Recommended Option
Dallas Cowboys at Carolina
Yahoo – 20%, ESPN – 33.8%
The Panthers offense is averaging just 18.4 points per game, putting them in the bottom 10 in the league. While that isn’t necessarily enough, Cam Newton continues to struggle leading to the Panthers entire offense failing to impress.
The Cowboys defense has a lot of potential, yet they have just 1 INT and 10 sacks on the year. That could change dramatically this week. The Panthers have thrown 5 INT and allowed 13 sacks in five games this season.
The Cowboys secondary has done a great job stopping the pass (league best 181.6 passing yards per game), so this would be a good week for them to begin generating turnovers. Throw in tying for seventh in sacks a year ago (42), and this could be a defense primed for a nice turnaround. In a week where there aren’t many good streaming options, this may be the best of the bunch.
Other Options
Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis
Yahoo – 10%, ESPN – 4.2%
The Browns defense has 15 sacks and 10 interceptions this season, so taking on a rookie quarterback they will have an opportunity to continue making plays. The Colts have thrown 7 INT and allowed 13 sacks, putting them in the bottom half of the league in both categories.
That said, the Browns are allowing 294.2 passing yards per game as well as 15 TD, so pass defense isn’t exactly their strength. While the Colts rushing attack leaves a little to be desired with Donald Brown out, there is a lot of risk involved here. If they can confuse and harass Andrew Luck, they will have the potential to be a Top 10 defense this week. If they can’t, they are going to struggle.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Cleveland
Yahoo – 2%, ESPN – 6.6%
Their usage will be solely determined by the availability of Trent Richardson. If he is unable to play, the Browns team is nearly completely void of talent. I know the Colts defense has not been impressive, including getting shelled by the Jets in Week 6, but if the Browns are missing their top running back they could really struggle moving the football.
Consider this an absolute desperation reach, and only if Richardson isn’t going to play. After seeing what Shonn Greene did in Week 6, if Richardson is healthy he could be a monster.
Other potential options and reasons I don’t like them:
- Oakland Raiders vs. Jacksonville - The Jaguars offense is built around Maurice Jones-Drew and the Raiders are allowing over 110 rushing yards per game
- Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo - The Titans struggle to stop the run, so seeing C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson produce big days would not be surprising
Make sure to check out all of our Week 7 rankings:
Dallas rather than New England?
I am going to have them back-to-back on the rankings, so I would actually consider it a coin flip. The Patriots haven’t defended the pass well, so if Mark Sanchez can show up they could struggle.
Picked up the Vikes this week but Seattle is also there…what do u think?
Love Minnesota this week. I’d stick with them.
Hey I have a few questions for my lineup this week. I really need to win, being on a 3 game loosing streak… I noteable byes this week, including lesean McCoy and demaryius Thomas. Any help would be appreciated.
QB: I’m starting tony romo as usual. I dropped kevin kolb because of his injury and picked up josh freeman again. I don’t think I should start freeman over romo.
WR: This week, missing demaryius Thomas. I’m starting larry Fitzgerald, wes welker, and denarius Moore. I don’t really have any other options here, denarius is my only backup
RB: This week I’m starting fred Jackson and felix jones. This position is really a hard one for me, missing lesean McCoy. I have mikel leshoure on my bench right now, facing the bears. I dropped jackie battle for felix jones his week, and i think it’s the better choice to start him. I think I’m somewhat weak at rb this week, so any help would be nice.
TE: I’m starting owen Daniels over Brandon pettigrew again. I think this is the better option, being in a non-ppr league.
D: On this one I really can go either way. I can either start Seattle or the giants. At this point I really don’t know. Last week I started Seattle and New York had a 19 point game… Any help would be nice.
K:This is jason hanson as usual.
One last thing: do I seem like a 2-4 team? I think I have 3 stud receivers and lesean McCoy. Tony romos not the best, but he’s up there. What do you recommend to improve my season at this point? Thanks
Professor,
Who to start?
Cardinals def or ravens def?
Andre brown or William Powell at rb?
Heyward-bey or Ty Hilton at wr?
What would you fear more? Jets having passing success against the Patriots, or Jacksonville having rushing success against the Raiders? I have to either play the Patriots (who I picked up for this week), the Raiders (who I could pick up), or the Cardinals (who is my ‘regular’ defense).
Sean -
QB – I agree
RB – I like Jones and think Jackson/Leshoure is a tossup (I’d go Leshoure, but go with your gut)
D – I’d go Giants, but it’s close
When you do head-to-head, it gets quirky. Sometimes your record is based on luck
Ed – Arizona/Hilton/Powell for me
Randy – I actually like Arizona best, followed by New England