Tell someone before the season that the Rams would play Seattle, Washington, Pittsburgh and Arizona through four weeks and be 2-2, and most would have assumed Washington and Pittsburgh would be the wins. Instead, the Rams have had big games against their elite opponents, and struggled against the lesser ones. The Green Bay Packers, meanwhile, have taken on all comers en route to a 4-0 record. The Rams get to test their “good against good teams” mettle against the Packers on Sunday.
Fantasy football advice, Week 5: Who to start/sit for Rams vs. Packers
The Rams have looked good against good teams and bad against bad teams. The Packers have looked great against ... well, everybody.
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
On the Rams’ side, the team comes into Sunday basically healthy as far as fantasy is concerned, with only wide receiver Kenny Britt on the injury report, and he’s expected to be fine. The Packers aren’t as healthy, with three receivers on the report. Davante Adams will miss another game with an ankle injury, but Randall Cobb and James Jones are both expected to play through their injuries.
The Packers will host the Rams Sunday, with the game scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Let’s take a look at the fantasy considerations:
RAMS
Start ‘em: In his first real, reins-off experience, Todd Gurley was a monster in Week 4, and all expectations are that he will continue to be that against a subpar Green Bay run defense.
Start ‘em?: Through four games, Greg Zuerlein has had at least six fantasy points a game every week. That’ll play at kicker.
Sit ‘em: In the Rams’ two wins, Nick Foles has put up 18 fantasy points in each game. In their two losses, he’s had 10 and six fantasy points. You can’t expect the Rams to beat the Packers, so you can’t buy in on Foles. ... The emergence of Gurley renders Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham unusable for fantasy. ... Tavon Austin is the best fantasy option among the Rams’ pass-catchers, ahead of Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey and Jared Cook, but he’s so boom-or-bust that he’s probably not worth the risk. ... The Rams’ defense is good, but the Packers’ offense is better.
PACKERS
Start ‘em: There’s little debate every week about Aaron Rodgers, especially at home. ... This might be the week Eddie Lacy really gets going against a St. Louis run defense that struggled against Washington and Arizona. ... Randall Cobb had a bad Week 4, but he’s still an easy WR1. ... Mason Crosby is a strong kicker, and a good kicker with a good offense is always a good option. ... The Packers’ defense has improved its fantasy performance every week so far.
Start ‘em?: I’m still not altogether sold on James Jones, but he’s averaging 13.3 fantasy points a game, and it’s hard to argue with the results.
Sit ‘em: The Packers like Ty Montgomery, but through four games he has only 66 yards. He’s only a truly desperate option. ... Richard Rodgers has two 10-point fantasy days in the last three weeks, but his usage is so inconsistent he’s still not really startable.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Todd Gurley, Aaron Rodgers, Eddie Lacy, Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby, Green Bay defense
Start if you’re desperate: Greg Zuerlein, James Jones
Bench: Nick Foles, Tre Mason, Benny Cunningham, Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, Jared Cook, St. Louis defense, Ty Montgomery, Richard Rodgers
