Quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo- I can’t believe it’s come to this, but as the week has wore on Jimmy G has climbed higher and higher on my list when it comes to cash games. Seattle has coughed up the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, and this game still owns the highest O/U (54) of the weekend. He has a lower floor than I typically like to lock in, but his price makes up for it and he did post a 23.5 DK point game a few weeks ago. QB’s don’t typically win you weeks unless they have a big day rushing the ball, and I think I might be throwing it back to a few years ago with a cheap option in cash games, while jamming in the high-priced position players.
Joe Burrow- I was pretty much dead-set on Burrow all week, but the news that three starting lineman are out is definitely worrisome. Joe Mixon is also out, though that may actually be a positive given how easily Gio Bernard can be incorporated into the passing game. That being said, Burrow is tied with Carson Wentz for the most sacks taken this season (28) and now three of his starters on the line are out? Tennessee hasn’t been able to generate pressure on opposing QBs, but that can’t be spun any way but negatively. There’s also some slight wind concerns right now, while I still think Burrow is a good play, the injuries on the line put Garoppolo slightly ahead.
Other Options: Russ Wilson (FanDuel)
Running Back
Alvin Kamara- I wasn’t planning on playing Kamara in a difficult matchup, but that became a much tougher fade on Friday with Michael Thomas, Marquez Callaway and Emmanuel Sanders all confirmed out for New Orleans. Taysom Hill is always a threat to troll, as well as Latavius Murray, but he has a legitimate 10+ target projection with carries and inside the five duties mixed in. I think he is a must on DraftKings personally.
Derrick Henry- The reason I say must on DraftKings is due to the presence of Henry, who gets a big bump with the half-PPR scoring of FanDuel. We know that the Titans are going to feed him the ball, and we also know that the matchup against the Bengals is as good as it gets. Still down multiple key defenders on the defensive line, Cincy has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards this season. People hate to play Henry because he is an anomaly and doesn’t catch the ball a ton, but don’t listen to those people. He is a great play this week and if he happens to end up low-owned, I will make a point to be overweight.
Kareem Hunt- Hunt is another tough fade in Week 8, up against the Las Vegas Raiders who are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to his position. Operating as a bell cow post-Nick Chubb, Hunt has yet to have the pop-off game which will keep him from ending up as mega-chalk. He is getting nearly all of the work for the Browns despite the injury concerns/rumors, and his role in the passing game is as secure as any RB — he hauled in a red zone touchdown last week vs Cincinnati.
Jamaal Williams- We have the same situation as last week with both Aaron Jones and Joe Mixon out, and I will once again side with Jamaal Williams. Williams logged over 90% of the snaps for the Packers in Week 7 sans Jones, keeping at bay any worried that AJ Dillon would eat into his early down work. The Vikings are a good matchup, and the windiness/cold weather should help Williams more than it hurts him. He is just as involved in the passing game as Bernard, with higher carry upside and in a better offense. He also provides exposure to a massive 31 implied team total.
Wide Receiver
Davante Adams- Whether or not to play Adams is a major decision for cash game builds in Week 8. He is priced up to nearly $9,000 on DraftKings, but the matchup and situation couldn’t get much better. He draws an injury plagued Minnesota secondary that he torched for 40 DK points in Week 1, and to further his projection even more, Aaron Jones is out once again for Green Bay. Mike Hughes and Cam Dantzler will both be sidelined for the Vikes this week, and they also traded Yannick Ngakoue away to Baltimore…their best pass rusher. There are some big wind concerns in this game, but it’s hard to argue the target/catch floor in a soft matchup.
Keenan Allen- Allen is nearing must-play status in cash games due to his chemistry and usage rate with Justin Herbert at the helm of the offense. He has well over 30% of the teams total targets since Herbert took over, and his form has been strong regardless of matchup. He’s only $6,200 on DraftKings, which is too cheap when you factor in his projection of double-digit targets. The Chargers also shifted to a more optimal first-down passing approach in Week 7, and I will be excited to see if that sticks vs the Broncos.
Brandon Aiyuk- Aiyuk is maybe my favorite play on the main slate, with Deebo Samuel out and my interest in Jimmy G growing as we head into the weekend. He eclipsed 100 yards last weekend in a game that Samuel left early, and I have extreme confidence in Kyle Shanahan being able to get the ball in electric playmakers hands. He also has been used heavily in the red zone, with four targets inside the 10 yard line. No team has allowed more PPR points to wide receivers than the Seahawks.
AJ Green- I don’t really want to play Green if I don’t play Burrow, but I do believe he is in play regardless at his price on DraftKings. You can say what you want about his old man legs, but he is a massive positive regression candidate with nearly 60 targets to 0 touchdowns. The wind factor definitely hurts him here, but with Burrow ranking first in the NFL in pass attempts through seven weeks, we know that the ball will be coming his way…especially if the Bengals are trailing.
Denzel Mims- Mims received a big bump on Friday when Jamison Crowder was ruled out for the Jets. He received around 30% of the Jets targets in his first NFL game, and it’s important to remember that he was one of the highest touted receiving prospects in a loaded 2019 class. The matchup isn’t overly good one way or another, but it’s hard to ignore his target projection at near min-price on DraftKings.
Other Options: Tyler Lockett (FanDuel)
Tight End
Darren Waller- Waller is far and away my favorite tight end play this week, while I never spend up here, I am making a point to force him into my optimal build on both sites. The Browns have long been a team to attack with tight ends, and Waller just so happens to be the focal point of this Raiders offense. He’s tied with Travis Kelce for the lead in targets at this position (56) and that comes with eight inside the 20 yard line. I expect the Raiders to put up points against a pass-funnel Browns defense, and the potential wind situation works even more in Waller’s favor compared to someone like Henry Ruggs or Nelson Agholor.
Harrison Bryant- If I can’t get up to Waller, I’m fine looking in the same game for a punt in Harrison Bryant. Our analyst Matt Domsic was all over Bryant last week and tried to talk me into him in cash games. He won’t be as sneaky in Week 8 after scoring two touchdowns vs the Bengals. He played ahead of David Njoku and was clear chemistry with Baker Mayfield. He produced at an elite level in college, so the potential is there and I don’t view it as fluke.
Other Options: George Kittle
Written by Ben Hossler (Follow @BenHossler on Twitter)
