The NFL season is fully underway and we've got plenty of data to look back on as we build our DFS football lineups. Week 7 takes away just two teams with the bye week and the Houston Texans are the only team anyone will really miss in the fantasy circle.
We've had some DFS success this season, finding different matchups to exploit with top players and value plays that help us cash in and turn Sundays into an even better day of celebration. Now let's take a look at an optimized lineup for the full Week 7 slate.
Quarterback:
Tyrod Taylor, BUF v. TB, $5,100
The value options are limited this week as DraftKings adjusts prices from earlier in the season and now some of the mid-range quarterbacks to begin the season will cost nearly $7K. While in some opportunities that is an affordable price and worthy of plugging in as our value play at quarterback. This week, those options just aren't a strong and we'll slide down the price rankings to find a greater opportunity to get a return on our investment.
Taylor faces a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that allows the second-most DraftKings points to opposing quarterbacks. While Buffalo doesn't emphasize the passing attack in its offense, especially with Charles Clay sidelined, Taylor's rushing ability could add three-plus points to his outing and he offers the potential to throw two touchdowns and pass for 200-plus yards against a weak defense. While it's not an extreme-upside play, Taylor's price and potential point outfit makes him worthy of a few lineup plays this week.
Running Backs:
LeSean McCoy, BUF v. TB, $7,400
If Taylor is successful on Sunday, McCoy will play a significant role in it. McCoy is averaging nearly six receptions per game out of the back field and when that is paired with 15-plus touches carrying the football, he is everything to this Bills' offense. Now he'll face a Buccaneers defense that was ripped to shreds last weekend by Adrian Peterson, who just joined the team a few days prior.
McCoy should be a lock for 20-plus touches in this game and his ability to rack up chunks of yards every time he touches the ball makes him a potential top-three play at the running back position. Fortunately, he'll come in at a cheaper cost than what you'll have to surrender for other elite running backs. No matter the game script for Sunday, McCoy will remain involved via the running game and passing game, so get him in some of your lineups.
Adrian Peterson, ARZ @ LAR, $5,800
Peterson will be a popular play in Week 7 and for good reason. Just a few days after he landed in Arizona, Peterson displayed much of the same skills that made him one of the greatest running backs the NFL has ever witnessed. Many doubted if he could regain even a grain of his old form and saw the matchup against Tampa Bay as a terrible matchup in his first game behind a bad offensive line, Peterson rose to the challenge and delivered a big fantasy performance.
Now he'll have a much easier opportunity to shine against Los Angeles. The Rams defense enters Week 7 having allowed the second-most DraftKings points to opposing running backs and repeatedly allows big runs and lots of trips into the end zone. With Arizona's commitment to feeding Peterson as a featured back, the 32-year-old should be able to shine once again. While he carries more risk these days, Peterson could easily finish Sunday with a top-10 performance at the running back position.
Wide Receivers:
Julio Jones, ATL @ NE, $8,500
To say Jones season to this point is a disappointment would be understating it. Health hasn't been the issue, Jones played in each of Atlanta's five games this season and stayed on the field for his normal amount of snaps. The problem is Atlanta's offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, who seems unwilling to change his conservative play calling and finds different ways each week to not target Jones as much as he should.
When asked about Jones involvement in the offense, Atlanta's Head Coach Dan Quinn said he wasn't satisfied with Jones' usage in the offense. We'll take the head coach at his word this week, especially given the matchup. New England allows the third-most DraftKings points to wide receivers this season and a player of Jones caliber should take even greater advantage of the matchup. Jones won't be as popular of a play given his disappointing numbers this year, but you have to get shares of Julio in your lineups.
Michael Crabtree, OAK v. KC, $6,100
While Marcus Peters lines up against Amari Cooper, Crabtree will be free to roam against Terrance Mitchell and Phillip Gaines. Both Kansas City cornerbacks often find themselves represented by images of burnt toast on a weekly basis, allowing play after play to opposing wide receivers and surrendering the deep ball regularly. It's all great news for Oakland's leading receiver this season. Crabtree has emerged as Derek Carr's go-to receiver and as a result, has found the end zone five times and has three games with 80-plus receiving yards. On Thursday Night Football, Crabtree offers the upside to go for 100-plus yards and a trip to the end zone, get heavy shares of him in your lineups.
Taylor Gabriel, ATL @ NE, $4,900
While we don't know the status of Mohamed Sanu for Sunday's game, Gabriel should be in for a sizable role on Sunday Night Football. He showed flashes in Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins, but never made the big play happen. Now with a better matchup and another opportunity to be the second receiving option in this passing attack, Gabriel makes for a quality value play. He has shown in his career he can rack up receptions or work the deep routes and make 40-plus yard plays happen. New England allows the third-highest yards per catch rate in the NFL, which should further open doors for Gabriel to turn in a big performance.
Tight End:
George Kittle, SF @ DAL, $3,600
Kittle doesn't seem to be a popular play this week, but he should be in a considerable amount of DFS lineups this coming weekend. For one, his role as a tight end in Kyle Shanahan's offense means he will see a sizable share of targets in a game where San Francisco will be down with its defense unable to stop the Dallas Cowboys. Kittle's role in the offense is also on the rise with 17 total targets and 129 total yards over the past two weeks.
Now enter C.J. Beathard, San Francisco's new starting quarterback and a potential upgrade at the position. While the rookie will encounter plenty of struggles, especially in his first start, he'll look towards his weapons on offense to help settle things down and move the chains. Beathard's strongest chemistry is of course with Kittle, his teammate in college at the University of Iowa. Kittle should see six-plus targets in this game and offers enough athleticism to turn in a quality fantasy performance at a bargain price.
Defense/Special Teams:
Minnesota Vikings D/ST v. Baltimore Ravens, $3,300
Simply put, Minnesota's defense should be one of the top three units in fantasy this week and hold a majority share of your plays in DFS. The Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars defensive units both draw favorable matchups as well and are amongst the best groups in the NFL. But Minnesota's defense is significantly cheaper and a matchup against Joe Flacco and an offensive line that is in shambles, should make Mike Zimmer's mouth water.