DRAFTKINGS DFS CASH PLAYS NFL WEEK 8 2021

DRAFTKINGS DFS CASH PLAYS - WEEK 8
We’ve reached the halfway point (kinda)! Isn’t it awesome that we have an extra week of football this year? I’m sure DFS will be mayhem by then, but we don’t need to fret about that just yet. Tune in tonight as I discuss these picks and more with the boys tonight at 10:35 EST on SiriusXM Fantasy, and my GPP article will be out tomorrow!

 

QUARTERBACK

TOP PLAY

Jalen Hurts, PHI ($7200)

Hurts is in an absolute smash spot this week, and is currently the QB3 overall in fantasy thanks to his dual threat ability. Here’s the problem, though - he’s also in danger of being benched because of his real life inefficiency, so I can’t give a full no-risk endorsement on this one. That said, if he does last the whole game, he’s facing basically a nonexistent defense that has allowed the most YPA, the highest QB rating, and have the third lowest pressure rate. If you don’t feel comfortable rolling Hurts in cash, I’d probably go up to Allen, but Hurts rates as a much better per-dollar play.

Other options - Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, Tom Brady, Justin Herbert

Mid-tier options - Ryan Tannehill

VALUE PLAY

Matt Ryan, ATL ($5900)

The Atlanta playbook has opened up significantly, and Ryan has passed his season highs in YPA every game over the last three while averaging a shade under 26 DK PPG. Carolina’s defense has taken a step back on the passing end lately, and Ryan has two 300 yard games over his last three as well. With Pitts coming on and offense at full health, there’s a lot of room for value with this price tag.

Other options - Trevor Lawrence, Taylor Heinecke

RUNNING BACK

TOP PLAY

Alvin Kamara, NO ($8700)

For the first time in what feels like awhile, we have a real debate about who the top RB should be in DFS. I’ve been on Henry all year, but I’m boarding the Kamara train this week for $200 less. This game sets up perfectly for another 30+ DK points out of Kamara, as the Bucs have been stout on the ground (3.1 YPC) but have also allowed the third most receptions out of the backfield. Kamara has 19 targets over the past two weeks, giving him a high-volume role no matter what the game script is.

Other options - Derrick Henry, Austin Ekeler

Mid-tier options - Najee Harris, Jonathan Taylor, Joe Mixon, D’Andre Swift, James Robinson, Darrell Henderson (best value - AGAIN)


VALUE PLAY

Darrell Henderson, LAR ($6500)

I’m beating a dead horse with this one, but Henderson’s price didn’t move after his chalk bust last week, and it would be silly to go away now. Henderson only ran for three YPC against a DET defense that was allowing over 5.5, so it would seem to be an outlier. He still vastly outsnapped and outtouched Sony Michel, and Houston has also allowed over five YPC on the ground. Take the value, and the Rams’ 32.5 team total.

Other options - Cordarelle Patterson, Chuba Hubbard, Eli Mitchell, Michael Carter

WIDE RECEIVER

TOP PLAY

Cooper Kupp, LAR ($9000)

There’s not much left to say here. Kupp extended his lead on being the overall WR1 in fantasy last week, and shouldn’t face any resistance against Houston either. The problem here is price tag, and I prefer playing the floors of Kamara and Henry for less money in cash. That said, Kupp has double-digit targets in every game with a 69% (nice) catch rate and a shade over 10 YPT. He’s still carrying top five ownership at WR early, so people aren’t shying away.

Other options - Stefon Diggs

Mid-tier options - JaMarr Chase, Deebo Samuel, DJ Moore, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, AJ Brown, Keenan Allen, Calvin Ridley

VALUE PLAY

Calvin Ridley, ATL ($6600)

Ridley remains way too cheap for his WR1 skillset. Even though he went for a pretty underwhelming 4-26-1 last game, he still maintained his 10.5 target average, and that included some missed time during the game. The Falcons have a healthy team total of 26.5 at this point in the week, and the Panthers have fallen from third to 16th in WR defense (PPG allowed) over the past four weeks.

Other options - Brandin Cooks, Devonta Smith, Micheal Pittman, Tee Higgins, Jakobi Meyers

TIGHT END

TOP PLAY

Kyle Pitts, ATL ($6300)

We have no Kelce, Waller, or Kittle on the main slate this week, which means opportunity cost at the TE position is super low. For that reason, this is more of an obligatory post as I have no intention of paying Pitts’ price tag for what is generally a volatile position. He does rise above the rest, however, as he’s logged 27 targets over the last three weeks (and a magical 23.3 YPC last week). Carolina is a middling matchup this week for TEs, but the Atlanta offense as a whole is in a good spot.

Other options - None

Mid-tier options - Mike Gesicki, TJ Hockenson, Dallas Goedert


VALUE PLAY

Ricky Seals-Jones, WAS ($3800)

I vowed I wouldn’t stop writing about RSJ in this series until he crossed the 4k threshold, so I’m holding true to that promise. He has a difficult matchup this week against Denver (eighth fewest FPPG allowed the TEs), but the price barely moved from last week, and there have only been SIX SNAPS that Seals-Jones hasn’t been on the field since taking over for Logan Thomas.

Other options - Jared Cook, Cole Kmet, Dan Arnold


TOP SIX DEFENSES FOR CASH PRIORITY
Washington Football Team ($2100)
Cincinnati Bengals ($3600)
Buffalo Bills ($3300)
Seattle Seahawks ($2800)
Atlanta Falcons ($2900)
Jacksonville Jaguars ($2400)