NFL

Draftster Daily Fantasy Football Helper: Week 7

Can DeMarco Murray set the record for most 100-yard rushing performances to open a season this week? All signs point to yes.

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Not sure who to select in your lineup? Don't worry - we've got you covered.

Draftster Optimal Lineup for Week 7

PlayerPositionProjected FPCost
Matthew StaffordQB21.33$6,400.00
Matt ForteRB24.77$8,900.00
Reggie BushRB13.78$4,600.00
Reggie WayneWR15.19$5,100.00
Percy HarvinWR15.19$4,900.00
Jason WittenTE12.2$3,800.00
Arizona D/STDEF10.97$4,100.00
DeMarco MurrayRB23$9,000.00
Caleb SturgisK8.48$3,200.00

Remember to always check our up-to-date optimal lineups here.

Although we've seen him struggle in the past when his number-one target - Calvin Johnson - is on the shelf, with the Saints coming to town Matthew Stafford should have a big game this week whether Megatron plays or not. The Saints' defense has been terrible so far this season, especially against the pass. New Orleans ranks 29th in the league in Adjusted Defensive Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) and has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season despite having a bye last week.

Stafford comes into this week as the 15th-most expensive quarterback on the board at just $6,400, yet our algorithms project him to be the fourth-highest scoring player at the position this week. Given the elite matchup and his extremely cheap price tag, the Lions' quarterback makes an excellent start in all formats.

One of the benefits of going with an inexpensive option at quarterback is that it frees you up to spend big at other positions. This week our algorithms recommend you spend that extra cash on two elite running backs - DeMarco Murray and Matt Forte.

Murray has been the model of consistency this season. He has rushed for at least 100 yards in each of the first six games of the season - a feat that only he and Jim Brown have ever accomplished - and now leads the league in carries by 54 and rushing yards by a whopping 243. The Cowboys' running back has also scored six touchdowns in Dallas' first six games and has added 21 catches for 155 yards. This week, Murray gets a matchup with a Giants' rush defense which has allowed the second most rushing touchdowns in the league (7) and has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. All signs point to another monster game from Murray who should extend his 100-plus yard rushing streak to a record breaking seven this week.

While Murray has been racking up the carries, Forte has taken a different approach to amassing fantasy points. The Bears running back currently leads the league with 46 receptions on the year. When I say leads the league I'm not just talking about among running backs, I mean he has more receptions than any other player in the league, something that cannot be overstated in PPR scoring. Forte also ranks third in the NFL with 775 yards from scrimmage.

On top of what he has accomplished this season, Forte comes into this week scorching hot. The Bears' star has posted more than 150 yards from scrimmage each of the past three games and has added 27 receptions with three touchdowns over that span. Forte has scored at least 32 fantasy points in each of the past two weeks and gets another favorable matchup this week against a Dolphins' defense which has given up the 12th most fantasy points to opposing runnings backs this season. Forte is a great play this week, despite his expensive price tag.

Although teammate T.Y. Hilton stole the show with his 9-catch, 223-yard and one touchdown performance last week, Reggie Wayne has been very productive so far this season. Wayne is averaging more than five and a half receptions for 69.8 yards on nine targets per game.

Although he has only scored one touchdown so far this season, the sheer number of targets the Colts' receiver gets on a per-game basis gives him a high weekly floor making him a very safe play, especially considering his $5,100 price tag this week. Wayne makes a great value play in a game that is expected to be a shootout against the Bengals.

Speaking of an excellent value play, Percy Harvin costs just $4,900 this week. Although Harvin has yet to really live up to expectations so far this season, especially coming off of a game against the Cowboys where he totaled -1 yards from scrimmage, the Seahawks have made a conscious effort to get him the ball. Harvin leads Seattle in targets in the passing game with 26 on the season and has even carried the ball 11 times. He has also seen some bad luck over the past few weeks, having three touchdowns - two of them long ones - called back due to penalty.

With Seattle going to visit a Rams' team which ranks 26th in the league against the pass according to our metrics and has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season, Harvin will have a huge opportunity to redeem himself for last week's awful performance. The entire Seahawks' team will have a chip on their shoulder coming off of last week's loss to the Cowboys and I think they will want to go into St. Louis and make a statement and getting their most explosive playmaker the ball early and often should be one of their main focusses on offense. Considering his price tag, Harvin is definitely worth a flier this week, especially in GPP formats.