NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 7 – TE & DEF/ST
The tight end position was dealt a significant blow last week when the Seahawks lost Will Dissly (Achilles) for the season. While the depth isn’t great for Week 7, there are still a few players who stand out as being in a favorable matchup to thrive. Let’s discuss them, as well as some defenses/special teams to target, while crafting your lineup. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NFL Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
TIGHT END CASH TARGETS
George Kittle, SF at WAS
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $6,700
By his standards, Kittle came out of the gate with three quiet performances. He recorded only 165 total receiving yards and no touchdowns, but the good news was that he had 21 targets. It was just a matter of time before he turned things around, which he did coming out of the bye in Week 5 with 70 yards and a touchdown. He followed that up with eight catches for 103 yards last week against the Rams. He is battling a groin injury, but initial reports seem to indicate he’ll be able to play Sunday. If he does, his floor is as high as any other tight end.
Evan Engram, NYG vs. ARI
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $6,500
With Engram battling a knee injury and the Giants having a quick turnaround, he didn’t suit up last Thursday against the Patriots. Now with the added time off, Engram is expected to be ready to go for this extremely favorable matchup. Not only have the Cardinals been destroyed by opposing tight ends, but there is a chance that the Giants will still be without wide receiver Sterling Shepard (concussion). Even if Shepard does play, Engram has a large enough role in the Giants’ offense to make him a great option this week.
TIGHT END GPP TARGETS
Hunter Henry, LAC at TEN
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,000
Talk about returning with a vengeance. Henry had been sidelined since injuring his knee in Week 1, but he was able to take the field last week against the Steelers. The Chargers wasted no time getting him right back into the thick of the offense, leaving Henry to catch eight of nine targets for 100 yards and two touchdowns. While this isn’t an ideal matchup against a Titans defense that defends the pass well, Henry’s target share and cheap price still makes him someone to consider in tournament play.
Dawson Knox, BUF vs. MIA
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $3,300
The Bills are going to be a popular team to pursue this week considering how bad the Dolphins have been. While he might not be the sexiest of names, Knox is intriguing. Although he had just two catches for 12 yards last week, he did receive a season-high five targets. In fact, the Bills have thrown at least four passes his way in three of their five games. Since he won’t cost much on either site, he could provide value as part of a Bills stack.
DEF/ST CASH TARGETS
Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,300
The Bills figure to be the chalk defense/special teams of the week. The Dolphins are a mess on offense and are once again making a change at quarterback, this time rolling with Ryan Fitzpatrick against the Bills. He was already removed from the starting job after throwing four picks compared to just one touchdown in his first two games. The Bills allow the third-fewest passing yards per game, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Dolphins don’t even reach double-digit points in this contest.
San Francisco 49ers at Washington Redskins
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,100
If the Bills are too rich for your blood, the 49ers also carry a tremendously high floor and can be had for a slightly cheaper price. They’ve been one of the most dominant defenses out of the gate, allowing the fewest passing yards per game and the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game. The Redskins are yet another team with underwhelming options at quarterback, so look for the 49ers to put the clamps on their offense.
DEF/ST GPP TARGET
Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,100
Speaking of teams with bad quarterbacks, the Titans have finally decided to bench the struggling Marcus Mariota in favor of Ryan Tannehill. While missing out on a chance to face Mariota might be a bummer for the Chargers’ defense, Tannehill doesn’t exactly instill fear in the hearts of his opponents. He’s only averaging 229 passing yards per game for his career and has 126 total touchdown passes compared to 76 interceptions. At this price, the risk could be worth the reward with the Chargers.
Author Bio:
Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat, and was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.