The Denver Broncos kicked off Week 7 with a blowout victory over the New Orleans Saints in a battle between rookie quarterbacks. This appetizer of a matchup set up the full course of the Week 7 games set to take place on Sunday.
There are only two teams on a bye week this week — the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears. While the Monday Night Football doubleheader thins out options for Sunday slightly, there are plenty more on the table for filling out your fantasy football lineups.
As you seek to maximize your DFS lineups, here’s a look at a few players who could have the inside track to outperform their price points. Be sure to get some superstars in your lineup still, but here are some lower-budget names who could help you win your competitions!
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Quarterbacks:
Anthony Richardson ($6,000)
After missing the past two weeks with an oblique injury, Anthony Richardson is set to return to the lineup this week as the Colts prepare to take on the Dolphins. The former fourth-overall pick has logged only eight total games at the NFL level after playing just 24 total games in college. Richardson still has to play through the growing pains that come with being a young quarterback, with limiting turnovers and overall decision-making at the top of his list of things to fix. In his four starts, he has thrown just three passing touchdowns to his six interceptions.
With this said, the raw physical traits and big play ability that Richardson possesses make him a much better fantasy football quarterback than NFL signal-caller at this point in his career. He had his best performance in Week 1 where he ranked fifth in scoring among quarterbacks.
Entering as the 13th-most expensive quarterback this week, Richardson is a boom-or-bust target. Any given week he can break out as the top performer, and he has not utilized his legs as much as expected thus far this year. While the Dolphins have defended the pass well so far, Richardson will be the first true dual-threat quarterback they have faced. It takes just one play for the 22-year-old to turn a game completely around and put you in the driver’s seat for a fantasy football victory. He is officially fully healthy and has had additional time to prepare. Don’t be surprised if Week 7 marks his best performance thus far as a professional.
Matthew Stafford ($5,600)
It has been a near-disastrous start to the season for Stafford and the Rams. Los Angeles enters with a 1-4 record and has battled some significant injury issues. Puka Nacua remains away from the team with his knee injury, while the hope is that Cooper Kupp will return to the lineup this week. Kupp is officially listed as questionable, and the expectation is that he will be a game-time decision. He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2 and has been out since then.
If Los Angeles hopes to turn their season around, it must start this week. They have a great opportunity facing off against the Las Vegas Raiders, who are 2-4 on the year and rank 27th in points allowed.
Stafford has yet to play his best football this season, throwing just three touchdowns to this point. The former Super Bowl champion has thrown 360 touchdowns in his career and has a proven track record of what to expect. With a poor defense in front of him and the pressure beginning to mount, expect Stafford to deliver in this game. Count on this being a breakout performance and for Stafford to produce his best statistical output thus far.
Running Backs
Raheem Mostert ($6,100)
Last season, the Miami Dolphins found their identity as a team that relies on their dynamic offense for success. Fast forward to 2024 and after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in Week 2, the season outlook has drastically changed for Miami. The once high-flying offense ranks dead last in points scored and 23rd in yards tallied on the year. They have not been able to record more than 15 points in a game since the change at the quarterback position.
As they look to get back on track, Raheem Mostert should be looked at as a reason for optimism. After leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns last season, Mostert battled a chest injury which kept him out in Weeks 2-4. The 32-year-old made his return to the field in Week 5 in which he tallied 21 touches for 98 yards from scrimmage. Miami is coming off their bye week and will have the rest advantage as they face the Colts. While De’Von Achane is expected to play after returning from a concussion, there will be room for both running backs to make an impact in this matchup.
So far this season, the Colts rank 31st in rushing yards allowed and have given up 17+ fantasy points to both Tank Bigsby and Tony Pollard over the last two weeks. As Miami continues to navigate their murky waters at quarterback, expect them to lean on the running game heavily and for Mostert to be a key part of this.
Austin Ekeler ($5,900)
The Washington Commanders have been one of the most impressive teams thus far in the 2024 NFL season. They sit at 4-2 and are most recently coming off a 30-23 loss at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens. As the Commanders look to get back in the win column, they find themselves with a great opportunity for a bounce-back victory as they face off with the Carolina Panthers.
Through his five appearances, Austin Ekeler has tallied 171 rushing yards and 198 receiving yards while recording one touchdown. He has at least 57 yards from scrimmage in every game with a season-high of 97 total yards. While Brian Robinson Jr. has been the primary running back for most offensive possessions, Ekeler is coming off a game in which he logged a season-high 80% of offensive snaps. Robinson Jr. missed last week with a knee injury and is listed as questionable for this matchup. While signs seem to be pointing toward Robinson Jr. being available, Ekeler should be viewed as the more favorable running back in this matchup regardless.
This is a perfect get-right spot for the Commanders after the tough loss last week. Expect Washington to have plenty of opportunities to pour on points and for there to be room for each of the skill position players to get involved. This will be the case with Ekeler, who will be involved in both the rushing and passing game. Carolina has allowed the most rushing touchdowns, the third-most rushing yards, and the most overall points. This gives Ekeler a great chance of adding his second touchdown of the season and producing his best overall game in a Commanders uniform.
Wide Receivers
Tank Dell ($6,500)
The Houston Texans enter Week 7 with a 5-1 record and sit first place in the AFC South. They have a dynamic offense which took a notable hit when Nico Collins suffered a hamstring injury — it kept him out last week and he is now on IR until at least Week 10. The Texans’ offense still shined without the star pass catcher, defeating the Patriots 41-21 and producing 368 total yards of offense.
Tank Dell has been forced to take a back seat in the offense due to the addition of Stefon Diggs. However, Dell had his best performance of the season last week in Collins’ absence as he caught seven of nine targets for 57 yards and a touchdown. This is still far from Dell’s ceiling as he tallied 114 or more yards three times last season.
As the Texans prepare to face off with the Green Bay Packers, expect this game to involve plenty of scoring. Dell will be a key part of the Houston offense and should have the inside track on his best performance of the season. Expect him to make the most of the opportunity and for Dell to put himself back on the national NFL map in Week 7.
Wan’Dale Robinson ($6,100)
There is plenty of buzz surrounding the return of Malik Nabers this week for the Giants. The rookie pass catcher led the NFL in receiving yards before getting hurt, and even after missing the past two weeks due to his concussion, Nabers still ranks 14th in receiving yards and ninth in targets. While Nabers will certainly make his impact felt, look toward Wan’Dale Robinson as the most productive pass catcher on the Giants when they face off with the Eagles.
Philadelphia has struggled at times defensively this year. They rank 14th in points allowed, 21st in passing yards allowed, and 22nd in net yards per pass attempt. The Eagles’ defensive unit has embraced the bend-but-don’t-break mentality, which leaves offenses room for plenty of opportunities in the middle of the field.
Expect Nabers and Darius Slayton to be given the big play opportunities, but for Robinson to be the most reliable pass catcher. On the season, Robinson ranks second in the NFL in targets and is tied for fourth in receptions. Watch for the Eagles to task prized rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell with Nabers while Robinson gets the preferred matchup on the other side. He has been targeted at least four times in every game and as many as 14 times in a single contest this season. Expect this volume to translate to a positive fantasy football performance.
Tutu Atwell ($5,000)
The injury status of the Rams’ wide receiver room is worth monitoring up until kickoff, but expect Tutu Atwell to be involved heavily in this game regardless. Currently, Puka Nacua is not expected to return this week while the decision regarding Cooper Kupp will be made closer to kickoff. This is not a new problem for the team as the Rams have played just 24 total snaps this season with both Kupp and Nacua on the field.
Tutu Atwell has been the biggest beneficiary of these injuries and leads the team with 281 receiving yards on the season. While Atwell may fall down the depth chart as the team begins to get healthy, expect him to be ready to perform this week. Los Angeles has a great chance to get back on track and have their strongest performance this season against a struggling Raiders team.
Atwell may be right in the mix with the biggest contributors on offense this week. He has tallied 82 or more receiving yards twice already this season, but has yet to record his first receiving touchdown. Expect this to change against the 27th-ranked scoring defense and capitalize on Atwell’s production before LA’s stars get fully healthy.
Tight End
Tucker Kraft ($4,600)
While the production at the tight end position has been disappointing across the board this season, Tucker Kraft has been a bright spot. The second-year tight end ranks fifth at the position in fantasy production and is averaging nearly 10 fantasy points per game. The Packers pass catcher has tallied at least two receptions in every game and has recorded a season-high of 88 receiving yards so far.
The Packers are set to face off with the Texans this week. Both teams possess high-flying offenses that can break a game open. Expect this to be a high-scoring matchup and for there to be plenty of opportunities for the pass catchers. Expect Kraft to be in the mix and for him to remain one of the top-performing tight ends in Week 7.
David Njoku ($4,100)
The Cleveland Browns have been an incredibly frustrating team this season, headlined by subpar play from quarterback Deshaun Watson. These issues may only be exaggerated following the organization’s decision to trade away top pass catcher Amari Cooper. The absence of the five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver opens up 8.8 targets per game.
Enter David Njoku, who has yet to find his stride this season. The 28-year-old battled an ankle injury which kept him out in Weeks 2-4. He finally looked to be healthy last week and took a season-high 74% of offensive snaps. In these opportunities, he recorded five receptions for 31 yards. Expect Njoku to build off this and be first in line for the targets usually directed toward Cooper. The Browns are set to face off with the Bengals this week and will likely be playing from behind. Expect plenty of pass attempts and for Njoku to outperform his price point of TE11.
Defense & Special Teams
Miami Dolphins ($2,800)
The Miami Dolphins will face off with the Indianapolis Colts, who should have Anthony Richardson at the helm. Miami has held opponents to the fifth-fewest yards on the season while allowing the fewest passing touchdowns and third-fewest passing yards. Richardson has also struggled with turnovers this season, throwing six interceptions and fumbling the ball three times in just four games. While Richardson will have his flashes of success as well, his carelessness with the ball will show face and pave the way for a successful fantasy football performance by the Dolphins defense.
This is a great opportunity to add a solid defense against an opponent that does not have much of an offensive ceiling to worry about. Expect this to be a low-scoring matchup and for Miami to have a chance at creating at least one turnover. The $2,800 price tag is great value for this Dolphins team in what should be an ugly football game.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) 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.
