DraftKings Value GPP Picks Week 8: Cheap Sleepers to be Found
Week 8 has a lot of value plays to love. Every single player I mention on this list happens to be playing in the morning slate of games. So this set of guys can not only help you with your main slate plays but also your early-only contests. The best way to approach this is that these are players to set your team around. Fill in the lineup with a couple of your favorites, and then fill in with the players that you think will go off for that tournament win.
Contents
RB Plays of the Week
Le’Veon Bell
($4,600)
I am ecstatic to play Bell in this competition. We all know that Bell wants to stick it to Adam Gase, and I believe that Andy Reid will let him do so. After having a ridiculously efficient first week with the Chiefs at 6 yards per carry on just 6 touches, I expect double or triple that amount of touches in this game. The Chiefs are going to blow the Jets out of the water. This means that there will be plenty of rushing attempts, and Reid will not feel pressure to let his rookie go out there and get the bulk of the load. Instead, he will let Bell have his revenge game and destroy the Jets. This is not going to be a popular play, but I think that it has surprise upside. This is one of the ultimate low-floor, high-ceiling plays, but it can be just what you need to cash in on a tournament.
Giovani Bernard
($5,800)
The Tennesee Titans have been one of the worst rush defenses in the league. Giovani Bernard will once again get the nod as the bell cow back with Mixon out of the game. No matter which way this game goes I see Bernard as a must-play. If the game is tight, Bernard will be efficient on the ground. If the game gets out of hand with the Titans leading, then Bernard gets the passing game work that can be so valuable in DraftKings’ PPR scoring format. Bernard is going to be a higher rostered play this week, but I think that the value is too much to pass on. Go with the chalk on this one and slide Bernard in there as an RB1 for under $6,000, a ridiculously good deal.
WR Plays of the Week
AJ Green
($4,500)
AJ Green is not my top pick on the Bengals, but with his price point, you have to throw him into at least on GPP play. How often is a guy who consistently gets double-digit targets this cheap on DK? In the past two weeks, he has seen 13 and 11 targets, both games going for over 7 catches and 80 yards. This kind of target share is a breakout waiting to happen. If Green turns any of those targets into scores, then he is a WR1 on the week. However, if somehow he once again is held out of the endzone with ten plus targets, he is still providing massive production for you, at $4,500! There is no better WR value this week, or really any week. Take a risk with Green in GPP.
Rashard Higgins
($4,200)
With Odell Beckham Jr. out for the season, Higgins is getting a huge upgrade to his opportunity. Last week Higgins saw 6 targets for 6 receptions and 110 yards after OBJ left the game. In another matchup that is looking to be high-scoring with the Raiders’ offense and defense playing the way they are, Higgins is a great cheap pick. $4,200 is around the range of WR that lets you play two big-time RBs, or spend up at the QB position. I have no worries about Higgins bringing points to the table for your DK lineup. I think that his ceiling is pretty high due to the game script and projected points in the matchup. Meanwhile, his floor is safe enough that it will not ruin your tournament play with his $4,200 price point.
A.J. Brown
($6,900)
AJ Brown is one WR that I want to spend up for. If you cannot tell already, I think that this Bengals-Titans game is going to be a barnburner with crazy fantasy points to be had. Nobody on the Bengals’ secondary can cover AJ Brown. Brown will once again see his normal target load, and once again, will have a fantastic week. 25+ points is a minimum when it comes to what I expect to see out of the big-bodied #1 for the Titans. Place AJ Brown in cash or GPP; he should be a great play and gigantic value.
TE Play of the Week
Jonnu Smith
($4,100)
Another player from this Bengals and Titans game that is set at way too low of a price point and has an enormous ceiling is Jonnu Smith. While Smith started out the year as the TE1, he has fallen off the past two weeks. However, he has been banged up, and the Steelers game was not a good matchup. Now he has one of, if not the best, matchup for the TE versus the Bengals. We just saw rookie Harrison Bryant score two scores against this team. Jonnu Smith will once again return to his 7+ target share, which includes multiple red-zone targets. Also, do not forget how athletic this guy is, he can run the ball, and his yards after the catch is ridiculous for the TE position. One of the best values at TE that I have seen. He needs to be in your GPP due to his ceiling.
QB Stack of the Week
Joe Burrow and Tyler Boyd
($6,200) and ($6,600)
Joe Burrow is playing another bad defense in the Titans. He is also playing on the Bengals, who have a bad defense of their own and will let the Titans score in bunches. To get this good of a QB, against this bad of a defense, in such a high-scoring game is a must grab in GPP. Then, on top of everything, Burrow is one of the cheaper QBs of the week. He is my QB in every lineup I have going into Week 8. I am all in on the rookie.
Play Tyler Boyd. If you are not taking a shot on Green, Boyd needs to be in your lineup. Sound the alarms because starting slot CB for the Titans, Kristian Fulton, is not playing. He has been one of the few bright spots on this team, and now Boyd is going to feast out of the slot. Tyler Boyd has already been a great play, but this week he could turn into something else. I expect Boyd to lead the team in targets, yards, and maybe scores in this game. This is the stack of the week.
