The Weekly Ringer

The University of Mary Washington Student Newspaper

Fantasy Football Corner – Week 5

5 min read

By ZACH MORETTI

Start Em:

Courtesy of the Associated Press -- Cowboys QB Tony Romo has been a non-factor in fantasy the past three weeks. But with the Chiefs on tap this week, he should put up big numbers.
Courtesy of the Associated Press -- Cowboys QB Tony Romo has been a non-factor in fantasy the past three weeks. But with the Chiefs on tap this week, he should put up big numbers.

QB- Tony Romo (Cowboys): Romo has struggled the past two games, throwing zero touchdowns in back to back games for the first time in his career. But Romo was great against a bad Tampa Bay defense in Week 1 and he gets to face a bad Kansas City defense this week, so look for him to rebound.

RB- Knowshon Moreno (Broncos): After a bad first week, Moreno has been strong three weeks in a row. He faces a solid New England Patriots defense, but Denver is committed to the run and, with Correll Buckhalter slowed with a sprained ankle, Moreno could get even more carries this week.

WR- Mike Sims-Walker (Jaguars): If you missed out on adding Sims-Walker before last week, you missed his huge game on Sunday (91 yards and two TDs). If he is still available in your league, go grab him ASAP. If you already have him, start him with confidence this week against a mediocre secondary.

TE- Tony Gonzalez (Falcons): Gonzalez was stellar the first two weeks of the year but then was a no show in Week 3 against the Patriots. Don’t be scared by that one bad week. Gonzalez is a premiere fantasy TE, coming off a bye week and facing a terrible Rams defense. Start him with confidence.

K- Kris Brown (Texans): The Texans and Cardinals match-up should be an old fashion shoot out, so Brown should put up big numbers.

DEF- Dallas Cowboys: Last week we said one good week for this D wasn’t enough proof. Last week this unit played better then the fantasy numbers showed and with a match-up against what seems to be a completely inept Kansas City offense, the Cowboys defense looks like a good start.

Sit Em:
QB- Eli Manning (Giants): Eli has been a great fantasy option up to this point, but he is now battling a foot injury and this week he faces an Oakland Raiders defense that ranks a respectable 13th in the NFL in pass defense.

RB- Michael Turner (Falcons): Tuner has averaged just 3.5 YPC this year and he has a tough matchup against a San Francisco 49ers defense that is statistically the fourth best against the run.

WR- Steve Smith (Giants): The young Giants WR has put up the best fantasy numbers at his position this season. However, his QB isn’t 100 percent and this week he will have to go toe-to-toe with one of the best corners in the game in the Raiders Nnamdi Asomugha.

TE- Kellen Winslow (Buccaneers): You were advised to bench Winslow last week, and until further notice keep him on that bench. He faces another tough defense this week in Philadelphia and he still has a young, inexperienced QB at the helm.

K- Rob Bironas (Titans): The Titans offense has failed to give Bironas opportunities this year, so despite a solid match-up against the Colts, he isn’t reliable enough to start.

DEF- Tennessee Titans: Coming into the season, the Titans D was considered one of the top fantasy defenses. However they have been terrible this season, particularly against the pass, and they face some guy named Peyton Manning this week.

Add Em:
QB- David Garrard (Jaguars): Garrard has been very underrated as a fantasy QB this season. He probably isn’t a great long term add, but with a matchup against an average Seattle secondary, he could fill in nicely for those people whose regular QB’s have a bye week.

Courtesy of the Associated Press - After not getting a single offensive snap in week 3, Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall put up 191 total yards and two touchdowns last week.
Courtesy of the Associated Press - After not getting a single offensive snap in week 3, Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall put up 191 total yards and two touchdowns last week.

RB- Rashard Mendenhall (Steelers): After a Week where he didn’t get any offensive snaps at all, Mendenhall had a career day in week 4. With Willie Parker out, Mendenhall rushed for 165 yards, added another 26 yards receiving, and had two scores. With Parker questionable again this week, Mendenhall is a must add and start with Detroit on the schedule.

WR- Steve Breaston (Cardinals): Breaston has played two games this year and posted 83 yards in one and 94 yards in the other. He faces a Houston pass defense that has only put up decent numbers because of their total inability to stop the run. But The Cardinals are a passing team, so they’ll attack this D through the air and should succeed.

TE- Heath Miller (Steelers): Miller was quiet before a great game this past week against the Chargers in which he posted 70 yards receiving and two TDs.

He is a good red zone target for QB Ben Roethlisberger and with a game against the Lions this week, there could be many red zone opportunities.

K- Neil Rackers (Cardinals): Like Kris Brown, he should take advantage of the match-up of two high powered offenses facing off against two sub-par defenses.

DEF- Miami Dolphins: This unit played inspired football and put up big numbers this past week against a young QB in the Bill Trent Edw

ards. They face another young gun this week in Mark Sanchez and the Jets QB is coming off a rough week of his own, so the Dolphins face him at a good time.

NFL Games of the Week:
Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) vs. Baltimore Ravens (3-1) (1 p.m. on CBS)

Atlanta Falcons (2-1) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-1) (4:05 p.m. on FOX)

New England Patriots (3-1) vs. Denver Broncos(4-0) (4:15 p.m. on CBS)

Week 4 Results: 13-6

Stat Em:

CHECK QB- Jay Cutler (141 Passing Yards 2 TDs, 8 Rushing Yards, 1 TD — 20 Fantasy Points)

CHECK

RB- Matt Forte (121 Rushing Yards 1 TD, 21 Receiving Yards — 20 Fantasy Points)

CHECKWR- Chad Ochocinco (24 Receiving Yards, 2 TDs — 14 Fantasy Points)

X TE- Dustin Keller (31 Receiving Yards, 0 TDs — 3 Fantasy Points)

CHECK K- Lawrence Tynes (2 FGs, 3 PATs — 9 Fantasy Points)

CHECK DEF- Denver Broncos (10 Points Allowed, 5 Sacks, 1 INT, 1 Fumble Recovery — 13 Fantasy Points)

Sit Em:
X QB- Phillip Rivers (254 Passing Yards, 3 TDs — 20 Fantasy Points)

X RB- Ryan Grant (51 Rushing Yards, 50 Receiving yards 0 TDs — 10 Fantasy Points)

CHECK WR- Marques Colston (33 Receiving Yards, 0 TDs — 3 Fantasy Points)

CHECK TE- Kellen Winslow (21 Receiving Yards, 0 TDs — 2 Fantasy Points)

CHECK K- Nate Kaeding (0 FGs, 4 PATs — 4 Fantasy Points)

CHECK DEF- Dallas Cowboys (17 Points Allowed, 3 Sacks, 1 Fumble Recovery — 6 Fantasy Points)

Add Em:
CHECK QB- Shaun Hill (152 Passing Yards, 2 TDs — 14 Fantasy Points)

X RB- Tashard Choice (33 Rushing Yards, 47 Receiving Yards — 8 Fantasy Points)

CHECK RB- Glenn Coffee (74 Rushing Yards, 31 Receiving Yards — 10 Fantasy Points)

CHECK WR- Mike Sims-Walker (91 Receiving Yards 2 TDs — 21 Fantasy Points)

X TE- Zach Miller (33 Receiving Yards, 0 TDs — 3 Fantasy Points)

X K- Matt Prater (1 FG, 2 PATs — 5 Fantasy Points)

CHECK DEF- Cincinnati Bengals (20 Points Allowed, 2 Sacks, 1 INT, 1 Fumble Recovery, 1 TD — 13 Fantasy Points)