Cracking DraftKings Week 8

Sunday Morning Update

Check back each Sunday Morning for final thoughts on the slate, and any changes to the Primary Cash Lineup

Week 8 Recap- The Season of Injuries- 2-5

2025 hasn't been great, but it should be better than the record suggests. It's been a continuous run of bad injury luck. Whether it is with my own players, or opponents having positive injury luck, such as when Ja'Marr Chase left the game early and it became one of the biggest Tee Higgins weeks that we've sene in a long period of time. 

When it comes to my injuries, I've had quarterbacks leave early twice, and last week it was Christian McCaffrey going down in the first quarter after a dominant early performance. The reality is that you can't a running back as expensive as Mccaffrey get injured, and it's hard to say "what if", but after that first drive, it was pretty clearly appearing as if he was going to have an absolutely monster performance. 

Week 7 was close, finishing in the top 60% of lineups, but just missing when it came to the cash line. There were really a couple of things that killed this lineup. 

1) First and foremost, whenever you have two wide receivers on a team that scores 43 points, you feel great about that. The problem was that Tampa Bay only needed to throw the ball 11 times in that 43 point output against Carolina. That essentailly doomed the lineup from the start, as overcoming a 0 even from a player that is only $3,000 is challenging to overcome. Ted Hurst III was by no means a bad play, he was rostered by nearly 70% of rosters, but Chris Godwin Jr. seeing a touchdown called back by an offensive penalty ended up being the difference between cashing and not. 

2) The second issue was not finding a way to go up to Amon-Ra St. Brown who was 50% rostered. It was a bit surprising, as far more people faded Jahmyr Gibbs than anticipated as he was rostered in only about 25% of lineups, instead people focusing on Kyren Williams and even Bijan Robinson who was 50% rostered. 

• QB Jordan Love, GB, $6,000
• RB Christian McCaffrey, SF, $7,600
• RB Bijan Robinson, ATL, $8,500
• WR Matthew Golden, GB, $6,000
• WR Ted Hurst III, TB, $3,000
• WR Chris Godwin Jr.., TB, $4,300
• TE George Kittle, SF, $5,500
• Flex RB Braelon Allen NYJ, $5,900
• TD New York Jets, $2,90

Injury Creates Opportunity

A lot of injuries to sort through in Week 8, but the biggest news is a return.

Breece Hall is questionable with a quad injury after being limited in all three practices this week. Braelon Allen practiced in full on Friday and carries no designation. We just saw this play out last week when Hall sat and Allen got the start. This is a 1:00 PM game against Las Vegas, so we’ll have an answer before lock. If Hall is out again, Allen goes right back into the cash game conversation. If Hall plays, this likely turns into a split that makes both tough to trust, so this is one to leave open until inactives come out.

A.J. Brown is questionable with ankle and knee injuries after not practicing Thursday or Friday, which is a step backward from a limited session on Wednesday. TreVeyon Henderson is also questionable with an illness. This is a 4:25 PM kickoff in Miami, so you need a pivot ready if either one sits. If Henderson is out, Rhamondre Stevenson, who was already handling most of the work, has the backfield to himself. Without Brown, Drake Maye is throwing to a receiver room that’s already missing Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins on IR, which makes Maye harder to trust than the matchup suggests.

Tennessee has ruled out Tyjae Spears and Carnell Tate, while Calvin Ridley is questionable with a hip injury. Tony Pollard missed Friday’s practice but carries no designation, so he should have the backfield mostly to himself with Spears out. If Ridley plays, he’s the clear top target with Tate sidelined, and the Bengals are without safety Kyle Dugger. If Ridley doesn't play, Wan'Dale Robinson is the lone target in Tennessee. 

The Chargers ruled out Derwin James Jr. along with cornerback Deane Leonard, which leaves an already shaky secondary even thinner for the 4:05 PM game against the Rams. That’s a boost for Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua, who isn’t on the injury report this week after last week’s calf scare. On the Chargers’ side, Brenen Thompson is out, which consolidates targets for Ladd McConkey and Tre' Harris. Both carry no designation.

Denver ruled out RJ Harvey with a knee injury, which narrows the Broncos’ backfield, and also ruled out safety Talanoa Hufanga. Jaylen Waddle is questionable with a chest injury after upgrading to limited on Friday, and Zach Allen and Garett Bolles are also questionable. On the Kansas City side, Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice were both limited this week but neither carries a designation. Cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Mansoor Delane are questionable, which would help the Denver passing game if Waddle is active. This is a 4:25 PM game, so have your pivot locked in before the early games kick off.

Lamar Jackson returns after a three-game absence, having practiced in full all week, which instantly raises the ceiling of the Baltimore offense in Buffalo. Kyle Hamilton carries no designation, though the Ravens did rule out safety Jaylinn Hawkins. The Bills have bigger question marks, as DJ Moore (shoulder), Dalton Kincaid (chest) and right tackle Spencer Brown (back) are all questionable.

Jakobi Meyers is questionable with hamstring and ankle injuries after being limited all week, and the Jaguars ruled out safety Antonio Johnson. For the Colts, Tyler Warren practiced in full and carries no designation.

In Dallas, KaVontae Turpin is out with a rib injury and George Pickens is questionable with shoulder and hamstring injuries. Arizona ruled out defensive tackle Walter Nolen III, which helps the Dallas run game. Jeremiyah Love came off the Cardinals’ injury report and is good to go.

Pittsburgh will be without cornerbacks Brandin Echols and Doneiko Slaughter, which opens things up for the Cleveland passing game. Dylan Sampson practiced in full for the Browns and has no designation.

On the positive side, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown both missed Wednesday’s practice but were full participants on Friday and carry no designation for Minnesota. Aaron Jones Sr. also has no designation for the Vikings. The Lions did rule out safety Kerby Joseph, but they remain one of the core pieces of the main slate against the 6-0 Vikings.

Week 8 Strategy: Value Galore

It has been a long time since we've had this much value on DraftKings. At the running back, wide receiver, and tight end positions there are players that you should feel comfortable playing based on the injuries that have occurred this week. 

There's no "right" way to go, but on a full PPR site, I'm prioritizing the elite wide receivers, as I feel they're a bit safer than the lower-end players at the position. Guys like Ja'Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, and Zay Flowers should all see over ten targets, with a strong chance of finding the end-zone, while a player like Wan'Dale Robinson could have ten targets catching six of them for 45 yards. While at running back, the high-end just seem too expensive. Jahmyr Gibbs is too much of a premium, while Bijan Robinson is in a challenging matchup against the Buccaneers. 

Running Back:

Jonah Coleman is going to get some love this week due to the very low price of $4,300. The matchup is a challenge, which may limit his upside in a GPP format, but he makes an excellent punt if you want to spend up at wide receiver. 

In the middle ground, players like Rhamondre Stevenson, Bhayshul Tuten, Javonte Williams, Chase Brown, and Bjcky Irving are all excellent plays this week compared to their price.

Wide Receiver

Where things get really interesting is at the wide receiver position. This is as deep of a position as we've seen in a long time, and the fun part is that as you're building your lineup, you need to factor in whether you're chasing a player's upside or if you want a higher target volume/higher floor.  

High Risk, High Upside

KC Concepcion Jr. the first round rookie is coming off of his first 100-yard performance last week. The Browns desperately need a player to step up as their number one receiver, and Concepcion could be that guy as Denzel Boston has been inconsistent, while Jerry Jeudy is a complete non-factor.
Omar Cooper Jr.- Back-to-Back 100 yard games, but is averaging over 20 yards per reception, which likely means the 100 yard marks are not sustainable.
Elic Ayomanor- Minimum priced at $3k, should fill the Carnell Tate role this week.
DeMario Douglas- Few options in New England, but there are still enough options that the offense does not need to funnel through Douglas. 

Lower risk, lower upside

Wan'Dale Robinson- Averaging just 7.1 yards per catch this season, but should be a volume guy this week.
Chris Godwin Jr.- High volume with Emeka Egbuka out, but historically has struggled to consistently find the end-zone. 
Germie Bernard- Excellent play this week, although the price is a few hundred dollars more than we'd typically want to pay as at $4,900 it's a little harder to fit him in. DK Metcalf should see a lot of Denzel Ward, with Bernard getting the more favorable matchup.
Keenan Allen- Indianapolis is in disarray. Jonathan Taylor trade talks are heating up, and we could see Allen start to see a bigger role. Prior to last week, Allen had nine or more targets in three straight games.

Quarterback