The player pool isn't as deep as usual for the Week 8 NFL DFS main slate, but our FanDuel lineup still has a solid QB-WR stack to go along with a couple of value plays at TE and flex. As usual, injuries factor heavily into potential value picks, so we'll have to watch the practice reports closely for a couple of our players.
Before we break down our picks and strategy, here are the most notable scoring rules for FanDuel contests: four-point passing TDs and half-point PPR.
WEEK 8 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
FanDuel Picks Week 8: NFL DFS lineup for GPP tournaments
Sunday main slate, $60,000 budget
QB Kyler Murray, Cardinals @ Vikings ($8,200). Murray enters Week 8 with the second-highest QB salary on FanDuel. That might sound surprising, but keep in mind that Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes are on bye and Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Tom Brady, Josh Allen, and Aaron Rodgers are playing in prime time. Murray played decently last week against the Saints, scoring 17.2 FanDuel Points with star WR DeAndre Hopkins back in the starting lineup, and that connection will continue to raise Murray's floor and ceiling. Overall, Murray has produced 18.5 FanDuel points per game over his past four outings. He should be able to better that output this week against the Vikings, who are allowing the 12th-most FanDuel points per game to QBs (18.6).
RB Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Steelers ($7,400). We're fading the top RBs and looking to save a little money with Sanders and Raheem Mostert. Sanders is coming off a bye and gets to play a Steelers' defense that is allowing 118.9 rushing yards per game and the 11th-most FanDuel points per game to RBs (20.9). Sanders is often overlooked due to Jalen Hurts also playing a role in the Eagles' running game, especially around the goal line. However, Sanders is still averaging 16.5 FanDuel points per game and has three rushing touchdowns in the past three games.
WEEK 8 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings
RB Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Lions ($6,800). Mostert is one of my favorite plays in DFS this week, as he's been running well over the past four games. The veteran running back is showing DFS players that he can carry the workload of an RB1 when healthy. Last week against the Steelers, Mostert had 109 total yards and a TD on 20 touches. It was the second time in the past four games that he posted 100-plus yards of total offense. Mostert has a great matchup against a Lions' defense allowing the second-most rushing yards in the league (162.8). Mostert should easily return value and has a chance for a real boom performance given the matchup.
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals @ Vikings ($7,900). Hopkins made his long-awaited season debut last week against the Saints, leading the Cardinals with 10 receptions (14 targets) for 103 yards. Hopkins could easily better those numbers this week, as the Vikings allow the 10th-most receiving yards to WRs this season. The last time we saw the Vikings in action, they were allowing over 120 yards to both Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill.
WR Chris Olave, Saints vs. Raiders ($6,900). The rookie wide receiver has held down the fort for the Saints' offense over the past few weeks without Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle). Last week against the Cardinals, he scored 14.1 FanDuel points, marking the fourth-straight game in which he had double-digit fantasy points. He will look to make it five straight against a Raiders' defense that has allowed the 10th-most FanDuel points per game to WRs (29.6). If Thomas does not play again on Sunday, look for Olave to receive 10-plus targets from either Andy Dalton or Jameis Winston (back).
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
WR Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers @ Rams ($6,700). Aiyuk has made some noise over the past two weeks, scoring 24.3 and 11.7 FanDuel points, respectively, in consecutive games. When Aiyuk played the Rams in Week 4, the young wide receiver scored a season-low 5.7 FanDuel points. We should expect him to be much more productive this time around, as the Rams' defense will now have to focus on Christian McCaffrey in the passing game in addition to George Kittle. The Rams are allowing the 11th-most FanDuel points per game to WRs this season, so Aiyuk is in a good spot regardless.
TE Juwan Johnson, Saints vs. Falcons ($5,200). Johnson scored a season-high 17.7 FanDuel points last week, and given New Orleans' injuries at WR and TE, Johnson should see five-plus targets for the third-straight week. Johnson will look to build off this performance against the Raiders, who are allowing the third-most FanDuel points to TEs this season (14). Even if Thomas and Landry are active, Johnson is a solid option.
WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
FLEX Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Bears ($6,300). Pollard has been a great complement to Ezekiel Elliott this season and has a good matchup this week against the Bears. Chicago's defense showed up on Monday night against the Patriots; however, the Cowboys' offense is significantly better in all facets. The Bears allow the seventh-most FanDuel points per game to RBs (22.8) and 149.7 rushing yards per game. This is a good spot for Pollard, who is coming off a season-high 65-percent snap share last week.
UPATE: Pollard might be the top-owned player this week with Elliott unlikely to play because of a knee injury. Obviously, this raises his ceiling, but if you're looking for differentiation, you'll have to look elsewhere.
DEF Eagles vs. Steelers ($4,600). The Eagles defense has been one of the best in the league, and fresh off a bye, it now gets to face rookie Kenny Pickett. Philadelphia's defense has forced at least one interception in three-straight games and is holding teams to 16.3 points per game over that span. We should expect the same against a Steelers' offense that has scored 10.3 points per game in Pickett's first three starts.
