Week 9 brings the first flex Sunday night game of the season, with the Indianapolis Colts taking on the Minnesota Vikings. Joe Flacco’s return under center for the Colts increases the viable options in this game, so let’s check out the ideal DFS options for Sunday night’s fantasy football contests.
Week 9 Sunday Night DFS Showdown Picks
- CPT: Josh Downs ($12,000)
- FLEX: Justin Jefferson ($11,600)
- FLEX: Aaron Jones ($9,600)
- FLEX: Jordan Addison ($6,200)
- FLEX: Alec Pierce ($5,600)
- FLEX: Will Reichard ($5,000)
DFS Advice: Josh Downs as Captain
Josh Downs is only the fifth-most expensive option in this game, which could be a steal given his heavy usage.
Fun fact: Entering Week 9, #Colts WR Josh Downs has been targeted on 32.9% of his routes this year, which is the second-highest rate in the NFL, per NFL Pro.
I’d expect that trend to continue with Joe Flacco as QB1, especially since Flacco will obviously take the check downs.
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) November 3, 2024
No one benefits more from Flacco playing over Anthony Richardson. Downs has averaged eight receptions and 72.3 receiving yards in games where Flacco has played the majority of the snaps, compared to five receptions and 53 yards when Richardson was been the primary passer.
The Vikings are also the 29th-ranked defense in PPR points per game allowed to WRs. Those two factors make Downs a must-play in DFS lineups for this game.
Load Up on Vikings
The Vikings are a clear favorite and have generally funneled much of their production to their top players. Thus, getting those stars in the lineup is a necessity for your DFS lineup in this game.
Justin Jefferson has averaged an absurd 20.2 yards per reception against single-high safety coverages or Cover 0 this season (22 receptions, 444 yards, and three touchdowns). His 35.4% target share against those coverages is the highest in the NFL.
Why is that important? Gus Bradley’s Colts are notorious for their heavy use of Cover 3, which is a single-high coverage. Indy has played Cover 3 on 48% of opponent dropbacks this season, the second-highest rate behind the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Colts have also been an up-and-down defense against running backs. Indy ranks 17th in PPR points per game allowed to RBs, but they’ve also given up massive games to Joe Mixon (159 yards in Week 1 and 102 yards in Week 8) and Josh Jacobs (151 yards in Week 2).
Functional run games can exploit the Indy run defense, and Aaron Jones has taken 56% of his team’s rush attempts this season (10th-highest), making him a strong play.