Tastefully Curated Every Wednesday by LineStar Fantasy Experts.

Week 9 Top Plays - Back to Basics

QB:

• Deshaun Watson, HOU (vs IND) [CASH]He's been having a monster season since taking the starting job in week 2, there's no looking back now. The matchup for week 9 is almost too good to be true, facing off versus the Colts who are allowing 1.5 TDs and 302.4 yards per game on the season. Watson of course can get it done in the running game as well where he's averaging 42 yards rushing, and 2 TDs rushing in his 6 starts. It's certainly setup as a trap, but his floor just seems beyond safe in this matchup, it'll be hard to find a safer Quarterback play this week.

• Dak Prescott, DAL (vs KC) [TOURNAMENT]This game currently has the highest over/under of the slate at 51 points. The Cowboys are expected to be without Ezekiel Elliott, so Dak is going to need to get the job done through the air for this one. Throughout his short career most of his big games have come while at home in the friendly dome. He gets to face the Kansas City defense which has allowed 1.8 TDs and 272 passing yards per game on the season. Slated to be a high scoring, and close battle between two teams with good offenses, this could end up a shootout on the fast turf of AT&T Stadium.

• Alex Smith, KC (@DAL) [CONTRARIAN]This isn't super contrarian, but most people will have Dak on the other side of this game, keeping Alex Smith fairly low owned. As explained above, Vegas has this as a close game, and highest scoring of the slate. The KC defense has done a good job turning the ball over this season, however Dak and the Cowboys don't turn it over much. Which mean Alex Smith is going to be forced to throw the ball to keep up in this contest. The Cowboys are allowing 1.7 TDs and 250 yards per game to opposing Quarterbacks on the season, so it's a positive matchup on either side of the ball for this game.

Other QBs to consider: 

• Drew Brees, NO (va TB) - Tampa Bay has one of the worst pass defenses in the league this season. Brees has yet to break out, this could be the one.

• Drew Stanton, ARI (@SF) - SF allowing 1.8 TDs and 263 yards passing on the season. Stanton is a career backup, with good WR's, he could surprise.

• Jared Goff, LAR (@NYG) - The Giants pass defense has gone soft, currently allowing 2 TDs and 269 yards passing per game.

RB:

• Mark Ingram, NO (vs TB) [CASH]New Orleans since losing Adrian Peterson, seem much more confident in what they're doing with their running game. Mark Ingram has seen an influx of usage, and has not disappointed yet. He's facing the Tampa Bay rush defense who are allowing 0.9 TDs and 88 yards per game to running backs. This is not the best matchup he's had, but he has seen 6 red zone targets over the last 3 games, has played better at home, and this is the 2nd highest scoring game on the slate. Mark Ingram should be a safe play to hit his projections this week.

• Orleans Darkwa, NYG (va LAR) [TOURNAMENT]The Rams are allowing 1 TD and 108 yards rushing per game to opposing running backs on the season. The Giants don't know what they're doing anymore, they gave Darkwa the rock 21 times week 6, then only 9 times in week 7. If they want to stay in this game, they're going to need to go back to week 6 and give him 20 carries. He's looked like the best running back for the Giants, so hopefully the coaches will agree this week. He's a near bottom price running back this week, which will allow you to spend up in other spots.

• Darren McFadden, DAL (vs KC) [CONTRARIAN]The Cowboys have said that Alfred Morris is going to start, so being contrarians means to zig when others zag. We haven't really seen what Dallas is planning on doing without Zeke in the backfield. We even saw earlier in the season when it was initially thought Zeke was going to be inactivate, that McFadden was the expected starter. So what's going on with Dallas, are they playing games, or is Morris the actual starter? Only time will tell, and McFadden could be an interesting contrarian play this week in the highest scoring game of the week.

Other RBs to consider: 

• Doug Martin, TAB (@NO) - Excellent matchup versus the Saints in the Superdome. Has had a series of pretty tough matchups, finally has a positive matchup.

• Adrian Peterson, ARI (@SF) - Stanton throwing, means a gameplay that relies on the running game to keep things balanced. Should see 20+ touches.

• Jonathan Stewart, CAR (vs ATL) - CAR gave Stewart some rare goaline carries last week, perhaps they're tryin' to keep Cam healthy and let someone else run finally.

TE:

• Cameron Brate, TB (@NO) [CASH]The over/under in this game is 50, and the Bucs are 7 point underdogs. Vegas expects this game to be high scoring, and for the Bucs to be trailing AKA throwing. Brate hasn’t scored a touchdown in the past two weeks, and has only had 1 red zone target, but no Buc has more red zone targets, so it’s probably not the result of a change in game plan. Brate has been super consistent with 60+ yards, 4+ catches and 5+ targets in 5 straight games. Steal on DraftKings.

• Zach Ertz, PHI (v.DEN) [TOURNAMENT]The Broncos defense is still really good, but if there’s a way to beat them, apparently it’s with your tight end. Ertz has been the best tight end this year, and the Eagles offense doesn’t struggle to move the ball, so they will have plenty of opportunity to take advantage of that. Plus, Ertz really hasn’t had a breakout game yet this year. Surely one must be coming soon.

Other TEs to consider:

• Vernon Davis, WSH (@SEA) - 5 catches for 58 yards and a touchdown when Reed didn’t play against Oakland. Seattle has allowed good outings from tight ends twice in the past three weeks and over 400 yards passing in the other week.

• Jack Doyle, IND (@HOU) - Likely over-owned on DraftKings where he’s cheap, but that usage is dreamy.

DEFENSE:

• Jacksonville Jaguars (v.CIN) [CASH]The Jags just added Marcell Dareus to help out their run defense. It’s unclear how big of a factor he’ll be in his first week with the team, but I’m not sure it’ll matter too much. Teams haven’t been able to beat the Jags through the air, and Andy Dalton won’t change that. 3 teams have scored double digits against them, and all those teams were able to score because they could run the ball well. The Bengals are 3rd to last in rushing, so I like the Jags defense as a cash play.

• Philadelphia Eagles (v.DEN) [TOURNAMENT]A quarterback change has been made in Denver. That’s what you like to hear from a team going against your defense. Osweiler will be behind an offensive line allowing 3.6 sacks per game, going against a defense that doesn’t need to blitz to get to the quarterback. Osweiler was beat out by Deshone Kizer in Cleveland, who is tied for the league lead in interceptions despite not starting or not finishing several games. This defense has a whole lot of upside this week.

• New Orleans Saints (v.TB) [CONTRARIAN]The Saints defense failed to capitalize against GB without Rodgers and the Bears at home, but hopefully that’ll just keep others away. The Over/Under is at 50, so I still think the Bucs will put up some points, but I like the turnover potential. Jameis Winston has put the ball on the ground 8 times in his last 5 games that he played until at least halftime. Only two were lost, but some of those will start bouncing the defense’s way. Jameis also likes to force the issue, and against this aggressive Saints defense, that equates to a lot of upside for this likely under-owned defense.

Other DEF to consider:

• Arizona Cardinals, (@SF) - Garopolo won’t start this weekend, so another week of CJ Beathard who has been fantasy gold for opposing defenses. 

• Seattle Seahawks, (v.WSH) - Sometimes Cousins just has those days, and the Seahawks Defense has been rolling fantasy-wise.

INJURIES TO WATCH:

• Devonta Freeman, ATL - Questionable, shoulder, will play

• Terrance West, BAL - Questionable, calf, unlikely to play

• Brandon LaFell, CIN - Questionable, hamstring, likely to play

• Duke Johnson, CLE - Questionable, head, will play

• Dez Bryant, DAL - Questionable, knee, will play

• Emmanuel Sanders, DEN - Questionable, ankle, practiced Wednesday

• Kenny Golladay, DET - Questionable, hamstring, week to week

• Chris Hogan, NE - Doubtful, shoulder

• Sterling Shepard, NYG - Questionable, ankle, likely to play

• Pierre Garcon, SF - Questionable, neck, likely to play

• Adam Humphries, TB - Questionable, ribs, didn’t practice

• Delanie Walker, TEN - Questionable, ankle, didn’t practice

• Corey Davis, TEN - Questionable, hamstring, likely to play limited snaps

• Jordan Reed, WSH - Questionable, hamstring, not expected to play

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