Fantasy Football: NFL FantasyDraft Week 8: Optimal Lineup

Welcome to week 8 of the NFL FantasyDraft: Optimal Lineup. This week we have quite the selection of games and players to sift through to make our lineups. Early Vegas projections have 7 games with a projected total of 50 points or higher with the highest of those being Green Bay at the only remaining undefeated team, the LA Rams (57 points). Denver travels to Kansas City in the next highest projected total game at 55 points with the Chiefs a 10 point favorite. Another big favorite this week is the Steelers coming off their bye week as an 8 point favorite at home to the Browns.

Based off what I am seeing with the NFL FantasyDraft game totals and spreads I will definitely be trying to maximize my cash game exposure to the games and teams listed previous. I will also look at the Bears as they are a 7 point home favorite to the Jets in a game featuring a 45 point game total. There are a plethora of QB options this week with Big Ben back on the slate, of course Patrick Mahomes is always an option, Drew Brees on SNF, and ARod and Goff battling out in Cali.

NFL FantasyDraft Quarterbacks

My top pick at quarterback this week Jameis Winston. Despite not throwing a touchdown pass last week Winston still managed 26.1 FP. Winston threw for 365, rushed for 55 and a score, he did throw two picks and lose a fumble. Cincinnati got torn up by Mahomes and the Chiefs offense last week and Winston should do the same. Another top qb choice is on the opposite of the field from Winston is Andy Dalton of the Bengals as they take on the leagues worst passing defense in the Tamp Bay Buccaneers. You can also look to the Browns and Steelers matchup for other qb options.

Draftkings Week 2 RB Ownership: INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 12: James Connor #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

NFL FantasyDraft Running Backs

James Connor has a very good chance to be the top scoring running back this week even with Todd Gurley on this slate. Connor meets the Browns who are 28th in the league allowing over 134 rushing yards per game and have allowed 2 rushing touchdowns per game in their last 3 games. My second running back I am looking at this week is Chris Carson from Seattle as they take on the Lions and their 30th ranked rush defense. Prior to last week against the Raiders Carson averaged 109 rushing yards a game in his previous 2 games. Kerryon Johnson is also an option against Seattle’s 24th ranked rush defense and after the Lions finally let Johnson loose last week

NFL FantasyDraft Wide Receivers

My first choice at WR is pairing Mike Evans with Winston for a possibly lucrative stack. With week 4 and 6 being the exceptions, Evans has averaged over 20 FPPG this season. Evans also has a 73% catch rate on 55 targets this season and reeled in 7 of 11 targets in week 7. AJ Green is next on my radar for wide outs. Green has averaged 12 targets per game over the last three weeks and gets a matchup with the worst secondary in the NFL today and should see another 10-12 targets this week, over 100 yards receiving and a score.

Jarvis Landry gets a matchup with Steelers who are allowing 313 yards passing per game at home this season. Landry seems to be the only WR getting targets the last few weeks and led the entire league in targets in week 7. Anthony Miller led the Bears wide outs in targets last week with 7 but only made 2 receptions for 35 yards. I think this week he increases his receptions, yards, and gets into the end zone against a Jet team that has been lit up by Andrew Luck and Kirk Cousins the last two weeks.

SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 24: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring on a eight-yard touchdown catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /

NFL FantasyDraft Tight End

This week I am paying up a little for tight end with San Francisco tight end George Kittle. Over the last 5 weeks Kittle has averaged 5 receptions per week and has out targeted all wr on the 49ers the previous 3 weeks. Travis Kelce is also an option against the Broncos, but he is the highest priced tight end on FantasyDraft, but he should have a very good week.

NFL FantasyDraft DST

This week the Washington Redskins take on the New York Giants this week and this is where I am going for my DST. The Giants have turned the ball over 9 times this season and Washington has 11 takeaways themselves. Washington also averages 2.3 sacks per game this season

NFL FantasyDraft Sample cash game lineup:
Note: This is not meant to be a plug and play line-up and is meant for illustrative purposes to give you a foundation to build off each week in NFL DFS.

QB – Jameis Winston

RB – James Connor

RB – Chris Carson

WR – Mike Evans

WR – AJ Green

TE – George Kittle

Flex – Jarvis Landry

Flex – Anthony Miller

D/ST – Washington Redskins

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