It’s Week 9. Time for our players to shine, scoring touchdowns then dancing in the end zone like Ginuwine. We ain’t about those who are parked on the pine or standing on the sidelines trying to steal the opposition’s signs. We’re definitely not about the ones that complain and whine. No, we must align with those who are assigned, have plays designed and may someday be enshrined by putting the pigskin over that thick white line. They are the gold mines. Now the trick is to complete our DFS frankenstein. Nine slots, intertwined by design to loft us to heights of the DK divine. Is that so asinine?
Cleveland, New York Jets, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay have a bye this week.
We’ve got 11 games on this main slate. Per DraftKings Sportsbook, six games have a spread of three points or less. The biggest favorite is Los Angeles Rams at home over New Orleans by 14 points. Green Bay is right behind as 13.5 favorites at home over Carolina. Five games have a total of at least 45 points, with BUF/KC the highest at 52.5 points. There are two other games with a total over 50 – CHI/CIN (51.5) and IND/PIT (50.5). The lowest total is DEN/HOU at 39.5 points. There are six home dogs.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.75M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st].
Quarterback
Stud
Drake Maye, New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons ($6,500) – Maye has failed to hit 20 FPTS only twice this season. The first was in the opener and the other was in Week 5 against Buffalo. No shame in either. Now, New England has played some cupcakes this season: Miami, Pittsburgh, Carolina, New Orleans and Tennessee. But last week against a tough Cleveland Browns defense, Maye went 18-of-24 for 282 yards, three touchdowns and an interception while rushing seven times for 50 yards. On the season, Maye has rushed 51 times for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Now he gets to face an Atlanta Falcons defense that just got lit up by Tua Tagovailoa.
Other Options – Josh Allen ($7,300), Patrick Mahomes ($7,100), Justin Herbert ($6,800), Matthew Stafford ($6,300), Daniel Jones ($6,200)
Value
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers ($5,200) – Since Dart made his NFL debut in Week 4, he’s put up at least 19 FPTS in every game, with two over 20 and a high of 29.4 FPTS. Like Maye, Dart has rushing equity, carrying 43 times for 195 yards and four touchdowns. The 49ers defense has been decimated by injuries and is posting the 11th-highest EPA per dropback. The unit has allowed 13 passing touchdowns, notched only one interception and the nine sacks are the second-fewest in the NFL. The 10.8% pressure rate is the lowest by a wide margin.
Other Options – Joe Flacco ($5,600) if he plays
Running Back
Stud
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants ($8,800) – I just can’t pay $9,800 for Jonathan Taylor this week. Hopefully most do. In addition, McCaffrey is coming off his worst game of the season with 9.8 FPTS, so recency bias could be a thing. Prior to that, though, McCaffrey put up at least 22 FPTS in every contest with a high of 42.1 FPTS. He leads all running backs with 74 targets on the season. The closest is De’Von Achane with 50. The matchup. Oh, the matchup. The Giants have allowed the most EPA per carry on the season with 10 rushing touchdowns and a whopping 5.7 yards per carry.
Other Options – Jahmyr Gibbs ($8,000), James Cook ($7,200), Kimani Vidal ($6,300)
Value
Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers ($5,100) – With Cam Skattebo done for the season due to injury, Tracy should see the bulk of the running back opportunities for the Giants. Last season, Tracy started 12 games and put up at least 15 FPTS in six games with a high of 26 FPTS. San Francisco has allowed the third-most receptions to running backs on the season and the three receiving touchdowns allowed are second-most.
Other Options – Chase Brown ($5,900), Kareem Hunt ($4,700) if Isiah Pacheco is out, Kyle Monangai ($4,600) if D’Andre Swift is out
Wide Receiver
Stud
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills ($7,600) – This game has the highest total on the slate at 52.5, so points are expected to be scored. Since Rice returned to action two weeks ago, he’s received 10 and nine targets, finishing with 23.3 and 25.5 FPTS. He’s going to get peppered by the best quarterback in the league in a game that could be a back-and-forth affair.
Other Options – Puka Nacua ($8,500) if he plays, Ja’Marr Chase ($8,400) if Joe Flacco plays, Amon-Ra St. Brown ($8,300), Davante Adams ($7,500) if Nacua is out, Chris Olave ($6,100)
Value
Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans vs. Los Angeles Chargers ($3,900) – The Chargers pass defense is pretty good, posting the 14th-lowest EPA per dropback. The unit has allowed only eight touchdowns while notching seven interceptions and 22 sacks. The completion percentage against is 61.1%. That said, the Titans will likely have to tilt toward the air as the Chargers should put up points in this one. Dike played 89% of the snaps last week and garnered eight targets.
Other Options – Ladd McConkey ($6,000) if he plays, Michael Pittman Jr. ($5,900), Tee Higgins ($5,900) if Flacco plays, Stefon Diggs ($5,700), Keenan Allen ($5,600) if McConkey is out, Quentin Johnston ($5,400) if McConkey is out, Khalil Shakir ($5,300), Wan’Dale Robinson ($5,100), Kayshon Boutte ($5,000), Travis Hunter ($4,700)
Tight End
Stud
Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers ($5,500) – Warren has received at least five targets in every game this season and failed to hit 10 FPTS only twice. He trails Michael Pittman Jr. for the team lead in targets by only six and has 12 red zone opportunities on the season. Pittsburgh has allowed six touchdowns to tight ends this season, tied for the second-most in the league.
Other Options – Tucker Kraft ($5,700), Oronde Gadsden II ($5,300), George Kittle ($4,800), Travis Kelce ($4,600)
Value
Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals ($3,300) – Cole Kmet is dealing with a back injury, missed Week 8 and could miss this one as well. Loveland played 81% of the snaps last week and garnered five targets with a red zone look. The Bengals have allowed the second-most receptions (54) to tight ends, seen the most targets (80), given up the most yards (594) and had the most touchdowns (10) scored against them.
Other Options – Theo Johnson ($3,500), Jonnu Smith ($3,400), Noah Fant ($3,300), Pat Freiermuth ($3,100), Gunnar Helm ($2,900), Darnell Washington ($2,900)
Defense/Special Teams
Stud
Rams DST vs. New Orleans Saints ($3,900) – The Rams are eighth in pressure rate and the 26 sacks are second-most. The unit is also eighth with 10 takeaways on the season. Now they get to face Tyler Shough in his first career start.
Other Options – Packers DST ($4,000), Chargers DST ($3,800), Lions DST ($3,700), Patriots DST ($3,600), Jaguars DST ($3,300), Broncos DST ($3,200)
Value
Texans DST vs. Denver Broncos ($2,900) – I’m not thrilled about this selection, but the Texans are at home and have the best pass defense in the league. The EPA per dropback is the lowest and the unit has allowed only six passing touchdowns while racking up 11 takeaways, the fifth-most. The Denver offense has been susceptible at times. The Texans DST has put up at least 5 FPTS in every contest with three over 10 and a high of 18 FPTS.
Other Options –
