You don’t need to go any further than Sunday night’s 6-6 tie between Seattle and Arizona to know that it was an ugly week in the NFL. Monday night’s game wasn’t much better. Hopefully, Week 8 can be better but with Jacksonville facing off against Tennessee on Thursday, it’s not off to a great start. Let’s take a look at which matchups to exploit in Week 8 and what are the best options on DraftKings for GPP play.
NFL DFS DraftKings GPP Plays for Week 8
DailyFantasyNerd DraftKings GPP Play of the Day
Christine Michael (SEA) @ NO $7,300
Christine Michael had a tough time last week like everyone else who was involved in the Seattle-Arizona game not named David Johnson. Before Sunday, Michael had exceeded 20 fantasy points on DraftKings in three consecutive games. Michael has a great opportunity to get back to that production with a thirsty matchup against the Saints, who rank last against running backs. Thomas Rawls will be out for at least another week so a heavy workload is again in store for Michael.
Quarterbacks
Tom Brady (NE) @ BUF $7,600Â
Without Brady or backup Jimmy Garoppolo under center, Buffalo was able to go into Gillette Stadium and dominate New England in Week 4 to give the Patriots their one and only loss. Brady will look to exact revenge as he has against every team that has stood in his way thus far. The Bills defense has faded some in the past couple of weeks after a hot start. Buffalo still ranks 5th defensively against quarterbacks but they haven’t faced an angry Brady yet. Some people will use that top 5 ranking as reason to fade Brady this week, making for a great contrarian play.
Matt Ryan (ATL) vs. GB $7,000
Ryan had a disappointing fantasy outing last week in what was supposed to be a favorable matchup against the Chargers. He gets a great opportunity to rebound against the Packers weakened secondary. The Packers are also one of the better run stuffing teams in the league, which could mean more passing attempts from Ryan. Ryan is averaging 25 fantasy points per game, and that’s against some of the better defenses in the league, so he should be considered a safe bet for Sunday.
Andrew Luck (IND) vs. KC $6,800
Luck has been hot the past three games, averaging 26.8 fantasy points. His accuracy has been flawless and his ability to run the ball only adds to his fantasy appeal. This game against the Chiefs is shaping up to be a good one that could have playoff implications down the road.
Other Notables: Derek Carr (OAK) @ TB $5,900, Alex Smith @ IND $5,800, Jameis Winston (TB) vs. OAK $5,700
Running Backs
David Johnson (ARI) @ CAR $7,700
This one will be short and sweet. It’s David Johnson – the opponent doesn’t matter, although Carolina’s defense isn’t scaring anybody these days. Johnson was the only one who emerged fantasy relevant after the slugfest tie against Seattle. He is the closest thing to a guarantee on a weekly basis.
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Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) vs. PHI $7,200
Elliott probably didn’t like the timing of the bye last week and for good reason. Elliott has been on a hot streak lately and is the clear choice at this point for Offensive Rookie of the Year. His lowest rushing total in the last four games has been 134! Expect Elliott to shine in the spotlight during Sunday night’s game against the Eagles after his week of rest.
Jacquizz Rodgers (TB) vs. OAK $5,800
A timetable for Doug Martin‘s return is yet to be determined, and as Tampa Bay’s only healthy running back, Jacquizz Rodgers is getting a very heavy workload. Rodgers failed to find the endzone last week against the 49ers, but it didn’t matter. He still piled up over 150 total yards, and gets another favorable matchup this week against Oakland.
Other Notables: DeMarco Murray (TEN) vs. JAX $7,400, Spencer Ware (KC) @ IND $6,800, Matt Forte (NYJ) @ CLE $6,400, Chris Thompson (WAS) @ CIN $3,700
Wide Receivers
Mike Evans (TB) vs. OAK $8,100
When the Bucs decide to give Jacquizz Rodgers a breather on Sunday, chances are they will turn to their #1 receiver for offense. Jameis Winston has shown he’s not afraid to throw to his favorite wideout, even if that means he’s in double coverage. As bad as Oakland is against the run, they’re even worse against the pass.
T.Y. Hilton (IND) vs. KC $7,900
T.Y. Hilton has been the most targeted player in the league through seven weeks. That should continue after Sunday as well with double-digit targets practically imminent for Hilton against the Chiefs. Kansas City is next to last against receivers, putting Hilton in line for another monster outing.
Ty Montgomery (GB) @ ATL $5,300
ESPN fantasy leagues now have Montgomery listed as a WR/RB, meaning fantasy owners can place him in either position. Other league sites are expected to follow soon, but for now he’s still listed strictly as a WR in DraftKings. The volume Montgomery is receiving cannot be ignored, and his value at $5,300 is an absolute steal.
Other Notables: Julio Jones (ATL) vs. GB $9,600, Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) @ CAR $7,500
Tight Ends
Jimmy Graham (SEA) @ NO $6,100
It may have not happened last season like many predicted, but Jimmy Graham has become one of Russell Wilson‘s favorite targets, and in turn, is fantasy relevant again. Graham has scored double-digit fantasy points in four straight games with at least five catches. Even his five receptions for 53 yards last week was impressive under the circumstances. The Saints are fairly better against tight ends compared to other positions, but there’s no reason why Graham can’t feast in this one.
Other Notables: Travis Kelce (KC) @ IND $4,900, C.J. Fiedorowicz (HOU) vs. DET $2,800
Defense
Minnesota @ CHI $4,100
The Vikings are coming off of a bye, and get to take on one of the worst teams in the league in the Bears. This matchup looks ugly for Chicago, hence the increased price for Minnesota’s defense. It’s totally worth it though as Minnesota hasn’t scored less than 8 fantasy points all season. As the Monday night slate, the Vikings defense could be the difference between making the money or not. I’ll even go out on a limb and say the Vikings D finds a way to score on Monday night.
Other Notables: Denver vs. SD $3,700, Kansas City @ IND $2,800
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