The Packers are going to be without Aaron Jones (calf) again in Week 8 against Minnesota, which should allow Jamaal Williams to be a star for the second week in a row. He's more of a must-start running back than a sleeper given his role, but we'll talk about him here since he's still a backup running back. And many of you have asked who to start Williams over on your Fantasy rosters.
There's only a handful of running backs I would start ahead of Williams, and that's Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, Dalvin Cook and Derrick Henry, regardless of format. I view Williams much like I view Jones, and he performed that way in Week 7 against the Texans.
He had 19 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown, along with four catches for 37 yards on five targets. That's now three games this season where a Packers running back had at least 20 PPR points (Jones had 44 points in Week 2 against Detroit and 22 points in Week 4 against Atlanta), and I wouldn't be shocked if Williams reached that mark again.
The Vikings allowed Jones to score 17 PPR points in Week 1 -- Williams had seven carries for 21 yards, along with four catches for 21 yards on four targets in a reserve role -- and three other running backs have had at least 18 PPR points against Minnesota since then. Jonathan Taylor had 18 PPR points in Week 2, Derrick Henry had 26 PPR points in Week 3 and Chris Carson had 19 PPR points in Week 5.
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Williams should have another stellar outing in Week 8 at home, and he's been a solid replacement option for Jones. Much like Giovani Bernard for Joe Mixon (foot) and Boston Scott for Miles Sanders (knee), we like it when backup running backs are successful, especially if you were able to handcuff them on your Fantasy team.
Now, let's take a look at sleepers for Week 8, as well as some DFS options you can use on DraftKings and FanDuel. As you would expect, Williams will be in a lot of my DFS lineups this week.
More Week 8 help: Start 'Em & Sit 'Em | Dave Richard's Week 8 Preview | QB Start 'Em & Sit 'Em | RB Start 'Em & Sit 'Em | PPR Cheat Sheet | Non-PPR Cheat Sheet | Trade Values | Biggest Questions | QB Preview | RB Preview | WR Preview | TE Preview | Rest-of-Season Rankings
Week 8 Sleepers
Sleepers
Mayfield just had the best Fantasy game of his career in Week 7 against Cincinnati with 39 Fantasy points, and he did that with Odell Beckham (ACL) hurt, Austin Hooper (appendix) out and Jarvis Landry limited to five catches for 48 yards. He doesn't have Beckham or Hooper again this week, but it shouldn't matter against the Raiders, who have allowed 997 passing yards, 11 total touchdowns with just two interceptions in their past three games against Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady.
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Garoppolo should be considered a low-end starter this week against the Seahawks, who allow the most Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Five of six quarterbacks against Seattle have at least 315 passing yards and three have at least three touchdowns. In two of three complete games this year, Garoppolo has scored at least 22 Fantasy points.
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I'm hoping the Cousins we got prior to Minnesota's bye in Week 7 shows up again this week from the standpoint of his pass attempts. He had at least 36 pass attempts in consecutive games against Seattle and Atlanta, and he had 29 Fantasy points against the Falcons. Cousins also had 25 Fantasy points against Green Bay in Week 1, and the Packers have allowed multiple touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks in all but one game this year.
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I'm sure Andy Reid will give Bell the chance for some revenge against the Jets, but this is also a good game to give Bell some extended work if the Chiefs are playing with a big lead. In his first game with Kansas City in Week 7 at Denver, Bell had six carries for 39 yards. You should still start Clyde Edwards-Helaire with confidence, but Bell can be at least a flex option against his former team.
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I'm hopeful that if Mark Ingram (ankle) is out in Week 8 against the Steelers that we see more of Dobbins instead of Gus Edwards. Both are good flex options if Ingram doesn't play, even against the Steelers, but I'd love to see Dobbins get an increased workload similar to what the Lions did with D'Andre Swift following their bye week. The Ravens have a chance to do that with Dobbins if Ingram is out, and hopefully he's successful if the opportunity arises.
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Perine will hopefully continue to take on more work for the Jets, and he just had a season high in carries (11), rushing yards (39) and receiving yards (16), along with his first NFL touchdown. Frank Gore will continue to get touches, but Perine has flex appeal against the Chiefs, who have allowed six running backs to score or gain at least 100 total yards this year.
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It's time for the Bills to commit to Moss and see what he can do after Devin Singletary has struggled to be the lead rusher this season. In Week 7 at the Jets, Moss had seven carries for 47 yards, along with three catches for 25 yards. The Patriots have allowed a 100-yard rusher in consecutive games with Phillip Lindsay and Wilson, and I have more faith in Moss doing damage on the ground against New England than Singletary. Use him as a flex option this week, especially in non-PPR.
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Even though John Brown should return this week from his one-game absence in Week 7 at the Jets, I'm still using Beasley as a borderline starter in all leagues, with his value slightly higher in PPR. Beasley has scored at least 11 PPR points in six games in a row, including at least 14 PPR points in his past two games against Kansas City and the Jets. The Patriots have allowed nine receivers to either score or gain at least 100 receiving yards in their past five games.
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Higgins should see an expanded role with Odell Beckham (ACL) out, and he's worth starting as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues against the Raiders. He has either a touchdown or 100 receiving yards in three games in a row, and the Raiders just allowed three touchdowns to Tampa Bay's receivers last week.
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The Browns have struggled with slot receivers all season, and Renfrow will hopefully continue to be a popular target for Derek Carr this week. He has at least six targets in three of his past four games, and should be considered a low-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in PPR. Nelson Agholor and Henry Ruggs have a higher ceiling for the Raiders given their big-play ability, but don't be surprised if Renfrow has a big game this week against the Browns.
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I liked what Shepard did in Week 7 at the Eagles after being out four games with a toe injury. He had six catches for 59 yards and a touchdown on eight targets, and he should again be heavily involved from Daniel Jones this week. The Buccaneers secondary is tough, but Darius Slayton should have the harder time with a likely matchup against Carlton Davis. Shepard should be considered a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
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With Jamison Crowder (groin) and Breshad Perriman (concussion) banged up and likely out as the 0-7 Jets face the Chiefs, we could see Mims as the No. 1 receiver for the Jets. Making his NFL debut in Week 7 against Buffalo, Mims had four catches for 42 yards on seven targets, and it would be great to see him get seven targets again this week. Four receivers have had at least seven targets against the Chiefs this year, and all four have scored at least 13 PPR points. Mims should be considered a low-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues if Crowder and Perriman are out.
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When we last saw Burton in Week 6 against the Bengals he had his best game of the season with four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown, and hopefully he can build off that performance. The Lions just allowed Hayden Hurst to score 12 PPR points, and Burton can have similar success this week.
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With the Browns needing help with Austin Hooper (appendix) out and Odell Beckham (ACL) hurt, Bryant stepped up with four catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns on five targets in Week 7. He could have another quality outing this week against the Raiders, who have allowed a tight end to score in each of the past two games against Travis Kelce and Rob Gronkowski.
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DFS LINEUPS
DraftKings
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo (at SEA) $5,400
RB: Kareem Hunt (vs. LV) $6,900
RB: Jamaal Williams (vs. MIN) $6,100
WR: Davante Adams (vs. MIN) $8,800
WR: Brandon Aiyuk (at SEA) $5,800
WR: Hunter Renfrow (at CLE) $3,800
TE: Jonnu Smith (at CIN) $4,100
FLEX: Giovani Bernard (vs. TEN) $5,800
DST: Bills (vs. NE) $3,300
I'm excited to see how stacking Garoppolo and Aiyuk works out. Their matchup is great against Seattle, and hopefully Garoppolo leans on Aiyuk with Deebo Samuel (hamstring) out.
Williams and Bernard have the chance to be awesome again as injury replacements, and I'm expecting a big game from Hunt against the Raiders. The running backs and Smith at tight end might be my favorite DFS plays this week of the popular guys you want to use.
At receiver along with Aiyuk, I'll spend up for Adams given his enormous potential on a weekly basis, especially against Minnesota's secondary. And, as stated above, I like the setup for Renfrow going against the Browns.
FanDuel
QB Justin Herbert (at DEN) $7,700
RB: Derrick Henry (at CIN) $9,500
RB: Jamaal Williams (vs. MIN) $7,000
WR: Kenny Golladay (vs. IND) $7,600
WR: Keenan Allen (at DEN) $7,400
WR: Hunter Renfrow (at CLE) $5,100
TE: Jonnu Smith (at CIN) $6,100
FLEX: Le'Veon Bell (vs. NYJ) $6,000
DEF: Saints (at CHI) $3,600
I'll go back to Herbert this week after he was awesome as the Start of the Week in Week 7 against the Jaguars. He will hopefully have similar success this week against the Broncos, and I love stacking him with Allen.
I'll use Williams, Smith and Renfrow again with this team, but I'm changing up the other running back and flex. Henry should dominate the Bengals, and Bell will hopefully get plenty of revenge against the Jets and Adam Gase.
Golladay should have a big game against the Colts, and I expect the Saints defense to dominate the Bears. This should be a successful lineup -- hopefully in a big way.
So who should you start and sit this week? And which surprising quarterback could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 8 rankings for every position, plus see which QB is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that out-performed experts big-time last season.
