Once again, there was a lot of scoring around the NFL last week, which pushed up the cash line in NFL DFS cash games. Our Yahoo cash lineup stayed above the fray thanks to Lamar Jackson, Alvin Kamara, Joe Mixon, DeVante Parker and Cooper Kupp. Logan Thomas was our one big miss, but even mediocre performances from David Johnson and Greg Ward gave us enough when combined with some of the other monster outings. We'll look to sharpen our strategy even more as we put together our Week 5 daily fantasy football picks for Yahoo cash games.
This week's lineup is a little top heavy, not unlike typical GPP roster construction. Overall, though, we like the matchups and relatively high floors of our value picks, with the lone exception being our D/ST. Of course, since no team is playing defense this year, does it really matter who we pick? We might as well go cheap with a home team in a favorable matchup and hope for some sacks and turnovers.
MORE WEEK 5 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
Our high-priced guys all have high floors, including the highest-floor and highest-ceiling QB in the league. We're not paying top dollar for anyone, which allows us to load up on our top two WRs and top RB, and that should be enough to carry us over the cash line again.
Yahoo NFL DFS Picks Week 5: Daily fantasy football for cash games
This lineup is for the Yahoo DFS main slate, $200 budget (half-point PPR, four-point passing TDs)
QB Lamar Jackson, Ravens vs. Bengals ($36). Jackson isn't destroying the league like he was last year, but he put up 26 Yahoo points in a "ho-hum" game last week. He's in a similar situation this time around against a burnable Bengals defense. Given that Jackson has fallen to QB6 pricing, he feels like a steal even with so many other QBs playing at high levels this season.
RB Josh Jacobs, Raiders @ Chiefs ($28). Since a monster Week 1 that saw him score three touchdowns, Jacobs has struggled, rushing for just 3.6 yards per carry and failing to get into the end zone. He's still getting plenty of opportunities, though (22.3 touches per game in that span), and it's only a matter of time before he comes through again. Kansas City entered Week 4 with the No. 27 run defense, allowing 153 yards per game on the ground. There's always a worry about Jalen Richard playing over Jacobs if the Raiders are in catch-up mode in the fourth quarter, but Jacobs will get plenty of carries early. He's also averaging three receptions per game this year, so he could stay on the field more than you think.
WEEK 5 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo
RB Mike Davis, Panthers @ Falcons ($19). Davis has done his best Christian McCaffrey impersonation the past two weeks, rushing for 130 yards on 29 carries and adding another 72 receiving yards on 13 receptions. He's also scored in each game. Davis's heavy workload and versatility bodes well against an Atlanta team that can jump out to quick leads but just as quickly give them back. The Falcons have actually been decent against the run this year, but running backs had still scored four TDs against them heading into Week 4. Davis will get opportunities one way or another, and at just $19, he's a good bet to pay off in cash games.
WR DK Metcalf, Seahawks vs. Vikings ($31). Metcalf has been the picture of consistency through four weeks. He's caught exactly four passes for between 92 and 110 yards in each game, and last week was the first where he failed to score. The scary thing is he has the upside for so much more, so he's an optimal play in cash formats, especially against a Vikings defense that has allowed six WR touchdowns and three 100-yard WR games. Even at WR3 pricing, Metcalf is a safe option.
WEEK 5 DFS CASH LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
WR Adam Thielen, Vikings @ Seahawks ($30). In a vacuum, Thielen feels a little overpriced at WR5 pricing, especially with Justin Jefferson getting more involved every week, but the Vikings' top receiver is in a golden spot this week. He's produced two 100-yard outings and four touchdowns this year, and he's a safe bet to do both against Seattle's league-worst pass defense. Amari Cooper (9-86) was the "worst" No. 1 receiver against Seattle this season, with Julio Jones (9-157), Julian Edelman (8-179), and DeVante Parker (10-110) all topping the century mark. Those four wideouts combined for an average of nine catches and 133 yards. Surprisingly, none scored, but that's destined to change quickly. Thielen is worth every penny, and Jefferson ($20) makes for an even better value since No. 2 WRs (Calvin Ridley, N'Keal Harry, CeeDee Lamb, Isaiah Ford) have averaged 6.5 catches and 78.8 yards with two TDs against the 'Hawks.
WR Golden Tate, Giants @ Cowboys ($18). Tate has had at least four catches in all three games this year, and while that's resulted in just 103 yards, he could be on the verge of a breakout against the hapless Cowboys defense. Dallas has allowed nine WR receiving TDs the past three games and four 100-yard WR games this season. Tate fits the mold of Jarvis Landry (5-48) and Russell Gage (6-46-1), who both had decent games against the Cowboys. Obviously, we'd like more yards, but Tate still provides a decent-enough floor that we can use him given our studs at QB, RB, and WR1/2.
WEEK 5 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
TE Eric Ebron, Steelers vs. Eagles ($14). Ebron caught five-of-seven targets for 52 yards and a score (all season highs) in Week 3. Diontae Johnson's early exit helped, but Ebron has been part of the Steelers game plan, particularly in the red zone, all year. Philadelphia has allowed five TE touchdowns this year, including one to Logan Thomas and three to Tyler Higbee, and last week, George Kittle put up a slightly garbage-time-aided 15-183-1 line. Ebron doesn't have that kind of upside, but this matchup is still highly favorable for the field-stretching TE. He's well worth this value price.
FLEX Hunter Renfrow, Raiders @ Chiefs ($11). Renfrow is like another version of Tate, albeit with a worse matchup. Over the past two games, he's hauled in 11-of-17 targets for 141 yards and a score, and given the likelihood of Vegas trailing and being forced to throw in the fourth quarter, we like Renfrow's potential to rack up some cheap points. Either way, he's the Raiders most dependable wide receiver, and even if Henry Ruggs III (hamstring) returns, we expect Renfrow to provide a safe floor given his dirt-cheap price.
WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
DEF Dallas Cowboys vs. Giants ($12). The Giants are averaging just 11.8 offensive points, 3.5 sacks, and two turnovers per game this year, so even if Dallas gives up touchdowns and yards (it will), there should still be opportunities for it to pay off its cheap price.
