Tastefully Curated Every Wednesday by LineStar Fantasy Experts.

Week 9 Top Plays - Back to Basics

QB:

• Dak Prescott, DAL (@ATL) [CASH]Picking a cash Quarterback has been a challenge this week, all of the easiest matchups are being handed to questionable quarterbacks. So we'll side with Vegas, which has this as the highest scoring game of the main slate, with a 50.5 over under, and Atlanta favored by 3 points at home. Looking for a cash play, Dak meets most of the criteria, consistent player in a high scoring game, in what should not be a blow out, or even possibly down a bit to force throws down field. The Atlanta defense has been fairly respectable this year, but Dallas has such a balanced offense on both sides, they are hard to slow down.

• Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (@IND) [TOURNAMENT]Big Ben and the Steelers have smashed the Colts in the last 3 meetings. The only reason he's not the cash play, is because he's been a below average quarterback the entire season with only 1.3 TD/Game and no games with 3 passing touchdowns yet. Though the Colts have yet to give up a 3 passing TD game this season, they have allowed 1 or 2 in each game and allowing 293 passing yards on average per game. The Steelers are coming off their bye, with an extra week to prepare as well, and the colts will be without their top corner, Vontae Davis. The Colts have also faced an incredibly weak set of Quarterbacks through their 9 games, the only QB in the top 10 they have faced was Russell Wilson, all others have been ranked 12th or lower.

• Case Keenum, MIN (@WAS) [CONTRARIAN]Keenum should be pretty low owned this week, making him a good contrarian play, but he has the right pieces in place to have a good game. The Vikings have had an extra week to prepare for this game coming off their bye, a good set of WRs, and motivation as Keenums days are likely numbered with Bridgewater returning from IR. Washington has allowed 242 yards and 1.5 passing TDs per game on the season, and 19 fantasy points per game.

Other QBs to consider: 

• Jared Goff, LAR (vs HOU): The Texans are allowing 21.5 FPPG to QBs. Badly beat up and likely disheartened still by the loss of Deshaun Watson.

• C.J. Beathard, SF (vs NYG): The Giants have nothing to play for and it shows, Beathard has been doing a respectable job.

• Josh McCown, NYJ (@TB): Facing the worst pass defense in the league, Josh McCown has been quite good this year, even with virtually no viable weapons.

RB:

• Matt Forte, NYJ (@TB) [CASH]Forte has been splitting the backfield work with Bilal Powell, but Forte has been playing more snaps and been more efficient. He draws a favorable matchup this week versus the Tampa Bay defense who are allowing 95.8 rushing yards, and .9 TDs per game on the season to running backs. They are also generous to pass catching backs like Forte, allowing 6.1 receptions per game and 51 yards through the air. At his current price, he provides some nice salary relief to afford some more expensive options elsewhere.

• Jordan Howard, CHI (vs GB) [TOURNAMENT]Howard has been getting an extreme workload ever since Trubisky took over the starting Quarterback job. He should be fully healthy coming off of the bye week. The Green Bay team is still reeling from the loss of Aaron Rodgers, over the last 4 games they are allowing 111 yards and .8 TDs per game to running backs. The Bears are actually favored in a game, by 5.5 whole points, so expect them to play keep away by handing it to Howard early and often.

• Devonta Freeman, ATL (vs DAL) [CONTRARIAN]He's had 4 straight disappointing weeks, to add to an overall disappointing season. This could be the week he turns it around though, he's got much better splits while at home, and has performed well in high scoring games over the past year. Vegas has this game as the highest scoring of the slate, with Atlanta favored by 3 points, so the running game is certainly in play here. Freeman still has 30 fantasy point upside, at a discounted price, in a week he'll likely be lower owned, all signs point to putting him into a lineup. Important note: As of now, he's got an undisclosed injury that is worth keeping an eye on.

Other RBs to consider: 

• Leonard Fournette, JAX (vs LAC): Playing running backs versus the Chargers is a no brainer, and he's had 2 weeks off to get recharged.

• Tarik Cohen, CHI (vs GB): His price has dipped, and the Bears have had an extra week to work with him and Trubisky, he should be a little more involved again.

• Orleans Darkwa, NYG (@SF): The 49ers are allowing 31 FPPG to running backs, the most on the slate. Giants are giving this kid plenty of carries.

TE:

• Cameron Brate, TB (v.NYJ) [CASH]Yeah, he flopped last week, but it’s a new week. No Mike Evans frees up a ton of targets, and Fitzpatrick is a gunslinger who will take chances that you love to see if you’re an owner of one of his targets. Like last week, Brate’s red zone targets are still down, but that’s the case for everyone in this offense. If they can find their way into the red zone this week, Brate should be first in line to get a look. The Jets are no stranger to allowing touchdowns to tight ends, they’ve allowed 4 of them in the last 4 weeks. This is a good team for Brate to get back into the end zone against.

• Rob Gronkowski, NE (@DEN) - Big price as always, but Denver has been getting beat by Tight Ends. Coming off of a bye, Gronk should be extra healthy.

• Jason Witten, DAL (@ATL) - If Zeke doesn’t play, I actually like Witten this week. His floor has been scary low, but if they’re throwing more, he has to start producing. Right?

DEFENSE:

• Detroit Lions (v.CLE) [CASH]Ownership will be high, and this is a dangerous team to fade. The upside against this turnover machine of an offense is undeniable. Cleveland turns the ball over more than any other team, and only Buffalo forces more turnovers than Detroit. Also at home, this matchup is what dreams are made of. Cleveland has an implied score of under 16 points, so they probably won’t be scoring much either. This can very well be a tournament play as well.

• Los Angeles Rams (v.HOU) [TOURNAMENT]The Rams defense is hot right now, and the Texans don’t look like a competent offense without Watson. The Jags D put up 28 week 1 with 10 sacks, mostly because of the play of Savage, and the Texans offense scored only 8 on the Colts last week, arguably the worst defense in the league. The Rams are top 5 in takeaways and top 6 in sacks, this could get ugly. This defense is good for both cash games and tournaments.

• Tennessee Titans (v.CIN) [CONTRARIAN]A defense at home against an inept offense, this has a decent shot at being a tournament-winning play this week. Tennessee is top ten in forcing turnovers, while only two teams turn the ball over more than Cincinnati. This isn’t as obvious of a pick as Detroit, but if winning a tournament is your goal, this isn’t a bad play.

Other DEF to consider:

• Pittsburgh Steelers, (@IND) - No offense has scored more than 20 points against this team in regulation, and defenses score more against the Colts than anyone else. The Colts don’t turn the ball over much, and the Steelers don’t force a lot of turnovers, however.

• Chicago Bears, (v.GB) - Love the Bears defense, and they get a matchup at home against a quarterback that hasn’t quite figured out the NFL yet.

INJURIES TO WATCH:

• Jameis Winston, TB - shoulder, not expected to play

• Devonta Freeman, ATL - undisclosed, doesn’t sound bad

• Demarco Murray, TEN - knee, limited in practice, likely to play

• Jeremy Hill, CIN - ankle, not practicing Wednesday, unlikely to play

• Eddie Lacy, SEA - groin, didn’t practice Tuesday, questionable to play

• Julio Jones, ATL - lower leg, not practicing Wednesday, likely to play

• Dez Bryant, DAL - ankle/knee, not practicing Wednesday, questionable to play

• Jamison Crowder, WAS - hamstring, limited, questionable to play

• Paul Richardson, SEA - groin, missed practice, questionable to play

• Terrance Williams, DAL - ankle, limited in practice, likely to play

• Kenny Golladay, DET - hamstring, good chance to play

• Chris Hogan, NE - shoulder, doubtful

• Jordan Reed, WAS - hamstring, limited, likely to play

• Vernon Davis, WAS - hands, limited, likely to play

• Charles Clay, BUF - knee, limited, likely to play

• George Kittle, SF - leg, ruled out

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