DraftKings Week 8 Lineup Recommendations
Week 8 sees us get back to the 12-game slate with just two teams on a bye and the London game kicking off alongside the rest of the games at 5 pm UK time this weekend. One thing to be aware of with the London game is the switch back to Wembley, which has historically been a lower scoring stadium that what we saw at Tottenham. The under has hit in the last six Wembley games, so you may want to avoid those teams this weekend. In other games we have one over 50 in Atlanta and six others with lines between 45-and-50. Those are games we will look to take advantage of this week in our DraftKings lineups.
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In this article, you will find my Week 8 picks on DraftKings, which are based on matchups, situation, weather and betting lines. The focus of this piece will be looking at upside, and is, therefore, more suited for use in GPP formats. However, the names below can also double up as options in cash games, alongside some safer bets.
Quarterback
Deshaun Watson, HOU vs. OAK | $7,100
Watson is having a fantastic season so far, averaging over 26 FPPG and returning a score less than 20 just once this season. This week he faces an Oakland defense which is among the worst on the slate when it comes to allowing fantasy points to opposing QB, with 24.8 PPG. Watson should be able to lay waste to this secondary and is a great play despite the top end price this week.
Ryan Tannehill, TEN vs. TB | $5,100
Nothing makes me feel more nervous than putting my faith in Tannehill. Tennessee turned to Tannehill last week and he delivered them a win as well as 23 fantasy points. This week he faces Tampa Bay, whose secondary has been shredded this season, allowing over 20 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks. Tannehill is an interesting option, especially at this price.
Running Back
Saquon Barkley, NYG @ DET | $8,900
I always like to go for a big price running back and with Christian McCaffrey facing a solid San Francisco outfit I have pivoted to Barkley. Barkley has returned double-digit scores in three of his four games so far and now gets a nice match up to take advantage of. Detroit has been allowing an average of 23.5 FPPG to opposing RB1s and 32.9 to the RB position as a whole. Barkley has been held out of practice this week so if for any reason he does not suit up then there is an easy pivot to Wayne Gallman, who proved he can handle the load when Barkley is absent.
Austin Ekeler, LAC @ CHI | $5,900
Ekeler has returned 20 more fantasy points in five of the seven weeks this season, including last week against Tennessee with Melvin Gordon back in the lineup. The reason for Ekeler’s continued success has been his role in the passing game, seeing eight targets against Tennessee. Ekeler should be a useful weapon in this game against Chicago for a Los Angeles offense that will be under constant pressure against Khalil Mack and company.
J,D. Mckissic, DET vs. NYG | $3,900
This is a swing for the fences type pick after Kerryon Johnson went on the IR this week. Many expect Ty Johnson to step in and be a major part of the game plan, but Detroit have loved to use speedy backs that can catch passes before and McKissic suits that role. If he returns a double-digit points haul at this price you have a successful day.
Wide Receiver
Kenny Golladay, DET vs. NYG | $6,400
Golladay got somewhat factored out of the game last week and Marvin Jones profited. This week Golladay has a much easier matchup against the New York secondary. Golladay has scored 20 or more fantasy points in three of his six games this year and should be able to make that four this week.
D.J. Chark, JAX vs. NYJ | $6,000
Chark has made himself indispensable to this Jacksonville offense in 2019. He has been targeted five or more times in every game since Week 1 and has five weeks of double-digit returns in seven weeks. The New York secondary has no real shut down corner and Chark should be able to take advantage against a team allowing 18.6 FPPG to opposing WR1s.
A.J. Brown, TEN vs. TB | $4,100
This feels like a great pivot from fellow Tennessee receiver Corey Davis. Brown was targeted eight times last week and returned a 12 point day for owners. The only real difference between himself and Davis was finding the end zone and that could easily even back up this week. If you are set on Davis then by all means go that direction, but he could be highly owned and Brown could be just as effective and lower owned.
Tight end
Jared Cook, NO vs. ARI | $4,000
Essentially my advice this week is pick whichever New Orleans tight end is active. If that is Cook then great, but if not then Josh Hill is a great option at $3,200. The Arizona defense has been largely diabolical against the tight end this season. They shut down Evan Engram last week, but he was also the number one receiver last week so received extra attention. Cook and Hill will not get that treatment and can take advantage of a defense allowing over 24 FPPG to opposing tight ends this season.
Jonnu Smith, TEN vs. TB | $2,800
Smith is a wonderful option if Delanie Walker cannot get on the field. At just marginally above the positional minimum Smith could be a great contributor to DraftKings lineups after returning 9.4 points on three targets last week once Walker had left the game. Tampa Bay has been allowing nearly 20 FPPG to opposing tight ends and Smith is a very talented option for that offense.
Defense/Special Teams
Detroit vs. New York | $2,800
There are a lot of good options this week with middle of the road defenses facing bad quarterbacks. The Seattle defense against Matt Schaub is a great play, but I really like the Detroit defense. Detroit has forced multiple turnovers in four of their six games this season scoring an average of just over six fantasy points per game. Against Daniel Jones the Detroit defense could be in for another multiple turnover game, as well as keeping the scoring down this week.
Disclaimer: I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is brolfe1507) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
Ben Rolfe
Head of NFL Content
BEN IS THE HEAD OF NFL CONTENT FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. YOU CAN ALSO FIND HIS WORK AT; FFSTATISTICS, PRO FOOTBALL NETWORK & ROTOBALLER. FOLLOW BEN @BENROLFE15 ON TWITTER.
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