This article is part of our Draftster NFL series.
Week 6 saw plenty of overlay for Draftster's debut NFL Single Entry Showdown. They're offering a $5, $10, and $20 qualifier. Head on over to the lobby to sign up. To help you along the way, here are my rankings for Week 7.
*Please note the following rankings do not include Thursday's matchup between New England and the New York Jets.
Quarterback
1. Aaron Rodgers (GB) vs. CAR - $8,900
2. Peyton Manning (DEN) vs. SF - $9,000
3. Andrew Luck (IND) vs. CIN - $9,000
4. Philip Rivers (SD) vs. KC - $7,770
5. Jay Cutler (CHI) vs. MIA - $8,000
6. Cam Newton (CAR) at GB - $7,800
7. Drew Brees (NO) at DET - $7,800
8. Joe Flacco (BAL) vs. ATL - $6,600
9. Matthew Stafford (DET) vs. MIN - $6,400
10. Russell Wilson (SEA) at STL - $7,100
11. Tony Romo (DAL) vs. NYG - $6,800
12. Colin Kaepernick (SF) at DEN - $6,700
13. Matt Ryan (ATL) at BAL - $7,600
14. Brain Hoyer (CLE) at JAX - $5,600
Notable Byes: Nick Foles (PHI)
Aaron Rodgers (GB) vs. CAR - $8,900
Over the last three weeks, Rodgers has done everything that can be asked of a fantasy quarterback. He has 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions, he plays a no-panic style of football, and he is one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the game. With the Packers currently struggling to run the ball, they're relying on Rodgers' arm more than ever. This week he takes on a Panthers defense that ranks 23rd in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Just two weeks ago we saw Rodgers throw three touchdown passes on only 17 attempts, so it will be intriguing to see what he can do if he gets around 40 against a bad secondary.
Cam Newton (CAR) at GB - $7,800
The performance that fantasy owners were waiting for finally came on Sunday, as Newton put up over 35 fantasy points against the Bengals. Newton threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns and added 107 yards on the ground. If Newton can compile even half of that rushing total on a weekly basis, he will always find a way to meet his projections. This week, he travels to Lambeau Field to face the Packers. Green Bay is kind of a conundrum, from a fantasy perspective, as they have a top-five pass defense but rank near near the bottom against the run.
Joe Flacco (BAL) vs. ATL - $6,600
Flacco was unstoppable in Week 6, throwing for five touchdowns in just the first half of Sunday's contest against Tampa Bay. Though Flacco is a name I typically wouldn't suggest for daily fantasy, his performance cannot be overlooked. What also can't be overlooked is a looming matchup against an Atlanta with one of the NFL's worst secondaries.
Running Back
1. DeMarco Murray (DAL) vs. NYG - $9,000
2. Matt Forte (CHI) vs. MIA - $8,900
3. Arian Foster (HOU) at PIT - $8,000
4. Le'Veon Bell (PIT) vs. HOU - $8,100
5. Giovani Bernard (CIN) at IND - $7,400
6. Jamaal Charles (KC) at SD - $7,700
7. Marshawn Lynch (SEA) at STL - $7,600
8. Justin Forsett (BAL) vs. ATL - $6,500
9. Lamar Miller (MIA) at CHI - $5,900
10. Andre Ellington (ARI) at OAK - $6,900
11. Alfred Morris (WAS) vs. TEN - $6,000
12. Ahmad Bradshaw (IND) vs. CIN - $4,900
13. Ben Tate (CLE) at JAX - $5,600
14. Fred Jackson (BUF) vs. MIN - $6,500
Notable Byes: LeSean McCoy (PHI)
DeMarco Murray (DAL) vs. NYG - $9,000
Every week that I think Murray is finally going to slow down, he finds a way keep churning out 100-yard games. Murray ran for 115 yards against Seattle on Sunday and, in doing so, joined Jim Brown as one of only two players in NFL history to open the season with six straight 100-yard games. Next up for the league's leading rusher is a Giants team that has allowed 170 yards per game on the ground.
Justin Forsett (BAL) vs. ATL - $6,500
The only knock on Forsett at this point is his usage. Over the last two weeks, he's averaged over seven yards per carry, and he has a rush of more than 20 yards in each of the last five games. Last week against Tampa Bay, Forsett joined the Ravens' onslaught to the tune of 111 yards. This week, he faces the Falcons, whose defense ranks 27th against the rush.
Lamar Miller (MIA) at CHI - $5,900
As a result of Knowshon Moreno's season-ending ACL injury, Miller is now the lead back again in Miami. He's thrived in that role this season - Moreno previously missed two weeks with an elbow injury - averaging 5.4 yards per carry with three total touchdowns. Miller is also averaging three receptions per game on the season. The third-year back is an excellent mid-priced option this week with a very high ceiling.
Wide Receiver
1. Jordy Nelson (GB) vs. CAR - $9,000
2. Demaryius Thomas (DEN) vs. SF - $8,900
3. Antonio Brown (PIT) vs. HOU - $9,000
4. Dez Bryant (DAL) vs. NYG - $8,200
5. Alshon Jeffery (CHI) vs. MIA - $6,800
6. Julio Jones (ATL) at BAL - $9,000
7. Randall Cobb (GB) vs. CAR - $7,200
8. Brandon Marshall (CHI) vs. MIA - $7,600
9. Steve Smith Sr. (BAL) vs. ATL - $7,400
10. DeSean Jackson (WAS) vs. TEN - $5,300
11. Kelvin Benjamin (CAR) vs. GB - $6,700
12. Golden Tate (DET) vs. NO - $5,800
13. Rueben Randle (NYG) at DAL - $5,500
14. Mohamed Sanu (CIN) at IND - $6,600
Notable Byes: Jeremy Maclin (PHI), Vincent Jackson (TB)
Jordy Nelson (GB) vs. CAR - $9,000
If I am going to suggest Aaron Rodgers as my top quarterback play, odds are his favorite target will be pretty high in the rankings as well. Nelson has recorded over 100 yards and touchdown in three of the first six games of the season and gets to face a Carolina secondary that ranks 21st in passing yards allowed. Nelson is averaging 11.33 targets per game, which leads the NFL.
Dez Bryant (DAL) vs. NYG - $8,200
Bryant has had a relatively quiet start to 2014, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's been unproductive. Bryant has a touchdown in four of his first six games this season and now faces a Giants defense that ranks 24th against the pass. Expect a much bigger showing this week without a name like Richard Sherman blanketing him.
DeSean Jackson (WAS) vs. TEN - $5,300
If you are looking for a mid-range priced receiver with big play potential, look no further than Jackson. In three of his last four contests, Jackson has eclipsed 100 yards receiving with a touchdown, and all three of those touchdowns came from 60 yards or more. Jackson carries huge boom or bust potential, but against a weak Tennessee team the arrow leans slightly toward boom.
Calvin Johnson (DET) vs. NO - $4,000
Johnson missed Week 6 and has yet to practice this week, so his chances of playing Sunday seem fairly slim. However, with a price point of $4,000, he's certainly worth a mention. It goes without saying that Johnson is one of the most talented, big-time receivers in the game. If Johnson ends up playing Sunday, it will be hard to avoid him at his price.
Tight End
1. Julius Thomas (DEN) vs. SF - $6,400
2. Greg Olsen (CAR) vs. GB - $5,500
3. Martellus Bennett (CHI) vs. MIA - $5,900
4. Jordan Cameron (CLE) at JAX - $5,400
5. Dwayne Allen (IND) vs. CIN - $5,100
6. Jordan Reed (WAS) vs. TEN - $5,800
7. Travis Kelce (KC) at SD - $5,200
8. Delanee Walker (TEN) vs. JAX - $5,200
9. Jason Witten (DAL) vs. NYG - $3,800
10. Antonio Gates (SF) vs. KC - $5,700
Notable Byes: Zach Ertz (PHI)
Julius Thomas (DEN) vs. SF - $6,400
With nine touchdowns through six games, Thomas is now one of, if not the top option at the tight end spot each week. Tight end has been a fickle position thus far, seeing only seven players average better than 10 points per week (based on six weeks). With one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game at the helm of the Broncos' offense, the sky is the limit for Thomas' production.
Jordan Reed (WAS) vs. TEN - $5,800
After a five-week absence, Reed returned to the field in a big way Sunday, hauling in eight passes for 92 yards. Kirk Cousins established an early connection with Reed, resulting in a total of 11 targets. With Reed missing the start of the season due to injury, this may be the final week he flies under the radar, and he has a favorable matchup against Tennessee coming up.
Jordan Cameron (CLE) at JAX - $5,400
Cameron's health has been an issue all year, but after a 102-yard performance on Sunday it appears he may be close to full strength. Cameron hauled in a 51-yard touchdown in the second quarter and gets to face a Jacksonville team this week that is vulnerable in every aspect of the game. Cameron's target numbers are a little low, so that's something to be monitored, however he still offers plenty of upside for a mid-priced option.
Jimmy Graham (NO) at DET - $3,000
Much like Calvin Johnson, I'm touching on Graham as somewhat of a formality. He is expected to miss 2-to-3 weeks with a shoulder injury. However, if something changes before game-time, Graham will feature a minimum price.
Kicker
1. Dan Bailey (DAL) vs. NYG- $4,000
2. Phil Dawson (SF) at DEN - $3,600
3. Matt Bryant (ATL) at BAL - $3,300
4. Mason Crosby (GB) vs. CAR - $3,700
The kicker selection will change week-to-week based upon the highest over/unders each week. In most cases you will want to select the lowest-priced kicker with the highest over/under. With Vegas lines this week being the highest across the board, it is safest to target a kicker with past success and a high rate of consistency.
Defense
1. Seattle (at STL) - $4,000
2. Cleveland (at JAX) - $3,800
3. Buffalo (vs. MIN) - $4,000
4. San Diego (vs. KC) - $3,500
On the opposite spectrum of kickers, defenses are selected based on the lowest over/under totals in a given week. The Seattle/St.Louis game comes in at the lowest of the week with a total of 44. The Seattle defense is one of the more expensive on Draftster this week, but with so many high totals it's safest to bet on consistency.
Last week's lineup
QB: Nick Foles (16.42)
RB: Matt Forte (37.70)
RB: Giovani Bernard (28.70)
WR: Mohamed Sanu (32.00)
WR: Jeremy Maclin (3.60)
TE: Jordan Cameron (22.20)
FLEX: Joique Bell (17.70)
K: Dan Bailey (15.00)
D: Buffalo (-2.00)
TOTAL: 171.32
So, so, so close. This past week was the first week of Draftster's S.E.C (Single Entry Championship) and out of my three teams across the three qualifiers I just missed on all of them. However, I am just going to highlight my highest scoring roster. I ended up finishing 15 points away from first, due in large part to Jeremy Maclin and my defense. Nick Foles didn't excel to the level I hoped, but that was more a product of a large lead than his performance.
My core of Bernard, Forte, Sanu, and Cameron was lights out. I couldn't ask for a better performance and I am extremely proud of those picks, as I also wrote them up last week. I targeted Forte for the solely because of his matchup. He was facing the league's worst-ranked defense against the rush and produced as a receiver out of the backfield. Bernard was targeted much in the same light, as injuries to A.J. Green would certainly push more work his way. I targted Sanu for that same reason, as well: opportunity. I really liked the matchup of Foles and Maclin against the Giants, but unfortunately the Eagles' early lead stymied their production. Sticking with the theme of my team, Bell got the call with Reggie Bush sitting out. When all was said and done, I finished top-5 in two qualifiers, including top-5 in the 5 dollar weekly. This lineup would have easily cashed any double-up if not pushed the top in any winner-take-all game.
