Week 7: Game Previews

Can you imagine working in an environment that offered daily updates on your injury status? "Clifford was on the job Thursday but his carpal tunnel was acting up a bit so he went through just limited typing on his computer. He is listed as day-to-day but should be ready for Happy Hour on Friday as usual and his weekend activities should not suffer because of the soreness in his wrist."

Visit any fantasy football web site and the daily report reads like a medical journal. There is just page after page of injury news, concerning strained quadriceps, torn groins, twisted ankles, sprained knees, and on and on. The duty of trying to figure out which players will perform best each week is hard enough, but throw in all of these ailments and a person would have a better chance of doing so by using a dartboard.

OK, so I am not really using a dartboard but I still apologize in advance if I don't hit all bullseyes.

Tennessee at Houston The Titans even with Vince Young at QB don't offer much in the way of fantasy help; if Young can't go, Kerry Collins will get the start. Collins did nothing against Tampa Bay last week that would warrant starting him. The Texans have been erratic this season on offense, but should attack through the air instead of battling the league's top-ranked run defense.

Tennessee
Must start: None
Favorable situation: LenDale White, especially with Chris Brown hobbled by an ankle injury.
Unfavorable situation: Young will want to win in front of his hometown, but that doesn't necessarily mean a good yardage day; the Titans' WRs, who should also be benched unless you have no other options.
Don't start: Any other player

Houston
Must start: None
Favorable situation: Matt Schaub; if Andre Johnson makes his way back into the lineup, he would be a valuable WR; Kevin Walter had 12 catches for 160 yards last week, while Andre Davis is seeing his looks slip away; Owen Daniels
Unfavorable situation: the Texans' RBs
Don't start: Any other player

Baltimore at Buffalo So, how many of you Marshawn Lynch owners are kicking yourselves for taking him as the first rookie RB instead of Adrian Peterson? The Bills must be over their shell shock after that crazy Monday night loss to Dallas, but the Ravens aren't exactly the easiest team to face and rebound against. Steve McNair is likely out for this game, putting Kyle Boller under center, and probably signaling another 25-carry game for Willis McGahee.

Baltimore
Must start: McGahee; Derrick Mason
Favorable situation: None
Unfavorable situation: Boller; Todd Heap - he played for one quarter against the Rams before leaving because he re-aggavated his hamstring; you don't want that to happen again if you start him.
Don't start: Any other player

Buffalo
Must start: None
Favorable situation: Lynch, only because he is about the only good thing happening for Buffalo these days.
Unfavorable situation: Trent Edwards is starting for Buffalo - he shouldn't be starting for you.
Don't start: Lee Evans, until he shows some consistency; any other player

Minnesota at Dallas The Vikings found a way to win without any semblance of a decent passing game: give the ball to Adrian Peterson. That strategy probably won't work as well this week against the 8th-ranked run defense, but it's all Minnesota has in its arsenal. The Cowboys have to be glad that last week is behind them and they don't have to face New England again unless it is in the Super Bowl.

Minnesota
Must start: Peterson
Favorable situation: None
Unfavorable situation: Tavaris Jackson has a 49.8 QB rating, meaning his WRs fail along with him.
Don't start: Any other player

Dallas
Must start: Tony Romo; Terrell Owens; Jason Witten
Favorable situation: Patrick Crayton
Unfavorable situation: Marion Barber and Julius Jones face the 2nd-ranked run defense.
Don't start: Any other player

Tampa Bay at Detroit Here is a personal dilemma I face this week: I have both Jeff Garcia and Jon Kitna on my team. Garcia is an efficient QB but he doesn't really throw for a lot of yards; Kitna is a bit wild with his passing but toss out his poor showing against Washington and he is averaging 306 yards per game. Throw in the fact that the Bucs are ranked 8th in passing and the Lions are 30th makes the decision even more difficult. Both teams will likely keep the ball in the air, however, because their running games are suspect.

Tampa Bay
Must start: Joey Galloway
Favorable situation: Garcia went over the 250-yard mark for first time this season last week; Ike Hilliard
Unfavorable situation: The Bucs acquired Michael Bennett to help their decimated running back corps, but it's best to keep them all benched until you see how it all plays out.
Don't start: Any other player

Detroit
Must start: Roy Williams; Calvin Johnson
Favorable situation: Kitna; Kevin Jones gets the start over Tatum Bell, and the Bucs aren't monsters on run defense; Shaun McDonald; Mike Furrey
Unfavorable situation: Bell
Don't start: Any other player