Fantasy Football Week 7: Studs and Duds

Week 7 of the 2011 season was just another typical weekend in the National Football League, with some  players coming up with huge performances that helped lead their teams to victory, while others seemingly disappeared as their squads went down in defeat.

The same certainly held true in fantasy football, so with that in mind, here's a look at some of the Week 7 fantasy studs that likely helped guide many teams to victory, as well as some of the duds that probably left their fantasy owners wishing they'd stuck with bowling as a hobby.

Stud: Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte was a fantasy force yet again in Week 7, as the fourth-year pro racked up over 180 total yards and scored a touchdown in the Bears' 24-18 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in London.

Dud: Josh Freeman, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

As good as Matt Forte was across the pond Sunday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman was equally bad. Although Freeman threw for 264 yards and a pair of touchdowns, he also tossed four interceptions in Tampa's loss to the Chicago Bears.

Stud: DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Fantasy owners who rolled the dice on DeMarco Murray as a bye-week or injury fill-in for Week 7 were rewarded very handsomely, as the rookie rumbled for an eye-popping 253 yards on 25 carries (including a 91-yard touchdown) in the Dallas Cowboys' blowout win over the St. Louis Rams.

Dud: Ryan Torain, RB, Washington Redskins

Shanahanigans!

Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan pulled yet another fast one on fantasy football owners this week. Although just about everyone (except Shanahan) figured that running back Ryan Torain would get the bulk of the carries for the Redskins, the third-year pro carried the ball all of twice for minus-five yards.

Stud: Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace only caught three passes in the Steelers' win over the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, but he certainly made the most of those receptions, tallying 118 yards and scoring a touchdown on a 95-yard bomb, the longest scoring strike in Pittsburgh history.

Dud: Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders

The injury bug rose up and bit fantasy owners of Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden squarely on the butt this week. The NFL's leading rusher was forced from Oakland's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with a sprained foot after only two carries.

Stud: Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans

The hamstring injury that dogged Houston Texans running back Arian Foster earlier in the season appears to be squarely in the rearview mirror, as the third-year veteran exploded for 234 total yards and three touchdowns in the Texans' throttling of the Tennessee Titans.

Dud: Sidney Rice, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Wide receiver Sidney Rice and the entire Seattle Seahawks offense apparently decided to take Week 7 off. The fifth-year wideout managed only two receptions for 38 yards in one of the ugliest excuses for a football game that fans have ever had the misfortune of being forced to sit through.

Stud: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

It was just another day at the office for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, as fantasy football's top signal-caller torched yet another defense this week, lighting up the Minnesota Vikings for 335 yards and three scores as the Packers improved to 7-0.

Dud: Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers

The ascension of San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews into the ranks of elite fantasy ball-carriers has been postponed for at least one more week, as the second-year back battled a thumb injury throughout San Diego's loss to the New York Jets and was outproduced by backfield mate Mike Tolbert.