Last week, several teams with productive offenses were on their Bye Week, so arriving at Week 8 allows us the opportunity to roster players from the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and Los Angeles Rams. Week 7 saw some ridiculous outcomes occur, most notably, Tampa Bay losing 21-3 against the Carolina Panthers. Chicago also marched into Foxboro in primetime and whooped the New England Patriots by 21 points. Other teams are quietly exceeding expectations with mini-winning streaks as well. Tennessee is a great example. The Titans have won four consecutive games despite maintaining a -13 point differential, while the Las Vegas Raiders are dominating opponents on the shoulders of Josh Jacobs (RB – Raiders).
My recommended picks from last week resulted in several DFS cash outs, starting with overall fantasy QB1 Joe Burrow (QB – Bengals). The third-year franchise quarterback for Cincinnati completed 34 passes for 481 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns. Josh Jacobs ripped off 20 carries for 143 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Houston. Meanwhile, Austin Ekeler (RB – Chargers), Kenneth Walker III (RB – Seahawks), Ja’Marr Chase (WR – Bengals), David Njoku (TE – Browns), and Travis Kelce (TE – Chiefs) all dominated to return significant value in DFS builds in yet another parity-filled weekend in the 2022 NFL season.
Here are my favorite players to add to your DraftKings and FanDuel lineups ahead of Sunday’s 13-game slate.
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
DraftKings maximum salary is set at $50,000
Jalen Hurts (QB – Eagles): $8,300
Fresh off of a Bye Week, Jalen Hurts is a top-three MVP candidate at the moment due to improved throwing mechanics and elite rushing talent. The Eagles’ third-year quarterback will face Pittsburgh’s 29th-ranked pass defense, meaning he could be lighting up their short-handed secondary with his third 300-yard passing game of the season. The rushing floor that Hurts provides elevates his appeal even higher during Week 8, so pay up to plug in a top-three quarterback.
Kirk Cousins (QB – Vikings): $6,100
Another quarterback coming off of Bye also finds himself in the MVP race. Kirk Cousins has been consistently productive in Kevin O’Connell’s (HC – Vikings) offense this season, although he has yet to throw for 300 yards or three touchdowns in a game. Arizona has an underrated defense but they are allowing 19.54 PPR points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks. With an extra week to prepare for the Cardinals’ 25th-ranked pass defense, firing up Cousins at $6,100 is a great value.
Honorable Mention: Daniel Jones (QB – Giants) ($5,700) has been getting it done with his arm and legs this season, which is why he is an enticing option against Seattle’s defense in Week 8. The Seahawks are quickly improving as a defensive unit but Jones has rookie wideout Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – Giants) as his new top target, alongside Saquon Barkley (RB – Giants). Seattle is the 11th-best matchup for fantasy quarterbacks and Jones is increasingly building confidence under center with assistance from first-year head coach Brian Daboll.
FanDuel
FanDuel maximum salary is set at $60,000
Tua Tagovailoa (QB – Dolphins): $7,700
Tua Tagovailoa’s return in Week 7 was a bit underwhelming, as he completed 21 of 25 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown. He had a good matchup against Pittsburgh’s banged-up secondary but Tagovailoa has another opportunity to produce on the road against Detroit’s 32nd-ranked scoring defense. Having Tyreek Hill (WR – Dolphins) and Jaylen Waddle (WR – Dolphins) is a massive boost to Tagovailoa’s outlook, as he lacks a high rushing upside. Play the matchup and plug Tagovailoa in despite the high salary on FanDuel.
Justin Fields (QB – Bears): $6,500
Chicago impressed with a dominant win against New England in Week 7, riding the success of Justin Fields. The second-year quarterback carried 14 times for 82 yards and a touchdown while completing 13 passes for 179 yards and a passing touchdown. OC Luke Getsy will likely continue to lean on Fields’ rushing upside by dialing up more designed runs, although Dallas is a tough matchup for any opposing quarterback. Fields is worth the flier as a salary-saving option with a nice floor due to his usage in the Bears’ running game.
Honorable Mention: P.J. Walker (QB – Panthers) ($6,400) has had a couple of different outcomes as Carolina’s starting quarterback across the last two weeks, but the league’s worst pass defense is next on the schedule. Plug in Walker as a great salary-saving option against Atlanta’s 32nd-ranked pass defense.
Running Backs
DraftKings
Saquon Barkley (RB – Giants): $8,100
New York is 6-1 this season and a large piece is due to the explosiveness and elite vision of star running back Saquon Barkley. The fifth-year running back has handled 20-plus carries in consecutive games, while drawing three to four targets per game. It helps to know that Barkley has scored a rushing touchdown in four of seven games played this season. Seattle’s run defense is giving up the fifth-most points to fantasy running backs per game this season, making Barkley a worthwhile blue-chip piece to add to DFS lineups in Week 8.
Josh Jacobs (RB – Raiders): $7,500
Las Vegas first-year head coach, Josh McDaniels, has finally unlocked the Raiders’ offense with the high usage of Josh Jacobs. He dominated a weak Houston run defense in Week 7, carrying 20 times to hit 143 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The Saints are a bottom-12 matchup for fantasy running backs but Jacobs is the focal point of the offense. Don’t pivot off of the hot hand surrounded by good personnel.
Honorable Mention: Miles Sanders (RB – Eagles) ($6,600) is fresh off the Bye Week and has handled double-digit carries in every game this season. Philadelphia is a run-centric offense that will feature several goal-line touches per outing, so plugging Sanders in at $6,600 is a good value move against Pittsburgh in Week 8.
FanDuel
Derrick Henry (RB – Titans): $10,000
Tennessee continues to funnel its offense through star running back Derrick Henry. The 28-year-old has handled 58 carries across his past three games, all resulting in over 100 rushing yards. Not only is Henry remaining a focal point for the Titans, but he is drawing three to six targets per outing. He’s a rare player capable of producing a high floor and high ceiling, so plug him in against Houston’s 32nd-ranked run defense.
Christian McCaffery (RB – 49ers): $8,500
Christian McCaffery’s new landing spot is great from a production standpoint. Kyle Shanahan prefers getting 30-40 carries per game, and his newly acquired star running back already shouldered a significant workload with minimal time to prepare against Kansas City in Week 7. With another week in Shanahan’s system, expect 20 touches against the Rams, which is a team that the 49ers have dominated in the regular season.
Honorable Mention: Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – Patriots) ($8,000) gets a bottom-12 matchup against the New York Jets in Week 8. Stevenson handled the vast majority of touches for the Patriots in Week 7, even with Damien Harris (RB – Patriots) back from a hamstring injury. The second-year running back is a true three-down threat and will be heavily utilized to protect the football and chew the clock against an injured Jets roster.
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Davante Adams (WR – Raiders) $8,600
Las Vegas has been leaning on Josh Jacobs recently, but star wideout Davante Adams could have his breakout game against New Orleans in Week 8. Adams gets a top-six matchup against a porous Saints secondary dealing with injuries. He has delivered double-digit PPR performances for four consecutive weeks, topping 95 receiving yards in the past three games. Pay up to land one of the top-performing wideouts in the league in a plus-matchup.
DeVonta Smith (WR – Eagles): $6,300
I like pivoting off of A.J. Brown (WR – Eagles) to the cheaper wideout in Philadelphia’s smash spot against Pittsburgh this weekend. Devonta Smith is more boom-bust and can disappear in a run-centric Eagles offense, but he has double-digit PPR finishes in three of his previous four games. At $6,300, Smith is worth considering, especially against a bottom-four pass defense.
Honorable Mention: Brandin Cooks (WR – Texans) ($5,900) is the subject of trade rumors yet again but he is consistently producing for Houston this season. Cooks has seen his targets dip since the first two weeks, but he gets Tennessee’s pass defense, which is the second-best wideout matchup in fantasy football. The Titans are tough to run on, so this could be a game where rookie running back Dameon Pierce (RB – Texans) is relegated to a secondary role in favor of Cooks, who does not have much competition in the Texans’ wide receiving corps.
FanDuel
Tyreek Hill (WR – Dolphins): $8,700
Tyreek Hill is the straw that stirs Miami’s offense. The star wideout has been heavily targeted in every game this season. Hill only requires a few plays to rip off chunk plays, making him a must-start against Detroit’s 32nd-ranked scoring defense. He hasn’t scored a touchdown since racking up a pair against Baltimore in Week 2, so expect Hill to pop as a top-three wideout in the Motor City in Week 8.
Brandon Aiyuk (WR – 49ers): $6,700
One of the nice trends amongst fantasy wideouts has been the consistent presence of San Francisco’s third-year wideout Brandon Aiyuk. He has 11 targets in each of the previous two games, securing at least seven receptions for 80 yards. This is the type of production you want from most WR1s, so considering Aiyuk is a WR2 behind Deebo Samuel (WR – 49ers), he’s an enticing salary-saving option against the Rams in Week 8.
Honorable Mention: Michael Pittman Jr. (WR – Colts) ($7,100) has been extremely volatile and is a risk with backup quarterback Sam Ehlinger (QB – Colts), but he gets a top-five matchup against Washington’s lackluster pass defense in Week 8. The salary is a bit steep but you’ll be thankful if Pittman pops for the third time this season.
Tight Ends
DraftKings
Zach Ertz (TE – Cardinals): $5,000
The Minnesota Vikings are a top-seven matchup for fantasy tight ends, making Zach Ertz a great piece to insert into DFS in Week 8. The veteran tight end saw his opportunity dip in a run-centric game script against New Orleans in Week 7, but Arizona could dial up more pass attempts against Minnesota’s secondary in Week 8. Expect Ertz to return a double-digit PPR floor with the potential for his third touchdown of the season.
Honorable Mention: Pat Freiermuth (TE – Steelers) ($3,900) has been a steady target no matter who Pittsburgh’s quarterback has been this season. The second-year tight end missed a game with a concussion and left last week’s game with an ankle, but he was a full participant in Thursday’s practice and has seen nine targets in two of his previous three games. Freiermuth is a great discount pivot with a high floor against Philadelphia.
FanDuel
Taysom Hill (TE – Saints): $6,500
Things aren’t going well in New Orleans but Taysom Hill continues to be involved as a utility player under center, ball carrier, and receiver. That’s why it’s interesting to add Hill into lineups at a discount against the Raiders, who present a top-four matchup to the tight end position this season.
Honorable Mention: Mike Gesicki (TE – Dolphins) ($5,400) has been another volatile tight end streamer in 2022 but Detroit is allowing the sixth-most tight end points per game in PPR formats. Gesicki has drawn seven targets in each of the last two games but mixed results have followed. Expect the Dolphins to dominate the passing game against the Lions, especially if Raheem Mostert (RB – Dolphins) doesn’t suit up.
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
Eagles D/ST: $3,900
Philadelphia is well-rested and faces one of the lowest-scoring offenses in the league at home in Week 8. The Eagles have arguably the best secondary in the league and just added Robert Quinn (DE – Eagles) to a stout defensive line, which will be teeing off against the Steelers’ 31st-ranked scoring offense.
Honorable Mention: Panthers D/ST ($2,800) has been giving most of its opponents a tough out this season. Atlanta is the second-worst pass offense in the league due to a lack of volume, while the Panthers are holding opponents to 21.3 points per game, which is middle of the pack. Carolina is a good salary-saving option in Week 8 in an NFC South tilt down in Atlanta.
FanDuel
Patriots D/ST: $4,700
New England’s defense was embarrassed by Chicago at home in Week 7 during primetime. Expect Bill Belichick to get the Patriots’ defense back on track against a banged-up New York Jets offense that just lost star rookie running back Breece Hall (RB – Jets) and key pieces on its offensive line. Second-year quarterback Zach Wilson (QB – Jets) is not attempting many passes, so he will be in a bad spot if the running game cannot be established, allowing the Patriots’ D/ST to return value as a top unit in Week 8.
Honorable Mention: 49ers D/ST ($4,500) has been getting lit up by Kansas City and Atlanta but Nick Bosa’s (DE – 49ers) presence will help matters off the edge against the worst offensive line in the league. The last time the 49ers played the Rams earlier this season, Matthew Stafford (QB – Rams) was sacked seven times. Fred Warner (LB – 49ers) and Bosa headline a star-studded defense that is desperate to end its two-game losing slump against a team they have historically dominated in the regular season.
