Start Denzel Boston or Ladd McConkey? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start Denzel Boston over Ladd McConkey in Week 5.

Market-based projections have Denzel Boston at 10.4 points and Ladd McConkey at 9.8, a gap of 0.6. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 10.4 fantasy points for Denzel Boston, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market has Denzel Boston at 47.5 receiving yards and 3.5 receptions, with a 31% chance to score a touchdown (14, 14 and 18 market sources).

Player markets imply 9.8 fantasy points for Ladd McConkey, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market has Ladd McConkey at 41.5 receiving yards and 3.5 receptions, with a 30% chance to score a touchdown (10, 8 and 15 market sources).

That puts Denzel Boston 0.6 points ahead of Ladd McConkey on the market projections.

Week 5 matchups

Ladd McConkey and LAC host DEN on Sunday at 4:05 PM ET.

DEN allowed 28.3 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 4 games, the 9th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 134 yards and 0.8 touchdowns a game against DEN.

Injury status

Denzel Boston is not on the injury report.

Ladd McConkey is listed as questionable with a foot injury.

Usage before Week 5

Through Week 4, Denzel Boston played 92 percent of CLE snaps, drew 19 percent of the targets, earned 50 percent of the air yards and had 11 percent of the red zone chances.

Denzel Boston, Week 1 against JAX: 47 of 51 snaps, 4 targets and 2 catches for 59 yards, 1 touchdown.

Denzel Boston, Week 2 against TB: 54 of 58 snaps, 7 targets and 5 catches for 95 yards, 1 touchdown.

Denzel Boston, Week 3 against CAR: 62 of 70 snaps, 4 targets and 2 catches for 41 yards.

Denzel Boston, Week 4 against PIT: 61 of 64 snaps, 7 targets and 4 catches for 89 yards.

Through Week 4, Ladd McConkey played 54 percent of LAC snaps, drew 15 percent of the targets, earned 22 percent of the air yards and had 6 percent of the red zone chances.

Ladd McConkey, Week 1 against ARI: 27 of 55 snaps, 7 targets and 5 catches for 82 yards, 1 touchdown.

Ladd McConkey, Week 2 against LV: 31 of 68 snaps, 3 targets and 3 catches for 35 yards.

Ladd McConkey, Week 3 against BUF: 61 of 69 snaps, 5 targets and 4 catches for 66 yards.

Ladd McConkey, Week 4 against SEA: 24 of 71 snaps, 2 targets and 0 catches for 0 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Ladd McConkey played 16 games for LAC and scored 180.9 PPR points, 11.3 a game, finishing WR30.

He caught 66 of 106 targets for 789 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 14 red zone targets and 479 air yards.

He was on the field for 78 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 5 calls

• Start Carnell Tate over Denzel Boston.
• Start Christian Watson over Denzel Boston.
• Start Denzel Boston over Courtland Sutton.
• Start Ladd McConkey over Calvin Ridley.
• Start Carnell Tate over Ladd McConkey.
• Start Chris Olave over Ladd McConkey.