It was a nice bounce-back week for myself in cash games in Week 7 after a rough showing in Week 6. The wide receivers I went with in my cash-game lineup in Week 7 ended up being CeeDee Lamb, Tee Higgins, Chris Godwin, and Tyler Lockett.
All four of those wide receivers combined for only 47.9 points, but the trio of Joe Burrow, Josh Jacobs, and Kenneth Walker combined for 113.54 points to help my cash-game lineup reach 174.24 points. With my cash-game lineup having tons of success, I cashed in all of the double-ups I entered and all but four head-to-head contests.
There are a few notable offenses not on the main slate in Week 8 with the Chiefs and Chargers on their bye weeks, the Ravens and Buccaneers are playing on Thursday Night Football, the Bills are playing on Sunday Night Football, and the Bengals are playing on Monday Night Football. Despite all of the teams we won’t be able to choose from, here are my favorite cash-game plays on the Week 8 main slate over on DraftKings.
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts vs. PIT ($8,300)
If you’re able to pay up at the quarterback position in your cash lineup, Hurts is the clear No. 1 choice. Hurts leads all QBs with 10.9 non-passing points per game and he gets to take on a Steelers team that is giving up the ninth-most points to QBs this season, along with the 12th-most rushing yards per game to QBs.
Tua Tagovailoa @ DET ($6,200)
Tagovailoa looked solid in his return from a two-game absence for the Dolphins in Week 7 by completing 21 of his 35 passes for 261 yards and one touchdown to record 15.94 points. After matching up with the Steelers this past week, the former first-round pick now gets to take on the Lions in Week 8, who are allowing the fourth-most points per game. He also is third in our PER metric among QBs, putting him only behind Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
Kirk Cousins vs. ARI ($6,100)
The Vikings are coming off a bye week and are going to host the Cardinals in Week 8, a team that’s surrendered the sixth-most points per game to QBs. Cousins has only produced 20+ points once this season on DraftKings, but his salary is hard to ignore at home in a game where the Vikings have the third-highest projected team total on the main slate.
Running Backs
Josh Jacobs @ NO ($7,500)
The running back that is averaging the most points per game on DraftKings on the main slate isn’t Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, or Christian McCaffrey. Jacobs has posted 33+ points in each of the last three games and he has an 83.6% opportunity share for the Raiders, which is the second-highest mark among RBs thus far.
Kenneth Walker vs. NYG ($6,500)
Walker has gotten the majority of the work in the backfield for the Seahawks in each of the last two weeks following the season-ending injury to Rashaad Penny. The Giants are permitting the second-most yards per attempt (5.7) to RBs and there isn’t anyone on Seattle’s roster that is going to take touches away from the rookie running back.
Ezekiel Elliott vs. CHI ($6,200)
This selection is dependent on the health of Elliott as the veteran running back missed practice on Wednesday and his status for Sunday’s matchup with the Bears is unknown. The Bears are allowing the eighth-most points per game to RBs and the Cowboys have the fourth-highest projected team total on the main slate at home. If Elliott is inactive, Tony Pollard becomes a must-play in cash games in Week 8.
Wide Receivers
DeAndre Hopkins @ MIN ($7,400)
We saw Hopkins make his season debut for the Cardinals in Week 7 following a six-game suspension and he was thrown into the fire with 10 receptions for 103 yards on a team-high 14 targets against the Saints. With Marquise Brown sidelined for the Cardinals, Hopkins should easily see 10+ targets most weeks, even with Robbie Anderson now in the wide receiver room.
Chris Olave vs. LV ($6,000)
At the time this article was being written, Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry are still not practicing for the Saints ahead of Sunday’s showdown with the Raiders. Olave figures to have a large role again in Week 8 as he’s commanded at least seven targets in the last four times he’s played the entire game. Also, the Raiders have allowed the 10th most points per game to WRs this season.
Related: Fantasy Football Volatility Index: Risky & Safe Starts for Week 8
D.J. Moore @ ATL ($5,300)
It feels disgusting recommending Moore as a cash-game option, but the talented wideout is coming off his best performance of the season in Week 7 against the Buccaneers, where he finished with 19.6 points. Moore appears to be better with P.J. Walker as his quarterback and there isn’t a team in the NFL that is giving up more points per game to WRs this season, and A.J. Terrell’s status for Sunday’s contest is uncertain.
Tight Ends
Tyler Higbee vs. SF ($4,200)
There isn’t a Kelce or Andrews to pay up for, so everyone is going to be locked in on multiple tight ends in cash games on DraftKings this week. Van Jefferson is expected to return for the Rams in Week 8, but Higbee should still have a decent-sized role with Los Angeles likely trying to get the ball out quickly against the defense of the 49ers on Sunday. The veteran tight end also has a 22.% target share, which is the third-highest mark among TEs.
Juwan Johnson vs. LV ($3,200)
There are a handful of value options to choose from on DraftKings and it’s typically wise to pay down at tight end in cash games to fit in the higher-salary players at the premier positions. If Adam Trautman is ruled out again in Week 8 for the Saints, Johnson scored a season-high 20.2 points in Week 7 and he’s a solid red-zone option for Andy Dalton.
D/ST
New England Patriots @ NYJ ($3,000)
The Patriots uncharacteristically allowed 33 points to the Bears in Week 7, but they had combined for 46 points on DraftKings in the previous three weeks before last week. Bill Belichick gets to scheme up for Zach Wilson, who just lost Breece Hall for the season and he hasn’t had to win a game with his arm.
Washington Commanders @ IND ($2,600)
Many people could flock toward using the Commanders due to the Colts going with Sam Ehlinger at quarterback moving forward. Washington’s defense has been better in recent weeks and they are a nice defense to use to fit in the more expensive options at other positions.