DraftKings' Arena Football League (AFL) contests are back in Week 9 with a two-game weekend slate. RotoWire will be providing lineup suggestions for each of the 13 weeks of the AFL regular season, the two weeks of the playoffs and the ArenaBowl.
DraftKings AFL lineups consist of one Captain spot, which sees the player's salary and fantasy points both multiply at a rate of 1.5x, and five Flex positions. The lack of positional specifications means that one could potentially compose a lineup consisting of players from just one position. However, for our purposes, we'll strive to highlight players from at least the top two fantasy-producing positions, quarterback and wide receiver.
Note: Please keep in mind that these are merely recommendations on certain players and are not intended to constitute a lineup that fits under DraftKings' $50,000 salary cap. In fact, the cumulative salary of the players suggested weekly will often check in well over that figure.
For a full overview of the basics of playing AFL DFS contests on DraftKings, review our DFS 101 primer here: https://www.rotowire.com/arena/article.php?id=45291
Week 9 AFL Plays
Captain: Dan Raudabaugh, QB, PHL at CLB ($13,200):
With both Shane Boyd and Arvell Nelson off the main slate in Week 9, Raudabaugh becomes the next best candidate for the Captain's spot based on matchup. The Destroyers have been one of the most consistently vulnerable secondaries in the AFL, and they'll check in allowing the highest passer efficiency rating (118.9), second-highest completion percentage (65.4) and second-most passing
DraftKings' Arena Football League (AFL) contests are back in Week 9 with a two-game weekend slate. RotoWire will be providing lineup suggestions for each of the 13 weeks of the AFL regular season, the two weeks of the playoffs and the ArenaBowl.
DraftKings AFL lineups consist of one Captain spot, which sees the player's salary and fantasy points both multiply at a rate of 1.5x, and five Flex positions. The lack of positional specifications means that one could potentially compose a lineup consisting of players from just one position. However, for our purposes, we'll strive to highlight players from at least the top two fantasy-producing positions, quarterback and wide receiver.
Note: Please keep in mind that these are merely recommendations on certain players and are not intended to constitute a lineup that fits under DraftKings' $50,000 salary cap. In fact, the cumulative salary of the players suggested weekly will often check in well over that figure.
For a full overview of the basics of playing AFL DFS contests on DraftKings, review our DFS 101 primer here: https://www.rotowire.com/arena/article.php?id=45291
Week 9 AFL Plays
Captain: Dan Raudabaugh, QB, PHL at CLB ($13,200):
With both Shane Boyd and Arvell Nelson off the main slate in Week 9, Raudabaugh becomes the next best candidate for the Captain's spot based on matchup. The Destroyers have been one of the most consistently vulnerable secondaries in the AFL, and they'll check in allowing the highest passer efficiency rating (118.9), second-highest completion percentage (65.4) and second-most passing touchdowns (38). Raudabaugh just lit up Columbus for six touchdown passes in Week 6 (34.4 fantasy points in standard scoring) and the Destroyers are also tied for the fewest interceptions (four) in the AFL. Given that Raudabaugh is also averaging a robust 28.9 fantasy points (standard scoring) in his three road games thus far, he could well be primed for another handsome return.
Flex: Tommy Grady, QB, ALB vs. AC ($10,200):
I naturally contemplated Grady's candidacy for the Captain's spot given his massive upside, but the matchup isn't optimal and he'd also carry a hefty $15,300 price tag in that spot. Grady is still expected to put together a strong performance overall, given his talent, although the Blackjacks will likely make him work for it considering they're yielding the lowest passing yards per game (195.0), lowest average yards per attempt (6.2) and fewest passing touchdowns (31). However, Atlantic City is surrendering plenty of high-percentage throws, as they're allowed the highest completion percentage (67.2) in the league. Accordingly, Grady posted his best completion percentage of the season, 77.4, in a Week 5 battle against AC, a game where he also unsurprisingly threw for a season-low 228 yards. However, Grady also tallied five touchdowns without an interception in that contest on his way to 29.1 fantasy points, and he's exceeded the 30-mark in standard scoring in all but one other game this season.
Flex: Darius Prince, WR, PHL at CLB ($8,400):
Given Raudabaugh's appeal as potentially the highest scoring QB of the week, it makes sense to pair him up with the receiver that's usually his top target. Prince has been about as much a week-to-week lock for a receiving touchdown as any AFL pass catcher this season, snaring at least one scoring grab in each contest. Prince recorded a two-touchdown day against the Destroyers in Week 6 on his way to 22.0 fantasy points, and he's demonstrated his upside by hitting the 30-mark on five occasions overall thus far in 2019. The Destroyers' vulnerabilities in pass defense were just highlighted in Raudabaugh's entry, and Prince's consistency makes him an equally appealing candidate for either cash games or GPPs.
Flex: Grant Russell, QB, CLB vs. PHL ($8,000):
Russell has quietly put together a solid season, posting a 29:7 TD:INT and most recently eclipsing the 30 fantasy-point milestone in three straight games, with the first contest in that stretch having come against this same Soul squad in Week 6. Russell has a sparkling 11:0 TD:INT during his last pair of contests, and while his accuracy is still a work in progress most weeks, he'll be poised for a strong showing against Philadelphia. Russell compiled his second-highest passing yardage total of the season (267 yards) against Philly in the aforementioned Week 6 battle, and the Soul has allowed 37 passing touchdowns overall on the campaign. The Destroyers also figure to remain aggressive, given the Soul's capable offense.
Flex: Warren Smith, QB, AC at ALB ($7,600):
Smith is the presumptive Week 9 starter for the Blackjacks until further notice, given that Randy Hippeard was unable to practice both Wednesday and Thursday with the knee injury that knocked him out of a Week 8 loss to the Soul. Smith did a solid job in emergency duty, totaling 22.7 fantasy points on 150 passing yards and two touchdowns, numbers he supplemented with a rushing score and 17 yards on the ground. Assuming he's under center in Week 9, he's a bargain option against an Empire squad that's allowed the most completions (170) and most passing yards per game (250.6). Smith has a capable group of pass catchers spearheaded by Lamark Brown and Kendrick Ings, and a game plan that should call for him to remain very aggressive in order to keep up with Tommy Grady and company has a high probability of leading to a strong return on his very reasonable cost.
Flex: Kenyattus Cook, WR, CLB vs. PHL ($5,000):
Cook's teammate Donovan Morgan was originally in this value-play spot, but he hit injured reserve Thursday. His absence should be all the better for Cook, who already has found a way to make an impact over his first two games of the season. The rookie has snagged three touchdown receptions over that pair of contests, doing it on just seven catches total. Cook is priced nicely for that kind of upside, and as already outlined in Russell's entry, the Soul has yielded 37 passing touchdowns, tying them for third most in the AFL. Even an output similar to Week 8's 13.8 fantasy points would represent a decent return on Cook's current price, and a surge somewhere into the neighborhood of the 20.9 he compiled in his Week 7 debut would downright make him one of the top bargains of the week.
