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Hello, RotoBallers, and welcome back to Break The Slate. Before we dive into the Week 8 DraftKings picks, I'd like to give a huge shoutout to my good friend Thunder Dan Palyo for covering (and crushing) last week's edition of this article while I was away.
Although there are no bye weeks on this slate, we're still dealing with a week in which many DFS favorites are off the Main Slate, as well as a Sunday docket with no singular "must target" game environment. This week's DraftKings lineup recommendations are based on matchups, projected DK points and ownership, overall upside/talent levels, and opportunity, as well as factors such as Vegas odds, home-field advantage, and more. There are quite a few great plays available on DK for Week 8.
Also, be sure to check out our weekly FanDuel DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big! Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups -- let's dominate this slate together!
DraftKings Quarterbacks - Week 8 DFS Picks
Lamar Jackson - BAL @ ARI ($8,100)
After consistently nibbling around the edges of monster fantasy performances this season, Jackson finally took a big bite out of the Detroit Lions in Week 8. The former MVP destroyed the Lions to the tune of 357 passing yards and three TDs through the air, while adding in 36 yards and a score on the ground. It resulted in a 37.9-point DraftKings explosion for Jackson.
Lamar Jackson MVP season? 👀 pic.twitter.com/5bey0oGBaF
— PFF (@PFF) October 26, 2023
As Jackson grows more comfortable in first-year Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken's offense -- and as his pass-catchers and offensive line continue to get healthier -- it feels as though more monster performances are in the pipeline.
The train will keep rolling this week against an Arizona Cardinals defensive unit that's failed to put any pressure on opposing QBs and has consistently been burned deep. The Cardinals rank last in the NFL in QB pressure rate and are allowing the league's third-most yards per attempt (8.15) to opposing signal-callers.
C.J. Stroud - HOU @ CAR ($6,300)
The second overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft has gotten his NFL career off to a better start than anyone could have imagined. Coming in off Houston's bye week, Stroud ranks fourth in the NFL in yards per attempt (7.8) and sports a TD-to-INT ratio of 9-1. The rookie has been straight money on throws of over 10 yards this season, accumulating a 114.8 passer rating on throws of 10-plus yards.
CJ Stroud on 10+ yard throws this season:
43/79
977 yards
5 TDs / 1 INT
114.8 passer rating— PFF HOU Texans (@PFF_Texans) October 26, 2023
The Texans rookie has crossed the magical 300-yard passing threshold -- which comes with a three-point bonus on DraftKings -- in two of Houston's last five. That mark is certainly in play this week against the Carolina Panthers. This Panthers unit is allowing the NFL's sixth-most yards per attempt (7.55) and has especially struggled to defend deep throws, as they grade out 26th in the league in opposing QB deep-passer rating.
As if that wasn't enough, Carolina has also been decimated by injuries in the secondary. They will be without cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Jeremy Chinn this week while starting safeties Xavier Woods and Vonn Bell are both currently questionable. Stroud is in a position to shred the Panthers deep in this matchup.
MORE TOP QB PLAYS: Jalen Hurts ($8,200); Sam Darnold ($4,300)
DraftKings Running Backs - Week 8 DFS Picks
Travis Etienne Jr. - JAX @ PIT ($7,200)
Preseason concerns that rookie Tank Bigsby would eat into Etienne's workload have been proven false in a big way. Through the season's first seven weeks, Etienne has been a volume monster. He leads the NFL in rushing attempts (127) and stands sixth in running back targets (29).
It isn't empty volume either, as the Clemson product appears to have fully regained the explosiveness he had prior to a Lisfranc injury that ended his 2021 season prematurely. Etienne is cranking out 4.0 yards per carry and his seven rushing TDs are the third-most in the league. In Week 7, he became the first player since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006 to rush for multiple TDs in four consecutive games.
Jaguars RB Travis Etienne can become the first player since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006 to rush for multiple TDs in four consecutive games.
Via @ESPNdirocco
Wasn’t 2006 when he won MVP? 👀 pic.twitter.com/ENWQa9RTuD
— J-Villains Podcast (@JVillainsPod) October 26, 2023
His Week 8 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers sounds tougher than it is. While the Steelers have been effective in rushing opposing quarterbacks and creating turnovers, they've been very beatable on the ground. The Steelers are allowing a generous 4.65 yards per carry to opposing running backs and have relinquished the sixth-most rushing yards (712) in the NFL to this point.
Breece Hall - NYJ @ NYG ($5,900)
Since his "pitch count" was lifted in Week 5, Hall has reminded us why he's one of the most exciting running back prospects in football. Over New York's last two, Hall has rushed for 216 yards and two scores on 34 carries, while also reeling in eight catches for 71 yards.
Breece Hall (@ NYG)
Since his pitch count was lifted:
21 touches/game
24.4 points/gameBreece is an elite talent that just needed some volume
The Giants are allowing the 7th most points to RBs
Hall should be in for another feast
pic.twitter.com/17ViFAqGMR— Chris O'Brien (@17gamepace) October 26, 2023
He's left offseason acquisition Dalvin Cook in the dust in the usage department and is averaging 21 touches per game since Week 5. We can look for Gang Green to continue to feed Hall early and often once again in this Week 8 matchup against the Giants.
Brian Daboll's squad has struggled in many facets in 2023, and that's especially been the case against the run. The Giants have been routinely destroyed by opposing running backs and have relinquished the NFL's second-most rushing yards (857) and third-most rushing TDs (eight) to the position this year.
MORE TOP RB PLAYS: Christian McCaffrey ($9,200); Alvin Kamara ($7,300); Isiah Pacheco ($6,100)
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— Scott (@scottd923) September 25, 2023
DraftKings Wide Receivers - Week 8 DFS Picks
A.J. Brown - PHI @ WAS ($8,000)
Brown enters Week 8 on a monumental heater. The stud Eagles wideout has now logged at least 125 yards, six catches, and 21 DraftKings points in five consecutive games. Brown ranks second in the NFL in total receiving yards (809) and third in targets (74). Despite his otherworldly output, Brown still comes in with a relatively modest $8K price tag on this slate and is my favorite spend-up option at the WR position.
AJ Brown is the NFC offensive player of the week
He is on pace for close to 2000 receiving yards right now pic.twitter.com/U0kAxVPD8p
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 25, 2023
His Week 8 matchup is a terrific one, as he's set to square off a Washington unit that he torched for 175 yards and two TDs in Week 4. The Commanders are allowing a league-worst 10.36 yards per target to opposing wide receivers and were recently forced to bench 2023 first-round draft pick Emmanuel Forbes due to his abysmal play. Washington has allowed five different receivers to top 100 yards this season.
Zay Flowers - BAL @ ARI ($5,600)
I keep confidently rostering Flowers with the belief that a breakout game is coming. I'm still waiting...as he's produced consistent, but not tournament-winning results to this point in his rookie campaign. His usage remains elite, as his 54 targets rank 16th in the NFL among wide receivers, while his nine red zone targets are tied for the fifth-most in the league.
He's parlayed that volume into a healthy 11.3 yards per reception and his 15 catches of 20-plus yards is tied for the eighth-most in the NFL, though he's found the end zone only once in 2023. Positive TD regression is coming sooner or later.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers is the second receiver since 1970 to accumulate at least 50 yards from scrimmage in each of his first seven games, per @baltimoresun. pic.twitter.com/Qqz6Tnpv7a
— Ravens Nation LIVE (@LIVERavenNation) October 26, 2023
This week's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals could (should) be the eruption spot us Flowers truthers have been waiting for. While Arizona has been feistier than many expected this season, they've now lost four straight and stand at 1-6 on the year. The Cards rank dead last in the NFL in receiving yards allowed to opposing wideouts (1,357) and have relinquished the league's fourth-most receptions (104).
MORE TOP WR PLAYS: Adam Thielen ($6,600); Jordan Addison ($5,700); Tank Dell ($4,900)
DraftKings Tight Ends - Week 8 DFS Picks
Jake Ferguson - LAR @ DAL ($3,600)
For the last few years, it seems as though the TE position on DraftKings has come with three options: 1.) Spend up for Kelce. 2.) Try to "guess right" on the boom/bust mid-tier plays. 3.) Spend as little as possible.
Well, folks, I'm here to tell you that not much has changed in the 2023 season. I'll attack the TE position this week under the assumption that you know Kelce is always a true separator at the position if you can afford him and that tight ends like Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, and George Kittle are capable of breaking slates in the right circumstances.
A good week for Jake Ferguson to get back into the thick of things.
Since week 1 he's caught 19 of his 22 targets with 5.58 yards after catch per reception (would rank 8th in the NFL).
The Rams defense allows a league-worse 12.8 yards per reception to TEs and the 6th most ypg. pic.twitter.com/L9F6UbXup4
— Skywalker Steele (@SkywalkerSteele) October 24, 2023
But if we want to save salary at TE this week, my first look is to Dallas' Jake Ferguson. Replacing offseason departure Dalton Schultz in the 'Boys offense this season, Ferguson has been solid, if unspectacular. He's reeled in 21 of 29 targets for 190 yards and a score. While those numbers don't necessarily blow us away at first glance, Ferguson does stand out on this slate due to both opportunity and matchup.
He leads all tight ends in red zone targets this season with 11 and draws one of the best matchups on the board against a Rams defense that's relinquished the NFL's third-most DraftKings points and receiving yards to the TE position this season. Predicting touchdowns is a tough business, but Ferguson has a better-than-average chance of finding the paint in this spot.
Trey McBride - BAL @ ARI ($2,800)
My other top salary saver at the TE position is Arizona's second-year tight end, Trey McBride. The Cardinals' 2022 second-round draft pick was already gaining ground on washed veteran Zach Ertz in recent weeks, but his trending usage will jump into overdrive now that Ertz is headed to Injured Reserve with a quad injury.
Trey McBride propaganda cause why not
— Adam Tabatchnick (@TGDTabs) October 25, 2023
McBride is a physical and dynamic athlete who's had some time to learn the ropes at the NFL level and is now showing signs of exciting development. His juicy average of 8.1 yards per target dwarfs some of the biggest names at the position and the path to increased targets is clear with Ertz now sidelined. The matchup against Baltimore isn't great, unfortunately, but McBride is a sensible way to save salary in cash-game and single-entry GPP formats this week.
MORE TOP TE PLAYS: Travis Kelce ($8,400); George Kittle ($5,400); Dalton Schultz ($3,900)
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