Daily Fantasy Football Week 7: DraftKings DFS Must-Starts for Each Position

Few quarterbacks are playing better than the San Diego Chargers' Philip Rivers ($6,500). He's coming off an insane 503-yard, two-touchdown, zero-interception performance in a loss against the Green Bay Packers in Week 6.

It was his second-straight game with more than 400 passing yards and the fourth with more than 350. With that level of production, Rivers is a somewhat sensible play against just about any team. Matched against the faulty Oakland Raiders pass defense, Rivers is a must-start for any DraftKings player.

The Raiders have allowed 299.2 passing yards per game this season. They also rank just 22nd in the NFL in sacks. Against a defense like that, Rivers and the Chargers' passing game are primed to explode. Rivers has a few weapons that are also in position to shine brightly against the Raiders.

The obvious choice is wide receiver Keenan Allen ($7,700). He had 14 catches for 157 yards in the loss to the Packers. He's been Rivers' favorite target all season. 

Jeffrey Phelps/Associated Press

Allen did suffer a hip flexor injury in the game, but per ESPN.com's Adam Schefter, the injury doesn't look to be one that will keep him out of action. 

Unless something changes with Allen's availability leading up to Sunday's game against the Raiders, anchor your team with the Chargers' dynamic aerial duo.

Freeman and Gurley for the Win

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Devonta Freeman has been a fantasy dream all season, and there's no reason to hop off the bandwagon this week. The second-year running back has been a big reason the Atlanta Falcons are 5-1. He's averaging a sick 30.1 fantasy points per game this season.

The Falcons took their first loss of the season on Thursday night on the road against the New Orleans Saints, but Freeman still put up 38.6 fantasy points. There's nothing like a loss-proof DK producer.

In Week 7, Freeman and the Falcons will be on the road against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have allowed 129.6 rushing yards per game this season. That number would lead you to believe Freeman has a shot at maintaining his torrid pace.

The best thing about Freeman is that he's a dual threat. He averages 49.3 receiving yards per game and scored his first touchdown in the passing game against the Saints. Tennessee has been lights-out against the pass, allowing a league-low 184 yards per game through the air.

That may put the kibosh on quarterback Matt Ryan's ability to go downfield, but it should mean there's a lot of opportunities to check down to Freeman. With this dynamic, you have to love Freeman as much this week as you have in the last three.

The St. Louis Rams' Todd Gurley ($5,000) is one of the high-value picks of the week. His DK salary is reasonable, yet he has a chance to have a huge game against a bad Cleveland Browns run defense.

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

No team has surrendered more yards per game on the ground this season (149.8). Gurley has reeled off 159 and 146 yards in his last two games. That's been good for an average of 20 fantasy points per contest. If you consider he hasn't even found the end zone yet this season, you know he's yet to maximize his fantasy potential.

The Browns are a team he could do that against. Gurley and the Rams are coming off their bye week, and the rookie running back should be fresh and ready to run over the Browns.

The New Jimmy Graham

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It took a few weeks, but the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees and Benjamin Watson ($3,300) are clicking, and it should spell danger for opponents. Watson isn't exactly Brees' old teammate Jimmy Graham, but the 34-year-old veteran hauled in 10 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons on Thursday.

He blew up for DK players who drafted him, tallying 31.7 fantasy points. It was his first 100-yard receiving game of the season. That's good for DK players considering drafting him this week. He and Brees have yet to string big games together. Because of that, defenses may be less likely to key on him.

It also helps that the Saints will be on the road taking on the Indianapolis Colts. The latter have had major issues slowing down any passing game this season. 

The Colts have allowed 289.2 passing yards per game. I like Watson to play big against a defense that looks clueless against the pass.

When the Saints Come Rushing In

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

If you're going after the likes of Rivers, Freeman, Allen and the Houston Texans' Arian Foster ($7,500)—another running back in position to shine against the Miami Dolphins—you're going to have to find a bargain with the defense/special teams slot.

The Saints defense ($2,000) is the lowest-priced unit on the DK board, but when you look at the way they got after Ryan on Thursday, this could be a unit on the rise.

Cameron Jordan was a menace most of the night. He sacked Ryan three times and the team recorded five overall. New Orleans also held the high-flying Falcons to 21 points, which was 11.4 less than the 32.4 Atlanta was averaging coming in.

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has been much maligned this season, but his unit just may make the Saints' D/ST the biggest fantasy sleeper of the week.

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All stats per Pro-Football-Reference.com.

All salary information and fantasy point references per DraftKings.

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