As an example, Chris Hogan is listed below as a "start" for Week 5. And I'd feel comfortable going into Week 5 with him as one of my starting wide receivers.
That said, he may be a sit for your team.
In other words, if you owned both Dez Bryant, Keenan Allen and Hogan and start two receivers, you should start Dez and Allen -- and in turn, bench Hogan.
So, while you won't find absolute start-sit recommendations below (use my Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings for that instead), the goal here is to highlight some players that I like (and would feel comfortable starting) as well as some players that I dislike for this week (and would prefer to keep on my bench).
Week 5 Fantasy Football WR Start'em
WR - DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins (vs. TEN)
Even if you expected more from Parker and the Dolphins offense, he has put up solid, if not spectacular, lines in each of his games. Finishing in the WR21-34 range every week, Parker has a minimum of eight targets and 69 yards in Miami's three games. There are only two other players that have reached those same minimums over the past three weeks -- DeAndre Hopkins and Michael Thomas. It's possible that the Dolphins get their passing offense going this week against the Titans. Only the Bucs have allowed more fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers this season.
Related: Our Favorite Week 5 DraftKings Plays
WR - Chris Hogan, New England Patriots (at TB)
As noted above, Hogan and the Patriots receivers have a great matchup this week and no team has a higher implied total than the Patriots in Week 5. Targeted on only 17.11 percent of Tom Brady's targets, which is the team WR high, Hogan has been efficient on those targets and has finished as a top-12 fantasy receiver in three consecutive weeks. With 15 catches for 214 yards and four touchdowns, Hogan has scored the third-most fantasy points this season behind Stefon Diggs and Jordy Nelson.
WR - Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals (at PHI)
If it weren't for a touchdown in overtime, it would have been a terribly disappointing performance for Fitzgerald, who finished with four catches for 32 yards and a touchdown last week. Through one-quarter of the season, however, Fitzgerald now has 41 targets for the team that leads the NFL in pass attempts (183) by a wide margin (Giants second with 166).
A favorable matchup against the Eagles, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, for the pass-happy Cardinals could lead to double-digit targets and a big game for Fitzgerald this week. In their past two games alone, the Eagles have allowed four top-seven weekly fantasy wide receivers and three 100-yard games.
Week 5 Fantasy Football WR Sit'em
WR - Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. JAX)
Especially at home, Bryant is always worth throwing into your DFS tournament lineups. As a bit of a boom-or-bust player, his one "boom" game occurred at home (3/91/1). In his three road games, he has finished as the weekly WR77, WR70 and WR48, respectively.
Despite a return to Pittsburgh, I'm not ready to throw him into my weekly lineup in season-long leagues this week. The Jaguars cornerback duo of Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye are as good as it gets, which I think limits Bryant's upside.
WR - Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders (vs. BAL)
Drops excluded (and even though it could have been better), Week 1 was pretty good for Cooper. Since then, however, it's been outright bad. In his past three games, Cooper has a total of seven catches for 48 yards and no touchdowns on 18 targets. In fact, he has single-digit yards and less than one fantasy point in back-to-back games.
Even if Cooper doesn't have to face the No Fly Zone this week, it's another unfavorable matchup against the Ravens, who have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers. The real reason Cooper is on this side of the list, however, is Derek Carr and the fact that his back injury means that E.J. Manuel will get the start.
WR - Sammy Watkins, Los Angeles Rams (vs. SEA)
Only a couple of weeks ago, Watkins went off for 6/106/2 on seven targets against the 49ers in Week 3. In the games around that stellar performance, however, Watkins had just two targets in each of those games. At this point, there really is no way to know how many targets Watkins will see in a negative matchup. Watkins has now finished as the WR40 (or worse) in three of four games. Outside of my top-24 receivers for the week, Watkins is more of a WR3 for me this week.
- More Fantasy Football Start'em, Sit'em for Week 5
Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings:
- Week 5 Fantasy Football QB Rankings
- Week 5 Fantasy Football RB Rankings
- Week 5 Fantasy Football WR Rankings
- Week 5 Fantasy Football TE Rankings
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