Week 5 College Fantasy Start' Em and Sit 'Em

With four weeks now in the books, owners should be able to better assess their Fantasy team. Our Michael Hurcomb runs through each conference for Week 5 and shares some of his can't miss and must-avoid options in Start 'Em and Sit 'Em.

Start 'Em & Sit 'Em is our weekly look at the best and worst matchups from around the NCAA and how they might affect your lineup decisions regarding your College Fantasy Football team. We are not in the business of stating the obvious, so this column doesn't highlight starting already established collegians like Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy or any other top-tier players.

We take into account all types of formats from 120-team to single-conference player pools. This information might not apply to you specifically, but with such a massive range of players, we are doing our best to cast a wide net.

ACC
Start of the Week: Clemson RB C.J. Spiller (at Maryland)
Analysis: It clearly seems Fantasy owners are frustrated with Spiller since he is starting in just 64 percent of Fantasy leagues. But last week's gritty performance against TCU, when Spiller was fighting a toe injury and still totaled 191 yards (112 rushing) against one of the nation's best run defenses, should have instilled some faith in Fantasy owners. Well, he should win you back in Week 5 against Maryland. The Terps are 110th in run defense (202.0 ypg) and have allowed a 100-yard rusher in three of four games. Spiller has 245 rushing yards in three career games against Maryland.
Other solid options: North Carolina RB Ryan Houston (vs. Virginia); N.C. State QB Russell Wilson (at Wake Forest); Virginia Tech WR Jarrett Boykin (at Duke)

Sit of the Week: Wake Forest WR Marshall Williams (vs. N.C. State)
Analysis: Williams leads Wake Forest with 20 catches for 239 yards and two touchdowns. He is coming off a career-game in which he had 12 catches for 180 yards and one touchdown against Boston College. His previous career-best was last season against N.C. State. He had seven catches for 116 yards and one touchdown. So why don't we have him as a start? Well, we feel N.C. State has learned from their mistakes in 2008 and will be better prepared for Williams. Also, N.C. State has the nation's fourth best pass defense (125.3 ypg). They seem ready to stop the Wake passing game.
Other potential sits: Miami (Fla.) RB Graig Cooper (vs. Oklahoma); Florida State RB Jermaine Thomas (at Boston College)

Big East
Start of the Week: Cincinnati WR D.J. Woods (at Miami, Ohio)
Analysis: The Bearcats abused the Redhawks in 2008, 45-20. We expect it to be another bloodbath as Cincinnati looks to make a statement that they belong in the top 10. Miami is the perfect patsy since they have had trouble stopping everyone this season. Cincinnati's top receiver, Mardy Gilyard, wasn't even his team's top receiver in last year's game. That went to Dominick Goodman, who had six catches for 94 yards. Pike is going to spread the ball around and we feel Woods, who is Cincy's second best receiver, will have a nice day.
Other solid options: Louisville WR Scott Long (vs. Pittsburgh); South WR Carlton Mitchell (at Syracuse)

Sit of the Week: Syracuse QB Greg Paulus (at Syracuse)
Analysis: Paulus has been very good the last two weeks, passing for 616 yards and four touchdowns. His confidence seems to be soaring and his comfort level is also rising after not playing football for the last four years. However, he runs into a real road block in South Florida in Week 5. The Bulls have the nation's fifth best pass defense (130.5 ypg) and can really put pressure on the quarterback. It also hurts Paulus that USF has yet to allow a passing touchdown this season.
Other potential sits: Pittsburgh TE Dorin Dickerson (at Louisville)

Big 12
Start of the Week: Texas A&M QB Jerrod Johnson (vs. Arkansas)
Analysis: Johnson has been one of the hottest pickups in Fantasy. He has 96 Fantasy points the last two weeks thanks to 751 total yards and 10 touchdowns (seven passing). Fantasy owners who just added Johnson will want to insert him into active lineups immediately because the good times should continue against Arkansas. The Razorbacks have allowed 87 points the last two weeks and rank 91st in total defense (386.7 ypg).
Other solid options: Texas Tech RB Baron Batch (vs. New Mexico); Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray (at Miami [Fla.]); Kansas State RB Daniel Thomas (at Iowa State); Baylor RB Terrance Ganaway (vs. Kent State)

Sit of the Week: Iowa State QB Austen Arnaud (vs. Kansas State)
Analysis: Arnaud had one of the best games of his career against Kansas State to end the 2008 season. He totaled 493 yards (440 passing) and three touchdowns. Unfortunately, he won't face as soft of a K-State team in 2009. The Wildcats defense has been particularly strong this season under head coach Bill Snyder. They rank 10th in total (241.3 ypg) and 26th in scoring defense (16.0 ppg). Arnaud could be facing another week like Iowa, when he was picked off four times in a loss in Week 2.
Other potential sits: Oklahoma QB Landry Jones (at Miami [Fla.]); Texas A&M DST (vs. Arkansas)

Big Ten
Start of the Week: Penn State QB Daryll Clark (at Illinois)
Analysis: This is a knee-jerk reaction to Clark's meltdown in Week 4 against Iowa. There is nothing like a bounce-back game when you go up an inferior opponent. Clark totaled 231 yards and three touchdowns in a win against Illinois last season. He will want to put the team on his back in Week 5 and make some big plays.
Other solid options: Michigan TE Kevin Koger (at Michigan State); Wisconsin WR Isaac Anderson (at Minnesota); Northwestern QB Mike Kafka (at Purdue); Michigan State WR Blair White (vs. Michigan)

Sit of the Week: Illinois QB Juice Williams (vs. Penn State)
Analysis: Fantasy owners are waiting for Williams to snap out of his funk and finally have a breakout performance. Unfortunately, we don't see it in Week 5. Penn State is in the top 10 for both total (233.8 ypg) and scoring defense (10.3 ypg). In three career games against Penn State, Williams doesn't have a 200-yard passing game and hasn't even hit 250 total yards.
Other potential sits: Indiana RB Darius Willis (vs. Ohio State); Michigan State WR B.J. Cunningham (vs. Michigan)

Conference USA
Start of the Week: Tulsa QB G.J. Kinne (at Rice)
Analysis: To show you how committed I am to starting Kinne this week, I benched Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts in one of my leagues, so I could get Kinne into the starting lineup. He faces a Rice team that is dead last in scoring defense (44.0 ppg). Outside of a tough performance against Oklahoma, Kinne has done well in his first year as a starter and is 22nd in total offense (264.3 ypg). Tulsa put up 63 points and 577 yards of offense against Rice last season.
Other solid options: Houston RB Bryce Beall (at UTEP); UCF RB Brynn Harvey (vs. Memphis); Marshall TE Cody Slate (vs. East Carolina)

Sit of the Week: SMU WR Emmanuel Sanders (at TCU)
Analysis: There aren't going to be many instances where we tell you to sit a Fantasy star like Sanders, but this is one of those times. TCU is going to get after the Mustangs like they did in 2008, when they won 48-7. Sanders, who leads the nation with 11.7 catches per game, only managed six receptions for 62 yards against the Horned Frogs last season. It could be another long day for the Mustangs since TCU is allowing just 245 yards (12th) and 15 points (21st) per game.
Other potential sits: East Carolina WR Dwayne Harris (at Marshall)

FBS Independents
Start of the Week: Army RB Patrick Mealy (vs. Tulane)
Analysis: The Black Knights did a great job exposing Tulane in 2008. They rolled up 291 rushing yards in 44-13 win. They were led by fullback Collin Mooney, who had 187 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Mealy, who shares time with Kingley Ehie, is now the starter at fullback and is averaging 9.7 yards per carry. Tulane has the nation's 114th ranked run defense (219.7 ypg), so Army should find some open running lanes.
Other solid options: Notre Dame RB Armando Allen (vs. Washington)

Sit of the Week: Navy QB Ricky Dobbs (vs. Air Force)
Analysis: Dobbs has been Navy's best offensive player all season and is coming off a five-touchdown performance against Western Kentucky. But he is going to find Air Force a tougher challenge in this rivalry game. The Falcons held Navy to just 244 total yards last season and their defense has been pretty impressive in the early going. Air Force ranks ninth in scoring defense (11.2 ppg) and 31st against the run (106.3 ypg).
Other potential sits: None

MAC
Start of the Week: Toledo WR Eric Page (at Ball State)
Analysis: The freshman receiver has fit perfectly into Toledo's spread offense and has become a great second option alongside Stephen Williams. He already has three 100-yard performances and is coming off his first multi-touchdown game against FIU. Page should post some nice numbers against Ball State, which is allowing 414.8 yards per game (104th).
Other solid options: Ball State RB MiQuale Lewis (vs. Toledo); Western Michigan RB Brandon West (at Northern Illinois); Temple RB Bernard Pierce (at Eastern Michigan)

Sit of the Week: Central Michigan WR Antonio Brown (at Buffalo)
Analysis: Brown leads the Chippewas with 28 receptions for 215 yards and three touchdowns. He is coming off a nine-catch, two-touchdown performance against Akron, but we figure he has a tougher challenge ahead in Buffalo. The Bulls have yet to allow a 100-yard receiver in 2009 and are 18th in pass defense (157.3 ypg). They will probably focus a lot of attention on taking Brown out of the equation and make another CMU receiver step up.
Other potential sits: Ohio WR Taylor Price (at Bowling Green); Miami (Ohio) QB Zac Dysert (vs. Cincinnati)

Mountain West
Start of the Week: TCU QB Andy Dalton (vs. SMU)
Analysis: Dalton totaled 231 yards and one touchdown against SMU last season. Those aren't great numbers in Fantasy, but this year it could be a different story. TCU is looking to make a statement as they surge toward a BCS bid and wiping the floor with SMU is a must. The Mustangs are 113th in pass defense (285.3 ypg) and are allowing 28.7 points per game (92nd). Dalton can also get the job done with his feet, as he ranks 30th in total offense (255.7 ypg).
Other solid options: UNLV WR Ryan Wolfe (at Nevada); BYU WR McKay Jacobson (vs. Utah State); Wyoming TE Orlando Arnold (at Florida Atlantic)

Sit of the Week: Brigham Young DST (vs. Utah State)
Analysis: It might look like an easy matchup on paper, but make no mistake about it -- Utah State is moving the ball offensively in their first season under Gary Andersen. The Aggies are ninth in total offense (489.0 ypg) and have done well against the likes of Utah and Texas A&M.
Other potential sits: Colorado State RB John Mosure (at Idaho)

Pac-10
Start of the Week: Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli (vs. Washington State)
Analysis: For those who lost faith in Masoli, he earned back a lot of it last week with his 274-yard, three-touchdown performance against Cal. The Ducks are finally playing up to expectations and should keep it in cruise control for Week 5 against Washington State. The Cougars are dead last in total defense (503.5 ypg) and are allowing 32.8 points per game (103rd). Oregon managed 63 points and 507 yards against Wazzu last season.
Other solid options: Washington QB Jake Locker (at Notre Dame); Arizona State WR Kyle Williams (vs. Oregon State); USC TE Anthony McCoy (at Cal)

Sit of the Week: Cal RB Jahvid Best (vs. USC)
Analysis: It seems as good as any week to tempt the Fantasy College Football gods. Best is coming off his worst performance of the year against Oregon and it probably won't get much better in Week 5. USC held Best to 30 rushing yards in 2008 and will likely stack the box again and make quarterback Kevin Riley beat them. USC is allowing just 59.5 rushing yards per game (5th).
Other potential sits: Oregon State QB Sean Canfield (at Arizona State); Stanford WR Ryan Whalen (vs. UCLA); Arizona State RB Dimitri Nance (vs. Oregon State)

SEC
Start of the Week: Arkansas WR Greg Childs (at Texas A&M)
Analysis: We expect a high-scoring affair Saturday between the Razorbacks and Aggies. Arkansas hasn't had any issues passing the ball in 2009 and will need a strong effort to keep up with Texas A&M. Childs has nine catches for 200 yards and three touchdowns in the last two games. He has developed great rapport with quarterback Ryan Mallett and should have another nice game against Texas A&M.
Other solid options: Alabama RB Mark Ingram (at Kentucky); LSU QB Jordan Jefferson (at Georgia); Tennessee RB Montario Hardesty (vs. Auburn)

Sit of the Week: Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead (at Vanderbilt)
Analysis: South Carolina did a great job exposing Snead during a Week 4 upset of Ole Miss. Snead could be in for another rough game when the Rebels travel to Vanderbilt. The Commodores have the second best pass defense (106.3 ypg) and have kept in check some pretty efficient offenses in LSU and Mississippi State. Ole Miss actually lost to Vandy last season and Snead totaled just 183 yards.
Other potential sits: Auburn RB Ben Tate (at Tennessee); LSU DST (at Georgia); Tennessee DST (vs. Auburn)

Sun Belt
Start of the Week: Florida Atlantic TE Jason Harmon (vs. Wyoming)
Analysis: Harmon, who missed all of the 2008 season with a torn ACL, finally came out of his shell in Week 4 against La.-Monroe. He hauled in 11 catches for 132 yards. He has 15 catches in his last two games after getting just one in the opener against Nebraska. He is back on the same page with quarterback Rusty Smith and should have another solid week with the 112th ranked passing defense (277.5 ypg) coming to town.
Other solid options: Florida Atlantic RB Alfred Morris (vs. Wyoming); FIU WR Greg Ellingson (at La-Monroe); La-Monroe QB Trey Revell (vs. FIU)

Sit of the Week: Arkansas State RB Reggie Arnold (at Iowa)
Analysis: Arnold has once again been great for Arkansas State. He leads the team with seven touchdowns and is averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He has a touchdown in three straight games, but he is going to find it tough sledding against an Iowa team that held Penn State running back Evan Royster to 69 yards on his home turf. Arkansas State has to make the trek to Iowa and probably will be passing a lot trying to come from behind.
Other potential sits: FIU RB Darriet Perry (at La.-Monroe)

WAC
Start of the Week: Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick (vs. UNLV)
Analysis: If you judge Kaepernick by his early-season production, he has clearly been a bust of a Fantasy selection. However, this is nothing new from Kaepernick. He usually struggles out of conference before tearing it up in WAC play. Nevada is still a week away from conference play, but Kaepernick has a favorable matchup with UNLV looming. The dual-threat quarterback totaled 416 yards (240 rushing) and three touchdowns in a 49-27 win over the Rebels in 2008. Nevada is floundering at 0-3 and can't afford to open WAC play winless. Expect Kaepernick to take charge on Saturday.
Other solid options: Utah State RB Robert Turbin (at BYU); New Mexico State RB Seth Smith (at San Diego State)

Sit of the Week: Idaho RB DeMaundray Woolridge (vs. Colorado State)
Analysis: Woolridge has emerged as Idaho's go-to-runner in a loaded backfield and has five touchdowns in his last three games. He had a career-high 144 yards last week against Northern Illinois. Unfortunately, he will find the Rams a tougher challenge. Colorado State is 22nd in rushing defense (97.0 ypg) and most teams have attacked the Rams through the air.
Other potential sits: New Mexico State WR Todd Lee (at San Diego State)