NFL DFS: Best Stacks for DraftKings Week 5 Main Slate

This is going to be an interesting week of NFL DFS as this is the first week we’ve had with fewer than 13 games on the Main slate. There is a Thursday night game, Sunday night game, Monday night game, and there is a London game that takes place on Sunday morning. Also, we don’t have a handful of the elite offenses to pick players from as the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Baltimore Ravens are all playing in night games.

Given all of that, we have our work cut out for us in Week 5. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t potential high-scoring stacks we can use on Sunday’s main slate. There are only three games on the Main slate that have a current over/under of 50+ points, with the showdown between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys holding the highest total. While a lot could change between now and Sunday, here are my favorite stacks — and bring-back options — on DraftKings’ Main slate in Week 5.

Favorite Stacks

DAL: Dak Prescott ($6,900), CeeDee Lamb ($6,200), Amari Cooper ($6,100), Cedrick Wilson ($4,100), Dalton Schultz ($4,400)

The Cowboys currently hold the highest projected total at 29.5 points versus the Giants. Dak Prescott has been spectacular this season, throwing three or more touchdowns in three of his four games. Even though Prescott has attempted 27 or fewer passes in each of the past three weeks, he still has a relatively safe floor and he ran for a season-high 35 yards in Week 4. While the Cowboys have been able to lean on the run game in recent weeks, you can get CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper at discounts compared to their usual prices. I’d prefer Lamb between the two due to Cooper battling multiple injuries. Dalton Schultz has emerged as the No. 1 tight end in Dallas as he’s drawn 6+ targets in three out of four games, and he’s found the end zone three times now.

Bring-back options: Saquon Barkley ($7,300), Kenny Golladay ($5,900), Sterling Shepard ($5,300), Kadarius Toney ($4,000), Evan Engram ($3,200)

If you are like me, you expect the Giants to be playing from behind on Sunday. The defense of the Cowboys has looked better than expected to begin the season, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have success against them. New York’s pass-catchers are cheap this week as Kenny Golladay is the most expensive of the bunch, making it easy to stack this game. Sterling Shepard is questionable to play with a hamstring injury, so keep an eye on his status leading up to Sunday. I’m not a big fan of using Evan Engram, but if you need to save salary at tight end, I guess I’m okay with using him. Even if Shepard returns in Week 5, Kadarius Toney earned himself more usage in the offense in Week 4. Saquon Barkley is also an option as he’s beginning to receive a larger workload in recent weeks, and he’s beginning to look more and more like his usual self.

MIN: Kirk Cousins ($6,500), Justin Jefferson ($7,700), Adam Thielen ($6,600), K.J Osborn ($3,800), Tyler Conklin ($3,500)

Everyone is going to be flocking to the rushing attack of the Minnesota Vikings in their matchup with the Detroit Lions in Week 5. I’ll have my fair share of Dalvin Cook — or Alexander Mattison if Cook is out — but you can gain some leverage by using the passing game of the Vikings. Outside of last week’s game versus a stingy defense in the Cleveland Browns, Kirk Cousins had posted 25+ DraftKings points in each of the first three weeks. What is nice about Minnesota’s offense is that we know who the ball is going to as Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen garner the lion's share of the targets. K.J. Osborn and Tyler Conklin are fine pieces to use if you need to save some salary for some of the high-priced studs.

Bring-back options: D’Andre Swift ($6,100), Kalif Raymond ($4,800), Quintez Cephus ($4,300), Amon-Ra St. Brown ($3,500)

The Lions have found themselves playing from behind in each of the first four weeks of the season, and I don’t see that changing this week. While the Vikings aren’t a dominant team, they are capable of getting a lead over the Lions, forcing Jared Goff to put the ball through the air often. D’Andre Swift isn’t having much success on the ground, but he’s gotten 29 targets in the first four weeks, turning that into 23 receptions, 199 yards, and one touchdown. It’s hard to guess which of Detroit’s wideouts is going to emerge as Goff’s favorite target in any given week. If I had to pick between the three, I’d side with Amon-Ra St. Brown after he led the wide receivers with eight targets in Week 4. T.J. Hockenson has been a limited participant in practice, and he could be a game-time decision on Sunday, so you can add him here if he’s able to suit up.

JAX: Trevor Lawrence ($5,800), Marvin Jones Jr. ($5,700), Laviska Shenault ($4,800), Dan Arnold ($2,900)

There aren’t many defenses playing as bad as the Tennessee Titans. I don’t want to discredit Zach Wilson, but there’s a reason why his first noteworthy game in the NFL came against these Titans. Tennessee’s defense will draw another rookie signal-caller in Week 5, and I’m rolling with Trevor Lawrence on Sunday. Yes, D.J. Chark is headed to injured reserve, giving Lawrence one fewer wide receiver to target through the air. However, that could lead to more opportunities for Marvin Jones Jr. and Laviska Shenault, who are both extremely affordable. If you’re someone that likes making a dart throw at the tight end position, Dan Arnold will seemingly have a decent-sized role for the Jacksonville Jaguars as he enters his second week with the team.

Bring-back options: Derrick Henry ($9,000), A.J. Brown ($6,500), Chester Rogers ($3,900), Josh Reynolds ($3,300)

I only list running backs as bring-back options if I believe they can have ceiling games, and I’m confident that Derrick Henry can steamroll the Jaguars. While this Jacksonville defense is a bit different in terms of personnel, the last time the Jaguars faced the Titans (Week 14 of the 2020 season), Henry galloped for 215 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. A.J. Brown is slated to return in Week 5 while Julio Jones seems to be headed toward being sidelined for the second straight game. Chester Rogers and Josh Reynolds are viable cheap options as they should see expanded roles with Jones trending toward being ruled out.

NYG: Daniel Jones ($6,000), Kenny Golladay ($5,900), Sterling Shepard ($5,300), Kadarius Toney ($4,000), Evan Engram ($3,200)

On the other side of the field of the Cowboys game, Daniel Jones hasn’t looked half bad to begin the season. Jones had his best game of the season in Week 4 as he aired it out for 402 yards and two passing touchdowns en route to defeating the New Orleans Saints to secure New York’s first win of the season. What makes Jones a seemingly safe option in NFL DFS is the fact that he brings a floor with his legs. The former first-round pick is averaging 47 rushing yards per game, and if he can find the end zone on the ground, he can be in for another stellar performance in Week 5. The Giants could be playing catch-up with Prescott and the Cowboys, leading to more opportunities for Jones to produce. As previously mentioned above, it’s easy to get the pass-catching options of the Giants on DraftKings, so stacking them with Jones isn’t tough to do.

Bring-back options: Ezekiel Elliott ($7,000), CeeDee Lamb ($6,200), Amari Cooper ($6,100), Cedrick Wilson ($4,100), Dalton Schultz ($4,400)

Ezekiel Elliott looks like he has fresh legs to begin the season, scoring 23+ DraftKings points in the past two weeks. While Tony Pollard has a role in the offense, Elliott is still the running back that the Cowboys are leaning on. I’m not against using Pollard as a bring-back option if you don’t have the salary to get up to Elliott. Lamb is $500 cheaper than he was in Week 4, so I’ll take him at a discount despite him having quiet outings in back-to-back games. Cooper is dealing with multiple injuries, but he’s still a favorite target of Prescott’s. Wilson continues to score touchdowns in relief of Michael Gallup, who is still on injured reserve. Schultz is a premier red-zone threat for the Cowboys and he’s forming a rapport with Prescott.

CIN: Joe Burrow ($6,100), Ja’Marr Chase ($5,800), Tyler Boyd ($5,300), Tee Higgins ($5,000), C.J. Uzomah ($3,000)

It was tough choosing my fifth-favorite stack in Week 5. The Carolina Panthers could be a decent option with Sam Darnold scoring 20+ DraftKings points in each of the first four weeks. However, I’m going to go with Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals due to them playing in a game with a projected total of 50 points versus the Green Bay Packers. The Packers are favored on Sunday, and with Joe Mixon potentially sidelined, Burrow could be asked to air it out more to keep up with Aaron Rodgers. Ja’Marr Chase is Burrow’s favorite option when it comes to scoring touchdowns. On the other hand, Tyler Boyd is a premier option in PPR formats as he’s a reliable option out of the slot for Burrow. Tee Higgins could make his return to the field in Week 5, so he could be worth stacking with Burrow. I’m listing C.J. Uzomah as an option after he exploded for 26.5 DraftKings points in Week 4, but the return of Higgins could put a damper on his usage.

Bring-back options: Davante Adams ($8,200), Aaron Jones ($7,900), Randall Cobb ($4,000)

Stacking the Packers is extremely easy due to their targets being funneled to a few players. Davante Adams is almost guaranteed to see double-digit targets in every game, and he’s used as a goal-line receiving option when Green Bay gets near the end zone. Even though AJ Dillon is seeing work out of the backfield, Aaron Jones is the No. 1 back on the Packers that should see a consistent workload every week. It feels disgusting listing Randall Cobb, but with Marquez Valdes-Scantling on injured reserve and Allen Lazard failing to earn more targets, Cobb could see a more prominent role moving forward. Cobb showed signs of life in Week 4 as he hauled in five receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers.