Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 5

Win $1 Million playing Fantasy Football Sunday, Oct. 5. Brought to you by DraftKings.com.

SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our weekly rankings.

Start

Colin Kaepernick, QB, 49ers

vs. Chiefs

Don't be scared off by a Chiefs defense that just made Tom Brady look over the hill. Kaepernick is a very different player than Brady, the 49ers are at home in this one, and Jim Harbaugh's squad looked to have turned the corner on their season in a big way last weekend. Kaepernick has topped 17 fantasy points in three of four games this season and he's done it without scoring a rushing touchdown. He should get at least one on the ground against a Chiefs defense that's thin at both linebacker and safety.

Fearless prediction: 265 yards passing, TD, 48 yards rushing, TD

Bishop Sankey, RB, Titans

vs. Browns

The Titans' reluctance to use their second-round pick as a lead running back is baffling, but Ken Whisenhunt's recent comments suggest it will soon change. Sankey is a sneaky strong FLEX option this week against a Browns' defense that's surrendering 153.7 rushing yards per game. Whether or not Jake Locker plays, look for the Titans to use the checkdown early and often, to which Sankey stands to benefit.

Fearless prediction: 71 yards rushing, 26 yards receiving, TD

Allen Robinson, WR, Jaguars

vs. Steelers

Cecil Shorts is injured (again), which means it's time for Jaguars rookies Robinson and Allen Hurns to shine. This is an offense that has been energized by quarterback Blake Bortles, yet still can't move the ball on the ground. Expect Bortles to sling it against a Steelers secondary that's been ravaged by injuries and old age. The Steelers will probably treat Hurns like the Jaguars' No. 1, opening things up for the more talented Robinson.

Fearless prediction: 71 yards receiving, TD

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Buccaneers

at Saints

Rookie Seferian-Jenkins is poised to take on a bigger role in a Buccaneers offense that finally showed some signs of life with Mike Glennon under center. Fellow rookie Mike Evans is expected to miss a few weeks with an injured groin, and Seferian-Jenkins is a similarly big-bodied target. Seferian-Jenkins played every snap for the Buccaneers in Week 4, so he could see double-digit pass targets this week.

Fearless prediction: 82 yards receiving, TD

Sit

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

vs. Bengals

It feels weird to say this, but we need to see current Brady produce like old Brady before we can trust him enough to put him back in our lineups. Maybe it's a lack of talent around him, maybe he's nursing an injury or maybe he's just plain washed up, but Brady is no longer a special player. It's not crazy to say Joe Flacco, Eli Manning, Alex Smith and even Black Bortles are better fantasy options than Brady against the excellent Bengals defense.

Shane Vereen, RB, Patriots

vs. Bengals

The Patriots' run game is firing on zero cylinders thanks to the team's terrible offensive line, making Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley both very risky fantasy plays, and things won't get any easier against the Bengals. This game has the makings of a slow-paced, low-scoring affair, and neither running back figures to get a large volume of work.

DeSean Jackson, WR, Redskins

vs. Seahawks

Jackson has scored fewer than six fantasy points in three of four games this season, and he's a poor bet to surpass that total against a physical Seahawks defense that should make his night a long one. Earl Thomas is the NFL's best deep free safety and he won't be beaten by Jackson on a bomb.

Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys

vs. Texans

Even as the Cowboys offense is carving up defenses, Witten is contributing next to nothing. It could be that the 32-year-old's time as a top tight end is over because he's taken a lot of big hits over the years. Leave Witten on your bench until we see him prove he can still produce. Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Jordan Reed (if healthy) are decent replacement options for Witten owners who missed on picking up Travis Kelce and Lary Donnell.

Stash

Michael Vick, QB, Jets

If Geno Smith keeps playing like he has, the Jets will soon have no choice but to turn things over to Vick. While he remains perhaps the single biggest injury risk in football, Vick is a QB1 when he's on the field because he's so eager to tuck the ball and run. In deeper leagues where quarterback depth is at a premium, he makes a good stash.

Joseph Randle, RB, Cowboys

Can DeMarco Murray hold up for 16 games? History suggests the answer is a definitive no. Murray is on pace for nearly 400 carries this season (not even counting his receptions), so a breakdown seems almost inevitable. In such an event, Randle would likely become the Cowboys' workhorse and Lance Dunbar would remain in a change of pace role.

Quit

Bernard Pierce, RB, Ravens

Pierce was active for the Ravens' Week 4 game but didn't get a touch. The team said he was held out as a precaution as he's just getting over a leg injury, but they're likely trying to help him save face. Pierce is the odd man out in a backfield that Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro have taken over. Don't waste a roster spot on him.

Justin Hunter, WR, Titans

Listen to Ken Whisenhunt and it's clear that he has zero trust in his second-year wideout. Hunter has all the talent in the world, but he's dropping passes and he looks scared to go up for contested balls. He's regressed from a promising rookie season. It won't be a surprise if the Titans scale back Hunter's workload and coaches try to build him back up one piece at a time. With byes looming, fantasy owners can't afford to wait for it to happen.