Quarterback
Russ Wilson- One of the most likely shootouts on the slate, Seattle/Buffalo provides plenty of opportunity for fantasy points. Everyone knows the Seahawks have given up tons of passing yards this season, but the Bills actually have struggled as well. Buffalo has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, setting up well for the QB1 in fantasy. He’s under $8K on DK, and can be fit in should you make it a priority.
Deshaun Watson- Watson seems to always be a cash game option, and now he matches up with the Jaguars who have surrendered the third-most DK points per game to QB’s. He nearly got to 30 DK points in their first meeting with Jacksonville this season, and he has 25 in three straight weeks. His rushing floor has been much more stable as of late as well, with over 20 rushing yards in each of his last four games.
Josh Allen- What to do with Allen is one of the big questions on this slate, he’s been terrible as of late, but has a matchup with Seattle who has allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. I expect a shootout in this contest, and this is a get-right spot at home for the Bills offense. I also love his upside in the run game, and would be comfortable with him in all formats despite the poor recent form. However, on DK, Russ is only $600 more.
Running Back
Dalvin Cook- It may feel like point chasing after last week, but Cook is the top RB play on the main slate against a weak Lions run defense. He dominated the work for Minnesota last week per usual, and looked healthy on his way to a four TD game. There are limited spend-up options at this position, and Cooks provides one of the top floor/ceiling combos for optimal builds.
Chase Edmonds- Edmonds might be the easiest play on the slate at his price tag, against a Miami defense that has skewed towards a run-funnel in 2020. Edmonds was already posting usable fantasy games with Kenyan Drake active, now with him sidelined he has the opportunity to dominate the touches for a creative offense with a 27 points team total.
James Robinson- Robinson has had one of the most secure roles in fantasy football this season. The Texans are a bottom-five defense in fantasy points allowed to Robinson’s position, and they are still extremely weak in the LB corps which boosts Robinson’s matchup even further. He also may get another bump up with rookie Jake Luton taking over for Minshew. Luton has a reputation to be a check down artist. So, we could see lots of dump offs to Robinson in Week 9.
Justin Jackson- Jackson is my preferred cheap RB play this week with Troymaine Pope ruled out for the Chargers. As much as I love Josh Kelley, he’s been in Lynn’s doghouse due to his ball security issues and Pope was heavily involved in Week 8. Taking Pope off the field will be a big boost for Jackson, in a soft matchup vs Las Vegas. The Raiders have allowed the fifth-most points per game to running backs, while Jackson sits below $5K on DK.
Note: There is a chance that Zeke Elliott misses this week with Dallas’ bye looming next week. Should he be out, Tony Pollard would be thrust into consideration.
Wide Receiver
Julio Jones- Jones is my top overall WR on this slate, and I will be making a point to fit him in with Calvin Ridley expected out for Atlanta. He has dominated the offensive work with Ridley out over the last season, and A.J. Bouye being out for Denver heightens the chance that Denver has no answer for Jones at home on Sunday.
Keenan Allen- Allen still feels too cheap, vacuuming over 30% of the teams targets since Justin Herbert took over as the starting quarterback. I will never argue him in cash games on any site, given his current role in this offense, but I prefer Julio if picking one of them for Week 9.
Tyler Lockett- Lockett has one of the top matchups in the slot against Buffalo, where they’ve been victimized all season. It’s tough to guess which of Lockett/Metcalf will pop off in a certain game, but the edge goes to Lockett who will avoid Tre White shadow coverage. Locking in a piece of this 55 O/U would be a great move in an optimal build, especially if rostering Wilson at QB.
Brandin Cooks- Cooks would be my go-to stack should I end up with Watson on FanDuel. He is much cheaper than Fuller despite being just as consistent in terms of targets and air yards. He is also cheap on DraftKings at only $5,500.
Value- We have two min priced options in Christian Blake and Marcus Johnson on DraftKings. I never feel great about a min-price WR in cash games, but we very well may need the salary, and both of these guys project for usage/playing time bumps with Calvin Ridley and TY Hilton out. The more I’ve thought about it, Johnson is much more athletic and has looked better on the field this season. The matchup is worse, but I think he might end up the better bet for value.
Tight End
Hayden Hurst- Hurst projects as one of the highest-owned tight ends this week with Calvin Ridley expected out for Atlanta. He is quietly seventh in targets at the tight end position this season.
Hunter Henry- Henry is $100 cheaper than Hurst, and tied with him with 46 targets this season. I feel pretty confident that I’m going to use one of these two in cash games due to their price tags, and making the right choice will be crucial. Be sure to check Final Thoughts.
Written by Ben Hossler (Follow @BenHossler on Twitter)
