Top five fantasy football smash starts for NFL Week 9

Fridays are for Five Lists of Five here at DKNetwork, and we’re officially halfway through the NFL season. And Puka Nacua has officially aggravated his knee injury a second time. Mercy for this Rams fan, please.

I digress!

A reminder of the premise behind this specific series of lists: All I want is for you to be better than your friends. You’re going to be surrounded by them on Sunday, probably. How sweet would it be if you could be sure you’ve checked every box possible that might guarantee you a resounding victory this week? Some kick-your-feet-up insights? I’ve got some.

Again—I know my audience. The smoke-break audience. The quick-scan-of-the-phone-on-the-way-to-the-fridge audience. The give-me-as-much-info-as-possible-as-fast-as-possible audience. I’m a man of the people.

And so, once more: Five Lists of Five. Think of these as byte-sized, two-minutes-to-yourself lists to scan during your weekend as you foam at the mouth for any competitive fantasy edge. As much relevant analysis as I can fit into, like, 250 words per player.

Keeping it rolling this week with top five fantasy football must-starts/smash spots.

Also available from my NFL Week 9 Friday’s Five Lists of Five:

Start ‘Em

Brian Robinson, Jr. RB, Washington Commanders (vs. New York Giants)

I almost put Kyren Williams in B-Rob’s spot, here. But, honestly, the way Robinson is scoring touchdowns might make this matchup more of a smash spot for him than Kyren at Seattle.

The Giants can’t stop anyone on the ground. The Saquon revenge game, plus the game they made Najee Harris look like he was in college again.

50 yards and a touchdown is this guy’s floor.

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints (vs. Carolina Panthers)

Let’s begin here: one of the most elite receivers in the league is playing against a defensive unit that is tied for fifth-worst in the NFL in defending separation. He’s also getting his veteran quarterback behind center for the first time in what feels like an entire season.

Last week, he accounted for one-third (33% on the nose) of the Saints’ targets. Don’t overthink this one.

Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)

I’m on the record saying I think the Chargers D/ST is a good play against this Jameis Winston and this Cleveland offense. I also think Cedric Tillman has a great week. Both things can be true.

I’m counting on the Chargers pass rush to create some suffocating pressure that’ll cause Jameis to throw a few picks, take a few sacks, make a few mistakes from his vintage Tampa Bay days. However, I still think, especially with David Njoku’s ankle banged up, that Cedric Tillman will eat in this one.

The Chargers defense only allowed six points on the board last week, but they let Chris Olave shred them for 18.7 FPTs. And that’s without a touchdown. I like Tillman’s chances to score in this game, too.

Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers (vs. Detroit Lions)

I think this has the makings of an offensive barnburner if Jordan Love plays. I really like the entire Packers WR core this weekend, but I had to choose between one for my breakouts column and one for my smash start. Doubs feels better here.

We know Jayden Reed is, likely, going to feast the most of the Packers wideouts. But I like Love’s odds—so long as Tucker Kraft doesn’t dominate targets over the middle of that Detroit defense—to make all three of his wide receivers fed and happy on Sunday.

Massive divisional matchup. Lions routed the Vikings. I like Love to return to end-of-2023-season form, here, against the Lions, and for Doubs to be his primary target in the red zone.

Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)

Another don’t-overthink-it pick, here. Brown’s transcending Zack Moss in this Bengals offense more and more each week.

He’s had two down-ish games the past two weeks, but he faced both the Browns’ and Eagles’ stout rush defenses. Still, he saw 17 touches against Cleveland, and 14 against the Eagles.

Give me 15 touches from this dynamic rookie against the defense allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs in the 2024 season.

Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]

All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is thegreatdansby9) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information