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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 – TE/DEF/ST

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

Six teams on a bye for Week 9, dealing a significant blow to the options at tight end in DFS. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players, and defenses/special teams, to target or avoid as you create your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - TE/DEF/ST

Travis Kelce vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $6,600

Kelce came through for the Chiefs in their win over the Broncos in Week 8, catching six of 10 targets for 79 yards and a touchdown. With that performance, Kelce now has at least five receptions in seven consecutive games and at least eight targets in six of those contests. He only has four touchdowns this year despite the Chiefs explosive offense, but his 80.3 yards per game is the highest mark of his career.

If you are prepared to pay a premium at tight end, Kelce is the safe route to take. He leads the Chiefs with 70 targets, which actually ranks inside the top-15 in all of football. The Browns have only given up two touchdowns to opposing tight ends, but they have allowed 44 receptions to them, which is tied for fifth-most in the league. This game has the potential to get out of hand for the Browns early, so expect Kelce to be heavily involved in yet another offensive explosion for the Chiefs.

O.J. Howard vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of American Stadium
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,300

Howard only received four targets in Week 8, but he made the most of his opportunities by catching all of them for 68 yards and a touchdown. The score was Howard’s second in his last three games, giving him a total of three for the season. His targets have been a bit up an down, but that hasn’t stopped Howard from recording at least 54 receiving yards in six of seven games. The only contest where he didn’t reach that mark was in Week 4 against the Bears when he had to leave early due to injury.

One major plus about the Bucs offense is that their defense often puts them in an early hole that they have to try and pass their way out of. The Bucs are making a change back to Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback, but that shouldn’t impact Howard negatively considering how well the two played together when Jameis Winston was suspended to start the year. The Panthers have allowed 545 yards and five touchdowns to tight ends, making Howard a great option at this reasonable price.

Chicago Bears vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,100

The Bears only allowed 10 points to the Jets in Week 8, but they didn’t force a single turnover. That’s saying something considering Jets quarters Sam Darnold has 10 interceptions. They also recorded just one sack, which can mostly be attributed to the absence of Khalil Mack (ankle). The Bears had started out strong in that area this year, recording at least four sacks in each of their first four games.

Whether or not Mack returns for this game, you still want to play the Bears defense. The Bills offense is already a mess, but due to injuries to Josh Allen (elbow) and Derek Anderson (concussion), it looks like Nathan Peterman will once again be their starting quarterback. Peterman has thrown four picks across only 32 pass attempts this year, so don’t hesitate to pay up for the Bears, even at this expensive price for a defense.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - TE/DEF/ST

Greg Olsen vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Bank of American Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Olsen continues to battle his way through a foot injury, but he’s been on the field for at least 97 percent of the Panthers offensive snaps the last three games. He only has 10 receptions for 109 yards during that stretch, but he has found his way into the end zone in both of the last two weeks. The Panthers will continue to take a cautious approach with him in practice leading up to Sunday but expect him to be on the field a lot once again.

Even though Olsen has been one of the most consistent tight ends in the league, his upside is limited by his injury. That makes him somewhat of a risky play, but this could be a matchup to exploit. The Bucs have not only allowed the second-most passing yards per game (318), but they’ve allowed 542 yards and four touchdowns to opposing tight ends.

David Njoku vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,600

Talk about a rough week for Njoku. The Browns had plenty of problems scoring points against the Steelers, ultimately losing 33-18. Njoku has been a big part of their offense, but he didn’t receive a single target Sunday. He may have been hampered by a knee injury that has limited him in practice leading up to Week 9, but he was on the field for 84 percent of their offensive snaps.

Don’t panic over one bad game from Njoku. He had received at least six targets in all but one game leading up to Week 8 and had four straight games with at least 52 receiving yards. With the likelihood that the Browns are going to have to throw a lot to keep up with the Chiefs, Njoku is going to get targets Sunday if he’s healthy enough to play. With there being no indication so far that he won’t be able to suit up, he’s a great option in tournament play.

Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $3,000

The Texans hung 42 points on the Dolphins in Week 8, but they did allow them to score 23 points of their own. The Texans defense had been on a streak of allowing 16 points or fewer in three straight games, but those were three outstanding matchups against the Cowboys, Bills, and Jaguars. Outside of games versus the Patriots and Colts, the Texans really haven’t been faced with many offensive juggernauts this year.

The schedule continues to fall in their favor for Week 9 against a Broncos team that just traded away receiver Demaryius Thomas. Case Keenum has not played well since coming over from the Vikings and the Broncos haven’t protected him, either, resulting in 22 sacks. To put that into perspective, Keenum was sacked 22 times all last season. If you don’t want to pay up for the Bears, the Texans are another viable option to consider.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - TE/DEF/ST

Austin Hooper vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $3,800

Hooper isn’t priced poorly on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It’s likely inflated due to his performances in Weeks 5 and 6 where he combined for 18 receptions on 22 targets for 148 yards and a touchdown. However, over his other five games, he has a total of 15 receptions on 19 targets for 173 yards and a score. Buyer beware, especially against a Redskins team that has only given up 292 receiving yards to tight ends.

Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $3,200

The Panthers might explode offensively against the Bucs, but their defense could be in for a struggle. The Bucs throw the ball a ton and have some great offensive weapons. Fitzpatrick can be turnover prone, but he also had 11 touchdown passes across his first three games. This isn’t exactly an appealing price for the Panthers, either, so it might be best to avoid them altogether when crafting your lineup.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

Even with so many teams on a bye for Week 9, there are still a ton of great wide receiver options across the price scale in DFS. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players to target, and some to possibly avoid, as you create your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Wide Receivers

Adam Thielen vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $8,900

For the first time all season, Thielen only received single-digit targets in Week 8 with seven against the Saints. However, it didn’t hurt his bottom line as he hauled in all of them for 103 yards and a touchdown. He has at least 100 yards in every game this season and has scored at least one touchdown in five straight contests. After never posting more than five touchdowns in a season during career, Thielen already has six this year.

Without question, Thielen has one of the highest floors of any receiver in DFS. He leads the NFL in targets (96), receptions (74) and receiving yards (925) and opposing defenses can’t key in on him with Stefon Diggs also a great option for Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. Detroit has allowed 15 touchdowns through the air and recorded just two interceptions, so don’t be afraid to pay up for Thielen.

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,300

The Texans exploded for 42 points in Week 8 against the Dolphins after having scored 22 points or fewer in six of their first seven games. As one of their best offensive weapons, it’s no surprise that Hopkins stuffed the stat sheet in that contest, catching six of seven targets for 82 yards and two touchdowns. After finding the end zone 13 times last year, Hopkins has been extremely productive this season, as well, with six touchdown receptions.

The Texans suffered a significant blow to their offense last week when Will Fuller was lost for the season with a torn ACL. They were able to quickly address his loss via trade, though, by acquiring Demaryius Thomas from the Broncos. It might take Thomas some time to get adjusted, but it will be a benefit to Hopkins to at least have him on the field Sunday to occupy some of the defense’s coverages. Hopkins has the seventh-most targets (78) among wide receivers in the league, leaving him with a high floor again Sunday.

Mike Evans vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $8,100

The Bucs dug themselves a big hole early against the Bengals last week, which forced them to throw the ball a ton in the second half. Evans certainly got all the work he could handle, catching six of 13 targets for 179 yards and a touchdown. With 770 receiving yards through his first seven games, Evans is well on his way to totaling at least 1,000 yards for the fifth straight season.

It should be noted that Evans’ touchdown last week came from Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was forced to relieve the struggling Jameis Winston. Evans has four touchdown receptions this season, all of them coming from Fitzpatrick. Across the first three games that Fitzpatrick started this season, Evans had 23 receptions on 30 targets for 367 yards, as well. Fitzpatrick will be under center again in Week 9, leaving Evans with the plenty of upside.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Wide Receivers

Jarvis Landry vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,500

Landry came through with an odd stat line last week. He was certainly involved with 12 targets, which he turned into eight receptions. That tied for his second-most receptions in a game this season. However, he only finished with 39 yards. Believe it or not, that actually marked the third time in his last five games that Landry received at least 10 targets, but recorded 39 yards or fewer.

With the Browns having fired their head coach and offensive coordinator on Monday, this could end being an ugly game. Add in the fact that the Chiefs have arguably the most potent offense in the league and the Browns could be trying to dig themselves out of a huge hole early. They might be forced to throw the ball plenty to keep up, with Landry being one of the main beneficiaries in that scenario. The Chiefs have also allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (305). Landry is a bit risky, but he’s still a viable option in tournament play.

Devin Funchess vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,600

The Panthers don’t always throw the ball a lot, which leaves Funchess with limited opportunities. Even in a game where the Panthers scored 36 points Sunday against the Ravens, Funchess only had three receptions on three targets for a season-low 27 yards. He hasn’t topped more than 77 yards in a game this season and has only received at least 10 targets one time.

On the bright side, Funchess does have a touchdown in three of his last five games and leads the team with eight red zone targets this year. The Bucs have been horrible against the pass, allowing the second-most passing yards per game (318). Considering they have also allowed the most passing touchdowns (20), this could be the week to take a chance on Funchess in tournament play.

Kenny Golladay vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings =  $5,500

Golladay was one of the focal points of the Lions passing attack to start the season, receiving at least seven targets in four of his first five games. However, he hasn’t seen much action in the last two weeks with three total targets. He caught all three of them, but only totaled 49 yards and failed to find his way into the end zone in either contest. It was especially surprising last week that he only had one pass thrown his way considering he was on the field for 92 percent of their offensive plays.

Even though it’s been a quiet couple of weeks for Golladay, look for him to be much more productive Sunday. The Lions dealt Golden Tate to the Eagles at the trade deadline, leaving a significant hole in their offense. Tate was leading the team with 69 targets, which was at least 20 targets more than anyone else. The Vikings aren’t exactly a stellar matchup, but Golladay is still worth considering based on his likely increased role.

Courtland Sutton vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $3,900

As a second-round pick in the 2018 Draft, the Broncos have high hopes for Sutton. He hasn’t received a ton of targets in the early going, but he has been on the field for 69 percent of their offensive snaps. His 45.9 percent catch rate leaves a lot to be desired, but he’s shown big-play upside by averaging 19.1 yards per reception.

With Thomas now in Houston, Sutton will step in as the Broncos’ number two wide receiver behind Emmanuel Sanders. He could also see more opportunities in the red zone since Thomas had the second-most red zone targets (eight) on the team. Sanders has the higher upside of the two, but Sutton makes for a great tournament option at this reduced price. Don’t expect him to be this cheap again next week.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Wide Receivers

Keenan Allen vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,300

Allen had a 64.2 percent catch rate last year, which was the second-lowest mark of his career. He’s corrected that issue with a 73.2 percent catch rate this year, but that still hasn’t led to lofty production. His 56 targets are good, but he’s a long ways away from matching the 159 targets that he received last season. The Chargers haven’t been looking his way when they get in close, either, with his five red zone targets ranked third on the team behind Melvin Gordon (10) and Mike Williams (six). The Seahawks have allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards (219) and only 10 touchdowns through the air, so this could end up being a quiet week for Allen.

Calvin Ridley vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,700

Ridley started out his career in impressive fashion with six touchdowns across his first four games. However, he wasn’t on the field for more than 66 percent of the Falcons offensive snaps in any of those contests and finished with five or fewer targets twice. His targets have continued to remain limited across his last three games, resulting in 47 receiving yards or fewer in each contest. The key stat, though, is that he failed to reach the end zone in all three games. This isn’t a great matchup against a Redskins team that has allowed just 11 passing touchdowns all season, making Ridley awfully risky at this price.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

One of the highlights of Week 9 in the NFL will be Todd Gurley facing a New Orleans Saints defense that has allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (74.1) in the league. If there was ever a week not to pay up to get him into your entry, this might be it. Let’s dig into the running back position to see where you can gain the edge for your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Running Backs

Melvin Gordon vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,200

Gordon had his first 1000-yard rushing campaign last year, but his 3.9 yards-per-carry weren’t exactly great. He’s made a significant improvement in that area this season with 5.1 yards-per-carry through six games. The Chargers have relied on him more in the passing game, as well, resulting in Gordon catching 30 of 42 targets for 279 yards and three touchdowns.

Gordon sat out Week 7 with a hamstring injury, but he’s received the benefit of added rest after the Chargers were on a bye in Week 8. All signs are pointing to him playing Sunday, bringing back one of the top options in DFS. The Seahawks have been excellent defending against the pass, but their 4.5 yards-per-carry allowed is the 10th-highest mark in the league. If you want to shy away from using Gurley against the Saints, Gordon is a safe bet to consider in cash contests.

Kareem Hunt vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $7,700

Hunt was limited to 50 rushing yards in Week 8 by the Broncos after recording at least 80 rushing yards in four straight games. He still had plenty of attempts with 16, but his 3.1 yards-per-carry was his third-lowest mark of the season. However, he also chipped in five catches on six targets for 36 yards and a touchdown.

With the Chiefs high-powered offense, Hunt has recorded at least one touchdown in every game since failing to find the end zone in Week 1. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him score again Sunday with the Browns tied for the most rushing touchdowns allowed (12). They’ve also allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game (138.9), setting up Hunt with a very high floor.

Christian McCaffrey vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,800

The Panthers exploded for a season-high 36 points against the Ravens last week, which resulted in a very productive game from McCaffrey. His 56 total yards left a lot to be desired, but he scored two total touchdowns, one of which was his first rushing touchdown of the year. In fact, McCaffrey only had one receiving touchdown, as well, through his first six games.

Don’t be overly concerned with McCaffrey’s lack of yardage in Week 8, especially his paltry 11 receiving yards. He still had 14 carries and six targets, the kind of volume that is going to help him be productive more often than not. The Panthers are met with another favorable opportunity to score plenty of points in Week 9 against a Bucs team that has allowed 20 touchdowns through the air and eight on the ground. With McCaffrey as one of the focal points of their offense, this is a matchup to exploit.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Running Backs

Tarik Cohen vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,200

It took a while for the Bears offense to get going, but they’ve been excellent of late. They are coming off of a 24-10 win over the Jets in Week 8, a game in which Cohen had a 70-yard receiving touchdown. It was his only catch of the game on three targets, although he did have five carries for an additional 40 yards. Cohen has benefited greatly from the improved play of the Bears offense, scoring a touchdown in four straight games.

Another encouraging stat for Cohen that came out of Week 8 is that he was on the field for 58 percent of the Bears offense plays, the exact same amount as Jordan Howard. It marked the first time this season that Howard didn’t have a higher percentage than Cohen. Howard could get plenty of carries if the Bears get up big against a bad Bills team, but Cohen’s big-play ability makes him someone worth targeting in tournament play.

Nick Chubb vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $4,500

In his second week as the Browns featured back, Chubb finished with 65 yards on 18 carries. He also caught his first two passes of the season, although only for a total of 10 yards. The Browns were down big to the Steelers, which might be why Chubb was only on the field for 48 percent of the Browns offensive plays after being on the field for 66 percent of their plays in Week 7.

While it was concerning that somehow Dontrell Hilliard played 23 percent of the Browns snaps last week, all that goes out the window for Week 9 with the Browns having fired their head coach and offensive coordinator Monday. Duke Johnson has largely been underutilized this year, so it will be interesting to see if they get him more touches Sunday. Even with the uncertainty surrounding their offensive scheme moving forward, Chubb is going to get the majority of their carries. The Browns might be able to move the ball well against the Chiefs leaky defense, leaving Chubb with touchdown upside, as well.

Lamar Miller vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,200

There was certainly concern surrounding Miller heading into Week 7 against the Jaguars with him rushing for 49 yards or fewer in three straight games. He even had on horrid performance against the Giants where he gained 10 yards on 10 carries. However, he broke out of his slump against the Jaguars, accumulating 100 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. If that wasn’t impressive enough, he followed that up with 133 yards and another touchdown Week 8 against the Dolphins.

With Alfred Blue as his only real competition for carries, Miller is the most talented player in the Texans backfield. He’s set up with another great matchup Sunday with the Broncos allowing the sixth-most rushing yards per game (135.8). The game flow could lean in Miller’s favor, as well, with the Broncos having dealt away wide receiver Demaryius Thomas at the trade deadline. They’ve already scored 23 points or fewer in six of eight games, so his loss likely won’t improve their odds of being more productive. If the Texans get up big, we could see a heavy dose of Miller in the second half.

Isaiah Crowell vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,200

On the surface, Crowell’s stats look pretty good. He’s averaging a career-high 5.1 yards-per-carry and has already found his way into the end zone six total times. The problem is that most of his damage done on the ground came in two games. Although he had 102 rushing yards in Week 1 and 219 rushing yards in Week 5, he’s had 40 rushing yards or fewer in each of his other six contests. Week 8 was another struggle against the Bears, gaining 25 yards on 13 carries.

It should be noted that his two big performances came against the Lions and Broncos, two of the worst rushing defenses in the league. He’ll face another bad one in the Dolphins in Week 9, who have allowed the third-most rushing yards per game (143.1). The Dolphins also don’t have a great offense, which is good news for Crowell since a close contest would likely result in a better game script for Crowell. He’s certainly risky, but he might be worth taking a chance on at this cheap price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Running Backs

Mark Ingram vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,000

The return of Ingram in Week 5 struck fear in the hearts of everyone who rosters Alvin Kamara in season-long fantasy after Ingram rushed for 53 yards and two touchdowns on six carries. While Ingram does somewhat eat into Kamara’s upside, Ingram’s value in DFS is largely touchdown dependent. He hasn’t found his way into the end zone in either of the last two games and has to face a Rams defense in Week 9 that has only allowed five rushing touchdowns this season. His price isn’t all that unreasonable on DraftKings, but he’s definitely someone to avoid on FanDuel.

Tevin Coleman vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $4,800

Coleman only has 21 carries for 85 yards over his last two games. Ito Smith has cut into his opportunities with Coleman only on the field for 57 percent of the Falcons offensive snaps in those two contests. The Falcons don’t throw the ball to Coleman a lot, either, with him receiving three targets or fewer in all but one game this year. The Redskins have allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game (80.1) and have allowed just six rushing touchdowns, making Coleman too much of a risk based on his limited upside.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 – Quarterbacks

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

For the first time this season, six teams will be on a bye in Week 9. The good news is that three of those teams are the Giants, Cardinals, and Jaguars, none of which have someone who plays under center that is particularly appealing in DFS, anyways. Let’s examine some quarterbacks to target and avoid as you craft your lineup. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $9,500
DraftKings = $7,100

There is no slowing down Mahomes. He led the Chiefs to another big offensive performance in Week 8, completing 24 of 34 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns. That marked his third straight game with four touchdown passes, bringing his total up to a gaudy 26 for the season. While he has thrown at least one interception in each of his last four games, Mahomes has failed to throw for fewer than 300 yards since Week 1.

With all of the weapons that Mahomes has at his disposal, he’s a great option against pretty much any opponent. That being said, he could really thrive this week with all of the chaos that’s going on in Cleveland after the Browns fired their head coach and offensive coordinator Monday. Their defense hasn’t been good against the air attack, either, allowing the seventh-most passing yards per game (276) in the league. They have held teams to 11 passing touchdowns while recording 12 interceptions, but that shouldn’t shy you away from starting Mahomes in cash contests.

Cam Newton vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $6,600

While Mahomes racks up yards through the air, Newton has only topped 300 passing yards in a game one time this season and has two games with fewer than 200 yards. However, he’s still thrown at least two touchdown passes in each of the last six games and only has four total interceptions. He also makes up for his lack of passing yards with his legs, posting at least 40 rushing yards in five of seven games.

Even though the Panthers aren’t a pass-heavy team, they could put up some of their better totals of the season through the air in Week 9. The Bucs defense has been dreadful, allowing the second-most passing yards per game (318). They’ve also allowed the most passing touchdowns (20) while recording just one interception. Look for Newton to excel in this contest.

Jared Goff vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $6,000

Goff didn’t exactly have his best game last week when he completed just 19 of 35 passes (54.3 percent), which was his second-lowest completion percentage of the season. To show just how potent the Rams offense is, though, Goff still had 295 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also didn’t throw an interception for the second time in as many weeks, which helped lead the Rams to a big win over the Packers.

Things don’t get much easier for the Rams in Week 9 having to take on the Saints. The Saints have been stout against the run, which makes for an intriguing matchup against Todd Gurley. Things shouldn’t be as difficult for Goff, though, with the Saints allowing the fifth-most passing yards per game (300) and picking off just three passes all year. Coming in cheaper than both Mahomes and Newton, Goff is also an excellent option in cash contests.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $5,900

Wilson had one of the strangest stat lines you are going to see last week against the Lions. He only attempted 17 passes but completed 14 of them for 248 yards and three touchdowns. The Seahawks are a run-heavy team, which has led Wilson to attempt 26 passes or fewer in five straight games. He’s made the most of his opportunities, though, throwing at least two touchdowns in four of those five contests.

Wilson’s only averaging 222.3 passing yards per game this season, but his 16 touchdown passes compared to four interceptions still make him someone to target in DFS. The Seahawks defense has played surprisingly well, for the most part, but they’ll be faced with the tough task Sunday of trying to slow down Philip Rivers and the Chargers. If they can’t, it could lead to more passing attempts for Wilson, making him someone to consider in tournament play.

Joe Flacco vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,300

Week 8 was a disaster for Flacco and the Ravens. Not only did they give up 36 points to the Panthers, but Flacco threw for just 192 yards to go along with one touchdown. He was also picked off twice after having thrown two interceptions across his last five games combined. His 56.4 percent completion percentage stands as his second-lowest mark of the season.

Flacco will look to rebound this week in what will be his second meeting of the year against the Steelers. In their first matchup at Heinz Field, Flacco had what has been his best game of the season up to this point with 363 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Steelers haven’t been great against the pass, in general, allowing the ninth-most passing yards per game (265) and 17 touchdowns through the air, which is tied for the fourth-most.

Baker Mayfield vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,600

The Browns offense didn’t have a banner performance against the Steelers in Week 8, eventually losing the game 33-18. Mayfield completed 61.1 percent of his passes, but only for 180 yards. He somewhat salvaged his performance with two touchdowns, although he did throw an interception. Mayfield has now thrown for 238 yards or fewer in three straight games.

With the Browns cleaning house, it’s hard to predict what their offensive scheme will look like in Week 9. One thing for certain is that Mayfield will be under center and tasked with trying to keep up with the Chiefs high-scoring attack. It wouldn’t be surprising if they threw a lot, as a result, leaving Mayfield with some upside considering the Chiefs have allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (305).

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Quarterbacks

Philip Rivers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $5,600

Rivers is having another excellent season, averaging 286.9 passing yards per game to go along with 17 touchdowns. Turnovers have been a problem for him at times during his career, but he’s only been picked off three times so far. He’ll be faced with a tough task Sunday with the Seahawks allowing the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (219). They also have 10 interceptions, matching the 10 touchdown passes that they have given up. His price isn’t terrible on DraftKings, but he’s risky at his price on FanDuel considering this matchup.

Alex Smith vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,000

The Redskins have won three straight games, but it hasn’t exactly been on the shoulders of Smith, who threw for fewer than 180 yards in each contest. He continues to do a great job of limiting turnovers, but his eight touchdown passes don’t leave him as a great fantasy option. To put his lack of touchdown upside into perspective, he had 26 touchdowns in 15 games for the Chiefs last year. Mahomes already has that many across eight games. Even though the Falcons defense has been porous, stay away from Smith.

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 9

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 9

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If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.

Starters With Favorable Matchups

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 9

Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers: vs. COL, vs. SD

Buehler had the worst start of his brief major league career in his last outing against the Marlins, allowing five runs (four earned) in five innings. He still finished with seven strikeouts and has an 11.3 K/9 through five starts. His 2.67 ERA and 2.21 FIP haven’t been aided by luck either since opponents have a .313 BABIP against him. He catches a break in his first start facing the Rockies at home instead of at Coors Field. He’ll then start against the Padres for the second time this season after recording eight strikeouts in six scoreless innings in their first matchup.

Miles Mikolas, St. Louis Cardinals: vs. KC, at PIT

Unlike Buehler, Mikolas is not a big strikeout pitcher with only a 6.5 K/9. However, he works ahead in the count by throwing a first-pitch strike to 69.9% of the batters that he has faced and doesn’t walk hardly anyone with a 0.9 BB/9. His excellent control has helped result in a 1.05 WHIP, which is key to his success due to his lack of strikeouts. He’ll get the good fortune of facing the Royals at home who already don’t have a great offense, but will also be without the use of the DH. He’ll also get his second start against the Pirates after he allowed two runs to go along with seven strikeouts over seven innings in their first meeting. Expect another valuable week from Mikolas.

Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers: vs. ARZ, vs. NYM

Anderson (illness) is expected to be activated from the DL and start Monday. He dealt with a bout of food poisoning and only missed the minimum 10 days, so don’t expect him to be limited at all moving forward. His 3.97 ERA and 1.15 WHIP this season look nice, but his 6.01 FIP and .210 opponents BABIP due raise a concern for regression. The good news is he has two favorable matchups coming his way this week. The Diamondbacks have scored the third-fewest runs (176) in baseball this season and are without one of their best hitters in A.J. Pollock (thumb). Then he’ll take on the Mets, who have also struggled by scoring the fifth-fewest runs (178). Don’t hesitate to activate him from the DL and insert him back into your lineup right away.

Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles: at CWS, at TB

Gausman has had two horrible starts this season. In his first start, he was lit up for six runs in four innings against the Twins. In his last outing, he allowed six runs in 4.2 innings against the Red Sox. Inbetween that though, he allowed two runs or fewer in six of seven starts. He’s had a problem with home runs throughout his career and has allowed 10 already this season, but five of those came in those two bad starts. Week 9 isn’t shaping up to be a difficult week with his first start coming against a White Sox team that has scored the second-fewest runs (166) in baseball. He’ll then face a Rays offense that is certainly better but is still middle of the pack in terms of runs scored. In his first start against them this season, Gausman held the Rays to two runs while recording six strikeouts in 7.2 innings.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 9

Mike Foltynewicz, Atlanta Braves: at PHI, at BOS

Foltynewicz has made significant strides this season with a 2.87 ERA and 10.9 K/9 through nine starts. He’s had control issues though with a 4.6 BB/9, resulting in a 1.34 WHIP. He’s already made three starts against the Phillies this season and has been successful, holding them to five runs (four earned) while recording 21 strikeouts in 17 innings. However, his second start this week against the Red Sox is concerning. He can’t afford to walk so many hitters against their potent lineup, so that start alone might make him a candidate to be benched for Week 9.

Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays: vs. BOS, vs. BAL

Faria hasn’t been able to follow up his strong rookie campaign, posting a 5.20 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across nine starts. He’s issuing more walks and recording fewer strikeouts, which is certainly not a recipe for success. The Red Sox have hit him hard in two starts this season, scoring nine runs in 5.2 innings. The Orioles have also had success against Faria in two games this year, scoring 11 runs in 10.1 innings. Keep him anchored to your bench.

Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds: vs. PIT, at COL

Harvey hasn’t pitched more than four innings in either of his first two starts with the Reds. He didn’t allow a run in his first outing but allowed three runs in his second start against the Giants. The Reds are desperate for starting pitching and decided to take a chance on Harvey, but he’s not someone you even want to think about streaming this week. First, he’ll face a Pirates team that has scored the fifth-most runs (225) in baseball. Then he has to travel to hitter-friendly Coors Field.