MIAMI, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- With just Minnesota and Tampa Bay on byes this week, the fantasy football wide receiver pickings aren't as slim as most bye weeks.
But emerging players like Will Fuller and Sammie Coates have already made a case to be permanent fixtures in your fantasy team's lineup. That means big name players off to slow starts can safely sit on your bench until they step it up. To help you decide on if you should bench a former stud for a newfound superstar, here are my top 50 wide receivers this week. You can also view my add/drops for the week and more positional rankings in the links below.
TOP SHELF
Larry Fitzgerald is a top-5 play for me this week. Fitzgerald's Arizona Cardinals host a New York Jets team allowing the second most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. The Jets and Oakland Raiders are the only teams in the NFL to allow more than 1,000 yards to receivers through five games. Fitzgerald has at least 60 yards and five receptions in every game so far this season. He has already scored five touchdowns and is getting Carson Palmer back to slash up the Jets' secondary in Week 6. Don't be fooled by Houston Texans rookie Will Fuller's Week 5 stat line. Fuller folded, as most wide receivers have done this season against the Minnesota Vikings. I like Fuller to get back into the fold as Brock Osweiler's favorite option when DeAndre Hopkins is blanketed. In this matchup, Fuller faces an Indianapolis Colts defense allowing the second most receptions this season to wide receivers. Fuller is a WR1 in deeper leagues and a top-12 play for Week 6.
SNEAKY PLAYS
Kansas City Chiefs' Jeremy Maclin welcomes a contest against an Oakland Raiders defense allowing the most fantasy points to wide receivers. The Raiders have also allowed the most yards and seven touchdowns to wide receivers through five games. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin comes off of the bye week for a battle against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Before his disappointing stat line of four catches for 54 yards in Week 4 against the Jets, Baldwin had 164 yards and one touchdown on eight grabs against the San Francisco 49ers. Look for Baldwin to get back into WR2 form this week as Russell Wilson's top target in what could be a shootout.
LONGSHOTS
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates exploded onto the scene in Week 5 and has been a favorite look for Ben Roethlisberger when Antonio Brown can't get open. Coates has 12 receptions for 218 yards and two scores in his last two contests. He is a high-end WR3 for me this week, with potential for WR2 status against a struggling Miami Dolphins squad. The Dolphins are allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. This game should be very one-sided, as the Dolphins tumble toward a high draft pick. If you are desperate, take a shot on Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Kenny Britt. Britt has at least four receptions in every game this season, but has yet to score. Sunday should off as good of a chance as any for Britt to get to the end zone. Britt's Rams battle a Detroit Lions secondary allowing the seventh most fantasy point to wide receivers. Britt should only be employed as a WR3 or flex play in the deepest leagues.
RANK | NAME | TEAM | OPPONENT |
1 | Antonio Brown | Pittsburgh Steelers | at Miami |
2 | Jordy Nelson | Green Bay Packers | vs. Dallas |
3 | Julio Jones | Atlanta Falcons | at Seattle |
4 | Larry Fitzgerald | Arizona Cardinals | vs. New York Jets |
5 | A.J. Green | Cincinnati Bengals | at New England |
6 | T.Y. Hilton | Indianapolis Colts | at Houston |
7 | Allen Robinson | Jacksonville Jaguars | at Chicago |
8 | DeAndre Hopkins | Houston Texans | vs. Indianapolis |
9 | Brandin Cooks | New Orleans Saints | vs. Carolina |
10 | Odell Beckham Jr. | New York Giants | vs. Baltimore |
11 | Brandon Marshall | New York Jets | at Arizona |
12 | Will Fuller | Houston Texans | vs. Indianapolis |
13 | Demaryius Thomas | Denver Broncos | at San Diego |
14 | Kelvin Benjamin | Carolina Panthers | at New Orleans |
15 | Michael Crabtree | Oakland Raiders | vs. Kansas City |
16 | Julian Edelman | New England Patriots | vs. Cincinnati |
17 | Marvin Jones | Detroit Lions | vs. Los Angeles |
18 | Amari Cooper | Oakland Raiders | vs. Kansas City |
19 | Doug Baldwin | Seattle Seahawks | vs. Atlanta |
20 | Alshon Jeffery | Chicago Bears | vs. Jacksonville |
21 | Emmanuel Sanders | Denver Broncos | at San Diego |
22 | Randall Cobb | Green Bay Packers | vs. Dallas |
23 | Jordan Matthews | Philadelphia Eagles | at Washington |
24 | Sammie Coates | Pittsburgh Steelers | at Miami |
25 | Jeremy Maclin | Kansas City Chiefs | at Oakland |
26 | Jarvis Landry | Miami Dolphins | vs. Pittsburgh |
27 | Willie Snead | New Orleans Saints | vs. Carolina |
28 | Chris Hogan | New England Patriots | vs. Cincinnati |
29 | Mike Wallace | Baltimore Ravens | at New York Giants |
30 | John Brown | Arizona Cardinals | vs. New York Jets |
31 | Victor Cruz | New York Giants | vs. Baltimore |
32 | Terrance Williams | Dallas Cowboys | at Green Bay |
33 | Michael Thomas | New Orleans Saints | vs. Carolina |
34 | Davante Adams | Green Bay Packers | vs. Dallas |
35 | Robert Woods | Buffalo Bills | vs. San Francisco |
36 | Sterling Shepard | New York Giants | vs. Baltimore |
37 | Travis Benjamin | San Diego Chargers | vs. Denver |
38 | Terrelle Pryor | Cleveland Browns | at Tennessee |
39 | Steve Smith Sr. | Baltimore Ravens | at New York Giants |
40 | Allen Hurns | Jacksonville Jaguars | at Chicago |
41 | Jaron Brown | Arizona Cardinals | vs. New York Jets |
42 | Cole Beasley | Dallas Cowboys | at Green Bay |
43 | DeSean Jackson | Washington Redskins | vs. Philadelphia |
44 | Tyrell Williams | San Diego Chargers | vs. Denver |
45 | Jeremy Kerley | San Francisco 49ers | at Buffalo |
46 | Kenny Britt | Los Angeles Rams | at Detroit |
47 | Cameron Meredith | Chicago Bears | vs. Jacksonville |
48 | Jamison Crowder | Washington Redskins | vs. Philadelphia |
49 | Quincy Enunwa | New York Jets | at Arizona |
50 | Devante Parker | Miami Dolphins | vs. Pittsburgh |