Monday Night Football doesn't feature two heavyweights this week, unfortunately, as the 0-8 Jets play host to the 2-5 Patriots. However, that doesn't mean we can't gamble on it and I know you got else better to do on Monday night than to watch two bad teams battle it out in an AFC East grudge match.
The Pats come into this one favored by 9.5 points on the road, which should tell you just how little Vegas (or anyone, really) thinks of this Jets team. In this article, I will be providing you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the Monday Night Football slate on November 9th (Week 9). These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
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DFS Quarterbacks
Cam Newton (17,000 FD, 13,200 DK, 19,800 DK captain)
Well, you know it's an ugly game and slate when I am recommending Cam Newton as on the top plays. I have been beating the drum this year about how Cam is washed up and he comes into this game in particularly bad form, throwing five picks and zero touchdowns over his last three games.
But the reality is that we are looking for some raw points somewhere and Cam has scored 19+ DK points in four of his six starts. He has six rushing TDs this season and his ability to stack up rushing yards and scores can make up for the inefficient passing and turnovers.
The Jets have the 31st-ranked passing defense and so if there was ever a matchup where Cam could get some confidence back and have some success, it's this one. I would play him in cash games for sure, but his salary on DK will likely prevent me from rostering him at captain.
The other QB is going to be Joe Flacco for the Jets as Sam Darnold is doubtful to play. Don't play Joe Flacco. Just don't do it. Sorry, that's not high-level statistical analysis but Flacco has been unremarkable as the starter and simply costs too much for a guy who averaged 10 DK points in his two starts earlier this season.
DFS Running Backs
Damien Harris (13,500 FD, 10,200 DK, 15,300 DK Captain)
Rex Burkhead (10,00 FD, 4,600 DK)
La'Mical Perine (9,500 FD, 5,800 DK)
Harris is coming off a 100-yard game against Buffalo and has finally emerged as the lead back in a crowded backfield. He should get the bulk of the early-down work for the Pats and has been very productive when healthy and given the carries (5.7 yards per carry). The Pats are going to try to run the ball and control the game and I expect a lot of rushing attempts for the New England backs.
Now which other Patriots' back is worth rostering? Well, James White's role is disappearing and if Sony Michel does in fact return tonight it's hard to see him cut into Harris's early-down role. At his price point, give me some Rex Burkhead. Burkhead has been an effective short-yardage runner and a reliable target coming out of the backfield.
On the Jets side, I have no interest in old man Frank Gore as it finally looks like the Jets are beginning to finally shift more snaps to youngster La'Mical Perine. Perine has 19 carries the last two weeks and a few catches out of the backfield. He's a better bet to do something with his touches than Gore.
DFS Wide Receivers
Jakobi Meyers (11,000 FD, 9,000 DK)
Damiere Byrd (9,000 FD, 6,800 DK)
Jamison Crowder (14,000 FD, 11,200 DK)
Breshad Perriman (7,000 FD, 4,200 DK)
This might be the worst collection of wide receivers listed in one spot anywhere on the internet today. But all kidding aside, there are some good plays here that you'll want in your lineups. Let's start with the Pats. Both Meyers and Byrd have favorable matchups against the Jets secondary with Meyers being the most productive of the receivers last week. It's pretty easy to fit either of them (or both) in with Cam and I would expect that to be a popular strategy tonight with Julian Edelman and N'Keal Harry out again for New England.
The Jets receiving corps is a bit more complicated. Jamison Crowder is currently questionable to play. If he goes, then he is a viable play as long as he avoids Stephon Gilmore in coverage. Crowder has double-digit targets in all four games he's played this season and has gone over 20 DK points in three of those games (including one with Flacco under center). But the price of Crowder is steep on both sites.
Perriman should return as the Jets' secondary receiver. He's cheap and could draw some targets in this one. The real question is "who do the Jets put in the slot," because that is the best spot to attack this New England defense. Braxton Berrios could line up there a good bit or Jeff Smith. Berrios had 8 catches last week and might be my favorite punt for New York. I would stay away from Denzel Mims, who could see a drastically reduced snap share with all the receivers finally healthy at the same time for the Jets.
DFS Tight Ends
Neither of these teams utilizes the TE position very much and I have no interest in any TEs in this game.
DFS Defense/Special Teams
Sergio Castillo (3,400 DK)
Nick Folk (8,500 FD, 5,700 DK)
Jets D/ST (4,000 DK)
So in games with low totals, it makes a lot of sense to play some defenses and kickers. You can't play defenses on FanDuel and you can only play one of the kickers there as they failed to get the Jets second-team kicker Castillo into the player pool (Sam Ficken is out). Castillo made four of five field goals last week and it's reasonable to think the Jets will move the ball enough in this game to get into field goal range several times and fail to get into the end zone.
Patriots' kicker Nick Folk is questionable so keep an eye on his status, but he also is entirely viable on this slate. Heck, you can go "double kicker" and jam in Cam and several other higher-priced position players if you want.
I like the Jets D/ST here at their price considering how turnover-prone Cam has been. The Patriots D/ST is price way up to 7,400 and simply much too expensive to warrant playing - even if the Jets offense does suck.