Welcome to week 8 of the NFL season! Each week, we’ll be previewing the main slate on DraftKings. Our philosophy with these selections is to provide you with solid floor plays with some upside to start your roster construction, with potential GPP pivots for even further upside in tournaments.
If you're new to DFS, I'd recommend checking out our DFS 101 article before getting started, as it can give this column a lot more context.
If you'd like to see how I did in previous weeks, you can find that here:
Please note that the authors of this post are also players of daily fantasy sports, and the selections they make when creating their rosters may or may not include players listed below. You can find Derek Devereaux on DraftKings via the username DerekDevereaux.
This week’s lineup building beer of choice
Legitimately my favorite beer that I have ever consumed. Happy Halloween.
Vegas lines
All lines via Bovada, current as of Saturday evening.
PIT at BAL -4, 46.5 total
MIN at GB -6.5, 49.5 total
NYJ at KC -20 (!), 49 total
IND -3 at DET, 49.5 total
TEN -7 at CIN, 51 total
LV at CLE -2.5, 49.5 total
NE at BUF -4.5, 40.5 total
LAR -3.5 at MIA, 45.5 total
LAC -3.5 at DEN, 44.5 total
SF at SEA -3, 53.5 total
NO -4.5 at CHI, 42.5 total
Favorite games to target
I cannot, for the life of me, understand why the Indianapolis and Detroit game is at 49.5. Can someone explain it to me? Of course, if nobody can explain it, that probably means it might go underowned. That being said, we've seen Detroit end up as chalk a lot this season, so maybe not? This slate confuses me. I feel like Las Vegas and Cleveland is a great spot to target, so let's go with that one.
Quarterback
Russell Wilson, $7800, SEA (vs. SF)
Look, I don't think you really need to pay up at QB this week - there are guys below who are in good spots that have enough upside for me to consider. But if you're up here, Russ looks to have the best opportunity to cook yet again. San Francisco is a good defense, but Vegas doesn't lie - we have a 53.5 total for a reason here, and Russ has thrown over 30 passes in every game but one, including a 50-burger last week.
Joe Burrow, $6200, CIN (vs. TEN)
Tannehill on the other side is fine too, but in this scenario, we know a few things that would make me lean Burrow:
No Joe Mixon
He's in a pass-heavy offense to begin with
He'll even throw in a few rushing yards
He's in a game script that will theoretically force him to throw
You like a guy who is going to throw 40 times in a total that's over 50 as the 12th highest priced QB? Yeah. First stack I built, and likely my cash game QB. Love this.
Derek Carr, $5500, LV (at CLE)
Speaking of slinging it, Carr has thrown it over 30 times in each game this season, and has been relatively steady doing so even in games that they've been blown out in. He has his primary weapons for this game and should be able to slice through this defense to get us value. Definitely worth a tournament flier.
Potential GPP pivots: Aaron Rodgers ($7600, vs. MIN), Baker Mayfield ($6100, vs. LV)
Running Back
Kareem Hunt, $6900, CLE (vs. LV)
Las Vegas has been horrendous against backs all season, and we now know that Kareem will be RB1 without Chubb again. I expect he'll be chalky, but we're looking at 20 touches in a high total with receiving upside to go with the rushing totals.
Jamaal Williams, $6100, GB (vs. MIN)
Okay, okay, okay. So I was "technically" wrong last week in that Gio was light years better of a play than Williams. But! If you played Williams, you probably weren't playing Davante Adams with him. So who really won? Well, we do now that we get another dose of Williams in a very positive game script for him. I do think there's still risk with AJ Dillon lurking, but you would've thought he would've been involved last week when they were up all game. Fire away.
Myles Gaskin, $5200, MIA (vs. LAR)
I don't really love the low end at RB this week (I want no part of the San Francisco roulette wheel), but Gaskin really stands out. We don't know what this offense is going to look like with Tua, but what we do know is that Gaskin is versatile and should serve as a failsafe option for Tua if he gets in trouble.
Potential GPP pivots: Alvin Kamara ($8200, at CHI), Clyde Edwards-Helaire ($6500, vs. NYJ), Gio Bernard ($5800, vs. TEN)
Wide Receiver
AJ Brown, $6900, TEN (at CIN)
His target counts haven't been outstanding for someone priced this high, but his efficiency has been - as has his touchdown and big play upside. Sometimes that can be volatile, but we're looking at a high total, and touchdowns are really only coming through three players on this team. The only one above him that I would feel good about target and efficiency wise is $1900 more than him, and that feels high. So here we are.
Keenan Allen, $6200, LAC (at DEN)
Now we have a target monster at a good price. I'm probably not the only one that will notice it - I wouldn't be shocked, even if the total is low, if Keenan is the highest owned WR on the slate. But just like McLaurin last week, it just feels like he's unintentionally underpriced. Be smart about playing him as a one-off in GPPs.
KhaDarel Hodge, $3000, CLE (vs. LV)
And now we go alllllllllllllll the way down to the minimum to find KhaDharel, fresh off of IR, getting ready to "theoretically" come in as the number 3 WR for Cleveland. In the target pecking order, Landry is obviously the top dog now, but Hodge did beat out Rashard Higgins in the preseason before getting hurt. He's going to get playing time. Will the volume come? I'm willing to bet on it at minimum price. Why not?
Potential GPP pivots: Tyler Boyd ($6600, vs. TEN), TY Hilton ($4900, at DET), Darnell Mooney ($3500, vs. NO)
Tight End
Darren Waller, $5600, LV (at CLE)
He is back under 6K again, through no fault of his own. Volume is always there with Waller, and we are back in a high total situation. He should be at Kelce's price.
Harrison Bryant, $3200, CLE (vs. LV)
Without Austin Hooper last week, it was Bryant, not David Njoku, who stepped into the starting role, and he capitalized with two touchdowns on five targets. I don't expect he'll continue to hit paydirt twice per game, but if we can get even the 4 for 56 line without the touchdowns, that's basically value.
Potential GPP pivots: George Kittle ($7000, at SEA), Irv Smith Jr. ($3000, at GB)
Defense
*Checks teams on slate*
*Sees Dallas is not on the slate*
Play whoever you want, but make it the last spot you fill in on your roster.
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Good luck, and may your screens be green!
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