We are riding the hot hands in our Week 5 lineup as rookies C.J. Stroud, De’von Achane, and Tank Dell get the nods. Also, Veterans Adam Thielen and Zach Ertz should provide backbones in games where their teams could pull away with an upset victory.

QB C.J. Stroud (HOU) Salary: $6,000

Stroud has changed the growing narrative that Ohio State quarterbacks don’t make good NFL quarterbacks. He’s absolutely balled out to start the season, with Houston sitting at 2-2 with winnable upcoming games against the Falcons and Saints prior to the bye week.

Stroud has thrown for over 240 yards in every game and has scored 2 TDs in all of the last three games. With one of the top emerging receiving corps in Tank Dell, Robert Woods, and Nico Collins, C.J. is a weekly starter in fantasy football.

With a salary of just $6,000 this week against a mediocre Atlanta defense, we would rather take the hot hand at this price compared to Dak, Burrow, or Daniel Jones around the same price tag.

RB De’von Achane (MIA) Salary: $6,100

Speaking of riding the hot hand, there isn’t a running back (other than CMC), as hot as rookie De’von Achane right now. Achane has rushed for over 300 yards over the past two weeks and has scored an absurd six touchdowns in that span.

The New York Giants are allowing nearly 118 yards on the ground to RBs and 1.3 TDs per game to the position. Safe to say Daboll’s defense could be in for a rough Sunday as this game should get out of hand rather quickly.

RB Khalil Herbert (CHI) Salary: $5,300

Herbert finally got the full workload for the Bears and it paid off. The third-year running back hit the century mark on the ground while catching a TD pass from Fields.

The Commanders are allowing 4.1 YPC to running backs and with Herbert now securing the starting role and rushing for around 5 YPC throughout his career, this is a solid play at RB2 for a Bears team that should try to run the ball down Washington’s throats all day with the Fields/Khalil combo.

WR Brandon Aiyuk (SF) Salary: $6,200

When healthy, Brandon Aiyuk has looked like one of the best wideouts in football. In two full games, the 4th year wideout has gone for 277 yards and 2 TDs while becoming Brock Purdy’s top target within this potent offense.

Facing a Cowboys defense minus Trevon Diggs, this poses a huge opportunity for Aiyuk to continue his WR1 numbers. Although playing in just two full games this season, he’s sitting at WR15 in PPR formats which shows us that both Purdy and Shanahan value the athletic WR as their top option in the offense right now.

WR Adam Thielen (CAR) Salary: $5,100

A preseason favorite of ours, Adam Thielen has been a helpful asset and safety option in this Carolina offense that is still finding itself a quarter way through the season.

Thielen ranks 15th in targets, 1st in slot snaps, and 9th in receptions so far. Facing a Lions defense allowing 182 yards per game to the position and nearly 2 TDs per game, he’s a solid bet to score and go for yet another 15-20 point performance for your DK lineup.

WR Tank Dell (HOU) Salary: $4,800

Nico Collins and/or Tank Dell is a must-add if you choose to play C.J. Stroud at his forgiving price tag this week against the Falcons.

Dell has had two bust weeks while booming twice so far, so he sits as a shaky flex play in most formats.

However, Dell sits 15th in YPT, 8th in target premium, and 8th in QBR per target. Stroud trusts him downfield and this could bode well against an Atlanta defense that hasn’t quite faced a playmaker of Dell’s speed so far in the early phase of the season.

TE Zach Ertz (ARI) Salary: $3,500

Josh Dobbs and the Arizona Cardinals are a few plays away from sitting at 3-1 heading into a home matchup against a struggling Bengals team.

Outside of a poor week against the Cowboys, Ertz has caught six passes in every game, which you would easily take at a $3,500 price tag on DraftKings this week.

Cincy is allowing 55 yards per game to the tight end position and 12.2 FPPG in half-PPR formats. We have Ertz finishing as a top 5 or 6 TE as he continues to be a safety blanket for Dobbs.

FLX Christian McCaffrey (SF) Salary: $9,400

It’s not a 2023 DK Lineup if Christian McCaffrey isn’t involved. The workhorse RB has totaled the century mark in every game while scoring 7 total TDs for the 49ers' potent offense.

While the Dallas defensive front will be the biggest test so far, CMC is matchup-proof and should have added value as a receiver this week. We love his pairing with Aiyuk against this Dallas defense in what could become the game of the week.

D/ST: Dolphins Salary $3,600

The Miami defense hasn’t produced much this season, but this week might be their time to take the headlines.

The Giants have been one of the worst offenses this season and Daniel Jones is bound to turn the ball over after some hefty struggles in his recent performances.

Miami, San Francisco, and Houston are all solid options around this price tag, but Miami has the best chance to score a touchdown which gives them added value.