Week 10 Rankings

Updated 11/9 12:05 PM ET. Added Fred Jackson. Plunged Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown. Ticked Martellus Bennett down. Hope for more information on Bennett between now and 1ET.

Ben Roethlisberger entered Week 8 averaging 19.3 fantasy points. For reference, that’s how many Mike Glennon was managing before he got benched for Josh McCown on Tuesday. Roethlisberger was throwing 1.4 weekly touchdowns, putting him somewhere between Joe Flacco and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Not bad, but the kind of numbers that had fantasy owners asking “Big Ben or Alex Smith?”

Two weeks later, we have our answer: Big Ben.

The first quarterback in NFL history to throw for six touchdowns in back-to-back starts, Roethlisberger is now averaging 25.1 points after dropping 50.0 and 41.1 on the Colts and Ravens, respectively. Even though we’re more than halfway through the season, he’s raised his weekly average an astonishing 5.8 points in just two games. That’s categorically amazing, but also categorically insane.

Roethlisberger is now fantasy’s No. 3 quarterback with 40.3 percent of his points coming in 2-of-9 games. The past two Sundays, Roethlisberger has posted just 2.5 fewer points than Teddy Bridgewater has all season. His 12 scores would be tied for 15th in the NFL, putting him ahead of Matthew Stafford, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton and Andy Dalton, among many others. Roethlisberger essentially condensed six weeks of leaderboard climbing into two.

How did he do it? A mixture of regression, luck and a 6-foot-4 rookie receiver named Martavis Bryant. Regression because Big Ben’s previous TD rate was artificially low for a player who entered Week 8 completing 65.8 percent of his passes while sporting a 7.37 YPA and 10:3 TD:INT ratio. Roethlisberger was playing clean, efficient football. He should have had more than 10 scores.

Which brings us to the luck. The Colts’ best defensive player is CB Vontae Davis. He’s been arguably the NFL’s top corner this season. So you could imagine Roethlisberger’s relief when he checked out with a knee injury just 11 snaps into Week 8. That, of course, comes nowhere close to being the whole story behind Big Ben’s explosion, but it would be naive to believe it didn’t play a part.

Flash forward to Week 9, and Roethlisberger had similar good fortune. The Ravens held Ben to his worst game of the season in Week 2, permitting just 22-of-37 (59.5) passing for 217 yards (5.87 YPA), zero scores and one interception. For the rematch seven weeks later, Baltimore was down No. 1 corner Jimmy Smith. How bad was Smith’s fill-in, Dominique Franks? He was cut two days later. Again, one player is never the story when someone has the kind of day that Big Ben had, but it was undoubtedly a factor.

Which brings us to Bryant. Inexplicably mothballed for the season’s first six weeks, Bryant has scored five touchdowns in three games for a receiver corps that had been starting 5-foot-10 Antonio Brown and 5-foot-11 Markus Wheaton. Roethlisberger has been pining for a big receiver for years. He finally has one, and goodness gracious, does he know how to use him.

So if that’s the how of Roethlisberger’s mid-season outburst, where are we at going forward? Unless you’re the sort of person who hits on 19, it’s safe to assume that Roethlisberger has already had his best two games of the season. There will be no matching what he’s done the past two weeks. But a player whose pre-Week 8 rates suggested he was a QB1 in QB2’s clothing has absolutely crashed the top-10 party. That’s especially true since players like Matt Ryan, Stafford and Wilson continue to struggle. But top-five status is a more distant dream. Roethlisberger has given the NFL perhaps the best two-week stretch in its history, but are you ready to bet on him over Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers? Probably not.

There will be weeks where Roethlisberger is a top-five option. Going up against the Jets’ league-worst secondary, Week 10 is one of them. But if you’re counting on anything even resembling what we saw in Weeks 8 and 9, disappointment will become you. That’s not a slight on what Big Ben has accomplished, just reality.

In the three games in which Calvin Johnson has been truly healthy this season, Matthew Stafford has averaged 21.3 fantasy points. In the three games Megatron has outright missed, the number dips to 20.5. Neither is scintillating, but there’s strong reason to believe Stafford’s season will finally get on track with the return of his all-world No. 1 wideout. … How’s this for a Week 10 wild card? Mark Sanchez — a man synonymous with poor quarterback play — taking over the Eagles’ offense, a system synonymous with fantasy points. Firing up Sanchez as a QB1 may seem surreal, but is it really that much more surreal than starting Nick Foles? Maybe Sanchez will bomb out, earning Foles some overdue credit and damaging Chip Kelly’s reputation. More than likely, however, Sanchez will bring home the fantasy bacon in an offense designed to sizzle it. … Throw out Colin Kaepernick’s Week 6 domination of the Rams, and he’s averaging 17.4 fantasy points since the calendar flipped to October. The Saints are a good matchup for Kaep, but you could say the same thing about Kaep for the Saints.

Another quarterback who dominated the Rams only to fall off? Kaep’s division mate, Russell Wilson. In fact, if you throw out Wilson’s Week 7 barbecuing of St. Louis, he’s been even worse than Kaepernick over his past three starts, averaging 14.3 fantasy points. That’s sub-Geno Smith. If Wilson can’t get on track against a Giants secondary adjusting to life without Prince Amukamara, it may be time to panic about his post-Percy Harvin fantasy prospects. … Tony Romo’s (back) Week 10 status is entirely unclear. The early signs suggest he’ll suit up against the Jaguars in London, but his availability is far from a certainty. If he does play, it will be as a borderline QB1, as the Cowboys are unlikely to tempt fate by making an injured Romo sling it all over the field. … That was fun, Joe Flacco. Since roasting the Bucs for five scores in Week 6, Flacco has posted a 4:5 TD:INT ratio over three starts. The Titans are not an imposing matchup, but Flacco isn’t an enticing Week 10 option.

Ryan Tannehill’s matchup is forbidding in the Lions, but he enters Week 10 as fantasy’s second-hottest quarterback after Ben Roethlisberger. The Lions’ fearsome front seven will also be adjusting to the loss of DT Nick Fairley. Tannehill can’t be trusted as a QB1 on the road against a defense that’s surrendered a measly nine aerial scores, but this doesn’t scream “face plant” the way it would have a month ago. … Andy Dalton’s prospects are back on the rise with A.J. Green back to full health, but the Browns are far stingier against the pass than the run. Dalton is not a top-15 option on a short week. … Starting Michael Vick? You’re braver than I. That being said, the presence of Percy Harvin and Eric Decker makes Vick an intriguing, low-dollar dart throw in daily tournaments. Just don’t be surprised if the experiment goes off the rails. … Austin Davis has cratered in recent weeks, but even after facing Brandon Weeden, the Cardinals are allowing the most passing yards in football. … Full FanDuel YOLO? Zach Mettenberger against a Ravens secondary without so much as a passable NFL cornerback in the absence of Jimmy Smith.

Don't forget, for the latest on everything NFL, check out Rotoworld's Player News, or follow @Rotoworld_FB or @RotoPat on Twitter.

Week 10 Running Backs

RB Notes: A Jaguars run defense that had been stiffening took a huge step back against Jeremy Hill in Week 9, surrendering 24/154/2. The Jags’ Week 10 assignment? DeMarco Murray, who is fuming coming off his first sub-100 yard effort of the season. The NFL’s best rusher is going to give the people of London something to see. … Matt Forte is no longer leading the NFL in receptions, but even after the Bears’ bye week, his 58 grabs are still second only to Antonio Brown’s 71. Forte’s weekly 7.3 receptions make him slump proof for fantasy purposes. … Jamaal Charles has seven touchdowns in five games since returning from his ankle injury. That’s despite a spate of tough matchups that extends to Week 10 with the Bills. Buffalo may keep Charles’ YPC in check, but no one can keep the Chiefs’ No. 1 offensive weapon out of the end zone. … Marshawn Lynch finally found the painted area in Week 9, but still managed only 67 yards on 21 carries (3.19 YPC). Lynch is averaging just 3.91 yards per tote since Week 1, and 62.7 yards per game.

Andre Ellington’s 95 yards on the ground in Week 9 were his most of the season. His reward is a Rams team surrendering 4.6 yards per carry. Ellington’s already considerable floor has also taken on extra height in recent weeks, as he’s scored in back-to-back games. … Jeremy Hill’s Week 9 started with an injury scare. It ended with a running-back best 28.3 fantasy points. With Giovani Bernard (hip) still sidelined, Hill should keep rolling against a Browns team permitting 4.8 yards per carry, and 139.6 rushing yards per game. … Ronnie Hillman has been fantasy’s No. 8 rusher since Montee Ball (groin) went down in Week 5. He’s run more than well enough to remain the Broncos’ No. 1 back even after Ball returns. The question is, will Ball assume goal-line duties? No one knows. Ball is day to day, and could suit up for Week 10. It’s a situation worth monitoring for Hillman owners. … Eddie Lacy is quietly fantasy’s No. 5 running back over the past five weeks.

Justin Forsett is coming off a quiet Week 9, but is still the NFL’s No. 5 rusher. His latest power compliment, Lorenzo Taliaferro, lost a fumble last week. For Week 10, Forsett gets the Titans, a team allowing the sixth most fantasy points to rival runners. His value should continue to be surprisingly resilient. … Since taking over as the Jaguars’ starter, Denard Robinson has been fantasy’s No. 10 back, surpassing 100 yards from scrimmage in 3-of-3 games while averaging 5.77 yards per carry. He’ll face little resistance across the pond from the Cowboys’ bottom barrel run defense. … Khiry Robinson will be a concern for Mark Ingram’s fantasy status once he returns from his forearm injury, but Robinson has yet to resume practicing. … Lamar Miller (shoulder) is going to suit up for Week 10, but the assignment is tough in the Lions’ No. 2 (by YPC) run defense. The loss of Nick Fairley helps Miller’s cause, but he’s unlikely to have a top-12 week at less than 100 percent.

Regardless of Doug Martin’s (ankle) health for Week 10 — and right now, it’s not looking good — Bobby Rainey will be the Bucs’ lead back. Rainey has run circles around Martin this season, and has a dream matchup in a Falcons defense allowing the most fantasy points to running backs. If there’s a concern, it’s the expected NFL debut of Charles Sims, but coach Lovie Smith has proven typically cautious with his rookie back. Sims is unlikely to siphon more than 5-6 looks, leaving Rainey as an upside RB2. … Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown’s Week 10 prospects are entirely reliant on Fred Jackson’s (groin) health. If F-Jax plays, neither will be more than a dart-throw RB3. If Jackson sits, Dixon will be a high-floor RB2, and Brown will be a high-upside RB3. For now, Jackson appears more likely to sit than start. … It’s Week 10: Do you know who the Browns’ starter is? Cleveland’s coaches seem to be making things up as they go, but Terrance West certainly appeared to move ahead of a disastrously-bad Ben Tate in Week 9. The highest-upside option, Isaiah Crowell, remains in bubble wrap.

If you’re starting Steven Jackson this week, you’re counting on the veteran back getting goal-line looks in a game that, at worst, will be close, and at best will be controlled by the Falcons. … Jeff Fisher keeps trying to confuse the Rams’ running-back situation, but the games tell a different tale. Tre Mason is the No. 1, and should remain so going forward. He has a rough Week 10 matchup in a Cardinals defense surrendering the fewest fantasy points to enemy backs. … Darren McFadden and the Raiders’ rushing "attack" have been historically bad this season. … Bishop Sankey has been one of the year’s biggest disappointments. There’s not much reason to expect that to change against the Ravens’ stingy run defense. … DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have formed one of the least-appealing committees in recent fantasy memory. … Despite his aforementioned fumble, Lorenzo Taliaferro appears poised to keep short-yardage duties in Baltimore. … Looking for a daily-league hail mary in deep tournaments? Daniel Thomas isn’t a bad touchdown bet behind a banged-up Lamar Miller.

Week 10 Receivers

WR Notes: Antonio Brown is the NFL’s leading receiver. The Jets have allowed six more touchdown passes than any team in football (24). … On pace for 108 catches, 1,788 yards and 12 touchdowns, Demaryius Thomas also finds himself in the familiar position of leading receivers in yards after the catch (414 of 894). A Raiders team that’s missed 64 tackles is going to have a hard time bringing Thomas down. … Jordy Nelson caught a season-high 10 passes against the Bears in Week 4. Chicago’s secondary has not gotten better in the interim. … Ready to play for the first time in over a month, Calvin Johnson (ankle) has had three truly healthy games this season. He averaged 6.3 catches for 110 yards while scoring twice. In other words, he was Calvin Johnson. As long as you didn’t fall out of playoff contention during Megatron’s absence, he’s ready to carry you during the money weeks.

Julio Jones was struggling before the Falcons’ Week 9 bye, catching just 13 passes for 182 scoreless yards while committing multiple drops across Weeks 6-8. A Bucs team he dismantled for 9/161/2 in Week 3 should be just the ticket to jump start Jones’ season. … There was no drop off for Jeremy Maclin after Mark Sanchez checked in last Sunday. Maclin caught a 52-yard pass on Sanchez’s first dropback, and finished with a 4/68/1 line across Sanchez’s three quarters of work. Maclin caught all four of his targets from his backup quarterback. Maclin can continue to be treated as an elite WR1. … Randall Cobb’s nine touchdowns still lead all wide receivers coming off the Packers’ Week 9 bye. The better news is, he was finally coming alive as a playmaker before the Packers’ off week, combining for 13 catches and 247 yards in Weeks 7-8. Cobb dusted the Bears for 7/113/2 in Week 4. … Emmanuel Sanders’ five 100-yard games are the most in the NFL.

Few players needed a bye more than struggling and cranky Brandon Marshall. He sounds like he took advantage of it. “Rejuvenated,” Marshall said of his Week 10 demeanor on Showtime’s Inside the NFL. "I worked on physical exertion, nutrition, cognitive stimulation, socialization and — the best thing of all — stress management.” Healthy, and seemingly relaxed, Marshall is a strong bet to shake off his quiet first half of the season. … Dez Bryant will probably ascend a few spots in the rankings if/when it becomes clear Tony Romo will be playing in London. … A.J. Green has promised to be a bigger part of the Bengals’ Week 10 game plan after playing just 39-of-69 snaps in his Week 9 return. The problem is that he’ll be doing battle with Joe Haden on Thursday evening. SB Nation’s Cincy Jungle has done a fabulous job of breaking down Green’s history vs. Haden, even going back to their days in the SEC. The short of it? Haden has defended Green better than most. That, coupled with Green’s still returning health leave him on the WR1 borderline. It should be the last time.

Alshon Jeffery is still on pace for 76/1,126/6 despite a disappointing first half. Take the over. … Sammy Watkins “tweaked” his groin in Wednesday’s practice, but for now, everything appears to be kosher. The No. 4 overall pick of May’s draft is fantasy’s No. 10 receiver over the past five weeks, and No. 2 over the past three. … Kelvin Benjamin has only six dropped passes by Pro Football Focus’ count, but a strict grader could likely find many, many more. The boom-or-bust rookie has a tremendous chance to boom against the Eagles’ porous secondary, however. … Fire Roddy White up as a WR2 against a Bucs defense allowing the most fantasy points to receivers. … That’s how you utilize Percy Harvin. Harvin’s 13 Week 9 targets were just 13 fewer than he drew all season in Seattle. Harvin is still boom or bust, but now it’s as a WR2, not WR3. … The same goes for Harvin’s teammate, Eric Decker. Finally healthy and soaking up targets, Decker has time to meet his WR2 destiny yet. … I was late to the Mohamed Sanu party, and am probably still unduly skeptical. Fantasy’s No. 12 receiver thus far, Sanu is getting the last laugh on this “expert.”

It’s hard to know how much the return of Calvin Johnson may cramp Golden Tate’s breakout style, but with a weekly floor of 5/50, Tate can still be fired up as a WR2. … Mired in a bit of a slump, Mike Wallace will have a hard time finding the end zone against a Lions team that’s permitted just nine passing scores all year. … The insertion of Josh McCown over Mike Glennon is unlikely to have a dramatic effect on Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson’s value. … Michael Floyd still has more upside than Larry Fitzgerald, but for now Fitz’s floor has him above his younger teammate. … Mike Clay explains why you shouldn’t bench Rueben Randle and Odell Beckham against Seattle, but don’t expect banner weeks. … James Jones is > Andre Holmes right now. … Michael Crabtree has been inefficient, to put it mildly. … Martavis Bryant is a low-risk, high-reward WR3 against a Jets secondary that bleeds passing scores. … Justin Hunter breakouts have been foretold before, but he’s a cheap daily option against the Ravens’ undermanned secondary. … Taylor Gabriel could be a nice FanDuel play with Andrew Hawkins (thigh/knee) banged up.

Week 10 Tight Ends

TE Notes: Jimmy Graham had a “down” first half, and is still on pace for 92/1,036/10. That’s not good news for the rest of the NFL. … Julius Thomas is stuck in a three-game slump, catching just eight passes for 83 yards and one score since Week 7. The Raiders represent an excellent opportunity to get back on track. Thomas is still on pace for 20 touchdowns this season. … Martellus Bennett has proven more consistent than he was in 2013, and heads into Week 10 as fantasy’s No. 5 tight end. He’s caught at least five passes in 6-of-8 games. … Greg Olsen leads the Panthers in receptions, and is fantasy’s No. 6 tight end. Consistency is his calling card, but he has an extremely tough Week 10 matchup in the Eagles, who are allowing the fewest fantasy points to enemy tight ends.

Larry Donnell has shaken off his quiet Weeks 5 and 6, and settled in as a legit every-week TE1 in a down year for the position. Donnell doesn’t offer much in the way of ceiling, but can be counted on for 4-5 weekly catches, and is always a decent bet to find the end zone. Only three teams are allowing more fantasy points to tight ends than Seattle. … Travis Kelce is still playing too few snaps, but he hasn’t let it stop him from registering as fantasy's No. 9 tight end. There’s always bust potential, but Kelce should boom more often than not. He continues to lead all tight ends in yards after the catch. … The Jaguars are a great matchup either way, but Jason Witten’s Week 10 outlook will be particularly rosy if Brandon Weeden is under center. Backups love to check down to reliable, chain-moving targets like Witten. Weeden did six times in Week 9.

Now on his third quarterback, Delanie Walker’s star has faded, but he remains in the TE1 conversation because of his lack of competition. The Ravens represent a stingy matchup, however. … Zach Ertz played a season-low 24 snaps in Week 9. He’s more bust than boom. … The Jets have allowed a league-worst 11 touchdowns to tight ends. You could do much worse than Heath Miller for Week 10. … Only the Eagles have allowed fewer fantasy points to tight ends than New Orleans. Keep Vernon Davis benched if you can. … The Raiders’ Mychal Rivera has racked up 15/121/2 on 20 targets over the past two weeks. His Week 10 opponent, the Broncos, are allowing the seventh most fantasy points to tight ends. Rivera will not hurt for targets in a game the Raiders will trail from the opening whistle. … Luke Willson has fallen from daily-league grace.

Week 10 Kickers

Week 10 Defense/Special Teams