Reviewing Week 6
Star of Stars
QB: Aaron Rodgers - With a primetime game against an undefeated team, Rodgers finally made owners remember why they used an early first round pick on the 2011 MVP. Rodgers threw six touchdowns for 338 yards to even eclipse the breakthrough performance from Robert Griffin III earlier in the day.
RB: Ahmad Bradshaw - While Ray Rice finished with more fantasy points than Bradshaw, the quality of the opponent and the workhorse nature of his 27 carries for 116 yards and a touchdown was far more impressive. We expect Rice to post 20 points every single week, but Bradshaw has been simply excellent over the past two weeks with 316 yards combined against the 49ers and Browns.
WR: Jordy Nelson - Nelson was a touchdown machine in 2011 and returned to that state against the Texans with three touchdowns and 121 yards. Which Nelson will we see moving forward? The one that was a non-factor against the Seahawks and Colts, or the reliable receiver he was against the Saints and Texans?
TE: Antonio Gates - Before the arrival of the Patriots' tight ends and Jimmy Graham, betting on Gates to finish with the most points at the position each week was like betting on Tiger Woods against the field. Gates caught two touchdowns from Philip Rivers in the first half and 81 yards overall.
Unforeseen Explosions
QB: Russell Wilson - While Josh Freeman was also a candidate, Wilson's 293 yard, three touchdown performance against the Patriots gets the nod here. Wilson has set a career best for yards in each of the past three weeks as the Seahawks open up the offense for him. Wilson will face a difficult test this week against the 49ers.
RB: Shonn Greene - Greene has always supposed to be a workhorse back capable of going for 161 yards and multiple touchdowns on a weekly basis. Greene had a strong performance in Week 1, but was a non-factor in the middle four games until his breakout game last week against the Colts.
WR: Dez Bryant - Everyone has always been high on the talent of Bryant, but questions lingered on how he would piece it all together on a consistent basis. Bryant caught 13 balls for 95 yards and two touchdowns, which comes off an eight-catch 105 yard performance in the ugly loss for the Cowboys against the Bears. The next four weeks against the Panthers, Giants, Falcons and Eagles will be a fascinating test to determine whether Bryant can become a reliable WR1.
TE: Tom Crabtree - Rodgers was able to involve Crabtree, who caught two balls for 62 yards and a touchdown. His other touchdown this season came on a fake field goal in Week 2, so this is not a waiver wire recommendation as long as Jermichael Finley remains in the picture.
Expletive of the Week
Philip Rivers - Rivers started off Week 6 extremely well with a pair of early touchdowns, but ended up with four interceptions to torpedo his owners.
Week 7 Projections
Quarterbacks
1. Aaron Rodger, Packers (at Saints)
2. Robert Griffin III, Redskins (at Giants)
3. Drew Brees, Saints (at Buccaneers)
4. Tom Brady, Patriots (Jets)
5. Eli Manning, Giants (Redskins)
6. Cam Newton, Panthers (Cowboys)
7. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (at Bengals)
8. Tony Romo, Cowboys (at Panthers)
9. Matthew Stafford, Lions (at Bears)
10. Andrew Luck, Colts (Browns)
11. Jay Cutler, Bears (Lions)
12. Carson Palmer, Raiders (Jaguars)
13. Andy Dalton, Bengals (Steelers)
14. Josh Freeman, Buccaneers (Saints)
15. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills (Titans)
16. Matt Schaub, Texans (Ravens)
17. Joe Flacco, Ravens (at Texans)
18. Christian Ponder, Vikings (Cardinals)
19. Alex Smith, 49ers (Seahawks)
20. Brandon Weeden, Browns (at Colts)
Running Backs
1. Arian Foster, Texans (Ravens)
2. Ray Rice, Ravens (at Texans)
3. Darren McFadden, Raiders (Jaguars)
4. Trent Richardson, Browns (at Colts)
5. Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants (Redskins)
6. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars (at Raiders)
7. Alfred Morris, Redskins (at Giants)
8. Matt Forte, Bears (Lions)
9. Stevan Ridley, Patriots (Jets)
10. C.J. Spiller, Bills (Titans)
11. Adrian Peterson, Vikings (Cardinals)
12. Felix Jones, Cowboys (at Panthers)
13. Doug Martin, Buccaneers (Saints)
14. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks (at 49ers)
15. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bengals (Steelers)
16. Chris Johnson, Titans (at Bills)
17. Frank Gore, 49ers (Seahawks)
18. Steven Jackson, Rams (Packers)
19. Darren Sproles, Saints (at Buccaneers)
20. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers (at Bengals)
21. Shonn Greene, Jets (at Patriots)
22. Alex Green, Packers (at Rams)
23. Fred Jackson, Bills (Titans)
24. Mikel Leshoure, Lions (at Bears)
25. William Powell, Cardinals (at Vikings)
26. Vick Ballard, Colts (Browns)
27. Pierre Thomas, Saints (at Buccaneers)
28. LeGarrette Blount, Buccaneers (Saints)
29. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers (Cowboys)
30. Danny Woodhead, Patriots (Jets)
Wide Receivers
1. A.J. Green, Bengals (Stelers)
2. Calvin Johnson, Lions (at Bears)
3. Victor Cruz, Giants (Redskins)
4. Percy Harvin, Vikings (Cardinals)
5. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (at Vikings)
6. Brandon Marshall, Bears (Lions)
7. Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers (Saints)
8. Jordy Nelson, Packers (at Rams)
9. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (at Panthers)
10. Wes Welker, Patriots (Jets)
11. Reggie Wayne, Colts (Browns)
12. Marques Colston, Saints (at Buccaneers)
13. Mike Wallace, Steelers (at Bengals)
14. Steve Smith, Panthers (Cowboys)
15. Andre Johnson, Texans (Ravens)
16. Steve Johnson, Bills (Titans)
17. Denarius Moore, Raiders (Jaguars)
18. Hakeem Nicks, Giants (Redskins)
19. Miles Austin, Cowboys (at Panthers)
20. Kenny Britt, Titans (at Bills)
21. James Jones, Packers (at Rams)
22. Brandon Lloyd, Patriots (Jets)
23. Torrey Smith, Ravens (at Texans)
24. Michael Crabtree, 49ers (Seahawks)
25. Randall Cobb, Packers (at Rams)
26. Antonio Brown, Steelers (at Bengals)
27. Andrew Hawkins, Bengals (Steelers)
28. Anquan Boldin, Ravens (at Texans)
29. Mike Williams, Buccaneers (Saints)
30. Josh Gordon, Browns (at Colts)
Tight Ends
1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (Jets)
2. Jimmy Graham, Saints (at Buccaneers)
3. Jason Witten, Cowboys (at Panthers)
4. Vernon Davis, 49ers (Seahawks)
5. Aaron Hernandez, Patriots (Jets)
6. Owen Daniels, Texans (Ravens)
7. Heath Miller, Steelers (at Bengals)
8. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (Cardinals)
9. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions (at Bears)
10. Scott Chandler, Bills (Titans)
11. Fred Davis, Redskins (at Giants)
12. Martellus Bennett, Giants (Redskins)
13. Greg Olsen, Panthers (Cowboys)
14. Jermaine Gresham, Bengals (Steelers)
15. Jared Cook, Titans (at Bills)