Week 7 Picks By: Mark Bunster

Matchups ------------------- Wk 17 Quarterbacks Wk 17 Running Backs Wk 17 Wide Receivers Wk 16 QBs Wk 16 RBs Wk 16 WRs Wk 15 QBs Wk 15 RBs Wk 15 WRs Wk 14 QBs Wk 14 RBs Wk 14 WRs Wk 13 QBs Wk 13 RBs Wk 13 WRs Wk 12 QBs Wk 12 RBs Wk 12 WRs Wk 11 QBs Wk 11 RBs Wk 11 WRs Wk 10 QBs Wk 10 RBs Wk 10 WRs Wk 9 QBs Wk 9 RBs Wk 9 WRs Wk 8 QBs Wk 8 RBs Wk 8 WRs Wk 7 QBs Wk 7 RBs Wk 7 WRs Wk 6 QBs Wk 6 RBs Wk 6 WRs Wk 5 QBs Wk 5 RBs Wk 5 WRs Wk 4 QBs Wk 4 RBs Wk 4 WRs Wk 3 QBs Wk 3 RBs Wk 3 WRs Wk 2 QBs Wk 2 RBs Wk 2 WRs Wk 1 QBs Wk 1 RRs Wk 1 WRs

Steve McNair at CAR
I rarely bother profiling the best QB--last year they were called "no-brainers," nuff said. But in the last couple weeks I think most people following the game have confronted the reality that there's no better QB playing right now. McNair has the mobility of McNabb and the arm of Culpepper, mixed with the unbelievable toughness and durability of Brett Favre. I mention him here both to take note, and because he has a tough matchup on the road at Carolina. The truth is, however, that teams can throw on the Panthers--if they can avoid the rush. They are fairly stingy on TDs, but you can put up the yards. Right now McNair and his three main receivers are finding spots all over the field, and the end zone with regularity. I don't think the odds are necessarily that McNair will have the best day, but if you have him and someone else, even if the other guy is starting against Indiana of Pennsylvania College, go with McNair.

Brad Johnson at SF
I'm sure Brad Johnson got most of his vindictive enjoyment at the Redskins' expense once he and Tampa won the Super Bowl. But it had to be nice to take them out in their own place, by torching them at your own hand no less. Four TD games for Brad Johnson are usually reserved for blue moons and games against Detroit. Quick, who has more passing TDs than Brad Johnson? Answer--nobody. San Fran holds teams under 200 ypg, but they are hapless at guarding the endzone. Gruden should outcoach Erickson handily in this one.

Vinny Testaverde at HOU
Is this Vin-man's last start of his career? No one's said, but if Pennington makes it on the field next week (a long shot, it seems), Testaverde could sit and be done for the year and call it a career at that point. Whether it's the final hurrah or not, Vinny knows the clock is ticking and the better he plays, the longer Chad heals. Houston is hands down the worst pass defense in the league, and Vinny just got finished molesting Buffalo's decent pass D like they'd paid for it. If you've got him, dust him off and bust him out for the week.

Jon Kitna vs BAL
Jon Kitna is no Steve McNair, but even with Ray Lewis Baltimore is no Carolina either. And two of Kitna's best games of 2002 (maybe ever!) were against the Ravens last year: a total of 580 yards and 5 TDs. Teams playing at home after a bye are usually primed to have a good game, and I don't think the Ravens corners can control Chad Johnson effectively if Kitna throws in a timely fashion. A great bye week fill-in for Week 7!

Recaps - 10/21

• Well, of course my prediction came true--if I didn't think he'd be #1, why did I rank him #1? Answer: he didn't put up the big fantasy points, but he dominated a very good defense on the road and had a tremendous day for his team.
  
  
• Bulger I essentially nailed; as long as they play half-good defenses while in the dome, he's golden.
  
  
• Seattle seems to play down to their opponent, and they did in this one. They finally kicked it into gear, but Alexander did most of the work.
  
  
• Carter was another guy who totally dominated his game, but like McNair was not eye popping with the numbers. Still, he's now a valid starting option in weak matchups--and Dallas has a few.
  
  
• Johnson tanked. Felt it was a trap, ignored the trap, predicted smooth sailing for the Bucs. Got so bad they let King finish up. Still, he made the list.
  
  
• The way the Saints and Brooks have been so lackadaisical this season, I was ashamedly fearful of pushing Brooks any higher--but his matchup was so prime.
  
  
• Culpepper I had a bit too high. Thought he'd run more with Gold out. A good within-range pick.
  
  
• I gambled on Vinny. He didn't kill ya if you started him, but there were some other 2nd options who did better. C'mon, Vin, I know you're 106 years old and all but--you can't get 200 yards or 2 scores from hands down the worst pass defense in the NFL? Waiter, the fork please.
  
  
• Tim Couch, dismal. Kelly Holcomb, back in. He tried to get it out of the way before the season, but it was the controversy that would not die. Cleveland's a real disappointment so far.
  
  
• Favre was well slotted. Decent game for him, but he had to throw too much (35 yds Ahman?) and the Rams are flying around on defense now.
  
  
• Kitna was another one I had higher to start, then "came to my senses." Both the Bengals and the Vikings were very impressive and focused in their home starts after the bye. I gave Culpepper the credit for it, not so much Kitna. He was great, and he is dangerously close to having a starmaking combination to Chad Johnson. It's still the Bengals, but in a good matchup Kitna can slay, and he owns Baltimore.
  
  
• Ramsey stunk, then got hurt. Buffalo has a pretty decent pass D actually, and they never stopped Henry at all. Word is the defense basically gave up half way in. The Spurrier teams still feel like mixed parts, rather than a cohesive team. The injuries at RB will NOT help. They are on a deathmarch of a schedule snippet; if they lose another couple in a row you might have to bail.
  
  
• Bledsoe and Reed made Champ Bailey look bad all afternoon. He has been a top corner the last couple of seasons, but opposing #1s seem to be feasting on him right now. Oh, and Bledsoe's a direct hit.
  
  
• Collins, Mr. Dependable, always between 10 and 15 or so. Imagine throwing for 172 yards and a score and coming out the star QB compared to your opponent. Brian Westbrook ran for more than the other dude PASSED, man! Totally freaky.
  
  
• Green was another good slot; Holmes did just enough of the work.
  
  
• Beuerlein got hurt and sucked anyway, Gannon got hurt and sucked anyway, and Carr let Domanick Davis do the heavy lifting. Hey, and Carr finished 21st. Stand up, who had Billy Volek, TEN, at 24th?
  
  
• Hats off to Jeff Garcia for a strong game to keep hope alive for the Niners. As for Boller, he had some garbage stats against a normally tough Cincy pass D, but also fumbled three times (losing two) and had one picked off. But garbage counts too, so...
  
  
• A righteous and jaunty improvement in accuracy this week; I seemed to be good at the QBs last year too.