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Jamie's DraftKings NFL DFS Week 5 picks, value plays, DFS sleepers for the main slate (2025). His top DK plays and value picks for daily fantasy football lineups.
Week 4 is behind us, and a plethora of high-end players have joined the walking wounded. Tyreek Hill's knee may never be the same, and Lamar Jackson and Bucky Irving are also in doubt this week. In addition, the Cardinals look like they're going to have to turn to Michael Carter and Emari Demercado at RB against the Titans.
I had to give up my gold medal in the rankings this week on FantasyPros, but I'll still take a solid silver and give up the top spot to @FF_Wheeler (hopefully only for one week). As a reminder, my full rankings article will be up on Friday, which will showcase my ranks and provide some insight to hopefully help with your sit/decisions.
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DraftKings Quarterbacks - Week 5 DFS Picks
TOP PLAY
Justin Herbert, LAC vs. WAS ($6,100)
The Chargers continue to lead the league in Pass Rate Over Expectation, and it's still by a wide margin despite the fact that the Giants were finally able to limit them in Week 4. Justin Herbert has thrown the ball 149 times through four weeks and has three very capable WR options.
This game currently has a 48.5 O/U, which is challenging for the highest on the main slate, and Washington has a very questionable secondary. It has allowed 28.3 PPG over the last three since beating up on the identity-less Giants in Week 1, and has given up the seventh-most FPPG to both opposing QBs and WRs.
VALUE PLAY
Justin Fields, NYJ vs. DAL ($5,600)
Justin Herbert should have a safe enough passing floor for you to use, but if you want a passing floor AND rushing ceiling, Justin Fields is your guy. He's fresh off a game against Miami, where he passed for 227 yards while rushing for 81 more with a passing TD and a rushing TD. The matchup against Dallas is even better.
The Cowboys have allowed the most yards per play this season, along with the most FPPG to opposing QBs and WRs. They've already allowed 40 points in two of their four games this season, and rank dead last in overall DVOA. The Jets are desperate for a win, and Fields has QB1 overall upside this week in a pristine matchup.
The designed play was doomed from the start. The rest was all Justin Fields pic.twitter.com/lKmFns7LqZ
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 30, 2025
Other options - Kyler Murray, Daniel Jones, Sam Darnold
DraftKings Running Backs - Week 5 DFS Picks
TOP PLAY
Jonathan Taylor, IND vs. LV ($8,000)
With the 49ers and Rams playing on Thursday, we get to explore different top options besides Christian McCaffrey and Puka Nacua. I have Jonathan Taylor as my overall RB1 this week anyway, and he should be considered a cash lock with expected heavy ownership. Taylor's preseason projections were gaudy across the board, and if he stays healthy, he's going to live up to them.
Taylor comes into the week with 90 touches on an 82% snap share through the first four games. This volume, plus his efficiency (5.4 YPC) and expected game script, make him an absolute smash play this week. The Raiders have allowed the fifth-fewest FPPG to RBs, but they've faced very questionable backfields to date on teams that are among the most pass-heavy in the league.
The Colts are favored by a TD at home, so Taylor should get massive volume and red-zone equity.
Jonathan Taylor is THAT guy 🔥@Colts | #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/71SMNWDVzm
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) September 28, 2025
VALUE PLAY
Breece Hall, NYJ vs. DAL ($5,600)
I've seen hesitation with Breece Hall this week, and it's mostly on account of the potential for Fields to vulture his rushing volume or red-zone equity. Do not worry the slightest about this. Hall is not only not hurt by this, but defenses needing to account for Fields' rushing have actually worked to open up lanes for Hall.
In two full games with Fields playing QB, Hall has rushed for 188 yards on 33 carries (5.7 YPC) and also has 10 targets from Fields (who is not known for checking down to RBs). Dallas has been just as brutal against RBs, allowing 5.4 YPC and the fifth-most FPPG per game. I fully plan on utilizing BOTH Fields and Hall in cash games this week, and it's even a viable GPP strategy as people may shy away from the QB/RB pairing.
Other options - De'Von Achane, Omarion Hampton, Rachaad White
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DraftKings Wide Receivers - Week 5 DFS Picks
TOP PLAY
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA vs. TB ($7,100)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba's price tag is SLOWLY creeping up, but $7,100 is still too cheap for a guy who could challenge for the WR1 overall position if Seattle remains efficient through the air. JSN is fourth in receptions, second in receiving yards, third in target share, and first in air yards share (51.7%), giving him both massive volume and upside.
Tampa Bay is notoriously a pass-funnel offense, and Bucky Irving's status opens up this game to be more of a back-and-forth passing affair (I'll be betting the over on 44.5 points). Tampa's defense is set up to limit the big plays, but it completely sacrifices underneath as a result. For this reason, JSN profiles as a better cash play than GPP this week, but there are very few with stable floors.
I'll also be betting his receptions prop and laddering it up. 10 catches for 70 yards seems like a very reasonable ask.
VALUE PLAY
Chris Olave, NO vs. NYG ($5,200)
Chris Olave's numbers are just bonkers this year. Olave has a whopping 42 targets through four weeks, but thanks to Spencer Rattler's anemic 5.2 YPA, he's been able to do almost nothing with them. He did score his first TD last week, which is hopefully a sign of things to come for him as far as red-zone looks go.
This is the first week where there could be some upside to Olave's game, as the Giants have been gashed in the secondary despite a strong pass rush. They've allowed the most receptions and the second-most receiving yards to opposing WRs, and Olave's outlook seems solid despite a long reception of only 14 yards this season.
Other options - Amon-Ra St. Brown, Garrett Wilson, Quentin Johnston, Michael Pittman Jr.
DraftKings Tight Ends - Week 5 DFS Picks
TOP PLAY
Trey McBride, ARI vs. TEN ($5,800)
Trey McBride didn't get a write-up last week as his team played on Thursday night, but he's back at the top of my TE rankings this week with a cake matchup against Tennessee. McBride leads his team in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and first-down conversions this year, and his price is not reflective of the weekly role he brings.
Arizona has a healthy team total of 25 points against Tennessee, which looks like an utter mess on both sides of the ball. The spread (13.5 points) would indicate Arizona may take more of a run-heavy approach, but it is down to bare bones there with James Conner and Trey Benson both on IR. McBride has as safe a floor as any.
VALUE PLAY
Zach Ertz, WAS @ LAC ($3,800)
For cash purposes, we're always looking for that sub-$4K guy who can provide enough of a floor while at the same time providing the requisite salary to get the high-end RB/WRs in there. This week, it's Zach Ertz, whose outlook improves tremendously with Jayden Daniels back under center.
In two games with Daniels, Ertz went 9-90-2 on 13 targets, while going 5-59-0 on seven targets from Marcus Mariota. It also bears mentioning that Terry McLaurin and Austin Ekeler were also stealing targets from Ertz in those first two weeks and won't be present this week. Ertz doesn't have the high-end TD scoring upside as some of his TE counterparts, but it's not unreasonable at all to think he could flirt with double-digit targets against the Chargers this week.
Other options - Jake Ferguson, Tyler Warren, Juwan Johnson
DraftKings D/ST - Week 5 DFS Picks
Top 5 Defenses For Cash Games
- New Orleans Saints ($2,200)
- Houston Texans ($2,400)
- Arizona Cardinals ($3,600)
- New York Giants ($2,900)
- Detroit Lions ($3,500)
Thanks for reading, and good luck in your contests this weekend!
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