Our Week 5 FanDuel lineup is breaking some classic NFL DFS rules — namely, don’t stack an RB and a WR and don’t stack a TE and D/ST. Those aren’t necessarily hard-and-fast tenets to live by in daily fantasy football, but generally speaking, those positions don’t correlate like QB-WR or RB-D/ST. Ultimately, we think we’re getting good value and potentially productive players, so we’re going all-in on this strategy.
Don’t worry — we do have a traditional QB-WR stack, too. We also have two of the top players at their respective positions to help raise our floor and ceiling. When you put it all together, we like our chances at cashing this week.
Before we break down our strategy and picks, here are the most notable scoring rules for FanDuel contests: four-point passing TDs and half-point PPR.
WEEK 5 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings
FanDuel Picks Week 5: NFL DFS lineup for GPP tournaments
Sunday main slate, $60,000 budget
QB Tom Brady, Buccaneers vs. Falcons ($7,800). The GOAT hasn’t exactly dominated this year, but he put up big stats last week (385 yards, three TDs) and should be in line for another big game against Atlanta’s 25th-ranked pass defense. Brady has Mike Evans and Chris Godwin back, plus a host of decent secondary receivers, so he should carve up these birds en route to a top-five QB finish.
RB Nick Chubb, Browns vs. Chargers ($9,400). Chubb has been the best RB in the NFL this year. The Chargers have allowed the third-most fantasy points to RBs. Sometimes, it’s that easy. Pay up, and enjoy the production.
WEEK 5 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
RB Damien Harris, Patriots vs. Lions ($7,200). Harris is getting out-snapped by Rhamondre Stevenson, but the Pats’ bruiser is getting more carries, especially around the goal line. He makes more sense on FanDuel than DraftKings, which is full-point PPR, but either way, expect him to produce against a Lions’ defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to RBs. New England will likely be starting third-string QB Bailey Zappe, so a run-heavy game plan is in the cards.
WR Tyreek Hill, Dolphins @ Jets ($8,400). Hill has the highest ceiling of virtually any player in a given week, and we’re hoping the loss of Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) scares off other DFS players. Hill can produce with anyone, as he showed last week when he hauled in 10-of-14 targets for 160 yards while playing the majority of the game with Teddy Bridgewater under center. Hill will be just fine in this above-average matchup.
UPDATE: If Hill (quad) is out, we’ll pivot to Mike Williams ($7,400), who should excel with Keenan Allen (hamstring) once again out and Josh Palmer (ankle) hobbled.
WEEK 5 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
WR Chris Godwin, Buccaneers vs. Falcons ($7,000). Godwin returned from a hamstring injury to post 59 yards on seven catches (10 targets) last week. He’s a big part of Tampa’s offense, and he should take advantage of this favorable matchup. Mike Evans is still more likely to score, but Godwin could easily dent the end zone, too, especially with Julio Jones and Cameron Brate dinged up.
WR Robert Woods, Titans @ Commanders ($5,900). With Treylon Burks (toe) out for Week 5, Woods is the Titans’ unquestioned leader for targets. Factoring in his modest price and Washington’s 24th-ranked pass defense, this is an easy mid-tier value pick.
WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
TE Juwan Johnson, Saints vs. Seahawks ($4,700). Johnson hasn’t done much this year, but he’s seeing fairly consistent targets (at least four in three games) and playing the majority of snaps. That will play against Seattle’s league-worst tight end defense. We needed a value TE after spending up for Brady, Chubb, and Hill, and we’re fine with Johnson, who’s just as likely to produce as most of the other TEs on the slate. It helps that Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, and Darren Waller play in prime time this week.
FLEX Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Jets ($5,800). Even though Chase Edmonds has scored the short TDs the past couple of weeks, it’s been Mostert who’s received the majority of touches. He has game-breaking speed, and in a game where Miami could have a second-half lead, he should be due for more touches. The bottom line is he’s too cheap on FanDuel, so we had to take advantage given our splurges at other positions.
WEEK 5 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
DEF New Orleans Saints vs. Seahawks ($3,800). Geno Smith and the Seahawks have fared well the past two weeks against bad defenses. The Saints aren’t a bad defense, though. In Weeks 1 and 2 against Denver and San Francisco, Seattle’s offense scored a combined 18 points, allowed four sacks, and turned it over four times. We expect something similar in New Orleans.
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