Fantasy Football Week 5: Surviving Aaron Rodgers, Bye Weeks and Injuries

Let’s start by admitting it is a trick question—there really is no defense against Aaron Rodgers in fantasy football. So if you are one of the ones who drafted him, good for you! 

But if you are playing against him, just hope for an average day from him, but don’t worry because with bye weeks upon us and injuries everywhere, you can match up against anyone.

This week, the teams on a bye are Baltimore, Dallas, Miami, St. Louis, Washington, and Cleveland.  As far as fantasy goes, this doesn’t seem too imposing. Chances are, you have to replace Baltimore’s defense, and Ray Rice. 

You should look also look into Dallas' Tony Romo, Jason Witten and Dez Bryant, Washington's Santana Moss, Ryan Torain, Tim Hightower, or Roy Helu and Cleveland's Colt McCoy.

Baltimore Ravens Are on Bye, So Get a Good Defense

So you need a defense. How about Tampa Bay, who play San Francisco this week? Tampa is owned in three percent of fantasy leagues. They travel west on a short week, but their secondary made Curtis Painter look like a superstar.

However, the same secondary can also be quite formidable—the question is, which will show up in San Francisco?

The New York Giants are only owned in 30.5 percent of the leagues, mostly because of injuries, but they are looking good. The Giants play Seattle in New York this week and Seattle is notoriously a bad traveling team. 

The Giants are rated third in fantasy defense according to NFL fantasy drafts. 

Willis McGahee Is Making a Comeback in Denver

Willis McGahee is owned in 65.4 percent of the leagues and has outperformed Knowshon Moreno in Denver.

Against the Packers, McGahee had 15 rushes for 103 yards, and this is with the Broncos playing from behind and putting the ball in the air. McGahee will probably not have many touchdowns, but he should produce good yardage.

Isaac Redman is only owned in two percent of fantasy leagues. The Steelers are still searching for their identity and Mendenhall does not appear on that radar. He is not performing to first round fantasy pick status and is hurt.

Redman has looked good and the Steelers need better numbers from that position.

Tony Romo, Joe Flacco and Colt McCoy on Byes Allow Matt Hasselbeck To Shine

Matt Hasselbeck is available in 72.4 percent of the leagues. Yes, he lost his top receiver in Kenny Britt, but Tennessee has a 133-94 pass-run ratio this season. 

Against the Browns last week, Hasselbeck passed for 220 yards and 3 touchdowns and that was without Kenny Britt. He is going against a Steelers secondary that has not recorded more than one interception on the season. 

The Steelers are in disarray and Hasselbeck is finding his mojo.

Andre Johnson Is Injured and Eric Decker Is Hot

How about Antonio Brown, who is only owned in six percent of leagues? The Steelers play Tennessee this week at Tennessee. Brown leads Steelers receivers in targets for the past two weeks, but the downside is Ben Roethlisberger is hobbling on one leg behind an offensive line that is fractured at best. 

Two words for you—Eric Decker. 

He  is not really a sleeper pick, because he is owned in 41.8 percent of the leagues. But if he is available in yours, get him.

I shudder to think I am a Bronco enthusiast, but Decker is for real and Orton is targeting him.  Against the Packers last week, he had 56 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Waiver Wire Will Save You If You Don't Fall for Misdirection

The start of bye week is like the movie "Swordfish." A little bit of something for everyone.  Hugh Jackman, John Travolta, who is always sexy at being bad, and Halle Berry.

But more than that, it is like the conversation Gabriel has with Stan.

Gabriel—Have you ever heard of Harry Houdini? Well, he wasn’t like today’s magicians who are only interested in television ratings. He was an artist. He could make an elephant disappear in the middle of a theatre filled with people, and do you know how he did that? 

Stan—What are you taking about? 

Gabriel—Misdirection. What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes.

That’s all you need to remember for bye weeks and injuries. Don’t fall for the misdirection. Don’t be befuddled by big names. Go for the good regardless of the marquee associated with the name!