Roy Makes T.O. Better

Believe it or not, the reason Dallas traded basically its entire 2009 draft in exchange for Roy Williams wasn't to "get Tony Romo more weapons." The deal wasn't aimed at making Brad Johnson's transition to starting QB more smooth. The Cowboys didn't mortgage their future just to upgrade over Miles Austin. It definitely wasn't to convert Williams to left cornerback to offset the losses of Terence Newman (groin surgery) and Pacman Jones (indefinite suspension). They did it to make Terrell Owens happy.

Because Austin and Patrick Crayton don't consistently separate from man-to-man coverage, defenses have loaded up by pressing T.O. at the line of scrimmage and keeping a safety on the defensive right side. He's rarely been able to break free for long routes and the result has been games of only 17 yards, 71 yards, 67, and 36 from Week 3 on. Owens hasn't led the Cowboys in receiving in one game yet this season.

With Williams now on the opposite side instead of Austin in three-receiver sets, Dallas will be able to spread the field more with Patrick Crayton in the slot. That is Crayton's best position and maximizes his ability to find soft spots in zone coverage (I wouldn't necessarily expect Crayton's fantasy stock to plummet). Williams will run hard routes and slants, keeping strong safeties closer in. Owens will remain Dallas' most heavily targeted receiver and capitalize with fewer double teams.

T.O. plays split end and regularly faces the opposing right cornerback when defenses aren't rolling coverages. One-on-one, there are maybe one or two RCBs in the NFL that can shadow Owens on a double move.

When Romo gets back Owens will resume being a 100-yard per game receiver. That could happen as soon as this week. If it doesn't, T.O. owners will have to live through the Brad Johnson interlude with probably around 4-5 end zone targets a game and 5-6 catches. Owens may not bust loose for 60-yard gains with Johnson under center, but he will be the go-to option when Dallas is in scoring position. After the Williams trade, the biggest loss of fantasy value in Dallas is to Jason Witten, who may play on the line more because the Cowboys' offensive tackles are struggling. Crayton, Owens, and Williams also offer more speed than the tight end. The trade makes T.O. better.

Important Game-Time Decisions for Week 7

Arms
Tony Romo - Could be active Sunday, but not start and play off bench.
Aaron Rodgers - Will start and is a top-five option against the Colts.

Wides
Marques Colston - Colston fully expected to return against Carolina.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh - Practiced fully Friday, so he is likely to start.
Laveranues Coles - Will play, expect big #s against DeAngelo Hall.
Craig Davis, Chris Chambers - Both doubtful and unlikely to face BUF.
Deion Branch - "Questionable" tag means little; he won't face Bucs.
Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice - Both expected to start against Chicago.
Muhsin Muhammad - Is probable, but Moose's matchup unfavorable.
Joey Galloway - Give the White Tiger another week before using him.
Roscoe Parrish - Slot/return guy will be in lineup against the Chargers.
Justin Gage, Justin McCareins - Don't count on either at Kansas City.
Rashied Davis, Marty Booker - Davis and Devin Hester slated to start.
Demetrius Williams - Ravens third receiver scheduled to face Texans.
Brandon Stokley - Concussion likely to sideline him until Week 8 bye.
James Jones - Rookie Jordy Nelson to be third receiver against Indy.
Koren Robinson - Will play, but not a fantasy option due to QB issues.

Backs
Clinton Portis - Coach Jim Zorn says NFL's carries leader will be a go.
Reggie Bush - NFL's touchdowns leader listed as probable for Sunday.
LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles - Both will be ready to face Bills.
Jonathan Stewart - Is sick and questionable; don't be counting on him.
Ryan Torain, Selvin Young - Neither likely to see 10+ touches if active.
Kevin Smith - Probable; will share carries evenly with Rudi Johnson.
Chris Perry - Will be available, but Cedric Benson may start the game.
Laurence Maroney, LaMont Jordan - Both doubtful and unlikely to play.
Ahman Green - Is playing well, will be available off the bench Sunday.

Ends
Kellen Winslow - Should play, but check back around 3PM ET Sunday.
Jeremy Shockey - Due back this week, but could see limited snaps.
Tony Scheffler - Listed as questionable; full blown game-day decision.
Ben Utecht - Listed as doubtful and will not play against the Steelers.

Legs
Shayne Graham - He's hands off this week with Dave Rayner on roster.
Lawrence Tynes - Off the injury report, but no sure thing to kick vs. SF.
Matt Bryant - Will kick, but there are better options than him available.

Already Ruled Out for Week 7

Arms
Tom Brady - Second knee surgery isn't good news for dynasty owners.
Carson Palmer - Not expected back until Week 9 at absolute earliest.
Matt Hasselbeck - Bulging disc in back; Seneca Wallace starts @ TB.
Jon Kitna - On injured reserve; Dan Orlovsky is starter going forward.
Troy Smith - Speculation swirling that he could get late-season starts.

Wides
D.J. Hackett - This is Dwayne Jarrett's time to shine as third receiver.
Brandon Lloyd - Out indefinitely with torn Posterior Cruciate Ligament.
Drew Bennett - Probably won't return as starter when he gets healthy.
Joe Jurevicius - Has begun light jogging, but lacks timetable for return.
Sam Hurd - Special teams ace was placed on injured reserve this week.

Backs
Joseph Addai - Scheduled to miss roughly two games with torn hammy.
Willie Parker - Return uncertain; Mewelde Moore starts at Cincinnati.
Larry Johnson - Suspended one game; Kolby Smith to start versus Titans.
Felix Jones - Marion Barber to dominate the carries for next 2-4 weeks.
Carnell Williams - PUP'd running back uncertain to contribute this year.
Mike Hart - Dominic Rhodes' direct backup is Clifton Dawson for now.
Chris Taylor - Went on IR Friday; Ahman Green backing up Steve Slaton.
Antonio Pittman - He'll need another week to resume backup duties.
Ladell Betts - Out 2-4 weeks w/knee sprain; Rock Cartwright backing up.

Ends
Randy McMichael - On injured reserve and out for season w/ broken leg.

Legs
Mike Nugent - Jay Feely continues to kick in place of injured Nugent.

Week 7 Matchups to Exploit

Torry Holt vs. Cowboys
Time: 1:00PM ET

The Rams' coaching staff switched Holt's position during the Week 5 bye and he will face opposing left cornerbacks on a regular basis going forward. Holt didn't exactly bust out after the change, hauling in five passes for only 23 yards last Sunday. But he was also covered by Shawn Springs, who's played at a Pro Bowl level much of the year. This week Holt will square off against rookie Mike Jenkins, who's filling in for Terence Newman and Pacman Jones. Jenkins has talent, but has stayed low on the depth chart for a reason. Jones wasn't playing very well before his suspension and Jenkins still couldn't overtake him. Holt will run shorter routes as a Z receiver, and that will come in handy because Marc Bulger won't have much time to get rid of it with DeMarcus Ware closing in on him from the blind side. Safely expect 6-8 catches and 80 yards from Holt in Week 7.

Vincent Jackson @ Bills
Time: 1:00PM ET

Last week's Jackson-Ellis Hobbs matchup proved essentially unfair, with the 6'5/241-pound receiver working over his 5'9/195-pound man for five grabs, 134 yards, and a touchdown. The height differential in Jackson's matchup this week against 5'11/180 Jabari Greer isn't as severe, but V-Jax does have 61 pounds on the slightly built Bills right cornerback and should have no trouble outmuscling Greer in the red zone. Also, with Chris Chambers (ankle, doubtful) sidelined Jackson will continue to dominate Philip Rivers' targets on the outside. Rivers will also have more time to operate than usual with Bills RE Aaron Schobel (strained foot ligament) not expected to play. That will give Jackson time to get open down the field. Another big yardage game is likely.

Donte' Stallworth @ Redskins
Time: 1:00PM ET

Stallworth finally joined the lineup in Week 6 after battling a quad injury and looked better than expected. It doesn't show in the box score, but Stallworth was inches from scoring and appears to have his legs back. Better yet, Derek Anderson targeted him (seven times) more than any other wideout, including Braylon Edwards. Stallworth's catch percentage wasn't any good, but figures to improve as he faces off against Redskins fill-in left cornerback Leigh Torrence this week with Carlos Rogers slated to follow Edwards all around the field. Torrence, who got torched by rookie Donnie Avery when asked to step in last week against St. Louis, is playing only because Fred Smoot (groin) and Shawn Springs (foot) aren't expected to be available. Stallworth offers a similar skill set to Avery's and Torrence is unlikely to contain him in coverage.

Sammy Morris vs. Broncos
Time: Monday 8:30PM ET

Laurence Maroney (shoulder) and LaMont Jordan (calf) are both listed as doubtful and will likely be in street clothes for Monday Night Football. That will give Morris the start against a Broncos run defense that ranks dead last in the league in yards-per-carry surrendered. They've also given up seven rushing scores in six games. Broncos SLB Boss Bailey (ankle) is playing at less than 100% and Denver won't be able to use its new 3-4 alignment often while in a nickel look most of the game and a certain double team on Randy Moss. The team is also shuffling in the defensive backfield, so if Morris reaches the second level his man to beat will either be FS Calvin Lowry, who was a backup as recently as Week 6, or pedestrian strong safety Marquand Manuel.

Week 7 Matchups to Avoid

Muhsin Muhammad vs. Saints
Time: 1:00PM ET

Some jumped on the Moose bandwagon when he strung together solid efforts against Atlanta and Kansas City in Weeks 4-5. And that was easy, considering Moose was being covered by Brent Grimes and Brandon Carr. Muhammad should've been sold high after that. This week he draws Saints LCB Mike McKenzie, who at 6'0/195 has the size to wear down the 35-year-old receiver and is playing at a high level since being eased back from offseason knee surgery. Muhammad has a knee sprain of his own, and while it won't threaten his status for the game, he isn't a good play this week and won't be again until Week 11 against the Lions.

Roy Williams @ Rams
Time: 1:00PM ET

Williams will be an every-week fantasy play again soon enough, but he didn't get ahold of the Cowboys' playbook until Tuesday evening after being traded and is unlikely to see usual starter's snaps. There is a real chance that both Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin are on the field more against the Rams. Wide receivers coach Ray Sherman estimates that Williams only knows "20-30 percent" of Dallas' plays, and while that may be enough to get Roy 2-3 catches in his first week out of Detroit, don't expect much more than that. The instability at quarterback also doesn't help Williams' odds of having a big game, especially if Tony Romo starts because those two haven't practiced together at all.

Jeremy Shockey @ Panthers
Time: 1:00PM ET

Shockey is listed as probable on the injury report and he's likely to start at Carolina, but how much he's ready to do remains to be seen. Players being eased back from sports hernias are not often thrown into the lineup on a full-time basis for a week or two. Shockey also had "limited" participation in practice all week, failing to put in a complete workout. That, of course, could be all part of the Saints' plan, but it also indicates that the coaching staff doesn't think Shockey's 100 percent yet and ready to be pushed. Look for Shockey to play mostly on passing downs Sunday and be good for 3-4 catches, but that's about his ceiling.

Jerricho Cotchery @ Raiders
Time: 4:15PM ET

Call it the Nnamdi Asomugha factor. While Laveranues Coles matches up against DeAngelo Hall Sunday, Cotchery will face Asomugha in primary coverage. Offenses simply game plan around Asomugha, who's had roughly six balls thrown to his side all season. Even better for Coles' matchup is that Hall's "help" on the defensive right side will be Hiram Eugene, a special teamer who's never fared well when called on to play defense. Brett Favre isn't the type to shy from certain corners, but Coles is almost sure to see more targets and have a bigger game than Cotchery. It will be a surprise if Jerricho tops 60 yards in this one.

Reply Absolutely Not to the Following Questions

> Will the Lions win this week?

> Is Larry Johnson a good buy low?

> Should you pick up Shaun Alexander?

> Will Chaz Schilens save your season?

> Are you living if you haven't tried the new Wendy's breakfast yet?

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