NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel - Week 9
NFL DFS season is in full swing as Week 9 approaches, and our expert analysts are breaking down NFL DFS lineup optimizer picks and projections for FanDuel and DraftKings. Sign up for RotoGrinders Premium for full access to our NFL lineup optimizer and fantasy football projections all season long.
This week we have some high-powered offenses off the main slate, as the Lions, 49ers, and Jaguars are on bye (also Broncos), Miami and Kansas City are facing off early Sunday in Germany, Buffalo and Cincinnati are the Sunday night game, and the Chargers play Monday (vs the Jets). That’s seven of the top thirteen highest scoring offenses unavailable, and the game totals reflect that, as only three of the ten main slate games currently have a projected total above 41, and none are above 47. Fortunately seven of the ten games have spreads of 3.5 or less, so we should still be in for plenty of competitive games, and we know at least a couple of these low total games are going to end up going way over.
It’s also another week of QB chaos, as Jaren Hall will start for the injured Cousins, Taylor Heinicke will take over in Atlanta for Ridder, Aidan OConnell will take over for Garoppolo, Clayton Tune will start for Arizona, Deshaun Watson will return for Cleveland, Matthew Stafford is a true GTD but looking closer to doubtful, and Tyson Bagent will continue to start for the injured Fields. A few other major injuries this week are Dameon Pierce out with an ankle injury, Drake London out with a groin injury, Kendrick Bourne out for the year and Parker out with a concussion, Darren Waller out with a hamstring injury, Curtis Samuel out with a toe injury, and Demercado out for Arizona.
Let’s get in to some of my favorite plays of the slate!
NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer Picks for DraftKings
With so many top offenses off the slate there are only seven players priced at $8k or higher, and none above $9k. Mark Andrews ($6,800) is the priciest TE, but I think most people will go much cheaper there with someone like Trey McBride ($3,700), Logan Thomas ($3,500), or David Njoku ($3,800). The Giants DST ($2,300) is one of my favorite punt play defenses of the season against McConnell and the Raiders, while the Browns DST ($4,200) is easily my favorite spend up defense.
Devin Singletary ($4,300)
Singletary was already starting to take over a big share of this backfield with 12+ touches in each of the last two games, and now he’ll have it almost all to himself with Pierce out this week. We know his receiving ability from his time in Buffalo, so even if he doesn’t put up a big rushing yards total against a 10th ranked Bucs rush defense, he should still easily be worth his extremely cheap price by turning a few catches in to solid yardage, and if he can find the endzone in any capacity he should be a top p/$ play of the slate.
Demario Douglas ($4,000)
Douglas finds himself as the likely WR1 for Jones and the Patriots this week, as he’s seen 13 targets over the last two games, and now won’t have to compete for looks with Bourne (knee) or Parker (concussion). He’s also facing a Commanders defense allowing over 256 pass yards/game and 27 points/game, both good for 29th out of 32 in their respective rankings. I think this is the week Douglas gets his first career TD, and even if he doesn’t he should easily see 8+ targets and be worth his extremely cheap salary.
Michael Pittman ($6,600) / Chris Olave ($6,300)
These are easily my two favorite WRs in the $6k-$7k price, and I would highly suggest having one if not both them in your main build. Pittman has seen 13+ targets in two of the last three games, and has gone for 16+ FP in three straight games. His biggest target competition, Downs, is officially questionable with a knee injury after two limited practices to end the week, so if he’s at all limited or eventually ruled out, Pittman could be looking at 15+ targets in a projected close and relatively high scoring game with Carolina.
Olave is going to have a ceiling game at least once before this season is over, and this week is about as good of a matchup he could ask for. The Bears are a pass funnel defense, allowing over 260 pass yards/game but just 78.8 rush yards/game, so most of the Saints 24.75 projected points will likely come through the air, which is a great setup playing at home in a dome with no wind concern. Olave is averaging over 9 targets/game, and is currently second in the league in air yards behind AJ Brown, so if he can finally connect on some of these deep balls which is highly likely against Chicago, he is going to obliterate his price.
NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer Picks for FanDuel
I think it’s a pretty similar lineup construction on FanDuel this week, with Singletary ($5,300), Douglas ($5,400), and McBride ($5,300) looking like top value plays, and the combo of Pittman ($7,300) and Olave ($6,900) remaining two my favorite plays of the week at fantastic prices. The Browns DST ($4,700) is my favorite cash game target, while the Giants DST ($4,000) is still a strong cheaper option.
Chuba Hubbard ($6,500)
Hubbard has leapfrogged Sanders as the RB1 in Carolina, and against a Colts defense allowing 124 rush yards/game and the most points/game (27.6) in the league, he’s one of my favorite p/$ plays on FanDuel. I prefer him on a half-PPR site as he’s not very involved in the passing game, and pairing him with Singletary in cash games will make it super easy to fit in a couple $8k+ studs.
Gardner Minshew ($6,500)
Minshew is the 6th highest p/$ projected QB on FanDuel this week, yet has a projected ownership around 3%. Of all the QBs priced under $7k his team has the highest projected total at 23 points, and stacking him with Pittman along with a Hubbard bring back is a fantastic value trio and mini game stack at excellent salaries.
Zay Flowers ($6,100)
The Ravens have the highest projected team total of the slate, and are facing a pass funnel Seahawks defense allowing over 234 pass yards/game. Flowers dropped $400 in price from last game and is way too cheap for someone averaging over 7 targets/game, so if you need to fill a final WR or Flex spot in cash games I would definitely consider Flowers as a great way to get Ravens exposure for cheap.
Use Our DFS Lineup Optimizer for Week 9
Make sure to check out our in-house NFL DFS lineup optimizer, LineupHQ, to get a great look at even more top projected plays. It is by far the best place to build a large number of lineups quickly using your personalized build rules, ownership preferences, and stacks you want covered. You can also look at projected ownership to help you decide between players if you’d rather get leverage on the field with someone likely to see much lower ownership than similar plays at his position or price point.
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