Welcome to the bar! The Week 9 DFS Cocktail Hour is here to satisfy your thirst for DFS football strategies. We’ll be looking at useful ingredients that you can use as part of your weekly DFS plays. Additionally, we’ll mix up my cocktail from this week’s Operation: Domination program.
A reminder that we’re looking at cash games on the DraftKings Classic mode, using the Sunday through Monday games. Of course, you’re welcome to pour one out in a GPP tournament using this advice as well. All player scores mentioned use DraftKings scoring as displayed by FantasyData.com.
Week 9 DFS Cocktail Hour: Base Spirits
We’re going with a bit of a different strategy than usual for the Week 9 DFS Cocktail. I normally try to recommend a quarterback and either a wide receiver or a tight end from the same team. Further, I usually focus on one of the highest expected point total games of the week, especially if the point spread is close. This time, we’ll look at playing a quarterback without necessarily using one of his targets. And while the point total for his game isn’t bad (48.5), it’s only the sixth- or seventh-highest on the slate.
Jaxson Dart ($5,200) may not have started the season as the Giants’ field general, but he’s sure put that behind him. After seeing sparse action through the season’s first three games, Dart ascended to the starting role in Week 4. He hasn’t looked back. Dart hasn’t finished lower than QB15 in DraftKings scoring in the five weeks he’s started. And he has a pair of top-five finishes during that stretch. His 22.18 points per game over those five starts would rank him QB4. He’s thrown eight touchdowns against just three interceptions. Better still, he’s run for four scores, including one in three straight games.
This week, Dart faces a 49er defense that hasn’t given up a ton of fantasy points to the position. But they have allowed the seventh most passing yards in the league. And they’re 12th in completions allowed. Of the 13 passing touchdowns they’ve surrendered, eight have come in their past four games. Dart is only 20th in DraftKings salary this week, despite an ECR of QB10. I love the potential value here. Take the Dart throw. In the Week 9 DFS Cocktail.
A second spirit
Since we’re not using a Giants’ pass-catcher this week, let’s put a charge in the Week 9 DFS Cocktail with a second base spirit. Books favor the Los Angeles Chargers by 9.5 points against the Tennessee Titans. The hapless Titans figure to trail early in this one. That means the Chargers figure to run the ball for the majority of the game. Kimani Vidal ($6,300) is a rather affordable top option this week at running back. In three games as the Chargers’ starter (in the wake of an Omarion Hampton injury), Vidal has a pair of top-eight finishes sandwiched around a tough matchup with the Colts. The Titans do not have the formidable run defense that Indianapolis has. Tennessee has given up the most rushing touchdowns of any team. That’s led to them surrendering the second-most points to the running back position.
Other than Vidal, no other Chargers’ running back has carried the ball more than 11 times total over the last three games. And only Hassan Haskins has seen a target. Vidal plays all three downs. And he plays them effectively for fantasy purposes. The Chargers have made him a top ten running back option in the Red Zone as well. Expect him to lead the charge against Tennessee in this one.
Souring Agent
We aren’t ignoring the wide receiver position. You need at least three of them in DraftKings Classic games, so let’s get you at least one. You’ll have to pay for the privilege, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($8,100) needs to be on your roster. He’s fourth in salary for the week, but he’s also the consensus WR3. On the season, he’s WR2 both overall and in points per game. Sam Darnold targets him early and often. Smith-Njigba leads the league with a target share of 35.7%. He’s seen the third-most targets among wide receivers. JSN leads all wideouts in receiving yards and has four touchdowns this season, including a score in three straight games. The Commanders give up the ninth most points to wide receivers in fantasy. We’ve gone long enough without Smith-Njigba in our DFS lineups. Remedy that this week.
Sweetener
I’ve liked Jaxon Smith-Njigba all along, but I LOVE Trey McBride ($6,000). I drafted McBride all over the place in Dynasty a few years ago. I like taking him early in redraft formats because of the certainty he provides at a frustrating position. Thus, he’s on a lot of my redraft teams. All that’s left is to get him into a DFS lineup, so that’s what we’re doing in the Week 9 DFS Cocktail. McBride is the most expensive tight end option, but he’s also the top-ranked. He leads all tight ends (and all Cardinal players) in targets and ranks among the top four in several other statistics. He’s already set a career high in receiving touchdowns, and the season’s not half over.
And, oh, yeah, did we mention McBride plays the Cowboys this week? Surely, you didn’t think we’d forget about them, did you? Dallas only gives up the 19th-most points to tight ends. But they have given up the most passing yards and most passing touchdowns on the season. They’ve allowed more passing first downs than all but five other teams. McBride is a tight end, but functionally, he operates as a power slot receiver a good portion of the time. The Monday Night contest has the week’s highest point total, and Dallas is favored by less than a field goal. The Cardinals are going to have to pass to keep up. Who better than Kyler Murray‘s favorite target to do so?
Garnishes
As always, how you dress up the rest of your Week 9 DFS Cocktail is up to you. Paying for JSN and our TE means we’ll have to spend wisely to give ourselves some scoring floor. If you’re looking for some affordable options, check out GOYAADI’s DFS Cheapskate plays.
Week 9 DFS Cocktail: The Injury Scare
It’s Halloween week! In keeping with the season (and one of the unfortunate themes of the fantasy season), we’re mixing up a bloody-looking cocktail we’re calling the Injury Scare. Whether you’re getting your vampire on this weekend or need a cure for the injury bug bites, this week’s cocktail is sure to do the trick (or treat)!
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Black Tea-flavored Vodka
- 1 oz. Dr. McGillicuddy Cherry
- 2 oz. Cherry-flavored Bourbon
- 1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
- 2 oz. Tonic Water
- Ice
- Sugar (to rim glass)
- Maraschino Cherries (garnish)
Directions:
Combine vodka, Dr. McGillicuddy, bourbon, and lemon juice in a mixing glass full of ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a sugar-rimmed martini glass and top with tonic water. Garnish with skewered maraschino cherries. Slàinte mhath!
A few notes:
- A martini glass or even a goblet is the perfect drinking vessel for this Spooky Season cocktail.
- Rim your glass with black, silver, or purple sugar (use a lemon) to further spookify things.
- Tonic water can be adjusted to taste.
- Skewer the cherries! Looks like Halloween, and you don’t have to go fishing for your fruit.