Week 9 of the NFL regular season brings us to the mid-point of the season, and Monday morning will see a huge 12-game slate with some cracking games on offer. We kick things off with an 8-game early window, highlighted by the massive AFC East clash between the Bills and Dolphins, before we move into a 4-game late window, with two huge Divisional games, pitting the Lions up against the Packers, and the LA Rams taking on the Seahawks.
As always, Draftstars has a $25,000 contest, with a $2,480 first prize. There are plenty of other contests for everyone to get involved, no matter your budget.
NFL 2024-25 Daily Fantasy Tips: Week 9
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts - $17,610
Hurts continues to get the job done, and with the Eagles starting to look more like we expected them to be this season, I’ll back Hurts to have another big game this weekend against the Jags. Whilst Hurts obviously benefits greatly by the Eagles’ goal-line package, which utilizes the ‘tush-push’, it’s Hurts’ passing game that has me most excited about his form. In the past three weeks, Hurts has five rushing touchdowns, but is also throwing for 10.4 yards per pass attempt and has thrown for four touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Jags, meanwhile, concede the second-most points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Expect another big score this week.
Bo Nix - $11,870
I believe Nix is underpriced here based on his opponent (Ravens), but it’s his opponent which is the reason I’m excited about the rookie this week. Yes, in a big game against a top 5 team in the league, Nix might just spill his lollies, but if he isn’t overwhelmed by the team he is taking on, Nix should have another good game this week. The Ravens have allowed the most passing yards and passing touchdowns, whilst allowing the 8th-highest completion percentage over expectation (CPOE). Whilst it is Nix’s legs that have curried the most favour with fantasy managers, he has been great throwing the ball the past four week, ranking 6th in CPOE, 7th in fantasy points per drop back, and 7th in passing touchdowns.
Running Backs
Alvin Kamara - $17,610
Kamara gets an A1 matchup this week against the Carolina Panthers, and with Derek Carr back for the Saints, it should open up things more for Kamara this week. The Panthers concede the most fantasy points to running backs per game, by margin, and consistently concede rushing touchdowns on a weekly basis. Kamara has been carrying niggling injuries for around a month now, but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing his production. In week one against the Panthers, Kamara ran for 83 yards and a touchdown, whilst also hauling in 5 receptions for 27 yards. At this price you’re wanting a little more, but that’s certainly possible this week.
James Cook - $13,480
Cook is about as rocks and diamonds as it gets at the running back position, so when making the selection you have to know that it could all be for nought. This week I like his chances at a smash week though, as the Bills take on the Dolphins who have been very good against opposing quarterbacks, allowing the least amount of fantasy points per game to the position. This should open up the run game, with the Dolphins rating as the 28th best team at stopping the run. Cook had three touchdowns in total in the week 2 matchup in Miami, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see another multi-touchdown performance here.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. - $10,750
First, there is a slight concern that Tracy may be somewhat limited in this game, after suffering a concussion in the Giants’ week 8 loss to the Steelers. That is where my concern ends with this kid, who has shown he is a stud in the making. In the past four weeks as the Giants number 1 running back, Tracy has averaged 105 yards from scrimmage per game, whilst scoring a touchdown every second game. If the Giants don’t get behind too big, too early this week against the Commanders, Tracy looks set for another big game running the football. A touchdown would make his score tremendous.
Wide Receivers
A.J. Brown - $15,150
A.J. Brown’s production has dipped in each of his four games since returning in week 5, however I believe he turns that around this week against a Jaguars defence that allows the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. They also rank dead last in the league in DVOA and EPA versus the pass, and Brown should destroy their heavy man coverage. Brown is a great stack with Hurts, in a combination that should bear fruit this week.
Chris Olave - $13,010
Olave goes along with Kamara this week in getting a quality matchup against the worst defence in the league in Carolina. Olave is by no means a slam dunk, with his fantasy production being well below what would have been expected this season, however with Rashid Shaheed out for the season, Olave’s fantasy production should be heading north for the foreseeable future. With Derek Carr likely eased back in from his oblique injury, expect him to hit Olave underneath all game, with Olave likely to score a volume based WR1 type score if he can jag a touchdown.
Jalen Coker - $6,700
Coker is all the talk in fantasy land this week, and that is very impressive considering he plays for the horrible Panthers and is an undrafted rookie. Coker has flashed since the pre-season, but with Diontae Johnson traded and Adam Thielan likely the next man on the trade block, Coker has taken his opportunity with both hands over the past few weeks. His opportunities should only increase now, and the Panthers would be mad not to see what they have with the young receiver. This week he takes on a Saints’ defence that has struggled at stopping slot wide receivers, allowing the eighth-most fantasy points, and the third-most receiving yards per game to slot wide receivers. A great point of difference FLEX play this week.
Tight Ends
Evan Engram - $9,660
With the Jaguars wide receiver room in absolute tatters, Engram should be a volume based TE1 this week. Added to the fact that possibly all three top wide receivers could be out for the Jags this week, they get to take on an Eagles defence that since week 3 operates at the third-highest rate of a two-high safety look in the NFL. Against two-high, Engram commands a 22.6% target share, 1.7 yards per route run (YPRR), and a 23.8% first-read share. These numbers should all spike this week, and I would expect Engram to push into the double digits in targets this week.
Sam LaPorta - $7,910
LaPorta has taken a step back this season, after a breakout rookie campaign in 2023. Despite this, I like the way the Lions are starting to incorporate LaPorta back into this offense, and with Jameson Williams still suspended, I expect another solid game this week from Slammin’ Sam. This week, the Lions take on the Packers who have allowed the fifth-most receiving yards, and 12th-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. Expect another solid game here.
D/ST
New Orleans Saints - $6,230
The Saints’ defence has not been good this season, so this is purely a play on the Panthers’ offense that does not appear to have a heart beat this season. Despite the poor defensive metrics, the Saints are still a big play defence, as shown by the 13 takeaways this season, good for 7th in the league. Meanwhile, the Panthers rank third in the league for giveaways, and with Bryce Young potentially auditioning for his next job, I expect him to be taking more chances than usual this week.
Buffalo Bills - $5,230
This Bills’ defence has continued to show it is one of the best units in the NFL, and whilst they take on a Dolphins’ offense this week that has the potential to make this selection a poor one, I like it anyway. The Bills rank 5th in the NFL for takeaways, and with Tua Tagovailoa back for the Dolphins, expect more passing from Miami this week, in a game they are likely to be trailing in. In week 2, the Bills travelled to Miami and destroyed the Dolphins’ offense, recording 3 interceptions, 2 sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown. Whilst I’d be surprised to see this again, another solid display is likely.
Suggested Draftstars Team
