The back half of the NFL season begins this weekend. Welcome to Week 9 everyone!
I’d be remiss not to apologize for last week’s article and my lack of oversight on the other notable wide receivers. Unfortunately on my end, I listed a couple tight ends there rather than some more receiver plays. Injury news throughout the week, and into the weekend, also dramatically shifted my cash game strategy.
In particular, the absence of Adoree Jackson for the Titans made Mike Evans a cash game lock for me. Additionally, the Cincinnati Bengals were missing pieces in their secondary, which helped jam in Cooper Kupp. Perhaps the most important piece of the puzzle though was Latavius Murray. Simply put, whoever the starting running back is for a Drew Brees-led team needs to be priced higher than $6,200 on Fanduel. Usually, I prefer to load up on studs at running back. Last week was an exception and it worked out for the best for my cash lineup.
Here are some of the players I’m targeting for cash game considerations in Week 9:
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Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson (SEA): $8,600 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Through the first eight weeks of the season, the Bucs are allowing just 68.6 rushing yards per game. Opposing running backs are averaging 2.9 yards per carry against the Bucs, the lowest average in the NFL. Their funnel defense sets up perfectly for a rebound game from Wilson, who last week started hot but then fell into complacency mode in the second half. In fact, 80.7% of the total yards per game coming against the Bucs has been through the air. Don’t let last week’s ho-hum performance linger in your mind. Wilson is at home in the highest total game of the day. If you can afford him, get him in your lineup.
Matthew Stafford (DET): $7,900 @ Oakland Raiders
Much like the Buccaneers, the Raiders are giving up a ton of yards in the passing game week after week, while their rushing defense has been surprisingly decent. If you decided to roster Ty Johnson last week, you have firsthand knowledge that the Lions’ rushing game is now officially dead.
Stafford has a legitimate argument for MVP consideration this season. He is fourth in passing yards and second in passing touchdowns. He has the second-most passing yards coming from 20 or more yard attempts. He is second in touchdown-per-throw percentage.
The defense he’s facing this week has been terrible in pretty much all those statistical categories. The Raiders have allowed the fourth-most passing yards of passes over 15 yards. Opposing quarterbacks are averaging 298.4 passing yards and 2.7 touchdowns per game. While the road game is a slight concern, expect Stafford to have a high floor in what could be a high scoring game in the Bay.
Other notables
Josh Allen (BUF): $7,700 vs. WAS
Carson Wentz (PHI): $7,400 vs. CHI
Running Backs
Dalvin Cook (MIN): $9,000 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Cook is one of just six players in the NFL with at least 15 touches per game. He ranks second in the NFL in carries inside the five-yard line. His 2.01 Yards per route run ranks sixth among running backs with at least 15 targets. With an average of six yards per touch, Cook ranks seventh in the NFL among running backs. Suffice to say, he’s #good.
Aaron Jones (GB): $7,700 @ Los Angeles Chargers
Like Cook, Jones is performing exceptionally well in the passing game. He’s averaging 2.38 Yards per route run, third among running backs. While this helps a bit more on Draftkings with the full PPR scoring, Jones isn’t a slouch with the half-point PPR scoring settings.
Over the last four games, the Chargers have allowed four different running backs to score five touchdowns. Two have eclipsed the 100-yard mark too (David Montgomery and Phillip Lindsay). While the Chargers haven’t allowed a lot of receiving yards to running backs, they have allowed 22 receptions on 23 targets over those last four games. There are many options worse than Jones this week.
Other notables
Jordan Howard (PHI): $6,300 vs. CHI
Le’Veon Bell (NYJ): $7,000 @ MIA
Wide Receivers
Allen Robinson (CHI): $7,200 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles defense hindered the Buffalo Bills’ offense on the road last week. The Bills also don’t have a receiver of Robinson’s quality on their roster. Last year in the playoffs Robinson caught 10 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown against the same Eagles secondary.
Among players that have played seven games, Robinson is one of just five players with at least seven targets per game and is averaging 9.4 targets per game. Thus far he’s had six games with at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards. All of this with Mitch Trubisky and Chase Daniel throwing to him.
Chris Godwin (TB): $8,200 @ Seattle Seahawks
Last week was Mike Evans week. In Week 9 however, Godwin is set to take advantage of the Seahawks’ defense. Currently the highest total on the slate, the Bucs and Seahawks certainly has the ingredients for an old-fashioned shootout. So where does Godwin come into play in that?
To start, he will be matched up against Jamar Taylor. This season Taylor is the number 101 ranked corner according to Pro Football Focus. On the season, Godwin has feasted on defenses running predominantly zone coverage. The Seahawks play zone on approximately 60% of their snaps per The Quantum Edge. On the season Godwin is one of just 13 players averaging nine or more targets per game.
Other notables
Kenny Golladay (DET): $7,600 vs. OAK
Robby Anderson (NYJ): $6,200 @ MIA
Tight Ends
Darren Waller (OAK): $6,800 vs. Detroit Lions
Waller’s exceptional season has been nothing short of sensational. While he’s finally priced appropriately, he could still outperform the field this weekend. Only four defenses allow more receiving yards per game to opposing tight ends. With five targets in every game this season, Waller is a focal point of a surprisingly competent Raiders passing attack. Fire him up if you can afford to pay up at the position.
Hunter Henry (LAC): $6,400 vs. Green Bay Packers
Henry finds himself in the third-highest game total of the slate against an opponent that has allowed four touchdowns to three different tight ends over the last two games. Since returning from injury, Henry has caught 18 passes on 23 targets for 244 yards and two touchdowns. All four of his red-zone targets have come in that time-frame as well.
Other notables
Travis Kelce (KC): $6,700 vs. MIN
T.J. Hockenson (DET): $5,000 vs. OAK
Defense
Washington Redskins DST: $1,800 @ Buffalo Bills
This might be a game where either defense is a decent cash game option, with Washington being a solid salary relief option. The funny thing is, aside from the franchise itself, is that the Redskins have been playing some decent defense the past three weeks.
Over the last three games, Washington has given up 16 points, nine points and 19 points respectively. While the first opponent was the Miami Dolphins, the other two were the 49ers and the Vikings. They’ve forced a turnover in seven straight games and are tenth in the NFL in sacks over the last three weeks.
Buffalo Bills DST: $3,800 vs. Washington Redskins
Speaking of Washington’s last three games, it would be negligent to not talk about their offense as well. With a total of 26 combined points and just 681 total yards, the offense is struggling immensely. They also don’t know who is going to be playing at quarterback this Sunday.
Other notables
Cleveland Browns DST: $3,100 @ DEN
Carolina Panthers DST: $2,800 vs. TEN
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Matt Giraldi is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Matt, check out his archive or follow him @Mgiraldi.
