Fantasy Football: 50 Most Valuable Assets for Week 10 (Sunday/Monday)

The following countdown touts the 50 most valuable fantasy players for Week 10, citing Sunday/Monday games only.

To clarify, this listing doesn't project the 50 highest scorers for the weekend in standard-scoring or points-per-reception leagues. If that was the case, we'd have quarterback after quarterback occupying the penthouse spots, and that would be extremely boring to read...and write (especially since The Fantasy Blog already has a top 25 countdown for quarterbacks).

This slideshow went heavy on running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks and tight ends—the lifeblood positions of fantasy champions—but there was also room for one defensive/special teams unit. (Sorry, kickers.)

Enjoy the show!

50. TE Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers

2012 Stats: 24 Catches, 281 Yards, 3 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: at Tampa Bay 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Since his breakout campaign of 2004 (13 touchdowns), Antonio Gates has played only four games inside the state of Florida. Of those outings, Gates sports a bad news/good news average of 3.8 catches, 44.8 yards and 0.75 touchdowns.

2. Gates has scored all three of his seasonal touchdowns in the last three games.

3. The Buccaneers have the NFL's worst pass defense, surrendering 320 yards per game.

4. Through seven games, Gates has already collected seven-plus targets four times.

5. As you'll see later on, I envision strong fantasy numbers for San Diego's Big Four (Gates, Philip Rivers, Ryan Mathews, Malcom Floyd) against Tampa Bay.

49. QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

2012 Stats: 1,902 Yards Passing, 10 TD (4 Rush) 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Denver

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Through eight games, Cam Newton has crossed the QB-elite threshold of 275 total yards and/or three touchdowns five times.

2. I have great faith in Newton rising to the challenge of playing the Broncos and Peyton Manning. He's due for an outing that resembles last year's rookie brilliance (4,757 total yards, 35 touchdowns).

3. Newton gets a slight nod over Bengals QB Andy Dalton here, although that may change come Sunday morning.

48. TE Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers

2012 Stats: 39 Catches, 384 Yards, 6 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Kansas City 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Through eight weeks, Heath Miller has tallied double-digit PPR points six times. And the "ugly-duckling" performance from Week 5 still produced eight points. That's a respectable nadir for a non-superstar asset.

2. Miller already has more touchdowns this season (six) than he registered the previous two seasons combined (four).

3. For the season, Miller has collected five-plus targets seven times.

4. The Steelers should have a lot of red-zone opportunities against the Chiefs, and Ben Roethlisberger loves targeting Miller around the goal line.

47. RB Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants

2012 Stats: 726 Total Yards (618 Rushing), 4 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: at Cincinnati 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. For Weeks 5-7, Ahmad Bradshaw racked up 414 total yards and three touchdowns—a run of dominance that included 120 total yards and one touchdown against the 49ers' formidable defense.

2. Through eight games, the Bengals have allowed 100-plus combined rushing yards five times.

3. When everything's rolling, Bradshaw is a top-15 tailback and automatic weekly starter in 12-team leagues.

46. WR Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos

2012 Stats: 45 Catches, 764 Yards, 4 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: at Carolina 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Through eight games, Demaryius Thomas has five outings of eight-plus targets (with three in double digits).

2. Thomas already has four games of 100-plus yards.

3. During Peyton Manning's recent tear (Weeks 4-9), Thomas has averaged 5.8 catches, 108 yards and 0.4 touchdowns.

4. Thomas has a high-end ceiling for 10 catches and 170 yards whenever he takes the field. And that's with Eric Decker in the Denver lineup.

45. QB Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders

2012 Stats: 2,355 Yards Passing, 14 TD (1 Rush) 

Week 10 Opponent: at Baltimore

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. For Weeks 7-9, Carson Palmer led all quarterbacks in fantasy points (81.7).

2. Through eight games, Palmer has thrown for 297 yards and/or three touchdowns six times.

3. Last week against the Bucs, he posted seasonal highs in completions (39), pass attempts (61), yards passing (414) and touchdowns (four).

4. The Raiders have potentially juicy matchups with the Ravens, Saints and Bengals (Palmer's Cincy homecoming) in the next three weeks.

5. Palmer may be the season's best fourth-quarter QB in fantasy. That's the polite way of saying he's an absolute dynamo during garbage time.

44. RB Mikel Leshoure, Detroit Lions

2012 Stats: 499 Total Yards (375 Rushing), 4 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: at Minnesota 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Mikel Leshoure is just one week removed from a three-touchdown outing against the Jaguars. In fact, he was the first Lion in franchise history to rush for three scores in the first half of a game.

2. Through six games, Leshoure has accounted for 83 total yards and/or one touchdown four times.

3. Leshoure has the talent to be a top-15 tailback by season's end. For Weeks 14-16 (Green Bay, Arizona, Atlanta), he's a reasonable bet for 260 total yards and two touchdowns.

4. The second-year back (who missed last season to an Achilles injury) may be Detroit's best speed-power rusher since the days of Billy Sims.

43. Defense/Special Teams, Pittsburgh Steelers

2012 Stats: 14 Sacks, 4 Fumble Recoveries, 4 Interceptions

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Kansas City


Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Through eight games, the Steelers boast the NFL's No. 1 pass defense and No. 7 pass defense. And for good measure, Pittsburgh has yielded the fewest yards per game of any team.

2. On the flip side, Kansas City's offense has committed more turnovers than any other club this season.

3. Regardless of who starts at quarterback for the Chiefs (Matt Cassel, Brady Quinn), a pick-six against the Steelers' physical defense is a 50/50 proposition.

And that's not a good thing.

42. QB Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2012 Stats: 2,047 Yards Passing, 16 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. San Diego

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. In his last five games, Josh Freeman has accounted for 300 total yards and/or multiple touchdowns each time.

2. Freeman passed for three TDs each in Weeks 6-8—the most prodigious passing spurt of his four-year career.

3. Bucs receiver Vincent Jackson will undoubtedly be primed to crush his old team, the Chargers. And he may need 10 or 12 Freeman targets to maximize his revenge.

41. RB Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers

2012 Stats: 566 Total Yards (421 Rushing), 1 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: at Tampa Bay 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. For the season, Ryan Mathews has racked up 72 or more total yards in all six games. Modest numbers, for sure, but not too bad when factoring in his August collarbone injury.

2. Mathews, who notched 1,546 total yards last year, is a viable threat for 120 total yards every week, regardless of opponent.

3. Simply put, I have a gut feeling Mathews will post strong numbers against the Buccaneers. And when the mood's right, gut calls trump hard evidence.

40. WR Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons

2012 Stats: 47 Catches, 709 Yards, 4 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: at New Orleans 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. In any given week, Roddy White should be ranked in the top 10 receivers, regardless of matchup.

2. Speaking of which, the Saints have one of the NFL's most porous defenses, surrendering 473 total yards per game.

3. In his last eight games against the Saints (dating back to 2008), White has averages of 5.5 catches, 85.2 yards and 0.5 touchdowns.

39. WR Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers

2012 Stats: 33 Catches, 509 Yards, 2 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: at Tampa Bay 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Through eight games, Malcom Floyd has crossed the PPR-elite threshold of six catches, 95 yards and/or one touchdown four times.

2. Against NFC South teams this season, Floyd is averaging four catches and 80 yards.

3. The Buccaneers have the NFL's worst defense against the pass, allowing 320 yards per game.

4. Floyd is the No. 1 option on a pass-first club that's not flush with receiving depth. He should draw at least nine targets against Tampa Bay.

38. QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

2012 Stats: 2,394 Yards Passing, 11 TD (1 Rush) 

Week 10 Opponent: at Philadelphia 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. In the last two games, Tony Romo has accounted for 758 yards passing and three touchdowns.

2. For the year, Romo has crossed the QB-elite threshold of 275 total yards and/or three touchdowns five times.

3. In 2009, the last time Romo had two full games against the Eagles, he threw for 300 yards in both outings.

37. TE Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints

2012 Stats: 38 Catches, 387 Yards, 5 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Atlanta 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Even with one less game played, Jimmy Graham's seasonal stats are remarkably similar to that of Steelers tight end Heath Miller, who's having a phenomenal year.

2. Graham already has four outings of double-digit targets (Weeks 1, 2, 8, 9).

3. Through seven games, Graham has crossed the PPR-elite threshold (among tight ends) of six catches, 80 yards and/or one touchdown six times.

4. The Saints star is on pace to match or eclipse last year's touchdown output (11).

36. TE Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

2012 Stats: 58 Catches, 538 Yards, 1 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: at Philadelphia

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Jason Witten is just two weeks removed from setting an NFL record for most catches in a single game by a tight end (18 vs. the Giants). It's impossible to confirm this, but the 22 receiving targets are likely modern-day record for tight ends as well.

2. Through eight games, Witten has collected six-plus targets seven times.

3. In the last five weeks, Witten boasts per-outing averages of 10 catches, 12 targets and 92.4 yards.

4. Despite a potentially serious spleen injury to start the 2012 campaign, Witten is on pace to match or eclipse last year's output in catches, targets and receiving yards.

35. QB Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

2012 Stats: 1,867 Yards Passing, 12 TD

Week 10 Opponent: at Tampa Bay


Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Through eight games, Philip Rivers has accounted for multiple touchdowns six times.

2. The Buccaneers have the NFL's worst pass defense, allowing 320 passing yards per game. In fact, Eli Manning, Drew Brees and Carson Palmer each threw for 370-plus yards against Tampa Bay.

3. Rivers has attempted 32-plus passes in seven of eight games. And the one "under" effort involved Rivers going 18-of-20 (with two touchdowns) against the Chiefs.

4. For what it's worth, Rivers passed for 287 yards and four touchdowns against the Bucs in 2008.

34. RB Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

2012 Stats: 868 Total Yards (732 Rushing), 3 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: at Miami 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Of his last six games, Chris Johnson has rolled for 114 total yards and/or one touchdown five times.

2. Despite a sluggish September, when NFL pundits everywhere speculated on Johnson's precipitous decline, the Titans star still ranks as the No. 11 tailback in standard-scoring leagues.

3. Granted, it's a small sample size (two career games), but Johnson has averaged 142 total yards and 0.5 touchdowns against the Dolphins.

That makes for an interesting stat considering Miami has the NFL's No. 3 rush defense (83.3 yards per game).

33. RB Isaac Redman, Pittsburgh Steelers

2012 Stats: 428 Total Yards (274 Rushing), 2 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Kansas City 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Isaac Redman rushed for a career-best 147 yards against the Giants in Week 9. Redman's performance came at a time when the injury-depleted, day-tripping Steelers really needed him to step up.

2. Redman's 28 touches in Week 9 were seven times the number of any other Steelers playmaker—including wide receiver Mike Wallace (3 catches, 66 yards, 1 TD) and Heath Miller (4 catches, 48 yards).

3. Redman has notched 100-plus total yards in back-to-back games—the second time in his young career.

4. For consecutive weeks, a Steelers running back has been the No. 1 asset in the free-agent countdown (Jonathan Dwyer grabbed previous honors).

It's a show of respect for the Pittsburgh offense and coordinator Todd Haley.

On the flip side, it's indicative of how unsettled things are in the Steelers' backfield without Rashard Mendenhall, who's dealing with Achilles soreness.

32. WR Denarius Moore, Oakland Raiders

2012 Stats: 30 Catches, 485 Yards, 4 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: at Baltimore 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Denarius Moore has collected a minimum of eight targets in all seven games.

2. In standard-scoring leagues, he ranks No. 8 among receivers since Week 7.

3. For the year, Moore is a perfect 7-of-7 in racking up 66 receiving yards and/or one touchdown.

4. Moore is the No. 1 receiving target in one of the NFL's most progressive passing offenses—especially during the second half of games.

31. WR Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers

2012 Stats: 39 Catches, 525 Yards, 5 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Kansas City

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Through eight games, Mike Wallace has crossed the PPR-elite threshold of six catches, 95 yards and/or one touchdown seven times.

2. In the last three weeks, Wallace has collected 29 targets—the second-highest three-game tally of his career.

3. With Antonio Brown (ankle) likely out for Week 10, Wallace is a good candidate for nine catches, 12 targets and maybe 100 yards against the Chiefs.

4. A top-10 receiver during the preseason, Wallace has apparently recaptured his fantasy mojo from last season.

30. TE Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons

2012 Stats: 50 Catches, 495 Yards, 4 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: at New Orleans

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Through eight games, Tony Gonzalez is on pace to eclipse last year's output in receptions (80), yards (875) and touchdowns (seven).

2. He has already collected double-digit targets three times. In fact, for the season, he has drawn a minimum of five targets in every game.

3. When grouped with Roddy White, Julio Jones and Michael Turner in Atlanta, opposing defenses don't have the resources to roll double coverage toward Gonzalez—even on prolific days.

4. The Saints have a bottom-five defense and are especially vulnerable against the pass.

29. RB Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins

2012 Stats: 705 Total Yards (534 Rushing), 4 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Tennessee

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Reggie Bush has modestly averaged 88.1 total yards and 0.5 touchdowns this season.

2. The Titans currently rank as the NFL's 30th rush defense, surrendering 142 rush yards per game.

3. Here's a pleasant reminder for Bush owners: In his final nine games last year, the Dolphins back averaged 117 total yards and 0.66 touchdowns.

28. RB C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills

2012 Stats: 798 Total Yards (562 Rushing), 5 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: at New England 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Despite injuries and a time-share environment with Fred Jackson, C.J. Spiller still ranks as a top-10 fantasy rusher.

2. For Weeks 1 and 2, Spiller rolled for 364 total yards and three touchdowns—easily the best tally of any running back during that span.

3. Spiller has racked up 100 total yards in the last three games.

4. Given his most recent success, Spiller is a good bet for more carries, touches and total yards over Jackson against the Patriots.

27. WR Victor Cruz, New York Giants

2012 Stats: 57 Catches, 717 Yards, 7 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: at Cincinnati 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. In standard-scoring leagues, Victor Cruz currently ranks as the No. 3 receiver.

2. Cruz and Reggie Wayne are the only NFL receivers to crack the century mark in targets to date.

3. The Giants wideout already has six outings of double-digit targets. Of equal importance, he has tallied a minimum of eight in every game.

4. From Weeks 4-7, Cruz had a four-game spurt of 27 catches, 348 yards and five touchdowns.

26. WR Eric Decker, Denver Broncos

2012 Stats: 46 Catches, 583 Yards, 7 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: at Carolina

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Against the Bengals, Eric Decker collected nearly 22 fantasy points in standard-scoring leagues and nearly 30 in points-per-reception leagues.

2. Decker has notched at least one touchdown in the last five games, with seven total in that span.

3. Since Week 3, Decker is a perfect 6-of-6 in crossing the PPR-elite threshold of six catches, 95 yards and/or one touchdown.

25. RB Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons

2012 Stats: 600 Total Yards (517 Rushing), 5 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: at New Orleans 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Of his last seven games, Michael Turner has accounted for 100 total yards and/or one touchdown five times.

2. Dating back to the 2009 campaign, Turner boasts averages of 101 total yards and 0.66 TDs against the rival Saints.

3. Turner is on pace for 1,200 total yards and a fifth consecutive season of double-digit touchdowns.

24. QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

2012 Stats: 2,203 Yards Passing, 16 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Kansas City

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Through eight games, Ben Roethlisberger has crossed the QB-elite threshold of 275 total yards and/or three touchdowns five times.

2. In his last five outings against AFC West foes, Roethlisberger has averaged 277 yards passing and 2.3 touchdowns.

3. The Chiefs, losers of five straight, have surrendered an average of 28 points during that span.

4. Emmanuel Sanders should be a fine replacement for Antonio Brown (ankle injury) against Kansas City.

23. WR Wes Welker, New England Patriots

2012 Stats: 60 Catches, 736 Yards, 2 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Buffalo 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Wes Welker has a reasonable chance to match or eclipse last year's output in catches (122), targets (173) and receiving yards (1,573).

2. For Weeks 2-6, Welker tallied double-digit targets in five straight games.

3. During that span, he averaged nine catches, 122 yards and 0.4 touchdowns.

4. Through eight games, Welker has crossed the PPR-elite threshold of six catches, 95 yards and/or one touchdown seven times.

5. Six weeks ago, Welker caught nine balls for 129 yards against the Bills.

22. RB Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers

2012 Stats: 785 Total Yards (654 Rushing), 4 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. St. Louis 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Through eight games, Frank Gore has already earned 13.5 fantasy points five times (standard-scoring leagues).

2. In four home outings this season, he boasts averages of 112.3 total yards and 0.5 touchdowns.

3. Gore is a reasonable candidate for 1,500 total yards and nine TDs—impressive numbers for a back averaging only 17 touches per game.

21. WR Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints

2012 Stats: 44 Catches, 626 Yards, 6 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Atlanta

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. In two games against the Falcons last year, Marques Colston racked up 15 catches, 194 yards and one touchdown.

2. Through eight games, Colston has already collected double-digit targets five times.

3. In his last five outings, Colston boasts averages of 5.8 catches, 93 yards and 1.25 TDs.

4. Dating back to last year, Colston has tallied 100-plus yards and/or one touchdown in five of his last seven home games.

20. WR Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears

2012 Stats: 59 Catches, 797 Yards, 7 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Houston

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Last week against the Titans, Brandon Marshall posted a career-high three touchdowns. On the day, he caught nine balls for 122 yards.

2. Marshall has collected double-digit targets in four straight games.

3. For the season, he has notched double-digit fantasy points four times (standard-scoring rules).

4. Marshall is one of only five NFL wideouts with seven or more touchdowns (A.J. Green, James Jones, Eric Decker, Victor Cruz).

19. QB Eli Manning, New York Giants

2012 Stats: 2,426 Yards Passing, 12 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: at Cincinnati 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. This endorsement of Eli Manning is essentially a reputation pick. Put another way, it's a leap of faith that he'll turn things around against the Bengals.

2. Manning is the only quarterback to throw for 500 yards in a game this season.

3. The Giants QB should have receivers Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks at his disposal on Sunday.

4. In their last four games—all losses—the Bengals have allowed 106 points (or 26.5 per outing).

18. WR Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

2012 Stats: 40 Catches, 628 Yards, 5 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: at New Orleans

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. In odd-numbered games this season, Julio Jones boasts averages of 6.5 catches, 98 yards and 1.25 touchdowns.

2. For Weeks 8 and 9, Jones notched back-to-back outings of 100-plus yards—an impressive feat for only 10 total catches.

3. Jones is averaging nine targets on the road this year.

4. At the Superdome last season, Jones stymied the Saints for eight catches, 14 targets, 128 yards and one touchdown.

17. QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

2012 Stats: 2,391 Yards Passing, 11 TD (3 Rush) 

Week 10 Opponent: at Minnesota 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Despite averaging only one touchdown pass per week, Matthew Stafford currently ranks as the No. 12 quarterback in fantasy.

2. Through eight games, he has crossed the QB-elite threshold of 275 total yards and/or three touchdowns seven times.

3. Stafford is just one season removed from 5,000 yards passing and 40 touchdowns. And he still has Calvin Johnson as his primary weapon.

4. There's a one percent chance of a healthy Stafford finishing the season with less than 20 TD passes. A second-half breakout is expected, so move heaven and earth to land him via trade.

16. RB Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots

2012 Stats: 767 Total Yards (716 Rushing), 5 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Buffalo

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Against Buffalo in Week 4, Stevan Ridley rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns. (Teammate Brandon Bolden rolled for 137 and one TD that day as well.)

2. How's this for consistency: In the four games Ridley has rushed for 100-plus yards this season, he scored at least one touchdown each time.

3. Since Week 5, the Bills have surrendered a staggering 202 rushing yards per game—a deflating factoid that doesn't even include the Patriots' 52-point reckoning in Week 4.

15. RB Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

2012 Stats: 718 Total Yards (539 Rushing), 3 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Houston 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Since Week 5, Matt Forte is a perfect 4-of-4 in collecting 100 total yards and/or one touchdown.

2. In three games against AFC South foes this season, Forte boasts per-outing averages of 131.7 total yards and 0.7 touchdowns.

3. On the receiving front, he has drawn five-plus targets four times.

4. The Texans have the NFL's No. 2 rushing defense, but Forte is still a good bet for 90-plus yards and one touchdown Sunday.

14. WR Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2012 Stats: 31 Catches, 710 Yards, 6 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: vs. San Diego

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. For standard-scoring leagues, Vincent Jackson boasts a top-eight ranking among receivers. Not bad for a guy with only 31 receptions.

2. Jackson established an NFC high (yardage-wise) for receivers in Week 7, catching seven balls for 216 yards and one TD against the Saints.

3. The stars are aligned for Jackson having a monster outing against the Chargers, his former team. For Weeks 4-7, V-Jax caught 17 balls for 382 yards and four touchdowns at home.

4. San Diego allowed an average of 313 yards passing and 2.8 TDs to Carson Palmer, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan in the first seven weeks.

13. RB Arian Foster, Houston Texans

2012 Stats: 847 Total Yards (770 Rushing), 11 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: at Chicago 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Dating back to last year, Arian Foster has scored at least one touchdown in 12 straight games.

2. At his team's halfway point, Foster has a reasonable shot at 1,700 total yards and 20 touchdowns.

3. Check this out: In the two games where Foster finished with under 94 total yards, he scored twice both times.

4. In any other week of the 2012 campaign, Foster would have scored a top-five overall ranking.

5. Doug Martin has been the talk of fantasy the last two weeks, but Foster is easily the first-half MVP among running backs.

12. QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

2012 Stats: 2,360 Yards Passing, 18 TD (1 Rush) 

Week 10 Opponent: at New Orleans 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Matt Ryan is on pace for new personal highs in passing yards (4,177) and TD passes (29).

2. Ryan has weekly access to the NFL's best receiver-receiver-tight end combo—Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez.

3. Through eight games, Ryan has crossed the QB-elite threshold of 275 total yards and/or three touchdowns six times.

4. Even with an unblemished 8-0 and strong running support from Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers, Ryan is still averaging 37.4 pass attempts per game.

11. WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions

2012 Stats: 48 Catches, 767 Yards, 1 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: at Minnesota

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Among wide receivers, Calvin Johnson ranks third in receiving yards (767) and sixth in targets (83).

2. For the season, Johnson has collected seven-plus targets in all eight games. For Weeks 2-7, he tallied double-digit targets each time.

3. It's hard to scream Madden Curse when Johnson already has four outings of triple-digit yardage.

4. In his last trip to the Metrodome (September 2011), he vanquished the Vikings for seven catches, 108 yards and two touchdowns.

5. Even when a little nicked-up, Johnson still has the greatest weekly upside of any NFL receiver.

10. RB LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

2012 Stats: 771 Total Yards (623 Rushing), 5 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Dallas

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Through eight games, LeSean McCoy has notched 100 total yards and/or one touchdown seven times.

2. He is a healthy lock for another season of 1,500 total yards and double-digit touchdowns.

3. Dating back to last season, McCoy has earned 100 total yards and/or one touchdown in 11 straight home outings.

9. RB Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks

2012 Stats: 991 Total Yards (881 Rushing), 4 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. N.Y. Jets 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. In standard-scoring leagues, Marshawn Lynch currently ranks as the No. 5 tailback.

2. Through nine games, Lynch has racked up 97 total yards and/or one touchdown eight times.

3. In his last eight home outings (dating back to last year), Lynch boasts stellar averages of 119.5 total yards and 0.88 touchdowns.

8. TE Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

2012 Stats: 43 Catches, 580 Yards, 7 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Buffalo

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Among tight ends, Rob Gronkowski boasts a top-three ranking in catches, targets, receiving yards and touchdowns.

2. He is easily the top-ranked player at his position headed into Week 10.

3. Gronkowski is a viable candidate for eight catches, 75 yards and two touchdowns every Sunday, regardless of opponent.

4. In Week 4, Gronk carved up the Bills defense for five catches, 104 yards and one touchdown. And against Buffalo last season, he amassed 15 catches, 217 yards and four TDs.

7. QB Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

2012 Stats: 2,404 Yards Passing, 20 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: at Carolina 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. For the first time since 2004, Peyton Manning has thrown three or more touchdowns in five straight games.

2. Last week against Cincinnati, he fell nine yards short of going five straight games with 300 yards passing and three TD passes.

3. In the last five weeks, Manning has notched a minimum completion mark of 73 percent. He also averaged 35.4 completions per game during that span.

4. At this point, there is zero excuse for benching Peyton or trading him for anything less than a sky-high price in 12-team leagues.

Bottom line: We're talking about a once-in-a-generation talent experiencing a twice-in-a-lifetime run of fantasy fortune.

6. WR A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

2012 Stats: 51 Catches, 735 Yards, 8 TD  

Week 10 Opponent: vs. N.Y. Giants

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. A.J. Green is one of two NFL receivers with eight touchdowns this season (along with James Jones).

2. Green has registered a touchdown in seven straight games, with two coming against the Browns in Week 6.

3. Through eight games, he's collected nine-plus targets seven times.

4. Among receivers, Green would likely be the first-half fantasy MVP.

5. QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

2012 Stats: 2,847 Yards Passing, 23 TD (1 Rush) 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Atlanta 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. In standard-scoring leagues, Drew Brees currently stands as the No. 3 quarterback in fantasy.

2. Brees is on pace to become the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in back-to-back campaigns.

3. Through eight games, he is a perfect 8-of-8 in tallying multiple touchdowns (one rushing in Week 2).

4. In Brees' four home games this season, he's averaging only 297 yards passing and three touchdowns. In his final four Superdome outings last year (including the playoffs), the Saints QB averaged 376 yards passing and 3.8 TDs.

4. QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots

2012 Stats: 2,408 Yards Passing, 18 TD (2 Rush) 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Buffalo 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. In his last five games against the Bills, Tom Brady boasts per-outing averages of 283.4 yards passing and 3.6 touchdowns.

2. For the year, Brady is a perfect 8-of-8 in completing 60-plus percent of his passes.

3. Brady has accounted for multiple touchdowns in his last five games.

4. Frankly, he is due for a monster game at home. In three outings at Gillette Stadium this season, Brady has yet to throw for 320-plus yards or three touchdowns.

3. RB Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2012 Stats: 1,039 Total Yards (794 Rushing), 8 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. San Diego

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Doug Martin rushed for a Bucs franchise-record 251 yards and four touchdowns last week against the Raiders. He also set an NFL record for most rushing TDs of 45 yards or more in a single game (three).

2. In his last two games, Martin has amassed an absurd 486 total yards and six touchdowns—easily the greatest two-game tally of any NFL tailback this season.

3. The Bucs rookie has racked up a minimum of 122 total yards in the last four weeks.

4. From this point forward, Martin should be a top-five tailback, regardless of matchup.

2. RB Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

2012 Stats: 873 Total Yards (622 Rushing), 6 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Oakland

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Through eight games, Ray Rice has notched 96 total yards and/or one touchdown seven times.

2. The Raiders have the NFL's 22nd-ranked rush defense, surrendering 124 rush yards per game.

3. In his last two meetings with the Raiders (2009-10), he had per-outing averages of 95 total yards.

4. Rice, on pace for a fourth consecutive season of 1,700 total yards, shall remain a top-five asset from this point forward.

1. RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

2012 Stats: 1,107 Total Yards (957 Rushing), 6 TD 

Week 10 Opponent: vs. Detroit 

Fantasy Reasons For This Honor

1. Adrian Peterson has rushed for 478 yards and four touchdowns in the last three weeks.

2. In five career home games against the Lions, he boasts per-outing averages of 132.4 total yards and 1.4 touchdowns.

3. Through nine games, Peterson has garnered 100 total yards and/or one touchdown eight times.

4. The Vikings star has averaged 21.6 touches per game—an amazing figure for a rusher just 11 months removed from a gruesome knee injury (and subsequent surgery).