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Below you will find some of my spotlight choices and players to go with when dealing with challenging lineup decisions in Week 8. These selections are based off my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a discount and get access to my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the 2021 season. Skill position analysis here is based on my PPR rankings.
This week, we begin to also add in some betting tips, as many of the recommendations here naturally work into some prime player props. Plus, I also share some over/under, ATS and money line picks for selected games. All odds and prop plays are via DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Running Backs
-Chuba Hubbard is the only rookie running back in the NFC with 400-plus scrimmage yards. He should bounce back this week against a Falcons team that allowed Myles Gaskin to rush for 4.5 yards per carry last week. If the Panthers want to have any success on offense, they will try to establish a respectable ground game behind Hubbard.
Betting Tip: Take the Over of 65.5 rushing yards on Hubbard at -115.
-Myles Gaskin had 77 scrimmage yards (57 receiving) in his last road meeting with the Bills. Gaskin showed some signs of life as a runner last week as we indicated, and Miami will certainly be playing from behind against Buffalo, so he will have a passing game role again. The Dolphins have a better shot to play catch-up effectively with Tua Tagovailoa at QB over Jacoby Brissett. But Gaskin has been very up and down this year, and this could be a week where we get another dud. At best, he will post adequate receiving totals for PPR leaguers.
Betting Tip: Take the Over of 49 in Dolphins-Bills, as Buffalo will easily make this worth the play at -120.
-Elijah Mitchell is the only rookie running back with two 100-yard rushing yard games this season. The Bears defense ranks 23rd against the run and will spend a lot of time on the field again this week. There is no question you should be starting Mitchell as a RB2 again this week. Mitchell should get the nod in most tight lineup decisions this week.
Betting Tip: Take the Over on Mitchell’s Rushing Yards (71.5).
-Michael Carter had a season-high 104 scrimmage yards (67 receiving) with eight catches last week, tied for the most receptions by a Jets rookie RB in a single game since 1970. I have been preaching patience on Carter and we are starting to see him unlock some of his significant potential. The Bengals are 24th in terms of receiving yards allowed to RBs, so Carter is certainly worth flex consideration this week.
Betting Tip: Take the Bengals at -11.5, as the Jets are without both Zach Wilson and Corey Davis and have nothing else on offense besides Carter.
-Damien Harris rushed for a season-high 106 yards and a career-high two TDs last week. This week, he faces the Chargers, who have allowed the most rushing yards to RBs in the AFC this season. It has been historically tough to depend on Patriots RBs, but you know that the savvy New England coaching staff will game plan to take advantage of this matchup. Harris is a must-start in Week 8, and he could be emerging as the most dependable New England RB for fantasy purposes since Corey Dillon was a Patriot. Still, he will get scripted out in games when the Patriots fall behind, so you may want to explore trading him away after this week.
Betting Tip: The Over of 71.5 rushing yards seems like an easy play, and I will also opt for Harris at over 15 rushing attempts at +100. He has 46 attempts in his last three games and will certainly be a focal point of the New England game plan this week.
Wide Receivers
-Jamal Agnew has five-plus receptions in each of his last two games and finished with a career-high 78 receiving yards in Week 6. Agnew is the most dynamic player on the Jacksonville roster, and the Jaguars coaching staff will continue to find ways to get the ball into his hands on offense. Agnew will emerge as an upside play very soon and could become a mini-version of Cordarelle Patterson at a different position. Like Patterson, he is a returner who can be molded into more of an offensive playmaker. Add Agnew now before he becomes a hot waiver pickup.
Betting Tip: Take the Jaguars at +165 on the money line. Seattle is winless at home and Geno Smith is holding the offense back. Trevor Lawrence will easily outduel him.
-Kalif Raymond had six catches for a season-high 115 yards in Week 7. The Eagles are allowing their opponents to complete 74.4 percent of their passes. The NFL record for a season Is 72.7 percent. Raymond is the top WR option for the Lions right now and will have playmaking opportunities as the desperate Lions try to notch their first win of the season.
Betting Tip: Take the Lions at +155 to get their first win of the 2021 campaign.
-Mike Evans has a TD reception in three of his past four games against the Saints, including the playoffs. In the postseason last year, Evans caught one pass for three yards, but it was for a score. He caught one pass for a two-yard TD in the season opener vs. the Saints. He also had a four-catch, 64 yard outing vs. New Orleans last year. Marshon Lattimore significantly reduces Evans’ upside, so you cannot count on a quality performance this week.
Betting Tip: Mike Evans under 65.5 receiving yards seems like a lock. Take the Over on 5.5 receptions for Chris Godwin.
-Jaylen Waddle had six catches for 48 yards in his Week 2 meeting with the Bills. He has seven-plus receptions and 70-plus yards in his last two games. The Bills are second-best in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to WRs. This is a tough matchup for Waddle, but he can still produce adequately based on volume and working with Tua Tagovailoa in catch-up mode against Buffalo.
Betting Tip: Take the Over of 5.5 receptions on Waddle.
-DeVonta Smith has five-plus receptions in three of four road games. The Lions may earn their first win, but the Eagles also need a victory, and one of the best routes to get there (or come close and lose, as I expect) will be to get the ball to Smith frequently. Detroit ranks 28th in receiving yards allowed to WRs.
Betting Tip: I am certainly recommending the Over of 64.5 receiving yards for Smith. I will definitely take the Over of 48 in this game.
Tight End
-Tommy Sweeney caught his first career TD pass in Week 6. With Dawson Knox out, Sweeney is a viable deep streamer if you are missing Mark Andrews, Darren Waller or George Kittle, take a shot with Sweeney this week.
Betting Tip: I recommend taking Sweeney at +225 to score vs. Miami.
Quarterback
-Kirk Cousins passed for a season-high 373 yards and three TDs vs. 0 INTs in Week 6. Last year vs. Dallas, Cousins passed for 314 yards and three TDs vs. 0 INTs. He is a Top 10 QB start this week against the Cowboys’ 28th-ranked pass defense.
Betting Tip: I am watching the line movement here, as the Over/Under was at 51.5 at the time of publishing. But if Dak Prescott does not play, I will focus more on Minnesota’s team total. I am certainly on the Over of 27.5. Dallas may try to slow the game down more if Prescott does not play, but I still think the Vikings easily go over the projected total.
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