The NFL rolls on into Week 8 and our main Draftstars slate tightens up thanks to six teams on bye. That doesn’t mean fewer edges—just fewer obvious ones. With 10 games (seven early, three late), this is a classic leverage slate where you can win by leaning into value, usage trends, and game environments that the field will underrate. If you’re searching for “NFL Week 8 Draftstars picks” or “Week 8 DFS sleepers,” this preview focuses on low-owned plays and underpriced roles rather than the chalk everyone already knows to click.
Early-window highlights include Bills–Panthers (totalled at 46.5) and Bears at Ravens (totalled at 49, with Baltimore getting a Jackson boost), while Falcons–Dolphins and Bengals–Jets add more paths for points. The late window is headlined by Cowboys–Broncos (up to 51), with the other two games also carrying totals of 47 or more—exactly the type of spots to target this week. Draftstars has a $25,000 guarantee with $2,480 to first; let’s build lineups that can actually climb those leaderboards.
NFL 2025-26 Daily Fantasy Tips: Week 8 Monday
Quarterbacks
Bo Nix — $15,460
I don’t usually pay a premium the week after a blow-up, but context matters. The total has been bet up to 51 and the matchup profiles as a classic back-and-forth: a fast track, a defence that gives up chunk plays, and an opponent that will keep scoring and force pace. Nix brings a dual-threat floor—designed keepers, scrambles, and red-zone involvement—which protects you even if passing efficiency cools. The leverage angle: rather than paying all the way up for a top-salary QB, you capture a similar ceiling in a high-total game at a discount. Correlate with one pass-catcher and consider a 2–1 bring-back to tell a complete story.
Joe Flacco — $11,880
Salary hasn’t caught up to the role. This version of the offense is meaningfully different from the one Flacco ran in Cleveland: more downfield intent, more perimeter isolation, more freedom to attack early downs through the air. The recent production speaks to that shift, and the matchup is unlikely to scare the field away given the Jets’ defensive reputation. That creates leverage. Pairing Flacco with Ja’Marr Chase is the obvious route; adding a secondary stack (e.g., RB or TE on the other side) lets you ride a full game script while keeping salary efficient. With Sauce Gardner confirmed out, Flacco and Chase should COOK.
Slate Strategy (QBs)
Quarterback is a “take a stand” position this week. The field will cluster around the very top and the very bottom; that makes the mid-high tier (Nix) and the value-with-ceiling tier (Flacco) sweet spots for differentiation. Prioritise QBs in totals of 47+ and with rushing or deep-ball equity; avoid low-total pocket passers whose ceiling depends on flawless efficiency. Build 2–1 stacks in your primary game and use your remaining salary for leverage one-offs (especially at TE/DST). Don’t be afraid to go against the highly owned Allen and Lamar this week.
Running Backs
Christian McCaffrey — $19,910
If you’re paying all the way up, you need two things: ironclad role and multi-TD access independent of game script. McCaffrey remains the league’s gold standard in both. He owns the money touches, he’s the first read on high-leverage downs, and he stays on the field in two-minute and four-minute drills. The matchup looks tough on paper, which is exactly why this can be a leverage spend—the field may choose the slightly cheaper premium back in the softer spot. In tournaments where you fade the chalkiest stud RB, CMC offers a direct path to beating those builds if the volume and red-zone usage convert. Yes, Bijan and JT are scary, but I see CMC being the point of difference here in the premium RB market.
Breece Hall — $13,140
This is a price-driven bet on talent plus matchup. The opponent has bled explosive runs and receiving production to RBs, and Hall’s profile—home-run speed, screen game involvement, and goal-line equity—fits the exact way they’ve been beaten. If the Jets simplify at quarterback and lean into the run/short pass script, Hall’s touch count can swell. There’s bust potential; that’s why you’re getting him for mid-tier money instead of top-five pricing. But the ceiling is top 5 RB on this slate if game flow cooperates.
Rico Dowdle — $10,650
Timeshare? Yes. Still playable? Absolutely—because the underlying matchup is tailor-made for north–south runners who break tackles and finish runs. The Bills have struggled versus power looks and yards after contact; Dowdle fits that mould better than his backfield mate when you need to get downhill. Even in a 55/45 split, 14–16 efficient carries and a couple of targets can deliver 100+ and a score at this salary. This is a tournament leverage play the field will be lukewarm on because of the split; that’s the point.
Slate Strategy (RBs)
RB is a barbell position this week: either you spend for a true bellcow (CMC, Bijan, JT) or you live in the $10k–$13k band with backs who have a strong chance at 18+ combined touches and red-zone access (Hall, Dowdle). If you’re paying up at QB or WR, pair one mid-tier back with a value FLEX RB who has a path to 15 touches. Prioritise receiving roles—targets are king when games get volatile. If fading the most popular premium RB, get different with mini-stacks (e.g., your RB + opposing WR) to capture correlated game scripts the field ignores.
Wide Receivers
Ja’Marr Chase — $17,720
Quarterback upgrade, role unchanged—that’s exactly what you want. Chase’s first-read share and deep-target profile re-open the 30-point door whenever efficiency isn’t throttled by coverage. If Sauce Gardner sits (monitor news), he becomes near-unfadable in tournaments; if Sauce plays, you simply get him at lower ownership with the same per-target ceiling. Tie him to Flacco for a cost-effective elite stack; build a 3-1 construction if you think the game shoots and the Jets push back. Update: Gardner is OUT, Smash Chase this week
Drake London — $13,460
London’s counting stats dipped, but nothing in the underlying usage suggests a role change. The matchup is high yield: Miami has conceded chunk plays and struggled to plaster in space, and London thrives when the Falcons dial in layered route concepts and give him isolation chances on the boundary. If the Falcons defence/special teams don’t end the game early with non-offensive scores, London has a path to double-digit targets and red-zone looks. He’s a classic bounce back WR at a fair price.
Kayshon Boutte — $8,850
High variance, high payoff. Boutte cycles between WR3 snap rates and WR1 spike weeks depending on game plan and opponent. The matchup is tough on paper, which is precisely why he’s a good tournament sprinkle: he’ll be ignored, but his role includes schemed explosives and end-zone shots when the coverage rolls to the “obvious” option. Think 3–6 targets with volatile depth—exactly the archetype that creates leverage when a slate needs one play to flip.
Slate Strategy (WRs)
Receiver is where you win the slate. The field will jam one stud and then punt; instead, consider double mid-tier ceiling builds (e.g., London plus a late-window WR) or stud + value-ceiling (Chase + Boutte) that correlate with your QB choices. Avoid WRs whose production depends on broken plays; lean into first-read targets, high aDOT roles, and red-zone involvement. If your QB is chalky, make your WRs contrarian (secondary stacks, late-swap pivots). If your QB is contrarian (Flacco), you can eat a little WR ownership without sinking uniqueness.
Tight Ends
Kyle Pitts Sr. — $8,010
Tight end is thin, which makes Pitts’ combination of athletic profile and matchup very appealing. Miami has been soft between the numbers and after the catch, and Pitts has seen consistent schemed involvement in play-action and high-leverage situations. As a stacking partner with Drake London (or as a bring-back against concentrated Miami exposure), Pitts offers a rare TE ceiling without the premium salary. The “National Tight End Day” jokes aside, this is a spot where 6–8 targets can turn into a slate-winning line if one of them is a shot play or red-zone design.
Gunnar Helm — $5,000
You’re here for role and salary. Helm’s snaps have crept toward parity with Okonkwo, and his rapport with the rookie QB Cam Ward is trending the right direction, particularly on third down and in the red zone. The opponent has allowed steady TE production—especially to in-line/short-area options—which suits Helm’s route tree. If injuries thin the WR room further, he can soak up 5–7 targets at the stone minimum salary, and a single touchdown makes him one of the best point-per-dollar plays on the slate.
Slate Strategy (TEs)
Ownership will consolidate around one or two “safety” options. That’s not where we live. Pitts gives you WR-lite upside at a mid-tier price; Helm gives you cap relief with a live path to 12–16 points. In single-entry, use TE for leverage. In multi-entry, diversify: one premium, one mid, one punt across your portfolio and let variance work for you.
D/ST
New England Patriots — $6,210
This is an old-school defensive angle: low total, potential weather, and an opponent whose passing game hasn’t travelled particularly well. If New England controls early downs and forces obvious passing situations, their pressure packages can create sacks and short fields. You’re looking for 8–12 points with upside to 15+ if turnovers break right.
Atlanta Falcons — $6,190
Miami indoors is a different animal, but the more telling trend is the Dolphins’ recent sloppiness in protection and decision-making. If Atlanta’s front wins on early downs, it forces Tua to hold the ball and throw into tighter windows—fertile ground for sacks and tipped-ball interceptions. Defences are about volatility; this one carries it with the added bonus of modest ownership.
Slate Strategy (D/ST)
Don’t overpay blindly. Prioritise pressure rate, opponent protection issues, and turnover paths. If your lineup is chalky elsewhere, pivot at D/ST to a leveraged unit (Falcons). If your lineup is already contrarian, you can ride the “safe” defence (Patriots) to stabilise the floor. As ever, correlate when sensible—pair a defence with the opposing RB if you’re betting on a slog.
Slate Strategy & Construction
-
Start with a game thesis.
Pick one of the high-total environments (Cowboys–Broncos; Bears–Ravens; Bengals–Jets) and build a 2–1 or 3–1 stack around it. Your QB sets the tone: Nix for a premium-ceiling mid-price, Flacco for value that lets you pay up elsewhere.
-
RB: barbell or balanced.
Either spend for CMC and pair with a mid-tier value (Hall/Dowdle) or skip the absolute top to build two mid-tier backs with real receiving roles and red-zone chances. If your QB stack is expensive, RB is where you recover cap without losing ceiling.
-
WR: win the slate here.
Anchor with Chase or London, then add a value ceiling (Boutte). Look at totals and defences teams are facing, and base your wide receiver selections here. If you don’t take a Chase, he can single-handedly end your week in the red.
-
TE: leverage, not safety.
TE scoring is fragile—embrace it. Pitts gives you ceiling at modest ownership; Helm is a price-saving role bet. If the chalk TE hits, your ceiling at other positions must paper over it; if the chalk TE fails (often), your lineup surges.
-
D/ST: chase pressure.
Play for sacks and turnovers; totals and spreads are secondary. Patriots for structural soundness, Falcons for leverage. Always consider how your defense choice affects the story your lineup is telling.
Lineup Templates
- Aggressive Stack: Bo Nix + WR + secondary pass-catcher / Bring-back WR, RB: Hall + Dowdle, WR: London, TE: Pitts, DST: Falcons.
- Value Ceiling: Joe Flacco + Chase / cheap bring-back, RB: CMC + value, WR: London + Boutte, TE: Helm, DST: Patriots.
Final Thoughts
Week 8 is exactly the kind of slate where value hunters thrive. Instead of chasing the most popular premium combinations, build around under-owned ceilings and roles that the market hasn’t fully priced: Bo Nix in a surging total; Joe Flacco at a misfit salary with an elite WR; Breece Hall for big-play leverage; Rico Dowdle for matchup-driven efficiency; Kyle Pitts for TE ceiling without paying TE premium; Gunnar Helm for bottom-dollar volume; Patriots/Falcons defences for pressure-based volatility.
Don’t be afraid to leave a few hundred dollars on the table—uniqueness beats duplication when you’re right about the game environment. Most of all, make each lineup tell a coherent story: how does it get to 180+? If the events you’ve bet on occur, your construction should naturally bubble to the top.
Suggested Monday NFL Draftstars Lineup
Good luck in Week 8—let’s get weird, get different, and get paid!
