Reviewing Week 7

Star Of Stars

QB: Drew Brees – Landing in this spot just two weeks ago, Brees didn’t waste time in coming back. Owners who didn’t panic after the first few weeks are reaping the benefits of Brees at his finest – 377 passing yards and 4 TDs (and 1 INT). Brees will be flinging it the entire season, so enjoy the fantasy dividends he will provide.

RB: Adrian Peterson – Hard to believe AD suffered from a nasty knee injury in December of 2011, especially after watching him go for 153 yards and a TD on 23 carries. Make no mistake – AP is back!  Doubt him at your own peril, and enjoy watching the best RB of this generation.

WR: Vincent Jackson –.Often star wide receivers who switch teams during free agency struggle in their first year with their new team. VJax has had no such issues, with Sunday’s game as exhibit A – 7 catches for 216 yards and a TD. The Chargers certainly miss his production as well. Expect Jackson to continue putting up good numbers – he should be viewed as a strong WR2.

TE: Rob Gronkowski – No surprise for Gronkowski to make multiple visits to this space. Just another ho-hum day for Gronk, with 6 catches for 78 yards and 2 TDs. The Patriots are a well-oiled machine, and each week, the only question is which skill player(s) will put up fantastic numbers for the week. With high expectations after last year’s breakout season, Gronk hasn’t disappointed.

Unforeseen Explosions

QB: Josh Freeman –.Maybe facing the Saints defense should disqualify a player from landing here as a top performer. Freeman most likely put up season best numbers on Sunday (although he does get one more crack at the Saints later this season) – 420 yards and 3 TDs. The Freeman we’re seeing this season appears to be closer to the real thing than what we saw last year. Freeman is a quality fantasy backup QB, with occasional spot start status against poor defenses.

RB: Larod Stephens-Howling –.Stephens-Howling has run with the starting RB position (pun intended) since Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams were lost to injury. LSH also helped in the passing game, catching four balls for 45 yards, while rushing for over 100 yards and a TD. Stephens-Howling should be rostered in all leagues, and he should continue to put up RB2 level numbers if he continues to serve as the Cardinals’ featured back.

WR: Andre Roberts –.Sticking with the Cardinals, Andre Roberts has developed into the clear number 2 receiver for the team. No doubt Roberts benefits from having Larry Fitzgerald on the opposite side, and fantasy owners should take notice – 7 catches for 103 yards and a TD will force you to do just that. Roberts is for real, and he profiles as no worse than a WR3 going forward. Add him if he’s available in your league.

TE: Logan Paulsen – Paulsen was the benefactor of Fred Davis’ unfortunate season-ending injury. We don’t have much history to go on, but any tight end who catches passes from RGIII deserves at least a look. Paulsen had 4 catches for 76 yards, but did not find the end zone. Paulsen is an interesting player to keep an eye on, but as of now, there’s not enough information to make Paulsen a strong add. But this can change.

Expletive of the Week

Matthew Stafford – So it took 59 minutes for Stafford to find the end zone against the Bears. Sure, the Bears are a top defense, but come on – Stafford had 41 TDs last season, and through 6 games played (he missed a game earlier this season), Stafford sits at 5 TDs.  He’s got top 5 talent and the world’s best receiver – there is no excuse for this drop off in performance. Hopefully Stafford can get it together for the remainder of the season.

Week 8 Rankings

Quarterbacks

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (Jaguars)

2. Drew Brees, Saints (at Broncos)

3. Robert Griffin III, Redskins (at Steelers)

4. Tom Brady, Patriots (at Rams)

5. Peyton Manning, Broncos (Saints)

6. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (Redskins)

7. Michael Vick, Eagles (Falcons)

8. Matt Ryan, Falcons (at Eagles)

9. Tony Romo, Cowboys (Giants)

10. Eli Manning, Giants (at Cowboys)

11. Philip Rivers, Chargers (at Browns)

12. Andrew Luck, Colts (at Titans)

13. Cam Newton, Panthers (at Bears)

14. Matthew Stafford, Lions (Seahawks)

15. Carson Palmer, Raiders (at Chiefs)

16. Christian Ponder, Vikings (Buccaneers)

17. Jay Cutler, Bears (Panthers)

18. Sam Bradford, Rams (Patriots)

19. Josh Freeman, Buccaneers (at Vikings)

20. Brandon Weeden, Browns (Chargers)

Running Backs

1. Adrian Peterson, Vikings (Buccaneers)

2. LeSean McCoy, Eagles (Cardinals)

3. Ryan Mathews, Chargers (at Browns)

4. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs (Raiders)

5. Matt Forte, Bears (Panthers)

6. Alfred Morris, Redskins (at Steelers)

7. Darren McFadden, Raiders (at Chiefs)

8. Willis McGahee, Broncos (Saints)

9. Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants (at Cowboys)

10. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks (at Lions)

11. Chris Johnson, Titans (Colts)

12. Michael Turner, Falcons (at Eagles)

13. Stevan Ridley, Patriots (at Rams)

14. Frank Gore, 49ers (at Cardinals)

15. Doug Martin, Buccaneers (at Vikings)

16. Darren Sproles, Saints (at Broncos)

17. Trent Richardson, Browns (Chargers)

18. Reggie Bush, Dolphins (at Jets)

19. Rashad Jennings, Jaguars (at Packers)

20. Jonathan Dwyer, Steelers (Redskins)

21. Vick Ballard, Colts (at Titans)

22. Shonn Greene, Jets (Dolphins)

23. Mikel Leshoure, Lions (Seahawks)

24. Pierre Thomas, Saints (at Broncos)

25. Felix Jones, Cowboys (Giants)

Wide Receivers

1. Victor Cruz, Giants (at Cowboys)

2. Brandon Marshall, Bears (Panthers)

3. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos (Saints)

4. Percy Harvin, Vikings (Buccaneers)

5. Jordy Nelson, Packers (Jaguars)

6. Calvin Johnson, Lions (Seahawks)

7. Roddy White, Falcons (at Eagles)

8. Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers (at Vikings)

9. Reggie Wayne, Colts (at Titans)

10. Wes Welker, Patriots (at Rams)

11. Julio Jones, Falcons (at Eagles)

12. Marques Colston, Saints (at Broncos)

13. Mike Wallace, Steelers (Redskins)

14. Eric Decker, Broncos (Saints)

15. Antonio Brown, Steelers (Redskins)

16. Randall Cobb, Packers (Jaguars)

17. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (Giants)

18. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs (Raiders)

19. Miles Austin, Cowboys (Giants)

20. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (49ers)

21. Denarius Moore, Raiders (at Chiefs)

22. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles (Falcons)

23. Brandon Lloyd, Patriots (at Rams)

24. DeSean Jackson, Eagles (Falcons)

25. Mike Williams, Buccaneers (at Vikings)

Tight Ends

1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (at Rams)

2. Jimmy Graham, Saints (at Broncos)

3. Aaron Hernandez, Patriots (at Rams)

4. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons (at Eagles)

5. Antonio Gates, Chargers (at Browns)

6. Vernon Davis, 49ers (at Cardinals)

7. Martellus Bennett, Giants (at Cowboys)

8. Jason Witten, Cowboys (Giants)

9. Heath Miller, Steelers (Redskins)

10. Greg Olsen, Panthers (at Bears)

11. Brent Celek, Eagles (Falcons)

12. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (Buccaneers)

13. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions (Seahawks)

14. Jacob Tamme, Broncos (Saints)

15. Jared Cook, Titans (Colts)