Week 10: Midweek Roundup

This is a short week folks, so you have 1 more day to get your lineups set.

OAK - RB Darren McFadden out
Source: CSNBayArea.com
Oakland Raiders RB Darren McFadden (foot) will miss his third straight game in Week 10 against the San Diego Chargers Thursday, Nov. 10. The Raiders will again use RBs Michael Bush and Taiwan Jones in place of McFadden.

The fact that McFadden hasn't run on the foot yet and is being ruled out two days before the game is a terrible sign for his owners. At this point, they should feel relieved if McFadden plays in week 11. Michael Bush is a solid RB2 play vs. the Chargers on Thursday.

SD - RB Ryan Mathews on schedule
Source: NFL Network - Jason La Canfora
San Diego Chargers RB Ryan Mathews (groin) is currently on target to be active for the team's Week 10 contest against the Oakland Raiders Thursday, Nov. 10.

Mathews should be a low-end RB1, high RB2 play vs. the poor Raiders run defense that Willis McGahee gashed for over 100 and two touchdowns last week. Mathews was very close to playing vs. the Packers, so his owners shouldn't worry about playing him this week.

ARI - Not looking good for QB Kevin Kolb
Source: NFL Network - Jason La Canfora
It's looking doubtful that Arizona Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb (toe, foot) will be able to suit up for the team's Week 10 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Kolb is dealing with a sprained foot and turf toe. QB John Skelton will receive another start if Kolb can't go.

Philadelphia will likely miss a chance to face their onetime QB of the future.

BUF - PK Rian Lindell has broken bone
Source: ESPN.com
Buffalo Bills PK Rian Lindell (shoulder) is reportedly dealing with a broken bone in his right shoulder and could miss anywhere from two to six weeks, depending on his pain threshold and performance limitations.

Dave Rayner has been signed and will fill in for Lindell.

DET - RB Jahvid Best likely out for Week 10
Source: ESPN
Detroit Lions RB Jahvid Best (concussion) is unlikely to play in Week 10 against the Chicago Bears, according to a league source. RBsMaurice Morris, Keiland Williams and now Kevin Smith are likely in the mix for touches if Best is indeed out.

No one can say with certainty when Best will return, and the Lions signing of Kevin Smith indicates that they may not believe it will happen soon.

SD - WR Malcom Floyd not expected to play
Source: NFL Network - Jason La Canfora
San Diego Chargers WR Malcom Floyd (hip) is not expected to be able to play in Week 10 against the Oakland Raiders Thursday, Nov. 10.

Vincent Brown should see extensive playing time, and he's an option in deep leagues. He was one of Philip Rivers favorite targets in the fourth quarter comeback bid last week vs. the Packers.

PIT - WR Emmanuel Sanders undergoes surgery
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Ed Bouchette
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders (knee) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee Monday, Nov. 7, and will miss a 'couple weeks,' according to head coach Mike Tomlin.

Antonio Brown will remain a strong WR2 play for at least one more week with the Steelers bye coming up in week 11.

CLE - Greg Little struggling
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot

Cleveland Browns WR Greg Little caught just two of the eight passes thrown his way and dropped a couple of passes in Week 9. He also forgot to stop on a pass at the end of the second half that was picked off. Over the past two weeks, Little has caught six of the 19 passes thrown his way. The Browns have tried to make Little their big playmaker, but it's just not there yet.

Little is just not on the same page as Colt McCoy and the Browns offense might be the worst in the entire league right now. Time to throw him back in redraft leagues.

CLE - WR Mohamed Massaquoi leaves game early
Source: Akron Beacon Journal - Nate Ulrich
Cleveland Browns WR Mohamed Massaquoi (head) suffered a head injury in Week 9 and will not return to the game.

Josh Cribbs will get to play a lot more WR for as long as Massaquoi is out and he might be a quality pickup this week.

IND - TE Dallas Clark leaves game early
Source: Twitter
Indianapolis Colts TE Dallas Clark (leg) suffered a lower leg injury in Week 9 and is considered questionable to return.

Clark was on his way to becoming irrelevant for fantasy football this year, and this injury almost cinches it.

WAS - Leonard Hankerson saw extensive time in Week 9
Source: CSNWashington.com - Ryan O'Halloran
Washington Redskins WR Leonard Hankerson played in 66 of 67 offensive snaps in Week 9.

Hankerson has a chance to have value as a big play #2 receiver for the Redskins if the pass offense can get on track, but don't count on it.

WAS - WR Jabar Gaffney played majority of Week 9 snaps
Source: CSNWashington.com - Ryan O'Halloran
Washington Redskins WR Jabar Gaffney played in 57 of 67 offensive snaps in Week 9.

Gaffney has the ability to do more in the Redskins offense if John Beck starts to have more time to throw and more courage to test the defense downfield, but for now he's just an end of the bench WR.

WAS - Roy Helu big factor in pass game
Source: The Associated Press
Washington Redskins RB Roy Helu Jr. caught 14 passes for 105 yards in Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers. He also rushed for 41 yards on 10 carries in the game. His 14 receptions were a franchise record.

Helu was a befuddled John Beck's favorite target, but that's not a good thing, except for his fantasy owners. Helu can probably be slotted as an RB2 in PPR leagues and flex in nonPPR, but knowing Mike Shanahan, we'll see Tashard Choice as soon as he's healthy.

SF - RB Frank Gore vows to play in Week 10
Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Kevin Lynch
San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore (ankle) said he will be ready to play in Week 10 despite suffering a sprained left ankle in Week 9. 'I'll be all right,' Gore assured. When asked if he'll be able to participate in practice Wednesday, Nov. 9, Gore said, 'I think I will be. I feel all right now.'

We believe him. The Giants have been soft against the run, so he has a good chance to have his sixth straight 100 yard game if he doesn't have an aggravation of his ankle injury.

DAL - Offense could focus on DeMarco Murray
Source: The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Cowboys can be more effective with RB DeMarco Murray as the centerpiece of the offense. Handing the ball off to Murray takes the pressure off both QB Tony Romo and the defense. Murray's legs will control the clock, which will protect the defense, and open up the playaction passing game, which will help Romo. When Romo believes he has to make every play to win a football game, he makes poor decisions.

The NFC East is still there for the taking, so if these predictions come true and Murray stays healthy, the Cowboys could emerge in this season already filled with ups and downs.

DAL - WR Laurent Robinson to have bigger role
Source: FOXSportsSouthwest.com - Matt Mosley
Dallas Cowboys WR Laurent Robinson will continue to get a bigger opportunity with the injury to WR Miles Austin (hamstring) in Week 9. Robinson had five catches for 32 yards and a touchdown in the game.

Robinson has stayed healthy and is finally playing up to his potential. He's earned the trust of QB Tony Romo and should get even more targets now that Miles Austin is out for a couple of weeks (up to a month) with a hamstring injury.

CHI - WR Devin Hester injury update
Source: CBSSports.com
Chicago Bears WR Devin Hester (ankle) suffered an ankle injury in Week 9. Nothing further was known about its severity, and Hester's status will be updated Wednesday, Nov. 9.

The Bears don't seem to be too worried about the injury, so we expect to see him against the Lions this week.

NYG - RB Ahmad Bradshaw might play in Week 10
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Updating a previous report, New York Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) might be able to play in Week 10. One person familiar with the situation said Monday, Nov. 7, that he 'will definitely be back soon.'

Bradshaw has played through his foot/ankle ailments well earlier in his career, but you probably won't want to play him vs. the league best San Francisco run defense.

TEN - Encouraged by performance of RB RB Chris Johnson
Source: The Tennessean - Jim Wyatt
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak said Monday, Nov. 7, that he was encouraged with the progress of RB Chris Johnson in the running game in Week 9. However, Johnson posted 55 of his 64 rushing yards in the first half. 'What you saw in the first half is what we hope will continue the rest of the year,' Munchak said. 'I don't think you can judge (five) carries in the second half and say he didn't do well.'

Johnson's owners will take that going into a great matchup vs. the Panthers next week.  Johnson had a couple of big plays early and looked more like old Chris Johnson than he has at any point this year, but he's still not back to everyweek start RB1 status yet.

HOU - WR Andre Johnson is question mark for Week 10
Source: HoustonTexans.com - Nick Scurfield
Updating a previous report, Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson (hamstring) remains a question mark heading into Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He worked out Monday, Nov. 7. 'The workout went very good,' Kubiak said. 'Will he be on the practice field Wednesday? I don't know. We're going to take it a day at a time, but we're back on tract to Andre getting back on the field here very, very quickly, and hopefully that's this week, but I don't know.'

The more vague Gary Kubiak is in his comments, the less chance there is that Johnson plays. Don't look for him until week 12.

BAL - TE Dennis Pitta helpful in third-down situations
Source: Carroll County Times - Aaron Wilson
Baltimore Ravens TE Dennis Pitta caught five passes for 46 yards in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and all five receptions came on third down to move the chains. 'Dennis is great,' QB Joe Flacco said Monday, Nov. 7. 'Both those young tight ends (Pitta and TE Ed Dickson) are going to be a huge asset for us.'

Pitta has terrific ball skills and he is a long-term hold in TE premium and deep dynasty leagues.  Pitta & Dickson are examples of the 2 tight end set we talked about popping up throughout the league.

SEA - WR Sidney Rice banged up
Source: The Seattle Times - Danny O'Neil
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Monday, Nov. 7, that WR Sidney Rice (undisclosed) might be limited in practice this week after injuries sustained in the Week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys. Carroll said Rice is 'banged up.'

Rice rarely spends much time off of the injury report, but the injuries don't seem to affect his play. It's easy to forget that he is playing this year with a torn labrum.

OAK - WR Jacoby Ford has chemistry with QB Carson Palmer
Source: ANG Newspapers - Jerry McDonald
Updating a previous report, Oakland Raiders WR Jacoby Ford seems to have developed immediate chemistry with QB Carson Palmer after Week 9, when Ford caught five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. 'I think we did really well with the things we worked on during the bye,' Ford said. 'He knew where he wanted the ball to be and I knew where I needed to be for us to make the completions.'

The Raiders want to get Ford involved in a number of different ways. His speed and quick twitch ability is difficult to deal with. Even future Hall of Famer CB Champ Bailey had difficulty keeping up with Ford on Sunday.

CLE - Want to get RB Peyton Hillis healthy
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur said the team is working on getting RB Peyton Hillis (hamstring) healthy and are not considering placing him on Injured Reserve.

Hillis is not done for the year yet! It was disappointing that he suffered a setback in his recovery last week, but the team is working to get him back on the field towards the end of year.

NE - DE Albert Haynesworth released
Source: Boston Herald - Ian Rapoport
The New England Patriots released DL Albert Haynesworth Tuesday, Nov. 8, two days after he had a confrontation on the sidelines with defensive line coach Pepper Johnson.