Hunter Report Week 7 2017

By Dave Hunter

Let’s get right to this week’s suggestions. Keep in mind that I use the DraftKings.com as the basis of my write-up and do not include Thursday or Monday games. Good luck!

Week 7:

QUARTERBACK

Top Level

Dak Prescott, DAL @ San Francisco 49ers ($7,300) – Prescott just keeps getting better as the season wears on, with rising FPPG production in every week he’s played. Not bad, huh? I’m a tad worried Prescott will be heavily owned, so if you’re looking for a contrarian play you may want to avoid; however, I dig the price tag and the matchup. Ezekiel Elliott received another reprieve from suspension, so that can only mean good things for Prescott. Well, unless Elliott goes nuts and doesn’t afford Prescott the opportunity to pass much. I don’t see that happening though.

Other choices: Drew Brees, NO @ Green Bay Packers ($7,600)

Mid-Range

Carson Palmer, ARI @ Los Angeles Rams ($6,600) – The one good thing about Palmer’s production this season is that he’s been pretty consistent to this point. There hasn’t been a terrible amount of fluctuation from week-to-week, and he’s been able to find the end zone at least once every game. Palmer is a solid cash game play for sure, but I’d be willing to roster Palmer in tournament lineups too considering the Cardinals now have a legitimate running game again with the recent trade of Adrian Peterson. It should take some pressure off Palmer and open up the passing game a bit, without having to chuck frequent desperation tosses downfield.

Other choices: Russell Wilson, SEA @ New York Giants ($6,400)

Value

Tyrod Taylor, BUF vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($5,100) – I keep waiting for Taylor to have a big bust-out game this season and I like Week 7 facing the Bucs awful pass defense. You have to admit, the $5.1K price tag is attractive to go along with the matchup. Taylor represents the perfect tournament risk that I like to go all-in on from time-to-time. Expect his best game of the year, a plus-20 point day.

Other choices: Brett Hundley, GB vs. New Orleans Saints ($5,100) – Hundley is a dart-throw play only this week because of the weak New Orleans secondary.

Over-Value

Marcus Mariota, TEN @ Cleveland Browns ($6,900) – The matchup is great, isn’t it? This seems like a trap game to me as Mariota’s mobility is affected in the passing game. His struggles were obvious on Monday facing the Colts, and at times Mariota looked like he shouldn’t be on the field. His 9.2 total point production facing the Colts makes me shy away. But, it’s the Browns you say! I know, I know, but you can spend this sort of dough on a better and safer QB option.

RUNNING BACK

Top Level

Leonard Fournette, JAC @ Indianapolis Colts ($8,600) – I’m going to assume that Fournette is just fine and dandy, thank you. I’m sure your heart went pitter-pat after seeing that Fournette left last week’s game with an ankle injury, although now it seems like it was more precautionary than anything. Love the matchup for Fournette facing the Colts and I’m finding him very close in value to Kareem Hunt this season. The consistency that Fournette brings for cash games is fantastic. Expect another 20-plus fantasy performance.

Other choices: Ezekiel Elliott, DAL @ San Francisco 49ers ($9,000); Todd Gurley, LAR vs. Arizona Cardinals ($8,200); LeSean McCoy, BUF vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($7,400)

Mid-Range

Jerick McKinnon, MIN vs. Baltimore Ravens ($6,300) – It’s now two games in a row with 25-point production for McKinnon, who has taken over the lead RB role for the injured Dalvin Cook. I really see McKinnon as an excellent value as well, and almost consider him a must-addition into lineups this week facing a weak Ravens rush defense. I’m thinking McKinnon is a chalk-y play but that you can’t afford to avoid him, even in tournament play.

Other choices: Derrick Henry, TEN @ Cleveland Browns ($5,500); Joe Mixon, CIN @ Pittsburgh Steelers ($5,000)

Value

Marlon Mack, IND vs. Jacksonville Jaguars ($4,100) – It’s a crime how the Colts barely used Mack last week. I’m not sure what the reasoning is behind it, unless the easy pass he dropped in the backfield ruined things for him. Still, Mack’s usage and production are going to change for the better moving forward, especially now that third-down RB Robert Turbin is done with a season ending arm injury. The Colts will need to succeed on the ground and with screen passes to Mack to beat the Jaguars. I don’t see Jacoby Brissett beating the Jags’ incredible cornerbacks downfield. Use Mack for tournament play.

Other choices: Isaiah Crowell, CLE vs. Tennessee Titans ($4,000)

Over-Value

Melvin Gordon, LAC vs. Denver Broncos ($7,000) – I don’t have a ton of confidence in Gordon facing the Broncos rush defense. Plus, he’s apparently fighting a shoulder injury and has been limited at practice. I’m sure Gordon will gut it out, but I’m not the one that’s going to be risking $7K on him.

WIDE RECEIVER

Top Level

Antonio Brown, PIT vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($8,900) – Remember the tantrum Brown had on the sidelines a couple of weeks ago? It’s a thing of the past. Brown has had four games this season with at least 28.7 fantasy points. You have to figure that Big Ben Roethlisberger continues to look Brown’s way. Look for Brown to get targeted a bunch, with at least one TD. He’s a great build-around guy in any lineup this week regardless of any matchup on paper with the Bengals.

Other choices: A.J. Green, CIN @ Pittsburgh Steelers ($8,300); Dez Bryant, DAL @ San Francisco 49ers ($7,800)

Mid-Range

Doug Baldwin, SEA @ New York Giants ($6,600) – Baldwin has been disappointing over the last couple of weeks, really not living up to billing this year; however, I really like a boom game for him facing the Giants. Expect to see him targeted a bunch by Russell Wilson. I’ve got Baldwin pegged for some tournament lineups.

Other choices: Keenan Allen, LAC vs. Denver Broncos ($6,300); Pierre Garcon, SF vs. Dallas Cowboys ($5,800);

Value

Sammy Watkins, LAR vs. Arizona Cardinals ($4,400) – Boom or bust is Watkins’ game, and it has been pretty much his entire career. Well, I’m calling a big game here for Watkins who some have completely forgotten about – namely Jared Goff. The Rams in general have a good matchup through the air and Goff will find Watkins deep this week.

Other choices: Cooper Kupp, LAR vs. Arizona Cardinals ($4,600); Allen Hurns, JAC @ Indianapolis Colts ($4,100)

Over-Value

Jordy Nelson, GB vs. New Orleans Saints ($6,800) – Aside from the matchup, there isn’t much I like about Nelson this week. I believe Nelson loses the most value without Aaron Rodgers on the field, even though you have to figure that all Green Bay receivers lose value from here on out. Brett Hundley is capable, but the Packers are going to have to grind out victories. The $6.8K you have to pay for Nelson is too much of a risk and I see Hundley spreading the ball around way too much.

TIGHT END

Top Level

Delanie Walker, TEN @ Cleveland Browns ($5,800)

Mid-Range

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NYJ @ Miami Dolphins ($5,000)

Jimmy Graham, SEA @ New York Giants ($4,900)

Value

Hunter Henry, LAC vs. Denver Broncos ($4,200)

Jack Doyle, IND vs. Jacksonville Jaguars ($3,400)

Good luck in Week 7! Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter: @TheRolyPolyBoy