Week 9 DFS Cheapskate Plays is here to spotlight a few budget-friendly players who can help you stretch your salary cap without sinking your lineup.
We’re not chasing the “studs”. If I don’t mention the slate’s most expensive QB, it’s not because I think he’s a bad play; it’s because you don’t need me to tell you they will score the most points. The real purpose here is to dig for value, the affordable (cheap) options that make it possible to fit those high-priced studs into your build.
Of course, these picks come with more risk, and they don’t have the same floor as the proven stars. But when they hit, the payoff is huge. DFS is ultimately a game of points per dollar: a $4K player scoring 20 points (5x value) actually outperforms an $8K player scoring 24 points (only 3x). That’s why we hunt for these gems. They give you a better return on investment, even if they whiff more often.
Player prices are referenced from DraftKings, but the concept applies across all major DFS platforms.
Week 9 Cheapskate Quarterback
JJ McCarthy $4,900, MIN at Lions
Here’s why J.J. McCarthy could be a solid DFS value in Week 9 for the Minnesota Vikings:
McCarthy is officially on track to reclaim the starting job after recovering from a high-ankle sprain, and head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed he “will be the starter” and that there’s “nothing left for J.J. to do to prove his health.” That return provides immediate upside in the DFS space, especially when stacked with one of the league’s premier receivers.
Enter Justin Jefferson, who remains the focal point of the Vikings’ passing attack. His thoughts on McCarthy made it abundantly clear: “He’s still our guy … the quarterback that we lean on.” That trust from Jefferson bolsters McCarthy’s value, and with a high-ceiling receiver like Jefferson in a stack, the ceiling expands.
McCarthy showed moxie in the last game he finished, with O’Connell stating, “There’s no way to deny, we don’t win this game unless J.J. plays the way he did in the second half.” McCarthy returns to a spot where the Vikings will likely need to lean on their pass catchers to move the chains and score. This is the “Goff in a dome” effect, so I expect the over to hit.
Week 9 Cheapskate Running Backs
Tyrone Tracy Jr. $5,100, NYG vs 49ers
With Cam Skattebo sidelined after suffering a severe ankle dislocation, the Giants’ backfield opens up for Tyrone Tracy Jr. to absorb a larger share of touches. Tracy’s rookie season showed he can handle “bell-cow” type usage. In 2024, he played all 17 games (with 12 starts), piled up 839 rushing yards on 192 carries (4.3 yards per attempt), and added 38 receptions for 284 yards and a touchdown. That kind of production as the lead back speaks to a legitimate floor, especially when thrown into a favorable opportunity.
For DFS players, the combination of projected increased workload plus prior success sets up a nice upside. The key caveats: the Giants’ offense has struggled, and Tracy himself has dealt with usage fluctuations, but the Week 9 setup is unusually favorable. If the Giants lean on the ground game more, Tracy could deliver value both as a floor play and upside tournament piece.
In short: bump in volume due to Skattebo’s absence + proven lead-back ability = intriguing DFS target in Week 9.
Kareem Hunt $4,700, KC at Bills
Here’s why Kareem Hunt could be a compelling DFS play in Week 9:
First, the opportunity is clear. With Isiah Pacheco sidelined by a sprained MCL and officially listed as week-to-week, Hunt is set to assume the lead-back role and absorb much of the workload. The spotlight and volume are his to claim.
Second, despite his age (he’s in his 30s) and being seen by some as a complementary piece, Hunt has already shown that when thrust into an RB1 role, he can produce. In the 2024 season, he tallied 200 carries for 728 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. That kind of usage and output provides a viable floor in tournament lineups, especially in a favorable match-up/volume scenario.
Third, Hunt himself stated, “I feel the best I’ve felt the last three or four years… body is feeling good.” That kind of veteran confidence carries weight. And from a DFS standpoint, a reliable veteran with upside in a predictable role offers value.
Week 9 Cheapskate Wide Receivers
http://gty.im/2239672441
Jauan Jennings $4,300, SF at Giants
Jauan Jennings deserves your attention in Week 9. He’s finally back healthy after battling a calf issue, broken ribs, etc. Maybe “healthy” is an overstatement, but teammate Ricky Pearsall still hasn’t returned to practice, leaving Jennings positioned to operate as a featured option behind the core stars in this 49ers offense. We all remember his Week 3 explosion when in a similar situation last season, right? The one where he finished as WR1 with 11 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns? It vaulted many a team to the top of leaderboards.
Now he draws a Giants defense that has quietly been one of the most generous units against the pass in 2025. New York has surrendered the 8th-most passing yards (2,006) and 13 passing touchdowns through eight weeks. With only four interceptions on the board, the defensive coaching staff isn’t exactly scaring anyone out of attacking the secondary. Against a Kyle Shanahan scheme that manufactures open grass and racks up yards after the catch, that’s the kind of environment where a healthy Jennings can punish soft spots, especially if coverage tilts toward Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle.
Jameson Williams $4,800, DET vs Vikings
And now we arrive at the most exhilarating, heart-attack-inducing button you can press in DFS this week: Jameson Williams. Williams is the fully-grown volatility dragon, sometimes sleeping, sometimes torching entire slates with one 70-yard “whoops, sorry defense” moment. We know the story: you don’t play Jameson because you want comfort. You play him because you’re chasing the kind of upside that turns min-cash peasants into tournament kings.
And this is the kind of week where you lean in.
The Lions are indoors, and when Jared Goff is in a dome, the numbers spike. It’s science. Controlled environment + Goff confidence = deep-ball attempts. And when Detroit decides to uncork just a few, there’s only one Lion whose speed makes the defense panic before the ball is even snapped. Jameson is that dude.
Yes, he might give you 4 points and a stomachache. That’s part of the package. We do not roster Jameson for the floor; we roster him for the ejection-seat ceiling. Because when he hits, he doesn’t just score… he detonates leaderboards. He gives you the kind of splash play that sucks oxygen out of the room for every chalk-hugging manager who played it safe.
Troy Franklin $4,900, DEN at Texans
A post-hype sleeper is the player the world already loved once… then got bored with. The hype machine roared on draft night, fantasy Twitter got sweaty, training-camp beat reporters dropped glowing nuggets…and then? Crickets. Maybe the rookie year was quiet, maybe opportunity lagged, maybe everyone moved on to the next shiny prospect. But the talent never left, just the spotlight did.
Enter Troy Franklin.
Troy Franklin is absolutely in play for Week 9. Franklin was the dynamic college teammate of Bo Nix at Oregon, and that chemistry is surfacing in the pros. After a quiet rookie campaign, the second-year receiver has posted back-to-back credible performances (including six catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns in Week 8). He’s been quietly climbing toward relevance and now presents serious upside in DFS tournaments.
Week 9 Cheapskate Tight End
http://gty.im/2236493760
Juwan Johnson $3,200, NO at Rams
The under-the-radar, misunderstood gem of Week 9: Juwan Johnson. He may not be the flashy name lighting up Instagram reels, but that’s exactly the leverage you want. Productive, dependable, and currently underpriced in DFS terms.
Here’s the storyline: Tyler Shough has taken over at quarterback, giving the Saints a fresh look. With Shough under center, the offense needs security blankets, rhythm-builders, and dependable targets. That’s where Juwan steps in, he’s the safe landing zone and the red-zone weapon in one tidy package. He may not have the “wow” of a deep-threat Heisman-era receiver, but in DFS you don’t always win with the wow, you win with the “hey, I hit value and volume just right.”
Johnson’s recent usage shows it: consistent targets inside the 20, favorable matchups, and a QB change that tends to drive more conservative, high-percentage throws. And yes, he’s not sexy. He doesn’t come with skip-intro graphics or viral catches every week. But remember: sexy = overpriced, so if you’re building your Week 9 DFS lineup and you want a piece that could quietly outperform his cost, Juwan Johnson is your sleeper lever.
Week 9 Cheapskate Defense
Atlanta Falcons $3,200, NO at Rams
Time to get weird, bold, and beautifully contrarian. The Atlanta Falcons DST might be the galaxy-brain hammer in Week 9.
Most DFS players are going to see Drake Maye on the schedule and immediately flinch. “Can’t attack the shiny young QB with legs and hype,” they’ll say. Good. Let them spook themselves. Let them play scared.
Because here’s the truth that the field is sleeping on: this Falcons defense didn’t just get “better.” They leveled up like someone mashed the cheat code in training camp. Fast, aggressive, suffocating, and they’re absolutely not priced like a top defense yet.
And yes, Maye can be electric. He can uncork moon-balls and make grown men whiff in space. But you know what else young quarterbacks do when they meet a disciplined, ascending defense? They force throws, hold the ball a beat too long, and try to be the hero. We love heroes! When they’re on the other roster.
While the field avoids the matchup on brand perception alone, we know the sauce: This isn’t about comfort. This is about catching the slate sleeping. Welcome to leverage heaven.
For help filling out the rest of your lineup, check out the FSAN Rankings Page.
Check out Dan Mader and Chase Thornton‘s Week 8 Sit & Start & DFS Cocktail Hour video on the FSAN YouTube Channel on this week’s Operation Domination.