DFS Gut Plays week 8 2017

By JJ Buck

If you’re reading this, you are amid a whirlwind of fantasy opinion and football statistic overload. With this article, we are looking at matchups that standout after a quick look over of the schedule and prices; going with your gut. Sometimes the obvious play is the best. Other times, it burns us. We’ll try to split the difference. Here we’ll look at Draft Kings (DK) and Yahoo Sports (YS). As always, be sure to know the scoring settings of what you are playing; DK is a PPR league as opposed to .5 PPR for Yahoo.

Quarterbacks

Cam Newton – Carolina – (DK $6,600 – YS $36)
The roller coaster talent that is Cam Newton gets to face the league’s worst pass defense in Tampa Bay. He’s the sixth highest priced QB on both sites putting him in no-man’s land. Will folks chase the matchup or fade the inconsistent results? I was burned by Newton last weekend, but I am drawn right back in this week. He has thrown 5 interceptions the last two weeks. He also has rushed 20 times for 121 yards and a touchdown. The big pass play ability combined with Cam being himself on the ground, equal Newton finding his way into some lineups. (TB -2, O/U 46)

Andy Dalton – Cincinnati – (DK $5,700 – YS $27)
I will be leaning on the Red Rifle this weekend. Indianapolis gave up 330 yards passing to Blake Bortles with three plays that went 40-plus yards. Dalton feasted on a poor Cleveland defense throwing four touchdowns week four and this matchup sets up for him to eat early then give Joe Mixon the touches he requested. (CIN -10, O/U 41.5)

Running Backs

Jordan Howard – Chicago – (DK $6,800 – YS $27)
I usually like to go with the mid-level pass catchers in this spot, but I can’t look away from a back that has the third most rushing attempts in the league (139) and is averaging 4.0 yards per-carry. Howard will be leaned on to control the clock and limit the time New Orleans has to get rolling on their turf. Also, insert your John Fox quarterback joke here. (NO -9, O/U 47.5)

LeGarrette Blount – Philadelphia – (DK $5,100 – YS $23)
Yahoo is not letting Blount go under the radar with a $23 price tag at home against San Francisco. On Draft Kings he’s one of the few sub $6,000 options that makes sense. Carson Wentz tossing 11 touchdowns the last three weeks and Blount not being relied on as a pass catcher has sucked all the TD value out of Blount. This is a good week to take a chance as Philly hasn’t forgotten about him; outside of week two, Blount has had at least 12 carries in every game. (TEN -13, O/U 46)

Quick Hits

Devonta Freeman– Atlanta – (DK $7,200 – YS $35) – Atlanta got too cute on the goal line last week. Freeman found the end zone each of the first four weeks and it’s time he finds it once again. (ATL -4.5, O/U 46)

Mark Ingram (DK $7,400 – YS $22) and Alvin Kamara – (DK $5,900 – YS $19) – The Saints duo has cashed in both providing value. Kamara is in play on DK with his rush and pass catching volume and Ingram’s price on Yahoo is very nice for 219 yards and three TD’s the last two weeks. (NO -9.5, OU/47.5)

Melvin Gordon – L.A. Chargers – (DK $8,100 – YS $33) – After being shut down against Denver, I’m all over the bounce back at New England. (NE -7, O/U 48.5)

Wide Receiver

Michael Crabtree – Oakland – (DK $6,300 – YS $21)
We watched Amari Cooper comeback to life last Thursday. Crabtree only caught three of his seven targets, as he did score for the third straight week. The touchdown potential is always there and with everything associated with Cooper up, the consistency of Crabtree is worth the click at Buffalo. (BUF -2.5, O/U 45.5)

DeSean Jackson – Tampa Bay – (DK $5,100 – YS $18)
Jackson, like Crabtree, has a solid floor with game changing ability at a good price. Jackson caught a season high five passes for 73 yards against Buffalo. With three big red zone targets for Jameis Winston, Jackson is going to have to win in space early in drives and with consistent targets (44) he’ll have that chance against Carolina. (TB -2, O/U 46)

Josh Doctson – Washington – (DK $3,900 – YS $13)
This has a DFS basketball feel to it, when a starting point guard is out and the backup P.G. priced at $3,000 sees his ownership in the 50-plus percent range. The value is too good to pass up. Doctson is going to be talked about all week, everyone will know about him. He played 54-of-64 snaps last week in a pass friendly offense. I won’t go all in with him because we have yet to see any Washington wide out produce, but his price will let you sneak in another WR (A.J. Green) or go big at RB. (DAL -2.5, O/U 45.5)

DK Receptions Fillers – Antonio Brown ($8,800), Keenan Allen ($7,300)

YS Touchdown Makers – A.J. Green ($36), Chris Hogan ($27)

Tight Ends

Jordan Reed – Washington – (DK $4,700 – YS $16)
With the uncertainty surrounding the receivers Reed finally cashed in with 8-64-2 last week. His price is still down on Yahoo and we should expect Kirk Cousins to keep feeding his top target.

Hunter Henry – L.A. Chargers – (DK $4,800 – YS $22)
Henry has nine receptions for 163 yards the last two weeks. We are pulling away from the narrative that Antonio Gates is going to cut into his work. There will be plenty of volume to go around in this game.

Yahoo Cup Review

124.72 points scored Week 7; 2,031th place out of 354,650 entries overall.
QB –Carson Wentz – (32.02) – The Wentz train is full steam ahead.
RB – LeSean McCoy – (24.70) – Finally! Shady found the end zone, twice.
RB – Chris Ivory – (8.70) – It set up so well, an early T.D. followed by a fumble and all the T.J. Yeldon.
WR – Michael Thomas – (11.70) – 7-82 and average day for M.T. on the murky tundra.
WR –Alshon Jeffery – (4.70) – Swing and a miss.
WR – Brandon Cooks – (14.50) – Cooked under the lights, a nice 4-65-1 night.
TE – Rob Gronkowski – (6.60) – All the Gronk, all the time, sometimes doesn’t work.
Flex – Dez Bryant – (15.80) – Needed some Dallas in a cake matchup vs. 49ers.
DEF – Minnesota – (6.00) – The fact Joe Flacco didn’t turn it over is amazing.

Odds from VegasInsider.com