Week 5 brings us some unusual values thanks to injuries, slow starts, and players returning to full strength. That means we can grab legitimate difference-makers several rounds later than their talent would typically warrant. As always, we’ll aim to locate the best values of the week with one cornerstone play from each of the four positions.
This article is aimed to be practical and quickly digestible.
>> Worried about injuries if you draft early? Don’t sweat it; you have two post-draft edits for each lineup
Jayden Daniels (QB – WAS)
Remember when Jayden Daniels was the QB3 in fantasy football rankings just four weeks ago? Apparently, FanDrill drafters don’t. Daniels is returning from an elbow injury, and if anything, I expect him to rely on his legs even more while he gets comfortable throwing again. We’re talking about a quarterback with 35-plus-point upside in any given week, and now he gets a weak Giants defense with gunslinger Jameis Winston on the other side creating the potential for an ideal game script. Chig Okonkwo will finally be back at full strength, and Terry McLaurin may return this week as well. Daniels’ ADP currently lands in the fourth round, and I’ll make a prediction: this is the cheapest you’ll be able to get him all season.
TreVeyon Henderson (RB – NE)
Don’t look now, but the Patriots are trying out running backs, which could be a pretty strong indication that Rhamondre Stevenson’s injury may keep him out in Week 5. If that’s the case, Henderson immediately becomes one of my favorite running back values on the slate. He’s been an absolute stud in limited starts and would offer easy top-10 fantasy RB upside with a full workload. Better yet, he gets a Raiders defense that has been lit up on the ground despite facing negative game scripts and weak opponents. The Patriots are favored despite what the teams’ records might suggest, and if the game plays out accordingly, Henderson could be in line for 20-plus touches. Give a player with his game-breaking, slate-breaking speed that kind of volume and watch out.
Love your lineup? Duplicate it up to 89 times and use our Smart Variations feature to create unique versions of your best work →
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI)
Maybe Marvin Harrison Jr. really is Sammy Watkins 2.0, but there is simply too much talent here for him to be going in the ninth round against this Detroit secondary. The Lions have been making opposing quarterbacks look like Tom Brady this season, and Harrison has two-TD upside in any game because of his physical presence in the red zone. Now put him in a near-guaranteed shootout and give him by far his easiest matchup of the year. Don’t forget, Harrison had to deal with the Chargers, Seahawks, and 49ers before finally finding the end zone last week. He’s still playing more than 80% of the snaps, and he’s bound to eat one of these weeks. Perhaps most importantly, this is a perfect opportunity to zig while everyone else zags toward Trey McBride and Michael Wilson. Harrison’s roster rate should remain low, making him one of my favorite contrarian values of Week 5.
Isaiah Likely (TE – NYG)
We’ll gladly take the injury-tag discount on this one. Likely is questionable, but he’s expected to play as the Giants take it easy on him while he works through a minor injury. Assuming he’s ready for a full workload Sunday, he gets a Commanders defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. Here’s the wild part: Likely ranks inside the top 10 in target share in the NFL. Read that again—not among tight ends, but among all pass catchers. With an opportunity share like that in a prime matchup, FanDrill users should be willing to reach into the sixth round to lock up a player who offers both a safe floor and legitimate slate-breaking upside. Keep in mind, Jameis Winston is slinging the ball now, and with Likely’s speed, long touchdowns are on the table more than ever.
Jett Morris is a Sr. Fantasy Analyst for FanDrill. Follow him on Twitter @JettMorris for more fantasy sports content.
Leave a Reply