This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Football series.
The Week 8 NFL main slate begins Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EDT and features 12 games, while the Falcons and Panthers kick off the week Thursday at 8:20 p.m. EDT, the Buccaneers-Giants game concludes the week Monday at 8:15 p.m. EDT, and Arizona, Houston, Jacksonville and Washington are on bye. Even with some key fantasy star power missing, there are plenty of strong performers to lean on and favorable matchups to capitalize on in Week 8. Some of the standout options below include a quarterback-wide receiver duo facing a vulnerable defense that they've already dominated once this season, a running back who's averaging a touchdown per game heading into a date with one of the league's most generous run defenses, and expensive tight end and defense options that should be worth paying up for.
TOURNAMENTS (GPP – GUARANTEED PRIZE POOL)
QB: Cam Newton, NE at BUF ($32): Utilizing Newton after back-to-back dreadful passing performances is the epitome of going against the grain, but writing off New England has rarely been a wise move in recent memory, and this is a game the 2-4 Patriots badly need to stay within striking distance of the 5-2 Bills. While Newton's unlikely to turn in a terrific passing performance, he has nowhere to go but up after posting a 0:5 TD:INT in the past two weeks, and the dual-threat quarterback will likely get back to attacking with his legs, as he has only one rushing touchdown in his last three games after starting has Patriots tenure with consecutive two-touchdown performances on the ground. Buffalo has already allowed rushing touchdowns to both Jared Goff and Ryan Tannehill, and while the latter has underrated mobility, neither can hold a candle to Newton's ability as a runner. Locking in Newton could easily backfire if he fails to get back on track, but the reward could be great if he finds his early-season form against a Bills defense that's allowing 30.2 points per game to teams that aren't the Jets.
RB: James Conner, PIT at BAL ($21): Conner's available at a steep discount against the stingy Ravens defense, but Baltimore has shown some cracks in its armor recently, having allowed four rushing touchdowns in its last four games and 118 rushing yards on just nine carries to Eagles running back Miles Sanders last time out. Meanwhile, Conner has been locked in since overcoming an early-season ankle injury, averaging over 17 fantasy points per game in his last five thanks to 442 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 89 carries coupled with 13 catches for 104 yards on 16 targets. If Conner continues his recent success for the undefeated Steelers, he would provide excellent value.
WR: Tyreek Hill, KC vs. NYJ ($27): The Chiefs are favored by close to three touchdowns, so there's a good chance Kansas City gets out to an early lead and limits Hill's involvement later in the game, but the league's premier deep threat should have plenty of time to produce before the game gets out of hand. New York's secondary has struggled to defend speed all season, and the Jets' 1,234 yards allowed to wide receivers are fifth most in the league even though plenty of opponents have taken their foot off the gas, as the Jets have been down double digits at halftime five times in seven contests. Hill has found the end zone in five of his seven games, and he's likely to have multiple deep throws drawn up for him in this one.
Other Against-the-Grainers
QB: Russell Wilson (SEA, $40), Justin Herbert (LAC, $34), Nick Foles (CHI, $26)
RB: Dalvin Cook (MIN, $37), Melvin Gordon (DEN, $20), Le'Veon Bell (KC, $18)
WR: Kenny Golladay (DET, $26), Amari Cooper (DAL, $21), Nelson Agholor (LV, $17)
TE: Dalton Schultz (DAL, $16), Cole Kmet (CHI, $10)
DST: New Orleans Saints (at CHI, $14), Philadelphia Eagles (vs. DAL, $15)
CASH GAMES (H2H, 50/50s and DOUBLE UPS)
QUARTERBACK
Aaron Rodgers, GB vs. MIN ($35): Rodgers has thrown four touchdown passes on three different occasions this season, including Week 1 in Minnesota. He also had 364 passing yards in that season opener, and that performance came against a Vikings defense that still had standout defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who has since been traded to the Ravens. With running back Aaron Jones (calf) likely to either be eased back into action or sit out entirely for the second week in a row, a Packers offense that's scoring 32.8 points per game (second most in the league) figures to revolve around Rodgers against a Vikings defense that's surrendering 32.0 points per game (third most).
RUNNING BACK
Kareem Hunt, CLE vs. LV ($30): Hunt has seven touchdowns in seven games and has averaged 19.7 touches per game in the three contests since Nick Chubb (knee) went down. He should make the most of that heavy workload against the Raiders, whose eight rushing touchdowns allowed to running backs is tied with Dallas and Carolina for second most behind the idle Texans, even though Las Vegas has already had its bye. Vegas has been just as vulnerable to receiving threats out of the backfield, as the Raiders' 380 receiving yards allowed to running backs are tied with Green Bay for second most behind only the Panthers. Between his workhorse role and favorable matchup, Hunt's primed to finish among this week's top performers at running back.
Jonathan Taylor, IND at DET ($23): Taylor's a high-floor option, as he has totaled at least 11.9 fantasy points in all but one game and finished with a respectable 8.4 in the other. The rookie second-rounder is averaging a shade under 15 carries per game and has caught 16 of 17 targets for a total of 529 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns through six contests, and Taylor's workload should climb coming out of a bye against a Lions defense that's allowing 114.2 rushing yards per game to running backs (fourth most) and has surrendered seven rushing touchdowns to the position (tied for fifth most) in just six games.
WIDE RECEIVER
Davante Adams, GB vs. MIN ($38): If you plan to lock in Rodgers, it makes sense to stack him with his favorite target, especially with Adams coming off a career game (13 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns on 16 targets against Houston). That performance was reminiscent of Adams' Week 1 output against Minnesota, when he caught 14 of 17 targets for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Given the strong possibility of another similar showing, Adams should be worth paying up for as this slate's priciest wide receiver against a Minnesota secondary that's tied with Dallas and Houston for the most touchdowns allowed to wide receivers this season (12).
Tyler Boyd, CIN vs. TEN ($21): Boyd is the favorite target for rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, who's coming off a 406-yard passing performance and has topped 300 yards in five of his first seven NFL starts. The slot receiver persevered through some shoddy quarterback play in back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons over the past two years, and Boyd's already more than halfway to that mark with 517 receiving yards. His 61 targets are eighth most in the league while his 48 catches are tied for third, and he's been climbing both leaderboards since being targeted only five times in Burrow's quiet debut. He should keep rolling against a Titans defense that has allowed 14 passing touchdowns in its last five games.
Travis Fulgham, PHI vs. DAL ($24): It's safe to say Fulgham isn't just a flash in the pan, as he has drawn double-digit targets in each of his last three games after scoring a 42-yard touchdown in his Week 4 Eagles debut. Carson Wentz's favorite target has 23 catches on 37 targets for 357 yards and three touchdowns through four games, and Fulgham's unlikely to slow down at home against a Cowboys defense that's tied for most touchdowns allowed to wide receivers (12) and is giving up the most points per game overall (34.7).
TIGHT END
George Kittle, SF at SEA ($26): Kittle's capable of carrying your lineup on his best days, as evidenced by the star tight end's 22 catches for 292 yards and two touchdowns over his two best games of the season. He should be the featured option in an injury-riddled 49ers offense that could be without three of its top four running backs and top wide receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring) against a Seahawks defense that's allowing a league-high 368.7 passing yards per game, so Kittle can be expected to exceed his already robust average of 9.0 targets per game in this one.
DEFENSE
Kansas City Chiefs, KC vs. NYJ ($20): Picking whichever defense is facing the Jets has been a terrific fantasy strategy all season, and there's little reason to change that approach now. Kansas City has a high floor against a Jets offense that's averaging a league-low 12.1 points per game, and this unit flashed its high ceiling and playmaking ability in last week's dominant win over Denver, topping 20 fantasy points for the second time this season thanks to three sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown.
Honorable Mentions
QB: Joe Burrow (CIN, $27), Carson Wentz (PHI, $31), Ryan Tannehill (TEN, $33)
RB: Jerick McKinnon (SF, $16), Boston Scott (PHI, $18), Todd Gurley (ATL, $25)
WR: A.J. Brown (TEN, $28), Brandon Aiyuk (SF, $22), Rashard Higgins (CLE, $14)
TE: Richard Rodgers (PHI, $11), Jonnu Smith (TEN, $21)
DST: Los Angeles Rams (at MIA, $15), Buffalo Bills (vs. NE, $13)
