As former Amari Cooper owner who suffered through three of his four
terrible weeks before selling him for 50 cents on the dollar, I
must admit that I am not the least bit surprised that he had a monster
game. That is the M.O. of Cooper, and one of the biggest reasons
why I opted to move him for a wide receiver I thought would be more
consistent. Cooper owners expecting another big game next week against
the Bills in Buffalo may be in for a rude surprise when he posts
three catches for 20 yards and no touchdowns.
One of the big reasons why Cooper had such a big game is the
Chiefs inability to defend slot receivers, or wideouts like Cooper
who play both inside and out. The Raiders identified this weakness
and peppered Cooper with 19 targets, two less than the wide receiver
had in his previous four games combined.
DFS owners playing in GPP contests this weekend will scour the
player listings looking for a player like Cooper who possesses
an attractive matchup base on the deficiencies and tendencies
of their opponent. Identifying 19 targets for 210 yards and two
scores may not be a realistic expectation, but there are more
than a few solid plays this week.
Here are a few players I am targeting for Week 7 of the NFL season.
The 49ers have given up the 4th most fantasy
points to QBs making Dak an easy DFS play in Week 7.
Quarterbacks
H2H/Cash - Dak Prescott @ San Francisco ($7,300
on DraftKings)
Prescott is no longer the amazing value that he was when I recommended
using him against the Packers Week 5, but at $7,300 he is still
a worthy cash game play this week against a 49ers defense that
ranks 10th in points allowed to opposing defenses. The 49ers are
a young and inexperienced defense that on film tends to make mistakes
on read-options and similar plays in which experience is key.
San Francisco is tied for the most rushing TD’s allowed
to opposing quarterbacks, and I predict Prescott will get his
third rushing TD on the year.
GPP - Tyrod
Taylor vs. Tampa Bay ($6,100 on DraftKings)
I am staying in the flames with a home team quarterback playing
against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Taylor has yet to post a monster
game this season, but you could argue this is by far his best
matchup to date. I am paring him with Nick O’Leary in GPPs
this week.
Fade - Drew
Brees @ Green Bay ($7,600 on DraftKings)
This fade may lead to a few eye rolls from my readers, but before
you poo-poo this pick, consider the game flow that may limit Brees’
passing volume. Brett Hundley threw three picks last week against
the Vikings, and the Saints are much improved at forcing turnovers.
Brees is fantastic and will certainly score some points, but I
am struggling with the notion that the Packers will be able to
score enough points to keep in close with New Orleans.
Running Backs
H2H/Cash - Ezekiel Elliott vs. San Francisco
($7,300 on DraftKings)
The lack of an attractive and expensive wide receiving play has
me more interested in paying up for what should be a no-brainer
play at running back. Zeke has three straight games with at least
17 points, and the Niners rank dead last in points allowed to
RBs. I’d rather pay the premium for Zeke this week than
Bell, but Bell could also have a nice game with elite volume against
the Bengals.
GPP - Alvin
Kamara @ Green Bay ($5,600 on DraftKings)
Kamara continues to produce points like a 7K player but continues
to be underpriced on DraftKings. The Packers are reeling with
injuries in their secondary and Brett Hundley’s turnovers
could produce some short fields for Brees and the Saints offense.
A healthy Fournette is this matchup against the Colts would be
a start of the week candidate, but with the rookie from LSU limited
in practice with an ankle injury, and the possibility of Chris
Ivory getting more work I can’t risk spending $8,600.
Wide Receivers
H2H/Cash - Pierre Garcon vs. Dallas ($5,800
on DraftKings)
Aside from Michael Thomas against Green Bay, there are next to
no 7K-plus wide receivers that are attractive plays this week.
Dez Bryant should score well against the 49ers, but he also could
be limited it touches based on a negative game script. Garcon,
on the other hand, should benefit from that game script as San
Francisco will likely be down early to Dallas, forcing rookie
C.J. Beathard to throw the ball.
GPP - Bennie
Fowler @ Chargers ($3,300 on DraftKings)
With Emmanuel Sanders out with an ankle injury and cornerback
Casey Hayward shadowing a hobbled Demaryius Thomas, Bennie Fowler
could be the only viable passing weapon for Trevor Siemien this
week against the Chargers. He is a cheap source of targets with
a decent matchup - the perfect play in GPP.
I have been asked more than once if Rishard Matthews is a solid
play this week in fantasy with the Titans taking on the Browns.
Typically I would recommend playing any wide receiver against
Cleveland, but cornerback Jason McCourty has been solid this year
and just shut down DeAndre Hopkins for most of Week 6. I would
look elsewhere for a mid-5K play this week.
Tight End
H2H/Cash - George Kittle vs. Dallas ($3,600
on DraftKings)
I am tired of going with Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Cameron
Brate, as they are no-brainer cash plays at the tight end position
on a weekly basis. Instead, I want to go a bit cheaper and target
Kittle, a favorite target of rookie C.J. Beathard and an active
part of the 49er passing attack over the past two weeks (17 targets,
11 receptions, 129 yards and a score).
My other favorite cheap tight end target of the week is Nick
O’Leary, the replacement in the Buffalo passing game for injured
Charles Clay. O’Leary posted a respectable 5/54 line for a $3k
tight end in Week 5 before the bye and should eat against a Tampa
Bay defense that has been dreadful this year.
Fade - Evan
Engram vs. Seattle ($4,400 on DraftKings)
The Seahawks have been preparing for the Giants over the bye
week and will likely develop a scheme to limit Engram, Eli Manning’s
only remaining passing threat on the offense. I hope I am wrong
on this as I am starting Engram in my season-long league, but
my gut tells me the rookie will be shut down.
Defense & Special Teams
Minnesota vs. Baltimore
The Vikings host a Ravens team that cannot move the ball in the
air and Joe Flacco has been a dreadful pick machine. The Vikings
at home should create a few turnovers vs. the Ravens with a possible
defensive score. I also like the Jags against the Colts and the
Bills vs. the Bucs.
