GPPs are not won by using a lineup with all the most popular players on the slate. Being a contrarian in a big-field event in your roster construction can help separate your lineup and gain you leverage over the field when some of the more popular names bust.
Hence, the goal of this article won’t be to just highlight the popular “play-it-safe” names. We won’t avoid all the chalky names, because good players are still good players most of the time. However, highlighting contrarian roster constructions and ways to make your lineup unique while maximizing upside will be the goal.
Remember, in most cases, the person who finishes in 10,000th place and the person who finishes in 1,269th place receive the same amount of money in many of these larger field contests, so there is no reason to simply follow the crowd to feel comfortable.
Let’s dive into Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season.
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Top DFS Contrarian Stack
Game Stack: Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals
Jake Browning ($4,900) – Jameson Williams ($4,900) – Ja’Marr Chase ($5,400) – Jahmyr Gibbs ($7,700)
The Bengals-Lions game has the potential to see a lot of fantasy points across the board. In particular, the Bengals’ rush defense has been torn to shreds the last couple of games, with the Broncos RBs posting 163 rush yards on 31 carries in Week 4. You’d be right to consider either Lions RBs in this spot for DFS this week, although there is little doubt that Gibbs gives you the better chance for a slate breaking game. On top of just getting more sheer volume at this point (44 touches over the last two games) he’s also the better receiving back, which is a pretty deal against a defense this bad. Cincinnati allowed RJ Harvey to go for four catches, 40 yards and a TD as a receiver last week, and he was one fingertip away from another 20+ yard pass that easily could have gone for a TD, had he caught it. Gibbs has been inefficient to date as a receiver but the chance for some big plays and a massive break out day are certainly there this Sunday.
If you’re paying up for Gibbs, then avoiding the heavier priced Lions players is likely prudent, given how hard it will be for multiple players over $6,000 to go for 5x, even against the Bengals. However, the good news is that Detroit has a couple players with great upside that come much cheaper. Jameson Williams has had a couple of rough outings in a row now after racking up 100+ yards and a TD in Week 2, but the slump is not due to a lack of opportunities. He had a 195 unrealized air yards in Week 4 and had a couple of deep passes (and a TD) go just off the mark. Given how poor the Bengals pass rush has been (24th in sacks), Goff and Williams should have time to connect this week and get things back on track.
It was ugly last week for the Bengals offense, but they were up against one of the fiercest pass defenses in the league, and certainly one of the best corners in Pat Surtain. While Detroit’s defense is almost as good at getting pressure, they lack a true No. 1 corner and that should allow Chase to get loose for the big plays that eluded him and Browning last week. Overall, it’s been a little hit or miss targeting QBs and WRs versus the Lions this season, but they did allow three passing TDs to Lamar Jackson two weeks ago and got burned by the Bears’ WR1, Rome Odunze, in Week 2 for 128 yards and a TD.
Browning is going to be a very boom or bust option every week for fantasy purposes, but his shot of getting at least two TDs and potentially even approaching 300 yards with Chase to throw to (and a very positive game script, most likely) looks very solid here. At $4,900, pairing him and Chase together should give you a solid, low-owned stack with plenty if upside to build around — and the ability to fit in the more expensive Lions players like Gibbs in Week 5.
Quarterback
Jaxson Dart ($5,300)
Dart handled his first assignment in the NFL quite well last week. Against a Chargers defense that ranks third in EPA per play, he ended up going 13-for-20 for 111 yards and a TD while adding a stout 54 yards and a TD on the ground (with one fumble), good for 19.8 FPTS. This week, the assignment is much easier for Dart, as he’ll take on a Saints team that ranks just 28th in EPA per play defensively and has allowed a 71% completion percentage to opposing QBs.
QBs facing the Saints haven’t had to throw much this season, but they’ve been insanely efficient against them when asked. New Orleans has allowed the fifth-most FPTS to opposing QBs and is tied for second most passing TDs allowed at nine. Dart’s legs did most of the work in Week 1, but with a prime matchup against a weak pass defense, it’s possible we also see him throw multiple TDs in this spot, as well. Even without Malik Nabers, he’s got 20+ point potential this week versus the Saints. He makes for a solid contrarian QB to target with one of his cheaper WRs for a boom or bust QB/WR stack.
Running Back
Higher End: Javonte Williams ($6,200)
A lot of the focus on this game seems to be on the Jets offensive players, but Dallas is actually the 2.5-point favorite as of writing, and will go up against a Jets defense that ranks just 28th in EPA per play. They’re also coming off a game where they allowed Miami’s primary back, DeVon Achane, to go for 99 yards and TD against them on the ground.
On top of being up in a solid matchup, Williams should benfit from a banged up depth chart in Dallas, which includes backup RB Miles Sanders and RB/WR hybrid Kavonte Turpin, both of whom look likley to miss this week. Williams was already handling a big workload, but it now looks like he’ll be in line to play 80% or more of the snaps and could push for 16+ carries and at least five targets in this spot. He’s still a great value at $6,200, and also looks like a nice leverage target off the Jets players of similar price points.
Lower End: Rachaad White ($4,700)
I’m all for avoiding super chalky plays, but sometimes it’s good just to take the obvious play and build around it. With Bucky Irving out, Rachaad White is going to be thurst into a situation where he’s almost guaranteed 15+ touches versus Seattle this week, and could even push for 20+ touches if things go well. The Tampa Bay RB has looked great this year, and his 4.7 YPC is not only the most efficient mark for his career to date, but also the best on the team through four weeks.
There is certainly a chance that Sean Tucker, who went for 192 total yards and two TDs in a game in which White was out last season, takes some touches; but he’s been a complete non-factor for Tampa this season and will be a bit of an unknown from a usage standpoint. White should get first crack, and while the matchup is a tough one, his receiving ability and Tampa’s efficiency on offense could still push him to a monster day if he finds the end zone even once. Even with some heavier ownership attached, he’s too good to pass up at this price.
Wide Receiver
Higher End: Jakobi Meyers ($5,600)
Meyers could be in for a busy day on Sunday. Brock Bowers (knee) missed practice on Thursday and looks very questionable, which would leave Meyers and Tre Tucker as the prime targets versus the Colts, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing WRs this year. It’s been Tucker who has come up with the big games to date, but Meyers remains the primary receiver in this offense. He’s got a 27% target share on the season and saw 10+ targets in each of his first two games. Furthermore, he’ll be taking on an Indianapolis team that just allowed 13 receptions and 170 yards to Rams No. 1 WR Puka Nucua.
While it was Tre Tucker’s turn to go off in Week 3, and Ashton Jeanty in Week 4, Meyers looks like the logical name to target from the Raiders this week. He’s in a great spot to rerturn big value at just $5,600.
Lower End: Malik Washington ($3,900)
The Dolphins do have other targets to turn to now that Tyreek Hill is done for the season, but Washington was already making inroads on a weekly basis in this offense. Even with Hill active the last two weeks, Washington had averaged 4.5 touches per game and should see his route and usage rate as a receiver go up in Week 5 with Hill now sidelined.
A solid open field returner, whom the Dolphins like to use in a pseudo Deebo Samuel role, if Washington starts to get 6-8 touches per game, the chances for a bigger “fantasy event” becomes much more probable. Remember, Washington went for 110 receptions and nine TDs in his final season of college just two years ago. Versus a weaker defense like Carolina, he makes plenty of sense in Week 5 as a cheap boom or bust play in larger field GPPs.
Tight End
Tommy Tremble ($2,900)
The Panthers Ja’Tavion Sanders looks unlikley to suit up again this week, which should leave Tremble to hog the majority of pass routes and targets from the TE position for Carolina. In the same role in Week 4 without Sanders, Tremble put in a dominate day, going for five receptions, 42 yards and a TD on eight targets, and tied Tetairoa McMillan in targets (23% target share).
It’s possible Tremble may not have the same uber positive game script he did versus the Patriots last week, where the Panthers had to go pass-heavy and were in hurry-up-mode for half the game, but the matchup is certainly decent. Miami ranks dead-last in success rate versus the pass and has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing TEs on the year. At under $3,000, Tremble sets up as a solid punt option once again for Week 5.
Defense/Special Teams
New York Giants ($2,900)
The game has a close point spread and two weaker QBs attached to it. That said, it’s the Saints at $2,200 who are projecting like the more popular DST this week thanks to their inherent cheapness. I’m all for using a minimum priced DST, but not when they’re likely to be the most popular on the slate, and especially when a good leverage play exists by using another relatively cheap DST on the other side.
New York’s defense had a slow start to the season, but came on last week, limiting the vaunted Chargers offense to just 18 points while also grabbing two INTs off Justin Herbert — who had gone nine games without throwing a pick on the road. Spencer Rattler has avoided heavy turnovers this season, but certainly is a name who could implode at any point and is currently the seventh-most sacked QB in the league with two lost fumbles on the season. The Giants DST is a nice leverage play just from an ownership perspective, but the matchup this week is A+ and should allow for plenty of opportunities for FPTS.
