This article is part of our DraftKings NFL series.
Even with six teams on bye this week, there shouldn't be any shortage of value available, as Week 8 was largely defined by injuries.
Before we get to specific player recommendations, let's take a look at some of the key injury situations that are still up in the air:
I've still got my eye on Bucs tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder), who should immediately have a key role in the injury-depleted Tampa Bay passing game whenever he's ready to return. If it happens this week against the soft Giants defense, ASJ will easily be the best choice among sub-$3,000 tight ends, costing just $2,800. He posted a 5-110-2 receiving line back in Week 1 and then suffered the shoulder injury in Week 2.
Antonio Gates (knee) will be a strong choice at $4,700 either way, but it does help his cause if Ladarius Green (ankle) can't play against the Bears. I'll also be watching for news related to Gates' injury, as he only had a part-time role in his Week 8 return. Given that no setbacks were reported, the future Hall of Famer should be ready to take on more snaps and targets.
Sammy Watkins (ankle) seems to be on track for a Sunday return against the Dolphins, and while I don't love him as a stand-alone option, there's plenty of appeal in a Watkins-Tyrod Taylor stack. With Watkins checking in at just $5,000, the duo will only account for $10,300 (20.6 percent) of the total budget. I often spend around 30 percent of the budget on my QB-WR stack.
Here are the top plays for Week 9 on DraftKings:
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger vs. OAK ($6,600) – Although he looked rusty in his Week 8 return, Roethlisberger seems to have made it out of the game without any setbacks, thus giving his knee another week to heal. In addition to improved health, he'll get a much better matchup in Week 9, facing the swiss-cheese Oakland secondary instead of the well-balanced Bengals defense. Even though the Steelers are favored to win, this could be a high-volume game for their quarterback, as the Raiders have actually been quite good at defending the run this season, led by OLB Khalil Mack, DE Justin Tuck and NT Dan Williams.
Derek Carr at PIT ($5,500) – Arguably the season's biggest surprise, Carr has taken a massive step forward from his rookie campaign, with his own improvement further accentuated by the equally sizable upgrade to his supporting cast. Carrying a 65.6 completion percentage and 15:3 TD:INT ratio, Carr is also Pro Football Focus' ninth-highest graded quarterback. He'll likely be underpriced for a few more weeks, and he should be plenty busy in a matchup with the Steelers. Given that both defenses in the game are strong against the run but vulnerable to the pass, we could be in for an air-it-out shootout. It also doesn't hurt that the game is loaded with high-end talent at wide receiver.
Other options:Eli Manning at TB ($6,900); Philip Rivers vs. CHI ($6,900); Tyrod Taylor vs. MIA ($5,300)
Running Back
Devonta Freeman at SF ($8000) – With Todd Gurley and Adrian Peterson facing off in a battle of slow-paced teams that have strong defenses, Freeman is the clear top option at running back for Week 9. He's an excellent bet to end his two-week touchdown drought and will likely find his way to the 100-yard bonus. As bad as Colin Kaepernick may be, I can't image Blaine Gabbert gives the 49ers a better chance to win. Even the up-and-down Falcons shouldn't have trouble with this one, so I'm expecting it to be more of a Freeman game than a Julio Jones one.
Jeremy Langford at SD ($4,000) – Langford took on a three-down role after Matt Forte (knee) was injured last week, and everything from the Chicago media suggests it will be more of the same on Monday Night Football. I watched some of the fourth-round rookie's college tape and wasn't impressed, but he did run the fastest 40-yard dash of any running back at the 2015 Combine, and it seems the Bears like him a whole lot more than I do. He's also supposed to be a good pass-catcher, despite his costly drop in Week 8. Given the price, expected workload and opponent, all Langford has to do is not be terrible.
Other options:Mark Ingram vs. TEN ($6,500); Chris Ivory vs. JAX ($5,900); Doug Martin vs. NYG ($5,700); Lamar Miller at BUF ($5,000); Darren McFadden vs. PHI ($4,300)
Wide Receiver
Odell Beckham at TB ($8,800) – The hoards will surely flock to Beckham after a huge Week 8, but even with the expectation of high ownership, he's the best choice among elite wide receivers. The Tampa Bay secondary isn't any better than the New Orleans group that Beckham torched last week, and the Giants still don't have much pass-catching depth behind their superstar wideout. What's more, Beckham and Co. may end up playing from behind, as Doug Martin and the improving Jameis Winston should put up some points on the woeful Giants defense. I suspect we'll eventually look at Beckham's semi-slump as nothing more than the product of a balky hamstring. He's in for a massive second half of the season.
Michael Crabtree at PIT ($4,900) – Crabtree has probably been in more of my lineups than any other wide receiver this season, as his price hasn't risen nearly enough to account for his prominent role in a surprisingly effective offense. He's even drawn nine more targets than Amari Cooper, who costs $1,800 more than his veteran teammate. That's not to say that the rookie isn't also a strong option, as there should be plenty of production to go around Sunday afternoon. Of course, Cooper's price is pretty fair, whereas Crabtree's should be about $1,000 higher.
Stevie Johnson vs. CHI ($3,200) – With Keenan Allen (kidney) done for the season and Ladarius Green (ankle) looking shaky, the prolific San Diego passing game will be left in the hands of Johnson, Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd. The other guys offer more big-play potential, but Johnson is the cheapest of the bunch and gets a big boost on PPR sites. He was even a decent option at this price before Allen's season-ending injury.
Other options:Antonio Brown vs. OAK ($8,100); Randall Cobb at CAR ($6,800); Mike Evans vs. NYG ($6,800); Alshon Jeffery at SD ($6,700); Amari Cooper at PIT ($6,700); Brandon LaFell vs. WAS ($3,200)
Tight End
Jordan Reed at NE ($4,500) – I always seem to come back to Reed when he's actually healthy, as the few tight ends that get a similar number of targets per game are all far more expensive. Even with DeSean Jackson (hamstring) likely returning, Reed has a good shot to see double-digit targets in a matchup that should force his team to chuck it around. I don't expect Kirk Cousins to have an efficient afternoon, but he'll still be busy enough to ensure that Reed provides a solid return on the too-low price tag.
Other options:Rob Gronkowski vs. WAS ($8,000); Antonio Gates vs. CHI ($4,700); Charles Clay vs. MIA ($4,200); Delanie Walker at NO ($4,200)
Team Defense/Special Teams
Philadelphia Eagles at DAL ($2,700) – The appeal here should be pretty obvious, with the excellent Eagles defense facing a Dallas offense that has unsurprisingly been a disaster without Tony Romo (collarbone). Matt Cassel has somehow been much worse than Brandon Weeden, so even if Darren McFadden finds some success on the ground, there should be a few turnovers for the taking.
Other options: New England Patriots vs. WAS ($3,300); New York Jets vs. JAX ($3,100); Denver Broncos at IND ($3,000); New Orleans Saints vs. TEN ($2,200)
