The 5th Down Blog is designed to help you, the fantasy owner, on whom to start, sit, and who we pick as a sleeper for the week. Each week, we will take turns doing a position for the week. Feedback is always welcome as we love to discuss football!
San Diego and Carolina are a combined 9-17 but providing plenty of fantasy value this week. Image courtesy of USA Today [old picture]Check out past postings of the 5th Down for each week:
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14Quarterback - BillyMust Start: Cam Newton 
vs. 
Newton has been heating up the last couple weeks and has not turned the ball over in the past month. While the
Chargers defense is not terrible, it is not that good either. Newton should be able to run for some yards and pass for over 200 yards and 2 scores.
Must Sit: Joe Flacco 
vs. 
Flacco has been average this year at best and sometimes half decent when he plays a bad defense. However, this week he goes up against a top passing defense in Denver that could cause at least one turnover. On top of that, the Ravens
fired their OC this past week. Look for less than 200 yards and maybe one score from Flacco, but that's it.
Sleeper: Nick Foles 
vs. 
Starting Foles this week in any league could be a gutsy move, but might pay off big time. He led the Eagles to their first win in 70 days last week and could win again with another solid performance.
Running Back - Philly GirlMust Start: Mikel Leshoure 
vs. 
He and Bell had the same rushing line in Week 14: 12 rushes for 49 yards. Decent ratio, low total, but Bell also picked up 47 more yards through the air. Don't be fooled by one game. Mikel has been the feature back and is in a good spot for 90 yards and a TD. He may not be a must start on your team, but don't undervalue him because of last week.
Must Sit: Felix Jones 
vs. 
If you were thinking of starting Jones then think again. You should never start a RB against this Steel Curtain. The Steelers defense will look to rebound after having their worst game of the season forcing Romo to go to the air.
Sleeper: Bilal Powell 
vs. 
The Jets offense is not much to look at, but their is a ground game there. The Titans are one of the worst defenses against the run. Powell has had 11 or more rushing attempts in the past 4 weeks while scoring 4 TDs in that span. He is not the #1 back, but this is a great opportunity for a back who has been productive over the past month.
Wide Receivers - JMACMust Start: Reggie Wayne 
vs. 
Wayne leads the NFL in targets, and Luck will continue to look his way early and often against a Texans secondary that is getting torched by WRs this past month.
Must Sit: Steve Johnson 
vs. 
Seattle defense has a great secondary and Buffalo is far from an elite passing offense. Sit Stevie this week.
Sleeper: Danario Alexander vs. Really shouldn't be a sleeper at this stage as he has the fourth most yards since becoming a starter six weeks ago. Also, not to mention five TDs as well... Look for the stats to continue this week against Carolina.
Tight Ends - MikeMust Start: Greg Olsen vs. :Newton has found his way, and with the Chargers having lost Atari Bigby for the season, I can see Olsen with many targets and a score.
Must Sit: Jermichael Finley 
vs. 
If you still own Finley, it's time to cut bait, he's been bad for some time now, and he won't get right with Lance Briggs on him this week.
Sleeper: Rob Housler vs. I know it's hard to trust anyone on the Cards after last week's "game" but the Lions give up plenty of yards, and Housler is a nice big target/safety valve for Ryan Lindley.
Defense - EricMust Start: Seattle vs. Fresh off of a massive fantasy day against Arizona, they should be able to put up double digits this week against Buffalo. Fred Jackson is out, and Spiller didn't do much last week, so Seahawks are a very good bet to produce big numbers yet again.
Must Sit: San Francisco 
vs. 
Almost every other week they would be a top choice, but not this week against the high powered offense of the Patriots. Bench the 49ers or risk losing the playoffs.
Sleeper: Detroit vs. If Seattle can do it, why can't Detroit? Now they may not give you record points, but they should give you double digits.
