NFL DFS Week 7 Example Lineups: Top Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel Contests

Published: Oct 22, 2023
Updated: Sunday, Oct. 22 at 11:45am ET
Ready to build some winning DFS lineups for NFL Week 7? By now you should have read through all of the Fantasy Alarm content, picked players from the Playbook and DFS coaches and started building some lineups already. Again, let me urge you to not ignore cash games. Your 50/50s – not Double-Ups – should serve as your bread and butter each week and whenever you play a GPP tournament, you are playing a cash game to make up the money you should expect to lose in a GPP contest. Yes, that's right, you should always expect to lose in a GPP contest. That's one of the biggest misses by novice DFS players. GPP tournaments are extremely difficult to win and, more often than not, you aren't taking down huge sums of cash every week. That's why you play cash games – to offset the cost of tournament play. The lineups are built differently. In a cash game, you are just looking to beat half the field. You splash in a few chalk guys to keep pace with the herd, but your focus is on high-floor players and you want to build a zero-fat lineup. That's what I do which is why you don't hear me crying over losses on the variety of Fantasy Alarm programming you listen to and watch. Build your best cash lineup which you can also play in a GPP tournament if it's not too chalky, and then have some fun with high-upside plays and, if you like, a stack. That's where you shoot for the moon with some off-beat plays. But if your tournament lineup misses because you were taking a chance on a Raiders stack with Brian Hoyer and it didn't pan out, at least your cash lineup is there. Capice? Excellent. Now let's get to it!
Just a few notes here about the lineups below...
The cash lineups were built solely off the players I put in the Playbook. These are the guys who, unless I have indicated otherwise, offer up the higher floor and will help you cash in your Double-Ups and 50/50s. For GPP tournaments, particularly the large-field ones, you need to find alternative routes to the cash line. I will utilize players from the Playbook and the DFS Dart Board to fill in the gaps, but what I am looking for are some lower-owned stacks that make sense based on expected game flow and other news. You may also see in the GPP lineups, there may be some names I haven't discussed this week on the site, but have talked about during the week on the Fantasy Alarm Show or even on the Fantasy Alarm Sunday Gameday Show on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. You will also notice, though, that others on the site have mentioned some of these players in places such as the position coaches, so it's not like we're trying to hide anything from you. The only time, and I mean the only time you will see a player in a GPP lineup who hasn't been discussed is if we are using a stack and need a player from the other team coming back. But it's rare when that happens.
Again, these lineups are meant to serve as examples for you; a sounding board, as I said. They are not meant for you to plug in as your own. That's the lazy way and we don't condone it. We are trying to teach you how to be a better DFS player; we aren't lineup-sellers. You should be creating your own lineups using all the information we provide you throughout the week and then coming here to see if there is anything you may have missed or simply for an alternative perspective.
**Be sure to check the Playbook and Dart Board for late changes
Best of luck to you this week and let's make some money!
SUNDAY MORNING NOTES:
According to Adam Schefter:
Browns’ QB Deshaun Watson, listed as questionable for Sunday, is tracking to play vs. the Colts but also needs to pass his pre-game warmup test before the team signs off on it
Cardinals ruled out QB Kyler Murray for Sunday’s game at Seattle
Bears officially ruled out QB Justin Fields for Sunday’s game vs. the Raiders due to his thumb injury
Packers’ RB Aaron Jones, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a hamstring injury, is expected to play vs. Denver
Rams’ rookie RB Zach Evans -- one of the most added players in fantasy football this past week -- is expected to back up both Royce Freeman and Darrell Henderson today against the Steelers, while RB Myles Gaskin is expected to be inactive today
Seahawks’ RB Zach Charbonnet, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a hamstring injury, is not expected to play vs. the Cardinals
Browns’ RB Kareem Hunt, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a strained thigh, will be tested in pre-game warmups to determine if he can play vs, the Colts, but Cleveland has concerns about his availability
Lions’ RB Craig Reynolds, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a hamstring and toe injury, is expected to play vs. the Ravens
49ers’ RB Christian McCaffrey, who practiced limited today for the first time this week, is questionable for Monday night vs. the Vikings due to his oblique injury
Dolphins have activated RB Jeff Wilson off injured reserve and elevated TE Tanner Conner for Sunday’s game vs. the Eagles
In each of the previous two weeks, Seahawks’ WR DK Metcalf was listed as questionable due to a rib injury but wound up playing. This time, Metcalf is listed as questionable for Sunday due to a hip and rib injury, and this time there are more concerns about his availability than there were the past two weeks, per source. A decision about whether he can play vs. the Cardinals is likely to be determined in pre-game warmups
49ers’ WR Deebo Samuel will miss games at Minnesota, then against the Bengals. The 49ers have a bye in Week 9 before Samuel is expected to have a chance to return in Week 10 game at Jacksonville
Lions’ WR Marvin Jones is not traveling with the team to Baltimore and now has been ruled out of Sunday’s game vs. the Ravens for personal reasons
Seven-time Pro-Bowl WR Julio Jones, whose 13,269 career receiving yards are the most of any active NFL player, was promoted off Philadelphia’s practice squad today and now is expected to make his Eagles’ debut Sunday night vs. the Dolphins
Steelers activated WR Diontae Johnson from injured reserve to the active roster and placed TE Pat Freiermuth on injured reserve.
Browns’ TE Harrison Bryant, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a hip injury, is expected to play vs. the Colts
Players ruled out Sunday include David Montgomery, Jonah Jackson, Marcus Williams, Kevon Seymour, Andrew Thomas, John Michael Schmitz, Matt Peart, Ed Oliver, Quintin Morris, Riley Reiff, Josh Uche, Jimmy Garoppolo, Nate Hobbs, Justin Fields, Nate Davis, Eddie Jackson, Roschon Johnson, Terrell Smith, Pat Freiermuth, Kyren Williams, Jalen Guyton, Justin Watson, Kylen Granson, Braden Smith, Kyler Murray, Jalen Thompson, Greg Dulcich, Reed Blankenship, Bradley Roby and Jalen Ramsey
Other News:
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Giants QB Daniel Jones (neck) is considered a “long shot” to play in Week 7 against the Commanders.
Browns signed RB Deon Jackson to the active roster.
Chiefs WR Justin Watson (elbow) is out for Week 7.
Patriots TE Hunter Henry is questionable for Week 7 against the Bills
Broncos placed TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring) on injured reserve
WEATHER REPORT:
WAS/NYG – Sustained winds 15-20mph, wind gusts around 25mph
BUF/NE – Sustained winds 15mph, gusts 25mph
DET/BAL – Sustained winds 15-20mph, gusts 25mph
GPP STACKS:
As a reminder, when you're stacking in GPP, you always want to run someone back from the opposing team. One-sided games often turn to a running back seeing higher-than-usual volume or the back-ups start to play. For a stack to really pop, the other team needs to keep things competitive.
Chalk Stacks (Expect High Ownership):
*Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice or Kadarius Toney (Ekeler, Allen or Palmer coming back)
*Chargers: Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Joshua Palmer or Austin Ekeler (Pacheco or Kelce coming back)
Lions: Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs or Sam LaPorta (Andrews or Flowers coming back)
*Seahawks: Geno Smith, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf or Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Jake Bobo (Ingram or Brown coming back)
Rams: Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua or Tutu Atwell or Tyler Higbee (Johnson or Najee coming back)
Packers: Jordan Love, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson or Aaron Jones ( Williams, McLaughlin or Sutton coming back)
Possible Lower-Owned Stacks:
*Bills: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis (Bourne or Stevenson coming back)
Ravens: Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, Zay Flowers (Gibbs or St. Brown coming back)
*Commanders: Sam Howell, Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel or Logan Thomas (Barkley coming back)
Giants: Daniel Jones/Tyrod Taylor, Wan'Dale Robinson, Saquon Barkley or Darren Waller (Robinson or McLaurin coming back)
*Browns: Deshaun Watson, Amari Cooper, David Njoku or Jerome Ford (Taylor or Pittman coming back)
Cardinals: Joshua Dobbs, Marquise Brown, Michael Taylor or Zach Ertz (Walker coming back)
Broncos: Russell Wilson, Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy (Jones or Doubs coming back)
Dart Throw Stacks:
*Raiders: Brian Hoyer, Davante Adams, Michael Mayer or Jakobi Meyers (Foreman or Moore coming back)
Bears: Tyson Bagent, DJ Moore, Cole Kmet or D'Onta Foreman (Adams or Jacobs coming back)
Colts: Gardner Minshew, Michael Pittman, Josh Downs or Jonathan Taylor (Ford or Cooper coming back)
Steelers: Kenny Pickett, Diontae Johnson, George Pickens (Kupp or Nacua coming back)
Falcons: Desmond Ridder, Drake London, Kyle Pitts or Bijan Robinson (White or Godwin or Evans coming back)
*denotes favorite
Pos | Player | Team | Opponent | Salary | Proj. Draft% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
QB | Josh Allen | BUF | NE | $8,200 | 11.3% |
Pivot | Brian Hoyer | LV | CHI | $4,900 | 0.5% |
RB | Kenneth Walker | SEA | ARI | $7,000 | 30.4% |
RB | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | BAL | $6,300 | 17.7% |
Pivot | D'Onta Foreman | CLE | IND | $4,800 | 12.0% |
WR | Stefon Diggs | NE | BUF | $8,900 | 15.5% |
Pivot | Cooper Kupp | SEA | ARI | $9,500 | 18.7% |
WR | Joshua Palmer | BUF | NE | $4,800 | 18.7% |
WR | Wan'Dale Robinson | NYG | WAS | $3,800 | 17.0% |
Pivot | Davante Adams | LA | PIT | $8,200 | 5.1% |
TE | Kyle Pitts | ATL | TB | $4,000 | 2.9% |
Pivot | Michael Mayer | LV | CHI | $2,700 | 2.9% |
FLEX | Kadarius Toney | KC | LAC | $3,800 | 5.9% |
Pivot | Rashee Rice | KC | LAC | $4,700 | 5.9% |
DST | Seattle Seahawks | SEA | ARI | $3,200 | 11.5% |
Pivot | Cleveland Browns | CLE | IND | $3,300 | 7.2% |
$50,000 |
Player News
Seahawks team reporter John Boyle said Elijah Arroyo “looks like a playmaker” after two training camp practices.
Boyle writes, Arroyo, AJ Barner, and Eric Saubert have all “made plays in the first two days of camp,” but Arroyo “has been particularly impressive in the passing game.” Arroyo notably bested CB Riq Woolen on one play, using “a combination of concentration and good hands.” The rookie is off to a good start.
Sports Illustrated’s John Shipley writes, “if there was one running back who stood out throughout the practice, it was Tank Bigsby.”
Shipley notes that Bigsby typically stands out during padded practices “due to his physical nature, but he certainly looked the part in Friday’s helmets and shorts practice, with the Jaguars’ coaching staff frequently singing his praises.” Both Bigsby and Etienne “made several nice runs,” but “Bigsby seemingly got the bulk of the key reps” and maintained high-level play all day. Bigsby has a chance to seize the lead rushing role if he continues to play well.
NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports that Anthony Richardson had “his best day of training camp so far” on Friday.
Per Wolfe, Richardson “made quick reads, he was efficient, he took care of the ball and ultimately showed why he could be the quarterback of the future.” Wolfe then reminds viewers that this remains an open competition between Richardson and Daniel Jones. Richardson must begin stacking positive days like this to seize the Week 1 starting job. Wolfe also adds that Richardson has lost 10 pounds and is now playing at 240.
NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports that Drake Maye “increased [his] processing speed” this offseason.
Wolfe’s sources tell him Maye has had a “good start camp” thus far, and the team is eager to see him working against the Patriots’ pass rush when the pads come on next week. Wolfe also notes that Maye and Stefon Diggs have developed “a little chemistry” already. Per Wolfe, Diggs does not “look limited at all,” now eight months removed from tearing his ACL. Maye is perhaps best viewed as a low-end QB1 but his ceiling is undeniably high.
Jordan Schultz reports WR Cedric Tillman “is believed to be okay following the injury to his lower left leg during today’s practice.”
This report does not give us much to go on but it is at least mildly positive. For now, fantasy managers can assume Tillman will be good to go for Week 1, but it is worth following his rehab progress for more concrete, actionable info. Schultz adds that the Browns have “big plans” for Tillman this season.
WSB’s Zach Klein reports that Falcons WR Darnell Mooney “has a shoulder injury and will most of training camp.”
Brutal. Mooney injured himself diving for a sideline pass on Thursday. It is unclear whether this is the same shoulder that he injured late last season. The Falcons do not have an obvious fill-in option for No. 2 wide receiver duties, though the team can do worse than KhaDarel Hodge and Ray-Ray McCloud. Veteran WR DJ Chark was signed this afternoon. Hopefully, Mooney makes a swift recovery and filling his shoes at practice becomes a non-issue.