Fantasy Football Week 5 Start/Sit
Last Week:
Jordan Howard vs. Jerick McKinnon — Loss
Amari Cooper vs. Jeremy Maclin — Loss
Matt Jones vs. Spencer Ware — Win
Derek Carr vs. Brian Hoyer — Win
Hunter Henry vs. Zach Miller — Win
Week Four Record: 3–2
Season Record: 11–10
This weekly column serves to help Fantasy Life App users make tough start/sit decisions and win their weeks. Let’s get into the questions.
@sumosini54 asked: “Standard: Victor Cruz or Mike Wallace?”
I discussed Victor Cruz’s and Mike Wallace’s outlooks in more detail HERE (that article will be published tomorrow), but ultimately came to the conclusion that both wideouts are poised to make a splash this week. The matchups don’t really favor either player, as Cruz faces the third-worst fantasy defense against opposing wide receivers (Green Bay), while Wallace faces the fifth-worst (Washington). Both receivers average within ten yards per game of each other. Each pass catcher found the endzone in week one, though Wallace did also score twice in week two. Cruz is currently ranked eighteen wide receiver spots below Wallace, but that’s largely attributed to the touchdown differential. Basically, both options have semi-high floors, but I’ll take Wallace, who has a higher ceiling and plays for a better team, over Cruz, who will likely be outshined by Odell Beckham, Jr. and Sterling Shepard.
The Pick: Mike Wallace
@lockwola asked: “Zach Miller or Delanie Walker this week?”
Zach Miller continued to showcase his connection with Brian Hoyer last week, catching three passes for thirty-one yards and a score. Add in his 8–78–2 statline from week three, and you’re looking at the number one tight end the past two weeks. Walker has been a polar opposite, racking up only thirty-four yards on three receptions last week after being out with a hamstring injury the week before. However, roles will be reversed this time around, as Walker is healthy while Miller has some issues with his ribs. The match ups are comparable, though Walker does have a slightly easier matchup against the Dolphins defense than Miller against the Colts. Still, I’m taking Miller in this one as he’s proven more effective than Walker this year, and I’ve simply seen more out of him. Hoyer wants to get his tight end the ball, and the same can’t be said of Mariota through the first four games. With only a single good game against the second worst fantasy defense against tight ends, Walker isn’t an every week start; as long as he’s healthy and Hoyer is at the helm, Zach Miller deserves at least start consideration every game.
The Pick: Zach Miller
@cfcottle1992 asked: “Start Hilton or Landry in a standard league?”
T.Y. Hilton and Jarvis Landry are separated by only 2.5 points in standard leagues, making them practically equal options thus far. However, they’ve come about their fantasy points in very different ways: Hilton has gotten off to slow starts and then picked up the pace in must-pass scenarios. In fact, the wideout has scored both his touchdowns in the fourth quarter; he has thirteen combined receptions in the first three quarters and twelve in the fourth; he has 170 combined receiving yards in the first three quarters as opposed to 166 in the fourth; nearly a third of his receiving yards have come in the last two minutes of each half. Long story short, Hilton is constantly inefficient and relies on end-of-game and garbage time points. And, long story short, that’s not a recipe for consistent success. Landry, on the other hand, is the definition of consistency. With no less than ten targets and seven receptions in each of four games this season, his high floor — albeit coupled with a lower ceiling than Hilton — provides fantasy owners with constant joy. He’ll never lay a dud, and with a better matchup than Hilton this week, he’s the player to start. If you need any more convincing, Landry owns a 34.1 percent share of Miami’s targets, ranking him second in the league in that stat.
The Pick: Jarvis Landry
Until next time, ask your start/sit questions to @cb on the Fantasy Life App and @CBRetweet on Twitter.
The Fantasy Life app is the best sports community app to talk fantasy football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, WWE, MMA, Nascar, golf, eSports, or anything else you would hear about at a sports bar. Find or post funny memes, polls, GIFs, or join chats about your teams. Matthew Berry (ESPN, The Talented Mr. Roto), the face of fantasy football co-founded the app as a place for fans to chat about sports, get fantasy advice, or find sleepers for your team. Find Matthew on the app @matthewberry
Download the iPhone or Android app at fantasylifeapp.com. Also available in the App Store and Google Play.
