FanDuel GPP Guide: Week 8

With no byes this week, we have a massive 14-game slate. The good news is that this increased number of games provides more tournament options and helps keep rostered percentages lower than usual. However, while rostered percentages may generally be lower, some players are expected to be very popular ("chalky") due to unusually low prices.

The Dolphins are a prime example. Miami's top skill players – Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De’Von Achane – are still priced as if Tyler Huntley were still the quarterback. The Dolphins’ implied team total is more than twice their season scoring average, as noted in Wednesday's DFS First Look article:

The top Dolphins are not the only obviously underpriced players on this slate:

• Dalton Kincaid is priced at a surprising $4,000 this week, his first time below $5,900 all season.
• The Buccaneers' injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on Monday night open up targets. Jalen McMillan and Cade Otton are two young players likely to benefit from the increased opportunities.
• Browns pass-catchers may be underpriced following Amari Cooper's departure. This offense took off last season after Deshaun Watson’s injury and Joe Flacco took over, so a similar improvement might happen now with Jameis Winston at quarterback.
• Breece Hall remains underpriced by nearly $1,000. Averaging 24.2 FanDuel PPG over his last two games, Hall is a consensus top-5 fantasy back and likely to be the most popular player on the slate.

Percent Rostered by Team

The table below ranks each team on the main slate by their implied team total. Generally, focusing on players from high-scoring teams is a strong strategy, as it often aligns with higher player popularity. However, in GPPs, it can be advantageous to target teams projected to score well yet with lower collective ownership. This week, the Chiefs stand out, boasting the sixth-highest implied team total while ranking just 21st in projected collective roster percentage. This creates a valuable opportunity to leverage Kansas City’s scoring potential at relatively low ownership.

Quarterback 

With 28 starting quarterbacks on this week's main slate, there are a plethora of solid tournament options. In fact, I think you can make a decent case for 20+ quarterbacks on this slate. Part of the reason so many quarterbacks are viable options is that there is no slam dunk play at the position this week. Lamar Jackson ($8,800) is projected to be the most popular play but he has not put up many big games in his career against the stingy Browns defense. He is always a solid option and should be in your player pool if you are multi-entering, but he is not a must play by any means. In addition to Jackson and the players listed below, I also like Joe Burrow (if Tee Higgins plays), Jalen Hurts, Jordan Love, Patrick Mahomes II, Josh Allen, and Tua Tagovailoa.

Core Play

Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears, $7400 vs. Washington Commanders)

Others to Consider

Bo Nix (Denver Broncos, $6900 vs. Carolina Panthers)

Nix's reliability under pressure has been a big boost the Broncos this season, as evidenced by the team's NFL-low nine sacks allowed. Sacks are a quarterback stat and Nix has done a great job of avoiding them. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi noted this week that Nix's tendency to avoid big mistakes will allow the play-calling to be more aggressive. This steadiness is paired with Nix’s sharp decision-making, as he’s only turned the ball over once in his last five games. His awareness, combined with his underrated quickness, has proven valuable both in the pocket and when he decides to take off on his own.

In fantasy terms, Nix’s rushing ability is underrated. He is averaging 6.3 rushing fantasy points per game over his last five outings and racked up 136 rushing yards over the last two weeks. While industry projections indicate he’ll be a popular play, my expectation is that he’ll come in below his projections with players like Javonte Williams and the Broncos defense coming in above projected. This leaves Nix as an intriguing salary-saving option with solid upside who can be played unstacked ("naked") due to his rushing ability.

Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons, $7100 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

When these two teams last met three weeks ago, Cousins delivered an explosive performance, throwing for 509 yards and four touchdowns. While this was his only game this season over 250 passing yards, he has been consistent, hitting 225+ passing yards in six straight games with an upward trend in passing production. He has as high a floor as anyone in this price range. The Buccaneers have struggled against the pass, giving up 243+ yards in three consecutive games, including to Spencer Rattler. Facing the third-most pass attempts and allowing the third-most passing yards in the NFL, Tampa Bay presents a favorable matchup for Cousins to continue his strong run.

Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts, $7300 vs. Houston Texans)

Richardson offers enticing upside this week thanks to his dual-threat skill set, combining a proven ability to connect on deep throws—he had three 50-plus yard completions in his last meeting with the Texans—with strong rushing potential. His rushing touchdown equity rivals any quarterback on the slate, save perhaps Jalen Hurts. Though he’s only the 14th-best quarterback in point-per-dollar (PPD) projections, that ranking may actually increase his tournament appeal by lowering his roster percentage. Projected to be rostered in just around 3% of lineups, Richardson’s wide range of outcomes provides the potential to 3X or even 4X his $7,300 salary. He’s already showcased his ceiling with a 27.2 fantasy-point performance in Week 1 against Houston, where he threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns, adding another 56 yards and a rushing score. Considering Houston’s recent struggles—allowing three passing touchdowns in each of their last two games—Richardson is an appealing high-upside option for tournament players.

Running Back

As with quarterback, the running back position feels exceptionally deep this week. Whether you want to save money with a player like Javonte Williams ($6,000), pay up for an elite back like Derrick Henry ($9,200), or target one of the dozen intriguing backs priced in between, you have great options. Due to the depth at the position, this is a week I am looking to flex a running back in nearly all of my entries. 

Core Plays

J.K. Dobbins (Los Angeles Chargers, $7400 vs. New Orleans Saints)

Dobbins has been a true workhorse for the Chargers over the past month, commanding 81% of backfield opportunities last week and playing at least 65% of snaps in each of the last four games. During this stretch, he's averaged 17 carries and 3 targets per game. However, his performance has varied sharply based on game script: he’s managed only 38.7 rushing yards per game in losses but explodes for 120.7 rushing yards in wins. With the Chargers favored by 7 points at home in Week 8, Dobbins has massive upside if the game goes according to script.

D'Andre Swift (Chicago Bears, $6500 vs. Washington Commanders)

Swift is a bargain this week, especially considering his recent workload and production. Over the past three games, he's averaged 18 carries for 85.7 yards and a touchdown, alongside 4.3 catches for 49 yards per game, with five consecutive games of 22+ receiving yards. While Washington has limited receptions to running backs recently, they did allow Rachaad White and Zack Moss to combine for 11 catches and over 100 yards in Weeks 1 and 3. With his versatility, Swift stands out as an affordable play with a solid floor and legitimate upside, particularly in a Bears offense that’s gaining momentum across the board.

Others to Consider

Breece Hall (New York Jets, $7900 vs. New England Patriots)

Since Todd Downing took over play-calling in Week 6, Breece Hall’s role and productivity have climbed significantly. He has played 87% and 82% of the snaps over the last two games—his highest rates this season—while averaging 15 carries for 75.5 rushing yards and 5.5 catches for 79.5 receiving yards per game. Hall’s increased usage, both as a rusher and receiver, has propelled him to two consecutive top-five weekly finishes among running backs.

This week, he draws a favorable matchup against New England, whose defense has struggled to contain running backs. The Patriots have allowed at least 170 total yards and a touchdown to opposing backfields in each of the last five games, including 188 yards and two scores to Jacksonville’s duo of Tank Bigsby and D’Ernest Johnson last week. Hall’s combination of volume and matchup makes him a premier DFS play for Week 8.

Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos, $6000 vs. Carolina Panthers)

Williams hasn’t operated as a true workhorse back, with no more than 67% of snaps played or more than 19 combined carries and targets in any game. But at his affordable price and in a highly favorable matchup, Williams doesn’t need a full workload to deliver value. The Panthers have been a weak spot against the run, allowing an average of 163.7 yards and 2.3 touchdowns per game to opposing running backs over the past three weeks. This sets up Williams as a strong, budget-friendly DFS option with high upside this week.

Joe Mixon (Houston Texans, $9000 vs. Indianapolis Colts)

Wide Receiver

This is a fun week at wide receiver. After some recent weeks in which sub-$6K value was hard to find, we have quite a few strong salary-saving options. Jalen McMillan stands out among the sub-$5K options and is the wide receiver to target in Tampa Bay. Cedric Tillman is only $200 more and appears to have stepped into Amari Cooper's role for the Browns. You can even get a star wide receiver, Jaylen Waddle, for less than $6,000. The value makes it easier than normal to roster one of the most expensive wide receivers, and there are plenty to choose from. A.J. Brown, Ja'Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and CeeDee Lamb are always worth considering. In the $8K and under range, we have a trio of fantastic options in Tyreek Hill, Deebo Samuel Sr., and Drake London.

Core Plays

Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins, $7600 vs. Arizona Cardinals)

Jalen McMillan (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $4900 vs. Atlanta Falcons)

McMillan has a promising setup this week as he steps into a lead role in the Buccaneers’ high-powered passing offense. Known as one of the standout performers in training camp, McMillan secured the WR3 position behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, seeing at least 77% of snaps in the first three games. Though his early production was modest, he flashed his playmaking potential with a 32-yard touchdown in Week 1 and drew two pass interference calls in key moments. His rookie season took a setback in Week 3 due to injury, but he made a full return in Week 7, drawing eight targets and even adding an 11-yard carry while sharing the field with Evans and Godwin.

Now positioned as Tampa Bay’s WR1, McMillan has a strong chance to see consistent volume, with another eight-target game well within reach. At a $4,900 salary and low projected ownership, he is an intriguing, high-upside DFS play. As Baker Mayfield adjusts to McMillan as his primary target, McMillan’s breakout potential makes him a value pick with considerable upside in Week 8.

Deebo Samuel Sr. (San Francisco 49ers, $8000 vs. Dallas Cowboys)

Others to Consider

Drake London (Atlanta Falcons, $7900 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

London's price has continued to creep up but he remains slightly underpriced. He has emerged as one of the most productive wide receivers in the entire NFL. Over his last four games, London has averaged 7.5 catches 88.8 yards and 0.8 touchdowns on 10.8 targets per game. He had a career game the last time he faced the Buccaneers, catching 12 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown. He should be relatively popular this week but the fact Tyreek Hill is $300 cheaper should lead to him being on less tournament rosters than he otherwise would have been.

Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins, $5900 vs. Arizona Cardinals)

Waddle is underpriced by at least $1,000. He was a consensus second or third round redraft pick for good reason this offseason. In his only game with Tua Tagovailoa, he caught five passes for 109 yards. With Tyreek Hill dealing with a foot injury, Waddle makes for an outstanding pivot. Or, you can easily fit Waddle, Hill, and Tagovailoa in the same lineup for less than $21,000 combined. 

Brian Thomas Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars, $6500 vs. Green Bay Packers)

The Footballguys consensus projections have Thomas as a Top 3 PPD play at the position. The matchup against Green Bay is difficult but Thomas is an elite young talent with the perfect skill set for large-field GPPs. He always has a chance to get behind the defense for a long touchdown and has also been a go-to option for Trevor Lawrence in the red zone. 

"The Packers defense has allowed only 6 of 24 targets to wide receivers on deep passes (20+ yard downfield) to be completed."

"Yeah, but they haven't faced Brian Thomas Jr.." ? pic.twitter.com/xgV4iGjDBF

— Underdog (@UnderdogFantasy) October 25, 2024

A.J. Brown (Philadelphia Eagles, $9000 vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

Brown had his worst game of the season last week and still went for 17.4 FanDuel points. He topped 20 in his two other 2024 starts. In a potential shootout against the Bengals, Brown looks like the best pay up option at wide receiver in Week 8. 

DeAndre Hopkins (Tennessee Titans, $5400 vs. Detroit Lions)

Hopkins is an enticing WR3 option this week with low projected ownership, offering significant upside in his debut for the Chiefs. Kansas City head coach Andy Reid is keen to integrate Hopkins immediately, stating, “Why wait?” With the Chiefs’ wide receiver corps hit hard by injuries, Hopkins could step into a role similar to the one Rashee Rice was excelling in before his setback, particularly as a go-to option on third downs and in the red zone. Despite some minor soreness after Week 7, Hopkins has cleared his physical and is practicing without restrictions, making him a prime candidate to provide Patrick Mahomes II with a reliable downfield target and complement Travis Kelce in an offense hungry for a stable receiving presence.

Tight End

There must have been a glitch in the pricing algorithm because Dalton Kincaid is minimum-priced this week at just $4,000. If you want to pay slightly more, David Njoku and Cade Otton would be chalk given their likely volume and prices in any other week. There are also some intriguing pay-up options, headlined by Travis Kelce and Brock Bowers. 

Core Play

Dalton Kincaid (Buffalo Bills, $4000 vs. Seattle Seahawks)

Why is he priced down at $4,000? He’s not an amazing play and would not have been especially popular if he was priced like he normally is (around $6,000). At $4,000? The value is tough to ignore. Kincaid has seen at least six targets in each of the last four games. Seattle has given up the eighth-most FanDuel PPG above their opponents’ average this season.

Others to Consider

David Njoku (Cleveland Browns, $5500 vs. Baltimore Ravens)

Can Jameis Winston recreate the same late-season magic Joe Flacco found down the stretch in 2023? Njoku's production skyrocketed after Deshaun Watson was injured last year. The potential upgrade at quarterback combined with more opportunity due to the trade of Amari Cooper gives Njoku serious upside moving forward and he is likely to be priced at $6,000 or above later in the season.

Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs, $6900 vs. Las Vegas Raiders)

Perhaps this is nostalgia but I have a hunch that Kelce finally scores his first touchdown of the season. There is a fun narrative angle with the Chiefs angry about the Raiders disrespecting Patrick Mahomes II in the offseason and seeking payback for an embarrassing loss late last season.

Cade Otton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $5200 vs. Atlanta Falcons)

With Evans and Godwin sidelined, Otton is set to be one of the main targets in Tampa Bay’s offense alongside McMillan. Otton is coming off a strong Week 7, where he logged eight catches for 100 yards on 10 targets, underscoring his involvement as a pass-catching option. This recent spike in production isn't a fluke—he’s averaged 7.4 targets per game over his last five outings, so the Week 7 volume aligns with his recent workload.

Defense

Denver Broncos ($5,000) vs. Carolina

Denver is among the league leaders with 29 sacks and has a dream matchup against a Carolina offense that was struggling mightily with Bryce Young at the helm. Young will also be without his top target, Diontae Johnson. The Broncos also have arguably the biggest home-field edge in the NFL. As big home favorites against the league's worst offense, everything lines up perfectly for the Broncos to have a big fantasy performance.