Just the No. 17 overall fantasy back through six games,
Maurice Jones-Drew's struggles date back to midway through the 2009 season. MJD's decline began when he racked up carry totals of 33, 29, 24, and 25 between Weeks 6 and 11. He appeared on the injury report with a knee ailment throughout this period, often missing or being "limited" in practices. Jones-Drew went on to average 3.71 yards per carry in the final seven games after averaging 5.09 in the first nine.
During the 2010 preseason, the Jags vehemently denied a report that Jones-Drew had undergone arthroscopic knee surgery. Perhaps word leaked out because the medical staff recommended the scope, but coaches opted to let Jones-Drew play through the injury rather than miss games. (The Giants and Bears did similar things with
Brandon Jacobs and
Matt Forte last season.)
Jones-Drew might've benefited from the repair. He's looked thoroughly lethargic this season, rarely breaking into the open field and averaging 3.89 yards per carry despite one of the softest rushing schedules in football: Just 2-of-6 Jags opponents have ranked better than 22nd against the run. On his last 262 carries, Jones-Drew is averaging 3.79 yards per carry. On some teams, this could get a veteran running back benched in favor of a promising youngster like
Deji Karim.
MJD now squares off with a Chiefs defense that ranks fifth against the run and allows the sixth fewest yards per carry in the league (3.7). You can't bench him in a standard, 12-team league. Just don't be surprised as Karim (20 touches since Week 4) continues to eat into his workload.
1:00PM ET GamesCleveland @ New OrleansRobert Meachem started the season slow after missing almost all of camp due to toe surgery, but things are looking up. The 2007 first-round pick's snap count has risen in five straight weeks, and his production has followed suit. He's racked up eight catches for 128 yards and two scores in his last two, and in Week 6 Meachem saw more playing time than both
Devery Henderson and
Lance Moore for the first time this year. Meachem's breakout is coming, and a date with beleaguered Browns LCB
Eric Wright could provide it. Wright has surrendered five TD passes in his last four games, as well as an average of 98 yards per contest. Meachem normally lines up as the Saints' RWR, so he should square off with Wright for most of Sunday. The best thing about Meachem is that he doesn't waste chances: he has one drop in his last 24 games. Start him as a high-upside WR3. ... Henderson (catch-less Week 6) and hit-or-miss slot man Moore are far less appetizing.
Drew Brees is catching fire with five touchdowns in his last two games and nine in his last four. The 21st-ranked Browns pass defense has served up 8.0 yards per throw (third most in football) and 11 passing TDs (fourth most). ... Even with
Pierre Thomas out,
Ladell Betts' game-blowing lost fumble and interception-causing drop in Week 5 earned him a place behind
both Chris Ivory and
Julius Jones last Sunday. Betts isn't worth a roster spot. ... Behind Thomas, Ivory is easily the group's most natural runner, and showed his tackle-breaking explosiveness with 175 yards on 16 Week 6 touches while also drawing the start. Flukily defending the run well early this year, the Browns have tanked since losing DE
Robaire Smith (back) for the season. Steelers and Falcons backs have gashed them for 293 total yards and a touchdown in the last two weeks. Assuming Thomas is out again, Ivory should have no trouble knifing through another defense.
Just as he did at Texas,
Colt McCoy made heavy use of inside/underneath targets in last week's debut. Highly impressive in his ability to withstand pressure and fit passes into small windows, McCoy completed 14 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown to slot men and tight ends. According to
Pro Football Focus, McCoy intended 21-of-33 attempts within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. With
Mohamed Massaquoi and
Joshua Cribbs (concussions) both likely out for Week 7,
Ben Watson will continue to be McCoy's go-to guy. Watson led Cleveland in targets, catches, and yards in McCoy's first start, also scoring the team's lone touchdown. He would've topped 100 yards had a perfectly-placed McCoy pass not slipped through Watson's hands in traffic during the first quarter. Tight end-desperate owners should start Watson this week while working on a trade for
Owen Daniels, who should come cheaply on his bye after a sluggish start.
Peyton Hillis went predictably scoreless for the first time this season in an impossible Week 6 matchup with Pittsburgh's NFL-best run defense. There was still silver lining. He didn't aggravate his quadricep injury, still managed 90 total yards, and watched as newly acquired
Mike Bell hurt his own cause with two plodding carries for three yards. New Orleans' run defense rank got a huge lift from Tampa's inept backfield last Sunday, but it's simply not built to stop rushing attacks. Expect another Hillis-heavy game plan. The power runner saw increased practice reps this week -- indicating improving health -- and won't come off the field if the Browns fall behind. Bell is a huge liability as a receiver and pass blocker, so Hillis will remain the feature back if New Orleans kills Cleveland with the pass and the Browns resort to a two-minute offense earlier than planned.
Pittsburgh @ MiamiThis game might normally project as Week 7's most physical, but thanks to the NFL's enhanced illegal hit enforcement, Steelers and Fins defenders may be on their heels a bit more than usual. Take some of the fight out of Steelers OLBs
James Harrison and
LaMarr Woodley, and
Chad Henne should be able to complete passes to
Brandon Marshall at will against a poor Pittsburgh secondary that relies on up-front pressure just to look passable. Marshall ranks fourth in the NFL in targets and is averaging 94 yards a game. ... As hinted at in the above matchup breakdown, Pittsburgh has had recent trouble covering the middle of the field, which is where Dolphins slot man
Davone Bess does his damage. Bess' inability to make plays downfield is a major deterrent to his start-ability in non-PPR leagues, but in PPR you could do a lot worse than a guy averaging seven catches for 73 yards per game with two touchdowns in his last three outings.
On the other hand, Miami's running game is best left avoided. The Steelers continue to stonewall opposing rushers, permitting a league-low 2.7 yards per carry and 63.6 rushing yards per week. If the Dolphins move the ball consistently, the statistics say it will be because of their passing game. ... Plenty of deep league owners will be desperate enough to start a Fins running back, of course, and
Ronnie Brown is their best bet. Brown handled the football 20 times compared to
Ricky Williams' 14 in Week 6. For the season, Ronnie is averaging 15.4 touches per game to Ricky's 12.2. Either way, neither Dolphins ball carrier is likely to best 4.0 yards per tote this week.
The outlook for Pittsburgh's offense as a whole is soaring with
Ben Roethlisberger returning from a three-touchdown, 257-yard 2010 debut. After attempting just 11 passes in the first half of last week's drubbing of Cleveland, the Steelers opened the playbook and let Big Ben explode for two touchdowns and 177 yards in the final two quarters. Roethlisberger was literally un-sackable. An every-week starter again, Big Ben now squares off with a Miami defense that was pummeled for 313 passing yards by Green Bay in Week 6, with
Aaron Rodgers accounting for two touchdowns and averaging 17.4 yards per completion. ...
Rashard Mendenhall, who racked up 30 touches in Roethlisberger's first game of the season, will benefit as teams put fewer defenders in the box and Pittsburgh moves the ball more consistently. The Dolphins rank 16th against the run.
Hines Ward had five catches for 54 yards and a TD against Cleveland, pacing Pittsburgh with nine targets. Unfortunately, he's likely to draw Dolphins shutdown LCB
Vontae Davis for much of this one. He's only a WR3. ...
Mike Wallace has a significantly better matchup with struggling RCB
Jason Allen. "60 minutes" showed Fitzgerald-esque body control on his 29-yard Week 6 score and offers second-half explosion potential. ...
Heath Miller's 50 yards against the Browns were his most this season, and his 14-yard touchdown grab marked the first time he's scored. His arrow is pointing up, but not quite to the extent of Wallace. Miller saw just four targets in Big Ben's debut, and is used most extensively as a blocker to help Pittsburgh's struggling line in pass protection. The Dolphins also haven't allowed a tight end to top 33 yards in their last two games.
Washington @ ChicagoChris Wesseling has called
Ryan Torain a recommended sell-high. Forward-planning owners may want to wait for a Week 8 date with Detroit before executing the move, but it's good advice. Torain's 100-rushing yard, two-touchdown effort last Sunday was a fantasy-week winner, but the performance included a sack surrendered in blitz pickup, plenty of yardage left on the field with Torain trying to bounce runs outside, and occurred against Indy's No. 27 run defense. Combine the first two factors with Torain's injury history and Mike Shanahan's notorious knack for yanking running backs without notice, and it's not a healthy fantasy situation. Nor would be starting Torain against a Chicago defense that ranks third against the run. With WLB
Lance Briggs (ankle) also due back, the Bears are likely to shut down Washington's running game on Sunday.
It's getting cold in Chicago, but the Skins are likely to lean on the pass. The Bears rank second to last in sacks among teams that have played six games, and their pass defense (particularly RCB
Charles Tillman) fell apart in Week 6, serving up Big
Mike Williams' career day (10/120) and
Matt Hasselbeck's season-best fantasy effort.
Santana Moss has a good matchup no matter which Bears corner he faces, and No. 7 fantasy TE
Chris Cooley is a starter if he plays. If Cooley (concussion) doesn't, athletic backup
Fred Davis would be just as usable. With Cooley out in 2009, Davis was the No. 6 overall fantasy tight end over the season's final six weeks. ...
Anthony Armstrong has supplanted
Joey Galloway as Moss' starting bookend, but it's too bold to start him. The Bears' zone defense is built to limit big plays, and Armstrong is a rotating deep threat.
UPDATE: Cooley is expected to start and play a full complement of snaps Sunday.Currently the No. 18 fantasy QB,
Jay Cutler has cut down his interceptions (6:3 TD-to-INT ratio), but it hasn't made enough of a difference. His 23 sacks taken lead the NFL -- despite a missed game -- and Cutler has just one touchdown pass since Week 2. We'd love to call a matchup with Washington's NFC-worst pass defense a remedy for Cutler's production, but Chicago's line play is so bad that we couldn't do it with any confidence. Use him at your own risk. ...
Johnny Knox remains an every-week WR3. Over the last three games in which Cutler has played four quarters, Knox is averaging five catches for 100 yards per game and an otherworldly 23.07 yards per reception. Simply put, Knox is a playmaker. He'll square off with Redskins RCB
Carlos Rogers in this one. The Colts tagged Rogers for eight catches, 65 yards, and a touchdown in Week 6.
Greg Olsen is catch-less in back-to-back games. He's waiver material. ...
Devin Hester belongs there too, having topped 26 yards once in six weeks. ... Fantasy leaguers who've owned Mike Martz backs in the past know what
Matt Forte owners are experiencing. Forte had 24 touches in Week 5, then 11 in Week 6. You can't bench Forte against a Redskins club that gives up the sixth-highest yards-per-carry average in football (4.7), but the inconsistent workloads will continue. It's at least good news that Forte is getting all of the carries deep in the red zone in spite of his short-yardage struggles. He scored from six yards out on Chicago's opening drive last weekend.
Just the No. 17 overall fantasy back through six games,
Maurice Jones-Drew's struggles date back to midway through the 2009 season. MJD's decline began when he racked up carry totals of 33, 29, 24, and 25 between Weeks 6 and 11. He appeared on the injury report with a knee ailment throughout this period, often missing or being "limited" in practices. Jones-Drew went on to average 3.71 yards per carry in the final seven games after averaging 5.09 in the first nine.
During the 2010 preseason, the Jags vehemently denied a report that Jones-Drew had undergone arthroscopic knee surgery. Perhaps word leaked out because the medical staff recommended the scope, but coaches opted to let Jones-Drew play through the injury rather than miss games. (The Giants and Bears did similar things with
Brandon Jacobs and
Matt Forte last season.)
Jones-Drew might've benefited from the repair. He's looked thoroughly lethargic this season, rarely breaking into the open field and averaging 3.89 yards per carry despite one of the softest rushing schedules in football: Just 2-of-6 Jags opponents have ranked better than 22nd against the run. On his last 262 carries, Jones-Drew is averaging 3.79 yards per carry. On some teams, this could get a veteran running back benched in favor of a promising youngster like
Deji Karim.
MJD now squares off with a Chiefs defense that ranks fifth against the run and allows the sixth fewest yards per carry in the league (3.7). You can't bench him in a standard, 12-team league. Just don't be surprised as Karim (20 touches since Week 4) continues to eat into his workload.
1:00PM ET GamesCleveland @ New OrleansRobert Meachem started the season slow after missing almost all of camp due to toe surgery, but things are looking up. The 2007 first-round pick's snap count has risen in five straight weeks, and his production has followed suit. He's racked up eight catches for 128 yards and two scores in his last two, and in Week 6 Meachem saw more playing time than both
Devery Henderson and
Lance Moore for the first time this year. Meachem's breakout is coming, and a date with beleaguered Browns LCB
Eric Wright could provide it. Wright has surrendered five TD passes in his last four games, as well as an average of 98 yards per contest. Meachem normally lines up as the Saints' RWR, so he should square off with Wright for most of Sunday. The best thing about Meachem is that he doesn't waste chances: he has one drop in his last 24 games. Start him as a high-upside WR3. ... Henderson (catch-less Week 6) and hit-or-miss slot man Moore are far less appetizing.
Drew Brees is catching fire with five touchdowns in his last two games and nine in his last four. The 21st-ranked Browns pass defense has served up 8.0 yards per throw (third most in football) and 11 passing TDs (fourth most). ... Even with
Pierre Thomas out,
Ladell Betts' game-blowing lost fumble and interception-causing drop in Week 5 earned him a place behind
both Chris Ivory and
Julius Jones last Sunday. Betts isn't worth a roster spot. ... Behind Thomas, Ivory is easily the group's most natural runner, and showed his tackle-breaking explosiveness with 175 yards on 16 Week 6 touches while also drawing the start. Flukily defending the run well early this year, the Browns have tanked since losing DE
Robaire Smith (back) for the season. Steelers and Falcons backs have gashed them for 293 total yards and a touchdown in the last two weeks. Assuming Thomas is out again, Ivory should have no trouble knifing through another defense.
Just as he did at Texas,
Colt McCoy made heavy use of inside/underneath targets in last week's debut. Highly impressive in his ability to withstand pressure and fit passes into small windows, McCoy completed 14 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown to slot men and tight ends. According to
Pro Football Focus, McCoy intended 21-of-33 attempts within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. With
Mohamed Massaquoi and
Joshua Cribbs (concussions) both likely out for Week 7,
Ben Watson will continue to be McCoy's go-to guy. Watson led Cleveland in targets, catches, and yards in McCoy's first start, also scoring the team's lone touchdown. He would've topped 100 yards had a perfectly-placed McCoy pass not slipped through Watson's hands in traffic during the first quarter. Tight end-desperate owners should start Watson this week while working on a trade for
Owen Daniels, who should come cheaply on his bye after a sluggish start.
Peyton Hillis went predictably scoreless for the first time this season in an impossible Week 6 matchup with Pittsburgh's NFL-best run defense. There was still silver lining. He didn't aggravate his quadricep injury, still managed 90 total yards, and watched as newly acquired
Mike Bell hurt his own cause with two plodding carries for three yards. New Orleans' run defense rank got a huge lift from Tampa's inept backfield last Sunday, but it's simply not built to stop rushing attacks. Expect another Hillis-heavy game plan. The power runner saw increased practice reps this week -- indicating improving health -- and won't come off the field if the Browns fall behind. Bell is a huge liability as a receiver and pass blocker, so Hillis will remain the feature back if New Orleans kills Cleveland with the pass and the Browns resort to a two-minute offense earlier than planned.
Pittsburgh @ MiamiThis game might normally project as Week 7's most physical, but thanks to the NFL's enhanced illegal hit enforcement, Steelers and Fins defenders may be on their heels a bit more than usual. Take some of the fight out of Steelers OLBs
James Harrison and
LaMarr Woodley, and
Chad Henne should be able to complete passes to
Brandon Marshall at will against a poor Pittsburgh secondary that relies on up-front pressure just to look passable. Marshall ranks fourth in the NFL in targets and is averaging 94 yards a game. ... As hinted at in the above matchup breakdown, Pittsburgh has had recent trouble covering the middle of the field, which is where Dolphins slot man
Davone Bess does his damage. Bess' inability to make plays downfield is a major deterrent to his start-ability in non-PPR leagues, but in PPR you could do a lot worse than a guy averaging seven catches for 73 yards per game with two touchdowns in his last three outings.
On the other hand, Miami's running game is best left avoided. The Steelers continue to stonewall opposing rushers, permitting a league-low 2.7 yards per carry and 63.6 rushing yards per week. If the Dolphins move the ball consistently, the statistics say it will be because of their passing game. ... Plenty of deep league owners will be desperate enough to start a Fins running back, of course, and
Ronnie Brown is their best bet. Brown handled the football 20 times compared to
Ricky Williams' 14 in Week 6. For the season, Ronnie is averaging 15.4 touches per game to Ricky's 12.2. Either way, neither Dolphins ball carrier is likely to best 4.0 yards per tote this week.
The outlook for Pittsburgh's offense as a whole is soaring with
Ben Roethlisberger returning from a three-touchdown, 257-yard 2010 debut. After attempting just 11 passes in the first half of last week's drubbing of Cleveland, the Steelers opened the playbook and let Big Ben explode for two touchdowns and 177 yards in the final two quarters. Roethlisberger was literally un-sackable. An every-week starter again, Big Ben now squares off with a Miami defense that was pummeled for 313 passing yards by Green Bay in Week 6, with
Aaron Rodgers accounting for two touchdowns and averaging 17.4 yards per completion. ...
Rashard Mendenhall, who racked up 30 touches in Roethlisberger's first game of the season, will benefit as teams put fewer defenders in the box and Pittsburgh moves the ball more consistently. The Dolphins rank 16th against the run.
Hines Ward had five catches for 54 yards and a TD against Cleveland, pacing Pittsburgh with nine targets. Unfortunately, he's likely to draw Dolphins shutdown LCB
Vontae Davis for much of this one. He's only a WR3. ...
Mike Wallace has a significantly better matchup with struggling RCB
Jason Allen. "60 minutes" showed Fitzgerald-esque body control on his 29-yard Week 6 score and offers second-half explosion potential. ...
Heath Miller's 50 yards against the Browns were his most this season, and his 14-yard touchdown grab marked the first time he's scored. His arrow is pointing up, but not quite to the extent of Wallace. Miller saw just four targets in Big Ben's debut, and is used most extensively as a blocker to help Pittsburgh's struggling line in pass protection. The Dolphins also haven't allowed a tight end to top 33 yards in their last two games.
Washington @ ChicagoChris Wesseling has called
Ryan Torain a recommended sell-high. Forward-planning owners may want to wait for a Week 8 date with Detroit before executing the move, but it's good advice. Torain's 100-rushing yard, two-touchdown effort last Sunday was a fantasy-week winner, but the performance included a sack surrendered in blitz pickup, plenty of yardage left on the field with Torain trying to bounce runs outside, and occurred against Indy's No. 27 run defense. Combine the first two factors with Torain's injury history and Mike Shanahan's notorious knack for yanking running backs without notice, and it's not a healthy fantasy situation. Nor would be starting Torain against a Chicago defense that ranks third against the run. With WLB
Lance Briggs (ankle) also due back, the Bears are likely to shut down Washington's running game on Sunday.
It's getting cold in Chicago, but the Skins are likely to lean on the pass. The Bears rank second to last in sacks among teams that have played six games, and their pass defense (particularly RCB
Charles Tillman) fell apart in Week 6, serving up Big
Mike Williams' career day (10/120) and
Matt Hasselbeck's season-best fantasy effort.
Santana Moss has a good matchup no matter which Bears corner he faces, and No. 7 fantasy TE
Chris Cooley is a starter if he plays. If Cooley (concussion) doesn't, athletic backup
Fred Davis would be just as usable. With Cooley out in 2009, Davis was the No. 6 overall fantasy tight end over the season's final six weeks. ...
Anthony Armstrong has supplanted
Joey Galloway as Moss' starting bookend, but it's too bold to start him. The Bears' zone defense is built to limit big plays, and Armstrong is a rotating deep threat.
UPDATE: Cooley is expected to start and play a full complement of snaps Sunday.Currently the No. 18 fantasy QB,
Jay Cutler has cut down his interceptions (6:3 TD-to-INT ratio), but it hasn't made enough of a difference. His 23 sacks taken lead the NFL -- despite a missed game -- and Cutler has just one touchdown pass since Week 2. We'd love to call a matchup with Washington's NFC-worst pass defense a remedy for Cutler's production, but Chicago's line play is so bad that we couldn't do it with any confidence. Use him at your own risk. ...
Johnny Knox remains an every-week WR3. Over the last three games in which Cutler has played four quarters, Knox is averaging five catches for 100 yards per game and an otherworldly 23.07 yards per reception. Simply put, Knox is a playmaker. He'll square off with Redskins RCB
Carlos Rogers in this one. The Colts tagged Rogers for eight catches, 65 yards, and a touchdown in Week 6.
Greg Olsen is catch-less in back-to-back games. He's waiver material. ...
Devin Hester belongs there too, having topped 26 yards once in six weeks. ... Fantasy leaguers who've owned Mike Martz backs in the past know what
Matt Forte owners are experiencing. Forte had 24 touches in Week 5, then 11 in Week 6. You can't bench Forte against a Redskins club that gives up the sixth-highest yards-per-carry average in football (4.7), but the inconsistent workloads will continue. It's at least good news that Forte is getting all of the carries deep in the red zone in spite of his short-yardage struggles. He scored from six yards out on Chicago's opening drive last weekend.
Cincinnati @ AtlantaThe Falcons return from an embarrassing Week 6 loss to Philadelphia in which they abandoned the run after falling behind 14-0 seven minutes in.
Michael Turner saw five carries on Atlanta's first three drives, and 10 the rest of the game. The Falcons, undoubtedly, will be out to avoid a repeat against an underachieving Cincinnati run defense that permits 4.4 yards per carry and ranks 18th overall. With just one touchdown so far, Turner is one of the better buy lows going. ...
Tony Gonzalez's 9.8 yards-per-catch average won't diminish speculation that he's lost a step, but he scored two touchdowns against the Eagles and now faces a Bengals defense that let up seven catches for 86 yards to Bucs tight ends prior to a Week 6 bye, and seven catches for 84 yards and a touchdown to Browns tight ends the week before that. Keep rolling Gonzalez out there.
Roddy White has a tough matchup against Cincinnati's fabulous corner duo, but it's worth noting that
Johnathan Joseph missed practice this week with an ankle injury. Fantasy's No. 6 overall receiver would run circles around Joseph at less than 100 percent. ... The Bengals cover well, but generate little pass rush (six sacks in five games). While
Matt Ryan's Week 7 outlook is adversely impacted by a likely run-first game plan, he should at least have time to throw deep to White. ...
Michael Jenkins' splendid, if fluky, five-catch and 99-yard 2010 debut was the closest he's come to 100 yards in his career (he hasn't topped the century mark in seven years). Jenkins isn't a fantasy option, but he'll open things up for Turner, White, and Gonzo if he continues to play well.
Cedric Benson saved his best game so far for just before Cincinnati's Week 6 bye, rolling through the Buccaneers for 163 total yards and a 6.3 YPC average. The Falcons have not been nearly as kind, ranking ninth against the run and holding
LeSean McCoy,
Peyton Hillis,
Frank Gore, and
Pierre Thomas all out of the end zone on the ground in four straight weeks. You didn't draft Benson in the third round to bench him, but this isn't a great matchup. ... The Bengals get back a healthy
Jordan Shipley (concussion) to pair with
Jermaine Gresham as options for
Carson Palmer over the middle. The rookies essentially cancel each other out from a fantasy perspective.
Palmer's erratic play will remain a season-long concern for Cincinnati's receivers, but one of them is likely to have a big game with Falcons top CB
Dunta Robinson (concussion) not expected to play Sunday. The Bengals' wideouts move around enough that we can't say for sure whether
Chad Ochocinco or
Terrell Owens is more likely to capitalize on Robinson's absence. What we do know is that T.O. is severely out-producing Ochocinco, ranking 13th among fantasy receivers compared to Ocho's No. 42. Until proven otherwise, Owens is the better weekly start.
Philadelphia @ TennesseeIn Week 6,
Kevin Kolb targeted his top three receivers 13 times. He completed all 13 for 255 yards and three touchdowns. Kolb is minus one of the top wideouts (
DeSean Jackson) in Week 7, but
Jeremy Maclin and
Jason Avant are ready for even more prominent roles. Maclin, in particular, will be Kolb's go-to vertical target. With Jackson injured early in Week 6, Maclin took over as Kolb's featured receiver to rack up seven catches for 159 yards and two scores. Five of the grabs, 110 of the yards, and both TDs occurred after Jackson's concussion. Maclin is a legit WR1 against Tennessee's No. 23 pass defense. ... Averaging just 10.0 yards per catch, Avant is strictly a possession receiver. Avant has only three drops in his last 24 games, however, and is worth a long look in PPR leagues. He'll be the Eagles' starting flanker in Jackson's absence.
As pointed out by
FOX Sports' Adam Caplan, the typically pass-happy Eagles are running the ball 10 percent more than last season due to the rapid development of 2009 second-round pick
LeSean McCoy. McCoy is averaging 5.52 yards per touch and 4.8 yards per carry as Andy Reid's new offensive centerpiece. In Kolb's two complete games this year, Reid has called 65 run plays compared to 60 passes. The Titans rank eighth against the run, but McCoy is a matchup-proof starter as the No. 3 fantasy back through six games. In PPR, McCoy will overtake
Arian Foster (bye) to be No. 1 this week. ... A lingering wrist injury has caused
Brent Celek some problems (three drops), but he's still caught two touchdowns from Kolb over the past three weeks and tied Maclin for the team lead in targets in Week 6. Celek is difficult to bench whenever Kolb starts.
Vince Young (knee) is slated to play at less than 100 percent, creating a poor fantasy situation. The Eagles rank fifth in the league in sacks, fourth in interceptions, and allow an NFC-low 54.9 completion rate to opposing passers. V.Y. is barely a two-QB league option. ...
Kerry Collins targeted
Kenny Britt just twice after Young's exit last Monday night, but that's not a good enough reason to sit Britt, who's been a top-ten fantasy wideout over the last month. The Titans' LWR, Britt will spend the majority of Sunday's game against RCB
Ellis Hobbs, who's easily the weakest of Philly's starting corners. Keep Britt rolling while he's hot. ... The same cannot be said for
Nate Washington, who has two receptions for 33 yards in his last two outings and will square off with LCB
Asante Samuel. Washington is a WR5 again.
UPDATE: Multiple reports suggest Kerry Collins will start Sunday's game in place of Young. Of even bigger concern, Britt got into a fight at a nightclub early Friday. The incident threatens to cost him playing time with Justin Gage (hamstring) due back.
Bo Scaife's 4/53/1 line in Week 6 looks fluky considering he hadn't topped 37 yards since Week 15 of 2009 and found the end zone once all last season. This year, Scaife is averaging 3.33 targets per game. ... The Eagles kept Michael Turner in check last week only because they jumped out to a 14-0 lead halfway through the first quarter, and Atlanta gave up on the run. The Titans surely won't do the same. Philadelphia is surrendering 116 rushing yards per game to rank 22nd against the run, and the Titans call run plays for Chris Johnson even when trailing. This should be a close game, and we can safely expect CJ2K to be leaned on heavily with V.Y. ailing.
San Francisco @ Carolina
The 49ers' installation of playcaller Mike Johnson continues to do wonders for Michael Crabtree, as last year's No. 10 overall pick has enjoyed his best three games of the season since OC Jimmy Raye was fired. It has to do with in-game adjustments -- an area in which Raye sorely lacked. In Week 6, the Raiders tried to slow Crabtree by shadowing him with Nnamdi Asomugha. Johnson answered with bunch formations that prevented Asomugha from playing man-up, as the Niners ran picks to get Crabtree open. He now has 13 catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games, and Crabtree's 20 targets lead the team over that span. ... Vernon Davis is next on the team with 14 targets. Throw out a start against Todd Collins in Week 5 and in their last three games opposing tight end corps average seven catches for 81 yards against Carolina.
The Panthers' defense was one of the NFL's best against the run during the first month. It all fell apart against the Bears before Carolina's Week 6 bye. Matt Forte and Chester Taylor combined for an otherworldly 242 total yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.3 yards per carry against a Panthers team that knew the run was coming with Collins under center. Frank Gore doesn't have to share touches with a viable No. 2 back like Taylor, and is coming off his best game of the year (25-149 in Week 6). Gore is on pace for roughly 2,400 all-purpose yards. Trot him out at Carolina.
It's hard to call Matt Moore's reinsertion a difference-maker for Panthers skill players considering Moore's early-season play, but he certainly can't hurt. Jimmy Clausen was averaging 5.0 yards per pass attempt to rank 33rd in the NFL, allowing defenses to load the box with 9-10 defenders. The return of Steve Smith -- practicing without limitations this week -- from a high ankle sprain remains the biggest plus for Carolina. The Panthers now have a legitimate vertical threat to pry focus off DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. David Gettis (23.8 yards per game) and Brandon LaFell (3 drops on 20 targets), obviously, didn't get it done. ... Smith should be immediately placed back into lineups with Moore under center. Smith has five touchdowns and is averaging five grabs for 88.2 yards over the last five games in which Moore has started and played four quarters.
NFL teams routinely make "tweaks" after byes. By replacing Mackenzy Bernadeau with mauling Geoff Schwartz at right guard and installing powerful if squatty Garry Williams at right tackle, the Panthers have indicated a new reemphasis on the run. It also sets the stage for RT Jeff Otah's (knee) eventual return. Instead of moving Schwartz inside at a later date and making two position switches on the line, Otah's insertion will involve just one change. Expect a decidedly run-heavy offense that takes shots in the passing game essentially only to Smith the rest of the way. ... That said, Williams and Stewart don't have an especially friendly matchup with a San Francisco run defense that allows under four yards per carry and has given up three rushing touchdowns in six games. Williams is a mid-level RB2. Stewart is only a desperate flex play.
St. Louis @ Tampa Bay
Tampa's selections of first- and second-round DTs Gerald McCoy and Brian Price were supposed to fix a run defense that ranked dead last in 2009. The difference between last and this year has been negligible. Only the Bills have more rushing yards against per game, and no team gives up more yards per carry than the Bucs. Steven Jackson continues to be fed massive workloads, racking up 30 more touches in Week 6. Defenses can't consistently stack the box with Sam Bradford emerging as a legit top-15 passer, so Jackson will remain an elite RB1 going forward assuming good health. He'll also benefit from the absence of Price, who's out with a pelvis injury.
Despite giving up a long TD in each of his games this season, the Bucs continue to use Aqib Talib to "shadow" No. 1 receivers. All four of his scores allowed have come from at least 37 yards out, and Talib could arguably be charged with two more touchdowns when receivers ran by him in zone coverage. The Rams' best bet for a touchdown bomb, of course, is Week 6 marvel Danario Alexander. Alexander is a risk after coming off the bench for just 22 snaps in his debut, but he offers plenty of upside. ... Bradford also makes for an intriguing desperation QB1 play. The Bucs have given up 10 passing scores in five games while generating an NFL-low four sacks. With tremendous accuracy, Bradford can pick apart a defense with time to throw.
Josh Freeman took a step back in Week 6 -- troubling since he was coming off a bye and facing a Saints team that generated almost zero pressure while also missing CBs Tracy Porter (knee) and Randall Gay (concussion). Freeman is too talented to struggle in favorable matchups, but this isn't one of them. The stingy Rams have given up just seven passing TDs in six games and are tied for sixth in the league in sacks. Freeman is a great QB2, but hasn't earned low-end QB1 status just yet. ... Like fellow rookie Alexander, Mike Williams is a bit of a hit-or-miss fantasy start. Williams' big edge is that he's already an every-down player and will be a much better bet for week-to-week targets. Unlike Alexander, Williams plays on a team without a running game.
Kellen Winslow has yet to find the end zone in 2010, though his averages of five catches and 52 yards per game are solid. While he's settled in as a low-upside tight end, Winlsow is a viable alternative for owners still reeling from Jermichael Finley's loss or experiencing bye-week blues. He won't stay scoreless all year. ... Cadillac Williams had a fluky seven catches for 63 yards in Week 6, but was stonewalled in the rushing game with 18 yards on 10 totes. The Bucs will activate LeGarrette Blount this week with Kareem Huggins on injured reserve. Blount is the new favorite for goal-line carries, but you should be able to do much better even in a TD-heavy league. The matchup is favorable (St. Louis allows 4.4 yards per carry). The backfield itself is unattractive.
Buffalo @ Baltimore
Could there be a bigger mismatch than Bills at Ravens? Baltimore ranks third in total defense; Buffalo 30th in offense. The Ravens are second in rushing attempts; the Bills dead last in run defense. Jim Harbaugh's team should dominate time of possession, with Ray Rice as the featured player. Across the NFL, no back has touched the ball more since Week 4. ... If you're looking for a serious sleeper, consider Willis McGahee. McGahee has played just 14 snaps in the past two weeks, but the Ravens' coaching staff wants to keep him happy and will likely feed McGahee if they jump out to an early lead. They should. McGahee may not resume vulturing early-game goal-line touchdowns, but he could easily see 10-14 late-game touches as a clock-killer.
Joe Flacco shouldn't need more than 25 pass attempts to whip the Bills, but worse QBs have produced big lines against Buffalo on limited throws. Over their past four games, the Bills have been victimized for a whopping 11:0 TD-to-INT ratio. This included matchups with the Jags and Jets, with even Wildcat QB Brad Smith chipping in a score. Perhaps Flacco won't top 200 passing yards, but 2-3 passing touchdowns is more than doable. Flacco will have a clean pocket, as the Bills' defense brings no heat. ... The Ravens' best bet to be on the receiving end, of course, is Anquan Boldin. Boldin would normally match up with Bills LCB Terrence McGee, but McGee won't play due to knee surgery. His burnable replacement is journeyman Drayton Florence.
If this game plays out as the talent on both sides and statistics say it will, the Bills won't have the ball much. The Ravens are a vicious team at home, and will only be more impassioned by the return of FS Ed Reed (hip) from PUP. Get Baltimore's fantasy defense going. ... Prior to Buffalo's Week 6 bye, new feature back Fred Jackson had a chance for the first truly big game by a Bills rusher this season. Facing a middling Jacksonville run defense, Jackson managed 80 scoreless yards. Buffalo's coaching staff, head-scratchingly, does not use Jackson to his strength as a receiver out of the backfield: F-Jax is on pace for 10 receptions after hauling in 83 over the past two seasons. The Ravens have been uncharacteristically mediocre against the run this season (No. 13 overall, 4.3 YPC allowed), but it doesn't really matter. Jackson is a low-end flex play.
Rookie C.J. Spiller had six touches in the Bills' last game with Marshawn Lynch gone. Spiller is bench material until proven otherwise, regardless of matchups. ... Sit every member of Buffalo's passing game. The Ravens are a top-three defense against the pass, have served up just four scores in the air through six games, and get Reed back. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Lee Evans, and Roscoe Parrish are all hands-off. ... I've received quite a few Twitter and email questions about Steve Johnson as a potential bye-week filler. Johnson has scored a handful of red-zone touchdowns, but can't even start for the Bills. Would you really consider starting him on your fantasy team? It wouldn't be a surprise if Johnson didn't find the end zone again this season.
Jacksonville @ Kansas City
Tony Moeaki had the best Week 6 matchup of any tight end (against the Texans), but delivered a clunker (3-21), with linebacker/goal-line TE Mike Vrabel vulturing a TD. The good news for K.C. is that Moeaki was beastly as a run blocker and caught all of his targets. So, the question becomes whether Moeaki will continue to focus on run blocking, and your guess is as good as mine. Fairly relevant stat: Jacksonville has given up an average of five catches for 47 yards to tight ends per week, with four scores in six games. ... Dwayne Bowe broke out of his slumber in Week 6, posting a 6/108/2 line at Houston. The only pass defense worse than the Texans' is the Jags', so you may as well ride Bowe when he's hot and has favorable matchups. It is worth noting, however, that Bowe is playing on the right side of the Chiefs' offense this year. He'll likely go against Jags top CB Rashean Mathis, as opposed to the rotating RCB disaster of Derek Cox and David Jones.
The Jags' defense laid the foundation for Week 7 last Monday, dropping eight into the box and holding Chris Johnson to 76 yards on 25 carries. (Until his last carry, which went for a 35-yard score). The Chiefs lead the league in rushing and are 27th with the pass. Aside from Matt Cassel-to-Moeaki or Bowe connections, K.C.'s best way to defeat eight-man fronts involves an elusive back with speed to turn the corner. Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles each received 20 touches last week, but Charles is likely to resume leading the backfield on Sunday. Charles also appears to have taken over as the Chiefs' starter, getting the nod over Jones in Week 6. ... Cassel is only worth two-QB league consideration. Kansas City is unlikely to rack up pass attempts, instead testing a middling Jacksonville run defense that's allowed the NFL's most rushing scores.
If quarterback musical chairs and inconsistent receiving production weren't enough for you to bench the Jaguars' wideouts, Chiefs shutdown LCB Brandon Flowers is. Flowers doesn't move from the left side of the defensive formation, but the 37 passes thrown his way this season have yielded just 137 yards (3.7 YPA) and zero touchdowns. Flanker Mike Thomas will likely go against Flowers' side for most of Sunday's game. Thomas, who hasn't found the end zone yet this year, will have to get his catches and yards on slot routes. ... Mike Sims-Walker should spend most of Week 6 covered by the more burnable RCB Brandon Carr. MSW has the best matchup in Jacksonville's receiver corps, but his incredibly intermittent production can't be counted on.
As explained in this column's introduction, Maurice Jones-Drew isn't playing well. Nor is his line or the Jaguars' offense as a whole. MJD spoke this week of wanting more two-tight end sets and passes to tailbacks in the flat as part of a "run-oriented" offense. The idea makes sense with Todd Bouman expected to start at quarterback, but Jacksonville will be incredibly simple for Chiefs defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel to game plan against on Sunday. If you're curious about what to expect from Bouman (zero pass attempts since 2005), refer to Todd Collins' Week 5 game against the Panthers. And Crennel runs a much better all-around defense than Carolina.
4:05PM ET Game
Arizona @ Seattle
Week 7 may not provide Beanie Wells' breakout game with the Seahawks' NFC-best run defense on tap, but he's taken over as Arizona's feature back. Wells received 21 touches compared to Tim Hightower's four prior to the Cardinals' Week 6 bye, and was even in the game for goal-line situations ahead of the "starter" Hightower. Both of the Cards' top beat writers -- Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com and Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic -- went on record this week to predict Beanie would be "the guy" moving forward. The matchup makes Wells a low-end RB2 option, but a Week 8 game against Tampa could be monstrous if Beanie maintains the role through Sunday.
We've only seen Max Hall make one NFL start, but in it he got the ball to Larry Fitzgerald seven times for 93 yards. The two have more first-team practice time together after the off week, so Fitz should not struggle to continue producing at an elite level, if not improve on his Week 5 game. As for Fitzgerald's Week 7 matchup, keep in mind that Bears split end Johnny Knox ripped the Seahawks for 120 yards on five catches last week. Fitzgerald is the Cardinals' split end, and will benefit from the likely absence of Seahawks RCB Kelly Jennings (hamstring). ... Early Doucet (sports hernia) and Steve Breaston (knee) both return from injury. Neither played in Hall's debut, so we don't have a good idea of what to expect. They were inconsistent before getting hurt anyway.
Having topped 35 yards once, Big Mike Williams was one of the worst starting receivers in the league entering Week 6. An egg-laying by Bears RCB Charles Tillman made Williams look like one of the best. Having put 120 yards on 10 catches into the box score actually threatens to be a bad thing for Williams, however. Defenses will key coverage his way, and Williams isn't explosive enough down the field or off the line to beat defensive backs if he's not singled up. Let's see him repeat the numbers against Cardinals RCB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie before considering Big Mike a fantasy starter. ... Williams played 49 snaps in Week 6, but Deon Butler led the team with 52. Rookie Golden Tate only saw 14. If it's up to me, I'm starting Butler over Williams, for sure.
John Carlson led Seattle in targets during the first month, but he's taking a backseat now. He has seven in his last two games and isn't a fantasy option. ... Box-score fantasy leaguers may notice Justin Forsett's 76 total yards and a touchdown from Week 6 and think he could be a good bye-week filler for Week 7. Not the case. The game was Marshawn Lynch's Seahawks debut, and Forsett ran strictly out of three-receiver sets. Lynch also received 20 touches compared to Forsett's 11. The "carry split" will gravitate toward Lynch as the games play out. Lynch is a significantly better fantasy option than Forsett against the Cardinals' 29th-ranked rush defense.
4:15PM ET Games
Oakland @ Denver
Knowshon Moreno's second NFL season has been thwarted by dual hamstring injuries and poor production (3.12 YPC). A lost fumble got him benched for much of last week's first half. But there's no better fix for a struggling back than a matchup with Oakland. The Raiders rank 30th in run defense and surrender the highest yards-per-carry average (5.0) in the AFC, also letting up a rushing touchdown per game. And a few arrows are pointing up for Denver's' 2009 first-round pick. The Broncos finally showed the ability to open holes on the ground in Week 6, paving the way for 145 rushing yards and a score against the Jets' No. 4 run defense. Moreno is also off the injury report and practicing fully for the first time all year. If a healthy Moreno can't capitalize on the finest slump-busting run defense in football, his problems go deeper than injury and line play.
With Moreno finally close to 100 percent, the Broncos figure to use this game to jump-start his season. It could cut into Kyle Orton's pass attempts, but Orton remains a worthwhile if low-end QB1 as the No. 4 fantasy quarterback so far. ... NFL receiving yards leader Brandon Lloyd's four-catch, 74-yard Week 6 was slow by his standards, but only great receivers generate 70-plus yards in down weeks with unfavorable matchups. Lloyd's came with shutdown Jets CB Antonio Cromartie in shadow coverage for most of the day. Opposing QBs have completed just 43 percent of their passes against Cromartie this season. ... If Eddie Royal (groin) is inactive -- and his status is totally up in the air -- Demaryius Thomas will become a fixture in Denver's base offense, which incorporates three receivers on nearly every snap. Thomas entered the lineup after Royal's Week 6 injury and beat Darrelle Revis for a touchdown. ... RWR Jabar Gaffney is least likely of the above to see time against RCB Nnamdi Asomugha. Gaffney lacks great upside, but is the safest play in Denver's receiver corps.
Run-first game plans are nothing new for Oakland (No. 6 in rushing attempts), and the Raiders' QB situation requires it this week. Kyle Boller, owner of a career 56.8 completion rate and 5.9 yards-per-attempt average, is an awfully poor bet to move the ball through the air. The Raiders will lean heavily on Michael Bush and a returning Darren McFadden (hamstring), which makes plenty of sense because the Broncos rank 25th against the run, give up 4.4 yards per carry, and have allowed the most rushing touchdowns in the league. Also extremely banged up across the defense, Denver provides an especially favorable setting for Bush to rebound from his Week 6 clunker (59 total yards on 22 touches, one drop). ... McFadden is a more risky bet. The Raiders aren't going to feature him if he's not 100 percent, though it'll be his starting job again before long.
Louis Murphy is, by far, the Raiders' best big-play receiver, but he's not an attractive Week 7 play. Murphy has just four catches for 70 yards combined over his last three games, and a date with Champ Bailey awaits. ... Darrius Heyward-Bey has been even worse, averaging 2.3 catches for 23.3 yards per game. If he couldn't catch Bruce Gradkowski and Jason Campbell's passes, DHB definitely won't catch Boller's. ... Boller's 2010 debut makes Zach Miller a less desirable start, although not to the extent of Murphy and Heyward-Bey. Boller loved throwing to Todd Heap in Baltimore, and Miller is a spitting image of his fellow former Arizona State Sun Devil.
New England @ San Diego
Vegas projects Pats-Bolts to be the highest-scoring game of Week 7, so get your New England and San Diego skill players going at warm, passer-friendly Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers have played the pass well this year, but stopping Tom Brady and his myriad weapons may prove too tall a task for a team that's faced the worst string of quarterbacks in football (Matt Cassel, David Garrard, Matt Hasselbeck, Derek Anderson, Jason Campbell, Sam Bradford). San Diego struggles to generate pass rush, RCB Antoine Cason has been badly exposed over his past three games, and SS Steve Gregory's suspension has cost the Bolts their primary tight end coverman. Tom Brady is highly recommended, Aaron Hernandez is a TE1, and Wes Welker is an every-week starter in PPR leagues. ... Deion Branch will square off with Cason for most of the game.
This is a good matchup, but fantasy leaguers should not expect a repeat of Branch's 9-98-1 line from Week 6. He'll rotate with Brandon Tate, and Branch's "re-debut" as a Patriot occurred in the longest game of the 2010 season thus far. He's certainly playable this week, but over the long haul offers limited upside as a WR3. ... Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis have shared the backfield evenly over the past two weeks, with Woodhead getting 25 touches and "Law Firm" 26. Neither is an especially attractive play against San Diego's sixth-ranked run defense, though if you're deciding between the two Woodhead gets a significant edge in PPR leagues. Also has noted by Pro Football Focus, Woodhead had just one more carry than Green-Ellis in Week 6 yet gained 43 more yards (21 more after contact) and averaged 3.7 more yards per carry.
The Chargers are down Malcom Floyd (hamstring), probably Legedu Naanee (hamstring), and possibly Antonio Gates (toe). Behind Philip Rivers, their healthiest skill player is Ryan Mathews. Mathews disappointed in Week 6 due to game flow (San Diego fell behind early to St. Louis), but retook feature back duties from Mike Tolbert by a touch ratio of 15:3. Tolbert remains a goal-line threat, but a breakout game is in the offing for Mathews, and the Bolts may lean heavily on him considering their injured state. New England's run defense has been up and down all year. Don't hesitate to start the first-round pick. ... Gates' status won't be announced officially until roughly 3ET Sunday, making waiting for him a dicey fantasy situation. Owners can protect themselves, somewhat, by picking up Rob Gronkowski or Gates' backup, Randy McMichael.
Norv Turner has listed 24 players as doubtful during his tenure as Chargers head coach, and not a single one has ever suited up on game day. Floyd and Naanee aren't playing, and their replacements at split end and flanker, respectively, will be Craig Davis and Patrick Crayton. Rivers is going to get his routine 300 yards against New England's 29th-ranked pass defense, and someone's got to catch the passes. Crayton, an efficient possession receiver, is a good bet for 6-9 grabs and definitely a WR3 in PPR leagues. Davis has better speed and a bit more big-play ability. You could do worse than "Buster" in non-PPR. ... Despite the losses of Naanee and Floyd, Rivers is a lock for a big fantasy game in this matchup. He's been without Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill, but still ranks No. 2 among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring. Rivers makes receivers.
Sunday Night Football
Minnesota @ Green Bay
Greg Jennings showed with 133 yards and a touchdown on six catches in Week 6 that he'll be the primary beneficiary of Jermichael Finley's year-ending injury. He torched Fins top CB Vontae Davis for his 86-yard TD, though the most promising aspect of Jennings' day involved short grabs and leading the Packers in targets. Jennings also played 95 percent of the snaps -- his most all year. Consider him a borderline WR1 moving forward. ... Donald Driver, meanwhile, took a major backseat with three catches for 31 yards on five targets. Dealing with a quad injury and barely practicing, Driver now faces off with sure-tackling Vikings LCB Antoine Winfield. Jennings is the better player, healthier, and also has the better matchup against Asher Allen/rookie Chris Cook.
Jordy Nelson worked as Green Bay's third receiver against Miami, but it may not last. He had two drops on 48 snaps. Jones played a catch-less 23 snaps. ... Aaron Rodgers has accounted for 13 TDs to rank as the No. 3 fantasy quarterback, behind Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers. The Vikes continue to shuffle defensive backs, with RCB Cook returning from a knee injury and SS Husain Abdullah (concussion) out. ... Andrew Quarless is now playing the most of any Packers tight end, but was targeted just twice in Week 6. ... The Vikings give up 3.8 yards per carry and have allowed only two rushing touchdowns in five games. Brandon Jackson hasn't topped 12 carries since Week 1. He'd need more volume to have any prayer of producing in this matchup.
Monday Night Football
NY Giants @ Dallas
While the Giants lead the NFC in pass defense, this game projects to produce too many points for owners to sit Tony Romo. The No. 6 fantasy QB despite an early bye, Romo has thrown eight touchdown passes in his last three games. Dez Bryant (ankle) is healthier this week, improving Romo's outlook. Bryant plays in all three-receiver sets. ... Defenses don't respect Roy Williams, so they've been leaving him singled up. Williams has capitalized with five receiving touchdowns in his last three games, good for the most in the NFL over that span. The concern is that Williams has now earned more defensive focus. He's easy to take out of a game with double teams. ... Miles Austin ripped up the G-Men for a 10/104/1 line in their last meeting. Shake off his two-catch, 12-yard Week 6 game and start him. ... The Cowboys will need Jason Witten to pass block more than usual to counter Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck. Witten is too talented to bench, but expectations probably should be scaled back some. He's still a great buy low for the second half.
Marion Barber is completely hands-off for this one, and not just because he's received 19 touches compared to Felix Jones' 43 over the past two weeks. The Cowboys won't be able to run up the middle -- where Barber's carries usually go -- against a Giants defense that defends inside rushes as well as any team. The primary reason is NT Barry Cofield's stellar play. In terms of yards per carry, only the Steelers and Seahawks have been stingier than New York. ... Jones will have easier matchups in the future, but he's Dallas' best bet to rack up yards and touches in this one. The Cowboys will be able to run on the edges, which is Jones' bread and butter. Don't expect a monster effort, but he's certainly capable of producing serviceable low-end RB2/flex starter stats.
Check Hakeem Nicks' practice participation on Saturday. He's dealing with hamstring fatigue and was given Friday's practice off. Nicks is the No. 4 overall fantasy receiver. Mario Manningham will start as a viable WR3 if Nicks surprisingly sits out. He shouldn't. … Eli Manning has devoured favorable matchups over the last two games, but owners shouldn't go chasing points he put up against Houston and Detroit. He's just barely a QB1 option against Dallas' fourth-ranked pass defense. … Steve Smith remains a much better PPR bet than in non-PPR. His big-play production is way off last year's pace, putting Smith's week-to-week ceiling at around 70 yards on 6-7 catches.
The Cowboys are a top-ten team against the run, but no running back in football is running as hard or well as Ahmad Bradshaw entering Week 7. The No. 8 overall fantasy back through six games, Bradshaw is averaging 21 touches for 113 total yards per contests. Brandon Jacobs continues to vulture goal-line carries, but it's hardly stunted Bradshaw's growth as an every-week fantasy starter. Bradshaw has been matchup proof, touching up even top run defenses like the Bears in Week 4 for big fantasy performances. … Jacobs is worth a look in extremely touchdown-heavy leagues, but that's about it. He's merely a change of pace for the shiftier, more elusive Bradshaw. Jacobs is a poor bet to top 10 carries or 50 rushing yards in any given week.