GridironGrit.com Fantasy Football Analyst Ryan Lester delivers his NFL Week 5 Wide Receiver Rankings.
Photo Credit: Michael Benford/AtlantaFalcons.com
1. Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons): With Megatron on a bye week, White is the top dog this week against a Washington Redskins defense that has allowed 326.3 yards per game.
2. A.J. Green (Cincinnati Bengals): In addition to setting records, Green is averaging 107 YPG and 0.75 touchdowns per game. On Sunday, he faces a Dolphins defense that’s surrendering 297.8 YPG.
3. Julio Jones (Atlanta Falcons): Julio’s hand might be worse than he’s letting on, but I believe the ‘Skins will be his elixir.
4. Demaryius Thomas (Denver Broncos): New England’s D looks to see its fair share of struggles on Sunday. Though Thomas trails Eric Decker in receptions (24 to 21), he has three more receiving yards (325 to 322) and two TDs (tied with TE Joel Dreessen) over Decker’s one score through the first four games. His athleticism will be too tough to contain for the Patriots.
5. Percy Harvin (Minnesota Vikings): Harvin has amassed 353 total yards, but has only found the end zone once and that came on special teams. Expect this to change on Sunday at home against the Tennessee Titans.
6. Jordy Nelson (Green Bay Packers): Greg Jennings will likely miss this week’s showdown at Lucas Oil Stadium. This means Jordy Nelson should see plenty of looks in Indianapolis.
7. Victor Cruz (New York Giants): Averaging 97.0 yards and 0.5 TDs per game, Cruz is going to be a handful for the Cleveland Browns defense, which has allowed nine TDs through the air and 286 yards per game.
8. Wes Welker (New England Patriots): Welker has averaged 122 yards over the past three games. Denver’s defense is recognized as being one of the most rock-solid in the NFL right now, but the Broncos did give up 509 yards and six scores combined to Matt Schaub and Matt Ryan before beating the Raiders to a pulp last week.
Photo Credit: AZCardinals.com
9. Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals): He has really come into his own over the last two weeks, chalking up a combined 17 catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns and faces St. Louis’ defense in an important division collision on Thursday Night Football.
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10. Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City Chiefs): The Ravens’ defense doesn’t seem to give up very many passing scores, though they are allowing 295.8 yards per game. Dwayne Bowe has averaged 96.3 yards and a score in his past three contests.
11. Torrey Smith (Baltimore Ravens): Smith is putting together one stellar showing after another. He has 224 yards and three TDs in his past two games.
12. Andre Johnson (Houston Texans): Life will be a lot easier away from Revis Island. Gang Green’s D is dreadful right now and Mark Sanchez is the first quarterback this year to appear on Dave Dameshek’s Shame Island.
13. Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers): Wallace has found the end zone in each of his first three games of the season, but Philly will present a challenge in this Sunday’s in-state marquee matchup.
14. Brandon Marshall (Chicago Bears): Marshall should have a big game at Jacksonville, but it depends which Jay Cutler shows up this Sunday.
15. Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts): Getting a ton of targets. Green Bay’s D has given up eight TDs through the air.
Photo Credit: NewOrleansSaints.com
16. Marques Colston (New Orleans Saints): Colston comes off a monster game against Green Bay and QB Drew Brees should go to him early and often on Sunday Night Football against the San Diego Chargers in the Superdome.
17. Eric Decker (Denver Broncos): The third-year receiver is posting 80.5 yards per game and will see plenty of looks against the Patriots.
18. Brandon Lloyd (New England Patriots): Finally found the end zone in last week’s 52-28 win over the Buffalo Bills. He’s tied with Wes Welker at 25 catches and is averaging 71.8 yards per game. Denver’s defense has surrendered eight TDs through the air.
19. Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers): He faces a tough test against the Seahawks’ strong secondary, but he’s avering 87.0 yards per game and the Panthers have home-field advantage.
20. Malcolm Floyd (San Diego Chargers): It should shape up to be a shootout against the Saints and Michael Floyd should be able to stretch the field.
21. Danny Amendola (St. Louis Rams): I like him even more in PPR leagues, but he should be solid against Arizona in standard leagues as well.
Photo Credit; MiamiDolphins.com
22. Brian Hartline (Miami Dolphins): Consistency is an issue for Hartline, who had 12 receptions for 253 yards and a score in Week 4 and caught nine passes for 111 yards in Week 2 against the Raiders. However, against the Texans he had just three ctaches for 50 yards and one reception for 41 yards against the Jets.
23. Anquan Boldin (Baltimore Ravens): As Joe Flacco has taken the next step, Boldin has had a resurgence ad is a solid option going up against Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium.
24. Stevie Johnson (Buffalo Bills): The Niners continue to strike gold on defense week after week, but the Bills’ No. 1 receiver has a clear nose for the end zone.
25. Lance Moore (New Orleans Saints): Both of his scores this season have come at home and the Saints host San Diego on SNF. He is averaging 71.8 yards and 0.5 TDs per game.
26. DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles): Tough matchup against the Steelers, who have home-field advantage off a bye week, but Vick is leaning on D-Jax.
27. Antonio Brown (Pittsburgh Steelers): Philly is tough, but Brown gets a lot of looks. He caught seven passes in each of his past two games.
28. James Jones (Green Bay Packers): Jennings will likely miss the game, which should allow Jones to have another strong performance against the Colts.
29. Jeremy Maclin (Philadelphia Eagles): I’m afraid to use him after last week, but he made it through the game and better days should lie ahead.
30. Kenny Britt (Tennessee Titans): If he can practice this week and put on the pads, he should be decent against the Vikings.
31. Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers): He was quiet last week as the Niners thumped the Jets. Should see more action against Buffalo, who has allowed nine passing touchdowns.
32. Domenik Hixon (New York Giants): I would be surprised if Nicks plays this week, which opens things up for Hixon against the Browns.
33. Andre Roberts (Arizona Cardinals): Roberts has four TDs this year and he faces the Rams.
34. Andrew Hawkins (Cincinnati Bengals): Quiet last week, but has been solid. Faces the Dolphins.
35. Leonard Hankerson (Washington Redskins): Averaging 60.3 ypg over the past three weeks. It should be a high-scoring affair against the Falcons.
36. Kendall Wright (Tennessee Titans): He has two scores in the past three games. Faces the Vikings.
37. Davone Bess (Miami Dolphins): Has 12 catches for 209 yards over the past two games. Faces the Bengals.
38. Donald Jones (Buffalo Bills): Has a tough draw against the Niners, but could see plenty of quick passes.
39. Nate Washington (Tennessee Titans): He’s a hit-or-miss option, but it wouldn’t be out of the question for Washington to bust a big one against the Minnesota Vikings.
40. Sidney Rice (Seattle Seahawks): He has been a disappointment, but he could break out against Carolina.
Follow Ryan Lester, Founder of @LestersLegends and Fantasy Football Analyst at @GridironGrit on Twitter!
