Week 7 DraftKings Tournament Picks
Stacks
Sam Darnold ($6,200) + Justin Jefferson ($8,500) + Jordan Addison ($5,600)
Darnold is a good bet for big passing volume this weekend. His Vikings already rank fourth in pass rate over expected. Sunday brings a Lions defense that sits second in pass rate over expected against. Detroit has faced the third fewest rush attempts per game but the third most passes this season.
Darnold’s matchup is made easier by the absence of EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, who’s accounted for 44% of the Lions’ sacks and 36% of their pressures this year. Darnold has averaged just 4.68 yards per attempt when pressured this season vs. 9.57 when not pressured.
Darnold rosters need to include Jefferson, who smoked the Lions for 6-141-1 and 12-192-1 receiving lines last season (both with Nick Mullens). This year’s Detroit defense ranks 28th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs and 32nd in yards per game allowed to opposing No. 1 WRs.
You can also consider double-stacking Darnold with Addison, who’s drawn a 19% targets share in three games this season.
Geno Smith ($5,800) + D.K. Metcalf ($6,800) + Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($5,900)
Kirk Cousins ($6,300) + Drake London ($6,900) + Darnell Mooney ($5,600)
I wrote about the reasons to be on this game in the Week 7 Moves article.
The cliff notes version: These are two fast-paced offenses and struggling defenses. Expect lots of pass attempts and points on both sides.
Metcalf is one of my favorite plays on the slate. He just missed scoring two TDs last week. But because he didn’t, we’re getting him at 8% projected ownership in a likely shootout against Atlanta’s 27th-ranked WR defense.
Cousins – and this game in general – looks even more appealing after the Seahawks ruled out their two starting outside CBs on Friday. Riq Woolen is an especially big loss. He ranks fifth among 92 qualifying CBs in passer rating allowed in coverage this season.
Also consider:
- Jayden Daniels ($7,600) + Terry McLaurin ($6,800)
- Andy Dalton ($5,200) + Chuba Hubbard ($6,500) + Diontae Johnson ($6,600)
- Anthony Richardson ($6,000) + De’Von Achane ($6,700) (game stack)
Running Backs
De’Von Achane, Dolphins ($6,700)
If you told someone a month ago that you could get Achane at $6,700 and 3% projected ownership, they’d have thought you were on some of Aaron Rodgers’ good stuff.
It’s been tough sledding for Achane since QB Tua Tagovailoa went down. But I expect QB Tyler Huntley and this Dolphins offense to play better coming off the bye week.
The matchup vs. the Colts should help, too. Indianapolis ranks:
- 30th in yards per game allowed
- 26th in yards per play allowed
- 18th in points per game allowed
- 19th in defensive DVOA
The Colts sit 26th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs and have already had two RBs top 28 DraftKings points against them this season.
Achane, of course, has the speed to post a tournament-winning fantasy outing on just a couple of big plays.
Chase Brown, Bengals ($5,900)
As I wrote about in Week 6 Usage Takeaways, Brown’s role is trending up. He’s led Cincinnati in carries in three straight games. And he ran more routes than RB Zack Moss last week for the first time this season.
If Brown continues to pull away from Moss, we could be talking about a guy who’s $1,000 underpriced. He’s particularly exciting in tournaments because of his big-play ability.
Brown gets a Cleveland squad this weekend that ranks 20th in run defense DVOA and 14th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.
Also consider:
- Kyren Williams, Rams ($8,100)
- Ken Walker, Seahawks ($7,300)
- Bijan Robinson, Falcons ($7,100)
- Chuba Hubbard, Panthers ($6,500)
- Brian Robinson, Commanders ($6,400)
Wide Receivers
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions ($8,300)
WR Justin Jefferson is an awesome play on the other side of this Lions-Vikings game, but he’s projected for 20% ownership. St. Brown is nearly as a strong a play but is coming in with an 8% ownership projection.
St. Brown obliterated the Vikings twice last year, posting 12-106-1 and 7-144-1 receiving lines. He racked up 24 targets on a 33% share across those two games.
This year’s Vikings rank 26th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs ($4,000)
Smith-Schuster isn’t sneaking up on anyone (although maybe the ‘questionable’ tag will keep ownership in check). But I think he’s a key value piece on a week where we want to spend up for some high-priced WRs.
JuJu was in something like 80% of the Rashee Rice role in Kansas City’s last game. He played 45% of his snaps in the slot, ran a route on 66% of pass plays, and registered a 6.3-yard average target depth.
I’m expecting Smith-Schuster’s playing time to climb coming off the bye – and for him to continue to do a lot of work on shorter routes over the middle of the field.
And that’s where teams can move the ball against the 49ers. In their meeting in last year’s Super Bowl, QB Patrick Mahomes went 23 of 24 for 204 yards, one TD, and 0 INTs on passes over the middle of the field within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage.
Smith-Schuster could be busy on Sunday.
Also consider:
- Justin Jefferson, Vikings ($8,500)
- Malik Nabers, Giants ($7,500)
- Drake London, Falcons ($6,900)
- D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks ($6,800)
- Diontae Johnson, Panthers ($6,600)
- Tank Dell, Texans ($6,500)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($5,900)
- Jordan Addison, Vikings ($5,600)
- Christian Watson, Packers ($4,900)
- Noah Brown, Commanders ($4,000)
- Jalen Coker, Panthers ($3,000)
Tight Ends
Brock Bowers, Raiders
No Davante Adams and no Jakobi Meyers makes Bowers one of the better target bets on the slate. Not just at TE, but at any position. His 22 targets over the last two weeks are tied for third most in the league.
So Bowers is not just a strong play at TE … you can also consider using him in your Flex spot. It’s an easy way to differentiate your lineup.
Sunday’s matchup against the Rams’ 25th-ranked TE defense only adds to Bowers’ appeal.
Also consider:
- George Kittle, 49ers ($6,000)
- Dalton Schultz, Texans ($4,200)
- David Njoku, Browns ($4,100)
- Zach Ertz, Commanders ($3,900)
- Grant Calcaterra, Eagles ($3,200)
- Ja’Tavion Sanders, Panthers ($2,900)
Defense/Special Teams
- Bills ($3,500)
- Bengals ($3,300)
- Lions ($2,800)
- Giants ($2,500)