Week 7 Game Scripts to Target in Daily Fantasy Football

Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots

Over/Under: 49.5

Patriots Implied Team Total: 26.00
Bears Implied Team Total: 23.50

This game is intriguing for a few reasons. For one, the New England Patriots have played in primetime in three of the last four weeks, so it's nice to have their playmakers as main slate options. The hope is that this game gets overlooked on the slate, as Chicago has an elite defense and doesn't stand out as an enticing matchup to target. But it's worth noting that the Bears' defense played 79 snaps in the Miami heat last week and difference-maker Khalil Mack is hobbled with an ankle injury. That makes the Patriots offense an appealing target, which could also elevate Chicago's up-and-coming offense as well.

Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots
FanDuel Price: $7,100

This is your first opportunity to use Julian Edelman on the main slate this year. And that's exciting because the Bears are most vulnerable in the slot, where Randall Cobb, Tyler Lockett and Danny Amendola have all tagged them for above-expectation performances. Edelman is already back to form, playing 91% of the Patriots' snaps and scoring a touchdown last week. Clearly Brady's most-trusted receiver, with 16 targets through 2 games, Edelman offers a stable floor to build around in cash games.

Tarik Cohen, RB, Chicago Bears
FanDuel Price: $6,600

Tarik Cohen is an exciting football player. More importantly, he's seen increased usage in an improving offense every week. Per Evan Silva of Rotoworld, Cohen just played a season-high 49% of the Bears' snaps in Week 6. That's important because it came after the bye week, when head coach Matt Nagy had extra time to review film and game plan. It makes sense that Cohen's snaps weren't as high when the team was controlling the game against the likes of Arizona and Tampa Bay, but as 2.5-point underdogs to the Pats, it's reasonable to think Cohen could again set a season-high in snaps. This would be the ideal week for that considering the Patriots' slow defense has allowed the fifth-most receiving yards to running backs.

Others to Consider

I'm anticipating Stephon Gilmore to shadow Allen Robinson ($6,500) in this one. With Robinson's target share trending down in recent weeks, he's strictly a contrarian GPP option, albeit not a very comfortable one. We saw how a speedy receiver like Tyreek Hill can give this slow Patriots defense fits, which makes Taylor Gabriel ($5,900) the intriguing play here. Gabriel has seen at least five targets every week and seven or more three separate times. Surprisingly, he leads the Bears in red zone targets.

Coming off back-to-back monster games, Mitchell Trubisky ($7,500) is a legitimate GPP and cash option this week. New England's barely-there pass rush has not been a shy-away matchup for quarterbacks, and Bill Belichick's slow defense has sneakily allowed the ninth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks. Trubisky has 11 carries for 100 rushing yards over the last two weeks. That helps raise his floor and ceiling in a potential shootout.

Jordan Howard's ($6,200) snaps have been decreasing every week, and Trey Burton ($6,000) is seriously overpriced for someone who's seen between four and five targets every game this season. It's probably best to stay away.

If Khalil Mack does indeed sit, then Tom Brady ($8,700) is on the cash game radar. I personally prefer to pay down at quarterback, but Brady appears to be rounding into form and he finally has all of his passing-game weapons playing the full cadre of snaps. There are better options this week, but he's always a high-floor investment with a QB1 ceiling.

Chicago has been as stingy as gets to running backs both on the ground and through the air. So while the implied team total is solid, it's tough to predict if either Sony Michel ($7,300) and/or James White ($7,300) are viable plays at their high prices. There will be a week to go contrarian and jam both into a lineup, but even with the Bears coming off a high snap count, this doesn't feel like the spot to test that strategy out.

The most exciting Patriots' development of Week 6 was Josh Gordon ($6,700) becoming a near full-time player in this high-octane offense. It led to him leading the team in targets (nine) and playing 81% of the team's snaps. That alone will make him an exciting GPP option every week, so might as well hop on now before his price jumps.

With Travis Kelce playing Sunday night, Rob Gronkowski ($7,600) is back to being the most expensive tight end on the main slate. Chicago has not been imposing to tight ends, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio double-covered Jimmy Graham in Week 1, so it's possible he does the same here. Given his price tag, that leaves Gronk off the cash game radar. But make no mistake, a Gronk smash game is coming sooner rather than later.