DFS: The Slate, Part I - A Detailed Look at the Week 8 Schedule

Here's a breakdown of Sunday's early slate of games (London game excluded; click here for Part II; all times ET):

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.

Line: Falcons -7 1/2 (opened at -7 1/2)
O/U: 48 1/2 (opened at 49)
Weather: Dome

Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston may never be a viable GPP play - at least, not this season - but you could do worse in cash games. The Falcons' pass defense can be exposed, and Winston is showing improvement each week. ... RB Doug Martin has racked up 365 rushing yards and three scores the past three weeks. He's a must-play option in both formats against a suspect Atlanta run defense. ... With Vincent Jackson (knee) and Louis Murphy (ACL) on the shelf, WR Mike Evans becomes a DFS darling. Roster him with extreme confidence. ... TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins is back at practice and may return. If he does, he'll be a solid GPP flier. ... Falcons QB Matt Ryan has been consistently underwhelming. Even in a game where Atlanta's implied total exceeds 27, he can't be trusted outside of tournaments given his exorbitant price tag. ... RB Devonta Freeman came down to earth last week, managing "only" 130 total yards while failing to score for the first time since Week 1. It's a blip; he's super pricey, but has one of the highest floors and ceilings at the position. ... WR Julio Jones returned to DFS relevance last week; look for Ryan to force-feed him the ball against the division-rival Buccaneers. Expect at least 12 targets and terrific production as a result. ... No other Falcons receiver can be trusted.

Prediction: Falcons 27, Buccaneers 20
DFS MVP: Julio Jones

Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.

Line: Cardinals -6 (opened at -4 1/2)
O/U: 46 (opened at 46)
Weather: Partly cloudy, 61 F; WSW wind @ 13 mph

Cardinals QB Carson Palmer has seen his upside negated by the fact that his team simply hasn't needed him to throw for 350 yards; that should be the case again this week, making him a decent cash play but not advisable in GPPs. ... Just when you think RB Chris Johnson may be nearing the end of his amazing run, he puts up another great game. Johnson should wreak havoc against the league's worst run defense. ... WRs Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown are both decent tournament options, but face limited upsides thanks to Cleveland's formidable pass defense. ... It sounds like Browns QB Josh McCown will suit up Sunday, which is good news for the offense. That said, he isn't a recommended play against a stout Arizona pass defense. ... RB Duke Johnson Jr. is gradually - almost glacially - assuming the No. 1 backfield role. His role in the passing game makes him a GPP option against an Arizona unit that allows the second-most receiving yards to opposing running backs. ... The same goes for Cleveland's stable of wide receivers, which may include Dwayne Bowe. Yes, you read that correctly. ... TE Gary Barnidge is a strong play in all formats if McCown suits up; he has excelled against tough defenses before, and is in great shape to do it again - especially if (and when) the Browns fall behind.

Prediction: Cardinals 27, Browns 17
DFS MVP: Chris Johnson

San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams, 1 p.m.

Line: Rams -7 1/2 (opened at -7 1/2)
O/U: 39 1/2 (opened at 39 1/2)
Weather: Dome

Rumblings persist that 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick may be benched in the near future; that's not the kind of news you want swirling around your DFS quarterback. Stay far away this week. ... RB Carlos Hyde won't play due to injury, and Reggie Bush has some value as a receiver, but isn't a strong option ... WRs Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith won't be great plays this week - and neither will TE Vernon Davis. The Rams pass defense allows the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers. ... St. Louis QB Nick Foles is a terrible DFS play most weeks; though the 49ers' defense is bad, Foles isn't exactly equipped to take advantage. Avoid him. ... Tip of the week: Find sites where RB Todd Gurley's price hasn't yet caught up to his skill level and load up. Gurley should feast in a game flow-positive matchup against a truly horrid defense. He should be the highest-owned RB in all formats - and with good reason. ... None of the St. Louis pass-catchers are worth rostering this week.

Prediction: Rams 24, 49ers 13
DFS MVP: Todd Gurley

New York Giants at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m.

Line: Saints -3 (opened at -3 1/2)
O/U: 50 (opened at 49)
Weather: Dome

Saints QB Drew Brees is usually a great option at home, but the Giants are much stronger against the pass than the run - allowing the 10th-fewest points to QBs. Tread carefully with Brees; he hasn't been the TD machine of years past, thereby limiting his ceiling and making him virtually hands-off in GPPs. ... RB Mark Ingram is in line for a big day in a game with one of the highest totals of the week. The Giants have surrendered the eighth-most rushing yards, and Ingram is on fire. ... WRs Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead will need game flow to work in their favor to be anything but tournament fliers. Snead is a stronger option by virtue of his lower salary. ... TE Benjamin Watson returned to Earth last week. Avoid him in favor of a more consistent option. ... Giants QB Eli Manning is averaging fewer than 200 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions in three road games this season. His price is too high for him to be trusted this week. ... The Giants now employ a four-headed monster at RB. There's nothing of DFS benefit to see here. ... Given what WR Odell Beckham Jr. would need to do this week to return value, you should only consider him in GPPs. The Saints' defense has allowed the sixth-most passing yards and 14 TDs through the air, but given how the Giants struggle on the road, hitting the mark will be difficult for Beckham this week. ... Rueben Randle, on the other hand, could be a sneaky value play with a far lower salary in what is still expected to be a high-scoring affair.

Prediction: Saints 27, Giants 23
DFS MVP: Mark Ingram

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.

Line: Bears +1 (opened at +2 1/2)
O/U: 42 1/2 (opened at 42)
Weather: Clear, 59 F; W wind @ 9 mph

Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater had his first solid showing of the year in Week 7, and is in good position to follow it up against the host Bears. Take a shot in GPPs, but only as a cost-saving measure. ... Which running back leads the NFL in runs of zero or negative yards? It's Adrian Peterson - but don't let that deter you from picking him to romp all over Chicago's suspect defense. AP will have more than his share of no-gain runs, but he's also the best in football at ripping off a long one. ... WR Stefon Diggs has emerged as Bridgewater's favorite target - and his price hasn't yet caught up to his floor or ceiling, making him a solid pick in all formats. ... Mike Wallace is seeing plenty of targets, but hasn't done as much with them as Diggs has. Limit him to tournament play. ... Bears QB Jay Cutler has had a high floor since returning in Week 4, and should be a strong near-minimum play this Sunday. The Vikings are allowing the seventh-fewest passing yards, but haven't been thrown on much. ... RB Matt Forte has been solid since Cutler came back, but hasn't been a true value pick since Week 1. He's a good bet to get there this week, with the game expected to be close and Minnesota allowing 4.5 YPC. Use him confidently in cash games. ... WR Alshon Jeffery erupted for 147 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions in his return to the lineup last week; he isn't priced like one of the elite receivers, but he's there. Snap him up. ... TE Martellus Bennett has struggled with inconsistency, and is too pricey to be a good cash-game option. Settle for tournament use.

Prediction: Bears 24, Vikings 21
DFS MVP: Alshon Jeffery

San Diego Chargers at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m.

Line: Ravens -3 1/2 (opened at -3)
O/U: 50 1/2 (opened at 50)
Weather: Chance of rain, 64 F; WSW wind @ 9 mph

No quarterback stands to generate a better return on value this week than Chargers star Philip Rivers, who will tee it up against a porous Ravens pass defense. Rivers has thrown for no fewer than 336 yards in each of the past four weeks, with multiple TD passes in every game over that span. He should be your QB in all formats. ... RB Danny Woodhead is another great option as one of Rivers' top targets; he'll see a wealth of snaps regardless of game flow, and should see a larger role in the passing game if TE Antonio Gates is sidelined. ... WR Keenan Allen hasn't quite seen the same success as Rivers over the past four weeks, with one good great over that span. He's a fade candidate; stacking Rivers with Woodhead or Ladarius Green is a much better option in tournaments. ... Green should feast on the Ravens, and comes at a discounted salary. Nab him. ... Ravens QB Joe Flacco has been great in two home games so far; that run should continue this week in what could be the highest-scoring game of the week. He's a solid cash-game option with a high floor. ... RB Justin Forsett is a decent play in all formats, lining up against a Chargers defense allowing a league-worst 5.3 YPC. His role in the passing game makes him even more valuable regardless of game flow. ... WR Steve Smith Sr. has been feast or famine this season, with three great games and three duds; bank on him having a strong outing, making him a solid choice in either format. ... Kamar Aiken isn't consistent enough to be trusted ... TE Crockett Gillmore is a fine punt-play option, with a decent floor at a low salary.

Prediction: Chargers 34, Ravens 24
DFS MVP: Philip Rivers

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.

Line: Pit -1 (opened at +1 1/2)
O/U: 48 1/2 (opened at 48 1/2)
Weather: Partly cloudy, 61 F; WSW wind @ 12 mph

Bengals QB Andy Dalton has been the DFS MVP at his position, leading the way in fantasy points. His salary still hasn't caught up to his production on some DFS sites, making him the bargain play of the week. The Steelers aren't going to slow him down. ... Pittsburgh's better-than-average run defense - it has allowed just two rushing scores all year - makes this a Giovani Bernard kind of game. Bernard is a solid cash-game play, while Jeremy Hill should go unrostered. ... WR A.J. Green and TE Tyler Eifert are both recommended options in what should be a high-scoring affair. ... It sounds like Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will be back in the lineup, and he is dangerous at Heinz Field. Cincinnati has allowed just eight passing TDs, but Big Ben should increase that total by at least two. Use him in all formats. ... RB Le'Veon Bell should see a lot more room with Roethlisberger back under center - not that he needs it. His upside is off the charts, and if you can stomach his salary, he's a strong play everywhere. ... WR Antonio Brown's numbers in four games with anyone but Mike Vick throwing the ball: 35/560/2. He's a top-3 wideout this week, so nab him while he's outside the upper salary tier. ... Martavis Bryant is third in the pecking order, but his salary makes him a decent GPP option. ... TE Heath Miller's inconsistency makes him unplayable.

Prediction: Steelers 27, Bengals 24
DFS MVP: Antonio Brown

Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans, 1 p.m.

Line: Texans -4 (opened at 4 1/2)
O/U: 42 1/2 (opened at 43 1/2)
Weather: Dome

Titans QB Zach Mettenberger makes his second straight start; he's a GPP long shot at best against a Texans defense that should come out angry after last week's debacle. ... Tennessee is in great shape to produce a strong RB performance Sunday - if only it would settle on a starter. As it stands, none of the Titans' backs are worth consideration. ... WR Kendall Wright could have used him some Marcus Mariota, after producing lines of 3/29, 4/34 and 4/46/1 over the last three weeks. He's not a good option with Mariota missing another week. ... TE Delanie Walker is decent play as Mettenberger's safety valve; he's rosterable in either format. ... Texans QB Brian Hoyer's leash got a little longer with the release of Ryan Mallett; that said, the Titans pass defense has been solid so far, and with Arian Foster out for the season, the run game isn't exactly scaring anyone. Hoyer isn't a recommended play. ... Alfred Blue and Chris Polk will likely share the work in Foster's absence; Blue is a borderline cash-game play based on volume, while Polk is an interesting GPP candidate as the passing-down option. ... WR DeAndre Hopkins will likely go right back to seeing 15+ targets per week, making him a great pick in any format. ... Nate Washington is a GPP option as the No. 2 in an offense that rewards its second banana with a healthy dose of targets.

Prediction: Texans 23, Titans 14
DFS MVP: DeAndre Hopkins