There are six games this week with a projected point total of at least 49.5, led by of course the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals (58.5). Week 7 has the potential for a lot of fantasy points to be had. It also features a matchup with the best offense in the league against the best defense in the league (NO @ BAL). Drew Brees needs one touchdown pass for 500 and one win this weekend to have a victory against all 32 NFL teams. There’s an early game (TEN @ LAC) in London, which will get underway at 9:30 ET so get those picks in early if you need to. Oh, I got the Titans right last week… so I should have no problem picking their game correctly in my Week 7 NFL picks!
We’ll keep track of all my picks throughout the season, including my losses! Over time, we’ll find out if you should back me or straight up fade me. Send your complaints to @chrismeaney.
Last week:
SU: 10-5
AS: 8-7
O/U: 9-6
Season total:
SU: 54-37-2
AS: 50-43
O/U: 53-40
Week 7 NFL Picks
Denver Broncos -1 @ Arizona Cardinals (42.5)
SU: Broncos
AS: Broncos
O/U: Under
The Denver Broncos and the Arizona Cardinals are two of the lowest scoring teams in the league. In fact, Arizona ranks in the bottom two in points, yards, passing yards and rushing yards per game. They have allowed the second-most rushing yards per game, while the Broncos have allowed the most. Denver has allowed a 200-yard rusher in back-to-back games, and David Johnson has looked much better of late. He’s at least getting the majority of the snaps and touches with a nice looking fantasy schedule ahead. Von Miller says he’s going to kick some ass and I believe him. Plus, I think Denver is better overall. That’s not saying much.
Tennessee Titans @ Los Angeles Chargers -6.5 (45)
SU: Chargers
AS: Chargers
O/U: Under
The Los Angeles Chargers rank inside the Top 10 in yards, passing yards, rushing yards and points per game. The Tennessee Titans put up a zero last week and rank inside the bottom three in yards, passing yards and points per game. The Chargers are really good and the Titans are not. I got them right last week, so it’s smooth sailing from here…
Buffalo Bills @ Indianapolis Colts -7.5 (43.5)
SU: Colts
AS: Bills
O/U: Under
Josh Allen is out and so is Nathan Peterman, which means Derek Anderson will start this week. Buffalo ranks last in passing yards and points per game. Anderson doesn’t have to do much to improve on Buffalo’s second-lowest passing yards per game mark. It’s their defense that keeps them in games.
Carolina Panthers @ Philadelphia Eagles -4.5 (45)
SU: Eagles
AS: Panthers
O/U: Over
The Philadelphia Eagles looked much better on offense last week and that should carry over against this Carolina Panthers defense. Look for Alshon Jeffery and Zach Ertz to continue to be productive, but the secondary still remains an issue and they’ll have their hands-full with Christian McCaffrey.
Cleveland Brown @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers -3.5 (50.5)
SU: Buccaneers
AS: Browns
O/U: Over
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense is so brutal, where I don’t feel great laying more than three points. Cleveland has struggled on offense of late, but they are coming off games against the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers. Baker Mayfield has a much better matchup as the Buccaneers have allowed the most yards and points per game. Cleveland also has some players on defense to keep this close.
Detroit Lions -3 @ Miami Dolphins (46.5)
SU: Lions
AS: Lions
O/U: Over
This is a tough game for me to call as I’ve been wrong about the Miami Dolphins for most of the year. I would still to this day, pick the Chicago Bears against Brock Osweiler. Detroit has the better QB, better weapons and are coming off a bye. Brocktober… really? We are not making that a thing.
Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars -5 (41.5)
SU: Jaguars
AS: Texans
O/U: Under
The Jacksonville Jaguars return home after getting spanked in back-to-back road games where their defense and offense looked out of sync. Houston has been very strong against the run and are starting to get after the QB, but they have also looked out of sync on the offensive side of the ball. Nobody has been hit more than Deshaun Watson and he has a pick in every game. For that alone, I’ll lean with the best defense…but I expect a close low-scoring game.
Minnesota Vikings -3.5 @ New York Jets (46)
SU: Vikings
AS: Vikings
O/U: Under
The Minnesota Vikings have surprised me this season with some of their losses and this would be another one if they failed to get it done against the New York Jets. The Jets will be without Quincy Enunwa and potentially Robby Anderson. Minnesota has rolled on offense all season long and should get Dalvin Cook back this week. I feel pretty confident with the Vikings here, but I’ve been wrong before…
New England Patriots -2.5 @ Chicago Bears (48.5)
SU: Patriots
AS: Patriots
O/U: Over
I fully expect the Chicago Bears to respond on defense after getting picked apart by Brock Osweiler last week. Overall, they have been strong defensively and Mitch Trubisky has moved the ball nicely, but they haven’t have a lot of tough competition. Tom Brady and this New England Patriots offense has cruised in soft matchups over the last three weeks which is a scary thing. I jumped on the +3.5 earlier in the week, but I’ll lean Pats by three here, which is the line as of Thursday.
New Orleans Saints @ Baltimore Ravens -2.5 (50)
SU: Ravens
AS: Ravens
O/U: Under
The Baltimore Ravens are the only team in the league Drew Brees has not beat. He’s 0-4 against them and will be in tough against the league’s best defense. New Orleans leads the league in points per game, but they rank third worst against the pass, according to Football Outsiders. Baltimore has allowed the fewest yards and points per game, to go along with the second-fewest passing yards per game and third-fewest rushing yards per game. Joe Flacco has always had himself a decent defense, but now he has weapons in the passing game to keep up.
Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins -2 (41.5)
SU: Cowboys
AS: Cowboys
O/U: Over
Both of these teams surprised me last week with wins, and overall I think the Dallas Cowboys are better. The have the best player in this game in Ezekiel Elliott and their defense has been strong.
Los Angeles Rams -9.5 @ San Francisco 49ers (52)
SU: Rams
AS: Rams
O/U: Over
The Los Angeles Rams opened up as 11.5 road favorites, but that line has dropped after seeing the San Francisco 49ers keep pace with the Green Bay Packers. There’s a good chance the Packers are just overrated, which is not the case with the Rams, even without Cooper Kupp.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs -6 (58)
SU: Chiefs
AS: Bengals
O/U: Over
No surprise this is the highest total of the week. The Kansas City Chiefs have allowed more passing yards (2,042) i na six game stretch than any team since 1940. We know they can score, and we know Andy Dalton has the weapons to put some points on the board.
New York Giants @ Atlanta Falcons -4.5 (54.5)
SU: Falcons
AS: Giants
O/U: Over
The Atlanta Falcons opened up as 6.5 home favorites, which I thought was really high given it’s the New York Giants. It’s since dropped, but still seems slightly high. Maybe I’m giving the Giants too much credit, but this is more so on the fact the Flacons defense is awful and will have a hard time slowing down Saquon Barkley. Falcons in a close one.
Like these Week 7 NFL Picks? Get more Chris Meaney on his new podcast, By Any Means. Each week he’ll bring in guests from around the industry to break down all the fantasy news you need to know for your march to the championship.