Last week was my best article of the season. We had Joe Burrow as our highlight player but also hit on guys like Josh Jacobs and Joe Mixon. What’s unfortunate about this time of the year are all of the injuries, but it’s something we need to capitalize on for DFS.
There are plenty of capable backups in the NFL, and many of the stars you see today are there because they stepped up when someone went down. That’ll surely be a major theme in this article, so, let’s start with the quarterbacks.
The players below are ones I’m looking at for GPP considerations for Week 8:
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Daniel Jones (NYG): $5,700, at SEA
Jones doesn’t have the best arm out there, but this guy’s legs keep him fantasy relevant. He actually ranks Top-5 in the NFL 10-yard runs, averaging 18 DraftKings points per game. That’s one of the highest totals on this lackluster slate, as DJ scored a season-best 32 DK points in Week 7. A line like that makes Jones one of the best GPP plays on the slate, especially since he faces a Seattle secondary that sits 29th in yardage surrendered.
Last week was my best article of the season. We had Joe Burrow as our highlight player but also hit on guys like Josh Jacobs and Joe Mixon. What’s unfortunate about this time of the year are all of the injuries, but it’s something we need to capitalize on for DFS.
There are plenty of capable backups in the NFL, and many of the stars you see today are there because they stepped up when someone went down. That’ll surely be a major theme in this article, so, let’s start with the quarterbacks.
The players below are ones I’m looking at for GPP considerations for Week 8:
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Daniel Jones (NYG): $5,700, at SEA
Jones doesn’t have the best arm out there, but this guy’s legs keep him fantasy relevant. He actually ranks Top-5 in the NFL 10-yard runs, averaging 18 DraftKings points per game. That’s one of the highest totals on this lackluster slate, as DJ scored a season-best 32 DK points in Week 7. A line like that makes Jones one of the best GPP plays on the slate, especially since he faces a Seattle secondary that sits 29th in yardage surrendered.
Marcus Mariota (ATL): $5,400, vs. CAR
I always tend to lean toward mobile quarterbacks in a GPP because these guys can produce 10-15 additional DK points with their legs. Mariota’s been doing almost all of his damage on the ground, averaging 16.3 DK points per game. Getting 16 fantasy points from a $5,400 player is a godsend, and we shouldn’t be concerned about him facing a 19th-ranked Carolina defense.
FanDuel
Jalen Hurts (PHI): $9,200, vs. PIT
I rarely choose the highest-priced player on the board, but that could keep Hurts’ ownership percentage low. Many people will pivot to the cheaper guys, but Hurts is the best option in an otherwise ugly player pool. He’s leading all quarterbacks on this slate with 25 FanDuel points per game, which is seven points higher than the guy in second. Pittsburgh’s defense has been pitiful, too, allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing signal callers this year.
Geno Smith (SEA): $7,000, vs. NYG
We’re in the middle of a Geno breakout, aren’t we? This former college stud appears to have found a home in Seattle, averaging over 18 FanDuel points per game. That’s the third-highest mark among all quarterbacks, and it’s strange to see him priced so reasonably on such a short slate. A matchup with the Giants is no easy task, but they do sit 20th in yardage allowed.
In Consideration: Kirk Cousins (MIN): DK $6,100/FD $7,800, vs. ARI
Cousins has at least 17 DraftKings points in three of his last four games. That makes him an attractive option against Arizona, with the Cardinals allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Running Backs
DraftKings
Derrick Henry (TEN): $8,400, at HOU
Henry is the best play on the board. He needs to be used in cash games and GPPs across every DFS lineup. We’re talking about a guy who’s averaging the most fantasy points per game since 2020, facing one of the worst defenses. The Texans have allowed the most rushing yards and DK points to opposing backs. That’s horrifying since Henry received 30 carries in Week 7, marking his third-straight 100-yard game. Just take the guaranteed 100-150 yards and a touchdown and build from there.
Darrell Henderson (LAR): $5,500, vs. SF
San Fran’s defense can be frightening, but this price is too low. Henderson has played in nearly 70 percent of the team’s snaps since Cam Akers went down, establishing himself as the goal-line back as well. That’s led to him scoring at least 10 DraftKings points in every game he’s received double-digit carries. We have to assume Los Angeles will do that again without Cam, which made Henderson a $7K player in the past.
FanDuel
Jonathan Taylor (IND): $8,300, vs. WAS
Fantasy managers are panicking about JT, but this is still one of the best backs in football. He led the league in fantasy points last year but has seen his numbers plummet due to injury. The good news is that he’s fully healthy now and should return to the every-down horse we saw last season. Taylor was a $10K player in that same role last year, and he shouldn’t have any issues against a Washington team that owns a 22nd OPRK against opposing backs.
Raheem Mostert (MIA): $6,800, at DET
We all thought that Chase Edmonds would be the go-to back in Miami, but Mostert has changed that narrative. He’s played in 68 percent of the team’s snaps since Week 4, scoring at least 18 FanDuel points in two of his last three games. Mostert has always been one of the league leaders in advanced metrics for backs, and we have to assume he’ll produce as long as the role is there. Facing Detroit is delightful, too, with the Lions surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing ball carriers.
In Consideration: D’Onta Foreman (CAR): DK $5,300/FD $6,400, at ATL
Foreman has taken over starting running back duties since the Christian McCaffrey trade, and he could do everything if Chuba Hubbard has to sit this game. We’d usually be concerned about the game script, but facing a 28th-ranked Atlanta defense makes him an enticing option.
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Hunter Renfrow (LVR): $4,900, at NO
People forget just how good this guy was last season. Renfroe flirted with a $7K price tag, recording double-digit receptions in a handful of games. The addition of Davante Adams has hurt his usage, but it should be back up with Darren Waller out of the lineup as well. The uptick in usage makes him tough to fade in this matchup, with New Orleans allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers.
Parris Campbell (IND): $4,500, vs. WAS
The quarterback change in Indy has people wondering what will happen with this team, but it’s clear they want to get Campbell the ball as much as possible. The number-two receiver in Indy has at least 11 targets in back-to-back games, combining for 17 receptions. That’s truly absurd from a $4,500 player, and it’s clear these DFS sites are slow to react to this resurgence. Facing Washington is wonderful, too, with the Commanders owning a 24th OPRK against opposing wideouts.
FanDuel
Michael Pittman (IND): $7,100, vs. WAS
Pittman just posted a dud in Week 7, but if Sam Ehlinger wants to keep this job, he will feed Pittman. The young receiver is one of the league leaders with 61 targets this year, dropping 20 FanDuel points just last week. That makes it hard to believe why he’s outside of the Top-10 in terms of pricing, especially since Washington owns a 24th OPRK against that position.
Brandin Cooks (HOU): $6,100, vs. TEN
Cooks has seen his price drop, but this dude is too good to remain this quiet. Houston’s top receiver has at least 1,000 yards in six of his last seven seasons, averaging about 75 receptions and six touchdowns per year. That alone makes Cooks an immense value at just $6K, especially since he faces a Tennesse team that’s allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. This guy scored at least 17 FD points seven times last year, and he can definitely reach that threshold against this terrible Titans defense.
In Consideration: DJ Moore (CAR): DK $5,300/FD $6,200, at ATL
Moore just had his best game of the season on Sunday, collecting seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. That’s the stud we saw last season, and he should get double-digit targets for one of the worst teams in the NFL.
Tight Ends
DraftKings
Dalton Schultz (DAL): $3,700, vs. CHI
Nothing in the statistics will tell you to play Schultz. The simple fact is, many fantasy experts had this guy pegged as a Top-5 tight end in the preseason. Injuries to Dak Prescott and Schultz derailed those hopes, but it’s crazy to see him below $4K. He had five catches for 49 yards in the first game with Dak back, and we can assume that’ll be his floor from here on out.
FanDuel
Zach Ertz (ARI): $6,000, at MIN
Ertz ranks third in targets and receptions among all tight ends, sitting behind Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews. That’s amazing since he’s well below those guys in terms of salary, with Ertz scoring at least 7.5 FD points in all but one game this season. That floor should be easy to reach against Minnesota, with the Vikings owning a 26th OPRK against opposing ends.
In Consideration: Tyler Higbee (LAR): DK $4,200/FD $6,000, vs. SF
Higbee is Top-5 in targets and catches among all tight ends, accounting for at least nine targets in all but two games. That’s impossible to find from a tight end, and we have to assume LA will be throwing a ton to keep up with this elite San Fran offense.
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
New England Patriots D/ST: $3,000, at NYJ
We all saw New England struggle against Chicago on Monday Night Football, but that won’t happen again. This defense should be wary after that nightmarish performance, and Bill Belichick will have them ready to play. That’s awesome since they’re already third in terms of fantasy points, facing a Jets offense that surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing D/STs last year. The oddsmakers like them, making them a road favorite in a game with a 41-point total.
FanDuel
Philadelphia Eagles D/ST: $4,600, vs. PIT
It’s crazy to think that Pittsburgh used to have the two best players in fantasy. This offense is a shell of that Bell and Brown combo, with the Steelers ranked 30th in yardage and 31st in scoring this year. That won’t go over well against an elite Philly defense, entering this matchup as an 11.5-point favorite. That’s why the Steelers are barely projected to crack 14 points.
In Consideration: Atlanta Falcons D/ST: DK $3,800/FD $3,800, vs. CAR
Any defense facing the Panthers is in play. They’re down to their third-string quarterback and just traded away McCaffrey last week. He was carrying this offense that already ranked dead-last in total yards, making them a great target for opposing D/STs for the remainder of the season.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
