Week 5 in Fantasy Football: Favorable and Unfavorable Matchups Jason and Justin Sablich will provide fantasy football advice and analysis throughout the season on this blog and on Twitter @5thDownFantasy. It's been a tough season for Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks and his fantasy owners. Nicks will miss his third straight game on Sunday when the Giants take on the Cleveland Browns. But Nicks's absence should open up fantasy football opportunities for the other Giants' receivers other than Victor Cruz. Ramses Barden was the first Giants receiver to step up in Nicks's absence, but he is also doubtful for Sunday with a concussion. So the burden will fall to two other Giants receivers: Domenik Hixon and Rueben Randle. Hixon already showed us what he can do when given the chance when he caught six passes for 114 yards against the Eagles last Sunday night. Randle, who has just one catch for four yards this season, gets bumped up the depth chart as the Giants' No. 3 receiver. Randle is worth a look this week in deeper leagues, while Hixon and quarterback Eli Manning are among our favorable matchup picks for Week 5 against a Browns' secondary that is still vulnerable without top cornerback Joe Haden. Favorable Quarterback Matchups Eli Manning (NYG) vs. Cleveland -- Despite a terrible interception in the end zone against the Philadelphia Eagles last week, Manning still managed to put together a solid fantasy night against a tough secondary (22 fantasy points), and that's nothing to sneeze at considering he was missing one of his biggest receiving weapons. Nicks will be watching from the sideline again this week, but as we already mentioned, Hixon proved he could fill in quite admirably. Quarterbacks have strung together three straight 20-plus fantasy point performances against the Browns coming into Sunday's game. Andrew Luck (IND) vs. Green Bay -- The Packers' pass defense has been up and down this season, manhandling the lesser Jay Cutler and Russell Wilson, while struggling against Drew Brees, and even Alex Smith to some extent. Luck's terrible defense will ensure the Colts will have to air it out to keep up with Rodgers and company, which means good things from a fantasy perspective. Peyton Manning (DEN) vs. New England -- Big brother is coming off his best game as a Bronco (338 yards, 3 TDs). Of course, the Raiders have had a way of making opposing quarterbacks look extra good in recent weeks (30 FPPG to QBs the last three games). Nonetheless, another great matchup is on deck for Manning. The Patriots allowed Ryan Fitzpatrick to post a big 31-point fantasy day in Week 4 despite serving up four interceptions and a fumble and a week earlier, Joe Flacco also posted 31 points. Joe Flacco (BAL) vs. Kansas City -- Flacco has been great against soft secondaries this season, averaging 26 fantasy points a game against the Bengals, Patriots and Browns. The Chiefs defense has allowed 26 fantasy points a game to opposing QBs so far in 2012. Also Consider: Alex Smith (SF) vs. Buffalo Favorable Running Back Matchups Trent Richardson (CLE) vs. Giants -- DeMarco Murray, Doug Martin and LeSean McCoy have all been able to produce at least 12 fantasy points against this unit, who will now be without one of their best run-stopping safeties, Kenny Phillips, for at least a couple of weeks due to a sprained knee ligament. Marshawn Lynch (SEA) vs. Carolina -- Lynch will remain a top-five fantasy option this week against the same Panthers defense that managed to make Michael Turner look young again in Week 4 (171 total yards, 1 TD). They have now allowed back-to-back 20-point-plus fantasy days to the position entering Week 5. Ryan Mathews (SD) vs. New Orleans -- Even though Jackie Battle is listed as the Chargers' starting running back on the depth chart, Mathews owners are not allowed to panic yet. From a talent standpoint, Mathews is miles ahead, and that should be evident this week against the Saints, who have surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Keep him active in all formats. Frank Gore (SF) vs. Buffalo -- For a defense, it doesn't get much worse than allowing two backs (Stevan Ridley and Brandon Bolden) to eclipse 100 yards in one game. The unlikely Patriots duo combined for 243 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries in their Week 4 meeting with the Bills, making them the fifth-best matchup for running backs heading into Week 5 (25 FPPG). Also Consider: Alfred Morris (WAS) vs. Atlanta Favorable Wide Receiver Matchups Andrew Hawkins (CIN) vs. Miami -- He didn't see many targets last weekend against Jacksonville, but he did catch all three of them if that's any consolation. He may still be worth a starting slot against Miami, who were burned badly by Arizona's No. 2 wideout Andre Roberts for 118 yards and two touchdowns last weekend. The Dolphins rank as the seventh-best matchup a receiver can have so far this season. Danny Amendola (STL) vs. Arizona -- Amendola was able to produce a quality fantasy start against a physical Seattle secondary, although his touchdown did come on a fake field goal. Things get easier this week against a Cardinals team that has surrendered the 10th most fantasy points to receivers this season, thanks to a huge performance from Miami's Brian Hartline in Week 4. James Jones (GB) vs. Indianapolis -- Greg Jennings is looking doubtful against the Colts, which would mean another active week for Jones, who caught five of his six targets for 56 yards and two touchdowns against the Saints last Sunday. Through three games, the Colts are allowing 26 fantasy points per game to the position. Domenik Hixon (NYG) vs. Cleveland -- With Ramses Barden (concussion) and Hakeem Nicks (knee) out this weekend, Hixon will become an every down receiver against a team giving up 32 fantasy points a game to the position, good enough for second-most in the league. Also Consider: Reggie Wayne (IND) vs. Green Bay, Greg Little (CLE) vs. Giants Favorable Tight End Matchups Kyle Rudolph (MIN) vs. Tennessee -- Rudolph has become regular here this season in the favorable department, and sure enough he gets the most favorable tight end matchup in the game this weekend. Owen Daniels, who was featured here last week, ended up with 13 fantasy points against the Titans. Jacob Tamme (DEN) vs. New England -- Last Sunday, Buffalo's Scott Chandler found himself in the end zone twice against the Patriots, who are currently the second-best matchup a tight end can have in 2012. Denver's other tight end, Joel Dreessen, makes Tamme a tough bet to score most weeks, but Tamme gets more targets. Favorable Defense/Special Teams Matchup Houston vs. Jets, Chicago vs. Jacksonville, Giants vs. Cleveland, Baltimore vs. Kansas City Unfavorable Quarterback Matchups Matt Schaub (HOU) vs. Jets -- Schaub has been solid of late, but, surprisingly, the Jets have yet to allow a touchdown through the air since Darrelle Revis went down. This is likely because teams have been able move the ball on the ground against the Jets with ease. It would be difficult to imagine Houston straying from their typical run-first game plan this weekend against the Jets' 31st ranked run defense. Cam Newton (CAR) vs. Seattle -- Sam Bradford's six-point fantasy game against the Seahawks marks the second time this season a quarterback has posted single-digit numbers against Seattle. The Seahawks currently rank as the toughest matchup for a quarterback, but Newton's legs always make him a fantasy threat. Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF) vs. San Francisco -- Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow tallied a whopping 0.5 fantasy points against San Francisco last week. The 49ers defense appears to be back on track after Week 3's disappointing showing against the Vikings' Christian Ponder, which makes Fitzpatrick one of the worst starts at his position this week. Michael Vick (PHI) vs. Pittsburgh -- Outside of a shut-down game against Mark Sanchez and the Jets, the Steelers' pass defense has not been all that opposing so far this season. But the presumed return of linebacker James Harrison and standout safety Troy Polamalu should give them a boost. We'd like Vick a lot more this week if those guys were on the sideline. Proceed With Caution: Kevin Kolb vs. St. Louis, Matt Cassel vs. Baltimore, Ben Roethlisberger vs. Philadelphia Unfavorable Running Back Matchups Chris Johnson (TEN) vs. Minnesota -- Johnson's best performance of the season came against a solid Houston defense, but a lot of those yards came when the game was out of reach. We'll get a better idea this weekend if the Titans running game has turned a corner when they take on the Vikings, who have yet to allow a 100-yard game or rushing touchdown this season. Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX) vs. Chicago -- Many expected MJD to go off last week against a weak Bengals defense, but he could only muster 2.9 yards a tote on 13 carries. Expecting a big game against the Bears, who held DeMarco Murray to just 22 yards in Week 4, is not likely (fourth-worst RB matchup). Steven Jackson (STL) vs. Arizona -- Through four weeks, Jackson has yet to record a touchdown, but at least he looked a lot healthier in his six-point fantasy effort against Seattle last week. Touchdowns and fantasy points will be hard to come by against the Cardinals, who have yielded just one rushing touchdown and stingy 12 fantasy points per game to running backs this season. Michael Turner (ATL) vs. Washington -- Expect more of the plodding version of the Burner this week than the one you saw against the lowly Panthers in Week 4. A blind turtle could have had a decent fantasy day running through those holes. Washington has held the likes of Doug Martin, Darren Sproles and Steven Jackson to under 10 fantasy points this season, and will offer up a much stiffer challenge. Proceed With Caution: Fred Jackson (BUF) vs. San Francisco, Jonathan Stewart (CAR) vs. Seattle, BenJarvus Green-Ellis (CIN) vs. Miami Unfavorable Wide Receiver Matchups Stevie Johnson (BUF) vs. San Francisco -- Johnson was held to just 23 yards on 10 targets in a very favorable matchup with the Patriots, and a bounce-back may have to wait another week as he faces the 49ers shutdown secondary on the road in Week 5 (fourth-worst WR matchup). Steve Smith (CAR) vs. Seattle -- Smith hasn't been lighting up the box score in recent weeks, and that could be the case again this weekend taking on Seattle's sizable secondary, which is tougher than their 12th-worst matchup status suggests. Andre Roberts (ARZ) vs. St. Louis -- The Rams are currently in a three-way tie for worst receiver matchup, which could mean Roberts comes back down to earth a bit this weekend. Pierre Garcon (WAS) vs. Atlanta -- Despite losing top corner back Brent Grimes for the season, the Falcons have been tough on opposing receivers, ranking seventh in the N.F.L, but Garcon turned in his first full practice in a while on Wednesday, and you'll want to get him in your lineup as an WR3 as long as he is a full go. Proceed With Caution: Jeremy Maclin (PHI) vs. Pittsburgh, Jeremy Kerley (NYJ) vs. Houston, Sidney Rice (SEA) vs. Carolina Unfavorable Tight End Matchups Antonio Gates (SD) vs. New Orleans -- The Saints still haven't coughed up a touchdown to the position, and held Jermichael Finley, Fred Davis and Greg Olsen to below six fantasy points each. Heath Miller (PIT) vs. Philadelphia -- The Eagles rank as third-toughest matchup for tight ends, but the only standout tight end they have faced so far has been Martellus Bennett. Unfavorable Defense/Special Teams Matchups Denver vs. New England, San Diego vs. New Orleans, Washington vs. Atlanta, Jets vs. Houston Do you have a "start or sit" question? We are taking questions on Twitter. Follow us at @5thDownFantasy. Also, check out our complete rankings for Week 5.