Week 5 Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Matt Forte and 5 Explosive RBs To Start

If you don’t have one of the five running backs that are about to be listed below, you will lose your fantasy football match this week. It doesn’t matter if your quarterback is Tom Brady, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers or Matt Stafford. I don’t care if your wide receivers are Calvin Johnson, Roddy White, Wes Welker or Mike Wallace.  

You will lose.  

Plain and simple, these running backs that are about to be listed below will not only have a huge game on Sunday or Monday, but they will be able to carry your team by themselves over whomever you happen to play.  

Oh, and if you happen to have two of these five on your starting fantasy roster, well, you might as well start the smack-talking to that opponent of yours.  

Go ahead and count the win for yourself because these five running backs will top 100 yards total, by either getting them all on the ground or on the ground and air.  

And to add to their value as guys who will gain over 100 yards, these five guys will visit the end zone at least one time, with a great chance of two or more times in their game.  

Curious to see who these five guys are? 

Matt Forte, Chicago Bears 

Forte has been a fantasy football stud these first four games. He absolutely shredded the Carolina Panthers defense last week with one touchdown and 200 yards rushing with another 23 yards receiving.  

He is a must-start this week against the Lions. 

Darren Sproles, New Orleans Saints 

The Saints have a three-man rushing attack with Sproles getting the majority of the playing time due to his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.  

This week with the Saints playing the Panthers, the game will trend to both teams throwing the ball a lot. This means Sproles will be in for the majority of the Saints' offensive plays and will see at least seven targets and five receptions for a touchdown or two. 

Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders 

You don’t need me to tell you that McFadden has been the best running back this year not named Adrian Peterson. This week he heads into Houston against a Texans defense that gave up a combined 95 yards to the Steelers' backup running backs.  

McFadden will easily get over 100 yards this Sunday and should push towards the 150- to 200-yard mark with two touchdowns. 

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings 

Speaking of AP, his Vikings are still winless on the year and have another favorable matchup this week against the Cardinals. As long as the Vikings have Donovan McNabb as the quarterback Peterson’s touches will be around the 20-25 mark.  

But, if the Vikings start to struggle this week, it could be time for the rookie Christian Ponder to get the call. If that’s the case it will up Peterson’s workload to 25-30 carries per game which means more yards and more touchdowns. 

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants 

Last week Bradshaw was on a lot of lists of a person who was going to break out. He didn’t break out but did still have a touchdown and 40 combined yards which equates to a 10-point day in most leagues.  

This week the Giants host the Seahawks, who are giving up 100 yards per game to running backs this year. 

Expect close to 100 yards combined for Bradshaw and one to two touchdowns on the day. 

Twitter: @tjmcaloon