As amazing as it seems, we're officially into the second half of the 2018 NFL season with Week 9 underway. This week's schedule of games features plenty of intriguing matchups and games with the potential to see big points. For fantasy football players, it's another week with the potential to make some money on one of the more interesting slates of the season to this point.
While there are a plethora of strong options at each position, there also six teams who are on bye this week. That number is tied as the most in any single week, which means finding value on the slate could be a key. I'm going to lay out the top plays of the week (with prices) on DraftKings, while also offering top values in the process. From there, I'll build a different optimal fantasy lineup around my favorite play at each position.
We'll start it off with the quarterback position and move through the positions from there. To note, this means there will be four different optimal lineups. While I'll likely spread out my favorite plays across these lineups, there will certainly be some layover as well. Much of that depends on how the construction of lineups pans out.
The Week 9 main slate on DraftKings features 10 games even with teams like the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and others receiving the week off. There are quite a few matchups worth targeting at key positions, and those will likely be a focus of lineup construction this week.
Before diving into the rankings and lineups, let's first take a look at a few games which feature high projected totals and should have quite a bit of fantasy appeal.
Top Week 9 Games With Fantasy Football Appeal
Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints
I'll certainly use plenty of players outside of these games, but if you like to stack games, one or two of these could be worth considering. Overall, some top options and also elite values will come from these games in Week 9.
Let's dive in with the quarterback rankings, targets and optimal lineup.
DraftKings Quarterback Picks
We're going to take a look at the quarterback position first and break down the top plays, values and then create an optimal lineup which will be focused around the best play. The "best play" may not necessarily be the top-ranked player, but could easily be a value play which opens up the rest of the lineup to get a few stars in.
Let's dive in first with the quarterback rankings for Week 9, and surprisingly, Patrick Mahomes didn't take the top spot.
Top-10 Highest Projected Quarterbacks on DraftKings
– Cam Newton ($6,600) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
– Patrick Mahomes ($7,100) at Cleveland Browns
– Jared Goff ($6,000) at New Orleans Saints
– Kirk Cousins ($6,200) vs. Detroit Lions
– Drew Brees ($6,100) vs. Los Angeles Rams
– Ryan Fitzpatrick ($5,500) at Carolina Panthers
– Baker Mayfield ($5,600) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
– Deshaun Watson ($6,300) at Denver Broncos
– Matthew Stafford ($5,600) at Minnesota Vikings
– Matt Ryan ($5,700) vs. Atlanta Falcons
DraftKings Quarterback Value Plays
*Note: All value plays at quarterback cost roughly $6,000 or less.
While there are quite a few names above that stand out, I'll circle probably 2-3 and spread them around various tournaments. One of the first that has to jump out is Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers virtually had no option but to bring back FitzMagic after another horrific performance from Jameis Winston in Week 8. Fitzpatrick nearly led an impressive comeback last week and is likely to be playing from behind most of this game. At $5,500 and playing catch up, I'll happily take Fitzpatrick.
Baker Mayfield is an option I love this week against the Chiefs. Not only has Kansas City allowed 2,591 passing yards and 13 touchdowns through the air, but they've also given up three rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks. Mayfield is at home and it's the Browns' first game without Hue Jackson. The fanbase is going to be on another level and I think Mayfield could wind up having the best game of his young career.
While I'm fine with both Matthew Stafford and Matt Ryan due to their prices, I need to mention two players who are painfully disrespected on this slate. The first is Alex Smith ($5,000) facing the Atlanta Falcons at home. While Smith hasn't lit up the scoreboard for fantasy football players this season, he's been efficient and consistent. While he's landed around 12.5 DraftKings points the last two weeks, he went for 15.7 or more in four of the five weeks prior.
All of that is fine, but the simple fact is, the Falcons are terrible against opposing quarterbacks. In ESPN's breakdown, Atlanta has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to the position. They've allowed 17 passing touchdowns and two rushing scores on the season, so don't be surprised if Smith finds the end zone once or twice.
The other name to mention is Case Keenum, who's even less expensive at $4,900. The Broncos quarterback isn't going to reel off 30 fantasy points, but with former backup Chad Kelly released after his arrest, fans have no one to chant for to replace Keenum. Plus, they face the Houston Texans who should have little problem putting up points so Keenum may have to air it out early and often.
Top DraftKings Optimal Lineup Around Favorite QB Play
– QB: Cam Newton ($6,600)
– RB: Christian McCaffrey ($7,800)
– RB: Mark Ingram ($5,000)
– WR: Michael Thomas ($7,600)
– WR: Robert Woods ($7,000)
– WR: Courtland Sutton ($3,900)
– TE: Travis Kelce ($6,600)
– FLEX: TJ Jones ($3,000)
– DST: Baltimore Ravens ($2,500)
Top-10 Highest Projected Running Backs on DraftKings
– Todd Gurley ($9,500) at New Orleans Saints
– Christian McCaffrey ($7,300) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
– Kareem Hunt ($7,700) at Cleveland Browns
– Alvin Kamara ($7,300) vs. Los Angeles Rams
– James Conner ($7,200) at Baltimore Ravens
– Melvin Gordon ($8,200) at Seattle Seahawks
– Mark Ingram ($5,000) vs. Los Angeles Rams
– Phillip Lindsay ($5,500) vs. Houston Texans
– Tarik Cohen ($6,200) at Buffalo Bills
– Adrian Peterson ($6,000) vs. Atlanta Falcons
Tier 2
With there being so many running backs and wide receivers worth playing, I've offered up two tiers of rankings for the two positions. Both lists are ranked based on highest projected and the number of players in tier two will depend on how much I like the options.
– Kerryon Johnson ($5,600) at Minnesota Vikings
– Nick Chubb ($4,500) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
– Kenyan Drake ($5,300) vs. New York Jets
– Chris Carson ($4,700) vs. Los Angeles Chargers
– *Devontae Booker ($3,700) vs. Houston Texans
*Booker if Royce Freeman ruled out
DraftKings Running Back Value Plays
*Note: All value plays at running back cost roughly $5,500 or less.
Mark Ingram may be one of my favorite plays on the slate based on price and upside. He's in a game that should feature a ton of points, he's insanely inexpensive at $5,000 and the Rams have bottled up pass-catching backs (Alvin Kamara). But on the ground, we've seen this talented Rams defense allow 726 rushing yards on 153 attempts (4.7 yards per carry) with five touchdowns.
While the Saints are going to utilize both Ingram and Kamara, this game has the former's name written all over it. He's seen 18, 14 and 16 touches in his first three games back from suspension, so the workload is obviously there as well.
I'm going to talk about both Phillip Lindsay and Devontae Booker here together because if Royce Freeman is ruled out, both names are in play. I wouldn't put them together in the same lineup (although I'm not completely opposed to it), but the matchup isn't bad. The Texans have allowed 640 rushing yards on 182 attempts and 47 receptions for 358 yards with five touchdowns to opposing backs.
The numbers against pass-catching backs are eye-opening, and if Freeman is ruled out, I actually could see the argument of leaning towards playing Booker at just $3,700 over Lindsay. Both are solid options, though.
With the Browns and Chiefs likely to square off in a shootout, Nick Chubb is once again squarely in play at $4,500. The Chiefs have been brutally bad against opposing running backs this season, allowing 5.3 yards per carry on the season and a league-worst 551 receiving yards to running backs. Along with those numbers, Kansas City has also allowed 10 total touchdowns to the position.
The Browns may use Duke Johnson more with Hue Jackson no longer in town, and he could actually be an intriguing inexpensive play. But that doesn't change the fact that Chubb is in a great spot in Week 9. He's seen 18 and 20 touches the past two games, and there's plenty to love about his upside.
Top DraftKings Optimal Lineup Around Favorite RB Play
– QB: Jared Goff ($6,000)
– RB: Christian McCaffrey ($7,800)
– RB: Phillip Lindsay ($5,500)
– WR: Brandin Cooks ($6,700)
– WR: Kenny Golladay ($5,500)
– WR: Sammy Watkins ($4,900)
– TE: David Njoku ($4,600)
– FLEX: Nick Chubb ($4,500)
– DST: Chicago Bears ($4,100)
Top-10 Highest Projected Wide Receivers on DraftKings
– Adam Thielen ($8,900) vs. Detroit Lions
– Michael Thomas ($7,600) vs. Los Angeles Rams
– Robert Woods ($7,000) at New Orleans Saints
– DeAndre Hopkins ($8,300) at Denver Broncos
– Julio Jones ($7,900) at Washington Redskins
– *Stefon Diggs ($6,800) vs. Detroit Lions
– Antonio Brown ($8,400) at Baltimore Ravens
– Tyreek Hill ($8,000) at Cleveland Browns
– Jarvis Landry ($6,500) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
– Keenan Allen ($7,300) at Seattle Seahawks
*Diggs currently questionable
Tier 2
With there being so many running backs and wide receivers worth playing, I've offered up two tiers of rankings for the two positions. Both lists are ranked based on highest projected and the number of players in tier two will depend on how much I like the options.
– Mike Evans ($8,100) at Carolina Panthers
– Kenny Golladay ($5,500) at Minnesota Vikings
– JuJu Smith-Schuster ($7,200) at Baltimore Ravens
– Emmanuel Sanders ($6,400) vs. Houston Texas
– Brandin Cooks ($6,700) at New Orleans Saints
– Marvin Jones ($5,300) at Minnesota Vikings
– Courtland Sutton ($3,900) vs. Houston Texans
– Sammy Watkins ($4,900) at Cleveland Browns
– Devin Funchess ($5,600) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DraftKings Wide Receiver Value Plays
*Note: All value plays at wide receiver cost roughly $6,000 or less.
Before breaking down the values at wide receiver, I'll mention that Cooper Kupp ($6,000) is certainly in play. Whether or not to use him comes down to how confident you are in his health. I do believe he's worth playing as it's unlikely the Rams would play him if he weren't 100 percent or very close to it.
It's the week of Detroit Lions wide receivers, apparently. After Golden Tate was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, we have quite a bit of value from the Lions at this position. Realistically, I think both Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones have similar value at their price points, although I like Golladay a bit more even with a potentially tougher matchup.
Both players will likely be scattered throughout my lineups and the hope here is that we see plenty of points. Even if that's not the case and the Lions potentially fall behind on the road against the Vikings, both players will see more than enough targets to be worth $5,500 and $5,300.
TJ Jones is an interesting option as he costs just $3,000 and should see a big workload increase with Tate now gone. There's plenty of risk that comes along with this play as he has just three catches for 36 yards this season. It's not as if the 26-year-old is unable to produce, though, as he caught 30 passes for 399 yards and one score last season. He should see a role more than worth that low price tag on DraftKings.
Courtland Sutton is going to have incredibly high ownership this week, so just prepare yourself for that. The Texans and Broncos could easily find themselves in a shootout and while Houston hasn't been destroyed by opposing wideouts, Keenum and Sutton have shown solid rapport. On the season, the Texans have given up 106 receptions for 1,242 yards and six touchdowns to the position.
Sutton has seen four or more targets in six of eight games this year and that was before the Broncos dealt Demaryius Thomas to Houston. The rookie out of SMU should see 7-9 targets without problem in Week 9 and will easily pay off his price.
Top DraftKings Optimal Lineup Around Favorite WR Play
– QB: Kirk Cousins ($6,200)
– RB: Kareem Hunt ($7,700)
– RB: Tarik Cohen ($6,200)
– WR: Julio Jones ($7,900)
– *WR: Stefon Diggs ($6,800)
– WR: Courtland Sutton ($3,900)
– TE: O.J. Howard ($4,300)
– FLEX: Nick Chubb ($4,500)
– DST: Baltimore Ravens ($2,500)
*If Diggs ruled out, pivot to Jarvis Landry
Top-10 Highest Projected Tight Ends on DraftKings
– Travis Kelce ($6,600) at Cleveland Browns
– David Njoku ($4,600) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
– O.J. Howard ($4,300) at Carolina Panthers
– Greg Olsen ($4,700) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
– Austin Hooper ($3,800) at Washington Redskins
– Trey Burton ($4,500) at Buffalo Bills
– Vance McDonald ($3,700) at Baltimore Ravens
– Jordan Reed ($4,800) vs. Atlanta Falcons
– Kyle Rudolph ($3,600) vs. Detroit Lions
– Benjamin Watson ($3,200) vs. Los Angeles Rams
DraftKings Tight End Value Plays
*Note: All value plays at tight end cost roughly $4,000 or less.
This is some legitimate ugliness at tight end in Week 9. If there's a button to just automatically play either Travis Kelce, David Njoku, O.J. Howard or Greg Olsen, I'd be fine with that. This is one of the toughest slates of the year when it comes to the tight ends after the top one or two (Njoku's dud last week doesn't leave anyone feeling great).
Based on the value that's open at other positions, I think we can technically consider Njoku, Howard or Olsen as value plays. For the sake of this article and to give a few even less expensive options, I'll still evaluate the other plays. To note, it's highly recommended to use one of the names above unless doing 150-max lines and trying to differentiate.
Austin Hooper does at least deserve a tip of the cap for his recent play. The Falcons tight end had caught 18-of-22 targets combined between Weeks 5-6. Unfortunately, he saw just four targets prior to the team's bye in Week 7, totaling three catches for 48 yards. If Hooper reverts back to seeing 10-12 targets, then I'm all for it, but that seems like a longshot.
Next up we have Vance McDonald, and the Steelers tight end has a pretty appealing matchup. Although we know Ben Roethlisberger has dealt with his fair share of road struggles, there's a chance he could lean on his tight end a bit. The Ravens have allowed 44 receptions for 510 yards and two touchdowns this season. McDonald is in play for big tournaments and his price is appealing as well.
For full disclosure, playing Kyle Rudolph in fantasy football gives me a bit of a headache this season. The good news is that he's coming off a game in which he saw the second-most targets of the season (seven) come his way, catching four passes for just 39 yards. The upside isn't high with Rudolph, so it's smart to temper expectations considering he hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 3.
The Lions have allowed four touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season, so it's a solid spot for Rudolph to snap the drought. They've also given up 389 yards to the position, which isn't ideal, but the size of the Vikings tight end could make him a red-zone option for Kirk Cousins this week.
Top DraftKings Optimal Lineup Around Favorite TE Play
– QB: Baker Mayfield ($5,600)
– RB: Christian McCaffrey ($7,800)
– RB: Mark Ingram ($5,000)
– *WR: Stefon Diggs ($6,800)
– WR: Jarvis Landry ($6,500)
– WR: TJ Jones ($3,000)
– TE: Travis Kelce ($6,600)
– FLEX: David Njoku ($4,600)
– DST: Chicago Bears ($4,100)
*If Diggs ruled out, take the high upside play with Brandin Cooks.
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