Draftster Daily Fantasy Football Helper: Week 8
Draftster offers one-day fantasy sports contests for real cash. This week, Draftster is offering three NFL free rolls: a $500 one starting Sunday at 1:00PM EST, a special $100 free roll for all users that make a deposit starting Sunday at 1:00PM EST, and a $50 one starting Sunday at 4:05PM EST. Users are allowed to enter all three if they choose to!
Not sure who to select in your lineup? Don't worry - we've got you covered.
Draftster Optimal Lineup for Week 8
| Player | Position | Projected FP | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Romo | QB | 20.6 | $7,100.00 |
| Andre Johnson | WR | 18.01 | $6,200.00 |
| Martellus Bennett | TE | 13.56 | $4,500.00 |
| Anthony Dixon | RB | 10.13 | $3,100.00 |
| Shayne Graham | K | 8.76 | $3,300.00 |
| Miami D/ST | DEF | 13.73 | $4,100.00 |
| DeMarco Murray | RB | 23.87 | $8,300.00 |
| Alshon Jeffery | WR | 18.18 | $6,000.00 |
| Le'Veon Bell | RB | 21.81 | $7,500.00 |
Remember to always check our up-to-date optimal lineups here.
Through the first three games of the season, Tony Romo had thrown for just 674 yards (224 per game), 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. That's not an ideal start for a quarterback who's as polarizing as any player in the league. Since then, Romo's been red hot. The Cowboys' quarterback has eclipsed 250 yards in each of the past four games while throwing 10 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions.
The Cowboys' offensive line has arguably been the best unit in football this season. They've paved the way for DeMarco Murray to lead the league in rushing at 913 yards - a whopping 298 yards more than anyone else - and rush for at least 100 yards in every game this season. Romo has also only been sacked 12 times. Those 12 sacks allowed rank 11th in the league, but 7 of the 11 teams who have allowed less than 12 sacks have yet to have their bye.
With the offensive line dominating and the rush game working to perfection, much of the usual pressure has been lifted from Romo's shoulders. Romo now looks comfortable, confident and healthy, and draws a great matchup against the Redskins this week. Washington ranks 27th in the league in Adjusted Defensive Passing Net Expected Points (NEP), and have given up the second most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Romo makes a great start in all formats this week.
As I just mentioned, Murray has been nothing short of spectacular this season and is arguably the frontrunner for the MVP. Last week, the league's leading rusher became the only player in NFL history to rush for at least 100 yards in the first seven games of the season. Murray also leads the league with seven rushing touchdowns and yards from scrimmage with 1,072. Additionally, he is averaging more than 130 rushing yards per game and has scored a touchdown in all but one game this season.
Although the Redskins run defense has been stellar this season - they are allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season - there is no reason to believe Murray won't be able to rack up his usual production this week. Murray has already faced two teams who rank in the top 10 in terms of fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs per game and three who rank in the top 15. In Week 3, the Cowboys' running back scored 21.1 fantasy points against a Rams' team who has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, and that is with Murray's monster week factored in. Similarly, Murray posted 21.3 fantasy points in Week 1 against a 49ers defense which has allowed the seventh fewest fantasy points to the running back position this season.
The Cowboys' dominant offensive line coupled with Murray's unique combination of power and elusiveness has made him an unstoppable force. The MVP candidate makes a spectacular start every single week, and this week is no different.
While Murray has unquestionably been the best running back in football through the first (almost) half of the season, Le'Veon Bell has made a strong case as the second best in the league at the position. Bell has rushed for the third most yards in the league with 599, has amassed the fifth-highest yards per carry average at 5.1 and ranks second in the league in yards from scrimmage with 938. The Steelers' running back has accumulated more than 100 yards from scrimmage in every game this season and is averaging more than five receptions a game.
Bell comes into this week's matchup with the Colts on the heels of his second best fantasy performance of the season. The sophomore running back gashed the Texans for 145 yards from scrimmage, adding eight receptions and a receiving touchdown to goal 28.5 fantasy points. Although Indianapolis is allowing just the 15th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, they rank 25th in the league against the run according to numberFire metrics. Bell is one of the most talented rushers in the league and has another great matchup this week. Do not hesitate to plug him into your lineup.
At the flex spot, our algorithms suggest you play Anthony Dixon, who should see a serious increase in touches with the Bills losing both Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller to injuries last week. Dixon has been impressive in a limited role so far this season, averaging 5.1 yards per carry in 27 attempts. Although he will certainly be splitting carries with former Eagles' running back Bryce Brown, Dixon should open this week's game against the Jets as the Bills' starting running back and will likely see a heavy workload.
While a matchup with the Jets' rush defense does not seem ideal on paper, they have actually been struggling as of late. Last week, Shane Vereen torched them for 114 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. The week before, Ronnie Hillman rushed for 100 yards while adding 3 catches for 16, and three weeks ago Branden Oliver gashed New York for 114 yards on the ground, 68 yards through the air and 2 total touchdowns. I don't necessarily expect that kind of production out of Dixon, but at just $3,100 he makes an excellent value play.
At wide receiver, Andre Johnson makes a great play this week. Johnson has caught at least four balls in every game this season and has eclipsed 50 yards in all but one. That means, the Texans' veteran receiver has scored at least 10 fantasy points in PPR leagues (like Draftster) in all but one week this season.
Johnson's high floor makes him a viable option pretty much every week, but this week he makes a particularly good play. Houston has been calling more plays for Johnson down the field the past two weeks and have given him an increase in red zone targets as well. He also gets a matchup with a Titans secondary which has allowed the 13th-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and has given up the 8th-most passing yards on the season. Look for the Texans' receiver to post another double digit fantasy week this week.
