Week 9 Cash Game Picks on DraftKings
Quarterback
Russell Wilson vs. Washington $7,300
I freaking love Russell Wilson. The dude is an absolute baller and has been since day 1 in the NFL and even dating back to his college years. Wilson’s command of the Seahawks offense and passing volume continues to increase year after year. This season, he’s posted over 29 DraftKings points in four of his past five games. He just keeps getting it done and now gets to play at home in a game that could become a shootout.
Drew Brees vs. Tampa Bay $7,000
Brees’ TD passes are down this season but he’s still eighth in the league in passing yards. If there was EVER a game for Brees to blow up or at least hit value, it’s this one. He gets to play at home in the dome against a Buccaneers defense that ranks dead last in pass DVOA and that has given up the third most passing yards per game.
Alex Smith at Dallas $6,500
Ya, Alex Smith didn’t have a fantastic day last week. But it was against the Broncos phenomenal pass defense. He’s still second in the league in passing yards and is tied for throwing the third most pass TDs. Now he gets a Cowboys defense that ranks 13th worst in pass DVOA in a game with a current Over/Under of 51.5.
Dak Prescott vs. Kansas City $6,700
And how about the home team QB!? Dak didn’t produce last week because he wasn’t needed as Zeke put the team on his back in sloppy weather conditions. But with Elliott’s suspension back on, for now, this is Dak’s team. Look for the stud QB to prove his worth once again by producing at home against a Chiefs defense that has allowed the fifth most passing yards per game.
Running Back
Mark Ingram vs. Tampa Bay $7,600
Throw the “Sean Payton hates Mark Ingram” jokes in the trash…for now. Ingram has been a workhorse RB ever since Adrian Peterson was traded. He’s seen at least 24 opportunities (carries + targets) in three straight games and had at least 19.9 DraftKings points in every game over that stretch as well. His solid involvement in the Saints passing game is what really makes him exciting. Playing at home in the dome, he’s right back in play once again against an average Buccaneers defense.
Leonard Fournette vs. Cincinnati $8,400
Fournette has seen the ninth most carries in the league and he’s only played in six games. That’s some insane guaranteed volume right there. Monitor the injury report but as long as he’s all systems go, Fournette’s workload makes him a fantastic play at home against the Bengals.
Mark Alberti/ Icon Sportswire
Kareem Hunt at Dallas $8,600
Hunt’s struggles against the Broncos last week marked the first time ALL season he failed to reach 100+ total yards. Wow. He’s been such an impressive rookie and now gets a matchup against a Cowboys defense that ranks third-worst in run DVOA in a game with a current Over/Under of 51.5.
Todd Gurley at New York Giants $8,100
Gurley’s 183 opportunities (carries + targets) so far this season are in elite company as is his production. And now the 5-2 (Seriously!?) Rams get to face off against the 1-6 Giants. The Rams are currently three-point favorites and Gurley gets a matchup with a Giants defense that ranks 11th worst in run DVOA and that has given up the 10th most rushing yards per game.
Aaron Jones vs. Detroit $6,000
Before the Packers’ bye, Jones saw 17 carries and an 80.95% RB carry share in their last game. He turned those opportunities into 138 total yards and a TD. He gets to play at home in Green Bay, has a legit chance to continue to lead this team in RB opportunities, and is priced much cheaper than other workhorse RBs.
Christian McCaffrey vs. Atlanta $6,500
McCaffrey is ninth in the entire league in targets and is tied for the eighth highest team specific target market share at 25%. And now Kelvin Benjamin has been traded, leaving his targets up for grabs. Plus, McCaffrey gets to play at home against a Falcons defense that struggles to cover pass catching RBs. Atlanta ranks eighth worst in pass DVOA and sixth worst in run DVOA.
Doug Martin at New Orleans $5,800
Martin has seen at least 16 opportunities (carries + targets) in all four of his games this season and at least 20 opportunities in his last two. He’ll need to find the end zone due to limited work in the passing game, but Martin has a good chance to do just that against a Saints defense that ranks fourth worst in run DVOA. His $5,800 price tag is way too cheap for a workhorse RB with a good matchup.
Chris Thompson at Seattle $6,100
Thompson continues to be a huge part of Washington’s pass-first offense. He’s second on the team in targets and has posted at least 15.6 DraftKings points in all but one game this season. He’ll be needed on the road in Seattle and his high floor at an affordable salary is intriguing in cash games.
Wide Receiver
Michael Thomas vs. Tampa Bay $7,200
Thomas is tied for the 14th most targets in the league and has seen 21 more targets than any other player on the Saints. Thomas has hit at least 77 receiving yards in five of seven games yet has not had over 100 yards yes this season. IT’S TIME. Thomas goes for over 100 yards and finds paydirt this week. Book it.
Dez Bryant vs. Kansas City $6,400
DEZ’S PRICE IS ONLY $6,400. I REPEAT, DEZ’S PRICE IS ONLY $6,400!!! With Zeke suspended, as of now, this offense runs through Dez and it’s not even close. Playing at home, Dez has the benefit of catching passes from one of the best QBs in the game and has a matchup against a Chiefs defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to WRs so far this season. Dez hits 20+ DraftKings points for the first time this season on Sunday. Mark it down.
Mike Evans at New Orleans $7,700
Evans is tied for seeing the sixth most targets in the league and he’s playing in a game with a current Over/Under of 50 points. The Saints pass defense has been much better this season. Still, they have no one that can cover Evans.
Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Doug Baldwin vs. Washington $6,900
The Seahawks and Russell Wilson are in another great spot this week. Enter Baldwin, the team’s leading receiver who has seen 15 more targets than his next closest teammate. The Seahawks have a healthy implied team total of 26.5 points and face off against a Washington defense that is average against the pass.
Devin Funchess vs. Atlanta $5,400
Funchess is second on the team in targets behind only Christian McCaffrey and now he has less competition with Kelvin Benjamin being traded to the Bills. He should see a healthy number of targets this week against a Falcons defense that ranks eighth worst in pass DVOA.
Mohamed Sanu at Carolina $5,300
Sanu is clearly the #2 option in Atlanta behind only Julio Jones. He’s hit double-digit DraftKings points in all but one game so far this season and his price continues to be affordable. He’ll be needed once again this week against a tough Panthers defense.
Michael Crabtree at Miami $6,500
Crabtree is tied for the third most TD catches in the league with six and gets a Dolphins defense that ranks fifth worst in pass DVOA. He’ll have a solid game and produce for your cash lineup.
Golden Tate at Green Bay $6,300
Tate leads the Lions in targets and is tied for the eighth most receptions in the league. His price is affordable and very enticing in cash against a Packers defense that is average against the pass.
Jeremy Maclin at Tennessee $4,000
Looking for an affordable option? Maclin is averaging 5.5 targets per game and should produce against a Titans defense that ranks 1oth worst in pass DVOA.
Tight End
Zach Ertz vs. Denver $6,800
I mean duh. Ertz leads all TEs in targets and is tied for the 12th most targets in the entire league. And now he gets to play at home against a Denver defense that struggles mightily to cover the TE position. The Broncos have given up the third most fantasy points to TEs so far this season.
Evan Engram vs. Los Angeles Rams $5,600
Engram is now by far the team leader in targets in a pass-first offense as the offense basically runs through him with Odell Beckham and Brandon Marshall out for the season. Team leaders that see priority opportunities at affordable prices are always in play in cash.
Travis Kelce at Dallas $6,700
Kelce leads all TEs on this week’s slate in DraftKings points per game with 16.7, is playing in a game with a current Over/Under of 51.5, and gets a Cowboys defense that is only average against the pass.
Jamie Squire/ Getty Images
Cameron Brate at New Orleans $4,500
Brate has hit double-digit DraftKings points in six straight games and now gets a matchup with a Saints defense that is average against the pass. This game currently has an Over/Under of 50 points.
Jack Doyle at Houston $4,300
DOYLE RULES! Doyle has seen the fourth most targets at the TE position so far this season and now gets a matchup with a Texans defense that has allowed the 11th most passing yards per game.
Defense/Special Teams
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cincinnati Bengals $3,800
The Jaguars defense has allowed the sixth-fewest yards per game and also leads the league in sacks. Meanwhile, the Bengals offense has accumulated the third fewest yards per game so far this season. The Jaguars get to play at home and are my favorite D/ST play of the entire week.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Denver Broncos $3,300
The Eagles have a solid defense and get to play at home against a struggling Broncos offense that is considering a QB change.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Redskins $3,500
The Redskins are struggling to run the ball right now and the last thing you want to be is one-dimensional while playing in Seattle.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans $2,000
This one is all about the price baby! You can save a ton of salary and the Colts get to play against Tom Savage who has yet to throw a TD pass in his NFL career.
Tennessee Titans vs. Baltimore Ravens $3,700
The Titans get to play at home against a Ravens offense that has posted the second-fewest yards per game so far this season.