Fantasy Lineup Picks - Week 7

Hey Kids - welcome back to the weekly fantasy roundup. This is the place to look for answers to the tough lineup decisions we all face on a weekly basis. There are certain guys I'll never tell you to start - if you're benching Peyton or LT2 when they're active then you've already taken your team to depths from which I can't help you recover. For the rest of you, I offer my weekly picks of who to get in your lineup, who to sit, and what defenses are scary good or possibly ripe for the picking. Follow this advice closely and your imaginary men will march to certain victory.

I'll start with the good news...

Use em':

1. Ronnie Brown: If you drafted him you probably have no other choice, but it seems like this promising War Eagle could finally be turning the corner. After last week's big game against the Jets, Ronnie pulls another pancakce opponent in Green Bay. The Packers give up some yards through the air as well, but Ronnie has proved a threat in the passing game and Joey the Franchise isn't scaring anybody.

2. Tatum Bell: Another back who has been turning it up a notch the past few weeks. Tatum seems to be the only Bell that Mad Mike wants to ring these days and that can make his fantasy owners nothing but happy. Bring on the less than impressive Browns front seven and Tatum should be in for another solid outing.

3. Randy McMichael: The absence of Daunte has meant the reemergence of Randy for the Swimming Mammals. McMichael has had 18 catches in the past threeweeks and he seems to settle down comfortably into the zone where Joey Franchise likes to showcase his arm "strength".

4. Cards' D: Did you see the Monday night game? Anyone who did knows that Rex Grossman pulled off the closest real-life semblance of a Techmo Super Bowl game in years. Every time T-Rex dropped back to pass there were Redbirds swarming around him just like the little guys on Nintendo. I half expected a Robbie Gould kick to be blocked by an Arizona defender who had leapt 30 feet into the air superman style. Ready...Down...Hut, Hut, Hut, Hut. Look for the Cards to continue calling the other team's play when they head into the Black Eye this week to take on the hapless Raiders.

5. Andre Johnson: He's really a must-start at this point. I'm just writing this to remind you. Don't expect to read his name here next week - I know your learning curve.

6. De'Shaun Foster: With fellow De' and future stud Williams on the bench, "Don't Call Me Barry" has been starting to turn things around. After a tough outing in Baltimore last week, De'Shaun draws a Bengals D that hasn't exactly been stout against the run. Start him with confidence - at least until his next big "break".

7. Willie Parker: Another guy who has approached weekly starter status. The Falcons formerly respectable run D was absolutely shredded by the Tiki Torch last week and he's allegedly on the footsteps of retirment. The fresh legs of Parker should be good for a score or maybe even two.

8. Joey Galloway: I know what you're thinking. Fresh off his huge season last year, Joey seems to have reverted to being...well...himself. But if you look at the recievers who had big games against the Birds this year (Amani Toomer, Joe Horn?) you'll see that even the Galloway of old could be in for a big week. Joe Horn knew Joe Horn would have a studly Joe Horn type game and I think Galloway can to.

9. Chad Pennington: We can't ignore him anymore. Chad has been a pleasant surpise this year with only a slip-up at Jacksonville in Week 5 holding him back. This week he draws every fantasy quarterback's best friend - the Lions D.

10. Maurice Jones-Drew: It won't take you long to realize my stance on backup running backs - stay away from them. This also bleeds into another of my fantasy pet peeves - handcuffs. Why handcuff a stud back (and a roster spot) with a lesser back when with a little effort you could go out and get a good starter to give your team some depth? Were you really excited about starting whatever schmuck was backing up Larry Johnson when Antrel Roll showed him how to wear his helmet backwards? Flying in the face of all that strategy is Maurice. Maybe it's because he's vertically challenged like yours truely, but I really like the guy. What I like even more than his moves, strentgh and vision is the walking pinata that he plays behind - Fred Taylor. Jones-Drew has a cake matchup with the Texans this week and I'm sure they'll get him in the game early for fear of Fred's left leg suddenly shattering and raining lollipops on the field.

While the above ten I'd love to have in a lineup, here are 10 I'm nervous about...

Lose em' (at least for this week)

1. Chester Taylor: Uncle Chester hasn't found the end zone since Week One in D.C. and it doesn't look like this will be his week to return. Seattle is a tough place to play and the Seahawks D is killer against the run. If you have other options, use them.

2. Warrick Dunn: Stand-up community guy. Immensely underrated talent. Ages like fine wine. There is perhaps nothing to dislike about the guy save for his matchup this week. The Ketchup Bottlers sport a tough run D - one that held Larry Johnson to 26 yards on 15 carries last week.

3. Drew Bledsoe: Remember that huge primetime game where Drew came through in the clutch and the Cowboys won? Yeah, me neither. Unless your league awards points for back-breaking interceptions look elsewhere for a signal caller.

4. Falcons' D: As they showed last week, their run defense is far from impenetrable. Taking on Willie Parker and the Steelers is no safe way to lick your wounds. Look for Big Ben to take care of the ball again and the Falcons D to stay grounded in fantasy land.

5. T.J. Houshmandzadeh: Browse some other lists online and you'll probably find him in the first set of players. I place him here not because I see him getting worse, but because his success might be his undoing. If defenses start buying into the "TJ is the better Bengal wr" buzz they will adjust their scheme accordingly. The Panthers have the talent to shut him down.

6. Willis McGahee: Despite being at the top of the AFC in rushing, Willis has been falling off the last couple of weeks. Following a terrible home loss to the Broncos, the Pats have been red-hot, particularly with a big road win against another solid AFC back, Rudi Johnson. Crabby Bill will turn it up another notch this week leaving Willis with nowhere to run.

7. Laurence Maroney: Love his promise, love his future, not too strong on him this week. Yes the Bills gave up alot of rushing yards to the Pats in Week One but this is October and this is Buffalo where summer means you can take off your outer layer of coats and winter snow starts in August. I know that Maroney went to Minnesota, but they play in a dome. Leave the rookie on the bench this week, you'll thank me.

8. Damon Huard: Dandy Damon has come back to earth and Kansas City is holding it's collective breath awaiting the return of Trent Green. As they wait, they get to watch their Chefs cook up a way to get by San Diego, whose ferocious D has been lights out all season. Hopefully you weren't in need of this advice but just in case, leave Huard on the bench...or better yet - waivers.

9. Deion Branch: Anyone who drafted Deion Branch early last season knows how incredibly frustrating he can be on a week to week basis. A two td game will be followed by a one reception game. He finds himself in yet another "spread the ball around" offense in coffee land and there's no guarantee this will be his week. If you have other options I suggest you use them.

10. Ladell Betts: Now for a more traditional example of the backup running back problem. With players of this nature you never know when they will get in the game and for how long. Unlike Jones-Drew above who will be spelling a fragile back, Betts is stuck behind a fully recovered workhorse in Clinton Portis. Despite the Redskins best intentions to run the Colts to death, would you really be surprised to see the Horshoes up a few scores at halftime? Hopefully that's a chance you won't be taking.

The BIG Fives

Finally we have The BIG Fives - these are the top five and bottom five rushing and passing defenses among active teams this week. If all else fails, look to these lists before reaching in your pocket for a coin to flip. The teams I've denoted with an asterisk (*) are those whose statistical ranking might be higher or lower than the actual quality of their defense. In other words - don't be too afraid of the Raiders pass defense.

Rushing Defense

1. Cowboys
2. Vikings
3. Chargers
4. Seahawks
5. Steelers

28. Browns
29. Jets
30. Texans
31. Raiders
32. Colts

Passing Defense

1. Raiders*
2. Chargers
3. Colts
4. Chiefs
5. Dolphins

28. Eagles
29. Seahawks*
30. Lions
31. Texans
32. Packers

That's about it for this week folks. Choose wisely and if all else fails blame it on your draft position.