Coming into Week 4, Keenan Allen was expected to thrive for another in fantasy football against the Miami Dolphins. Instead, the highest-scoring wide receiver in fantasy football this season proceeded to score just 9.8 fantasy points on Sunday.
As Allen had his season-low in receptions and yards, his teammate, Dontrelle Inman, outscored him with five receptions for 76 yards. That goes to show just how unpredictable fantasy football can be every week.
Another surprise in Week 4 was Jarvis Landry coming out of nowhere to 24.7 fantasy points for the Cleveland Browns. Prior to Sunday's game, Landry had combined for only 27.1 fantasy points in the first three weeks of the season.
Provided that, let's decipher who the best players to start in Week 5 are. Before we do that, all of the picks are based on PPR (points per reception) scoring and can be used in season-long or DFS (daily fantasy sports) leagues.
With that in mind, here are the wide receivers who are in for a productive game in Week 5 and the ones who are better off staying on your bench.
WRs to Start in Week 5
Patriots' Josh Gordon (vs. Redskins): After having their toughest test of the season in Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills, the New England Patriots will go right back to work to face a winless Washington Redskins squad in Week 5. The Patriots should have plenty of success throwing the ball with Josh Gordon poised for a notable performance this Sunday.
Aside from Julian Edelman (who is a must-start), Gordon is the second-best receiving option in the Patriots but he has the highest ceiling of the bunch. In Week 5, the veteran wideout will likely matchup with Josh Norman; who has been a shell of himself, allowing 16 receptions on 24 targets this season.
Ravens' Marquise Brown (vs. Steelers): Marquise Brown looked poised to have a long stretch of games where he was going to be a top performer in fantasy football in the first two games. After combing for 47.3 fantasy points in the first two games, the rookie wide receiver has totaled just 13.1 fantasy points in the past two weeks.
The Baltimore Ravens wide receiver has been nonexistent recently but he has a decent shot to rebound in Week 5. Brown will hit the road to square off against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that has allowed 743 yards to WRs this season (eighth-most in NFL).
Eagles' Alshon Jeffery (vs. Jets): The Philadelphia Eagles have been riddled with injuries this season—especially at the wide receiver position. While DeSean Jackson missed another game in Week 4, Alshon Jeffery caught three passes for 38 yards and a score against the Green Bay Packers.
On the surface, those numbers aren't great but it's positive to see Jeffery combine for 16 targets in the two games that he's been healthy for. This week, his volume will result in success against a New York Jets defense that allows 45.1 fantasy points to WRs per game (third-most in NFL).
Other WRs to Start: Vikings' Stefon Diggs (vs. Giants), Panthers' Curtis Samuel (vs. Jaguars), Packers' Geronimo Allison (vs. Cowboys)
WRs to Sit in Week 5
Steelers' JuJu Smith-Schuster (vs. Ravens): When people selected JuJu Smith-Schuster this season, they believed that they were getting the 2018 version of the Pittsburgh Steelers receiver. Instead, they are getting a lesser version of him due to Ben Roethlisberger being out with an injury.
With Mason Rudolph as the starter, Smith-Schuster has caught just six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. As talented as he is, he will draw Marlon Humphrey on Sunday; who just held Odell Beckham Jr. to two receptions for 20 yards in Week 4.
Redskins' Terry McLaurin (vs. Patriots): Yes, Terry McLaurin has been a phenomenal find in fantasy football this season. But have you looked at who he faces in Week 5? The Washington Redskins rookie wideout was inactive in Week 4 with an injury and will likely be neutralized on Sunday.
Currently, McLaurin is questionable to play in Week 5 but if he does, it's best you find another option at wide receiver. The speedy receiver will get the New England Patriots this Sunday, who have yet to allow a receiving touchdown this season.
Any Titans Wide Receivers (vs. Bills): If you didn't believe that the Buffalo Bills secondary was legitimate, now you do after they shut down the Patriots wide receivers to a combined nine receptions for 86 yards in Week 4.
This week, the Tennessee Titans wide receivers will be tasked with trying to create plays against the Bills. Through four games, Buffalo has allowed just 29.9 fantasy points to WRs per game this season (fifth-best in NFL).
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