Fantasy Football Sunday Wrap: Big Bounce-Back for Kurt Warner

Sunday Evening Wrap checks out players who increased or decreased their value during the Sunday afternoon games.

Riser of the Week: After a five-interception game against the Panthers last week, Kurt Warner owners may have been a bit worried, especially since his next task was facing a ball-hawking defense like the Chicago Bears (which, by the way, is more reputation than actuality anymore). Some people were even talking about taking a flier on Matt Leinart in larger leagues. Sunday, Warner put a stop to that, breezing through the Bears' defense like a knife through hot butter. He ended with five touchdown passes and no doubt he's finishing the season as the Cards' starter.

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Faller of the Week: Since throttling the 49ers four games ago, Matt Ryan has been pretty pedestrian. He's thrown for six touchdown passes and seven interceptions. He's also failed to toss for 200 or more yards in three of the four games. Sunday's output (135 measly yards) was especially poor. Further clouding matters for Ryan owners are the injury to Roddy White and the return of Michael Turner as an absolute beast. If Ryan is your fantasy QB1, you may be in big trouble for the stretch run.

Other Shifts in Fantasy Value

Greg Jennings - He's still failing to live up to lofty fantasy expectations, and this time it was against a brutal pass defense. James Jones even got the long TD, not Jennings.

Josh Freeman - Welcome to the party, kid. That's a nice stat line (205 yards, three TDs, 20 yards rushing) for a rookie quarterback.

Ronnie Brown - He did get a touchdown pass to make his line serviceable, but we need to see more than 48 yards on 15 carries to be able to consider him a certain every-week starter.

Laurence Maroney - Got 20 of the Patriots' 24 rushing attempts, scored a touchdown and averaged more than four yards per carry. Dare he actually start living up to his talent level?

Jamaal Charles - One of the darlings of the fantasy world this week, Charles only took six carries (for 36 yards, which is still six yards per carry! Give him the rock, Haley!) in the Chiefs' loss.

Mike Sims-Walker - He's back, baby. M. S. Dubbs.

Ryan Moats - Saw this one coming -- just 38 yards on 16 carries -- though the touchdown made him serviceable.

Joseph Addai - A few weeks ago I tried to tell everyone who would listen how good Addai would be in the upcoming weeks. There are few more reliable anymore. Don't worry about his number of rushing attempts. He's gonna get receiving yards and he's going to score touchdowns.

Andre Caldwell - He'll become the unquestioned third option for Carson Palmer the rest of the way, as Chris Henry deals with a broken forearm. Plus, you gotta like that he caught a touchdown pass Sunday. Also, look at the Bengals' schedule after next week's battle with the Steelers: at Oakland, vs. Cleveland, vs. Detroit in the following three games and then the Chiefs in Week 16 (the fantasy Super Bowl).

Joe Flacco - Less than 200 yards through the air, no touchdowns and two picks. Not a good day at all for the young signal-caller.

Jay Cutler and Greg Olsen - Set aside the debate about Cutler's ability to help the defense (although I will say if you watched that game and thought freaking Peyton Manning could have won it for the Bears you are insane). In fantasy football, all you care about are stats. The Bears defense apparently sucks now, so they'll have to throw all day to keep up. The 369 yards and three touchdowns did wonders for fantasy teams. Olsen was easily the best tight end in Week 9, hauling in all three of those TDs and going for 71 yards.

Clinton Portis - His concussion was a big blow for fantasy owners, who could have expected a solid day -- especially considering Ladell Betts had 15 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown in his absence.

Brandon Pettigrew - Lost in the mess of the turnovers was the corner turned by the Lions' other first-round draft pick. Pettigrew led the Lions with seven catches and 70 yards. He also added his first career touchdown. The rapport with Matthew Stafford is growing, so Pettigrew's worth a look in deep leagues.

Julius Jones - The rushing line doesn't look great (16 carries for 36 yards) but he scored a touchdown. Oh, and those receiving stats ... six catches for 78 yards. This is an illustration of what the Lions' defense can do for your fantasy team.

Robert Meachem - Only Reggie Bush had more catches and Meachem led the team in total yards from scrimmage (5 catches for 98 yards and a score). He was also damn close to a second touchdown late in the game.

Jonathan Stewart - His partner, DeAngelo Williams, ran wild and scored two touchdowns, but Stewart didn't make good on his chances, gaining just 24 yards on 13 carries.

LaDainian Tomlinson - Only 22 yards on 12 carries, can't punch it in from the one, and he just appears slow. I told you last week his relatively good performance was an aberration. I rest my case.

Steve Smith (Giants-type) - Just when people started to waver on him, Smith came back with a touchdown and eight catches (mmm, PPR-leagues).

Jason Hill - From out of nowhere, Hill snared two touchdowns from Alex Smith. He finished with four catches for 50 yards, too. I doubt you'll see it again, as Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree will always get more looks, so don't bother diving on Hill just yet.

Vince Young - He didn't throw much, but he was efficient enough to hope he passes more in the upcoming weeks. Plus, he took care of the football and had a rushing touchdown. Good game for V.Y. in real life, and the fantasy goodness will come later.