NFL DFS picks Week 7: Best sleepers, value players for FanDuel, DraftKings lineups

With six weeks in the NFL season’s rear-view mirror, the worst of the bye weeks is upon us. The Bills, Eagles, Rams, and Vikings all have Week 7 off, which drastically reduces the number of studs across our NFL DFS player pools. But that’s OK! We search for FanDuel and DraftKings sleepers and value picks every week so we can afford the high-priced daily fantasy football studs who earn their high salaries more often than not.

Every Tuesday, we scour the DK and FD player pools to pinpoint the best investments based on matchups and stat trends. By capitalizing on affordable sleepers in certain DFS roster spots, we leave ourselves the budget to greatly improve other roster spots with proven weekly studs. Translation: in order to afford an Austin Ekeler ($8,300 on DK), sometimes you have to sprinkle in the occasional Wan’Dale Robinson ($3,600). 

This column has been producing better than ever this season, and readers are seeing healthy returns on their DraftKings and FanDuel accounts. Among our 10-12 hits each week, we have averaged right around 20 DraftKings points per player. Take a look at our massive list of highlights from Week 6:

Another week in which we featured at least 11 massive value plays at $6,000 or less! These investments greatly exceeded expectations, averaging nearly 18.5 DraftKings points for an average price point of $4,980. That kind of cheap production in our DFS lineups helps us afford proven weekly studs at other roster spots. When your cheap picks are posting nearly 20 points, you’re sitting pretty in the DFS world!

Let’s keep the momentum rolling and stroll into this weekend’s slate with the confidence of Dak Prescott making his return at home versus the Lions! Here are our favorite DraftKings and FanDuel value plays for Week 7. 

All player values are from DraftKings and FanDuel. All stats are from NFL.com and Pro Football Reference.

NFL DFS Picks Week 7: QB sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Matt Ryan, Colts at Titans (DK: $5,400 | FD: $7,300)

I have one QB on bye this week, and it’s a big one: Josh Allen. So, I’ll be lighting a candle for my season-long fantasy squad, and saying a Hail Mary with Matty Ice. But there could be reason for optimism here. The dude put up 32 DraftKings points last weekend in a huge win over division-rival Jacksonville, and now he faces a young Titans secondary that has surrendered the second-most DK points to QBs this season. Fire up the Iceman and go with whatever Dr. Freeze pun you prefer here. 

More great Week 7 QB values: Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers vs. Chiefs (DK: $5,500 | DK: $7,200); Jacoby Brissett, Browns at Ravens (DK: $5,300 | FD: $6,500)

*PRO TIP* Put Cooper Rush (vs. Lions, $5,400) into your lineup now on the off-chance that Dak Prescott’s thumb suffers a setback this week. If Rush starts again, he’s a huge bargain against a terrible Detroit D. If Dak starts, just swap out Rush for Ryan (set a reminder on your phone).

WEEK 7 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

NFL DFS Picks Week 7: RB sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers vs. Chiefs (DK: $5,800 | FD: $6,300)

Don’t let Wilson’s dud against the Falcons deter you — we all have off days, and the Niners’ flop in ATL was basically bad for the whole franchise. The early-season waiver-wire gem had been dependable as a savings bond before that, posting at least 12.3 DraftKings points in four straight weeks. He also posted a season-high 120 ground yards and a TD in Week 5. Kansas City allows the fifth-most FanDuel points and the sixth-most DraftKings points to RBs, and Elijah Mitchell (knee) ain’t walkin’ through that door anytime soon. 

Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks at Chargers (DK: $5,800 | FD: $7,300)

Let the good times continue to roll for KW3, who has relished the starting RB role since veteran Rashaad Penny went down with a season-ending leg injury. The rookie put up 14.8 DraftKings points two weeks ago and 19.0 last week in a win over the Cardinals. Now, he faces the Chargers, who surrender the most FanDuel points to RBs (and the third-most DK points). Luke SkyWalker on them haters! That song will be stuck in your head for a week now, and for that, I’m sorry. 

Other great Week 7 RB values: Ezekiel Elliott (DK: $6,000 | FD: $6,900) and Tony Pollard (DK: $5,700 | FD: $6.500), Cowboys vs. Lions; Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. Packers (DK: $5,500 | FD: $6,100); Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. Giants (DK: $5,400 | FD: $6,200)

WEEK 7 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

NFL DFS Picks Week 7: WR sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Tyler Lockett, Seahawks at Chargers (DK: $6,000 | FD: $6,800) 

Two Seahawks!? Yep! Lockett pulled a textbook Lockett move this past weekend, posting a season-low 3.7 DraftKings points against Arizona one week after a season-high 30.4 DK points at New Orleans. Whammy! Well, have no fear, DFS enthusiasts: J.C. Jackson will likely be focusing his efforts (assuming he’s not benched again) on DK Metcalf this weekend, and the Chargers will have trouble containing the speedy Lockett as he darts all over the field in what should be a high-scoring game. A $6,000 price tag seems modest for a guy averaging 15.6 DK points per game.  

Romeo Doubs, Packers at Commanders (DK: $5,000 | FD: $5,800)

The Doubs breakout could be on this weekend against the Commanders now that veteran receiver Randall Cobb is out for several weeks because of an ankle injury. Washington was not exactly covering Chicago’s receivers very well last week, but Justin Fields just sucks at throwing a football, so the numbers were still mediocre. Newsflash: Aaron Rodgers does not suck at throwing the football, regardless of what happened against the Jets last week. This could be a get-right game for Rodgers and Doubs, and it’s a must-win for 3-3 Green Bay one week before traveling to Buffalo. Doubs for the dub. 

More strong Week 7 WR values: Michael Gallup, Cowboys vs. Lions (DK: $5,100 | FD: $6,100); Tyler Boyd, Bengals vs. Falcons (DK: $5,300 | FD: $6,000); Alec Pierce, Colts at Titans (DK: $4,600 | FD: $6,100); Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants at Jaguars (DK: $3,600 | FD: $5,500) 

NFL DFS Picks Week 7: TE sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Gerald Everett (DK: $4,000 | FD: $6,300) and Donald Parham Jr. (DK: $2,700 | FD: $4,300), Chargers vs. Seahawks

Depending on what kind of budget you have left for tight end, both of these Chargers TEs will be good options at home this weekend. The Seahawks have allowed the most fantasy points per game to TEs — regardless of format — and Keenan Allen has (hamstring) been banged up all damn season. Justin Herbert regularly involves his big pass-catchers across the middle of the field, especially when secondaries focus the majority of their attention on Mike Williams. This will also be a “revenge game” for Everett, while Parham will be hustling to simply stay in the Bolts’ offensive rotation. 

More top Week 7 TE values: Coming soon

NFL DFS Picks Week 7: D/ST sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

New York Jets at Broncos (DK: $2,600 | FD: $4,300) 

The Jets have actually been pretty good defensively this season (8.5 ppg on DK and FD), and the Broncos offense has been a runaway train wreck similar to the one that freed (and almost killed) Richard Kimble in the Fugitive. Russell Wilson has been under constant pressure and is now dealing with a hamstring injury, so the Jets’ barrage of blitzes will get to tee off on either a gimpy Wilson or Brett Rypien. Expect continued carnage because Denver has given us no reason to believe. Sorry, Broncos country — this ride has been as disappointing as a $15 Fung Wah bus from Boston to New York in the early 2000s. 

Other solid Week 7 D/ST values: Colts at Titans (DK: $2,900 | FD: $3,900); Broncos vs. Jets (DK: $3,300 | FD: $4,800)