Much of the same madness fantasy football owners have experienced all season occurred in Week 7, as Cleo Lemon, Brian Griese and Wes Welker made up three of the top 10 overall performances. But for the first time in what seems like forever, two of the top three overall selections in most drafts lived up to statistical expectations.
LaDainian Tomlinson scored four times against Oakland, and Larry Johnson rushed for 119 yards and one touchdown (he would have had two had he not fumbled at the goal line), so there is at least some semblance of a normal week. Quarterbacks continued to dominate the boxscores overall, as five of the top nine performances of the week came from the position.
No signal-caller had more points than Tom Brady, who scored 43 points on a career-best five touchdown passes against Dallas. Derek Anderson scored 34 points and continues to be the definition of a sleeper for 2007. Undrafted in most formats, Anderson is on pace to finish with an unbelievable 43 total touchdowns.
Lemon scored four touchdowns and 30 points, but that success will be short-lived based on a matchup against New England in Week 7. Griese (27 points) and Matt Hasselbeck (25 points) rounded out the top five. Drew Brees, who was eighth at the position with 21 points, showed signs of life with 246 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Seattle.
Some of the surprises of Week 7 included Damon Huard (22 points), Jason Campbell (18 points) and the ageless Vinny Testaverde, who scored 14 points and led Carolina to a road win. Huard and Campbell both warrant consideration for Week 7, but Testaverde's status as the Panthers' No. 1 quarterback remains uncertain with David Carr in the mix.
One of the major quarterback stories occured in Arizona, where Kurt Warner sustained what could be a strained left elbow. With Matt Leinart (collarbone) out for the season, the Cards might have to lean on journeyman Tim Rattay as their starter. That could be a detriment to the value of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Warner will have an MRI this week to determine the extend of the damage.
While Tomlinson (44 points) and Larry Johnson (17 points) both had improved numbers, the real tale of the weekend for backs was Adrian Peterson. He rushed for 224 yards on 20 carries (11.2 YPC) and scored three touchdowns in a win over Chicago. This week was also a good one for Maurice Jones-Drew, who scored 29 points on 184 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against Houston. DeAngelo Williams (18 points) broke out in Arizona with 121 yards and one touchdown and rounds out the top five backs.
The wide receiver position was led by T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who scored 26 points on 145 yards and two touchdowns. Wes Welker was solid for the Patriots with 124 yards, two touchdowns and 24 points, and Braylon Edwards continued to be a star with three more touchdowns and 24 points of his own.
