All our week 11 content

Week 11 Upgrades, Downgrades, and Waiver Wire Wonders

Quarterback

1. QB Jake Delhomme, CAR
2. QB Vince Young, TEN
3. QB Marc Bulger, STL
4. QB Donovan McNabb, PHI
5. QB Brett Favre, MIN
6. QB Chris Simms, DEN *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
7. QB Bruce Gradkowski, OAK *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
8. QB Josh Freeman, TB
9. QB Kurt Warner, ARI

Downgrade

1. QB Brady Quinn, CLE
2. QB Matt Ryan, ATL
3. QB Matthew Stafford, DET
4. QB Mark Sanchez, NYJ
5. QB Kyle Orton, DEN
6. QB Alex Smith, SF
7. QB Jay Cutler, CHI
8. QB Chad Henne, MIA
9. QB Drew Brees, NO
10. QB Joe Flacco, BAL

Holding steady

1. QB Carson Palmer, CIN
2. QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
3. QB David Garrard, JAX
4. QB Aaron Rodgers, GB

Running Back

1. RB Jason Snelling, ATL *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
2. RB Jamaal Charles, KC
3. RB Chris Wells, ARI
4. RB LeSean McCoy, PHI
5. RB Ladell Betts, WAS
6. RB Justin Forsett, SEA
7. RB Cadillac Williams, TB
8. RB Bernard Scott, CIN *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
9. RB Fred Jackson, BUF
10. RB Knowshon Moreno, DEN
11. RB Reggie Bush, NO
12. RB Ricky Williams, MIA
13. RB LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
14. RB Steven Jackson, STL
15. RB Sammy Morris, NE *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
16. RB Kevin Faulk, NE
17. RB Rock Cartwright, WAS *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
18. RB Chad Simpson, IND *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
19. RB Thomas Jones, NYJ
20. RB Chris Johnson, TEN
21. RB Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX
22. RB Adrian Peterson, MIN

Downgrade

1. RB Brian Westbrook, PHI
2. RB Michael Turner, ATL
3. RB Clinton Portis, WAS
4. RB Cedric Benson, CIN
5. RB Marshawn Lynch, BUF
6. RB Julius Jones, SEA
7. RB Tim Hightower, ARI
8. RB Kevin Smith, DET
9. RB LenDale White, TEN
10. RB Marion Barber, DAL
11. RB Jamal Lewis, CLE
12. RB Maurice Morris, DET
13. RB Pierre Thomas, NO

Holding steady

1. RB DeAngelo Williams, CAR
2. RB Ronnie Brown, MIA
3. RB Jonathan Stewart, CAR
4. RB Michael Bush, OAK
5. RB Darren McFadden, OAK
6. RB Justin Fargas, OAK
7. RB Chester Taylor, MIN
8. RB Derrick Ward, TB
9. RB Ray Rice, BAL
10. RB Willis McGahee, BAL

Wide Receiver

1. WR Muhsin Muhammad, CAR
2. WR Jeremy Maclin, PHI
3. WR Brandon Gibson, STL *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
4. WR Anquan Boldin, ARI
5. WR Pierre Garcon, IND
6. WR Steve Smith, CAR
7. WR Sidney Rice, MIN
8. WR Roy Williams, DAL
9. WR Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ
10. WR Lee Evans, BUF
11. WR Davone Bess, MIA
12. WR Mike Sims-Walker, JAX
13. WR Dennis Northcutt, DET *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
14. WR Jordy Nelson, GB *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
15. WR Mike Thomas, JAX *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***

Downgrade

1. WR Keenan Burton, STL
2. WR Jarett Dillard, JAX
3. WR Nate Burleson, SEA
4. WR Calvin Johnson, DET
5. WR Marques Colston, NO
6. WR Chad Ochocinco, CIN
7. WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK
8. WR Bernard Berrian, MIN
9. WR Santana Moss, WAS
10. WR Bryant Johnson, DET
11. WR Michael Clayton, TB
12. WR Greg Camarillo, MIA
13. WR Ted Ginn, MIA

Holding steady

1. WR Jason Avant, PHI
2. WR Chris Chambers, KC
3. WR Lance Long, KC
4. WR Chaz Schilens, OAK
5. WR Percy Harvin, MIN
6. WR Miles Austin, DAL
7. WR Donald Driver, GB
8. WR Vincent Jackson, SD
9. WR Derrick Mason, BAL
10. WR Mohamed Massaquoi, CLE
11. WR Josh Cribbs, CLE

Tight End

1. TE Fred Davis, WAS *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
2. TE Kellen Winslow, TB

Downgrade

1. TE Vernon Davis, SF
2. TE Casey Fitzsimmons, DET

Holding steady

1. TE David Thomas, NO
2. TE Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN
3. TE Brandon Pettigrew, DET

Kicker

Downgrade

1. PK Steve Hauschka, BAL

Holding steady

Team Defense

1. TD Baltimore Ravens, BAL

Downgrade

Holding steady

Quarterback

QB Marc Bulger, STL - Bulger threw for 298 yards and two TDs against the Saints -- a respectable fantasy outing. He showed patience avoiding the rush while keeping his eyes downfield for open receivers. Bulger should not be anywhere near your starting lineup if you can help it, but if he can build on his performance against the Saints, he is worth a roster spot as a fantasy backup with some upside potential. After this week's game against the Cardinals, Bulger will face a favorable lineup of opponents in his following four games against the Seahawks, Bears, Titans, and Texans.

QB Jake Delhomme, CAR - Although the Panthers QB threw his prerequisite errant deep pass to Steve Smith that was nearly intercepted, Delhomme had far better command of his skills, and the game, against the Falcons on Sunday. The return of veteran WR Mushin Muhammad gave Delhomme a strong presence over the middle and this allowed the QB to spread the ball around the field and make decisive, successful plays on third down and then stringing together good moments to finish drivers. Delhomme was particularly adept at stepping up in the pocket and either hitting Muhammad, TE Jeff King, or Dante Rosario on in-cuts in the short and intermediate range of the field. He also found Steve Smith twice in the end zone on third downs with accurate passes. The Panthers QB remains bench material, but if his teammates remain healthy and he continues to perform like he did this week, he will become a solid matchup option.

QB Brett Favre, MIN - Favre is not going to be playing the Lions every week between now and the end of the season. However, his swagger and leadership make him a definite fantasy option for the rest of the season. Favre opened his 300th consecutive start by marching his team down the field for an opening FG. The Vikings never looked back. Favre is at the top of his game, playing better ball than he has for most of his career. Standing in the pocket, Favre was consistently able to find the open man. He did not check down to his TE/RB as much this game, simply because Sidney Rice was open so often down the field. The passes didn't look as pretty as the ones that Peyton or Tom Brady would throw, but Favre chucked it as far as he could and Rice always seemed to come down with it. Even more impressive is when Favre rolled out of the pocket on a play action. The defense keyed on Adrian Peterson, and Favre was able to create space and make big plays on the run. He has a PERFECT 158 passer rating this season when rolling out of the pocket. Not bad for a guy who has retired a couple times now.

QB Josh Freeman, TB - In his second start, Freeman was equal parts "rookie" and "reliable." He had four fumbles (only two of which were forced by the defense) but managed to complete a respectable 57 percent of his passes for seven yards per toss. Freeman is excelling at passes between the hashmarks on quick drop backs and from the shotgun. His fantasy appeal, however, comes from his legs. Freeman had 36 yards rushing including a 14-yard run where he managed to get around the defense and pick up a first down with his legs. He was picked off once when defensive end Jason Taylor dropped back in to coverage and it appeared Freeman did not see him. Most importantly, the Tampa Bay offense seems to move with Freeman taking the snaps. And since defenses have to respect his rushing ability, screen passes and wheel routes are opening up for the running backs as linebackers spy Freeman.

QB Bruce Gradkowski, OAK - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The journeyman from Toledo got his opportunity when JaMarcus Russell was pulled late in the third quarter. He had a bit of rust early, completing only one pass for a one-yard gain and his next two resulting in a batted ball at the line and ball thrown behind Johnnie Lee Higgins that the WR tipped and landed in the arms of safety Mike Brown for the interception. However, the Raiders second string QB showed signs of life and did a lot of good things to get Oakland in position to win the game late. He demonstrated decent accuracy on a deep post thrown 50 yards downfield to Louis Murphy. Although he could have thrown the ball slightly more to the middle to help Murphy, the ball still reached the receiver in tight coverage. Gradkowski scrambled up the middle for nine yards and then later found Darius Heyward-Bey on a comeback at the left sideline to get inside the 30-yardline. Two plays later, the QB was intercepted, but it was a very catchable pass thrown to Heyward-Bey at the 10-yardline that the rookie WR allowed to bounced off his hands and hit his knees, sending the ball over his head and into the hands of the safety to seal the game. It's unlikely Al Davis and Tom Cable will bench Russell, who had another typical up and down game thanks to several drops by his receivers and key moments of inaccuracy, but if we see a glimmer of common sense down the stretch, be ready to keep an eye on Gradkowski who could be a nice playoff start in case other established fantasy QBs are getting a rest.

QB Donovan McNabb, PHI - Donovan McNabb racked up a gaudy 450 yards passing against San Diego in Week 10 as the Eagles attempted to mount a comeback once they were down by 15 points by the middle of the third quarter. It was a great fantasy performance, but it was purely based upon the scoreboard and the abandonment (again) of the run game by Philadelphia. The Eagles do face a good passing matchup next Sunday night against Chicago and with Brian Westbrook likely sidelined again with another concussion, McNabb may be throwing 40+ times a game for most of the remaining games for the Eagles.

QB Chris Simms, DEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Chris Simms stepped in for Denver against Washington once Kyle Orton was sidelined with an ankle injury late in the second quarter. Simms did not do very well in the second half as he was off target often, and when he did hit a receiver it was often dropped. Simms threw deep to Brandon Marshall once in the end zone, but it was easily intercepted. Orton may not be healthy enough to go next week, which makes Simms an interesting pickup especially in start-two QB leagues. Simms should play better with a full week of practice with the starters.

QB Kurt Warner, ARI - Kurt Warner was 29 of 38 for 340 yards and two TD passes on Sunday, topping 300 yards for the first time since Week 5. Warner has put together two solid games after his week 8, five-interception clunker, and the emergence of a running game is helping to slow the rush and open some passing lanes. With a supremely talented trio of wide receivers, the presence of a running game will force teams to resort to single-coverage more often, making Warner's fantasy prospects look strong from here on out.

QB Vince Young, TEN - Young played well and led the team to its third straight win since he took over. Although most of his passes were short throws to RB Chris Johnson, Young also showed nice touch on some deeper throws including a 38-yard gain to Kenny Britt down the sideline. He showed great awareness late in the first quarter when the Bills ran a zone blitz and dropped DE Aaron Schobel into coverage, but Young picked it up right away and hit WR Nate Washington over the middle for an easy touchdown. Young was also effective running the ball in the second half, adding 29 yards on 4 carries as the Titans pulled away for an easy win. The only negative play for Young in the game came on a poorly thrown ball that was picked off by rookie Jarius Byrd. He won't by the type of QB that can win you games by himself, but he certainly looks like a reliable backup or potential starter in deeper leagues.

Downgrade

QB Drew Brees, NO - The Saints offense looked ordinary on Sunday for the third week in a row. In his last four games, Drew Brees has thrown more interceptions (seven) than touchdowns (six), and faces tough matchups against the Patriots, Cowboys, and Falcons in the near future. His two interceptions against the Rams were both on bad throws to Jeremy Shockey. Nonetheless, Brees is still an every-week starter and could rebound with a big game against the Buccaneers this week. His 27-yard touchdown pass to Robert Meachem was a thing of beauty, needing both accuracy and touch to drop the ball behind the defenders but in front of the back of the end zone. Brees should have had a third touchdown on the day but Marques Colston fumbled at the goal line. On the whole, Brees has looked somewhat human lately after a super hot start to the season. But don't take our downgrade of him the wrong way: while he is no longer a consensus top two fantasy QB as he was a month ago, you can still start him with confidence every week.

QB Jay Cutler, CHI - This was a disaster of a game for Cutler as he threw 5 interceptions to give him a league-leading 17 on the season. The Bears running game averaged just 2.0 yards per carry on 20 attempts so Cutler's arm was pretty much the entire offense as it has been for much of this year. He had some success moving the ball down the field, but whenever he started to build up some momentum it seemed like he would kill it with an interception. Several of them were not completely his fault, but some of them were just terrible throws. Particularly painful were the two interceptions that he threw in the red zone, including one at the end of the game when the Bears still had a chance to win the game with time running out. Cutler is on pace for 600 pass attempts, 4000+ yards, and 25 touchdowns this year, but he's also on pace for 30 interceptions and has already thrown 5 red zone interceptions in 30 total opportunities. He clearly has the arm and ability to be one of the league's best passers, but needs to take much better care of the football to get there.

QB Joe Flacco, BAL - The best thing about Flacco on Monday night was his pregame imitation of Ray Lewis during an ESPN interview on the field. Rob Ryan's defense took away the Raven's successful, first down play action game with the threat of corner and safety blitzes from the outside. For much of the first quarter, Flacco was confused and either had to call time out, scramble for his life, take a sack, or throw the ball away. To the second-year QB's credit, he handled the confusion with enough poise to avoid any game-changing mistakes. We expect Flacco to rebound against stiffer competition because he will be forced to throw more often. However, he's not the fantasy starter he initially appeared to be earlier this year.

QB Chad Henne, MIA - Henne is going through typical "first time starter" woes as his accuracy is dropping due to more complex coverage in the passing game. Still, he is efficiently managing games for the Dolphins. Perhaps the biggest knock to Henne's fantasy prospects lies in the fact that the team is focused on running the ball behind Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. Furthermore, none of the Miami receivers has proven yet to be a game-changer, making Henne's production sporadic. That said, Henne is showing a veteran's awareness of the pocket and evades pressure very well. He is in for a bright future in Miami, but it isn't likely to translate to fantasy success this season.

QB Kyle Orton, DEN - Kyle Orton was playing quite well against the Redskins in Week 10, thanks in part to defensive breakdowns in coverage on deep routes, but the bigger concern is Orton's health. With just a few seconds left before halftime, Orton was sacked and his ankle was twisted, forcing him from the game. Orton is likely doubtful for Week 11 with the injury, but be sure to monitor practice reports.

QB Brady Quinn, CLE - Don't bother picking up Brady Quinn as a potential No.2 fantasy QB this year. The Browns offense is horribly predictable and predictably horrible with the young QB under center. The Ravens defense had no problem anticipating his three-step drops and batting his passes down at the line of scrimmage multiple times. The opposing defense also played the young Browns' receivers tight, anticipating the endless variety of short screen passes and tackling the wideouts as soon as they touched the football. When Quinn finally did attempt some deep passes, he either severely overthrew his teammates or could not keep the ball in bounds. You might have a better chance picking up the University of Houston's Casey Keenum or Ole Miss' Jevan Sneed and hope there's a glitch in your online league management system than adding Quinn to your roster.

QB Matt Ryan, ATL - For the past month it has become clear to defensive coordinators that Ryan has not been able to handle pressure like the savvy veteran the media wants to make him in just his second year. Ryan was frequently high or early on passes when forced out of the pocket. He also surprisingly took his eyes off his receivers multiple times, overreacting to pressure when he still had time to make a good throw or slide away. He overthrew Michael Jenkins on a designed roll to the left and the pass was intercepted and he was nearly intercepted on a third down throw to the TE on a jerk route at the goal line. His second interception was also an overthrow to Jenkins deep with 4:00 left and down by two. With RB Michael Turner likely doubtful next week with a high ankle sprain, Matt Ryan will be further exposed as a good second-year quarterback who still has a ways to go before he's a must-start fantasy option week in and week out because the opposition is getting away with blitzing the young QB with 5-6 defenders without Ryan making them pay.

QB Mark Sanchez, NYJ - After two relatively good games in a row, Mark Sanchez reverted back to his disappointing ways against the Jaguars. For the first time in two games, Sanchez threw an INT; in fact, he threw two of them on Sunday. That gives him three games with at least two INTs this season. His big interception came on a short pass intended for Jerricho Cotchery that was thrown right to Quentin Groves who should've returned the INT for a TD, had the ground not tackled him. Later in the game, Sanchez threw a quick hitch to the sideline that didn't have enough velocity on it. The throw was not accurate and fell incomplete. Had it been accurate, it would've been picked off for a sure TD. He targeted Jerricho Cotchery early on in the game and also utilized TE Dustin Keller, especially on passes over the middle. Sanchez is capable of making plays, but in the same breath he is very capable of making poor decisions. The match up against Jacksonville was supposed to be a favorable one, but Sanchez could not get the job done. He represents a bench QB at best for your fantasy team.

QB Alex Smith, SF - The Bears came into the game with one of the most victimized secondaries in the league, but Smith was not able to take advantage. The 49ers gained nearly as many yards on the ground as they did through the air. Smith completed nearly 70 percent of his pass attempts in the game, but most of them were dump offs to Frank Gore or short passes to his receivers so they only amounted to 118 yards. Smith had thrown for seven touchdowns in his last three games, but he was kept out of the end zone this week and threw an interception on a forced pass to Michael Crabtree in double coverage. Although there was some speculation that the 49ers would open up the offense more with Smith under center and the emergence of Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis, it still looks like a run-dominated conservative offense that will rely heavily on Frank Gore.

QB Matthew Stafford, DET - This was probably one of the toughest games that Stafford had this season. To his credit, he handled it better than he has the last two weeks. Unfortunately, it didn't help the final outcome. Stafford was under constant pressure the entire game. He was hurried, hit, sacked and pounded on almost every play, and when he was able to find the open man and get him the ball, the receiver on the other end dropped it. Stafford stayed focused, and led his team the entire way, despite a serious lack of help from anyone else. His running game was inconsistent, and his receivers were not getting open quick enough to keep him on his feet. By the end of the game, his passes were landing well short of the receivers, skipping into their hands. On their final possession, he looked tired and winded. It was unfortunate because he played a pretty good game from a fantasy prospective. Stafford will remain the starter in Detroit if he's healthy. How long he'll remain healthy is the bigger question.

Holding steady

QB David Garrard, JAX - David Garrard played mistake-free ball while his counterpart Mark Sanchez had two interceptions. Garrard found Mike Simms-Walker on a quick slant that turned into a TD thanks to Simms-Walker's tackle-breaking skills. He also had an 11-yard run on 2nd and 7 for a TD that put the Jaguars up 14-7 early in the second quarter. The Jets have often blitzed on 2nd down and 8 or 7 when they anticipate a passing play. It has worked well for them all year. Against Garrard, who is a very mobile QB, the plan backfired. Garrard recognized the blitz, saw an opening and ran through the open hole. The play was helped by Maurice Jones-Drew who altered his screen route to pick up the blitz. Garrard is second behind Aaron Rodgers in rushing yards for a QB. He averages close to 23 yards per game on the ground, which often gives him an added bonus in fantasy totals. Garrard and the Jaguars host the Bills and their league worst run defense. The running game may be so successful that Garrard may not need to pass the ball much. Keep that in mind when making your decision next week if you should start him or not.

QB Carson Palmer, CIN - Palmer was inconsistent against the Steelers. His touch and accuracy were off and he missed receivers regularly for the first time in weeks. He also narrowly missed throwing two interceptions when the Steelers' corners jumped routes. The upcoming Bengals' schedule prevents us from downgrading Palmer, however, as he should put up strong numbers against a very favorable group of matchups over the next month.

QB Aaron Rodgers, GB - By holding steady, we mean he's still the No. 1 ranked fantasy QB despite a relatively quiet offensive game for the Packers. Rodgers struggled to move the ball effectively in the first half, but he was able to make enough plays to keep the Packers playoff hopes alive. He captained a 15-play, 80-yard drive in the third and early fourth quarter that ended with a one-yard QB sneak. That score put the Packers up 10-0 and essentially saved their season. In the drive he overcame a sack, and converted two long plays on third down to keep the drive alive. Penalties by the Cowboys, including pass interference call in the red zone on Dallas, aided in setting up the one-yard QB plunge. Rodgers then added another insurance TD after the Packers recovered a fumble deep in Dallas territory. The two-score performance in what looked to be a low producing game, extended Rodgers' 20+ FP/game streak to eight games.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT - Roethlisberger never got into a sustained rhythm against the Bengals last week. He struggled against very good coverage in the secondary and an inconsistent, but relentless pass rush from the Cincinnati front-seven. He missed open receivers and was generally inaccurate. The Steelers' upcoming schedule features a number of favorable matchups over the next month, however, and Roethlisberger should rebound.

Running Back

RB Ladell Betts, WAS - Ladell Betts got the start for Washington in Week 10 against Denver, and he stepped up and delivered admirably in place of Clinton Portis. Betts has a strong history of doing just that, what with his 2006 season of five consecutive 100+ yard games as the starter when Portis was also sidelined. Betts was far more effective in the second half, gaining 91 of his 114 yards after intermission. Betts had 18 carries in the final 30 minutes with six of them going for eight or more yards as he ran hard around the corner of the line and quickly to the second level. Betts also pounded it hard between the tackles three times to get the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Betts will be the starter for Washington for the next few weeks and possibly the rest of the year if Portis does get shut down due to his long list of injuries. The Redskins travel to Dallas and Philadelphia the next two weeks.

RB Reggie Bush, NO - Bush had scored only four times this season heading into the game against the Rams. But yesterday he gained 98 yards from scrimmage (on just eight touches) and scored two touchdowns. Both touchdowns were impressive. On the first, a draw up the middle, Bush leaped over a defender into the end zone. On the second, a 15-yard reception, he caught a short pass over the middle and raced to the pylon, again leaping into the end zone for the score. His 55-yard run in the second half showcased his speed. Heading into week 11, Bush appears to be a solid play against the week Tampa Bay defense. And indeed, his stellar performance against the Rams merits an upgrade. But a few words of caution are in order. First, Bush had no more than three carries in any of the three games preceding the matchup with the Rams. Second, his big week 10 came against a soft St. Louis run defense. And third, even in his breakout game against the Rams, Bush did not touch the ball in the fourth quarter. All nine RB touches for the Saints went to Mike Bell or Pierre Thomas. Those words of caution notwithstanding, Bush appears to be coming on with the Saints and could get more work going forward at the expense of Mike Bell. Even in non-PPR leagues, Bush appears to be a decent flex option.

RB Rock Cartwright, WAS - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Rock Cartwright served as the backup to Ladell Betts against Denver in Week 10, and he did a solid job when he was given his chances. He had a quick run on the first drive, gaining 17 yards around the left end, his longest gainer of the day. Cartwright also returned kicks for Washington, giving him a boost in fantasy leagues that add return yardage. Most of Cartwright's value is as a handcuff to Betts, but with 11 touches and the chance to break one with his quickness and speed makes him valuable if you own Betts or are in dire need of RB help.

RB Jamaal Charles, KC - Charles was used extensively this week now that Larry Johnson has departed Kansas City, and the second-year RB demonstrated his potential. He looked quick and decisive compared to his backfield mate Kolby Smith, making sharp cuts and leaping over penetration in the backfield to gain positive yardage in situations where Smith could not. Charles also showed good speed around the corner and nice hands in the screen game, often motioned to the WR position before the snap. His biggest play of the day was a 44-yard touchdown on a 4th and 1 pitch to the left where he made the first man miss and then weaved his way through traffic into the open field before outrunning the rest of the defense for the touchdown. It was an excellent cut back reminiscent of DeAngelo Williams. He also showed decent toughness and ball protection, getting leveled by CB Nnamdi Asomugha on a swing pass for a loss of six yards, but held onto the football and catching a 3rd and 9 pass for an 8-yard gain after taking a big hit in the middle of the field. He continued to show good patience on a delay across the formation for a 12-yard gain and flashed a strong, stop-start move for an 11-yard gain around the left side. Against better defenses, Charles will need the help of the lackluster Chiefs passing attack to be a force. However, he proved he's a decent option to consider against mediocre defenses, or worse.

RB Kevin Faulk, NE - Kevin Faulk ran the ball quite often for New England in Week 10's matchup against Indianapolis, gaining a season high in carries and yards on the ground. The Colts are softer against the run than versus the pass, so the Patriots rightly adjusted to giving Faulk, a normal receiving back, more work on handoffs. Faulk ran hard and moved the ball well on the night and the versatile running back should be on most fantasy rosters for RB depth.

RB Justin Forsett, SEA - Justin Forsett replaced an injured Julius Jones in the Seahawks' lineup against the Cardinals' tough run defense and rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown. Forsett is a small back at 5-8, 194 pounds, but he runs with terrific acceleration and balance. If Julius Jones can return this week, he will likely remain the Seahawks' starter. But Forsett has, at a minimum, earned more touches in the No. 2 role -- and if Jones misses a few games, Forsett could be worth a few fantasy starts. That makes him worth picking up off the waiver wire, even though the Seahawks face a strong Viking run defense this week. Beginning in week 12, the Seahawks face the Rams, 49ers, Texans, Buccaneers, Packers, and Titans the rest of the way. That's a favorable schedule, and Julius Jones may be slow to return given that the Seahawks are effectively out of the playoff picture.

RB Fred Jackson, BUF - Jackson had seen a significant decline in his workload the past couple games, but he was one of the Bills most impressive players this week. He saw some snaps out of the Wildcat on the opening drive and hooked up with Lee Evans on an excellent 28-yard TD throw. The Bills only ran the ball seven times in the first half and 20 times overall, so there weren't many opportunities to go around but Jackson converted his 8 attempts into 48 yards. With Trent Edwards back under center, the RBs were once again much more involved in the passing game this week and Jackson added three catches on five targets for 23 additional yards. Lynch remains the primary back in the Bills offense, but the offense seems to work better when Jackson is playing a significant role.

RB Steven Jackson, STL - Jackson gained 178 yards from scrimmage (131 rushing, 45 receiving), and -- for the second time in as many weeks -- scored a touchdown. Jackson has now rushed for over 130 yards in three straight games and is without a doubt the focal point of the Rams' offense. Jackson went scoreless in his first seven games of the season, but now that he's been introduced to the end zone, he's been a fantasy monster, scoring more than 20 points in each of his last two games (FBG scoring). Jackson has run hard all season and would be an absolute beast on a better NFL team. He has a difficult matchup against the Cardinals' run defense this week, but is a must-start nonetheless. After that, the schedule gets a lot better as he'll face the Seahawks, Bears, Titans, and Texans in weeks 12-15.

RB Chris Johnson, TEN - Although Johnson is a must-start and a top-5 fantasy player in just about every league there is, he may be ready to stake a claim for the No. 1 overall spot after this week. Johnson took full advantage of a very favorable matchup this week against the woeful Bills run defense and finished with 232 total yards. Johnson is known for his speed and that was clearly evident in the first quarter when he broke loose for an untouched 28-yard touchdown run. He also showed excellent toughness when he bounced off a tackle attempt from two Bills defenders and walked into the end zone on a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter that broke a tie game and put the Titans ahead for good. Johnson was equally effective working as a receiver out of the backfield, catching all 9 passes thrown his way and converting them into 100 yards, including some exceptional efforts on third downs that helped keep drives alive. Ever since Vince Young has taken over, the Titans offense has looked much better and it is clearly having a positive impact on Johnson. He has averaged 25 carries, 165 yards rushing, and 2 TDs per game over the past three weeks.

RB Thomas Jones, NYJ - Jones now has six TDs in the last six games. He had another good, but not great game with a fortunate goal line TD. What else is new? Jones is showing great consistency this season and he's the Jets primary RB with not a lot of competition. The Jets keep him on the field, for obvious reasons, but his blitz pick up is exceptional. Jones is quietly having a Top 10 fantasy season. Continue to start Jones going forward without reservation. He has a very modest schedule against the run with @NE, CAR, @BUF, @TB, ATL, @IND, and CIN to finish the season.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX - Jones-Drew set the tone of the game in the first drive, gaining 55 yards on just five carries. He capped the big first possession with a 33-yard TD run to give the Jaguars a 7-0 lead on the Jets in their own stadium. He muffed a hand off on the one-yard line on first and goal that would've been his second TD of the day. At the end of the game, trailing by one, Jones-Drew had the presence of mind to take a knee on the one-yard line that killed the clock and eventually led to the game-winning FG without giving the Jets a chance at to touch the ball again. That should've been his third TD of the day. Continue to start Jones-Drew. He is on pace to finish in the top 3 fantasy RBs. Next week, the Jags host the Bills who have the league's worst run defense.

RB LeSean McCoy, PHI - LeSean McCoy stepped in once again for the injured Brian Westbrook (concussion), who did start in Week 10 against the Chargers but left the game with a re-occurrence of the concussion injury. McCoy took over in the backfield with Westbrook out in the second half, but for the most part the Eagles abandoned the run and strongly favored the pass. The score of the game did dictate that Philadelphia had to throw, but there is little question that McCoy will be the starter next week against the Bears and possibly for several weeks to come.

RB Knowshon Moreno, DEN - Knowshon Moreno had all the running duties for Denver after Correll Buckhalter had a fumble in the first quarter, and Moreno responded well. He ran very hard and turned the corners quickly, gaining yardage often in larger chunks with four runs of 10 or more yards. Moreno was held out of the end zone and also was just shy of 100 yards on the ground, but Washington's defense is better than most would suspect. Denver faces San Diego next week, which is a good matchup for the ground game.

RB Sammy Morris, NE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Sammy Morris was inactive in Week 10's clash with the Colts, but he was practicing last week and he could very well start as soon as Week 11. With so many running back injuries on the NFL landscape, grab Morris now and stash him while you can just in case he does emerge as a viable fantasy option later this season.

RB Adrian Peterson, MIN - Peterson tore up the Lions for big plays for most of the game. He had five plays for 10-plus yards and found the end zone twice on a 'typical' day for one of the top fantasy backs. He would have had three TDs but was caught from behind on a breakaway late in the second quarter. Phillip Buchanan came behind Peterson and punched the ball out of his hands before the RB could reach the end zone. Peterson racked up 43 yards on the carry but could have had more had he just held onto the ball. The other fumble that he had was on a reverse to Percy Harvin where Peterson pitched the ball to him instead of handing it off. The ball never made it to Harvin and the Lions were able to recover that one as well. Overall though, the Lions had no answer for Peterson, and when there were several times in the game when he cut back across the line of scrimmage and broke containment to the outside for big gains. It took several people to bring him down and he ran hard when he was in open space. He lost opportunities to Taylor in the fourth quarter when the game was well in hand, but he had also racked up almost 150 yards and 2 TDS at that point, so he had earned a well-deserved rest. Consider this an honorary upgrade for the top dog.

RB Bernard Scott, CIN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Assuming the Bengals don't make a move on Larry Johnson this week, Scott should see more carries moving forward. Cedric Benson has had an extremely heavy workload to date and the hip flexor injury he suffered last week may force the Bengals to limit his touches during the second half of the season. If Scott can get 8-10 carries a week, he could become a viable flex option given the Bengals' soft upcoming schedule.

RB Chad Simpson, IND - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Chad Simpson saw more work than expected as the third running back for the Colts was called into service in Week 10 against the Patriots. Both starter Joseph Addai and rookie backup Donald Brown were ailing, so Simpson contributed on the night with solid rushing between the tackles. If either Addai or Brown misses time, Simpson may be worth grabbing for RB depth.

RB Jason Snelling, ATL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The second-year RB from Virginia played reasonably well in relief of an injury Michael Turner, showing his versatility. Snelling gained seven yards on a second half circle route and then made nice decisions behind his blockers to gain 11 yards and nine yards on runs. He scored on a third and goal pitch after cutting back to the inside and finding an opening that he could walk through for the score. Snelling's vision is very good, but his acceleration and agility are average, which means he'll help the Falcons move the chains with good run blocking but he won't rip a hole through a defense like Michael Turner. He also seemed to wear down in the fourth quarter, because he was used on special teams earlier in the game. If Snelling gets the start next week, he'll likely not be as gassed. Snelling should be a nice upgrade for one or two weeks, depending on the severity of Turner's injury.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson, SD - LaDainian Tomlinson found the end zone twice in Week 10 against Philadelphia, regaining his scoring prowess once again. Tomlinson did not look very fast however, and he clearly is not the same back he once was. He did manage to put up nearly 100 yards in his best yardage and fantasy performance of the year, but the jury is still out as to if he can keep it up. The Chargers still perceive him as their top back (and rightly so) but he is not a workhorse any more and he will struggle to create much offense on his own. Tomlinson looks to face Denver next week a team that has been giving up more yards and points than earlier this season.

RB Chris Wells, ARI - Rookie first-round draft pick Chris Wells is making a case to become the featured RB in Arizona. Wells was instrumental in the Cardinals' second-half comeback over the Seahawks, rushing for 75 of his 85 yards after the half. He finished with 117 yards from scrimmage and two impressive TD runs. Although Tim Hightower started the game for the Cardinals, Wells developed the hot hand and finished with six more carries than Hightower. Wells has now averaged 5.5 yards per carry over the past three games, and faces a weak St. Louis Rams defense in week 11. Both of Wells' touchdowns against the Seahawks were impressive. The first, a 10-yard run, was bounced outside where Wells showed his acceleration and burst. The second, a 13-yarder, was a hard-fought run through multiple defenders, showing power, balance, and determination. The Cardinals maintain that Hightower is still the starter, but if they go with the hot hand each game, it will likely be Wells more often than not. Wells should also get most of the goal line carries. Consider Wells a solid fantasy starter in week 11 against the Rams, with the potential to grow into a fantasy RB2 if he can pry the starting job from Hightower.

RB Cadillac Williams, TB - Williams is staying healthy and as many predicted, he's getting the bulk of the work out of the backfield for Tampa Bay. Williams was used primarily between the tackles on Sunday to help draw the defense in and open the middle of the field for Josh Freeman and Kellen Winslow. He scored on one-yard dive late in the 4th quarter to put the Bucs ahead, but the lead didn't last. Williams best run came on a seven-yard run off-tackle where he took initial contact but kept up a head of steam to gain five yards after first-contact. As long as Williams remains healthy, his value will continue to increase as quarterback Josh Freeman learns the speed of the pro game.

RB Ricky Williams, MIA - Rumors of Ricky's demise have been greatly exaggerated. On Sunday, Williams was the key to the Miami offense rushing 20 times for 102 yards. His last run -- a 27-yard scamper where he showed the speed and lateral movement that made him so effective a few years ago -- set up the Dolphins game winning field goal. Williams also caught two screen passes on Sunday but was met near the line of scrimmage on both catches. He is no longer running downfield routes as he did in his earlier stint as a Dolphin running back, but seems to be getting more opportunities as a rusher which has led to his best production in years. We expect to see Williams continue to receive double-digit carries each game as the Dolphins fight to earn a Wild Card spot.

Downgrade

RB Marion Barber, DAL - Marion Barber has had a disappointing season, reaching double-digit fantasy points only once in the last five games after starting the season with three straight games with a TD. On Sunday against the Packers, things started off pretty well for Barber. He had gains of 13, 7, 5, 13 yards in his first four touches (all in the first quarter). Then the bottom fell out. Penalties and failure to convert on third down ended drives, and thus limited the chances for Barber to run the ball. Barber's five carries led the team, which illustrates how well Green Bay's defense dominated the Cowboys. Dallas will face Washington at home next week, but the loss of RT Marc Colombo could hurt their running game. Until Dallas decides for the first time since the beginning of the year to renew their commitment to the run, Barber is a risky No. 2 fantasy option at RB.

RB Cedric Benson, CIN - The heavy workload over the first eight games may have finally caught up to Benson, who pulled a hip flexor muscle in the first half. With Bernard Scott showing some potential at times against Pittsburgh, the Bengals may think twice about giving Benson more than 95 percent of the rush attempts during the second half of the season. Benson's matchups look great moving forward, but he may have to get his numbers with fewer carries even if his hip strain doesn't keep him on the sideline next week.

RB Tim Hightower, ARI - Tim Hightower started Sunday's game for Arizona, but finished with just 10 carries for 37 yards -- six carries fewer than Chris Wells. Hightower is still a decent option in PPR leagues (he had 5 receptions for 21 yards against the Seahawks), but his workload may decrease each week, as Wells becomes more comfortable facing NFL defenses. Hightower is still the nominal starter for the Cardinals and still has a significant role in the passing game, but with Wells' inching closer to taking over as the featured runner, Hightower's fantasy value must decline.

RB Julius Jones, SEA - Jones was knocked out of the game with a chest injury. It was initially reported to be a broken rib, but subsequently said to be a bruise accompanied by internal bleeding in his lung. Either way, it sounds bad. Even if Jones returns quickly, Justin Forsett's effectiveness against the Cardinals will likely earn Forsett a bigger role in the offense at Jones' expense. Despite a juicy schedule the rest of the way (following this week's matchup against the Vikings), Jones' fantasy value takes a hit.

RB Jamal Lewis, CLE - Poor Jamal Lewis. He still runs hard and he occasionally finds some nice creases early in contests. However, he's playing on an offense that thinks they might fall off the edge of the earth into a pit of dragons if they get more than 10 yards down field. Since Brady Quinn is no Christopher Columbus, having Lewis on your roster is nearly a waste of time.

RB Marshawn Lynch, BUF - Although Lynch ran hard once again and broke his fair share of tackles the offensive line gave him very little room to run. He also finished with fewer than 10 rush attempts for the second game in a row and only managed to gain 37 yards on those 9 carries. Lynch added four catches on six targets, but was only able to gain 18 yards on them. Fred Jackson seemed to take on a slightly bigger role in the offense this week and looked more effective than Lynch so there's a chance the Bills coaches will continue to use more of an even distribution of touches at running back than they have been doing in recent weeks. The upcoming schedule does not look difficult, but the Bills offense has given few signs that they'll be able to turn things around and start sustaining long drives that end in touchdowns. Also, the defense continues to have a hard time stopping teams and getting off the field and that leaves fewer opportunities for Lynch and the offense. Lynch is likely going to be a risky start in most weeks for the rest of the season.

RB Maurice Morris, DET - Backup RBs on a team that had only 18 carries by RBs for the game don't amount to much fantasy wise. Morris was not as effective against the Vikings as Kevin Smith was, and he didn't see much in the way of receiving opportunities either. He is still being used on passing downs and will have opportunities to spell Kevin Smith a few times per game. However, the Lions are playing catch up so much now that the RB opportunities are becoming few and far between.

RB Clinton Portis, WAS - Clinton Portis was sidelined for the Week 10 game against Denver due to a concussion. Many are suspecting that this may lead to him being shut down for the rest of 2009, but that is just speculation. Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright played well in place of Portis, and there is no timetable for Portis' return at this time, with current expectations having him out for a minimum of a few weeks. If you currently own Portis, other options have to be considered.

RB Kevin Smith, DET - Kevin Smith had a pretty good game against the Vikings. Aside from the fumble to start the third quarter and being stuffed behind the line several times, Smith performed fairly well. He had several 10-plus-yard gains and when he was able to get beyond the Minnesota front four, he was able to weave his way for good yardage. Unfortunately the Lions played from behind most of the game and eventually went into their 'pass every down' mode to catch up. Smith is now more a victim of the team he is on, sharing limited carries with Maurice Morris and being forced to block for most of the second half while the Lions pass to the TE. He's a talent guy, and does well given the opportunity. The problem is that his opportunities are slipping away.

RB Pierre Thomas, NO - Against a soft Ram run defense, Thomas had a disappointingly quiet day, rushing for 37 yards on 11 carries. With Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, and Mike Bell all getting touches, none will get enough touches to be an every-week starter. Nonetheless, this can be considered a relatively weak downgrade since we expect Thomas to get the lions' share of the New Orleans RB workload going forward, and may be due for a big game against the Buccaneers this week. Still, the fact that Mike Bell got the start, and that Reggie Bush got the call on first and goal from the three, have to put a damper on expectations for Thomas in his tougher matchups.

RB Michael Turner, ATL - Turner had a great start, gaining 111 yards on 9 carries with 8:30 left in the half, finding excellent cutbacks for big gains, including a 40-yarder where he remained patient behind his blockers on a sweep to the right side before cutting back to the inside and diagonally across the middle of the field and breaking a tackle in the process. However, with 6:00 in the half, a defender rolled up on Turner's ankle at the end of a run and he limped off the field with a high ankle sprain, leaving him initially doubtful for week 11. Although Turner is known as a power runner, he has a slashing style and this injury is unlikely something the Falcons RB will be able to perform anywhere near his potential until he's had at least a week or two off. Stay tuned to reports about the severity of the injury.

RB Brian Westbrook, PHI - Brian Westbrook was sidelined again in Week 10 with a concussion, forcing him out of the game. His second concussion in less than a month, Westbrook could easily be out for several weeks and possibly the rest of the year. LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver will take over the carries, but for the most part Philadelphia now has a legitimate excuse to throw quite often the rest of the year.

RB LenDale White, TEN - The emergence of Chris Johnson as an elite all-around running back this year has resulted in a huge drop in White's workload. Johnson touched the ball 35 times in this game while White had just 3. He received one carry early in the game and then a couple others late in the game. However, Johnson got the goal line work and was able to convert on a strong one-yard touchdown run. Late in the game with the Titans protecting a huge lead, it was Johnson out there running the ball three straight times, which seemed to suggest the coaches don't really trust White very much. Despite running for 15 TDs last year and coming into this season much lighter, it looks like White's fantasy value in Tennessee has bottomed out.

Holding steady

RB Ronnie Brown, MIA - Brown did not have a great day running the ball outside of a 45-yard carry, but he did manage to score on a one-yard dive to the right side of the line out of the Wildcat formation. Even with Ricky Williams getting an increased workload, Brown is still on the field much of the time and is being used in a variety of ways. The biggest difference in recent weeks is that Brown is no longer receiving many carries outside of the tackles. As a result, his yards-per-attempt is suffering. We expect that as long as Brown is being utilized in the Wildcat near the goal line, he'll continue to produce solid fantasy numbers. That said, his yardage totals might not be on par with Williams for the rest of the season if the Dolphins choose to keep Williams in as the bell-cow going forward.

RB Michael Bush, OAK - Knowing which Raiders runner is going to make the most of his carries is a weekly adventure. This time Bush made good against a Kansas City defense that did not do a strong job of wrapping up early in the game. Bush gained 60 yards after bouncing off the rookie DT Jackson's hit and lazy wrap. This allowed Bush to get outside and for the big gain. Bush showed good hands on a circle route for an 8-yard gain in the second series and a screen pass where he had to make a few defenders miss just to get positive yardage. However his greatest contribution was bulling up the middle for six-, seven-, and eight-yard gains, including a stretch of five carries where he literally carried the Raiders down the field before Justin Fargas finished the drive with a score.

RB Justin Fargas, OAK - Fargas did in key moments what he does best, run hard. He was quick, aggressive, and shifty on a five-yard gain to the outside and then a 15-yarder of RG. He also plowed ahead for gains of four and seven yards up the middle, being the first to make contact. His score was a diving play over the goal line, landing into the defender with force. Fargas is a good player in a bad situation and he's simply worth watching and waiting to see if the rest of the team dynamics change enough to capitalize on him.

RB Darren McFadden, OAK - This was McFadden's first week back from a knee injury and he looked a lot like JaMarcus Russell in some respects: small breathtaking moments of physical skill drowned out by immaturity. McFadden barreled up the middle on this first run with great burst, but ran right into the defender shooting the gap showing no patience whatsoever when he should have been slow to the hole and then quicker through the opening he spotted. He also dropped a swing pass on first down of the next series. He did spin off a hit in traffic for a four-yard gain and got low for another four-yard gain off LT. As he regains health in future weeks, we'll see if he can do more with his opportunities.

RB Willis McGahee, BAL - McGahee received more time in this game once the Ravens were up 16-0 and it was clear Brady Quinn couldn't throw an pass with accuracy unless the distance was three yards or less - and that is only a slight exaggeration. McGahee did show some determination after contact to twist and turn for extra yardage, but he clearly lacks Rice's toughness agility. We don't anticipate McGahee's opportunities to be a start of a trend, especially with tougher opponents ahead and the Ravens fighting for a playoff spot.

RB Ray Rice, BAL - Fantasy owners were likely expecting a bigger day from Rice, but Baltimore's offensive staff and QB were initially out-worked by the Browns' defensive coordinator, who anticipated the Ravens' tendency to use first down play action passes and counter it with threats of corner blitzes that confused Joe Flacco and disrupted the offense's rhythm. Rice did have some nice runs in this game, but he was well-covered by the Browns LBs in the short passing game which limited his production. His touchdown came off a run off RG against a Browns defense that only fielded 10 men on the play. When the Ravens lined up in the I-formation and committed to the power running game, Rice looked good. However, the Ravens seemed intent to outsmart themselves this week. Hopefully it won't happen with bigger games ahead against much better opponents like Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.

RB Jonathan Stewart, CAR - Stewart had a typical game in most respects. He showed his trademark burst up the middle for gains off cutbacks and finished strong for gains of 6, 9, and 15 yards in this game. He also got some nice openings thanks to the success of the passing game. Although he dropped a circle route in this game, he also demonstrated good footwork and the ability to get yardage after contact at the line of scrimmage. His best play of the day was a 45-yard score to seal the game with 2:07 left, dipping to the outside on a third-down run to get free. Stewart might be in for an upgrade soon if Williams' knee doesn't get better or if the passing game simply continues to stay steady. Right now, he remains a great handcuff and reasonably decent flex play.

RB Chester Taylor, MIN - Chester Taylor owners need to be cautious. It's hard to say if Taylor's limited action was due to the Lions inability to stop the Vikings or a shift in philosophy to push the ball downfield. Favre did not check down as much as he has in earlier games this season, and Taylor's opportunities were limited with Peterson tearing up the field. On passing downs, Favre looked to his WRs more in this game, and Taylor ultimately finished with only one reception for seven yards. He was in on the passing downs, indicating that the opportunities might be there if the defense was better. However, be cautious of Favre wanting to go for it all more down the stretch. He's clearly become more comfortable with the offense, and may elect to take a shot down the field rather than make the safe pass to Taylor for the short and medium gain.

RB Derrick Ward, TB - Ward is playing the role of complementary back to Cadillac William. He was held without a reception as quarterback Josh Freeman favored his slot receiver and tight end on plays that normally would have utilized Ward as the outlet. His 34 yards on 10 carries were earned mostly between the tackles and on draw plays. Ward's ability to break long runs this season has primarily been due to defenses not respecting the pass and loading up the box. That should change as Josh Freeman continues to experience success passing to the middle of the field.

RB DeAngelo Williams, CAR - Williams was questionable with a knee injury entering the game, and he looked a little tentative on his first run, slipping as he made a cut to the right, and falling forward for a gain of two yards and losing a yard on the next play. However, he soon found his groove: bulling his way up LG for a four-yard gain on 2nd and 11, spinning off a hit up the middle and gaining seven yards, and then gaining 28-yards down the right sideline after initially trying the middle but having to spin away from a DL towards RG to find the crease. Although the Panthers lost all-world tackle Jordan Gross to broken ankle, Williams continued to find lanes, nearly breaking long runs on a 6-yard gain and then a 15-yarder up the middle after a very strong cutback. His last big gain was a 30-yarder on a check-down pass over the middle and cutting to the opposite sideline for most of the yardage. Although the knee injury hampered Williams a bit and Jordan Gross will be out for the year, expect Williams to continue to produce -- especially with Mushin Muhammad healthy and Jake Delhomme making stronger decisions.

Wide Receiver

WR Davone Bess, MIA - Bess seems to have taken the role of primary receiver by attrition since neither Ted Ginn nor Greg Camarillo have proven to be consistent downfield threats. On Sunday, Bess caught four balls and was primarily sent on deep out and "Go" routes outside of the hashmarks. His chemistry with Chad Henne seems to be improving as well as he twice adjusted to imperfect Henne throws to haul in a reception.

WR Anquan Boldin, ARI - Boldin returned from a high ankle sprain and showed no signs of a lingering injury. He was upset about missing the week 9 game against the Bears, but perhaps the rest did him some good: he looked fresh and fast on Sunday against the Seahawks. He caught 8 passes for 105 yards, including a big reception in the fourth quarter for 37 yards. Looking ahead to Boldin's fantasy playoff schedule, he faces the Lions and Rams in weeks 15 and 16. Nice.

WR Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ - The bye week really helped Jerricho Cotchery and his injured hamstring although he looked good in the game before the time off. After watching him make catches and use great footwork to get open, it doesn't appear like he is experiencing any lingering effects. He was clearly Mark Sanchez's go-to guy early on, with 39 yards and a TD after the first quarter, but things slowed down until the second half.

WR Lee Evans, BUF - Evans was only targeted five times in the game, but he caught four of them for 50 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He got off to a great start in this game with a 27-yard touchdown catch on the Bills first drive. With the Bills working out of the Wildcat formation, Evans flew by FS Michael Griffin and RB Fred Jackson hit him in stride for an easy touchdown. Midway through the second quarter, Trent Edwards found Evans on a fade route to the front left corner of the end zone that he pulled in for an eight-yard touchdown catch. It has been a disappointing season for Evans and the Bills offense, but he's starting to make the most of his limited opportunities and has four touchdowns in his last four games.

WR Pierre Garcon, IND - Pierre Garcon had a relatively quiet night in the Week 10 matchup against New England, but the telling stat was his 11 targets. Garcon was on the field often as opposed to Austin Collie, with Garcon lining up outside of Dallas Clark in the slot and Reggie Wayne on the other side. Peyton Manning threw in Garcon's direction often with some of his production coming in the way of drawing pass interference yardage. With Garcon on the field quite often and getting multiple chances from Manning, Garcon has to be rostered for wide receiver depth in most fantasy leagues.

WR Brandon Gibson, STL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - With Keenan Burton out for the season, rookie Brandon Gibson steps into the starting role opposite Donnie Avery. He was inserted into the lineup midway through the game against the Saints and responded well: he caught 7 passes (on a team-high 9 targets) for 93 yards. Gibson's most impressive catch came on a fourth down play when Bulger threw the ball low and Gibson had to scoop it up close to the turf -- a big catch in a big situation for the rookie. Based on his solid play in his first extensive action, Gibson is worth considering as a waiver-wire pickup.

WR Jeremy Maclin, PHI - Jeremy Maclin continued to produce as the second starting wideout for Philadelphia, this time grabbing six balls for another 76 yards in Week 10 against the San Diego Chargers. Maclin was targeted only eight times (a small number given Donovan McNabb's 55 attempts) but found the end zone once and with the issues to the Philadelphia running game, the passing attack gets a major boost going forward. With the Eagles likely without Brian Westbrook once again next week against Chicago, look for Maclin to have another solid performance.

WR Muhsin Muhammad, CAR - The veteran receiver's return from injury just might spark a nice run for the Panthers offense. He was wide open on his first catch, a 21-yard in-cut on first down in the opening quarter. He then used his size to push off the CB on a 22-yard fade stop at the right sideline, and then gained 21 yards on a route over the middle on a good pass by Delhomme who was under pressure. On this play, Muhammad gained 10 yards after the catch and then showed good YAC skills on a third down slant for 14 yards, breaking tackle in the process. His fifth catch of the day was a short hitch where he also gained seven yards. Muhammad is just the type of player who can do a fantasy owner good down the stretch as a third receiver or flex option.

WR Jordy Nelson, GB - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Packers welcomed back Jordy Nelson, who has been out since week six with a knee injury. He made his presence known with four catches for 32 yards on five targets. The Packers have plenty of options at the WR position, which will minimize his potential for consistent production. At this point, he's not considered a fantasy play even in deeper leagues, but keep an eye on him should something happen to James Jones.

WR Dennis Northcutt, DET - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Northcutt emerged from the doghouse and actually had a pretty good game for the Lions. His lack of focus and frequent dropped passes from two weeks ago were behind him, and he made several good catches at key points in the game. He was also the primary kick and punt returner for the Lions. While Calvin and Bryant Johnson worked the deep sidelines and crossing routes, and the TEs worked the middle of the field, Northcutt was the short and medium sideline receiver for the Lions, catching the quick slants and sideline corners and trying to make something by turning up-field. He's back in as Detroit's possession guy, and should see 4-6 passes thrown his way each game.

WR Sidney Rice, MIN - Granted, the Vikings won't be playing Detroit week after week, but even before this week's performance, Sidney Rice has emerged as one of the top fantasy WRS in the league. He was Favre's 'go to' guy and blew by the Detroit secondary on several plays, where Favre basically threw it as far as he could and Rice just found a way to get under it. On one play 43-yard bomb late in the second quarter, Rice would have scored but Favre was under pressure and he had to wait for the pass, giving the defender time to catch up to him. When Favre was looking to take a shot, Rice was his guy. He was only the fourth WR in Viking history to go over the 200-yard mark. He might have even broken the record for single game but he dropped a pass from Tarvaris Jackson in the fourth quarter during garbage time. Going forward, look for Rice to continue to put up consistent top receiving numbers. He's Favre's go to guy and Brett has a long history of making WR into superstars.

WR Mike Sims-Walker, JAX - Some wondered if Mike Sims-Walker would continue to be a force after having such an impressive first half of the season. He had a tough draw this past week going up against WR-eraser Darrelle Revis, but he was able to make good on his chances. He scored a 26-yard TD on a slant route, where he received the ball right when he was cutting inside. Jets CB Lito Sheppard missed the tackle, and Sims-Walker dodged two other defenders en route to the end zone. It appears as if Sims-Walker's breakout season will continue. He was able to get good separation on occasion against the Jets corners, but often David Garrard wasn't in a position to get him the ball. He has great hands to go along with excellent speed and he is capitalizing on his opportunities. Continue to start Sims-Walker with confidence.

WR Steve Smith, CAR - Nothing much has changed in terms of what Smith does; the real reason for the upgrade was the return of Mushin Muhammad, which opened more opportunities for Smith as a result. He had a nice run on a short hitch inside the 20 that nearly got him into the end zone in the first half and then scored on a third-down corner fade by getting the DB to bite on a what looked like a slant release. Smith was targeted deep twice in this game, but was overthrown each time. However, he was active in the red zone, scoring a second time on a crossing route between defenders. He took a knee to the lower back during the TD and had to be helped to his feet to leave the field. The good news was he was back in the game not much later and finished the contest although the injury is diagnosed as rib-related. Since Smith was targeted on shorter routes and in the red zone he gets an upgrade despite the deep passing game not clicking just yet.

WR Mike Thomas, JAX - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The loss of Jarett Dillard to a broken leg will open the door for Mike Thomas to see more action on the field. He has started to come on in the last few games, and make no mistake about it, he plays much taller than his 5-foot-8 frame. Thomas is a great compliment to David Garrard's short game. His play making ability gives Garrard someone to rely on for quick outs and plays over the middle. Look for Thomas to see an increase in production in the second half of the season. He could be someone to consider as a WR or flex start if he continues to show promise in the next few weeks.

WR Roy Williams, DAL - Williams had five catches for 105 yards and a TD against Green Bay, but the stat line could've been even better had he caught some catchable passes that came his way. He also had a costly fumble at the end of the half after a long gain that would've put the Cowboys in great field position to possibly score a TD or FG to tie the game going into half time. The Packers changed up their coverage in the middle of the field, which made it difficult for Tony Romo to find passing lanes to his receivers open in the short middle, where he normally looks for his hot reads. This opened up more opportunities for Williams outside the hash marks and behind the coverage in the middle of the field. As a result, Williams had gains of 19, 42, 20, 16 and later a TD reception for 9 yards. It was his best fantasy output of the season. Will it continue? That's debatable. Williams was the one positive the offense had, but will he have those same opportunities in future weeks? That's the question mark. Regardless, Romo gained some confidence in Williams on Sunday and it could carry over in future games. Williams is a good WR3 or flex option. While we like him to continue his upswing in production since his "observation" to the media about his QB's throws, don't be discouraged if he's not a consistent force.

Downgrade

WR Bernard Berrian, MIN - Berrian is clearly taking a back seat to Sidney Rice now on the Viking Depth Chart. While Berrian is still an important part of the passing game for Minnesota, Rice is the clear 'go to' guy when Favre is looking for the big play. Berrian was used more as the 'sideline' and quick pass WR, making short and medium catches and turning them into bigger gains when possible. Favre missed him a couple times on these routes, but the catches would have only resulted in similar 7-12 yard gains. He's clearly limited by the Hamstring injury that he suffered several weeks ago, and these types of injuries don't heal well without complete rest. Look for Berrian to be limited for the rest of the season unless he can get his hammy injury under control.

WR Nate Burleson, SEA - Burleson was targeted five times against the Cardinals but finished without a catch. Burleson totaled 13 receptions in his previous two games, but Deion Branch and Deon Butler both played bigger roles than Burleson on Sunday. QB Matt Hasselbeck spread the ball around to eight different receivers against the Cardinals, but Burleson wasn't one of them. While Burleson should be more involved in future games, T.J. Houshmandzadeh has established himself as the team's number one receiver. Burleson will compete with Branch and Butler for the remaining targets, knocking his fantasy value down quite a bit from where it was earlier in the season.

WR Keenan Burton, STL - Burton suffered a broken right leg going for a ball that was intercepted in the end zone, and will miss the rest of the season.

WR Greg Camarillo, MIA - Camarillo is not getting the ball from Chad Henne with the same frequency in which he received it from Chad Pennington. While Camarillo is still primarily running slants and timing routes, Henne seems more inclined to throw the ball down the field then to take the safe option in Camarillo. Henne is likely to learn to lean on his outlet receivers as time goes on, but for now Camarillo's fantasy value is depressed with Henne under center.

WR Michael Clayton, TB - Clayton was virtually invisible on Sunday, catching one ball for three yards. Maurice Stovall is Josh Freeman's preferred target as a receiver and with Kellen Winslow getting so many looks, Clayton's value is likely to remain depressed.

WR Marques Colston, NO - Colston finished with just 23 yards against the Rams, and lost a fumble on what should have been a touchdown. On the bright side, Colston's struggles may be blamed in part on the fact that he had the flu last week and may not have been at 100 percent on Sunday. But his lack of production and brutal fumble are still a concern, especially given all the talent on the Saints' offense that Colston must fight for targets. QB Drew Brees spread the ball around to seven different receivers on Sunday, and Colston now has just three catches over the last two weeks. In the Saints offense, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, or Jeremy Shockey might be the most-targeted receiver in any given week. Then there's Lance Moore when healthy...you get the idea. While Colston still has plenty of potential to put up big fantasy numbers in any given week, he cannot be considered the focal point of the Saints' passing game. Aside from Drew Brees, the Saints' don't have a focal point. They will get different players the ball based on matchups, which makes Colston less consistent than his fantasy owners would like.

WR Jarett Dillard, JAX - Dillard suffered a broken leg in the game against the Jets and will be done for the season. Dillard did not see much action this year, but he has great promise in dynasty leagues. The rookie from Rice had 87 receptions for 1,310 yards and an eye-popping 20 touchdowns in his senior season. He finished his college career with 60 TDs. His maturity and attention to detail make him someone to watch in 2010 as Torry Holt's career continues to wind down.

WR Ted Ginn, MIA - Ginn didn't catch a pass on Sunday and is quickly proving to be a woefully inconsistent receiving option for Miami. Part of Ginn's problem is an inability to fight through the jam at the line of scrimmage, meaning the play is long over before he can get up to top speed on downfield routes. For now we would suggest other options at receiver for your squad.

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK - Heyward-Bey gets open all the time, but he couldn't catch the H1N1 virus if it landed in his hands. He let a deep post slide through his hands earlier in the game and he dropped a potential game-changing throw that bounced off his knees and into the arms of the safety to seal it for the Chiefs. In between he made a sideline catch earlier in the drive, but got the benefit of the officials botching the replay review where he was clearly out of bounds as he came down with the football. Schilens should take more of Heyward-Bey's opportunities in future weeks. If not, it won't matter much -- he can't catch the football.

WR Bryant Johnson, DET - With Calvin Johnson drawing most of the defensive interest, Bryant Johnson was able to get open more often. However, Matt Stafford wasn't able to get him the ball because he was under so much pressure, and Johnson finished the game again with minimal fantasy numbers. He's the No. 2 guy on a bad team that will be passing a lot. Yet he doesn't seem to put up consistent numbers and probably isn't worth starting in your fantasy league.

WR Calvin Johnson, DET - Calvin Johnson was the top receiver for the Lions in this game, and Stafford looked to him quite often. However, Calvin has clearly lost something and is not playing with the intensity that he has been earlier in the season. He dropped several catchable passes during the game and did not appear to have that intensity that made him unstoppable during the first part of the season; 48 of his 84 yards came on the final series of the first half when Johnson had receptions of 11, 19 and 18 yards. While Stafford tried to get him the ball more, Johnson was frequently double-teamed and had trouble getting open. He's still an every week starter from a fantasy prospective, but don't expect him to put up top 5 fantasy numbers at this point.

WR Santana Moss, WAS - Santana Moss had just two short catches in Week 10 against Denver on only four targets for the afternoon. He did get open deep once but QB Jason Campbell badly overthrew him on what probably would have been a long touchdown (59 yards) in the first quarter. Moss and Campbell are not connecting enough to be considered for most fantasy starting lineups right now.

WR Chad Ochocinco, CIN - After a very consistent stretch of games to open the season, Ochocinco has seen his receptions and red zone targets dwindle. This week, Palmer missed Ochocinco on a couple of open routes and his numbers should have been better. However, there were hints of some of the body language and pouting issues that plagued him in 2007 and 2008. The Bengals schedule is very favorable moving forward and Ochocinco could well go on a run of big games, but keep an eye on his catch percentage, targets and chemistry with Palmer down the stretch.

Holding steady

WR Miles Austin, DAL - The Packers, who use bump and run coverage on the outside WRs (perhaps) better than any CB tandem in the league, were able to contain Miles Austin for most of the game. He didn't catch a pass until the fourth quarter, when he finally had three catches on one possession. The combination of Green Bay's tight coverage on Austin and Romo's inability to figure out the Packers confusing defensive schemes contributed to a difficult game for Austin. Dallas lined him up wide left, wide right and out of the slot. It was clear that Green Bay's plan was to keep him contained. Austin is still a big part of the Cowboys offensive game plan, but seeing him struggle against coverage designed to stop him is not a great sign. He'll learn to adjust, but keep in mind he doesn't have a lot of experience in the role he has earned in the first half of the season and this game indicates he might be at the stage of his career where he can still be taken away easier than the very elite receivers in this league.

WR Jason Avant, PHI - Jason Avant is a solid NFL wide receiver, but he is only the third wideout in the pecking order for the Philadelphia Eagles. His huge numbers in Week 10 against the San Diego Chargers are likely to be a big fluke, helped a great deal by coverage against DeSean Jackson and also by Donovan McNabb's huge 450-yard passing day. Avant makes some great highlight-reel catches but his fantasy production is far too up-and-down to pick him up and put into your fantasy lineup. He may be worth a flier, but don't chase his Week 10 numbers.

WR Chris Chambers, KC - Chambers didn't have the great fantasy day he did the week prior, but he continued to show he will be a benefit to the Chiefs passing game. Chambers nearly came down with a 40-yard pass thrown from the opposite side of the field, but Cassell's throw had too much air on the the ball and it forced Chambers to slow down for a leaping attempt. This allowed the CB to close and steal the ball as it careened off Chambers' back shoulder. He did follow this bad play up with excellent body control on a 30-yard sideline fade with an over the shoulder catch in tight coverage while keeping his feet in bounds. He also showed good timing on a 25-yard gain on a crossing route where he gained most of the yardage after the catch. Fantasy owners should continue to count on Chambers as a burgeoning No. 3 WR or rock-solid flex play down the stretch.

WR Josh Cribbs, CLE - Cribbs is the Browns' best player in at least two of the three phases of football: offense and special teams. Cribbs is still quite raw as a receiver, but his ability to break tackles and find creases with good patience and decisiveness were on display when he took direct snaps and followed his blockers around the perimeter of the Ravens defense. Unfortunately, there is not enough to complement Cribbs offensively to make him a worthwhile option.

WR Donald Driver, GB - The Packers trio of WRs had a relatively quiet game against Dallas. Green Bay was fairly effective on third downs, finishing 7-for-15 in the game, but the main reason for the lack of big production from Driver, Greg Jennings and also James Jones was the range of receivers who caught a pass. Eleven Packers receivers caught a pass, including five with at least three catches. Driver had a chance to turn an average day into a productive fantasy game, but he could not haul in a 3-yard pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter that bounced off his hands, his helmet and eventually out of his grasp. Keep him in your lineup; he won't have many average games like this too often as long as he has Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball.

WR Percy Harvin, MIN - Harvin has settled in as the Vikings No. 3 WR/Kick/Punt Returner. He's going to see action on passing downs, and the Vikings like to use him several times on end-around and double reverses during the game, trying to get him the ball in open space. Harvin actually opened the game for the Vikings with a 7-yard end around and Adrian Peterson's first fumble was on a reverse where Peterson tried to pitch him the ball but did a poor job and the ball never reached Harvin's hands. He's clearly an explosive player but the Vikings want to keep him fresh for kick and punt returns, which will limit his offensive potential for now. When he has the ball though, Harvin is electric. Take the 40-yard catch and run that he had early in the fourth quarter. Harvin ran a simple comeback route, caught the ball and turned up field. He took a solid shot but stayed on his feet and busted the play for a big gain across the middle. It was a great showcase of his talent, and the reason he's a legitimate fantasy threat.

WR Vincent Jackson, SD - Vincent Jackson had just one catch for a measly 10 yards in Week 10 against the Eagles as Philadelphia tried to minimize his production with double coverage at times and it worked. The flow of the game left Jackson without much need to contribute on offense as the Chargers got up on the scoreboard early and favored the ground game and passes to Antonio Gates. Jackson's three targets are not too much to worry about, as it was likely just a one-week fluke. Look for Jackson and San Diego to gear up for next week's first place battle with Denver.

WR Lance Long, KC - We have been saying that Long is a like a poor man's Wes Welker and he was certainly targeted in situations that look similar. However, with the presence (and production) of Chris Chambers it appears Long might not get that extended opportunity to produce like Welker. If this continues next week, Long will likely be a downgrade. However, he performed well with Chambers in the fold the week before so we'll wait and see if the answer had to do with Chambers and Cassell getting acclimated with each other or it was simply this week's game plan.

WR Derrick Mason, BAL - Mason was rarely targeted in this game, because his QB and offensive coaches seemed initially stymied by the Browns defensive schemes to eliminate the Ravens early down play action game. Mason's best play was a short sideline curl that he took down the sideline for a 44-yard gain to set up Ray Rice's touchdown. Mason extended for the ball and made a quick turn up field just past the cover corner. This was a sloppy game, and we expect Mason to be more of a factor against stiffer competition. In fact, against an Indy defense with two rookie CBs, Mason is just the technician to school these young guys.

WR Mohamed Massaquoi, CLE - Massoquoi had a nice gain off a short pass, displaying excellent quickness. However, adding the rookie is like winning $5 off a scratch off lottery ticket at the convenience store: you want to play more, but odds are you'll lose far more than you'll win. Unless we discover the Browns were just spotting the rest of the NFL a big lead and decide to field their real team, Massoquoi is not worth an add.

WR Chaz Schilens, OAK - It wasn't a great day for Schilens coming back from a broken foot, but he did show he was healthy enough to contribute, gaining six over the middle on his first target and then gaining 15 on a deep hitch where he curled inside of the defender for extra yardage. Other than a nine-yard gain late, he didn't have any other accurate targets. His skills say upgrade, but his situation remains hold steady.

Tight End

TE Fred Davis, WAS - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Fred Davis had four catches against the Denver Broncos, highlighted by a 24-yarder on a nice catch and run in the opening quarter. Davis added three shorter catches but was the leading receiver for Washington in catches, targets and yardage for Week 10. While he is nowhere near the same performer as Chris Cooley but as we have been saying for two weeks, he is a nice backup fantasy TE and makes for good roster depth.

TE Kellen Winslow, TB - Winslow is clearly QB Josh Freeman's favorite target. On Sunday he hauled in seven passes on a variety of routes and was rarely kept in to block except on obvious rushing downs. Winslow and Freeman are hooking up most often on quick outs and curls but twice on Sunday, Freeman looked to Winslow on a go-route up the seam. Winslow should continue to catch five-plus passes a game as long as Freeman is taking snaps.

Downgrade

TE Vernon Davis, SF - Davis followed up perhaps his best game with a disappointing effort against the Bears this week. He was targeted five times in the game but only managed to convert them into 3 catches for 16 yards. The 49ers passing attack and Alex Smith looked much less effective than they had in recent weeks. Davis is having a breakout season and remains one of the best fantasy TEs in the league, but he came back to the rest of the pack this week. With Michael Crabtree taking on a bigger role in the offense and Frank Gore remaining a focal point, it seems like he could see a drop-off in production going forward.

TE Casey Fitzsimmons, DET - Easy come-easy go. One week after stepping into the No. 3 receiving option for the Lions, Fitzsimmons was downgraded to the No. 3 TE option for the Lions, and finished the game without a reception.

Holding steady

TE Brandon Pettigrew, DET - Pettigrew is the over the middle option for the Lions, and continues to be one of the primary targets for Matt Stafford. He is not afraid to go over the middle, and frequently takes a hard shot after the catch. He dropped a few balls, but he's not alone on the Detroit roster in that regard. Although he is usually a solid red zone target, Will Heller was the guy who came down with the TD for the Lions in this game. Pettigrew is a serviceable fantasy TE option who will see 3-5 passes thrown his way every game.

TE Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN - Shiancoe had a quiet game against the Lions, as the Vikings went with Adrian Peterson more in the red zone. When the Vikings were on the goal line, Favre found Jeff Dugan wide open in the middle of the end zone, and Shiancoe was shut out of the end zone again. He had a couple of nice receptions during the game, including a great 21-yard catch where Favre rolled out of the pocket and found Shiancoe on a crossing route for a big play. He continues to be a solid fantasy TE option, and will certainly see more red zone chances for the rest of the season.

TE David Thomas, NO - Thomas came out of nowhere to catch 5 passes for 45 yesterday, but that performance will likely prove aberrant. He now has 12 receptions on the season, marking a career-high for the fourth-year veteran from Texas. QB Drew Brees will spread the ball around taking advantage of what the defense gives him, but don't expect Thomas to play a major role in the offense from here on out. Leave him on your league's waiver wire unless Shockey gets hurt.

Kicker

Downgrade

PK Steve Hauschka, BAL - The Ravens kicker missed yet another field goal last night after coach Harbaugh tried out other kickers leading up to the game. He isn't likely to be this lucky this week.

Holding steady

Team Defense

TD Baltimore Ravens, BAL - The Ravens corners are still week, but Brady Quinn and the Browns never tested them. However, Quinn's late passes on short routes that bounced off the hands of his receivers were gifts from the sky for Baltimore, resulting in two interceptions and one returned for a touchdown.

Downgrade

Holding steady