Week 8 of the NFL season is in the books, and what a week it was. First, we saw the Packers head into Arizona and give the Cardinals their first loss of the season. Next, the Niners and Bears combined for 55 points while Jimmy G and Justin Fields ran wild. Next, the Jets picked up a big win over the Bengals thanks to Magic Mike White. Finally, Cooper Rush filled in remarkably for Dak Prescott, leading the Cowboys to a big Sunday night victory. It was another hectic week where we saw so many outlier fantasy performances. Week 9 won't be much different with COVID running wild as well as other injuries.
For Week 9, we will stick with the usual cash gameplan of looking for a solid floor and going from there, especially when it comes to value plays. Value this week is quite spread out. The popular moves will be paying up for Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, or Jaylen Hurts at quarterback. There are some values at QB, but getting one of the top three makes sense. At the rest of the positions, there is value all over the place, and lineup builds for cash should pay close attention to the roster rates heading into Sunday. Lastly, keep a close eye on injury news as more players may come into play from a value perspective.
This article will take a look at some of the value plays for each week of the NFL. However, when you look at value plays for GPP, you are somewhat swinging for the fences. Here I will be focusing on cash games and the necessity for slightly more safety as you are just looking to finish in the top half or so of the competition. Therefore, we are looking for cheaper players who should see a decent workload, be that pass attempts, targets, or carries. So, let's look at the cash value plays for Week 9 of the 2021 NFL season.
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Week 9 Quarterback Cash Game Value Plays
Derek Carr, LV at NYG | DK: $5,900, FD: $7,500
Carr has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks this season. He has made 27 or more pass attempts in each game and 34 or more passes in six of seven games. He has scored 23 or more points in five of seven games this season. Carr brings quite the cash game floor into Sunday's matchup versus the Giants. A game in which the Raiders are three game favorites with a 25 point implied team total.
He will face a Giants defense that has been better in recent weeks but on the season still rank 19th versus quarterbacks. They are allowing, on average, over 250 passing yards per game, with nearly two touchdown passes per game and over 20 fantasy points per game. The Raiders should be moving the ball up and down the field on their way to plenty of points. Carr brings an excellent floor to your cash lineups this week.
Tyrod Taylor, HOU at MIA | DK: $5,000, FD: $6,900
It appears TYGOD will be back from injury this week, and it is a great week to return as he takes on the Dolphins. Taylor played in 1.5 games to start the season and managed four total touchdowns while completing 31 of 44 pass attempts. Taylor was getting it done on the ground and in the air on his way to plenty of fantasy points.
He will head into South Beach to face a Dolphins defense ranked 30th on the season versus quarterbacks and dead last versus quarterbacks over the previous four weeks. Over the previous four weeks, the Dolphins defense has been allowing well over 300 passing yards per game with an average of 2.5 passing touchdowns and over 25 fantasy points per week.
This week, the Texans are 6.5 point underdogs and should be throwing early and often to keep this game close. If Taylor picks up where he left off before his injury, he will be a fantastic value. Keep an eye on more news, but look to play Taylor this week as an excellent punt option in all DFS formats.
Barring Injury News- Taysom Hill could be a solid cash game value if he is healthy and starting. Jordan Love will also garner some attention as he is nearly free for cash games.
Week 9 Running Back Cash Game Value Plays
Josh Jacobs, LV at NYG | DK: $6,200, FD: $7,200
Jacobs heads into this week's action for the first time in a few weeks, not on the injury list. The bye week appears to have done wonders for Jacobs's health and fantasy upside. Even though battling injury, Jacobs has been a double-digit fantasy points machine. He has been suitable for 10+ carries and 3+ receptions in three of his last four games, building a great cash game floor.
This week he gets a great matchup versus a Giants' defense that has been exposed by opposing backs this season. On the season, they are ranked 25th versus opposing backs and 23rd over the last four weeks. On average, over the previous four weeks, they are allowing 112 rushing yards per game, nearly five receptions per game, and over 20 fantasy points per game. A fair share of that production should come from Jacobs as the Raiders are three-point favorites with a 25 point implied team total. If there was ever a week to play Jacobs, this is the week.
Devontae Booker, NYG vs. LV | DK: $5,900 FD: $6,300
It appears Saquon Barkley will be out once again this week, and that means another big week ahead for Booker. Over the last four games, Booker has carried the running back workload for the Giants and has flourished. He has double-digit fantasy points in each game. Over the four games, Booker has at least 12 carries and three targets in each game. Booker has also found the end zone three times.
This week he gets a great matchup at home versus the Raiders in what should be a tight game as three-point underdogs. He will take on a Raiders' defense ranked 25th over the last four games versus opposing backs. They allow an average of 115 rushing yards, 5.5 receptions, and over 25 fantasy points per game to opposing backs. With all the injuries to the Giants receiving core, Booker should be used early and often on the ground and through the air. Booker may not be as popular as others but brings a great cash game floor to this week's action with outstanding upside.
Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL at NO | DK: $6,300, FD: $7,000
Week in and week out, Patterson has been a consistent fantasy machine. He has been suitable for 15+ touches each week, and with the loss of Calvin Ridley, he becomes more involved in the passing game as well. As a result, Patterson has received five or more targets in six straight weeks and has scored double-digit fantasy points in each of those six games. The Falcons head into Sunday's matchup with the Saints as seven-point underdogs, so they should be throwing it early and often, making Patterson a significant target.
Patterson will also face a Saints team that has been strong versus opposing running backs, ranking 7th over the last four weeks but has struggled a ton versus opposing receivers as they rank 31st against wide receivers over the previous four weeks. Besides being a running back slash wide receiver, Patterson is also a major red-zone threat. He has had six red-zone targets to go with seven red-zone carries and a total of four red-zone touchdowns. So there's an excellent chance Patterson finds the end zone this week, and at worse, he will receive plenty of touches to rack up the fantasy stats.
Week 9 Wide Receiver Cash Game Value Plays
Amari Cooper, DAL vs. DEN | DK: $5,700, FD: $6,900
Cooper has turned into the consistent receiver in the Cowboys' offense yet stays at a very reasonable price tag. Cooper has been targeted at least six times in three straight games. He scored a touchdown in three of his last four games and has double-digit fantasy points in four consecutive games. This Sunday, the Cowboys are 10 point favorites against the Broncos with an implied team total of 30. They will be scoring a ton, and I expect Cooper to have his fair share of success along the way against a suspect Broncos' defense.
DeVante Parker, MIA vs. HOU | DK: $5,300, FD: $6,200
Parker returned to action last week and picked up right where he left off as a target monster from Tua. He was targeted 11 times, hauling in eight, and has now been targeted seven or more times in every game this season. The opportunities alone are great, but he usually capitalizes with four or more receptions in each game and eight or more fantasy points in each game.
This week the Dolphins face the Texans, who are touchdown favorites again and should move the ball against quite well. Over the last four weeks, the Texans rank 27th versus opposing wide receivers while allowing nearly two touchdowns per game to opposing wide receivers. The Dolphins have been throwing a lot lately, and I do not see that changing this weekend. Look for Parker to have quite a safe floor along with teammate Jaylen Waddle.
Hunter Renfrow, LV at NYG | DK: $4,800, FD: $5,600
Oh, look, another value Raider to target this week. Renfrow has been a target monster this season, which bodes well for a solid cash game floor. He has received five to more targets in every game this season while also scoring double-digit fantasy points in six of seven games. That is quite the cash game floor at a significantly discounted price tag.
This week he takes on a Giants defense that ranks 26th over the last four weeks versus wide receivers. They allow 1.5 receiving touchdowns per game and nearly 42 total fantasy points to opposing wide receivers over the previous four games. As a result, Renfrow should once again see a large chunk of the Raiders target share and be on his way to another big fantasy week at a nice discount.
Week 9 Tight End Cash Game Value Plays
Tyler Conklin, MIN at BAL | DK: $3,000, FD: $5,200
Earlier this year, we were all aboard the Conklin value train, then the price started to rise. Now he is back in an excellent range that we can once again attack. Conklin has been a nice piece of the Vikings, seeing five or more targets in four of the last five weeks, suitable for a 15% target share (3rd on the team). Over that stretch, he has also seen four red-zone targets, which are also ideal for third on the team with an 18% red-zone target share. Conklin has scored double-digit fantasy points in three of his last five games, and facing a Ravens' defense which ranks last on the season versus tight ends should lead to another big week.
Albert Okwuegbunam, DEN at DAL | DK: $2,600, FD: $4,500
Noah Fant is out this week as he is on the COVID IL, so insert Big Albert O. Albert O is a receiving tight end which already bodes well for fantasy purposes. He has seen three or more targets in three of his five games played, which should go up this week. Last week was his first game action since week four, and he saw a 12% target share which was not bad as no one saw more than 16%. This week he takes on the Cowboys, who are 22nd on the season versus tight ends, allowing nearly 15 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. With the Broncos being massive underdogs and likely throwing a ton, look for Albert O to have a tremendous fantasy impact on the cheap this week.
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