Quarterbacks

Off The Top

Matt Cassel, KC (ARI, @SEA, DEN, @SD) – Many in the elite group of owners who started Cassel last week were just thinking bye week fill-in, but the Chiefs QB delivered a huge game (albeit in catch-up mode) that reanimates his value heading into an interesting stretch of games. These opponents are bad against the run, which could open up some spots for Dwayne Bowe to contribute big plays.

Vince Young, TEN (WAS, @HOU, JAC, IND) – With Kerry Collins out a few weeks, Young takes over for a few favorable matchups. He should be started in all two-QB formats and is a weak QB1, but could surprise with a couple big games.

Digging Deeper

Shaun Hill, DET (@DAL, NE, CHI, GB) – Not too many owners will be starting him this week but he could be a top scorer against Dallas - a weapon-laden, nothing-to-lose team that will be getting involved in shootouts down the stretch.

Scouring The Barrel

Troy Smith, SF (TB, @ARI, @GB, SEA) – Smith is now the starter in San Fran and things seem to be turning around. He’s a risky play but should be owned in most 12-team leagues.

Tyler Thigpen, MIA (CHI, @OAK, CLE, @NYJ) – Thigpen turned in some big fantasy performances in 2008 when he took over the reins in Kansas City. If you can live with nearly as many picks and TD passes (which Chad Henne owners were doing anyway) he’s a decent replacement. Since Dwayne Bowe had his best season with Thigpen throwing him the rock, expect Brandon Marshall’s numbers to improve.

Updates

Brett Favre, MIN (GB, @WAS, BUF, NYG) – Favre’s hurting all over and had another terrible game (one TD, three INTs, fumble). He’s still capable of big outings, but is way too risky to count on even in the best of matchups – and he’s got some good ones on the way.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF (@CIN, PIT, @MIN, CLE) – It’s hard to say what kind of Ryan Fitzpatrick we’ll see now that the Bills have won a game. Will Buffalo slow it down and give us heavy doses of Fred Jackson or do they get right back to tossing the pill a la the scoring bonanzas that characterized the first eight games? The next few matchups are going to be tough for Fitzie unless the Bills are playing from behind.

Derek Anderson, ARI (@KC, SF, STL, DEN) – Anderson wasn’t great on Sunday, but he wasn’t as bad as Favre.

Running Backs

Off The Top

Tim Hightower, ARI (@KC, SF, STL, DEN) – With Beanie Wells still dealing with knee swelling and LaRod Stevens-Howling questionable as well, Hightower should get most of the carries this week at KC. He’s a solid RB3/flex play.

Cadillac Williams, TB (@SF, @BAL, ATL, @WAS) – There’s obviously still some life left in the old Caddy, but the difficult matchups make him a risky play. Don’t get overexcited, as LeGarrette Blount has a stronghold on the starting job.

Justin Forsett, SEA (@NO, KC, CAR, @SF) – The upcoming matchups aren’t that favorable, but he’s been the most effective back the past few weeks (throw out the Giants blowout and he’s got 271 total yards and two scores in his last four games). He should get at least 10-15 touches per game during next few weeks.

Digging Deeper

Donald Brown, IND (@NE, SD, DAL, @TEN) – With so many receivers hurting in Indy, Brown is getting regular work. Keep an eye on the injury report to make sure Mike Hart and Joseph Addai remain inactive and temper your expectations – Brown isn’t going to have too many multiple-TD days.

Jerome Harrison, PHI (NYG, @CHI, HOU, @DAL) – If you’re a McCoy owner and don’t own Harrison, you need to stop screwing around and add him. He’s only owned in about 50 percent of leagues, and there’s nothing worse than losing a Top 10 back and having to fight with other owners for his backup.

Scouring The Barrel

Brian Leonard, CIN (BUF, @NYJ, NO, @PIT) – The upcoming schedule is going to be tough for the Bengals, and they’ll need to look for creative ways to win. Enter Brian Leonard, who’s about as explosive as any back in Cincinnati right now and gets work as a change of pace on passing downs. I honestly think Leonard has some latent value in super-deep leagues and could surprise in the second half.

Updates

Fred Jackson, BUF (@CIN, PIT, @MIN, CLE) – I knew it was only a matter of time before the Bills utilized Jackson correctly. Jackson had a career day, blowing up for 133 yards and a TD on 25 carries and 6-37-1 receiving. He fumbled twice and lost one, but that’s a small dent in an otherwise brilliant fantasy day. Bills rookie RB C.J. Spiller injured his hamstring in Sunday's 14-12 win over the Lions and is out indefinitely.

Willis McGahee, BAL (@CAR, TB, PIT, @HOU) – Three carries, eight yards, one catch for -4 yards. Not good, but the Ravens are playing the lowly Panthers on Sunday and McGahee could get some work.

Clinton Portis, WAS (@TEN, MIN, @NYG, TB) – Inactive on Monday night. Stay tuned.

Javarris James, IND (@NE, SD, DAL, @TEN) – James rushed for 26 yards on 10 carries while scoring his third touchdown in two weeks. He appears to be the goal line back going forward.

Mike Goodson, CAR (BAL, @CLE, @SEA, ATL) – Goodson put up solid RB2 points (100 yards on 23 carries and 3/13/0 receiving) but didn’t score and lost a fumble. I can’t imagine his value holding on for multiple weeks, though.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Off The Top

Mario Manningham: Own him if you can.

WR Mario Manningham, NYG (@PHI, WAS, JAC, @MIN) – I own Manningham in a 14-team league and had him starting as a FLEX even before I learned of the injury to fellow Giants receiver Steve Smith – who’ll be out a couple more weeks. Grab him if he’s still available – which he is in about 40 percent of leagues.

WR Nate Washington, TEN (WAS, @HOU, JAC, IND) – Washington scored a TD last week despite catching just a handful of balls. He should be owned in all 12-team formats and will produce opposite Randy Moss.

Digging Deeper

WR Mike Thomas, JAC (CLE, @NYG, @TEN, OAK) – Wow! That was quite a finish. There’s no reason to doubt the abilities of Mike Thomas, who’s been the most reliable receiver for David Garrard this season.

WR James Jones, GB (@MIN, @ATL, SF, @DET) – Donald Driver doesn’t appear to be ready for Week 11, making Jones a must-add, despite his inconsistency. He could put up WR2 numbers, and he could put up a blank.

Scouring The Barrel

TE Rob Gronkowski, NE (IND, @DET, NYJ, @CHI) – How annoying is Bill Belichick? Aaron Hernandez owners, you wanna weigh in on this one? Gronkowski is now getting the bulk of red zone looks for the Patriots (three TDs last week), but that’s likely to change next week, as Belichick is clearly the devil.

WR Deon Butler, SEA (@NO, KC, CAR, @SF) – Matt Hasselbeck (who should be good to go for Sunday) might have to throw to Butler a lot in this one. The second-year receiver is often targeted on short slants but caught a 63-yard TD bomb last week. He might not get loose versus the Saints, but I have a feeling he’ll be a decent WR4 in PPR leagues going forward.

Updates

Steve Johnson, BUF (@CIN, PIT, @MIN, CLE) – The Bills picked up their first win, but Johnson posted just 3/37/0.

Mike Sims-Walker, JAC (CLE, @NYG, @TEN, OAK) – MSW only posted 3/26/0, but teammate Mike Thomas, who caught a Hail Mary that was batted back into his hands, blew up. He seems like the guy to add.

Sidney Rice, MIN (GB, @WAS, BUF, NYG) – While Rice remains on the PUP list and didn't play Sunday against the Bears, he practiced all week and could be ready. The Vikings aren’t out of the playoff picture yet, so I’d imagine they’re anxious to get him on the field.

Nate Burleson, DET (@DAL, NE, CHI, GB) – Burleson caught four passes for 47 yards on Sunday against the Bills. You’ve got to like him this week in Dallas.

Seyi Ajirotutu, SD (DEN, @IND, OAK, KC) – Barring a setback, Malcom Floyd could be ready to play on Monday night against Denver. That would hurt Ajirotutu’s value, but not kill it. When Vincent Jackson comes off the roster exempt list for the game against the Colts on Nov. 28, there won’t be much need to own Ajirotutu.

Jacoby Ford, OAK (@PIT, MIA, @SD, @JAC) – If the Raiders can get the running game going against Pittsburgh then Jacoby Ford might catch a bomb, but he’s a high-risk WR3 at this point.

IDP

Off The Top

LB Derrick Johnson, KC (ARI, @SEA, DEN, @SD) – Despite a monster season (76 total tackles, INT-TD, and 10 PD), Johnson is still available in about a third of IDP leagues. Don’t hesitate to add this guy if he’s available in yours.

DB Ed Reed, BAL (@CAR, TB, PIT, @HOU) – I think Reed will provide a much-needed spark for the Ravens defense down the stretch. This week, he’s a solid risk/reward play against a desperate Panthers team.

Digging Deeper

DL Jason Hunter, DEN (@SD, STL, @KC, @ARI) – Hunter is available in about 75 percent of IDP leagues and is one of the more consistent producers at DL this season. Last week he scored a TD, but his base value is good enough to warrant DL2 status or higher.

LB Zach Diles, HOU (@NYJ, TEN, @PHI, BAL) – I’m still all over Diles and this week he’s got an excellent matchup. He’s already got 71 total tackles despite not starting every game this year…so how this guy still available in so many formats? Who cares? Just grab him.

Scouring The Barrel

LB Cameron Wake, MIA (CHI, @OAK, CLE, @NYJ) – Wake injured his hip on Sunday but is expected to play Thursday night against the Bears. There’s a good chance he’ll record a sack or two if he’s active.

DL Chris Long, STL (ATL, @DEN, @ARI, @NO) – Long has 5.5 sacks in his last six games and at least one sack in his last four. While that streak could come to an end against the Falcons, who do an excellent job protecting Matt Ryan, four out his last six matchups are quite favorable for opposing DLs.

Updates

LB Stephen Tulloch, TEN (WAS, @HOU, JAC, IND) – Tulloch had nine total tackles in the loss to Miami. He remains a Top 15 LB.

DL Calais Campbell, ARI (@KC, SF, STL, DEN) – One of my better calls this week. Campbell tallied six tackles and a sack.

LB Keith Brooking, DAL (DET, NO, @IND, PHI) – The veteran LB posted 10 total tackles (eight solos) and now has 62 (46 solos) on the year.

DB Antoine Winfield, MIN (GB, @WAS, BUF, NYG) – Winfield didn’t pick off Jay Cutler but posted five solos. He’s got another excellent matchup this week for a decent tackle total.

LB Tamba Hali, KC (ARI, @SEA, DEN, @SD) – A swing and a miss. Ryan Clady did an excellent job protecting Orton’s blind side and Hali finished with just three tackles.