2025 Fantasy Football WR Rankings - Week 5 Start, Sit Wide Receivers

October 2, 2025

2025 fantasy football WR rankings - Week 5 start, sit wide receiver rankings. Win more with our updated WR fantasy football rankings and tiers for Week 5.

The WR position has been volatile this season, and several big-name players struggled mightily during the first month of the season. On the flip side, there have been surprise booms from players will cheap ADPs during preseason drafts. Given the uncertainty, be sure to use these Week 5 fantasy football wide receiver rankings as your guide for start-sit calls. To find out where key wideouts like Darius Slayton, Elic Ayomanor, Deebo Samuel Sr., Chris Godwin, Michael Pittman Jr., Keenan Allen, and more stand for the fifth slate of 2025, dig into the rankings table below.

Our WR fantasy football rankings for Week 5 are put together by Nick Mariano. Below the rankings, you will also find a summary of the important fantasy football news for this week. There are always key injuries and developments to keep track of, so check back throughout the week for updates.

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Week 5 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings

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Week 5 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Outlooks

George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys

Coming off a monster Week 4, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens could be an even more active part of the Week 5 game plan, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. The offseason trade acquisition had his best game of the season last week against Green Bay, going for eight catches, 134 yards, and two touchdowns in Dallas' first full game without CeeDee Lamb (ankle).

This week, with a matchup against the New York Jets and cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner looming, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said the club plans to move Pickens all over formations to create favorable matchups. That should sound good to managers who roster Pickens, who figures to continue as the top option in Dallas as long as Lamb is out.

Kendrick Bourne, San Francisco 49ers

In Week 5, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne will once again ascend to the top of the depth chart thanks to injuries to both Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/ribs). Bourne started alongside Pearsall in Jennings' absence in Week 3, and came away with four catches and 38 yards on six targets. Hardly the boom some were hoping for, but with Pearsall also sidelined this time around, Bourne could see more work.

As in Week 3, Bourne's former Patriots teammate, quarterback Mac Jones, will take the place of Brock Purdy (toe). It should be noted that their shared history didn't garner the receiver any special attention then, however. Bourne projects as a WR4 in Week 5, and with the 49ers playing on Thursday night, it is a risky bet to start the week with him occupying a starting WR slot in fantasy lineups.

Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams has scored a touchdown in three consecutive games and will look to extend this streak on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Adams is the overall WR14 in PPR leagues this season, but he's averaging just 3.5 catches and 56 yards over his last two contests.

If not for his touchdown tendencies, he would be more of a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3/flex this week. Against a 49ers defense that has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, Adams is touchdown-dependent. He'll rank as a solid mid-range WR2, but managers should be prepared for him to post single-digit fantasy points if he can't find the end zone.

A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown is not expected to be traded during this season despite recent speculation. Brown has struggled out of the gate, catching just 14 of 28 targets for 151 yards and one touchdown through four games. While his slow start has drawn attention, it hasn't stopped the Eagles from rolling to a 4-0 record, including big wins against the Chiefs, Buccaneers, and the Rams. Trade buzz began swirling after Brown posted cryptic messages on social media, but a move remains highly unlikely.

His contract carries a nearly $90 million dead-cap charge, making a midseason trade virtually impossible. Brown is expected to remain in Philadelphia as part of a run-heavy offense led by Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley. Looking ahead to Week 5, Brown draws a tough matchup against 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain II, and the Denver Broncos. Given his early struggles and the Eagles' offensive approach, another quiet outing could be on the horizon.

Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) could need another week or two before returning, per ESPN's Dan Graziano. McLaurin injured his quad in Week 3 and sat out the team's Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He was also absent from Wednesday's practice ahead of the Commanders' Week 5 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.

If McLaurin remains out, Deebo Samuel Sr. (who also missed Wednesday's practice with a heel injury), rookie Luke McCaffrey, and Jaylin Lane would be the primary beneficiaries in the passing game. Quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) is trending toward a Week 5 return, but he may have to play without his top receiver. Facing a tough Chargers defense in his first game back, Daniels could be in for a down week.

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