Welcome to the NFL DFS Week 7 plays article. I will be discussing some Studs and some value plays to be considered around the industry for this weekends DFS action. Below will be some popular plays and should be on peoples radar for their cash game lineups.
QuarterBack
Studs
Andrew Luck vs. NO (DK $7,600) (FD $8,900) –
After missing two games with a shoulder injury, Luck appeared to be back to his old self last week against the Patriots. In the first three games, Luck struggled before suffering the injury so it was good to see some signs of life from Luck. Last week’s game was his best of the season as he threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns. This would be a good spot for Luck to have another big game as he faces a suspect secondary. The Saints are allowing 283.8 passing yards per game and have surrendered 11 touchdowns. They’re also allowing 8.6 yards per passing attempt. This game has the highest over/under of the week at 52 points and the Colts implied points scored is 28.5. There is plenty to like about Luck this week.
Other Studs: Tom Brady (DK $8,500) (FD $9,000)
Values
Carson Palmer vs BAL (DK $6,700) (FD $8,200) –
Palmer is much more of a value play on DraftKings because on FanDuel he’s only $700 cheaper than Luck. Palmer is averaging 323.3 passing yards per game in home games and two touchdowns per game. He also averages 23.7 fantasy points per game at home on DraftKings. This week he has a favorable matchup against the Ravens. Quarterbacks are averaging 8.24 passing yards per attempt and 305 passing yards per game against the Ravens. They’ve allowed 11 touchdowns and have surrendered multiple touchdowns in four of their six games. Palmer has yet attempted fewer than 32 pass attempts in a home game. He should have no trouble picking apart this vulnerable secondary.
Other Values:Philip Rivers (DK $6,500) (FD $8,000), Ryan Tannehill (DK $7,700) (FD $7,600) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (DK $5,100) (FD $7,100)
Running Backs
Studs
Devonta Freeman at TEN (DK $7,900) (FD $8,700) –
Freeman has scored more than 30 fantasy points in four consecutive games on DraftKings and 29 fantasy points on FanDuel. He has scored nine touchdowns in that time span, with at least one touchdown in every game. He has also caught a minimum of five passes and has gained over 100 total yards in each of those games. He’s the Falcons goal line back as well as he’s accountable for 91.7 percent of the team’s red zone rushes. The matchup is also one that favors Freeman as the Titans have allowed four rushing touchdowns in their last four games and 90+ rushing yards in three of their last four games. The Falcons are favorites on the road which is another plus.
Other Studs: Adrian Peterson (DK $7,600) (FD $8,900), Le’Veon Bell (DK $8,400) (FD $8,900), and Marshawn Lynch (DK $6,900) (FD $8,200)
Values
Todd Gurley vs. CLE (DK $5,000) (FD $7,400)
Gurley has rushed for over 140 yards and has scored 15+ fantasy points in each of the last two games. He’s averaging 6.22 yards per carry in those games and has two 50+ yard carries. In that span, he has also been in 63 percent or more of the team’s offensive snaps. His success has come against two respectable defenses and this week he has the Browns on deck who struggle to stop the run. Opposing backs average 131.5 rushing yards per game, 4.5 receptions per game, and 54 receiving yards per game against the Browns. In fact, the Browns have yielded the most rushing yards this season. This could be the last time we see Gurley this cheap on either site, so make sure you take advantage of that and plug him in your lineups.
Other values: Latavius Murray (DK $6,100) (FD $7,000), LeSean McCoy (DK$5,500) (FD $7,700), Lamar Miller (DK $4,600) (FD $6700), and Danny Woodhead (DK $4,600) (FD $6,000)
Wide Receivers
Studs
Deandre Hopkins vs MIA (DK $8,600) (FD $9,200) –
Hopkins is on pace for 237 targets and 139 receptions this season. He is averaging 14.8 targets, 121 yards, and nearly nine catches per game. He’s caught 8 or more passes in all but one game and has now caught 21 passes in the last two games. On DraftKings, Hopkins has scored 27+ fantasy points in five of his six games. The Miami Dolphins have allowed at least one touchdown to opposing receivers in each of their last five games and are yielding 186 receiving yards per game. Hopkins has played in 97.9 percent of the Texans offensive snaps and is clearly a high volume receiver. The over/under for this game opened at 43 and since has moved to 44.5. The Texans are underdogs so they could be chasing points, which benefits Hopkins. This is all great news for one of the best receivers in the league.
Other Studs: Julio Jones (DK $9,100) (FD $9,100), Odell Beckham JR (DK $8,700) (FD $9,100), Brandon Marshall (DK $7,800) (FD $8,500), and Calvin Johnson (DK $7,700) (FD $8,200)
Values
John Brown vs. BAL (DK $5,500) (FD $6,700) –
Only one team has allowed more yards to opposing receivers than the Ravens as they have surrendered 1,332 receiving yards. Receivers are averaging 222 yards and 15.7 receptions per game against the Ravens, and have scored nine touchdowns. Brown is averaging 7.5 targets per game, but has been targeted 28 times in the last three games. He’s coming off of his best game of the season where he caught 10 passes for 196 yards. That performance earned him 31.6 fantasy points on DraftKings and 22 on FanDuel. The Ravens have been solid against the run this season, but have been unable to stop the pass. I’m expecting the sixth best pass offense in the league (Cardinals) to take full advantage of that and torch them through the air.
Other Values: Mike Evans (DK $6,400) (FD $7,500), Allen Robinson (DK $6,400) (FD $7,000), Donte Moncrief (DK $5,000) (FD $6,500), Martavis Bryant (DK $4,700) (FD $6,900), and Willie Snead (DK $4,300) (FD $6,500)
Tight End
Studs
Antonio Gates vs. OAK (DK $5,000) (FD $5,800) –
Since returning from his suspension, no tight end has been targeted more than Gates. He has been targeted 27 times in the last two games and has caught 18 passes. Gates has scored a touchdown and has eclipsed 90 yards in each of those games. The Raiders have allowed at least one touchdown in all but one game to opposing tight ends and have allowed two multiple touchdown games. They’re surrendering 77.6 yards, 6.4 receptions, and 1.2 touchdowns per game to opposing tight ends. I have been starting any tight end that plays against the Raiders and that strategy has only backfired once. Look for Gates to continue playing at a high level against one of the worse defenses versus tight ends in the league.
Other studs: Rob Gronkowski (DK $8,100) (FD $8,100) and Travis Kelce (DK $4,900) (FD $6,000)
Values
Kyle Rudolph at DET (DK $3,100) (FD $5,000) –
Rudolph found the end zone for the second time this season last week. His only other touchdown was in Week 2 against the Lions. In fact, Rudolph’s best game came against the Lions. In that game, he caught five passes for 30 yards and a touchdown, and it was his highest fantasy points scored in a single game this season. Rudolph averages five targets per game and has played in 87.5 percent of the Vikings offensive snaps, so the opportunity will be there. He has touchdown upside as he receives 41.2 percent of the team’s red zone targets. Tight ends are averaging five receptions per game against the Lions and have scored four touchdowns. If you’re not in the mood to pay up for some of the elite guys, Rudolph is a solid economical option.
Other values: Delanie Walker (DK $3,900) (FD $5,500)
