3 Best NFL DFS Studs for Week 5

NFL DFS Week 5 Stud Picks at a Glance

• Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions
• Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts
• Brock Bowers, TE, Raiders

Week 5 gives us another intriguing FanDuel NFL DFS main slate, and there are several high-salary stars who are worth building around.

Amon-Ra St. Brown continues to command elite volume in Detroit’s passing game, Jonathan Taylor owns one of the largest workloads among running backs, and Brock Bowers has immediately returned to being the focal point of Las Vegas’ passing attack.

Here are three of the best FanDuel DFS plays to consider for Week 5.

All betting odds come from the NFL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

NFL DFS Week 5: Best Stud Picks

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions

FanDuel Salary: $9,000 (at ARI)

Amon-Ra St. Brown continues to offer the combination of floor and ceiling we want in a high-salary wide receiver.

Through four games, St. Brown has hauled in 31 of 46 targets for 303 yards and 5 touchdowns. His 46 targets are tied for the fifth-most in football, and he's already drawn double-digit looks three times.

His most recent outing was actually one of his quieter performances, yet he still turned 11 targets into 8 catches for 75 yards against the Carolina Panthers. That type of workload is particularly attractive on FanDuel, where touchdown upside is so important, and St. Brown has already scored five times this year.

The matchup adds to his appeal. The Arizona Cardinals have struggled against opposing wideouts, and this game has a sky-high total of 54.5.

With Detroit traveling to Arizona for an indoors game that should offer plenty of scoring potential, St. Brown has both the volume and touchdown equity to produce a slate-winning performance.

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts

FanDuel Salary: $8,600 (at PIT)

Jonathan Taylor‘s workload makes him one of the easiest high-salary running backs to trust this week.

Taylor has handled 86 carries through four games, good for 21.5 per contest, and he's also averaging 3.8 targets per game. He has accounted for roughly 78% of the Indianapolis Colts' rushing attempts, giving him one of the sturdiest workloads at the position.

He reminded us of his touchdown ceiling last week, rushing 20 times for 95 yards and two scores against the Washington Commanders. That was already his third multi-touchdown performance through four games, and Taylor has six rushing scores on the season.

Despite Indianapolis being a slight road underdog at the Pittsburgh Steelers, the betting market is still expecting Taylor to approach 90 rushing yards, and he’s -175 to score a TD.

Taylor's receiving work also gives him another path to fantasy production. He's drawn 15 targets through four games and caught four passes for 40 yards in Week 2, so he isn't purely dependent on rushing yards and touchdowns.

With elite volume and one of the strongest touchdown roles among the backs on the slate, Taylor is an appealing high-salary RB.

Brock Bowers, TE, Raiders

FanDuel Salary: $7,800 (at LV)

Brock Bowers missed the first two games of the season, but it hasn't taken him long to resume his role as one of the premier fantasy tight ends.

Across his two games since returning, Bowers has commanded 25 targets, catching 16 passes for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns. He saw 14 targets in his season debut against the New Orleans Saints, then followed that with 11 targets, 6 catches, 86 yards and a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The underlying usage is even more impressive. Bowers has accounted for roughly a third of Las Vegas' targets in the games he's played, and he's averaging 101 receiving yards per game.

That's extremely valuable at tight end. Instead of hoping for a touchdown from a low-volume player, we can roster Bowers knowing that his workload more closely resembles that of a high-end wide receiver.

The matchup against the New England Patriots isn't a good one. In fact, the Patriots have been stingy against tight ends early in the year. But Bowers' role is strong enough to overcome a difficult matchup, particularly at a position where elite volume is hard to find.

With 25 targets over his first two appearances, Bowers has both an elite floor and one of the highest ceilings at tight end on the Week 5 FanDuel main slate.

NFL DFS Studs FAQ

What is an NFL DFS stud?

An NFL DFS stud is a high-salary player who is expected to produce a strong fantasy score in a daily fantasy football contest. These players typically have significant workloads, high ceilings and favorable opportunities to accumulate fantasy points.

How do you choose the best NFL DFS studs?

The best DFS studs are identified by looking at factors such as expected volume, recent production, matchup, touchdown potential and projected roster percentage.

Who are the best NFL DFS plays each week?

The best NFL DFS plays change from week to week based on matchups, injuries, salaries, projected draft percentage and expected usage. High-volume quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers are often among the strongest options at the top of the salary range.

What is a good DFS lineup strategy?

A strong NFL DFS lineup typically combines a few high-upside players with lower-salary options who have favorable matchups or increased workloads while also hitting on a player or two who does well but isn’t popular that week. Finding players who can significantly outperform their salaries is one of the most important parts of building a winning lineup.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.