Fantasy football advice, Week 5: who to start/sit for Atlanta Falcons vs. Denver Broncos

Fantasy owners have much to factor into their decisions for Week 5, whether it is four teams on bye weeks, or Hurricane Matthew’s winds potentially whipping around in football stadiums along the East Coast. In the meantime, fantasy owners can have some clarity in setting lineups by looking at Week 5’s matchups, one at a time.

Yes, the Denver Broncos will far and away be the best defense the Falcons have played all season, but that doesn’t give any fantasy owner the right to be the jerk who benches Julio Jones after putting up literally 300 yards in Week 4. He deserves to be started regardless of matchup.

Devonta Freeman has outplayed Tevin Coleman over the course of the season, even during a Week 3 slugfest that had Coleman find the end zone three times. Freeman could see a bump in usage with Coleman now having to battle the high altitude of Denver with a sickle-cell trait.

Matt Ryan is fantasy football’s No. 1 quarterback and asserted that status by dropping 503 yards against the Panthers. He may be lucky to get half that total against the Broncos on the road, but fantasy owners would have to have an incredible backup option to consider leaving Ryan on their benches. Ryan can be considered a low-end QB1 in a dreadful matchup, but the Falcons’ signal caller has absolutely been on fire.

As alluded to previously, Coleman’s medical condition doesn’t instill much confidence that he will be at his usual capacity, and fantasy owners should attempt to find other options at running back if possible. Complementary pass catchers Jacob Tamme and Mohamed Sanu should remain on benches, as well.

The Broncos are being coy with their starting quarterback, but it may not matter, given that C.J. Anderson will face off against a defense that is surrendering 4.5 yards per carry on the season. Anderson remains in the RB1 conversation and should be in line for a bounceback week. Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas continue to exceed expectations due to their better-than-expected quarterback play. Each can be penned into lineups yet again.

Stopping the run hasn’t been the only issue for the Falcons defense, as they have surrendered a league-high 13 touchdowns through the air. Fantasy owners who have both Siemian and Paxton Lynch should pick whichever makes the start on Sunday as a plug-and-play QB1 streamer.

Devontae Booker, Virgil Green, and the rest of the Broncos offense doesn’t deserve starting consideration despite the plus matchup.