Fantasy Football Week 7: Soft Defenses For Your Stars To Exploit
With Week 7's roster deadlines inching ever closer, picking your matchups and starters becomes even more important. With some of the NFL's highest powered offenses on bye, making sure you have the right players in your lineup can be tougher than usual.
However, there is hope. These players are going against the cupcakes of the NFL—defenses who struggle against the run or the pass, or in some cases, both. Some of them might be stars, others just love cupcakes. But either way, you and your fantasy team are the beneficiaries.
Rushing Cupcake Eater 5: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks
1 of 10
Why He's a Cupcake Eater: It only took a week for Lynch to assume the brunt of the workload in Seattle. He struggled a bit in his debut, averaging just 2.6 yards per carry, but the Bears' defense isn't exactly moist and chewy. Lynch is still a talented back despite his struggles the past year or two. On top of that, everybody loves cupcakes.
Who's the Cupcake: Lynch gets to feast on Arizona's defense in Week 7, a massive improvement over his Week 6 matchup against Chicago. The Cardinals rank 30th in the NFL against the run, and Lynch has had success against bad defenses before.
Cupcake Meter: 6 out of 10. The defense is soft, but with Lynch still splitting carries with backup Justin Forsett, it's highly possible he struggles to find a rhythm.
Passing Cupcake Eater 5: Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers
2 of 10
Why He's a Cupcake Eater: Gates has been the dominant receiving force in football in 2010, blowing up defenses soft and hard with equal force. He's the top receiver in a pass-heavy offense, and he's got the hands, size and speed to make defenses pay.
Who's the Cupcake: New England's defense ranks 27th against opposing tight ends, and not much better against opposing wideouts. Its secondary is too small to stop Gates, while its linebackers are too slow to keep up.
Cupcake Meter: 6 out of 10. Gates would be the top eater on this list, but he has yet to practice this week with a toe injury, and is looking like a game-time decision. If he plays, he should have a fantastic game.
Rushing Cupcake Eater 4: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos
3 of 10
Why He's a Cupcake Eater: Plagued by injuries early in the season, Moreno appears to be completely healthy now. He's an explosive back capable of ripping off big plays at any time, and he loves facing sub-par defenses.
Who's the Cupcake: Oakland's defense ranks second-to-last against the run, having allowed no fewer than 12 points in a game to opposing running backs in 2010.
Cupcake Meter: 6.5 out of 10. Moreno's got the skills to make Oakland pay, but given the state of the Broncos' run game, he might not see enough carries to fully enjoy the cakey goodness of the Raiders' defense.
Passing Cupcake 4: Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
4 of 10
Why He's a Cupcake Eater: After weeks of getting locked down by defenses and a shoddy passing game, Bowe finally went off in Week 6. He seems to thrive on cupcake defenses, and he's got another one this week.
Who's the Cupcake: Jacksonville ranks dead last against opposing wideouts in 2010. They are the king of cupcakes, given their inability to stop the run, as well.
Cupcake Meter: 6.5 out of 10. Bowe could disappear like he has so often in 2010. With the Jags' run defense woes, it's possible the Chiefs opt not to throw at all. But that seems unlikely, given Jacksonville's complete incompetence against the pass. Enjoy Bowe's soft matchup for another week.
Rushing Cupcake Eater 3: Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers
5 of 10
Why He's a Cupcake Eater: Gore is one of the NFL's best running backs, racking up rushing and receiving yards on a consistent basis. He's been good even against solid run defenses, but he does enjoy taking a bite out of a cupcake or two every now and then.
Who's the Cupcake: Carolina's defense has been shaky in general, but it's been downright awful against the run, ranking 26th in points allowed to running backs in 2010. Case in point: they allowed historically sub-par Matt Forte to run roughshod over them in Week 5, as he racked up 166 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Cupcake Meter: 8 out of 10. Carolina is an absolute mess right now, and Gore's just the kind of back to take full advantage.
Passing Cupcake 3: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
6 of 10
Why He's a Cupcake Eater: Fitzgerald is one of the most talented wideouts in the NFL, even with poor quarterback play in Arizona. He's big, fast, and has some of the best hands around. Against soft defenses, even his quarterbacks can get him the ball.
Who's the Cupcake: The Seahawks' defense ranks 28th against opposing wideouts, and they don't have a single player in their secondary who can keep up with Larry.
Cupcake Meter: 8 out of 10. Quarterback Max Hall loves looking Fitz's way, and with a defense this soft, he should be able to connect more often than not.
Rushing Cupcake Eater 2: Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams
7 of 10
Why He's a Cupcake Eater: Jackson is one of the NFL's best runners—a big, powerful back with fantastic explosiveness and good vision. He's running with confidence right now, and he loves nothing more than cupcakes.
Who's the Cupcake: Tampa Bay's defense ranks 27th against the run, and Jackson is coming off two of his best games of the season. Struggling defense plus rolling running back equals big trouble for the Bucs.
Cupcake Meter: 8 out of 10. Jackson relishes these kinds of matchups.
Passing Cupcake Eater 2: Anquan Boldin, WR, Baltimore Ravens
8 of 10
Why He's a Cupcake Eater: Boldin is capable of lighting up even the most formidable of pass defenses. When he faces a soft one, he's a virtual lock for a monster game.
Who's the Cupcake: Buffalo's defense ranks 23rd in the NFL against opposing wideouts. Its secondary is full of holes, and Boldin is just the kind of wide receiver to exploit each and every one.
Cupcake Meter: 9 out of 10. Boldin and quarterback Joe Flacco have had a great connection so far in 2010, and with a soft defense coming to town, look for both of them to feast.
Rushing Cupcake Eater 1: Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens
9 of 10
Why He's a Cupcake Eater: Rice's combination of speed and power, and rushing and receiving prowess, make him one of the most dynamic backs in football. He struggled in the season's early-going, but has turned it on in favorable matchups as of late.
Who's the Cupcake: As bad as the Bills are against the pass, they're worse against the run, ranking 29th against opposing running backs in 2010. They've given up at least 130 yards to four of their five opponents, while allowing five rushing touchdowns on the season.
Cupcake Meter: 10 out of 10. As tempting as it will be to throw all day on Buffalo's shoddy secondary, it's hard to pass up a cupcake like the Bills' run defense with a back like Rice. He should go off.
Passing Cupcake Eater 1: Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints
10 of 10
Why He's a Cupcake Eater: Colston has been kept in check by most defenses in 2010, but he's still the best receiver in New Orleans. As the matchups get softer, expect Colston's stats to get a big boost.
Who's the Cupcake: That would be the Cleveland Browns, ranked 26th against opposing wideouts. They've been the cure for several sputtering offenses in 2010, and they don't have the horsepower to keep up with Colston.
Cupcake Meter: 10 out of 10. Colston should have his first monster game of the season against Cleveland, as Drew Brees loves cupcakes just as much as his wideouts.
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