Week 6: WR Expert Consensus Rankings Between 8 Sources

Three weeks ago, my husband let our dogs out one last time before bed. He said he could feel something was off as our smaller corgi, Hildy, kept running up to him instead of playing in the yard. Since it was nighttime, he could not see the skunk our German shepherd, Sousa, and bigger corgi, Frank, were going after. The skunk did its thing and Sousa’s face was in the direct line of fire. Frank’s was not far behind. After treating their fur for skunk smell, the stink stayed with them for three weeks, just as the internet said it could.

We’ve all had “skunk-sprayed” players before, guys who have underproduced too often as of late and it’s hard to get the stink off them. Some names that come to mind are Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Calvin Ridley, Brandon Aiyuk, Amari Cooper, and Keenan Allen. They’re all legitimate players who have been fantasy stars in the past. Is their “skunk-spray” going to wear off this season? For some, yes. For some, they’re going to carry that stink for the rest of the season. What do you do then? 

Check out my first in-season article to understand this season-long study: Week 3: WR Expert Consensus Rankings Between 8 Sources.

^Already played on TNF (Thursday Night Football)

WR1 TIER

PLAYER	OPP	RANK	Average	Mode	High/Low	Range
CeeDee Lamb	DET	1	1.4	1	1-2	1
Ja’Marr Chase	@NYG	2	1.9	1	1-3	2
Amon-Ra St. Brown	@DAL	3	3.1	3	2-4	2
Drake London	@CAR	4	5.0	5	3-8	5
Jayden Reed	ARI	5	5.5	4	4-10	6
AJ Brown	CLE	6	6.1	6	4-8	4
DJ Moore	JAX	7	8.0	8	4-11	7
Chris Godwin	@NO	8	8.4	9	7-10	3
DK Metcalf^	SF	9	9.7	11	7-12	5
Stefon Diggs	@NE	10	10.5	11	7-13	6
Brandon Aiyuk^	@SEA	11	11.7	10	10-18	8
Garrett Wilson	BUF	12	12.9	13	6-17	11

UPSIDE

DJ Moore has found the endzone three times in the past two weeks. His connection with Williams is solid, as he has 42 targets on the season. The Jaguars defense has allowed FOUR 100-yard WRs this season and four more to get 65+ yards. Against this Jaguars defense that has given up the most passing yards per game (287.8) in the league, expect DJ Moore to produce like last week.

DOWNSIDE

It took Garrett Wilson 23 targets and 13 receptions to get his first 100-yard game of the season. That’s not sustainable. He hasn’t had over 60 yards any other week and had less than 45 yards in two of those weeks. The Bills have only allowed 3 WRs to gain more than 50 yards this season and only 1 TD to WRs in the first five weeks. I would start him this week but do not expect the Top 12 upside the experts are giving him.

WR2 TIER

PLAYER	OPP	RANK	Average	Mode	High/Low	Range
Deebo Samuel^	@SEA	13	13.3	16	7-19	12
Marvin Harrison Jr.	@GB	14	15.0	16	12-18	6
Zay Flowers	WAS	15	15.0	15	13-20	7
Diontae Johnson	ATL	16	15.9	18	11-19	8
Terry McLaurin	@BAL	17	16.5	#N/A	5-22	17
Tee Higgins	@NYG	18	16.6	15	15-19	4
Mike Evans	@NO	19	16.9	17	12-23	11
DeVonta Smith	CLE	20	20.5	21	20-21	1
Brian Thomas	@CHI	21	21.4	23	14-25	11
Darnell Mooney	@CAR	22	22.1	22	17-27	10
Jameson Williams	@DAL	23	23.9	22	22-31	9
Wan’Dale Robinson	CIN	24	25.1	27	18-31	13

UPSIDE

Zay Flowers was one of my preseason favorites. He’s not panned out the way I hope so far, but he has 10, 11, and 12 targets when having at least an 80% snap share. The Washington Commanders have allowed 11 TDs to the WRs in the first 5 weeks of the season and this matchup is bound to be a shootout between Lamar and Jayden. He has Top 5 upside this week.

DOWNSIDE

Jameson Williams started the season HOT with 20 targets, 10 receptions, 200 yards, and 1 TD in the first two weeks. In weeks 3 and 4, that decreased to 5 targets, 3 receptions, 89 yards, and 1 TD. Dallas has only given up 3 TDs to WRs this season and only four WRs have gotten more than 60 yards. It could be a fun game to watch, but Jameson is boom or bust this week.

WR3 TIER

PLAYER	OPP	RANK	Average	Mode	High/Low	Range
Chris Olave	TB	25	25.5	24	20-32	12
George Pickens	@LV	26	25.9	23	23-29	6
Amari Cooper	@PHI	27	26.1	26	25-29	4
Jaxon Smith-Njigba^	SF	28	28.6	27	25-33	8
Tank Dell	@NE	29	29.9	24	24-39	15
Rashid Shaheed	TB	30	30.0	30	22-35	13
Josh Downs	@TEN	31	31.1	30	27-35	8
Calvin Ridley	IND	32	31.9	31	28-41	13
Christian Kirk	@CHI	33	32.8	33	29-35	6
Dontayvion Wicks	ARI	34	33.9	#N/A	29-43	14
Jalen Tolbert	DET	35	34.6	36	28-39	11
Courtland Sutton	LAC	36	37.0	40	25-42	17

UPSIDE

Remember when Seattle’s DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba tore up the Patriots secondary in Week 2 for a total of 30 targets, 22 receptions, 246 yards, and a TD? While that performance was one of a kind, I think Tank Dell can finally break out this week with Nico Collins sidelined. Dell and Diggs have a chance to tear this secondary apart, who have given up 6 50+ yard performances to WRs this season.

DOWNSIDE

Josh Downs has been a fun player to watch with Joe Flacco at the helm. 17 receptions for 151 yards and a TD in the past two weeks? Sign me up! Well, except not this week. First off, Richardson is expected to start. Both Downs and Pittman DNP this week but will play this week. Also, the Titans are tough against the WR position, only allowing three 50+ yard games this year and only DJ Moore has caught more than 4 receptions in a game. Start someone else if you can.

WR4 TIER

PLAYER	OPP	RANK	Average	Mode	High/Low	Range
Ladd McConkey	@DEN	37	37.5	35	34-41	7
Darius Slayton	CIN	38	37.7	41	25-49	24
DeAndre Hopkins	IND	39	38.0	38	34-45	11
Keenan Allen	JAX	40	39.0	38	37-42	5
Michael Pittman Jr.	@TEN	41	40.5	#N/A	28-53	25
Rome Odunze	JAX	42	41.4	#N/A	37-48	11
Tyler Lockett^	SF	43	42.4	42	40-46	6
Michael Wilson	@GB	44	43.6	43	40-47	7
Xavier Legette	ATL	45	45.0	45	37-51	14
Allen Lazard	BUF	46	45.5	44	41-49	8
Romeo Doubs	ARI	47	45.8	#N/A	35-54	19
Tre Tucker	PIT	48	46.4	53	32-53	21

UPSIDE

Darius Slayton ran with his opportunity against Seattle last week, getting 11 targets, 8 receptions, 122 yards, and a TD in the absence of Malik Nabers. Nabers and RB Singletary are both out again this week and against this Cincinnati offense that put on a show last week against the Baltimore Ravens, the Giants will be forced to pass. The Bengals have given up two 100-yard games to WRs, with four others getting 50+ yards. They have only given up 5 TDs to WRs so far, so don’t bank on one from Slayton.

DOWNSIDE

Ladd McConkey is starting to show himself as an up-and-coming asset to the fantasy game. Not this week though. The Broncos have only allowed 1 TD to WRs all season and Ladd is more than likely going to be shadowed by Patrick Surtain. 

WR5 TIER

PLAYER	OPP	RANK	Average	Mode	High/Low	Range
Jerry Jeudy	@PHI	49	47.3	44	44-51	7
Alec Pierce	@TEN	50	47.7	49	45-52	7
Jauan Jennings^	@SEA	51	48.0	47	46-50	4
Khalil Shakir	@NYJ	52	50.3	#N/A	44-57	13
Jakobi Meyers	PIT	53	50.6	#N/A	37-66	29
Quentin Johnston	@DEN	54	51.3	52	46-55	9
Ray-Ray McCloud	@CAR	55	52.3	56	39-59	20
Keon Coleman	@NYJ	56	54.3	56	50-56	6
Rashod Bateman	WAS	57	54.8	58	51-58	7
Andrei Iosivas	@NYG	58	57.5	#N/A	54-62	8
Demario Douglas	HOU	59	58.2	60	55-61	6
Greg Dortch	@GB	60	59.3	60	55-62	7

UPSIDE

Jerry Jeudy is a name I never thought I would write positively about this season. He is like a light switch: in weeks 1, 3, and 5, he did not get more than 30 yards in a game but did catch his only TD of the season. In weeks 2 and 4, he gained 73 and 72 yards respectively, and had a snap share of 86% or higher. It’s an even week and the Eagles have given up eight WR performances of 50 yards or more, allowing 7 TDs to the WR position as well. I think he could be a safe flex play this week, even with Deshaun Watson still at the helm.

DOWNSIDE

Khalil Shakir is questionable for a Monday night game. That’s why the WR37 on the season (even after missing last week’s game against Houston) is in the WR5 Tier. The Jets have given up six 50+ yard performances to the WR position this year, but only 2 TDs. With Josh Allen only passing over 200 yards in two games this season and Shakir’s up-in-the-air status, you need to keep him on your bench.

Thank you for reading this article! Check me and my buddies Kyle and Jamie every Sunday morning at 10:30am CST for our Fantasy Football Start / Sit Questions live show!

Always hit me up on Twitter (X) @topherk44 with any questions/comments/concerns/compliments/crest whitening strips so my teeth can look too white.

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