FanDuel Defenses to Target in Week 7
Unfortunately, Denver has a bye, so we'll have to branch out to other defenses this week for a change.
The Broncos came through for us again last week, though, by putting up 17 points on the road. The rest of our Week 6 picks all put up positive points but failed to take advantage of their matchups fully, and we missed out on some of the top defenses as a result.
But this week, there are some great plays with significant upside on the road this (like the Steelers), but we’re sticking with home teams this time.
Our picks feature three of the top 10 defenses from our power rankings, and all four of these teams are within the top 13.
Here are four defenses to consider for your Week 7 FanDuel lineups.
Arizona Cardinals (vs. Baltimore)
FanDuel Price: $5,100
numberFire Projected Points: 9.8
Denver has a bye this week and Seattle played on Thursday, so that leaves Arizona as the best defense on this slate in terms of fantasy points per game. The Cardinals also happen to be the biggest favorites of the week, giving up nine points to the Ravens who have the third lowest projected point total.
The Cardinals' secondary has three players with multiple interceptions this season, and as a team they have picked off opposing quarterbacks four times twice already. That’s not a good sign for Joe Flacco, who has thrown the fifth most interceptions in the NFL through six games. Last week, Flacco was picked off twice by the 49ers defense who only had three interceptions through their five previous games.
Baltimore’s offensive line has struggled this season as well and allowed five sacks to Pittsburgh in Week 4. This week they will have to figure out how to stop the Cardinals defense, a unit has at least one sack in every game so far and three games with multiple sacks.
We project the Bills to put up more fantasy points this week, but the Cardinals have the higher floor according to our projections, which makes them the safer play.
Buffalo Bills (vs. Jacksonville) – in London
FanDuel Price: $4,700
numberFire Projected Points: 9.94
This is considered a home game for the Bills, but it will actually be played in London.
Buffalo is our highest projected defense of the week against Jacksonville, who has given up the 11th most fantasy points to opposing defenses.
Blake Bortles has thrown seven interceptions through six games, while the Bills defense has intercepted seven passes in their six contests.
| Week | Jacksonville Interceptions Thrown | Buffalo Interceptions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | 3 | 0 |
Bortles’ three interceptions last week came against the Texans, who only had two total interceptions coming into the game.
The Bills only have nine sacks on the year, but they have had at least two in four of six games. There will be plenty of opportunity for them to expand on that total this week against a weak Jaguars offensive line that has given up the sixth most sacks in the league this year, including two games with five or more.
The Bills are favored by six points in this game, so the Jaguars will most likely be forced to throw while playing from behind in the second half. Buffalo has allowed an average of 23.2 points per game, but some of that is due to a tough schedule in which they have already played against two of the top five scoring offenses.
This week should be less of a challenge for them, as the Jaguars' 18.8 points per game is the third lowest in the league.
St. Louis Rams (vs. Cleveland)
FanDuel Price: $4,500
numberFire Projected Points: 8.46
St. Louis is favored by 5.5 points in this one at home coming off of their bye week against Cleveland, who has the second lowest projected point total of the week.
The Rams rank fifth (-15.58) in terms of Adjusted Defensive Net Expected Points (NEP), which measures the total points prevented to opposing offenses compared to other teams in a similar situation, adjusted for strength of schedule. The Broncos and the Jets, who are also among the top five teams in this category, both put up 17 fantasy points against the Browns earlier this season.
Cleveland is allowing the third most sacks per game this season and St. Louis is averaging the third most, so we can expect Josh McCown to be under a lot of pressure this week.
| Week | Cleveland Sacks Allowed | St. Louis Sacks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | 4 | 2 |
| 6 | 4 | -- |
As I mentioned, the Rams are coming off a bye this week. Prior to that, they have had multiple sacks in every game so far, while Cleveland has allowed at least four sacks in each of their past four games.
$4,500 is a steal for the Rams and will allow you to spend up at other positions this week.
Washington Redskins (vs. Tampa Bay)
FanDuel Price: $4,400
numberFire Projected Points: 8.94
Washington is coming into this matchup on a roll after putting up double-digit fantasy points three weeks in a row.
The Redskins put up a respectable six, five, and five points in the three games prior to that streak despite only forcing one turnover total in those three games. Now they are back at home after forcing six turnovers over the past two games.
Only five quarterbacks with 100 or more drop backs this season have a lower Passing NEP per play (which measures the value added or lost through passing on a per drop back basis) than Jameis Winston (-0.02). He has thrown an interception of three of five games so far, including four in Week 3 against the Panthers.
Tampa Bay has allowed multiple sacks in all but one game, and Washington has three games with three or more sacks.
Winston will have his top receiver healthy for this matchup in Mike Evans, who had the best game of his career last year against the Redskins when he caught 7 passes for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns.
This is the riskiest play on this list, but at only $4,400, the Redskins could provide great value if they get pressure on Winston and force him to start throwing interceptions.
