We don’t have six teams on bye this week, so that’s a win in and of itself when creating our Week 8 NFL DFS lineups. In fact, there are no teams on bye this week! By taking a look at projected game and team totals, as well as our NFL DFS Week 8 player projections, we’ll get a good look at how we can best optimize the wide receiver position in our NFL DFS lineups. From superstar receivers to top NFL DFS stacks, the NFL DFS WR Coach will have multiple plays at various pricing tiers to help construct your lineups. 

Without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s DFS WR Coach, highlighting the top plays, values, and fades at the wide receiver position to help build your NFL DFS lineups for Sunday’s main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel.

 

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NFL DFS WR Top Tier Picks

A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

I mean, where do we begin with Brown? Is it the fact that he has five straight games with at least 125 receiving yards? Or is it the fact that he’s averaging over eight receptions and just under 10 targets per game over his last five? Is it the fact that he has just one game this season with fewer than eight targets? The production is there, and the volume is most certainly there, and guess what? He’s got a great matchup this week against a Commanders defense that has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to receivers this season, and the sixth-most over the last four weeks. 

I’ll also give a nod to DeVonta Smith, as he’s decimated this Washington defense over their last three matchups dating back to last season (7 receptions on 9.7 targets for 95.3 yards and 0.67 TDs per game).

Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

Kupp had some early drops last week that killed his overall numbers, but I prefer him to Nacua this week. If everyone chases Nacua’s production last week, let them, because it’s going to be Mr. Kupp who has the best matchup for the Rams. Jourdan Lewis should man the slot for Dallas, and over his last two games, he’s allowed six receptions on seven targets for 121 yards and two touchdowns in slot coverage, good for a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted, per PFF. Nacua will deal with the better Dallas corners on the perimeter more often than Kupp will, so pay the extra money to get to Kupp this week.

Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Minnesota just picked apart this San Francisco secondary, so coming off a bye, can’t Joe Burrow do the same thing? If this time off allowed Burrow to get fully healthy, this could turn into a full-on aerial assault by the Bengals. With a less-than-fully-healthy Joe Burrow, Chase was averaging 10 receptions on 14 targets for 121.5 yards and 0.8 touchdowns per game in the four games leading up to the team’s bye! Keep in mind that the 49ers have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game over the last four weeks to wide receivers.

CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

The Rams have been vulnerable out of the slot this year, and Lamb has been the most productive receiver for Dallas out of the slot. Lamb moves all around the field, but it’s worth noting that he has the seventh-most receiving yards out of the slot this year, not to mention a healthy 8.5 average depth of target (aDOT) and 14.1 yards per reception, per PFF. 

Cobie Durant will have his hands full with Lamb, and the second-year corner out of South Carolina State has allowed 14.5 yards per reception and a 102.1 passer rating when targeted in slot coverage this season. I’ll give a quick nod to Michael Gallup as well, because if he’s going to get solid volume (7+ targets) at his price point on DraftKings, he’s worth a flier, as the connection issues with Dak Prescott should get ironed out sooner rather than later.

NFL DFS WR Mid-Tier Picks

Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens

I don’t know what is/was getting into me, but something tells me Odell Beckham. has a noteworthy game this week, too, but alas, we roll with the more consistent option in Flowers. He’s averaging five receptions on 8.3 targets for 66 yards per game over the last three weeks and draws the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8, the team that just so happens to be the most generous to wide receivers, in terms of fantasy points per game, over the last four weeks. I should also note that they have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points overall to the wide receiver position in 2023. 

The Cardinals also boast the league’s worst coverage grade, and ninth-worst tackling grade per PFF. Flowers is excellent with the ball in his hands, and it hasn’t taken him long to ascend to the team’s WR1. He’s a rock-solid cash game option this week, with OBJ being more of a GPP look if you are going all in on Baltimore against Arizona.

Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers

Houston has been playing a little bend but don’t break of late, allowing a handful of yards through the air over the last few games. Coming off the bye, we’ll have to see if Tavierre Thomas is back manning the slot, or if Jimmie Ward will continue to hold the fort down, but nonetheless, if Houston’s run defense stays improved, they are going to force Bryce Young to beat them. If that happens, we’ll be looking at another double-digit target game for Thielen, which would make it the fourth time in his last five games he surpassed 10 targets. 

Thielen has 75 receiving yards or a touchdown in five straight games, and he’s been as steady as they come. I like Houston to get out to an early lead on Carolina, meaning the game script should be in his favor as Carolina looks to have Young throw it 35+ times. The price point is far more appealing on DraftKings.

Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars

GPP play only, as Ridley cannot be trusted in cash. However, this is such a good matchup, and particularly when he squares off with Levi Wallace, he’ll have the best matchup on the field. Until Pittsburgh commits to playing Joey Porter Jr. full time, they will be battered and beaten on the outside, and Ridley is going to torch Wallace in particular. 

Over his last two games, Wallace has allowed 17 yards per reception, a 16.4 aDOT, and a 116.8 passer rating when targeted, per PFF! As a whole, the Steelers have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the last four weeks. I’ll sprinkle in some shares of Ridley in multi-entry tournaments, but again, won’t play him in cash games.

Nico Collins, Houston Texans

Sometimes it’s tricky to pick the right Houston receiver, but coming out of the team’s bye, they’ll have to have stuff drawn up for their WR1, Nico Collins. He’s been a big play machine this year, as seen by his 18.9 yards per reception mark, which is the best number in the league amongst receivers with at least 20 targets. Oh, he’s also seventh in yards after the catch, and has respectable marks in the yards per route run (3.01) and aDOT (11.9) departments, per PFF. 

He has a significant size advantage over these Carolina corners, and in a matchup between the first two picks in this past year’s draft, Bobby Slowik is going to have some stuff dialed up to let Stroud show off against some of those that reportedly favored him to Bryce Young within Carolina’s walls.

Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

It was reported that Olave was arrested, so we’ll need to be sure nothing happens there, but it will be a distraction nonetheless. However, perimeter receivers have crushed Indy this season, and a heavy dosage of targets against them go to boundary receivers. Olave does travel into the slot a fair amount, but he’s taken the majority of his snaps lined up out wide in every game but one. 

Derek Carr is looking his way a ton of late, and Olave has double-digit targets in every game but two this season. It’s also not like the Colts are impenetrable out of the slot either, so don’t worry about Olave there. If you can’t afford Olave but you want a New Orleans receiver, my next look is Rashid Shaheed, as his speed and big play ability could wreak havoc on a Colts secondary that lacks speed out wide.

Drake London, Atlanta Falcons

Desmond Ridder has been at least a bit better through the air of late, and while London hasn’t found the end zone for a few weeks, he has at least six receptions, seven targets and 54 receiving yards in three straight games. He draws a great matchup against a Titans team that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to receivers, and this just might be a game where Arthur Smith is forced to throw the ball. 

London will feast on Kristian Fulton, who has been one of the more disappointing corners this season. The hope here is that Tennessee can put enough points on the board to not let Atlanta be content with just running and punting its way to a win. If things play out well for the Atlanta passing attack, this is a dream spot for London.

NFL DFS WR Value Picks

Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts

The slot receiver who has been producing gets the Saints this week? Sign me up! Downs has at least six targets in four of his last five games, and not only has he found the end zone in back-to-back weeks, but he’s averaging nearly 70 yards per game over the last four weeks! Gardner Minshew trusts the rookie receiver, and Downs has the fourth-most receiving yards out of the slot this season! 

New Orleans’ Alontae Taylor has allowed a 104.9 passer rating when targeted in slot coverage, and he’s the corner you want to target in this New Orleans secondary. Downs is way too cheap on DraftKings in particular, coming in at just $4,800, in a game where he has a great matchup, and both teams play at a pretty quick pace.

Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

The Bengals have had their fair share of issues covering slot receivers this season, and they’ve been one of the more generous defenses in the league in terms of fantasy points allowed out of the slot. Well, Deebo Samuel will miss this game, and Brandon Aiyuk rarely travels to the slot. 

Don’t get me wrong, Aiyuk is a fine play, but if I need to save money at the receiver position, I’m going to look to Jennings, who commanded nine targets while playing 74 percent of the offensive snaps in the team’s first full game without Samuel. He’s $5,500 on FanDuel, and just $3,800 on DraftKings. Is four receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown that outlandish? I say no!

10/27 Update: We'll need to see Brock Purdy's status for this game before using Jennings as a value WR.

Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

Until his price gets too high, we keep rolling with Rice. His five receptions last week tied his season high, his six targets and 60 yards were both the second-most he’s recorded in a game, while his 59 percent snap share was a season best. Kansas City knows that he needs to be on the field, and the ball needs to get his way, and it’s happening more and more. The rookie is also tied with Travis Kelce for red zone targets on the team, so there’s a role carved out for him in fantasy’s most important 20-yard segment. 

The Broncos have underperformed this season, Mahomes just threw for 306 yards against them two weeks ago, and in that contest, Rice had 72 yards and averaged 18 yards per reception.


NFL DFS WR Fades

DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

We’ll have to see who is under center for Tennessee, but this is not a good matchup for the veteran receiver. Hopkins took advantage of a bad Indianapolis secondary, but outside of that game, he hasn’t had many notable fantasy performances. He’s still yet to find the end zone as a member of the Titans, and paying for Hopkins in DFS with Malik Willis and/or Will Levis under center in a tough matchup doesn’t seem like an optimal use of funds.