It’s been rough so far this season as fantasy owners but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter. We’re seeing the return of stud receivers from injury and bye weeks are over in three weeks. At the same time, it’s been amazing to see a multitude of rookie receivers break out and dominate defensive backs like veterans. It’s the stretch run to the fantasy playoffs, which seemed so far away in August. Even if you’re not going to make it, at least you can play the role of spoiler.
Fantasy football rankings, Week 10: Wide receivers for standard, PPR leagues
The fantasy playoffs are right around the corner and some of our best fantasy receivers are returning from injury or bye. Check out our Week 10 wide receiver rankings for the best fantasy football help.
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This is the last of the three weeks that have six teams on bye. Indianapolis, Minnesota, New England, San Diego, Washington and Houston are off this week. That means we'll be without: T.Y. Hilton, Reggie Wayne, Cordarrelle Patterson, Greg Jennings, Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins. It's going to hurt some of us that super hot receivers like Hilton and Edelman are off this week. On the other hand, slumping receivers like Patterson, Allen and Johnson really need a boost. Patterson ended 2013 on a tear, so hopefully the two weeks of recovery will start him on an upward trajectory. Allen has scored only one touchdown and reached double digits twice. He's a great buy low candidate but I'm not sure the schedule sets up in his favor. Andre Johnson has surprisingly scored the best of the three, despite also having only one touchdown and reaching double digits once. Houston may be changing quarterbacks, which would be the best for Johnson's fantasy potential to end the season.
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Wes Welker was hit hard on his back and missed the rest of Sunday's game. At least it's not a concussion but he's considered week to week right now. His practice participation will reveal more. Calvin Johnson looks ready to return this week against Miami. He was back at practice Monday and barring any setbacks is a must start. A.J. Green returned against Jacksonville but was on a snap count. He scored a touchdown and sounds like he wants to go all out on Thursday night.
Even with Nick Foles going down, I believe Jordan Matthews is on the verge of breaking out. Riley Cooper is barely holding onto the WR2 role ahead of him and its only a matter of time before he's passed by Matthews. Sanchez has probably run more reps with Matthews than Cooper, which should lead to some more production. Taylor Gabriel might be a sneaky play with the six-team bye week. Andrew Hawkins left Sunday's game, which opened the way for Gabriel to step up. He scored his first touchdown and had a double digit game. He doesn't have long term value since Cameron and Gordon will be returning soon but is worth a shot in the meantime.
Wide receiver rankings (standard), Week 10
(DK: Daniel Kelley; DC: Dan Ciarrocchi; JD: John Daigle; SK: Scott Kaliska)
| Rank | Consensus | Team | Opponent | DK | DC | JD | SK |
| 1 | Antonio Brown | PIT | @NYJ | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Demaryius Thomas | DEN | @OAK | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 3 | Jordy Nelson | GB | CHI | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Calvin Johnson | DET | MIA | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Jeremy Maclin | PHI | CAR | 4 | 8 | 3 | 8 |
| 6 | Randall Cobb | GB | CHI | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | Julio Jones | ATL | @TAM | 8 | 4 | 8 | 4 |
| 8 | Dez Bryant | DAL | JAC (London) | 7 | 7 | 13 | 7 |
| 9 | Emmanuel Sanders | DEN | @OAK | 12 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
| 10 | A.J. Green | CIN | CLE | 10 | 10 | 15 | 10 |
| 11 | Alshon Jeffery | CHI | @GB | 9 | 13 | 11 | 14 |
| 12 | Brandon Marshall | CHI | @GB | 11 | 11 | 14 | 11 |
| 13 | Kelvin Benjamin | CAR | @PHI | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| 14 | Sammy Watkins | BUF | KAN | 18 | 14 | 16 | 13 |
| 15 | Golden Tate | DET | MIA | 13 | 17 | 22 | 17 |
| 16 | Roddy White | ATL | @TAM | 22 | 15 | 21 | 16 |
| 17 | Mike Evans | TAM | ATL | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 |
| 18 | Mohamed Sanu | CIN | CLE | 28 | 23 | 9 | 15 |
| 19 | Larry Fitzgerald | ARI | STL | 17 | 21 | 19 | 21 |
| 20 | Percy Harvin | NYJ | PIT | 33 | 22 | 10 | 23 |
| 21 | Mike Wallace | MIA | @DET | 16 | 16 | 40 | 20 |
| 22 | Odell Beckham Jr. | NYG | @SEA | 21 | 28 | 20 | 26 |
| 23 | Denard Robinson | JAC | DAL (London) | 15 | 29 | 17 | 36 |
| 24 | Vincent Jackson | TAM | ATL | 32 | 19 | 29 | 18 |
| 25 | Eric Decker | NYJ | PIT | 20 | 24 | 31 | 24 |
| 26 | Martavis Bryant | PIT | @NYJ | 36 | 25 | 23 | 25 |
| 27 | Steve Smith Sr. | BAL | TEN | 31 | 20 | 39 | 22 |
| 28 | Doug Baldwin | SEA | NYG | 25 | 31 | 27 | 31 |
| 29 | Allen Robinson | JAC | DAL (London) | 23 | 35 | 26 | 35 |
| 30 | Torrey Smith | BAL | TEN | 29 | 30 | 32 | 30 |
| 31 | Anquan Boldin | SF | @NO | 39 | 36 | 28 | 27 |
| 32 | Rueben Randle | NYG | @SEA | 34 | 33 | 30 | 33 |
| 33 | Michael Floyd | ARI | STL | 30 | 27 | 47 | 29 |
| 34 | Michael Crabtree | SF | @NO | 24 | 34 | 42 | 34 |
| 35 | Marques Colston | NO | SF | 35 | 37 | 24 | 38 |
| 36 | Andrew Hawkins | CLE | @CIN | 27 | 38 | 33 | 37 |
| 37 | Terrance Williams | DAL | JAC (London) | 26 | 32 | 49 | 32 |
| 38 | Brandin Cooks | NO | SF | 37 | 26 | -- | 28 |
| 39 | Kenny Britt | STL | @ARI | 43 | 44 | 25 | 45 |
| 40 | Andre Holmes | OAK | DEN | 42 | 39 | 37 | 39 |
| 41 | Justin Hunter | TEN | @BAL | 46 | 40 | 36 | 40 |
| 42 | James Jones | OAK | DEN | 38 | 43 | 44 | 42 |
| 43 | Kenny Stills | NO | SF | 40 | -- | 34 | 46 |
| 44 | Kendall Wright | TEN | @BAL | 45 | 41 | 48 | 41 |
| 45 | Allen Hurns | JAC | DAL (London) | 41 | 49 | 38 | -- |
| 46 | John Brown | ARI | STL | 48 | 47 | 43 | 47 |
| 47 | Davante Adams | GB | CHI | -- | 42 | 50 | 43 |
| 48 | Brian Hartline | MIA | @DET | -- | -- | 35 | -- |
| 49 | Markus Wheaton | PIT | @NYJ | 47 | 50 | 41 | -- |
| 50 | Jordan Matthews | PHI | CAR | 44 | 46 | -- | 49 |
| -- | Dwayne Bowe | KAN | @BUF | -- | 45 | -- | 44 |
| -- | Steve Johnson | SF | @NO | 49 | -- | 45 | -- |
| -- | Cecil Shorts III | JAC | DAL (London) | -- | 48 | -- | 48 |
| -- | Jermaine Kearse | SEA | NYG | -- | -- | 46 | -- |
| -- | Harry Douglas | ARI | STL | 50 | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Wes Welker | DEN | OAK | -- | -- | -- | 50 |
Wide receiver rankings (PPR), Week 10
(DK: Daniel Kelley; DC: Dan Ciarrocchi; JD: John Daigle; SK: Scott Kaliska)
| Rank | Consensus | Team | Opponent | DK | DC | JD | SK |
| 1 | Antonio Brown | PIT | @NYJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Demaryius Thomas | DEN | @OAK | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 3 | Jordy Nelson | GB | CHI | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Jeremy Maclin | PHI | CAR | 3 | 8 | 3 | 8 |
| 5 | Julio Jones | ATL | @TAM | 7 | 4 | 9 | 3 |
| 6 | Calvin Johnson | DET | MIA | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| 7 | Randall Cobb | GB | CHI | 9 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
| 8 | Dez Bryant | DAL | JAC (London) | 5 | 6 | 13 | 7 |
| 9 | Emmanuel Sanders | DEN | @OAK | 10 | 9 | 6 | 10 |
| 10 | Brandon Marshall | CHI | @GB | 11 | 10 | 14 | 11 |
| 11 | Alshon Jeffery | CHI | @GB | 8 | 14 | 11 | 14 |
| 12 | A.J. Green | CIN | CLE | 12 | 11 | 16 | 9 |
| 13 | Kelvin Benjamin | CAR | @PHI | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | Sammy Watkins | BUF | KAN | 16 | 12 | 17 | 12 |
| 15 | Golden Tate | DET | MIA | 14 | 17 | 21 | 15 |
| 16 | Roddy White | ATL | @TAM | 18 | 15 | 19 | 16 |
| 17 | Percy Harvin | NYJ | PIT | 30 | 19 | 8 | 18 |
| 18 | Mike Evans | TAM | ATL | 19 | 21 | 15 | 22 |
| 19 | Larry Fitzgerald | ARI | STL | 21 | 23 | 18 | 23 |
| 20 | Mohamed Sanu | CIN | CLE | 36 | 24 | 10 | 17 |
| 21 | Mike Wallace | MIA | @DET | 15 | 18 | 42 | 19 |
| 22 | Vincent Jackson | TAM | ATL | 28 | 20 | 26 | 20 |
| 23 | Allen Robinson | JAC | DAL (London) | 20 | 22 | 23 | 31 |
| 24 | Eric Decker | NYJ | PIT | 17 | 36 | 24 | 21 |
| 25 | Odell Beckham Jr. | NYG | @SEA | 24 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
| 26 | Steve Smith Sr. | BAL | TEN | 27 | 16 | 40 | 24 |
| 27 | Denard Robinson | JAC | DAL (London) | 22 | 34 | 20 | 39 |
| 28 | Anquan Boldin | SF | @NO | 35 | 26 | 32 | 26 |
| 29 | Doug Baldwin | SEA | NYG | 26 | 33 | 31 | 29 |
| 30 | Martavis Bryant | PIT | @NYJ | 41 | 29 | 22 | 28 |
| 31 | Andrew Hawkins | CLE | @CIN | 23 | 40 | 25 | 34 |
| 32 | Rueben Randle | NYG | @SEA | 33 | 32 | 27 | 30 |
| 33 | Michael Crabtree | SF | @NO | 25 | 31 | 35 | 35 |
| 34 | Torrey Smith | BAL | TEN | 32 | 30 | 33 | 33 |
| 35 | Michael Floyd | ARI | STL | 29 | 28 | 49 | 32 |
| 36 | Brandin Cooks | NO | SF | 38 | 25 | -- | 25 |
| 37 | Marques Colston | NO | SF | 37 | 37 | 29 | 40 |
| 38 | Andre Holmes | OAK | DEN | 39 | 35 | 38 | 36 |
| 39 | Terrance Williams | DAL | JAC (London) | 31 | 39 | 50 | 37 |
| 40 | James Jones | OAK | DEN | 34 | 41 | 43 | 41 |
| 41 | Kenny Britt | STL | @ARI | 42 | 46 | 30 | 45 |
| 42 | Kendall Wright | TEN | @BAL | 43 | 38 | 44 | 38 |
| 43 | Justin Hunter | TEN | @BAL | 47 | 42 | 37 | 43 |
| 44 | Kenny Stills | STL | @ARI | 46 | 45 | 36 | 46 |
| 45 | Allen Hurns | JAC | DAL (London) | 40 | -- | 39 | -- |
| 46 | Davante Adams | GB | CHI | -- | 44 | 45 | 42 |
| 47 | Markus Wheaton | PIT | @NYJ | 45 | 49 | 41 | -- |
| 48 | Brian Hartline | MIA | @DET | -- | -- | 34 | -- |
| 49 | Dwayne Bowe | KAN | @BUF | 50 | 43 | -- | 44 |
| 50 | Jordan Matthews | PHI | CAR | 44 | 47 | -- | -- |
| -- | Cecil Shorts III | JAC | DAL (London) | 48 | 48 | -- | 47 |
| -- | John Brown | ARI | STL | -- | -- | 46 | 50 |
| -- | Jermaine Kearse | SEA | NYG | -- | -- | 47 | -- |
| -- | Wes Welker | DEN | @OAK | -- | 50 | -- | 48 |
| -- | Steve Johnson | SF | @NO | -- | -- | 48 | -- |
| -- | Jerricho Cotchery | CAR | @PHI | 49 | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Harry Douglas | ATL | @TAM | -- | -- | -- | 49 |
