Before we get into the Money Makers and Heart Breakers for Week 9, I want to say I know this has been a tough week. Election stress, players getting hurt, other players out with COVID-19, and just a myriad of strangeness to ensure we will never forget the year 2020. With that in mind, I advise you to be kind. Simply be kind to others. If we can all do that, the world will be a much nicer place to live.
With that go off and enjoy your day. I mean it, go make the most of it; we only live once.
If you are new around here this is how it works:
Money Maker – I think this person will perform well this week and be better than projections
Heart Breaker – These players will not meet projections
Quarterbacks
💰 Money Makers
Josh Allen – I know early in the season this guy was tearing it up. The past few weeks, not so much. You might think that means it’s time to pivot away from him. I am here to tell you not to do that. In Week 9, Allen plays the Seattle Seahawks. You know, the same team that I mention here every week as a great play for quarterbacks going against them. The Seahawks give up an average of 366 yards passing and multiple touchdowns per game to Quarterbacks. You are playing Allen. ($8,200 on FanDuel and $7,000 on DraftKings)
Best Week 9 QB Matchups
– Drew Lock vs Falcons (allowing 25.63 fantasy PPG to QB)
– Josh Allen vs Seahawks (allowing 25.4 fantasy PPG to QB)
– Derek Carr vs Chargers (allowing 22.59 fantasy PPG to QB)— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 4, 2020
Drew Lock – In Week 8, Lock threw for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns. In Week 9, he’s facing the Falcons. YES, those Falcons. The second-friendliest defense for Quarterbacks to play Falcons. Lock has a nice floor this week, and I would expect another 250 or so yards and multiple touchdowns. ($7,200 on FanDuel and $5,200 on DraftKings)
Cam Newton – I know he’s been up and down, and I know it appears he has no one to pass to. But I also know the Jets suck on defense. Look for Cam to give you a good day via the air and a good day on the ground against the Jets seventh-worst defense. If you were wondering when to potentially play Cam again, this is the week.
Other quarterbacks I like in Week 9:
There is the obvious: Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, and Aaron Rodgers
The not so obvious: Derek Carr, Justin Herbert, and Matt Ryan.
💔 Heart Breakers
Drew Brees – I had Brees here last week as well. He played this Tampa team early in the season and had 160 yards and 2 touchdowns against them. I would expect something similar this week. Nothing to get overly excited about playing Brees, unless you have no choice in Week 9.
Ryan Tannehill – So while I am saying to expect less from Tannehill, I will be honest and say I am not sitting him if he is my QB. Tannehill has hit a tough part of his schedule, so I would beware in DFS. He’s still probably good for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns, Which is a nice floor. Tannehill threw for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns last week. In Week 9, he plays the Bears who give up roughly 240 yards and a touchdown per week.
Teddy Bridgewater – Teddy let us down last week against a not so great team. This week Bridgewater is playing against the Chiefs. People think that means he’ll be behind and throw a lot, but it appears that isn’t true. Giving up only 213 yards and a touchdown per game the Chiefs are the 7th best defense against quarterbacks. Odds are you can avoid playing Bridgewater this week, and you should.
Others quarterbacks to avoid: Ben DiNucci and Sam Darnold.
Running Backs
💰 Money Makers
David Johnson – Did you know that David Johnson has scored double digit fantasy points in all but one week this season? He’s not the sexy, “Oh my god, I need that guy in my lineup” play at all, but he gets between 17 and 20 touches per game. He’s active in both the run game and the passing game, and in Week 9 he’s playing against the Jaguars. The last time he played the Jaguars, he totaled 103 yards combined and I would expect that to be his floor this week. ($6,800 on FanDuel and $5,600 on DraftKings)
Rushing attempts inside the 5:
Ezekiel Elliott – 13
Derrick Henry – 11
Todd Gurley – 9
Dalvin Cook – 9
David Johnson – 9 pic.twitter.com/qPVkodxdPg— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 4, 2020
James Robinson – I’ll be honest with you, if I need to tell you to play him, you REALLY should be following me more on Twitter. So WHY Mike are you writing him up then? Because this week he smashes, and I mean out-of-the-ballpark smashes. Robinson is going against the Texans, who are the third-friendliest defense to running backs in the league. They are going to invite him into the end zone this weekend, possibly multiple times. ($7,300 on FanDuel and $7,000 on DraftKings)
Justin Jackson – Jackson is involved in both the running and passing game. He had 89 yards on the ground last week and another 53 yards receiving. This week he is playing the Raiders, and they are the fifth-easiest defense for running backs to score on. ($5,900 on FanDuel and $4,900 on DraftKings)
Other running backs to play:
The obvious: Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry, and Alvin Kamara
The not so obvious: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, David Montgomery, and Joshua Kelley
💔 Heart Breakers
Jonathan Taylor – The Colts are playing the Ravens this week, and the Ravens are really good against running backs. If you have Taylor, you are probably playing him, but if you are looking at DFS, DO NOT PLAY Colts running backs.
Ezekiel Elliott – The Steelers show up in running back Heart Breakers a lot. Not Steelers running backs, but the Steelers defense. Since Dak Prescott got injured has not had 100 total yards in a game and has not score a touchdown. That trend will continue this week against the Steelers and their stellar run defense.
Todd Gurley – Last week a Money Maker, this week a Heart Breaker, and thus is the story of Todd Gurley. Denver is a top 10 defense against the run. The Broncos give up roughly 94 yards per game to running backs on the ground and have only given up 3 touchdowns to the position on the season.
Other running backs that will cost you in Week 8: Ronald Jones and Devonta Freeman
Wide Receivers
💰 Money Makers
Stefon Diggs – Diggs had 6 receptions for 92 yards on a whopping 50% target share last week against the Patriots. This week he is a nice play against the Seahawks, who everyone seems to be able to pass against. The Seahawks give up 269 yards per game and at least a touchdown per game to wide receivers. ($7,600 on FanDuel and $7,400 on DraftKings)
Top 10 WRs in air yards over the past 5 weeks:
1. Stefon Diggs (542)
2. Tyreek Hill (500)
2. Darnell Mooney (500)
4. D.K. Metcalf (496)
5. Travis Fulgham (495)
6. Robby Anderson (491)
7. Allen Robinson (478)
8. John Hightower (477)
9. Darius Slayton (475)
10. D.J. Chark (456)— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) November 4, 2020
Allen Robinson – Do you know who else is pretty bad against the pass? The Titans are. This week the Bears play the Titans. Robinson has a very easy schedule the rest of the way, so you may want to make a move to obtain him as well. Currently the WR11 on the season, plug Robinson in. ($6,900 on FanDuel and $6,900 on DraftKings)
Marvin Jones – The Lions play Vikings this week. Kenny Golladay is out with an injury. That means Marvin Jones will be the Lions #1 WR against the second friendliest defense for wide receivers in the league. You can feel the love here. The Vikings have given up 15 touchdowns in total to the position. If Matthew Stafford is out with COVID, obviously this takes a hit. ($6,100 on FanDuel and $5,100 on DraftKings)
Other wide receivers to play:
The obvious: Davante Adams, Julio Jones, Tyler Lockett, Chris Godwin, and Tyreek Hill
The not so obvious: – Darnell Mooney, Cole Beasley, Jerry Jeudy and John Brown
💔 Heart Breakers
Sterling Shepard – Last week Shepard had 10 targets, netting him 8 receptions and 74 yards. But the best team against wide receivers in 2020 is the Washington Football Team. The Giants play the Washington Football Team in Week 9. Mix tough defense in with uncertainty around which Giants wideout will lead the team in targets this week, and it become an avoid situation.
A.J. Brown – Brown has been very good this season. Last week he save you with a touchdown. This week he gets to play against the Bears and their top 3 defense. Not looking like a great week to play A.J. Brown in DFS. If you have him in season long, you are probably playing him.
Robby Anderson – As stated above re: Bridgewater, the Chiefs are actually good against the pass. The Chiefs give up an average of 128 yards per game to wide receivers and have only given up 5 touchdowns on the season to the position. If you have other options you may want to try those out.
Other wide receivers that will cost you: Emmanuel Sanders, Henry Ruggs, and DeVante Parker
Tight Ends
💰 Money Makers
Noah Fant – Fant is healthy again, and he was targeted 9 times last week for 7 receptions and 47 yards, with 22% of the target share. I like him. I like him A LOT this week too, facing a Falcons defense that’s the worst against tight ends in the league. ($5,800 on FanDuel and $4,600 on DraftKings)
Even after missing a game, Noah Fant leads the Broncos in red zone targets. His price went DOWN on DK ($4600) after a 7 catch (9 target) 47 yard outing last week. Beware of vulture Albert O, who snagged 7 catches in week 7 and caught a TD last week. Soft matchup vs Atl. Love Fant pic.twitter.com/y6c6UPcqgT
— Jen Smith (@TheOnlyJenSmith) November 4, 2020
Rob Gronkowski – The Saints are the fourth-friendliest defense against tight ends. Gronk has scored in 3 straight games. Look for him to make that 4 straight. The Buccaneers will come out throwing and the you couldn’t ask for a better match for the duo of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to connect for yet another TD.
Other tight ends to play:
The obvious: Darren Waller, George Kittle, and Travis Kelce
The not so obvious: Robert Tonyan, Jonnu Smith, and T.J. Hockenson
💔 Heart Breakers
Mark Andrews – Andrews has been up and down in the passing game this season. The Colts have only allowed one tight end to have over 60 yards this season and have given up 0 touchdowns to the position. It looks like a down week for Andrews.
Hayden Hurst – Hurst has been more involved in the passing game lately with the Falcons, but the Broncos have not had a tight end get more than 50 yards against them this season. They have only given up 2 touchdowns on the season to tight ends. It doesn’t look good this week.
Other tight ends that will cost you: Chris Herndon, Tyler Kroft, and Ross Dwelley
If you are looking for Defenses to stream, take a look at The Stream Option by Kyle Larson.
Thanks for checking out our Money Makers and Heart Breakers column. For more great content from The Undroppables, follow us on Twitter, follow @MikeReedyFF for more great content, and visit back for Mike’s weekly UNtangling the Wire (waiver wire) article.
