Fantasy Football Week 5: Flex Rankings, Waiver-Wire Targets and Projections

Erik Beaston

Fantasy Football Week 5: Flex Rankings, Waiver-Wire Targets and Projections

Todd Kirkland/ Running backs and wide receivers have been and always will be the heart and soul of a great fantasy team, their dynamic skillsets and scoring ability separating them from the other positions on the field.
That has not changed in this 2024 NFL season.
Ahead of Week 5, which sees some favorable match-ups for some of the best players in the league, find out who to start against which teams and which two waiver wire pickups could be the difference between winning your week with this preview.

Flex Rankings and Projections

Greg Fiume/ The FLEX rankings for Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season are:
1. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (20 carries, 150 yards, 2 TDs, 3 rec., 20 yards)
2. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs (20 carries, 85 yards, TD, 5 rec., 45 yards, TD)
3. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams vs. Green Bay Packers (18 carries, 125 yards, 3 TDs)
4. Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals (15 carries, 100 yards, TD, 3 rec., 20 yards)
5. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Jets (8 catches, 140 yds, TD)
6. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars (15 carries, 90 yards, TD, 4 rec., 30 yards, TD)
7. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (20 carries, 85 yards, 2 TDs)
8. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams (15 carries, 80 yards, TD, 3 rec., 15 yards)
9. Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans vs. Buffalo Bills (10 rec., 100 yards, TD)
10. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers (6 rec., 85 yards, 2 TDs)
11. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15 carries, 75 yards, 4 rec., 40 yards, TD)
12. James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans (15 carries, 75 yards, TD, 5 rec., 30 yards)
13. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings (20 carries, 80 yards, TD, 3 rec., 15 yards)
14. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Giants (15 carries, 75 yards, TD)
15. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens (5 rec., 65 yards, TD)

Waiver Wire Pickup: Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Green Bay Packers

Patrick McDermott/ After a slow start to the season, Dontayvion Wicks showed up and balled out Sunday, catching five-of-13 passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns in a Green Bay Packers comeback that fell just short against the Minnesota Vikings.
His contributions to the offense with starting quarterback Jordan Love back under center were undeniable and understandably have Packers fans excited about him contributing greatly to the team moving forward.
While he could still stand to catch more of the balls thrown in his direction, including a fourth-down drop that could have won his team the game, a Week 5 match-up against a bad Rams secondary giving up 35.93 points and seven touchdowns to opposing receivers makes him an intriguing play.
Wicks is available in 86 percent of Yahoo and 90 percent of ESPN leagues, making him an easy pickup for managers who need depth at receiver or are scrambling to find a suitable replacement for the injured AJ Brown, Cooper Kupp, or Puka Nacua.

Waiver Wire Pickup: Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Lauren Leigh Bacho/ In his second game of the season, with Joe Flacco filling in for an injured Anthony Richardson, Josh Downs reminded the world why he was considered one of the potential breakout stars of this NFL season.
The second-year player out of North Carolina caught 8-of-9 balls for 82 yards and a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers to finish 11th at his position.
In Week 5, he squares off against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense yielding 41.83 points to opposing wide receivers, 774 yards, and four touchdowns.
Regardless of who is throwing the ball, Downs is a player worth grabbing off of the waiver wire.
Even more so if it is Flacco starting next week's game as the 39-year-old quarterback appeared more poised and comfortable in the Colts' offense than the dynamic, playmaking QB ever has.
In one game, Flacco threw for two touchdowns, just one less than Richardson has through the first three games of the season.
Downs can certainly benefit from having consistent quarterback play under center and if it is Flacco, managers should quickly grab him before it is too late. He is available in 80 percent and 91 percent of leagues in Yahoo and ESPN fantasy, respectively.

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