Wide receivers around the league continue to flash impressive numbers from week-to-week.  Who is worth using this week?  Let’s take a look:

1. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – vs. San Francisco
2. Wes Welker – New England Patriots – vs. Dallas
3. Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – vs. Buffalo
4. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – at New England
5. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Carolina
6. Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers – vs. St. Louis
7. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. Jacksonville
8. Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – at Atlanta
9. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – at Washington
10. A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Indianapolis
11. DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles – at Washington
12. Stevie Johnson – Buffalo Bills – at New York Giants
13. Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts – at Cincinnati
14. Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Houston
15. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – at New England
16. Victor Cruz – New York Giants – vs. Buffalo
17. Santonio Holmes – New York Jets – vs. Miami
18. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts – at Cincinnati
19. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints – at Tampa Bay
20. Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – vs. Philadelphia
21. Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins – at New York Jets
22. Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers – vs. St. Louis
23. Deion Branch – New England Patriots – vs. Dallas
24. Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – at Chicago
25. Kevin Walter – Houston Texans – at Baltimore
26. Darius Heyward-Bey – Oakland Raiders – vs. Cleveland
27. Mike Thomas – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Pittsburgh
28. Plaxico Burress – New York Jets – vs. Miami
29. David Nelson – Buffalo Bills – at New York Giants
30. Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. New Orleans
31. James Jones – Green Bay Packers – vs. St. Louis
32. Jason Avant – Philadelphia Eagles – at Washington
33. Robert Meachem – New Orleans Saints – at Tampa Bay
34. Mike Sims-Walker – St. Louis Rams – at Green Bay
35. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – at Detroit
36. Harry Douglas – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Carolina
37. Mohamed Massaquoi – Cleveland Browns – at Oakland
38. Jerome Simpson – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Indianapolis
39. Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – vs. San Francisco
40. Dane Sanzenbacher – Chicago Bears – vs. Minnesota
41. Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. Jacksonville
42. Mario Manningham – New York Giants – vs. Buffalo
43. Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears – vs. Minnesota
44. Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints – at Tampa Bay
45. Davone Bess – Miami Dolphins – at New York Jets
46. Torrey Smith – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Houston
47. Greg Little – Cleveland Browns – at Oakland
48. Denarius Moore – Oakland Raiders – vs. Cleveland
49. Bandon LaFell – Carolina Panthers – at Atlanta
50. Brandon Gibson – St. Louis Rams – at Green Bay

Thoughts:

• It appears like Miles Austin is going to return to the Cowboys lineup just in time for what promises to be a shootout with the New England Patriots.  Coming out of the bye week and already practicing, there doesn’t appear to be a concern over him being eased back into the offense.  In fact, at 2-2, you can argue that the Cowboys need to go out and make a statement.  Consider Austin a top option for the coming week against a passing defense that has allowed a league worst 326.6 passing yards/game.
• We all know that Greg Jennings is an elite option, but the problem in Green Bay is that you never really know who is going to get the ball thrown their way.  Would anyone have predicted James Jones to be targeted 7 times in Week 5, turning it into 5 receptions for 140 yards and 1 TD (which, by the way, is likely unrepeatable).  Jennings is a clear WR1 in all formats, though if he was the clear-cut big option, he’d rank even higher.  Jennings has been targeted 38 times thus far this season (tied for 22nd in the league).  Just something to keep in mind.
• Stevie Johnson has just 8 receptions for 87 yards and 0 TD over his past two games.  While the Giants have given up some yards (251.2 passing yards/game), they have allowed just 5 TD.  They also have been significantly better of late, allowing 176 passing yards to the Eagles, 237 yards to the Cardinals and 166 yards to the Seahawks the past three weeks.  While Johnson is probably still a WR1, he’s a low-end one at best.
• It has been clear that Pierre Garcon and Curtis Painter have a tremendous rapport, hasn’t it?  Over the past three weeks Garcon has 13 receptions for 353 yards and 4 TD.  It’s not that Reggie Wayne has been awful (11 receptions for 160 yards and 0 TD), but it’s easy to tell who the better option is.
• Victor Cruz has put up quite the performance of late, hasn’t he?  All he has done over the past three weeks is catch 17 passes for 369 yards and 3 TD.  It’s pretty obvious who the second option in New York is now.  Mario Manningham is more of a FLEX, at best, at this point.
• It was a good return for Marques Colston, catching 5 passes on 69 yards on 6 targets.  I would expect his workload to increase in Week 6, though you never really know in New Orleans.  He is the receiver with the highest upside and is worth using in most formats.
• Darius Heyward-Bey has exploded over the past two weeks with 11 receptions for 214 yards and 1 TD.  He does, however, draw a tough matchup against the Cleveland Browns who have allowed just 195.5 passing yards/game thus far.  Plus, the Raiders have seen several receivers step up for a few fleeting weeks, only to fall out of favor in a hurry (i.e. Denarius Moore).  I would proceed with caution regarding Heyward-Bey for the time being.
• I know Mike Williams has been bad, but the Buccaneers desperately need him to step up and deliver in Week 6.  With LeGarrette Blount looking unlikely to play and the offense needing him to step up and deliver if they want to keep up with the Saints (who have allowed 10 receiving TD), it is time to put up or shut up.  I would be willing to take the flier on him as a WR3 for one more week.
• First Johnny Knox was benched to start the season, now the Bears just don’t seem to want to give him an opportunity.  He’s had more than 6 targets just once on the year and a total of six over the past two weeks.  While Matt Forte is really the only Bear to trust right now, Dane Sanzenbacher may be the best option to take the gamble on.
• With Julio Jones looking like he will miss the coming week, Harry Douglas suddenly becomes a viable option for those in three wide receiver formats.  He’s a risk, but the Falcons are going to look to go pass heavy in their attack.

Make sure to check out the rest of Rotoprofessor’s Week 6 information:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Waiver Worthy
• Target Trends