NFL DFS Late Slate Picks Week 5

Welcome back, folks, to Late Slate, where we organize the chaos to save your fantasy weekend. Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season gave us some big lessons, and if you weren’t paying attention, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

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I liked having a list of 5 things we learned so much last week that I did it again this week.

5 Things We Learned from Week 4 of the 2025 NFL Season

1. Rookie RBs are finally producing. Ashton Jeanty and Woody Marks showed up in a big way, rushing, catching, and basically yelling, “Pick me, I’ll score points!” These guys are legit.
2. The Bengals’ offense should be flushed down a toilet. Jake Browning + that offensive line = fantasy nightmares. Defenses are eating, and the Bengals keep handing out points like Halloween candy… to the other team.
3. The Falcons offense finally remembered they’re supposed to score. 441 yards and 34 points against the Commanders. That’s the kind of wake-up call that makes us smile.
4. Tyreek Hill’s injury = opportunity time. Jaylen Waddle and Devon Achane are about to get more touches than a phone at Comic-Con.
5. The Chiefs offense is cooking. Mahomes threw for 270 yards and four TDs. Mahomes’ first 4-touchdown game in years.

NFL DFS: Week 5 Late Slate Picks

Quarterbacks

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers will play the Commanders in Week 5. In each of the past three games, the Commanders defense has given up over 280 yards passing and multiple touchdowns. We are talking guys like Geno Smith and Michael Penix here. Justin Herbert had his worst game of the season in Week 4. With only 203 yards and 1 touchdown. Look for him to bounce back in a great spot. This is a 300-yard multiple-touchdown ceiling type of match-up.

$6,100 on DraftKings
$8,000 on FanDuel

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Jared Goff is one of those guys who’ll give you a dud every now and then, but he balances it out with plenty of solid outings. Week 5 lines up as one of those “solid” weeks. The Lions draw the Bengals, the same Bengals defense that Bo Nix just carved up for 300+ yards and a couple of scores. Vegas has this game pegged with a 49.5 over/under, which screams shootout — though let’s be honest, it might just be Detroit doing all the shooting. If the Lions put up 49 on their own, no one will be surprised, least of all Goff managers cashing in.

$6,500 on DraftKings
$7,800 on FanDuel

Running Backs

Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Looks like Bucky Irving will miss this week’s contest. That means White will be the starting running back for the Buccaneers. With so many talented players out for the Buccaneers, I expect white to be involved in the passing game heavily. The Buccaneers play the Seahawks. The Seahawks give up the most receiving yards to opposing running backs. Great week to plug in Rachaad White

$4,700 on DraftKings
$5,200 on FanDuel

David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

If you were unaware, I love David Montgomery. I really do. He is just one of those players other people seem to ignore, then BAM production. He is not nearly as sexy as his running mate in the Lions backfield, Jahmyr Gibbs, who is also a great play in Week 5.

In Week 5, the Lions play the Bengals. The Bengals have been scorched by running backs this season (as well as every other position). Look for Monty to run all over the Bengals like JK Dobbins did in Week 5, as the Bengals give up 123 yards per game on the ground to running backs. I like Montgomery and Gibbs to hurt the Bengals in a multitude of ways in Week 5. Lions, Bengals, and Fantasy points, OH MY!

$5,200 on DraftKings
$6,300 on FanDuel

Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals

Do any of you remember this guy? He popped up in the fantasy playoffs last season and helped people win championships. Carter is the self-proclaimed Cardinals starting running back for Week 5.

Carter and Amari Demercado will most likely split touches in Week 5 for the Cardinals. Sounds bad, but it isn’t, as both guys are viable DFS plays in Week 5. The Cardinals will play the Titans, and the Titans give up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. The Titans have given up multiple touchdowns to running backs in the past 2 games. I like both guys.

$4,000 on DraftKings
$4,000 on FanDuel

Wide Receivers

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

The Lions play the Bengals in Week 5. Evidently, I am in “play your Lions” mode. This is because the bungles, I mean Bengals, really stink. Six different wide receivers have scored double-digit fantasy points against the Bengals through 4 games. The Bengals keep getting colder while the Sun God keeps getting hotter. Break out the sun tan lotion and put on your sunglasses because the Sun God is going to shine. (I have been waiting to say that this season)

$7,900 on DraftKings
$9,300 on FanDuel

Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals will play the Titans in Week 5. The Titans give up the seventh most fantasy points to opposing teams’ wide receivers. This is the easiest match-up Harrison has seen so far this season. While we know junior is not senior, this week the Titans will call him Senior Harrison for sure. The matchup is right, and they are starting to look to get Marvin the ball.

$5,400 on DraftKings
$6,600 on FanDuel

Quenton Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers

Johnston has 337 yards and 4 touchdowns through 4 games this season. He leads the Chargers with a 24% target share. So we know the ball will get thrown to him, and he will do something with it.

But wait, there’s more! Not only is he just really good, but the matchup is too. This week, the Chargers will play the Commanders. The Commanders give up the eighth-most points to opposing teams’ wide receivers. What’s not to like? We have a great wide receiver in a great match-up. Boom Shaka Lacka!

$5,700 on DraftKings
$7,500 on FanDuel

Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans

You want a lower price wide receiver in a good match-up? Ayomanor leads the horrible Titans offense in targets with 25. So, he has a 20% share of all Titans targets. He also leads the team in receiving touchdowns with 2. The matchup in Week 5 against the Cardinals is not ideal. So the overall offense stinks and the match-up is bad, but if you want a low-priced player who has a chance. Elic is your guy. Quite the sales pitch, huh?

$4,100 on DraftKings
$5,200 on FanDuel

Tight Ends

Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Evans is out, Sterling Shepard is out, Bucky Irving is out. After Emeka Egbuka, Otton could be the second or third option in the passing game for the Buccaneers in Week 5.

The Buccaneers play the Seahawks in Week 5. The Seahawks have given up 3 touchdowns to tight ends so far this season. The same Seahawks give up the most fantasy points to tight ends through 4 games. It might not be pretty, but Otton seems to deliver when called upon.

$3,300 on DraftKings
$4,800 on FanDuel

Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders

Jalen McDaniels is back in the lineup for the Commanders in Week 5. In the two games with McDaniels at quarterback this season, Ertz has seen 13 targets, 9 receptions, 90 yards, and 2 touchdowns. He had 1 touchdown in each of those games. This is a week to get sneaky at tight end and plug Ertz in.

$3,800 on DraftKings
$5,100 on FanDuel

Defense

Lions

Yeah, I know, this article is starting to feel like it’s sponsored by the Detroit Lions. Lions to the left of me, Lions to the right, and here we are again. But can you blame me? The Bengals have been a complete mess. Their offensive line is bad, Jake Browning is bad, and that combination makes the whole offense… You guessed it, bad.

How bad are we talking? Cincinnati is giving up the most fantasy points to opposing defenses. Since Joe Burrow went down, it’s been a weekly disaster show. That’s not changing in Week 5. The Lions’ defense should be licking their chops you can expect sacks, turnovers, and a healthy fantasy total when this one’s over.

$3,500 on DraftKings
$5,000 on FanDuel

Cardinals

Who do we like to pick on this week? The Titans. Yes, Tennessee is basically the fantasy equivalent of a piñata; easy to smash and guaranteed candy (points) inside. In 3 of 4 games this season, the defense facing the Titans has scored 14+ fantasy points. They’re giving up the second-most points to opposing defenses, and honestly, they’re trying hard to claim the top spot but the Bengals keep stealing their thunder.

The Titans also surrender over 4 sacks per game. That means the scrappy Cardinals D could be all over Cam Ward like it’s Black Friday, racking up hits, turnovers, and maybe a pick-six for good measure. If you’re streaming a defense this week, this is about as close to a cheat code as you get.

$3,600 on DraftKings
$4,400 on FanDuel

Make sure to check out all of our Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!