DFS: Matchup-based value picks for Week 8

By Jordan Vanek

The basis for being successful in any daily fantasy sports contest, whether cash games or large-field GPPs, is finding value to build around. Using 4for4’s Yahoo! DFS Value Report, we can uncover some of the best values at each position for the Week 8 main slate.

Quarterbacks

Matt Ryan, Falcons $24

Matt Ryan and Arthur Smith have finally gotten on the same page, with Ryan throwing 10 touchdowns on 1,024 yards and just one interception over the last four games. In the last four weeks, the Panthers' defense has given up over 20 fantasy points and 10 total touchdowns to quarterbacks.

Jalen Hurts, Eagles $33

Hurts has been one of the best fantasy quarterbacks out there, and this is a spot for him to do it through the air and on the ground. Lamar Jackson is the only other mobile passer that the Lions have faced, and if Marquise Brown doesn’t drop a couple of touchdowns, Lamar would have had a 30-point day. Hurts is the only quarterback this year to have every game end in a 20-point performance.

Running Backs

Damien Harris, Patriots $23

As long as the game doesn’t get out of hand early, Harris is in another smash spot this weekend against the worst run defense in football. The Chargers give up over five yards a carry and refuse to load the box up and stop the run. Harris has seen at least 14 touches in the last three weeks.

Darrell Henderson, Rams $23

Henderson failed to do much against the Lions last week, but the game script wasn’t there for him to get the volume you would want, as Detroit kept it surprisingly close. Additionally, Henderson lost out on touchdown variance with the Rams scoring multiple touchdowns through the air in the red zone. This week, he plays the Texans as a huge favorite and Houston gives up 4.7 yards a carry.

[Play in Yahoo's Week 8 Million Dollar Baller DFS contest]

Wide Receivers

Calvin Ridley, Falcons $21

Calvin Ridley has seen eight or more targets in every game this year; we just haven’t had the depth of target we want. Over Ridley’s career against the Panthers, he has had a touchdown or 100 yards in five out of six games. In the game that he didn’t, he had three receptions for 42 yards but got hurt in the second quarter and missed the rest. He should benefit from Ryan’s recent uptick in efficiency.

DeVonta Smith, Eagles $16

The Detroit Lions have allowed five wide receivers to go over 100 yards in a game this year, including in three of the last four games. They have allowed 9.5 yards per pass attempt on the season. Devonta Smith has seen the most 20+ yard targets on the team and has 20 more targets than the next Eagles pass-catcher.

Tight Ends

Dan Arnold, Jaguars $11

In the last two games for the Jaguars, Dan Arnold has played over 60% of the snaps and has seen five or more targets. Coming off a bye week will benefit Arnold's chemistry with Trevor Lawrence and growth into this offense. He faces a Seattle defense ranked in the bottom five in 4for4’s schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to tight ends.

[So many reasons to play Yahoo DFS: Learn more now and get in on the fun]

Dallas Goedert, Eagles $17

With no Zach Ertz last week, Goedert ran a route on 88% of dropbacks which is 20% higher than any other game this season. The Lions haven’t allowed huge numbers to tight ends this year but have allowed Mark Andrews, George Kittle, and Robert Tonyan to get over 10 points. I see Goedert continuing to play a big role in this offense and start putting up high-end tight end weeks.

Defenses

49ers, $14

The 49ers take on the Chicago Bears in a game with the lowest over/under of the year at 39.5, and they are four-point favorites. Since 2015, six teams have had less than 1,800 yards through the first seven games, and the 2021 Bears are on the list. The 49ers at $14 are a fantastic value on Yahoo and are going to be a popular pick.

Jaguars, $10

The Jaguars are a minimum-salary defense that is coming off a bye week against a banged-up Seahawks team. In Geno Smith’s two starts, he has been sacked five times in each game. Outside of the DK Metcalf catch for 84 yards, Geno Smith had 83 total passing yards for the rest of last week’s game. The Jaguars aren’t a great defense but should find some success against the Seahawks with their struggling backup quarterback.

Jordan was born and raised in South Florida. He started playing DFS at 18 years old. In the last five years, he has had 10 top-10 finishes in GPPs on both Fanduel & Draftkings. His primary strategy for DFS is combining a blend of analytics and film study to perfect his lineups.

Listen to the Yahoo Fantasy Football Forecast