All our week 11 content

Week 11 Upgrades, Downgrades, and Waiver Wire Wonders

by Clayton Gray, Jeff Haseley, Jeff Pasquino, Jeff Tefertiller, and Maurile Tremblay, Exclusive to Footballguys.com


Quarterback

Upgrade

  1. QB Peyton Manning, IND
  2. QB Drew Brees, NO
  3. QB Matt Ryan, ATL
  4. QB Brady Quinn, CLE *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
  5. QB Daunte Culpepper, DET *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
  6. QB Tyler Thigpen, KC
  7. QB Matt Hasselbeck, SEA *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
  8. QB Joe Flacco, BAL

Downgrade

  1. QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
  2. QB Marc Bulger, STL
  3. QB Trent Edwards, BUF
  4. QB Sage Rosenfels, HOU

Holding steady

  1. QB Kerry Collins, TEN
  2. QB Jake Delhomme, CAR
  3. QB Matt Schaub, HOU


Running Back

Upgrade

  1. RB Adrian Peterson, MIN
  2. RB Mewelde Moore, PIT
  3. RB Matt Forte, CHI
  4. RB DeAngelo Williams, CAR
  5. RB Willis McGahee, BAL
  6. RB Thomas Jones, NYJ
  7. RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG
  8. RB Reggie Bush, NO
  9. RB Ryan Grant, GB
  10. RB Kevin Smith, DET
  11. RB Peyton Hillis, DEN *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
  12. RB Ricky Williams, MIA
  13. RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***

Downgrade

  1. RB Ryan Torain, DEN
  2. RB Willie Parker, PIT
  3. RB Marshawn Lynch, BUF
  4. RB Steven Jackson, STL
  5. RB LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
  6. RB Selvin Young, DEN

Holding steady

  1. RB Chris Johnson, TEN
  2. RB LaMont Jordan, NE
  3. RB Darren McFadden, OAK
  4. RB Steve Slaton, HOU
  5. RB Brian Westbrook, PHI


Wide Receiver

Upgrade

  1. WR Marques Colston, NO
  2. WR Ted Ginn, MIA
  3. WR Wes Welker, NE
  4. WR DeSean Jackson, PHI
  5. WR Michael Jenkins, ATL
  6. WR Mark Bradley, KC *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
  7. WR Koren Robinson, SEA
  8. WR Bobby Engram, SEA
  9. WR Malcom Floyd, SD *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***

Downgrade

  1. WR Plaxico Burress, NYG
  2. WR Marvin Harrison, IND
  3. WR Derrick Mason, BAL
  4. WR Bernard Berrian, MIN
  5. WR Braylon Edwards, CLE
  6. WR Donnie Avery, STL
  7. WR Torry Holt, STL
  8. WR Chaz Schilens, OAK
  9. WR Chris Chambers, SD

Holding steady

  1. WR Laveranues Coles, NYJ
  2. WR Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ
  3. WR Lance Moore, NO


Tight End

Upgrade

  1. TE Kellen Winslow, CLE
  2. TE Bo Scaife, TEN
  3. TE Tony Gonzalez, KC
  4. TE Matt Spaeth, PIT *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
  5. TE Marcedes Lewis, JAX *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***

Downgrade

  1. TE Heath Miller, PIT
  2. TE Jeremy Shockey, NO

Holding steady


Kicker

Upgrade

  1. PK Mike Nugent, NYJ *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***

Downgrade

  1. PK Nate Kaeding, SD
  2. PK Jay Feely, NYJ

Holding steady


Team Defense

Upgrade

  1. TD New York Jets, NYJ
  2. TD Green Bay Packers, GB

Downgrade

  1. TD San Diego Chargers, SD
  2. TD New Orleans Saints, NO

Holding steady


Quarterback

Upgrade

QB Drew Brees, NO - Apparently Drew Brees doesn't need Reggie Bush in the lineup to be a fantasy stud. Brees benefits from a wide open style of offense, on a team that has no real running threat with a defense that will give up plenty of points. They have RBs, but why run when you can pass? Fantasy wise, there is no better QB right now. Brees is successful when leading or trailing, no matter who his opponent is. He has seven 300+ yard passing games and two games of 420+ yards passing this year. Next week Brees and the Saints travel to Kansas City.

QB Daunte Culpepper, DET - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Culpepper was not comfortable with the offense after signing a contract just a few days ago. He had plays written on both wrists and still looked confused at times. Due to his inexperience with the Lion offense, Drew Stanton came into the game in the first half just to run the offense inside the Jaguar five yard line. Coach Marinelli did not want there to be a turnover from lack of work with the offense. It appears that Culpepper is the starter for the rest of the season. On the game, he completed half of his ten passes for 104 yards and one interception. He should have more command of the offense next week versus the Carolina Panthers. Stanton did play in the fourth quarter after the game was out of reach.

QB Joe Flacco, BAL - Forget that he is just a rookie because he is putting up solid numbers for a quarterback of any amount of experience. Flacco plays within himself and is not making mistakes or turnovers, giving his team a chance at victory. In your fantasy lineup, he could do exactly the same. His numbers may not appear to be overly impressive, but when asked to throw he certainly has put up solid stats, such as his 10-15-143 first half against the Texans. If Baltimore needed him to throw more, Flacco could have approached 300 yards. The Ravens travel to the Giants in Week 11, a team that is playing very good defense against the run, so Flacco may be called upon to step up and have a bigger game next week.

QB Matt Hasselbeck, SEA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Hasselbeck is on pace to practice this week in hopes of possibly playing week 11 vs. Arizona. Hasselbeck has not played since week five. He has missed time with a knee injury and bulging disc in his back. Follow his progress this week, but right now, it's looking like he may be able to play next week against Arizona.

QB Peyton Manning, IND - Manning played arguably his best football of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was able to be productive without throwing a pick. His offensive line did a good job in protection against a very good Steeler defense. Manning led a fourth quarter winning touchdown drive, capped by a pass to Dominic Rhodes. To play this well against Pittsburgh, expectations for the stretch run have to be raised. It also helped to have Joseph Addai back to keep defenses honest. For the game, he completed 21 of 40 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers.

QB Brady Quinn, CLE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Quinn played very well against a horrible Bronco pass defense. He looked to the tight ends and backs often, but did not throw the ball down the field. Quinn did all that was asked, and performed well for his first start. One asset Quinn possesses is the ability to avoid the pass rush, and still remain ready to throw. This is a trait that few passers in the NFL have, including Derek Anderson. For the game, he completed 23 of 35 passes for 239 yards and a pair of scoring tosses to Kellen Winslow. It should be interesting to see if the Browns open up the offense more, allowing Quinn to throw down the field with more regularity.

QB Matt Ryan, ATL - Matt Ryan has impressed on so many levels this year, but now he is starting to make some serious fantasy noise. He has four games with two TD passes this season and three have come in his last three games. Consequently, Ryan has over 20 FPs in each of his last three games. It should be four with Denver and their lack of a defense coming to town next week. If you're looking for a time to finally start Matt Ryan (if you didn't do so against New Orleans) this is the perfect opportunity to do so. Start Ryan very confidently next week.

QB Tyler Thigpen, KC - Over the past three weeks, Thigpen is the #1 fantasy QB in the land, solidly ahead of Peyton Manning (#2) and Donovan McNabb (#3). Thigpen was poised and accurate all day on Sunday, as he finished with 266 passing yards and three touchdowns in a narrow loss against the Chargers. The Chargers' defense has been very friendly to opposing quarterbacks this season, but Thigpen may continue to have some good fantasy weeks going forward. He has two very good receivers to throw to in Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe, and Mark Bradley has also come on in recent weeks.

Downgrade

QB Marc Bulger, STL - Marc Bulger was benched at halftime in Week 10 after the Rams were humiliated by the New York Jets 40-0 in the first half. That's right, 40-0 at halftime. Bulger completed just six passes on 13 tries for a measly 65 yards in the first two quarters, and that probably paints a better picture of his performance than reality. Bulger was absolutely crushed on his blindside for a sack and fumble for a Jets' touchdown in the first quarter.

QB Trent Edwards, BUF - The Bills have scored 16, 17 and 10 points in their last three games - all against divisional opponents, all losses. Trent Edwards looked off against New England. He misfired on easy passes all game and could never get a rhythm going. His longest pass all game was a 15-yard throw to Lee Evans. The Bills still have an easy schedule going forward, but Edwards is struggling right now. If you're looking for a QB for the playoff run, Edwards is losing steam.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT - Big Ben was obviously not himself in the game. His shoulder was not back to normal. Also, the lack of practice time this week hurt his rhythm. Roethlisberger attempted a ton of passes as the team struggled to establish a running game, averaging just over two yards per carry. He attempted 42 passes, completing 30, for 284 yards and three picks. Roethlisberger's shoulder looks to be an injury that will continue to plague him for the next few weeks.

QB Sage Rosenfels, HOU - Rosenfels is allegedly auditioning for more future work while leading the Texans with Matt Schaub injured, but he did himself no favors with his performance against Baltimore in Week 10. Rosenfels threw four interceptions against Baltimore, some of them extremely questionable decisions. He may not have seen Haloti Ngata (who is a big, big man) in the end zone, but three other picks looked like he was targeting the Ravens and not his teammates. Rosenfels is a questionable fantasy starter next week in Indianapolis.

Holding steady

QB Kerry Collins, TEN - Against the Bears, Collins had his first 200+ yard game of the season, as well as his first multiple-TD game of the season. He was able to do so because the Bears completely focused on stopping the run. Now that Collins has shown that he can beat defenses that sell out to stop the run, opposing defenses are unlikely to copy the Bears' game plan, and the Titans reassume their identity as a strong rushing team. Collins is unlikely to have many more games with strong fantasy numbers.

QB Jake Delhomme, CAR - Jake Delhomme may have played his worst game of his career this past week against Oakland. He finished with 72 yards on 7-for-27 passing with one TD and 4 INTs. Luckily for him, the Panthers won the game, but if it was any other opponent that probably wouldn't be the case. Delhomme misfired on several down field passes where the receiver had their man beat. He couldn't complete even the simplest of short-yardage passes or screens. Perhaps the most telling stat was his 0-for-9 passing in the second half. Next week Carolina hosts winless Detroit at home where they are 5-0 this season. Delhomme has the ability to forget this game with a strong game next week, which is very much possible against Detroit. Consider starting Delhomme next week, despite the pitiful performance against Oakland and their very underrated, superior one-on-one coverage that frustrated Delhomme all game long.

QB Matt Schaub, HOU - Schaub suffered a torn MCL in Week 9 and will be out 2-4 weeks for the Texans. He does have a nice schedule in December (Weeks 14-16 are @GB, TEN and @OAK) so he could be worth stashing on a fantasy bench for the playoffs.


Running Back

Upgrade

RB Reggie Bush, NO - It is looking like Reggie Bush will be back for the Saints' Week 11 game at Kansas City. Bush missed two games with the help of a bye week with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Follow his progress in practice this week, but he should play in week 11.

RB Matt Forte, CHI - Forte has gotten 20+ carries in 7 out of 9 games now, and has also become a force in the passing game. Against the Titans, while the Bears' rushing attack was not terribly efficient (Forte had just 72 yards on 20 carries), Forte led the team with 7 receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown. Forte is the primary weapon in the Bears' offense, and the Bears will find ways to get him the ball each week regardless of the opposing defense's game plan.

RB Ryan Grant, GB - Grant started slowly this season. Against the second best run defense in the league, Grant was able to gain 75 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. The offensive line was able to open creases for Ryan Grant. This is third straight strong game for Grant against three good run defenses. Next week is another tough opponent in the Chicago Bears. The Packers need a good ground game to keep defenses offense. If not, there is too much pressure on Aaron Rodgers.

RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The rookie Green-Ellis was the primary back for New England against Buffalo on Sunday and he did not disappoint. He only had one big run of 13 yards, but he was effective maintaining a 4.0 YPC on 26 carries. He was particularly effective on the Patriots 19-play nine minute final drive that ended with a Green-Ellis one-yard TD plunge. On that 19-play final drive, he had nine carries including the TD run that ultimately sealed the victory for New England. Kevin Faulk was not used much at all in this game, much in part to Green-Ellis' consistent play. He now has a TD in each of his last four games, but Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan are getting healthy, which would likely diminish Green Ellis' role with the team. If you're worried about Sammy Morris or LaMont Jordan taking carries away from Green-Ellis, don't be too concerned this week. The Patriots host the Jets on Thursday night and Jordan has only partially practiced one day last week. Morris has yet to practice since injuring his knee. We believe Green-Ellis will have at least one more full game as the team's primary back. Start him with confidence this week. His emergence affords Belichick to gradually ease Jordan and Morris back into the offense.

RB Peyton Hillis, DEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - With the torn ACL of Ryan Torain and still-injured going of Selvin Young, Hillis has suddenly become the healthiest RB in Denver. He will likely become their starting back.

RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG - Jacobs consistently pounded the ball inside against the Eagles, moving the pile and racking up six or seven yards at a clip. Jacobs finished the game with over 100 yards and two scores, his second consecutive trip over the century mark on the ground. He does have issues -- one fumble and one more near loss of the ball on a score, plus losing touches it Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw -- but it is hard to argue against the production. Jacobs faces a stiff challenge next week as the Ravens bring their formidable defense to the Meadowlands.

RB Thomas Jones, NYJ - Jones pounded a bad St. Louis Rams team in Week 10, rushing hard up the middle and gashing a porous defense for over 100 yards in the first half along with two touchdowns. Jones added a third score as the Jets had an opportunity to pad a few stats in the second half, but Jones could easily have had much more as he only rushed 10 times after halftime. Jones ran well behind a dominant offensive line and will be asked to continue to pound the ball inside against the Patriots on Thursday, who just lost Adalius Thomas to injury. Jones looks to be a solid play in Week 11 and the rest of the way as New York relies on their primary back as the weather starts to turn for the worse in November and December.

RB Willis McGahee, BAL - The running back carousel continues for the Ravens, who decided once again that McGahee was healthy enough to carry the bulk of the workload. Ray Rice did start the Week 10 game against the Texans and Baltimore split the carries in the first half, but once McGahee got on track after halftime he dominated the work as 19 of his 25 rushes came in the second half. McGahee ran hard and looked to be back to health, earning him the goal line carries once again over Le'Ron McClain, but the situation remains volatile as Baltimore will likely continue to ride the hot hand and juggle carries. The Ravens and McGahee travel to the Giants in Week 11 so all expectations should be tempered.

RB Mewelde Moore, PIT - Moore has played well in place of the injured Willie Parker. Parker has missed a lot of action with the knee injury. Moore is a versatile back that can score touchdowns, but is still a very good receiver. He was targeted seven times by Roethlisberger, catching six for 48 yards. On the ground, Moore grinded out 57 yards and two scores on 24 carries. He did not have much room to run. The Colt defense was able to get penetration, but the Steelers continued to run the ball. If Parker misses more time going forward, Moore should be a good RB2 with the Chargers and Bengals next on the schedule.

RB Adrian Peterson, MIN - Peterson looked outstanding against the Packers. It was good to see the Vikings give their stud back 30 carries and three receptions. Peterson had 192 rushing and 33 receiving yards, including a 29-yard dash for the last score of the game. This was his third straight game with over 110 rushing yards. The Viking offensive line was able to open big holes against a depleted Packer defensive front.

RB Kevin Smith, DET - Kevin Smith has seized the running back position over Rudi Johnson. Even with bad offensive line, Smith was able to rush for 96 yards on 23 carries. He added a short yardage touchdown. Smith showed his good receiving skills, catching one of two pass targets for 27 yards. Next week, the Lions face the Panthers who gave up good rushing stats to Justin Fargas. The Lions tried to establish a run game to keep the heat off of newly-signed Daunte Culpepper.

RB DeAngelo Williams, CAR - Williams remained the Panthers primary back and it was a good thing, because he was the only big contributor on offense. Williams had a 69-yard TD run late in the second quarter that helped Carolina separate from Oakland in what was an ugly game for both sides. Williams ran for a career high 140 yards on 19 carries in the win over Oakland. Williams continues to be the Panthers main RB as Jonathan Stewart heals from a heel injury that kept him out of practice for most of the week. Next week the Panthers host winless Detroit in what should be a very favorable match up. Carolina is a perfect 5-0 at home this year.

RB Ricky Williams, MIA - Ricky seems to be a good fantasy play every other week. He has double-digit fantasy points every other week since week three. This was the week where he was supposed to have a big game and he didn't disappoint. Williams was a big part of the offense against Seattle. The combination of Ronnie Brown and Williams in the Wildcat formation is key. Teams don't know who will get the ball and when they realize, it's too late. That's exactly what happened in Williams' 51-yard TD run in the second quarter. Williams continued presence in the offense elevates him to RB3 or flex option status.

Downgrade

RB Steven Jackson, STL - Jackson was unable to play in Week 10 with his leg injury and many are now questioning his availability for the Rams' Week 11 tilt in San Francisco.

RB Marshawn Lynch, BUF - The Bills are struggling, losing each of their last three games. Marshawn Lynch has seen his carries per game go from 19, 13, 9 and 14 in his last four games. He had 16 yards rushing against the Jets and now only 46 yards rushing against New England. He has not hit 100 yards rushing in a game this season and this past week against the Patriots he didn't catch a single pass, after catching at least three every game since week two. Lynch is a very punishing back, much like Marion Barber, but if Buffalo isn't getting the scoring chances, he doesn't amount to much.

RB Willie Parker, PIT - There are reports that Parker has a torn labrum. For his part, Parker claims he is just beaten up and will play in Week 11. Either way, Parker is obviously not in top form.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson, SD - While Tomlinson looked completely healthy on Sunday against the Chiefs, the Chargers' offensive line gave him very little running room. Tomlinson himself looks like he is at full speed and strength, and if the Chargers' offensive line were blocking as well this season as they have over the past few seasons, he would remain atop our Top 250 Forward list. But at this point, the OL's repeated subpar performances in the rushing game this season cannot be overlooked. Even without decent blocking in front of him, Tomlinson is an every-week fantasy starter, but he cannot be considered the top player at his position until he starts to see some holes.

RB Ryan Torain, DEN - Torain looked strong, and looked like he could excel in the one-cut system of the Broncos. Torain made a nice cutback on a 19-yard run late in the first quarter. In just the first quarter, the rookie ran seven times for 31 yards and a score. Torain left the game in the second quarter. At that time, he had 12 carries for 68 yards and the first quarter touchdown. It is now known that he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

RB Selvin Young, DEN - Young played some in the Thursday night game. Young re-injured his groin which precipitated an early exit from the game. It looks like Young will be listed as doubtful in week 11, even with the extra time to recover. For the game, he only had one carry for two yards. He made a sudden move to get out side and tweaked the injury.

Holding steady

RB Chris Johnson, TEN - The Bears swarmed all over Chris Johnson all day, giving him almost no room to run. On several occasions, more than one defender met Johnson in the backfield as soon as the hand-off was made. Johnson didn't perform poorly on an individual level; he just didn't get any holes to run through. The Bears' plan to stop the run at all costs was ultimately a losing one, however, and the Titans' future opponents will likely play a more balanced defense.

RB LaMont Jordan, NE - Jordan partially participated in practice last Wednesday, but he did not practice Thursday or Friday. He was held out of the game Sunday and with the early Thursday game coming this week against Cleveland, we don't expect to see much if any Jordan next week either. The emergence of Green-Ellis has bought Belichick some time getting his other backs (Jordan and Sammy Morris) healthy.

RB Darren McFadden, OAK - McFadden was inactive this past week against Carolina, despite partially practicing on Wednesday and Thursday last week. McFadden is suffering from turf toe on both his feet. He has not played since week seven, but the thought is that he may be healthy enough to play next week when the Raiders travel across the country to Miami. Follow this storyline this week to see how he progresses.

RB Steve Slaton, HOU - Slaton did not have a very big day against the Baltimore Ravens, but few running backs do against that defense. Slaton did have a long touchdown of 58 yards but it was called back on a holding penalty, so he did show that burst that made the rookie a solid playmaker in his first year. He has a great matchup against the Colts next week so hang tight.

RB Brian Westbrook, PHI - The Eagles struggled overall against the formidable New York Giants, who focused on stopping Westbrook as their primary objective from the defensive perspective. Westbrook still had 61 yards on 16 touches and should be much more productive next week against a much easier foe in the Bengals.


Wide Receiver

Upgrade

WR Mark Bradley, KC - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The former second-round pick by the Chicago Bears has now scored double-digit fantasy points in each of the last three games. He had his best game of the season against the Chargers, hauling in 9 receptions (on 14 targets) for 81 yards and a touchdown. Thigpen has received at least 7 targets in each of the last three weeks and, believe it or not, is the #2 fantasy WR (behind Roddy White) over that period. While we still do not view Bradley as a fantasy starter going forward, he is definitely worth a roster spot if he is still available in your league, and isn't a bad bye-week fill-in at this point.

WR Marques Colston, NO - Colston had zero catches against Carolina in his first game back from a thumb injury. He had two catches against San Diego in London. A week off and a trip to Atlanta he finally got it together, catching seven passes for 140 yards.

WR Bobby Engram, SEA - Right now Engram, Koren Robinson and TE John Carlson are the main receivers for Seattle. Engram should see an increase in production next week if Matt Hasselbeck returns to the lineup as expected. Follow this storyline this week. The Seahawks host Arizona next week and if Hasselbeck is healthy enough to play, it could be a nice game for Engram, who has had good success with Hasselbeck.

WR Malcom Floyd, SD - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - With Chris Chambers still limited by a high ankle sprain, Malcom Floyd had his third double-digit fantasy performance in four games. He made several impressive catches, hauling in all four of his targets for 76 yards and a touchdown. Chambers' ankle sprain could continue to slow him, and Floyd has likely earned more playing time anyway with his solid play over the last four weeks. He is clearly ahead of (the always-dinged) Buster Davis in the playing rotation, and could be a decent bye-week fill-in for the next several weeks.

WR Ted Ginn, MIA - Ginn finally got into the end zone this season on a nice catch in double coverage about four yards into the end zone. Ginn is starting to become more of a threat on offense as the season continues and his confidence grows. Be aware though, Ginn has only two games this year with more than 5.5 FPs. Miami hosts Oakland next week, so don't expect a big game. Oakland's pass defense kept Carolina in check last week. They remain one of the better, quieter pass defenses in the league.

WR DeSean Jackson, PHI - The Eagles had issues with the Giants in Week 10, but they definitely were looking to get the ball in the hands of their young wide receiver. Jackson is a playmaker and Philadelphia has put in certain packages and play calls to get him opportunities to contribute as both a rusher and a receiver. That was evident again versus New York as Jackson scored on a direct snap in a version of the Wildcat formation for the Eagles. Look for Jackson to continue to be a big part of a high-scoring offense even against tougher matchups.

WR Michael Jenkins, ATL - Some doubted if Michael Jenkins was the true WR2 for Atlanta, but for the second week in a row, he has produced. Last week he had two TDs and this week he had six catches for 72 yards. Jenkins has at least three catches in six of his last seven games. He is becoming a possible WR4 or flex option going forward and with next week's game against Denver at home, Jenkins becomes a great sneaky start to possibly get you 10 fantasy points.

WR Koren Robinson, SEA - Robinson has scored a TD in two consecutive games. With Hasselbeck possibly returning next week, the WR corps gets an upgrade by default. Robinson has shown he can be effective without Hasselbeck. When he returns, it's not a stretch to think he won't improve on his numbers. Seattle plays Arizona next week, a team that has given up 16 passing TDs this season.

WR Wes Welker, NE - Welker had his first 100-yard game and 10-reception game of the season. He has at least six catches in each of his first nine games - an NFL first. Welker thrives in the Patriots simplistic, dink and dunk offense that has kept QB Matt Cassel and the team afloat despite the devastating loss of Tom Brady. Welker has only one TD this year, but he is amazingly consistent and a must start in PPR leagues. He has only one game with more than 8.0 fantasy points in non PPR formats, but his presence in the offense means he could have a big game any given Sunday. Continue to start Welker going forward for just that reason.

Downgrade

WR Donnie Avery, STL - Despite seven targets, Avery was minimized against the Jets. Even in a blowout you would have expected some garbage time production, but the limitation for the Rams is at quarterback. Until either Marc Bulger or Trent Green start to produce (and get reasonable protection from their offensive line) a deep threat like Avery will have limited upside.

WR Bernard Berrian, MIN - Berrian was held without a catch for the second time as a Viking. The Packers were able to frustrate Berrian and take him completely out of the game. Gus Frerotte only targeted the speedy receiver three times, with one of those picked off. The Vikings get the Buccaneers next week, which will be another stiff test. Berrian has put together a nice season so this could just be an aberration. Still, we can't not downgrade a guy that goes without a reception.

WR Plaxico Burress, NYG - Somewhat lost in the excellent overall play of the Giants are the weak numbers being produced by Plaxico Burress. In his last four games, Burress has caught only 10 passes for only 90 total yards. He does have a pair of TDs in that span, but that isn't enough to compensate for the paltry catch totals. Even more discouraging for Burress owners is that he is only tied for third in targets over the last three weeks (behind Steve Smith and Kevin Boss).

WR Chris Chambers, SD - Chambers had two weeks to rest his ankle, as the Chargers were coming off a bye heading into Sunday's game against the Chiefs, but he was still at far less than full strength. Chambers played sparingly, and was targeted only once. Meanwhile, his replacement Malcom Floyd was on the field for most of the day. A high ankle sprain can linger all season, and it's hard to predict when Chambers will be completely healthy again. Until he is fully recovered, he is not a good option as a fantasy starter.

WR Braylon Edwards, CLE - Edwards only caught one of his six pass targets for 15 yards against the Broncos. He did have another first down catch called back due to a penalty. Brady Quinn did not target the big play receiver as much as his predecessor. For the game Quinn preferred the short passes, especially to Winslow. The short passes are safer, but it takes a big Brown playmaker out of the game.

WR Marvin Harrison, IND - Over the last four games, Harrison has caught only 10 balls for 110 yards and no scores. As a comparison, Michael Clayton has identical stats in his last three games. Harrison simply isn't a viable fantasy receiver.

WR Torry Holt, STL - Torry Holt was once again minimized in the St. Louis offense. Even in a blowout you would have expected some garbage time production, but the limitation for the Rams is at quarterback. Until either Marc Bulger or Trent Green start to produce (and get reasonable protection from their offensive line) even a possession receiver like Holt will have limited upside.

WR Derrick Mason, BAL - Mason played admirably after landing hard on his shoulder in the first quarter. He got x-rayed before the second half and was able to return to action after halftime, but his shoulder was likely separated. Mason could be questionable for Week 11 against the Giants, a game in which the Ravens will need their leading receiver.

WR Chaz Schilens, OAK - Schilens was starting to make some noise, but he'll likely miss a few weeks with a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 10.

Holding steady

WR Laveranues Coles, NYJ - The Jets rolled up a big lead on the Rams in Week 10 very quickly, minimizing the need for New York to throw the ball much at all against St. Louis. The Jets have a big game Thursday night against the Patriots so expect more action for Coles in Week 11.

WR Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ - The Jets rolled up a big lead on the Rams in Week 10 very quickly, minimizing the need for New York to throw the ball much at all against St. Louis. The Jets have a big game Thursday night against the Patriots so expect more action for Cotchery in Week 11.

WR Lance Moore, NO - No upgrade for Moore, despite having six catches for 76 yards with a TD. There were questions surrounding Moore's effectiveness with Marques Colston back in the lineup. Will he still be a major part of the offense? Moore's TD came on a 32-yard Hail Mary pass at the end of the game. Before that point, Moore had 44 yards on five catches, which isn't a whole lot considering Brees threw for over 400 yards. Not only that, but Moore's role will continue to diminish when Reggie Bush returns to the offense (likely next week at Kansas City). Moore still has WR3/WR4 status, but we don't think his role will be reduced some with Colston and Bush healthy.


Tight End

Upgrade

TE Tony Gonzalez, KC - The 32-year old tight end hasn't yet lost a step, and the Chiefs' passing offense is showing signs of life now that Tyler Thigpen has taken over at quarterback. Thigpen has targeted Gonzalez heavily in recent weeks, and Gonzalez currently leads all tight ends in fantasy points (FBG scoring). With the Chiefs' offense having shown improvement in recent weeks, Gonzalez should continue to experience fantasy success, and is a very strong every-week starter in TE-required leagues.

TE Marcedes Lewis, JAX - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Lewis has been productive the last four games. In this span, he has at least three receptions and 34 yards each game. Lewis had a big game versus the lowly Lions. The athletic tight end caught four passes for 64 yards, including a big 29 yard catch down the middle of the field to set up a Jones-Drew touchdown run. He was targeted eight times in the game, six by David Garrard and two by Cleo Lemon in garbage time.

TE Bo Scaife, TEN - Scaife has now led the Titans in targets in each of the last four games. It is safe to say that he has become Kerry Collins' security blanket. Against the Bears, Scaife hauled in 10 receptions on his 11 targets for 78 yards and a touchdown, and appears poised to have his first Top 10 season as a fantasy tight end.

TE Matt Spaeth, PIT - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Spaeth has stepped in and played well in place of an injured Heath Miller. He is a good blocker and adequate receiver. Big Ben targeted the big tight end eight times against the Colts. He caught six of those passes for 53 yards. Next on the schedule is San Diego, who gave up a monster game to Tony Gonzalez in week 10. Spaeth could produce good numbers next week if Heath Miller misses more time.

TE Kellen Winslow, CLE - Winslow was the biggest beneficiary of the quarterback switch in Cleveland. Brady Quinn looked to the athletic tight end for the big catch. Winslow did have a very costly drop on 4th down on Cleveland's last drive. He also had a fumble and costly penalty. As long as Brady Quinn prefers to attempt short passes, and not throw the ball down the field, Winslow should be an elite fantasy tight end. Against the Broncos, Winslow caught 10 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. The star tight end had seven pass targets in each half. The Browns made a concerted effort to get the ball to Winslow early on. He scored on two of his first three pass targets.

Downgrade

TE Heath Miller, PIT - Miller has struggled to get on the field the last few weeks while struggling with an ankle injury. He has only exceeded 6 fantasy points once this season. Matt Spaeth has started in his stead. It is unknown whether Miller will be back in week 11. Even if he plays, the upside is not what it once was.

TE Jeremy Shockey, NO - Shockey appears to be having difficulty recovering fully from a sports hernia injury. The Saints passed for 422 yards and Shockey had only two catches for 16 yards. That's not good at all. Shockey had only one catch for 6 yards in his last game. He left the game in the fourth quarter after dropping two passes that should have been caught. One resulted in not getting a first down. Shockey was seen arguing with Brees on the sidelines immediately after and didn't see the field after that. We recommend reserving Shockey until he shows he is healthy enough to play the position. Not only is he not effective catching the ball, but his blocking has suffered. He won't see much of the field if he can't block well enough.

Holding steady


Kicker

Upgrade

PK Mike Nugent, NYJ - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Nugent is close to returning to his kicking duties. Over the last four games, the Jets have provided 12 PAT and 12 FG opportunities to Jay Feely. He is leading all kickers in scoring in that timeframe. Nugent should step right in when fully healthy.

Downgrade

PK Jay Feely, NYJ - It's hard to downgrade a guy coming off such a huge Week 11 effort, but Mike Nugent is nearing a return (he was questionable in Week 10). The Jets have maintained all season that a healthy Nugent will resume kicking duties.

PK Nate Kaeding, SD - The Chargers are struggling to provide opportunities for Kaeding. He has only seven PATs and five FGs in his last three games. Until the Chargers start rolling again, Kaeding will not be an elite fantasy option.

Holding steady


Team Defense

Upgrade

TD New York Jets, NYJ - The Jets defense was a game-changer in Week 10 as they forced five turnovers and scored on a fumble return. This Jets' defense is improving as the season unfolds and has an excellent schedule for the fantasy playoffs (San Francisco, Buffalo, and Seattle in Week2 14 through 16).

TD Green Bay Packers, GB - The Packer defense has played very well this season from a fantasy perspective. They had an interception and punt returned for a touchdown in the game against the Minnesota Vikings. Green Bay has returned six interceptions for touchdowns this season. The Packers averaged 1.4 interceptions per game coming into the week and picking off Frerotte three times will not hurt that number. For the game, Green Bay also recovered an Adrian Peterson fumble and sacked Frerotte a couple of times. They get a great matchup next week against the Chicago Bears if Rex Grossman is under center.

Downgrade

TD San Diego Chargers, SD - Very surprisingly, the Chargers' defense has been downright pitiful lately. Of course they are missing Shawne Merriman, but San Diego was very flat against the Chiefs. Despite facing a Tyler Thigpen-led team that featured a pair of mediocre running backs, the Chargers forced zero turnovers and a single sack. Even worse, they have one sack and zero forced turnovers over their last three games.

TD New Orleans Saints, NO - The Saints have simply gotten torched lately. In their last three games, New Orleans has allowed 96 points and over 1100 yards. In other stats, they have forced only two turnovers and accumulated a single sack in that timeframe. This unit simply isn't worthy of a roster spot.

Holding steady


© Footballguys - All Rights Reserved