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Fantasy Football Week 5 Start or Sit: Eddie Royal

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By @chrisbreezy91

Eddie Royal, San Diego Chargers

Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into Week 5 of the 2014 fantasy football season, San Diego Chargers wide receiver Eddie Royal is a must-start in every format.

After the first quarter of the season, the seventh-year receiver has scored the eighth-most points in standard scoring fantasy leagues. Yet, Philip Rivers’ favorite target of late is only owned in about half of all ESPN leagues. Royal should not only be owned in 100 percent of leagues, but unless you also have three of the top seven receivers — which I can personally guarantee less than half of owners do — he should be starting as well.

Sure, it’s absolutely unrealistic for Royal to keep up his recent touchdown pace for much longer, but chances are a Week 5 matchup against the New York Jets won’t be what slows him down.

Royal surpassed 100 yards and found the end zone twice last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars; a team that, at the time, had the most generous secondary in the NFL. Even if he doesn’t replicate that same success, chances are he’ll still have a very solid game.

Now, I will say, the Jets’ passing defense isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. Sure, they’re surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing receivers, but there’s a logical reason why. Three out of the Jets’ first four games have been against the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears – oh my. When you complement this with the Jets’ stellar run-defense, allowing only 2.9 yards per carry, the numbers against their pass-defense will be greatly skewed.

At the end of the day, however, the question isn’t whether or not the Jets have a decent pass defense or not. All that matters is that Rivers and the Chargers will be the next team to come out pass-heavy against Rex Ryan’s secondary. Would anyone really be surprised if coach Mike McCoy elected not to run the ball at all until they have this game wrapped up? I sure wouldn’t, because realistically, there’s no need to. Even against the Jaguars’ porous defense, San Diego only averaged 2.2 yards per carry.

This Week 5 matchup pairs up the league’s second-worst rushing offense against the best rushing defense. The Chargers have scored nine touchdowns through the air and one on the ground. The Jets have allowed nine through the air and only one on the ground. You don’t need a crystal ball to predict how this one will end up.

When Rivers is hot, he’s one of the league’s best quarterbacks – and as of late, Royal has been his go-to guy. Owners should continue riding this hot streak for all its worth.

Chris Lehman is a New Orleans Saints Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisBreezy91, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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