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Fantasy Week 5: Stay away from the Bills on Sunday

From a fantasy standpoint, the Buffalo Bills should be avoided in Week 5.

Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Each year, fantasy owners have to make some tough decisions, most notably trying to put their team allegiances aside while setting their weekly lineup. This especially holds true for fans of the Buffalo Bills heading into Week 5 of the NFL regular season, as injuries have taken a toll on the Bills' skill position players. It might not be worth the risk in starting members of the Bills this weekend.

Running back concerns

Boobie Dixon will be starting at running back for the Bills at running back today. LeSean McCoy (hamstring) and Karlos Williams (concussion) have been ruled out, and Dixon figures to take the bulk of the carries over Cierre Wood and Boom Herron against Tennessee. Considering that the Vikings, Panthers, Dolphins and Jets are on bye this weekend, you may be forced to start Dixon in this week's matchup; just don't expect much.

Do you trust Tyrod without Sammy?

The hype train for Tyrod Taylor has slowed down a bit, and his owners will likely have a tough decision to make on Sunday. It will be interesting to see how Taylor bounces back this weekend, and especially if he can do so without Sammy Watkins, who is unlikely to play for a second straight week. Watkins' presence on the field demands attention from the defense. This was evident last weekend, as Percy Harvin and Robert Woods had rather pedestrian days with Watkins out of the lineup.

Underperforming defense

If you drafted the Bills' defense you are likely starting them today, but this will be a telling matchup. The Bills led the league in sacks last season, but only have seven through their first four games. One would think that Rex Ryan would be able to maximize the talent on the Bills' defensive line, but this has not been the case so far. Fans and fantasy owners hope that the defense will bounce back this weekend in pressuring rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Clay locked in

In light of the questions around other positions, Charles Clay has become a favorite target for Taylor. Last week, Clay finished with nine receptions for 111 yards, a nice follow-up to his Week 3 performance in Miami. Clay should be locked in as a weekly starter, and is on pace to finish with 84 catches, 1,020 yards, and eight touchdowns this season. While some may have questioned the financial commitment the Bills made with Clay this offseason, his recent production shows what kind of player he can be in Greg Roman's offense.

Best of luck with your fantasy matchups this weekend, and please share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below.