Week 9 DFS locks of the week

We’re back again for Week 9, looking at the top players to lock into your DFS lineups.

I get the sense that Week 9 will end up being a stars and scrubs week. There are fewer guys I consider “locks” this week than in a typical week. The smaller pool makes zeroing in on the right plays even more important.

Here’s a list of players you can lock into your Week 9 DFS lineups.

Note: There’s always a case to be made for playing any player in tournaments. This list of “locks” is cash game focused, but I typically like these players across all contest types.

Quarterbacks

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Prescott is playing at home against a sieve-like Chiefs pass defense in what is expected to be the highest-scoring game of the week.

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

You can argue Carson Wentz if you want, but Wilson has been the hottest quarterback in the NFL over the past month. He’s a seven-point home favorite and has earned lock status whenever he’s playing a halfway decent or worse opponent.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Brees, at home, against the Bucs, who have given up the seventh-most fantasy PPG to opposing quarterbacks. Uh, yes please.

Running backs

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Elliott is a home favorite against the Chiefs, who have given up lines of 19-108-0, 35-196-1, 20-73-1, and 29-157-1 to opposing backfields over the past four games. Elliott is averaging just over 26 touches per game, which is the kind of bankable volume that’s so hard to find today.

Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints

Ingram’s volume isn’t quite on Zeke’s level, but he has seen 20-plus touches in three straight games (and 18 the week before that), and now he’s a large home favorite in a game that should have a ton of scoring (second-highest projected over-under).

Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

The Giants have given up 100-plus yard rushing efforts to the Cowboys, Lions, Eagles, and Chargers backfields, while ceding 99 to Tampa Bay. They’ve been better the past two games, holding Denver and Seattle to a combined 118 yards, but Denver and Seattle have messy backfields. The matchup isn’t as bad as it looks, and, most importantly, Gurley is a lock for volume.

Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

The Falcons haven’t given up a running back rushing score since Week 2, but McCaffrey does virtually all of his damage through the air, so that’s fine. Atlanta has given up about seven receptions to opposing backfields per game, and Carolina is now without Kelvin Benjamin. McCaffrey will feast through the air.

Adrian Peterson, Arizona Cardinals

My view on Peterson has changed throughout the week. All the coachspeak suggest he’ll be fed like a horse, and the matchup is the best in the NFL (vs. SF). The 49ers have given up the most fantasy points to opposing running backs. If you’re buying what Cardinals OC Harold Goodwin is selling when he says the game plan is to feature Peterson, then you have to consider Peterson a lock.

Wide receivers

Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

I love all of the Saints players in this home game that could turn into a track meet. Thomas draws the Bucs defense, which has given up the most fantasy PPG to opposing receivers.

Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys

Bryant will run the majority of his snaps against Chiefs RCB Kenneth Acker. For a year and a half now, Kansas City’s right corner spot has been one quarterbacks and wideouts have picked on with massive success. The Chiefs have given up a league-high 13 touchdowns to opposing receivers.

Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

Jones’ price has come down across the industry, and it’s not like the has a particularly tough matchup against James Bradberry. Jones has gained 2.92 yards per route run this year. The next closest is A.J. Green at 2.59 YPRR (that’s not even particularly close).

Golden Tate, Detroit Lions

In his last two games, Tate has lines of 7-96-1 and 7-86-0, and now he draws one of the best individual WR-CB matchups of the week against Green Bay slot man Damarious Randall.

Aldrick Robinson, San Francisco 49ers

He’s not quite as cheap as we’d like, but Robinson does provide salary relief and should be consider a lock to return value against the Cardinals, who have given up the fourth-most fantasy PPG to opposing receivers this year. If word comes out that Patrick Peterson will shadow him, then Robinson is no longer a lock.

Tight ends

Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles

He’s on this list almost every week, but he definitely belongs here with a matchup against the Broncos, who have given up the third-most fantasy PPG to opposing tight ends.

Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks

Graham’s Week 9 opponent, the Redskins, have given up the fourth-most fantasy PPG to opposing tight ends this year. Over his past four games, Graham ranks third in fantasy points and leads all tight ends in touchdowns (4).

Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brate gives you more exposure to the should-be highest-scoring game between the Bucs and Saints. According to our individual TE matchup chart, Brate actually has the best matchup of the week — by far. Load up.