FANDUEL Week Eight Studs & Duds
For those around the world that play FanDuel, you know it can get very frustrating. However, with cheap entries yielding huge winnings we always find ourselves crawling back for more. We all want to finish at the top slot at take home the big prize. Take a look how.
Week 8 QB Studs
QB Carson Wentz – Salary 7,900: Wentz has had himself quite the sophomore season. With 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions, he quietly is becoming an MVP candidate. He continues to make plays with both his arms and legs, further showing why Philly traded up in the draft to get him. The 49ers’ secondary is decimated, and the Eagles are one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses. The loss of Jason Peters could hurt Philadelphia in the long run, but it shouldn’t affect the birds on Sunday. Wentz is an elite option this week.
QB Case Keenum – Salary 6,700: Keenum gets a mouthwatering matchup in week eight against the lowly Browns. The Browns rank 25th against the pass this season, setting Keenum up for a big performance. Believe it or not, the Browns actually have been respectable against the run. Yielding just 3.0 YPC, the Vikings may be forced to throw the ball more than anticipated. With Stefon Diggs set to return (Groin), Keenum has all his weapons in tack. The Browns will be without their top cornerback Jason McCourty as well (ankle). Expect in the range of 15-20 points for Keenum.
QB Dud
QB Deshaun Watson – Salary 8,000: Watson has been exceptional since taking over for incompetent Tom Savage in week two. In five starts he has averaged 26 PPG, leading all quarterbacks! Unfortunately, he draws an extremely difficult matchup on Sunday when the Texans travel to Seattle. The rookie is a steep price and a trip to Seattle is dangerous. A healthy legion of boom could give the rookie his first roadblock. There are better options.
Week 8 RB Studs
RB LeGarrette Blount – Salary 6,100: After leading the league in touchdowns a season ago (18), Blount’s brief stint in Philadelphia has been underwhelming. Blount has been productive when given the opportunity, but is averaging just 12 carries a game. He’s scored just one touchdown as well. The 49ers are hideous against the run ranking dead last. Philadelphia should win this game no problem, setting Blount up with an ample of opportunities to find the end zone. The only block in the road is Wendell Smallwood.
RB Joe Mixon – Salary 5,900: Joe Mixon has been a bust for fantasy owners this season. Mixon, anywhere from a second to fourth-round pick depending on your league has averaged just 3.2 YPC. However, Bill Lazor is making an effort to get Mixon involved. In the last four weeks, Mixon has averaged 14 carries and has solidified himself as the starting back. The Colts rank 31st against the run and the Bengals should win this game easily. Mixon should flirt with 25 touches and could have a monster game on Sunday.
RB Dud
RB Carlos Hyde – Salary 6,600: Hyde will be tough to trust in this road matchup. Philadelphia ranks seventh against the run, especially the last three weeks. The game flow could hurt Hyde as the 49ers should trail for the majority of the contest. Hyde’s been involved in the passing game recently, but with a possible blowout on the horizon, it’s best to stay away from Hyde.
Week 8 WR Studs
WR Stefon Diggs – Salary 7,000: Diggs is expected to return to the Vikings lineup after missing the last two weeks (Groin). When healthy Diggs has been sensational. He now gets a juicy matchup in London against the Browns without their top corner Jason McCourty. If Diggs is healthy, he should have a monster game. However, if Diggs cant go, or is hampered by his groin injury Adam Thielen is the next man up. In Diggs’ two-week absence Thielen piled up 25 targets. He has yet to score a touchdown on the season but has a great chance to break that against the Browns.
WR Kelvin Benjamin – Salary 6,600: The ever so inconsistent Benjamin has been hit or miss for owners this season. With just one touchdown on the season, a date with the Buccaneers defense is just what Benjamin needs. The Bucs have allowed 44 PPG to WR this year, which ranks dead last. Tampa also will be without their top two corners, Brent Grimes (shoulder), and Robert McClain (Concussion). The clear cut number one option for Cam Newton has serious blow-up potential in this juicy match-up. Look for Benjamin to go north of the century mark on Sunday.
Dart Throw
WR Bennie Fowler – Salary 4,500: With Emmanuel Sanders not expected to play Bennie Fowler could be in store for a big game. Fowler started in place of Sanders in week 7 and caught five passes for 45 yards. Let’s not forget the Broncos were blanked in the game. The Chiefs rank 32nd against the pass, and their top corner, Marcus Peters will be following Demaryius Thomas all night. This should lead to a ton of looks for Fowler.
WR Dud
WR DeAndre Hopkins: See Richard Sherman. Sherman won’t follow Hopkins around all game, but the two should see a friendly dosage. I’m not on the Texans bandwagon this week. Seattle has given up more than 20 points just once this season. Their defense is healthy and will make an effort to keep Hopkins neutralized.
Week 8 TE Studs
TE Jack Doyle – Salary 4,900: Doyle continues to get an abundance of targets from Jacoby Brissett. Despite a difficult matchup against the Bengals, Doyle is still a TE1 on Sunday. Doyle has seen 18 targets in the last two weeks. He should see a healthy number yet again in week eight. With a nonexistent run game, the Colts will throw the ball a ton. Doyle may be the biggest beneficiary of it.
Dart Throw
TE A.J. Derby – Salary 4,500: In the last three weeks, Derby has been targeted 17 times by Trevor Siemian. Last week he caught six passes for 66 yards and should have similar success against Kansas City. Even Jared Cook gashed the Chiefs last week for over 100 yards. Sieman has been an atrocity of late but seems to like Derby as a safety blanket. In a game that could consist of scoring, Derby is a sneaky play.
TE Dud
TE Austin Sefarian-Jenkins – Salary 6,300: Sefarian-Jenkins has been a pleasant surprise for the Jets thus far. The 6’5, 250-pound power forward is a huge red zone target for Josh McCown. However, most of his fantasy production has come from the touchdown this season, as he is yet to surpass 50 yards in a game. The thinking here is Serfarian-Jenkins doesn’t find the end zone for the fourth straight week. There are other, cheaper, options at the tight end position this week.
Week 8 Defense Studs
Vikings – Salary 5,300.
Bengals – Salary 4,800.
Duds
Broncos – Salary 4,700.