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Fantasy Football Week 10 WR Rankings
* Participants in Thursday night’s Denver @ Cleveland game are not recognized in week 10 WR rankings (see fantasy recommendations for Thursday night for info on those players)
1. Anquan Boldin (ARI) – We can probably all agree that the single most important factor in fantasy football is the almighty TD, and this guy flat out knows how to get into the end zone. Boldin has managed to find pay dirt in 5 consecutive games now and his NFL leading 8 receiving TD’s is even more impressive when you consider that he missed 2 games this season. Simply put, Boldin is a TD machine, so you would have to be crazy to leave him off of your week 10 fantasy roster.
2. Roddy White (ATL) – While White’s numbers took a bit of a dip in week 9, it wasn’t all that surprising, considering he was matched up against Oakland’s Nnamdi Asomugha, arguably the NFL’s top shut down corner back. The good news is that White should get back to business as usual with an excellent week 10 match up against the Saints. New Orleans ranks amongst the worst in the NFL in pass defense and have allowed 12 TD’s through the air in just 8 games. White torched the Saints secondary in both meetings last season accumulating 185 receiving yards and 2 TD’s. White should have a monster week 10.
3. Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) – Like most teams he faces, Fitzgerald has owned the 49ers in recent meetings. In his last 2 games against San Francisco, Fitzgerald has 12 receptions for 187 yards and 3 TD’s. Fitzgerald is nursing a sore thumb, but he was able to practice, and claims that it will not be a factor this week. Fitzgerald should come up big against a mediocre 49ers pass defense on the big Monday night stage in week 10. Check injury report: thumb
4. Andre Johnson (HOU) – He wasn’t able to continue his streak of double digit receptions and over 100 receiving yards in week 9, but he more than made up for it by finding the end zone. Johnson will likely be challenged in week 10 by Baltimore’s 4th ranked pass defense, but he is in the zone right now, and his vast talents should rise above the difficult match up. In addition, we don’t expect much drop off, if any, with Sage Rosenfels at QB. Johnson has proven in the past to have an equally solid rapport with both signal callers. He is a must start.
5. Greg Jennings (GB) – While Jennings didn’t have his typical monster output in week 9, he was able to hold his own with a respectable 79 receiving yards against the Titans elite secondary. He should have a much easier go of it in week 10 against a mediocre Vikings pass defense. Jennings had 5 receptions for 91 yards against Minnesota back in week 1, but a blown call cost him a long TD reception in that game deflating his true contribution. We expect bigger and better things for him this time around.
6. Dwayne Bowe (KC) – Contrary to expectations, Bowe has actually proven to be more successful with Tyler Thigpen under center. We see no reason why that success shouldn’t continue in week 10 against the NFL’s worst pass defense. The Chargers secondary has given up more passing yards than any other team in the league in addition to allowing a ridiculous 14 passing TD’s in 8 games. We are as surprised as anyone to see the Chiefs passing game clicking, but facts are facts, and this match up bodes well under the circumstances. Get Bowe in your line up!
7. Lee Evans (BUF) – He was a bit of a disappointment in week 9, but it’s probably too much to ask of any receiver to light it up every week. He should rebound nicely in week 10. While Evans doesn’t have the best track record against the Patriots, this is not the New England pass defense of season’s past. The 2008 edition of the Pat’s secondary can best be described as mediocre at best, and they rank near the bottom of the NFL with 13 passing TD’s allowed through 8 games. Evans is too important to the Bills success in this match up for them not to target him early and often. He should exploit this defenses biggest weakness, pass defense.
8. Laveranues Coles (NYJ) – After a disappointing week 9, Coles should get back on track with his best match up in weeks. He will face a St. Louis pass defense that ranks 28th in the NFL. The Rams have allowed 12 passing TD’s in 8 games while giving up 246 yards through the air per game. The Jets passing game should click against this defense and Coles should benefit more than anyone. Check injury report: thigh
9. Bernard Berrian (MIN) – He will have his work cut out for him in week 10 against a stingy Green Bay pass defense that ranks in the top 5 of the NFL. That said, Berrian has a TD catch in each of his last 4 games to go along with a 107 yard receiving average during that stretch. He is on fire and he should remain in your starting line up in spite of the difficult match up.
10. Calvin Johnson (DET) – He continued his excellent play in week 9 with his 4th TD catch in as many games. While it is a concern if Daunte Culpepper starts at QB over Dan Orlovsky this week, given the solid chemistry that has developed between Orlovsky and Johnson, you probably can’t afford to have Johnson out of your line up. He will be matched up against a mediocre Jaguars pass defense that has allowed 14 passing TD’s in 8 games. Regardless of who starts at QB, it would be ill advised to bench the hot handed Johnson with such a favorable week 10 match up.
11. Steve Smith (CAR) – With 4 TD’s and 109 receiving yards on average in his last 5 games, Smith is one of the hottest fantasy WR’s out there. That said, he is likely to meet his match in week 10 against Oakland’s shut down CB Nnamdi Asomugha. While it will be a tall order for Smith to put up big numbers in this match up, they should move him around to help create mismatches against some of Oakland’s less effective defensive backs. Keep your expectations realistic under the circumstances this week, but you can never count Smith out even against the best of corner backs, and he is far too talented to leave on the bench.
12. Reggie Wayne (PIT) – While his numbers have been below par in recent weeks, Wayne remains an elite fantasy option, and should be started accordingly. He is due to get back on track in spite of a difficult week 10 match up against Pittsburgh’s top ranked pass defense. Wayne should be nearly 100% for the first time in a couple of weeks following a knee sprain, so you probably can’t afford to sit him regardless of the tough week.
13. Randy Moss (NE) – He isn’t putting up the kind of numbers that he would with Tom Brady at QB, but we like the fact that he is at least starting to develop some consistency with Matt Cassel. In his last 3 games, Moss is averaging 6 receptions for 79 receiving yards to go along with 2 TD’s. Moss will face a fairly solid Buffalo pass defense in week 10, but based on his numbers against them last season, he shouldn’t have too much trouble regardless of who the QB is. In 2 games against Buffalo in ‘07, Moss accumulated a combined 15 receptions for 243 yards and 6 TD’s. While you can’t expect him to duplicate that kind of production this time around, he obviously knows his way around this secondary. Check injury report: foot
14. Jerricho Cotchery (NYJ) – He hasn’t found pay dirt in his last 4 games, but Cotchery has put up solid numbers otherwise, especially in PPR leagues. He will have a good chance to end his TD drought with his best match up in weeks against a terrible Rams secondary in week 10. The St. Louis pass defense ranks just 28th in the NFL and they have allowed 12 receiving TD’s in 8 games. Check injury report: shoulder
15. Marques Colston (NO) – In spite of a decent 56 yard performance in week 8, it seems obvious that Colston is still trying to get his game legs back under him. With a week 9 bye, the extra week should have provided Colston ample time to get back on cue with QB Drew Brees. We would be surprised if he doesn’t get back to producing on the high level we are accustomed to as soon as this week. Colston has a favorable week 10 match up against a shaky Falcons secondary. In his last meeting against Atlanta, Colston had 9 catches for 92 yards and 2 TD’s.
16. Matt Jones (JAX) – If you are in a PPR league, then you have to love Jones consistently high output in recent weeks. That said, we like his chances for a strong performance in all formats of fantasy football this week. Reason being that Jones will face the 29th ranked pass defense of the Detroit Lions in week 10. The Lions secondary has been horrible this season allowing 13 passing TD’s in just 8 games in addition to giving up more pass plays over 40 yards than any other team in the NFL with 8. This match up holds a lot of promise and is too good to pass up. Jones should be in your week 10 line up.
17. Derrick Mason (BAL) – He has now put up big stat lines in 2 of the last 3 weeks, and the one week he didn’t, Mason was fighting the flu and playing against one of the best CB’s in the NFL. It is clear that Mason and QB Joe Flacco have developed one of the better rapports in the NFL between QB and WR. You should probably expect the duo to hook up early and often again in week 10. Mason will face a decent Houston secondary in this match up, but he is a strong candidate to find the end zone in back to back games as the Texans are vulnerable against the pass in the red zone. The Houston pass defense has allowed 12 passing TD’s in 8 games.
18. Plaxico Burress (NYG) – We realize that it’s tough to stick with Burress while he is in such a severe drought, and no one would blame you for benching him facing down a difficult week 10 match up against the Eagles 8th ranked pass defense. That said, you also have to believe that it is only a matter of time before he gets back on track as Burress is too talented to continue to play at such a poor level. However difficult this week’s match up may be, Burress probably still gives you a better chance at a big performance than a second tier WR on a current hot streak. He had 11 receptions for 160 yards and 2 TD’s in 2 combined games against Philly last season.
19. Vincent Jackson (SD) – You have to like the way Jackson has stepped his game up in recent weeks. He has scored a TD in each of his last 3 games while averaging 79 receiving yards per game during that stretch. He should continue his success with a promising week 10 match up against a mediocre Kansas City secondary. Even with Chris Chambers back in the Chargers line up, we expect Jackson to remain hot.
20. Donald Driver (GB) – He hasn’t been very consistent this season, but Driver is coming off of a monster week 9 performance against an elite Tennessee Titans pass defense. He should be able to carry the momentum into a much more manageable week 10 match up against a mediocre Vikings pass defense. He is a bit risky with his hit or miss tendencies, but we like his chances.
21. Wes Welker (NE) – With only 1 TD on the season so far, Welker is not a strong fantasy play for TD heavy leagues, but he is ideal for PPR leagues where he continues to put up consistent solid totals. You can expect more of the same in week 10 against Buffalo. If you are not in a PPR league, you might want to consider another option.
22. Lance Moore (NO) – He can be hit or miss with so many bodies vying for Drew Brees’ attention in the Saints passing game, but you probably can’t afford to leave his potential on the bench most weeks. That is especially true for week 10 where Moore has a particularly favorable match up against a mediocre Falcons secondary.
23. Muhsin Muhammad (CAR) – He hasn’t been especially good in recent weeks, but Muhammad should see plenty of targets in week 10. If Oakland’s shut down CB Nnamdi Asomugha is locked onto to Steve Smith as expected, that should open the door for Muhammad to make some plays against the Raiders otherwise poor pass defense. You probably can’t expect a monster game from him, but the circumstances are favorable. The Raiders have been torched by #2 receivers throughout the season.
24. Donnie Avery (STL) – You can probably expect him to have an off week here and there being that he is a rookie which was certainly the case in week 9. That said, we like Avery’s chances to rebound in week 10. He has a favorable match up against the Jets 24th ranked pass defense.
25. Santonio Holmes (PIT) – He doesn’t have the best of week 10 match ups against the Colts 3rd ranked pass defense, but we still like his potential in this match up. Reason being that he will probably have Byron Leftwich at QB. Leftwich has made it very clear that Holmes is his favorite target in spite of limited action together. Leftwich seems to always look Holmes way first, and he even made a couple of ill advised throws in week 9 trying to get the ball to him. He will have his work cut out for him against a stingy Indianapolis secondary, but Holmes should see plenty of targets if Leftwich is under center. He is still a decent fantasy play if Roethlisberger at QB as well.
26. Chris Chambers (SD) – He doesn’t typically put up big reception or yardage totals, but Chambers knows how to find the end zone. He has 5 TD’s so far this season despite playing in only 6 games. Chambers should have ample opportunity for touch down number 6 against a fairly weak Kansas City secondary, but TD’s don’t come easy. Check injury report: ankle
27. Greg Camarillo (MIA) – He is already putting up consistent reception and yardage totals, and if he could start to find the end zone on a consistent basis, Camarillo could develop into a top flight fantasy option. He is coming off of a career best 11 receptions for 111 yards in week 9. Camarillo should be able to carry that momentum over into a favorable week 10 match up against Seattle. The Seahawks rank just 31st in the NFL against the pass and have allowed 13 passing TD’s in 8 games.
28. Hines Ward (PIT) – While Ward’s numbers have been on a downward slide in recent weeks, he remains a decent fantasy play. He doesn’t have a great week 10 match up against the Colts 3rd ranked pass defense, but you can never count him out, and he is due to get back on track. Check injury report: shoulder
29. DeSean Jackson (PHI) – You can probably expect him to be a hit or miss fantasy option moving forward with Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown back in the Eagles line up. That said, Jackson remains the most dangerous weapon in Philadelphia’s passing game and therefore retains solid fantasy value. He is always one play away from giving you solid production regardless of the match up, which isn’t ideal in week 10 against the Giants 2nd ranked pass defense. Check injury report: groin
30. Steve Breaston (ARI) – You can’t expect big games from Breaston on a consistent basis as a #3 receiver for the Cardinals, but he should put up decent numbers most weeks, and sprinkle in the occasional big performance. He has a favorable week 10 match up against the 49ers 19th ranked pass defense. Breaston had 3 receptions for 54 yards against San Francisco back in week 1.
31. Kevin Walter (HOU) – You can never be certain what he is going to give you, but it is probably best to keep him active to avoid any regrets. Walter doesn’t have a very good week 10 match up against the Ravens top 5 pass defense, but he traditionally plays well when Sage Rosenfels is at QB which is the case this week. Walter is a risky, but capable fantasy option under the circumstances. Check injury report: knee
32. Mark Bradley (KC) – He is a risky play for week 10, but Bradley has put up double digit fantasy totals in back to back weeks now. It doesn’t hurt that he will be facing the worst pass defense in the NFL in week 10 either. Bradley could make for a nice sneaky fantasy start with a favorable match up against the Chargers. He is still flying under the radar and we like his chances as our sleeper of the week pick.
33. Torry Holt (STL) – Holt is coming off of his second best fantasy performance of the season in week 9 with 6 catches for 58 yards and a TD. While it was promising to see him rise to the challenge, you shouldn’t expect that every week. Holt does have a favorable week 10 match up against the Jets 24th ranked pass defense, but it is a road game, and he has not fared particularly well in away games this year.
34. Kevin Curtis (PHI) – He is coming off of a promising week 9performance, but Curtis will have a tough row to hoe in week 10 against the Giants 2nd ranked pass defense. While Curtis does not have a great track record against New York, he is certainly capable of putting up numbers in any match up. Check injury report: wrist, knee
35. Isaac Bruce (SF) – He has put up strong fantasy numbers on more than one occasion this season. Unfortunately, week 1 against Arizona was not one of those weeks and Bruce’s opposition in week 10 will be the same Cardinals pass defense that shut him out on opening day. We are fairly optimistic that Bruce will fare much better against them this time around with Shaun Hill under center, but you might want to consider a safer option.
36. Anthony Gonzalez (IND) – While Gonzalez is capable of putting up big time fantasy totals any week , as was evident in week 9, you can just as easily count on him to go bust. You probably shouldn’t expect much from Gonzalez against the Steelers top ranked pass defense in week 10.
37. Devery Henderson (NO) – To our dismay, he continues to find a way to put up decent fantasy totals every week. That said, he is still too risky to consider as anything more than a bye week fill in.
38. Marvin Harrison (IND) – He is capable, but Harrison is no longer a reliable fantasy option, especially with a poor week 10 match up against Pittsburgh’s top ranked pass defense.
39. Shaun McDonald (DET) – He has put up strong numbers in back to back weeks now. McDonald is a quality receiver and if he continues to see targets, he will make plays. That said, we’d still like to see more from him before we recommend using him as anything more than a bye week replacement or flex play.
40. Rashied Davis (CHI) – He probably isn’t going to give you monster stat lines, but we like what Davis is bringing to the table. With 2 TD receptions in his last 3 games, Davis is developing into a decent fantasy option as a flex play or bye week replacement. Unfortunately, he is not highly recommended this week against a very good Titans secondary.
41. Reggie Brown (PHI) Check injury report: groin
42. Nate Washington (PIT)
43. Devin Hester (CHI)
44. Steve Smith (NYG)
45. Ted Ginn (MIA)
46. Amani Toomer (NYG)
47. Jordy Nelson (GB)
48. Justin Gage (TEN)
49. Koren Robinson (SEA) Check injury report: knee
50. Josh Morgan (SF)
Fantasy Football Week 10 Running Back Rankings
* Participants in Thursday nights Denver @ Cleveland game are not recognized in week 10 RB rankings (see Thursday night fantasy recommendations for info on those players)
1. LaDainian Tomlinson (SD) – It was vintage L.T. in week 8 against the Saints as he totaled 170 yards and a TD. For the first time all season, Tomlinson looked like an elite fantasy RB. He was able to make his traditional breathtaking cuts and his speed appeared to be back. In addition, the week 9 bye should have helped further aid in the healing process of the turf toe that has limited him all season. He is not listed on the injury report and we are expecting a monster week 10 for Tomlinson against the worst run defense in the NFL. The Chiefs are giving up an average of 182 rushing yards per game to go along with 13 TD’s allowed on the ground in 8 games. This should be his week.
2. Adrian Peterson (MIN) –In his last 3 games, Peterson is averaging 124 rushing yards and a TD per game. He should continue the trend in week 10 with a favorable match up against Green Bay. The Packers run defense is among the worst in the NFL giving up 146 ground yards per game. In week 1, Peterson rushed for 103 yards and a score against them. He should be better this time around. As usual, A.P. is a must start fantasy option.
3. Brian Westbrook (PHI) – Surprisingly, he was held in check in week 9 by a horrible Seahawks defense that focused all of their attention on stopping him. Despite a difficult week 10 match up against the Giants 7th ranked run defense, we expect Westbrook to rebound nicely. He has scored at least 1 TD in each of his last 4 contests (1 playoff game) against the G-Men with 5 total TD’s, while averaging 142 total yards per game during that stretch. If history is on his side, Westbrook should be fine. Check injury report: knee
4. Frank Gore (SF) – While Gore’s week 10 match up against a solid Cardinals run defense isn’t ideal, history says that he will have a big day. He has at least 1 TD against Arizona in 5 consecutive games with 8 total TD’s during that stretch. Gore is also averaging 139 total yards per game against the Cards in his last 5 and totaled 151 yards with a TD against them back in week 1 of this season. He is a must start regardless, but his track record against Arizona doesn’t hurt matters.
5. Michael Turner (ATL) – The match up RB lived up to his billing again in week 9 rushing for 139 yards against a weak Oakland run defense. The bad news is that Turner failed to find the end zone for the third straight game now. While this means he is probably due to hit pay dirt in week 10, it won’t be particularly easy against a Saints run defense that has allowed only 4 rushing TD’s all season. The good news is that the New Orleans run defense is fairly mediocre over all which bodes well for Turner’s rushing numbers. Turner should have a good game against this defense as they have struggled lately, but keep in mind that they were able to shut down Adrian Peterson back in week 5.
6. Mewelde Moore (PIT) – With FWP (Fragile Willie Parker) expected to miss week 10 with a shoulder injury, Moore will return to a familiar starting role. In 3 previous starts, Moore found pay dirt 4 times while averaging 115 total yards per game. He should prove to be extremely effective once again in week 10 against a soft Indianapolis run defense. The Colts have allowed 10 rushing TD’s in 8 games while giving up a whopping 144 ground yards per game on the season. Pull Moore back off of the waiver wire and get him on your starting week 10 fantasy roster.
7. Tim Hightower (ARI) – In his first stint as the Cardinals feature back he rushed for 109 yards and a TD. Hightower should be impressive again in week 10 against a fairly soft San Francisco run defense. The 49ers rank just 19th in the NFL against the run while allowing 10 rushing TD’s in 8 games. Hightower makes for a solid fantasy option in week 10.
8. DeAngelo Williams (CAR) – With 5 Td’s in his last 4 games, Williams continues to be one of the most overlooked fantasy backs out there. He has already proven that when the match up is right, he can do some real damage. Fortunately, week 10 against the Raiders provides an excellent match up for him to showcase his underrated talents. The Oakland run defense ranks among the worst in the NFL allowing 158 yards per game in addition to 12 rushing TD’s in 8 games. As a side note, there is a very good chance that Williams will get a full compliment of carries this week with fellow RB Jonathan Stewart nursing a heel injury. Williams can be hit or miss, but we like his chances under the circumstances.
9. Chris Johnson (TEN) – He continues to rip opposing defenses on a weekly basis, but things will be much tougher for Johnson in week 10 against the Bears. The Chicago run defense is extremely solid allowing only 82 ground yards per game. Johnson will have his work cut out for him against this defense, but he is always just one play away from a strong fantasy effort, and he should be solid in the Titans passing game as well.
10. Brandon Jacobs (NYG) – While a week 10 match up against the Eagles is not especially promising, Jacobs is not your average RB. Philadelphia ranks 8th against the run and have only allowed 3 rushing TD’s on the season. It will be a tough row to hoe for Jacobs in week 10 without question, but you can’t bench a guy that has at least 1 TD in 5 of his last 6 games.
11. Thomas Jones (NYJ) – He has now pieced together 4 solid rushing efforts in a row and he has a favorable match up in week 10 that should prove beneficial to Jones efforts to continue the trend. Jones will face the Rams 29th ranked run defense which allows 156 rushing yards per game. In addition, St. Louis has allowed 12 rushing TD’s on the season. He has benefited greatly in recent weeks from the Jets struggling passing game. When Brett Favre gets back on track, you can probably expect Jones numbers to go down, but until that happens, stick with him.
12. Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX) – It is difficult to sell a player as inconsistent as Jones-Drew has been this season, but for what it’s worth, he has a great week 10 match up and a pattern of blowing up every 3rd game. If the pattern holds true, he should be in for a big game this week. MJD will face the NFL’s second worst run defense, a Detroit unit that allows 162 ground yards per game on average. The Lions have also given up 11 rushing TD’s in 8 games making Jones-Drew a strong candidate to find the end zone. If he can’t get it done against this defense, you might want to consider going with another option.
13. Ronnie Brown (MIA) – He managed to salvage an otherwise unspectacular rushing day in week 9 with a TD, but it is obvious that the wildcat offense is on its last legs as Brown has yet to rush for more than 59 yards in his last 4 games. That said, Brown is still a solid fantasy back and a week 10 match up against Seattle holds promise. The Seahawks run defense ranks just 21st in the NFL and they have been gashed on several different occasions this season. The bad news is that Seattle was great in containing Brian Westbrook last week, so don’t expect Brown to get back to putting up monster numbers with this match up, but it is possible.
14. Matt Forte (CHI) – He will have his work cut out for him in week 10 against the Titans top 10 run defense, but Forte is one of the most consistent fantasy performers in the NFL. He never puts up monster numbers, but he always seems to find a way to crack double digits. If he doesn’t get many ground yards, he usually makes up for it with a TD or a solid day in the passing game and vice versa. This match up isn’t ideal, but Forte should find his way to another solid fantasy day. He hasn’t given us any reason to think otherwise.
15. Marshawn Lynch (BUF) – Despite 52 receiving yards, Lynch was shut down by the Jets in week 9 with only 16 rushing yards on 9 carries. He should be able to find a little more running room in week 10 against a good, but not great Patriots run defense. Lynch has yet to reach 100 rushing yards in a game all season, so you probably shouldn’t expect it to happen against New England, but he does have 6 rushing TD’s this season and he is always a candidate to find pay dirt. Lynch rushed for 74 yards and a TD in his only career start against the Patriots last season.
16. LenDale White (TEN) – He didn’t manage to find the end zone in week 9, but White’s 77 rushing yards were his second highest total of the season. White continues to be a risky fantasy option because if he doesn’t find pay dirt, his yardage totals are typically mediocre at best. Fortunately, he finds the end zone enough to make him worth the risk and considering that he went scoreless last week, it seems logical that he will find pay dirt in week 10. It won’t be easy against a stingy Bears run defense, but Chicago does give up 1 rushing TD per game on average.
17. Ray Rice (BAL) – You probably can’t anticipate him getting a full compliment of carries in week 10 with the expected return of Willis McGahee, but Rice’s monster 154 yard rushing effort in week 9 should earn him a significant role in the Ravens backfield against Houston. While a repeat of last week is unlikely with the uncertainty surrounding the shared workload this week, Rice should be solid against a shaky Texans run defense. Houston allows127 ground yards per game in addition to the 12 rushing TD’s they have given up through 8 games. Check injury report: chest
18. Deuce McAllister (NO) – He probably won’t get you a ton of yards, even against a porous Atlanta run defense, but McAllister should be in line for the goal line touches, and a respectable yardage total is likely. While he is going to give up a few carries to Aaron Stecker and Pierre Thomas, McAllister will be the feature back in this match up. He is not a bad fantasy play against the Falcons 22nd ranked run defense.
19. Jamaal Charles (KC) – With Larry Johnson suspended and Kolby Smith gone for the season with a knee injury, the talented rookie will get his first career start in week 10. Charles was very impressive in week 9 rushing for 106 yards against a stingy Tampa Bay run defense. He will need help from the Chiefs passing game in week 10 to produce on a similar level, but things seem to be clicking there as well. Charles should put up respectable totals against a middle of the road Chargers run defense.
20. Ryan Grant (GB) – While the match up against the Vikings 2nd ranked run defense is far from ideal, Grant is capable of solid numbers in week 10. While he still isn’t back to 2007 form, Grant has shown vast improvement over the last few weeks. In addition, he has a pretty good track record against Minnesota in spite of their strong play against the run. In 2 career starts against them, Grant has accumulated 211 rushing yards and a TD, including a 92 yard rushing effort back in week 1.
21. Steve Slaton (HOU) – Can you say brutal? For the second straight week, Slaton will have to face one of the top run defenses in the NFL, last week against Minnesota’s 2nd ranked run D and this week against Baltimore’s #1 ranked run defense. While Slaton was not extremely successful against the Vikings rushing for only 62 yards, he was able to salvage his day with a solid 8 receptions for 56 yards. He should be used in a similar fashion in week 10. If you are in a PPR league, Slaton should be a solid fantasy play. If not, you might want to consider a different option.
22. Kevin Faulk (NE) – He is not highly recommended for fantasy use this week splitting carries with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but Faulk should put up acceptable numbers as a bye week fill in. While you shouldn’t expect a big rushing total against the Bills 12th ranked run defense, Faulk always seems to put up solid numbers as a receiver out of the backfield, making him especially appealing in PPR leagues.
23. Joseph Addai (IND) – While Addai always has a chance to do some damage if the Colts offense gets rolling, you probably shouldn’t bet on that happening in week 10. Not only is Addai facing one of the best run defense in the NFL this week (Pittsburgh), he is also expected to lose more carries to Dominic Rhodes. Addai is capable, but you are probably better off taking your chances with someone else under the circumstances.
24. BenJarvus Green-Ellis (NE) – With Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan expected to be on the sidelines again in week 10, Green-Ellis will likely get his 3rd consecutive start. He hasn’t put up monster numbers to this point, but he has managed to find the end zone in 3 straight games now. That said, week 10 will provide his biggest test to date and his fantasy value remains limited splitting carries with Kevin Faulk. While he is not a strong fantasy start against a solid Buffalo run defense, Green-Ellis will be in line for the goal line carries, and should be an acceptable bye week fill in.
25. Willis McGahee (BAL) – After being listed as active heading into week 9, McGahee did not play a single down, and he may have lost his feature role to rookie Ray Rice who exploded for 154 rushing yards in his stead. That said, McGahee is expected to return in week 10 and if that’s the case, it seems likely that he will see a decent number of carries. There is a lot of uncertainty with the Ravens back field right now, but we can’t imagine the Baltimore coaching staff going exclusively with Ray Rice. Monitor the situation closely as McGahee could put up solid numbers against a mediocre Houston run defense, but as of right now, he is very risky with so many question marks. He could get 20 carries and he may never set foot on the field, no one knows at this point, probably not even the Ravens coaching staff. If something changes, we will let you know. Check injury report: ankle
26. Jonathan Stewart (CAR) – In spite of an excellent week 10 match up against Oakland’s 30th ranked run defense, Stewart is a very risky fantasy play. In fact, he may not even play at all. Stewart is nursing a heel injury that he describes as extremely painful with even the slightest pressure. Even if Stewart decides to gut it out, it may not be for long and his effectiveness may be limited with the injury. Monitor the situation closely, as the match up is almost too good to pass on if he plays, but don’t count on that happening, and have a back up plan in place. Check injury report: heel
27. Kevin Smith (DET) – While Smith continues to back up Rudi Johnson, he remains the better fantasy option of the two. Unfortunately, that isn’t saying much and Smith has fairly limited fantasy value in his current role. That said, he could do some damage in week 10 against a shaky Jaguar run defense making him a viable candidate as a bye week fill in.
28. Le’Ron McClain (BAL) – He is a risky week 10 fantasy option, especially if Willis McGahee returns, but McClain should still see a handful of carries regardless, and he should get the goal line touches. The match up against a Houston run defense that has allowed 12 rushing TD’s this season is favorable. Check injury report: ankle
29. Jerious Norwood (ATL) – He may get 10 or 15 carries this week and he may only get 3 or 4, you never know, but as he proved in week 9, it doesn’t take much for him to make a fantasy impact. Norwood makes for a risky bye week fill in or flex play against a mediocre Saints run defense.
30. Fred Taylor (JAX) – He has an excellent match up against Detroit’s 31st ranked run defense, but Taylor has been horrible most of the season, and he can’t be trusted against anyone at this point. Check injury report: knee
31. Kenneth Darby (STL) – With Steven Jackson and Antonio Pittman expected to miss week 10, Darby should carry most of the load, giving up a few carries to Samkon Gado. In spite of the feature role, the match up is bad against the Jets 4th ranked run defense and Darby is unproven. He would be a desperate fantasy play.
32. Leon Washington (NYJ) – He probably won’t get more than a few carries, but Washington doesn’t need many touches to do some damage, especially against a weak St. Louis defense. Regardless, he is a risky bye week fill in at best.
33. J.J. Arrington (ARI) – He was extremely impressive in limited week 9 action totaling 119 yards against the Rams. Arrington could be a decent sneaky play as a bye week fill in against the 49ers in week 10 as well. There is an obvious risk, however, and you shouldn’t expect him to duplicate week 9’s production.
34. Derrick Ward (NYG) – Ward continues to put up impressive numbers in spite of limited action, but you should probably expect less from him than usual this week with a tough match up against the Eagles on the road.
35. Justin Fargas (OAK) – He is typically a solid fantasy RB, but with the overwhelming struggles of the Raiders offense, we suggest sitting him against a solid Carolina run defense in week 10.
36. Julius Jones (SEA) – With the return of Maurice Morris and the lack of QB Matt Hasselbeck, Jones has become almost irrelevant in fantasy football. The week 10 match up against Miami’s 9th ranked run defense is not especially promising either.
37. Ricky Williams (MIA) – He has a good match up against Seattle’s 21st ranked run defense in week 10, but Williams doesn’t get enough carries or show the consistency to be a reliable fantasy option.
38. Dominic Rhodes (IND) – Rhodes is expected to get an increased workload moving forward, perhaps even splitting carries evenly with Joseph Addai, according to team officials. Even if that happens (unlikely), you shouldn’t expect much from him against the Steelers 3rd ranked run defense in week 10.
39. Maurice Morris (SEA) – He is a pretty good RB, but he is extremely limited with regard to fantasy, splitting carries with Julius Jones and being without QB Matt Hasselbeck.
40. Rudi Johnson (DET) – He makes for a very desperate fantasy start based on his recent numbers, but the week 10 match up against Jacksonville is favorable, especially if Jag’s DT John Henderson is out.
Fantasy Football Week 10 QB Rankings
1. Drew Brees (NO) – He heads into week 10 fresh off of a bye week and a dominating week 8 performance in London. If history repeats itself, and it usually does, Brees’ week 10 match up against Atlanta bodes extremely well. In his last 3 contests against the Falcons, he has accumulated 7 passing TD’s with only 1 interception, while averaging 299 passing yards per game against them. The Atlanta secondary has shown improvement in recent weeks, but they still only rank mid pack in the NFL with regard to pass defense, and they have yet to face a passing attack as potent as the Saints. Brees should pick them apart.
2. Kurt Warner (ARI) – With an average of 304 passing yards per game with 16 TD’s and only 6 interceptions, we can safely say that Warner has been the most consistently productive fantasy QB through the midway point of the season. Barring injury, we also feel fairly confident in saying that Warner should continue that trend in the second half of the season as well. He will begin that quest with a week 10 match up against San Francisco. In his last 2 home games against the 49ers, Warner has thrown for a combined 785 yards, 5 TD’s and 2 interceptions. While the 49ers were able to hold Warner in check to some extent back in week 1 at home, the circumstances have changed dramatically since then, and you should see a much different result this time around in Arizona.
3. Phillip Rivers (SD) – He has faced few, if any, upper echelon pass defenses this season, but you can not argue with his NFL leading 19 TD passes. Fortunately, Rivers will have the luxury of facing yet another cup cake pass defense in week 10. The Chiefs rank just 22nd against the pass and that ranking would probably be worse if teams didn’t spend so much time running against them. Rivers doesn’t have a great track record against Kansas City historically, but this is far from the Chiefs defense of yester year, and Rivers has shown drastic improvement in both production and consistency in his ’08 campaign. He may not light them up, as the Chargers will probably lean heavily on RB LaDainian Tomlinson with this match up, but he is a pretty safe bet for a solid game.
4. Aaron Rodgers (GB) – He hasn’t posted huge numbers in his last 2 games, but considering the opposition (Titans & Colts), Rodgers fared better than expected. A week 10 match up against Minnesota’s 23rd ranked pass defense should be a welcome relief. While Rodgers only managed to throw for 178 yards against the Vikings back in week 1, he did score 2 TD’s and did not throw a single interception. Now that Rodgers has settled into his starting role and the immense pressure he faced back in week 1 is no longer an issue, we like his chances for a great week 10 performance. Check injury report: shoulder
5. Chad Pennington (MIA) – He is not an elite fantasy QB, but given the right match up, Pennington can be extremely effective. That said, he has an excellent match up for week 10. Pennington will face a Seattle pass defense that ranks 31st in the NFL and has allowed 13 TD’s through the air in 8 games. The Seahawks have also allowed more pass plays over 20 yards than anyone else in the NFL with 30. While Pennington did meet our expectations last week at Denver, we think he will put up strong numbers against the Seahawks at home. 5 of his 7 TD passes this season have come at home and Pennington makes for a stellar bye week fill in.
6. Jake Delhomme (CAR) – He probably couldn’t have asked for a better first half schedule with regard to the quality of pass defenses he has faced, yet, his production has been fairly pedestrian over all. The good news is that Delhomme has looked much better in his last 2 games which bodes well for the second half. If he can just develop some semblance of consistency, Delhomme should be much more productive down the stretch. He will have a great chance to do so starting with a great week 10 match up against Oakland. The Raiders have a very mediocre pass defense and the Carolina passing attack matches up very well against their unbalanced secondary. For that reason, Delhomme should be in your week 10 fantasy line up.
7. Matt Ryan (ATL) – While he hasn’t quite reached top flight status, the rookie signal caller’s extraordinary progress has garnered our endorsement as a fairly solid week to week fantasy option at QB. In week 10, Ryan will face the Saints who claim one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL, ranking 25th. New Orleans has allowed 12 passing TD’s through 8 games and only 2 teams have given up more pass plays over 20 yards so far this season. Ryan should find Roddy White early and often with this match up, and it holds the potential to be a big game for both of them.
8. David Garrard (JAX) – With a battered offensive line, mediocre receiving corps, and no help from a lack luster running game, Garrard has certainly had the deck stacked against him this season, and he has still managed to post solid numbers from time to time. Week 10 appears favorable to be one of those times. Garrard will face a horrible Lions pass defense this week that ranks 29th in the NFL. Detroit has given up 13 TD’s through the air this season with only 2 interceptions to their credit. It shouldn’t take much in the way of assistance for Garrard to be productive against this secondary, so consider him a solid week 10 starting option for your fantasy roster.
9. Brett Favre (NYJ) – We realize that Favre has been stinking it up lately and we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to sit him, but before you do, hear us out. Week 10 is not exactly the most promising for QB’s all in all and Favre is one of the few that has a very favorable match up. In fact, the week 10 meeting with St. Louis is probably the most promising match up he has had in weeks. The Rams rank 28th in pass defense and have allowed 12 passing TD’s on the season. This doesn’t mean he won’t throw an interception, because he probably will, but Favre is well overdue to break out of his slump, and this will be his best chance to do so. He is a risky option based on his recent struggles, but comparatively, Favre has a better shot at putting up solid numbers against a shaky Rams defense than the majority of his fellow QB’s with bad match ups.
10. Sage Rosenfels (HOU) – Sure, he takes a lot of risks and he will throw interceptions, but Rosenfels also knows how to make big plays and find the end zone. In 9 games last season (5 as a starter), he threw for 15 TD’s and ran for another. In 2 games this season (1 as a starter), Rosenfels has 3 TD passes and 470 passing yards. He doesn’t have the best of match ups in week 10 against Baltimore’s 4th ranked pass defense, but the Ravens secondary has been pretty shaky over the last few weeks, and Rosenfels has some great weapons to work with. He isn’t the ideal fantasy QB, but you could do worse.
11. Tyler Thigpen (KC) – It feels a little ridiculous to have Thigpen ranked ahead of the Manning brothers and Donovan McNabb this week, but the bottom line is that has a better match up than the afore mentioned trio and he has 2 very solid weeks in a row under his belt. Thigpen could not ask for a better week 10 opponent than San Diego. The Chargers currently rank dead last against the pass and they have allowed 14 passing TD’s already this season. Is he a fail safe starting option you may ask? Absolutely not, but Thigpen is probably worth the gamble given the overwhelming difficult match ups facing some of the bigger name QB’s this week.
12. Peyton Manning (IND) – Even though Manning has shown some indication of righting the ship over the last couple of weeks, his numbers remain far below par for a QB of his caliber. That said, it is extremely difficult to recommend him for fantasy use with a brutal week 10 match against Pittsburgh. The Steelers currently boast the best pass defense in the NFL and their 32 sacks also lead the league. While we recognize Manning’s improved play and potential, we can not see him doing much damage against this defense. If you have another option, we suggest using it.
13. Shaun Hill (SF) – He is a week 10 long shot for obvious reasons, but we like his chances for two reasons. Hill has a proven and productive track record as a starter and he has an excellent week 10 match up against Arizona. The Cardinals secondary is mediocre at best and they have allowed more passing TD’s (16) than any other defense in the NFL. Hill is a risky start given the circumstances, but we would be surprised if he didn’t prove useful as a bye week fill in.
14. Eli Manning (NYG) – He was able to find the end zone 3 times in week 9 against a battered Cowboys secondary, but Manning failed to reach 200 passing yards again for the 4th consecutive game. Chances are he will extend that streak to 5 games with a week 10 match up against the Eagles. Philadelphia ranks 8th in the NFL giving up 191 yards per game through the air. In addition, Manning only averaged 177 passing yards in 2 games against them last season. He is a pretty safe bet to find the end zone again, but that is about as much as you can count on. You could probably do better with another QB in week 10.
15. Donovan McNabb (PHI) – While McNabb is coming off of one of his better fantasy performances of the season, he probably isn’t your best option for week 10 against the Giants. The Giants rank 2nd in pass defense and their 30 sacks rank just behind Pittsburgh’s 32. In addition, McNabb has a horrible track record against the G-Men. In 2 games against them last season, McNabb had only 1 TD, while averaging just 158 passing yards and he was sacked a combined 15 times, fumbling 3 times. McNabb is a capable fantasy QB, but we would look elsewhere for week 10 with this match up.
16. Joe Flacco (BAL) – You certainly can’t expect Flacco to dominate any secondary, but he is starting to put up decent fantasy numbers on a consistent basis. Flacco has thrown 4 TD passes in his last 3 games and more importantly, not a single interception during that stretch. He will face a middle of the road Houston pas defense in week 10, and while you probably can’t expect a bunch of yards, the Texans secondary is susceptible to passing TD’s giving up 12 on the season. Flacco is showing improvement, but he isn’t quite a week to week fantasy option yet. He makes for a decent bye week fill in.
17. Gus Frerotte (MIN) – He is starting to produce fairly consistent fantasy numbers every week, and a 3 TD performance in week 9 was impressive. Frerotte will have his work cut out for him to continue the trend with a tough week 10 match up against Green Bay. The Packers currently boast a top 5 pass defense while leading the NFL with 13 interceptions. In addition, the Green Bay secondary has only allowed 9 passing TD’s in 8 games. Frerotte is capable of decent production, even with the difficult match up, but he should only be used as a bye week fill in.
18. Marc Bulger (STL) – He still isn’t back to Pro Bowl form, but Bulger is starting to take shape which is reflected by his respectable fantasy output in the last 2 weeks. Bulger should carry the momentum into a favorable week 10 match up against the Jets 24th ranked pass defense. He should have success against this secondary, but the Jets do have a fierce pass rush which is a concern. In addition, Bulger could have trouble getting the passing game going if the running game isn’t clicking, which is a real possibility with Steven Jackson injured. The match up is promising, but there are too many question marks to suggest using Bulger as anything more than a risky bye week replacement.
19. Trent Edwards (BUF) –He has had one favorable match up after another throughout the season and while he hasn’t been bad, Edwards is barely putting up acceptable fantasy numbers for a bye week fill in. He has yet to log more than 1 passing TD in a game all season. Edwards is capable of producing decent numbers against a middle of the road Patriots secondary in week 10, but that is as much as you can hope for.
20. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) – When healthy, Roethlisberger can be an extremely effective fantasy QB. Unfortunately, he is far from healthy right now, and may not even play in week 10. Even if he does play, Roethlisberger is an injury risk with a bad match up against the Colts 3rd ranked pass defense. We suggest going with a different option on your fantasy roster. Check injury report: shoulder
*Participants in Thursday night’s game Denver @ Cleveland are not included in week 10 QB rankings(Brady Quinn and Jay Cutler).
Posted by The Mac Bros. at 7:21 AM
Fantasy Football Week 10 TE Rankings (Start/Sit)
1. Antonio Gates (SD) – vs. KC
2. Tony Gonzalez (KC) - @ SD
3. Owen Daniels (HOU) – vs. BAL
4. Dallas Clark (IND) - @ PIT
5. Jeremy Shockey (NO) - @ ATL – Check injury report: hernia
6. Bo Scaife (TEN) - @ CHI
7. Anthony Fasano (MIA) – vs. SEA
8. Kevin Boss (NYG) - @ PHI
9. Greg Olsen (CHI) – vs. TEN
10. Marcedes Lewis (JAX) - @ DET
11. L.J. Smith (PHI) – vs. NYG – Check injury report: concussion
12. Visanthe Shiancoe (MIN) – vs. GB
13. Desmond Clark (CHI) – vs. TEN
14. John Carlson (SEA) - @ MIA
15. Donald Lee (GB) - @ MIN
16. Dustin Keller (NYJ) – vs. STL
17. Zach Miller (OAK) – vs. CAR
18. Billy Miller (NO) - @ ATL
19. Robert Royal (BUF) - @ NE
20. Matt Spaeth (PIT) – vs. IND
* Participants in Thursday night’s Denver @ Cleveland game are not included in week 10 TE rankings
Posted by The Mac Bros. at 6:35 AM
Fantasy Football Week 10 Defense (Start/Sit)
1. Carolina Panthers (@ OAK)
2. Tennessee Titans (@ CHI)
3. Baltimore Ravens (@ HOU)
4. Miami Dolphins (vs. SEA)
5. New York Giants (@ PHI)
6. Chicago Bears (vs. TEN)
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. IND)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. NYG)
9. New York Jets (vs. STL)
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (@ DET)
11. New England Patriots (vs. BUF)
12. Buffalo Bills (@ NE)
13. Green Bay Packers (@ MIN)
14. San Diego Chargers (vs. KC)
15. Arizona Cardinals (vs. SF)
16. Indianapolis Colts (@ PIT)
17. Minnesota Vikings (vs. GB)
18. Houston Texans (vs. BAL)
19. St. Louis Rams (@ NYJ)
20. Atlanta Falcons (vs. NO)
Posted by The Mac Bros. at 6:26 AM
Fantasy Football Week 10 Kicker Rankings
1. Mason Crosby (GB)
2. Nate Kaeding (SD)
3. Joe Nedney (SF)
4. David Akers (PHI)
5. Rob Bironas (TEN)
6. Jason Elam (ATL)
7. Jay Feely (NYJ)
8. Stephen Gostkowski (NE)
9. Ryan Longwell (MIN)
10. John Kasay (CAR)
11. Neil Rackers (ARI)
12. John Carney (NYG)
13. Josh Scobee (JAX)
14. Kris Brown (HOU)
15. Rian Lindell (BUF)
16. Josh Brown (STL)
17. Connor Barth (KC)
18. Jason Hanson (DET)
*Participants in Thursday night’s game Denver @ Cleveland are not included in week 10 Kicker rankings. Please check out our Start/Sit for the Thursday game.
Posted by The Mac Bros. at 8:52 PM
Fantasy Football Week 10 WR Rankings
* Participants in Thursday night’s Denver @ Cleveland game are not recognized in week 10 WR rankings (see fantasy recommendations for Thursday night for info on those players)
1. Anquan Boldin (ARI) – We can probably all agree that the single most important factor in fantasy football is the almighty TD, and this guy flat out knows how to get into the end zone. Boldin has managed to find pay dirt in 5 consecutive games now and his NFL leading 8 receiving TD’s is even more impressive when you consider that he missed 2 games this season. Simply put, Boldin is a TD machine, so you would have to be crazy to leave him off of your week 10 fantasy roster.
2. Roddy White (ATL) – While White’s numbers took a bit of a dip in week 9, it wasn’t all that surprising, considering he was matched up against Oakland’s Nnamdi Asomugha, arguably the NFL’s top shut down corner back. The good news is that White should get back to business as usual with an excellent week 10 match up against the Saints. New Orleans ranks amongst the worst in the NFL in pass defense and have allowed 12 TD’s through the air in just 8 games. White torched the Saints secondary in both meetings last season accumulating 185 receiving yards and 2 TD’s. White should have a monster week 10.
3. Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) – Like most teams he faces, Fitzgerald has owned the 49ers in recent meetings. In his last 2 games against San Francisco, Fitzgerald has 12 receptions for 187 yards and 3 TD’s. Fitzgerald is nursing a sore thumb, but he was able to practice, and claims that it will not be a factor this week. Fitzgerald should come up big against a mediocre 49ers pass defense on the big Monday night stage in week 10. Check injury report: thumb
4. Andre Johnson (HOU) – He wasn’t able to continue his streak of double digit receptions and over 100 receiving yards in week 9, but he more than made up for it by finding the end zone. Johnson will likely be challenged in week 10 by Baltimore’s 4th ranked pass defense, but he is in the zone right now, and his vast talents should rise above the difficult match up. In addition, we don’t expect much drop off, if any, with Sage Rosenfels at QB. Johnson has proven in the past to have an equally solid rapport with both signal callers. He is a must start.
5. Greg Jennings (GB) – While Jennings didn’t have his typical monster output in week 9, he was able to hold his own with a respectable 79 receiving yards against the Titans elite secondary. He should have a much easier go of it in week 10 against a mediocre Vikings pass defense. Jennings had 5 receptions for 91 yards against Minnesota back in week 1, but a blown call cost him a long TD reception in that game deflating his true contribution. We expect bigger and better things for him this time around.
6. Dwayne Bowe (KC) – Contrary to expectations, Bowe has actually proven to be more successful with Tyler Thigpen under center. We see no reason why that success shouldn’t continue in week 10 against the NFL’s worst pass defense. The Chargers secondary has given up more passing yards than any other team in the league in addition to allowing a ridiculous 14 passing TD’s in 8 games. We are as surprised as anyone to see the Chiefs passing game clicking, but facts are facts, and this match up bodes well under the circumstances. Get Bowe in your line up!
7. Lee Evans (BUF) – He was a bit of a disappointment in week 9, but it’s probably too much to ask of any receiver to light it up every week. He should rebound nicely in week 10. While Evans doesn’t have the best track record against the Patriots, this is not the New England pass defense of season’s past. The 2008 edition of the Pat’s secondary can best be described as mediocre at best, and they rank near the bottom of the NFL with 13 passing TD’s allowed through 8 games. Evans is too important to the Bills success in this match up for them not to target him early and often. He should exploit this defenses biggest weakness, pass defense.
8. Laveranues Coles (NYJ) – After a disappointing week 9, Coles should get back on track with his best match up in weeks. He will face a St. Louis pass defense that ranks 28th in the NFL. The Rams have allowed 12 passing TD’s in 8 games while giving up 246 yards through the air per game. The Jets passing game should click against this defense and Coles should benefit more than anyone. Check injury report: thigh
9. Bernard Berrian (MIN) – He will have his work cut out for him in week 10 against a stingy Green Bay pass defense that ranks in the top 5 of the NFL. That said, Berrian has a TD catch in each of his last 4 games to go along with a 107 yard receiving average during that stretch. He is on fire and he should remain in your starting line up in spite of the difficult match up.
10. Calvin Johnson (DET) – He continued his excellent play in week 9 with his 4th TD catch in as many games. While it is a concern if Daunte Culpepper starts at QB over Dan Orlovsky this week, given the solid chemistry that has developed between Orlovsky and Johnson, you probably can’t afford to have Johnson out of your line up. He will be matched up against a mediocre Jaguars pass defense that has allowed 14 passing TD’s in 8 games. Regardless of who starts at QB, it would be ill advised to bench the hot handed Johnson with such a favorable week 10 match up.
11. Steve Smith (CAR) – With 4 TD’s and 109 receiving yards on average in his last 5 games, Smith is one of the hottest fantasy WR’s out there. That said, he is likely to meet his match in week 10 against Oakland’s shut down CB Nnamdi Asomugha. While it will be a tall order for Smith to put up big numbers in this match up, they should move him around to help create mismatches against some of Oakland’s less effective defensive backs. Keep your expectations realistic under the circumstances this week, but you can never count Smith out even against the best of corner backs, and he is far too talented to leave on the bench.
12. Reggie Wayne (PIT) – While his numbers have been below par in recent weeks, Wayne remains an elite fantasy option, and should be started accordingly. He is due to get back on track in spite of a difficult week 10 match up against Pittsburgh’s top ranked pass defense. Wayne should be nearly 100% for the first time in a couple of weeks following a knee sprain, so you probably can’t afford to sit him regardless of the tough week.
13. Randy Moss (NE) – He isn’t putting up the kind of numbers that he would with Tom Brady at QB, but we like the fact that he is at least starting to develop some consistency with Matt Cassel. In his last 3 games, Moss is averaging 6 receptions for 79 receiving yards to go along with 2 TD’s. Moss will face a fairly solid Buffalo pass defense in week 10, but based on his numbers against them last season, he shouldn’t have too much trouble regardless of who the QB is. In 2 games against Buffalo in ‘07, Moss accumulated a combined 15 receptions for 243 yards and 6 TD’s. While you can’t expect him to duplicate that kind of production this time around, he obviously knows his way around this secondary. Check injury report: foot
14. Jerricho Cotchery (NYJ) – He hasn’t found pay dirt in his last 4 games, but Cotchery has put up solid numbers otherwise, especially in PPR leagues. He will have a good chance to end his TD drought with his best match up in weeks against a terrible Rams secondary in week 10. The St. Louis pass defense ranks just 28th in the NFL and they have allowed 12 receiving TD’s in 8 games. Check injury report: shoulder
15. Marques Colston (NO) – In spite of a decent 56 yard performance in week 8, it seems obvious that Colston is still trying to get his game legs back under him. With a week 9 bye, the extra week should have provided Colston ample time to get back on cue with QB Drew Brees. We would be surprised if he doesn’t get back to producing on the high level we are accustomed to as soon as this week. Colston has a favorable week 10 match up against a shaky Falcons secondary. In his last meeting against Atlanta, Colston had 9 catches for 92 yards and 2 TD’s.
16. Matt Jones (JAX) – If you are in a PPR league, then you have to love Jones consistently high output in recent weeks. That said, we like his chances for a strong performance in all formats of fantasy football this week. Reason being that Jones will face the 29th ranked pass defense of the Detroit Lions in week 10. The Lions secondary has been horrible this season allowing 13 passing TD’s in just 8 games in addition to giving up more pass plays over 40 yards than any other team in the NFL with 8. This match up holds a lot of promise and is too good to pass up. Jones should be in your week 10 line up.
17. Derrick Mason (BAL) – He has now put up big stat lines in 2 of the last 3 weeks, and the one week he didn’t, Mason was fighting the flu and playing against one of the best CB’s in the NFL. It is clear that Mason and QB Joe Flacco have developed one of the better rapports in the NFL between QB and WR. You should probably expect the duo to hook up early and often again in week 10. Mason will face a decent Houston secondary in this match up, but he is a strong candidate to find the end zone in back to back games as the Texans are vulnerable against the pass in the red zone. The Houston pass defense has allowed 12 passing TD’s in 8 games.
18. Plaxico Burress (NYG) – We realize that it’s tough to stick with Burress while he is in such a severe drought, and no one would blame you for benching him facing down a difficult week 10 match up against the Eagles 8th ranked pass defense. That said, you also have to believe that it is only a matter of time before he gets back on track as Burress is too talented to continue to play at such a poor level. However difficult this week’s match up may be, Burress probably still gives you a better chance at a big performance than a second tier WR on a current hot streak. He had 11 receptions for 160 yards and 2 TD’s in 2 combined games against Philly last season.
19. Vincent Jackson (SD) – You have to like the way Jackson has stepped his game up in recent weeks. He has scored a TD in each of his last 3 games while averaging 79 receiving yards per game during that stretch. He should continue his success with a promising week 10 match up against a mediocre Kansas City secondary. Even with Chris Chambers back in the Chargers line up, we expect Jackson to remain hot.
20. Donald Driver (GB) – He hasn’t been very consistent this season, but Driver is coming off of a monster week 9 performance against an elite Tennessee Titans pass defense. He should be able to carry the momentum into a much more manageable week 10 match up against a mediocre Vikings pass defense. He is a bit risky with his hit or miss tendencies, but we like his chances.
21. Wes Welker (NE) – With only 1 TD on the season so far, Welker is not a strong fantasy play for TD heavy leagues, but he is ideal for PPR leagues where he continues to put up consistent solid totals. You can expect more of the same in week 10 against Buffalo. If you are not in a PPR league, you might want to consider another option.
22. Lance Moore (NO) – He can be hit or miss with so many bodies vying for Drew Brees’ attention in the Saints passing game, but you probably can’t afford to leave his potential on the bench most weeks. That is especially true for week 10 where Moore has a particularly favorable match up against a mediocre Falcons secondary.
23. Muhsin Muhammad (CAR) – He hasn’t been especially good in recent weeks, but Muhammad should see plenty of targets in week 10. If Oakland’s shut down CB Nnamdi Asomugha is locked onto to Steve Smith as expected, that should open the door for Muhammad to make some plays against the Raiders otherwise poor pass defense. You probably can’t expect a monster game from him, but the circumstances are favorable. The Raiders have been torched by #2 receivers throughout the season.
24. Donnie Avery (STL) – You can probably expect him to have an off week here and there being that he is a rookie which was certainly the case in week 9. That said, we like Avery’s chances to rebound in week 10. He has a favorable match up against the Jets 24th ranked pass defense.
25. Santonio Holmes (PIT) – He doesn’t have the best of week 10 match ups against the Colts 3rd ranked pass defense, but we still like his potential in this match up. Reason being that he will probably have Byron Leftwich at QB. Leftwich has made it very clear that Holmes is his favorite target in spite of limited action together. Leftwich seems to always look Holmes way first, and he even made a couple of ill advised throws in week 9 trying to get the ball to him. He will have his work cut out for him against a stingy Indianapolis secondary, but Holmes should see plenty of targets if Leftwich is under center. He is still a decent fantasy play if Roethlisberger at QB as well.
26. Chris Chambers (SD) – He doesn’t typically put up big reception or yardage totals, but Chambers knows how to find the end zone. He has 5 TD’s so far this season despite playing in only 6 games. Chambers should have ample opportunity for touch down number 6 against a fairly weak Kansas City secondary, but TD’s don’t come easy. Check injury report: ankle
27. Greg Camarillo (MIA) – He is already putting up consistent reception and yardage totals, and if he could start to find the end zone on a consistent basis, Camarillo could develop into a top flight fantasy option. He is coming off of a career best 11 receptions for 111 yards in week 9. Camarillo should be able to carry that momentum over into a favorable week 10 match up against Seattle. The Seahawks rank just 31st in the NFL against the pass and have allowed 13 passing TD’s in 8 games.
28. Hines Ward (PIT) – While Ward’s numbers have been on a downward slide in recent weeks, he remains a decent fantasy play. He doesn’t have a great week 10 match up against the Colts 3rd ranked pass defense, but you can never count him out, and he is due to get back on track. Check injury report: shoulder
29. DeSean Jackson (PHI) – You can probably expect him to be a hit or miss fantasy option moving forward with Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown back in the Eagles line up. That said, Jackson remains the most dangerous weapon in Philadelphia’s passing game and therefore retains solid fantasy value. He is always one play away from giving you solid production regardless of the match up, which isn’t ideal in week 10 against the Giants 2nd ranked pass defense. Check injury report: groin
30. Steve Breaston (ARI) – You can’t expect big games from Breaston on a consistent basis as a #3 receiver for the Cardinals, but he should put up decent numbers most weeks, and sprinkle in the occasional big performance. He has a favorable week 10 match up against the 49ers 19th ranked pass defense. Breaston had 3 receptions for 54 yards against San Francisco back in week 1.
31. Kevin Walter (HOU) – You can never be certain what he is going to give you, but it is probably best to keep him active to avoid any regrets. Walter doesn’t have a very good week 10 match up against the Ravens top 5 pass defense, but he traditionally plays well when Sage Rosenfels is at QB which is the case this week. Walter is a risky, but capable fantasy option under the circumstances. Check injury report: knee
32. Mark Bradley (KC) – He is a risky play for week 10, but Bradley has put up double digit fantasy totals in back to back weeks now. It doesn’t hurt that he will be facing the worst pass defense in the NFL in week 10 either. Bradley could make for a nice sneaky fantasy start with a favorable match up against the Chargers. He is still flying under the radar and we like his chances as our sleeper of the week pick.
33. Torry Holt (STL) – Holt is coming off of his second best fantasy performance of the season in week 9 with 6 catches for 58 yards and a TD. While it was promising to see him rise to the challenge, you shouldn’t expect that every week. Holt does have a favorable week 10 match up against the Jets 24th ranked pass defense, but it is a road game, and he has not fared particularly well in away games this year.
34. Kevin Curtis (PHI) – He is coming off of a promising week 9performance, but Curtis will have a tough row to hoe in week 10 against the Giants 2nd ranked pass defense. While Curtis does not have a great track record against New York, he is certainly capable of putting up numbers in any match up. Check injury report: wrist, knee
35. Isaac Bruce (SF) – He has put up strong fantasy numbers on more than one occasion this season. Unfortunately, week 1 against Arizona was not one of those weeks and Bruce’s opposition in week 10 will be the same Cardinals pass defense that shut him out on opening day. We are fairly optimistic that Bruce will fare much better against them this time around with Shaun Hill under center, but you might want to consider a safer option.
36. Anthony Gonzalez (IND) – While Gonzalez is capable of putting up big time fantasy totals any week , as was evident in week 9, you can just as easily count on him to go bust. You probably shouldn’t expect much from Gonzalez against the Steelers top ranked pass defense in week 10.
37. Devery Henderson (NO) – To our dismay, he continues to find a way to put up decent fantasy totals every week. That said, he is still too risky to consider as anything more than a bye week fill in.
38. Marvin Harrison (IND) – He is capable, but Harrison is no longer a reliable fantasy option, especially with a poor week 10 match up against Pittsburgh’s top ranked pass defense.
39. Shaun McDonald (DET) – He has put up strong numbers in back to back weeks now. McDonald is a quality receiver and if he continues to see targets, he will make plays. That said, we’d still like to see more from him before we recommend using him as anything more than a bye week replacement or flex play.
40. Rashied Davis (CHI) – He probably isn’t going to give you monster stat lines, but we like what Davis is bringing to the table. With 2 TD receptions in his last 3 games, Davis is developing into a decent fantasy option as a flex play or bye week replacement. Unfortunately, he is not highly recommended this week against a very good Titans secondary.
41. Reggie Brown (PHI) Check injury report: groin
42. Nate Washington (PIT)
43. Devin Hester (CHI)
44. Steve Smith (NYG)
45. Ted Ginn (MIA)
46. Amani Toomer (NYG)
47. Jordy Nelson (GB)
48. Justin Gage (TEN)
49. Koren Robinson (SEA) Check injury report: knee
50. Josh Morgan (SF)
Fantasy Football Week 10 Running Back Rankings
* Participants in Thursday nights Denver @ Cleveland game are not recognized in week 10 RB rankings (see Thursday night fantasy recommendations for info on those players)
1. LaDainian Tomlinson (SD) – It was vintage L.T. in week 8 against the Saints as he totaled 170 yards and a TD. For the first time all season, Tomlinson looked like an elite fantasy RB. He was able to make his traditional breathtaking cuts and his speed appeared to be back. In addition, the week 9 bye should have helped further aid in the healing process of the turf toe that has limited him all season. He is not listed on the injury report and we are expecting a monster week 10 for Tomlinson against the worst run defense in the NFL. The Chiefs are giving up an average of 182 rushing yards per game to go along with 13 TD’s allowed on the ground in 8 games. This should be his week.
2. Adrian Peterson (MIN) –In his last 3 games, Peterson is averaging 124 rushing yards and a TD per game. He should continue the trend in week 10 with a favorable match up against Green Bay. The Packers run defense is among the worst in the NFL giving up 146 ground yards per game. In week 1, Peterson rushed for 103 yards and a score against them. He should be better this time around. As usual, A.P. is a must start fantasy option.
3. Brian Westbrook (PHI) – Surprisingly, he was held in check in week 9 by a horrible Seahawks defense that focused all of their attention on stopping him. Despite a difficult week 10 match up against the Giants 7th ranked run defense, we expect Westbrook to rebound nicely. He has scored at least 1 TD in each of his last 4 contests (1 playoff game) against the G-Men with 5 total TD’s, while averaging 142 total yards per game during that stretch. If history is on his side, Westbrook should be fine. Check injury report: knee
4. Frank Gore (SF) – While Gore’s week 10 match up against a solid Cardinals run defense isn’t ideal, history says that he will have a big day. He has at least 1 TD against Arizona in 5 consecutive games with 8 total TD’s during that stretch. Gore is also averaging 139 total yards per game against the Cards in his last 5 and totaled 151 yards with a TD against them back in week 1 of this season. He is a must start regardless, but his track record against Arizona doesn’t hurt matters.
5. Michael Turner (ATL) – The match up RB lived up to his billing again in week 9 rushing for 139 yards against a weak Oakland run defense. The bad news is that Turner failed to find the end zone for the third straight game now. While this means he is probably due to hit pay dirt in week 10, it won’t be particularly easy against a Saints run defense that has allowed only 4 rushing TD’s all season. The good news is that the New Orleans run defense is fairly mediocre over all which bodes well for Turner’s rushing numbers. Turner should have a good game against this defense as they have struggled lately, but keep in mind that they were able to shut down Adrian Peterson back in week 5.
6. Mewelde Moore (PIT) – With FWP (Fragile Willie Parker) expected to miss week 10 with a shoulder injury, Moore will return to a familiar starting role. In 3 previous starts, Moore found pay dirt 4 times while averaging 115 total yards per game. He should prove to be extremely effective once again in week 10 against a soft Indianapolis run defense. The Colts have allowed 10 rushing TD’s in 8 games while giving up a whopping 144 ground yards per game on the season. Pull Moore back off of the waiver wire and get him on your starting week 10 fantasy roster.
7. Tim Hightower (ARI) – In his first stint as the Cardinals feature back he rushed for 109 yards and a TD. Hightower should be impressive again in week 10 against a fairly soft San Francisco run defense. The 49ers rank just 19th in the NFL against the run while allowing 10 rushing TD’s in 8 games. Hightower makes for a solid fantasy option in week 10.
8. DeAngelo Williams (CAR) – With 5 Td’s in his last 4 games, Williams continues to be one of the most overlooked fantasy backs out there. He has already proven that when the match up is right, he can do some real damage. Fortunately, week 10 against the Raiders provides an excellent match up for him to showcase his underrated talents. The Oakland run defense ranks among the worst in the NFL allowing 158 yards per game in addition to 12 rushing TD’s in 8 games. As a side note, there is a very good chance that Williams will get a full compliment of carries this week with fellow RB Jonathan Stewart nursing a heel injury. Williams can be hit or miss, but we like his chances under the circumstances.
9. Chris Johnson (TEN) – He continues to rip opposing defenses on a weekly basis, but things will be much tougher for Johnson in week 10 against the Bears. The Chicago run defense is extremely solid allowing only 82 ground yards per game. Johnson will have his work cut out for him against this defense, but he is always just one play away from a strong fantasy effort, and he should be solid in the Titans passing game as well.
10. Brandon Jacobs (NYG) – While a week 10 match up against the Eagles is not especially promising, Jacobs is not your average RB. Philadelphia ranks 8th against the run and have only allowed 3 rushing TD’s on the season. It will be a tough row to hoe for Jacobs in week 10 without question, but you can’t bench a guy that has at least 1 TD in 5 of his last 6 games.
11. Thomas Jones (NYJ) – He has now pieced together 4 solid rushing efforts in a row and he has a favorable match up in week 10 that should prove beneficial to Jones efforts to continue the trend. Jones will face the Rams 29th ranked run defense which allows 156 rushing yards per game. In addition, St. Louis has allowed 12 rushing TD’s on the season. He has benefited greatly in recent weeks from the Jets struggling passing game. When Brett Favre gets back on track, you can probably expect Jones numbers to go down, but until that happens, stick with him.
12. Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX) – It is difficult to sell a player as inconsistent as Jones-Drew has been this season, but for what it’s worth, he has a great week 10 match up and a pattern of blowing up every 3rd game. If the pattern holds true, he should be in for a big game this week. MJD will face the NFL’s second worst run defense, a Detroit unit that allows 162 ground yards per game on average. The Lions have also given up 11 rushing TD’s in 8 games making Jones-Drew a strong candidate to find the end zone. If he can’t get it done against this defense, you might want to consider going with another option.
13. Ronnie Brown (MIA) – He managed to salvage an otherwise unspectacular rushing day in week 9 with a TD, but it is obvious that the wildcat offense is on its last legs as Brown has yet to rush for more than 59 yards in his last 4 games. That said, Brown is still a solid fantasy back and a week 10 match up against Seattle holds promise. The Seahawks run defense ranks just 21st in the NFL and they have been gashed on several different occasions this season. The bad news is that Seattle was great in containing Brian Westbrook last week, so don’t expect Brown to get back to putting up monster numbers with this match up, but it is possible.
14. Matt Forte (CHI) – He will have his work cut out for him in week 10 against the Titans top 10 run defense, but Forte is one of the most consistent fantasy performers in the NFL. He never puts up monster numbers, but he always seems to find a way to crack double digits. If he doesn’t get many ground yards, he usually makes up for it with a TD or a solid day in the passing game and vice versa. This match up isn’t ideal, but Forte should find his way to another solid fantasy day. He hasn’t given us any reason to think otherwise.
15. Marshawn Lynch (BUF) – Despite 52 receiving yards, Lynch was shut down by the Jets in week 9 with only 16 rushing yards on 9 carries. He should be able to find a little more running room in week 10 against a good, but not great Patriots run defense. Lynch has yet to reach 100 rushing yards in a game all season, so you probably shouldn’t expect it to happen against New England, but he does have 6 rushing TD’s this season and he is always a candidate to find pay dirt. Lynch rushed for 74 yards and a TD in his only career start against the Patriots last season.
16. LenDale White (TEN) – He didn’t manage to find the end zone in week 9, but White’s 77 rushing yards were his second highest total of the season. White continues to be a risky fantasy option because if he doesn’t find pay dirt, his yardage totals are typically mediocre at best. Fortunately, he finds the end zone enough to make him worth the risk and considering that he went scoreless last week, it seems logical that he will find pay dirt in week 10. It won’t be easy against a stingy Bears run defense, but Chicago does give up 1 rushing TD per game on average.
17. Ray Rice (BAL) – You probably can’t anticipate him getting a full compliment of carries in week 10 with the expected return of Willis McGahee, but Rice’s monster 154 yard rushing effort in week 9 should earn him a significant role in the Ravens backfield against Houston. While a repeat of last week is unlikely with the uncertainty surrounding the shared workload this week, Rice should be solid against a shaky Texans run defense. Houston allows127 ground yards per game in addition to the 12 rushing TD’s they have given up through 8 games. Check injury report: chest
18. Deuce McAllister (NO) – He probably won’t get you a ton of yards, even against a porous Atlanta run defense, but McAllister should be in line for the goal line touches, and a respectable yardage total is likely. While he is going to give up a few carries to Aaron Stecker and Pierre Thomas, McAllister will be the feature back in this match up. He is not a bad fantasy play against the Falcons 22nd ranked run defense.
19. Jamaal Charles (KC) – With Larry Johnson suspended and Kolby Smith gone for the season with a knee injury, the talented rookie will get his first career start in week 10. Charles was very impressive in week 9 rushing for 106 yards against a stingy Tampa Bay run defense. He will need help from the Chiefs passing game in week 10 to produce on a similar level, but things seem to be clicking there as well. Charles should put up respectable totals against a middle of the road Chargers run defense.
20. Ryan Grant (GB) – While the match up against the Vikings 2nd ranked run defense is far from ideal, Grant is capable of solid numbers in week 10. While he still isn’t back to 2007 form, Grant has shown vast improvement over the last few weeks. In addition, he has a pretty good track record against Minnesota in spite of their strong play against the run. In 2 career starts against them, Grant has accumulated 211 rushing yards and a TD, including a 92 yard rushing effort back in week 1.
21. Steve Slaton (HOU) – Can you say brutal? For the second straight week, Slaton will have to face one of the top run defenses in the NFL, last week against Minnesota’s 2nd ranked run D and this week against Baltimore’s #1 ranked run defense. While Slaton was not extremely successful against the Vikings rushing for only 62 yards, he was able to salvage his day with a solid 8 receptions for 56 yards. He should be used in a similar fashion in week 10. If you are in a PPR league, Slaton should be a solid fantasy play. If not, you might want to consider a different option.
22. Kevin Faulk (NE) – He is not highly recommended for fantasy use this week splitting carries with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but Faulk should put up acceptable numbers as a bye week fill in. While you shouldn’t expect a big rushing total against the Bills 12th ranked run defense, Faulk always seems to put up solid numbers as a receiver out of the backfield, making him especially appealing in PPR leagues.
23. Joseph Addai (IND) – While Addai always has a chance to do some damage if the Colts offense gets rolling, you probably shouldn’t bet on that happening in week 10. Not only is Addai facing one of the best run defense in the NFL this week (Pittsburgh), he is also expected to lose more carries to Dominic Rhodes. Addai is capable, but you are probably better off taking your chances with someone else under the circumstances.
24. BenJarvus Green-Ellis (NE) – With Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan expected to be on the sidelines again in week 10, Green-Ellis will likely get his 3rd consecutive start. He hasn’t put up monster numbers to this point, but he has managed to find the end zone in 3 straight games now. That said, week 10 will provide his biggest test to date and his fantasy value remains limited splitting carries with Kevin Faulk. While he is not a strong fantasy start against a solid Buffalo run defense, Green-Ellis will be in line for the goal line carries, and should be an acceptable bye week fill in.
25. Willis McGahee (BAL) – After being listed as active heading into week 9, McGahee did not play a single down, and he may have lost his feature role to rookie Ray Rice who exploded for 154 rushing yards in his stead. That said, McGahee is expected to return in week 10 and if that’s the case, it seems likely that he will see a decent number of carries. There is a lot of uncertainty with the Ravens back field right now, but we can’t imagine the Baltimore coaching staff going exclusively with Ray Rice. Monitor the situation closely as McGahee could put up solid numbers against a mediocre Houston run defense, but as of right now, he is very risky with so many question marks. He could get 20 carries and he may never set foot on the field, no one knows at this point, probably not even the Ravens coaching staff. If something changes, we will let you know. Check injury report: ankle
26. Jonathan Stewart (CAR) – In spite of an excellent week 10 match up against Oakland’s 30th ranked run defense, Stewart is a very risky fantasy play. In fact, he may not even play at all. Stewart is nursing a heel injury that he describes as extremely painful with even the slightest pressure. Even if Stewart decides to gut it out, it may not be for long and his effectiveness may be limited with the injury. Monitor the situation closely, as the match up is almost too good to pass on if he plays, but don’t count on that happening, and have a back up plan in place. Check injury report: heel
27. Kevin Smith (DET) – While Smith continues to back up Rudi Johnson, he remains the better fantasy option of the two. Unfortunately, that isn’t saying much and Smith has fairly limited fantasy value in his current role. That said, he could do some damage in week 10 against a shaky Jaguar run defense making him a viable candidate as a bye week fill in.
28. Le’Ron McClain (BAL) – He is a risky week 10 fantasy option, especially if Willis McGahee returns, but McClain should still see a handful of carries regardless, and he should get the goal line touches. The match up against a Houston run defense that has allowed 12 rushing TD’s this season is favorable. Check injury report: ankle
29. Jerious Norwood (ATL) – He may get 10 or 15 carries this week and he may only get 3 or 4, you never know, but as he proved in week 9, it doesn’t take much for him to make a fantasy impact. Norwood makes for a risky bye week fill in or flex play against a mediocre Saints run defense.
30. Fred Taylor (JAX) – He has an excellent match up against Detroit’s 31st ranked run defense, but Taylor has been horrible most of the season, and he can’t be trusted against anyone at this point. Check injury report: knee
31. Kenneth Darby (STL) – With Steven Jackson and Antonio Pittman expected to miss week 10, Darby should carry most of the load, giving up a few carries to Samkon Gado. In spite of the feature role, the match up is bad against the Jets 4th ranked run defense and Darby is unproven. He would be a desperate fantasy play.
32. Leon Washington (NYJ) – He probably won’t get more than a few carries, but Washington doesn’t need many touches to do some damage, especially against a weak St. Louis defense. Regardless, he is a risky bye week fill in at best.
33. J.J. Arrington (ARI) – He was extremely impressive in limited week 9 action totaling 119 yards against the Rams. Arrington could be a decent sneaky play as a bye week fill in against the 49ers in week 10 as well. There is an obvious risk, however, and you shouldn’t expect him to duplicate week 9’s production.
34. Derrick Ward (NYG) – Ward continues to put up impressive numbers in spite of limited action, but you should probably expect less from him than usual this week with a tough match up against the Eagles on the road.
35. Justin Fargas (OAK) – He is typically a solid fantasy RB, but with the overwhelming struggles of the Raiders offense, we suggest sitting him against a solid Carolina run defense in week 10.
36. Julius Jones (SEA) – With the return of Maurice Morris and the lack of QB Matt Hasselbeck, Jones has become almost irrelevant in fantasy football. The week 10 match up against Miami’s 9th ranked run defense is not especially promising either.
37. Ricky Williams (MIA) – He has a good match up against Seattle’s 21st ranked run defense in week 10, but Williams doesn’t get enough carries or show the consistency to be a reliable fantasy option.
38. Dominic Rhodes (IND) – Rhodes is expected to get an increased workload moving forward, perhaps even splitting carries evenly with Joseph Addai, according to team officials. Even if that happens (unlikely), you shouldn’t expect much from him against the Steelers 3rd ranked run defense in week 10.
39. Maurice Morris (SEA) – He is a pretty good RB, but he is extremely limited with regard to fantasy, splitting carries with Julius Jones and being without QB Matt Hasselbeck.
40. Rudi Johnson (DET) – He makes for a very desperate fantasy start based on his recent numbers, but the week 10 match up against Jacksonville is favorable, especially if Jag’s DT John Henderson is out.
Fantasy Football Week 10 QB Rankings
1. Drew Brees (NO) – He heads into week 10 fresh off of a bye week and a dominating week 8 performance in London. If history repeats itself, and it usually does, Brees’ week 10 match up against Atlanta bodes extremely well. In his last 3 contests against the Falcons, he has accumulated 7 passing TD’s with only 1 interception, while averaging 299 passing yards per game against them. The Atlanta secondary has shown improvement in recent weeks, but they still only rank mid pack in the NFL with regard to pass defense, and they have yet to face a passing attack as potent as the Saints. Brees should pick them apart.
2. Kurt Warner (ARI) – With an average of 304 passing yards per game with 16 TD’s and only 6 interceptions, we can safely say that Warner has been the most consistently productive fantasy QB through the midway point of the season. Barring injury, we also feel fairly confident in saying that Warner should continue that trend in the second half of the season as well. He will begin that quest with a week 10 match up against San Francisco. In his last 2 home games against the 49ers, Warner has thrown for a combined 785 yards, 5 TD’s and 2 interceptions. While the 49ers were able to hold Warner in check to some extent back in week 1 at home, the circumstances have changed dramatically since then, and you should see a much different result this time around in Arizona.
3. Phillip Rivers (SD) – He has faced few, if any, upper echelon pass defenses this season, but you can not argue with his NFL leading 19 TD passes. Fortunately, Rivers will have the luxury of facing yet another cup cake pass defense in week 10. The Chiefs rank just 22nd against the pass and that ranking would probably be worse if teams didn’t spend so much time running against them. Rivers doesn’t have a great track record against Kansas City historically, but this is far from the Chiefs defense of yester year, and Rivers has shown drastic improvement in both production and consistency in his ’08 campaign. He may not light them up, as the Chargers will probably lean heavily on RB LaDainian Tomlinson with this match up, but he is a pretty safe bet for a solid game.
4. Aaron Rodgers (GB) – He hasn’t posted huge numbers in his last 2 games, but considering the opposition (Titans & Colts), Rodgers fared better than expected. A week 10 match up against Minnesota’s 23rd ranked pass defense should be a welcome relief. While Rodgers only managed to throw for 178 yards against the Vikings back in week 1, he did score 2 TD’s and did not throw a single interception. Now that Rodgers has settled into his starting role and the immense pressure he faced back in week 1 is no longer an issue, we like his chances for a great week 10 performance. Check injury report: shoulder
5. Chad Pennington (MIA) – He is not an elite fantasy QB, but given the right match up, Pennington can be extremely effective. That said, he has an excellent match up for week 10. Pennington will face a Seattle pass defense that ranks 31st in the NFL and has allowed 13 TD’s through the air in 8 games. The Seahawks have also allowed more pass plays over 20 yards than anyone else in the NFL with 30. While Pennington did meet our expectations last week at Denver, we think he will put up strong numbers against the Seahawks at home. 5 of his 7 TD passes this season have come at home and Pennington makes for a stellar bye week fill in.
6. Jake Delhomme (CAR) – He probably couldn’t have asked for a better first half schedule with regard to the quality of pass defenses he has faced, yet, his production has been fairly pedestrian over all. The good news is that Delhomme has looked much better in his last 2 games which bodes well for the second half. If he can just develop some semblance of consistency, Delhomme should be much more productive down the stretch. He will have a great chance to do so starting with a great week 10 match up against Oakland. The Raiders have a very mediocre pass defense and the Carolina passing attack matches up very well against their unbalanced secondary. For that reason, Delhomme should be in your week 10 fantasy line up.
7. Matt Ryan (ATL) – While he hasn’t quite reached top flight status, the rookie signal caller’s extraordinary progress has garnered our endorsement as a fairly solid week to week fantasy option at QB. In week 10, Ryan will face the Saints who claim one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL, ranking 25th. New Orleans has allowed 12 passing TD’s through 8 games and only 2 teams have given up more pass plays over 20 yards so far this season. Ryan should find Roddy White early and often with this match up, and it holds the potential to be a big game for both of them.
8. David Garrard (JAX) – With a battered offensive line, mediocre receiving corps, and no help from a lack luster running game, Garrard has certainly had the deck stacked against him this season, and he has still managed to post solid numbers from time to time. Week 10 appears favorable to be one of those times. Garrard will face a horrible Lions pass defense this week that ranks 29th in the NFL. Detroit has given up 13 TD’s through the air this season with only 2 interceptions to their credit. It shouldn’t take much in the way of assistance for Garrard to be productive against this secondary, so consider him a solid week 10 starting option for your fantasy roster.
9. Brett Favre (NYJ) – We realize that Favre has been stinking it up lately and we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to sit him, but before you do, hear us out. Week 10 is not exactly the most promising for QB’s all in all and Favre is one of the few that has a very favorable match up. In fact, the week 10 meeting with St. Louis is probably the most promising match up he has had in weeks. The Rams rank 28th in pass defense and have allowed 12 passing TD’s on the season. This doesn’t mean he won’t throw an interception, because he probably will, but Favre is well overdue to break out of his slump, and this will be his best chance to do so. He is a risky option based on his recent struggles, but comparatively, Favre has a better shot at putting up solid numbers against a shaky Rams defense than the majority of his fellow QB’s with bad match ups.
10. Sage Rosenfels (HOU) – Sure, he takes a lot of risks and he will throw interceptions, but Rosenfels also knows how to make big plays and find the end zone. In 9 games last season (5 as a starter), he threw for 15 TD’s and ran for another. In 2 games this season (1 as a starter), Rosenfels has 3 TD passes and 470 passing yards. He doesn’t have the best of match ups in week 10 against Baltimore’s 4th ranked pass defense, but the Ravens secondary has been pretty shaky over the last few weeks, and Rosenfels has some great weapons to work with. He isn’t the ideal fantasy QB, but you could do worse.
11. Tyler Thigpen (KC) – It feels a little ridiculous to have Thigpen ranked ahead of the Manning brothers and Donovan McNabb this week, but the bottom line is that has a better match up than the afore mentioned trio and he has 2 very solid weeks in a row under his belt. Thigpen could not ask for a better week 10 opponent than San Diego. The Chargers currently rank dead last against the pass and they have allowed 14 passing TD’s already this season. Is he a fail safe starting option you may ask? Absolutely not, but Thigpen is probably worth the gamble given the overwhelming difficult match ups facing some of the bigger name QB’s this week.
12. Peyton Manning (IND) – Even though Manning has shown some indication of righting the ship over the last couple of weeks, his numbers remain far below par for a QB of his caliber. That said, it is extremely difficult to recommend him for fantasy use with a brutal week 10 match against Pittsburgh. The Steelers currently boast the best pass defense in the NFL and their 32 sacks also lead the league. While we recognize Manning’s improved play and potential, we can not see him doing much damage against this defense. If you have another option, we suggest using it.
13. Shaun Hill (SF) – He is a week 10 long shot for obvious reasons, but we like his chances for two reasons. Hill has a proven and productive track record as a starter and he has an excellent week 10 match up against Arizona. The Cardinals secondary is mediocre at best and they have allowed more passing TD’s (16) than any other defense in the NFL. Hill is a risky start given the circumstances, but we would be surprised if he didn’t prove useful as a bye week fill in.
14. Eli Manning (NYG) – He was able to find the end zone 3 times in week 9 against a battered Cowboys secondary, but Manning failed to reach 200 passing yards again for the 4th consecutive game. Chances are he will extend that streak to 5 games with a week 10 match up against the Eagles. Philadelphia ranks 8th in the NFL giving up 191 yards per game through the air. In addition, Manning only averaged 177 passing yards in 2 games against them last season. He is a pretty safe bet to find the end zone again, but that is about as much as you can count on. You could probably do better with another QB in week 10.
15. Donovan McNabb (PHI) – While McNabb is coming off of one of his better fantasy performances of the season, he probably isn’t your best option for week 10 against the Giants. The Giants rank 2nd in pass defense and their 30 sacks rank just behind Pittsburgh’s 32. In addition, McNabb has a horrible track record against the G-Men. In 2 games against them last season, McNabb had only 1 TD, while averaging just 158 passing yards and he was sacked a combined 15 times, fumbling 3 times. McNabb is a capable fantasy QB, but we would look elsewhere for week 10 with this match up.
16. Joe Flacco (BAL) – You certainly can’t expect Flacco to dominate any secondary, but he is starting to put up decent fantasy numbers on a consistent basis. Flacco has thrown 4 TD passes in his last 3 games and more importantly, not a single interception during that stretch. He will face a middle of the road Houston pas defense in week 10, and while you probably can’t expect a bunch of yards, the Texans secondary is susceptible to passing TD’s giving up 12 on the season. Flacco is showing improvement, but he isn’t quite a week to week fantasy option yet. He makes for a decent bye week fill in.
17. Gus Frerotte (MIN) – He is starting to produce fairly consistent fantasy numbers every week, and a 3 TD performance in week 9 was impressive. Frerotte will have his work cut out for him to continue the trend with a tough week 10 match up against Green Bay. The Packers currently boast a top 5 pass defense while leading the NFL with 13 interceptions. In addition, the Green Bay secondary has only allowed 9 passing TD’s in 8 games. Frerotte is capable of decent production, even with the difficult match up, but he should only be used as a bye week fill in.
18. Marc Bulger (STL) – He still isn’t back to Pro Bowl form, but Bulger is starting to take shape which is reflected by his respectable fantasy output in the last 2 weeks. Bulger should carry the momentum into a favorable week 10 match up against the Jets 24th ranked pass defense. He should have success against this secondary, but the Jets do have a fierce pass rush which is a concern. In addition, Bulger could have trouble getting the passing game going if the running game isn’t clicking, which is a real possibility with Steven Jackson injured. The match up is promising, but there are too many question marks to suggest using Bulger as anything more than a risky bye week replacement.
19. Trent Edwards (BUF) –He has had one favorable match up after another throughout the season and while he hasn’t been bad, Edwards is barely putting up acceptable fantasy numbers for a bye week fill in. He has yet to log more than 1 passing TD in a game all season. Edwards is capable of producing decent numbers against a middle of the road Patriots secondary in week 10, but that is as much as you can hope for.
20. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) – When healthy, Roethlisberger can be an extremely effective fantasy QB. Unfortunately, he is far from healthy right now, and may not even play in week 10. Even if he does play, Roethlisberger is an injury risk with a bad match up against the Colts 3rd ranked pass defense. We suggest going with a different option on your fantasy roster. Check injury report: shoulder
*Participants in Thursday night’s game Denver @ Cleveland are not included in week 10 QB rankings(Brady Quinn and Jay Cutler).
Posted by The Mac Bros. at 7:21 AM
Fantasy Football Week 10 TE Rankings (Start/Sit)
1. Antonio Gates (SD) – vs. KC
2. Tony Gonzalez (KC) - @ SD
3. Owen Daniels (HOU) – vs. BAL
4. Dallas Clark (IND) - @ PIT
5. Jeremy Shockey (NO) - @ ATL – Check injury report: hernia
6. Bo Scaife (TEN) - @ CHI
7. Anthony Fasano (MIA) – vs. SEA
8. Kevin Boss (NYG) - @ PHI
9. Greg Olsen (CHI) – vs. TEN
10. Marcedes Lewis (JAX) - @ DET
11. L.J. Smith (PHI) – vs. NYG – Check injury report: concussion
12. Visanthe Shiancoe (MIN) – vs. GB
13. Desmond Clark (CHI) – vs. TEN
14. John Carlson (SEA) - @ MIA
15. Donald Lee (GB) - @ MIN
16. Dustin Keller (NYJ) – vs. STL
17. Zach Miller (OAK) – vs. CAR
18. Billy Miller (NO) - @ ATL
19. Robert Royal (BUF) - @ NE
20. Matt Spaeth (PIT) – vs. IND
* Participants in Thursday night’s Denver @ Cleveland game are not included in week 10 TE rankings
Posted by The Mac Bros. at 6:35 AM
Fantasy Football Week 10 Defense (Start/Sit)
1. Carolina Panthers (@ OAK)
2. Tennessee Titans (@ CHI)
3. Baltimore Ravens (@ HOU)
4. Miami Dolphins (vs. SEA)
5. New York Giants (@ PHI)
6. Chicago Bears (vs. TEN)
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. IND)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. NYG)
9. New York Jets (vs. STL)
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (@ DET)
11. New England Patriots (vs. BUF)
12. Buffalo Bills (@ NE)
13. Green Bay Packers (@ MIN)
14. San Diego Chargers (vs. KC)
15. Arizona Cardinals (vs. SF)
16. Indianapolis Colts (@ PIT)
17. Minnesota Vikings (vs. GB)
18. Houston Texans (vs. BAL)
19. St. Louis Rams (@ NYJ)
20. Atlanta Falcons (vs. NO)
Posted by The Mac Bros. at 6:26 AM
Fantasy Football Week 10 Kicker Rankings
1. Mason Crosby (GB)
2. Nate Kaeding (SD)
3. Joe Nedney (SF)
4. David Akers (PHI)
5. Rob Bironas (TEN)
6. Jason Elam (ATL)
7. Jay Feely (NYJ)
8. Stephen Gostkowski (NE)
9. Ryan Longwell (MIN)
10. John Kasay (CAR)
11. Neil Rackers (ARI)
12. John Carney (NYG)
13. Josh Scobee (JAX)
14. Kris Brown (HOU)
15. Rian Lindell (BUF)
16. Josh Brown (STL)
17. Connor Barth (KC)
18. Jason Hanson (DET)
*Participants in Thursday night’s game Denver @ Cleveland are not included in week 10 Kicker rankings. Please check out our Start/Sit for the Thursday game.
Posted by The Mac Bros. at 8:52 PM
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