Sep 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

This upcoming week 5 in fantasy football, wide receiver starts and sits stand out with some of the best talent in the league on both sides. I'll keep it short and sweet, here is the list below.

Start 'Em:

George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys - is now the team's main threat at receiver with CeeDee Lamb sidelined. Pickens has stepped into the WR1 role and demonstrated his elite ability, racking up 21 receptions for 300 yards and 4 touchdowns through four games this season. His explosive playmaking and consistent target share make him a top fantasy start as he faces a vulnerable defense this week.

Quentin Johnston, LA Chargers - is having a tremendous year, ranking third in the NFL for receiving yards and fourth for touchdowns. Johnston's dynamic presence in a high-volume passing offense makes him a must-start, with a matchup this week that should allow him to continue producing big numbers.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions - is averaging over eight targets per game and has already amassed over 400 yards and multiple touchdowns. He faces a defense this week that has struggled to contain elite receivers. Look for St.Brown to have a huge week in a matchup with Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals. The problem for Chase is that he doesn’t have anyone who can get him the ball.

Puka Nacua, LA Rams - is on fire this season, leading the NFL in Receptions and Yards, and it would be comical to say he isn’t a must-start at this point. He has had double-digit catches in 3 out of his 4 games. San Francisco has a good defense, but it doesn’t matter at this point.

Garrett Wilson, New York Jets - had a strong showing last week with multiple receptions and solid yardage. His exact numbers were 6 catches, 82 yards, and a TD. He remains a focal point in the Jets offense and will face a Cowboys defense this week that allows big plays to talented receivers, making Wilson a solid start option.

Sit 'Em:

On the "Sit" side, I’m going to say to sit teams with QBs who can’t make throws down the field. With Gabriel getting the start for the Browns and not knowing how he will do, I would stay away from Jerry Jeudy. I’m sorry for the very talented Bengals receivers and wouldn’t start either star Ja’marr Chase or Tee Higgins. Jaylen Waddle will face a tough matchup against a gritty secondary for the Panthers. I would also highly recommend staying away from any Titans wideouts. Elic Ayomanor and Calvin Ridley are sits this week as well, and will remain on the bench until Cam Ward and the Titans can figure out their offense.

In summary, for week 5, fantasy managers should confidently start George Pickens, Quentin Johnston, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Puka Nacua, and Garrett Wilson while sitting Jerry Jeudy, Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, Elic Ayomanor, Calvin Ridley, and Jaylen Waddle due to their current performances, matchups, and MAINLY QB situations.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 5: WR Edition

Reporting by Tyler Whitcomb, Touchdown Wire / Touchdown Wire

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