Fantasy Football Week 5: First "Bye" Week

By Tim Bearden in News on Oct 8, 2011 8:45PM

Well here it is, the true test. The first "bye" week has arrived and now you're panicking. Maybe you didn't pick up enough back-ups. Maybe some of your playmakers aren't a possibility this week.

Welcome to week 5, the dreaded "bye" week. All fantasy owners will have to face it. If it isn't you this week, maybe it will be next week. Either way its time to start freshening up that roster. Once you've wandered the waiver wire with Alex, it's time to start setting that line-up.

Teams that have bye weeks in week 5: Baltimore, Cleveland (this really should not matter for anyone except those who were unfortunate enough to draft Peyton Hillis), Dallas, Miami, St. Louis and Washington.

So no Tony Romo (QB), Dez Bryant (WR), Joe Flacco (QB), Anquan Boldin (WR), Chad Henne (QB), Ray Rice (RB), Rex Grossman (QB), Brandon Marshall (WR) -- who has been kind of a disappointment if we're being honest -- or Peyton Hillis (RB) this week. So it's time to dig a little deeper into the roster.

Without further delay here are your start/sit options for week 5:

Starts:

1. Tom Brady (QB) - Sure he had a bit of a tough week last week compared to the first three weeks, but it's Tom freakin' Brady. I'd be surprised if he couldn't get you points on a "bye" week this year.

2. Cam Newton (QB) - Despite the Bears' best efforts, Newton still put up over 350 yards last week. If you weren't convinced after the Packers game he's the real deal, you should be by week 5. He should be your primary starter if you lack Tom Brady.

3. Matt Stafford (QB) - I'm with you, I thought this was a fluke at first, but Stafford has continued to grow as a quarterback all season and shows no signs of slowing down. Yes, he's playing the Bears, but they only technically lost to the Bears in their first match-up last season. Stafford is looking to avenge that loss and has the tools to do it this season. This Lion is hunting Bears.

4. Julio Jones (WR) - He was looking a little rusty on the Falcons this season, but Matt Ryan seems to have oiled gears for Jones and he's starting to get valuable again. I've been told he shouldn't be on the waivers, so you should be playing him now.

5. Arian Foster (RB) - Injury? What injury? Foster had 30 carries for 155 yards against the Steelers last week and with Oakland being extremely weak at stopping the run this season, he's definitely your best bet.

6. Wes Welker (WR) - Welker and Brady continue to click as the season rolls on. Welker is Brady's main target, which makes him susceptible to double coverage. But if he's open, watch out this season. He's on pace to shatter the NFL season reception record. Keep him playing.

7. [ALT] Jahvid Best (RB) - He was valuable early in the season and has had a couple of rough weeks, but the Bears didn't show last week they could stop the run. Expect Best to get a lot of looks this week. Since you don't have Rice or Hillis this week, he's a great back-up. Same could be said for Matt Forte after last week's performance against the Panthers.

8. [ALT] Josh Freeman (QB) - Tampa Bay is not a great team this year, but Freeman is showing promise in the pocket. He's been fairly consistent in the fantasy points category, but had a big week against the Colts last week and could have a repeat performance against the 49ers. Flacco, Romo and Grossman are all out this week, why not pull him off the bench and test his fantasy value.

9. [ALT] Johnny Knox (WR) - Knox isn't likely your first choice for a starter. He hasn't seen many looks this season and has dropped a couple of passes. But Boldin, Bryant and Marshall aren't working this weekend and you need a new receiver. If he gets the ball, you'll get the points back from missing those two wide-outs.

10. Greg Olsen (TE) - It wasn't looking great for fantasy owners with Olsen last week, but by the end of the game he made around his projected points of the week. Olsen should be your starting tight end every week anyway. I learned that the hard way *cough* Scott Chandler *cough*.

Sits:

1. Anyone on a "bye" week - You would think this could go without saying, but I have players in a couple of my leagues who are leaving their "bye" week players in because of lack of depth. Hit the add/drops and save yourself from a goose egg!

2. Scott Chandler (TE) - I think I heard this mistake earlier. Oh wait, I made it last week. Chandler is not getting as many looks from Fitzpatrick as owners would like. Let him sit until he and Fitzpatrick start connecting.

3. Devery Henderson (WR) - Marques Colston is back so don't expect Henderson to get as many looks as he was. He also has a calf injury leaving him questionable for week 5. If you have other options for WR or Flex, use them.

4. Lance Moore (WR) - He's going to get even less looks than Henderson. Not only would I sit him, but I'd also drop him. Your bound to have better wide receivers on your waiver wire.

5. Kendall Hunter (RB) - Hunter started over Frank Gore last week and Gore ended up producing more last week than he has all season. Look for Gore to get the starting job back this week. Not to say Hunter isn't going to get looks, but San Francisco is playing a Tampa Bay team who's been tough on rushers. Expect Gore to get a majority of the carries.

6. Deion Branch (WR) - With Welker getting nearly all the looks from Brady, Branch isn't likely to add many points to your roster. I'd let him sit until Brady shares the love.

7. Mario Manningham (WR) - He's just not looking good at all this season. He was a big prospect, probably went high in the draft for your league and has produced virtually nothing. He's a dud so far this season. Bench 'em.

8. Bears (D/ST) - You've seen them for the last three weeks on this list and week 5 is no different. Stafford has the ability this season to really give this defense fits. And with Best as their running back don't expect many points out of the Bears this week.

9. Kevin Kolb (QB) - While he may be playing the winless Vikings, I still don't trust him to do anything of value for your team. Let him sit.

10. New Orleans Saints (D/ST) - They're playing the Panthers this week. And if Newton has showed us anything, he's shown he can make a defense irrelevant. Don't even risk points on the Saints this week. Play your back up defense. You should have one by now.

That's week 5's starts and sits. Don't stress if it's a heavy bye week for you this week, that just means you get it out of the way early. There's still plenty of time in the season to make adjustments and impacts.

Follow me on Twitter (@tdbearden) for Sunday last minute decisions from 10 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. with hashtag #CFF. I'm tweeting live to answer your roster questions!