The 2022 NFL season is moving too fast, and I simultaneously love it, and hate it. As we move forward into Week 5, we are seeing that the wide receiver position has a ton of talent, but it’s more important than ever to absolutely nail this position. Sure, more often than not, you’ll never go wrong looking at the likes of Stefon Diggs, Justin Jefferson, and Tyreek Hill, but it’s not always feasible to get the top guys in your lineup every week while putting out respectable options at the other positions in your daily fantasy football lineups. From studs, to value plays, to mid-tier players, I got it all for you in this week’s DFS WR Coach. There’s some injury news to monitor, so check back later this week for updates to this article as more information becomes available. Here are my favorite DFS options at wide receiver for your Week 5 NFL DFS lineups, including my top receivers, best value plays, and receiver to fade.

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NFL DFS WR Top Plays

Christian Kirk, JAX 

Why the Texans don’t play more man coverage baffles me, especially when your third overall pick in the draft is a cornerback that excels in man coverage. However, we’ll exploit that with Kirk, who is far and away the team’s best receiver against zone coverage. He’s averaging 18.6 yards per reception against zone coverage this year, and in all of the National Football League, his 279 yards against zone coverage are the third-most, and his 86.1 receiving grade is fourth-best, per PFF. Houston’s pass defense has been stingy this year, but Kirk will have enough opportunities to pay off this price tag, and get to Desmond King, Steven Nelson, and Derek Stingley Jr.

Stefon Diggs, BUF 

The Steelers rank 26th in DVOA against opposing WR1’s this season, and there’s no doubting that Diggs is the unquestioned WR1 in this offense. In a game with hopefully more normal weather, Diggs should dominate. For what it’s worth, in two matchups against Pittsburgh in his career with the Bills, he’s caught 10 of 27 targets for 199 yards and one touchdown. Hopefully Kenny Pickett can keep this game close, so that we get four full quarters of Diggs destroying this Pittsburgh secondary.

Mike Evans, TB 

As a Buc, in four games against Atlanta, here are Tom Brady’s total passing yards in those contests: 390, 399, 276, and 368. Evans has at least 75 yards in three of those games, and with Brady, he’s averaging 5.25 receptions for 82.5 yards and 0.5 touchdowns per game. The Falcons have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to receivers this season, and they are one of just seven teams to have allowed at least six receiving scores to the position. Evans’ workload is tried and true, but if injuries continue to hit the Bucs’ wideouts, his target volume will only increase.

CeeDee Lamb, DAL

I was a bit hesitant to look to Lamb here, but the more you dive in, the less scary the matchup is. Ramsey has allowed nearly 15 yards per reception this year, not to mention three touchdowns in coverage and a 106.0 passer rating when targeted, per PFF. Lamb has at least eight targets in every game this season, and in three games with Cooper Rush this season, Lamb is averaging seven grabs on 10.3 targets for 86.3 yards and 0.7 touchdowns per game! The Rams have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing receivers this season, and Lamb will move all around the offense to exploit the best matchup possible.

Cooper Kupp, LAR 

Rinse and repeat. No analysis needed. As if we needed further validation, Matthew Stafford only has eyes for Cooper Kupp.

NFL DFS WR Mid-Price Plays

Terry McLaurin, WAS 

Could we finally get our Terry McLaurin ceiling week in this matchup against Tennessee? Jahan Dotson won’t play in this one, which opens up the door for some extra targets, and the Titans have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing receivers this season. Tennessee ranks 26th in DVOA against the pass, 23rd in DVOA against the opposing WR1, and McLaurin is averaging 6.8 targets per game. Curtis Samuel will get a lot of attention in this matchup, and rightfully so, but don’t sleep on McLaurin in this one.

Deebo Samuel, SF

You have to love the soft pricing following a Monday game for a stud receiver. Carolina has been about league average against receivers this season, and Samuel’s price point on FanDuel at just $7,300 is ridiculous. He’s the 12th-highest priced receiver on FanDuel and fifth-highest on DraftKings. He’s too cheap on FanDuel, and over the last three games, he’s averaging seven targets and 3.7 carries per game, while putting up at least 79 total yards in each of those three games.

Drake London, ATL 

Game script will benefit London in this one, and without Cordarrelle Patterson stealing a couple of targets, London just might have a floor of 10 targets in this game. He has at least six in every game this season, and he’s coming off his worst game of the season, so perhaps ownership will be diminished on London. It would be wise for the team to maximize his reps out wide against Carlton Davis, as he has been the lesser of the two outside corners for Tampa Bay this season. Kyle Pitts has been ruled out of this game, too, but unfortunately, that likely only opens up a few extra targets because Arthur Smith is something else.

DeVonta Smith, PHI 

The Cardinals have made some switches in their coverage scheme to play more zone, and they have actually been quite good against opposing WR1s, which is why I think Smith is in line for a big day amongst the Philly receivers. I don’t mind A.J. Brown in GPPs, but Smith is a cash game guy for me this week. While Arizona slowed down Cooper Kupp and Davante Adams, they allowed guys like Mack Hollins, Hunter Renfrow, and Ben Skowronek to record at least 59 receiving yards. If Arizona plays zone coverage, that only benefits Smith, seeing as he has more targets, receptions and yards against zone coverage this season.

 

NFL DFS WR Value Plays

Chris Olave, NO 

The Lions rank 29th in DVOA on deep passes, and Olave has quickly cemented himself as the air yards king in New Orleans, and maybe even the entire NFL. Olave has 42.1 percent of the team’s air yards, and Detroit ranks 25th in DVOA against the opposing WR2. He scored his first touchdown of the season last week, and he’s now seen at least seven targets in three straight games.

Curtis Samuel, WAS 

Curtis Samuel has been Deebo Samuel-lite this season, and that sort of usage should be quite profitable against this Tennessee defense. The Titans rank dead last in DVOA against the opposing WR2, and he has at least seven targets in every single game this season. If Washington’s offensive line can give Wentz a chance, he should thrive against this putrid secondary, and Samuel should exploit a Tennessee defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season.

Robert Woods, TEN 

Woods is going to act as the Titans’ de facto WR1, and it couldn’t come at a better time, given that the Titans get the Washington defense in Week 5. As you likely know, the Commanders have been destroyed by receivers this season, as they have the allowed the most scores to the position, and the third-most fantasy points to the position. Woods should get at least five targets in this game, and if he does, he should feast on a Washington defense that ranks 30th in DVOA against the pass and 25th in DVOA against the opposition’s top receiver.

NFL DFS WR Dart Throw

Nico Collins, HOU 

Collins’ 82 yards last week were the most he’s posted in a game in his entire career, and it was highlighted by a big 58-yard catch where he got behind the Chargers’ defense. It’s encouraging that the team is working him downfield, and his 14.7 average depth of target vastly exceeds his 10.6 mark from his rookie campaign. If Davis Mills’ accuracy can improve, especially in the intermediate game, Collins will flourish, especially as the opposition looks to limit Brandin Cooks.

Khalil Shakir, BUF 

The Steelers have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing receivers this season, and if Isaiah McKenzie can’t play this weekend, Shakir should see a career high in snaps, especially when you consider that Jamison Crowder is out indefinitely. He caught both of his targets for 23 yards in last week’s win against Baltimore, and the hope here is that we can get a touchdown at some point in this game, en route to double-digit fantasy points and at least 2x return on investment.

NFL DFS WR Fades

Diontae Johnson, PIT 

The Bills have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing receivers this season, and while Kenny Pickett made some nice throws in his debut, this is not the ideal spot for a rookie quarterback. Johnson saw two targets once Pickett came into the game, but this matchup doesn’t bode well for a big day from Johnson. Prior to last week’s contest against the Jets, the volume had been there for Johnson, but I have more questions than answers with this matchup, so I’ll fade Johnson at the price.

 

Be sure to check out the rest of the NFL DFS Coaches and DFS Watch List throughout the week!

| NFL DFS Watch List | DFS Playbook | QB Coach (Tue) | RB Coach (Wed) | WR Coach (Wed) | TE Coach (Thu) | D/ST Coach (Thu) | Value Plays | 

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