Quarterbacks

Off The Top

Carson Palmer, OAK (@BAL, NO, @CIN, CLE) – Palmer (75 percent owned) was the top fantasy QB of Week 9, tossing for 414-4-3 on 39-for-61 passing. The Ravens aren’t quite as vulnerable as the Bucs, but Palmer’s Week 11 matchup versus the Saints offers a shot at more big numbers.

Digging Deeper

Ryan Tannehill, MIA (TEN, @BUF, SEA, NE) – If you’re a desperate Aaron Rodgers or RGII owner in need of a Week 10 QB, Tannehill has a decent matchup and is available in about 80 percent of fantasy leagues. I don’t have much more to say about his prospects, save that he does have some receivers who are capable of big days if he can get them the ball. Tannehill is clearly still developing as an NFL QB, but the Titans defense is struggling right now and the Fins should take advantage.

Scouring The Barrel

Blaine Gabbert, JAC (IND, @HOU, TEN, @BUF) – Again – it’s tough to recommend a guy who’s yet to prove he can be a consistent fantasy producer but sometimes you just have to plug a guy into a favorable matchup and give him a shot. This isn’t a terrible week to do it with Gabbert, who’s owned in just 13 percent of fantasy leagues.

Updates

Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF (@NE, MIA, @IND, JAC) – Fitzpatrick continued his up-and-down season, throwing for 239 yards but no TDs or INTs (18 rushing yards). He also fumbled away the Bills’ best shot at a TD during a late drive that would have pulled the team to within one score.

Russell Wilson, SEA (NYJ, BYE, @MIA, @CHI) – Wilson was a top five fantasy QB in Week 9, tossing for 173-3-0 and rushing for 27 yards. He’s a solid fantasy backup with plenty of potential.

Running Backs

Off The Top

Jacquizz Rodgers, ATL (@NO, ARI, @TB, NO) – Rodgers (60 percent owned) has a real shot to break through with his second TD of the season when the Falcons travel to New Orleans to face the Saints. It’s an excellent matchup for the receiving component of the Falcons backfield.

Vick Ballard, IND (@JAC, @NE, BUF, @DET) – Ballard has three straight games with 10 or more fantasy points and Donald Brown is still dealing with knee (and now, hip) problems. He should be owned in all 12-team formats, despite his mere 60 percent ownership rate.

Digging Deeper

Danny Woodhead, NE (BUF, IND, @NYJ, @MIA) – With some crucial AFC matchups coming, the Patriots might turn to the very reliable Woodhead for tough yards on third downs. He’s probably available in more leagues than you’d think because of his Week 9 bye, so check your wire and scoop him up if he’s out there.

Scouring The Barrel

Taiwan Jones, OAK (@BAL, NO, @CIN, CLE) – He wasn’t used much after Darren McFadden (high ankle sprain) and Mike Goodson (ankle) went down with injuries in the Tampa Bay game, but you can bet that Jones (4 percent owned) will get a lot of reps in practice this week as the only healthy halfback on the Raiders roster. Both he and Marcel Reece (2 percent owned) will be hot pickups this week. Reece had 8-95-1 receiving on Sunday as the Raiders fell behind and almost exclusively looked to the pass down the stretch. Update: While McFadden has not been ruled out for Week 10, it’s still a good idea to add Jones and/or Reece just in case.

Updates

Donald Brown, IND (@JAC, @NE, BUF, @DET) – Brown was questionable heading into the game and only got one touch (a 7-yard reception) as his balky knee started acting up again. Vick Ballard played well and even if Brown can get healthy, he’s more of a fantasy backup.

Andre Brown, NYG (@CIN, BYE, GB, @WAS) – Brown had 20 rushing yards and a TD on seven carries in the loss to Pittsburgh. He’s the Giants goal line back and has flex value in all formats because of Ahmad Bradshaw’s fragility.

Ronnie Brown, SD (@TB, @DEN, BAL, CIN) – Brown was a solid flex PPR start in deeper leagues on Thursday, rushing for 38 yards on six carries and adding 5-35-0 receiving. He’ll continue to get touches for the Chargers.

Daniel Thomas, MIA (TEN, @BUF, SEA, NE) – Thomas tallied 62 total yards in the loss to Indy and is getting about one touch for every two that go to Reggie Bush. His value is similar to Andre Brown – somewhere just after the top 25 fantasy backs.

Joique Bell, DET (@MIN, GB, HOU, IND) – While Mikel Leshoure rushed for three TDs, Bell didn’t disappoint, running the ball 13 times for 73 yards and a TD and adding 3-36-0in the win over the lowly Jaguars.

Ronnie Hillman, DEN (@CAR, SD, @KC, TB) – Hillman took a step backward Sunday with just two touches for nine total yards. He’s still worth owning as a cheap stash in deeper formats.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Off The Top

TE Jermaine Gresham, CIN (NYG, @KC, OAK, @SD) – It’s been a weird season for the game’s top tight ends, many of whom seem to be either very present or very absent from their team’s game plan, but Gresham has been relatively consistent. He was a huge contributor on Sunday for Cincy, hauling in six catches for 108 yards on his eight targets. He should be heavily involved against the Giants.

WR Kenny Britt, TEN (@MIA, BYE, @JAC, HOU) – He’s got a bye in Week 11, but his week 10 game will offer plenty of opportunities for big plays. The Dolphins yield 23.4% more fantasy points on average to opposing WRs, and Britt seems 100 percent healthy now. He went for 5-67-0 with a 2XP and lost fumble on Sunday. That last part isn’t great, but he’s still an exciting player with lots of upside.

Digging Deeper

TE Brandon Myers, OAK (@BAL, NO, @CIN, CLE) – Myers had the best game of his young career Sunday, catching eight passes for 59 yards and two TDs on 13 targets from Palmer. He’s got favorable matchups his next three games and seems to be coming into his own with 23 receptions in his last four games and 39-442-2 on the season.

WR Golden Tate, SEA (NYJ, BYE, @MIA, @CHI) – All of Wilson’s WRs should be getting another bump in value after the rookie quarterback’s big day. Tate hauled in a couple TD passes (4-28-2) and rushed twice for 21 yards.

Scouring The Barrel

WR Donald Jones, BUF (@NE, MIA, @IND, JAC) – The Bills have a very favorable schedule coming up from a receiving standpoint and Jones (7-15 percent owned) has been more involved lately. He also had a big game and TD catch against the Pats his last time around.

WR Emmanuel Sanders, PIT (KC, BAL, @CLE, @BAL) – Update: With Antonio Brown doubtful for Monday’s game with the Chiefs, it’s likely that Sanders will play a bigger role. He’s available in over 90 percent of fantasy leagues and could be a high-upside spot-start for fantasy owners.

WR T.Y. Hilton, IND (@JAC, @NE, BUF, @DET) – Hilton had 6-102-1 on 11 targets Sunday. Update: He’s owned in just 6-8 percent of fantasy leagues and has an easy schedule his next few games, including the Colts tilt with Jacksonville on Thursday. While Donnie Avery is still a game-time call for Thursday night, Hilton will undoubtedly get a considerable number of looks even if Avery is a go.

WR Danario Alexander, SD (@TB, @DEN, BAL, CIN) – Update: The talented Alexander got the start over Robert Meacham last week and is a WR4 with upside in the Chargers pass-first offense. He’s nearly universally available.

Updates

WR Denarius Moore, OAK (@BAL, NO, @CIN, CLE) – TE Brandon Myers stole the show with 8-59-2 and fellow receivers Rod Streater (4-54-1) and Darrius Heyward Bey (5-74-0) had better games, but Moore still produced 4-66-0.

WR Sidney Rice, SEA (NYJ, BYE, @MIA, @CHI) – Rice caught four balls for 54 yards and a TD on Sunday in the win over Minnesota. He’s quickly becoming a decent WR2 option.

WR Dexter McCluster, KC (@PIT, CIN, DEN, CAR) – McCluster had 34 total yards in the loss to San Diego. He’s just a bench player in deeper leagues at this point.

WR Drew Davis, ATL (@NO, ARI, @TB, NO) – As expected, Davis didn’t do anything in Week 9 against Dallas.

IDP

Off The Top

DL Terrell Suggs, BAL (OAK, @PIT, @SD, PIT) – Suggs is a risky play at LB but has been playing more snaps and is eligible at DL in plenty of formats. If that’s the case in your league, he should be on a roster and plugged in against the Raiders.

LB Lavonte David, TB (SD, @CAR, ATL, @DEN) – David is an impact defensive rookie with plenty of IDP upside. He’s coming off a 16-tackle game (14 solos) in Week 9 at Oakland and is worth a start against the Chargers.

Digging Deeper

LB Bruce Carter, DAL (@PHI, CLE, WAS, PHI) – Matchups aside, Carter has assumed the Sean Lee role in the Dallas defense. He’s an athletic IDP option who can turn in double-digit tackles – and he’s now worth using as an LB2.

DB Dawan Landry, JAC (IND, @HOU, TEN, @BUF) – Landry has been relatively quiet this season but the matchup with Indy should give him a chance at a bunch of tackles. Get him in your lineup for Week 10.

Scouring The Barrel

DL Antonio Smith, HOU (@CHI, JAC, @DET, @TEN) – Smith isn’t a consistent fantasy performer, but as the DE opposite Defensive POY candidate J.J. Watt, he’s a guy with big upside. He’s a multi-sack threat and the Bears give up tons of points to opposing DL.

DB Josh Norman, CAR (DEN, TB, @PHI, @KC) – Norman had a big Week 9 (nine total tackles, 2 PD) and now has 52 tackles (34 solos) an INT and six PD on the season. He’s worth a look in deeper formats and has a favorable matchup against Peyton Manning and the Broncos.

Updates

DB Morgan Burnett, GB (BYE, @DET, @NYG, MIN) – Burnett had six solos and an assist during Sunday’s win over Arizona. He’s still the DB to own in Green Bay.

LB Colin McCarthy, TEN (@MIA, BYE, @JAC, HOU) – Zach Brown (10 total tackles, FR) and Akeem Ayers (eight total tackles, sack) were better on Sunday, but McCarthy still managed to compile five total tackles.

LB Wesley Woodyard, DEN (@CAR, SD, @KC, TB) – It’s been a long time since Woodyard disappointed fantasy owners. He added another four solos and 10 assists on Sunday, giving him 75 total tackles on the season. He’s a bona fide LB1.

DL Cameron Jordan, NO (ATL, @OAK, SF, @ATL) – NO (ATL, @OAK, SF, @ATL) – Update: Jordan was a beast on Monday night, registering 3.0 sacks and multiple QB pressures, tallying six total tackles (three solos). In just about all IDP formats, he was the top scoring DL of Week 9. Boo-yeah.

DB Thomas DeCoud, ATL (@NO, ARI, @TB, NO) – The Falcons defenders didn’t get a ton of fantasy points on Sunday night, with DT Jonathan Babineaux putting together the best game with seven total tackles and a sack. DeCoud chimed in with three solos.

DL Michael Bennett, TB (SD, @CAR, ATL, @DEN) – Bennett had just one solo, but it was a sack. He now has 6.0 on the season.