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Joe Nicely's DraftKings NFL DFS picks and lineup sleepers for the Week 9 (November 2024) Main Slate. His top daily fantasy football lineups to target for DraftKings DFS contests.
After raiding my daughter's trick-or-treat bag leftovers, I'm battling a Halloween hangover. It's probably a similar feeling to what lots of DFS players were experiencing after last week's Main Slate, as injuries and muted outputs from several popular players were hallmarks of Week 8. That said, we're on to a Week 9 slate that features some DFS-friendly game environments, as well as multiple value options that can really open up the lineup-building process!
These DraftKings lineup recommendations are based on matchups, projected DK points and ownership, overall upside/talent levels, and opportunity, as well as factors such as Vegas odds, home-field advantage, and more. There are quite a few great plays available on DK for Week 9 and this article includes a couple of my favorite options at each position.
Also, be sure to check out our weekly FanDuel DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win MORE in 2024! Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups -- let's dominate this slate together!
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DraftKings Quarterbacks - Week 9 DFS Picks
Jalen Hurts - JAX at PHI ($7,500)
Fresh off his best performance of the season - a 35.1-DraftKings-points beauty in which he accounted for four TDs - against the Bengals, Hurts draws another smash matchup against the scuffling Jaguars. This Jacksonville defense has allowed the NFL's second-most passing yards (2,248) and passing TDs (17), not to mention they've relinquished 210 rushing yards to the QB position this year.
Jalen Hurts becomes the first QB in NFL history to record 3 rushing TDs in 3 games. pic.twitter.com/ycuxTHF6G4
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) October 27, 2024
After a sluggish start to the season in which his top pass catchers were largely absent with injuries, Hurts has now topped 20 DK points in each of Philly's last three, while posting nine total TDs across those outings. If you're spending up at the QB position, he should be worth every penny.
Geno Smith - LAR at SEA ($5,800)
With a new-look Seattle offense operating at the NFL's second-fastest neutral pace and throwing the ball at the league's third-highest clip in neutral situations, Smith is a week-to-week volume monster. He leads the NFL in both passing attempts (308) and passing yards (2,197).
Those numbers should continue to soar against a Rams secondary that's been consistently leaky in 2024. Los Angeles has relinquished an eye-popping 8.13 yards per attempt to opposing signal callers - the second-worst mark in the league. This game boasts sneaky shootout potential with a tight spread and lofty projected point total of 48.
DraftKings Running Backs - Week 9 DFS Picks
Alvin Kamara - NO at CAR ($7,800)
The veteran opened 2024 on a tear and multiple factors point to Kamara again having slate-breaking potential this week. Most notable is his dream matchup against a Panthers defense that features sub-par NFL talent almost across the board. Carolina has relinquished a league-worst 15 TDs to the RB position, which is four more than anyone else in the league.
In addition to the perfect matchup, Kamara will also be aided by the return of Saints quarterback/#CheckdownGawd Derek Carr to the lineup. Kamara has averaged 24.4 DraftKings points in five games with Carr under center and 14.6 DK points in three games without him. Lastly, New Orleans will likely have little choice but to give Kamara a heavy workload in this one, as Kendre Miller has already been ruled out and Jamaal Williams looks doubtful for Week 9.
Chase Brown - LV at CIN ($5,900)
With Bengals running back Zack Moss currently listed as doubtful, Chase Brown zooms to the top of Week 9 value play options. Though Brown has been locked in a near 50/50 timeshare with Moss over the past month, he's been the more explosive and efficient back by every measurable metric while averaging 4.6 yards per carry to Moss' 3.3.
Chase Brown in a featured role against a bad Raiders defense this is his coming out party https://t.co/UR8R7Jxro0
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) November 1, 2024
If Moss is indeed sidelined, Brown should receive a significant usage bump in a plus matchup against Las Vegas. The Raiders land in the bottom 10 in the NFL in both rushing yards (817) and rushing TDs (seven) allowed to enemy RBs this year.
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DraftKings Wide Receivers - Week 9 DFS Picks
CeeDee Lamb - DAL at ATL ($8,800)
Through the first eight weeks of the season, it's become increasingly clear that Lamb is Dallas' only legitimate offensive weapon. It seems as though the Cowboys themselves have finally realized and accepted the fact that Lamb is their only hope, as they've fed their superstar receiver an almost unbelievable 31 combined targets across their last two games.
CeeDee Lamb had 13 receptions on 17 targets (76% catch) for 146 yards and 2 TDs. The rest of the pass catchers?
12 receptions on 20 targets (60%) for 97 yards. This offense is CeeDee and nobody else. pic.twitter.com/xDbVFLQs1i
— ✭STX Mario✭ (@_STXMario) October 28, 2024
There's little reason to believe that elite volume trends down in this week's potential shootout environment against Atlanta. The Falcons rank dead last in the NFL in catch rate (71.5%) allowed and have coughed up the league's sixth-most receptions (108) to the WR position.
Chris Olave - NO at CAR ($6,100)
Though they play different positions, Olave's chances of popping off this week skyrocket for reasons similar to those listed for the aforementioned Alvin Kamara. The Saints WR1 will get QB Derek Carr back for this one and will unquestionably be the preferred target in a banged-up New Orleans receiving corps that will be without both Rashid Shaheed and Bub Means.
Oh yeah, there's also the platinum-level matchup against Carolina's college-level defense. The Panthers rank 31st in the league in total Defensive DVOA and are allowing a massive 8.36 yards per target to opposing wideouts in 2024. The only reason Carolina's pass defense metrics aren't worse is because opponents are so often playing with a massive lead that there's little need to throw the ball deep into games.
DraftKings Tight Ends - Week 9 DFS Picks
Evan Engram - JAX at PHI ($5,300)
Finally fully recovered from a freak hamstring injury suffered during pregame warm-ups in Week 2, Engram's stock has been sent soaring due to the season-ending injury suffered by Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk last week. In addition to Kirk's absence, Jacksonville wideouts Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis are also banged up ahead of this meeting with the Eagles.
Engram's workload skyrocketed when Kirk wasn't in the Jags' lineup last season, as he earned a 25.5% target share in games that Kirk missed in 2023. We should expect the talented tight end to be the first option for Trevor Lawrence this week and for his inflated usage to carry him against a Philly defense that's been effective against the TE position this season.
Kyle Pitts - DAL at ATL ($4,900)
The much-maligned and often-rage-inducing Pitts has shrugged off a disastrous start to the season to post over 65 receiving yards in each of Atlanta's last four. His mark of 14.4 yards per catch leads all tight ends through the first eight weeks of the season. As his rapport with new Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins continues to improve, Pitts recorded a season-high 25.1 DraftKings points on a 4/91/2 stat line against the Bucs last week.
KYLE PITTS and this Falcons offense is the PERFECT case study for how much your QB situation MATTERS 🗣️
Pitts last 4 games: 📈
21 catches
314 rec yards
2 TD
@heykayadams @kylepitts__ @AtlantaFalcons | #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/BiJnsPOvCF— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) October 31, 2024
By this point, we're almost conditioned to fear a dud from Pitts no matter how good he's looked recently, but his matchup against Dallas is a good one. The Cowboys rank 28th in Pass Defense DVOA and struggled to contain opposing tight ends. Mike Zimmer's unit is one of just three NFL teams that's allowed an average of over 10 yards per catch to the TE position this season.
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