While we didn’t go off last week, we only had one dud. That happened to be Evan Engram, as he was one of the first tight ends to struggle against the Cardinals. It was actually one of the most bizarre weeks of the season in general and it’ll be interesting to see what happens in Week 8 after that weird Week 7.  

The Thursday game this week is very ugly. We have the Minnesota Vikings playing host to the lowly Washington Redskins. Minnesota actually enters this matchup as a 14.5-point favorite and it should be a one-sided battle. With that in mind, Dalvin Cook is easily the best play of the Thursday slate. Stefon Diggs is also solid, as he should see more work in the absence of Adam Thielen.  

The Sunday night and Monday night games should be more competitive, maybe. For the Sunday night game, we have the Chiefs hosting the Packers. With Patrick Mahomes out, it’s tough to guess what’s going to happen with that team. We also have serious question marks in Green Bay, with Davante Adams possibly returning too. I would fade the running backs and go all-in on the passing attacks for this fixture, targeting guys like Travis Kelce and Marquez Valdez-Scantling.

As for Monday, we have the Steelers hosting the Dolphins. Pittsburgh enters that matchup as a 15-point favorite and we should see a heavy dose of James Conner.  

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Quarterback of the Week 

Russell Wilson (SEA): $7,200 at ATL
How can we possibly fade Wilson in this matchup? This dude is playing on another level right now and he should absolutely abuse this cupcake defense. Let’s start with that opponent, with the Falcons ranking 31st in points allowed while owning a 28th OPRK against quarterbacks. Those nightmarish statistics are scary against a guy like Wilson, with the Seahawks’ stud ranking second among quarterbacks with 25.4 DK points per game. That’s why Vegas has Seattle projected for 27 points here and Wilson should do a major part of that damage through the air and running the ball.  

Cash Game Running Back 

Todd Gurley (LAR): $7,400 vs. CIN
Gurley has been pretty disappointing for season-long fantasy owners but there’s a lot to be encouraged by. What I like is that the usage is still there, with Gurley playing an average of 55 snaps per game. That happens to be the highest total in the league and a player this talented getting that many snaps are a recipe for success. It’s not like he’s been terrible either, averaging 19.3 DK points per game over his last three fixtures. That’s all you can ask for from a player in this price range, especially one in such a tasty matchup. Not only does Cincy allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, but their 189 rushing yards allowed per game is also easily the worst mark in football too.  

GPP Running Backs 

Carlos Hyde (HOU): $4,700 vs. OAK
DraftKings must really not like Carlos Hyde. This guy has been producing all season long and they simply don’t want to raise his price above $5,000. This $4,700 price tag is actually his highest total all season and I’d argue that it’s still $1,000 too cheap.

We’re talking about the leading rusher for an offense that loves running the ball. That’s evident when you see that Hyde has 111 carries for 461 rushing yards and three touchdowns this season. That equates to about 16 carries a game, which is one of the best marks in the NFL. That’s tremendous for one of the best offenses in football and he could see extra carries in a game where Houston is projected for 29 points as a 6.5-point favorite.  

Ty Johnson (DET): $4,900 vs. NYG
This is risky because we’re unsure of his role, but it’s hard to overlook any potential every-down back below $5,000. After Kerryon got injured, Ty played about 70 percent of the teams’ snaps, indicating that he’ll be the bell-cow back in Kerryon’s absence. That led to him recording a season-best 9.7 DK points, which is pretty good considering he didn’t score a touchdown. That total might be the floor in a matchup like this, with the Giants allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Not to mention, Detroit enters this matchup as a 7.5-point favorite, only adding to these backs’ value.  

Cash Game Wide Receiver 

Tyler Lockett (SEA): $7,000 at ATL
If we like Wilson, we have to like his top wide receiver. That’s just what Lockett is, leading the team in every receiving statistic. In fact, Lockett has 40 receptions for 515 yards and four touchdowns this season, averaging about 17 DK points per game. The usage is what really makes him valuable, with Lockett playing 94 percent of the team’s snaps while posting a 22 percent target share.

This defense simply can’t stop opposing wide receivers either, allowing the fifth-most passing yards in the NFL while owning a 26th OPRK against that position. If you want the full-on passing stack, don’t fade D.K. Metcalf either.  

GPP Wide Receivers 

Kenny Stills/Keke Coutee (HOU): $4,700/$4,100 vs. OAK
It would be easy to sit here and recommend DeAndre Hopkins, but these two guys are much better values. Let’s begin with Stills, as he’s the one I like the most. The reason for that is because he should fill in as the number two guy in the absence of Will Fuller (hamstring). That was crystal clear in Week 7, with Stills playing 94 percent of the team’s snaps. He actually has nearly 200 receiving yards over his last two healthy games and one has to believe that he’ll slide flawlessly into the Fuller role.

The absence of Fuller should open up things for Coutee too, with the slot receiver playing a season-high 69 percent of the snaps last week. These increases in usage are really attractive against a Raiders defense that allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.   

Tight End of the Week 

Hunter Henry (LAC): $4,900 vs. CHI
It feels weird to recommend someone against the Bears, but this defense has been a shell of itself recently. They’ve been especially bad against the tight end position, owning a 26th OPRK against them this season. That’s spectacular news for a guy like Henry, as he’s been a hound since returning from injury. In fact, Henry leads all tight ends with 19.7 DK points per game, which is unbelievable production from a guy who’s only played 157 snaps in total. The fact that he played 91 percent of the team’s snaps in Week 7 indicates that he’s fully healthy and that’s big news for one of the most talented tight ends in football.

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