Top five must-start WRs for fantasy football Week 5

I think it’s time to start getting optimistic about the NFL again. There’s always, of course, the preseason fantasy draft hype, the anecdotal missives from OTAs and training camp, the drilled-down beneath-the-hood analysis that reveals how talented these players are, were they just able to stay healthy, or touch the football more often. Then comes September, and those first four weeks, which felt this year especially like a slog. It’s the injuries—yes. But it’s the sloppy play, too. In this case, with all the QB1 injuries, one might beget the other. But the four weeks behind us may as well be considered the NFL’s regular season preseason, as it were, and I think it’s time things’ll really kick into gear. High-profile players will return soon for the middle-eight weeks. Depth chart situations feel as solidified as ever, this week.

So, this week, we’re going for absolute max-production plays. We want the guys whose matchups are going to win you a week. Not the guys who might just keep whatever’s left of your drafted 16 slightly buoyant as the water level churns higher. Let’s blow the roof off this thing.

Happy Fantasy Friday once more—and let’s dominated this weekend with renewed, velociraptor hope. I’m here with the Five Lists of Five: Week 5 edition. We’re-so-back edition. We’re after every edge for Sunday.

For the newly-ordained: Soundbite-length blurbs with advanced analysis on my favorite plays of the week. We begin now with my Top five must-start wide receivers for fantasy football Week 5. Here are my other offerings in this edition:

• Top five must-start RBs for fantasy football Week 5 (TK)
• Top five FLEX plays for fantasy football Week 5 (TK)
• Top five fantasy football players to stash ahead of NFL Week 5 (TK)
• Top five fantasy defenses to start for NFL Week 5 (TK)

All data provided by Fantasy Points Data Suite 2.0, unless otherwise noted.

Fantasy football Week 5: Top five wide receivers to start

Nico Collins, HOU (at Titans)

David Montgomery and Woody Marks are about to meet the sturdier half of Tennessee’s defense. The Titans have conceded just 1.51 adjusted yards before contact per carry through four games, good for sixth-fewest in the league. I’d have Nick Caley throwing early to Nico Collins, who returned from his hamstring injury and promptly tore through Dallas for a 45-yard gain off play-action. Both his touchdowns came on in-breaking routes. C.J. Stroud throws those beautifully. Caley sent Collins out on 82% of dropbacks in his return, ahead of the increasingly involved Jaylin Noel.

Across his two appearances, Collins has earned opportunities worth 18.6 expected PPR points per game while ripping off 3.02 yards per route, sixth among qualifying receivers. He’s going straight into my WR1 spots. Houston could have protection trouble after Aireontae Ersery and Ed Ingram missed Thursday ill. Tennessee, though, has generated the league’s lowest quick-pressure rate through four games. Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott may have to carry Collins a long way across the field. I expect Stroud to plant and drive those intermediate throws as Collins breaks inside.

Drake London, ATL (vs. Ravens)

Michael Penix Jr. threw Drake London open on a corner route Monday, driving the ball past New Orleans’s zone defender before he could close. That anticipation ought to delight Kevin Stefanski. London is running deeper breaks in this offense, and Bijan Robinson’s rushing demands an answer from the underneath defenders. Step toward the run fake, and Penix can throw behind them.

Baltimore has used Cover 3 or Cover 4 on 51.9% of coverage snaps through four weeks. London has carved up those looks for 4.45 yards per route this season, albeit over just 67 routes. The Ravens have also conceded 9.8 receptions per game to outside receivers, fifth-most in the league. I expect Stefanski to work London into those intermediate openings off play-action.

Stefanski could lean on Bijan and Brian Robinson again; Penix needed only 20 attempts Monday, and London still gained 96 yards. With Kyle Pitts and Jahan Dotson sharing the other looks, Drake has still drawn 42.1% of Penix’s first-read targets across his two starts this season. I’m trusting that priority as alpha WR1; London has averaged 100 receiving yards across their 11 starts together since 2025.

Michael Wilson, ARI (vs. Lions)

Aidan Hutchinson gets to rush over rookie Jayden Williams after Arizona lost left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. Jacoby Brissett already gets rid of the ball in a brisk 2.6 seconds on average, fourth-quickest in the NFL. Mike LaFleur has to win with those early throws. Detroit ranks a miserable 29th in EPA allowed on intermediate passes through four games. Michael Wilson can hurt them behind the rush.

The Lions have used Cover 3 on roughly 42% of coverage snaps through four games. Wilson has earned targets on 34% of his routes against that shell, best among 66 players with at least 30 qualifying routes. Those are throws Brissett already seeks out. I’d lean into them again, with Wilson breaking inside while Trey McBride occupies another underneath defender.

Marvin Harrison Jr.’s struggles to separate have made Wilson especially valuable. His opportunities through four weeks amount to 18.0 expected PPR points per game, seventh among receivers; Brissett sought him on three of Arizona’s final four throws from the Giants’ five. Hutchinson should force some punts. I still expect six or seven Wilson catches once Brissett dismisses the underneath options that are covered, enough to start him at WR2.

Parker Washington, JAC (vs. Eagles [London])

I’d put Parker Washington back in a WR2 spot against Philadelphia, particularly for the snaps Liam Coen sends him inside. The Eagles have surrendered a league-high 6.5 slot catches per game through four weeks. Washington moves between the boundary and slot; Trevor Lawrence has thrown especially well between the hashes, where he finds Washington on in-breaking routes. Brenton Strange and Jakobi Meyers have found room there, too.

Lawrence’s attention has wandered toward Strange lately. Washington’s target share fell from 36% over the opening two games to 16% across the next two, and Lawrence has yet to attempt 30 passes in a game this season. Coen nevertheless sent Washington out on 85% of dropbacks last week against Brian Thomas Jr.’s 67%. He hasn’t ceded his routes along with those targets.

Even after Sunday’s one-catch disappointment, Washington has earned targets on 28% of his routes this season, tenth among 111 receivers, and gained 2.53 yards per route, 16th. I expect Coen to bring him across the middle again and make Philadelphia tackle him.

Matthew Golden, GB (vs. Bears)

Matthew Golden did an awful lot for 21 receiving yards against Tampa Bay. He drew interference in the end zone, caught a fourth-down fade for a touchdown and lost another chance when Jordan Love underthrew him for an interception. On a quick completion, Golden cut his way to a manageable third down. Matt LaFleur needs more of that while Green Bay’s injured linemen labor to protect Love.

LaFleur has called passes on 62.8% of early downs through four games, second-most in the league, and Golden has earned at least 20% of the targets every week. His chances rank 12th among receivers in expected PPR points per game. I’ll take that work at WR2, with Christian Watson stretching the field and Tucker Kraft collecting some of the shorter throws.

Chicago has allowed no more than 153 passing yards in any of their last three games, though outside receivers have stung them for 11.76 yards per target this season, second-most in the NFL. Golden should draw more Tyrique Stevenson than Jaylon Johnson. I expect LaFleur to mix those quick catches with chances to beat Stevenson deeper; Love owes Golden a better throw on the next one.