Broncos vs. Cardinals fantasy football focus: Week 5 start 'em sit 'em

Following the Broncos' bye week, it's time for some changes to the weekly start 'em, sit 'em post. For one, there will no longer be start and sit categories; instead, there will be positional breakdowns, listing each player from that position with fantasy relevance, along with a suggestion as to whether to start or sit the player, as well as a projection for their stat line. After each positional breakdown, there will be a list of the Top 20 players league-wide at that position, giving you a better idea of who to start over who each week.

Ed. Note: These fantasy rankings were complete prior to the Thursday Night game.

After a week off, the match-up against the 3-0 Cardinals seems formidable on first glance, but there is reason to believe that some Broncos could still pull off some great fantasy performances in Week Five.

Quarterback:

Peyton Manning (DEN)

Without Peyton around to dominate the fantasy quarterback picture, Eli had to carry the Manning torch, carving up Washington for 32.10 fantasy points in Week 4. Eli looked much like his older brother from 2013, throwing three touchdown passes to a relatively-unknown, but rather dominant tight end, Larry Donnell. Peyton hopes to differ from Eli in respect to his play against the Cardinals though; Eli was able to register a semi-respectable 15.58 Week Two fantasy points against the Cards, the Broncos Week Five opponent. Thus far, the Cardinals have allowed 12.52, 15.58, and 19.20 fantasy points in three games, keeping each of their opponents under 20 points. This week, expect Peyton to break that streak, as he's not been under 20 points in a single game this season, and hasn't racked up less than 20 points since Week 15 of 2013. With Wes Welker back in the lineup, with a full couple weeks of practice under his belt, Manning has his entire arsenal of targets back in the fold, and should have a productive game against Arizona's blitz-heavy defense.

Verdict: Start as high-end QB-1

Prediction: 335 yards, 3 TDs- 25.4 fantasy points

Drew Stanton (ARI)

Drew Stanton has been a respectable replacement for Carson Palmer, and has been good enough to get two wins in Palmer's stead; however, he has not been a viable fantasy option over those couple weeks, and he is definitely not against the Broncos this week either. Stanton should be sat in all league types and sizes.

Verdict: Sit

Prediction: 240 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs- 9.6 fantasy points

Week Four QB Rankings:

Week Four Top 20 Fantasy Quarterback Rankings
1.	Aaron Rodgers (vs. MIN)	11.	Russell Wilson (@ WAS)
2.	Peyton Manning (vs. ARI)	12.	Jay Cutler (@ CAR)
3.	Drew Brees (vs. TB)	13.	Tony Romo (vs. HOU)
4.	Andrew Luck (vs. BAL)	14.	Cam Newton (vs. CHI)
5.	Matt Ryan (@ NYG)	15.	Teddy Bridgewater (@ GB)
6.	Matt Stafford (vs. BUF)	16.	Nick Foles (vs. STL)
7.	Ben Roethlisberger (@ JAX)	17.	Joe Flacco (@ IND)
8.	Eli Manning (vs. ATL)	18.	Andy Dalton (@ NE)
9.	Philip Rivers (vs. NYJ)	19.	Mike Glennon (@ NO)
10.	Colin Kaepernick (vs. KC)	20.	Tom Brady (vs. CIN)

Running Backs:

Montee Ball (DEN)

Montee Ball is lower in fantasy points per game than Jonathan Dwyer (the Cards backup running back), and he's facing a tough Cardinals run defense in Week Five. The Cards defense has given up just 11.3 fantasy points per game to running backs in standard scoring leagues, doing so against Rashad Jennings, Ryan Mathews, and Frank Gore/Carlos Hyde thus far. Ball could struggle against the Cardinals defense, and should only be started as an RB-2 or flex player until he shows improvement.

Verdict: Start as RB-2/Flex

Prediction: 60 rushing yards, 1 TD, 3 receptions, 15 yards- 13.5 fantasy points (16.5 PPR)

Andre Ellington (ARI)

Ellington has also not been off to the greatest of starts this season, despite being touted as a low-end RB-1, high-end RB-2 entering the season. Ellington actually has fewer total points (23.60) and fewer points per game (8.5) than Ball, and both have been disappointments. Both backs have been recovering from injuries; Ball an appendectomy, and Ellington a nagging foot injury, and this week looks like the week that Ellington could bounce back. The Broncos defense has had a hard time against the run, allowing 21.6 points per week in standard leagues, and 28.3 in PPR leagues, where Ellington excels due to his pass-catching abilities. Expect the improved Andre Ellington against the Denver defense this week.

Verdict: Start as RB-2

Prediction: 75 rushing yards, 1 TD, 4 receptions, 20 yards- 15.5 fantasy points (19.5 PPR)

Week Four RB Rankings:

Week Four Top 20 Running Back Rankings
1.	Le'Veon Bell (@ JAX)	11.	Arian Foster (@ DAL)
2.	Demarco Murray (vs. HOU)	12.	Andre Ellington (@ DEN)
3.	Marshawn Lynch (@ WAS)	13.	Matt Asiata (@ GB)
4.	Jamaal Charles (@ SF)	14.	Montee Ball (vs. ARI)
5.	Matt Forte (@ CAR)	15.	Zac Stacy (@ PHI)
6.	Eddie Lacy (vs. MIN)	16.	Chris Ivory (@ SD)
7.	Rashad Jennings (vs. ATL)	17.	Doug Martin (@ NO)
8.	LeSean McCoy (vs. STL)	18.	Ahmad Bradshaw (vs. BAL)
9.	Giovani Bernard (@ NE)	19.	Bishop Sankey (vs. CLE)
10.	Frank Gore (vs. KC)	20.	Reggie Bush (vs. BUF)

Wide Receivers:

Demaryius Thomas (DEN)

A slump like the one that Thomas is in cannot possibly continue for the entire season, considering the caliber of player that he is. With increased attention on Emmanuel Sanders, who is emerging as Manning's top target, more attention being paid to Julius in the red-zone, and Welker's return to the lineup, the time is ripe for a bounce-back for Demaryius. After a bye week to clear his head, Thomas is still a number one option at fantasy wide receiver, but could be on his way out of that territory if he puts in another ugly performance against Arizona.

Verdict: Start as low-end, high-upside WR-1

Prediction: 6 receptions, 100 receiving yards, 1 touchdown- 16.0 fantasy points (22.0 PPR)

Emmanuel Sanders (DEN)

Arizona's defense has been solid against wide receivers in standard leagues (21.9 PPG), but they've struggled in PPR leagues (37.9 PPG), which will greatly benefit Emmanuel Sanders, who is tied for fifth in the league in receptions, but has yet to score a touchdown. Sanders will lose some targets to Wes Welker, who's back in the lineup, but look for him to continue as a very strong WR-2 option.

Verdict: Start as high-upside WR-2

Prediction: 6 receptions, 85 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 10 rushing yards- 15.5 fantasy points (21.5 PPR)

Michael Floyd (ARI)

Michael Floyd is averaging 8.4 fantasy points per game in standard leagues, and 12.1 in PPR leagues, in the ball-park of Percy Harvin and Cordarrelle Patterson numbers. Floyd has been exactly what he was expected to be at the outset of the season, a solid WR-2 option most weeks, although he struggled in Week Two against the Giants. Once the touchdowns come for the Cardinals wide-out, and they will, he'll begin putting up bigger weekly numbers. Don't expect his first touchdown to come in Week Five though, the Broncos secondary has allowed just two touchdowns to wide receivers all season. Floyd can be started as a low-end WR-2, with the potential to wind up higher if he manages to bring in a TD.

Verdict: Start as low-end WR-2

Prediction: 5 receptions, 75 yards- 7.5 fantasy points (12.5 PPR)

Wes Welker (DEN)

Welker started off his season in Week Three with a six-point effort against Seattle, but he was much more valuable in PPR leagues, registering six catches, resulting in 12.0 points in one-point PPR leagues. Welker should factor into the Broncos passing attack similarly to what he did last season, where he registered 16.2 points per game in PPR leagues, and 10.6 points per game in standard scoring leagues. In Week Five against the Cards, Welker is a high-end WR-3 or flex option.

Verdict: Start as high-end WR-3 or flex

Prediction: 6 receptions, 65 yards, 1 touchdown- 12.5 fantasy points (18.5 PPR)

John Brown (ARI)

Brown exploded in Week Three against the Niners, racking up two touchdown receptions and 52 yards for 17.20 points in standard scoring leagues. He should have a harder time against a much tougher Denver secondary, but Brown can be started as a mid-risk, high-reward flex option.

Verdict: Start as a high-upside flex

Prediction: 5 receptions, 55 yards- 5.5 fantasy points (10.5 PPR)

Larry Fitzgerald (ARI)

Fitzgerald has been relatively invisible in 2014, and will not be worth a start until he can show that he's a more involved member of the Cardinals current passing attack. Fitzgerald is only worth a start as a low-end WR-3 or bye-week flex player at this point.

Verdict: Sit

Prediction: 4 receptions, 40 yards- 4.0 fantasy points (8.0 PPR)

Week Four Wide Receiver Rankings:

Week Four Top 20 Wide Receiver Rankings
1.	Calvin Johnson (vs. BUF)	11.	Emmanuel Sanders (vs. ARI)
2.	Antonio Brown (@ JAX)	12.	Jeremy Maclin (vs. STL)
3.	Dez Bryant (vs. HOU)	13.	Alshon Jeffery (@ CAR)
4.	Jordy Nelson (vs. MIN)	14.	TY Hilton (vs. BAL)
5.	Brandon Marshall (@ CAR)	15.	DeAndre Hopkins (@ DAL)
6.	Demaryius Thomas (vs. ARI)	16.	Kelvin Benjamin (vs. CHI)
7.	Julio Jones (@ NYG)	17.	Golden Tate (vs. BUF)
8.	AJ Green (@ NE)	18.	Michael Floyd (@ DEN)
9.	Victor Cruz (vs. ATL)	19.	Cordarrelle Patterson (@ GB)
10.	Michael Crabtree (vs. KC)	20.	Keenan Allen (vs. NYJ)

Tight Ends:

Julius Thomas (DEN)

Julius Thomas has got to be licking his chops, with a team that has struggled to cover tight ends from a fantasy perspective on the horizon. The Cardinals are giving up 14.7 points per week to tight ends, despite not even facing Vernon Davis in Week Three. Thomas has been a fantasy beast to this point in the season, and there's no reason to not start him on Sunday.

Verdict: Start as a top TE-1 option

Prediction: 8 receptions, 90 yards- 9.0 fantasy points (17.0 PPR)

John Carlson (ARI)

Carlson is of negligible fantasy value and shouldn't be started, unless you're in two tight end leagues, in which case it's still a gamble. In other words, don't start any Arizona tight ends this week.

Verdict: Sit

Prediction: 2 receptions, 15 yards- 1.5 fantasy points (3.5 PPR)

Week Four Tight End Rankings:

Week Four Top 20 Tight End Rankings
1.	Jimmy Graham (vs. TB)	11.	Jordan Cameron (@ TEN)
2.	Julius Thomas (vs. ARI)	12.	Zach Ertz (vs. STL)
3.	Martellus Bennett (@ CAR)	13.	Dwayne Allen (vs. BAL)
4.	Rob Gronkowski (vs. CIN)	14.	Garrett Graham (@ DAL)
5.	Heath Miller (@ JAX)	15.	Owen Daniels (@ IND)
6.	Larry Donnell (vs. ATL)	16.	Luke Willson (@ WAS)
7.	Delanie Walker (vs. CLE)	17.	Eric Ebron (vs. BUF)
8.	Antonio Gates (vs. NYJ)	18.	Jason Witten (vs. HOU)
9.	Greg Olsen (vs. CHI)	19.	Austin Seferian-Jenkins (@ NO)
10.	Travis Kelce (@ SF)	20.	Jared Cook (@ PHI)

Defense/Special Teams (D/ST):

Denver Broncos:

The Broncos have not lived up to their lofty expectations this season quite yet, but this will be the week that they put up legitimate fantasy numbers for a defense. Start the Broncos this week with confidence and don't give up on them quite yet.

Verdict: Start

Prediction: 18-21 points allowed, 2 INTs, 1 TD- 7.0 fantasy points

Arizona Cardinals:

The Cardinals have a solid defense, but have yet to put up fantasy points over the course of the season, and shouldn't be expected to break out of that slump against the league's best offense. Sit the Cardinals this week.

Verdict: Sit

Prediction: 28-34 points allowed, 1 FR- (-2.0) fantasy points

Week Four Top 20 Tight End Rankings
1.	Seattle Seahawks (@ WAS)	11.	Pittsburgh Steelers (@ JAX)
2.	Philadelphia Eagles (vs. STL)	12.	Chicago Bears (@ CAR)
3.	Cincinnati Bengals (@ NE)	13.	St. Louis Rams (@ PHI)
4.	San Diego Chargers (vs. NYJ)	14.	Cleveland Browns (@ TEN)
5.	Detroit Lions (vs. BUF)	15.	Dallas Cowboys (vs. HOU)
6.	San Francisco 49ers (vs. KC)	16.	New England Patriots (vs. CIN)
7.	Denver Broncos (vs. ARI)	17.	New York Giants (vs. ATL)
8.	Houston Texans (@ DAL)	18.	Indianapolis Colts (vs. BAL)
9.	Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN)	19.	Carolina Panthers (vs. CHI)
10.	New Orleans Saints (vs. TB)	20.	Arizona Cardinals (@ DEN)

Editor's Note: SB Nation's partner FanDuel is hosting a $350,000 Fantasy Football Contest for Week 5's NFL games. It's only $10 to join and first place wins $30,000. Starts Sunday, October 5th at 1pm ET. Here's the link.