Welcome back to FanDuel Picks Week 7, your one-stop shop for the best daily fantasy football advice. RB heavy. The trend of the year in daily fantasy sports. Last week we enjoyed our most fruitful DFS day of the year, highlighted by Todd Gurley (35.5 FanDuel points), Melvin Gordon (34.0), Matt Ryan (27.46), double secret and uber sneaky pick Emmanuel Sanders (21.0), the Houston Texans DST (20) and Julio Jones (19.30). Now, while all those high outputs are great, the key to the week actually came in the form of the early Sunday morning injury reports. Those that were in tune with the fantasy world Sunday morning knew Latavius Murray would replace Dalvin Cook in the Vikings starting lineup due to his balky hamstring injury. And at his dirt cheap price, Murray (22.30) allowed us to afford most of those big names above. Research and diligence Sunday morning can vastly swing FanDuel dollars in your direction, so always keep your ear to the ground. As a note, these picks are based on Sunday only leagues, so players on Thursday, Sunday night, and Monday night will be ignored.
Quarterbacks
- Baker Mayfield, QB, Cleveland Browns ($7,100) – The most popular cheap QB option this week, Baker Mayfield could be one of the highest owned quarterbacks Week 7 given the need for expensive, ultra-talented skill position players. And why shouldn’t he be? The Bucs give up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and allow an average of 367 passing yards per game. Mayfield has yet to throw the ball less than 40 times this year, and the game has the third highest projected total Sunday at just under 50 points. Consistently hovering around that mid teens mark, this will be the game the rookie puts it all together for a monster day.
- C.J. Beathard, QB, San Francisco 49ers ($6,400) – Yet to throw for less than 2 touchdown passes and yet to score less than 18.9 FanDuel points, dare I say C.J. Beathard is being undervalued at his shockingly low price of $6,400? Yes, I do dare and do declare! Are the 49ers 10 point home underdogs against the only undefeated team in the NFL? Yes. Will the 49ers get annihilated by the LA Rams? Unquestionably. But are all those positive signs for Beathard? Beathard should be throwing allllllll game long Sunday, abandoning any semblance of a run game early in hopes to keep pace (or at least score some points along with) the juggernaut Rams. Vegas is giving the 49ers some props with an implied team total of 21, so Beathard has a lot of intriguing upside at a very low cost.
Running Back
- Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams ($10,200) – The first player to surpass the $10,000 mark, and I could not care less. Take the 30+ point performance to the bank, put it in the vault or a lock box, seal it up. He could be the entire FanDuel cap, and I would still pay up for him. I also like to live……….dangerously.
- Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys ($8,400) – Not many stats here to back up this choice, but Ezekiel Elliott has been a true volume monster over the past three weeks, surpassing 20 rushing attempts and 25 total touches in each contest. The production and yardage has been there for Elliott, as he’s averaging the second most rushing yards per game (to the aforementioned Gurley), and a robust 5.0 yards per carry and 7.2 yards per reception. Expect the heavy volume and fantasy points to continue to flow Sunday in a big division rivalry matchup with serious playoff implications.
- Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts ($5,900) – RSJ’s top running back add Week 7, Marlon Mack finds himself in prime position at home Sunday in the fast track at Lucas Oil Stadium. Last week, Mack sliced and diced the Jets defense for 89 yards on just 12 carries. As the only true runner in Indy, I except his carries and volume to only increase, as will his production in a game with a positive run-game script.
- Frank Gore, RB, Miami Dolphins ($5,600) – Allowing the third most rushing yards per game, third most rushing yards per attempt, and fourth most fantasy points to opposing running backs, lead back Frank Gore could turn back the clocks Sunday for an old school between the tackles trench fight against the Detroit Lions. Gore saw 15 carries last week, turning them into a beautiful 101 yard performance, and he added in an 18 yard reception. With young gun Kenyan Drake struggling, and nearly fumbling games away, the Dolphins would be wise to rely more heavily on their grizzled veteran.
Wide Receiver
- Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings ($8,700) – Given some of the spending in the RB section, I wanted to stay rather frugal at wideout…except for one man. Adam Thielen is the only wide receiver this season to record at least 100 receiving yards in each game this year. He leads the entire NFL in targets, receptions, receiving yardage and receiving yards per game. He also ranks top 11 in the NFL in terms of touchdown receptions, 20+ receptions, and YAC. The man can do it all, and is as a surefire guarantee at the WR position as it gets. Oh, and he gets the easiest cornerback matchup this week per Pro Football Focus against Parry Nickerson. Pay up.
- Jarvis Landry, WR, Cleveland Browns ($6,500) – Stack it up baby! Jarvis Landry leads all Browns in targets, receptions, receiving yardage and receiving touchdowns (albeit with 1), and has seen no less than 9 targets in any game played in by Mayfield. With his volume and his reception total guaranteed, he could really lay it on thick Sunday against an inept Bucs secondary if he can find the end zone just once.
- John Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens ($6,500) – Pick a Raven, any Raven. Some may go Michael Crabtree for his safe, consistent floor. Hell, even Willie Snead IV and his consistent targets and volume could provide you a solid day. But my policy in FanDuel is go big, or go home, and that is why John Brown will find himself on many of my teams. Brown did a little Houdini act last week against a tough Titans defense, but should bounce back in a big way against the most generous fantasy wide receiver defense.
- Marquise Goodwin, WR, San Francisco 49ers ($5,500) – Wanna get nuts?!?! Let’s get nuts?!?! The super-contrarian stack of the week, Beathard and Marquise Goodwin could win daily FanDuelers serious dough if their connection keeps shining so bright. Last week, Goodwin caught 4 of 5 passes for 126 yards and 2 scores. Again, people may shy away as its the Rams and Marcus Peters across him, but Pro Football Focus actually gives Goodwin a sizable advantage in the matchup. At $5,500, and with his speed, he is worth the dice roll.
Tight End
- Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles ($7,500) – Piggybacking off his monster 2017 season, Zach Ertz is right back at it leading the Eagles in receptions (48), targets (67) and receiving yardage (480). To put that in perspective, Nelson Agholor, who ranks second one each of those categories, is 16 targets, 19 receptions and 173 yards behind Ertz. Ertz’s complete domination of Carson Wentz‘s passing volume should continue Sunday as Philly squares off against a Panthers defense allowing the fifth most points to the tight end position.
- David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns ($5,700) – With 13 receptions on 23 targets the past two weeks, count me all in on second year super talent David Njoku. Mayfield has peppered Njoku with at least 7 targets in five of Njoku’s six games this year, and Sunday faces a Bucs defense allowing the most points to opposing tight ends.
Defense
- Indianapolis Colts DST ($4,100) – If you read these weekly FanDuel articles you know a few things about the Defense section. First, we always punt it. Second, we always choose our defense against the worst offenses (aka the Bills, the Cardinals, etc.). And third, and most importantly, always, and I mean ALWAYS, start a defense against a quarterback that has not started a game in two years. I am looking at you Buffalo and Derek Anderson. He will be the gift that keeps on giving, and the Indianapolis Colts DST will be the main recipient of Sunday’s feast. And his backup Week 7? Nathan Peterman. LOL!
- Buffalo Bills DST ($3,400) – Provided that Anderson does not throw 5 pick 6’s to the Colts, the Buffalo Bills DST actually have the potential for a solid afternoon in Indy. The Bills rank third in sacks and sixth in takeaways, and the Colts have the third most giveaways in the league. If you really want to save, the Bills are your pick.
And that’s a wrap for Fanduel Week 7 analysis. Remember to always look at the matchups and Vegas totals, which are always telling, and do not be afraid to admit they know more than you, because they usually do. Until next time, good luck and don’t forget to tip me 10% of your earnings. Thanks in advance.
To contact me with any questions or general fantasy football discussion, please email me at redsocker45@gmail.com or tweet me @AJGamballer.
