We turn the page over to Week 5 as we come off a Week 4 in which, once again, not too many backs were impressive for DFS purposes and a lot of the elite backs had bad-to-average games. For the third consecutive week, the best strategy would have been to use value and mid-tier backs and spend-up in other places. I feel like a broken record at this point. The best approach, in my opinion, at this point is to just roster cheaper backs and hope the trend continues. My favorite back this week is Dameon Pierce, who has fully taken over in Houston and looked fantastic over the past couple week. Why do I like him and who else do I like this week? Let’s dive into the top plays, values and fades for NFL DFS Week 5!

 

NFL DFS RB Top Plays

Nick Chubb, Browns

Chubb is the only high-end back I am on this week as high-priced backs just simply have not been worth paying for in DFS to this point. Chubb has been great though, scoring 18.3, 32.3, 20.3, and 23.7 dk points over the first four weeks of the season and already finding the end zone five times. He has at least 17 carries in every game this season and has at least 113 rushing yards in three of four (87 yards in the outlier). The Chargers are a great matchup as they have consistently been torn apart by running backs this season. 

 

NFL DFS RB Mid-Tier Plays

Dameon Pierce, Texans

Pierce had a monster breakout game last week, rushing 14 times for 131 yards and a touchdown while catching ALL six of his targets in the passing game for another eight yards. Pierce is THE guy in this backfield and he has looked great over the past three games. People want to call Burkhead the passing back, but Pierce has been targeted 10 times on the year and he has 10 receptions, so it seems to me that Pierce can function as the every down guy for this team. The Jags rank as a top-five matchup for running backs this season and they were torn apart by Miles Sanders in Week 4. 

 

Damien Harris, Patriots 

Harris is somewhat of the lead back in New England and that is the role I want to target when a team is facing the Lions. Harris has scored at least 12.6 points in three straight games and has scored a touchdown in three straight as well. He has even been somewhat better in the passing game this season with seven receptions on nine targets thus far. The Lions are the second best matchup in the league for backs thus far and every game that has included the Lions has had a million points scored (slight exaggeration, but you get my drift). 

 

NFL DFS RB Value Plays

Breece Hall, Jets

I suspected a breakout game for Hall last week and while it didn’t happen scoring wise (still put up a solid 15.8 fantasy points), it did happen usage wise as he carried the ball 17 times and was targeted six times. It was his first game with double-digit carries and he found the end zone. He has scored at least 15 points in back-to-back weeks and I would rather play Hall than someone like Najee Harrris, even if they were the same price and you can get Hall for over $1,000 cheaper. The Dolphins aren’t a great matchup, but Hall’s price tag is great for the usage he’s getting. 

 

Travis Etienne, Jaguars

J-rob may be the Jags starting back, but last week he and Etienne had the same number of carries and Etienne was the only one of the two to get targeted in the passing game. Etienne also rushed for more yards. Trying to figure out this backfield is a bit of a headache right now, but there’s no better matchup than the Texans. I would still lean J-rob as being the lead back, but given the steep price difference between the two (Etienne is $1300 cheaper), I would rather take my chances on Etienne and hope for a breakout game against this lousy defense.

 

Raheem Mostert, Dolphins

Mostert is the featured back for Miami and while it hasn’t helped him be a productive fantasy scorer yet, we have every reason to believe that it will at some point. He rushed 15 times for 69 yards last week while also hauling in two passes for 12 more yards. The biggest issue for Mostert to this point has been that Chase Edmonds has been the guy finding the end zone. However, Mostert is fully capable of getting into the end zone himself and it’s only a matter of time until he gets his first TD on the board this season and I think this could be the week. 

 

NFL DFS RB Fades

Najee Harris, Steelers

Last week I wrote “Harris has simply looked… awful…. His ceiling just seems very low right now and he is not worth his price tag.” He proceeded to score 7.4 points in full PPR as he rushed 18 times for 74 yards and was not even targeted in the passing game. With his price tag barely changing, he is once again a fade for me. Harris is a plodder, but at least last year we could bank on a ton of work in the passing game, but that just doesn’t exist this year. The Bills are a tough matchup and the Steelers have Pickett making his first career NFL start, there’s just nothing to like about Harris at all. 

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