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".
Ten weeks down and, for some of you, the trading deadline is swiftly approaching in your fantasy football leagues. As always, here at "Rest-of-Season Rankings Central" you will see myriad changes, thanks to injury, performance and other factors, as we aim to predict the latest in player value -- not only for New Orleans Saints quarterbacks but at all the positions, perhaps for use in potential trades. (Good luck at running back!) Anyway, we start with Stock Watch and continue on to the rankings. Enjoy!
QB Stock Up
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers: Well, we could put Arizona Cardinals star Kyler Murray in this space yet again, for he continues to distance himself as the top fantasy quarterback. He steadily moves on up into our overall first round -- which is rare -- but honestly, just look at his numbers! Let us also give credit to a crafty, non-running veteran for re-establishing himself as a starter in our world. It was windy in Pittsburgh on Sunday and Roethlisberger, sans practice during the week due to COVID-19 restrictions, threw for 333 yards and four touchdowns anyway.
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints: We lack clarity on how many games starter Drew Brees could miss with his rib injury, but Winston has to be the most accomplished backup in the league. Remember, he comes off a season during which, as noted Monday in this blog entry, he was a top-five quarterback in fantasy. Worry about Week 11 and the rest of November now. Deal with December, and a potential Brees return, later.
QB Stock Down
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans: After shredding both the Buffalo and Houston defenses for 58 fantasy points in two memorable October contests, Tannehill has annoyingly settled down. He has failed to eclipse 18 fantasy points in four consecutive games. That is a problem, especially since we know what standout RB Derrick Henry tends to achieve statistically each December.
Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles: Well, at least he avoided adding to his league-leading turnover total in Sunday's discouraging loss to the division-rival New York Giants. Wentz also failed to do much to help either his own team or fantasy managers, finishing with single-digit fantasy points for the second consecutive game. The Eagles are a mess after Miles Sanders.
RB Stock Up
D'Andre Swift, Detroit Lions: Um, what took the team so long to realize that giving Adrian Peterson and Kerryon Johnson touches instead of this rookie was a poor idea? It is ridiculous! Swift is a star and, as long as the Lions avoid messing this up, a potential RB1 this season.
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers: The organization expects Ekeler back in Week 12, so be a bit more patient, fantasy managers. A RB1 returns just in time for the playoffs.
Salvon Ahmed, Miami Dolphins: Who? This undrafted University of Washington product debuted from the practice squad in Week 9, mainly because the team was out of healthy options. He somehow ran for 85 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers on Sunday. Does this mean Ahmed keeps the starting job when Myles Gaskin, also a former member of the Huskies, returns from injury? Nope, but enjoy the next few weeks.
RB Stock Down
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: As with Detroit's Swift, who was selected six spots ahead of him in the 2020 NFL draft, Taylor should be a fantasy star by now, but he was only third in rushing attempts on the Colts in Week 10. That is a bad harbinger, and so is him rushing for only 61 yards on 24 carries over the past three weeks. Ugh. Perhaps Taylor rises to the top of the depth chart soon, but it is no guarantee.
Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills: Another rookie with so much ability and opportunity, Moss has turned his 16 rushing attempts into just 38 yards over the past two games. That will not work. There is a reason Josh Allen leads the league in passing yards and it is somewhat because the Buffalo running game -- aside from Allen himself -- is struggling.
David Johnson, Houston Texans: A concussion will keep him out until December but it is hard to believe either he or his backfield partner Duke Johnson can help fantasy managers much in this direction-less offense.
WR Stock Up
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals: We sure love our rookies but, if they are the story, then so be it. Higgins boasts four consecutive games with 70-plus receiving yards and he is averaging 17 PPR points per game since Week 3. He and Tyler Boyd each deserve WR2 attention now.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers:Davante Adams remains awesome but now he is getting a bit of help from the third-year product from South Florida who has been anything but consistent in the NFL. In the past two weeks, however, Valdes-Scantling has turned his 10 targets into six catches, 202 yards and three touchdowns. It seems that Aaron Rodgers trusts him.
Josh Reynolds, Los Angeles Rams: He has more targets than Robert Woods over the past three games and this offense can support three wide receivers because Jared Goff rarely looks at his running backs and tight ends -- at least not lately.
WR Stock Down
Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns: We tried to warn people that just because Odell Beckham Jr. was lost for the season due to injury it hardly meant Baker Mayfield would suddenly turn to Landry. Yes, wind played a role in Sunday's game plan, but Landry still has yet to catch more than five passes in any game. He last surpassed 52 receiving yards in Week 5 and his lone touchdown this season came when he threw a scoring pass. You do not need to roster a Cleveland wide receiver.
Travis Fulgham/Alshon Jeffery, Philadelphia Eagles: We have no idea why Wentz has suddenly decided to ignore Fulgham (his new No. 1 receiver), but he has. As for Jeffery, he saw one target in his 2020 debut, so it is not as if he took Fulgham's looks. Rookie Jalen Reagor seems deserving of more attention. Whatever. This offense needs someone new calling the plays.
TE Stock Up
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens: There is almost nothing happening at this sorry position, thus we have few rankings alterations. At least Lamar Jackson looked in Andrews' direction nine times -- and he turned that attention into seven catches and 61 yards. That offers hope. Seriously, do not lose sleep over tight ends. Adding Houston's Pharaoh Brown will not make things better.
TE Stock Down
Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders: As with Andrews, you have to keep these fellows active in fantasy lineups because there are no better options, but in the overall scheme (top 100), they cannot compare to wide receivers. Waller gets his targets and occasional touchdowns, but he last eclipsed 50 receiving yards in Week 4! And he is our No. 2 tight end!
