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Welcome to RotoBaller's daily fantasy football FanDuel lineup picks for Week 5 of the NFL season. In this article, I, Justin Bales, will be taking you, the reader, through the best FanDuel DFS plays of the week for this upcoming Sunday.
These FanDuel lineup recommendations are based on matchups, recent performances, overall upside/talent levels, and other factors such as Vegas odds, home field advantage, and more. Good luck with your FanDuel DFS lineups!
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FanDuel Quarterback - Week 5 DFS Picks
Derek Carr (vs SD, $8,100)
Carr has played well in three of his first four games, and gets one of his best matchups yet this week. He'll face off against the San Diego Chargers, who have struggled against the pass this season and have recently lost their starting cornerback, Jason Verrett, to a partially torn ACL. Carr has multiple weapons in his offense, and this game has a 52.5 point over/under. The Raiders are small favorites, but it is expected to be a shootout, and Carr is a safe player with elite upside this week.
FanDuel Running Backs - Week 5 DFS Picks
Melvin Gordon (at OAK, $7,700)
Gordon has been a huge part of the Chargers offense since the injury to Danny Woodhead. Melvin Gordon is one of the Chargers best red zone options, and has been heavily involved in the passing game with 14 targets over his last two games. He gets an elite matchup against the Raiders, who have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. This game should feature a ton of scoring, and Gordon is a safe option in all leagues.
Terrance West (vs WAS, $6,400)
The Ravens have decided to move on from Justin Forsett, which opened opportunity for Terrance West. He ran for 113 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries last week, and gets another great matchup against the Redskins defense this week. Washington has struggled to stop the run, and West is still a cheap option. There is a bit of concern with Kenneth Dixon returning this week, but West had no targets last week, so it’s unlikely he loses his early down production. He’s going to be the workhorse this week, and he can be used in all leagues as a salary relief option.
FanDuel Wide Receivers - Week 5 DFS Picks
Michael Crabtree (vs SD, $6,900)
Both Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree make great options this week, but Crabtree is a bit cheaper, so he gets the write up. He has been a huge part of the Raiders offense over the last two weeks, as he has 15 receptions for 190 yards and three touchdowns on 23 targets over that span. He gets a great matchup against the Chargers, who have one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL this season, and recently lost Jason Verrett to a partially torn ACL. Both Crabtree and Cooper are elite options, and it isn’t a terrible idea to stack them both with Carr this weekend.
Brice Butler (vs CIN, $5,100)
Butler will likely draw the start for Dez Bryant again this week. Last week, he had five receptions for 41 yards and one touchdown on nine targets. He’s entirely too cheap for the volume of targets he’s going to see once again. He gets somewhat of a tough matchup against the Bengals, but Butler is a touchdown threat with a low price tag if Dez Bryant is ruled out again. That is a likely scenario, and Butler can be used in all leagues once Bryant is formally ruled out.
FanDuel Tight End - Week 5 DFS Picks
Zach Miller (at IND, $5,400)
Miller saw his lowest target total of the season last week, but he was able to find the end zone. He is a red zone threat for the Bears, and his role is only going to grow with Kevin White placed on IR. He also gets a great matchup against the Colts, who have struggled defensively this season. Miller should continue to find success with Brian Hoyer at quarterback.
FanDuel Defense - Week 5 DFS Picks
Minnesota Vikings D/ST (vs HOU, $4,800)
The Vikings defense has looked outstanding this season, as they have been able to dominate against everyone this season. Through four games, they have 15 sacks, 11 turnovers, and three touchdowns. It is an unsustainable pace, but they get a great matchup against the Texans, who have struggled offensively at times this season. This game has an over/under of only 39.5 points, and the Vikings are -6 point favorites. The Texans have one of the lowest team totals yet this season, and Minnesota’s defense can be used in all leagues.
