Start 'Em & Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the weekly NFL matchups and how they'll affect your fantasy football team. Sleeper alert features an under-the-radar player who could produce good numbers. Owners beware features a regular fantasy starter who could fail to meet expectations based on the strength of his opponent. Obvious fantasy starters like Aaron Rodgers and Adrian Peterson will not be featured. For your final lineup decisions, check our lineup rankings.
Byes:Matt Ryan, Ryan Tannehill
Start of the week
Andrew Luck at San Diego Chargers: The seventh-ranked quarterback based on fantasy points, Luck is in the midst of taking that next step to stardom. His rise will continue against the Chargers, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. In fact, all five signal-callers to face them have recorded at least 19 points. (Maximum value: High QB1)
Start 'em
Tony Romo vs. Washington Redskins: Romo had the best fantasy game of his career last week, posting better than 40 fantasy points in a loss to the Denver Broncos. Up next is a date with the Redskins, who have surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Unless you have an elite option, Romo should be your No. 1 this weekend. (Maximum value: High QB1)
Cam Newton at Minnesota Vikings: A total of 21 quarterbacks have scored more fantasy points than Newton so far this season, which is causing a lot of owners to panic. I would continue to start him, though, as the Panthers travel to Minnesota. The Vikings have allowed an average of over 18 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2013. (Maximum value: High QB1)
Robert Griffin III at Dallas Cowboys: Griffin III had two straight forgettable performances before Washington's bye week, combining to score just 26.82 fantasy points. He should reverse his fortunes against the Cowboys, however. Dallas has allowed a league-high 14 touchdown passes and the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.(Maximum value: Low QB1)
Sleeper alert -- Alex Smith vs. Oakland Raiders:Fantasy football is all about stats and trends. Well, here's some interesting stuff about Smith -- he is averaging over 22 fantasy points per game in even-numbered weeks. We are heading, of course, into Week 6. The matchup for Smith against the Raiders is also positive, making him an interesting option. (Maximum value: Low QB1)
Sit of the week
Matthew Stafford at Cleveland Browns: Stafford has been solid overall, but he has seen his fantasy production drop in each of the last three weeks. He'll be a risk against an improved Browns defense, which has allowed fewer than nine fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks at home this season. (Maximum value: High QB2)
Sit 'em
Fantasy RBs have a new Forte
In his Week 6 rankings, Adam Rank has a new running back atop his board. Matt Forte's strengths are fantasy owners' gain. More ...
Terrelle Pryor at Kansas City Chiefs: No one has been a bigger fantasy fan of Pryor than me, but I also realize he isn't an elite No. 1 fantasy quarterback. And with a matchup against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium up next, Pryor is a tough sell as a starter. Kansas City has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to signal-callers. (Maximum value: High QB2)
Sam Bradford at Houston Texans: Bradford is coming off a strong stat line, posting 21.28 fantasy points in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Unfortunately, he has a much tougher task this week in Houston. The Texans allow an average of fewer than 13 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks on their home field, so sit Bradford. (Maximum value: Mid-QB2)
Carson Palmer at San Francisco 49ers: Palmer has been awful in recent weeks, throwing three touchdowns with eight interceptions while being outscored by 29 quarterbacks in his last four starts. His fortunes aren't likely to improve against the 49ers, who have surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing signal-callers in 2013. (Maximum value: Low QB2)
Owners beware -- Russell Wilson vs. Tennessee Titans: Wilson has an odd trend going -- he's great in odd-numbered weeks (19.86 fantasy PPG) and awful in even-numbered ones (10.80 fantasy PPG). We're heading into Week 6. Also, the Titans have allowed an average of 11.02 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. (Maximum value: High QB2)
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!
