It's no secret there's been an offensive surge in the NFL this year, and wide receivers are reaping the benefits with some monster performances. Last Sunday, Odell Beckham Jr., DJ Chark, Tre'Quan Smith, and CeeDee Lamb all had multi-TD games; the week before, seven wideouts had at least two touchdown catches, including "sleepers" Tee Higgins, Andy Isabella, Dontrelle Inman, and Cedrick Wilson. Clearly, it's "one of those years," and it seems unlikely to stop anytime soon. That's ultimately good news, though it did present its own set of unique challenges when we put together our Week 5 fantasy WR rankings,
With so many favorable matchups and overachieving wide receivers to choose from, how do you put them in order? If a receiver is considered a WR2, does it really matter if he's No. 13 or No. 24? It looks like a big difference on the page, but in truth, it doesn't matter. Those types of players are all must-starts this week.
WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
A couple new players, including Robby Anderson (@ Falcons) and CeeDee Lamb (vs. Giants), move into that tier because of favorable matchups in Week 5. A.J. Brown (vs. Bills) is hopefully set to return from a knee injury/bye week, so we slot him back in that group, as well. Fantasy owners hope Michael Thomas (knee) and Chris Godwin (hamstring) also return from injury this week. We currently have Thomas (vs. Chargers) in our rankings, but with the Saints off in Week 6, it's possible they hold out him out through their bye. We don't anticipate Godwin being back to face the Bears on Thursday, but we'll be ready to adjust if he's active.
WEEK 5 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Moving into the WR3 tier are Darius Slayton (@ Cowboys), Jamison Crowder (vs. Cardinals), Justin Jefferson (@ Seahawks), Jerry Jeudy (@ Patriots), Brandon Aiyuk (vs. Dolphins), and Deebo Samuel (vs. Dolphins). There are risks with some of these guys (Jeudy possibly being matched up with Stephon Gilmore, the 49ers cannibalizing each other's production, other assorted QB issues), but all have solid matchups and the talent/big-play ability to rip off big games.
WEEK 5 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo
Several more potential sleepers, including Golden Tate (@ Cowboys), Scotty Miller (@ Bears), N'Keal Harry (vs. Broncos), Christian Kirk (@ Jets), Zach Pascal (@ Browns), and Curtis Samuel (@ Falcons), are right on the start-or-sit bubble and could be worth streaming if you're in a bind because of byes to Lions and Packers receivers.
WEEK 5 DFS CASH LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo
On the flipside, some WRs are moving down, though it's not necessarily because of matchups. We're at the point in the season where chronically poor performances can't be ignored. A.J. Green (@ Ravens) represents the worst of both worlds this week, and we have him well out of the WR3 tier. Jarvis Landry (vs. Colts) has also fallen since you can't count on him throwing a TD every week. T.Y. Hilton (@ Browns) would join them if he didn't have such a favorable matchup. Brandin Cooks (vs. Jaguars), Preston Williams (@ 49ers), and Anthony Miller (vs. Bucs) all look like they're better suited for the waiver wire than fantasy benches.
MORE WEEK 5 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
Of course, given how this season has gone, it's possible any (or all) of those just mentioned go off in Week 5. After all, is there really such thing as a "bad matchup" anymore? It's starting to feel as if there's not, but either way, fantasy owners will agonize over their start 'em, sit 'em decisions, so we'll do our best to help.
WEEK 5 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Note: Check back all week leading up to kickoff, as we'll continue to update our WR rankings and provide analysis based on the latest news and injuries.
Week 5 Fantasy WR Rankings (Standard)
These rankings are for non-PPR leagues.
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | DeAndre Hopkins, ARZ @ NYJ |
| 2 | Tyreek Hill, KC vs. LV |
| 3 | Adam Thielen, MIN @ SEA |
| 4 | Amari Cooper, DAL vs. NYG |
| 5 | Michael Thomas, NO vs. LAC |
| 6 | Allen Robinson, CHI @ TB |
| 7 | Mike Evans, TB vs. CHI |
| 8 | Keenan Allen, LAC @ NO |
| 9 | Stefon Diggs, BUF @ TEN |
| 10 | DK Metcalf, SEA vs. MIN |
| 11 | Calvin Ridley, ATL vs. CAR |
| 12 | Tyler Lockett, SEA vs. MIN |
| 13 | Robby Anderson, CAR @ ATL. Anderson hasn't been just a boom-or-bust deep threat this year. He's had at least five catches in every game and at least 99 yards in three out of four contests. Against the Falcons 31st-ranked pass defense, Anderson has major upside. The same goes for D.J. Moore, who's averaged eight targets per game this year. |
| 14 | Odell Beckham Jr., CLE vs. IND |
| 15 | DJ Chark, JAX @ HOU |
| 16 | D.J. Moore, CAR @ ATL. See Robby Anderson. |
| 17 | DeVante Parker, MIA @ SF |
| 18 | JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT vs. PHI |
| 19 | Cooper Kupp, LAR @ WAS. Kupp has had two good games in a row, but lastt last week was looking bleek until a late 55-yard TD salvaged things. Washington is allowing the second-fewest fantasy points per game (FPPG) to WRs, so this isn't a good matchup on paper, but the Rams are the type of offense that can produce against anyone and flop against anyone, so we're going to trust the talent for this explosive receiver. Robert Woods, who actually averages more targets more game, is in a similar spot but he doesn't have quite as much big-play potential. |
| 20 | Will Fuller V, HOU vs. JAX |
| 21 | CeeDee Lamb, DAL vs. NYG |
| 22 | Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. LAR |
| 23 | A.J. Brown, TEN vs. BUF. Brown figures to be back after missing Tennessee's past two games because of a knee injury. If you're scared of the potential matchup with Tre'Davious White, you probably don't have to be. So far this season, three-of-four No. 1 receivers (Jamison Crowder, DeVante Parker, and Cooper Kupp) have scored. The only time a WR1 didn't score this year was last week against the Raiders, who really don't have a No. 1 (and if it's Nelson Agholor, he scored, too). |
| 24 | Tyler Boyd, CIN @ BAL |
| 25 | Darius Slayton, NYG @ DAL. Slayton has produced just nine catches for 134 yards since his 102-yard, two-TD Week 1, but no team has been as bad against wide receivers over the past three weeks as Dallas (nine receiving TDs, plus one rushing and one passing). Slayton has seen at least six targets in every game, so he should get enough opportunities to have another good performance. |
| 26 | Diontae Johnson, PIT vs. PHI. Johnson is set to return after missing most of Week 3 because of a concussion, but in the two previous games, he had 23 targets. Philadelphia is weak across the middle, and given their league-best pass rush, Pittsburgh will be looking to get the out quickly. That should mean another steady dose of short targets for Johnson, so his value in standard leagues will come down to what he can do after the catch. |
| 27 | Marquise Brown, BAL vs. CIN |
| 28 | Jamison Crowder, NYJ vs. ARZ |
| 29 | Justin Jefferson, MIN @ SEA. It's tough to trust rookie receivers to have three good games in a row, but Jefferson will get a chance to do that against Seattle's league-worst pass defense. Even last week when Seattle held all of Miami's wide receivers out of the end zone, it still allowed 315 passing yards (though that actually brought its average down to 401 yards allowed per game). Jefferson has topped the century mark each of the past two weeks, and perhaps most impressive is that he's averaged at least 25 yards per catch in both outings. He's the type of receiver who can pay off with one big play, so you can't sit him in this matchup. |
| 30 | T.Y. Hilton, IND @ CLE. Hilton has been a huge bust this year, topping out at four catches and 53 yards, both in Week 1. He hasn't even had more than five targets since Week 1. This is especially frustrating given all of Indy's other WR injuries, but a run-heavy, TE-centric offense is guiding the way for the Colts. Cleveland is allowing the third-most fantasy points to WRs, and that includes multiple WR receiving TDs in each of the past three games. If Hilton is ever going to hit on a big play, it's this week, and Cleveland at least has a good enough offense to make Indianapolis work. |
| 31 | Julian Edelman, NE vs. DEN. Aside from a monster Week 2, Edelman has been a major disappointment this year. Denver is quietly allowing the seventh-most FPPG to WRs, and they were just worked for seve catches and 104 yards by possession receiver Jamison Crowder, so Edelman has more upside than usual in this game. |
| 32 | Robert Woods, LAR @ WAS. See Cooper Kupp. |
| 33 | Jerry Jeudy, DEN @ NE. New England has been below average against wide receivers this season, and No. 1 receivers have been no exception, with both Tyler Lockett and Tyreek Hill scoring. Jeudy isn't as polished as them -- and he certainly doesn't have as good of a QB throwing to him -- but his big-play ability makes him a threat all over the field. He's averaged seven targets per game this year, and that number should rise with Noah Fant (knee) out. Jeudy also gets a boost from Stephon Gilmore (COVID) being out. |
| 34 | Brandon Aiyuk, SF vs. MIA |
| 35 | Deebo Samuel, SF vs. MIA |
| 36 | Russell Gage, ATL vs. CAR |
| 37 | Golden Tate, NYG @ DAL |
| 38 | Greg Ward Jr., PHI @ PIT |
| 39 | Emmanuel Sanders, NO vs. LAC |
| 40 | John Brown, BUF @ TEN |
| 41 | Scotty Miller, TB vs. CHI |
| 42 | N'Keal Harry, NE vs. DEN |
| 43 | Cole Beasley, BUF @ TEN |
| 44 | Christian Kirk, ARZ @ NYJ |
| 45 | Jarvis Landry, CLE vs. IND |
| 46 | Zach Pascal, IND @ CLE |
| 47 | Curtis Samuel, CAR @ ATL |
| 48 | Sammy Watkins, KC vs. LV |
| 49 | Olamide Zaccheaus, ATL vs. CAR |
| 50 | Laviska Shenault Jr., JAX @ HOU |
| 51 | Tre'Quan Smith, NO vs. LAC |
| 52 | Tim Patrick, DEN @ NE |
| 53 | Mecole Hardman, KC vs. LV |
| 54 | Michael Gallup, DAL vs. NYG |
| 55 | A.J. Green, CIN @ BAL |
| 56 | Tee Higgins, CIN @ BAL |
| 57 | Hunter Renfrow, LV @ KC |
| 58 | Brandin Cooks, HOU vs. JAX |
| 59 | Jeff Smith, NYJ vs. ARI |
| 60 | Kalif Raymond, TEN vs. BUF |
| 61 | Henry Ruggs III, LV @ KC |
| 62 | Jalen Guyton, LAC @ NO |
| 63 | Isaiah Ford, MIA @ SF |
| 64 | David Moore, SEA vs. MIN |
| 65 | Preston Williams, MIA @ SF |
| 66 | John Hightower, PHI @ PIT |
| 67 | Randall Cobb, HOU vs. JAX |
| 68 | Darnell Mooney, CHI vs. TB |
| 69 | Chase Claypool, PIT vs. PHI |
| 70 | Damiere Byrd, NE vs. DEN |
| 71 | Andy Isabella, ARZ @ NYJ |
| 72 | Dontrelle Inman, WAS vs. LAR |
| 73 | Keelan Cole, JAX @ HOU |
| 74 | Nelson Agholor, LV @ KC |
| 75 | Anthony Miller, CHI vs. TB |
| 76 | James Washington, PIT vs. PHI |
| 77 | Josh Reynolds, LAR @ WAS |
| 78 | Larry Fitzgerald, ARZ @ NYJ |
| 79 | Gabriel Davis, BUF @ TEN |
| 80 | Kendrick Bourne, SF vs. MIA |
| 81 | Demarcus Robinson, KC vs. LV |
| 82 | Chris Hogan, NYJ vs. ARZ |
| 83 | Miles Boykin, BAL vs. CIN |
