Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 5
SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 5 rankings.
StartJay Cutler, QB, Dolphinsvs. Titans
Ever since a perfectly adequate season debut in a Week 2 road victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, Cutler has very much looked like a retired quarterback. He's completing 66.7 percent of his passes but is yet to top 230 passing yards in a game and hasn't thrown multiple touchdowns on the same day.
Only the New England Patriots are allowing more average fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks than the Titans, with Houston Texans rookie Deshaun Watson the latest to put on a clinic against the defense. Cutler and the Dolphins are likely to start most drives in excellent field position with journeyman backup Matt Cassel starting for the Titans.
Fearless prediction: 262 yards passing, 3TDs
Other QBs to start
- Jacoby Brissett, vs. 49ers
- Deshaun Watson, vs. Chiefs
vs. Ravens
Lynch has looked dismal while being held to just 40 yards on 15 rushing attempts over his past two games, both Raiders losses. His average yards per attempt has dropped each game since starting the year with a respectable 4.2 yards per carry in his NFL return in Week 1.
With quarterback Derek Carr sidelined for the foreseeable future, head coach Jack Del Rio will need to do everything he can to make things easy for backup EJ Manuel. Expect Lynch to exceed 20 touches for his first time as a member of the Raiders.
Fearless prediction: 84 yards rushing, 23 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Other RBs to start
- Isaiah Crowell, vs. Jets
- Andre Ellington, at Eagles
- Thomas Rawls, at Rams
at Browns
Kearse was among the position's best through the first two weeks of the season, but he has dropped off in the Jaguars' two consecutive victories, catching just seven passes for 59 yards and no scores. The surprisingly favorable games have resulted in quarterback Josh McCown passing less often, particularly deep.
The Browns are no tall order at 0-4, but they have the advantage of home field, and the Jets remain winless on the road. Kearse was held to just 4.3 yards per reception last week, but the Browns' 8.3 yards allowed per passing attempt is worse than all but three teams.
Fearless prediction: 63 yards receiving, TD
Other WRs to start
- Cooper Kupp, vs. Seahawks
- Randall Cobb, at Cowboys
- Jaron Brown, at Eagles
at Giants
NFL-record holder Antonio Gates played one more offensive snap than Henry in Week 4, but the sophomore was the recipient of Philip Rivers' touchdown pass. Henry has been a major disappointment to fantasy managers this season; other than a 7-for-7 for 80-yard performance in Week 2, he has just two targets on three receptions for a meager 16 yards.
This is entirely a matchup play, with the Giants allowing more than one touchdown per game to opposing tight ends.
Fearless prediction: 77 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Other TEs to start
- Austin Seferian-Jenkins, at Browns
- Zach Miller, vs. Vikings
at Bengals
The Bills are 3-1 largely by limiting what Taylor needs to do. While it has resulted in a 3-1 record, Taylor hasn't been much of a fantasy asset, throwing for a high of 224 yards on the season. He attempted a season-low 20 passes in Week 4 and has now lost yet another receiving option in wide receiver Jordan Matthews.
No. 2 wideout Zay Jones ranks near the bottom of the league among qualified receivers, according to Pro Football Focus, essentially leaving Taylor only tight end Charles Clay as a serviceable option.
Other QBs to sit
- Blake Bortles, at Steelers
- Philip Rivers, at Giants
at Lions
Stewart continues to plug away with 3.9 rushing yards per attempt this season. His season high of 68 yards in the Week 4 victory over the Patriots is representative of his lackluster fantasy returns this season.
Stewart will provide a non-zero point total, but he has an exceptionally low ceiling at this point with just one receiving touchdown and no rushing scores. The Lions are holding opponents to just 86.3 rushing yards per game, which Stewart will need to again split with rookie Christian McCaffrey.
Other RBs to sit
- Tarik Cohen, vs. Vikings
- Wendell Smallwood, vs. Cardinals
- Alex Collins, at Raiders
vs. Chiefs
Congratulations to those able to scoop Fuller off the waiver wire after his two-touchdown performance in Week 4. More good outings are on the way as the No. 2 option for Watson, but he should be left on the bench while facing a Chiefs defense limiting secondary receivers to 5.5 receptions and 17.4 receiving yards per game. They rank first in DVOA against No. 2 options, according to Football Outsiders.
Other WRs to sit
- Sammy Watkins, vs. Seahawks
- Rishard Matthews, at Dolphins
- Michael Crabtree, vs. Ravens
vs. Packers
Witten's production has fizzled to a halt since being targeted 22 times and scoring two touchdowns in the first two games of the season. He has just two receptions for 12 yards over his past two outings. The Packers are yet to allow a tight end to score a touchdown this season, with opponents being fully willing to target their weak cornerback play.
Other TEs to sit
- Evan Engram, vs. Chargers
- Zach Ertz, vs. Cardinals
Gallman racked up 42 yards on 11 rushing attempts with two catches for 8 yards and a score in his NFL debut for the Giants. An average of 3.8 yards per rushing attempt would be unimpressive, if not compared directly to the 1.9 season average for incumbent starter Paul Perkins.
Gallman has some potential as a fourth-round pick from the 2017 draft, but most importantly, the Giants have little option but to commit to him as the focus of their rushing attack.
Mike Williams, WR, Chargers
Williams remains without a firm timetable for his NFL debut, as he continues to recover from a back injury. His ownership will surely sky-rocket once the return is made official, making now the time to buy. He'll join a crowded and underachieving Chargers' passing attack, but he could quickly emerge as the top red-zone threat.
QuitMarvin Jones Jr., WR, Lions
Two weeks without a touchdown is drawing attention to the fact Jones has just eight receptions on a mere 18 targets through four games. Matthew Stafford remains locked onto Golden Tate as the Lions try to remove the chains, while spreading the ball around in the red zone. Jones isn't worth the weekly frustration as a touchdown-dependent receiver.
Coby Fleener, TE, Saints
With the Saints on bye in Week 5, fantasy managers with shares of Fleener are forced to add a replacement tight end this week. Wide receiver Willie Snead will make his return to the team in Week 6, cutting into Fleener's already volatile target share. Drop Fleener now in search of someone with more long-term potential if the spot is being purely used for stash purposes anyway.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
Copyright (C) 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.