Welcome to the NFL DFS Week 7 RB Coach article!! It was a mixed bag for me in Week 6. Josh Jacobs was great! Ashton Jeanty, Rachaad White, and Kyren Williams all delivered as well.  Javonte Williams didn’t deliver as expected in what was a good matchup against the Carolina Panthers. And did anyone see J.K. Dobbins at London’s Heathrow Airport because he never showed up for his game against the New York Jets! On another positive note, my recommendation to avoid Saquon Barkley and Quinshon Judkins ended up being the right call.

 

 

 

NFL Week 7 NFL DFS RBs

Unfortunately, there are plenty of NFL DFS RBs and NFL backfields to avoid this week. If you can afford to do so, you should pay up for your Week 7 NFL DFS RBs. I’ve alluded to this in the past, but the list of NFL DFS RBs that I’m steering clear of seems to grow every week. 

I’d love to start Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren against the Cincinnati Bengals this week. They’ve already given up 10 TDs to NFL DFS RBs. However, in Week 6, which was his first game back after being inactive due to a knee injury, Warren played just 52.5% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps. That’s almost 30% fewer snaps than he played in Week 3. I’m not sure if Warren’s reduction in playing time is because he’s dealing with the aftereffects of his injury, or if Kenneth Gainwell will be cutting into Warren’s playing time moving forward. 

Patriots NFL DFS RBs have a great matchup against the Tennessee Titans. But, while Rhamondre Stevenson seems to be holding onto his job as the Pats’ RB1, if he’s not fumbling the ball away, he’s putting up putrid stats like his 1.5 average YPC over the past two weeks.

New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara faces the Chicago Bears in Week 6. They’re giving up 5.62 YPC to NFL DFS RBs. Unfortunately, Kamara is averaging just 3.3 YPC in his last four games, and his receiving numbers are also down this season. Kamara is averaging 3.7 catches per game compared to 4.9 catches last season. 

Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, and Seattle Seahawks NFL DFS RBs are splitting their carries, rendering them useless in DFS. Based on their production thus far, Chase Brown and Isiah Pacheco can’t be used in NFL DFS lineups either.

Carolina Panthers NFL DFS RB Rico Dowdle, who has been playing in place of Chuba Hubbard (calf), has had two straight huge weeks against the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys. His DFS salary is creeping up ($6,800 DK, $7,800 FD), but it’s understandable since Dowdle is averaging over 194 rushing yards and more than 7 YPC per game over the past two weeks. Dowdle also has a good Week 7 matchup against the New York Jets. If Hubbard is inactive in Week 7, you should consider using Dowdle in your NFL DFS lineups. FYI, Panthers head coach Dave Canales answered “we’ll see” when asked who the starting RB would be once Hubbard is healthy.

Despite the many NFL DFS RBs that I’m avoiding, there are several that should be able to help you win some cash this week! The following are my favorite NFL DFS RBs for Week 7.  

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Top-Tier Picks For Week 7

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

DraftKings: $8,800 | FanDuel: $10,000

In a week like this, where there are so many question marks surrounding NFL DFS RBs, you can’t go wrong with putting Taylor in your DFS lineup. He takes on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7, and they’re giving up 4.95 YPC to NFL DFS RBs. Taylor has been absolute fire this season. In games where he hasn’t rushed for a lot of yards, he makes up for it by scoring TDs.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

DraftKings: $8,500 | FanDuel: $9,600

Overall, the Atlanta Falcons, McCaffrey’s Week 7 opponent, have been stingy in PPR scoring when it comes to NFL DFS RBs. However, they’re still giving up 4.45 YPC to the position. Even though he’s only averaging 3.1 YPC, McCaffrey has been matchup-proof this season based on his production as a receiving NFL DFS RB. He has the second-most receptions in the NFL this season (46). Only WR Puka Nacua has more. The Falcons have been tough against pass-catching backs this season, but they’ve still given up two receiving TDs to the position, which is the third most in football

Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

DraftKings: $8,300 | FanDuel: $9,300

Even though it’ll be a short week for Robinson, he does have a good matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Over the past three weeks, the Niners have given up just over 5 YPC to NFL DFS RBs. Robinson is another NFL DFS RB who is matchup proof, and he’s coming off a mammoth 170 rushing yards, six catch Monday night performance against the Buffalo Bills. For the season, Robinson is averaging just under 6 YPC and 5 catches per game. 

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Mid-Tier Picks For Week 7

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions

DraftKings: $7,500 | FanDuel: $8,900

Gibbs takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, who have given up the third most catches to NFL DFS RBS. He is averaging just under four catches per game, and while his 4.5 YPC average is just over a yard less than last season, it’s still well above the league average. I understand that you might shy away from using Gibbs this week after Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he might try to “balance the backfield out” more in Week 7, but Gibbs is playing an average of over 62% of the Lions’ offensive snaps this season and will remain a big part of their offense.

Javonte Williams, RB, Dallas Cowboys

DraftKings: $6,700 | FanDuel: $7,500

Williams takes on the Washington Commanders in Week 7, and they have had trouble stopping the run lately. Over the past three weeks, the Commanders are giving up 4.51 YPC to NFL DFS RBs. Williams is coming off a terrible Week 6, in which he rushed for just 29 yards (2.2 YPC), but he’s still averaging 5.2 YPC on the season. I recommended using him in Week 6, and based on his horrible performance, he owes me one.

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Value Picks For Week 7

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders

DraftKings: $6,100 | FanDuel: $6,600

Croskey-Merritt has taken over as the Commanders’ lead NFL DFS RB, and he’s having a good start to his career. He’s averaging 5.7 YPC and has scored four rushing TDs in his first six games. He’s lost two fumbles in his last two games, but I’ll give him a pass for the one that happened on Monday night. It was raining, and the ball was slick. He has a great matchup against the Dallas Cowboys this week, who are giving up 4.72 YPC and the third most PPR fantasy points per game to NFL DFS RBs this season.

Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns

DraftKings: $6,000 | FanDuel: $7,400

Judkins graduated from an NFL DFS RB that I was avoiding in Week 6 to one that I’m recommending in Week 7. He takes on the Dolphins in Week 7, and they’ve given up the most rushing yards (806, 5.60 YPC) to NFL DFS RBs this season.

Kimani Vidal RB, Los Angeles Chargers

DraftKings: $5,500 | FanDuel: $6,200

Injuries to the Chargers’ offensive line can understandably make you nervous about starting Vidal in DFS. And yes, Vidal’s big Week 6 (124 rushing yards, 6.9 YPC) came against the Dolphins’ poor run defense. However, the Indianapolis Colts, his Week 7 opponent, have given up 4.26 YPC to NFL DFS RBs, and Vidal’s very affordable NFL DFS salary does take the risk of starting him into account. Your risk tolerance will determine if you insert Vidal into your NFL DFS lineups.