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.
Start of the week
Alfred Morris at Dallas Cowboys: Morris appears to be fine after injuring his ribs in a game before Washington's bye week, so he should be in your starting lineup against the Cowboys. In 2012, he ripped the Dallas defense for 313 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Boys have struggled against the run in 2013, so Morris should roll. (Maximum value: High RB1)
Start 'em
DeMarco Murray vs. Washington Redskins: Murray hasn't posted enormous totals in 2013, but he does rank among the top 10 running backs in the league based on fantasy points. The Oklahoma product is a nice option in Week 6, as he'll face a Redskins defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. (Maximum value: High RB2)
Knowshon Moreno vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Moreno is quietly putting up strong totals, ranking an impressive seventh in fantasy points among all running backs after five weeks. His success should continue against the Jaguars, who have given up an average of 18.68 fantasy points per game to runners. Consider Moreno a nice No. 2 option. (Maximum value: High RB2)
Willis McGahee vs. Detroit Lions: If we learned anything from last week, it's that McGahee (26 carries) is now the featured running back in Cleveland. And while he isn't the same superstar he was in Buffalo, McGahee does have flex-starter value. That's the case against the Lions, who have given up the sixth-most fantasy points to runners. (Maximum value: Mid RB2)
Sleeper alert -- Danny Woodhead vs. Indianapolis Colts (Mon.): With or without Ryan Mathews, who suffered a concussion last week, Woodhead is going to see a prominent role in the San Diego offense on Monday night. Oh, and how's this for a surprising stat - only five running backs have scored more fantasy points than Woodhead over the last two weeks. (Maximum value: Mid RB2)
Sit of the week
Chris Johnson at Seattle Seahawks: Johnson had a nice stat line last week, but most of his production came on a fluky flip pass that went for a touchdown. Other than that, he averaged 1.7 yards per carry. He needs to be on your bench against the Seahawks, who have given up the fifth-fewest fantasy points to runners on their home field. (Maximum value: Mid RB2)
Sit 'em
Rashard Mendenhall at San Francisco 49ers: Mendenhall posted a respectable 11 fantasy points in last week's game against the Carolina Panthers, but he averaged just 3.2 yards per carry and is losing time to Andre Ellington. The Niners have also allowed an average of fewer than 11 fantasy points per game to runners over the last two weeks. (Maximum value: High RB3)
Eddie Lacy at Baltimore Ravens: Lacy is tough to bench from the perspective that he's a true featured back, but this week's matchup against the Ravens is anything but favorable. Their defense has given up just one rushing touchdown and the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, making Lacy a real risk in Week 6. (Maximum value: Low RB2)
Pierre Thomas at New England Patriots: Thomas went off last week, scoring two touchdowns and 21.10 fantasy points in a win over the Chicago Bears. However, he averaged a meager 1.9 yards per carry in the contest and is averaging 2.9 for the season. His numbers should come crashing back to earth against the Patriots this week. (Maximum value: Mid RB3)
Owners beware -- Frank Gore vs. Arizona Cardinals:Â It's tough to bench one of the better running backs in fantasy land during the bye weeks, but keep in mind that Gore's going up against a Cardinals defense that has surrendered no rushing touchdowns and the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing runners this season. (Maximum value: Mid RB2)
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**!
