Squirrel Patrol’s Week 5 NFL DFS Picks & Cheat Sheet (DraftKings & FanDuel)

Oct 03, 2025

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Short on time setting your DFS lineups? These quick positional rankings cover the top skill players on both FanDuel and DraftKings for the week. I’ll publish the first look each Friday morning, then update by Sunday morning to reflect injury news from Friday practices and Saturday travel reports. Think of these rankings as a snapshot of how I see the slate shaping up, along with the players I expect to have exposure to in my own lineups.

FanDuel DFS Positional Picks

Quarterbacks

Daniel Jones – Ranks third in the league in passing yards and has added three rushing touchdowns as well. The Colts are seven-point favorites at home against the Raiders.
Justin Fields – Averaging 58.3 rushing yards per game with three rushing touchdowns, and at home facing a Cowboys defense allowing the most yards per game in the league.
Justin Herbert – Ranks fourth in the league in passing yards and faces a Commanders defense allowing the sixth-most passing yards and the eighth-most passing touchdowns.
Jayden Daniels – Price tag is down since his Week 2 injury. Averaging more passing yards per game (216.5) than last year and adding 42.5 rushing yards per game.
Spencer Rattler – Winless Saints are favored at home against a Giants defense allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game. Rattler has five passing touchdowns and is averaging 25.5 rushing yards per game.

Running Backs

De'Von Achane – Panthers are allowing the sixth-most yards per carry this year after being the worst rushing defense in the league last season. Achane could see even more receiving work with Tyreek Hill out.
Rachaad White – Assuming Bucky Irving is out, White is underpriced at just $5,200. Has 50+ receptions in each of his first three NFL seasons, but Sean Tucker is a concern.
Jonathan Taylor – Leads the league in rushing yards and has added 11 receptions as well. The Colts have the second-highest implied point total on the slate.
Cam Skattebo – Saw 25 rushing attempts last week in his first game without Tyrone Tracy. The Saints have allowed the third-most points per game this season.
Rico Dowdle – Chuba Hubbard is expected to miss the game, and Dowdle is priced at just $4,900 on FanDuel.
Breece Hall – Now missing his primary backup, Braelon Allen, is facing a Cowboys defense that allows the most yards per game in the NFL and the third-most rushing touchdowns.
Jahmyr Gibbs – Detroit has the highest implied point total (30.0) this week against a Bengals defense allowing the third-most yards per game this season.
Omarion Hampton – Put up 128 yards rushing and a touchdown and added five receptions last week in his first game without Najee Harris.

Wide Receivers

Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Second in the league in receiving yards, has twice as many receiving yards as anyone else on Seattle.
Deebo Samuel (or Luke McCaffrey/Jaylin Lane) – Terry McLaurin is out again, leaving Deebo as the primary receiver with Jayden Daniels coming back. If Samuel (heel) misses, then Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane step into large roles.
Jaylen Waddle – Tyreek Hill’s MNF injury happened after pricing was set, leaving Waddle a bargain at $5,800 against Carolina.
Ladd McConkey – This could be his week to break out, facing a Commanders defense allowing the sixth-most passing yards in the league. Now the cheapest of the Chargers’ starting WRs.
Michael Pittman – Gets the same plus matchup at home indoors against the Raiders as Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor. Has three of the Colts’ four receiving touchdowns and leads the team in receptions. Monitor his hamstring injury.
Jakobi Meyers – Two consecutive weeks watching a teammate post a slate-breaking game (Tre Tucker in Week 3, Ashton Jeanty in Week 4). Meyers leads the team in receiving yards, and this could be his week.
Chris Olave – Rare opportunity to play Olave as a home favorite. Giants are allowing the 4^th-most receiving yards this year, and Olave ranks 3^rd in the league in targets.
George Pickens – Posted 134 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first full game without CeeDee Lamb. Facing a Jets defense that has allowed the fifth-most points this season.

Tight Ends

Tyler Warren – 70+ receiving yards in three of his four NFL games.
Trey McBride – Leads the Cardinals in receptions and receiving yards, could get more red zone looks with Arizona now down their top two RBs.
Jake Ferguson – Twenty receptions for 122 receiving yards in his last two games with CeeDee Lamb injured.

DraftKings DFS Positional Picks

Quarterbacks

Daniel Jones – High implied point total at home in the dome against the Raiders. Third in the league in passing yards and exceeded all expectations early in the year.
Justin Herbert – Relatively more affordable on DraftKings as the fifth-most expensive QB (third-most expensive on FanDuel). Commanders' pass defense keeps giving up big games.
Justin Fields – At home, facing a Cowboys defense allowing the most yards per game in the league. Averaging 58.3 rushing yards per game, the passing is just a bonus.
Spencer Rattler – Rare opportunity to play the Saints as a favored team, facing a Giants defense allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game.
C.J. Stroud – Baltimore is allowing the most points per game in the NFL and the second-most passing yards, but Stroud will still see low ownership.

Running Backs

De'Von Achane – Top receiving back on the slate with Christian McCaffrey off the slate. Could see even more receiving work with Tyreek Hill out and facing a poor Panthers rush defense.
Breece Hall – At home facing a Cowboys defense allowing the most yards per game in the NFL. Could get more opportunities with no Braelon Allen.
Rico Dowdle – Bargain $4,300 price tag elevates him on DraftKings with no Chuba Hubbard. The Miami defense has only stopped the Jets so far this season.
Jonathan Taylor – The league’s leading rusher playing at home against the Raiders. The Colts will score behind either Daniel Jones or Jonathan Taylor, and it could be both.
Rachaad White – Stepping into a bigger role with no Bucky Irving, but concern about splitting the work with Sean Tucker. Still a bargain at $4,700 on DraftKings.
Omarion Hampton – Relatively more affordable on DraftKings at $6,500 and has added 11 receptions for 96 yards over his past two games.
Jahmyr Gibbs – Has to be in consideration with the Lions carrying a 30-point implied point total. Facing a poor Bengals defense as a large favorite.
Cam Skattebo – Saw 25 rushing attempts last week in his first game without Tyrone Tracy. The Saints have allowed the third-most points per game this season.

Wide Receivers

Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Second in the league in receiving yards, has twice as many receiving yards as anyone else on Seattle. Gets a boost with full-PPR scoring.
Deebo Samuel (or Luke McCaffrey/Jaylin Lane) – Terry McLaurin is out again, leaving Deebo as the primary receiver with Jayden Daniels coming back. If Samuel (heel) misses, then Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane step into large roles.
Chris Olave – Very cheap $5,200 price tag for the player leading the league in targets. Saints are favored at home this week against the Giants.
Garrett Wilson – Has a better price tag at $6,100 on DraftKings compared to FanDuel. Dallas is allowing the most yards per game this season, and Wilson pairs well with Justin Fields.
Quentin Johnston – Johnston is the 7^th-most expensive WR on FanDuel but just the 14^th-most expensive on DraftKings. Four receiving touchdowns already this season.
Michael Pittman – Gets the same plus matchup at home indoors against the Raiders as Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor. Has three of the Colts’ four receiving touchdowns and leads the team in receptions. Monitor his hamstring injury.
Jakobi Meyers – Two consecutive weeks watching a teammate post a slate-breaking game (Tre Tucker in Week 3, Ashton Jeanty in Week 4). Meyers leads the team in receiving yards and this could be his week.
Nico Collins – Should see low ownership with the game’s low total, but facing a leaky Ravens pass defense that has allowed the second-most receiving yards in the NFL.

Tight Ends

Tyler Warren – 70+ receiving yards in three of his four NFL games.
Trey McBride – Leads the Cardinals in receptions and receiving yards, could get more red zone looks with Arizona now down their top two RBs.
Jake Ferguson – Twenty receptions for 122 receiving yards in his last two games with CeeDee Lamb injured.