Fantasy Football GPP Plays- Week 8
These fantasy football GPP plays can be the difference in a large-field tournament! Cash in big Week 8!
In the inaugural edition of this post, I’d like to point out a few things. First off, these plays are meant to be considered as tournament-only options. Second, these are boom-or-bust plays, who could end up putting up a complete dud of a game, or being the guy who explodes for 30 fantasy points and carries you to a GPP victory. Third, use these plays with caution, because they have do have inherent risk. Along with their high ceiling and point potential, there is also a low floor and lack of consistency. Alright, enough disclaimers! These are the players I believe can be the difference between your lineups minimum cashing in a GPP or winning the whole damn thing.
Quarterback
Nick Foles ($12,300) @ Arizona - Foles is the epitome of inconsistency thus far this season, with his point totals ranging from 5.90 to 26.20, and an average of 16.2 per game. After passing for at least 322 yards in each of his first three games, he seemingly picked up right where he left off last season. Fast forward three weeks, and he has a combined 650 yards through the air since that time, with a 4/5 TD/INT ratio. However, coming off of a bye week, I anticipate a big game from Foles this week against an Arizona secondary that allows the second-most passing yards per game in the NFL at just under 285 per contest. With a stout front seven who will likely control the Eagles inconsistent rushing attack, Foles will have no choice but to air it out.
Teddy Bridgewater ($10,800) @ Tampa Bay - If you’re looking for a cheap QB in a great spot, Bridgewater is your guy. How could we possibly talk about bad pass defenses without picking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Let me put it into perspective for you. Matt Ryan posted a 155.9 (158.3 is perfect) passer rating against Tampa’s atrocious secondary, and hasn’t even reached 90 since that date. Joe Flacco put up 245 yards and FIVE touchdowns against them…in the FIRST HALF. This is a team I have been targeting with QBs each week, and Week 8 will be no different. Bridgewater has just one touchdown pass on the season, but I would not be surprised at all if he doubles or triples that number this week alone. At under $11,000, Bridgewater could pay off big time for you in a GPP.
Running Back
Darren McFadden ($8,300) @ Cleveland - McFadden has been one of the most frustrating player to roster in fantasy over the past few seasons with his inconsistent play and injury concerns. With that being said, there is no better matchup for a running back right now in the NFL than the Cleveland Browns. The Browns defense has been absolutely gashed by opposing backs this season, allowing a league-worst 155.5 yards per game, including 127 yards to QB-turned-WR-turned-RB Denard Robinson last week. McFadden has averaged less than 4 YPC this season, so he will be off the radar for most DFS players. If you throw in the fact that he has been targeted 17 times in the passing game over the past three weeks, you have the recipe for a top-notch GPP play.
Doug Martin ($8,000) vs Minnesota - Don’t get me wrong here, Martin has been nothing short of awful this season, with a paltry 139 yards on 48 carries. He also loses value and opportunity in any game where Tampa is behind by a significant margin, because he is a minimal factor in the passing game at best, with just 55 receiving yards on the season. The play here is largely anecdotal. Charles Sims seems to be the future of the backfield in Tampa Bay, and Sunday is Martin’s last chance to show that he has any remaining value to the team. Minnesota has been right around the middle of the pack against the run, allowing just over 118 rushing yards per game, so the matchup isn’t ideal. However, they have been even better against the pass, giving up just 216 passing yards per contest. If Tampa Bay has any chance of staying in this game, it will be by controlling the clock on the ground. Martin is as risky as they come, but a 15/75/1 stat line isn’t out of the question if the game is competitive.
Wide Receiver
Eric Decker ($10,050) vs Buffalo - Decker has seemingly been a thorn in the side of many DFS players this year, but if you take a closer look, Decker actually offers a good amount of value. He has been targeted 27 times over the past three games he has played in, and has hauled in 14 of those passes for 167 yards and a pair of scores. That production averages out to just over 14 points per contest. He is currently listed as Questionable, but it looks increasingly likely that he will play on Sunday. While Buffalo has been dominant against the run, they still allow nearly 250 passing yards per game. With a lack of consistent options, Decker remains in play for tournaments against a beatable secondary. Much of his value is contingent on Geno Smith being able to get him the ball. If Decker is healthy and Geno can find a way to be less erratic this week, he could be in for a nice day.
Donte Moncrief ($4,000) @ Pittsburgh - DISCLAIMER: I will only be playing Moncrief if Reggie Wayne is out. Wayne missed practice again on Thursday, and is Questionable for Sunday’s game. With that out of the way, I LOVE Moncrief if he does in fact step in to an increased role this Sunday against the Steelers. Andrew Luck has been nothing short of phenomenal this season, and the Colts have the top passing attack in the NFL at just over 329 passing yards per game. I am not a believer in Hakeem Nicks, and think that Moncrief will be the one to benefit in Wayne’s absence, and could be in line for a nice day. At minimum salary, he could be a difference-maker on your GPP teams who also helps you spend up elsewhere.
Tight End
Scott Chandler ($5,700) @ New York Jets - Chandler is the ultimate GPP play, as he has only scored 7+ points in two games this season. What Chandler has working in his favor is the fact that the Jets rank 31st in the NFL against TEs according to Football Outsiders. Fred Jackson is out for the next month, and C.J. Spiller is now out for the season. Why does this affect Chandler, you ask? Jackson had 35 targets alone over the past 5 weeks, including last week’s game that he left with injury. Chandler has had 30 targets himself over that span, and I anticipate that he, not Anthony Dixon or Bryce Brown, will be the beneficiary of Jackson’s absence. The Jets’ run defense is stout, allowing under 90 yards per game, and without a reliable option in the backfield, the Bills will be throwing the ball. I like Chandler to take advantage of the opportunity and have the potential for a big game against an Jets defense that has been embarrassed at times through the air.
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