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Week 4 is in the books, and it ended with a Monday Night Football trouncing of the Las Vegas Raiders, courtesy of the Los Angeles Chargers. Of course, we can't move ahead without taking a moment to recognize some of the standouts of the week, with Tyreek Hill exploding for three scores and nearly 200 receiving yards during the win over the Philadelphia Eagles. While Hill led the slate in fantasy production, others also made their mark, including Sam Darnold, who narrowly led Carolina to a win over the Cowboys by posting four total touchdowns. Cordarrelle Patterson should similarly be acknowledged after a three-touchdown effort against the Football Team. At the same time, Deebo Samuel was equally fantastic by stringing together two touchdowns and over 150 receiving yards against the Seahawks, doing so despite an in-game quarterback swap.
Week 5 began with the Rams getting back into the win column by dispatching Russell Wilson and the Seahawks on Thursday Night. With the victory, Los Angeles improved to 4-1 on the year, while Seattle is now sitting at a disappointing 2-3. At any rate, there are some substantial injuries to monitor as fantasy managers move closer to kickoff on Sunday, with Christian McCaffrey, Joe Mixon, Amari Cooper, and Julio Jones being some of the notable names in jeopardy of missing the week's festivities.
In this article, I will be providing you with my Week 5 daily fantasy football lineup picks for FanDuel’s “Main Slate.” These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Be sure to also check out our weekly DraftKings DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big! Feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @DennisMClausen. Also, be sure to check back on Saturday night for updates heading into Week 5.
Featured Promo: For this week only, take 50% off any full-season or yearly Premium Pass on the site! Just enter discount code THANKS when checking out. Thanks for being a reader, and Happy Holidays! Sign Up Now!Article Updated: Saturday, October 9, 2021 @ 8 pm
It's Saturday night, and we have a little bit more clarity regarding how things are shaping up moving toward kickoff on Sunday.
FanDuel Quarterbacks - Week 5 Picks
Kyler Murray, QB - vs. ARI ($8,500)
Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen will go toe-to-toe on Sunday Night Football and aren't available during the "Main Slate." The pair have been two of the most popular options at the position throughout the year, obviously, but without them, Murray should have a significant presence in a ton of fantasy lineups in Week 5.
He has a favorable matchup against the 49ers, a team that has struggled against opposing quarterbacks this season. Murray may be the best signal-caller that the San Francisco defense has seen all year, and our friends in Vegas have him throwing around 275 yards and nearly two touchdowns. That's not even including what he could do on the ground.
Tom Brady, QB - vs. MIA ($8,400)
With a rostering cost of $8,400, $100 less than Kyler Murray, Brady has one of the highest ceilings at the position in Week 5. The multi-time Super Bowl winner has accrued at least 28.69 fantasy points in each of his first three starts. However, his return to Foxborough didn't go so well, posting just over 11 fantasy points during a rainy encounter against the Patriots.
Nevertheless, the 44-year-old will face off against a familiar foe on Sunday. Throughout Brady's 35 career battles against the Dolphins, he's averaged nearly 244 passing yards and two touchdowns per game. While Miami's defense has been competent against opposing quarterbacks this year, at least on paper, its numbers have been inflated, thanks to some favorable outings against some mediocre quarterbacks, excluding Josh Allen, of course.
Updated Considerations:
Dak Prescott, QB - vs. NYG ($8,100)
Prescott suffered a compound fracture and a dislocation of his right ankle nearly a year ago against the Giants, 364 days to be exact, so you can bet that will be on his mind in this one. Despite the horrific nature of the injury, the veteran returned more potent than ever and is having a career year in 2021. Prescott has historically played fantastic against New York throughout his career, and he shouldn't have an issue putting up some points against a team that has had some struggles on the defensive side this season.
Aaron Rodgers, QB - @ CIN ($8,000)
Rodgers' season got off to a rocky start after he threw two interceptions and only 133 yards against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1. Since then, the reigning MVP has been perfect, and he has been responsible for nine total touchdowns, with one of those occurring on the run. The Bengals defense has played well this year. However, because both teams can put up points in a hurry, Rodgers should benefit.
Kirk Cousins, QB, vs. DET ($7,500)
Cousins will have the luxury of squaring off against the Lions in Week 5. Detroit's defensive unit hasn't been the best, and while Dalvin Cook may still play on Sunday, it's nearly a guarantee that he could be limited. With that being the case, the signal-caller could be looking to throw more often than usual, and the duo of Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen should keep him in the running to be a top option, especially for those looking to avoid paying up at the position.
FanDuel Running Backs - Week 5 Picks
Derrick Henry, RB - @ JAC ($10,400)
I'm sure at this point, there are many wishing they had taken Henry with the first overall pick in fantasy drafts. With Christian McCaffrey and Dalvin Cook both limited by injuries already this season, the six-year veteran appears more dominant than ever before.
Although his Week 1 performance against the Cardinals wasn't the best, he has certainly made up for it. Since then, he has had four touchdowns, and he is coming off a 157-yard performance off of a mind-blowing 33 carries against the New York Jets. Julio Jones (hamstring) and A.J. Brown didn't suit up in Week 4, and their fate may be the same against the Jaguars. Regardless of who is in the lineup, Henry should continue to be the focal point, but if either of those guys doesn't play, he needs to be in every DFS lineup with no questions asked.
Saquon Barkley, RB - vs. DAL ($7,800)
Barkley is still working his way back from a season-ending knee injury from the 2020 campaign. While he hasn't missed a game, he isn't the same player who was once considered a top-three option in fantasy drafts. Fortunately, he appears to be trending in the right direction and continues to ramp up his activities.
The former Penn State Nittany Lion received limited action during the opening week bout against the Denver Broncos. However, he has received more snaps per game since, and his volume has also improved. Barkley only had 13 carries in Week 4 against the Saints. Yet, he was targeted six times, pulling in five of them. He has recorded three trips to the end zone in the past two weeks while also receiving 29 carries and 13 looks from Daniel Jones. Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard are also on track to sit out once again, so the door is open for Barkley to continue to be a featured option on the offensive end for the G-Men.
Updated Considerations:
Alvin Kamara, RB - @ WSH ($8,600)
Washington's defense hasn't been the best in 2021, so Kamara is in the position to have one of his best games of the year. Vegas has some good projections for him, and his rostering price isn't as high as it once was. Take advantage of this and squeeze him into the lineup.
Nick Chubb, RB - @ LAC ($7,500)
Chubb produced his first 100-yard game of the year against the Vikings last Sunday. Despite that, he is always in the running to put up some adequate fantasy numbers, primarily due to the amount of touches he gets from week to week. He had 43 carries over the last two games, and he will have the luxury of being matched up against the Chargers and its fifth-worst rushing defense. Chubb's generous price tag also adds to his attractiveness in Week 5.
Damien Harris, RB - vs. HOU ($6,500)
After Harris tallied 29 carries in Weeks 1 and 2, he's received only 10 throughout the previous two weeks. Yet, keep in mind that he was dealing with a finger injury, and the Patriots were also playing from behind in Week 3 against the Saints. The wet conditions during the Sunday Night Football matchup against Tampa didn't make things easy on anyone, either. Nonetheless, Harris has a fantastic chance to have himself a productive day against the 1-3 Houston Texans.
Also Consider:
Najee Harris ($7,300), Chuba Hubbard ($6,700 - GPP formats, only if Christian McCaffrey is out), Alexander Mattison ($6,500 - If Dalvin Cook is out), James Conner ($6,300 - Added boost without Chase Edmonds), Damien Williams ($5,800), Samaje Perine ($5,600 - Risky GPP upside)
FanDuel Wide Receivers - Week 5 Picks
DJ Moore, WR - vs. PHI ($7,900)
Moore crushed it in Week 4, and despite the Panthers losing to the Cowboys, he can't shoulder any of the blame. He was targeted 12 times in that one, finishing with eight catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns.
Over the years, Moore has flown under the radar, and he remains one of the most underrated receivers throughout the league. He currently ranks second in targets, fourth in catches, and fourth in receiving yards. Nonetheless, Sam Darnold appears to have built a solid rapport with the wideout and is a big reason why the former Jet has played so well in Carolina thus far.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR - vs. SF ($7,500)
Hopkins production has dipped this season, and with that, so has his rostering cost. With a generous $7,500 price tag, it's time for fantasy managers to give him some serious consideration, primarily since his ceiling is still higher than nearly every other wideout in the league.
We know Kyler Murray has plenty of weapons at his disposal and has been spreading the ball around. Still, Hopkins will inevitably explode at some point, and he has a great chance at doing that at home against the 49ers. Yes, he remains a volatile option throughout the fantasy community. However, the price is too reasonable to ignore.
Updated Considerations:
Davante Adams, WR - @ CIN ($8,200)
Adams is Vegas' highest-projected receiver of the week. With that will come high ownership, so keep that in mind for those looking to play the contrarian role. Nevertheless, the price tag is laughable, mainly for a guy who's had 29 targets in the last two weeks.
Deebo Samuel, WR - @ ARI ($7,700)
Samuel was a nightmare for the Seahawks defense in Week 4 and had eight catches for 156 yards and two scores. He did this despite an in-game quarterback change, and he's had double-digit targets in three of his four games this year
Also Consider:
Justin Jefferson ($8,000), Keenan Allen ($7,200), Terry McLaurin ($7,400), CeeDee Lamb ($6,900 - Especially if Amari Cooper is out), A.J. Brown ($6,900), Tyler Boyd ($6,300) Kenny Golladay ($6,200), DeVonta Smith ($6,000), Laviska Shenault Jr. ($5,800)
FanDuel Tight Ends - Week 5 Picks
Dalton Schultz, TE - vs. NYG ($6,200)
The tight end position is somewhat limited on Sunday, with George Kittle and T.J. Hockenson both carrying questionable tags moving toward Week 5. Travis Kelce is also playing on Sunday night, which will make things even more interesting in terms of selection across the board.
Nonetheless, we know Darren Waller is the safest pick out of them all, but Schultz also needs to be taken seriously. He has seen at least six targets in three of his four games this year, and he also has 12 catches and three touchdowns over the last two weeks. The Giants have also struggled to keep opposing tight ends in check as well. He is still a risky option but remains one of the safer "punts" on Sunday.
Also Consider:
Darren Waller ($7,400), Noah Fant ($5,900), Evan Engram ($5,300 - Risky GPP option), Cameron Brate ($5,000 - Risky GPP option)
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