Welcome to the Clay’s DFS Plays for Week 8, Halloween edition! Each week I identify DFS plays and stacks to try to help you “bink” that GPP or smash in cash games!
Week 7 was full of injuries, however, I still had some nice hits for you:
Joe Burrow: 42.24 DK points
Austin Ekeler: 36.7 DK points
Josh Jacobs: 39.5 DK points
Ja’Marr Chase: 36 DK points
David Njoku: 14.1 DK points
Cowboys D/ST: 22 DK points
Time to refocus and give you the best plays for Week 8! Let the #printfest begin!
Week 8 Draftkings
Games to target:
1. MIA @ DET – 51.5 O/U
Implied totals: MIA 27.5; DET 24
2. NYG @ SEA – 47 O/U
Implied totals: NYG 20.75; SEA 23.75
Top Cash Plays:
Quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa ($6,200)
I am well aware that Tua did not do much last week against Pittsburgh but he did enough to win the game. Now, Tua gets the Detroit Lions defense, a unit that ranks as the 5th best matchup for opposing quarterbacks. Think of Tua as the house that lets you take a handful of Halloween candy - Effective and efficient.
Running Back
Derrick Henry ($8,400)
Josh Jacobs torched the Texans defense for 154 yards on 21 carries last week and now it is time for the Big Dawg to eat. Henry has finishes of RB2, RB8, RB5, and RB15 in his last four games. The Texans have allowed the 4th most rushing yards this season and rank as the 5th best matchup for opposing running backs. Oh Henry!
Tyler Allgeier ($5,400)
Arthur Smith is the cheap candy that’s wrapped in orange and black wax paper, no fun and gross. Smith seems hell bent on running the ball regardless of game situation. In fact, Arthur Smith has run the ball at a 60.6% rate this season, second only to Matt Eberflus of the Chicago Bears. Combine that unrelenting workload for Tyler Allgeier with a fantastic matchup against the Carolina Panthers and we have a cheap productive DFS play. The Panthers rank as the 3rd best matchup for opposing running backs.
Saquon Barkley ($8,100)
Saquon Barkley has one finish outside the top 13 running backs this season. The Seattle Seahawks are tied for 1st in the most rushing yards allowed at 1,048 and are tied for the 3rd most rushing touchdowns allowed. The Seahawks also rank as the 8th best matchup for opposing running backs based on points over average. Much like a Milky way, it should be smooth sailing for Saquon this week.
Tony Pollard ($6,100)
Draft Network
Reports coming out of Dallas are that Ezekiel Elliott will miss Week 8, meaning it is time to lock Tony Pollard into your DFS lineups. Pollard gets a lovely matchup against the Bears, who rank as the 9th best matchup for opposing running backs. Similar to Sweet tarts, Pollard should give you a lot of bang for your buck this week.
Wide Receivers
Chris Olave ($6,000)
Chris Olave has been a beast. Outside of Weeks 1 and 2, he has produced top 20 wide receiver numbers every week with finishes of: WR6, WR17, WR18, and WR13. Olave now gets a vulnerable secondary in the Las Vegas Raiders, who rank as the 7th best matchup for opposing wide receivers. Much like Reese’s peanut butter cups, Olave is consistent and always delivers.
DJ Moore ($5,300)
Much like a zombie, D.J. Moore came back to life in Week 8, finishing with 7 receptions for 69 (nice) yards and a touchdown on 10 targets in what was expected to be a tough matchup. With Christian McCaffrey gone, DJM should be vacuuming up those vacated targets. Even better for DJM, he faces the Atlanta Falcons who gave up over 400 passing yards last week, including 155 yards to Tyler Boyd and 130 yards to Ja’Marr Chase. D.J. Moore should see plenty of volume and deliver on that volume, similar to a bag of Skittles.
Cooper Kupp ($9,600)
Cooper Kupp has earned 10+ targets in four of six games this year. Akin to a snickers bar, Kupp is consistent and considered top-tier at his position. In Week 8, Kupp gets to face a 49ers defense that was toasted by Juju Smith-Schuster to the tune of 7 receptions for 124 yards and one touchdown in Week 7. Plus, the Rams are coming off of a bye. Kupp should be in for a huge day.
Tight End
Mike Gesicki ($3,800)
Mike Gesicki is a boom or bust option, like a Warheads candy. The matchup this week is too good to pass up, though. Per Broto’s True Matchup Rank, the Detroit Lions are the 3rd best matchup for opposing tight ends. Expect Mike Gesicki to do more griddying this week.
Irv Smith Jr ($3,500)
Somehow, the Arizona Cardinals have become elite at shutting down opposing wide receivers, but are still allowing tight ends to feast. The Cardinals rank as the 4th best matchup for opposing tight ends which should make Irv Smith Jr. a strong play this week. Smith does have one top four tight end finish along with back-to-back TE16 and TE13 performances, respectively.
D/ST
New York Jets ($2,900)
Quinnen Williams is a wrecking ball and “Sauce” Gardner is a certified playmaker. Enter a flailing New England offense that can’t decide on who to start at QB and you get defensive fantasy points. The Jets rank 12th in defensive pressure percentage at 23.7 percent along with ranking 9th in total QB pressures. It could be a long day for Mac Jones.
Favorite stacks:
1. Tua + Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle/Mike Gesicki/Raheem Mostert with DeAndre Swift or Amon-Ra St. Brown bring back
2. Tony Pollard + Dallas Cowboys D/ST
3. Miles Sanders + Philadelphia D/ST
GPP Plays:
QB Kyler Murray ($7,500), Daniel Jones ($5,700)
If you want to embrace variance, then these are your guys. Both Murray and Jones have great matchups and are certainly capable of breaking the slate with their rushing upside. For Kyler, the Minnesota Vikings are top 10 in passing yards allowed (1,632) as well as #1 in yards per attempt allowed (7.9) and 5th in completion percentage allowed (68.6%). As for Jones, he draws a Seattle defense that is tied for 1st in rushing yards allowed (1048) and tied for 3rd most rushing touchdowns (10) allowed on the season. As far as passing defense, the Seahawks are allowing the 5th highest yards per attempt at 7.3 and allowing the 7th most passing yards at 1,746. Upside everywhere.
RB Miles Sanders ($6,600)
I anticipate Jalen Hurts along with AJ Brown and Devonta Smith will be popular DFS targets, hence the Miles Sanders pick. Although the Steelers limited the decrepit Tampa Bay offense, they should have a lot more trouble trying to contain the Eagles offense. Specifically for Miles Sanders, the Pittsburgh Steelers rank as the 11th best matchup for opposing running backs. Expect Sanders to mirror a Starburst candy in this one, utilized early and often with lasting impact.
WR Cooper Kupp ($9,600) see cash section
WR DeAndre Hopkins ($7,400)
It seems like Kyler Murray was excited to have Nuk squad up with him on the Call of Duty battlefield and on the football field. Hopkins was deployed in a variety of ways (like M&Ms) and finished with 10 receptions for 103 yards. On the road, in a dome, Kyler and Nuk should have another huge game.
WR Tyreek Hill ($8,500) or Jaylen Waddle ($6,700)
I love this game. Dome game with the biggest over/under on the week. Miami should be able to pass all over Detroit with only Jeff Okudah causing fits. I suspect that Tyreek Hill will be covered by Okudah, freeing up Waddle to streak for some long gains. Don’t be afraid to use both in large field GPPs, I know I will be.
TE Will Dissly ($3,200)
Will Dissly is a huge variance play but with DK Metcalf questionable and in a good matchup, Dissly becomes a very intriguing play in GPPs. He can provide you leverage off Kenneth Walker and Tyler Lockett, who are both expected to be highly rostered this week. As for the matchup, the Giants rank as the 9th best matchup for opposing tight ends.
Lone Ranger (sub $5,000 player that can score over 10 fantasy points)
Alec Pierce let me down last week, which makes me 4-2.
Wan’Dale Robinson ($4,700)
The Giants need a wide receiver to step up and Wan’Dale can do that. He has earned 12 targets over his past two games and has no threat outside of Saquon Barkley to his targets. If the Seattle Seahawks offense continues to put up points, Robinson could have a huge day.
Have a great week 8 of DFS! Go win big!
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By Clayton Jones
For a second straight season, I am betting against Mahomes.