The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have been a ton of breakout players and fantasy duds that have made the game so entertaining. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that wide receivers like Keenan Allen and Mike Evans will be out this week. On top of that injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 5 wide receiver rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to the Injured Reserve List
(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting WR1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High WR2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between WR1 and WR2 territory.
Starting WR2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor
Low WR2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deeper League Flex- a player who has starting value in deeper leagues. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Upside Player- a player who is boom or bust. This player can exceed expectations in a given week or could flop and be the reason why someone lost their fantasy matchup.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
Must Start | Justin Jefferson | vs Kansas City Chiefs | WR1 |
Must Start | Tyreek Hill | vs New York Giants | WR2 |
Starting WR1 | A.J. Brown | vs Los Angeles Rams | WR3 |
Starting WR1 | Davante Adams | vs Green Bay Packers | WR4 |
Starting WR1 | Ja’Marr Chase | vs Arizona Cardinals | WR5 |
Starting WR1 | Stefon Diggs | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | WR6 |
Starting WR1 | Amon-Ra St. Brown* | vs Carolina Panthers | WR7 |
High WR2 | Deebo Samuel* | vs Dallas Cowboys | WR8 |
High WR2 | Cooper Kupp* | vs Philadelphia Eagles | WR9 |
High WR2 | CeeDee Lamb | vs San Francisco 49ers | WR10 |
High WR2 | DeVonta Smith | vs Los Angeles Rams | WR11 |
Starting WR2 | Garrett Wilson | vs Denver Broncos | WR12 |
Starting WR2 | Chris Olave | vs New England Patriots | WR13 |
Starting WR2 | Marquise “Hollywood” Brown | vs Cincinnati Bengals | WR14 |
Starting WR2 | Brandon Aiyuk | vs Dallas Cowboys | WR15 |
Starting WR2 | Puka Nacua | vs Philadelphia Eagles | WR16 |
Starting WR2 | Terry McLaurin | vs Chicago Bears | WR17 |
Starting WR2 | Adam Thielen | vs Detroit Lions | WR18 |
Starting WR2 | D.J. Moore | vs Washington Commanders | WR19 |
Starting WR2 | Jaylen Waddle | vs New York Giants | WR20 |
Low WR2 | Nico Collins | vs Atlanta Falcons | WR21 |
Low WR2 | Michael Pittman Jr. | vs Tennesseee Titans | WR22 |
Low WR2 | Christian Watson | vs Las Vegas Raiders | WR23 |
Low WR2 | Christian Kirk | vs Buffalo Bills | WR24 |
Low WR2 | DeAndre Hopkins | vs Indianapolis Colts | WR25 |
Low WR2 | Jakobi Meyers | vs Green Bay Packers | WR26 |
Flex | George Pickens | vs Baltimore Ravens | WR27 |
Flex | Calvin Ridley | vs Buffalo Bills | WR28 |
Flex | Zay Flowers | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | WR29 |
Flex | Michael Thomas | vs New England Patriots | WR30 |
Flex | Romeo Doubs | vs Las Vegas Raiders | WR31 |
Flex | Tank Dell | vs Atlanta Falcons | WR32 |
Flex | Jahan Dotson | vs Chicago Bears | WR33 |
Flex | Courtland Sutton | vs New York Jets | WR34 |
Flex | Tyler Boyd | vs Arizona Cardinals | WR35 |
Flex | Jordan Addison | vs Kansas City Chiefs | WR36 |
Flex | Jerry Jeudy* | vs New York Jets | WR37 |
Flex | Michael Wilson | vs Cincinnati Bengals | WR38 |
Deep League Flex | Gabriel Davis | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | WR39 |
Deep League Flex | Jayden Reed | vs Las Vegas Raiders | WR40 |
Deep League Flex | Drake London | vs Houston Texans | WR41 |
Deep League Flex | Wan’Dale Robinson* | vs Miami Dolphins | WR42 |
Deep League Flex | Rashee Rice | vs Minnesota Vikings | WR43 |
Deep League Flex | Robert Woods | vs Atlanta Falcons | WR44 |
Upside Play | Tutu Atwell | vs Philadelphia Eagles | WR45 |
Upside Play | Zay Jones* | vs Buffalo Bills | WR46 |
Upside Play | Calvin Austin III | vs Atlanta Falcons | WR47 |
Upside Play | Odell Beckham Jr.* | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | WR48 |
Upside Play | Josh Downs | vs Tennessee Titans | WR49 |
Upside Play | Darnell Mooney | vs Washington Commanders | WR50 |
Upside Play | Michael Gallup | vs San Francisco 49ers | WR51 |
Upside Play | Allen Lazard | vs Denver Broncos | WR52 |
Upside Play | Rashid Shaheed | vs New England Patriots | WR53 |
Upside Play | Brandin Cooks | vs San Francisco 49ers | WR54 |
Upside Play | Kendrick Bourne | vs New Orleans Saints | WR55 |
Upside Play | Curtis Samuel | vs Chicago Bears | WR56 |
Upside Play | Treylon Burks* | vs Indianapolis Colts | WR57 |
Upside Play | DeVante Parker | vs New Orleans Saints | WR58 |
Upside Play | Marvin Mims Jr. | vs New England Patriots | WR59 |
Upside Play | DJ Chark | vs Detroit Lions | WR60 |
Upside Play | Jameson Williams | vs Carolina Panthers | WR61 |
Upside Play | Darius Slayton | vs Miami Dolphins | WR62 |
Upside Play | Skyy Moore | vs Minnesota Vikings | WR63 |
Upside Play | Nick Westbrook-Ihkine | vs Indianapolis Colts | WR64 |
Upside Play | Braxton Berrios | vs New York Giants | WR65 |
Upside Play | Kadarius Toney | vs Minnesota Vikings | WR66 |
Upside Play | Jonathan Mingo | vs Detroit Lions | WR67 |
Leave on the Bench | JuJu Smith-Schuster | vs New Orleans Saints | WR68 |
Leave on the Bench | K.J. Osborn | vs Kansas City Chiefs | WR69 |
Leave on the Bench | Terrace Marshall Jr. | vs Detroit Lions | WR70 |
Leave on the Bench | Allen Robinson II | vs Baltimore Ravens | WR71 |
Leave on the Bench | Josh Reynolds* | vs Carolina Panthers | WR72 |
Leave on the Bench | Van Jefferson | vs Philadelphia Eagles | WR73 |
Leave on the Bench | Rondale Moore | vs Cincinnati Bengals | WR74 |
Leave on the Bench | Justin Watson | vs Minnesota Vikings | WR75 |
Leave on the Bench | Alec Pierce | vs Tennesee Titans | WR76 |
Leave on the Bench | Demario “Pop” Douglas | vs New Orleans Saints | WR77 |
Leave on the Bench | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | vs Minnesota Vikings | WR78 |
Leave on the Bench | Rashod Bateman | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | WR79 |
Leave on the Bench | Parris Campbell | vs Miami Dolphins | WR80 |
Leave on the Bench | Mack Hollins | vs Houston Texans | WR81 |
Leave on the Bench | Hunter Renfrow | vs Green Bay Packers | WR82 |
Leave on the Bench | Isaiah Hodgins | vs Miami Dolphins | WR83 |
Leave on the Bench | Jauan Jennings* | vs Dallas Cowboys | WR84 |
Leave on the Bench | Nelson Agholor | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | WR85 |
Leave on the Bench | Jalin Hyatt | vs Miami Dolphins | WR86 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
Detroit Lions Wide Receivers: WR7 Amon-Ra St. Brown & WR72 Josh Reynolds
Amon-Ra St. Brown missed practice on Wednesday with an abdominal injury. Josh Reynolds was limited in practice on Wednesday with a groin injury. If St. Brown misses Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers and Reynolds is active Reynolds moves up to WR34 between Courtland Sutton and Tyler Boyd. Jameson Williams moves up to WR45 between Robert Woods and Tutu Atwell. Khalif Raymond becomes the WR76 between Alec Pierce and Demario “Pop” Davis.
If Reynolds misses Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers Khalif Raymond becomes the WR75 between Justin Watson and Alec Pierce.
If both St. Brown and Reynolds miss Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers Jameson Williams moves up to WR43 between Rashee Rice and Robert Woods. Khalif Raymond becomes the WR67 between Jonathan Mingo and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Marvin Jones Jr. becomes the WR77 between Alec Pierce and Demario “Pop” Davis.
San Francisco 49ers Wide Receivers: WR8 Deebo Samuel & WR84 Jauan Jennings
Deebo Samuel was limited in practice Wednesday with a rib and knee injury. Jauan Jennings missed last week’s game with a shin injury. Jennings was limited in practice on Wednesday. If Samuel misses Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys and Jennings is active Brandon Aiyuk becomes the WR9 between Cooper Kupp and CeeDee Lamb. Jennings moves up to WR78 between Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Rashod Bateman.
If Jennings misses Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys and Samuel is active Ronnie Bell becomes the WR86 after Jalin Hyatt.
If both Samuel and Jennings miss Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys Brandon Aiyuk becomes WR9 between Cooper Kupp and CeeDee Lamb. Ronnie Bell becomes the WR79 between Rashod Bateman and Parris Campbell.
WR37 Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Jerry Jeudy was limited in practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. If he misses Week 5 against the New YorK Jets Courtland Sutton moves up to WR32 between Romeo Doubs and Tank Dell. Marvin Mims Jr. moves up to WR49 between Josh Downs and Darnell Mooney. Brandon Johnson becomes the WR85 between Nelson Agholor and Jalin Hyatt.
WR42 Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants
Wan’Dale Robinson was limited in practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. If Robinson misses Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins Darius Slayton moves up to WR45 between Tutu Atwell and Zay Jones. Parris Campbell moves up to the WR70 between Terrace Marshall Jr. and Allen Robinson. Isaiah Hodgins moves up to the WR77 between Demario “Pop” Davis and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Jalin Hyatt moves up to WR79 between Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Rashod Bateman.
WR46 Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
Zay Jones missed the past two games with a knee injury. He was limited in practice on Wednesday. If he was to miss Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills. Jamal Agnew would become the WR83 between Isaiah Hodgins and Jauan Jennings.
WR48 Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore Ravens
Odell Beckham Jr. missed the past two games with an ankle injury. If he was to miss Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers Nelson Agholor would move up to WR69 between K.J. Osborn and Terrace Marshall Jr. Rashod Bateman would move up to WR75 between Justin Watson and Alec Pierce.
WR57 Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans
Treylon Burks missed last week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a knee injury. If Burks misses Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts Nick Westbrook-Ihkine moves up to WR60 between DJ Chark and Jameson Williams. Chris Moore becomes the WR76 between Alec Pierce and Demario “Pop” Douglas.
Players that are currently not expected to play
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Tee Higgins could miss time with a rib injury. Tyler Boyd is expected to be the number two receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals in his absence. Higgins missed practice on Wednesday because of the injury. He hasn’t been ruled out yet but is unlikely to play. If Higgins does manage to play in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals Higgins would become the WR23 between Michael Pittman Jr. and Christian Kirk.
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