Injury analysis for Week 5 of NFL DFS on FanDuel and DraftKings

Want access to the projections that power these picks? For a limited time we're offering a free one-week trial to all the sports that we cover - that's optimal lineups for NFL and MLB - for the same low price. Get started now!

Quarterbacks

Justin Fields FD 6400 DK 5200
Opponent LV
Proj Points FD - 14.42 DK - 15.11

Fields has now been named the starting quarterback for the rest of the season with the Bears going with the rookie slightly earlier than expected. His first game as a pro was an epic disaster through things did improve with the second go-around in Week 4. He was more efficient, completing 65% of his passes, though it was only on 17 attempts. Fields hasn’t gotten out and run much, with only six attempts and 21 total yards on the ground through two weeks. It will take a lot more than that to be fantasy viable, but there is hope it comes as he gets more comfortable in the offense.

Trey Lance FD 6900 DK 5700
Opponent ARI
Proj Points FD - 17.79 DK - 18.48

It sure doesn’t look like Jimmy Garoppolo is going to play in this game so we could get another rookie quarterback under center for Week 5. Lance came in after Jimmy G went down with injury in Week 4 and was better as a fantasy quarterback than a real-life one. He only complete 50% of his passes (9-18), but they went for 157 yards and two touchdowns. It’s hard to get more out of less. And then he went on the ground for 41 yards on seven carries. Heading into Week 5 against the Cardinals, Lance is definitely fantasy-viable, especially at just $5700 on DraftKings.

It looks like Teddy Bridgewater has cleared concussion protocol and will be under center for the Broncos on Sunday.

Running Backs

Christian McCaffrey FD 10000 DK 8700
Opponent PHI
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0

There is increasing optimism that Christian McCaffrey will be able to return this week after missing part of Week 3 and all of Week 4 with a hamstring injury. He is way ahead of timeline if he actually took the field here on Sunday and it would make for a curious fantasy spot. He is coming reasonably priced on DraftKings for full PPR considering he had 17 targets through two weeks and change this season. The Panthers will give him the ball a ton if he can play, but it’s just odd to roster a guy coming off an injury and coming back so soon. We will have to monitor this situation and the more news we hear coming out of Panthers’ camp.

Dalvin Cook FD 9000 DK 8400
Opponent DET
Proj Points FD - 20.06 DK - 21.68

This status could change if Cook is able to practice on Friday, but he looks like he is dealing with an ankle issue that could bring his Week 5 status into doubt. If he were to sit, then we have a clue as to what the Vikings' plans are without him. That would, of course, be Alexander Mattison who filled in Week 3 when Cook was out. In that game, Mattison played 68% of the snaps, and was an absolute workhorse, carrying the 26 times and also seeing eight targets in the passing game. He put up 171 total yards though didn’t find the end zone. If Cook were to sit, Mattison would be nearly a must-play at $5500 on DraftKings and $6500 on FanDuel.

David Montgomery FD 7200 DK 5900
Opponent LV
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0

Damien Williams FD 5800 DK 5600
Opponent LV
Proj Points FD - 14.97 DK - 16.68

We covered this situation in our cash game article and not much has changed here. Montgomery is going to sit and Williams should get the start. The latter is in line for solid usage at middle-tier pricing. He is a much better deal on FanDuel. You can read the case for Williams in cash in our Week 5 cash game article.

Joe Mixon FD 7100 DK 6200
Opponent GB
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0

Samaje Perine FD 5600 DK 4000
Opponent GB
Proj Points FD - 10.02 DK - 11.08

It looks like Joe Mixon is going to sit this game out even though he is only listed as questionable at this point. I very much doubt he takes the field. Samaje Perine should get the start, though it’s hard to envision him as an every-down back for the Bengals. And the situation doesn’t look good for running backs as it is with Cincy heading into the game as underdogs to the Packers.

Keep an eye on the Chase Edmonds situation. He hasn’t practiced this week as of this writing and could end up sitting. That would put James Conner very much in the cash game discussion.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

A.J. Brown FD 6900 DK 6500
Opponent JAX
Proj Points FD - 11.49 DK - 13.67

Julio Jones FD 6800 DK 6700
Opponent JAX
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0

This situation might be improving at least partly for the Titans going into Week 5. It looks like A.J. Brown is on track to play and Tennessee really needs him. The passing game was a wreck in Week 4 against the Jets and Brown, if fully healthy could be looking at a decent target share. That’s because it looks Julio Jones will have to sit out again. In his two healthy weeks (1 & 2) Brown saw 17 total targets though the efficiency was down with only seven catches for 92 total yards. One could think, based on past performance, that this is set to improve going forward. He is coming pretty cheap on both sites all things considered the matchup against the Jaguars is a great one.

Sterling Shepard FD 6400 DK 5300
Opponent DAL
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0

Darius Slayton FD 5300 DK 4100
Opponent DAL
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0

This is another situation we covered in the Week 5 cash game article and it looks like both of these guys are going to sit again this time around. That should lead to a solid targets’ floor for Kadarius Toney once again. The latter saw nine targets in Week 4, going for six catches and 78 yards. Kenny Golladay had seven targets and turned them into a huge game, with 116 yards and a touchdown.