Week 7 of the NFL season is upon us, and we will break down which players are the best value and why they are high-value plays.
For those who are new to daily fantasy and DraftKings, lets take a look at how to set your lineups and how to navigate through the app. When you open the app there will be a main page. On that main page there will be several sport options to choose from. The option will say “find a contest.”
Select NFL, then you will see three different game styles to choose from. Classic, tiers and Showdown Captain Mode. Which is a new game style DraftKings now offers. Where you can create your team from only one NFL game. What we want to select though is “Classic”.
This article covers how you can maximize your teams potential based on the “classic” game style. You will have a $50,000 salary cap and we will show you how to utilize that cap each week
Once you select classic you will see four contests to choose from. They will tell you the times you have to submit your nine player rosters by, along with the date. You will also see what the “featured” contest is, this will have the word “featured” highlighted in yellow next to it.
After you select a “classic” contest you will see how many games you can choose from, along with entry fees and total prizes. Also, DraftKings will show you how many entries are left per game. After you select your game of choice you will be prompted to create a lineup.
This is where you can utilize this article to maximize your chances at winning. So without further ado let’s hop in and see which players are an optimal choice for Week
SPECIAL BET ALERT$ THIS WEEK!
– Ken Barnes 4 NFL Best Bets!
– Jim Powers 5 Special College Football Best Bets!
– AL Merritt’s College Football Game of the Year!
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons, $6,500
Matt Ryan has a great matchup at a cheap price in Week 7 against the New York Giants. Ryan has been playing on an MVP level since his mediocre Week 1 outing against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Falcons’ star, who has thrown for 1,955 yards and 14 touchdowns and a mere two interceptions, is no doubt the centerpiece of this explosive Falcons offense.
Ryan is averaging 27.1 fantasy points per game this season. He is in the top five among scoring quarterbacks and will be looked at to deliver even more with the news of Devonta Freeman being put on the IR. Ryan and the Falcons’ high-flying offense will want to keep things going in the right direction against a lackluster Giants defense.
On Monday Night Football the nation will turn its eyes to this potentially high-scoring contest. We all know how atrocious the Falcons defense has been all season. Ryan will be preparing for shootouts each and every week, and Week 7 will be no different as both offenses boast two of the best wide receivers in the league.
The Giants defense is no better as they have allowed a total of 358 yards of offense per game. Their 17th-ranked defense has allowed 236.3 passing yards, 121.7 rushing yards and 27 points per game as well. Maybe Julio Jones will finally find the end zone courtesy of his quarterback in this matchup. Ryan comes in as the third-most expensive quarterback for Week 7. Take advantage of the price tag and smile.
Prediction: 325 passing yards, 3 touchdowns
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals, $7,600
Joe Mixon had a nagging injury for a couple of weeks which hampered his overall fantasy production this season. Mixon, in the games that he has played, has been an outstanding high-value play. He comes into this week sixth-most expensive, but is a bargain against the bad defense of the Kansas City Chiefs. Sunday Night Football has all the workings of being a very high-scoring affair.
This game was flexed to Sunday night because of it’s big-game potential. We have already seen these two teams win shootouts and lose heartbreakers. Mixon has been everything and more for the Bengals this season when healthy, totaling 336 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while adding 99 receiving yards and another score
Mixon’s four-game fantasy output has a lot of owners giddy for drafting him between the third and fourth round. We all know the Chiefs offense can ball with anybody, but we also know of their defensive struggles. Here’s a quick breakdown by the numbers to further prove why Mixon is such a great value for this week’s matchup.
Allowing a total of 468.2 yards per game, the Chiefs defense wishes they could be more of a help than a hurt to their high-powered offense. In six games this season they have given up 340.3 passing yards, 127.8 rushing yards and 28.7 points per game. If only the defense could play at the same level of years past this Chiefs team would be even more of a headache for its opponents.
Prediction: 125 rushing yards, 85 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Golden Tate, Detroit Lions, $6,400
Tate has such a high-volume share in the Lions offense each and every week that he’s hard to pass up on. His high floor each game makes this an easy selection. Tate this season has totaled 431 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while catching 33 balls on 51 targets. His volume is massive and shouldn’t be overlooked.
Tate has all kinds of receiving talent around him in Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr.. Matthew Stafford has made it well-known that Tate is still his favorite target and go-to guy when the games get rough. In Week 6, Tate hauled in five receptions for 42 yards. While not a super impressive stat line, his 10.2 targets per game average keeps him as a value play each week in 2018.
In Week 7, Tate will take on the Miami Dolphins who are ranked 24th against the pass. This matchup should provide plenty of opportunities for the Lions offense to get rolling early. Tate has delivered even when up against tough passing defenses, averaging 86.2 yards per game and 6.6 receptions it’s easy to see the available volume each and every week.
The Dolphins defense haven’t been news to write home about in 2018. They have allowed 396.7 yards per game. There’s no reason to fear Tate having a let-down game. If anything, he should have a bounce-back performance. The Lions play him effectively in the slot as Tate is ranked the No . 3 receiver when played in that position. Tate averages 61 receiving yards per game, 305 total yards and two scores, which is by far his most productive stat line.
Prediction: 95 receiving yards, 1 touchdown
O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $3,600
Howard has impressed this season when on the field. Jameis Winston seems to have transitioned Howard into being his security blanket in 2018. In Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons, Howard caught four balls for 62 yards and a touchdown. Even with a knee injury that has hampered his overall fantasy production this season, Howard has still found a way to be productive even though he’s hasn’t always been fully healthy.
We all know that the Falcons defense is in complete shambles this season. Every one that faces them usually has a decent game. Howard is no fluke going forward. He has proven when healthy that he is becoming Winston’s favorite target. In the four games that he has suited up for, Howard has totaled 284 receiving yards and two touchdowns. His 21 targets let’s us know he will be targeted every week at least five times.
Howard has already been playing over Cameron Brate, which is a huge win for his fantasy owners. Howard has a really nice price tag heading into Week 7 and will no doubt see plenty of volume against the Cleveland Browns at home. The Browns have been a surprise as they have been a more competitive opponent in 2018. Tampa Bay will look to emulate Los Angeles and get on top of the young team early.
The Browns defense, however, has allowed 406.5 yards per game. Their 138.2 rushing yards per game is an eye-popping stat. If the Bucs can get their stagnant run game going, which they should, then Howard will see nothing but green grass ahead of him on Sunday. The Browns also allow 25.2 points per game which boasts well for this Tampa Bay offense who can score big.
Prediction: 65 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
Kenyan Drake, Miami Dolphins, $4,900
Drake has been an interesting story in 2018, splitting time with future hall of fame running back Frank Gore. What we like about Drake is his ability to stretch the field in the passing game. Drake’s 31 targets and 21 receptions with 145 receiving yards and a touchdown puts him in prime high-value, flex position territory this week against an atrocious Lions defense.
Overall, Drake has been quite productive despite his split time with Gore. Drake has rushed for 210 yards on 52 carries, while adding another score. His Week 7 matchup against the Detroit Lions 30th-ranked defense against the rush is a juicy matchup we want to take advantage of. Drake in all due respects has produced for his owners in some capacity this season and will look to exploit that Lions horrible rush defense come Sunday.
Prediction: 50 rushing yards, 75 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
SPECIAL BET ALERT$ THIS WEEK!
– Ken Barnes 4 NFL Best Bets!
– Jim Powers 5 Special College Football Best Bets!
– AL Merritt’s College Football Game of the Year!
