Welcome to the Bottom of the Barrel 2023 NFL DFS Week 9 QB Edition!
Is it just me or is time going by at warp speed? Not my best opening line of all time but it’s honest. The best we can do now is buckle up, strap in, and enjoy the ride! This is also an odd statement given the fact this is just a fun daily fantasy sports article.
If we get serious for a moment how many of you have ever had the perfect day? I would imagine the ‘perfect day’ is different from person to person. I am always interested to hear how other people live day-to-day or what makes them tick. Truth be told I am willing to bet a large portion of you would first mention your significant others followed by your children and pets.
The detailed specifics of your perfect day would be unique to you. However, the overall idea should remain the same. Excitement, laughter, being challenged, and even some rest may be tops on the list. Whatever your perfect day looks like do not stop chasing it! Use it as fuel to get you through those tough days. Use it to push you harder as we smash our goals and chase our dreams!
Week 9 of the NFL season at the quarterback position may have a few of you saying, “I must be dreaming!” but I assure you this is what we have. A few back-ups, some injuries, or a guy just getting benched in Las Vegas. Here we are! Bottom of the Barrel Week 9 quarterbacks!
Bottom of the Barrel 2023 NFL DFS Week 9 QB
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Jalen Hurts Eagles vs. Cowboys(4th)
(FD-$9,000)(DK-$8,000)(Y!-$39)
Oh, baby! Nothing gets me going like an old-school NFC East battle between two bitter rivals. In all sincerity, these two teams, cities, players, and coaches despise each other. Rarely do I watch the evening news but I happen to catch Sunday Today with Willie Geist most weekends. Why do you care? Well, there seems to be this outbreak of fist-fighting and brawling more and more at professional football games.
I cannot think of any other situation than fans at this game fighting. Just fight after fight after fight. I am in no way condoning this behavior but it is the best way for me to express what an Eagles vs. Cowboys game is all about. Hurts has been outstanding of late for the Eagles, recording multiple touchdowns in each of his last five games. The way Philly has specifically designed the RPO scheme for Hurts to succeed should keep Dallas on their heels all day.
Taylor Heinicke Falcons vs. Vikings(22nd)
(FD-$7,200)(DK-$5,000)(Y!-$22)
Word out of Atlanta is that Desmond Ridder has reportedly cleared the league's concussion protocol. However, Arthur Smith has seemingly lost confidence in him. In walks Heinicke and a beautiful opportunity in Bottom of the Barrel. With this article being strictly about daily fantasy sports I will keep it as such.
Anytime Taylor Heinicke is on the football field, to me, he goes all out. Granted, he isn't some young up-and-coming kid finally getting his chance to prove his worth but if plays well against a soft Vikings secondary I would not be shocked to see him back under center in Week 10.
As to what I expect him to do Sunday would be around 18-19 completions, 200 yards, a touchdown pass, and a few random scrambles. Let's say 4 to 5 for another 20-25 yards. I'm telling you, this guy gets after it. Just watch!
Derek Carr Saints vs. Bears(30th)
(FD-$7,100)(DK-$5,700)(Y!-$23)
Yes! Now we are talking! In the last portion of my Carr blurb from last week's Bottom of the Barrel, "I found that specific drive to be what this Saints offense can truly be. Risk and reward my friend. I am willing to risk that Derek Carr, as a leader, can tap back into that energy this week against the Colts."
Derek completed 19-of-27 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns. Carr has tapped into something as the Saints are now 4-4. Looking ahead we could make a case that Carr could be the best, and most popular, streaming option this week. If you've been with me this long then there's no turning back now.
Derek Carr should shred the Bears defense. To the tune of 22-23 completions, 250 yards, and a pair of touchdown passes. Let's not forget those extra points and his rushing yardage potential!
C.J. Stroud Texans vs. Buccaneers(24th)
(FD-$7,000)(DK-$6,200)(Y!-$28)
C.J. Stroud only completed 16-of-24 passes for 140 yards without a passing touchdown last week. He did find the endzone on the ground which somewhat helped his bottom line but still wasn't good enough. Stroud had a hot three-game stretch and I didn't expect Carolina to cool him off.
The good news is that I'm projecting Stroud to hop right back on it and start a better streak! A hotter more DFS-friendly streak! Let's expect 20-21 completions, 250 passing yards, and a pair of touchdown passes to go along with another one on the ground! Yes, a three-TD day for the rookie lies ahead!
Bryce Young Panthers vs. Colts(19th)
(FD-$7,000)(DK-$5,100)(Y!-$20)
From one rookie QB to another! Young completed 22-of-31 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown last week as Carolina beat Houston 15-13 in what had to of been a scoragami. If you're not familiar with the term "origami" it is a scoring combination that has never happened before in a sport or league's history.
We are all still waiting on that first big game from Bryce statistically speaking but the kid can only do so much with what he's given. From a DFS perspective, I love the idea that he remains a safe option but Bottom of the Barrel wants that three to four times value game.
Baker Mayfield Buccaneers at Texans(16th)
(FD-$6,800)(DK-$5,200)(Y!-$25)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield practiced in full on Wednesday. Baker is dealing with some sort of left knee contusion and truth be told you'd never know. For whatever reason I know there are large groups of people who dislike him but let's be honest about it. He's a tough SOB. He's like a cross between Matthew Stafford and Taylor Heinicke kind of.
Regardless of comparisons, Baker had one of his best games of the season, throwing for 237 yards, two touchdowns, and zero turnovers last Thursday. This game is fast becoming one of my favorites to keep an eye on just from a fan's point of view. All because the Texan's defense has held its last three opponents to an average of only 16.3 points.
So the Baker knee thing mixed with a solid defensive match-up puts us into a little pickle. It's all good though because I love pickles. Give me Baker to complete 23-24 passes for 250 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. Would be such a Baker Mayfield thing to do if Baker Mayfield also rushed for another score wouldn't it?
Tyson Bagent Bears at Saints(6th)
(FD-$6,600)(DK-$4,900)(Y!-$20)
This kid doesn't run much and he's only thrown one touchdown pass in the last three games he's started in for the Bears. That's not very Bottom of the Barrel, is it? Shoot, I could argue that's the exact reason why we plug him in our Week 9 entries. No one on Earth will see it coming if he finds some statistical success. That's the rub though, will Bagent do anything of note in New Orleans on Sunday?
Given the current landscape of the QB position, I have done stupider things.
Mac Jones Patriots vs. Commanders(32nd)
(FD-$6,600)(DK-$4,900)(Y!-$23)
Jones completed 19 of 29 passes for 161 yards with two touchdowns last week against the Dolphins. On paper, it's a nasty match-up given the Commander's defensive line. Yet, they just sold off Montez Sweat to Chicago which I'd bet is a little demoralizing for the Washington defensive unit.
Plus, last week was Mac's second straight two-touchdown game and his third multi-score game of the season. There is a little spark here. I can see it and no I am not kidding. Your typical 20 completions for 220 yards and a touchdown is Mac's floor this week. Why can't we boost those numbers? Maybe we can't but I think he does!
Matthew Stafford Rams at Packers(13th)
(FD-$6,500)(DK-$6,300)(Y!-$27)
Stafford completed 13 of 22 passes for 162 yards, with one touchdown and one interception before hurting his thumb and missing the second half of the Rams Week 8 loss. Come to find out Stafford will not be placed on injured reserve as he has been officially diagnosed with a UCL sprain in his right thumb. The Rams have their bye in Week 10 so to be honest I wouldn't expect him to play.
Knowing Matthew he will do everything in his power to play. If that's the case we're looking at 260 yards and a pair of TD passes.
Gardner Minshew II Colts at Panthers(14th)
(FD-$6,500)(DK-$5,200)(Y!-$25)
Gardner showed up well last week as he completed 23-of-41 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Given his price tag and namesake alone I'd think he'd be a popular play Sunday. Even more so given the fact he's facing an injured Panthers defense. Yet, nothing. Not even a teeny-tiny whisper. So, here at Bottom of the Barrel let's lightly sound streaming and Colts stacking alarm.
Minshew should be somewhere around 230 passing yards on 30+ attempts to go along with two more touchdown passes. It would be the ultimate Minshew move if Minshew recorded a third touchdown with his legs.
Other Interesting GPP QBs for Week 9!
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