Week 5 Game Scripts to Target in Daily Fantasy Football

New Orleans Saints vs. Washington Redskins

Over/Under: 52.5

Saints Implied Team Total: 29.50
Redskins Implied Team Total: 23.00

Another week, another Saints game with a 50-point over/under. New Orleans is averaging 36.5 points per game this year and has allowed two opposing teams to score at least 37 points in a game. The Washington Redskins, meanwhile, have been a bit up-and-down but have had a full extra week to get healthy and game plan. Washington's defense is underrated but still exploitable, and until proven otherwise we'll keep betting on high-scoring games in New Orleans.

It is worth noting this game will take place Monday Night and is not on the Sunday main slate.

Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
FanDuel Price: $9,100

Yes, I've written up Kamara in this section almost every week. Why fix it if it ain't broke? Seriously though, there are real reasons to target Kamara this week and hope for lower-than-normal ownership. Mark Ingram ($6,100) is back from his four-game suspension, which could temper Kamara's excitement. After all, Ingram's return has dropped Kamara down to Todd Gurley's price level, the lowest it's been since Week 1. It's no guarantee that Ingram will simply step into his 18 touch-per-game role from last year. He's spent many a day in Sean Payton's doghouse and will have to earn back his role. Kamara had taken over as the primary red zone option last year when Ingram was still playing snaps.

Washington is a classic run-funnel defense, ranking 5th in Adjusted Defensive Passing Net Expected Points but 32nd in Adjusted Defensive Rushing Net Expected Points, the largest such discrepancy in the league. The matchup on the ground is good, a boost for Kamara who finally got going there last week (7.05 YPC). Washington gave up six catches for 49 yards to Ty Montgomery its last time out. His secure target share (now higher than Michael Thomas) keeps him in play in cash, but the matchup in a shootout with slightly lessened ownership is ideal for GPPs as well.

Alex Smith, QB, Washington Redskins
FanDuel Price: $7,400

Smith and Kamara is one of my favorite game stacks on the week and it may go under-owned on the larger Thursday-Monday slate. A shootout rises all tides, and New Orleans offers an ideal matchup ranking second-worst in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. That alone makes him cash-game viable, while his rushing ability elevates his ceiling in GPPs. Smith is averaging 16 rushing yards per game, while the Saints have allowed the ninth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks. It would be a sneaky boost to Smith's ceiling if Adrian Peterson ($6,900) misses this game or is limited, as that would open up more snaps for elite pass-catching back Chris Thompson ($6,100). Peterson sat out Wednesday while nursing a sprained ankle and is an important injury to monitor throughout the week.

Others to Consider

The aforementioned Chris Thompson ($6,100) makes for a strong play regardless of Peterson's presence. As 6.5-point underdogs, this sets up as negative game script in a potential shootout, ideal for a player of Thompson's ilk. Thompson's price is low coming off the bye and a dud in a positive game script in Week 3, so it's easy to forget that he caught 13(!) passes in negative game script in Week 2. Thompson is firmly on the radar in GPPs and cash and makes for a good stack partner with Smith and Kamara.

After getting roasted by Mike Evans in Week 1, Marshon Lattimore has found his groove in recent weeks. That renders both perimeter Redskin receivers just low-floor GPP punts; you can do better. Where the Saints are most vulnerable is in the slot, where they lost Patrick Robinson then gave up 10-77-1 to Sterling Shepard ($6,200) last week. This all bodes well for Jamison Crowder ($5,700) who is relatively cheap and did score a touchdown in Week 3. Crowder still can't be counted on in cash given he's only seeing four targets per game.

In a desolate tight end landscape reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Jordan Reed ($6,200) remains firmly in play. He saw 15 targets across Weeks 2 and 3 and remains a matchup nightmare when healthy. It's worth noting the Saints have allowed the third-fewest points to tight ends, making Reed a stronger GPP option than cash lock.

You can pretty much copy and paste this section about Drew Brees ($8,600) and Michael Thomas ($8,900) every week. If you can afford them, they make for a great high-floor stack in cash. Working against them this week is Washington's pass defense which ranks elite by Defensive Net Expected Points despite already facing Andrew Luck ($7,500) and Aaron Rodgers ($8,400). The hope here is that the tough matchup and poor showings last week keeps their ownership low in a prime bounce-back spot at home.

Last but certainly not least, Mark Ingram at $6,100. Ingram averaged 18 touches per game this year but is no lock to see the same usage given his PED suspension and the tornado that is Alvin Kamara. He's an interesting GPP play against this run-funnel defense, but there are enough variables that he's too risky for cash lineups.

Eli Weiner is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Eli Weiner also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username Eweiner2. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.