Fantasy Football: FanDuel NFL DFS Picks for Week Nine – Cash Games

FanDuel DFS Picks for Week Nine – Cash Games

I just want to take this time to apologize to all of you for recommending Jameis Winston. He imploded in a way that was truly impressive – even for him. The streaming aspect of the quarterback position was historically brutal last Sunday and it wasn’t a great week overall for FanDuel NFL matchup driven plays. Winston was benched for Fitzmagic (again) and for the sake of memes everywhere, I hope it stays that way.

DFS can be a cruel beast sometimes and a lot goes into it that can’t be predicted. An elite receiver may get the best of his matchup time and time again but if he’s consistently interfered with, that won’t show up in your DFS lineup. We can only predict what we can project and it should go without saying that if you don’t have the funds to give DFS a try, you can always join free leagues and work on your knowledge until you’re ready to take that leap. You can nail the process every time and get obliterated in the standings but it doesn’t mean you failed, it just means you lost. Regression will win every fight it jumps into but sometimes it goes a few more rounds than you’d like it to.

If you have any questions about season long strategy or lineup construction, the entire CPR team is available on Twitter and we do our best to answer every single question we receive. Feel free to follow me @TheFFGator and don’t hesitate to reach out.

FanDuel NFL Cash Game Lineup – Week Nine

Quarterback – Jared Goff- $8,400

Goff has been one of the steadier fantasy quarterbacks to date and he’s been particularly efficient in high scoring affairs like the one they’re predicting this weekend in New Orleans. The Saints have allowed a third worst 24.7 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks but have remained surprisingly effective against the run. This should set up the Rams offense for a lot of work in the passing game and may indicate a slight reduction in the usage Todd Gurley has seen in every other contest. Gurley will certainly be a factor, but if Vegas nails their projection for total points in this one then there will be plenty of work to go around. Goff presents a very high floor since they will have to keep pace with Drew Brees, and the ceiling is always there for multiple touchdown scores.

Running Backs:

Kareem Hunt – $8,500

I’ll keep banging this drum until the neighbors complain…. Kareem Hunt is the best pure running back we have in this league. Guys like Saquon Barkley and Todd Gurley represent phenomenal versatility, but when it comes to running the ball the way Mike Ditka intended…. Kareem Hunt does it better than anyone else. This week he takes on a Browns defense that has been torched by opposing running backs and the entire coaching staff is in shambles on top of it. Hunt has looked like a bona fide fantasy stud the last few weeks and this week should be no different. His floor is as high as Pat Mahomes’ ceiling and his ceiling is as high as they come. He’s seen twenty touches in each game for the last two weeks and there’s nothing that indicates his volume will slow down any time soon.

Strategic note: Hunt will have a HUGE ownership percentage this week but since this is a cash lineup, don’t let that scare you away. If you have any questions about the difference between GPP and cash game construction, let me know @TheFFGator.

Latavius Murray– $6,700

Dalvin Cook is supposed to see some work this week but I’ve danced that dance too many times this year and we’ve all suffered because of it. Murray has posted fantasy performances of 22.3, 21.3 and 18 points over the last three weeks and his week eight performance was against a very stout New Orleans rushing defense. The Lions rank 27th overall against the run and they’ll be kept honest by the Minnesota passing attack so Murray should have plenty of room to work. His volume may take a slight hit if Cook suits up, but even in the weeks Cook was active Murray was able to produce at a high enough rate to find value.

FanDuel NFL Cash Game Lineup – Week Nine

Adam Thielen – $8,900

I’ve never had an easier time recommending a cash game pick. Thielen is one game away from Calvin Johnson‘s all time record for consecutive 100 yard games, and there’s no reason to assume he won’t get it this week. As pointed out by Mike Tagliere of FantasyPros , the Lions have allowed one touchdown to a wide receiver for every 11.1 targets thrown and rank second to last in yards per target to opposing receivers. All of this feeds into a recipe for disaster for the Lions secondary and Thielen is essentially the Todd Gurley of pass catchers through the first eight weeks . A Thanksgiving feast will come early for this future all-pro, so don’t miss the boat (that’s already been coasting for quite awhile).

Brandin Cooks – $7,500

The Rams primary downfield threat has been quiet since week four but Cooper Kupp returns to the lineup this week and Cooks has benefited from his presence on the field. Another great reason to follow me on Twitter is fun facts just like this one:

Cooks should see plenty of work this weekend and the Saints have been destroyed all year by opposing passing attacks. New Orleans allows 35.9 fantasy points per game to opposing receivers, which is far and away the worst in the NFL (next closest is TB at 31.4). Cooks has everything in front of him to stuff the stat sheet in week nine. The revenge game narrative doesn’t hurt his stock either.

D.J Moore – $5,300

Most weeks there’s a pick that justifies the “no risk it, no biscuit” phrase and D.J Moore is our representative this time around. Moore was a highly touted rookie prospect with a first round grade that followed him through draft day. He clearly has a bright future in Carolina and last week we finally saw what the scouts saw all offseason. He was targeted a season high six times and he hauled in five of them for ninety yards and added another thirty-nine yards on the ground. Moore looked the part as well with a few contested catches and an ability to turn a corner at an elite level.

This week he takes on a Buccaneers secondary that competes with the Saints for the worst in the NFL against opposing receivers. He should have plenty of work in front of him this weekend and his athletic profile gives him a chance to win you a week with just one play. His bargain bin price means he only needs to net thirteen fantasy points to help you cash, and that shouldn’t be an issue against the Bucs.

FanDuel NFL Cash Game Lineup – Week Nine

O.J Howard- $6,000

Howard has come on strong in the last few weeks and he’s been a rock at a position that desperately needs help. He’s posted double digit PPR performances in every week he’s been healthy and this week he takes on a Panthers team that ranks dead last in the NFL against opposing Tight Ends. Fitzpatrick targets him just as much as Winston did and he’s becoming one of the best young pass catching threats in the league. There’s only a handful of guys you can count on week to week and Howard has been one of them albeit somewhat quietly. The Panthers don’t defend the tight end position well and their high powered offense should mean lots of passing from the guys in red and black. Cameron Brate has become less and less of a thing each week and Howard will look to continue his top five tight end campaign in a big way.

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Flex – Isiah Crowell – $5,700

I have been a member of the Anti-Crowell fan club for a few years now, but this week he’s simply in too good of a spot to turn away. He’s dirt cheap and takes on a Dolphins team that was just torched in week eight for 133 and a score by Lamar Miller. Crowell should see plenty of volume but will likely split work with both Trenton Cannon and newly active Elijah McGuire. Cannon is a one-dimensional pass catcher and the Jets would be wise to ease McGuire back into things, so it should be the Crowell show for most of the game. He’s shown a capability to explode on any given week and he looks primed for another performance that confuses all of us. His pricing is surprisingly low considering his ceiling, so it’s a good time to take advantage.

D/ST – Buffalo Bills-$3,000

The Bills have turned into a boom or bust D/ST option this year thanks to a group of raw but talented linebackers who have shown an ability to make some big plays. This week they take on a Bears team that’s in the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points given up to opposing D/ST’s, but they should provide a decent floor and stay on the positive side of things. Mitchell Trubisky has shown an inability to throw the ball accurately and his decision making has been in question for most of the season. I don’t expect the Bills to be at the top of the list by any means, but they should give you a floor that’s worth the bargain.

I’ll continue to do these week by week, but in the mean time throw me a follow on Twitter @TheFFGator and don’t hesitate to reach out with any tough lineup decisions you may have.  Good luck this week!