DraftKings NFL picks, Week 9: Best DFS fantasy football values

The best DraftKings NFL picks for Week 9 to help your DFS lineup.

Every week, we go through the DraftKings NFL DFS fantasy football main slate in search of the best values at each position, at every price point. This week, we highlight our favorite play at each position, along with a few bargain bin finds that should facilitate lineup construction efforts.

Let our “Best Bets” form a framework for cash game lineups. Bargain Bin Values, meanwhile, should be beneficial to those who wish to attack GPP tournaments with a solid plan to maximize value across the board.

The Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams all enjoy a week off in Week 9. With the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers in the books and the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, and New York Jets squaring off in prime time, we are left with 22 teams to choose from this week.

We start, as always, with the quarterback position, followed by running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. Metaphorically, as is the case with most DFS lineup construction strategies, defense/special teams is both last and least from a prioritization standpoint.

DraftKings Week 9 Values: Quarterbacks

Few would argue with the assertion that Patrick Mahomes (KC vs. CAR, $8,100) is the best pure passing quarterback in all of fantasy football. With the state of the running back position in flux, it would surprise no one to see the agile Mahomes call his own number near the goal line, as well.

Over the last four weeks, the Carolina Panthers have allowed more rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks (3) than any other team in the league. This includes two games against Matt Ryan, and one apiece with Drew Brees and Nick Foles as the opposing signal caller, hardly a murderer’s row of stalwarts from a rushing perspective.

We like Kyler Murray (ARI at MIA, $7,800) on the strength of his rushing floor alone, but we positively love Deshaun Watson (HOU at JAX, $7,100) against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that ranks in the bottom three in fantasy points coughed up to quarterbacks over the last four weeks. It’s also hard to pass on DFS darling Josh Allen (BUF vs. SEA, $7,000), who welcomes an embattled Seattle Seahawks pass defense into town.

In the $6,000 to $6,000 price range, Justin Herbert (LAC vs. OAK, $6,800) is a smart start against a Las Vegas Raiders defense that ranks 29th in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks over the last four weeks. Meanwhile, with Matthew Stafford (DET at MIN, $6,600) likely to miss this weekend’s game due to a COVID exposure, we’ll pivot to Ben Roethlisberger (PIT at DAL, $6,500), who looks to pick apart a Cowboys defense that has been a laughing stock…and that’s being kind.

We also like Kirk Cousins (MIN vs. DET, $6,200) against the Detroit Lions. Dalvin Cook’s monster day in Week 8 — coming off an injury, no less — will no doubt draw some defensive attention away from Adam Theilen (MIN vs. DET, $6,700) and Justin Jefferson (MIN vs. DET, $6,100). Expect Cousins to outperform his price point this week, and don’t be afraid to pair him with either or both of these receivers.

Best Bet: Russell Wilson (SEA at BUF, $7,600). Over the last four weeks, only the Philadelphia Eagles have allowed more rushing yards to quarterbacks than the Buffalo Bills, a defense that also ranks in the bottom five over the last four weeks in terms of locking down opposing fantasy football quarterbacks.

Bargain Bin Values: At these prices, we’re interested in Derek Carr (LV at LAC, $5,700) and Kyle Allen (WAS vs. NYG, $5,300). We’re excited for a ceiling game from Drew Lock (DEN at ATL, $5,200), and we’re intrigued by Jake Luton (JAX at HOU, $4,900), given that the Houston Texans rank 31st in fantasy points allowed to the quarterback position since the start of Week 5.