Fantasy Football Week 5: Start Em' Sit Em'

Story by Yinzer Crazy Fantasy Expert Luke Ranalli



Another week in the books and man are some quarterbacks emerging for the QB1 spot. It might be a bit early to put all your eggs in one basket, but there is some definite potential here. Let's take a look in this weeks Start 'em Sit 'em.

Start 'em

Carson Wentz - Wentz has been passed around the league like a terrible towel at a tailgate at this point and it's no wonder why. Wentz had a couple decent seasons in Philly but never crested an 80 QB rating in his almost decade stint in the NFL. This year started out looking the same for Wentz, at least the first two games, these last two weeks Wentz is showing a spark that might just ignite this Commanders offense that has some huge weapons to boast. Rookie receiver Johan Dotson put up two TD's last week and Terry McLaurin saw the end zone for the first time this season. With Antonio Gibson, Curtis Samuel and J.D. McKissic, Wentz has the tools to flourish in this offense, and he finally seems as though he's finding his place. This week Wentz faces a shaky Tennessee Titans team that I just cant quite figure out. They aren't letting up a ton of points unless you count the stomping the Bills put on them, but they are coming off of a close loss to the Giants. This game has the potential to be a shootout and as long as Wentz can keep the interceptions low, he could be putting up some of the best QB numbers on the week.

RB

Rhamondre Stevenson - I hate the RB by committee New England has run for years and it has made me stay far away from their running backs for some time. I still don't like that Stevenson is going to be sharing touches with Damien Harrison, but there is a big potential for the ground game this week regardless of sharing snaps. Not only are the Pats playing the Lions who are letting up the second most points to RB's this season, but the QB carousel in New England keeps spinning right now. There is a good possibility that Bailey Zappe gets the start with Brian Hoyer still in concussion protocol and Mac Jones limited in practice with an ankle injury. Honestly I thought Zappe looked good stepping in last week for the injured Hoyer, aside from the fumble obviously. Regardless, I think no matter what QB starts this weekend, the run game is going to be the primary focus in New England.

WR

Terry McLaurin - Two Commanders in my start section? Yea I had a few Iron Cities this week who's asking. Scary Terry is due for a breakout game this season and this week he is poised to do so. Johan Dotson isn't officially ruled out at the time I am writing this, but it isn't looking great that he will play this weekend. McLaurin has been overshadowed this season not only by Dotson but Curtis Samuel who has been seeing more targets than McLaurin too. Samuel should be good to go for Sundays contest against the Titans, but he was out of Wednesdays practice due to an undisclosed illness. If Samuel isn't 100 percent, and Dotson definitely won't be even if he plays, McLaurin should be the go to WR for Wentz this week. Expect Wentz and the front line to perform better against a meek pass rush that the Titans have to offer, and McLaurin to show his vertical prowess in what should be his comeback game of the season. 

TE 

Hunter Henry - I hate doing this for multiple reasons, first being that I just realized my starts only consist of Patriots and Commanders, which I never thought I'd have more than one of them on this list, but here we are. Second reason is Henry just isn't getting the looks I thought he should and would at the start of this season. When I saw Henry going to the Pats my first thought was he could clean up in NE, now I don't know if he will end with anything notable. This week is different though, I already mentioned the QB situation in NE could be a game time decision between Jones and Zappe, now couple that with the fact that Jonnu Smith is week to week with an ankle sprain leaving Henry as the only viable TE option (unless Gronk unretires and shows up). I'm thinking that regardless of the QB decision this week, New England should be playing a dink and dunk kind of game relying heavily on the running backs and the tight end to accomplish this. If you have a solid TE Henry isn't the move, but considering TE is such a shit show so far this year, he's worth a look if you have some low end producers on your team.

Sit 'em

QB

Tom Brady - Oh how the mighty have fallen. I'm not sure how I feel about this because the goat always finds a way to get the job done, but this year every time I think he'll shrug it off and be back to his normal self, he throws up another dud. I know he's coming off his most productive game this season, but he got banged up too. The Falcons aren't exactly stellar on defensed, in fact they are ranked 25th against the WR position and 23rd in the pass rush department, so in theory Brady should have a great game right? I don't think so, I think Brady isn't 100 percent this Sunday and his early season struggles continue. Mike Evans is healthy which is always a good sign, but Chris Godwin, Julio Jones, and Russell Gage are all going into this weekend with questionable designations. This Bucs team is pretty banged up already and with Brady not being at the top of his game, I am losing a lot of confidence. I know I will eat my words for this, but sitting at .500 four games into this season, I think this might be the first time since 2009 that Brady could miss the playoffs. 

RB

Najee Harris - I know, here, you can have my Yinzer card. I didn't want to do this but the matchup isn't there and Najee has had his woes this season. Harris has yet to see a 100 yard game, and has only two touchdowns this season, one rushing one receiving. I thought, probably much like yinz guys that Najee was going to be leaned on heavily until this QB situation got figured out but it hasn't really worked out that way yet. Until last week, Najee hasn't had more than 15 carries, and no more than five receptions in a game this season. It would be different if he was seeing the end zone but with his low production in yards and limited scoring ability right now Najee is looking rough around the edges. If the Steelers were playing anyone else this week I'd say let Najee have another shot, but I don't see a situation where the Steelers aren't playing ketchup (I miss Heinz Field) to the Bills early. Kenny Pickett should get the start this week and I think Matt Canada is going to have a lot to prove if he wants to keep his job. I see Kenny wheeling and dealing his way around to try and put up as many points as possible and Najee may be used more as a pass rush blocker more than a running back this week.

WR

Marquise Brown - This was not an easy choice, WR should be a pretty bountiful position this week given the matchups. Marquise Brown though stood out to me with the questionable status. It's not that I think he won't play or even be limited but not being 100 percent does play a factor this week. Rondale Moore is back to good and Greg Dortch has some potential to start taking a few looks. I think as the season goes on Brown starts to see less targets and the young guys start to get more looks from Kyler Murray. Philly isn't bad against the pass and if they are smart they will load up on Brown being that he's Murray's favorite target. Murray needs to get back to form and to do that he needs to start spreading the ball around. Until DeAndre Hopkins is back it is likely that Brown remains Murray's favorite target, but I think if any team is smart, they will start putting extra eyes on Brown limiting his production moving forward.

TE

Dalton Schultz - Cuz screw em, he's killed me!

Just kidding here's the real one

Darren Waller - I did not see Waller starting the season like he has, but with only one touchdown and not cresting a 100 yard outing yet this season, it's hard to put your faith in him lately. Kansas City isn't anything special on defense and shouldn't cause a concern. What should cause concern is the fact that Wallers targets are starting to decline and has only five in each of his last two games, that's the same amount of targets Josh Jacobs has in the same games. The addition of Davante Adams has definitely had an impact and he is obviously Derek Carr's favorite target, but that shouldn't be taking so much from Waller. Never the less, Waller is slowly sliding out of favor when it comes to production, and I don't see it getting much better. Mack Hollins has been getting into the mix and once Hunter Renfrow is back to healthy Waller may slip to only a handful of targets a game. This week should be a pretty good litmus test to see if Waller can come back or falls off the fantasy relevancy charts for good.