Kicking things off on Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals will open up the slate against the Atlanta Falcons in an overseas matchup taking place in Spain. There are seven games in the 1:00 p.m. ET slate and four games in the late window before the Sunday Night Football matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears.
You can join the action with DraftKings Sportsbook and DFS contests. To maximize your DFS lineups, here are a few players poised to outperform their salaries and give you an edge across Sunday’s slate. Here’s my top DFS lineup and the logic behind each selection.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]
DraftKings NFL Millionaire Picks: Best DFS Plays for Week 9
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford ($6,200)
After a slow start to the season, Matthew Stafford has largely found his stride. The reigning MVP must continue playing with a level of desperation with his team’s 4-4 record in mind, and he has a great chance to pick up a win while adding to his statistical totals against the Washington Commanders this week.
Across his first eight games, Stafford leads the entire NFL with 204 completions and has thrown for 2,146 yards, 15 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. After totaling six touchdowns and six interceptions through the first four games, Stafford has recorded nine touchdowns and just two interceptions over his last four. He is currently averaging 19.0 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring, which ranks 17th among quarterbacks. However, he has still tallied as many as 30.3 fantasy points in a game this year and has a favorable matchup with this Commanders defense. Washington enters the week ranking 25th in opponents’ points allowed and 20th in opponents’ yards allowed. The Commanders have been especially vulnerable against the pass, ranking 28th in passing yards allowed and 27th in passing touchdowns conceded.
Stafford and the Rams dug themselves a hole to start the season by getting off to a 2-4 start. They have since picked up back-to-back wins but need to continue stacking victories as they look to carve out their desired postseason path. Expect Stafford to capitalize on the favorable matchup by producing a strong fantasy output while leading the Rams to a potential victory.
Other Considerations: Jared Goff ($6,600), Patrick Mahomes ($6,100), Tyler Shough ($6,000), Bryce Young ($5,500)
Running Back
Blake Corum ($5,100)
Lining up in the backfield of this same matchup, Blake Corum has continued to see his role grow in the Los Angeles offense. Despite handing Kyren Williams ($7,600) a notable offseason contract, the workload has been fairly split this year. Through the first eight matchups, Williams has recorded 112 rush attempts for 548 rushing yards and six touchdowns while adding 242 receiving yards and an additional score through the air. In contrast, Corum has carried the ball 75 times for 389 yards and three scores, along with 99 receiving yards and an additional score through the air. There is a place for both in the offense, and each talented running back will continue to make his mark on this Rams attack.
However, Corum continues to see his role grow, with 28 carries for 166 yards across the past two weeks while reaching the end zone in both games. Washington has graded better against opponents’ rushing attacks than its pass defense, but the Commanders are not particularly strong in either area. Especially if the Rams are able to take a lead and control the ball, expect Corum to be utilized at a high rate. Given the gap in price between the two Rams running backs, getting Corum at a $5,100 price point is great value for this Week 9 matchup.
Devin Singletary ($4,600)
Buckle up for some ugly football in this NFC East clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. Both sides have dealt with major quarterback injuries and will turn to less experienced options under center. This is evident in the Giants’ running back room. Cam Skattebo is considered doubtful with a hamstring injury, while Tyrone Tracy Jr. has been placed on injured reserve and Najee Harris was recently released. This leaves Devin Singletary as their most experienced option in the running game, with plenty of questions beyond him.
Through the first four games in which he has appeared, Singletary has recorded 18 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown while adding eight receptions for 55 yards and another score. Even with his opportunities being limited, Singletary has largely been effective when his workload has expanded. The 29-year-old tallied 55 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on just eight touches in the Giants’ most recent game against Houston. Facing a Philadelphia defense that has struggled all season and with the potential for his heaviest workload of the year, expect Singletary to have a pathway to drastically outperforming his $4,600 value.
The Eagles enter the week ranked 21st in opponents’ points allowed, 27th in total yards conceded, 23rd in rushing touchdowns allowed, and 28th in opponents’ rushing yards. Opportunity is the greatest indicator of production, and expect Singletary to have a clear path to outperforming his price point in this matchup.
Other Considerations: Jahmyr Gibbs ($10,000), Christian McCaffrey ($8,000), Braelon Allen. ($6,300), Ollie Gordon II ($5,600)
Wide Receivers
Puka Nacua ($8,800)
There is a pretty clear argument that Puka Nacua is the best wide receiver in the NFL when he is fully healthy. After leading the NFL with 129 receptions for 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last season, Nacua has dealt with some availability issues to start this year. Across the six games he has played, the two-time Pro Bowler has tallied 56 receptions on 74 targets for 565 yards through the air and three touchdowns. The BYU product is still producing 24.1 fantasy points per game on DraftKings scoring, which trails only Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the most in all of football. He has recorded at least 14.0 fantasy points in every game he has been active and as many as 40.7 in a matchup this year.
Nacua is getting healthier and will be the clear leader in the passing attack of this Rams offense. He has seen as many as 24 targets in a game this year and will face the same favorable matchup against this poor Washington defense. Stacking him in your lineup alongside Stafford allows you to double-dip on the scoring production, and expect Nacua to maintain his place as one of the premier fantasy football scorers in Week 9.
Rashee Rice ($6,400)
The Kansas City Chiefs will face off with the New York Jets this week as they continue their competitive battle in the AFC. Rashee Rice is the headline weapon in the Kansas City passing attack, even though he has battled injuries as well. Rice missed two games with a hamstring injury but returned last week and caught seven of eight targets for 53 yards and a touchdown, good for 18.3 DraftKings fantasy points. On the season, the SMU product has recorded 20 receptions for 243 yards and two touchdowns. His 11.3 fantasy points per game ranks 37th among wide receivers, although this is a bit distorted because he did not register a catch in the Week 4 matchup when he suffered the hamstring injury.
The addition of Kenneth Walker III has given Kansas City another weapon in the backfield and could help open up the passing game. Rice is the top candidate to take advantage. This is especially the case as Kansas City prepares to face off with a Jets defense that ranks 23rd in passing touchdowns conceded and has been vulnerable overall on this side of the ball. The Chiefs made a clear effort to get Rice incorporated back into the offensive attack last week, and expect this to continue with another week to get fully healthy and the favorable matchup in mind.
Jaylen Waddle ($5,700)
It has been an up-and-down start to Jaylen Waddle’s tenure in Denver. The prized trade acquisition has tallied 29 receptions on 51 targets for 315 yards and two scores so far this season. This comes out to 10.2 fantasy points per game on DraftKings scoring, which ranks 42nd among all wide receivers. However, Waddle has tallied as many as 24.8 fantasy points in a matchup and as few as 1.2.
The Broncos will not reach their offensive peak without finding a way to get the standout pass catcher fully on the same page as the offense, and they brought him in for a reason. Denver will be facing off with the Carolina Panthers this week, providing a pathway to a more favorable scoring output. Carolina has leaned on its high-octane offensive attack for success, but the Panthers rank 28th in opponents’ points allowed and 23rd in total yards conceded.
Denver remains atop the division, but its offense has left plenty to be desired through the first half of the season. Waddle reached the end zone for the second time last week and is averaging 6.9 targets per game across the past seven games. The Broncos will need to move the ball and put up points to have success against this Panthers team. Expect Waddle to be a key part of this effort and outperform his $5,700 price point in the process.
Other Considerations: Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($9,300), Christian Watson ($7,000), Michael Wilson ($6,700), Keenan Allen ($4,900)
Tight End
Harold Fannin Jr. ($4,700)
Plenty of eyes will be on the Cleveland Browns following their strong start to the season, with Shedeur Sanders set to get the start under center. Deshaun Watson remains in concussion protocol and is listed as questionable, but Cleveland has committed to its plan at quarterback. Harold Fannin Jr. continues to establish himself as one of the most dynamic weapons in the passing attack, with 35 receptions for 411 yards and three touchdowns on the season. He is coming off an impressive 10-reception performance last week, which he converted into 154 yards through the air and 27.4 fantasy points based on DraftKings scoring.
However, this is not just a one-time performance, as Fannin Jr. ranks eighth among all tight ends with an average of 11.9 fantasy points per game. He has already shown chemistry with Sanders, posting as many as 114 receiving yards in a game with the former Colorado quarterback under center. The Browns will be facing off with the Saints this week, and Sanders will be eager to make a statement with his play. Expect his chemistry with Fannin Jr. to show and for the standout tight end to remain involved in the offensive attack throughout the game, putting him in the mix for one of the top-performing tight ends of the week.
Other Considerations: Brock Bowers ($7,900), George Kittle ($6,000), Isaiah Likely ($5,000)
Flex
Denzel Boston ($5,000)
Another Browns pass catcher who should be in line for a strong performance is Denzel Boston. The rookie has grown into a dangerous weapon in the flow of the offense, with 26 receptions on 54 targets for 409 yards and three touchdowns already this season. His 10.9 fantasy points per game currently ranks 38th among all wide receivers based on DraftKings scoring.
The Saints have shown some competitive spunk this year, but it has not been due to their defense. New Orleans enters the week ranking 29th in points allowed and 28th in total yards conceded. The Saints have also been vulnerable through the air, ranking 24th in total receiving yards allowed, 21st in net yards per pass attempt allowed, and 21st in passing touchdowns conceded. Sanders will be eager to take some chances, and this is the type of defense that can leave the door open for big plays.
Boston has tallied at least one reception in every game, is coming off a season-high six catches, and has been targeted at least four times in every game. Count on the second-round pick to remain involved in this matchup and for his $5,000 price point to be a comfortable bar to clear.
Defense & Special Teams
Houston Texans ($3,500)
The Houston Texans stumbled out of the gates with an 0-4 start to the season and have struggled to find consistency since. They picked up back-to-back victories before suffering a frustrating loss to the Giants in Week 7, dropping to 2-5. Houston had a bye in Week 8, but must take things one week at a time and lean on the identity that has brought it success in the past.
This involves the defense heavily, and Houston will look to lean on this side of the ball as it faces off with the Chargers this week. Los Angeles has been a disaster offensively all season, entering with an 0-7 record while ranking dead last in the league in scoring. The Texans have not lived up to their defensive identity this season, but this is a Chargers team that has made far inferior defenses look like complete lockdown units. Given the concerning 19.5% turnover rate from the Chargers’ offense and the desperation that the Texans must play with, expect a clear path to Houston outperforming its $3,500 price point and being one of the top defensive units of the week.
Other Considerations: 49ers ($3,600), Rams ($3,300), Saints ($2,900)
