Social media is generally awful. It causes anxiety, fights, and divides many of us. The faceless trolls on sites like X take any joy from posting articles and takes in a business like this where you’re going to be wrong fairly often.
That’s why this week was so special. Several of you reached out and told me how this article has helped you get wins this season. You may not realize it, but that matters to writers who aren’t getting rich providing fantasy content. Taking time from our families to research and write articles that we hope someone reads and gets one little nugget from can be grueling for 18 weeks. Seeing that some of you are using this advice to win your matchups brings a smile to my face. So, thank you to those who reached out. To those who don’t, but still read and enjoy the work, let’s get to work. There are no victory laps in Week 5.
We do have to look back at our process and give a small fist pump, as of the top 5 plays I gave out last week, all finished in the top 12 (pending MNF). Of those five suggestions, Detroit and Jacksonville were the top two D/ST’s of the week.
We’re not out here telling you to play obvious plays either. These are all 50% owned and under squads. That’s a testament to Fantasy Points Data, David Goggins' motivational YouTube videos, and the High Noons I drink as I write this article weekly. What do you say we find some Week 5 plays now that the BYE weeks are here? A lot of good choices this week.
TEAMS ON BYE IN WEEK 5: ATL, CHI, GB, PIT
We’re going to keep doing what we always do. Attack struggling offensive lines. Pick on bad play callers. Most importantly, identify and exploit bad quarterbacks.
Based on D/STs owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues
Drake’s Top 5 D/ST Targets for Week 5
- Arizona Cardinals (Ari 17%) vs TEN
- Cleveland Browns (Cle, 8%) vs MIN
- New York Giants (NYG, 2%) @ NO
- New Orleans Saints (NO, 1%) vs NYG
- Indianapolis Colts (IND, 22%) vs LV
Higher-owned Options
Seattle Seahawks (SEA, 57%) vs TB — I don’t love this play, but when looking for names to fill the “higher-owned” category, I need to point out that Seattle has three weeks of double-digit D/ST points. The Seahawks are coming off a six-sack and two-interception performance against Arizona. Their opponent, Tampa Bay, just had a kick blocked and returned for a TD and coughed up two turnovers. I’d look elsewhere, but I had to point out the Seahawks' strong play of late. Seattle is top-5 in QB hits through four weeks. Baker Mayfield is playing with a bad arm as well. I can see Seattle making some noise — being the number one D/ST in the game, you’d hope so.
Houston Texans (Hou, 83%) @ BAL — Another long shot, but they get a Ravens team that is ravaged by injuries to Lamar Jackson and seemingly anyone else in a black helmet. Cooper Rush could take the command on Sunday. If Houston is available, they are a great stream before they head into their Week 6 BYE.
Top Targets
Arizona Cardinals (Ari 17%) @ TEN — We say it every week: play D/STs against the Titans. You don’t need any analysis. You have eyes. The Titans were shut out last week. They stink. Tennessee allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing D/STs on the season. Arizona is in the top 8 in pressures on the season (31). That will pass rush will undoubtedly lead to Cam Ward sacks and turnovers. This isn’t a great D/ST, but you don’t have to be against the nightmare in Nashville. This is the easiest blurb I write all week.
Cleveland Browns (Cle, 8%) vs MIN — The Browns defense is legit. Carson Wentz is not. In Week 4, the Vikings had Wentz attempt 46 passes. He was sacked six times and threw a pair of interceptions. Oof. Minnesota is giving up the fourth-most points to opposing D/STs thus far. Cleveland boasts the best rush defense in the league. Through four games, the Browns have allowed just 281 yards on the ground. Good luck, Jordan Mason. This game has a Carson Wentz pick-six written all over it.
New York Giants (NYG, 2%) @ NO — The Giants can get to the passer. They have 10 sacks so far and rank top-5 in QB hits. The Saints will be without their starting guard, Cesar Ruiz, due to a high ankle sprain. Spencer Rattler has taken three sacks in half of his starts. The Giants have three sacks in half of their starts. What do you say we call for three G-Men sacks in New Orleans?
New Orleans Saints (NO, 1%) vs NYG — We’re running back opposing teams in the same article? When they are this dysfunctional, you do. Jaxson Dart is going to run a lot. He’s not sure of his protection or where to go with the football now that Malik Nabers is done for the year. While Dart didn’t turn the ball over, he did take six sacks. I feel that the New Orleans crowd will rattle the rookie and lead to some turnovers. The Saints are top-10 in tackles for loss. I can see them selling out to stop Dart and the Giants' run game because they can’t threaten a defense vertically anymore.
Indianapolis Colts (IND, 22%) vs LV — Geno Smith stinks. Simple. Play the Colts at home against a Raiders team that just lost their best offensive lineman, Kolton Miller, for multiple weeks. This Raiders offense saw Ashton Jeanty break out last week, but without Miller, I don’t see a repeat performance coming. Indy is a top-10 rushing defense to begin with. Throw in Smith’s propensity to throw the ball to the other team, and you’ve got nowhere for the Raiders to go. I think the Colts will smash this week at home against a Vegas outfit that gives up the fifth most points to D/STs.
Going Deeper
Dallas Cowboys (Dal, 7%) @ NYJ — Have you seen the Jets offense? There’s not much great happening in Dallas, but the winless Jets don’t have a clue. They are playing some version of a Tim Tebow offense from 2012. There are better options, but if you’re totally stuck, I think Dallas can give you a top-15 week.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jax, 6%) vs KC — This is only the number two D/ST in all of fantasy. Somehow, they are owned in less than 10% of leagues. I get it, they are playing the Chiefs this week. But sometimes you just get these defenses that turn teams over and give us special seasons. Jacksonville has 13 turnovers this year, by far leading the league. If I’m playing full-weekend DFS, I might consider throwing the Jags into a lineup because nobody will play them. If this turnover train stays on track, it will hopefully win someone a million dollars. Just keep an eye on the Jags as the season progresses. Their upcoming schedule is tough with home games against the Chiefs, Seahawks, and Rams before a Week 8 BYE.
Los Angeles Rams (LAR, 31%) vs SF — Everyone on the Niners is hurt (except CMC). Brock Purdy has a banged-up toe. Both receivers are questionable. It’s just a mess. This is a Thursday nighter as well, which typically means an ugly game without much offense. Sounds like a good game to stream. The Rams have forced seven turnovers. You can’t tell me a Mac Jones-led offense with receivers wearing name tags won’t cough it up once or twice.
Place Kickers
Higher-owned Options
Chase McLaughlin (TB, 60%) — Yes, we try to list players that are 50% rostered. Yet, we have to point out McLaughlin and his recent outings. In the last two weeks, he has had multiple field goals in both games. McLaughlin converted on three field goals of 42, 65, and 59 yards in Week 4. Six of his field goals this year are from the bonus range, and four of them are from 50 or more yards.
Top Targets
Matt Gay (Was, 17%) — Gay converted on four field goals in Week 4, and that marks his second straight outing with multiple field goals. All seven of his field goals this year have been from the bonus range, with three of them from 50 or more yards. With the Commanders' offense banged up (starters Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, and Austin Ekeler all out in Week 4), Gay is going to be relied on heavily to produce points for Washington.
Going Deeper
Joey Slye (Ten, 8%) — Before you walk away from reading this, hear me out. Yes, Slye failed to convert on either of his two field goal attempts in Week 4, and Tennessee did not score any points. Still, he attempted two bonus range field goals. Slye was coming off three straight multiple field goal outings, and his two missed attempts made it four straight games of two or more attempts. Six of his ten field goals this year have been bonus range variety, and four of them have been from 50 or more yards. His next opponent, Arizona, has allowed six of seven field goals in their four games. It is very unusual for a team not to score in back-to-back games.
Tom Simons contributed the PK writeups.
