Week 5 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet

Is this the week where a Broncos running back will separate? Is Tavon Austin going to have another big game? Dave Richard previews every game in the Week 5 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet.

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Each week, the Fantasy Cheat Sheet will combine Fantasy analysis and game predictions with a confidence scale to help owners get a definitive answer on who to start in their leagues.

Say, what do all those snazzy numbers mean? That's our confidence scale. It slides from 10.0 for a superior start to 5.0 for an average rating to a 1.0 for an awful rating.

Is the confidence scale based on a specific scoring system? It is based on standard leagues but is (mostly) applicable to PPR leagues. You should probably consult our PPR-specific rankings for more detail.

Who is listed below? Everyone that matters, but anyone already starting in 90 percent or more of CBSSports.com leagues is considered an obvious must-start. We're not going to waste your time trying to convince you to start Le'Veon Bell.

What if someone isn't listed below? If someone's missing, it's not an accident. Anyone missing is a definitive must sit, if not a must-cut player. Or they're on bye.

What's the best way to find a specific player on this page? Use your personal search function -- CTRL-F on PCs and Command-F on MACs. If neither of those are options, or if you're on a mobile device, you can search by game. Games are listed by starting times.

What if I am still unsure who to start or sit after reading this? Ask me! Shoot me a note on Twitter (@daverichard) (use #CBSFCS). You can always consult our rankings , too.

Time to rock n' roll.

Jaguars at Buccaneers, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Blake Bortles (6.0): The matchup isn't as peachy as you might think for Bortles -- the Bucs haven't allowed a 20-point Fantasy passer since Week 1. But Bortles has at least 19 Fantasy points in each of his last three games. Expect him to get near, if not slightly over, that 20-point mark.
Jameis Winston (4.8): With six passing touchdowns compared to seven interceptions along with an offensive line that has struggled to protect him, even a matchup against the Jaguars isn't enough to make Winston appealing.

Running backs
T.J. Yeldon (7.8): This could be a big breakout game for Yeldon, who is already coming off a game with a career-best 105 rushing yards. Tampa Bay has allowed some big numbers to opposing running backs, save for last week .
Doug Martin (6.9): Two of Martin's carries in Week 4 combined for 50 yards, both represented his longest two plays of the season. Take them away and he had 56 yards on 18 carries. It's frustrating to see him split snaps almost evenly with Charles Sims, but a matchup against a Jaguars defense playing on the road for the third straight week without top run stuffer Paul Posluszny (they allowed over 4.0 yards per carry without him) makes him a risk worth taking as a No. 2 option.
Charles Sims (4.3): More of Sims' touches have come when the Bucs are trailing, and his touchdowns have been a little fluky. He's worth stashing but not starting.

Wide receivers
Allen Robinson (7.4): Robinson's seen a steady amount of targets -- 33 over his last three games! -- but his numbers have left a lot to be desired. But as defenses start to key in on Hurns, and it could happen this week, expect Robinson to rebound. The Bucs secondary isn't so hot, allowing six touchdowns through four games.
Allen Hurns (7.3): Hurns' 15 targets and 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown were a by- product of the Colts defense focusing on Allen Robinson. The Bucs can't afford to cover either Jaguars receiver tightly, opening the door for both of them to do well. Hurns is at least a No. 3 receiver.
Vincent Jackson (7.1): Of the 147 yards Jackson had last week, 65 came on the Bucs' final drive when the Panthers pulled their starting corners. Jackson also scored on that drive. The Jaguars have allowed non-No. 1 receivers to do well against them, but is Jackson a non-No. 1 receiver? Evans had one target on that last drive. Jackson seems like a safer option than Evans.
Mike Evans (6.8): You might think Evans was shut down by Josh Norman last week, but he barely saw him. Norman stuck to Jackson ... so what is Evans' excuse? If the Panthers think Evans isn't the most dangerous threat on the Bucs, maybe we shouldn't either. He doesn't look full speed and even though he has 25 targets in his last two games, not all of them have been quality throws (as evidenced by his 10 receptions).

Defense/Special Teams
Jaguars (5.9): They're not a great defense to begin with, especially without linebacker Paul Posluszny, who's not expected to play. But two of four DSTs to play the Bucs have had 20 Fantasy points and all four have had at least eight, which isn't a terrible number for a bye-week DST to give you.
Buccaneers (3.5): The last three DSTs to play the Jaguars have had 10 Fantasy points or fewer. The Bucs managed eight Fantasy points or less in three of their last four. They're too risky to take a chance on.

Browns at Ravens, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Josh McCown (5.8): Don't look now but McCown has back-to-back games with 23-plus Fantasy points thanks to throwing for over 340 yards and two scores in each contest. Two of the last three quarterbacks to play the Ravens have posted over 30 Fantasy points, and the one who didn't was Michael Vick in his first start with the Steelers. It's a risk but McCown has some legitimate upside as a bye-week replacement starter.
Joe Flacco (5.7): Over the last two weeks the Browns have allowed opposing quarterbacks to throw for over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns each without an interception. This is great news for Flacco, but who is he going to throw to?! Without Steve Smith last week Flacco completed 6 of 13 passes for 76 yards (not counting a spike to stop the clock). Expect a lot of short-area passing with the occasional deep target to someone like Kamar Aiken. It's a dicey move to start him.

Running backs
Isaiah Crowell (5.5): Would you believe Crowell hasn't played as many snaps and hasn't quite had as many touches as Johnson? It's true. Crowell will get some work against a Ravens run defense that got whipped by Le'Veon Bell last week but should bounce back to slow down the run after a 10-day rest.
Duke Johnson (4.8): Over the last two weeks Johnson has played 21 more snaps than Crowell, had two more touches than Crowell and has 10 yards fewer than Crowell but has as many touchdowns. Most notably, Johnson's numbers have spiked since McCown returned under center. The Ravens have been good against pass- catching running backs, including Bell last week, so Johnson is really only worth taking a chance on in PPR leagues.
Justin Forsett (7.9): Last week the Ravens leaned on him and he delivered. This week he'll get a lot of work against a Browns defense that's giving up 5.1 yards per rush and a whopping 14.1 yards per catch to running backs. Expect another big game.

Wide receivers
Travis Benjamin (5.8): He didn't score last week, but he did catch 6 of 10 targets for 79 yards, proving he's staying involved. Over their last three games the Ravens have allowed four receivers to land at least 15 Fantasy points in a standard league. Benjamin remains worth taking a chance on in deeper leagues and in one-week leagues.
Kamar Aiken (5.9): It's a pretty great opportunity for a pretty decent receiver. In three career games with at least seven targets Aiken has posted at least eight Fantasy points and has scored in two, including one last week. Cleveland has allowed at least one touchdown to a receiver in every game this season. Aiken should fill in as a No. 3 receiver at the very least and could be a benefactor in one-week leagues.

Tight ends
Gary Barnidge (4.7): The good news is that McCown clearly has eyes for Barnidge with at least six completions to him for at least 75 yards and a touchdown in consecutive games. The bad news is that the Ravens are typically great against tight ends, allowing just five of them to score in their last 20 regular-season games. Barnidge is OK as a bye-week replacement.

Defense/Special Teams

Browns (5.1): In a weird way the Browns look like a sleeper because the Ravens are so thin at receiver, but Joe Flacco should find a way to move the chains. And besides, the Browns have had trouble with their run defense. You can do better.
Ravens (5.5): This will be an interesting test for the Ravens as the Browns have allowed nine sacks in their last two games, boosting opposing DSTs to get a minimum of eight Fantasy points. Can the Ravens generate a pass rush to put pressure on McCown?

Redskins at Falcons, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Kirk Cousins (4.9): Two of the last three quarterbacks to play the Falcons has posted over 20 Fantasy points, and that includes Brian Hoyer last week. And Cousins had 23 points last week against Philly. Not enough of a compelling argument to make you consider Cousins? No one would blame you for sitting him.
Matt Ryan (8.9): Blame Devonta Freeman for last week's performance from Ryan -- he didn't have to do much with Freeman running wild. Chances are Freeman will hit some roadblocks this time, and the Redskins pass defense is easily their weak spot. Ryan should get back over the 20-point mark.

Running backs
Chris Thompson (4.9): Take a look at Thompson, who has 163 yards and a touchdown in his last two games. He plays passing downs for the Redskins and isn't such a bad player. He's easily Washington's best running back Fantasy option in PPR leagues ... and perhaps in standard leagues as well so long as Morris and Jones take reps from each other.
Matt Jones (4.5) & Alfred Morris (4.4): If there was a chance the Redskins would play from the lead, or at least stay in a close game, one of these guys would have a shot to do well. Jones played more at the goal line than Morris, so he's probably a smidge better. If the Redskins have to play hurry-up, neither of these guys will get on the field.
Devonta Freeman (8.4): No one should talk you out of starting Freeman, especially after how well he's run the past two weeks. Just know that Washington hasn't allowed more than eight Fantasy points to any running back this season!
Tevin Coleman (3.05): What's his role now? Limited reps considering how well Freeman has been playing? That's what we'd figure, which means his chances of having a semblance of a good game are slim given the matchup.

Wide receivers
Pierre Garcon (7.2): The Falcons allowed a ridiculous 300 yards to Texans receivers last week, including 157 to DeAndre Hopkins. Four receivers in four games against the Falcons have posted 10-plus Fantasy points, and in three games the No. 1 receiver got there. Garcon should pretty much match what he did last week, especially with Jordan Reed out.
Jamison Crowder (4.3): If you're completely desperate for a receiver, Crowder will work out of the slot for Washington. Should be good for at least 10 points in a PPR with Reed inactive.
Julio Jones (9.6): Obvious must-start.
Leonard Hankerson (6.1): Revenge might be on Hankerson's mind as he takes on his former team. Washington has allowed touchdowns and at least 50 yards receiving to multiple receivers in consecutive games.

Defense/Special Teams
Redskins (3.7): Maybe they'd have a chance at picking up a couple of turnovers and sacks if the game were in Maryland. But in Atlanta, the Falcons offense typically hums.
Falcons (7.5): An excellent plug-and-play option off of waivers, the Falcons should be able to sack Cousins a couple of times and land some turnovers along the way.

Bears at Chiefs, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Jay Cutler (6.1): It sure seems like another favorable matchup for Cutler -- he thrived against the Raiders last week. There is some concern the Chiefs will rebound at home and put a lot of pressure on Cutler, plus if Alshon Jefferyand Eddie Royal are out then there will be more pressure on those Bears receivers. Cutler's OK as a bye-week replacement, that's it.
Alex Smith (5.6): Three of four quarterbacks to play the Bears have posted multiple touchdowns on limited passing attempts. The way Smith has been playing suggests he'll throw a decent amount and this is his easiest matchup since Week 1. Figure him to be a good bye-week replacement.

Running backs
Matt Forte (8.9): Obvious must-start.
Jamaal Charles (9.4): Obvious must-start.

Wide receivers
Marquess Wilson (5.55): Wilson played a lot last week and basically will suit up as the Bears most reliable receiver in Week 5 with Eddie Royal and Alshon Jeffery unlikely to play. No team has allowed more Fantasy points to receivers than the Chiefs.

Jeremy Maclin (8.0): The only concern is Maclin not getting quite as many targets as he's had in the Chiefs' past two games when they were playing from behind. Then again, physical outside receivers have done very well against the Bears this season. Count on a minimum of 10 Fantasy points.

Tight ends
Martellus Bennett (7.4): You'll probably start Bennett, but the Chiefs have done very well against tight ends this season, holding down Tyler Eifert last weekend to only six Fantasy points. No tight end has scored more than seven points against them this season and no team's group of tight ends has combined for more than nine points against them.
Travis Kelce (8.1): Obvious must-start. Expect a bounce-back game.

Defense/Special Teams
Bears (3.9): The Chiefs have allowed 17 sacks over their last three games! That's nuts, but the Bears have just six sacks on the season. There's no sleeper appeal here.
Chiefs (7.3): Each of the last three DSTs to play the Bears, a list that includes the Raiders, has posted at least 11 Fantasy points against them. Fumbles and touchdowns have helped prop those numbers up, though. The Bears are averaging 22.7 points and 369.3 yards per game with Cutler starting, so it's not that they're awful.

Rams at Packers, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Nick Foles (5.3): Foles has posted great numbers in divisional matchups when we expected him to stink, and he's been awful in non-divisional games when we hoped for some nice numbers. Though he once famously threw three touchdowns at Green Bay (on 18 pass attempts!), there's too much risk with Foles to consider him a good bye-week replacement.
Aaron Rodgers (9.1): Obvious must-start.

Running backs
Todd Gurley (7.7): Five of the last seven running backs to get 20 touches against the Packers have delivered at least 10 Fantasy points, but only three of the last 10 starting running backs to play at Green Bay have hit that same 10 point threshold. The hunch is Gurley will get a lot of work no matter the game flow, so consider him at least a Top 15 running back.
Eddie Lacy (9.1): Obvious must-start. Hopefully he's going to break out of this single-digit funk he's been in.

Wide receivers
Kenny Britt (6.0): Totally different matchup for Britt than last week when he was shut down by Patrick Peterson. Outside receivers have posted great numbers against the Packers, especially in Lambeau. He's a great bye-week replacement and one-week Fantasy league option.
Tavon Austin (4.7): Austin was red-hot last week but is as inconsistent as they come. You're taking a big risk by starting him.
Randall Cobb (8.9): Obvious must-start.
James Jones (7.6): The Rams have been great against all receivers this season but especially outside guys like Jones, but playing at Lambeau with Rodgers has helped his numbers quite a bit. If the guy scored on Richard Sherman at home three weeks ago, he could come up with another score against the Rams.

Tight ends
Jared Cook (3.7): Half of the tight ends the Packers have faced put up 10 points or more against them, but Cook is too risky to start. He's had 76 yards total in three games after putting up 85 yards in Week 1.
Richard Rodgers (5.5): Rodgers has seen 10 Fantasy points in two of his last three games and the Rams really haven't been tested by a tight end since Week 2. He's an intriguing player worth using at least as a bye-week replacement.

Defense/Special Teams
Rams (5.3): Remember when the Rams DST was a desirable draft option? Ugh. Drop them now as you shouldn't start them at the Pack, then they have a bye in Week 6. Week 7? Home against the Browns. Jump back on then.
Packers (7.1): Three of the last four DSTs to play the Rams have posted at least 11 Fantasy points. The Cardinals came up woefully short last week but the Packers have posted 13 sacks in their last two games and should be able to put some heat on Foles.

Seahawks at Bengals, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson (5.5): Wilson's numbers are typically better on the road than at home, but in four career games following a Monday nighter, Wilson has averaged 11.8 Fantasy points per. Only once -- a home game against the Buccaneers -- has he done better than 12 Fantasy points! Three of the four passers the Bengals have faced posted under 18 Fantasy points. Wilson will have to run amok to get close to 20 Fantasy points.
Andy Dalton (7.0): This is a big test for Dalton, who has been hit-or-miss against playoff- caliber defenses. Seattle's pass defense got off to a rough start before getting Kam Chancellor back. Since his return quarterbacks have totaled 11 Fantasy points over two games.

Running backs
Thomas Rawls (4.6): The matchup isn't so hot. Cincy hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown to a running back on the year and of the four starting running backs it's faced, only one (Jamaal Charles) posted more than nine Fantasy points. The Seahawks O-line and Rawls' last time out are holding owners back from trusting him.
Giovani Bernard (6.6): Bernard could end up being a huge key for the Bengals in Week 5. Seattle's been great against the run but have allowed 8.1 yards per catch to running backs, suggesting Bernard could exploit a good but tired defense.
Jeremy Hill (6.5): The matchup is really tough but it's also a trying matchup for the Seahawks after playing on Monday. Keep in mind, the Seahawks haven't allowed a rushing score this season and if Hill doesn't score there's a real chance he disappoints Fantasy owners.

Wide receivers
Jermaine Kearse (5.1) & Doug Baldwin (4.9): Still two of the trickiest receivers to project given their inconsistency, but the Seahawks should end up throwing a decent amount this week. Cincinnati has allowed 10-plus Fantasy points to four receivers in its last three games, including at least one per game, a surprising stat given the secondary. Both Seahawks receivers are low-end flex options, with Kearse slightly better.
A.J. Green (8.5): Obvious must-start -- you can't leave him on your bench when he's capable of big numbers.
Marvin Jones (5.4): The Seahawks will mix and match their cornerback coverage but chances are Jones won't see a lot of Richard Sherman. He dropped a deep ball that would have been good for a touchdown last week -- maybe he'll get another shot this week.

Tight ends
Jimmy Graham (6.1): You'll probably start Graham but the Bengals have allowed just six touchdowns to tight ends over their last 26. The lack of targets is disheartening.
Tyler Eifert (6.9): Since Kam Chancellor's return, the Seahawks have slammed the door on tight ends. But they haven't quite been properly tested either (Martellus Bennett with Jimmy Clausen throwing to him and Eric Ebron, who got hurt). The gut feeling is that the Bengals will chip away on the Seahawks defense with Eifert in an attempt to open up their options more.

Defense/Special Teams
Seahawks (6.5): They're definitely a start-worthy unit, but don't be disappointed if they don't turn in their usual effort. On the road after playing on a Monday night will take the wind out of every defense's sails. It might take a special-teams play to make this DST valuable in Week 5.
Bengals (8.0): This is a statement game for the Bengals defense. Last week they recorded five sacks and still came out with only nine Fantasy points. The hunch is they'll overpower the Seahawks offensive line and make things very tough for Wilson.

Saints at Eagles, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Drew Brees (7.5): There are still legitimate questions about his arm strength -- only one of his passes traveled as deep as 30 yards through the air and only a handful went even 20 yards. Some of his throws were perfect, others fell short. He'll compensate accordingly, and the Eagles secondary is banged up, so he's worth using as a Top 12 quarterback but not a Top 5 sure thing.
Sam Bradford (6.7): The only passer to not record at least 20 Fantasy points against the Saints this year was Brandon Weeden last week. The Saints don't even have one interception on the year. After unleashing some deep passes and overcoming some bad luck on the road in Week 4, Bradford is a super-sneaky starter in one-week leagues and a top-of-the-list bye-week replacement in seasonal formats.

Running backs
Mark Ingram (8.0): Obvious must-start, even though the Eagles run defense has been fantastic through four games .
C.J. Spiller (4.2): Last week's touchdown was fun but it was very circumstantial as the Saints pulled off a quick play against a Cowboys defense quickly putting a new player on the field. Without that 80-yard score, Spiller had 10 yards on two carries and 19 yards on four catches. He's not a very reliable start.
DeMarco Murray (6.3): The best thing you can say about Murray is that he didn't look hurt last week when he ripped off a 30-yard run. Playing at home against a defense that historically struggles to play well outdoors on grass is another positive. It's a hunch more than anything but Murray should be filed into lineups as a No. 2 option. The Saints have allowed 4.1 yards per carry to running backs not only on the year but also in two road games on grass.
Ryan Mathews (4.1): There's no telling how much work Mathews will get, but it's clear he's the Eagles' most effective back through four games .
Darren Sproles (3.4): Everyone's aiming for Sproles to extract revenge against his old team, but it's pretty clear at this point he not only struggles to have big games on grass but he barely gets the ball on grass! In 14 games on grass since joining the Eagles, Sproles has had 10 Fantasy points in one of them and 10 or more touches in two of them! If you're starting him, good luck.

Wide receivers
Willie Snead (5.3): Last week more than ever, Snead reminded me of Lance Moore. A precise route-runner who can make a play after the catch. Expect Snead to stay a part of the Saints offense and come up with a game similar to Week 4.
Brandin Cooks (4.8): This will shock you -- even though Cooks leads the Saints in targets, he does not have the lead in catches (Ingram with 22), receiving yardage (Snead with 240) and he still doesn't have a touchdown. He also has an unappealing track record playing on grass (seven Fantasy points is his career high in four such games). Even in a very positive matchup, he's a risky start.
Jordan Matthews (7.8): This will sound like a broken record, but Matthews still figures to play a big role for the Eagles offense and thus shouldn't be benched. There's too much potential, especially against a Saints defense that has allowed at least nine Fantasy points to a receiver in every game this season.

Tight ends
Zach Ertz (5.1): Keep an eye on Ertz this week -- the Saints have allowed three touchdowns to tight ends on the year and two of the three tight ends they've faced with at least five targets have delivered huge. Ertz had a touchdown called back last week and was targeted in the end zone another time.

Defense/Special Teams
Saints (4.3): The Saints haven't touched 10 Fantasy points in a game yet this season. It's hard to believe in them on the road.
Eagles (6.3): Maybe this is a tough sell because the Eagles secondary is a mess, but with Brees not at full strength and the Saints receivers not exactly playing lights out, the Eagles could end up with a surprising stat line.

Bills at Titans, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Tyrod Taylor (7.7): If the Bills' run game is down to Anthony Dixon, Taylor's going to have to make more plays. He was a called-back touchdown away from a 23-point game last week, so don't be in a hurry to ditch Taylor after a disappointing game. The Titans have allowed multiple passing touchdowns to every quarterback they've faced and 8.2 yards per pass attempt on the year.
Marcus Mariota (7.9): We're looking at a great matchup for Mariota , who, coming off a bye, should be in position to put up some nice numbers. The guy is one rushing yard away from having at least 20 Fantasy points in every game.

Running backs
Anthony Dixon (5.2): Dixon is averaging 3.4 yards per carry over his career and in the one career game he had over 15 carries he averaged 2.0 yards per rush against a good Jets defense last year. The Titans run defense is not great (4.5 yards per carry) but Dixon would have to score in order to help Fantasy owners.
Antonio Andrews (4.0), Dexter McCluster (3.6) & Bishop Sankey (3.3): This is a good week to just monitor the Titans run game -- for two reasons. One, we have no idea how Ken Whisenhunt reshuffled his running back deck during the bye week. Two, we wouldn't want to trust any of these guys against a good Bills run defense. If you had to use one, Andrews is the best choice since he could work the goal line.

Wide receivers
Percy Harvin (5.5): The Titans have allowed two touchdowns to receivers in consecutive games, but they'll get Jason McCourty back to help shore up the secondary. Harvin's a pure risk-reward Fantasy option, just as he was last week.
Kendall Wright (7.7): The Bills have given up two scores to receivers in each of the last three weeks, not to mention 11.2 yards per catch on the season. It sets up perfectly for a big week from Wright.
Dorial Green-Beckham (4.5): There's a hunch that the Titans start to lean on Green-Beckham a little bit more. Considering the Bills secondary, look for DGB to be an option near the goal line. He's a chancy receiver who could deliver six points.

Tight ends
Charles Clay (8.0): Clay has become the go-to pass catcher for Taylor, particularly with Sammy Watkins absent. He had a 32-yard touchdown called back last week and still put up 111 yards on nine grabs. He's bordering on must-start status.
Delanie Walker (6.0): After giving up touchdowns in back-to-back weeks to open the season, Buffalo has come around against mediocre tight ends. Walker, who should be healthy, figures to test the defense and have a crack at 80 total yards.

Defense/Special Teams
Bills (6.9): Defensive and special-teams touchdowns have pushed the last two DSTs to play the Titans to 13-plus Fantasy points. They're good enough to start but Tennessee should find ways to move the chains against them.
Titans (3.1): Maybe the Titans come out of the bye week amped up and in the Buffalo backfield for some sacks, but the Bills should score more points than the 10 they put up last week.

Cardinals at Lions, Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Carson Palmer (8.5): Every quarterback to play the Lions has found at least 18 points and three of four have found at least 20 points. The Lions figure to bring plenty of pressure but after getting gassed on Monday at Seattle, the tank can't possibly be full enough to shut down Palmer.
Matthew Stafford (5.0): Stafford was close to breaking out of his slump at Seattle. Now he'll have to bounce back against a Cardinals defense that allowed its first 20-point outing to an opposing passer last week. Arizona has allowed nine quarterbacks to land 20-plus Fantasy points over its last 20 regular-season games and three of them needed to run a lot to get it. Stafford was good for a robust five Fantasy points at Arizona last year.

Running backs
Chris Johnson (6.2), Andre Ellington (4.7) & David Johnson (3.8): The combination of a three- headed run game and a tough run defense make for a murky outlook for all three Cardinals running backs. David Johnson has been the most impressive but still has an uphill climb for touches, especially with Ellington back. If there's a perk it's that the Lions played on Monday and lost a member of their D-line rotation (Tyrunn Walker). If you can steer clear of this mess, do so.
Ameer Abdullah (6.1): The Lions gave Abdullah 15 touches last week, a career-high and proof positive the team is trying to get him more involved. He had 30 snaps too, more than half of the team's total. He could get going as a pass catcher against a Cards defense allowing 9.3 yards per grab to opposing rushers.

Wide receivers
Larry Fitzgerald (8.3): The Lions secondary has been knocked around by some of the best receivers in the game -- figure Fitzgerald to cash in.
John Brown (5.6): if you expect a nice dose of catches and moderate yardage, you should be pleased. If you expect a bunch of deep throws for touchdowns, you'll be disappointed.
Calvin Johnson (6.6): Bank on two things: Matthew Stafford throwing at Calvin over and over, and Patrick Peterson covering him for the entire game. Johnson had 59 yards on five catches against the Cardinals last season. Better numbers are expected, but don't look for a monster game.
Golden Tate (5.65): Through four games last year, Tate had 24 catches on 31 targets for 317 yards. Through four games this year he has 18 grabs on 29 targets for 190 yards. It's not a pretty story, but with Ebron sidelined and the Cardinals covering Megatron with Patrick Peterson, it wouldn't be unreasonable to see Tate pick up a lot more work. Non-No. 1 receivers have done well against the Cardinals, just ask Tavon Austin. Tate is a very sneaky one-week Fantasy option and a potential third receiver.

Tight ends
Darren Fells (3.9): The Lions allowed a touchdown to a tight end in their first three games. Don't think the Cards haven't noticed.

Defense/Special Teams
Cardinals (7.9): With the way Stafford has been playing and the Lions O-line has been struggling, there's absolutely no reason to sit the Cardinals defense.
Lions (4.1): Expect them to come out fighting and particularly do a nice job on the Cardinals run game, but the Arizona offense is just too explosive to properly cover. Losing another starter on the D-line hurts, too.

Broncos at Raiders, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Peyton Manning (7.9): You'll start Manning because the matchup is juicy, but don't be surprised if Jack Del Rio pulls some strings against him. After all, he did become familiar with his offense while working with him in Denver for three years.
Derek Carr (4.4): Last week was a let-down and this week could be a beat-down. The Broncos pass defense is fantastic.

Running backs
Ronnie Hillman (6.7): Expect Hillman to get the most touches after he (finally) showed some explosion on a play last week. Also expect the Broncos offensive line to show a little more cohesion as a blocking unit to help Hillman. The Raiders are allowing 4.0 yards per carry on the year but haven't allowed a touchdown to a running back since Week 2.
C.J. Anderson (5.1): Anderson nearly averaged 4.0 yards per carry last week and had a nice 27- yard catch against blown coverage. That was enough to pull him to a season-best six Fantasy points. Unless the Broncos just run away with this one, don't expect much more from Anderson.
Latavius Murray (5.9): It's tough to bench Murray but this is a very good Broncos run defense that allowed literally one great run to Adrian Peterson last week. And after bobbling a catch last week, Murray's days of contributing in a big way through the air seem to be numbered.

Wide receivers
Demaryius Thomas (9.0): Obvious must-start.
Emmanuel Sanders (7.9): Obvious must-start. Yes, still.
Amari Cooper (6.7): The rookie could get a tough lesson against the league's top pass defense, though every wideout with at least eight targets against Denver has turned in a minimum of seven Fantasy points (13 in PPR).
Michael Crabtree (4.4): Crab remains a possession-type receiver for Carr but doesn't figure to inspire much confidence for Fantasy owners.

Tight ends
Owen Daniels (6.8): A must start. Not only has he scored in two straight but the Raiders are LOL bad at covering opposing tight ends .

Defense/Special Teams
Broncos (8.5): Expect the pass rush to expose a Raiders offensive line that only has allowed five sacks all season, and bank on at least two turnovers. The Raiders have posted under 300 yards of total offense in two of four games.
Raiders (4.7): Admittedly, there is some snarky sleeper potential here given Peyton's passing woes, but you're probably better off going with another unit.

Patriots at Cowboys, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Tom Brady (9.0): Obvious must-start.
Brandon Weeden (2.5): Obvious must-sit.

Running backs
Dion Lewis (8.6): It's highly unlikely Bill Belichick studied the run game during the bye week and believed his offense was better off without Lewis. Dallas has allowed six total touchdowns to running backs over four weeks (five rushing) and is affording 10.4 yards per catch as well. Lewis should have a big game.
LeGarrette Blount (5.3): The Cowboys defense is going to get tested after taking on several injuries last week. Blount could flop into the end zone.
Joseph Randle (6.0): During minicamp, Randle worked as the second-team running back in the two- minute drill behind Lance Dunbar. He could end up in that role, which typically means a lot of nice receiving yards. Of course, if he's doing that then he could lose work as a lead back elsewhere in the game. New England's run defense came to play only once in three games .
Darren McFadden (3.9): McFadden averaged 3.1 yards per carry over 10 handoffs last week and hasn't had more than 52 total yards in a game yet this season. Unless Randle is completely benched and Christine Michael isn't active, McFadden won't get enough work to be reliable.

Wide receivers
Julian Edelman (8.2): Obvious must-start.
Terrance Williams (6.5): T-Will has 10 or more Fantasy points in two of his last three games and the Patriots pass defense remains suspect . Williams is best used as a No. 3 receiver.
Cole Beasley (4.6): There are probably going to be a couple of more targets for Beasley in the wake of Dunbar's season-ending injury. Expecting a game like last week (six catches for 62 yards) is just about right.

Tight ends
Rob Gronkowski (9.8): Obvious must-start.
Jason Witten (5.2): The Pats have allowed a score to a tight end in each of their last two games. Figure Witten to remain a fixture in the Cowboys offense.

Defense/Special Teams
Patriots (6.7): Because they had an extra week to get ready, give the Patriots the benefit of the doubt in this matchup.
Cowboys (3.3): Even with Greg Hardy and Rolando McClain back, it's unlikely they'll put up good numbers against the Patriots.

49ers at Giants, Sun., 8:30 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Colin Kaepernick (2.3): After collapsing at home against a familiar opponent he's had previous success against, it's hard to fall for Kaepernick again. It doesn't help that the Giants have allowed one passing touchdown in each of their last three games.
Eli Manning (8.4): Manning has posted 23 or 24 Fantasy points in each of his last three games. Taking on a 49ers pass defense that's given up an average of 340.0 pass yards and 2.5 touchdowns in their last two on the road makes the matchup all that much better.

Running backs
Carlos Hyde (5.8): It's been brutal for Hyde the past three weeks, and eight carries last week (on 74 percent of the snaps!) was downright nauseating. The Giants run defense has come to play so far this year and the cross-country trip sure won't do any favors for Hyde. Expect more carries for Hyde for sure but it doesn't mean a big game. He's more of a low-end No. 2/high-end No. 3 Fantasy running back.
Rashad Jennings (5.7): Two things are clear: Jennings is practically a touchdown-dependent running back and won't be a full-time back anytime soon. He has anywhere from 11 to 13 touches per game, that's it. Since he's not promised goal-line work, all you might be able to count on Jennings for is 60 or 70 total yards -- and that's if the Giants don't somehow fall behind.
Andre Williams (5.6): The Niners have allowed six touchdowns to running backs over their last three games. Five have come on the road and five have been from 2 yards or closer. If the Giants take control of this game as expected, it's not crazy to think Williams could score.

Wide receivers
Anquan Boldin (4.2) & Torrey Smith (3.5): After watching several Niners games it seems apparent their values are hampered by Kaepernick's ineffectiveness and the playcalling. Each of them effectively have one play so far this season that has helped Fantasy owners. The Giants have allowed one touchdown to a receiver through four weeks -- I don't like the Niners receivers' chances.
Odell Beckham (9.2): Obvious must-start.
Rueben Randle (6.3): The past two games have been positive steps for Randle. A third game with a touchdown would be a record streak for him. The bad news: Only one non-No. 1 receiver has posted 10-plus Fantasy points against the Niners so far this season.

Tight ends
Garrett Celek (4.3):The matchup is right for Celek and the playing time was there for him last week (80 percent of the team's snaps).
Larry Donnell (3.1): The Niners have allowed a touchdown to a tight end in two of their last three games. Donnell himself has at least six targets in each of his last three games but hasn't come close to helping Fantasy owners save for a Week 2 touchdown. He's an okay bye-week replacement.

Defense/Special Teams
49ers (2.9): Though they might land a few sacks and a turnover, the Niners should end up watching the Giants roll past them on the field and on the scoreboard.
Giants (7.7): It's good timing -- the Giants defense has been playing well and the Niners offense is a mess. Expect a good game from this DST.

Steelers at Chargers, Mon., 8:30 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Michael Vick (6.2): With well over a week to get used to the Steelers offense, regain rhythm with Martavis Bryant and prepare for the matchup against the Chargers, the hunch is Vick plays well. Three of four passers to play the Chargers threw multiple touchdowns and none of them ran for more than 10 yards (which Vick will do). He's worth taking a chance on as a bye-week replacement.
Philip Rivers (8.7): With an extra day to prepare, Rivers will get security blanket Antonio Gates back and take on a Steelers team he's thrown three touchdowns against in each of his last three meetings. It's easy to not believe the Steelers are as good against the pass as their last two games would indicate .

Running backs
Le'Veon Bell (9.5): Obvious must-start.
Danny Woodhead (7.6): In what should be a high-scoring game, expect Woodhead to see a lot of playing time and touches, just as he did last week (and in most games so far in 2015).
Melvin Gordon (5.0): Gordon whiffed on a chance to score last week and seemingly reverted to a boom-or-bust running back. He had one nice run for 23 yards in the second quarter and didn't do anything else the rest of the way. The Steelers are allowing 3.8 yards per carry to running backs and haven't allowed a touchdown all year.

Wide receivers
Antonio Brown (9.1): Obvious must-start.
Martavis Bryant (6.4): Do the Chargers have any cornerbacks with blazing speed? That's what they'll need to keep the fresh-legged Bryant under control. He and Vick were on the same page in the preseason, it might not take long for them to connect deep in Week 5.
Keenan Allen (8.1): With three big games in four weeks, Allen is pretty much at must-start status. All but one of the six receivers to get only seven targets against the Steelers has posted a minimum of nine Fantasy points. Expect more from Allen.

Tight ends
Heath Miller (4.9): There's good reason to like Miller -- the Chargers have allowed a touchdown to a tight end in three of four games this year including Gary Barnidge last week. It's just a matter of Vick remembering to look for him, which was a big issue last week (only two targets).
Antonio Gates (7.0): Gates will be a big test for the Steelers defense. They've managed to settle down against tight ends over the past two weeks but they really weren't really challenged. With fresh legs off his suspension, Gates figures to be heavily involved in the red zone, particularly with the lack of receiver depth the Chargers have.
Ladarius Green (5.0): Green has earned himself some playing time thanks to his hot start including touchdowns in two of three games. Expect a big dose of snaps even with Gates back because the Chargers are thin at receiver.

Defense/Special Teams
Steelers (4.9): The Chargers tend to play better at home and the Steelers defense just isn't up to snuff.
Chargers (5.7): This could be an OK week for San Diego as Vick was sacked four times last week, which is par for the course for him. He's always good for at least one turnover as well.

Colts at Texans, Thu., 8:25 p.m. ET

Quarterbacks
Matt Hasselbeck (2.1): Hasselbeck was efficient last week but he fought illness this week and barely practiced. No one should start him.
Ryan Mallett (4.6): The Colts have allowed 20-plus Fantasy points to two consecutive passers but continue to get healthier on defense. You'd have to be desperate to start Mallett, who could get benched during the game anyway.

Running backs
Frank Gore (7.5): The Colts have had a back get over 100 total yards and/or score a touchdown in four of their last six against the Texans, and the two times they didn't do it Trent Richardson was involved. Before last week the Texans were pretty good against the run but on a short week you have to like Gore's chances to get some good numbers.
Arian Foster (9.0): Last week's bad game was the best thing to happen to Foster. He knocked off some rust and took on 13 touches. Now he should be ready to roll against the Colts, who have allowed 10 or more Fantasy points to three of the four starting rushers they've faced this season.

Wide receivers
T.Y. Hilton (6.9): He's had some monster games, at least 75 yards and a touchdown, in four of his six career games against the Texans. But that's when he had his quarterback, and it was when he was putting up better numbers. Hilton hasn't scored yet this season and has yet to even register 100 total yards. The Texans have allowed 10-plus Fantasy points to at least one receiver in each of its last three games, but No. 1 wideouts have been taken away relatively well.
Donte Moncrief (5.7): One key difference between Moncrief's first three games (12.3 Fantasy points per game) and his Week 4 let-down (seven Fantasy points): his quarterback. Don't expect much luck for Moncrief without Luck.
Andre Johnson (3.0): Maybe this is the week Johnson gets going since he's taking on his old team. Or maybe it's another game with less than 30 receiving yards.
DeAndre Hopkins (9.3): Obvious must-start.
Keith Mumphery (4.45): The only reason why Mumphery might make for a good option is because injuries opened the door for him to see some playing time, and non-No. 1 receivers have scored against the Colts in every single game this season .

Tight ends
Dwayne Allen (4.5): A Colts tight end has scored on the Texans in each of their last two meetings. Hasselbeck had no problem leaning on Coby Fleener last week. Maybe Allen is a candidate to score.

Defense/Special Teams
Colts (4.5): With Foster back and the Texans playing at home, it's not worth the unnecessary risk of starting the Colts DST against them.
Texans (7.6): Three of the four DSTs to play the Colts this year have posted 11 or more Fantasy points. Expect a real good effort from the Texans pass rush at the very least.