Week 5 Fantasy Picks

By Carden Hedelt aka MBIIIEffect

It’s been a crappy week for Dallas Cowboys fans. But there was one thing that made last Sunday bearable: I dominated in my Fantasy Football league. Here’s this week’s TLH Start ’em/Sit ’em to help you wreck shop, too.

Marion Barber: Start ’em
Eight touches last week? Really? It won’t happen again this week. The Bungles defense won’t bottle Barber. I bet old Marion is a little steamed for playing such a small part in the offense last week. Two touchdowns and 100 yards rushing easily.

Cowboys D/ST: Sit ’em
It’s looking like Carson Palmer is going to start, and even though the Bengals offensive line is suspect, their WR trio is as good as any in the league. I’d take Chris Henry as our #2 receiver in a heartbeat, trouble and everything. Given the performance from the secondary on Sunday, I think the Bengals could put up some points on us. I just hope Terrence Newman has a new pair of cleats because he’s going to be tested early and often.

RB’s
Matt Forte: Start ’em
Start anybody against the Lions. I don’t care if Matt Millen is gone, they’re still terrible. Brandon Lloyd is Kyle Orton’s go to man, and he’s injured for this game. Expect Forte to touch the ball early and often.

Marshawn Lynch: Start ’em
I love how Lynch runs the ball. I hate how Arizona plays defense. Easy call there.

Willis McGahee: Sit ’em
I don’t know if Baltimore’s offense is going to score on Sunday. I just don’t see it happening with Tennessee’s defense being so solid. I can see the Titans loading the box and daring Joe Flacco to throw against them. And he’s still recovering from injury. Don’t go near him.

Selvin Young: Sit ’em
Sit a Denver running back? You heard right. Shanny either lets his emerging elite quarterback Jay Cutler ptich it into the end zone or he give the rock to Michael Pittman, who has 4 touchdowns to Young’s 1 score. Young is the starter, but he won’t put up the points you need.

WR’s
Dwayne Bowe: Start ’em
I like Bowe in this matchup. Even though Larry Johnson is getting more carries, Bowe gets thrown to as much as any other WR in the league. He’s worth starting every week now that the Chiefs are starting a competent quarterback in Damon Huard.

Antonio Bryant: Start ’em
The Denver/Tampa Bay game has shootout written all over it. With Galloway still out, expect Bryant to keep getting more looks.

Muhsin Muhammad: Sit ’em
I’m questioning the whole Panthers’ offense this week. RT Jeff Otah is doubtful and LT Jordan Gross isn’t playing. Gross has started 84 straight games for the Panthers. Filling in for Gross will be Frank Omiyale who has never started in a regular-season game. So look for the Panthers to turn to something quick and familiar for Delhomme: short routes to Steve Smith. Muhammad’s numbers should suffer.

Any San Francisco WR: Sit ’em
I know that New England’s secondary is aging, but that defense is going to blitz the hell out of J.T. O’Sullivan. That sounds like a disaster for fantasy owners that own Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson.

QB’s
Brian Griese: Start ’em
This is a difficult call because Griese has completed about 50% of his passes and thrown 6 interceptions in the past 2 weeks, but I’m telling you this Denver/Tampa Bay game is going to be a barn burner. Plus, he’s owned in less than 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Either quarterback in the Baltimore/Tennesee game: Sit ’em
They’re both up against stellar defenses and I’m not convinced by either of them in the first place. There are better options out there for you.

Jake Delhomme: Sit ’em
See: Muhsin Muhammad

D/ST
Jags D/ST: Start ’em
A third string running back and an injured quarterback equals an offense that won’t pose much threat to the Jags.

Vikings D/ST: Sit ’em
The Vikings are outstanding against the run. Too bad they’re playing New Orleans and pass-happy Drew Brees.

SLEEPERS:
RB Jerious Norwood: He’s a big old back that gets looks at the goal line. Packers are ranked #26 against the run. The only problem with backs is that they’re tough to come by. Norwood is owned in 73% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

WR Jerheme Urban: Does that name sound familiar? It should. Urban was a Cowboy back in 2006 but he never recorded a catch. Urban was number 4 on the Cardinals’ depth chart, but with Boldin’s broken sinus, Urban moves up to number 3 and should see some looks in Arizona’s pass-happy offense. The best part? Urban is owned in less than 1 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues.

QB Chad Pennington: Surely you’re thinking I’ve lost it. The Dolphins are playing the Chargers, who have two outstanding corners in Quintin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie. But I see the Phins being behind and trying to play catch-up, and the Chargers are ranked dead last in pass defense and have given up 9 passing touchdowns, more than any other team in the league. Watch for the Chargers to get ahead early then let the Dolphins pass their way back into this ballgame. Pennington is owned in 35.3% of ESPN fantasy leagues, so he’s probably availible if you’re in need of a last-minute quarterback change.

D/ST 49ers: Matt Cassell hasn’t convinced me, and a good matchup is tough to come by. This could be as good as you get if you’re in a pinch. The Niners are owned in 34.3% of ESPN fantasy leagues.