DRAFT Week 7 Breakdown and Top Plays

We’ve reached Week 7, and with it we get different matchups, new challenges, and a fresh set of players primed for your DFS lineups. The DRAFT platform has put together a unique format that marries redraft and DFS together into one exciting and different power couple.

Their weekly fantasy contests are not your typical salary cap format. Instead, they offer a series of snake-style draft contests with differing team amounts. You can choose from head-to-head, 3-team, 6-team, 8-team, or 10-team contests, with varying dollar amounts per contest. With each draft, players must select five position players: 1QB, 2RB, and 2WR/TEs. There are no salaries, no ownership percentages, and no large tourneys.

Below I will take a look at some of the best plays of the week, according to league size. You will see multiple references to aFPA, which is our schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric. By using aFPA, we remove bias so that we can level the playing field and compare matchups in an "apples-to-apples" manner. One more note: remember that DRAFT is a snake-style format, so you must plan accordingly in larger contest sizes.

H2H

With only two drafters involved, your cumulative score just has to be higher than that of your opponent. Since only 10 players are involved, stick to the elite DFS chalk here.

Quarterbacks

Tom Brady (NEP) vs. ATL

Same name, different week. Brady is always chalk, especially at home against an Atlanta defense giving up a plethora of points to opposing QBs every week. He’s third in overall fantasy points among QBs and averages 21.41 DRAFT points per game.

Matt Ryan (ATL) @ NEP

On the other side of the field, Ryan is also super chalky this week, as the Patriots are ranked 31st at defending opposing QBs, with an aFPA of 21.9. Ryan’s season isn’t exactly living up to his 2016 performance, but he still produces and should have a solid effort Sunday night.

Running Backs

Kareem Hunt (KCC) @ OAK

Coming off a few less efficient weeks, Hunt may be a fade on DFS sites with salary caps. However, on DRAFT he’s still chalk. The Chiefs will rely on their bell cow RB on a short week and the Raiders defense isn’t the best against the rush, allowing an aFPA of 25.6 points to opposing RBs this season. Hunt is averaging 22.17 DRAFT points per game this season.

Leonard Fournette (JAX) @ IND

Averaging 20.45 DRAFT points per game, Fournette is always in the DFS conversation, regardless of format or contest size. He’s proved his incredible talent and will be a fixture in the NFL for as long as his legs will allow. In Week 7, the rookie gets a juicy matchup versus a Colts defense ranked 30th against the run with an aFPA of 30.1 to opposing RBs.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Julio Jones (ATL) @ NEP

The Patriots secondary has struggled so far this season against the pass, giving up an average of 38.1 fantasy points weekly to opposing wideouts. Jones has been spotty, averaging just 9.84 DRAFT points per game through the first six weeks of the season, but Sunday night’s contest should bring out the stud in the Falcons' No. 1 WR. Pair him with Ryan for a hopefully profitable DRAFT stack.

Zach Ertz (PHI) vs. WAS

Chalk once again, Ertz is almost matchup-proof at this point, but no need for that discussion this week. He gets a Washington defense that’s fairly soft versus TEs, with an aFPA of 16.6 to the position. He leads all TEs in fantasy points and targets through six weeks with zero signs of slowing down. Carson Wentz and Ertz make a deadly duo when it comes to DFS, so continue to draft him wherever you can.

Dez Bryant (DAL) @ SF

Bryant has the 10th-highest target volume on the season and boasts 3 touchdowns through five games. Fresh and rested from their bye week, Dallas heads to Levi’s Stadium to face a porous 49ers defense with an aFPA of 36.5 to wideouts and sits as the 25th worst in the NFL against the pass. Look for Bryant to get back on track this week and put up solid WR1 numbers Sunday afternoon.

3-Person Draft

When you enter a contest with only three teams, you’re either picking two players at a time, or you’re in the middle of two drafters doing just that. Same studs apply here; draft accordingly.

6, 8 or 10-Person Draft

Below you’ll find a few more recommendations for Week 7 starters to assist in filling out five-player rosters when more players are involved. You’ll need to dig a bit deeper into the rankings to find a player or two who out-produce the players your opponents draft.

Quarterbacks

Marcus Mariota (TEN) @ CLE

Back from a hammy injury, Mariota gets a good dose of the Browns defense, a universal cure all this season. So far Jacoby Brissett, Deshaun Watson, and Andy Dalton have all scored over 23 points against Cleveland. He makes a wonderful QB choice for Week 7, so DRAFT away.

Running backs

LeSean McCoy (BUF) vs. TB

Shady is due for a big week and I feel like this could be it. Adrian Peterson put up 25.4 points against the Bucs last week, so anything is possible. McCoy has been flying under the radar this season, but is still averaging 12.1 fantasy points per game. He’s definitely in play this week in medium-to-large DRAFT contests.

Jerick McKinnon (MIN) vs. BAL

Emerging as the clear RB1 after Dalvin Cook’s season-ending injury, McKinnon has racked up two consecutive weeks with 22+ fantasy points. The Ravens give up an average of 23.9 fantasy points to RBs weekly, which bodes well for the fourth-year RB. He is currently listed on the injury report with an ankle issue so be sure to monitor the situation, but if he’s on the field, he’s worth drafting.

Adrian Peterson (ARI) @LAR (game in London)

It’s almost painful for me to type this, but Peterson appears to be back. Coming off a solid 25.4 fantasy point performance in Week 6, Peterson gets a cushy tilt versus a Rams defense ranked dead last against the run, with an aFPA of 32.5. He’s not my top RB on the slate for Week 7, but is certainly selectable in larger DRAFT contests this week.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Michael Thomas (NO) @ GB

Coming off a brutal 2.6 point performance in Week 6, Thomas may be overlooked this week in DFS. If we remove last week’s crapping of the bed, the Saints WR is averaging 13.9 fantasy points per game, and gets to face a Packers secondary weak against the pass this season. Thomas is Drew Brees’ go-to guy, as he has more than double the targets this season than any other receiver on their roster.

Michael Crabtree (OAK) vs. KCC

Through the first six weeks of the season, Crabtree has the most DRAFT points on the Raiders offense with 72.9. He’s averaging 6.9 targets per game and has made the most of each one, putting up a total of 304 receiving yards with 5 touchdowns. The Chiefs have been deceivingly soft against opposing WRs, allowing an aFPA of 37.5 to the position this season.

Rob Gronkowski (NEP) vs. ATL

Gronk is always in the DFS conversation when healthy, especially if salaries are not involved. Atlanta falls in the middle of the pack when it comes to covering TEs, but we all know matchups don’t matter when it comes to the Patriots’ massive TE, he just smashes his way to fantasy points.

Jimmy Graham (SEA) @ NYG

Graham’s season has been a bit wonky, but so has the entire Seattle offense. I think they get back to producing this week against the Giants, especially when it comes to the TE position. The Giants' defense has allowed opposing TEs to run wild this season, giving up an aFPA of 18.3—second-worst versus TEs in the league. He presents a good contrarian option in larger contests as most will go for Ertz or Gronk, and then bail on using a TE.

Jarvis Landry (MIA) vs. NYJ

With DeVante Parker expected to sit out again this week, Landry is back in the conversation for Week 7. He put up 16.20 DRAFT points in last week’s contest and gets a Jets secondary ranked in the bottom half when it comes to aFPA to opposing wideouts. He makes for a good play in larger contests as your WR2.

Demaryius Thomas (DEN) @ LAC

The Broncos fan in me is hesitant to recommend Thomas, but I know better than to write with my heart here. Denver is angry and embarrassed about losing to the winless Giants in Week 6, and are without Emmanuel Sanders on the other side of the field. In the loss, DT had 10 receptions for 133 yards, and should produce again this week. The Chargers secondary gives up an average of 35.2 fantasy points to WRs and have played horribly in their new “home”. Thomas is a value play at WR in the larger 8- or 10-team contests.