The receiver position comes with plenty of variance every week and can reward the bold fantasy football manager. With that in mind, here is a look at how I see things by way of my Week 5 fantasy WR rankings.
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Which WRs Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
MORE rankings from Soppe: QB | RB | TE | K | DST
1) Justin Jefferson | MIN (vs. KC)
2) Stefon Diggs | BUF (vs. JAX)
3) Tyreek Hill | MIA (vs. NYG)
4) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (vs. CAR)
5) Davante Adams | LV (vs. GB)
6) A.J. Brown | PHI (at LAR)
7) Chris Olave | NO (at NE)
8) CeeDee Lamb | DAL (at SF)
9) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (vs. NYG)
10) DeVonta Smith | PHI (at LAR)
11) Ja’Marr Chase | CIN (at ARI)
12) Calvin Ridley | JAX (at BUF)
13) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (vs. TEN)
14) Terry McLaurin | WAS (vs. CHI)
15) Deebo Samuel | SF (vs. DAL)
16) Brandon Aiyuk | SF (vs. DAL)
17) Christian Kirk | JAX (at BUF)
18) Nico Collins | HOU (at ATL)
19) Cooper Kupp | LAR (vs. PHI)
20) Courtland Sutton | DEN (vs. NYJ)
21) Jakobi Meyers | LV (vs. GB)
22) Jerry Jeudy | DEN (vs. NYJ)
23) Zay Flowers | BAL (at PIT)
24) Puka Nacua | LAR (vs. PHI)
25) Gabe Davis | BUF (vs. JAX)
26) Jordan Addison | MIN (vs. KC)
27) Christian Watson | GB (at LV)
28) Tank Dell | HOU (at ATL)
29) George Pickens | PIT (vs. BAL)
30) Michael Thomas | NO (at NE)
31) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs. PHI)
32) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (at DEN)
33) Rashee Rice | KC (at MIN)
34) DJ Moore | CHI (at WAS)
35) Marquise Brown | ARI (vs. CIN)
36) Jahan Dotson | WAS (vs. CHI)
37) Adam Thielen | CAR (at DET)
38) Drake London | ATL (vs. HOU)
39) DeAndre Hopkins | TEN (at IND)
40) Romeo Doubs | GB (at LV)
41) Rashid Shaheed | NO (at NE)
42) Michael Wilson | ARI (vs. CIN)
43) Tyler Boyd | CIN (at ARI)
44) Tee Higgins | CIN (at ARI)
45) Skyy Moore | KC (at MIN)
46) Jayden Reed | GB (at LV)
47) Robert Woods | HOU (at ATL)
48) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (vs. NYJ)
49) Michael Gallup | DAL (at SF)
50) K.J. Osborn | MIN (vs. KC)
51) Josh Downs | IND (vs. TEN)
52) DJ Chark | CAR (at DET)
53) Josh Reynolds | DET (vs. CAR)
54) Kendrick Bourne | NE (vs. NO)
55) Darius Slayton | NYG (at MIA)
56) Wan’Dale Robinson | NYG (at MIA)
57) DeVante Parker | NE (vs. NO)
58) Allen Robinson II | PIT (vs. BAL)
59) Curtis Samuel | WAS (vs. CHI)
60) Calvin Austin III | PIT (vs. BAL)
61) Brandin Cooks | DAL (at SF)
62) Nelson Agholor | BAL (at PIT)
63) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (at IND)
64) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | KC (at MIN)
65) Allen Lazard | NYJ (at DEN)
66) Rondale Moore | ARI (vs. CIN)
67) Darnell Mooney | CHI (at WAS)
68) Braxton Berrios | MIA (vs. NYG)
69) Jalin Hyatt | NYG (at MIA)
70) Isaiah Hodgins | NYG (at MIA)
71) Kadarius Toney | KC (at MIN)
72) Hunter Renfrow | LV (vs. GB)
73) Alec Pierce | IND (vs. TEN)
74) Mack Hollins | ATL (vs. HOU)
75) Justin Watson | KC (at MIN)
76) Parris Campbell | NYG (at MIA)
77) Kalif Raymond | DET (vs. CAR)
78) Terrace Marshall Jr. | CAR (at DET)
79) Brandon Johnson | DEN (vs. NYJ)
80) Olamide Zaccheaus | PHI (at LAR)
81) JuJu Smith-Schuster | NE (vs. NO)
82) Deonte Harty | BUF (vs. JAX)
83) Justyn Ross | KC (at MIN)
84) Van Jefferson | LAR (vs. PHI)
85) Demario Douglas | NE (vs. NO)
86) Devin Duvernay | BAL (at PIT)
87) Laviska Shenault Jr. | CAR (at DET)
88) Marvin Jones Jr. | DET (vs. CAR)
89) Randall Cobb | NYJ (at DEN)
90) John Metchie III | HOU (at ATL)
91) Chris Moore | TEN (at IND)
92) Tyler Scott | CHI (at WAS)
93) Ronnie Bell | SF (vs. DAL)
94) Tim Jones | JAX (at BUF)
95) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (at LV)
96) Trent Sherfield | BUF (vs. JAX)
97) Dyami Brown | WAS (vs. CHI)
The Top WRs To Start in Week 5
A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Consecutive massive weeks after a sluggish start to 2023 for A.J. Brown, dismissing any thoughts that he had been supplanted as the WR1 in Philly. He’s averaging nearly 11 targets per game, and if that continues for the next three months, there won’t be five receivers that score more fantasy points.
Teamwork makes the dream work#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/aVVKdnlaLZ
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 3, 2023
The dud games happen to almost everyone. Use Brown as a reminder not to overreact when discussing an elite talent.
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
Michael Pittman is turning into something of the Brock Purdy of the receiver position. That is, you kind of know what you’re getting weekly (says last week), and while there is some value in it, it’s not enough to put you significantly ahead of your competition.
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Despite ranking 10th in the NFL in receptions through the first month, Pittman’s next weekly finish better than WR29 will be just his second of the season.
He was locked down last week (five targets, 15 yards), and that was a problem for him in 2022 against the Titans (15 targets for 89 yards across two games).
I’m worried long-term about Pittman’s lack of a ceiling, but those worries are not impacting my Week 5 ranking of him as a top-20 option against a registered pass funnel.
I suspect Indy puts the ball in Anthony Richardson’s hands to win this game, and with Pittman commanding 28.7% of the targets, he should be locked and loaded into all lineups.