Week 8 NFL DFS Picks, Predictions & Top Matchups: Main Slate
There won’t be any teams on a bye in Week 8, leaving a full slate of NFL games to enjoy. The main Sunday slate is especially enticing with matchups including the Bengals hosting the Eagles and the Bills heading to Seattle to take on the Seahawks.
Let’s add even more excitement to Week 8 by highlighting some of the top PrizePicks picks and projections to target this week, including some exploitable matchups to focus on in your DFS Lineups.
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NFL Week 8 Picks for DFS & PrizePicks
Find the top NFL DFS Picks and Strategy for Week 8 below. Click to be taken to each section.
- NFL Week 8 Injury Report & Notes
- Week 8 Pass Defense to Target
- Week 8 Run Defenses to Target
- Week 8 DFS Picks
Week 8 NFL Injury Report & Notes
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (ribs) Considered Week-to-Week
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels went down with a rib injury against the Panthers in Week 7 and was unable to return to the game. He is being considered as week-to-week moving forward, but he hasn’t been ruled out for Week 8 against the Bears, although he did not practice on Wednesday.
Commanders QB Marcus Mariota played well against the porous Panthers defense after Daniels was hurt, throwing for 205 yards and two touchdowns.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson (Achilles) Out For Season
Browns QB Deshaun Watson tore his Achilles in Week 7, ending his season. Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson came in to replace Watson, but then went down with a finger injury of his own. Browns QB Jameis Winston — who is somehow a team’s third-string quarterback — is set to start in Week 8.
He threw for 67 yards and a touchdown last week after Thompson-Robinson was injured.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa (Concussion) Preparing To Return
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa has missed the last four games because of a concussion. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said that Tagovailoa is expected to practice this week in preparation to potentially return Sunday against the Cardinals.
He would be a welcome sight for Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill, who has just 14 catches for 140 yards over the last four games.
Buccaneers Top 2 WRs Both Out
The Buccaneers loss to the Ravens on Monday Night Football was costly. Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin dislocated his left ankle and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. Buccaneers WR Mike Evans suffered a hamstring injury that will sideline him at least through Week 11, if not longer.
Their absences could provide a boost for Buccaneers TE Cade Otton, who caught eight passes for 100 yards against the Ravens. At WR, they’re left with rookie Jalen McMillan — who was formerly Michael Penix Jr.’s top WR at Washington, 31-year-old Sterling Shepard, and Trey Palmer.
Seahawks WR DK Metcalf Battling Knee Injury
Seahawks WR DK Metcalf suffered a knee injury against the Falcons in Week 7 that initially looked like it could be serious. However, head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that Metcalf is only dealing with a minor MCL sprain and is week-to-week.
Should he be forced to sit out against the Bills on Sunday, Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and WR Tyler Lockett would be in line for added targets.
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Other NFL Week 8 Injuries for DFS
- Titans QB Will Levis (shoulder) did not play against the Bills last week and is still being considered as week-to-week. Titans QB Mason Rudolph didn’t exactly shine in his place, throwing for 215 yards, one touchdown, and one interception against the Bills.
- Jaguars RB Travis Etienne (hamstring) did not play against the Patriots last week and his status is still in doubt for Week 8. Even when he does return, he has likely lost work to Jaguars RB Tank Bigsby, who has rushed for at least 100 yards and two touchdowns in two of his last three games.
- Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle) has not played since Week 4, but the team is hopeful to get him back at practice leading up to an important Week 8 matchup with the Texans. Colts RB Trey Sermon has struggled in his absence, rushing for just 103 yards over the last three games.
- Saints WR Chris Olave is still in the concussion protocol after missing Week 7, per head coach Dennis Allen. Saints QB Derek Carr (oblique) also sat out Week 7, but he hasn’t officially been ruled out yet for Week 8. With Carr and Olave out last week, Saints QB Spencer Rattler only threw for 172 yards against the Broncos.
- Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell fractured his thumb in Week 7 and will be sidelined for up to six weeks. Raiders QB Gardner Minshew II will get another crack at the starting job in his absence. Minshew only has four touchdown passes to go along with eight interceptions this season.
NFL Week 8 Pass Defenses to Target
Buccaneers Defense vs. Falcons
The Buccaneers have struggled to defend the pass, allowing the eighth-highest explosive pass percentage (14.04%) in the league, per 4for4 Fantasy Football. This will not be the first time that the Falcons have faced them this season. In their first meeting,
While Falcons QB Kirk Cousins threw for 509 yards and four touchdowns; WR Drake London caught 12-of-13 targets for 154 yards and a touchdown; and WR Darnell Mooney caught 9 passes for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns.
PrizePicks to Consider: QB Kirk Cousins 242.5 Pass Yards / WR Drake London 68.5 Receiving Yards
Bengals Defense vs. Eagles
Even with a good showing against the anemic Browns’ offense last week, the Bengals have still given up an average of 23.7 points per game. One of their biggest problems on defense has been allowing the fourth-highest pass EPA per play (0.21) in the league, per 4for4.
The Eagles have dealt with plenty of injuries, but with Eagles WR A.J. Brown and Eagles WR DeVonta Smith back, their passing game comes with plenty of upside in what could be an explosive game for offenses.
PrizePicks to consider: Jalen Hurts 219.5 Pass Yards / A.J. Brown 72.5 Receiving Yards
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NFL Week 8 Run Defenses to Target
Panthers Defense vs. Broncos
With their defense giving up an average of 34.7 points per game and their offense struggling, teams tend to run a lot against the Panthers in the second half. They are tied for the most rushing attempts against them (242) in the league.
After turning 14 carries into 88 yards and two touchdowns during a rout of the Saints in Week 7, Broncos RB Javonte Williams has the potential to provide another juicy stat line.
PrizePicks to consider: Broncos RB Javonte Williams 62.5 Rush Yards / 0.5 Rush+Rec TDs
Jaguars Defense vs. Packers
Not only have the Jaguars been picked apart through the air this year, but they have allowed the ninth-highest explosive rush percentage (11.66%) in the league, per 4for4.
Despite Packers QB Jordan Love racking up touchdown passes in bunches, Packers RB Josh Jacobs has also remained productive. He ran for 76 yards on just 12 carries against the Texans last week and is averaging 4.5 yards per carry for the season. The Packers are heavily favored in this matchup, so if they race out to a big lead early, Jacobs could see plenty of carries down the stretch.
PrizePicks to consider: Josh Jacobs 68.5 Rush Yards
Week 8 NFL DFS Picks
Texans RB Joe Mixon 76.5 Rushing Yards — More
Texans RB Joe Mixon has played in three full games this season. In each of those games, he rushed for at least 102 yards and a touchdown. One of the main reasons for his success is that the Texans gave him at least 25 carries in two of those games.
With his potential for 20+ carries, he could blow by this projection against a Colts team that has given up the 10th-highest explosive rush percentage (11.01%) in the league, per 4for4.
Patriots QB Drake Maye 0.5 INT — More
Patriots QB Drake Maye took advantage of a favorable matchup last week, throwing for 276 yards and two touchdowns against the Jaguars. Just as important was that he didn’t turn the ball over. In his first start, he had two interceptions and lost a fumble against the Texans.
Through two games, he has 5 turnover-worthy plays, per PFF.
The Jets have a strong secondary which has allowed the eighth-lowest explosive pass rate (10.71%) in the league, per 4for4. If the Patriots fall into an early hole, we could see Maye force some passes as they try to play catchup in the second half.
Best TD Scorer Pick: Eagles WR A.J. Brown 0.5 Rush+Rec TDs
Eagles WR A.J. Brown has been limited to just three games this year because of injuries. After catching a touchdown pass against the Giants last week, Brown has produced a touchdown reception in all three games that he has played.
His touchdown upside should remain high with his big-play upside. He is averaging 6.5 yards after the catch and has an average depth of target of 13.3 yards.
The Bengals have given up 11 passing touchdowns, which is tied for the sixth-most in the league, and their defense ranks 21st in both dropback EPA and dropback success rate.
Goblin Pick: Broncos QB Bo Nix 0.5 Pass TDs – MORE
Even with the Broncos scoring 33 points against the Saints in Week 7, Broncos QB Bo Nix did not register a touchdown pass. Prior to that, he had posted five touchdown passes over his previous three games.
Week 8 brings a stellar matchup against the Panthers, who are tied for the third-most passing touchdowns allowed (14) in the league. Expect the Broncos to be able to move the ball with ease in this game, setting up Nix with multiple opportunities to record a touchdown pass.
Note: Goblin picks reduce your payout on PrizePicks, as they are easier projections to hit.
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Build Your Week 8 NFL DFS Lineup on PrizePicks
Week 8 brings a packed schedule with every team in action, and it should be a great week for NFL DFS. There is no better way to get in on the fun than by building a team on PrizePicks for the Sunday main slate.
There are no salary constraints, so pick two or more projections for your favorite players, finalize your lineup, sit back, and enjoy the games.
Follow Mike Barner for more NFL Picks: @rotomikebarner
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