Jaylen Waddle or Jakobi Meyers: Who should I start in Week 5 Fantasy Football?

Jaylen Waddle and Jakobi Meyers both find themselves working behind disgruntled WR1s Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams this week. With Meyers getting elevated and Waddle quietly hoping to cash in on the extra attention on Hill, either player seems like a decent play. However, fantasy football can make the clear-cut complicated. Here's a look at both players as well as a recommendation.

Is Jaylen Waddle a good pick in Week 5?

The Miami Dolphins and Jaylen Waddle face the New England Patriots this week. In years prior, being the second wide receiver on a squad against the Patriots would be a gold mine, as former coach Bill Belichick would take away the top receiver, opening things up for the second receiver.

With Belichick gone, expect a bit more equal spread between Hill and Waddle. Sportskeeda's Start/Sit Optimizer projects Waddle to earn 10.5 points this week. As such, Waddle is a flex/WR3 option due to the Dolphins' problems at quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa's absence is expected to continue into this week.

Is Jakobi Meyers a good pick in Week 5?

Jakobi Meyers finds himself suddenly elevated to the top wide receiver role on the Las Vegas Raiders following Davante Adams' trade situation. Meyers is projected to earn 9.1 points this week, per Sportskeeda's Start/Sit Optimizer.

The elevation to be the top wide receiver should add to his target share, but it also automatically puts him against Patrick Surtain II, who has been a grim reaper of fantasy production this season. Put simply, he is a risky start for the Raiders' game against the Denver Broncos.

Whom should I start between Jaylen Waddle and Jakobi Meyers in Week 5?

Jaylen Waddle and Jakobi Meyers both have cases going for them with potential big downsides. For Waddle, the quarterback situation isn't ideal. For Meyers, he will face off against Patrick Surtain.

According to Sportskeeda's Start/Sit Optimizer, Waddle gets the nod. Even though Bill Belichick might be gone, Jerod Mayo played in his defense and learned how to coach from him as well. As such, expect the Patriots defense to lock down Tyreek Hill as much as they can.

This will leave fewer resources to cover Jaylen Waddle, which gives him enough of an edge over Meyers to start. That said, don't expect a 20+ point breakout from the wide receiver due to the issues at quarterback.