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Is it time to drop Colin Kaepernick? - @Jshoener4 (via Twitter)
Michael Fabiano: No, but you shouldn't consider him a matchup-proof starter. In fact, he's become more of a matchup-based option at this point in the season. Over his last four contests, the Nevada product has scored fewer than 10 fantasy points three times, averaging a disappointing 8.37 fantasy points in that time. The Niners will face an underrated Arizona Cardinals defense that now has standout linebacker Daryl Washington back in the mix, so starting Kaepernick in Week 6 will come with some risk.
What do I do with Maurice Jones-Drew? I am a huge Jaguars fan so you can imagine the pain! - A. Wilkinson (via Facebook)
M.F.: I can't do anything about the pain you're feeling with the Jaguars as a franchise, but I would advise you to trade Jones-Drew now. He's coming off a not-so-terrible stat line against the St. Louis Rams, so I would try and move him before his value goes any further into the tank. Behind an offensive line continuing to crumble after the trade of OT Eugene Monroe and the loss of T Luke Joeckel to a broken ankle, I don't see "Pocket Hercules" having any sort of statistical rebirth in the near future.
Do you still trust Philip Rivers as a fantasy starter after Week 5? - @boomershine_56 (via Twitter)
M.F.: Absolutely. Rivers might have been intercepted three times against the Oakland Raiders, but he still scored almost 19 fantasy points in the contest. What's more, he is on pace to record over 5,100 yards through the air. With attractive matchups against the Jaguars, Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos (among others) down the stretch, there is no reason to think Rivers won't continue to be a starting-caliber quarterback in fantasy leagues.
Is it time to bench Trent Richardson and start Knowshon Moreno instead? - C. Gentry (via Facebook)
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M.F.: You should absolutely play the matchups with these two running backs. Moreno is seventh in fantasy points at the position and has scored 26 more points than Richardson after five weeks. Looking ahead to Week 6, Moreno is the more attractive back in what figures to be an absolute blowout against the Jaguars -- their defense has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to backs in 2013. Richardson has a tougher matchup against the San Diego Chargers, who have allowed an average of just 12.68 fantasy points to the position.
Should I trade Chris Johnson? - @LinehanLegend (via Twitter)
M.F.: If you can deal Johnson, I would do it now. He posted a respectable 14 fantasy points in last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and you should use that in your trade talks. In fact, CJ had a miserable contest -- he averaged 1.7 yards per carry and scored most of his points on a fluky flip pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick that resulted in a 49-yard touchdown. The former fantasy star also has lost goal-line work to Jackie Battle (or Shonn Greene when he returns), so the bloom is almost 100 percent off the rose. Johnson also faces the Seahawks in Seattle this week, so he's almost certain to lose trade value after what will be a brutal matchup.
What sort of value will Josh Freeman have in Minnesota? Should I pick him up? - A. Sheffield (via Facebook)
M.F.: The Vikings didn't add Freeman to not allow him a chance to win the top spot on the depth chart. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if he is under center when the team faces the New York Giants in Week 7 -- getting him up to date on the playbook in time for this week's game against the Carolina Panthers could be tough. Regardless, I don't see Freeman as someone you need to run out to the waiver wire and grab for your fantasy team. He's been mostly inconsistent during his NFL career, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't cut ties with him without reason. In a best-case scenario, Freeman will be a matchup-based starter in fantasy leagues -- assuming he does in fact pass Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel in the coming weeks.
What do I do about Larry Fitzgerald? - @LazyGrandeur (via Twitter)
M.F.: It appears we have overestimated the impact Carson Palmer would make on Fitzgerald and the Cardinals offense, at least after the first five weeks of the 2013 campaign. Over his last four games, the veteran has thrown three touchdowns versus eight interceptions and has competed fewer than 58 percent of his passes. (I thought we were done with the John Skelton and Max Hall numbers in Arizona!) I still wouldn't advise against benching Fitzgerald unless you have depth at wide receiver, but in most cases you'll have to roll with him through the bye weeks.
What is your take on Alshon Jeffery? I have had him benched the last two weeks in favor of Andre Johnson. Is it time to sit A.J. and start Jeffery? - P. Peterson (via Facebook)
M.F.: Jeffery was in the waiver wire photo essay I wrote last week, but he was still a free agent in over 50 percent of NFL.com leagues heading into Week 5. That number is almost certain to shrink, as the South Carolina product went off for 218 yards, one touchdown and 27.80 fantasy points in a loss to the New Orleans Saints. Jeffery also has a great matchup on Thursday night against the New York Giants, who have struggled on defense all season. If you do land him, consider Jeffery a viable No. 3 fantasy wideout.
Who will be the better quarterback to pick up off the waiver wire for the rest of the season - Terrelle Pryor or Ben Roethlisberger? - @shanehowzie (via Twitter)
M.F.: I've been on the Pryor bandwagon ever since he was named the starter in Oakland, and I'm not jumping off while he's been playing so well. He's scored close to 20 fantasy points in each of his last two starts and has more fantasy points overall than Tom Brady, Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick. And remember, that's despite missing one start due to a concussion. I will admit that this week's matchup against the Chiefs isn't the most favorable, but then again Pryor isn't a matchup-proof quarterback - much like Roethlisberger. I side with upside over experience in a lot of cases, and this is one of them.
Great call on Austin Pettis last week! Would you start him ahead of Danny Amendola or Steve Johnson in Week 6? I'm in a PPR league. - K. Jaxson (via Facebook)
M.F.: I might consider starting Pettis over Johnson, who will be catching passes from recent practice-squad quarterback Thaddeus Lewis this week. With that being said, it would be tough for me to bench Amendola in favor of Pettis. The Patriots wideout came out of last week's loss to those Cincinnati Bengals unscathed, which is good news considering he missed some time with an injured groin. Also keep in mind that Pettis has a tough matchup against the Houston Texans, who have allowed fewer fantasy points to wide receivers than any other team in the league.
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**!
