Nothing lasts forever, and that certainly applied to our recent hot streak with FanDuel Bargain Buys. We came crashing back to earth in week seven with a 40% success rate, dropping our season rate to 57%. Jordan Reed was by far the best selection, finishing as the #1 overall tight end. Week eight presents new challenges, with six teams on a bye including several of the top fantasy running backs. In more challenging situations, the more prepared you are the more advantage you have. Let's get to the bargain buys.
Quarterback
- Highest Priced Player: Peyton Manning - $10,400
- Average Priced Player: Ben Roethlisberger- $7,100
Best Bang for your Buck: Eli Manning ($6,800) vs. Philadelphia. Not including last week's game against the Cowboys, the Eagles have been a very fine matchup for fantasy quarterbacks. We expect that to continue in week eight in what should be a high scoring affair against the Giants. It's tough to imagine the Giants stopping the Eagles very often, so Manning should be a garbage time option if nothing else.
Bargain Buy: Carson Palmer ($6,500) vs. Atlanta. Let's not forget how good this Falcons defense made Geno Smith look a few weeks ago. Palmer has struggled against good pass rushes, but that's not something this Falcons defense will bring to the table. Palmer isn't a high upside guy this week, but at his low cost he should be a solid bet to finish as an average quarterback.
Running Back
- Highest Priced Player: Jamaal Charles- $9,600
- Average Priced Player: Le'Veon Bell- $7,000
Best Bang for your Buck: Darren Sproles ($6,600) vs. Buffalo. Last week we took Lamar Miller against the Bills, and he flopped...but only because of Daniel Thomas' involvement. The Bills have gotten crushed in nearly every facet on defense and have been saved only by big plays on defense. Sproles should have a big game at home against a bad defense.
Bargain Buy: Eddie Lacy ($6,800) vs. Minnesota. Lacy is on a bit of a hot streak against some really good run defenses. In week eight he gets to go against a run defense that just made Peyton Hillis look like a decent running back. Lacy is my favorite play of the week, especially with all of the Packers injuries in the passing game. Lacy could get 25+ touches and put up monster numbers.
Wide Receiver
- Highest Priced Player: Calvin Johnson- $9,200
- Average Priced Player: Pierre Garcon and Antonio Brown- $6,700
Best Bang for your Buck: Eric Decker ($6,500) vs. Washington. Decker is coming off a great performance against Indianapolis and really seems to have shaken off his struggles of the early season. This week he gets a porous Washington defense that doesn't have near enough in the secondary to handle what Denver will throw at them.
Bargain Buy: Terrance Williams ($6,000) vs. Detroit. This one figures to be a shootout, and Williams should be a major benefactor. He's built a great rapport with Tony Romo as he's supplanted Miles Austin as the WR2. Williams has touchdowns in three straight games, and the way this Lions defense is going it would be no surprise if he made it four in a row.
Tight End
- Highest Priced Player: Jimmy Graham- $8,000
- Average Priced Player: Tyler Eifert and Zach Miller- $4,900
Best Bang for your Buck: Charles Clay ($4,700) vs. New England. Clay proved to be a good selection last week even though he wasn't near as involved in the passing game. This week he faces a Patriots team that has struggled with tight ends. Clay is a bit of a hit or miss player, but his red zone prowess has kept him relevant and we're sticking with him.
Bargain Buy: Joseph Fauria ($4,700) vs. Dallas. The Cowboys have been killed by tight ends over the past three weeks and Fauria looks to be the TE1 in Detroit moving forward. While last week was a letdown, Fauria was still getting plenty of targets, especially in the red zone. Matt Stafford needs a second target down there and Fauria has the size to be the guy.
Defense
Philadelphia vs. New York Giants. Do I think the Eagles are a good defense? No. But going up against the turnover machine that is the Giants, it's hard to pass on them. There will be a lot of possessions in this one, and plenty of opportunities for Manning and company to turn the ball over.
Kicker
Alex Henery vs. New York Giants. Yeah, I'm loading up up this game. The Eagles offense had some major struggles last week but I'm anticipating the return of Michael Vick, which should mean the return of Henery's value.
Contact Heath at cummings@footballguys.com or on Twitter @heathcummingssr