It's the last weekend of September, the first proper month of the college football season, and it's fitting that in Week 5 we get into the meat of conference play. The FCS teams and low-level FBS teams can play some competition on a similar platform and SEC and Big Ten schools, among others, can get down to business. Of course, this shift also impacts starts and sits for fantasy-related purposes. Here are my Week 5 players to start, and players to bench, on the college football front.
AAC Starts and Sits
START
Cortez Braham, WR, Memphis at Florida Atlantic
Because of a fairly easy schedule, Memphis has been able to divvy the ball out in the passing game. However, when push came to shove and Arkansas came to town, Braham was targeted nine times and had seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. That solidified Braham's status as the number-one receiver for the Tigers. Florida Atlantic was able to beat up on Florida A&M, but when it has played FBS teams, it has allowed at least 38 points each time.
SIT
Quinton Jackson, RB, Rice at Navy
With the offenses these teams run, this game could be over in the blink of an eye. Jackson, the lead back in the new Owls offense, has averaged 5.1 yards per carry, but this matchup will be a tougher task for him. Navy has only allowed 82.3 rushing yards per game, and with these two offenses, drives may be in
It's the last weekend of September, the first proper month of the college football season, and it's fitting that in Week 5 we get into the meat of conference play. The FCS teams and low-level FBS teams can play some competition on a similar platform and SEC and Big Ten schools, among others, can get down to business. Of course, this shift also impacts starts and sits for fantasy-related purposes. Here are my Week 5 players to start, and players to bench, on the college football front.
AAC Starts and Sits
START
Cortez Braham, WR, Memphis at Florida Atlantic
Because of a fairly easy schedule, Memphis has been able to divvy the ball out in the passing game. However, when push came to shove and Arkansas came to town, Braham was targeted nine times and had seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. That solidified Braham's status as the number-one receiver for the Tigers. Florida Atlantic was able to beat up on Florida A&M, but when it has played FBS teams, it has allowed at least 38 points each time.
SIT
Quinton Jackson, RB, Rice at Navy
With the offenses these teams run, this game could be over in the blink of an eye. Jackson, the lead back in the new Owls offense, has averaged 5.1 yards per carry, but this matchup will be a tougher task for him. Navy has only allowed 82.3 rushing yards per game, and with these two offenses, drives may be in short supply for both teams.
ACC Starts and Sits
START
Cooper Barkate, WR, Duke at Syracuse
Some have called Duke "The Harvard of the South" (mostly Duke alums), and so perhaps it is fitting that Barkate is a Harvard transfer. He was a star for Harvard last season, picking up 1,084 yards and 11 touchdowns. Now, he seems to be Duke's number-one receiver. He has 17 catches on 31 targets and has had at least 65 yards in every game. Syracuse has an issue at quarterback due to injuries, apparently an issue with faking injuries, and also an issue defending passes. The Orange have given up 296.3 passing yards per game.
SIT
Raphael Williams, WR, Pitt vs. Louisville
Williams has been having a strong season, but the next good defense he faces will be the first. He was solid last year, but didn't top 70 receiving yards against any FBS team, though I will acknowledge he had 119 yards against West Virginia in Week 3's Backyard Brawl. Louisville, though, is looking like an ACC contender in part due to its defense. Yes, the Cardinals' competition has also been easy, but they have given up a mere 114.7 passing yards per game.
Big Ten Starts and Sits
START
Joseph Himon, RB, Northwestern vs. UCLA
Himon and Caleb Komolafe have split the rushing load fairly evenly, but Himon has averaged 4.9 yards per carry, and he's added seven catches for 59 yards. He's been slightly better, but this is mostly about the matchup. Maybe replacing Deshaun Foster will give UCLA a bit of a boost, but its defense has been horrendous. The Bruins have allowed 244.0 rushing yards and 36.0 points per game, both comfortably worst in the Big Ten.
SIT
Antwan Raymond, RB, Rutgers at Minnesota
Ramond has been a touchdown machine, tallying seven scores already. He even had two touchdowns against Iowa, traditionally a tough defense. That game was at home for Rutgers, though, and Raymond was held to 3.4 yards per carry. This time, Raymond has to play on the road, and Minnesota has been very strong against the run. The Golden Gophers have allowed a mere 41.3 rushing yards per contest.
Big 12 Starts and Sits
START
Conner Weigman, QB, Houston at Oregon State
Weigman left College Station for Houston, and so far, it is paying off for both sides of that equation. The quarterback has thrown for four touchdowns through three games, and he's added 145 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Weigman hasn't turned the ball over, either, though he has fumbled twice. This second season, ostensibly not in a conference, has been brutal to Oregon State. It ranks 121st in defensive SP+, and it has allowed 39.0 points per game.
SIT
Kaidon Salter, QB, Colorado vs. BYU
Salter returned to the role of starting quarterback for Colorado's fourth game, and he looked more like he did as a start with Liberty in 2023. Of course, 2023 was two seasons ago, and over the first two games of this season Salter totaled under 300 passing yards with a single passing touchdown. Even though Salter is a dual-threat quarterback, BYU has been hard to crack in any way, shape, or form. The Cougars have only ceded 205.3 total yards and 5.3 points per game.
Conference USA Starts and Sits
START
Gabriel Benyard, WR, Kennesaw State vs. Middle Tennessee State
Benyard, like basically everybody on Kennesaw State's roster last season, struggled with the move from the FCS to the FBS. This year, Benyard seems better-suited to this level of play. He has two games with over 100 yards already, and his only down game saw him tally two catches for 51 yards against Indiana. It does seem like Indiana's defense is quite good, better than MTSU's, to be sure. The Blue Raiders have allowed 42 points to Wisconsin, as well as 34 points to Austin Peay.
SIT
Donte Lee, WR, Liberty at Old Dominion
Lee has three touchdowns through four games. On the other hand, he only has nine catches, and he also only has 14 targets. He'll have to be more involved to remain productive, unless he gets super lucky. The Monarchs have allowed 186.7 passing yards and 19.7 points per game, and that's with games against Indiana and Virginia Tech, two Power Four conference teams.
MAC Starts and Sits
START
Trey Cornist, RB, Central Michigan vs. Eastern Michigan
Cornist started the season with 99 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries against San Jose State. Then he was completely held in check by Pitt and Michigan, which isn't egregious for a MAC running back. Cornist just averaged 4.7 yards per carry against Wagner, which is a move back in the right direction. Unless that performance in CMU's opener was a total fluke, he should be in for a good day against Eastern Michigan. The Eagles have allowed 272.3 rushing yards per game, and they haven't even played a service academy.
SIT
Jacquon Gibson, WR, UMass at Missouri
The plan for Massachusetts on offense is clear: Try to get the ball to Gibson. He's already been targeted 40 times through three games. However, even though he was targeted 10 times against Iowa, Gibson ended up with only five catches for 37 yards. He's visiting a top SEC team in Week 5. The UMass quarterback could try to get Gibson the ball 20 times and he might only end up with a few catches.
Mountain West Starts and Sits
START
Damon Bankston, RB, New Mexico vs. New Mexico State
I previously noted the woefulness of UCLA's defense, but Bankston's day against UCLA played a role in those numbers. The Weber State transfer ran 15 times for 154 yards and a touchdown and added 49 yards and a score through the air. Though the Lobos' rivals the Aggies have only allowed 22.0 points per game, they held Bryant to three points. Even with that game against Bryant in the mix, NMSU has also given up 187.3 rushing yards per contest.
SIT
Miles Davis, RB, Utah State at Vanderbilt
No, not the famed jazz musician. Davis spent five years at BYU prior to transferring to Utah State, which is about as antithetical to the vibe of the musician as possible. Davis has averaged 7.0 yards per carry, and he's picked up 109 yards and two touchdowns through the air. However, it's one thing to make a splash against UTEP or McNeese State. This is a trip to SEC territory, and Vanderbilt is not messing around. The Commodores have given up a mere 69.8 rushing yards and 12.8 points per game.
SEC Starts and Sits
START
Blake Shapen, QB, Mississippi State vs. Tennessee
Vanderbilt is playing Utah State, and Missouri is playing Massachusetts, but you don't need me telling you to start Diego Pavia, and even Beau Pribula is borderline in terms of the value in such a recommendation. Of course, by namedropping both of them I am admittedly getting to have my cake and eat it, too. Shapen, though, is facing an SEC team. Through four games he's thrown seven touchdowns against two picks, and he's added 74 yards and a touchdown on the ground. It seems like you may be able to throw on the Vols this season. Tennessee has allowed 279.0 passing yards and 27.8 points per game. Things could get weird down in Starkville. Get your cowbells ready.
SIT
Le'Veon Moss, RB, Texas A&M vs. Auburn
Auburn just played a team with John Mateer at quarterback but still has only allowed 58.3 rushing yards per game. The Tigers may have the best run defense in the SEC, which is stiff competition. Moss was slowplayed early in the season, and fair enough given the opponents. While he did have 81 yards and three touchdowns against Notre Dame, it did take him 20 carries to get there.
Sun Belt Starts and Sits
START
Braylon McReynolds, RB, Louisiana-Monroe vs. Arkansas State
There's no question who the lead back for the Warhawks is. Aside from McReynolds' trip down to Tuscaloosa, the back has had over 120 total yards and a touchdown in his other two outings. Arkansas State is pretty far from Alabama defensively. It has allowed a staggering 485.8 total yards and a still-pretty-bad 33.0 points per game.
SIT
Dalen Cobb, WR, Georgia Southern at James Madison
Cobb has been good, as he has 19 catches through four games, and one of his three touchdowns came against USC, which is impressive (the other two were against Maine). That being said, it seems like, once again, the Dukes are the defensive class of the Sun Belt. James Madison leads the conference with 17.0 points and 103.3 passing yards per contest.
