NFL Week 9 opens with the Jacksonville Jaguars visiting the Baltimore Ravens at 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday Night Football. Injuries to Lamar Jackson (thumb) and Tyler Huntley (toe) have thrust third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano into the starting role, shifting the daily fantasy football player pool toward Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Ravens running back Derrick Henry.
Key DFS Options
Other appealing lineup options include Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten and wide receiver Parker Washington, along with Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers. A potential sleeper pick is Jaguars rookie Brian Thomas Jr., who scored a touchdown on Sunday after two games without a catch. If the Ravens struggle offensively with Fagnano and settle for field goals, kicker Jake Moody — another injury replacement — could factor into DFS strategies. Jacksonville's defense, currently the league's No. 2 scoring unit, also warrants consideration against a shorthanded Baltimore offense.
Expert Analysis
Daily fantasy expert Mike McClure, a professional DFS player with more than $2 million in career winnings, uses a prediction model that simulates every snap, accounting for matchups, statistical trends, and injuries. McClure's top pick for Thursday night is Derrick Henry. The Baltimore running back, a Jacksonville native, has averaged 129.1 rushing yards with 14 total touchdowns over his last 10 games against the Jaguars. With Jackson and Huntley out, the Ravens are expected to lean heavily on Henry against a Jacksonville run defense that has allowed 100-plus rushing yards in each of the last two games after permitting just 63.8 per game over the first five weeks. Henry could also see increased work as a receiver, as only five teams allow more receptions per game to running backs than the Jaguars.
McClure is also building lineups around Bhayshul Tuten, who posted a career-high 159 scrimmage yards (104 rushing, 55 receiving) with two touchdowns in his last outing. Tuten has recorded at least 87 scrimmage yards in all but one game this season and has scored multiple touchdowns in back-to-back weeks. The Ravens have allowed the eighth-most touchdowns to running backs this year, and Buffalo's James Cook just tallied 101 total yards and a score against them last week.
McClure has identified an additional undervalued player who could deliver huge numbers on Thursday night. His full optimal DFS lineups, rankings, and stacks are available through his subscription service.
