Top 10 DraftKings Plays Under $4,000: NFL Week 5 (Oct. 11, 2026)

Late update, October 11: The Chargers’ 2:43 p.m. ET official report confirms Ladd McConkey and Charlie Kolar are active; Quentin Johnston and Brenen Thompson are inactive. Gadsden remains a viable receiving option, but remove the expected McConkey-absence boost from his late-swap case. Rankings and numerical estimates below are retained from the pre-lock article.

Roman Wilson, Michael Mayer and Hunter Henry are our first looks below $4,000 on the October 11 DraftKings Sunday Main slate. This price range is strongest at receiver and tight end. These 10 options can help fund an expensive running back or game stack, but the savings come with real differences in role security.

Every ranked player costs strictly less than $4,000. Start with the role you can defend, then decide what the savings buy elsewhere. A cheap player who produces a few catches can help a lineup; filling several positions with thin touchdown bets can leave too much work for the stars.

1. Roman Wilson, Steelers vs. Colts

DraftKings: $3,700 | WR | CTS projected ownership: 10%

Wilson has received six targets in every game this season. The last two produced touchdowns, but the stable target count is the better reason to start here. Pittsburgh can give him a useful receiving afternoon without requiring him to inherit all of Michael Pittman Jr.’s vacated work.

Indianapolis has generated limited pressure early this season. A clean pocket would let Aaron Rodgers work beyond his first option and give Wilson time to get open. The obstacles are weather and competition from DK Metcalf, Germie Bernard and the tight ends. Wilson is a useful Rodgers-stack partner or one-off salary saver. His $300 premium over Bernard buys a more established target pattern, although neither receiver has a guaranteed touchdown.

2. Michael Mayer, Raiders at Patriots

DraftKings: $3,500 | TE

Mayer caught eight of 10 targets for 82 yards in Week 4. Las Vegas has a genuine role for both of its tight ends, so his case survives Brock Bowers being cleared. With Jalen Nailor out, continuing to use multiple tight ends is a practical way to put established pass catchers on the field.

That formation creates a useful problem for the defense: matching heavier personnel can leave a tight end against a linebacker, while adding defensive backs can invite a run. We are betting Mayer gets enough receiving assignments within that structure. New England can answer with extra safeties, and Mayer can spend snaps blocking while Bowers draws the targets. Last week’s 10 opportunities also came in a high-volume passing game. He fits a Kirk Cousins stack or a cheaper tight-end spot alongside an expensive stack elsewhere. Avoid expecting his Week 4 volume every Sunday.

3. Hunter Henry, Patriots vs. Raiders

DraftKings: $3,700 | TE | CTS projected ownership: 3%

Henry caught all five of his targets for 62 yards against Buffalo. A.J. Brown and Mack Hollins remain unavailable, keeping Henry among the established options for Drake Maye. A short completion can settle a pressured quarterback and turn second-and-long into a manageable next down.

The same protection problem can hurt Henry if New England asks him to chip or stay in. The Raiders’ pressure packages and Maxx Crosby’s edge matchup make that a real possibility. Henry’s target totals of three, five, two and five give him a usable role rather than a locked-in high-volume floor. We like him with Maye when the salary saved supports a premium runback or running back. A Maye rushing touchdown still helps the quarterback without paying off the Henry side.

4. Oronde Gadsden II, Chargers vs. Broncos

DraftKings: $3,600 | TE | CTS pre-lock projected ownership: 5%

Gadsden’s targets climbed from two, two and three to eight last week. Quentin Johnston and Brenen Thompson are inactive, while Ladd McConkey and Charlie Kolar are active. McConkey’s availability removes the expected-absence case for extra Gadsden targets. Johnston’s absence still leaves receiving opportunities beyond Tre’ Harris, and Gadsden’s role remains viable.

Quick releases into the middle or underneath can help Justin Herbert avoid waiting for a long route behind a depleted offensive line. But fewer healthy blockers can also force Los Angeles to keep a tight end in protection. Denver’s missing starting corners may send more throws toward Harris instead. Gadsden fits a low-cost Herbert stack or a late tight-end option. With McConkey active, extra targets are less likely to funnel to Gadsden than in the earlier absence scenario. Kolar is also active, so do not assume a Kolar-out snap boost; his availability alone does not establish Gadsden’s receiving workload.

5. Isaac TeSlaa, Lions at Cardinals

DraftKings: $3,400 | WR

TeSlaa received eight targets and gained 95 yards last week. He gives a Goff lineup a way to buy the Detroit passing ceiling while preserving salary for an Arizona runback and a premium back. His catches can matter even when Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams remain the first players a defense worries about.

The caution is team volume. Detroit threw 52 times last week, an unusually generous setting for a secondary receiver. TeSlaa had only nine targets across the first three games combined. If the Lions control this matchup with Gibbs or feed their established stars, TeSlaa can remain on the field without receiving enough passes. We prefer him as a deliberate Goff partner in tournaments. Adding him alongside every expensive Detroit option creates a demanding bet on the passing touchdown distribution.

6. Germie Bernard, Steelers vs. Colts

DraftKings: $3,400 | WR

Pittsburgh has specifically identified Bernard as a player who must step up with Pittman out. There is a useful precedent: Bernard drew eight targets in Week 2, when Pittman also missed the game. That connects the injury to a player who has already handled extra work in the same offense.

His next two games brought just three targets combined. More playing time therefore needs to become actual receiving opportunities before we treat him as dependable. Rodgers can still favor Metcalf, Wilson and the tight ends, and a wet, run-heavy game would shrink the entire passing pool. Bernard is the cheaper Steelers receiver we would use when the $300 saved from Roman Wilson makes a meaningful upgrade elsewhere. We generally prefer choosing between the two in ordinary builds instead of asking both budget receivers to hit together.

7. AJ Barner, Seahawks vs. 49ers

DraftKings: $3,200 | TE

Barner’s last two games show both sides of this price range: nine targets and 69 yards in Week 3, then three targets and 12 yards in Week 4. He has a real place in Seattle’s offense, but playing time includes blocking and does not promise a steady stream of routes or targets.

We like the version of this game where San Francisco scores enough to keep Sam Darnold throwing and Seattle distributes some of that work beyond Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Barner needs only a modest catch total plus a scoring play to change the value of a $3,200 roster spot. The danger is Seattle winning with its ground game or Smith-Njigba absorbing most of the receiving production. Barner fits a cheaper Darnold pairing or a late-game tournament pivot. He should be chosen for that specific passing outcome, with his quiet Week 4 kept firmly in view.

8. Pat Freiermuth, Steelers vs. Colts

DraftKings: $3,900 | TE

Freiermuth has four or five targets in every game this season. That receiving role gives him a better starting point than a minimum-priced tight end who needs his first meaningful route assignment. Pittman’s absence offers another possible opening in the middle of the passing game.

His recent yardage is the concern: 30 yards in Week 3 and 17 in Week 4. A touchdown rescued the latter fantasy result. Indianapolis does not have to erase him to leave a disappointing score if those short catches never become a red-zone finish. Darnell Washington also plays enough to matter in the tight-end rotation. Freiermuth fits a Rodgers stack when we want tight-end savings without going all the way to a low-volume punt. With three Steelers on this list, treat them as competing choices for the same available work.

9. Antonio Williams, Commanders vs. Giants

DraftKings: $3,800 | WR | CTS projected ownership: 4%

Stefon Diggs is inactive and Terry McLaurin is active. Williams caught four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in his one full game with Jayden Daniels this season. His eight targets last week also show that Washington has been willing to look his way when the receiver room is thin.

Those eight targets became only three catches for 21 yards. Extra chances need accurate throws, separation and functioning protection to turn into fantasy points. McLaurin is active, and his involvement, contributions from Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown, or Daniels taking yards on the ground can each reduce Williams’ share. Williams still has a receiving role with Diggs unavailable, but he is a thinner value than in a scenario without both veterans. He works in a Daniels stack or as a salary saver if the game-time wind permits.

10. Kenyon Sadiq, Jets vs. Browns

DraftKings: $3,800 | TE | CTS projected ownership: 2%

Sadiq’s seven-catch, 105-yard Week 3 demonstrated the ceiling. His zero catches on four targets last week demonstrated the risk. That game also left the Jets with very little passing volume, so the blank box score should be considered alongside the offense’s inability to sustain possessions.

Mason Taylor is active, and Frank Reich has highlighted Cleveland’s man coverage and twisting defensive front. Sadiq has to earn receiving work in the fuller tight-end group while Geno Smith deals with that pressure. We are interested only as a small tournament bet on his ability to turn limited catches into bigger gains. He is our lowest-ranked option here. A restored Taylor role or extra protection assignments can leave too few routes, even with Breece Hall and Adonai Mitchell absent.

Injury-trigger watch: Dohnte Meyers at $3,500

Meyers had nine targets and seven catches for 82 yards last week, but Cincinnati’s passing volume was unusually high. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins both practiced fully Friday and are active. Their actual workloads still matter, but their availability makes Meyers’ role thinner than in a game without them. That keeps him outside the top 10.

Make the savings count

Start with Wilson, Mayer or Henry when you want the clearer recent receiving roles. Gadsden, Bernard and Antonio Williams offer additional opportunity paths tied to injuries. TeSlaa and Barner fit specific game stacks. Freiermuth supplies a steadier target pattern with modest yardage, while Sadiq belongs in smaller tournament exposure.

Keep enough salary and an open roster position for any planned late swap. Gadsden, TeSlaa and Barner play in the late window; a tight-end swap requires an available TE or FLEX slot. Check the Main Slate projections and injury tracker before lock.

Compare receiving opportunities and playing time in the NFL usage tracker, or read the full Main Slate breakdown for core plays and stacks.