DraftKings NFL 2017: Week 9 Lineup
By Joe Romano
High Priced Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott – Dallas Cowboys ($9,000) – Maybe DraftKings knew something we did not. The Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott was declared suspended on Tuesday of this week. By Friday his status switched yet again. As the NFLPA and NFL battle it out in court with Elliott’s case, fantasy owners are left waiting until the last minute to decide whether to play the league’s leading rusher from a year ago. On the field Elliott gets a soft Kansas City Chiefs defense this week. Kansas City has surrendered the most rushing yards and three touchdowns over the past four weeks. I want a piece of this game in some way shape or form. If you choose Elliott you’ll have to find bargains elsewhere. He is the second highest price player in all of DraftKings
Kareem Hunt – Kansas City Chiefs ($8,600) – Earlier this season it seemed like it was the “year of the rookie running back”. The star of that show was Kansas City Chiefs’ Kareem Hunt. He has cooled off a bit since but comes in as the second highest-priced running back in DraftKings this week. Hunt and the Chiefs travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys in Week 9. Dallas has been surprisingly stout against the run the past four weeks, ranking 24th in points allowed. Hunt has proven to be almost matchup proof. Given the opponent, it’s tough to see Hunt as the building block player you’d want at that price tag. As an aside, Hunt has not scored a touchdown in the last four weeks. He may be due for a touchdown but the big games like earlier this season seem to have slowed.
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Leonard Fournette- Jacksonville Jaguars ($8,400) – Another rookie running back who got off to a hot start was Jacksonville Jaguars’ Leonard Fournette. The big bruising LSU product has fought through injury in his last two games and still put up solid numbers. Coming off the bye, Jacksonville plays the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. The Bengals are allowing 19 points per game to opposing running backs over the last four weeks, 11th in the NFL over that span. Fournette, when healthy, is as much of a work horse back as you get in this modern version of the league. He’s due for a big workload now that he is fully healthy and I’m expecting another monster game. Fournette would be the high priced running back I’d build my lineup around if I had to choose one.
Todd Gurley III – Los Angeles Rams ($8,100) – The Los Angeles Rams got off to a great start this season and have slowed down a bit since. One thing that has not slowed down is the usage of running back Todd Gurley. Los Angeles is featuring Gurley as the focal point of their offense in every facet of the game. This week as Los Angeles travels across the country to play the Giants, Gurley again will be a big part of the offense. Coming off of a bye, the Rams will look to use Gurley as much of a pass catcher as a runner. New York is giving up the 14th most points to opposing running backs over the last four weeks but have struggled to stop them from catching passes. The Giants have surrendered over 200 yards receiving to backs during that span, fourth-most in the NFL. New York’s defense is still a good unit and have played better but Gurley is a solid option heading into the week.
Mark Ingram – New Orleans Saints ($7,600) – Once the New Orleans Saints agreed to trade Adrian Peterson, this became Mark Ingram’s backfield. The talented running back is having his best season yet and seeing plenty of opportunity in this offense. Over the last four weeks he has been a top ten fantasy back. This week New Orleans welcome the Buccaneers to New Orleans. The Buccaneers have given up the seventh most yards on the ground in the last four weeks and five touchdowns during that span. Ingram at $7,600 has a chance to outperform his price tag, especially given his workload as a three down back. I’m a little leery that Alvin Kamara may steal some thunder from Ingram but New Orleans has shown the ability to have two running backs have big fantasy days in the past.