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

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting and 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 Week 5 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 5 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.

Start

Kyler Murray, Cardinals

at Bengals

The first overall pick in April's draft hasn't exactly blown anyone away with his performances so far, and the loss of Christian Kirk to injury doesn't help Murray's Week 5 outlook. However, he gets a Bengals defense that is bottom-12 in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks and has given up multiple passing touchdowns in three of four contests, as well as 46 rushing yards to Josh Allen two weeks ago. There should be plenty of volume in this game, with both the Cardinals and Bengals ranking among the top seven in Football Outsiders' pace-of-play metric. Don't hesitate to start Murray as a QB1 this week.

Boone's projection: 304 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 38 rushing yards

Other QBs to start

• Jameis Winston at Saints
• Jacoby Brissett at Chiefs
• Andy Dalton vs. Cardinals

Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler, Chargers

vs. Broncos

This might be the only time you see Gordon mentioned in this column, as he'll be an obvious fantasy starter in most weeks. Managers might be reluctant to rely on the Chargers star in his first real action since ending his holdout, but head coach Anthony Lynn said Gordon is in the game plan and may even start. It's unlikely he'll get a full workload, so expect more of an even split between him and Ekeler, making both players attractive fantasy options against a Broncos defense that gave up 267 rushing yards to the Jaguars' backs last Sunday. Injuries to the receiving corps could also result in more targets for Ekeler. You can safely deploy them both as top-20 fantasy backs in Week 5.

Boone's projection for Gordon: 68 rushing yards, 21 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Boone's projection for Ekeler: 59 rushing yards, 56 receiving yards, TD

Other RBs to start

• David Montgomery at Raiders (London)
• Sony Michel at Redskins
• Jordan Howard vs. Jets

Will Fuller, Texans

vs. Falcons

It's been a surprisingly quiet opening month for Fuller, who has been held in check yardage wise and not yet found the end zone. That will change on Sunday when he takes on a floundering Falcons defense that has given up five touchdowns to receivers in the past two outings and was absolutely annihilated by A.J. Brown and Corey Davis a week ago. The previously underperforming Titans duo went off for stat lines of 3-94-2 and 5-91-1, respectively. Expect something similar here as both DeAndre Hopkins and Fuller get back on track.

Boone's projection: 99 receiving yards, TD

Other WRs to start

• Marquise Brown at Steelers
• Curtis Samuel vs. Jaguars
• Calvin Ridley at Texans

Jimmy Graham, Packers

at Cowboys

Graham is coming off one of his best games in recent memory, catching six of nine targets for 60 yards and a score. With Davante Adams sidelined with turf toe, the veteran tight end becomes Aaron Rodgers' most trusted receiving weapon, especially in the red zone. Graham will have a vintage performance versus the Cowboys, who were eviscerated with an 11-catch, 116-yard, one-touchdown day by the only good tight end they've faced so far, Evan Engram.

Boone's projection: 71 receiving yards, TD

Other TEs to start

• Austin Hooper at Texans
• Eric Ebron at Chiefs
• Tyler Eifert vs. Cardinals

Sit

Baker Mayfield, Browns

at 49ers

Mayfield responded to criticism with a get-right game against the Ravens last week. Unfortunately, he'll struggle to keep the good times going against a very underrated 49ers defense on Monday Night Football. San Francisco ranks second in Football Outsiders' pass-defense DVOA and is led by a hungry pass rush. That's bad news for Mayfield, who's already taken 12 sacks through four games, putting him on pace to nearly double his rookie season total of 25.

Boone's projection: 226 passing yards, TD, 2 INTs

Other QBs to sit

• Philip Rivers vs. Broncos
• Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Browns
• Daniel Jones vs. Vikings

Wayne Gallman, Giants

vs. Vikings

It's possible that this is Gallman's last start as Saquon Barkley appears to be shattering the four-to-eight-week recovery timetable initially given for his high ankle sprain. Gallman turned 24 touches into 118 yards and two touchdowns against a crumbling Redskins team, but the Vikings' run defense is an entirely different animal, shutting down every back not named Aaron Jones. That drops Gallman into the RB3/flex range.

Boone's projection: 41 rushing yards, 17 receiving yards

Other RBs to sit

• Josh Jacobs vs. Bears
• Frank Gore at Titans
• Adrian Peterson vs. Patriots

DJ Chark, Jaguars

at Panthers

Making the leap in his sophomore season, Chark was a top-20 fantasy receiver in each of the first three games this year, and would have reached that mark again had his Week 4 touchdown not been nullified by a penalty. So, why is he a sit? Chark is in for a potential shadow matchup with standout corner James Bradberry, the man responsible for limiting Mike Evans to four catches for 61 yards and DeAndre Hopkins to five receptions for 41 yards. If Chark still produces here, he'll be in the conversation as a top-15 fantasy wideout the rest of the way.

Boone's projection: 45 receiving yards

Other WRs to sit

• John Brown at Titans
• Corey Davis/A.J. Brown vs. Bills
• Golden Tate vs. Vikings

O.J. Howard, Buccaneers

at Saints

Howard has been forced to help block far more than what was anticipated, and he isn't running as many routes as a result. That's led to fewer targets and, ultimately, a disappointing start to the fantasy season, with little evidence that things will change in the near future. The Saints have been a bit more generous to tight ends in recent weeks, but Howard can't be trusted in your lineup.

Boone's projection: 36 receiving yards

Other TEs to sit

• This is normally the spot where we'd give you a few other options to sit, but there aren't many starter-quality tight ends who warrant mention here as bye weeks begin to roll in. Hopefully, you're set at the position, or look to stream one of the names from the start section.

Stash

Ryquell Armstead, Jaguars

Armstead is the direct backup to Leonard Fournette, who has a long and detailed injury history. Prior to last week, Armstead wasn't given much to do, but he got in eight carries for 42 yards and added a seven-yard touchdown catch with the rushing attack steamrolling the Broncos. While top handcuffs such as Malcolm Brown and Tony Pollard are likely already owned, you can turn your attention to Armstead.

Antonio Callaway, Browns

Callaway, who flashed at times as a rookie in 2018, has been reinstated after serving a four-game suspension. He'll initially compete to start in three-wide sets, but an injury to Odell Beckham Jr. or Jarvis Landry could vault him into WR3 territory.

Quit

Mitch Trubisky, Bears

Trubisky is set to miss at least a couple of games with a dislocated shoulder and a slight labrum tear. Despite being a potential breakout candidate in Matt Nagy's offense, the third-year passer has failed to improve on the progress he showed last season and doesn't need to be rostered in single-quarterback re-draft leagues.

John Ross, Bengals

Ross is another injury casualty after being sent to IR with a collarbone issue. He's one of several wideouts who are still owned in far too many leagues, along with Antonio Brown (43%) and Nelson Agholor (37%). Brown is unlikely to play again in 2019 and Agholor's window of value is closing as the pass-catching weapons in Philly get healthy. It's safe to drop any and all three of them.