DraftKings Week 8 Main Slate Breakdown with Cash and GPP Picks

Oct 24, 2019

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Below you'll find my Week 8 DraftKings cash game and tournament 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.

UPDATE:

The status of Latavius Murray and to a lesser extent David Johnson control this slate. If Murray doesn't have to contend with Alvin Kamara, he becomes a near lock. Chase Edmonds matchup is fairly difficult, but he is the next best option if you need a sub 7K running back. I just don't think I can pull the trigger on Ty Johnson in cash.

If those backs aren't available and we need to pay even more for our ball carriers, we may need to use a cheap option at wide receiver like Alex Erickson, Demaryius Thomas, or Chris Conley (if Dede Westbrook inactive).

Mike Williams is a cash consideration now that Keenan Allen is lmited and that gives a boost to Hunter Henry and Austin Ekeler as well.

With Matt Ryan being out, Austin Hooper could take a slight hit, but Matt Schaub fed him three targets on the last drive of the game in which he subbed in for Ryan last week, ending in a 3/27/1 stat line. Devonta Freeman gets a slight tick up in my book as I could see an excess of check downs and potentially more carries as well.

I'm not sure we need the minimum priced tight ends, but if the value at running back doesn't open up it's certainly an option to slot in Jonnu Smith or Cameron Brate in order to get up to multiple stud running backs.

Additionally, I may be backing off the Jaguars defense as a cash play as they have some significant injuries to their front seven.

Sunday 12pm:

Latvius Murray moves to a priority in cash with no Kamara

John Brown is a borderline play with wind gusts expected to reach 40-45mph in Buffalo

Panthers DST is trending up for me with the $500 savings from the Jags and Colts

Main Slate Cash Game Strategy

Quarterback

The top of the quarterback price range is kind of like pizza and wings—they're both delicious and it's hard to choose between the two. Deshaun Watson ($7,100) and Russell Wilson ($7,200) are the top pay-up options for the week and they check in at first and second respectively on our value metric. Watson gets the second-worst defense in terms of adjusted fantasy points allowed to the quarterback position (aFPA). Wilson will face the dead last Falcons defense in aFPA to quarterbacks. Watson and the Texans are sporting a 29-point team total, but Wilson and the Seahawks are currently off the board in Vegas because of the uncertainty of Matt Ryan's health. Watson is adding seven fantasy points per game with his rushing ability while Wilson is adding about five. It seems as though Watson has more of a propensity to call his own number near the goalline. Watson is at home, while Wilson is away. The Texans offense plays faster and asks Watson to do more than Wilson is asked to do in Seattle. The bottom line is I can't fault you for playing either of these pay up options, but the home game, implied total, and less of a chance the running game eats into his fantasy total has me leaning Deshaun Watson.