The hits just keep on coming here in the 2024 NFL season as another wave of injuries just came crashing down on us. Fortunately, we can use them to our advantage because an injury to one player means value is opening up in DFS somewhere and that means it’s time to check in with the best NFL DFS Week 5 Watch List.

 

 

 

The season-long fantasy football community can lament over the losses of Rashee Rice, Anthony Richardson and Bijan Robinson. For our contests, we will happily look at the likes of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Joe Flacco and Tyler Allgeier. We know the offensive schemes and we know where the carries and targets are headed. 

Now we just have to figure out just how much of this value to use and how many superstars we can squeeze into our winning DFS lineups. The best NFL Week 5 DFS Watch List, right here on Fantasy Alarm, will do just that. Well, enough to get you started before you dive into this weekend’s NFL DFS Playbook.

Best NFL DFS Week 5 Watch List For 2024

Value is key when it comes to playing DFS. A common misconception is that it’s just about picking the right players to go off each week, but that’s not even half of what it takes. Yes, you need the right players, but you also need to piece them together in a lineup that uses the proper value plays and allows you to fit some of the more high-priced, low-owned players. 

For example, last week, we gave you Chuba Hubbard and Diontae Johnson who were great values at their price. However, they were also a little chalky in most contests. But we also handed you values in Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud, Josh Downs and Pat Freiermuth and those guys were wildly under-owned. 

So, as you go through the best NFL Week 5 DFS Watch List, keep in mind that cheap is nice, but if everyone is using them, you’re not going to hit that big GPP payday you seek.

 

 
 

 

Top DraftKings DFS Week 5 Watch List

Deshaun Watson, QB Cleveland Browns ($5,300)

No one is using him. No one. So, ownership is unlikely to be a problem for us. What we love here is just how desperate Cleveland is going to be and just how bad the Commanders secondary is right now. We’ve been picking on them all season and it’s worked, so why stop now?

They’ve allowed the 11th-mst passing yards per game and they’ve given up the most touchdown passes (10) through the first four weeks. Watson’s numbers don’t look great, though they would have looked significantly better had Amari Cooper’s 82-yard touchdown catch not been negated by a phantom holding penalty. 

The pressure is on right now as everyone is glued to their TV sets to watch Jayden Daniels and Watson is going to have to throw heavily to compete. He’s likely to have David Njoku back this week and Cooper against the infamous Benjamin St-Juste makes my mouth water.

Jordan Mason, RB San Francisco 49ers ($7,400)

Boy, does that Cardinals defense look bad. They’ve struggled mightily to try and stop the run, but they’re allowing an average of 146.5 rushing yards per game and they’ve allowed a league-high eight rushing touchdowns already. 

What I like about Mason here on DraftKings is that everyone focuses so much on the PPR aspect that they tend to shun running backs who don’t catch a lot of passes. Mason, for whatever reason, does not get as involved in the passing attack as Christian McCaffrey did. Therefore, in a smash-spot like this I think he still goes under-owned.

Dontayvion Wicks, WR Green Bay Packers ($5,000)

On this episode of point-chasers, we look at the Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks who scored two touchdowns last week and will now be utilized by every fantasy player who thirsts for Big Fantasy. But seriously, the injury to Christian Watson opens up a world of targets for Wicks and we know how much Jordan Love looks for him inside the red zone. 

The Rams rank 31st in DVOA against the opposition’s WR2 which, yes, happens to be Wicks. Teams are averaging almost six passes for 90 yards to their secondary wide receiver and we expect strong volume for Wicks. Yes, Jayden Reed is a major player and yes, Romeo Doubs moves the sticks. But Wicks has that high-upside explosiveness we desire. Of course, it will also be this week’s free square so get ready to lock him into your cash game lineups. 

Evan Engram, TE Jacksonville Jaguars ($4,600)

Obviously, we have to look at his injury status throughout the week, but even if he doesn’t play, we get a bigger value in Brenton Strange. Should Engram not be available, Strange is a must-use, especially at his price. Maybe he doesn’t see the same target-share a healthy Engram gets, but he’ll still see a strong amount and he definitely gets the red and green zone looks.

The Colts have been terrible against the tight end this season, allowing an average of 10 points per game to the position. They rank 31st in DVOA against the tight end and have allowed an average of seven catches for 57 yards each week. Engram will be great if he is healthy, but Strange will be equally tasty at his discounted price.

 

 

 

Best FanDuel DFS Week 5 Watch List

Brock Purdy, QB San Francisco 49ers ($7,700)

He always flies under the radar, primarily because he is routinely told to just get the ball into his playmakers’ hands. And he does a damn good job of it. This week, we’ll see our usual dose of Jordan Mason on the ground, but if Kyler Murray and the Cardinals can get their heads out of their asses, we should see more of a back-and-forth.

Arizona ranks 29th in DVOA against the pass and while they’re not giving up huge yardage through the air, they’ve still allowed five passing touchdowns and opposing quarterbacks are posting a 110.4 QB-rating against them. With a healthy Deebo Samuel and George Kittle joining Brandon Aiyuk on the field, it’s going to be wheels-up for the 49ers passing attack.

Kenneth Walker, RB Seattle Seahawks ($8,600)

More point-chasing or just a really tasty match-up for a running back we told you as going to smash on Monday Night Football? Either way you want to look at it, Walker is in-line for another fantastic week. The New York Giants may rank 15th in DVOA against the run and allow just 118.8 rushing yards per game, but they’ve also allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to the running back position. 

We’ve seen Aaron Jones and Brian Robinson run heavily on them, Jerome Ford would have scored had the play not been negated by a penalty and even Rico Dowdle had a decent game against them. Nothing crazy, but points every DFS player needs. We’ll continue to back Walker, especially with his added involvement in the passing game.

Amari Cooper, WR Cleveland Browns ($6,200)

As mentioned above, Cooper had an 82-yard touchdown catch called back due to a mysterious holding penalty which would have given him five catches on nine targets for 117 yards and a touchdown. 

He enjoyed a two-score game against the Giants the week before and just as he’s getting into this grove, along comes a match-up with Benjamin St-Juste. Pretty sure we’ve laid it out for you about how vulnerable this Washington secondary is, so let’s take full advantage

Dalton Kincaid, TE Buffalo Bills ($6,100)

We’re going right back to the well here with Kincaid who found his way into the end zone, much to the relief of everyone who invested in a top tight end. In the realm of, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” we stay with a guy we know has the attention of his quarterback. 

The fact that he has such a string match-up is just an added bonus. The Bills square off against the Houston Texans who have a string defense but still manage to struggle against the tight end position. 

The DVOA numbers don’t quite match-up to the fact that the Texans are allowing the third-most fantasy points to the tight end. Cole Kmet had a solid effort against them, Johnny Mundt found the end zone and even Brenton Strange got into the action against them. With the target share he sees, Kincaid should be worth the pay-up.

 

 

 

Player Pool

$ Tier {{pos.alias}}

Stacks

{{stack.team.name}} {{player.name}}
DraftKings {{player.fantasy.price.value[8]}}-
Fanduel {{player.fantasy.price.value[6]}}-