DraftKings Showdown Week 9: Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49ers
The Week 9 of NFL DFS action on DraftKings kicks off with the Packers at the 49ers on a Thursday night showdown slate which has as much uncertainty as a coronavirus test result. Green Bay probably has the emptiest running back room this week and the 49ers have a revolving door with injured player after injured player coming and going at every skill position. I can’t remember a Thursday night game where the inactives are going to be so keenly monitored.
I’m going to cover creating a cash game lineup and my favourite plays that you can use in your GPP lineups. Read our Week 1 article to learn more about the different strategies for these two contests.
These are my personal opinions on the games and strategies at the time of writing this. I may employ different players and strategies than above if later or further information makes me reevaluate my opinions.
Week 9 Cash Game Options
The Cash Game Cheat Code worked last week (just!) if you picked the right kicker. For this week it’s all about who is going to be the featured running back for each team. In Green Bay, Jamal Williams, who started last weekend, has been placed on the Covid reserve list with fellow back AJ Dillon. This leaves you with three backs you can play, Aaron Jones (questionable), Tyler Ervin (questionable), and Dexter Williams (fit apparently!) Hopefully, Jones will be fit enough to start and if so, I’d expect to get all of the work.
For San Fran, Jerrick McKinnon is the highest priced back despite only logging 50% of the snaps and Jamycal Hasty getting more carries. I’d love to say it’s a running-back-by-committee approach but I’m not even sure who’s on the committee. Tevin Coleman came off IR but then injured the same knee and hasn’t practiced since. Even when we know who’s fit and healthy, Shanahan can surprise us with his RB usage so I’m tempted to not play a 49er RB in cash. However, they are a very good running team so feel I have to gamble on one.
As I write this, I’m playing Aaron Jones and Jamycal Hasty as my two RBs and that allows you to play both QBs and Kickers. Obviously, I’ll keep monitoring the news from practices hoping we get a clearer picture.
Week 9 GPP Options
Play Davante Adams. End of. That’s some of my best analysis there! I will probably play Adams in 100% of my GPP lineups this week. If Aaron Jones doesn’t play, Adams will probably make my cash lineup too. Here are other players I will have greater exposure to.
Robert Tonyan, GB - $6.4k (Captain - $9.6k)
I feel he’s the only other pass catcher that Rodgers likes! We know how much he loves to feed Adams the ball and everyone else is a bit, well, meh. However, there are signs that he actually likes Tonyan a bit. The only knock is that Jace Sternberger also competes for those TE touches. I will have a little exposure to Sternberger but more to Tonyan.
Jordan Reed, SF - $5.8k (Captain - $8.7k)
With George Kittle’s injury comes an opportunity for other tight ends on the San Fran roster. Reed is currently on IR but he has been practising so there’s a possibility he will be activated for Thursday night. Before going down, Reed filled in for an injured Kittle in week 2 and scored 24 fpts. If Reed can’t go, use Ross Dwelley instead.
Brandon Aiyuk, SF - $8.6k (Captain - $12.9k)
Unsurprisingly there are injury concerns amongst the 49er wideouts and Aiyuk has taken full advantage of that the past two weeks. Having watched him on Sunday, he just looks good and seems a threat every time he’s involved. He will be popular on this slate but if you are playing multiple lineups, use him in the Captain slot in some of them (paired with Mullens).
Trent Taylor, SF - $400 (Captain - $600)
Regular readers will know I love playing punt returners in showdown paired with their defense. Last weekend, Taylor, the regular returner, was also targeted 4 times from his slot position and was on the field for 50% of the offensive snaps. At $400, this feels like a win-win and when combined with the 49er defense, allows you to pay up for Davante Adams.
