jason mezrahi 
We’re entering the NFL’s Week 9 DFS plays with the best RB picks for the main slate, including cash, GPP and some contrarian plays for you to win big!
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Week 9 DFS Running Back – Cash Game Plays
Dalvin Cook, MIN at KC
DK ($9,500) FD ($9,000)
Cook has as much upside as any fantasy RB in football,excluding maybe Christian McCaffrey (more on him later), with the highestfloor. He’s the top play this week in cash games and despite the huge price tagand ownership, he’s worth a look in all formats. Lock the dude in against a badrun defense and what should be a high-scoring, relatively closely-matched affair.
Chris Carson, SEA vs. TB
DK ($7,200) FD ($8,200)
Carson has just one TD and one target last week but rushed for 90 yards and remains an affordable, elite fantasy RB with plenty of upside. There’s a chance the Seahawks throw a bit more this week facing a Bucs defense that’s vulnerable in its secondary, but that’s not keeping me away from one the most consistent value plays in the game.
Week 9 DFS Running Back – GPP Plays
Christian McCaffrey, CAR vs.TEN
DK ($10,000) FD ($9,700)
McCaffrey was limited at practice due to a knee injury, but Ron Rivera said he’s not concerned, so should we be? I may not be playing him a $10,000 on DK in too many cash games, but the “injury” and the price could keep a few more folks from clicking his name in GPPs. He’s still involved in all aspects of the Carolina offense, and is on track for another 5-10 targets and 20+ fantasy points, even if he’s not 100 percent.
Josh Jacobs, OAK vs. DET
DK ($6,500) FD ($7,200)
The Lions run defense isn’t wonderful, and Jacobs gets aton of touches. Huis ownership could be down coming off a poor showing atHouston and the big red “Q” that’s next to his name right now because he was listedas a limited participant at Wednesday’s practice. But Jacobs played through whatevershoulder issue he’s been having last week, and there have been no reportedsetbacks in that game. I’m guessing the team is just limiting his practice repsin advance of this weekend’s matchup against Detroit, which is just fine.
Le’Veon Bell, NYJ at MIA
DK ($7,700) FD ($7,000)
Here’s where things could get a little dicey, but alsoprofitable. The Dolphins defense is no match for a healthy, engaged Bell, andeven dumb-bucket Jets head coach Adam Gase knows it. Gase blames himself forBell getting only 12 touches in Sunday’s pathetic 29-15 loss to the Jaguars, andspent this week trying to trade everyone under the sun before copping to hismiscues. I do think that since he couldn’t trade Bell (which he can’t now, sothere’s no reason to limit his usage) he’ll give him a full complement oftouches and Bell should see plenty of opportunity to pay off his price tag onboth sites.
Nick Chubb, CLE at DEN
DK ($7,300) FD ($8,100)
Chubb rushed for 131 yards on 20 carries against thePatriots, a notoriously tough defense to run on. This week, he gets the Broncos,who are not as good, in a contest that should be a lot closer and require justas much running from the former Georgia Bulldog. He should also have more usagein the passing game (26 targets over six weeks before last week’s one-target debacle)and probably won’t fumble twice in Denver. Jump on this under-the-radar talentin GPPs.
Marlon Mack, IND at PIT
DK ($6,300) FD ($6,900)
Mack ran for 76 yards and a score on 19 carries, adding a14-yard catch during Sunday’s 15-13 battle over Denver (which followed a slowweek against the Texans), and he faces a decent Steelers run defense this timearound. Again – he sees a lot of touch volume and won’t draw large ownershiplevels in GPPs. The price came up slightly but I’m buying this week.
Jaylen Samuels, PIT vs. IND
DK ($4,000) FD ($5,000)
James Connor is still dinged up and questionable for Sunday’s game, while Samuels practiced fully on Wednesday and looks like he could be the bell cow if Connor and Benny Snell are both on the shelf against Indy. His ownership will be sky-high if both those Steelers RBs are inactive, but it’ll be worth it for the role he’ll have – along with the 20-25 point upside.
Also consider: Phillip Lindsay (wrist), Aaron Jones (shoulder),Derrick Henry, Jamaal Williams
Week 9 DFS Running Back – Contrarian GPP Plays
Austin Ekeler, LAC vs. GB
DK ($6,000) FD ($6,500)
I’ll never understand why coaches like Anthony Lynn getaway from the guys who have been successful, but such is the case. Giving Ekelerjust three carries and three targets would have been a bigger story had the Chargerslost (and they should have), but we can guess that he’ll have a larger workloadthis week, where the shifty back should dominate the backfield touches againstan opponent that could jump out to a lead. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a negativegame script for Ekeler to succeed, so I’ll be using him once again in GPPs forhis massive upside – even if he continues to split with the less versatile MelvinGordon.
Ty Johnson, DET at OAK
DK ($4,900) FD ($5,500)
This play is not for the faint of heart, and it’s going tobe tough to click his name after what happened in Week 8. I know – I feel you.But Tough Guy Ty was on everybody’s list last week for a reason. He’s got a fewthings going against him this week, but his ownership will be a fraction of whatit was a week ago, and we have to take some contrarian chances in DFS.
Also consider: Jordan Howard, LeSean McCoy, Damien Williams,Tarik Cohen
Week 9 DFS Running Back – Value/Punt Plays
David Montgomery, CHI at PHI
DK ($5,200) FD ($6,600)
Montgomery had his breakout game last week (27 carries, 135rushing yards, TD; 4-12-0 receiving) as we profiled him in this same “valueplay” section. The price has come up a bit, but he’s still a veritable bargain andfaces an Eagles defense that’s only slightly better than the Chargers.
Devin Singletary, BUF vs. WAS
DK ($4,700) FD ($6,100)
The Bills are at home facing Washington this week, and they’reeager to shake off the display they put on against the Eagles. Expect a lot moretouches coming to Singletary as the team finds more ways to get him the ball.
Royce Freeman, DEN vs. CLE
DK ($4,900) FD($5,700)
Freeman could see an increased workload this week if PhillipLindsay (wrist) can’t play, and the matchup against the Browns is a juicy one.
Mark Walton, MIA vs. NYJ
DK ($4,500) FD ($5,700)
With Kenyan Drake off to Arizona, Walton has taken over aslead back for Miami. While he didn’t find much running room against theSteelers on Monday night, he has a solid matchup against the Jets’ porous rundefense in Week 9.
Additional plays: Tra Carson, Frank Gore, Chris Thompson (toe)
Monkey Knife Fight Picks of the Week
Pick the Players that will get the most Fantasy Points
Goal: 65.5, Prize: 2x — D. Cook, L. Bell & M. Mack
These three RBs have solid matchups and are poised to have big days. It’s an RB article, so I restricted my MKF picks here to RBs. Mix in a WR if you’re not feeling an all-RB crew!
