Week 9 of the 2022 NFL season is upon us. It’s been an unpredictable season with tons of parity, while the dominant teams such as Buffalo, Kansas City, and Philadelphia all look primed to go on a deep run in the playoffs. It will be challenging from a DFS perspective in Week 9 with six teams on Bye, which places more emphasis on certain impact players. Of course, there is always value to be found, we’ll just need to do a bit more digging on this slate.
My recommended players from Week 8 were big hits, especially Philadelphia quarterback and top-three MVP candidate Jalen Hurts (QB – Eagles), who finished as the QB2 with four passing touchdowns and nearly 285 yards through the air against a vulnerable Pittsburgh secondary. Christian McCaffery (RB – 49ers) and Derrick Henry (RB – Titans) both finished inside of the top three in PPR formats, with each player delivering a noteworthy performance leading their teams to victory. Tyreek Hill (WR – Dolphins) and Brandon Aiyuk (WR – 49ers) finished as WR1s, while Zach Ertz (TE – Cardinals) cracked the top five in terms of tight end finishes. Finally, the Eagles and Patriots D/ST delivered top-seven finishes with multiple turnovers, rounding out a productive Week 8 slate.
Here are my favorite players to insert into your DraftKings and FanDuel lineups ahead of the 12-game slate in Week 9.
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
DraftKings maximum salary is set at $50,000
Patrick Mahomes (QB – Chiefs): $7,800
Fresh off of the Bye Week, Patrick Mahomes is entering a matchup against the Titans’ 24th-ranked pass defense. Tennessee has surrendered 14 passing touchdowns, allowing 10.4 yards per completion. The 2018 MVP winner has thrown for over 330 yards and two touchdowns in consecutive games leading up to a primetime game in Arrowhead on Sunday night, so pay up to acquire Mahomes’ arm talent.
Justin Fields (QB – Bears): $5,300
Chicago is finally designing plays around second-year quarterback Justin Fields. This is translating into big production no matter the matchup, as Fields has thrown for at least one touchdown in four straight games. He’s also returning value as a ball carrier, rushing for at least 60 yards and a touchdown in back-to-back games against New England and Dallas. Fields is a great value due to his discounted rate and high-end rushing ability against Miami’s run defense in Week 9.
Honorable Mention: Marcus Mariota (QB – Falcons) ($5,300) is essentially the same as Fields from a production standpoint. He’s coming off a 71 percent completion rate against Carolina’s pass defense while logging 30 to 60 rushing yards in his last four games.
FanDuel
FanDuel maximum salary is set at $60,000
Justin Herbert (QB – Chargers): $7,800
The Chargers go as Justin Herbert goes. They are injured at wide receiver, but that won’t limit their third-year quarterback’s outlook against the league’s worst pass defense. Atlanta is the best matchup for quarterbacks and will be without top defensive back A.J. Terrell (CB – Falcons), so Herbert should produce his third 300-yard outing of the season with over 50 pass attempts in an offense that has difficulty establishing the run.
Geno Smith (QB – Seahawks): $7,500
Seattle’s investment in Geno Smith has paid off, as he is now in the top ten odds to win the 2022 MVP. The Seahawks will travel to play divisional rival Arizona, who they beat with sound defense and a rushing attack 19-9 in Week 6. Smith will be asked to do more in this rematch and he’s fully capable of producing a two-touchdown stat line through the air, especially against the Cardinals’ bottom-ten pass defense.
Honorable Mention: Trevor Lawrence (QB – Jaguars) ($6,800) has cooled off a bit but he’s still capable of throwing for over 250 yards against most teams. The Jaguars will face a Las Vegas defense that allowed Alvin Kamara (RB – Saints) to score three touchdowns, including two through the air, so expect Lawrence to take advantage of the plus-matchup with his arm and legs.
Running Backs
DraftKings
Derrick Henry (RB – Titans): $8,500
After delivering yet another 200-yard rushing performance against Houston’s porous run defense in Week 8, Derrick Henry is set to have another big outing against the Chiefs. He’s been limited in practice but assuming he plays, the sheer volume alone makes Henry a worthwhile add in lineups. The Chiefs don’t give up many rushing touchdowns (3) but they do allow 4.2 YPC, which is plenty for Henry to take advantage of during Sunday night in Arrowhead stadium.
Joe Mixon (RB – Bengals): $6,500
It’s been a tough start to the season for Joe Mixon. He doesn’t look like the same running back with the burst and speed we’ve seen in previous seasons, but the newly paid offensive line is still coming together. He averages close to 15 to 20 touches per game and will face Carolina’s 23rd-ranked run defense at home in Week 9. Without Ja’Marr Chase (WR – Bengals), we saw Cincinnati feed Mixon early and often. He has to get going soon, and at this discounted salary, he’s a worthy addition to DFS lineups.
Honorable Mention: Raheem Mostert (RB – Dolphins) ($6,100) took over Miami’s backfield a few weeks ago and churns out production. He may not find the end zone every week, but Chicago’s run defense is ranked 31st in the league, so Mostert is a must-add player.
FanDuel
Josh Jacobs (RB – Raiders): $8,800
Week 8 is already out of sight and out of mind for Las Vegas. The offense sputtered against the Saints’ defense, failing to cross midfield before late in the fourth quarter. Josh Jacobs is the engine that drives the Raiders’ offense, so expect head coach Josh McDaniels to return to basics and feed Jacobs 30 carries against Jacksonville’s tough run defense. The volume is what’s key here. Plug Jacobs in despite the high salary due to the ceiling production he’s capable of reaching.
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – Patriots): $8,000
New England’s backfield was taken over by second-year running back Rhamondre Stevenson before Damien Harris’ (RB – Patriots) injury. Harris is back, but not much has changed, as Stevenson handles at least 20 touches per game and is the definitive third-down back, elevating his appeal in PPR formats. The Colts have a good defense but they are more vulnerable against the run, so pay up to land Stevenson’s high floor in Week 9.
Honorable Mention: Khalil Herbert (RB – Bears) ($7,000) is quickly becoming Chicago’s preferred option in the backfield. The second-year running back is stronger and possesses more burst in a run-centric offense. Miami will be tougher on defense with the arrival of edge rusher Bradley Chubb (OLB – Dolphins), but Herbert is still a nice pivot option due to the opportunity within the Bears’ offense.
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Justin Jefferson (WR – Vikings): $8,600
Minnesota’s star wideout has been ripping off monster games recently, finishing with at least 98 receiving yards in four consecutive outings. While the touchdowns have dried up since Week 1, Jefferson lands a top-ten fantasy matchup against Washington’s secondary on the road in Week 9. Don’t forget it’s a Kirk Cousins (QB – Vikings) and Kevin O’Connell (HC – Vikings) revenge game as well, meaning Jefferson could finish with his fifth double-digit target game of the season.
Chris Olave (WR – Saints): $6,400
Rookie wideout Chris Olave has been highly effective with New Orleans in 2022, delivering at least 50 receiving yards in every game except for Week 1. He was held in check with Alvin Kamara’s explosive three-touchdown performance in Week 8, but Olave will continue to be the alpha wideout with Michael Thomas (WR – Saints) reportedly done for the season due to toe surgery. Baltimore is a bottom-five pass defense, meaning Olave should smash in Week 9 on Monday Night Football.
Honorable Mention: Tyler Boyd (WR – Bengals) ($6,300) has finished inside the top three alongside Ja’Marr Chase, so now that the superstar wideout is injured, expect more consistent volume for Boyd in Cincinnati’s passing attack. Boyd has touchdowns in consecutive games and will face Carolina’s pass defense, which is a bottom-12 unit in the league.
FanDuel
DJ Moore (WR – Panthers): $7,000
Cincinnati’s defense has been exceeding expectations for most of the season, but they allowed Amari Cooper (WR – Browns) to have a huge outing in Week 8. D.J. Moore is the alpha in Carolina’s offense and is handling a massive target share following the trade of Christian McCaffery to San Francisco. The addition of P.J. Walker (QB – Panthers) under center was the best move for Moore’s outlook, as he has consecutive games with at least six receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Darnell Mooney (WR – Bears): $6,100
The volume is volatile due to the nature of Chicago’s offense, but third-year wideout Darnell Mooney has enough talent to overcome such obstacles. Mooney has recorded over 50 receiving yards in four straight games, but the touchdowns have yet to occur. Miami’s secondary is ranked 26th against the pass, meaning the Bears could pivot to a more pass-centric approach at home in Week 9. Mooney is a great value at $6,100 on FanDuel.
Honorable Mention: Rondale Moore (WR – Cardinals): $5,900 is fresh off of his biggest performance of the season against Minnesota, recording seven receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. Seattle’s defense is young and while they can lock down opponents, the Seahawks are still ranked 21st against the pass. The anemic rushing attack in Arizona right now signals Moore’s usage will continue to be high moving forward.
Tight Ends
DraftKings
Zach Ertz (TE – Cardinals): $5,100
Kyler Murray (QB – Cardinals) has developed a good rapport with veteran tight end Zach Ertz, who has at least four receptions in all but two games this season. It was a quieter outing for Ertz against Minnesota but he still finished with a touchdown. He’s a red-zone threat and will be given the top tight-end matchup against Seattle at home in Week 9.
Honorable Mention: Robert Tonyan (TE – Packers) ($3,800) is not going to deliver a high ceiling in most games but he has a nice floor, especially with Green Bay’s shallow depth at wide receiver. Detroit is a top-six matchup for fantasy tight ends, so plug Tonyan in as a solid salary-saving option in Week 9.
FanDuel
Tyler Higbee (TE – Rams): $6,100
The previous two games have been duds for Tyler Higbee, but he gets a top-five matchup against Tampa Bay in Week 9. The Rams are desperate for production on offense and have yet to establish the run game, meaning Higbee will be running routes and drawing targets against one of the league’s weakest secondaries.
Honorable Mention: Gerald Everett (TE – Chargers) ($6,100) will take on a bigger role with injuries to Keenan Allen (WR – Chargers) and Mike Williams (WR – Chargers) in Week 9. Particularly due to the top-four matchup against Atlanta, which relies on its run defense to keep it competitive.
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
Patriots D/ST: $4,100
New England is always a great D/ST to target with Bill Belichick leading the way, but they are extra enticing against Colts’ quarterback Sam Ehlinger (QB – Colts). Belichick specializes in shutting down inexperienced quarterbacks, and the Patriots just logged three interceptions in their last matchup against the Jets. Fire them up against an underwhelming Indianapolis offense.
Honorable Mention: Vikings D/ST ($3,500) has been very good but flying under the radar. Washington has trouble establishing the run, which is Minnesota’s strength on defense, so they will need to prepare for a pass-centric game plan from Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke (QB – Commanders). The Vikings force nearly two turnovers per game, which ranks fifth-most in the league, so plug them in as a great salary-saving D/ST.
FanDuel
Bills D/ST: $5,000
Buffalo is getting healthier on defense and they continue to shut down opponents with relative ease. The Bills will face the New York Jets for the first time this season and have the advantage of playing them without rookie running back Breece Hall (RB – Jets). Zach Wilson (QB – Jets) is not a prolific passing talent and is fresh off of throwing three interceptions against New England, so pay up to land the Bills’ D/ST in DFS.
Honorable Mention: Bengals D/ST ($4,400) had a rough outing against Cleveland in Week 8 but Carolina’s offense is relying on D.J. Moore and running back D’Onta Foreman (RB – Panthers) to generate production. The Bengals are holding opponents to 20.5 points per game, which ranks 13th in the league, so they should be able to contain a top-heavy Panthers offense.
