NFL Week 8 offers two games with totals above 54 points, creating some excellent opportunities for DraftKings tournament stacks. Injuries and shifting offensive roles are also creating value at several positions, particularly running back and tight end.
For my NFL DFS tournament picks for Week 8, I’m looking for players whose salaries haven’t fully caught up to their workloads, along with favorable defensive matchups and the potential to produce explosive plays. This week’s selections include a high-upside NFC game stack, several midrange offensive targets and a value defense with a strong matchup.
NFL DFS Tournament Strategy for Week 8
The biggest decision this week is how much salary to spend on the elite offensive players. Jahmyr Gibbs ($9,500), Kenneth Walker III ($8,800), and Puka Nacua ($8,600) all offer significant upside, but fitting multiple players in that range alongside a premium passing stack leaves little room elsewhere.
Best Contrarian Stack for NFL DFS Tournaments in Week 8
Game Stack: Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys
Jacoby Brissett (5,700) – Michael Wilson (6,200) – Trey McBride (7,400) – CeeDee Lamb (8,100)
Arizona-Dallas is tied for the highest total on the Week 8 slate at 54.5 points, with Dallas favored by a touchdown. Brissett gives us a cheaper way to attack this matchup than Dak Prescott ($6,300), and the Cowboys have been one of the NFL’s most vulnerable pass defenses. Dallas ranks near the bottom of the league in passing efficiency allowed, while Arizona’s offense has a favorable matchup against a defense that has struggled to limit both passing yards and explosive plays. At $5,700, Brissett doesn’t need to match elite quarterbacks’ raw production to deliver strong tournament value, and given his size, a short-yardage rushing TD is always within his range, as well.
There is some risk with Michael Wilson this week, who is nursing sore ribs and has had a couple of slow games in a row, but the potential this week for a breakout game with 8+ receptions is too good to ignore. On top of potentially lower ownership, his ability to work the slot and outside against this secondary, which allowed seven receptions to Makai Lemon last week, is too tantalizing to ignore at his current price.
McBride provides a more reliable source of targets and has been one of the most heavily targeted tight ends in football, averaging more than 10 targets per game over his last three appearances, while Dallas has (unsurprisingly) also struggled to contain the position. Wilson has been limited at practice all week, so we’ll need to monitor his availability, but if he does play, pairing the two big names in an Arizona passing stack will make our lineup more unique and give us exposure to the full upside of this offense.
The Cowboys have a lot of interesting names we could target, but Lamb is my preferred bring-back. He’s accounted for 30.5% of Dallas’ targets and 34% of its red zone opportunities, making him the clear focal point of the Cowboys’ passing attack and a player who seems due for a big yardage game after a few slow outings. Arizona has allowed 1.4 touchdowns per game to opposing wide receivers, second-most in the NFL, and Dallas carries the highest implied team total on the slate at approximately 30 points. Lamb’s expensive, but going with multiple high-value players from this game also provides better leverage against lineups looking to go cheaper with one side of this game, which has genuine shootout potential.
Alternatives I’m considering:
- Dak Prescott (6,300) + CeeDee Lamb (8,100) + George Pickens (6,600) +Trey McBride (7,400)
- Josh Allen (7,700) + Khalil Shakir (5,600) + Dalton Kincaid (5,300) + Zay Flowers (7,200)
NFL DFS Tournament Quarterback Pick
Drake Maye ($6,500)
Maye has been one of the more productive fantasy quarterbacks this season, averaging 22.1 DraftKings points per game, and the matchup with Miami gives him another opportunity to deliver a big performance. New England ranks second in the NFL in passing success rate, while the Dolphins rank 31st in pass success rate allowed. That creates a significant advantage for Maye, who has the mobility to add rushing production alongside his passing numbers, and he’ll face a weak linebacker crew that allowed the 49ers’ Brock Purdy to rush for 30 yards and a TD in Week 2.
The Patriots are also seven-point road favorites, with an implied team total of around 25 points, giving Maye a strong chance to account for multiple touchdowns. Miami has struggled to generate consistent pressure or contain efficient passing attacks, which should give Maye time to work through his progressions and attack the middle of the field. At $6,500, he isn’t a bargain-basement quarterback, but his passing efficiency, rushing ability, and favorable matchup give him the tournament ceiling we’re looking for. He’s also one of the few QBs I’d be fine deploying naked (without one of his receivers) on this slate.
Alternatives I’m considering:
- Joe Burrow ($7,000)
- Patrick Mahomes ($6,000)
NFL DFS Tournament Running Back Picks
Higher End: Chase Brown ($6,300)
Brown stands out as one of the better salary-adjusted running backs on the Week 8 slate. Cincinnati is a 10-point home favorite against Tennessee, with an implied team total above 28 points, creating an excellent environment for its lead running back. Brown has only averaged 12.6 DraftKings points per game this season, but his involvement in the passing game gives him the potential to produce when Cincinnati’s offense moves the ball consistently, and he’s one of a group of three Bengals skill players that have legit multiple-touchdown upside in a game that projects as a blowout.
While Brown hasn’t lived up to his high season-long draft position, the game script should give him opportunities to accumulate carries against a Tennessee defense that has struggled to limit opposing offenses. Cincinnati also has enough passing talent to prevent defenses from concentrating entirely on stopping the run. Either way, at $6,300, Brown’s salary looks far too cheap in this spot, as he gives us exposure to one of the slate’s highest implied team totals without paying the premium attached to the elite running backs.
Alternatives I’m considering:
- James Cook III ($7,900)
- Kyren Williams ($7,500)
Lower End: Quinshon Judkins ($5,500)
Judkins is an appealing salary-saving option for Week 8 after delivering his best performance of the season against Tennessee. The Cleveland running back rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt, and added a reception for eight yards. He’s now averaging 18.2 touches per game, handling 58.1% of Cleveland’s rushing attempts and maintaining an 11.4% target share. At just $5,500, that workload gives him a realistic chance to outperform his salary, especially if he continues to get scoring opportunities near the goal line.
The matchup with Pittsburgh is challenging, but Judkins has already shown he can produce against this defense. In their Week 4 meeting, he finished with 53 rushing yards, six receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown, good for 21.6 DraftKings points. The Steelers have been excellent against the run, allowing just 3.7 yards per carry, but they’ve been more vulnerable to receiving production from running backs, surrendering 40.7 receiving yards per game. Judkins will need either another touchdown or increased receiving involvement to deliver a tournament-winning score, but his workload, modest salary, and likely suppressed ownership levels make him an interesting GPP option for Week 8.
Alternatives I’m considering:
- Rhamondre Stevenson ($5,600)
NFL DFS Tournament Wide Receiver Picks
Higher End: Drake London ($7,000)
London is one of my favorite high-end receivers for Week 8, especially with his salary sitting below the elite options. At $7,000, he’s significantly cheaper than CeeDee Lamb and Puka Nacua, despite offering similar target-driven upside. His production has surged since Michael Penix Jr. ($5,300) returned in Week 3, including a 194-yard performance against Green Bay. Dating back to 2024, London has commanded a 34% target share with Penix under center, compared with just 26% without him. His recent involvement is equally encouraging: London’s target share rose from 27.7% over Weeks 1–4 to 31.3% over Weeks 5–7, while his targets per game jumped from 6.3 to 10.3.
The matchup with Tampa Bay adds another reason to like him in DFS. The Buccaneers rank 25th in FPTS allowed to wide receivers in a half-point PPR setting, and opposing primary receivers have recently found success against them. George Pickens caught nine passes for 130 yards and a touchdown in Week 5, while DK Metcalf followed with 11 receptions for 93 yards in Week 6. London’s combination of increasing target volume, downfield involvement, and established chemistry with Penix gives him a realistic path to a tournament-winning score.
Alternatives I’m considering:
- Zay Flowers ($7,200)
- Tee Higgins ($6,700)
Lower End: Tre Tucker ($5,500)
Tucker is one of my favorite midrange tournament targets for Week 8, with his DraftKings salary still sitting at just $5,500 despite a significant increase in usage and production. The Raiders receiver has drawn 19 targets over his last two games, producing 10 receptions for 200 yards and three touchdowns. More importantly, his role is expanding. Tucker played a season-high 82% of Las Vegas’ offensive snaps last week, earning a 27.9% target share and 12 targets. That kind of involvement, combined with his 13.2-yard average depth of target, gives him a legitimate ceiling at a mid-range salary.
The matchup with the Jets isn’t particularly easy, but the underrated WR has opportunities to capitalize. New York has allowed five touchdowns to perimeter receivers this season, and Tucker’s ability to create separation and win downfield makes him a dangerous option against single coverage. He’s also become one of Kirk Cousins’ ($5,500) preferred targets, with Las Vegas increasingly concentrating its passing opportunities around Tucker, Brock Bowers ($7,600) and Ashton Jeanty ($6,700). The Raiders are also slight road underdogs, which projects a neutral script, and that should help maintain passing volume throughout. At $5,500, Tucker offers the combination of rising usage, explosive-play ability, and demonstrated 25+ FPTS upside that we’re looking for in GPPs.
Alternatives I’m considering:
- Denzel Boston ($5,200)
- Malik Washington ($4,400)
NFL DFS Tournament Tight End Pick
T.J. Hockenson ($4,600)
Hockenson stands out as one of the best matchup-driven tight ends on the Week 8 slate. He’s averaging 11 DraftKings points per game and remains an established part of Minnesota’s passing attack, giving him a solid receiving role at a manageable salary. At 4,600, he’s considerably cheaper than Brock Bowers and Trey McBride, while still offering a realistic opportunity to produce a strong fantasy score through receptions and touchdowns.
The matchup against Detroit is the biggest reason to target him. His former team ranks first in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends and has also given up the most targets, receiving yards, and touchdowns to the position. That gives Hockenson an excellent opportunity to exploit a defense that has repeatedly struggled to cover tight ends, especially in a game that should feature plenty of quick possessions and scoring, given the Lions’ offensive strength. Overall, Hockenson offers one of the best combinations of matchup, receiving role, and tournament upside at the position. Even if he draws some ownership, he’s a player I’m more than willing to pay up for this week.
Alternatives I’m considering:
- Hunter Henry ($4,300)
- Harold Fannin Jr. ($4,200)
NFL DFS Tournament Defense Pick
New York Jets ($2,800)
The Jets offer an appealing midrange defensive option for Week 8, particularly with Las Vegas visiting MetLife Stadium. New York has recorded 19 sacks through seven games, ranking seventh in the NFL, and is averaging 2.7 sacks per contest. That pressure-generating ability gives the Jets a realistic path to a strong DraftKings score, especially against a Raiders offense that has lost four straight games. At $2,800, New York is also $500 cheaper than potentially popular Pittsburgh, providing some useful salary flexibility without forcing us into the lowest-priced defensive options.
The biggest concern is that Las Vegas has protected Kirk Cousins relatively well, allowing just 1.4 sacks per game. However, Cousins has thrown five interceptions through seven starts, and the Raiders’ pass-heavy approach could create opportunities for New York to generate turnovers. New York has recorded just one interception this season, so its turnover upside isn’t guaranteed, but more positive regression in that area is certainly possible. Overall, the combination of a strong pass rush, home-field advantage, a weaker QB (on the other side), and manageable salary makes the Jets an interesting GPP alternative.
Alternatives I’m considering:
- Pittsburgh Steelers ($3,300)
- Denver Broncos ($2,300)
NFL DFS Tournament Picks FAQ
What is a GPP in NFL DFS?
A GPP, or guaranteed prize pool tournament, is a DFS contest that generally rewards high-ceiling lineups capable of finishing near the top of a large field. Unlike safer lineup constructions, tournament lineups often place more emphasis on ceiling, correlation, ownership and leverage.
What should I look for in NFL DFS tournament picks?
Strong NFL DFS tournament plays should offer a combination of upside, salary value and a realistic path to outperforming their expected ownership. Correlated game stacks and lower-owned pivots from popular players can also help differentiate lineups in larger contests.
How are NFL DFS tournament picks different from cash-game picks?
Cash-game lineups generally prioritize projection, workload and consistency, while tournament lineups can take on more volatility in exchange for a higher ceiling. GPP players may also consider ownership and leverage more heavily when deciding between similarly projected options.
What are the best NFL DFS tournament picks for Week 8?
My favorite NFL DFS tournament plays for Week 8 include Drake Maye, Chase Brown, T.J. Hockenson and Drake London.
