There’s denial, then anger, followed by bargaining, depression, and, finally, acceptance.

The five stages of grief.

Broncos fans are, somehow, at all five points right now. 

I didn’t think this was possible, but sometimes life continues to surprise. 

They’re in denial for thinking they could beat the Raiders last week (which they didn’t); they are angry at their head coach for botching the play clock and play calling in general; they’re bargaining the fact that Russell Wilson is the same quarterback he was five years ago when he did things like, you know, run outside of the pocket to gain a couple of extra seconds to allow his receivers to get open down field and fire that once beautiful deep ball of his to the team’s X receiver, and he still has the talent to do this only if the coaching staff can get him the help he needs; depression that their best offensive player in Javonte Williams just received a torn-ACL diagnosis and the starting running back already has FOUR fumbles this year; acceptance that, being in the same division as the Chiefs and the same conference as Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, a feisty Jacksonville team and a Miami team that can put up 21 points at will, this year is just not their year. 

It’s a mesh of neuroticism that not even Jung himself can untangle. 

I am not a Broncos fan, but I live in Denver. This is a football town. When the Colorado Avalanche were on their Stanley Cup run, they were barely covered until the conference championship because OTA’s were beginning to start and everyone wanted to speculate on how Nathaniel Hackett would meld Russell Wilson with all the talent surrounding him.

The defense they were sure was rock-solid, and Denver had one of the most promising wide receiver corps in the league to couple with a young back that was going to be a superstar. All were roses. The only thing they worried about was the division with Kansas City and Los Angeles and the hated Raiders.

It was going to be competitive, and a slow start was acknowledged. They’d finish 10-7 or so, but a Super Bowl was in their eyes. Their aspiration wasn’t a playoff bid. It was a championship. That was the very reason they gave up so much for Russell.

And just four weeks into the season that hope has been torpedoed. 

Better luck next year, at least for those who have made it to the acceptance stage. 

And it’s not just the Broncos fans who are looking toward next year. It’s the fans of the Patriots, the Commanders, the Steelers, the Bears, the Texans, the Colts, the Panthers, the Raiders, the Cardinals, and the Seahawks. Bearing a miracle, we can safely say these teams will not make the playoffs. 

I say this not to kick these teams while they’re down, but to hammer home the point that while these teams’ hopes are dashed, yours are not if you’re 0-4 or 1-3 in fantasy. That’s the beautiful thing about this game. You’re not stuck with these players. Drop them, bench them. Kick them to the curb. Clear the deck you have and start again. 

The season is far from over. 

I said it in Week 1, but I will say it again:

Guys from the waiver wire will win you your fantasy league. It happens every year. Last year it was Duke Johnson, Justin Jackson, and Rashaad Penny.

Let us wait in anticipation of who it will be this year. The vigilant will have them in their starting line-up. 

We’re not starting grief counseling yet. 

Here are this week’s starts and sits:

Fantasy football Week 5 start ’em

Quarterbacks to start in Week 5

Tom Brady (TB) vs Falcons

The GOAT loves playing Atlanta. In the four games since he joined the Bucs, he has scored 15 touchdowns against this squad. That’s almost 4 TDs/game and I don’t see any reason for this upcoming week to be an outlier.

He’s now lost two games, both at home and by the looks of all his broken tablets he’s mad at how the season’s going. You can’t take out your anger easily on the Packers or the Chiefs, but you can certainly do it against the Falcons. 

Joe Burrow (CIN) vs Baltimore

The Bengals look like their 2021 selves the past couple of games, and now get a team they absolutely torched last year. The Ravens did re-tool their defense, and I am sure they had Joe Burrow in mind when they did, but there’s no way you can sit him Monday night.

Last year he went off for 416-3-1 and 525-4-0 against the Ravens, which is a very high bar to meet, but it’s nice to know the possibility of that outcome is there. 

Running backs to start in Week 5

Damien Harris (NE) vs Lions

I am a big Lions fan, in that, I love to start all my players against them. They bleed points to everyone.

Damien Harris has scored in the last three games, and he’s going to get a good amount of opportunities in the red zone against a team that just gave up 151-2 to Rashaad Penny last week. This offense is still suspect, but it has gotten better each week. Harris is a flex-worthy play. 

Jamaal Williams (DET) vs Patriots

Speaking of this game, start Jamaal Williams too, and don’t worry that the Patriots rank No. 6 against the run this year in fantasy. The Lions will figure out a way to put up points on the ground, no matter who they face.

Now, they don’t win games this way, but to be fair to Detroit, when do they ever win games? They still lose, but they at least make it advantageous for fantasy players! Thank you, Dan Campbell!!

Wide receivers and tight ends to start in Week 5

Romeo Doubs (GB) vs Giants

We knew that it would take a while to get the Packers’ passing game going, and we heard the praise out of training camp on Romeo Doubs, so it’s not shocking to see that in the last two games he’s posted 16 targets and 2 touchdowns.

Now Aaron Rodgers and co. will have a Giants team that loves nothing more than blitz. That’s fine if it’s against Justin Fields, but against Rodgers? He’s posted the third-best passer rating against the blitz this season because, you see, he is Aaron Rodgers. There’s a chance this could be a classic 45-10 Packers blowout where Rodgers puts to rest any doubt on the offense’s ability to put up big numbers. 

Chris Olave (NO) vs Seahawks

There was concern that his usage would dip with Andy Dalton under center. I don’t think it would matter if you put my preschooler back there.  You throw to the best guy on the field, and right now that’s the rookie Olave, who is ranked WR14 in PPR formats.

The best thing about him is that he’s a big play ready to happen, and leads the league in air yards. One of these games he’s going to blow up, and why wouldn’t it be against the Seahawks who just got rocked by Jared Goff of all people? 

D/ST to start in Week 5

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans

I think this will be a bounce-back game for the Jaguars. They have proved they have a great pass rush, are excellent at home, and are capable of creating turnovers and getting sacks.

David Mills is not exactly you’re most mobile of quarterbacks, and the depleted Chargers defense was able to get to him four times last week. They should be on the waivers for you to scoop up and play. 

Fantasy football Week 5 sit ’em

Quarterbacks to sit in Week 5

Jared Goff (DET) vs Patriots

Yes, he is currently the QB5. Yes, the Lions love to throw. He just puts up big numbers against really bad defenses. Consider his points came in garbage time against Philadelphia, the Washington Commanders, and the Seattle Seahawks, and this was all at home.

The one game you did not want to start him was on the road against Minnesota, and at least they have a dome. You’re now asking the Californian to go on the road against New England—a team who was giving Aaron Rodgers trouble—and I am pretty sure there’s already three feet of snow in Massachusetts. It is October. 

Marcus Mariota (ATL) vs Buccaneers

I look back at all the shameful moments of my life, and starting Marcus Mariota against the Browns last week is near the top. He’s just not good at playing football. On top of that, he is running less and less each week, which was his only attribute to fantasy. He went from 12 for 72 in Week 1 to 5 for 3 in Week 4, and Arthur Smith is still not finding a way to get the ball into Kyle Pitts’s hands.

Oh, and he’s going up against the Tampa defense. Oh, and he may be benched at halftime for the rookie. Oh, and this is Marcus Mariota and he’s just not good at playing football.

(I suppose I am still bitter over last week.) 

Running backs to sit in Week 5

James Conner (ARI) vs Eagles

He’s giving you the good ‘ol James Conner production of 3.2 yards per carry, but the difference this year is that he’s found the end zone once this year. Sorry, but apparently you gotta feed Zach Ertz when you’re in scoring position.

Just as troubling is the lack of usage in the passing game. He’s averaging only 23.75 yards/game in the air, and now he’s going against a stout Philadelphia defense. If you start him you’re praying for the ball on the 1-yard line and multiple chances for pay dirt. 

Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) vs Rams

Currently the RB34 in PPR leagues, his best game was a 14-point game against the Giants. Not a coincidence this was his only game this year with a touchdown.

Before the last game, he was actually in the red for receiving yards. His workload is going up, and like Conner, you have to place your hopes on him finding the end zone. This can certainly happen, but if it doesn’t you’re looking at 6 points, which is what he scored in both Weeks 1 and 2 against talented defenses like the Rams. 

Wide receivers to sit in Week 5

Diontae Johnson (PIT) vs Bills

I just see this one being a blowout, and the Bills do not take their foot off the gas. We saw what Kenny Pickett did against the J-E-T-S and now he’s taking on a superb defense in Buffalo. Short sample size, but when Pickett was under center the second half Diontae only saw two targets. This one could go bad for the talented receiver.  

D.J. Moore vs 49ers 

Another talented receiver that’s going to have a hard time getting the ball. The 49ers, like the Bills, have an elite defense and are going against, shall we say, a non-elite quarterback.

Baker Mayfield’s QBR has fallen steadily since week 1, and that’s when he posted a 36.1 rating. Last week against the Cardinals he managed a meek 7.4 QBR. Even Marcus Mariota, Mr. I Score Only Three F*cking Fantasy Points, put up a 26.5 QBR rating against in Week 4.

(Yes, I am bitter. Bitter and pulsating with an unquenchable rage.)