1. Drew Brees @ TB   (He’s a total beast & TB is solid against the run which will make him throw a ton)
2. Aaron Rodgers @ STL  (Nothing more to say about him other than he just threw 6 TD’s and will continue to throw with lack of a running game)
3. Eli Manning vs. WAS  (Washington gives up the most passing yards/game and tied for the most passing TD’s allowed this season)
4. Tom Brady vs. NYJ (Jets are actually pretty solid against the pass and did a number on Luck last week, but this is Tom Brady and their running attack will open up the passing lanes.  Plus Hernandez is back)
5. RGIII @ NYG (Dual-threat, reason I have him #5 is because Giants apply a ton of pressure and he will have to run for his life on a few plays- which could be a good thing)
6. Tony Romo @ CAR (Panthers are okay against the pass, but without Murray there, it will force Romo to throw more and he bounced back well last week against the Ravens)
7. Josh Freeman vs. NO (LOVE this matchup.  Run game will be there, but Freeman will have to keep up with Drew Brees in this game which will make him throw a ton)
8. Cam Newton vs. DAL (Cam Newton is on a short leash fantasy wise but Dallas only has 1 interception this season and he will likely use his legs to have a solid fantasy day)
9. Andrew Luck vs. CLE  (For those of you who started him last week got burnt, but he will bounce back at home where he has been very good.  CLE is also tied for the most passing TD’s allowed (15) )
10. Andy Dalton vs. PIT  (Steelers are a disappointment on defense this year and the Dalton/Green connection is there all day)
11. Ben Roethlisberger @ CIN (Bengals only have 2 INT on the year and allow over 200 pyg and have allowed 22 20+ yard plays, which means that they will take shots downfield to Wallace)
12. Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. TEN (Titans giving up over 290 pyg and 13 TDs on the season, so he should have a good game)
13. Jay Cutler vs. DET (Lions are pretty solid, but this is MNF)
14. Joe Flacco @ HOU (Texans just got annihilated by Rodgers, and I am not saying Flacco is similar to Rodgers, but I think Cushing’s injury has a lot to do with Houston’s defense not being the same anymore)
15. Mathew Stafford @ CHI   (Bears are amazing, leading the league with 13 INT and applying pressure all sorts of ways.  Calvin will help his fantasy stats, but sacks and interceptions will be there also)
16. Matt Schaub vs. BAL  (Ravens lost Lewis and Webb (their top corner) and gave slumping Romo a solid fantasy day last week.  If Foster is a beast in this game, Schaub will not need to throw as much) 
17. Christian Ponder vs. ARI (Solid game last week but Cardinals are great against the pass, so it might be a down week for Ponder)
18. Carson Palmer vs. JAX (Jaguars really solid against the pass, and McFadden will be running a ton in this game)
19. Matt Hasselbeck @ BUF  (Really good matchup and would have any other QB in the top 15 if they were playing the Bills, but Hasselbeck’s arm is still questionable, and I believe Chris Johnson will have a major impact on this game) 
20. Sam Bradford vs. GB  (Packers are not that good against the pass, but lack of receivers and Packer’s solid pass rush will give Bradford a mediocre day)
21. Brandon Weeden @ IND  (Could end up being a top 15 fantasy QB this week with the Colts allowing 10 TD’s this season)
22. Alex Smith vs. SEA  (I don’t trust him anymore, and Seahawks have shut down pretty much every Elite QB this season)
23. Russel Wilson @ SF  (Tough Matchup in San Francisco who are only giving up 183 pyg) 
24. Mark Sanchez @ NE (Very good matchup as Patriots are giving up 288 pyg and 15 TD’s on the season, but I just don’t trust him at all and Patriots will dominate at home)
25. John Skelton @ MIN (He’s back and unless he has legs like RGIII, he should be a last last resort for you) 

Who I really like:  Josh Freeman vs. NO (I believe that the running game will be strong, but they will also have to keep up with Drew Brees.  I feel Freeman will have to throw a ton and with big targets Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams, he should have a solid game)

RUNNING BACKS

1. Arian Foster vs. BAL  (Even when he doesn’t get his rushing yards, he still gets his touchdowns- win-win situation plus Ravens are giving up a ton of yards on the ground this season)
2. Darren McFadden vs. JAX  (Jaguars giving up over 160 ypg on the ground) 
3. Trent Richardson @ IND  (If he plays, he will dominate in this game as Colts giving up 159 ypg and has scored in 4/6 games this season)
4. Ray Rice vs. HOU ( Texans are really tough against the run, but with Cushing out and his pass catching ability, he should put up solid numbers)
5. Maurice Jones-Drew vs. OAK (Raiders giving up over 100 ypg on the ground and 5 TD’s this season, plus he will do some work as a pass catcher)
6. Steven Ridley vs. NYJ  (I have him pretty high, but still received 16 carries last week and going up against an atrocious Jets rush defense and has been a top 10 running back overall this season)
7. Chris Johnson vs. BUF  (Love his matchup as the Bills are giving up over 170 ypg and 9 rushing TD’s on the season.  For this week at least, he is a top 10 running back)
   
8. Matt Forte vs. DET  (Lions are very very solid against the run, but with Forte’s catching ability out of the backfield, he should finish with a solid fantasy day)
9. Adrian Peterson vs. ARI  (It looks like the Cardinals will shut down Ponder in this one, which will force AP to have to run a lot)
10. Doug Martin vs. NO  (Great matchup and did really well last week on the ground and in the passing game.  Should have a great week against a rush defense that has allowed over 170 ypg on the ground)
11. Alfred Morris vs. NYG  (He’s solid and has put up double digit fantasy points in 5 out of 6 weeks and with RGIII attracting much attention, he should be able to run well against the Giants who have allowed 106 ypg with a 4.6 average)
12. Ahmad Bradshaw vs. WAS  (I know he has had 2 great weeks in a row, but they are saying he is dealing with a foot issue and Redskins have a respectable rush defense.  Could be ranked higher if his foot issue isn’t a big problem)
13. Frank Gore vs. SEA  (Tough defense, but might get a little end-zone action)
14. CJ Spiller vs. TEN  (Titans are far from scary on the ground, but the split brings them down to 14 on my list)
15. Fred Jackson vs. TEN  (Same as above, split brings them down otherwise would be top 10 option this week)
16. Shonn Greene @ NE  (Patriots are very good against the run, but he came to life last week so he should have some confidence going into this one)
    
17. Felix Jones vs. CAR  (Remember when Andre Brown stepped in and had a monster game against the Panthers?  Well this time Felix will have one of those games as the Panthers are allowing over 125 ypg)
18. BJGE vs. PIT  (Steelers missing some pieces on defense and they haven’t been the same this year.  I think he finds the end-zone at least once in this one, but yardage might not be there for him) 
19. Darren Sproles vs. TB  (Tampa Bay is very good against the run, which will force the Saints to pass more (like they don’t already).  Look for Sproles to be in the game a lot more this week which result in more opportunities)
20. Marshawn Lynch vs. SF  (Tough defense and hasn’t performed well the last two weeks)
21. Vick Ballard vs. CLE  (He will definitely have a better game this week at home against the Browns)
    
22. Steven Jackson vs. GB  (Sad to seem him go down like this, but the split with Richardson brings his value down a ton, but still gets the start)
23. Alex Green @ STL  (I actually really like him this week.  He ran the ball pretty well last week in his start and the Packers should have a good lead in this one which will allow him to receive more touches)
    
24. Mikel LeShoure vs. CHI  (Top gun for the Lions but Bears giving up only 65 ypg and 1 TD on the season)
    
25. Michael Bush vs. DET  (Might dig out a score or two in the red-zone)
26. Jonathan Stewart vs. DAL  (Dallas is beatable on the ground, but you never know who will emerge from the backfield)
27. Deangelo Williams vs. DAL  (Same as above)
28. Legareete Blount vs. NO  (Will receive 5-10 carries and could plunge in the end-zone for a score against a bad bad defense)
29. Pierre Thomas @ TB  (Tough Defense and Saints will deploy more Sproles this week)
30. William Powell @ MIN  (looks like the better back here out of the committee but still don’t trust Cardinal’s offensive line and against the Vikings)
31. Daryl Richardson vs. GB  (Receiving near 50% of carries now, so unless Jackson has a good game from the start, he could factor in a lot more)
32. Rashard Mendenhall @ CIN  (Not sure if he is playing yet, so he could be higher.  But with Redman suffering from injury also, this is a huge cluster of problems for the Steelers.  I will update this one later in the week)
33. Danny Woodhead vs. NYJ  (Always in the game plan for the Patriots and sees around 10 touches a game)
34. David Wilson vs. WAS  (They’re saying that Bradshaw has a foot issue, so if it becomes a bigger problem he might end up with a bigger role)
35. Montario Hardest @ IND  (Might see some extra touches if Richardson isn’t at full health)
36. LaRod Stephens-Howling @ MIN  (Very tough defense, and I don’t trust Cardinals offensive line)
37. Philip Tanner vs. CAR  (Might see some goal-line touches in this one)
38. Ben Tate vs. BAL  (Has been MIA lately and Foster will likely carry 95% of the load again)
    
39. Isaac Redman @ CIN  (Same as Mendenhall, could move up depending on who is available in this game)
    
40. Kendall Hunter vs. SEA  (Very Deep reach here, but still receiving around 10 touches a game)

Who I really like: Chris Johnson vs. BUF  (He had a solid game last week which could have been a lot better if he hit some holes that were there for him, but the Bills are giving up the most yards on the ground this season and with another week to look at game film and work on their offensive line, I believe Chris Johnson explodes and gets his first and maybe second TD’s on the year this week)

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving and took in all the food and football that you can handle!

PLAYOFFS!!!  At least for some of you, others may still have 1 week left of season play.  Either way, IT IS CRITICAL that you employ the right personnel in your lineups.  I hope that my week 13 rankings will help you along the way to finalizing your lineups.  Don’t be afraid to go with your gut feeling on some players.  Take a look at the match-ups, weather, home or away, what kind of numbers they put up last time they played etc.  There are many factors in deciding which player to put in or keep on the bench.

QUARTERBACKS

1. Tom Brady vs. IND (Always a good bet and it helps that he’s going up against the Colts)
2. Aaron Rodgers @ NYG (He will erase all hopes the Giants have in making the playoffs)
3. Drew Brees vs. DET (Suh is out, pass rush will be a bit easier and this game will be a shootout)
4. Eli Manning vs. GB (Will need to throw just like he did against the Saints)
5. Matthew Stafford @ NO (I predict a shootout and Stafford will not disappoint)
6. Cam Newton @ TB (If he doesn’t give you a passing TD, he will certainly run one in)
7. Tony Romo @ ARI (Has been on fire as of late and going up against a very beatable secondary)
8. Ben Roethlisberger vs. CIN (Bengals have a good rush defense, so they’ll need to throw)
9. Matt Ryan @ HOU (Will be a tough match-up, but he has the weapons)
10. Tim Tebow @ MIN (4th quarter machine!)
11. Philip Rivers @ JAX (….He’s been a disappointment but the matchu-up is there)
12. Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. TEN (Had a good game last week and they really neerd a win)
13. Carson Palmer @ MIA (Miami has been playing great Defense as of late and Palmer was shut out of the endzone last week)
14. Vince Young @ SEA (No Vick and Young threw for over 400 yards last week)
15. Matt Moore vs. OAK (I am liking this guy with every week that goes by.  Moore to Marshall connection again)
16. Josh Freeman vs. CAR (Tough Match-up here)
17. Alex Smith vs. STL (Will be running all over the Rams which should open up the passing game)
18. Mark Sanchez @ WAS (Very inconsistent and going up against a pretty good secondary)
19. Joe Flacco @ CLE (I do not like him here, but he may have a couple lucky TD’s)
20. Sam Bradford @ SF (Will need to throw in this game, but still going up against an overall great defense)

RUNNING BACKS

1. Frank Gore vs. STL (He will be on fire in this game)
2. Arian Foster vs. ATL (3rd string QB is starting…more Foster to come)
3. Ray Rice at CLE  (Benson had a great game against them last week and Rice will torch them in the passing game as well)
4. Matt Forte vs. KC  (The Bears will lean heavily on Forte this week. The Chiefs are giving up 133.7 YPG.)
   
5. LeSean McCoy @ SEA (Tough match-up playing in Seattle, but has been getting into the endzone)
   
6. LeGarrette Blount vs. CAR  (Blount has been on a tear the last two games. The Panthers are giving up 137.5 YPG.)
7. DeMarco Murray @ ARI  (The Cards are giving up 123.5 YPG.)
   
8. Marshawn Lynch vs. PHI (Love his match-up)
9. Maurice Jones-Drew vs. SD  (The only thing happening down there is MJD, other than being sold)
10. Chris Johnson @ BUF  (He came back to his old self again and going up against a rush friendly defense)
11. Adrian Peterson vs. DEN (Not sure if he’s playing yet)
12. Michael Bush @ MIA (Should be able to score in this one)
13. Michael Turner @ HOU (Going up against a strong defense, so this will be a clash)
14. BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs. IND  (Start him as they will have a big lead and will run a lot in this game)
15. Beanie Wells vs. DAL (Had a great game last week but going up against a tougher match-up this time around)
16. Reggie Bush vs. OAK (I’ve had a man crush on Bush the last 5 weeks, please start using him!)
17. Ryan Mathews @ JAX (Had a good game and should continue vs. the Jaguars)
18. Rashard Mendenhall vs. CIN (Scored twice last time they played, but every week is different and the Bengals have a good rush defense)
19. Willis McGahee @ MIN (Tough to run on but they will have to worry about Tebow as well)
20. Cedric Benson @ PIT (Has been good as of late but playing in Pittsburgh is tough)
21. C.J. Spiller vs. TEN (I like him as my sleeper pick and will have a coming out party here)
22. Shonn Greene @ WAS (so so match-up but he will have to take control early on)
23. Darren Sproles vs. DET (I like him every week to have an explosive play)
24. Steven Jackson @ SF (Hate this match-up, but he could go off on one big play)
    
25. Jonathan Stewart @ TB (Has done well and should do well in this game also)
26. DeAngelo Williams @ TB (Him, stewart and Newton should all do damage in this game)
27. Donald Brown @ NE (The only problem is that they will be down early, so his best chance is the first half)
28. Peyton Hillis vs. BAL Not exactly a dream matchup, but Hillis should see plenty of touches.
29. Roy Helu vs. NYJ (Who knows, Torrain might come back to life this week..but for now I’ll stick with Helu)
30. Maurice Morris @ NO (If Kevin Smith is out, Morris will get the carries)

If you have any questions about your lineups or want any advice, please leave a comment below or ask me on Twitter @Themisk22!

Fantasy playoffs are near folks and these last few weeks are critical for those who are on the border of making the playoffs.  I hope to help you with my rankings and if you have any questions regarding your lineups or players, please contact me or leave a comment below!

Wide Receivers

1. Greg Jennings @ TB: Rodgers is getting it done and Jennings is on the receiving end of God’s (I mean Rodger’s) passes
2. Calvin Johnson vs. CAR:  Was shut down last week, but should splash in the end zone at least once
3. Dez Bryant @ WAS:  Will get the looks and will score in this one.  Big body and no Miles Austin helps
4. Wes Welker vs. KC:  Tom Brady and Welker will get it done here
5. Brandon Marshall vs. Buffalo:  Has been on a tear with targets and receptions and him and Moore are clicking
6. Steve Smith @ DET:  Big time players make big time plays
7. Victor Cruz vs. PHI:  Gets double digit targets the last few weeks and has delivered
8. Larry Fitzgerald @ SF:  Without Kolb he’s been doing better
9. Anquan Boldin vs. CIN:  Should receiver many targets and has been doing well
10. Brandon Lloyd vs. SEA: Averaging over 60 yards a game and has been the main receiving threat with the Rams
11. AJ Green @ BAL:  If he plays he should fair well, but very tough matchup
12. Jordy Nelson @ TB:  Same as Jennings, and has been Rodger’s favorite target the last few games
13. Vincent Jackon @ CHI:  Depends which Chicago Defense comes to play.  If it is the same one as last week, then Tillman will shut him down
14. Roddy White vs. TEN:  Still receives a lot of targets, but Ryan is starting to look elsewhere
15. Stevie Johnson @ MIA:  He needs to show some life in this game otherwise he will be out of the top 15
16. Mario Manningham vs. PHI:  Eli will be throwing and Manningham is one of his favorite targets
17. Denarious Moore @ MIN: Has been clicking with Palmer, and everyone has been throwing on the Vikings
18. Laurent Robinson @ WAS:  Put up some big fantasy numbers last week and should continue that trend this week
19. DeSean Jackson @ NYG:  Looks to be in line for some targets after being inactive last week, plus Maclin is hurt
20. Hakeem Nicks vs. PHI:  Should see plenty of Nnamdi, who held him to 25 yards in Week 3
21. Dwayne Bowe @ NE:  I’m not sure how he will do with the new QB and he’s going up against the league’s worst pass defense.  But again, needs to click with new QB fast
22. Percy Harvin vs. OAK: Raiders are giving up a lot of passing yards- 260 ypg
23. Santonio Holmes @ DEN:  Should see some Bailey in this game, and Sanchez is iffy
24. Plaxico Burress @ DEN:  Might catch a touchdown, but don’t expect a big yardage game from him
25. Earl Bennett vs. SD:   Has been averaging 88 ypg since he’s been back, so look for him to have another big game
26. Mike Williams (TB) @ GB: Green Bay gives up big plays, but Mike Williams and Freeman are not the same as last year
27. David Nelson @ MIA: Tough to say how the Bills will play as they have been trending downward
28. Damian Williams @ ATL:  Really like this guy to have a good game in this one
29. Vincent Brown @ CHI:  Another good target for Rivers to throw to in this game
30. Deion Branch vs. KC: 2 TD’s the last 3 games and Patriots get to the redzone a lot.

Stud: Dez Bryant @ WAS;  Dud: Hakeem Nicks vs. PHI;  Sleeper: Damian Williams @ ATL

Tight Ends

1. Rob Gronkowski vs. KC:  He is the Aaron Rodgers of Tight Ends
2. Tony Gonzalez vs. TEN:  Has scored in the last 2 games and continues to play well
3. Jason Witten @ WAS:  Racking in the touchdowns and no Austin means more looks
4. Jermichael Finley vs. TB:  When you have Rodgers as your QB anything is possible
5. Antonio Gates @ CHI:  Bears give up a lot of fantasy points to Tight Ends but they have been playing unbelievably on defense lately
6. Aaron Hernandez vs. KC:  Gets touchdowns still even if he doesn’t get the yards
7. Greg Olsen @ DET:  Receives many targets from Newton
8. Fred Davis vs. DAL: No one really to throw to for the Skins, so look for Davis to receive a number of targets
9. Vernon Davis vs. ARI:  Has gotten a touchdown the last 2 weeks and Alex Smith looks very comfortable with the offense
10. Kellen Winslow @ GB:  TB will need to throw in this one

Stud: Jermichael Finley vs. TB;  Dud: Fred Davis vs. DAL;  Sleeper: Ed Dickson vs. CIN

Week 10 is in the books, and we had some surprises at the quarterback and running back positions.  Tim Tebow continues to be a fantasy stud even though his statistics are terrible (He can thank God for his running ability), Cam Newton finally has a down week, Alex Smith starts to move up in the rankings and Stafford couldn’t get the ball to his best bud Calvin!  On the running back side, Gore and Mcgahee go down with injuries, Reggie Bush continues to shine, the Redskins have no idea who their running back is and Michael Bush is a legitimate top 10 running back as long as McFadden is out.  So much madness in the fantasy world!  Putting all that behind us, here are my week 11 rankings for quarterbacks and running backs.

Quarterbacks

1.  Aaron Rodgers (GB vs. TB): Will probably have 4 touchdowns in the first half
2. Cam Newton (CAR @ DET): Tough QB to bring down and gets it down with his legs and arm
3. Tom Brady (NE vs. KC): Could possibly be the #2 fantasy QB this week, but placed him here because they might not need to throw that much in this game
4. Tony Romo (DAL @ WAS): Is on fire, and Redskins stink
5. Mathew Stafford (DET vs. CAR): Comeback week for them as they are starting to go backwards
6. Philip Rivers (SD @ CHI): It’s always a hit or miss with the Chargers who desperately need a win and Rivers has been playing better as of late
7. Eli Manning (NYG vs. PHI): Philly is not who we thought they were
8. Carson Palmer (OAK @ MIN): Another week of practice under his belt should give him more confidence
9. Jay Cutler (CHI vs. SD): He has been very consistent the last few games
10.  Matt Ryan (ATL vs. TEN): Beatable secondary and playing at home
11. Ryan Fitzpatrick  (BUF @ MIA): Miami is playing better but Fitz should have a comeback game
12.  Mark Sanchez (NYJ @ DEN): Mark will need to throw a lot in this game
13. Tim Tebow (DEN vs. NYJ): Rank him this high because of his running ability
14. Alex Smith (SF vs. ARI): Really like him in this game, but Gore’s absence might factor in
15. Josh Freeman  (TB @ GB): He’s going to have to throw a ton since they’ll be down early
16. Joe Flacco (BAL vs. CIN): I don’t trust him at all
17. Matt Moore (MIA vs. BUF): Him and Marshall are starting to connect and Buffalo secondary is beatable
18. Matt Hasselbeck (TEN @ ATL): He’s okay and his receivers are not great
19. Andy Dalton (CIN @ BAL): Is AJ Green playing? If not, his numbers dip and so does his ranking
20. Christian Ponder (MIN vs. OAK): Playing back in the dome after a disastrous game in GB

Stud Pick: Carson Palmer;  Dud Pick: Tim Tebow;  Sleeper Pick: Matt Moore

Running Backs

1. Adrian Peterson (MIN vs. OAK): He is on a tear and the only thing going for the Vikings
2. LeSean McCoy (PHI vs NYG):  McCoy is unstoppable and Giants give up a good amount of fantasy points to running backs
3. Matt Forte (CHI vs. SD): Please pay the man!
4. DeMarco Murray (DAl @ WAS): Yes he made it into the top 5 on my list
5. Ray Rice (BAL vs. CIN): Continues to produce
6. Maurice Jones-Drew (JAC @ CLE): The only guy I am starting in this game
7. Frank Gore (SF vs. ARI): Might not play, but good match up if he does
8. Michael Turner (ATL vs. TEN): Playing at home in a game where he should carry at least 20 times
9. Fred Jackson (BUF @ MIA): Still getting it down and no signs of slowing down
10. Steven Jackson (STL vs. SEA): Going up against a tough run defense but still finds ways to produce
11. Marshawn Lynch (SEA @ STL): Will he have another big week?
12. Michael Bush (OAK @ MIN): If McFadden is out again, look for him to have another good game
13. Chris Johnson (TEN @ ATL): He did show some life last week
14. Shonn Greene (NYJ @ DEN): Denver is good at stopping the run and Greene can be stopped
15. Reggie Bush (MIA vs. BUF): I want to rank him higher, but Thomas is taking away some carries
16. Brandon Jacobs (NYG vs. PHI): If Bradshaw is out, look for Jacobs to get 1-2 scores
17. Willis McGahee (DEN vs. NYJ): Was injured last week, but if he plays he could get it going again.  Splitting carries with Ball though seems to be the likely scenario
18. James Starks (GB vs. TB):  Should be up early and will run a lot in the 2nd half
19. Mike Tolbert (SD @ CHI): Could possibly get a goal line touchdown in this one, other than that, I wouldn’t start any of the SD running backs
20. BenJarvus Green-Ellis (NE vs. KC): Will be running a lot in this game, but who will get the ball more?
21. Maurice Morris (DET vs. CAR): He’s the best runner they have now, but he’s not great
22. LeGarrette Blount (TB @ GB):  Green Bay will be up early and Tampa will need to throw which means Blount will be watching from the sidelines on passing downs
23. Jackie Battle (KC @ NE): Only chance he has to produce in this one is early on in the game.
24. Lance Ball (DEN vs. NYJ): Carried the ball 30 times last week.  If McGahee doesn’t play, his value and ranking goes up
25. Chris Ogbonnaya (CLE vs. JAC):  Run the ball a lot better and with Hillis out once again, should see the ball 20+ times

Stud Pick: Reggie Bush;  Dud Pick: Shonn Greene;  Sleeper Pick: James Starks 

Before I go into my wide receiver and tight end rankings, I wanted to point out a top 10 list of the most targeted players and a list of the most rushing attempts in the NFL.

Most Targeted Players 

1. Wes Welker (92 targets)
2. Jimmy Graham (82)
3. Roddy White (79)
4. Brandon Marshall (79)
5. Reggie Wayne (77)
6. Pierre Garcon (75)
7. Calvin Johnson (74)
8. Steve Smith (73)
9. Dwayne Bowe (73)
10. Antonio Brown (73)

Most Rushing Attempts

1. Maurice Jones-Drew (166)
2. Adrian Peterson (166)
3. Frank Gore (159)
4. Michael Turner (157)
5. Arian Foster (154)
6. LeSean McCoy (151)
7. Fred Jackson (150)
8. Matt Forte (148)
9. Cedric Benson (137)
10. Ray Rice (133)

These are the top 10 go to guys on each side of the ball.  When looking to see who you should start between some players, make sure you check out how many times they get targeted or how many times they carry the ball.  The more times they touch the ball or get looked at, the more chances they have of making a big play.  One player I would like to note that wasn’t in the top 10 in the two categories is Darren Sproles.  Darren Sproles has 72 targets (just outside the top 10) with 56 receptions (2nd most in the NFL behind Wes Welker) on the receiving end and 49 rushes.  Sproles has been an absolute breakout player this year which you should trade for if you are having running back problems and if your trade deadline hasn’t passed.

Here are my rankings for week 10 Wide Receivers and Tight Ends:

Wide Receivers

1. Calvin Johnson @ CHI
2. Greg Jennings vs. MIN
3. Steve Smith vs TEN
4. Vincent Jackson vs. OAK
5. Wes Welker @ NYJ
6. Dez Bryant vs. BUF
7. Mike Wallace @ CIN
8. Jeremy Maclin vs. ARI
9. Roddy White vs. NO
10. Dwayne Bowe vs. DEN
11. Hakeem Nicks @ SF
12. Anquan Boldin @ SEA
13. Brandon Marshall vs. WAS
14. Julio Jones vs. NO
15. Larry Fitzgerald @ PHI
16. Marques Colston @ ATL
17. AJ Green vs. PIT
18. Brandon Lloyd @ CLE
19. Jordy Nelson vs. MIN
20. Victor Cruz @ SF
21. Stevie Johnson @ DAL
22. Mario Manningham @ SF
23. Santonio Holmes vs. NE
24. Desean Jackson vs. ARI
25. Antonio Brown @ CIN
26. Eric Decker @ KC
27. Pierre Garcon vs. JAC
28. Plaxico Burress vs. NE
29. Percy Harvin @ GB
30. Michael Crabtree vs. NYG
31. Mike Williams vs. HOU
32. Laurent Robinson vs. BUF
33. Steve Breaston vs. DEN
34. Torrey Smith @ SEA
35. Jabar Gaffney @ MIA

Tight Ends 

1. Jimmy Graham @ ATL
2. Jermichael Finley vs. MIN
3. Jason Witten vs. BUF
4. Rob Gronkowski @ NYJ
5. Aaron Hernandez @ NYJ
6. Antonio Gates vs. OAK
7. Owen Daniels @ TB
8. Greg Olsen vs. TEN
9. Tony Gonzalez vs. NO
10. Fred Davis @ MIA
11. Jake Ballard @ SF
12. Brent Celek vs. ARI
13. Brandon Pettigrew @ CHI
14. Kellen Winslow vs. NO
15. Vernon Davis vs. NYG

Finally we can watch football earlier than Sunday!  This week, the NFL gives us a game tomorrow night when the Chargers host the Raiders.  Here are my Quarterback and Running Back rankings for the week:

Quarterbacks

1. Aaron Rodgers vs. MIN (Did it against them last time and will roll once again at home)
2. Michael Vick vs. ARI (Arizona’s secondary is terrible and Vick has plenty of weapons)
3. Cam Newton vs TEN (He’s an all around beast and the Titans are beatable through the air)
4. Drew Brees @ ATL (Playing against rival Falcons in Atlanta is going to be a tough environment, but Brees will shine)
5. Eli Manning @ SF (49ers have a stellar rush defense so Eli will have to throw)
6. Ryan Fitzpatrick @ DAL (Dallas secondary has been beaten all year)
7. Tony Romo vs BUF (Romo has the weapons to do damage, hopefully he can come through against a friendly secondary)
8. Mathew Stafford @ CHI (Megatron is all I am going to say)
9. Josh Freeman vs HOU (playing at home against a very beatable defense which has allowed big plays all year)
10. Tom Brady @ NYJ (I hate this matchup for him, but he is Tom Brady and does have good targets to throw to)
11. Matt Ryan @ NO (Can definitely get the job done here)
12. Matt Schaub @ TB (Andre Johnson might be back but if he’s not, Schaub has still be consistent)
13. Matt Cassel vs DEN (Denver has one of the worst secondaries in the league and Bowe has been great all year to throw to)
14. Ben Roethlisberger @ CIN (Tough matchup here, but could have a couple scores along with a couple turnovers)
15. Philip Rivers vs OAK (This should be in his favor, but hasn’t taken advantage of good matchups this year)
16. Mark Sanchez vs. NE (Great match-up but still makes a lot of mistakes)
17. Jay Cutler vs. DET (As long as his line can hold up, he will do just fine)
18. Joe Flacco @ SEA (Good match-up but has been inconsistent all year)
19. Andy Dalton vs. PTT (Should have to throw as both teams are good against the run)
20. Colt McCoy vs. STL (Match-up is in his favor and will need to throw more since he doesn’t have anyone great to hand the ball to)

Running Backs

1. LeSean McCoy vs. ARI (He can do it all and Arizona stinks)
2. Arian Foster @ TB (Another week without Andre Johnson means more workload for Foster)
3. Adrian Peterson @ GB (Consistent runner every week)
4. Maurice Jones-Drew @ IND (Colt’s rush defense is bad and MJD is running well)
5. Michael Turner vs. NO (Turner the burner hits pay dirt multiple times in this one)
6. Frank Gore vs NYG (over 100 rushing yards the last 5 weeks, count on him to hit the century mark again)
7. Matt Forte vs. DET (would be higher here if Barber wasn’t stealing goal-line carries away)
8. Ray Rice @ SEA (over 100 total yards easily here)
9. Darren Sproles @ ATL (Shows why he should be started every week)
10. Steven Jackson @ CLE (has played well as of late so keep using him)
11. Fred Jackson @ DAL (Dallas defense played a lot better last week and still have a pretty good rush defense)
12. DeMarco Murray vs. BUF (Felix Jones might be back this week, but will still get enough carries to cause damage)
13. Willis McGahee @ KC (Chiefs have a pretty good defense, but McGahee has come back with a lot of power)
14. Michael Bush @ SD (He is the guy here again with McFadden out)
15. LeGarrette Blount vs. HOU (not a good pass catcher and Houston does have a pretty good rush defense)
16. Shonn Greene vs. NE (should have a pretty good game here)
17. Chris Johnson @ CAR (a lot of running backs have had great games against the Panthers and he did show signs of life last week)
18. Rashard Mendenhall @ CIN (going up against a stellar defense and hasn’t been running well)
19. Reggie Bush vs WAS (really like him and see him hitting 100 total yards in this game.  Plus Miami staff have said that they finally know how to use him)
20. BenJarvus Green-Ellis @ NYJ (going up against a tough defense, but has been putting up numbers)
21. Michael Tolbert vs. OAK (Ryan Mathews is coming back this week so look at them to split carries
22. Jackie Battle vs DEN (borderline RB2/flex play here.  Sit him if you have other options)
23. Jonathan Stewart vs. TEN (What happened to D-Will?  Stewart should see more carries)
24. Ryan Mathews vs. OAK (Will be splitting carries and losing goal line touches to Tolbert)
25. Beanie Wells @ PHI (great matchup but his knee has been limiting him in games.  Could hit top 10 fantasy numbers this week if his knee holds up.  Last week against the Rams he did not play well at all)
26. Cedric Benson vs. PIT (always getting around 20-25 carries for 75 yards.  So his numbers should dip against a better defense.  Nothing special about him in this one.)
27. Brandon Jacobs @ SF (going up against one of the best rush defenses in the league.  He might see a goal line touchdown, but other than that he will have a quiet game)
28. Roy Helu @ MIA (is he or is he not the running back for the Skins?  Not sure, that is why he’s not ranked higher)
29. DeAngelo Williams vs. TEN (Stewart and Newton have been stealing the show in Carolina.  Look for another slow day for him)
30. Marshawn Lynch vs. BAL (has been running well, but is going to hit a stone wall this week)
31. Javon Ringer @ CAR (favorable matchup here, so if CJ doesn’t do well early on, he could see a lot more carries)
32. James Starks vs MIN (Has been the better running back in GB, but this is going to be all Aaron Rodgers)
33. Chris Ogbonnaya vs. STL (if Hillis is out again, he has a little value but the Rams shut down Beannie Wells last week and their rush defense is not that bad)
34. LaDainian Tomlinson vs. NE (could sneak in a short TD in this one.  Plus he is the better pass catcher)
35. Felix Jones vs. BUF (coming back this week and if he plays well early on, he could see more touches)

Wide Receiver and Tight End ranks will be up tomorrow morning!  Be sure to check back then.

Before I go into my wide receiver rankings for week 9, I want to point out that Ahmad Bradshaw looks like he will be missing some time with a foot injury.  Although a better report will soon follow in the next couple of days, no one is sure yet if he will need surgery or not.  I can bet though that he will miss this Sunday’s game vs. the Patriots.  Other than the obvious pickup of Brandon Jacobs, I really like Da’Rel Scott to make an appearance if Bradshaw is out for an extended period of time.  Scott had a great preseason and is a very explosive back.  So if reports come out tomorrow or Saturday that Bradshaw will need surgery, Scott is my deep sleeper for the rest of the season that you should pick up and stash away.

Victor Cruz will be making an appearance in my top 15 for WR.  The absence of Bradshaw means Eli Manning will be throwing a lot more, and a top target for this weekend will be Victor Cruz.  Hakeem Nicks seems as if he will miss this Sunday’s game also which increases Cruz’s stock.  Be sure to start him in all formats if you have him.  Giants TE Ballard is also a great pickup if he is still available in your leagues as he figures to get an uptick in targets as well.

Wide Receivers top 40

1. Wes Welker vs. NYG 
2. Marques Colston vs. TB
3. Dwayne Bowe vs MIA
4. Greg Jennings @ SD
5. Vincent Jackson vs. GB
6. Roddy White @ IND
7. Jeremy Maclin vs. CHI
8. Mario Manningham@ NE
9. Dez Bryant vs. SEA
10. DeSean Jackson vs. CHI
11. Victor Cruz @ NE
12. AJ Green @ TEN
13. Brandon Lloyd @ ARI
14. Larry Fitzgerald vs. STL
15. Anquan Boldin @ PIT
16. Brandon Marshall @ KC
17. Pierre Garcon vs. ATL
18. Mike Wallace vs. BAL
19. Julio Jones @ IND
20. Jordy Nelson @ SD
21. Mike Williams (TB) @ NO
22. Malcolm Floyd vs. GB
23. Stevie Johnson vs. NYJ
24. Reggie Wayne vs. ATL
25. Darrius Heyward-Bey vs. DEN
26. Michael Crabtree @ WAS
27. Santonio Holmes @ BUF
28. Antonio Brown vs BAL
29. Jabar Gaffney vs. SF
30. Deion Branch vs. NYG
31. Lance Moore vs TB
32. Plaxico Burress @ BUF
33. Sydney Rice @ DAL
34. Jonathan Baldwin vs MIA
35. Nate Washington vs CIN
36. James Jones @ SD
37. Braylon Edwards @ WAS
38. Eric Decker @ OAK
39. Devin Hester @ PHI
40. Greg Little @ HOU

As if it weren’t hard enough to find replacement running backs for those getting injured lately, week 9 includes bye weeks for AP, MJD, D-Will and Jonathan Stewart.  I know the last two named are not that high on people’s list, but they are better options than what you can find on the waiver wire right now.  So here’s my top 20 list for the running backs heading into action in week 9!

Running Backs

1. Frank Gore @ WAS (Frank Gore has been on a tear and the 49ers are rolling in the win column as well.  The same can’t be said for the Redskins who look like a semi-pro team.  Chalk about another 100 yard game and two scores for Frank)
2. Arian Foster vs. CLE (He’s the man there and no one can stop him)
3. Michael Turner @ IND (Turner the Burner is going to shred this defense apart)
4. Matt Forte @ PHI (Eagles have been playing better on defense lately, but Forte is a rushing and receiving threat who will give headaches to Andy Reid Monday Night)
5. LeSean McCoy vs. CHI (On the other side of the ball, we have an identical guy to Forte.  Bears are tough against the run, but have been beaten up in the past…aka Javhed Best)
6. LeGarrette Blount @ NO (He’s the only running back there and Saints don’t really have a good rush defense)
7. Fred Jackson vs. NYJ (Jets have been beaten in the run game this season and Jackson has been the only consistent guy on offense for the Bills this season)
8. Steven Jackson @ ARI (Jackson is on fire as of late, and although Arizona does have a pretty good rush defense, Jackson has done good against other opponents in the top 10 in rush defense)
9. Darren McFadden/Michael Bush vs. Denver (Oakland should win this game and have control throughout especially if Tebow plays like last week.  Not sure if McFadden plays, but if he does, he sits at #9.  If he doesn’t, Bush snuggles slowly into the top 10, but not ahead of Ray Rice)
10. Ray Rice @ PIT ( Ray Rice lit it up with 3 touchdowns last week.  Pitt is vulnerable against the run and Rice should get a couple tries on the goal line again this week)
11. Beanie Wells vs. STL (If he stays healthy in this game and doesn’t get injured, he is a top 10 play.  IF is the keyword)
12. Ahmad Bradshaw @ NE (I think he plays this week, and Jacobs is a complete Dud.  If Bradshaw plays, he looks to carry the ball at least 20 times)
13. Mike Tolbert vs. GB (Looks like he will be the only healthy running back there and he has done well as the primary back in the past)
14. Shonne Greene @ BUF (Buffalo is very beatable in the trenches, so if Greene brings his A game, I can see him getting over 100 yards rushing)
15. Darren Sproles vs. TB (I don’t know if a lot of fantasy players know this, but Sproles is 2nd in the league in receptions with 51 behind Welker with 57.  Even if Sproles can’t get it done running the ball, he figures to catch 5-7 balls.  Oh ya, he also returns)
16. De Marco Murray vs. SEA (Playing at home against the Seahawks who have a stellar rush defense.  Seattle is known though to play worst on the road, so Murray can have a productive game)
17. Cedric Benson @ TEN (Will get most of the carries again, but he was out of football for a week)
18. BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs. NYG (I would rank him higher, but now Kevin Faulk is back in the mix and you never know how they decide to run the ball.  Reggie Bush did crack 100 yards vs the Giants last week though.  So if Green-Ellis sees 15-20 touches, he will have a good game)
19. Rashard Mendenhall vs. BAL (Baltimore defense is good.  Mendenhall is unpredictable.  I put money on Baltimore shutting him out)
20. Jackie Battle vs. MIA (Battle is the primary back there and Miami defense is beatable and are playing sloppy)

Others I like: Reggie Bush @ KC, Kevin Faulk @ NYG, Javon Ringer vs. CIN, Pierre Thomas/Mark Ingram vs. TB

Any comments or questions please write them below or on my twitter @Themisk22

Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Tony Romo and Tom Brady had awful performances in week 8 and they were for the most part all ranked in the top 10 in many rankings.  So what can you expect in week 9?  For one thing, I don’t think I can trust Philip Rivers and Tony Romo anymore.  Tim Tebow is a complete disaster and I am not sure how people are even considering starting him still over guys like Dalton, Alex Smith Christian Ponder.  YES I SAID IT!  Christian Ponder.  He is a much better quarterback than Tim Tebow and will be a regular top 10 QB in the next few years.  But we are talking about 2011 week 9 here and Aaron “Championship Belt” Rodgers is back!  Not only am I excited to see him play, he is also on my fantasy team (although Cam Newton filled in nicely for me on the bye).  So let’s take a look at this week’s top 15 at the QB position shall we.

QUARTERBACKS 

1. Aaron Rodgers @ SD (Consensus #1 here.  I know San Diego has a pretty good secondary, but Aaron Rodgers & Co. are just that good)
2. Drew Brees vs. TB (Bounce back win here and playing at home, please start him)
3. Michael Vick vs. CHI (Chicago gives up big plays, and Vick is mobile and has an amazing running back in Mccoy and deep threats in Maclin and Jackson)
4. Tom Brady vs. NYG (Coming off a tough performance, Brady comes back home to take on a tough pass rush defense.  Will he hold up?)
5. Eli Manning @ NE (New England secondary is terrible and Eli has been on fire and focused)
6. Matt Ryan @ IND (Everyone is having a field day on this team and Indy’s corners can’t keep down  White, Jones and Gonzalez)
7. Matt Schaub vs CLE (Schaub has been surprisingly good without his stud receiver in Johnson.  Should have another good week)
8. Josh Freeman @ NO (Anything AJ Feeley can do, Freeman can do better!)
9. Matt Cassel vs MIA (Miami defense=horrible.  Cassel=good as of late. Also playing at home coming off a great win)
10. Tony Romo vs. SEA (Last chance in the top 10.  Seattle has a good rush defense but a beatable secondary.  Also playing at home…)
11. Ben Roethlisberger vs. BAL (I know he is coming off a great win, but Baltimore has an unbelievable defense and I feel like this will be a low scoring game)
12. Mark Sanchez @ BUF (He might make some mistakes,  but he will end with a good game overall)
13. Ryan Fitzpatrick @ NYJ (Fred Jackson will open up some passing lanes, Scott Chandler and David Nelson will be the beneficiaries of most of the passes)
14. Andy Dalton @ TEN (Dalton-Green combination is clicking and turning into a Stafford-Johnson sorta thing)
15. Philip Rivers @ GB (This is tough and playing in Green Bay.  I really don’t see a good game out of him)

others I like: Colt Mccoy @ HOU, Alex Smith @ WAS, Tarvaris Jackson @ DAL

Please comment below if you feel like someone else should be ranked or if you disagree.  Thank you!  Follow me on twitter @Themisk22

For those of you who focused more on drafting good running backs and a good quarterback, maybe missed out on some big time wide receivers (like me).  For those of you who are settled in with the likes of Calvin Johnson, Hakeem Nicks, Greg Jennings etc. should have no problem figuring out who to start.  For those of you like me who need to dig deep into the wide receiver ranks, I created a top 25 rank list of the wide receivers going into this week.

1. Calvin Johnson @ DEN (No explanation really needed.  Megatron is the best WR in the game and no one is able to stop him.  Even if he doesn’t get his regular touchdown, he will still rack in the yards.)
2. Mike Wallace vs. NE (New England has a very bad secondary and Mike Wallace is the fastest WR in the NFL.  Look for him to have 1-2 big plays which might be all that’s needed to give fantasy owners a good week out of him.)
3. Wes Welker @ PIT  (Wes Welker is a reception king.  He will get his normal 8-10 receptions for over 100 yards and possibly a score as Pittsburgh is very beatable.)
4. Andre Johnson vs JAC (He’s BAAAAACK!  Well he says that he will practice and play this week.  If he does, be sure to put him in your lineup.)
5. Steve Smith vs MIN  (Minnesota gives up a lot of big plays.  The last 2 weeks they have given up big plays to Devin Hester and Greg Jennings.  Look for Steve Smith and Cam Newton to connect on some long plays in this one.)
6. Marques Colston @ STL (He has been tearing it up since he’s come back from his injury and STL is in shambles right now.)
7. Hakeem Nicks vs. MIA (Averaging 85 yards receiving a game and is going up against a beatable Miami secondary.)
8. Dwayne Bowe vs. SD (Bowe has been putting together a productive season.  He has been averaging over 17 yards per catch.  Look for him to have another productive game as this may become a shootout.)
9. Vincent Jackson @ KC (This all depends on if Rivers will have an off day or not.  VJ was targeted 8 times last week and continues to receive the most targets on the team.)
10. Jeremy Maclin vs DAL (Not exactly sure who is the #1 receiver in Philly between Maclin and Jackson, but Maclin has been very productive.)
11. Stevie Johnson vs WAS (With wide receiver depth problems in Buffalo, Stevie Johnson and David Nelson are the only reliable receiving threats there.  Look for Johnson to receive between 12-14 looks.)
12. Brandon Marshall @ NYG (Giants give up about 13 yards a catch and close to 275 receiving yards a game.  Marshall should fair well in this matchup.)
13. AJ Green @ SEA (He is a beast and Benson is out, so they might need to throw a bit more.)
14. Miles Austin @ PHI (The Eagles have great cornerbacks, but they have been up and down this year and Miles Austin is still a beast of a receiver.)
15. Larry Fitzgerald @ BAL (I don’t have him in the top 10 because Kevin Kolb is a disaster and they are going up against a Ravens defense which is looking to bounce back after an ugly loss to the Jaguars.)
    
16. Dez Bryant @ PHI (same as Austin)
17. Desean Jackson vs DAL (Could get a couple long looks from Vick, but Maclin has been emerging as the top target guy there.)
18. Anquan Boldin vs ARI ( They were an absolute mess, and his touchdown came really late in the game.  If they set up Boldin as a slot receiver, he could do a lot of damage.)
19. Nate Washington vs. IND (I think he could be ranked higher here with the Colts’ performance last week, but I will keep him here for now.  Still a good start in most leagues.)
20. Pierre Garcon @ TEN (Don’t know what has happened to Wayne and Clark, but Garcon is the only one getting targets and making catches there.)
21. Jabar Gaffney @ BUF (Santana Moss is out and Gaffney will become the #1 receiver there.  Going against a user friendly secondary, look for Gaffney to have a good game.)
22. Antonio Brown vs. NE (Hines Ward looks to be out, so Brown will be getting more targets this week against a very beatable secondary.)
23. Brandon Lloyd vs NO  (STL will be down early so they will need to throw.  Lloyd figures to get around 10-12 looks if not more.)
24. David Nelson vs WAS (Other than Stevie Johnson, he is pretty much the only one getting looks.)
25. Reggie Wayne @ TEN (He barely made my list.  Don’t know what to expect from this Colts’ offense, but he is still Reggie Wayne and he can make plays if they get him the ball.)