NFL Week 8 DFS: Main Slate Preview

Are you excited for NFL Week 8 DFS? I cannot believe it has gone by this quickly. The regular season is basically half-way over. But here we are back at it to win some money on DraftKings! We will go through each matchup game-by-game in the main slate, and I will give my best buys via DraftKings prices.

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Early Games

Cardinals at Saints

Interestingly enough the Cardinals rank last in the NFL in giveaways per game at 0.6 which I think limits the upside of the Saints DST ($3,500). At running back if Alvin Kamara ($7,600) is out again Latavius Murray ($5,800) will once again be in play. His heavy involvement in both the passing and running game makes him an extremely enticing cash play for Week 8. Jared Cook definitely ($4,000) needs to be considered as well because we all know the flow chart narrative of the Arizona Cardinals’ defense. In the three games prior to missing last week, Cook had seen 15 targets and scored two touchdowns.

The Cardinals defense looked better last week with Patrick Peterson, and if he locks down Michael Thomas that could really hurt the upside for Teddy Bridgewater ($5,900). Ted Ginn Jr.($3,700) is also a very interesting GPP punt play. He has 11 targets over the past two games and is back in the dome where he has scored or gone over 100 yards in two of his home games this season. When Ginn plays at home in New Orleans you need some exposure in GPPs. The Cardinals have allowed the tenth-most fantasy points to the wide receiver position this season.

For Kyler Murray ($6,200) I absolutely love him in GPPs. He busted hard last week, but the weather and the game flow played a huge role in it. Murray should be getting back a cheap Christian Kirk ($4,700) so with another receiver added I think Murray can cruise in Week 8. Two of the rushing quarterbacks that the Saints played this year (Wilson and Watson), combined for 90 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.

Bengals at Rams (London)

For the second week in a row, the Rams have the highest implied team total (30.5) on the main slate. This makes sense as the Bengals defense has been absolute trash this year, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and most fantasy points to running backs through the first seven weeks of the season. That sets the stage for Todd Gurley ($7,400) to be in a blow-up spot. Gurley saw 18 rushing attempts in Week 7, with nine of those attempts coming in the red zone. Gurley currently ranks sixth overall in the NFL in red zone carries (21) despite playing in just six games. Any running back that has seen 11 touches has scored double-digit fantasy points versus the Bengals. Gurley is averaging 16 touches per game. It’s tough to get behind Jared Goff ($6,800) at his price with slightly better options higher priced than him. The Rams DST ($3,800) is also in a smash spot for Week 8.

As for the Bengals, Tyler Boyd ($5,100) is absurdly too cheap in this game. Boyd ranks third in the NFL in total targets (74) and is most likely not going to be getting coverage from Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey played 86% of his snaps from the outside in Week 7 and just had five snaps coming from the slot. Boyd also is not even a 100% slot wide receiver; this season he has played in the slot approximately 60% of the time. Boyd is the perfect one-off receiver play in both GPPs and cash games. Alex Erickson ($3,700) is also an interesting option. He saw a career-high in snaps (74) and the Rams have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to the wide receiver position over the last four weeks.

Broncos at Colts

Emmanuel Sanders has been traded to the 49ers, opening up 19% of the target share for other receivers. The key receiver to play here in cash games is DaeSean Hamilton ($3,300). In the last four games of last season once Sanders was out of the lineup due to injury, Hamilton averaged 6.25 receptions, 9.5 targets, and 45.5 receiving yards. He is the low-priced wide receiver you want to unlock the rest of your lineups. The Colts over the last four weeks have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the wide receiver position. Courtland Sutton ($5,300) also becomes very chalky but is great value in the plus matchup.

For the Colts, this could be a great spot for their running back Marlon Mack ($6,100). He is back at home and is facing off versus the Denver defense that has allowed the eighth-most rushing attempts, eighth-most rushing yards, second-most receptions, most targets, and six-most red-zone targets to the running back position over the last four weeks. Mack has six targets over his last two games. T.Y. Hilton ($6,100) is an easy fade this week after being super chalky last week. In his history versus the Broncos, Hilton has zero career touchdowns and has surpassed just 41 yards once in five games played. Colts DST ($2,900) is still in play as the Broncos have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to defenses over the past four weeks. Denver is allowing an average of four sacks per game in road contests this season.

Chargers at Bears

Allen Robinson ($6,000) continues to be underpriced and underappreciated on DraftKings. Robinson is the only player that is seeing at least 40% of his team’s total air yards and 25% of his team’s total target market share. He is a great GPP play with the perception of a tough matchup with cornerback Casey Hayward. David Montgomery ($4,400) is also extremely cheap for a starting running back in which he is at home and is on the favored team to win the game. Head coach Matt Nagy has seen some heat from the media from not running the ball enough, so there is not a better spot to get back to the run game than versus the Chargers. Los Angeles has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards and seventh-most attempts to running backs over the past four weeks. Anthony Miller ($3,500) is a nice punt play for receivers with a total of 16 targets over the last two weeks.

As for the Chargers, they are filled with GPP plays because of how badly they have played recently. Mike Williams ($4,000) ranks fourth in the NFL in air yards over the last five weeks. Additionally, Keenan Allen ($6,400) is the cheapest he has been all season and ranks third in the NFL in air yards over the last five weeks. With Philip Rivers ($5,300) throwing multiple touchdowns in five of seven games this season it is just a matter of time before Williams or Allen finds the end zone again. Austin Ekeler ($5,900) also needs to be in play because the Bears have been dreadful versus running backs as of late. Over the last four weeks, they have allowed the most fantasy points to the running back position. Specifically through the passing game. They have allowed the fifth-most receptions and fourth-most targets.

Giants at Lions

The Lions DST ($2,800) might be the best value at defense on the slate. The Giants on the road this season have averaged 2.7 turnovers per game, and over the last four weeks, the Giants have allowed the second-most fantasy points allowed to opposing defenses.

It’s also time for Matthew Stafford ($6,100)to smash Week 8! The Giants’ defense has been bad especially on the road. There allowed average yards per attempt to quarterbacks is 9.8 which is second-highest in the NFL. With the loss of Kerryon Johnson, the Lions could lean on the pass more. They already are averaging 36.3 pass attempts per game at 7.9 yards per attempt. The Lions are also averaging three passing touchdowns per game at home this season. Kenny Golladay ($6,400) is almost guaranteed to bounce back. You can also then add in presumed starting running back Ty Johnson ($4,900) who is also at a great value. It’s Lions week for GPP stacking. Marvin Hall ($3,000) can help round out the lineup as well. He has now hauled in a pass of at least 34 yards in three consecutive games. The last time Hall played the Giants he scored. Hall averages 22.56 yards per catch in his career.

Saquon Barkley ($8,900) is also in play in cash games. The Lions have allowed the second-most fantasy points to the running back position over the past four weeks.

Jets at Jaguars

It was Leonard Fournette ($7,800) week last week, and it looks like that could be happening once again. Except for this time Fournette should find the end zone. No team has allowed more rushing touchdowns this season to running backs than the New York Jets. Over the past four weeks running backs are averaging 7.5 red zone touches per game. Considering he is averaging 24.5 touches per game he has to be locked into your cash lineups. Fournette is second in the NFL in red zone carries (27). The Jets could also be without linebacker C.J. Mosley who is dealing with a nagging groin injury.

Eagles at Bills

The Eagles are allowing the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers over the past four weeks. That means Josh Allen ($6,500) and John Brown ($5,900) are always in play. If you are looking to go cheaper at receiver Cole Beasley ($4,200) is a great value.

Zach Ertz ($5,100) is a strong fade even at his price because the matchup is very tough. Bills have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the tight end position. If anything I would suggest playing Dallas Goedert ($2,800) who is too cheap for a tight end that has scored 25.7 DraftKings points over the last two weeks.

Seahawks at Falcons

Russell Wilson ($7,200) is definitely in consideration for cash games this week. Wilson is facing the worst defense in the league against the quarterback position. Though you like him much more if Matt Ryan is there to put pressure on Wilson to score points in this game. The best play in this game might be either Chris Carson ($7,000) or DK Metcalf ($5,000). Falcons have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers and have allowed the third-most passing plays over 20 yards (28). Carson is averaging 23 touches per game making him an easy cash play versus arguably the league’s worst defense.

Buccaneers at Titans

I was talking up Ryan Tannehill last week and he delivered in a big way. He scored 23.18 DraftKings fantasy points last week and gets an even better matchup versus the Buccaneers at just $5,100. Corey Davis ($4,400) is a massive chalk wide receiver play because of his price and the matchup. The Buccaneers have allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers over the last four weeks. Also when Corey Davis has had at least five receptions this season he has scored at least 20 DraftKings points. A.J. Brown ($4,100) is also a great cheap wide receiver to target coming off a career-high eight targets in Week 7.

Both Mike Evans ($6,600), Chris Godwin ($7,100) and Jameis Winston ($5,900) are all in play for GPPs because of the middling matchup.

Late Games

Panthers at 49ers

Tevin Coleman ($5,000) is probably in the best spot out of all the 49ers’ running backs. As the main rusher, he will benefit from the Panthers allowing 4.7 yards per attempt and 1.2 rushing touchdowns per game.

Christian McCaffrey ($9,200) will come in at lower ownership because of his tough matchup, making him an excellent GPP play. I still think you can play him in cash though. CMC has produced in tough matchups already this year and with 27 touches per game, he should still hit value. Besides the 49ers have rarely been tested this year versus running backs. The best back they have faced (Nick Chubb) rushed for 87 yards and they allowed 81 rushing yards to Adrian Peterson. Don’t overweight the matchup. Last year also when McCaffrey faced the number one rush defense in the Baltimore Ravens he scored 19.60 fantasy points.

Browns at Patriots

Tom Brady ($6,600) is in play and a perfect player to pair him with is James White ($5,100). The Browns have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks over the past four weeks. White has been running extremely bad when it comes to touchdowns. He has 11 targets in the red zone, but just one touchdown.

Raiders at Texans

It is Kenny Stills ($4,700) chalk week folks. With Will Fuller on the sideline, Stills is entrenched to that deep threat role on the Texans. This comes at a perfect time versus the Raiders who have allowed the most passing plays of 20 yards or more (32), and rank fifth-worst in sacks on the quarterback. Deshaun Watson ($7,100) is locked in for a productive outing for both cash and GPP formats.

The matchup to expose here is rookie Lonnie Johnson Jr. on the Houston Texans because they are so banged up in their secondary. Johnson has lined up at right cornerback the majority of this season making his matchup most likely versus Tyrell Williams ($5,500) or Keelan Doss ($3,300). Johnson Jr. allowed four touchdowns in coverage last week on nine targets.