Fantasy Football Week 7: Tom Brady and 7 Players Who Have Cooled off

The wise fantasy football team owner does not stay stagnant after beginning the season with a few wins. Especially if your campaign begins favorably, you must contemplate making some deals because players won't stay hot forever.

The axiom has held true in 2011. High-scoring individuals from September have cooled off with the weather.

These seven players have had success in the NFL. Entering Week 7, however, their owners are riding them through mild turbulence, hoping for more sunshine later in the year.

RB Darren McFadden: Oakland Raiders

McFadden is the league's leading rusher with 610 yards, so those of you who got away with drafting him in the third or fourth round are likely enjoying winning seasons.

Nonetheless, he's been inconsistent.

Of the 761 yards McFadden has accumulated from scrimmage in 2011, a whopping 477 were from his first three games. In those contests, Run DMC—I've heard some people call him that—scored four touchdowns.

In the three games since, he has racked up only 284 yards and one score.

McFadden is not an every-down back; he averages about 22 touches a game. Teammate Michael Bush gets at least a handful of carries each week.

He needs a BIG play every Sunday to put up all-pro numbers. In October, though, he has managed just one gain of at least 30 yards.

QB Matt Ryan: Atlanta Falcons

Ryan was similarly a fantasy asset early on. Through four weeks, he could be counted on to produce.

He averaged greater than 300 yards per game against Chicago, Tampa Bay and Seattle. In Week 2, versus Philadelphia's "Dream Team," Ryan was held to 195 passing yards, but tossed four touchdowns.

On the other hand, owners who have started Matty Ice in the last couple weeks have come to regret it.

Ryan combined for 330 yards against Green Bay and Carolina with one touchdown per game.

A key reason for his lackluster numbers of late has been a left hamstring injury to rookie wideout Julio Jones. Coming off a stellar performance in Week 4, Jones was hardly a factor against the Packers the following Sunday. He sat out the Falcons' last game and is officially questionable for their matchup with the Detroit Lions.

Also, running back Michael Turner had his way with the Panthers in Week 6. His effectiveness prompted more rushes, which took passing attempts away from Ryan. His 22 throws were the fewest from Ryan in a full game since his first season in 2008.

WR Reggie Wayne: Indianapolis Colts

When the world learned that Peyton Manning would be out indefinitely because of his nagging neck, the expectation was that the Colts' receivers would be far less valuable in fantasy leagues.

University of Miami product Reggie Wayne suspended our disbelief in Week 1 with seven receptions, 106 yards and a touchdown.

But as Wayne's team has stayed its course and lost every week, his numbers haven't remained steady. He hasn't surpassed the 80-yard mark nor found the end zone since!

Obviously, the quarterback play for Indianapolis deserves more blame than Wayne.

Their early-season starter was veteran Kerry Collins, who declined rapidly after Week 1. Curtis Painter has held the job since the start of October, although he has taken more of a liking to Pierre Garcon.

Wayne's goal of an eighth consecutive 1,000-yard season will be tough to accomplish.

WR Steve Smith: Carolina Panthers

Smith was rolling through four weeks with No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton finally bringing some closure to Carolina's quarterback controversy.

Newton connected with him for 178 yards in Week 1, 156 in Week 2 and 181 in Week 4. The Panthers struggled to pass the ball while playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a Week 3 monsoon.

Anyway, Smith's production has fallen off in Carolina's last two games. Newton has attempted some shorter passes to his other receivers. Only one of Smith's eight catches against New Orleans and Atlanta went for more than 25 yards.

Smith has been utilized as a deep threat in 2011. He leads the NFC in receiving and yards per catch.

However, Newton—although incredibly strong—has less than pinpoint accuracy.

Smith is still capable of having a dominant afternoon, but there's no guarantee.

QB Philip Rivers: San Diego Chargers

Rivers became an elite passer during the 2008 season when his completion percentage shot up and interception total dropped down. He was a terrific fantasy option in 2009 and 2010, too, but the same cannot be said for a fourth straight year.

Rivers' total yardage is right where it should be through five games, but what's going on with his TD-INT ratio? Six-to-seven? That's in Rex Grossman territory!

The Pro-Bowler recorded four of his touchdowns in the Chargers' first two games. Since then, he has inexplicably struggled from inside the opponents' 30-yard line.

Overall in 2011, "Rivers sports a not-so-sterling passer rating of 52.9" in those situations, writes Elliot Harrison of NFL.com.

The loss of superstar tight end Antonio Gates explains this statistic. Gates hasn't dressed since Week 2.

Luckily for Rivers, Gates is set to return on Sunday to face the New York Jets. Perhaps that will allow him to bounce back.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick: Buffalo Bills

Meanwhile, Ryan Fitzpatrick was a nobody until 2010 and never a respected passer. The Harvard man surprised everybody with his stellar stats at the start of 2011.

Fitzpatrick had nine touchdowns in three September games. The pace was far from sustainable, but with an improved offensive line and leading receiver Steve Johnson more experienced, there were legitimate reasons for optimism.

Since then, Fitzpatrick has thrown only three touchdowns. His total yardage is down as well.

He and the Bills will try to get back on track after a Week 7 bye. Fitzpatrick is no longer an upper-echelon fantasy option and Buffalo has lost two of three.

QB Tom Brady: New England Patriots

Brady set Sun Life Stadium aflame during the regular season's first Monday Night game. He threw for 517 yards and four scores.

Week 2 was also outstanding for him and the Pats. His 423 yards and three touchdowns generated dozens of points for fantasy owners, regardless of league-specific scoring rules.

Brady hasn't been awful the last four weeks, but he's far removed from his other-worldly production.

With Wes Welker along the same line of scrimmage, Brady is assured to pass for a ton of yards in any matchup (Welker has accounted for a league-best 785 yards through six games).

Still, his seven picks in the last month served as a reminder that video-game numbers can't be maintained in the pro game.