Fantasy Football Week 5: 3 Usual Starters Who Need to Ride the Bench This Week

The key to fantasy football isn't just knowing when to start your sleepers, but also when to bench your stars.

There comes a time in every season where even the best fantasy players may be best suited on the bench.

Knowing when to do it is the difference between winning and losing.

Here are three usual starters who should be benched this weekend.

QB Jay Cutler (Chicago)

Jay Cutler is a gunslinger. Every week he has the chance to put up a bunch of yards.

He also takes some chances, making him a risk every week as well.

This is one of those weeks where the risk will outweigh the reward.

The Detroit Lions have one of the best defensive fronts in the NFL and the Chicago Bears have one of the shakiest offensive fronts.

Expect Detroit to get after Cutler often and force some mistakes. It's probably best to go with a more consistent player this week.

RB Michael Turner (Atlanta)

Last week was the first time that Atlanta really gave the ball to Turner the amount they should have all season.

In Atlanta's two losses Turner has run the ball 10 times and 11 times.

In Atlanta's two wins Turner has run the ball 21 times and 26 times.

This week the Falcons face-off against the Green Bay Packers. The Packers have played the run well and the pass poorly this season.

We know that Green Bay is going to put up points. Chances are Atlanta will throw a bunch to try to keep up.

It's going to be another low carry day for Turner, and chances are it will result in another loss.

WR Mario Manningham (New York)

Manningham put up 822 yards in 2009 and 944 yards in 2010.

Prior to the start of the season many expected him to have his first 1000-yard receiving season this year.

After four weeks, that no longer seems to be the case.

Manningham has accumulated just eight catches for 115 yards while battling through injuries.

Those injuries allowed for the emergence of Victor Cruz. Many of those passes directed towards Manningham could be heading Cruz's way in upcoming weeks.

Time to bench Manningham until the Giants figure it out at receiver.