With the first slate of bye weeks already here, many will have interesting start and sit decisions with their wide receiver position, most notably in the flex. There are a few locked-in plays, however, some new names in the top 10 rankings this week. However, some notable players need a bounce-back week, or else we will rank them lower the rest of the season and have to reconsider their role in the offense. Here are some names I am looking at for Week 5 that could explode or fail to meet expectations, as many fantasy managers will need a win this week to contend for a playoff spot.
Wide Receiver Must Starts Week 5
Here are a few of the players that we are leaning on heavily in this game. These players are in a good spot to put together a solid performance and have a favorable matchup.
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
The Indianapolis Colts have had a bottom-10 secondary, so even with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ struggles starting 0-4, this could be a prime spot for Trevor Lawrence to get the passing game going.
Both Christian Kirk and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. should have good weeks against the Colts. I lean towards the big play potential of the rookie against a Colts secondary that has been vulnerable all year, as Thomas Jr. has left more plays on the field due to Lawrence’s inaccuracy.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
This is more contingent on Joe Flacco starting over Anthony Ricardson, as he is questionable with a hip injury heading into gameday. However, ever since Josh Downs has returned from his own injury, he has been a productive slot wide receiver and could be the beneficiary of a Jacksonville Jaguars secondary that’s also been giving up the second most yards through the air.
This would benefit both Downs and Michael Pittman Jr., however, in PPR, Downs has been close to him in target and first read share. Pittman got going last game, even with Richardson at the start of the game, but I would lean toward Downs as a consistent reliable target-getter in this offense over the boom-bust wide receiver Pittman.
Wide Receiver Must Sits Week 5
On the flip side of things, here are a few of the players we are sitting in this one.
Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
Although he is the top wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders with Davante Adams out, Tre Tucker has emerged as their deep threat but also as a consistent option for Gardner Minshew. Along with rookie Brock Bowers, the trio have been the top options for the Raiders. However, against the Denver Broncos, it is a tough week for mostly Meyers, as he will likely get shadowed by lockdown cornerback Patrick Surtain II. I prefer sitting him over a few other options at wide receiver this week.
Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers
Even though the Carolina Panthers offense has become functional with Andy Dalton, I would look at other options this week at wide receiver. The Chicago Bears boast a top-10 unit against the pass, as teams against their defense lean on the run game. Diontae Johnson has been more of a big play option rather than the PPR target-getter we were used to seeing when he was with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Also, the emergence of rookie Xavier Legette could see more looks his way in the coming weeks.
Lock of the Week
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
With Jordan Love back in the fold, the Packers should have increased passing volume like last week against the Vikings. That bolds well for Jayden Reed, who should be a top-10 receiver play this week for fantasy. He is already their schemed-up player for that offense and should be a lock for plenty of targets and a touchdown this week. Even with Wicks and Tucker Kraft emerging, Reed’s consistency gives him the benefit of the doubt, and should smash against the Rams’ secondary regardless.
Fade of the Week
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
Against the blitz-heavy Minnesota Vikings, I would lean toward other options over Garrett Wilson. The New York Jets haven’t featured him as a top receiver, as Aaron Rodgers has been fine taking to what’s been given by opposing defenses. Both have been out of sync since to start of the year.
Ancillary options like Allen Lazard, Tyler Conklin, and Mike Williams have shown up more recently and Wilson is more of a bench till we see him truly take over a game for once in 2024. However, with the draft capital spent on him, you likely will have to play him till he does have a boom game, but his upcoming schedule doesn’t give him any favors for the New York Jets wide receiver.
Sleeper of the Week
Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers
Both Packers wide receivers are in a smash spot, with both Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs out this week. Dontayvion Wicks seems to have a lot of touchdown equity in this offense as a big play threat.
The Rams’ secondary has given up the 12th most amount of yards through the air, and Love is in a prime spot to air it out like last week, this time against a worse defense in Los Angeles.
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