Complete Week Five Player Rankings & Projections l More Sit & Starts
Editor's Note: As you can see by Brian's recommended Sits last week (Wilson, Collaros and Colburn), it's clear that our esteemed guru is having serious issues. Thus, in the name of maintaining whatever shred of respect this website still has, we needed to make a change. Brian has been given a one-week QB Start/Sit timeout. Please let this serve as a clear message that we will never even except mediocrity, let alone the incompetence he displayed in last week's piece.
Brian's Week Four Quarterback Starts: Taylor Martinez (15), B.J. Daniels (9), Matt Simms (25), Jordan Webb (19), Bryant Moniz (56), Ryan Aplin (26), Jeff Van Camp (15), Jake Heaps (9)
Grade: C. Some Good, Some Bad.
Brian's Week Four Quarterback Sits: Zach Collaros (27), Russell Wilson (41), Geno Smith (16), Kyle Padron (19), Ryan Radcliff (22), Ryan Colburn (40)
Grade: E. Every so often Brian gets cute and makes a jackass out of himself. Week Four is one such example.
Now, Erik gives it a go...
Week 5 features some fireworks with quarterbacking shootouts like Michigan versus Indiana and Western Michigan against Idaho which should make for some bloated stat sheets. Dual-threat quarterbacks are en vogue and there is no shortage of them on this list, which will also make for some killer point totals for your roster. However, be wary of conference play where upsets are ever-present.
Start Em!
BCS-Only
1. Dan Persa, Northwestern vs. Minnesota
Persa has been en fuego this season as he is completing 80% of his passes with eight touchdowns and just one interception. Persa is also the team’s leading rusher with 172 yards rushing and another two scores. Minnesota has been torched both on the ground (Northern Illinois and USC) and through the air (Middle Tennessee and South Dakota). Persa will piece apart the defense methodically and will also scramble for a few yards too.
2. Cameron Newton, Auburn vs. Louisiana-Monroe
This is a bit of an easy one, but this will be a tuneup for when the Tigers face the meat of their SEC schedule, so you can expect Newton to really put up some gaudy numbers. ULM will wing it which will give Newton and Gus Malzahn’s offense all the more reason to keep the foot on the pedal until the fourth quarter. You can expect at least four total touchdowns and a hundy on the ground for Newton before the end of this game.
3. Denard Robinson, Michigan vs. Indiana
Robinson had to depart the game against Bowling Green early, and while there are some concerns as to whether or not he can play against Indiana, you have to believe the Wolverines will field their best player this weekend. Robinson will absolutely shred the run defense of the Hoosiers but should also have a field day through the air. Look for Robinson to have 200+ yards passing, 130+ yards rushing, and at least four total touchdowns.
4. Ben Chappell, Indiana vs. Michigan
The Michigan defense has been terrible this year while surrendering an average of 419 yards per game over the past three games (Massachusetts, Notre Dame, and Bowling Green). The Indiana defense can’t stop anyone so expect Chappell to be winging it deep into the game. The Hoosiers do have some weapons to hurt the Wolverines in the form of Terrance Turner, Damarlo Belcher, Tandon Doss, and Darius Willis so it should be a high-scoring affair.
All-120
1. Nathan Enderle, Idaho vs. Western Michigan
Enderle’s numbers are a bit skewed so far this year as collectively the Nebraskan gunslinger has thrown for an average of 257 yards per game with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. However, if you throw out the debacle against Nebraska, in which he threw five interceptions, Enderle is averaging 297 yards per game with six touchdowns and just two picks. Well Western Michigan is no Nebraska so you can expect Enderle to feast upon the soft defense.
2. Alex Carder, Western Michigan vs. Idaho
Carder is a first-year starter and so far, he is averaging 302 passing yards per game and has two top flight receivers in Jordan White and Juan Nunez. Idaho just gave up 386 passing yards and three touchdowns in the air against Colorado State so expect a nice aerial attack from Carder and Co.
3. Kyle Padron, SMU vs. Rice
Rice was pretty scrappy against Texas earlier in the season but you can expect Padron, coming off a hard fought loss to rival TCU, to come out swinging. Padron got beat up and will be looking to deliver some blows against an in-state rival.
4. G.J. Kinne, Tulsa vs. Memphis
Memphis’ defense has been terrible so far this season surrendering an average of 32.5 points per game and Tulsa comes to town ranking fifth in the nation in total offense. This is a recipe for success for the Texan field general as you can expect him to light up the skies while also putting forth some rushing yards of his own.
Sit Em! Quarterbacks
BCS Only
1. Jake Locker, Washington vs. USC
Locker is not looking like the first round draft pick everyone pegged him as so far this year and against USC, he will not see much room in the pocket. This USC defense is not like the ones we are used to seeing, but they should still harass Locker for four quarters.
2. Darron Thomas, Oregon vs. Stanford
Stanford currently has the 11th best total defense and the 12th ranked scoring defense and while Oregon will still put up numbers, they will not be from Thomas. Thomas is still growing as a passer and the Stanford defense will blitz him all day as they will not respect the pass. Look for Thomas to have a couple of big plays in response to an overly aggressive defense, but you can also expect some picks and a low completion percentage.
3. Landry Jones, Oklahoma vs. Texas
There is a lot of hate in this game and Jones will be hard pressed to find much breathing room against the Longhorns’ defense. Jones will do much better than last year, but this will be a low scoring affair.
4. Russell Wilson, North Carolina State vs. Virginia Tech
Wilson has been on fire lately, but I think this is the game where he cools off a bit. The Hokies have been battered and bruised all season and are out to prove themselves. They are familiar with Wilson and held him to pedestrian numbers last year. The run game will not get going against the Hokies and their defensive ends will tee off against Wilson, making things a bit difficult for the talented signal caller.
All-120
1. Diondre Borel, Utah State vs. BYU
Borel and the Aggies are devoid of playmakers due to a rash of injuries and they are facing an angry BYU team coming off of a beat down at the hands of Nevada. Expect the Cougars to mute the ground game and force Borel to beat them with his arm… which he will not do.
2. Trevor Vittatoe, UTEP vs. New Mexico
The fact that Vittatoe is on this half of the list may baffle some, but I am seeing a game where the Miners run the ball liberally to get Donald Buckram back into form and Vittatoe only passes when necessary. Currently New Mexico’s run defense is 112th in the nation so this is a perfect environment for Buckram’s breaking out party.
3. Dominique Davis, East Carolina vs. North Carolina
Davis will lead the high-powered Pirates' offense to Chapel Hill and will not enjoy the success that they have become accustomed to so far this year. Now the Tar Heels defense is still patchy with top players still serving suspensions, but you will notice the talent difference as the Heels make the Pirates walk the plank. (That was lame, I know.)
4. Ricky Dobbs, Navy vs. Air Force
Dobbs is finally almost 100% healthy after dealing with some lingering injuries, but he will face a tough task when the Middies travel to Colorado Springs to take on Air Force. Anytime a triple-option team faces another, the scoreboard operator has trouble staying awake. Just look at how Dobbs did against FCS opponent and fellow triple-option team Georgia Southern. Dobbs threw for 84 yards and was only able to muster 44 yards rushing on 25 carries with one touchdown. Consider that Air Force is playing really well and has a better defense than what Georgia Southern fielded that day and you have a low scoring affair with Dobbs held in check.