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Although Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson are the focal points of the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings, there's a new offensive force emerging in the Twin Cities, and he's starting to make a huge impact on fantasy leagues. Third-year receiver Sidney Rice, who had never had a 100-yard game in his career prior to last week, is finally making good on his enormous potential. The 23-year-old has become Favre's favorite target of late, catching touchdown passes in back-to-back games in Weeks 3 and 4 before rolling up 176 receiving yards against the Ravens in Week 6 and another 136 yards on 11 receptions in a loss to the Steelers Sunday.

Rice is currently on pace to catch 78 passes for nearly 1,250 yards, and he's become one of the most productive receivers in the NFL since Favre began wearing purple and white. In fact, it's taken him just seven games with Favre under center to top the 537 yards he recorded in his first two NFL seasons with Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte at the helm of the Minnesota offense.

• Alex Smith, QB, 49ers (at Colts): He's likely to be the new starter in San Francisco after coming off the bench to throw three second half touchdowns in Houston on Sunday, but he's likely to struggle in this matchup against a strong Colts' pass defense that is allowing just 5.5 yards per attempt this season.

• Joseph Addai, RB, Colts (vs. 49ers): San Francisco does a nice job defending the run (3.3 yards-per-carry), and since Addai could manage only 3.2 YPC against the hapless Rams on Sunday and hasn't come close to a 100-yard rushing performance all season, it's hard to envision him holding much value in Week 7 unless he scores a touchdown, which you can never bank on.

• Chad Henne, QB, Dolphins (at Jets): The second-year signal-caller had a nice game against the Jets two weeks ago (241 yards, two TDs), but throwing the football in November at the Meadowlands can be extremely difficult, especially considering that the Jets have a top 10 pass defense.

• Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers (vs. Vikings): All the attention will be on Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field, but Rodgers racked up 384 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota in Week 4, and the Vikings will once again be without top cornerback Antoine Winfield.

• Matt Forte, RB, Bears (vs. Browns): He's been a colossal bust this year after a huge rookie campaign a year ago, but no matter how many times you've been burned as a fantasy owner by Forte, you have to start him against a woeful Cleveland defense that got burned again Sunday by Green Bay's Ryan Grant (27 carries, 148 yards, TD).

• Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jaguars (at Titans): The Titans have the NFL's worst-ranked pass defense, and their secondary is injury-ravaged to say the least. Since the emerging Sims-Walker had 91 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee in Week 4, his owners need to have him in their lineups in Week 8.