NFL DFS Week 8 Bargain Picks: Let’s Throw Some Darts

So, you spent up for Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and Travis Kelce in. your DFS lineup. What now?

I’ve got some bargain salary players for you that should return value to complete your DFS lineups. Most of my favorite players this weekend are quite pricey, so you’ll notice today’s article is perhaps even a little uglier than usual. There will be a lot of DFS entries with marquee quarterbacks on Sunday, so I’ve also included some alternatives that will be good contrarian entries because you won’t find them on many rosters.

Let’s get gritty.

Quarterbacks

C.J. Stroud, Texans

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Back from a bye, the Texans should be well-rested, and the No. 2 draft pick will get to face off with his buddy, No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, on Sunday. Stroud has been the superior signal-caller this season. His 277 passing yards per game ranks fourth in the NFL and his 1.5 passing touchdowns per game is better than Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott. Stroud should give you a solid floor this weekend if you’d like to spend up at other positions and be a bit contrarian.

Mac Jones, Patriots

This list isn’t pretty, is it? But here we are. Jones is either going to be very good or very, very bad. He’s finished as a top 8 QB twice this season. One of those finishes was last week vs. the Bills, who have allowed the second-fewest points to opposing QBs this year. This week’s matchup is much more favorable with a Dolphins defense that has allowed the fifth-most points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Add that to the fact that Jones will likely be in a negative game script and, well, suddenly this looks a little less crazy, right?

Desmond Ridder, Falcons

You thought the Mac Jones call was ugly, but no! I’ve got one better (or worse). Hang with me here: Ridder has now thrown for 300-plus yards in two of his last three games, and he also has two rushing touchdowns in that span. The Titans are suddenly in sell-mode, trading safety Kevin Byard to the Eagles this week, and Ridder and the Falcons could surprise us all. Maybe we will even get a Kyle Pitts sighting.

Running Backs

Devin Singletary, Texans

In the Week 6 game before the bye, Singletary split snaps equally this week with Dameon Pierce on first and second downs, and he was also used to close out the game. He finished the day averaging 4.8 yards per carry to Pierce’s 2.6. Meanwhile, the Panthers are allowing the second-most points per game this season to opposing runners.

Cam Akers, Vikings

Akers looks to be encroaching on Alexander Mattison’s role, seeing more touches in the upset primetime win vs. the Niners. This week he gets a Packers defense that has allowed the third-most DFS points to opposing running backs this year.

Pierre Strong, Browns

Strong will likely be chalk this week if Kareem Hunt is unable to go. With Jerome Ford sidelined with an ankle injury, one or both of these runners will likely find success behind that offensive line.

Wide Receivers

Rashee Rice, Chiefs

Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports

If you want exposure to the Chiefs game which has one of the highest game totals of the week at SISB, the price is right for Rice who is trending in the right direction. Rice leads all Chiefs wide receivers in targets (34) and receiving yards (305). The rookie had his season-best game vs. the Chargers last week, catching five of six targets for 60 yards and a score.

Tank Dell, Texans

Dell was on a roll before getting a concussion in Week 5 vs. the Falcons, causing him to also miss Week 6. Now back from a bye, Dell is practicing in full and he should be ready to rock. The Panthers’ primarily use zone coverage, and that’s where Dell excels. Look for Stroud to connect with Dell for a deep target or two.

Demario Douglas, Patriots

This is a major dart-throw, but if you need a dirt-cheap salary option, Douglas is your guy. I already mentioned the favorable matchup for Jones with the Dolphins, and they are also allowing an average of more than 31 points per game to opposing wideouts. Douglas had six targets last Sunday, gaining 54 yards and helping the Patriots move the chains at key moments in the win vs. Buffalo. He also played 100% of snaps in 11 personnel on Sunday, primarily from the slot. That could add up to some DFS goodness.

Tight Ends

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys

Ferguson has the same amount of targets as Tony Pollard this season, but he has more receiving yards and he also has a receiving touchdown. Dak isn’t passing as deep this season, and Ferguson should be a target this weekend as the Rams are allowing a whopping 9.1 yards per target and 62 receiving yards per game to opposing tight ends.

Chig Okonkwo, Titans

The Falcons have allowed three receiving touchdowns and an average of 51 receiving yards to opposing tight ends. 

Related: NFL DFS Week 8: Spending Up for Some QB-WR Combos

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