2024 Fantasy Football Rankings, Week 5: WR

DK Metcalf crashes the top five, Diontae Johnson returns to the top 10, and Stefon Diggs seeks revenge on the Bills.

Other positions: Quarterback | Run back | Tight End/Kickers/Defense

Week 5 Recipients

WR notes: Nico Collins was the league's best target commander outside of Malik Nabers. He averaged 10 looks, even with Tank Dell in the lineup for weeks 2-3. Dell (chest) looks likely to return this week, but it will be the Collins and Stefon Diggs show in a Diggs revenge game against the Bills. The Texans are running a rather bloodless offense, but even PFF Bobby Slowik won't be able to deny Diggs, who is currently the WR11 in average PPR points, his just rewards versus the Bills. JaMarr Chase somehow still hasn't accomplished eight goals in a game. That lack of volume could ultimately knock him out of the top five, but the Ravens had been strangely waving through the air until they faced the Bills' starless receiver corps. The Bengals will need Chases explosives as underdogs. DK Metcalf made promises, DK Metcalf promises kept. New Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb is following up on hints that he would treat Metcalf like the true alpha he is. Only Collins and Nabers have more distance, while previously 25 percent of the year was in the books.

I'm not going to fight Diontae Johnson town hall. The usage doesn't get any better than what Johnson has had the past two weeks. Matchups are going to be better than the Bears, but we know enough about Johnson's game to know that even a rough playing environment can't stop him from racking up 8-10 targets. Marvin Harrison Jr. lives on touchdowns. He's also a receiver who you'd believe if someone told you before the year that he would make a living off of touchdowns. Harrison Jr.'s floor is now well established and he is working on the ceiling. Chris Olaf getting closer to a blowout game. The Chiefs are a bad matchup, but feeding Olave will be one of the Saints' best bets down the road. The 49ers face the Cardinals this weekend on mostly zone-based pass defense. We guess this means it's a Deebo Samuel week and wait again until next Sunday Brandon Aiyuk. Now that the 49ers' skill corps is finally healthy, Juan Jennings is little more than a boom/bust WR3, although it's fair to say we didn't know it had the boom until a few weeks ago.

It's Matt LaFleur's turn Jayden Reed before our eyes in a PPR ATM? On the one hand, I want to say that we should throw out the Packers score for the entire Week 4 box. They won't fall behind 28-0 and fall back almost 60 times. On the other hand, Reed has rushed for at least 89 yards in each of his past four Jordan Love starts, including 130 both times in 2024. I've decided to underthink instead of overthink. I won't be so forgiving Dontayvion Wickswho probably left as much distance on the field as he gained in Week 4. Still, it's safe to say he's earned a WR3 looksee with Christian Watson (only) back on the shelf. The desolation of Garrett Wilson appears poised to continue in a matchup with a Vikings defense that only allows passing yards as it continues to force its opponents into a hero-ball comeback game script. Potentially good for Wilson, but not a situation Aaron Rodgers bloomed last week. Rodgers is poised to get so many hits across the pond. Maybe we'll get another Wilson dud if the Jets get through a brutal stretch of the schedule.

Brian Thomas Jr. is honestly popping like a WR1, so I don't feel too rushed to put it in the top twenty. That's especially true because the Colts aren't holding anyone back. Of course, Trevor Lawrence is still being held back everyone. Christian Kirk is percolating, but if maybe top-30 I get cold feet Evan Engram finally returns to offer layup goal competition. Michael Pittman will be a top-20 option if Joe Flacco starts, and a borderline top-36 option if Anthony Richardson plays through his hip and oblique issues. Josh Downstop 40 with Flacco. Outside the top 60 with Richardson. Amari Kuiper continues to draw more than eight targets. On Sunday, they will face a Commanders defensive silver that produces the most receiver fantasy points. I wish it was as simple as saying you could just sit on the couch Tyreek Hill. Tyreek could have another miserable effort against the Patriots and you would still have to treat him as a WR2 for Week 6. The upside is just as high. Fortunately, the Pats could finally be the pass judge to get Hill out of the post-Tua Tagovailoa schneid.

The Ravens should finally succeed against the Bengals, but I thought the same thing against the Bills. It's hard to roll out Zay Flowers like a WR2 in these conditions. Of Malik Nabers (concussion) a long shot from week 5, Wan Dale Robinson will support his Ford F-250 through the ATM. Let the PPR dollars rain down on you. I'm not sure even the new big plays should be avoided at all costs. Chiefs can avoid the fact Xavier Waard will just have to see more looks during Rashee Rices absence. If Worthy sees more looks, even low-quality ones, any of them will become big plays. Jordan Addison looks poised to operate as the kind of WR3 that can have big days with limited target totals. Justin Jefferson is placed in brackets, and Addison has the opportunity to take advantage of the 1-on-1 looks coming his way. Keenan Allen (heel) didn't seem particularly close to full health at week 4. I don't mind that Rome Odunze as a WR3 punter versus the Panthers' soft defense. Atwell tutu is the only Rams worth a WR4 punt.