This article first appeared on RotoBaller.com
[sc name=”Author Matt Terelle”]
Hey there RotoBallers! Hopefully you stacked your Texans against the Titans in Week 4 while riding the hot hand of Bilal Powell to victory in the Jets’ surprising (again) victory.
In this article, I will be taking a look at some of my favorite Yahoo DFS lineups picks for the Week 5 slate. These DFS picks are based on a multitude of factors including matchup, talent, recent performance, Vegas odds, and pricing on Yahoo.
Generally, I will try to outline a top option at each position along with a value option with a chance to at least hit value. Let’s get to it!
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Quarterback Picks for Yahoo DFS
Dak Prescott, Dallas vs. GB, $30
Prescott has been one of the most bankable fantasy quarterbacks this season, racking up seven passing touchdowns over his past three games while adding one score on the ground. He finds himself in a great spot in Week 5 as the Cowboys welcome a porous Green Bay pass defense into town. The Packers have been decent against opposing passing attacks this season, ranking 15th in DVOA, but they don’t have a strong secondary. This game has the highest over/under this weekend, with a point total sitting at 52 and the Cowboys having the highest implied team total at 27 points.
Josh McCown, New York Jets @ CLE, $23
As Andy Dalton proved last week, you should always start players in fantasy against the Browns. Dalton shredded Cleveland’s “pass defense” for four touchdowns, after accounting for just two in his three games before that. McCown heads back to Cleveland for a #revengegame after spending the 2015 and 2016 seasons as Cleveland’s starting quarterback. Revenge narrative aside, any quarterback who is facing the Browns needs to be considered for DFS. McCown hasn’t posted eye-popping stats for the Jets this season, but the Browns have actually been decent against the run, so McCown may see additional attempts funneled into the passing attack, especially if Cleveland is able to slow Bilal Powell.
Running Back Picks for Yahoo DFS
Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh vs. JAX, $35
Bell finally broke out in Week 4, racking up two touchdowns and 144 rushing yards against the Baltimore Ravens. Look for him to busy again in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville boasts the top-rated pass defense in the league according to DVOA, but they rank dead-last against the run. Expect the Steelers to lean heavily on Bell yet again in Week 5, making him a top running back option if you are planning on paying up at the position this weekend.
Ameer Abdullah, Detroit Lions vs. CAR, $13
Abdullah had a breakout game in Week 5, seeing 23 touches for 109 total yards and a touchdown. After toying around with a three-man committee at running back over the first few weeks, it appears the Lions are starting to commit to featuring Abdullah as their lead back. If that remains the case in Week 5, Abdullah sets up as one of the top values on the entire site at just $13. The Panthers run defense is decent, ranking 13th in DVOA, but they certainly aren’t a unit to avoid in fantasy. For what it’s worth, Abdullah did leave Week 4’s game with a foot/ankle issue but head coach Jim Caldwell told reporters that he is fine and that the medical staff cleared him during the game. Just be sure to double-check Abdullah’s status before lock on Sunday.
Wide Receiver Picks for Yahoo DFS
Dez Bryant, Dallas vs. GB, $26
Bryant had one of the most brutal wide receiver schedules to kick off the season, facing off against stud corners Janoris Jenkins, Aqib Talib, and Patrick Peterson in consecutive weeks to open the season. He will finally get a break in the schedule in Week 5 when he takes on a weak Green Bay Packers secondary. Bryant is expected to run the majority of his routes at Packers right cornerback Kevin King, who has earned a 43.3 grade over at Pro Football Focus this year. Bryant is in a blowup spot in a game which should be a shootout, yet checks in at a reasonable price this weekend. He and Dak Prescott are one of the top QB-WR stacks this weekend.
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis vs. SF, $22
Hilton has had one blowup game this season, not surprisingly coming against the Cleveland Browns. While he’s normally been a stay away without Andrew Luck, the speedy wideout has a good chance to post another huge game against the 49ers in Week 5. San Francisco ranks 26th in DVOA against wide receivers this season and Hilton will run most of his routes at Rashard Robinson, who has earned a 36.5 grade at Pro Football Focus this season. Due to the boom/bust nature of Hilton’s game, even when Luck is playing, he’s better suited for GPPs this weekend.
Tight End Picks for Yahoo DFS
Jimmy Graham, Seattle @ LAR, $17
Graham merits consideration for lineups yet again in Week 5 as he will face off against a Rams defense that has struggled to contain opposing tight ends, ranking just 26th in DVOA against the position this year. He is a solid, mid-tier option if you don’t have the salary cap left over to reach Zach Ertz or Travis Kelce, but you also don’t want to settle for a value option. Graham, like the rest of the Seattle passing game, got off to a slow start in Weeks 1 and 2 but he’s kicked it into gear over the past two weeks, catching 11 passes for 133 yards. The star tight end is still looking for his first touchdown this season but with the way Russell Wilson has been passing, a multi-touchdown week isn’t out of the realm of possibilities for Graham in Week 5.
Evan Engram, New York Giants vs. LAC, $12
Engram’s usage in the Giants’ passing game was extremely encouraging in Week 4 against Tampa Bay. The rookie tight end saw 11 targets come his way, giving him three straight weeks with at least seven targets. While rookie tight ends are usually slow to adjust to the NFL, Engram hasn’t shown much trouble so far as the Giants have shown no hesitation in trying to get the ball to him. He’s emerging as one of the top targets in a pass-first Giants offense and he draws a great matchup against a Chargers defense that is ranked just 30th in DVOA against tight ends. Engram is extremely cheap on Yahoo and sets up as a fantastic, cap-saving play with loads of upside.
Defense/Special Teams Pick for Yahoo DFS
Minnesota Vikings @ CHI, $10
The Vikings possess one of the most talented defenses in the NFL and are slated to take on a weak Chicago Bears offense in Week 5. Minnesota’s defense is averaging just 5.0 fantasy points per game on Yahoo which explains why the site has them vastly underpriced, but they are in a great spot heading into Week 5. Following Week 4, the Bears finally saw enough of Mike Glennon at quarterback and will turn to rookie signal caller Mitchell Trubisky in Week 5. While the change to Trubisky over Glennon is a positive for Chicago’s offense long term, his Week 5 outlook is not great as he will take on a Vikings defense that just sacked Matthew Stafford six times in Week 4 and should be licking their lips at the opportunity to take some shots against a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start.
