Week 5 is upon us, and so too is the start of NFL team bye weeks. This adds yet another wrinkle to the already challenging fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em task. As far as the running back position is concerned, injuries, backfield timeshares and, dare I say poor ball security, continue to alter the outlook for players in fantasy football on a week-to-week basis. Despite the challenges, setting the optimal starting lineup is crucial to one’s success.
For the record, players like Breece Hall, Alvin Kamara and Bijan Robinson will still be started in lineups weekly. It’s the RB2 and FLEX spots where things get a bit dicier. To help you make some of these tough decisions, check out our weekly fantasy football rankings and read below for our Week 5 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em analysis at RB.
Wide Receivers — Week 5 Fantasy Football Start/Sit
Tight Ends — Week 5 Fantasy Football Start/Sit
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Fantasy Football Start ’em, Sit ’em: Week 5 RBs
Start: Joe Mixon Fantasy Outlook vs. Bills
If Mixon can get back into action this week, he couldn’t ask for a better fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em matchup. The Texans will host a Buffalo Bills team that is giving up the most PPR fantasy points per game to the RB position by a wide margin. Where the Bills have been particularly poor at defending the position is in the passing game. 28 receptions, 250 RB receiving yards and three touchdowns allowed all rank dead last among NFL defenses.
While Mixon can be plugged right back into starting lineups if he can return this week, managers might also want to have a contingency plan in place. With Dameon Pierce also not yet returning to practice, Cam Akers would again be the preferred Texans RB in Week 5 over Dare Ogunbowale.
Start: Javonte Williams Fantasy Outlook vs. Raiders
Despite all of the mixing and matching Sean Payton has been doing with his RBs, Williams has actually played north of 50% of the team’s offensive snaps in all four games to date. Tyler Badie looked like he might swoop in and assume a larger role, but a back injury last week has him likely headed to the IR. Thus far, Williams clearly has the edge over Jaleel McLaughlin.
With the Broncos’ passing attack still a work in progress, Williams could be a focal point of the offense this week against a Raiders team that is allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing RBs.
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Sit: Zack Moss Fantasy Outlook vs. Ravens
Sit: Devin Singletary Fantasy Outlook vs. Seahawks
Devin Singletary is the second running back in our Week 5 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em column who has yet to practice at the time of writing. He is dealing with a groin injury but has stated himself that he has a chance to play. Unfortunately, even if he does suit up and start, the New York Giants’ top RB is difficult to trust in fantasy this week.
While Singletary may wind up being good to go, the Giants are expected to be without star rookie receiver, Malik Nabers on the road this week against the improved Seattle Seahawks defense. This is a major problem given that his presence has seemingly resurrected an otherwise pedestrian offense. To date, Singletary’s two strong fantasy performances were buoyed by him finding the end zone.
Even if Singletary goes, it would hardly be a shock to see his workload reduced by the injury. He will be hard-pressed to live up to his RB21 ECR ranking and should be viewed as a fringe RB2 at best.
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