Grading the picks: The DFS plays most recommended by pundits in NFL Week 5

Here’s our weekly look at the most-recommended DFS plays from some of the industry’s most well-known analysts.

First, a quick word on what we’re doing here:

We aim to bring some small measure of accountability and recordkeeping to a subsector of the DFS space that has expanded rapidly. DailyFantasyTalk will not be supplying DFS picks nor will we offer commentary on the picks of others. Each week we will gather the recommendations, post them here and link back to the original source so that interested readers can investigate the reasoning if they’re so inclined.

At the conclusion of an NFL week, we’ll check back with the picks and measure each pundit’s performance. Each pick will be graded on a points-per-dollar basis. You can see how each analyst fared last week here.

Here are this week’s picks. Check back Tuesday to see how each pundit scored.

Consensus

Quarterback

  • Philip Rivers—FanDuel 7,500; DraftKings 6,200

Running back

  • Le’Veon Bell—FanDuel 9,000; DraftKings 8,500
  • T.J. Yeldon—FanDuel 6,600; DraftKings 4,400

Wide receiver

  • Julio Jones—FanDuel 9,200; DraftKings 9,200
  • Jeremy Maclin—FanDuel 6,900; DraftKings 6,000
  • Demaryius Thomas—FanDuel 8,600; DraftKings 8,100
  • Pierre Garcon—FanDuel 6,200; DraftKings 5,300

Tight end

  • Rob Gronkowski—FanDuel 8,400; DraftKings 7,500
  • Owen Daniels—FanDuel 4,900; DraftKings 2,700

Defense

  • Giants—FanDuel 4,300; DraftKings 2,900

* * *

Matthew Berry, ESPN

Love/Hate

  • Peyton Manning—DK 7,000
  • Eli Manning—DK 6,800
  • Sam Bradford—DK 6,000
  • Aaron Rodgers—DK 7,900
  • Tom Brady—DK 7,800
  • Matt Ryan—DK 6,700
  • Jay Cutler—DK 5,300
  • Todd Gurley—DK 4,300
  • T.J. Yeldon—DK 4,400
  • Dion Lewis—DK 4,800
  • Justin Forsett—DK 5,800
  • Le’Veon Bell—DK 8,500
  • Chris Johnson—DK 4,400
  • Antonio Andrews—DK 3,500
  • Jeremy Maclin—DK 6,000
  • Larry Fitzgerald—DK 6,800
  • Leonard Hankerson—DK 4,000
  • Julio Jones—DK 9,200
  • Kamar Aiken—DK 3,800
  • Pierre Garcon—DK 5,300
  • Charles Clay—DK 4,100
  • Antonio Gates—DK 4,200
  • Owen Daniels—DK 2,700
  • Zach Ertz—DK 2,900
  • Rob Gronkowski—DK 7,500
  • Chiefs—DK 2,800
  • Bills—DK 3,400
  • Giants—DK 2,900

K.C. Joyner, ESPN

Value Plays

  • Alex Smith—DK 5,500
  • Blake Bortles—DK 5,100
  • Todd Gurley—DK 4,300
  • T.J. Yeldon—DK 4,400
  • Jeremy Maclin—DK 6,000
  • Travis Benjamin—DK 4,500
  • Charles Clay—DK 4,100
  • Owen Daniels—DK 2,700
  • Jaguars—DK 2,700
  • Giants—DK 2,900

Jerry Donabedian, RotoWire

DraftKings Value Plays

  • Drew Brees—DK 7,200
  • Philip Rivers—DK 6,200
  • LaGarrette Blount—DK 4,500
  • T.J. Yeldon—DK 4,400
  • Randall Cobb—DK 7,500
  • Pierre Garcon—DK 5,300
  • Willie Snead—DK 3,000
  • Martellus Bennett—DK 5,000
  • Giants—DK 2,900

RotoWire optimizer—FanDuel

  • Philip Rivers—FD 7,500
  • Le’Veon Bell-FD 9,000
  • Eddie Lacy—FD 7,600
  • Keenan Allen—FD 7,600
  • Jeremy Maclin—FD 6,900
  • Kendall Wright—FD 5,900
  • Martellus Bennett—FD 5,900
  • Bill—FD 4,800

RotoWire optimizer—DraftKings

  • Sam Bradford—DK 6,000
  • T.J. Yeldon—DK 4,400
  • Todd Gurley—DK 4,300
  • Demaryius Thomas—DK 8,100
  • Keenan Allen—DK 7,200
  • Jeremy Maclin—DK 6,000
  • Rob Gronkowski—DK 7,500
  • Richard Rodgers—DK 2,900
  • Bills—DK 3,400

RotoGrinders optimizer—FanDuel

  • Tyrod Taylor—FD 7,500
  • Devonta Freeman—FD 7,600
  • Jamaal Charles—FD 9,100
  • James Jones—FD 6,400
  • Alshon Jeffery—FD 7,600
  • Allen Robinson—FD 6,300
  • Travis Kelce—FD 6,500
  • Jaguars—FD 4,300

Jeff Mans, Fantasy Alarm

Playbook

  • Sam Bradford—FD 7,500; DK 6,000
  • Tom Brady—FD 8,800; DK 7,800
  • Philip Rivers—FD 7,500; DK 6,200
  • Le’Veon Bell—FD 9,000; DK 8,500
  • Justin Forsett—FD 7,200; DK 5,800
  • Anthony Dixon—FD 4,500; DK 3,000
  • T.J. Yeldon—FD 6,600; DK 4,400
  • Jordan Matthews—FD 6,800; DK 6,400
  • Demaryius Thomas—FD 8,600; DK 8,100
  • Allen Robinson—FD 6,300; DK 5,500
  • Julio Jones—FD 9,200; DK 9,200
  • John Brown—FD 5,900; DK 5,100
  • Vincent Jackson—FD 6,800; DK 5,000
  • Rob Gronkowski—FD 8,400; DK 7,500
  • Jason Witten—FD 5,700; DK 4,500
  • Travis Kelce—FD 6,500; DK 5,200
  • Owen Daniels—FD 4,900; DK 2,700
  • Broncos—FD 4,900; DK 3,600
  • Patriots—FD 4,700; DK 3,300
  • Bills—FD 4,800; DK 3,400
  • Bengals—FD 4,700; DK 2,800

Thomas Emerick, Sporting News

FanDuel Cash Game Lineup

  • Matt Ryan—FD 8,300
  • Karlos Williams—FD 6,900
  • Todd Gurley—FD 6,700
  • Julio Jones—FD 9,200
  • Emmanuel Sanders—FD 7,700
  • Pierre Garcon—FD 6,200
  • Charles Clay—FD 5,700
  • Giants—FD 4,300

Brad Pinkerton, Sporting News

Value Plays

  • Alex Smith—FD 6,900
  • Jay Cutler—DK 5,300
  • Ameer Abdullah—FD 6,100
  • T.J. Yeldon—FD 4,400
  • Kendall Wright—FD 5,900
  • Travis Benjamin—FD 4,500
  • Owen Daniels—FD 4,900; DK 2,700

Justin Bailey, RotoWorld

Cash Game Plays

  • Tom Brady—FD 8,800
  • Philip Rivers—FD 7,500
  • Le’Veon Bell—FD 9,000
  • Justin Forsett—FD 7,200
  • Julio Jones—FD 9,200
  • Jordan Matthews—FD 6,800
  • Rob Gronkowski—FD 8,400
  • Derek Carrier—FD 4,500

Jonathan Bales, DraftKings Playbook

  • Matt Ryan—DK 6,700
  • Philip Rivers—DK 6,200
  • Michael Vick—DK 5,100
  • Tom Brady—DK 7,800
  • Julian Edelman—DK 7,000
  • Julio Jones—DK 9,200
  • Demaryius Thomas—DK 8,100
  • Vincent Jackson—DK 5,000

Ryan Noonan, DraftKings Playbook

  • Jamaal Charles—DK 7,800
  • Le’Veon Bell—DK 8,500
  • Davonta Freeman—DK 6,300
  • Justin Forsett—DK 5,800
  • Dion Lewis—DK 4,800
  • Matt Forte—DK 7,000

Benny Ricciardi, DraftKings Playbook

  • Rob Gronkowski—DK 7,500
  • Owen Daniels—DK 2,700
  • Charles Clay—DK 4,100
  • Martellus Bennett—DK 5,000
  • Gary Barnidge—DK 3,800
  • Broncos—DK 3,600
  • Packers—DK 3,100
  • Giants—DK 2,900
  • Bengals—DK 2,800

Renee Miller, RotoWorld

Bargain Bin

  • Brandon Weeden—FD 6,400
  • Jameis Winston—FD 6,400
  • Antonio Andrews—FD 5,600
  • Chris Thompson—FD 5,100
  • Kamar Aiken—FD 5,800
  • Jamison Crowder—FD 5,200
  • Owen Daniels—FD 4,900
  • Richard Rodgers—FD 5,100
  • Giants—FD 4,300