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Fantasy Football: Basement Grabs: Week 9 Value Picks

By Shaun Evans

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 09: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half during a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 09: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half during a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Hey guys! Lets continue our Week 9 Fantasy Football research with some value picks or as I like to call them, basement grabs. These will be the players that are on the cheaper side to give you salary relief but at the same time can also hit value and help you cash out!

Fantasy Football Basement Grab: QB Joe Flacco

Salary: Draftkings: $5,300 | Fanduel: $7,500

We know my history when choosing Fantasy Football quarterbacks facing the Pittsburgh Steelers but Joe Flacco has already faced them once this season so I feel more comfortable with this pick. Being only $5,300 at home, versus a division rival, Joe Flacco can easily hit value as he did in week 4 where his salary was just a $100 more.

In Week 4, Flacco put up 25.22 fantasy points off of 28 throws for 363 yards and two touchdowns on the road. The Steelers rank 24th in passing defense, allowing 265 yards through the air.

We can expect the Ravens defense to control the Steelers offense as they rank 2nd in pass defense and 11th in rushing defense which should give Flacco more control of the game.

Other value QBs to play: Alex Smith vs. Washington, Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Carolina, & Baker Mayfield vs. Kansas City

Fantasy Football Basement Grab: RB Jordan Howard

Salary: Draftkings: $4,700 | Fanduel: $6,200

Jordan Howard has not been a player to be excited about or to consistently put in play but this week, he gets the Buffalo Bills. The Bills rank 15th in run defense allowing 106 yards per game and rank 26th against running-backs in the passing game, allowing 56 yards per game.

Howard is only averaging 56 yards per game which he has been on decline ever since joining the NFL. He’s not due for a Melvin Gordon or Todd Gurley II type game but he is due for a value hitting game which he can do this weekend against the Bills.

He has a touchdown in his past two games, so the end-zone is nothing new to him either. Expect him to hit value and to give you more salary to use for Week 9.

Other value RBs to play: Nick Chubb vs. Kansas City, Latavius Murray vs. Detroit, & Lamar Miller vs. Denver

Fantasy Football Basement Grab:  WR Sammy Watkins

Salary: Draftkings: $4,900 | Fanduel: $6,700

Coming in to Week 9, Sammy Watkins is on fire! Okay, maybe not that fire but he did have an amazing Week 8 with 33.7 fantasy points off of 8 receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Watkins is good for consistency but we never expect him to be as dominate as top wide receivers but with a salary of $4,900 and facing the Cleveland browns, it’s hard to pass him up.

The Browns are ranked 26th in the passing defense, allowing 275 yards per game. The Browns tend to struggle in the passing game while stopping the run very well. Ranked 24th against the number one receiver, allowing 87 yards, and ranked only 2nd against the number two receiver, allowing 51 yards.

But with it being Tyreke Hill, Sammy Watkins, and Travis Kelce as the weapons for Patrick MaGOAT, it’s hard to just focus on just one of them as a Cleveland Brown defender. Watkins has struggled to find the end-zone this year with only 3 touchdowns so that’s where we lose the value with him.

He will get the yardage, but to get the value back, we’ll need a touchdown this weekend which he should be able to do.

Other value WRs to play: DeVante Parker vs. NYJ, Devin Funchess (Lock Play) vs. Tampa Bay, & Danny Amendola vs. Miami

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Fantasy Football Basement Grab: TE Kyle Rudolph

Salary: Draftkings: $3,600 | Fanduel: $5,700

The tight end position is a very hit or miss position as we see the same few dominate every week. Kyle Rudolph is a playable option at an affordable price of $3,600 versus the Detroit Lions who struggle stopping tight ends.

The Lions rank 7th in pass defense, only allowing 223 yards per game but rank 31st against tight ends, allowing 56 yards per game and giving up around 7 receptions to them per game. That gives Rudolph the title of being a valuable option for Kirk Cousins this weekend.

Rudolph is averaging 40 yards per game with a grabbing 74% of what is thrown his way. The downside is that he only has 2 touchdowns on the season and those came during Week 1 and Week 3.

If the game is close, the Vikings will have to rely on Cousins and his arm, making each of his receivers an option this weekend.

Other value TEs to play: Jordan Thomas (MAJOR RISK*) vs. Denver, Chris Herndon vs. Miami, & O.J. Howard vs. Carolina

Fantasy Football Rankings Breakdown for Week 9. dark. Next

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