“'Cause I was born lonely down by the riverside.
Learned to spin fortune wheels and throw dice.
I was just thirteen when I had to leave home.
Knew I couldn't stick around; I had to roam.”
- “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” Bob Seger
We’re officially at the halfway point of the fantasy season. By now, you should have a firm handle on your rosters. If you’re reading this, you’re changing DSTs weekly, and that’s fine. We’ll look at Week 8 and some options you might want to hold for a playoff push. This all depends on who’s available in your leagues. I give recommendations based on those owned in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues. So check your wires (I saw Buffalo get dropped in a home league last week, and I scooped them) because people get crazy with their add/drops at this time of year.
Let’s start by looking back at Week 7’s results.
- Cincinnati - 15 points (DST 5)
- NY Giants - 4 points
- LA Rams - 17 points (DST 2)
- Green Bay - 4 points
- New Orleans - 2 points
It's a mixed bag, but two of the top five options being available on more than 50% of waiver wires is a win. Hopefully, you landed on one of those two options. We’re giving five or more choices, and not everyone can hit.
WEEK 8 BYES: NOBODY!
DSTs suggested are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues
DRAKE’S TOP 5 DST ADDS
- Detroit (19%) vs TEN
- Houston (48%) vs IND
- LA Chargers (41%) vs NO
- Green Bay (47%) @ JAX
- Dallas (38%) @ SF
Higher-owned Options
Check your waiver wires for these teams, which are owned in over 50% of leagues but could still be available: Kansas City (60%) and Chicago (55%). Both have outstanding matchups but don’t meet our threshold.
Houston Texans (HOU, 48%) — For as good as the Texans are, their fantasy DST isn’t elite. Over the past two weeks, though, Houston has shown signs of life for us streamers, with seven sacks and seven takeaways. They’ll face second-year QB Anthony Richardson and the banged-up Colts this week. Richardson, for as flashy as he can be, he kinda stinks. He can’t get the ball to his playmakers, as evidenced by Josh Downs never having 6 PPR points in any game where Richardson was his QB. These two teams played in Week 1. Houston managed just four points. I would like them to be better than that this week thanks to the injuries in Indy, although Jonathan Taylor could return.
Top Targets
Detroit Lions (DET, 19%) — You don’t need Aiden Hutchinson to wreak havoc on the Titans’ sorry excuse for an offense. No team allows more points to opposing DSTs than does Tennessee. Even with a new quarterback in Mason Rudolph, the Titans allowed three sacks while turning the ball over twice. Head coach Brian Callahan said on Monday that Will Levis (shoulder) will return to the starting lineup when healthy. If that’s this week, it's even better. This Lions' defense is a turnover-forcing machine. They’ve intercepted a pass in every game this season. Detroit also has four sacks in back-to-back games. Who wants to bet they’ll make that three in a row?
Los Angeles Chargers (LAC, 41%) — It has been a nightmare in New Orleans since their 2-0 start. There’s a shot Derek Carr could return this week to face the Chargers, but does that really matter? The Saints are down several linemen due to injury. Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed was lost for the year in Week 6. If Carr does rejoin the party in the Big Easy, he’ll be running for his life behind a line that has allowed 11 sacks over the last two weeks. If Carr isn’t ready, it’s Spencer Rattler time. Either way, the Chargers are an uninspiring unit, but they can get the job done against the Saints' backups. The Chargers could stick on your roster for another game, as they’ll face the Browns in Week 9.
Big Names, Big Games
Green Bay Packers (GB, 47%) — I’m surprised that the Packers are this low-owned. They currently rank as the DST 3 in all of fantasy. This week, they’ll play Jacksonville, which has allowed three teams to score double-digit DST points against them. You can never trust Trevor Lawrence. The Jags were in London for two straight weeks so they’ll be adjusting to the time change, which could be a factor. Grabbing a DST that averages 10.1 points per game off the wire this late in the year is a gift. If you’re someone who wants to own a pair of defenses and play the matchups, it might be smart to add Green Bay sooner rather than later. Yes, they have a tough game in Week 9 vs. Detroit and then a Week 10 bye, but in the fantasy playoffs, they’ll see the Seahawks (Week 15) and Saints (Week 16), both of whom are currently top 10 in points allowed to opposing DSTs.
Dallas Cowboys (DAL, 38%) — This used to be the most dominant DST in all of fantasy, but that was last year. Now, we’re looking at a team that has scored more negative points than they’ve scored double-digits. Here’s the bottom line: San Francisco is insanely beaten up. Brandon Aiyuk is out for the year. Deebo Samuel’s status is unknown as he’s currently in the hospital with pneumonia. If you can name the three starting receivers for San Francisco this weekend, you’re a degenerate (that’s why I like you). But Brock Purdy and this hamstrung offense aren’t talented enough to impose their will on a lesser Cowboys team. I like Dallas to play as if their season is on the line as they come off their bye. It could be a better DFS play than season-long, but it's viable if you’re digging deep.
Looking Ahead at Week 9
LA Chargers @ CLE
New England @ TEN
New Orleans @ CAR
Chicago @ ARI
Kansas City vs TB
