DFS and fantasy football aren’t for everyone; you have to want to go fast. It’s like Ricky Bobby said: “You can’t have two number ones.” You either win your matchup or you’re sitting there praying, “Dear 8 pounds, 6 ounces newborn baby Jesus, don’t even know a word yet, please let my flex player score just one more touchdown.”
Remember: “The secret to success involves either winning or crashing while trying to win.” That’s DFS in a nutshell. Some of you will crash in spectacular flames, screaming, “Help me Tom Cruise! Use your witchcraft to get the fire off me!” while others grab the checkered flag, screaming, “I’m on fire!”
This week, we’ll separate the winners from the posers — because like Ricky said, “You’re not good. You just know how to hide, how to lie. Me, I always tell the truth… and I’ve got to win every race.” Well, I’ve got to win every week, and so do you.
Let’s get into the players who’ll keep driving forward like there is a cougar in your car and those who’ll send your season into the wall at 200 mph.
So we thank you, dear lord baby Jesus, for this bountiful Fantasy Football harvest of Jets, Texans, and the always productive Lions.
More Week 4 Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Weekly Rankings
Week 5 NFL DFS Money Makers
Here is a brief definition of each of my terms for anyone who might be new:
💰 Money Maker – This player will perform better than expectations
💔 Heart Breaker – This player will perform lower than expectations
💰 Money Makers
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields, New York Jets
In Week 5, the Jets will play the Cowboys. The Cowboys give up the most fantasy points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. The Cowboys give up an average of 339 total yards and 3 touchdowns per week to quarterbacks. In Week 4, Justin Fields returned to the field to pass for 226 yards and a touchdown and run for another 81 yards and a touchdown. He is the epitome of the Konami Code for a quarterback in fantasy football. Now he gets the best match-up possible. Fields will make plays all over the field against this Cowboys (lack of) defense.
$5,600 on DraftKings
$7,700 on FanDuel
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
Dart had his first start in Week 4, and he produced well with 111 yards and a touchdown passing and another 54 yards and a touchdown rushing. In Week 5, he gets to play against a Saints defense that has allowed multiple touchdowns to quarterbacks every game this season. Look for Jaxson to produce in Week 5. Jaxon is a nice dart throw in DFS or if you are quarterback-needy in season-long. See what I did there?
$5,300 on DraftKings
$6,900 on FanDuel
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Goff always seems to have some lousy games mixed in with a bunch of good games. In Week 5, the Lions will play the Bengals. The Bengals that Bo Nix annihilated in Week 4 with over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns. Look for the Lions to run and pass all over the Bengals in Week 5. This one has a high over-under of 49.5 points, so it looks like a shootout. In reality, it just might be the Lions scoring 49 points.
$6,500 on DraftKings
$7,800 on FanDuel
Other Quarterback DFS Picks for Week 3
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
$4,700 on DraftKings
$6,600 on FanDuel
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
$6,100 on DraftKings
$8,000 on FanDuel
CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
$5,200 on DraftKings
$6,700 on FanDuel
Running Backs
Woody Marks, Houston Texans
After Week 4, everyone had a Woody to try and add Marks if he was available in their season-long leagues. That is because he had 21 touches, which produced 119 total yards and 2 touchdowns.
Guess what? This week, he should be even better. This week, the Texans play the Ravens. The Ravens give up an average of 166 total yards and 2 touchdowns to running backs per week. This Ravens defense is the friendliest to running backs in fantasy football. They seem to just get out of the way. Mark my words, if you play this guy, you will have a Woody over his production in Week 5.
$5,400 on DraftKings
$5,400 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 (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
Other Running Back DFS Picks for Week 3
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
$5,900 on DraftKings
$7,300 on FanDuel
Breece Hall, New York Jets
$5,600 on DraftKings
$7,000 on FanDuel
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
$5,800 on DraftKings
$6,400 on FanDuel
Wide Receivers
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
I think I already mentioned that the Jets are playing the Cowboys in Week 5. The Cowboys give up an average of 206 yards and 2 touchdowns per week to wide receivers. You saw I said play Justin Fields, well, play Garrett Wilson and stack this baby up. Wilson has 3 touchdowns already this season and will add to that total in Week 5. I am shaking at the thought of Field to Wilson over and over.
$6,100 on DraftKings
$7,800 on FanDuel
Michael Pittman, Indianapolis Colts
This season, Michael Pittman has 29 targets, 21 receptions, 234 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Pittman has been good. The Colts will play the Raiders in Week 5. The Raiders defense has not been good at defending wide receivers. How bad have they been? Well, the Raiders give up the third most fantasy points to opposing teams’ wide receivers. When good meets bad, it gets ugly for Raiders fans. I can’t believe I have written about a Jets player and a Colts player as Money Makers.
$5,100 on DraftKings
$5,900 on FanDuel
Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
Spencer Rattler to Chris Olave hasn’t been a huge thing this season. Olave has had 50 yards or a touchdown in all four games this season. He hasn’t been horrible. He has also faced some relatively tough defenses in all four games. That changes in Week 5 against the Giants. The Giants give up the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Six different wide receivers have scored 13 or more fantasy points against the Giants defense. This week, Olave produces in a big way.
$5,200 on DraftKings
$6,100 on FanDuel
Other Wide Receiver DFS Picks for Week 3
Nico Collins, Houston Texans
$6,800 on DraftKings
$8,100 on FanDuel
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
$7,900 on DraftKings
$9,300 on FanDuel
Quinton Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
$5,700 on DraftKings
$7,500 on FanDuel
Tight Ends
Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers
Really? Why do you do this, Reedy? Why is there always some player whom people will think you’re crazy for writing about as a money-maker? You want to know? I’m going to tell you anyway.
In Week 4, Tommy had 8 targets, 5 receptions, 42 yards, and a touchdown. In Week 5, the Dolphins defense is the opponent. The Dolphins give up the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Bryce Young looks for players in the short passing game, and Tommy is a big target. You will tremble with joy if you plug Tommy in your lineup this week.
$2,900 on DraftKings
$4,600 on FanDuel
Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins
Are we chasing Waller’s 2-touchdown day in Week 4? For a DFS tournament play or a desperate season-long team, I say yes.
The Dolphins offense likes the big target in the red zone. They did this with Jonnu Smith last year. Waller is a big target who can catch the ball. The Panthers also give up the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends. If you are daring enough, Waller may pay off with limited targets because they are all within the 5-yard line. I have nothing witty to say here.
$3,500 on DraftKings
$5,200 on FanDuel
Other Tight End DFS Picks for Week 3
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
$3,300 on DraftKings
$4,800 on FanDuel
Defense
Lions
This article is flooded with Lions. Lions to the left of me, Lions to the right. The Bengals not only stink on defense. The offensive line is bad, Jake Browning is bad, and this makes the entire offense bad. How bad? The Bengals give up the most fantasy points to opposing teams’ defenses. Since Joe Burrow has been out, the Bengals have been horrendous. That continues with the Lions piling up sacks in Week 5.
$3,500 on DraftKings
$5,000 on FanDuel
Cardinals
Who do we like to pick on? That would be the Titans. In three out of four games this season, the fantasy defense playing against the Titans has scored 14 or more fantasy points. The Titans give up the second-most fantasy points to defense. They are trying really hard to make it the most, but the Bengals just won’t let them. The Titans give up over four sacks per game. You can look for the scrappy Cardinals defense to get some hits on Cam Ward and create some turnovers in this game.
$3,600 on DraftKings
$4,400 on FanDuel
Colts
The Colts defense is a good real-life defense. The Raiders give up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. Geno Smith leads the league in interceptions. He averages just under two per game. There will be turnovers and potentially some sacks. I like the Colts defense to say, “Yo, Geno give me that ball!” in this one.
$3,300 on DraftKings
$4,700 on FanDuel
Check out all of our Week 5 Rankings: Flex Rankings | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings
💔Heart Breakers
Quarter Backs
Cooper Rush, Baltimore Ravens
Listen, Mr. Rush, even though your name sounds like you will run all over the place like Lamar Jackson. I know Lamar Jackson, Mr. Rush; To top it off, the Houston Texans are the team you will start against in Week 5. The Texans give up the second fewest fantasy points to opposing teams’ defenses. Do not rush to put Cooper in your lineup.
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
There is only one defense harder on quarterbacks than the Texans so far this season, and that is the Broncos. Look, if you have Hurts, you are playing him in season-long. I get a lot of hate when I call a player like this a heartbreaker. The reality is he will more than likely produce fewer than projected fantasy points. That is a no in DFS for me. Hurts will hurt you if you pay up for him in DFS.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
There is no more Tyreek Hill to throw the ball to this season. That alone brings Tua’s limited value even lower. To top it off, the Panthers, despite all their faults, defend the pass well. It’s easy to look elsewhere if you even considered Tua in Week 5. I know you didn’t even consider him, but I am telling you the obvious anyway.
Running Backs
Jacory Croskey- Merritt, Washington Commanders
The Commanders play the Chargers in Week 5. The Chargers give up the second fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. Bill, that’s what they call him because no one wants to say this mouthful of a name, splits the running back touches with two other players. So we have a three-headed running back by committee and a bad match-up. The only thing worse would be this mouthful of a name. So we call him Bill.
Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders play the Colts in Week 5. The Colts are top-10 against the run. Jeanty has had one good game this season. That is one good game for a player you expected to be an absolute stud. I don’t like the Raiders offense much, and I don’t like the match-up. Sometimes its super easy to say no to a guy in DFS. This is one of those times.
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
The Lions defense is good. Chase Brown and the Bengals offensive line have been bad. Yuck. That is all.
Wide Receivers
Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Seahawks give up the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing teams’ wide receivers. Baker Mayfield is currently nursing a biceps issue and is questionable to play. I would lower my expectations for Emeka this week.
Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins
Did you know Malik Washington will have the Tyreek Hill role in the Dolphins offense? Yes, I did know that. Did you know that Malik Washington isn’t nearly as good as Tyreek Hill? Yes, I also knew that. To top it off, the Panthers, as stated previously, defend the pass exceptionally well. This is not the week to get cute with Malik.
AJ Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
AJ Brown has boom or bust. The Broncos defense is very good and very good against wide receivers. AJ Brown will bust again. I hate that I have no faith in Brown to live up to his talent sometimes. Play calling matters.
Tight Ends
Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
The Raiders defend tight ends well. The Colts play the Raiders in Week 5. The Colts will pass the ball more than likely to Michael Pittman over and over. If I can tell you what a defense doesn’t defend well, you can bet the Colts coaching staff also knows. Sorry Rookie.
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
Trey McBride is a stud. You will play him in season-long if you have him. He may also overcome the Titans defense in Week 5. But the Titans defense appears to defend tight ends and the pass well. This is because you can just run all over them.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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