Fantasy Football Spin on the Best and Worst Performers of Week 10

Sometimes a good game or bad game is just that, but it might just as easily be indicative of something more.  Each week at FFSpin.com take a look at the break out and break down performances and give you our Fantasy Football Spin on what it means for the short and long prospects of that player.  

THE GOOD...

QB Jon Kitna, Dallas Cowboys

Would the real Jon Kitna please stand up?  He has excellent targets but will probably be inconsistent for the remainder of the season.  He will have weeks like he had in the Week 9 blowout loss and weeks like he had in the Week 10 victory. 

We think that more often than not he will post high end QB#2 numbers, and he will be a good situational starter for you any given week.  He will post decent numbers almost by default most weeks, look at his weapons.  Kitna is clearly a benefit for Dez Bryant owners, Miles Austin owners should be a little concerned.

Final Spin:  Kitna has no value beyond this year, but until Romo returns—if Romo returns this season—Kitna is worth a roster spot and situational starts. 

RB Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys made no secret of their desire to establish a running game under the new regime of Jason Garrett.  His rushing numbers were not very impressive (14 carries for 51 yards), but he was effective as the lead back before the team brought Marion Barber in to close the Giants out.  He excelled in the passing game (3/85/1) and flashed the potential that Jerry Jones fell in love with when he took a dump off pass 71 yards for a TD. 

The problem is that regardless how well Felix Jones performs, Barber’s role will remain the same; he will be the guy that comes in and beats down already fatigued defenses late in games and drives.  Jones presents an interesting dilemma—he is too good not to be considered for your starting roster every week and too incomplete to be on your starting roster every week.

Final Spin: Jones will be limited for the remainder of this season and beyond by the fact that he is not a back that can handle the load alone.  Keeper/Dynasty league owners have to consider that when making a decision to hold a roster spot for him.  We agree with the guys at DynastyRankings.net who have Jones ranked as the 26th best back in the dynasty rankings.  

RB Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills

Week 10 showed why we have argued that the Bills made a mistake in drafting a running so high.  They had such massive needs, running back not being one, that taking CJ Spiller when they had Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch on the roster was silly.  Fred Jackson is a quality back.  His fantasy value for the remainder of this season depends on the extent of Spiller’s hamstring injury.  In any case he is will be a low end RB#2 for the rest of this season with the potential to occasionally post really big numbers.  

Final Spin:  Spiller hurts Jackson’s long term value as he will continue to play an increasingly larger role in the offense next season and thereafter.  We like him as low end RB#2 for this season.

RB Shonn Greene, New York Jets

Quantity not quality is why we are writing about Greene.  This was just the second time all season that he got 20 carries.  He averaged less than four yards per carry on the day and didn’t break off any big runs.  He’s not great; he will post pedestrian numbers most weeks, even with a heavier workload, but the fact that he will have a larger number of touches makes him worth having on your roster. 

LT is slowing down a bit, but if he, or another veteran, is on the Jets roster next year Greene’s value will be limited to the RB#3 range again. 

Final Spin:  Greene has decent upside for this year.  Based on this strength of schedule against the run grid from Razzball, Greene has a favorable playoff schedule.  Again, his keeper/dynasty value is largely dependent upon on whether or not there is a veteran presence taking carries away from him in 2011.  Buy low if you can get him.

TE Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals needed more production from the tight end position.  They even signed Chase Coffman from the practice roster this week in hopes of getting more consistent pass catching from the position.  Gresham broke out in Week 10 with nine catches for 85 yards and a TD.  Maybe he just needed a little motivation in the form of competition. 

Gresham should not be considered a TE#1, but he has the potential to post TE#1 numbers any given week.  His lack of production has not been for a lack of targets.  He has averaged six targets per game this year; he just has not made the most of them until this week. 

DynatsyLeagueFootball.com has Gresham as the 16th best TE if you are looking to compete in the next few years, but he jumps to No. 10 if you are rebuilding or looking for a long term investment. 

Final Spin:  Gresham is worth a roster spot and situational starts.  In dynasty leagues, he is a nice player to have on your roster as your No. 2 tight end with hopes that he will grow into your primary.  Sell high if you have a reliable starter.

WR Mike Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars

No, Mike Thomas is not going to rack up the kind of fantasy numbers he did in Week 10 very often.  Yes, his one TD on Sunday was about as big a fluke as any TD in the history of the league.  The way the Jaguars have worked this year is that some weeks Mike Sims-Walker gets the glory, and some weeks Mike Thomas gets the glory. 

Week 10 it was all Thomas.  This was his first his first 100-yard performance of the season, and he would not have crossed the century mark if not for the fluke 50-yard TD—only his second time in the end zone this year by the way.  We think Week 10 represents his ceiling.

Final Spin: Thomas is no more than a fantasy WR#3 or flex option and even that should be situational.  Sims-Walker has more upside and value in redraft and dynasty formats alike.  Sell high/

QB David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars

Garrard has thrown for 584 yards and six TDs in the last two weeks.  He has regained his mojo, and we are buying it.  He has gotten better protection and better play from the surrounding cast.  Between now and Week 16, Garrard faces three of the worst pass defenses in the league when he goes up against Cleveland, Tennessee and Washington.

  We think the last two weeks are more than a fluke.  If you have a lower end QB#1 or high end QB#2 to pair him with, you could have an excellent situational rotation.  You can feel comfortable starting Garrard any week for the remainder of the season.  He’s not elite, but he’s underrated.

Final Spin:  He is a low end QB#1/high end QB#2.  In dynasty leagues, he is a mid range QB#2 with limited upside.  Buy low if you need depth.

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