DFS Deep Dive: Week 9
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Wide Receivers
CeeDee Lamb $8200 vs Eagles
With the Eagles struggling secondary facing a Cowboys passing offense that has just caught fire CeeDee Lamb profiles to be one of the most popular plays of the week, or at the very least, he should be. Lamb has totaled 27 catches for 391 yards and four touchdowns in his previous six games against the Eagles, and against an Eagles secondary allowing 91.4 yards to WR1s, he can surpass his average of 65.1 vs Philadelphia. Lamb is coming off a 44-point performance against the Rams, catching 12 of 14 targets for 158 yards an two touchdowns, a week after going a perfect 7/7 for 117 yards.
Usage Suggestions: One of the best plays of the week on paper. If you’re not using Kamara in cash games, you should be using Lamb, and preferably both. For tournaments, I’m primarily looking for ways to jam in Lamb and Ferguson to with Cowboys stacks or as bringbacks to Philly stacks.
Cooper Kupp $8500 vs Packers
As the second-most expensive player on the slate, coming off back-to-back disappointing games, it’s very possible that Cooper Kupp isn’t rostered to the degree a player of his talent should be. Kupp has caught only six of the 17 targets in his last two outings, combining for a miserable 13 DK points. To put that into perspective, Kupp hasn’t had a single-digit performance in the last two full seasons, when playing the entirety of a game and the first time Kupp has had back-to-back games with less than 30 yards in his career. The Packers struggle against slot receivers, allowing 9.2 yards per target (5th-highest) and also giving up a league-high 9.1% touchdown rate to interior wide receivers (Via Sharp Football).
Usage Suggestions: This will all be for nothing if Matthew Stafford can’t play, but if Stafford is out there I’ll roll Kupp out in tournaments. In cash, it’s a little too risky. Kupp pairs well with Romeo Doubs for a correlation or Packers stack.
Adam Thielen $7500 vs Colts
Since Week 3 Adam Thielen’s 11.8 targets per game is behind only Amon-Ra St. Brown’s 12.4 and Ja’Maar Chase’s 13.6, and Thielen is the WR5 in PPR points per game during that spell. Even with a new playcaller in Carolina, Thielen still saw double-digit targets for the fourth time in five games. The Colts have allowed the fifth-most targets per game to WR1s (9.8) and if you’re not feeling confident enough in the Panthers backfield, it seems straightforward enough to turn to the passing game.
Usage Suggestions: Thielen’s volume is consistent enough for us to use him in cash games. In tournaments, I’ll sprinkle in some correlations with Jonathan Taylor.
Amari Cooper $6100 vs Cardinals
This season has been very up and down for Amari Cooper with him rarely putting in good back-to-back performances, but given the carousel of quarterbacks and play style in Cleveland, it’s a little understandable. The Cardinals rank second-worst in catch rate to opposing wide receivers (71.9%) and allow the tenth-most fpts per game to the position. Regardless of whether Deshaun Watson plays, Cooper sees volume, and has historically performed better at home, rather than on the road.
Usage Suggestions: Because of the QB questions, I prefer this play in tournament games, and I’d probably forgo any correlations or stacks… unless Watson practices properly all week in which case it might be in play.
Nico Collins $5800 vs Buccanneers
The Bucs have allowed 100+ yard games to DJ Moore, Justin Jefferson, AJ Brown, and Amon-Ra St. Brown so far this season, giving up a total of seven top-24 WR finishes in seven games and allowing wide receivers a 69.4% catch rate (8th-highest). Collins’s early season form was never going to continue but this is a good matchup with the Bucs giving up the sixth most yardage to opposing wide receivers and Collins and Stroud should be able to get right.
Usage Suggestions: Collins’s pricepoint and matchup allow him to be in play for all formats. As mentioned, I like Stroud stacks with Collins and Rachaad White in tournaments.
Jahan Dotson $5000 vs Patriots
In Dotson’s previous seven games to Week 8, he hadn’t managed a single performance over 50 receiving yards but then erupted for 108 along with his second touchdown of the season and 27.8 DK points, which was more than twice as many as in any other performance. We’ve talked before about the Patriots being excellent against WR1s (ranked 1st) but awful against WR2s (ranked 29th). The Patriots have also allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to WRs playing out wide, an area where Dotson consistently plays and should be able to exploit the Patriots from in this matchup.
Usage Suggestions: I don’t hate Dotson for cash this week, but I wouldn’t consider him a lock. In tournaments, I’d consider Dotson either a one-off or as a pairing with Hunter Henry, who is the last man standing in New England, or possibly with the potential dart throw…
Pop Douglas $4000 vs Commanders
The Patriots have been effusive of Demario ‘Pop’ Douglas ever since the draft and have played him ahead of the once highly-touted Kayshon Boutte. With Kendrick Bourne on IR, Devante Parker dealing with a concussion and JuJu Smith-Schuster more toasted than a marshmallow, it’s possible that Douglas becomes worth considering at the stone minimum of $4000. The Commanders have allowed the second-most fpts to WRs, struggling against both the slot and out wide, giving up the second-most receiving yards (197) and a league-leading 16.3 yards per reception.
Usage Suggestions: I’d be tempted to role Douglas out in cash games if it meant gaining access to two 8k+ players like Kamara and Lamb, but I wouldn’t view it as essential. In tournaments, it’s hard to believe Mac Jones is what we need. Instead, I’d look for mini-correlations with Commanders players, primarily Logan Thomas and Jahan Dotson.
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