The DFS Academy is back for Week 7! As a reminder, we’re keeping things simple this year. While we have no original DFS article series, you can still catch our DFS podcast every week. This article is a breakdown of that show. Think of it as your DFS Week 7 study guide.
And don’t forget, you can play against us every week on DraftKings and FanDuel. Subscribe to the pod, hop in the Discord, and join the fun.
Here are your necessary links:
Answers to the Test
Let’s start by analyzing last week’s winning DraftKings lineup.
The Week 6 Milli Maker champ scored 227.14 points — the lowest winning total since Week 1. The build? Drake Maye–Josh Jacobs–Kyren Williams–Jaxon Smith-Njigba–George Pickens–Kayshon Boutte–Michael Mayer–Rico Dowdle–Colts D/ST.
A New England stack with no bring-back. Chalk RBs everywhere (Jacobs, Kyren, Dowdle). Small game stack with Pickens vs. Dowdle that helped it all click.
DFS Week 7 Picks
We Start with Cash Plays — Austin’s Specialty
Top of the Class
Premium studs priced $8,000+ that deserve the honor roll.
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Jonathan Taylor (DraftKings: $8,800 / FanDuel: $10,000)
Band Nerds
Solid mid-tier options ($6,000–$8,000) who might not be flashy, but they’ll outplay expectations.
QB
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Jayden Daniels (DraftKings: $6,900 / FanDuel: $8,700)
RB
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Rico Dowdle (DraftKings: $6,800 / FanDuel: $7,800)
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Jordan Mason (DraftKings: $6,200 / FanDuel: $6,900)
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Javonte Williams (DraftKings: $6,700 / FanDuel: $7,500)
WR
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Rome Odunze (DraftKings: $6,600 / FanDuel: $7,800)
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Jaylen Waddle (DraftKings: $6,300 / FanDuel: $6,900)
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George Pickens (DraftKings: $7,300 / FanDuel: $8,000) — especially if no CeeDee
Bookworms
Quiet achievers in the $4,000–$6,000 range who could ace the exam while everyone else looks the other way.
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Chris Olave (DraftKings: $5,400 / FanDuel: $6,200)
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Jordan Addison (DraftKings: $5,100 / FanDuel: $6,100)
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Keenan Allen (DraftKings: $5,500 / FanDuel: $6,200)
C’s Get Degrees
Punts under $4,000 that help the lineup budget pass the test.
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Ryan Flournoy (DraftKings: $3,900 / FanDuel: $5,500) — if no CeeDee
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Harrold Fannin (DraftKings: $3,900 / FanDuel: $5,500) — if no Njoku
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Michael Mayer (DraftKings: $3,500 / FanDuel: $5,100) — if no Bowers
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Mason Taylor (DraftKings: $3,400 / FanDuel: $4,700)
If you want to spend up at TE, McBride, Ferguson, and Warren are all strong pivots.
Defensively, New England (DraftKings: $3,400 / FanDuel: $5,000) remains playable despite the high tag.
Tourney Talk
Play with us on DraftKings and FanDuel each week, then come back to see how your score stacked up.
Quarterbacks
Austin:
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Dak Prescott (DraftKings: $6,500 / FanDuel: $8,300)
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Patrick Mahomes (DraftKings: $7,000 / FanDuel: $8,000)
Ryan:
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Caleb Williams (DraftKings: $5,800 / FanDuel: $7,900) — He’s been sharp, and the Saints defense gives up chunk plays to QBs.
Weather note: If the Chicago forecast turns ugly, pivot accordingly.
Running Backs
Austin:
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Jacory Croskey-Merritt (DraftKings: $6,100 / FanDuel: $6,600)
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Saquon Barkley (DraftKings: $7,700 / FanDuel: $8,700)
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Pick a New England RB — someone will get there.
Ryan:
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Jonathan Taylor (DraftKings: $8,800 / FanDuel: $10,000) — my favorite high-end play on the slate.
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Quinshon Judkins (DraftKings: $6,000 / FanDuel: $7,400) — Miami keeps getting gashed by RBs, and if Cleveland’s weather turns ugly, that leans run-heavy.
Wide Receivers
Austin:
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Stack with Dak
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Jordan Addison (DraftKings: $5,100 / FanDuel: $6,100)
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Courtland Sutton (DraftKings: $5,900 / FanDuel: $7,700) — great matchup vs. a bad secondary, and Denver’s elite pass-blocking gives him time to get open.
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Rashee Rice (DraftKings: $5,600 / FanDuel: $7,500) — solid floor with Mahomes.
Ryan:
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Stack with Odunze with Williams, weather permitting,
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Deebo Samuel (DraftKings: $6,200 / FanDuel: $7,100) — Dallas is dead last vs. WRs, and if Washington gets McLaurin back, it could open up even more room for Deebo to work.
Tight Ends
Austin:
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Trey McBride (DraftKings: $5,700 / FanDuel: $6,900) — locked and loaded.
Ryan:
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If Njoku is out, it’s Harrold Fannin all day.
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Otherwise, Dallas Goedert (DraftKings: $4,500 / FanDuel: $5,900) — Minnesota’s been hemorrhaging TE touchdowns, and Goedert’s been scoring a ton lately.
Defense
Austin:
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Chicago Bears (DraftKings: $3,100 / FanDuel: $4,800) — New Orleans ranks 31st in pass-block win rate.
Ryan:
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Denver Broncos (DraftKings: $3,500 / FanDuel: $4,300) — best fantasy defense in the league, rookie QB at home, and still underpriced. Bargain of the week.
Valedictorian Shootout
Ryan squeaked out another win — that’s four in a row, taking down Austin 107.3 to 103. Austin now sits at 2–4 on the season.
Austin guessed the wrong LAC RB, and Dillon Gabriel just couldn’t keep pace with Bryce Young.
This week’s lineups:
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Austin: Daniels, Dowdle, Mason, Odunze, Olave, Addison, Allen, Fannin, NE
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Ryan: Caleb, Judkins, Javonte, Odunze, Deebo, Olave, Sutton, Fannin, DEN
Winner gets bragging rights each week, and by season’s end, we’ll see who’s crowned Valedictorian and who ends up class clown.
Join the Class
You can play with us every week on DraftKings and FanDuel — we post contests, track scores, and shout out our winners here.
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DraftKings: otatoptroy – 153.92 (back-to-back wins, 12th all-time win, still the king of DK)
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FanDuel: mathisgolden – 135.24 (first win of the season!)
Here are your necessary links:
Looking for more? Here are Club Fantasy’s Week 7 rankings!