Week 8 Game Scripts to Target in Daily Fantasy Football

Buffalo Bills vs. Oakland Raiders

Over/Under: 46.0

Bills Implied Team Total: 24.50

Raiders Implied Team Total: 21.50

The Buffalo Bills have out-performed expectations to this point in 2017, while their Week 8 opponents, the Oakland Raiders, haven't been as successful as most anticipated. Nevertheless, both teams appear to be trending in the right direction as the midway point of the season approaches. This figures to be a close game with the Bills mere 3-point favorites, and that makes it all the more appealing for fantasy purposes. After all, the Bills barely edged out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, and that game produced a bonanza of FanDuel points. Another close contest will likely produce similar results.

Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders

FanDuel Price: $7,200

Let's be clear about something: we're not chasing points with Amari Cooper. Last weeks' 18-target, 11-catch, 210-yard, 2-touchdown domination of the Kansas City Chiefs will likely be his best game of the season. Having said that, it's clear that the third-year wideout's slump is over and he is back in business as a high-end pass-catcher.

The Bills don't represent a cupcake matchup, as the 25.2 FanDuel point per game they've allowed to opposing wideouts this season ranks 17th in the league, but Cooper is still set up for a solid showing. Derek Carr ($7,800) appears to be back at full health and the Bills pass defense has softened recently, allowing both Andy Dalton ($7,600) and Jameis Winston ($7,600) to throw for over 325 yards in back-to-back games. There's no question Carr will be dropping back a lot and Cooper should benefit in a big way, once again.

It's not often that an established player coming off such a dominant performance can be started for WR15 cost, but that's exactly the situation with Cooper this week. Don't expect a repeat of last week, but another impressive stat line could be in order.

Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills

FanDuel Price: $7,600

There is an NFL quarterback leading a 4-2 team with a 3.5:1 touchdown to interception ratio, a 91.8 quarterback rating, and 174 rushing yards. That signal caller's name is Tyrod Taylor, and he has accomplished all of this for a Bills team that dealt away his top two receivers in the offseason.

It's an impressive feat considering the injuries his other pass-catchers like Jordan Matthews ($5,700) and Charles Clay have dealt with in the early going. In fact, Taylor's top target over the first six games has been running back LeSean McCoy ($8,400), and his most productive wideout last week was former Chicago Bear Deonte Thompson ($4,900), a player who had only been on the roster for only five days at that point.

It's remarkable that he's managed to produce the way he has, and this contest could prove to be his most impressive showing of the season. The Raiders pass defense has struggled mightily, allowing 0.30 Adjusted Passing (NEP) per play (2nd-worst in the league) on the heels of allowing 342 yards and 3 touchdowns to Alex Smith ($7,700) last week.

Taylor likely won't reach those numbers as a passer, but he should still produce in a favorable matchup, while propping up his fantasy viability with his proficiency as a runner. Taylor is projected for 19.2 FanDuel points, which is more than pricier options like Smith, Deshaun Watson ($8,000), and Matthew Stafford ($7,700) are expected to score in much more imposing match-ups.

Other to Consider:

As stated earlier, Derek Carr looks back on track and ready to get his team in gear after a sluggish start. The matchup with Buffalo is less intimidating than it was three weeks ago and he could be a steal at his price tag after a 417-yard, 3-touchdown demolition of Kansas City's defense.

Michael Crabtree ($7,200) is priced identically with Cooper this week and could prove to be an underrated play. While he only corralled 3-of-7 targets last week for 24 yards (and the game-winning touchdown), he still maintains a 21 percent target share and is tied for the NFL lead with 6 receiving scores.

Since Marshawn Lynch's suspension was upheld, Jalen Richard ($5,300) and DeAndre Washington (5,700) will handle running back duties against the Bills. It's tough to project how the carries will be split, but Richard totaled 76 yards last week and has been the more efficient pass-catcher with 0.91 Reception NEP per target. It's a gamble, but one of these men could return value at such low price points.

LeSean McCoy finally found the end zone in Week 7, and with a favorable schedule over the rest of the season, is ready to prove he still ranks among the elite at his position. This expected bounce back is clearly factored into his price point, as he's the 4th-most expensive running back option this week.