Matchups to exploit

Set to return from an ankle injury this week after a two-game absence, you should waste no time putting 49ers RB Frank Gore back into your lineup. He takes on a Houston "D" that has been vulnerable on the ground, allowing 10 rushing TDs on the season. Expect him to see a heavy workload in this one, as the Niners prefer to feature one back rather than rotate rushers, which means Glen Coffee is headed back to the bench.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has 742 yards and four TDs in his last two games, and this week he gets to play a Cleveland secondary that was just taken apart by the Steelers last Sunday for an absurd 403 yards through the air. Not only should Rodgers and WR Greg Jennings be in your lineup, as usual, but the steady Donald Driver deserves a starting nod as well — he has been Green Bay's most productive wideout thus far.

Panthers RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart finally busted out last week, combining for 262 rushing yards and three TDs at Tampa Bay. As good of a matchup as that was, the pair actually has an easier one this Sunday when they face Buffalo. The Bills have the league's worst run defense, allowing 181.8 yards per contest. Be sure to start both backs this week, as each should get plenty of work and produce.

While the Bengals have been stingy against the run so far, teams have been able to exploit them through the air, throwing for 254.8 yards per game and nine TDs. That bodes well this week for Bears QB Jay Cutler, who has four straight multi-TD outings. With Chicago not getting much out of its rushing attack, look for Cutler to go to the air at Cincinnati, frequently targeting WR Devin Hester and TE Greg Olsen.

Matchups to avoid

Giants RB Brandon Jacobs has been a fantasy disappointment thus far, scoring just one TD on the season and not yet notching a 100-yard game. His troubles are likely to continue this Sunday night when he faces the Cardinals, who are allowing an extremely scant 59.6 rushing yards per game. Jacobs also suffered a stinger in Week Six, so he could enter this contest at less than full strength. Considering Arizona's struggles defending the pass, look for New York to attack through the air.

With the Saints' passing game back on track, this might be a good week to avoid their running backs. Not only are Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell back to splitting carries — each had exactly 15 vs. the Giants last Sunday — but the Dolphins are only giving up 76.4 yards per contest on the ground. With Thomas or Bell capable of putting up a dud in a given week while the other goes off, this backfield is likely to frustrate owners going forward.

Coming off a five-interception game against the Bills, life won't get any simpler this Sunday for Jets QB Mark Sanchez. The rookie heads to the Black Hole to take on a Raiders defense that already has 15 sacks and is allowing just one TD pass per game. Likely to be under constant pressure, Sanchez belongs on your bench, and you might want to consider placing WR Braylon Edwards there as well, since he's due to see a lot of Pro Bowl CB Nnamdi Asomugha.

The Bears would like nothing less than to get torched this week by Bengals RB Cedric Benson, a first-round pick of Chicago in 2005. That's why they're likely to stack the box and limit Benson's chances of breaking off any big runs. The Bears are giving up only 88.4 rushing yards per contest, so their run "D" has been fairly stout. Benson gets the ball enough to deserve weekly starting consideration, but this might not be one of his better outings.