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Week 4 of the NFL season is in the books, and what a week it was. First, the Chiefs reminded the NFL that they are still really good. Then, the Cardinals took down the Rams and are the final undefeated team in the NFL. Finally, the Bills dominated the Texans and now head to Arrowhead for SNF to try and dethrone the AFC favorites. A great weekend of action with injuries and other storylines led to another wild NFL weekend on tap for Week 5.
For Week 5, we will stick with the usual cash gameplan of looking for a solid floor and going from there, especially when it comes to value plays. Value this week is quite spread out. Meaning there are decent options at all positions. There are some lower-priced quarterbacks with some rushing upside, while there is a chalky running back looking to start with the regular out. There are always values at WR, and this week some decent punts at tight end and some starters missing in crucial spots. This week, many ways to go, and more may change with other critical injuries still up in the air heading into Sunday.
This article will take a look at some of the value plays for each week of the NFL. However, when you look at value plays for GPP, you are somewhat swinging for the fences. Here I will be focusing on cash games and the necessity for slightly more safety as you are just looking to finish in the top half or so of the competition. Therefore, we are looking for cheaper players who should see a decent workload, be that pass attempts, targets, or carries. So, let's look at the cash value plays for Week 5 of the 2021 NFL season.
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Week 5 Quarterback Cash Game Value Plays
Trey Lance, SF at ARI | DK: $5,700, FD: $6,900
It appears to be Trey Lance SZN by the bay, and that means another fantasy quarterback with the rushing floor we love. Lance entered last week's game after Jimmy Garoppolo left with an injury. The injury appears to be lingering, and Lance is in line to start Sunday in Arizona. Once he entered last week's game, he completed nine of 18 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. That was great, but he also added 41 yards on the ground on seven rushing attempts.
He will take on an Arizona defense that has been playing well this season. This season, they are ranked ninth versus opposing quarterbacks, allowing 239 passing yards, nearly touchdown passes, and 25 yards on the ground per game. Lance should be able to run much more than that, and if he can throw in another 200+ passing yards and a few scores, he will payoff of his cheap price tags in a big way. The legs give Lance an added floor. The type of floor we enjoy with Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson. Let's enjoy Trey while he is still this cheap.
Daniel Jones, NYG at DAL | DK: $6,000, FD: $7,400
Speaking of quarterbacks with a rushing floor, let's talk Danny Dimes. Jones has been outstanding this season. He is doing it through the air and on the ground, racking up 20+ fantasy points this season in three out of four games. Jones has thrown for at least 249 yards in each game (402 last game) as well as 27 or more rushing yards per game. He has four passing touchdowns with two rushing touchdowns and only one interception on a hail mary.
This week he heads to BIG D for a divisional matchup versus the Cowboys. A Cowboys defense that ranks 30th versus opposing quarterbacks to start the season. They are allowing over 25 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. On average, the Cowboys are allowing 330 passing yards per game with over two passing touchdowns per game. The Giants are seven-point road dogs with an implied team total of 23, meaning Jones should be passing early and often leading to plenty of fantasy goodness.
Week 5 Running Back Cash Game Value Plays
Damien Williams, CHI at LV | DK: $5,600, FD: $5,800
With David Montgomery out for a few weeks, Williams should take over as the Bears' lead running back and enjoy all the fantasy gains with the role change. Williams stepped into the lead-back role last game after Montgomery left with his injury and proceeded to run for 55 yards on eight carries while scoring a touchdown.
Williams takes on the Raiders this week, a Raiders defense that ranks 25th versus opposing running backs. On average, they are allowing 94 rushing yards, five receptions, and a touchdown, good for over 25 fantasy points per week to opposing backs. We are just a week removed from Austin Ekeler doing whatever he wanted to the Raiders on his way to a monster fantasy game.
Williams may get leaned on even more by the Bears due to Justin Fields getting the start. His first as the official Bears starting quarterback. In previous game action for Fields, the Bears limited what Fields needed to do by using the running backs early and often. Williams brings a strong floor into Sunday's game against a defense that can give up a ton of fantasy goodness.
Leonard Fournette, TB vs. MIA | DK: $5,200 FD: $6,400
First off, keep an eye on Giovani Bernard's injury status as he is now probable for Sunday. With Gio playing, it may limit Fournette's upside, but no Gio means to lock and load Fournette. Fournette is coming off a game where he ran for 92 yards on 20 carries and hauled in three catches on five targets. He was the lead back, seeing 82% of the snaps, and it was not even close with no Gio.
This week Fournette faces the Dolphins, and as an opposing running back, you cannot ask for many better matchups. The Dolphins defense is ranked 30th versus running backs this season. On average, they are allowing over 30 fantasy points to opposing running backs. They are allowing running backs to thrive on the ground and through the air. The Bucs are 10 point favorites with an implied team total of 29 this week. Fournette should be a significant part of the offense, so get ready to reap the benefits of playing a lead back versus the Dolphins if Gio is out.
Samaje Perine, CIN vs. GB | DK: $4,000, FD: $5,600
With Joe Mixon out this weekend, insert Perine as a lead back at the minimum. AKA, cash game lock. This year, the Bengals have been relying heavily on the running game, with Mixon carrying the ball at least 16 times per game. Mixon has scored double-digit fantasy points in three of four games this season as well. I am not saying Perine will dominate like Mixon, but he has performed very well when given the every-down roll in the past.
The Bengals take on the Packers this weekend, which could bode well for Perine, especially if they use him in the passing game. On the season, the Packers are ranked 14th versus running backs. They are doing a decent job limiting rushing yards but are allowing six receptions per game on average and over 20 fantasy points per game on average. The Bengals are three-point dogs to the Packers with an implied team total of 24. There should be points aplenty in this matchup, but a close game meaning the running game is still very much in play. Perine's price and role make him a chalky, cash game lock. Enjoy the free square.
Week 5 Wide Receiver Cash Game Value Plays
Hunter Renfrow, LV vs. CAR | DK: $4,900, FD: $5,800
Renfrow is the little engine that could when it comes to PPR gold. Derek Carr loves him some Renfrow, especially as a safety valve in the Raiders offense. Renfrow has been targeted at least six time in each of the four games to start the season. This is good for 30 targets and an 18.6% target share, suitable for the team's second. Renfrow has also racked up at least 45 yards in each game and has scored in each of the last two games, good for double-digit DK points in each game (thank you, PPR). In addition, Renfrow leads all Raiders WR in RZ% at 23.53% and only trails Darren Waller on the team.
This week Renfrow will go up against the Bears' defense that has struggled this year, especially against WR, as they are ranked 26th to start the season. On average, they are allowing nearly two receiving touchdowns per game and over 40 fantasy points per game to opposing receivers. The Raiders are 5.5 point favorites with an implied team total of 25, so they will be throwing the ball a good amount this week. Regardless of game flow, Renfrow is always involved, as his target share shows. He makes for a great cash game play with the floor he brings week in and week out. Think a poor mans, Julian Edelman. Enjoy the discount as his price continues to rise each week.
Darnell Mooney, CHI at LV | DK: $4,700, FD: $5,600
With Fields getting the start for the Bears, Mooney becomes an insane value. Fields has quite the relationship with Mooney, and it has shown the past couple of weeks. Over the last two games, Mooney has a near 30% target share, leading all Bears' receivers. Mooney also leads all receivers with an 82.5% snap share, a 43.6% air yard share, and the highest aDOT on the team of 13.4. Everything pops off the stat sheet when it comes to Mooney. Lastly, his floor is excellent as Mooney has seven or more targets and five or more receptions in three of his four games this season.
Mooney will take on the Raiders this weekend and looks to stay hot, and he should. Sure the Raiders rank 10th versus wide receivers this season, but that seems a bit off. They have allowed a WR1 or 2 four times this season. The numbers are skewed as they faced the Steelers and the Dolphins that did not do much, especially with their wide receivers. Look for Mooney to get his early and often as the rookie Fields looks to get comfortable in his first "real" start as the Bears' weekly starter.
Curtis Samuel, WAS vs. NO | DK: $3,000, FD: $5,200
Samuel should be mega chalk this week, and for a good reason. Samuel retired in Week 4 for his first action of the season, and he looked pretty solid. He only played on 37.3% of the snaps, as they eased him back into the lineup, but he saw a 12% target share which was third on the team and second at the WR position. He caught all four targets for only 19 yards, but that was still very solid for $3KAdditionally, his price did not rise this week, keeping him as a great cash game value as the snap share should increase, which will increase his targets, and increase his overall production.
Samuel will primarily play out of the slot, which is a spot you can take advantage of versus the Saints. A Saints team that ranks 22nd on the season versus receivers. Samuel also has a young quarterback in Taylor Heinicke who continues to improve at QB. When not targeting Terry McClaurin, he will look to use Samuel as an excellent safety valve. So enjoy the ridiculous price tag on Samuel this week as he is yet another free square.
Week 5 Tight End Cash Game Value Plays
Cameron Brate, TB vs. MIA | DK: $3,300, FD: $5,000
With the news that Rob Gronkowski would miss another game this week, Brate becomes valuable in a game that the Bucs should roll. Brate has seen his workload increase nicely over the last couple of weeks too. He has been targeted five or more times in each of the previous two games while hauling in six of those targets. Brate ranked third on the Bucs in target share percentage in last week's game, just behind Mike Evans and Antonio Brown. He also saw one red-zone target and was third on the team in air yards.
Brate's role should be similar this week versus the Dolphins. This season, a Dolphins' defense that ranks 20th versus tight ends averaging close to 15 fantasy points per game allowed. The Dolphins have allowed a TE1 in two of four games this season, so look for Brate to get his, and if he can find the end zone, he will blow his price tag out of the water. If you are looking for another TE in a similar price range, look at Jonnu Smith in a great matchup versus the horrible Texans.
Ricky Seals-Jones, WAS at NO | DK: $2,500, FD: $4,900
Hey, look, another free square. RSJ should see the bulk of the WFT playing time at tight end this week with Logan Thomas out due to injury. Last week RSJ saw four targets, good for third on the team, catching two for 19 yards. His workload may increase even more this week versus NO, especially in the red zone, where he already has one touchdown this season.
The Saints' defense is excellent versus tight ends, but the numbers may be slightly skewed as they haven't played much in the tight end position. Targets should be widely available on Sunday as the WFT will be playing from behind. Look for RSJ to get his 4+ targets again and maybe find the end zone at the bare minimum price at TE.
You can play RSJ, Samuel, and Perine for free and then do whatever you want in your cash lineups this week. It should be another fun week ahead.
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