Alright, GF2 Fans, it’s time once again for my weekly FanPicks DFS Football advice! I had a pretty successful Week 8, hitting on picks with Philip Rivers, Julio Jones and even the Rams defense. I missed on a few guys in Andy Dalton and Justin Forsett, but I’ll try to do better for you all in Week 9. This week we have some higher priced guys who will be must-starts, but also some lower tier guys who I believe will benefit from some nice matchups.
So, let’s get down to business everyone! Here’s my FanPicks DFS Football Advice for Week 9:
MVP: In reality the MVP is the best player at their given sport. This will be my overall favorite player at each position. I’ll look at his season stats, defensive matchup, recent performances and his career history versus this week’s opponent.
Value Pick: A value pick will be a player who has the potential to be a middle priced guy who could outperform the MVP style players.
Punt Play: This is a widely used term in the DFS world. This will be a player who will be low-owned in the larger tournaments, but will be a high-risk play.
Bust Candidate: This will be a potential top-rated player who I believe will have a down week. I’ll take a look at their recent performances and defensive matchup.
Quarterbacks
MVP: Tom Brady, Patriots ($7,600)
The quarterback picks are a little bit tough for Week 9, so I’m putting all of my confidence in the best one in the league in Tom Brady. Brady draws a tough matchup this week in Washington, but no defense really scares me away from using this guy. So far this season, he has thrown 20 touchdowns and just one interception, making him the best play each and every week. In 2015, the Redskins rank 11th at defending against opposing quarterbacks, but they haven’t faced anyone quite as good as Brady. Insert Brady into your lineup and stack him with a guy who we’ll talk about a little later on.
Value Pick: Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers ($6,600)
If you don’t want to pay up for Brady, then this is your guy! Roethlisberger made his return to action after missing time due to an MCL sprain in Week 8 but looked a bit rusty. He faced a Bengals team who knew just how to shut him down, causing him to throw just one touchdown and three interceptions. Unlike a lot of people, I expected Big Ben to come out of the gates a bit slow, but this week will be a different story. He will face a Raiders team who ranks 27th versus opposing quarterbacks, allowing an average of 23.8 fantasy points per game.
Punt Play: Peyton Manning, Broncos ($6,200)
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I never thought I’d see the day where I wouldn’t have confidence in starting Manning in any fantasy format, but that day has finally arrived. He just hasn’t been himself all year long, but put in a good outing against a solid Packer defense in Week 8. In Week 9, Manning gets to travel back to his old squad in Indianapolis where he’ll get to play indoors. This season, the Colts allow an average of 23.0 points per game to opposing quarterbacks, so I’m confident Manning will have a solid day for DFS purposes.
Bust Candidate: Andrew Luck, Colts ($7,000)
For the second week in a row, I’ve got Luck as my bust candidate. He hasn’t been himself all season long due to three broken ribs, so I don’t have much faith in him going forward. On top of the broken ribs, Luck will have to face possibly the best defense in the league in the Broncos. The Broncos are absolutely dominating teams this season, especially quarterbacks. Just last week, Denver held Aaron Rodgers to just 77 total passing yards for the night, which is a great achievement in its own. There is no way I’d touch Luck this week with better options at lower prices.
Running Backs
MVP: Devonta Freeman, Falcons ($7,400)
Like the quarterbacks, it was hard to pick a running back who I was completely confident in, so I went with the best one statistically in the league this season. Freeman has been one of the most consistent options at his position all season long and leads the league in rushing yards. In Week 9, he’ll square off against a 49ers defense who give up an average of 22.6 fantasy points per contest, so get him into your lineups!
Value Pick: Chris Ivory, Jets ($6,300)
Ivory has been a pleasant surprise this season and just keeps on getting tons of touches every single game. Coming off a few lower scoring fantasy week, I see him being a potential big time point scorer this week. In Week 9, Ivory will face off against a Jaguars team who ranks 25th against opposing running backs for the season. With no one else in the Jets backfield stealing carries from him and having Geno Smith as his quarterback, I see New York giving Jacksonville a heavy dose of the run game.
Punt Play: Ronnie Hillman, Broncos ($4,900)
I really like Denver players this week for your DFS teams! Hillman has slowly become the lead back for the Broncos, jumping over top dog C.J. Anderson. He was able to score two touchdowns last week against a solid Packers defense, so he should have no problems this week against Indy. The Colts rank a terrible 29th against opposing running backs, allowing an average of 22.9 fantasy points per contest.
Bust Candidate: Mark Ingram, Saints ($6,500)
I’ve been one of Ingram’s biggest supporters over the last couple of seasons, but he just doesn’t have the best matchup this week. Ingram scores most of his points through his yardage totals and lacks on scoring touchdowns for you. This week, he draws a surprisingly good Titans defense who may very well be able to contain him. In 2015, Tennessee ranks 5th against opposing running backs, so I’m keeping Ingram out of my DFS lineups if possible.
Wide Receivers
MVP: Odell Beckham Jr, Giants ($8,000)
Yes, I love Julio Jones once again this week, but Beckham is a slightly cheaper option and may even outperform him! He is coming off a monster Week 8 game against the Saints where he caught three touchdowns. This week, ODB faces off against a Tampa Bay team who just can’t stop opposing wide receivers. So far this year, the Bucs have given up an average of 27.9 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. I’m very confident this week that Beckham will have another very good game for us all!
Value Pick: Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos ($7,000)
It’s pretty obvious by now that I’m going all in on the Broncos for DFS this week! Sanders is a mid-range priced guy who can give you top value this week. I would stack him with Manning with confidence and bask in DFS glory! Sanders has a date with a Colts defense who rank 27th against opposing wideouts, allowing an average of 26.9 fantasy points per game to them. In Week 9, if I had to choose any team to stack with, it’s without a doubt the Denver Broncos, especially the duo of Manning/Sanders.
Punt Play: Kendall Wright, Titans ($4,900)
I have such a hard time playing Wright on the right weeks, but I think this week could be a successful one for him. He’s been hit or miss all season long but draws a matchup with a Saints team who were torched in the passing game by the Giants just a week ago. In 2015, New Orleans ranks 28th defending against opposing wide receivers, allowing an average of 27.2 fantasy points per contest. Wright may not always be the right choice, but I believe in him in Week 9!
Bust Candidate: A.J. Green, Bengals ($7,200)
I love Green and this Bengals offense in 2015, but this week I’m a bit scared to start him for DFS purposes. He is coming off another solid outing in Week 8 where he once again was able to get into the end zone. Green draws a tough matchup in Week 9, though, facing off against the Cleveland Browns. It’s not the Browns defense as a whole I’m afraid of, it’s who will be shadowing Green all night long. Joe Haden is one of the best shutdown corners in the game and will keep him in check. Plus, he plays on Thursday night, which is always a game I try and avoid.
Tight Ends
MVP: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots ($7,100)
Gronk is by far my favorite play of the week! I know he’s an obvious choice, but that’s what makes him such an easy play. It’s hard for teams to find a way to defend the big guy, making him the best option at tight end each week for DFS. This week, he draws a matchup against a solid Redskins defense, but like Brady, I just don’t see that affecting him. In 2015, Washington ranks 6th at defending against opposing tight ends, but I think the Brady/Gronk connection will find a way to produce against this defense.
Value Pick: Martellus Bennett, Bears ($4,900)
Bennett has officially almost went into hibernation for the Bears already this season, but this week I believe will be a good one for him. He faces off against a Chargers team who find themselves towards the bottom of the defensive rankings. In 2015, San Diego ranks 23rd at defending against opposing tight ends, allowing an average of 8.4 fantasy points per game. I see the Chargers focusing on shutting down Alshon Jeffrey, making Bennett, Jay Cutler’s go-to guy for Week 9.
Punt Play: Heath Miller, Steelers ($3,000)
Other than Gronkowski, Miller is my favorite option coming into this week for DFS. Not only is Big Ben back, but he is facing off against the treacherous Raiders defense. All season long I’ve streamed whatever tight end was playing against Oakland and this week won’t be any different. This season, the Raiders allow a league worst 13.2 fantasy points per contest to opposing tight ends, making Miller a virtual must start!
Bust Candidate: Antonio Gates, Chargers ($5,500)
I’ve been riding high on the Rivers/Gates bandwagon over the last few weeks, but I believe this week may be their worst outing of the season. Gates has been solid for the most part since coming back from his first injury, but now he’s dealing with a knee issue. Also, Chargers’ top receiver Keenan Allen will be missing the game due to a kidney injury. With all of these things combined, with a surprisingly solid Bears defense against tight ends, I’m benching Gates for DFS in Week 9.
Defense
MVP: Denver Broncos ($3,300)
How could you not want to start the defense who absolutely dominated the electric Packers offense on Sunday Night Football in Week 8! This week, they face off against a Colts team who has a quarterback dealing with three broken ribs. The Broncos are going to feast on this Colts offense and put in another solid outing.
Value Pick: Atlanta Falcons ($3,000)
The Falcons will be facing off against one of the worst offenses in football this week in the 49ers. They may very well be facing a completely new San Francisco squad honestly. Carlos Hyde is injured, Colin Kaepernick may very well be riding the pine and Vernon Davis is now in Denver, so I’m streaming Atlanta without a doubt!
Punt Play: Jacksonville Jaguars, ($2,600)
If you want to go dirt cheap with a potential defense who may have some success in Week 9, then Jacksonville is your squad. The Jags haven’t been too terrible on the defensive side of the ball this season and will be facing off against the turnover machine Geno Smith.
Bust Candidate: Carolina Panthers ($3,700)
The Panthers are the highest priced team on FanPicks for a good reason, but this week is a questionable matchup for them. They will be playing an angry Packers team who will want to get back on track this week. If you do choose to roll with Carolina, do it with extreme caution.
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