Lamar Miller Dolphins 2015
Dolphins running back Lamar Miller stands out as one of five top value buys in daily or weekly fantasy football leagues during Week 7. Getty Images

Experienced or even novice daily fantasy football (DFS) players know full well the trick to winning any game is maximizing your salary cap with undervalued players. Many players will employ a strategy heavy on the more reliable running backs like Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell or Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson, and take more risks at wide receiver with some undervalued assets like Baltimore’s Steve Smith.

But for the more daring DFS players, who maybe like to take bigger risks across their entire lineup, we’ve broken down five running backs and five wide receivers that stand out as value buys across both FanDuel and DraftKings’ formats with favorable matchups in Week 7.

All salary values are drawn from FantasyPros.com with a $60,000 FanDuel budget and a $50,000 DraftKings’ budget.

RBs

Lamar Miller, Dolphins (FanDuel $6,700; DraftKings $4,600)

This could be the last week Miller’s salary hovers just above or below 10 percent of your budget no matter the platform. Coming off a season-high 19 touches for 113 yards, Miami’s figured out they should be using Miller far more rather than giving Ryan Tannehill more chances to turn the ball over. Next up is a Texans D allowing 18 points a game to opposing running backs.

LeSean McCoy, Bills (FanDuel $7,700; DraftKings $5,500)

Perhaps finally healthy, McCoy’s coming off his best game as a Bill with 90 yards and a score versus a middling Bengals rushing D. He’s a slightly better deal on Draftkings at 11 percent of your budget than Fanduel’s at 12.8 percent. In Week 7, he meets a porous Jaguars rushing D allowing 21.2 points per game to opposing running backs.

David Johnson, Cardinals (FanDuel $5,300; DraftKings $3,500)

Chris Johnson must be looking over his shoulder at David Johnson, who could be a solid RB2 beside Miller or McCoy in Week 7. Why? Because while the Ravens have only allowed two rushing touchdowns all season, opposing running backs have gathered 32 receptions for 305 yards against them, one of the top 10-worst marks in the NFL. The rookie Johnson has tallied 10 receptions off 18 targets, compared to five catches off eight targets for the veteran Johnson.

Shane Vereen, Giants (FanDuel $5,600; DraftKings $4,300)

Facing a Cowboys offense that’s surrendering 23.7 points per week to opposing running backs, and mixed with a depleted Giants receiving corps, Vereen should garner somewhere around the eight targets he got in Week 5, as opposed to the four targets for one reception in Week 6.

Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks (FanDuel $8,200; DraftKings $6,900)

No matter how hard they try or how much they trade away, the Seahawks still field a one-dimensional offense and should feed Lynch a ton more now that he’s healthy. In Week 7, Lynch draws a rival 49ers squad that he’s burned for a career-best 882 yards and six touchdowns over 10 games.

WRs

T.Y. Hilton, Colts (FanDuel $7,700; DraftKings $6,500)

Because he caught his first touchdown pass of the season in Week 6 and Andrew Luck’s shoulder, it makes sense Hilton’s way back as the 11th most-expensive receiver on both FanDuel and DraftKings. It won’t be that way after Hilton torches New Orleans’ No. 25 ranked secondary in Week 7.

Jarvis Landry, Dolphins (FanDuel $7,100; DraftKings $6,200)

Maybe the biggest steal of the week, considering Landry’s the 14th most-expensive receiver on FanDuel and 18th most-expensive on DraftKings. Landry hasn’t recorded a receiving touchdown yet this season, but faces a Texans secondary that’s allowed 12 passing touchdowns, tied for fourth-worst in the NFL.

Allen Robinson (FanDuel $7,000; DraftKings $6,400)

Ranking second in the league with 11 receptions for 20 or more yards and tied for fourth with five touchdowns, Robinson will next lineup versus a banged up Bills secondary that’s allowed 13 receiving touchdowns this season.

Brandin Cooks, Saints (FanDuel $6,700; DraftKings $5,500)

Expect a shootout between Drew Brees and Luck in Week 7, with Hilton and Cooks the benefactors. The yards (363) aren’t impressive, but Cook’s still Brees top target with 45 looks his way, seven more than Willie Snead. With his speed, Cooks should take advantage of an Indy secondary that’s allowed 27 receptions for 20 or more yards, the worst in the NFL. Plus, Brees is expected to round back into form.

John Brown, Cardinals (FanDuel $6,700; DraftKings $5,500)

Brown set a new career-high with 196 yards off 14 targets in Week 6, and should burn a Ravens secondary that’s coughing up 30 points a game to opposing receivers, second worst in fantasy.