NFL Predictions Week 7: Injury Replacements in Line for Big Production

There are a few injury replacements in Week 7 of the NFL season that are likely to play rather large roles for their respective teams. This immediately makes them players to watch.

Several teams have prominent positions to fill not only for this week, but for the foreseeable future. The Houston Texans lost tight end Owen Daniels to a fractured fibula, an injury that will likely keep him out at least eight weeks. The Dallas Cowboys will likely be without running back DeMarco Murray this week, and the Green Bay Packers won't be with wide receiver Randall Cobb for at least eight weeks, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.

These teams need the replacements for their players to step up and at least make an attempt at replicating the impacts of the injured stars. Luckily for the replacements, they are in for big production in Week 7.

Garrett Graham, TE, Houston Texans

Despite not being the starting tight end, Garrett Graham still caught a touchdown pass in three of the season's first four games. Now in a starting role, he'll be worked into the offense even more.

His past two weeks have been disappointing. In total, he brought in just five passes for 40 yards. This week, though, Graham should do well against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas City boasts a stout defense. They have a league-leading 30 sacks and will be putting an absurd amount of pressure on Matt Schaub. This makes Graham extremely important. If he can get open eight to 10 yards downfield, then Schaub will have time to target him before the impending rush comes.

This, of course, all hinges on Graham's ability to get open. He shouldn't have a problem doing that, however. Kansas City's two leading players in the pass rush are linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. With them likely blitzing and out of the way, Graham should have plenty of room to work with in the middle of the field.

Schaub usually loves throwing to his tight ends. Before getting injured, Daniels also had three touchdown receptions. Expect Schaub to look for Graham early and often. The 27-year-old tight end should bring in a touchdown while racking up decent yardage.

Joseph Randle, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Rookie running back Joseph Randle hasn't really played much this season. That will all change in Week 7, as Dallas will more than likely use him as the feature back against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Randle does have 11 rushes for 17 yards and a touchdown early in his career. The efficiency obviously isn't great, but he was able to get into the end zone. He also has two receptions for 15 yards in the passing game.

Against the Eagles, Randle has an exceptionally favorable matchup. He should be able to rack up at least 60 yards on the ground, but it's in the passing game that Randle stands to make his biggest contributions.

The Eagles have the second-worst pass defense in the NFL, and Tony Romo has already totaled 1,693 yards in the air. This should equal success for both the Cowboys as a team and Randle as an individual.

When the Eagles send the blitz in against Romo, look for him to dump it out in the flat to Randle. Randle has the speed to break off some nice runs after the catch in these situations. The Eagles won't be able to defend that pass with linebackers in the backfield going after Romo, so it will be up to the members of the secondary to make open-field tackles.

Randle has the chance to total 100 yards of offense with a touchdown this week. He is a very favorable matchup and happens to play for a team that loves to get the running back involved.

Jarrett Boykin, WR, Green Bay Packers

Jordy Nelson and Jarrett Boykin were the only active wide receivers on the roster after Cobb and James Jones went down with injuries. It still remains that way, though the team will definitely be picking up at least one wide receiver before Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns.

Regardless of who they bring in, Boykin figures to start. He already knows the offense and even pulled down a 43-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers in Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens.

It's usually a pretty safe bet to assume that any wide receiver catching passes from Rodgers is in line for a big game. That assumption is now even more accurate given Green Bay's depleted receiving corps.

Nelson will get a majority of the targets because of his overall talent and his familiarity with Rodgers, but Boykin will get his fair share of looks. Don't be surprised if Boykin pulls in at least six catches for 70 yards or so.

The Browns aren't exactly dominant against the pass, either. This should all add up to at least a decent game in what will be Boykin's first career start. If all goes well, then he could find himself starting yet again in Week 8.