I finally got back on track last week. One of my favorite aspects of fantasy football has become playing on DraftKings. Every week is like a new puzzle to figure out. Whether you are more of a cash game player or a tournament player, each presents a unique challenge. Let’s take a look at my favorite Week 8 DraftKings plays.
DraftKings Plays for Week 8
Week 7 Recap
It’s always good to be completely transparent and demonstrate accountability and that holds true when it comes to providing fantasy football advice.
🚨RECAP THREAD🚨
For full transparency each week I'll recap my suggested #DraftKings plays to see if they hit the 2.5x we generally shoot for each week!#FantasyFootball#Fantasy#FantasyFootballAdvice#NFL#NFLTwitter#MondayMorning@MyFantasyLeague
https://t.co/ms1s0pj8Xz— ✴️Rob Norton✴️ (@norton0723) October 26, 2020
Looking back at Week 7, it turned from worst to first as it was my best week yet. This week 73.3% of my recommendations hit the 2.5x value we look for in cash game lineups. This time quarterback was the best group at 100% success rate. Meanwhile, the tight end group stayed in last at a 33.3% success rate. It was a nice bounce back week. Now, the task is to stay on track with the Week 8 DraftKings plays.
- Week 7 – $400 → $743 ($343 PROFIT)
- Year Total – $2,407 → $1,641 ($766 LOSS)
Week 8 DraftKings Plays
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson (SEA) – $7,800 v SF
Russell Wilson is always one of the safest quarterback plays every week. He’s so efficient that the floor and ceiling are both so high. Safe to say, he should finally get those elusive MVP votes this year. The worry with Wilson has always been that the Seattle Seahawks jump out to an early lead and then they lean on the running game. That worry is alleviated in the weeks the Seahawks are figured to end up in a shootout. While the San Francisco 49ers aren’t an offensive juggernaut, they are more than capable of making this a competitive game. The Seahawks are also likely to be without starting running back Chris Carson this week as he recovers from a foot injury. That combination could mean that Wilson keeps his foot on the gas and throws more often than usual and that bodes well for his outlook this week.
Joe Burrow (CIN) – $6,200 v TEN
Joe Burrow has played well in his rookie season. He is currently the QB13 in points per game. Burrow also has the most drop backs and pass attempts in the league at this point. He is third in the NFL in passing yards and he is currently on pace for 670 passing attempts and over 4,600 passing yards. This is anyone’s idea of a high-volume passing attack. That trend should continue this week against the Tennessee Titans. Not only are the Titans favored, but they also play at one of the fastest paces in the NFL. With Tennessee likely to jump out to an early lead, that should push Burrow into plenty of volume again in this one. The cherry on top is the extra points Burrow can chip in with his legs. He is currently seventh among all quarterbacks in rushing attempts as well. Add it all up and he looks like a great option again this week.
Joe Burrow is the first rookie in NFL history to record 3 Pass TD, 1 Rush TD and throw for 350+ pass yards in a game. H/T @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/U4l1KuX8uf
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 25, 2020
Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) – $5,400 @ SEA
Jimmy Garoppolo is usually the anti-Joe Burrow when it comes to fantasy. Garoppolo has been solid enough from an efficiency standpoint but severely lacks volume. Since San Francisco has been so good the last few years, especially on defense, they’ve been able to jump out to leads and lean on their tremendous run game. While that’s still somewhat true, it hasn’t been quite the same this year. Their defense hasn’t been quite as strong which should help to lead to more games in which they are trailing and thus more pass attempts. That’s the type of game script to be expected this week against Wilson and the Seahawks. For more on Garoppolo, you can find it here on my Stream Team article.
Others to Consider: Sam Darnold (NYJ) – $4,800 @ KC, Ryan Tannehill (TEN) – $6,800 @ CIN, Josh Allen (BUF) – $7,000 v NE
Running Backs
Derrick Henry (TEN) – $8,000 @ CIN
I’m usually not one to play Derrick Henry anywhere near as much as most people on DraftKings. I’m usually fading him more often than not because of his lack of pass game usage. This week, however, it might be hard to get away from him. He gets to take on the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals have not been able to stop anyone this year. They are one of the least efficient defenses in the NFL. The Titans like to lean on Henry once they grab a lead and they should be able to do so in this one. With his lack of receiving stats, he needs to hit the 100 yard bonus and score a touchdown but it seems likely that happens against the Bengals.
Kareem Hunt (CLE) – $6,900 v LV
It’s somewhat surprising that Kareem Hunt’s salary has stayed pretty steady over the past couple weeks. He had a rough game against the Pittsburgh Steelers but bounced back nicely last week against the Bengals. The most encouraging part was that he was back to a workhorse role again as he saw a 92% snap share last week, good for best among all running backs in the NFL in Week 7. This week he gets to face a Las Vegas Raiders defense that has allowed the second most DraftKings points to running backs on the year. They’ve allowed a 27% target share and 62.3 receiving yards per game to running backs this year. Hunt ran a route on 79% (22/28) of Baker Mayfield’s dropbacks last week. At this salary, Hunt could likely be a nice bargain as a Week 8 DraftKings play.
Kareem Hunt's big week is here. 3.0 yards after contact this year (2nd best in the NFL) facing Raiders giving up 2.9 after contact (worst in NFL).
He's going to do some damage.
— Andy Holloway (@andyholloway) October 28, 2020
Myles Gaskin (MIA) – $5,200 v LAR
Myles Gaskin was probably not on the radar of my many fantasy football players, back in draft season. But Gaskin has taken over the workhorse role in that backfield thus far this season. He doesn’t necessarily have the highest ceiling, but he’s shown a high floor so far. He’s scored double digit points in every game this year besides one in which he had 9.2. A big reason is that he’s so involved in the passing game. Gaskin has had at least four targets in every single game so far and is currently fourth among all running backs with 27 receptions. While the matchup this week against the Los Angeles Rams isn’t great, that type of involvement in the passing game makes Gaskin a great option each week, especially at a reduced price.
Jamaal Williams (GB) – $6,100 v MIN
It’s looking likely that Aaron Jones plays it safe and sits another week. That will put Jamaal Williams squarely in the mix as a viable option once again. Last week, when Jones sat out, Williams filled in admirably as he saw 89% of the snaps and had 19 carries and four receptions. That’s workhorse level usage and he produced with 21.4 points. If Jones does in fact sit, it should be more of the same. This is a matchup with a high O/U and with pass game usage in his repertoire, this price is still too cheap. The weather looks like it could be ugly in this one which could limit scoring a bit, but it’s more of a concern for the pass games as opposed to the run games. Adams will be a popular play once again if Jones sits.
Others to Consider: Dalvin Cook (MIN) – $7,500 @ GB, Alvin Kamara (NO) – $8,200 @ CHI, Giovanni Bernard (CIN) – $5,800 v TEN, David Montgomery (CHI) – $5,900 v NO
Wide Receivers
Keenan Allen (LAC) – $6,200 @ DEN
Another game, another 10+ targets for Keenan Allen and yet somehow his salary stays the same. This makes no sense at all. He has seen at least 10 targets in every game with Justin Herbert this year. Only Davante Adams and Jamison Crowder are averaging more targets per game on the season and that’s including a two target game in which Allen left early. In all other games, the Chargers receiver is averaging 12.2 targets per game. Last week he turned 13 targets into 10 receptions for 125 yards. It is safe to say his floor is as high as any. This week he is facing the Denver Broncos and that isn’t a matchup to shy away from. Allen is likely to continue to see a massive target share and with a price that hasn’t caught up yet, he should be a good fantasy play this week.
Davante Adams (GB) – $8,800 v MIN
Adams is likely to project for the highest raw point total among all wide receivers this week. He is priced accordingly as he is in his own tier with the next closest wide receiver (D.K. Metcalf) coming in at $7,500. Adams is fresh off a 47.6 point game in which he saw 16 targets. He finished with 13 catches for 196 yards and two scores. Amazingly, this is his second 40-point game of the year. The other one just so happens to be against this same Minnesota Vikings defense back in Week 1 when he torched them for 14 catches and 156 yards, with two scores, good for 44.6 points. That sort of production will work no matter the salary. Adams is a true target hog as he’s seen at least 10 targets in all healthy games so far. The only real worry for him is the projected weather in this one so keep an eye out as the week progresses. Regardless, Adams should be a nice play if you can afford him.
Davante Adams in his last 16 games
• 132 catches
• 1672 yards
• 11 touchdownsIf Tae’s playing, Tae’s ballin 💸 pic.twitter.com/L0Iuxp7Xuq
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) October 28, 2020
Brandon Aiyuk (SF) – $5,800 @ SEA
Brandon Aiyuk has been a bit of a rollercoaster so far but he’s shown flashes. That should be expected from a rookie, especially one on a more run-heavy offense. But, as mentioned with Jimmy Garoppolo, that shouldn’t be the case this week against Seattle. Not only should San Francisco be passing more this week, but they’ll also be without top wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Last week Kyle Shanahan showed that he likes to manufacture touches for Aiyuk considering how good he is after the catch. Last week he saw seven targets and turned those into six catches for 115 yards. That should continue this week in this great matchup. Not normally considered a cash game viable option, Aiyuk can be comfortably counted on for at least seven targets in this one and therefore will be a popular option at this price point.
Tyler Boyd (CIN) – $6,600 v TEN
It feels like Tyler Boyd is underappreciated. He currently is eighth in the NFL in total targets (61) and tied for third in the NFL in receptions (48). He also currently has the eighth most PPR points among all wide receivers. Boyd is currently on pace for 140 targets, 110 receptions, 1,182 yards, and 4.5 touchdowns. That’s extremely high end PPR production. Boyd is the alpha wide receiver on a Bengals team that has the most drop backs in the NFL so far. Cincy’s style of play is likely to continue considering their defensive woes. That bodes well for Burrow, Boyd, and the passing game. And the Titans have allowed the fifth most DraftKings points to wide receivers so far. It is unfortunate that Boyd has seen a price increase, however, he should be in a good spot to return nice value again this week.
Others to Consider: Kenny Golladay (DET) – $6,600 v IND, Tyreek Hill (KC) – $6,700 v NYJ, Jamison Crowder (NYJ) – $5,800 @ KC, Tee Higgins (CIN) – $5,600 vs TEN, Diontae Johnson (PIT) – $5,500 @ BAL, Kendrick Bourne (SF) – $3,500 @ SEA
Tight Ends
Darren Waller (LV) – $5,600 @ CLE
Darren Waller has been a baller this year, plain and simple. He is second in the NFL in both receptions and targets per game among all tight ends behind only George Kittle and third in yards per game behind only Kittle and Travis Kelce. He has been consistent as well as he has had at least 10.5 DraftKings points, at least five receptions, and at least seven targets in every game except one so far this year. Waller is clearly a target hog at a position where that is not the norm. This week’s matchup is a juicy one as well against the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland has given up the fifth most points to tight ends so far. The Browns don’t have great coverage linebackers and safeties. This looks like another game that could be negatively affected by weather so make sure to keep an eye on that.
Jonnu Smith (TEN) – $4,100 @ CIN
After a scorching hot start, Jonnu Smith has come back down to earth a bit the last two weeks. A big reason for that has been an ankle injury that has been bothering him. It is impossible to know the true state of his ankle but if he is practicing in full, it is likely that he is at least close to fully healthy. A fully healthy Smith against this Bengals defense is a scary thought. The Bengals have given up the most points to tight ends so far this year and have just been a downright awful defense in general. This game also projects to be one of the fastest-paced matchups of the week. All of this should bode well for Smith’s output this week.
The #Bengals have allowed 6 TE TDs over their last 3 games.
Jonnu Smith, tied for the league lead among TEs with 5 scores, gets Cincinnati this week.
— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) October 26, 2020
Trey Burton (IND) – $3,500 @ DET
The “Trey Burton Resurgence” tour has been wild and yet not even one of the weirdest experiences of 2020. It’s been a surprise to see Burton not only healthy, but actually contributing so far. Over the past three games prior to the bye, Burton has seen at least five targets in all of them. He’s been running routes on the majority of Philip Rivers’ drop backs as well. This doesn’t look like a great matchup on paper as the Detroit Lions have allowed the second fewest points to tight ends so far, but don’t put too much weight in that. Detroit is not a good defense in general and this game is going to be in a dome on a week with so many games subject to terrible weather. For a guy who is seeing a healthy amount of weekly routes and targets and is going against a generally bad defense in a dome, Burton should be a solid Week 8 DraftKings play.
Others to Consider: Irv Smith Jr. (MIN) – $3,000 @ GB, George Kittle (SF) – $7,000 @ SEA, Hunter Henry (LAC) – $4,200 @ DEN
Defense/Special Teams
In terms of choosing a defense/special teams, it should be the last position fantasy players fill each week. It is pretty random but there are a few areas to gain an advantage. Players should look to target the teams that are heavily favored as they usually are playing with a lead. This forces their opponent to throw it more often which can help lead to extra sacks and turnovers and hopefully a touchdown. Another aspect to target is turnover and sack-prone quarterbacks. With that being said, fill out the rest of your lineup first and then pick your favorite D/ST out of the remaining money.
Tentative Week 8 DraftKings Cash Game Lineup
- QB – Jimmy Garoppolo
- RB – Kareem Hunt
- RB – Myles Gaskin
- WR – Tyler Lockett
- WR – Keenan Allen
- WR – Kendrick Bourne
- TE – George Kittle
- Flex – Jamaal Williams
- DST – Cleveland Browns
Make sure to tune in next week to see the results from my Week 8 DraftKings plays and to see the best picks for Week 9. Best of luck to everyone and let’s all enjoy some football.
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