Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

WIDE RECEIVERS – START ‘EM

Steve Smith (New York Giants) vs. Arizona

As Eli Manning goes, so does his star receiver. Steve Smith had his worst game of the young season against the New Orleans Saints last week, and fantasy owners can expect a solid rebound from him in week 7. Prior to week 6, his worst fantasy output was 7 points, so you know that Smith can give you the consistent numbers that every fantasy owner looks for in a wide out. Much like Eli Manning’s Start ‘Em, the Cardinals are second to last in pass defense and they are flying cross country to play the Giants, can you say Steve Smith, touchdown?

Sidney Rice (Minnesota Vikings) @ Pittsburgh

Just in case you’ve been out of the country for the past few weeks, Rice has now become a fantasy WR. He has a great relationship with Brett Favre and is quickly developing into the #1 WR in Minnesota, ahead of Bernard Berrian. Rice is in his magical third season, and the past 4 weeks, he has proven his worth averaging almost 12 fantasy points per week. The Steelers aren’t bad against the pass (especially with Polamalu in the line-up), but Favre should be looking Rice’s direction, so 60 yards and a TD seem easily reachable.

Johnny Knox (Chicago Bears) @ Cincinnati

The Bengals are allowing 255 passing yards and 1.5 passing TDs per game, so they haven’t been too strong in that category. While some would like Hester in this match-up, the Bengals have limited almost every #1 receiver (sans Andre Johnson in week 6) to pretty bad numbers (Brandon Marshall, 27 yards; Greg Jennings, 0 yards; Santonio Holmes, 18 yards; Braylon Edwards and Derrick Mason, 0 yards). Whether the Bengals are double-covering the main receiver or not, it is #2 and #3 WRs that are flourishing against the Bengals pass defense. Knox fits into that mold, and should be a solid bye-week replacement for this week 7 match-up.

Austin Collie (Indianapolis Colts) @ St. Louis

A fast receiver that plays the slot for the Colts and has a good relationship with Peyton Manning; sounds like Brandon Stokley. Well, Collie, a rookie WR out of BYU is very similar to him; runs great routes and has some fantastic hands as evidenced by his first ever TD catch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qydejk4k_E @ :36 in). Indoors in St. Louis, Collie’s speed should be a huge asset, and Manning will be looking his way often along with receivers Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Dallas Clark. In fact, we think all four of them should post good fantasy numbers in week 7.

TIGHT ENDS – START ‘EM

Heath Miller (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Minnesota

Heath Miller has re-made himself into a fantasy tight end again. Miller and Roethlisberger have a solid relationship and Big Ben trusts Miller, which bodes well against the 24th ranked Vikings pass defense. Heath Miller is a great fantasy play for week 7 since the Vikings cannot cover the TE. Todd Heap posted 51 yards against them last week, and they have also allowed big games to Jermichael Finley (128 yards and a TD), and Vernon Davis (96 yards and 2 TDs).

KICKERS – START ‘EM

John Kasay (Carolina Panthers) vs. Buffalo

The Panthers have been the opposite of fantasy gold this season, while RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have been solid, nobody else is even worth rostering at this time (WR Steve Smith included. Don’t drop him, we’re just saying!). John Kasay makes for a nice play in week 7 against the Buffalo Bills defense that has given up an average of 7 kicker points a week in the last 3 weeks. We think the Panthers will be able to move the ball, but struggle to punch it in, meaning that John Kasay could be a decent pickup with all the bye weeks.

DEFENSES – START ‘EM

Indianapolis Colts D/ST @ St. Louis

Bob Sanders is coming back to being an already solid defense, coming off a bye week, AND going against the St. Louis Rams? Start them with the utmost confidence! They have freaks on the defensive line (against a weak offensive line), and they are playing a turnover prone offense with very few playmakers. We realize we’re just listing the obvious now, but we really needn’t say more. Start the Colts.

Week 7 Rankings:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  |  K  |  DEF  (click to read)

Week 7 Start & Sit:  START ‘EM  |  SIT ‘EM    (click to read)

Week 7 Waiver Wire Advice:  PICK THEM UP  |  CUT THEM LOOSE    (click to read)

————————

Don’t forget to head over to our Fantasy Football Message Board and sign-up for a FREE FORUM account. By doing so you will be able to talk fantasy football all season long.