Who are the best plays for Week 9 in FanDuel leagues? Here’s some of the best options at each position to stay under the salary cap.
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Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (BAL) - $8,000
This isn’t just a reaction to Roethlisberger’s huge game against the Indianapolis Colts, it’s also an amazing matchup for him. The Ravens are going to have to pull guys off the practice squad to play in the secondary. Jimmy Smith is going to miss this game, Lardarius Webb hasn’t practiced so far this week and Asa Jackson is already out. Roethlisberger could be looking at facing Chykie Brown as a No. 1 corner, which would be great news for Antonio Brown and Ben.
Running Back: Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (NYJ) - $9,000
Charles is definitely worth the money this week. He won’t run for 100 yards against a very tough Jets run defense, but he will pick up a ton of points in the passing game. Charles averages 6.6 yards per reception this season, and has scored three total touchdowns in the past two games. It appears as if Charles is completely back from his injury now, and will find the end zone multiple times against a New York team that has allowed three receiving touchdowns to opposing running backs.
Running Back: Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints (CAR) - $6,100
Ingram is $700 cheaper than Ben Tate this week. That’s ridiculous. In three of the four games that Ingram has appeared in this season, he’s had double-digit fantasy points. Besides a two-point performance in his first game back from injury against the Lions, the best defense in the league, Ingram has scored 16, 18 and 23 points. And now he’s facing the Panthers defense, who is allowing the third most points to opposing running backs, per our fantasy against rankings (paid subscription required). This is a ridiculous value.
Wide Receiver: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (BAL) - $9,000
Not to pile up on Baltimore’s terrible secondary but…….they’re pretty terrible without Jimmy Smith. Even before the Smith injury, Baltimore was allowing the most points to receivers in the league, and Brown is the leading receiver in fantasy by 18 points. Even though the price tag is steep, it’s well worth it.
Wide Receiver: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (CLE) - $6,000
After splurging on Brown, I had to cut back at WR2, but Evans is still a solid option here. He’s scored two touchdowns in the past four games, and has had at least four receptions in every game (this is your weekly reminder that FanDuel awards a point per reception). Evans has had an almost identical year to Vincent Jackson, yet Evans is $700 less this week.
Wide Receiver: Andrew Hawkins, Cleveland Browns (TB) - $6,400
Again, I’m still compensating for paying for Brown and Charles, but Hawkins is another solid value this week. He finally found the end zone for the first time last weekend, and has had back-to-back weeks of double-digit fantasy points with a total of 12 combined receptions in his past two games. Hawkins has also been the 15th most targeted receiver in the league in the past two weeks, per our advanced metrics, and is facing a Bucs defense that is allowing the fifth most points to receivers.
Tight End: Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles (HOU) - $5,400
Tight end has been a thin position all season, but it’s even worse this week with Martellus Bennett and Delanie Walker both on bye. That makes Ertz a decent selection this week despite recent fantasy struggles. Ertz caught five passes against the Arizona Cardinals, and has been the 13th most targeted tight end in the league (11th if you take out Walker and Bennett for this week). Although he’s only scored one touchdown since Week 1, Ertz still gets enough looks in Chip Kelly’s offense to be productive.
Kicker: Blair Walsh, Minnesota Vikings (WSH) - $4,900
Defense: Indianapolis Colts (NYG) - $5,200
Even without Vontae Davis, the Colts should have a good week against the Giants. Eli Manning has been sacked on 22 percent of his dropbacks this season, the seventh most in the league, according to Pro Football Focus, and he’s thrown five interceptions in seven games. Don’t let the awful performance against Pittsburgh scare you off. Indy’s defense has four games of double-digit fantasy points, and they’ve forced at least one turnover in six of their eight games.