NFL DraftKings Plays: Week 9

Week 9 of the NFL slate is here, and we have several great matchups for this DraftKings slate. There are several games projected to score 50 points or more this week. And that means we have plenty of spots to pick from.

Obviously, focusing solely on those games would be a mistake. We will also have several monster fantasy performances from games we are not focusing on. That is why it is important to find value on this slate in multiple spots, because the chalky plays will also hold a ton of value thanks to their salaries.

I am looking at Kyle Monangai for that one, who basically fell into a dream spot for DraftKings users. Below, we will discuss him and seven other players who could help your DraftKings lineups today.

More Week 9 Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Weekly Rankings | Dynasty Risers and Fallers

DraftKings Main Slate Plays for Week 9

Quarterback

Favorite Play: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (7.1K)

I highlighted him as my MVP in last week’s showdown article, and we have no reason to change him as the top play. It was a slow start against the Washington Commanders, but he managed to finish as the QB5 for the week.

The Buffalo Bills will prove to be a tougher test. However, the game is projected to have the highest total points this week. I like stacking Mahomes with Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, or both of them in this high-scoring matchup. These teams have delivered us instant classics in the past, and having them in your DraftKings lineups may be the way to cash this Sunday.

Mahomes leads the MVP race and estimated points added at the quarterback position. And I see no reason that slows down against the Bills.

Contrarian Play: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (5.4K)

Lawrence is in a smash spot today, and no one seems to be talking about it. The Raiders are middle of the pack in terms of fantasy numbers. They are giving up the 17th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. However, their advanced numbers leave a lot to be desired.

The team is the sixth-worst in estimated points added per play against the pass. And that has mainly come against receivers, where they are giving up the third-most fantasy points.

Lawrence comes into this game fresh off a bye week, which will play a massive factor with Liam Coen’s offense. This play is a matchup-based one, as Lawrence has all the tools to succeed and was stacking decent finishes before the bye week. And the Raiders have a susceptible pass defense that can be scored on quite easily.

Running Back

Favorite Play: Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears (4.6K)

Monangai is most likely the most popular play on the slate today. And it is hard not to see why. The Bengals are giving up the most rushing yards to opponents, with a staggering 151.9 per game. The defense will be missing Trey Hendrickson and Logan Wilson. All arrows are pointing up for the rookie from Rutgers in his first career start. The Bengals are the third-worst defense in estimated points against the run.

Monangai will be popular, but his matchup and role make him worth every penny of his salary on DraftKings today.

Contrarian Play: Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons (8.7K)

When looking for contrarian plays on DraftKings this week, we will look for running backs that will be around the salary of a Kyle Monangai or Christian McCaffrey. And there are a couple of good picks.

I will go with Bijan Robinson on the higher end of things. However, Kareem Hunt and Bhayshul Tuten are great options on the lower end of things.

Robinson is sandwiched between McCaffrey and Jahmyr Gibbs, two running backs who will be popular this week. The Patriots have been a top-five defense in almost every run-related metric this season. Picking Bijan Robinson is solely betting on the talent and receiving workload coming off a major disappointment against the Miami Dolphins. Only 12 touches for the star running back is not something that will stick, especially if the team wants to stack some wins. The Patriots are tied for the most receptions allowed to running backs.

With the Falcons being underdogs in this one, Robinson should have a favorable game script to stack some PPR points on DraftKings. I do like the ceiling of Gibbs and McCaffrey more, but Bijan is an excellent pivot this week.

Wide Receiver

Favorite Play: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (8.3K)

An argument is easy for any receiver who costs a ton of salary this week on DraftKings. Ja’Marr Chase will likely see 20 targets in a great matchup; Puka could easily see the same. Rashee Rice is in a great game script with the best quarterback in the sport. And yet St. Brown ends up with the top spot this week. If you were to ask me three weeks ago if the Minnesota Vikings would be a get-right spot for opposing passing offenses, I probably would have called you crazy.

However, the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers both found great success through the air. Jalen Hurts was QB8, while Herbert was QB4. Both also had two pass catches finish in the top 12 at their positions. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both finished in the top five, with Smith finishing as the WR1 for the week. And Ladd McConkey finished as the WR6, and Oronde Gasden finished as the TE3.

Now the high-powered Lions offense gets their chance to pick apart this defense. St. Brown could easily score twice and be the WR1 overall for the week. I like his ceiling, but he also provides a safe floor, granted the Vikings can keep it somewhat competitive.

A pivot to one of the other high-end players is also good. And if you are concerned about the coach’s comments that went Jameson Williams’s way this past week, and how they need to get him the ball more. Either way, I expect St. Brown to score at least one touchdown today in a great spot.

Contrarian Play: Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (3.3K)

I was encouraged by what I saw out of Roman Wilson this past Sunday night. The second-year receiver from Michigan had his first game where he was involved with the offense. He had four catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. And now he gets a matchup with the Colts, in a game where Rodgers is likely going to have to throw the ball a ton.

The Colts give up the fourth-most fantasy points to receivers, and have given up the fourth-most passing yards as well. So while this is an excellent spot for D.K. Metcalf, it is also one for Roman Wilson. At almost the minimum salary for a receiver, there are definitely worse plays on this slate. Suppose he hovers around the 50 percent snap share he has been seeing these past two weeks. It should be enough for him to hit the value for his salary.

Check out all of our Week 9 Rankings: Flex Rankings | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings

Tight End

Favorite Play: Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts (5.5K)

After what we saw on Sunday Night Football last week, and what Tucker Kraft did to the Steelers, it would be hard to pick anybody else on DraftKings. Even with all the great options, including a returning Brock Bowers and Tucker Kraft himself.

Tyler Warren reigns supreme in his technical homecoming to western Pennsylvania. The former Penn State star is entering this game second in the league in receiving yards at his position. The Colts’ offense is one of the best in the league, averaging the most points per game at 33.8.

Pair that with the fact that the Steelers are giving up the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, and it is very easy to see how Tyler Warren gets into the optimal lineup. It is a crowded offense, but they have been scoring enough points that it has not been a problem. And I do not expect it to be against the Steelers.

Contrarian Play: Theo Johnson, New York Giants (3.5K)

Theo Johnson has had quite the up-and-down season. Johnson has had two TE1 finishes on the season, one of which was thanks to a deflected touchdown. Despite the rocky start to the season, he is an excellent play on DraftKings today.

Everyone is going to spend their salary on the premium players at the position, and Johnson will likely go overlooked on the slate because of it. Johnson has run the sixth-most routes at the position, mainly due to the injuries on the Giants’ roster. At his salary, it allows DraftKings users to chase the high-end receivers on the slate, including Rashee Rice and Ja’Marr Chase, without sacrificing anything at the running back position.

Final Thoughts For Week 9

This slate is shaping up to be potentially a high-scoring one. And it feels like it is more challenging to pick spots than it was last week. Last week, the running backs at the top had the great matchups, but now it is the receivers’ turn, outside of Christian McCaffrey.

That is why it is so essential to craft at least some of your lineups with correlation between quarterbacks and their pass catchers. I say most because some of the lineups that have won a million dollars the past few weeks have just had the quarterback unstacked. This game is a crazy one, and anything can happen. What I can say is to pay attention to the stats and matchups, beyond the chalk plays, and you will have an advantage on a sizable portion of the field, especially in big tournaments. Best of luck this week with your lineups!