NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer Rules and My Favorite Angle for Week 7’s Main Slate

Our Lineup Optimizer is an incredibly powerful tool inside our Player Models, particularly when creating a large number of lineups. However, it’s just that — a tool. We still have to make decisions. Otherwise, everyone would have the same 150 lineups in each contest.

This is intended more as a teaching piece than a step-by-step guide. These rules are suggestions that can show you how to translate your read on these games into lineups.

Each week I’ll go over my favorite DFS angle for the given week and go over some of our Lineup Optimizer settings that are worth considering.

Now, let’s get to it!

My Favorite Week 7 NFL DFS Angle

After an abundance of value last week, particularly at running back, we are starved for it this week. The result is some of the most concentrated ownership projections we have seen so far this year. Kenneth Walker, Austin Ekeler, and Josh Jacobs are expected to combine for well over 75% total. While the field flocks to this trio with CeeDee Lamb at wide receiver, I like flipping the build on its head and using Ezekiel Elliott.

Elliott gets the lowly Lions at home in Dak Prescott’s first game back from injury. What better way to ease Dak back into action than by gashing the opposition that has allowed 5.5 YPC and a league-high eight rushing touchdowns despite already having their bye week.

Another great pivot option at RB is Derrick Henry, with his new and improved pass-game role at home against the run-funnel Colts, who are still without star linebacker Shaquille Leonard. Henry has seen 13 targets across his last 3 games.

This is a huge improvement in his role for DK scoring purposes and raises both his floor and ceiling.

Lineup Optimizer Rules to Consider

Below are the rules to consider for Sunday. For more context on optimizer rules or the Showdown format in general, check out my NFL Showdown Primer.

General

Minimum salary cap: 99.6%. Leaving more than this causes you to lose significant win equity.

Flex positions: WR, RB.

Player Correlations

Optimal tournament construction includes stacking your quarterback with at least one, but usually two, pass-catcher(s) from the same team and at least one pass-catcher from the opposing team.

A mobile quarterback with a big rushing game is more likely to only need one teammate paired. These settings can be accomplished through rules in the “Position” tab or through the Player Correlations tab for more control.

The only running backs I would be okay with having in the same lineup as their QB in tournaments are Saquon Barkley, Austin Ekeler, Aaron Jones, and maybe Joe Mixon.

Player Groups

You want to avoid pairings like Nick Chubb with Amari Cooper in GPPs to assure your ceiling isn’t capped. The Player Groups tab gives you more control over the process, but the Position tab can be used to completely group out running back paired with a wide receiver from the same team.

Custom

Winning GPP lineups typically use 2-3 players that are less than 10% owned. The Lineup Optimizer allows you to accomplish this quickly.