NFL DFS: DraftKings Week 5 Picks

Picking DFS lineups now seems to be as much about keeping up to date with the covid news as anything else, and Week 5 in the NFL is no different. My first draft included $3k Byrd again (one day!) but with the Broncos-Pats and Bills-Titans moved to Monday and Tuesday, he’s out. Thankfully, assuming Julio Jones doesn’t start (or doesn’t finish), there’s a great value play as a replacement. Other assumptions I’m making this week include Dallas will be leading much of the game so Dak won’t need to throw for 500 yards and there won’t be much defense on display in Atlanta.

These are my personal opinions on the games and strategies at the time of writing this. I may employ different players and strategies than above if later or further information makes me re-evaluate my opinions.

Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes, KC - $7.7k

Week 5 RedZone picks
Credit: SI.com

It feels like cheating to recommend Mahomes as he’s such an obvious play every week but this week he particularly stands out for me amongst the most expensive QBs. He faces a Raiders team who has given up 30 points in three out of four games this season and doesn’t get much pressure on the quarterback. His performances have been overshadowed by the other-worldly scoring of Prescott and Wilson so it’s possible you can get him at slightly lower ownership than usual.

DeShaun Watson, HOU - $6.9k

Surely this is the week Houston win? It’s a nice matchup for Watson with the Jags giving up over 500 yards of offense last week. His fantasy scores haven’t been spectacular so far but if he’s going to have a blow-up game, I think this is the week.

Matt Ryan, ATL - $6.1k

Just let me copy and paste something I seem to say a lot….I’m going to target the Panthers D every week. This week is no exception. Ryan is at home which has historically been where he does his best work and he’s always a candidate for a 300 yard game in a dome. He’s had a couple of down weeks which means he might be low-owned.

Running Backs

James Connor, PIT - $6.9k

Credit: Keith Srakocic (Associated Press)

Here’s another player I’m hoping to get at low ownership after their impromptu bye week. Connor averaged 25.5 fpts in weeks 2 & 3 and now faces an inconsistent Eagles run defense. The only concern with him is he has a knack of getting injured during games.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC - $6.8k

This is what the internet calls a “smash spot” for CEH. He’s on the favoured team, he’s getting bellcow usage, carries inside the 5 & 10-yard line and he’s involved in the passing game. $6.8k still seems a bit cheap to me.

Mike Davis, CAR - $6.4k

I already liked Mike Davis even when losing some workload to Reggie Bonnafon. But now with Bonnafon placed on the practice squad injured list, well I’m not sure I have words to describe my feelings for Davis?!?!? He should get real CMC usage and he’s up against a Falcons defense who have been giving up yards and points for fun. Just play him.

Wide Receivers

Calvin Ridley, ATL - $7.5k

Credit: AtlantaFalcons.com

Back to the Panthers-Falcons matchup with Calvin Ridley who last weekend scored a great big zero on 5 targets. Julio Jones and Ridley came into their week 4 matchup with injury designations. It looks like Ridley has progressed more than Jones this week which would make him the focal point in the passing game. He’s the second-most expensive receiver on the slate but worth paying up for as his ceiling is so high.

Will Fuller, HOU - $6.6k

Talking of high ceilings, Fuller has always been seen as that boom or bust play (when he’s not injured) but he has added a nice floor to his scoring too (when he’s not injured!) He’s clearly benefitting from the departure of Hopkins and in a game where I expect a big total for Houston, he’s capable of a multi-touchdown performance.

Olamide Zaccheaus, ATL - $3k

Bye-bye Byrdie and hello Zaccheaus. If Julio Jones doesn’t suit up, Zaccheaus could be great value. He was targeted 9 times last week as the Falcons receivers dropped like flies and turned that into 16.6 fpts. Only worth considering if one of the Falcons receivers is out.

Tight Ends

Evan Engram, NYG - $4.6k

Credit: SI.com

Engram is receiving plenty of targets this season (30 in 4 games), he’s just not doing much with them. However, he’s up against every pass-catchers favourite defense this week and should be playing from behind.

Eric Ebron, PIT - $4k

I like a lot of Steelers this week but I think Ebron offers the best value. Like with Connor I’m picking him partly because I hope/think he’ll be low owned. His targets have gone up each week and George Kittle just destroyed the Eagles D. I know he’s no Kittle but he doesn’t have to be at only $4k.

Jordan Akins, HOU - $3.3k

After picking Akins last week, he was on course for a decent score before being knocked out of the game with an illegal hit by Harrison Smith of the Vikings. His availability for Sunday is still in question but if he plays, I expect him to continue where he left off last week against a poor Jags team.

Defense

Steelers - $3.8k

Credit: Steelers.com

Yep, Steelers again. They are one of the heaviest blitzers in the league and they face an Eagles offensive line that has more dodgy backups than an NHS Test and Trace spreadsheet. They’re scoring consistent fantasy points which is unusual for a defense.

Browns - $2.7k

Another pick based around getting pressure on the quarterback. Also, facing Rivers who always has that multiple interception game in his armoury.

Sneaky Stack

Rams – Goff ($6.5k), Kupp ($6.5k), Woods ($6.4k)

Credit: Richard MAckson (USA Today Sports)

I’ve alluded to liking Texans, Chiefs, and Steelers stacks above but my sneaky stack this week is the Rams. Two main reasons: 1 – A large proportion of the Rams passing game goes through Kupp and Woods. There are not multiple mouths to feed like many other offenses. 2 – They’re playing Washington who after week 1 has been very disappointing on defense. All three players are mid-priced and allow you to put some more expensive players in the same lineup.

Mark Ferguson

DFS Analyst

Mark is an experienced DFS player and a member of the UK’s winning Fantasy Ashes team. A jack of all sports but NFL is his first love. You can find him on Twitter @_SMRF

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