Week 8 of the NFL season is underway, and there are eight matchups in an action-packed early window.
DraftKings is offering an early slate DFS contest for the chance to win $50,000. I’ve gone through all the contests and highlighted three under-the-radar options that can help give you a critical advantage.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $200K Early Only Rush [$50K to 1st] (Early Only)
DraftKings Value Picks
Jaylen Waddle ($5,400)
After getting lost in the shuffle, Jaylen Waddle has returned to relevance with Tua Tagovailoa back under center. With Tyler Huntley at the controls, Mike McDaniel’s offense was as vanilla as it gets, with the aerial attack in particular completely deteriorating. During the four games, Miami was just 1-3, and Waddle never surpassed 50 receiving yards in a contest. The pitch is simple: Waddle produces when Tua is on the field.
The 25-year-old hauled all five targets for 109 yards in the season’s first game. Tyreek Hill draws tremendous attention from opposing defenses, but Waddle’s 4.37 speed helps him with chunk gains underneath or take the top off a secondary downfield.
Despite never finding the end zone at a high clip, it’s shocking Waddle has yet to score in 2024. With Tagovailoa tossing him the rock, that’s due to change against a shaky Arizona back end. Waddle is due for a massive bounceback—expect him to cross the century mark yet again.
Hunter Henry ($3,800)
If you’re a frequent reader of this series, you’ve seen my disdain for New England skill position players in fantasy. With Jacoby Brissett as the signal caller, seemingly every pass was short of the sticks, and three-and-outs were constant. Since rookie Drake Maye has stepped in as quarterback, the passing game has thrived, and Patriot receivers have benefitted dramatically.
Last week, across the pond, Hunter Henry snagged eight receptions for 92 yards. He’s the most trusted pass-catcher on the team, and although he struggles to create separation, his prowess in finding holes against a zone defense is invaluable to a young gunslinger. Maye is clearly looking to feed his veteran tight end, and I expect nothing different in a divisional showdown.
Henry and the entire offensive unit struggled during the first meeting against New York. With Maye starting, his production floor takes a nice bump, and against a reeling defense, I love the upside.
Jalen McMillan ($3,700)
When it looked like Tampa was flirting with being a contender, it lost both of its top weapons. Mike Evans is out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury, while Chris Godwin is out for the foreseeable future after dislocating his left ankle. One of the in-house receivers has to step up, with Jalen McMillan, a third-round pick this past April, the most likely candidate.
The former Husky has only six catches in his first pro campaign but should be first in line with his pair of star teammates absent. He primarily operates out of the slot—a gifted route runner who gets open in a hurry. Tampa doesn’t have the run-blocking personnel to switch to a smash-mouth scheme, which means McMillan will generate plenty of volume through the air. Atlanta’s corners have had a rough year, and the rookie has all the tools to achieve a breakout performance.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $200K Early Only Rush [$50K to 1st] (Early Only)
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is xaiver-aguiar) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
