As we race toward the end of October, the leaves are falling in most of the U.S. and the stars continue to fall in fantasy football. Injuries be damned, we're forging ahead to Week 8's main slate with our latest batch of DFS sleepers and values.
You probably know by now what this column's all about: shining a light on the most undervalued and overlooked names in each week's daily fantasy player pools. We scour DraftKings and FanDuel, pinpoint the best value plays, and serve them up for you on a proverbial platter each week like my Portuguese aunts serve kale soup and linguica patties.
If you can't find the best deals, you probably won't be winning much prize money each weekend. Let us do the research for you — we'll highlight the best players at every position on DraftKings and FanDuel, so you can create an optimal lineup and cash in on Sunday.
As always, we review the previous column to see how we did, like your Vavo or Nonni checking your plate at the end of supper time. Let's take a peek at our biggest hits last week, with each player's DK salary and ultimate Week 7 fantasy production:
Pos. Player Week 7 matchup Salary Points
QB Bo Nix Broncos vs. Giants $5,600 40.0
RB Quinshon Judkins Browns vs. Dolphins $6,000 28.4
RB Kyle Monangai Bears vs. Saints $4,700 17.4
RB Rhamondre Stevenson Patriots at Titans $5,200 16.8
WR Jordan Addison Vikings vs. Eagles $5,100 24.8
WR Rashee Rice Chiefs vs. Raiders $5,600 23.2
WR Courtland Sutton Broncos vs. Giants $5,900 16.7
WR Ladd McConkey Chargers vs. Colts $6,000 15.7
WR Romeo Doubs Packers at Cardinals $5,000 13.2
TE Evan Engram Broncos vs. Giants $4,000 9.2
DST Cleveland Browns vs. Dolphins $3,000 25.0
We struck gold with our Nix pick, as the QB led all of fantasy land with 40 DK points. We also sonic-boomed with Judkins, who had a cool 28.4 against the fishy Dolphins. Addison and Rice were both nice, and Monangai, Doubs and Engram were all solid picks at their price points. Cleveland's 25-point gem was the cherry on top of a sweet week.
Let's keep the hits coming and fire away at the Week 8 main slate! Here's the Sporting News' DFS sleepers and fantasy football value picks for DraftKings and FanDuel tournaments!
MORE: Learn how to play NFL DFS
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 8: QB value picks
Bo Nix, Broncos vs. Cowboys (DK: $6,000 | FD: $7,800)
Right back to the well, baby! We picked Nix last weekend and he exploded for 40 DK points to lead an insane 33-point fourth-quarter comeback over the Giants. Now he draws arguably the worst defense in the entire NFL in another buttery home game at Mile High.
Nix has averaged nearly 35 DK points per home this season, and Dallas has surrendered 26.7 PPG to QBs. There aren't many players we would want more than Nix this weekend, and we're getting him at an absolute steal of a $6,000 price tag.
Caleb Williams, Bears at Ravens (DK: $5,800 | FD: $7,500)
We whiffed on our Williams pick last week — he finished with just 5.7 DK points, as Chicago nearly doubled up the Saints with just its running game. However, we think the young QB will bounce back nicely in Week 8 against an abysmal Ravens defense.
Only one team has given up more points to the quarterback position than Baltimore. Expect a similar line to the one Williams posted in Week 6 in Washington (252 pass. yards, 2 total TDs, 19.9 DK points).
Other QBs whose Week 8 values exceed their price tags:
Drake Maye, Patriots vs. Browns (DK: $6,200 | FD: $7,600)
Daniel Jones, Colts at Chargers (DK: $6,100 | FD: $7,700)
Joe Flacco, Bengals vs. Jets (DK: $5,400 | FD: $7,300)
Michael Penix Jr. (DK: $4,900 | FD: $6,800) or Kirk Cousins (DK: $4,400 | FD: $6,000), Falcons vs. Dolphins
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 8: RB value picks
D'Andre Swift (DK: $5,900 | FD: $6,800) and Kyle Monangai (DK: $4,900 | FD: $5,200), Bears at Ravens
Double up, uhh, uhh (Bears got back!?). We've got both Chicago running backs in our lineups this weekend, as the Ravens have been the second-most generous defense to opposing RBs in fantasy.
These guys exploded for DK performances of 23.8 and 17.4, respectively, last weekend against the Saints, and they should be able to keep feasting this weekend.
Breece Hall, Jets at Bengals (DK: $6,100 | FD: $7,400)
Hall let us down last weekend — well, the entire Jets team let us down. However, a bounce-back performance could be on the horizon, as the Bengals D can be a cure for what's ailing offenses.
Cincy has surrendered a whopping 32.1 PPR points per game to RBs, getting toasted by the position both on the ground (121.3 YPG, 6 TDs) and through the air (44.3 YPG, 4 TDs). If Aaron Glenn wants to stick around Gotham, he needs to build his offensive game plan around Hall.
More strong Week 8 RB values:
Rico Dowdle, Panthers vs. Bills (DK: $6,300 | FD: $6,300)
Chace Brown, Bengals vs. Jets (DK: $5,300 | FD: $6,900)
J.K. Dobbins, Broncos vs. Cowboys (DK: $5,800 | FD: $7,000)
Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants at Eagles (DK: $4,600 | FD: $5,800)
MORE: This Week's Fantasy Rankings
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 8: WR value picks
A.J. Brown, Eagles vs. Giants (DK: $6,100 | FD: $8,400)
You're darn right we're chasing the 31.1 points he put up last week in Minnesota! AJB was sizzling, catching 4-of-6 targets for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
Now Brown and frenemy Jalen Hurts draw a division rival at home, so we're banking on the two building off that rekindled connection and going off for a second-straight week.
Michael Pittman, Colts vs. Titans (DK: $5,600 | FD: $6,800)
The Colts just keep right on truckin', and the Pitt Boss somehow continues to fly under the DFS radar. In a relatively shallow player pool for main-slate wideouts, this price point falls about $500 short of where we project Pittman.
The veteran had 20.8 PPR points last weekend in a big road win over the Chargers. Now he draws the lowly Titans at home with Indy still battling for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Keep calling on the big man.
Zay Flowers, Ravens vs. Bears (DK: $5,400 | FD: $7,100)
The uncertainty around Lamar Jackson's health at the start of the week helped frame this modest price tag, and we're all over Zay regardless of who's passing him the ball. He has far too much big play ability to be listed this cheap.
Outside of a complete dud game against Detroit earlier this season, Flowers has scored scored at least 9.6 DK points every week. But his season-high — 31.1 in Week 1 up in Buffalo — is why we can't pass him up at $5,400. Give your team some Flowers.
More strong Week 8 DFS values at WR:
Rome Odunze, Bears at Ravens (DK: $6,300 | FD: $7,300)
Courtland Sutton, Broncos vs. Cowboys (DK: $6,200 | FD: $7,700)
Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants at Eagles (DK: $5,200 | FD: $6,500)
Kayshon Boutte, Patriots vs. Browns (DK: $4,800 | FD: $5,900)
Tez Johnson, Buccaneers at Saints (DK: $4,300 | FD: $5,700)
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 8: TE value picks
Harold Fannin Jr., Browns at Patriots (DK: $4,400 | FD: $5,200)
It's become increasingly difficult to pick tight end sleepers, as it's hard enough to even find a tight end lock most of the time. That said, Fannin has gained the trust of Browns rookie QB Dillon Gabriel, and the Pats have been terrible against tight ends all season.
The rookie third-round pick has 34 DK points over the past three weeks, and he already set the Browns' rookie record for most receptions through the first seven games (32). Suns out, guns out this Sunday afternoon — let's go Fannin this weekend, boys and girls!
More Week 8 TEs worth a look:
Dalton Kincaid (Q), Bills at Panthers (DK: $4,300 | FD: $5,700)
Dallas Goedert, Eagles vs. Giants (DK: $4,200 | FD: $5,800)
Evan Engram, Broncos vs. Cowboys (DK: $4,100 | FD: $5,300)
Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. Dolphins (DK: $3,900 | FD: $5,300)
Noah Fant, Bengals vs. Jets (DK: $3,200 | FD: $5,100)
FANTASY LINEUP TIPS: Week 8 Start-Sit Advice | Week 8 Waiver Wire Targets
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 8: D/ST
San Francisco 49ers at Texans (DK: $2,900 | FD: $4,000)
Many DFS players will be ambivalent to pick the Niners on the road in Houston, but understand that the Texans have been truly awful offensively. They scored just 12 offensive points against the Seahawks on Monday, they have no offensive line or running game, and Nico Collins is banged up.
San Francisco, meanwhile, looked like it has some stuff figured out against the Falcons on Sunday. Even without Fred Warner, the 49ers should win this game handily. Any price under $3,000 is a gift for this high-upside D/ST play.
More sleeper D/ST plays for Week 8:
Buffalo Bills at Panthers (DK: $3,300 | FD: $4,700)
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Giants (DK: $3,200 | FD: $4,600)
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