Week 5 ends with the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the New Orleans Saints. With only one game, winning a DFS contest depends on finding the unlikely breakout player while also ensuring that your higher-salary players hit.
With that said, let’s take a look at my favorite DFS roster for the game based on DraftKings salaries.
DraftKings DFS Picks for Monday Night Football in Week 5
Running Back: Kareem Hunt ($11,100)
The Chiefs’ new RB1 is the same as their old one, with Hunt returning to Kansas City after six years away and immediately resuming his status as their starting running back (at least until Isiah Pacheco returns from injured reserve).
In his first game last week, Hunt led the backfield with 25 out of 58 possible snaps while also rushing 14 times for 69 yards. Carson Steele and Samaje Perine combined for seven carries and 20 yards, with Steele starting the game but getting benched after an opening-drive fumble.
Steele has already lost two fumbles this season, the same total as Hunt for his entire career. In other words, Steele has lost as many fumbles in 30 touches this season as Hunt has in 1,272 for his career.
In addition, although Hunt was listed on this week’s injury report with a shoulder injury, he appears to be in good shape and does not seem likely to see a reduction in workload.
Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt told me that his shoulder is good heading into Monday night’s game.
“I’m not worried about it. Yeah. I’ll be ready to rock.”
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) October 5, 2024
The Saints rank 12th in PPR points per game allowed to running backs, but 25th since Week 3, when they’ve played in more neutral game scripts. With that in mind, Hunt could be positioned as one of the better values in this game and a strong candidate to be the captain in your lineup.
Wide Receiver: Xavier Worthy ($13,500)
Worthy did the majority of his damage on a 54-yard touchdown in Week 4, catching three passes for 73 yards total. But with Rashee Rice out and the Chiefs seemingly managing Travis Kelce’s workload, it’s a sure bet that Worthy will have a few designer plays dialed up to feature his speed.
Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy scored 13.7 fantasy points vs. the Chargers, his 2nd-best game after 20.8 in Week 1.
Despite just 4 targets, he could see more with Rashee Rice out (team-high 29 targets).
Worthy’s a lethal runner & makes for a high-end flex option: pic.twitter.com/Rf6lEl4ETl
— Moody (@EricNMoody) October 5, 2024
Worthy’s skillset will be necessary at some point to open up space for a Chiefs offense that lacks game-changing explosiveness otherwise. Worthy has produced three plays of 20+ yards this season, while the rest of the Chiefs’ healthy players have four such plays.
As one of the few home run threats in this game, Worthy is a little pricier than you’d like for someone with a low floor, but he also has the potential to be the face of a contest-winning lineup.
Wide Receiver: Rashid Shaheed ($12,00)
Teammate Chris Olave is the safer option at $15,000, but the discount on Shaheed is worth it, given his home run potential. Similar to Worthy, loading up on boom-or-bust options gives you a better chance at a higher finish, given the relatively limited yardage ceilings of the top passing options in this game.
Shaheed bounced back from a Week 3 goose egg with eight receptions for 83 yards in last week’s loss vs the Atlanta Falcons, demonstrating that he does have the potential for a higher receptions floor as well. The key to Shaheed’s production could be if the Saints can stay close enough to make play action a viable threat. Kansas City ranks 22nd in yards per attempt allowed vs. play action (8.5), and Shaheed has hit four catches for 125 yards and a touchdown off play action this season.
Tight End: Foster Moreau ($2,700)
The Chiefs’ struggles with tight ends are becoming notorious. Kansas City has given up the most PPR points per game to tight ends this season (10.6), with Isaiah Likely and Mike Gesicki both registering top-five weekly finishes at the position against the Chiefs this season.
The Saints don’t have an obvious TE1, but Moreau could be worth rostering at that bargain bin price. Juwan Johnson has been a more productive receiving tight end in past years, but Moreau (five receptions, 45 yards, one TD) has outproduced Johnson this year (four receptions, 39 yards, one TD). More importantly, he should see more work this week with Taysom Hill (ribs) ruled out.
Moreau is playing more than Johnson, averaging 42.8 snaps per game compared to 30.0 for Johnson. With Johnson being a slightly more expensive DFS option ($3,300), it makes more sense to roll with Moreau.
D/ST: Chiefs ($6,000)
The Chiefs have been a middling defense on a play-to-play basis this year, ranking 14th in EPA per play. But Kansas City still ranks eighth in points per game allowed (18.8), giving them a higher floor than you’d expect.
The Saints offense has cooled considerably from its historic start over the first two weeks, ranking 19th in points per drive and 18th in turnovers per drive since Week 3. On the road, New Orleans could be a little more susceptible to the types of negative plays that the Chiefs have feasted on in the past.