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Week 7: Deep Sleepers and DFS Bargains

It’s time for another TGIF addition of Deep Sleepers and DFS Bargains. I made good on two of my five picks (Marcus Mariota and Brandon LaFell) last week. Let’s try to improve on that uncover some potential diamonds in the rough heading into Week 7.

To review… all of these players are owned in less than 60 percent of Yahoo leagues (at time of writing) and/or are a significant value in our daily game. They’re not the obvious picks, and they’re not without their risks, but that’s why they’re so cheap and available! I’d never advocate taking all of these guys, but rather utilizing them if a manager were in a pinch at a position or aiming to build a “stars and scrubs” sort of DFS lineup.

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Alex Smith, QB, Kansas City Chiefs ($31)
Coming off of a bye and facing the Raiders, many expected more from Smith in Week 6. While his 224 yards and 0 TDs completely underwhelmed, it is worth noting that he completed 86.4 percent of his passes (the third-highest completion rating for the week) and averaged a respectable 10.2 YPA. This week he’ll face a Saints defense that’s allowing a league-high 335.5 passing yards per game and has only managed eight sacks on the season. With Jamaal Charles shaking off rust and becoming more fully integrated into the passing game, Smith’s production figures to get a significant bump.

Bonus: If Smith doesn’t offer enough upside, consider the electric Tyreek Hill ($10). Far from an obvious choice, Hill possesses cheetah-like speed, which means he’s almost always one play away from taking it to the house. Offering additional value on special teams, Week 7 could be a breakout for the flyer.

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Can backup RB Mike Gillislee keep the Bills ground game going? (Getty Images)
Can backup RB Mike Gillislee keep the Bills ground game going? (Getty Images)

Mike Gillislee, RB, Buffalo Bills ($12)
Gillislee’s ownership skyrocketed moments after news broke on Thursday that LeSean McCoy would be inactive come Sunday. Savvy owners, however, noted Gillislee’s recent production, Shady’s tweaked hammy, and the Bills’ Week 8 opponent (spoiler alert: it’s the Patriots) and pounced early. Shockingly still available in 60 percent of Yahoo leagues, Gillislee is a must-add and must-play prospect in Week 7.

Scoring in back-to-back outings, Gillislee is expected to sub in for the ailing McCoy. It should come as no surprise that Rex Ryan wants his team’s most effective offensive weapon fresh for a rematch against his personal tormentor, Bill Belichick, next week. Gillislee, who has averaged over 6.3 YPC over his last nine games, has looked good as the team’s RB2 and figures to roll against the Dolphins’ 31st-ranked run defense. In an offense that’s racked up the fifth-most rushing attempts so far this season, Gillislee’s volume in tandem with his nose for the end zone make him a top-15 play this weekend.

[Week 7 rankings: Overall | FLEX | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K]

Mike Davis, RB, San Francisco 49ers ($10)
Carlos Hyde is out Sunday, and Chip Kelly plans to use a committee to replace him. While Shaun Draughn was believed to be the favorite for backup duties, it was Davis who picked up the slack after Hyde exited Week 6. Out-snapping Draughn by a margin of 31 percent, Davis managed five totes and received three looks in the passing game (Draughn had just one carry and one target).

In an offense that’s racked up the second-most rushing attempts in the league, Davis figures to be leaned upon. His matchup vs. the Bucs is additionally favorable, as Tampa Bay has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Since Hyde is only expected to miss one game, Davis’ appeal isn’t long-term, but he’s a solid spot start at a scorched earth position.

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Ricardo Louis, WR, Cleveland Browns ($10)
Much like Cameron Meredith, Louis is an athletic freak who’s been buried on the team’s depth chart. However, with Corey Coleman still on the shelf and Terrell Pryor nursing a sore hammy, the Auburn product figures to start in Week 7. With good size (6-foot-2, 213 pounds), 4.4 speed, and a 38-inch vertical, Louis impresses after the catch and has downfield potential.

Showing off those measurable in the Browns’ two-point loss to the Titans last Sunday, Louis received his highest snap (75.4%) and target share (21.4%) of the season. Hauling in five of nine balls for 65 yards, the rookie closed out Week 6 as a top-30 WR play in PPR formats. His matchup at Cincinnati is solid, as he’ll he see some combination of Adam Jones and Dre Kirkpatrick, both of whom are allowing over 11 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts.

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Vernon Davis, TE, Washington Redskins ($12)
Suffering his sixth concussion in Week 5, Jordan Reed was sidelined last Sunday. In his stead, Davis caught two of four balls for 50 yards and a score. While his looks were not exactly plentiful, it is worth nothing that 50 percent of them were in the red area of the field, which is ideal for a position so dependent on TD production.

With Reed expected to sit again in Week 7, Davis continues to offer streaming appeal, especially considering his matchup. Set to do battle in Detroit, the Lions have are allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to the position and have given up a whopping seven TDs to opposing tight ends. Available in over 90 percent of Yahoo leagues, Davis is solid pickup/play not just for Reed owners, but for fantasy managers without Greg Olsen and/or Jason Witten, both of whom are on bye this week.

Follow Liz on Twitter @LizLoza_FF.