NFL DFS Value Plays: Week 8 Bargain Bin for DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo Including C.J. Stroud, Jonathan Taylor, DeVonta Smith, more

Welcome to the Week 8 main slate edition of RotoBaller's NFL DFS Bargain Bin, where the goal is to touch on some potentially mispriced players across the industry who find themselves in favorable matchups and/or suddenly expanded roles.

Each week, I’ll give you my thoughts on where there may be some value spots to exploit. On this eighth main slate of the 2023 campaign, I'm glad to report there is an abundance of value-salary players on Yahoo, FanDuel, and DraftKings.

In addition to offering multiple candidates at each position, I'll also list at least one more player to consider, along with some site-specific value plays when applicable.

NFL DFS Bargain Bin Intro

Before we go NFL DFS Bargain Bin hunting, a few particulars about format and content.

The nature of the beast with value plays is at least a modest amount (and sometimes substantially more) of risk. Therefore, the Bargain Bin may prove to be a bit more of a rollercoaster ride on some slates than your typical “tout” article! Naturally, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an upside to be had. All of these selections are therefore suitable for GPPs and can also often serve as solid cash game plays, while often helping you accommodate multiple higher-priced studs into your lineup.

Typically, I’ll suggest players that are value-priced across three major DFS sites (DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo). However, there are certainly occasions where one or more sites price a player significantly lower than others. Whenever possible, I’ll typically at least note those players as an “XYZ site special.”

This article is by no means intended to serve as an exhaustive list of all value options for the week. Rather, it’s meant to take a deeper dive into those I feel offer some of the best combinations of savings and upside.

The goal is to recommend truly affordable players, as opposed to say a player priced just $300-$400 away from the highest-priced option at his position. I don’t have set-in-stone price limits in mind for each site, but I do consider legitimate affordability a very important criterion.

Quarterback DFS Value Plays

C.J. Stroud, HOU at CAR | DK: $6,300, FD: $7,400, Yahoo: $30

Stroud impressively hit the ground running as a Day 1 starter, throwing for 242 yards or more in each of his first five games while posting a 7:0 TD:INT during that span. Stroud also provided some solid rushing output, and even though he threw for just 199 yards and tossed his first career INT against the Saints in Week 6 before Houston's bye, the rookie still helped lead Houston to a win.

The second-overall pick has now had a chance to further immerse himself in the playbook and develop chemistry with his pass catchers during the Week 7 bye ahead of this face-off with first-overall selection Bryce Young. While the Panthers have been particularly poor against the run, they'll also enter Week 8 action having proven susceptible to chunk plays through the air, as evidenced by the 10.5 yards per completion, including 11.5 yards per over the last three contests, that they've allowed.

Dak Prescott, DAL vs. LAR | DK: $6,100, FD: $7,300, Yahoo: $26

Prescott's DK salary particularly stands out, but he's a solid value option on all three sites in a fairly favorable matchup. Dallas has mostly proven capable of capitalizing on inferior opponents this season. In this case, the Cowboys are coming off their bye week and catch an inconsistent Rams team that's dropped two of its last three games despite having Cooper Kupp on the field for all of them.

Los Angeles has allowed the fourth-highest yards per completion as well (11.0), along with 241.3 passing yards per contest in the last three. The latter number represents a fairly sizable jump from the 209 yards per contest they're yielding for the campaign, and Prescott has thrown for 255 and 261 in his pair of home contests so far. It's also worth noting Los Angeles has given up four rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks, which could factor in given Prescott's past success running designed draws near the goal line.

ALSO CONSIDER:

• Derek Carr, NO at IND | DK: $5,500, FD: $6,600, Yahoo: $22
• Desmond Ridder, ATL at TEN | DK: $5,100, FD: $6,700, Yahoo: $20

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— Scott (@scottd923) September 25, 2023

Running Back DFS Value Plays

Jonathan Taylor, IND vs. NO | DK: $6,200, FD: $7,100, Yahoo: $15

Taylor finally appeared to look like himself in Week 7 despite a tough matchup on paper against the Browns. The talented back racked up 120 total yards and a rushing touchdown, averaging over 4.0 yards per carry and just over 10 yards per catch in the process. His 22 total touches were his most by far since his Week 5 season debut, and the workload basically dispelled any doubts about Taylor's ability to serve in a workhorse role again.

To be clear, the matchup against the Saints doesn't exactly stand out on paper. New Orleans is surrendering a modest 98.7 rushing yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry. However, Taylor has proven matchup-proof in the past, and this is an opportunity to snag him at salaries that aren't likely to remain this low, especially on Yahoo. Taylor could also capitalize on the fact the Saints are surrendering four receptions per game to RBs, and the fact their very stingy pass defense could lead to the Colts leaning heavily on the ground attack.

The Jonathan Taylor drive. 7 straight touches from the 50-yard line. 6 of them were for a positive gain.

- 9 yards (picks up 1st down)
- 6 yards
- 4 yards (picks up 1st down on 3rd down)
- 20 yard screen
- 6 yard
- 5 yard TD

P.S. Quenton Nelson was pretty sweet on this drive. pic.twitter.com/KIkrBNnWah

— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) October 24, 2023

Dameon Pierce, HOU at CAR | DK: $5,300, FD: $6,700, Yahoo: $20

Pierce saw Devin Singletary eat into his snaps some in Week 6 before Houston's Week 7 bye. However, with the former still presumably the lead every-down back and his salaries progressively dropping, he's certainly under consideration in a highly favorable matchup. Pierce should also be the clear favorite to handle short-yardage and goal-line opportunities, and those could pay off plenty against this vulnerable Panthers front.

Carolina enters Week 8 action allowing the second-most rushing yards per game (144.3), 4.9 yards per carry overall, and an NFL-high 11 rushing TDs to running backs. Consequently, they could certainly be the cure for what ails Pierce, who has averaged just 2.9 yards per carry behind Houston's injury-ravaged offensive line, albeit one that could be much healthier this week.

ALSO CONSIDER:

• Isiah Pacheco, KC  | DK: $6,100, FD: $7,400, Yahoo: $25
  
• DK-FD Special: Breece Hall, NYJ at NYG | DK: $5,900, FD: $7,200 

Wide Receiver DFS Value Plays

DeVonta Smith, PHI at WAS | DK: $6,700, FD: $6,900, Yahoo: $20

Smith has disappointed plenty of DFS players on multiple occasions this season, but there's a silver lining to that development. For one, it's finally started to have an effect on his salaries, which are finally creeping down to levels more commensurate to this year's numbers. Additionally, it's certainly helping push his roster rates lower. One of these weeks, there's no question Smith is going to reward those who stick with him with a big game while not being in nearly as many lineups as usual.

There's reason to think that could transpire on Sunday, considering the matchup. The Commanders have allowed an NFL-high 12.0 yards per completion, a figure that dovetails nicely for fantasy purposes with Smith's 13.1-yard aDOT. Then there's Smith's recent history against many of these same defensive players at this same FedEx Field venue -- the speedy third-year receiver posted an 8-169-1 line in the nation's capital in Week 3 of last season and also scored another TD in the game in Philadelphia later in the season.

Another DeVonta Smith masterclass will come this Sunday at FedEx Field (Lincoln Financial Field south) #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/b5BppASCnC

— NBA Slime (@TerryFranconia) October 26, 2023

Chris Olave, NO at IND | DK: $6,400, FD: $7,300, Yahoo: $18

Olave is the second of three very high-ceiling value wideouts we'll spotlight this week. The Saints' speedy second-year man has already had his fair share of moments with new quarterback Derek Carr, producing a 39-471-1 line and six receptions of greater than 20 yards. Olave also has back-to-back seven-catch outings, and he's logged double-digit targets in five of seven contests as well.

The Colts have been appreciably easier to pass against than run on, so Olave and the rest of New Orleans' air attack could certainly be busy. Indy has also given up 10.7 yards per completion at home, along with 241.3 passing yards per game there. The fast track of Lucas Oil Stadium should also suit Olave's skill set well, and like Indy's game against the Browns in Week 7, this contest could well turn into quite the back-and-forth affair.

Jordan Addison, MIN at GB | DK: $5,700, FD: $7,300, Yahoo: $17

Addison's Week 8 salaries were set before his breakout against the 49ers on Monday night in Week 7, making this a terrific opportunity to capture an expansive ceiling at a discount. The rookie went off for a career-best 7-123-1 line on 10 targets despite the tough matchup on paper, undoubtedly earning the coaching staff's and Kirk Cousins' trust as a top option in Justin Jefferson's (IR-hamstring) ongoing absence.

Addison will now look to put together a successful encore against an injury-hampered Packers secondary that saw Darnell Savage (calf) and Eric Stokes (hamstring) go on injured reserve Wednesday and star cornerback Jaire Alexander (back) miss practice Thursday. Therefore, advantageous matchups could abound for Addison against a Green Bay defense that already comes in having yielded five touchdowns to wideouts in six games thus far.

ALSO CONSIDER:

• Rashee Rice, KC at DEN | DK: $5,000, FD: $6,000, Yahoo: $16
• Tank Dell, HOU at CAR | DK: $4,900, FD: $6,000, Yahoo: $16
• DK-Yahoo Special: Adam Thielen, CAR vs. HOU | DK: $6,600, Yahoo: $23

Tight End DFS Value Plays

Darren Waller, NYG vs. NYJ | DK: $5,200, FD: $6,400, Yahoo: $18

Waller has become a mainstay in this column for good reason. His salaries remain persistently low, which is certainly a prerequisite, but he's also overdelivering on them recently after seemingly hitting his stride in Brian Daboll's offense. Not even the quarterback switch to Tyrod Taylor has affected the veteran tight end, who sports a 20-227-1 line on 26 targets in his last three games.

Waller should have a chance to keep the good times rolling in Week 8 against a Jets defense that's certainly talented but can sometimes be beaten over the middle. Gang Green has allowed a 32-331 line to tight ends on 47 targets through six games, surrendering a league-high five receiving touchdowns to the position along the way. With the Giants' offense badly in need of playmakers and Waller qualifying as the most proven next to Saquon Barkley, he should be in for another busy afternoon at MetLife this Sunday.

Some of the best individual game planning and specific play calls from the #Giants in Week 7.
Fresh off the Deonte Banks INT, they dial up this shot play to Darren Waller.
Any time the Giants got into 12 personnel & WAS matched with base, NYG tried to expose the open space. pic.twitter.com/EpY9JUrffy

— Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL) October 23, 2023

Dallas Goedert, PHI at WAS | DK: $4,600, FD: $6,200, Yahoo: $20

Goedert got his season off to a rather slow start, but the veteran tight end has started to show glimpses of his upside of late and still carries salaries that are highly affordable. Both of Goedert's touchdown catches this season have come in the last three games, and he's carrying an 18-236-2 line off of 22 targets over the latter span while also averaging an impressive 2.3 yards per route run.

The Commanders have been giving up big plays through the air throughout the season as already noted in Smith's entry, and they've been vulnerable to tight ends specifically as well. Washington has conceded a 36-321-4 line to the position over seven games, and Goedert notably scored a touchdown in each of his two games against the Commanders a season ago.

ALSO CONSIDER:

• George Kittle, SF vs. CIN | DK: $5,400, FD: $6,100, Yahoo: $22

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