The current week of NFL DFS is always my favorite week. The slate is clean, and we are not forced to deal with our draft day mistakes like we do in managed seasonal leagues. It is all about honing in on value plays and which ones to slot in our DFS lineups.
This article aims to decipher values in the lobbies. It is not meant to be a roster builder. Instead, it will help identify key players priced below their production potential based on various factors for DraftKings and FanDuel.
This week, we have a 10-game slate due to bye weeks. Between bye weeks and injuries, we have to dig a little deep for the value plays. Let’s get to it.
NFL DFS Value Plays: Week 8
Quarterbacks
Between injury and the number of teams on bye this week, we have to dig into the dirt to try and pluck value. This selection is a perfect example of that methodology. There are no stats this season to support plugging Kirk Cousins into lineups this week. He played 23% of the snaps back in Week 3 and completed five passes for 23 scoreless yards. In fact, Michael Penix Jr. has not officially been ruled out yet, at the time of this writing.
The Falcons face the Miami Dolphins this week. A defense that has allowed the fifth-most production to the quarterback position. On average, they surrender 217 passing yards and 1.6 passing touchdowns per contest.
DFS managers should monitor the Penix situation. If he is indeed ruled out, which is currently expected, then Cousins becomes a cheap GPP option that allows for roster building behind him. At his cost, he allows for paying up at other positions, such as Bijan Robinson ($8,800), who should see plenty of volume in this game.
This is keeping in line with the same logic presented above. While Bryce Young is recovering from an ankle injury and is listed as doubtful, Andy Dalton looks to make his first start of the season. Thus far, he has attempted 13 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown. The veteran appears to be poised to lead the charge for the Panthers this week.
The Bills are a moderate opponent, allowing the 22nd-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. They allow an average of 181.2 passing yards and 1.2 passing touchdowns per contest. I would expect Dalton to exceed both numbers this week, and would willingly bet the over on his passing yards.
Just like Cousins, this is a lower-cost option that allows for roster building behind him, and should only be used in GPP contests.
Running Backs
Rachaad White disappointed fantasy managers last week, totalling 44 total yards on the largest share of the running back workload. However, it was against a stout Detroit Lions run defense, which is the third-most difficult opponent in fantasy points allowed.
Bucky Irving has already been ruled out, putting White right back into the volume chair in this matchup. White has finished inside the RB1 range in two of the last three weeks and is averaging 11 fantasy points per game for the season. Over the last three weeks, he has averaged 82% of the offensive snaps.
The Saints allow the 12th-most fantasy points to the position. Last week, they allowed Chicago Bears running backs to total over 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns. While many managers may be off White after a disappointing Week 7 outing, he is in a great spot to rebound. His projected rostership is in the 25% range, making him viable in both cash and GPP contests, cash preferred.
J.K. Dobbins, who is still healthy by some miracle, is averaging a respectable 11.7 half-PPR points per game. He is averaging five yards per carry and has four rushing touchdowns through seven weeks of play. He is averaging 15 carries per game but only 1.4 targets. Ultimately, the fantasy community would love to see the target share increase. However, that is slightly less impactful in FanDuel’s half-PPR scoring setup.
Dallas has been a defensive funnel this season. They currently rank as the fifth-best opponent for running backs and the first-best opponent for wide receivers. This game features a 51-point over/under, and pieces of it should be in DFS lineups this week. Dobbins is not losing his role as lead rusher, and if the Broncos are trailing, he could see more targets. He may not be the cheapest option on FanDuel, but he could certainly outproduce the cost based on role and gamescript. He is more favorable in GPP contests this week, but can be used in cash games as well.
Wide Receivers
This one is somewhat of a “reading the tea leaves” kind of approach. With Malik Nabers out for the season, Wan’Dale Robinson has been a target monster. That monster is averaging 12.7 yards per reception. Darius Slayton is averaging 13.8 yards per reception, but far fewer targets.
The Eagles’ defense is likely going to shift their focus to stacking the box against Cam Skattebo and trying to cover Robinson. That leaves Slayton as the most likely beneficiary of targets. With a higher yards per reception average, Slayton could take one to the house in this game due to softer defensive coverage.
The Eagles allow the 11th-most fantasy points to wide receivers, and most recently got gashed by Jordan Addison for 128 yards as the No. 2 WR on his team. A similar role to what Slayton plays.
Slayton slots in as a GPP play best used by DFS players who build multiple lineups. He should be a Flex-worthy asset for this slate who represents scoring potential.
This directly ties into the Andy Dalton call earlier. Dalton, a grizzled veteran, has been running with the ones this week in practice. Dalton has shown, through his career, that he can target and deliver to his team’s No. 1 WR. Tetairoa McMillan is that. He is a budding alpha on an offense that severely needs one.
With Bryce Young, who is showing growth and development, McMillan is averaging 11.3 half-PPR points per contest. He averages 7.5 targets for 59 yards per game and has scored twice. That type of usage screams regression, the positive kind.
The Bills’ secondary is allowing the ninth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. However, McMillan has the benefit of a veteran quarterback who has handled high-pressure games, sometimes with poise and sometimes with laughable memes. Either way, McMillan is the funnel this offense will move to. I expect a score, and the volume is all but guaranteed.
McMillan works in GPP stacks with Dalton and for users who utilize multiple lineups. Or he works as a Flex type play in cash games for this slate.
Tight Ends
First-round rookie Colston Loveland has seen his snap share increase to a season-high last week of 67%. With Cole Kmet already ruled out due to a back injury, Loveland will be operating as the primary tight end. Eight weeks in, Loveland is well on his way to learning the ins and outs of one of the more complicated skill positions the NFL has to offer. While the rookie does not boast a gaudy stat sheet to reference, he should walk away with the volume. Then, there is the matchup.
The Ravens, without Lamar Jackson to run the score up, allow the ninth-most fantasy points to tight ends. On average, they allow 67 receiving yards and 0.3 touchdowns to the position per game.
Loveland may finally get to display the reason he was a first-round selection for the Bears in a game that could swing either way. He is usable in both GPP and cash games for this slate.
Harold Fannin Jr. started hot and versatile. Then, when left without David Njoku, he faltered and disappointed. However, he maintained an 18% target share and is averaging just over 43 yards per game. As a rookie, Fannin’s role will grow along with Dillon Gabriel‘s. A good tight end becomes a safety blanket for rookie quarterbacks. A big target over the middle is always a welcome sight.
Fannin is averaging 6.1 targets per game, which is a respectable number for the position. He is also averaging 41.4 receiving yards per game. He only has one score on the season, so the positive regression is coming based on volume. Fannin also operates around the formation, giving him a more unique opportunity for yards after the catch.
The Patriots are a neutral defense, allowing the 14th-most points to the position. With a 40.5 over/under, there will be points scored. If Gabriel and company are forced into playing catch-up, which Vegas is expecting, Fannin’s versatile role increases.
It’s a volatile selection, and one that is not really a stacking option. Fannin is a GPP play only for this slate.
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John Hesterman is a featured writer and Expert Consensus Ranker at FantasyPros. He also writes for DynastyLeagueFootball.com. For more from John, check out his archive and follow him on Bluesky @John-Hesterman or Twitter/X @John_Hesterman.
