Traditional, season-long fantasy football gives you the opportunity to prove that you’re a smarter and better person than your dearest friends, but daily fantasy sports offers an even stronger incentive: cash. After approximately a quarter of the season, the NFL landscape is a little bit clearer as depth charts and schemes have come into focus. This may not be financial advice, but here are the ONE37pm NFL DFS picks for Week 7.
(Note: all prices listed are for Draftkings)
High: Lamar Jackson ($8000)
Although Jackson has relatively struggled the last few weeks compared to his torrid start (average of 16.3 fantasy points in Weeks 4-6 compared to 37.75 in Weeks 1-3), fret not; he’s still Lamar Jackson. With a home game against Cleveland on tap for Sunday, Jackson has the perfect get-right game against a team with the 30th ranked scoring defense in the league.
Middle: Dak Prescott ($6700)
Cooper Rush was a nice little story as Dallas’ temporary starter, but it’s time to get serious: Dak is back. Perhaps the most underappreciated quarterback in football, Prescott has put up monstrous stats whenever he’s healthy, averaging nearly 300 passing yards over his last 39 games. Adding to the intrigue, he’s making his return against the Detroit Lions, who hemorrhage points and passing yards.
Value: Geno Smith ($5600)
Undeterred by last week’s clunker, we’re riding the Geno Wagon until the wheels fall off. He’s been the seventh best quarterback in fantasy football this season and yet he’s priced below the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, who have stunk it up this year.
High: Austin Ekeler ($8300)
Justin Herbert, Mike Williams and Keenan Allen may all be more ballyhooed, but Ekeler is the beating heart of the Chargers’ offense. Over the last three weeks, he’s been on an absolute heater, receiving at least 19 touches in each contest and averaging 32.7 points per game. He’s the rare running back who’s basically vulture-proof, serving as both the Chargers’ best goal-line option as well as a prolific option in the passing game.
Middle: Josh Jacobs ($6500)
Josh Jacobs is third in the NFL in rushing yards. In his previous two games, he’s received 49 carries for 298 yards and three touchdowns, numbers that harken back to a time where running backs were true superstars. And yet, he’s only the 11th most expensive running back this week. Beyond Jacobs, the middle-tier running back options overfloweth this week: rookies Dameon Pierce ($6400) and Breece Hall ($6200) are more than worthy options as well.
Value: Kenneth Walker III ($5800)
Speaking of rookie running backs, Walker has been That Guy since taking over as the main guy in Seattle. In his first career start, Walker ably filled in for injured starter Rashaad Penny, toting the rock 21 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. A second round pick in last year’s draft, Walker is as dynamic as just about any back in the league and now he has a workload commensurate with his abilities.
High: Davante Adams ($8700)
As a master technician, Adams isn’t necessarily the sexiest receiver, but that’s never stopped him from being one of the most productive. While he’s still working out the kinks as he adjusts to the rhythms of a new offense in Las Vegas, Adams is still a target and touchdown monster, ranking in the top ten in both categories despite only playing five games so far because of the Raiders’ early bye week.
Middle: CeeDee Lamb ($6800)
Lamb is the 12th ranked receiver in fantasy football despite having Cooper Rush as his quarterback nearly the entire season. If he can average 14.6 points per game with the noodle-armed rush throwing him the ball in tough matchups against the Rams, Giants and Eagles, he’s in position to put up massive numbers with Prescott returning for a plum matchup against the Lions’ porous defense.
Value: Alec Pierce ($4600)
The hero of last week’s rousing win over the Jaguars, Pierce has cemented his status as the clear #2 option in Indianapolis’ passing game behind Michael Pittman Jr. Since entering the starting lineup in Week 2, Pierce has averaged nearly 13 points per game, production that’s comparable to higher profile receivers like Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin.
High: Travis Kelce ($8000)
Every week he plays, he’s going to be on this list. At his current rate, he’s on pace to have the greatest fantasy season that a tight end has ever had.
Middle: David Njoku ($4200)
A former first-round pick, Njoku has enjoyed a mini-resurgence this season, emerging as one of Jacoby Brisset’s favorite targets in Cleveland. He’s fourth among tight ends in receiving yards and has received at least six targets in each of his last five games. The mid-tier of tight ends is relatively barren this week, but Njoku is a dependable option for those who aren’t willing to break the bank on Kelce or Mark Andrews.
Value: Greg Dulcich ($2500)
Denver has roughly 38 tight ends and Russell Wilson is in the worst stretch of his career, but Dulcich undoubtedly impressed in his debut last week. After missing the first five games, Dulcich led Denver’s tight ends in snaps (51% of them),yards and touchdowns, hinting that he’ll take control of that position group. To wit, he was Denver’s third-round choice in last year’s draft and one of the first tight ends selected, further evidence that they have big plans for him this season.
