Week 7 FanDuel Lineup: An optimal lineup to play in either GPP or cash games this week. Always check the Sunday injury report to make sure everyone is playing, should you decide to go with any of these picks.

Week 7 FanDuel Cliff Notes

• Baker Mayfield ($7,100) + Jarvis Landry ($6,500) + David Njoku ($5,700) will be the most popular game stack on the main slate (QB/WR/TE). Some players might even run it back with Peyton Barber or a Bucs wide receiver.
  
• This week, with few blow up spots, it makes sense to avoid over stacking and diversify more heavily. There likely won’t be a game in which you need to roster more than one or two players.
  
• Running back is a dreadful position. Pay up for the greats. Everyone will likely do it, but that’s ok. You want to be different with your lineups, but just slightly. Deciding to fade Todd Gurley or Ezekiel Elliott could significantly hurt your stock.
• A good way to go contrarian this week is at the tight end position. While I do believe Njoku will be a great point-per-dollar play, he’s still a TE and could disappoint given the marginal nature of his position. Paying up for Zach Ertz ($7,500) could be one of the sneakier moves on this slate. Rostering both might be even sneakier.
• At this point, Adam Thielen ($8,700) is viable every week. There’s no good reason to fade him. If you can fit him into your lineup with Gurley, you should do so. Not that it actually matters, but his matchup is amazing in the slot this week.

Week 7 FanDuel Lineup

QB – Cam Newton (CAR) at PHI – ($8,200)

There are few strong plays at quarterback this week as projected ownership forecasts Baker Mayfield and Blake Bortles each at 12.5% ownership as the top owned plays. If there were ever a time to fade the chalk and roll with a low-owned elite talent, this would be the week. Cam Newton bolsters a high weekly floor given his rushing ability. This season, he’s posted at least 16 fantasy points in each game. Philadelphia does roster an elite unit of defenders, but betting on talent is never a bad idea. With Carson Wentz fully back in form, the Eagles-Panthers game should stay highly competitive. QB is a great place to pivot and gain leverage against the field.

[Also See: Week 7 Fantasy Football Rankings | Week 7 FanDuel Value Plays]

RB – Todd Gurley (LAR) at SF – ($10,200)

RB is disastrous this week. Gurley is a lock for 20 points. Even at a five-figure price, he’s still the best possible option this week. With Cooper Kupp out, Gurley’s red zone/overall usage rises even higher. Gurley should be the first player you lock into your lineups.

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RB – Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) at WAS – ($8,400)

Elliott should be the second player you lock into your lineups. Gurley and Elliott will be a very popular roster construction as both project 40% and 30% ownership. You can’t find elite production for value at RB this week. There are a lot of cheap options at WR and TE has Njoku, who makes for a chalky, value play. Don’t get cute at RB. Pay up and enjoy the guaranteed points.

WR – Jarvis Landry (CLE) at TB – ($6,500)

After an incredibly disappointing week, people might be shy on Jarvis Landry and this is exactly what we’re hoping for. The Bucs have allowed the middle of the field to be completely taken advantage of this season. Landry will function in between one of the worst secondaries in the league while soaking up 10+ targets. With his volume, in one of the few potentially high-scoring games on the Week 7 slate, Landry could be the top play at WR this week.

WR –  Taylor Gabriel (CHI) vs. NE – ($5,900)

Reference my Week 7 target forecast for more information on Taylor Gabriel. In what could be the most important game of the slate, Gabriel offers a great ceiling to chase. With Mitch Trubisky finding his form in recent weeks, Gabriel has benefitted from two 100+ yard days. The Bears defense is a great unit, but Tom Brady is hard to ignore. Even if the Bears find ways to force turnovers, Brady will still likely execute a couple of scoring drives. Trubisky should pass early and often as a result, and given Gabriel’s unique big play ability, there’s a lot of reasons to consider chasing his ceiling on Sunday.

WR – Willie Snead (BAL) vs. NO – ($5,400)

An under the radar play, Willie Snead paced the Ravens with 10 targets last week and has now posted five games of 6 or more targets. His volume hasn’t contributed to a great stat line yet, but that will eventually change as we’ve seen with other high-volume receivers in recent past (like Corey Davis in Week 4). Lining up in the slot against P.J. Williams, Snead boasts an incredible advantage. With few game totals over 50 points this week, you’re going to have to dig deeper and find value in unfamiliar places. Given Snead’s volume, this is a great spot to do so.

TE – David Njoku (CLE) at TB – ($5,700)

Njoku has become one of Mayfield’s go to pass options. Seeing 7, 10, and 12 targets over Mayfield’s three starts, Njoku’s stock has risen quite a bit. He will run the majority of his routes over the middle, which bodes well for his potential as the Buccaneers have surrendered the majority of their passing yards from here. Given the upside at a wasteland of a position, Njoku is the only TE I want to play, unless paying up for Zach Ertz or Rob Gronkowski.

FLEX – Keelan Cole (JAC) vs. HOU – ($5,500)

Bortles is one of two QBs with the highest projected ownership this week. He boasts a nice matchup against the Texans and could certainly pay off his cheap price tag. Naturally, if Bortles posts a solid stat line, we’ll look to the trio of wideouts for a productive day. It’s a bit like playing Russian roulette as Donte Moncrief could easily snag a touchdown and Dede Westbrook could soak up a lot of targets in the slot, but Keelan Cole holds a lot of big play ability. He’s already seen a 7/116/1 stat line in Week 2. His air yards boast great potential on paper. It’s never an easy feeling rostering such a boom or bust option, but think about how great Robby Anderson owners felt just two weeks ago. Take a shot on one of the Jags receivers, it could pay great dividends.

DEF – Colts (IND) vs. BUF – ($4,100)

The weekly strategy of playing a defense against the Bills just got a bit chalkier. Josh Allen went down with an elbow injury last week, so Derek Anderson with get the start in this one. The 35-year-old QB has never been a very opportunistic player. He’s ridden the bench for seven years now and looks to a completely depleted receiving core. Given the pressure allowed on the Bills this season, now with an even worse QB, a lot of turnovers and sacks should be implied. At only $4,100, this is a great value for the potential top defense of the slate.