Are we finally seeing some fantasy football friendly football games?! Week 4 put up some of the best numbers yet, so let’s hope we can keep the good vibes going! Stuck between two players and don’t know who to start in Week 5? In these weekly articles, I will review and help you decide which WRs and TEs to start and sit every week based on matchups, weather conditions, injuries, and more. You’ll never see studs like Justin Jefferson or CeeDee Lamb on this list, but this is more advice to help you decide between those two players that will help you set and win your weekly lineup. For any additional gameday questions, be sure to follow me on X at @Lobosffden.
Week 5 Start and Sit
Start ‘Em Wide Receivers
Amari Cooper vs. Washington Commanders
This Cleveland Browns Offense has not looked great to start the 2024 campaign, and Amari Cooper has had a rocky start to his 2024 season. Through 4 weeks, Cooper has only scored more than 10 points once, and Week 5 should be the second. Cooper faces a terrible Washington secondary that gives up the most points to the WR position in 2024. While Cooper may not be putting up the fantasy points yet, those should be coming. Cooper has 37 targets (6th best) through 4 weeks, so once he and Deshaun Watson get on the same page, the fantasy points should follow. Start Cooper this week with confidence! This should be a get-right game for this offense.
Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Indianapolis Colts
The 1st round rookie draft pick is getting acquainted to the NFL, and he should be putting defenses on watch. Brian Thomas Jr had his breakout game last week vs. Houston, putting up a season-high in fantasy points (21.9), and a 28% target share. Additionally, Thomas Jr. has seen two consecutive games 9+ targets and 5+ receptions. This Jaguars offense has been a bit slower than many anticipated, but we should see better days ahead. They face a depleted Colts defense and divisional matchup in Week 5, and Thomas Jr. should continue to get more involved in this offense. He’s a WR3 with WR2 upside this week.
Dontayvion Wicks vs. Los Angeles Rams
What a difference Jordan Love makes on this offense, am I right? During Love’s absence, the highest-scoring WR put up 9.2 points, and that came from a 39-yard reception for Romeo Doubs. Love came in last week, and lit up a strong Minnesota defense. Now in Week 5 – it’s Wicks time! With Christian Watson potentially headed to the IR, Wicks should be a hot start this week. In Week 4, Wicks led the team with 13 targets, 2TDs, and saw a season-high 76% snap count. When Wicks has been on the field, he’s taken full advantage of the opportunities. In games where he plays 70% or more snaps, he averages 9 targets, 5 receptions, 78 yards, and 1 TD. I expect that snap count to be over 70% in the coming weeks, making him a solid WR3 with upside.
Check out all of our Week 5 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
Sit ‘Em Wide Receivers
Jaylen Waddle vs. New England Patriots
Jaylen Waddle makes his second appearance on this list, as Tua Tagovailoa recovers from his concussion. The entire Miami offense has taken a massive fantasy football hit, as nobody seems startable at this point. With Tua under center in Week 1, Waddle had 109 yards. In Weeks 2-4, Waddle had a combined 103 yards, averaging less than 7.5 points a week. In what should be a low-scoring battle with the Patriots, there shouldn’t be a need for much offense. As long as any Tua isn’t the guy under center in Miami, sit Waddle.
Tee Higgins vs. Baltimore Ravens
Tee Higgins is coming off his best performance in 2024, and while this Bengals offense is starting to warm up, I’m sitting Tee Higgins this week. The Ravens made that explosive Buffalo Bills struggle and held Josh Allen to less than 200 passing yards, and less than 8 fantasy points. Joe Burrow and this Bengals offense might struggle in this divisional game, and I’m not risking it with Higgins this week.
Jordan Addison vs. New York Jets
Jordan Addison came back from his injury in style. After a 20-point fantasy performance in his return vs. a depleted GB secondary, he should come back down to earth in Week 5. He faces a much tougher Jets defense, who is coming off a brutal loss vs. the Denver Broncos and should be seeking redemption. The Jets give up the 3rd-fewest yards to the WR position, and Addison should be benched. There are better options out there.
Start ‘Em Tight Ends
Tucker Kraft vs. Los Angeles Rams
Did I mention that Jordan Love has a fantasy impact on this GB offense? In his first game back from his injury in Week 4, Tucker Kraft saw a career-high in targets (9) and receptions (6) with Jordan Love under the helm. It looks like Kraft and Love are firing off some of the momentum they ended the 2023 campaign, where Kraft averaged 5.8 targets, 4.6 receptions, and 12 fantasy points. Kraft was on the field for 86% of the offensive snaps and should continue to contribute in a big way to this offense. Wheels up on Kraft!
Brock Bowers vs. Denver Broncos
After an explosive start to his rookie campaign and two consecutive TE3 finishes, Bowers saw a dip in fantasy production in Weeks 3-4. With the recent trade allegations surrounding Davante Adams, the arsenal would look light in Vegas, and Bowers would be leading that charge. With Adams out in Week 4, Bowers saw a season-high 81% snap count, and I expect that’s where we will see Bowers more often. Adams is out in Week 5 due to an “injury” but he should be out of Vegas soon, leaving the room wide open for Bowers to be a must-start TE for the rest of 2024.
Pat Freiermuth vs. Dallas Cowboys
Coming off his best performance of the season in Week 4, Pat Freiermuth should continue to build off that against a vulnerable Dallas defense. After a promising sophomore campaign where he ended as TE8, Muth took a step back last year. We know what he’s capable of, and with George Pickens being the only true WR target in Pittsburgh, Muth should continue to be the #2 target in that offense. In a game where Dallas should put up some points, the Steelers will have to throw the ball consistently, and Freiermuth should benefit from the dump-offs and short throws. As abysmal as the TE position has been in 2024, Muth feels like a safe start in Week 5.
Sit ‘Em Tight Ends
Mark Andrews vs. Cincinnati Bengals
You’ve seen what you need to see. Back-to-back goose eggs from Mark Andrews. Sit him, until we see otherwise. If he has another goose egg in Week 5… It might be time to set him free.
Kyle Pitts vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Another TE who the entire fantasy community had high, HIGH hopes for. Pitts has seen his snap count % drop every week (96% in Week 1, 74% in Week 2, 69% in Week 3, and 68% in Week 4), and failed to bring in a grab last week. Sit him, until you see more involvement.
Taysom Hill vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Taysom Hill is the definition of Boom or Bust. Hill ended as the TE5 last week with exactly… 0 receptions. All 14.6 points came off the ground, in what seemed like an “off day” for Kamara. He was injured and has been limited in practice all week. Sit Hill in Week 5! He’s not due for another Boom week for another few weeks.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!