I know most fantasy experts love picking up wide receivers early in fantasy football drafts.
I just don’t get it. The position has been inconsistent for years and this year is no different. The second-best receiver has 50 fantasy points. That would rank 12th among running backs.
With all the different schemes and running backs/tight ends being more involved in the passing game, wide receivers can be found on the waiver wire with the right matchup.
Here’s the week 5 start ’em, sit ’em wide receivers guide in fantasy football.
Start
Danny Amendola vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As long as Amendola can avoid injury, I like him in this spot.
Tampa has been atrocious against wide receivers this year. They’re allowing the most fantasy points per game against wide receivers, and teams have already completed 51 passes to wide receivers in one less game than the rest of the NFL has played. That mark would rank in the bottom-10.
This game is going to feature some points, so I like the fact that Amendola is consistently getting about seven targets per game. That gives him good value and should increase slightly against a Tampa defense still battling through some injuries.
Pierre Garcon vs. Indianapolis Colts
Garcon is becoming an off-again, on-again player, so week 5 is his time to be on again.
He disappointed in week 4 with only 36 yards receiving, but he still had eight targets. He’ll see plenty of targets against an Indianapolis defense that ranks fourth-worst against the pass.
I’m still waiting on Garcon to score a touchdown, but even without an endzone grab, he’s still been productive in two of four weeks, and continues to pile on the targets.
He should be a good bet in week 5.
Brandon Marshall vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles’ pass defense does appear to be better, but I’m inclined to give Marshall another chance.
Marshall has seen 21 targets in the last two weeks. His production hasn’t been great, but it’s only a matter of time before he starts garnering some fantasy value with that much volume.
He looked better in week 4 than he has all season, so it might have just taken a little bit of time to get acclimated to the offense.
Don’t give up on Marshall just yet. He should have some value as a low-end WR2/high-end WR3 in week 5.
Sit
Allen Hurns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Jacksonville needs Hurns or Marqise Lee to step up if they have a chance to compete this season. The problem is that it appears that neither of those players are ready to take on the main load of this offense.
Hurns has 20 targets in the last three weeks, so he’s been the most targeted wide receiver on this roster. He’s just not turning that into any production.
And it’s hard to say he’ll have much room for production against a Pittsburgh team that ranks second against the pass.
Hurns may have some targets in week 5, but don’t expect much in terms of fantasy points.
Tyrell Williams vs. New York Giants
Williams had a nice game in week 4, totaling 115 yards on five catches. It was by far his best output of the season.
Now, he gets a much stiffer challenge, against a New York team giving up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Williams has too much competition among wide receivers to be trusted on the road against a formidable New York defense. He’s getting around six targets per game, but I don’t see much value outside of Keenan Allen for the Chargers in this week 5 matchup.
Williams is matchup dependent, and this one doesn’t work.
Rishard Matthews vs. Miami Dolphins
I can’t trust Matthews with uncertainty at the quarterback position.
There’s a lot of mouths to feed in the Titans offense and Matthews is too violate to trust without the possibility of Marcus Mariota lining up behind center.
He’s had three receptions apiece in two of four games, so even with a decent matchup against Miami, I still would rather find another player with a better matchup.
Keep an eye on the quarterback situation in Tennessee. Attack the waiver wire, because even if Mariota starts, Matthews is nothing more than WR3 possibility.
