We saw some big performances from some of the higher ranked wide receivers in Week 4, including two touchdowns for Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Dez Bryant and Nate Washington. Nate Washington?? Where did that come from? Washington caught four of his eight targets for 105 yards and two scores, including a 77-yarder. Washington enjoyed a nice move up in our rankings this week.
Another big performance came from Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith, who caught five of his twelve targets for 166 yards and a 26 yard touchdown. Smith is enjoying a solid start to the 2013 season and will also see a bump in our rankings this week.
Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz was a big part of the Giants offense on Sunday, catching 10 balls for 164 yards and a 69 yard touchdown reception. The Giants have struggled to an 0-4 start to the season, but Cruz is having a great year so far. The Giants schedule gets easier going forward with two games with the Eagles, and games against the Vikings and Raiders, so expect more big efforts from Cruz going forward.
The Broncos are on pace to score over 700 points this season, but the schedule makers have been easy on the Broncos thus far. None were easier than the Eagles worst pass defense vs wide receivers, and that was on full display on Sunday, as both Wes Welker and Demaryius Thomas hauled in two touchdowns apiece, before QB Peyton Manning sat out the fourth quarter of the Broncos 52-20 win over the Eagles.
Target Practice
There were a total of 20 wide receivers to see 10 or more targets in Week 4, lead by Giants WR Victor Cruz, who was targeted 16 times by QB Eli Manning. Following Cruz in the week 4 target leaders were some usual suspects: A.J. Green, Antonio Brown, Brandon Marshall, Julio Jones and Andre Johnson.
Bears WR Alshon Jeffery made his way into the top 10 this week with 12 targets, and the Bears week 5 matchup vs the Saints could be more of the same for Jeffery. He moved up our rankings this week, as well.
Keep your eyes on Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts in Week 5. With the return of WR Justin Blackmon this week, Shorts could have a solid game in garbage time vs the heavily favored Broncos. In a game where the Broncos are favored by four touchdowns, both Shorts and Blackmon should see plenty of targets and both could go over 100 yards in receiving as the Jaguars will be forced to throw the ball.
Rank |
Player |
Wk 4 |
1 |
Victor Cruz |
16 |
2 |
A.J. Green |
15 |
3 |
Antonio Brown |
14 |
4 |
Brandon Marshall |
14 |
5 |
Julio Jones |
13 |
6 |
Alshon Jeffery |
12 |
7 |
Andre Johnson |
12 |
8 |
Torrey Smith |
12 |
9 |
Cecil Shorts |
12 |
10 |
Reggie Wayne |
11 |
11 |
Jerome Simpson |
11 |
12 |
Vincent Jackson |
11 |
13 |
Kenbrell Thompkins |
11 |
14 |
Calvin Johnson |
10 |
15 |
Demaryius Thomas |
10 |
16 |
T.Y. Hilton |
10 |
17 |
Michael Floyd |
10 |
18 |
Donnie Avery |
10 |
19 |
Larry Fitzgerald |
9 |
20 |
Josh Gordon |
9 |
Week 5 Rankings
Before we take a look at our Week 5 Wide Receiver rankings, let's first review the NFL teams with the worst defenses against wide receivers. These teams have given up the most fantasy points to opponents wide receivers this season.
23 |
Ravens |
102.89 |
24 |
Vikings |
103.7 |
25 |
104.8 |
|
26 |
Bears |
104.9 |
27 |
106.7 |
|
28 |
116.1 |
|
29 |
118.4 |
|
30 |
123.8 |
|
31 |
135.6 |
|
32 |
Eagles |
144.5 |
Wide receivers seeing a bump in their rankings this week due to their matchups are Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, going up against the Eagles worst pass defense, thanks to the Broncos. Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon got a slight bump as he will be facing the Bills who have given up 135.6 fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Falcons WR Roddy White will make his way into the top 30 wide receivers this week, as the Falcons are home vs the Jets and their 27th ranked defense vs wide receivers through four weeks.
Now let's take a look at our Week 5 Rankings:
Standard Leagues |
PPR Leagues |
|
Rank |
Player |
Player |
1 |
Demaryius Thomas, DEN |
Calvin Johnson, DET |
2 |
Calvin Johnson, DET |
Julio Jones, ATL |
3 |
Julio Jones, ATL |
Demaryius Thomas, DEN |
4 |
A.J. Green, CIN |
A.J. Green, CIN |
5 |
Victor Cruz, NYG |
Brandon Marshall, CHI |
6 |
Dez Bryant, DAL |
Wes Welker, DEN |
7 |
Brandon Marshall, CHI |
Victor Cruz, NYG |
8 |
DeSean Jackson, PHI |
DeSean Jackson, PHI |
9 |
Wes Welker, DEN |
Andre Johnson, HOU |
10 |
Andre Johnson, HOU |
Dez Bryant, DAL |
11 |
Randall Cobb, GB |
Larry Fitzgerald, ARI |
12 |
Larry Fitzgerald, ARI |
Danny Amendola, NE |
13 |
Jordy Nelson, GB |
Randall Cobb, GB |
14 |
Danny Amendola, NE |
Jordy Nelson, GB |
15 |
Josh Gordon, CLE |
Cecil Shorts, JAC |
16 |
Torrey Smith, BAL |
Josh Gordon, CLE |
17 |
Cecil Shorts, JAC |
Torrey Smith, BAL |
18 |
Eric Decker, DEN |
Eric Decker, DEN |
19 |
Hakeem Nicks, NYG |
Julian Edelman, NE |
20 |
Marques Colston, NO |
Anquan Boldin, SF |
21 |
Reggie Wayne, IND |
Marques Colston, NO |
22 |
Anquan Boldin, SF |
Hakeem Nicks, NYG |
23 |
Roddy White, ATL |
Reggie Wayne, IND |
24 |
Julian Edelman, NE |
Steve Smith, CAR |
25 |
Steve Smith, CAR |
Roddy White, ATL |
26 |
Nate Washington, TEN |
Justin Blackmon, JAC |
27 |
Justin Blackmon, JAC |
Kenbrell Thompkins, NE |
28 |
Denarius Moore, OAK |
Nate Washington, TEN |
29 |
Dwayne Bowe, KC |
Steve Johnson, BUF |
30 |
T.Y. Hilton, IND |
T.Y. Hilton, IND |
31 |
Steve Johnson, BUF |
Dwayne Bowe, KC |
32 |
Kenbrell Thompkins, NE |
James Jones, GB |
33 |
James Jones, GB |
Denarius Moore, OAK |
34 |
Tavon Austin, STL |
Eddie Royal, SD |
35 |
Brian Hartline, MIA |
Aaron Dobson, NE |
36 |
Golden Tate, SEA |
DeAndre Hopkins, HOU |
37 |
Mike Wallace, MIA |
Brian Hartline, MIA |
38 |
DeAndre Hopkins, HOU |
Golden Tate, SEA |
39 |
Chris Givens, STL |
Tavon Austin, STL |
40 |
Eddie Royal, SD |
Mike Wallace, MIA |
41 |
Michael Floyd, ARI |
Lance Moore, NO |
42 |
Brandon LaFell, CAR |
Chris Givens, STL |
43 |
Aaron Dobson, NE |
Brandon LaFell, CAR |
44 |
Lance Moore, NO |
Michael Floyd, ARI |
45 |
Terrence Williams, DAL |
Jason Avant, PHI |
46 |
Jason Avant, PHI |
Rueben Randle, NYG |
47 |
Sidney Rice, SEA |
Ryan Broyles, DET |
48 |
Ryan Broyles, DET |
Andre Roberts, ARI |
49 |
Andre Roberts, ARI |
Sidney Rice, SEA |
50 |
Keenan Allen, SD |
Keenan Allen, SD |
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