Week 7 is upon us and it brings another interesting slate of NFL action. There are four teams on bye this week, which thins out the featured slate and gives us even more reason to play the full week’s slate. In this article, we are covering the entire NFL slate starting from Thursday night when KC visits DEN all the way through Monday night with NE @ NYJ.
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Quarterback
Matt Ryan (ATL): $7,900 vs. LAR
Ryan has delivered big time for his owners lately, topping 30 points in each of his last two games. He’s been ultra-reliable as well, scoring at least 20 points in all but one game this season. Ryan has another potential high-scoring affair ahead this week, as his Atlanta Falcons host the Los Angeles Rams. This game has the highest total on the slate with a 54 O/U, and Atlanta is a four-point home favorite.
The Rams have been slightly above average against quarterbacks this season, but have faced a rather soft schedule of quarterbacks to this point. Only Russell Wilson would be considered a good quarterback out of the passers they’ve faced and he threw four touchdowns on this defense. They also surrendered four touchdowns and 385 yards to Jameis Winston earlier this season. Ryan is in a great position to keep the points rolling in this week as a top quarterback on FanDuel.
Also Consider: Gardner Minshew (JAC): $6,900 @ CIN (GPP only)
Running Back
Dalvin Cook (MIN): $8,300 @ DET
Even with Stefon Diggs‘ explosion last week, Cook managed to put up respectable fantasy numbers, although the 12.4 points were a season-low. He draws a much better matchup this week against Detroit. The Lions have been shredded by opposing running backs this season, allowing the third-most points per game behind the two winless wonders, Cincinnati and Miami. They gave up 170 yards on 29 carries to Green Bay last week and have allowed a staggering 5.1 YPC this season, tied for fourth highest in the league.
The Vikings have proved they can be effective in the pass game over the last two weeks, but they will still look to run the ball and feed Cook as a primary strategy. It should be a good one against a poor rush defense like Detroit, and Cook is in line for a nice bounce-back game this week.
Josh Jacobs (OAK): $6,700 @ GB
Jacobs absolutely torched the Chicago Bears’ run defense in London two weeks ago for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, but the bye week seems to have made FanDuel forget about that performance, as Jacobs is priced rather low despite a juicy matchup against Green Bay. The Packers have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs along with 4.9 YPC and seven rushing touchdowns. The Raiders may have discovered something special with Jacobs last week, and can unleash their new weapon against a poor run defense on the road. Their best chance at victory will be ball control and it starts with Jacobs performing on the ground.
Wide Receiver
Julio Jones (ATL): $8,200 vs. LAR
Julio Jones and Matt Ryan is a classic DFS stack, and for good reason. The two have put up some monster numbers together over the years and are primed for another big game against the Rams on Sunday. The Rams made a big addition to their pass defense yesterday by acquiring Jalen Ramsey, but there are still plenty of question marks surrounding this secondary.
Just this week they’ve shipped starting cornerback Marcus Peters off to Baltimore and placed their starting cornerback Aqib Talib on injured reserve. Starting safety John Johnson III (shoulder) is also undergoing additional medical tests and isn’t likely to play Sunday. Even if Ramsey suits up this week, Jones should feast on a unit composed mainly of rookies and career nickelbacks.
Michael Gallup (DAL): $6,300 vs. PHI
Philadelphia has been horrible against opposing receivers this season, allowing the most points per game by a three-point margin over the next worst team. Stefon Diggs may have boosted those numbers after last week, but the Eagles have been dominated by receivers all season, allowing a 100-yard receiver in every game except Week 5 against the Luke Falk-led Jets.
This price seems too good to be true, especially with Amari Cooper (quad) hobbled and potentially out for Week 7. If Cooper is out, then Gallup becomes more chalky than a blackboard, but he’s a great play even if Cooper suits up. Randall Cobb is also banged up for Dallas and frankly isn’t that good even when he plays. Gallup is the healthiest of the group and a no-brainer at $6.3K.
Larry Fitzgerald (ARI): $5,600 @ NYG
There are a lot of good options in the sub-6K range at receiver this week, but you can’t go wrong with ol’ reliable. Fitzgerald has had at least seven targets in all but one game this season and still boasts a stellar 1.9% drop rate on the year. Christian Kirk has been banged up over the last few weeks, leaving Fitzgerald as the only trustworthy receiver on the Cardinals. The matchup is excellent for Fitzgerald this week, as the Giants have allowed the second-most points per game to opposing receivers this season. Fitzgerald is practically guaranteed to haul in at least five catches and has a pretty good shot at the end zone considering this game’s 49.0 O/U.
Also Consider: Courtland Sutton (DEN): $5,900 vs. KC, John Brown (BUF): $5,900 vs. MIA
Tight End
Hunter Henry (LAC): $5,700 @ TEN
Henry returned to the field and put up numbers right away for the Chargers, putting up 100 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers on Sunday night. He’ll have a chance to build on that performance against the Titans, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season and are tied for the second-most touchdowns allowed to tight ends. We’ve seen Henry produce like a TE1 in the past, which is why I’m looking to use him while his price sits in TE2 territory.
Also Consider: Rhett Ellison (NYG): $4,800 vs. ARI (if Evan Engram is out)
Flex
Derrick Henry (TEN): $6,500 vs. LAC
The Titans may never throw another forward pass after last week and they know their best chance at winning this game, and any game, will be from riding their workhorse, Derrick Henry. The Chargers have struggled against the run this season, allowing the ninth-most points per game to opposing running backs. They haven’t performed well without Melvin Ingram, having allowed 315 rushing yards over the last two weeks during his absence. Henry is a high-volume lock in this game and could put up good numbers as a flex.
Also Consider: Frank Gore (BUF): $6,000 vs. MIA
Defense
Chicago Bears: $4,500 vs. NO
This game has the lowest total on the slate with a 38.0 OU and both defenses are surprisingly affordable given the low-scoring projections. Neither team commits a lot of turnovers or surrenders a lot of sacks, which drives defensive scoring, but the Bears give us plenty of talent and a safe floor at a position that can be quite unpredictable. They should be able to take advantage of weak-armed backup Teddy Bridgewater on the road in this one.
Also Consider: Jacksonville Jaguars: $4,900 @ CIN
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Elliott Baas is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Elliott, check out his archive and follow him @elliottbaasbb.
