Tag: fantasy football rankings

NOTE: These player rankings track a player’s value for the remainder of the season and are intended to be used as a tool, not necessarily a definitive guide to player valuation. The scoring system is performance PPR.

There is no exact science behind season-long rankings, considering all of the variables and situational uncertainties at work. Defensive teams have been added but will not have analysis.

QUARTERBACKS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1	12	Patrick Mahomes	KC	12
2		Russell Wilson	SEA	11
3		Lamar Jackson	BAL	8
4		Deshaun Watson	HOU	10
5		Aaron Rodgers	GB	11
6		Dak Prescott	DAL	8
7	5	Matt Ryan	ATL	9
8	14	Kyler Murray	ARI	12
9		Tom Brady	NE	10
10		Drew Brees	NO	9
11		Jameis Winston	TB	7
12		Carson Wentz	PHI	10
13	10	M. Stafford	DET	5
14		Josh Allen	BUF	6
15	8	Jared Goff	LAR	9
16		Jacoby Brissett	IND	6
17		Kirk Cousins	MIN	12
18		Derek Carr	OAK	6
19		Baker Mayfield	CLE	7
20	23	Daniel Jones	NYG	11
21		Philip Rivers	LAC	12
22		Ryan Fitzpatrick	MIA	5
23	29	Kyle Allen	CAR	7
24	21	Jimmy Garoppolo	SF	4
25		Ryan Tannehill	TEN	11
26	31	Nick Foles	JAC	10
27		Sam Darnold	NYJ	4
28		Mason Rudolph	PIT	7
29		Mitchell Trubisky	CHI	6
30	34	Dwayne Haskins	WAS	10
31		Brandon Allen	DEN	10
32	35	Ryan Finley	CIN	9
33	22	Gardner Minshew	JAC	10
34		Marcus Mariota	TEN	11
35		Josh Rosen	MIA	5
36	NR	Jeff Driskel	DET	5
37	32	Case Keenum	WAS	10
38		Andy Dalton	CIN	9
39		Eli Manning	NYG	11
40	NR	Drew Lock	DEN	10

QUARTERBACK MOVEMENT

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Stafford was a surprise inactive Sunday with a back injury that the team has classified as “day to day, week to week,” with the veteran saying afterwards that shutting it down for the season was “not his thinking at the moment.” That wasn’t exactly the most forceful denial I’ve heard. For now I’m sliding him down a little and not making any meaningful adjustments to Kenny Golladay or Marvin Jones. I won’t be adding Jeff Driskel to the rankings just yet, either.

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons & Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

A week ago, I chalked up the Packers-Chargers game as an anomaly. I’m doing the same thing this week with Saints-Falcons, so don’t expect big changes based on Atlanta running the ball a ton or Brees tossing 45 passes compared to 11 runs.

Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

I’ve been hesitant to drop Goff out of my top 10, but I can’t justify him being there any longer. He looks spooked in the pocket, and I don’t feel Sean McVay is doing him any favors right now regarding Todd Gurley’s involvement (what’s the point of saving Gurley for the playoffs if you don’t make the playoffs?!? ).

Others of note

Patrick Mahomes returned to action Sunday and promptly threw for 446 yards and three TDs with me at left guard. He’s back in my No. 1 spot … Kyler Murray has been putting up better numbers recently and is back in my top 10 … Daniel Jones has quietly been playing the role of Ryan Fitzpatrick Jr. in fantasy of late with some wildly volatile production. He’s a feast-or-famine option for risk takers … In case you missed it, Dwayne Haskins and Nick Foles have been announced as the starter for their respective clubs and adjusted accordingly … With Cam Newton going to IR, Kyle Allen gets a bump. Outside of a couple turnovers, he played well in Lambeau on Sunday … Jacoby Brissett sat Week 10 with a knee injury, but I think the Colts will do everything possible to get him back on the field before they find themselves buried in the playoff race.

RUNNING BACKS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		Christian McCaffrey	CAR	7
2		Dalvin Cook	MIN	12
3		Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	8
4	7	Aaron Jones	GB	11
5		Alvin Kamara	NO	9
6	4	Saquon Barkley	NYG	11
7		Josh Jacobs	OAK	6
8	5	Nick Chubb	CLE	7
9		Leonard Fournette	JAC	10
10		Le’Veon Bell	NYJ	4
11		James Conner	PIT	7
12		Chris Carson	SEA	11
13		Marlon Mack	IND	6
14	16	Derrick Henry	TEN	11
15		Mark Ingram II	BAL	8
16		Todd Gurley II	LAR	9
17	20	Melvin Gordon III	LAC	12
18		Phillip Lindsay	DEN	10
19		Carlos Hyde	HOU	10
20		Jordan Howard	PHI	10
21	19	Austin Ekeler	LAC	12
22		James White	NE	10
23	26	Joe Mixon	CIN	9
24		David Montgomery	CHI	6
25	23	Tevin Coleman	SF	4
26		Damien Williams	KC	12
27	18	David Johnson	ARI	12
28		Sony Michel	NE	10
29		Ronald Jones II	TB	7
30	21	Devonta Freeman	ATL	9
31		Miles Sanders	PHI	10
32		Devin Singletary	BUF	6
33		Latavius Murray	NO	9
34	29	Matt Breida	SF	4
35	45	Kareem Hunt	CLE	7
36		Jamaal Williams	GB	11
37	40	Kenyan Drake	ARI	12
38		Duke Johnson	HOU	10
39		Royce Freeman	DEN	10
40		Adrian Peterson	WAS	10
41		Chase Edmonds	ARI	12
42	49	Kalen Ballage	MIA	5
43	44	Tarik Cohen	CHI	6
44		Alexander Mattison	MIN	12
45		Frank Gore	BUF	6
46	50	Peyton Barber	TB	7
47		Jaylen Samuels	PIT	7
48		J.D. McKissic	DET	5
49		Rashaad Penny	SEA	11
50	42	LeSean McCoy	KC	12
51	NR	Brian Hill	ATL	9
52		Nyheim Hines	IND	6
53		Ty Johnson	DET	5
54		Justice Hill	BAL	8
55		Tony Pollard	DAL	8
56		Derrius Guice	WAS	10
57	51	Darrell Henderson	LAR	9
58		Raheem Mostert	SF	4
59		Giovani Bernard	CIN	9
60		Malcolm Brown	LAR	9
61		Mark Walton	MIA	5
62		Ryquell Armstead	JAC	10
63		Darrel Williams	KC	12
64		Jalen Richard	OAK	6
65		Chris Thompson	WAS	10
66		Reggie Bonnafon	CAR	7
67		Justin Jackson	LAC	12
68		Dion Lewis	TEN	11
69		Wayne Gallman	NYG	11
70		Kerryon Johnson	DET	5

RUNNING BACK MOVEMENT

Nick Chubb/Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns

We got our first taste of the backfield split in Week 10. The result: 22 touches and 121 yards for Chubb, and 11 touches and 74 yards for Hunt. I think the latter brought a missing element to the offense, and we’ll see more opportunities for Hunt as the season wears on. As such, Chubb drops out of my top five as Hunt jumps into low-end RB3 territory.

Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

Another back leaving my top five is Barkley, who has averaged just 41 yards rushing per game since returning in Week 7. He’s managed to salvage his fantasy value with some nice receiving numbers, but those are usually based on a big play or two and not sustained effectiveness. Barkley’s offensive line has been ravaged by injuries of late, so keep an eye on their statuses, as well. He’s also reportedly dealing with another ankle problem, which is concerning based on his earlier injury. Keep an eye out for any updates on the severity of the injury.

David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

Johnson’s return from injury consisted of six touches and 10 yards. Afterwards head coach Kliff Kingsbury said the team wanted to keep Kenyan Drake “rolling.” Yes, the same Drake that finished that game with 41 total yards on 16 combined rushes and receptions. I’m officially very concerned about what Johnson’s future value will be, and all of this is happening without Chase Edmonds, who will further muddy the waters when he returns.

Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

Mixon ran for a season-high 114 yards in Week 10, and if Cincinnati is going to hand him the ball 30 times in a game they lost by 36 points, his workload appears like it’ll be steady.

Others of note

After missing two games, James Conner looks to be on track to return this Thursday … I haven’t moved Gurley down much because I think sometime soon McVay is going to be forced to abandon this idea of keeping his top back fresh for the playoffs … Melvin Gordon has 242 total yards and three TDs over the past two games. I’m moving him back to solid RB2 status post-haste … Devonta Freeman is set to miss a couple games with a foot injury. He goes down a bit, and Brian Hill enters the rankings with Ito Smith hitting IR … If you’re inactive for being old, you drop in the rankings. That’s the rule. Sorry, LeSean McCoy … Kalen Ballage ran 20 times in Week 10. The yards weren’t there, but the opportunity bumps him up.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		Michael Thomas	NO	9
2		DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	10
3		Julio Jones	ATL	9
4		Mike Evans	TB	7
5	8	Tyreek Hill	KC	12
6		Davante Adams	GB	11
7		Amari Cooper	DAL	8
8	4	Cooper Kupp	LAR	9
9		Chris Godwin	TB	7
10		Julian Edelman	NE	10
11		Kenny Golladay	DET	5
12		Stefon Diggs	MIN	12
13		Adam Thielen	MIN	12
14		Tyler Lockett	SEA	11
15	12	Odell Beckham Jr.	CLE	7
16		Keenan Allen	LAC	12
17	13	JuJu Smith-Schuster	PIT	7
18	21	D.J. Moore	CAR	7
19		Robert Woods	LAR	9
20		Courtland Sutton	DEN	10
21		Tyler Boyd	CIN	9
22	25	Golden Tate	NYG	11
23		Calvin Ridley	ATL	9
24	41	Christian Kirk	ARI	12
25		DJ Chark Jr.	JAC	10
26		John Brown	BUF	6
27		Marvin Jones Jr.	DET	5
28	34	Michael Gallup	DAL	8
29		DeVante Parker	MIA	5
30	22	Brandin Cooks	LAR	9
31		Alshon Jeffery	PHI	10
32		T.Y. Hilton	IND	6
33		Terry McLaurin	WAS	10
34		Allen Robinson II	CHI	6
35		Emmanuel Sanders	SF	4
36	40	Jarvis Landry	CLE	7
37	31	Mike Williams	LAC	12
38	42	Sammy Watkins	KC	12
39		DK Metcalf	SEA	11
40		Marquise Brown	BAL	8
41		Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	12
42	36	Tyrell Williams	OAK	6
43		Curtis Samuel	CAR	7
44		Mohamed Sanu	NE	10
45		Dede Westbrook	JAC	10
46	54	Jamison Crowder	NYJ	4
47		Zach Pascal	IND	6
48	53	Hunter Renfrow	OAK	6
49		Josh Gordon	SEA	11
50	64	Cole Beasley	BUF	6
51	49	Corey Davis	TEN	11
52		Kenny Stills	HOU	10
53	84	Darius Slayton	NYG	11
54	60	Allen Lazard	GB	11
55		A.J. Brown	TEN	11
56		Demaryius Thomas	NYJ	10
57		Will Fuller V	HOU	10
58	62	Deebo Samuel	SF	4
59		Mecole Hardman	KC	12
60	70	Randall Cobb	DAL	8
61		Danny Amendola	DET	5
62	51	Robby Anderson	NYJ	4
63	7	A.J. Green	CIN	9
64		Nelson Agholor	PHI	10
65	80	James Washington	PIT	7
66	71	Taylor Gabriel	CHI	6
67		Phillip Dorsett II	NE	10
68	78	Auden Tate	CIN	9
69		Diontae Johnson	PIT	7
70	48	Sterling Shepard	NYG	11
71		Adam Humphries	TEN	11
72	90	Andy Isabella	ARI	12
73		Willie Snead IV	BAL	8
74	63	M. Valdes-Scantling	GB	11
75	66	Anthony Miller	CHI	6
76		Chris Conley	JAC	10
77		Paul Richardson Jr.	WAS	10
78		Keke Coutee	HOU	10
79		Tre’Quan Smith	NO	9
80		Allen Hurns	MIA
81		Chester Rogers	IND	6
82		Antonio Callaway	CLE	7
83		Russell Gage	ATL	9
84		N’Keal Harry	NE	10
85		Ted Ginn Jr.	NO	9
86	76	Alex Erickson	CIN	9
87		Geronimo Allison	GB	11
88		Trey Quinn	WAS	10
89		DaeSean Hamilton	DEN	10
90		Zay Jones	OAK	6
91		DeSean Jackson	PHI	10
92		Miles Boykin	BAL	8
93		Devin Funchess	IND	6
94		John Ross	CIN	9
95		Antonio Brown	FA	—

WIDE RECEIVER MOVEMENT

Cooper Kupp/Brandin Cooks, Los Angeles Rams

Kupp inexplicably went without a reception against the Steelers, and I’d imagine the team will make it a point of emphasis to get him involved in Week 11, but with so many others in the same area rolling along with 100-yard games I had to drop Kupp out of the top five. Cooks, meanwhile, has already been ruled out for another week. I have concerns that by the time he heals up the Rams might be in a spot where bringing him back doesn’t make sense. We’re not there yet, but I’m moving him down.

Pittsburgh Steelers

JuJu Smith-Schuster is spending too much time opening up coverage for other receivers and not enough catching the ball. He’s a midrange WR2 for me now, and that might be optimistic. Rookie Diontae Johnson has shown off his athleticism, while second-year WR James Washington appears to have chemistry with QB Mason Rudolph. Keep an eye on their development.

Others of note

A.J. Green suffered a “setback” during the bye, and at this point I’m wondering if we’ll see him at all this season … I’m feeling the same way about Sterling Shepard, who suffered a pair of concussions within roughly a month’s time. With Shepard dropping down, Darius Slayton gets a big boost … Marquez Valdes-Scantling has really disappeared with the return of Davante Adams and emergence of Allen Lazard, who seems like the second-best receiver to own in Green Bay … Christian Kirk shoots up the ranking this week. I’ve felt all season he was the top receiver in Arizona — the only viable mix of experience and explosiveness — and it looks like he’s finally producing … Both Emmanuel Sanders and Tyler Lockett left the Monday night game with injuries. It’s a rib injury for Sanders and leg injury of some kind for Lockett. There’s no word on severity at this point so I won’t be making any adjustments.

TIGHT ENDS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		Travis Kelce	KC	12
2		George Kittle	SF	4
3		Hunter Henry	LAC	12
4	6	Zach Ertz	PHI	10
5	4	Darren Waller	OAK	11
6		Evan Engram	NYG	7
7		Jared Cook	NO	9
8	11	Mark Andrews	BAL	8
9	5	Austin Hooper	ATL	5
10		Dallas Goedert	PHI	10
11	21	Jacob Hollister	SEA	11
12		Eric Ebron	IND	6
13	15	Greg Olsen	CAR	6
14		Jimmy Graham	GB	11
15		Tyler Eifert	CIN	12
16	10	Vance McDonald	PIT	6
17		Mike Gesicki	MIA	7
18	24	O.J. Howard	TB	7
19		Noah Fant	DEN	10
20		Gerald Everett	LAR	9
21		Jack Doyle	IND	6
22		T.J. Hockenson	DET	9
23		Delanie Walker	TEN	11
24	17	Jason Witten	DAL	8
25		Darren Fells	HOU	10
26		Chris Herndon	NYJ	4
27	NR	Irv Smith	MIN	12
28		Jonnu Smith	TEN	11
29		Kyle Rudolph	MIN	12
30		Cameron Brate	TB	7
31		Foster Moreau	OAK	11
32		Trey Burton	CHI	6
33		Hayden Hurst	BAL	8
34		Vernon Davis	WAS	10
35		David Njoku	CLE	7

TIGHT END MOVEMENT

Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons

Hooper injured his knee late in Atlanta’s win over New Orleans, and the word is it’s a sprained MCL with the tight end seeking a second opinion to determine how long he’ll be out. Without that timeline, I’m just preemptively moving him down a few slots and will revisit once more is known.

Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders

Ever since a huge Week 7, Waller has caught just seven passes in three games. Were it not for injury issues to Hooper and Evan Engram, I would’ve dropped him further. I just can’t put him below Jared Cook, whose first big-usage game of 2019 came in a lopsided loss.

Others of note

Evan Engram was inactive Sunday with a foot injury, but it’s not believed to be a long-term issue, so he stays put … It’s amazing that Seattle continues to find tight ends that make plays. With Will Dissly out, Jacob Hollister has stepped in and caught 12 passes (including three TDs) in last two weeks … Vance McDonald hasn’t topped 40 yards receiving in a game this season. I can’t continue to rate him as a TE1 … Believe it or not, there was an O.J. Howard sighting on Sunday. If you’re feeling optimistic, he has the talent to warrant stashing him on your bench now.

DEFENSE

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