridley torched this defense on the ground, Foster should have no problems this week.

Look for the Texans to build a lead early and force the Raiders to beat them throwing the football. This should lead to another low stat game for Schaub, but likely a win for the Texans.

Ben Roethlisberger vs Titans -

I made an error in thinking that Ben Roethlisberger would get things going in Houston as the Steelers truly look like a banged up group. Roethlisberger is expected to play through a sprained foot, but he will likely have a hard time against the Titans' Top 10 defense. Let’s just hope that Big Ben can play respectable and get out of this game without having to use crutches.

Mario Manningham vs Seahawks -

As I pointed out with Victor Cruz’s write-up in above, Mario Manningham struggled in his route running and was demoted. In all honesty, this has been a problem for Manningham  throughout his career, and while I was hoping he would develop into more than a deep threat, it’s just not happening.

Keep Manningham for a few more weeks, as he could win a starting job back, but for now, you shouldn’t trust him for more than a lucky touchdown strike down the field. While that could happen against the Seahawks, it’s hard to trust a guy that is falling out of favor, while another option (Cruz) is getting it done on the field.

Kendall Hunter vs Buccaneers -

This isn’t a bad match-up, but Frank Gore clearly got things going in limited work last week against the Eagles. Hunter played a good game as well with over 100 total yards, and will be active in this game. Still, unless you’re in a deep league, Hunter probably won’t get more than 8 to 10 touches in this game.

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