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DraftKings NFL: Best lineup for Week 5

By Joe Romano

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Wide receiver Adam Thielen No. 19 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Wide receiver Adam Thielen No. 19 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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Welcome to the quarter mark of the NFL season! Get an early jump on the Week 5 DraftKings pricing right here.

Week 4 was a rough slate for DraftKings players. There were no Vikings, Rams, Chiefs, Broncos, Steelers or Ravens if you play the day game slate. That took out some huge names and it showed. The biggest surprise of the week was Mitchell Trubisky treating the Buccaneers defense like Swiss cheese en route to a six touchdown performance.

Standard players this week will be missing all the Patriots, Colts, Cowboys, Texans, Redskins, and Saints. Those teams play Thursday, Sunday night and Monday respectively. We also will not get a chance to see the Bears or Buccaneers with both teams being on a bye.

Let’s jump right into it starting with the quarterbacks.

Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers vs Atlanta Falcons – $6900

It has been a rough start for the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Missing Le’Veon Bell is taking it’s toll more than most expected after James Connor’s big performances the first two weeks. Now with  Atlanta awaiting, this could be a do-or-die game for Pittsburgh. This game should feature a ton of points. The Falcons rank fourth in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. However I’d be nervous about Roethlisberger in any lineup. He just does not look like himself. The home cooking will help, but it is hard to put the big money on Ben with better matchups awaiting.

Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers vs Oakland Raiders – $6700

Philip Rivers seems like the steadiest player in fantasy that no one wants to play. He is the seventh highest scoring quarterback this season and it is hard to recall any game where he was a chalk play. Oakland looks like a great matchup for Rivers but the statistics say otherwise. Oakland ranks 16th in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Over the last two weeks they’ve surrendered five touchdowns to three interceptions. Be careful with both of the highest priced quarterbacks this week.

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers – $6600

The third ranked quarterback on the other hand seems like a great play. Matt Ryan stays at home and looks to stay red hot against a terrible Steelers secondary. Pittsburgh ranks third in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks and the defense just looks lost. Against a sub-par Ravens offense, receivers were running wide open. Now imagine instead of John Brown and Michael Crabtree it is Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones. Only the Buccaneers have allowed more touchdown passes with 13 (6 coming last week) than Pittsburgh’s 12. Ryan would be the chalk play for me this week.

Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks – $6500

It is nice to see Jared Goff getting some fantasy love. A year ago he was a plausible MVP candidate and people still labeled him a system quarterback and saw hit value tanked. Now he is in the top five, on an odd quaterback week albeit. Los Angeles travels to Seattle to play the division rival Seahawks who just lost the biggest piece of their secondary Earl Thomas. With Thomas Seattle has had a bottom five defense in points allowed to quarterbacks. That number will drastically raise with Goff and the Rams coming to town.

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers vs New York Giants – $6400

Is there a more frustrating fantasy quarterback than Cam Newton? Everyone knows his rushing will keep his floor low so he’s never a terrible start; but where are the games where Newton takes over in every facet? Newton is the 16th highest scoring fantasy quarterback in a large part due to three rushing touchdowns. Luckily the Panthers play the Giants defense that has allowed the most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks through four weeks. Newton is a sneaky play, but be mindful of the weather with it being a dicey outlook in Carolina this weekend.

Value Quarterbacks

Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jagurs vs Kansas City Chiefs – $5500

When trying to find value in the quarterback position, it is hard to look past Blake Bortles. Despite his reputation, Bortles has been a solid fantasy quarterback. Like Cam Newton he offers a low floor due to his rushing ability. This week he plays a Kansas City team that has allowed two huge performances to quarterbacks already through this young season. With Patrick Mahomes on the other side the Jaguars will need a big Bortles game to keep them in it.

Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals – $5200

Another quaterback who has a reputation as a fantasy dud is Ryan Tannehill. This is a good week to buy some Tannehill stock. After a dismal performance against the Patriots, he can rebound against the Bengals. Cincinnati is fourth in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Tannehill is a dart throw but this is a tough week to find value outside of the top ten after Bortles.