Draft Kings Week 8: Best Bargains At Each Position
The best way to cash on weekly fantasy football sites is to load up on as many stars with good matchups as possible. Due to budget restraints, however, fantasy players must sacrifice other positions to nab the stars they want.
Here, you'll find the top bargains at each position on Draft Kings that will let you splurge elsewhere. And remember, scoring is IMPORTANT. Here is Draft Kings’ scoring system.
The bargains are listed in the order I like them.
Quarterbacks
Trevor Siemian, Broncos ($4,800): This isn’t the greatest week to cheap out at QB, but if you’re interested in getting value out of a passer no one will want to use, Siemian’s your guy. Fresh off a shutout loss to the Chargers, has thrown one or fewer touchdowns in four straight games. That will change this week. Siemian’s not a great QB, but he’s also not the abomination his stats would indicate. Remember, he did start off 2017 with six touchdowns against two picks in his first two games. Lastly, the Chiefs’ defense is lowkey overrated, because they deeply miss S Eric Berry.
Matt Moore, Dolphins ($4,500): Moore doesn’t have the best matchup vs. the Ravens, but their run defense is significantly superior to their pass D. I’m a sucker for dirt-cheap prices on starting QBs, so that’s the main reason I like Moore. Beyond that, he’s a better-than-average QB who is surrounded by good weapons. Jarvis Landry is a stud, as is RB Jay Ajayi, and if DeVante Parker makes it onto the field for this game he can be a difference-maker too. Moore isn’t going to shock you with an incredible performance, but he definitely won’t sink you.
Joe Flacco, Ravens ($4,800): Yuck…right? Flacco hasn’t thrown for more than two touchdowns in any game this year, nor has he passed for more than 235 yards. However, it’s slim pickings out there in the QB bargain bin in Week 8, and Flacco has faced some tough defenses thus far. Miami has one of the weakest pass defenses in the NFL, and a short week to prepare for him. He could surprise us all with a huge week; Flacco is capable of it.
Running Backs
LeGarrette Blount, Eagles ($5,100): The 49ers have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, and Blount is perfectly situated to take advantage. He’s on one of the league’s top offenses, and San Fran has no choice but to focus on limiting QB Carson Wentz. Blount is set up to receive the lion’s share of the carries, and cash in on goal line opportunities against a tanking team. Blount is an excellent play this week. Blount has seen 14 or more carries in each of the last four weeks and scored just one touchdown; after scoring 18 last season, I’d say he’s due.
Dion Lewis, Patriots ($4,600): It’s impossible to guarantee Lewis is the new leader of the Patriots’ backfield, but it does appear he’s wrested significant work from Mike Gillislee. If Lewis is indeed the early-down guy, he has value at this price tag vs. a weak Chargers run defense. Additionally, Lewis has proven in the past his value as a pass-catcher, even if he’s not being given those opportunities at the current time. James White kills Lewis’ potential to be a DraftKings star on a regular basis, but he can do plenty of damage with double-digit carries, which he has been entrusted with for two straight weeks.
Lamar Miller, Texans ($5,200): Miller doesn’t score many touchdowns, but he sure does get his opportunities. Miller is one of the few NFL RBs who does not have to worry about ceding attempts in a timeshare, and this week Houston will lean on him heavily; Seattle’s defense is quietly much worse against the run than the pass, and they pose a tough matchup for red-hot rookie QB Deshaun Watson. It’s hard to count on Miller for touchdowns, but he is clearly going to get chances to score.
Wide Receivers
Nelson Agholor, Eagles ($5,200): Agholor has gone from first round bust to one of the more consistent fantasy options out there. He’s scored in three straight games, and has a truly juicy matchup looming with San Francisco. The 49ers rank 26th in the NFL vs. No. 2 receivers, and even if you consider Agholor the WR1, the Niners rank even worse against them. Any way you slice it, Agholor is a receiver you’ll want this Sunday.
Josh Doctson, Redskins ($3,900): This is more speculative than usual, but it’s a play based on matchup and recent usage. The Cowboys are a cake matchup for opposing WR1s, and last week the Redskins committed to Doctson like the first-round pick he is. Free agent WR Terrelle Pryor was benched in favor of Doctson, who has scored two touchdowns in 2017 in limited action. Doctson is a very physically gifted player who can do a lot of damage if he were to ever receive WR1 targets. That’s coming soon, so take advantage while he still costs less than a typical FLEX.
Jordan Matthews, Bills ($3,900): Matthews costs the same as Doctson, but you’d choose him for a different reason. Matthews does not have Doctson’s upside, but he does have the advantage in role. While Doctson is one of several quality options for Kirk Cousins, Matthews is basically the sole credible threat currently in Buffalo’s passing game. Before getting banged up, Matthews was a steady 60 yards. At 6’3, 212 lbs. he stands to be an appealing red zone option for Tyrod Taylor; even if the Bills don’t throw much, he should see around five to six looks including a few for TD opportunities.
Tight Ends
Jordan Reed, Redskins ($4,700): The Cowboys 31st in the NFL vs. TEs out of 32 teams, and the perpetually banged-up Reed managed to light up the Eagles for two scores on Monday night. Expect more of that from Reed in this divisional tilt, and expect a Top 5 TE performance from a guy who will cost almost $2,500 less than Rob Gronkowskit or Zach Ertz, who both have bottom three matchups per DraftKings rankings.
Julius Thomas, Dolphins ($2,600): It is extremely difficult to trust Thomas, but he’s seen at least four targets in each of his last five games, and now might have upgraded at QB with Moore standing in for Jay Cutler. Matchup-wise it doesn’t get much better than facing the Ravens this year if you’re a tight end, and his big frame always makes him a threat to score a touchdown.
David Njoku, Browns ($2,800): Njoku is touchdown-dependent, even if there are signs his role is increasing. Njoku matched a career-high in targets (5) last week, and it was the second consecutive game in which he was thrown to that many times. No matter who is quarterbacking the Browns, they all seem to realize their best bet at staying on the field is finding the biggest and most explosive option – Njoku. This week he will be in London vs. the Vikings, who look tough on paper but have actually ranked 26th vs. tight ends. This is a sneaky good play.