Before we get into my favorite Week 5 fantasy football plays, let's take a look back at some of the guys I liked in Week 4.

I'm just trying to set expectations appropriately low.

As of Tuesday evening, here's an early look at my (preliminary) favorite Week 5 fantasy plays—the guys who (in some combination) …

  • Might be high in my fantasy rankings relative to the industry consensus.
  • Need to be started in most season-long leagues.
  • Must be added if they are on waivers.
  • Possess underappreciated upside.
  • Have advantageous matchups.
  • Should be considered in daily fantasy.
  • Make for desirable dynasty acquisition targets.
  • Are on teams with player-friendly betting odds.
  • Catch my eye with their player projections.
  • Stand out in our player prop tool.

Some notes.

Updates: After I submit this piece, any changing opinions I have will be reflected in my rankings and my projections (accessible with a FantasyLife+ subscription), which I will update throughout the week.

Rankings Accuracy: Last year I was No. 18 in the FantasyPros Accuracy Contest. That was my sixth season with a top-20 finish.

Scoring & Ordering: All fantasy points are half-PPR scoring unless otherwise stated. Players are ordered within position roughly (but maybe not precisely) according to my rankings.

Abbreviations: Check out the end of the piece for abbreviations I might use.

Bye Week: This week, the Lions, Eagles, Chargers, and Titans are off.

Sports Betting Data: Odds are as of 8:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and based on the consensus lines in our Fantasy Life Odds Page.

For the rest of my favorite fantasy football plays for Week 5, sorted by position, see below:

Best WRs for Fantasy Football Week 5

Jayden Reed (Packers) at Rams

  • Packers: -3.5
  • O/U: 47.5
  • TT: 25.5

I don't want to "reed" (#NailedIt) too much into a sample of just two games, but entering the season I expected a sophomore surge for Reed anyway, and in QB Jordan Love's two starts that is exactly what we've seen: 312 yards and 3 TDs on 14 targets and 2 carries.

And in his two games with backup QB Malik Willis, he still amassed a respectable 115 yards on 8 targets and 4 carries.

With his ability to line up all over the formation for the Packers and contribute as a receiver, runner, and even returner, Reed looks like the second coming of 2014 Randall Cobb … except maybe even better.

Although he's not an every-down player, Reed's snap rate of 77% is sufficient enough to support his production, especially since he has been so efficient with his opportunities throughout his career (9.7 yards per target, 12.4 per carry).

The Rams are No. 31 in defensive dropback EPA (0.312), and I like Reed's matchup in the slot against CB Quentin Lake, who has allowed 11.2 yards per target this year.

Amari Cooper (Browns) at Commanders

  • Browns: +3
  • O/U: 45
  • TT: 21

We've reached that point in the piece where I highlight the primary WR going against the Commanders. This week that's Cooper, who has massively disappointed this year with no more than 35 scoreless yards in three of four games.

But he did reward faithful fantasy investors in Week 3 with a 7-86-2 receiving performance, and for the season he has a 95% route rate and 25% target share, so the underlying data is encouraging. With 8-plus targets in every game, Cooper has the usage to support high-end production.

And of course he's going against the Commanders, which is what really matters, as they're No. 1 in most fantasy points allowed to WRs (39.7) and largest fantasy boost allowed to WRs (+8.8).

They're yet to face an alpha/No. 1 WR who hasn't scored against them.

Cooper is no longer a true alpha, but he's still the top receiver within his offense, and for Week 5 that should be good enough.

Khalil Shakir (Bills) at Texans

  • Bills: Pick'Em
  • O/U: 47
  • TT: 23.5

I highlighted Shakir in this piece last week, and I'm doing it again this week.

In the offseason, I wrote a piece on 11 stats from 2023 that matter for 2024, and here's what I had to say in it about Shakir and his 13.6 yards per target:

Regression will visit Shakir in 2024. No one can maintain the type of league-leading efficiency he displayed last year.

But WRs Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are gone, and WRs Keon Coleman and Curtis Samuel have no established connection with QB Josh Allen.

Given that Shakir made the most of his opportunities last season—he led all qualified pass catchers with his 73.3% receiving success rate—he has a chance (even if an outside one) to emerge as Allen's No. 1 WR.

His yards-per-target mark will certainly decline, but Shakir's 2023 efficiency could portend a surge of 2024 opportunities. 

It's too early to take a victory lap, but through four weeks that analysis has looked prescient. Shakir's efficiency has declined (although his 12.1 yards per target is still obscene), and he leads the team with 18-230-2 receiving on a 20% target share.

As road underdogs, the Bills could have a pass-leaning game script, and I like Shakir's slot matchup against CB Jalen Pitre.

In transitioning from safety to corner this year, Pitre has to date earned a career-worst 52.2 coverage grade (per PFF), and last week—in his first matchup against a No. 1 WR who lines up primarily in the slot—Pitre saw Christian Kirk draw a season-high 12 targets, which he leveraged into 7-61-1 receiving. 

Jordan Whittington (Rams) vs. Packers

  • Rams: +3.5
  • O/U: 47.5
  • TT: 22

I'm not saying you should start Whittington. I like to use vulgarities as much as the next man—but not even I have a mouth dirty enough to say something like, “You must start Whittington this week.”

But if you're in a deep league with multiple flex spots, or if you're in a bye-week crunch, or if you're simply looking for a cheap-ish DFS WR … then maybe think about Whittington.

Without WRs Puka Nacua (knee, IR) and Cooper Kupp (ankle), the Rams are likely to utilize Whittington once again in three-WR sets, and last week he lined up all across the formation and dominated usage for the team with a 97% route rate, 26% target rate, and 30% target share, which he turned into a respectable 6-62-0 receiving.

The Packers are No. 28 in defensive dropback SR (52.2%), and they might once again be without No. 1 CB Jaire Alexander (quadriceps, groin) and backup CB Carrington Valentine (ankle).

The Deep Route

DK Metcalf (Seahawks -6, TT: 25) vs. Giants: The Seahawks have a rare four-day, rest-and-prep disadvantage, but the Giants are vulnerable on the perimeter with CBs Deonte Banks (47.5 PFF coverage grade) and Cor'Dale Flott (62.2). After a forgettable Week 1 with new OC Ryan Grubb, Metcalf has 21-337-2 receiving on 32 targets in his past three games.  

Diontae Johnson (Panthers +4, TT: 19) at Bears: With QB Andy Dalton, Johnson has 15-205-2 receiving on 27 targets in two games. That will do. He has an NFL-high 8 end-zone and 6 green-zone targets.

Deebo Samuel (49ers -7.5, TT: 28.5) vs. Cardinals: Samuel missed Week 3 with a calf injury, but he otherwise has 70-plus scrimmage yards in every game with an average of 8 targets and 4 carries. The Cardinals are No. 32 in defensive dropback SR (60.2%).

DJ Moore (Bears -4, TT: 23) vs. Panthers: "If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?" With 34 targets and two carries through four games, Moore will eventually have a big performance.

Terry McLaurin (Commanders -3, TT: 24) vs. Browns: McLaurin was dreadful in the first two weeks (3.3 yards per target), but since then he has broken out (11-152-2 receiving on 16 targets). He has an NFL-high 53% share of air yards.

Dontayvion Wicks (Packers -3.5, TT: 25.5) at Rams: With WR Christian Watson (ankle) injured, Wicks offers league-winning upside: Last week he had season-best numbers with 5-78-2 receiving on 13 targets and an 80% route rate—and he could've had even better stats given that he had a league-high 144 unrealized air yards and dropped a potential TD. Sheesh. The Rams are No. 31 in defensive pass DVOA (39.0%).

Josh Downs (Colts +3, TT: 21.5) at Jaguars: Since returning from the ankle injury that sidelined him in Weeks 1-2, Downs has led the Colts with a 36% target rate and 32% target share over the past two games and last week with QB Joe Flacco he had 8-82-1 receiving on 9 targets. The Jaguars are No. 2 in largest fantasy boost allowed to WRs (+7.0) and dealing with secondary injuries to CBs Tyson Campbell (hamstring, IR) and Darnell Savage (quad).

Ja'Lynn Polk (Patriots -1, TT: 18) vs. Dolphins: If you feel like slumming, last week Polk had a team-high 87% route rate, 21% target rate, and 24% target share. Coming off Monday Night Football, the Dolphins are on a one-day deficit and rank No. 32 in defensive pass DVOA against No. 1 WRs (55.5%). Burn your money.

More Fantasy Football Plays for Week 5

Abbreviations

  • Fantasy Points per Game (FPPG)
  • Against the Spread (ATS)
  • Over/Under (O/U)
  • Team Total (TT)
  • Moneyline (ML)
  • Return on Investment (ROI)
  • Adjusted Yards per Attempt (AY/A)
  • Expected Points Added (EPA)
  • Success Rate (SR)
  • Completion Percentage Over Expected (CPOE)
  • Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA)
  • AirYAC (Air Yards + Yards After Catch)
  • Weighted Opportunity Rating (WOPR)
  • Average Depth of Target (aDOT)
  • Short Down and Distance (SDD)
  • Long Down and Distance (LDD)