It’s finally here- Week 5 of the 2024 season, and another DraftKings main slate. We are back offering you DFS advice to try and help you navigate your way to victories throughout the season. The players selected here are based on their price, their ability to hit value and likely ownership. The selections are leaning more towards GPP slates, rather than cash (50/50) slates. But let’s get into it
Jordan Love @LAR ($6,500)
It was the proverbial tale of two halves for returning Packers quarterback Jordan Love last Sunday, with the $220 million dollar man throwing for 118 yards and a score, alongside two interceptions, as Green Bay trailed their divisional rivals 28-7 after the second quarter. Love and his receiving corps came out all guns blazing after the break, and in an attempt to catch-up with the runaway Vikings, the fifth-year passer racked up an additional 271 yards and three touchdowns, as the Pack fell just short, going down 31-29 at Lambeau. Love looked bad in the first half, and displayed some very sketchy decision making – but leaning heavily on Jayden Reed and Dontayveon Wicks in the latter stages of the game provided Love with an excellent overall fantasy day – finishing as the QB2 on the week. The Packers travel to SoFi Stadium in week 5 to face a beat up Rams squad who are bleeding points to the position – ranked 29th against QBs on the year. He’s $1100 cheaper than Josh Allen on the slate but has the ability – and the weapons – to end the week as the highest scoring quarterback in fantasy – roster him with confidence.
Brock Purdy v AZ ($6,200)
It was a disappointing week for Purdy against the lacklustre New England Patriots. The return of George Kittle & Deebo Samuel gave hope that Purdy could improve on his QB7 performance from week 3, and despite the 49ers grabbing the W, the 288 passing yards and one touchdown weren’t overly helpful for fantasy managers. Purdy ended the week as the QB14 and will look to get back into the top-8 as San Francisco play host to divisional rivals Arizona and their 28th ranked passing defense. Purdy has the 2nd most yards through the air on the season with 1,130 through four weeks – only Geno Smith has passed for more (1,182). With the Cardinals allowing an average of 220 yards per game to opposing QBs, expect Purdy to easily eclipse the 250-yard marker and have his second multi-touchdown game of the year. Kittle is questionable with a rib injury, but Mr. Irrelevant has enough weapons to make it happen – he’s a great value start at $6200.
Also consider: Josh Allen @HOU ($7,700) & Anthony Richardson ($6,000)/Joe Flacco ($5,500) @JAX
Rhamondre Stevenson v MIA ($6,000)
Let’s just start by stating – this is purely a match-up based selection, and if we get more news out of Foxborough relating the Rhamondre’s job security (or rather lack thereof) – take this one off the board. Stevenson fumbled for the fourth successive game last weekend in the Pats’ 13-30 loss to San Francisco, and was forced to sit on the sidelines and watch Antonio Gibson rip-off a 50-yard run off a short dump-off late in the game…a play that scored almost as many fantasy points as Stevenson has in his last two games combined. Doom and gloom aside, this is still Rhamondre’s backfield, and if a running back in the National Football League could cherry-pick an opponent for a get-right – it would be the Patriots’ week 5 opponents – the Miami Dolphins. The hapless Fins are surrendering 2 touchdowns per game to opposing RBs, and rank 30th against the position. They just allowed Tennessee and Tony Pollard to run all over them on MNF for the Titans’ first 30+ point game in almost three years. Start Stevenson this week and cross your fingers he holds onto the ball…and his job.
EDIT: All of the above was written before Stevenson was announced to be benched. Gibson ($5,100) is a decent punt at that price. But, it could be that Stevenson finds himself back into the lineup early in the game.
D’Andre Swift v CAR ($5,700)
I am trying to sell D’Andre Swift everywhere in re-draft – the former Philadelphia Eagle had his best ever fantasy performance last weekend against the Los Angeles Rams, ending the week as the overall RB3. Swift totalled 165-yards from scrimmage, hauling in all 7-of-7 targets from Caleb Williams for 72-yards to go along with his 93-yards on the ground – he also found the endzone on a 36-yard dash late in the 4th quarter to secure the win. The only way is down in my opinion for Swift…but not before another top-12 performance against the Carolina Panthers this weekend. Carolina are allowing almost 160-yards per week to opposition RBs and rank 30th against the position on the season. Swift’s usage in the passing game gives him a relatively high floor in this one, and given the calibre of the opposition, and the Soldier Field crowd behind them – I fancy another excellent outing for Swift in week 5. This will probably be the last time you can roster him in any format, so have fun while it lasts.
Trey Sermon @JAX ($5,700)
Trey Sermon finished week 4 as the overall RB71 – with a statline of 8-yards from 5 rushing attempts…so why on earth is he appearing in this column? The truth is, Sermon only saw those 5 carries after workhorse back Jonathan Taylor had left the game with a slight injury scare – had J.T. not picked up a knock, Sermon wouldn’t have seen the field. However…and it’s a big however – Taylor has since been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain – the same injury that has plagued him throughout his career and caused him to miss the first four weeks of last season, and various other spells in the last five years. There’s no confirmation just yet that J.T. will miss – but all signs point to Indianapolis’ lead rusher sitting this week (and maybe longer). Sermon will be heavily utilised in Taylor’s absence against a 0-4 Jags outfit who are highly susceptible to the run.
Also consider: Jordan Mason v AZ ($7,400), Josh Jacobs @LAR ($6,400) & Chuba Hubbard @CHI ($6,100)
Jayden Reed @LAR ($6,500)
Can you hear that? That’s the sound of the door slamming on any hopes fantasy managers may have had to buy-low on Jayden Reed in re-draft. It seems to be a fairly simple formula for Green Bay’s number one wideout…Love + Reed = Fantasy Points. In the two games this season that Jordan Love has started under center for the Packers, Jaydeen Reed has finished as the overall WR1 and WR2 on the week. Reed has eclipsed 130-yards in both appearances alongside Love, scoring a touchdown in each. Any offseason discussions about who would be the lead receiver in Green Bay is over. This is the Jayden Reed show, and with Christian Watson set to miss multiple weeks with an ankle injury, Reed is the guy to own in this wide receiver room. After last week’s performance and at only $6500 he will be heavily rostered – but can you really afford to take the risk and not roster him at that price? Set it and forget it.
Brian Thomas Jr. v IND ($5,900)
There has been a lot of hype about Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr in the opening month of the season, with both rookies already establishing themselves as the alpha-receiver on their respective offenses. There is however another first-year wideout who isn’t getting quite the same level of fanfare as Messrs Nabers and Harrison – and that is the lead receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mr Brian Thomas Jr. BJT has quietly hauled in 17-of-26 targets in his opening four games as an NFL pro, amassing 275-yards and two touchdowns in the process – that’s more receptions and yards than MHJ. Thomas is being forgotten about in fantasy circles, most likely due to the Jags starting 0-4 and his quarterback having the 2nd worst completion rate in the league. Thankfully for us, we don’t need the Jags to win, or even play well…we just need Trevor Lawrence to throw, throw, throw…and with one of the worst defenses in the NFL, Jacksonville is bound to be playing catch-up almost every single week…ideal for BTJ’s upside. $5900 feels like a steal on the week or a wideout almost guaranteed to see 7+ targets.
Tre Tucker @DEN ($4,100)
Has Davante Adams played his last snap in the black and silver of the Raiders? It certainly seems that way, and with his bag already half-packed and a one-way ticket to the Big Apple in his pocket – there will be plenty of vacant targets left in Sin City for those willing to replace him. Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers will no doubt see an uptick in looks from Gardner Minshew (or Aidan O’Connell), but someone has to step in as the WR2 in this offense, and sophomore Tre Tucker looks set to be the man for the job. Tucker has seen 15 targets over the last two weeks, hauling in 80% of those for a combined 107-yards and a touchdown, as well as adding a rushing score against the Browns last time out. The match-up against the Broncos is not attractive, but with Meyers or Bowers getting the Patrick Surtain treatment, Tucker may just find himself the lead receiver on this offense in week 5. He’s worth a speculative punt at only $4100.
Also consider: Marvin Harison Jr. @SF ($7,500), Brandon Aiyuk v AZ ($6,300) & Michael Pittman Jr. @JAX ($6,000)
Brock Bowers @DEN ($5,500)
Speaking of Brock Bowers. If your faith in Tre Tucker isn’t quite as resolute as mine and are seeking a more likely beneficiary of Davante Adams lingering absence – look no further than the Raiders rookie sensation out of Georgia. The 21-year old has cooled off in his last two outings, finishing as the TE15 & TE23 after two top-5 efforts to start the season…but I’m not worried. He may only be four games into his professional career, but Bowers is clearly the best pass-catcher on this team not named Davante Adams – and as previously discussed, Adams’ time as a Raider may be coming to an end, if not already over. He is the 3rd most expensive TE on the slate, but aside from Dalton Kincaid, Bowers is one of only a handful of big names at the position not carrying an injury designation. Spending up at TE is always a risk, but it’s one I am willing to take in what will be a hard-hitting AFC West clash.
Cole Kmet v CAR ($4,300)
Kmet came back to Earth with a bump last time out, plummeting from the dizzy heights of TE2 in week 3, down to TE19 in the Bears 24-18 win over the Rams. It may not have been a great day in the box score for the fifth-year tight end – but Kmet’s usage against LA is incredibly encouraging moving forward. Sure, Kmet dropped from 11 targets down to just 3, but he was on the field for a season-high 90% of snaps and was the only tight end on the team to see a look from Caleb Williams. The Gerald Everett experiment at Soldier Field is over, Kmet is the clear leading tight end on this roster and as such will be a valuable asset for the rookie Williams. Carolina rank 26th against the position – expect to see a bounce back week for the 25-year old.
Also consider: Evan Engram v IND ($4,600) & Erick All Jr. v BAL ($2,700)
Denver Broncos v LV ($2,900)
The Broncos are averaging a very impressive 10.5 FPPG through four weeks at the DST position and will look to bump that average up as they take on a Las Vegas side missing their top receiving option in Davante Adams. Fortunately for Denver, the Raiders are not missing either Zamir White or Alexander Mattison – the double headed monster which combines to make the NFL’s 31st ranked rushing offense. The maths here is simple – stop the pass, win the game – and with Patrick Surtain in the ranks, Denver should be able to stymie Gardner Minshew and co relatively easily. Vegas’ O-line has also allowed their QB to be sacked 14 times in the opening four games…Denver is a smash play on the slate for me.
New England Patriots v MIA ($2,900)
As a Dolphins fan, heading into a divisional matchup…this pains me to write. Miami are less than good at the moment, and any hopes that came with “Pro Bowler” Tyler Huntley starting at QB in week 3, were completely extinguished after just one drive on Monday Night Football. Huntley ran for almost half as many yards as he threw against the Titans, unfortunately this was no Josh Allen-esque heroics af 100+ yard on the ground and some 300 passing yards – rather a (team leading) 40 rushing yards on 9 carries, and 96 measly yards on 14 completions. This offense is a disaster, and will remain so until Tua Tagovailoa returns. The Pats defense isn’t a great unit by any means, but they’ll look like the 1985 Bears against this Miami team.
Also consider: Washington Commanders v CLE ($3,000) & Indianapolis Colts @JAX ($2,600)
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