There are just too many good options that I want to pay up for in cash games on the NFL Week 8 Sunday main slate. Unfortunately, we don’t have an infinite salary cap, so we are going to have to make some compromises and some sacrifices to pull together the most optimal lineup possible that includes both a solid floor while still building in some upside. You will need to determine which spots you are comfortable with going cheap, as I have tried to offer up some value options at every position.

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Quarterback

Matthew Stafford (DET): $6,100 vs. NYG
Sure, I’d love to roster Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson. I have also considered maximizing my savings at quarterback with Ryan Tannehill, but instead, I’m going to compromise and go in the middle with Matthew Stafford. Stafford and the Lions will be at home this week to face a Giants pass defense that ranks 28th Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) according to FootballOutsiders and has allowed 8.92 yards per attempt (31st) this season. The loss of running back Kerryon Johnson to injury could also shift a little bit more of the offensive game plan to the passing game. Stafford has excelled at home this season averaging 300 passing yards and three touchdowns per game in three games. Home sweet dome!

Other Notables:

• Russell Wilson (SEA): $7,200 @ ATL
• Deshaun Watson (HOU): $7,100 vs. OAK
• Ryan Tannehill (TEN): $5,100 vs. TB

Running Backs

Saquon Barkley (NYG): $8,900 @ DET
Christian McCaffrey is on the Sunday slate and has been an auto-play anytime that has been the case this season, but I’m hesitant to use him with his big price tag in his worst matchup of the season against the 49ers highly ranked defense. So instead, I’ll take Barkley at the top end in a much better matchup against the Lions. The Lions have allowed 116 rushing yards (28th) and 1.2 rushing scores (31st) per game to running backs this season on 4.76 YPC (26th). They have also been beaten by pass-catching backs through the air for 56 yards per game (28th) and 0.5 touchdowns (31st). Sounds like a huge game is in store for Barkley who is now another week removed from his injury.

Leonard Fournette (JAX): $7,800 vs. NYJ
My second running back will come from the Jets/Jaguars game with either Fournette or Le’Veon Bell. Both backs get a ton of volume including goal-line and passing game work and both have a favorable matchup. If you can squeeze in both using one in the flex, then do it. I’ll give Fournette the slight edge since he has had more volume of touches than Bell and the Jaguars at home as a favorite. Fournette somehow only has one touchdown this season, but that should change on Sunday as the Jets have allowed the most rushing touchdowns in the league this season. Meanwhile, Bell will face a Jaguars run defense that ranks 32nd DVOA and just lost one of their best run stuffers, Marcell Dareus, to injury.

Other Notables:

• Todd Gurley (LAR): $7,400 vs. CIN
• Le’Veon Bell (NYJ): $6,900 @ JAX
• Latavius Murray (NO): $5,800 vs. ARI
• Devonta Freeman (ATL): $5,500 vs. SEA
• Ty Johnson (DET): $4,900 vs. NYG

Wide Receivers

Kenny Golladay (DET): $6,400 vs. NYG
Golladay had a season-low two targets last week while teammate Marvin Jones was blowing up for four scores. Look for the targets to shift back to Golladay this week, who has had at least eight looks in every game this season, except last week. He’ll face a very beatable Giants secondary that has allowed an average of 13.1 receptions (21st) for 189 receiving yards (27th) and 1.1 touchdowns per game (23rd) to wide receivers this year. Golladay also has the eighth-most air yards in the league this season, so there is plenty of big-play potential.

John Brown (BUF): $5,900 vs. PHI
Brown has at least four receptions for 50 yards in all six games for the Bills this season which gives him a solid floor of double-digit DraftKings points. He gets a great matchup this week against the pass funnel defense of the Eagles that is very stout against the run but is a sieve against the pass. The Eagles secondary has allowed an average of 198 receiving yards (31s) and 1.6 touchdowns (28th) per game this season while giving up plenty of big plays with 15.0 yards per reception (30th) to wideouts. You will want to keep an eye on the weather in Buffalo on Sunday as there is the potential of rain and wind which could move me off of Brown in cash games depending on the severity.

Other Notables:

• Tyler Lockett (SEA): $7,000 @ ATL
• Julian Edelman (NE): $6,900 vs. CLE
• Courtland Sutton (DEN): $5,300 @ IND
• Kenny Stills (HOU): $4,700 vs. OAK
• Corey Davis (TEN): $4,400 vs. TB
• AJ Brown (TEN): $4,100 vs. TB
• Keke Coutee (HOU): $4,100 vs. OAK

Tight End

Cameron Brate (TB): $2,700 @ TEN
I don’t feel like I have sacrificed too much in my lineup until we get to the tight end position. If we are going to get the high-priced running backs and not sacrifice too much at quarterback and wide receiver then we’ll have to go cheap at tight end. The use of Brate hinges, at least somewhat, on the status of O.J. Howard who is questionable with a hamstring injury. If Howard is out, then Brate should get a big spike in snaps which should result in increased targets including some red-zone looks. Brate has at least 35 yards and a score in two of his last three games and has always had a good connection with Jameis Winston. He’ll face a Titans defense that has been a neutral matchup for tight ends this season, allowing 4.7 receptions (18th) for 54 yards (18th) and 0.6 touchdowns (26th) per game. I’ll gladly take four grabs for 50 yards and a 50/50 shot at a score from my $2,700 tight end.

Other Notables:

• Darren Waller (OAK): $5,900 @ HOU
• Evan Engram (NYG): $5,300 @ DET
• Jared Cook (NO): $4,000 vs. ARI

D/ST

Chargers (LAC): $2,300 @ CHI
Defense is another one of those positions where I would really like to spend some salary and get the Patriots against Baker Mayfield, but there is just not enough value on the slate to make that a reality. There is a nice mix of options in the $2k range and it really just comes down to how much money you have left to spend. The Chargers are desperate for a win this week in Chicago and will face a Bears offense that has been out of sync most of the season.

Other Notables:

• Patriots (NE): $4,300 vs. CLE
• Jaguars (JAX): $2,900 vs. NYJ
• Texans (HOU): $2,700 vs. OAK
• Panthers (CAR): $2,400 @ SF
• Broncos (DEN): $2,100 @ IND

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Brad Richter is a Featured Writer and correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.