Week 9 of the NFL season arrives with a mouth-watering Draftstars slate for daily-fantasy players hunting leaderboard glory. The main Monday-morning slate features the tricky 8/3 split, giving us eight early-window games and three late ones — a format that demands smart roster construction and salary balance.
Four early games carry totals ≥ 48 points — Bears @ Bengals, Colts @ Steelers, Vikings @ Lions, and 49ers @ Giants — each capable of shootout potential. Those contests should form the backbone of your core stacks and game exposure.
But don’t ignore the late window. The Chiefs @ Bills clash headlines with a massive 52.5-point total, promising fireworks from the likes of Mahomes, Allen, and Kelce.
Draftstars is offering a $25,000 guaranteed prize pool with $2,480 to first, so differentiation and smart contrarian plays are key. Below we break down every position, from elite anchors to deep value pivots, and outline slate strategies to help you build profitable line-ups that separate from the chalk and climb those Draftstars leaderboards.
NFL 2025-26 Daily Fantasy Tips: Week 9 Monday
Quarterbacks
Daniel Jones — $14,690
Jones hasn’t delivered a monster game yet, but he’s quietly one of the steadiest fantasy producers of 2025. Averaging top-five marks in fantasy points, passing yards, and completion %, he offers both floor and ceiling via his rushing ability.
This week he faces a Steelers defence conceding the fourth-most fantasy points to QBs, setting up a potential back-and-forth game. Pittsburgh’s offence can keep pace, which raises Jones’s passing volume. In DFS terms, that’s the recipe for a ceiling performance. He’s a strong CPT or QB1 play who can outscore several pricier options.
Jaxon Dart — $14,860
Dart’s fantasy breakout has been fuelled by touchdown equity — rushing scores in four of five games — but the aerial ceiling could arrive now. The 49ers’ pass rush ranks bottom-10 per PFF, giving Dart time to attack deep.
His balanced rushing/passing floor keeps him viable even if passing volume dips. In tournaments, he’s a strong pivot from chalkier Mahomes/Allen line-ups. If he connects on two deep TDs + a rushing score, he’s a slate-breaker.
QB Strategy
- Cash Games: Prefer Jones’s safe rushing floor and clean matchup.
- GPPs: Pivot to Dart for lower rostership and comparable upside.
- Stacks: Pair with primary pass-catchers (Pittman with Jones) for correlation.
- Avoid over-spending here — balance cap for elite RB/WR pieces.
Running Backs
Christian McCaffrey — $19,870
CMC’s Week 8 flop shouldn’t scare anyone. The Giants rank bottom-3 in run defence (PFF) and bottom-8 in fantasy points allowed to RBs. The 49ers will lean heavily on him as both rusher and receiver in a must-win game.
Expect 20 + touches and red-zone usage; his dual-threat skill gives him slate-winning potential. At this salary, a TD or two is required, but he’s the safest elite play available.
Kimani Vidal — $14,370
Vidal’s takeover of the Chargers’ backfield now meets an ideal matchup. The Titans allow the 9th-most rush yards per game and the 4th-highest yards before contact. With All-Pro DT Jeffery Simmons out, interior lanes open wide.
Expect 15–18 touches and goal-line looks as LA likely leads early. With efficiency metrics on his side, Vidal carries legitimate top-3 RB upside at a mid-tier price.
Kyle Monangai — $8,000
A DFS gift at minimum salary. With D’Andre Swift and others sidelined, Monangai steps into full lead-back duties. The Bengals allow the most rush yards per game and are second-worst in run-def grade (PFF).
Volume + matchup + salary = free square. If he logs 15+ touches, he smashes value and unlocks elite spending elsewhere.
RB Strategy
- Anchor: McCaffrey = cash-game cornerstone. If not, Gibbs is a strong alternate.
- Complement: Vidal adds mid-tier balance.
- Value: Monangai as salary relief and GPP differentiator.
Target backs in positive game scripts and avoid RBs in likely shootouts unless pass-catching volume offsets risk.
Wide Receivers
Michael Pittman Jr. — $12,860
A perfect partner for Jones. Pittsburgh’s secondary just yielded monster outings to WR1s like Ja’Marr Chase. Pittman’s steady 9-target average ensures both floor and WR1 upside.
Stacking Jones→Pittman maximises correlation while differentiating from Mahomes/Allen builds. At this salary, he’s one of the week’s best mid-premium anchors.
D.K. Metcalf — $12,260
Metcalf brings volatility but immense ceiling. The Colts have surrendered the 4th-most points to WRs, and Metcalf’s 5 TDs this year highlight elite red-zone usage.
If the Steelers-Colts game shoots out, Metcalf can post 100 + yards and multi-TD upside — exactly the type of GPP-winning outcome that low-owned builds crave.
Chimere Dike — $7,290
Recent usage spike: 11 catches on 12 targets for 163 yards and a TD across two weeks. The Chargers’ zone scheme leaves slot gaps, and Dike owns a 21 % target-per-route rate and 2.18 YPRR — both elite for his price tier.
In projected negative game script, expect high volume. He’s a cheap WR3 with 5× return potential.
WR Strategy
- Combine one premium, or two mid-priced stars (Pittman or Metcalf) with one value (Dike).
- Prioritise WRs in high-total games ≥ 48 points.
- Stack WRs with their QBs for positive correlation; solo cheap values for salary flexibility.
- Fade over-owned chalk; pivot to mid-priced upside plays.
Tight Ends
Tucker Kraft — $12,590
Boom-bust TE with elite upside. The Packers face a Panthers defence ranking bottom-10 vs TEs, yet top-10 vs WRs and RBs — forcing Love to target Kraft frequently.
At this price he needs a TD to pay off, but with red-zone usage trending up, he’s capable of WR1-level output. For cash games, he’s the “pay-up for certainty” option.
Oronde Gadsden Jr. — $11,270
Emerging star averaging 7.3 targets, 6.3 receptions and 103 yards per game over his last three, plus two scores. His athleticism and expanded route tree make him a legit TE1 pivot in pass-heavy Chargers offence.
In GPPs, Gadsden offers similar upside to Kraft at lower cost and rostership.
TE Strategy
- Cash: Pay for Kraft’s red-zone equity.
- GPP: Drop to Gadsden to save salary and gain uniqueness.
- Correlate TEs with their QBs if possible for touchdown upside.
Defence / Special Teams
Los Angeles Rams — $7,040
Top defence on the board. At home vs a rookie QB (Tyler Shough) as 14-point favourites, they check every DFS box: low opponent team total, elite pass rush, and turnover potential.
They own top-five ranks in pressure rate and sack conversion. Sack, INT, and fumble upside make them the premium cash D/ST option even at a higher price.
Denver Broncos — $5,900
Excellent tournament pivot. Facing Houston’s porous offensive line and a rookie QB under duress, Denver’s defence can generate turnovers and cheap points.
If you’re salary-strapped or stacking expensive skill players, the Broncos offer realistic D/ST 1 upside at a discount.
D/ST Strategy
- Cash: Rams = safe floor + elite ceiling.
- GPP: Broncos = value leverage.
- Defensive touchdowns swing slates — don’t fear variance here.
Slate Strategy & Roster Construction
Cash Games (50/50, Double-Ups)
- QB1: Daniel Jones or Jaxon Dart for low ownership, high floor
- Core: McCaffrey + Pittman + Vidal.
- Value: Monangai and Dike balance salary.
- D/ST: Rams for security.
Build around reliable volume players, avoid low-floor boom/bust types. Focus on median projection over ceiling.
GPP / Tournament Builds
- Pivot at Premium spots: Don’t spend up for chalk when mid-priced, lower owned players are available
- Game stacks: Jones + Pittman (+ bring-back Metcalf) for shootout potential.
- Salary relief: Monangai and Dike unlock extra studs.
- Contrarian spots: Gadsden at TE, Broncos D/ST.
Aim for unique roster combinations with multiple paths to 100 + upside scores.
Game Environment Targets
- High-total games (48 +): Bears-Bengals, Colts-Steelers, Vikings-Lions, 49ers-Giants.
- Late hammer: Chiefs-Bills (52.5 total) — always worth one line-up anchor for end-of-slate leverage.
Final Thoughts
Week 9 offers everything DFS players love: multiple shootouts, clear value spots, and one elite late-window hammer game. Smart salary allocation and ownership awareness will decide whether you finish inside the top 1 %.
Key takeaways:
- Prioritise volume + matchup synergy. Stack QB-WR or QB-TE from high-total games.
- Embrace value plays. Monangai and Dike are the keys to affording CMC and elite QBs.
- Monitor late news. Injuries and inactives can swing snap shares dramatically.
- Differentiate intelligently. Gadsden or Dart can give you unique paths to first.
Your core picks — Jones, McCaffrey, Pittman, Vidal, Metcalf, Kraft/Gadsden, and the Rams D/ST — form a well-rounded build for both cash and GPP formats. By mixing in value and late-game exposure, you create rosters with both safety and tournament-winning ceiling.
Good luck hunting that $2.5k top prize — and may your Week 9 Draftstars line-ups run as hot as CMC’s feet in the red zone!
Suggested NFL Monday Draftstars Lineup
