NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel - Week 7
NFL DFS season is in full swing as Week 7 approaches, and our expert analysts are breaking down NFL DFS lineup optimizer picks and projections for FanDuel and DraftKings. Sign up for RotoGrinders Premium for full access to our NFL lineup optimizer and fantasy football projections all season long.
Along with week 13, this week will see the most teams on bye, as there are six teams on break (CAR, CIN, DAL, HOU, NYJ, TEN). This leaves 10 games available to choose from on the main slate, and the theme of the week is low game totals, as only GBP/DEN and LAC/KCC are currently projected at 45+ points, and half of the games are currently projected for 40.5 or less points.
Like every week, we had some major injuries in Week 6, headlined by QBs Garoppolo and Fields, who will both be out this week. Hoyer took over for Jimmy G after he got hurt and will start this week, while Tyson Bagent will get the start for Chicago, and CHI/LVR just so happen to be facing each other. Daniel Jones is doubtful, so we will see Tyrod Taylor get another start, and if Deshaun Watson is unable to return we’ll get another PJ Walker start, although it’s looking like Watson will play.
The RB position is also full of injury news, with David Montgomery out this week and possibly longer, Kyren Williams placed on IR, Roschon Johnson still in the concussion protocol giving Foreman another start, and Damien Harris out indefinitely after a scary neck/head injury last week. Jahmyr Gibbs will return after missing two weeks with a hamstring injury, and could be looking at a big workload with Craig Reynolds dealing with a couple injuries. Along with Kyren out, Ronnie Rivers landed on the IL for the Rams, so Royce Freeman and Darrell Henderson are expected to get most of the RB work with Evans backing them up. Aaron Jones seems to be progressing well and should be available coming out of GB’s bye week.
NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer Picks for DraftKings
Cooper Kupp ($9,500) is the only player priced above $9k, and after him it’s pretty spread out, making it much easier to fit a good amount of top players along with solid value plays. Travis Kelce ($8,000) blows away the TE spot from a salary standpoint, as he’s over $2k pricier than the next guy, Mark Andrews ($5,700). The Bills ($4,200) are rightfully the priciest DST against the Pats, but there are plenty of cheaper options in cash game consideration like SEA ($3,200), CLE ($3,300), WSH ($3,500), and even BAL ($2,500) for super cheap.
Josh Jacobs ($7,400) / Kenneth Walker ($7,000)
Both of these RBs aren’t exactly salary savers, but with the lack of depth at RB this week with so many teams on bye, I’m still considering them great p/$ cash game plays. There is so much to like about both Jacobs and Walker, starting with the fact they are both on teams favored to win this week, and both are facing defenses allowing top five fantasy production to opposing RBs on the year. They are also both big-volume RBs, especially Jacobs, who has seen 25+ touches in three straight games, including 5+ targets in five straight games. Walker also gets a boost with Charbonnet looking doubtful, as he’s been seeing 17+ touches a week and is the clear goal-line back with 6 rushing TDs over his last four games even with Charbonnet in. In cash games, I’m pretty much letting the field gamble on the Rams and Lions backfields or pay up for Ekeler ($8,600), while I take the workload security and massive upside of Jacobs and Walker, who I think each have 100 total yard / 1 TD floors. Another RB that I love for the price is Isiah Pacheco ($6,100), who is a home favorite on the team projected to score the most points of the slate.
Christian Watson ($5,600)
In one of the best possible matchups for a WR against Denver this week, I think we’d usually see Watson closer to $6.5k, but coming off a bye week along with mediocre production in his only two games played, his price has remained in check. I will happily play one of the best deep ball WRs in all of football against a Broncos defense allowing 268 pass yards/game, 32 points/game, and 440 total yards/game at the likely lowest price we’ll see him at for the rest of the season assuming he does well this week. I also don’t mind stacking Watson with Jordan Love ($5,800) in cash games if you don’t want to spend up for a QB over $7k. Other top p/$ WRs I like targeting for cash games include Zay Flowers ($5,700), Terry McLaurin ($5,400), Drake London ($5,100), Josh Palmer ($4,800), and WanDale Robinson ($3,800).
Michael Mayer ($2,700)
What’s better than using someone with the same name as the greatest Halloween villain of all time a week before Halloween? Using the 22nd-priced TE in an excellent matchup coming off his best game of the year in a much tougher matchup (5-75 vs. NEP). The Raiders are finally starting to unleash Mayer as he’s seen increased usage and targets in each of the past two games, and that trend should continue against a Bears defense allowing 267.3 pass yards/game and the 8th most fantasy points allowed to TEs. The only negatives against Mayer are the Raiders being favored in this game and the game script could hurt his upside, along with Adams complaining all week about not getting the ball more, so they more force targets to him that would have gone to Mayer. Basically, this is a “punt play” at a very volatile position that should see a lot of ownership going to Kelce/Andrews, and if Mayer can get you 10+ FP again, he will crush value and let you build an overall well-rounded team with a ton of upside. I also really like Luke Musgrave ($3,300) as a punt play to include on a Love/Watson stack.
NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer Picks for FanDuel
I’m still going to do my best to fit in Walker and Jacobs at RB, and Watson is still a steal at $6,600. The price difference between Love and the top QBs isn’t as wide as it is on DK, so I’d rather spend the extra bit of salary for a higher floor guy like Jackson, Allen, or either QB in the KC/LAC game for cash games. If you have the salary, I’d spend it on the Bills DST, but if you need to save a few hundred, then the Browns ($4,500) would be my next target. If you want to save even more, then consider BAL ($4,100) or TBB ($4,000).
Jerome Ford ($6,600)
I initially had Zach Evans here, but with reports that he’ll be the 3rd RB behind Freeman and Henderson, I am not considering him cash game viable along with any Rams RBs. Kareem Hunt could miss this game with a thigh injury as the Browns promoted Deon Jackson from the practice squad, so Ford could be looking at a 20 touch floor and should be the clear goal-line back. Getting an RB for under $7k that can catch passes and has a path to a ton of carries is about as ideal as it gets for cash games, and it’s an above average matchup with the Colts who are allowing 113.5 rush yards/game. Jahmyr Gibbs ($6,200) is also cash game viable now if you need the extra salary and have to drop from Jacobs.
Zay Flowers ($6,300) / Mark Andrews ($6,900)
The Lions are allowing the lowest rush yards/game at just 64.7, so the Ravens are going to have to throw it a bunch to have success. Flowers has 19 targets over his last two games and is the clear top target for Jackson, and he is easily the cheapest WR I am comfortable using in my main build on FanDuel. Speaking of Lamar Jackson ($8,000), I currently am stacking him with Flowers in cash games, and I’m also going to be including Andrews on the stack. Detroit has allowed the 5th most yards to opposing TEs and the 6th most FP, so I’ll take the almost $2k discount on Andrews over Kelce in a better matchup.
Josh Palmer ($6,500)
I’m not buying this Chiefs pass defense where they’re currently ranked, as they’ve faced some pretty weak offenses so far like the Broncos, Jets, and Bears. The Chargers will be the best offense they’ve faced on the year, and in the highest projected game total of the slate, I definitely want some exposure in cash games. Ekeler, Allen, and Kelce are going to really hamper your overall lineup construction at their super high salaries, and I still don’t feel comfortable using someone like Rashee Rice ($5,600) in cash games. This leaves Palmer as the clear best p/$ way to get exposure to this game in your main build, as he’s seen 7+ targets in each of his last three games, had a TD called back last game that helped keep his salary lower this week, and should continue to see single coverage with defenses focusing on Allen/Ekeler. I’m expecting KC to put up 25+ points this game, so Herbert is going to be throwing it a ton to keep up, and I think Palmer has a great shot at a couple of long TDs or at least plenty of volume to pay off his salary.
Use Our DFS Lineup Optimizer for Week 7
Make sure to check out our in-house NFL DFS lineup optimizer, LineupHQ, to get a great look at even more top projected plays. It is by far the best place to build a large number of lineups quickly using your personalized build rules, ownership preferences, and stacks you want covered. You can also look at projected ownership to help you decide between players if you’d rather get leverage on the field with someone likely to see much lower ownership than similar plays at his position or price point.
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