BY ROB SHAW
sportsnet.ca
The finale this week will be golden as the Cowboys host the Giants, but even before that, there is enough drama to keep you busy including Brett Favre at Green Bay, Max Hall and Colt McCoy making their second NFL starts, and Tom Brady and the Patriots taking on the hapless Chargers.
Here is your fantasy football preview of what's to come in Week 7 of the NFL:
JAGUARS AT CHIEFS
I would be very surprised if David Garrard ends up starting this game. Even if the Jaguars go to their third-string quarterback, there should still be some fantasy value for Mike Thomas and Mercedes Lewis. Maurice Jones-Drew, of course, is the player who is expected to flourish, as the team will be more rush-dependent.
The Chiefs are a pretty decent ball club. I like Matt Cassel a lot this weekend, as well as Tony Moeaki and Dwayne Bowe. Both Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones are good starts in the backfield.
EAGLES AT TITANS
Kevin Kolb gets yet another start and he should excel even with DeSean Jackson out with a concussion. That means Jeremy Maclin plays the starring role, while Jason Avant will also chip in with a few grabs. Brent Celek remains a threat, and LeSean McCoy may be called on quite a bit this weekend.
Vince Young is questionable to start, so I would keep him on the bench. If Kerry Collins gets the start, Bo Scaife's value shoots up. Kenny Britt is becoming a must-start every week, thanks to his uncanny ability to find the end zone.
BILLS AT RAVENS
The Bills have very little to offer, but if you're desperate, consider going with Fred Jackson, who will start at running back. You could also do worse than wide receiver Steve Johnson, who has at least three receptions in every game this season and has recently become a scoring machine.
The Ravens are a complete team, which means Joe Flacco will connect with Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason this week while Ray Rice will get his yards and likely a touchdown on the ground. The defence is also a great start against a struggling Bills offence.
BROWNS AT SAINTS
The Browns will have their hands full as they trot Colt McCoy out for his second career start. He will go at it without Mohamed Massaquoi and Joshua Cribbs, who both suffered concussions against the Steelers last week. Peyton Hillis will have a lot of defensive attention focused on him, while Benjamin Watson is the only other player worth considering.
The Saints should enjoy a solid weekend now that they have a better idea of their talent in the backfield. Christopher Ivory will get the majority of the carries, which will finally offer balance for Drew Brees. As far as Brees' targets, I like the chances of Marques Colston enjoying a big performance, though he has been alternating with Lance Moore and Robert Meachem.
REDSKINS AT BEARS
The 'Skins will roll with Ryan Torain, who is fresh off a 100 yard two-touchdown performance. In the air, Donovan McNabb will continue to lean on Santana Moss, while Anthony Armstrong offers a deep threat option. After a mysterious ailment, Chris Cooley promises to return to form this weekend.
The Bears hope to be healthy this weekend. Jay Cutler wasn't particularly bad in his return from a concussion last weekend; however, he failed to get the ball in the end zone. Johnny Knox is clearly his favorite target, while tight end Greg Olsen has inexplicably fallen out of favor. Matt Forte remains inconsistent, but he carries extra value in leagues that reward fantasy managers with points per receptions.
BENGALS AT FALCONS
The Bengals are a strange team, and have surprisingly been better on defence than on offense. A lot of the blame belongs to Carson Palmer who tossed crucial interceptions in their loss to Tampa Bay. Cedric Benson remains a must-start as he is fresh off a season's best 144 rushing yards. Terrell Owens has been riding a hot streak, while Chad Ochocinco is always capable of breaking out of his funk with a big game.
The Falcons passing game has been pretty stellar, but there is no explanation for why Michael Turner has been boom or bust. I like Roddy White and even Michael Jenkins this weekend, while Tony Gonzalez deserves to play simply because of his red-zone prowess.
STEELERS AT DOLPHINS
The Steelers offence is back in a big way now that Ben Roethlisberger has returned from his suspension. Hines Ward, Heath Miller, and Mike Wallace instantly regained their fantasy value. Don't forget Rashard Mendenhall. He continues to carry the load and has now scored four touchdowns over the last three games.
The 'Phins are a much-improved offence. thanks to the presence of Brandon Marshall. One player rising in value is Davone Bess. The Dolphins wide out scored a touchdown last weekend and seems to be a solid second option next to Marshall. The rushing attack remains in place, even though neither Ronnie Brown nor Ricky Williams should be confused as elite fantasy talents.
49ERS AT PANTHERS
The Niners won their first game of the season last week, and Alex Smith still failed to offer much. There are three players to focus on in San Francisco. Frank Gore remains a star, while Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree are the top targets for the passing attack.
The Panthers have given up on the Jimmy Clausen experiment for the time being and will again turn to their first-string starter Matt Moore. More concerning is how bad Jonathan Stewart has played. DeAngelo Williams deserves to play but he's been off to a slow start as he's on pace to rush for less than 1,000 yards. The team is expecting star wide receiver Steve Smith to return to action.
RAMS AT BUCCANEEERS
Sam Bradford is again in need of a new number one target now that Mark Clayton is done for the season and so far Danario Alexander looks like a serious contender. In point per reception leagues, Danny Amendola is a safe bet. Steven Jackson remains the superstar of the franchise.
Mike Williams is a rookie worth starting in the Bucs receiving corps, while you should avoid all their running backs. This is a favorable match-up for Josh Freeman, so if your starting quarterback is on a bye week, this is your chance to extract some value from Freeman.
CARDINALS AT SEAHAWKS
The Cardinals are hoping the week off served them well. We'll see Max Hall under centre once again, and you should always pay attention to quarterbacks surrounded by talents such as Larry Fitzgerald. The running back to start for the Cardinals is Beanie Wells, while wide out Steve Breaston is finally healthy and is expected to return this week.
The Seahawks were solid last weekend when it came to the passing attack. I have confidence in Mike Williams, while Deon Butler is a little less proven. It seems to be an even split so far between Justin Forsett and Marshawn Lynch, limiting the value of both running backs.
PATRIOTS AT CHARGERS
The Patriots surprised us last week with Deion Branch taking on the lead role in the passing game. He's worth starting along with Wes Welker and tight end Aaron Hernandez, while Brandon Tate seems to have taken a backseat to the veterans. On the ground, both Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis are capable of decent performances, although Woodhead gets the edge since he is targeted more often in the passing game.
The Chargers got some good news from Vincent Jackson, but he will not be suiting up this weekend. Expect Patrick Crayton and Buster Davis to fill in for Malcom Floyd, while Ryan Mathews is the only running back worth starting for the Chargers, as Mike Tolbert returns to a backup role.
RAIDERS AT BRONCOS
The Raiders are banking on Darren McFadden's return this weekend after an uneven performance from Michael Bush last week. The team is also likely to start Kyle Boller at quarterback, which severely limits the value of his receivers, although Zach Miller always seems to be a safe bet.
The Broncos are the league's best passing attack and the players to start include Kyle Orton, Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd, and Eddie Royal. If Royal is not able to play because of an injury, rookie Demaryius Thomas will thrive with an expanded role. Now that Knowshon Moreno is back on the field, he is another player who should thrive in this West Coast Offense.
VIKINGS AT PACKERS
It's safe to say that Brett Favre will not be suspended by the NFL, so he should be at his best against his former club. I also like Randy Moss and Adrian Peterson for Minnesota, but can no longer rely on tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.
The Packers remain one of the best passing attacks in the NFL, and Aaron Rodgers will always have a chip on his shoulder in this match-up. Look for Greg Jennings to have a big performance along with Donald Driver, while tight end Andrew Quarless and James Jones would be risky starts.
GIANTS AT COWBOYS
The G-Men are red-hot and everyone seems to have a role. Hakeem Nicks is the big play receiver who can offer touchdowns and plenty of yards. Steve Smith and Mario Manningham are typically the short yardage options who pile up the receptions as well as the yards. Tight end Kevin Boss does much of the same. Ahmad Bradshaw is the lead tailback who should offer a minimum of 80 yards every week. Brandon Jacobs is becoming the goal line specialist, which makes him good for a six-pointer each week. Eli Manning orchestrates it all, and while he may throw the occasional pick, he makes up for it with plenty of yards and touchdowns.
The Cowboys may not win many games, but they post plenty of fantasy points. Tony Romo is a yards machine who can also rack up a couple of touchdowns per week. Jason Witten has bounced back from an early slump, while Roy Williams has surprised us with improved production. Miles Austin remains an elite wide receiver, while Felix Jones is getting his chance to star in the NFL.
