Below is our Week 5 Start & Bench Advice for the 2012 fantasy football season.
This start ‘em and sit ‘em advice is not typical, in fact, it’s both bold and unconventional.
If you are looking for plain and simple, or a “play it safe” analysis, you’re in the wrong place.
Let’s get to it!
Smitty’s Week 5 Projections
*These fantasy football projections are by position, and I have ranked the top 20QBs, top 25RBs and top 50WRs/TEs. The scoring format used is a standard PPR format.
Week 5 Quarterback Projections
| Player | Match-Up | Pa Yds | Pa TDs | INTs | Ru Yds | Ru TDs | FF Pts | |
| 1 | Cam Newton | vs. SEA | 310 | 2 | 0 | 65 | 1 | 36 |
| 2 | Robert Griffin III | vs. ATL | 255 | 2 | 1 | 70 | 1 | 31.75 |
| 3 | Aaron Rodgers | at IND | 345 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 29.75 |
| 4 | Tom Brady | vs. DEN | 345 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 27.75 |
| 5 | Matt Ryan | at WAS | 325 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 27.25 |
| 6 | Drew Brees | vs. SD | 325 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 27.25 |
| 7 | Eli Manning | vs. CLE | 320 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 26.5 |
| 8 | Russell Wilson | at CAR | 220 | 1 | 1 | 55 | 1 | 24.5 |
| 9 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | at SF | 310 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23.5 |
| 10 | Peyton Manning | at NE | 300 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| 11 | Jay Cutler | at JAC | 275 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 20.75 |
| 12 | Tim Tebow | vs. HOU | 140 | 1 | 1 | 55 | 1 | 20.5 |
| 13 | Andrew Luck | vs. GB | 275 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 20.25 |
| 14 | Joe Flacco | at KC | 245 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 19.75 |
| 15 | Andy Dalton | vs. MIA | 245 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 19.45 |
| 16 | Ben Roethlisberger | vs. PHI | 245 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 19.35 |
| 17 | Sam Bradford | vs. AZ | 245 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 18.75 |
| 18 | Philip Rivers | at NO | 245 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 18.75 |
| 19 | Michael Vick | at PIT | 225 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 1 | 16.75 |
| 20 | Matt Hasselbeck | at MIN | 245 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 15.25 |
Week 5 Running Back Projections
| Player | Match-Up | Ru Yds | Rec | Re Yds | TTL TDs | FF Pts | |
| 1 | Arian Foster | at NYJ | 140 | 4 | 40 | 2 | 34 |
| 2 | Ray Rice | at KC | 110 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 25.5 |
| 3 | Maurice Jones-Drew | vs. CHI | 101 | 4 | 44 | 1 | 24.5 |
| 4 | LeSean McCoy | at PIT | 95 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 24 |
| 5 | Jamaal Charles | vs. BAL | 92 | 4 | 44 | 1 | 23.6 |
| 6 | Reggie Bush | at CIN | 95 | 4 | 40 | 1 | 23.5 |
| 7 | Matt Forte | at JAC | 80 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 22.5 |
| 8 | Chris Johnson | at MIN | 100 | 3 | 30 | 1 | 22 |
| 9 | C.J. Spiller | at SF | 75 | 4 | 40 | 1 | 21.5 |
| 10 | Adrian Peterson | vs. TEN | 100 | 3 | 22 | 1 | 21.2 |
| 11 | Alfred Morris | vs. ATL | 95 | 3 | 25 | 1 | 21 |
| 12 | Steven Jackson | vs. AZ | 90 | 3 | 25 | 1 | 20.5 |
| 13 | Marshawn Lynch | at CAR | 95 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 18.7 |
| 14 | Darren Sproles | vs. SD | 45 | 4 | 40 | 1 | 18.5 |
| 15 | Brandon Bolden | vs. DEN | 55 | 3 | 33 | 1 | 17.8 |
| 16 | Ryan Mathews | at NO | 80 | 3 | 33 | 0 | 14.3 |
| 17 | Frank Gore | vs. BUF | 90 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 14.2 |
| 18 | BenJarvis Green-Ellis | vs. MIA | 90 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 14.2 |
| 19 | Stevan Ridley | vs. DEN | 65 | 3 | 30 | 0 | 12.5 |
| 20 | Trent Richardson | at NYG | 70 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 12.2 |
| 21 | Fred Jackson | at SF | 55 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 10.9 |
| 22 | Donald Brown | vs. GB | 55 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 10.9 |
| 23 | Cedric Benson | at IND | 55 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 9.7 |
| 24 | Michael Turner | at WAS | 65 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 9.6 |
| 25 | DeAngelo Williams | vs. SEA | 55 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 9.2 |
Week 5 Receivers/Tight End Projections
| Player | Match-Up | Ru Yds | Rec | Re Yds | TTL TDs | FF Pts | |
| 1 | Julio Jones | at WAS | 0 | 6 | 110 | 2 | 29 |
| 2 | A.J. Green | vs. MIA | 0 | 6 | 140 | 1 | 26 |
| 3 | Victor Cruz | vs. CLE | 0 | 6 | 120 | 1 | 24 |
| 4 | Wes Welker | vs. DEN | 0 | 6 | 100 | 1 | 22 |
| 5 | Andre Johnson | at NYJ | 0 | 6 | 99 | 1 | 21.9 |
| 6 | Danny Amendola | vs. AZ | 0 | 7 | 88 | 1 | 21.8 |
| 7 | Brandon Marshall | at JAC | 0 | 6 | 95 | 1 | 21.5 |
| 8 | Demaryius Thomas | at NE | 0 | 6 | 90 | 1 | 21 |
| 9 | Larry Fitzgerald | at STL | 0 | 5 | 90 | 1 | 20 |
| 10 | Greg Jennings | at IND | 0 | 5 | 90 | 1 | 20 |
| 11 | Steve Smith | vs. SEA | 0 | 5 | 90 | 1 | 20 |
| 12 | Jordy Nelson | at IND | 0 | 5 | 85 | 1 | 19.5 |
| 13 | Torrey Smith | at KC | 0 | 5 | 85 | 1 | 19.5 |
| 14 | Pierre Garcon | vs. ATL | 0 | 5 | 85 | 1 | 19.5 |
| 15 | Stevie Johnson | at SF | 0 | 5 | 80 | 1 | 19 |
| 16 | Roddy White | at WAS | 0 | 5 | 75 | 1 | 18.5 |
| 17 | Ramses Barden | vs. CLE | 0 | 5 | 75 | 1 | 18.5 |
| 18 | Percy Harvin | vs. TEN | 30 | 4 | 55 | 1 | 18.5 |
| 19 | Donald Jones | at SF | 0 | 5 | 70 | 1 | 18 |
| 20 | Mike Wallace | vs. PHI | 0 | 5 | 70 | 1 | 18 |
| 21 | Lance Moore | vs. SD | 0 | 5 | 70 | 1 | 18 |
| 22 | Rob Gronkowski | vs. DEN | 0 | 5 | 70 | 1 | 18 |
| 23 | Vernon Davis | vs. BUF | 0 | 5 | 70 | 1 | 18 |
| 24 | Eric Decker | at NE | 0 | 5 | 65 | 1 | 17.5 |
| 25 | Antonio Brown | vs. PHI | 0 | 5 | 55 | 1 | 16.5 |
| 26 | Jimmy Graham | vs. SD | 0 | 4 | 65 | 1 | 16.5 |
| 27 | Golden Tate | at CAR | 0 | 4 | 55 | 1 | 15.5 |
| 28 | Antonio Gates | at NO | 0 | 4 | 55 | 1 | 15.5 |
| 29 | Dennis Pitta | at KC | 0 | 4 | 55 | 1 | 15.5 |
| 30 | Marques Colston | vs. SD | 0 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 14.5 |
| 31 | Scott Chandler | at SF | 0 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 14.5 |
| 32 | Martellus Bennett | vs. CLE | 0 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 14.5 |
| 33 | Fred Davis | vs. ATL | 0 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 14.5 |
| 34 | Jermichael Finley | at IND | 0 | 4 | 40 | 1 | 14 |
| 35 | Kyle Rudolph | vs. TEN | 0 | 4 | 40 | 1 | 14 |
| 36 | Brian Hartline | at CIN | 0 | 5 | 85 | 0 | 13.5 |
| 37 | Brandon Lloyd | vs. DEN | 0 | 5 | 80 | 0 | 13 |
| 38 | Anquan Boldin | at KC | 0 | 5 | 60 | 0 | 11 |
| 39 | Reggie Wayne | vs. GB | 0 | 5 | 55 | 0 | 10.5 |
| 40 | Andre Roberts | at STL | 0 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 9.5 |
| 41 | Nate Washington | at MIN | 0 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 9.5 |
| 42 | Malcom Floyd | at NO | 0 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 9.5 |
| 43 | Tony Gonzalez | at WAS | 0 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 9.5 |
| 44 | Josh Gordon | at NYG | 0 | 4 | 45 | 0 | 8.5 |
| 45 | Jermaine Gresham | vs. MIA | 0 | 4 | 42 | 0 | 8.2 |
| 46 | Sidney Rice | at CAR | 0 | 4 | 40 | 0 | 8 |
| 47 | Jared Cook | at MIN | 0 | 4 | 40 | 0 | 8 |
| 48 | Heath Miller | vs. PHI | 0 | 4 | 38 | 0 | 7.8 |
| 49 | DeSean Jackson | at PIT | 0 | 3 | 45 | 0 | 7.5 |
| 50 | Dwayne Bowe | vs. BAL | 0 | 3 | 45 | 0 | 7.5 |
Byes: Cowboys, Lions, Raiders, Buccaneers
Cam Newton (vs SEA) & Robert Griffin III (vs. ATL)
If you benched Cam Newton last week, not only did you ignore my projections for him last week (300pa/40ru/3TDs/1INT), you also broke the golden rule: Never Bench Your Studs! I can’t tell you how many times I heard/saw people contemplating benching Newton last week for borderline top 10QBs. Crazy talk! Never write-off stud players after just three weeks of play. Well, while Robert Griffin III had 323 passing yards, 43 rushing yards and a score in Week 4, his zero passing touchdowns is already causing some Griffin III owners to have some doubt. Let me tell you, I’m trying to find these doubters in all of my leagues so that I can acquire RG3 now before he goes nuts in Week 5 and beyond. To me, RG3 is a top 3-5 fantasy QB looking forward. Doubt that? Enjoy the show! Week 5 should be a big day for both of these passers.
Cam Newton Week 5 Projections: 310 passing, 2TDs, 0INTs, 65 rushing, 1TD
Robert Griffin III Week 5 Projections: 255 passing, 2TDs, 1INT, 70 rushing, 1TD
Looking For Week 5-Only Rankings?
View these Weekly Line-Up Rankings here (week 5 only, and we have both PPR and Non-PPR).
Note: These rankings could be updated as early as Tuesday afternoons, but could be ready as late as Wednesday evenings at 6pm EST. These Weekly Rankings are maintained by Mile_High_Man.
Comment Below! Get Some Week 5 Advice!
NOTE: JRMRRT, Whos_Ur_Doggie, bddavidson and Mile_High_Man will be the contributors/moderators answering the comments below, as most all of my (Smitty) Week 5 thoughts can be found above in the projections listed… these fine folks will provide some much-needed and highly-recommended variation to all of your weekly line-up dilemmas.
Russell Wilson as 8th QB? As a Seahawks fan and Wilson owner I wish I could believe it, just seems far too hopeful…
Wilson’s athleticism and ability to make plays with his legs gives him upside over a lot of the QBs below him. 60 rushing yards and a rushing TD is always possible with a QB like Wilson and that’s 12 points alone right there. He’s due and the Panther’s defense is his most favorable match-up yet this season. Is he a risky start over QBs below him like Flacco and Dalton? Yes, and I couldn’t fault anyone for starting them over Wilson and I would probably play it safe as well there but Wilson should have a nice week vs the Panthers. Pete Carroll needs to open the play book up a little IMO.
I know he is on bye this week and the season is young but what can I expect out of DeMarco Murray for the rest of the season? Romo seems to be killing his opportunities at a significant amount of carries with the turnovers and having to play from behind…
thinking the same thing about Murray, no idea what to do beacuse that Cowboys O line is horrible, but he’s so good
welcome john , make no mistake about it murray is a stud in every right other than a bad o line and i agree with that but he is too own in dynasty..it is not romo fault that the o line suxs..
Unfortunately not much unless they fix the line and/or commit to the running game. That O line is terrible and Murray is getting grabbed behind the line of scrimmage on most plays. He’s also the type of back that needs 20-25 carries a game to be effective. I’d move him in redraft leagues and he is a hold in dynasty format.
Thanks guys. It is a redraft, so I think I will have to wait for him to have a decent game because there isn’t any traction right now from anyone for him. Hopefully Sjax picks it up and can put up some points in my RB2 position in the meantime. I’d hate to sit Murray so maybe I will keep him in and flex Sjax until I can move him.
Think I read somewhere that S Jax hasn’t scored a TD in his last 11 games.
Sorry i don´t see it with newton this week, did you saw what seattle did to aaron rodgers ? i don´t care if they lost to the rams…trap game, they will come to play against the panthers and newton is in trouble
FF wise Cam is a stud he scored 35 in my ppr league this past weekend i doubt him myself but once again he produces agaisnt a IMHO not so good falcons def..
I learned this week to play your studs. I sat Cam for Flacco and Cam netted 14 more points. Fortunately it didn’t factor into deciding a game for me. The Seahawks have the 9th ranked passing defense according to MFL while the Falcon, the team he just scored 34 points on, are ranked 8th. If he is focused, Cam can put up points on anyone… that’s my opinion of coarse.
Donald Jones: Any reason why he is top 20 this week vs. the Niners?
i would look elsewhere for a filler…..
Win or loose Buffalo can put up points and someone is going to score them. Jones is talented and the least covered guy right now and we have seen that Fitzpatrick is looking for him. I’d still need to have pretty bad bye issues or have very little depth to be starting him any week.
This is digging pretty deep on the bench but Jerome Simpson or Maclin (standard). Not many other choices because of byes.
maclin
Love the new projections format! This site just keeps getting better and better!
This is very interesting. Smitty likes Ramses Barden over Domenic Hixon. There’s no doubt that the matchup vs a Browns secondary that is missing Joe Haden has me chomping at the bit; however. I’m surprised giving the nodd to Barden considering that he only got 4 targets compared to Hixon’s 11 targets in Week 4.
what about mcgahee? u dont have him in the top 25. in weekly ranking u have him 42nd. i know tough matchup but he is higher than that.
I’m a little confused. The other weekly rankings on the site are maintained by a different person? It’s a little odd to see such discrepancy in rankings between you guys.
Week 5 line up advice:
QB: Vick, Luck
RB: Foster, Benson, D. Brown, Rodgers
WR: AJ, Roddy, A. Brown, Britt, Dez
TE: Bennett, Rudolph
K: Bryant
DEF: Cardinels
Can you also help with any trade rec’s 12 team league. RB’s are a premium. Waiver wire is usually baron
10 team ppr. sjax or mcgahee?
McGahee
thanks i was kinda wtf cuz sjax is much higher on the projections n weekly rankings. i thought i was missing something cuz sjax projected by smitty for 20+ pts.
Trying to move Murray for DMac…might be able to get it done..
have owner thinking hard…Murray & Dez for DMac & Harvin..non ppr
I like that move. Good luck!
Do these rankings account for injuries? I saw Lance Moore & Greg Jennings listed. Neither will play this week…
Also, are you saying I should start Brandon Bolden (new WW pickup) over Trent Richardson? Something about that feels wrong to me…
As always, thanks for your input…
Hey Gabe…I think the rankings often come out before injury reports so be mindful of that and use common sense. Bolden over Trent? Go with your gut but no one would have thought it was a good move last week either. NE will likely run often in this game to keep Manning off the field and Cle could get down real quick against the Giants. An arguement could be made both ways here. GL.
James Jones or Randall Cobb this week with Jennings out? Thanks.
Jones for me Jason but in reality either could go off in that offense so good luck.
Hey guys
I was hoping you guys can help me figure out who to start for my third receiver. Jerome Simpson, Kendall wright and Kenny britt. Which one of the three should I start. Thanks !!
Britt is unlikely to play and even said he doesn’t feel ready. I’d go with Wright.
Last minute thoughts on flex spot (.5 PPR): J. Rodgers, S. Greene, or A. Jeffery?
Thanks,
KG
I could really use some advice. I am in a 12 team standard league (1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 WR/RB, 1 TE, 1 K, and 1 DEF).
My team:
QB: Vick, Luck
RB: Foster, Benson, D.Brown, Rodgers
WR: AJ Green, R.White, D.Bryant, A.Brown, Britt
TE: Bennett, Rudolph
K: Bryant
DEF: Arizona
I currently sit 3-1 with Foster going tonight down by 28 they have Houston DEF going as well. Most likely 3-2 by the end of day. A trade has been proposed to me Darren McFadden for Roddy White. What do you think?