DFS: The Slate, Part II - A Detailed Look at the Week 7 Schedule

Here's a breakdown of Sunday's early slate of games (London game excluded; click here for Part I; all times ET):

Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers, 4:05 p.m.

Line: Chargers -3 1/2 (opened at -5)
O/U: 48 (opened at 47)
Weather: Partly cloudy, 82 F; NW wind @ 6 mph

Raiders QB Derek Carr carries risk in a road game at San Diego, but should bounce back from back-to-back rough outings; take a shot in GPPs. ... RB Latavius Murray has also had two straight bad games, but should feast against a Chargers defense allowing a whopping 5.4 YPC. If you've been waiting for a Murray breakout game, this could be it. ... WRs Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree are Nos. 1 and 1a in the Oakland passing game, with Cooper carrying the higher ceiling; the floors are close, making the lower-priced Crabtree a better cash-game option and Cooper the GPP choice. ... Chargers QB Philip Rivers has thrown for more than 350 yards in three straight games, but is priced just aggressively enough to negate his worth in tournaments; spend up in cash games for the high floor. ... RB Danny Woodhead is the player to trust in the San Diego backfield, but his upside is limited with so many mouths to feed; stick to using him in cash games as a form of salary relief. ... WR Keenan Allen is the ultimate GPP option; when he thrives, he's one of the top receivers in football - and when he crashes, he crashes hard. ... TE Antonio Gates is a great option in both formats - if he plays; if injury forces him out, look to Ladarius Green as a terrific sleeper.

Prediction: Chargers 27, Raiders 24
DFS MVP: Latavius Murray

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, 4:25 p.m.

Line: Giants -3 (opened at -5)
O/U: 44 1/2 (opened at 45 1/2)
Weather: Partly cloudy, 66 F; NW wind @ 9 mph

Like Brandon Weeden before him, new Cowboys starting QB Matt Cassel is not a good DFS choice. There's a reason he was No. 3 on the depth chart to start the season. ... RB Julius Randle's starting role is reportedly in jeopardy, though he has been tabbed to get the bulk of the work this week according to the Dallas coaching staff. He's hard to trust with Christine Michael lurking, but should still hold some value for at least one more week. ... Michael has been a waiver-wire darling in full-season leagues, but is a GPP-only play until we see a larger role in the offense. ... With WR Dez Bryant sitting out another week, TE Jason Witten is the only pass catcher worth rostering; he's a decent play in all formats due to expected volume. ... Giants QB Eli Manning has only hit value once - and it took a 41-of-54 performance against lowly San Francisco to get there. He's not a recommended play despite a plus matchup. ... No New York running back has seized a starting role through six weeks; stay away in DFS. ... Odell Beckham remains one of the few matchup-proof receivers in football; his price will always be an issue, but a home game against Dallas is one of those situations where you have to swallow hard and roster him in all formats. ... Rueben Randle is banged up, and has limited upside; stay away.

Prediction: Giants 24, Cowboys 20
DFS MVP: Odell Beckham Jr.

Philadelphia Eagles at Carolina Panthers, 8:30 p.m.

Line: Panthers -3 (opened at -3 1/2)
O/U: 45 (opened at 46 1/2)
Weather: Chance of rain, 67 F; no wind

Facing an ideal matchup a week ago against the visiting Giants, Eagles QB Sam Bradford laid an egg; if he can't excel there, he certainly can't be trusted on the road against a formidable Panthers defense. ... Eagles RB DeMarco Murray appears to be back on the road to respectability, and is a recommended play in both formats while his salary remains somewhat depressed. ... Eagles receiving options have been a colossal disappointment, and should be avoided altogether in this tough matchup. ... Panthers QB Cam Newton has six combined TDs in two home games this season; armed with a plus matchup, expect him to shine again. He's a highly recommended option in both formats. ... RB Jonathan Stewart finally had a solid game last time out, but his upside remains low; he's a cash-game punt option based on his low salary, but that's it. ... While the Panthers' receivers are too inconsistent to trust, TE Greg Olsen is a must-start if you don't mind spending up at the position; he's far and away Newton's favorite target, and should menace the Eagles' underwhelming secondary after torching Seattle for 131 yards and a TD last week.

Prediction: Panthers 24, Eagles 17
DFS MVP: Greg Olsen

Monday

Baltimore Ravens at Arizona Cardinals, 8:30 p.m.

Line: Cardinals -10 (opened at -7 1/2)
O/U: 49 (opened at 48 1/2)
Weather: Dome

Ravens QB Joe Flacco has been uneven on the road this season, and should struggle against an impressive Arizona pass defense that leads the NFL with 11 interceptions; He's not recommended. ... RB Justin Forsett is averaging better than 100 yards per game on the ground over his last three outings; he's a GPP-only play against a Cardinals run defense that has allowed just two rushing TDs. ... WR Steve Smith Sr. has had a great year, but he's dealing with broken bones in his back and draws a tough assignment in Patrick Peterson this week; he's not a strong play this week. ... Cardinals QB Carson Palmer has been a model of consistency all season, and has massive upside this week against a Ravens pass defense that has been gashed repeatedly; fire him up in all formats - he could easily end up the highest-scoring QB of the week. ... RB Chris Johnson did little with his 14-carry workload last week, and will be in tough against a Baltimore run defense limiting foes to 3.6 YPC. Stay away this week. ... WRs Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown are both sensational options this week, with Fitzgerald a consistent cash-game stud and Brown a top GPP play with big-time upside.

Prediction: Cardinals 31, Ravens 20
DFS MVP: Carson Palmer