Week 8 was sure fun! My DK primetime sample lineup posted the highest score in two of the largest primetime slate contests. Although several people copied that lineup, it still counts as a first-place finish. I also finished top-four on FanBall's largest contest for the second time in three weeks. Unfortunately, Lamar Jackson's (thumb) early exit capsized some lineups, including ones where I faded Jackson but played Zay Flowers. You cannot control injuries; they happen.
Fortunately, lineups featuring two of my other favorite quarterbacks, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen, shot right to the money window. As for Burrow, consider this a reminder that Voltron-stacks work with elite quarterbacks against feeble defenses. Don't be afraid to build a four- or five-legged
stack if you're confident your team will go ham. Three games this week could offer those opportunities: DAL/IND, DET/MIA, and SF/LVR. So get building, folks; these lineups aren't entering themselves.
Recommended DFS lineups
*Note: FanBall includes the Sunday night game on its Main Slate. DraftKings and FanDuel do not.
DraftKings Lineup: Brock Purdy ($6.8k), RB Jahmyr Gibbs ($10.0k), RB Jonah Coleman ($5.3k), WR DeMario Douglas ($4.8k), WR Caleb Douglas ($4.2k), WR Makai Lemon ($4.7k), TE George Kittle ($6.0k), FLEX Woody Marks ($5.7k), DST Philadelphia Eagles ($2.5k)
FanDuel Lineup: QB Drake Maye ($8.2k), RB Jahmyr Gibbs ($10.2k), RB Jonah Coleman ($6.3k), WR CeeDee Lamb ($8.8k), WR Matthew Golden ($6.8k), WR DeMario Douglas ($5.4k), TE Eli Raridon ($4.5k), FLEX George Kittle ($6.7k), DST Washington Commanders ($3.1k)
FanBall Lineup: QB Brock Purdy ($6.7k), RB Christian McCaffrey ($8.1k), RB Jonah Coleman ($5.4k), WR Antonio Williams ($4.1k), WR Omar Cooper Jr. ($4.8k), WR/TE George Kittle ($5.9k), TE Brock Bowers ($7.8k), FLEX Rhamondre Stevenson ($6.3k), SUPERFLEX Kirk Cousins ($5.9k)
*Note: The system codes player salaries according to expected output. !! = Less than 2.5x value, No Symbol = 2.5x value, ^^ = Greater than 3x value.
Quarterback
Weekly Strategy - Each of the four highest-priced quarterbacks on DK has slate-breaking potential. Brock Purdy might be the safest, especially if he can get even one of his wide receivers back from injury. (The potential return of Demarcus Robinson may be enough.) I also like Drake Maye, even though A.J. Brown (ankle/knee) remains out. Because of their rushing ability, the aforementioned two are better options than Jared Goff and Dak Prescott. Kirk Cousins and Malik Willis are the top discount options. I also suggest building a few mini punt-stacks featuring Drew Lock-Jaxon Smith-Njigba, J.J. McCarthy-Malik Nabers, Daniel Jones-Josh Downs or Tyler Warren, and Joe Milton III with whoever is sitting in the twelfth row behind the Eagles end zone.
Fantasy four-pack
Brock Purdy ($6,800 DK, $8,500 FD), 49ers (vs. LV) The 49ers will not be getting Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and Mike Evans (Achilles) back this week. Fortunately, they still have the best pass-catching running back in football and an elite-level tight end. Oh yeah, they are also facing the team allowing the eighth-most passing yards and second-most passing touchdowns per game. Making this even juicier is the fact that the Raiders' offense is serviceable enough to keep this game close, so there will be no letting off the gas in the second half. Anything less than 300-3 would be a major disappointment.
Drake Maye ($7,000 DK, $8,200 FD), Patriots (vs. GB) It seems like just yesterday when dynasty owners were in full panic mode over Maye's slow start to the season. Since Week 4, Maye is third in passing yards, tied for first in passing touchdowns, fifth in QB-rushing yards and first in total touchdowns. Green Bay has posted decent stats against the pass this season, but it has also padded its stats by facing Carson Wentz, Geno Smith, Michael Penix Jr., Jalon Daniels and Case Keenum. Plus, Daniels is the only legitimate rushing quarterback they have faced, and he posted 55 yards on the ground. Consider stacking Maye with Eli Raridon or DeMario Douglas.
Jared Goff ($6,600 DK, $7,700 FD), Lions (@ MIA) The only team to allow more passing touchdowns per game than Miami is Detroit. This game projects as a potential shootout, and we may get more total points here than you might expect. Goff stacked with some combination of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and even Jahmyr Gibbs is the obvious play, but load up on the Dolphins as well. I love a game stack here of five or more pieces. The Lions are going to win this one, but it may end up breaking the combined 60-point mark.
Dak Prescott ($6,500 DK, $8,000 FD), Cowboys (@ IND) Three different comparable quarterbacks have thrown for three touchdowns against this defense. That feels like Prescott's ceiling here, but two total scores and 250 total yards should be a lock. Stack Dak with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens (questionable - hamstring) or sneakily with Ryan Flournoy.
Sleepers
Malik Willis ($5,100 DK, $6,500 FD), Dolphins (vs. DET) As mentioned above, both offenses will move the ball effectively here. Over his last three games, Willis has quietly produced seven total scores, and he ranks third among all quarterbacks this season in rushing yards. There are three legitimate stack options for Willis: Caleb Douglas, Malik Washington and Greg Dulcich. A great way to approach this game is to stack Willis with one of his receivers and run it back with Jahmyr Gibbs and one of the Lions' receivers. This should free up some decent salary cap space for RB2 and tight end.
Kirk Cousins ($5,300 DK, $6,900 FD), Raiders (@ SF) Both sites continue to ignore the fact that Cousins ranks second in passing touchdowns, and that he has three or more touchdowns in half of his games. With all the quarterback turmoil and turnover this week, Cousins should have a top-six salary. Instead, he ranks 13th in pricing on both sites. Pay down for Kirk, pay up for Brock Bowers and run it back with two members of the Niners.
Running Back
Weekly Strategy - Jahmyr Gibbs has broken the $10k salary plateau. It doesn't matter here as Detroit is facing one of the worst run defenses in the league. Gibbs will be polarizing this week because of his price, but you need to have some exposure because cashing versus not cashing will be decided by his production. The easy pivot would be to roster either Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) or Kenneth Walker III. To save a little more money at RB1, you could opt for Javonte Williams or Rhamondre Stevenson. Considering the upside of this fivesome, I may just use two of them and go bargain-basement shopping elsewhere. Other WR2 options include Ollie Gordon II, Woody Marks, and Jonah Coleman. I love each of them, and could opt to play either at RB2 with another at FLEX. Watch the trade status of Jonathan Taylor and the injury status of Cam Skattebo, who is listed as doubtful. If either misses this game, Seth McGowan and Devin Singletary become lock plays.
Fantasy four-pack
Jahmyr Gibbs ($10,000 DK, $10,200 FD), Lions (@ MIA) Gibbs has officially broken the $10k barrier. Normally, this is no-go territory for me, but Miami has been so rotten against opposing backs that you may just have to eat this expensive chalk. Only one back has not topped 15 PPR points per game, and three comparable backs have topped 20 points against them. With multiple slightly cheaper RB1 options, this isn't a must-play spot, but don't just immediately fade him because of his price. He has a 200-3 ceiling here and a 150-1 floor.
Christian McCaffrey ($8,000 DK, $8,700 FD), 49ers (vs. LV) Getting Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel or even Demarcus Robinson back would both help and hinder McCaffrey. His target share would obviously drop, but defenses cannot stack the box against him. His price is much more appealing than Gibbs, and the matchup is just as sweet, making him the top pivot at RB1 and a premium run back in Vegas' stacks.
Kenneth Walker III ($9,000 DK, $8,900 FD), Chiefs (vs. NYJ) Walker's DK price is literally halfway between Gibbs and McCaffrey. His matchup is solid, but he doesn't have quite the receiving upside they have. With the Chiefs' offense underperforming recently, his ownership will be the lowest of this threesome, making Walker a nice variance play at RB1. Plus, his FD price is actually lower than his DK price. When this happens, I almost always jump on that savings at FD.
Javonte Williams ($7,300 DK, $7,700 FD), Cowboys (@ IND) Last week, Williams posted a dud versus Arizona. Hopefully, this will keep his ownership down. Before that game, he had posted nine total touchdowns in seven games, and at least one in six of those games. Three different backs have recorded multiple touchdown games against Indy, including Bhayshul Tuten last weekend. I'm not calling a pair of scores here, but 90-1 seems like a solid floor here.
Sleepers
Woody Marks ($5,700 DK, $6,500 FD), Texans (@ LAC) David Montgomery (groin) will miss his third straight game. Over this stretch, Marks has received the lion's share of the touches, but he has failed to top 85 total yards or find the end zone. That has put a real damper on his playability. Now, he faces a Chargers' defense that has allowed 26.3 PPR points per game to opposing running backs over their last five games. Something has to give here. At this price, I am willing to take a shot on him scoring or reaching the 100-yard plateau for the first time since taking over.
Jonah Coleman ($5,300 DK, $6,300 FD), Broncos (@ CAR) Normally, I would look at Coleman and think, "This is a bad idea, and I am just chasing points". Then I remember Coleman went off last week against the 10th-ranked Chiefs' rushing defense, and now he is facing the 31st-ranked Panthers. J.K. Dobbins may still see some touches here, but the guard has changed, and this is Coleman's backfield for now.
Wide Receiver
Weekly Strategy - As much as I want to spend up at running back, there are some great expensive wide receiver plays this week. Puka Nacua, CeeDee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown (ribs) and Matthew Golden all deserve consideration at WR1. If you fade St. Brown or Lamb, you could use George Pickens (questionable - hamstring) or Jameson Williams at WR2. WR2 discount plays include Stefon Diggs, Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, DeMario Douglas, and Makai Lemon. At WR3, I want Adonai Mitchell, Antonio Williams, KC Concepcion Jr., Caleb Douglas, or Malik Washington. There isn't an obvious punt play, but you could take a flyer on the Patriots' depth wide receivers.
Fantasy four-pack.
Puka Nacua ($8,800 DK, $9,200 FD), Rams (@ WAS) Back in Week 5, Nacua saw 24 targets. That was before Davante Adams (IR, hamstring) went on IR. I expected that to be Nacua's new normal. Unfortunately, he has only seen 29 total targets in the three games since. (Look at me downplaying a wide receiver with 29 targets over three games.) This represents Puka's weekly floor. The Commanders have already surrendered massive games to comparable receivers like Malik Nabers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and CeeDee Lamb. With their season on the line, the Rams will get Nacua the ball as many times as possible.
CeeDee Lamb ($8,300 DK, $8,800 FD), Cowboys (@ IND) Since Week 4, no one has more targets than Lamb. This is amazing because Lamb missed most of Week 5 with a quad injury. Unfortunately, Lamb has only 21-202-2 over the last three games despite seeing 41 total targets during that stretch. Indy has entered full tank mode, and Dallas is playing to stay alive in the NFC East. With this in mind, I expect the Cowboys will go all out this week, and that means huge games for Lamb, Dak Prescott, George Pickens and Ryan Flournoy.
Matthew Golden ($7,000 DK, $6,800 FD), Packers (@ NE) With Christian Watson expected to see most of the coverage by Christian Gonzalez, Golden should be free to operate against lesser competition. Over his last three games, Golden has seen 38 targets. He now has five games this season with 12 or more targets, but he is still only catching a little more than half of those targets. That said, at least he is seeing the targets. In four of his last six games, he has also scored a touchdown. This game feels like a shootout in the making, so I want access to as many pieces as possible. Most of my stacks will be with Maye, but don't be afraid to build your stack starting with Jordan Love and Golden and then running it back with a couple of Patriots.
Amon-Ra St. Brown ($8,100 DK, $8,600 FD), Lions (@ MIA) Miami's numbers against wide receivers are very good. Of course, it is easy to post good numbers against receivers when opposing teams can just run freely and at will against you. Detroit usually challenges its opponents fiercely, so its wide receivers remain as much of a threat as Jahmyr Gibbs.
Sleepers
Antonio Williams ($4,100 DK, $5,500 FD), Commanders (vs. LAR) The Rams just placed starting cornerback Jaylen Watson (IR -shoulder) on season-ending IR with a shoulder injury, and their other starting cornerback, Trent McDuffie (back), just returned from a groin injury last week and has missed practice this week because of a back issue. Meanwhile, Williams is coming off a game where he played a career-high 83% of the snaps and hauled in 5-54. I'd love to see him get back into the scoring column (he hasn't scored since Week 1). If he does, 3x is all but guaranteed.
DeMario Douglas ($4,800 DK, $5,400 FD), Patriots (vs. GB) With A.J. Brown (knee) checking in and out of the lineup with various injuries, Douglas has stepped up as the de facto WR1 for New England. He isn't getting peppered with targets, but he is doing good things with the ones he receives, topping 65 receiving yards three times and scoring four times over the last four games. At this price, he is a lock for 3x on both sites - especially with Brown ruled out.
Tight End
Weekly strategy – Brock Bowers' salary remains exorbitant, but this week, I like him stacked with Kirk Cousins or as a runback in Brock Purdy stacks. Trey McBride also has an astronomical price tag, but he may see 20 targets with Michael Wilson (ribs) banged up. George Kittle is my top option. He gains even more upside if San Francisco's wide receivers remain out. Harold Fannin Jr. and Tyler Warren are the discount pivots. An injury to Hunter Henry (foot) could open the door for Eli Raridon as a punt. I'd also look at Dalton Schultz or Chig Okonkwo. Even Greg Dulcich and Mason Taylor have punt value as runbacks to their opponents' quarterbacks.
Fantasy four-pack
Brock Bowers ($7,900 DK, $8,000 FD), Raiders (@ SF) Bowers' price continues to grow, but if you think of him as a WR1 instead of a tight end, the price becomes much more palatable. Over the six games that he has played, Bowers is averaging 6.9-91 with five touchdowns. He is also top-five among everyone in the NFL in receptions and receiving yards over that period. Not to mention that his five receiving touchdowns over that span lead the league. His price will leave his ownership lower, making a stack with Kirk Cousins optimal.
Trey McBride ($7,700 DK, $7,700 FD), Cardinals (@ SEA) Speaking of tight ends that are truly WR1s, McBride fits that description as well. No one has more receptions this season than McBride, and only CeeDee Lamb and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have seen more targets. The Seahawks are elite in every element on defense, but McBride did score and post 8-41 against them back in Week 2, and over their last five meetings, he is averaging 8.6-84.6.
George Kittle ($6,000 DK, $6,700 FD), 49ers (vs. LV) With Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel ruled out, Kittle will again be asked to lead the Niners receiving corps. This season, he leads San Francisco in every receiving category. This week, he faces a Vegas defense ranking 29th against the tight end position. Kittle should have a floor of 6-60-1.
Harold Fannin Jr. ($4,700 DK, $5,600 FD), Browns (@ NO) Over the last two weeks, Fannin (groin) has logged 16-245-2. Of course, most of that came with Deshaun Watson (concussion) at quarterback. This week, the Browns will probably turn the reins over to Shedeur Sanders. In seven games with Sanders at the helm last season, Fannin averaged seven targets and 4.2-48 with four touchdowns. Assuming he doesn't suffer a setback with his groin, a score this week would lock him at 3x.
Sleepers
Eli Raridon ($3,500 DK, $4,500 FD), Patriots (vs. GB) Hunter Henry (foot) is questionable for this week's game. If he plays, he would be a decent stack with Drake Maye. That said, I think that he will miss the game. Even if he does play, a foot injury could easily be subject to reinjury. This (paired with A.J. Brown's continued absence) could open the door for Raridon to post another solid line against a very good Packers' tight end defense. I'm not expecting the world here, but his price is so minuscule (especially on FD) that it opens up a ton of opportunities elsewhere in your build.
Greg Dulcich ($3,100 DK, $4,900 FD), Dolphins (vs. DET) Dulcich trails only Malik Washington in every receiving category for Miami. This week, he faces a Detroit defense that ranks dead last against opposing tight ends, and that has allowed nine different tight ends to reach double-digit PPR points. Volume and cost savings will make Dulcich a fun runback play in your Lions' stacks.
This article originally appeared on The Huddle: DFS - Fantasy Domination - Week 9
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