Week 8 NFL Picks: Early Odds to Exploit for Best Over/Under Box Score Bets

The NFL is set to take a break from byes in Week 8, and all 32 teams will be in action. This means that fans so inclined will have no shortage of wagering opportunities. The list will include a full 16-game schedule and a plethora of potential box-score bets.

Box-score bets are a fun way to add a little extra juice to games in which the outcome can be hard to predict. Fans who don't feel good about their favorite team covering the spread can instead wager on a favorite player's yardage total or the total amount of points scored.

Of course, box-score bets can be just as difficult to predict as winners and losers. To identify advantageous opportunities, it's best to examine factors like past player usage, projected roles and individual matchups.

With these factors in mind, let's dive into a few of our favorite Week 8 plays based on the early-week lines.

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Week 8 will kick off with a Thursday night matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams. If there's one player prop we absolutely love in this matchup, it's this one.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is -115 (bet $115 to win $100) to pass for over 236 yards. Simply put, the Rams are unlikely to have any chance to win if he doesn't hit that mark. Los Angeles will probably try to lean on Kyren Williams and the running game, but that won't be easy.

The Vikings rank fifth in yards per carry allowed and second in rushing yards allowed. While they rank ninth in net yards per pass attempt allowed, they also rank 30th in passing yards allowed.

Additionally, the Rams are likely to have star receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) back in the lineup this week.

"He's a great player, and those guys are tough to come by, so when you get them back, it's always a great thing," Stafford said, per Stu Jackson of the team's official website.

Expect the Rams offense to run through Stafford and the passing game on Thursday night.

Williams may struggle to find running room against Minnesota's stout defensive front. Therefore, Rams coach Sean McVay will likely counter by involving the standout running back in the passing game.

Los Angeles has shied away from using Williams as a receiver in recent weeks. He finished Week 7 without a reception and caught just one pass for three yards in Week 6. However, he's topped 20 receiving yards twice this season, and he should do it again against the Vikings.

The Vikings suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday against the rival Detroit Lions. Detroit used running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to augment their rushing attack, and the two combined for seven receptions and 83 receiving yards.

That success out of the backfield won't be lost on McVay, who should look to get Williams involved in the passing game early and often. Williams is -115 to hit the over, and if he doesn't, the Rams haven't game-planned properly.

The Baltimore Ravens are on an offensive roll, and they're set to face a Cleveland Browns team that is struggling. While the Browns do have a quality defense, their offensive ineptitude has taken its toll.

Cleveland ranks 18th in points allowed.

It feels highly unlikely that the Browns will keep the Ravens' scoring low in this one. Baltimore has scored at least 28 points in each of its last five games. Quarterback Lamar Jackson accounted for five touchdowns by himself on Monday night.

The Ravens are +145 (bet $100 to win $145) to score more than three touchdowns as a team in Week 8. With Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews and the rest of Baltimore's multi-faceted offense aiding Jackson, it would be a fairly significant surprise if they don't.

The biggest risk to the over here is the fact Baltimore might get out to a big early lead and take its foot off of the proverbial gas. Seeing as how the Ravens racked up four touchdowns in last year's blowout 28-3 win in Cleveland, the risk level should be considered low.

The Dallas Cowboys are coming out of their bye and have had two weeks to prepare for a San Francisco 49ers defense that has been good but not great this season. The 49ers, meanwhile, are looking to regroup offensively after a disastrous outing against the Kansas City Chiefs.

San Francisco produced just 18 points against Kansas City and lost receiver Brandon Aiyuk for the year to a torn ACL and MCL. Fellow receiver Deebo Samuel, meanwhile, was hospitalized on Monday with pneumonia.

While the 49ers will (again) be short-handed, we still prefer the over (-112) on this points total. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys should find some success against a 49ers defense ranked 16th in points allowed.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan also has a knack for piecing together a functional offense. The 49ers have been missing playmakers all season but still rank eighth in scoring. Plus, Dallas' defense, for lack of a better word, stinks.

The 49ers' injuries should make this a closer game than it might be otherwise, but we're unlikely to see a defensive battle on Sunday night.

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Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.