Week 8 NFL DFS: Money Makers and Heart Breakers

Welcome back to Money Makers and Heart Breakers. Everyone likes lists so I have one for you this week.

5 Things we learned from Week 7

1. Elite volume still dominates

Players with sustained high usage continue to separate themselves. For example, Ja’Marr Chase logged a career-high 23 targets in Week 7, showing that when you’re the focal point, you outperform on a big scale.
Takeaway: Prioritize players with high target or carry share, not just last week’s boom.

2. Return from suspension/injury = immediate fantasy juice

When a key player returns, their role and red-zone usage matter. For instance, Rashee Rice came off suspension and was targeted on 47% of his routes, 10 targets, 2 TDs.
Takeaway: Monitor status returns and immediate snap & target share — they usually matter.

3. Matchup tracking remains critical

Certain defenses remain fantasy-friendly. For example, usage analyses show that backfields splitting touches or WRs facing weak coverage present upside.
Takeaway: Always check the fantasy points allowed by position of the defenses your players are going up against. — spot the mismatches.

4. Role consolidation matters for breakout potential

When someone becomes the clear “one” in a role, their value skyrockets. Example: Trey McBride had 13 targets, two touchdowns in Week 7, and became the alpha TE in that offense.
Takeaway: Look for players whose roles are becoming stable — they often enter “Money Maker” territory.

5. Don’t chase one-off scores without sustainable usage

Big games are fun, but without sustained underpinning (usage, role, matchup) they’re risky.
Takeaway: Before you overreact to a scoreline, check the underlying numbers (target share, routes, carries).

Bonus Takeaways

• Rookies Rising: When opportunity knocks, rookies are answering. Keep an eye on snap counts and usage spikes.
• Red Zone = Real Zone: Touches inside the 10-yard line matter way more than yards between the 20s.
• Committees Still Confuse: Running back committees continue to be fantasy landmines; tread lightly.
• Don’t Chase Mirage Games: If a player blows up with no volume behind it, it’s fool’s gold. Chase volume.
• Usage Is Predictive: Routes, targets, and touches tell the story — not one big Sunday.

More Week 8 Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Weekly Rankings | Dynasty Risers and Fallers

Now let’s get to it — here are this week’s Money Makers and Heart Breakers.

Here is a brief definition of each of my terms for anyone who might be new:

💰 Money Maker – This player will perform better than expectations

💔 Heart Breaker – This player will perform lower than expectations

💰 Money Makers

Quarterbacks

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

The Broncos will play the Cowboys in Week 8. Even though the Cowboys defense looked better in Week 7 against the Commanders, they still give up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Nix is coming off a game where he scorched the Giants for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns passing and another 48 yards and 2 more touchdowns rushing. With a 50.5 over-under, this game says shootout all over it.

$6,000 on DraftKings
$7,800 on FanDuel

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts is coming off a 3-touchdown game against the Vikings in Week 7. He has also scored multiple touchdowns in 5 straight games and in 6 out of 7 games this season. But wait, there’s more. The Eagles play the Giants in Week 8, and the Giants give up the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. That is correct, the same Giants that Bo Nix slapped around last week. Fly Jalen Fly.

$6,600 on DraftKings
$8,800 on FanDuel

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

In Week 7, Williams wasn’t as great as we had hoped he would be in a nice matchup. The Bears simply dominated the Saints with the run, and the game script dictated that Caleb only passed for 172 yards. In Week 8, he gets to play a Ravens team that gives up the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Quarterbacks average 268 yards and just under 3 touchdowns a game against the Ravens.

$5,600 on DraftKings
$7,500 on FanDuel

Other Quarterback DFS Picks for Week 8

Michael Penix

$4,900 on DraftKings
$6,800 on FanDuel

Tyrod Taylor

$4,500 on DraftKings
$6,600 on FanDuel

Lamar Jackson

$6,800 on DraftKings
$8,700 on FanDuel

Running Backs

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

The Saints will play the Buccaneers in Week 8. The Bucs give up the most receiving yards to opposing running backs. Look, I know Kamara has been pedestrian. But Kendre Miller is out, and the Bucs do not defend what Kamara does well. This should be a nice bounce-back game with Kamara doing what he does best against a team that defends it poorly.

$5,700 on DraftKings
$6,600 on FanDuel

D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears

Swift looked amazing in Week 8. With 124 yards and a touchdown rushing. He was so good that he put the game out of range, and Kyle Monangai got to play a lot. Well, this week the Bears play the Ravens. The Ravens defense is so decimated that they give up the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. D’Andre will look swift again in Week 8.

$5,900 on DraftKings
$6,8000 on FanDuel

Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons play the Dolphins in Week 8. Yes, those Dolphins. The ones that have had a running back score 20 or more fantasy points against them 3 weeks in a row. You can run on the Dolphins. Bijan can run on anyone. Pay up and watch him score lots of fantasy points for you this week. And I do mean LOTS of fantasy points.

$8,800 on DraftKings
$10,000 on FanDuel

Other Running Back DFS Picks for Week 8

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

$9,500 on DraftKings
$10,200 on FanDuel

Breece Hall, New York Jets

$6,100 on DraftKings
$7,400 on FanDuel

JK Dobbins, Denver Broncos

$5,800 on DraftKings
$7,000 on FanDuel

NOTE: I am also including Christian McCaffrey as a guy I would pay up for in Week 8. Jonathan Taylor and Bijan are a nice way to start a lineup (or CMC for one of them) in week 8.

Wide Receivers

Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Which wide receiver am I starting against the Cowboys this week? Well, that would be Courtland Sutton. The Cowboys looked like they got their act together last week against the Commanders’ second-string wide receivers. I am here to tell you that if they play the same man coverage against Sutton, he will really make them pay for it. Literally in every line up of mine. I also like Marvin Mim and Tony Franklin as great upside plays in Week 8.

$6,200 on DraftKings
$7,700 on FanDuel

Chimera Dike, Tennessee Titans

Are you chasing points, Reedy? No, I am not, I swear it. Look, the Titans play the Colts in Week 8. The Colts give up the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Tyler Lockett is gone, which frees up snaps for Dike. The Colts are susceptible to the deep ball, and this is what Dike does well. Look for him to grow on his 4 targets, which he turned into 4 receptions and 70 yards in Week 7. The most interesting name in the league just got interesting for more than his name.

$3,400 on DraftKings
$4,900 on FanDuel

AJ Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

AJ Brown finally did something for us in Week 7. He turned in 4 receptions for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. In Week 8, he gets to play against the Giants and their super-friendly defense. The secondary for the Giants pretty gets out of the way and lets wide receivers do what they want. Wide receivers average 14 receptions, 181 yards (this is the most), and a touchdown against the Giants weekly.

$6,100 on DraftKings
$8,400 on FanDuel

Other Wide Receiver DFS Picks for Week 8

Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

$6,300 on DraftKings
$7,300 on FanDuel

Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens

$5,400 on DraftKings
$7,100 on FanDuel

Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants

$5,200 on DraftKings
$6,500 on FanDuel

Tight Ends

Mason Taylor, New York Jets

The Jets play the Bengals in Week 8. The Bengals give up the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. In the past 3 weeks, 4 different tight ends have reached double-digit fantasy days against the Bengals. Six different tight ends have scored touchdowns in those 4 games. No one, and I mean no one, allows more touchdowns to tight ends this season. Start Taylor

$3,500 on DraftKings
$4,900 on FanDuel

Noah Fant, Cincinnati Bengals

Since Joe Flacco has taken over as the Bengals quarterback, Fant has seen 4 targets per game. He has a total of 8 targets, 8 receptions, 71 yards, and a touchdown over that 2-game span. The Jets are up next, and they, too, are bottom feeders at defending tight ends. Great spot for Fant to produce in Week 8. I bet you never thought we would talk about his guy again, but here we are.

$3,200 on DraftKings
$5,100 on FanDuel

Other Tight End DFS Picks for Week 8

Tyler Warren

$5,500 on DraftKings
$7,200 on FanDuel

Cade Otton

$3,400 on DraftKings
$5,500 on FanDuel

Defense

Indianapolis Colts

The Titans did it; they officially gave up the most fantasy points to opposing defenses. The Patriots worked hard last week to help the Titans maintain this spot. In Week 8, the Colts will continue to keep the Titans number 1 in our hearts as the team to stream defenses against. Defenses average 13.29 fantasy points per week against the Titans. We love you Titans.

$3,800 on DraftKings
$4,900 on FanDuel

Cincinnati Bengals

Unfortunately, Justin Fields will not be starting for the Jets in Week 8. The Jets do give up the third-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. They will be without their best wide receiver, and Tyrod Taylor will be the quarterback. For 6 straight weeks, the defense playing the Jets has scored 7 or more fantasy points. The Bengals can keep that streak alive.

$2,700 on DraftKings
$4,300 on FanDuel

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons play the Dolphins in Week 8. The Dolphins appear to be in complete disarray. Last week, the Browns defense scored 25 fantasy points against this Dolphins team. There will be sacks and interceptions for the Falcons in Week 8.

$3,500 on DraftKings
$4,100 on FanDuel

Check out all of our Week 8 Rankings: Flex Rankings | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings

💔Heart Breakers

Quarter Backs

Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

If Purdy can go, you can expect a tough time for him in his first game back. Missing almost all of his pass catchers and playing the Texans. The Texans give up the fewest fantasy points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. Purdy will be ugly in Week 8.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

If you are playing him, there is probably something seriously wrong with you. He hasn’t been good. His team hasn’t been good. To top it all off, the Falcons defense is good. The Falcons give up the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Hawk Tua!

Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Drake Maye will probably still produce decent fantasy numbers; he does every week. The Browns defense is no joke, though. They are tough against both the pass and the run. So I would not run him out there in DFS as this is more of a floor game than it is a ceiling game.

Running Backs

Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots

I just said the Browns defense is good against the run a moment ago, didn’t I? Not a single running back has rushed for 100 yards against the Browns this season. They have also given up only 3 touchdowns to running backs this season. No way on Rhamondre for me.

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers will play the Packers in Week 8. The Packers give up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. Only 3 running backs have made it to double-digit fantasy days against the Packers. No, thank you, Jaylen.

Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

I hope you were not considering playing Pollard in DFS. The matchup is bad. The Titans are bad. Pollard is bad. He also splits time now. I am keeping it short because I want to try to stay kind. Yuck.

Wide Receivers

George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys

CeeDee Lamb is back, and that makes the target pickings lower for George. In Week 8, the Cowboys also play the Broncos, and the Broncos give up the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. I can see Pickens getting to 10 fantasy points because Dak will sling it, but I don’t see a big day for him in Week 8.

Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins

Miami’s passing offense bad; Falcons pass defense good. Malik Washington is one of the few options, so there is hope for volume. But hope is not a strategy. I hope you have thought of better options.

Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills

The Bills will play the Panthers in Week 8. The Panthers give up the third fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. The Bills also seem to spread the ball around, and a different wide receiver tops the target volume weekly. You were not playing him anyway, but I felt like being Captain Obvious.

Tight Ends

Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers

The Bills defend the tight end position exceptionally well. They give up the second-fewest fantasy points to the tight end position. Why am I telling you this? Because sometimes people have this fantasy that a backup quarterback will always target his tight end a lot. Anday Dalton is not going to target Sanders a lot in Week 8.

Theo Johnson, New York Giants

Theo goes up sometimes and comes down other times. In Week 8he will be down. The Giants play the Eagles, and the Eagles give up the fourth-fewest points to tight ends. No, no, no! I know I took the easy way out on tight ends this week. Sometimes I need a layup.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!