Fantasy: Week 5 Rankings - Wide Receivers (Analysis)

Over the last two seasons, theScore's Justin Boone has finished in the top 10 in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. This year he's first overall after four weeks. Follow the links to see his rankings for Week 5. 

A final rankings update will be available on Sunday morning.

Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | K

Wide Receivers

• If Julio Jones stays healthy, he will be the number one receiver in fantasy this season. It's something I discussed prior to the season and now, with Calvin Johnson dealing with nagging injuries, Jones is positioned to make it happen. Jones is also the top option at wide receiver in Week 5.

• The Steelers quietly built a prolific offense without anyone even realizing. Ben Roethlisberger is a very underrated passer, Le'Veon Bell has morphed into one of the best rushers in the game, and Antonio Brown is a top-5 fantasy wide receiver. It's an enjoyable experience watching the Steelers offense operate, even more so if you own any of the team's skill position players. Did I mention they play the Jaguars this week? 

• Demaryius Thomas is off to a slower start than many envisioned, but there is no doubt in my mind that Peyton Manning and Adam Gase worked to solve that problem during the bye week. Even a battle with Patrick Peterson won't stop Thomas from breaking out of his funk on Sunday. His teammate Emmanuel Sanders also sneaks into the top 10 this week. Wes Welker is back, but Sanders has established himself as a major part of the Broncos attack. 

• Bears wideout Brandon Marshall is practicing in full, which is hopefully a sign that he is past his injury woes from the last few weeks. Marshall saved his fantasy day with a touchdown in Week 4, but owners want him healthy and producing like the WR1 he is. 

• Anyone who thinks Steve Smith may have a letdown game after the win over the Panthers, definitely doesn't know much about Steve Smith and his competitiveness. Barring injury, Smith is a top-20 WR at least for the near future. 

• Having Ryan Fitzpatrick as his quarterback hasn't stopped DeAndre Hopkins from rising the fantasy charts. Hopkins is a strong WR3 play and may even be a WR2 this week at Dallas. The process of passing the torch from Andre Johnson to Hopkins has begun in Houston.

• Tom Brady is on the decline, but having Julian Edelman as your number one receiver can't help matters. Edelman is serviceable, but hardly someone you want to count on to lead your passing attack or your fantasy team. Edelman caught two passes for 35 yards in his last meeting with the Bengals and he has the same kind of low floor in this one. 

• Brian Quick is a fantasy starter. That's the world we are living in now. Get used to it. 

• We will have to wait and see what Kyle Orton brings to the Bills offense, but I expect it to be a good thing for Sammy Watkins. The grass is always greener, but in this case, the quarterback play for the Bills can't be any worse than what EJ Manuel was offering up. Buffalo will rely on their running game, but Watkins will be the most heavily targeted receiver on the team. He remains a WR3 with WR2 upside. 

• Rueben Randle had his best game of the season last Thursday, with eight receptions for 89 yards. Randle was overshawdowed by tight end Larry Donnell, who caught three touchdowns in the game, but Randle narrowly missed out on a two touchdowns of his own. His arrow is pointing way up, even with the debut of Odell Beckham nearing. 

• Andrew Hawkins and Kendall Wright need to learn how to score touchdowns from another receiver who is under 6-feet-tall, Eddie Royal. The Chargers pass catcher has four touchdowns on the year, including multiple scores in back-to-back games. If Hawkins and Wright were more of a threat to find the end zone, they would climb this list rapidly.