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Fantasy Football Week 11 Rankings: K

Matt Snyder — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

When slotting fantasy football kickers, there are myriad factors which should be considered. After looking at all of them, I've determined my favorite option for Week 11 is Matt Prater. The Broncos are desperately in need of a win this weekend in a pivotal home tilt against the Chargers. With Kyle Orton banged up, expect the Broncos to try and shorten the game by running the ball and making short throws. These kinds of drives often end up stalling in the red zone. Only two teams have allowed more field goals this season than the Chargers, who have allowed 13 of their 16 field goals in 31 red zone trips. Predicting the top kicker for the week is the most difficult of any position because of all the variables that go into kicker points, but I'm rolling with Prater this week.

Week 11 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers | Player Notes

1. Matt Prater, DEN vs. SD
2. Stephen Gostkowski, NE vs. NYJ
3. Ryan Longwell, MIN vs. SEA
4. Mason Crosby, GB vs. SF
5. Nate Kaeding, SD at DEN
6. Nick Folk, DAL vs. WAS
7. John Carney, NO at TB
8. Lawrence Tynes, NYG vs. ATL
9. Matt Stover, IND at BAL
10. Rob Bironas, TEN at HOU
11. Neil Rackers, ARI at StL
12. David Akers, PHI at CHI
13. Jeff Reed, PIT at KC
14. Robbie Gould, CHI vs. PHI
15. Jason Hanson, DET vs. CLE
16. John Kasay, CAR at MIA
17. Shayne Graham, CIN at OAK
18. Josh Scobee, JAX vs. BUF
19. Kris Brown, HOU vs. TEN
20. Dan Carpenter, MIA at CAR

The top 13 or so are more of the sure bets and slotted according to several factors, such as kicking points allowed by opposition and factoring in the offense's likely ability to move the ball. From 15-17, though, we slot some juicy sleepers.

o. Hanson is such an underrated kicker because he's been relegated to playing on terrible teams for much of his career. Against the Browns, though, he's got a good shot at seeing multiple field goals and extra points as the Lions' offense improves under Matthew Stafford.

o. There are 27 kickers who have outscored Kasay this season, but the Dolphins have allowed more field goals than any other team (in fact, at 21, they have three more than the second-most allowed).

o. There are 20 kickers with more fantasy points than Graham, but the Bengals are playing the Raiders. Oakland has allowed 18 field goals and 23 extra points. Plus, Graham is coming off a 13-point outing.

Fantasy Football Week 11 Rankings: K originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 11 Ranks: D/ST

Ryan Dembinsky — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

For anybody paying close enough attention to realize the offering by the fantasy gods that is the Bengals' home stretch, you begin your three-game win streak here in Week 11. Starting with this week's matchup against the Raiders, this marks the beginning of an Oakland, Cleveland, Detroit three-game run -- all of which are sure to be top-five matchups in our rankings. This week, we mark the Bengals at numero uno.

The second best start this week goes to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who should avenge a tough loss against the aforementioned Bengals with a cupcake matchup versus a Kansas City team that has now lost its starting running back and best receiver in two short weeks. Coupled with a Pittsburgh defense that is tied for third in the NFL in sacks and have forced eight fumbles, the Chiefs are in trouble and Pittsburgh fantasy owners can sleep well.

Week 11 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers | Player Notes

The Packers take the third spot against the sixth worst yardage-producing offense in the league, the 49ers. Coming off their best performance of the season, the Packers' defense looks to be coming together with the fourth-highest interception total in the NFL. Rounding out the top five we have the gruesome front four of the Vikings squaring off against Seattle, as well as the Eagles taking on the Bears who have lost four of their last five games.

1. Bengals, CIN @ OAK
2. Steelers, PIT @ KC
3. Packers, GB vs. SF
4. Vikings, MIN vs. SEA
5. Eagles, PHI @ CHI
6. Cardinals, ARI @ STL
7. Saints, NO @ TB
8. Cowboys, DAL vs. WAS
9. Patriots, NE vs. NYJ
10. Browns, CLE @ DET
11. Colts, IND @ BAL
12. Jaguars, JAX vs. BUF
13. Giants, NYG vs. ATL
14. Lions, DET vs. CLE
15. Seahawks, SEA @ MIN
16. Dolphins, MIA @ CAR
17. Falcons, ATL @ NYG
18. 49ers, SF @ GB
19. Bears, CHI vs. PHI
20. Chargers, SD @ DEN
21. Broncos, DEN vs. SD
22. Titans, TEN @ HOU
23. Bills, BUF @ JAX
24. Ravens, BAL vs. IND
25. Jets, NYJ @ NE
26. Panthers, CAR vs. MIA
27. Redskins, WAS @ DAL
28. Texans, HOU vs. TEN
29. Raiders, OAK vs. CIN
30. Buccaneers, TB vs. NO
31. Rams, STL vs. ARI
32. Chiefs, KC vs. PIT

o. The coin-flip game this week goes to another obvious one, the Lions at home against the Bengals. This should provide high comedy and I'm sure I'll live to regret this, but I like the Lions. After all, the Lions only give up 386 yards per game, whereas the Browns give up a much more pronounced 394 yards per game.

o. Our spot start for the week goes to the Cowboys versus Washington. The Cowboys have been a lackluster unit this season, but the Redskins average only 15.6 points per game on offense and look likely to be playing without Clinton Portis yet again. Plus, Dallas at home never makes for an easy game offensively.

o. Finally, in perusing some other D/ST rankings, I seem to be overly bullish about the Cards against the Rams. I'm confident in this one though as Arizona comes in tied for third in the league with 25 sacks and gives up a respectable 101 yards rushing per game. They stink against the pass at No. 30, but are the Rams really going to pick anyone apart with their passing game?

Fantasy Football Week 11 Ranks: D/ST originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 11 Rankings: TE

Sean Lalley — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

It was hard not to feel a little burnt by Vernon Davis last week. He talks the good talk and it was impossible not to back him up in this space. Well, rest assured that last week was just a speed bump in the ways of fantasy football. Davis should return to his lofty position amongst the elite pass-catching tight end options this week. The 49ers will make sure Davis is involved early and often and a rebound seems to be in the cards.

One other guy known for his talking more so than most and hasn't been gaining a lot of talk in this space is Kellen Winlsow. Ah yes, it's time to acknowledge the solid season he is having. He's thriving on a pretty bad football team, but that doesn't matter to us fantasy owners. Show us the stats and talk all you want soldier, we like it that way. He's got a great rapport building with Josh Freeman and clearly is the best option for the Bucs. He draws the Saints this weekend and he'll be sniffing for the end zone and seeking to continue his ascension. And that's why he's leading us off this week. As for the rest of the ranks ...

Week 11 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers | Player Notes

1. Kellen Winslow, TB vs. NO
2. Antonio Gates, SD at DEN
3. Brent Celek, PHI at CHI
4. Dallas Clark, IND at BAL
5. Vernon Davis, SF at GB
6. Greg Olsen, CHI vs. PHI
7. Jeremy Shockey, NO at TB
8. Tony Gonzalez, ATL at NYG
9. Heath Miller, PIT at KC
10. Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN vs. SEA
11. Jason Witten, DAL vs. WAS
12. Tony Scheffler, DEN vs. SD
13. John Carlson, SEA at MIN
14. Brandon Pettigrew, DET vs. CLE
15. Benjamin Watson, NE vs. NYJ
16. Fred Davis, WAS at DAL
17. Dustin Keller, NYJ at NE
18. Kevin Boss, NYG vs. ATL
19. Todd Heap, BAL vs. IND
20. Zach Miller, OAK vs. CIN
21. Marcedes Lewis, JAC vs. BUF
22. Dante Rosario, CAR at MIA
23. Bo Scaife, TEN at HOU
24. Steve Heiden, CLE at DET
25. Donald Lee, GB vs. SF

o. If you're looking to dig deeper this week or are simply in a pinch, your sneaky play has to be Steve Heiden. Why? Well, because the Detroit Lions get torched each week by opposing tight ends, and to make matters worse they are so banged up on defense they are holding tryouts open to the public this week. I kid, but you get my point -- it's boom or bust as Brady Quinn should seek plenty of check-downs to Heiden.

o. I didn't even blink at the notion of not ranking Witten in the top 10 this week. He's been a gradual disappointment for most of the season at the tight end position. Didn't he used to be a top-five lock each week? Times have changed and the matchup against the Redskins this week will do the talking.

o. All Tony Scheffler does is torment the Chargers when he faces them. He's got four TDs in his last three games against them. And last time out he went over 100 yards and nabbed a late TD catch. You also realize just how bad the Chargers are against opposing tight ends, right? How many times does everyone have to mention this?

o. In a tight end duel this weekend, we'll get to see Brent Celek and Greg Olsen battle for supremacy. Both guys are facing a cushy matchup and should be the focal points of their respective offenses. A lot has changed on the fantasy tight end landscape when we are discussing these two (no offense) as the featured matchup of the weekend.

Fantasy Football Week 11 Rankings: TE originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 11 Rankings: WR

R.J. White — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

Sidney Rice, come on down! You're the next contestant on ... Who Wants to Be a WR1!

Rice, you've joined a list of relatively unheralded wideouts that have emerged as fantasy superstars in 2009, along with the likes of Steve Smith (not the one you drafted in the first five rounds in August), Mike Sims-Walker, and most recently, Miles Austin.

What brought you to this point? How about a 201-yard performance on just seven catches; does that do anything for you?

Moving forward, Rice is a clear-cut WR2 that will flirt with bouts of WR1-dom. If he can throw WR1 numbers up on a consistent basis, my Ronnie Brown-less season might be saved.

On to the rankings ...

Week 11 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers | Player Notes

1. Andre Johnson, HOU vs. TEN
2. Marques Colston, NO at TB
3. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI at STL
4. Reggie Wayne, IND at BAL
5. Randy Moss, NE vs. NYJ
6. Vincent Jackson, SD at DEN
7. Sidney Rice, MIN vs. SEA
8. Wes Welker, NE vs. NYJ
9. DeSean Jackson, PHI at CHI
10. Hines Ward, PIT at KC
11. Roddy White, ATL at NYG
12. Steve Smith, NYG vs. ATL
13. Donald Driver, GB vs. SF
14. Percy Harvin, MIN vs. SEA
15. Miles Austin, DAL vs. WAS
16. Chad Ochocinco, CIN at OAK
17. Calvin Johnson, DET vs. CLE
18. Greg Jennings, GB vs. SF
19. Brandon Marshall, DEN vs. SD
20. Derrick Mason, BAL cs. IND
21. Mike Sims-Walker, JAC vs. BUF
22. Santonio Holmes, PIT at KC
23. Devin Hester, CHI vs. PHI
24. Lee Evans, BUF at JAC
25. Anquan Boldin, ARI at STL
26. Nate Burleson, SEA at MIN
27. Steve Smith, CAR vs. MIA
28. Mike Wallace, PIT at KC
29. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, SEA at MIN
30. Hakeem Nicks, NYG vs. ATL
31. Kevin Walter, HOU vs. TEN
32. Devery Henderson, NO at T
33. Bernard Berrian, MIN vs. SEA
34. Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ at NE
35. Santana Moss, WAS at DAL
36. Terrell Owens, BUF at JAC
37. Mario Manningham, NYG vs. ATL
38. Robert Meachem, NO at TB
39. Steve Breaston, ARI at STL
40. Antonio Bryant, TB vs. NO
41. Jeremy Maclin, PHI at CHI
42. Chris Chambers, KC vs. PIT
43. Donnie Avery, STL vs. ARI
44. Austin Collie, IND at BAL
45. Michael Crabtree, SF at GB
46. James Jones, GB vs. SF
47. Braylon Edwards, NYJ at NE
48. Brandon Gibson, STL vs. ARI
49. Bryant Johnson, DET vs. CLE
50. Nate Washington, TEN at HOU
51. Laveranues Coles, CIN at OAK
52. Roy Williams, DAL vs. WAS
53. Mark Clayton, BAL vs. IND
54. Johnny Knox, CHI vs. PHI
55. Andre Caldwell, CIN at OAK
56. Earl Bennett, CHI vs. PHI
57. Lance Long, KC vs. PIT
58. Malcom Floyd, SD at DEN
59. Pierre Garcon, IND at BAL
60. Sammie Stroughter, TB vs. NO
61. Mohamed Massaquoi, CLE at DET
62. Patrick Crayton, DAL vs. WAS
63. Josh Morgan, SF at GB
64. Jordy Nelson, GB vs. SF
65. Jacoby Jones, HOU vs. TEN
66. Mark Bradley, KC vs. PIT
67. Eddie Royal, DEN vs. SD
68. Muhsin Muhammad, CAR vs. MIA
69. Jason Avant, PHI at CHI
70. Torry Holt, JAC vs. BUF
71. Davone Bess, MIA at CAR
72. Danny Amendola, STL vs. ARI
73. Maurice Stovall, TB vs. NO
74. David Clowney, NYJ at NE
75. Mike Furrey, CLE at DET
76. Greg Camarillo, MIA at CAR
77. Deion Branch, SEA at MIN
78. Ted Ginn, MIA at CAR
79. Kelley Washington, BAL vs. IND
80. Jason Hill, SF at GB

o. Marques Colston has had three catches in the last two weeks combined. So what's he doing at No. 2 on the list? Good question. You would have thought he would burn the Rams last week, but Ronald Bartell did a great job in coverage all day. This week, he takes on Tampa Bay, a team that surrendered 72 yards to Davone Bess in Week 10. I think Colston will be fine.

o. Calvin Johnson should start the climb back to WR1 status this week against Cleveland. I'm not foolishly optimistic enough to put him in the top ten just yet, but I do believe this will be the game you Megatron owners have been waiting for.

o. An already easy matchup for Lee Evans and Terrell Owens got even easier with Rashean Mathis scheduled to miss the game. With safety Gerald Alexander also out, the Bills will have a field day, provided Ryan Fitzpatrick can get the receivers the ball. With no Jag pass rush to speak of, he should have all the time he needs to connect. Evans has actually played better with Fitzpatrick this season, so consider him a very safe WR3 this week.

o. From 4th and 26 to the top 50, Brandon Gibson had a nice little breakout game last week, thanks to an injury to Keenan Burton. With Burton out for the remainder of the season, Gibson will get the chance to prove himself worthy of a big role in 2010 and beyond, which I certainly think he's capable of doing. With Donnie Avery already in tow and Laurent Robinson coming back in 2010, this is suddenly a moderately talented group of Rams receivers.

o. As the boys elucidated in the Cram Session this week, I, the last remaining Eddie Royal believer, have given up on him. He winds up at No. 67 this week in the rankings, as the potential for a big day is always there. Unfortunately, it looks like it may only happen one or two times this season, and repeatedly throwing him out there hoping that this will be the week is foolish. So long, Eddie, and thanks for all the fish.

Fantasy Football Week 11 Rankings: WR originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 11 Rankings: RB

Matt Snyder — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

With nine games in the books, Ricky Williams -- despite being behind Ronnie Brown on the Dolphins' depth chart -- sits at 13th in fantasy points among running backs. Brown is ninth, so the Dolphins have themselves a pretty dynamic duo. For Week 11, they get to feast on the Carolina Panthers' 25th-ranked run defense Thursday night.

And Ricky's left alone in the backfield. With Brown nursing a foot injury, Williams will shoulder the bulk of the Miami offense. He's quite capable, as we've seen in spurts this season. He had 20 carries for over 100 yards last week. This week, he's gonna get the ball more often and run wild. Only the new "big three" are better options.

Week 11 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers | Player Notes

1. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX vs. BUF
2. Chris Johnson, TEN at HOU
3. Adrian Peterson, MIN vs. SEA
4. Ricky Williams, MIA at CAR
5. Steven Jackson, StL vs. ARI
6. Ray Rice, BAL vs. IND
7. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT at KC
8. DeAngelo Williams, CAR vs. MIA
9. Thomas Jones, NYJ at NE
10. Brandon Jacobs, NYG vs. ATL
11. Pierre Thomas, NO at TB
12. Matt Forte, CHI vs. PHI
13. Frank Gore, SF at GB
14. Kevin Smith, DET vs. CLE
15. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD at DEN
16. Joseph Addai, IND at BAL
17. Knowshon Moreno, DEN vs. SD
18. Beanie Wells, ARI at StL
19. Ryan Grant, GB vs. SF
20. LeSean McCoy, PHI at CHI**
21. Jonathan Stewart, CAR vs. MIA
22. Bernard Scott, CIN at OAK**
23. Steve Slaton, HOU vs. TEN
24. Ladell Betts, WAS at DAL**
25. Cadillac Williams, TB vs. NO
26. Marion Barber, DAL vs. WAS
27. Jason Snelling, ATL at NYG**
28. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG vs. ATL
29. Marshawn Lynch, BUF at JAX
30. Fred Jackson, BUF at JAX
31. Tim Hightower, ARI at StL
32. Jamal Lewis, CLE at DET
33. Laurence Maroney, NE vs. NYJ
34. Justin Forsett, SEA at MIN**
35. Jamaal Charles, KC vs. PIT
36. Mike Bell, NO at TB
37. Michael Bush, OAK vs. CIN
38. Ryan Moats, HOU vs. TEN
39. Donald Brown, IND at BAL
40. Justin Fargas, OAK vs. CIN
41. Felix Jones, DAL vs. WAS
42. Sammy Morris, NE vs. NYJ
43. Tashard Choice, DAL vs. WAS
44. Larry Johnson, CIN at OAK
45. Leonard Weaver, PHI at CHI

* Rankings edited to remove Reggie Bush 11/21. Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell each received a boost.

**These were compiled with the thought process that Cedric Benson, Michael Turner, Brian Westbrook, Clinton Portis, and Julius Jones would not play this week.

We will update the rankings if there is differing news about the status of these players. Some other stuff ...

o. Mendenhall had a rough go last week, but the only team tougher on the run than Cincy is his own. This week, Mendy gets the Swiss Chiefs. I expect some early passing fireworks for Big Ben and company and a lot of running in the second half as they run down the clock to victory.

o. The rookie first-rounders (Moreno and Wells) both had solid weeks last week and will look to maintain success against poor run defenses. Both are very solid RB2s this week.

o. Frank Gore is building up a good first-round-type resume after his return from injury, but visiting Green Bay isn't exactly a paradise for opposing running backs. The Cowboys couldn't run for the life of themselves last week and the Pack ranks fourth in the NFL in run defense. Of course, the Niners are third, so Grant takes a big bump as well. Expect this game to be an aerial one.

o. I'm expecting the Giants to get back to the basics after a four-game losing streak and a bye to recoup. This means an emphasis on running the football, and they are facing the Falcons and their 26th-ranked run defense. Jacobs is an excellent RB2 this week and Bradshaw will be a good flex play.

o. The Saints will be able to run all over Tampa if they want, but -- after seeing what happened last week -- I'm reluctant to push Pierre Thomas any higher. It's just such an unpredictable situation that I'd rather be playing guys like Moreno, Addai and Tomlinson because they are guaranteed carries.

o. Finally, there's no way Tony Sparano is going to use Williams alone in the backfield all game. We know they like moving bodies in and out. Unfortunately, Patrick Cobbs is out for the season, so it's tough to recommend any sleeper-type fill-in as the second back. I'd expect some use of Pat White in the backfield and they may even mix in Tyler Thigpen some as well. If they do look to lean on a running back after Ricky, Lex Hilliard is the next in line on the depth chart. For now, there's absolutely no reason to look for fantasy help from him, though.

Fantasy Football Week 11 Rankings: RB originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 11 Rankings: QB

R.J. White — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

Your No. 1 QB overall isn't Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. It isn't Drew Brees or early-season hero Matt Schaub either. It's the one and only Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers presents the perfect example of why it's unnecessary to draft a QB in the first two rounds. He was a late-third or early-fourth round pick in most leagues and he's performing just as well as the big boys.

Sure, Brady and Manning offer you peace of mind, but with the RB and WR rankings constantly in flux, it's a much better idea to load up on talent at each of those positions, then snag a QB like Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner, Donovan McNabb or Tony Romo a bit later. You could probably win your league with one of these guys and a good group of RBs and WRs. Teams with Manning or Brady and a weaker group of RBs and WRs will likely have more trouble in the playoffs.

Week 11 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers | Player Notes

1. Matt Schaub, HOU vs. TEN
2. Drew Brees, NO at TB
3. Aaron Rodgers, GB vs. SF
4. Kurt Warner, ARI at STL
5. Tom Brady, NE vs. NYJ
6. Peyton Manning, IND at BAL
7. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT at KC
8. Brett Favre, MIN vs. SEA
9. Donovan McNabb, PHI at CHI
10. Tony Romo, DAL vs. WAS
11. Carson Palmer, CIN at OAK
12. Jay Cutler, CHI vs. PHI
13. Philip Rivers, SD at DEN
14. Eli Manning, NYG vs. ATL
15. Matt Hasselbeck, SEA at MIN
16. Matt Ryan, ATL at NYG
17. Joe Flacco, BAL vs. IND
18. Jason Campbell, WAS at DAL
19. David Garrard, JAC vs. BUF
20. Alex Smith, SF at GB
21. Matthew Stafford, DET vs. CLE
22. Jake Delhomme, CAR vs. MIA
23. Matt Cassel, KC vs. PIT
24. Marc Bulger, STL vs. ARI
25. Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF at JAC
26. Mark Sanchez, NYJ at NE
27. Vince Young, TEN at HOU
28. Josh Freeman, TB vs. NO
29. Kyle Orton, DEN vs. SD
30. Brady Quinn, CLE at DET
31. Chad Henne, MIA at CAR
32. Bruce Gradkowski, OAK vs. CIN

o. Brett Favre might seem a little low at No. 8, but if you check this week's Over/Under column you'll see we all think he'll have a good day. That should make you feel great if your starting one of the top seven as well, including Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers have turned into more of a passing team, and the Chiefs don't have enough talent to cover all the Pittsburgh weapons.

o. Philip Rivers sees a low ranking this week, though he definitely has a decent chance at outperforming it. The opposing defensive matchup is tough, but Rivers did throw for 274 yards and a touchdown in his first game against Denver. If he can maintain the yardage total, limit mistakes, and add one more score on that performance, you'll be happy with his day.

o. Joe Flacco also earned a somewhat conservative ranking this week. The Colts have been a great passing defense this year, but the secondary is riddled with injuries at this point of the season. Tom Brady carved them up for 375 yards and three TDs last week, and while it's foolish to think Flacco can match that type of day, I wouldn't be surprised to see him sneak into the top 10 this week when all is said and done.

o. Alright, Brady Quinn. I ranked you over Chad Henne this week. He threw down the gauntlet, throwing for 172 yards and a touchdown on Monday night and not throwing a single interception (though he did fumble once). That's what you have to beat to vindicate my absurdly high No. 30 ranking for you.

Fantasy Football Week 11 Rankings: QB originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: K

Matt Snyder — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

What do you get when you have the league's fourth-highest scoring kicker squaring off -- in a dome, no less -- against the team who has allowed the most kicking points in the NFL? An easy No. 1 fantasy kicker ranking, that's what.

Ryan Longwell has only been outscored by three other kickers this season -- and one of them is on a bye this week. He's made 13 of 14 field goal attempts and all 29 extra points. The Lions have been on the receiving end of 27 extra points and 14 field goals thus far in 2009. Expecting double digit points from your kicker is rarely feasible -- due to the fickle nature of kickers -- but you can do so here, Longwell owners.

Week 10 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers

1. Ryan Longwell, MIN vs. DET
2. Stephen Gostkowski, NE at IND
3. David Akers, PHI at SD
4. Rob Bironas, TEN vs. BUF
5. Matt Prater, DEN at WAS
6. Robbie Gould, CHI at SF
7. Dan Carpenter, MIA vs. TB
8. John Carney, NO at StL
9. Nick Folk, DAL at GB
10. Mason Crosby, GB vs. DAL
11. Nate Kaeding, SD vs. PHI
12. Steven Hauschka, BAL at CLE
13. Jay Feely, NYJ vs. JAX
14. Joe Nedney, SF vs. CHI
15. Matt Stover, IND vs. NE
16. Olindo Mare, SEA at ARI
17. Neil Rackers, ARI vs. SEA
18. Josh Scobee, JAX at NYJ
19. Ryan Succop, KC at OAK
20. Sebastian Janikowski, OAK vs. KC

o. Bironas, along with his entire team, is back. He was one of the most reliable kickers the past few years, but struggled with consistency earlier this season as his team was a major disappointment. Now it seems as though the Titans have figured things out and Bironas has accrued 24 points in the past two weeks. Don't expect him to slow down against the Bills at home.

o. Prater is a really good bet for field goals this week. The Broncos' offense has sputtered the past two weeks. They will be able to better move the ball against the Redskins, but Washington plays solid defense once in their own territory. Only the Dolphins have allowed more field goals, but the Redskins have only allowed 13 extra points -- tying them for second-best in the NFL.

o. A good sleeper this week is Hauschka. The Browns have give up 23 extra points and 14 field goals this season, meaning they give up more than eight kicking points per week. The Ravens offense should have no trouble getting in the red zone all game. Mix in a few field goals with their many touchdowns and Hauschka is in for a big week.

o. Two "hail Mary" type sleepers are Succop and Janikowski. It's tough to count on either offense, regardless of the matchup, and that's why they are ranked 19 and 20, respectively. Still, there is a real shot for either one -- or both -- to have a solid kicking game. Both the Raiders and Chiefs have allowed 22 extra points and 15 field goals this season. That's an average of more than eight kicking points per game.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: K originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 10 Ranks: D/ST

Ryan Dembinsky — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

Start licking those chops folks, because we have not seen such a potentially impactful bunch of defense-friendly matchups since very early in the season. A number of the league's best defensive units play cream puff games this week, which means the return of some big scores.

The top slot goes to the Saints, who get the honor of walking all over the hapless Rams. What do you get when you cross a team that scores an average of 9.6 points per game with a team that has 16 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles, and 7 defensive touchdowns? The answer: about 25 fantasy points for the Saints' defense.

Week 10 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers

Rounding out the middle of our top five at numbers two, three, and four, we have the Ravens taking on the league's second worst offense in the Browns (9.8 points per game, 221 yards per game), the Vikings at home against the Lions, and the Eagles bringing their 22 forced turnovers and 27 sacks to San Diego.

Finally at number five, look for a bounce back game from Denver to end their skid against the struggling Redskins. Despite a few lousy performances as of late, the Broncos still allow the third best points per game at 15.5 and rank third in the league in sacks. Playing the surging Steelers and playing the Redskins are entirely different stories, so get ready for a big return to grace for Denver.

1. Saints, NO @ STL
2. Ravens, BAL @ CLE
3. Vikings, MIN vs. DET
4. Eagles, PHI @ SD
5. Broncos, DEN @ WAS
6. Bears, Chicago @ SF
7. Steelers, PIT vs. CIN
8. Packers, GB vs. DAL
9. Falcons, ATL @ CAR
10. Bengals, CIN @ PIT
11. Raiders, OAK vs. KC
12. Jets, NYJ vs. JAX
13. Bills, BUF @ TEN
14. 49ers, SF vs. CHI
15. Dolphins, MIA vs. TB
16. Titans, TEN vs. BUF
17. Seahawks, SEA @ ARI
18. Chargers, SD vs. PHI
19. Patriots, NE @ IND
20. Cardinals, ARI vs. SEA
21. Colts, IND vs. NE
22. Cowboys, DAL @ GB
23. Jaguars, JAX @ NYJ
24. Lions, DET @ MIN
25. Buccaneers, TB @ MIA
26. Panthers, CAR vs. ATL
27. Chiefs, KC @ OAK
28. Redskins, WAS vs. DEN
29. Browns, CLE vs. BAL
30. Rams, STL vs. NO

Notes

o. The coin flip start of the week goes to your choice of the Chiefs or the Raiders. This looks to have the makings of a turnover heavy slop-fest. I think either way you go here, you are guaranteed at least a handful of fantasy points. It's just a matter of whether or not you can stomach starting one of these defenses. Of the two, I like the Raiders a lot better.

o. My sleeper for the week goes to the Bills on the road against the Titans. The Bills give up a lot of points (21 per game), but they also intercept a lot of passes (15). Certainly Chris Johnson plays a role here, but look for the Titans -- the worst defense in the league -- to let the Bills get out front and force this to turn to the air; and thus fall into Buffalo's hands.

o. The trendy pick of the week for a spot start goes to Miami against the Buccaneers at home. Watch out for Josh Freeman here. He picked apart a better defense than the Dolphins in Green Bay, so do not be quite so confident.

o. Finally, coming in at #30, the Rams look like about the worst defensive start in fantasy history. This one should be very interesting, friends. Remember my question at the beginning of this post? Flip it around: What do you get when you cross a team that scores an average of 37.9 points per game with a team that allows 27.6 points per game? You don't wanna know.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Ranks: D/ST originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: TE

Sean Lalley — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

The list of reliable, legit and valuable fantasy tight end options is shrinking with each injury. We still know who can and can't trust to an extent, but there is certainly a big plunge into uncertainty and inconsistency once we go past the usual suspects. In this odd year of ups and downs at the tight end position, it couldn't be more fitting that the once cast aside and left for dead Vernon Davis leads the way this week and perhaps for the remainder of the season.

Davis has shed the bust label and now he's even talking up a storm heading into Thursday night against the Bears. Surprisingly, I won't be shocked if he backs up all the smack. Yes, it's that kind of season.

Week 10 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers

Where in the world has Antonio Gates been as of late? He's got just two TD's on the season and they both came in the same game. We should fully expect Gates to find the endzone and get it going this weekend against the Eagles. However, on the flip side - Brent Celek should also take advantage of the Chargers sore spot on defense and that's keeping the opposing tight end out of the endzone. Look for Celek to make it back-to-back weeks with a score. And as for the rest of the ranks...

1. Vernon Davis, SF vs. CHI
2. Antonio Gates, SD vs. PHI
3. Brent Celek, PHI at SD
4. Dallas Clark, IND vs. NE
5. Jeremy Shockey, NO at CAR
6. Tony Gonzalez, ATL at CAR
7. Kellen Winslow, TB at MIA
8. Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN vs. DET
9. Jason Witten, DAL at GB
10. Greg Olsen, CHI at SF
11. Zach Miller, OAK vs. KC
12. Heath Miller, PIT vs. CIN
13. Todd Heap, BAL at CLE
14. John Carlson, SEA at ARI
15. Dustin Keller, NYJ vs. JAC
16. Benjamin Watson, NE at IND
17. Fred Davis, WAS vs. DEN
18. Brandon Pettigrew, DET at MIN
19. Donald Lee, GB vs. DAL
20. Marcedes Lewis, JAC at NYJ
21. Tony Scheffler, DEN at WAS
22. Anthony Fasano, MIA vs. TB
23. Bo Scaife, TEN vs. BUF

o. It's time to bump Tony Gonzalez down just a touch and that's based simply on the poor play from Matt Ryan as of late. It's a great matchup for Gonzo this week, so don't even consider benching him. The point being, he's just not Top 5 worthy this week.

o. Kellen Winslow and Josh Freeman are on the same page. Winslow has emerged as Freeman's go-to-guy in this offense. Fun fact, is that the Dolphins are among the worst teams at stopping the opposing TE. Look for Winslow to build upon his chemistry from last week and produce another solid day for your team.

o. It's certainly not wise to jump ship on Jason Witten, but we've been expecting more from a guy tabbed to be one of the top fantasy TE's around. Well, last week we saw the ball go his way a little more. He should find a few openings against the ailing Packers defense.

o. All aboard the Brandon Pettigrew express. However, just make sure you don't get too giddy about playing the rookie. Sure, he looked solid last week, but faces a much tougher go of it in Minnesota this weekend.

o. Lastly, one guy to keep an eye on this week would be Todd Heap. He's been rather quiet most of the season, but could benefit as a sneaky play against the Browns.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: TE originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: WR

R.J. White — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

For anyone who drops by the chats, you know I'm a huge fan of Mike Sims-Walker. I suggest him as a start repeatedly nearly every week. Finally, those MSW haters out there can rejoice, because for one week, I'm cooling my jets with him.

He's up against the New York Jets, and who do you think Darrell Revis will be shadowing? The eminently stoppable Torry Holt or our guy MSW? Yeah, I thought so.

He's likely too good to bench for most of you, but if you're debating between MSW and another top-20 option for that last starting spot, I'd go with the
other guy.

Week 10 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers

1. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI vs. SEA
2. Randy Moss, NE at IND
3. Vincent Jackson, SD vs. PHI
4. Chad Ochocinco, CIN at PIT
5. Reggie Wayne, IND vs. NE
6. Wes Welker, NE at IND
7. Sidney Rice, MIN vs. DET
8. Donald Driver, GB vs. DAL
9. Nate Burleson, SEA at ARI
10. Percy Harvin, MIN vs. DET
11. Miles Austin, DAL at GB
12. Anquan Boldin, ARI vs. SEA
13. Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ vs. JAC
14. Derrick Mason, BAL at CLE
15. Marques Colston, NO at STL
16. Devin Hester, CHI at SF
17. Greg Jennings, GB vs. DAL
18. DeSean Jackson, PHI at SD
19. Hines Ward, PIT vs. CIN
20. Steve Breaston, ARI vs. SEA
21. Dwayne Bowe, KC at OAK
22. Mike Sims-Walker, JAC at NYJ
23. Brandon Marshall, DEN at WAS
24. Braylon Edwards, NYJ vs. JAC
25. Lee Evans, BUF at TEN
26. Bernard Berrian, MIN vs. DET
27. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, SEA at ARI
28. Roddy White, ATL at CAR
29. Calvin Johnson, DET at MIN
30. Steve Smith, CAR vs. ATL
31. Santonio Holmes, PIT vs. CIN
32. Michael Crabtree, SF vs. CHI
33. Laveranues Coles, CIN at PIT
34. Johnny Knox, CHI at SF
35. Mike Wallace, PIT vs. CIN
36. ~~Antonio Bryant, TB at MIA~~
37. Mark Clayton, BAL at CLE
38. Terrell Owens, BUF at TEN
39. Andre Caldwell, CIN at PIT
40. Earl Bennett, CHI at SF
41. Santana Moss, WAS vs. DEN
42. Davone Bess, MIA vs. TB
43. Roy Williams, DAL at GB
44. James Jones, GB vs. DAL
45. Bryant Johnson, DET at MIN
46. Greg Camarillo, MIA vs. TB
47. Devery Henderson, NO at STL
48. Donnie Avery, STL vs. NO
49. David Clowney, NYJ vs. JAC
50. Jeremy Maclin, PHI at SD
51. Josh Morgan, SF vs. CHI
52. Austin Collie, IND vs. NE
53. Robert Meachem, NO at STL
54. Ted Ginn, MIA vs. TB
55. Joshua Cribbs, CLE vs. BAL
56. Patrick Crayton, DAL at GB
57. Malcom Floyd, SD vs. PHI
58. Keenan Burton, STL vs. NO
59. Eddie Royal, DEN at WAS
60. Mohamed Massaquoi, CLE vs. BAL
61. Chris Chambers, KC at OAK
62. Deion Branch, SEA at ARI
63. Sammie Stroughter, TB at MIA
64. Brian Hartline, MIA vs. TB
65. Jason Hill, SF vs. CHI
66. Kelley Washington, BAL at CLE
67. Pierre Garcon, IND vs. NE
68. Muhsin Muhammad, CAR vs. ATL
69. Louis Murphy, OAK vs. KC
70. Torry Holt, JAC at NYJ
71. Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK vs. KC
72. Brandon Gibson, STL vs. NO
73. Nate Washington, TEN vs. BUF
74. Danny Amendola, STL vs. NO
75. Mike Thomas, JAC at NYJ
76. Sam Aiken, NE at IND
77. Michael Jenkins, ATL at CAR
78. Michael Clayton, TB at MIA
79. Jason Avant, PHI at SD
80. Brandon Stokley, DEN at WAS

o. The five best wide receivers in fantasy football (in terms of average points per game) are Vincent Jackson, Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald, Wes Welker and Randy Moss. Of those five, only Fitzgerald isn't impeded by a tough matchup. In fact, up against the Seahawks, I expect big things for two Arizona receivers this week. In their first meeting, Fitzgerald torched the Seahawks for 100 yards and a TD on 13 catches. I just made you PPR Fitzgerald owners drool just a bit. Steve Breaston added 77 yards and a TD on seven catches, while Anquan Boldin hauled in six balls for 54 yards. Boldin is likely playing in Week 10, so start 'em all this week.

o. Speaking of easy matchups, there should enough fantasy points to go around in Minnesota. We listed Brett Favre as a top-five option this week, and we remain consistent by loving Sidney Rice as a WR1 and Percy Harvin as a high-end WR2 against the Lions. Favre was 23 of 27 in his first game against Detroit, and although he didn't have many yards to his credit, the Lions defense hasn't been stopping many QBs lately, as everyone but Marc Bulger has torched them in their last four games.

o. Roddy White comes in low this week due to injury concerns. His first time against the Panthers, he managed 53 yards and a TD on six catches, decent if unspectacular numbers from the WR1. He's too good to bench if he plays, but have another healthier option standing by just in case.

o. With no Jacksonville pass rush to speak of, and with Jaguar cornerbacks unable to stop anyone, I'm hitching my car to the Jets receivers this week. Coming out of a bye week, the Jets have had a chance to get healthy and prepare for this game in full. Meanwhile, the Jaguars barely managed a home win against the Chiefs. I see both Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards scoring and putting up good yardage numbers here.

o. Michael Crabtree looked the part of breakout WR against the Bears, but his final numbers left something to be desired (four catches, 48 yards). I have a feeling most of you were higher on Crabtree than my sub-30 ranking would have suggested; remember that he's still playing the first few games of his NFL career (and this is without the normal preseason preparation most rookies endure). He's going to have one or two great games this year at some point, but you're better off not starting him every week and hoping for the best, especially you have have decent depth.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: WR originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: RB

Matt Snyder — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

In Monday morning's Reality Check this week, I proclaimed that I liked Chris Johnson more than Adrian Peterson -- and everyone else, obviously -- for the rest of the season and in 2010 as the top fantasy running back. In Week 10, I'm already posed with a test. Peterson gets to square off against the hapless Lions. Julius Jones was a stud against them last week and Peterson's coming off a bye week.

Of course, Johnson is taking on the league's worst run defense at home. The Bills allow 5.1 yards per carry, 173.6 yards rushing per game and have given up 12 rushing touchdowns. I'll be surprised if Johnson comes in with less than 150 yards and two touchdowns, but I'm expecting closer to 200 and three. Seriously.

Week 10 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers

1. Chris Johnson, TEN vs. BUF
2. Adrian Peterson, MIN vs. DET
3. Ray Rice, BAL at CLE
4. DeAngelo Williams, CAR vs. ATL
5. Michael Turner, ATL at CAR
6. Frank Gore, SF vs. CHI
7. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX at NYJ
8. Thomas Jones, NYJ vs. JAX
9. Steven Jackson, StL vs. NO
10. Cedric Benson, CIN at PIT
11. Ronnie Brown, MIA vs. TB
12. Pierre Thomas, NO at StL
13. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT vs. CIN
14. Joseph Addai, IND vs. NE
15. Ryan Grant, GB vs. DAL
16. Marion Barber, DAL at GB
17. Marshawn Lynch, BUF at TEN
18. Matt Forte, CHI at SF
19. Ricky Williams, MIA vs. TB
20. Laurence Maroney, NE at IND
21. Brian Westbrook*, PHI at SD
22. Justin Fargas, OAK vs. KC
23. Ladell Betts, WAS vs. DEN
24. Jonathan Stewart, CAR vs. ATL
25. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD vs. PHI
26. Tim Hightower, ARI vs. SEA
27. Kevin Smith, DET at MIN
28. Knowshon Moreno, DEN at WAS
29. Beanie Wells, ARI vs. SEA
30. Reggie Bush, NO at StL
31. Cadillac Williams, TB at MIA
32. Julius Jones, SEA at ARI
33. Correll Buckhalter, DEN at WAS
34. LeSean McCoy*, PHI at SD
35. Jamaal Charles, KC at OAK
36. Shonn Greene, NYJ vs. JAX
37. Mike Bell, NO at StL
38. Tashard Choice, DAL at GB
39. Darren Sproles, SD vs. PHI
40. Darren McFadden, OAK vs. KC
41. Kolby Smith, KC at OAK
42. Chester Taylor, MIN vs. DET
43. Jamal Lewis, CLE vs. BAL
44. Felix Jones, DAL at GB
45. Willis McGahee, BAL at CLE

*This is obviously assuming Westbrook plays. For now, I'm holding out hope he will. They won't run him into the ground or anything, but he matches up quite well with San Diego and could put up some numbers if he goes. I still believe they keep McCoy involved, though.

o. One thing you should start noticing from here on out is that we've established our definite, every week RB1 guys. We've seen at least eight games from everyone, so we know what we have for the 2009 season. The top 10 you see above are the absolute must-starts, no matter the opponent. Neither team on a bye -- Giants, Texans -- has a must-start, so we could conclude that, as of right now, this would be the top 10 for next season (not necessarily this order, just these 10 guys). Obviously, things are always subject to change, but that's how it looks for now.

o. Expect both Williams and Brown to run all over the Bucs. Tampa ranks 30th against the run in the NFL and allows 4.8 yards per carry. Due to their dynamic duo and creativity, the Dolphins rank fourth in the NFL in rushing offense. They'll have some fun.

o. The Broncos are coming off two straight losses, a short week and the realization that Kyle Orton isn't as allergic to interceptions as they previously thought. Considering a loss to the hapless Redskins would be a disaster, expect them to let their defense win the game against a lackluster Washington offense. Thus, they will run the ball frequently with Moreno and Buckhalter, as opposed to last week when they totally avoided the Steelers' top-ranked run defense by only rushing 14 times.

o. Love Justin Fargas as an under-the-radar play. He's available in way too many leagues, by the way. Seriously, he's only owned in 25 percent of the fleaflicker leagues out there while Willis McGahee is owned in 69 percent. What is going on? Since Week 6, Fargas has 33.7 points in three games while McGahee has 0.6 in three. Also, Darren McFadden, who is easily less productive than Fargas when on the field, is still owned in 54 percent of fleaflicker leagues. It would seem Fargas' name just isn't sexy enough.

o. There's obviously something about Charles that head coach Todd Haley doesn't like in a guy who gets a full workload. For a while, he was using the unproductive Larry Johnson over him, and last week the Chiefs only gave Charles six carries. Thus, take a look at Kolby Smith in the deepest of leagues. I'm expecting a split this time around against a sad Raiders rush defense.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: RB originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: QB

R.J. White — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

Only Matt Schaub owners (and maybe Eli Manning owners in really deep leagues) are suffering this week. If you somehow have both, shame on you for not planning ahead!

Brett Favre is back from an off week and runs smack into the Detroit Lions defense. A matchup like that coupled with the statistical performance that Favre has turned in makes him a lock for the top five this week.

Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are the two best fantasy QBs right now (in my opinion), with Schaub and Eli's brother just behind them. Where do they all rank this week?

Week 10 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers

1. Aaron Rodgers, GB vs. DAL
2. Drew Brees, NO at STL
3. Tom Brady, NE at IND
4. Brett Favre, MIN vs. DET
5. Peyton Manning, IND vs. NE
6. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT vs. CIN
7. Tony Romo, DAL at GB
8. Kurt Warner, ARI vs. SEA
9. Philip Rivers, SD vs. PHI
10. Carson Palmer, CIN at PIT
11. Joe Flacco, BAL at CLE
12. Jay Cutler, CHI at SF
13. Donovan McNabb, PHI at SD
14. Mark Sanchez, NYJ vs. JAC
15. Matt Hasselbeck, SEA at ARI
16. Alex Smith, SF vs. CHI
17. Matt Cassel, KC at OAK
18. Chad Henne, MIA vs. TB
19. Matt Ryan, ATL at CAR
20. Matthew Stafford, DET at MIN
21. Josh Freeman, TB at MIA
22. Trent Edwards, BUF at TEN
23. JaMarcus Russell, OAK vs. KC
24. Kyle Orton, DEN at WAS
25. David Garrard, JAC at NYJ
26. Jake Delhomme, CAR vs. ATL
27. Jason Campbell, WAS vs. DEN
28. Brady Quinn, CLE vs. BAL
29. Vince Young, TEN vs. BUF
30. Marc Bulger, STL vs. NO

o. No. 12 ended up being much too high for Jay Cutler. The 300-plus yards saved him to an extent, especially if you play in a league with yardage bonuses, but five interceptions will ruin your team's chances every time. When coach Josh McDaniels traded Cutler for Kyle Orton this season, who knew he was getting the better QB? Because of the yardage, Cutler actually outperformed Alex Smith, who managed just 118 yards despite a near-70 percent completion rate.

o. Some of you are likely a little scared by Peyton Manning's tough matchup this week. Don't be. He steps up his already-stellar game during primetime, and you have to think he'll be at his absolute best against this level of competition. If you have Manning, you likely don't have any of our top-three QBs this week, but the real challenge comes down to whether you have Brett Favre as your QB2. As you can see, I like Favre to outplay Manning by a little bit. We'll see if I'm right.

o. Joe Flacco is earning a lot of love for his cake matchup this week, but it's important to note that the Browns don't give too much up through the air, as least not as much as you'd expect. With a hoss at RB, Baltimore will likely thrash the Cleveland front seven in an easy win. Flacco may look great now, but he could easily have a line like 14 for 18, 200 yards, 1 TD in a blowout win. I'll still take the established QB1s over him.

o. I usually love Donovan McNabb, but this matchup has me looking at him pessimistically this week. I obviously sold him at least a little short by sticking him behind Cutler. I need to point out that most teams do their damage against San Diego on the ground, but we know that Philly relies on the run much less often than most teams. I'd bank on the two Philly RBs seeing more looks than usual, and McNabb's yardage curtailed as a result.

o. There may be a section of the fantasy community that still sees Matt Ryan as a QB1, thanks to his 2008 heroics and memorable games sticking out in the minds of many. To me, he's a clear QB2, one that you're only starting in favorable fantasy matchups. Week 10 brings Carolina, a team that doesn't allow much through the air and is much easier to run against. With Michael Turner hitting his stride, the Falcons should lean on the rushing game all day. Ryan should be sat.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: QB originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: K

Matt Snyder — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

Stephen Gostkowski has been one of the highest point-scoring kickers this season, so you'll always find him toward the top of the rankings. This week seems even more sure-fire, though, for two reasons. First of all, the Patriots' once-vaunted offense seemed to be back on track prior to a bye week, in which they were able to rest and further prepare. Secondly, only the Browns, Chiefs and Raiders have allowed more kicking points than the Pats' opponent this week, Miami. Gostkowski as the top kicking option is a no-brainer.

1. Stephen Gostkowski, NE vs. MIA
2. Lawrence Tynes, NYG vs. SD
3. Mason Crosby, GB at TB
4. John Carney, NO vs. CAR
5. David Akers, PHI vs. DAL

Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF | Sleepers

6. Nick Folk, DAL at PHI
7. Joe Nedney, SF vs. TEN
8. Nate Kaeding, SD at NYG
9. Robbie Gould, CHI vs. ARI
10. Shayne Graham, CIN vs. BAL
11. Olindo Mare, SEA vs. DET
12. Josh Scobee, JAX vs. KC
13. Jeff Reed, PIT at DEN
14. Matt Stover, IND vs. HOU
15. Rob Bironas, TEN at SF
16. Kris Brown, HOU at IND
17. Steven Hauschka, BAL at CIN
18. Neil Rackers, ARI at CHI
19. Dan Carpenter, MIA at NE
20. Matt Prater, DEN vs. PIT

- A couple of good sleepers this week who haven't scored a lot of points thus far: Mare and Graham. Olindo's Seahawks face the Lions at home. The Lions have allowed 25 extra points and 10 field goals to this point. Also, Graham's Bengals face a Ravens' team who has coughed up 13 field goals and will likely be able to stop the Bengals in field goal range a few times.

- I could have included Scobee above, but anytime you think he's in line to do something he puts up jack-squat. He's tough to ignore against a Kansas City team who has allowed 19 extra points and 14 field goals, but he's had three straight bad games in similar situations. Against the Seahawks, Rams and Titans, Scobee has combined for just six total points. So, yeah, the matchup looks tasty, but he could always burn you again. Proceed with caution.

- Bironas has put himself back on the map after a good outing against the Jags and now gets a 49ers team who has allowed 12 field goals. It's tough to rank him any higher, though, because we're worried the Titans can't move the ball well against San Fran -- and if Chris Johnson breaks one (likely) Bironas will only be left with an extra point chance instead of a three-pointer.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: K originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: D/ST

Ryan Dembinsky — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

In preparing this weeks defensive unit rankings, I came upon a glaring oddity. The Seattle Seahawks rank dead last at intercepting opposing quarterbacks. Why you might ask then, do we rank them number one this week?

Well, first of all the Lions passing game continues to struggle with both Matt Stafford nursing and injury and Calvin Johnson looking unlikely to return (check back for the game-time call) in time for Week 9, but also Seatle cornerback Marcus Truffant has something to prove. After missing the first six games of the season, the 2007 pro-bowler played like absolute garbage last week, earning three pass interference calls that led to touchdown drives. Hence, look for Truffant and company to take it out on Detroit.

Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF | Sleepers

Plus, Detroit travels all the way to Seattle after losing to one of the worst teams in the NFL, the St. Louis Rams. Things simply are not falling into place for Detroit this season. Detroit gives up nearly 30 points per game on defense and suffers terrible secondary woes of their own. Hence, look for Seattle's offense to run the score up big and force the Lions into a shoot out. I predict a three interception effort from Stafford who didn't even complete a pass last week until the fourth quarter. To be clear, neither of these teams is good, but the Seahawks are far less bad. Hence start them with confidence on Sunday.

Our number two start this week goes to Atlanta, who despite the high score against posted by the Saints on Monday, looked solid on defense with an interception, a pair of sacks, and a fumble return for a touchdown. Both the Giants and Broncos face tough matchups in the Chargers and Steelers respectively, but both have top five defenses and need bounce back games after tough losses last week (two in a row for the G-Men).

Rounding out the top five, the Packers with their 11 interceptions and six forced fumbles, should make micemeat out of the lowly 0-7 Buccanners -- who average only about 14 points per game on offense. Not only are the Bucs bad, but they have only really played in two close games all season.

1. Seahawks, SEA vs. DET
2. Falcons, ATL vs. WAS
3. Giants, NYG vs. SD
4. Broncos, DEN vs. PIT
5. Packers, GB @ TB
6. Jaguars, JAX vs. KC
7. Eagles, PHI vs. DAL
8. Saints, NO vs. CAR
9. Ravens, BAL @ CIN
10. Cardinals, ARI @ CHI
11. 49ers, SF vs. TEN
12. Bears, CHI vs. ARI
13. Steelers, PIT @ DEN
14. Cowboys, DAL @ PHI
15. Patriots, NE vs. MIA
16. Chargers, SD @ NYG
17. Colts, IND vs. HOU
18. Bengals, CIN vs. BAL
19. Dolphins, MIA @ NE
20. Panthers, CAR @ NO
21. Titans, TEN @ SF
22. Buccaneers, TB vs. GB
23. Lions, DET @ SEA
24. Texans, HOU @ IND
25. Chiefs, KC @ JAX
26. Redskins, WAS @ ATL

Notes

o. Fickle as they are, most fantasy players already wrote off last week's defensive darlings in the Cardinals, but watch out for a rebound game against the Bears. While we saw Matt Forte play his first great game of the season last week, the Cards typically thrive against the run, so this could stack up in their favor. Every team plays a bad game game now and then, so hopefully last week's train wreck for the Cards was just an anomaly.

o. The Panthers playing at New Orleans should be an interesting one to watch. While starting any unit against the Saints this season would be downright idiotic, the Panthers have won three of their last four games and the defense is playing really well lately, so look for a better game than most people expect in this one -- and possibly the first big upset for Brees and company,

o. As for groups I typically like, but suggest avoiding this week, the Colts against Houston scares me as Matt Schaub and company will likely post decent stats, the Baltimore offense and Ray Rice will be too much for Cincinatti to handle, and forget about the Texans stopping the Colts.

o. For the goofball play of the week, try the Jaguars against Kansas City. I don't think the Chiefs can crack 300 yards even without Larry Johnson slowing them down and the Jags should have the ball a lot during this one.

o. Update note: Bad news struck hard today for the Colts secondary today. Both Bob Sanders and Marlin Jackson are out for the season, so consider this unit doomed against Matt Schaub and the pass happy Texans. Going forward, the Colts defense will probably be finshed from a fantasy perspective.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: D/ST originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: TE

Knox Bardeen — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

Talk about two tight ends headed in different directions -- Vernon Davis and John Carlson have similar situations with offensive lines that need help protecting the quarterback. But Davis isn't going to stick back and help protect Alex Smith. Carlson, on the other hand, is being asked to block a lot these days. If Carlson wasn't facing a Lions defense this week, he'd be ranked a lot lower than where he sits.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is near the top of every major statistical category that quarterbacks track. Even though Manning has always put up incredible numbers, Dallas Clark said this week, "You probably never thought he (Manning)could raise his level of play, but he has." Not that Manning needed another reason to target Clark, but I bet Clark gets an extra red zone look or two just as a debt of gratitude from the All-Pro quarterback.

Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF | Sleepers

1. Dallas Clark, IND vs. HOU
2. Antonio Gates, SD at NYG
3. Jason Witten, DAL at PHI
4. Tony Gonzalez, ATL vs. WAS
5. Vernon Davis, SF vs. TEN
6. John Carlson, SEA vs. DET
7. Brent Celek, PHI vs. DAL
8. Heath Miller, PIT at DEN
9. Jeremy Shockey, NO vs. CAR
10. Benjamin Watson, NE vs MIA
11. Kellen Winslow, TB vs GB
12. Fred Davis, WAS at ATL
13. Greg Olsen, CHI vs. ARI
14. Kevin Boss, NYG vs SD
15. Todd Heap, BAL at CIN
16. Bo Scaife, TEN at SF
17. Tony Scheffler, DEN vs. PIT
18. Marcedes Lewis, JAC vs KC
19. Brandon Pettigrew, DET at SEA
20. Anthony Fasano, MIA at NE
21. Sean Ryan, KC at JAC
22. Joel Dreessen, HOU at IND
23. Donald Lee, GB at TB

o. Brent Celek has gone from sleeper to elite status among his tight end brethren. Only four tight ends have more receiving yards than Celek and the Philadelphia tight end is on pace to eclipse the 1,000 yard receiving mark.

o. With Matt Schaub throwing the ball there will be plenty of receiving opportunities to go around. So, keep an eye on Joel Dreessen as he takes over for the injured Owen Daniels. Dreessen will catch the ball a bit, but there are probably better tight end options out there for you to consider.

o. Fred Davis moved to the top of the depth chart when Chris Cooley went down with potentially season-ending injury. Davis stayed in D.C. during the Redskins bye week to work with coaches to get ready. That kind of determination shows me a certain drive that not all NFL players have. Working against a less-then-stellar Falcons secondary won't hurt this week either.

o. Not only is Vernon Davis going to be running pass routes this week instead of blocking in pass protection, but he's also going to be facing a Tennessee Titans defense that has given up an NFL worst 19 touchdowns to opposing receivers.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: TE originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: WR

R.J. White — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:15:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

It's looking like Anquan Boldin will miss this week's game, so he doesn't appear in our rankings (*until now). Everyone else, including Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne and any other injured receiver, has been ranked as if they'll play on Sunday.

Unsure whether you'll actually have your top wideout available to you for Week 9? Join us Sunday morning for our Tailgate chat, where we dole out lineup advice and keep you apprised of all the notable gameday inactives.

And if you're curious, no, Mike Sims-Walker didn't get hurt last week. The Titans finally manned up and played a little pass defense. Is this cause for concern with MSW, or just a blip on the radar? More after the jump.

Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF | Sleepers

1. Reggie Wayne, IND vs. HOU
2. Wes Welker, NE vs. MIA
3. Andre Johnson, HOU at IND**
4. DeSean Jackson, PHI vs. DAL
5. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI at CHI
6. Chad Ochocinco, CIN vs. BAL
7. Vincent Jackson, SD at NYG
8. Mike Sims-Walker, JAC vs. KC
9. Donald Driver, GB at TB
10. Roddy White, ATL vs. WAS
11. Dwayne Bowe, KC at JAC
12. Marques Colston, NO vs. CAR
13. Randy Moss, NE vs. MIA
14. Brandon Marshall, DEN vs. PIT
15. Miles Austin, DAL at PHI
16. Anquan Boldin, ARI at CHI*
17. Greg Jennings, GB at TB
18. Calvin Johnson, DET at SEA
19. Nate Burleson, SEA vs. DET
20. Derrick Mason, BAL at CIN
21. Hines Ward, PIT at DEN
22. Devin Hester, CHI vs. ARI
23. Steve Smith, NYG vs. SD
24. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, SEA vs. DET
25. Torry Holt, JAC vs. KC
26. Santana Moss, WAS at ATL
27. Hakeem Nicks, NYG vs. SD
28. Austin Collie, IND vs. HOU
29. Michael Crabtree, SF vs. TEN
30. Jeremy Maclin, PHI vs. DAL
31. Steve Smith, CAR at NO
32. Steve Breaston, ARI at CHI*
33. Bryant Johnson, DET at SEA
34. Nate Washington, TEN at SF
35. Eddie Royal, DEN vs. PIT
36. Kevin Walter, HOU at IND
37. Antonio Bryant, TB vs. GB
38. Malcom Floyd, SD at NYG
39. Mark Clayton, BAL at CIN
40. James Jones, GB at TB
41. Johnny Knox, CHI vs. ARI
42. Santonio Holmes, PIT at DEN
43. Roy Williams, DAL at PHI
44. Mike Thomas, JAC vs. KC
45. Devery Henderson, NO vs. CAR
46. Pierre Garcon, IND vs. HOU
47. Andre Caldwell, CIN vs. BAL
48. Mike Wallace, PIT at DEN
49. Laveranues Coles, CIN vs. BAL
50. Brandon Stokley, DEN vs. PIT
51. Mark Bradley, KC at JAC
52. Earl Bennett, CHI vs. ARI
53. Kenny Britt, TEN at SF
54. Jason Avant, PHI vs. DAL
55. Robert Meachem, NO vs. CAR
56. Devin Thomas, WAS at ATL
57. Justin Gage, TEN at SF
58. Deion Branch, SEA vs. DET
59. Ted Ginn, MIA at NE
60. Kelley Washington, BAL at CIN
61. Michael Jenkins, ATL vs. WAS
62. Lance Moore, NO vs. CAR
63. Brian Hartline, MIA at NE
64. Isaac Bruce, SF vs. TEN
65. Jabar Gaffney, DEN vs. PIT
66. Antwaan Randle El, WAS at ATL

*Anquan Boldin now looks like he'll play -- you should still check with us during the Sunday Tailgate to see if he's active for the game, and be sure to have another option to go to at the last second if you need to. I've also downgraded Steve Breaston a bit since he'd likely see fewer looks with Boldin on the field.

**Like we did with the QBs rankings and Matt Schaub, I gave a nice little bump to Andre Johnson. With the Colts' secondary in tatters, Johnson is a must start this week, like he is most weeks. Don't sleep on Kevin Walter, who's in line to see more looks with Owen Daniels out.

o. OK, I'm not quite as optimistic on MSW and the Jags offense this week, but they do have a great matchup, so I think it's best to treat Week 8 like an aberration and start Sims-Walker in any and all leagues. The Chiefs had to put yet another defensive back on the IR (this time it was safety Jarrad Page), so unlike facing the Titans' returning-to-near-full-strength secondary, this bunch just got worse, which means your Jaguars' players just got better.

o. Torry Holt has been targeted 53 times in seven games, so if you thought the Jaguars passing attack revolved only around MSW, think again. With the great matchup against Kansas City, Holt should be in your lineup as a WR2, WR3 or flex play.

o. Why do I have a feeling the Eagles will have an answer for Miles Austin? He should be started in 100% of fantasy leagues anyway, but I fear this is the week he comes down to Earth (which for him, probably just means 65 yards and no TDs).

o. You should be looking for guys that are consistently the first look in a passing offense. To help you out, let's take a look at the receivers averaging nine targets a game or more: Wes Welker, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, Nate Burleson, Chad Ochocinco, Roddy White, Steve Smith, Steve Smith. Is it coincidence that four of those guys can be found in our top five? Unlikely.

o. Scoop Malcom Floyd off the free agent list and plug him in immediately against a suddenly terrible Giants secondary. The Chargers should be able to move the ball, and with Floyd having the benefit of playing with Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates, there's no way the Giants will be able to pay him the attention he deserves. I think at least one score is highly likely from the new San Diego starter.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: WR originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: RB

Matt Snyder — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

Am I scared about the prospects of Steve Slaton losing carries to Ryan Moats (and even Chris Brown)? Absolutely. I'm more concerned about the overreactions from across the fantasy football world. Sure, I took it on the chin with Slaton in one league, but last week was hardly indicative of what will transpire from here on out.

Consider the following:
- If Gary Kubiak was going to send a message to his second-year running back with problems holding onto the football, what better opponent than the league's worst run defense?

- Slaton shredded the Colts in Indy last year, and that was without Matt Schaub at the helm to take pressure off him.

- Frank Gore got loose for a 64-yard touchdown against the Colts and added 43 receiving yards. Slaton is faster, more elusive and a better pass-catcher than Gore.

So, yeah, of course last week made me worried about Slaton. But I live by the "no guts, no glory" credo. You'll find Slaton in my top 15. You can have Ryan Moats.

Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF | Sleepers

1. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX vs. KC
2. Chris Johnson, TEN at SF
3. Ryan Grant, GB at TB
4. DeAngelo Williams, CAR at NO
5. Michael Turner, ATL vs. WAS
6. Brandon Jacobs, NYG vs. SD
7. Frank Gore, SF vs. TEN
8. Ray Rice, BAL at CIN
9. Cedric Benson, CIN vs. BAL
10. Clinton Portis, WAS at ATL
11. Ronnie Brown, MIA at NE
12. Brian Westbrook, PHI vs. DAL
13. Marion Barber, DAL at PHI
14. Joseph Addai, IND vs. HOU
15. Steve Slaton, HOU at IND
16. Matt Forte, CHI vs. ARI
17. Pierre Thomas, NO vs. CAR
18. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD at NYG
19. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT at DEN
20. Jamaal Charles, KC at JAX
21. Julius Jones, SEA vs. DET
22. Kevin Smith, DET at SEA
23. Laurence Maroney, NE vs. MIA
24. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG vs. SD
25. Mike Bell, NO vs. CAR
26. Ricky Williams, MIA at NE
27. Jonathan Stewart, CAR at NO
28. Darren Sproles, SD at NYG
29. Knowshon Moreno, DEN vs. PIT
30. Beanie Wells, ARI at CHI
31. LeSean McCoy, PHI vs. DAL
32. Tim Hightower, ARI at CHI
33. Reggie Bush, NO vs. CAR
34. Felix Jones, DAL at PHI
35. Cadillac Williams, TB vs. GB
36. Correll Buckhalter, DEN vs. PIT
37. Ryan Moats, HOU at IND
38. Willie Parker, PIT at DEN
39. Derrick Ward, TB vs. GB
40. Justin Forsett, SEA vs. DET
41. Maurice Morris, DET at SEA
42. Kevin Faulk, NE vs. MIA
43. Chris Brown, HOU at IND
44. Willis McGahee, BAL at CIN
45. Ladell Betts, WAS at ATL

- The 49ers presently have the second best run defense in the NFL, statistically, but do you ever want to sit Chris Johnson after the two explosions we've seen this season?

- Aaron Rodgers is banged up and the Packers won't have to work too hard through the air to win their game over the Bucs. Translation: hello, Mr. Grant.

- The Giants have had serious problems stopping the pass, and they won't get a break against Philip Rivers and the Chargers. The best way to combat that? Ride Jacobs into the ground, which keeps the clock and chains moving.

- Rice and Benson are on the opposite ends of the field Sunday, each facing a respective stout run defense. The thing is, both have proven they can gain yards and get into the end zone against pretty much any type of a defense. Don't risk sitting either based upon a matchup anymore.

- You already knew I didn't trust Forte or Tomlinson as more than RB2 quality and I'm throwing Pierre Thomas into that bunch as well. It seems like every time we start to gain faith in him, either Mike Bell takes a chunk of the points or the Saints just throw all game. So let's just remain cautiously optimistic with Pierre the rest of the way.

- Yes, I still like Beanie over Hightower. It's because yards are more reliable than counting on a touchdown to bail out a lackluster overall performance. Plus, the Bears are much more susceptible to shifty backs than up-the-middle power ones.

Any other questions as to my rationale, drop a comment and we can discuss.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: RB originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: QB

R.J. White — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

It's been a tough stretch of games for owners of elite quarterbacks, starting with a Week 5 that saw Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler on the sideline and going through last week's off-week for Tom Brady, Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger. Rest easy, because the rigorous fantasy games featuring backup QBs are over.

This week, only Brett Favre gets a seat on the bench in terms of QBs you'd want to use in normal-sized leagues. Next week, you just have to make it without Matt Schaub. For owners of the seven QBs in the previous paragraph, it's smooth sailing unless an injury strikes.

Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF | Sleepers

1. Tom Brady, NE vs. MIA
2. Peyton Manning, IND vs. HOU
3. Aaron Rodgers, GB at TB
4. Donovan McNabb, PHI vs. DAL
5. Drew Brees, NO vs. CAR
6. Philip Rivers, SD at NYG
7. Matt Schaub, HOU at IND*
8. Joe Flacco, BAL at CIN
9. Carson Palmer, CIN vs. BAL
10. Tony Romo, DAL at PHI
11. Matt Hasselbeck, SEA vs. DET
12. David Garrard, JAC vs. KC
13. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT at DEN
14. Kurt Warner, ARI at CHI
15. Matt Cassel, KC at JAC
16. Jay Cutler, CHI vs. ARI
17. Matt Ryan, ATL vs. WAS
18. Alex Smith, SF vs. TEN
19. Eli Manning, NYG vs. SD
20. Kyle Orton, DEN vs. PIT
21. Jason Campbell, WAS at ATL
22. Vince Young, TEN at SF
23. Matthew Stafford, DET at SEA
24. Josh Freeman, TB vs. GB
25. Chad Henne, MIA at NE
26. Jake Delhomme, CAR at NO

* With both Marlin Jackson and Bob Sanders out for the Texans game, Schaub sees a considerable uptick. You have to like him more today than my yesterday self did in the passage below.

o. Think the Saints will have any trouble covering one little ol' receiver? Sorry Jake, you're the worst of a bad bunch at the bottom of the barrel.

o. Donovan McNabb carries a 9/1 TD/INT ratio into a Sunday night game against the Cowboys. He's thrown for 664 yards and four TDs in his last three games against Dallas, with no interceptions to blemish his resume. The Cowboys secondary hasn't gotten any better, so I expect McNabb to keep rolling. He had three first-half TDs in the New York game last week, and I can see another three-TD game in line.

o. Matt Schaub loses Owen Daniels, and now he has to take on divisional juggernaut Indy? I'm not a fan, even with the stellar numbers Schaub had put up all season before last week's stinker. Unless you're lucky enough to have a great QB2 though, I think you start him. I wouldn't bench him for the other Matts (Matt Hasselbeck and Matt Cassel), that's for sure.

o. Ben Roethlisberger stands a good chance of outplaying my ranking, but the Broncos have proved to be the toughest opposing defense for QBs this season. I really think you have to consider Hasselbeck or David Garrard over Big Ben; with that, watch him throw for another 400 yards.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: QB originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 8 Rankings: K

Matt Snyder — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:50:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

Just as we gave you Jay Feely last week, we're going against the Raiders to find a quality kicker for the Week 8 fantasy football rankings. The silver and black have now allowed 14 field goals and 19 extra points in seven games, tying them with the Chiefs for the most points allowed to opposing kickers.

This week, Nate Kaeding of the Chargers gets to kick against the Raiders at home. He's coming off two straight double-digit weeks in scoring, where he's hit six field goals and six extra points. Thus, the veteran is an absolute no-brainer to sit atop the ranks for this week.

Week 8 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers | Adds/Drops

1. Nate Kaeding, SD vs. OAK
2. John Carney, NO vs. ATL
3. Mason Crosby, GB vs. MIN
4. Josh Scobee, JAX at TEN
5. Robbie Gould, CHI vs. CLE
6. Nick Folk, DAL vs. SEA
7. Jason Hanson, DET vs. StL
8. Matt Prater, DEN at BAL
9. Lawrence Tynes, NYG at PHI
10. Ryan Longwell, MIN at GB
11. Matt Stover, IND vs. SF
12. David Akers, PHI vs. NYG
13. Rob Bironas, TEN vs. JAX
14. Neil Rackers, ARI vs. CAR
15. Josh Brown, StL at DET
16. Jay Feely, NYJ vs. MIA
17. Kris Brown, HOU at BUF
18. Steven Hauschka, BAL vs. DEN
19. Rian Lindell, BUF vs. HOU
20. Dan Carpenter, MIA at NYJ

o. Gould's a good play on two fronts. First of all, going against the Browns is always nice for a kicker. Secondly, the Bears have been so awful at punching the ball in via the run, it's possible they stall and need field goals instead of touchdowns a few times.

o. I love Hanson because he's such an underrated real-life kicker. That's because he's obviously been stuck on some pretty bad teams, but he's such a good, reliable kicker. It's possible the Lions can move the ball on the Rams this weekend enough to get him a few looks, so he's a good sleeper.

o. Believe it or not, the Ravens have given up lots of kicker points (13 FG, 13 XP in six games). Prater will get some looks.

Fantasy Football Week 8 Rankings: K originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Week 8 Rankings: D/ST

Ryan Dembinsky — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings

I gotta tell you, the conviction level feels a little low this week. Anybody who drops by Fantasy FanHouse from time to time knows that rarely will anyone around here ever admit to being wrong and never do we hold back on predictions, but man this week's matchups look like a crapshoot, as nothing jumps out screaming "me, me, me."

Fortunately, the Golden Rule of 2009 D/ST ranking reads as follows: "Unless otherwise instructed in a hallucination, stick with whoever plays the Raiders." The Raiders play on the road this week where they tend to lay down and die, and they face an improving San Diego team that looks to be finally shaking off the rust, so the Chargers get the nod for spot-start of the week. I just read a great stat on JaMarcus Russell -- he ranks 30th or worse in every single major quarterback category. That's about all you need to know.

Week 8 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Sleepers | Adds/Drops

For our second spot, the Bears at home should have no problem picking on the Browns, who average a whopping 225 yards and just barely 10 points per game. While the Bears defense has been one of 2009's most disappointing units from a fantasy perspective, anybody can keep the Browns out of the end zone and the Bears need a big homecoming win after two straight tough losses on the road. I predict a beatdown.

Rounding out the top five, No. 3 goes to the red-hot Cardinals who stopped the Giants last week at the Meadowlands after a 2008 full of disastrous East coast trips. The Cardinals now allow a league-low 67.5 rushing yards per game, which bodes well for the duel against Carolina. Minnesota and Green Bay could square off in a monsoon at Lambeau Field as the storms out west make their way across the plains. This favors the Vikings and their tenacious front four. Finally, Indianapolis -- another scorching defense with Bob Sanders back in the lineup -- should put a quick stop to San Francisco's Alex Smith parade.

1. Chargers, SD vs. OAK
2. Bears, CHI vs. CLE
3. Cardinals, ARI vs. CAR
4. Vikings, MIN @ GB
5. Colts, IND vs. SF
6. Giants, NYG @ PHI
7. Packers, GB vs. MIN
8. Lions, DET vs. STL
9. Broncos, DEN @ BAL
10. Jets, NYJ vs. MIA
11. Texans, HOU @ BUF
12. Dolphins, MIA @ NYJ
13. Seahawks, SEA @ DAL
14. Eagles, PHI vs. NYG
15. Rams, STL @ DET
16. Ravens, BAL vs. DEN
17. Bills, BUF vs. HOU
18. Cowboys, DAL vs. SEA
19. Saints, NO vs. ATL
20. Falcons, ATL @ DAL
21. Jaguars, JAX @ TEN
22. 49ers, SF @ IND
23. Panthers, CAR @ ARI
24. Raiders, OAK @ SD
25. Browns, CLE @ CHI
26. Titans, TEN vs. JAX

o. For folks who like to roll the dice, have we got a challenge for you. The Rams face the Lions in Detroit. If my calculations are correct, this game should yield about 27 turnovers in total, but calling the right side of this one could be tricky. My gut says go with the Lions for their second win in as many seasons. Set your DVRs for some high comedy.

o. The Saints look to have their work cut out for them after struggling to stop the Dolphins' running game, as Michael Turner and company should continue to attack on the ground. New Orleans normally makes a pretty safe weekly play with their league-leading 13 interceptions and five defensive touchdowns, but look for the Falcons to avoid that type of game at all costs.

o. Houston at Buffalo provides a nice spot-start for those in need of a bye week fill-in. Buffalo struggles to find their rhythm and a solution to their quarterback dilemma.

o. Finally, we still like Denver as much as always, we're just a bit more cautious this week as Baltimore boasts the fifth-best offense in the league both in points (28.2 ppg) and total yardage (393 ypg).

Fantasy Football Week 8 Rankings: D/ST originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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