Jeremy Maclin checks in as this week’s Fire Starter
I hope you survived the first week of byes. At least you didn’t have to go up against Gronk, right?
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WEEK 4 RECAP
Let’s take a look at a quick recap from Week 4.
I Knew It
Allen Hurns – WR – Jacksonville Jaguars – 11 rec/116 yds/1 TD
He was indeed the better Allen on the day.
Karlos Williams – RB – Buffalo Bills – 18 rush/40 yds, 3 rec/30 yds/1 TD
The touchdown saved his day in all formats and he made me look good with 21 total touches.
C.J. Anderson – RB – Denver Broncos – 11 rush/43 yds
I knew he would burn you and that Ronnie Hillman was lurking. Hillman also had 11 carries but his went for 103 yards and a score.
Golden Tate – 3 rec/29 yds
We can’t really blame Tate when it is becoming obvious that Matt Stafford is the problem.
Ryan Tannehill – 198 yds/2 TD/2 INT
I thought you might be looking for a new quarterback last week, but I’m sure you are now.
I Blew It
Derek Carr – QB – Oakland Raiders – 196 yds/2 TD/1 INT
I expected over 300 yards and multiple scores. He did not quite get there.
Rishard Matthews – WR – Miami Dolphins – 1 rec/16 yds
Can I blame Joe Philbin for this one?
Jonathan Stewart – RB – Carolina Panthers – 10 rush/50 yds
Stewart and I are done. Cam Newton is the RB1 in Carolina and we should view him as such.
Kyle Rudolph – TE – Minnesota Vikings – 2 rec/7 yds
Terrible, terrible outing.
Justin Forsett – 27 rush/150 yds
You know, I actually meant to make him my fire starter, honest mistake? I completely blew it on him!
John Brown – WR – Arizona Cardinals – 7 rec/75 yds
This could have been an “I Knew It” in standard but I am a PPR nut. It is still the Larry Fitzgerald show but John Brown was a touchdown away from a huge game.
Gary Barnidge – TE – Cleveland Browns – 6 rec/75 yds/1 TD
Barnidge made me look silly but I’m fine with it because he is no fluke. Doesn’t doubt motivate athletes?
WEEK 5 START/SIT SUGGESTIONS
Let’s move on to Week 5 for your start/sit suggestions.
Who’s Hot – Start
Fire Starter: Jeremy Maclin – WR – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Chicago Bears
Maybe Andy Reid hates Travis Kelce? No one really knows. In the meantime, Jeremy Maclin has put together back-to-back weeks of 140+ yards on 19 total receptions. His match up at home should guarantee this momentum to continue. Alex Smith is not afraid to feed him targets and you shouldn’t be afraid to start him this week.
Peyton Manning – QB – Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders
Manning has only thrown for 300 yards on one occasion this season and has five interceptions to his six touchdowns. The old man is slowing down and owners are hesitant to play him, but they should not be this week. Oakland is giving up over 300 yards a game this season and I think Manning with have his best day this week. He will go over 300 yards, throw multiple touchdowns, and have his first turnover-free game of 2015.
Eli Manning – QB – New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers
It’s a good week to be a Manning. Ben McAdoo’s offense has been clicking the past few weeks and even though the 49ers have only given up six touchdowns through the air I still like Eli to go off this week. He has just one interception on the season and the Giants are trending in the right direction. Look for Eli to throw a few touchdowns and avoid interceptions this week, just like his brother.
Dion Lewis – RB – New England Patriots @ Dallas Cowboys
We all saw what running backs have been doing to the Dallas Cowboys. Devonta Freeman ran all over them for three touchdowns and the New Orleans Saints running backs combined for 202 total yards and two scores. Dion Lewis could be sharing duties with LeGarrette Blount, but I think he has a huge week against this team that has been decimated by injuries.
T.J. Yeldon – RB – Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Yeldon has two games with work-horse numbers of over 20 carries. The Jaguars are comfortable giving the rookie the load and they will do so again this week. He is still looking for his first career touchdown and the Buccaneers are giving them up on the ground. Celebrate with Yeldon in your starting lineup when he hits the end zone this week.
Travis Benjamin – WR – Cleveland Browns @Baltimore Ravens
Benjamin is for real and his quarterback has noticed. He has 10 catches over his past two games which have come on 20 targets. The Ravens defense is allowing over 250 receiving yards a game and has given up seven touchdowns to receivers this season. Benjamin is the top receiver in Cleveland and we need to start viewing him as such.
Alshon Jeffery – WR – Chicago Bears @ Kansas City Chiefs
This is a very, very risky suggestion but I’m going with it. Jeffery has been held out to keep him healthy and that should encourage all of us. I think he plays this week and I think he dominates at 100% health. He has been on your bench for too long and you drafted him too high to proceed with caution. If he is active, which I have a strong feeling he will be, you play him.
Charles Clay – TE – Buffalo Bills @ Tennessee Titans
Tyrod Taylor loves throwing the ball to Charles Clay. The Tennessee Titans are giving up double-digit points to tight ends. Clay’s fantasy points increase each week. Need I say more?
Who’s Not – Sit
Ice Cold: Carlos Hyde – RB – San Francisco 49ers @ New York Giants
I’m a Hyde fan and I would even argue that he is the top offensive weapon on the 49ers. I do not like Hyde this week because of the matchup against the Giants who are surprisingly the top defense against the run. They will stack the box and bottle up the only real threat on the other side of the ball.
Derek Carr – QB – Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos
You can start an elite quarterback against the top all-around defense in the league but you can’t start Derek Carr against them. This is arguably his most difficult contest of the season and the sack-happy Broncos will give him hell all day. The Raiders will ride Latavius Murray and possibly Roy Helu, Jr. to take the pressure off their young quarterback. Keep him on your bench this week.
Joseph Randle – RB – Dallas Cowboys vs. New England Patriots
The loss of Lance Dunbar should give more opportunities to the Cowboys back who just scored last week, shouldn’t it? No, it shouldn’t, not with Randle in the dog house. He refuses to listen to his coaches and he found his way to the bench last week. Randle will play because this is a true committee that is now thin, but this week we will see the shift towards Darren McFadden and maybe even Christine Michael.
Bills Running backs @ Tennessee Titans
We are not sure who will be toting the rock for Rex Ryan’s run-first team but we do know it is doubtful it will be Karlos Williams. This has all the makings of a running back by committee. I suggest keeping all Bills backs out of your starting lineup this week.
Amari Cooper – WR – Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos
The rookie is red hot but see Derek Carr above. The Denver Broncos defense really is that good.
Martavis Bryant – WR – Pittsburgh Steelers @ San Diego Chargers
I know you have been holding him for four weeks and you are ready to unleash Bryant, but I would not do it this week. Until Ben Roethlisberger is back under center this offense will lean heavily on Le’Veon Bell. The Steeler’s may even ease Bryant back in. Keep him on your bench for another week.
Gary Barnidge – TE – Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens
Please believe me when I tell you I love Barnidge and the success he is experiencing, but I’m going to put him as a sit one more time. The Ravens are formidable against tight ends and hold them to around 40 yards a game. Vegas has this game at 43 points with the Ravens as heavy favorites. Barnidge will be involved, but the low score projection combined with the Ravens efficiency against tight ends is all you need to know about this match up.
Get Start/Sit & Waiver Advice with My Playbook
I do not have a crystal ball and can only rely on research and good old intuition. I may hit or miss on a few but these are my honest predictions for this week. I’ll keep myself honest with a full disclosure section next week when I give you your who’s hot, who’s not for Week 6. Consider my recommendations here, but ultimately trust in yourself. Good luck!
Jen Ryan is a correspondent at FantasyPros. Click here for her archive and feel free to reach her and talk all things fantasy @FFdeJENerate.
