Fantasy Football WR Rankings Week 5: Who to start, best sleepers at wide receiver

Nick Musial

Fantasy Football WR Rankings Week 5: Who to start, best sleepers at wide receiver image

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.

MORE: Watch NFL RedZone live with Sling (50% off first month)

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

We're proud to offer SN Fantasy readers an exclusive look at Draft Sharks’ award-winning projections and rankings every week. To see Draft Sharks' Week 5 3D floor-to-ceiling projections for wide receivers -- plus get access to all of Draft Sharks' industry-leading tools -- become a Draft Sharks' member today at the link below!

TRY DRAFT SHARKS FREE: Dominate with exclusive tools, including Free-Agent Finder & Trade Navigator!

Nick Musial

Nick Musial Photo

Nick Musial is a Content Producer at The Sporting News. He recently joined the team after studying sport management and journalism at the University of Kansas. Nick’s an avid sports bettor who’s always looking for value.