DraftKings NFL Millionaire Picks: Best DFS Plays for Week 8

Week 8 of the NFL season has arrived with the trade deadline on the horizon and the season in full swing. No early-morning matchups this week; the Sunday slate features eight 1 p.m. ET games and three in the 4 p.m. window. Bye weeks are in full swing, with the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and Houston Texans each being sidelined for the week.

You can join the action with DraftKings Sportsbook and DFS contests. To maximize your DFS lineups, here are a few players poised to outperform their price and give you an edge across Sunday’s slate. Here’s my top DFS lineup and the logic behind each selection.

Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]

DraftKings NFL Millionaire Picks: Best DFS Plays for Week 8

Quarterback

Jared Goff ($6,600)

The NFC North has a massive matchup this week as the Detroit Lions face the Minnesota Vikings. This is shaping up to be one of the most competitive divisional races in football, with all four teams holding records of at least .500. Still, the division has also benefited from a favorable stretch of matchups. That changes this week, with the Lions currently ranking second in the NFL in scoring and recording more passing yards than any other team in the league. Jared Goff is responsible for steering this high-powered scoring attack. He enters the week ranking second among quarterbacks and sixth among all players in fantasy production at 23.8 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring. While Minnesota is a respectable defensive unit, it shouldn’t be viewed as the league’s premier defense, as it is sometimes portrayed. Expect Detroit to dig deep into its playbook, score at a high rate, and force the Vikings to beat them offensively. Goff has consistently led this high-powered attack, and that should continue in a Week 8 matchup with so much at stake.

Other Considerations: Joe Burrow ($7,000), Drake Maye ($6,500), Patrick Mahomes ($6,000), Baker Mayfield ($5,200)

Running Back

Jahmyr Gibbs ($9,500)

Jahmyr Gibbs is also set to play a major role in putting up points against this Vikings defense. The star running back leads the entire NFL with 166 touches and nine total touchdowns this season. Gibbs rushed 134 times for 620 yards and seven touchdowns, while adding 32 receptions for 270 yards and two touchdowns through the air. The Lions star is averaging 30.3 fantasy points per game on DraftKings scoring, trailing only Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the most in all of football. Gibbs is a touchdown threat every time he has the ball and has a larger workload than just about any other player in the sport. With this matchup so important to how the divisional race will shake out, expect plenty of opportunities for Gibbs to put his fingerprints on the game. The $9,500 price point is steep, but he hasn’t scored fewer than 17.7 fantasy points in any game this season and has recorded 37.6 or more points in three of his six games. Gibbs is the clear bell-cow running back, recording at least 19 touches in every game and as many as 34 in a single matchup. Expect plenty of opportunities with the ball and for Gibbs to once again showcase his ability as one of the premier players in football during this divisional battle.

Bucky Irving ($6,400)

Bucky Irving will look to build on his 106-yard rushing and two-touchdown performance last week against the Carolina Panthers. He has been in impressive form recently, also recording 165 rushing yards and two total touchdowns in Week 5 against the Cowboys. Overall, Irving has 558 rushing yards and four touchdowns, plus 78 receiving yards and another score through the air. The 24-year-old is producing 16.7 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring, which ranks 15th among running backs. Baker Mayfield’s return to the field last week provided some clearer rushing lanes after teams proved increasingly willing to stack the box against rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels. Tampa Bay faces the Atlanta Falcons this week in an important NFC South battle. Atlanta has largely played encouraging football but remains vulnerable defensively. The Falcons rank 20th in opponent points allowed, 19th in total yards conceded, and T-18th in rushing touchdowns allowed. Expect this Buccaneers offense to return to the high-powered unit it was with Mayfield healthy, with Irving playing a major role in that process. Count on him to get a healthy dose of opportunities and be in line to outperform his $6,400 price point in Week 8.

Other Considerations: Kyren Williams ($7,500), Ashton Jeanty ($6,700), Aaron Jones Sr. ($6,200), J.K. Dobbins ($5,300)

Wide Receivers

Jameson Williams ($6,000)

The third member of the dangerous Detroit attack I’m putting in my lineup, Jameson Williams is the type of X-factor who can swing a week from both an NFL and DFS perspective. Through his opening six matchups, the Alabama product has tallied 23 receptions on 38 targets for 367 yards and four touchdowns. Detroit is still scratching the surface in finding the best way to unlock his skill set this season, with the 25-year-old a bit behind the pace he set during back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Even so, Williams is generating 14.4 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring, which ranks 22nd among all wide receivers. He is coming off a season-high five receptions on nine targets, turning them into 91 yards and two touchdowns. Williams has reached the end zone four times across his past two games. Expect Detroit’s effort to get the football into his hands to continue and for Williams to be a difference-maker in this divisional clash. The Lions have done a better job putting the speedster in favorable positions to make an impact recently, and that trend should continue in Week 8.

Jordan Addison ($5,100)

On the other side of this matchup, the Vikings will need to change their game plan from what has brought them success thus far. Minnesota has not asked much of its offense this season, largely leaning on its defense to win and making a greater effort to control the clock. Through their opening six games, the Vikings rank 24th in scoring, 29th in total yards gained, 29th in passing yards, and T-28th in passing touchdowns. This has limited the outlook for Jordan Addison, who has recorded just 13 receptions on 25 targets for 183 yards and a touchdown across his five games. However, the Lions’ offensive attack should force Minnesota to score at a higher rate. Detroit’s defense also leaves plenty to be desired. Entering this week, the Lions rank 26th in points allowed, T-31st in passing touchdowns allowed, and 32nd in passing yards conceded. Addison is more talented than he’s shown so far, and this matchup and situation could spark a breakout performance. Count on the Vikings needing to air the ball out at a high rate and for Addison to see multiple big-play opportunities against Detroit’s vulnerable secondary.

Wan’Dale Robinson ($4,200)

Wan’Dale Robinson had a breakout season last year with the Giants, tallying 92 receptions for 1,014 receiving yards and four touchdowns. This was enough to earn him a lucrative four-year contract with the Tennessee Titans, and he has begun settling in as he looks to earn that deal. The flaws in the Titans’ offense run much deeper than Robinson alone. However, the 25-year-old has been limited to 29 receptions on 43 targets for 205 yards and two touchdowns through the first seven games. Cam Ward and the Tennessee offense have taken positive strides over the past few weeks and will look to build on that against a Bengals defense that has benefited from opponents coming up short in the red zone. Cincinnati ranks eighth in opponent points allowed but 21st in yards conceded. The Bengals are more vulnerable against the pass, ranking 23rd in passing yards allowed and yards per pass attempt. Joe Burrow and company should put up points at a high rate, and Tennessee should air it out plenty while playing from behind. Robinson’s production hasn’t reached the level he hoped for, but he’s been targeted 36 times over the past five weeks. Feel comfortable taking the $4,200 swing to fit more notable names into your lineup, as Robinson’s breakout should come soon based on his recent target volume.

Other Considerations: Zay Flowers ($7,200), Justin Jefferson ($7,100), Michael Wilson ($6,200), Germie Bernard ($4,900)

Tight End

Jake Ferguson ($4,100)

Buckle up for plenty of points in the matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals. Neither defensive unit has shown an ability to produce stops at a reliable rate. Jake Ferguson will be eager to play his role against a Cardinals defense that ranks near the bottom of the league in opponent points allowed, passing touchdowns conceded, and yards per pass attempt. Arizona has been especially vulnerable to opposing tight ends. Through its opening seven games, the Cardinals have conceded 40 receptions for 418 yards and five touchdowns to the position. Ferguson has cooled off after a strong start, but this matchup could help jump-start his production. Through his opening seven games, Ferguson has tallied 17 receptions on 25 targets for 115 yards and three touchdowns. The Wisconsin product kicked off the year with three touchdowns through his first three weeks but has not been able to reach pay dirt since and was held without a reception last week. Dallas is extremely dependent on its offense to drive team success and cannot reach its peak without Ferguson playing a key role. With a favorable matchup, expect a clear effort to get the star tight end involved. He’s in line to outperform his $4,100 price point this week.

Other Considerations: Brock Bowers ($7,600), Sam LaPorta ($5,100), Harold Fannin Jr. ($4,200)

Flex

Jeremiyah Love ($5,400)

Expectations were high for Jeremiyah Love when he was selected with the third overall pick in this year’s draft. The Notre Dame product has struggled a bit in his jump to the NFL, with the Cardinals’ offensive struggles and lingering effects of an ankle injury limiting his output. Through his first five games, Love has handled 67 carries for 245 yards and a touchdown, while adding 36 receiving yards and another touchdown through the air. Love is averaging 10.2 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring, which ranks 32nd among all running backs. He should be eager to put forth the strongest performance of his NFL career this week against a vulnerable Cowboys defense that has made much less talented running backs look dominant. Dallas enters the week ranking 23rd in opponent points allowed, 29th in total yards conceded, T-29th in rushing touchdowns allowed, T-27th in yards per carry, and dead last in rushing yards per game. Love missed the past two weeks due to an ankle injury but is expected to take the field this week. After battling through it in the past, he should have renewed explosiveness after taking the necessary time to get healthy. Love has real star potential, and this feels like the first week we may see it in full display.

Defense & Special Teams

Detroit Lions ($2,700)

The Lions’ raw defensive metrics are ugly. They rank 26th in points allowed, T-31st in passing touchdowns allowed, and dead last in both total yards per game and opponent passing yards. However, Detroit has also forced four interceptions and four fumbles already this season. The Lions will make a clear effort to play with a lead and force the Vikings to score if they are going to secure the victory. Minnesota ranks 24th in points per game and 29th in total yards. As long as Detroit can get its offense firing, Minnesota will need to take some chances and put the ball at risk. Kyler Murray has turnover problems that I expect to surface during this matchup. This is when opposing defenses can capitalize, and a few turnover opportunities are all you need to produce a friendly fantasy football output from a defensive perspective. Detroit has some vulnerable areas, but this is ultimately a fade of the Vikings’ offense. Expect Minnesota to struggle to generate enough offense to significantly hurt Detroit’s fantasy output.

Other Considerations: Bengals ($3,800), Rams ($3,500), Steelers ($3,300)