With Amon-Ra St. Brown (abdomen) out in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers, Josh Reynolds was lined up to be the Detroit Lions' No. 1 wide receiver and he delivered (four receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown). He even had a drop that cost him a catch and another chunk of yards.
St. Brown is in line to be back in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which ostensibly would hurt Reynolds. And the "Serpent of Death" (head coach Dan Campbell's nickname for him) did have a zero-catch dud in Week 3.
But Reynolds has topped 65 yards in each of the other four games this season, with a two-touchdown game in Week 2. Three of those games, other than Week 5 of course, St. Brown played in. So the two can co-exist as fantasy commodities, with a nod to Reynolds' having the history he does with quarterback Jared Goff from their time with the Rams. Reynolds has stepped up as a downfield threat for the Lions.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Josh Reynolds among top wide receiver adds for Week 6
Admittedly, the Week 6 fantasy football waiver wire does not look particularly exciting or deep. Reynolds stands out among the wide receiver options though, with no worse than a WR3 range finish in four of five weeks so far.
A Week 9 bye is worth noting. But until and after that, there are no matchups for Reynolds where he would be totally out of the conversation for a WR3/flex spot in a fantasy lineup.
Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 8: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 12: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 13: at New Orleans Saints
Week 14: at Chicago Bears
Week 15: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 16: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 17: at Dallas Cowboys
There is definitely some boom-or-bust to Reynolds (see zero-catch game earlier in the season), and that's independent of St. Brown's health. But as a WR3/WR4/flex option in leagues with 12 or more teams, he's worth adding to help navigate bye weeks.
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