Below are highlighted cash game picks for both FanDuel and DraftKings. Keep in mind that these lineups are tailored specifically for head-to-head, 50/50, and double-up contests, with the intention of being a safe, above average entry. We are looking for players with safe floors, and who are more than likely to hit, or surpass value. DraftKings salaries are used in the pictures for this article.
Philip Rivers - Chargers
The Monday Night Football game features a ton of offensive weapons and will surely factor into big swings in our fantasy standings. Philip Rivers enters week 5 with the eighth best rating for quarterbacks, per Pro Football Focus (81.8). Rivers might be without the services of Stevie Johnson and Malcolm Floyd, but he has plenty of weapons at his disposal. Using our Vegas total tool, San Diego ranks just outside of the first tier in home totals. Rivers has been known to start out seasons hot, and that is what he has done in 2015 yet again. He leads the league in passing yards and has been lights out at home this season. He has thrown for 761 yards and five touchdowns in the glorious city of San Diego. Pittsburgh has a middle of the road pass defense, ranking 16th, per Football Outsiders. For a points-per-dollar quarterback, Rivers is one of my favorites on the board.
Le'Veon Bell - Steelers
Paying up for Le'Veon Bell in Week 5 is one of the smartest things you can do. The Steelers' workhorse has already racked up 282 total yards in his first two games back and has shown zero signs of rust. San Diego has one of the poorer defenses in the league, ranking 25th in rushing defense, per Football Outsiders. Now looking back at last week, the Chargers allowed Duke Johnson to have his breakout game in the NFL. He racked up over 90 yards in receiving and found the end zone. Bell is also a double threat back, with 14 receptions in two games this year and 91 yards. Bell is one of the safest backs for daily fantasy due to him being a part of the offense no matter what situation the Steelers are in.
T.J. Yeldon - Jaguars
If you are looking for a value running back, last week, T.J. Yeldon showed off why he was drafted highly. Yeldon rushed for 105 yards on 4.8 YPC. He missed out on finding the end zone, but still put up a nice performance. He is a steal on DraftKings and notably cheap on FanDuel as well ($6,600). You will not find Yeldon in the cash game plays most weeks, but it is not due to his talent. The Jags will be trailing most games, taking away from Yeldon's ability to gather fantasy points. This week's game should go a lot like last week's, where the Jags were in an ugly affair with the Colts. Tampa ranks 16th in rush defense. Bishop Sankey, Mark Ingram, and a collective group of Panthers have had successful weeks against this defense already this season.
Keenan Allen - Chargers
I mentioned Stevie Johnson and Malcolm Floyd likely being out this weekend, meaning Keenan Allen is going to get a slight bump in usage. I say slight bump because his usage can't get much higher. Allen has 46 targets through four games, ranking seventh among wide receivers. The Week 2 line from Allen may keep people away from him in cash games, because that floor is there but highly unlikely this week. His usage is going to be through the roof, and facing a borderline bad defense. If the Steelers did not face the 49ers, and Rams, they would be much lower in the rankings.
Jordan Matthews - Eagles
This is the not Eagles' offense we expected in 2015, which means this is also not the start we expected for Jordan Matthews. The Philly number one is still averaging about 10 targets a game, but he hasn't produced much. I am looking for that to change this week, when Philly takes on the league's worst pass defense. With the running game in a rut, and the Saints wearing their weakness on their sleeve, the Eagles should throw a ton. The volume Matthews has in the Eagles offense is big, and we should see the results in Week 5. His price makes him an attractive play alongside the matchup, and he has the chance to produce like a true WR1.
Martellus Bennett - Bears
Alshon Jeffrey is already ruled out for Week 5, meaning Martellus Bennett becomes an elite cash game option. Bennett also gets a boost with Jay Cutler back, which we saw last week with him posting a 11-83-1 line. Bennett has posted solid lines in both the games Cutler has been healthy all the way through. From a volume and matchup standpoint, Bennett should thrive again. He does rank behind Rob Gronkowski, but he has a chance to duplicate last week's line.
Giants Defense
The New York Giants have a middle of the road passing defense, but rank first in rush defense, per Football Outsiders. The 49ers can really only beat teams on the ground, and looking at last week, the Giants held a mobile QB and strong run game in check with the Bills. Colin Kaepernick is insanely turnover prone, and San Francisco will be without Vernon Davis. Points-per-dollar, the Giants are one of my favorite value defenses this week. If you have the extra cash, I am looking towards Green Bay or New England.
