DraftKings NFL picks, Week 9: Best DFS fantasy football values
By Drew DeLuca
DraftKings Week 9 Values: Wide Receivers
DeAndre Hopkins (ARI vs. MIA, $8,200) will always be a featured DFS recommendation as long as he’s active. The Dolphins rank 26th in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, so there’s no reason to avoid the highest-priced wide receiver on the Sunday main slate.
As a superhuman cyborg, DK Metcalf (SEA at BUF, $7,800) is a viable option, no matter who he faces. However, we like Stefon Diggs (BUF vs. SEA, $7,400) just as much this week in a very favorable matchup against a much-maligned Seattle Seahawks secondary that ranks 27th in fantasy points per game allowed to wide receivers over the last four weeks.
Of all other enticing options priced $7,000 or higher, we like Keenan Allen (LAC vs. LV, $7,000). In the next tier, $6,000 to $6,900, we like Thielen and Jefferson, as mentioned previously, and we’re all over Tyler Lockett (SEA at BUF, $6,800) a great receiver in his own right who offers a $1,000 discount if chosen over DK “The Mountain” Metcalf.
Will Fuller V (HOU at JAX, $6,800) stayed put at the trade deadline; the Notre Dame product in a contract year is a great DFS target this week with both a chip on his shoulder and a terrific matchup. Terry McLaurin (WAS vs. NYG, $6,500) should eat the New York Giants secondary alive; he’s half of a great GPP pairing with Kyle Allen for the braver tournament enthusiasts among us.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT at DAL, $6,200) has seen 22 targets over the past two weeks; at his price, he could be a difference-maker if he posts a long overdue high-ceiling game against an injury-riddled defense that hasn’t come close to meeting low expectations over the past few weeks.
In the value tier ($5,000 to $5,900), we find JuJu’s teammate Chase Claypool (PIT at DAL, $5,700), who enjoys the same tasty matchup. Brandin Cooks (HOU at JAX, $5,500) also has our eye as a viable option in this price range; he has averaged 10 targets per game over his last three contests, offering a nice floor with at least nine in each.
Speaking of attractive floor plays at a pretty price, Cole Beasley (BUF vs. SEA, $5,400) may lose some luster as John Brown returns to form, but could still outperform his price given a matchup against a Seattle Seahawks defense that ranks dead last in fantasy points allowed per game to wide receivers so far this season. Ceiling chasers might prefer Christian Kirk (ARI vs. MIA, $5,300) at a similar price, especially in the wake of back-to-back multi-touchdown games.
Best Bet: Allen Robinson (CHI at TEN, $6,900). Over the last four weeks, the Titans have given up 86 receptions to wide receivers over the last four weeks, most in the league by a long shot: wide receivers facing Tennessee have logged 27 more targets and 20 more catches than any other team in the league over this span. Oh, and only two teams have allowed more receiving touchdowns to wide receivers since the start of Week 5, so start Robinson everywhere with confidence; on top of all of this matchup juiciness, he’s insanely talented.
Bargain Bin Values: With Tim Patrick slowed by a hamstring injury, Jerry Jeudy (DEN at ATL, $4,700) is poised for a breakout game against an Atlanta Falcons defense that ranks dead last in receiving yards allowed to wide receivers over the last four weeks. John Brown (BUF vs. SEA, $4,600) is a safer, yet still attractive option for the reasons outlined above (see Diggs, Stefon).
We just can’t shake the sneaky suspicion that Laviska Shenault (JAX vs. HOU, $4,200) could have an even bigger day than teammates DJ Chark and Keelan Cole in a garbage time bonanza. Meanwhile, Darnell Mooney (CHI at TEN, $3,900) is slowly becoming everything that Anthony Miller fanboys were hoping he’d become.
As far as GPP dart throws go, why not KJ Hamler (DEN at ATL, $3,400) against the Falcons, Jaylen Guyton (LAC vs. LV, $3,100), or Isaiah Wright (WAS vs. NYG, $3,000)? The latter has seen five or more targets in three of his last four games, so odds are more than fair that he’ll offer a return on his bargain-basement price tag.