DFS Hunter Report Week 9 2018

My best GPP lineup in Week 8 featured 163.50 points, out of three total lineup entries. Not bad, as I cashed a small amount, but nowhere near my 200-point goal:

QB-Mitchell Trubisky – 21.9
RB-Saquon Barkley – 20.1
RB-Jalen Richard – 14.4
WR-Tyler Boyd – 31.6
WR-Larry Fitzgerald – 29.2
WR-Marquise Goodwin – 12.5
TE-O.J. Howard – 16.8
FLEX-Robert Woods – 12
DST-Bears – 5

Total – 163.50

As I mention every week, I’ll be basing my weekly write-ups off DraftKings salaries, keeping in mind all suggestions are not equal and some players I like more for tournament or cash lineup builds over others.

 

QUARTERBACK

Top Level

Kirk Cousins, MIN vs. Detroit Lions ($6,200) – Cousins has been playing well enough, although he hasn’t been lighting it up this season. He does have two games over 30 points this year, one against the Rams and the other facing the Packers, so there’s hope for a boom day. I like the divisional matchup here with the Lions, a team far below league average in passing TDs allowed with 15. If you’re looking for a QB other than Patrick Mahomes, and you want to pivot away from the high ownership percentage that Cam Newton will bring facing the Buccaneers defense, Cousins is a smart speculative play in tournament lineups. One thing to keep in mind this week: there are a ton of good value plays at QB, so if you’re looking to save a few bucks and avoid the top QB plays, I’m all for one of the value plays.

Other Choices: Patrick Mahomes, KC @ Cleveland Browns ($7,100); Cam Newton, CAR vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($6,600)

Value

Russell Wilson, SEA vs. Los Angeles Chargers ($5,900) – Wilson is starting to pick up his production while providing some consistency, averaging 21.74 PPG over his last three contests. Wilson is a perfect cash game play for me, providing the recent consistency and affordable salary sitting below the $6K mark. Plus, the matchup is nothing to sneeze at facing the Chargers.

Other Choices: Jared Goff, LAR @ New Orleans Saints ($6,000); Matt Ryan, ATL @ Washington Redskins ($5,700); Baker Mayfield, CLE vs. Kansas City Chiefs ($5,600); Philip Rivers, LAC @ Seattle Seahawks ($5,600); Ryan Fitzpatrick, TB @ Carolina Panthers ($5,500); Alex Smith, WAS vs. Atlanta Falcons ($5,000)

Over-Value

Mitchell Trubisky, CHI @ Buffalo Bills ($5,800) – I don’t like the Bills matchup on the road for Trubisky. I know the score looked lopsided against the Patriots on Monday, but the Bills really played well defensively. That will continue, as I don’t expect Trubisky to earn value at $5.8K. I really believe he’ll be lucky to earn 3X his salary, so you can move away from Trubisky with all the other options out there in play this week.

Other Choices: Ben Roethlisberger, PIT @ Baltimore Ravens ($5,700) – I know Big Ben is supposed to be good to go for this week’s game, but any time you hear the word “fracture” it’s a bit concerning. Yes, the fractured finger is on his non-throwing hand and he takes shotgun snaps almost always, but it’s still something to consider; Matthew Stafford, DET @ Minnesota Vikings ($5,600)

RUNNING BACK

Top Level

Cristian McCaffery, CAR vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($7,800) and Kareem Hunt, KC @ Cleveland Browns ($7,700) – I LOVE McCaffery and Hunt this week in all formats, and not just based on the matchups. I mean, sure, the matchups have a big impact on my decision this week, but I really dig these price tags. I was expecting both to be above $8K. I know it’s only a few hundred bucks, so we’re not talking about a huge savings. Still, I’m going to build one tournament lineup with both RBs. Yowza!

Other Choices: Melvin Gordon, LAC @ Seattle Seahawks ($8,200) – Gordon is only in play if he’s healed completely. The questionable tag has me a tad worried, especially involving a hamstring; Alvin Kamara, NO vs. Los Angeles Rams ($7,300)

Value

Dalvin Cook, MIN vs. Detroit Lions ($5,300) – There’s still a chance that Cook may not play in this one, but if he does the price tag is great for all lineup situations. I know I’ll be monitoring things up until game time to make sure Cook is a go. If he is, I’ve got Cook as a blanket-play, someone who I will load into all my lineups. As I’ve stated in the past, I usually only enter a few lineups in GPP play, so the risk isn’t as great as you’d think for me. Ha!

Other Choices: Tarik Cohen, CHI @ Buffalo Bills ($6,200); Adrian Peterson, WAS vs. Atlanta Falcons ($6,000); Philip Lindsay, DEN vs. Houston Texans ($5,500); Latavius Murray, MIN vs. Detroit Lions ($5,200); Jordan Howard, CHI @ Buffalo Bills ($4,700); Nick Chubb, CLE vs. Kansas City Chiefs ($4,500); Duke Johnson, Jr., CLE vs. Kansas City Chiefs ($3,800)

Over-Value

James Conner, PIT @ Baltimore Ravens ($7,200) – I won’t blame you if you want to roster Conner considering his production of late; however, I expect his numbers to fall a bit facing the Ravens. If the Steelers are going to be successful in this one, it will be due to Big Ben rising above it all and finding his receivers often. This $7.2K tag puts me off some.

Other Choices: None

WIDE RECEIVER

Top Level

Michael Thomas, NO vs. Los Angeles Rams ($7,600) – Thomas hasn’t been able to match his early-season success of 30-plus point games, and he’s been a bit more relaxed in his output overall of late. What about this game you ask, facing the Rams? Brees is going to zero in on Thomas all day long and he’ll find the end zone at least once, likely twice. Well, that’s my feeling/prediction anyway. So, yeah, a bit of gut feeling tossed into this choice, eh? The Rams will be tested, and Thomas will be the one taking advantage underneath the Rams pass coverage.

Other Choices: Adam Thielen, MIN vs. Detroit Lions ($8,900); Julio Jones, ATL @ Washington Redskins ($7,900); Robert Woods, LAR @ New Orleans Saints ($7,000)

Value

Brandin Cooks, LAR @ New Orleans Saints ($6,700) – I like all the Rams’ receivers this week, as you should too with how awful the Saints pass defense is. Cooks is averaging 15.1 PPG and offers a solid choice for cash games. I’ll be rostering him in a tournament lineup or two as well. You risk ownership percentages running high for the Rams receivers, so something to think about in Week 9, although worth the risk overall. What about Cooper Kupp, you say? He’s supposed to return from injury, so I’ve listed him below.

Other Choices: Jarvis Landry, CLE vs. Kansas City Chiefs ($6,500); Cooper Kupp, LAR @ New Orleans Saints ($6,000); Calvin Ridley, ATL @ Washington Redskins ($5,700); Devin Funchess, CAR vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($5,600); DeVante Parker, MIA vs. New York Jets ($4,600); Demaryius Thomas, HOU @ Denver Broncos ($4,500); D.J. Moore, CAR vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($4,300)

Over-Value

Emmanuel Sanders, DEN vs. Houston Texans ($6,400) – Sanders is not over priced by any means; however, I’m more concerned about everyone and their brother getting super excited about the Demaryius Thomas trade. Meaning: Sanders is A#1 Hot Dog WR now, with no major competition for targets. I can see Sanders being rostered on a crap-ton of rosters. Maybe I’m overanalyzing this one, but I don’t think so. If you want to use Sanders as a cash game play, that’s fine, but I’d steer clear in GPP or tournament play.

Other Choices: Tyreek Hill, KC @ Cleveland Browns ($8,000) – Groin injury at $8K? Nah, I’ll pass.

TIGHT END

Top Level

Travis Kelce, KC @ Cleveland Browns ($6,600)

Value

Greg Olsen, CAR vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($4,700) – Yes, it’s a value-TE week! Not all of these guys will pay off, but there is nice potential with each.

David Njoku, CLE vs. Kansas City Chiefs ($4,600)

Trey Burton, CHI @ Buffalo Bills ($4,500)

O.J. Howard, TB @ Carolina Panthers ($4,300)

Austin Hooper, ATL @ Washington Redskins ($3,800)

Kyle Rudolph, MIN vs. Detroit Lions ($3,600)

Ben Watson, NO vs. Los Angeles Rams ($3,200)

Over-Value

Vance McDonald, PIT @ Baltimore Ravens ($3,700)


Good luck in Week 9! Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter: @TheRolyPolyBoy