Week Five of the fantasy football season means we've reached the portion of the schedule where bye weeks become problematic.
Headlining the list of fantasy players sitting out this week are Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III and Redskins running back Alfred Morris. Tampa Bay receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams would usually make that list, but the change at quarterback from Josh Freeman to Mike Glennon puts the usefulness of both of them in question.
The other team off this weekend, Pittsburgh, does not have a fantasy player in the top 30 in scoring (in standard ESPN leagues), although receiver Antonio Brown is sixth at his position.
The list of popular bye-week replacements begins with San Diego's Danny Woodhead. The diminutive Chargers running back has 22 catches this season out of the backfield, serving as quarterback Philip Rivers' safety valve. Woodhead had his first two touchdowns of the season last week against the Dallas Cowboys. He doesn't offer much by way of rushing yards (only 90 this season), but is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and his receiving ability is valuable, especially in points-per-reception leagues, and makes him a good flex play.
The running back position has been pretty well picked through at this point in the season, but New England's LeGarrette Blount is an intriguing add in deeper leagues. Blount is part of a rotation with the Patriots, but he has the team's only rushing touchdown of the season. He also has 25 carries the past two weeks, and scored on a 47-yard run in Week Four.
Another option to consider in deeper leagues is Green Bay running back Johnathan Franklin. He will back up Eddie Lacy on Sunday against Detroit, but Franklin ran 13 times for 103 yards and a touchdown against a tough Cincinnati defense in the Packers' last game in Week Three in place of James Starks. With Starks expected to miss the game Sunday, Franklin should see at least a handful of carries in relief of Lacy.
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