Below you will find our Week 5 Start Bench Advice for the 2013 fantasy football season. Who should you start entering Week 5? Who should you sit? If you have start ‘em and sit ‘em dilemmas not mentioned below, be sure to post a comment at the end of the article; I, or one of our awesome DraftCalc moderators, will try and hit you back with an answer!
Also, don’t forget to check out our Week 5 Projections.
Let’s get to it!
- Maurice Jones-Drew at STL
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Maurice Jones-Drew at STL
Maurice Jones-Drew has been disappointing so far this season, rushing for 45, 27, 43 and 23 yards in Weeks 1-4. And, it’s not like he has done well in the receiving department, with 0, 1, 19 and 5 yards in Weeks 1-4. The good news is that he faces the 30th-ranked rushing defense in the league this week, a unit that surrenders 133.5 rushing yards and 1.25TDs per-game. All this being said, because I doubt the guy for the long-term, and hate his offense from a fantasy standpoint, I sell-high after this week if the runner does good (I own MJD).
- Lamar Miller vs. BAL
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Lamar Miller vs. BAL
Keep in mind that this is a “sleeper” start section, so none of these guys are locks to produce. Rather, they are risky plays, but with tons of upside. One has to question how smart that Miami coaching staff is given that they have the key to winning games right on their roster… they refuse to use Lamar Miller properly, a runner that is knifing through defenses like butter on his way to a 4.6 YPC on the year. The dude only has 43 carries. That’s just over 10 carries per game, which is pathetic. Will Miami’s coaching staff realize what they have in Miller? That’s tough to say, and that’s why Miller continues to disappoint, and that’s why he is a “sleeper” start vs. a lock to produce. Miller looked phenomenal in Week 4, rushing 11 times for 62 yards (5.6) and 1TD. If he had just received carries in the second-half last week, he would have had that breakout campaign that all Miller owners have been waiting for. Still, that Week 4 performance, per-touch, should have been the writing on the wall for that Miami coaching staff. But, instead, news reports yesterday indicated that the team has no intention of giving Miller more touches moving forward. Miller’s talent and breakaway ability should force their hand in time, so keep the faith, and keep running Miller out onto the field if you have him slotted into that RB3 or flex-type role. He could easily rack-up 60 and a score again this week on limited action, although, if he gets 15 plus touches, watch out!
- Chris Johnson vs. KC
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Chris Johnson vs. KC
After dropping just 21 rushing yards in Week 4, Chris Johnson owners are in panic mode. While I won’t suggest I trust the guy for the long haul this year, I do love his match-up this week against the Chiefs, who rank 24th against the rush so far this season. I think 90-100 rushing yards and score is very doable for CJ2K, and so is 2-3 receptions for 20-30 yards. If you own him and he does well this week, sell-high!
- Eli Manning vs. PHI
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Eli Manning vs. PHI
Eli Manning is easy to doubt right now, and like with CJ2K and MJD up above, I’m not so sure I love the guy on the year… however, for Week 5, I love the match-up. The Eagles rank second-to-last against the pass this year, and it’s not like Eli doesn’t have weapons. I wouldn’t be shocked if Manning had 300 plus and 2-3 scores in this contest. Victor Cruz should be good for 4-5 receptions for 90-100 yards and 1TD.
- Terrelle Pryor vs SD
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Terrelle Pryor vs SD
Stay on the news to ensure that Terrelle Pryor (concussion) is a go for this one, but all indications are that Pryor will be ready for this strange game that has now been moved to kickoff at 11:35pm EST on Sunday night. This kickoff time is unorthodox, but so is Pryor, and that San Diego passing defense ranks 29th in the league. And, given that San Diego ranks 25th against the run, I envision Pryor rushing for something huge in this one. Even if he drops just 200-220 passing and let’s call it 1TD, he could rush for 50-70 on the ground and punch in a rushing score. Those 100-yard rushing games aren’t out of the question for Pryor when he faces rushing defenses like San Diego.
- Giovani Bernard vs. NE
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Giovani Bernard vs. NE
Giovani Bernard disappointed a lot of fantasy owners in Week 4, as he rushed for just 37 yards. He did pull in 6 receptions for 38 yards, though. Still, fantasy owners were expecting 100 total yards and a score, so now many are considering sending GioGio for the now, and I think he is still a very sneaky-good fantasy RB2, and this is despite his RBBC situation. Bernard played 50 snaps in Week 4 while BenJarvus Green-Ellis played 18. Granted, the flow of the game took away the run, but that same thing could happen against NE in Week 5, so Gio feels like a lock to be on the field during a grip of passing situations. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if Gio rushed for 35-40 yards, pulled in 4-5 balls for 50-70 yards and scored 1TD.
- AJ Green – WR CIN
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AJ Green – WR CIN
AJ Green is somehow already being talked about as a disappointing fantasy WR1 so far this season. How so? I guess I don’t care why some feel that way, as it screams “Buying Opportunity” to me. Green may have only totaled 41, 46 and 51 receiving yards in Weeks 2-4, but he did have a score in Week 3, and he dropped 9 receptions for 162 yards and 2TDs in Week 1. Take advantage of any knee-jerk reacting on this one!
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- Giovani Bernard – RB CIN
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Giovani Bernard – RB CIN
Buy-low, as this kid will only get better. Plus, he is climbing out of a RBBC, folks… he isn’t falling into one. There is a big difference. Just wait until he gets more and more carries. He already is a lock into that Darren Sproles-type role no matter what, a role capable of making Gio Bernard a consistent flex/RB3 all season long. And, again, that’s worse-case right there! Buy-low!
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- Doug Martin – RB TB
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Doug Martin – RB TB
Doug Martin will never be cheaper than he is right now, especially in dynasty. Redraft or dynasty, go buy-low, as this guy is still a top 3-8 overall player. He is being traded like a second-round talent right now. Steal. If you have a struggling CJ Spiller, David Wilson, or are worried more about Trent Richardson than I am, do some kind of combo trade to land Martin! Even though I love TRich for the future, I know when to buy-low on a guy, regardless of how much I like certain players, and I’m cooking up all kinds of offers in all kinds of leagues to acquire Martin, some include my boy TRich. Or, if you own a stud RB like Adrian Peterson or LeSean McCoy, and let’s say you’re struggling to get wins games and need to make a move… well, sometimes you have to move a stud even if you don’t want to, so consider buying Martin and a huge WR upgrade in exchange for either AP or McCoy.
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- Chris Givens – WR STL
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Chris Givens – WR STL
Nope, I don’t doubt him, I’m buying low everywhere I can.
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- Jared Cook – TE STL
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Jared Cook – TE STL
Again, I don’t doubt him, I’m buying low everywhere I can.
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- Eddie Lacy – RB GB
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Eddie Lacy – RB GB
Eddie Lacy is back after a bye week and healing from a concussion. Is there risk? Sure, and I still doubt his long-term value more than most. But, for this year, as long as you can handcuff him to Jonathan Franklin, you might be looking at a very high-end RB2 down the stretch. Making a move for a running back combo like this (and let’s say you make a huge WR upgrade because of it) is how many teams turn things around in a snap. The key is making the move before the value increases. Don’t buy-high, the point is buying so low that you upgrade elsewhere and quietly dominate with your crafty RB2 combo down the stretch.
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Our Week 5 Player Projections are sortable, so that you can list only running backs, quarterbacks, wide receivers or tight ends individually. Or, you can list all positions at once. We also have a PPR and non-PPR sorting option. Your line-up decisions just got a whole lot easier!
View Week 5 Projections
Nonppr, redraft
Debating of trying to acquire Martin by sending a Lamar/LBell combo to acquire.
My concern is if Martin doesn’t turn it around Then i have given up two rbs that appear to be on the upswing and I can’t afford that when I am sitting at 1-3. In, need to win now and need help now mode… and not sure which way to lean….if that makes sense
I have currently sent out miller/Moreno for Martin but doubt he will take that….
What does your roster look like and what are the starting req? Id ask this question on the forum if I were you GoPack.
Thanks JR,
Start 2 rbs 1rb/wr
Rbs: TRich, miller, Gio, LBell, DWilson, Moreno
That’s a lot of young RBs, lol. I’d definitely try to get Martin using 2 of them. Id hang onto to T Rich and Wilson of those though.
Swung for the fence in the draft and am paying for it right now….
.5 ppr, need to start two of these. I’m leaning McGahee and Woodhead:
Miller, Woodhead, McGahee, Joique Bell
I like miller and woodhead.
Was just offered Murrey and Jordan Cameron for AJ Green. I have Julio, Cobb, Percy and Hopkins at WR. And Miller, L.Bell, Gio Bernard, Vereen, and Pierce at RBs.My TE is Kyle Rudolph. What should I do?
I’d take that in a heartbeat
Murray isn’t a big upgrade for you, but Cameron is. Perhaps go after him.
I would not breakup that young wr corp. awesome young team give it time to mature..i am guessing this dynasty..but I would try and get Cameron on my team if possible..Rudolph/pierce for him.
I wish it were dynasty. I also have Luck at QB but unfortunately its redraft. I’m 1-3 in this league and need W’s but I am patient, last year I started out 0-5 and still won the whole thing. But with that being said in redraft should I still hold on to AJG?
smitty, I got roddy white for ryan mathews. should i start him this week?
.5 PPR league
RB: rice, mjd, murray, quizz
WR: marshall, roddy, TY, Givens, Avery, Mike Williams
hard to say keep updated on that ankle injury. I like Williams as V jax is injured along with marshall /Avery depending on how many you start.
Tampa’s got a bye this week
Hey guys I was offered aj green for Murray, thoughts please thanx.
T-rich and McCoy are my rbs Murray is my flex and I’m not strong at wr. I would replace Murray with miller who’s on my bench .
yes I like that deal get AJG.
Standard 12 league team. Need to start one QB. All touchdowns are 6 points.
Bradford, R. Wilson or Hoyer?
I’m liking Bradford this week at home against the Jags.
I need to start 3 of the following; T Rich, David Wilson, Lacy, Gio?
Gio/Lacy/Wilson, TR has a very tough matchup if you start him temper expectations..
Givens, TY or Lacy this week as flex??
1PPR
Givens, he should have a decent day against the Jags. GL
Hey Smitty, just traded lamar miller and antonio brown for aj green. Thanks for the buy low advice! Its hard giving up a promising rb in lamar miller, but since i already have ap and trent, im gonna be just fine with this huge upgrade at wr.
Even if Miller goes nuts, so will AJG, so you don’t have to worry about that trade burning you. Worse case it’s even and that’s if Miller gets his fair shot. Nice move. I’d make that every time and I love Miller.
smitty would you trade woodhead and cameron for cobb?i have graham
with having graham yes I would trade woodhead/Cameron for cobb. you can this questionto our forum if you would like more rsponses.GL
Smitty,
Who would you start as a WR2?
Denarius Moore vs SD
Nate Washington vs KC
Torrey Smith vs MIA
James Jones vs DET
Thanks,
eggman
Eggman welcome I like James jones and T Smith out of that group
Hey guys!
I need to start 2:
Moreno @ DAL
Miller vs BALT
Gio vs N.E.
Thanks!!!
I would roll with Miller and Gio, Moreno could have a decent day but that team is more of RBBC than I like..