New Orleans Saints (4-1) vs. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
Preview
The Saints march into Baltimore on Sunday with an opportunity to really cement themselves as one of the best teams in the NFL. The Saints’ offense has been amazing to this point, but the Ravens are one of the best defenses in the NFL. This may very well be the case of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. If the Ravens can force the Saints into a few turnovers, this game could be anyone’s to claim.
Players to watch
The Saints will look to get Alvin Kamara more involved this week after limited usage in week 5 and a bye. The Ravens do not have the speed at linebacker to cover him effectively out of the backfield. Michael Thomas should also have a field day if Marlon Humphrey is not 100%. Drew Brees is always a threat to throw for 4 touchdowns, so the Ravens will have to make him uncomfortable in the pocket. Alex Collins and Buck Allen will have to be at the top of their games so that the Ravens can keep the ball out of Brees’ hands. In the passing game, Joe Flacco will have to find Michael Crabtree against the smaller Saints corners.
Keys to the game
New Orleans Saints
Get Kamara touches
Do not get beat on blitzes
Stuff the run on defense
Baltimore Ravens
Control the tempo of the game
Get to Drew Brees
Win the turnover battle
Injury list
New Orleans Saints
Ted Ginn Jr., WR - Knee (IR)
Andrus Peat, T - Head (Out)
Taylor Stallworth, DT - Ankle (Out)
Jermon Bushrod, OT - No Injury Reported (Questionable)
Larry Warford, OG - Back (Questionable)
Baltimore Ravens
Anthony Averett, DB - Hamstring (Questionable)
Alex Lewis, G - Neck (Out)
Anthony Levine, LB - Hamstring (Questionable)
Marlon Humphrey, CB - Thigh (Questionable)
Top 5 Fantasy Players
Michael Thomas, WR (NO)
Alvin Kamara, RB (NO)
Michael Crabtree, WR (BAL)
Drew Brees, QB (BAL)
Alex Collins, RB (BAL)
Prediction
The Saints will come into Baltimore and take out the Ravens’ mighty defense. Joe Flacco is not equipped to win a shootout of any kind, and it’s inevitable that Drew Brees puts up points. The Ravens must control the tempo of the game if they even want a chance to win. But at the end of the day, the Saints simply have too many weapons to stop.
Final Score: Saints 38, Ravens 17
Written by: Jake Leicht
Dallas Cowboys (3-3) vs. Washington Redskins (3-2)
Preview
Entering week 7, the Washington Redskins find themselves a half-game ahead of Dallas and Philadelphia for the division lead. Dallas, coming off a surprising blowout of the Jaguars the previous week, will travel to FedEx Field on Sunday to try to get their first road win of the season. Through 6 games, the Cowboys are 0-3 on the road, averaging 275 yds/game and just 12.3 ppg (compared to 3-0 at home, 364 yds/game, and 28.6 ppg). Washington is currently 2-1 at home on the year after earning a hard-fought win over the Panthers in week 6, making up for their no-show in New Orleans the previous week. Division matchups are always a priority for all teams, but they are particularly so this season for a mediocre NFC East, where 8 or 9 wins may be enough to take the division. Washington is trying to beat Dallas at home for the first time in six years.
Players to watch
It’s no secret that the Cowboys’ offense runs through Ezekiel Elliott, who trails only Todd Gurley for the league lead in rushing. The Redskins have been solid against the run so far, giving up the fourth-fewest rushing yards in the league up to this point. Jonathan Allen and Da’Ron Payne will need to continue to anchor the run defense against a Cowboys offensive line that is coming off its best performance of the season. Look for Dak Prescott to stay active in the rushing attack too, coming off 11 carries for 82 yards last week. With Chris Thompson and Jamison Crowder unlikely to play, Alex Smith is going to look for his tight ends Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis, who have had productive games against Dallas in recent years.
Keys to the game
Dallas Cowboys
Get Elliott the ball in space
Keep Alex Smith in the pocket
Continue using Prescott in the running game
Washington Redskins
Make Dallas one-dimensional (stop Elliott)
Pressure/blitz Prescott
Win time of possession
Injury list
Dallas Cowboys
Tavon Austin, WR - Groin (Out)
Joe Thomas, LB - Foot (Out)
Chidobe Awuzie, CB - Ankle (Questionable)
Washington Redskins
Jamison Crowder, WR - Ankle (Out)
Troy Apke, S - Hamstring (Doubtful)
Paul Richardson, WR - Shoulder/Knee (Doubtful)
Danny Johnson, CB - Forearm (Questionable)
Shawn Lauvao, OG - Calf (Questionable)
Adrian Peterson, RB - Ankle/Shoulder (Questionable)
Quinton Dunbar, CB - Shin (Questionable)
Chris Thompson, RB - Rib/Knee (Questionable)
Top 5 Fantasy Players
Ezekiel Elliott, RB (DAL)
Jordan Reed, TE (WAS)
Cole Beasley, WR (DAL)
Alex Smith, QB (WAS)
Dak Prescott, QB (DAL)
Prediction
The Cowboys and Redskins are the third and fourth rated scoring defenses, respectively. Combined with the inconsistencies shown by each offense throughout this season, don’t expect a pretty game offensively. Each team plays better with a lead, so whichever team can get off to a faster start will be in great position to secure a win and be in first place in the NFC East as we near the halfway point of the season. Dallas has won five in a row in Washington and seven of the last ten meetings. Prescott and the offense will carry the momentum built last week and grind out a win to make it six in a row in Washington.
Final Score: Cowboys 27, Redskins 20
Written by: Greg Lehr
Los Angeles Rams (6-0) vs. San Francisco 49ers (1-5)
Preview
Entering week 7, the Rams find themselves as the lone undefeated team in the league, with San Francisco filling in at the other end of the spectrum. After scoring 30 points on the road in a tough week 6 matchup, it was the 49er defense that gave way to Aaron Rodgers in the final 2 minutes of the game. Now, against the Rams’ potent offense, they may be facing their most difficult task all season. The Rams can score from anywhere on the field, utilizing the plethora of weapons at head coach Sean McVay’s disposal. This NFC west showdown will serve as a daunting task for second year quarterback C.J. Beathard and head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Players to watch
LA’s Todd Gurley is coming off the best game of his career. Fed 28 times, he took advantage of his opportunities by accruing 208 yards on 7.4 yards per carry, while crossing the goal line twice. The 49ers will need to do everything in their power to stop Gurley, but in doing so, they could give way to the explosive Rams passing attack led by Jared Goff. Without his safety blanket in Cooper Kupp this week, a lot will fall on the shoulders of receivers Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks. Richard Sherman will have his hands full covering them, but will be looking for redemption after last week’s torching. Matt Breida has been the rock in San Francisco's offense and he will need to continue his electric play. C.J. Beathard will need to build off the performance he put together last week. The Rams secondary is beat up and their linebackers struggle in space, so look for tight end George Kittle to have a solid performance on Sunday.
Keys to the game
Los Angeles Rams
Feed Todd Gurley
Control the Clock
Stop Matt Breida
Pressure C.J. Beathard
San Francisco 49ers
Protect the Ball
Stop Todd Gurley
Force takeaways
Red Zone Defense
Injury list
Los Angeles Rams
Cooper Kupp, WR - Knee (Out)
San Francisco 49ers
Pierre Garcon, WR - Shoulder, Knee (Questionable)
Richard Sherman, CB - Calf (Questionable)
Trent Taylor, WR - Back (Questionable)
K’Waun Williams, CB - Shoulder (Questionable)
Ahkello Witherspoon, CB - Concussion (Questionable)
Dante Pettis, WR - Knee (Doubtful)
Jimmie Ward, S - Hamstring (Out)
Top 5 Fantasy Players
Todd Gurley
Jared Goff
Brandin Cooks
Matt Breida
Robert Woods
Prediction
San Francisco has given up 29.8 points per game and will be playing an offense that has generated over 32 points in each contest. While the 49ers will put all their energy into stopping Todd Gurley, Jared Goff will have a field day against the league's 26th ranked pass defense. C.J. Beathard is coming into week 7 with 8 career games started and only 1 win. Make no mistake, this will be one of the most difficult games the 49ers play all year, and it won’t be a very pretty one to watch. Expect the Rams to take over early and dominate with Gurley to control the clock.
Final Score: Rams 38, 49ers 23
Written by: Jason Feiner
Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)
Preview
This week’s Sunday Night Football matchup features two division leaders in the AFC. Both of these teams are also coming off very close losses. The Chiefs will be looking to get back on track after suffering their first loss of the season to the Patriots. Meanwhile, the Bengals are looking to bounce back from a tough divisional loss to the Steelers and increase their lead in the division. The Bengals are in a tough spot in this one, as they are on the road in a difficult environment. They have had a history of struggling in primetime games. This will be a true test to see if this team is legit or not.
Players to watch
If the Bengals want any chance of winning this game, they will need a big game from quarterback Andy Dalton. He will be facing a struggling Chiefs secondary that has been giving up over 340 yards per game through the air. I look for AJ Green to be a huge threat, as he will be match up up against either Kendall Fuller or Steven Nelson, both of who are no better than average at their position. For the Chiefs, we know their passing attack is dangerous, but they will also look for Kareem Hunt to get something going on the ground in order to establish a balanced attack.
Keys to the game
Cincinnati Bengals
Attack through the air
Capitalize on big play opportunities
Get pressure on Mahomes
Kansas City Chiefs
Establish the run
Protect Mahomes
Create turnovers
Injury list
Cincinnati Bengals
Nick Vigil, LB - MCL (Out)
Shawn Williams, SS - Concussion (Questionable)
Tyler Kroft, TE - Foot (Out)
Billy Price, C - Foot (Out)
Giovani Bernard, RB - MCL (Out)
Darqueze Dennard, CB - Shoulder (Out)
Kansas City Chiefs
Eric Berry, SS - Heel (Doubtful)
Justin Houston, OLB - Hamstring (Doubtful)
Mitch Morse, C - Concussion (Out)
Tanoh Kpassagnon, LB - Ankle (Questionable)
Eric Murray, S - Ankle (Questionable)
Top 5 Fantasy Players
Tyreek Hill, WR (KC)
Patrick Mahomes, QB (KC)
Kareem Hunt, RB (KC)
AJ Green, WR (CIN)
Joe Mixon, RB (CIN)
Prediction
I believe that the Bengals’ struggles in primetime games will continue. They will have a couple early scores to keep things interesting, but the Chiefs will pull away soon enough. Mahomes will have yet another big game and the Bengals won’t be able to keep up on the scoreboard. Chiefs win by multiple scores to extend their lead at the top of the AFC.
Final Score: Chiefs 38, Bengals 17
Written by: Ryan Lippert