Noto's NFL DFS Key Personnel: Week 8

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2025-10-24 19:36:07 Premium Content Part of the product NFL DFS

A daily fantasy sports OG, Notorious has been roaming the DFS streets ever since they were invented. So, who better to walk you through all of the key NFL DFS positions each week? Noto has racked up multiple live final seats and several six-figure tournament wins in his DFS career, and he will mix it up in all different types of contests. In his Key Personnel article for Week 8, he will walk you through his favorite NFL DFS picks, ways to pivot away from the chalk, and overall strategy for the upcoming featured slate.

Welcome back to the Key Personnel!

John Elway week (Week 7) ended up being a profitable one, although it wasn’t thanks to the main slate. I had a good team on the early-only slate and an even better team on Monday’s 2-game slate. Unfortunately, my main slate lineup was ruined by the injury to Jayden Daniels and a lack of production from the Commanders’ pass catchers. It feels like we are so close to a tournament-winning week, so we will continue to work toward it.

Speaking of hard work and dedication, Week 8 is Black Mamba week. There are very athletes in history who worked harder and dedicated more to their craft than Kobe Bryant. I was looking for a good quote from Kobe and found far too many to choose from. Here are a few of my favorites, and you can choose one to motivate you heading into Week 8’s slate.

• “The moment you give up is the moment you let someone else win.”
• “Mamba mentality is all about focusing on the process and trusting in the hard work when it matters most.”
• “Losers visualize the penalties of failure. Winners visualize the rewards of success.”

Far too often in life, we worry about what could go wrong rather than what could go right. I’m going to focus on positive visualization this week. We are going to need all of the positivity that we can find, as this might be the ugliest slate of the season.

Like Kobe, let’s trust in the hard work and manifest a big week in NFL DFS.

NFL DFS Top Picks & Plays: Noto’s Key Personnel for Week 8

This is one of the toughest slates in recent memory. The pricing is up across the board, and we are missing many of the top teams on the main slate. There are six byes this week, and many of the reliable fantasy options are playing in the primetime games. Barring some late injury news that opens up some value, you are not going to love the way that your lineups look. There are a handful of great plays available, but to afford them, you have to target some mediocre (at best) plays. This is an old-school slate where I want to pay up for the elite running backs and save everywhere else.

Top Quarterback Plays

Unlike the last few weeks, there are plenty of viable plays at quarterback. The problem is that we don’t have extra salary lying around this week, so I’m looking to save at the position whenever possible. Due to the tight pricing, this is a week where you have to consider your lineup as a whole rather than just each play in a vacuum.

Tier 1 – Core Plays

Bo Nix ($6,000 DK / $7,800 FD) is the easiest click at quarterback this week thanks to a combination of tight pricing and a matchup against the Cowboys. Every quarterback that has faced Dallas has crushed this season. They are 30th in EPA allowed per dropback and dead last in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. Nix is coming off a 40-fantasy point game against the Giants and has rushed for at least 20 yards in 5 of his last 6 games. He offers a high floor and a high ceiling in a dream matchup at home.

I usually wouldn’t tag Spencer Rattler ($4,700 DK / $6,600 FD) on a full slate, but we need the salary savings this week. He hasn’t had a breakout performance yet this season, but he’s scored between 11 and 21 fantasy points in all 7 games. He’s rushed for at least 20 yards in 4 of those games and has thrown for multiple touchdowns in 2 of those games. He draws a nice matchup at home against the Buccaneers, who are one of the best pass-funnel matchups in the NFL. If he can get us 20 fantasy points at this price point, it will be a huge win on this slate.

Tier 2 – Strong Plays

Lamar Jackson ($6,800 DK / $8,700 FD) is tentatively expected back this week for the Ravens, who are currently 1-5 in the standings. Most teams would waive the white flag at this point, but it wouldn’t be crazy to see them go on a huge run and somehow sneak into the playoffs. Jackson is one of the only players on the slate who feels underpriced, and the tight pricing in general should keep ownership down. As long as he’s named the starter, he deserves consideration in tournaments. He draws a home matchup against the Bears, who have allowed the 5th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.

The Eagles haven’t been a fun team to target in DFS this season. Their offensive line hasn’t been as good, and they’ve had a negative pass rate over expectation. Despite that, Jalen Hurts ($6,600 DK / $8,800 FD) has quietly averaged 22 fantasy points per game. He’s thrown for at least 280 yards in each of his last 3 games and has rushed for 5 touchdowns on the season. This week, he squares off against the Giants, who just gave up 40 fantasy points to another mobile quarterback in Nix.

Tier 3 – Sprinkle Plays

The Buccaneers can’t seem to keep their wide receivers healthy, yet Baker Mayfield ($6,400 DK / $8,300 FD) seems to crush on a weekly basis. Dating back to the start of last season, he’s had one of the highest ceilings of any quarterback in the NFL. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both out this week, he has three obvious stacking mates in Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson, and Cade Otton. He has a tremendous matchup in the Superdome against the Saints, who are 25th in EPA allowed per dropback and 20th in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks.

The Red Rifle could be back in our lives this week! Yes, Andy Dalton ($4,500 DK / $6,200 FD) is expected to draw the start for Carolina, as Bryce Young is dealing with a high ankle sprain. Sometimes, the backup quarterback is all an offense needs to get going. Dalton is a pure pocket passer who could be a godsend for Carolina’s pass catchers. He might not have the highest ceiling, but we don’t need a massive outing from him at this price point. The Panthers are sizable home underdogs (which is always good for the passing game) against the Bills, who have been middling against the pass this season.

🏈 Quarterbacks – Noto’s Notes

🏆 Core Plays: Bo Nix, Spencer Rattler
💪 Strong Plays: Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts
🌧️ Sprinkle Plays: Baker Mayfield, Tyrod Taylor
% Ownership Angle: Ownership is extremely spread out at QB this week
🔗 Potential Pairings: Nix + Sutton, Rattler + Olave or Shaheed, Jackson + Flowers
❤️‍🩹 Key Injuries: Lamar Jackson (Q), Brock Purdy (Q), Bryce Young (D), Michael Penix (Q)

Top Running Back Plays

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