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We are about to be halfway through the NFL season after this week's slate of games and it feels like football season is flying by right before our eyes!
My good friend and colleague, Dennis Clausen, usually endorses his favorite FanDuel NFL DFS plays in this piece each week. But this week, he's under the weather and he's called me off the bench and into emergency duty. I only hope that I can fill his rather large shoes and get you pointed in the right direction with a few picks at each position that will help you cash those DFS lineups.
In this article, I will be providing you with my Week 9 daily fantasy football lineup picks for FanDuel. These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Be sure to also check out our weekly DraftKings DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big!
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FanDuel Quarterbacks - Week 9 DFS Lineup Picks
C.J. Stroud vs. TB ($7,000)
Without many of the elite quarterbacks on this slate, I think I want to pay down in most of my builds this week. The Texans' rookie Stroud has been easily the most impressive rookie QB in the NFL this season, leading his team to three wins in their first seven games despite most pundits calling for Houston to be among the worst teams in the league this season.
Although they are coming off a bad loss to the Panthers last week, this Houston offense still ranks fifth in pass offense (DVOA) this season as Stroud has been effective enough to keep this offense moving while also protecting the football (just one interception).
The Texans have struggled to run the ball consistently this year with Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary (30th in rush DVOA offense) and I would expect them to commit to the passing game this week as the Bucs are better against the run than the pass. When Stroud has had to air it out 30+ times, he has posted 20+ fantasy points in three out of five games. He has talented weapons at his disposal in Dalton Schultz, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell and this should be a week where he has to throw it a bunch regardless of the game script.
Mac Jones vs. WAS ($6,600)
It's certainly not something that I want to do, but I am strongly considering Mac Jones in cash games this weekend. He's dirt cheap and coming off two pretty good performances (admittedly after three absolutely TERRIBLE games). The Pats face a Commanders defense that has allowed the second most fantasy points to opposing QBs while ranking 30th in pass DVOA defense.
QB Mac Jones went no sleeves today at #Patriots practice.
Getting ready for the weekend weather. pic.twitter.com/dNY7Ds9bKl
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) November 2, 2023
Jones lost his best receiver to injury last week but is still likely going to have to sling it 30+ times in this game as the New England run game has been fairly lackluster all year. The Commanders dealt away their two best pass rushers in trades this week, so it's quite possible that Jones is going to have more clean pockets from which to work in this game. When given time, he can make all the throws and as much as he's played recklessly this season, I think he's still in too good of a spot to pass up at this price point.
Also Consider: Jalen Hurts ($9,000), Dak Prescott ($8,200)
FanDuel Running Backs - Week 8 DFS Lineup Picks
Alvin Kamara vs. CHI ($9,200)
If there is one player at any position that you can feel good about locking into your lineups without much hesitation this week, it's Alvin Kamara. The only other true "bell-cow" running back on the slate is Saquon Barkley who happens to be running behind one of the worst-grade run-blocking units in football. Nothing against Barkley, he's actually in a decent spot this week if the Giants can muster any passing offense at all to take some defenders out of the box. But Kamara is a must-play in all formats.
Since returning from his suspension, he has 20+ touches in every single game. In two of those games he caught 10+ passes out of the backfield and he's coming off his best outing of the season as he scored two touchdowns in the Saints' victory over the Colts last week.
Alvin Kamara option routes are undefeated. pic.twitter.com/atNI6O0XHq
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) October 31, 2023
Derek Carr has not been able to push the ball down the field in the passing game and has been content to check the ball down to Kamara in the flats. That's going to be bad for this Bears defense, as they have struggled to cover running backs in the passing game, ranking 30th in DVOA to running backs as pass catchers.
Kareem Hunt vs. ARI ($7,000)
Hunt did not get a price increase this week despite having a productive game last week against the Seahawks and getting a major upgrade in matchups this week as the Browns host the Cardinals and their 31st-ranked DVOA run defense.
Jerome Ford surprised everyone by playing last week but was limited to just ten touches. Meanwhile, Hunt handled 15 touches and scored the lone Browns rushing TD on the day. He now has four touchdowns in his last three games and it's pretty clear that he's being viewed as the short-yardage back for this Cleveland offense.
Ford is still questionable for this contest on Sunday, having only logged limited practices this week. Even if Ford does play, I think we can view this as Hunt's backfield for now based on how he's played of late and based on Ford's ailing health. It makes no sense for the Browns to lean on Ford here when Hunt is obviously healthier. We saw Gus Edwards go for three rushing touchdowns against this Cardinals' defense last week, and while the Browns' offense has not been anything close to as effective as the Ravens, I still think they'll move the football and give Hunt some chances to get in the end zone. He's a nice value at this price.
Also Consider: Jonathan Taylor ($8,000), Darrell Henderson Jr. ($6,100)
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FanDuel Wide Receivers - Week 9 DFS Lineup Picks
CeeDee Lamb @ PHI ($8,700)
I want to go on record that I hate the Dallas Cowboys with a fiery passion. However, I have to admit that everything is lining up for this to be "CeeDee Lamb Week."
He's coming off one of his best games of the year as the Cowboys threw the ball all over the Rams last week and now he will face an Eagles team that is allowing the most fantasy points to opposing receivers.
The Cowboys seem more willing than ever before to embrace the passing game as they threw it more than they ran it last week despite having a pretty comfortable lead for most of the game (thanks to their defense.) This week, they'll likely have to throw it a bunch again as the Eagles have a stout run defense. Philly also has a solid pass rush, which could force Dak to get the ball out quickly.
That leads me to believe that Lamb will be targeted often in the short and intermediate passing game. Lamb runs a lot of crossing routes and patterns that occupy the middle of the field. He lines up in the slot for Dallas 67% of the time, which is ideal for this matchup as the Eagles have allowed the third most fantasy points per game to slot receivers this season (15.2).
Lamb's best game against the Birds was the last time he faced him on Christmas Eve last year when he went 10-120-2. I think we could see something similar from him this week and he's easily one of my favorite plays on the entire slate.
Demario Douglas vs. WAS ($5,400)
I am all about finding at least 1-2 cheap plays every week that you plant your flag on and make them a core piece of your builds. With Kendrick Bourne out, I think we see Douglas emerge as Mac Jones's top target in the passing game. He's already caught nine passes on 13 targets over the last two weeks and he could see an even bigger role this week with Bourne out and DeVante Parker still in the concussion protocol.
Douglas has operated from the slot for most of his snaps so far, but if Parker misses we could see him get some snaps out wide, too, against the Washington corners who have been roasted this season. He is a speedster who should be able to find his way open and as I mentioned in Jones' blurb earlier, I think Mac should have more time than usual to get the ball out with Washington selling off their best defensive lineman in trades this week.
A Jones-Douglas pairing is one of the cheapest stacks you can build this week and I think it's a great way to start a cash lineup or a GPP lineup with some correlation built right in.
Also Consider: Adam Thielen ($8,300), Nico Collins ($6,800)
FanDuel Tight Ends - Week 8 DFS Lineup Picks
T.J. Hockenson @ ATL ($6,700)
Hockenson has been great for the Vikings all season long and really ever since he put on a purple uniform going back to when he was traded there in the middle of last season. He's stepped up in a big way the way the last two weeks with Justin Jefferson out, averaging 87 yards on 8.5 catches and 10.5 targets per game.
TJ HOCKENSON FOR SIX 🔥
pic.twitter.com/d5R5y6T3zN— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 29, 2023
The big news in Minnesota is that Kirk Cousins is out for the year and the Vikings have brought in Joshua Dobbs from Arizona to replace him as they're not ready to give up on this season just yet. Dobbs won't play this week, so the Vikings are prepared to start youngster Jalen Hall at QB against the Falcons. One thing I know is that young quarterbacks usually love to lean on a reliable tight end for high-percentage throws and I would expect Hall (and the coaching staff) to want to get Hock the ball as often as possible.
The Falcons have struggled to stop the pass, as they rank 28th in DVOA pass defense. They have also struggled to stop tight ends, too. This is setting up to be a potentially big day for Hockenson and he's easily my favorite TE on the slate on a point-per-dollar basis.
Also Consider: Mark Andrews ($7,500), Dallas Goedert ($5,800)
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