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Joe Nicely's DraftKings NFL DFS picks and lineup sleepers for the Week 5 (October 2024) Main Slate. His top daily fantasy football lineups to target for DraftKings DFS contests.
Welcome back to our weekly DraftKings DFS column here at RotoBaller! As we head into the heart of the NFL season, there are some adjustments we'll need to make on this slate.
A couple of new variables that are tossed our way in Week 5 include the loss of a game to the London International Series and, more importantly, the introduction of the bye weeks for four NFL teams, including popular DFS options like the Lions and Eagles. The result is a salary scale that feels noticeably trickier to navigate and pricing that continues to get tighter.
These DraftKings lineup recommendations are based on matchups, projected DK points and ownership, overall upside/talent levels, and opportunity, as well as factors such as Vegas odds, home-field advantage, and more. There are quite a few great plays available on DK for Week 5. Also, be sure to check out our weekly FanDuel DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big! Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups -- let's dominate this slate together!
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DraftKings Quarterbacks - Week 5 DFS Picks
Jordan Love - GB at LAR ($6,500)
I'm not kicking things off with Jayden Daniels this week, but it's not because he isn't a great play, I just figured you guys might be tired of reading about him. So play some Jayden.
We can find Jordan Love for a few hundred bucks cheaper than the rookie superstar, but the Packers QB is certainly no slouch. He returned from a two-game absence last week to break the DFS slate with 399 passing yards and four TDs. Though he came out sluggish and fell behind against the Vikings, Love found his rhythm as the game progressed.
Jordan Love is getting back in the groove
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 3, 2024
This week, he draws a Rams defense that's been barbecued more than hamburgers on the Fourth of July. L.A. has allowed 9.14 yards per attempt to opposing QBs this season -- the worst mark in the NFL -- while also relinquishing the league's third-most passing TDs (eight). With any rust sufficiently knocked off, Love should feast in this matchup.
Geno Smith - NYG at SEA ($5,900)
If you're looking to spend down at the QB position on this tightly priced slate, Geno Smith stands out as a strong sub-$6K option. Smith and this Seattle offense have been sharp in new OC Ryan Grubb's scheme. The Seahawks lead the NFL in Pass Rate Over Expectation and stand fourth in pace of play, factors which have led to Smith ranking first in the league in passing yards and attempts.
While New York is a middling pass defense on paper, a home matchup against the Giants certainly isn't anything to shy away from. The G-Men have allowed a 6-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio to the quarterback position this season. They have little chance of significantly slowing down Smith and this uptempo, pass-heavy Seattle attack.
DraftKings Running Backs - Week 5 DFS Picks
Jordan Mason - ARI at SF ($7,400)
Remember the good old days of the Week 1 slate and a $4,600 Jordan Mason? Ah, yes, those were the times. His price sure has spiked over the past month, but Mason has consistently proved to be worth the squeeze, as he's garnered an elite workload and produced high-end results while doing his best Christian McCaffrey impression in the Niners backfield.
King Henry at the top of the list 👑 @FedEx pic.twitter.com/BDTEtC2UOd
— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2024
Mason leads the NFL in carries (91), which he's converted into the league's second-most rushing yards (447) and fourth-most DraftKings points at the RB position. He draws a prime matchup this week against a Cardinals defense that's spiraling quickly. Arizona has coughed up 403 rushing yards and five rushing TDs over the last two weeks.
Chuba Hubbard - CAR at CHI ($6,100)
Andy Dalton's insertion into the Panthers lineup has been manna from heaven for Chuba Hubbard. Since Bryce Young was sent to the bench, Hubbard has averaged 109 rushing yards per game while also hauling in nine catches for 72 yards and a score in Dalton's two starts.
Coming off a season-high 74% snap rate in Week 4, Hubbard has now combined for a massive 48 total opportunities in Carolina's last two while dropping DraftKings scores of 30.9 and 25.1.
With the Panthers electing not to open injured rookie running back Jonathon Brooks' practice window, this backfield will remain Hubbard's for a Week 5 matchup against a Chicago unit that's 24th in the NFL in yards per carry (4.6) allowed to the RB position.
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DraftKings Wide Receivers - Week 5 DFS Picks
Jayden Reed - GB at LAR ($6,500)
We highlighted Jordan Love at the QB position and I'm very interested in pairing him with Green Bay pass-catchers in this spot. After dropping a beautiful 7/139/1 stat line against the Vikings last week, Jayden Reed has now totaled 11 catches for 277 yards and two TDs in Love's two starts this season.
In 2 games with Jordan Love, Jayden Reed is averaging:
🧀 27.35 fantasy points
🧀 138.5 yards
🧀 1.5 TDIs he a Top-5 fantasy WR rest of season? pic.twitter.com/r78JLjh0W4
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) October 2, 2024
Already second in the NFL in yards per target (15.3), Reed's role will only grow more prominent with fellow Packers wideout Christian Watson dealing with a high ankle sprain.
Gamers should be salivating about his Week 5 matchup against the Rams, a team that has been consistently destroyed by opposing receivers. L.A. has allowed the NFL's second-most receiving TDs (seven) and third-most yards per target (9.25) to the position this season.
Brian Thomas Jr. - IND at JAX ($5,900)
Pretty much nothing is going right for Jacksonville at the moment but perhaps it can take some small solace in the fact that Brian Thomas Jr. -- its 2024 first-round draft pick -- looks like a potential stud.
Across the first four games of his pro career, Thomas has showcased a strong ability to run diverse routes and has been a high-efficiency player, averaging 2.43 yards per route run and 10.6 yards per target -- both of which rank inside the top 20 in the NFL.
In Jacksonville's Week 5 matchup against the Colts, there are a couple of paths that lead to this one being a "bad teams shootout," especially if Joe Flacco gets the start for Anthony Richardson.
No matter who is under center for Indy, Thomas has a golden opportunity for a spike performance against a Colts secondary that's been shredded by perimeter receivers, including George Pickens (7/113/0), Rome Odunze (6/112/1), and Nico Collins (6/117/0).
DraftKings Tight Ends - Week 5 DFS Picks
Brock Bowers - LV at DEN ($5,500)
It's a complete "punt it off" situation at the always-difficult tight-end position this week. Five of the arguable top-6 TEs are either dealing with injury concerns (George Kittle, David Njoku, Evan Engram), brutal matchups (Trey McBride, Dalton Kincaid), or a combination of both.
Brock Bowers getting the carry and getting the first down 💪
📺: #CLEvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/PePGe5Xa0v— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
The sixth, Las Vegas rookie tight end Brock Bowers, is coming off a two-catch performance in Week 4 and must face a trending Broncos defense at Mile High in Week 5. The bright side is that Bowers' route participation was a season-high 73% in last week's win over the Browns.
With Davante Adams sidelined due to trade negotiations, the uber-talented rookie's target share almost has to balloon against Denver.
Colby Parkinson - GB at LAR ($3,700)
I have Green Bay Packers sprinkled throughout this week's article, so it feels fitting to wrap things up with another piece from this game environment that I'm very interested in, Rams tight end Colby Parkinson.
You can also give Packers TE Tucker Kraft a long look as part of stacks, but Parkinson profiles as a reasonable (and cheap) option on a slate where the position is so nasty.
Holding down the fort with Tyler Higbee on IR, Parkinson is rarely coming off the field for this banged-up Rams offense. He's second among all NFL tight ends in routes run (126) and third in snap share (89.1%). This week, he draws a Packers defense that's allowing the league's second-highest catch rate (83.3%) to the TE position this season.
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