It is here, the halfway point of the NFL regular season! There’s been many highs and lows, a lot of surprises and some things not-so-surprising. Either way, the data at hand now is more consistent than it has been for the season. That will go hand in hand with these picks for this week’s NFL DFS lineups. Time to get after it!
(NFL DFS salaries courtesy of DraftKings)
Week 9 NFL DFS Picks & Lineup Advice (2024)
Quarterback
Bo Nix (Denver Broncos) | $5,900
You probably should start if you haven’t been paying attention to Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix in fantasy football this season. At this point, Nix is the QB9 overall and has been quietly having a fantastic rookie season. That rookie season has especially been positive from a fantasy football standpoint. He’s the pick to play this week in NFL DFS lineups, so let’s look at why.
Nix and the Broncos take on the Baltimore Ravens. Despite having a solid defense, the Ravens are very much a pass funnel in the NFL. They want you to pass the ball. The Ravens are currently the second-easiest team to play as a fantasy quarterback. They’re allowing 23.4 fantasy points per game, letting the starting quarterback score 4.7 points over their projection.
But it isn’t the passing that is the main reason Nix is having a great season. Those legs of his are very much getting the job done and might be his secret weapon. Right now, Nix has the fourth-most rushing yards for quarterbacks (259) and the fourth-most rushing touchdowns with four. You know that having a quarterback willing to use his legs and do it right is a big advantage in fantasy football. So why not take the 13th-most expensive quarterback this week and save up for some more expensive players at other positions?
Running Back
Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons) | $7,400
So you take your discount with Nix and use that cash towards a more expensive Bijan Robinson. In the event of doing so, you have the opportunity to play a running back with an extremely sexy match-up. This week, Robinson and the Falcons face the Dallas Cowboys, who have been all but putrid against the run. In 2024, the Cowboys have allowed the ninth-most rushing yards (1,082) and second-most rushing touchdowns (12).
As the Points Per Reception (PPR) RB4 right now, Robinson can jump up in the positional rankings after this week. The Falcons are favored in this game with a solid overall point total of 52. If they get ahead, Robinson is likely to get more carries. Robinson looks to keep racking up the points, as the Cowboys allow 26.1 fantasy points to the running back position. Now, there is a chance Tyler Allgeier takes a decent amount of carries, but the truth of the matter is Robinson is the more talented back. This could be a massive week for him.
Wide Receiver
Ladd McConkey (Los Angeles Chargers) | $5,600
For an offense that was extremely run-heavy up until the last few weeks, Ladd McConkey has come on very quickly. The Los Angeles Chargers finally figured out they should use their superstar quarterback, Justin Herbert. McConkey is a solid selection in NFL DFS lineups this week, and on top of it, he’s cheap. Last week, McConkey exploded on the scene with six receptions off six targets for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Now, thinking he will duplicate that two weeks of running is fool’s gold, but he should have another solid day.
But it’s not just this past week that is a tell-tale as to why you should put McConkey in your lineup. The whole season, he’s averaged about 6.4 targets per game, and in the last three weeks, he’s accumulated 21 targets. He’s coming on as the Chargers’ lead receiver, and you shouldn’t let the opportunity go to waste.
Now the Chargers face the Browns, the fifth-easiest matchup for fantasy wide receivers. The position averages 32.1 fantasy points per game – an extremely inviting number – against Cleveland. Start off your wide receiver corps with a cheap option who can go nuclear. Then, use those other dollars to tack on more expensive players.
Tight End
Jake Ferguson (Dallas Cowboys) | $5,100
Talk about a coming out party for the tight ends last week during “National Tight Ends Day.” If you picked any of the top tight ends, odds are you were happy with your selection. This week, let’s stick with the Cowboys/Falcons game and the heavy overall implied point total of 52. Look, the Cowboys kind of just suck right? It’s pretty apparent. But the thing is, this game is very much make-or-break for their season. They need this game more than any other game they’ve played so far. So, who are they going to turn to? Their best players.
That means, yes, I’m calling Jake Ferguson one of their best players. It should be rather obvious. He’s about as consistent and reliable as they come for tight ends. To win this, the Cowboys need to get Ferguson and CeeDee Lamb going early and often. There is serious potential for Ferguson. Atlanta will be all over Lamb, which means more passing lanes will open up for Ferguson. The Falcons also give up about nine fantasy points per game to tight ends, which is in the league’s bottom half. Ferguson should get dialed in.
Defense/Special Teams
New Orleans Saints D/ST | $3,800
They’re the most expensive D/ST on the slate, but I’m not sure I care. The last time the Saints played the Panthers Bryce Young was under center. In that game, the Saints D/ST scored 14 NFL DFS points. They had two interceptions off Young, sacked him four times, got a fumble recovery and held them to 10 points. Well, eight weeks have rolled by, and Young is again under center for the Panthers.
The cost justifies itself because you may get another huge game from this defensive squad. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them take an interception to the house for a score. Bryce Young has not been the answer in the NFL, and starting defenses against him is about the only upside you get with him under center.
Check out all of our Week 9 fantasy football content:
- Fantasy Football Whiplash! | Week 9 News & Notes (2024)
- Week 9 Fantasy Football Advice Mailbag (2024)
- Week 9 NFL DFS Picks & Lineup Advice (2024)
- Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Targets (2004)
- Week 9 Shore Thing Sleepers (2024)
- Week 9 In the Scope Targets (2024)
- PropKings: NFL Week 9 (2024)
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*Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck – USA TODAY Sports*