Upgrades For Week 5 Wide Receiver Rankings: Drake London Skies Over Ravens

Let's get into the Week 5 WR edition of Freedman's Favorites, where I highlight guys I'm upgrading because of …

Favorable betting factors and situational spots
Advantageous defensive matchups (perhaps aided by injury)
Increased usage expectations (again, maybe aided by injury)

For process notes regarding this series, see the end of this piece. Also, check out the rest of my Week 5 favorites and fades.

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Week 5 Wide Receiver Rankings

Rank	Player
1	Jaxon Smith-Njigba
2	Puka Nacua
3	Amon-Ra St. Brown
4	Zay Flowers
5	Drake London
6	CeeDee Lamb
7	Nico Collins
8	Michael Wilson
9	Chris Olave
10	Malik Nabers
11	Garrett Wilson
12	Christian Watson
13	Davante Adams
14	Parker Washington
15	George Pickens
16	Matthew Golden
17	Jaylen Waddle
18	Jameson Williams
19	DK Metcalf
20	Luther Burden
21	Jordan Addison
22	Josh Downs
23	Mike Evans
24	Carnell Tate
25	Stefon Diggs
26	Romeo Doubs
27	Ja'Marr Chase
28	Terry McLaurin
29	Deebo Samuel
30	Devaughn Vele
31	Denzel Boston
32	Rome Odunze
33	Dontayvion Wicks
34	Malik Washington
35	Tre Tucker
36	Emeka Egbuka

Week 5 Matchup Upgrades: Davante Adams vs. Bills & Carnell Tate vs. Texans

There are a few "flow chart" defenses so bad that they provide automatic upgrades to whatever WRs they face. If a guy is playing one of them, I aggressively move him up my ranks. If not, I carry on.

Based on the numbers I see in our Fantasy Life DvP (Defense vs. Position) Matrix as well as RBs Don't Matter and FTN, the Bills and Texans are two of the biggest flow chart defenses for WRs.

Bills: No. 1 in largest fantasy boost allowed to WRs (+7.9)
Texans: No. 1 in most fantasy points allowed to WRs (37.0)

Bang a gong.

Davante Adams (Rams) vs. Bills: This is literally the fifth straight week I've highlighted Adams as a favorite. Given that he was one my 2026 fantasy favorites before the season started, I'm at least being consistent. With No. 1 WR Puka Nacua back, Adams lacks the ceiling he exhibited in Weeks 2-3, but even last week he still alongside Nacua had strong usage (9 targets, 31% air yard share, 100% end-zone target share, per our Fantasy Life Utilization Report). I love his setup against the Bills, who are traveling across the country for a primetime game well outside their standard 1 pm ET kickoff window and dealing with injuries to CBs Christian Benford (toe) and Dee Alford (ankle). On top of that, the Rams have a fully boosted home-field advantage against the Bills, who are outside the division and conference, on turf (vs. grass) and indoors (vs. outdoors).

Carnell Tate (Titans) vs. Texans: This just feels dirty. Tate was one of my 2026 fantasy fades entering the season, and the Titans are dead last this week in implied team total (16.75 points). They have a minimal home-field advantage against the Texans, who play in division and on a similar turf surface. On top of that, the Texans have No. 1 CB Derek Stingley (6.1 yards per target for career), and they're No. 4 in defensive dropback SR (41.6%). That said … they've been destroyed over the past four weeks by a cavalcade of pass catchers: DJ Moore (5-100-1 receiving, 8 targets), Ja'Marr Chase (7-75-2, 9), Tee Higgins (5-95-0, 10), Keenan Allen (6-63-1, 9), Josh Downs (5-77-0, 11), and CeeDee Lamb (17-189-1, 21). The Texans might actually be exploitable, evidenced by the fact that they're No. 28 in defensive pass DVOA against No. 1 WRs (32.5%). As for Tate, perhaps he's starting to come into his own: Last week he looked like a true No. 1 WR (17.0 fantasy points, 9-145-0 receiving, 12 targets). And for the season, he has legit usage (92% route rate, 30% target share, 49% air yard share, 75 Utilization Score). Maybe Tate will be the most recent WR to go off against the Texans.

Week 5 Scoring Upgrades: Jameson Williams at Cardinals & Michael Wilson vs. Lions

Sometimes upgrades are as simple as: "This team is going to score a lot of points, so I need to bump up the WRs."

This week, the Lions are No. 1 in implied team total (29.5 points); the Cardinals, No. 5 (25.0).

Upgrades warranted.

Jameson Williams (Lions) at Cardinals: Last week I highlighted Williams as a fantasy favorite, and in response, doubtlessly encouraged by my faith in him, he had his best performance of the season (13.2 fantasy points, 6-102-0 receiving, 8 targets). Why not again? The Cardinals are No. 31 in defensive dropback EPA (0.346) and without No. 1 CB Will Johnson (neck, IR) and maybe FS Andrew Wingard (knee). The Lions are on their third away game in four weeks and have a road disadvantage because they're outside the division and on grass (vs. turf). That's true … but what matters most for them is this: QB Jared Goff is indoors, where he tends to shine (48-28-2 ATS, 20.6% ROI, per Action Network). And it doesn't hurt that Goff has owned the Cards throughout his career (8-1 ATS, 67.6% ROI). His volatility makes him hard to trust, but I'm comfortable with starting Williams in Guillotine Leagues^TM this week.

Michael Wilson (Cardinals) vs. Lions: Over the past two weeks, the Cardinals offense has come alive (54 points), and in that span Wilson has resumed his role as the team's No. 1 WR (16.7 fantasy points per game, 18-184-1 receiving, 30 targets, 100 Utilization Score). Now, he has a pristine matchup at home indoors against the Lions, who are on their third away game in four weeks and have an enhanced road disadvantage because they're outside the division and on grass (vs. turf). Additionally, they're without SS Brian Branch (Achilles, PUP), FS Kerby Joseph (knee, PUP), No. 3 S Avonte Maddox (foot, IR) and No. 4 S Thomas Harper (ankle, IR).

Week 5 Indoors Upgrades: Drake London vs. Ravens & Jordan Addison at Saints

In general, I want to be heavy on WRs playing indoors, where they don't need to worry about wind, temperature or precipitation. Here are two such WRs who stand out.

Drake London (Falcons) vs. Ravens: The Falcons are on a one-day deficit coming off Monday Night Football, but London has looked like his 2024-25 self over the past two weeks with the return of QB Michael Penix (18.0 fantasy points, 14-290-0 receiving, 16 targets, 100% route rate, 38% target share, 51% air yard share, 89 Utilization Score). The Ravens have traveled significantly over the past month because of the Brazil game (10,711 miles), they could be without EDGE Trey Hendrickson (finger) and CB Marlon Humphrey (calf) and they're No. 29 in defensive pass DVOA against No. 1 WRs (32.6%). Plus, the Falcons have a fully amplified home-field advantage against the Ravens, who are outside the division and conference, on turf (vs. grass) and indoors (vs. outdoors). The setup is good.

Jordan Addison (Vikings) at Saints: With No. 1 WR Justin Jefferson (ankle) exiting early in Week 3, Addison has stepped up to lead the team in usage over the past two games (100% route rate, 27% target share, 58% air yard share, 77 Utilization Score), which he has leveraged into respectable production (12.3 fantasy points per game, 9-142-1 receiving, 15 targets). QB Kyler Murray has generally done well on the road (28-13-2 ATS, 30.8% ROI), and the Vikings have a one-day rest-and-prep edge over the Saints, who are No. 30 in defensive dropback SR (52.4%).

Week 5 Air Yards Upgrades: Matthew Golden vs. Bears & Denzel Boston at Jets

The WRs who are targeted downfield (the guys with high aDOTs, air yard shares and WOPRs) have an elevated chance each week of enjoying a spike performance.

You can see aDOT, air yards and WOPR in our Fantasy Life Air Yards Tool. "WOPR" stands for "weighted opportunity rating," and it measures the overall quality of a player's aerial role in his offense by considering his share of targets and air yards.

Here are two air yard accumulators who have my attention this week.

Matthew Golden (Packers) vs. Bears: The setup for Golden isn't ideal. The Packers could be without three OL starters: LG Aaron Banks (toe), RG Jacob Monk (undisclosed) and RT Zach Bako-Bewele (knee, IR). On top of that, the Bears are No. 2 in defensive dropback EPA (-0.096), and they've cut home-field advantage for the Packers down to the core because they're playing in division on a similar grass surface in a similar outdoor stadium. But my sense is that Golden's underappreciated in the market. He hasn't been as productive as No. 1 WR Christian Watson (16.8 fantasy points per game, 20-331-4 receiving, 32 targets vs. 12.3 fantasy points per game, 18-274-2 receiving, 37 targets with 1-6-0 rushing), but his usage has actually been superior (87% route rate, 25% target share, 39% air yard share, 33% end-zone target share vs. 83% route rate, 21% target share, 26% air yard share, 33% end-zone target share), and across the league he's the No. 4 WR in air yards (507). With his role, Golden has the upside to go off in any game.

Denzel Boston (Browns) at Jets: The Browns have put up 21+ points in three straight games under new HC Todd Monken. Not terrible. And I've been pleased so far with the rookie Boston (12.2 fantasy points per game, 13-284-2 receiving, 22 targets). His usage specifically has impressed: He's the No. 1 WR in the league in air yard share (55%) and No. 6 in end-zone target share (50%). The Browns are dealing with OL injuries to C Elgton Jenkins (concussion) and RG Teven Jenkins (back), but they could be back this week with three extra days of rest off Thursday Night Football. The Jets are No. 29 in defensive dropback SR (51.6%) and could be without CB Jarvis Brownlee (concussion).

Week 5 Offensive Injury Upgrades: Keon Coleman at Rams & Dohnte Meyers at Dolphins

Here are a couple WRs who get upgrades because of offensive injuries.

Keon Coleman (Bills) at Rams: No. 1 WR DJ Moore (shoulder) exited Week 4 early, and in his absence Coleman easily had his best game of the season in terms of both production (20.6 points, 6-116-1 receiving, 7 targets) and usage (78% route rate, 23% target share, 36% air yard share, 100% end-zone target share, 84 Utilization Score). There are a few factors going against Coleman. First, the Rams are No. 2 in defensive pass DVOA (-16.0%). Second, the Bills are traveling across the country for a primetime game well outside their standard 1 pm ET kickoff window. Third, the Rams have a fully boosted home-field advantage against the Bills, who are outside the division and conference, on turf (vs. grass) and indoors (vs. outdoors). But if Moore is out this week, I'll be on Coleman: The Bills are probably still fresh after playing three straight home games, QB Josh Allen has been strong historically off a loss (20-14-2 ATS, 12.2% ROI) and indoors (11-5-1 ATS, 30.1% ROI), and the Rams could be without CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder). Coleman is a real option on waivers.

Dohnte Meyers (Bengals) at Dolphins: Both WRs Ja'Marr Chase (concussion) and Tee Higgins (groin) suffered injuries last week, which resulted in Meyers getting a boost in production (11.7 fantasy points, 7-82-0 receiving, 9 targets) and workload (93% route rate, 67 Utilization Score). If Chase and Higgins miss Week 5, Meyers could see some real action against the Dolphins, who are No. 29 in defensive dropback EPA (0.276), especially since QB Joe Burrow is on the advantageous side of his splits: On the road, he dominates (31-15 ATS, 29.1% ROI). Outside the division, he devastates (40-17-1 ATS, 33.8% ROI). And on the road outside division … he decimates (23-7 ATS, 46.8% ROI).

Week 5 Defensive Injury Upgrades: Tre Tucker at Patriots & Tre Harris vs. Broncos

Here are a couple WRs who get upgrades because of defensive injuries.

Tre Tucker (Raiders) at Patriots: A glance at Tucker's game log over the past few years reveals him to be a true boom/bust merchant (10.1 yards per target). Example: This year he has one game with more than 20 fantasy points and three games with fewer than 7.0. But within a Raiders offense that's better than expected (No. 8 with 28.8 points per game), he could have relatively more booms this season, including this week. The setup isn't great for the Raiders, who are playing their third road game in four weeks and traveling East for an early 1 pm ET kickoff. On top of that, the Pats have an amplified home-field advantage because the Raiders are outside division, on turf (vs. grass) and outdoors (vs. indoors). But Tucker has a shot to see 10+ targets this week without WRs Jalen Nailor (concussion) and Jack Bech (forearm, IR), and the Pats could be without No. 1 CB Christian Gonzalez (shoulder) as well as backup CBs Charles Woods (shoulder) and Channing Canada (hamstring)

Tre Harris (Chargers) vs. Broncos: The offensive situation is terrible for the Chargers. LT Rashawn Slater (ankle), RT Joe Alt (neck), LG Kayode Awosika (lower leg) and backup LG Trevor Penning (head) are all uncertain … and C Tyler Biadasz (knee, IR) has been out since before the season started. But Harris might get 8+ targets if No. 1 WR Ladd McConkey (foot) misses the game, and that could be meaningful against a Broncos defense that might be without perimeter CBs Patrick Surtain (ankle) and Riley Moss (ribs). For those who still hold hope, it probably doesn't hurt that QB Justin Herbert historically does well in division (22-10-1 ATS, 31.8% ROI) or that HC Jim Harbaugh has dominated Broncos HC Sean Payton (6-1 ATS, 62.8% ROI).

Notes

Week 5 Favorites & Fades: Here's the full series.

Introduction
QB Favorites
QB Fades
RB Favorites
RB Fades
WR Favorites
WR Fades
TE Favorites
TE Fades

Byes: This week, the Chiefs and Panthers are on bye.

Market Odds: As of Monday afternoon.

Injuries: Since I write Freedman's Favorites on Monday and Tuesday, I have incomplete injury information. After I submit this article, any updated thoughts I have regarding injuries will manifest in my rankings. For our quick fantasy thoughts every day, subscribe to the Fantasy Life newsletter.

Schedule: This season, I have the following rankings schedule.