DKNetwork Logo DKNetwork Logo
Should you start Terry McLaurin in Week 7 if he returns from his quad injury?

Should you start Terry McLaurin in Week 7 if he returns from his quad injury?

DraftKings Fantasy Advice Season Long DFS Rail

Published:

By: Alex Hunter

After missing the last three games for the Commanders with a quad injury, Terry McLaurin ($5,800) is expected to practice this week, per Washington head coach Dan Quinn.

If things go well in practice, McLaurin will have a strong chance to return this Sunday, when the Commanders visit the Cowboys for an NFC East matchup. Before getting injured, the wideout was off to a quiet start this season, averaging 8.3 FPTS per game through the first three weeks.

In those games, McLaurin saw a 19.5% target share, which is a notable drop from the 23.3% rate he handled last season. McLaurin’s decrease in usage this season has been a result of playing alongside newcomer Deebo Samuel ($6,200), who is playing his first season in Washington. The veteran is leading the Commanders in targets this season and he led the team with a 24.4% target share in those first three games of the season with McLaurin active. McLaurin’s efficiency has also taken a step backward, as he is only catching 55.6% of his targets and averaging 1.56 YPPR, after hauling in 71.3% of his targets and averaging 1.98 YPPR last season. Overall, McLaurin ranks just 79th in FPTS per snap among receivers this season (0.14).

While all of this is concerning, McLaurin is in the perfect get-right spot if he returns this Sunday, as Dallas is the worst-graded defense on PFF and the club is allowing the second-most yards per pass this season (7.8). Cowboys games are generating a league-high 60 PPG this season and this matchup carries a 54.5-point total on DraftKings Sportsbook, which is the largest total the NFL has seen this season. The Commanders boast a huge 28.5-point implied team total and barring any serious limitations, McLaurin should be in store for a season-best performance in this incredible spot. For his career, McLaurin is averaging 16.4 FPTS per game when competing in totals of 50 points or greater (six games).

If he suits up, McLaurin will be a rock-solid WR3 for season-long leagues and an intriguing GPP for DFS, as he likely will come with low ownership coming off the injury.

Alex Hunter
Alex Hunter is an avid DFS player and sports handicapper, who has been a proud member of the DraftKings Network team since 2020. He is a data-driven analyst, who earned his bachelor’s degree in communications at Worcester State University and has been in the sports content business for nearly a decade, covering the NBA, NFL and PGA TOUR. Alex is a diehard Boston Celtics fan, who loves to be on the golf course when he isn’t grinding lineups or producing content. For all of Alex’s work or if you need any lineup advice, be sure to follow him @Hunta512 on X.
Disclaimer

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) 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 skills 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.