Week 10 Fantasy Football Rankings: Position-by-Position Breakdown

After Matt Cassel posted nearly 24 points this past week in NFL.com fantasy football leagues, forecasting how Week 10 will unfold is a somewhat precarious task.

A number of supposed fantasy studs, such as Peyton Manning, Marshawn Lynch, Jeremy Hill and Calvin Johnson, have underwhelmed this year, making each week more and more unpredictable. Just when you think you have everything under control, Aaron Rodgers throws for 77 yards against the Denver Broncos.

As a result, finding value in unexpected places can make the difference between winning and losing, which carries a more significant impact at this point in the season with the playoffs not too far in the offing.

Below, you'll find rankings for each position in addition to a few stars who may disappoint and a handful of players who could exceed expectations.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Aaron Rodgers, GB	Detroit Lions
2	Blake Bortles, JAX	Baltimore Ravens
3	Tom Brady, NE	New York Giants
4	Cam Newton, CAR	Tennessee Titans
5	Drew Brees, NO	Washington Redskins
6	Andy Dalton, CIN	Houston Texans
7	Peyton Manning, DEN	Kansas City Chiefs
8	Carson Palmer, ARI	Seattle Seahawks
9	Eli Manning, NYG	New England Patriots
10	Teddy Bridgewater, MIN	Oakland Raiders

Blake Bortles has generally been a steady fantasy option this year, coming in as the No. 9 quarterback on NFL.com. The Jacksonville Jaguars signal-caller has done more than enough to warrant low-end QB1 status, and he may even exceed that this weekend.

According to ESPN.com, only the New Orleans Saints are allowing more fantasy points on average to opposing quarterbacks than the Baltimore Ravens. In addition, the Ravens rank 30th in yards per attempt allowed (8.4), tied for 22nd in passing touchdowns allowed (16) and 29th in passing yards allowed (283.9).

Bortles has thrown 10 interceptions so far this year, which is a concern, but the likelihood he turns if over in Week 10 is mitigated somewhat by the fact Baltimore has intercepted just three passes through eight games.

In terms of matchups, the stars could hardly align better for Bortles.

Similarly, the few brave souls who have Kirk Cousins on their roster might be in luck this week as the Washington Redskins face off with the Saints, the worst pass defense team in the league through Week 8, according to Football Outsiders.

This is the same Saints defense that allowed Marcus Mariota to throw for 371 yards and four touchdowns in Week 9, while Brandon Weeden went a respectable 16-of-26 for 246 yards and a touchdown back on Oct. 4.

Cousins might be worthy of QB1 status if you're scrambling to find a starter.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Doug Martin, TB	Dallas Cowboys
2	DeAngelo Williams, PIT	Cleveland Browns
3	Todd Gurley, STL	Chicago Bears
4	DeMarco Murray, PHI	Miami Dolphins
5	Adrian Peterson, MIN	Oakland Raiders
6	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	Arizona Cardinals
7	Giovani Bernard, CIN	Houston Texans
8	Chris Ivory, NYJ	Buffalo Bills
9	Mark Ingram, NO	Washington Redskins
10	LeGarrette Blount, NE	New York Giants
11	James Starks, GB	Detroit Lions
12	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	Tennessee Titans
13	Lamar Miller, MIA	Philadelphia Eagles
14	Karlos Williams, BUF	New York Jets
15	Justin Forsett, BAL	Jacksonville Jaguars
16	Latavius Murray, OAK	Minnesota Vikings
17	Chris Johnson, ARI	Seattle Seahawks
18	Darren McFadden, DAL	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
19	T.J. Yeldon, JAX	Baltimore Ravens
20	Jeremy Hill, CIN	Houston Texans

Before Le'Veon Bell returned in Week 3, DeAngelo Williams ran for 204 yards and three touchdowns on 41 carries. Then, after filling in for an injured Bell in Week 9, Williams again broke the century mark, rushing for 170 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-35 victory over the Oakland Raiders.

The 32-year-old is no longer the player who rushed for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2008, but he's still more than capable of breaking off a big run or two, per the NFL:

The Cleveland Browns are allowing a league-worst 147.6 yards a game on the ground. With Williams once again taking a starring role in the Pittsburgh Steelers backfield, it should be another big game from the 2009 Pro Bowler.

Like Williams, LeGarrette Blount could see his workload increase after an injury to a fellow running back. The New England Patriots placed Dion Lewis on season-ending injured reserve Monday, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

"That's my dog, man," said Blount of Lewis, per ESPN's Josina Anderson. "Don't like to hear that. We'll be straight."

Even with a healthy Lewis, Blount was in store for a big day, as Pro Football Focus' Evan Silva highlighted a key player along the New York Giants defensive line who will be absent:

The Patriots will likely use James White as a passing option out of the backfield, but that shouldn't have a significant impact on Blount's value since he isn't much of a pass-catcher anyway.

Wide Receiver

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	Kansas City Chiefs
2	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	New England Patriots
3	Allen Robinson, JAX	Baltimore Ravens
4	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	Cincinnati Bengals
5	Brandin Cooks, NO	Washington Redskins
6	Antonio Brown, PIT	Cleveland Browns
7	A.J. Green, CIN	Houston Texans
8	James Jones, GB	Detroit Lions
9	Julian Edelman, NE	New York Giants
10	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	Buffalo Bills
11	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	Kansas City Chiefs
12	Calvin Johnson, DET	Green Bay Packers
13	Sammy Watkins, BUF	New York Jets
14	Jarvis Landry, MIA	Philadelphia Eagles
15	Stefon Diggs, MIN	Oakland Raiders
16	Allen Hurns, JAX	Baltimore Ravens
17	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	Seattle Seahawks
18	Amari Cooper, OAK	Minnesota Vikings
19	Tavon Austin, STL	Chicago Bears
20	Randall Cobb, GB	Detroit Lions

Although Antonio Brown is one of the best wide receivers in the league, even he will be impacted by the fact Landry Jones is throwing him passes, at least for the time being. Brown remains a must-start in any format, but don't be surprised if he fails to crack the 100-yard mark for the fifth time this year.

Stefon Diggs' value is also somewhat in flux as Teddy Bridgewater recovers from the concussion he suffered against the St. Louis Rams.

ESPN.com's Ben Goessling reported Bridgewater passed the first step in the NFL's concussion protocol, but his status for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders remains in doubt.

Diggs becomes a much less safe fantasy play with Shaun Hill under center, especially after he caught just five passes for 42 yards in Week 9. Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman was among those burned by Diggs' four-game stretch of 419 yards and two TDs earlier in the year:

With a healthy Bridgewater, Diggs is a top-10 WR in Week 10, but that assessment changes if Hill is forced to take over instead.

Tight End

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	New York Giants
2	Gary Barnidge, CLE	Pittsburgh Steelers
3	Travis Kelce, KC	Denver Broncos
4	Tyler Eifert, CIN	Houston Texans
5	Jordan Reed, WAS	New Orleans Saints
6	Delanie Walker, TEN	Carolina Panthers
7	Jason Witten, DAL	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8	Greg Olsen, CAR	Tennessee Titans
9	Benjamin Watson, NO	Washington Redskins
10	Jimmy Graham, SEA	Arizona Cardinals

No skill position is more volatile this year than tight end. In the last few weeks, Owen Daniels, Garrett Celek, Jacob Tamme, Troy Niklas and Clive Walford have been among the highest-scoring fantasy TEs.

Unless you have Rob Gronkowski, Tyler Eifert, Greg Olsen or Gary Barnidge, you're essentially left to hope your starter's name comes up in the TE lottery.

A player not listed in the top 10 who could have a big week is Kyle Rudolph. The fifth-year tight end has registered little fantasy impact this year, in no small part because of the fact he is being asked more and more to help block opposing defensive ends and linebackers.

However, the Oakland Raiders are allowing the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, per ESPN.com. The Raiders also lack a dominant pass rush, thus opening Rudolph up to be more of a receiver Sunday.

If you're looking for an emergency tight end off the waiver wire, Rudolph might be your guy.

Defense/Special Teams

Rank	Team	Opponent
1	St. Louis Rams	Chicago Bears
2	Carolina Panthers	Tennessee Titans
3	Cleveland Browns	Pittsburgh Steelers
4	Cincinnati Bengals	Houston Texans
5	Philadelphia Eagles	Miami Dolphins
6	Oakland Raiders	Minnesota Vikings
7	Green Bay Packers	Detroit Lions
8	Dallas Cowboys	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9	Denver Broncos	Kansas City Chiefs
10	New England Patriots	New York Giants

Maybe the football gods are taking pity on the Cleveland Browns. Not only will the Steelers be without their starting running back, but their starting quarterback will likely miss Sunday's game as well.

Bell was already ruled out for the season after suffering a knee injury on Nov. 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. This past Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger exited an eventual win over the Raiders with a midfoot sprain, and he will be out for a few weeks, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Steelers still have Williams, Brown and Martavis Bryant, but the Browns defense's job just got a lot easier with Pittsburgh down two of its biggest playmakers.

Kicker

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Brandon McManus, DEN	Kansas City Chiefs
2	Blair Walsh, MIN	Oakland Raiders
3	Justin Tucker, BAL	Jacksonville Jaguars
4	Connor Barth, TB	Dallas Cowboys
5	Jason Myers, JAX	Baltimore Ravens
6	Josh Brown, NYG	New England Patriots
7	Dan Bailey, DAL	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8	Sebastian Janikowski, OAK	Minnesota VIkings
9	Travis Coons, CLE	Pittsburgh Steelers
10	Robbie Gould, CHI	St. Louis Rams

According to TeamRankings.com, no team is better defensively in the red zone than the St. Louis Rams. The Rams are allowing the opposing team to find the end zone on just 35.3 percent of possessions inside the 20-yard line.

As long as the Chicago Bears are able to somewhat regularly cross the 50-yard line, Robbie Gould should have two or three field-goal opportunities, thus elevating his fantasy potential in Week 10.