Sometimes this game is too easy. So easy that you can fill a lineup with great options in a few seconds. Unfortunately, things happen. Guys get hurt, teams fall way behind, offensive coordinators get fired at halftime (essentially). That's the NFL, and it took my otherwise perfect lineup with it last week.
But it's fine. One bad week won't kill you in this thing. You just need to go win a week later. Which I'm about to do.
In this competition, each week's high score (standard scoring) will win a $25 Fantasy Index gift certificate, and the season champ will win an enviable prize package, which may be delivered to your door if you happen to live near me.
How to play: Sign into your Fantasy Index account and click the blue "Your stuff" button in the top right corner. Then look for the link to Fantasy Index Blackout on the right side of the page. Pretty simple.
Here's my Week 7 lineup.
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. First things first, I'm done screwing around with the Andy Daltons and Jameis Winstons of the world when I can use Rodgers and Brees. Rodgers will be piling up points in a high-scoring game with the Rams. Brees faces the Vikings, not ideal, but their secondary is a little banged-up, and Brees has been about the most consistently excellent fantasy quarterback for the last dozen years or so.
Running back: Adrian Peterson and Marlon Mack. I liked Peterson facing the Giants...before New York traded two defensive starters, most notably run-stuffer Damon Harrison. That's a quick towel being thrown in by the Giants when they're three games out of first in the NFC East. Have to think that's not going to play well with the veterans still there. Giants only got a Day 3 pick, too. Mack faces the other team that's thrown in the towel on 2018, the Raiders.
Wide receiver: A.J. Green, Davante Adams, JuJu Smith-Schuster. Green faces a woeful Tampa Bay pass defense. Adams is Rodgers' go-to guy. Smith-Schuster should be big against a Browns defense more concerned with Antonio Brown.
Tight end: Trey Burton and George Kittle. A lot of big-name tight ends are blacked out. So I will opt for a pair of guys who might well lead their teams in receiving -- this week, and maybe for the rest of the season.
Kicker: Harrison Butker and Greg Zuerlein. Great kickers playing for great offenses at home in games they should win and be scoring plenty. Nothing too fancy.
Defense/Special Teams: Chicago and New England. I'm a big proponent of streaming defenses. This week Chicago, maybe the best fantasy defense, just happens to have one of the best matchups, home versus the Jets. New England has the other best matchup, on the road (like it matters in this matchup) against Derek Anderson and the Buffalo Bills.
Good luck to the rest of you.