There are some juicy matchups across the league this week that I’ll definitely be targeting for NFL DFS lineups. Five games are projected to reach a combined point total of 47 or more on the main slate. That should scream fireworks. Those are the five games that I think you should be targeting for your lineup. Therefore, most of my picks today will come from those matchups.
(NFL DFS salaries courtesy of DraftKings)
Week 7 NFL DFS Picks & Lineup Advice (2024)
Quarterback
Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks) |$5,800
Last week was rougher than usual for Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks. They got pounded by the 49ers. It wasn’t a great matchup for Smith on paper, though. The 49ers are pretty decent against fantasy quarterbacks. But this week, Smith faces the Atlanta Falcons in a game I feel is sneaky good for fantasy. The implied point total sits at 51, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it go over.
The Falcons have been modest against the pass, especially fantasy quarterbacks. This season, they’re the seventh-easiest matchup for the position, allowing an average of 19.7 points per game. This makes for a great opportunity for Smith to have a bounce-back performance, and It’s not like he was god-awful last week; It was only the second time Smith finished outside of QB9 this season.
Now, let’s point to the value. Smith has the 15th-highest QB salary on DraftKings. I like him a hell of a lot more than the more expensive options. For example, Patrick Mahomes is the fifth-most expensive and hasn’t finished as a QB1 since Week 1. You’re getting a discount for a better fantasy quarterback. Yes, Smith is a better fantasy football quarterback than the three-time Super Bowl champion. Mahomes might be the best quarterback in the league, but he’s no longer a good fantasy football quarterback. So take the discounted West Virginia product and watch for the potential blow-up game.
Running Back
Brian Robinson Jr. & Austin Ekeler (Washington Commanders) | $6,400 & $5,900
Now look, this is two weeks in a row that the pick at running back is an entire backfield! This is 100% on purpose and for a few reasons. First, the elephant in the room needs to be addressed. As of publication, Brian Robinson Jr. holds a questionable tag for Sunday’s game against Carolina. But that isn’t why Austin Ekeler is also the pick. This matchup is near-perfect for running backs.
The Carolina Panthers are the easiest matchup for fantasy running backs through six weeks. They’re allowing a staggering 32.9 NFL DFS points per game to running backs. It shouldn’t matter whether or not Robinson Jr. plays or doesn’t play. This matchup is a dream. If the former Crismon Tide plays, the volume will be there regardless. Ekeler will handle the passing game. If you haven’t been paying attention to him this season, he’s looked great doing it. So even if both running backs play and split carries, there’s a chance they will both score 16+ points. That is more than enough to satisfy for their salary.
Again, this is a potential high-scoring game to be played. The implied total is 51.5, and you’ll want pieces. Two running backs on a high-flying offense are some pieces that need to be put together in your DFS puzzle. I love both of these backs for their pricing. But if Robinson Jr. doesn’t go, you’re getting a starting running back in Ekeler for cheap.
Wide Receiver
Drake London (Atlanta Falcons) | $6,900
Let’s head back to the Seahawks-Falcons game for the wide receiver pick of the week. I easily could have gone Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings, as he arguably has the best matchup in Week 7. But I don’t want to spend $8,500 on the position this week and rather gain leverage elsewhere. London is the next choice and offers a much lower salary. As noted, this game could shape up to be high-scoring. Pieces of it should be in your NFL DFS lineup.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Drake London has the sixth-best matchup for wide receivers against all individual defenders. Overall, the Seahawks’ defense has been a good matchup for opposing WR, conceding the fifth-most touchdowns to wideouts (nine). They’re also tied in giving up the second-most 40+ yard completions (four).
I’m going to go ahead and assume this game lights up the scoreboard. Therefore, London has a great chance of blowing up! Quarterback Kirk Cousins has played well in the last two games. When Cousins plays well, his wide receivers have big games. That has always been the story for him. If he gets into a groove, it’ll be lights out, and London could have his best game of the season.
Tight End
George Kittle ( San Francisco 49ers) | $6,000
You’ll pay a premium price tag for George Kittle, but I’m willing to do so this week. As of late, the tight end position has come a little more alive, but it still hasn’t been great this season. So why Kittle, then? The former Iowa Hawkeye has accumulated 22 targets in the last three games, turning them into 57.7 NFL DFS points. That’s about 19 points per game and something that I see as worth paying up for.
Kittle also faces a Kansas City Chiefs defense that is the literal bottom of the barrel against fantasy tight ends. So far, the Chiefs have allowed an average of 14.3 fantasy points per game to the position in 2024. If run-of-the-mill tight ends can average that against the Chiefs, imagine what Kittle can do. The big thing about Kittle is what he can do after the catch. He actively seeks contact and won’t go down until three defenders are on him. He’s a wizard after the catch and always gaining extra yardage.
Defense/Special Teams
Los Angeles Rams D/ST | $3,000
If you’re looking to punt the D/ST position this week in DFS, I don’t think you can do wrong with the Los Angeles Rams. I know they have not been very good this season, but they looked much better in Week 5 against a stout Green Bay Packers offense. They managed to score 10 points off a few sacks and an interception. If anything, they didn’t hinder you at all if you rostered them.
This week, the Rams, fresh off a bye, face Aidan O’Connell and the Las Vegas Raiders. That means more prep for the Rams. O’Connell will probably throw the ball 35-40 times in this game, leading to the opportunity for a few interceptions. There’s no doubt that the Raiders want to run the ball, but the Rams should get ahead and could do so quickly. That means O’Connell isn’t going to be handing the ball off much. For $3,000, I don’t think you can do much better.
Check out all of our Week 7 fantasy football content:
- PropKings: NFL Week 7 (2024)
- Week 7 In the Scope Targets (2024)
- Week 7 Shore Thing Sleepers (2024)
- Week 7 NFL DFS Picks & Lineup Advice (2024)
- Fantasy Football Trade Targets | Week 7 (2024)
- Week 7 Fantasy Football Advice Mailbag (2024)
- Fantasy Football Whiplash! | Week 7 News & Notes (2024)
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*Photo Credit: David Gonzales – USA TODAY Sports*