DFS Alerts
Leverage on Gordon
Melvin Gordon is an obvious play this week at home versus a miserable raiders run-defense that ranks as the 8th-best matchup for opposing RBs in Week 5 via RosterWatch.com. However, Ekeler’s usage has been nothing to sneeze at and has been a standalone option on his own this season. He’s been better than a $4.2K player as he has only failed to score double-digit DK points once this season and even then, it didn’t kill you at 9.1. If this game gets out of hand, we’ve seen the Chargers may actually prefer to utilize Ekeler in the late stages than pound the ball with Gordon, who the team has been treating more like a bigger receiving and space back than a pounder to start 2018.
Alshon Jeffery practices in full Thursday
Alshon Jeffery practiced in full Thursday, indicating his chest injury is nothing serious and he should be good to go for his week 5 matchup against the Vikings. Jeffrey had a huge 2018 debut in week 4 where he caught 8 passes on 9 targets for 105 yards and a touchdown. Look for Jeffrey to yet again be one of Carson Wentz’s most heavily targeted options this week.
Evan Engram (knee) not practicing again Thursday
Evan Engram did not practice again Thursday due to his MCL injury that he sustained in week 3. It appears unlikely that he will suit up this week against the Panthers, leaving the majority of receiving targets to fall to Odell Beckham Jr and Sterling Shepard. Rhett Ellison will be the primary TE option for the Giants in Engram’s presumed absence.
Jam him in
It’s not going to be the most off-the-radar play at all, but you can mix in some chalk in tournaments and still be fine by differentiating elsewhere. This feels like a spot not to get cute. Even if game-script gets out of hand, Yeldon is a fine addition to any offense in the passing game and is capable of picking up yardage in chunks during garbage, catch-up time. He is the most reasonable option on the Jags offense for those thinking of game-stacking this contest along with all the cheaper-than-usual Chiefs.
Play him when he's healthy
He won’t be healthy for long, so play McDonald while he’s available. Everyone will be stacking this game seven ways from Sunday and McDonald is a great way to get cheap access to the highest O/U of the week in a terrific spot. Atlanta is RosterWatch.com’s #2 matchup of Week 5 for opposing TEs thanks to the substantial losses at the safety and LB positions. Everyone saw the monster start Tyler Eifert was off to before he mangled his leg in Week 4, now the Falcons will face McDonald who is the far superior receiving option in the Steelers offense to Jesse James.
Big Rushing Upside
Cam’s average career rushing yardage as a home favorite is 49.3 yards and the Giants are a team that has allowed every QB they’ve faced this season outside of Drew Brees to rack up respectable rushing numbers (and in that game, gadget QB Taysom Hill did work on the ground). He’ll be a lesser-owned option due to the lower game total, but is always a threat to blow up for a monster individual performance.
DeVante Parker (quad) limited in practice Thursday
DeVante Parker was limited in practice Thursday with the quad injury that kept him out of action week 3. It has been an injury riddled 2018 campaign so far for Parker, who has only suited up once for the Dolphins thus far. Look for him to get back in action this weekend against the Bengals – an active Parker would mean less targets for Kenny Stills, Danny Amendola, and the rest of the Dolphins receiving corps.
Julio Jones (calf) returns to practice Thursday
Julio Jones returned to practice Thursday despite his lingering calf issue. There is nothing to suggest his availability is in question for this weekend’s potential shoot-out with the Steelers. Julio is one of the top WR targets on the slate in what should be a back-and-forth, high scoring affair.
Dalvin Cook (hamstring) not practicing again Thursday
Dalvin Cook did not practice again Thursday due to the hamstring injury that has limited him since week 1. Keep an eye on his practice status on Friday to get a better idea of if he is in danger of missing this weekend’s matchup with the Eagles.
Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring) returns to practice Thursday
Larry Fitzgerald returned to practice Thursday after his lingering hamstring issue kept him out of practice Wednesday. Continue to monitor this situation as we move closer to the weekend, as it appears Fitzgerald is likely to play Sunday but whether or not he is anywhere near 100% is still to be determined.
Quincy Enunwa (hip) limited in practice Thursday
Quincy Enunwa is a late-week addition to the injury report, logging a limited practice Thursday due to a hip issue. Assuming he continues to at least be able to practice on a limited basis he should be good to go Sunday, but keep an eye out for any decline in practice participation from here, as it would bring his availability for the weekend’s matchup against the Broncos into question.
Sterling Shepard (back) returns to practice Thursday
Sterling Shepard returned to practice Thursday after a back injury kept him off the field Wednesday. His return to Thursday’s practice bodes well for his availability this coming weekend against the Panthers. If Evan Engram is indeed unable to suit up again this weekend, look for Shepard to see another heavy dose of targets in a game the Giants figure to be playing catch-up in.
RB Alex Collins (knee) not practicing Thursday
Collins got in a limited practice Wednesday so this is a downgrade late in the week. Friday’s practice will shed light on his availability for Sunday’s game at Cleveland. If Collins gets ruled out, Buck Allen would instantly become one of the top values on the slate as an all-purpose back attached to a 3-point favorite and 25-point team total.
As reported by: Jeff Zrebiec Other tagged players: Javorius Allen
RB Adrian Peterson (ankle) returns to practice
The veteran back was spotted doing individual drills on Thursday and looks to be on track for Monday night’s matchup against his former team. Despite Peterson’s expected return, Monday night’s game sets up better for fellow third-down and pass-catching back Chris Thompson with the Redskins being 7-point underdogs to the Saints in the Superdome.
As reported by: Matthew Paras Other tagged players: Chris Thompson Still no Corey Clement (quad) or Darren Sproles (hamstring) at practice Thursday
Both running backs are now long shots to play in Week 5 against the Vikings. Jay Ajayi and Wendell Smallwood nearly split snaps down the middle in Week 4, with Ajayi severely out touching Smallwood. You can expect a similar distribution on Sunday where the Eagles come in as 3-point home favorites, setting up promising gameflow for Ajayi at only $6,300 on FanDuel and $5,100 on DraftKings. On the off chance that Sproles and/or Clement play, then this entire backfield should likely be avoided again.
As reported by: Dave Zangaro Other tagged players: Darren Sproles