4 FanDuel NFL Values to Target in Week 9

Finding value is a key part of daily fantasy football on FanDuel. We need to identify the low-salary players who have the potential to pay huge dividends, which allows you to play studs elsewhere in your lineup.

As always, we're looking at players on the main slate, which kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. All betting odds come from the NFL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints

FanDuel Salary: $7,100

Don't look now, but Derek Carr has quietly eclipsed 17 FanDuel points in each of his last three games.

He's yet to score more than 20 FanDuel points as a Saint, but the volume is there to thrive in Week 9.

Over the last three weeks, Carr leads the league with 404.7 air yards per game -- more than 60 air yards more than the next-closest quarterback. He trails only Patrick Mahomes with 321.3 raw passing yards per game and only trails Jared Goff with 44 attempts per game over that span

His efficiency isn't great, but that volume is downright tasty, especially with the Chicago Bears coming to town.

The Bears are tied for the most adjusted fantasy points per dropback (0.49) allowed to opposing quarterbacks. They've surrendered the third-highest passing success rate (51.6%) and the highest Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per drop back (0.24). Chicago had a pair of decent performances in Weeks 6 and 7 (against outdoor Kirk Cousins and the Brian Hoyer/Aidan O'Connell duo) but have otherwise given up 18-plus points to every other quarterback.

Jordan Love (23.0 points), Baker Mayfield (18.4), Patrick Mahomes (25.7), Russell Wilson (22.2), Sam Howell (26.4), and Justin Herbert (24) all delivered good-to-great performances against Chicago. Carr isn't in the same hemisphere as Mahomes or Herbert, but he's at least on par with the Loves and Mayfields of the world.

Trending up and with a mouth-watering matchup on deck, Derek Carr is a strong value at quarterback in Week 9.

Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys

FanDuel Salary: $6,600

$6,600 for Tony Pollard's services? Sign me up.

Pollard has been a fantasy disappointment this season, especially since Week 1. Excluding his 21.2-point outburst in the opener, Pollard is averaging just 10.7 FanDuel points per game.

It's gotten worse over the last four weeks; Pollard has eclipsed double-digit points just one time.

But the volume is there. Pollard averages 24 adjusted opportunities (carries plus 2x targets) per game (seventh in the league), and he ranks third with 4.4 red zone rushes per game, but has scored just two touchdowns -- both of which came in Week 1.

Sure, his efficiency is down from last season, but the Dallas Cowboys have hardly played any normal games, and Pollard's production has simply suffered from it.

Week 9 should right the Pollard ship. The Philadelphia Eagles are not a good matchup on paper. They've allowed the fourth-fewest adjusted RB fantasy points per carry (0.47) and the second-fewest per target (0.92). However, this game carries the third-highest total on the slate (46.5), and the Cowboys have a 21.75-point implied team total.

Points will be scored, and regression tells us that Pollard stands a good shot of taking part.

This is easily his lowest salary of the season, and after Sunday, I doubt we see Pollard below $7,000 again. Take advantage while you can.

Demario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots

FanDuel Salary: $5,400

Demario Douglas is the newest fixing for the age-old trope of "someone has to catch passes for them."

With Kendrick Bourne out for the year and DeVante Parker in concussion protocol, Douglas finds himself as the de facto No. 1 option in the New England Patriots passing game.

Granted, the Pats aren't exactly the greatest show on turf, but volume is king. And boy, should Pop Douglas see a lot of volume this week.

The rookie sixth-round pick has seen his usage spike over the last two weeks. He set season-high marks in route participation (77.4%) and target share (20%) in Week 7 before running a route on 84.4% of dropbacks and commanding a 25% target share in Week 8.

Though his average depth of target (aDOT) was just 6.8 over those two weeks, his heavy workload could pay dividends in his matchup with the Washington Commanders.

Washington had a bad defense before they traded away Montez Sweat and Chase Young this week. Without those two defensive linemen, Mac Jones should have plenty of time to dice up a putrid secondary.

Entering Week 8, the Commanders have allowed the most adjusted fantasy points per target (1.69) to opposing wide receivers. They're the only defense in the NFL allowing more than 2.00 yards per route run (2.09, to be precise) to WRs and have given up a league-high 13 touchdowns to the position. Throw in the second-worst aDOT (13.2) and the fifth-highest catch rate over expectation (7.3%), and you have arguably the best WR matchup in the NFL.

Douglas is far from a sure thing in this Patriots offense, but "someone has to catch passes for them", and it doesn't hurt that this game is the second-fastest on the slate in terms of average pace (27.8).

Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

FanDuel Salary: $5,200

This is an absolutely brutal tight-end slate, but at $5,200, Kyle Pitts is more than an acceptable value play this week.

Pitts' talent has never been the question, but his usage in Arthur Smith's anti-fantasy offense causes his production to vary a ton from week to week.

Still, he's in a decent spot in Week 9. The Atlanta Falcons host the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota has been relatively stingy against tight ends, but they aren't a defense I'm automatically fading.

Taylor Heinicke will make his first start for the Falcons this week. He only targeted Pitts twice in the second half of last week's loss, but Heinicke's 2022 sample in Washington has me bullish on Pitts. Commanders tight end Logan Thomas saw a 16.4% target share and a 19.0% red zone target share between Weeks 10-16 with Heinicke under center.

Pitts' playing time has taken a hit over the last four weeks. He's played just 54.4% of snaps and run a route on 66.2% of dropbacks over that span, but he's still commanded a 19% target share -- second only to Drake London. London injured his groin during the second half last week and did not practice on Wednesday. If he sits, Pitts would be the No. 1 option, and I'd expect his route participation to climb.

Even if London is active, Pitts has been viable despite diminishing playing time. He's averaged 8.9 FanDuel points per game over the last four weeks. He's seen 3.3 downfield targets per game and an aDOT of 10.3 over that span.

It's rough out there this week, but Pitts' consistent production of late makes him a good value at tight end.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.