This article is part of our Run 'N' Shoot series.
After six weeks, who's the NFL MVP? Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are having great years, but if you're looking just at the 2015 season, Andy Dalton and Cam Newton are right there with them. Dalton is taking full advantage of the Bengals' ridiculous assortment of offensive weaponry, as his 14 TD passes, 1,761 passing yards, 116 QB Rating and 9.1 YPA all rank second in the NFL. (For some perspective, Rodgers' YPA is 8.2). Newton lacks those gaudy stats, but leading Carolina to an undefeated record with a stirring comeback in Seattle, even though the Panthers may have the worst set of receivers in the NFL, puts Cam in the conversation.
• Choosing a fantasy MVP (the best fantasy performer, taking into account acquisition cost) might be even tougher. Devonta Freeman would arguably be the No. 1 overall pick in a redraft, and his acquisition cost was bottom-of-the-barrel. But how can I make him the fantasy MVP when his fantasy owners lucked into him? Am I just bitter at not having Freeman anywhere? Maybe. But let's be honest -- nobody saw this coming. Same with Gary Barnidge, a 30-year-old career backup whose stats -- 27-413-5 -- now resemble those of Rob Gronkowski -- 23-425-5. Instead, I'll give the six-week fantasy MVP to DeAndre Hopkins, whose owners (not me, sadly) correctly predicted Hopkins would become a target monster. Let Hopkins' gaudy stats -- 52-726-5 be a reminder that targets (89 through six weeks, 14 more than anyone else)
After six weeks, who's the NFL MVP? Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are having great years, but if you're looking just at the 2015 season, Andy Dalton and Cam Newton are right there with them. Dalton is taking full advantage of the Bengals' ridiculous assortment of offensive weaponry, as his 14 TD passes, 1,761 passing yards, 116 QB Rating and 9.1 YPA all rank second in the NFL. (For some perspective, Rodgers' YPA is 8.2). Newton lacks those gaudy stats, but leading Carolina to an undefeated record with a stirring comeback in Seattle, even though the Panthers may have the worst set of receivers in the NFL, puts Cam in the conversation.
• Choosing a fantasy MVP (the best fantasy performer, taking into account acquisition cost) might be even tougher. Devonta Freeman would arguably be the No. 1 overall pick in a redraft, and his acquisition cost was bottom-of-the-barrel. But how can I make him the fantasy MVP when his fantasy owners lucked into him? Am I just bitter at not having Freeman anywhere? Maybe. But let's be honest -- nobody saw this coming. Same with Gary Barnidge, a 30-year-old career backup whose stats -- 27-413-5 -- now resemble those of Rob Gronkowski -- 23-425-5. Instead, I'll give the six-week fantasy MVP to DeAndre Hopkins, whose owners (not me, sadly) correctly predicted Hopkins would become a target monster. Let Hopkins' gaudy stats -- 52-726-5 be a reminder that targets (89 through six weeks, 14 more than anyone else) matter more than QB play.
•Philip Rivers is the DeAndre Hopkins of QBs; he has 2,116 passing yards, while nobody else has 1,800. But can he keep it up? The Chargers' offensive line is an injury-riddled disaster, preventing the running game from working at all (how's that $35 in auction money treating you, Melvin Gordon owners?). With the line in such disarray, I'm hard-pressed to think the running game will improve any time soon. But San Diego's schedule gets much more favorable from here; the Chargers already lost four games to playoff teams, including three on the road, whereas the Week 13 tilt with Denver is the only remaining matchup against a playoff team. (The Chargers also get Denver in Week 17, which won't affect you.) Chargers fans should expect more wins, but Rivers owners should expect a bit less passing.
• Perhaps no team has impressed me as much the last two weeks as the Steelers. Consecutive wins over the Chargers and Cardinals, without Ben Roethlisberger, have the Steelers looking like a solid bet for an AFC wild card or, perhaps, as a legitimate challenger to the Bengals in the AFC North. With Ben's return perhaps only a week away, now is the time to acquire all Steelers in fantasy. I'd start by making sure Antonio Brown's owner still views him as a top-five receiver, which he is in my eyes -- even with his three-week egg without Ben. Have no doubt; this is going to be a ridiculous offense for the rest of 2015. And for those looking ahead to the fantasy playoffs, the Steelers get the Ravens' pathetic pass defense in Week 16. Sign me up.
• Has there been a more disappointing team in 2015 than the Seahawks? Now that Kam Chancellor is playing, what's the excuse for the defense? Sure, Bobby Wagner was out Sunday, but every team has injuries. I suppose there's a reason only one team has made four consecutive Super Bowls -- it's hard to do it year after year.
• Speaking of my Bills, they haven't been as disappointing as Seattle as a whole, but if we limit the conversation to their defensive-line play, it has been. Among the league leaders in sacks a few years running, Buffalo has just nine sacks in six games, more than just five teams. The Bills' four, highly-paid studs on the defensive line have looked anything but studly, and they're already whispering that they don't like Rex Ryan's new scheme. Since the poor play isn't limited to one player, I'm inclined to think the scheme is part of the problem. Time to adapt your scheme to fit this talent, Rex.
• Lest you think schemes/coaching don't matter that much, look at Miami. I saw a big bounce-back coming with a new coach in place and coming off a bye. Yet in a cowardly act that can only be described as Chris Liss-esque, I refrained from putting my money where my mouth was, only enjoying a "Best Bet" win in Staff Picks and several good Lamar Miller-Dolphins D stacks in DFS. Next time, I'll remember -- dead cats bounce. In today's NFL, Miller is back to being a top-15 RB.
• Top-15 RB? That's more than Eddie Lacy can say. He's the worst kind of player in fantasy -- you can't cut him, yet you can't start him, either. I suppose his owners can only hope he gets healthy after the Packers' Week 7 bye. Among the backs I'd rather own than Lacy: Chris Ivory (isn't even debatable, really), Doug Martin, Mark Ingram and Giovani Bernard.
• Revenge for Deflate-Gate? Yawn. The Patriots beat the Colts again. Nothing much to see here. There were a couple of stats I noted, though: 1. Dion Lewis actually saw more snaps than LeGarrette Blount, despite Blount out-producing Lewis in the box score; 2. Rob Gronkowski saw just five targets for the second straight game, the first time he's seen such little action in consecutive weeks since 2011. I'll want to see tape (or hear from those who do), but perhaps the Nate Solder injury is forcing Gronk to stay in and block a little more frequently.
Here are some prices that jumped out at me as I scanned DraftKings prices for Week 7:
Quarterback
Carson Palmer vs. Ravens, $6,600: There's no better way for the Cardinals to bounce back after a disappointing Week 6 loss than a home matchup against the Ravens' 32nd-ranked pass defense. I'll probably play Palmer in cash this week; he's a great bet for 300 yards and three TDs.
Cam Newton vs. Eagles, $6,600: Philly will be coming off a short week, and its up-tempo style on offense always gives opposing teams more plays than usual. The way Cam is running, this price is too low.
Jameis Winston vs. Redskins, $5,100: As rock-bottom quarterbacks go, Winston is the best on the board in Week 7. The Redskins' defense is a train wreck at all levels.
Running Back
Latavius Murray vs. Chargers, $6,100: San Diego allows 5.4 YPC; no other team is higher than 5.0. Murray has massive upside; he should have been closer to $7,000 in this spot.
Todd Gurley vs. Browns, $5,000: Gurley would be a great value at this price regardless of the matchup, yet the matchup might be the best part of this. The Browns are last in run defense and 31st in YPC. Gurley will be a fixture in my cash lineups, and he has massive upside in GPPs.
Lamar Miller vs. Texans, $4,600: The coaching change obviously did wonders for Miller, yet his price tag went up just $300. Buy, buy, buy.
Jonathan Stewart vs. Eagles, $4,000: Stewart looked like a different back in Week 6, coming out of the Panthers' bye, yet he's really cheap in a good matchup. I'll have Stewart in some GPPs, and he's in play in cash, too.
Wide Receiver
T.Y. Hilton, $6,500, Donte Moncrief, $5,200 vs. Saints: These prices are far too low for the Colts' playmakers. A home matchup against a bad New Orleans defense (8.6 YPA, 106 QB rating) ensures I'll have plenty of exposure to both.
Eric Decker vs. Patriots, $5,300: I've suggested Decker several times in this column. Has he ever disappointed? Decker is a top-15 WR at a mid-range price; he should be at least $1,000 higher. New York's matchup against the Patriots -- where they may well have to throw more than usual -- just makes me like him more. I suspect I'll play Decker in cash yet again this week.
Stefon Diggs at Lions, $4,200: The Vikings rookie has emerged out of nowhere the last two weeks to become the team's best receiver. If Adrian Peterson doesn't tear up the Lions' bad defense, then Diggs will probably be the guy who does.
Michael Floyd, $3,200: I played Floyd in some GPPs this week, and while his box score doesn't jump off the page, he scored once and nearly had a three-TD game (one was called back due to a penalty, and another he was out of bounds by a whisker). While everyone else stacks Palmer with Fitzgerald or Brown, a contrarian and cheaper play is to stack him with Floyd in a GPP.
Tight End
Rob Gronkowski vs. Jets, $8,100: After consecutive down weeks, Gronk's price actually went up. Plus, it's a bad matchup. I won't play Gronk in cash, but I'll mix him in some GPPs while other owners shy away.
Antonio Gates vs. Raiders, $5,000: Oakland has been terrible against opposing tight ends all year. With Keenan Allen nicked up, Gates has a good chance to be Philip Rivers' top target in Week 7.
