Holy smokes, it doesn’t feel like Week 9 already, but here we are. Before we dive into the Cash Game picks for this week, let’s get a few guidelines out of the way first. The “Cash Game Plays” weekly DFS article has been my bread and butter for the past few years. Evolving a little over the years, I now play almost as many tournaments as I do cash game contests.
The goal of the cash game article is to outline some of the safer plays while also providing options that will help you create the most optimal builds. The whole point of it all is to make some money. Sometimes we won’t, but the most important part is putting ourselves in the best position to do so. That goes without saying, but it can sometimes get overshadowed by the results on a week-to-week basis.
People only want to know how many points a guy scored, not necessarily the route they took to get there. DFS is not only a science but a math equation. Let’s dive in, put the pieces together, and try to solve it. With that said, here are the DFS Cash Game Plays for Week 9. If you’ve been riding with me all along, you know the drill. There will be a lock emoji next to a few of my favorite options. All the players mentioned in the article are viable for Cash Games, but those with that lock emoji will be fixtures in my main lineup(s).
Be sure to check out my Dart Throws and Pivots for Week 9.
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson ($7,300 DK, $8,300 FD)
Usage compared to cost. Paying up for Josh Allen is acceptable in a matchup he should do well in against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. However, Jackson could find himself in more of a back and forth game against the Minnesota Vikings, and his team’s implied team total is hovering around 28 points, which is also one of the highest on the slate. The Vikings will also be without defensive end Danielle Hunter and cornerback Patrick Peterson. They are also dealing with other defensive injuries, including players who logged limited practices this week. Jackson’s rushing upside and the Vikings’ banged-up defense make him my favorite cash game quarterback this week.Â
Other Options: Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Jordan Love (salary relief)
Running Back
Austin Ekeler ($7,900 DK, $9,000 FD)Â
Ekeler stands out as more of a DraftKings option than a FanDuel one, given his PPR upside and floor. On FanDuel, he still projects as a good option, but his price is a little high for someone that doesn’t usually get as many rushing yards as some of the other names on the list. Traveling to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles, Ekeler gets an incredible matchup for receiving backs. The Eagles aren’t a terrible defense overall, but they allow running backs to excel against them. The Eagles have yielded the third-most receptions per game and the second-most DK points per game to enemy running backs. Ekeler is close to a lock for me on DraftKings, but you could fade him on FanDuel if you need the salary.Â
Ezekiel Elliott ($7,000 DK, $8,200 FD) – 🔒
Dak Prescott returns this week, which should boost everyone’s value in this Dallas Cowboys offense. As heavy favorites playing at home against a team that just traded away Von Miller, Zeke should get plenty of volume down the stretch. Working in his favor, the Broncos have been bad at stopping the run this year, ranking 27th in defense rush DVOA. Zeke averages nearly 20 touches per game, and I would be shocked if he didn’t get at least that here. Lock him in.
Myles Gaskin ($5,800 DK, $6,100 FD) – 🔒
With both DeVante Parker and Will Fuller on injured reserve, the Miami Dolphins lack options for Tua Tagovailoa to throw the ball. Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki figure to play big roles in the game today. Additionally, Gaskin should also get plenty of opportunities, both receiving and rushing. Joining Parker and Fuller on injured reserve, backup running back Malcolm Brown was also placed on IR recently, which means no one is standing in Gaskin’s way of a workhorse role today. The Houston Texans are a running back’s goldmine, and they have allowed the most rushing yards to opposing running backs. Gaskin is a great price on both of the main sites. Just like Zeke, lock him in.
Other Options: Nick Chubb, Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara, Devontae Booker, Joe Mixon
Wide Receiver
Amari Cooper ($5,700 DK, $6,900 FD) – 🔒
Similar to Ekeler, Cooper holds more value on DraftKings. Cooper was a limited participant in practice all week due to a hamstring issue, but he’s expected to play, and it doesn’t sound hampering. With Cooper Rush under center last week, Amari had a great game, hauling in eight passes for 122 yards and a touchdown. Dak will be back for this game, and it’s not like the two of them have forgotten how to connect. The Cowboys should easily move the ball on the Broncos, and Cooper is simply too cheap across all DFS platforms.
Jarvis Landry ($5,100 DK, $5,900 FD) – 🔒
What a week it’s been for NFL news. We had the Aaron Rodgers circus and the Odell Beckham Jr. dilemma going on almost simultaneously. The key here is OBJ not playing. Baker Mayfield has to be feeling some way, given the main reason why Odell doesn’t want to play for the Browns anymore. It might be a little narrative-ish, but I feel like he’s going to come out fired up for this one. Not to mention, he’ll need to put up points to keep up with a (so far) high-powered attack on the other side, playing Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Landry always has a high target share, which will only increase with OBJ out of the picture. Pencil him in for six-plus catches. He’s a great value this week. Â
Other Options: Stefon Diggs (FanDuel 🔒), Tyreke Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Hunter Renfrow, Kadarius Toney, Tee Higgins
Tight End
Darren Waller ($6,200 DK, $6,800 FD) – “FanDuel 🔒“
The Walrus hasn’t had a huge blow-up game since Week 1. After the horribly tragic incident involving Henry Ruggs, the Las Vegas Raiders are short on weapons. Renfrow is a great value play, but more importantly, Waller should be in line for a big day, especially after an extra week to rest up his ankle injury coming off the bye week. The only concern is whether or not the New York Giants will use James Bradberry on him the same way they did Monday Night, covering Travis Kelce. At any rate, Waller should get a ton of targets from Derek Carr, and he’s a lock on FanDuel.Â
Tyler Conklin ($3,000 DK, $5,200 FD)
Albert Okwuegbunam is a fine punt/value option. However, I want the guy that’s only $400 more, who I believe has the higher upside. Yes, even in cash games. Albert O. pops up in a ton of optimal lineups, but I could see this going poorly with the return of Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton still in the mix, soaking up a bunch of targets. As for Conklin, he’s coming off a couple of big receiving yard games. He had three catches for 71 yards against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6. Then, last week against the Cowboys, he caught five of seven targets for 57 yards. Conklin and the Vikings get set to take on the Baltimore Ravens, who allow the most DK points per game to opposing tight ends. Finding the extra $400 to spend on him shouldn’t be too difficult.  Â
Other Options: Albert Okwuegbunam, Dallas Goedert, Mike Gesicki, Travis Kelce
Defense/Special Teams
Kansas City Chiefs ($2,300 DK, $3,300 FD)
The Chiefs have one of the worst defenses in the league, and there’s no beating around the bush about it. Nonetheless, they are incredibly affordable, the home team, and facing a quarterback making his first career NFL start.Â
Atlanta Falcons ($2,500 DK, $3,200 FD)
The Falcons defense isn’t anything to write home about, but they get a solid matchup against a team with limited offensive weapons and a journeyman quarterback. Kamara is really the only offensive player they’ll need to key in on. Trevor Siemian will be making his first start since 2019 with the New York Jets. He played respectably last week, filling in for Jameis Winston, who left the game after suffering a torn ACL. However, Siemian has only thrown six passes in regular-season games since the 2017 season outside of last week.
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