Hey Rush Nation, we are finally in must win, do or die playoff territory. Many teams will not be in the playoff spots right now, but will force their way in. Make sure, whether you are in the playoff spots, or are just outside, you keep everything in your own hands and get a win this week. To do this, I’m here to help you with some much needed starts and sits. At this crucial stage of the season, getting a starts and sits decision right will be the difference between getting into the playoffs and not for most teams. 

So let’s get you some W’s this week.

Starts

Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger- Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben has been on a roll in recent weeks. He even put up QB1 numbers with no practice at all and only communicating with the team via zoom. This week he faces a bottom five defence. Ben will light this one up and put up back to back QB1 performances.

Tom Brady- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Whilst the Rams are not a defense to be messed with, Tom Brady has the bit between his teeth. He has had a couple of blips this season, in prime time no less. However, the Rams rely on shadow covering the alpha receiver and making the QB beat you by targeting inferior targets. Brady will pick and choose his receivers and targets well and I expect Brady to put up a top 8 QB performance this week.

Running Backs

Mike Davis- Carolina Panthers

Davis had a rough day last time out. However, it was against the number one run defense in the NFL so no surprise at all. This week, Davis gets one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, the Detroit Lions. Expect him to eat and be in the fringe RB1 conversation this week. An easy Starts and Sits decision this week.

Duke Johnson- Houston Texans

Houston’s main threat will be Deshaun Watson. As a result, the Patriots will focus on stopping him getting the ball into Will Fuller’s and Brandin Cooks hands. This should allow some check downs to Johnson and allowing him to get some short pitch and catches also.

Wide Receivers

Marquise Brown- Baltimore Ravens

Brown is long overdue for a breakout game this season. And I predict this is the week he does it. I’d argue the Titans have the slowest Cornerback pairing in the league, meaning Brown can beat them all ends up and take the top off. With Lamar and the RBs running less and less, Brown could easily have a WR1 week this week.

Michael Pittman Jr- Indianapolis Colts

He is the true number 1 on this team now when it comes to WRs. Forget T.Y Hilton. He’s not the alpha. However, Pittman won’t draw coverage from Jaire Alexander. Expect him to be the go to guy yet again this week. 

Tight End

Logan Thomas- Washington Football Team

With the Check-down King Alex Smith under centre, McKissic and Thomas are going to eat in PPR formats. Smith threw 32 passes for 9 yards or less on Sunday just gone. That means a lot of underneath targets for Thomas. Expect him to find the end-zone this week also.

Sits

Quarterbacks

Jared Goff- L.A Rams

With Goff facing the Buccaneers D this week, they will struggle to establish the run. When Goff needs to throw over 30 times in games, he averages almost 2 turnovers a game. It’s going to be hard to be a QB1 with 2 or more turnovers in your column.

Ryan Tannehill- Tennessee Titans

Tannehill is not on form right now. Some of that is the run game has really struggled. But also, he’s just made bad decisions and bad throws. Playing the Ravens is not a get right game. Far from it.

Running Backs

All Rams Running backs

No RB has had a RB1 performance against the Buccaneers this season except Alvin Kamara. Therefore, with this committee and the workload being shared, I doubt Henderson is anything more than a RB2 at best. I think probably lower.

All Ravens Running Backs

The Ravens Running Backs are just all over the shop. The best you can expect out of any of them is 1 RB3 performance. You would bet on it being Dobbins but it really could be any of them. I would just not play any until it becomes a 2 man backfield.

Wide Receivers

Jarvis Landry- Cleveland Browns

Even when he has been propelled into the alpha receiver role in his team, following the injury to Odell Beckham Jr. he has just one WR2 outing (his only one for the season). Landry is not fantasy relevant until he proves otherwise.

Tim Patrick- Denver Broncos

Drew Lock was really bad last time out. I’m less and less convinced he is a QB starter in the NFL. However, even if he is on fire, the Miami Corners have more than enough to shutdown the outside and take Patrick out of the game. This is a terrible match-up full stop.

Tight End

Jonnu Smith- Tennessee Titans

He’s not had much to do the last two weeks, and his week was saved last week by a rushing touchdown. The Ravens, since Week Five, have been a top 5 defense against Tight Ends.

That will do it for this weeks Starts and Sits. Remember, the reason we look at Starts and Sits is to help you make better decisions when it comes to your lineup and giving you all the information you need to win.

Don’t forget to check out all the other content here at 5 Yard Rush. However, until next week, when I return with more Starts and Sits, Keep Rushing!

– Murf (@Murf_NFL)