The NFC South was supposed to be a good division this year, with two 2013 playoff teams, a prime bounce-back candidate and a popular sleeper. Instead, the division as a whole currently has a 6-10 record, and the only team with a positive point differential lost its last game by 13. The division's two last-place teams -- the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both at 1-3 -- play each other Sunday.
Fantasy football advice, Week 5: Who to start/sit for Buccaneers vs. Saints
Two 1-3 teams in a subpar division face off Sunday in what looks like a loser-leaves-town matchup.
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The Buccaneers have been dealing with a few injuries. Quarterback Josh McCown has been ruled out for the time being with a right thumb injury, and wide receiver Mike Evans is on the shelf for a few weeks with a groin injury as well. Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins has been limited in practice this week with an ankle injury, but is expected to play. On the Saints side, running back Mark Ingram has been out for a couple games with a hand injury, and that absence will continue.
With both teams needing a win to start moving back to respectability this week, the Buccaneers and Saints will play at 1 p.m. ET Sunday in New Orleans. Here’s a look at the fantasy names to consider:
BUCCANEERS
Start in every league: ...
Start if you're desperate: Doug Martin, Vincent Jackson
Bench: Mike Glennon, Bobby Rainey, Louis Murphy, Brandon Myers, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Patrick Murray, Defense/special teams
The touchdown last week was all well and good, but Martin has been really underwhelming so far, and even against a rough New Orleans defense, he’s hard to trust as anything above a flex play. ... On the flip side, Jackson is on the rise, adding fantasy production every game this season. He’s still a flex play this week, but is moving back toward must-start territory.
Glennon has made the Buccaneers better than they were with McCown, and he put up 18 fantasy points a week ago, but let’s hold off to see a little more production before we buy all the way in. ... Rainey is something of a must-own right now with Martin’s struggles, but until he gets the gig you can’t really use him. ... Murphy looked good in his first action a week ago, but there’s a reason he was unemployed before that. ... Evans’ absence was supposed to help Seferian-Jenkins, who was an every-down tight end a week ago, but his injury brings more questions, and Myers has been used less and less as the weeks have gone by. ... Murray had a big game a week ago, but totaled only eight fantasy points in the three weeks before that. ... The Buccaneers’ defense has been underwhelming this season.
SAINTS
Start in every league: Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Shayne Graham
Start if you're desperate: Khiry Robinson, Brandin Cooks
Bench: Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston, Defense/special teams
So, it’s Brees, in a home game, against a struggling defense. Sure, he hasn’t put up more than 19 fantasy points in a game yet, but I’m still buying in. ... Jimmy Graham has averaged 12 fantasy points a game so far, tied for third at the position. ... Shayne Graham will be as good as the Saints’ offense lets him be, and I expect a lot of points from New Orleans this week.
With Ingram out, Robinson has been the beneficiary, though he hasn’t yet scored 10 fantasy points in a game. He’s a flex play. ... Cooks hasn’t done a lot since Week 1. He’s only interesting as a low-end flex play.
Thomas has been really disappointing this season. He still has moderate PPR value, but you want to stay away in general. ... It’s tough to say why Colston has been struggling so much, but until he offers more value, you can’t use him. ... The Saints’ defense has a negative point total for the season. Some might call that a warning sign.
