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Bye weeks are beginning in Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season, giving us a 10-game main slate to dissect in NFL DFS. The five teams who won't be playing in Week 5 due to a bye week are the Los Angeles Chargers, the Seattle Seahawks, the Cleveland Browns, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In this weekly article, we'll be taking a look at stacks and bring-back options that are ideal plays in GPPs (guaranteed prize pools) on DraftKings and FanDuel. Salaries and scoring formats can differ on both sites, making some players much better options on one site compared to the other.
When looking at stacks and bring-back players each week, you have to take into account potential game scripts and correlation. Before the fifth week of the season, here are my favorite stacks and bring-back options in NFL DFS on DraftKings and FanDuel.
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Miami Dolphins vs. New York Giants
- Tua Tagovailoa ($7,100 DK, $8,000 FD)
- Tyreek Hill ($9,000 DK, $9,400 FD)
- Jaylen Waddle ($7,500 DK, $6,800 FD) or Braxton Berrios ($3,600 DK, $5,200 FD)
It was a quiet outing from Tua Tagovailoa and the offense of the Miami Dolphins in their 48-20 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 4. Following a tough matchup against the Bills, the Dolphins will host the New York Giants in Week 5 and have the highest projected total (30.25) on the main slate. Tagovailoa threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns in his lone home game this season back in Week 3 versus the Denver Broncos. The Giants are also 29th in pass defense DVOA entering Week 5.
When using Tagovailoa as your quarterback, you'll certainly want to prioritize stacking him with Tyreek Hill. Hill leads all wide receivers with a 40.7% target per route run percentage and he's already had two slate-breaking games this season. For those who play multiple lineups, it would be wise to also get exposure to Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane to gain leverage over those who stack the Dolphins' passing game. There's also a chance Miami's offense goes nuclear (again) against a New York team that looks lost early in the season.
Jaylen Waddle has gotten off to a slow start this season, but it seems like a matter of time before he becomes more involved in Miami's lethal passing attack. The former first-round pick has yet to record more than six targets in the three games he's been active in. With River Cracraft sidelined with a shoulder injury, Braxton Berrios stepped up with six receptions, 43 yards, and a score in Week 4.
Bring-back options:
- Darren Waller ($5,400 DK, $6,100 FD)
- Darius Slayton ($4,100 DK, $5,900 FD) or Wan'Dale Robinson ($3,000 DK, $5,400 FD)
The offense of the Giants has been a mess and their star tight end, Darren Waller, hasn't found his groove on his new team yet. The positive news is that the Dolphins are surrendering the eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends in the first four weeks of the season. Aside from Waller, there aren't many definitive players to use as bring-back options unless Saquon Barkley can return.
Of the wide receivers on the Giants, Darius Slayton and Wan'Dale Robinson are the preferred choices. Slayton is second on the Giants in air yards per route run (2.48) and second in target share percentage (17.7%) with three games of five-plus targets thus far. Since returning from a knee injury in Week 3, Robinson has garnered at least five targets in both games and it's clear New York wants to get him involved in the offense. Isaiah Hodgins and Jalin Hyatt are the other wide receivers to consider from the Giants.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles
- Matthew Stafford ($5,600 DK, $6,800 FD)
- Puka Nacua ($7,700 DK, $8,000 FD)
- Tutu Atwell ($5,300 DK, $5,800 FD) or Tyler Higbee ($4,100 DK, $5,300 FD)
Matthew Stafford and the offense of the Los Angeles Rams have looked much better than expected despite not having Cooper Kupp available yet. The veteran gunslinger has yet to throw multiple touchdowns in a game this season, but he has three 300-yard outings already. The Philadelphia Eagles have given up the seventh-most fantasy points and the third-most passing touchdowns to quarterbacks. With the Rams at home in a game with the second-highest projected total (50.5), Stafford is a solid salary-relief option.
There's a chance Kupp returns from injured reserve this week, but rookie Puka Nacua should remain a focal point in the offense regardless. Nacua is tied for the second-highest target share (34.7%) in the NFL and he now has 39 receptions, 501 yards, and one touchdown already. Both sites have increased Nacua's salary, so he certainly is a better option if Kupp is limited or ruled out for another week. If Kupp is active and he isn't going to be on a snap count, he could be viable in tournaments.
Once Kupp returns, Tutu Atwell is certainly someone who could see a decreased role in the Rams' offense. On the other hand, he has excelled as the vertical threat in the offense as the Rams have utilized him in the quick motions that have become the latest craze in the NFL. Also, the Eagles are permitting the fourth-most fantasy points to the wide receiver position. Tyler Higbee now has five-plus catches in back-to-back weeks and he has five-plus targets in three consecutive games.
Bring-back options:
- A.J. Brown ($8,000 DK, $8,200 FD)
- DeVonta Smith ($7,400 DK, $7,500 FD) or D'Andre Swift ($6,000 DK, $7,700 FD)
After failing to find the end zone in the first three weeks, A.J. Brown saw some major positive regression in the touchdown department in Week 4. The superstar wideout hauled in nine of his 13 targets for 175 yards and two scores against the Washington Commanders this past week. Even though the Rams have been surprisingly good against the pass thus far, they have an inexperienced secondary.
DeVonta Smith shouldn't be forgotten amid Brown's recent stretch of success as he scored a touchdown in each of the first two weeks. And he is still posting a solid 23% target share despite the Eagles forcing the ball to Brown. It's evident that D'Andre Swift has earned the starting job in Philadelphia's backfield with his explosiveness and he's notched at least 18 opportunities (rushing attempts/targets) in three straight games.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Bengals
- Joshua Dobbs ($5,200 DK, $6,600 FD)
- Marquise Brown ($5,000 DK, $6,400 FD)
- Michael Wilson ($3,700 DK, $5,300 FD) or Zach Ertz ($3,500 DK, $5,100 FD)
You'll certainly want pieces from the impending showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings. But don't look now, the Arizona Cardinals are fifth in rushing offense DVOA and sixth in passing offense DVOA. Joshua Dobbs is a large reason why the Cardinals are playing teams competitively and he has notched 40-plus rushing yards in three straight games. The Cincinnati Bengals are a mess right now, and with Joe Burrow playing injured, Dobbs and the Cardinals are expected to keep this game close (they are three-point underdogs at home).
Marquise Brown has stood out as the clear No. 1 target for Dobbs, logging a team-high 27.5% target share. The speedy wideout has also tallied at least five receptions and seven targets in three straight contests. Even with Brown being productive, he remains extremely affordable on both sites against the Bengals. Cincinnati's defense is 19th in pass defense DVOA, so Arizona should have some success through the air.
Rookie Michael Wilson has emerged as a reliable weapon for Dobbs after recording seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown on seven targets in Week 4. Zach Ertz never possesses a high ceiling in DFS, but the experienced tight end boasts a 25% target share and he's caught at least six passes in three of the first four weeks.
Bring-back options:
- Ja'Marr Chase ($7,900 DK, $8,700 FD)
- Joe Mixon ($6,400 DK, $7,000 FD) or Tyler Boyd ($4,500 DK, $6,200 FD)
It's tough to trust Burrow and the Bengals' offense right now, but Ja'Marr Chase is seeing more snaps out of the slot and he'll continue to see plenty of looks. The All-Pro pass catcher has eight-plus targets in each of his first four games and Tee Higgins could be ruled out because of a rib injury he sustained in Week 4. The Cardinals are also 30th in pass defense DVOA.
Besides struggling against the pass, the Cardinals are 27th in rush defense DVOA. Joe Mixon continues to operate as the clear featured back for the Bengals and his passing-game usage should be closer than Weeks 1 and 2 (five targets in each) than he's seen in recent weeks. With Higgins' status up in the air, Tyler Boyd could see an expanded role in Cincinnati's aerial attack. Considering that Burrow is forced to get rid of the ball quicker due to his calf ailment, Boyd has tallied seven-plus targets in three straight games.
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