We are only hours away from the start of week 9, but we can’t relax yet. With all of the relevant injury designations, weather and news, we have to stay focused. This article will cover the NFL week 9 injuries, news, and final lineups. This information will be continuously updated until the 1:00 PM EST kickoffs.
NFL Week 9 Injuries:
Last Updated: 11/4 12:55 PM EST
Melvin Gordon, LAC, RB – Questionable (likely)
Chris Carson, SEA, RB – Questionable (game-time decision)
Dalvin Cook, MIN, RB – Active
Alex Collins, BAL, RB – Active
Chris Thompson, WAS, RB – OUT
Royce Freeman, DEN, RB – Questionable (unlikely)
Ronald Jones, TB, RB – OUT
Kapri Bibbs, WAS, RB – Active
Stefon Diggs, MIN, WR – OUT
Allen Robinson, CHI, WR – OUT
Keke Coutee, HOU, WR – OUT
Jamison Crowder, WAS, WR – OUT
Paul Richardson, WAS, WR – Active
Kenny Stills, MIA, WR – Active
Torrey Smith, CAR, WR – OUT
Robbie Anderson, NYJ, WR – Questionable (game-time decision)
Quincy Enunwa, NYJ, WR – Questionable (game-time decision)
Antonio Callaway, CLE, WR – Active
Robert Alford, ATL, CB – OUT
James Hurst, BAL, T – OUT
Ronnie Stanley, BAL, T – OUT
Trumaine Edmonds, BUF, LB – OUT
Kahlil Mack, CHI, LB – OUT
Darius Slay, DET, CB – Questionable
Ezekiel Ansah, DET, DE – Questionable
Jadeveon Clowney, HOUT, LB – Questionable
Eric Berry, KC, S – Questionable (unlikely)
Joey Bosa, LAC, DE – OUT
Xavien Howard, MIA, CB – Questionable
Xavier Rhodes, MIN, CB – Questionable
Riley Reiff, MIN, T – Questionable
Trent Williams, WAS, T – OUT
NFL Week 9 Weather:
Last Updated: 11/4 12:55 PM EST
According to NFL Weather, no game is likely to be impacted by weather. It is expected to drizzle during the Los Angeles (C)-Seattle game, but it should not have a tangible impact.
UPDATE: Drizzling rain is no longer expected during the Los Angeles (C)-Seattle game, but then again, it is Seattle.
NFL Week 9 Other News:
Last Updated: 11/4 12:55 PM EST
- Ben Roethlisberger will play with a fractured finger on his non-throwing hand against Baltimore
- Alvin Kamara does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Los Angeles (R)
- Adrian Peterson does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Atlanta
- Latavius Murray will likely see a lesser workload with reports that Dalvin Cook will play 15-20 snaps
- Kerryon Johnson will likely see a lesser workload on passing-downs with Theo Riddick cleared to play
- Reports are surfacing that the Buffalo Bills see LeSean McCoy as “definitely part of the Bills’ 2019 plans”
- Theo Riddick does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Minnesota
- The Jets have activated Elijah McGuire from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s game against Miami
- DeAndre Hopkins does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Denver
- Mike Evans does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Carolina
- Tyreek Hill does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Cleveland
- Cooper Kupp does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against New Orleans
- Demaryius Thomas will start Sunday’s game against Denver
- David Njoku does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday’s game against Kansas City
NFL Week 9 Final DFS Player Pool:
Last Updated: 11/4 12:55 PM EST
Quarterbacks:
Drew Brees, Ryan Fitzpatrick
This is going to be one of the shorter pregame articles I’ve written. Drew Brees, in cash and GPP’s, doesn’t need a huge explanation. Brees is coming off a disappointing outing on the road against the Vikings, despite winning the game. He now returns home to play in the most viable fantasy game of the week against the Rams, in a situation that could determine which team gets home-field advantage in the NFC. Since 2016, when Brees returns home after losing on the road, he averages 28 completions on 40 attempts for 309 yards and two touchdowns. If you include the fact that he averages 0.33 interceptions per game, that translates to 20.03 FanDuel points as an average. That makes him cash and tournament-viable.
Ryan Fitzpatrick shouldn’t need much explanation, either. His $7,100 salary makes him a salary-saving play as well as a player who could easily score 2.5 times his salary. This season, in games that either Buccaneers quarterbacks started and finished, they are averaging 31.23 fantasy points per game. What that proves is that this offense will produce, regardless of gameflow and quarterback, because the supporting cast and play-calling lends towards throwing the ball down the field. Fitzpatrick was on a historic pace before visiting the Bears, and even if he regresses, he only needs to score 14.2 points to make cash value. This means he only needs to throw for 250 yards, score one touchdown and rush for 20 yards, which Fitzpatrick did in two games he started, as well as rushing for 18 yards in relief in against the Bengals.
Running Backs:
Kareem Hunt, Alvin Kamara, Lamar Miller
Paying down at quarterback and using a cheap, chalky third wide receiver allows us to roster two superstars at running back. Kareem Hunt at $8,500 and Alvin Kamara at $8,000 are in fantastic spots this week. Hunt’s team is more than a touchdown favorite on the road against a defense that surrendered more than 30 FanDuel points to James Conner last weekend. Even if this game becomes a blow out early, Hunt will still be involved at the start and play into the late fourth quarter, as evidenced by his performance against Cincinnati.
Alvin Kamara is virtually gameflow-proof heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Rams. Mark Ingram’s return did not bode well in his first game back, but the touch distribution has leveled off recently. Since Ingram’s debut, Kamara is averaging 15 carries and five targets per game. We also saw last Sunday that in a game the Saints controlled throughout, Kamara did not get displaced by Ingram. Essentially, if the Saints control the game on the ground, Kamara will be involved, and if they need a vintage Drew Brees performance to keep pace with the Rams, he’ll be involved as well.
Lamar Miller, while not the most impressive running back in the mid-tier, has the most dependable workload. For example, Latavius Murray isn’t safe given Dalvin Cook’s potential involvement. Tevin Coleman is playing against Washington, who has shut down opposing running backs all season. Chris Carson is dealing with an injury and is already part of a committee in Seattle. Kerryon Johnson will have to deal with Theo Riddick taking back passing-down situations. Alex Collins may have to share time with Ty Montgomery as well as Javorious Allen. And Isaiah Crowell, who I love against the Dolphins, might be part of a three-headed monster with Trent Cannon and the recently activated, Elijah McGuire. A number of announcements could clarify a number of these situations, but until then, Miller is my mid-tier running back of choice.
Wide Receivers:
Antonio Brown Adam Thielen, Cooper Kupp, Courtland Sutton, Josh Doctson
I won’t spend more than two sentences on Adam Thielen. At 6’3″ and being the fastest receiver on the team, Thielen will be unstoppable against the Lions no matter who covers him in the slot if Kirk Cousins continues to target him heavily. Cooper Kupp, now that he’s healthy, is my favorite wide receiver play of the week. At $6,800 in the highest total game on the main slate and a projected matchup of P.J. Williams, I am guarantee that Kupp will produce at least 2.5 times his salary if his health holds up in the game.
Courtland Sutton will be the most popular receiver of the weekend. At $5,500, and as the second receiver on the Broncos, Sutton is in a prime position to produce this weekend. His salary and projected volume make him good chalk in terms of cheap wide receivers. As I mentioned earlier, Sutton allows me to pay up for two great running backs and Adam Thielen. Do yourself a favor and play Courtland Sutton in every cash game you enter.
Josh Doctson represents a low-budget pivot from Sutton in my one tournament lineup. He’s cheaper, in a great spot against Atlanta, and is the healthiest wide receiver on the roster, as Jamison Crowder is already out and Paul Richardson is still questionable. The Falcons defense is getting destroyed by everyone they face, and other than playing against the Buccaneers, this is as good of a passing matchup as any team can get.
UPDATE: With Diggs out and the lack of clarity at the running back position, I’m pivoting from Thielen to Antonio Brown. There are whispers that Darius Slay could shadow Theielen, since he’s now the only threatening pass catcher on their roster. For $100 less, I’m going to Brown. Brown has been on fire his last three games and the Steelers appear to be forcing the ball to Brown, averaging 9.5 targets his last four games with two games of double digit targets. He has a history of crushing the Ravens, and for my money, he’s a more stable option than Thielen with the news about Diggs and Slay.
Tight Ends:
David Njoku, Jeff Heurman
David Njoku was the best available tight end after filling out the core of my lineup. With the Browns receivers banged up and inconsistent, Njoku will have to be a pivotal part of the offense to keep pace with the Chiefs. His redzone usage and crazy athletic ability give him the potential to make cash value on minimal opportunities. Jeff Heruman is another salary-saving pivot from Courtland Sutton. He’s been targeted multiple times in the redzone, and since Thomas’ absence, more targets could be allocated his way.
Defense/Special Teams:
Washington Redskins
At their current salary, the Redskins have made cash value in five of their seven games. Aside from their games against the Colts and Saints, the Redskins have scored at least five points in every game this year. They will host Atlanta this Sunday, who has struggled to produce outdoors on the road this season. Both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh’s defenses both scored double-digit FanDuel points against the Falcons, and the Redskins’ front seven will present an equally tough challenge to Atlanta.
NFL Week 9 Final DFS Lineups:
Last Updated: 11/4 12:55 PM EST
This is the first time all season I’ll be using one cash game lineup. With six teams on bye and some anemic offenses still in the player pool, there wasn’t a need for me to create a second cash lineup. The second lineup is being used in all my single entry contests between 100-1,176 people.
Featured Image Courtesy of Roto Street Journal
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