DraftKings Week 8 Slate Breakdown with Cash and GPP Picks

Oct 26, 2017

Each week, I’ll give my overall DraftKings cash game and tournament strategy thoughts, and discuss how players fit into these strategies. By offering a general approach to the week, along with a player pool to consider, you should walk away feeling well-equipped no matter your bankroll strategy or game selection process.

Main Slate Cash Game Strategy

There are six teams on a bye this week and only a couple of glaring values, which means there may be even more overlap than usual in lineups. Usually, when salaries are tight like they are this week, it’s best to play near the top of your bankroll limits in cash games, but the likelihood for high overlap in lineups means increased variance and that’s when DFS players should pull in the reigns on their buy-ins a bit. For the high-volume Head to Head player that uses just one or two lineups, there is actually a monetary interest in rostering players that are less popular. Unlike in 50/50s or Double Ups, each additional point is potentially another Head to Head win, so if there are two players rated equally, the lower-owned player is the better choice. This philosophy is one to keep in mind this week.

Quarterback

Carson Wentz ($7,200) has the best odds to hit cash game value of any quarterback this week. The Eagles are the biggest favorite of the week (-13) with the highest projected point total (29.5) at home against a San Francisco defense ranked 26th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed (aFPA) to quarterbacks. Only one quarterback with at least 100 attempts has a higher touchdown rate than Wentz this year and the 49ers allow the fifth-most fantasy points per attempt to opposing passers. The top-projected quarterback value of the week is Tyrod Taylor ($5,900). Buffalo hosts a Raiders defense allowing the third-most fantasy points and yards per pass attempt, and Oakland may be without starting cornerback David Amerson this week. Tyrod is averaging nearly 30 rushing yards per game, which helps his already high floor. Andy Dalton ($5,700) will face a Colts defense ranked no better than 25th in aFPA to any skill position and that has allowed opponents to score more than their implied point total in 6-of-7 games. Kirk Cousins ($6,400) is priced as the QB8 in a game with the highest over/under of the week (5) and a spread of just 2. Dallas ranks 27th in quarterback aFPA, and only four quarterbacks have scored more fantasy points per pass attempt this year than Cousins.