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NFL Fantasy Football Advice: Start Philip Rivers, Sit Reggie Wayne

With bye weeks rolling in, many of you avid fantasy football players will be searching the waiver wire for bye week replacements as you prepare your lineups for Week 5. Here is some (hopefully) helpful advice ahead of the week's action.

Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers have a great matchup against the Oakland Raiders
Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers have a great matchup against the Oakland Raiders
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Teams on the bye: Washington, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Tampa Bay.

Notable players on the bye: QB Robert Griffin III, Ben Roethlisberger. RB Adrian Peterson, Le'Veon Bell, Alfred Morris, Doug Martin. WR Greg Jennings, Antonio Brown, Vincent Jackson, Pierre Garcon. TE Kyle Rudolph, Heath Miller. K Blair Walsh, Rian Lindell, Kai Forbath, Shaun Suisham.

Start: QB Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Rivers in the top three in terms of overall points of all players through four weeks of the season, and the Oakland Raiders are giving up near 20 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. If Rivers is still available, he is a great plug-and play this week, and spot starter going forward.

Sit: QB Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

Not currently living up to his preseason hype, Colin Kaepernick has been a poor start following his week one performance. If you have a good backup, like Rivers, or Michael Vick, then I'd say bench Kaepernick this week in a tough matchup against the Texans.

Start: QB Eli Manning, New York Giants

The Giants face off against the Philadelphia Eagles this week, who have allowed the second most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Expect Manning to take advantage of this matchup.

Sit: QB Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

The sixth ranked quarterback in terms of fantasy points so far this season has prevailed with easy matchups, but this week Alex Smith faces a much improved defense who have been formidable against the pass in the Tennessee Titans.

Start: RB DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

Murray has been a surprise so far this season, as he is managing to stay healthy. The Cowboys have a favorable matchup against the Denver Broncos this week, who have been poor against the run.

Sit: RB Rashard Mendenhall, Arizona Cardinals

Mendenhall has been typically average so far this season for the Cardinals, and fumbling the ball last week led to us seeing more Andre Ellington, who is eating into his touches. Playing the Carolina Panthers this week who have a fearsome defensive front, it's a good week to sit Rashard.

Start: RB Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers

The Packers are looking to establish the run in every game to keep defenses honest, but an injury hit backfield has prevented this. Lacy, if he plays, should be a must-start as he'll see the bulk of the carries with James Starks banged up.

Sit: RB Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

With Jake Locker out injured, the Titans may be relying heavily on the run to keep their offense on the field, but they play the Kansas City Chiefs who have been stout against opposing running backs.

Start: WR Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants

Nicks has been terrible in recent weeks, but the Giants will have to turn things around soon. They play the Eagles who may as well not even play defense, allowing masses of points to all opposing skill position players.

Sit: WR Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts

Although Wayne has been a decent start in recent weeks, if you can avoid starting him, do so this week. They play the Seattle Seahawks and the 'Legion of Boom' who have been very tough against wideouts this season.

Start: WR Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers

Following an early injury scare, Nelson has become the number one target in the offense, and a pair of hands that Aaron Rodgers can trust. The Detroit Lions have a suspect secondary, which will be exploited this weekend.

Sit: WR Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers

Smith has been a let down as a WR2 in fantasy so far this season, and he goes up against Arizona Cardinals corner Patrick Peterson this week who has really stepped up his game. Smith will be shadowed all game.

Start: TE Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers

The Cardinals have been terrible against opposing tight ends so far this season, and Olsen has been a fairly reliable performer, and should be in line for a decent fantasy week.

Sit: TE Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers

Only sit Davis if you have a decent fall back option like Martellus Bennett or Greg Olsen, because the Houston Texans have been tough on opposing tight ends. Davis is inconsistent and coming off an injury, so sit if you can.

Start: TE Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers

As mentioned, the Raiders' defense is real bad right now, and all Chargers skill position players should be in your lineups if lack of a better option. A top five tight end so far this season, Gates should be starting in every league.

Sit: TE Rob Housler, Arizona Cardinals

Many thought he would break out this year, but it hasn't been the case. Housler is not a prominent feature in the offense, and there are many better options out there than Housler.