Favorable Wide Receiver Matchups for Week 5 (2021)

October 9, 2021 Bill Mustafa

After the first quarter of the season, I think the two things we can take from these articles is that at least one of these guys is going to blow up and have a huge week for your team, and one is going to end up being carted off the field hurt or inexplicably see his snap % dropped (looking at you Mr. Aiyuk) with that said, we keep striving for a perfect 4/4 week and below are my favorite WR3/FLEX options for Week 5. 

Olamide Zaccheaus – Atlanta Falcons

We start with the early Sunday kick-off in London, and with the news that Calvin Ridley will miss the trip, people are clamoring to tell you how much of a must-start Kyle Pitts is, but I think it’ll be the supporting cast who show something against a poor Jets defense. Olamide Zaccheaus is one of the supporting cast WRs I think can have a strong outing in Ridley’s stead. Zaccheaus’ snap % has improved every week, culminating in he being on the field for 80% of Atlanta’s offensive snaps in last week’s loss to Washington. With Ridley and Russell Gage OUT for the trip to London, it’s very possible Zaccheaus is on the field every time the offense is, and that brings opportunity against a Jets secondary who grade comfortably inside the bottom 10 in coverage against receivers. 

Hunter Renfrow – Las Vegas Raiders

“3rd and Renfrow” has seemingly turned into “Any down & distance Renfrow” not as catchy I know.. but the diminutive slot receiver has been one of Derek Carr’s favourite targets so far through the first four games of the NFL season. Renfrow has at least 5 receptions in every game so far this year and his route-running chops have been on full display all season, showing off his new favourite ‘China route’ or more than one occasion. Cooper Kupp, another proponent of the China route destroyed the Bears in Week 1 with a 7/108/1 stat line, and whilst I don’t expect Renfrow to hit those dizzying heights, I do think we can expect a solid outing against a Bears defense who’s graded just outside the bottom 5 in defensive coverage vs receivers by PFF. 

Marquez Callaway – New Orleans Saints 

It’s been a slow start for the pre-season darling of the FF world. Callaway was being touted as a possible WR2 after his performances during the preseason and with Michael Thomas missing the majority of the first half of the season it seemed the second-year receiver was primed for a breakout, but things haven’t quite played out like that through the first 4 weeks. Callaway did have his biggest game in terms of receiving yards last week against the Giants and has a chance to top that against another NFC East team, as the Washington Football Team has been one of the worst secondaries at stopping opposition receivers, grading in the bottom 4 in defensive coverage. This could well be the Callaway game the FF world has been waiting for. 

Sammy Watkins – Baltimore Ravens

So last week I double dipped with Brandon Aiyuk and surprise surprise, he let us down again! So this week I’ve gone with a player who did us right the first time around as Mr. Week 1 himself gets his second run out on our list. Sammy Watkins has been a steady presence on the Baltimore offense with 4 receptions in each game this season and although he’s comfortably playing second-fiddle to Hollywood Brown and is yet to find paydirt, we could see that change against a Colts secondary who grade in the bottom 5 of the NFL in defensive coverage against receivers, and with Brown likely to take the majority of their attention we could see Sammy have a strong outing and finally find himself on the scoresheet.