The NFL season continues to chug along, and fantasy football managers have a lot to sort through this week with four teams on bye.
With that in mind, here are some opportunities for fantasy managers to take advantage of positive matchups at the WR position. What defenses should we be targeting heading into Week 5?
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Fantasy Matchups Week 5: Target These WRs
Rashee Rice vs. Minnesota Vikings
It feels odd to recommend a player who’s seen just 19 targets through four games so far this season, but Rashee Rice — and Skyy Moore — are in a spot to finish as solid fantasy options here in Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Through four weeks, no other defense is allowing more fantasy points to opposing WRs than the Vikings.
MORE: Fantasy Football Week 5 WR Rankings
On average, they are allowing 40.1 fantasy points per contest to the position, which means that the Kansas City Chiefs WRs could be solid pivot options if you have Keenan Allen, DK Metcalf, Mike Evans, etc., on bye in Week 5.
While it’s certainly a bit of a risk due to the uncertain target volume week in and week out, Rice is inside the top 40 of my WR rankings and has a very good chance of finding the end zone in this one.
Zay Flowers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Vikings are the worst defense at slowing down opposing wide receivers, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are not far behind them. Pittsburgh is allowing a jaw-dropping 39.1 fantasy points per game to the position, which signals that Zay Flowers is in line for a big performance here in Week 5.
Lamar goes DEEP to Zay!
📺: #BALvsCLE on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Jq9JHUeqb6 pic.twitter.com/sn1ED4vlPL— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2023
With Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman still dealing with injuries, Flowers should be the main target at the WR position for Lamar Jackson again this week.
Additionally, the Steelers are only allowing 5.7 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, which signals that Mark Andrews may have a bit of a tough time in this contest.
Flowers has yet to truly deliver a top performance with Andrews healthy and in the lineup, but he belongs in your starting fantasy football lineup this week as a top-24 play.
Puka Nacua vs. Philadelphia Eagles
If Cooper Kupp isn’t able to make it back in time for Week 5’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, which all signs are currently pointing to him being out there, then Puka Nacua is a rock-solid start in a great matchup.
MORE: Fantasy Injury Updates
Through four weeks, the Eagles’ secondary is allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. While their run defense has been locking up opposing RBs, NFL teams are instead choosing to go after Philadelphia’s DBs and move the ball through the passing game.
With Kyren Williams a little bit banged up coming into this one, the Rams could choose to throw the ball 35+ times this week. If that’s the case, Nacua’s going to be a very solid fantasy asset due to volume.
Even if Kupp makes it back for this week, though, Nacua still belongs in starting lineups as a top-24 play. He’s done nothing throughout his first four NFL games for fantasy managers to bench him, and the matchup is positive enough to buy into the narrative that both he and Kupp can feast in this offense.
Make sure to check in on our PFN Consensus Rankings regularly throughout the week to find out what the latest information regarding Kupp and his return from injured reserve means for Nacua going into Week 5.