Christian McCaffrey is my starting point at $7,600. Woody Marks is the salary relief that makes the expensive receivers fit. And Green Bay–Detroit is the game I want most exposure to, with Jordan Love offering a particularly useful way in at $6,000.

Availability and backfield context: Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel are out, strengthening McCaffrey and Kittle. David Montgomery remains out, and Jawhar Jordan’s move to the practice-squad injured list removes another Houston backfield option. That supports Marks without assigning him every available touch. Jordan roster move.

Late inactive-list update: Puka Nacua is active. His availability is confirmed, but an unrestricted workload is not. NFL final inactives.

Our Week 7 DraftKings quick card

Our top plays by position, followed by the values, stacks and alternatives that give those picks a purpose. These are choices to build around, not one complete lineup.

Position	Our top plays	The case
QB	Jordan Love $6,000 Jared Goff $6,800	Love is our preferred entry into Green Bay–Detroit. Goff is the alternative when betting on Detroit’s passing touchdowns.
RB	Christian McCaffrey $7,600 Woody Marks $5,600	McCaffrey has rushing and receiving paths with Evans and Samuel out. Marks offers salary relief with Montgomery out.
WR	Amon-Ra St. Brown $7,800 Matthew Golden $6,000	St. Brown is the receiver to build around. Golden is our preferred Love pairing at a $1,000 discount from Watson.
TE	George Kittle $5,700 Dalton Schultz $3,600	Kittle benefits from San Francisco’s missing receivers, though Kirk is back. Schultz is the cheaper route and carries no game designation.
DST	Vikings $3,500 Titans $2,600	Minnesota has the stronger sack/interception case; Tennessee saves $900 against a Cleveland offense that has allowed 24 sacks.

Our favorite value and best spend-ups

Favorite value: Chris Godwin Jr., $4,300. He drew eight targets last week, Egbuka is out and Godwin has no game designation. Mayfield is active and will start, resolving the quarterback availability question without guaranteeing where his targets go. Preferred salary-saving RB: Woody Marks, $5,600. He has 15 carries in each of Houston’s past two games, and Montgomery is out. That is actual recent involvement at a manageable price, not a promise that Marks gets every touch. Recent target and carry totals.

Best spend-ups: Jahmyr Gibbs, $9,800, and Amon-Ra St. Brown, $7,800. Gibbs has caught four to seven passes in each of his five games, giving him a route beyond rushing touchdowns. St. Brown is our preferred way to pay for Detroit’s receiving production. Gibbs costs $2,200 more than McCaffrey, so the extra salary has to fit without hollowing out the receivers.

Our favorite environment and secondary stack interests

First choice: Green Bay–Detroit. Love’s main receivers have no game designation, and Golden, Watson and Kraft give us several ways to pair him with St. Brown on the other side. Goff–St. Brown–LaPorta offers the reverse build. Detroit’s pass rush and Gibbs taking the touchdowns are the main ways a passing stack disappoints.

Secondary interest: San Francisco–Atlanta. McCaffrey’s two-way role gives us an opponent for a cheaper Falcons quarterback stack. London has 11 and 10 targets in his last two games, but San Francisco is a difficult matchup rather than an automatic shootout. Cincinnati–Baltimore is a more expensive secondary option: the Bengals’ double stack has appeal, but Lamar is out and Huntley starts, adding uncertainty to Baltimore’s side.

Our favorite stack and favorite value stack

Favorite stack: Love + Golden, $12,000. Golden saves $1,000 versus Watson and is our preferred way into the Packers’ receiving production. Add Kraft for $4,700 if building a double stack, taking that trio to $16,700. St. Brown is the preferred opposing receiver: the Love–Golden–St. Brown group costs $19,800, or $24,500 with Kraft included.
Favorite value stack: Michael Penix Jr. + Kyle Pitts Sr., $9,300. This is a two-player QB–TE pairing, not a full double stack. Pitts has five catches in each of Atlanta’s last two games, on six and seven targets, so the price comes with real involvement. McCaffrey on the other side makes a three-player group costing $16,900. London is the stronger-volume receiver to add if salary allows, not a mandatory part of the budget version. The countercase matters: San Francisco has allowed the fourth-fewest DraftKings points per game to opposing tight ends. Those are whole-position totals, not a Pitts forecast. Recent receiving usage · Matchup data.

Our favorite non-chalk plays

Michael Penix Jr., $5,300, and Kyle Pitts Sr., $4,000. The pre-inactives CTS forecast put Penix around 3% and Pitts around 5% for large-field DraftKings Main GPPs, as of 12:47 a.m. ET on October 25. Those are historical individual estimates, not refreshed current ownership, actual contest ownership or the frequency of the two-player stack. We like the recent passing connection behind the budget pair: Pitts caught five passes from Penix in each of the last two games. San Francisco’s difficult matchup remains the reason this can fail; low ownership alone does not make either a strong play. Estimated ownership and conditions.

Early inactive-list update: Breece Hall and Kene Nwangwu are inactive. Braelon Allen has a clearer route to work, but no exact touch count is established. Baker Mayfield will start; Christian Kirk is available following his activation and the reported final 49ers inactive list; Tank Dell is active. Dell’s reported limited-snap expectation still matters. Lamar remains out and Huntley starts. Puka is now confirmed active; his workload is not guaranteed. Jets final inactives · Mayfield confirmation · Houston final inactives.

Running backs: start with McCaffrey

Christian McCaffrey, $7,600

The appeal is how many different game scripts can work. A San Francisco lead creates rushing opportunities. A competitive game keeps his receiving role valuable in DraftKings’ full-PPR scoring. Evans and Samuel being out also leaves fewer established options for Brock Purdy to lean on. Christian Kirk was activated Saturday and his questionable designation was removed. His return adds target competition; it does not establish a snap count. San Francisco’s Saturday roster update supersedes Kirk’s Friday designation.

I like McCaffrey as a standalone play and alongside Kittle. That pairing does not require a huge Purdy passing game to work. The drawback is that it concentrates two positions in one offense; if Atlanta controls possession or San Francisco struggles to finish drives, both can disappoint together. I would rather accept that risk than force an unproven cheap 49ers receiver into every lineup.

The reason not to get carried away: McCaffrey has carried between 10 and 16 times in every game this season. Last Monday’s nine catches were his high, not his usual receiving total. Seven rushing touchdowns have boosted his results, and we should not simply project that scoring rate forward. I still like the price and receiving paths, but I am buying a versatile role, not assuming 25 carries or another two-touchdown game. McCaffrey’s game log.

Woody Marks, $5,600

Montgomery’s groin injury takes him out of the game. That gives Marks a better opportunity, not a promise of every touch. Houston can still use its other backs, and Marks has not been an especially efficient runner: the team’s current statistics show 58 carries for 205 yards. The buy is the combination of price and available work, with receiving production giving him another route to a useful score. Houston injury report; Texans statistics.

Marks fits the balanced build particularly well. Paying $5,600 instead of buying two premium backs keeps a real receiver in the third WR spot. In tournaments, I would not automatically pair him with the entire Houston passing game. There are only so many touchdowns to distribute.

There is more than one game behind the role case: Marks had 15 carries in each of the past two games, with four catches and then two. He did not score in either. That keeps expectations grounded. The extra opportunity is useful at $5,600, but it can still produce a modest result if Houston finishes through its receivers. Marks’ game log.

A midrange alternative: Bucky Irving, $6,100

Irving played 85% of Tampa Bay’s offensive snaps in Week 6, up from 54% in Week 5. That makes him worth comparing with Marks, but the workload did not suddenly explode: he had 21 carries and three targets in Week 5, then 19 carries and three targets in Week 6. The appeal is staying on the field, not an invented surge in touches. I still prefer Marks for the $500 savings; Irving is the alternative when you want a different backfield without paying for Gibbs. Recent usage · Offensive snaps.

Jahmyr Gibbs, $9,800

Gibbs is the ceiling purchase. Green Bay has ruled Franklin out, leaving another adjustment in a linebacker group already without Edgerrin Cooper. That matters for a back who can threaten a defense as both a runner and a receiver. Gibbs has caught four to seven passes in each of his five games, including six catches in the Buffalo loss and four in the Carolina loss. That receiving route means he does not need a Detroit blowout to contribute. Official game log. The price is the problem, not the talent. He costs $2,200 more than McCaffrey. If that difference turns your third receiver into a player who barely sees the field, the expensive back may make the whole lineup worse. Green Bay’s Friday report.

Quarterbacks: four stacks worth building around

For the deeper tournament decisions, see our Week 7 GPP picks, pivots and stacks.

Stack	Players	Total	Left for five spots
My preferred value route	Love $6,000 + Matthew Golden $6,000 + Tucker Kraft $4,700 + St. Brown $7,800	$24,500	$25,500
Detroit passing ceiling	Jared Goff $6,800 + St. Brown $7,800 + Sam LaPorta $4,800 + Christian Watson $7,000	$26,400	$23,600
Cincinnati double stack	Joe Burrow $6,900 + Ja’Marr Chase $8,100 + Tee Higgins $6,600 + Zay Flowers $6,900	$28,500	$21,500
Lower-cost Atlanta game stack	Michael Penix Jr. $5,300 + Drake London $7,500 + Kyle Pitts $4,000 + McCaffrey $7,600	$24,400	$25,600

1. Love with Golden or Kraft

Love, Watson, Golden and Savion Williams all finished the week without a game designation. That removes a lot of the uncertainty from the Packers’ side. Golden gives us a $1,000 discount from Watson. Green Bay’s statistics show 30 catches and 501 yards for Golden versus 29 catches and 538 yards for Watson. Watson has the more explosive touchdown production, but the receiving involvement is close enough that I like taking the savings. Kraft is the other way to stay attached to Love without paying for both expensive wideouts. Packers statistics.

The full double stack is a tournament construction. For a more balanced lineup, Love–Golden with St. Brown coming back is enough. We do not need to fill four slots from the same game just because we like it.

Detroit’s own matchup analysis highlights the real battle: its front has to hurry Love before the deep routes develop. The Lions used more man coverage in their last game, and team writer Tim Twentyman expects that approach could continue. That is an opportunity for Golden and Watson to win individual matchups, but also a warning against treating the matchup as automatic. If the rush wins, the low-percentage deep attempts can leave a stack with very little underneath production. Detroit’s matchup analysis.

2. Goff with St. Brown and LaPorta

This is the bet that Detroit’s touchdowns come through the air. LaPorta gives the stack a different shape than chasing every expensive receiver. He is second on Detroit’s current receiving-yardage table, behind St. Brown. The obvious downside is Gibbs doing the scoring on the ground. That is why I prefer choosing a clear Detroit story rather than paying for Goff, two receivers and Gibbs all together. Lions statistics.

3. Burrow with Chase and Higgins

Baltimore will be without safety Jaylinn Hawkins and edge rusher Tavius Robinson. Those absences help the case for the Bengals’ passing attack, although they do not erase the rest of the Ravens defense. The expensive double stack needs a serious passing day, not merely a comfortable Cincinnati win. Flowers is my preferred bring-back because he leads Baltimore’s receiving production. Lamar Jackson is out, and Tyler Huntley will make his third straight start. Flowers’ recent target volume therefore came with Huntley, but Baltimore’s ability to sustain a high-scoring game remains the downside. Saturday quarterback update. Ravens injury report; Ravens statistics.

4. Penix with London and Pitts

Why London belongs in the build: He drew 11 targets in Week 5 and 10 in Week 6. We are buying a receiver Atlanta repeatedly looks for, not just attaching any name to a cheap quarterback. There is resistance: San Francisco has allowed the tenth-fewest DraftKings points per game to opposing wide receivers through six games. That is the whole position group, not London’s projection. I want his concentrated role if Atlanta has to answer; I do not need to call this an easy matchup. Target trends · Season matchup data.

This build lets you keep McCaffrey while paying less for the quarterback. It works if Atlanta has to answer San Francisco through the air. Pitts at exactly $4,000 is useful, but he is not a free square: the stack needs enough passing production to support both him and London. I like it as an alternative to the more obvious Detroit constructions, not as a claim that the Falcons are guaranteed to play fast or throw a particular number of times.

Wide receiver and tight end values

Need a stricter salary cut? Our nine DraftKings plays under $4,000 compare the cheapest options and their trade-offs.

Player	Salary	Best use	Main drawback
Chris Godwin Jr.	$4,300	A midrange WR with Egbuka out	Mayfield is active, but targets still have to reach Godwin
Dalton Schultz	$3,600	Salary relief at tight end	Houston has multiple receiving options
Mark Andrews	$3,900	A Baltimore bring-back without Flowers’ price	Huntley-led passing game and touchdown competition
Cade Otton	$3,100	A cheap attachment to Tampa Bay’s passing game	His current production has not included a touchdown
Konata Mumpfield	$3,200	A Rams tournament piece; Puka is active	Added opportunity does not ensure a full-time role

Schultz was a full participant Friday with no game designation. Tampa Bay’s final report confirms Mayfield will start, with Godwin available and Egbuka inactive. Otton is cheaper than Godwin, but those are different bets: I prefer Godwin when the extra $1,200 fits. Buccaneers injury report.

I am backing away from automatically using the cheap Baltimore rookies. Rashod Bateman and Matt Hibner have no game designation. Ja’Kobi Lane and Josh Cuevas can still contribute, but last week’s opportunity should not be copied straight into this week’s lineup. Tank Dell is active after Saturday’s activation. Aaron Wilson reported Saturday that Dell was slated for limited snaps, but no exact snap cap is established. His return still adds competition for Houston’s cheap receivers. Houston final inactives.

DST: Vikings or Titans?

Vikings DST, $3,500

Minnesota is the premium defense worth making room for. The Vikings have 17 sacks and six interceptions, while Indianapolis has surrendered 15 sacks and Daniel Jones has thrown six picks. That gives this matchup a path to points without needing a defensive touchdown. Tyler Warren being ruled out also removes an important outlet. The downside is the salary and Jonathan Taylor: his seven rushing touchdowns are a reminder that Indianapolis can still finish drives. If Taylor keeps the Colts ahead of the chains, sack opportunities shrink. I prefer Minnesota when the extra $900 over Tennessee does not weaken another position.

Team statistics · Matchup evidence · Availability report

Titans DST, $2,600

Tennessee is my cheaper route to a pass rush. Cleveland has allowed 24 sacks, and the Titans just produced six sacks and three takeaways against Indianapolis. That combination makes $2,600 appealing when spending at receiver or tight end. The caution is that last week was a spike: those three takeaways exceeded Tennessee’s total from its first five games, and Deshaun Watson has thrown only two interceptions this season. Safeties Tony Adams and Kevin Winston Jr. are not on Tennessee’s final inactive list. Their availability removes the Friday designation uncertainty, not the risk that last week’s defensive scoring was an outlier. Titans final inactives. I’m buying the chance to pressure Watson at a modest salary, not projecting another blocked-punt touchdown or a repeat of that haul.

Team statistics · Matchup evidence · Availability report · Friday injury report

Saturday, October 24: The Giants downgraded Theo Johnson and Jevón Holland to out. Johnson’s absence supports keeping Isaiah Likely in the Houston-game discussion, but it does not make every missing target his. Indianapolis also has Tyler Warren ruled out; the cheap Colts tight ends remain secondary options rather than automatic replacements. Giants update · Colts report.

Injury decisions that can change the build

Situation	Current status	My adjustment
Puka Nacua, $8,400	ACTIVE	Available to play; active status does not establish an unrestricted workload. NFL final inactives.
Lamar Jackson, $6,700	OUT; ruled out Saturday	Remove Jackson from builds. Tyler Huntley will start; do not assume a replacement workload or point total.
Mike Evans / Deebo Samuel	Out	Favor McCaffrey and Kittle over guessing the replacement receiver.
Breece Hall, $6,000	INACTIVE	Remove Hall from lineups. Kene Nwangwu is also inactive, strengthening Braelon Allen’s opportunity without guaranteeing every touch.
Jonah Coleman	ACTIVE after Saturday activation	His availability is confirmed, but an exact workload is not. Do not treat Denver’s backfield split as settled. Broncos final inactives.

Rams, Jets and Broncos official reports support those designations. Puka’s game starts at 4:25 p.m. ET, so use the later WR/FLEX spots for him and preserve enough salary for a replacement. A doubtful late swap is not rescued by having spent every dollar earlier.

A usable late-swap plan for Puka

If you roster Puka at $8,400, the Packers–Lions receivers give you alternatives in the same 4:25 p.m. ET window. Decide which one fits before the early games lock, and check that you have not already used him elsewhere in the lineup.

Replacement	Salary	Money freed	My preference
Amon-Ra St. Brown	$7,800	$600	First choice if he is not already in your lineup.
Christian Watson	$7,000	$1,400	More of an explosive-play swing, especially with Love.
Matthew Golden	$6,000	$2,400	Useful when the savings can improve another unlocked position.

The leftover salary only helps if you still have another player you can change. An early-game player cannot be upgraded after his game starts. If everything else is locked, take the replacement you prefer and accept the unused money. Do not downgrade the receiver just to feel clever about leaving salary.

Keeping a late player in FLEX preserves more position choices, but these three are all WR-eligible. Their appeal here is that the salary and kickoff time work, not an assumption that any of them replaces Puka’s exact production.

How I would build it

Balanced entry: Start McCaffrey and Marks. Add Love with one Packers receiver, then St. Brown on the other side. Choose Kittle if the remaining receiver prices work; Schultz is the easier salary release. Spend on actual involvement before paying extra for a defense.

Tournament entry: Pick one of the double stacks above and commit to its scoring story. The Burrow build is expensive enough that it needs disciplined value choices. The Penix build has more room for premium backs. Gibbs can be a powerful alternative to the McCaffrey-centered construction, but I would not force both at the expense of three credible receivers.

What I am avoiding: A pile of minimum-salary receivers whose appeal depends on an injury that has already cleared; Puka without a late-swap plan; and a lineup with no connection between its quarterback and pass catchers. You can be different without making the lineup fragile.

See the NFL Research Center for the latest slate tools and related coverage. Recheck Sunday’s inactives before the 1 p.m. ET games and again before the late window.

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