SB Nation will be bringing you the top Daily Fantasy options each week through the regular season and into the playoffs. We have a small sample size of which offenses look good to target and others we should avoid until further notice. As for who should be in your lineups, here are the top value plays of the week, with an eye toward low ownership and high upside.
Top daily fantasy football plays for Week 7 of the NFL season
With Week 7 of the NFL season upon us, we take a look at some of the best values to be found on Draftkings and FanDuel, and some players worth fading.
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Quarterback
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers ($7,600 DK, $8,300 FD)
Brees is the most expensive quarterback on DraftKings in the Millionaire Maker (which doesn’t include the Sunday and Monday night games), so his ownership might be down a bit. He also might go under-owned because of his history of struggling on the road, compared to his massive numbers at the Superdome. But Brees has been good on the road in 2017 and the Packers really struggle to contain quarterbacks. Even at his salary, Brees is a solid bet to pay off handsomely.
Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns ($6,900 DK, $8,200 FD)
Mariota looked hobbled and ineffective for three quarters on Monday night, then flipped the switch in the fourth as the Titans scored three touchdowns. If those final 15 minutes carry over to all 60 on Sunday, Mariota could end up the highest-scoring QB on the slate. Derrick Henry will get plenty of work, but that will also feature pass-catching, so a Mariota-Henry stack has some merit. Never underestimate an offense taking on the Browns.
Josh McCown, New York Jets at Miami Dolphins ($5,200 DK, $7,000 FD)
Week in and week out, McCown is putting up solid numbers and yet he remains in the bargain basement. McCown would have had at least four more points last week if not for that bizarro replay call on Austin Seferian-Jenkins’ apparent touchdown. Even sill, McCown dropped 25 DK points on the Pats. Anything close to that this week makes him a steal at $5,200.
Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($5,100 DK, $7,000 FD)
Taylor has yet to have a true breakout game in 2017, but he’s flirted with 20 points in his previous two home games and he draws a fantasy-friendly matchup with a Buccaneers defense allowing all sorts of production to opposing quarterbacks.
Discount Darling: C.J. Beathard, San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys ($4,900 DK, $6,300 FD)
Beathard looked good in relief of Brian Hoyer last week and the Cowboys are another team with a leaky pass defense. Beathard is going to get a long leash and he has capable passing weapons in Pierre Garcon, George Kittle and Carlos Hyde out of the backfield. If he can get north of 15 points, he’s done his job for your lineup.
Avoid: Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills ($6,000 DK, $7,600 FD)
Winston is going to start despite a banged-up shoulder that forced him out of last week’s game. The Bills’ defense has been solid this season and the Bucs might try leaning on Doug Martin to protect their QB. There are too many solid options in the 5K range to mess with damaged goods in a bad matchup.
Also consider: Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals; Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks; Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers.
Running back
Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers ($9,000 DK, $8,700 FD)
Elliott has managed to avoid his six-game suspension for a seventh week, and the narrative in this game is “Angry” Zeke taking out his frustrations at the process on the league’s worst-ranked defense against the run. Elliott has not had the kind of game that would justify his pricetag, so his ownership is probably going to be down for a player of his talent. But if he’s ever going to have a 30-point day, this ought to be it.
Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers ($6,700 DK, $7,100 FD)
Ingram is the big winner in the post-AP world in New Orleans. Finally allowed to be the main ball carrier with 25 carries last week against Detroit, Ingram erupted for 34 DK points, more than his previous three weeks combined. Now he gets to face a Packers defense that hasn’t exactly stuffed the run in 2017. All the top pieces in the Saints’ offense are in play, and with enough value out there to fill out a roster, a Brees-Ingram stack could pay off huge.
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns ($5,500 DK, $5,600 FD)
As noted above, a Mariota-Henry stack also makes sense at a discounted price. DeMarco Murray is likely a game-time decision with his cranky hammy, but with the Titans on a bye in Week 8 and Henry looking sensational on Monday night against the Colts, it seems likely that Murray will sit this one out. If that happens, Henry is the value play of the week with 30-point upside.
Duke Johnson, Browns vs. Titans ($4,900 DK, $5,500 FD)
On the other side of Henry is a struggling Browns offense that goes back to DeShone Kizer after a one-week benching. This favors Johnson significantly, as he has excelled as Kizer’s safety valve. The Browns are a safe bet to be playing from way behind in this one, so Johnson should again be busy as a pass-catcher, making him a great value on DK.
Discount Darling: Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars ($4,100 DK, $5,300 FD)
The weakness in the Jaguars’ defense is against the run, and with Robert Turbin out with injury, Mack is going to see an increase in his productivity by default. He disappointed last week against the Titans, so he’s likely off the DFS radar. But if he gets around 10 carries and two or three targets, he’s going to have a chance to pay off his salary and provide valuable relief to fit high-priced studs into lineups.
Avoid: Leonard Fournette, Jaguars at Colts ($8,600 DK, $9,000 FD)
He missed practice again on Friday, which puts his availability in doubt. Obviously, check the inactive list on Sunday morning, but if he’s active, be wary that he’s limited. Chris Ivory has shown himself to still be valuable, and against the stumbling Colts playing on a short week, Fournette might not be needed.
Also consider: LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills; Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams; Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers.
Wide receiver
Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers ($7,800 DK, $8,200 FD)
Bryant has been coming on since being held to two targets by Patrick Peterson in Week 3. Over his past two games, Bryant has seen 21 targets and caught 10 of them, one for a touchdown. The 49ers have been tough on slot receivers and tight ends this season but can be beat on the outside. It sets up so nicely for Dez, and his price is certainly reasonable enough with all the available value plays. This could well be a multi-touchdown day for No. 88.
Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers ($7,500 DK, $7,700 FD)
The Packers’ secondary either gives up 100-yard games or touchdowns to top receivers pretty much every week. How about both? Thomas is the clear No. 1 here and with Willie Snead questionable, Thomas might get a few extra targets thrown his way. Hopefully players get scared off by his bad game last week and forget about the two great ones that preceded it.
Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings vs. Baltimore Ravens ($6,700 DK, $6,900 FD)
Thielen has been Case Keenum’s favorite receiver whether Stefon Diggs is in the lineup or not. This week, Diggs is not, which means Thielen is in line for double-digit targets, which should help off-set the fact that the Ravens have a pretty decent pass defense. On DraftKings, with the full-point PPR, Thielen is still a terrific option.
Davante Adams, Packers vs. Saints ($5,800 DK, $6,900 FD)
It’s hard to know what exactly we’re going to get out of Brett Hundley, but what we do know is that he knows where No. 17 is when they snap the ball. Adams had 10 targets from Hundley and converted them into a solid 5-54-1 line. Adams now has four touchdowns in his past three games and with Hundley getting in a full week of practice with the starters, that chemistry between him and Adams should only grow.
Discount Darling: Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals ($4,000 DK, $5,500 FD)
Woods is the de facto No. 1 receiver in this offense, with Sammy Watkins disappearing over the past three weeks and a date with Patrick Peterson on the horizon. Woods is averaging seven targets a game over the past four games and has three double-digit DK totals in that span. With Watkins getting PP’ed, expect Woods’ targets to spike up, making it that much easier to smash value.
Avoid: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills ($7,600 DK, $8,100 FD)
His quarterback is playing hurt and his opponent is playing solid defense. You’ve got Dez right above and Thomas right below. Consider your options wisely.
Also consider: Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins; Pierre Garcon, San Francisco 49ers; Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos.
Tight end
Evan Engram, New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks ($4,400 DK, $5,500 FD)
Engram had a huge first half last week against the Broncos, but disappeared in the second half as the Giants ground out the upset win. Engram should be similarly busy on Sunday against the Seahawks, a team that does get burned by tight ends somewhat frequently, considering their overall skill as a defensive unit. Engram could easily hit double-digits in targets this week.
Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings vs. Baltimore Ravens ($3,800 DK, $5,400 FD)
The Ravens have been very generous to opposing tight ends – they allowed two more touchdowns last week to Chicago – and Rudolph has excelled in games when Stefon Diggs is out. Keenum has been looking Rudolph’s way more and more in recent weeks – Rudolph had nine targets in Weeks 5 and 6 – and should be in line for a similar workload on Sunday.
Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars ($3,400 DK, $5,100 FD)
Doyle looked pretty shaky on Monday coming off a concussion. He fumbled once and almost lost a second one. But when it was over, he had himself a tidy 7-50-1 line, and the Jaguars are beatable at the position, so he has merit this week, even on a short week.
Nick O’Leary, Buffalo Bills vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($3,100 DK, $4,500 FD)
O’Leary filled in nicely for the injured Charles Clay in Week 5 with a 5-54 line. His salary came up $600 as a result, but he’s still pretty cheap considering the level of activity the tight end has in the Bills’ offense.
Discount Darling: Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns ($2,600 DK, $4,500 FD)
Like DeMarco Murray, Delaine Walker figures to be a game-time decision with a calf injury. He didn’t practice Friday and could also benefit from a two-week break, coupled with the Titans’ Week 8 bye. Smith has made the most of his chances this season, catching 9 of 12 targets for 85 yards and two touchdowns. The Browns are among the worst teams in the league against the tight end, so Smith has sneaky upside, especially if Walker is ruled out.
Avoid: Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers ($4,500 DK, $5,300 FD)
The 49ers are among the best teams in the league at stopping the tight end, and though Witten was targeted 10 times in Week 5 against Green Bay, he saw just six targets the previous two games combined. Considering his lofty price, this is not the matchup to spend on.
Also consider: Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks; Austin Seferian-Jenkins, New York Jets; Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers.
Defense
Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears ($3,600 DK, $4,900 FD)
Buffalo Bills vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($3,400 DK, $4,500 FD)
New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers ($3,000 DK, $4,500 FD)
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins ($3,000 DK, $4,400 FD)
Discount Darling: Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars ($2,700 DK, $4,400 FD)
Avoid: Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers ($3,500 DK, $5,000 FD)
