Slate Breaker: FD NFL DFS Week 5

Quarterbacks

Play of the Day: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (@ Minnesota)

Patrick Mahomes has not been his typical elite self. He has only passed for more than 300 yards once this season and has been turning the ball over a lot. This is the week that he will finally look like his old self. The Vikings cannot stop the pass so a QB like Mahomes should have an absolute game. Justin Herbert passed for 400+ and 3 TDs against this team so expect similar numbers for the best QB in the NFL.

Obvious Plays: Jalen Hurts, Eagles (@ Rams)

Solid Plays: CJ Stroud, Texans (@ Falcons) & Anthony Richardson, Colts (vs Titans)

CJ Stroud has only been good during his rookie year. The Texans have shown faith in him allowing him to become the focal point of this offense which has led to fantastic results with the young signal caller averaging 300+ yards per game in his first 4 career games while also passing for multiple TDs in his past three games. At just $7,200, Stroud is a great value with how productive he has been. The rookie QBs have been thriving. Richardson has not looked as good at real football as Stroud, but he is an elite fantasy QB with just 2 and half games under his belt. Richardson provides a solid rushing baseline to prop up his fantasy numbers and he is in line for a great fantasy day against a Titan team that has struggled to stop the pass. If you throw out the Joe Burrow collapse from a week ago, the Titans have allowed opposing passers to throw for an average of 300 yards; so if you add that kind of production with Richardson's rushing ability and Richardson will be eating on Sunday. 

Other plays: Kirk Cousins, Vikings (vs Chiefs); Joshua Dobbs, Cardinals (vs Bengals) & Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (vs Giants)

Fade of the Day: Joe Burrow, Bengals (@ Cardinals)

Joe Burrow just is not right at the moment. Burrow has 2 TDs over 4 games this year and has looked panicked every time he is holding the ball in the pocket. He has maxed out at 259 passing yards, while averaging just 182 yards through the air. Burrow's calf is obviously holding him and his team back, the Bengals should just be letting Burrow sit out and recover because this team is a mess right now. Until Burrow proves he is back to full health, keep him out of your lineups.

Other Fades: Russell Wilson, Broncos (vs Jets) & Daniel Jones, Giants (@ Dolphins)

Bust Alert: Jared Goff, Lions (vs Panthers)

Although the Panthers are 0-4, they have shut down opposing QBs all season long. They are not necessarily good against the pass, they are just bad against the run allowing opponents to run whenever they want on the ground. The Panthers have held opposing QBs to an average of less than 200 yards through the air and they have not allowed a QB to score for more than 15 FD points in any of their games so far. There are far better options at QB than Goff this week.

Running Backs

Play of the Day: David Montgomery, Lions (vs Panthers)

The Panthers are just bad against the run. They have allowed 5 opposing RBs to reach double digit points in just 4 games with 2 of those RBs topping 20 points. The Panthers defensive front gets pushed around on a play by play basis. Enter Montgomery who has been uber productive with the Lions. The Lions have shown faith in him allowing him to carry the ball 32 times a week ago which he turned into 121 yards and 3 TDs. Add in the fact that Jahmyr Gibbs has been a late addition to the injury report and Montgomery could be in line for a huge game.

Obvious Plays: Derrick Henry, Titans (@ Colts); Raheem Mostert, Dolphins (vs Giants) & Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs Texans)

Solid Plays: Breece Hall, Jets (@ Broncos) & Joe Mixon, Bengals (@ Cardinals)

No matter who is matched up against the Broncos, their lead back is a MUST start. Breece Hall gets that dream matchup this week and it could not come at a better time as the Jets announced that Hall will finally be fully unleashed and will not be on a snap count. The Broncos have allowed 4 RBs to top 20 FD points over the past 3 games. The lack of consistency on this offense is a bit concerning, but Hall is explosive so he can hit value with just one play. Mixon may be the only chance this Bengals offense has right now and he is in position to deliver on that hope. The Cardinals are very vulnerable to the RBs having allowed double digits to every lead back they have faced this year; while I do not expect him to put up a 40+ CMC game, 20+ points is definitely in the cards for Mixon. 

Other Plays: Kyren Williams, Rams (vs Eagles) & D'Andre Swift, Eagles (@ Rams)

Fade of the Day: Dameon Pierce, Texans (@ Falcons)

After being the focal point of this offense a year ago, Pierce has been nothing more than an afterthought for this Texan offense thanks to the emergence of CJ Stroud. Pierce has been terribly inefficient, averaging just 45 yards on the ground while getting plenty of work. Pierce has topped out at 13.4 points and he needed a TD to get there. The sledding does not get any easier this week as he gets a surprising tough Falcon front that has yet to allow any RB to top 80 yards this season. Pierce is entirely TD dependent at this point so he is best to avoid until he gets a juicier matchup.

Other Fades: Miles Sanders, Panther (@ Lions) & Najee Harris, Steelers (vs Ravens)

Bust Alert: Alvin Kamara, Saints (@ Patriots)

Kamara returned last week and was immediately thrusted into a huge role handling 11 carries and 14 targets. The only issue with Kamara's debut was he was terribly inefficient totaling just 84 yards on 24 touches. Kamara will not get 14 targets in another game this year, so if he is just as inefficient on fewer opportunities, bad things will happen for Kamara owners. The lack of points this offense has put up is also a big concern for Kamara's fantasy production as the most they have scored in a game is 20 so the chances that Kamara adds a score is slim. Even in a game where Kamara finished with 56% of the team's carries and catches, he only finished with 14.9 points so if his opportunities drop off he will disappoint.

Wide Receivers

Play of the Day: Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (vs Titans)

The Titans cannot stop opponents passing attacks and Michael Pittman is the passing attack for this Colts team. Pittman has a 29% target share and the Titans have allowed 15+ points to opposing WR1s in 3 of their 4 games this year so expect big things from Pittman this week.

Obvious Plays: Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs Chiefs); Cooper Kupp, Rams (vs Eagles) & Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (vs Giants)

Solid Plays: Nico Collins, Texans (@ Falcons) & Marquise Brown, Cardinals (vs Bengals)

Nico Collins is officially here. Collins has been the biggest benefactor from the acquisition of CJ Stroud. He was 5th in receiving yards after Week 4 and has been an absolute monster with the ball in his hands. He is the league leader in YAC so pairing that ability with 9+ targets makes Collins a top fantasy play each and every week. Marquise Brown has settled in nicely with new QB Joshua Dobbs. Brown has gotten double digit targets in 2 of his last three games and gotten 50+ yards in all three of those games. The Cardinals offense has been a surprise and Brown has been a big reason why it has been so functional so expect him to be heavily involved anytime the Cardinals have the ball.

Other Plays: Adam Thielen, Panthers (@ Lions); Rashee Rice, Chiefs (@ Vikings) & Kalif Raymond, Lions (vs Panthers)

Fade of the Day: Garrett Wilson, Jets (@ Broncos)

A matchup against the Broncos usually means big things for opposing fantasy players, but Garrett Wilson gets the Patrick Surtain treatment this week. Surtain is the only consistent producer on this defense and can blanket opposing WR1s. For a player who has maxed out at 83 yards this year, expect limited fantasy production from Wilson this week.

Other Fades: Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs Jets) & Drake London, Falcons (vs Texans)

Bust Alert: Puka Nacua, Rams (vs Eagles)

Puka was only a play each and every week because of his usage; but with Cooper Kupp returning, Nacua's upside just is not there anymore. He was getting 13 targets per game so with Kupp's return expect those targets to at least be cut in half. At $8,000, Nacua does not have the floor nor the ceiling to be worth this price.

Tight Ends

Play of the Day: Sam LaPorta, Lions (vs Panthers)

LaPorta has been great in his first four games. He is completely integrated into this offense, playing 80% of the team's offensive snaps in every game so far this year. He has not only been a blocker either, garnering at least 5 targets in every game. LaPorta's usage could be ready to take another jump as target leader Amon-Ra St. Brown is out this week so 10 extra targets are up for grabs so LaPorta could end up the target leader for this Lions offense, which is elite usage for a tight end. The Panthers have been good against tight ends only allowing 45 yards per game, but his usage will be too good to pass up.

Obvious Plays: Travis Kelce, Chiefs (@ Vikings); Mark Andrews, Ravens (@ Steelers) & TJ Hockenson, Vikings (vs Chiefs)

Solid Plays: Tyler Higbee, Rams (vs Eagles) & Zach Ertz, Cardinals (vs Bengals)

Higbee has established a consistent role in this offense producing at least 49 in 3 of 4 games. He will continue to extend that productive streak in Week 5 as he gets an Eagles defense that has been susceptible to tight ends allowing the 2nd most points to the position this year. Cooper Kupp's return could limit Higbee a bit, but he is a big redzone threat so he is in line for some good value at a relatively low price. Another week and another 10 targets for Ertz. Ertz has not been productive with his work topping out at just 56 yards and averaging 34 yards. He does get enough catches to provide a consistent floor but the ceiling is not high for the veteran tight end.

Other Plays: Jonnu Smith, Falcons (vs Texans) & Tyler Conklin, Jets (@ Broncos)

Fade of the Day: Darren Waller, Giants (@ Dolphins)

Darren Waller is just repeating the Evan Engram saga over again. He gets hyped up all offseason and everyone is talking about how he will be the top target on this team, then the regular season comes and he cannot get over 40 yards in a game. Darren Waller, Daniel Jones, this entire offense, it has all just looked bad so there is no way you should have any aspect of this passing game in your lineups until they at least show some kind of stable production.

Other Fades: Kyle Pitts, Falcons (vs Texans) & Taysom Hill, Saints (@ Patriots)

Bust Alert: Travis Kelce, Chiefs (@ Vikings)

Yes he is both an obvious start and a potential bust. He is going to end up with 10+ points, which is pretty much a guarantee at this point; but at $8,800, he is going to need to absolutely ball out in order to be worth that price. The Vikings are susceptible to wide receivers but have been great against tight ends only allowing 41 yards per game, obviously they have not faced anyone of Kelce's caliber, but he will not be running free this week. Travis Kelce makes for a great cash play each and every week, but his impacted ceiling makes him a less appealing tournament option this week.

Defenses

Play of the Day: Dolphins (vs Giants)

This is as good as it is going to get for this Dolphins defense, the Giants offense is absolutely abysmal right now. They have allowed 23 sacks through 4 games and at least one turnover in every game. With the Giants likely playing catch up for the entirety of the game, Dolphins pass rushers should be able pin their ears back and get after Daniel Jones.

Other Plays: Lions (vs Panthers); Chiefs (@ Vikings); Patriots (vs Saints); Saints (@ Patriots); Colts (vs Titans) & Texans (@ Falcons)

Dream Team

QB: CJ Stroud, Texans (@ Falcons)

RB1: Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs Texans)

RB2: David Montgomery, Lions (vs Panthers)

WR1: Cooper Kupp, Rams (vs Eagles)

WR2: Nico Collins, Texans (@ Falcons)

WR3: Rashee Rice, Chiefs (@ Vikings)

TE: Sam LaPorta, Lions (vs Panthers)

Flex: Breece Hall, Jets (@ Broncos)

D/ST: Vikings (vs Chiefs)

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