DraftKings Daily Fantasy Football Helper for Week 9
Wide Receivers
High-Cost Option: Antonio Brown $8,100
There's a case to be made for each of the three wide receivers priced higher than Antonio Brown, but given the relatively cheap price tag for the ceiling we've come to see from him, Brown's worth the investment this week. It doesn't really matter if Oakland chases Brown with either Neiko Thorpe or David Amerson, with Big Ben back to deliver the mail to Brown, he'll see a high volume of targets and likely follow it up with outstanding production given the state of Oakland's secondary. The Raiders are allowing the second most passing yards per game, and Brown figures to be the large recipient of that volume. Albeit on a limited sample size (5 games), Brown has averaged 7.6 receptions for 130.4 yards and 0.8 touchdowns in games without Le'Veon Bell over the past three years -- a stat line good for over 25 fantasy points and clearing our value threshold with ease.
Mid-Cost Option: Mike Evans $6,800
The Giants were just lit up by Drew Brees as New York's secondary was atrocious at times. After a couple ho-hum games, this seems like the perfect matchup for Mike Evans to go nuclear. The Giants are giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and are tied for the second-most receptions to wideouts. Evans typically lines as an outside receiver on either side, but the 6'5" Buccanneer could have a field day when lined up against 5'10" Jayron Hosley. Evans has yet to score a red zone touchdown this season, and with the way Jameis Winston has been dealing lately, look for the duo to rectify that situation this week.
Low-Cost Options: Stevie Johnson and Brandon LaFell $3,200
I'm putting both these receivers in here because they both warrant your attention this week. Both teams feature heavy passing attacks as San Diego and New England are the top two teams in passing play percentage over their last three games (70.8% for San Diego and 69.4% for New England).
After placing both Keenan Allen and Branden Oliver on season-ending IR and cutting Jacoby Jones, the Chargers are running out of weapons fast and will need Stevie Johnson to step up out of necessity now. The Bears are tied for fourth in giving up the most passing touchdowns on the season (16), and Philip Rivers is on pace to set a career-high in passing touchdowns (36). Prior to his Week 5 injury, Johnson was leading the team in red zone targets and will look to get back on track this week against a less than mediocre Chicago secondary.
Brandon LaFell has seen 15 targets following his return to the field this season. Despite the drops, Brady is still looking LaFell's way. He gets to face a Washington secondary that just gave up back to back big weeks to Tampa Bay and New York Jets wide receivers. LaFell saw 82% of the team's snaps last week and should continue to see plenty of volume in this week's highest scoring affair.
GPP Wildcard: Randall Cobb $6,800
Being contrarian doesn't always mean chasing wildcards. Randall Cobb hasn't had more than 10 fantasy points in his last four games but has the ceiling -- Week 3 versus Kansas City he posted 35.1 points -- to warrant GPP use in a game where his recent lack of productivity should make him a lesser owned commodity. The Panthers' Josh Norman has developed quite a reputation as of late, but his calling card has been mostly on the outside where he has spent 98% of his snaps according to ProFootballFocus. Cobb on the other hand, has run 91% of his snaps from the slot position and should get a rather pedestrian matchup against Bené Benwikere in a game where Aaron Rodgers will look to bounce back after last week's poor outing.
