MJD continues to make his arguement for MVP.

MJD continues to make his arguement for MVP.

Fantasy Football Brothers kicks off the weekend with Final Rank Fridays. Owners continue to deal with bye weeks, injuries, and the never ending formation of more RBBC’s.  We have crossed the halfway point in most fantasy leagues, with league playoffs starting in five weeks. Roles should be become more defined, but the fact of the matter is most are not. In Detroit it was reported that Kevin Smith would be losing some touches only to be disputed by Head Coach Jim Schwartz later in the week. What does that mean to owners? It means wait and see and hope he isn’t a liar. In Houston it appears Steve Slaton’s case of fumblitis finally wore down the coaching staff forcing them to make a switch that paid off big time with Ryan Moats’ offensive fireworks against the Bills. Yes, I know it’s the Bills, but Slaton owners are and should be very worried, because Moats was able to do something that Slaton hasn’t been able to do all year long. Protect the ball, and make opposing defenses respect the run. In Kansas City the Larry Johnson era comes to a close, and the Jamaal Charles show debuts. Will Charles be able to be more effective than Johnson? Most likely since L.J. has been a mere shadow of himself with the sad ending of him putting his foot in his mouth instead of forward on the football field.

 

1) Maurice Jones-Drew – JAC – RB
Jones-Drew has been a fantasy monster this season, scoring 5 touchdowns in his last two games while also averaging a total of 170 yards in those games as well. With the Chiefs up this week and their 25th ranked defense this is a match made in heaven, though Kansas City has had two weeks to prepare for the MJD, then again they are playing K.C.
 
2) Frank Gore – SFO – RB
Gore finally got back on track last week with 130 total yards including 5 receptions and a TD. Gore was brought along slowly the previous week after missing almost 3 entire games, MJD slashed and gashed the Titans run defense, who have been struggling as of late, look for more of the same for Gore & Co.
 
3) Michael Turner – ATL – RB
Turner did a number on the Saints front 7 last week rushing for 151 yards and a TD for a silly 7.6 y.p.c. Turner is starting to run like with confidence and this week gets the Redskins and their 25th ranked run defense who are also coming off a bye week. While the pass game appears to be struggling a little bit, the run games is starting to hit its stride.
 
4) Ronnie Brown – MIA – RB
Brown was shut down last week rushing for only 27 yards, but looking inside the game the Dolphins had the ball for about two seconds in the entire 3rd Quarter taking a back seat to the Ted Ginn Jr. two return touchdown show. The run game will likely rebound against the Pats where the Wildcat offense debuted over a year ago with wild success, causing teams around the NFL and College to adopt different versions of this scheme. The Pats are coming off a bye week and will look to stop this Brown and the Dolphins that embarrassed them last year. New England’s run-d is currently ranked 17th
 
5) Cedric Benson – CIN – RB
The last time Benson faced the Ravens I had ranked Benson low, going against my mantra of always start your studs. Benson snapped the Ravens streak of holding a runner under hundred yards rushing at 39 games in a row with a 120 yards. Benson went into the bye week scoring three touchdowns in as many games. The Bengals got an extra week to prepare for the Ravens and their 4th ranked run-d who were able to shut down the Broncos run game last week.
 
6) Ryan Grant – GRE – RB
Grant gets a bump in the rankings this week for a few reasons. The first one and the most obvious is the opponent Tampa Bay and their sieve like 29th ranked run stopping defense(is that an oxymoron?)

Second is the health of Aaron Rodgers ankle, though likely to play his mobility could be limited, and the Packers would be wise to limit his pass attempts thus reducing the likely hood of getting hit. Lastly the Packers for the first time this season will have their entire starting offensive line intact upgrading the entire team
 
7) Chris Johnson – TEN – RB
Johnson leads the NFL in rushing with 824 yards rushing for a ludicrous 6.9 yards per carry and four touchdowns. He finally snapped his touchdownless streak at four games after torching the Jags for 228 yards and added two TDs. Up this week for C.J. the 49ers and their second ranked run stopping defense. After a story that appeared in the Nashville Tennesean this week the Niners will have extra motivation Sunday after Johnson told his o-line that he would buy them a car if he rushes for over 2,000 yards, but from a defensive scheming perspective the 49ers should key on him since he really is the Titans only weapon on offense.
 
8) Ray Rice – BAL – RB
Rice has been a pleasant surprise this year turning into a top 10 RB. Last week against a very tough Broncos Defense, he was able to total 108 yards and added a score. In P.P.R. related news he is second among all backs in receptions 38 and targets 48. He Trails Arizona’s Hightower by one in each category. This week the Ravens have another tough match up with the Bengals who are coming off a bye week. The last time he faced Cincinnati he rushed for 69 yards and added 7 receptions for 74 yards and a TD. I’m expecting similar results this week in a huge rematch for both teams in a key AFC North division game.
 
9) Pierre Thomas – NOR – RB
I have been telling readers all along that Thomas was the guy in New Orleans even if he isn’t always the first choice for goal line chances. Thomas did a number on the Falcons rushing for 91 yards on 14 carries and added 2 receptions for 9 yards, all the while scoring a rushing TD on a nifty 22 yards scamper and then more importantly was the recipient of a swing pass out of the backfield for a TD to seal the game. Thomas needs to secure the ball a little better for the coaches to become more comfortable with him. This week the Saints have the Panthers who have had a very tough time stopping the run. Carolina’s pass defense is currently ranked first but that is more a testament on to how bad the run defense really is.
 
10) DeAngelo Williams – CAR – RB
DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart were able to torch the then number one ranked run stopping defense of the Cardinals last week for a combined 245 yards rushing on 40 attempts for a silly 6.1 y.p.c. D.Will ran for 158 yards but was shut out in the scoring department. Despite all the talk about the Cardinals vaunted run stopping defense, the combined dominant performance led a fellow writer to put it best. That is why you always start your studs, because in the end defensive ranks don’t sometime don’t matter. There is concern starting to grow that Stewart is the 20 yard back which is starting to put a damper on his overall value. Williams made a name for himself last year with 18 touchdowns aided by all of his long touchdowns run. This year is he is on pace for only 11. Up this week the Panthers face the Saints and their 11th ranked run defense who were destroyed Monday night by Turner for 151 yards rushing.
 
11) Matt Forte – CHI – RB
Forte’s trade value hasn’t been this high since he torched the Lions in week 4 for a score and 121 yards rushing, on Sunday he added two more touchdowns and 91 yards rushing against the hapless Browns, but still managed only 3.5 y.p.c. This week the Cardinals (Now 8th ranked run stopping def.)who were torched for a ton of rushing yards as mentioned in the William’s snippet. The Bear’s have struggled in all phases of offense this year,passing,running and blocking. Forte’s numbers have suffered as a direct result and at this rate he will be lucky to finish with over a thousand yards.
 
12) Brandon Jacobs – NYG – RB
Jacobs has had pretty decent results rushing the ball, but where are his touchdowns? The goal-line guy has only two after playing half his games, and backup Ahmad Bradshaw has twice as many. The good news is his yards per carry have increased in each of the last three games. Up this week the Chargers and their porous 27th ranked run stopping defense that is so suspect that even the Raiders had some mild success running the rock against San Diego.
 
13) LaDainian Tomlinson – SDC – RB
LDT was able to punch in two TDs against the Raiders Sunday, making his TD total for the year 3 TDs which all happen to be against the Raiders. Tomlinson’s y.p.c. remain a concern as he continues to hover at 3.4 for the year, but in the last two games just a meager 3.1 y.p.c., another concerning stat is his receptions or lack there of. LaDainian has had at least 50 receptions in each of the last eight years, this year he is on pace to finish 2009 with around 20. The Giants can be run on, and so can’t the Chargers which means this game will likely be a shootout. Expect a bunch of touches and opportunities for the former Fantasy stud this weekend, and hopefully he will score a TD against a real NFL team.
 
14) Brian Westbrook – PHI – RB
Westbrook had begun to take the majority of snaps until his latest injury (concussion)and returns for to play in his first full game since week 6. The Eagles will likely be cautious with his touches this weekend, and split carries with LeSean McCoy. The Eagles have an interesting game against the upstart Cowboys who’s play offensively and defensively have been much better since coming off the bye. Dallas currently ranks 13 in stopping the run.
 
15) Marion Barber – DAL – RB
MBIII and the rest of the Cowboys backs have seen the pass game improve since coming off the bye week. The improved pass games has effected their carries with Barber averaging half of all Cowboy rushes with 14 carries in the last two games. How much of his number decline is injury related remains to seen. Barber’s value remains as a scoring machine, since he has been pretty much removed from the pass game with only 6 receptions to date after finishing 07 and 08 with 44 and 52 receptions respectively. This week the Cowboys head off to face the Eagles and their 12th ranked Run-D
 
16) Clinton Portis – WAS – RB
Hopefully the week off gave the woeful Redskins some time to work out the kinks in what can only be described as a very inconsistent offense, and what might just be a terrible team that is surrounded by turmoil. Portis finished his first 7 games with 490 yards rushing and a respectable 4.1 y.p.c. and one score. The easy first half schedule that he faced should have produced more numbers, but the passing game has been hit or miss, add in the multiple leg injuries he was dealing with and the might explain not setting the world afire with the soft schedule. This week the Skins face the Falcons (23rd ranked Run-D)who are coming off a Monday night game, and are ripe to be run on. The question that needs to be answered is which offense is going to show up?
 
17) Rashard Mendenhall – PIT – RB
Mendenhall returns from the bye week and remains the starter despite Willie P. being completely healthy. The pass first Steelers, and yes you did read that right they have been passing a lot more than rushing this season. The new philosophy has had little impact on Mendenhall as he has rushed for over at least 62 yards in all four games as the starter and scored four touchdowns and in three out of four contests. Up this week the Broncos and their 3rd ranked run stopping defense on a great Monday Night matchup.
 
18) Ricky Williams – MIA – RB
Williams had season lows in yards rushing (27)and rushing average(3.4). The numbers from Sunday are skewed since the Dolphins were off the field for almost all of the 3rd Quarter as mentioned in the Ronnie Brown Snippet. The day wasn’t a complete wash as he was able to add 2 receptions for 41 yards which means that he has had at least 68 total yards or more in every game except the opener. Sunday’s game against the Pats will prove interesting, as New England had an extra week to prepare for the Dolphins.
 
19) Ahmad Bradshaw – NYG – RB
Bradshaw scored his fourth touchdown in as many games in the blow out loss to the Eagles last Sunday. Expect better production this week against the Chargers with their 6th ranked run stopping defense. A big game would not surprise at all. Bradshaw was diagnosed with a cracked foot, and yes if I’m an owner I’m more than a little worry. It seems like its more a questions of when the injury is going to become worse than the less likely if.
 
20) Kevin Smith – DET – RB
Smith is dinged up, and their were reports that Smith might be losing carries to Maurice Morris, but rumors of his decline appear to be premature. H.C. Jim Schwartz told the press this week that Smith is “our workhorse back”. Smith is dinged up and the extent of his injuries will really not be known until Sunday rolls around and if he is active or not, I’m sure owners still remember when all indications were that he would be out, and then ended up playing and scoring a few touchdowns. The run game has struggled due to a lot of things this year but recent struggles can be attributed to the absense of Megatron, hopefully he will return this week against the lowly Seahwaks (10th ranked Run-D)to take pressure off the run game. Keep an eye on his injury status.
 
21) Knowshon Moreno – DEN – RB
Moreno was held to his lowest rushing output since the opening game, but was able to punch a TD run in. This week his numbers could be similar with a game against the Steelers and their second ranked run stopping defense. Moreno received the goal line carry this past weekend, but had less touches than Correll Buckhalter.
 
22) Laurence Maroney – NEP – RB
With Sammy Morris, and Fred Taylor still out Maroney remains the de-facto starter with the law firm BenJarvus Green-Ellis backing him up, and Faulk playing on passing downs. Coming off the bye week the Pats will likely try and establish the run against a tough Dolphins (6th against the run)defense which did allow Thomas Jones to rush for over a hundred yards last week.
 
23) Julius Jones – SEA – RB
Jones got 17 touches last week, and the Hawks released Edgerrin James this week. Even more good news for Jones and Seattle is the Lions come to town with their 21st ranked run defense, easily the worst run defense they have faced since week one against the Rams. In case you were wondering J.J. rushed for 117 yards and a score, I know it seems like years ago that happened. Jones makes for a solid flex play this week.
 
24) Joseph Addai – IND – RB
Addai was unable to take advantage of his backfield mates absence rushing 20 times for a meager 62 yards and added two receptions for 4 yards, he was able to save fantasy owners from a disappointing day when he threw a late touchdown pass off a stretch running play. His y.p.c. have been in decline all season, but he has been able to score four touchdowns and has added 29 receptions for all you P.P.R. players. Donald Brown’s status is up in the air, but to compound the problem the Colts have the Texans and a much improved run stopping defense this week and have shut down every run game since MJD ran all over them in week 3.
 
25) Steve Slaton – HOU – RB
I’ve been telling owners for weeks that Slaton was likely going to fumble his job away and he finally did against the wrong opponent. Moats came in and ran wild all over the worst run defense in the NFL. Now heading into this weekend roles will need to be established, and in all likely hood, it will go something like this. Slaton will start, and play in obvious pass downs, and expect a P.P.R. bump with the Daniels injury. Moats could be in store for at least 15 carries this week especially with the Colts up on the schedule. Chris Brown will get some goal line short yardage work at the very minimum.
 
26) Jonathan Stewart – CAR – RB
Fantasy nation has begun to anoint Stewart the goal line guy in Carolina after getting the majority of touches inside the opponents 20 yard line, I think they might be right. J.Stew has scored four touchdowns in as many games including two against the former number one ranked run stopping defense of the Cardinals. This week he has the Saints who were torched by Turner on Monday Night Football, despite the Saints solid run stopping defense, Stewart still has value as a RB2/Flex play this week.
 
27) LeSean McCoy – PHI – RB
McCoy made the most of his playing time in blow out win against the Giants scoring a touchdown and also rushing for 82 yards on just eleven carries. With the return of Westbrook, McCoy’s rank takes a big hit as the will both likely split touches down the middle, though if Westbrook gets a 60/40 split that wouldn’t be a surprise either.
 
28) Jamaal Charles – KAN – RB
The Jamal Charles experiment begins in earnest Sunday against the recently struggling Jaguars and their 25th ranked Run-D who have been allowing 128 yards a game on the ground. With L.J.’s tenure likely over in K.C. Charles finally has a chance to take this job and make it all his. Charles is a a very talented back with blazing speed, he has plus hands catching the ball out of the backfield. The knocks on him are in pass protection, but more concerning is his fumbling, he would have likely taken the job from Johnson had the coaching staff been able to trust him toting the rock, and this has plagued him since his days in school. He definitely has some upside this week, add in the fact the Chiefs got an extra week to prepare for Jacksonville, but then again it is Kansas City after all.
 
29) Cadillac Williams – TAM – RB
I initially left Cadillac off my 1ST Look ranks on Tuesday, and I have been thinking about this all week, did I do it because it was a subconscious passive aggressive thing because he has effectively killed the value of Ward whom I drafted in a few leagues? Or is it the fact that Tampa Bay has become the Raiders East this season? Either way I apologize to our readers for that omission. Williams has put up respectable numbers this season but have been blown out regularly during the season killing any opportunity to even get the run game going when its already too late.
 
30) Tim Hightower – ARI – RB
Hightower has now scored in every game the last four weeks, and still is the leader among all back in targets and receptions. Yes he gets a bump up in P.P.R. rankings. This week the Cardinals look to rebound against the 18th rated Run-D of the Chicago Bears.
 
31) Correll Buckhalter – DEN – RB
Buckhalter had more touches last week, but Knowshon Moreno was inserted for the goalline set. Buckhalter has been steady all year but never spectacular, and the Broncos have made it clear that despite Buckhalter only trailing Moreno by 91 yards with 54 less carries, the rookie is the future.
 
32) Felix Jones – DAL – RB
Jones has more value in Return leagues as he is the main return guy, why Allan Rossum recovers from injury. Despite the fact that the Cowboys blew out the lowly Seahawks, Jones still only accounted for 8 rushes, in what has been a pass heavy attack for Dallas
 
33) Ryan Moats – HOU – RB
It will be interesting to see what type of role Moats has in this offense this week. I specualted earlier that he could see as many as 15 touches, and likely be on the field in likely passing downs. Moats was everyone Waiver wire hero, the question is does he turn into Shonn Greene, or emerge like Mike Sims-Walker has?
 
34) Willie Parker – PIT – RB
Parker is completely healthy for the first time, or at least as healthy as he can be. Parker is waiting to earn more playing time. He might have his work cut out for him this week with a game in Denver.
 
35) Reggie Bush – NOR – RB
Bush continues to show up in goal line, sets with the Saints taking advantage of his lateral quickness. Though his receptions are way down, it looks like he will continue to be the 3rd down back/goal line specialist.
 
36) Kevin Faulk – NEP – RB
Faulk will continue to have a larger role while the Pats deal with injuries at the RB spot, always a decent option in Flex play. Faulk will likely be on the field a bunch this weekend, as the Pats will most likely look to pass first on the Dolphins.
 
37) Beanie Wells – ARI – RB
Wells continues to have more rushing yards, than Hightower but loses all value because he continues to come off the field in goal line sets, and passing situations. The only way Wells’ role will increase is either an injury, or Hightower suddenly catches fumblitis.
 
38) Mike Bell – NOR – RB
Bell was relegated to second string work Monday night against Atlanta, and a late fumble in a close game did not improve his chances to see an increase in his workload going forward. Bell’s role is starting to appear to be something of a change of pace guy, and that’s it. He
 
39) Darren Sproles – SDC – RB
Sproles value continues to be tied to P.P.R. and Return yardage formats. Sproles only had six touches on offense, and fumbling away a ball will not increase your playing time.
 
40) Willis McGahee – BAL – RB
McGahee has been all but removed from the offense accounting for only 11 touches in the last three games,McGahee continues to have value as Rice’s backup, since he has already proved what he can do when given the chance.
 
41) Maurice Morris – DET – RB
Morris flew up the ranks this week, with talk of splitting carries with incumbent starter Kevin Smith. I patted myself on the back for calling the timeshare during the offseason, but apparently I have been penalized for a premature speculation.
 
42) Derrick Ward – TAM – RB
Ward’s value is almost virtually nothing at this point. A back up running back on a team that has allowed at least 24 points in every game but one has made it really hard to get carries when constantly invovled in blowouts.
 
43) Jason Snelling – ATL – RB
Snelling has done a decent job in place of the injured Jerious Norwood, on obvious passing and 3rd downs.
 
44) Donald Brown – IND – RB
Brown’s status for Sunday remains up in the air. Brown has practiced this week but his injury still remains a concern. He would be a very risky play this week especially against the sneaky Texans Run-D.
 
45) LenDale White – TEN – RB
White has been relegated to relative obscurity, as he has become just a back up. LenDale managed a season high in carries, and he still only has his week 3 score against the Jets as his only touchdown of the season.
 
46) Kolby Smith – KAN – RB
Smiths first action in over a year, could eventually replace Charles if he can’t handle the rock or the duties.
 
47) Chris Brown – HOU – RB
Brown’s value took a huge hit with the explosion of Moats. Brown will still see touches but his few carries will now be that much less.
 
48) Tashard Choice – DAL – RB
Choice is officially a stash guy at the midpoint of the season, he will have no value untile one of the other backs goes down.

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