Week 5 Game Scripts to Target in Daily Fantasy Football
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders
Over/Under: 53.5
Chargers Implied Team Total: 29.25
Raiders Implied Team Total: 24.25
Entering the year, it seemed like the Los Angeles Chargers were one of the best defenses in the league. But missing stud defensive end Joey Bosa, they've been far from it. Here are the full game totals from each game the Chargers have played in this year: 66, 51, 58, 56. The Oakland Raiders, meanwhile, have allowed 30.75 points per game and finally hit a groove on offense last week en route to 45 points against an underrated Cleveland Browns defense. Points are coming.
Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
FanDuel Price: $8,100
Allen is coming off three straight weeks with single-digit points. By now, you've probably noticed a pattern of targeting proven players coming off down weeks. That's again the case here. Allen hasn't produced close to his monster yardage totals from last season, but he still leads the team in targets and is averaging a healthy nine per game. With projected low ownership in a potential shootout, he's already an enticing play. But the Raiders have also been smashed in the slot already this year by Cooper Kupp (5-52-1), Emmanuel Sanders (4-96), Albert Wilson (2-74-1) and Jarvis Landry (4-34-1), increasing Allen's chances at a blowup game.
Jordy Nelson, WR, Oakland Raiders
FanDuel Price: $5,600
A great buy-low target in season-long leagues two weeks ago, Jordy has quietly been the WR3 and WR22 over the last two games. While everyone is rushing to chase Amari Cooper's ($6,500) points from last week, Jordy is the sneakier, lower-owned play. Cooper will likely be shadowed by Casey Hayward, who held him to 5 catches for 28 measly yards in Week 6 last year. Running 37% of his routes in the slot will keep Nelson away from Hayward, though, and he provides a cheap attachment to this potential shootout.
Others to Consider
With 250-plus yards and 3-plus touchdowns in three of four games already this year, Philip Rivers ($8,200) is one of the highest-floor quarterbacks on the board. That makes him a great cash play but will keep his ownership strong as well.
It's really tough to get excited about anyone on the Chargers outside of Melvin Gordon ($8,700). Taking his game to new levels in terms of efficiency and receiving prowess this year, Gordon is deservedly the second-priciest running back option on the main slate. He ranks third among running backs in targets and is fourth in the entire league in red zone touches. A high-floor, high-ceiling play every week, Gordon is always worth trying to squeeze into your lineup.
After Allen and Gordon, it's tough to predict the Chargers pass catchers. The only one that intrigues me is Mike Williams ($6,300) -- not because I like his price, but because he burned a ton of owners in a seemingly great spot last week. That, along with his red zone role, make shim interesting, but his pedestrian 12.3% target share keeps him off the cash radar and makes him just a contrarian GPP play.
Derek Carr ($7,000) hadn't topped 16 fantasy points before last week's overtime-fueled shootout. He feels a little like point-chasing even in what's been a good matchup so far this year. Carr threw for 171 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions when these teams met in Los Angeles last year.
That leaves us with Jared Cook ($5,900) and Amari Cooper. Cook may have inflated ownership in the tight end wasteland as players chase last week's big game. He needs this game to stay on script, but with two double-digit target games in his resume this year, he's definitely in the GPP mix. Even as I want to fade Cooper ($6,500) coming off last week's big game, there are reasons to stick with him. It's possible Casey Hayward's shadow coverage keeps his ownership down, and the price is more than palatable.
