Fantasy Football Week 5 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: RB Edition

We are into the fifth week of the NFL season, and that means it's time to pay some serious attention to your starting roster of the fantasy football team.

You've seen what your guys can do, you've witnessed some good performances and some head-scratchers over the first four weeks of the season. It's important to start paying attention to trends, weather and whether a guy performs as well on the road as he does at home.

The first three weeks of the season was one of the most bizarre in fantasy football history. Those top RB picks were dropping like flies because of suspensions and injuries and just poor performances. I'm encouraged that some of those fantasy studs finally woke up last week.

Eddie Lacy busted out Thursday night with a 13-105 and 2 TD performance.

Matt Forte racked up huge points with his 171 total yards from scrimmage (Hasn't found the end-zone yet, he's due)

Jamaal Charles finally woke up with a 118 total yards and 1 TD performance.

Mathematically speaking, the studs that have been duds have to get back to studs at some point, right?

So, here ya go - Panic Button's top 5 (start-em and sit-em for Week 5.

Start em:

With just one touchdown and with the Steelers playing Jacksonville, LeVeon Bell is bound to find the end zone.

LeVeon Bell - Fantasy owners might be a little ticked that Bell has found the end zone just once this season but his rushing yards (378) and receiving yards (192) make him a duel threat every time he steps on the field.

Pittsburgh @ Jacksonville - What team hasn't been lighting the Jags up? I expect a big game from Bell.

Predictions: 100 rush, 1 TD, 50 receiving

Giovanni Bernard - Bengals @ Patriots

While Bernard's numbers have been decent, the Bengals have been giving rookie Jeremy Hill quite a few looks while the receiving corps gets healthy. I'm greatly looking forward to this match-up as no team has been under more scrutiny this week than the Patriots and I expect them to come out firing. I think Hill gets shut down and Bernard is going to be more valuable than ever this week.

Predictions: Bernard 75 rush, 50 receiving 1 TD.

Zac Stacy - Rams @ Eagles

While Stacy hasn't exactly been lighting it up this season - 181 yards and 1 td, 62 receiving yards - You can blame a good share of his production on all the uncertainty with the Rams roster. All of those injuries to the QB and the defense put the rams on the defense right out of the gate. Coming off a bye week, if I'm the Rams I took a good look at how Frank Gore just gashed this Eagles defense and give Stacy a steady diet of as many touches as he can take.

Predictions - 100 yards 1 TD, 60 receiving

Montee Ball - Arizona @ Denver

Alright, raise your hand if you drafted Montee Ball in the first round and you're woefully disappointed with his performance thus far? (11-million people just raised their hands). His stats have been pedestrian (165 and 1 TD, 8 receptions for 51 yards.

I don't think the bye week could have come at a better time for Bell and these Broncos. I'm guessing Bell, who had some health issues coming into camp, had a good ten days of practice. I'm starting Bell because of the Arizona defense making things tough on Peyton Manning and that Broncos passing game. This is the perfect game for Ball to break out and start performing like we all expected him to .

Predictions - 90 yards 1 TD, 40 receiving

Marshawn Lynch - Seahawks @ Redskins

I swear to God I'm not overlooking Marshawn Lynch in next year's Fantasy draft. He came to camp demanding more money and pouting around and he just keeps burying people. He only has 234 yards through three games but he gets the goal-line carries and he already has three. I'm not sure what to make of the game between the Hawks and the Skins. I think Kirk Cousins might struggle and I think the Hawks might run the ball quite a bit without Zach Miller at tight-end (ankle surgery). It's prime-time baby, MNF, and I expect Lynch to be in full beast mode.

Predictions: 110 yards and 2 TDs

Here comes the sit-em list (Don't be offended Dallas Cowboys)

DeMarco Murray - Texans @ Cowboys

Don't get all butt hurt Cowboys fans, Houston has a great defense and Murray is due for a bad game.

What, how can I say bench the NFL's most valuable player? I dunno, I just have that feeling that this is going to be the week that Murray owners are going to regret starting the man. Much has been made of this new and improved Dallas offensive line. While they are good, they are also young. And while the Dallas offensive line is talented, the Houston defensive line is more talented.

I expect Murray and the Cowboys to struggle early, forcing Romo to throw the ball more. (We all know what happens when Romo is counted on to win  the game? I'd be shocked if Murray reaches 75 yards.

Predictions: 72 rush, 0 TDs 15 receiving.

Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson - Jets @ Chargers

I feel like the Jets are on the verge of collapse. Geno Smith has been terrible at QB and that means the Chargers are going to crowd the line and make it difficult to run. Chris Johnson has been a major disappointment to me...don't feel like the Jets are using him right. Chris Ivory was a nice pick-up for FF owners, but as the Jets best offensive weapon, Eric Weddle is going to have a field day chopping him down at the line of scrimmage.

Bad match-up for the Jets...don't play either.

Predictions - Chris' combined - 75 rush 0 TDs and 20 receiving.

Alfred Morris against the Seattle D - No thanks!

Alfred Morris - Seahawks at Skins

Good buddy of mine looked over at me on draft night and said, 'You had Alfred Morris last season, how was he.'

"Eh," was my reply.

My buddy picked him up and thus far my buddy and Alfred Morris has been kicking butt - 316 and 3 TDs. Now, keep in mind that in his first game out, Morris had two rushing TDs and he hasn't done much in the last few weeks. I don't like the matchup for Washington who looked great against Phillie and then as bad as can be against the Giants.

Morris against the Seattle D - No thanks!

Predictions: 50 rushing yards.

CJ Spiller - Bills at Lions

Not a big fan of Spiller in the first place. Through four games he's ok but he's only found the end-zone once. I don't like the match-up for the Bills at the Lions. The Bills have Kyle Orton starting, gotta be some rust right? The Detroit front-seven is as good as they come and I just don't see Spiller being a factor in this game in any way shape or form.

Predictions: 30 rush, 15 receiving:

The Bengals rush defense is just so tough and with the Patriots and Tom Brady taking a beating this week, I can't say as Steven Ridley will have any kind of impact.

Steven Ridley - Bengals @ Patriots

Note - (You totally might wanna go the other way on this one. I have a hate/hate relationship with any Patriots RB's. Few weeks ago I said he was a must-start against the Raiders and he didn't do squat..Just saying)

Again, I'm eagerly anticipating this Sunday match-up. Tom Brady, Josh McDaniel and the entire receiving corps has taken a beating this week. I expect the Patriots to come out throwing the ball. The Bengals run defense isn't superb but it's not bad either. I expect the Patriots to jump out to an early lead, but I also expect the Bengals to come firing back. Just not the type of game I see Ridley excelling in.

Predictions: 40 rush 0 TDs (stuffed twice at the goal line)

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