Week 7 Fantasy Football Projections: Top 5 RBs with Favorable Matchups

It's one thing to be a running back with the ability to break games open.

It's even better when you are facing a forgiving run defense.

In Week 7, there are some favorable matchups for productive backs and it should translate nicely in the box score, which means more points for you, fantasy owners.

Here's a look at my top five running backs with favorable matchups for Week 7.

Note: I didn't include Cleveland's Trent Richardson because he should be limited for Sunday's game if he plays, per the Akron Beacon-Journal.

5. Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots

Stevan Ridley had a tough time against a stingy Seattle Seahawks run defense last week, but he rushed for a combined 257 yards and three touchdowns against the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills before that.

Ridley faces a New York Jets defense on Sunday that is ceding 4.7 yards per carry, 26th in the NFL. I expect him to have some room to run and rack up chunks of yardage.

4. Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins

Alfred Morris faces the New York Giants this week, who are giving up 4.6 yards per carry, 24th in the NFL.

The Giants got off to a quick start against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6, which naturally limited Frank Gore's carries and forced Alex Smith to throw the ball.

I don't see that happening against the Redskins, who are averaging 29.7 points per game (tied for third with the Giants) and just put up 38 points against the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect Morris to make fantasy owners happy.

3. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders

Darren McFadden gets to face the Jacksonville Jaguars next, who have allowed 4.7 yards per carry and seven rushing touchdowns this season.

That includes giving up 107 rushing yards to Matt Forte in Week 5.

McFadden got a full workload last week against the Atlanta Falcons (27 carries, 70 yards, touchdown), a good sign that his shoulder injury isn't bothering him anymore.

The Raiders will pound the rock in Oakland.

2. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Raiders have allowed 4.1 yards per carry (19th in the NFL) and five rushing touchdowns this season and Maurice Jones-Drew is all the Jaguars have on offense at this point.

I expect the Jaguars to use Jones-Drew early and often against a beatable Raiders run defense and give him every opportunity to break off a long run or two.

1. Arian Foster, Houston Texans

Yes, the Baltimore Ravens have allowed 3.8 yards per carry this season (13th in the NFL), but they've also allowed seven rushing touchdowns and they aren't going to be as stout against the run with Ray Lewis out for the season.

Couple that with the fact that Ravens star cornerback Lardarius Webb is out for the season, too, and I expect the Texans to get close to the goal line enough for Foster to score a touchdown or two.