Fantasy
11/4/22
8 min read
Stack Cardinals in Week 9 DFS Cash Games
Quarterbacks
Josh Allen - (DraftKings: $8,500 / FanDuel: $9,300)
If Josh Allen is listed on the main slate, then he’s always in consideration for cash games. The MVP candidate is averaging 30.1 DraftKings points a game, and it's impossible not to list him atop the list here every week. His matchup isn’t great against the Jets. However, that doesn’t matter, as Allen is a matchup-proof player.
The Bills have the highest implied team total on the slate (29.5), and the Bills' offense runs exclusively through Josh Allen, so a guaranteed 30 points from the quarterback is to be expected here. Allen and the Bills have proven that they will continue passing the ball regardless of the score. The 13-point road favorite tag on the Buffalo Bills just does not matter.
I would find it hard to believe that all of a sudden the Buffalo Bills change course and are going to decide to run out the clock with a heavy lead. Typically we would factor that into these matchups, but with them, you can throw that idea right out the window and expect another great fantasy outcome out of Josh Allen.
Kyler Murray - (DraftKings: $7,400 / FanDuel: $8,200)
Kyler Murray has been playing much better football since getting his friend DeAndre Hopkins back into the lineup. We are seeing flashes of the QB1 finish days as opposed to what it previously has been for Murray over the beginning of the season. Last week saw his best performance of the year, where he had three touchdowns for 326 yards while adding an additional 36 yards on six carries.
It's unlikely that the Seahawks-Cardinals matchup here in Week 9 will look anything like it did in Week 6. While Seattle's defense hasn’t looked bad this season, it's still ranked just 21st in passing yards allowed per game, and the game total has moved from 49 to 50.5. Vegas is viewing this as a high-scoring matchup, and so should we. We were all over this game just a couple of weeks ago, expecting it to be one of those fireworks and shootout types of outcomes, but were let down.
Kyler getting Hopkins back from the suspension cannot go overlooked, and this game can be the one we were hoping it would be back in Week 6. In Weeks 1-6 without Hopkins, the Cardinals were averaging 19 points per game, and now over the last two weeks have scored 42 and 26 points. There's a shift in the tide of how Kyler Murray's season moves forward now that he has his best weapon available.
Honorable Mention: Justin Fields - (DraftKings: $5,300 / FanDuel: $7,400)
Deep Sleeper: Trevor Lawrence - (DraftKings: $5,200 / FanDuel: $6,800)
Running Backs
Aaron Jones - (DraftKings: $7,400 / FanDuel: $7,800)
The Green Bay Packers are coming off four straight losses. After a month of losing, they have got to be itching to take out their frustrations on a terrible Detroit Lions defense. While the Packers have had their own issues on offense, it's starting to become a little more clear that they are deliberately trying to get the ball to Aaron Jones more.
When the season began we thought we were going to see a much more even split between Jones and Dillon, but over the last few weeks, Jones has separated from Dillon. Jones has been a favorite of Aaron Rodgers underneath when his younger receivers don't get open downfield, leading to Jones becoming third on the team in target share. While the recent uptick in usage is great, so too is the incoming matchup against the Lions' last-ranked total defense in DVOA.
The Lions have allowed an average of 154.9 rushing yards per game and give up the second-most fantasy points per game to the position. Aaron Jones has been a Lion-killer over the last two years, where he’s scored seven touchdowns against them contributing to multi-touchdown games and epic 40+ point fantasy finishes. I have a hard time not putting him into all of my lineups this Sunday.
Travis Etienne - (DraftKings: $6,300 / FanDuel: $7,600)
The RB1 emergence of Travis Etienne has finally arrived! Over the last four weeks, Etienne has ripped through double-digit fantasy points and has gotten better and better with each week moving forward. The Jaguars traded away James Robinson and, subsequently, Etienne hit a career-high in snaps, attempts, and yards. He’s the three-down back now and he looks good while doing it. What’s even more impressive is he had his best week yet against the Denver Broncos, one of the most stout run defenses in the league.
Now he gets an easier matchup vs the Las Vegas Raiders and the price has yet to catch up, so we must take advantage! The Raiders rank 18th in rush defense DVOA and have also given up the second-most receiving yards and most receiving touchdowns to opposing running backs this season. No matter the game script, Etienne is going to stay involved due to his pass-catching ability and true workhorse role. He’s likely to be one of those gamescript-proof running backs moving forward, so this matchup looks overwhelmingly favorable for him.
Honorable Mention: Rhamondre Stevenson - (DraftKings: $6,200 / FanDuel: $8,000)
Deep Sleeper: Raheem Mostert - (DraftKings: $6,100 / FanDuel: $6,500)
Wide Receivers
DeAndre Hopkins - (DraftKings: $7,900 / FanDuel: $8,600)
DeAndre Hopkins meant business when he posted that epic comeback video to his TikTok page. I think he took the talk that he was washed up personally. Hopkins is him, and in the last two weeks he’s been back in the Cardinals' lineup he’s been wreaking some fantasy havoc. He’s been the WR1 in fantasy PPG and first in target share at 37.5%. Kyler missed him and has been feeding Hopkins ever since.
I expect him to absolutely explode in this matchup and love the stack with Murray. He’s not priced as the WR1 over these last two weeks, so take advantage of it while you still can. It doesn’t get much safer in cash than Hopkins, and I think he’s an excellent option this week. If you’ve been having a rough last couple of weeks. then get you a Murray/Hopkins stack this week and celebrate the win.
Mike Evans - (DraftKings: $7,200 / FanDuel: $7,700)
As a team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a disappointment, and the Los Angeles Rams fall into that same exact category. After being two juggernauts in the NFC in recent years, we’ve seen quite the fall from grace from these two teams. However, the fantasy points haven’t changed much for the top wide receivers. Brady may not be the QB1 we saw last year, but Mike Evans is still sitting at WR11, and his big fantasy day has got to be coming soon. We’ve watched Evans go back-to-back weeks with heartbreakingly uncharacteristic drops.
This week we get a gift. If there's one thing we can depend on it's the safety net of Mike Evans going up against the Los Angeles Rams. Going all the way back to 2016, Evans has dominated against the Rams, putting up 100+ yards, a touchdown, or both in every encounter. The Rams are 30th in defensive pass DVOA against number one wide receivers, and Ramsey hasn’t been shadowing anybody so far this season. If you want some extra savings, then Chris Godwin is also a great option this week, as he’s not far behind Mike Evans in production since returning from injury.
Honorable Mention: Josh Palmer - (DraftKings: $5,100 / FanDuel: $6,200)
*INJURY WATCH* - If Josh Palmer is listed out, then I prefer Christian Kirk in this spot.
Deep Sleeper: Darnell Mooney - (DraftKings: $4,700 / FanDuel: $6,100)
Tight Ends
Zach Ertz - (DraftKings: $5,100 / FanDuel: $6,600)
Zach Ertz continues to find a way and has scored double-digit DK points in seven out of the eight games played so far this season. This isn’t a slate with major action-packed tight ends with no Kelce or Andrews, so the $5k price tag on Ertz is just fine for what he’s done this season. The Cardinals and Seahawks continue to be the fantasy destination for tight ends. Both teams' defenses give up an average of 19.7 fantasy PPG to the position. While Ertz has seen an expected drop in targets with Hopkins back in the lineup, he’s still the team's number two in red zone targets with 14 on the season. He’s a great candidate for a touchdown here in Week 9, and he feels like a safe play to me.
Gerald Everett - (DraftKings: $4,800 / FanDuel: $5,800)
The Los Angeles Chargers are banged up in their receiving corps, and the options are limited. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are already out, and Josh Palmer’s status is currently up in the air. Someone has to show up for the Chargers, and that's likely to come through Austin Ekeler or my pick at tight end this week, Gerald Everett. Atlanta is a nice matchup for him, as they allow the second-most receptions and third-most receiving yards to opposing tight ends.
Honorable Mention: Robert Tonyan - (DraftKings: $3,800 / FanDuel: $5,000)
Deep Sleeper: Evan Engram - (DraftKings: $3,300 / FanDuel: $5,200)
D/ST
New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts - (DraftKings: $4,100 / FanDuel: $4,900)
Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears - (DraftKings: $3,800 / FanDuel: $3,600)
Honorable Mention: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Los Angeles Rams - (DraftKings: $3,000 / FanDuel: $4,700)
Deep Sleeper: Carolina Panthers vs. Cincinnati Bengals - (DraftKings: $2,300 / FanDuel: $3,300)
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