Quarterbacks

Off The Top

Eli Manning, NYG (OAK, GB, DAL, @WAS) – Manning is coming off a bye week which means the Giants should be prepared, relatively healthy, and ready for their Week 10 tilt with the Raiders who Nick Foles lit up for seven TD passes on Sunday. He’s available in a bunch of leagues and is worth a pickup as a bye week fill-in if you’re a Tom Brady owner.

Digging Deeper

Nick Foles, PHI (@GB, WAS, BYE, ARI) – Foles’ 406-7-0 day marks the second time this season a QB has thrown for seven TD passes in a game. I’m not very confident in Foles, but if he can be half this good against the decent teams on his remaining schedule, he’s worth a pickup.

Scouring The Barrel

Case Keenum, HOU (@ARI, OAK, JAC, NE) – Keenum (10-20 percent owned) threw for 350-3-0, with all three TD passes going to Andre Johnson. Head coach Gary Kubiak’s health is the main concern in Houston right now but I expect a statement from someone in the organization later in the week keeping Keenum as the starting QB over Matt Schaub.

Seneca Wallace, GB (PHI, @NYG, MIN, @DET) – UPDATE: It’s being reported that Aaron Rodgers will miss three weeks due to a fracture in his collarbone but more testing will be done on Tuesday. it’s pretty safe to assume that Wallace will start in Week 10, and perhaps for a few weeks beyond that. While the veteran struggled in relief of one of the game’s elite QBs, he’s a decent game manager who will benefit from a week’s worth of snaps in practice and the myriad weapons he assumes. Granted, he won’t put up QB1 numbers, but he’s a must-add in 12-team leagues if you’re weak at QB.

Updates

Ryan Tannehill, MIA (@TB, SD, CAR, @NYJ) – Another mediocre day from Tannehill (208-0-0, rushing TD) means you should probably seek out one of the other starting QBs available on the wire. When he does throw for TDs, he turns the ball over quite a bit too.

UPDATE: The departure of Jonathan Martin (personal) and the suspension of Richie Incognito (racially insensitive comments, bullying) add an ominous specter of woe to the Miami offensive line’s current vibe. You must have better options than Tannehill.

Jake Locker, TEN (JAC, IND, @OAK, @IND) – The Rams defense continued its stellar play, holding Locker to just 185-0-2 passing and a rushing TD. I still like Locker’s upside and relative consistency, but this wasn’t his day.

UPDATE: Locker remains a streaming QB option facing the Jaguars in Week 10. It’ll be a great opportunity for him to pile up some big numbers.

Jason Campbell, CLE (BYE, @CIN, PIT, JAC) – Campbell was knocked out of the game briefly with a rib injury but returned shortly after and finished with 262-3-0 and 20 rushing yards. He’s on a bye in Week 10.

UPDATE: Campbell (bruised ribs) is expected to practice Tuesday and be fine to start in Week 11 against Cincinnati.

Running Backs

Off The Top

Ben Tate, HOU (@ARI, OAK, JAC, NE) – With the Texans season likely lost and Arian Foster injuring his back early in Sunday night’s game, Tate (60-80 percent owned) might get the majority of the workload even if Foster can somehow play next week. Tate ran for 81 yards on 22 carries against the Colts and would likely be a decent RB2 facing the Cards in Week 10.

UPDATE: Foster declined to speak with the press about his back issues following Sunday night’s loss – and the injuries (back, calf strain, hamstring) have piled up to the point where it’s likely Tate’s gig for now.

Mike James, TB (MIA, ATL, @DET, @CAR) – James is owned in just 40-70 percent of fantasy leagues while Doug Martin (who is likely out for the rest of the season) is owned in 75-90 percent of leagues. This is the craziness that comes from basing your fantasy moves on the irrational mind of Greg Schiano. James ran for 158 yards on 28 carries and hauled in 2-8-1 receiving and tossed a TD for good measure. Forget Martin and go all-in with James.

UPDATE: Martin needs surgery, but Schiano won’t admit it, as a true Schiano Man never reveals uncertainty or admits defeat.

Digging Deeper

Chris Ivory, NYJ (BYE, @BUF, @BAL, MIA) – He’s on a Week 10 bye and is still available in 30-50 percent of fantasy leagues. The Jets seem committed to him, so he should be owned in all 12-team leagues. Ivory rushed for 139 yards and a score in the stunning win over New Orleans.

Scouring The Barrel

Rashad Jennings, OAK (@NYG, @HOU, TEN, @DAL) – Darren McFadden reinjured his balky hamstring and Jennings had a monster fantasy day, albeit one that benefited from blowout/garbage time. The versatile back finished with 102 rushing yards and a score on 15 carries and 7-74-0 receiving. He’s worth a pickup in all 12-team formats.

UPDATE: It’s been a couple of days since D-Mac’s injury and with his status still unknown, it’s simply time to add Jennings again.

Updates

Andre Ellington, ARI (HOU, @JAC, IND) – Ellington was on a Week 9 bye and is now owned in almost all 12-team leagues. You’ve probably missed your acquisition window.

Mike Tolbert, CAR (@SF, NE, @MIA) – Tolbert scored in his fourth straight game, finishing with 24 yards and a TD to go along with 3-13-0 receiving. He’s an RB4 with decent scoring-only value.

James Starks, GB (PHI, @NYG, MIN) – Update coming Tuesday.

UPDATE: Starks rushed six times for 40 yards, including a 32-yard TD scamper on a hole big enough to drive the team bus through. Starks didn’t get any targets in the passing game, but with Rodgers hurt and the Packers relying more on the running game, he’s still an intriguing flex option and should get 6-10 carries and a couple targets in Week 10 versus the Eagles.

Andre Brown, NYG (OAK, GB, DAL) – Brown’s Giants were on a bye and he is on track to return in Week 10. Meanwhile, David Wilson is getting an MRI on his neck and there’s no word on whether Peyton Hillis and/or Brandon Jacobs will retain their roster spots. Brown had 385 rushing yards and 8 TDs in eight games for the Giants last season.

UPDATE: He won’t get a huge workload right away but Brown said Monday there’s a package of plays with his name on them in the Week 10 playbook. Stay tuned.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Off The Top

Emmanuel Sanders, PIT (BUF, DET, @CLE, @BAL) – The Steelers offense is looking pretty potent right now, and Sanders (6-98-0 on Sunday) has 11 targets in each of the last two weeks. He’s a WR4 with upside.

Digging Deeper

Marlon Brown, BAL (CIN, @CHI, NYJ, PIT) – Joe Flacco connected with Brown (5-54-2) on a pair of scores, targeting the rookie receiver nine times in the loss to Cleveland. He’s worth adding in 12-team leagues and should keep producing during the next few games.

Riley Cooper, PHI (@GB, WAS, BYE, ARI) – While it’s pretty safe to say Cooper will never have another game like he did on Sunday (5-139-3, 18 rushing yards), the lanky wideout has picked up his game wince Week 6 and is worth adding in all formats. The upcoming schedule makes him a hit-or-miss play, but certain matchups can be exploited.

Scouring The Barrel

Jerricho Cotchery, PIT (BUF, DET, @CLE, @BAL) – Cotchery was one of four NFL receivers to haul in three TD passes on Sunday and one of two who is owned in only a handful of leagues. His Week 9 TD total surpasses his season totals all the way back to 2008 when he was a possession receiver with the Jets and catching passes from Brett Favre. Yesterday, the Steelers exploited an opening against the Pats, so don’t expect too many performances like this one. Still, any WR who hauls in three TDs in a game is worth considering.

Updates

Percy Harvin, SEA (@ATL, MIN, BYE) – Harvin was inactive in Week 9 and an MRI revealed no further damage to his hip, despite reports of a setback. If he’s somehow available still, he’s worth a speculative add.

Marvin Jones, CIN (@BAL, CLE) – Jones had 4-66-0 on Thursday night (no TDs) but should remain an important cog in the Bengals offense going forward and a WR3/4 with upside.

Aaron Dobson, NE (BYE, @CAR, DEN) – Dobson played in 90 percent of the Patriots offensive snaps on Sunday, hauling in five catches for 130 yards and two TDs, including an 81-yard bomb that essentially iced the game. With Kenbrell Thompkins a healthy scratch, it’s clear the Pats like what they’ve been seeing from Dobson.

Kenny Stills, NO (DAL, SF, @ATL) – Stills caught 3-35-0 in Sunday’s loss but couldn’t reach pay dirt against the stifling Jets defense.

WR/TE Tim Wright, TB (MIA, ATL, @DET) – The Bucs lost in the end, but they got a productive day from Wright (4-58-1), who is fast becoming a steady fantasy option and low-end TE1/WR4 with upside.

Drew Davis, ATL (SEA, @TB, NO) – One catch for 2 yards. The Falcons are dead in the water and just about all their fantasy options – excluding Tony Gonzalez at TE1 – are unreliable.

IDP

Off The Top

DL Calais Campbell, ARI (HOU, @JAC, IND) – Campbell is one of the top DL in the game (28 solos, two FR, two PD, 4.5 sacks on the season), but he’s coming off a bye week where some owners may have been forced to drop him. He’s also got a very favorable schedule coming up, so grab him if he’s out there.

DB Morgan Burnett, GB (PHI, @NYG, MIN, @DET) – I’ll update again after Monday night’s game, but it’s crazy that more IDP owners aren’t taking advantage of Burnett’s high ceiling/upside, especially in such favorable matchups. He’s never going to give you a stinker and he’s capable of registering 10+tackles and big plays in any given game.

UPDATE: Burnett had his best game of the season on Monday night, tallying 10 tackles (five solos) and a PD.

Digging Deeper

DB Tracy Porter, OAK (@NYG, @HOU, TEN, @DAL) – I’m betting that Porter gets at least one INT against the Giants and comes away with a handful of tackles. He’s a veteran DB with lots of upside in this matchup and he’s available in plenty of IDP formats.

LB Nick Roach, OAK (@NYG, @HOU, TEN, @DAL) – The Raiders defense is spending a lot of time on the field and Roach has been the team’s most consistent LB since Week 6. He’s got some decent matchups on the way.

Scouring The Barrel

DL Sen’Derrick Marks, JAC (@TEN, ARI, @HOU, @CLE) – Marks has been one the bright spots on the Jaguars line this season. He’s got 16 solos, three PD and 2.0 sacks through eight games and could be a decent fill-in DL in deeper IDP formats.

LB Paul Worrilow, ATL (SEA, @TB, NO, @BUF) – Worrilow broke out with 19 total tackles on Sunday against the Panthers, more than doubling his season total. He’s worth adding as an LB3 and giving a spot start against the Seahawks.

Updates

DB Bernard Pollard, TEN (JAC, IND, @OAK) – Pollard has six tackles and a PD in the win over the Rams. Not amazing, but pretty steady.

LB Daryl Smith, BAL (CIN, @CHI, NYJ) – The Ravens lost a tough one but Smith contributed nine tackles (seven solos) a sack and a PD. He’s an excellent LB1 and Jameel McClain’s return hasn’t diminished his numbers.

DL Jurrell Casey, TEN (JAC, IND, @OAK) – As expected, Casey benefited from a porous Rams line, turning in his best performance on 2013 with six solos and 2.0 sacks. I’m proud of this recommendation.

LB Brandon Spikes, NE (BYE, @CAR, DEN) – Spikes only had three solo tackles in the win over Pittsburgh. I’m not so proud of this one.

DL Brett Keisel, PIT (BUF, DET, @CLE) – Another poor pick for me, Keisel tallied just one assist as the Patriots offensive line did a good job keeping the Steelers defensive line off Tom Brady and the ball carriers – except for Cameron Heyward, who turned in his second straight solid IDP performance.

DB Darius Butler, IND (STL, @TEN, @ARI) – Butler had three solos and no INTs, as Keenum didn’t turn the ball over.