Week 5 NFL DFS Picks – Top Plays at DraftKings
Another week of NFL DFS action is upon us. I got started early with some week 5 TNF DFS Showdown picks, but now it’s onto the main course.
There are some big names on bye or off of the main slate, but there are still going to be some studs worth paying up for. It does feel like a tricky daily fantasy football slate due to matchups, though, so if you need a little help deciding who to roster, I’ve got you covered.
I’ll walk you through my #1 play at each position, and cap things off with my (free) favorite week 5 NFL DFS lineup to use at DraftKings.
Top NFL DFS QB Pick: Anthony Richardson, Colts ($6k)
Nobody wants to hear this, especially since Anthony Richardson has been horrendous over his last three games. He even exited his most recent game with an injury and isn’t even a lock to suit up in week 5.
But if he does, I will want a lot of exposure to him. I won’t be alone, of course, as he’s coming in at 13% ownership, which makes him the chalkiest quarterback on the slate.
I don’t love that, but AR15 showed us what he can do back in week one when he went off for 27 fantasy points.
Yeah, he had people talkin’ crazy.
Still, his elite rushing floor makes him a fantastic play at this low salary, while a date with the Jacksonville Jaguars (32nd vs. QBs) makes him look even better.
The Jags have not intercepted a single pass this year, and have allowed the second most passing yards, along with seven touchdowns through the air. If AR15 is out, we can pivot to his backup, Joe Flacco, and save $500 in the process.
Best RB Pick in NFL DFS: Jordan Mason, 49ers ($7.4k)
Change the record, am I right? Hey, I know it’s getting boring and eating chalk doesn’t feel good sometimes, but Jordan Mason looks like good chalk yet again.
He’s had quite the hit rate, as Mason has topped 20+ fantasy points in three of four games so far this year. His only bad game? Mason still had 10 fantasy points.
Mason has major volume working in his favor, and he even started getting more involved in the passing game (three targets) last week. Just as important, he gets to face the Arizona Cardinals, who rank 29th against fantasy running backs.
He’s going to carry 30% ownership or possibly much higher, but Mason looks to be one of the best NFL DFS picks for week 5.
Best NFL DFS WR Pick: Dontayvion Wicks, Packers ($5k)
Jayden Reed also looks amazing at $6.5k, and I wouldn’t write off Romeo Doubs completely, either.
However, Wicks finally rebounded from a slow start, turning an insane 13 targets into five catches for 78 yards and two scores last week.
Has he officially arrived? It remains to be seen, but his role should grow now that Christian Watson is on the shelf for at least this week.
Wicks had flashed big play ability before, as he had his moments during his rookie season last year, and then had a long touchdown in his brief time in the preseason this year. He’s back on the map, and he has an awesome matchup against the Rams (24th vs. WRs) in week 5.
I wouldn’t say Wicks is among the safest week 5 NFL DFS picks, but if he can hit at this salary, he will not be a guy you will have wanted to fade.
Top NFL DFS TE Pick: Trey McBride, Cardinals ($5.9k)
A lot of the tight end ownership is flocking to a rookie in a not-so-great spot (Brock Bowers), another guy with a less than ideal matchup (Dalton Kincaid), and a guy who popped off last week (Tucker Kraft).
Those are all fine plays, and for what it’s worth, the cheap Kraft has the best matchup and is the one I like the most. However, I want the best tight end pick for week 5 NFL DFS, and I think that will end up being Trey McBride.
He sat out last week due to a concussion, but he should be back to it this week, and he figures to be extra busy with Arizona likely trailing against the San Francisco 49ers. Despite that, McBride has the second best projection among TEs.
The 49ers have not been a pleasant matchup for tight ends, but they also haven’t really run into many good ones. McBride will be needed, and he won’t be owned. That’s music to my ears.
My Favorite Week 5 NFL DFS Lineup (for Free)
- QB: Anthony Richardson – Colts ($6k)
- RB: Jordan Mason – 49ers ($7.4k)
- RB: Kyren Williams – Rams ($7.6k)
- WR: Dontayvion Wicks – Packers ($5k)
- WR: Tre Tucker – Raiders ($4.1k)
- WR: Amari Cooper – Browns ($6.2k)
- TE: Tucker Kraft – Packers ($3.5k)
- FLEX: Malik Nabers – Giants ($7.3k)
- DEF: Denver Broncos ($2.9k)
If healthy, AR15 is in a smash spot and too cheap. Due to a good chunk of his production coming with his own two legs, I don’t think you absolutely would need to force a stacking option with him.
At RB, I am eating what I think is good chalk. Mason and Williams are studs with huge roles and soft matchups in front of them. I’m going to pay up for them and move along.
Wicks is a terrific value with a growing role, plus he’s cheap and facing a weak pass defense. Tre Tucker isn’t as fortunate in terms of matchup, but he’s just as appealing. He’s put up 16+ fantasy points in consecutive weeks and has logged more than 80% of the snaps in both of those games.
Davante Adams is about to get traded, and Patrick Surtain Jr. will almost definitely be covering Jakobi Meyers all game. Cue the big game for Tre Tucker.
Amari Cooper is about to explode. Maybe he ends up getting traded like Adams, but for the moment he’s still in CLE and he’s going up against the Commanders, who rank 32nd vs wide receivers in 2024.
I love Trey McBride, but sometimes you have to change things up. Fortunately, I still really like Kraft, who is an awesome punt against the Rams, who have been a bottom-10 defense against TEs.
Malik Nabers is too cheap at $7.3k. Just keep an eye on his status, as he was knocked out of last week’s game with a concussion. If he’s out, I may go out of my way to pay up for Ja’Marr Chase.
Denver’s defense looks excellent here. They have been shutting everyone down, having not allowed more than 13 points in a game since week one. They also have 2+ sacks in every game. This week they face the Raiders, who don’t have Davante.
I could get more correlation in this lineup by stacking a WR with Richardson, but I do have some with the two Packers and one Rams player. Hopefully that is enough, but feel free to adjust as needed.
That does it for my top NFL DFS week 5 picks. Hopefully they help you win. Good luck!
Writer at Daily Fantasy Fade
DFS Keanu has been covering fantasy sports, DFS, and props for the better part of a decade, all while fighting The Matrix and a litany of assassins.
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