D.J. Moore or Zay Flowers: Who should I start in Week 5 Fantasy Football?

D.J. Moore and Zay Flowers provide fantasy football managers with two compelling choices for Week 5. One is a veteran wideout on a team that is spluttering on offense, whereas the other is a youngster on a great team that looks to be clicking into gear. But both teams enter this week with a 2-2 record.

The Bears won their opening game thanks to their defense and then struggled to get going over the next two weeks, and fell to 1-2 in the win-loss column. They won against the Rams in Week 4 to climb to an even record. Led by rookie first-overall pick Caleb Williams, the offense is yet to convince. But they face D.J. Moore's previous employers, the Carolina Panthers, who are facing their own struggles this year and are eminently beatable, as their 1-3 record shows.

The Ravens, meanwhile, lost their opening two games to create a sense of mini panic. But they have since rebounded with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry doing what they were expected to do and pulling defenses all over the place. They have secured victories against the Cowboys and Bills in consecutive weeks to reinvigorate their season. Their Week 5 game against the Cincinnati Bengals is another matchup against a potential playoff contender.

Is D.J. Moore a good pick in Week 5?

D.J. Moore has struggled to replicate his form this season and his connection with Caleb Williams does not look as smooth as the one he had with Justin Fields. But the Bears wide receiver caught his first touchdown pass from the rookie quarterback in Week 4 to show hints of a burgeoning relationship.

That is D.J. Moore's only touchdown of the season and he just has 189 receiving yards after four games. It is a marked comedown from the highs of last year when he was an almost automatic selection for fantasy football managers.

Is Zay Flowers a good pick in Week 5?

Zay Flowers started the season strongly, racking up 128 yards in the first two games and one touchdown. Despite those games being losses for the Ravens, he found more chances as they looked to pass more. Since then, Derrick Henry has clicked into gear, resulting in reduced receptions for the wide receiver.

Zay Flowers has had four catches for 30 yards in the last two weeks. He had a single reception for 10 yards in their win over the Bills in Week 4. The phenomenon has not gone unnoticed and is already spawning memes. This should give fantasy football owners some pause before they think of starting him.

Whom should I start between D.J. Moore and Zay Flowers in Week 5?

With so many factors to consider, fantasy football managers can utilize Sportskeeda's Start/Sit Optimizer tool to get the best results. Considering all variables, it gives us who among D.J. Moore and Zay Flowers is a more analytically sound choice for Week 5.

The tool tells us to go with Moore. It projects slightly higher receptions, yards, and touchdown probability for the Bears wideout over Flowers, who has seen his production decrease in the last two weeks.

Additionally, Chicago is taking on the Carolina Panthers, who are giving up 209.3 passing yards per game, which is towards the bottom half of defense rankings and is good news for D.J. Moore. Baltimore faces a tougher proposition against the Cincinnati Bengals, who are allowing just 181.3 yards through the air against them and forcing their opponents to run the ball more. It is an invitation that Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are likely to accept to Zay Flowers' detriment.