NFL DFS Week 5 is upon us. Each week, we spotlight three to four core plays to help you build a winning weekly DFS lineup on Fanduel and DraftKings. In building a successful lineup, look for positional values to see where you can save money and players with projected low ownership who can pay 2x-2.5x of their listed DFS salary.
You bank on getting a minimum of 20 points from the quarterback position, you can not miss this position. Expect to pay up at the tight end, you can save at other spots. A successful strategy can be the QB-TE stack. These core plays will give you a nucleus for your DFS build.
Perhaps most importantly, you don’t need me to tell you to use Justin Jefferson or Lamar Jackson in DFS Week 5. These recommendations are designed to give you players we feel will be low-owned, in smash spots, and/or give you a unique DFS build.
DFS Start ‘Ems
Here are a few of the players we are heavily leaning on in this game. These players are in a good spot to have a solid performance and a favorable matchup.
Jayden Daniels ($6.8k DraftKings and $8.7k Fanduel)
Jayden Daniels is now QB1 in fantasy after four weeks and his FanDuel salary is now in the top three on the main slate. However, on a slate with Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, we feel that might keep Daniel’s ownership down. The Commanders feature one of the league’s better offensive lines and his rushing upside gives us some protection against the Brown’s top-six pass defense. Daniels is top five in yards per attempt, top seven in QB rating and the Commander’s secondary is one of the league’s worst which gives a desired potential shootout.
Najee Harris ($5.8k DraftKings and $6.5k Fanduel)
We are going to try and save on salary at the running back position in week five. We know Harris has been disappointing this season but we can use that to our advantage because it should keep his ownership down. Harris faces the 30th-ranked Dallas run defense and is among the league’s top running backs in red zone touches without a touchdown. Harris is a volume play, as he has 69% of the Steeler’s rushing attempts this season. Please note this game is only part of the FanDuel main slate in week five.
Brock Bowers ($5.5k DraftKings and $6.3k Fanduel)
Davante Adams has been declared out already for week five, which we feel makes Bowers the top option in the Raider’s passing attack. Bowers is TE3 in PPR and still offers us a decent salary to pay 2x his DFS salary. Bowers is second in tight end receiving yards, second in tight end yards per target, and last week had a season-high 73% route participation.
DFS Sit ‘Ems
On the flip side, here are a few players we recommend sitting in this one.
Daniel Jones ($5.2k DraftKings and $6.7k Fanduel)
Most of the quarterback sits on the main DFS slate are somewhat obvious, but we are sitting Daniel Jones in week five. Jones is facing the 10th-ranked Seattle defense and the prospect of his top wideout Malik Nabors not be available this week. Jones is QB19 this season and we feel there is a possibility he could get pulled or benched at any point.
Rhamondre Stevenson ($6k DraftKings and $6.7k Fanduel)
Somewhat of a tough decision here but Stevenson has fumbled in four straight games and now word is out the Patriots are contemplating starting Antonion Gibson in week five. Stevenson is RB25 is PPR scoring which is not awful but beware if you use him in week five. Also, Gibson and his $5.4k will be a DFS nice salary-saver option if he starts.
Jaylen Waddle ($5.7k DraftKings and $6.5k Fanduel)
We put Waddle here last week and will continue until Tua returns. The Miami offense is a mess and Waddle is suffering. He had four catches for 36 yards last week and four for 26 the game prior. Waddle is WR48 in PPR after four weeks and has 17 catches with zero touchdowns.
Total Apex Stud of the Week
DeShaun Watson ($5.3k DraftKings and $6.9k Fanduel)
We are going to step out this week and go against the grain and take some risk in this spot. We can easily plug in Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson but you have to be different to cash in DFS. The Browns get the 32nd-ranked Commanders pass defense. Watson’s fantasy stats should have been way better last week, as he had an 82-yard touchdown pass called back on a suspect holding call. Watson will go low-owned and this game sets up a potential negative game script for the Browns. We will not get any better a matchup for the Cleveland passing offense!
Total Apex Dud of the Day Week
Zay Flowers ($6.4k DraftKings and $6.9k Fanduel)
Zay Flowers is an obvious top priority in Raven’s passing, so he is not a sit but a buyer beware this week. The Ravens passing game is low volume and last week Flowers had one catch on two targets. Week four was an all-time low for passing attempts by a Ravens starting quarterback. Baltimore’s passing offense has a plus match-up this week but we can not recommend a player that could give you three points in DFS.
Stacks of the Week
Favorable stacks: Jayden Daniels-Terry McClaurin/Deshaun Watson-Amari Cooper/ Josh Allen-Dalton Kincaid/ Jordan L0ve-Dontayvion Wicks
Additional recommended starts: Jordan Love, Trey Sermon Jordan Mason, Xavier Worthy, Amari Cooper, and Tucker Kraft
Conclusion
Each week in DFS your payline for FanDuel is approximately 125 points, which is 2x per player. For example, a player with a $4500 salary needs 9 points. DraftKings pay line is approximately 134 points, which is 2.5x per player. So for a $4500 salary, that player would need 9.9 points. We also want a DFS lineup unique to the masses. You want players that are projected for low ownership.
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