The NFL season continues to Week 9 with a full slate of NFL DFS action provided by DraftKings and FanDuel. This piece will examine the NFL DFS slate early in the week to find potential NFL DFS picks that will return the most value. Based on the salaries released by both DraftKings and FanDuel, we will go over some of the best Week 9 NFL DFS picks, but keep an eye on the news as the week progresses. A value play early in the week could turn into a bust chalk play due to injury or COVID-related illness. The best way to stay plugged in for all the news and notes throughout the week is by catching all the Awesemo NFL DFS Strategy and Picks shows on the Awesemo YouTube Channel.
NFL First Look: Week 9 NFL DFS Picks
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson, MIN vs. BAL ($7,300 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel)
Coming off a bye, Jackson is priced below the other elite options in the NFL. This looks like an error by the DFS platforms, with Jackson playing the best football of his career. The Ravens has drastically increased their pass rate, while Jackson completes 64.9% of his passes for a career-best 8.6 yards per attempt. Jackson also retains his elite mobility, with over 50 yards rushing in all but one game this season. Improving matters further, the Ravens have a potential shootout on deck against the Vikings. Baltimore is a 6-point favorite in a game with a 50.5-point total. Jackson is an elite price-adjusted play.
Jalen Hurts, LAC vs PHI ($6,700 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel)
Hurts had his worst performance of the 2021 season last week and gets a sharp reduction in salary. However, the poor performance had very little to do with Hurts, as the Lions did not put up any fight in the game. On the year Hurts has eclipsed 21 fantasy points in every other game. His passing stats leave much to be desired, but he still averages 32 attempts per game. With this volume and an elite rushing floor, Hurts still has one of the best floor/ceiling combinations in the entire league, with the Eagles in a game with a 51-point total as 3-point underdogs.
Trevor Lawrence, BUF vs. JAX ($5,400 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel)
For those looking at potential punt quarterback options, Lawrence continues to operate one of the NFL’s pass-heaviest offenses. It has not frequently translated to elite DFS scores, but Lawrence has fallen below 30 pass attempts only one time this season. Over the last two games, Lawrence has a ridiculous 95 pass attempts. Improving matters further, Lawrence contributes to a solid floor with his rushing ability. Lawrence averages 18.9 yards on the ground, making him a safer option at this price range. As 14-point underdogs to the Buffalo Bills in a game with a 49.5-point total, Lawrence is a serviceable punt option at the position.
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott, DEN vs. DAL ($7,000 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel)
Despite rumors of a timeshare this season, Elliott has handled a majority of the work in Dallas. Last week, he played on 75% of the snaps, while handling 16 carries and six targets. Elliott now has at least 20 touches in five straight games for Dallas, while showing a solid ceiling in the pass game. Over the last two weeks Elliott has 15 targets, making him game script independent. This week, the Cowboys opened as seven-point favorites over the Denver Broncos, again pointing game script in Elliott’s favor.
Damien Harris, NE vs. CAR ($6,000 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel)
Already one of the most game script sensitive teams in the NFL, New England also utilizes multiple running backs. However, they have committed to using Harris in an elevated role when playing from ahead. Harris now has at least 18 carries in two of New England’s last three games. In the game he only carried 14 times, Harris still notched 106 yards and a pair of scores against the Jets. Harris’ main concern comes in the pass game, where he has not been targeted more than two times since Week 1. However, New England enters Week 9 as three-point favorites over the Carolina Panthers. With positive game script again projected to work in his favor, Harris is a solid mid-priced running back here.
Devontae Booker, LV vs. NYG ($5,900 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel)
Yet to play their Week 8 game, the New York Giants opened as three-point underdogs to the Las Vegas Raiders. Since Saquon Barkley went down with an injury, Booker has handled a feature back workload. Booker has played on 80% of snaps, while seeing 42 carries and 11 targets in that span. These opportunities have not contributed to much efficiency, but the opportunities remain in place for Booker. This week, the Giants are three-point home underdogs to the Raiders in a game with a 48-point total. Las Vegas ranks 26th in yards per carry allowed to opposing backs, setting up Booker for increased efficiency as a cheap price in Week 9.
Wide Receivers
Davante Adams, GB vs KC ($8,200 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel)
Coming off the Covid-19 list, Adams is the most expensive receiver on the Week 9 slate without Cooper Kupp. On the year, Adams has a ridiculous 34% target share and 43.5% air yards share in Green Bay’s offense. While Adams’ opportunity has regressed in his two most recent games, those contests occurred against the Chicago Bears and Washington Football Team. With those inept offenses on the other side, Green Bay slowed their pace and coasted to easy victories. This week, Green Bay plays the elite Kansas City Chiefs offense in a game with a 54-point total. Green Bay is a 2.5-point underdog, meaning there should be throwing at a higher rate, making Adams an elite play.
DJ Moore, NE vs. CAR ($6,400 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel)
A strong buy low in DFS, Moore continues to see elite opportunity in Carolina’s offense. Moore boasts a 29.4% target share and 39.7% air yards share. However, his better games are front-loaded towards the beginning of the season. Carolina does not project to positive regress in terms of offensive efficiency with Sam Darnold benched in two straight weeks. However, they are just three-point underdogs at home against a banged up New England Patriots secondary. While the quarterback controversy remains, Moore is a volume-based play at a cheaper price against the New England Patriots this week.
Marquise Brown, MIN vs. BAL ($6,000 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel)
For those stacking Jackson in the pass game, Brown as a true WR1 this year. Baltimore continues to throw at a higher rate than any other point in Jackson’s career and Brown’s target share has stabilized. He currently boasts a 25.1% target share and a 36.9% air yards share. Victim of multiple dropped touchdowns, Brown’s price is still affordable on this slate. As 6.5-point favorites over Minnesota in a game with a 50.5-point total, Brown looks like the clear top stacking option with Jackson in Week 9 DFS.
Tight Ends
Zach Ertz, MIN vs. BAL ($4,700 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel)
After getting acclimated to the Arizona offense for a week, Ertz’s snap share jumped to 73% in Week 8. Ertz saw four targets in the game which he turned into 42 yards. Ertz only has a 15% target share in the Arizona offense, but his role projects to continue increasing as he spends more time with the team. This week, Arizona is a three-point favorite over the San Francisco 49ers in a game with a 47.5-point total. Already playing a weak position, Ertz makes sense as a stacking option for those attacking Arizona.
Jared Cook, LAC vs. PHI ($3,300 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel)
Already looking like a strong week for punt tight ends, Cook is a strong punt and attachment to the Los Angeles Chargers. While Cook only recorded 25 yards last week, he still saw five targets for the Chargers. On the year, Cook’s 38 targets rank only behind Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, and Austin Ekeler on the team. The Chargers face the Philadelphia Eagles as three-point favorites in a game with a 51-point total. Cook offers a cheap stacking option inside this elite game environment.
Josiah Deguara, GB vs. KC ($2,500 DraftKings, $4,400 FanDuel)
For those looking to completely punt the tight end position, Green Bay lost their starter Robert Tonyan to a season-ending injury. Marcedes Lewis already plays a significant number of snaps, but he plays a very specific role as a blocker. 2020’s third round pick, Deguara could be in line for a larger workload here. Deguara played 22% of Green Bay’s snaps and immediately saw a pair of targets when Tonyan left the field. Again, Green Bay plays Kansas City in the week’s highest totaled game. While Deguara is risky, he also offers a cheap attachment to Aaron Rodgers and this passing attack.
Thanks for reading to the end of this article! If you appreciate this free content and want to see more of it every day, you can help us out by sharing this article on social media!
[NFLPAGE]
