NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 – Quarterbacks

Believe it or not, we are already a quarter of the way through the NFL season. The quarterback landscape is certainly very different since we started things off four weeks ago, which has caused significant ramifications across DFS. Let’s break things down for Week 5 and highlight some of the best players at the position to consider, as well as a couple to avoid. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NFL Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH TARGETS

Lamar Jackson, BAL at PIT
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $7,100

The Ravens suffered a disappointing loss at home to the Browns in which their defense played terribly. Jackson might not have been at his best, but he still finished with 247 passing yards and three touchdowns to go along with his two interceptions. He also provided value with his legs, turning nine carries into 66 yards. His ability to contribute in both areas leaves him with a high floor, making him one of the better cash game targets in what will be yet another divisional matchup for the Ravens.

Carson Wentz, PHI vs. NYJ
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $6,100

Despite only throwing for 160 yards, Wentz was actually productive in his matchup with the Packers by completing three touchdown passes. He already has nine touchdowns through the first four weeks and should continue to remain productive with the bevy of weapons that he has around him. This is a great matchup against the Jets, who have allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game, so look for him to have another strong showing.

GPP TARGETS

Tom Brady, NE at WAS
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $6,500

The Patriots remained perfect with a win over the Bills on Sunday, but it wasn’t pretty. They only scored two touchdowns during their 16-10 win, one of which came on a blocked punt that was returned for a score. The other was a rushing touchdown, so Brady couldn’t get much going through the air. In fact, he was only 18-for-39 for 150 yards and an interception. As ugly as that performance was, he did throw for at least two scores in each of his previous three games. The Redskins’ defense isn’t nearly as formidable as the Bills, so look for Brady to have an excellent bounce back performance.

Andy Dalton, CIN vs. ARI
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,700

The Bengals were a disaster against the Steelers on Monday night, scoring just three points in an embarrassing loss. Dalton completed only 21 of 37 passes for 171 yards and an interception. Their offensive line is a mess and they are still missing A.J. Green (ankle), which isn’t doing him any favors. With that being said, this is a favorable matchup for him at home against a struggling Cardinals’ defense. In fact, with how poorly the Bengals have played defensively, Kyler Murray is also a great option in this contest. Murray is actually $100 cheaper on FanDuel, so he could be the better option there. However, Dalton is $600 cheaper than Murray on DraftKings, potentially making him the better value choice if you are playing there.

Kirk Cousins, MIN at NYG
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,300

The Vikings’ offense had a quiet showing against the Bears on Sunday, failing to score their first points until there was less than three minutes to go in the fourth quarter. That touchdown game on the ground, marking Cousins’ first game of the season without a passing touchdown. With the Vikings relying heavily on their ground game, Cousins only has three touchdown passes across four games. He likely won’t be included in a lot of entries this week, as a result, leaving him as someone to possibly target in tournament play at such a cheap price. Don’t get too excited about the Giants’ defense holding down the Redskins last week. Case Keenum missed a couple of throws that could have resulted in touchdowns and then they took advantage of rookie Dwayne Haskins throwing some bad interceptions. This has the potential to be Cousins’ first multi-touchdown game of the year.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Marcus Mariota, TEN vs. BUF
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $4,900

Mariota threw three touchdown passes against the Falcons on Sunday, marking the second game this season in which he has thrown for at least three scores. He never had more than two passing touchdowns in a game last season, so it’s an encouraging step in the right direction. However, he’s thrown for 248 yards or fewer in three of his four games and is still an inconsistent option. After the Bills put the clamps on the high-powered Patriots offense, this is not the week to take a chance on Mariota.

Derek Carr, OAK vs. CHI
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $5,000

The Raiders pulled off one of the more surprising wins in Week 4, defeating the Colts on the road. Carr did record two touchdowns through the air, but he finished with just 189 passing yards. That marks his second game with under 200 passing yards and he hasn’t thrown for more than 259 yards in a single contest. Going up against one of the best defenses in the league certainly isn’t a favorable spot for him to break out, so make sure he’s excluded from your lineup.

Author Bio:

Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat, and was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.