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Doug Orth | Archive | Email |
Staff Writer


Rank and File - 2019 Edition
All Out Blitz: Volume 160
11/14/19

Last week, we covered how each defense fared on a weekly basis against a particular offensive position group. This week, we'll shift the focus on individual players and how they fared among their peers on a weekly basis. Both articles should be quite helpful when it comes to setting weekly lineups in season-long leagues as well as DFS.

For the sake of time and space (not to mention, my sanity), not every player that has scored a point was included and/or appears below. For example, 173 receivers have scored at one PPR fantasy point this season. It didn't make sense to keep one player in the mix just because he had one 10-point game and a 40th place finish in the one week he was active. In other words, the ranks below are not gospel. The best way to describe my qualifications for which players were included on this list and which ones were left off is simple: how relevant are they now as we approach Week 11. For example, I wanted to list only regular starters at quarterback. At running back, consistent availability was key.

Notes: Each table is sorted from lowest to highest in the "Avg" column. To avoid any potential confusion, the smaller the number in each column, the more advantageous that matchup was for the position group. "Hi" and "Lo" are self-explanatory. Designations such as QB1 or RB2 are how often a player fell into that particular group in a 12-team league. As such, a "4" in the QB1 column indicates four top-12 finishes. A "2" in the RB2 column indicates two finishes between 13 and 24. And so on and so forth …

 Weekly Rank for QBs
Player Tm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Avg. Hi Lo QB1 QB2
Lamar Jackson BAL 1 2 16 2 19 6 10 b 4 1 6.8 1 19 7 2
Patrick Mahomes KC 5 1 3 13 13 7 23 DNP DNP 3 8.5 1 23 5 3
Dak Prescott DAL 2 3 8 24 6 16 12 b 6 5 9.1 2 24 7 2
Russell Wilson SEA 16 4 1 16 2 4 18 17 1 15 9.4 1 18 5 5
Deshaun Watson HOU 3 23 5 21 1 5 17 2 11 b 9.8 1 23 6 3
Matthew Stafford DET 4 14 27 4 b 22 3 6 3 DNP 10.4 3 27 5 2
Matt Ryan ATL 14 7 7 18 3 1 31 DNP b 14 11.9 1 31 4 3
Tom Brady NE 7 5 12 27 5 11 19 12 20 b 13.1 5 27 6 2
Ryan Tannehill TEN DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 27 11 9 9 10 13.2 9 27 4 0
Jameis Winston TB 30 21 6 1 11 18 b 10 10 12 13.2 1 30 6 2
Josh Allen BUF 18 8 17 23 12 b 6 14 15 7 13.3 6 23 4 5
Kyler Murray ARI 11 19 15 17 7 3 27 26 8 4 13.7 3 27 5 3
Daniel Jones NYG DNP DNP 2 19 20 24 20 1 23 2 13.9 1 24 3 5
Carson Wentz PHI 8 13 9 8 17 8 24 20 18 b 13.9 8 24 4 5
Aaron Rodgers GB 24 15 25 3 24 10 1 3 21 24 15.0 1 25 4 5
Gardner Minshew JAC 15 16 14 12 8 26 14 5 26 b 15.1 5 26 3 4
Kirk Cousins MIN 22 28 26 25 9 2 2 25 7 9 15.5 2 28 5 1
Jacoby Brissett IND 17 10 11 6 22 b 4 27 29 DNP 15.8 4 29 4 2
Andy Dalton CIN 13 9 22 28 10 19 15 15 b DNP 16.4 9 28 2 5
Jared Goff LAR 27 11 21 9 14 29 5 8 b 26 16.7 5 29 4 2
Teddy Bridgewater NOS DNP 29 18 26 4 17 9 DNP b DNP 17.2 4 29 2 2
Derek Carr OAK 21 25 19 15 26 b 16 7 12 18 17.7 7 26 2 5
Philip Rivers LAC 10 27 13 10 29 15 7 24 25 19 17.9 7 29 3 4
Jimmy Garoppolo SF 25 6 29 b 15 20 29 18 2 21 18.3 2 29 2 4
Kyle Allen CAR DNP DNP 4 29 18 13 b 31 17 17 18.4 4 31 1 4
Drew Brees NO 12 36 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 4 b 22 18.5 4 36 2 1
Mason Rudolph PIT DNP 22 20 11 21 DNP b 16 24 16 18.6 11 24 1 6
Marcus Mariota TEN 9 20 24 5 25 31 DNP DNP DNP DNP 19.0 5 31 2 2
Sam Darnold NYJ 23 DNP DNP b DNP 9 34 19 22 8 19.2 8 34 2 3
Baker Mayfield CLE 28 18 28 14 31 12 b 23 16 11 20.1 11 31 2 4
Case Keenum WAS 6 12 23 36 DNP 14 30 30 DNP b 21.6 6 36 2 2
Ryan Fitzpatrick MIA 26 37 33 DNP b 21 13 21 5 20 22.0 5 37 1 4
Eli Manning NYG 20 24 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 22.0 20 24 0 2
Joe Flacco DEN 19 17 31 7 23 25 28 28 DNP b 22.3 7 31 1 3
Mitchell Trubisky CHI 34 30 10 34 DNP b 8 29 28 6 22.4 6 34 3 0

Over the course of the offseason and throughout the regular season, there has been much talk about the depth at quarterback. While that's true, the "evidence" suggests there are only seven true QB1s (based on average rank). Conversely, there have 13 regular starters at quarterback with an average rank better than 17. In other words, the "middle class" isn’t too far behind the "upper class; their floor is just a bit lower. So there is depth at quarterback, in a matter of speaking.

- Maybe it's something and maybe it's nothing, but it's at least worth noting Russell Wilson has finished as a QB2 in three of the last four weeks. Fantasy owners probably aren't going to hold last week's finish against him considering the opponent (49ers), but mid-range QB2 territory wasn't the expectation against the Ravens (Week 7) and Falcons (Week 8). Perhaps not so coincidentally, Will Dissly was lost for the season early in Week 6.

- Most people already know Matthew Stafford is having a great season, but I'll be the first to admit I didn't realize he had four top-four and five top-six finishes. Yet another year in which the Lions must rely on the passing game because the running game can't hold up its end of the bargain, Stafford has benefited from volume and matchups. Of his five games with at least three touchdown passes, four have come against defenses that are among the worst in the league. Marvin Jones scored four times in the one good game against a legitimate pass defense (Vikings). Especially considering Stafford will probably be playing through a back issue for a while, it's hard to feel comfortable with him the rest of the season. Also not helping matters, four of his final six fantasy matchups are against Dallas, Chicago, Minnesota and Denver.

- The mere mention of Jameis Winston tends to elicit eye-rolls and thoughts of "good Jameis" versus "bad Jameis," but his average rank of 9.7 over the last seven games - not to mention his six QB1 finishes over that time - should allow fantasy owners to view him as a solid back-end starter (four of his last five finishes have been 10th, 11th or 12th). It goes without saying a better quarterback - or at least one not as prone to making mistakes as often - would probably be a high-end QB1 on this list, but owners would do well to recognize he's performing more consistently in fantasy than most people probably realize.

- Daniel Jones is exceeding the expectations most had for him, especially for someone many didn't deem worthy of the No. 6 overall pick and certainly not in an offense that was supposed to be built around Saquon Barkley. But he's a rookie quarterback, and that usually means there's going to be a fair amount of inconsistency. That is reflected in his weekly ranks, finishing first or second three times and 19th or lower in his other five games. He has typically thrived when the matchup has been favorable (Bucs, Lions and Jets), although poor finishes against the Redskins and Cardinals would appear to make him more of a 50-50 proposition in those "favorable" spots.

- Fantasy owners of Aaron Rodgers probably had something better than four QB1 finishes through 10 games when they drafted him this summer. Outside of the two-game stretch in Weeks 7-8 in which he accounted for nine touchdowns, Rodgers has nine total TDs in the other eight weeks. The aforementioned two-week explosion has Rodgers firmly entrenched as the overall QB5 for now, but the emergence of the running game - particularly Aaron Jones - has turned Rodgers into more of a matchup-based starter. Even the return of Davante Adams two weeks ago has not helped; in fact, he's averaging less than 200 yards passing and has thrown for one score since Adams came back in Week 9.

 Weekly Rank for RBs
Player Tm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Avg. Hi Lo RB1 RB2
Dalvin Cook MIN 4 1 5 10 5 20 3 5 16 2 7.1 1 20 8 2
Christian McCaffrey CAR 1 41 4 2 2 8 b 6 1 4 7.7 1 41 8 0
Kareem Hunt CLE DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP b DNP DNP 12 12.0 12 12 1 0
Ezekiel Elliott DAL 18 7 14 16 16 5 4 b 23 26 14.3 4 26 3 5
Leonard Fournette JAC 24 21 17 6 7 11 11 10 26 b 14.8 6 26 5 3
Austin Ekeler LAC 2 4 18 4 8 40 5 27 24 17 14.9 2 40 5 3
Nick Chubb CLE 24 8 11 1 31 2 b 25 25 13 15.6 1 31 4 2
Saquon Barkley NYG 13 5 38 DNP DNP DNP 9 4 17 28 16.3 4 38 3 2
Aaron Jones GB 48 2 16 14 1 33 7 1 43 3 16.8 1 48 5 2
Alvin Kamara NO 9 42 1 22 17 18 DNP DNP b 11 17.1 1 42 3 3
Josh Jacobs OAK 7 28 48 21 3 b 12 28 5 7 17.7 3 48 5 1
Derrick Henry TEN 3 9 25 24 21 46 8 39 4 1 18.0 1 46 5 2
Chris Carson SEA 8 29 54 12 10 6 17 16 24 7 18.3 6 54 5 3
James Conner PIT 29 18 38 6 29 1 b 8 DNP DNP 18.4 1 38 3 1
James White NE 19 23 DNP 19 22 19 14 22 13 b 18.9 13 23 0 8
Le'Veon Bell NYJ 10 6 31 b 18 27 22 40 9 10 19.2 6 40 4 2
Melvin Gordon LAC DNP DNP DNP DNP 40 34 20 24 3 6 21.2 3 40 2 2
Mark Ingram BAL 11 31 2 38 23 14 33 b 20 22 21.6 2 38 2 4
Phillip Lindsay DEN 28 26 3 41 6 13 43 19 19 b 22.0 3 43 2 3
Tevin Coleman SF 36 DNP DNP b 19 16 24 2 39 20 22.3 2 39 1 4
Todd Gurley LAR 27 13 53 7 11 DNP 15 26 b 31 22.9 7 53 2 2
Devin Singletary BUF 15 24 DNP DNP DNP b 49 17 6 29 23.3 6 49 1 3
Marlon Mack IND 6 38 13 52 14 b 22 15 31 23 23.8 6 52 1 5
Devonta Freeman ATL 53 33 23 13 13 4 41 14 b 30 24.9 4 53 1 4
David Johnson ARI 5 37 9 9 12 3 70 DNP DNP 63 26.0 3 70 5 0
Kenyan Drake ARI 50 29 34 32 b 23 21 DNP 2 21 26.5 2 50 1 3
Kerryon Johnson DET 35 10 26 17 b 16 56 DNP DNP DNP 26.7 10 56 1 2
Jamaal Williams GB 57 20 30 69 DNP 7 13 11 12 34 28.1 7 69 3 2
Jordan Howard PHI 37 56 32 3 26 42 27 12 18 b 28.1 3 56 2 1
Damien Williams KC 12 36 DNP DNP 44 32 49 29 8 15 28.1 8 49 2 1
Joe Mixon CIN 54 46 10 31 28 39 30 13 b 9 28.9 9 54 2 1
Royce Freeman DEN 39 15 26 37 38 24 10 23 48 b 28.9 10 48 1 3
David Montgomery CHI 45 17 28 36 33 b 58 7 7 35 29.6 7 58 2 1
Carlos Hyde HOU 32 34 37 30 27 10 45 33 21 b 29.9 10 45 1 1
Chris Thompson WAS 16 27 19 33 37 48 DNP DNP DNP b 30.0 16 48 0 2
Miles Sanders PHI 54 44 22 40 34 9 34 9 29 b 30.6 9 54 2 1
Duke Johnson HOU 21 60 48 34 41 20 27 18 11 b 31.1 11 60 1 3
Ronald Jones TB 30 74 21 18 42 35 b 43 14 5 31.3 5 74 1 3
Matt Breida SF 54 16 29 b 4 30 40 44 28 37 31.3 4 54 1 1
Sony Michel NE 66 22 41 44 9 22 6 37 41 b 32.0 6 66 2 2
Tarik Cohen CHI 22 52 48 34 31 b 16 35 46 16 33.3 16 52 0 3
LeSean McCoy KC 30 50 6 15 61 37 19 33 55 DNP 34.0 6 61 1 2
Adrian Peterson WAS DNP 25 48 58 63 12 35 20 21 b 35.3 12 63 1 2
Latavius Murray NO 23 58 71 57 47 29 2 3 b 39 36.6 2 71 2 1
Frank Gore BUF 63 11 12 27 36 b 27 52 59 45 36.9 11 63 2 0
Rex Burkhead NE 17 35 8 63 DNP DNP DNP 61 40 b 37.3 8 63 1 1
Jaylen Samuels PIT 65 53 DNP 8 59 DNP b DNP 10 32 37.8 8 65 2 0
Peyton Barber TB 41 12 40 39 35 56 b 49 59 18 38.8 12 59 1 1
Chase Edmonds ARI 74 54 56 54 15 15 1 54 DNP DNP 40.4 1 74 1 2
Nyheim Hines IND 42 64 43 29 39 b 49 35 44 25 41.1 25 64 0 0
Raheem Mostert SF 46 3 43 b 53 59 DNP 21 67 37 41.1 3 67 1 1
Darrel Williams KCC DNP DNP 14 11 DNP 38 49 69 66 46 41.9 11 69 1 1
J.D. McKissic DET 51 76 48 48 b 53 26 55 14 19 43.3 14 76 0 2
Wayne Gallman NYG 20 DNP 65 5 66 DNP DNP 56 DNP 51 43.8 5 66 1 1
Mark Walton MIA 78 54 DNP 47 b 25 31 42 37 DNP 44.9 25 78 0 0
Dare Ogunbowale TBB 38 71 46 49 51 28 b 67 34 36 46.7 28 71 0 0
DeAndre Washington OAK 69 49 61 49 24 b 36 51 44 39 46.9 24 69 0 1
Alexander Mattison MIN 48 61 24 62 48 46 59 32 65 33 47.8 24 65 0 1
Gus Edwards BAL 44 73 34 49 56 52 45 b 33 49 48.3 33 73 0 0
Ty Johnson DET 73 48 63 60 b DNP 18 46 38 43 48.6 18 73 0 1
Rashaad Penny SEA 64 18 DNP DNP 43 DNP DNP 45 61 64 49.2 18 64 0 1
Tony Pollard DAL 61 57 7 DNP 62 59 48 b 41 62 49.6 7 62 1 0
Jalen Richard OAK 76 63 43 58 48 b 60 47 30 26 50.1 26 76 0 0
Giovani Bernard CIN 34 67 57 46 46 45 55 40 b 61 50.1 34 67 0 0
Malcolm Brown LAR 14 46 67 64 70 48 DNP DNP b 57 52.3 14 70 0 1

By the very nature of the position, the number of players and how often game flow dictates their usage, it's not surprising only two regular running backs check in as RB1s (average rank lower than 12). It also tells us what we already knew: Dalvin Cook and Christian McCaffrey have been amazing.

- It's at least mildly interesting Ezekiel Elliott has finished inside the top 12 running backs just three times in nine games. His usage obviously provides him with a solid floor, but there hasn't been much else about him that has been elite in 2019. There will be opportunities for him to put together a spiked week or two in the coming weeks against Detroit (Week 11), Buffalo (Week 13) and Chicago (Week 14), although the Cowboys could do themselves - and Elliott - a huge favor by showing the ability to react to what the defense is willing to give them as opposed to making sure Zeke gets his 20 touches.

- At the end of the season, people will likely consider Alvin Kamara a bit of a bust. While that's good in terms of making him a potential value in 2020, it's too bad because he's actually been an RB1 in the two "normal" games he's had this season (i.e. Drew Brees played all game and/or Kamara wasn't injured). It's a testament to him and his complete game that he has actually recorded three RB1 and three RB2 finishes despite spending most of the season working in an offense designed to chew clock and minimize possessions as opposed to what the Saints usually do on offense: attack. While the remaining schedule isn't particularly kind to the typical running back, the number of solid run defenses should enhance Kamara's already high ceiling as a receiver. For all the owners who were able to somehow survive the lean weeks in which he was stuck in RB2 purgatory due to the handling of Teddy Bridgewater, Kamara should be able to finish strong and be the high-end asset he was drafted to be this summer.

- A number of people - myself included - made a couple of unwise assumptions about Josh Jacobs this offseason. I thought he was clearly the best back in this spring's draft, so talent wasn't an issue. My problems with him were his early schedule, a young defense that would need time to develop (forcing him into negative game script) and the notion that Jalen Richard - coming off a 68-catch season and an efficient year as a runner - would not be reduced to the role of spectator and limit the rookie's ceiling in terms of his production in the passing game. The early schedule concern proved to be valid - Jacobs finish no higher than RB21 in three of the first five games - and Jacobs' limited usage as a receiver was mostly accurate as well - albeit due to a lack of involvement of running backs in the passing game as a whole - but the Raiders seemed to turn a corner against the Bears right before their Week 6 bye and realized how much feeding Jacobs means to their offense. Taking advantage of a host of solid matchups - including that game in England has helped the cause, and Oakland's remaining schedule is pretty favorable. If Jacobs proves he can handle the workload - he wasn't asked to do it much at Alabama - then he figures to be one of the key cogs on a number of fantasy championship teams.

- Despite what many say, Todd Gurley has mostly lived up to his draft position (late second round for most). The problem is so many owners saw the upside that they believe he has been a disappointment. And to some degree, I guess that has been true. However, it can be difficult for some people to separate the disappointment in the player's production from the reason(s) it is happening. Are we seeing a slightly reduced version of the elite player from a year or two ago? Sure, but that too was expected and I don't think the falloff has been as dramatic as some would have you believe (like 100 to 90 percent as opposed to 100 to 75). He's occasionally been trusted to handle heavy workloads and actually had most of his best games in the most difficult matchups. Week 10 should have been the litmus test in terms of ramping up his second-half workload as the Rams started to make a push for a playoff spot, primarily because the team was coming off a bye. He did his part, averaging 6.1 YPC against one of the best defenses in the league, but he was somehow mothballed (no touches) for the entire fourth quarter in a game that neither team ever led by more than seven points.

For as frustrating as his lack of rushing workload has been, his receiving usage has been even worse. Eleven of his 28 targets came in one game. And the usage of backs in the passing game in Los Angeles hasn't even been a Gurley issue per se. Last season, Rams' runners were targeted 97 times (70 catches). This season, they are on pace for 66 targets and 36 catches. With Jared Goff struggling as much as he is, wouldn't it make sense for the running backs to see MORE usage - both as runners and receivers - and not less? Why trade up for Darrell Henderson and not use him as the change-of-pace, big-play complement he was drafted to be? Why not target Gurley as a receiver more often if the knee is still a concern? And if the offensive line is falling apart as appears to be the case, Cooper Kupp cannot be the only answer. (We saw what happened last week when a good defense consistently bracketed him.) There are a lot of questions that need to be answered in Los Angeles, and the answers can no longer be "it was just kind of the rotation" or the like. The jet-sweep action in this offense is gone, the outside zone runs have mostly disappeared and the creativity that defined Sean McVay's offenses the first two seasons is, you guessed it, non-existent. Each of those pieces of the offense opened up the field for Gurley and, by extension, gave Goff time to take shots down the field. It's one thing if McVay & Co. want to be secretive about how they plan on deploying their assets to gain an advantage, but it's beginning to feel as though the Rams are spending more time trying to justify Goff's new contract extension these days than winning football games.

To put Gurley's workload into some context and wrap up this rant, he is averaging 14.9 touches. Aaron Jones is, by all accounts, still a committee back losing about 12 touches per game to Jamaal Williams. Jones is averaging 17 touches. Even during his four-game run prior from Week 6 to Week 9 and prior to the start of his four-game suspension in Week 10, Miami found a way to give Mark Walton 13.8 touches. If a team like the Dolphins can find 14 touches for Walton, surely the Rams can find a few more for the second-highest paid back in the league.

- It all started out so well for Marlon Mack. The biggest concern for him entering the season was his durability, which is not been an issue thus far. Matchups have not been particularly kind to him lately and he was drafted to be an RB2 in most leagues, so he hasn't exactly been a disappointment. With that said, his one RB1 finish was in the opener and he's struggled to be even an RB2 since the Week 6 bye. Workload has not been a problem - at least 20 touches in five straight contests - but owners probably expected something more than Gurley-like usage in the passing game from a player HC Frank Reich said he expected to be a feature back this season. There aren't enough healthy weapons in the passing game at the moment to justify two total targets in the last three weeks for a player like Mack. The return of T.Y. Hilton should help everybody wearing the horseshoe, but matchups with the Texans, Titans, Bucs and Saints do not paint a rosy picture for Mack enjoying an explosive conclusion to the season.

- It's really not my nature to rain on parades, but regression is coming for Aaron Jones. Remember the last two seasons when Kamara was breaking fantasy football by averaging one touchdown every 15-plus touches? Yeah, Jones is laughing at that inefficiency, averaging one score every 12.1 touches in 2019. He has scored on half of his 22 red zone carries. (Let me repeat that, HE HAS SCORED ON 11 of 22 carries inside the 20!) He only has 58 percent of his team's red zone carries and still has two more rushing TDs inside the 20 than anyone else in the league. It's also worth keeping in mind that while he has three games with at least 150 total yards, he also has three with 39 or fewer. None of this should make fantasy owners question whether he is capable of being an RB1, but more to remind everyone he's probably not ready to move into the same class as Christian McCaffrey or Dalvin Cook.

 Weekly Rank for WRs
Player Tm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Avg. Hi Lo WR1 WR2 WR3
Michael Thomas NO 18 12 21 11 2 15 5 5 b 5 10.4 2 21 6 3 0
Tyreek Hill KC 66 DNP DNP DNP DNP 4 16 22 5 3 19.3 3 66 3 2 0
Amari Cooper DAL 16 28 8 26 3 59 17 b 13 4 19.3 3 59 3 3 2
DeAndre Hopkins HOU 4 45 36 41 17 16 3 7 11 b 20.0 3 45 4 2 1
Julio Jones ATL 30 4 7 29 45 11 18 6 b 33 20.3 4 45 4 1 3
Chris Godwin TB 31 5 56 1 6 3 b 37 22 24 20.6 1 56 4 2 1
Julian Edelman NE 27 44 15 43 10 10 23 4 18 b 21.6 4 44 3 3 1
Tyler Lockett SEA 44 14 4 30 21 24 14 20 1 46 21.8 1 46 2 5 1
Golden Tate NYG DNP DNP DNP DNP 54 8 21 18 26 7 22.3 7 54 2 2 1
D.J. Chark JAC 11 13 19 33 4 40 34 10 45 b 23.2 4 45 3 2 2
Cooper Kupp LAR 43 17 3 4 9 46 30 2 b 57 23.4 2 57 4 1 1
Kenny Golladay DET 33 6 66 8 b 14 56 3 9 19 23.8 3 66 4 2 1
Courtland Sutton DEN 22 48 29 7 14 27 19 38 15 b 24.3 7 48 1 4 2
Mike Evans TB 62 41 1 10 66 9 b 1 2 28 24.4 1 66 5 0 1
T.Y. Hilton IND 6 29 13 DNP 41 b 10 50 DNP DNP 24.8 6 50 2 1 1
John Brown BUF 9 31 47 22 23 b 11 35 27 26 25.7 9 47 2 2 4
D.J. Moore CAR 41 14 31 40 20 20 b 45 16 9 26.2 9 45 1 4 1
Sterling Shepard NYG 49 DNP 6 15 35 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 26.3 6 49 1 1 1
Michael Gallup DAL 15 33 DNP DNP 11 33 49 b 28 15 26.3 11 49 1 2 3
Davante Adams GB 54 17 46 3 DNP DNP DNP DNP 29 13 27.0 3 54 1 2 1
Keenan Allen LAC 7 16 2 26 49 47 35 29 46 16 27.3 2 49 2 2 3
Allen Robinson CHI 23 47 38 17 7 b 4 34 56 20 27.3 4 56 2 3 1
Christian Kirk ARI 48 19 23 34 DNP DNP DNP 16 53 1 27.7 1 53 1 3 1
Adam Thielen MIN 37 34 12 61 5 13 37 DNP DNP DNP 28.4 5 61 2 1 1
Alshon Jeffery PHI 19 DNP DNP 20 30 6 51 35 41 b 28.9 6 51 1 2 2
Tyrell Williams OAK 17 25 39 21 DNP b DNP 15 38 48 29.0 15 48 0 3 1
DeVante Parker MIA 47 51 14 b 26 15 30 20 30 29.1 14 51 0 3 3
Marvin Jones DET 50 43 10 25 b 53 1 52 4 26 29.3 1 53 3 0 2
Terry McLaurin WAS 13 20 16 DNP 40 2 58 49 37 b 29.4 2 58 1 3 0
Jarvis Landry CLE 42 54 48 5 28 42 b 31 16 6 30.2 5 54 2 1 2
Marquise Brown BAL 5 21 57 48 30 DNP DNP b 38 14 30.4 5 57 1 2 1
Tyler Boyd CIN 31 9 36 46 8 52 41 27 b 28 30.9 8 52 2 0 4
Mecole Hardman KC 24 18 64 29 34 32 24 25 31.3 18 64 0 3 4
Larry Fitzgerald ARI 9 26 27 28 25 23 57 63 38 18 31.4 9 63 1 2 4
John Ross CIN 3 10 71 44 DNP DNP DNP DNP b DNP 32.0 3 71 2 0 0
Curtis Samuel CAR 56 29 22 46 43 5 b 46 19 23 32.1 5 56 1 3 1
Sammy Watkins KC 1 39 41 45 DNP DNP DNP 41 23 36 32.3 1 45 1 1 1
D.K. Metcalf SEA 39 27 50 63 24 28 43 19 3 32 32.8 3 63 1 2 3
Robert Woods LAR 26 54 49 2 34 39 24 52 b 17 33.0 2 54 1 2 2
Odell Beckham Jr. CLE 35 3 40 54 51 18 b 38 24 34 33.0 3 54 1 2 2
Cole Beasley BUF 52 35 25 18 50 b 33 25 33 31 33.6 18 52 0 1 6
Stefon Diggs MIN 58 42 62 16 43 1 8 12 55 40 33.7 1 62 3 1 0
Dede Westbrook JAC 33 68 45 23 19 35 13 DNP DNP b 33.7 13 68 0 3 2
Calvin Ridley ATL 27 8 73 49 13 21 46 26 b 41 33.8 8 73 1 2 2
Brandin Cooks LAR 57 21 14 19 47 44 36 DNP b DNP 34.0 14 57 0 3 1
Zach Pascal IND 32 24 57 b 2 65 12 50 34.6 2 65 2 1 1
JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT 36 32 20 52 15 56 b 8 51 43 34.8 8 56 1 2 2
Danny Amendola DET 14 52 DNP b 58 12 17 47 44 34.9 12 58 1 2 0
Darius Slayton NYG DNP DNP 42 58 16 44 53 13 56 2 35.5 2 58 1 2 0
Jamison Crowder NYJ 12 48 62 b 57 19 48 55 10 11 35.8 10 62 3 1 0
Preston Williams MIA 44 40 43 32 b 48 26 48 6 DNP 35.9 6 48 1 0 2
Auden Tate CIN DNP 67 35 31 26 22 37 31 b 45 36.8 22 67 0 1 4
Emmanuel Sanders SF 21 2 69 b 63 60 30 28 6 52 36.8 2 69 2 1 2
Mohamed Sanu NE 46 56 29 12 18 45 61 60 8 b 37.2 8 61 2 1 1
Phillip Dorsett NE 8 52 17 55 DNP DNP 24 51 54 b 37.3 8 55 1 2 0
Mike Williams LAC 61 37 53 DNP 22 25 40 40 21 42 37.9 21 61 0 2 1
Allen Lazard GB DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 16 44 43 43 47 38.6 16 47 0 1 0
Deebo Samuel SF 64 11 54 b 65 49 DNP 23 36 10 39.0 10 65 2 1 1
Randall Cobb DAL 25 46 64 41 37 DNP 52 b 42 8 39.4 8 64 1 0 1
Corey Davis TEN 53 54 9 52 42 9 62 35 DNP 39.5 9 62 2 0 1
Diontae Johnson PIT 59 63 25 13 41 54 b 11 58 35 39.9 11 63 1 1 2
Chris Conley JAC 20 37 61 60 55 29 9 49 b 40.0 9 61 1 1 1
Demaryius Thomas NYJ DNP 69 DNP b 36 31 44 33 52 21 40.9 21 69 0 1 3
Marquez Valdes-Scantling GB 51 59 11 36 60 38 7 66 41.0 7 66 2 0 1
Will Fuller HOU 53 48 44 50 1 32 60 DNP DNP b 41.1 1 60 1 0 1
Josh Gordon SEA 29 61 28 37 32 56 DNP DNP DNP 49 41.7 28 61 0 0 3
Nelson Agholor PHI 68 7 9 57 36 54 55 50 b 42.0 7 68 2 0 1
Kenny Stills HOU 40 56 34 53 DNP DNP 20 58 34 b 42.1 20 58 0 1 2
A.J. Brown TEN 38 58 74 6 53 51 26 44 25 53 42.8 6 74 1 0 2
Olabisi Johnson MIN DNP DNP DNP 38 37 55 21 59 43 51 43.4 21 59 0 1 0
Demarcus Robinson KC 70 1 32 38 48 50 64 58 37 44.2 1 70 1 0 1
Adam Humphries TEN 69 66 24 57 46 29 42 55 31 38 45.7 24 69 0 1 2
James Washington PIT 55 60 68 39 DNP b 61 30 12 46.4 12 68 1 0 1
Hunter Renfrow OAK 67 51 60 56 62 b 55 14 14 39 46.4 14 67 0 2 0
Alex Erickson CIN 62 65 70 DNP 64 30 6 21 b 55 46.6 6 70 1 1 1
Robby Anderson NYJ 60 36 65 b 61 7 59 47 48 54 48.6 7 65 1 0 1

For the most part, I'll repeat what I said above about running backs. The number of players at this position makes it externally difficult for more than a handful of players to be a consistent top-12 performer every week. It's even more reason to marvel at the year Michael Thomas is having. Tyreek Hill would probably be right there with him had it not been for his Week 1 injury.

- A funny thing happened when Will Fuller went down early in Week 7. Instead of Kenny Stills wreaking havoc as Deshaun Watson's new favorite downfield toy, DeAndre Hopkins saw his involvement spike and rediscovered the end zone. It's not as if Hopkins' targets ever really dried up - seven or more in every game is about as good as it gets for most receivers - but his volume has picked up over the last four contests. Watson has also been able to trust his protection lately more than in previous years, and that has resulted in a slightly deeper average target for Hopkins in recent weeks as a result. The Texans have also experienced a bit of a fundamental change in their offense. Watson's first two seasons saw Houston take regular deep shots with Fuller (when healthy) in part because it didn't believe it had the offensive line to put together extended drives on a regular basis. The Texans' line isn't great now either, but they are at least competent. This fact - along with throwing shorter and quicker passes - is generally keeping Watson out of harm's way while also compensating for an average workhorse running back.

- After four of five weeks as a top-six receiver, the sky must be falling for Chris Godwin's fantasy owners with three straight finishes in the WR2 or WR3 range, right? R-E-L-A-X. It was only a matter of time before: a) Mike Evans started getting his numbers; b) touchdown regression started working against Godwin and c) his catch rate fell off from 79.6 percent - which is where it was before the team went on its Week 7 bye. The only thing that's really changed for Godwin is his touchdown pace has slowed (none in the last four games). The good news for both him and Evans is that the path is pretty clear for both players to finish strong (especially if Marshon Lattimore has to sit this week). Only Indianapolis (Week 14) represents much of a challenge in terms of defenses who have fared well against receivers. And that matchup should be a good one for Godwin since the Colts' heavy zone coverage figures to work more in his favor than Evans going over the top of the defense.

- Every season provides a little bit of wackiness, and this one is no different. Long considered an injury-prone splash play in fantasy, John Brown has become a high-floor receiver with a respectable ceiling. A receiver who has posted six weekly finishes inside the top 36 and consistently delivers double-digit fantasy-point totals is what fantasy owners dream of finding in the late rounds. The fact he has been so consistent with a mostly inaccurate quarterback like Josh Allen speaks even more to the player he has become. Unfortunately for him, the schedule does not figure to be kind to him down the stretch. Potential shadow dates with Chris Harris and Stephon Gilmore await, while Dallas, Baltimore and Pittsburgh are no slouches when it comes to pass defense.

- In six full games with Sam Darnold as his quarterback, Jamison Crowder has finished inside the top 12 three times and inside the top 20 four times. The two exceptions? New England and Jacksonville. The Patriots' game needs no explanation, while the Jaguars' effort can probably be explained by the fact regular slot DB D.J. Hayden has performed well this year and allowed a passer rating of 83.2 in his coverage. In Crowder's four good games with Darnold, he's managed at least five catches and 81 yards each time.

- While the crime isn't as egregious as the one being perpetrated by the Rams with Gurley, Stefon Diggs owners can't be overly pleased with how this year is going either. Outside of a three-week stretch in which he finished inside the top 12 each time, Diggs has had only one other finish that would be considered even WR3 quality. One monster game (7-167-3 in Week 6) is the main reason he is the overall WR15 right now, and it's worth wondering when his situation is actually going to get better. Even without Adam Thielen around for the better part of the last month, Diggs hasn't seen eight or more targets in any of those four contests.

 Weekly Rank for TEs
Player Tm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Avg. Hi Lo TE1 TE2
Austin Hooper ATL 5 14 3 1 6 2 8 4 b 13 6.2 1 14 7 2
Travis Kelce KC 13 2 8 5 9 12 12 5 10 2 7.8 2 13 9 1
George Kittle SF 9 12 11 b 1 3 18 6 3 DNP 7.9 1 18 7 1
Hunter Henry LAC 17 DNP DNP DNP DNP 1 5 14 6 10 8.8 1 17 4 2
Darren Waller OAK 7 8 1 10 14 b 1 13 20 22 10.7 1 22 5 4
Mark Andrews BAL 3 1 25 8 11 4 21 b 29 1 11.4 1 29 6 1
Zach Ertz PHI 16 5 12 7 3 16 22 26 1 b 12.0 1 26 5 3
Will Dissly SEA 42 4 6 2 7 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 12.2 2 42 4 0
Evan Engram NYG 1 10 4 17 10 DNP 42 7 14 DNP 13.1 1 42 5 2
Jacob Hollister SEA DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 24 27 4 3 14.5 3 27 2 1
James O'Shaughnessy JAC 20 17 13 18 12 DNP DNP DNP DNP b 16.0 12 20 1 4
Jimmy Graham GB 11 3 18 30 4 22 25 19 16.5 3 30 3 3
Jason Witten DAL 15 7 18 22 22 11 16 b 8 32 16.8 7 32 3 5
Greg Olsen CAR 19 6 2 43 14 b 30 22 5 17.6 2 43 3 3
Jack Doyle IND 36 30 17 11 23 b 23 12 12 8 19.1 8 36 4 3
Darren Fells HOU 42 8 44 4 6 26 2 21 b 19.1 2 44 4 1
Dallas Goedert PHI 33 DNP 16 38 12 7 11 17 b 19.1 7 38 3 2
Gerald Everett LAR 46 23 32 6 2 36 6 29 b 6 20.7 2 46 4 1
Jared Cook NO 23 25 47 30 5 7 DNP DNP b 8 20.7 5 47 3 1
Ricky Seals-Jones CLE DNP DNP 39 4 5 b DNP 35 DNP 20.8 4 39 2 0
Eric Ebron IND 43 9 19 13 44 b 2 19 32 14 21.7 2 44 2 4
O.J. Howard TB 27 15 23 40 23 b DNP DNP 7 22.5 7 40 1 3
Delanie Walker TEN 4 13 10 54 40 17 DNP DNP DNP DNP 23.0 4 54 2 2
Noah Fant DEN 29 15 24 15 47 31 40 15 2 b 24.2 2 47 1 4
Vance McDonald PIT 22 3 43 21 47 b 23 7 28 24.3 3 47 2 3
Tyler Eifert CIN 18 11 36 33 32 34 33 8 b 15 24.4 8 36 2 2
Mike Gesicki MIA 28 40 30 b 15 15 34 5 31 24.8 5 40 1 2
T.J. Hockenson DET 2 46 56 14 b 21 20 32 15 20 25.1 2 56 1 5
Kyle Rudolph MIN 31 42 44 50 20 3 24 11 4 25.4 3 50 3 2
Cameron Brate TB 37 35 37 9 38 7 b 18 25.9 7 38 2 1
Nick Boyle BAL 25 38 13 48 29 33 b 9 12 25.9 9 48 2 1
Blake Jarwin DAL 10 33 52 21 38 17 b 12 24 25.9 10 52 2 3
Foster Moreau OAK 30 56 12 13 b 12 43 18 26.3 12 56 2 2
Tyler Higbee LAR 11 30 20 16 23 39 46 b 26 26.4 11 46 1 3
Irv Smith MIN DNP 52 16 51 DNP 26 11 21 18 18 26.6 11 52 1 4
Jonnu Smith TEN 38 DNP 28 51 20 42 14 3 28 22 27.3 3 51 1 3
Dawson Knox BUF 53 36 7 18 34 b 27 34 16 28.1 7 53 1 2
Hayden Hurst BAL 21 16 33 25 17 50 36 b 33 29 28.9 16 50 0 3
Ryan Griffin NYJ 30 49 b 53 10 47 1 14 42 30.8 1 53 2 1
Josh Hill NOS 54 DNP 50 25 19 42 9 17 b DNP 30.9 9 54 1 2
Trey Burton CHI DNP 37 21 37 24 b 32 37 31.3 21 37 0 2

As most veteran fantasy owners already know, the bar has been set pretty low when it comes to tight ends in fantasy. One big game makes a player a must-add, while a second big game shortly thereafter usually puts him in the TE1 conversation. We've already seen two instances of this from the Seahawks this season. Will Dissly quickly became a must-start with four straight finishes inside the top seven before he was lost for the season. Now with two very productive games on his resume, we may not be far away from looking at Jacob Hollister the same way. Low-key stat of the week: Dissly and Hollister have combined for six top-seven finishes at tight end in 2019.

- This position took a hit it didn’t need last week when Austin Hooper went down with an MCL sprain. Outside of perhaps Darren Waller and Mark Andrews in September, no tight end gave fantasy owners the same kind of weekly advantage at the position - and certainly not for as long as Hooper did. Whether he is sidelined for as long as four weeks (as is being reported) or as few as two, it will be interesting to see how the Falcons redistribute the 7.5 targets he attracted. With Hooper leaving a four-game touchdown streak and six total TDs in his last seven games, does Julio Jones break his scoreless streak during Hooper's absence? How about Calvin Ridley? Does Russell Gage become more of a thing? Or will hot Week 11 waiver-wire add Brian Hill get more touches?

- The Rams are such a mess at the moment that it is hard to discern whether or not Gerald Everett's breakout is a function of him taking a leap in his third year or a product of the pass-blocking being so poor that Goff is making him one of his first reads regardless of the actual progression. If we assume Everett's breakout is more of more the latter than the former, we can probably expect him to finish strong for fantasy purposes with upcoming games against strong pass-rushing teams like the Bears, Ravens and Seahawks. At any rate, Everett has been a top-six tight end in four of his last six outings. The two games in which he fell short? The disastrous performance against San Francisco in Week 6 and the game in London against the Bengals where Kupp was pretty much the entire offense.

- Is Jared Cook back in the good graces of fantasy owners? After four straight sub-TE2 performances from the Saints' free-agent prize to begin the season, he has been a top-eight performer in each of his last three games - two of which came with Bridgewater as his quarterback. I'm not exactly sure we can count on him being a consistent fantasy starter yet - Week 10 was only the second time all season he has seen at least seven targets - but he's at least established some kind of foothold in what should be a dynamic offense the rest of the way.


Doug Orth has written for FF Today since 2006 and been featured in USA Today’s Fantasy Football Preview magazine since 2010. He hosted USA Today’s hour-long, pre-kickoff fantasy football internet chat every Sunday in 2012-13 and appears as a guest analyst on a number of national sports radio shows, including Sirius XM’s “Fantasy Drive”. Doug is also a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association.