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Week 5 Wide Receiver Preview: Is Quentin Johnston a Must Start?

Top Fantasy WRs for Week 5

Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 5 WR Rankings.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns

Justin Jefferson, Vikings

Jefferson comes off his best game of the season, snagging 10-of-11 targets for 126 yards versus Pittsburgh. This week, Jefferson and the Vikings play their second-straight international game against a hapless Browns team that has a third-round rookie QB making his NFL debut. Minnesota should control the clock, setting up Wentz and Jefferson to pile up targets. He's an every-week WR1 that has top-5 overall potential. 

Jordan Addison, Vikings 

Addison looked right at home in his 2025 debut, running a route on 96% of his plays and earning a 20% target share. That came with QB Carson Wentz starting, who will be back under center in London. Addison earned 8 targets and exceeded 100 receiving yards last week. Cleveland is much tougher against the run than pass, so look for Wentz to take downfield shots. Addison is a strong WR3 with top-20 upside. 

Jerry Jeudy, Browns

Volume hasn't been a problem for Jeudy, who enters Week 5 22nd among WRs with 30 targets. However, erratic QB play has kept Jeudy under double-digit PPR points in three consecutive games. The Browns are making the QB switch, but Dillon Gabriel is a third-round rookie and faces a Brian Flores-led defense with a history of shutting down inexperienced QBs. Jeudy's volume should remain solid, but his ceiling is capped against a Minnesota defense that has allowed the fewest adjusted PPR points to opposing WRs. 

Isaiah Bond, Browns

Bond had his best game of the season last week, catching 3-of-6 targets for 58 yards. Cedric Tillman is now on IR, so Bond will be Cleveland's No. 2 WR. However, this week's matchup couldn't get worse. Minnesota allows the fewest PPR points to WRs, and the Browns are trotting out Dillon Gabriel to make his NFL debut against a defense coached by Brian Flores. View Bond as a risky flex play if you need a bye-week replacement. 

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

Nico Collins, Texans

Collins caught four of six targets for 79 yards last week. His target share remains high (27.2%), but the Texans have been a balanced offense. If the Texans get up early, Collins could struggle to make an impact, but the Ravens secondary is very thin right now. There is a potential for a breakout game if the Texans pass a bit more. Locked in starter. 

Zay Flowers, Ravens

Flowers had a solid 7 catches for 74 yards last week. The Ravens are scripting touches for him, making Flowers a great asset in PPR leagues. QB Cooper Rush targeted Flowers on 40% of his passes. Even so, the Ravens could lean on the run and that makes Flowers a shakier option without Lamar Jackson. He settles as a WR2 this week.

Christian Kirk, Texans

Kirk didn’t do much despite the Texans success with 3 catches for 20 yards. His snaps were reduced last week as Jayden Higgins gets more time on the field, so Kirk isn’t a great bet. He is a sit if possible.

Miami Dolphins at Carolina Panthers

Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers

A shaky Bryce Young has limited McMillan’s fantasy impact, but it’s nice to see the rookie earn a clear WR1 role. Through four games, he’s racked up a 25% target share and a 41% air yards share. The latter figure ranks top-ten among WRs. Now, he draws a Miami pass defense that remains without anything close to a shutdown CB.

Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins

There’s no meaningful, recent sample we can draw from with Waddle on the field and Tyreek Hill off. Our current projections have Waddle for a 23% target share, though, and there’s certainly room for more given Miami’s lack of pass catching depth. He’s not expected to draw shadow coverage from top CB Jaycee Horn.

Malik Washington, Dolphins

The Dolphins primarily utilize Washington on screens and short routes. So any big, explosive plays are unlikely here, although the second-year pro will capture some of the targets left by Tyreek Hill. The Carolina matchup adds some WR3/flex appeal in deeper formats.

Las Vegas at Indianapolis Colts

Michael Pittman Jr., Colts

Pittman hasn’t posted big numbers but has delivered consistent production. He has caught at least four balls and gone for 40+ yards every week. Sunday’s Raiders matchup brings a defense that’s been 12th-most friendly to WR scoring so far.

Jakobi Meyers, Raiders

Meyers’ production has been dragged down by a lack of TDs. But he sits 13th among all WRs in targets, 14th in receptions, and 21st in yards. Combine all that with a Colts D that’s been sixth-friendliest to WR scoring so far -- by our adjusted fantasy points allowed -- and you get an easy WR2 play for Week 5.

Tre Tucker, Raiders

Tucker let you down big time if you started him off his Week 3 explosion. But he had little chance to produce against Chicago in a game that saw Geno Smith go just 14-of-21 passing with 3 INTs. This week’s defense has performed better than Chicago’s on the year, but we should simply be able to count on better Raiders passing performance most weeks than we got last time out. Losing LT Kolton Miller to injury could hurt the run game and further motivate passing volume. Landing in Indy as 7-point underdogs certainly points to a pass-friendly game script being likely as well.

Alec Pierce, Colts

Pierce looks ready to return from the concussion that cost him last week’s contest. He tallied 4 catches and 67+ yards in consecutive games before that but has yet to draw more than five targets in a game this season. We’ll see if he cedes any playing time to Adonai Mitchell, who led the Colts with 96 receiving yards with elevated playing time last week.

Josh Downs, Colts

So much for any breakout potential here. The Colts simply have not shown that they care about increasing Downs’ time on the field. Even with Alec Pierce out for Week 4, outside WR Adonai Mitchell leaped over Downs in playing time. There’s little to like about this short-range target with limited playing time in an offense with plenty of options.

New York Giants at New Orleans Saints

Chris Olave, Saints

Olave's 6 targets, 3 catches, and 20 yards last week were all season lows in what was a run-heavy game plan from the Saints. We're expecting another run-centric game plan this weekend against a bad Giants run defense. But Olave and his 29% target share remains a relatively safe fantasy play. The Giants rank 25th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs.

Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants

Robinson took over in 2-WR sets after Malik Nabers exited last week's game, resulting in a 100% route rate. If that usage sticks (and we expect it to), it'll raise Robinson's weekly floor. He gets a plus matchup on Sunday against the Saints' 28th-ranked WR defense, making Robinson a viable WR3 or Flex play.

Darius Slayton, Giants

Slayton has been quiet so far this season but should see a significant spike in volume going forward with the absence of WR Malik Nabers. In the two games Nabers missed last year, Slayton tallied 8-122-1 and 6-57-0 receiving lines while drawing 22 total targets on a 29% share. Consider him a volatile WR3 or Flex play for Sunday's plus matchup against New Orleans' 28th-ranked WR defense.

Rashid Shaheed, Saints

Shaheed hasn't topped 52 yards in any of his first four games and has been losing routes to WR Brandin Cooks lately. With a 10.0-yard average target depth, Shaheed has settled in as a low-upside WR4. He gets the Giants' 25th-ranked WR defense on Sunday, but we're expecting a run-centric game plan from the Saints against a defense that's been worse against the run than the pass.

Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets

George Pickens, Cowboys

Pickens stepped up in a big way with WR CeeDee Lamb out last week, turning 11 targets into 8 catches, 134 yards, and 2 TDs. HC Brian Schottenheimer talked this week about moving Pickens around the formation to avoid Jets CB Sauce Gardner on Sunday. But Gardner hasn't been very good so far this year, ranking outside the top 35 CBs in both passer rating allowed in coverage and Pro Football Focus coverage grades. It's not a scary matchup for Pickens.

Garrett Wilson, Jets

Wilson ranks third among WRs in targets, 15th in expected PPR points per game, and fifth in actual PPR points per game through four weeks. Next up is a juicy matchup against a Cowboys defense sitting dead last in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. Three WRs have topped 28 PPR points vs. Dallas.

Jalen Tolbert, Cowboys

Tolbert ran a route on 83% of Cowboys pass plays last week, catching four of six targets for 61 yards. There's nothing scary about Sunday's matchup vs. the Jets, but Tolbert remains a middling talent and desperation fantasy play.

Denver Broncos at Philadelphia Eagles

A.J. Brown, Eagles

It was good this week to see Brown basically apologize for his moody social-media post after last week’s win. But we weren’t too worried about the star WR falling out of favor with his QB or team. The pass offense deserves concern, but Philly should have the tools to fix it. Don’t be surprised if Brown’s production remains limited this week against Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II. But we also just saw Quentin Johnston deliver in spite of that coverage matchup two weeks ago. It’s OK if you want to play another WR near Brown in the rankings over him. But we’re wary of sitting the vet outright and missing his rebound.

Courtland Sutton, Broncos

Sutton’s endured just one down week through four games, which interestingly came in the game that found Bo Nix tossing three TD passes (at Indy). This week should find Sutton primarily facing lead Eagles CB Quinyon Mitchell, who has allowed just 44.4% completions in coverage this year, according to Pro Football Focus. 

But Denver has also proved willing to increase Sutton’s slot usage at times. Don’t be surprised if the Broncos move Sutton around this week. He sits near the bottom of WR2 territory in our rankings for a matchup that shouldn’t prove nearly as pass-favorable as Monday’s win over the Bengals. But Sutton belongs in nearly all lineups on a near-weekly basis.

DeVonta Smith, Eagles

A.J. Brown’s getting the attention, but Smith’s also clearly not happy with Philly’s pass offense so far. He reportedly didn’t talk to media after last week’s victory at Tampa. Expect the Eagles to prioritize fixing their sputtering passing game and involving their star wideouts. But a challenging Denver secondary limits this week’s upside.

Troy Franklin, Broncos

Franklin didn’t post big numbers in Monday night’s win. But his 4-55 receiving line on eight targets marked a rebound from his down Week 3. Franklin remains Denver’s clear No. 2 in receiving usage, closer to Courtland Sutton in routes and targets than to the group behind him. There’s upside in a Philly matchup that should shadow Sutton with top CB Quinyon Mitchell as much as possible. The Eagles present a big step down to No. 2 outside CB Kelee Ringo.

Tennessee Titans at Arizona Cardinals

Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals

Harrison is off to a slow start, but he did have his best game of the season in Seattle, where he earned a season-high 10 targets and scored his second TD.  In Week 5, Arizona returns home and has a preemo matchup against a leaky Tennessee defense. The Titans allow 38.2  adjusted PPR points per game to opposing wideouts. That puts Harrison in the WR2 conversation in a game where the Cardinals have the fifth-highest implied total (25.5 points). 

Elic Ayomanor, Titans

It's Elic Ayomanor, not Calvin Ridley, who has emerged as Tennessee's top WR. Ayomanor has earned one more target than Ridley and has bested the veteran in every receiving category. In Week 5, Tennessee faces an Arizona defense that has allowed the 15th-most adjusted PPR points to WRs through four games. View Ayomanor as a modest WR4/flex option. 

Calvin Ridley, Titans

Ridley has been one of the biggest fantasy disappointments of the season. This week, Ridley has missed practice time with knee and elbow injuries, further clouding his appeal. Ridley has fallen behind rookie Elic Ayomanor as the team's top WR and is a risky fantasy option with an extremely low floor if he plays. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks

JSN started slow with no catches in the first half last week, but a few big catches gave him a solid 4-79-0 stat line. After double digit targets in each of the first two games, he hasn’t topped 6 targets in either of the last two games. With the Seahawks running so much, JSN has to stay efficient. This is a good spot for him to get some catches if the Seahawks get behind though, trust him as a WR1.

Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers

Egbuka had 10 targets last week and his 77-yard TD gave him a great 4-101-1 stat line. With Mike Evans likely out again, Egbuka will be in line for a ton of targets once again, even against a strong Seahawks defense. Trust him as a WR1 this week.

Chris Godwin, Buccaneers

Godwin returned for his first game with a mere 3-26-0 stat line. But, he did have 10 targets. But he was on the field fo nearly the entire game which is a good sign for his health and future usage. With Mike Evans likely out again, Godwin could be in line for plenty of targets. Proceed with caution still, but he is a high-end WR3. 

Cooper Kupp, Seahawks

Kupp has been a disappointment with his best game being a WR21 finish. He hasn’t finished above WR57 in any other game this season. The lack of passing from the Seahawks makes him a poor bet ultimately, so don’t trust Kupp for more than a WR4 this week.

Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions

St. Brown ranks a clear second among WRs in PPR points per game. He remains an upside WR1 in a strong scoring matchup vs. Cincinnati. 

Jameson Williams, Lions

Williams ranks tenth league-wide in air yards, yet only 28th in actual yards. He’s come close to some huge gains in recent weeks, and it’s likely just a matter of time before those convert. The speedster now draws a Cincy defense that’s bottom-eight in both pressure rate and average separation allowed, per Next Gen Stats.

Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals

Fantasy owners have no choice but to continue starting Chase given his talent, role, and upside. But we’ve seen the downside in back to back weeks alongside Jake Browning, who’s supported 10 catches for only 73 yards. If there’s a silver lining this week, it’s that the Lions will be without starting CB D.J. Reed.

Tee Higgins, Bengals

In two games without Joe Burrow, Higgins has tallied lines of 1-15 and 3-32. His target shares in those games: 8% and 29%. Jake Browning has proven unreliable – see his 5.1 yards per attempt as a starter – and leave Higgins as a risky WR3.

Washington Commanders at Los Angeles Chargers

Quentin Johnston, Chargers 

Hard to believe that Quentin Johnston enters October as a top-5 fantasy WR. That doesn't appear to be a fluke. Johnston has commanded 23 targets in the Chargers' last two games and ranks fourth among all WRs with 337 receiving yards. In Week 5, the Chargers host a Washington defense that allows 35.0 adjusted PPR points per game to opposing WRs. View Johnston as a locked-in WR1 in a strong matchup. 

Keenan Allen, Chargers

Allen is coming off his lowest output of the season, but remains a top-10 WR in 2025. He is only running a route on 78% of snaps, but Allen boasts a 24% target share and topped 17 PPR points in LA's first three games. Look for the passing game to get back on track in Week 5 as Allen and the Chargers return home to face a Washington defense that allows the eighth-most fantasy points to WRs. 

Ladd McConkey, Chargers

In an effort to find some positives in what has been a forgettable start, McConkey still commands a 19% target share and leads the Chargers with a 94% route rate. Unfortunately, all those routes haven't led to fantasy production. McConkey hasn't topped 50 receiving yards since Week 1. This week's matchup looks appealing, so consider McConkey a WR3/flex option. 

Deebo Samuel, Commanders

Samuel enters Week 5 as a top-12 WR in PPR leagues. He leads Washington in all receiving categories and has taken 3 carries in back-to-back games. Terry McLaurin remains out, so Samuel will be the focal point of a Commanders' passing attack that should be boosted by the return of QB Jayden Daniels. 

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills

Stefon Diggs, Patriots

Diggs finally got full time usage last week being on the feld for 81.8% of the teams dropbacks in the game. He didn’t top 70% before that. This led to a 6-101-0 stat line and puts him as a potential flex with bye weeks here. We will see if this becomes a trend, but trust Diggs as a volume heavy WR3 this week.  

Khalil Shakir, Bills

Shakir had a 5-69-1 stat line last week as the reliable slot option for Josh Allen. His 45-yard screen pass TD capped the big game, but the pass volume isn’t there to trust Shakir’s consistency. The Patriots have struggled with slot WRs this season though, so Shakir could be efficient. 

Keon Coleman, Bills

Coleman had a great Week 1 going 8-11-112, but he is only 9-91-0 over the last three weeks. As the X WR, the lack of passing from the Bills hasn’t helped Coleman’s breakout. He also will face Patriots’ CB Christian Gonzalez in this game who is coming back from injury. Coleman’s deep targets can create big plays, but he is just a low end WR3 this week

Kayshon Boutte, Patriots

After a Week 1 breakout, Boutte hasn’t caught more than two passes in any other game this season. He also hasn’t topped three targets. Despite being on the field for most of the games, Boutte looks more decoy than reliable WR. Leave him on the bench if possible.

Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars

Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars

Thomas remains without a breakout game this season. But our own Shane Hallam looked at the film and believes a breakout is approaching. Boosted pass volume could also benefit Thomas here with the Chiefs coming to town.

Travis Hunter, Jaguars

Hunter's route rate increased from 61% in Week 3 to 70% last Sunday. That marked his highest figure since Week 1. Still, he managed only 3 catches for 42 yards, while he went without a score for the fourth straight week. He’s now averaging only 6.2 PPR points per game. The rookie remains a deep-league flex only.

Xavier Worthy, Chiefs

Last week, Worthy returned from a dislocated shoulder to post 5 catches for 83 yards on 8 targets. He’s been a full participant in practice this week and will have extra time to rest ahead of a Monday night game at Jacksonville.

Hollywood Brown, Chiefs

Brown recorded 3 catches, 38 yards, and 1 score in Xavier Worthy’s Week 4 return. Brown ranked third on the team in route rate (60%) and tied for second in target share (15%). With Rashee Rice still out, the former Cardinal remains a WR3 in a fine matchup with the Jags.

Next Up

Don’t Trust The Box Score: Brian Thomas Jr. Is Closer to Breaking Out Than You Think

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Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format, including redraft, dynasty, devy, C2C, IDP, CFF, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and a King's Classic Champion. Shane utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance. He led the industry in 2024 preseason Kicker Rankings and ranked second in preseason QB Rankings. He also ranked eighth in preseason IDP rankings.