Best Daily Fantasy Football Plays for Cash Games – Week 8

By Ha Kung Wong  Daily Fantasy Football

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

Hey all!  Sorry for the one week hiatus, but last week was a busy one.  Of course, the other problem was that I was totally preoccupied with cheering on the Chicago Cubs to their first World Series appearance in 71 years.  On the bright side, since it only happens once every 71 years, I doubt we’ll be missing any more weeks from here on out.  So let’s get to helping you all win CASH in Week 8 of the 2016 NFL season!

Cash Games, for those who don’t know, are essentially the lowest risk games.  They include “50/50” games, in which half the entrants win about 1.8x the entry fee, and “Double Ups”, in which slightly less than half the entrants win 2x the entry fee.

Since there’s so many different sites, and I can’t cover them all, I’ve decided to cover just the most popular sites, including Fan Duel, Draft Kings and Yahoo! Daily Fantasy.

First of all, as a general rule for 50/50 Cash Games, there’s a basic target of points per salary cap spent that you’d like to look for:

• For Fan Duel try to target at least 2 fantasy points per $1000 spent.
• For Draft Kings, try to target at least 2.5 fantasy points per $1000 spent.
• For Yahoo! Daily Fantasy, try to target at least 0.6-0.7 fantasy points per $1 spent.

Remember, this article is not focused on GPP (Tournament) Games, JUST Cash Games.  Feel free to use a few of these suggested players as a base when constructing a GPP lineup, but you’ll have to take some chances on a few low cost, upside players as well.

So, without further to do, here are my suggestions for the Best Daily Fantasy Football Plays for Cash Games for Week 8 contests, along with they’re prices on Fan Duel (“FD”), Draft Kings (“DK”) and Yahoo! Daily Fantasy (“Y!”).

Quarterback

There’s plenty of QBs to pick from, but I don’t tend to take too many chances at QB for cash games because they’re so important for anchoring your team’s performance, so I’ll give you two “safe” choices, then one that is more of a gamble if you’d prefer to take chances on QB and spend money at the other positions.

Aaron Rodgers @ ATL (FD: $8800 / DK: $7500 / Y!: $37)

• First of all, the Falcons have the 2nd worst total pass defense in the NFL, as they’ve allowed the most passing TDs (14) and the 5th highest completion percentage to opposing QBs (68.7) in the league this season.  Second, although Aaron Rodgers has had up and downs, he’s really good.  Rodgers has 13 total TDs in 6 games this year, meaning he averages just over 2 a game, and is coming off 326 yards and 3 TDs against the Bears in Week 7.  Last, this game has the highest over/under of any Week 8 game at 52.5.  What does that all mean?  That means lock in Rodgers at QB and move along.

Tom Brady @ BUF (FD: $8700 / DK: $7600 / Y!: $37)

• Buffalo has the 11th ranked total pass defense, but really, with Tom Brady, does that matter?  Even in a game against the Steelers that the Patriots controlled the entire way, and where LaGarrette Blount set season highs on the ground, Brady still put up 222 yards and 2 TDs.  Honestly, he’s matchup proof.  Since returning from suspension, he’s totaled 1004 yards and 8 TDs in just 3 weeks.  As I’ve said previously, did you really need any analysis on this one?  If you can afford him, don’t hesitate to add Brady to your lineup.

Jameis Winston vs. OAK (FD: $7400 / DK: $5700 / Y!: $35)

• Jameis Winston is simply has not been consistent in the NFL.  But although he’s had a plethora of turnovers (12 in six games), most of which were against a top tier Cardinal defense in Week 2, he HAS been solid against poor pass defenses, like last week against the 3rd worst 49ers where he put up 269 yards and 3 TDs with only 1 INT.  And guess who’s on tap in Week 8?  The bottom ranked Oakland Raiders pass defense.  So, want a cheaper option?  Here you go.

Running Back

As usual, RB is a position where I want some “guaranteed” volume.  And by that, I mean we need 10+ touches to even be considered.  But not as usual, this week, due in part to various injuries across the NFL, there are a ton of cheap options at RB.  So spend up at QB this week, and take a chance on some of these values.

Spencer Ware @ IND (FD: $7400 / DK: $6800 / Y!: $30)

• Spencer Ware led the Chiefs in both rushing and receiving yards in Week 6 against the Raiders bottom 10 rush defense as he totaled 163 yards and a TD.  In Week 7, Ware totaled 131 yards and a TD against the Saints bottom 10 rush defense.  In Week 8, Ware faces the Colts bottom 10 rush defense, and will dominate snaps again with Jamaal Charles at less than 100%  See a trend here?  If not, trust me.  You want Ware in your lineups.
• UPDATE – With Jamaal Charles ruled out for this week, you can lock in Ware for a full load.  Lock him in.

Jamaal Charles ruled out for Sunday.

➡️ https://t.co/9adWsunrvh pic.twitter.com/M02lsIueuE

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 28, 2016

Matt Forte @ CLE (FD: $7300 / DK: $6400 / Y!: $21)

• Matt Forte came back from the dead in Week 7 as he broke out with 100 yards and a TD on 30 carries and 54 receiving yards on 4 receptions with another TD against the Ravens.  Bilal Powell is injured with turf toe, but is practicing.  Even if Powell plays, he’s unlikely to be 100%  Plus, the Browns have the 2nd worst rushing defense in the NFL.  Forte is a great option this week.

Devonta Freeman vs. GB (FD: $6900 / DK: $6500 / Y!: $26)

• It’s a tough matchup for Devonta Freeman against the Packers, but with Tevin Coleman out due to a hamstring injury, he’s goung to have the backfield to himself this week.  Being involved in the passing game as well, averaging almost 4 receptions per game in his last 3, will help Freeman’s floor, so feel free to fire him up.

LaGarrette Blount @ BUF (FD: $6600 / DK: $5300 / Y!: $22)

• I rarely recommend the RB and QB from the same team, but both excelled in Week 7, where Blount totaled 127 rush yards and 2 TDs against the Steelers.  The Bills defense is solid, but is bottom 5 against the run, which means plenty of opportunity for Blount, plus he’s totaled 8 TDs in just 7 games.

Jacquizz Rodgers vs. OAK (FD: $6600 / DK: $5800 / Y!: $26)

• The Raiders have a bottom 5 run defense, Doug Martin is out, and Rodgers has been rolling.  In two games in which he started in place of Martin, Rodger’s totaled 255 rush yards on 56 total carries.  I think the good time continue to roll in Week 8.

Devontae Booker vs. SD (FD: $5600 / DK: $3700 / Y!: $14)

• Even with a stingy Chargers rush defense, the Broncos are are 7th in the NFL in rushing attempts and 8th in run-play percentage.  CJ Anderson has been reported to be out for the next couple of weeks, giving Booker the backfield all to himself.  He’s already shown that he can be effective on limited carries, averaging 5.2 yards per carry through 35 carries over the last four games.  Looking at probably around 20 carries all on his own this week with TD upside, he’s a steal for the price.  Lock. Him. In.

Wide Receivers

Remember, in DFS, you not only want yards, you want receptions, though its more valuable in Draft Kings, which is a full PPR, than FanDuel, which is a half PPR.  So with that in mind, here’s my thoughts for WR plays.

Mike Evans vs. OAK (FD: $7900 / DK: $8100 / Y!: $38)

• I feel like I’m a broken record, but keep in mind that Oakland has the worst pass defense in the NFL.  That plus the fact that Evans leads the league in receiving TDs (6) and targets per game (12.5) and you have a recipe for mondo production.

Jordy Nelson @ ATL (FD: $7500 / DK: $7200 / Y!: $25)

• Again, just like Evans and Winston, I have no problem with stacking Rodgers and his favorite target.  I know, I know, in a night where everyone under the sun caught passes against the Bears in Week 7, Nelson was the invisible man with just 1 reception on 4 targets.  But through Week 6, Nelson averaged 9.4 targets per game and had the most receiving TDs (5) of any WR.  There will be plenty of points to go around as this game has the highest over/under of the week.  Nelson is likely to bounce back candidate, but there is some concern that he’ll be shadowed by CB Desmond Trufant.  So if his hamstring injury isn’t serious, I have no problem locking in Randall Cobb (FD: $6800 / DK: $6400 / Y!: $24) instead.
• UPDATE – With Cobb officially out, I like Ty Montgomery a little more now (though he likely qualifies at RB, not WR, for most DFS sites).  I also like Nelson a little more now as well, I already thought you should lock him in before.  Only problem is that he’s certain to get the Trufant treatment now.

#Packers WR Randall Cobb (hamstring) is going to be out today vs. #Falcons, but WR/RB Ty Montgomery (illness) will play, source said.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 30, 2016

Larry Fitzgerald @ CAR (FD: $7000 / DK: $7500 / Y!: $34)

• The Carolina Panthers defense is not the defense you remember from the Super Bowl.  Without Josh Norman, the Panthers secondary has been horrific, as they’ve allowed the 7th most passing yards per game (282) and tied for the 3rd most passing TDs (13) in the NFL.  Fitzgerald is averaging a healthy 10 targets per game, and is clearly Carson Palmers favorite receiver.  So feel free to use him.

Emmanuel Sanders vs. SD (FD: $6600 / DK: $6500 / Y!: $27)

• Trevor Siemian and the Denver Broncos have gone conservative on offense, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of a favorable matchup.  The Chargers are a bottom 10 pass defense that has allowed 276 passing yards per game and 11 total passing TDs.  Sanders has at least 8 targets in all but 1 game this year and has at least 80 yards in 4.  Maybe they go dink and dunk, but someone has to catch them, and Sanders is good value for the price.

Quincy Enunwa @ CLE (FD: $6100 / DK: $4800 / Y!: )

• Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t good, but he’s the last man standing with Geno Smith out for the season, and Cleveland has allowed the most passing TDs (18) and the 4th most passing yards (286) in the league this year, and has the 3rd worst DVOA against the pass according to Football Outsiders.  Enunwa has averaged almost 7 targets per game and had a nice 69 yard TD in Week 7.  I like Enunwa because of the price, but if you have the extra money, go ahead and consider Brandon Marshall (FD: $7400 / DK: $7800 / Y!: $31) who has been seeing almost twice as many targets, assuming his foot issue isn’t serious.

Tight Ends

Rob Gronkowski @ BUF (FD: $8100 / DK: $7000 / Y!: $27)

• The Bills have allowed the second least fantasy points to opposing TEs, but Gronkowski is no ordinary TE.  Gronk has put up 364 yards and 2 TDs in just 3 games with Brady this year.  Clearly, Gronk is used more as a WR than a TE, and the Bills are only average at defending WRs.  The only danger is that Martellus Bennett may steal a TD here and there.  Otherwise, Gronk almost always has a great floor with terrific upside.

Greg Olsen vs. AZ (FD: $7400 / DK: $6500 / Y!: $26)

• Greg Olsen has the most targets per game (10) and yards per game (101.7) of any TE in the NFL this year.  Arizona’s defense is top 5, but really, who cares.  Don’t get cute.  Olsen is a beast.

Jimmy Graham @ NO (FD: $6700 / DK: $6100 / Y!: $22)

• Jimmy Graham has averaged 9 targets and almost 89 yards per game over his last 4 games.  He’s back on board as a top 5 TE, and has a terrific matchup against the Saints 3rd worst pass defense.  Russell Wilson clearly trusts him and so should you.

Defenses

Denver Broncos vs SD (FD: $5000 / DK: $3700 / Y!: $18)

• The Broncos have allowed the 3rd least total yards per game (291.6) and the 6th least points (16.7) and have the 4th most takeaways (13) of any team this year.  The Chargers, on the other hand, have the 3rd most turnovers (15) of any team this year.  So that looks to me like an opportunity for some fantasy points.  Plus, this game has the 2nd lowest over/under of the week (43.5), with the Broncos favored by 5.5.  Since there’s not much price variability for defenses, why take a chance.  Lock in the Broncos.