We are now in the sixth week of the fantasy football season. As always, it is crucial to know what players are the preferable starts. Taking player talent, performance, and matchup into account, here are my Week 5 WR rankings.
Top 75 Fantasy WR Rankings
1) Nico Collins | Houston Texans (vs. BUF)
2) CeeDee Lamb | Dallas Cowboys (at PIT)
3) Justin Jefferson | Minnesota Vikings (vs. NYJ [London])
4) Ja’Marr Chase | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. BAL)
5) DK Metcalf | Seattle Seahawks (vs. NYG)
6) Mike Evans | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at ATL)
7) Marvin Harrison Jr. | Arizona Cardinals (at SF)
8) Deebo Samuel Sr. | San Francisco 49ers (vs. ARI)
9) Jayden Reed | Green Bay Packers (at LAR)
10) Chris Olave | New Orleans Saints (at KC)
11) Drake London | Atlanta Falcons (vs. TB)
12) Diontae Johnson | Carolina Panthers (at CHI)
13) Amari Cooper | Cleveland Browns (at WAS)
14) Chris Godwin | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at ATL)
15) Garrett Wilson | New York Jets (vs. MIN [London})
16) Brandon Aiyuk | San Francisco 49ers (vs. ARI)
17) Michael Pittman Jr. | Indianapolis Colts (at JAX)
18) Stefon Diggs | Houston Texans (vs. BUF)
19) Terry McLaurin | Washington Commanders (vs. CLE)
20) DJ Moore | Chicago Bears (vs. CAR)
21) Christian Kirk | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND)
22) Zay Flowers | Baltimore Ravens (at CIN)
23) Brian Thomas Jr. | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND)
24) Dontayvion Wicks | Green Bay Packers (at LAR)
25) Tyreek Hill | Miami Dolphins (at NE)
26) George Pickens | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. DAL)
27) Tee Higgins | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. BAL)
28) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seattle Seahawks (vs. NYG)
29) Rashid Shaheed | New Orleans Saints (at KC)
30) Tank Dell | Houston Texans (vs. BUF)
31) Xavier Worthy | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. NO)
32) Wan’Dale Robinson | New York Giants (at SEA)
33) Jordan Addison | Minnesota Vikings (vs. NYJ [London])
34) Jordan Whittington | Los Angeles Rams (vs. GB)
35) Jaylen Waddle | Miami Dolphins (at NE)
36) Keenan Allen | Chicago Bears (vs. CAR)
37) Rome Odunze | Chicago Bears (vs. CAR)
38) Darnell Mooney | Atlanta Falcons (vs. TB)
39) Jerry Jeudy | Cleveland Browns (at WAS)
40) Courtland Sutton | Denver Broncos (vs. LV)
41) Allen Lazard | New York Jets (vs. MIN [London})
42) Tyler Lockett | Seattle Seahawks (vs. NYG)
43) Jakobi Meyers | Las Vegas Raiders (at DEN)
44) Xavier Legette | Carolina Panthers (at CHI)
45) Jauan Jennings | San Francisco 49ers (vs. ARI)
46) Tutu Atwell | Los Angeles Rams (vs. GB)
47) Michael Wilson | Arizona Cardinals (at SF)
48) Greg Dortch | Arizona Cardinals (at SF)
49) Tre Tucker | Las Vegas Raiders (at DEN)
50) Gabe Davis | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND)
51) Andrei Iosivas | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. BAL)
52) Bo Melton | Green Bay Packers (at LAR)
53) Keon Coleman | Buffalo Bills (at HOU)
54) Josh Downs | Indianapolis Colts (at JAX)
55) Mike Williams | New York Jets (vs. MIN [London})
56) DeMario Douglas | New England Patriots (vs. MIA)
57) Rashod Bateman | Baltimore Ravens (at CIN)
58) Darius Slayton | New York Giants (at SEA)
59) Jalen Tolbert | Dallas Cowboys (at PIT)
60) Curtis Samuel | Buffalo Bills (at HOU)
61) Alec Pierce | Indianapolis Colts (at JAX)
62) Ray-Ray McCloud III | Atlanta Falcons (vs. TB)
63) Jonathan Mingo | Carolina Panthers (at CHI)
64) Luke McCaffrey | Washington Commanders (vs. CLE)
65) Josh Reynolds | Denver Broncos (vs. LV)
66) Elijah Moore | Cleveland Browns (at WAS)
67) JuJu Smith-Schuster | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. NO)
68) Ja’Lynn Polk | New England Patriots (vs. MIA)
69) Demarcus Robinson | Los Angeles Rams (vs. GB)
70) Calvin Austin III | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. DAL)
71) Justin Watson | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. NO)
72) Jalen Nailor | Minnesota Vikings (vs. NYJ [London])
73) Mack Hollins | Buffalo Bills (at HOU)
74) Jalen McMillan | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at ATL)
75) Olamide Zaccheaus | Washington Commanders (vs. CLE)
The Top Wide Receivers To Start in Week 5
Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns (at WAS)
One week after one of the best games of his career — catching seven passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns — Amari Cooper went back to being unstartable. But that doesn’t tell the full story.
Cooper actually should’ve had a WR1 week. He had a long fourth-quarter touchdown reception called back due to a penalty. While that doesn’t count for fantasy managers, it’s a reminder of what Cooper can still do.
This is a prime spot for Cooper to get back on track. The Commanders are poor against the run, but they are downright disastrous against the pass.
Washington currently allows the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. This is one year after having a historically bad pass defense. Nothing has changed.
The Commanders have been unable to contain Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Malik Nabers, Ja’Marr Chase, and Marvin Harrison Jr. Cooper is up next. He is a strong WR2 option this week.
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (at JAX)
At this time, we don’t yet know whether Anthony Richardson will be able to start this week. Even if he does, I’m still optimistic about Pittman. But this is more predicated on Joe Flacco making the start.
With Flacco replacing an injured Richardson, Pittman had his best game of the season against the Texans. He caught six of nine targets for 113 yards. His 18.8 yards per reception marked the third-highest mark of his last three seasons.
The Jaguars have been atrocious against wide receivers this season, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position. If Pittman can get one more week of Flacco, he should be viewed as a WR1 in Week 5.
