Week 7 DraftKings Cash-Game Picks
Top Plays for DraftKings Head-to-Head and 50/50 Contests
Here are the guys I’m considering for DraftKings Week 7 head-to-heads and 50/50s:
Quarterback
Geno Smith, Seahawks ($5,800)
It’d be nice to get up to Jayden Daniels ($7,600) in his smash spot against the Panthers. But there’s just not enough value on this slate to make it work.
So we’ll drop down to Smith, who actually checks in as the top dollars-per-point value at QB.
Smith has not played well the past two weeks. Yet he’s still scored 22.6 and 17.5 DraftKings points. That’s the luxury of playing in the league’s pass-heaviest offense. Seattle ranks first in pass rate over expected, neutral pass rate, and pass attempts.
Smith will chuck it plenty again this weekend with his Seahawks 3-point underdogs in Atlanta. This game has a big 51-point over/under and features two of the three fastest offenses in the league in terms of neutral pace. That should mean elevated play volume on both sides.
The Falcons rank 21st in pass defense DVOA and 15th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs.
Running Backs
Bijan Robinson, Falcons ($7,100)
Robinson delivered 25.5 DraftKings points in last week’s plus matchup and gets another excellent spot this weekend.
His Falcons are 3-point home favorites with a 27-point implied total – second highest on the slate. Robinson gets a Seahawks defense that’s been gashed for 5.2 yards per carry by RBs this season. Seattle ranks 19th in run defense DVOA and 20th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers ($6,500)
Hubbard’s 15.3 DraftKings points last week were his fewest over his last four games. That feels like his floor at this point.
Hubbard is averaging 17.5 carries and 4.8 targets over those four contests, ranking eighth among RBs in expected PPR points.
Volume makes him a safe cash-game play at this price. And the ceiling is elevated by the matchup against Washington’s 27th-ranked RB defense.
Tony Pollard, Titans ($6,300)
The Titans are 9-point underdogs with a week-low 15.75-point implied total in Buffalo on Sunday. But that’s more of a concern for Pollard’s ceiling.
His floor is boosted by the absence of RB Tyjae Spears, which will put Pollard in a workhorse role. After Spears exited last week’s game, Pollard handled 12 of 13 RB opportunities, losing just one carry to RB Julius Chestnut.
Pollard is already averaging 19.4 opportunities per game this season and is a good bet to top that number this weekend – whether those looks come on the ground or through the air.
His individual matchup is good, too, against a Bills defense that’s allowed 4.9 yards per carry to RBs and ranks 31st in adjusted fantasy points allowed to the position.
Also consider:
- Kyren Williams, Rams ($8,100)
- Ken Walker, Seahawks ($7,300)
Wide Receivers
Drake London, Falcons ($6,900)
London's targets shares since Week 1:
- 24%
- 31%
- 34%
- 22%
- 33%
He’s averaging 20.9 DraftKings points over those five games, falling below 17.4 just once.
London is in an excellent spot on Sunday in a likely shootout vs. the Seahawks. Seattle ranks 17th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs, but starting CBs Riq Woolen and Tre Brown are both dealing with injuries.
Diontae Johnson, Panthers ($6,600)
Johnson has topped 19 DK points in three of four games with QB Andy Dalton. More importantly, he’s averaging 10.8 targets per game on a 28.5% share over that span.
Sunday brings a prime matchup against Washington. The Commanders rank 23rd in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs and have surrendered the most yards per game (95) to opposing No. 1 WRs.
We'll just need to keep an eye on the ankle issue that Johnson has been playing through the past couple of weeks.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs ($4,000)
Despite being listed as questionable, I feel good enough about Smith-Schuster's health to use him in cash games. HC Andy Reid said JuJu was dealing with muscle spasms on Thursday. But he practiced on Friday and is expected to play vs. the 49ers.
Smith-Schuster is simply way too cheap for his new role as the Rashee Rice replacement. Last time out, JuJu tallied a 7-130-0 line on 8 targets (20.5% share).
QB Patrick Mahomes feasted on short passes over the middle of the field vs. San Francisco in last year's Super Bowl, completing 23 of 24 passes for 204 yards, one TD, and 0 INTs on passes over the middle of the field within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage.
That's Smith-Schuster territory. I expect him to be busy in this one.
Also consider:
- Justin Jefferson, Vikings ($8,500)
- Malik Nabers, Giants ($7,500)
- Tank Dell, Texans ($6,500)
- Tee Higgins, Bengals ($6,400)
Tight End
David Njoku, Browns ($4,100)
Njoku has been battling injuries all season. But he’s earned a target on 21% of his routes – the ninth-highest rate among TEs.
Njoku has been a full participant in practice this week, so he’s seemingly as healthy as he’s been all year. And WR Amari Cooper’s departure frees up 26.5% of Cleveland’s targets.
Njoku might prove to be one of the best target bets at TE the rest of the way. Even with those targets coming from QB Deshaun Watson, he’s a strong value at $4,100.
Also consider:
- Brock Bowers, Raiders ($5,800)
- Grant Calcaterra, Eagles ($3,200)
- Erick All, Bengals ($2,700)
Defense/Special Teams
Giants ($2,500)
Your New York Football Giants lead the league with 26 sacks through Week 6. That’s helped them average 8.3 DraftKings points per game – fifth most among main-slate DSTs.
Sunday brings a game against an Eagles offense that still looks strong on paper. But Philadelphia has failed to top 21 points in four straight games. That includes an underwhelming 20-point performance against the Browns last week.
The Eagles rank 20th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to DSTs.