Fantasy Football Week 5: Top 5 wide receivers to start

Here are the top 5 wide receivers to lock into your fantasy football lineup for Week 5 of the NFL season. 

Week 4 of the NFL season was a crazy one. Multiple overtime games, a few last-second touchdowns and big-time fantasy football performances from the league’s wideouts.

However, not a single player listed in last week’s edition ended up being a top 10 scorer in ESPN PPR standard scoring leagues. Not a single player was even a top 20 scorer.

Yup, that means some of the best receivers in the league had mediocre days. Cooper Kupp led all receivers in scoring with 37.2 fantasy points.

Antonio Brown scored 17.2 points, Odell Beckham Jr. came away with 14, Jarvis Landry had 13.4, Mike Evans gathered 11.9, and Michael Thomas accumulated 8.7. Let’s try better with this week’s edition of top 5 wide receivers to start in fantasy football.

5. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers are up to their usual tricks, failing with high expectations. Many experts pegged the Chargers as a potential Super Bowl team, but here we are headed into Week 5 and the Chargers are sitting 2-2.

The Chargers’ struggles can be attributed to inconsistencies and some players getting lost in the shuffle. One of those players: Keenan Allen.

Allen had a great game Week 1, but he has yet to score a touchdown or rack up 100+ receiving yards since then. Yes, other weapons like Austin Ekeler and Mike Williams have joined Melvin Gordon and Allen. But, Allen needs to get more involved for the Chargers to win.

This week may be the week Allen breaks out of his little slump. He and the Chargers host the Oakland Raiders at home. The Raiders have struggled to hold opposing wideouts in check.

Next: 4. DeAndre Hopkins

4. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans

Having a monster game one week usually means you’d be a top two or three option the next week, right? Not when it comes to Houston Texans’ receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Yes, the Texans looked much better during their Week 4 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Also, Deshaun Watson does look like he’s finally back to his usual form.

However, Hopkins and his Texans host their fellow Lonestar state mates the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. While the Cowboys offense has struggled, their solid defense has quietly been tucked under the rug.

The Cowboys have done a great job containing opposing wide receivers from having big fantasy games. Hopkins and Watson are often inconsistent as well, meaning he is ranked lower than usual.

Next: 3. Adam Thielen

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 27: Wide receiver Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after the referee calls a medical time-out in the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

3. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings

When it comes to slot receivers and wideouts who set up inside, Adam Thielen may be the best in the NFL. His versatility to play in all formations and different positions make him a deadly fantasy threat.

Why? Because that means he is on the field a lot. Thielen is on the field for a bit over 97 percent of snaps, which leads Vikings receivers.

Thielen has put a huge smile on fantasy football owners as well. He has scored 99.3 fantasy points this season, which is second behind New Orleans Saints stud Michael Thomas.

The Vikes have a tough matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5. Regardless, Thielen will be a handful and gather his usual stats.

Next: 2. Antonio Brown

2. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

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Antonio Brown is slipping down the ranks a bit. Of course, he is still a top two receiver, but he has left some fantasy owners worried. He has yet to eclipse 100 receiving yards in a single game.

What worries some owners the most is all the drama around the Steelers, which can be reflected in the team’s 1-1-2 record. Yes, it may seem as though there is trouble in paradise.

Week 5 may be a turning point for the Steelers and Brown. They play the Atlanta Falcons, a team that has also been subject to some hardships.

This is a big game, but one that sets Brown up for a massive performance. The Falcons have a thin secondary, and Brown can hear the whispers of concern.

Next: 1. Julio Jones

1. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

Julio Jones still hasn’t found the end zone. Four games into the season and Jones hasn’t punched the rock in for six.

Fellow Alabama receiver, Calvin Ridley, has been the beneficiary of many of Matt Ryan‘s touchdown tosses over the past couple of games. So, is Jones the odd man out now?

Absolutely not. Jones has still torched defenses for big games. He has two 160+ receiving yard games over the team’s first four games. Imagine those fantasy scores if he could have caught a touchdown?

Well, Jones will be on the opposite side of the number two receiver on this list, Antonio Brown, in Week 5. The Falcons, much like the Steelers, need a win. Meaning, Jones could be in for a classic.