This article is part of our FantasyAces Football series.
Daily fantasy football is back in full swing, and FantasyAces is ready to continue the momentum from a huge first half. Not sure how to play at Fantasy Aces? We're here to help. Each week, RotoWire will offer advice on which cheap value players to target to give you that extra edge. These players are considered tournament plays unless otherwise noted, as all are listed as salary cap saving value plays.
QUARTERBACK
Tyrod Taylor, $5,850 vs. MIA
Taylor returns from injury after the Bills' bye week to face the Dolphins. Taylor's price is very low on FantasyAces, which makes him a value play for Week 9. Only four quarterbacks are averaging more fantasy points per game: Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. Next is Taylor, who is also priced as QB17. Taylor has had no less than 17.2 fantasy points in a game this season, and he faces a Dolphins team that allowed him to throw for 277 yards and three touchdowns in the first meeting.
Jameis Winston, $5,700 vs. NYG
Winston continues to be cheap on Aces, and he continues to be a value play. He's priced as QB19, but only 14 quarterbacks have averaged more fantasy points per game. Winston has scored at least one touchdown in every game this season, and he has had at least 15 fantasy points in each contest as well. He faces a Giants team that allowed Drew Brees to throw for 511 yards and seven touchdowns in Week 8.
RUNNING BACK
LeGarrette Blount, $4,200 vs. WAS
Blount won't get any cheaper than $4,200, which is exactly his price this week. Players like Darren Sproles, Charles Sims, Rashad Jennings, Melvin Gordon and C.J. Spiller cost more than Blount, which makes him a very solid value play. The story with Blount is his workload. He has an inconsistent amount of carries each week, which makes him a tournament-only play, but he has performed well in good matchups. He had 100 total yards and two touchdowns against the Colts, three touchdowns against the Jaguars, and he ran for over 70 yards in Week 8 against the Dolphins. Blount gets another good matchup against the Redskins in Week 9. The Redskins defense has given up almost 110 yards per game on the ground to opposing running backs this season.
San Francisco 49ers RB vs. ATL
There is speculation that the Niners will sign a running back, but as of right now they have Kendall Gaskins and Mike Davis. Whoever is announced as the starting back – or the back with the heaviest workload – has a good matchup against a Falcons defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. All of the Niners' backs are cheap, so if you need an inexpensive option when constructing your rosters and already have DeAngelo Williams and/or Jeremy Langford, the San Francisco running back is a good bet.
WIDE RECEIVER
Dez Bryant, $5,300 vs. PHI
It's not often that a $5,300 player is a value pick, but this week it could be because of the player himself. Bryant is one of the top playmakers in the NFL and he will line up against Byron Maxwell, who was torched by similar talent Julio Jones in Week 1. Bryant is recovering from injury but it's rare to get a player of his caliber at $5,300, hence the value tag. He struggled in Week 8, but that came against Richard Sherman, who is one of the top cover corners in the NFL. In a much better matchup, expect Bryant to be heavily targeted as the Cowboys' No. 1 receiver.
Stevie Johnson, $4,350 vs. CHI
With the unfortunate news that Keenan Allen (kidney) will miss the remainder of the season, Johnson becomes the top wide receiver in the Chargers' offense. He'll likely share Allen's targets with the tight ends, but at his price of $4,350 it makes for a solid value on FantasyAces. In week 9, the Chargers face the Bears, who have given up more than 30 fantasy points per game to opposing receivers. Johnson has 37 targets in six games – all games in which Allen also played. With those targets going up, so too will Johnson's production, making him a solid option in DFS.
TIGHT END
Heath Miller, $4,400 vs. OAK
Miller, like the rest of the Steelers' weapons, welcomed the return of Ben Roethlisberger to the offense. Miller caught 10 passes for 105 yards against the Bengals in Roethlisberger's first game back, and he should see a similar workload (13 targets) in Week 9 against the Raiders. Oakland has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, including eight touchdowns in seven games. Considering Miller's price, matchup and volume, he makes for an excellent value play at tight end.
DEFENSE
Atlanta Falcons, $2,700 vs. SF
The Atlanta defense will be heavily owned this week on FantasyAces, and for good reason. They face the 49ers, who just lost Reggie Bush to injury, Carlos Hyde is bothered by a stress fracture, Colin Kaepernick was just benched, and Vernon Davis was traded to the Broncos. Blaine Gabbert, who was traded by the Jaguars a year ago, will lead the 49ers' starting offense. In his career, Gabbert is completing 53 percent of his passes, and has thrown 23 touchdowns to 24 interceptions and lost eight fumbles.
Don't forget to keep an eye on the NFL inactive list. With the injury report changing all the time, a lot could happen before Sunday.
