Fantasy Football Week 5 Rankings: Wide Receivers

Michael WhooleyOct 1, 2008

Believe it or not, we are already entering Week 5 of the fantasy football season and what a wild ride it's been thus far. At the wide receiver position, the only top tier players living up to the hype have been Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Owens, while the likes of Randy Moss, Braylon Edwards, Andre Johnson, T.J.Houshmandzadeh and Torry Holt have been a huge disappointment. Instead of dwelling over the failures of expected prized possessions you should be doing everything in your power to either make trades or work the waiver wire to make the most of your fantasy squad. In fact, just about every week a new wide receiver becomes a hot commodity on the waiver wire and if you are lucky enough to find that gem it could make your season.

With that in mind, we bring to you the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 5 Wide Receiver Rankings. Make sure to read these from top to bottom, because if you're in a bind and you need a good plug-n-play option the Bruno Boys just might have the right guys targeted.

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1. Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts) @ Houston

No team is better than the Colts the week after a bye, as Indianapolis has scored 105 points over the past three years once coming off a bye. As for Wayne, he has 377 receiving yards and two touchdowns during those games and with the Colts addressing offensive efficiency during the layoff don't be surprised if Wayne has his best games of the season while visiting the Texans.
Point Projection: 18 points

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2. Brandon Marshall (Denver Broncos) vs. Tampa Bay

It's to the point in which we don't even have to write an analysis as to why we like Brandon Marshall each week. The guy can play, flat out, and he should have no problem getting his fantasy points this week (or any week) even if teams start double teaming him like the Kansas City Chiefs did in Week 4. Greg Jennings was fresh off torching the Buccaneers secondary for 100+ receiving yards and two scores, so Marshall should have no problem going over the century mark and finding the end zone for the fourth straight week.
Point Projection: 17 points

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3. Terrell Owens (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Cincinnati

Despite a season high 17 targets in Week 4, Owens was limited to just seven receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. Still good numbers, but with the amount of passes thrown his way, you expect more out of Owens. This led to T.O. complaining about how Tony Romo is distributing the football and Owens letting the media know about his frustrations. Usually when T.O. talks people listen, so expect Romo to be on point in Week 5.
Point Projection: 17 points

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4. Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers) vs. Kansas City

When Jake Delhomme hit Steve Smith for a 56 yard touchdown pass right before the half in Week 4, it officially declared Smith "back" in the eyes of the Bruno Boys. Plus, the speedster is averaging over five yards per reception more from this year to last and despite the Chiefs giving up just three passing touchdowns on the season we feel Smith could escape deep again. Reason being, the Chiefs (four sacks in 4 games) front four has failed to bring the heat, which means Delhomme should have plenty of time to let Smith get open down field.
Point Projection: 16 points

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5. Greg Jennings (Green Bay Packers) vs. Atlanta

Last season, Jennings was just a touchdown threat. This season, he has used his speed, good hands and improved route running to his advantage as he leads the NFL in receiving yards and is second in yards per game. Look for Jennings to have a field day against unproven corner-backs Brent Grimes and Chris Houston en route to his fourth straight double-digit fantasy game.
Point Projection: 16 points

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6. Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Buffalo

Fitz has gone over 100 receiving yards in each of the last three games and is averaging 103.8 receiving yards per contest on the season. The Cardinals match-up against the 6th ranked Buffalo Bills pass defense will be the toughest challenge of the season for Fitz and company, but with Anquan Boldin's status in doubt you can expect quarterback Kurt Warner to be targeting his go-to receiver on just about every play in Week 5.
Point Projection: 16 points

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7. Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions) vs. Chicago

So the Lions organization might be in shambles, but this doesn't mean that Johnson can't produce as a high end WR1. Once again, the Chicago Bears (246.5 passing yards allowed per game) passing defense is towards the bottom of the league and despite being solid corner-backs, both Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher will have trouble defending "Megatron."
Point Projection: 16 points

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8. Randy Moss (New England Patriots) @ San Francisco

Don't give up on Moss just yet. Yes, quarterback Matt Cassel has failed to get Moss (6 receptions over past two games) the football on a regular basis but with match-ups against a banged up 49ers secondary in Week 5, San Diego (276 passing yards allowed per game) in Week 6, Denver (9 passing TDs allowed) in Week 7 and St. Louis (7 passing TDs allowed) in Week 8, Moss should have no problem getting back on track.
Point Projection: 15 points

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9. Lee Evans (Buffalo Bills) @ Arizona

Evans is off to the best start of his career and last weeks touchdown reception was the first time in his five year career that he has scored before Week 5. We know the Cardinals passing defense statistics are skewed by the bad showing against the New York Jets, but Evans has been getting behind defenses at least once a week and nothing should change here.
Point Projection: 15 points

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10. Santana Moss (Washington Redskins) @ Philadelphia

Moss has been the biggest surprise of any receiver in all of football this year and he has no one but head coach Jim Zorn to thank for his early season success. The west coast offense plays well with Moss' style of play and quarterback Jason Campbell has been hitting his speedster in stride en route to 421 receiving yards in four games. The Eagles have been giving up just 191 passing yards per game, but they have allowed six passing touchdowns and Moss should make it four of 5 games with a TD.
Point Projection: 14 points

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