What an ugly looking slate from a weather perspective. Yep, it’s that time of year. Only the best and most flexible fantasy players will survive the brutal cold and windy conditions we are about to receive. From thy bounty through players galore… Okay, Okay, enough already. Let’s dive in and see what we have.
The cash game article’s goal is to outline some safer plays while also providing options that will help you create the most optimal builds. The whole point of it all is to make some money. Sometimes we won’t, but putting ourselves in the best position to do so is the most important part. That should go without saying but can sometimes get overshadowed by the results on a week to week basis. Cash Games are basically H2Hs, 50/50s, and Double-Ups, where the amount of winnings is limited, but it is a higher probability.
Mostly, people want to know how many points a guy scored and not necessarily the route that took them there. DFS is not only a science but a math equation. Let’s dive in, put the pieces together, and try to solve it. Here are the NFL DFS Cash Game Plays for Week 8.
Disclaimer: As always, there will be a lock emoji next to a few of my favorite options. All of the guys mentioned are viable for cash games, but the ones with a lock emoji will be fixtures in my main lineup.
Quarterback
Joe Burrow ($6,200 DK, $7,600 FD)
Burrow will be competing in one of the dreaded wind games, but it doesn’t seem to be as bad as others. The rookie is letting it fly. He’s first in the NFL in pass attempts per game, averaging over 41. The Tennessee Titans are also allowing the third-most pass attempts per game at 39.7.
Even with the wind, this game has the second-highest points total on the board at 51, and the Cincinnati Bengals come in as seven-point home underdogs. Both the Bengals and the Titans rank within the top ten in pace of play, which will lead to more attempts and points. I like Burrow if you don’t want to spend down for the guy I’m about to mention.
Jimmy Garoppolo ($5,400 DK, $6,600 FD) – 🔒
The Seattle Seahawks are an easy target to attack against week in and week out. Jimmy G has never been a reliable source for fantasy points, but he’s useful in the right matchups. This is one of them. The Seahawks have allowed the fifth-most yards per pass attempt this season (7.7), and they have a high-powered offense on the other side of the ball, which will lead to more scoring overall.
The Niners will be without Deebo Samuel and Raheem Mostert, but they will get back Tevin Coleman and still have some passing weapons in George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk. I think Jimmy G can pay off this cheap price tag and fill up the stat sheet enough to get the points we need out of the position.
Other Options: Russell Wilson
Running Back
Alvin Kamara ($8,200 DK, $9,000 FD)
It’s a bit scary, but I’m doing it again. I’m mostly fading Derrick Henry in Cash Games on DraftKings. The last time I did this, Henry went off for 43.4 DK points against the Houston Texans. He’s in another potential smash spot against the Cincinnati Bengals, but I’m going to stick to my guns and play who I feel has the higher PPR floor in Kamara. If you can somehow fit both into a Cash Game lineup, by all means, go for it.
Michael Thomas will once again be out, and Kamara is Drew Brees’ number one receiver when that is the case. The Chicago Bears have been better against the pass than the run, so there’s potential for yardage there as well. Any time you can get a running back with the pure talent Kamara possesses, who is projected to get close to a 30 percent target share, you take it.
Kareem Hunt ($6,900 DK, $8,200 FD) – 🔒
Hunt has settled into a workhorse role in the absence of Nick Chubb. Last week, he was on the field for 90 percent of Cleveland’s offensive snaps, and now they will be without Odell Beckham Jr. from the very beginning of the game. The Las Vegas Raiders are a positive matchup for opposing backs. They rank 29th in the league in rush DVOA and have allowed the second-most DK points per game to the position (32.9).
Additionally, Hunt is second in the NFL to only his teammate Nick Chubb in rushing yards after contact per rushing attempt with a 3.0 average. Meanwhile, the Raiders are second-worst in the NFL with almost ten missed tackles per game. A tough to bring down ball carrier facing a poor tackling team is a good recipe for success. Combine all of this with Hunt being underpriced, and we have ourselves a lock.
Jamaal Williams ($6,100 DK, $7,000 FD) – 🔒
Speaking of dominating snaps, Williams played 89% of the Packers’ offensive reps in Aaron Jones’ place in Week 7. The running back got it done, scoring 21.4 DK points. His salary has been bumped up accordingly, but I’m not afraid to go right back to the well. I want to get some exposure to this game, being one of the highest projected totals, but I’m finding it hard to pay up for the hefty price tags of Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams.
Once again, we have suboptimal weather conditions, as it’s expected to be cold in the mid-30s temperature-wise with winds of 25 MPH-plus. I could see Rodgers checking it down to Williams, who he targeted five times last week, quite a bit.
Other Options: Derrick Henry, Giovani Bernard (mainly FanDuel), Dalvin Cook, Myles Gaskin
Wide Receiver
Keenan Allen ($6,200 DK, $7,400 FD) – 🔒
Simply put, Allen is a target hog, and a safe bet to get some receptions. Bryce Callahan is a solid nickel corner, but that shouldn’t stop rookie Justin Herbert from peppering Allen. He continues to be underpriced. Following a 10-catch 125-yard receiving day last week, Allen’s price remains the same at $6,200 on DK. How is this possible? Even if Allen doesn’t have a huge game this week, you have to think he’ll get steady volume, and his floor sets up as almost a no-brainer play in Cash Games.
Denzel Mims ($3,200 DK, $4,900 FD) – 🔒
Basement diving! Mims made his NFL debut last week, catching four of his seven targets for 42 yards. The Jets have high hopes for their 2020 second-round draft pick, and will likely attempt to get him the ball. They will be without Jamison Crowder and Breshad Perriman due to injuries, so their options are limited. As 20-point road underdogs versus the Kansas City Chiefs, the Jets should be throwing often. Even if Mims duplicates his output from a week ago, that’s close enough to hit value and not kill your lineup. Pay down for Mims and spend up elsewhere.
Other Options: Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, A.J. Green
Tight End
Darren Waller ($5,600 DK, $6,800 FD)
Waller is commanding a 27.6 percent target share and proving once again that he is among the top tight ends in this league. Derek Carr has thrown him the ball seven times or more in every game but one this season. The Cleveland Browns have yielded 40 catches (sixth-most) to the tight end position this year, and Waller’s 6-foot-6 frame makes him a big red zone threat. This is as good of an option as you can get without paying a premium price for George Kittle or Travis Kelce.
Jonnu Smith ($4,100 DK, $6,100 FD)
Jonnu has had a rough go of it the last couple of games, hauling in a total of only two catches combined. However, there are things to like here. Jonnu’s recent performance has driven his price down to TE13. That feels off, considering even with his two consecutive lackluster performances, he remains TE7 overall. A.J. Brown being back in the fold has certainly eaten into a chunk of Smith’s volume. However, Smith is still the team leader in the red zone and overall passing targets. On paper, the Bengals are the second-worst team against the tight end position. If you are looking for a discount tight end, Smith is a solid option, especially at a $2,800 savings from teammate Brown.
Other Options George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Hunter Henry, Trey Burton, Harrison Bryant
Defense/Special Teams
New Orleans Saints ($3,400 DK, $3,600 FD)
This hurts to say as a Chicago Bears fan, but their offense has been average at best, and that’s being polite. The windy city should live up to its name, which hurts a team that hasn’t been able to run the ball with any consistency. Nick Foles and the offense could be in trouble.
Green Bay Packers ($2,900 DK, $4,000 FD)
Kirk Cousins leads the league (or is worst in the league) in interceptions thrown per game this season (1.67). In the expected cold and windy conditions, I could see him turning the ball over in an attempt to keep up with the Packers’ potent offense. Green Bay is eighth in the league in adjusted sack rate, going up against Minnesota’s fifth-worst offensive line in terms of adjusted sack rate.
Other Options: Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs
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