Last week, the typical roster construction had us paying up at running back and trying to find value elsewhere, especially at wide receiver, to make it work in a tight salary environment. Things are shaping up the opposite way this week. The top of the receiver list features more attractive matchups than at running back, yet several value opportunities — Jacquizz Rodgers and Mike Gillislee chief among them — have emerged to help grease the skids.
However, if we want to construct unique lineups, we may want to pay a bit more at running back. Unfortunately this made more sense before LeSean McCoy wound up with a hamstring injury, but DeMarco Murray, David Johnson, and — if we play a slate with the London game — Todd Gurley can help us execute the plan. Of course, a running back-heavy configuration is only one way to skin Week 7.
We would be foolish to completely run away from stud wideouts in prime matchups, as the available value lets us roster them fairly easily. Another avenue the excess value opens is access to high-end players with low-ownership in sub-optimal matchups. Whether it’s Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown against New England, or Johnson and Christine Michael in a game projected to be low-scoring, we have more wiggle room to afford to take shots on low-owned studs.
There is truckload of directions we can go this week to differentiate our lineups, so let’s have fun with making as many tournament configurations as our budget and buy-in levels allow. Here are some ideas to help bring it all together. Good luck this week, everyone!
Quarterbacks
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals, $8,100
Dalton has one of the juiciest matchups of the week, stacks well with multiple pass-catchers, and is priced just above several other quarterbacks in attractive spots. Dalton is coming off of a 21-of-31, 254-yard, one-touchdown performance in Foxborough, in which he was hot during the first half and faded as the Patriots took control. Fortunately for him, the Bengals host the Browns this week. Cleveland’s pass rush grades 10th-worst, their coverage ranks sixth-worst, and they allow the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. They may also be without top cornerback Joe Haden, who hasn’t been practicing.
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