It is hard to believe, but we have reached the halfway point of the NFL season as we enter Week 9. As usual, injuries have piled up at this time of the season, and we need to watch the injury news closely leading up to kickoff on Sunday. In addition, last week’s late-breaking news pushed lineups onto D’Andre Swift and the Falcons pass-catchers, which didn’t turn out too well. However, don’t let that deter you from following the news this week and making the necessary pivots if needed.
This week also features the potential returns of some players to the field, which could affect lineup construction. My advice is to embrace players coming off the injured list if they are given the green light to start and are expected to garner their typical workload. So, let’s get after the Cash game lineup advice for Week 9!
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The players below are ones I’m looking at for cash game considerations for Week 9 main slates:
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Tyrod Taylor (HOU): $5,000 vs. MIA
I told you in the intro to embrace players returning from injury, and I’ll give you one right out of the gate with Taylor returning to the field at a cheap price and in a favorable matchup against the Dolphins. Taylor started the season hot as the starting quarterback for the Texans with 23 DraftKings points in Week 1 and 16.5 DraftKings points in Week 2 before leaving with an injury halfway through the game.
Taylor draws a great matchup in his return against a Dolphins pass defense that ranks 26th DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) according to FootballOutsiders and has allowed 316 passing yards (31st) and 2.4 touchdown passes (30th) per game over the last five weeks. Jordan Love ($4,400) might get some “love” as a cheap option in cash games, but I’d prefer to spend a few more bucks on Taylor.
Other notables: Lamar Jackson (BAL): $7,300 vs. MIN, Jalen Hurts (PHI): $6,700 vs. LAC
FanDuel
Lamar Jackson (BAL): $8,300 vs. MIN
The cheap options at quarterback on FanDuel aren’t as appealing, so paying up for Jackson makes more sense. Jackson has only thrown one touchdown pass in six of his seven games this season, yet due to his running ability, he has still managed to top 18 FanDuel points in every game except for one.
The season numbers allowed by the Vikings’ pass defense look good, but with a depleted secondary without Patrick Peterson, they allowed 325 yards and two scores to Cooper Rush last week. The only other time the Vikings faced a dual-threat quarterback this season was in Week 2 when Kyler Murray put up 400 passing yards with three touchdown passes and added 31 yards and a score on the ground. Jackson might not reach those numbers, but then again, he might.
Other notables: Patrick Mahomes (KC): $8,500 vs. GB, Joe Burrow (CIN): $7,600 vs. CLE
Running Backs
DraftKings
Austin Ekeler (LAC): $7,900 vs. PHI
Ekeler’s dual-threat role on the ground and in the passing game is perfect for DraftKings PPR scoring. His price tag reflects that production, but he deserves it with at least 22 DraftKings points in five of his last six games.
Ekeler gets a plus matchup and game environment this weekend against the Eagles. The Eagles have allowed 100 rushing yards (25th) and one touchdown (26th) per game to running backs this season on the ground. They have also coughed up 7.6 receptions (30th) for 54 yards (26th) through the air to backs over the last five weeks.
Dalvin Cook (MIN): $7,700 vs. BAL
It looks like a week to pay up for at least two (maybe even three) dual-threat running backs this week in Cash games. Cook has been in and out of the lineup, and with a bye week mixed in, he hasn’t been able to get his rhythm and heavy workload recently. However, that should change this week with some coach speak that they need to get Cook more involved (and they do), which should give him a shot at 30 touches on the road in Baltimore.
The Ravens run defense ranks 20th DVOA and have allowed 104 rushing yards (26th) per game this season. In a game with one of the higher Vegas totals and a reasonably tight line, Cook should be heavily involved in the offense. Also, give strong consideration to Christian McCaffrey if he is clear to return from injury as you won’t see a low $8,000 price tag on him again.
Other notables: Christian McCaffrey (CAR): $8,000 vs. NE, Aaron Jones (GB): $7,200 vs. KC, Devontae Booker (NYG): $5,900 vs. LV
FanDuel
Dalvin Cook (MIN): $8,800 vs. BAL
Cook is my top option at running back on FanDuel. See above for a full write-up on Cook.
Devontae Booker (NYG): $6,300 vs. LV
When I began researching this slate, I thought Myles Gaskin would be my cheap running back recommendation, and while Gaskins is still viable against the Texans, my preferred option is Booker. With Saquon Barkley likely out another week, Booker has had 12-plus carries in four straight games to go along with at least three targets.
This week the Giants are at home against the Raiders, who have allowed 115 rushing yards (27th) per game over the last five weeks on 4.51 YPC (24th). They have also allowed 1.25 total touchdowns per game to backs over the previous five weeks. Add in a bit of #revenge against the team Booker played with last season, and he is a nice value option.
Other notables: Aaron Jones (GB): $8,500 vs. KC, Ezekiel Elliott (DAL): $8,200 vs. DEN, Myles Gaskins (MIA): $6,100 vs. HOU
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Tee Higgins (CIN): $5,300 vs. CLE
Part of the reason I’m comfortable paying up for multiple running backs is the excellent value in the mid-range at wide receiver on DraftKings this week. Two of those options come from the Bengals/Browns game with Higgins and Jarvis Landry. Higgins has reached double-digit DraftKings points in five of his six games this season. While Landry has 18 targets over the last two weeks, and the Browns offense parted ways with Odell Beckham.
The Browns secondary has been vulnerable to wideouts over the last five weeks allowing 13.4 receptions (20th) for 186 yards (26th) and 1.4 touchdowns (28th) per game. While all three Bengals receivers deserve some consideration, Higgins has the best combination of salary, floor, and upside.
Hunter Renfrow (LV): $4,800 vs. NYG
Renfrow has been as consistent as they come this season, reaching double-digit DraftKings points in six out of seven games. Renfrow could have added upside this week against the Giants with the dismissal of Henry Ruggs and a sensational individual matchup against a Giants secondary that grades out poorly defending slot receivers, according to ProFootballFocus.
The expected return of Darren Waller could be an issue, but the Giants have defended tight ends well this season which should force more looks inside to Renfrow. He isn’t the sexiest pick, but he is inexpensive and guaranteed targets perfect for cash lineups this week.
Other notables: Brandin Cooks (HOU): $6,100 vs. MIA, Marquise Brown (BAL): $6,000 vs. MIN, Jarvis Landry (CLE): $5,100 vs. CIN
FanDuel
Stefon Diggs (BUF): $7,600 vs. JAC
Diggs was a lock-in my cash game lineup last week, and while he didn’t explode as I hoped, he was solid. As a result, his price didn’t increase much this week, and he draws another favorable matchup against the Jaguars.
The Jaguars have allowed 15 receptions (30th) for 173 yards (17th) and one touchdown (13th) per game to wide receivers over the last five weeks. Diggs might have to get his production early as a Bills blowout is very likely.
DeVante Parker (MIA): $6,200 vs. HOU
In his first game back from injury, Parker picked up right where he left off with 11 targets turned into eight catches for 85 yards against the Bills. However, Parker and the Dolphins draw a much easier opponent this week playing at home against the Texans.
The Texans have given up 191 receiving yards (28th) and one touchdown (13th) per game to opposing wide receivers. Parker should be in line for at least half of that production, including some red-zone looks, and comes has a very reasonable price on FanDuel.
Other notables: Deebo Samuel (SF): $8,000 vs. ARI, Brandin Cooks (HOU): $6,800 vs. MIA, Rashod Bateman (BAL): $5,400 vs. MIN
Tight Ends
DraftKings
Dallas Goedert (PHI): $4,500 vs. LAC
Goedert has played two games since Zach Ertz was shipped out of town, and in those two games, Goedert has topped 70 receiving yards in each game to post 12 and 13.2 DraftKings points, and that is without scoring a touchdown.
Look for Goedert to hit paydirt this week against the Chargers, who have allowed 0.7 touchdowns (28th) per game to tight ends. Oh, and they have also given up an average of 75 yards per game to tight ends. So, another game with 70-plus yards and a tack on a score, and you have a big day for a reasonably priced tight end.
Other notables: Tyler Conklin (MIN): $3,000 vs. BAL, Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN): $2,600 vs. DAL
FanDuel
Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN): $4,500 vs. DAL
Typically, I would pay up for Travis Kelce in this spot, but I don’t care for how my cash lineup comes together with Kelce. So, instead, I’m hoping to go cheap with Okwuegbunam assuming that Noah Fant is out. If Fant does play, I’ll move up to Kelce or Dallas Goedert and figure it out.
Okwuegbunam returned last week, caught all three targets for 34 yards, and could be in for an increased snap count and routes if Fant is out. The Broncos will likely need to pass to keep up with the Cowboys and have allowed solid production to tight ends with 5.3 receptions (19th) for 62 yards (23rd) and 0.6 touchdowns (23rd) per game.
Other notables: Travis Kelce (KC): $7,800 vs. GB, Dallas Goedert (PHI): $6,200 vs. LAC
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
Vikings (MIN): $2,200 vs. BAL
You wouldn’t think that an athletic, mobile quarterback like Lamar Jackson would allow so many sacks, but he does with 3.25 per game (28th) over the last five weeks. You also probably don’t think of the Vikings as a big pass rush team, but they average a league-high 3.5 sacks per game over the last five weeks. Not bad for near min-price on DraftKings.
Other notables: Browns (CLE): $2,500 vs. CIN, Chiefs (KC): $2,300 vs. GB
FanDuel
Chiefs (KC): $3,300 vs. GB
The Chiefs defense moves into consideration and could be popular now that Aaron Rodgers is out and will be replaced by Jordan Love making his first NFL start. While I do think Love will play fairly well, it is also likely that he will take some sacks and turn the ball over at some point.
Other notables: Cowboys (DAL): $3,900 vs. DEN, Giants (NYG): $3,500 vs. LV
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