Draftkings NFL Week 7: Picks, Sleepers and Strategies

Per usual, these follow standard Draftkings prices and consist of every NFL game of Week 7.
For audio-based listeners, check out our Week 7 DFS preview with Ian Hartitz of FantasyLabs

Quarterbacks

  • Top Shelf
    • Tom Brady ($8,000) – I mean, c’mon. If you don’t think Brady comes out in this one and absolutely deals then I don’t know what to tell you.
    • Matt Ryan ($7,500) – Narrative aside, the New England Patriots have allowed every QB they’ve faced to throw over 300 yards. While Matt Ryan has been slumping, he and the entire Falcons team have had this one circled on their calendars all off-season. I’d expect Ryan and the offense to come out with their best stuff Sunday night in what could be an offensive explosion.
  • Retail Price
    • Marcus Mariota ($6,900) – Despite an injured hamstring, Mariota was efficient in his Monday night game against the Colts. He had no scrambling ability whatsoever which really put a cap on his ceiling. If healthier this week, the sky is the limit for him and the Titans offense against the hapless Browns.
    • Carson Wentz ($6,700) – Wentz and the Eagles continue to throw the ball at a high volume and it seems to be working. The Redskins have been dealt injuries to their secondary including all-pro corner Josh Norman who could be out for a second straight week. Wentz’ receivers have really stepped up this season.
  • Bang For Your Buck
    • Jared Goff ($5,800) – Goff has been quiet his last two games against better defenses in Seattle and Jacksonville. He welcomes the Cardinals to Los Angeles this week who allowed Ryan Fitzpatrick to throw for 290 yards and two scores. Goff has had much more command of the offense in 2017 and is a solid cheaper play in Week 7.
    • Tyrod Taylor ($5,100) – My favorite “punt” QB option this week happens to be TyGod. Despite having limited receiving weapons around him, Taylor has used his legs to his advantage when necessary. Against a Tampa Bay defense that continues to get shredded by opponents, Taylor has a great chance of outperforming his low cost.

Running Backs

  • Top Shelf
    • Le’Veon Bell ($9,100) – Bell received an absurd 32 carries against the Chiefs in a game where it showed just how valuable and skilled Bell is to this team. Despite his extremely high price tag, Antonio Brown has had past trouble against the Bengals secondary. It could make sense for the Steelers to lean heavily on Bell once again to handle their offense.
    • LeSean McCoy ($7,400) – With the limited options in Buffalo’s offense, McCoy is expected to see a lot of usage here against the Bucs. He’s yet to have a big explosion game like the many he had in 2016, it could be this week.
    • Melvin Gordon ($7,000) – Gordon has received 20+ carries in back to back games while still being heavily targeted in the team’s passing game. Now facing Denver and their “No Fly Zone” secondary at home, I’d expect the Chargers to use Gordon a lot again for the third straight week. He was priced down this week because of the Denver name, but if there’s a way to beat the defense it’s on the ground so roll out Gordon with confidence.
  • Retail Price
    • Mark Ingram ($6,700) – Ingram EXPLODED in a Week 6 spot after the team traded away Adrian Peterson and opened the door for Ingram. His usage in the offense has increased in every week since the beginning of the season and he’s carved out a role more significant than Alvin Kamara. With Green Bay likely to struggle on offense, the Saints should score often and easily.
    • Jerick McKinnon ($6,300) – McKinnon planted his flag as the dog in Minnesota’s backfield. He’s looked phenomenal and far superior to what Latavius Murray has brought to the table. While Baltimore has had success defending the pass, it’s on the ground and with short passes out of the backfield that have troubled the Ravens.
    • Jay Ajayi ($6,200) – Ajayi is getting back to that work horse title with back to back 20+ carry games for Miami. He finally got back to over 100 yards rushing for the first time since Week 2 as it looks like the offense is shifting more in Ajayi’s favor and out of awful Jay Cutler’s hands. Last week Dion Lewis looked very solid running against the Jets, which should have Ajayi licking his chops at this opportunity.
    • Adrian Peterson ($5,800) – After last week’s explosion, Peterson is likely to be one of the higher owned backs this week. He looked like his 2008 all-pro self and has seized the Cardinals backfield by the throat. Now taking on the Rams who were just gashed by Fournette, Peterson has all the motivation in the world to keep this success going.
    • James White ($5,000) – We know what James White did last year in the Super Bowl, and he’s likely to be very involved in the team’s passing game again this week. Atlanta could put a focus on stopping White after his huge game, but I would expect the defense to focus on Gronkowski who was absent in last year’s contest.
  • Bang For Your Buck
    • LeGarrette Blount ($4,500) – Blount has been running hard and very well for the Eagles after a slow start to the year. His YPC is very solid and you know he’s going the be the back used down on the goal line. With Wentz and the offense’s success so far, you’d expect the Eagles to be down in the red zone frequently. With only one rushing touchdown this season, Blount seems due for a dual score game.

Wide Receivers

  • Top Shelf
    • Julio Jones ($8,500) – Jones has to blow up at some point this year right? What better week than in a revenge game against the Patriots who have been the worst defense against QBs and bottom three against receivers. Jones’ ceiling is extremely high this week.
    • Dez Bryant ($7,800) – Bryant has a nice date with the struggling 49ers is on deck for Dez to throw up a few X’s in the end zone in a plus spot. San Francisco simply doesn’t posses the talented corners in order to slow him down or lock him up for a game.
    • Michael Thomas ($7,500) – While Thomas got swallowed up by the Lions underrated corners, Green Bay doesn’t possess the secondary talent in order to slow him down. Thomas is a prime bounce back candidate on the road.
  • Retail Price
    • Jarvis Landry ($6,800) – Landry has made the most out of DeVante Parker’s absence in Miami’s offense. His targets are still extremely high and Cutler seems to have a lot of confidence and chemistry with Landry. What’s encouraging to see is that Landry has scored in two straight, which had historically been his Achilles heel. A matchup with the Jets won’t slow him down.
    • Michael Crabtree ($6,100) – Crabtree has established himself as the Raiders top receiving weapon after Amari Cooper has just been abysmal. Derek Carr has returned and is working his way back to full health, and Crabtree has been the shoulder he’s needed to lean on. Crabtree could be shadowed by Marcus Peters, but he’s shown the ability to be dependable each week.
    • Demaryius Thomas ($5,800) – Thomas will be helped by the absence of Emmanuel Sanders out wide, but the matchup against the Chargers and their solid corners looms over Thomas’ ceiling. You can expect the volume to be there as long as Casey Heyward doesn’t lock him completely down.
  • Bang For Your Buck
    • Nelson Agholor ($4,900) – Agholor’s stock is on the rise as he’s steadily outproducing Alshon Jeffery. He’s developing into the slot receiver that Philly expected when they drafted him a few years ago and he’s become that second receiving option for Wentz right behind Zach Ertz.
    • Cooper Kupp ($4,600) / Robert Woods ($4,000) – Assuming Patrick Peterson lines up against Sammy Watkins, then I really like Kupp or Woods going against the secondary corners. Justin Bethel in particular has been fun and monetizing to pick on for the lucky receivers who don’t see number 21 lined up against them.
    • Marquise Lee ($4,300) – AJ previously touched on Lee as part of his Stream Team and I really like the call. A Colts defense that’s proven to struggle against the deep ball if Bortles can actually throw it that far. Lee is the deep threat who would expose that weakness.
    • JuJu Smith-Schuster ($3,800) – If you couldn’t tell by now, I’m all aboard the JuJu train. Even more so with the news of Martavis Bryant requesting a trade from the Steelers. JuJu has been steadily increasing his snap count and route run percentages into basically becoming the team’s number two wide out. With all the attention Antonio Brown creates, some strong JuJu is coming down the pipeline.

Tight Ends

  • Top Plays
    • Zach Ertz ($6,900) – As reliable and dependent as they come at the tight end position, and playing a defense struggling with opposing tight ends.
    • Delanie Walker ($5,800) – Walker has been very quiet in 2017, but a date with the infamous Browns defense has his stock trending upwards.
    • Austin Seferian-Jenkins ($5,000) – ASJ has become the go to receiver for McCown and the Jets. He’s looked very good in the offense and his usage has only been increasing as of late.
  • Bargain Plays
    • Jimmy Graham ($4,900) – Another defense to target against tight ends, the Giants. And now we have a very skilled tight end that fits the matchup very nicely. Graham seems under priced here.
    • Evan Engram ($4,400) – Seemingly the only receiving option in the Giants passing game, Engram has shown that his freak combine numbers were no fluke. Against a tough Seattle defense/team, Manning is going to have to throw.
    • George Kittle ($3,600) – The announcement of former Iowa QB CJ Beathard starting has me all over Kittle. Another Iowa product, the chemistry is already there between the two which should result in healthy target numbers.
    • Zach Miller ($3,200) – Miller seems to be the only receiving option Mitchell Trubisky can throw to. With touchdowns in two straight, he’s a nice low salaried option.

Defense

  • Top Plays
    • Jacksonville Jaguars ($3,700) – Despite being on the road, the Jaguars should feast on Jacoby Brissett who’s been adjusting on the fly for Indianapolis. The Colts don’t have the overpowering offense to chew up Jacksonville’s defense.
    • Minnesota Vikings ($3,300) – We know the Vikings defense is very good, so at home against Joe Flacco is a very plus matchup. Flacco has just looked terrible this year and their team has been absolutely carried by their defense.
    • New Orleans Saints ($3,000) – The Saints showed they’re making strides on the defensive end and have some play makers on the team. Going against Brett Hundley starting for the Packers is very enticing especially after he threw three interceptions last game.
  • Bargain Plays
    • Chicago Bears ($2,200) – If I had to punt at the position, it’s going to be the Bears. I don’t feel they are that bad of a play as their special teams has been rather impressive. I also just don’t trust Cam Newton, especially on the road.

Be sure to let me know how much money I won you, @theJMcGuinness.

Also, last week’s picks can be referenced here.

Author

  • THE Inaugural 2016 RSJ Fantasy Football League Champion. Owner of a #bigbrain, and lover of football, baseball and college hoops. When not grinding for the RSJ, can be found captaining his beer league softball team.

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