FANTASY 101
-DON’T LET THE TV FOOL YOU: Too often owners make lineup decisions on being able to watch their players. You can make a decision because you want to have a player going for Thursday Night Football or you want to save something for Monday Night’s game. You have to play the best players with the best matchups regardless whether you’ll get to watch their game or not.


BIG THINGS AHEAD
These players’ schedules ahead suggest big fantasy production (Week 7 thru 13)…

--Andrew Luck (IND): Don’t look, but the rookie is proven to be good luck for owners that have given him a chance. With his bye week behind him, Luck is poised for a strong finish. He currently ranks fifth in the league with 297.6 passing yards per game and has thrown for multiple scores three times in five contests. Cleveland a decent matchup this week and it will followed by three of the next five games against teams that have been friendly to fantasy passers – the Titans, Bills, and Jaguars.

--Willis McGahee (DEN): No running back has a better a more friendly slate ahead over the next five week than the Broncos’ workhorse. After his bye this week, McGahee returns to face the Saints, Bengals, Panthers, Chargers, Chiefs and Bucs over his next six. Despite failing to rush for 65 yards or score in four of six games thus far, McGahee still has a crack as finishing as a top 10 fantasy running back if he stays healthy down the stretch.

--DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin (PHI): Neither Eagle wideout has exploded yet this season, at least on a consistent basis. However, chances are that will change down the stretch. Maclin is finally 100 percent and has scored in three of his five outings. Jackson has eclipsed 70+ yards in four of six games. Both benefit from a friendly post-bye schedule as the Eagles are set for a shootout with the Falcons in Week 8, followed by tilts versus Saints, Cowboys (who they’ve both fared well against), the Redskins and Panthers.

--Greg Olsen (CAR): Despite being held to under 60 yards in the three of his five games this season and only making one trip to the end zone so far, expect a strong finish from the Panthers’ tight end. With his bye behind him Olsen’s toughest matchup ahead doesn’t come until Week 12 vs. the Eagles. He should have moderate success with the Cowboys and Bears before two stellar matchups with the Redskins and Broncos the following two weeks.

FANTASY INFIRMARY
--Demarco Murray (foot): Murray will sit in Week 7, leaving Felix Jones to start in a terrific matchup with the Panthers. There is a chance that this could be a multiple-week injury, but the good news is that doesn’t appear to be a season-threatening one. 

--Rashard Mendenahll (Achilles): For the second straight day both Mendenhall and fellow running back Isaac Redman sat out of practice. Between the two it appears that Mendenhall’s injury is less significant, but at this time they are both heading towards being game-time decisions. Look Jonathan Dwyer, who’s been a healthy scratch the past two games, to lead by backfield-by-committee along with Baron Batch and Chris Rainey if both backs are held out.

--Greg Jennings (hip): Early indications point to Jennings missing his fourth game of the season due to injury and his third straight. He was held out of practice on Thursday and the team is clearly taking their time to ensure the veteran doesn’t suffer another setback. Look for both James Jones and Randall Cobb to continue to see expanded roles in the Packers’ passing attack in their tough matchup with the stingy Rams’ D.

--Jimmy Graham (ankle): The Pro Bowl tight end returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He left the team’s last game early with an injury, but had a bye week to rest. However, team beat writer Mike Triplett of NOLA.com speculates that Graham will be a game-time decision at Tampa Bay.

Others of injuries note: Trent Richardson (rib), Brandon Bolden (knee), Pierre Garcon (foot), Mario Manningham (shoulder).


WIRE WATCH
--QB Matt Hasselbeck (TEN): The Titans are hoping to get Jake Locker back in Week 8, but this week it once again be Hasselbeck that gets the nod against a Bills’ D that has allowed more fantasy points to QB’s than any other team. With Matt Ryan, Phillip Rivers, Michael Vick and Peyton Manning among players on a bye this week, the veteran signal caller could be a very nice one-week filler option.

--RB David Wilson (NYG): After watching Ahmad Bradshaw tally his two-highest workloads of the season over the last two weeks it is seemingly only a matter of time before his shaky durability history surfaces. Wilson is too explosive to remain sidelined for long. It appears as if he’s already past Andre Brown on the depth chart and his fresh legs could be a difference maker for the Giants and fantasy owners alike heading down the stretch.

--WR Donnie Avery (IND): Avery has been very inconsistent this season as he and Andrew Luck have to get to get fully in sync. Still, you can’t argue the fact he’s not getting looks. Avery has been targeted 8 or more times in each of his games and ranks among the top 25 in the league in that category. This week he faces a Browns defense that has allowed the second most fantasy points to wideouts.

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