The NFL season continues to Week 8 with a full slate of NFL DFS action provided by DraftKings and FanDuel. This piece will examine the NFL DFS slate early in the week to find potential NFL DFS picks that will return the most value. Based on the salaries released by both DraftKings and FanDuel, we will go over some of the best Week 8 NFL DFS picks, but keep an eye on the news as the week progresses. A value play early in the week could turn into a bust chalk play due to injury or COVID-related illness. The best way to stay plugged in for all the news and notes throughout the week is by catching all the Awesemo NFL DFS Strategy and Picks shows on the Awesemo YouTube Channel.
NFL First Look: Week 8 NFL DFS Picks
Quarterbacks
Josh Allen, MIA vs. BUF ($8,100 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel)
Back on the slate after a Week 7 bye, the Bills draw the Dolphins at home as 13.5-point favorites in a game with a 49.5-point total. Allen is expensive on both platforms, but he presents the highest floor/ceiling combination on a slate without Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray and Aaron Rodgers. Allen is currently completing 64.8% of his passes for 7.5 yards per attempt. Allen has eclipsed 300 yards passing in three of six games this year, throwing multiple touchdowns in all but one. Allen has also been a large part of Buffalo’s rushing attack, with at least 35 yards rushing in four of six games this year. Even at an elevated price, Allen is stackable across the DFS industry.
Jalen Hurts, PHI vs. DET ($7,200 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel)
Hurts has disappointed as Philadelphia’s quarterback with a 61.2% completion percentage and 7.1 yards per attempt. However, Hurts’ solid volume and dual-threat ability propel him to productive DFS outings in garbage time. In fact, over 40% of his production this season has come in the fourth quarter. Still, Hurts averages 34.6 attempts per game, with over 30 yards rushing in every contest this year. He has also been over 60 yards rushing three times, showing a true ceiling on the ground. With this volume Hurts has been able to eclipse 20 points in every game to start the year. While it does not look pretty, garbage points count all the same, and Hurts benefits from a matchup against the Lions this week.
Tua Tagovailoa, MIA vs. BUF ($5,500 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel)
Since returning from injury Tagovailoa has back-to-back positive performances for Miami. He threw for 329 and 291 yards and six total touchdowns passing in those two games. Tagovailoa also showed off some mobility, with at least 20 yards rushing in both games. In Week 8 Tagovailoa draws a tough matchup against the Bills as a 13.5-point underdog. However, negative game script should again give Tagovailoa elite volume. Coming at a dirt-cheap price, Tagovailoa is a solid salary-saving option at quarterback this week.
Running Backs
Darrell Henderson, LAR vs. HOU ($6,500 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel)
While it has not resulted in a monster game to this point, Henderson continues to operate as Los Angeles clear lead back. Over there last two weeks Henderson has played on 85% of snaps, carrying the ball 36 times. He is also very active as a pass catcher, receiving all nine running back targets in that span. This week the Rams draw a dream matchup against the Texans as 14.5-point favorites. The Rams are one of two teams with a 30+ point implied team total and Houston ranks 27th in yards per attempt allowed. Still too cheap for his role, Henderson is a strong consideration in Week 8.
Elijah Mitchell, SF vs. CHI ($5,400 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel)
Mitchell has emerged from one of the most banged-up backfields in the NFL and has fully usurped Trey Sermon as San Francisco’s lead back. In their most recent game Mitchell carried the ball 18 times, equating to 85.7% of the attempts. JaMycal Hasty mixed in on occasion, but this backfield fully swung towards Mitchell. Mitchell also handled the team’s lone red-zone attempt last week. This week the 49ers draw a get-right spot against the Bears as 3.5-point favorites. The Bears play slightly below-average run defense, but volume should work in Mitchell’s favor in this game environment.
Kenneth Gainwell, PHI vs. DET ($5,000, DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel)
Miles Sanders was carted off early in Philadelphia’s Week 7 game, potentially elevating Gainwell. With Sanders going down early in Week 7, Gainwell played in a timeshare with Boston Scott. Gainwell handled five attempts on a 51% snap share, while Scott carried seven times on 33% of the snaps. However, Gainwell had the high-value touches, with eight targets. Six of Scott’s touches also came in the fourth quarter with the game mostly out of hand. If Sanders does miss time, Gainwell could be a value play worth targeting in tournaments this week.
Wide Receivers
Stefon Diggs, MIA vs. BUF ($8,100 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel)
With Cooper Kupp finally jumping in salary, Diggs becomes a solid pivot at a cheap price point given his 26.3% target share and 34.1% air yards share. While he has only reached 100 yards once this year, Diggs continues to see high volume in Buffalo’s explosive passing offense. This week the Bills draw the Miami Dolphins as 13.5-point favorites, giving them the highest implied team total on the board. Miami’s pass defense has taken a step back and currently ranks 26th in yards per attempt allowed. Diggs is a strong pivot among the expensive receivers.
Tee Higgins, CIN vs. NYJ ($5,200 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel)
Even with Ja’Marr Chase erupting for 200 yards in Week 7, Higgins still saw 15 targets and 179 air yards. Higgins only converted this into seven catches into 62 yards, but this creates a strong buy-low situation. Over the last two weeks Higgins has a 32% target share and 38% air yards share. The Bengals are 10-point favorites over the Jets ahead of Week 8, and Higgins is too cheap for his production and a potential cash game play this week.
Robby Anderson, CAR vs. ATL ($4,700 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel)
Though he is having one of the least efficient seasons in recent memory, Anderson is still a buy-low based strictly on volume. Over the last two weeks Anderson has 20 targets and 156 air yards. Somehow he turned this opportunity into a miniscule six catches for 25 yards. While the inefficiency somewhat stems from Sam Darnold, this level of poor play is inexcusable. With that said, Anderson projects to for high volume at a fraction of the ownership this week. He also draws one of his better matchups against a poor Atlanta secondary. Carolina also projects to play from behind as 3-point underdogs. While extremely risky, Anderson has volume worth targeting in tournaments.
Tight Ends
Mike Gesicki, MIA vs. BUF ($5,000 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel)
The main slate does not have Travis Kelce, Darren Waller or Mark Andrews, making tight end an even thinner position than usual. With Will Fuller on injured reserve and DeVante Parker battling a hamstring injury, Gesicki has emerged as a full-time receiver to the Dolphins; only 18 of Gesicki’s 310 snaps have come in line. In their last three games without Parker, Gesicki has a 19% target share and 27% air yards share. He continues to make sense in the mid-priced range.
Tyler Higbee, LAR vs. HOU ($4,500 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel)
After finally seeing a target ceiling game, Higbee reeled in five of eight for 46 yards in Week 7. He generally needs touchdowns to access his ceiling, but fortunately he plays on one of the most explosive offense in the NFL. This week the Rams are 14.5-point favorites over the Texans, giving them the second-highest team total on the board. With perhaps the most touchdown upside at the position, Higbee is a strong tight end consideration.
Jared Cook, NE vs. LAC ($3,400 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel)
Fresh off a bye, Cook is simply too cheap for his production in a dynamic Chargers offense. This week the Chargers take on the Patriots as 5.5-point favorites in a game with a 48-point total. Cook has been very involved this year and still ranks third on the team with 33 targets this year. While Donald Parham continues to steal some snaps, Cook still played on 64% of snaps in their most recent game. He also saw seven targets, pointing to a consistent role moving forward. Unlike the options above, Cook also comes at a cheaper price point, allowing more studs into lineups elsewhere.
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