College Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice, Week 5: What to do with Mark Fletcher Jr., Carson Hansen, more players

· Yahoo Sports

We’re into Week 5 of the college fantasy football season and Eric Froton is here to give you some start/sit advice to help with those lineups.

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Nebraska plucked Colandrea from UNLV, where he ran for 649 yards and 10 touchdowns, and has unleashed him upon an extremely favorable schedule, as the Cornhuskers have outscored their overmatched opponents 170-48. Colandrea has Nebraska finishing drives at a staggering rate, ranking top 10 in points per scoring opportunity (5.82%), red zone touchdown rate (82.4%) and goal-to-go TD rate (100%). With four blowouts to their credit, Colandrea has yet to play a full game but has considerable upside potential against a lost Maryland defense that just allowed 475 yards and 54 points to UCLA. Nebraska is finally carrying some momentum while Colandrea is averaging 25.6 PPG and has the good fortune of facing Maryland HC Mike Locksley, who is firmly on the hot seat with a team that could very well quit on him. Major smash spot here for Colandrea.

Lopez has a new lease on life after leaving the Bill Belichick dumpster-fire known as UNC, averaging 25.2 PPG. He gets to light up Stanford’s laughable defense that ranks 128th in points per scoring opportunity (5.36) and 124th in passing success rate allowed. 

The Missouri transplant has this veteran UVA offense humming with 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), and HC Norvell is on the verge of being fired. 

We’ve seen a trend in how HC Mario Cristobal handles Fletcher, with the hulking tailback receiving a light rushing load in games against lesser quality opponents. Last week, he skipped Miami’s tilt against Central Michigan due to an unspecified ailment but carries no injury designation this week against Clemson’s extremely beatable rush defense that ranks a paltry 131st in rushing success rate (49.3%) and dead last nationally in yards after contact allowed (3.42). Fletcher should receive a workload on par with the 18 carries he received against Wake Forest and churn out 20+ fantasy points against a reeling Clemson run defense.

Ijeboi took a step back last week against a vicious Notre Dame defense that simply smothered the entire Purdue offense. Luckily he plays an Illinois defense that ranks 136th in down set conversion rate and 122nd in passing success rate allowed (47%) while allowing 4.9 points per scoring opportunity (108th). He is used in both goal line (7 TDs) and passing situations (10 receptions), and should be in the 20 carry range as Purdue looks to protect their own beleaguered defense that ranks dead last in explosive pass plays allowed (28.6%). 

The mighty-mite benefits from co-starter Yasin Willis missing time, and should receive another 20+ touches with plenty of passing-game involvement against a vulnerable MTSU Run defense that ranks 120th in rushing success rate. 

Mekhi has some stand alone value against lower tiered opponents, take his 25.9 point bashing of Ohio in Week 1 for instance. With starting RB Jamal Rule exiting after four carries last week, Nelson should see another 15+ carries like he received against Michigan State. 

One of the true breakouts of the early season, 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, when he generated 119 yards after catch. His 194-yards is the highest mark in Wake Forest’s storied history, earning Hernandez ACC Player of the Week honors. He has received a 33% target share, with 25 targets coming over the last two games against upper-echelon ACC programs. Hernandez now gets to face a Stanford secondary that ranks 124th in passing success rate (47%) and 90th in wide-open target rate (23%). 

Outside of a two-catch stinker against BYU’s devastating defense, Spivey has lived up to the preseason hype that projected him to be Noah Fifita and Arizona’s WR1. He solidified that role with a seven-catch, 129-yard, two-touchdown and 28.4-point showing against Wazzu last weekend. He is averaging 15.5 points per game and 2.96 points per touch and takes on a Cincinnati defense that is allowing explosive pass plays on 18% of completions (92nd). Just as important is Cincy’s ability to score, as it rung up 31+ points in every game this year and are completing 76.5% of their passes (3rd). Cincinnati’s excellent offensive line and notable offensive efficiency should push the Wildcats, who already throw 53% of the time on standard downs (8th-most in FBS), to heavily rely on the pass game. Spivey has a 15-point floor in this fantasy-friendly matchup between two offenses that can score in bunches. 

Few receivers have been as consistent as Lee, who has recorded 16+ points in three of four games so far. He’s commanding 29% of Missouri’s pass attempts and converting those targets at a rate of 11.6 yards per target. Missouri will be in pass-mode trying to keep pace with Jadan Baugh and the Gators.

Dixon took a slight step back last week, but still caught five passes for 63 yards against the vaunted Ohio State defense. He averages 25.0 points per game and will once again be in the orbit of 30-points against Purdue’s pathetic pass defense that ranks dead last in explosive play rate allowed. 

One of the most intriguing upperclassmen talents at the TE position, Rodriguez is averaging five targets per game with the TE position receiving 35% of the team’s targets (6th-most in FBS0 in new HC Willie Stein’s offense. This week, Kentucky should feast on a cratering South Carolina team whose HC Shane Beamer is firmly on the hot seat. The Gamecocks rank dead last nationally in QBR allowed with 22% of completions going for 20+ yards against them (121st). I expect South Carolina to lose their ninth consecutive SEC game and Rodriguez to find the end zone in the process. 

Brahmer’s role in the offense is even more important with deep threat Koby Howard on the shelf. I expect a reprieve from last week when he was peppered with eight of QB Rocco Becht’s 29 pass attempts in a loss to Wisconsin.

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 despite facing Virginia Tech in a monsoon last week. (120th).

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

My concerns about Brown’s ability to handle SEC caliber defenses after averaging a scale-busting 33.25 fantasy PPG last year were well founded. His incredible rushing ability overshadows concerning passing trends such as Brown’s 43.8% pressure-to-sack rate and five interceptions that hold back Auburn’s offense. He managed 21.3 points against Vanderbilt and 19.1 against Baylor in the season opener, and now he travels to Neyland Stadium against a Tennessee defense that held Arch Manning to a season-low 7.9 fantasy points last week. There are cleaner starting options with less downside to consider on the waiver wire this week.

I love Heintschel, but am hesitant to start him after an artificially inflated 43.4-point explosion against Bucknell. On the road in Blacksburg is a tough spot, so I’m sitting him until a more favorable matchup materializes. 

Hansen was expected to be Penn State’s RB2 after following HC Matt Campbell from Iowa State. However, outside of a spike in usage against Temple, when he received 19-carries, 84 yards showing, 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), with James Peoples taking 14 carries against Wisconsin last week to Hansen’s four totes for a measly 11 yards. Hansen is still rostered in 53% of leagues and is firmly below my cut line. Let him go.

Taylor missed Week 3 but returned to log 19 carries for 36 yards last week in a victory over Washington. The Gophers are increasingly more reliant on QB Drake Lindsey’s arm, and Michigan’s defense ranks 13th in rushing success rate allowed. He’s a borderline flex this week that should be benched if you have the depth.

Speaking of Michigan, Moulton was held to 44 carries on 13 yards by the Wolverines and now has to contend with Ohio State who has the firepower to get ahead quickly and force Iowa to de-emphasize the run game.

Small has been one of the feel-good stories of the early 2025 season, with his high-volume slot role providing a safe, low-floor receiving option for WR-needy waiver scrapers. Heading into last week’s 21-13 loss to UCF, Small had scored at least 11 points in all three games with a scorching seven-catch, 164-yards, 25.9-point domination of Arkansas State in Week 3. However the party got busted last week with Small managing just three receptions for 41 yards, as the return of WR1 Jordan Dwyer vacuumed up a good portion of Small’s targets. He should be sat as a precaution against BYU’s elite pass defense that ranks top-10 in net yards per attempt (4.7), yards per successful dropback (12.2) and explosive pass plays allowed (9.5%).

I’m concerned about the emergence of Micah Gilbert, who has received more downfield looks than Faison. Outside of a two-touchdown showing against Rice, Faison has scored less than 10 points in his other three games and is worthy of benching against UNC.

Brown exited Florida’s defeat of Ole Miss and is considered questionable for Saturday at Missouri. I’m exercising caution with Brown and think Dallas Wilson picks up the slack.

DeGraaf’s main fantasy appeal entering the year was the fact he ranked top three among returning P4 tight ends in snaps last year. He was pretty much the only reliable receiving option and logged a heavy rep count as a result. This season, TE Baron Naone has taken over as the primary receiving option, catching at least three passes for 32+ yards in all four games this season, strong numbers for a CFF tight end. As a result, DeGraaf has secured just nine passes for 86 yards and a minuscule 3.3 points per game average. DeGraaf is still 50% rostered on Yahoo and should be a guilt-free drop in favor of his teammate Naone. 

Lofton has been a ghost outside of a 12.4-point day against Wake Forest, scoring less than five points in each of Miami’s other three contests.

I love what HC James Franklin has done at VT, but Pitt’s defense ranks second overall in success rate allowed (29.5) and points per scoring opportunity (2.62). I’d look for a more safe option at offense this week. 

DC Phil Parker’s defense ranks 10th nationally according to SP+ and is a top-flight unit. I’m still sitting them against the Buckeyes and Jeremiah Smith.

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