Fantasy Friday: Week 5
PITTSBURGH (93-7 THE FAN) -- We are at the quarter mark of the season and fantasy football is completely up for grabs.
The top 5 QB's don't include the names Manning and Brady. In the running back spot some guy named Alfred Morris is ahead of the names McCoy, Rice and Gore. As for the wide receiver position, guys named Andre Roberts and Jeremy Kerley are doing better than Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald.
Nothing seems to be making sense, but we try to do our best to find out exactly when the true stars will begin to step up and be stars.
Here are my stars and duds for week 5.
Quarterbacks To Play:
Ben Roethlisberger - As talented as the Eagles secondary is, they haven't seem to be able to stop anyone last season and that hasn't changed this year. With the Steelers running game struggling look for Ben to drop back and throw 40+ times on Sunday.
Peyton Manning - Peyton vs. Brady, just like we use to remember. Neither team has a running game and both defenses and shotty to say the least. This could be an old fashion shootout out between two of the best quarterbacks of our generation.
Tom Brady- See Above. Brady vs Manning is the match-up that everyone loves, and it is back after a 1 year hiatus. Brady is still adjusting to a 1 TE offense, but after leading the offense to 52 points last week he is once an elite QB in fantasy.
Quarterbacks to Bench:
Matt Cassel - I own him in one of my leagues and he will certainly be on the bench. When you go up against a ball hawking team like the Ed Reed led Ravens you bench your QB.
Michael Vick - Vick is someone that has turned the ball over 9 times already this season and is facing a defense that returns James Harrison and Troy Polamalu from injury. Oh, AND the Eagles are on the road. Not a good combination for Vick and Co.
Running Backs to Play:
Matt Forte - The Bears are playing the Jacksonville Jaguars, enough said!
Ray Rice - The Ravens have won this year by mixing up their offense. Rice has had more catches than any other player for the Ravens this year and 86 touches in just 4 games, that is almost certainly double digit points every week.
LeSean McCoy - In the past you would never start a RB against the Steelers, but that is in the past. The Steelers have struggled on the defensive side this year and McCoy is ready for a breakout week.
Running Back to Bench:
Rashard Mendenhall - Yes, we know that Mendenhall is finally healthy, but that is what worries us. He will get his touches to get the feel back, but nobody knows exactly how much he will play.
Any Buffalo Running Back - Normally it is not a bad thing to have the depth at the RB spot that Buffalo has, but when you are trying to figure out which guy to play out of the 3 possibilities it just isn't worth it.
Wide Receivers to Play:
Mike Wallace -I mentioned earlier that I think Ben will have a big game and I think Wallace will be the main part of that game. Nnamdi Asomugha has been terrible since joining the Eagles and he will clam the assignment of Wallace on Sunday.
Jeremy Maclin - I don't like Michael Vick this week because of his bad habits and turnovers, but against a weak Steelers secondary Maclin could be the guy that benefits the most. Desean Jackson will most likely be matched-up with Ike Taylor which leaves Maclin as the top target this Sunday.
Wide Receivers to Bench:
Brian Hartline - Yes Hartline had a career year, but it is one week. Hartline is depending on a rookie QB to continue the numbers he put up last week. That is never a good match-up.
Greg Little - Despite being a big time target in college, Little became an afterthought in the Cleveland offense. Blame the 29-year old rookie QB.
That is your Fantasy Friday update for Week 5, as always good luck and don't forget to update your rosters.
