He's baaaaaack. Frank Gore is both back on the field and back among the best fantasy football running backs in our Week 7 rankings. After getting four touchdowns and 294 yards from scrimmage through two games, Gore owners watched him leave after a single carry in Week 3. They've since been without their RB1 -- likely treading water, at best. This week, not only is the horse back in action, but he's facing the Houston Texans. Yes, the Texans have seemingly righted the ship the past three weeks, but we've seen enough from them to believe they can still be run on. They are the only team in the NFL to have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns thus far in 2009. Plus, Gore will be an integral part of the passing game as well.
1. DeAngelo Williams, CAR vs. BUF
2. Thomas Jones, NYJ at OAK
3. Michael Turner, ATL at DAL
4. Adrian Peterson, MIN at PIT
5. Frank Gore, SF at HOU
6. Ronnie Brown, MIA vs. NO
7. Joseph Addai, IND vs. StL
8. Brian Westbrook, PHI at WAS
9. Steven Jackson, StL at IND
10. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD at KC
11. Cedric Benson, CIN vs. CHI
12. Ryan Grant, GB at CLE
13. Steve Slaton, HOU vs. SF
14. Marshawn Lynch, BUF at CAR
15. Marion Barber, DAL vs. ATL
16. Clinton Portis, WAS vs. PHI
17. Jonathan Stewart, CAR vs. BUF
18. Matt Forte, CHI at CIN
19. Pierre Thomas, NO at MIA
20. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT vs. MIN
21. Laurence Maroney, NE vs. TB (London)
22. Ricky Williams, MIA vs. NO
23. Leon Washington, NYJ at OAK
24. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG vs. ARI
25. Brandon Jacobs, NYG vs. ARI
26. Tim Hightower, ARI at NYG
27. Donald Brown, IND vs. StL
28. Larry Johnson, KC vs. SD
29. Fred Jackson, BUF at CAR
30. Justin Fargas, OAK vs. NYJ
31. Tashard Choice, DAL vs. ATL
32. Mike Bell, NO at MIA
33. Jamal Lewis, CLE vs. GB
34. Reggie Bush, NO at MIA
35. Darren Sproles, SD at KC
36. Cadillac Williams, TB vs. NE (London)
37. Kevin Faulk, NE vs. TB
38. LeSean McCoy, PHI at WAS
39. Beanie Wells, ARI at NYG
40. Willie Parker, PIT vs. MIN
• The Panthers rediscovered how easily they can rack up rushing yards last week against the Buccaneers. Obviously, that's a pretty lackluster opponent, but the Bills are the Panthers' opponent for this week and they sport the league's worst run defense. Expect a similar explosion to last week from both Williams and Stewart.
• I can't bring myself to put Peterson outside the top four. He's just too good to ever consider benching in any league, no matter what. The thing is, with anyone else, I'd be concerned this week. The Steelers are very stout against the run, but can be passed on. The Vikings have shown the ability to move the ball without heavily relying on Peterson. It's very possible to see something like 80 yards and no score from him this week. I'm just saying I would never, ever chance having him on the bench. Do what you will with this information -- after all, it's your team!
• I'm not a fan at all of the Giants' run game this week. The Cardinals' run defense allows just 2.8 yards per carry, 59.6 yards per game and have given up just two touchdowns via the ground all season. This may partially be a by-product of teams having to throw in order to keep up against Arizona's high-powered offense, but that doesn't change the actual fantasy output. I expect lots of passing in this game, which is especially bad for Brandon Jacobs.
• I saw enough of Tomlinson against the extremely tough Denver run defense Monday night to give a glimmer of hope for his usefulness the rest of the way. He's never going to be a star again, but any low-end RB2 would get a boost playing against the Swiss Chiefs.
• No, I don't think Slaton can run on the 49ers, but receiving stats still count for fantasy points.
• Maroney is a great play this week, assuming Sammy Morris doesn't go. The Bucs are extremely vulnerable against the run.
• In that same game, it's not that you can't run on New England, but I'm expecting an absolute bloodbath in favor of the Patriots, which means Cadillac won't be getting many carries after the first quarter. I disagree on this front with R.J. White, so you'll have to choose whose argument you like better. I don't think the field conditions will hold the Patriots' offense back any -- see last week for evidence -- and the Bucs can't seriously justify giving someone 20 carries when they are losing by 30-plus points.
