NFL Week 8 features a 12-game main slate starting at 1 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays at each position using the FantasyLabs Tools.
And don’t forget to check out our Lineup Builder if you like to hand build your lineups, or are Lineup Optimizer for those of you that like to enter multiple lineups into tournaments.
Quarterback
Stud
Josh Allen is the most expensive quarterback on this slate, but he’s worth it if you can afford him. He’s been red-hot recently, scoring at least 32.72 DraftKings points in three of the past four weeks, and he owns a great matchup vs. the Dolphins. He owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +2.7, which is the fourth-highest mark at the position.
Allen also stands out from a Vegas perspective. The Bills are favored by 14 points at home, and their implied team total of 31.5 points is the top mark on the slate. Allen has historically provided excellent value in games with an implied team total of at least 28 points, posting an average Plus/Minus of +2.92 on DraftKings (per the Trends tool).
Allen struggled in his first meeting vs. the Dolphins this season, but he has still done some of his best work in that matchup. He’s averaged 29.39 DraftKings points in seven career starts, good for an average Plus/Minus of +8.95. If you’re spending up at the position, Allen is the easy top choice.
Value
Teddy Bridgewater is coming off a poor showing in his last contest, finishing with just 14.78 DraftKings points vs. the Browns. However, there are reasons to believe in a bounce-back vs. the Football Team. For starters, the Football Team has been a major pass funnel this season. Opposing teams have struggled to run the ball vs. the Football Team, who rank eighth in Football Outsiders rush defense DVOA. That means opposing quarterbacks have had to take to the air, and they’ve found plenty of success in that matchup. The Football Team ranks just 29th in pass defense DVOA, and Bridgewater owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +3.8 on DraftKings.
Additionally, Bridgewater will have his top pass-catcher back in the lineup this week. Jerry Jeudy has been out of the lineup since Week 1, but he has already been ruled in vs. the Football Team. That could be a huge boost for their passing attack. Bridgewater and Jeudy hooked up for six catches and 72 yards in just 31 snaps in Week 1, and he gives the team a legit option next to Courtland Sutton.
Quick Hits
If you’re not paying up for Allen but don’t want to go all the way down to Bridgewater, Jalen Hurts is the perfect middle-ground option on DraftKings. He owns an excellent matchup vs. the Lions, who rank just 27th in pass defense DVOA, and Hurts has been extremely consistent all year. He’s scored at least 21.8 DraftKings points in all seven games, making him the perfect option for cash games.
Sam Darnold has been a disaster recently, but should you consider buying low on him in tournaments? Billy Ward makes the case in this week’s Quarterback Breakdown.
Matthew Stafford owns the second-highest implied team total of the week at 30.5 points, and he’s been outstanding for most of the year. He’s scored at least 26.24 DraftKings points in four of seven games, so he’s displayed week-winning upside as well.
Running Back
Stud
Darrell Henderson is coming off a disappointing performance last week, finishing with just 9.4 DraftKings points vs. the Lions. That was his first week of the year with less than 15.7 DraftKings points, so he’s a strong bounce-back candidate vs. the Texans. They’ve been awful against the run this season, ranking 30th in rush defense DVOA.
Henderson is also a monster favorite for the second straight week. That didn’t help him last week vs. the Lions, but large favorites have historically fared well at the running back position. The Lions are also much more vulnerable against the pass than the run, so it’s not surprising that Stafford and the passing attack racked up a bigger game.
Henderson stands out as an elite target on DraftKings, where his $6,500 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 93%.
Value
The Eagles placed Miles Sanders on Injured Reserve this week, which opens the door for Kenneth Gainwell to operate as the team’s feature back. Gainwell has already been a factor in the Eagles’ rushing attack this season, garnering 15% of the team’s carries and 13% of their targets. The one big weakness in his skill set was that Sanders was able to get the majority of the touches near the goal line, so Gainwell should see a boost in that department.
Of course, Gainwell will still have to contend with Hurts, who leads the team in rushing attempts, yards, and touchdowns. Still, the receptions are what make Gainwell particularly appealing, and the Lions rank dead last in pass defense DVOA vs. running backs.
I wouldn’t expect Gainwell to be a true bell-cow – Boston Scott should factor into the equation – but Gainwell projects to see enough high-value touches in an elite spot.
Quick Hits
On the other side of that matchup, D’Andre Swift should garner heavy ownership for the Lions. He’s been outstanding this season, posting an average Plus/Minus of +8.68 on DraftKings, and he’s game-script proof. He can contribute in the running game and the passing game, so he can provide value no matter what happens in this contest.
Jonathan Taylor hasn’t garnered the typical volume for an elite running back, but he’s made up for it with excellent efficiency. He’s averaged 5.5 yards per carry and 11.8 yards per reception, and he leads the position with 10 Pro Trends on DraftKings. He’s also underpriced on DraftKings, where his $7,200 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 95%.
The best matchup of the week belongs to James Robinson. He’s taking on the Seahawks, resulting in an Opponent Plus/Minus of +6.0 on DraftKings. He’s also one of the best on DraftKings given his Bargain Rating of 98%.
There are plenty of viable options at the position this week, and Billy Ward breaks down a bunch of the other top candidates in this week’s Running Back Breakdown.
Wide Receiver
Stud
Cooper Kupp has taken a massive step forward this season with Stafford at quarterback. He leads the league in virtually every receiving metric: catches (56), yards (809), yards per game (115.6), and touchdowns (nine). He’s also received a steady diet of targets, logging at least 10 in all seven games.
That gives Kupp a safe floor and a high ceiling on a weekly basis. He’s scored at least 16.2 DraftKings points in all but one week this season, and he’s had four games of at least 30.6.
There’s no reason to shy away from Kupp vs. the Texans. Pro Football Focus gives him the largest advantage at the position on Sunday, and he leads all receivers in median, ceiling, and floor projection in our NFL Models.
The only question with Kupp is should you pay up for him in cash games? It’s going to be tough to fit him, but he certainly makes sense if you have the salary cap available.
Value
Another factor working against Kupp in cash games is that there are a bunch of strong values at the position this week.
Jeudy is probably my favorite. He was officially activated from the IR on Saturday, and he should step right back into his early-season role. Jeudy finished with 13.2 DraftKings points in just one half of football in his only game this season, so he’s an excellent value at just $4,900.
Jeudy also has an exploitable matchup. He plays most of his snaps from the slot, and slot corner Danny Johnson was torched in coverage last week. He allowed five catches on seven targets, and he was only on the field for 27 routes. Johnson also surrendered a touchdown, resulting in an average of 0.52 fantasy points per route run.
Jamison Crowder also deserves some attention. The Jets’ passing attack is dreadful, but someone has to be on the receiving end of their pass attempts. Corey Davis is not expected to suit up this week, so Crowder figures to be that guy. He’s near the top of the position in terms of projected Plus/Minus on DraftKings.
Michael Pittman is also underpriced across the industry. The Colts played in torrential conditions last week, but that didn’t stop Pittman from racking up over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. He has emerged as the Colts’ clear alpha receiver this year, racking up 23% of their targets and 35% of their air yards. T.Y. Hilton is tentatively expected to suit up, but Pittman’s role as their top receiver should be safe in a solid matchup vs. the Titans.
Quick Hits
Most of the attention for the Bengals last week was placed on Ja’Marr Chase, who continues to do ridiculous things for a rookie. That said, Tee Higgins actually racked up 15 targets in that contest. Higgins is significantly cheaper than Chase across the industry, making him a strong option vs. a questionable Jets’ secondary.
Paying up for a premium player at the position is extremely viable on FanDuel. Guys like Stefon Diggs and Mike Williams both own Bargain Ratings of at least 98%, and both players have the potential to break a slate. Williams is particularly appealing for guaranteed prize pools (GPPs) given his high ceiling and projected low ownership.
Calvin Ridley has been one of the unluckiest receivers in football this season. PFF credits him with the third-most expected DraftKings points per game, but he has outscored his expected production by nearly six fantasy points per week. He’s an interesting buy-low option vs. the Panthers.
Can you consider Amon-Ra St. Brown and Van Jefferson this week? Billy Ward highlights both players in this week’s Wide Receiver Breakdown.
Tight End
Stud
This is a brutal week at tight end. We’re missing Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, Mark Andrews, and George Kittle from the main slate, which leaves us without four of the best players at the position.
However, Tyler Higbee is a solid consolation prize. He played on every single snap last week – something he’s done multiple times this season – and he also racked up eight targets. Those are both outstanding marks for a tight end. He ultimately finished with just 9.6 DraftKings points, but the potential is there for a big week.
Higbee also has an excellent matchup vs. the Texans. They’ve struggled against opposing tight ends all season, giving him an Opponent Plus/Minus of +3.2 on DraftKings. Higbee is a viable target across the industry.
Value
Dan Arnold is dirt cheap at just $2,800 on DraftKings, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 97%. He was acquired just a few weeks ago by the Jaguars, but they’ve wasted little time integrating him into their offense. He’s seen 13 targets over the past two weeks, and he’s finished with eight receptions for 91 yards.
The Jaguars had their bye last week, so expect Darnold to be even more involved moving forward. His snap should be higher with the extra time to learn the playbook, and the Jaguars have plenty of targets available due to the injury to D.J. Chark.
Quick Hits
The tight ends in the Eagles-Lions game both have plenty of merit. T.J. Hockenson has slowed down after an excellent start to the year, but he’s seen 20 targets over the past two weeks. Dallas Goedert saw a large snap boost last week vs. the Raiders, which is not surprising following the trade of Zach Ertz. He finished with 10.5 FanDuel points, and there could be bigger games coming.
Has Kyle Pitts finally broken out? It’s very possible. He’s smashed in back-to-back weeks, and last week’s game came with Ridley back in the lineup. That’s a very good sign for his fantasy prospects moving forward. He does have a difficult matchup this week vs. the Panthers, but his $6,800 salary on FanDuel comes with a Bargain Rating of 98%.
Is Jared Cook in play on this slate? Read more about the veteran tight end in this week’s Tight End Breakdown.
Roster Construction
This week’s DraftKings’ build features two obvious sources of value: Arnold and Jefferson. If you lock those two players into your lineup and punt on defense, it leaves you with nearly $6,900 for your remaining six roster spots. That gives you the flexibility to go in basically whatever direction you choose.
One idea would be to pair Jefferson with Kupp, and there’s merit to that strategy. The Rams aren’t going to play DeSean Jackson this week, so there are more snaps available at the wide receiver position than usual.
If you really want to load up on the Rams, you can also use Henderson at running back. I wouldn’t advocate for playing those three players without Stafford in a tournament, but it does make some sense in a cash game. You’re essentially hoping to capture most of the touchdowns for the team with the second-highest implied team total of the week.
The other option is to spend down at wide receiver and use two options like Higgins and Pittman. Both players grade out as better points-per-dollar options than Kupp, but the problem is there’s no one else really worth shelling out big bucks for. Even if you go with Allen at quarterback, it’s still hard to fill your running back spots. You could use someone like Henry or Alvin Kamara, but those feel more like tournament plays than cash plays this week. For that reason, paying up for Kupp seems like the best course.
As usual, you don’t need to get as cute with the value plays on FanDuel. You can comfortably slot in Hibgee at tight end and Crowder as your cheapest receiver and still easily fill out your lineup. Allen is also easier to jam in at quarterback given his 85% Bargain Rating.
Elijah Mitchell also stands out as an elite option for FanDuel cash games. He’s back from the IR and has reclaimed his spot as the 49ers’ top running back, and he finished with 16.7 FanDuel points last week.
If you roll with Mitchell and Henderson at running back, you can easily use Allen, Diggs, and Kupp alongside them. That’s a tasty combo.
As far as GPPs, you can utilize our NFL Models to identify some potentially overlooked targets. We do ownership projections for every player, and our Leverage Rating compares those projected ownerships to each player’s projected ceiling. If a player has a high ceiling but low projected ownership, they will have a strong Leverage Rating. Those types of players are ideal in tournaments.
Ryan Hodge, Justin Bailey, and Mike Randle do a great job of identifying some high upside GPP targets in their Concise Convictions, Small-Field GPP Strategy, and Top Stacks articles.
