Week 7 NFL DFS WR Breakdown: Top Cash Game and Tournament Picks

Wide receivers are the backbone of your NFL DFS lineups. It’s a spot where you’ll need massive production if you’re going to take down a tournament, but it’s also a spot where you can save money on occasion. Some of the best values in a given week are likely to be found at the receiver position.

In this piece, I highlight wide receivers who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.

As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by the award-winning expert ranker, Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change as the projections change. For updates, visit the models directly.

And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.

Or you can just use our NFL DFS sims to effortlessly create advanced lineups.

Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace.

You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:

Top NFL DFS Cash Game Options

Puka Nacua ($8,400 DraftKings, $9,100 FanDuel)

Nacua continues to absolutely dominate for the Rams. Even his bad games are still pretty good. He had a meager (by his standards) seven targets last week, but he still managed six catches for 80 yards. Even with that subpar showing, Nacua trails only Jaxon Smith-Njigba in terms of PPR points per game.

Nacua also possesses some of the best usage in football. He has a 33% target share this season, and he’s been targeted on 35% of his routes run. He’s also racked up 42% of the team’s air yards and 43% of their end zone targets. Each of those marks is among the best in the league.

Nacua’s utilization could be about to get cranked even higher. The team lost Davante Adams to a hamstring injury in Week 6, and he’s expected to miss the next 6-10 weeks. Adams ranks second on the team with a 21% target share, so his absence could make Nacua even busier moving forward.

Unfortunately, Nacua did pick up a calf injury at practice on Thursday. While the injury is not considered serious, it does put his status in jeopardy for Week 7 vs. the Raiders.

If Nacua is in, he’s the clear-cut top receiver this week. He has the top raw projections at the position, and he’s No. 1 in projected Plus/Minus.

If he’s out, it creates a whole bunch of different scenarios with the Rams. Guys like Kyren Williams and Tyler Higbee get bumps at their positions, while Konata Mumpfield would enter the conversation as a punt play. This is arguably the most important injury situation to monitor this week, so make sure to pay attention right up until inactives are announced.  

Amon-Ra St. Brown ($7,800 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel)

St. Brown isn’t quite Nacua, but he would be an appealing pivot if the Rams’ receiver is unable to go. He’s cooled off a bit after a torrid start to the year, but he’s still seen at least 11 targets in all but one game. He owns a 31% target share overall this season, and he ranks fourth at receiver in PPR points per game.

The Lions have also been an extremely fantasy-friendly offense. They combine an elite offense with one of the worst defenses in football, creating an environment with elite scoring potential each week. All five Lions’ games have seen at least 55 combined points this season, and their current matchup vs. the Packers results in a 53.5-point total.

It’s possible that the Lions’ defense is a bit better following their bye, and safety Brian Branch will be in the lineup for the first time all season. But Detroit’s defense needs much more than just one fix. There should be plenty of points in this spot, and St. Brown ranks second in ceiling projection and third in projected DraftKings Plus/Minus.

Omar Cooper ($4,100 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel)

Cooper is still very early in his rookie season, but he’s proven up to the challenge so far. He lasted just five snaps before getting injured in Week 1, but he had a 30-yard reception in that contest. He returned to the lineup in Week 6 and hit two big milestones, recording his first career touchdown and his first career 100-yard game. Cooper ultimately finished with 25.3 DraftKings points, making him the sixth-highest scorer at receiver last week.

That immediately puts Cooper on the DFS radar at just $4,100. That’s a really cheap price tag for a player with that type of upside, especially in an excellent matchup. The Jets are listed as 4.5-point favorites vs. the Dolphins, who rank 31st in EPA per pass attempt defensively. Cooper ultimately ranks second at the position in projected DraftKings Plus/Minus.

The only caveat is that the Jets could be a bit healthier this week. Adonai Mitchell has practice on a limited basis after missing the past four weeks. His return could hurt Cooper from a snaps standpoint, but the rookie has done enough to secure his spot in the lineup. Even if he loses some routes, he should still be able to provide value at his current salary.

Drake London ($7,500 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel)

London is another potential option near the top of the pricing spectrum, especially on FanDuel. His salary is just $300 more than it is on DraftKings, and he’s a full $1,200 cheaper than St. Brown. It results in a 99% Bargain Rating, and he’s second in projected FanDuel Plus/Minus.

London got off to a slow start this season, but he has unsurprisingly taken off since the return of Michael Penix. Those two players have always had elite chemistry, and London has averaged 9.3 targets, 6.3 receptions, and 117.5 receiving yards across his past four contests. He ultimately owns a 34% target share over that time frame, and the only thing he hasn’t done is find the end zone. Still, London has the eighth-most fantasy points among receivers across the past four weeks.

London will square off with the 49ers this week, who have been strong defensively to start the year. However, this game still has a 49.5-point total, while the 49ers are just 2.5-point road favorites. It suggests a strong game environment with plenty of potential for both sides.

Top NFL DFS Tournament Options

Matthew Golden ($6,000 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel)

While Christian Watson has gotten most of the attention for the Packers, Golden has actually been their No. 1 receiver. He leads the team in target share (26%) and air yards (41%), and he’s just slightly behind Watson in terms of end zone share (37% vs. 42%). The only reason Watson has more fantasy points this season is the touchdown differential: he’s found the paint six times compared to just three for Golden.

Both receivers have some appeal this week vs. the Lions. Detroit’s defense has been a sieve this season, ranking 29th in EPA per pass. They’ve also allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing receivers.

However, the price differential between the two players makes Golden the preferred target. He has the edge in projected Plus/Minus, and he’s third at the position in Sim Labs optimal lineup rate.

Jaylen Waddle ($5,500 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel)

Waddle stands out as a massively undervalued option this week, per Sim Labs. His DraftKings optimal lineup rate checks in at 19.1%, which trails only Nacua at the position. However, he’s projected for a measly 8.47% ownership. That’s the biggest differential at receiver by a wide margin.

It’s easy to see why Waddle could be overlooked. The Broncos’ passing attack has been dreadful to start the year, with Bo Nix posting the worst numbers of his career by a wide margin. He’s averaging fewer air yards per attempt than just about any QB in football, which has seriously hampered his receivers.

That said, the potential for Waddle is still there. He should continue to benefit from Pat Bryant’s absence. Waddle’s target share jumped to 30% in his first game without Patrick; his second-best mark of the entire season. It resulted in just 4.4 fantasy points, but there should be better days ahead.

This week’s matchup vs. the Cardinals could be a breakout spot. Their defense is 30th in EPA per pass attempt, and they’ve allowed the 12th-most fantasy points per game to opposing receivers. Add it all up, and he’s one of the best tournament targets on the slate. 

Zay Flowers ($6,900 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel)

We’re still in limbo regarding Lamar Jackson’s status this week. He was tentatively expected to play last week but failed to log even a single limited practice. The good news is that Jackson has been on the practice field the past two days, which bodes well for his availability vs. the Bengals.

If Jackson is back (and close to 100%), this game could have fireworks. The Bengals and Ravens combined for two electric fantasy showings in 2024-25, with the Ravens scoring at least 35 points in both. The Bengals defense is slightly improved this year, but Jackson and Joe Burrow are still very capable of turning this one into a track meet.

Flowers could thrive in that type of game environment, and he is quietly one of the biggest target hogs in football. He has a 31% target share so far this season, and he’s been targeted on 33% of his routes run. Flowers had at least 21.8 fantasy points in two of his first three games with Jackson in the lineup, so this could be a prime buy-low opportunity. 

Contrarian NFL DFS Tournament Options With Upside

Jalen Coker ($6,100 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel)

Coker has emerged as a legit complement to Tetairoa McMillan this season. In fact, it’s possible that he’s overtaken him in the pecking order. Coker has a target share of at least 28% in each of his three full games this season, including a 35% mark in his return to the lineup last week.

Coker’s matchup vs. the Buccaneers is merely mediocre, but he’s simply too cheap for the volume he’s received to start the year. That’s particularly true on FanDuel. He’s another receiver with a 99% Bargain Rating, and he ranks third at the position in projected Plus/Minus. He’s No. 2 in terms of FanDuel optimal lineup rate, so he’s an excellent option in all formats.

Brandin Cooks ($4,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel)

The 49ers aren’t exactly down to the concession guys at receiver, but it’s pretty darn close. They’re missing arguably their top five options from the start of the year: Mike Evans, De’Zhaun Stribling, Deebo Samuel, Ricky Pearsall, and Demarcus Robinson. It leaves a ragtag group to handle most of the responsibilities vs. the Falcons.

Cooks stands out as the best of the bunch. He has a proven track record at receiver, and while he’s not the same player he was in his prime, he still has potential in an elite 49ers’ offense. He scored a touchdown in Week 5, while his route participation was up to 47% last week. If Christian Kirk is unable to play (currently questionable), Cooks could be on the field for nearly all of the passing plays in Week 7. It makes him an interesting punt play for tournaments, especially at roughly 1% projected ownership.

Ted Hurst ($3,000 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel)

There’s good news and bad news for the Buccaneers this week. The good news is that Baker Mayfield is going to be back in the lineup. While Jalon Daniels was passable as the team’s starter – especially for an undrafted rookie – Mayfield should be a clear upgrade. He hasn’t played his best football to start the year, but Mayfield has historically put up solid numbers in Tampa Bay.

The bad news is that he’ll likely be without his top receiver. Emeka Egbuka is doubtful, and he’s first on the team with a 27% target share. His absence is going to open up plenty of opportunities for the rest of the roster.

Chris Godwin is the biggest remaining name in the receiving corps, but Hurst is slightly more intriguing at the absolute minimum on DraftKings. He’s been targeted on a higher percentage of his routes run than Godwin, and he should become a near every-snap player sans Egbuka. His minimum salary also allows you to jam a ton of studs into your lineup, and that type of roster construction could pay dividends.

Carnell Tate ($5,100 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel)

Tate continues to put up strong underlying metrics only to be sabotaged by his quarterback. Cam Ward is simply not getting the job done. He missed Tate on what should’ve been an easy touchdown last week, and he doesn’t look like an NFL-caliber starter at this point.

Still, volume is king in the NFL, and Tate is getting plenty of it. He has a 27% target share and 48% air yards share, both of which are borderline elite.

Even with Ward struggling, Tate has still displayed solid upside in recent weeks. He has at least 19.0 DraftKings points in two of his past three games, giving him a strong ceiling for his price tag.

Pictured: Amon-Ra St. Brown
Photo Credit: Imagn