Yahoo NFL DFS Targets: Week 8
It looks like Yahoo is here to stay in the daily fantasy world. Since they have some big tournaments posted for Week 8, I wanted to run over the slate and pinpoint my top targets to help you in your lineup building. Yahoo features an extremely tough cap, making it that much more challenging (and rewarding) to make teams.
On to the picks!
Expert Picks
QUARTERBACK
Philip Rivers $44 – It’s tough to spend this much on a quarterback on Yahoo most weeks for me, but the Chargers have figured out they have no run game this season, and are squarely putting the offense onto Rivers’ shoulders. He is on pace to break the NFL record for passing yards through seven games, and gets a premier matchup against Baltimore, who are allowing over 22 fantasy points per game this season to quarterbacks, most in the league.
Brian Hoyer $35 – By hook or by crook, Hoyer has been getting it done, and now has three straight starts over twenty fantasy points. He is now without Arian Foster, which should see Hoyer passing more as it’s tough to rely on Alfred Blue as your lead back, and even against the Titans who have a good pass rush and solid secondary, will simply be passing to much to ignore. If you combine the snaps of Mallet and Hoyer, the Texans QB has played the most offensive snaps of any QB in the league, and with Mallet gone, the opportunity and pace at which the Texans play means solid fantasy production from Hoyer.
RUNNING BACK
Todd Gurley $34 – Gurley is the third highest priced running back this week, but don’t be scared as his matchup at home against the Niners is premier. This is not the Niners defense of old, as they are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game (25.5) to running backs this season on our DvP tool. Gurley is an elite talent, and coach Jeff Fisher will ride him hard in this game, and my choice at the top if you are paying up this week.
Mark Ingram $27 – Ingram has been one of the best backs for fantasy this season, and his price is just too cheap compared to other options given the fact that Yahoo has the toughest cap in the industry. Even with Spiller and Robinson in the backfield, Ingram has had 39 touches in the past two weeks, and gets to face a Giants defense that started the season strong against the run, but has been gashed in back to back weeks by the Falcons and the Cowboys. This game has one of the higher O/U of the week at 49.5 with the Saints three point home favorites, which sets up nicely for Ingram to continue solid production.
WIDE RECEIVER
Antonio Brown $31 – Brown’s price has fallen with Big Ben out, but I have good news, Big Ben is looking ready to play this week, which means fire up Brown with confidence. Brown had a 34 game streak of at least five receptions and 50 yards before Big Ben got hurt, and should pick right back up with one of the league’s best quarterbacks returning to the field. Brown had 16 receptions for 246 yards and a touchdown in two games last season against the Bengals, and should dominate with Ben back at home this week.
Mike Evans $24 – The Bucs travel to Atlanta this week, and I think Evans can continue the success he saw last week yet again. The Falcons do have one elite cornerback, Desmond Trufant, but he has played 97% of his snaps this season as the left cornerback, which means Evans can easily avoid shadow coverage as Trufant simply isn’t used that way. He had 11 targets last week, and should get to double digits yet again as the main offensive weapon in the passing game.
TIGHT END
Tyler Eifert $22 – Eifert and the Bengals are fresh off a bye week, and travel to Pittsburgh who have allowed nearly fifteen fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends this season. All those points are going to be Eifert’s this week, as he rarely leaves the field, and the Bengals have no other legitimate tight end to use. He has been one of the only consistent tight ends all season, and with Andy Dalton performing well, is an elite play if you are spending this week.
Ladarius Green $14 – It looks like Antonio Gates may miss multiple games with a MCL sprain, so if Gates is out once again, it’s time to fire up Green yet again. Green has played great when Gates has been out this season, and even in a tough road matchup against the Ravens who have been rather stingy against tight ends this season, Green is in play as an elite play at a much to cheap price as Philip Rivers is on record setting pace for passing yards this season.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
St. Louis Rams $15 – The Rams were the chalk play last week, and once again get that billing as there is just not much else cheaper than them that is interesting. The Rams are home to San Francisco in a game with the lowest O/U of the week at 39, while also having the Rams as the biggest favorites of the week at -8.5. This give the Niners an expectation of scoring just 16 points this week, easily the lowest in the league, and with the Rams defense dominating the Browns at home last week, I am all over them yet again as the clear top option.
Bargain Bin Ballers
QUARTERBACK
Jay Cutler $32 – The Bears are fresh off a bye week, and get to face the Vikings at home this week. Cutler has three straight games with at least 300 yards or two touchdowns, and now has a fully healthy group of skill players at his disposal off the bye. New OC Adam Gase seems to have worked magic on Cutler so far this season, as the mistakes are clearly down this year, which should help Cutler put up another strong performance even against a decent pass defense of the Vikings.
Teddy Bridgewater $30 – The Bears are allowing a league high 29.8 points per game this season, so fire up Teddy this week as he looks to finally have a good receiver to throw the ball to. Rookie Stefon Diggs has exploded onto the scene in the past few weeks and has provide upside in the passing game, which finally has Bridgewater on the radar in a plus matchup. The pricing is so tight on Yahoo, that you may have to go this low, so don’t be afraid of someone you likely haven’t used yet this season.
RUNNING BACK
Danny Woodhead $20 – It’s hard to argue against Woodhead right now, as the Chargers have a complete lack of running game, which is allowing Woodhead to feast in the passing game. He has double digit fantasy points in all but two games this season, and with the Ravens generally stout in run defense, should be used heavily out of the backfield in the passing game which is where you beat the Ravens.
Ronnie Hillman $17 – Hillman looks prepped to become the lead back for the Broncos this week after C.J Anderson has been unable to do much of anything this season. He had 20 carries for 111 yards in his last game after taking over the lead role against the Browns, and while the matchup is not as easy this week against the Packers, should be leaned on heavily at home as the Broncos start to realize that Manning can’t carry the team on his back anymore.
WIDE RECEIVER
Michael Crabtree $17 – Crabtree’s career has been revitalized this season in Oakland, and is likely to see plenty of targets this week as Amari Cooper figures to draw the coverage of Darrelle Revis, and the Jets defense being stingy against the run. Crabtree has 8+ targets in three of his last four games, and with David Carr looking very capable this year with actual good receivers, has Crabtree on my radar as a low cost play.
Stevie Johnson $14 – Antonio Gates is looking very questionable to play yet again this week, and with Philip Rivers currently on pace to break the NFL record for passing yards this season, puts Johnson in play at a much to cheap price. The matchup with the Ravens is premier as well, as they have allowed the fourth most yards in the air this season and have surrendered thirteen touchdowns via the pass as well.
TIGHT END
Austin Seferian-Jenkins $17 – I went with Green in the Expert picks for $14, and he is the clear top value play as Gates looks unlikely to play yet again. If you want to swerve, take a look at Jenkins who is coming back from injury at the perfect time as the Bucs will be without Vincent Jackson this week, and lost Louis Murphy for the season last week. Jenkins is a huge red-zone target, and should get plenty of looks this week in Atlanta.