College Fantasy Football Week 5: Start Mark Fletcher Jr., Sit Carson Hansen, and More Iowa-Relevant Picks

Week 5 of the college fantasy football season is here, and lineup decisions are getting tougher as conference play heats up. For Iowa fans and fantasy players alike, there are some clear starts and sits this week, including a notable former Iowa State running back who should be benched and a Hawkeyes defense that might be worth sitting against Ohio State.

Who should you start in college fantasy football this week?

Several players stand out as strong starts in Week 5, including a Miami running back facing a vulnerable Clemson defense and a Nebraska quarterback with a favorable matchup against Maryland.

Mark Fletcher Jr. is a must-start against Clemson's weak run defense

Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. missed last week's game against Central Michigan with an unspecified ailment, but he carries no injury designation this week. That is good news for fantasy owners, because Clemson's rush defense ranks 131st in rushing success rate (49.3%) and dead last nationally in yards after contact allowed (3.42).

Fletcher should see a workload similar to the 18 carries he received against Wake Forest, and he has the potential to churn out 20+ fantasy points against a reeling Clemson run defense. This is a smash spot for the hulking tailback.

Anthony Colandrea has huge upside against Maryland

Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea is averaging 25.6 points per game and faces a Maryland defense that just allowed 475 yards and 54 points to UCLA. The Cornhuskers have outscored their opponents 170-48 this season, and Colandrea ranks top 10 in points per scoring opportunity (5.82%), red zone touchdown rate (82.4%), and goal-to-go TD rate (100%).

Maryland head coach Mike Locksley is firmly on the hot seat, and his team could very well quit on him. This is a major smash spot for Colandrea.

Carlos Hernandez is a breakout star at wide receiver

Wake Forest wide receiver Carlos Hernandez has scored 18+ points in three of four games this year, punctuated by a career-defining 9-of-11, 194-yard, 29.9-point performance in a major upset over Louisville last weekend. His 194 yards is the highest mark in Wake Forest's storied history, earning him ACC Player of the Week honors.

Hernandez now faces a Stanford secondary that ranks 124th in passing success rate (47%) and 90th in wide-open target rate (23%). He has received a 33% target share, with 25 targets coming over the last two games against upper-echelon ACC programs.

Which players should you sit in Week 5?

Not every player is a good start this week. Here are some notable players to bench, including a former Iowa State running back who has been marginalized in Penn State's offense.

Carson Hansen is a drop candidate despite Iowa State ties

Carson Hansen followed head coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State to Penn State, but he has been a disappointment for fantasy owners. Outside of a spike in usage against Temple, when he received 19 carries for 84 yards, Hansen has been marginalized as a complementary rotation piece.

He is handling just 25% of team rush attempts with a demoralizing 1.9% target share (2 catches, 13 yards). James Peoples took 14 carries against Wisconsin last week to Hansen's four totes for a measly 11 yards. Hansen is still rostered in 53% of leagues but is firmly below the cut line. Let him go.

Iowa running back Kamari Moulton faces a tough matchup

Iowa running back Kamari Moulton was held to 13 yards on 44 carries by Michigan last week and now has to contend with Ohio State. The Buckeyes have the firepower to get ahead quickly and force Iowa to de-emphasize the run game. Moulton is a risky start this week.

Iowa defense should be benched against Ohio State

Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker's unit ranks 10th nationally according to SP+ and is a top-flight defense. However, fantasy owners should still sit them against the Buckeyes and star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Ohio State's offense is too explosive to trust any defense against them this week.

Other starts and sits to consider

Here are some additional players to consider starting or sitting in Week 5:

Other quarterback starts

• Gio Lopez, Wake Forest vs. Stanford: Lopez is averaging 25.2 PPG and faces Stanford's defense that ranks 128th in points per scoring opportunity (5.36) and 124th in passing success rate allowed.
• Beau Pribula, Virginia at Florida State: Pribula has an 11-to-1 TD/INT ratio and is coming off a 35.6-point explosion versus Delaware. FSU ranks 136th in QBR against and 126th in yards per dropback (7.8).

Other running back starts

• Fame Ijeboi, Purdue at Illinois: Ijeboi is used in both goal line (7 TDs) and passing situations (10 receptions) and should be in the 20 carry range against Illinois.
• Dylan Edwards, Kansas vs. Middle Tennessee State: Edwards benefits from co-starter Yasin Willis missing time and should receive another 20+ touches against a vulnerable MTSU run defense.
• Mekhi Nelson, Nebraska vs. Maryland: Nelson should see another 15+ carries after starting RB Jamal Rule exited after four carries last week.

Other wide receiver starts

• Tre Spivey, Arizona vs. Cincinnati: Spivey is averaging 15.5 points per game and 2.96 points per touch against a Cincinnati defense allowing explosive pass plays on 18% of completions.
• Cayden Lee, Missouri vs. Florida: Lee has recorded 16+ points in three of four games and commands 29% of Missouri's pass attempts.
• Collin Dixon, Illinois vs. Purdue: Dixon averages 25.0 points per game and faces Purdue's pass defense that ranks dead last in explosive play rate allowed.

Tight end starts

• Willie Rodriguez, Kentucky at South Carolina: Rodriguez is averaging five targets per game and faces a South Carolina team that ranks dead last nationally in QBR allowed.
• Benjamin Brahmer, Penn State at Northwestern: Brahmer's role is even more important with deep threat Koby Howard on the shelf.

Other quarterback sits

• Byrum Brown, Auburn at Tennessee: Brown has concerning passing trends including a 43.8% pressure-to-sack rate and five interceptions. Tennessee held Arch Manning to a season-low 7.9 fantasy points last week.
• Mason Heintschel, Pitt at Virginia Tech: Heintschel's 43.4-point explosion against Bucknell was artificially inflated, and a road game in Blacksburg is a tough spot.

Other running back sits

• Darius Taylor, Minnesota vs. Michigan: Taylor returned to log 19 carries for 36 yards last week, but Michigan's defense ranks 13th in rushing success rate allowed.

Other wide receiver sits

• Ed Small, TCU at BYU: The return of WR1 Jordan Dwyer vacuumed up a good portion of Small's targets, and BYU's pass defense ranks top-10 in net yards per attempt (4.7).
• Jordan Faison, Notre Dame at UNC: Faison has scored less than 10 points in three of four games, and Micah Gilbert has received more downfield looks.
• Vernell Brown III, Florida at Missouri: Brown exited Florida's defeat of Ole Miss and is considered questionable for Saturday.

Tight end sits

• Decker DeGraaf, Washington at USC: DeGraaf has secured just nine passes for 86 yards and a minuscule 3.3 points per game average. Teammate Baron Naone has taken over as the primary receiving option.
• Elijah Lofton, Miami at Clemson: Lofton has scored less than five points in each of Miami's other three contests outside of a 12.4-point day against Wake Forest.

Offense and defense starts and sits

For team defenses and offenses, here are the key recommendations:

Start SMU offense vs. BC

The Mustangs are averaging 10.4 yards per dropback (2nd in FBS) and play at a top-25 pace. BC has not faced a passing attack of this caliber yet this season and is allowing a 67% completion rate.

Start LSU defense vs. McNeese State

LSU sneaks in a soft bye on Week 5 and will tee off on the overmatched FCS program.

Sit Virginia Tech offense vs. Pitt

Pitt's defense ranks second overall in success rate allowed (29.5) and points per scoring opportunity (2.62). Look for a safer option at offense this week.

Sit Iowa defense vs. Ohio State

Despite being a top-flight unit, the Hawkeyes defense should be benched against the Buckeyes and Jeremiah Smith.

Frequently asked questions about Week 5 college fantasy football

Should I start Mark Fletcher Jr. this week?

Yes. Fletcher carries no injury designation and faces a Clemson rush defense that ranks 131st in rushing success rate and dead last nationally in yards after contact allowed. He should receive a workload similar to the 18 carries he got against Wake Forest.

Is Carson Hansen worth holding in fantasy leagues?

No. Hansen is handling just 25% of team rush attempts with a 1.9% target share. James Peoples took 14 carries against Wisconsin last week to Hansen's four totes for 11 yards. He is a drop candidate.

Should I bench the Iowa defense against Ohio State?

Yes. While Iowa's defense ranks 10th nationally according to SP+, the Buckeyes have too much firepower with Jeremiah Smith. Sit them this week.