NFL DFS Picks
After just two teams being off last week, we are back to four teams off in Week 9, leaving us with 11 games on the main slate. Off this week are the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Washington Football Team. We are definitely missing some good plays with these squads being idle. Derrick Henry and Jameis Winston are done for the year and COVID has robbed us of Aaron Rodgers. There are some injury situations to monitor as per usual and as always, be sure to check the inactive lists and follow the breaking injury news. It can often result in a “free square” for your lineup. Each week FantasyData will bring you 20 players that we like for the Draftkings Sunday main slate. Let us get right to it.
The following are my NFL DFS Picks for week 9.
Studs to Splurge For
Here we will highlight two players at each position that are in the top-five of their respective position and are deemed worthy of “paying up” for in your lineup. Please note these players will likely be highly owned so if you are looking to differentiate, you will want to pull more players from the next two sections.
Quarterbacks
Josh Allen | $8200 | BUF @ JAX
Josh Allen makes his second straight appearance here. The Bills young signal-caller did it again last week against the Miami Dolphins, putting up 29.48 DK points. On the season he is averaging 28.4 and his salary is simply too low. Yes, you must pay up to roster him, but it is hard to find this consistency anywhere else on the slate. The lowly Jacksonville Jaguars are up next in Week 9, and they rank 29th against the position. Look for the Wyoming grad to do his thing yet again.
Justin Herbert | $7000 | LAC @ PHI
The matchup does not look great here for Justin Herbert, but the Philadelphia Eagles have given up big points to the position in the past, including 23.02 to Derek Carr in Week 7. The Chargers quarterback has struggled the past two weeks in tough matchups against the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots. Look for the youngster to bounce back in a big way and likely be low-owned due to the perceived matchup and his recent struggles. Despite the recent poor performances, Herbert still averages 23.4 points per game, which is more than enough to reach value.
Running Backs
Alvin Kamara | $8200 | ATL @ NO
Also making a second straight appearance here is Alvin Kamara. It is hard to say what the New Orleans offense will look like without Jameis Winston, but we can bet it will funnel through AK. The matchup is a dream come true with the Atlanta Falcons coming to town and their 28th ranked defense against the position. The Tennessee Volunteer grad did struggle some last week against a stout Tampa Bay run defense, but it was encouraging to see him get 19 carries in that one. Kamara is having a down year overall, averaging just 20.5 DK points per game but has a get-right spot in Week 9 in a matchup that ensures success.
Aaron Jones | $7200 | GB @ KC
Just like the aforementioned Alvin Kamara, Aaron Jones is playing with a backup quarterback in Week 9 and much like the situation in New Orleans, we must believe the offense will flow through the running game. The Kansas City Chiefs have not been able to stop anyone this season and barely beat the lowly New York Giants this past Monday night. Jones has put up 20+ DK points in two of three games and saw a season-high 11 targets with the wide receiver position being thin due to COVID issues. A.J. Dillon saw a good bit of work as well, but there should be room in the game plan for both to produce and one would also think the Packers will want to keep Patrick Mahomes and company on the sideline. Running the ball will give them that desired effect.
Wide Receiver
Stefon Diggs | $7700 | BUF @ JAX
Pairing up Stefon Diggs with Josh Allen is not a bad approach in Week 9. The Buffalo Bills have a total of 31.50, the highest on the slate and the Jacksonville Jaguars are allowing 29.0 PPG. The only question here really is who is it going to be? Last week, Diggs put up just 15 points but had put up 20+ in two of three prior contests. You could also choose to spend down and go with Cole Beasley who we highlighted last week and came through with 24.0 DK points and is only $5400. It depends on how you plan on building your roster.
Ja’Marr Chase | $7600 |CLE @ CIN
Ja’Marr Chase has been pretty much unstoppable, scoring touchdowns in three of the last four. In the odd stat of the week, Chase has alternated 13- and 30-point performances over the past five games he has played in. The stud rookie wideout has seen 44 targets over those contests (8.8 per) and the Cleveland Browns come to town ranking 22nd against the position. In the three home games played, Ja’Marr Chase is averaging 22.8 DK points and that trend should continue in Week 9.
Tight End
Darren Waller | $6200 | LV @ NYG
We all have heard the unfortunate Henry Ruggs III news by now and as sad as it is, there is a football impact to the story. One would think Darren Waller would be the beneficiary of some of the just over five targets per game the speedy wideout was seeing. Even though Ruggs mostly ran deep routes, we still have to account for those targets and Derrek Carr and Waller have shown a rapport. While we have yet to see a repeat performance from Week 1, the tight end position is quite thin, and paying up this week may separate you from the pack. The New York Giants rank 15th against the position but did give up 15.9 DK points to Dalton Schultz in Week 5.
Mike Gesicki | $4900 | HOU @ MIA
Do not look now, but Mike Gesicki is quietly having a productive season now that Tua is back. The veteran tight end struggled last week but it was expected as the opponent was the Buffalo Bills. Before that performance (9.8 DK points), Gesicki had scored 20+ points in back-to-back games. The Houston Texans travel to South Beach in Week 9 and rank 29th against the position. Look for the Penn State grad to get back on track and easily post double-digit points.
Sleepers to Separate From the Pack
Up next we give you some players to help differentiate your lineup from the masses and give you the edge you need to compete in some of the bigger tournaments. Just like the section above, we highlight two players at each position except now instead of studs, you get players that are expected to be less than 10% owned on the main slate.
Quarterbacks
Tua Tagovailoa | $5800 | HOU @ MIA
Since his return from injury, Tua has been solid. The first two games back saw the second-year quarterback go for 25+ DK points in each and his third performance last week against the Buffalo Bills was promising also as Tagovailoa scored 16.2 points and only turned the ball over once. The past three games were good for an average of 23.4, good for four times the salary. The Houston Texans come to town and rank 16th against the position. Tyrod Taylor has been named the starter for Houston so the game should remain competitive. Look for the Alabama grad to smash in this spot.
Joe Burrow | $6800 | CLE @ CIN
The price is creeping up on Joe Burrow and rightfully so as he has scored 20 or more DK points in five straight. The chemistry with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins continues to develop and one would think the Bengals will be salty after losing to the New York Jets in Week 8. The Cleveland Browns are at the back of the pack (21st) against the position but are facing some turmoil and adversity with the OBJ situation. It is a perfect spot for the Bengals to rebound from a disappointing loss. Burrow averages 21.5 per game and should meet or exceed that mark this week at home versus Cleveland.
Running Backs
Elijah Mitchell | $5800 | ARI @ SF
Elijah Mitchell has been a straight stud since returning from injury and carrying the load for the San Francisco 49ers. In his past two games since taking over the lead back role for Kyle Shanahan, Mitchell has put up 19.7 and 22.7 DK points respectively against some good defenses (Colts and Bears). The Arizona Cardinals come to town in Week 9 and rank 6th versus the position but just had Aaron Jones put up 24.0 points on them and A.J. Dillon put up another 78 yards on just 16 carries (4.9 per) in the same contest. If the Louisiana alum keeps running as he has, there will be no problem hitting value yet again.
Joe Mixon | $7100 | CLE @ CIN
We have already highlighted Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase here and you can add Joe Mixon to the mix as well. The price is a little higher than we would like but keep in mind that Mixon has put up 25+ in two of three games, including 25.1 and two touchdowns last week in that loss to the New York Jets. Like Arizona, Cleveland is a top 10 defense (5th) against the position, but like the Cardinals, the Browns have given up some big scores. Austin Ekeler put up 33.9 in Week 6 and Najee Harris went for 21 last week. In fact, over seven games against the division rival, Mixon is averaging 19.6 PPR points. Get him at low ownership because other owners will be scared off by the perceived bad matchup.
Wide Receiver
Cole Beasley | $5400 | BUF @ JAX
We mentioned Cole Beasley as a pivot off Stefon Diggs earlier depending on how you wish to allocate funds in Week 9. Beasley has had 21 or more DK points in two straight contests, including 24.0 last week against the Miami Dolphins. The Jacksonville Jaguars are a mess and rank 31st against wideouts. Slot receivers fare well against them so far this season. Jaylen Waddle put up 29.0 in Week 6, Tyler Lockett just posted 26.2 against them last week and even Tyler Boyd amassed 20.8 DK points against them in Week 4. Play Beasley with confidence and save the money on Diggs to pay up for the Josh Allen stack.
Jerry Jeudy | $5000 | DEN @ DAL
Jerry Jeudy at $5k and under 10% owned? Yes, please. The second-year wideout made an unceremonious return to action in Week 8, catching all four of his targets for just 39 yards. On tap is the sieve of a defense that is the Dallas Cowboys who rank 25th against receivers. The Denver Broncos are going to likely be minus Noah Fant (COVID) and will have to throw to keep up with the high-powered Dallas offense that will see Dak Prescott make his return after a one-game absence. The targets and usage should increase for Jeudy in Week 9, and he should easily be able to pay off this small salary.
Tight End
Travis Kelce | $7000 | GB @ KC
In what was somewhat of a shock, the New York Giants stayed competitive Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs. Even more impressive was the fact that they held Travis Kelce to his worst performance of the season (5.7 points) and just 27 yards on four catches. That is not likely to happen two weeks in a row and the Chiefs will look to get things going at home against the Green Bay Packers who are missing Aaron Rodgers (also due to COVID). Kelce only saw seven targets, tied for second-lowest of the season. Look for him to get back to double-digit targets in Week 9 in what should be a high-scoring affair.
Mark Andrews | $5500 | MIN @ BAL
Mark Andrews is averaging just .01 points less on the season than Travis Kelce, yet he is $1500 cheaper. If you do not feel comfortable paying up for the Chiefs star tight end, then Andrews is your solution. The Ravens big tight end has put up double-digits in five of six games including a 44.7-point performance against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. The Minnesota Vikings are coming to town and rank 4th against the position. Do not let that number scare you. Some of the tight ends they have faced this season are Ian Thomas, Maxx Williams, and Will Dissly. Play Andrews with confidence in a game that has a total of 49.5 and should be up-tempo throughout.
Fantasy Data Favorites
In this section, we will give you one play from each position for the week that we like the most. This will be a player that likely will give you a high upside at a lower cost than their counterparts and also come with a low ownership projection. Here you go!
Quarterback
Tyrod Taylor | $5000 | HOU @ MIA
The ownership here may get out of hand so be sure to monitor it as we get closer to kickoff on Sunday. Tyrod Taylor is only $5k in Week 9 against the porous Miami Dolphins defense that ranks 26th against the position and struggles against the run. Josh Allen just put up almost 30 against them in Week 8 and Taylor is averaging 20.1 points in just over a game and a half. The Texans must feel like this is one they can win even on the road and the returning quarterback will be a big part of the plan. Brandin Cooks will be highly owned, and rightfully so, but you can pair the duo in a stack for just $11,100 and spend up in a lot of other places. The Texans are only projected to score 19.75 points on Sunday but that feels low given the news on Tyrod coming back into the mix. The price is simply too low to ignore here. One of my fav NFL DFS Picks this week.
Running Back
Josh Jacobs | $6200 | LV @ NYG
Despite battling injuries early in the season, Josh Jacobs has hit double figures every game this season, averaging 15.1 DK points per game. On tap are the New York Giants and their 29th ranked rush defense that just let Derrick Gore look like Frank Gore in his prime. Despite the presence of Kenyan Drake, Jacobs has scored a touchdown in three straight and has five in five games played. Look for Jacobs to lead the way again in Week 9 and score yet again in an offense that will now be without Henry Ruggs III forever.
Wide Receiver
Marquise Brown/Rashod Bateman | $6000/$4000 | MIN @ BAL
We are giving you a two for one here. Pick your poison based on what fits your budget. Both wideouts should do well and have proven they both can contribute in the same game. Since Bateman has come back, he has seen six targets in each game and put up 11.0 points in Week 7 before the bye. In those same two games, Hollywood Brown has 7.5 and 19.0 points respectively, even seeing 14 targets against the Bengals. The Vikings come to town being the 26th worst against wideouts. Look for both receivers to get their share of targets and contribute heavily in the passing game.
Tight End
Dallas Goedert | $4500 | LAC @ PHI
Last but not least, we have Dallas Goedert. In his first full game since Zach Ertz was traded to Arizona, Goedert saw seven targets and put up 13.2 DK points against the Detroit Lions in a game where the Eagles went run-heavy. The Chargers come to town and have a much more potent offense than what Philadelphia faced in Week 8. This one will be up-tempo and should be high-scoring. Look for Goedert to hit double-digit targets against the defense that ranks 30th against the tight end position.
Summing It All Up
As we all know, football is unpredictable, we make these picks using the data available to us at fantasydata.com and try to help our readers make educated, thoughtful decisions when creating their DK lineup. If you find this helpful or have any comments, be sure to notate them below. Thank you for reading.
