The NFL DFS Week 9 slate might be one of the most unpredictable yet, and the Stokastic Sims prove it. After running thousands of simulated DraftKings lineups, we analyzed the top 150 lineups (each with at least three unique players) to pinpoint the most common stacks, one-offs and leverage spots. This week’s Sims don’t show a runaway star or must-play stud. Instead, they reveal balance: Elite running backs paired with flexible mid-tier receivers and a few contrarian stacks that could define GPP-winning builds.
NFL DFS Week 9 Picks: Best Stacks and Leverage Plays from Sims
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Quarterbacks: Mahomes Leads, but Purdy and Love Offer Value
The Sims favored Patrick Mahomes (44 lineups), and it’s easy to see why: His correlation with Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice makes him a natural centerpiece for high-ceiling builds.
After Mahomes, things open up:
- Brock Purdy (18): efficient, stackable and cheaper access to 49ers weapons.
- Jordan Love (13) and Jaxson Dart (12): affordable pivots with condensed passing trees.
- Justin Herbert (11) and Caleb Williams (11): strong tournament ceiling options.
Running Backs: McCaffrey and Tracy Dominate Exposure
Running back ownership in the Sims showed two massive standouts:
- Tyrone Tracy Jr. (104 lineups): an elite salary saver with good volume now that Cam Skattebo is out, plus pass-game involvement.
- Christian McCaffrey (93): no surprise, still the premier ceiling back in DFS.
- Jaylen Warren (74): continues to emerge as one of the top mid-range value plays.
Beyond that trio, we see the classic mix of leverage and contrarian shots:
- D’Andre Swift (34): perfect mid-tier RB in balanced builds.
- Kimani Vidal (17) and Jahmyr Gibbs (15): efficient and under-owned.
- Bijan Robinson (9) and Travis Etienne Jr. (7): GPP leverage with big-play potential.
Wide Receivers: Dike, Chase and Nacua Top the Charts
This week’s wideout pool tells an interesting story. Chimere Dike (75 lineups) surprisingly led all WRs, a clear indicator that salary relief is key to optimal construction. Behind him were the usual studs:
- Ja’Marr Chase (42): elite standalone value.
- Puka Nacua (41): a top option in Matthew Stafford or one-off lineups.
- Jauan Jennings (39) and Wan’Dale Robinson (36): cheap, consistent value.
- Ladd McConkey (32) and Olamide Zaccheaus (28): deep-field WRs who make double stacks work.
Higher mid-range WRs like Drake London (18), Rome Odunze (15) and Michael Pittman Jr. (14) offer leverage off the chalkier options, while Rashee Rice (28) remains a solid correlation play with Mahomes.
Want a quick look at how the Week 9 Sims are shaking out? This DraftKings NFL DFS cheat sheet gives you a snapshot of the top stacks, values and leverage plays from the latest Stokastic NFL DFS Sims run.
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Tight Ends: Kelce and Kraft Split the Crown
Tight end exposure was more balanced than usual, led by:
- Travis Kelce (33 lineups): still the standard in any Mahomes stack.
- Tucker Kraft (31) and George Kittle (28): high-ceiling plays as one-offs or in stacks.
- Oronde Gadsden II (28): elite per-dollar value on a cheaper tag.
- Sam LaPorta (25) and Hunter Henry (23): floor options in mid-range builds.
Defenses: Broncos and Giants Top Exposure
DST exposure this week focused heavily on mid-range defenses:
- Broncos (38): top value and strong sack projection.
- Giants (31): favorable matchup, cost-effective.
- Texans (15), Falcons (13) and Raiders (12) rounded out the top 5.
Top NFL DFS Week 9 Stacks
From the top 150 simulated lineups, these NFL DFS Week 9 stacks appeared most often:
- Patrick Mahomes + Travis Kelce + Rashee Rice: premium ceiling stack with consistent exposure.
- Brock Purdy + George Kittle + Jauan Jennings: affordable, high-efficiency correlation.
- Jordan Love + Tucker Kraft + Romeo Doubs: budget stack with massive upside.
One-Offs and Leverage Plays
- Tyrone Tracy Jr.: Best cheap play on the slate, appeared in 70%+ of top Sims.
- Chimere Dike: Salary saver on a hot streak.
- Ja’Marr Chase: Highest ceiling of any receiver on the slate.
- Bijan Robinson: Under-owned ceiling RB with bounce-back upside.
