Week 5 Fantasy Football: Must-Start Wide Receivers
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (C) celebrates during a win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in Cleveland. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 3 (UPI) — D.J. Moore and Zay Flowers are among my top four wide receivers to start in Week 5 of the fantasy football season. If you’re looking for more options, check out my top add/drop suggestions before your waiver wire opens. I will also have updated rankings for quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends for Sunday’s games.
Week 5 Wide Receiver Rankings:
- Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins vs. NYG
- Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals at ARI
- Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings vs. KC
- A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles at LAR
- Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills vs. JAX
- Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams vs. PHI
- CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys at SF
- Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints at NE
- Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders vs. GB
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions vs. CAR
All of my must-start options are ranked inside the Top 24, so they should be started in leagues with at least 12 teams. Wide receivers from the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be benched or dropped due to their Week 5 byes. If you have Tee Higgins, Cooper Kupp, or other injured wide receivers on your roster, make sure to monitor their statuses before starting them.
Puka Nacua
Through four weeks, NFL teams have targeted wide receivers against the Philadelphia Eagles more than any other defense, with 108 targets. Nacua, who leads the NFL with 52 targets, will have a great opportunity in Week 5 when his Los Angeles Rams face the Eagles. So far, the Eagles have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points and tied for the most touchdown catches (6) to wide receivers. Nacua has received at least 10 targets in three of four games and had a breakout performance in Week 4 with 163 yards and a touchdown on nine catches. I expect Nacua to see at least 15 targets, make 10 catches, and gain 100 yards in Week 5. He’s my No. 6 wide receiver option this week.
D.J. Moore
Moore is my No. 15 wide receiver and can be started as a WR2. He started the season slowly with only 25 yards on two catches in Week 1, but has picked up momentum with two 100-yard performances and touchdowns in his last two games. Last week, Moore had 131 yards and a touchdown on eight catches. This week, the Chicago Bears will face the Washington Commanders, who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers through four games and gave up 175 yards and two touchdowns to A.J. Brown in Week 4. Look for Moore to approach 100 yards in this matchup and potentially finish as a Top 10 play if he scores.
Zay Flowers
Flowers has yet to score a touchdown, but has logged 10 targets in two of his first four games for the Baltimore Ravens. He has totaled 244 yards in those games. In Week 5, Flowers will go up against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points, tied for the most touchdowns, and surrendered the fourth-most receiving yards to wide receivers this season. Flowers is my No. 20 wide receiver option and can be started as a low-end WR2.
Rashee Rice
Rice is a bit more of a boom-or-bust play, but I believe his Week 5 matchup justifies starting him as a WR3. The Kansas City Chiefs rookie has been targeted at least five times in three of his four games and made eight catches for 91 yards in his last two appearances. This week, the Chiefs will face the Minnesota Vikings, who have tied for allowing the most catches and surrendered the third-most fantasy points and receiving yards to wide receivers through four games. I expect a high-scoring game, and Rice should see a season-high in targets. He has the potential for at least eight catches and could break into WR2 territory if he catches one of the multiple touchdown passes from Patrick Mahomes against the Vikings.
Remember to check my updated rankings for quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends, and good luck in Week 5!
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