Top daily fantasy football wide receiver plays for Week 5

Welcome to Week 5 of the Daily Fantasy season. Pricing has stabilized as trends have emerged but there are still bargains to be found and even some higher-priced options that will go under-owned and can make a difference in your lineups. This article looks at some of the projected lesser-owned plays at wide receiver who could provide huge boosts to your tournament lineups, as well as some trap plays to avoid.

PLAY

Amari Cooper $7,200/Michael Crabtree $6,900 (Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers)

If you’ve read my quarterback and running back articles this week, you already know that I have a severe man-crush on the Raiders offense. But as excited as I am for Derek Carr, DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard, the two players who have me the most tingly are Cooper and Crabtree. With cornerbacks Jason Verrett and Brandon Flowers already ruled out, the Chargers have no one capable of staying with these two wideouts. Crabtree went wild last week against Baltimore and Cooper is a 30-point game just waiting to happen. Best of all, they are not expected to sniff the high ownership totals of an Antonio Brown or Julian Edelman and aren’t ranked in the top 16 in price among wide receivers. Giddy-up!

Odell Beckham Jr. $8,500 (New York Giants at Green Bay Packers)

The Worst Week Ever for Beckham comes to an end in Green Bay on Sunday. I’m going on the working theory that this past Monday was rock bottom for Beckham, dating back to his embarrassing tantrum against Josh Norman last December. Well, Sunday will the first day of the rest of ODB’s life, and in a game where the Giants should have success throwing the ball, I think Beckham will finally have his 2016 breakout moment, just as Julio Jones did last week. With Jordy Nelson sitting $100 cheaper than Beckham, I think his ownership will be down and that is something worth exploiting.

Brandon Marshall $7,600 (New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers)

Eric Decker has been ruled out again this week, which guarantees that Marshall will see double-digit targets in a game that will require the Jets to attack through the air to stay competitive. Marshall lit up the brutally tough Seattle secondary last week for 89 yards and a touchdown. This week, he gets a Pittsburgh secondary that ranks among the worst in the NFL. Marshall should easily surpass last week’s numbers at a price that is relative bargain compared to the rest of the WR field on FanDuel. The only knock against him will be high ownership.

Julian Edelman $7,000 (New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns)

Edelman figures to be among the highest-owned receivers as well, although his injury designation should help put something of a cap on those numbers. Where there shouldn’t be a cap is on his on-field production. Tom Brady is back and that is tremendous news for Edelman, who has always been Brady’s favorite non-Gronkowski target and should shred a Browns secondary that struggles to contain receivers who run the routes that Edelman thrives on. You just know Brady is primed to repeat his 2007 performance as a giant payback to the league and Edelman figures to be his top partner in revenge crime.

Jordan Matthews $7,000 (Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions)

The guy has been about the biggest tease at wide receiver the past two seasons. Everything about the guy says superstar potential, but whether its drops or play-calling or both, he just never lives up to the lofty expectations of others. Well, forget all that this week. All signs point to Matthews excelling in a competitive road game against a team struggling mightily to defend the pass. Matthews has been Carson Wentz’s favorite target and he has a chance to finally live up to the hype at a relatively reduced cost.

NAY

DeAndre Hopkins $8,200 (Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings)

Well, I totally dropped the ball last week in the “fade the high-priced superstar” category. But I’m getting right back on that horse this week and recommending the fade on Hopkins. He has not been the same receiver that dominated defenses last season and this week he draws a matchup with Xavier Rhodes, who is among the best in the business. Will Fuller continues to be the receiver making the most noise for the Texans and that figures to continue this week. Look elsewhere if you’re going to pay up at receiver.

Dez Bryant $7,700 (Dallas Cowboys vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

All signs point to Dez sitting out for the second straight week, and with the Cowboys playing a late game on Sunday, FanDuel owners should not take any chances on a miracle comeback.