We get one break with the Week 7 Sunday schedule: most of the games are early. As things sit right now, only three games will come after the first segment (the Pats and Jets, the Raiders and Jaguars, and the Bengals and Steelers). So game-time decisions and Sunday calls won't be as hairy this week as they normally are.
Let's get to the clipboard. Please have your copay ready.
• Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) missed all of Friday's practice after doing some work Thursday. He's questionable on the injury report and seems like a game-day decision for the match against Washington. Bradshaw's level of play has been stellar in recent weeks and he's one of the toughest pound-for-pound backs in the league, but nonetheless he's been a high-attrition player for most of his career. Andre Brown (post concussion/probable) and rebounding rookie David Wilson are good options if the Giants find themselves in a pinch.
• Good news if you own Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers passing options this week: they should be plenty busy Sunday night at Cincinnati. The Steelers have already ruled out their top two running backs, Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) and Isaac Redman (ankle). There's no clear backfield winner for Pittsburgh: they'll probably give the start to Jonathan Dwyer, but Baron Batch and Chris Rainey are also around to steal snaps (especially on passing downs). I'll be surprised if Roethlisberger doesn't wind up chucking it 40 or more times.
• The bye week didn't do much for Jimmy Graham's ankle — the stud tight end was limited in the last two days of work (after sitting Wednesday entirely) and is a game-day call for the Sunday game at Tampa Bay. If you saw Graham hobbling around like Fred G. Sanford back in Week 5 against San Diego, you have every reason to be concerned now. Your depth at the tight end position will determine how you handle Graham. The modestly-talented Dave Thomas will pick up extra snaps if Graham cannot play, but I'd look for someone else to gain the target boost, perhaps slotman Lance Moore or satellite player Darren Sproles.
• Trent Richardson (ribs) had a limited Friday but should be able to go against the Colts. The plan is for him to wear a flak jacket on game day. Based on the New York-Indy tape from last week (Shonn Greene's monstrous game), Richardson might not need any padding at all.
• Dez Bryant (groin) did not practice Friday and is questionable for Sunday's game against Carolina. It sounds like he'll be a game-time decision, but context clues point to him playing in Week 7.
Those are the big-ticket items. Now for the rest of the news, in usual QB-RB-WR-TE order.
• Jake Locker (shoulder) has been practicing and is still aiming at a Week 8 return. Matt Hasselbeck, meanwhile, gets the call Week 7 at Buffalo. The Titans have made it clear that Locker is the starter when he's ready to play again.
• Branden Bolden (knee) didn't practice this week and is an iffy Week 7 option. Sounds good if you own Stevan Ridley, or if you need Danny Woodhead as a bye-week spec play.
• With Brian Leonard (ribs) out, Cedric Peerman is the backup to BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Peerman caught eight passes in the loss at Cleveland; not a bad flier if you're desperate in a deep league.
• Pierre Garcon (foot) is probably going to need another week. He's listed as doubtful and didn't practice over the past three days. Have fun picking between Santana Moss, Josh Morgan and Leonard Hankerson.
• Vincent Jackson's calf was barking Friday but he's still expected to go against the Saints. Again, it's an early game, something we appreciate.
• Greg Jennings (groin) is already washed out for Week 7 (at least we get to see him 457 times every weekend on commercials). But the Packers fully expect Aaron Rodgers (calf), Jermichael Finley (shoulder) and Alex Green (shoulder) to play at St. Louis — they're all listed as probable.
• Laurent Robinson (post concussion) is out for another week. It will be interesting to see if Justin Blackmon, off the bye, can do anything at Jacksonville.
• Jerome Simpson (leg/back) is healthy enough to be considered a Week 7 starter in Minnesota. He's termed probable on the injury report. Send it in, Jerome.
• The Patriots are listing a bunch of passing options as questionable, notably Wes Welker (ankle), Aaron Hernandez (ankle) and Rob Gronkowski (hip). They're all expected to play, barring some hidden situation or game-day setback. Julian Edelman (hand) is also questionable but it seems more legitimate in his case - he hasn't played in several weeks.
• Todd Heap (knee) remains questionable and hasn't played in over a month.
• The Bills remain without two key offensive line starters, tackle Cordy Glenn (ankle) and guard Kraig Urbik (ankle).