Fantasy Football Week 5 Start Em Sit Em: Who Are the Smart Matchup Plays?

We've arrived at the quarter pole of the 2011 fantasy football season, and that means two things. First, the bye weeks are here, which thins the pool of talent available to fantasy owners this week. Second, injuries and byes make finding solid matchup plays that much more essential to teams looking either to distance themselves further from the pack or keep from falling too far behind.

Here's a look at 10 of those matchup plays, players ranked outside the Top 10 at their positions that could be in line for strong fantasy outings in week 5, making them very much worth considering for insertion into starting lineups this weekend.

1. Eli Manning: QB, New York Giants (vs. SEA)

Quarterback Eli Manning and the New York Giants must have felt like Christmas came early last week, as the Victor Cruz non-fumble (that was a fumble) helped pave the way to a victory over the Arizona Cardinals and leave the G-Men tied for first place atop the NFC East.

Manning and the Giants face a Seattle Seahawks team this week that is middle of the pack in both pass defense and in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, so fantasy owners in a bind at the quarterback position could likely do much worse than rolling out the "other" Manning.

2. Curtis Painter: QB, Indianapolis Colts (vs. KC)

Yes, you read that right.

While he was unable to lead the Indianapolis Colts to a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Monday night, quarterback Curtis Painter had a decent night statistically, throwing for 281 yards and completing two long touchdown passes to wide receiver Pierre Garcon.

This one is admittedly a bit of a desperation start for teams in deeper leagues in need of a spot starter this week, but the Kansas City Chiefs have allowed the ninth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks so far this season, making Painter a potentially serviceable fantasy option in Week 5.

3. Isaac Redman: RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. TEN)

With the playing status of running back Rashard Mendenhall very much in doubt due to a hamstring injury and Mewelde Moore already ruled out for this week's tilt with the Tennessee Titans, the job of backfield bellcow for the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday will likely fall to second year pro Isaac Redman.

The Titans defense has been stout against the run so far this season, ranking eighth in the National Football League, and the Steelers have had their fair share of offensive line issues to this point, but Redman looks to be in line for over 20 touches against Tennessee, making him a very viable spot starter for fantasy teams with a need at running back.

4. Mark Ingram: RB, New Orleans Saints (at CAR)

It's been a mixed bag of sorts so far for rookie running back Mark Ingram of the New Orleans Saints, as the former Heisman Trophy winner has received the most carries in the Saints backfield committee but hasn't done a ton with them, averaging just 3.5 yards a carry to this point.

Ingram should have a better than average chance of posting the best stat line of his young career this Sunday when New Orleans visits Carolina, as the Panthers have allowed the fourth most fantasy points to opposing running backs, and the Saints could attempt to control time of possession once staked to a lead.

5. Stevan Ridley: RB, New England Patriots (vs. NYJ)

Running back Stevan Ridley of the New England Patriots saw the most extensive game action of his rookie season in last week's win over the Oakland Raiders, topping 100 total yards on only 11 touches while scoring his first touchdown in the NFL.

The New York Jets supposedly fearsome defense has been susceptible to the run in 2011, ranking 27th in the league and allowing the seventh most fantasy points to opposing running backs, and with Patriots running back Danny Woodhead hobbled by injury and New York Jets linebacker Bryan Thomas now lost for the season, Ridley should have ample opportunity to build on his strong showing from last week when the divisional rivals square off this Sunday.

6. Santonio Holmes: WR, New York Jets

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes of the New York Jets has been all but invisible the past two games, hauling in only four catches for 52 yards over that span, but there's reason to believe that the sixth year veteran's fantasy fortunes are set to improve this week against the New England Patriots.

No team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season than New England, and Holmes had some success against the Patriots last year, catching 10 passes for 92 yards and a score in two meetings. The Jets may be talking a big game about "ground and pound" this week, but they're going to have to throw the ball to keep up with New England, and they'll need Holmes to do that.

7. Sidney Rice: WR, Seattle Seahawks (at NYG)

Since missing the season's first two games with a shoulder injury, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice has been making up for lost time, reeling in 11 catches for 188 yards and a touchdown and emerging as quarterback Tarvaris Jackson's top target in the Seattle passing game.

With a matchup upcoming against a New York Giants secondary that has been ravaged by injuries and is mediocre both in terms of pass defense and fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers there's little reason to believe Rice's hot streak won't continue, making him a rock solid fantasy WR2 play this week.

8. Jacoby Jones: WR, Houston Texans (vs. OAK)

With star wide receiver Andre Johnson expected to miss at least three weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a hamstring injury, the job of picking up his slack in the Houston passing game will fall to talented but inconsistent wideout Jacoby Jones, who has seven catches for 91 yards in limited action so far this season.

The Texans will almost certainly pound away at a soft Oakland run defense with running back Arian Foster, but the Raiders have allowed the sixth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season, so fantasy owners in a bind at wide receiver may want to consider Jones in the hopes that quarterback Matt Schaub finds the fifth year pro on an over the top route run off of play action set up by the run.

9. Dallas Clark: TE, Indianapolis Colts (vs. KC)

The loss of star quarterback Peyton Manning has created a nightmare scenario for fantasy owners of Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark, who has seen his numbers plummet to a paltry 13 receptions for 129 yards and one touchdown through four games.

That's the sort of production that Clark may have put up in one week a year ago, but there's some cause for optimism for Clark owners this week. Quarterback Curtis Painter and the Colts offense finally showed some signs of life last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Indy's opponent this week, the Kansas City Chiefs, have allowed the third most fantasy points to opposing tight ends so far in 2011.

10. Kansas City Chiefs Defense (at IND)

No one is going to confuse the Kansas City Chiefs defense with the Baltimore Ravens any time soon, as the Chiefs defense presently ranks 21st in the NFL in total defense and lost arguably their best player when strong safety Eric Berry went down in Week 1.

However, the Chiefs go up against an Indianapolis Colts team that ranks 30th in the National Football League in total offense through four games and has surrendered the fifth most fantasy points to opposing defenses, so if you're in a bind and the big matchup defenses have already been taken, give the Chiefs a look.