Chris Godwin headlines this week’s list of core plays for NFL DFS. Whether you play one lineup or 150 lineups, these are players you’ll want high exposure to across your lineups.
[Pricing and data via Draft Kings]
DFS Week 5 Core Plays: Play Chris Godwin
Week 5 DFS Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson $7100
At the quarter mark of the season, Jackson is the highest-scoring quarterback in Draft Kings scoring. He is essentially a lock for at least 20 points each week and has a ceiling 10-15 points higher than that. In Week 5, Jackson gets the Pittsburgh Steelers who have allowed the 5th most DK points to the quarterback position. Because of his high floor, Jackson is a solid cash game option, but he can be used for GPP lineups, as well.
Deshaun Watson $6700
Watson has been up and down through the first four weeks of the season. This Week he gets a fast-paced matchup against the pass-heavy Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons at Houston Texans game has the highest O/U (49) on the main slate Sunday, and the Texans are five-point favorites (per vegasinsider.com). This game is one to target with some stacks in GPPs. If Kenny Stills (hamstring) misses this game, Will Fuller ($4500) would be a player of interest to stack with Watson in large-field GPPs.
Matt Ryan $5900
Ryan has thrown for at least 300 yards in every game this season. As stated above, this Falcons–Texans game has the highest Vegas total on the slate. You can stack both sides of this matchup in DFS this week. The preferred options to stack with Ryan this week are Julio Jones (7700) and Calvin Ridley (4900). They have the best individual matchups of the Falcons pass-catchers.
Week 5 DFS Running Backs
Christian McCaffrey $8700
McCaffrey has been a volume beast this season. Volume is king in fantasy football, and nobody gets more volume than CMac. McCaffrey leads all running backs in touches, and yards gained. Play McCaffrey with confidence in cash or GPPs again this week.
Panthers RB snaps through four weeks:
* Christian McCaffrey 264
* Reggie Bonnafon 4
* Everyone else 0CMC on pace for 344 carries, 100 catches and 2,516 total yards.
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) September 30, 2019
Ezekiel Elliott $8300
Elliott has a matchup with the Green Bay Packers this week, who have allowed the 2nd most DK points to running backs on the season. Look for a heavy dose of Zeke in Green Bay this week. He has surpassed 20 touches in every game that he’s played in this season. Elliott is a good cash game option for Week Five. However, beware he will be a popular play so it’s ok to fade him in some large-field GPP lineups.
David Johnson $7500
Johnson has struggled to get things going on the ground this season, only averaging 43.3 rushing yards per game. However, his involvement in the passing game (average seven targets per game) keeps him relevant in the DFS world. This week he gets the Cincinnati Bengals who have allowed the 4th most DK points to running backs this season. Johnson provides us high upside at lower ownership than someone like Zeke, who is sure to be chalk.
Le’Veon Bell $6800
Bell has also struggled to find room in the run game in the early stages of the season. However, his involvement in the passing game (average 7.7 targets per game) has kept him near the top of the running back leader board in PPR scoring formats. While this week’s opponents, the Philadelphia Eagles, are no pushovers in the run game, they can be taken advantage of in the passing game. Bell’s talent and sheer volume make him a top target in both cash and GPPs Week Five.
Wayne Gallman $5400
Gallman is like a poor man’s Lev Bell. He should see bell-cow type usage and plenty of involvement in the passing game to boot. The Minnesota Vikings defense is not an easy opponent, but Gallman’s price tag, his volume of touches, and talent in the passing game make him a viable option for GPP lineups again this week.
Week 5 DFS Wide Receivers
DeAndre Hopkins $7800
Hopkins has yet to have one of his signature DHop games this season. Well, I think this could be the week that it happens. The Falcons have the 30th-ranked defense in DVOA against number one wide receivers this season. After letting his owners down in each of the last three games, DHop is a great GPP play this week.
Chris Godwin $6800
Chris Godwin has been the go-to target for Jameis Winston this season. This week he gets a matchup against the New Orleans Saints who have allowed the 4th most DK points to wide receivers in 2019. Teammate Mike Evans will get the tougher cornerback matchup against Marshon Lattimore, leaving P.J. Williams to guard Godwin. Godwin should be Winston’s preferred target once again this week. Fire up Godwin in cash or GPPs in Week Five.
2019 WR fantasy leaders💰
1. Keenan Allen 97.5
2. Cooper Kupp 89.2
3. Chris Godwin 88.6
4. Julio Jones 78.8
4. Mike Evans 78.8— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 1, 2019
Michael Thomas $6600
The Saints have become a run-focused team since the loss of Drew Brees. However, Thomas has quietly had at least nine catches or a touchdown in all three games since Brees went down, and Teddy Bridgewater took over at QB. Thomas has dominated the Bucs throughout his career, catching either eight balls or a touchdown in every one of his matchups versus the Bucs.
Alshon Jeffery $5900
Jeffrey will face off against the New York Jets in Week Five. The Jets have allowed the third-most DK points to wide receivers this season. Much of that production has been to opposing teams’ number one receivers. It looks like DeSean Jackson might miss another game with his abdomen injury. Fire up Jeffrey with confidence in this juicy matchup if Jackson is ruled out. If Jackson plays, he would also be an option.
Auden Tate $3500
Tate has lead the Cincinnati Bengals in receiving yards the past two games. Now, with John Ross on IR and a matchup against the fast-paced Arizona Cardinals on tap, Tate is in position to blow away his 3500 price tag on Draft Kings this week. He makes for an excellent cash-saving option in DFS lineups, cash, and GPP alike.
Week 5 DFS Tight Ends
Evan Engram $5800
While there will be some uncertainty about which Giants wide receiver to roster from week to week. One thing is certain, Engram is the most talented pass-catcher on the team. He has been the overall TE1 through the first quarter of the season. I see no reason to stop playing him now. With at least seven targets in every game, Engram is a safe play for cash games.
Evan Engram is the PPR TE1 through the opening month. Compared to WRs, Engram's 72.1 points would make him the WR9 over Tyler Lockett
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) October 2, 2019
Tyler Eifert $3300
Eifert has a matchup against the Cardinals this week who have allowed a touchdown to a tight end in every game this season. The Bengals are down A.J. Green and Ross, so chances are Eifert will see an expanded role in the offense this week. Just in time for a mouthwatering matchup with the Cardinals’ league-worst defense in PPR points allowed to tight ends. However, Eifert’s lack of snap-share to this point in the season (ranks 22nd amongst tight ends in routes run) makes him more of a GPP play this week.
Noah Fant $2800
Fant has seen his snap share rise every week, culminating in a 73% snap share in Week Four. This week, Fant will face the injury-riddled safety core of the Los Angeles Chargers. Two weeks ago, the Chargers allowed Texans tight ends Darren Fells (5-49-1) and Jordan Akins (3-73-2) to go off. This week it could be Fant’s turn to break out. He’s just the kind of low-owned/high-upside player we look for to play in GPP lineups.
Week 5 DFS Defense
Patriots defensive ranks so far:
* Points per game: 6.8 (1st)
* Sacks: 18 (1st)
* INT: 10 (1st)
* 3 & outs forced: 21 (1st)
* Yards/game: 243.0 (1st)
* Yards/drive: 19.1 (1st)
* Rush yards/game: 61.3 (2nd)
* Pass yards/game: 181.8 (2nd)
* More TD scored (2) than allowed (1)— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 30, 2019
New England Patriots $4300
The Patriots defense has been the best unit in the NFL this season. They have yet to allow an opponent to score more than ten points in any game. This week, the Pats will play an anemic Washington Redskins offense that scored a total of 18 points the past two games. If you can afford to fit them in your lineup, I recommend you do.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers $2200
If you are looking for a value play at defense, the Buccaneers are only 2200 on Draft Kings and have scored at least eight DK points in every game this season. Usually, we would want to avoid a defensive matchup against the Saints. However, this is not the same Saints offense with Bridgwater now at the helm. The Saints have been run-heavy and risk-averse since losing Brees (Bridgwater has yet to surpass 200 yards passing in a game). The Bucs should be able to wreak havoc with their defensive line, making life difficult for the Saints on Sunday. Helping them to meet or maybe even exceed value.
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