Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matches based on a PPR rating system in fantasy football. This column will not cover elite NFL players like Josh Allen, Jonathan Taylor or Cooper Kupp. Instead, I’ll look at the players you have questions about who might exceed or fall short of expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy roster decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the NFL season.
Fabs Top 10 Quarterbacks
1. Josh Allen vs. Steelers
2. Patrick Mahomes vs. Raiders (MNF)
3. Jalen hurts the Cardinals
4. Lamar Jackson against the Bengals
5. Justin Herbert at Browns
6. Joe Burrow at Ravens
7. Kyler Murray at the Eagles
8. Tom Brady vs. Falcons
9. Aaron Rodgers vs. Giants (London)
10. Russell Wilson vs. Colts (TNF)
Week 5 Start them, sit down: QUARTERBACKS | BACK RUNNING | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT END | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES
Week 5 Start ‘Em: Quarterbacks
Beginning of the week
Tom Brady vs. Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Listed as a starter last week, Brady had his best game of the season with 385 yards, three touchdowns and 25.4 points in a loss to the Chiefs. I’d also keep him active this week, as the Buccaneers face a Falcons defense that has averaged nearly a fantastic 19 points per game at quarterbacks. Brady also averaged 29.2 points against them in 2021.
start them
Joe Burrow at the Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Burrow, also listed as a rookie a week ago, scored a fantastic 20+ points for the second week in a row. I think he can make it three in a row, as the LSU product faces a vulnerable Ravens defense. In their last eight games dating back to last season, Baltimore has allowed quarterbacks to average a fantastic 22.5 points per game. It’s the most in the NFL.
Derek Carr at Chiefs (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Carr has been inconsistent on the stat sheets, scoring 18+ points twice while failing to score 14 points in his other two games. I’m liking it this week, though, as the Raiders face a Chiefs defense that has allowed quarterbacks nearly a fantastic 22 points per game. Carr has also scored more than a fantastic 18 points against them in three of their last four meetings.
Jameis Winston vs. Seahawks (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Winston missed last weekend’s game in London, so be sure to keep an eye on his status throughout this week. If he’s able to start, I like him as a streaming option against the Seahawks. Their pass defense has been brutal, allowing an average of 282.8 passing yards and a fantastic 21.4 points per game to opposing flaggers in their first four contests.
Ryan Tannehill on Commanders (1 p.m. ET, CBS): It’s been hard to trust Tannehill this season, but fantastic managers in a stalemate could do worse than throw him into a clash against the Commanders. Their defense gave up 10 touchdown passes and over 21 fantastic points per game at quarterbacks. Additionally, two of the last three QBs to face them have scored over 26 points.
Watch NFL Games Live with fuboTV: Start a Free Trial Today!
More starts
• Jared Goff at Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Kirk Cousins vs. Bears (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Trevor Lawrence vs. the Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
DFS Good Deals
• Ryan Tannehill at Commanders ($5,800)
• Carson Wentz vs. Titans ($5,700)
• Trevor Lawrence vs. Texans ($5,600)
Week 5 Sit ‘Em: Quarterbacks
Seat of the week
Matthew Stafford vs. Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Stafford has been brutal over the past two weeks, scoring a fantastic 17 total points without a touchdown. He just doesn’t look good, and his offensive line is a mess. That’s bad news against an aggressive Cowboys defense that will put pressure on Stafford and could force him to make bad decisions. Unless you’re in a super flexible league, Stafford is a sit ’em.
Sit down
Geno Smith at Saints (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Smith was one of my favorite DFS plays last week, and he exceeded expectations with a fantastic 30+ points against the Lions. However, I still don’t see it as more than a game-based option, and this week’s game in New Orleans is bad. Their defense has allowed only one quarterback to score more than 12.9 points against them in their last eight games.
Daniel Jones at Packers (London, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network): Jones set a nice stat line last week, rushing for two touchdowns while scoring 21.6 points in a win over the Bears. He suffered an ankle injury in the game, however, so he could be somewhat restricted or even inactive when the Giants take on the Packers in London. The match is bad and if his ankle is bad too, Jones won’t be a fantastic option.
Justin Fields at Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Fields has been an absolute fantasy league nightmare, scoring no more than 13.6 points in his first four games. That makes him a risk even in the super flex and multi-quarterback leagues. So while this week’s game against the Vikings may not be great on paper, Fields can’t be trusted in an offense that has allowed him just 67 pass attempts this season.
Jimmy Garoppolo at the Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Garoppolo might find success on the field, but he’s not exactly a fantastic quarterback. He has scored a fantastic 22.3 points in his last two games, and he hasn’t thrown multiple scores in six straight games and seven of his last nine since last season. So while the game against the Panthers wasn’t terrible, I just can’t trust Garoppolo.
More seats
• Matt Ryan at the Broncos (Thursday 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
• Marcus Mariota at Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Baker Mayfield vs. 49ers (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox)
DFS fades
• Kyler Murray vs. Eagles ($7,400)
• Matthew Stafford vs. Cowboys ($6,400)
• Geno Smith at Saints ($5,500)
More fantasy and NFL coverage:
Michael Fabian is awarded fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, Youtubeand instagram for your latest fantasy news and the best analysis in the business to help you win a fantasy championship!