At this stage of the 2025 NFL season, QB-WR rapports, target shares and more have been established among the league’s receiving corps. With all of that in mind, let’s break down my WR start/sit Week 5 fantasy football picks.
Check out my full Week 5 start/sit article with picks at each position here!
Start ‘Em: Chris Olave (Saints) vs. Giants
Don’t look now, but Chris Olave might be… back?
The former two-time 1,000-yard receiver has been a target hog with Spencer Rattler under center, seeing double-digit passes come his way in three of their four outings. The 25-year-old also scored his first touchdown of the season last week and has not dipped under 10 PPR points yet in a contest.
Olave has dealt with his fair share of injuries (specifically concussions) but when he’s on the field, he looks like a WR1 again. The Giants allow the second-most fantasy points to receivers, so his hot streak should continue on Sunday.
Sit ‘Em: Chris Godwin (Buccaneers) at Seahawks
Fantasy managers should be encouraged by Godwin’s involvement in the offense upon his return from injury, but that’s about it.
The 29-year-old route technician saw 10 targets against the Eagles, but only brought in three of them for 26 yards. Instead, Emeka Egbuka remained the clear go-to guy in Mike Evans’ absence. Even if Evans remains sidelined once again this week, it’s likely going to take Godwin a few more games to truly find his rhythm and re-establish a rapport with Baker Mayfield.
Seattle has been tough against WRs through four contests, allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to the position. Godwin should eventually make a return to fantasy lineups, just not this week.
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Start ‘Em: Michael Pittman Jr. (Colts) at Rams
Speaking of receivers who might be back, it’s looking like Michael Pittman Jr. may have just taken a one-year hiatus as Indy’s top playmaker.
Daniel Jones and Pittman look like they’ve played together for years. The 27-year-old has racked up at least 15 PPR points in three of the Colts’ four games, also finding the end zone in each of those matchups. That touchdown efficiency will almost certainly slow down, but Pittman’s target share and production could remain at an elite clip.
The Rams have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to receivers so far in 2025, setting the stage for another dominant showing for the big-play wideout.
Looking for more WR start/sit Week 5 picks? Stay tuned for more fantasy lineup advice articles later this week! New WR start/sit picks drop weekly!
Sit ‘Em: Ladd McConkey (Chargers) vs. Commanders
Are we dealing with a Freaky Friday situation in Los Angeles? Someone check the Chargers’ staff, because a 53-year-old assistant coach could be capable of running some of the purest routes in the game.
One thing’s for sure: This is NOT the Ladd McConkey we saw dominate throughout his rookie season. After a promising showing in Week 1, it’s been nothing but downhill for the second-year receiver. Ladd accumulated just 10 catches for 100 yards over his next three contests, failing to hit the double-digit fantasy mark in any of those games. The Georgia product appears to have been demoted with the return of Keenan Allen and standout play of Quentin Johnston.
The Chargers head into Week 5 with a favorable matchup against a subpar Commanders secondary, but McConkey should remain on your bench until he returns to form.
Start ‘Em: Stefon Diggs (Patriots) at Bills
If there’s any player in the National Football League who would live for a revenge game, it’s Stefon Diggs against the Bills.
As much as the veteran receiver attempts to downplay his exit from Buffalo, it’s clear there are still plenty of lingering feelings… negative ones.
There were a lot of questions surrounding Diggs coming off an ACL tear. Specifically, did he still have the burst and skills to operate as a No. 1 receiver? Through his first three games as a Patriot, it looked like the answer to that question was no. Then, something clicked against the Panthers. The 31-year-old looked like the Stefon Diggs Bills fans once knew and loved, securing six of 7 targets for 101 yards. He showcased burst after the catch, elite separation and top-tier hands. It was the first time Diggs and Drake Maye have really been on the same page, it it feels like it could be the start of a fantastic partnership.
On Sunday night, Diggs is going to show the fans in Buffalo exactly what they’re missing out on.
Those are my WR start/sit Week 5 fantasy football picks! Stay tuned for more fantasy football start/sit advice throughout this week.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
