DraftKings.com NFL DFS Week 9 Picks and Plays for Cash Game and GPP Lineups

Week 9 of NFL DFS is upon us, and everyone is looking to cash in on the big daily fantasy football money at DraftKings. Every week, we’ll bring you our top NFL DFS picks at each position, separating them into Cash Game and GPP plays. And to keep up with all things PlayPicks, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

As with any daily fantasy sport, the advice below is relevant for fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than in real life due to matchup, price, gameflow, and various other factors. This is important to remember when constructing a roster.

In DFS NFL, predicting gameflow can be vital. For example, teams winning comfortably are far more likely to lean on their running games, while two teams with poor defenses and high-powered offenses could pay off by getting into a shootout. Later in the season, weather will play a key factor in NFL games, so make sure to check the forecast for each Sunday.

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Best Week 9 NFL DFS Quarterback Plays

Deshaun Watson vs. IND ($8.1K) – GPP/Cash
The Houston Texans are in third place in the AFC South, but that doesn’t reflect just how brilliant Deshaun Watson has been, at least from a fantasy perspective. The rookie stud has scored at least 24.3 DraftKings points in each of his last five games, and he’s coming off an absolute shootout against Seattle’s defense in which he scored 38.78 DK points on 402 yards and four touchdowns. He also tied his season-high (and career-high) rushing yard total with 67 yards on eight attempts.

This week, Watson gets an Indianapolis Colts defense that isn’t pressuring anyone, let alone sacking quarterbacks. However, Watson has a whopping 8.8 sack percentage. I don’t think this Colts defense has enough to build on that figure, and I expect some positive regression. As such, I think Watson is multi-faceted enough and has enough weapons to stay upright and continue racking up impressive passing stats, while providing the rushing upside you want in GPPs. The Texans also have an implied total of 31, which is another very good reason to roster Watson.

UPDATE: With Watson out for the rest of the year, I like Tom Savage in this one. He’s just $4.8K on DraftKings, meaning it’s going to be very hard for him not to hit value. I think he has a much more secure floor than most position players at that price range, and you need savings if you won’t to go elite at RB1 and RB2.

Drew Brees vs. TB ($7.0K DraftKings) – Cash
The Saints are coming off a pretty brutal performance against the Chicago Bears, but they pulled out a win. In their second of back-to-back home games, Drew Brees gets a soft Tampa Bay defense in a game with an over/under of 50.0 points. For what it’s worth, Brees and the Saints are currently carrying an implied total of 28.5.

While Brees didn’t do much from a fantasy perspective in the Saints’ win over Chicago, he did manage the game very well, not throwing any interceptions, throwing for 299 yards (on just 23 completions), and completing just over 82 percent of his passes. This week, against a sometimes high-powered Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad, Brees will almost certainly be asked to do more, as the Bucs rank 17th in DVOA vs. the run, but dead last in DVOA vs. the pass. Gameflow and opponent weakness appear to be working strongly in the 38-year-old’s favor.

Jameis Winston @ NO ($5.8K) – GPP
While I think Drew Brees offers a safe Cash play, Jameis Winston is a terrific leverage/contrarian play. First of all, he should be owned at a much lower clip than Brees due to his horrible play last week and lingering shoulder issue (which is the reason he’s GPP-only and likely the reason he’s been so inconsistent). Second, the Bucs are on the road, and they’re seven-point underdogs. They’ll need to throw, and as long as he’s healthy, Winston will be the one doing it. And he’ll be doing it against a Saints defense that is actually good against the pass (sixth in DVOA).

That’s another reason I think many will fully fade the third-year quarterback. But he just torched a very good Buffalo Bills defense two weeks ago to the tune of 384 yards and three touchdowns. With no clear reliability to be found in the run game as of yet, Winston remains the Bucs’ leading offensive weapon and should be able to get back on track with Mike Evans against a lesser defense than the Carolina squad that shut them both down last week.

Derek Carr @ MIA ($6.7K DraftKings) – GPP/Cash
It really appears the Miami Dolphins don’t think they have what it takes to compete this season. That, or they somehow think trading Jay Ajayi for a future pick doesn’t really hurt their chances. At 4-3, the Dolphins could still compete for a wild card berth, but with Jay Cutler at QB and Ajayi off to Philly, it’s tough to visualize this team turning things around.

It certainly doesn’t help that Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, and Michael Crabtree are in town this week. Those three, when in sync, are an absolute monster of an offense. We saw it two weeks ago with Cooper. He went ballistic on Thursday Night Football. And we’ve seen it (more consistently) with Crabtree, who has developed into the producer he was expected to be. With Miami ranking 27th, 26th, and 32nd against QB, WR1, and WR2 in DVOA, respectively, these three should have a field day. Throw in the fact that Miami is third in DVOA against the run, and it starts to become clearer exactly how Oakland is going to have to operate. Consider Carr’s 400-yard, four-TD upside for your GPP lineups, but I’m staying away in Cash as I do have concerns about Miami falling behind.

Secondary Options: Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, Kirk Cousins, Carson Wentz, Alex Smith, Jacoby Brissett

Best Week 9 NFL DFS Running Back Plays

Kareem Hunt @ DAL ($8.6K DraftKings) – GPP
The Dallas Cowboys defense just isn’t very good this season, and that includes against the run where they rank 31st (second to last) in DVOA against RBs. Enter Kareem Hunt, who, considering the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl hopes, is probably the top option for Rookie of the Year, ahead of Deshaun Watson.

Hunt has had an incredible season thus far, drastically overdelivering on his third-round selection, an absolute steal for the Chiefs as it stands. While he’s struggled in the past three weeks (at least by his standards), he still tallied at least 88 yards from scrimmage in each game. However, at his price, I don’t think 88 yards from scrimmage is enough to fire away in Cash. Instead, I’m recommending Hunt for GPP, as I’m uncertain whether his recent struggles are more of a long-term trend.

For the record, I don’t think they are. And with the Chiefs heading into a bye after this week, I expect they’ll deploy Hunt in full against an exploitable Cowboys defense.

Todd Gurley @ NYG ($8.1K DraftKings) – GPP/Cash
Allowing over 100 yards per game on the ground to opponents, the New York Giants shouldn’t have their hopes too high against the sensational Todd Gurley. The Rams’ lead back is coming off a bye week and should be well-rested against a defense ranked 24th in DVOA against the run. Further, prior to the bye, Gurley rushed for 100+ yards in consecutive games, scoring 40.7 DK points in the two games combined.

Expected to be one of the lower-scoring games on the slate, the Rams and Giants could struggle to get much offense going in this one, at least if you believe the 42 over/under. I don’t think that will affect Gurley, who should see plenty of work on the ground. And considering the Rams are -3.5 favorites to win at New York, Vegas doesn’t think LA will have to throw to catch up to Eli Manning and the struggling Giants. Fire away on Gurley in GPPs, but he’s also a definite Cash consideration given the matchup and likely gameflow.

Mark Ingram vs. TB ($7.6K DraftKings) – Cash
My only concern with Mark Ingram this week is that the Saints just might not need him that much. While there is a possibility Jameis Winston is able to get this into shootout mode, I don’t think it’s a highly likely scenario. In that case, the Saints will be able to cruise out of this one, and I worry Ingram’s upside is limited as a result. His carries have been much better lately, but trending downward from 25 in Week 5 to 23 in Week 6 and then 18 in Week 8 after the Saints’ bye week.

That said, Ingram has a fantastic matchup, plus consistent use in the passing game. As he’s the clear-cut lead back in NOLA, he has a solid rushing floor. Unfortunately, he isn’t a burner. I’m not sure he’ll get near 100 yards if he doesn’t see more than 18 carries this week with the Bucs allowing 88 yards to opposing backs per game, especially if Alvin Kamara sees double-digit carries. He’s capable of a big play but doesn’t boast the big-play abilities of some other RBs on the slate who you want in GPPs.

This is all very negative. But the fact is the Bucs are a little worse than average against RBs (17th vs. rush, 21st vs. pass-catching backs in DVOA), and Ingram should see 20+ touches. And with at least four catches in each of the last four weeks, his floor is probably an extra four or five points higher than it was last year. I don’t see multiple scores, nor do I see 100 yards on the ground. Without multiple touchdowns and/or the 100-yard rushing bonus, I think you could potentially do better in GPP lineups at this price point. But Ingram is a very stable option for your Cash lineups.

Adrian Peterson @ SF ($5.6K DraftKings) – GPP
After an insane debut in Arizona in which he scored 28.4 DK points, Adrian Peterson came back to Earth with a single-digit outing last time out against a middling Rams defense. This week, however, he gets an excellent matchup against a 49ers that’s 25th in DVOA against the run and 31st in DVOA against the pass.

Now, Peterson typically sticks to the ground game, but he saw four targets in his last game. Perhaps the Cardinals would actually like him to at least attempt to fill some of the more dynamic holes left by the David Johnson injury. Take that upside, plus the matchup, and think about rolling the dice with Peterson in GPPs. He has the upside, given the matchup and inherent blowout potential, considering the Niners have allowed an average of 33 points per game in their last three.

UPDATE: Add Ezekiel Elliott to this list, as well. The embattled star running back is staving off suspension one more week. He’ll be leveraged heavily in this game opposite fellow stud RB Kareem Hunt.

Secondary Options: Orleans Darkwa, Ameer Abdullah, Javorius Allen, Damien Williams, LeSean McCoy

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Best Week 9 NFL DFS Wide Receiver Plays

Marqise Lee ($3.9K DraftKings) – GPP
With 15.0 and 11.2 DK points in his last two games, respectively, Marqise Lee has seen some production come his way in the Jacksonville offense, albeit without catching a touchdown pass. Still, those are impressive numbers having not found the end zone, which makes him an appealing play this week as the Jaguars host a tough Bengals defense.

Listen, I don’t like this play because of the matchup. But with 16 targets in the past two weeks, leading to nine receptions, Lee is getting action within this offense. He even saw a red-zone target last week after three games without one. Given the Jags’ WR injury situation, expect Lee to continue evolving into a more prominent figure in the passing game. Given his dirt-cheap price tag, he’s absolutely on my GPP shortlist for wideouts.

Dez Bryant vs. KC ($6.4K DraftKings) – GPP/Cash
The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t the defensive stalwarts they were in past years, but their offense has been more than enough to win them games. This week, against a Cowboys team missing their best player, the Chiefs will likely focus on stopping Dez Bryant. Good thing for Dez, the Chiefs can’t seem to stop anyone.

Ranking 31st in DVOA vs. WR1, the Chiefs have been exceptionally weak against the position. Bryant, though coming off a bad game against the Washington, had strung together three solid (14+ DK point) outings prior. Without Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys are desperate for scorers. Bryant is the leading red-zone threat on that team now, and at $6.4K, considering his probability to score given the Chiefs league-leading 13 TDs to opposing WRs, he’s just too good to pass up in most situations.

Jeremy Maclin @ TEN ($4.0K DraftKings) – GPP
I hate rostering anyone from the Baltimore Ravens, but Jeremy Maclin’s matchup against a Titans defense allowing the third-most passing touchdowns on the season (nine) is worth a look. After missing some time due to injury, Maclin returned last week to score 14.3 DK points thanks to finding the end zone.

While Joe Flacco has been anything but elite, the two have connected on three scores in six games this season. Now, I don’t think Maclin has a 50 percent chance of catching a touchdown in this game, but I do believe Flacco’s arm and Maclin’s speed provide big-play upside for the latter, especially against an exploitable Titans secondary. What’s more, Maclin doesn’t need much to pay off that brutally low salary, which is down 32 percent year over year (from $5,900).

Devin Funchess vs. ATL ($5.4K DraftKings) – Cash/GPP
I’m not sure how you don’t lock Devin Funchess into just about every one of your Cash lineups this week. With Kelvin Benjamin off to Buffalo in exchange for draft picks, Funchess leaps to the top WR spot in an offense tremendously short on options.

I could tell you now about how the Atlanta Falcons rank 27th in DVOA, or about how Funchess has averaged over six targets per contest in his past five games. None of that is as important as the fact that Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin are missing from this offense (the former still due to injury). Funchess isn’t the best option so much as the only one. Sure, you could take a flyer on Russell Shepard or another wideout rising on the depth chart thanks to this trade, but Funchess should see around 10 targets with upside for more, at home in a divisional matchup. Fire away in Cash and GPPs, but I’m considering him a near lock for the former.

Secondary Options: Russell Shepard, Tyreek Hill, Michael Thomas, Pierre Garcon, DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Michael Crabtree, Mike Evans, Paul Richardson

Best Week 9 NFL DFS Tight End Plays

Zach Ertz vs. DEN ($6.8K DraftKings) – Cash/GPP
For as good as Zach Ertz has been this season (hasn’t scored below 13.1 DK points in a given week), he hasn’t had that huge game many owners have been hoping for in DFS. He’s very pricy, but Ertz has a crazy-high floor and immense upside (even if he hasn’t fully unleashed it yet this season). The Broncos have allowed the third-most receiving yards to tight ends this season, along with four touchdowns. I expect Ertz to once again be the bedrock of this Philadelphia pass-catching game.

Vernon Davis @ SEA ($4.1K DraftKings) – GPP
The Seattle Seahawks are still a tough defense, and they rank 6th in DVOA vs. TEs. With Jordan Reed out due to a hamstring injury, veteran Vernon Davis will take over as lead tight end. After Seattle’s crazy shootout against Houston last week, it seems possible another one could be in store with Seattle welcoming gunslinger Kirk Cousins and Washington to town. It’s hard to understand what kind of impact Davis will see with Reed’s absence, but Reed did have 10 targets in his last full game. Those have to go somewhere, and Davis should see a share of those extra looks.

Secondary Options: Travis Kelce, Jimmy Graham, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Delanie Walker, Jason Witten

Best Week 9 NFL DFS Defense Plays

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. CIN ($3.6K DraftKings) – GPP/Cash
The Cincinnati Bengals have an implied total of 17.5 in this one. That’s both a testament to how good this Jacksonville defense is (plus how much better it got with the acquisition of Marcell Dareus) and how bad Cincinnati’s offense can be. Fire away on the home favorites in both Cash and GPP, but especially the former.

Detroit Lions @ GB ($3.0K DraftKings) – GPP
With Brett Hundley at the helm, the Green Bay Packers are a turnover-prone offense. The Lions‘ defense has moments of brilliance but, overall, is an above-average squad. When the Packers don’t have Aaron Rodgers, you see how much the Packers rely on Aaron Rodgers. This will be another one of those weeks. Roll with the Lions in GPPs on the possibility that they can take an interception back to the house. Hundley has four in the last two weeks after all, and Detroit ranks 9th in DVOA vs. the pass.

Secondary Options: Houston Texans, Washington Redskins

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