With the Patriots on a bye week, Randy Moss currently is not on the rankings, but if last night’s rumors are to be believed he could soon find his way on here (for those who haven’t heard there is talk that Moss will be headed to Minnesota). Time will tell, but let’s take a look at how things look for now (of course, these will be updated later in the week if necessary):
- Andre Johnson – Houston Texans – vs. New York Giants
- Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – at Cleveland
- Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Kansas City
- Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – at Houston
- Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Tennessee
- Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – vs. St. Louis
- Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Denver
- Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints – at Arizona
- Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – vs. New Orleans
- Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers – at Washington
- Terrell Owens – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Tampa Bay
- DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles – at San Francisco
- Austin Collie – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Kansas City
- Donald Driver – Green Bay Packers – at Washington
- Chad Ochocinco – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Tampa Bay
- Mark Clayton – St. Louis Rams – at Detroit
- Brandon Lloyd – Denver Broncos – at Baltimore
- Steve Smith – New York Giants – at Houston
- Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – at Indianapolis
- Kevin Walter – Houston Texans – vs. New York Giants
- Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears – at Carolina
- Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – at San Francisco
- Malcolm Floyd – San Diego Chargers – at Oakland
- Braylon Edwards – New York Jets – vs. Minnesota
- Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – vs. Green Bay
- Mario Manningham – New York Giants – at Houston
- Lee Evans – Buffalo Bills – vs. Jacksonville
- Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – vs. Philadelphia
- Louis Murphy – Oakland Raiders – vs. San Diego
- Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – at New York Jets
- Robert Meachem – New Orleans Saints – at Arizona
- Legedu Naanee – San Diego Chargers – at Oakland
- Devin Hester – Chicago Bears – at Carolina
- Roy Williams – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Tennessee
- Mike Sims-Walker – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Buffalo
- Demaryious Thomas – Denver Broncos – at Baltimore
- Jacoby Jones – Houston Texans – vs. New York Giants
- Kenny Britt – Tennessee Titans – at Dallas
- Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at Cincinnati
- Santonio Holmes – New York Jets – vs. Minnesota
- Joshua Cribbs – Cleveland Browns – vs. Atlanta
- Danny Amendola – St. Louis Rams – at Detroit
- Derrick Mason – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Denver
- Eddie Royal – Denver Broncos – at Baltimore
- Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – vs. St. Louis
- Mohamed Massaqoui – Cleveland Browns – vs. Atlanta
- Stephen Williams – Arizona Cardinals – vs. New Orleans
- Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints – at Arizona
- James Jones – Green Bay Packers – at Washington
- Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Tennessee
- Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Kansas City
- Steve Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Jacksonville
- Brandon LaFell – Carolina Panthers – vs. Chicago
- Justin Gage – Tennessee Titans – at Dallas
- Jabar Gaffney – Denver Broncos – at Baltimore
- Devery Henderson – New Orleans Saints – at Arizona
- Nate Washington – Tennessee Titans – at Dallas
- Laurent Robinson – St. Louis Rams – at Detroit
- Earl Bennett – Chicago Bears – at Carolina
- Jordan Shipley – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Tampa Bay
Thoughts:
- I wouldn’t expect the Giants’ pass rush to wreak the same type of havoc against the Texans that they did against the Bears. Still, it showed that their defense still has it, and I wouldn’t necessarily expect the Texans to roll through them this week. Does that mean Andre Johnson isn’t a WR1? Of course he is, just temper those expectations slightly.
- Hopefully Mario Manningham’s poor Week 4 performance will temper owners’ expectations of him. He’s the Giants big play receiver, and is no guarantee to make a play every week. Of course, against a defense that has allowed five passing plays of at least 40 yards this season he’s worth using, but he’s still just a WR3.
- DeSean Jackson had been rolling with Michael Vick at QB, so the injury is a huge hit to his value. You have to think that he will still produce with Kevin Kolb, but three catches for just 19 yards in Week 4 make you wonder. He has to be downgraded for now.
- In Week 4 Terrell Owens had 15 targets, to Chad Ochocinco’s five. I wouldn’t necessarily expect that to continue, but for now Owens appears to have the higher value of the Bengals receivers. Of course, that is likely to change on a weekly basis, downgrading each of them slightly.
- Mark Clayton is getting significant opportunities to make plays in St. Louis. In Week 4 he had 14 targets. While he converted that into only five receptions for 72 yards, he has certainly developed into the teams go-to receiver. That makes him a surprise WR2 in all formats.
- Percy Harvin is going to have a tough draw, especially with Darelle Revis expected back in the Jets secondary. It’s hard to consider him anything more then a WR3 for the upcoming week.
- With Santonio Holmes returning to the Jets lineup, you have to wonder how his presence will affect the production of Braylon Edwards. Considering that we haven’t seen Holmes yet, I would prefer Edwards as a WR3, but this week will go a long ways in establishing their values moving forward.
- The Carolina Panthers’ Steve Smith suffered a sprained ankle in Week 4 and appears out for the team’s upcoming game against the Bears. For now we’ve left him off these rankings, but if the news changes later in the week we’ll update them accordingly. Brandon LaFell will likely be their top wide receiver, but considering the quarterback play, he’s a low-end option, at best.
- The Bears receivers will all take a hit if Jay Cutler doesn’t dress for Sunday’s game. For now, Johnny Knox is a low-end WR2, but he could become more of a FLEX option, so keep a close eye on the news.
- With the way the Jaguars offense is built and the poor rushing defense of the Buffalo Bills, using a Jaguars wide receiver appears to be a tough move, doesn’t it?
- Lee Evans is a big play receiver and the Jaguars defense gives up a lot of big plays (19 passing plays of at least 20 yards and 7 of at least 40 yards). It’s tough to depend on players like Evans, but this week appears to be a good one to have him in your lineup as a WR3.
- I want to believe that Robert Meachem is a usable wide receiver this week against the Cardinals, but you just never know who is going to get the opportunity to produce. Still, the upside makes him worth considering as a WR3 or FLEX option.
- Will Pierre Garcon play or not? Either way, with the emergence of Austin Collie, he’s a depth option at this point until he proves otherwise.
- For now Louis Murphy remains on the rankings, but he is suffering from a bruised collarbone that helped contribute to his just one reception in Week 4. The news during the week will help ultimately determine his value.
What are your thoughts on these rankings? Who’s too high? Who’s too low?
Make sure to check out the rest of our Week 5 Rankings:
- Top 25 Quarterbacks
- Top 40 Running Backs
- Top 20 Tight Ends
- Top 15 Kickers
- Top 15 Defenses
- Waiver Worthy
- Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em
- Sunday Sleepers
Do I pick up Brandon Tate and drop Dez? I need to move fast on this one. Thanks!
no – even with the trade of Randy Moss, Brandon Tate still only has value as a Kick Returner….
Unless you get return yardage points, stick with Dez
So you downgrade DeSean Jackson because his QB has changed, but why not Larry Fitzgerald? Fitz hasn’t been a Top 10 WR all year, and now with talks that Max Hall will start you think that he still warrants a Top 10 ranking?
I also bring this up because my 3 WRs this week are Miles Austin, DeSean Jackson and Larry Fitz – so I need to know who are my top 2 options…
@Mike R,
I retract my earlier statement. I just read on rotoworld that Tate is now going to be the starting WR to play the role of the deep threat….
I still say that Dez Bryant has better value right now, but maybe after a week this will change. If you have anyone else to drop then they might be better options
I just submitted a waiver claim to drop Jacoby Jones for Brandon Tate….. yeah I believe in him as a WR3
Mike, I agree with Nick, if you have another option to consider dropping I would, but Tate certainly does have value.
Nick, well, fair enough on Fitzgerald now that the move to Hall is official. The question is, is that a good or a bad thing? Fitzgerald still has the potential to produce, but the move will likely move him down a few spots in the updated rankings.
I think it’s insane that you have Jeremy Maclin 26 spots ahead of Lance Moore. Did you watch the PHI game last week? Check-down, check-down, check-down – Kevin Kolb is not seeing the open man when he’s there. If not for a fumble at the 1yd-line, Lance Moore would have over 200yds receiving and 4TD’s in his last two. Did you see what A.Gates did to ARI last week – expect the same from Moore, as they run similar routes. I have both Maclin and Moore and Lance Romance is definitely getting the start at the WR2 position for me this week.
Roster dilemma….
Need 1 RB, 2 WR and 3 FLEX
Ray Rice vs DEN
Michael Turner @ CLE
Ryan Matthews @ OAK
Darren McFadden vs SD
Jason Snelling @ CLE
Miles Austin vs TEN
DeSean Jackson @ SF
Larry Fitzgerald vs NO
Louis Murphy vs SD
Jacoby Jones vs NYG
right now I am thinking Turner, Rice, Matthews, Austin, Jackson and Fitz… should I make any changes?
Nah, that’s how I would go assuming McFadden misses the game. Looks good to me!
Who do you think will have a better day, Malcolm Floyd or Pierre Garcon?
Doug, it’s going to depend on if Austin Collie plays or not. If Collie is playing, then Garcon is a huge risk, because you don’t know how many targets he’s going to get.
If Collie is out, however, I’d go Garcon.
I have to start 3 WR in a PPR league. I have Greg Jennings, Roddy White, and Calvin Johnson as my usual 1-3 WR. But I also have Mark Clayton and I like the matchup. Would you bench Jennings for him?
I wouldn’t. I know Jennings is in a deeper offense and there are only so many balls to go around, but I think he’s too good to put on your bench. He always has the chance to explode and how will you feel if he does so this week and he’s on your bench?