Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – FantasyPros Week 5 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings & Tiers (Ep. 1745)

Date: October 1, 2025
Host: Chris Welsh
Analysts: Pat Fitzmaurice, Andrew Erickson
Theme:
A comprehensive, opinion-rich breakdown of fantasy football wide receiver rankings and tiers for NFL Week 5, with a spirited analysis of studs, sleepers, must-starts, and compelling WR debates. The episode tackles wide receiver injuries, emerging trends, and some tough fantasy dilemmas.

Main Episode Purpose

To help fantasy football managers make informed wide receiver start/sit decisions for Week 5 by debating updated rankings, analyzing player usage and matchups, and highlighting upside as well as risk. The hosts use sharp stats, personal rankings, and lively banter to examine the state of the wide receiver landscape amidst injuries and shifting team dynamics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Wedding Season Banter & Setting the Tone

• [01:01] Andrew returns, joking about his packed "wedding season." Pat notes he's at the "divorce stage" of life; Chris ties it to fantasy: “Let’s figure out who we’re marrying, who we’re divorcing as far as wide receivers for week five.”

Week 5 WR1 Rankings & Debates

Top 12 (per FantasyPros ECR):

• Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Justin Jefferson, Garrett Wilson, Nico Collins, Davante Adams, George Pickens, Emeka Egbuka, Jamar Chase, Deebo Samuel, Quentin Johnston

George Pickens – Is He a WR1 This Week?

• Pat Fitzmaurice [05:43]:

  “Last week, Pickens did really well as an alpha receiver… it looked silly to have been worried about his ability to thrive as a lead receiver against a defense from Green Bay that most people consider one of the best in the league. I’m still a little nervous about ranking Pickens as a WR1 when he’s probably going to be seeing a lot of Sauce Gardner this week.”

• Andrew Erickson [06:57]:

  “Pickens doesn’t move around much… you’re going to see Gardner basically match up with Pickens all game long… I don’t think we’re going to get a repeat ceiling game from him against the New York Jets.”

Jamar Chase – Is He Still a Must-Start?

• Major concern due to Bengals’ offensive struggles with Jake Browning at QB. Chase ranked WR10 in ECR, but both experts still have him as a WR1.
• Andrew Erickson [09:43]:

  “Not trying to overreact to two bad games from Jake Browning… after week three, the Jacksonville game was fine for Jamar Chase, he had like sixteen targets. Now we’re just gonna completely forget that ever happened?... I’m buying the dip.”

• Chris Welsh [10:58]:

  “My biggest worry would be that offensive line is so bad that Aidan Hutchinson is going to turn Browning into a huggy pillow… but Jamar Chase is insanely talented.”

• Pat Fitzmaurice [11:35]:

  “Jamar Chase is insanely good at football… When Joe Burrow had the season-ending injury in 2023… Chase had some good games. But then again, averaged 3.5 catches and 38.3 yards over the last four games… So it’s not all rosy. The situation is kind of bleak, but I don’t think it’s crazy to rank this undeniably great player as a low-end WR1.”

The Chargers WR Situation: Quentin Johnston, Lad McConkey, Keenan Allen

• Quentin Johnston at WR12 in ECR.
• Pat Fitzmaurice [16:03]:

  “QJ looks like a totally new guy, supremely confident catching the ball right now… quietly second in the league in air yards right now behind only Malik Nabers.”

• Discussion: McConkey has faced heavy double coverage, which has allowed Johnston to thrive, but he’s still talented. Keenan Allen “aging like fine wine.”
• Fitz’s ranks: Johnston WR20, McConkey WR22, Allen WR23 [19:25].
• Andrew Erickson [19:53]:

  “No receivers have faced more double coverage than Keenan Allen and Lad McConkey this year… Johnston has been absolutely feasting. Eventually you’ll see teams pay more attention to him, which could allow McConkey to bounce back. The Commanders are dead last in yards per target to the slot—great spot for McConkey.”

• Erickson’s ranks: McConkey, Johnston, Allen [23:01].

Wide Receiver Twos (WR13–WR24) & Key Calls

Michael Pittman

• Andrew Erickson [24:22]:

  “Had to move him up… Top 22 finishers in all games except the Broncos (Pat Surtain). Raiders have allowed the third most fantasy points to WRs.”

• Pat Fitzmaurice [25:31]:

  “This is a really attractive matchup. Pittman’s been consistent, at least four catches every game. But he’s only had one red zone target—it might be an overreaction to his touchdowns.”

Jalen Waddle: Finally a Smash Spot?

• Tyreek Hill’s injury opens WR1 volume for Waddle.
• Pat Fitzmaurice [27:03]:

  “No matter how eternal my Waddle optimism, I’m never going to outflank Erickson on Jaylen Waddle. I just don’t want to stop betting on a former top 10 draft pick.”

• Andrew Erickson [27:58]:

  “In games where Hill has played less than 50% snaps, Waddle has averaged over eight targets, 76 yards. You gotta start him… This is a bad defense overall, top to bottom. Waddle will deliver a smash week.”

AJ Brown – A Conundrum

• Both analysts notably lower than consensus, with Fitz at WR14 and Erickson at WR23.
• Andrew Erickson [31:11]:

  “If you can make a compelling case to start someone over him, I would… his ceiling is not high in this matchup or this offense.”

• Pat Fitzmaurice [31:44]:

  “Patrick Surtain… and just like… the total reluctance of the Eagles to throw the ball… The Eagles are 4–0 but the passing offense is bleak right now.”

Wide Receiver Threes (WR25–WR36) & Deep Flex Starters

Wandale Robinson as Giants’ New WR1

• Erickson [37:40]:

  “He’s a top 30 receiver attached to a rookie quarterback… I think that the talent levels are completely different (from Nabers)… he’s a solid start this week.”

• Pat Fitzmaurice [38:55]:

  “Average depth of target is up but could revert back… get ready for more of the usual Wandale 6-for-33 stat lines which keep you afloat in PPR, but don’t really help that much.”

Jordan Addison – Uninspiring with New QB

• Fitzy at WR31, Erickson at a much lower WR40 [40:39].
• Erickson:

  “Without the 81 yard catch, he went 3 for 33 last week. I don’t think this game will be a shootout… This game is just going to be a slog. I’m trying to avoid starting players in this game.”

• Fitzy:

  “His snap share was 96%, got 8 targets… Browns are hard to run against, may be a pass funnel. Addison's in starter territory this week.”

Chris Godwin

• Fitzy [43:07]:

  “Mainly matchup. Seattle’s given up the second fewest yards to WRs. But the usage was encouraging: 86% snap share, 10 targets, 146 air yards.”

• Erickson [43:56]:

  “No. 3 in expected fantasy points last week. Usage was great, just didn’t convert. By-low player—he’ll improve.”

Notable Deep Sleeper/Outside Top 36 Shouts

• Malik Washington (Fitzy’s pick) [45:04]:

  “He is going to have an enhanced role with Tyreek Hill out… had 110 catches for over 1400 yards in his final college season. Malik Washington can play.”

• Jerry Jeudy (Erickson’s pick) [45:36]:

  “He’s a floor play where I think that he will see enough volume to probably maybe crack in the top 36. Not a ceiling play, but volume is there with Cedric Tillman out.”

Memorable Quotes & Notable Analyst Moments

• “Are we divorcing Jamar Chase?” [01:54] Chris Welsh, encapsulating the risk with his signature dry wit.
• Pat: “Jamar Chase is insanely good at football.” [11:35]
• Erickson: “You can’t put that type of upside on the bench, especially with bye weeks.” [13:47]
• Pat: “QJ looks like a totally new guy, supremely confident catching the ball right now.” [16:03]
• Erickson: “I’m kind of done. Not that Lad isn’t super talented, it’s just his usage in the offense I think makes him a questionable starter… Quinton Johnston is the constant.” [19:53]
• Chris Welsh: “There’s some dude out there that, like, somehow got Chase, Brown and Nabers and…they’re just in shambles right now.” [32:27]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Top 12 WR debate (Pickens, Chase): [05:43 – 13:54]
• Chargers WRs (QJ, McConkey, Allen): [16:03 – 23:34]
• WR2s (Pittman, Waddle, A.J. Brown): [24:22 – 32:27]
• WR3s & Deep Starters (Wandale, Addison, Godwin): [37:40 – 44:51]
• Sleepers outside Top 36: [45:04 – 47:05]

Tone & Style

The hosts blend statistical depth with playful, self-deprecating humor and candid admissions about their own rankings biases. Regular digressions (“wedding season”, “divorce stage”, “marrying/divorcing” WRs) keep things light while deep dives into data and schemes offer actionable advice. The camaraderie between Chris, Pat, and Andrew is palpable and engaging.

Summary Takeaways

• Do not panic-bench Jamar Chase in Week 5, despite the Bengals’ offensive woes.
• Quentin Johnston is ascending but not an auto-WR1 yet; Lad McConkey may be a sharp play in good matchups.
• “Buy the dip” on Waddle with Tyreek Hill out, but remain flexible with Torrid situations like the Eagles WRs.
• Several mid-tier and deep WRs—Malik Washington, Wandale Robinson, Jerry Jeudy—have sneaky upside this week, especially for managers in a crunch.
• Matchups and usage trends are critical in this banged-up, bye-heavy week.

For more, check out the full episode and the FantasyPros weekly ranks at fantasypros.com/rankings.