Scott Barrett’s daily fantasy focus: Top plays, strategy, and advice for Week 8

This article is long, so I’ll spare you a lengthy intro. Here’s everything need to know in order to dominate your Week 8 DFS tournaments and cash games

Note: This article is published Friday mornings, so it can fall behind some of the more important late-week updates regarding injuries. This week especially there are a lot of players questionable for Sunday’s games. So, be sure to keep an eye on news throughout the weekend, and to apply some of your own intuition on who to play.

Quarterbacks

Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans

(DK: QB2, FD: QB2)

Watson is the second-most expensive quarterback on both sites, but still a top value. He ranks third among all quarterbacks in fantasy points per game (24.0), just behind Lamar Jackson (on his bye) and Russell Wilson (ahead by 0.5 fantasy points per game). With the second-highest implied point total of the week (29.0), he draws a near-perfect matchup against the Raiders. Oakland ranks second-worst in pass-coverage grade, third-worst in schedule adjusted fantasy points per game allowed and fantasy points allowed per dropback, and fourth-worst in pressures forced per dropback and opposing passer rating. However, on the ground, they rank top-10 in yards allowed per carry and PFF run-defense grade. He’s worth paying up for, and fairly easy to fit in to tournament lineups, with his top stacking options priced so cheaply.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

(DK: QB8, FD: QB5)

Stafford ranks seventh in fantasy points per game (20.1), and now takes on a Giants defense that’s given up the most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks when on the road (27.0). They also rank second-worst in yards per pass attempt allowed (8.9), third-worst in pressures forced per dropback (0.27), and sixth-worst in fantasy point allowed per dropback (0.57). This game has the second-highest over/under of the week, and workhorse running back Kerryon Johnson will replaced by pass-catching specialist Ty Johnson, which should mean fewer carries and more free fantasy points (via dump-off targets as an extension of the running game) for Stafford. Add it all up and Stafford might be the best pure quarterback value on DraftKings, priced at just $6,100.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans

(DK: QB21, FD: QB21)