Believe it or not, we’re already onto Week 8 of the NFL season. In a scheduling oddity, there are no teams on bye this week, giving us a monster 13-game main slate on DraftKings on Sunday. In this space, we’ll walk through the top NFL DFS Picks for Week 8. This slate is an interesting one, and we’re going back to the drawing board to tackle it. Let’s discuss how to best do that on this jam-packed Week 8 NFL DFS slate.
In NFL DFS tournaments, standing out often hinges on your ability to differentiate your lineup. To give yourself an edge, it’s crucial to include unique, contrarian picks. Subscribe today to access our premium resources, including the Lineup Generator, our NFL DFS Sims and the best NFL DFS projections and NFL DFS ownership projections out there.
NFL DFS Picks for Week 8: Back to the Drawing Board
In 2024, if you’re just using NFL DFS projections to make your picks, you’re losing out on more than half the game. DFS is a peer-to-peer game, and what constitutes a good lineup often comes down to what the field is doing.
Our NFL DFS ownership projections are part of the solution, but to get the most out of them, you need our NFL Core Package to access our NFL DFS Sims, which allow you to see the best lineups over thousands of simulated versions of the slate.
Check out our breakdown of our NFL subscriptions for pricing and a detailed overview of the tools and data available at each.
NFL DFS Picks for Week 8: Quarterbacks
Cash & GPP: Bo Nix (DEN): $5,600
Unlike on some previous slates where the cash game quarterback has been unclear, Week 8 offers much more clarity. Not only does Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix stand out in cash games, but he’s also the top quarterback to target in GPP’s.
Nix comes into Week 8 averaging 15.5 DraftKings points per game, and he’s been much better from a fantasy perspective than a real life one. Nix’s play style is erratic in nature, but his rushing prowess gives him big upside on a game to game basis. Matched up with a Carolina defense that has played like one of the worst units in the NFL, the Broncos 26-point team total is the 4th-highest implied team total on the slate, and simply put, Nix is just way too cheap at $5,600. As of this writing, Nix is projected to be 19.4% owned on DraftKings, but expect that number to be much higher in cash games.
Though I think a strong case can be made for looking elsewhere at quarterback in tournaments, Nix’s price tag in this matchup is making it extremely difficult to get away from him. Quarterback ownership never gets to crazy anyways, so fading him simply for his popularity in GPP’s is probably a mistake. That’s made clear by his 20.98% optimal percentage in Stokastic’s Tools. Stokastic’s Sims are even higher on Nix than that, as he’s currently showing up in 31.3% of my top 300 lineups.
Other quarterbacks to consider for NFL DFS GPPs: Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Jameis Winston
NFL DFS Picks for Week 8: Running Backs
Cash: Breece Hall (NYJ): $7,300
The cash game lock of the week, Breece Hall is projected to be by far the highest owned overall player on DraftKings on Sunday. Priced as the eighth-highest owned running back on the slate, Hall finds himself in a dream spot matched up with a Patriots defense that ranks as a top-five matchup on paper for running backs. Hall has seen a usage increase since the Jets’ coaching change, and if you’re thinking about fading Hall this week, do it in GPP’s.
As of this writing, Hall is projected to be optimal a crazy 35.12% of the time this slate plays out on DraftKings, per our NFL DFS Sims. Though he is projected to be over-owned with 47.5% of lineups expected to roster him, that number should be closer 100% in cash games.
If you’re not playing Hall in cash games this week, you’re doing it wrong. Plain and simple.
GPP: J.K. Dobbins (LAC): $6,900
Full disclosure: J.K. Dobbins is also probably a cash game lock at $6,900. Dobbins is projected to be the second-highest owned running back on the slate, and starting cash game lineups with Hall and Dobbins is likely the way to go.
Dobbins comes into Week 8 averaging 15.7 DraftKings points per game, and he’s been a revelation for the new look Chargers offense. Dobbins has always had electric playmaking ability, but injuries hampered his consistency throughout his time in Baltimore. He’s been spectacular through seven weeks in Los Angeles, however, and though he’s getting a good amount of love on DraftKings, both Stokastic’s Tools and my Stokastic Sims run have him coming in with a good amount of leverage.
As of this writing, Dobbins is projected to be optimal 36.22% of the time this slate plays out on DraftKings. With 29.0% of lineups currently expected to roster him, Dobbins still isn’t getting the love he should be. Stokastic’s Pre-Contest Simulator only solidifies these thoughts, as Dobbins is showing up in 75.7% of my top 300 lineups. Dobbins is by far my highest owned player in Stokastic’s Sims, and he is the top tournament running back on DraftKings.
Other running backs to consider for NFL DFS Cash Games & GPPs: Saquon Barkley, Kenneth Walker III, Joe Mixon, Bijan Robinson, Tony Pollard, Kareem Hunt, Javonte Williams
NFL DFS Picks for Week 8: Wide Receivers
Cash: Tyreek Hill (MIA): $7,000
An afterthought since his quarterback Tua Tagovailoa went down in Week 2, Tyreek Hill is back on the main stage this week at only $7,000 on DraftKings. Hill is the cheapest he’s been in what seems like years, and with Tua back in the mix for a home game against the Cardinals, there’s merit in just locking Hill in everywhere on Sunday.
Hill currently has the highest optimal percentage of any wide receiver on the board at 17.24%. While he’s technically projected to be over-owned with 24.8% of lineups expected to roster him, like Breece Hall, that number should be closer to 100% in cash games. Even in large field tournaments Hill is a tough fade at this price tag, so in cash games he’s one of the first players to lock in.
Other wide receivers to consider for NFL Cash Games: Drake London, Jayden Reed, DJ Moore, Tee Higgins, Jaylen Waddle, Ladd McConkey, Jalen McMillan
GPP: Devaughn Vele (DEN): $3,400
It’s the trash pick of the week, so if you don’t like diving in dumpsters like I do, move along to the tight end section.
Value players with upside who aren’t getting love are always tough to find, and Vele fits all of those bills at $3,400 on DraftKings. Pairing him with Nix for a combined $9,000 opens up paths to roster construction that others simply won’t be able to get it. Not even accounting for Nix, Vele has a 6.36% chance of being optimal on Sunday. With 6.9% of lineups expected to roster him, Vele is coming in with pretty neutral ownership. Stokastic’s Sims like Vele much more than that, however, as he’s currently showing up in 20.7% of my top 300 lineups.
Other wide receivers to consider for NFL DFS GPPs: Ja’Marr Chase, A.J. Brown, Stefon Diggs, DeVonta Smith, Tank Dell, Jerry Jeudy, Josh Palmer, Kalif Raymond
NFL DFS Picks for Week 8: Tight Ends
Cash: Cade Otton (TB): $3,500
Otton is a cash game lock in the same vein as Breece Hall and Tyreek Hill, and at $3,500 he might be the top overall value play on the slate. Since Week 3, Otton ranks second among all tight ends in both routes run and targets, and is top five in receiving yards. With Mike Evans now out until at least Week 11 and Chris Godwin out for the season, Otton is likely to emerge as Baker Mayfield’s top target, and he’s just way too cheap on DraftKings for his new role.
Much like Hall and Hill, Otton is projected to by far the highest owned player at his position on DraftKings. Otton is currently projected to be in 23.5% of lineups on DraftKings, but that number should be considerably higher in cash games.
GPP TE Options: Brock Bowers, David Njoku, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Will Dissly
NFL DFS Picks for Week 8: D/ST
Cash DST Options: Jets, Broncos, Chargers
GPP DST Options: Lions, Buccaneers, Panthers
For more NFL DFS Picks and analysis, tune into Live Before Lock every Sunday!
