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Welcome back to our weekly DFS column here at RotoBaller! In this piece, I will examine my top and contrarian plays for the late slate in Week 8 of the NFL season.
This week, we have five games on the slate.
These DFS lineup recommendations are based on matchups, overall upside/talent levels, opportunity, salary, and factors such as home-field advantage, implied point totals, and more. Good luck with your DraftKings and FanDuel DFS lineups. Let's dominate this late slate together!
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Quarterbacks - Week 8 DFS Picks
Top Play: Josh Allen- BUF vs. SEA (DK: $7,800/ FD: $9,400)
After struggling during Weeks 4 and 5, Allen has put any doubts to rest as he has eclipsed 20.0 PPR points in each of the past two games. Last week, he threw for a season-high 323 yards with two scores. He found the newly acquired Amari Cooper four times for 66 yards and a score.
Josh Allen vanished, then reappeared, and then threw a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/6X4qCnkOEJ
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 15, 2024
This week, he faces the Seattle Seahawks, who have allowed the 15th-most points to opposing quarterbacks. However, this game has a relatively high 47.5-point total, which suggests Allen may not have too much trouble pushing the ball downfield.
Contrarian Play: Caleb Williams- CHI vs. WSH (DK: $6,000/ FD: $7,400)
If you want to avoid the chalk play with Josh Allen, Caleb Williams is another intriguing play that could very well finish at the top of the position.
Facing a weak Washington secondary that has struggled to find consistency could be a great matchup for the first-overall pick. Over his past two games, Williams has thrown for six passing scores, 530 passing yards, and added 90 rushing yards.
Running Backs - Week 8 DFS Picks
Top Play: Kenneth Walker III- BUF vs. SEA (DK: $7,800/ FD: $7,800)
Walker has enjoyed an incredible first half of the season, averaging 22.3 PPR points per game. This weekend, he has a fantastic matchup facing the Buffalo Bills, who have allowed the 30th-most PPR points to opposing RBs.
Since Week 4, Walker has averaged 11.3 attempts per game and received 5.8 targets per game. He is being deployed as a three-down back who is given elite usage in the passing game. Playing on a high-octane offense, Walker is one of the safest picks you can make, and he also carries immense upside.
Top Play: Brian Robinson Jr. - CHI vs. WSH (DK: $6,400/ FD: $7,600)
While the Commanders will likely be without Jayden Daniels (ribs) this weekend, that does not prevent me from selecting pieces of their offense. After missing Week 6 due to a knee injury, Robinson returned to form, earning 71 yards and a score on just 12 carries.
The game got out of hand by the end of the first half, greatly lowering his usage. However, facing a tough Chicago Bears team, the Commanders will lean on B-Rob quite often, especially if they do not have their QB1.
Contrarian Play: Javonte Williams- CAR vs. DEN (DK: $6,000/ FD: $6,000)
Javonte Williams is coming off his best outing of the season and has the best matchup on paper facing the Carolina Panthers, who have allowed the most PPR points to opposing RBs this season.
#Broncos RB Javonte Williams runs untouched for a TOUCHDOWN!!pic.twitter.com/oKZEPkpGjZ
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) October 18, 2024
After Williams logged only six carries in Week 6, he returned to his lead role in Week 7 and ran all over the New Orleans Saints, earning 88 yards and two scores with an additional 23 yards through the air. He also saw more than double the snap count as No. 2 Jaleel McLaughlin. Williams has a safe floor with immense volume and could very well finish at the top of the position.
Contrarian Play: Austin Ekeler- CHI vs. WSH (DK: $5,600/ FD: $5,900)
If you think the Commanders will struggle without their QB1, consider adding Austin Ekeler to your squad. Ekeler is coming off his worst game of the season, scoring only 4.0 PPR points, his only time falling under double-digits this season.
However, most of this was due to the game script, which should not be the problem this weekend when facing a rising Chicago Bears team. Without Daniels, the Commanders might fall behind early, which could present a positive game script for Ekeler, especially on passing downs.
Wide Receivers - Week 8 DFS Picks
Top Play: Amari Cooper- BUF vs. SEA (DK: $6,000/ FD: $7,100)
The 30-year-old had an impressive debut in Buffalo, especially when looking at his snap participation. He logged only 18 snaps, the fourth-highest among Buffalo wideouts.
AMARI COOPER. TOUCHDOWN BILLS.
📺: #TENvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/y1lE7R509g— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
However, he still caught four of his five targets for 66 yards and a score. Now, with another week of practice under his belt, Cooper could begin to showcase the elite fantasy production he enjoyed at the end of the 2023 season. Cooper will be Allen’s go-to option from now on and could very well be a top-12 fantasy WR through the rest of the season.
He is a great stack option with Allen despite facing a relatively tough Seattle secondary that has allowed the 13th-fewest points to opposing wideouts.
Top Play: DJ Moore- CHI vs. WSH (DK: $6,600/ FD: $6,600)
Moore tallied at least double-digit PPR points in every game except his most recent outing in Week 6. However, facing a Washington secondary that has allowed the 26th-most points to opposing wideouts presents a great bounce-back opportunity.
Moore has seen 25.3% of the team’s targets and has seen at least eight targets in four out of the six games this season. He will be Caleb Williams' go-to option in a potential high-scoring affair.
Contrarian Play: Rome Odunze- CHI vs. WSH (DK: $5,100/ FD: $5,500)
It could also be savvy to take the upside pick in the Chicago wide receiver room. Odunze has held an impressive 13.2 aDOT and seen 29.8% of the team’s air yards, both the highest marks on the team.
However, he has been unable to find consistency as he eclipsed double-digit PPR points once this season. The risk is there, but facing a weak Commander secondary could suggest this week could be more “boom” than “bust” for Odunze.
Contrarian Play: Keon Coleman- BUF vs. SEA (DK: $5,600/ FD: $5,600)
Despite all the buzz around newly-acquired Amari Cooper, the rookie turned in his best performance of the campaign last week, totaling 125 yards on just four catches.
KEON COLEMAN DOWN THE SIDELINE. ONE-SCORE GAME IN HOUSTON.
📺: #BUFvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/1E6b8fegEc— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
Coleman remains a high-risk option given that he has only averaged 2.3 receptions per game, albeit with 20.3 yards per catch. Having Cooper on the field could open more deep looks for Colemen consistently. If you are looking for an upside, the 21-year-old is a great target.
Contrarian Play: Troy Franklin- CAR vs. DEN (DK: $4,100/ FD: $5,300)
My other contrarian receiver play is rookie Troy Franklin of the Denver Broncos. After a modest start to his career through the first five weeks, the Oregon product has averaged 40.5 yards per game over the past two weeks and has seen nine targets.
Last Thursday in New Orleans, he led the team in yards and receptions. Facing a Carolina defense that has allowed the 20th-most PPR points to opposing wideouts could be the perfect opportunity for Franklin to have his breakout game.
Tight Ends - Week 8 DFS Picks
Top Play: Brock Bowers - KC vs. LV (DK: $6,100/ FD: $7,400)
The rookie tight end has blown all expectations out of the water. He is on pace to be in a class of his own in several statistics.
Bowers has had at least eight receptions in four out of seven games this season and has had double-digit targets in three straight games.
The Chiefs have struggled at the tight end position this season, surrendering the most to the opposition. Bowers could be the highest-owned player on the slate, and rightfully so. Do not try to be cute. Take Bowers with confidence.
Contrarian Play: Ja'Tavion Sanders - CAR vs. DEN (DK: $3,100/ FD: $5,000)
Sanders was my value option last week and had the best game of his young career, catching six passes for 61 yards.
This weekend, he faces the Denver Broncos, who have allowed the 21st-most points to opposing tight ends. Sanders has established himself as the clear No. 1 tight end, as Ian Thomas saw only two targets and logged ten fewer snaps.
Sanders possesses some volume upside at a very low price, even though he will catch passes from Bryce Young and not Andy Dalton (thumb).
Defense/Special Teams - Week 8 DFS Picks
Top Play: Denver Broncos - CAR vs. DEN (DK: $3,700/ FD: $5,000)
The Commanders completely shut down the Carolina Panthers last weekend, and this week, they face a much tougher task against the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos have tallied the second-most sacks in football and are coming off a stellar outing against the New Orleans Saints, in which they allowed just ten points. This will be the chalk play but also the safest selection you could make.
Contrarian Play: Washington Commanders - CHI vs. WSH (DK: $2,900/ FD: $3,900)
My sleeper pick for defense is the Washington Commanders. The Commanders have had trouble finding consistency but have sometimes flashed under new head coach Dan Quinn.
They have allowed three teams to score less than 20 points (Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, and Carolina Panthers) and are currently tied for the 9th most sacks in football.
FRANKIE LUVU TODAY
2.5 Sacks
3 QB Hits
2 TFL
1 FRBest game from a Washington LB all time?
— Kaden. (@DlSTRICTSPORTS) October 6, 2024
Rookie Caleb Williams has begun to turn the corner in his development but has shown growing pains in the past. If he takes a step back this week, expect the Washington defense to rack up sacks and perhaps even force a turnover facing a Chicago offensive line that has allowed the third-highest sack per game rate.
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