DFS Week 5 Picks: Top Plays for FanDuel & DraftKings

The DFS Academy is back for Week 5! As a reminder, we’re keeping things simple this year. While we have no original DFS article series, you can still catch our DFS podcast every week. This article is a breakdown of that show. Think of it as your DFS Week 5 study guide.

And don’t forget, you can play against us every week on DraftKings and FanDuel. Subscribe to the pod, hop in the Discord, and join the fun.

Here are your necessary links:

DFS Week 5 Picks

Answers to the Test

Last week’s Milli Maker winner scored 239.9 points—a monster lineup with Patrick Mahomes, Ashton Jeanty, Woody Marks, Rome Odunze, Puka Nacua, Drake London, Jake Tonges, Bucky Irving, and the Lions D/ST.

What stood out? No duds. The winner punted at TE with Tonges and gambled on Woody Marks, and nailed it. They didn’t go heavy on stacking, but a game-stack from LV/CHI carried plenty of upside.

It’s a good reminder: sometimes keeping things balanced and avoiding landmines is just as valuable as chasing the perfect stack.

Cash Plays (Austin’s Specialty)

Cash is all about safety, and Austin has the syllabus.

Top of the Class

(Premium options, $8,000+)

Jahmyr Gibbs (DK: $7,700 / FD: $9,000)
With CMC and Puka off the slate, we’re looking elsewhere for chalk. The Bengals are allowing the 2nd-most points to RBs, and Gibbs’ workload is elite.

Band Nerds

(Mid-tier values, $6,000–$8,000)

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (DK: $7,100 / FD: $8,500)
Strong target share and a great price point.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (DK: $8,100 / FD: $9,200)
Worth the pay-up, especially if you pair him with cheap RBs.
Chris Olave (DK: $5,200 / FD: $6,100)
Perfect piece to make a spend-up WR build work.
De’Von Achane (DK: $7,300 / FD: $8,100)
Carolina bleeds fantasy points to RBs, and Achane’s passing game role only sweetens the deal.

Bookworms

(Value plays, $4,000–$6,000)

Justin Fields (DK: $5,600 / FD: $7,700)
Ignore the Bills game, Fields has been rolling. And Dallas is somehow a dream QB matchup.
Keenan Allen (DK: $5,600 / FD: $6,500)
Volume, volume, volume.
Jakobi Meyers (DK: $5,600 / FD: $6,000)
Same story—reliable target funnel.
Emari Demercado (DK: $4,700 / FD: $5,200)
With Trey Benson sidelined, Demercado gets a real shot at RB1 volume.
Woody Marks (DK: $5,400 / FD: $5,400)
Coming off a 20-touch week.
Jake Ferguson (DK: $4,800 / FD: $6,000)
Wild target volume without CeeDee Lamb in the mix.
Tyler Warren (DK: $4,400 / FD: $5,500)
A sneaky fine option if you want to pivot at TE.

C’s Get Degrees

(Punt plays <$4,000)

Indianapolis Colts D/ST (DK: $3,300 / FD: $4,700)
The Raiders’ O-line has been a mess. Indy has multiple sacks in every game but one.

Tournament Plays

Cash is safe, but GPPs are the real test. Here’s where we’re swinging for the ceiling.

Quarterback

Austin: Justin Herbert (DK: $6,100 / FD: $8,000) – Nice pivot off the DAL/NYJ chalk with similar upside. Also likes Jayden Daniels as a higher-priced alternative.
Austin (Bonus): Daniel Jones (DK: $5,800 / FD: $7,400) – Cheap, sneaky tourney leverage.
Ryan: Dak Prescott (DK: $6,000 / FD: $7,300) – He leads the NFL in passing yards, and this game screams shootout.

Running Back

Austin: Breece Hall (DK: $5,600 / FD: $7,000), Jahmyr Gibbs
Ryan: David Montgomery (DK: $5,200 / FD: $6,300) – Touchdown machine, and Cincy gives up chunk plays to RBs.

Wide Receiver

Austin: Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Amon-Ra St. Brown
Ryan: Admits Austin scooped his favorites but adds Darius Slayton as a dirt-cheap dart throw.

Tight End

Austin: Zach Ertz, Jake Ferguson
Ryan: Darren Waller – Multi-TD upside and a soft matchup.

Defense

Austin: Seattle Seahawks (DK: $2,800 / FD: $4,500)
Ryan: Backs both Seattle and Indy as the only real DFS defenses to trust this week.

Valedictorian Shootout

The head-to-head continues! Last week, Ryan came out ahead with a 137.8–127.4 win, evening the season series at 2-2. A slight edge at RB, TE, and DEF gave him the nod.

This week:

Austin’s lineup: Fields, Gibbs, Marks, Demercado, JSN, Keenan, Meyers, Ferguson, IND
Ryan’s lineup: Dak, JT, Monty, Garrett Wilson, Quentin Johnston, Slayton, JSN, Ferguson, SEA

Winner gets bragging rights each week, and by season’s end, we’ll see who’s crowned Valedictorian and who ends up class clown.

Join the Class

Want in on the action? Play with us on DraftKings and FanDuel every week. We’ll post contests and announce the winners here.

DraftKings Winner: ChrisMo2413 with 176.54 (11th career win!)
FanDuel Winner(s): For the first time ever, a tie! ertlt and jaymalaga set identical lineups and shared the win at 161.56.