NFL Soup|Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Week 5 Fantasy Locks: 4 Guys You Have to Start 

Last week was the debut of my weekly “sure-fire” start column, and it couldn’t have gotten off to a more wishy-washy start. Peyton Manning and Wes Welker were money calls. Both had huge games and you were happy to have them in your lineups. Ryan Mathews and Jermichael Finley, however, did not.

They probably should have, but Finley apparently can’t be counted on in even the best matchup, while Ryan Mathews was inexplicably demoted to garbage time work in favor of the plodding Jackie Battle. Both Finley and Mathews still totaled over 50 yards on the day, but I require a minimum of 10 earned points by non-quarterback start calls to garner a “success” label on the pick. A 50% mark in my first at bat will have to do, as we head into week five and try to do it again. Just better this time.

Here are four guys I’m firmly backing in fantasy leagues this week:

Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers

Rivers has had one truly elite game out of four tries so far in 2012, so I can undertand if you’re hesitant to use him again in a week you probably badly need a win. But have faith. The Saints are atrocious against the pass and really just in general right now. I think New Orleans wins this game, but it’s going to be a classic shootout. Rivers should top 300 yards and get 2-3 scores.

Trent Richardson, RB, Cleveland Browns

The yardage is a bit spotty depending on the matchup, but with four touchdowns in four games, you can’t be upset about T-Rich’s ability to find the end-zone. Can he do it five times in five tries? I think he can. The Giants don’t have the greatest run defense out there, and no matchup has shut Richardson down yet.

Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

I know, I know, it’s not really that hard to back a stud like Jones. Maybe, but he really hasn’t done much since scoring twice in week one. He got locked down pretty good against the Broncos in week two, and caught just one pass last week due to a hand injury. He looks to be 100% now, however, and is facing a 31st ranked Redskins pass defense. Start him as you normally would and bask in your glory.

Dennis Pitta, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Pitta might be hard to trust after laying an ugly goose egg (zero catches) in week four, but there’s no way that happens two weeks in a row. The Chiefs can’t stop anyone right now, anyways, so expect him to get his PPR value back up and possibly find his way to a score, as well.

About the author: Kevin Roberts

Kevin Roberts heads the fantasy football division of NFLSoup. In 2012, Roberts finished 16th overall in Fantasy Pros expert fantasy football rankings. In addition to running the fantasy football section of the site, Roberts contributes to NFL Soup’s NFL Draft coverage and breaking news reporting. Follow Kevin on Twitter @NFLSoupKevin

7 Responses to Week 5 Fantasy Locks: 4 Guys You Have to Start

    • @NFLSoupKevin

      128 total yds and one TD did the trick, eh? Only guy I whiffed on here is Pitta, who is a huge disappointment for the second week in a row

       
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