Professional Grade: Week 7 showdowns
Who doesn't love parity?
Take our GMC Professional Grade League, for instance. Through six weeks of the season, no team is undefeated; in fact, no one has lost fewer than two games. No team has gone winless, either, and the only team with fewer than two wins -- Nate Ravitz (1-4-1, 10th, lost to Christopher Harris, 89-52, in Week 6) -- is a mere 2 ½ games out of first place, quite a manageable amount to make up, wouldn't you say?
Most incredible: Our two 0-3 teams, Harris (3-3, 7th, beat Ravitz, 89-52, in Week 6) and Eric Karabell (3-3, 5th, beat Matthew Berry, 113-97, in Week 6), have charged all the way back to .500 records, putting them right in the thick of things.
In Harris' case, a roster situation that once appeared bleak suddenly seems remarkably strong. After getting only 84 points combined from his running backs the first five weeks of the season, Harris charged back with 58 from Larry Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew and LenDale White in Week 6 alone. Suddenly, Harris is a whole lot happier.
"I did think Larry Johnson would perform once his schedule got better, but I have to admit I'd almost given up hope on Maurice Jones-Drew," said Harris. "He's been terrific these past couple weeks, and he had two 100-yard games against the Colts last year. Brad Meester returning at center for the Jags helps a lot, too."
Harris hopes to ride high yet again with his red-hot running backs in Week 7; he'll use White again at his flex spot, especially with Chris Brown's ankle issue potentially limiting or sidelining him. Considering Harris' quarterback, Vince Young, is no guarantee to play, he's going to need another standout day from his backfield.
"I've dropped Harrington and signed David Garrard as my Vince Young insurance policy," said Harris. "If V.Y. goes, and gets to face his hometown Texans, I'll probably roll the dice with him. Otherwise it's the interception-free Garrard."
Karabell, meanwhile, is the unlucky fella facing a hearty share of bye-week or banged-up players in Week 7. Despite owning the game's No. 2 (Tony Romo) and 3 (LaDainian Tomlinson) fantasy-point scorers, Karabell faces a week without Tomlinson, Chris Chambers and Greg Jennings, all on bye, and Javon Walker, headed for knee surgery.
"Man, I think my three-game winning streak, in which my once 0-3 team conquered teams that were a combined 9-3 at the time, is about to end," said Karabell.
Facing such a bleak outlook in the "Battle of the 'Bells" -- Stephania Bell (3-3, 4th, lost to Howie Schwab, 98-93, in Week 6) is his Week 7 opponent -- Karabell went hard after Buccaneers, claiming the team's newest player, Michael Bennett, off waivers on Thursday, then adding Ike Hillard, a day later. Might the Bucs have a new man on their bandwagon?
"I'll survive," said Karabell. "Nothing says bye week fill-in like Michael Bennett. No, I don't want to play Bennett, but my choices are him and Dominic Rhodes. Stephania claims Bennett is healthy and about to break out. A lady wouldn't lie, even in fantasy football. I think."
"Secondarily, while one trade (potentially) fills my lineup with Bennett going in, the Chris Chambers trade means he goes on bye, though sometimes with him it's tough to tell. So I can't play him. And Javon Walker goes under the knife. So I can't play him. Nothing says bye week/injury fill-in like Ike Hilliard."
My attempts to deal a quarterback -- Brett Favre, Matt Hasselbeck and Eli Manning the candidates -- as of press time had fallen short, not for a lack of trying. In fact, Nando Di Fino (2-4, 9th, lost to Cockcroft, 90-74, in Week 6), faced with his usual starter, Philip Rivers, on bye this week, offered me a deal early in the week:
Terrell Owens for Manning, Steven Jackson and the Philadelphia Eagles defense.
Interestingly enough, Manning alone has more fantasy points (78) than Owens (66), but it was Jackson's inclusion that made me decline. He's been sitting on my bench for three weeks, and soon to be four, but could be back in time for Week 8. Adding depth was the goal in my quarterback shopping, but dealing Jackson, a potential elite running back when healthy, would represent a move in the opposite direction.
Fortunately for Di Fino, he found his one-week sub elsewhere, with a Thursday-morning waiver claim on beleaguered Jets quarterback Chad Pennington.
"I picked up Pennington without even thinking about who he was playing," said Di Fino. "I like the idea of maligned players putting up huge performances just as everyone really starts calling for their head. I'm gambling that this is the week for Chad Pennington. If I'm wrong, such is life. It was either him or David Garrard, and with the opponent and all the adversity mixed in, I just went with the Jet. Nothing satisfies me more than seeing a Jets fan eating crow."
• Schwab (4-2, 3rd, beat Bell, 98-93, in Week 6) has faith in Edgerrin James, in spite of his matchup against the Redskins' third-ranked defense (259.4 yards per game). Schwab feels James should be a focus of the Cardinals' offensive attack, noting the team's problems at quarterback; Kurt Warner could start despite a torn ligament in his non-throwing elbow, and the erratic Tim Rattay is his backup.
• Ravitz stuck with Marion Barber III in spite of a treacherous matchup; the Vikings rank second against the run (66.2 ypg) and have yet to surrender a touchdown or a run of 20 or more yards all year. Hines Ward didn't garner any consideration ahead of Barber at Ravitz's flex spot, and in the end, Ward against the Broncos wasn't nearly as appealing to him as Joey Galloway against the Lions.
• With a little advanced planning, Ken Daube (4-2, 1st, lost to Scott Engel, 101-88, in Week 6) found a brilliant one-week sub for his bye-week tight end, Antonio Gates.
"My opponent this week lost his starting tight end, Benjamin Watson, and had I waited, I'd likely be playing against Vernon Davis instead of having him in my starting lineup," said Daube. "Looking ahead during the early games Sunday gave me an advantage this week."
Daube also recalled his early-year sleeper wide receiver pick, and noted his plans to use him, sneaking him in ahead of Bernard Berrian, who faces a challenging matchup.
"I'm turning back to David Patten, who I mentioned earlier this year that I wanted to keep an eye on," said Daube. "Drew Brees found him eight times for 113 yards last week. This week with the Saints facing Atlanta, I expect 70 yards and a score from the ex-Patriot."
• Berry (4-2, 2nd, lost to Karabell, 113-97, in Week 6), coming off back-to-back losses, blamed Matt Stover, not Tomlinson, for his frustrating loss last week. In an effort to get his squad back on track in Week 7, Berry had faith in a healing Laurence Maroney.
"I'm waiting to see if Maroney plays or not," said Berry. "If he does, he goes in flex and will dominate at Miami. ... Still 4-2 and looking to go to five wins this week if Nando knows what's good for him."
• Engel (2-3-1, 8th, beat Daube, 101-88, in Week 6) planned to sit Travis Henry, not so much due to his potential suspension, but more due to the matchup. Henry's Broncos face the Steelers, ranked fourth against the run (72.6 ypg), leading Engel to ride it out with Shaun Alexander, Adrian Peterson (the Vikings one) and Brian Leonard in Week 7.
Week 7 brings me a matchup with Ravitz, the league's worst team in terms of record, but nonetheless a dangerous one. Barber is the only one who could be considered a risky play for Ravitz; Joseph Addai, Reggie Bush, Jon Kitna, Chad Johnson and even the Redskins D lead a team that's probably better than its current record.
Running back is my weak spot; Cedric Benson has disappointed, DeShaun Foster is on bye, Julius Jones faces a brutal matchup and Jerious Norwood doesn't get nearly enough carries. As such, Kenny Watson gets the call as my No. 2 running back, accounting for both his favorable matchup and the fact that Rudi Johnson's hamstring has cost him a good chunk of practice time this week. Watson got 13 carries to Johnson's four in Week 6, and I wouldn't be surprised by an even bigger differential this week.
Still, it's going to be a rough time until Steven Jackson returns. Come back, Steven!
Tristan H. Cockcroft covers fantasy sports for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.
