FanDuel Weekly Roundup: Who To Play, Pass On For NFL Week 5
By Stephen Dolan
Missed field goals were killers on Sunday afternoon, but viewers got their fair share of football with two games needing overtime with five others being decided by three points or less. Week 5 features a number of great games and we have a good feeling about the guys who are going to be studs and who will be the duds.
Quarterback
Play: Peyton Manning (vs. OAK)
Cost: $8,200
Manning isn’t quite putting up the prolific numbers we have seen from him in the past. He completed just 63 percent of his passes for 213 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday’s win over the Minnesota Vikings. However, he continues to put the Denver Broncos in a position to win games. He should be prepared to put up big numbers against an Oakland secondary that ranks 31st in the NFL against the pass allowing an average of 311 yards per game.
Play: Russell Wilson (vs. CIN)
Cost: $8,200
Wilson continues to put up good numbers for the Seahawks, completing 20-of-26 passes for 287 yards and a touchdown while adding an additional 40 yards on the ground in Monday night's 13-10 win over the Detroit Lions. The Bengals are off to a 4-0 start, but that's no thanks to the pass defense. They rank 27th in the NFL against the pass having given up 1,116 passing yards in four games, allowing quarterbacks to complete 69.5 percent of their passes.
Other Good Plays: Joe Flacco (vs. CLE) for $7,700, Eli Manning (vs. SF) for $7,700, Sam Bradford (vs. NO) for $7,500
Pass: Derek Carr (vs. DEN)
Cost: $6,700
Carr has been a pleasant surprise for Raider fans this season, completing 62.6 percent of his passes for 922 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. However, he struggled on Sunday against a struggling Bears defense throwing for just 196 yards; but Carr managed to throw two touchdowns to go along with one interception. He is facing a tough Denver defense that has allowed a total of 741 passing yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions through four games. They have also posted a league-leading 18 sacks to go along with a handful of forced fumbles, so it could be a long day for Carr.
Other Passes: Tyrod Taylor (vs. TEN) for $7,500, Nick Foles (vs. GB) for $6,400
Running Back
Play: Le’Veon Bell (vs. SD)
Cost: $9,000
Bell has made his presence known in his first two games of the season after a two-game suspension to start the year. He put up 132 all-purpose yards and a rushing touchdown in Week 3’s win over the Rams, followed by 129 rushing yards, a touchdown and seven receptions for 21 yards in Thursday night’s loss to the Ravens. Bell is facing a San Diego Chargers rush defense that is allowing 4.9 yards per carry and 126.8 yards per game. Since Bell has already put up big numbers against good St. Louis and Baltimore defenses, you're going to want to play him in Week 5.
Play: Justin Forsett (vs. CLE)
Cost: $7,200
Forsett is coming off some extra rest this week after a big Thursday night showing against the Pittsburgh Steelers where he rushed for 150 yards on 27 carries. Unfortunately for the Ravens, Forsett has yet to find the end zone. Luckily, they faces a Browns defense that has been shredded by the run ranked 31st in the league allowing an average of 141.5 yards per game. Forsett is due to end his scoring drought against the Browns.
Other Good Plays: T.J. Yeldon (vs. TB) for $6,600, Dion Lewis (vs. DAL) for $6,900
Pass: Carlos Hyde (vs. NYG)
Cost: $7,000
Hyde has been trending the wrong way since his season debut when he busted out for 168 yards and two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings. He has a combined 114 yards and no touchdowns over the last three games, bottoming out with just 20 yards on the ground on Sunday against Green Bay. The Giants boast the best rush defense in the NFL allowing just 279 yards and two touchdowns on the ground through the first four weeks of the season. Furthermore, the 49ers might be forced to pass if they give up an early deficit against New York. Pass on Hyde this week.
Other Passes: Alfred Morris (vs. ATL) for $6,300, Latavius Murray (vs. DEN) for $7,000
Wide Receiver
Play: Demaryius Thomas (vs. OAK)
Cost: $8,600
Thomas is a force in the Denver offense and ranks in the top 10 in the NFL in receiving this year. He has posted three consecutive games with at least 92 receiving yards, but he has been uncharacteristically held out of the end zone for much of the year. His only touchdown catch came in Week 3 in Detroit. It isn’t for lack of effort, he has been targeted 50 times through the first four weeks of the season. Thomas gets a great match-up as he faces a Raiders pass defense that is ranked second-worst in the NFL.
Play: Julio Jones (vs. WAS)
Cost: $9,200
Jones was held in check for the first time this season on Sunday when he caught just four passes for 38 yards in a 48-21 blowout of the Houston Texans. Atlanta jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, likely leading to Jones’ season-low six targets. He had posted at least 135 receiving yards in each of the three previous games. Jones gets to take on a beat up Washington secondary that has allowed 12.0 yards per reception this season. Play Jones confidently.
Play: Odell Beckham Jr. (vs. SF)
Cost: $9,000
Beckham Jr. is getting a lot of attention in his second NFL season. He was held to just five receptions for 38 yards with a long of nine yards on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Beckham still can break out at any point, like he did in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons pulling in seven catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. He gets a favorable match-up as the 49ers rank 24th in the NFL against the pass, allowing 1,135 yards on 86 catches through the first four games.
Other Good Plays: Vincent Jackson (vs. JAC) for $6,800, Keenan Allen (vs. PIT) for $7,700
Pass: Percy Harvin (vs. TEN)
Cost: $5,400
Harvin has the potential to break off a big play every time he touches the ball, but he hasn’t had much of a chance to do that this season for the Bills. He has not recorded more than 79 receiving yards in a game and has not topped 16 yards rushing either. His versatility makes him an attractive option but facing a Titans defense that ranks No. 1 against the pass this year, pass on Harvin.
Other Passes: Terrence Williams (vs. NE) for $5,900, Allen Hurns (vs. TB) for $6,100
Tight End
Play: Rob Gronkowski (vs. DAL)
Cost: $8,400
Gronkowski is having a heck of a season as Tom Brady’s favorite target. He has 16 receptions for 308 yards and four touchdowns through three games so far. The only game he didn’t top 100 yards, a Week 1 victory over the Steelers, three of his five receptions went for touchdowns with a long of 52 yards. The Patriots take on the Dallas Cowboys and their 20th-ranked pass defense that is allowing exactly 25 completions and 265.3 yards per game this season. Play Gronk.
Other Good Plays: Jordan Reed (vs. ATL) for $5,700, Martellus Bennet (vs. KC) for $5,900
Pass: Eric Ebron (vs. ARI)
Cost: $5,100
Ebron has emerged as a decent tight end play for Matthew Stafford and the Lions. He had a down game against a stout Seahawks defense on Monday night, catching just two passes for 22 yards. Ebron is facing a Cardinals defense that is allowing just 199 passing yards per game and a quarterback rating of 72.3. Arizona has registered seven sacks and seven interceptions while only allowing five passing touchdowns, which could make for a long day for Ebron. Pass.
Other Passes: Charles Clay (vs. TEN) for $5,700, Jared Cook (vs. GB) for $5,200
>>Set your perfect FanDuel lineup with Fantasy Football Expert Picks
Kicker
Play: Brandon McManus (vs. OAK) for $5,000
Play: Justin Tucker (vs. CLE) for $4,900
Play: Matt Bryant (vs. WAS) for $4,800
Pass: Caleb Sturgis (vs. NO) for $5,100
Pass: Dan Bailey (vs. NE) for $5,000
Pass: Dustin Hopkins (vs. ATL) for $4,800
D/ST
Play: Titans (vs. BUF) for $4,100
Play: Broncos (vs. OAK) for $4,900
Play: Buccaneers (vs. JAC) for $4,000
Pass: Chargers (vs. PIT) for $4,500
Pass: Rams (vs. GB) for $4,300
Pass: Redskins (vs. ATL) for $4,200
Suggested Lineup
QB: Peyton Manning (vs. OAK)
RB: Le’Veon Bell (vs. SD)
RB: T.J. Yeldon (vs. TB)
WR: James Jones (vs. STL)
WR: Kendall Wright (vs. BUF)
WR: Rueben Randle (vs. SF)
TE: Rob Gronkowski (vs. DAL)
K: Josh Brown (vs. SF)
D/ST: Broncos (vs. OAK)
Steve Dolan is an MBA student at Villanova University and a graduate of the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph's University. Steve co-founded Whiz Wit Sports, a Philadelphia-centric sports blog, in March 2011 growing the site to win PHL 17's Best Local Blogger on the Philly Hot List in 2013.
