Week Five Start 'em/ Sit 'em

Averages, averages, averages

Week five brings us to week two of bye weeks with such notable fantasy studs sitting this weekend (Tom Brady,  Brandon Marshall, Rashard Mendenhall); possibly leaving you with an empty roster spot previously filled by a for sure starter. Based on bye week implications here are your week five starters.

QB, Sam Bradford, Detroit Lions: who cares that you don't have Tom Brady available to play this week? You picked up Bradford after his week one play when he showed he wasn't the second coming of Ryan Leaf. Always a good decision. After four games he ranks 12th among QB's with 6 touchdowns and 236 yards per game. This week he plays the 26th ranked passing defense in Detroit giving up 241 ypg and 13 touchdowns over all. Detroit's Shaun Hill has shown his ability to throw and should light up St. Louis 22nd ranked passing defense, thus providing Bradford with ample opportunity to light up the board for more yards and scores.

RB, Ryan Torain, Washington Redskins: of course you could be recommended to start Arian Foster or Frank Gore, but where is the risk in that? Torain looks to get most if not all of the carries this weekend against the Packers, thank you Clinton Portis, and their 25th ranked rushing defense giving up 118 yards per game. In one week Torain moves from pickup of the week to fantasy stud.

WR, Hakeem Nicks, NY Giants: can you be 3-1 and have the worst defense against the pass? If you are Houston yes you can. If Eli Manning didn't have such a tendency to turn the ball over he would be a great play at QB this week, however, his main squeeze Nicks definitely is. Facing a defense that averages on giving 2 touchdowns and 338 ypg means Nicks will get his targets, and you uber points.

However, you may want to bench these guys unless you have no other options...

QB, Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals: despite a bad game against a fiery Charlie Batch the TB defense is limiting QBs to 194 ypg with 6 interceptions. Palmer has given up more turnovers then touchdowns in four games, and has shown against good defenses his inability to rack up yardage or touchdowns. In fact, discounting garbage time against NE or a trashy Cleveland defense Palmer has thrown only two meaningful touchdowns.

RB, Ryan Matthews, San Diego Chargers: even though he was healthy last week for his return against Arizona he still split plenty of carries with Ryan Tolbert to the point that Tolbert rushed for more yardage and more fantasy points. Perhaps this is SD still being cautions with Matthews and his concussion, or Norv Turner trying to figure out if he has a usable two RB system, but without Matthews being a foreseeable #1 in this offense he is bench worthy.

WR, Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals: Greg Williams crazy blitzes + rookie QB Max Hall + healthy Beanie Wells = bad fantasy points. Over the past two weeks, with Max Hall throwing his way, Fitzgerald is average 41 yards and .5 touchdowns. In fact, it hasn't mattered who has thrown the ball to Larry because his production has been horrible all year long.

• 2 touchdowns through four games
• Averaging 4.5 receptions per game
• Averaging 52 yards per game

Need any other reason not to start him?

Week Three Start em or Sit em

Coming into week three most owners find themselves at an even record of 1-1, however, due to bad lineup management or bad coaches, er Eric Mangini, some find themselves in a 0-2 hole. Properly deciding between who to start and who to bench may help dig one out of the fantasy pits or virtually sink one's season.

Week three starters by position:

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, QB: over two games Vick is sporting a 105.5 passer rating, 459 yards, and three touchdowns. This week he plays against a 29th ranked defense in Jacksonville giving up an average of 300 yards per game, and 120 on the ground. Expect Vick to throw and run his way to the #1 points ranking Sunday.

Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints, RB: against good defenses in Minnesota and San Francisco Thomas has showed that he can bare the load of being a feature back, and do the job of Reggie Bush catching passes out of the backfield. This week he plays, at home, against an Atlanta D giving up an average of 130 yards to opposing running backs. Pierre looks to be the lead back, and perhaps the only back getting reps since Reggie Bush is out with an injury, Chris Ivory is probable, and Ladell Betts has just been signed. Picking a good fantasy WR option on this Saints team is a crap shoot, but RB is for sure with Thomas.

Santana Moss, Washington Redskins, WR: someone has to catch Donovan McNabb's passes, and it may as well be Santana. Over two games he is averaging 8 catches for 83 yards a game. Week three pairs him against a St. Louis D that has given up 497 yards; this against poor offenses in Arizona and Oakland. Moss has shown to be McNabb's favorite target, and should finally record his first touchdown of the year.

Mercedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars, TE: coming into the season if asked who would have the most fantasy points for the Jaguars, through week two, most would answer MJD. Yet, two weeks into the season Mercedy Lewis leads all of Garrard's options fantasy points wise. He plays this week against a Eagles D giving up 248 yards in the air and 123 on the ground. Last week the Lions drove consistently down the field against Philadelphia earning numerous trips into the red zone. In week one against the Broncos Garrard showed his trust in Lewis by giving him two tosses in the end zone; both resulting in touchdowns. Don't let MSW fool you with his big game last week. Mister inconsistent will show up, and leave Garrard with one reliable option. Play Lewis.

Defense/ Special teams: roam waiver wires and play match ups if you need help. Favorable match ups include Redskins, Tennessee, and Kansas City.

Week three sit em:

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons, QB: his play on the road fails in comparison to when he plays in Atlanta. Michael Turner is banged up, and the Saints D will be synced on Ryan's only option White. Less then a stellar performance should be expected from Ryan.

Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions, RB: he ran all over a bad rushing defense last week, and has a grand total of 5 touchdowns for the year. However, this week he plays against a stellar Minnesota D that will force Shaun Hill into throwing it to keep up with Favre reigniting his fantasy career.

The whole NY Giants WR core: as expressed earlier this week in my stock up/ down column I am not hot for Eli, and even more so against an improved Titans D giving up on average 85 yards per game while forcing 8 fumbles and 1 interception. Opposing QB's have been sacked 8 times already, and expect nothing less against an immobile Eli who showed his issues with waiting in the pocket too long and fumbling.

Good luck, and good roto...