jason mezrahi 
It’s time for Week 9 DFS recommendations for the Sunday main slate. I’m focusing on tight ends (TEs) and defenses (DSTs) that will help you win some green!
Sign up NOW for WIN DAILY Premium Gold right here! Projections, weather reports, wagering info, 24/7 expert chatsand more!
Week9 DFS Tight End Cash Game Plays
Travis Kelce, KC vs. MIN
FD ($6,700) DK ($6,900)
It’s a stark reality that most TEs just aren’t that reliable in DFS, but Kelce (65 targets, 42-604-2 this season) is about as automatic for 10+ fantasy points as you can get. He’s got only one game this season (9.8 DK points in Week 8 against the Texans) where he didn’t reach that mark – but he was darn close, and he said he was disgusted with his performance vs. Green Bay. The Vikings have a solid defense but are middle of the roads vs. TEs, and even with one more week of Matt Moore under center for the Chiefs, Kelce is one of the two best cash game plays.
DarrenWaller, OAK vs. DET
FD ($6,800) DK ($6,300)
Waller didn’t have a great week last Sunday (he caught just two of eight targets for 11 yards and a touchdown), a result of constant attention from the Houston defense, though his score salvaged what would have been a DFS disaster. The matchup is much better for Week 9 DFS against a Lions defense that ranks 27th against TEs. Waller is still seeing plentiful targets, so he’s about as safe as it gets for cash games.
Week9 DFS Tight End GPP Plays
Hunter Henry, LAC vs. GB
FD ($6,400) DK ($6,000)
The Chargers TE is oneof the top GPP plays, as he’s a consensus Top 5 five this week. With 23 targetsover his past three games, Henry is an elite GPP play with multi-TD upsidefacing the Packers.
JimmyGraham, GB at LAC
FD ($6,000) DK ($4,300)
The veteran TE is a huge bargain on DK but makes for a solid GPP play on both sites. There’s 15-20 point upside, which is actually a pretty high mark this week given the player pool. He’s worth a look in Week 9 DFS because of the matchup and his QB – but Graham’s play this season has been streaky. He’s pretty far down the list in the consensus Week 9 rankings, so his ownership shouldn’t be too high.
GregOlsen, CAR vs. TEN
FD ($5,300) DK ($3,500)
Olsen had a solid start with two monster games in his first three weeks, but he’s been held scoreless over his past four appearances. He dealt with a back injury in late September, but hasn’t had a designation in a while and is facing a Titans defense that’s yielded plenty of scores to opposing TEs. He’s an under-the-radar GPP play in a decent matchup.
ZachErtz, PHI vs. CHI
FD ($6,000) DK ($4,700)
The main slate ismissing several of the game’s best TEs due to prime-time affairs or bye weeks,so we’re going to have to take chances in GPPs, and Ertz is a huge risk at themoment – with three straight games scoring fewer than 10 DK points and just oneTD on the season. The price has come down on DK to a point that’s reasonable,and his upside makes me comfortable rolling him out in GPPs – even against theBears.
Week9 DFS Tight End Punt Plays
JonnuSmith, TEN at CAR
FD ($5,500) DK ($3,800)
With fellow Titans TE Delanie Walker (ankle) ruled out, Smithdraws another start in Week 9 against the Panthers, and while the matchup istougher than last week, I’m going right back to the well following his 6-78-1 (onseven targets) performance.
EricEbron, IND at PIT
FD ($5,200) DK ($3,600)
Ebron has been a hit-or-miss fantasy option this season,but he’s in a good spot against the Steelers. He’s mired in a timeshare attight end with Jack Doyle, but has at least three targets in every game this seasonand has scored over 10 DK points in three contests – the three he caught TDpasses in. It’s possible he and Doyle will both get more targets in the comingweeks with T.Y. Hilton slated to miss time, even if their upside is limited abit with both TEs healthy.
RyanGriffin, NYJ at MIA
FD ($5,000) DK ($3,400)
Griffin has been one of the lone bright spots these pastcouple weeks for the Jets, and he’s coming off his best game of the season, atwo-touchdown performance against the Jaguars (4-66-2). I keep hearing talkthat Griffin will be relegated to a backup role once Chris Herndon returns fromhis hamstring injury, which could be as soon as this week in Miami, but Herndonis still a 50-50 shot to play. If he sits, Griffin is an option.
T.J.Hockenson, DET at OAK
FD ($5,000) DK ($3,700)
The rookie tight end hasbeen relatively quiet lately, with just four catches in his last two weeks, butthat could change versus an Oakland defense that’s 28th against TEs. He’s stillgot 15-20 point upside but is a TD-dependent option who’s fine for GPPs.
Additional Week 9 DFS GPP and punt options:
Cameron Brate, TB at SEA (FD $5,100, DK $3,100)
Jack Doyle, IND at PIT (FD $5,000, DK $3,000)
Trey Burton, CHI at PHI (FD $4,800, DK $2,900)
Anthony Firkser, TEN at CAR (FD $4,700, DK $2,500)
Noah Fant, DEN vs. CLE (FD $4,600, DK $3,000)
Foster Moreau, OAK at HOU (FD $4,900, DK $2,600)
Week 9 DFS DST Cash Game Plays
BuffaloBills (BUF vs. WAS)
FD ($5,000) DK ($3,800)
The Bills have disappointed us as the chalk DST before, but they’ve been serviceable against bad offenses, and this week they have a great home matchup against Washington. They’re relatively safe, have some upside, and Washington has just a 13-point implied total – the lowest of Week 9 – with turnover-prone rookie Dwayne Haskins starting at QB. The Bills DST should rebound in a big way.
PhiladelphiaEagles (PHI vs. CHI)
FD ($4,600) DK ($3,000)
Considering the Bears have one of the worst offenses in football and the Eagles defensive unit has been solid, I’m giving the Eagles the green light in cash games this week. Philly’s DST dropped 35 DK points on the Jets in Week 5, and they have similar upside this week against Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears.
DenverBroncos (DEN vs. CLE)
FD ($4,300) DK ($2,900)
If you’re looking for a cheap defense to play in cashgames, the Broncos face a turnover-prone Browns team at Mile High, where they usuallyplay a lot better as a unit. Give them a look if you’re in a salary crunch foryour lineup’s final spot.
Week9 DFS DST GPP Plays
SeattleSeahawks (SEA vs. TB)
FD ($4,900) DK ($3,600)
Seattle faces a Bucs team that’s got an implied total of 24.5 points, but Jameis Winston has thrown seven INTs over his past two weeks, making them a great GPP play. The secondary does have some issues with depth – last Sunday they were missing Tre Flowers, Quandre Diggs among others, and saw just a handful of snaps from Bradley McDougald. Those recurring injury problems and the implied total make them a little riskier for cash, but they’re one of my top tournament plays of Week 9.
GreenBay Packers (GB at LAC)
FD ($4,400) DK ($3,400)
The Packers were an under-the-radar DST for a while, and now’sthey’re one of the top defenses thanks to stellar play from the entire unit, especiallyZa’Darius Smith and Preston Smith at LB. And they have Darnell Savage back atsafety – which gives them a big boost. I’ll have some Aaron Jones/GB DSTlineups in GPPs.
NewYork Jets (NYJ at MIA)
FD ($4,600) DK ($3,500)
The Jets defense is a bit of a mess right now with a lot ofbackup players forced into starting roles, but the matchup versus Miami means wehave to consider them.
ChicagoBears (CHI at PHI)
FD ($4,400) DK ($2,900)
The Bears DST came into the season a juggernaut, had acouple monster games in weeks 3 and 4, and now is struggling to make a bigsplash because of how poorly the offense is playing. They’re under $3K on DKnow, and the Eagles offensive line is in disarray, so that’s enough for me toconsider them in DFS.
ClevelandBrowns (CLE at DEN)
FD ($4,300) DK ($3,100)
The Browns get to face an untested QB, and they still havean effective pass rush and decent cornerbacks – so I’m buying some shares in Week9. A risk as a road play, but one with plenty of upside.
Week9 DFS DST Punt Plays
Carolina Panthers CAR vs. TEN)
FD ($4,000) DK ($2,800)
The Panthers are cheap and their opponent, the Titans, havean implied total under 20 – making this one of the bets matchups of Week 9. Don’toverthink it.
MiamiDolphins (MIA vs. NYJ)
FD ($3,600) DK ($2,700)
The Dolphins defense has its moments – and so does SamDarnold the Ghost Whisperer. Seriously, though, we can make a case for theDolphins DST even in full tank mode based solely on the awfulness of the Jets.
WashingtonRedskins (WAS at BUF)
FD ($3,000) DK ($1,800)
The ultimate punt, it shouldn’t be hard for this team to make 4x or 5x value at the $1,800 price tag. I like Josh Allen, but he’s far from perfect, and has been known to throw ‘em to the opposition.
Monkey Knife Fight Pick of the Week – Click Here to Play and Get 100 Percent Bonus!
Pick the Players that will get the most Receptions
Focused on TEs, here, I will go with Kelce, Ertz and Olsen for a goal of 17.5 at 2x.
Photo of Travis Kelce by: Master Sgt. April Wickes, U.S. Air Force
