NFL Week 8 Biggest Games, Best Bets and FanDuel Lineup
Cincinnati Bengals @ San Francisco 49ers
A few weeks ago, many of us would have said this game would be a blowout. Joe Burrow and the Bengals had been terrible through the first month of the season and the 49ers were on fire. Where we sit today though is a totally different story. The Bengals are on a two-game winning streak and fresh off a bye. San Francisco is on a two-game losing streak and looking to right the ship. Brock Purdy has finally looked human in the 49ers last two games and the San Francisco defense was just gashed by Jordan Addison. Now they’re facing Jamarr Chase and a finally healthy, Tee Higgins. My money is on San Francisco to get back on track. They don’t seem like a team that would continue to flounder.
Cleveland Browns @ Seattle Seahawks
I don’t know what to make of either of these teams, but they’re both 4-2. They each have impressive wins and head scratching losses. PJ Walker is again suiting up for Cleveland as Deshaun Watson is still nursing a shoulder injury. This will be the toughest defense Geno Smith has played by far this year and it looks like he might be doing it without two of his best weapons. Both these defenses are top three in run defense DVOA. Seattle can be had through the air, so it will be on Walker and Amari Cooper to find the soft spots if Cleveland is going to leave Seattle with a W.
Los Angeles Rams @ Dallas Cowboys
This is a massive week for the Dallas Cowboys. They currently sit at 4-2, 2 games behind the Philadelphia Eagles for first place in the NFC East. They can’t afford to drop to 4-3 here, especially if the Eagles take care of Washington and move to 7-1. This is a look ahead spot for Dallas though as they play those Eagles next weekend.
If the Rams are going to win this game, their offensive line has to have a good showing, something it hasn’t done all year. Currently, PFF has Los Angeles’ offensive line ranked 25th in the league. Not a stat you want to see as a Rams fan before heading to Dallas to face Micah Parsons. Sean McVay has to dial up some blocking schemes to give Matthew Stafford time in the pocket to find Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. The Dallas secondary hasn’t found their footing since the Trevon Diggs injury. The Rams’ offensive line vs the Cowboys’ defensive line. That is the matchup that will decide this game.
Detroit Lions -2 / Kansas City Chiefs -1
We’re going back to the teaser well even though it burned us last week. Jared Goff and the Lions were exposed last week, but are coming home to play the Las Vegas Raiders. We all know the home/away splits for Detroit. At home, their offense can’t be stopped and the Raiders’ defense doesn’t have the tools to change that. I like the Lions enough to bet them at -8 straight up, but I’ll stick with the teaser.
Kansas City hasn’t lost to Denver since before the AirPods came out. I don’t see a way in which they stumble here. They need to keep pace with Miami for the one seed. The loss of Nick Bolton on the Chiefs defense stings, but their back ups have been playing well in his absence. It might not be a great game for the Chiefs as they never seem to use the whole play book against opponents they should beat easily, but we just need them to win by 2 or more.
Gardner Minshew O 0.5 INTs (+129 BetOnline)
How in the world is this line almost +130? Minshew has thrown a pick in 45% of the games he starts and he’s facing one of the best defenses in the league this week. PFF has New Orleans ranked as the 7th best coverage unit. Before last week, they hadn’t allowed more than 20 points since last November. Minshew (and the Colts in general) has to be exhausted after that demoralizing loss to Cleveland last week while the Saints are working with extra rest due to playing on Thursday in Week 7. This is one of my favorite bets of the year given how high the number is.
Cleveland Browns +4 @ Seattle Seahawks
The Browns catching 4 points surprises me here. The only reason I can think for this number being so high is the fact they have to go all the way to Seattle. Other than that, what are the Seahawks doing so well to be a full four points better than the Browns? Tyler Lockett is questionable; Kenneth Walker is banged up and Geno isn’t playing like the guy he was last year. I know Cleveland is starting PJ Walker, but he hasn’t been any worse than Deshaun Watson was playing this year. No part of me likes betting on the Browns, but at this number we can’t afford not to.
FanDuel Lineup of the Week
Our lineup last week won us a little coin but could have been better. Our low spend players like Rashee Rice and JSN both had touchdowns, something you have to have in FanDuel. This week we’re hoping a Lamar Jackson/Zay Flowers stack can lead us to even better results.
QB – Lamar Jackson – $8,800
RB – Cam Akers – $5,200
RB – Jaylen Warren – $5,800
WR – Zay Flowers – $6,500
WR – Kendrick Bourne – $6,200
WR – Romeo Doubs – $6,700
TE – Travis Kelce – $9,000
FLEX – Breece Hall – $7,200
DEF – New York Jets – $4,400