FanDuel Studs to Target in Week 7

Devonta Freeman

FanDuel Price: $8,700
numberFire Projected Points: 18.86

While Devonta Freeman might seem like an obvious choice to grace this list, it's worth taking a look at how good he's been this season. Doing so will essentially prove him to be a must-start in cash games until proven otherwise.

On the ground, Freeman's been light years ahead of his cohorts in terms of efficiency, rocking a 0.23 Rushing NEP per rush. What that means in real terms is that he's essentially added a point above his teams overall point expectation every four times he's rushed the ball. That's nuts. For reference, the average running back over the past three years has sat right around -0.02 Rushing NEP per rush.

In terms of volume, Freeman's 24.30 Rushing NEP more than doubles the second best running back by the same metric in Giovani Bernard. Factoring in his Reception NEP of 23.59, also league-leading among running backs, Freeman has added 23 more points to his team's expected point total than any other running back in the league, with Dion Lewis sitting in a distant second.

With no fewer than 149 total yards from scrimmage and 5 catches in the past four games, and 9 total touchdowns in that same window, not playing Freeman is about the riskiest thing you can do in your cash game lineup construction right now. This is amplified by the matchup he gets this weekend going against the Titans, who are currently ranked 31st against the rush per our metrics.

With an over/under of 48 and the Falcons expected to be leading based on the 4.5-point spread, there could be a lot of time dedicated to milking the clock and feeding Freeman the rock at will. Don't get crazy and try to fade Freeman in such an obvious matchup. Differentiating your lineup in cash games shouldn't really be a concern, and there are much better ways to do so in tournaments. Get Freeman in your lineups as your first move.