DraftKings NFL Week 8 Buy Sell + Optimal DFS Lineups

Over/Under Lookahead

One of the best ways to identify valuable DraftKings targets is projecting the game script and potential scoring production for both teams in any given matchup. Of course, we want to target the highest-scoring games on the week as those games will produce the most fantasy points. Game stacks are often a great way to reduce variability in a given lineup by securing more pieces from a higher-scoring game. These are the games this week with the highest and lowest over/under totals (main slate only).

Highest-Scoring Games

1. Vikings @ Packers – O/U 56 points (Packers -6.5, implied points GB 31.25, MIN 24.75)
2. Titans @ Bengals – O/U 56 points (Titans -3.5, implied points TEN 29.75, CIN 26.25)
3. Raiders @ Browns – O/U 55.5 points (Browns -3.5, implied points CLE 29.5, LV 26)
4. 49ers @ Seahawks – O/U 54 points (Seahawks -3, implied points SEA 28.5, SF 25.5)
5. Colts @ Lions – O/U 51.5 points (Colts -3, implied points IND 27.25, DET 24.25)

Lowest-Scoring Games

1. Chargers @ Broncos – O/U 44.5 (Chargers -10, implied points LAC 27.25, DEN 17.25)
2. Patriots @ Bills – O/U 46 points (Bills -4, implied points BUF 25, NE 21)
3. Saints @ Bears – O/U 47 points (Saints -4, implied points NO 25.5, CHI 21.5)
4. Steelers @ Ravens – O/U 47 points (Ravens -3.5, implied points BAL 25.25, PIT 21.75)
5. Jets @ Chiefs – O/U 48.5 points (Chiefs -19.5, implied points KC 34, NYJ 14.5)

Quarterbacks

Players I’m Buying

Russell Wilson ($7,800): The two highest-priced quarterbacks on the DraftKings slate this week happen to be the consensus two best QBs in the NFL right now – Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson. Neither player has a great matchup this week, as Mahomes won’t need to produce a ton to win handily against the hapless Jets and Wilson faces a tough 49ers defense. San Francisco has allowed the 8th-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season but their secondary could be without all four starters again this week. The Niners also have the 12th-worst sack percentage this season as their pass rush has faltered without Nick Bosa and Dee Ford. Wilson doesn’t have fewer than 25 fantasy points in a game this season and has surpassed 30 points four separate times. The 49ers have faced a soft defensive schedule this year against the Cardinals, Jets, Giants, Eagles, Dolphins, Rams, and Patriots, so their season-long metrics don’t scare me off Wilson. With Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf at his disposal and the potential absence of the team’s top three running backs, this is going to be another pass-heavy game for Russ and he should deliver for your DraftKings lineups.

Ryan Tannehill ($6,800): The Titans have looked like one of the best teams in the NFL through seven weeks and Tannehill has continued his impressive close to last season with an impressive current 16-game pace of 40 passing touchdowns to just 5 interceptions. The Bengals were lit up by the Browns last week as Baker Mayfield had a career-high five passing touchdowns and their defense is far worse than the Steelers’ unit Tennessee just faced. With his receiving corps now fully healthy, this offense has plenty of game-breaking weapons with A.J. Brown, Jonnu Smith, and Corey Davis. Derrick Henry should also be in for a phenomenal game this week against a soft run defense which will help set up the deep play-action passing that Tannehill is so efficient at. The loss of William Jackson sent the Bengals’ secondary into disarray and it’s unclear if he’ll be able to return this week. Tannehill’s efficiency and role in a talented offense make him a strong play in a plus matchup.

Joe Burrow ($6,200): It was overshadowed by Baker Mayfield’s career day, but Joe Burrow had a massive game as well as he finished with a career-high 406 passing yards and threw for 3 touchdowns for the second time this season. He also scored a touchdown on the ground for the second straight week and his 38.6 fantasy points were his season-high. The continued emergence of rookie receiver Tee Higgins along with sustained solid play from Tyler Boyd and A.J. Green has given Burrow a dynamic receiving trio and the rookie quarterback leads the NFL in passing attempts with 293, 41.8 per game, which gives him tons of opportunities for fantasy goodness. The Titans have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year and have allowed 2.5 passing touchdowns per game, the third-most in the NFL. Tennessee’s offense is also very capable of putting up points so there could be some late garbage time points brewing for the Bengals. Burrow is a strong play again this week and stacking him with Higgins, Boyd, or Green is advisable as well.

Derek Carr ($5,500): The Raiders’ quarterback has quietly been having a very strong season as last week’s game against Tampa’s elite defense marked the first time this year he failed to have a passer rating of 100+ and complete 70+% of his passes. He still had a solid game with 20.3 fantasy points, his fourth game in his last five with 20+ fantasy points. This week, he takes on a Browns’ defense that has suffered a handful of secondary injuries and has allowed the 7th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Cleveland has allowed the seventh-most passing touchdowns per game this season and Joe Burrow had 38.6 fantasy points against them last week. With Darren Waller, Josh Jacobs, Henry Ruggs, Nelson Agholor, and Hunter Renfrow, the skill position talent on this offense is the best its been in a while, and Carr has taken advantage with some very impressive numbers. He’s still priced a tier too low in DraftKings and I doubt he’ll still be this cheap after he finishes as a top-10 QB against the Browns.

Jimmy Garoppolo ($5,400): The wizardry of Kyle Shanahan knows no bounds as the 49ers are well on their way back into the hunt for the NFC West after a blowout road win over the Patriots. Jimmy Garoppolo and the passing offense weren’t very impressive and the Niners’ QB finished with just 80 passing yards and 2 interceptions with no touchdowns, but the Patriots’ defense was always going to give him a tough time. This week, he will find things much easier against the Seahawks who are allowing the most passing yards per game and the 2nd-most fantasy points to opposing QBs. The likely absence of Deebo Samuel this week due to a hamstring strain will hold back this passing attack some, but I trust Shanahan to find ways to put Garoppolo in advantageous situations against such a poor passing defense. Rookie Brandon Aiyuk broke out last week with a career-high 6 catches for 115 yards against a tough Patriots defense and will be in line for a massive target share this week. George Kittle and the running backs will be heavily relied upon as well. Garoppolo isn’t a fantasy heavy-hitter by any stretch, but playing him at QB and potentially stacking him with Aiyuk affords you a ton of lineup flexibility.

Other quarterbacks I’m buying: Patrick Mahomes ($8,100), Baker Mayfield ($6,100), Kirk Cousins ($6,000), Cam Newton ($5,700), Drew Lock ($5,300)

Players I’m Selling

Lamar Jackson ($7,400): The Ravens’ defense has been one of the best in the NFL so far and their ability to keep teams from scoring has kept Lamar Jackson and the offense from needing to score much to succeed. Jackson has just 162 passing attempts through 6 games which would barely surpass his total from last season and his per-game rushing production is down by over 20 yards per game, removing a bit of his weekly baseline. He’s surpassed 20 fantasy points in just 3 of his 6 games so far after doing so in all but two games last year. Jackson is also on pace for just 26 passing touchdowns after 36 in 15 games last season. All this is to say that Lamar isn’t the same high-octane, must-start fantasy weapon he was last year, especially against the Steelers’ defense that has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this year. Pittsburgh’s front seven that leads the league in sack rate and has allowed the 2nd-fewest rushing yards per game puts them in a uniquely comfortable position to defend one of the run-heaviest attacks in the NFL. This game also has one of the lowest over-under totals of the week at 46.5 points and I just don’t see the upside here to justify spending up on Jackson, although I do think he finishes inside the top-10 even in a tough matchup.

Josh Allen ($7,000): This week, Josh Allen checks two of my boxes that make him a fade in DraftKings. First off, he’s facing a Patriots defense that is holding opposing quarterbacks to just 15.6 fantasy points per game, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. For another, he’s taking part in the game with the second-lowest over/under total on the week. To make matters worse for Allen, he has finished with fewer than 17 fantasy points in his last three games. The offense is clearly missing John Brown’s ability to stretch the field and open things up underneath, and it doesn’t look like he will return to action this week. Allen started off the year extremely strong with 25+ fantasy points in each of his first four games with 12 passing touchdowns and just 1 interception over that span. His play has regressed as of late and the Patriots’ defense is not the one that will give him the opportunity to get things back on track.

Matthew Stafford ($6,400): Stafford was the hero last week with his fourth-quarter comeback, but his only touchdown throw on the afternoon came as time expired. Stafford has thrown multiple touchdowns in just half of his games this season and he has only hit 3 touchdowns once in six games. The real concerning aspect of this has been his recent poor play against the Jaguars and Falcons, two of the bottom-five teams in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to QBs. This week, Stafford will have to turn around his recent performances against a Colts defense that has allowed the 2nd-fewest passing yards per game this year. The Colts have allowed just 13.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the second-fewest in the NFL. If we can’t trust Stafford to produce in cupcake matchups, there’s no way I’m deploying him this week against one of the better passing defenses in football.

Other quarterbacks I’m selling: Ben Roethlisberger ($6,600), Philip Rivers ($5,900), Nick Foles ($5,800), Tua Tagovailoa ($5,600), Sam Darnold ($4,800)

Running Backs

Players I’m Buying

Alvin Kamara ($8,200): The Saints’ offense continues to revolve around Alvin Kamara and last week he had 22 touches for 148 yards against the Panthers in just his second game of the season without at least one touchdown. Kamara has now exceeded 100+ scrimmage yards in all but one game and has 19+ touches in all but one game as well. He’s scored 19.9+ fantasy points in every game this season. The Bears’ defense is a scary one for opposing quarterbacks but they have allowed 17.3 fantasy points per game to running backs which pushes them closer to the middle of the pack. The absences of Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders have enabled Kamara to be utilized more heavily, especially in the passing game, but I still expect the touches to be there when those receivers return. With Kamara’s unbelievable talent, role in the offense, and the short-area accuracy of Drew Brees, there are very few matchups that will have me fading him and this is not one of those weeks for me.

Derrick Henry ($8,000): Among the highest-priced running backs this week, Derrick Henry might be my favorite target. It’s very encouraging that Henry still had 20 carries against the Steelers despite the Titans being down by multiple scores for a large portion of the game. This week, I don’t expect the Titans to be trailing for very long if at all, and the game script will favor a heavy usage game for Derrick Henry. The Bengals’ offense is capable of putting up points on Tennessee, but their defense has no shot to stop this Titans’ offense. Cincy has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards and the sixth-highest YPC this season as their front seven has been one of the worst in the NFL. If the Titans can win this game by handing the ball to Henry 30 times they will do it and the game script and matchup support that type of an outcome. Henry has scored in four consecutive games and had 212 rushing yards a week ago. It doesn’t matter that he hardly catches the ball, Henry is a stud and a smash play in this matchup.

Kareem Hunt ($6,900): The key to DraftKings this week seems to be parsing through the elite, high-priced running backs, but I believe Kareem Hunt could finish as the RB1 on the week and is priced way lower than guys like Alvin Kamara and Derrick Henry. Hunt will face the Raiders this week, a defense that has allowed the 3rd-most fantasy points to running backs this year. Further boosting Hunt’s projection is a Browns’ receiving corps that is going to be without Odell Beckham Jr. and Austin Hooper this week. Jarvis Landry will get a ton of targets and other guys stepped up last week in Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashad Higgins, and Harrison Bryant, but Hunt’s receiving ability is still a lethal weapon for this team and he has 4 touchdown receptions this season. This feels like it could be a multi-score day for Hunt in one of the highest over/under totals on the week and he’s priced too low for where I have him projected.

Darrell Henderson ($5,900): It was another quiet output for Darrell Henderson against the Bears as he finished with fewer than 10 fantasy points for the second straight week. His 17 touches (15 carries, 2 catches) were encouraging, though, and he should be able to better take advantage of those touches against a Miami defense that has allowed 23 fantasy points to running backs per game, the 8th-most in the NFL. The Dolphins are going to be rolling out Tua Tagovailoa for his debut this week and I’m worried about him staying upright against Aaron Donald and the Rams’ pass rush. The Rams could create a wide margin in this game early on which would contribute to plenty of work for Henderson. Henderson’s lack of production against two stout defenses in the 49ers and Bears doesn’t concern me too much and I’m expecting a strong bounceback effort. He’s my RB15 in my projections for this week so he’s a steal at this price. I’m looking to load up on high-priced running backs this week and I see a significant drop-off between Henderson and the RBs cheaper than him.

D’Andre Swift ($5,300): I keep going back on forth on D’Andre Swift as I loved him last week against a weak Falcons’ defense and he finished with just 14.8 PPR points; this week, he goes up against the Colts who have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this year. However, it’s important to remember that Swift is an elite talent – he was widely regarded the best RB in his rookie class before the Chiefs went with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Swift is averaging 5.3 YPC this season despite offensive inconsistency in Detroit. Swift added his fourth rushing touchdown of the season last week and had his third game with 4+ catches this year. He’s an all-purpose weapon and the Lions will find ways to get the ball into his hands, something they need to do more often to keep winning games. Swift’s price point heavily reduces the risk of playing him in a poor matchup and his talent gives him a higher upside than a lot of the guys priced ahead of him. His pass-catching provides him with a solid baseline and he should only continue to improve as the season goes on. This week will be a challenge, but I’m still rolling with Swift.

Other running backs I’m selling: Dalvin Cook ($7,500), Aaron Jones ($7,300), Josh Jacobs ($6,200), David Montgomery ($5,900), Jerick McKinnon ($5,700), Myles Gaskin ($5,200), JaMycal Hasty ($5,000), Le’Veon Bell ($4,600), Nyheim Hines ($4,000)

Players I’m Selling

Jonathan Taylor ($6,600): After Marlon Mack’s season-ending injury, the Colts’ highly-touted rookie rusher was supposed to shoulder the load and become a borderline top-five back for fantasy purposes. Instead, he’s surpassed 17 carries just once all season and has just 12 carries in each of the Colts’ past two games. Taylor clearly has talent and he was historically successful while at Wisconsin, but the Colts appear content to heavily involve Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines in order to extend Taylor’s productivity to when it matters most. I’d love to project Taylor for a heavy touch total against a Lions’ defense that has allowed the 4th-most fantasy points to RBs, but the usage just hasn’t been there. Taylor has also only scored a touchdown in half of his games this season and he has just 4 rushing attempts inside the five-yard line all year so it’s hard to know if he’ll score or not this week. There are just too many variables for me to roll with Taylor when I can get Kareem Hunt for just $300 more, even in what appears to be a juicy matchup.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire ($6,500): The Chiefs only ran 51 plays last week, well below their season average, so it’s hard to glean much from the early returns on their new two-headed monster in the backfield. CEH did rush for a touchdown last week, his second of the season, but he had a season-low 8 carries to Le’Veon Bell’s 6 carries. KC should win by a massive margin this week – they’re the biggest favorite of the season so far against the Jets – and it’s hard to predict if their starters will even still be on the field by the fourth quarter. The Jets have allowed the 9th-most fantasy points to RBs this season so this should be a comfortable matchup for the Chiefs’ runners, but would you really be shocked if the Chiefs let Le’Veon Bell log 20 touches against his former team that cut him just a few weeks ago? Ultimately, there are too many variables in play to swallow CEH’s price tag, even in what should be a plus matchup.

James Conner ($6,400): Unlike the previous two players in this section, James Conner is a player who has seen 18+ touches in five straight games he’s been on the field. He logged 23 touches for 111 all-purpose yards last week and has scored 14+ PPR points in five straight weeks. Conner should have a solid game on the back of some of the highest usage in the NFL, but the Ravens’ stout defensive line is going to give even a strong Steelers’ O-line some problems. Baltimore has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to RBs this season and at just 47 points, this game has one of the lowest over-under totals on the week. I’m projecting this to be a physical, slow-paced, defensive-oriented game and that doesn’t bode well for either teams’ skill position players. Conner should still be fine to start in redraft leagues, but you’re looking for high upside in this price range and I’m not sure he has it in this matchup.

Devin Singletary ($5,100): Season-long managers of Devin Singletary are disgusted with his combined 12.2 PPR points over the past two weeks and the fantasy community is likely to make a collective strong shift away from the Bills’ RB this week. Sometimes, this is an opportunity for a contrarion play, but I don’t see it with Singletary. He hasn’t surpassed 12 touches in any of his past three games and he’s rushing for just 3.8 YPC this season, down from 5.1 YPC last year. It’s unclear whether Singletary has lost a step or is injured, or if this offense is hurting without downfield speedster John Brown taking the top off the defense. Brown could return this week which would help the Bills’ offense as a whole, but I’m still not confident in Singletary with the paltry usage he’s getting. Then again, there is always the chance Singletary has a strong get-right game against a Patriots’ defense that the public still overestimates and has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to RBs this year. Maybe it’s worth sliding him into a lineup or two for a contrarion play, but I’m fading him in general coming off two of the worst games of his career.

Other running backs I’m selling: Melvin Gordon ($5,600), Philip Lindsay ($5,000), Joshua Kelley ($4,900), Mark Ingram ($4,800), Malcolm Brown ($4,700), J.K. Dobbins ($4,600), James White ($4,500), Cam Akers ($4,300)

Wide Receivers

Players I’m Buying

Davante Adams ($8,800): Welcome back, Davante. In his return to the field a week earlier, Adams was a bit of a letdown as he finished with just 6 catches for 61 yards, but he rectified that last week. In one of the best games of his career, Adams caught 13 balls for 196 yards and 2 touchdowns in a blowout win over the Texans. He’ll have a phenomenal opportunity to keep the good times rolling this week as he faces a Minnesota pass defense that has been one of the worst in the NFL. The Vikings have allowed the 2nd-most fantasy points per game to WRs and the cornerback duo of Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler has been burned repeatedly this season. When Adams faced the Vikings in Week 1 this season, he finished with 14 catches for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns. With a streaking Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball, Adams has the highest ceiling in fantasy football right now and there’s no reason to fade him in a phenomenal matchup in which he already succeeded earlier this season.

Adam Thielen ($7,200) and Justin Jefferson ($6,500): In what has been a disheartening season for Vikings fans, the excellent play of their veteran wideout Adam Thielen and rookie receiver Justin Jefferson is a bright spot. Unfortunately, this dynamic receiving duo hasn’t been able to lift up Kirk Cousins as he’s completed under 65% of his passes and has thrown 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions as he’s struggled behind a poor offensive line. Justin Jefferson had a massive breakout game before the Vikings’ bye week as he finished with 9 catches for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns against a weak Falcons’ secondary. Adam Thielen took a backseat to the rookie in that game, but he already has 7 receiving touchdowns this season which puts him on a monstrous 16-game pace of just under 19 touchdowns. In Week 1, Thielen caught 6 of 8 targets for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Packers while Jefferson had not fully been integrated yet in his debut game. However, Jefferson now has 122 more receiving yards than Thielen on the year despite four fewer catches. Jefferson’s 19.2 YPR rate is among the best in the NFL and he had 100+ receiving yards in three of his four games prior to the bye. The Packers have one elite cornerback in Jaire Alexander but Josh Jackson, the cornerback opposite Alexander, has been burned repeatedly this season. The Vikings should be playing from behind for much of this contest and Alexander can’t cover Thielen and Jefferson at the same time, so both have big upside this week. I’d recommend getting each one in a couple of different lineups.

Allen Robinson ($7,000): Last week, I was concerned about Allen Robinson against Jalen Ramsey and the Rams’ defense, and he finished with just 4 catches for 70 yards. However, Robinson has now scored 10+ PPR points in six of seven games this season and has racked up 70 targets, the third-most in the NFL. The Bears’ offense is not exciting, but Robinson is an elite talent who will continue to see a massive target share each and every week. This week, the Bears will have an easier time moving the ball as they host a Saints team whose defense has looked like a shell of its former self at times this season. New Orleans has now allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to wide receivers as Marshon Lattimore has struggled mightily in coverage. Janoris Jenkins has been solid, but I still expect Robinson to see a hefty target load and finish as a borderline top-five receiver on the week.

Tee Higgins ($5,600): The emergence of rookie receiver Tee Higgins continues. He came down with another five catches against the Browns last week, his fifth-straight game with four or more catches, and finished with 71 yards and a touchdown. His yards per target has seen a massive spike over the past two weeks as he takes on more of the downfield receiving role that A.J. Green struggled in early on this season. Higgins was drafted to be the future WR1 of this team and that future might be arriving sooner than anyone expected. With 10+ PPR points in each of his last five games and 18+ in each of his last two, he’s as safe as they come and he brings with him a massive upside as he’s catching passes from the quarterback who leads the NFL in passing attempts. The Bengals will face the Titans this week which will likely provide another opportunity for late-game garbage time points as Cincy tries to air out the ball to stay in the game. Tennessee has allowed the 6th-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season; Higgins and Burrow are one of my favorite stacks this week.

Jarvis Landry ($5,600): A broken rib has continued to limit Jarvis Landry’s play even though he hasn’t missed a game this season, or in his career for that matter. You can be confident he’s going to play this week and each day that passes should bring him closer to 100% health. Landry has yet to score a touchdown this season, but he’s never been a scoring machine as he has just one season in his career with over 6 touchdowns. However, his target share is likely going to go up this week as Odell Beckham Jr. will miss the remainder of the season with an ACL injury and Austin Hooper will likely miss this week’s game as he’s recovering from an appendectomy. Landry is due for a touchdown and could finally reach the end zone this week when he faces the Raiders who have allowed the 9th-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Baker Mayfield looked like a different guy last week as he went on a 22-23 passing tear with a career-high five passing touchdowns. Landry will benefit if Mayfield’s play continues to trend up and this is a matchup where that duo should take advantage with some strong production. I would consider taking a flier on Rashard Higgins or Donovan Peoples-Jones in a lineup if you are planning on using Landry in DraftKings this week but I’m not thrilled about chasing the points given the Browns’ run-heavy approach.

Henry Ruggs ($4,900): The Raiders’ rookie receiver has been far from a model of consistency this season as he’s caught just 8 balls all year, but he flashed his incredible downfield talent in Week 5 against the Chiefs as he caught 2 balls for 118 yards and a touchdown. With Ruggs’s elite top-end speed and strong route-running, he was one of my favorite receiver prospects in this draft and I do expect the Raiders to get him more involved as the season goes on. Even still, with an absurd YPR rate of 26.5 so far, Ruggs is a big play waiting to happen. I’m nervous to rely on a player who has just three targets in each of the past three games in more than a couple of lineups, but he could be in for a career day against a Browns’ defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to WRs. The Raiders and Browns have one of the highest over/under totals on the week and that game is one of my favorites to stack up this week. Ruggs has a wide range of outcomes week-to-week, but the talent is clearly there, as is the matchup for him this week. Take a shot on Ruggs.

Other wide receivers I’m buying: Tyler Lockett ($7,100), A.J. Brown ($6,900), Tyreek Hill ($6,700), Kenny Golladay ($6,600), Cooper Kupp ($6,500), Robert Woods ($6,300), Keenan Allen ($6,200), Diontae Johnson ($5,500), Sammy Watkins ($4,800), A.J. Green ($4,500), Rashard Higgins ($4,200), Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($3,800), Donovan Peoples-Jones ($3,800), Darnell Mooney ($3,500)

Players I’m Selling

Michael Thomas ($7,300): It doesn’t sound like a sure thing that Michael Thomas will be back on the field for the Saints this week amid trade rumors, questionable injury designations, and turmoil with the team. Even if he does return to play, he’ll be facing a Bears defense that can terrorize even the best offensive lines in the NFL. The cornerback duo of Kyle Fuller and Jaylon Johnson has been electric as they’ve held opposing wide receivers to the third-fewest fantasy points per game. Last week against the Bears, Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods were held to 9 catches for 65 yards. I wouldn’t be thrilled about shelling out money for Thomas in DraftKings this week even if this were a cupcake matchup, but the fact that he returns against one of the best passing defenses in the NFL does even more to convince me Michael Thomas is a clear fade this week.

Tyler Boyd ($6,600): I was all over Tyler Boyd last week against the Browns and he delivered with his best game of the season – 11 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. The issue for Boyd is that game was the first time he’s been over 100 yards this season and just his second touchdown pass of the year. Boyd was set to have a phenomenal matchup against Titans’ 7th-round rookie Chris Jackson who was manning the slot for them and struggling mightily. However, it looks like Adoree Jackson could return this week which would be a huge boon for a struggling secondary. Mostly, I’m fading Boyd because plenty of managers will be chasing the points this week and his price tag is slightly uncomfortable given he only had a combined 9 catches the prior two weeks. Tee Higgins has continued to emerge and A.J. Green is still heavily involved so even in the pass-heaviest offense in football, it may be difficult for Boyd to deliver consistently great performances. He’s priced well ahead of guys like Keenan Allen and Jarvis Landry this week, players who have a similar range of outcomes and have strong matchups. Boyd’s price has gotten out of control, and for that reason, I’m out.

Brandon Aiyuk ($5,800): Last week, rookie receiver Brandon Aiyuk broke through with 6 catches for 115 yards, by far the best game of his debut season thus far. He also draws a phenomenal matchup this week against a Seattle defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this year. So why am I selling him? I’m worried about his ownership getting out of control after his massive performance as everyone rushes to add him to their season-long leagues and I still see him as having a wide range of outcomes even in such a strong matchup. He has three games this season with three or fewer touches and that includes a portion of the year where Deebo Samuel was absent. The 49ers went without consistent wide receiver play for large stretches of last season and were still one of the top scoring offenses in the NFL. George Kittle is going to see a massive target share this week (more on him later) and the running backs will surely be involved in the passing game, but Jimmy Garoppolo’s passing volume has not been great this year. It’s worth throwing out Aiyuk in a lineup with Jimmy G just in case the duo does take advantage of this matchup, but take this as a caution that Aiyuk may not be as big of a lock for production this week as some might expect.

Chase Claypool ($5,200): Along with much of the fantasy football world, I was burned by Chase Claypool last week. The stars were aligned for him – he had been on a massive tear and was gaining a more consistent role in the offense ahead of a matchup against a very beatable Titans’ secondary. He had one catch for -2 yards. 0.8 fantasy points in PPR, even worse in other formats. Just a gutwrenching performance from a player who I was raving about leading into his game. I’m not suing for emotional damages just yet and I’m not including Claypool here out of spite, but he does have a very tough matchup this week against the Ravens’ defense that has allowed the 7th-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Marcus Peters, Jimmy Smith, and Marlon Humphery form one of the best cornerback trios in the NFL. The only Steelers’ pass-catcher I’m confident in is Diontae Johnson who has 10+ targets in every game he’s been fully healthy in this season, but he suffered another leg injury at the end of the last game so it’s worth monitoring the practice report. However, I’m not rolling out Claypool either way given his inconsistency and a tough matchup in what should be a low-scoring game.

T.Y. Hilton ($4,900): I didn’t think I would be bringing up Hilton again in this column, but I wanted to list him here as the Colts are coming off their bye week and get a favorable matchup against a Lions defense that has been torched at times this season. However, Hilton appears to have lost a step this season and his downfield receiving doesn’t fit with what the offense wants to do with Philip Rivers. Hilton had a stretch of three games earlier in the year with just 3 catches in each and had just one catch the last time the Colts played despite them rallying from behind 21 points to win the game. Hilton has yet to surpass 70 receiving yards in a game and does not have a receiving touchdown this season. Until we see his role in the offense change, I’m not at all confident in Hilton no matter the matchup.

Tim Patrick ($4,700): The Broncos have turned to third-year receiver Tim Patrick in the passing game with Courtland Sutton out for the season, and he’s produced with two straight 100+ yard receiving games against the Jets and Patriots in Weeks 4 and 6. However, he has 4 or fewer catches in every other game and has not surpassed 50 yards in those game. The inconsistency has been due to a wholly ineffective Broncos offense that has not had consistent QB play this year. Despite allowing a lot of points to opposing QBs, the Chargers’ defense has allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. The Chargers should also get Chris Harris Jr. back this week which would be a massive boon for their secondary. Patrick’s inconsistency, the low over/under total in this game, and a lack of faith in the Broncos’ offense are enough for me to fade him this week.

Other wide receivers I’m selling: DeVante Parker ($5,700), JuJu Smith-Schuster ($5,400), Cole Beasley ($5,300), Mecole Hardman ($4,500), Damiere Byrd ($4,400), Preston Williams ($4,300), Marvin Jones ($4,200), N’Keal Harry ($3,900), KJ Hamler ($3,600)

Tight Ends

Players I’m Buying

George Kittle ($7,000): The stars could be aligned for George Kittle to turn in one of his signature, monstrous fantasy performances this week. The 49ers will face the Seahawks’ defense that allows the most passing yards per game and will be without Deebo Samuel, Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, and Jeff Wilson this week, so they’ll likely lean heavily on Kittle to move the chains. Kittle has been a bit inconsistent this year, but he does have 8+ PPR points in every game which gives him a solid baseline. In Week 2, he caught 15 of 15 targets for 183 yards and a touchdown to finish with 40.1 PPR points against the Eagles and I wouldn’t be shocked if he came through with a similarly massive performance this week. He has the highest upside of any tight end on the main slate and while he will cost you a pretty penny, it can be worth it to secure that upside. I’ll roll with Kittle in at least one lineup on most weeks and I think he has an even better chance at hitting his high end of production given the promising matchup and the injuries across the offense to key pass-catchers.

Jimmy Graham ($4,600): At age 33, it’s been years since Graham’s days of scoring double-digit touchdowns and leading the tight end position in fantasy scoring. However, he’s found a consistent role in Chicago this season and has clearly benefitted from the transition to Nick Foles at quarterback. Graham has now scored 7+ PPR points in five straight weeks and will take on the Saints’ defense that has allowed the 2nd-most fantasy points to tight ends this year. Graham has 5+ targets and 30+ yards in each of the past four weeks, and while he’s scored just one touchdown over that span, he now sits as the TE4 on the season. Sure, there may be more exciting options this week, but there are few guys who offer the baseline Graham does and he’s worth considering in a very favorable matchup.

Jonnu Smith ($4,100): After garnering just 2 catches for 22 yards over the last two weeks, Jonnu Smith will leave fantasy players feeling less than confident in him this week. However, he still ranks as the TE5 on the season after some impressive performances earlier this year including two 2-touchdown performances. He’s been reduced to 2 and 4 targets over the last two weeks as A.J. Brown has returned to the lineup, but I’m still targeting him this week. He faces a Bengals’ defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends and still possesses incredible talent with his speed, route-running, and physicality. In a plus matchup, he should deliver, especially as he gets further removed from his ankle injury.

Trey Burton ($3,500): We know Philip Rivers loves to throw to tight ends and we know the Colts have had limited production out of their receivers this season. The last time the Colts took the field, Trey Burton had 4 catches for 58 yards and a touchdown along with a goalline rushing touchdown. The Lions have allowed just the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, but that has more to do with the tight ends they’ve faced than the defense they’ve played. Burton has produced in the past and should see a solid target share in this offense, which is more than you can say about a lot of tight ends in the fantasy conversation. At his price, he’s worth a look.

Other tight ends I’m buying: Travis Kelce ($6,600), Darren Waller ($5,600), Jared Cook ($4,400), Hunter Henry ($4,200), Eric Ebron ($3,900), Harrison Bryant ($3,200)

Players I’m Selling

Mark Andrews ($5,800): The Ravens have just 177.8 passing yards per game, the 2nd-fewest in the NFL, which could put the Steelers’ defense that has allowed the 6th-fewest passing yards per game in a strong position. Andrews has been very inconsistent this year as he has three games with 17+ PPR points and three with fewer than 6 PPR points. Andrews is a touchdown-dependent tight end with the limited passing volume in Baltimore and I don’t expect there to be many red-zone opportunities for him against one of the best defenses in the NFL. Andrews is still worth starting in season-long leagues, but I’m fading him for DraftKings this week.

T.J. Hockenson ($5,300): Hockenson has scored 9+ PPR points in every game this season so it’s hard to fade him with his level of consistency, but I’m worried about deploying him against the Colts’ defense that has allowed the 2nd-fewest passing yards per game. Indianapolis has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to the tight end position and while Matthew Stafford has been playing well recently, he’s not dynamic enough right now to dictate the game to this tough Colts defense. I’m expecting this game to be a bit lower-scoring than the over/under suggests and I wouldn’t be shocked if the Lions were held to just a couple of touchdowns. With plenty of other weapons in this offense, Hockenson isn’t a strong enough player to spend that level of money on.

Mike Gisecki ($4,900): The last time we saw the Dolphins play, Mike Gisecki was held without a reception against the Jets. Outside of his 8-130-1 game in Week 2 against the Bills, Gisecki has scored just 4.2 fantasy points per game. This week, Tua Tagovailoa will debut for the Dolphins and I’m downgrading all of their pass-catchers at least for the time being. It’s hard to know what the target distribution or passing volume will look like this week. The Rams’ defense is going to be able to put pressure on Tua all game long with Aaron Donald leading the league in sacks and it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Dolphins turn the ball over a couple of times. Gisecki was inconsistent before the QB switch and he’s not worth spending up on until we know what to expect from this offense.

Other tight ends I’m selling: Noah Fant ($4,700), Mo Alie-Cox ($4,200), Greg Olsen ($3,600), Kyle Rudolph ($3,400), Drew Sample ($3,400), Dawson Knox ($3,200)

Stacks of the Week

1. Aaron Rodgers ($7,600) and Davante Adams ($8,800)
2. Russell Wilson ($7,800) and Tyler Lockett ($7,100)
3. Jimmy Garoppolo ($5,400) and George Kittle ($7,000)
4. Joe Burrow ($6,200) and Tee Higgins ($5,600)/A.J. Green ($4,500)
5. Justin Herbert ($6,900) and Keenan Allen ($6,200)
6. Kirk Cousins ($6,000) and Adam Thielen ($7,200)/Justin Jefferson ($6,500)
7. Ryan Tannehill ($6,800) and A.J. Brown ($6,900)
8. Derek Carr ($5,500) and Henry Ruggs ($4,900)
9. Baker Mayfield ($6,100) and Jarvis Landry ($5,600)
10. Patrick Mahomes ($8,100) and Tyreek Hill ($6,700)

Sample Lineups

Lineup #1

QB: Aaron Rodgers $7,600
RB: Kareem Hunt $6,900
RB: Le’Veon Bell $4,600
WR: Davante Adams $8,800
WR: Henry Ruggs $4,900
WR: A.J. Green $4,500
TE: Jonnu Smith $4,100
FLEX: D’Andre Swift $5,300
DST: Buffalo Bills $3,300

Lineup #2:

QB: Kirk Cousins $6,000
RB: Aaron Jones $7,300
RB: Dalvin Cook $7,500
WR: Tyler Lockett $7,100
WR: Justin Jefferson $6,500
WR: Jarvis Landry $5,600
TE: Harrison Bryant $3,200
FLEX: Tee Higgins $4,900
DST: Tennessee Titans $3,000

Lineup #3:

QB: Justin Herbert $6,900
RB: Derrick Henry $8,000
RB: Josh Jacobs $6,200
WR: Stefon Diggs $6,800
WR: Keenan Allen $6,200
WR: Diontae Johnson $5,500
TE: Trey Burton $3,500
FLEX: Darnell Mooney $3,500
DST: New Orleans Saints $3,400

Lineup #4:

QB: Jimmy Garoppolo $5,400
RB: Alvin Kamara $8,200
RB: Myles Gaskin $5,200
WR: Robert Woods $6,300
WR: Brandon Aiyuk $5,800
WR: Jarvis Landry $5,600
TE: George Kittle $7,000
FLEX: Nyheim Hines $4,000
DST: Detroit Lions $2,500

Lineup #5:

QB: Joe Burrow $6,200
RB: Derrick Henry $8,000
RB: Jerick McKinnon $5,700
WR: A.J. Brown $6,900
WR: Tee Higgins $5,600
WR: A.J. Green $4,500
TE: Darren Waller $5,600
FLEX: Rashard Higgins $4,200
DST: Buffalo Bills $3,300