Week 5 QB, RB & WR Rankings

If you decided early on this week that Brian Hoyer was a possible solution for your fantasy team (like I did in 2 of my 5 leagues), whoops.  Brandon Weeden returns to the starting lineup for Cleveland, which actually doesn't affect your favorite Browns going forward.  The Josh Gordon hype machine got built last season on the arm of Weeden and Jordan Cameron was projected to be a break out TE even with Weeden at the helm.  As for Buffalo, their situation is a little more murky with EJ Manuel expected to miss a few weeks, but avoid surgery, due to a knee injury.  Look for a heavy dose of Spiller and Jackson, although I'm not so sure either of them can overcome 9 defenders in the box.

Here are Week 5's positional rankings.  As always, in the case of a Sit/Start Question, start the player ranked closer to #1:

RB

1) LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia
2) Matt Forte, Chicago
3) Reggie Bush, Detroit
4) Marshawn Lynch, Seattle
5) Jamaal Charles, Kansas City
6) Arian Foster, Houston
7) Frank Gore, San Francisco
8) DeMarco Murray, Dallas
9) David Wilson, NY Giants
10) Knowshon Moreno, Denver
11) Ray Rice, Baltimore
12) Trent Richardson, Indianapolis
13) Bilal Powell, NY Jets
14) Lamar Miller, Miami
15) Eddie Lacy, Green Bay
16) Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati
17) Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville
18) Joique Bell, Detroit
19) Chris Johnson, Tennessee
20) Pierre Thomas,  New Orleans
21) DeAngelo Williams, Carolina
22) Danny Woodhead, San Diego
23) Jacquizz Rodgers, Atlanta
24) Darren Sproles, New Orleans
25) Ryan Mathews, San Diego
26) Rashad Jennings, Oakland
27) Jason Snelling, Atlanta
28) Daniel Thomas, Miami
29) Legarrette Blount, New England
30) Rashard Mendenhall, Arizona
31) Andre Ellington, Arizona
32) Brandon Bolden, New England
33) Kendall Hunter, San Francisco
34) Bryce Brown, Philadelphia
35) Ronnie Hillman, Denver
36) Michael Bush, Chicago
37) Mike Tolbert, Carolina
38) Johnathan Franklin, Green Bay
39) Ben Tate, Houston
40) Whoever starts at RB for St. Louis

Last chance David Wilson.  Perform against the terrible Philly defense or get cut from fantasy rosters.  It seems that is the extreme if he puts up a dud this weekend.  I'm high on his chances this week.

Seattle is a different defensive unit on the road.  Start TRich with confidence.

I like Woodhead more than Mathews in real life and, after last week,  more in fantasy football.  Until Mathews does something of note, like score a TD, expect to see Woodhead above Mathews.

No Ridley this week for New England means extra Blount and Bolden.  I like Blount to get the lion's share of the work, so he'd be the priority add over Bolden, but Bolden will be in on passing downs and can contribute.

WR

1) Victor Cruz, NY Giants
2) Calvin Johnson, Detroit
3) Dez Bryant, Dallas
4) Randall Cobb, Green Bay
5) Demaryius Thomas, Denver
6) Brandon Marshall, Chicago
7) Julio Jones, Atlanta
8) Jordy Nelson, Green Bay
9) Wes Welker, Denver
10) DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia
11) Steve Smith, Carolina
12) Marques Colston, New Orleans
13) Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
14) Danny Amendola, New England (Questionable)
15) Andre Johnson, Houston
16) Anquan Boldin, San Francisco
17) AJ Green, Cincinnati
18) Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City
19) Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis
20) Hakeem Nicks, NY Giants
21) Kenbrell Thompkins, New England
22) Chris Givens, St. Louis
23) James Jones, Green Bay
24) Eric Decker, Denver
25) Torrey Smith, Baltimore
26) Mike Wallace, Miami
27) Julian Edelman, New England
28) Alshon Jeffery, Chicago
29) Cecil Shorts, Jacksonville
30) Roddy White, Atlanta
31) Nate Washington, Tennessee
32) Eddie Royal, San Diego
33) Jeremy Kerley, NY Jets
34) Denarius Moore, Oakland
35) Golden Tate, Seattle
36) Donnie Avery, Kansas City
37) Justin Blackmon, Jacksonville
38) Brian Hartline, Miami
39) Kendall Wright, Tennessee
40) Tavon Austin, St. Louis
41) Michael Floyd, Arizona
42) Terrance Williams, Dallas
43) Keenan Allen, San Diego
44) Sidney Rice, Seattle
45) Rueben Randle, NY Giants
46) Clyde Gates, NY Jets
47) DeAndre Hopkins, Houston
48) TY Hilton, Indianapolis
49) Kenny Stills, New Orleans
50) Jason Avant, Philadelphia

If you're taking fliers this week, go to the Eagles-Giants game for offense.  This game should live up to the hype and provide plenty of points.   Guys like Randle, Avant & even racist Riley Cooper have a shot at contributing useful fantasy lines.

I was higher on Roddy White than others when the week started, but after hearing an admitted setback, I'm back to calling him a Boom or Bust WR3 like everyone else.

If Amendola goes from Questionable to Inactive, slide Edelman up to his ranking.

I only rank Seattle WRs because of their QB.  I think if any of them were on other teams, they wouldn't even play.  Tate sucks, Rice has pretzel legs, and Doug Baldwin probably is a special teams gunner at best.  Don't play these guys if you don't have to. There are no shoot outs on this schedule.

QB

1) Peyton Manning, Denver
2) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
3) Michael Vick, Philadelphia
4) Philip Rivers, San Diego
5) Eli Manning, NY Giants
6) Matthew Stafford, Detroit
7) Drew Brees, New Orleans
8) Cam Newton, Carolina
9) Matt Ryan, Atlanta
10) Tony Romo, Dallas
11) Tom Brady, New England
12) Jay Cutler, Chicago
13) Russell Wilson, Seattle
14) Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco
15) Terrelle Pryor, Oakland
16) Sam Bradford, St. Louis
17) Alex Smith, Kansas City
18) Joe Flacco, Baltimore
19) Andrew Luck, Indianapolis
20) Carson Palmer, Arizona
21) Ryan Tannehill, Miami
22) Andy Dalton, Cincinnati
23) Matt Schaub, Houston
24) Geno Smith, NY Jets
25) Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tennessee

Lots of potential shoot outs tomorrow, with Philly-Giants, Broncos-Cowboys, Bears-Saints & Lions-Packers on tap.  Start your offensive weapons in these games.

Follow me on Twitter @BernacK6.