NFL DFS picks Week 9: Best sleepers, value players for FanDuel, DraftKings lineups

As the fantasy football season surges toward Week 9, many owners in seasonal redraft leagues have given up hope (thanks for nothing, Derek Carr, James Robinson, and Courtland Sutton!). Six teams on bye and countless injuries don't help! However, daily fantasy football allows us the Zen-like ability to start fresh with new lineups every week. And as long as you find cheap DFS sleepers and under-the-radar value plays, you could become a weekly winner on DraftKings and FanDuel. 

Every Tuesday, we scour the DK and FD player pools to pinpoint the best investments based on matchups and stat trends. By capitalizing on affordable sleepers in certain DFS roster spots, we leave ourselves the budget to greatly improve other roster spots with proven weekly studs. In order to afford an Austin Ekeler ($8,800 on DK), sometimes you have to sprinkle in the occasional Darnell Mooney ($4,700). 

WEEK 9 DFS: Best stacks

This column has been consistently producing this season, and readers are seeing healthy returns on their DraftKings and FanDuel accounts. Among our 10-12 hits each week, we have averaged right around 20 DraftKings points per player. Take a look at our top 10 list of highlights from Week 8:

Another solid week in the books! Once again, our top 10 put up sweet numbers, averaging 20.8 DK points. That's fantastic production considering the 10 players cost an average of $5,160. And our team defenses — 75 percent of which cost between $2,800 and $3,000 on DK — each put up between seven and nine DK points. 

When your value picks put up an average of 20 fantasy points per game, you are sitting pretty in the DFS world. This kind of cheap production affords you elite studs in other roster spots and usually translates to consistently cashing. 

Let's keep the momentum rolling and stroll into this weekend's slate with our favorite DraftKings and FanDuel value plays for Week 9. 

All player values are from DraftKings and FanDuel. All stats are from NFL.com and Pro Football Reference.

WEEK 9 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel

NFL DFS Picks Week 9: QB sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Geno Smith, Seahawks at Cardinals (DK: $5,800 | FD: $7,500)

Smith has become an upper-echelon fantasy option, but fortunately for us, DraftKings hasn't seemed to notice. The veteran signal-caller has averaged 19.1 DK/18.2 FD this season, benefiting greatly from his rapports with Seahawks stud receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Now, Seattle draws a plus matchup with the Cardinals, who have surrendered the seventh-most DK points and sixth-most FD points to QBs. Fire away with Papa Geno. 

Aaron Rodgers, Packers at Lions (DK: $5,900 | FD: $7,000)

Especially on FanDuel, Rodgers looks like a great value in what should be a "get-right" game for the four-time MVP. The Lions have served up the second-most FD points to QBs this season (third most on DK), and Rodgers should be plenty pissed off after getting owned by the Bills for most of Sunday Night Football. Put it this way: If Buffalo's D is the Plaza Hotel, Detroit's the Rosebud Motel. 

More great Week 9 QB values: Jared Goff, Lions vs. Packers (DK: $5,500 | FD: $7,100); Taylor Heinicke, Commanders vs. Vikings (DK: $5,400 | FD: $7,200); Marcus Mariota, Falcons vs. Chargers (DK: $5,300 | FD: $7,100); Justin Fields, Bears vs. Dolphins (DK: $5,300 | FD: $7.400)

WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

NFL DFS Picks Week 9: RB sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Eno Benjamin (DK: $5,900 | FD: $6,600) or James Conner (DK: $5,800 | FD: $6,600), Cardinals vs. Seahawks

If Conner (ribs) sits out another game, Benjamin will be gold at home against a soft Seahawks run defense. He has quietly been solid over the past four weeks, utilizing his hybrid skills to maintain an average of 13.9 DK points. If Conner finally returns, our money is on the vet to bounce back with style in the divisional tilt. Maybe they were waiting to face a Seattle D that ranks among the eight most generous in fantasy points allowed to RBs in all formats. If he finally gives it a go, consider Conner's confidence boosted. 

Khalil Herbert, Bears vs. Dolphins (DK: $5,800 | FD: $7,000)

Herbert has been producing with or without veteran David Montgomery active, and his skill set greatly exceeds his typical DFS price tags. He's now garnered double-digit carries and scored at least 15.7 DK points in each of the past two games. We're coming back for more, as he now faces a Dolphins D that has surrendered 4.2 yards per carry and 10 rushing touchdowns through eight games.

Other solid Week 9 RB values: AJ Dillon, Packers at Lions (DK: $5,700 | FD: $6,100); Devin Singletary, Bills at Jets (DK: $5,700 | FD: $6,000); Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Chargers (DK: $5,400 | FD: $6,400)

WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

NFL DFS Picks Week 9: WR sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Terry McLaurin, Commanders vs. Vikings (DK: $5,900 | FD: $7,200) 

It wasn't just Halloween that brought Scary Terry back for fantasy owners — it also helped that Taylor Heinicke became the Commanders' starting QB in light of Carson Wentz's broken digits. Heinicke seems much more fleet of foot in the pocket, and he gets the ball where TMC needs it downfield. He also lets McLaurin and Curtis Samuel ($5,200/$5,600) make plays! These are great yards-after-catch receivers, and the Vikings allow the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers in both DK and FD. This weekend, go Commando!

Romeo Doubs, Packers at Lions (DK: $5,300 | FD: $6,100)

The breakout game is coming for the rookie, I can feel it. Doubs has made some brilliant catches in big moments for back-to-back MVP Aaron Rodgers, who clearly trusts the rookie more than any active wideout not named Allen Lazard. Lazard (shoulder) had to miss Green Bay's tilt with the Bills last week, and veteran slot receiver Randall Cobb remains out with an ankle injury. The Lions consistently allow passing offenses to flourish, and Rodgers will enter Ford Field pissed off from the previous week. Doubs for the dub. 

More strong Week 9 WR values: Julio Jones, Buccaneers vs. Rams (DK: $5,000 | FD: $5,300); Darnell Mooney, Bears vs. Dolphins (DK: $4,700 | FD: $6,100); DeAndre Carter, Chargers at Falcons (DK: $4,300 | FD: $5,500); Mack Hollins, Raiders at Jaguars (DK: $4,500 | FD: $5,700) 

NFL DFS Picks Week 9: TE sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Evan Engram, Jaguars vs. Raiders (DK: $3,300 | FD: $5,200) 

The chemistry is building between Trevor Lawrence and Engram, who has turned 29 targets into 19 catches and 231 yards over the past four games. Hell, Engram even scored last week, a thing of the past for most tight ends these days. The Raiders have about as inept of a back-seven as you will find, and they serve as the third-most generous defense to tight ends in fantasy (DK and FD). Hit 'em with the EE!

More top Week 9 TE values: Gerald Everett, Chargers at Falcons (DK: $4,800 | FD: $5,800); Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. Chargers (DK: $4,500 | FD: $6,300); Robert Tonyan, Packers at Lions (DK: $3,800 | FD: $5,000); Tyler Conklin, Jets vs. Bills (DK: $3,200 | FD: $5,200)

NFL DFS Picks Week 9: D/ST sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Rams (DK: $3,000 | FD: $4,700) 

There must still be some kind of stigma around playing D/STs against defending Super Bowl champions. How else do you explain pricing the Bucs this low here? No offense has been more generous to defenses than the Rams. Their offensive line is horse manure, they have no running game, and their lone reliable producer, Cooper Kupp (ankle), is banged up. Grab the Bucs, who will be chomping at the bit to pressure Matthew Stafford at home after three straight losses. 

Other quality Week 9 D/ST values: Colts at Patriots (DK: $2,700 | FD: $4,200); Vikings at Commanders (DK: $3,500 | FD: $4,500); Jaguars vs. Raiders (DK: $3,100 | FD: $3,800)