This article is part of our Fanball Fantasy Football series.
Week 7 of the NFL season should be fantasy-friendly, as only the Lions and Texans have byes. The Fanball format calls for a QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, FLEX WR/TE, FLEX RB/WR/TE, D/ST lineup with a $55,000 salary cap. The players below can fit into lineups regardless of strategy, as they all offer strong value relative to price.
QUARTERBACK
Cam Newton, CAR at CHI ($7,700): Newton's been sensational the last three weeks, throwing for 910 yards and seven touchdowns while adding another 115 yards and two scores with his legs. With receiving back Christian McCaffrey taking on a larger role at Jonathan Stewart's expense, Newton is now throwing short passes and gaining yardage on plays that used to be Stewart runs. The emergence of Devin Funchess on the outside has helped offset the loss of tight end Greg Olsen (foot), so Newton doesn't lack for weapons heading into this matchup with a Bears team that allows 24.7 points per game. The burly quarterback's physical style tends to take a toll from week to week, but he'll be as rested as can be in a non-bye situation after playing on Thursday Night Football in Week 6.
Brett Hundley, GB vs. NO ($6,500): Hundley didn't exactly impress after Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone last week, but a full week of preparation should have the 24-year-old UCLA product looking more comfortable under center. He inherits an explosive offense that features an elite group of wide receivers and a terrific receiving back in Ty Montgomery, plus game flow should call for plenty of passes as the Packers try to keep up with Drew Brees and the Saints. New Orleans' defense allows the fifth-most passing yards per game, so Hundley has game-changing upside in this matchup at an affordable price.
RUNNING BACK
LeSean McCoy, BUF vs. TB ($7,700): McCoy's 27 receptions are tops on the Bills and his 189 receiving yards rank second behind Charles Clay's 258 and ahead of Jordan Matthews' 162. With Clay (knee) still sidelined and Matthews (thumb) questionable to suit up, McCoy will likely be Tyrod Taylor's primary receiving threat against a Buccaneers defense that allows more than 300 yards per game through the air. Tampa Bay was also gashed for 134 rushing yards and two scores by Adrian Peterson last week and McCoy should see no shortage of work on the ground after averaging more than 17 carries per week through Buffalo's first five games. McCoy's yet to find paydirt after scoring 13 rushing touchdowns last season, but this is as good an opportunity as any for him to change that.
Adrian Peterson, ARI at LAR ($6,300): History has taught us never to doubt Peterson. As mentioned, the former Vikings great put on a show last week in his Cardinals debut, thriving with an extensive workload after struggling with limited touches in the pass-heavy Saints scheme. Don't be surprised if he delivers a scintillating encore performance in London against a Rams defense that allows 139.5 yards per game on the ground.
Jerick McKinnon, MIN vs. BAL ($6,000): McKinnon has seamlessly replaced Dalvin Cook (knee) as the lead back in Minnesota, piling up 164 rushing yards on 32 carries, 81 receiving yards on 11 catches and three total touchdowns the last two weeks. With Minnesota's defense likely to dominate in this one (more on that below), McKinnon should once again see a healthy volume of touches while staying heavily involved in the red zone. Baltimore ranking 30th against the run with 141.3 yards allowed per game doesn't hurt, either.
WIDE RECEIVER
Michael Crabtree, OAK vs. KC ($6,700): This was supposed to be the year Amari Cooper finally surpassed Crabtree as the clear-cut No. 1 option in Oakland's passing game, but Cooper's instead taken a backseat while Crabtree has scored touchdowns at a career rate. A chest injury held Crabtree to one catch in Week 3 and forced him to miss Week 4 altogether, but he's recorded exactly six catches in each of his other four games while topping 80 yards three times and scoring five touchdowns. The veteran wideout's excellent season should continue Thursday against a vulnerable Chiefs secondary that's been burned for the ninth-most passing yards per game.
Aldrick Robinson, SF vs. DAL ($3,700): Robinson's a risky play, but his under-the-radar big-play potential could turn the affordable wideout into a major difference-maker in contests with top-heavy payouts. He was rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard's top target with the second-team offense in practice the first few weeks and the duo hooked up for a 45-yard touchdown after Beathard took over for an ineffective Brian Hoyer last week. Beathard will makehis first NFL start in this one, so Robinson should continue to see some extra snaps at the expense of Marquise Goodwin, who hasn't done much to cement himself as a starter opposite Pierre Garcon. Garcon and running back Carlos Hyde do most of their work in tight while Robinson's career average of 18.4 yards per catch suggests he's the best downfield threat on an offense that will likely have to air it out in the second half.
Dez Bryant, DAL vs. SF ($7,900): San Francisco's one of six teams allowing more than 250 passing yards per game, so Bryant should thrive even with Ezekiel Elliott's suspension on hold once again. Bryant owns a career average of 11 touchdowns per 16 games, and his red-zone prowess likely will be on full display against a 49ers defense that surrendered 27.8 points per game the last four weeks.
TIGHT END
Zach Ertz, PHI vs. WAS ($6,800): Ertz has 18 catches for 205 yards in his last two meetings with the Redskins, which isn't that surprising considering his chemistry with quarterback Carson Wentz and Washington's ineptitude when it comes to covering tight ends. Four tight ends have led their respective teams in receiving yards against the Redskins this season, including Ertz in Week 1. He has at least 13.1 fantasy points every week, so Ertz has the highest floor at his position in this favorable matchup.
Delanie Walker, TEN at CLE ($5,000): Walker doesn't have a touchdown catch yet this year after hauling in 13 in quarterback Marcus Mariota's first two seasons, but that could change Sunday against a Browns team that's allowed 15 catches and three touchdowns to No. 1 tight ends the last three weeks despite facing Tyler Kroft, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Ryan Griffin. None of those three has anywhere near the receiving pedigree of Walker, whose role in Tennessee's offense remains constant regardless of the team's health at running back and wide receiver. He's been a bit of a forgotten man this season outside of a well-designed rushing touchdown off the edge, but this should be the week Walker reminds the world that he's still a premier player at his position.
DEFENSE
New York Jets at MIA ($2,800): New York could easily be on a four-game winning streak if not for some baffling officiating against the Patriots last week, and would have shut out the Dolphins in their Week 3 meeting if not for a DeVante Parker touchdown on the last play of the game. Parker's questionable to suit up for this one with an ankle injury, potentially leaving Miami's subpar offense down one of its few playmakers. Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler averages 171 passing yards per game overall and 128 at home while running back Jay Ajayi is yet to find the end zone this season. Maybe the refs will even give the Jets a makeup call this week and randomly turn a Dolphins touchdown into a touchback.
Minnesota Vikings vs. BAL ($3,600): Baltimore's 27-24 overtime home loss to the Bears last week doesn't look too bad until you realize both of the team's touchdowns were scored on special teams. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has a 4:8 touchdown to interception ratio through six games and no Baltimore running back is on pace for more than 900 yards. It's tough to picture Minnesota's defense allowing much in this one after holding all but one if its opponents below 20 points despite facing a number of talented offenses including New Orleans, Green Bay and Pittsburgh.
