NFL Fantasy Football Week 7: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em And FanDuel Picks

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Welcome to Week 7!

For standard leagues, I'll pick some players outside the top 10 and 15 who I think will play well as well as some higher rated players who I see underachieving using the ESPN rankings. I've got my FanDuel picks at the bottom.

Last week, I went 13-7 in underachievers and overachievers, and went 15-5 and my best week of the year in FanDuel. Let's get to it.

Underachievers

• Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton: He played great last week against an overrated Seahawks defense, though the Philadelphia Eagles' defense will give him issues on Sunday.
• Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan: He is the QB of an undefeated team, but fantasy-wise has been average at best. There are better options.
• Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blake Bortles: He is a better fantasy QB than real life, but this is a huge game for the Bills and Head Coach Rex Ryan. I think Bortles' good run comes to an end this week.
• Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch: The 49ers have been solid on defense at home, and the Seahawks' OL is still not opening holes. This play is way too TD dependent.
• Baltimore Ravens RB Justin Forsett: He's going on the road against a defense in Arizona that plays so much better at home in what looks to be a blowout.
• New England Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount: This is just not his week, playing the best run defense in the NFL in the Jets.
• New England Patriots WR Julian Edelman: He has been so consistent, but he has to visit Darrelle Revis Island this week. I see more of a Gronk high workload.
• Kansas City Chiefs WR Jeremy Maclin: He's coming off of a concussion. I expect defenses to continue to take the Chiefs' #1 offensive weapon away.
• Philadelphia Eagles WR Jordan Matthews: He continues to drop every other pass, and his QB, Sam Bradford, is killing him as well. Stay away unless Mark Sanchez gets the job.
• Cleveland Browns TE Gary Barnidge: He has been a great story, but I think the Rams slow down his touchdown run.

Overachievers

• New York Giants QB Eli Manning: He usually rips up the Cowboys, and plays much better at home.
• Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill: The Texans' defense is not good. and Miami has some hop in their step with the new coach.
• Detroit Lions QB Mathew Stafford: I think he might have finally found his nirvana in throwing deep to Calvin Johnson and should continue his run this week.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Doug Martin: Washington's defense has holes. The third-best fantasy offense should expose them for the third week in a row.
• Carolina Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart: Last week was a mirage in his best game of the year. The Eagles give up nothing on the ground.
• Jacksonville Jaguars RB T.J. Yeldon: He is close to healthy, and I am expecting a huge effort in England from the Bills.
• Indianapolis Colts WR Donte Moncrief: He is a must start every week and looks to be Andrew Luck's favorite target.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans: This is a pure hunch. If he does not go big this week, it may not happen.
• Washington WR Pierre Garcon: He is their only real weapon in the passing game and should pile up the targets.
• Buffalo Bills TE Charles Clay: He has a great match up and should dominate the targets with WRs Sammy Watkins and Percy Harvin both out.

Here are my FanDuel picks for the week where I will give some higher and lower salaries I like at each position. As you will see, I will be focusing on the defenses to pick on:

QB

• Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Palmer, $8,400: The best match up of the week facing a struggling Baltimore defense.
• New York Giants QB Eli Manning, $7,800: He plays so well against the Cowboys as well as at home.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston, $6,500: The best cheap option of the week.

RB

• Atlanta Falcons RB Devonta Freeman, $8,700:  He has to be in every lineup.
• St. Louis Rams RB Todd Gurley, $7,400: Expect 25 touches against the worst run defense in the NFL.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Doug Martin, $7,200: Washington's last two games against the run have been awful.
• Oakland Raiders RB Latavius Murray, $7,000: He had the week off, and the Chargers are likely worn down from the Packers game last week.
• Miami Dolphins RB Lamar Miller, $6,700: Nice price for a possible 20 touches.
• Detroit Lions RB Theo Riddick, $5,200: If you go big at other positions, this is a safe 8-11 points.

WR

• Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins, $9,200: Just pay the man.
• Miami Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry, $7,100: He was the focus of the new coach last week.
• Arizona Cardinals WR John Brown, $6,700: The Ravens have maybe the worst pass defense, making Brown a bargain.
• Indianapolis Colts WR Donte Moncrief, $6,500: I expect a huge game. You can go cheaper somewhere.
• Miami Dolphins WR Rishard Matthews, $6,400: A sneaky pick who gets 8-10 targets.
• Washington WR Pierre Garcon, $6,100: My best cheap option of the week.
• Minnesota Vikings WR Stefon Diggs, $5,800: A safe 6-8 points.

TE

• San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates, $5,800: Came back strong last week, and this is the cheapest he will be the rest of the way.