Fantasy Football: NFL FantasyDraft Week 9: Optimal Lineup

CHARLOTTE, NC – OCTOBER 28: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) NFL FantasyDraft /

Welcome to Week 9 of our NFL FantasyDraft optimal lineup build! Last week we hit the payzone with all of our plays, so hopefully you played out suggestions here on FantasyDraft and cashed in all your 50/50’s, H2H’s, and double ups. This week is a tough week with so many teams on bye weeks, 6 teams to be exact. There are still some great offenses to focus on this week for our cash game builds.

There are some massive over/unders projected for the week, but none higher than the 60 points that being projected to be put up between the Saints and the Rams. We also have a projected total 56.5 for the Sunday between the Pats and the Pack, as well as a 54.5 projected total between Carolina and the Fitzmagic led Bucs!

NFL FantasyDraft Quarterback

Quarterback this week has quite the variety of options at the quarterback position but going over everything I settled on Cam Newton as my number 1 choice at the position. Newton faces the Buccaneers on Sunday and should be the next in a long line of QB’s this season to just tear their porous secondary apart. Tampa allows the most yards per game through the air of any team on this slate at 319 YPG and are also dead last in the league allowing 2.9 passing touchdowns per game. Also on the QB radar are Jared Goff, Drew Brees, and Patrick Mahomes

NFL DFS: CARSON, CA – AUGUST 25: Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints runs for a first down in the second quarter of the pre-season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on August 25, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

NFL FantasyDraft Running Backs

My first choice at RB this week also comes from the Carolina Panthers, Christian McCaffrey. Tampa is allowing 109 rushing yards per game over their last three, but CMC is more valuable in the passing game against Tampa, and pairing him with Newton as your QB will be a great decision this week. Also at running back this week I am using Latavius Murray who is in line for a monster day again against the Lions. Murray has scored at least one touchdown the last 3 weeks and gone for 20 FP or more each of the last 3 weeks as well.

Adrian Peterson has seemed to find a fountain of youth in D.C. this season and gets a Falcons team that allows 112 YPG on the ground this season and also cannot cover a running back in the pass game as well, which if he’s healthy makes Chris Thompson viable as well. You can also look at the Jets running game this week as they meet the Dolphins who have allowed 200 YPG over their last 3 games.

NFL FantasyDraft Wide Receivers

I am starting with 2 WR from the Saints/Rams game because you will need to have exposure to the passing attacks in this game. From the Saints I am going with Michael Thomas and from the Rams, Cooper Kupp. Depending on how you prefer to build your rosters you can take Tre’Quan Smith, Robert Woods, or a possible revenge game in Brandin Cooks.

My last choice at WR is going to be a third Carolina Panther, DJ Moore. Moore led the Panthers WR in targets and receptions in Week 8. Other options at WR are Josh Doctson, Devin Funchess, and Adam Thielen.

PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 16: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after a 25 yard touchdown reception in the second half during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on September 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

NFL FantasyDraft Tight End

There are a few good choices at tight end this week, but in the end I settled on Travis Kelce as my top choice. Since his dismal performance in week 1 Kelce has not gone under double-digit fantasy points and Cleveland is allowing 266 YPG in the air the last three weeks. Kelce is one of the best tight ends in football and I think he gets into the end zone again this week against the Browns. Some other choices are Mark Andrews, Jordan Reed, and OJ Howard.

NFL FantasyDraft DST

Minnesota is the pick on DST for this week in their matchup with Detroit. Before they met with the Saints and their prolific offense the Vikings had three 3 straight double-digit performances, but that was the Saints and the Lions offense is not nearly as good. Other options are Chicago, Houston, and Denver.

NFL FantasyDraft Sample cash game lineup:
Note: This is not meant to be a plug and play line-up and is meant for illustrative purposes to give you a foundation to build off each week in NFL DFS.

QB- Cam Newton

RB- Christian McCaffrey

RB- Latavius Murray

WR- Michael Thomas

WR- Cooper Kupp

TE- Travis Kelce

Flex- Adrian Peterson

Flex- DJ Moore

DST- Minnesota Vikings