Fridays are for Five lists of Five, baby. Let’s get you set for Week 7 with some quarterback, tight end, and defensive streamers.
Because, honestly—all I want is for you to be better than your friends. You’re going to be surrounded by them on Sunday, probably. How sweet would it be if you could be sure you’ve checked every box possible that might guarantee you a resounding victory this week? Some kick-your-feet-up insights? I’ve got some.
I know my audience. The smoke-break audience. The quick-scan-of-the-phone-on-the-way-to-the-fridge audience. The give-me-as-much-info-as-possible-as-fast-as-possible audience. I’m a man of the people.
And so: the Five Lists of Five series. Think of these as byte-sized, two-minutes-to-yourself lists to scan during your weekend as you foam at the mouth for any competitive fantasy edge. As much relevant analysis as I can fit into, like, 250 words per player.
Keeping it rolling this week with my top five fantasy football streamers for NFL Week 7.
Also available from my Week 7 Friday Five Lists of Five:
- Top five fantasy football players to stash for NFL Week 7
- Top five fantasy football buy-low players for NFL Week 7
- Top five fantasy football smash starts for NFL Week 7
- Top five wide receivers due for fantasy football breakouts in NFL Week 7
Again, we’re going QB/TE/Defense heavy this week, since those are the most stream-happy positions.
Stream ’em
Detroit Lions D/ST (at Minnesota Vikings; 45.4% rostered)
Lifted directly from my Fantasy Football Week 7 Defense Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em Picks:
Again, the case of another highly-added defense this week: 19.2% of that roster percentage came from this week’s waiver rush. Which is, of course, sad, only because the week we all want to run this unit out in our starting lineups is the first one they’ll be without Aidan Hutchinson indefinitely. Heart goes out to that guy.
Nonetheless, I like this unit’s chances against a Sam Darnold that might(?) be regressing to league-average, here. He stunk in the Jets game, and was only average in the Green Bay game. The Vikings are coming off their bye, and this isn’t a Lions team that’s ready to entertain a letdown spot after drubbing the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 6.
Expect Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn to have his Hutchinson-less unit frothing at the mouth. There’s some joke to be made here about cowardly lions and it being Halloween season and seeing ghosts, but it’d likely be a mouthful.
Take the group of men who just lost a beloved brother to hit the field Sunday with a scary force of purpose.
Los Angeles Rams D/ST (vs. Las Vegas Raiders; 5.3% rostered)
It would seem about 4.6 of that 5.3% comes from adding this week, so a few sharps are already rostering this defense this week. And, really, why wouldn’t you? This isn’t a Raiders offense that is in any way, shape, or form prepared for a professionally-coached defensive unit.
And, believe me, this unit will have been coached up for this game specifically. Aidan O’Connell specifically. Brock Bowers, etc. Because this is a Rams home game in a must-win situation for this entire epoch of the Rams. If they go 1-5 after the BYE against these Raiders, they’ll blow the whole place (read: roster) up.
Potential early goodbyes for Stafford and Kupp are not anything Les Snead and Sean McVay are going to put in the hands of this defense. This game goes one of two ways: either the Rams beat the brakes off the Raiders early and it’s low-stakes snaps for the defense for 50%+ of the game, or the Rams win in a low-scoring, long-offensive-possession slugfest.
Either way, the Rams D/ST should float around 12+ FPTs with Jared Verse pressuring this patchwork OL.
Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
My colleague and fellow DKN analyst Sean Barnard has Baker Mayfield (among four others here) as a must-start this week. Here’s what he said:
While Baltimore’s defense is strong against the rush, allowing the fewest rushing yards and fewest rushing yards per attempt, opposing quarterbacks have had success against them. The Ravens rank 31st in passing yards allowed and 27th in passing touchdowns given up. They also have given up the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks across the league. Just two weeks ago Joe Burrow produced a 371-yard passing performance with five touchdowns against the Ravens.
Mayfield has finished as a top-eight quarterback in five of the six weeks including three top-three finishes. He should be considered an every-week starting fantasy football quarterback and this is especially the case against the Ravens. Make sure Mayfield is in your lineups this week.
Chris Godwin is healthy, and we think Mike Evans (hamstring) should be on the field for this one against the Ravens. It’s a huge AFC vs. NFC matchup.
The Bucs’ backfield is a bit scary, what with news that they’re going to ride the hot hand between Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, and Sean Tucker.
I like Mayfield to have a good game, and to link up with …
Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
… his trendy tight end, Cade Otton! He was a popular streamer last week (and he caught a touchdown in Week 6), and industry figureheads seem to believe he’ll be absorbing at least some of Mike Evans’s targets this week. Evans is nursing a hamstring injury and might not be able to handle a full workload.
But, really, as all streaming is—this is about the matchup. The Ravens are dismal against the tight end position, even with all those linebackers. 24.4% of their total passing yards allowed are dedicated to tight ends alone.
Ten FPTs feels conservative in this matchup against the Ravens, and most of us would take that to the bank and run if it were weekly tight end production.
Colby Parkinson, TE, Los Angeles Rams
It’s all-business time at SoFi stadium. Parkinson is healthy. Stafford needs to lead his team to a win in order to keep this season alive. In order to justify getting Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back on the field.
Parkinson’s been quietly productive for the Rams during their time of convalescence for most offensive personnel. In his past three games, Parkinson’s tallied 106 receiving yards on 14 catches. Stafford’s targeted him 25 times across that span.
It’s a little bit of a buried storyline in NFL Week 7 just how important it is for the Rams to get this win on Sunday. Kyren Williams might make it so that Parkinson’s goal line/red area value is lower than some other tight ends. But it also might open him up for a little floater touchdown on a classic Stafford boot.
You could do worse this week.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $3M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st].
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is thegreatdansby9) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
