This article is part of our Start vs. Sit series.
We're approaching the midpoint of the season, which means we're starting to get hit with plenty of bye weeks that leave us scrambling to find replacement starters for our lineups. Fortunately, the Week 6 slate offers plenty of favorable matchups for players that may have previously been collecting dust on your bench. Without further ado, let's take a look at who you should be starting and who you should be benching this week.
PLAYERS TO START
AAC
D'Angelo Brewer, RB, Tulsa (vs. SMU): Although Tulsa has built up a reputation as a high-flying passing offense in recent years, Brewer has quietly become the Golden Hurricane's most dangerous weapon on offense through the early portion of the season. His 133.5 yards per game rank fifth in the nation. The one drawback from Brewer's fantasy output this year is that he's scored just three times on 97 carries. However, that doesn't mean he isn't seeing the ball in red-zone situations, as his 19 carries inside the opposition's 20 place him 18th in the nation. Logically, a player like Brewer that's getting a ton of work in the red zone and averaging well over five yards per carry will eventually start converting those chances into scores. This week he'll face an SMU defense that has given up nine touchdowns on the ground this season and hasn't been overly effective in run defense overall. Look for Brewer to see plenty of chances, especially in the red zone, against SMU on Friday.
ACC
Ryan Finley, QB, North Carolina State (vs. Notre Dame): The Irish defense is in absolute shambles right now, and that isn't just an overreaction to last Saturday's shootout against Syracuse. Notre Dame was also shredded through the air the previous week at home against a Duke team that was starting a freshman at quarterback who completed 75 percent of his passes while averaging 9.1 YPA. The Duke ultimately cost Notre Dame's defensive coordinator his job. Head coach Brian Kelly is trying to shake up the defense by putting 10 freshman on the Irish's two-deep on the defensive side of the ball, and though the youth infusion should pay dividends down the line, an experienced quarterback like Finley should be able to take. Look for Finley, who has improved each week this season, to exploit the mismatches and inexperience in Notre Dame's secondary this Saturday.
Big 12
Dede Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma (vs. Texas): It took a while, but OU's offense is finally starting to look like the explosive unit that carried the Sooners to the College Football Playoff last year. The Sooners put up 52 points on the road at TCU last Saturday and Westbrook was a major contributor, as he hauled in seven receptions for 158 yards and scored his first two touchdowns of the year. Sure, Westbrook has long been expected to be the No.1 threat for OU with Sterling Shepard gone, but his 17 catches for 154 yards and no scores through the first three weeks of the season didn't exactly scream WR1. Now it looks like he's found his groove at the same time that quarterback Baker Mayfield has, and that spells trouble for the rest of the Big 12. Westbrook and the Sooners are facing a Texas defense that is comparable to Notre Dame's in terms of its dysfunction and laughingstock status. Head coach Charlie Strong taking command of the defense didn't pay dividends against Oklahoma State last week and OU may have an even more dangerous offense when it's clicking on all cylinders. Look for Westbrook to see plenty of targets deep down the field against a vulnerable Texas secondary that looks utterly lost at the moment.
Big Ten
Shannon Brooks, RB, Minnesota: (vs. Iowa): Brooks hasn't taken over as Minnesota's lead back yet since returning from a broken foot in Week 4, but he has been able to put up excellent per-carry production that warrants him a solid workload. Rodney Smith looks to have a hold on the starting role, but it's clear that head coach Tracy Claeys is going to try to get Brooks more carries each week as he works his way back into game shape. Last week, Brooks scalded the Penn State defense for 100 yards and a score on just 14 carries. What's more, Minnesota should be running it plenty against an Iowa defense that is strong against the pass but vulnerable against the run. The Hawkeyes are giving up 182.8 YPG on the ground and just gave up 171 yards and a score to Northwestern's Justin Jackson at home this past week. Minnesota should be able to have its way with Iowa's run defense, and that could mean another 100-yard outing from Brooks.
Conference USA
Ito Smith, RB, Southern Mississippi (@ Texas-San Antonio): Southern Mississippi, like Tulsa, is generally regarded as a pass-first team and rightfully so. That said, Smith has seen his fair share of work out of the backfield, as he's averaging 123 yards and a touchdown per game. This week, Southern Miss faces a cupcake matchup against UTSA. The Golden Eagles are heavily favored in this matchup and should be staked to a double-digit lead by halftime. While Southern Miss will never truly abandon the passing game, Smith could be in line for more carries than usual in the second half and if UTSA's 99th-ranked run defense starts to wear down, he could be in line for multiple touchdowns this weekend.
MAC
Cooper Rush, QB, Central Michigan (vs. Ball State): It was a rough Saturday for Rush and his fellow Chippewas as Central Michigan was taken to the woodshed by Western Michigan. Rush himself was held under 200 yards through the air for the first time since last year's bowl game against Minnesota threw just one touchdown pass. One of the best ways to bounce back from a tough loss is welcoming a weak conference opponent to your home stadium, and that's precisely what CMU will be doing this week when Ball State comes to town. Ball State is vulnerable through the air and yet they haven't even played a quarterback as good as Rush to this point in the season. Regardless, this should be a huge bounce-back game for Rush and the CMU offense, even if the Chippewas are down a few weapons on the outside.
MWC
Brett Rypien, QB, Boise State (@ New Mexico): Jeremy McNichols gets most of the headlines, but Rypien deserves plenty of credit for the Broncos' 4-0 start as well. Rypien has averaged a strong 8.0 yards per attempt and 256 yards per game. However, his touchdown production has dropped off a bit this year, as he only has two multi-touchdown games through his first four outings after he had seven such outings in 10 starts last season. His touchdown rate should begin to progress to the mean starting this week against a vulnerable defense, however. New Mexico hasn't faced a quarterback of Rypien's caliber, and even though he's on the road, Rypien figures to have plenty of success against the Lobos. For historical context, Rypien threw for 503 yards, two scores, and three picks against New Mexico last season. Rypien is unlikely to have to throw it nearly as much this time around (it was a rather odd game last year), but he should be able to put up strong numbers against the Lobos overall.
Pac-12
Washington State receivers (vs. Stanford): Certainly, Stanford will want to come out this week and atone for last week's blowout loss to Washington. However, the Cardinal will once again be without its starting two cornerbacks, and that was clearly one of the biggest deciding factors in last week's contest. Rather than avoiding the Stanford defense, however, you should deploy the likes of Gabe Marks, Tavares Martin, and Kyle Sweet with confidence Saturday night. Marks and Martin have the most utility in PPR formats due to their high target volume, but Sweet has shown to be WSU's primary deep threat as he's averaging 18.0 YPR. The Cougars will once again be throwing it 45+ times Friday, so there should be plenty of opportunities for all three of these receivers.
SEC
Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn (@ Mississippi State): Auburn hasn't been pretty to watch for much of the season, but the Tigers run game keyed by Johnson has been impressive. The sophomore back has six rushing touchdowns on the year and hasn't averaged under four yards per carry in any game despite having gone against the likes of Texas A&M and LSU. What's more, Johnson is getting workhorse treatment, as he's averaging just over 20 carries per game. In fairness, Mississippi State has been solid against the run in its own right this year, holding opponents to 3.5 YPC, but they're not in the same echelon talent-wise as the Aggies or Bayou Bengals. Look for Johnson to continue his recent hot streak Saturday and convert his 20 carries into 100 yards and a trip to the end zone.
Sun Belt
Stedman Mayberry, RB, Texas State (@ Georgia State): With only three games on the Sun Belt slate this week, the pickings are a little slim, but that gives me the opportunity to discuss a previously unmentioned player in this column. Mayberry does not have gaudy numbers (54 carries, 201 yards, 1 TD), but what he does have is a role that'll be very useful for fantasy purposes this week. Georgia State is a sieve in the run game, allowing more than five yards per carry. Mayberry, who has more than three times as many carries as anyone else on his team, should be able to take advantage. If he's on the waiver wire and you have the likes of Jalin Moore out on a bye week, Mayberry is worth plug-and-play consideration this week.
PLAYERS TO SIT
AAC
Chris High, RB, Navy (vs. Houston): High has been an effective runner for the Midshipmen this season, averaging just under eight yards per carry over 37 attempts. However, a lot of that production is buoyed by his 10-carry, 176-yard showing against Fordham in the season opener. High may be the leading rusher on a run-heavy team, but that doesn't necessarily guarantee that he'll have a particularly successful game this week against Houston. The Cougars absolutely swarm to the ball and are allowing an FBS-best 42.0 yards per game on the ground. They also rank allow just 1.6 yards per carry (not adjusted for sacks). High struggled against Air Force's second-ranked run defense, so he could be in for another long day this week with Houston keying in on stopping him.
ACC
Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State (@ Miami): I'm envisioning the ways Cook will make this pick look foolish Saturday when he faces his hometown team, but in all seriousness, I could see him having some trouble this week. This isn't to say Cook will be completely shut down by the Hurricanes, but the rejuvenated Miami defense is going to be intent on slowing down the star running back. The 'Canes did give up 267 yards on the ground to Georgia Tech last week, but the Yellow Jackets' system is one where gaining 200 yards on the ground is commonplace. Against a respectable and more traditional Appalachian State, Miami stymied the Mountaineers to just 2.6 yards per carry across a whopping 48 attempts. Sure, Miami hasn't faced a back quite like Cook, but the fact of the matter is that the Hurricanes' defense has been one of the most improved units in the nation this season. Furthermore, the weather conditions down in Miami on Saturday could take the passing game out of the equation, which would make both offenses one-dimensional. With that, Miami could emphasize stopping the run even more than it already would have. If you have another back on your bench with a soft matchup, you might want to consider plugging him in and taking Cook out of your lineup this week.
Big 12
Demarcus Felton and Justin Stockton, RB, Texas Tech (@ Kansas State): With quarterback Patrick Mahomes potentially sitting out, it'd make sense for Texas Tech to put more of an emphasis on the ground game this week, when the Red Raiders head up to the Little Apple to face K-State. However, in watching last week's game, it doesn't look like there's a ton of difference in what coach Kliff Kingsbury wants to do on offense, even if Mahomes isn't running the show. Backup Nic Shimonek shredded Kansas in relief of Mahomes last week, throwing for 271 yards and four scores despite not entering the game until the third quarter. Furthermore, even if Texas Tech emphasized the ground game this week, it'd still be tough sledding for Felton and Stockton against a Kansas State defense that's allowing just 2.9 yards per carry this season. At first, I really did feel that the TTU running backs could be a sneaky play this week, but the fact of the matter is that the Red Raiders will be chucking it no matter who's behind center.
Big Ten
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State (vs. Maryland): This might not seem like a matchup to avoid whatsoever, but Maryland has been surprisingly good against the run this season. The Terrapins have given up just two touchdowns on the ground and they're allowing just over 3.0 yards per carry. Barkley, though heavily used in that offense, has struggled against quality defenses thus far this season. He's been held to less than 4.0 YPC in both of his last two games (@ Michigan, vs. Minnesota). It wouldn't be surprising to see Barkley get over 20 total touches against Maryland, but the Terrapins will likely key in on stopping him and make quarterback Trace McSorley beat them with his arm the way they did last week when they held Purdue's Markell Jones to 23 yards (1.9 YPC), which resulted in David Blough getting exposed.
Conference USA
Chase Litton, QB, Marshall (@ North Texas): Litton struggled in his first game back from a concussion against a Pittsburgh defense that, frankly, is not all that impressive by most metrics. Sure, Pitt has faced tough quarterbacks like Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky, but the Panthers also allowed Penn State's Trace McSorley to throw for 332 yards in Week 2. North Texas, on the other hand, are near the top of C-USA in YPA allowed (7.0), and its secondary is tied for the conference lead in interceptions with five. If Litton is slightly off Saturday, the Mean Green could make him pay with a couple of interceptions. Litton will still be throwing it plenty Saturday and should be able to post a decent overall stat line, but this matchup in Denton may not be the cakewalk some might anticipate. Proceed with caution if you have to start Litton, but I'd scour the waiver wire for a different option at QB this week.
MAC
Ian Eriksen, RB, Eastern Michigan (vs. Toledo): Although I like Eriksen's season-long prospects the rest of the way with Shaq Vann sidelined with a shoulder injury, it's difficult for me to trust him this week against a Toledo squad that is one of the best in the MAC. Yes, Toledo was gashed for a ton of yards on the ground last week, but that was against BYU, who one of the better rushing attacks in the nation on a per-carry basis. This week, Toledo should be able to bounce back and take a sizeable lead against a vulnerable EMU squad. With that, Eriksen may not see the requisite number of carries he'd need to get into a rhythm and start churning out yards. Furthermore, you'd have to assume Toledo will put an extra emphasis on stopping the run this week after the embarrassing showing in Provo. In any case, this will be a week to leave Eriksen on the bench.
MWC
Devonte Boyd, WR, UNLV (@ San Diego State): The Aztecs are coming off an inexplicable loss to South Alabama for the second year in a row, and I don't think that bodes particularly well for the team that gets to face them right afterwards. This game could get out of hand, with San Diego State favored by at least two touchdowns as of Tuesday. Although the Aztecs don't have great pass-defense numbers for the most part, allowing 261 yards per game through the air and giving up 11 touchdowns in four games, they are an opportunistic unit that has picked off seven passes in that span. That spells trouble for Boyd, who will be battling not only a physical group of corners, but also his own quarterback, as the inexperienced Dalton Sneed will be tasked with getting him the ball. San Diego State should be able to pressure and confuse Sneed, which will greatly limit the number of quality targets Boyd gets Saturday. For what it's worth, I'm also going to be hesitant about using Wyoming receivers against Air Force this week.
Pac-12
Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon (vs. Washington): The Ducks' season has slipped away with three straight losses, but they'll try to salvage it this week by playing spoiler against the Huskies. Freeman came back from a one-game absence last week and gashed Washington State for 138 yards and three scores, but managing that kind of production against a Wazzu defense is completely different from pulling that off against Washington. The Huskies completely shut down Christian McCaffrey in Week 5, holding the Heisman hopeful to just 79 yards from scrimmage. Furthermore, Washington is going to zero in on the run this week, as it appears Oregon will be starting a true freshman at quarterback. Freeman will see plenty of carries to take the pressure off the freshman, Justin Herbert, but in the end, Washington will do its best to negate the run and force Herbert to make plays. Freeman could be in for tough sledding this week, even at home.
SEC
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU (@ Florida): Many of you may have scooped Guice off the waiver wire last week and were instantly rewarded with his dominant showing against Missouri. This week won't be so easy, however. Sure, there's a chance Leonard Fournette won't play, which would obviously result in Guice seeing the bulk of the carries Saturday. However, Florida's run defense has shown to be a dominant unit throughout the year, having allowed just 2.5 YPC to opposing runners. Furthermore, weather is going to be a major factor Saturday as The Swamp is going to be a slop yard due to the hurricane that'll be hitting Florida over the weekend. A matchup against the Gators defense in conditions that adverse make it a good idea to hold off on deploying Guice this week.
Sun Belt
Justice Hansen, QB, Arkansas State (vs. Georgia Southern): It's difficult to describe any Sun Belt defense as one that you'd actively try to avoid, but Georgia Southern's defense is the only one in action this week that's even close to fitting that bill. The Eagles have a stout run defense and a passing defense that ranks around the middle of the pack in the FBS. Conversely, Arkansas State has one of the worst rushing attacks in the nation to go with a decent passing attack (273.8 YPG). Yes, Hansen has had a pair of impressive outings since taking over the starting role for the Red Wolves, but he's shown to be turnover prone (3 INT) despite going against rather weak competition (Utah State and Central Arkansas). While I don't expect Hansen to have a ton of trouble moving the ball through the air, I could see a situation where he fails to convert long drives into points due to Georgia Southern's strong red-zone defense.
