There are a lot of question marks surrounding wide receivers as we head to Week 6, whether it be due to injuries to themselves or their quarterbacks.  Let’s take a look at how things currently look (remember, we will be updating these later in the week, if necessary):

1. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts – at Washington
2. Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – vs. Detroit
3. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – at Minnesota
4. Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – at New England
5. Andre Johnson – Houston Texans – vs. Kansas City
6. Randy Moss – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Dallas
7. Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins – at Green Bay
8. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – at Philadelphia
9. Wes Welker – New England Patriots – vs. Baltimore
10. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – at New York Giants
11. Malcolm Floyd – San Diego Chargers – at St. Louis
12. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints – at Tampa Bay
13. Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. Cleveland
14. Austin Collie – Indianapolis Colts – at Washington
15. DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Atlanta
16. Brandon Lloyd – Denver Broncos – vs. New York Jets
17. Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Dallas
18. Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers – vs. Miami
19. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. Cleveland
20. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – at Houston
21. Steve Smith – New York Giants – vs. Detroit
22. Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears – vs. Seattle
23. Danny Amendola – St. Louis Rams – vs. San Diego
24. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Atlanta
25. Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – vs. Indianapolis
26. Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts – at Washington
27. Kenny Britt – Tennessee Titans – at Jacksonville
28. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – vs. Oakland
29. Kevin Walter – Houston Texans – vs. Kansas City
30. Braylon Edwards – New York Jets – at Denver
31. Donald Driver – Green Bay Packers – vs. Miami
32. Devin Hester – Chicago Bears – vs. Seattle
33. Legedu Naanee – San Diego Chargers – at St. Louis
34. Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. New Orleans
35. Santonio Holmes – New York Jets – at Denver
36. Davone Bess – Miami Dolphins – at Green Bay
37. Roy Williams – Dallas Cowboys – at Minnesota
38. Mike Sims-Walker – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Tennessee
39. Mario Manningham – New York Giants – vs. Detroit
40. Louis Murphy – Oakland Raiders – at San Francisco
41. Derrick Mason – Baltimore Ravens – at New England
42. Mike Thomas – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Tennessee
43. Brandon Tate – New England Patriots – vs. Baltimore
44. Eddie Royal – Denver Broncos – vs. New York Jets
45. Jacoby Jones – Houston Texans – vs. Kansas City
46. Nate Washington – Tennessee Titans – at Jacksonville
47. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – at Minnesota
48. Chris Chambers – Kansas City Chiefs – at Houston
49. Jabar Gaffney – Denver Broncos – vs. New York Jets
50. Mohamed Massaquoi – Cleveland Browns – at Pittsburgh
51. Robert Meachem – New Orleans Saints – at Tampa Bay
52. Earl Bennett – Chicago Bears – vs. Seattle
53. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Baltimore Ravens – at New England
54. Justin Gage – Tennessee Titans – at Jacksonville
55. Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – at New York Giants
56. Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints – at Tampa Bay
57. Julian Edelman – New England Patriots – vs. Baltimore
58. Demaryious Thomas – Denver Broncos – vs. New York Jets
59. Jerricho Cotchery – New York Jets – at Denver
60. Joshua Cribbs – Cleveland Browns – at Pittsburgh

Thoughts:

• Ankle problems or not, if Andre Johnson is playing he’s a Top 5 option against the Chiefs this week.  If he were healthy he’d have likely been the top option, but we’ll hold off on putting him there depending on the news later in the week.
• No one is questioning who the Giants top receiver is at this point, are they?  Steve Smith has clearing taken a backseat to Hakeem Nicks, who already has six touchdowns on the year.
• With Randy Moss now in Minnesota, will the inability to stretch the field make it more difficult for Wes Welker to do his thing?  Time will tell, but for now I’m not going to put him in the Top 10, but this week will give us a much better idea of how defenses are going to attack them going forward.
• With Ben Roethlisberger returning, now may finally be Mike Wallace’s chance to step up and shine.  He has just nine catches on the season, but look for them to try and stretch the field against the Browns and make a quick statement.
• Not surprisingly, with Kevin Kolb in DeSean Jackson struggled with just two catches for 24 yards.  Even with a favorable matchup, he’s more of a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 until Michael Vick returns.
• Calvin Johnson would be downgraded this week going against the Giants alone.  Of course, he may not play at all due to a shoulder injury.  He gets a spot for now, but may have to be scratched completely by the end of the week.
• For now Braylon Edwards remains the top ranked Jets receiver, but it’s only a matter of time before Santonio Holmes overtakes him.  Just keep that in mind.
• Danny Amendola showed quickly that he could step into the #1 receiver role with the injury of Mark Clayton.  He had 12 catches for 95 yards in Week 5 and has 33 for the season.  He’s worth considering as a WR2 in all formats.
• It appears Jay Cutler is set to return to the lineup this week for the Chicago Bears.  That has to be a relief for owners of Johnny Knox and the rest of the receiving corps.
• Aaron Rodgers status for Week 6 is unknown, so for now I will continue to rank the Packers receivers as if he were going to play.  If he doesn’t, they all will be downgraded, especially with a tough matchup against the Dolphins.
• With Pierre Garcon back in the mix, he and Austin Collie could easily go back and forth as to who will get the majority of catches outside of Reggie Wayne.  That hurts them both slightly, but both are usable against a Redskins team allowing 298.0 passing yards per game.
• This has got to be considered Dwayne Bowe’s final opportunity, doesn’t it?  For as bad as he’s been, the Houston Texans have been the worst passing defense in the game (329.6 passing yards per game, 11 TD).  If he’s ever going to be usable, this has got to be the week.  Consider him a WR2, but if he fails, it could be time to move on.
• Malcolm Floyd erupted in Week 5, for 213 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions.  With the Rams on the schedule, he could be in store for another big week.
• I’m not a big fan of the Titans receivers, but Kenny Britt has a touchdown in three straight games and the Jaguars have allowed a league leading 11 TDs.  It certainly seems like Britt is putting things together at the right time.  Consider him a potential low-end WR2 this week, as there still is a lot of risk.  I’d much rather him being my WR3.

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 6 Rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 15 Tight Ends
• Top 15 Kickers
• Top 15 Defenses
• Waiver Worthy
• Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em
• Sunday Sleepers