Week 7 Quarterbacks: start/sit

October 23, 6:25 PMBoston Fantasy Sports ExaminerMark Fuery

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Brady's record breaking performance led his owners to victory. Who is the top pick this week?

(AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Last week was a big one for many of the top quarterbacks, especially New England’s own Tom Brady.

Brady had yet another record breaking performance when he threw for five touchdowns in one quarter. He left the game early in the third quarter with 380 yards and six touchdowns, making him the top fantasy quarterback of the week.

This week can be another good one for quarterbacks as many of the top signal callers have favorable matchups.

In what looks to be the week of the QB, here are some you would definitely want in your lineup.

Top pick of the week:

There is a group of elite quarterbacks who can all make a case for the top spot. Brady would almost certainly be the choice if he didn’t have to deal with flying “across the pond” to play the Bucs, and Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger are certainly in that must-start category as well.

But the one who will sit atop all of them this week is Peyton Manning. The Colts face one of the NFL’s worst teams in the St. Louis Rams. The Rams can’t cover, they can’t tackle, and they certainly can’t contain Manning.

Manning is averaging 329 yards per game so far this year, and you can expect him to be right around there again when he has yet another good fantasy match-up.

Others to start:

Matt Ryan, ATL, @ DAL: If you don’t have Manning, Brady, Rodgers or any of the other no-brainers of the week, Ryan isn’t that big of a step back.

Ryan is one of those players who is better on the real field than the fantasy sheet on most weeks, but this time Ryan is primed for a huge day.

The Falcons have struggled to run the ball at times this year, and Dallas is giving up 251.4 passing yards per game. Also worth noting is the fact that the Cowboys are having trouble getting pressure on the quarterback. That trend should continue this week as DeMarcus Ware will be at less than 100 percent with a stress fracture in his foot.

The Falcons passing game is clicking and the Cowboys are vulnerable. Ryan should come up huge this week.

Tony Romo, DAL, vs ATL: Ryan won’t be the only quarterback having a big game in Dallas this Sunday.

Tony Romo has been taking a good amount of the heat for Dallas’ disappointing start, but none of that matters in fantasy. Romo may not be leading his team to victory, but he has his fantasy owners in position to win every week.

His 268.2 yards-per-game is the highest of his career and he is facing a Falcons secondary that has trouble covering anyone and everyone. Atlanta is giving up an average 241 passing yards, and that is figuring in games against poor passing teams like Miami and San Francisco.

Roy Williams should be back in the Cowboys’ starting lineup, and Tony Romo should be in yours.

Jay Cutler, CHI, @ CIN: The Bengals pass defense started out strong, but it has come crashing back down to earth in recent weeks. They now have the fifth worst passing defense in the NFL, and that only figures to get worse with their top pass rusher, Antwan Odom, out for the season with an Achilles injury.

All of this means a big day for Cutler. He is fresh off his first 300 yard game as a Bear, and is averaging two touchdowns per game. This week you can expect Cutler to approach both of those numbers. 300 and two scores is certainly in reach.

Who to sit:

Donovan McNabb, PHI, @ WAS: It is no secret that the Redskins look awful as a whole, but their pass defense has been among the league’s best so far. That could mean bad things for McNabb.

Last week McNabb was frustrated by an average Raiders defense, only completing 47.8 percent of his passes while failing to get his team into the end zone. This week we can see a repeat performance.

McNabb has been no better than average so far this year, at least from a fantasy standpoint. In a week where there are loads of good match-ups, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding someone better than McNabb.

Brett Favre, MIN, @ PIT: Favre has looked like the Favre of old, as opposed to the old Favre so far in 2009. This week that will all change as the now-healthy Steelers defense reminds the Vikings why they are the defending Super Bowl Champions.

The Steelers pass rush will be all over Favre all day, forcing him to force throws, in typical Favre fashion. This doesn’t bode well for his owners.

Favre has only thrown two interceptions this year, he will at least double that total in Pittsburgh this week. Find someone else.

Chad Henne, MIA, vs. NO: Henne may look like a decent sleeper pick this week, especially with six teams on a bye, but he shouldn’t be in your lineup.

His big arm looks appealing, especially with his speedy receivers. He should also get plenty of chances to throw since the Dolphins will have to find a way to keep up with Drew Brees and the Saints.

The problem with this match-up is the fact that the Saints actually have a very good defense this season. They have 11 interceptions while only giving up five touchdowns through the air. Teams much better than the Dolphins have tried to keep up with them only to go home disappointed. Stay away.

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