All our week 9 content

Week 9 Upgrades, Downgrades, and Waiver Wire Wonders

Quarterback

1. QB Alex Smith, SF *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
2. QB Vince Young, TEN *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
3. QB Matt Leinart, ARI *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
4. QB Tony Romo, DAL
5. QB Brett Favre, MIN
6. QB Aaron Rodgers, GB
7. QB Donovan McNabb, PHI

Downgrade

1. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF
2. QB Kyle Orton, DEN
3. QB Chad Henne, MIA
4. QB Kurt Warner, ARI
5. QB Matt Schaub, HOU
6. QB Matthew Stafford, DET
7. QB David Garrard, JAX
8. QB JaMarcus Russell, OAK
9. QB Derek Anderson, CLE
10. QB Matt Ryan, ATL

Holding steady

1. QB Jay Cutler, CHI
2. QB Mark Sanchez, NYJ
3. QB Joe Flacco, BAL
4. QB Marc Bulger, STL
5. QB Peyton Manning, IND
6. QB Drew Brees, NO

Running Back

1. RB Ryan Moats, HOU *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
2. RB Justin Fargas, OAK *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
3. RB Maurice Morris, DET *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
4. RB Thomas Jones, NYJ
5. RB Frank Gore, SF
6. RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG
7. RB Chris Johnson, TEN
8. RB LeSean McCoy, PHI
9. RB Leonard Weaver, PHI *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
10. RB Tim Hightower, ARI
11. RB Pierre Thomas, NO
12. RB Michael Turner, ATL
13. RB Steven Jackson, STL

Downgrade

1. RB Steve Slaton, HOU
2. RB Shonn Greene, NYJ
3. RB Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG
4. RB Knowshon Moreno, DEN
5. RB Ronnie Brown, MIA
6. RB Ryan Grant, GB
7. RB Tashard Choice, DAL
8. RB Michael Bush, OAK

Holding steady

1. RB Chris Wells, ARI
2. RB Julius Jones, SEA
3. RB Adrian Peterson, MIN
4. RB Matt Forte, CHI
5. RB Marshawn Lynch, BUF
6. RB Ricky Williams, MIA
7. RB Brian Westbrook, PHI
8. RB Kevin Smith, DET
9. RB LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
10. RB Felix Jones, DAL
11. RB Mike Bell, NO
12. RB Reggie Bush, NO

Wide Receiver

1. WR Jeremy Maclin, PHI
2. WR Miles Austin, DAL
3. WR Kelley Washington, BAL *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
4. WR Bernard Berrian, MIN
5. WR Michael Crabtree, SF
6. WR Justin Gage, TEN *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
7. WR Terrell Owens, BUF
8. WR Mike Thomas, JAX *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
9. WR Steve Breaston, ARI
10. WR Percy Harvin, MIN
11. WR Hakeem Nicks, NYG
12. WR Greg Jennings, GB
13. WR Reggie Wayne, IND
14. WR Roddy White, ATL

Downgrade

1. WR Donnie Avery, STL
2. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, SEA
3. WR Chris Chambers, KC
4. WR Mario Manningham, NYG
5. WR Anquan Boldin, ARI
6. WR Brandon Marshall, DEN
7. WR Calvin Johnson, DET
8. WR Kenny Britt, TEN
9. WR Mike Sims-Walker, JAX
10. WR Eddie Royal, DEN
11. WR Bryant Johnson, DET
12. WR Dennis Northcutt, DET
13. WR Josh Morgan, SF
14. WR Lee Evans, BUF
15. WR Louis Murphy, OAK
16. WR Danny Amendola, STL

Holding steady

1. WR Sidney Rice, MIN
2. WR Torry Holt, JAX
3. WR Keenan Burton, STL
4. WR James Jones, GB
5. WR Malcom Floyd, SD
6. WR Vincent Jackson, SD

Tight End

1. TE Kevin Boss, NYG *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
2. TE Spencer Havner, GB *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
3. TE Joel Dreessen, HOU *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
4. TE Brent Celek, PHI
5. TE Dustin Keller, NYJ
6. TE Anthony Hill, HOU *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
7. TE Jeremy Shockey, NO

Downgrade

1. TE Owen Daniels, HOU
2. TE Marcedes Lewis, JAX
3. TE Brandon Pettigrew, DET
4. TE John Carlson, SEA
5. TE Todd Heap, BAL

Holding steady

1. TE Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN
2. TE Daniel Fells, STL
3. TE Randy McMichael, STL
4. TE Jason Witten, DAL

Kicker

1. PK Jeff Reed, PIT *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***

Downgrade

1. PK Joe Nedney, SF
2. PK Josh Scobee, JAX

Holding steady

Team Defense

1. TD Carolina Panthers, CAR *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
2. TD Houston Texans, HOU *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***

Downgrade

1. TD Minnesota Vikings, MIN
2. TD New York Giants, NYG

Holding steady

Quarterback

QB Brett Favre, MIN - Favre did what he has done best for his career: stand tough in the pocket, show good accuracy over the middle, and manipulate the defense with pump fakes. He was excellent on third down with passes to Chester Taylor, Percy Harvin, and Bernard Berrian in tight coverage. His touchdown to Visanthe Shiancoe was a nice pass over the middle after a pump fake. He executed a great run fake before throwing a bullet to Sidney Rice on a quick hitter just before the two-minute warning. His third TD was a play action score to Jeff Dugan releasing from the backfield. Favre spread the ball around well and played with a good mix of aggression and caution. Green Bay had two opportunities for interceptions in the game with tipped passes that the Steelers were able to capitalize on for big plays, but the Packers couldn't make the plays. Favre is a definitely upgrade because it's becoming apparent that his three best receivers, the tight end, and his two backs are as strong from top to bottom as any set of skill talent he has ever had.

QB Matt Leinart, ARI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - If Leinart is available on your waiver wire, you may want to consider adding him. Kurt Warner is struggling against good pass rushing teams, especially those who can do it with just four down linemen. Warner is not finding an open read quick enough, and it's resulting in inaccurate throws and turnovers. No decision has been made about sitting Warner, but Leinart was effective in the preseason and his ability to get outside the pocket is better. If the Cardinals decide they need a jump-start, Leinart could be that guy.

QB Donovan McNabb, PHI - Donovan McNabb threw for three touchdowns and over 200 yards in the first half as the Eagles took care of the New York Giants at home in Philadelphia to claim first place in the NFC East. McNabb looked comfortable in the pocket and threw for long touchdowns once again, connecting with both of his starting wideouts DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, and TE Brent Celek all in the first half. McNabb spread the ball around well and looked much more accurate than the two weeks prior. He also benefited from a strong ground attack that had over 160 yards despite no Brian Westbrook in the lineup. McNabb faces the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday night in another big NFC East clash in Week 9. The Cowboys secondary has improve, but is still capable of giving up the big play.

QB Aaron Rodgers, GB - Rodgers once again dealt with pressure all game. In the first half, Rodgers held onto the ball too long and was sacked four times. The Packers' QB was trying to slide in the pocket and complete down field throws, but the Vikings pressure was too persistent for subtle moves away from their path. In the second half, Rodgers made the adjustment and began to roll away from the pocket immediately after his drop or completely escape the pocket when blitzed. It was at this point Rodgers began to find his receivers, Driver and Jennings on crossing routes or quick hitting passes on the perimeter. He also found TE Spencer Havner on consecutive drives for scores to get the Packers back into the game. Rodgers also had a 35-yard gain down the right sideline after finding a crease through a folding pocket, and then got to the outside. Late in the fourth quarter, he limped off the field after a drive and was clearly bothered by the injury for the rest of the contest. The good sign here is that Rodger and Jennings are beginning to regain some rapport and despite a rough first half, he brought the team back from a big deficit, had good production, and made it close, and none of his mistakes resulted in turnovers.

QB Tony Romo, DAL - Tony Romo had another strong performance on Sunday, completing touchdown passes to three different pass catchers. Romo also avoided throwing an interception for the third game in a row (and the fifth time this season). However, Romo did fumble the ball once as he was being sacked. Romo's improved performance in the last month can be explained by the emergence of an actual outside threat among the receivers. However, it is Miles Austin (and not Roy Williams) who is making that impact. Because Romo now has a capable playmaker outside the hash marks loosening up the defense, he is finding more passing lanes between the hash marks as well. Romo completed a pass to 10 different receivers. His best passes came on mid-range slants and crosses wherein he consistently led his receivers and they responded by picking up yards after the catch. Furthermore, the Cowboys now have the confidence to pass the ball near the goal line (two of Romo's touchdowns came inside the 10). Romo's early season struggles appear to be behind him. As long as he plays at this level, he should be a lock to finish inside the top-five fantasy quarterbacks.

QB Alex Smith, SF - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Sunday marked Smith's first start since November 2007. He completed 19 of 32 passes for 198 with one TD and one INT. It was evident, both last week and this week, that Smith has better arm strength and mobility than Shaun Hill. This week he also proved that he could handle pressure coolly: with his helmet radio malfunctioning, Smith called his own plays on a two-minute drive at the end of the first half, driving the offense 89 yards in 71 seconds. He completed 6 of 7 passes on that drive, the final one a touchdown to Vernon Davis zipped between two defenders. Smith's day was far from perfect -- his interception intended for Crabtree was high and off the mark, and the offense had three consecutive three-and-outs in the first half -- but his command of the offense was evident in the two-minute drill. He also showed good mechanics, had plenty of zip on his out patterns. The 49ers offense features a number of playmakers, and while Smith should be considered only a decent fantasy backup right now, he has the potential to put up decent fantasy numbers over the second half of the season.

QB Vince Young, TEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Vince Young was far from spectacular, but now that he is starting for the Titans he has to get a modest upgrade this week. Young completed just six passes for 10 yards or more but zero over 18 yards, giving him a nice QB rating. However, that was not the true picture of how the Titans beat Jacksonville in Week 8. Young bought time and made more plays as a runner than as a passer, throwing just one short touchdown in comparison to his 30 yards rushing on 12 attempts. The victory will keep him as the starter (and likely the starter the rest of the year) and boost his confidence before his trip to San Francisco next week.

Downgrade

QB Derek Anderson, CLE - It's difficult to downgrade Anderson any further, but despite Eric Mangini's suggestion that he wouldn't change quarterbacks again, it's clear that Anderson isn't likely to move the offense consistently and giving Brady Quinn a second shot isn't out of the question. Even if Anderson remains the starter, a very poor running game, shaky pass protection and a group of young and inexperienced pass catching targets will keep Anderson from having any fantasy value. It certainly won't get any easier against the Ravens on Monday night next week.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF - After completing just 45 percent of his pass attempts in the previous two games, Fitzpatrick was much more accurate in this game, completing 15 of 23 for a 65 percent completion rate. Unfortunately, those 15 completions only produced 115 yards because the Bills took very few chances throwing downfield. Despite struggling to move the ball consistently in the previous two games, Fitzpatrick still managed to protect the football while coming up with one or two big plays. However, this week he never made the big play and wound up throwing a couple of interceptions late in the game after the Bills had fallen behind by a couple of touchdowns. The first interception was due to Terrell Owens cutting his route short when Fitzpatrick expected him to go deep down the sideline. On the second turnover, rookie LB Brian Cushing deflected the ball and made a great play to bring it in for an interception. The Bills offensive line remains a problem area, and it was weakened further when RT Jamon Meredith left the game early with a sprained knee. The Texans defense did not put a ton of pressure on Fitzpatrick (2 sacks, 5 QB hits) but they did a good job of keeping him in the pocket and covering the Bills receivers downfield. Fitzpatrick is a decent backup quarterback who can get you through a short stretch of games without hurting the offense too much, but he's not good enough to overcome a poor offensive line and some questionable play calling. The Bills have a bye next week and Trent Edwards is expected to return to the lineup in week 10.

QB David Garrard, JAX - David Garrard struggled in what was supposed to have been a very favorable passing matchup in Week 8 against Tennessee. Facing a ton of pressure from the Titans, Garrard was forced to throw early or move around in the pocket quite often. The improved defensive effort was partially due to the return of Titans CBs Cortland Finnegan and Vincent Fuller, who fortified a secondary that had to start two rookies on the outside for the past few weeks and this helped the pass rush. Garrard was beat up so much that he was removed with two minutes left in the game just to keep him from getting injured from all the pressure. Garrard has to regroup in advance of another good matchup on paper (at home against Kansas City) but the offensive line has to improve to give Garrard more chances. It would be tough to start Garrard with confidence next week with such a bad Week 8 performance.

QB Chad Henne, MIA - Henne and the Dolphins offense had difficulties against the Jets defense for most of the game. Miami didn't get a first down until its fourth possession. The Jets often sent four, five and sometimes what looked like the entire defense to pressure the Dolphins QB. Often, Henne was forced into 3rd and 7 or 3rd and 8 situations that were obvious passing downs and the Jets brought different packages at him to keep him guessing. Some plays they blitzed, others they only sent four and dropped into coverage, making sure to have someone covering Ronnie Brown or Rick Williams in the flat. In one possession in the first half, the Jets brought the house on 3rd and 7 and sacked Henne for -16 yards. The next possession on 3rd and long, they didn't blitz, and Henne threw a ball away instead of forcing it into the TE in tight coverage. It was like that for most of the game. If it weren't for two return TDs by Ted Ginn and a fumble returned for a TD, Miami would have come nowhere near winning this game. The Dolphins used a lot of short yardage formations, often using a jumbo lineup that consists of two RBs, two TEs and a WR. In fact, they didn't have a completion to a WR until there was 0:24 left in the first half. Taking all of this into account, don't expect Henne to air it out often in the Dolphins rush-heavy offense. As a result, he is not a good fantasy start, not even in bye week filler situations. An obvious conclusion before the game even began.

QB Kyle Orton, DEN - Kyle Orton struggled to pass the ball against a formidable Ravens defense in Week 8. While he completed over 60 percent of his attempts, Orton could not attack downfield with the Ravens applying pressure on him all day long. Both wide receivers Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall struggled to get open and Orton could not get anything going against this tough matchup. Orton managed to not turn the ball over, but when a good defense was on the schedule, Orton did not rise to the occasion. The schedule is tough yet again in Week 9 as Pittsburgh heads to Denver next week.

QB JaMarcus Russell, OAK - A week after his first NFL benching, Russell played a generally conservative game against the Chargers on Sunday. After throwing into double coverage for an interception on the Raiders' first drive, Russell played turnover-free football the rest of the day (though he did fumble once), finishing 14 of 22 for 109 yards. Noticeably absent from his arsenal for much of the game were any downfield throws. The strong-armed Russell instead settled for mostly underneath passes, averaging just 5 yards per completion. Of all the NFL starting QBs, Russell is still the absolute bottom of the barrel for fantasy purposes.

QB Matt Ryan, ATL - Matt Ryan is a terrific young quarterback and his performance against the Saints illustrated why the adjectives terrific and young sometimes don't go together. The terrific part came with Ryan's ability to make strong down field throws that included a 68-yard bomb on 2nd and 20 to Roddy White for the score and a pinpoint out route on the run to Michael Jenkins late in the game to keep Atlanta's chances alive. The young part had to do with Ryan's difficulty coping with a blitz consistently enough to make winning plays. Ryan was sacked four times in this game and three of those negative plays were the result of Ryan trying to break the pocket up the middle when there was no crease available. All three plays were hasty decisions where there was far more space to get outside the pocket and either throw the ball away for wait for a receiver to get open. These plays were worse than his two interceptions where one of them was the result of LB Jonathan Vilma cutting off the path of receiver Roddy White on a quick slant that could have been deemed an illegal contact penalty and the other was the result of a tipped pass by Vilma late in the game. Ryan will get fantasy owners yardage and a touchdown or two, but this is the third game I've seen Ryan lose his poise when pressured consistently and make mistakes. He's not a guaranteed starter as much as a strong match up play.

QB Matt Schaub, HOU - This was a rough game for Schaub, who came in with 16 touchdown passes in his first seven games. He moved the Texans quickly down the field on their first drive, but was picked off by the rookie Jairus Byrd in the red zone on a poorly thrown ball. On the second drive, the Texans went three and out and TE Owen Daniels was knocked out of the game with a torn ACL that will end his season. The third drive lasted just three plays and ended on a Steve Slaton fumble, which led to the RB's benching for the rest of the game. The fourth drive lasted only two plays because Schaub's pass went through Andre Johnson's hands and Byrd picked him off again. From that point forward, the Texans began to string together some longer drives, but they ended in field goals instead of touchdowns. It wasn't until the fourth quarter when the Texans put the game away based mostly on some strong running from Ryan Moats inside the red zone. Schaub finished the game with a respectable 268 passing yards, but he failed to throw a single touchdown for the first time since the season opener and he also threw two interceptions for the first time all year. The loss of Owen Daniels will take away one of the Texans best receiving targets and allow defenses to focus even more attention on slowing down Andre Johnson. Additionally, the change from Slaton to Ryan Moats seemed to spark the running game and might allow the team to rely a bit less on Schaub's arm going forward.

QB Matthew Stafford, DET - This was Stafford's first game back since week 4 against the Bears, and it showed. Stafford was definitely rusty and did not make good decision on many of his passes. His receivers didn't help with frequent drops by Dennis Northcutt and Bryant Johnson. The usually calm and collected Stafford missed badly on many plays, and unlike earlier in the season, really tanked when his team was behind late in the game. On the drive the ended up tying the game early in the fourth quarter, Stafford made a nice throw to Bryant Johnson for 36 yards and scored two plays later when the defense had all of his receivers covered. Aside from this, Stafford looked tired and out of sync. On their final possession, down by Seven, Stafford missed wildly on his final three throws, turning over the ball on downs and ending the game for the Lions. To be fair, he was also missing Calvin Johnson and he should improve when Johnson returns. For now, Stafford is not a guy you want in your lineup, but this was pretty obvious from the beginning.

QB Kurt Warner, ARI - Carolina's front-four pressured Warner all game, frustrating the Arizona QB, forcing inaccurate throws because Warner had to pass on the run. The Cardinals found themselves trailing early, which only heightened the need to pass. Although the Panthers didn't blitz much at all, they still managed to keep good pressure on Warner thanks to an outstanding game by Julius Peppers. As a result, Warner threw five interceptions and lost a fumble. He managed to save face with some fantasy owners by throwing two TD passes and totaling 242 yards passing, but he couldn't solve Carolina's pressuring defense. Warner has trouble when a team can generate a good pass rush with four down linemen, because that means seven defenders are in coverage. If he is flushed from the pocket, the field is reduced and he has fewer targets. As a result, the defense can swarm on the only open receivers in his throwing lanes and most of the time this forces an incompletion, if not an interception. Carolina did exactly that against Warner on Sunday. Next week the Cardinals go back on the road (to Chicago) where they have won all season. If Warner's troubles continue, don't be surprised to see a Matt Leinart sighting.

Holding steady

QB Drew Brees, NO - Brees has five turnovers in the past few games, but most fantasy owners will be happy with his version of a slump. The Saints quarterback exceeded 300 yards and threw two touchdowns Monday night, demonstrating the best accuracy of any QB in the league. He routinely threw open his WRs, placing the ball only where they could make the catch. Two examples were sideline fades to Jeremy Shockey on a third down conversion in the first quarter and Devery Henderson on a deeper pass later in the game. Brees' interception was simply a great play by CB Brent Grimes who demonstrated a shockingly good vertical leap to snag the pass. Brees' fumble was on a delayed safety blitz up the middle. Despite reasonably good pressure from the Falcons defense Brees continued to stand in the pocket and calmly make plays illustrating what makes him an elite QB and what separates him from a very good young QB like Matt Ryan. Brees remains a must-start.

QB Marc Bulger, STL - Bulger was only slightly better than his opposing QB Matt Stafford in this game. He completed less than 50 percent of his passes, and made lousy throws throughout the game. The Lions applied pressure at times, but in general, Bulger just had an OK game. His receivers didn't help with a couple key drops early the game as well. Ten of his 17 completions were to his TE, RB, or FB on check-downs or short dumps over the middle. His best pass may have been to third-string TE Billy Bajema on an inside out corner mid0way through the fourth quarter. Aside from that? Nothing. If you had to describe Bulger's performance in one word: YAWN.

QB Jay Cutler, CHI - Cutler was efficient and accurate this week, especially with his primary targets. The Bears leaned on Matt Forte in the red zone, limiting Cutler's opportunity against a struggling Cleveland secondary. Cutler should fare similarly against two AFC West opponents in the coming weeks with the Bears' current offensive philosophy despite the fact Cutler is more familiar with these defenses. Cutler shouldn't be expected to be more than a bye week replacement.

QB Joe Flacco, BAL - While Flacco had a relatively quiet day with just one touchdown against Denver in Week 8, he closed the game quite well with 10 consecutive completions to finish with respectable numbers. He led the offense in capable fashion, moving around the pocket effectively, and playing just well enough to win behind a strong running game and a dominant defense. Look for Flacco to throw more towards the end zone next week at Cincinnati.

QB Peyton Manning, IND - Against the 49ers, Manning logged his sixth 300-yard passing game of the season, going 31 of 48 for 347 yards. Unfortunately, he failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season, and also took three sacks after having taken just two previously this season, none in the last five games. The 49ers used a heavy dose of zone blitzes that got in Manning's face, and he missed open receivers on a number of occasions. The lack of pass protection, as well as the lack of TDs, will prove to be aberrations, however. Manning is one of the least-blitzed QBs in the league, for good reason: he recognizes and reacts to them quickly enough to punish defenses that try to get too cute. And with playmakers like Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Austin Collie, and Joseph Addai at his disposal, the Colts will continue to pile up points on offense the rest of the way. Manning is still an every-week fantasy starter regardless of matchups.

QB Mark Sanchez, NYJ - Sanchez's on again off again season is once again, on again - sort of. He started off cold, only producing three points in the first half against the Dolphins. He could not convert inside the ten and almost threw an INT at the goal line on 3rd and goal. To further illustrate his weak first half, he threw a ball low to Jerricho Cotchery on 3rd and 8 that ended a drive. He opened up much more in the second half, just like the first game against Miami three weeks ago. He wound up distributing the ball to six different Jets receivers, but most notably Dustin Keller, Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery, who each had at least 70 yards. Amidst the passing frenzy that abounded in the second half, Sanchez failed to score the game-winning TD on fourth down. He threw the ball into heavy coverage, but he had Thomas Jones open and elected not to target him. Sanchez is improving, but it is happening in fits and starts so be wary of projecting him to continue a steady upward climb.

Running Back

RB Justin Fargas, OAK - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Fargas scored his first touchdown of the season on a three-yard TD run in the second quarter. Fargas ran hard against the Chargers, hitting the whole forcefully and gaining yards after contact on most of his runs. For the day, Fargas rushed 18 times for 59 yards and a TD, adding 3 receptions for 20 yards through the air. While Michael Bush got the start, it was clear early on that Fargas would be the featured back on Sunday, and indeed he got 18 carries to Bush's 7. The Raiders are heading into their bye week, and the timing of Darren McFadden's return after that is still uncertain. Until McFadden is healthy, Fargas will continue to be the Raiders' primary RB. Since McFadden's injury could linger indefinitely, owners may get a few more games' worth of solid fantasy production out of Fargas this season. Keep him on your roster at least until McFadden proves he can make it through a full game without any setbacks.

RB Frank Gore, SF - Gore's big-play ability has rewarded his fantasy owners this season. On Sunday, he rushed for his third touchdown of more than 60 yards this season. (He had TD runs of 79 and 80 yards against the Seahawks in week two.) On his 64-yard jaunt against the Colts, Gore broke through attempted arm-tackles by two linebackers, then raced right up the middle of the field into the end zone. We are upgrading Gore not on the strength of his 132 yards from scrimmage and a TD against the Colts, but because we expect the improved passing game with Alex Smith at QB to help open the running lanes for Gore in the future. (Gore's stats thus far are a bit misleading because of his three long TD runs. While he has rushed for 5.6 yards per carry on the season, outside of those three runs he has rushed for just 2.3 yards per carry.) While Gore has been a solid fantasy RB2 up until now, we believe he can be a solid RB1 going forward as a more balanced offense gives him more scoring opportunities.

RB Tim Hightower, ARI - In PPR leagues, Tim Hightower is a must-start, simply because he gets tons of receptions. This past week against Carolina was no different. Hightower has never been a good rusher, but he does catch the ball well in the flat and has a nose for the end zone. This was his fourth game with at least five receptions, and he has never had fewer than two catches in a game this season. There was a thought that Chris Wells might take over as the primary RB for Arizona, which he very well may, but Hightower's value comes as a situational back. As long as Arizona is tossing the ball around the majority of the time, Hightower will benefit. Continue to start him in PPR leagues going forward and consider him a good flex option in leagues that don't reward a point per catch.

RB Steven Jackson, STL - Someone forgot to tell Steven Jackson that the Rams were 0-7. He played hard the entire game, ran with reckless abandon, and never quit for the full 60 minutes. He came into the game, second in total yard only to Adrian Peterson and finished with almost 170 yards from scrimmage and a TD. By the fourth quarter, it was as if Jackson decided he was tired of losing and would not be denied. With the game tied and 2:00 minutes left in the game, Jackson ripped off back-to-back 17 + yard gains including the 25-yard run off tackle for the winning TD. It was his first in eight games. He is the heart and soul of the Ram offense and the team works only because of his hard-nosed play. He remains a more iffy option against top-notch defenses, but is a viable starter in most other cases.

RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG - Brandon Jacobs ran hard behind his offensive line against the Eagles, getting most of the workload with Ahmad Bradshaw getting a reduced amount of work with a broken bone in his foot. Jacobs is still not running north and south and with conviction on every play, but he did add two catches and 21 yards receiving which is normally Bradshaw's role. Jacobs lost a goal line plunge to Bradshaw but look for Jacobs to dominate the running attack next week against the Chargers as the Giants will likely try and rest Bradshaw in Week 9 in advance of their Week 10 bye.

RB Chris Johnson, TEN - Chris Johnson was practically unstoppable against Jacksonville in Week 8, eluding the first and often the second would-be tackler on nearly every carry. Johnson finished with over 200 yards for the second time this season thanks to two long touchdowns of 50+ yards each. His second big score of 89 yards led off the fourth quarter, but it took a lot out of him and the Titans gave him most of the fourth quarter off to rest up with the game in hand. Johnson travels to face a tougher San Francisco team next week, but he is a must-start and a solid fantasy RB1 in all formats.

RB Thomas Jones, NYJ - Jones was a force early and continued to remain as such throughout the game. He frequently showed good speed and burst up the middle, often gaining 6-, 7-, and 8-yards, never exceeding 11 yards on any attempt. Jones took advantage of getting more playing time than previous games with Leon Washington on IR. Shonn Greene occupied the secondary RB role, but a costly fumble returned for a TD that gave the Dolphins a 17-6 lead essentially shelved Greene for the rest of the game. As a result, Jones took advantage. Jones will likely continue to be the majority ball carrier for the Jets, which is a luxury he did not have when Leon Washington was still healthy. Expect Jones to be more of an 18 to 22-carry per game RB the rest of the way, if not more. He had 26 carries last week and 27 carries against Miami for 102 yards.

RB LeSean McCoy, PHI - Rookie LeSean McCoy stepped in for Brian Westbrook as the starting tailback for Week 8 against the New York Giants, gaining 82 yards on just 11 carries. Some of the limited touches were a result of sharing the backfield with fullback Leonard Weaver, who was decisive and productive between the tackles. Even with the reduced chances, McCoy showed that he could break off a long score at any moment with a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to ice the game for Philadelphia. McCoy remains firmly in the mix for carries going forward even if Brian Westbrook is healthy, but he remains a boom-bust play until he figures out how to consistently hit the hole more decisively. Look for McCoy to get 8-10 touches next week against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football if Westbrook returns. However, don't be surprised if the Eagles get Leonard Weaver more involved in the offense as well.

RB Ryan Moats, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - After going three straight games with 0 touches on offense, Ryan Moats emerged as a potential new feature back for the Texans this week. The Texans offense struggled to move the ball early on, and Steve Slaton was benched after losing his fifth fumble of the season. Ryan Moats spelled Slaton on the first drive and took over for good before the first quarter had came to an end. Although Slaton is the more explosive receiver, Moats looked very quick outside on the perimeter while also showing good power between the tackles. The Bills came into the game with the league's worst run defense and they were weakened even further when they lost a couple of defensive starters in the first half. Moats took full advantage, averaging 5.5 yards on 23 carries, and running for three touchdowns that all came in the fourth quarter. With Slaton in the backfield in previous games, the Texans seemed much more willing to play a wide open offense, but with this matchup and Moats running as well as he was, they seemed much more effective churning out yards on the ground. Moats entered the league as a third-round draft pick of the Eagles in 2005, but he had just over 100 career rush attempts coming into the 2009 season. A lot of this had to do with his struggles to pick up the Eagles' scheme and landing in Andy Reid's doghouse. While Slaton may still be able to regain his starting job in Houston, Moats has certainly earned himself a much bigger role in the offense going forward. If the Texans coaches can't trust Slaton to protect the football, Moats has a great opportunity to emerge as an every week fantasy starter.

RB Maurice Morris, DET - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Before the game, the Lions commented on how they wanted to get Morris more involved and give Kevin Smith more rest time during the game. They had their chance in this game because Smith was nicked up and came out late in the third quarter due re-aggravating a shoulder injury. Morris ran hard and had two back-to-back, 13-plus-yard runs early in the fourth quarter. He even caught the two-point conversion from Stafford to tie the game. He also had a nice catch and run for 19 yards on third and 11 early in the second quarter. The Lions may go RBBC at some point, and Morris has certainly given them reason to consider it, but head coach Jim Schwartz said Smith was rested for precautionary reasons and he could have returned to the game if needed.

RB Pierre Thomas, NO - Thomas was decisive, powerful, and shifty all night long against the Falcons defense. His first touchdown was a great run where he broke the tackle of CB Chevis Jackson at the line of scrimmage and then sidestepped the LB in the hole to find the cutback lane for a 15-yard score in the first quarter. He had another nice run up the middle, spinning off a defender for a 29-yard gain and illustrated good balance on a run after the catch on a fourth quarter screen pass. Although banged up on the play, he returned to dive over the goal line for a score on a one-yard screen pass. His only real mistake was a fumble on a short yardage play. Although Mike Bell ran tough, Thomas looked like the better back tonight and the Saints were smart enough to stick with him more often in the first three quarters when the game was still very much a contest.

RB Michael Turner, ATL - This was probably Turner's best game in 2009 thus far. He ran with patience to the outside, setting up blockers and then timing his burst to get to the corner for 7-,8-, and 9-yard gains on both designed runs to the perimeter and plays that started inside and he then bounced outside. The Falcons did a much better job opening holes up the middle and getting linemen into the second level of the Saints defense, resulting in runs of 22 and 37 yards for Turner. The RB had 90 yards on 10 carries with 3:24 left in the second quarter. The Falcons also employed more misdirection with their lead blocks that worked well against an aggressive Saints defense. If Atlanta can continue to perform this well up front, Turner is in line for a strong stretch run regardless of the opponent.

RB Leonard Weaver, PHI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Fullback Leonard Weaver was a surprise contributor for the Eagles in Week 8, rushing for 75 yards on just eight carries. Weaver broke off a big 41-yard touchdown in the first quarter, his longest scoring play of his career. Weaver may get some future work as a result of his strong performance against the Giants as the Eagles posted over 150 yards on the ground with Weaver and LeSean McCoy sharing the work. Weaver will be a solid waiver wire pickup if Brian Westbrook is not at full strength for next Sunday night's game against the Cowboys. Even if Westbrook his healthy, Weaver might see more time in short yardage because he is more decisive at the line of scrimmage than the rookie McCoy.

Downgrade

RB Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG - Ahmad Bradshaw suited up to face the Eagles in Week 8 despite having a cracked bone in his foot. He saw a reduced number of touches as a likely result of his injury, although he did come in at the goal line and stole a potential Brandon Jacobs' touchdown with a one-yard plunge. Bradshaw had no catches, and was definitely not as effective as he had been in previous games as Jacobs took the majority of the workload. Monitor this weeks' news reports because it's possible the Giants may not use Bradshaw against San Diego before their Week 10 bye to buy their big-play RB added rest for their final seven games.

RB Ronnie Brown, MIA - Brown was held to 13 total yards in the first half and did not gain much more for rest of the game. The Jets defense kept Miami's offense at bay for most of the game, except when it really counted. Brown had one long run of 13 yards, but that was the one shining moment for him in this game, if you want to call it that. The Jets improved game plan was the result of adjustments made from their loss three weeks ago was the difference on the ground. Expect Brown to be more of a factor in future weeks. He remains a viable No. 1 RB, but without a viable passing game, teams may eventually figure out the Wildcat yet.

RB Michael Bush, OAK - Bush got off to a decent start against the Chargers, but his production faded as Justin Fargas took over as the featured RB. Bush finished with seven carries for 27 yards and two receptions for 14 yards. For the season, Bush is averaging just 3.66 yards per carry, and head coach Tom Cable seems to prefer Fargas as the more determined runner. Even with Darren McFadden sidelined, Bush is not a worthwhile fantasy option. Once McFadden returns (perhaps in week 10, but no timetable has been set), Bush will have even less value. In redraft leagues, Bush is not worth a roster spot except in deep leagues.

RB Tashard Choice, DAL - Despite showing considerable talent as a runner between the tackles, Choice appears to be third in the pecking order at running back. He only had 4 carries on Sunday, all of which came after the game had long been decided. With both Marion Barber and Felix Jones back to full-strength, Choice's opportunities are few and far between. He's certainly worth a roster spot but is not garnering enough touches right now to be started in most leagues.

RB Ryan Grant, GB - He did a good job making a couple of plays as a receiver to bail out Aaron Rodgers when the QB was under pressure. However, he dropped a certain two-point conversion on a middle screen that would have brought the Packers within three points. He had a few decent gains off guard, including a decisive, tough run off LG after the Vikings fumbled the ball away in the first quarter. The problem was Grant and the Packers offense could not string together enough positive plays to keep the ground game a viable option. Grant is a decent match up play as a low-end No. 2 RB depending on the offense, but his schedule is somewhat up and down for the month of November with the Buccaneers, Cowboys, 49ers, and Lions ahead.

RB Shonn Greene, NYJ - Greene did not get a chance to really flex his muscles in this game, and it looks like his opportunities in Oakland were more of a fluke than a trend. Greene was so effective against Oakland, because the game dictated more running plays. When there are good rushing match ups, Greene will be a good flex option as a fantasy start, but Thomas Jones will get the majority of the carries going forward, which limits Greene's potential. Greene also had a very costly fumble that was returned for a TD, which gave the Dolphins a 17-6 lead. After that turnover, the rookie wasn't much of a factor in the stats column.

RB Knowshon Moreno, DEN - Moreno struggled to put up good numbers against a tough Baltimore Raven defense in Week 8 despite his one touchdown on the day. Moreno could find little room to run behind his offensive line as the Ravens blitzed the run and challenged QB Kyle Orton to beat them with the passing attack, which never produced. Moreno is still the best running back option in Denver, but in tough matchups he is a fantasy RB2 at best. Pittsburgh is next on the schedule at home in Denver in Week 9, making Moreno another questionable fantasy start next week.

RB Steve Slaton, HOU - Slaton appeared to be putting some of his early season struggles behind him with five TDs in his previous three games. This weekend's game looked like a great matchup for Slaton, as the Bills had the league's worst run defense. However, what looked promising turned into a fantasy disaster. Ryan Moats spelled Slaton for a couple of snaps on the first drive of the game. Then, on just his third touch, which came on the Texan's third drive, Slaton caught a short pass and had the ball knocked loose by Paul Posluszny. It was not a particularly hard hit that jarred the ball loose and Slaton did not see another snap for the rest of the game, finishing with a very disappointing one carry for one yard and two catches for 10 yards. Meanwhile, Ryan Moats ran wild, finishing with 151 yards from scrimmage and 3 touchdowns. Slaton has now fumbled the ball seven times and lost five of them, which ranks him first among all non-QBs. The team had been working with Slaton to better protect the football, but it obviously isn't working. He may still get a chance to regain his starting spot if he can figure out how to stop fumbling, but the strong game from Moats this week likely means Slaton will have to earn the trust of his coaches back going forward and Moats should see a lot more time in the Texans' backfield.

Holding steady

RB Mike Bell, NO - Mike Bell played a solid game, running tough between the tackles and lowering his shoulder into defensive backs to get the extra yard or two in short yardage situations. However, he didn't break any longer runs in this game and once Pierre Thomas did, the Saints rode the hot hand. Bell did get his customary fourth quarter wrap-up duty, but he fumbled the ball on the only carry all night where he didn't use both arms to protect the ball heading into the line of scrimmage. Bell continues to be a decent flex play on prolific offense.

RB Reggie Bush, NO - The bulk of Bush's production was an easy touchdown on a misdirection pitch in the first half where the RB could have walked into the end zone. Otherwise, he had a three-yard run to left end for a first down called back on a holding penalty and a two small gains on passes to the flat. Bush's opportunities in the red zone keep him a viable flex option, but not a highly predictable one.

RB Matt Forte, CHI - Forte didn't take full advantage of a relatively good matchup. His offensive line allowed Shaun Rogers to be disruptive, and it prevented Forte from gaining big chunks of yardage as well as converting the majority of his red zone opportunities. Forte has a chance to improve his YPC average in the next two weeks against the Arizona and San Francisco defenses who have been exposed on the ground in recent weeks.

RB Felix Jones, DAL - Jones is currently receiving about 1/3 of the Cowboys touches out of the backfield. He continues to perform well in spelling Marion Barber and manages to find a big gain or two most every week. That said, he isn't receiving enough carries right now to be anything more then a spot starter, despite the fact he is in one of the league's most potent offenses.

RB Julius Jones, SEA - Julius Jones continues to put together solid games for the Seahawks. On Sunday against Dallas he finished with 88 yards on 17 touches. The problem is that the Seattle offense isn't getting enough scoring opportunities for Jones to really offer great fantasy production. He is now giving about 1/3 of the workload to Edgerrin James, but most of those are carries between the tackles. Jones is still getting most of the team's carries to the outside and swing passes out of the backfield. If the Seahawks can ever move the ball with any regularity, Jones could offer nice production. Until then, owners will have to be satisfied with yardage totals and not many touchdowns.

RB Marshawn Lynch, BUF - Lynch finished the game with a disappointing 43 yards rushing and just six yards on three catches, but the main reason for his low output was a lack of opportunity more than anything else. He averaged 4.8 yards per rush, but the Bills simply could not sustain any long drives in the game. The Bills only had 11 drives in the game and the average length of those drives was just 4.2 plays. They held the ball for just under 21 minutes and only managed to run 45 offensive plays. It was a bad game for the Bills offense, but Lynch looked good in most of the touches he had and he should do better after the bye week when Trent Edwards returns to the lineup.

RB Adrian Peterson, MIN - Peterson ran with excellent vision, spotting cutback lanes or holes in the second level while between the tackles for some big plays. His touchdown was a 4th-and-goal dive play where Peterson extended the ball after landing short of the goal line. He had a nice cutback run for a 33-yard gain, breaking the safety's tackle 15-yards down field that was set up with a juke move. He also got the Vikings into Packer territory, setting up Brett Favre's fourth score with a 44-yard gain up the left sideline on a screen pass. Other than mistiming his attempt to catch a pass over the middle that resulted in a tipped ball that should have been intercepted in the third quarter, Peterson was much more productive than his last contest with the Packers.

RB Kevin Smith, DET - Kevin Smith owners should be both happy and concerned about this game. Early on, Smith was a beast, running hard, breaking tackles and moving the chains. He came into the game as 46 percent of the Lions offense, and upped his totals by commanding the field with Calvin Johnson on the sidelines. He even took dump off and designed screens for big gains. He was easily the best Lion on the field. However, late in the fourth quarter he re-aggravated his shoulder injury and had one carry for four yards near the end of the third quarter, came out of the game, and did not return. According to head coach Jim Schwartz on Monday, the injury wasn't serious and Smith could have returned to the game. Maurice Morris filled in well in his absence and the Lions have mentioned looking to add Morris to the mix to give Smith more time to rest during the game. Be careful that the Lions don't develop into RBBC going forward, but for now Smith's role as the lead dog is safe.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson, SD - Tomlinson scored two touchdowns against the Raiders on Sunday, giving him three touchdowns against the Raiders on the season, and zero against anybody else. On the Chargers' first drive, Tomlinson took a direct snap in the Chargers version of the Wildcat offense, and darted through the line for a six-yard TD run. His best play came on a third and one in the middle of the fourth quarter. He broke through the line and picked up 13 yards, running with agility that suggests his ankle injury is completely behind him. Aside from that play and his two TD runs, however, Tomlinson generally had a tough outing against the Raiders, rushing for just 56 yards on 18 carries. He has yet to run for more than 71 yards in a game this season, and the schedule gets more difficult starting next week. After facing the Chiefs and Raiders in his last two games, his next three will be against the Giants, Eagles, and Broncos. While the days of regular 100-yard games appear to be over, Tomlinson is enough of a touchdown threat (despite last week's problems against the Chiefs) to make him a decent fantasy RB2.

RB Chris Wells, ARI - Hold off on your Chris Wells enthusiasm for now. While he ran with power, determination, and quickness, he simply isn't getting enough carries to be dangerous. Against Carolina, the Cardinals got behind early and were forced to abandon the run. We still like Wells to eventually take over as the Cardinals primary RB, but it's a work in progress. As long as Kurt Warner is under center, they are a pass-first team. Wells is a better runner than Tim Hightower and the difference is night and day. Wells simply has more initial burst and quickness. He is no longer stutter stepping to wait for a hole; instead he darts forward to create one. In due time, Wells will be a viable fantasy option, but it may not happen until the Cardinals can keep games close.

RB Brian Westbrook, PHI - The Eagles made the correct call in resting Brian Westbrook (concussion) in Week 8. Westbrook is likely to practice more this week and should be back as the starter on Sunday Night Football in a big game against the Dallas Cowboys. Westbrook will probably share the backfield with LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver next week, but Westbrook is still capable of big fantasy numbers even on 10-15 touches and he remains a much more savvy inside runner and pass protector than McCoy.

RB Ricky Williams, MIA - Williams was not much of a factor in this game, simply because the Dolphins offense didn't have that many plays. He did have a nice 28-yard pickup on a screen pass early in the game, but the long gain didn't amount to a score. He often was the player Chad Henne wanted to target as an outlet on third and long, but the Jets blitz prevented it. When they didn't blitz, they made sure someone was covering Williams tightly. As a result, he didn't amount to much. Williams will continue to be a big factor on offense moving forward, but this game he simply didn't have enough opportunities.

Wide Receiver

WR Miles Austin, DAL - Miles Austin had another productive game Sunday, catching five balls and scoring a touchdown. Tony Romo clearly looks for him all over the field now; having the confidence of your quarterback can lead to a lot of opportunities. Austin was also interfered with twice (both times after beating Marcus Trufant, a proven defensive back) so a bigger day was certainly possible. His best production is coming on deeper patterns when he's either isolated in single-coverage or can break away from the safety. One of the duo's favorite plays appears to be a hitch-and-go on the left side when the defense brings a safety up in to the box. As it is, Austin appears to be Tony Romo's preferred target -- not Roy Williams -- and will certainly continue to produce for fantasy owners.

WR Bernard Berrian, MIN - Berrian was targeted more often in this game, and it should be a sign of things to come. Berrian had two targets that were thrown incomplete early in the contest, including an accurate throw on third down that was batted away just as the WR got his hands on the ball and a post pattern that Berrian could only get one hand on the ball. In the second half, Berrian made a good catch between defenders on a deep in, taking a big hit from the safety to get the first down on a third down pass. He also made a play that sealed the game on a third down pass against a heavy blitz off the same side, catching the ball and running through a horse collar tackle attempt to his facemask to score the final touchdown of the afternoon. Berrian is beginning to show that he is more than a one-dimensional, downfield threat and Favre is beginning to look to him more often now that he's healthy.

WR Steve Breaston, ARI - Breaston was a downgrade last week because of the ground game's emergency and Anquan Boldin's decent performance on a bad ankle. However, Anquan Boldin may have to take off the Superman cape for a game or two with his recurring ankle injury, and this means Breaston will see more action. Boldin was hurt six minutes into the third quarter and Breaston wound up with three catches on four targets after he went down. Carolina's defense pressured Warner all game long and had enough defenders in coverage to make it difficult to catch balls that were hurried. In several cases Breaston was double covered and with Warner flushed from the pocket, his targets were limited further. Carolina swarmed the open man and made catches difficult. If Boldin can't play next week at Chicago, Breaston becomes a strong start and he is capable of putting up big numbers.

WR Michael Crabtree, SF - In his second NFL game, Crabtree led the 49ers in receiving with 6 catches for 81 yards. His day wasn't perfect: he dropped an easy screen pass, then two plays later ran a slant pattern too passively, just barely getting his hands on a ball that ricocheted into an interception. He also lost a fumble as he tried to gain extra yards after a catch. Nonetheless, it is evident already that Crabtree is the 49ers' most talented receiver, and they are going to work to get him the ball. He is lining up at the flanker position, and in just two games has 11 catches for 137 yards. Though he has yet to score, he came close on a 27-yard catch in the second quarter -- he nearly broke free from CB Antoine Bethea's tackle, in which case it would have been clear sailing to the end zone. From here on out, it looks obvious that Crabtree will be the 49ers number one wide receiver. He is, at worst, a fantasy WR3 going forward. It's doubtful he's on your waiver wire due to his preseason hype and the fact this is his second week on the field. However, claim your gift if he is.

WR Justin Gage, TEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Justin Gage started once again for the Titans despite the threat of rookie Kenny Britt stealing targets. Gage had three catches against Jacksonville, all in the 10-15 yard range as Gage ran mostly intermediate routes against the Jaguars. With the Titans deciding to favor the run and not throw very often, Gage's upside was limited but he still finished as the top target and the receiver with the most yardage. Gage is a very risky fantasy option as the Titans do not throw a ton and when they do throw they tend to spread the wealth.

WR Percy Harvin, MIN - Harvin not only continued his impressive rookie season as a kick return specialist, but he demonstrated good skills as a route runner. His 51-yard touchdown reception was a pass he caught at its highest point before showing good balance to change direction to the outside immediately after his feet hit the ground. He was then able to find a clear path to the end zone as three defenders ran into each other just as Harvin cut to the outside. Although he did drop a deep out, he also caught a pass to get near the red zone and took a good hit in the process. Favre has no problem going to Harvin in the middle of the field on third down, which is a rare sight to see any rookie receiver do.

WR Greg Jennings, GB - Rodgers and Jennings were still slow to get on the same page early in the game. He overthrew Jennings by 10 yards early in the first quarter and the pass was in double coverage that the safety over top nearly got to. Once Rodgers began to roll away from the pocket in the second half, the connection to Jennings came to life. The WR gained 30 yards on a deep corner route in the third quarter against a blown coverage and caught a crossing route on a quick pass for a first down. Jennings then gained another five yards on a quick hitch despite getting clothes lined on the play. At this point, Jennings showed his skills to make the first man miss on shorter routes. In the fourth quarter, he scored on a short route despite the CB interfering with him throughout the route. Jennings did appear to hurt his shoulder late in the game, but returned to the field within the series. For the past two weeks Jennings is tacking better advantage of his opportunities and the trend should continue.

WR Jeremy Maclin, PHI - Rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin started once again, and he is likely to be in that role the rest of the year for the Eagles. He posted respectable numbers in Week 8, catching four balls against the Giants on a few short passes to compliment a 23-yard leaping grab in tight coverage for a touchdown with less than a minute to go in the first half. Maclin is still learning the complicated Philadelphia offense but is enough of a playmaker in a dynamic pass-first offense to be a solid fantasy contributor most weeks.

WR Hakeem Nicks, NYG - With Mario Manningham (shoulder) sidelined in Week 8, rookie Hakeem Nicks stepped in and saw plenty of action at wide receiver against the Eagles. Nicks did not start but he was on the field quite often, grabbing all but one of his five targets, including a long 35-yard connection on single coverage in the second quarter. Nicks still looks a bit raw as one might expect from a rookie, but the talent level is higher with him than with most other options beyond Steve Smith. Expect Nicks to continue to get more and more snaps. Eli Manning has shown confidence in throwing to Nicks in tight coverage and allowing him to make a play on the ball, which shows high confidence in a rookie.

WR Terrell Owens, BUF - Owens was targeted at least seven times in each of the prior four games, but he had not done very much with those opportunities, averaging just over three catches for 36 yards. He was once again very involved in the offense, getting targeted a team-high eight times out of just 23 total pass attempts. He converted five of those throws into receptions for a disappointing 39 yards, but he also contributed the biggest play of the game for the Bills. Following an interception, the Bills offense took over at the Texans 29-yard line and called a reverse for Owens. He was extremely quick to the corner and broke the play upfield for a 29-yard touchdown run down the left sideline untouched. It was his first touchdown since week two, a positive sign that the Bills coaches are working on finding new ways to get him more involved in the offense, and reassuring for fantasy owners who may have been doubting whether Owens still had the ability to make big plays. The offense has been stagnant with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center the past few weeks, but Trent Edwards is expected to return after the bye week.

WR Mike Thomas, JAX - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Jacksonville struggled to throw in Week 8, but rookie Mike Thomas lined up often as a third wideout and slot option for Jacksonville. With Torry Holt and Mike Sims-Walker struggling to get open against Tennessee, Mike Thomas led the Jaguars with four catches and 55 yards and also added to the team production as a kick returner. The young playmaker shows good speed and has good hands, making him a nice sleeper pick to get more targets going forward. Jacksonville travels to Kansas City for Week 9, giving Thomas a favorable matchup again next week.

WR Kelley Washington, BAL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Kelly Washington is the third wide receiver for Baltimore, yet he seems to get plenty of looks for a team that tends to run more than they pass. Washington led Baltimore with four catches and 58 yards receiving, grabbing three of his four catches on third down and getting first downs on all four receptions. Washington is not that flashy, but in favorable matchups he should be on the field in passing situations and he is getting key looks and earning the trust from Joe Flacco.

WR Reggie Wayne, IND - Wayne suffered a groin injury in last week's game that kept him out of several practices and made him a game-time decision on Sunday against the 49ers. No problem: even with the injured groin, and even with Manning having a subpar day (for him), Wayne came through huge. He tied his career high with 12 receptions, and turned in his third 100-yard game of the season, going 12/147/1 on the day. The touchdown catch came on a trick play, a pass from RB Joseph Addai: Wayne was wide open, but Addai made him dive for it. Wayne has now caught a touchdown pass in six of the Colts' seven games this season, including each of the last five. Heading into the game against San Francisco, we already had Reggie Wayne ranked as the No. 3 fantasy WR going forward; given his consistency, we think he's got as good a chance to finish No. 1 as anybody.

WR Roddy White, ATL - White played a terrific game Monday night, making plays on throws that required him to adjust to the football. His first catch was a slant where it appeared the ball was intentionally thrown behind him so the CB over the top couldn't defend the pass. White turned his shoulders back to the ball to make the grab and the first down. He also sprung Michael Turner with a great cut block in the flat to help the RB score from 13 yards out. White's best catch was a 68-yard TD where he made contact with the CB in great position about 40 yards down field, and then made a last-second adjustment to the outside to catch the ball and accelerate past the DB for the score. White nearly made the play of the game on a diving post route in the end zone. However, the ball hit the ground despite laying out for it. What's most impressive is White's ability to make plays when the pass isn't perfect and Ryan's confidence in his WR to throw the ball in tight coverage. He'll remain a strong WR1 in any league.

Downgrade

WR Danny Amendola, STL - Amendola took a hard shot on a kick return after the Lion's tied the game early in the fourth quarter and did not return. He did not have many offensive opportunities before the injury, and finished with only one reception for 13 yards. Not that he was a viable starter in the first place, but his promise may remain on hold after the injury this weekend.

WR Donnie Avery, STL - Avery struggled to get open the entire game, and dropped several catchable balls when he did. He was a non-factor in this game, finishing with just one reception for fifteen yards. Burton is the clear 'go to' guy now.

WR Anquan Boldin, ARI - Boldin has had a disappointing season so far. He was clearly hobbled with a high ankle sprain, which left him questionable each of the last three weeks. Boldin aggravated the injury this weekend after being tackled by his feet on a play in the third quarter. He walked off the field gingerly and did not return. As of right now, his availability for week nine at Chicago is in question. High ankle sprains can be a season-killer and most receivers miss 4-6 weeks with one. Boldin has been playing on it, and barely able to run. It's likely he'll get shut down for at least next week.

WR Kenny Britt, TEN - Rookie wideout Kenny Britt had only one target and catch in Week 8 against Jacksonville. With Justin Gage and Nate Washington holding down the starting spots and Vince Young now under center, the Titans do not look to want to go deep very often. That choice impacts Britt the most, and will make him a very risky fantasy option going forward.

WR Chris Chambers, KC - The former Dolphin is now a former Charger after San Diego waived him Monday. Although he's an elite athletic talent capable of acrobatic catches, he did very little for the Chargers once he was traded to what seemed like a perfect situation for him to become a star. Maybe a WR-needy team will acquire him this week, but it's tough to speculate whether he'll be a factor for any team until he lands.

WR Lee Evans, BUF - Evans enjoyed resurgent production over the past two weeks Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback, but it seemed to come to an end this week. He was matched up with Dunta Robinson for much of the game and Fitzpatrick rarely looked in his direction. Evans finished the game with just two targets, a season low for him, and 29 yards. Trent Edwards is expected to return after the bye week, but Evans had just 12 catches for 159 yards and 1 TD in the first five games while playing with Edwards.

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, SEA - It seems as if only one Seahawks receiver has a productive game each week, and Sunday was not Houshmandzadeh's turn. The Cowboys covered him with Terrence Newman most of the game and in the event they weren't blitzing, the freed-up defensive back often rotated to Houshmandzadeh's side of the field. The only openings he found were on short-outs and quick-in routes when Newman backed off on the line of scrimmage. Otherwise, Houshmandzadeh was unable to do much in the passing game. He's certainly still productive enough to start each week in most formats, but any hope that T.J. Houshmandzadeh will finish in the Top 24 among receivers looks doubtful for now.

WR Bryant Johnson, DET - Terrible - plain and simple. Johnson played a terrible game stepping in for Calvin Johnson as Detroit's 'go-to' Receiver. His frequent drops and lack of focus really hurt a struggling rookie QB in this game. His one good play for 36 yards to start the fourth quarter didn't make up for the two he dropped before then. If you can't be a solid fantasy contributor as the No. 1 WR on the team against an 0-7 defense, it is pretty sad.

WR Calvin Johnson, DET - Calvin Johnson was inactive for this game with a knee injury. The Lions hope he'll be back next week, but with the QB performance in Detroit, he's not destined for a strong season.

WR Mario Manningham, NYG - Mario Manningham was inactive for the Week 8 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles, possibly with a separated shoulder, which may ultimately cost him not just playing time but also his starting role. With rookie Hakeem Nicks stepping in and playing well, Manningham may moved back to the WR3 role for the Giants. New York does use plenty of three wide receiver sets, but Manningham is losing ground to Nicks and may see fewer targets going forward. Expect Manningham to not be available in Week 9 as the Giants may rest him in advance of their Week 10 bye to try and get him ready for the final seven regular season contests.

WR Brandon Marshall, DEN - Brandon Marshall got decent looks against Baltimore, but he could not catch anything deep and lacked the ability to separate in Week 8. QB Kyle Orton targeted both Marshall and fellow starting wideout Eddie Royal the most (8 targets each) but the Ravens blanketed both and kept them from getting open deep. Marshall had to settle for four short receptions under 10 yards apiece and he is not performing consistently enough to be warranted a WR1 going forward. Denver travels home to face the Steelers next week in another tough matchup.

WR Josh Morgan, SF - Michael Crabtree's success is coming at Josh Morgan's expense. While Morgan technically got the start on Sunday since he was in on the first play of the game, he appeared only in three-WR sets. He was pretty much invisible most of the day, his most noticeable contribution being a 15-yard penalty for excessively celebrating a Vernon Davis touchdown catch. While the initial plan a couple weeks ago was for Crabtree and Morgan to rotate at the flanker position, Sunday's game against the Colts made the revised plan evident. Crabtree was on the field on close to every snap, while Morgan got limited reps as the third WR. Don't expect Morgan to provide any fantasy value for the rest of this season.

WR Louis Murphy, OAK - Murphy missed some practice time last week with a sore hip, but was healthy enough to start on Sunday against the Chargers. He was generally ineffective, however, catching just one pass for 12 yards. The Raiders' WRs as a group have suffered through QB Russell's poor accuracy, and while Murphy has been the most productive of the bunch, that isn't saying much -- he has just 16 catches for 232 yards on the season. When Chaz Schilens returns, possibly in week 10 after the bye, Murphy's production will likely suffer, making him useless in most redraft leagues.

WR Dennis Northcutt, DET - Northcutt was the No. 2 receiver for the Lions in this game but you'd never know it because he dropped every pass he had a chance to catch. He contributed a bit on special teams, but had a lousy game on the offensive side of the ball.

WR Eddie Royal, DEN - Eddie Royal had the same number of targets (eight) as fellow starting wideout Brandon Marshall, but neither receiver could do much against a tough Ravens defense in Week 8. Royal only reeled in two of his chances, both for very short yardage. The Ravens got good pressure on QB Kyle Orton all day, removing the chance for Royal to stretch the field. With the passing game not clicking very well, Royal is a tough choice even for fantasy WR3 purposes. Denver travels home to face the Steelers next week in another tough matchup.

WR Mike Sims-Walker, JAX - Week 8 was supposed to have been another big week for Mike Sims-Walker, but the Tennessee defense was ready for the Jaguars' top receiver. Sims-Walker struggled to get open and when he did it seemed that David Garrard did not have enough time to find him due to the pressure from the Titan's front four. Look for Sims-Walker to probably bounce back next week against the Chiefs, whose defensive backfield and pass rush aren't as good as the now-healthy Titans unit. Still, it's good to consider that teams might be figuring out how to scheme against Sims-Walker defensively now that he is a bigger threat.

Holding steady

WR Keenan Burton, STL - Burton emerged as the favorite target of Bulger in this game. His bread and butter is the short turn-around/comeback route where he catches the ball facing the line of scrimmage and spins and fights to gain additional yards. He worked this to perfection early, opening the game with a nice 22-yard catch and run. Bulger looked to Burton a lot in this game, but the Rams throw to set up the run, and Burton's effectiveness as a fantasy WR is limited outside of PPR leagues, simply because St. Louis doesn't throw for 300 yards a game. He finished the game with five receptions for 54 yards -- an OK game given the level of WR play on both teams.

WR Malcom Floyd, SD - Malcom Floyd replaced Chris Chambers in the starting lineup and wasted no time making an impact. On the Chargers' first play from scrimmage, Rivers threw the ball over 60 yards in the air and Floyd out jumped Raiders safety Michael Huff to make the reception. Huff has good size at 6-1, but Floyd still had four inches on him at 6-5. Floyd finished the day with two catches for 64 yards, both receptions coming in the first quarter (one on each of the Chargers' first two drives), after which Floyd was very quiet. But his place in the starting lineup, along with Rivers' trust to throw him a jump ball down the field, makes Floyd worthy of a roster spot in most leagues. He shouldn't be in your starting lineup unless you become desperate because of byes, but he has more potential to grow into a worthwhile fantasy contributor later in the season than many players currently at the end of their fantasy benches.

WR Torry Holt, JAX - Tennessee was supposed to have been a good matchup for the Jaguar passing game, but David Garrard and his offensive line struggled to get enough time to make anything happen. Holt was one of the top targets in Week 8, but he only had two catches in a disappointing effort. Holt tried to stretch the field early in the game but could not catch his two deep targets. Holt added his two catches later in the first half but after his six first half targets Holt never had another chance on the afternoon. Jacksonville faces the Kansas City Chiefs next week so if you need a WR3 due to bye weeks, Holt may be productive enough but if he falters once again then it is time to look elsewhere for receiver help.

WR Vincent Jackson, SD - Jackson had a difficult matchup Sunday against the Raiders, who hadn't allowed a 100-yard receiving day all season. Jackson responded to the challenge, however, catching 8 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown came from eight yards out on a play where a Raider blitz left him uncovered. That touchdown capped off a drive that was spectacular for Jackson's fantasy owners, especially in PPR leagues. On that single drive, Jackson had five catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. While Jackson has always been a deep threat, that drive demonstrated Jackson's development as a complete receiver: he has become a solid possession receiver in addition to a dangerous downfield threat. On the negative side, QB Rivers' only interception Sunday was on a pass that glanced off Jackson's hands. He's still a strong WR1 in fantasy leagues.

WR James Jones, GB - Jones was open, but overthrown on a sideline comeback route with 2:32 in the half. He did catch a crossing route eight yards down field, gaining another 34 yards down the right sideline. He also caught a third down crossing route for a first down with three minutes left, but it was called back for a holding penalty. Rodgers then overthrew a well-covered Jones on the next play. The No. 3 WR is getting enough targets to be a potential flex play, but until the Packers either protect Rodgers in the pocket or use more designed rollouts, Jones will be an iffy fantasy option.

WR Sidney Rice, MIN - Rice made some nice catches in this game, including a diving catch at the sideline on a blitz adjustment, a six-yard crossing route, and a bullet on a slant between defenders for a first down. However, Brett Favre spread the ball around to seven receivers and Rice was not the big-play option this week.

Tight End

TE Kevin Boss, NYG - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Kevin Boss finally found his way to the end zone in Week 8, catching a nice 18-yard pass in the back of the end zone in the second quarter against Philadelphia. Boss was banged up once again on Sunday but toughed it out enough to play the entire game and grab three of his nine targets for 70 yards on the day. Boss's targets and scoring catch make him a nice tight end to grab and possibly use in Week 9 with the Giants having Mario Manningham injured, and also due to the favorable matchup against the Chargers who struggle against tight ends.

TE Brent Celek, PHI - Brent Celek found his way down the middle of the field for his third touchdown of the season, catching his first scoring grab from Donovan McNabb since Week 1. Celek worked the middle of the field effectively and was the most targeted Eagle in Week 8 against the Giants, taking advantage of weaker linebackers for New York down the seam and in the flat. The Eagles throttled down the passing game in the second half which means Celek could have approached 100 yards if McNabb and company kept the passing attack going, which could certainly happen next week against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football next week. Keep Celek active for Week 9.

TE Joel Dreessen, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The next name on the Texans depth chart for tight ends is Joel Dreessen, and he will likely see some time in the starting line up as the Texans prepare for the rest of the season without Owen Daniels. Dreessen has a decent career yards per catch average (9.0) for 25 receptions in his four-year career, but he hasn't been used extensively as a receiver and barely at all in the red zone. Dreessen could surprise, but the better bet is rookie James Casey, who has more athleticism and greater versatility for the Texans offense.

TE Spencer Havner, GB - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Havner was a reliable red zone target on Sunday, catching touchdowns on consecutive series. The first was a third down adjustment where he made a diving catch in tight coverage for the score. The next, was a smart adjustment in zone coverage to give Aaron Rodgers a good target as the QB rolled right. Although his opportunities were limited to two targets, Havner made the most of them and should remain a very strong red zone option lined up as a second tight end, fullback, or receiver in the slot for a team that struggles to run the football. He's likely a bye-week or desperation option right now, but worth having on your radar.

TE Anthony Hill, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The rookie from N.C. State has good hands and great size. He's good run blocker and could provide Matt Schaub some additional help in pass protection. However, he's surprisingly nimble and adept as a short-range receiver. If head coach Gary Kubiak decides to stick to the power run game with Ryan Moats, Hill could become an asset as both a blocker and a red zone TE. He's a long-shot play, but worth learning about in case you begin to see his name on box scores.

TE Dustin Keller, NYJ - Keller deserves an upgrade after his eight-catch performance against Miami, but keep in mind he has been non-existent in nearly every game this year, never having more than four catches in a game (and that was week one). Keller was a big target for Mark Sanchez in the game against Miami, starting with three quick receptions on pass plays to begin the game with 6- and 7-yard easy hook routes. His biggest catch was 16-yard clutch grab on 4th and 10 on the Jets final drive where you made a diving grab over tight coverage near the sideline, which demonstrated Sanchez's growing trust in the TE. The drive didn't lead to a game-winning TD, but Keller's catch helped give them another fighting chance. It's hard to promote Keller as a potential fantasy start, because of his lack of prior production. If he produces again after the bye week against Jacksonville then he may have starting lineup potential.

TE Jeremy Shockey, NO - Although production from the Saints receivers is hard to predict beyond Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey is becoming a relatively safe fantasy option. Brees looks to Shockey on third down and enjoys throwing the the TE on intermediate routes that only the better TEs get targeted. Shockey's first catch was a 3rd and 4 fade stop against a CB where he made a nice adjustment to the ball at the sideline. He also gained 27 yards on a crossing route in the third series of the game and converted another third down on an audible to a slant in the third quarter. His catch of the night was an amazing one-handed diving catch on a rare bad throw from his QB. Shockey had to leap into the air, fully extend his arm behind his body, and cradle the ball with one hand before the rest of his torso could turn to the ball and fall in bounds. This reception went for another first down and got the Saints into the red zone in the second half. Although the rest of the Saints WRs are playing extremely well, Colston and Shockey are the two players to count on in fantasy leagues.

Downgrade

TE John Carlson, SEA - Carlson had three receptions on Sunday for 36 yards and was mostly kept near the line of scrimmage to help block the Cowboys' blitz. Almost all of his pass routes were shorter then 10 yards as his presence downfield meant one fewer blocker (and thus less time in the pocket) for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Carlson is clearly one of the Seahawks most talented offensive weapons but his value is minimal as long as the Seahawks pass protection continues to struggle.

TE Owen Daniels, HOU - Daniels came into this game on a huge roll, performing among the elite fantasy tight ends in the league. However, he limped off the field after catching a 22-yard pass over the middle on the second play of the game. They iced the knee on the sidelines, but by game's end he was diagnosed with a torn ACL and will miss the season. This could be a huge blow to one of the league's best passing attacks. The candidates to replace Daniels will be veteran Joel Dreessen, rookie James Casey (who has greater versatility and excellent receiving skills with a bright future ahead of him), and rookie Anthony Hill who is a decent receiver and strong blocker. Unless Casey just blows up, this will likely be a committee situation for the remainder of the season.

TE Todd Heap, BAL - Todd Heap had only a few catches for short yardage against Denver in Week 8, getting only a few targets in a game where Baltimore chose to run much more than pass. Heap was kept in to block on several occasions and he is only of fantasy value in very favorable matchups.

TE Marcedes Lewis, JAX - Marcedes Lewis caught just one pass in Week 8 against the Titans, collecting just one 20-yard throw down the middle in the third quarter. Jacksonville was supposed to have a good passing day against Tennessee in what was a good matchup on paper, yet all the receivers struggled. With such problems, you can do much better for your fantasy tight end spot.

TE Brandon Pettigrew, DET - Pettigrew held on to the ball a little more than the WR tandem did for the Lions, but he took several hard shots each time. As Matt Stafford struggled in this game, Pettigrew did as well. He's the No. 1 TE on the team but isn't really a legitimate fantasy option, and the Lions go to backups Casey Fitzsimmons and Will Heller almost as much as they do Pettigrew.

Holding steady

TE Daniel Fells, STL - Fells was not targeted as much as Randy McMichael was in this game, but he came up big on the fake field goal to put the Rams up early. He had an OK game for a team with mediocre passing stats.

TE Randy McMichael, STL - McMichael was targeted a few times in this game from Bulger, but didn't really have a good game. The good news is that he was targeted more than Daniel Fells, and if the Rams had a better offensive game, he might have had better stats.

TE Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN - The Vikings spread the ball around and Shiancoe's only target was a first-down TD over the middle after a Favre pump fake.

TE Jason Witten, DAL - The emergence of Miles Austin as a receiving threat has lessened the pressure on Jason Witten in the passing game. While his production appears to have gone down, he now has the luxury of not being double-covered every time he goes out for a pass. Witten is still being used primarily on "go" routes down the hash marks and quick releases for short gains. Of the 4 passes he caught on Sunday, three were for less then 10 yards. However, the emergence of other receivers is making his job easier overall and we anticipate he will remain a top-producing tight end for the duration of the season.

Kicker

PK Jeff Reed, PIT - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Yes, we know he had a bye in Week 8, but this is a reminder to get him if he's available. In the four games prior to his off week, Jeff Reed scored fewer than nine fantasy points in only one game. He is kicking well (no misses on five FGs and 15 PATs) during that time span, and the Steelers offense is giving him plenty of chances.

Downgrade

PK Joe Nedney, SF - This is simply - Joe Nedney isn't scoring. Over his last four games, he has scored 5, 4, 3, and 2 fantasy points. He has also missed a pair of FGs. Just atrocious all around.

PK Josh Scobee, JAX - Excepting those two huge runs from Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jaguars offense stunk up the joint against Tennessee. That Tennessee defense had been horrible (especially against the pass), so Jacksonville's performace was especially disappointing. Combine that with the 0-fer against the Seahawks and the struggles against the Rams, and this is not a good spot to have a kicker. Factor in Scobee's two missed FGs and one missed PAT, and you come up with a player to avoid.

Holding steady

Team Defense

TD Carolina Panthers, CAR - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Jake Delhomme has garnered all of the headlines for being mediocre at best and horrible at times. However, the Panthers defense has been very good lately. They are getting to the quarterback and have forced a nice number of turnovers. Over their last four games, they have forced nine turnovers and accumulated 13 sacks. Plus, if your league awards points for yards allowed, Carolina has allowed only 232.5 per game over that same span. While they turned in a great effort against Arizona, the Panthers will likely struggle with better offenses. Still, this defense is a great fantasy option in a committee.

TD Houston Texans, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Texans defense opened the season very flat, but they improved dramatically. In their first three games, they allowed 614 rushing yards (over 200 per game). In the five games since, they have allowed only 291 rushing yards (fewer than 60 per game). This fantastic improvement is due mostly to the elimination of big plays. In those first three games, Houston was prone to allowing a huge running play. More recently, those gains have not happened. The Texans have also forced a high number of turnovers over the last five weeks (4th in the league with 11) and have seven QB sacks. They still need a better effort against the pass (which will be tested by Peyton Manning twice in the next four weeks), but their end-of-season schedule is far from imposing. That makes the Houston defense a nice option.

Downgrade

TD New York Giants, NYG - The entire Giants team has been in a funk lately, and the defense has been decidedly mediocre as well. It appears that they are still dazed from the punches they took from the Saints. Until they get over that horrible outing, which might be a while as there are good offenses on the schedule until Week 15, the Giants are not a good fantasy unit.

TD Minnesota Vikings, MIN - This is a small downgrade in most scoring systems with a larger decrease if your league deducts fantasy points for yards and points allowed. While the Vikings are elite in getting to the quarterback (they easily lead the league with 22 sacks over the last five weeks), they are in the middle of the pack with seven forced turnovers over that span. The lack of turnovers keeps them from being an elite fantasy defense in most scoring systems. However, in leagues that factor in points and yards allowed, the Vikings are an average unit right now. They are simply allowing too many points (117 over the last five weeks) and yards (1,882 over that span - better only than Oakland and Cleveland). They are easily the worst pass defense with 1,401 yards allowed in five weeks.

Holding steady