Entering Monday night's Giants-Seahawks game, three of the top five fantasy performers in Week 4 were wide receivers (A.J. Brown, Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins). Fantasy football owners who had the fortune of starting any of these pass-catchers likely caught a "W" last week. That said, as seasoned fantasy veterans know, the week-to-week nature of the NFL often leads to surprising explosions (and duds) from the wide receiver position, and our Week 5 fantasy WRs rankings for standard leagues can help you spot the potential studs, sleepers, and stumblers.
While posting consecutive monster games is possible, it will probably be tough for Brown, Diggs, and Collins to replicate their Week 4 performances, paving the way for new breakouts within the next slate of games.
Get everything you need to know for the week ahead with our Week 5 WR rankings for standard leagues.
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Which WRs are on bye in Week 5?
With the Chargers, Browns, Seahawks, and Buccaneers idle this week, fantasy owners need to find replacement options for Keenan Allen and Joshua Palmer, Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, and Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Navigating bye weeks is always a challenge for fantasy owners, but there are plenty of streaming options out there for those seeking a replacement during a team's off week. It's rough not being able to stack WRs playing against the Chargers and Seahawks -- the two defenses who entered Week 4 allowing the most fantasy points per game to the position -- but on the bright side, fantasy owners don't have to worry about seeing their WRs get shut down by the Browns.
WEEK 5 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy WRs in Week 5?
While he had a down week by his standards, we like Tyreek Hill's (vs. Giants in Week 5) chances of bouncing back in a big way against a struggling Giants secondary, as Miami's WR1 is our top-ranked WR for Week 5. Not much separates Hill from Justin Jefferson (vs. Chiefs) and Stefon Diggs (vs. Jaguars), but he has the most appealing matchup against a Giants secondary that's relying on two rookie cornerbacks.
Although he still garnered 13 targets from backup QB Aidan O'Connell, Davante Adams (vs. Packers) is in for a high-volume contest against his former team on Monday night with Garoppolo likely back under center. A.J. Brown (@ Rams) posted his second straight nine-catch, 100-plus yard receiving day in Week 4, and he can do more damage against an undermanned Rams' secondary.
CeeDee Lamb (@49ers) might be held in check by his standards against the 49ers, but he's unquestionably a set-it-and-forget-it play this week.
We may see the return of Cooper Kupp (@ Rams) from a hamstring injury, and while that will result in Puka Nacua's target share decreasing, both wideouts still have WR1 upside despite Nacua's Week 5 ranking taking a hit.
WEEK 5 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start 'em, sit 'em
Who are the best fantasy WR sleepers, waiver pickups in Week 5?
This week's crop of sleeper WRs includes Josh Reynolds (vs. Panthers), Marquise Brown and Michael Wilson (vs. Bengals), Adam Thielen and Terrace Marshall (@ Lions), Romeo Doubs (@ Raiders), and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (@ Colts).
Reynolds saw the second-most targets (six) among Lions' pass-catchers in Week 4, trailing only Amon-Ra St. Brown, as he's a viable bye-week streamer housed in an efficient offense despite the expected return of Jameson Williams (vs. Panthers). Brown continues to be a trusted option for Josh Dobbs, seeing a total of 27 targets over the past three weeks despite most fantasy owners constantly worrying about his matchups. Ditto for Wilson, who snagged two TDs in Week 4.
Thielen's another target hog, as the Panthers WR1 could see 10-plus targets in a negative game script against the Lions. Doubs has stayed consistent through four games and now faces an exploitable Raiders pass defense.
Marshall saw 10 targets in Week 4 and has seen at least eight targets in consecutive weeks. Westbrook-Ikhine saw an uptick in usage with Treylon Burks (knee) missing game action, and if Burks is out another week, Westbrook-Ikhine's worth a look in deeper leagues.
WEEK 5 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
Who are the biggest potential WR busts in Week 5?
Potential Week 5 bust WRs include Christian Kirk (vs. Bills), Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Marvin Mims (vs. Jets), and Tank Dell and Robert Woods (@ Falcons). It will be hard to sit Kirk after his eight-catch effort in Week 4, but a tough matchup against a sound Bills' secondary makes him a risky play in shallow leagues, especially if Zay Jones (knee) returns.
Sutton, Jeudy, and Mims face a Jets defense that entered Week 4 allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to WRs, so chances are we see the Broncos offense take a step back despite notching their first win last week. Chances are, one of these WRs will have a good game, but good luck guessing which it will be.
Dell and Woods are better off on your bench, as the Falcons' secondary has held their own through four games. Nico Collins remains a must-start, though. Jordan Addison (vs. Chiefs), Drake London (vs. Texans), Christian Kirk (vs. Bills), Michael Thomas and Rashid Shaheed (@ Patriots), and Kendrick Bourne (vs. Saints) are also facing defenses that entered Week 4 in the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to WRs. Depending on the size of your league, all are benchable. You could even make a case for benching Deebo Samuel (vs. Cowboys), who didn't get a target last week, in shallow leagues.
What are the biggest WR injuries in Week 5?
Leading into Week 4, Zay Jones (knee), Treylon Burks (knee), Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle), Jonathan Mingo (head), and Rashod Bateman (hamstring) didn't suit up due to injury. For now, we've left Burks and Bateman out of our Week 5 WR rankings but added in Jones, Beckham Jr., and Mingo.
During game action, we saw Mike Evans (hamstring), Tee Higgins (rib), and Alec Pierce (head) exited their respective contests and failed to return to the huddle, prompting us to omit Higgins and Pierce from our initial Week 5 list. Evans is on bye, but he's no sure thing to suit up in Week 6.
Deebo Samuel (chest, knee) didn't practice last week and saw just three touches (all rushes) last week. It's fair to wonder just how healthy he is, but for now, we expect him to play against the Cowboys. The same goes for Davante Adams (shoulder), who toughed it out after landing hard on his shoulder against the Chargers.
Of course, the biggest injury to watch this week is Cooper Kupp (hamstring), who's finally eligible to come off the IR. Initial reports suggested it was likely to happen this week, so we have him back in the top 10.
As usual, we'll update these standard WR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.
Fantasy WR Rankings Week 5: Who to start, sit at wide receiver
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring
Rank Player
1 Tyreek Hill, Dolphins vs. Giants
2 Justin Jefferson, Vikings vs. Chiefs
3 Stefon Diggs, Bills vs. Jaguars
4 Davante Adams, Raiders vs. Packers
5 A.J. Brown, Eagles @ Rams
6 CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys @ 49ers
7 Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals @ Cardinals
8 Cooper Kupp, Rams @ Eagles
9 DeVonta Smith, Eagles @ Rams
10 Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers vs. Cowboys
11 Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins vs. Giants
12 Puka Nacua, Rams vs. Eagles
13 Chris Olave, Saints @ Patriots
14 Calvin Ridley, Jaguars vs. Bills
15 Michael Pittman Jr., Colts vs. Titans
16 DJ Moore, Bears @ Commanders
17 Nico Collins, Texans @ Falcons
18 Terry McLaurin, Commanders vs. Bears
19 George Pickens, Steelers vs. Ravens
20 Deebo Samuel, 49ers vs. Cowboys
21 DeAndre Hopkins, Titans @ Colts
22 Gabe Davis, Bills vs. Jaguars
23 Zay Flowers, Ravens @ Steelers
24 Josh Reynolds, Lions vs. Panthers
25 Marquise Brown, Cardinals vs. Bengals
26 Garrett Wilson, Jets @ Broncos
27 Jerry Jeudy, Broncos vs. Jets
28 Jakobi Meyers, Raiders vs. Packers
29 Drake London, Falcons vs. Texans
30 Christian Kirk, Jaguars vs. Bills
31 Christian Watson, Packers @ Raiders
32 Jordan Addison, Vikings vs. Chiefs
33 Courtland Sutton, Broncos vs. Jets
34 Michael Thomas, Saints @ Patriots
35 Adam Thielen, Panthers @ Lions
36 Romeo Doubs, Packers @ Raiders
37 Skyy Moore, Chiefs @ Vikings
38 Jahan Dotson, Commanders vs. Bears
39 Tank Dell, Texans @ Falcons
40 Tutu Atwell, Rams vs. Eagles
41 Kadarius Toney, Chiefs @ Vikings
42 Kendrick Bourne, Patriots vs. Saints
43 Brandin Cooks, Cowboys @ 49ers
44 K.J. Osborn, Vikings vs. Chiefs
45 Jayden Reed, Packers @ Raiders
46 Curtis Samuel, Commanders vs. Bears
47 DJ Chark, Panthers @ Lions
48 Michael Gallup, Cowboys @ 49ers
49 Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Titans @ Colts
50 Michael Wilson, Cardinals vs. Bengals
51 Terrace Marshall Jr., Panthers @ Lions
52 Rashid Shaheed, Saints @ Patriots
53 Zay Jones, Jaguars vs. Bills
54 Jameson Williams, Lions vs. Panthers
55 Kalif Raymond, Lions vs. Panthers
56 Isaiah Hodgins, Giants @ Dolphins
57 Darnell Mooney, Bears @ Commanders
58 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs @ Vikings
59 Josh Downs, Colts vs. Titans
60 Tyler Boyd, Bengals @ Cardinals
61 Mack Hollins, Falcons vs. Texans
62 Marvin Mims Jr., Broncos vs. Jets
63 Robert Woods, Texans @ Falcons
64 Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants @ Dolphins
65 Allen Lazard, Jets @ Broncos
66 Rondale Moore, Cardinals vs. Bengals
67 Braxton Berrios, Dolphins vs. Giants
68 Darius Slayton, Giants @ Dolphins
69 Van Jefferson, Rams vs. Eagles
70 Rashee Rice, Chiefs @ Vikings
71 JuJu Smith-Schuster, Patriots vs. Saints
72 Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens @ Steelers
73 Allen Robinson II, Steelers vs. Ravens
74 Brandon Johnson, Broncos vs. Jets
75 Rashod Bateman, Ravens @ Browns
76 Jonathan Mingo, Panthers @ Lions
77 DeVante Parker, Patriots vs. Saints
78 Calvin Austin III, Steelers vs. Ravens
Week 5 WR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
Draft Sharks projections for the new week will update every Tuesday and be constantly adjusted throughout the week
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