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Here we go with the Single Game NFL DFS slate for Monday Night Football of Week 5. Today’s matchup is between the Colts and Ravens with Baltimore checking in as a seven-point home favorite. The over/under currently rests at 46 total points. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 ET.
We’ll highlight the top picks and best bargains to assemble a cash-inducing lineup. On top of that, the “additional notes” section will feature several tournament selections while adding context to the rest of this slate.
We will be producing these articles for Thursday, Sunday, and Monday Night Football matchups, so be sure to bookmark the NBC Sports EDGE DFS Page for those occasions - not to mention all the other fantastic daily fantasy content.
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TOP PICKS
Lamar Jackson - QB - Baltimore (DK: $12,600 / FD: $17,000 / Yahoo: $36)
No surprise here. Jackson is far and away the best fantasy asset on this slate, and he should be treated accordingly. His combination of rushing and passing upside is among the best in the league, and he stands out as a shining star on this otherwise bleak, confusing slate. Jackson is a shoo-in as your Captain, MVP, or Superstart in cash games. Despite being a popular option, he makes a strong case for that role in tournaments as well.
Latavius Murray - RB - Baltimore (DK: $7,400 / FD: $10,000 / Yahoo: $14)
Loading up on the Baltimore backfield seems like a strong strategy. After all, the Ravens are favored by seven points at home, and we should see a steady dose of their rushing attack. That was the case last week, and Murray achieved 59 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown despite facing a tough Broncos’ run defense. Look for Latavius to get the RB1 treatment yet again, and it helps that game flow is on his side.
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BEST BARGAINS
Nyheim Hines - RB - Indianapolis (DK: $5,600 / FD: $8,000 / Yahoo: $16)
Speaking of game flow, it looks like the Colts might be forced to pass the ball while trying to keep pace with Baltimore. That will prompt Nyheim Hines to see more snaps, targets, and fantasy points. Hines always has a chance to usurp lead RB Jonathan Taylor for a rushing touchdown, but this contest sets up nicely to feature him in the passing game. All in all, Hines is a solid mid-range play through all formats.
Justin Tucker - K - Baltimore (DK: $4,000 / FD: $9,000 / Yahoo: N/A)
Whenever you are looking towards kickers on single game slates, you need to compare their fantasy expectation to players with a similar salary. On DraftKings, Tucker is alongside Paris Campbell and cheaper than Devin Duvernay. I’m not going out on a limb by saying he should beat both of those guys in fantasy production. In fact, there’s a chance he tallies more than those players combined.
TOURNAMENT LOOKS
Mo Alie-Cox - TE - Indianapolis (DK: $5,000 / FD: $7,000 / Yahoo: $13)
Cox is a touchdown-dependent play, but the good news comes from Carson Wentz favoring his tight ends in the red-zone. As a result, Alie-Cox is fresh off a 3-42-2 game with five targets. Was that a mirage or a sign of things to come? That’s why he’s a tournament play. The game flow should help matters, and Baltimore has allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Carson Wentz (QB - IND) is on the board tonight. Some of that has to do with opportunity cost being low, but game flow is on his side as well .. Michael Pittman (WR - IND) is the top receiving option for the Colts, and he could see double-digit targets this evening … Zach Pascal (WR - IND) is more of a tournament filler who you hope can break free on a long play or two.
Marquise Brown (WR - BAL) doesn’t come cheap. For that reason, he’s probably a better tournament play. I believe there’s some merit in running him in your top spot while trying to be different in tournaments … Similar rationale holds true for Mark Andrews (TE - BAL), although Brown has more big-play upside … Conversely, Sammy Watkins (WR - BAL) is a reasonable filler and stacking extension of Jackson through all formats. He’s cheap despite seeing seven or more targets in every game.
Jonathan Taylor (RB - IND) is more of a tournament asset in my opinion. Game flow could work against him, and the Ravens are pretty good against the run. He’s also running behind a patchwork offensive line at the moment, which doesn’t help matters.
Le’Veon Bell (RB - BAL) is another cheap tournament choice to monitor. There’s a chance his snaps, touches, and subsequent fantasy points increase. That’s pure speculation, but don’t rule out a “hot hand approach” at running back for Baltimore. If Bell can rip off a few nifty runs, there’s a chance the pendulum swings in his favor.
