Heading into the remainder of Week 7, all eyes are on Peyton Manning's return to Indianapolis. However, fantasy owners might want to turn their eyes to the matchup in Philadelphia. Or Washington. Or New York. Sense a theme? The NFC East could once again prove to be fantasy gold mines. To the matchups we go!
Analysis: Don't sleep on Mike Glennon this week. He was solid last week against the Eagles and faces a vulnerable Falcons secondary. That makes Vincent Jackson another pick to excel in Week 7. You could see better numbers from Doug Martin this week, but he still could struggle to meet expectations. Matt Ryan is a risky start without his top two targets this week. Look for Tony Gonzalez to see a ton of passes thrown his way and is the best Atlanta fantasy option.
Analysis:Sam Bradford and the Rams offense has been too inconsistent for fantasy owners to trust anyone from that unit this week. If you're struggling to find a flex option, Zac Stacy is worth consideration, but temper your expectations. This is a solid matchup for the Panthers wideouts, meaning Brandon LaFell could continue his ascent within the Panthers offense and fantasy rankings. It's also a potentially big week for DeAngelo Williams -- one that hopefully sees him find the end zone.
Analysis: Last week, we welcomed A.J. Green back to fantasy relevance. Look for him to stay there this week. There's also the potential for both BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Gio Bernard to have decent production, although fantasy owners shouldn't go overboard with their expectations. Beware of Matthew Stafford this week against the Bengals secondary, but don't over-think starting Calvin Johnson. He should be in your lineup no matter what. You might also want to temper your expectations for Reggie Bush heading into Sunday.
Analysis: The Jaguars have been on "must-start against" status for awhile now -- especially when those starts are Philip Rivers and his red-hot Chargers offensive teammates. That means Antonio Gates and Keenan Allen, but could also extend to Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead and Vincent Brown as well. The story remains the same for Jacksonville: you're starting Justin Blackmon and playing the matchups with everyone else. In this case, the matchups are bad for Maurice Jones-Drew and the rest of his cohorts.
Analysis:Fred Jackson is in line to continue is stellar play. But against a suspect Dolphins run defense, C.J. Spiller could have success as well. It's hard to trust a Bills receiver as anything more than a flex play in this one. On the other hand, both Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline are in a good position to produce this week. If you're streaming kickers, give Caleb Sturgis a shot.
Analysis:Tom Brady possibly getting Rob Gronkowski back this weekend is good news, though Brady himself remains a cautious start. Don't be afraid to plug in Kenbrell Thompkins if you're in need of a WR2 or flex option. The Jets have been so-so against tight ends, but if you've waited this long to play Gronk, don't let that keep him on your bench. Beware anyone in the Jets passing game this week, but with Jerod Mayo now gone, it's worth taking a chance on Bilal Powell as a flex option in deeper leagues.
Analysis: This game has the makings of a fantasy bonanza. Tony Romo and his merry band of pass-catchers are quality options against a porous Eagles secondary. Joseph Randle will be the Cowboys RB of record this week, but he might not see enough touches to post big numbers. Feel free to roll with Nick Foles again this week. You're starting DeSean Jackson, but keep in mind that Dallas has slowed some quality receivers (Demaryius Thomas and Pierre Garcon) in recent weeks.
Analysis:Jay Cutler has been on a roll and there's little reason to think he'll slow down this week. Washington's lackluster defense will have a hard time keeping Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Matt Forte in check. Fantasy owners could also find good numbers from Alshon Jeffery this week. Alfred Morris bounced back last week and should have quality production again this week. Look for Pierre Garcon and Leonard Hankerson to have decent yardage days, though touchdowns could be hard to come by.
Analysis: This looks like a defensive struggle. If there's any name to watch, it's Frank Gore against the Titans run defense. At this point, Vernon Daivs is a must-start as the only viable target in the Niners passing game. Whether it's Jake Locker or Ryan Fitzpatrick, you're sitting them. In fact, it's hard to recommend starting any Titans offensive players against a San Francisco defense that has been rounding into shape in recent weeks.
Analysis: On paper, this is a good matchup for Brandon Weeden, but his tendency to throw interceptions should scare fantasy owners. However, don't be afraid of Josh Gordon, who has been a big playmaker since he made his season debut. Don't worry about who's playing and who's not ... start Aaron Rodgers. He's Aaron Rodgers. Don't over-think this. His receivers, however, are another story. Play Jordy Nelson with caution -- Joe Haden will be lurking.
Analysis:Case Keenum is picking a tough time to make his first career start. He'll face a tough secondary and a ferocious pass rush. While most fantasy owners won't be starting Keenum, this could have an adverse effect on Andre Johnson and Garrett Graham. Look for Houston to run Arian Foster early and often. Houston's defense has been vulnerable this season, but it likely won't be Alex Smith taking advantage of it. Week 7 should feature yet another heavy dose of Jamaal Charles.
Analysis: The Ravens have gotten away from the run lately and paid for it with losses. Ray Rice should be a big part of the offense this week against a suspect Steelers run defense. That could take away from Torrey Smith's opportunities. Nothing about this matchup looks good for the Pittsburgh offense. Baltimore's defense has improved every week since being carved up by Peyton Manning in the season opener. If you have better options, go with them.
Analysis: This is another game that could feature more than a few fantasy studs. At this point, anyone in Denver's offense is a must-start, regardless of what the matchups say. Von Miller might be back for the Broncos defense, but that shouldn't prevent you from rolling with Andrew Luck, Reggie Wayne or T.Y. Hilton. You can even consider Trent Richardson as a flex option this week.
Analysis: Another NFC East defense, another good fantasy matchup. You'd have to be in dire straits to consider Josh Freeman in his first Vikings start, but Greg Jennings has flex appeal this weekend. Similarly, Eli Manning's penchant for picks makes his a risky start, but his receivers -- Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Rueben Randle -- are all worth a look. This could even turn out to be another productive week for Brandon Jacobs.
Marcas Grant is a fantasy editor for NFL.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarcasG
