NFL Expert Picks & Staff Predictions Today: Week 5 Best Bets and Player Props This Week

Get set for the Sunday slate with us using our NFL expert picks and staff predictions for Week 5. We're covering five games as a team, featuring NFL picks on the Vikings vs. Browns, Broncos vs. Eagles, Texans vs. Ravens, Buccaneers vs. Seahawks, and Commanders vs. Chargers matchups, with kickoffs beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

Read on for our comprehensive NFL predictions for Week 5.

NFL Week 5 expert picks

NFL picks made by Dustin Saracini, Gary Pearson, LJ Blut, and Sean Tomlinson based on the best NFL odds for Week 5.

This weekend features a handful of intriguing matchups, starting with Vikings vs. Browns in the early morning in London and ending with Commanders vs. Chargers.

Whether you're looking for Week 5 moneyline picks or Week 5 against the spread predictions, we have you covered. But first, let's cash with the SBR staff.

Expert NFL game picks | SBR staff record (9-3)

Dustin Saracini: Browns +3.5 (-110)

Wake up, honey, we have to watch Dillon Gabriel cover in his first NFL start. This is mainly a bet for Cleveland’s defense, which is ranked No. 1 in pretty much every statistical category (rush, pass, total, scoring). All Gabriel needs to do is be serviceable, and the Browns should have no issue covering here, especially against a team that’s lost two of its last three.

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Gary Pearson: Seahawks -3 (-124)

The Seattle Seahawks appear to be the real deal. They are 3-1 ATS and have the best defensive DVOA and the sixth-best offensive DVOA. 

Sam Darnold is in control of his offense, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain banged up, with Bucky Irving now out of the Week 5 matchup.

Baker Mayfield is also carrying a knock, which might limit his mobility. That’s not a great look, considering the state of the Buccaneers’ offensive line.

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Sean Tomlinson: Texans-Ravens Over 40.5 (-109)

The Ravens likely moving from the injured Lamar Jackson to Cooper Rush under center is a cliff dive in terms of talent and ceiling. But this total offers a very low bar to clear. It’s now tied for the second-lowest total in the NFL odds for Week 5 after plunging from an opening number of 45.5.

Eventually, inching across the line for the Over comes into play, and this is when you remember that Rush is one of the league’s better backups. He logged eight starts for the then-awful Dallas Cowboys last year, spearheading the offense to 25-plus points in half of those outings. Combine that with a still-talented Texans offense opposing an injury-decimated Ravens defense, and there’s a recipe for an Over.

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LJ Blut: Chargers -2.5 (-120)

The Chargers are coming into this game off a very disappointing loss to the New York Giants. This line is a reflection of that performance, and I do think the team is significantly better than what we saw last week. The Commanders will also be missing a ton of offensive weapons, including star receiver Terry McLaurin. 

The Chargers are returning home, where they play significantly better football. When teams travel to the opposite coast, they tend to struggle early, too. I see the Chargers winning this game by at least a touchdown.   

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Best NFL player prop bets | SBR staff record (6-6)

Saracini: A.J. Brown Over 57.5 receiving yards (-110)

It happened: A.J. Brown posted a cryptic tweet likely stemming from issues with him not being involved enough in the Philly offense. You know what that means? Be prepared for Brown to be fed some targets against the Broncos. Now, it’s not all doom and gloom for Brown, who was targeted nine times in Week 4 but was held to a two-catch, seven-yard performance.

While the targets are there, him and Jalen Hurts haven’t been able to build off the connection they formed against the Rams in Week 3. We’re getting a low number as a result - let’s take advantage.

Pearson: Quentin Johnston Over 60.5 receiving yards (-112)

Quentin Johnston is one of the most pleasantly surprising stories of the season thus far, with the Los Angeles Chargers receiver hitting the Over on this total in all four games. He’s up against a Washington Commanders team that has the 25th-ranked defensive pass DVOA and the 27th-ranked EPA per play against the pass.

Tomlinson: Justin Jefferson Under 72.5 receiving yards (-112)

Sure, Justin Jefferson is fresh off erupting for 126 yards on 10 catches. But Carson Wentz is still under center for the Vikings here in the year 2025, and he’ll be opposing a daunting Browns defense that’s given up the fewest yards per game leaguewide (222.5, with a drop to the Atlanta Falcons in second at 244) and sits fourth against the pass at 152.3 yards permitted per outing.

Blut: Omarion Hampton anytime touchdown (-135)

Omarion Hampton had his breakout game in Week 4 against the New York Giants. He rushed the ball 12 times for 128 yards and a touchdown. His yards per carry was a massive 10.7.

The Jim Harbaugh style of football is to run the ball repeatedly until the defensive line is broken down, then run the ball some more. With Najee Harris unfortunately lost for the season, Hampton will be the red-zone back in all situations.

I anticipate him finding the end zone at least once, and I wouldn’t mind a ticket on his 2+ touchdowns at the price of +480 via FanDuel.