As requested, I broke out the position rankings for week 5. My first time doing anything this indepth but I fell pretty confident about it. Beware of injuries and whatnot this week, and let me know if I skipped anyone that you think should be there. As always, leave any matchup or trade questions in the comments. And spread the word, tell your friends and get some more hits on this site.
QB, RB, WR, TE, K, and DEF ranks follow the break.
QB
- Aaron Rodgers
- Peyton Manning
- Drew Brees
- Tony Romo
- Phillip Rivers
- Matt Schaub
- Matt Ryan
- Eli Manning
- Jay Cutler
- Joe Flacco
- Kyle Orton
- Shaun Hill
- Sam Bradford
- Carson Palmer
- Mark Sanchez
- Brett Favre
- Ryan Fitzpatrick
- Donovan McNabb
- Kevin Kolb
- David Garrard
RB
- Maurice Jones-Drew
- Arian Foster
- Frank Gore
- Chris Johnson
- Cedric Benson
- Steven Jackson
- Adrian Peterson
- Ahmad Bradshaw
- Jahvid Best
- Jamaal Charles
- Michael Turner
- (LeSean McCoy – Injury, but Possible to play)
- Ray Rice
- Pierre Thomas
- Ryan Mathews
- Joseph Addai
- Peyton Hillis
- (Darren McFadden – Injury)
- LaDanian Tomlinson
- Matt Forte
- Beanie Wells
- Ryan Torain
- Mike Bell
- DeAngelo Williams
- Michael Bush
- Knowshon Moreno
- Mike Tolbert
- Thomas Jones
- Marion Barber
- Tim Hightower
- Fred Jackson
- Chris Ivory
- Shonn Greene
- Brandon Jackson
- Felix Jones
- C.J. Spiller
- Johnathan Stewart
- Willis McGahee
- Brandon Jacobs
- LaGarrette Blount
- John Kuhn
- Carnell Williams
- Lawrence Maroney
- Ladell Betts
- Donald Brown
- Darren Sproles
- Javon Ringer
- Jason Snelling
- Bernard Scott
- Chester Taylor
WR
- Roddy White
- Reggie Wayne
- Andre Johnson
- Miles Austin
- Hakeem Nicks
- Calvin Johnson
- Greg Jennings
- Anquan Boldin
- Larry Fitzgerald
- Terrell Owens
- Marques Colston
- Austin Collie
- Donald Driver
- Chad OchoCinco
- Malcolm Floyd
- DeSean Jackson
- Mark Clayton
- Steve Smith (NYG)
- Brandon Lloyd
- Johnny Knox
- Dwayne Bowe
- Kevin Walter
- Braylon Edwards
- Santana Moss
- Randy Moss
- Lee Evans
- Jeremy Maclin
- Michael Crabtree
- Mario Manningham
- Percy Harvin
- Robert Meachem
- Louis Murphy
- Eddie Royal
- Devin Hester
- Dez Bryant
- Legedu Naanee
- Mike Sims-Walker
- Demaryious Thomas
- Mike Williams (TB)
- Nate Washington
- Pierre Garcon
- Derrick Mason
- Santonio Holmes
- Jacoby Jones
- Roy Williams
- Joshua Cribbs
- Stephen Williams
- Brandon LaFell
- Danny Amendola
- Kenny Britt
TE
- Antonio Gates
- Dallas Clark
- Vernon Davis
- Jason Witten
- Jermichael Finley
- Brent Celek
- Jeremy Shockey
- Tony Moeaki
- Zach Miller
- Tony Gonzalez
- Kellen Winslow
- Visanthe Shiancoe
- Dustin Keller
- Chris Cooley
- Mercedes Lewis
K
- Neil Rackers
- Mason Crosby
- John Carney
- Matt Prater
- Matt Bryant
- Robbie Gould
- Nate Kaeding
- David Akers
- Ryan Longwell
- Adam Vinatieri
D
- New York Jets
- Green Bay Packers
- New Orleans Saints
- San Diego Chargers
- Chicago Bears
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Atlanta Falcons
- St. Louis Rams
- Dallas Cowboys
- San Francisco 49ers
God Hates Losers 
i give: ray rice and jacoby jones
i get: hillis and jennings
my team:
qb-eli and big ben
wr- colston,hines ward, collie, jacoby, nanee, edelman
rb-ray rice, pierre thomas, mike bush, snelling,
te-gresham
def-jets
k-kaeidng
do i do this trade???
you would have a hell of a WR corps if you went with this. But RB would take a hit. Hillis has performed well enough to justify this. Because Jennings is so far ahead of Jones, I would say that this is a good trade. You are downgrading RB by maybe 2 points per week, but upgrading WR by about 7.
-andrew
I don’t see Gaffney there on the WR list…am I blind or is his value that bad now?
Time for my weekly roster shuffle…
My WRs: Louis Murphy, Gaffney, Smith (NYG), Bess, Garcon
My RBs: Foster, Charles, BenJarvus, Torain
My TEs: Shockey, Moeaki, Hernandez
CHI Def.
I’m extremely hesitant to start Murphy this week. Was thinking of picking up Steve Johnson at WR to start in his place. Also not sure whether to go with Shockey or Moeaki at TE? I learned a valuable lesson this week..I refused to play Bess against my hometown team and got burned for it.
Thanks as always
Oh and if I do pick up Johnson, I don’t know who to drop to get him. Either Garcon, Bess, or BJGE I think. Or one of my TEs…
He has value. Its just really hard putting 4 Bronco receivers in my top 50 for the week. I actually think that I ranked all of the Denver receivers too high, because they are going against the best pass defense in the league. Gaffney will get his share of looks, and be a good guy to have in a bye week, but I dont think he’ll blow anyone away. He’ll have a better year than D. Thomas, but not Royal or Lloyd.
I dont like murphy this week either. Injury and a bad matchup. Steve Smith is a must, Bess would be good if it wasnt for that whole bye week thing. Garcon has an injury to worry about as well. So you are definitely running low this week. SJackson is not a brilliant pick up. But if he is the best out there, go out and get it. Garcon would be my drop.
I would start Shockey this week. I love his matchup.
I do the same thing, I refuse to play anyone who is going up against the cowboys. ever.
-andrew
Ok, I’ll take you up on the help offer.
I need a WR this week to fill my 3 slots and neither option looks particularly juicy to me this week.
10 Team league with standard scoring.
Do I start:
Desean Jackson with QB Kolb at the helm against SF
Or
Percy Harvin opposite Randy Moss vs NYJ
My only other option is to drop Tim Hightower and go fishing for a WR with a juicy matchup. Mario Manningham, Jabar Gaffney or Danny Amendola, etc.
Good to have you.
Percy Harvin’s value is going to skyrocket with Moss in the lineup. Look at his numbers this year compared to last year when he was a #2 with Rice. Its a tough matchup, but a beatable one with Moss theoretically getting Revis. I hate Favre, and he looks like a mess this year, but I’ve got a feeling.
Hope this answers your question. Good luck and come back and see us.
-andrew
Any concerns about MJD’s ankle next week?
Not really. He sprained it Sunday but returned to the game. He hasnt practiced yet, but that could just be to rest it up for the weekend. Check his status Friday and see if he has practiced at all. I cant see him sitting it out though. And the matchup is fantastic. No worries here.
-andrew
Should I start Ryan Torain or CJ Spiller in a league that give point for return yards? Also how do you think Santanio Holmes will do his first week back should I try starting him or just go with Lance Moore in a PPR league>
Thank You
I dont really have fantasy point stats to look at for return yardage leagues, so i’m not sure how spiller is doing. Green Bay is not so hot against the run, so Its fairly obvious that Torain will outperform Spiller in the yardage and (possibly) TD catagories. I expect Torain to put up about 75 rushing yards with a score. that would be 9 fantasy points in most leagues. If Spiller has been averaging more points per week than that, play him.
Holmes has question marks. They are playing a tough defense to begin with. He also doesnt have much experience with Sanchez, and Keller and Edwards are comfortable with Sanchez already. I would wait it out on him this week. He should become a must start in a few weeks though. I’d give the start to Moore. He is always iffy with the WR talent in new orleans, but i think he is a safer play that Holmes at this point.
-andrew
Who looks better this week royal or driver.Driver is the more conservative pick but royal can have a monster game. also celek was to be great but then vick came into the picture. moeaki is suppose to be a sleeper.
Denver has a terrible matchup this week, so i’d stay with Driver. He is very consistent and Washington blows against the pass.
Vick will likely not play, which is why Celek is high on my chart this week. Celek will perform far better than he has this season if Kolb is throwing the ball.
-andrew
RBS torain, tolbert, mathews, or best
WRS gennings, collie, gafney, or maclin
probably going with torain for sure but not sure of the others
and wrs gennings and collie?
well hello to you too, jerk.
I would go with Mathews and Best. Both have good matchups and have shown that they are solid rookies that are destined to have a good season. Torain is a smart play, and the matchup isnt half bad. But I’m not convinced that he is a very effective runner yet. Any way you go here, any combo of the three should get you solid points though.
I agree with your WR picks. Gaffney has a hellish matchup. Maclin will not produce with Kolb under center.
-andrew
here is my team
QB – Matty Ice
RB1- Gore
RB2 – Benson
WR1 – Driver
WR2 – Murphy
Flex – Spiller
Bench – Bess, Brady, Orton, Green-ellis, Smith(car), and Lynch.
Im worried about murphy.Would you drop anyone here for any of these FA – Bowe, Steve Johnson, Parrish, Moore, N.Washington, R. Williams, Gaffney, Britt, Jacoby Jones, or M.Williams(TB)
or should i add fred jackson…i just have a feeling spiller is gonna explode late season and dont wanna lose him, but i also need productivity now. thanks
Pick 2 to start this week and why:
D Williams vs. Chi
L McCoy vs SF
McFadden vs SD
R Torain vs GB
M Bush vs SD
Hightower vs NO
Thanks!
Williams is a definite sit. McCoy is intriguing, mostly because I think he will do a lot in the passing game. If you are PPR, i’d consider it. McFadden is likely out, making Bush a decent pick, but the matchup is a little tough. Torain again has a hard matchup, but could surprise getting most of the carries. Hightower has taken a definite backseat to Wells.
I would go Torain and McCoy this week. Upside is high on both of them and they have your best matchups.
-andrew
McCoy, if healthy, by the way. Keep an eye on his status. If he is out, make the starter Bush.
i was thinking of picking up lynch, but that means dropping hightower. any thoughts on this? i can also drop kevin walter, and lance moore
I think its a good pickup. Lynch should see split carries with Forsett, but he’ll get the goal line work, which likely means TDs. Hightower is now the definite second fiddle in Arizona behind Wells. In the likely even of another Wells injury, I’d snatch him hightower up quick, but until then Lynch has more value.
-andrew
Hillis for Vick?
I’m heavy at RB, light at QB.
I’d try to trade for a less risky QB. Vick is out this week, and, with Reid being so up and down on the issue earlier, if Kolb performs well this week, he might stay at QB. Its a long shot. I’m sure Vick will play once he gets healthy, but I’m not sure. If you can trade Hillis for someone like Matt Ryan or Orton, it would be a safer move. If not, make the trade for Vick and keep your fingers crossed.
-andrew
do I play Demaryious Thomas or Santonio Holmes ?
I’d take the gamble with Holmes this week. Thomas is facing the toughest pass D in the nation. Holmes has a tough matchup too, but is a #1 receiver, where Thomas is a 3 or 4.
-andrew
Colston is giving me fits so far this year, and I was just offered Forte for Colston straight up.
2 QB league
QB
Jay Cutler
Sam Bradford
WR
Hakeem Nicks
Mark Clayton
Randy Moss
RB
Maurice Jones-Drew
Peyton Hillis
TE
Dallas Clark
W/R
Beanie Wells
BN
Shonn Greene
Marques Colston
Michael Vick
Matthew Stafford
Davone Bess and Nate Washington are available and I was thinking about one of them as a backup WR.
Thoughts? Make the trade? Do you think Forte is going to keep getting thrown to? Who do I drop for a backup WR? I am thinking either Greene or Stafford as I really don’t have much hope for him coming back strong any time soon…
I’d ditch Stafford for Bess, first of all. That should make the trade feel better, having a good backup WR on your roster. Forte should keep up with the stats that he has. Chicago is a passing team and Forte will see a lot of it, his running ability is miserable though.
-andrew
I need help with my start at the flex position.
Mark Clayton who plays the Lions
or
Braylon Edwards who plays the Vikings
I worried about Braylon because Holmes is back
Clayton without question.
Edwards will see a decline this week because of Holmes, but mostly because they are playing the Vikes.
-andrew
10 Team PPR
QB (pick 1) Brees, Vick (out)
wr (pick 3) S.Moss, P.Harvin, L.Moore, Marshall (bye), Crabtree, McCluster
rbs (pick 2) AP, Torain, Tolbert, (Green-ellis and M.Lynch on byes)
te (pick 1) J.Finley, D.Keller
K Kaeding
Def: Minnesota, Seattle (bye)
Currently starting S.moss, harvin, Moore for WR and AP and Torain for rb. Will probably take Finley over Keller as well. What I’m mainly wondering is if I should try to trade off one of my extra RBs and one of my recievers to try to get an upgrade at wide receiver, I’ve been shopping Keller / Vick around, but no takers.
I agree with you. Moss Harvin Moore at WR. AP and Torain at RB
I’d put finley in as your TE.
If you couple Tolbert and Vick (or Vick and Keller), you should be able to get a good WR and a bench RB or WR out of it. Look for the team that is hurting the most at QB or RB and come to their rescue.
-andre
Thanks for the help last week. I have a few questions about this coming week and would appreciate hear your take on them.
10 Team non PPR with 2RB, 2WR, and flex.
RB – Ray Rice
RB – D. Williams
WR – Calvin Johnson
WR – ?
Flex – ?
RB – Beanie Wells, Marion Barber, or Knowshon Moreno
WR – Maclin or Bowe (Marshall is on bye)
Im thinking Bowe and Wells this week. Do you agree?
Also Should I drop Barber in 10 team league and pick up Green-Ellis, Jonathon Stewart for handcuff, Derrick Mason, or LeGarrette Blount?
No problem at all. In return, all we ask is that you spread the word for us a little.
I have to agree with your picks. Wells has a new QB in, so it might be an ugly day for the Cardinals, but Wells should manage. Bowe is a better play than Maclin, but dont expect much.
I’d wait for after this week to make the trade, and I’d make it Green-Ellis, maybe Blount if he performs well this week.
Good luck. Tough matchups for you this week.
-andrew
is this trade worth it?
Kyle Orton for Jacoby Jones and Benjarvis Green-Ellis
My team consists of:
Matt Schaub
Marques Colston
Brandon Jackson
Kenneth Darby
Greg Olsen
Lee Evens
LT
David Akers
Philly D
Bench:
Ricky Williams
Dez Bryant
Tony Moeaki
Earnest Graham (hopefully my waiver will go through to replace him with Pierre Garcon)
Kyle Orton
Arizona D
Earnest Graham, really? weird.
anyways.
That trade is not worth it. Orton has rediculous stats this season. and you can get WAY better players for him. You need help at both WR and RB pretty bad, but you can definitely upgrade those players before making that trade. promise.
-andrew
Who should i start in week 5?
WHo should I play in Week 5: I already have FGore and MAustin. NEED TO CHOOSE 3 Out of 8:
Ahmad Bradshaw (injured ? )
Matt Forte ( bad running so far )
Lance Moore ( NO is playing AZ who have been really bad )
K Walter ( A Johnson is still injured I think )
R Torain ( Portis is injured so he is the primary back )
J Gaffney ( Kyle orton is throwing a lot )
L Murphy ( he might be injured )
D Bryant ( I already have Austin + Tennessee defense )
Moore, Bryant, Torain.
Moore has the best matchup. Bryant has the second best. Torain should see decent stats against GB, but I debated between him and Bradshaw.
Also, I’d drop the hell out of the TEN defense before its too late. Check this out: https://godhateslosers.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/andrews-shuffling-defense-strategy/ Hopefully it will help your defensive woes. I like CIN, NO, SD and ATL, in that order, if they are available.
-andrew
F.Jackson or Hightower?
Fred Jackson this week against JAX is a pretty good play. With the loss of Lynch, he should emerge as the #1 RB in Buffalo and see a lot of carries against a terrible run defense. Hightower has fallen off the radar with Wells back in Arizona.
-andrew
here is my team
QB – Matty Ice
RB1- Gore
RB2 – Benson
WR1 – Driver
WR2 – Murphy
Flex – Spiller
Bench – Bess, Brady, Orton, Green-ellis, Smith(car), and Lynch.
Im worried about murphy.Would you drop anyone here for any of these FA – Bowe, Steve Johnson, Parrish, Moore, N.Washington, R. Williams, Gaffney, Britt, Jacoby Jones, or M.Williams(TB)
or should i add fred jackson…i just have a feeling spiller is gonna explode late season and dont wanna lose him, but i also need productivity now. thanks
I dont like your flex or WR2 this week. Murphy might not even play this week with a shoulder injury, and SD is good against the pass. I have Bowe, Moore, and M Williams outperforming him this week. Moore is on a hot streak and is playing a dreadful passing D in Arizona. I’d pick him up and put him at WR2.
I dont buy spiller yet. Jackson is the #1 in Buffalo and will get most of the carries this week. And every week until Spiller proves that he is worth the hype.
Also, I know its a little late in the week to do this, but you have 3 great QBs on your tiny little roster and should absolutely trade one of them for support at either RB or WR. You could get a solid receiver for either Brady or Orton.
-andrew
Hello again and thanks for your past advice. Good stuff and I’ll keep turning my friends on to this site.
I’m in really bad shape this week and need some advice regarding my WR and RBs.
– WR L. Moore, R. Moss, J. Knox, J. Maclin
– RB B. Wells, C. Ivory, M. Bell,
K. Moreno(inj), D. McFadden(inj), C. Portis(inj), M. Lynch(bye)
I’m planning to start Moore, Moss, and Knox (flex) as my WR’s.
Wells and Ivory as RB’s. 😦 Man I wish I had a solid RB!
Would you change the picks at all, and would you put someone different in as flex? Maybe Mike Bell? Maclin?
Thanks a ton.
Thanks a lot. We try.
I like Maclin more than Knox this week. Knox is without Cutler and its not looking good for them. Moore and Moss at WR is fine.
Tough luck at the RB spot.
Wells is a starter this week, could see difficult with his new QB, but should get a lot of work against a bad rush defense.
Thomas has already been ruled out this week against a soft ARI defense, so Ivory should be your play here. He shares runs with Betts, but he should do fine.
(If and only if McCoy is ruled out, I would start Bell in place of Ivory)
best of luck. i’m rooting for you.
keep your friends coming. and their friends. and so on.
-andrew
Thank you for the advice. I’ve made the adjustments and will let you know how it turns out.
On the upside I do have P. Manning and the NO Def, so that will help my cause. My TE is Cooley who has been decent so far… K = Nick Folk who should do OK.
Which 3 WRs should I start? (NON PPR)
-Collie
-A. Johnson
-T.O.
-Colston
Youve got to watch Collie and Johnson with injuries.
Collie isnt looking like he’ll play this week. Johnson most likely will. I like Johnson, TO, and Colston
good luck, let us know how you did after the weekend.
-andrew
yeah i know i have been trying to trade people left and right but my league is gay and dont like to do trades or when i do get one accepted the other teams veto it. Im about to kill someone but as of now i have a trade accepted, i give up brady and get reggie wayne. what do you think? I have orton and matty ice as backups and ortons got some awesome matchups the rest of the seaon. I have been trying to trade orton all year and my leagu all says he sucks…fuckin retards.
i’d make it. orton is legit to start in every game this year. and wayne is a hell of a bump.
sorry its late. went to a wedding.
-andrew
Which RB to BENCH??????
D.WIlliams
Matt FOrte
Micheal Bush
Ryan TOrain
PICK ONE TO BENCH?
sorry i couldnt get to you in time, mike. out of town for the weekend. hope you read some of the advice in this column and went with forte and bush. and benched either williams for torain.
let us know how your weekend turned out tuesday morning.
-andrew
Pick 3 WR to start…RMoss, LMurphy, PGarcon, MWilliams, and DMason?
hopefully you read up on some of the start’em sit’em advice from other comments and our daily posts and ended up with the W.
make sure you check back in during the week with any question about your teams, and tell us tuesday morning how you did.
-andrew
I’m so torn on which two to start between Matthews, Tolbert, and Addai. What you think?
sorry we couldnt get to you in time. out of town for the weekend.
hope everything went well for your team this week. let us know how you did tuesday morning and keep checking in during the week for all your fantasy needs. preferably earlier than 20 minutes before kickoff.
-andrew