Early Slate: Week 9 NFL DFS Picks on DraftKings, FanDuel (2024) - Lineups Advice, Strategy, Values

Last week’s Early Slate was loaded with many attractive games for fantasy. This week? Not so much. The Week 9 NFL DFS early slate on DraftKings, FanDuel has just one game that stands out; the Cowboys head to Atlanta in the game that highlights this slate. Denver/Baltimore and Miami/Buffalo have potential, but neither game comes with any guarantee of fantasy success. Vegas totals show that both games project for more than 46 points, but the offenses on all four teams make stacking a challenge.

The game that could surprise is Las Vegas heading to Cincinnati to face the Bengals. That game has the third-highest total on the slate and won’t cost much to stack. New Orleans is another team to key in on as it gets the benefit of facing the Panthers, but the plays to target on the Saints are so obvious that their ownership could be out of control. All these factors make this one of the most challenging slates we’ve seen so far in 2024.

I’m excited for Week 9, and my goal is to create a hierarchy of plays so you know who to prioritize when building your lineups! Remember that this article is written early in the week, so please check in with our Discord for any updates as practice reports come in throughout the week and a clearer picture starts to come into view. Also, check out our other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big!

Quarterbacks - Early Slate Week 9 DFS Picks

Chalk Play: Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens - $8K DK, $8.9K FD)

Simply put, there is no safer quarterback option for cash games than Lamar Jackson. He has scored over 20 DraftKings points in all but one game this year, and in that one game, he still scored 17.4 points. While we often like to spend down at the position in cash games, there’s more than enough value at the wide receiver and defense positions to make Jackson fit. 

This week's matchup isn’t ideal against the Broncos, but he is at home and a favorite and I lump him into the same category as many running backs in that situation. The team will look to pound the rock, especially since it’s nearly impossible to pass against Denver, and that means more looks for Jackson and Derrick Henry in the run game.

There is no higher floor at the position than the reigning NFL MVP, who gives you an average of eight DraftKings points per game before we take any of his passing stats into account.

Contrarian Play: Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons - $6.4K DK, $7.5K FD)

Kirk Cousins has been very hit-or-miss this year, but when he hits, he hits big and he carries multiple pass-catchers with him. The Cowboys defense may be getting back DaRon Bland, but that will only help to lower the ownership on a Falcons stack. With multiple players in the front seven banged up or out for Dallas, you can pass on this team, and that’s exactly what Cousins will have to do to keep Atlanta competitive. 

The Cowboys have allowed 28 points in half of their games this year, and that kind of upside is hard to ignore from a Falcons team that will not cost you a ton to double-stack. Those cheap prices will allow you to bring back CeeDee Lamb to complete your stack. 

Contrarian Play: Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints - $5.6K DK, $7K FD)

Play anyone against the Carolina Panthers. We saw that come to fruition last week when Bo Nix popped a monster passing score without doing much with his legs, throwing for 284 yards and three touchdowns. 

If Derek Carr does indeed return for this game, he presents an incredible value at his prices on both sites. New Orleans is easy to double stack with Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara being the main pieces you want, but don’t sleep on Juwan Johnson as a cheap tight-end option to come off Kamara chalk. Because of the low prices on Carr and Kamara, you can spend up on a secondary stack. 

Contrarian Play: Bo Nix (Denver Broncos - $5.9K DK, $7.2K FD)

Speaking of Bo Nix, you should be able to roster him with next to no ownership as he heads east to face the Ravens. Baltimore continues to live on name value, and people don’t realize how bad its pass defense is. 

Nix has shown the ability to pick apart poor secondaries, and Denver will have to throw to stay in this game against a Ravens offense that is firing on all cylinders. Adam Trautman has emerged as the team’s top receiving option at tight end, allowing you to pair him with an underpriced Courtland Sutton for a cheap Denver tournament stack.

Doing this will enable you to bring back Derrick Henry and still have room for a big-time secondary stack.

Others in consideration: Jameis Winston (CLE), Joe Burrow (CIN), Dak Prescott (DAL), Josh Allen (BUF)

Running Backs - Early Slate Week 9 DFS Picks

Chalk Play: Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints - $7.8K DK, $8.8K FD)

It doesn’t get much chalkier than a running back facing off against the Carolina Panthers, especially one who put up 22 DraftKings points the first time the teams met this year. Carolina has allowed at least 100 yards rushing in all but one game, with five performances of more than 140 rushing yards.

Alvin Kamara is not only the top rushing option in New Orleans, but he’s also one of the two most-targeted passing options, with an average of nearly seven targets per game this year, including five straight games of seven or more targets.

His passing volume may decrease with the return of Derek Carr, but that only makes his rushing ability more enticing. Kamara is the first name you should click in cash games on the slate and is the perfect second piece with Chris Olave in a Saints stack.

Chalk Play: Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens - $8.3K DK, $9K FD)

It’s almost cheating when you roster Derrick Henry. The guy scores every single week, and that’s not an exaggeration. He has scored in every game this year. Henry leads the NFL with 946 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He has adapted very well to the Baltimore offense. 

The Ravens are at home and a favorite in this game, meaning they are likely to run the ball more frequently than if they were an underdog. In the Ravens' five wins this year, they have attempted more than 26 passes only one time; further evidence that Henry should expect a large workload this weekend. 

The Denver Broncos are not an ideal matchup, having allowed fewer than 100 yards in each of their last two games, but overall they have allowed over 100 yards in half of their games and haven’t faced a rushing attack nearly as impressive as what the Ravens will bring. Henry is an excellent cash-game option and makes for a prime piece of a secondary stack along with Courtland Sutton or Adam Trautman. 

Contrarian Play: Rhamondre Stevenson (New England Patriots - $6.3K DK, $6.8K FD)

The Titans just got rolled on the ground by the Detroit Lions, and while New England doesn’t have nearly as impressive of an offensive line as Detroit, it leans heavily on the run game and Rhamondre Stevenson. Drake Maye is banged up, meaning New England should look to run even more this weekend. 

Stevenson was impressive last weekend with two touchdowns and 23 opportunities. He provides a decent floor from his passing-game work with three or more targets in all but one game this year. He is not an option for cash games but is a great one-off in tournaments

Contrarian Play: Nick Chubb (Cleveland Browns - $5.8K DK, $6.5K FD)

It may be time for the Browns to unleash Nick Chubb after two games to ramp up to speed following his yearlong absence. Cleveland finally looks like it has somewhat of an offense with Jameis Winston under center and that should open things up in the running game. 

Chubb increased his workload from 14 opportunities in Week 7 to 18 opportunities last weekend. His snap share also went up from 36% to 59% over the two weeks, and it would not be a shock if he went even higher this weekend.

The Chargers' defensive weakness is against the run, as they have allowed over 100 yards in five straight games. Chubb has enough goal-line equity and is priced cheaply enough to make him a prime tournament target with a little bit of cash-game potential.

Others in consideration: J.K. Dobbins (LAC), Bijan Robinson (ATL), De'Von Achane (MIA), Tony Pollard (TEN), Brian Robinson Jr. (WSH)

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this is my community.. this is my family.. without them this would not happen @WinDailySports @RotoBaller@BaronZito973 @mb_guruDFS #OTC there are others and you know who you are and I love you all for the help! pic.twitter.com/psRCDbCqqL

— Scott (@scottd923) September 25, 2023

Wide Receivers - Early Slate Week 9 DFS Picks

Chalk Play: CeeDee Lamb  (Dallas Cowboys - $8.8K DK, $9.1K FD)

The Falcons and Cowboys game this weekend could be a shootout, and if that’s the case, then CeeDee Lamb is likely to be the top receiver on the slate. He has seen 40 targets over the last three weeks, with 17 coming last weekend. 

He and Dak Prescott are finally starting to connect, and that can be a scary proposition for the rest of the league. Lamb is reasonably priced at $8,800 and could be considered for cash games if you find value elsewhere. He is the No. 1 option in a Cowboys stack or as a bring-back on a Falcons stack.

Chalk Play: Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints - $6.1K DK, $7.1K FD)

Just like last year, Chris Olave’s increase in target share is directly correlated to the absence of Rashid Shaheed from the Saints lineup. Even with below-average quarterback play last weekend, Olave saw 14 targets and recorded over 100 receiving yards.

The return of Derek Carr to the Saints lineup will give Olave someone with historically good accuracy so he can approve upon his catch percentage, as he was only able to convert 57% of those 14 targets last week into actual catches. 

Carolina has the worst defense in the league, and the Saints should be one of the first teams you look to stack this weekend. Olave’s target volume and mid-range price make him a cash-game lock.

Chalk Play: Cedric Tillman (Cleveland Browns - $4.3K DK, $6.1K FD)

I get that DraftKings is usually slow to raise a player's price, but what does Cedric Tillman have to do to get priced over $5,000? He is a ridiculous value given the 21 targets and an average of 23 fantasy points over the last two weeks. He should have seen a greater price increase than the $1,000 we got this week. 

Jameis Winston loves throwing to Tillman, and he has emerged as the top wide receiver on the Cleveland Browns. Most impressive is the varied root tree that Tillman is running; he’s more than a one-trick pony. His ability to move around the field allows the Browns to match him up creatively with opposing defensive backs to put him in the best position to succeed. 

He and David Njoku should be your Browns stack, and he rounds out the trio of receivers you should have in cash games for the early slate along with Lamb and Olave. 

No wonder Jameis Winston loves Cedric Tillman. He's Baby Mike Evans:

Tillman 6'3 / 213 lbs / 4.54s 40 time
Evans 6'5 / 230 lbs / 4.53s 40 timepic.twitter.com/4kzdfg4rcE

— Scott Spratt (@Scott_Spratt) October 31, 2024

Contrarian Play: Jalen Coker (Carolina Panthers - $3.6K DK, $5.2K FD)

Who else is going to catch the ball now that Diontae Johnson has been traded to Baltimore? Coker looked good last weekend with six targets and a touchdown, resulting in 17.8 DraftKings points. After seeing only a handful of snaps over the first four weeks of the year, Coker has now seen a 50% snap share over each of the last four weeks. 

He has 14 targets and two double-digit DraftKings points games over that time. His price point puts him in cash-game consideration, but more importantly, he is the bring-back piece you will want with the Saints stack as New Orleans struggles heavily against opposing passing games. 

Others in consideration: Ladd McConkey (LAC), Calvin Ridley (TEN), Courtland Sutton (DEN), Jakobi Meyers (LV), Noah Brown (WSH), Ja'Marr Chase (CIN)

Tight Ends - Early Slate Week 9 DFS Picks

Chalk Play: Mark Andrews (Baltimore Ravens - $4.2K DK, $5.8K FD)

Mark Andrews appears to be back. He has 18 targets and four touchdowns over the last four weeks, with 14.6 or more DraftKings points in each of his last three games. Shockingly, his price has yet to return to where it was after his back-to-back one-target games in Weeks 3 and 4. It was $4,500 then, and it’s only $4,200 now. 

This return to form makes Andrews an awesome secondary piece in a Ravens stack with Lamar Jackson and either Derrick Henry or Zay Flowers. It also puts him squarely in the conversation as a cash-game consideration on this short slate. 

Mark Andrews has 4 tds in 3 games pic.twitter.com/RWXOKmtmRH

— Michael Anthony (@dynastydogmike) October 27, 2024

Chalk Play: David Njoku (Cleveland Browns - $5.5K DK, $7K FD)

I’m just going to keep writing up this play until David Njoku is either priced too much or fails to come through. While Cedric Tillman is the top receiver for the Browns, Njoku is the other top option in this passing game.

Kevin Stefanski came out and said it two weeks ago and Njoku has backed it up with 21 targets and an average of 20 DraftKings points over the last two games. 

Coincidentally, the Browns offense has looked excellent since it started featuring Njoku and Tillman with Jameis Winston running the show. That’s the stack you’re going to want for tournaments, and Njoku is the spend-up tight-end option for cash games.

Contrarian Play: Mike Gesicki (Cincinnati Bengals - $3.1K DK, $5.4K FD)

Tight ends dominate the Las Vegas Raiders, so we want to make sure to get some exposure to the position this weekend. Last week, Mike Gesicki saw eight targets with Tee Higgins out, and Higgins is once again not practicing for the Bengals.

Gesicki saw a season-high 53% snap share last weekend as well, so it looks like he’s becoming a more featured player in this offense. 

With Mark Andrews being so cheap, people will probably go to him rather than looking to spend down even further, making Gesicki an even more attractive tournament option as a secondary piece to a Bengals stack or as a standalone play. 

Others in consideration: Kyle Pitts (ATL), Adam Trautman (DEN), Will Dissly (LAC), Brock Bowers (LV)

Defense/Special Teams - Early Slate Week 9 DFS Picks

Chalk Play: New Orleans Saints - $3.8K DK, $5K FD

You want to play your defenses against the Carolina Panthers. You especially want to play your defenses against the Panthers when Bryce Young starts. The last time these two teams played, the Saints scored 14 DraftKings points.

New Orleans doesn’t consistently disrupt passers, but it does have three or more sacks and has forced two more turnovers in half of its games. Putting two and two together, it’s easy to see that New Orleans is the safest defensive play this weekend.

Contrarian Play: New York Giants - $2.3K DK, $3.2K FD

How in the world are the New York Giants priced this cheaply? I get that they give up some points and they can’t stop the run, but they also lead the NFL in sacks and I’ve had four or more sacks in six games this year, including five when they played the Commanders. 

Defensive pressure on the quarterback is the No. 1 indicator of fantasy success. If you can get into the backfield and pressure the quarterback, then that quarterback is more apt to turn the ball over. This isn’t rocket science.

The Giants don’t need to do much to hit value, and if they can just hit their season average of 7.5 DraftKings points, they will be more than worth your while as a cash or tournament play. 

Others in consideration: Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals

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