NFL DFS Week 5 Example Lineups: Top Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel Contests

UPDATED: Sunday, Oct. 8 at 11:45am ET

Who's ready for some NFL Week 5 DFS? Have you settled into this week's London game between the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars? Ready to start building some winning DFS lineups? We certainly are. This should be a real interesting slate, especially seeing which direction everyone else is taking given the recent NFL news regarding Jonathan Taylor signing a new three-year deal on the even of his season debut, returning from IR, and also hearing that Cooper Kupp will have no limitations during his return as well. People are going to invest, but the question is, how much? You can certainly take some chances in your GPP tournament lineups, but for cash, you may want to avoid. Could Kupp pop off against the Philadelphia Eagles? Sure. But we've got plenty of great match-ups to invest in that we should be fine. Last week, we got tagged with an explosive Christian McCaffrey in the late slate, but considering how we (and everyone else) are going to invest in the four later games today, we shouldn't get caught like that again this week. Of course, we do need some slices out of that early window so we aren't siting on a bunch of zeroes, waiting for things to start up. Decisions decisions, so let's just get to the news and notes and start building.

Just a few notes here about the lineups below...

The cash lineups were built solely off the players I put in the Playbook. These are the guys who, unless I have indicated otherwise, offer up the higher floor and will help you cash in your Double-Ups and 50/50s. For GPP tournaments, particularly the large-field ones, you need to find alternative routes to the cash line. I will utilize players from the Playbook and the DFS Dart Board to fill in the gaps, but what I am looking for are some lower-owned stacks that make sense based on expected game flow and other news. You may also see in the GPP lineups, there may be some names I haven't discussed this week on the site, but have talked about during the week on the Fantasy Alarm Show or even on the Fantasy Alarm Sunday Gameday Show on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. You will also notice, though, that others on the site have mentioned some of these players in places such as the position coaches, so it's not like we're trying to hide anything from you. The only time, and I mean the only time you will see a player in a GPP lineup who hasn't been discussed is if we are using a stack and need a player from the other team coming back. But it's rare when that happens.

Again, these lineups are meant to serve as examples for you; a sounding board, as I said. They are not meant for you to plug in as your own. That's the lazy way and we don't condone it. We are trying to teach you how to be a better DFS player; we aren't lineup-sellers. You should be creating your own lineups using all the information we provide you throughout the week and then coming here to see if there is anything you may have missed or simply for an alternative perspective.

**Be sure to check the Playbook and Dart Board for late changes

Best of luck to you this week and let's make some money!

SUNDAY MORNING NOTES:

According to Adam Schefter:

Broncos say they want to work out RB Javonte Williams, who is questionable with a quad injury, in pre-game warmups before deciding whether or not he can play Sunday vs. the Jets

Lions’ WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (abdomen) and RB Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring), both listed as doubtful for today, are not expected to play vs. the Panthers.

The Ravens elevated running back Kenyan Drake and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

There are no expected limitations on Rams’ WR Cooper Kupp, who will make his season debut today vs. the Eagles after spending the first four weeks on injured reserve due to a calf injury

Players out Sunday include Tre’Davious White, Devin Lloyd, Brian Branch, Jason Cabinda, Austin Corbett, Xavier Woods, Juwan Johnson, Lonnie Johnson, Christian Gonzalez, Matthew Judon, Shane Lemieux, John Michael Schmitz, Andrew Thomas, Shaquille Leonard, Kwity Paye, Bernhard Raimann, Treylon Burks, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Pat Freiermuth, Dan Moore, DeMarvin Leal, Odafe Oweh, Josh Jones, Fletcher Cox, Cam Jurgens, Sydney Brown, Joseph Noteboom, Brandin Echols, D.J. Reed, Baron Browning, Randy Gregory, Peyton Hendershot and Elijah Mitchell

Other News:

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Saquon Barkley (ankle) is not expected to play in Week 5 against the Dolphins.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Odell Beckham (ankle) is expected to play in Week 5 against the Steelers.

Saints listed Derek Carr (shoulder) as questionable for Week 5 against the Patriots.

Patriots listed Rhamondre Stevenson (thigh) as questionable for Week 5 against the Saints.

Denver 7’s Troy Renck reports Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin will have a larger workload in Week 5 vs the Jets.

Eagles RB Rashaad Penny (illness) is doubtful for Week 5 against the Rams.

Cardinals RB Keaontay Ingram (neck) is questionable for Week 5 against the Bengals.

Elijah Mitchell (knee) will not play in Week 5 against the Cowboys.

Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell (shoulder) is questionable for Week 5 vs the Steelers.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports Bengals WR Tee Higgins is out for Week 5 against the Cardinals.

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb (knee) was left off the Week 5 injury report

Lions WR Josh Reynolds (groin) is as questionable for Week 5 against the Panthers.

Titans activated WR Kyle Philips from injured reserve.

Giants TE Daniel Bellinger (knee) is questionable for Week 5 vs Miami.

WEATHER REPORT:

BAL/PIT -- sustained winds around 15mph, gusts 25-30mph. Low chance of rain

GPP STACKS:

As a reminder, when you're stacking in GPP, you always want to run someone back from the opposing team. One-sided games often turn to a running back seeing higher-than-usual volume or the back-ups start to play. For a stack to really pop, the other team needs to keep things competitive. 

Chalk Stacks (Expect High Ownership): 

*Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice (Jefferson or Hockenson coming back)

*Vikings: Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson or Jordan Addison (Kelce or Rice coming back)

*Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle or De'Von Achane (Barkley or Waller coming back)

Eagles: Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown or Dallas Goedert (Kupp or Nacua coming back)

*Rams: Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp or Tutu Atwell (Swift or Brown or Smith coming back)

Possible Lower-Owned Stacks:

*Ravens: Lamar Jackson, Zay Flowers, Gus Edwards or Mark Andrews (Harris or Pickens coming back)

Bengals: Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd or Joe Mixon (Conner. Brown or Ertz coming back)

*Cardinals: Joshua Dobbs, Marquise Brown, Zach Ertz or James Conner or Michael Wilson (Chase, Mixon or Boyd coming back)

Lions: Jared Goff, David Montgomery, Sam LaPorta or Jameson Williams (Chark or Thielen coming back)

Texans: CJ Stroud, Robert Woods, Tank Dell or Nico Collins (Bijan or London coming back)

Colts: Anthony Richardson, Michael Pittman, Josh Downs or Jonathan Taylor (Hopkins or Henry coming back)

Saints: Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave or Michael Thomas (Stevenson coming back)

Broncos: Russell Wilson, Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton or Samaje Perine (Wilson or Hall coming back)

Dart Throw Stacks:

*Jets: Zach Wilson, Garrett Wilson, Tyler Conklin or Breece Hall (Jeudy coming back)

Titans: Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, DeAndre Hopkins (Taylor or Pittman coming back)

Giants: Daniel Jones, Darren Waller, Saquon Barkley or Darius Slayton (Hill or Achane or Waddle coming back)

Panthers: Bryce Young, Adam Thielen, DJ Chark or Hayden Hurst (Montgomery or LaPorta coming back)

Falcons: Desmond Ridder, Bijan Robinson, Drake London or Kyle Pitts (Woods or Dell coming back)

Steelers: Kenny Pickett, George Pickens, Najee Harris or Pat Freiermuth (Flowers or Edwards coming back)

Patriots: Mac Jones/Bailey Zappe, Rhamondre Stevenson, DeVante Parker (Kamara or Olave or Thomas coming back)

*denotes favorite