Week 9 fantasy deep sleepers and DFS bargains: Five discounted options with upside
It’s time for a weekend edition of Deep Sleepers and DFS Bargains. Last week three of my deep dives – WR Anthony Miller, WR Seth Roberts, and TE Chris Herndon – found the end zone. Let’s keep that good mojo rolling into Week 9.
To review… all of these players are owned in less than sixty percent of Yahoo leagues (at time of writing) and/or are a significant value in our daily game. They’re not the obvious picks, and they’re not without their risks, but that’s why they’re so cheap and available! I’d never advocate taking all of these guys, but rather utilizing them if a manager were in a pinch at a position or aiming to build a “stars and scrubs” sort of DFS lineup.
Elijah McGuire, RB, New York Jets ($10)
Activated from IR and expected to make his 2018 debut this Sunday, McGuire has a sizeable opportunity with Bilal Powell done for the year. Prior to suffering a neck injury in Week 7, Powell had touched the ball an average of 13 times per contest. In his stead, Trenton Cannon saw an elevated role in the passing game, but averaged under 48 total yards in back-to-back outings. Returning to practice nearly two weeks ago, McGuire had been talked up by the coaching staff over the summer and is the team’s preferred RB2 behind Isaiah Crowell.
Less of pure rusher and more of a receiving back known for having sticky hands and the ability to werk out of the slot, McGuire could do some serious damage in Week 9 at Miami. The Dolphins’ run defense is giving up the third most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Additionally, the Phins have allowed 47 catches on 65 targets (72.3%) and 3 receiving scores to the running back position. With six teams on bye, and available in ninety percent of leagues, McGuire offers sexy-flexy appeal… particularly in PPR friendly formats.
Devontae Booker, RB, Denver Broncos ($14)
With Royce Freeman (ankle) out in Week 8, Booker saw his snaps jump from 10 to 44 percent. Carrying the ball a season-high nine times and converting all four of his looks, the third-year player managed 101 total yards and a top-twenty-three fantasy finish last Sunday. Heading into Week 9, Freeman remains a game time decision, which could, once again, open things up for Booker.
Matching up against the Texans’ top-eight ranked run defense won’t be easy. It is worth noting, however, that Houston has allowed the tenth most receptions (21 catches out of 26 targets) to RBs over the past four weeks as well as back-to-back receiving scores to the position. He’ll be a top-forty play if Freeman sits.
Kapri Bibbs, RB, Washington Redskins ($12)
Here’s what’s not surprising: Chris Thompson (ribs) and Jamison Crowder (ankle) are banged up and out for Week 9. Here’s what is surprising: Bibbs could catch between six and eight balls, making him a top-thirty-five play this Sunday.
Elevated to the team’s No. 2 RB in Weeks 6 and 7 – when Thompson was previously sidelined – Bibbs saw his snaps increase by nearly 25 percent. While he only managed 2 rushing attempts in each of those outings, he was featured in the passing game, drawing seven total targets. Rather impressively, Bibbs found the end zone in Week 7 vs. Dallas, which was the only receiving score the Cowboys’ top-ranked run defense has allowed to an opposing RB.
This go-around, he’ll travel to Atlanta to face a Falcons unit that has been torched by backs via the air, allowing the most receptions (62) and the third-most yards (476) to the position. Rostered in just 2 percent of leagues, Bibbs may be the best and most available dart throw on the board.
Jakeem Grant, WR, Miami Dolphins ($15)
With Kenny Stills questionable to play on Sunday, fantasy owners seem to be chasing DeVante Parker’s 134 yards effort from last week. But I’m not interested. Instead, I’d prefer to capitalize on Grant’s rise, which has coincided with Albert Wilson’s hip injury and subsequent placement on IR.
After Wilson was knocked out of Week 7’s contest vs. Detroit, Grant received an immediate uptick in snaps (up to 70% from 40%). In Week 8, he was on the field for ninety-five percent of the team’s snaps while additionally drawing a season-high eight targets and the team’s lone red zone look. In Week 9, the Texas Tech product will face a banged-up Jets secondary that’s allowed the fourth most fantasy points and the most TDs (7) to opposing wideouts.
Hayden Hurst, TE, Baltimore Ravens ($12)
No, that wasn’t Tormund Giantsbane running into the end zone in Week 8, it was Hurst. In his fourth week of pro-action, the South Carolina product received his largest snap share (41.9%) and ran his highest number of routes (14). One of just three players to draw red zone looks last week, Hurst was talked up by HC John Harbaugh – who said he was going to prioritize getting the rookie involved – heading into the Week 9.
The glut of TEs on Baltimore’s roster doesn’t help Hurst’s stock, but the team did invested a first-round pick in him and the coaching staff certainly appears motivated to make him a featured piece of the offense. Back to health and with his involvement increasing each week, Hurst is an ascending player at an ultra-shallow position. Rostered in just eight percent of Yahoo leagues, he’ll face a Steelers’ defense that’s been fantastically generous over the middle, giving up the fourth most fantasy to the position.
Dig Deep with Liz on Twitter @LizLoza_FF.
