NFL DFS Week 8 Picks: Strategy & Player Pool for DraftKings & FanDuel

In this article, weekly I’ll be breaking down my core player pool across each position, highlighting projected ownership trends, key leverage spots, and the plays I’m targeting for tournaments of all sizes. You can also get access to my premium DFS builds for every main slate here. Now, let’s dive in…

I’m a bit short on time this weekend so the article is going to be a bit abbreviated. Let’s dive in!

Quarterback

Projected Own%: Jalen Hurts, Bo Nix, Baker Mayfield, Kirk Cousins

My Player Pool: Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, Baker Mayfield, Kirk Cousins, Spencer Rattler, Joe Flacco, Daniel Jones, CJ Stroud

 

This slate was completely flipped on its head on Saturday when it was announced that Lamar Jackson wouldn’t return until next weekend despite a full practice on Friday – in addition to some other key injury spots. 

 

The biggest spot to monitor right now is whether or not Drake London is in. If he misses, I think Kirk Cousins will get a bump in GPP ownership with how easy it would be to stack him up with Darnell Mooney and Kyle Pitts. 

 

This is a very clear stars and scrubs slate, and that increases the amount of QB and stacks I’m willing to play because you are looking to hit on the right stack around some of the higher-owned star players like Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor and Ja’Marr Chase. 

 

Daniel Jones as of now is my favorite GPP stack, with everyone focused on Jonathan Taylor I think he goes overlooked and still gets you access to the monster 30+point team total with a clear stacking partner in Tyler Warren. 

 

For cash games, I think you are playing Kirk Cousins for value as of now but some may try to get up to Bo Nix against the Cowboys as well. 

 

Running Back 

Projected Own%: Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, Rachaad White, Derrick Henry, Chase Brown

My Player Pool: Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, Rachaad White, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, Javonte Williams, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry

 

RB is tight for me this week, we have an abundance of mid to cheap stacks and some very clear spend up options in Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor and Christian McCaffrey. We also have a mid-tier Rachaad White once again with the Buccaneers weapons severely limited. Overall, I love the chalk at RB this week and I want to get different with my stacks and WRs as opposed to this position. If you are looking for some pivots at this position, it would probably be Chase Brown and Javonte Williams for me. 

I also want to note that when Lamar Jackson was expected to play, everyone wanted to play Derrick Henry and now nobody wants to touch him. I’ve removed him from my cash game pool, but think Henry is a great tourney option on both sites.

Wide Receiver

Projected Own%: Ja’Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith, Chris Olave, Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson, Jaylen Waddle

My Player Pool: Ja’Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson, Darnell Mooney, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Courtland Sutton, Jaylin Noel, Jerry Jeudy

 

All of Chase, Smith and Olave will be chalky today and it’s hard for me to argue against them in any capacity. If I were to pick one guy out of the chalky tier that I don’t want to be over–exposed to it would be Egbuka just because I do have questions as to whether or not he’s truly healthy. 

 

For tournaments, I love CeeDee Lamb opposite the Broncos stuff or in a stack with Dak Prescott. He won’t be owned with everyone spending up for Chase, and I think they have a similar range of outcomes despite the perceived tough match-up on paper for Lamb. 

 

I also want to take a stand on Jerry Jeudy as a GPP play who will be unowned in the cheap tier. This is a spot where the Browns might find success offensively through the air – New England has been operating as a severe pass-funnel and Jeudy has one of the largest differences between his actual and expected fantasy points this season. I’m also on Jeudy overs in the prop streets. 

 

Tight End

Projected Own%: Dalton Schultz, Dallas Goedert, Tyler Warren, Cade Otton

My Player Pool: Dallas Goedert, George Kittle, Kyle Pitts, Tyler Warren, Dalton Schultz

 

It’s National Tight End day, and like last week I think double-TE is back in play this week with a number of guys seeing increased roles due to injury situations. 

 

I’m pretty fine with the chalk this week, both Schultz and Goedert look fine and I love getting up to Tyler Warren in GPPs to go along with Daniel Jones. Kyle Pitts would also get a nice boost if Drake London isn’t able to suit up. George Kittle is a strong GPP option coming off a 0 in his first game back players will be hesitant to click his name. Overall, I have a tighter pool at TE, and will play around with some double-TE teams in GPPs if the second one is Warren.