Week 17 D/ST Preview: Seahawks get good matchup vs. 49ers

Week 17 D/ST Preview (Top-10):
1. Seattle Seahawks - @ SF
2. Arizona Cardinals - @ LA
3. Denver Broncos - vs. OAK
4. Kansas City Chiefs - @ SD
5. Buffalo Bills - @ NYJ
6. New England Patriots - @ MIA
7. Houston Texans - @ TEN
8. Pittsburgh Steelers - vs. CLE
9. Minnesota Vikings - vs. CHI
10. Baltimore Ravens - @ CIN

Seahawks get easy matchup: San Francisco's offense has been rough all season long. Seattle's, the complete opposite. The Seahawks can easy win on Sunday against the 49ers, and win big too.

Week 17 TE Preview: Kielce atop the Top-10 Rankings

Week 17 TE Rankings (Top-10):
1. Travis Kielce, KC - @ SD
2. Greg Olsen, CAR - @ TB
3. Jimmy Graham, SEA - @ SF
4. Delanie Walker, TEN - vs. HOU
5. Kyle Rudolph, MIN - vs. CHI
6. Zach Ertz, PHI - vs. DAL
7. Antonio Gates, SD - vs. KC
8. Eric Ebron, DET - vs. GB
9. Martellus Bennett, NE - @ MIA
10. Charles Clay, BUF - @ NYJ

Kielce faces struggling Chargers defense: Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kielce should see a spike in fantasy production in Week 17 because of the face that he is facing a San Diego Chargers defense that has struggled as of late.

Week 17 WR Preview: Jordy Nelson is No. 1, Martin off the list

Week 17 WR Rankings (Top-10):
1. Jordy Nelson, GB - @ DET
2. Mike Evans, TB - vs. CAR
3. T.Y. Hilton, IND - vs. JAX
4. Julio Jones, ATL - vs. NO
5. Brandin Cooks, NO - @ ATL
6. Michael Thomas, NO - @ ATL
7. Golden Tate, DET - vs. GB
8. Davonte Adams, GB - @ DET
9. Sammy Watkins, BUF - @ NYJ
10. Julian Edelman, NE - @ MIA

Doug Martin off the Week 17 Rankings list: Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Doug Martin would have received a good matchup this weekend against the San Fracisco 49ers defense, but he was suspended four games by the NFL on Wednesday for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Therefore, he's off our Top-10 WR Rankings for this week since he won't play.

Week 17 RB Preview: Johnson, McCoy, Freeman the Top-3

Week 17 RB Rankings (Top-10):
1. David Johnson, ARI - @ LA
2. LeSean McCoy, BUF - @ NYJ
3. Devonta Freeman, ATL - vs. NO
4. Jordan Howard, CHI - @ MIN
5. DeMarco Murray, TEN - vs. HOU
6. Mark Ingram, NO - @ATL
7. Bilal Powell, NYJ - vs. BUF
8. LeGarrette Blount, NE - @ MIA
9. Robert Kelley, WSH - vs. NYG
10. Jay Ajayi, MIA - vs. NE

Bills may be out, but McCoy should have production: When the Bills visit the Jets this Sunday, there is no meaning to the game for both teams. They're both long out of the playoffs, but that won't stop Bills RB LeSean McCoy from being a fantasy beast. McCoy's owners should see great amounts of production against a terribly struggling Jets defense.

Week 17 QB Preview: Rodgers should perform welll vs. Lions

Week 17 QB Rankings (Top-10):
1. Aaron Rodgers, GB - @ DET
2. Matt Ryan, ATL - vs. NO
3. Drew Brees, NO - @ ATL
4. Tom Brady, NE - @ MIA
5. Andrew Luck, IND - vs. JAX
6. Russell Wilson, SE - @ SF
7. Kirk Cousins, WSH - vs. NYG
8. Matthew Stafford, DET - vs. GB
9. Cam Newton, CAR - @ TB
10. James Winston, TB - vs. CAR

Rodgers should play well vs. Lions: Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has been on point all season. But with a division title on the line against the Detroit Lions, which also might mean a playoff spot, Rodgers should lead the Green Bay offense to a win, and clinch the NFC North.

Week 16 Injuries: Two QBs out, meaning two huge blows to two NFL teams

Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr broke his right fibula in the fourth quarter as his cleat got stuck in the ground while Colts OLB Trent Cole sacked him.

He will have surgery Sunday and is out indefinitely. Carr, an MVP candidate, immediately grabbed his leg and stayed on the turf.

It was only the second time all game the Colts pressured Carr behind one of the NFL's best offensive lines.

Trainers helped him off the field, and Carr couldn't put weight on his right leg. They examined Carr on the sideline before carting him to the locker room.

Matt McGloin replaced the QB in the lineup.

Mariota has fractured fibula: Tennessee Titans QB Marcus Mariota had to be carted off the field in the third quarter after injuring his right leg.

Coach Mike Mularkey said after the game that Mariota has a fractured fibula, adding, "Obviously, he is out."

Matt Cassel replaced the second-year QB in the lineup as the Titans fell to the Jaguars.

Seahawks lose Lockett: Seattle Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett made an incredible near-TD catch late in the second quarter, but he suffered a serious right leg injury on the play.

A source told ESPN that Lockett's leg is broken and that he'll have surgery Sunday morning.

His ankle got pinned under Cardinals CB Brandon Williams as he dove for the catch.

The second-year WR was in visible pain as trainers put an air cast on his leg and carted him off the field.

Other Key Injuries: Carlos Hyde (RB, SF), Cameron Brate (TE, TB), Thomas Rawls (RB, SEA), Robert Griffin III (QB, CLE)

Week 16 fantasy football inactives watch: Who's in, and who's out?

via ESPN.

To help you set your lineups and avoid starting a player who won't take the field on Saturday, we will post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their inactive lists before kickoff. Any rankings cited in this column come from our ESPN Fantasy staff ranks.

Refresh often for the latest information.

Ruled out before Saturday

QB Ryan Tannehill (knee), RB Melvin Gordon (hip), RB Adrian Peterson (knee), RB James Starks (concussion), WR Allen Hurns (hamstring), S Karl Joseph (toe), LB Vontaze Burfict (knee), TE Tyler Eifert (back), CB Delvin Breaux, (shoulder)

Early games, 1 p.m. ET (seven scheduled)

LB Kiko Alonso (hamstring, questionable)
TE Charles Clay (knee, questionable)
LB Preston Brown (foot, questionable)
WR Sammy Watkins (foot, questionable)
DT Kyle Williams (back, questionable)
TE Jordan Reed (shoulder, questionable)
WR Stefon Diggs (hip, questionable)
S Harrison Smith (ankle, questionable)
WR Randall Cobb (ankle, questionable)
RB Matt Forte (knee, doubtful)
WR Brandon Marshall (shoulder, questionable)
DE Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle, questionable)
LB Dont'a Hightower (knee, questionable)
TE Martellus Bennett (ankle, questionable)
QB Tom Brady (thigh, questionable)

Late games, 4:05 and 4:25 p.m. ET (four scheduled)

LB Craig Robertson (shoulder, questionable)
WR Amari Cooper (shoulder, questionable)
WR Michael Crabtree (finger, questionable)
WR John Brown (illness, questionable)

Saturday night game, 8:25 ET

WR A.J. Green (hamstring, questionable)
RB Jeremy Hill (knee, questionable)
RB Lamar Miller (ankle, questionable)

Updates/analysis (most recent first)

A.J. Green (9:10 a.m.): Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that Bengals doctors have officially pulled the plug on the possibility of Green playing tonight. Expect him to be on the team's inactive list when it comes out later today and be sure to make other fantasy WR plans.

Jordan Reed (9:05 a.m.): A source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter that Reed will not be active today against the Bears due to his injured shoulder. Official word should come down about 90 minutes before kickoff.

Lamar Miller (7:45 a.m.): If the Titans win Saturday against the Jaguars, then Saturday night's game has no significant playoff implications for the Texans. It would all come down to beating Tennessee in Week 17. With so much on the line next week, it's hard to see Houston pressing Miller into action Saturday night.

Jordan Reed (7:35 a.m.): The tight end did not practice for Washington this week, a fact which seems to point toward inactive status. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport agrees, citing a source who said Reed was facing "too quick a turnaround."

A.J. Green (7:30 a.m.): The Cincinnati receiver is adamant that he will play Saturday. However, the Bengals are not as sure and may decide to keep their star wide receiver inactive for another week. Green needs just 36 yards to top 1,000 for the season, so it's possible that if he does play, he may get pulled as soon as he reaches that milestone.

Official Saturday inactives should begin coming in at approximately 11:30 a.m. ET for the early games, 2:30 p.m. ET for the late games and 7 p.m. ET for the Saturday night game.

Week 16 RB Preview: Zeke is a must start for Monday

Week 16 RB Rankings (Top-10):
1. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL - vs. DET
2. Le'Veon Bell, PIT - vs. BAL
3. LeSean McCoy, BUF - vs. MIA
4. David Johnson, ARI - @ SEA
5. DeMarco Murray, TEN - @ JAX
6. Jordan Howard, CHI - vs. WSH
7. Latavius Murray, OAK - vs. IND
8. Devonta Freeman, ATL - @ CAR
9. Todd Gurley, LA - vs. SF
10. Carlos Hyde, SF - @ LA

Elliott a must-start against Detroit on Monday: Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott has been in the Top-3 of our weekly RB Rankings/Preview for a while now. This week, he's at No. 1. He has been propelling his fantasy owners to new height and he is a must-start when he faces the DetroitLions defense on Monday night.

Le'Veon Bell? Yes, please: For the same reason as Elliott, Pittsburgh Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell has gotten fantasy owners to where they re now in their league playoffs because of his fantastic play. There is no doubt that he, along with Elliott, are the finest running backs in the league, and having either one of them in your lineup can be lethal for an opponent.

Week 16 QB Preview: Rodgers, Brady face banged-up defenses

Week 16 QB Rankings (Top-10):
1. Tom Brady, NE - vs. NYJ
2. Drew Brees, NO - vs. TB
3. Andrew Luck, IND - @ OAK

4. Aaron Rodgers, GB - vs. MIN
5. Kirk Cousins, CHI - @ CHI

6. Matt Ryan, ATL - @ CAR

7. Philip Rivers, SD - @ CLE

8. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT - vs. BAL
9. Derek Carr, OAK - vs. IND
10. Cam Newton, CAR - vs. ATL

Rodgers faces downgrading Vikings D: Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers will face the Minnesota Vikings defense in Week 16, a defense that started the year out amazingly strong but has seemed to deteriorate as the season went on.

Brady should shine against Jets: New England Patriots QB Tom Brady will go up against a New York Jets defense that knows it it out of playoff contention after their Week 15 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots have already clinched the AFC East title once again, and they don't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

Week 15 Injuries: Giants lose star CB Janoris Jenkins

New York Giants CB Janoris Jenkins took a knee to the back from his own teammate after laying a hard hit on Lions TE Eric Ebron.

The team ruled him out for the remainder of the game, and FOX's Erin Andrews reported that he's getting further testing on his ribs and spine.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie took Jenkins' spot at outside CB.

Texans lose Miller: Houston Texans RB Lamar Miller limped off the field late in the fourth quarter with an apparent left ankle injury.

He looked to be in a lot of pain as trainers evaluated him on the sideline. Miller did not return to the field.

Broncos lose Wolfe: Denver Broncos DE Derek Wolfe left Sunday's game against the Patriots in the first half with a neck injury.

Trainers examined him on the sideline, and he was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Other Key Injuries: Darius Slay (CB, DET), Tyrell Williams (WR, SD), Ladarius Green (TE, PIT), Vontaze Burfict (LB, CIN)

Low-profile RBs are gaining ground on NFL's stars

By STEVEN WINE
Associated Press 

MIAMI (AP) — Hark the unheralded running backs.

Fifth-round picks, an undrafted rookie and a player who was out of the NFL for three seasons are among those bursting into the clear this year, leaving defenses and fans wondering the same thing: Where did they come from?

The surprising success by such low-profile rushers as Jay Ajayi, Jordan Howard, Robert Kelley and Tim Hightower speaks to the challenge of evaluating running backs.

"It's not like it used to be," said Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen, an NFL assistant since 1996. "When I first came in the league, you'd watch a tailback in college, and they all had a fullback in front of them, and they all got their 25 carries a game, and you compared them to each other. Now they're coming out of spread offenses, and there are a lot of good running backs out there who play for teams that don't run the ball as much. It's a lot harder comparing them now."

Some of the most frantic scrambling this season has been by teams seeking someone to carry the ball, with the high injury rate at the position creating openings for under-the-radar runners.

Ezekiel Elliott, DeMarco Murray and Le'Veon Bell are having big seasons, as expected. But other Pro Bowl backs — Todd Gurley, Doug Martin, Adrian Peterson , Chris Ivory — have struggled or been hurt this year.

Four-time Pro Bowl rusher Arian Foster retired from Miami in October, the day after Ajayi's second consecutive 200-yard game for the Dolphins. Even coach Adam Gase was surprised by the way the job was seized by Ajayi, a fifth-round pick in 2015.

"When we were going into the season, we felt like we were going to get four guys involved in what we were doing," Gase said. "So we didn't know if we'd really have enough touches to say a guy was going to have a 1,000-yard season."

Ajayi is 44 yards from the 1,000 mark, and one of 11 players on pace to reach the milestone. Six did it last year.

Cowboys rookie Elliott leads the league with 1,392 yards.

"We've all seen how the league has gone as far as trends with the running backs," Gase said. "It seems like rushing is coming back a little bit. You're seeing teams like Dallas, and obviously we're feeling pretty good about what we've got going on. There are other teams that are leaning on the running back a little more now."

As a result, players like Kelley are obscure no more. Nicknamed "Fat Rob," he has rushed for 587 yards while making six starts for the Washington Redskins, and is averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

In his best season at Tulane, he rushed for 420 yards — one reason he went undrafted.

"As a free agent, we didn't see a whole lot," coach Jay Gruden said. "He didn't get many carries at Tulane."

Kelley, listed at 6-foot and 220 pounds, has a rugged running style and rarely goes down on the first hit.

"I'm happy with how far I came," he said.

Ditto Howard, a rookie fifth-round pick from Indiana. He's one of the few bright spots this season for the Chicago Bears, rushing for 969 yards with a 5.0 average that ranks third in the league.

NFL teams often find their best running back in unlikely places, and tend not to devote high draft picks to the position. Elliott was the lone rusher taken in the first 44 selections of this year's draft.

In 2015 the Arizona Cardinals found a gem from Northern Iowa in the third round, and now David Johnson leads the league with 15 touchdowns and 1,830 yards from scrimmage.

"He's basically their team," Ajayi said.

In Green Bay, Eddie Lacy has been out since Week 6, which left the Packers shopping for replacements during the season. Lately they've been using James Starks, waivers acquisition Christine Michael and converted receiver Ty Montgomery, who has made three starts.

"We're a team that has gone through a lot of injuries," coach Mike McCarthy said. "It's about creating opportunities for all of these guys."

Hightower waited a long time for an opportunity after spending 2012-14 out of the NFL following a knee injury. He has become an effective backup to Mark Ingram with the New Orleans Saints, rushing for 453 yards and catching 18 passes for 178 yards.

Hightower said the nature of his position sometimes allows low-profile players to break out of a depth chart scrum.

"Running back I think is an easier position — just being honest — to come in and play right away," he said. "As long as you understand the blocking scheme and how to protect the quarterback, the schemes are similar to college and even high school. The learning curve isn't as great, so a guy can come in from off the streets, or from anywhere."

FANTASY PLAYS: Tough QB dilemmas in playoff semifinals

By SCOTT ENGEL
Associated Press / FNTSY Network

If you're still playing in Week 15 of the fantasy football season, be proud. Advancing to a prime playoff spot means you worked hard to get to this crucial point.

In many leagues, a victory this week will earn you a berth in the championship game. So stay the course that took you this far in most cases, and remember that all you can do is be informed and set the most ideal lineup possible. Once the games start, it's on your players to execute.

The best you can do is put yourself in position to win without obsessing about what you can't control — winning when it counts takes luck in addition to the efforts you've already put in.

QUARTERBACK DECISIONS

Quarterback decisions this week are not easy. Drew Brees has thrown no touchdown passes and six interceptions in his past two games. Ben Roethlisberger is on the road again, where he has eight TD passes and eight interceptions. Andrew Luck has a tough matchup at Minnesota. It's not crazy to use Joe Flacco over any of those three. Flacco has two 300-yard games and six TD passes in his past two games. He faces an Eagles defense that has yielded 31.08 fantasy points per game to QBs over the past four weeks, fourth-highest in the NFL during that span. In most cases, you do not bench your star players at this time of year. But you can make an exception here with Flacco.

Tom Brady also appears to have a very tough matchup against the Broncos, but he should not be reserved like Brees or Roethlisberger, who have some negative trends working against them. Brady came up big in what looked to be a difficult matchup against Baltimore last week, throwing for more than 400 yards and three touchdowns. He'll move the offense well enough to deliver at least respectable fantasy totals this week. This is a marquee matchup for Brady, and he will be prepared to deliver. Denver also has some key injuries at linebacker that could make the Broncos more vulnerable to passes to Patriots running backs and tight ends.

JEFFERY'S RETURN

The Bears get Alshon Jeffery back from a suspension this week, and you should re-insert him in your lineup at least as a third wide receiver or flex option. Matt Barkley has thrown frequently in two of his three starts and has not made the Bears' receivers as irrelevant as feared when he first took over as the starter. Of course, do keep an eye on the weather, as windy conditions could hurt Chicago's passing game.

SPEAKING OF WEATHER

Don't get panicky at the first sign of snow or other weather reports. If there is only light snow or the winds are not heavy, you should not make a hasty move to adjust your lineup. Snowy conditions can play to the advantage of the offense, as defenders might have trouble getting into position when reacting to a playmaker who may be running a predetermined route or forcing a defender to react to him with a juke or cut. If you see winds below 15 mph or so, don't expect too much of an adverse effect on the passing game.

GORDON OUT, FARROW IN

Melvin Gordon is out with a hip injury, and undrafted rookie Kenneth Farrow should be the lead runner for the Chargers in what could be a high-scoring affair with the Raiders. Farrow is a physical type who should get some goal-line chances, so roll him out as the second running back in your lineup or at a flex spot. Ronnie Hillman may get some reps, too, but Farrow is the guy you want to use, especially if you lost Gordon.

JULIO JONES

Julio Jones is looking very iffy again this week, but Matt Ryan and the Falcons may not even need him against the likes of the 49ers. Plan to be without Jones again, but Ryan has other fantasy-friendly weapons at his disposal. The Niners allow 26.58 FFPG to wide receivers, so lock in big-play man Taylor Gabriel, and you can even consider Justin Hardy, who scored last week, in deeper leagues. Tevin Coleman can play a significant role as both a runner and receiver, and he is a terrific option as your second running back or flex option.

TANNEHILL OUT, MOORE IN

All may not be lost for the Dolphins' offense without Ryan Tannehill. Matt Moore does not throw high-percentage passes as well as Tannehill, but he does throw downfield. Moore can make a big play, but then throw a head-scratcher of a pass. In 2011, Moore started a dozen games for Miami. In five games, he threw passes of 40-plus yards, and he threw a 30-plus yarder in eight. He had three games with three TD passes. But he was erratic and failed to throw more than one TD pass in eight starts. Moore is unreliable, but won't totally bog down the offense, and DeVante Parker should still have playmaking promise. Moore could also be a bit less shaky with Jarvis Landry as a target for him now. Don't expect the Miami offense to fall apart. Jay Ajayi should still get some chances to finish off scoring drives with TD runs.

___

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the Fantasy Sports Network, http://FNTSY.com

Week 14 Injuries: Tannehill may miss first start of career

Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill went down with a left knee injury after being hit low by Cardinals D-lineman Calais Campbell.

Tannehill walked off the field with a significant limp and went to the locker room.

The team eventually ruled him out for the remainder of the game, and coach Adam Gase said after the game that the team fears a torn ACL.

Matt Moore, the Dolphins' backup, entered Sunday having thrown just 30 passes the past five years.

Tannehill has yet to miss a start in his pro career.

Rodgers deals with pain vs. Seahawks: Green Bay Packers QB Rodgers hobbled his way through the Seahawks game and came out for good with the Packers up 28-3 with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The Packers said after the game that Rodgers hurt his right calf on the third play of the game, a 66-yard touchdown pass to WR Davante Adams.

It was the left calf that Rodgers severely injured in 2014.

The QB entered this week still bothered by a right hamstring injury that he sustained in Week 12. He has been a limited participant in practice since then.

Stafford suffers PIP joint dislocation: Detroit Lions QB Stafford hit his throwing hand on Leonard Floyd's hand while following through on a pass in the first half. Stafford did not miss any plays, but he put a glove on his throwing hand and had his middle finger wrapped after the game.

A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Stafford suffered a PIP joint dislocation and torn ligaments to his middle finger, and he will be required to play the rest of the season with a glove covering it.

Other Key Injuries: Melvin Gordon (RB, SD), Joey Bosa (DE, SD), Matt Forte (RB, NYJ), Jared Cook (TE, GB), Buster Skrine (CB, NYJ), Shane Vereen (RB, NYG)

Week 13 Injuries: Thomas, Pierre-Paul, Jones, Amendola all hurt

Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas suffered a left lower leg fracture when he collided with teammate Kam Chancellor while going up for an interception in the first half.

The All-Pro safety tried to walk off the field under his own power, but was unable to do so. Seahawks personnel carried him off the field so that he didn't have to put any weight on his leg before carting him to the locker room.

Coach Pete Carroll called Thomas' injury a six-week deal at least, but ESPN says that teammates spoke like Thomas' season was over after the game.

Pierre-Paul injured vs. Steelers: New York Giants DL Jason Pierre-Paul walked slowly off the field and to the locker room late in the second quarter with a groin injury.

The team ruled him out at the start of the second half. Pierre-Paul had seven tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble returned for a touchdown in Week 12.

Top WR Julio Jones in and out: Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones was in and out of the lineup late in the game with what coach Dan Quinn called "a lower-body injury."

Jones, who was noticeably hobbled on the sideline, said, "I'm OK. I'm good to go."

The star WR has played through many of injuries this season, including a hurt shoulder last week. He is yet to not start a game in 2016.

Brady loses another target: New England Patriots WR Danny Amendola hopped off the field after a punt return in the second half and went to the locker room with an ankle injury.

He had three catches for 30 yards when he left the game, and he did not return.

Other Key Injuries: Mohamed Sanu (WR, ATL), Jake Matthews (LT, ATL), Eric Rowe (CB, NE), EJ Gaines (CB, LA), Cecil Shorts III (WR, TB), Braxton Miller (WR, HOU)

Week 13 D/ST Preview: Broncos face struggling Jags offense

Week 13 D/ST Rankings (Top-10):

1. Denver Broncos - @ JAX

2. New England Patriots - vs. LA

3. Seattle Seahawks - vs. CAR

4. Baltimore Ravens - vs. MIA

5. Philadelphia Eagles - @ CIN

6. Miami Dolphins - @ BAL

7. Green Bay Packers - vs. HOU

8. Arizona Cardinals - vs. WAS

9. San Diego Chargers - vs. TB

10. Minnesota Vikings - vs. DAL

Broncos defense get simple matchup against Jaguars: Not only does the Broncos defense get a good pairing against Jacksonville in Week 13, but in 14 also against Tennessee. They then face New England in Week 15 and Kansas City in Week 16. In Week 12, the Broncos forced six sacks and only gave up 273 yards in their loss to the Chiefs. They should have a good rebound against the struggling Jaguars offense.

Giants had it easy in Week 12, not in 13: The New York Giants had an easy matchup for their defense when they defeated the Cleveland Browns in Week 12, but in Week 13, they face the surging Pittsburgh Steelers offense in what should be a much harder matchup. Ben Roethlisberger is amazing at QB and with WR Antonio Brown, the two are an almost unstoppable duo.

Week 13 TE Preview: Graham, Kelce top the list

Week 13 TE Rankings (Top-10):
1. Jimmy Graham, SEA - vs. CAR
2. Travis Kelce, KC - @ ATL
3. Greg Olsen, CAR - @ SEA
4. Tyler Eifert, CIN - vs. PHI
5. Kyle Rudolph, MIN - vs. DET
6. Eric Ebron, DET - @ NO
7. Jordan Reed, WAS - @ ARI
8. Cameron Brate, TB - @ SD
9. Antonio Gates, SD - vs. TB
10. Zach Ertz, PHI - @CIN

Gronkowski off the list (again) due to Week 12 injury: New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski did not make out Top-10 TE rankings for Week 13 because of the injury he suffered in Week 12 vs. the Jets in the first quarter. It is questionable if he will play in Week 13 and for that we have decided not to rank him this week.

Week 13 WR Preview: Jones quiet, Beckham shines in Week 12

Week 13 WR Rankings (Top-10):

1. Antonio Brown, PIT - vs. NYG

2. Julio Jones, ATL - vs. KC

3. Odell Beckham, Jr., NYG - @ PIT

4. Mike Evans, TB - @ SD

5. Jordy Nelson, GB - vs. HOU

6. Amari Cooper, OAK - vs. BUF

7. T.Y. Hilton, IND - @ NYJ

8. Doug Baldwin, SEA - vs. CAR

9. Dez Bryant, DAL - @ MIN

10. Michael Thomas, NO - vs. DET

Week 12 Highlights of the Top-3: Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown caught five of six passes for 91 yards and three TDs in the Steelers' Week 12 win.

Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones only caught four of 7 passes for 35 yards in Week 12.

Beckham scored two touchdowns on 96 yards and eight receptions in what was a rough day for the Giants offense in Week 12 against the Browns.

Week 13 RB Preview: Johnson, Bell, Elliott the Top-3

Week 13 RB Rankings (Top-10):

1. David Johnson, ARI - vs. WSH

2. Le'Veon Bell, PIT - vs. NYG

3. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL - @ MIN

4. Melvin Gordon, SD - vs. TB

5. LeSean McCoy, BUF - @ OAK

6. Jordan Howard, CHI - vs. SF

7. Spencer Ware, KC - @ ATL

8. Devonta Freeman, ATL - vs. KC

9. Lamar Miller, HOU - @ GB

10. Jay Ajayi, MIA - @ BAL

Why is David Johnson No. 1?: In Week 12, Johnson rushed 13 times for 58 yards and caught eight passes for 103 yards and a TD against the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson actually dislocated a finger in the game but head coach Bruce Arians said that Johnson should be fine for Week 13.

Elliott shines in Week 12: Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott rushed 97 yards and had two TDs in 20 carries and aded 23 yards in two receptions in the Cowboys' 31-26 win in Week 12.

Week 13 QB Preview: Prescott impressive, Brees gets easy matchup vs. Lions

Week 13 QB Rankings (Top-10):
Rank, Player, Team, Opponent
1. Drew Brees, NO - vs. DET
2. Tom Brady, NE - vs. LA
3. Dak Prescott, DAL - @ MIN
4. Aaron Rodgers , GB - vs. HOU
5. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT - vs. NYG
6. Matthew Stafford, DET - @ NO
7. Andrew Luck, IND - @ NYJ
8. Russell Wilson, SEA - @ CAR
9. Matt Ryan, ATL - vs. KC
10. Colin Kaepernick, SF - @ CHI

Brees faces Lions: The Detroit Lions may have defeated the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, but Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints offense should perform well against the Lions defense. In Week 12 against the Rams, Brees threw 310 yards for 4 touchdowns.

Prescott still out on top: Is there any question of why you shouldn't consider Dak Prescott for Week 13 DFS? In Week 12 against the Washington Redskins, Prescott completed 17-of-24 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown with 39 rushing yards in eight rushes for another TD to help Dallas get their tenth-consecutive victory this season.

Week 12 Injuries: Gronk, Carr face injuries

New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski left Sunday's game against the Jets in the first quarter because of a back injury and was eventually ruled out.

ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss had charted Gronkowski as playing seven of 12 offensive snaps before going to the locker room.

The TE started on Sunday after missing the Patriots' Week 11 game because of a chest injury. He was initially injured in Week 10 against the Seahawks.

Gronkowski did not return from the locker room to start the second half.

Carr injures finger: Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr appeared to sustain an injury to his right pinkie finger (throwing hand) on a fumbled snap exchange at the beginning of the second half.

Carr immediately ran off the field to get evaluated and eventually went to the locker room.

Backup Matt McGloin replaced him for one series, before Carr returned to the game with a glove on his throwing hand.

Other Key Injuries: Danny Trevathan (ILB, CHI), Lamar Miller (RB, HOU), Ronald Darby (CB, BUF), Allen Hurns  (WR, JAX), John Brown (WR, ARI).

Week 12 TE Preview: Gronk off our list due to injury

Week 12 TE Rankings (Top-10):

1. Jordan Reed, WSH - @ DAL

2. Greg Olsen, CAR - @ OAK

3. Jimmy Graham, SEA - @ TB

4. Delanie Walker, TE - @ CHI

5. Tyler Eifert, CIN - @ BAL

6. Antonio Gates, SD - @ HOU

7. Travis Kielce, KC - @ DEN

8. Eric Ebron, DET - MIN

9. Zach Ertz, PHI - GB

10. Kyle Rudolph, MIN - @ DET

Gronk to miss Week 12 vs. Jets: New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski was injured in Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks.

Now, he will miss miss his second game in a row in Week 12 against the New York Jets, therefore taking him off our Top-10 RB rankings for this week.

Week 12 RB Preview: Bell, Elliott top our list

Week 12 RB Rankings (Top-10)

1. Le'Veon Bell, PIT - @ IND

2. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL - WAS

3. David Johnson, ARI - @ ATL

4. Jay Ajayi, MIA - SF

5. Melvin Gordon, SD - @ HOU

6. DeMarco Murray, TEN - @ CHI

7. LeSean McCoy, BUF - JAX

8. Thomas Rawls, SEA - @ TB

9. Lamar Miller, HOU - SD

10. Spencer Ware, KC - @ DEN

Elliott could soon be No. 1: Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott can soon be the No. 1 running back in our weekly RB Rankings.

If Elliott can out-perform Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell for one or two weeks, it may be enough to rank Elliott No. 1 on our rankings for the following week or weeks.

Ajayi on the rise: After ranking him outside the Top-5 in last week's RB rankings, we've placed Jay Ajayi at No. 4. He did better than we expected in Week 11, so we've decided to bump him up a few spots in our rankings for Week 12.

Week 12 WR Preview: Brown, Beckham top list

Week 12 WR Rankings (Top-10):
1. Antonio Brown, PIT - @ IND
2. Odell Beckham, Jr., NYG - @ CLE
3. Julio Jones, ATL - ARI
4. Dez Bryant, DAL - WAS
5. Mike Evans, TB - SEA
6. Jordy Nelson, GB - @ PHI
7. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI - @ ATL
8. Amari Cooper, OAK - CAR
9. Stefon Diggs, MIN - @ DET
10. Allen Robinson, JAX - @ BUF

Brown, Beckham, Jones still up top: In past WR Rankings we've done for this season, it's mainly been Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham, Jr., and Julio Jones as the Top-3. That has not changed for Week 12. The three are still atop our WR rankings.

Week 12 D/ST Preview: Giants shoot to No. 1 with easy Browns matchup

Week 12 D/ST Rankings (Top-10):
1. New York Giants - @ CLE
2. Seattle Seahawks - @ TB
3. Denver Broncos - KC
4. Baltimore Ravens - CIN
5. Buffalo Bills - JAX
6. New England Patriots - @ NYJ
7. Miami Dolphins - SF
8. Minnesota Vikings - @ DET
9. San Diego Chargers - @ HOU
10.. Kansas City Chiefs - @ DEN

Giants get easy matchup against Browns: The New York Giants take their five-game winning streak to Cleveland on Sunday to face the Browns in what should be an easy matchup fr the Giants' defense. Cleveland is winless this season and have struggled tremendously in recent years, so the Giants get an easy matchup for their D/ST this weekend.

Week 12 QB Preview: Cousins improving, Big Ben No. 1

Week 12 QB Rankings (Top-10):

1. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT - @ IND

2. Kirk Cousins, WAS - @ DAL

3. Carson Palmer, ARI - @ ATL

4. Cam Newton, CAR - @ OAK

5. Tom Brady, NE - @ NYJ

6. Derek Carr, OAK - CAR

7. Drew Brees, NO - LA

8. Dak Prescott, DAL - WAS

9. Aaron Rodgers, GB - @ PHI

10. Marcus Mariota, TEN - @ CHI

Most Improved: Kirk Cousins: Cousins has been playing excellent football recently. He lit up the the Packers on Sunday, recording 375 yards and three touchdowns.


Cousins has already set a record for 300-yard passing games with the Redskins in only 35 regular season games played.

Cousins is No. 2 on our QB Rankings for Week 12 of the 2016 NFL season.

Week 11 Injuries: AJ Green may be out multiple weeks (hamstring)

Cincinnati Bengals WR AJ Green was carted to the locker room from the field after the Bengals' second offensive play on Sunday.

He immediately grabbed his right hamstring as he went to the ground and was in a lot of pain.

The team initially called him questionable to return before ruling him out.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Green will miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury, and sources say there is a chance he will not play again this season. Green will have an MRI on Monday.

McCoy suffers thumb injury: Buffalo Bills RB LeSean McCoy suffered a thumb injury while stiff-arming a defender right before halftime and was listed as questionable to return on Sunday.

McCoy spoke to trainers on the sideline following an 8-yard catch before jogging to the locker room with a trainer, holding his left arm close to his body. The team eventually ruled him out.

McCoy was seen with a wrap over his left thumb/hand after the game, and the Bills' official team reporter said the RB will need surgery but is expected to play next week.

Browns may lose Kessler: Cleveland Browns QB Cody Kessler suffered a concussion after taking a huge hit from Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons at the end of the third quarter on Sunday.

Officials flagged the Steelers 15 yards for the hit, and Josh McCown replaced the rookie QB in the lineup.

Other Key Injuries: Earl Thomas (S, SEA), CJ Prosise (RB, SEA), Giovani Bernard (RB, CIN), Dee Ford (LB, KC), Zach Miller (TE, CHI), Ryan Matthews (RB, PHI), Darren Sproles (RB, PHI).

Kuechly injury not good for Panthes

Carolina Pantgers middle linr backer Luke Kuechly entered the concussion protocol following Thursday's win against the Saints, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports.

Prior to his departure in the fourth quarter, Kuechly had accrued a season-best 14 tackles, and his TD return of a blocked field goal was only called back due to a block in the back.

With his return to action now dependent on the five-step protocol for head injuries, one must recall that he missed three games last season as a result of a concussion.

For a team on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture, the potential downgrade from Kuechly to A.J. Klein could be the death knell for the defending NFC champions.

Info from RotoWire Staff.

ESPN's Fantasy Football IDP Ranks: Week 11

via ESPN Fantasy Football.

Our IDP rankings below are shown as an average of two analysts' rankings: Mike Clay, ESPN Insider fantasy football writer, and Jim McCormick, who has provided rankings for ESPN for many years. They will rank 50 players at each of three positions: defensive line, linebacker and defensive back.

Players not ranked by either Mike or Jim will receive a ranking value of 60 for the purposes of the composite rankings. In the charts below, you will see an "NR" to denote a player who was not ranked by that individual.


Because scoring systems can vary greatly in IDP formats, these rankings will be based on the following scoring criteria:

• Solo tackle: 1.5 points
• Assisted tackle: 0.75 points
• Tackle for loss: 2 points
• Sack: 4 points
• Interception: 5 points
• Forced fumble: 4 points
• Fumble recovery: 4 points
• Defensive TD: 6 points
• Safety: 2 points
• Pass defensed: 1.5 points

Top defensive linemen for Week 11

Rank, Player, Team	Opp	MC	JM	Avg.
1. Khalil Mack, DE, LB, Oak	HOU	1	1	1
2. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, NYG	CHI	2	7	4.5
3. Chandler Jones, LB, DE, Ari	@MIN	7	3	5
3. Brandon Graham, DE, Phi	@SEA	6	4	5
5. Frank Clark, DE, LB, Sea	PHI	5	6	5.5
6. Cameron Jordan, DE, NO	@CAR	3	9	6
7. Cliff Avril, DE, Sea	PHI	9	5	7
7. Olivier Vernon, DE, NYG	CHI	12	2	7
9. Trey Flowers, DE, NE	@SF	4	12	8
10. Carlos Dunlap, DE, Cin	BUF	13	8	10.5
11. Aaron Donald, DT, LA	MIA	11	11	11
11. William Gholston, DE, TB	@KC	8	14	11
13. Everson Griffen, DE, Min	ARI	10	16	13
14. Trent Murphy, DE, Was	GB	20	10	15
15. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jac	@DET	14	17	15.5
16. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Hou	@OAK	19	15	17
17. Danielle Hunter, DE, Min	ARI	17	18	17.5
17. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Mia	@LA	15	20	17.5
19. DeForest Buckner, DE, SF	NE	24	13	18.5
19. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Det	JAC	16	21	18.5
21. Gerald McCoy, DT, TB	@KC	18	23	20.5
22. Calais Campbell, DE, Ari	@MIN	31	19	25
23. Connor Barwin, DE, Phi	@SEA	22	29	25.5
24. Kawann Short, DT, Car	NO	30	27	28.5
24. Rob Ninkovich, DE, NE	@SF	26	31	28.5
26. Robert Ayers, DE, TB	@KC	29	30	29.5
27. Derrick Morgan, DE, Ten	@IND	33	28	30.5
27. Cameron Wake, DE, Mia	@LA	37	24	30.5
29. Sheldon Rankins, DT, NO	@CAR	21	43	32
30. Fletcher Cox, DT, Phi	@SEA	32	33	32.5
31. Andre Branch, DE, Mia	@LA	28	39	33.5
32. Kyle Williams, DT, Buf	@CIN	27	41	34
33. Damon Harrison, DT, NYG	CHI	47	22	34.5
34. William Hayes, DE, LA	MIA	25	47	36
34. Stephon Tuitt, DE, Pit	@CLE	40	32	36
36. Timmy Jernigan, DT, Bal	@DAL	48	34	41
36. Jamie Meder, DT, Cle	PIT	38	44	41
38. Charles Johnson, DE, Car	NO	44	40	42
39. Jurrell Casey, DT, Ten	@IND	NR	25	42.5
39. Brian Robison, DE, Min	ARI	35	50	42.5
41. Robert Quinn, DE, LA	MIA	NR	26	43
42. Danny Shelton, DT, Cle	PIT	39	49	44
43. Chris Baker, DT, Was	GB	43	48	45.5
44. Arthur Jones, DE, Ind	TEN	34	NR	47
45. Mario Addison, DE, Car	NO	NR	35	47.5
46. Michael Johnson, DE, Cin	BUF	36	NR	48
47. DeMarcus Lawrence, DE, Dal	BAL	NR	37	48.5
48. Linval Joseph, DT, Min	ARI	NR	38	49
49. Chris Jones, DT, KC	TB	41	NR	50.5
50. Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Jac	@DET	42	NR	51

Top linebackers for Week 11

Rank, Player, Team	Opp	MC	JM	Avg.
1. Luke Kuechly, LB, Car	NO	1	1	1
2. Bobby Wagner, LB, Sea	PHI	4	2	3
2. Sean Lee, LB, Dal	BAL	3	3	3
4. Zach Brown, LB, Buf	@CIN	2	5	3.5
5. Kwon Alexander, LB, TB	@KC	6	11	8.5
5. Alec Ogletree, LB, LA	MIA	13	4	8.5
7. Benardrick McKinney, LB, Hou	@OAK	9	9	9
8. Will Compton, LB, Was	GB	7	13	10
8. Zachary Orr, LB, Bal	@DAL	8	12	10
10. Paul Posluszny, LB, Jac	@DET	16	6	11
11. Tahir Whitehead, LB, Det	JAC	14	10	12
12. Ryan Shazier, LB, Pit	@CLE	10	15	12.5
13. Telvin Smith, LB, Jac	@DET	19	7	13
13. Craig Robertson, LB, NO	@CAR	5	21	13
13. Jamie Collins, LB, NE	@SF	12	14	13
16. Jerrell Freeman, LB, Chi	@NYG	20	8	14
17. Derrick Johnson, LB, KC	TB	18	17	17.5
17. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Cin	BUF	15	20	17.5
17. Thomas Davis, LB, Car	NO	11	24	17.5
20. Christian Kirksey, LB, Cle	PIT	21	18	19.5
21. C.J. Mosley, LB, Bal	@DAL	24	16	20
22. Lavonte David, LB, TB	@KC	23	23	23
23. Mark Barron, LB, LA	MIA	30	19	24.5
23. Kiko Alonso, LB, Mia	@LA	22	27	24.5
25. Khalil Mack, DE, LB, Oak	HOU	28	22	25
26. Nick Bellore, LB, SF	NE	17	34	25.5
27. K.J. Wright, LB, Sea	PHI	25	32	28.5
27. Avery Williamson, LB, Ten	@IND	29	28	28.5
29. Preston Brown, LB, Buf	@CIN	34	26	30
30. Gerald Hodges, LB, SF	NE	26	35	30.5
30. Deone Bucannon, LB, Ari	@MIN	36	25	30.5
32. Lawrence Timmons, LB, Pit	@CLE	33	29	31
33. Nigel Bradham, LB, Phi	@SEA	35	33	34
33. Chad Greenway, LB, Min	ARI	32	36	34
35. Joe Thomas, LB, GB	@WAS	31	38	34.5
36. Elandon Roberts, LB, NE	@SF	27	44	35.5
36. D'Qwell Jackson, LB, Ind	TEN	40	31	35.5
38. Danny Trevathan, LB, Chi	@NYG	44	30	37
39. Jordan Hicks, LB, Phi	@SEA	42	37	39.5
40. Blake Martinez, LB, GB	@WAS	39	41	40
41. Malcolm Smith, LB, Oak	HOU	41	42	41.5
42. Jonathan Casillas, LB, NYG	CHI	45	40	42.5
43. Chandler Jones, LB, DE, Ari	@MIN	50	39	44.5
44. Frank Clark, LB, DE, Sea	PHI	46	46	46
45. Dee Ford, LB, KC	TB	48	45	46.5
46. Kevin Minter, LB, Ari	@MIN	47	49	48
47. Dont'a Hightower, LB, NE	@SF	37	NR	48.5
48. Nathan Stupar, LB, NO	@CAR	38	NR	49
49. Keenan Robinson, LB, NYG	CHI	43	NR	51.5
49. Vincent Rey, LB, Cin	BUF	NR	43	51.5

Top defensive backs for Week 11

Rank, Player, Team	Opp	MC	JM	Avg.
1. Landon Collins, S, NYG	CHI	1	1	1
2. Kenny Vaccaro, S, NO	@CAR	2	5	3.5
2. Karl Joseph, S, Oak	HOU	5	2	3.5
4. Tony Jefferson, S, Ari	@MIN	6	4	5
5. Morgan Burnett, S, GB	@WAS	4	7	5.5
5. Kam Chancellor, S, Sea	PHI	3	8	5.5
7. Antoine Bethea, S, SF	NE	9	3	6
8. Harrison Smith, S, Min	ARI	7	10	8.5
8. Clayton Geathers, S, Ind	TEN	8	9	8.5
10. David Amerson, CB, Oak	HOU	10	14	12
11. Johnathan Cyprien, S, Jac	@DET	20	6	13
12. Jason McCourty, CB, Ten	@IND	12	15	13.5
13. Rodney McLeod, S, Phi	@SEA	16	12	14
14. Eric Weddle, S, Bal	@DAL	18	13	15.5
15. Marcus Peters, CB, KC	TB	11	21	16
16. Corey Graham, S, Buf	@CIN	27	11	19
16. Bashaud Breeland, CB, Was	GB	21	17	19
18. DeShawn Shead, CB, Sea	PHI	23	16	19.5
19. Reggie Nelson, S, Oak	HOU	17	23	20
19. Bradley McDougald, S, TB	@KC	22	18	20
21. Andrew Sendejo, S, Min	ARI	19	24	21.5
22. Shawn Williams, S, Cin	BUF	25	19	22
23. Eric Berry, S, KC	TB	13	32	22.5
24. Perrish Cox, CB, Ten	@IND	14	34	24
25. Xavier Rhodes, CB, Min	ARI	15	37	26
26. Kurt Coleman, S, Car	NO	24	31	27.5
27. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, GB	@WAS	31	25	28
27. Patrick Chung, S, NE	@SF	28	28	28
29. Trumaine Johnson, CB, LA	MIA	32	30	31
30. E.J. Gaines, CB, LA	MIA	34	33	33.5
31. Vonn Bell, S, NO	@CAR	30	40	35
31. Chris Conte, S, TB	@KC	44	26	35
33. Daryl Worley, CB, Car	NO	37	43	40
33. Mike Adams, S, Ind	TEN	NR	20	40
35. Malcolm Jenkins, S, Phi	@SEA	NR	22	41
36. James Bradberry, CB, Car	NO	26	NR	43
37. Harold Jones-Quartey, S, Chi	@NYG	39	48	43.5
37. Eric Reid, S, SF	NE	NR	27	43.5
39. Orlando Scandrick, CB, Dal	BAL	29	NR	44.5
39. Earl Thomas, S, Sea	PHI	NR	29	44.5
41. Janoris Jenkins, CB, NYG	CHI	43	47	45
42. Glover Quin, S, Det	JAC	49	44	46.5
42. Josh Norman, CB, Was	GB	33	NR	46.5
44. Richard Sherman, CB, Sea	PHI	35	NR	47.5
44. Donte Whitner, S, Was	GB	NR	35	47.5
46. Tony Lippett, CB, Mia	@LA	36	NR	48
46. George Iloka, S, Cin	BUF	NR	36	48
48. D.J. Swearinger, S, Ari	@MIN	48	49	48.5
49. Kevin Byard, S, Ten	@IND	NR	38	49
50. Logan Ryan, CB, NE	@SF	NR	39	49.5