The most recent slate of NFL action had a bunch of bizarre developments across the board. In fact, I would go as far as to say that fantasy aside, week ten might have been the most telling week of the year thus far as it pertains to the real life outcomes of the season. That said, whenever there’s legitimate NFL story lines to follow there are still a plethora of fantasy related discussions not far behind.

New England wide receiver  Julian Edelman is set to have foot surgery due to the exact same sort of fracture that kept Dez Bryant out a considerable amount of time. I wouldn’t say that makes Edelman droppable but it probably eliminates him from your fantasy playoff lineup. The hope is that he’ll be back for the NFL playoffs, if he does come back at all. This is another one of those scenarios that has a lot more fantasy impact than it does in real-life since the Patriots are such a well run organization that they can just elevate any wide receiver of their choosing. My guess would be that Danny Amendola takes over for Edelman but Amendola has always had healthy problems of his own so I’m in no rush to add him. I’d much rather take my chances in starting Brandon LaFell every week.

By far the biggest and most head-turning result of Sunday’s games was Peyton Manning being benched for Brock Osweiller. Peyton threw four interceptions against the Kansas City Chiefs, netting him negative fantasy points and setting Osweiller up to have his first ever NFL start against the Bears in week eleven. The Broncos are calling this an injury related move as Manning is apparently dealing with plantar fasciitis as well as a rib injury. Would anyone really be surprised if the actual injury itself was minor and the real reason he’s being pulled was for poor play? I’m not in the business of inflating speculative story lines so let’s just stick to the fantasy impact of the quarterback change.

From a purely fantasy perspective you should certainly be concerned about the production of both Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders with Osweiller under center. Having said that, both receivers had been usable fantasy starters with a struggling Peyton Manning anyway so it’s not like this should cause any major panic. You should still be starting both Thomas and Sanders but I’ll be avoiding them in any sort of daily format and would look to my bench to see if I’ve managed to scoop up players with a higher floor. The ground game shouldn’t change much either considering the fact that both C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman have been inconsistence since week one. Basically, this shouldn’t cause any major rifts in the fantasy space-time continuum but it is still a major real-life headline that isn’t going away anytime soon.

Another expected quarterback change that means more for NFL football than it does fantasy football is Mark Sanchez coming in for Sam Bradford. Bradford is slated to miss at least one game with a concussion and a sprained AC joint, opening the door for Sanchez to lead the charge for the Philadelphia Eagles. Honestly this really only matters if you’ve been using Bradford as a low-end QB1 in a deep league or have been relying on him in a two-quarterback league. Sanchez shouldn’t help or harm any other Philadelphia playmaker so you’re still starting/sitting whoever it was you were before the change. At this point in their respective careers, I really don’t think there’s a significant enough difference of talent between Sanchez and Bradford, especially in a Chip Kelly system.

The last major quarterback scenario to monitor is that of the seemingly indestructible Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger almost missed Sunday’s outing against the Cleveland Browns with a mid-foot sprain but was ultimately declared active as the backup to Landry Jones. Sure enough, Jones went down with an ankle injury of his own so Roethlisberger came in relief for the Steelers and simply torched Cleveland’s secondary. This looked like a case of a team choosing to be cautious with their franchise quarterback before heading into their bye week. Big Ben should be just fine for their week twelve matchup against Seattle so he’s a must start, even on the road against a tough defense. If he can light up the Browns on one foot coming off of the bench he should be locked into your lineup on two weeks rest.

Well that sure was a beefy QB-centric intro. It’s almost as if it’s the most important position in football or something…

 

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets

Rex Ryan antics aside, this was an entertaining game that showcased two teams still very much alive in the AFC wild card race. Ultimately it was the Buffalo Bills coming out on top thanks to their two talented running backs in LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams. McCoy might have had the edge in both rushing attempts and total yards but it was Williams who scored the team’s only offensive touchdown. At this point in the season it’s clear that McCoy is the RB you want to start but Williams has played himself into every week flex consideration. This is a case of a team being able to utilize two backs effectively enough to the point where either can be relied on for fantasy purposes. Other than that, Tyrod Taylor is the only other startable piece in Buffalo even with a down game here.

As for the Jets, Chris Ivory had a solid bounce back game with 99 rushing yards and 36 receiving yards to boot. Throw in another pair of touchdowns from wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker and you have yourself another standard outing from the underrated Jets offense. It should be noted that Marshall was seen limping after this contest and with Ryan Fitzpatrick set to undergo thumb surgery on his non-throwing hand, next week’s game against the Texans could spell trouble for those counting on the Jets for fantasy purposes. We’ll have to see how both of those injuries play out in the coming days so be on the lookout for updates as week eleven approaches.

 

Miami Dolphins @ Philadelphia Eagles

The second half of the season has been all about Lamar Miller for the Miami Dolphins. Miller’s numbers weren’t exactly spectacular here but 93 total yards and a receiving touchdown were enough to reemphasize the idea that he’s a rock solid low-end RB1 for the remainder of the season. The coaching change has certainly gone in his favor which makes you wonder what on Earth Joe Philbin was doing wasting Miller’s talents these last few years.

Mark Sanchez wasn’t great while filling in for Sam Bradford as he finished the day with just 156 yards and an interception. Like I said, I don’t think this quarterback change will have any major impact on the offense so it’s best to just carry on as normal here. Ryan Mathews left this game with a concussion, which could potentially mean a big day is coming for DeMarco Murray against Tampa Bay next week. Other than that, the Eagles will spread the ball around like crazy through the air so no one should be surprised that Jordan Matthews followed up last week’s big game with a dud. That’s the nature of this offense so if you haven’t realized that by now I’m not really sure how else I can convince you other than continuing to point out the obvious.

 

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

In what was clearly the biggest upset of the day, the Detroit Lions managed to hold Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in check en route to a stunning victory. The Lions didn’t even really do anything too spectacular on offense as this was more of a defensive battle between two divisional opponents. Still, it was nice to see Calvin Johnson remain heavily involved in the offense with his six receptions. His numbers haven’t been great this season but at least it’s clear that Detroit realizes who their best player is.

On the Packers side of the ball Rodgers managed to sling it for an insane 61 times yet only racked up 333 yards and two touchdowns. Those aren’t bad numbers by any means it’s just surprising they weren’t higher considering the sheer volume Green Bay employed through the air. Davante Adams was the primary beneficiary here with 10 receptions for 79 yards. With Randall Cobb and James Jones disappointing, Adams picked up the slack for a decent outing. Now that he’s healthy, he looks locked in as the number two receiver for Green Bay and warrants starting any given week. Eddie Lacy missed this game leaving James Starks to carry the load. He had 21 touches for 96 total yards in a respectable performance. Head coach Mike McCarthy already stated Starks has earned the starting gig so although this wasn’t a huge game, Starks should continue to flirt with RB1 status for as long as he’s the lead dog.

 

Carolina Panthers @ Tennessee Titans

I know I’m in the minority when I say this but Cam Newton deserves the MVP award this season. He’s pretty much single-handedly leading an offense who’s primary offensive weapons are Jonathan Stewart and Greg Olsen. No disrespect to either of those players but it’s not like he’s out there with Rob Gronkowski. Newton had nine rushes in this game, showing that the Panthers have no issue letting Cam run wild when necessary. Jonathan Stewart did the same to the tune of 91 yards and a touchdown. This is a team that is going to lean heavily on the run in a non-traditional way that’s spearheaded by an underrated back and a mobile quarterback. Both Cam and Stewart are seemingly creeping up into the top-10 at their respective positions and should be viewed accordingly for fantasy purposes.

As expected, the Titans struggled on offense here so there really isn’t too much to report in terms of fantasy. The only major takeaway here is that wide receiver Justin Hunter is done for the season, which could potentially allow for Dorial Green-Beckham to get more looks. Having said that, it’s been said that he’s having a difficult time with his route running so it’s difficult to expect a breakout game coming anytime soon.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Baltimore Ravens

Questionable officiating aside, this was a game that saw the Jaguars edge out a last second victory over the Ravens in which Jacksonville leaned on their top receivers in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. Robinson and Hurns have both been key fantasy contributors this season so they absolutely warrant starting on an every week basis. Unfortunately, Hurns is now in a walking boot so his week eleven status remains in question, especially on a short week. We’ll know more no later than Tuesday afternoon so keep an eye out for an update if you’ve been rolling with Hurns as of late.

The Ravens pretty much are what they are at this point. The passing game doesn’t provide us with any consistent fantasy contributor and Justin Forsett is having himself a roller coaster year at best. I don’t need to remind you how low I’ve been on Forsett so take his 53 yards and pout all you want, just don’t say I didn’t warn you. The Ravens aren’t reliable in any shape way or form as far as fantasy is concerned.

 

Chicago Bears @ St. Louis Rams

The Jeremy Langford show rolled through St. Louis this week as the backup running back went crazy for 182 total yards and two touchdowns. Langford has been more efficient catching the ball than he has running it as evidenced by 109 of his yardage total coming through the air. It’ll be interesting to see if the Bears decide to give him more touches once Matt Forte returns but I’m still locking Forte back into his RB1 status whenever he’s back to full strength. Alshon Jeffery had a down game here but he was also dealing with a groin injury as well. Even with a tough matchup against the Broncos next week, Jeffery has earned himself a WR1 ranking given how productive he’s been whenever he’s taken the field this season.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; this is Todd Gurley’s team. Tavon Austin is worth owning but isn’t more than a flier in any sized league. That’s all there is to say about the Rams.

 

New Orleans Saints @ Washington Redskins

Many fantasy analysts pegged Kirk Cousins for a legit shot at breaking out this week given the enticing matchup against the Saints and that’s exactly what happened. Cousins exploded for 324 yards and four touchdowns against a terrible Rob Ryan defense. Two of Cousins’ touchdowns went to tight end Jordan Reed, proving that Reed is a dependable TE1 for as long as he can stay healthy. DeSean Jackson was quiet again so he’s going to be capped as a WR3 until he can break a big play. And speaking of big plays, it was running back Matt Jones who had a huge 78-yard receiving touchdown in this game yet he was outran by Alfred Morris on the ground. The Redskins are going to continue utilizing both backs so it’s difficult to rely on either one for fantasy purposes. If I had to own one guy it’s Jones but I’d have to be extremely desperate to start him in the hopes of one big play the likes of which we saw in this game.

The New Orleans offense was held in check on the road against an underrated Washington defense. The only player that had a great day here was wide receiver Brandin Cooks who is now quietly putting together a stellar second half this season. I find it hard to believe that Cooks’ newfound touchdown rate is sustainable but as long as Drew Brees is looking for him in that aspect of the game you have to keep him in your lineup. Willie Snead was held without a catch in this game which tells me his days as the team’s leading receiver are over. Cooks has retaken that top spot so look for Snead to lead this week’s Warning Signals piece for wide receivers.

 

Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Outside of a last minute one-yard TD run by quarterback Jameis Winston, this game was a real snoozer for four full quarters. Prior to that game-winning touchdown, there were precisely three other scoring plays in this game, all of which were first half field goals. At least the Buccaneers were able to keep Mike Evans heavily involved for eight receptions and 126 so that’s a plus for fantasy purposes. Doug Martin continues to show signs that the expected return to his rookie form was a bit premature. He had 18 rushes for 63 yards in this game so it’s looking like he’s back to being a low-end RB2 for now.

The Cowboys struggled mightily both through the air as well as on the ground. Luckily for Dallas, they’ll be getting back their franchise quarterback Tony Romo next week against the Miami Dolphins so look for all players involved to receive a boost. Just like the Cowboys real-life season, the fantasy nightmare in Dallas is now over.

 

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Johnny Manziel got another start for the Cleveland Browns on the road in Pittsburgh, allowing for wide receiver Travis Benjamin to put together a big game. Benjamin has shown flashes of big-play ability but outside of just that, that’s all you can hope for with him. He’s a high-upside WR3/flex play at best. The Browns running game was nonexistent against an underrated Steelers defense but you can expect Duke Johnson to remain the primary back after the team’s bye, especially in PPR formats.

The aforementioned Ben Roethlisberger might have saved the day for both Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant. Even though Landy Jones proved to be a huge upgrade over Michael Vick during Big Ben’s initial injury, he’s certainly still a downgrade. Brown and Bryant had terrific outings here with both receivers racking up over 100 yards and finding the endzone a combined three times. You’re looking at a stellar one-two punch that should have each wide receiver capable of winning you a matchup any given week as long as their starting quarterback remains anywhere close to healthy. On the ground, DeAngelo Williams had a poor showing in a tasty matchup against a shoddy Browns run defense. You can chalk that up to game flow and strategy given how easy it was for Roethlisberger to obliterate the Cleveland secondary.

 

Minnesota Vikings @ Oakland Raiders

If you needed one last shred of reassurance that Adrian Peterson is back to his old ways look no further than his 203-yard performance against the Oakland Raiders. Not only is Peterson looking like his old self but he’s led the Vikings to the top of the NFC North. Granted, it certainly helps that Minnesota has a solid defense backing him up but Peterson is clearly in the discussion for the league’s top running back once again. It’s a three horse race between him, Devonta Freeman, and Todd Gurley. Stefon Diggs had another down game here with just two receptions for 46 yards but I’m willing to give him another pass. After boasting such impressive numbers earlier this year, he’s allowed a disappointing game or two.

The Oakland Raiders continued to keep both Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree involved in the offense while quarterback Derek Carr threw for 43 times in this game. Neither receiver managed to find the endzone, however, as it was Andre Holmes and rookie tight end Clive “Who?” Walford who reeled in Carr’s two touchdown receptions. Similar to Stefon Diggs, the Raiders have yielded such great fantasy production this season that they too are allowed to have a disappointing outing. Between Carr, Cooper, Crabtree and running back Latavius Murray, they’re in the running for the most underrated offense in football alongside the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars.

 

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos

The Kansas City offense didn’t really need to do anything offensively given the fact that Peyton Manning kept throwing touchdowns that set up kicker Cairo Santos for field goals. Running back Charcandrick West is still the team’s primary weapon with Jamaal Charles out for the year and with Knile Davis declared a healthy scratch, that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.

Ronnie Hillman scored the team’s only fantasy relevant touchdown for the broncos while fellow running back C.J. Anderson ended up with just two touches. Even though the workload leaned heavily in Hillman’s favor, this is still very much a committee that can’t be relied upon whatsoever. I suppose I still prefer Hillman but like I said last week, this is the fantasy equivalent of a coin flip.

 

New England Patriots @ New York Giants

This was clearly the best game of week ten with the New England Patriots coming away with a game-winning field goal with one second left on the clock. Again, what is there to say about the Patriots that hasn’t already been said? Tom Brady is having himself another MVP-caliber season (even though I’d still vote for Cam), Rob Gronkowski is a beast, and any starting running back has tremendous value. With Dion Lewis lost for the season, LeGarrette Blount received all of the work out of the backfield which he turned into 66 yards and a score. We touched upon Julian Edelman’s injury earlier so that’s really all there is to say about the Patriots.

Coincidentally, the Giants are every bit as easy to analyze as the New England Patriots from a fantasy perspective. Odell Beckham Jr is a top-five fantasy wide receiver while the team’s ground game is still a dreaded four-headed monster between Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen, Orleans Darkwa and Andre Williams. Now that it’s been revealed that Victor Cruz is having season-ending surgery, Dwayne Harris and Rueben Randle share the second wide receiver the rest of the way.

 

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks

Sunday night’s matchup between the Cardinals and Seahawks turned out to be a close game with Seattle coming roaring back in the second half. The Seahawks had to manage a banged up Marshawn Lynch, allowing for Russell Wilson to become the team’s leading rusher with 52 yards. Wilson has shown he can get it done with his legs in the past but I wouldn’t read too much into this unless it’s revealed that Lynch’s injury is more severe than initially thought. Doug Baldwin had seven receptions for 134 yards and a score here yet that’s not really enough to rely on him on a week-to-week basis. Seattle just isn’t as strong of a throwing team as this game showed. Just ask Jimmy Graham, he’ll tell you.

If it weren’t for Tom Brady and Cam Newton (and to a much lesser extent, Andy Dalton), Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer would be atop the MVP ballot. He threw for 363 yards and another three touchdowns in this game, two of which went to wide receiver Michael Floyd. It was looking like Floyd had overtaken John Brown for the number two receiver spot before he had to leave the game with a hamstring injury. If Floyd were to miss any time, Brown would vault right back up the depth chart. Either way, this offense is potent enough to warrant starting either player regardless of what the depth chart says.

 

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