DRAFTKINGS DFS CASH PLAYS NFL WEEK 9 2021

Week 9 is upon us, and man do we have some drama this week with trades and COVID and whatnot. Again, DFS is your friend in all this because you don’t have to worry about bye weeks and injuries, and fitting the salary cap becomes your greatest task. Here are all the top plays for you cash players, and don’t forget to catch me on Sirius XM Fantasy radio Thursdays at 10:35 PM EST and on Sirius XM NFL radio Saturdays at 10:20 PM EST with the Football Diehards!

 

QUARTERBACK

TOP PLAY

Lamar Jackson, BAL ($7300)

This is a bizarre week as we’ve been presented with a unique value play at QB (more on him below). However, with no real “musts” at the high end of RB or WR, you can still pay up for QB if it suits you, and Lamar would be my choice there. Lamar is the most effective RB on the team over everyone in their four-way committee, and Baltimore has increased their passing volume for three straight weeks as well. This sets up very nicely against a MIN defense missing their two top defenders in Danielle Hunter and Patrick Peterson. Jackson also presents a solid discount (always important) off of Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.

Other options - Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes

Mid-tier options - Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow

VALUE PLAY

Jordan Love, GB ($4400)

With Love under center instead of Aaron Rodgers, the entire Packers offense becomes volatile with absolutely no data to help us out here (Love is making his first career start). That said, we don’t often get a QB priced near a “minimum RB price tag”, and it’s staggering what you can do with the rest of the roster if you take the savings at QB here. As I said above, it’s not necessary since there aren’t any real standout stud RBs or WRs that are ABSOLUTE musts, but using the savings on Love can really raise the floor of the rest of your lineup.

Other options - Derek Carr, Tua Tagovailoa, Daniel Jones

RUNNING BACK

TOP PLAY

Ezekiel Elliott, DAL ($7000)

Zeke is coming in as one of many Cowboys who are curiously underpriced on DraftKings, and I can’t see myself fading him at this price. Over the last five games, Elliott has logged touch counts of 20, 24, 23, 20, and 20, and is now facing a Denver defense that is absolutely decimated on all fronts. Bradley Chubb, Bryce Callahan, AJ Johnson, and Josey Jewell are all out with injury, and Von Miller has been traded away to the Rams. It’s possible that Dallas’ team total of 29.5 is too low here, and Zeke promises to be a huge factor.

Other options - Alvin Kamara, Austin Ekeler, Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon

Mid-tier options - Nick Chubb, Cordarrelle Patterson, Josh Jacobs


VALUE PLAY

Myles Gaskin, MIA ($5800)

I’ll admit, this is more of a “follow the ownership” call than an actual ringing endorsement for Gaskin, who has been very “meh” this year behind a suspect offensive line (especially for run blocking). However, I can see why the masses are on him. Despite being one of the worst teams in football, the Fins are 7-point home favorites against a Texans defense that barely looks worthy of an NFL field, and are allowing a shade over 5.5 YPC. Gasking has finally been receiving the bulk of the volume, with 27 carries and eight targets over his last two games, and that floor should translate to a heightened ceiling against Houston.

Other options - Devontae Booker, Eli Mitchell, Darrel Williams

WIDE RECEIVER

TOP PLAY

Tyreek Hill, KC ($7900)

In the preseason we all had Tyreek and Kelce as the “1 and 1A” of this KC offense, but lately it’s been evident that Hill is taking over as the “1” (is Kelce’s age finally catching up with him?). Even though the Giants did an amazing job of preventing the home run ball last week, Hill was utilized underneath just as often, racking up 12 catches on 18 targets. This week he gets a GB defense that is still missing Jaire Alexander, so the sky’s the limit in another must-win for KC.

Other options - Deebo Samuel, Stefon Diggs, Ja’Marr Chase
Mid-tier options - Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, Brandin Cooks, Ceedee Lamb


VALUE PLAY

Amari Cooper, DAL ($5700)

The 5k-6k range is ripe with value this week, but none stands out more than Cooper to me. I spoke about Zeke above being mispriced, but $5700 makes NO sense for Cooper. There’s a good chance Dak Prescott returns here, and even if he doesn’t Cooper was a WR1 with Rush last week too, racking up an 8-122-1 line on 13 targets. Denver’s defense is a shell of its former self and their secondary has allowed the fourth most FPPG to WRs over the past four weeks. Lock in this value all day long.

Other options - Cortland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker, Hunter Renfrow

TIGHT END

TOP PLAY

Darren Waller, LV ($6200)

As I mentioned above, it’s fair to wonder if Kelce is declining a bit at this point. His aDOT and YPT is way down, and he’s only scored once since his three TDs in the first two weeks. At the top end, I actually think Waller profiles as a better per dollar play as long as he’s healthy. The Raiders do not have Henry Ruggs anymore, which means Waller should see a steady diet of targets against the Giants who have given up the fifth most FPPG to TEs since losing Blake Martinez, and now Jabrill Peppers is also lost for the season while Xavier McKinney is on the COVID list. That said, we have a perfectly good punt at TE again this week, so Waller is more of a luxury than a necessity.

Other options - Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews

Mid-tier options - Dalton Schultz, Dallas Goedert


VALUE PLAY

Albert Okwuegbunam, DEN ($2600)

OK, it literally took me almost a full minute to properly write his name, so he’s henceforth to be christened as “Albert O”. Noah Fant is on the COVID list, so Albert O will be megachalk if he sits, and rightfully so. He’s a ridiculous athlete for his size, and has a 92% catch rate this year (albeit in a limited sample). He’s already a red zone target even when Fant is on the field, and the Cowboys give up the eighth most FPPG to opposing TEs. As long as Fant sits, take the free square here.

Other options - Dan Arnold, Jared Cook, Tyler Conklin


TOP FIVE DEFENSES FOR CASH PRIORITY
Kansas City Chiefs ($2300) - this is fine to do even if you play Love at QB
Miami Dolphins ($3100)
Carolina Panthers ($2600)
Las Vegas Raiders ($2900)
Buffalo Bills ($4000)