Eric Karabell is a senior writer for fantasy baseball, football and basketball at ESPN. Eric is a charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame and author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments".
Welcome to the latest installment of the rest-of-season rankings as we head into Week 11. Several big names move around this week, notably a top running back and a few wide receivers who have underachieved. Trading season is running out, as we are two weeks away from the deadline in ESPN formats. As always, we combine the rankings with a little Stock Watch as well. Enjoy!
QB Stock Up
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: What can he not do? Jackson continues to amaze, continues his pace for perhaps the greatest rushing season for any quarterback and, oh by the way, he might flirt with 30 touchdown passes as well. So much for not being a passer. He moves up in the overall rankings and despite the Patrick Mahomes heroics, remains the top fantasy quarterback with little end in sight. Remember, Jackson is averaging 26.4 fantasy points per game while Mahomes is at 22.4, which is fine, but not his 2018 self, and not this year's Jackson.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins: Hey, do not laugh. I am not saying he should be your fantasy starter, but he did surpass 20 fantasy points in two of his past four games, and the other two -- in Pittsburgh and in Indianapolis -- were statistically competent. He is willing to run -- and has a pair of touchdowns that way -- and seems to have some job security after winning two consecutive contests. Does Mitchell Trubisky have job security? Think about it. The Dolphins have no desire to see Josh Rosen play.
QB Stock Down
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions: It sure is a shame, because Stafford is having a tremendous season, arguably one of the best of his long career. In fact, there are only six quarterbacks averaging 20 PPR points per game, and he is one of them. Will Stafford suit up in Week 11 despite multiple back fractures and dire warnings from doctors? It seems unlikely, so those in multi-QB formats should add Jeff Driskel just in case he might be starting for a while.
RB Stock Up
Ronald Jones II, Tampa Bay Buccaneers:Peyton Barber was back in play Sunday and even scored a short rushing touchdown, but Jones saw eight targets and turned them into 77 receiving yards, a great sign, since he entered play with eight catches all season. Jones has been trending as a safe flex for a few weeks, but influence in the receiving game is a differentiator.
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals: No, it was not Andy Dalton's fault. The Bengals got blown out at home by Baltimore, but at least Mixon saw 30 rushing attempts, and the result was not a Kalen Ballage line. Mixon had 151 total yards. The Ravens are good, but not on the schedule again. With this commitment to giving Mixon touches, he should deliver RB2 value.
Brian Hill, Atlanta Falcons: The Wyoming product averaged 7.8 yards per rush with his 20 totes in 2018, but was buried on the depth chart. That is no longer the case, as Tevin Coleman is a 49er, Ito Smith is on injured reserve and Devonta Freeman has a foot injury with unclear status. Hill has touchdowns in consecutive games and not only warrants a roster spot in standard leagues, he might be a wise flex choice this week.
RB Stock Down
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants: Let us not do anything silly here. Barkley was the No. 1 overall pick in fantasy this season for a reason, but perhaps his high-right-ankle sprain remains a problem because Sunday, against the Jets, went rather poorly. Thirteen carries for one rushing yard? Barkley might be physically fine after this week's bye week, but the Giants are going nowhere, so any physical issue could also get him shut down prematurely. All that noted, he is my No. 6 running back, so no panic necessary.
David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals: Perhaps similarly, Johnson returned for a non-contender, from missing a couple games (and most of a third) with an ankle sprain and he struggled on Sunday, rushing five times for two yards. Yuck. The difference here is the Cardinals traded for Kenyan Drake and might be more proactive in sitting Johnson. Even if Johnson plays this week, he faces the 49ers. The question is, should Drake be ranked better?
LeSean McCoy, Kansas City Chiefs: The roller coaster ride continues. Perhaps the Chiefs sitting him on Sunday was premeditated all along, the NFL version of resting an older player. The problem is McCoy is definitively not LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard. Then again, perhaps the Chiefs, like teams before them, simply are not big fans of McCoy. Whatever the case, now seems like a bad time to invest or expect much.
WR Stock Up
Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals: Hard to believe he did not score a touchdown in his first six games of the season, but Sunday in Tampa Bay was a reminder of how he can simply and enthusiastically run past a defense -- and also a reminder that the Buccaneers cannot defend well. The running game is sputtering, but Kyler Murray is awesome and he has Kirk and fellow speedster Andy Isabella open downfield.
Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns: Yep, he has now outscored the far-more-heralded Odell Beckham Jr. in PPR season scoring, boasting one more reception, 20 more yards, one more touchdown. OK, so it is thisclose, and Beckham remains the WR2 option in our rankings, but who thought it would be close? Anyone? It is fair to say both that Beckham was overrated and Landry, now boasting double-digit targets in three consecutive games, was underrated.
Randall Cobb, Dallas Cowboys: Cobb had not found the end zone since Week 1, but he sure got downfield against the Vikings, and it does seem viable that Dak Prescott can support three wide receivers.
WR Stock Down
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers: No, he is not Antonio Brown, but it does seem a bit unfair to judge the third-year option, since Mason Rudolph barely looks to throw downfield. Keep Smith-Schuster around in dynasty formats -- trade for him -- because the talent remains for 2020 and if you need him as a flex in the coming weeks that is not so bad, either.
Robby Anderson, New York Jets: The Week 6 win over Dallas proved aberrant, for this player in the passing game and the team, really. Anderson caught 125 yards worth of passes that day, most on a 92-yarder. Since then, in four games, he has eight catches for 97 yards total. Slot guy Jamison Crowder seems clearly the better Jets choice.
Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans: Recommending any Titans wide receiver is problematic, but at this point if you have to have one, it is Ole Miss rookie A.J. Brown, and not the overrated Davis. This is a running team, and Davis has topped 50 receiving yards in only two games. Move on.
TE Stock Up
O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: What? Who? Yes, weeks after so many had little choice but to give up on one of the more promising young tight ends in the sport -- he entered Week 10 with 13 receptions and nary a touchdown -- Jameis Winston looked his way quite a bit and Howard scored a touchdown. To be fair, every tight end seems to score touchdowns against the Cardinals, so let us see what happens in Week 11 against the Saints before trusting Howard in our lineups again.
TE Stock Down
Chris Herndon, New York Jets: Sure seems like we have spent way too much time discussing a player with one reception all season. First came the suspension, then the hamstring strain and now the broke a rib. Teammate Ryan Griffin, meanwhile, boasts more red zone targets inside the 10-yard line than Anderson and Crowder combined, a sneaky option for those in need. Add Griffin, cut Herndon.
