FanDuel Fantasy Football: Week 5 Targets

FanDuel Fantasy Football: Week 5 Targets

This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Football series.

FanDuel has yet another contest this week where for a $5 entry fee you could walk away with $1 million. They're also offering a bonus — $100,000 split among the entries who use the player with the longest scoring touchdown. Let's look at some options for this week and pay attention to the injury/inactive reports between now and Sunday.

QUARTERBACKS

At this point it seems silly to fade Kyler Murray ($8,500) given his scrambling ability and upside to score more than 30 fantasy points on any given week. The 49ers haven't been as good on defense this season (25th against opposing quarterbacks) so Murray is in play this week. DeAndre Hopkins has yet to have a big game since Week 1 and won't have Jalen Ramsey on him this week.

Kirk Cousins didn't have the greatest week against the Cleveland Browns (11.12 fantasy points) but he's had more than 22 fantasy points in his other three games. He'll be at home Sunday against the Lions, who should be a good matchup for Cousins. This also is a nice stack (Cousins, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen) week in and week out if you're entering multiple entries in GPPs.

RUNNING BACKS

So far this season backup running backs haven't panned out, but I think Damien Williams ($5,800) can buck that trend. This is the lowest price point he'll have while David Montgomery is out and the Raiders are allowing 24.4 fantasy points to opposing running backs, the seventh-worst mark in the league. Williams is dealing with a thigh bruise, and if that somehow keeps him out (it's not likely) look for Khalil Herbert ($5,200) to take over the primary running back spot.

It seems lazy to recommend the player with the highest salary cap hit for any position, but that's what I'm going to do suggesting Derrick Henry ($10,200). Henry is getting all of the work he can handle, getting 35, 31 and 41 touches over his last three games, and has become a competent receiver out of the backfield. It's a good matchup for Henry, too, as the Jaguars rank 26th in the league against the position.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Deebo Samuel ($7,700) has a prime matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, and he's averaging just under 20 fantasy points per game this season (19.97). The Cardinals are 26th against the position, showing evidence that Deebo should have a nice day. It's not a bad idea to consider teammate Brandon Aiyuk ($5,300) in big GPPs as a contrarian play. 

It's never a bad idea to use Davante Adams ($8,200) in any week given that he's easily a top-three wide receiver in the league. This week, he faces the Bengals, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers through the first four games of the season.

A.J. Brown ($6,900) looks like he's good to go this week against Jacksonville, and I like him even more if Julio Jones remains sidelined (didn't practice Thursday). I can see using Henry and Brown in a stacking lineup, but can also see using each in separate lineup as well. The Jaguars are ranked 22nd against the position, making this a good matchup for Brown.

TIGHT ENDS

Dalton Schultz ($6,200) has been on a tear the last two games with the absence of Michael Gallup, and there's no reason to think he can't keep that up this week facing the Giants at home. The GMen are 29th against the position, and Schultz has scored 14.8 and 23 fantasy points in his last two games. I'd feel better if Blake Jarwin wasn't around, but Schultz has been getting done while Gallup has been out.

It sounds like we may not see Rob Gronkowski for several more weeks, but that opens up an opportunity for Cameron Brate ($5,000). This an attractive price point for Brate, and he has had five and six targets the last two games. Tom Brady has always liked to use his tight ends, and Brate is a better option over O.J. Howard.

DEFENSES

The New England Patriots ($5,000) are an attractive option this week, taking on the Texans who haven't done much with Davis Mills under center. The other upper-tier team to consider is the Arizona Cardinals, who have averaged more than 10 fantasy points per game and welcome the 49ers into town this weekend. There will probably be bumps in the road (as with most rookies) for Trey Lance, who appears like he'll be the starter Sunday, a matchup that makes it favorable for Arizona.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Kevin Payne plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: Fanduel: kevinccp, Draft Kings: kevinccp, Yahoo: kevinccp.
RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only NFL Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire NFL fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Payne
Kevin has worked for RotoWire over a decade and has covered basketball, baseball and football. A glutton for punishment, he roots for his hometown Bills, Sabres and the New York Yankees. You can follow him on Twitter @KCPayne26.
NFL Picks: Week 12 Underdog Pick'Em Selections
NFL Picks: Week 12 Underdog Pick'Em Selections
NFL Picks: Best NFL Player Props For Week 12
NFL Picks: Best NFL Player Props For Week 12
Week 12 Friday Injury Report: Purdy Out, Lamb In, Nabers Questionable
Week 12 Friday Injury Report: Purdy Out, Lamb In, Nabers Questionable
FanDuel NFL: Week 12 DFS Breakdown
FanDuel NFL: Week 12 DFS Breakdown
DraftKings NFL: Week 12 DFS Breakdown
DraftKings NFL: Week 12 DFS Breakdown
Wide Receivers vs. Cornerbacks: Week 12 Matchups
Wide Receivers vs. Cornerbacks: Week 12 Matchups