Week 5 has arrived as we’re now a quarter of the way through the 2024 NFL season. Week 5 signals the beginning of the 2024 bye weeks.

This week we won’t see the Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, and Los Angeles Chargers. The Eagles specifically really need the week off to get healthy on the offensive side of the ball. 

 

 

 

But we still have a fun 10-game slate on the books this weekend so let’s take a look at the top DraftKings and FanDuel picks for the NFL DFS Week 5 D/ST Coach!

NFL DFS Week 5 D/ST Coach For FanDuel & DraftKings Fantasy

Week 4 was a great spot for the NFL DFS D/ST Coach. The San Francisco 49ers popped off for 22 fantasy points last week among the top-tier options. Even the mid-and-value options like the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos all came through with relatively strong “floor” performances.

The Atlanta Falcons had a very strong performance for the D/ST position on the backs of two touchdowns scored. They didn’t make last week’s article after some fairly unfriendly performances for fantasy football in Weeks 1-3.

Fortunately, the 49ers did outscore them, but it just goes to show how difficult it is to nail the teams that can break the slate with that kind of upside.

 

 

 

NFL Week 5 Defense/Special Teams

As we dig into the NFL DFS Week 5 D/ST Coach, you’ll see below that the options this week are more consolidated than the previous four weeks. There are only five D/ST’s I’m considering this week and they’re outlined below.

There are some teams like I like given the matchup. Those include the Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, and even the Carolina Panthers. But as I started to construct my NFL DFS Week 5 lineups, I just found that I wasn’t really trying to squeeze them in.

Plus, with Bye weeks starting we have less team to target overall. There are only two games on this slate with implied totals under 41 points. That’s a rather large drop off from where we were last week, so we have to pick and choose our spots carefully in this NFL DFS Week 5 D/ST Coach.

 

 

 

NFL DFS D/ST Top Tier Picks For Week 5

Chicago Bears - DraftKings: $3,600 | FanDuel: $4,600

I don’t love the Bears in this spot, but I think I can tolerate the play in tournaments. I do really like the additions and personnel moves the Bears have made in the last calendar year. 

They traded for Montez Sweat, they signed Kevin Byard, and they extended Jaylon Johnson. All highly valuable moves for this defense. Obviously, there are concerns because the Carolina Panthers offense has looked much better with Andy Dalton running the offense. 

I’m not buying into the 18.75-point implied team total for the Carolina Panthers. Yes, it’s a tough matchup for Chicago but I do think they keep this game competitive. So, I think the Bears are playable for their upside, but for cash games we might look elsewhere.

Seattle Seahawks - DraftKings: $3,500 | FanDuel: $4,800

Given the state of the New York Giants (not having Malik Nabers and Devin Singletary), I'm adding the Seahawks to the D/ST Coach as of Sunday morning and while I normally avoid paying up for D/ST, they are a team that I'm comfortable paying this price tag for on DraftKings.

 

 

 

NFL DFS D/ST Mid-Tier Picks For Week 5

Green Bay Packers - DraftKings: $3,000 | FanDuel: $4,700

The Packers are in a unique position heading into this matchup for the afternoon window. On DraftKings, the Packers have returned at least seven fantasy points in all four games this year, so this is a team I’m okay targeting for cash games and tournaments.

The game total is high at 49 points according to most sportsbooks, but the Packers are favored on the road by three points. Moreover, the Packers have forced three turnovers in all four games this year and we know the offensive line for the Los Angeles Rams is very suspect.

Competent offenses have scored on Green Bay. Sub-par offenses have not. So, there’s a little variance to this play but overall, the price tag isn’t bad, and they force turnovers in bunches.

 

 

 

NFL Week 5 DFS D/ST Value Picks

Buffalo Bills - DraftKings: $2,800 | FanDuel: $4,400

So, this is a play I’m recommending because we’re buying into the Buffalo Bills secondary. You aren’t benching the Texans receivers by any means, but this is a very difficult matchup for them. The Bills run an aggressive zone-heavy scheme that limits receivers to the second-fewest fantasy points on the perimeter and the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the slot.

At the end of the day, the Texans still have the best receiver in the game with Nico Collins. Yes, I’m labeling him the best receiver in the game. He’s on pace for over 2,000 receiving yards through four games and he’s had 17 plays go for 15+ yards. No other player in the league has more than nine.

But Buffalo has held three of their opponents to under 160 receiving yards, yet unfortunately, Von Miller will be out for this game and the Bills have already surrendered 28+ points in two games this year. So, this is largely a tournament-only play at low ownership and a friendly price tag.

Cleveland Browns – DraftKings: $2,700 | FanDuel: $4,400

The Browns are a mess offensively but on the defensive side they still pack a punch. And sure, this matchup gives me some pause because it’s becoming quite the task to contain Jayden Daniels as he’s developing more chemistry with Terry McLaurin week after week.

The Browns are road underdogs in this matchup but let’s not forget this is a discounted price because they were just $3,500 a week ago against the Las Vegas Raiders and they returned 11 fantasy points. And at $2,700 against this Commanders offense, I think they can return 3X value with eight-to-nine fantasy points as more of a floor play.

The Commanders are averaging the sixth-most yards per game and the third-most points per game in the league. So, the matchup is definitely dictating this discount. But I’m still happy to take a shot with this discounted D/ST.

 

 

 

NFL DFS D/ST Fades For Week 5

San Francisco 49ers - DraftKings: $3,700 | FanDuel: $5,000

The price tag for the 49ers isn’t awful. $3,700 on DraftKings is very reasonable. Are the 49es favored by a touchdown in this game? Yes. Is the implied total also 49.5 points? It sure is. Does that mean the Cardinals still have an implied team total of 21+ points? Absolutely.

There’s a chance the Cardinals get Trey McBride back for this matchup as he returns from a concussion. And yes, that means he has to deal with Fred Warner. But also, he’s an elite tight end in this league and will command targets.

The Cardinals average 24 points per game and 333 yards per game. Marvin Harrison has emerged as an elite pass catching option for Kyler Murray and they still have a reliable running back in James Conner in the backfield. At the end of the day, there are cheaper D/ST’s with a similar floor and there are some with a higher upside.

We faded the Bengals as a pay-up option last week and that worked out. Let’s go back-to-back with the 49ers this week, even after their big game last week.

 

 

 

NFL DFS Week 5 D/ST Play Of The Week

Denver Broncos - DraftKings: $2,900 | FanDuel: $4,000

I’m not going to play it safe anymore with the NFL DFS D/ST Play of the Week. If I’m being transparent, I hardly ever pay up for a D/ST. I mostly live in the range of D/ST’s priced at $3,000 or under on DraftKings.

Per ESPN Analytics the Broncos are first in pass rush win rate and they blitz A LOT. Denver did well for us last week at $2,500 with 11 fantasy points. And I believe they can have another successful week against the Las Vegas Raiders at altitude. 

The Broncos have not allowed a quarterback to throw for 200+ yards. They’ve allowed just 29 total points in their last three games. They have a defensive back that can take away the opposing offense’s best receiver. 

And the Broncos blitz at a high rate, evidenced by the 12 sacks they have in their last two games. They’re severely underpriced, favored in a low-scoring game, and playing at home. They’ll be in most of my lineups on DraftKings this week.

 

 

 

NFL DFS Week 5 Defense/Special Teams Projections