Last Sunday was particularly challenging with the quantity and quality of teams on bye. NFL DFS players will be without some heavy hitters on Sunday's main slate again this week, but with a deeper pool of players, there are some solid options for us to consider as we take aim at another DraftKings contest. Our Week 8 lineup features some usual daily fantasy football studs, as well as some boom-or-bust sleeper plays at wideout -- perfect for GPP tournaments.
Before we break down our picks, here are the most notable scoring rules for DraftKings contests: Full-point PPR, four-point passing TDs, three-point bonuses for 100 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards, and 300 passing yards.
WEEK 8 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | Yahoo
DraftKings Picks Week 8: NFL DFS lineup for GPP tournaments
Sunday main slate, $50,000 budget
QB Jalen Hurts, Eagles @ Lions ($7,200). We’re going back to the well with Hurts, who amassed 24.5 DraftKings points in spite of what was ultimately a lackluster effort from the Eagles offense. With Miles Sanders (ankle) absent, other pieces of the offense will have more opportunity to make an impact. That includes Hurts, whose 66 carries already lead the team.
RB Najee Harris, Steelers @ Browns ($7,500). Harris has caught six-of-seven targets in two games since erupting for 14 receptions on 19 targets in Week 3. Additionally, he hasn’t finished with fewer than 20 DK points since Week 2. Sunday will be Pittsburgh’s first meeting with Cleveland since being eliminated by them in last year’s playoffs. For what it’s worth, we can be certain there’s little-to-zero complacency in the Steelers’ facilities this week.
MORE WEEK 8 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
RB James Robinson, Jaguars @ Seahawks ($6,600). It took head coach Urban Meyer some time to figure out that he has a high-quality running back in his stable, and Robinson has averaged 22.5 DK points and scored five touchdowns in the four games since being let loose. The Seahawks are among the friendliest for running backs, so the stage could be set for Robinson to keep his hot streak intact.
WR Emmanuel Sanders, Bills vs. Dolphins ($5,400). The Bills lost a winnable game and had an extra week to chew on that frustration. We’re fully expecting them to come out with an edge on Sunday against their division rival. Sanders is squarely behind Stefon Diggs in the target pecking order, but that hasn’t stopped him from averaging 17.2 yards per catch -- with a 61.5-percent catch rate -- and scoring four touchdowns. Breakout tight end Dawson Knox (hand) will miss this contest, possibly offering Sanders more playmaking opportunities.
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
WR Michael Pittman, Colts vs. Titans ($5,300). This is beyond a lock if T.Y. Hilton (quad) misses another week of action. In a critical matchup with serious playoff implications, the Colts figure to put the ball in the hands of their best players. That includes Pittman, who leads the team in targets and continues to deliver in his sophomore season. Pittman earning 12 targets apiece in Weeks 2 and 3 continues to fade into the rearview -- he’s totaled 22 targets in the four games since -- but it’s difficult to imagine him not being heavily utilized in the passing game in a virtual "must-win" spot.
WR Jerry Jeudy, Broncos vs. Football Team ($4,900). Jeudy (ankle) has actually medically cleared ahead of Week 7, but the Broncos decided to keep him sidelined on the short week. Their abundance of caution eliminates some of the risk we were willing to assume. Jeudy had caught six of seven targets for 72 yards before being injured in Week 1. He’ll have a chance to pick up where he left off this week.
WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
TE T.J. Hockenson, Lions vs. Eagles ($5,400). Hockenson has shown signs of life over the past two weeks after three lackluster showings. The Eagles have been kind to tight ends, even allowing Foster Moreau to score 18.0 DK points last week. Hckenson has handled 20.5 percent of the Lions’ targets, so he should find himself in good positions to punish the Eagles’ mediocre defense.
FLEX Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles @ Lions ($5,000). Early signs suggest Eagles starting running back Miles Sanders (ankle) will be absent on Sunday, leaving Gainwell to serve as the lead back. Gainwell is second among Eagles skill-position players with 45 touches, which includes a lot of work in the passing game (31 targets, 19 receptions). He leads the group with three touchdowns. Boston Scott might be dusted off for some work this week, but if Gainwell is trusted with more touches, he could conceivably flirt with the 20-point plateau given the matchup and his skillset.
DEF Bears vs. 49ers ($2,700). Toss the stats out of the window this week. Being thrashed the way the Bears were by Tom Brady and the Buccaneers last week simply isn’t in their organizational DNA. A strong bounce-back effort against a flawed, banged-up 49ers offense is a reasonable expectation, especially with the game in Chicago. It's important to remember the Bears are still a top-12 fantasy D/ST on the season.