NFL DFS Week 8 has arrived. We spotlight some core plays each week to help you build a winning weekly DFS lineup on Fanduel and DraftKings. In creating a successful lineup, we research and find positional values to see where you can save money and players with projected low ownership who can pay 2x-2.5x of their listed DFS salary.
You bank on getting a minimum of 20 points from the quarterback position. You can not miss this position. Expect to pay up at the tight-end position. You can save at other spots. A successful strategy can be the QB-TE stack. These core plays will give you a nucleus for your DFS build.
Perhaps most importantly, you don’t need me to tell you to use Josh Allen or Justin Jefferson in your Week 8 builds. These recommendations are designed to give you players we feel will be low-owned, value-priced, if possible, and a unique DFS build. We want a DFS line-up different from the masses and most likely made with an optimizer. Look for single or smaller slates to build your DFS bankroll. Expecting to hit the Sunday million jackpot regularly is not statistically sound.
DFS Start ‘Ems
Here are a few of the players we are heavily leaning on in this game. These players are in a good spot to have a solid performance and a favorable matchup.
Jalen Hurts ($7.5k DraftKings and $8.6k Fanduel)
We love Hurts this week, as he gets the Cincinnati defense ranked 27th in fantasy points allowed to the quarterback position. Hurts gives us a nice floor with his rushing ability, and he has three rushing touchdowns in his last three games. Hurts enters week 8 as only QB21 but has been QB11 for the last week, averaging 22.31 fantasy points. Hurts also has the potential to be less owned, with all the top quarterbacks available on a zero bye week.
J.K. Dobbins ($6.9k DraftKings and $7.4k Fanduel)
We are returning to Dobbins this week after his subpar performance in week seven. This presents a great spot to use Dobbins after he upset the masses with his disappointing week 7. Dobbins faces the Saints defense, which ranks 28th in points allowed to the running back position. The Chargers are 0-3 in games where Dobbins fails to top 100 yards from scrimmage and 3-0 when he does. Dobbins is the overall RB18 in PPR fantasy and is a must-DFS play this week.
Dontayvion Wicks ($5.3k DraftKings and $5.9k Fanduel)
We found ourselves a salary-saver option for our wide receiver DFS play. Wicks is a risky play but leads all Packers wideouts with four touchdowns and is tied for the team lead in targets. He comes at DFS salary, only needing 11.8 points to pay 2x salary. The issue holding Wicks back is his 36.8% catch rate, but at $59k, he is worth the risk.
DFS Sit ‘Ems
On the flip side, here are a few players we recommend sitting in this one.
Drake Maye ($5.5k DraftKings and $7.1k Fanduel)
Maye has gotten off to a decent start, averaging 14.1 fantasy points per game, which put him in the QB2 category. In week 8, he faces a Jets defense ranked 4th in points allowed to the position and ranked second against the pass. The Jets are a touchdown favorite to the Patriots and will be looking to get after Maye, especially after last week’s subpar defensive performance. We are sitting Drake Maye this week.
Tony Pollard ($6.5k DraftKings and $6.5k Fanduel)
Last week, Pollard had a plus matchup, but this week gets the stout Lions rush defense. Detriot is ranked second in points allowed to the position and fifth in the league in yards rushing allowed per game. We know you are starting Pollard all season long, but in DFS, he is a definite sit based on the matchup metrics.
Diontae Johnson ($4.9k DraftKings and $6k Fanduel)
Bryce Young is back as the Panthers’ starting quarterback this week, which nukes Diontae Johnson in season-long and DFS this week. In the two games Young started, Johnson had five catches for 34 yards and 8.4 fantasy points. This sit is an indictment on Byrce Young and not Johnson, as Young in those two starts averaged 5.8 points. In addition, the Bronco’s defense is ranked second in fantasy points to wideouts and should have Surtain back. Diontae Johnson is simply not a DFS option in week 8.
Total Apex Stud of the Week
Breece Hall (DraftKings and $7.3k Fanduel)
Breece Hall’s fantasy production has trended up since Saleh was fired. In the last two games under new coordinator Todd Downing, Hall is RB8, averaging 13 fantasy points per game, 18 total touches, and a touchdown. We chose Hall as our DFS lock because he gets about as good a matchup as you can get versus a New England defense ranked 31st in fantasy points allowed to the position. The Jets should also be in a positive game script with the fifth-biggest point spread differential at the Vegas Books.
Total Apex Dud of the Week
Trevor Lawrence ($7.2k DraftKings and $7.2k Fanduel)
We regularly use Anthony Richardson here each week until he proves us wrong but we like the Colts to win this week. Instead, we are using Trevor Lawrence as our DFS fade of the week. Lawrence is overall QB20, and in three games against top-five fantasy defenses in points allowed to the quarterback position he has 14.7 fantasy points. In week 8, he gets the sixth-ranked Packers defense. He has topped 20 fantasy points only once this season, and we state every week we need a minimum of 20 from this spot in DFS.
Stack of the Week
Recommended Stacks: Jalen Hurts-A.J. Brown/ Caleb Williams-D.J. Moore / Dak Prescott-CeeDee Lamb
Additional Starts: Dak Prescott, Caleb Williams, Kirk Cousins, Sean Tucker (If Irving is inactive), James Connor, Kenneth Walker, Jayden Reed, Garrett Wilson, Cade Otton, Dalton Kincaid
Additional Sits: Spencer Rattler, Justin Herbert, Alvin Kamara, Chubba Hubbard, Quentin Johnson, Josh Downs, Mark Andrews
Conclusion
Each week in DFS, your payline for FanDuel is approximately 125 points, which is 2x per player. For example, a player with a $4500 salary needs 9 points. DraftKings pay line is approximately 134 points, which is 2.5x per player. So, for a $4500 salary, that player would need 9.9 points. We also want a DFS lineup unique to the masses. You want players that are projected for low ownership.
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