NFL Week 4 concluded with a decisive Chargers victory over the Raiders that created a tie atop the AFC West and now it’s on to Week 5. This article will cover The Professor’s low-cost options for DFS, who are also players who could be available on Waiver Wires to stream or keep for your season-long fantasy league.
The first price listed is from FanDuel and the second is from DraftKings.
Quarterbacks
To hear more of The Professor’s thoughts on why Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow are interesting value plays, check out his appearance on Razor’s RedZone!
Trevor Lawrence, TEN @ JAX, $6500 / $5800
Jacksonville failed to secure the win against Cincinnati on Thursday Night Football, but it was an encouraging performance for the Jaguars in many respects. One bright spot was rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s play; Lawrence had shown off high-end arm strength in his first three games but had not established a consistent rhythm. Running back James Robinson’s standout performance helped to balance the offense against the Bengals and Lawrence looked far more comfortable throwing the ball. Lawrence also added an expanded dimension with his legs; he’d shown off his long speed in the College Football Playoffs against Ohio State but showed more agility and elusiveness as a runner against the Bengals in short-yardage and red-zone situations. With a matchup against the talent-deficient Titans defense on the slate, Lawrence is an appealing option.
Joe Burrow, GB @ CIN, $7000 / $6100
Joe Burrow showed a lot of moxie leading Cincinnati back from a 14-0 halftime deficit against Jacksonville. Star running back Joe Mixon is week-to-week with an ankle injury, which puts more weight on Burrow’s shoulders, but he should be able to handle it against a Packers secondary that will be without All-Pro caliber cornerback Jaire Alexander. Burrow receives an additional boost if receiver Tee Higgins returns, but Burrow posted big numbers without Higgins last week and should be fine throwing to Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd.
Derek Carr, CHI @ LVR, $7100 / $6100
Derek Carr is coming off a disappointing Monday Night performance that saw him post 5.8 yards per pass attempt, but he was also the league’s passing leader entering the game. Chicago’s defense is solid in the front, but there are holes in the back end for Carr and his cast of receivers to exploit. Look for the Raiders to get receiver Henry Ruggs behind the Chicago defense to establish a tone in this one as Carr gets his season back on track.
Running Backs
To hear The Professor’s opinion on why Tampa Bay running back Leonard Fournette is an interesting value play, check out his appearance on Razor’s RedZone!
Damien Harris, NE @ HOU, $6500 / $5500
New England’s leading rushers in the past two games have been quarterback Mac Jones (WK3) and wide receiver Nelson Agholor (WK4), which speaks to how poorly Damien Harris and New England run game have performed in those games. The production Harris posted in the Cam Newton-centric run game last season is a distant memory, but New England’s past two opponents, New Orleans and Tampa Bay, have two of the better defensive fronts in the league. The same is not true in Houston, where Harris should have an opportunity to grind out the clock in a game New England should win by a comfortable margin.
Chase Edmonds, SF @ ARI, $6200 / $5900
James Conner is also playing well and handles many of the goal-line carries, which hurts Edmonds’ fantasy value, but the shifty back is establishing himself as one of the more elusive backs in the game. Edmonds, who is a threat as a runner and receiver, possesses explosive burst that allows him to turn an open crease into a big play; look for the Cardinals to get him the ball in space, where linebacker Fred Warner and the 49ers front will be less of an obstacle.
Trey Sermon, SF @ ARI, $5800 / $5000
Rookie quarterback Trey Lance did not impress as a passer, but his presence did open enormous lanes for fellow rookie Trey Sermon, who finished the game against Seattle with 89 yards on 19 carries. Sermon’s value is dependent on the running back rotation, so monitor the injury report for Eli Mitchell’s status, but if Sermon is set to be the guy, he’s an interesting play even though Arizona’s run defense is better than Seattle’s.
Wide Receivers
To hear The Professor’s opinion on why Cincinnati receiver Tyler Boyd and Green Bay receiver Allen Lazard are interesting value plays, check out his appearance on Razor’s RedZone!
Laviska Shenault, TEN @ JAX, $5800 / $4800
Laviska Shenault took full advantage when fellow receiver D.J. Chark broke his ankle in the Thursday Night game. Shenault converted six of his seven targets for 99 receiving yards and added another 11 yards on a carry. He didn’t get in the endzone but should get more opportunities to score moving forward now that the Jaguars’ offense has started to put points on the board. Shenault will have matchup advantages on several Titans defenders and should continue his hot streak.
A.J. Green, SF @ ARI, $5700 / $5100
A.J. Green continued to impress in Arizona’s win over the Rams, bodying out a defender to reel in a 41-yard touchdown and finishing with five receptions for 67 yards. The Arizona target share is difficult to predict and the Cardinals may want to get DeAndre Hopkins the ball after their top receiver was limited in a matchup with Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, but Green has seen six targets in all four games this season and has been efficient with his receptions in the past three games. San Francisco’s cornerback room has been decimated by injury, which should allow the Arizona receivers opportunities to get loose this week.
Randall Cobb, GB @ CIN, $5500 / $4000
Randall Cobb is unlikely to repeat last week’s two-touchdown performance, but the veteran slot receiver’s role has expanded in Green Bay’s offense with fellow receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling sidelined. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers played well enough to beat the Steelers, but it was far from a vintage performance. Rodgers seems likely to rebound and play better this week, which makes all of his receiving targets interesting options.
Tight End
Jared Cook, CLE @ LAC, $5200 / $3600
Jared Cook is coming off a strong Monday Night performance, with six receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown. The fact that the Chargers stuck with Cook through a series of mental mistakes and penalties that took touchdowns off the board during the early part of the season speaks volumes about what they think of Cook’s talent. Receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams should be more productive this week, but Cook also has the opportunity to build on Monday Night.
Conclusion
This article covered The Professor’s low-cost DFS plays for the upcoming week. For more fantasy content from The Professor check out his weekly appearance on Razor’s RedZone and the rest of his content on BeerLife Sports!
Steven Clinton, better known as "The Professor", is a former D-1 Quality Control Assistant (Northwestern, Toledo) who holds a B.A. in Economics and M.S. in Predictive Analytics from Northwestern University. He maintains an end-to-end NFL game projection model and is a film junkie who breaks down the tape of every NFL game.
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