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Each spring at the ever-popular NFL job fair, we are reintroduced to the lexicon of the draft, with the draft-pick value chart being one of my personal favorites. It's a system in which specific point values are attributed to every draft slot. However arbitrary the scoring system, it remains an agreed measurable for value in making moves that weekend. This is something fantasy football, a pursuit based on discerning value and extracting production from a specific market, has never had, however impossible it would be to produce and legitimize.

In the Gridiron Challenge, however, we have a public market to work with, one in which there is a corollary between production, demand and price point. If the value of Adrian Peterson is different in every fantasy league, based on a myriad of determinants (league size, scoring settings) it varies in the Challenge based only on his given market price.

The challenge of the Challenge, then, is to try to exploit the market as best we can, looking for price discrepancies and unique ways to shuffle our budget and maximize production. Some of the names below should help toward that end.

Bull Market

Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys (6.2 price tag): With a handful of usable arms out on bye, there's a particularly weak crop of discounted quarterbacks this week. Given the depleted market, it makes sense to spend over $6 per on each signal-caller. Facing an Atlanta team that seems to invite shootouts, Romo makes for a savvy investment given his favorable schedule and penchant for producing against suspect secondaries.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers (5.9 price tag): The burst and bounce may have been somewhat lacking last week against Denver, but the touches were there for Tomlinson to produce. Eager and even antagonized to prove that he remains an elite talent, this week versus the Chiefs is a defining test of his value as a commodity going forward.

Laurence Maroney, RB, New England Patriots (4.0 price tag): This is the type of move that allows you to spend top dollar across the board in your other roster spots. It's also a risky investment, a high-yield, high-risk decision that, if it proves somewhat enduring, could be a major boon to your portfolio. In this era of New England football there are no guarantees for any single back consistently getting the touches, but in this rare scenario in which injuries have ravaged the Pats' veteran backfield, they might just be forced to give a motivated Maroney one last shot at the feature gig.

Miles Austin, WR, Dallas Cowboys (4.4 price tag): The derivative ancillary drama stemming from Austin's promotion in Dallas will quickly dissipate if he continues to produce anywhere close to as profoundly as he did in Kansas City a few weeks back. Austin's still an unproven commodity and his price reflects this, but if you want to save some serious coin and potentially get a star in the process, this is your guy.

Heath Miller, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers (5.0 price tag): It's fairly amazing how little respect Miller's production is getting on the market, as he's priced below several lesser producers. Those waiting for Pittsburgh to stop passing so much, and so effectively, may be waiting in the wrong line, as Miller has become a Witten-esque target for Ben Roethlisberger.

New England Patriots defense (5.4 price tag): If you follow my ever-repetitive super-cheap kicker theory (quite self-explanatory), then you know I regularly advise managers to take the change from the discount leg and invest in a strong defensive asset. The Patriots make for a model buy this week against a sloppy Buccaneers' offense.

Weekly Wonders

Chad Henne, QB, Miami Dolphins (5.1 price tag): An auspicious prime-time debut didn't inflate Henne's price point too much, and he faces a New Orleans team that is known to give up garbage numbers to opposing quarterbacks as they hold considerable leads into the second half. Henne has no elite targets at his disposal but does have a dynamic running game to keep defenses honesty early, and has shown proficiency at effectively spreading the pigskin around.

Cadillac Williams, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4.8 price tag): The fantasy and Gridiron market alike are still not sold on the enduring legitimacy of Williams' valiant comeback campaign. If durability concerns are keeping him from earning trust on the fantasy side, what ails him in the Challenge? It's likely his sporadic production and struggling team, but I still see value in his low price and his team's commitment to him as its sled. While New England should make quick work of the Bucs in London this weekend, it should be noted that the Patriots are 20th against the rush and that Williams has been known to get his numbers early in games.

Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants (4.6 price tag): With what is fast becoming one of the deeper receiving corps in football, the surprising New York passing game has found room for Nicks to get into the mix. With a touchdown in three straight games and a favorable role against nickel corners and safeties, Nicks makes a compelling asset to consider.

Matt Stover, K, Indianapolis Colts (3.5 price tag): Kickers are generally wild cards, I know, but Stover is an ideal discount that allows you to save $1 in the process and go elite at the more reliable positions.

Jim's Week 7 lineup

My 776 points places me with the smart kids in the 99.5th percentile and at 1,230th overall. My Week 6 production stemmed mostly from Randy Moss and Maurice Jones-Drew and their respective monstrous outings. It should also be noted that my man, Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop, has produced capably as I continue to pay just 2.9 for his numbers.

QB: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: 104 year-to-date points; 6.6 (locked price)/ 6.8 (market price)
QB: Matt Schaub, Houston Texans: 125 points; 6.6/6.6
RB: Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers: 53 points; 6.1/6.1
RB: LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers: 22 points; 5.9/5.9
WR: Randy Moss, New England Patriots: 71 points; 6.2/6.6
WR: Steve Smith, New York Giants: 75 points; 5.1/5.1
TE: Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons, 43 points; 5.1/5.3
K: Ryan Succop, Chiefs, 36 points; 2.9/3.7
DEF/ST: New England Patriots: 68 points; 5.4/5.4

Jim McCormick is a fantasy football analyst for ESPN.com as well as the editor and publisher of BLITZ Magazine, a print and online publication covering football from prep to pro.