Welcome to Week 9!
The entire point of this article is to give you a brief but comprehensive analysis of my core plays for the main slate. I’ll be giving you what you need but without a 10,000-word article. Expect a lot of concise points, along with data-driven analysis from the extensive suite of analytical fantasy tools in the FantasyLabs Player Models. Oh, and no bullshit.
It’s important to remember that I strictly play smaller-field tournaments on DraftKings such as the Power Sweep, Juke, End Zone, and others.
Overall, my thoughts and analysis will always be geared towards tournaments on DraftKings, not cash games.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your teams.
Let’s dive in.
My Core Plays
Josh Allen
Just like last week, Allen has the highest implied team total on the slate and is the highest-rated quarterback in my model. Allen also has an Opponent Plus/Minus of +2.1, and he carries the highest Ceiling Projection. Additionally, Allen should catch a slight discount in ownership relative to Jalen Hurts.
Austin Ekeler
Ekeler has nine Pro Trends in my model, and a very healthy 26-point implied team total. He has an excellent matchup against the Eagles, who have an Opponent Plus/Minus of +2.4 vs. the running back position. The Chargers also rank second in situation-neutral pace.
Over the last five weeks, Ekeler has seen no less than five targets in a game and is seeing 80% of his team’s high-value running back opportunities — which is the fourth-most in the league.
Devontae Booker
Booker has seen no fewer than 16 opportunities over the last four weeks with two 20+ opportunity games. He has an excellent matchup against the Raiders, who have an Opponent Plus/Minus of +3.1 vs. the running back position. His implied team total, sitting at just 22-points, is a little concerning. However, he has 22 high-value touches in that same four-game span.
Even though his team total is low, the volume will be there for Booker. He also rates inside the top 10 among running backs in my model.
Marquise Brown
Brown has a leverage score of 14 in my model, which is good for seventh-best. Over the last four weeks, Brown has a 26% target share, ranks top 10 in weighted opportunity rating and air yards with a 0.7 WOPR and 420+ air yards. He is running a route 94.2% of the time and has a +1.1 Opponent Plus/Minus.
With Baltimore having an excellent team total of 27.5, I am not as worried about their below-average pace of play.
Jaylen Waddle
With Devante Parker out, I have Waddle projected for a 23.5% target share. The Dolphins have a healthy implied team total, and I have Waddle projected for ~10% rostership. This is a steep discount when comparing his ceiling to other wide receivers in this price range.
Stefon Diggs
Diggs has the second-highest Ceiling Projection and a top-15 Leverage Score at the wide receiver position this week. Diggs also ranks in the top five for air yards per route run and is averaging 9.5 targets per game this year.
Tyler Conklin
Prior to the DeVante Parker news, Conklin was the No.1 rated tight end in my model this week. He does have a very friendly price tag, and his +3.2 opponent Plus/Minus is second-best at the tight position. The Ravens have been beaten pretty badly via the tight end position this year. In fact, they are actually funneling points to the tight end. They have given up the most raw points to the position while limiting wide receivers to the 10th fewest.
Run good in Week 9!
