With six teams on bye and many falling victim to flu season, the usually lucky Week 7 is drawing near.

There was plenty of offense in Week 6, spearheaded by six 350-yard passers, a 210-yard rushing performance from aging Jets running back Thomas Jones and a few unbelievable catches from current and former Double-D Wisconsin players -- Driver and Daniels. What's next in Week 7? How about an encore?

While you wait for those Sunday and Monday encore performances, enjoy this week's fantasy forecast. It features the usual player watch, a few fantasy heroes and villains, some burning questions answered by the RapidDraft.com expert writers, some IDP insight, and a Packers-Browns game breakdown. You could also visit RapidDraft.com and sign-up for the RD Weekly contest for a shot at the $50K weekly prize.

Good luck.

WEEK 7 PLAYER WATCH
New England quarterback Tom Brady -- "It's about time!" Brady finally put up numbers worth cheering in Week 6 as he recorded his first 300-yard game since destroying Buffalo in Week 1 and threw for as many touchdowns (6) as he had thrown for in five weeks leading up to last week's shredding of the Titans' secondary. This week, Brady and the Pats' offense head south to face an 0-6 Buccaneers defense that not only ranks 30th in the NFL in passing touchdowns allowed (13), but also in rushing yards allowed per game (171.7). Because the Bucs rank 30th in rushing yards allowed per game, they rank ninth in passing yards allowed per game. Brady has the hot hand, but what will Mr. Belicheck want to do against a weak run defense?

St. Louis running back Steven Jackson -- How bad is the Rams offense? Considering that Jackson hasn't scored a single touchdown this season, even though he has totaled 671 yards of offense, should give an indication of how awful it is. There is good news this week; the Rams are at home, where Jackson has averaged 100.5 yards per game on the ground. The bad news is that they're playing the Colts, who are not only 14th in the NFL against the run on defense, but are fifth in offensive points scored per game (27.4) while the Rams are dead last averaging just 9.0 per game. Will Jackson finally lunge over the pylon? Can he continue to produce consistent numbers? And how much will he contribute to the passing game once the Colts grab a huge lead?

Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald -- There are a few lustrous numbers that make Fitzgerald a salient fantasy player to watch against the New York Giants. In 2008, Fitzgerald recorded at least five receptions in all four games against NFC East teams and scored four touchdowns; three came on the road. This season, the Giants are allowing a league-low 147.3 passing yards per game, but were gashed by their second real NFL quarterback, Drew Brees, for 369 yards and four touchdowns. What am I saying? Simple: With the exception of Tony Romo and Drew Brees the Giants haven't played any tough quarterbacks, or offenses for that matter, this season. Fitzgerald is coming off a few big performances and the Arizona offense is rolling. The Cardinals may not win the game, but Fitzgerald may win a few fantasy games this week.

Week 7 Fantasy Heroes and Villains
("Transformers" style)
It's time to take a chance and have some fun. Since the new "Transformers" movie was just released on video, this is a great time to do some fantasy heroes and villains for Week 7 and throw in a few comparisons.

Heroes (Autobots)
Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning (Ultimate Optimus Prime) -- There are three things going for this Manning this week. First, he's leading a Colts offense coming off a bye week. Second, he has recorded five consecutive 300-yard games and the Colts are 5-0. And finally, he's playing a Rams defense ranked 26th in passing yards allowed per game (252.0), and 30th in points allowed per game (28.2). Manning is currently the Optimus Prime of fantasy football, but you add a few Jetfire-like pieces, aka the Rams horrid defense, and you may just have the ultimate, enhanced Optimus Manning. Projection: 350 yards, four touchdown passes.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Bumblebee) -- There is no better fit for Mr. Rodgers than Bumblebee. He can get walloped all game long and still not be fantasy fazed. Against Minnesota and Detroit in Weeks 4 and 6 (Week 5 was a bye), he was sacked a combined 13 times, yet he threw for 350-plus yards and two touchdowns in each of those games. This week, he gets to face the putrid Browns defense. He should have no problem playing hero this week, even if Wimbley and company get to him five times. Projection: 320 yards and three touchdown passes.

Miami running back Ronnie Brown (Ironhide) -- Much like Ironhide, Brown is the weapons specialist of fantasy football, at least for this week. The Dolphins runner can do it all -- run, catch, and throw tight spirals. This week at home against the undefeated Saints, Brown will have to do it all if the Dolphins want to knock off possibly the hottest team in the NFL. Also keep in mind that Miami is coming off a bye, so Brown is well-rested. Projection: 175 total yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 1 receiving touchdown.

Carolina running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart (Mudflap and Skids) -- The timing on this comparison couldn't be better. Williams and Stewart are coming off their first simultaneously 100-yard performance of the season. That's right -- both runners dashed and rumbled for more than 100 yards each against the Buccaneers last week. Next up is the 32nd-ranked Bills defense at home. When these two Panthers runners are on, they can destroy any defense, especially one that has allowed 218.2 rushing yards per game thus far this season. Projection: 230 combined rushing yards, 3 total touchdowns.

Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward (Ratchet) -- Clearly, Ward has been the "medic" for the Steelers offense this season. He leads the NFL in receptions (41) and receiving yards (599), and is fifth in the league with 24 first downs. He fixes the Pittsburgh offense when it finds itself slumping, and could be Big Ben Roethlisberger's most reliable target. This week, he finds himself matched up against a Vikings defense that has allowed 248.3 passing yards per game and has surrendered nine touchdowns through the air. Projection: 7 receptions, 96 yards, two touchdowns.

Villains (Decepticons)

Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre (The Fallen) -- Besides being the elder statesman, in some eyes he has betrayed his original family -- the Green Bay Packers -- and is looking for revenge, much like The Fallen. The only problem for Favre this week is that he's facing his first real test against a heavy pass rush on the road, and outside in the elements, no less. The Steelers rank second in the NFL with 17 team sacks and tenth in passing yards allowed per game (200.7). Megatron can't even save him. Projection: 185 passing yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions. 

Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson (Megatron) -- As most already know, Mr. Peterson is extremely talented and evil; have you seen the Nike Pro Combat commercial? However, neither his talents nor his apparel/weapons will do him any good this week against the Steelers defense. It's the same Steelers defense that ranks second in rushing yards allowed per game (74.5), and first in rushing touchdowns allowed (1) for the season. Plus, this game will be played in the Steel City. Projection: 68 rushing yards, 0 touchdowns.

Philadelphia wide receiver Desean Jackson (Starscream): Jackson can fly down the field; not at Mach 2.8 speed, but fast enough to be a concern for opposing defenses. And while the Eagles high-flyer has been a solid fantasy contributor thus far this season, he had terrible showings against the Redskins in 2008; a combination of three receptions for 22 yards in two games. How can you go against the numbers here? Projection: 4 receptions, 40 yards.

New York running back Brandon Jacobs (Devastator) -- It's fitting that Jacobs is the Devastator this week considering his power style of running. He may run over a few Cardinals defensive backs, but he'll ultimately be destroyed by the Cardinals front four. Arizona as a team defense ranks first in rushing yards allowed per game (59.6) and yards per carry (2.8). Jacobs' continual struggles to get on track will continue this week. Projection: 47 rushing yards, 0 touchdowns.

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