Yahoo NFL DFS Picks – Week 5

Finding the best anchors for your DFS lineup is the best way to start lineup construction, so each week in this space, I’ll be taking a look at a skill-position breakdown of players who stick out on Yahoo. Whether it’s because of matchup or usage or anything else, these are players who should feature heavily in lineups.

Let’s take a look at Week 5.

Quarterbacks | Yahoo Week 5 picks

Ignore Justin Herbert at your own risk

($34, vs. Cleveland Browns)

Priced as only the third-most expensive quarterback on the slate, Justin Herbert has been downright filthy this season. Second-year man Herbert has been a beast as well. He’s tossed for at least 280 yards in each of his first four games, and the Chargers are a scoring juggernaut — they’ve posted 58 points in their last two games combined. Vegas seems to think this could be a shootout — the over/under sits at 49.5 points. The Browns are certainly a solid D, but Herbert could cook.

Check out the FTN Fantasy points allowed tool to see how teams allowed points to opposing positions.  

Daniel Jones is far too cheap

($25, at Cowboys)

The Giants stormed back down 11 points in Week 4 to beat the Saints, and signal-caller Daniel Jones was a big reason why. Despite their ugly record, Jones has been quietly a huge fantasy asset this year — he’s averaging just under 300 passing yards per game (296, to be exact), and he gives you that Konami-code upside averaging 47 yards per game on the ground. As 7.5-point underdogs right now, Jones could be airing out and be a massive stud from a DFS perspective.

Check out the FTN pace tool. 

Running back | Yahoo Week 5 picks

D’Andre Swift could be back in business this week

($22, at Minnesota Vikings)

This could turn into a very fun, contrarian play this week — after Lions head coach Dan Campbell seemed to hype D’Andre Swift as the guy, he fell flat on his face in Week 4. But let’s not ignore how much Swift is actually involved in the offensive attack — he is second on the Lions in targets (to T.J. Hockenson), and he has 64 combined rushes and receptions. I’d expect Swift to be back in smash mode soon.

Najee Harris could be a free square this week

($21, vs. Denver Broncos)

This could be somewhat of a chalky play this week, as Najee Harris is far too cheap. Harris is the undisputed guy in this backfield. On 22 backfield touches in Pittsburgh, Harris grabbed 21 of those, with Benny Snell snagging just the lone other carry. While the offensive line has struggled, Harris has found other ways to get involved in the game — he’s got 20 catches — that’s right, twenty — in the last two games on 26 targets. He’s not only a running threat, but a receiving one as well, and he’s got to be owned in all spaces.

Wide receiver | Yahoo Week 5 picks

The Laviska Shenault breakout is coming

($18, vs. Tennessee Titans)

So much of fantasy of fantasy football is completely based on opportunity — and this could pay off in spades for Shenault. With fellow wide receiver D.J. Chark fracturing his ankle, a heavy load could be in store for Shenault. Last week, the second-year wide receiver snagged seven passes for 99 receiving yards with Chark off the pitch. He could be ready for more in Week 5.

Odell Beckham makes a lot of sense at $18

($18, at Los Angeles Chargers)

As he has been working his way back into form, Odell Beckham could easily have recorded a monster week in Week 4. Baker Mayfield and Beckham just missed on a 70-yard bomb for a touchdown, and the narrative certainly would have changed had they been able to connect on that toss. Since he’s come back from the injury, he’s clearly been a focal point of the offense — he’s logged a 26.7% target market share, and with what could be a nice up-tempo contest, he seems far too cheap. Ignore him at your own risk.

Tight end | Yahoo Week 5 picks

Go back to Darren Waller

($23, vs. Chicago Bears)

After an absurd 19-target effort the first week, I really hope that no one thought that Darren Waller was going to see this kind of volume the rest of the way. And honestly, there are some peculiarities here — Waller didn’t even see his first target Monday night until the second quarter. Let’s not be silly, though — the tight end slate stinks this week, especially when you consider that studs Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews are off the main slate. I am more than fine paying up for Waller.