Quarterbacks:

With the anticipated return of Ben Roethlisberger we expect the Steelers offense to rack up yardage in what amounted to a scrimmage against the Browns. While they started slow in the first half, Big Ben looked in midseason form with 250 plus passing yards and 3 TD’s. Not only should Big Ben be a Top 10 option for the remainder of the season, his return is a huge boost for the Steeler’s receivers and Heath Milller's fantasy value. His Dynasty value was at a low point this summer, but you will be rewarded for sticking with him. He does have a favorable schedule in the upcoming weeks against some average pass defenses, so be on the watch for Ben to continue his strong play as you make a run at your league's playoffs. As your trade deadline approaches, it might not be a bad idea to explore his market value in your league, but only in exchange for emerging or established talent. He is on thin ice with the league and possibly still with the Steelers Organization, but unless he slips up again, he is going to remain a top performing QB and a cornerstone to a Dynasty offense.

Can Matt Cassel become a reliable fantasy option? He has a long way to go, but he is slowing starting to get there. He is also starting to develop into a leader on the Chiefs now, despite a tough loss on a blown pass inference call by the ref. They could be sitting pretty with a 4-1 record, but regardless Cassel has surprised many by throwing the ball with accuracy and for TD’s in two of the past three weeks. It seems the addition of Charlie Weis has the former Patriot back on track to 2008 when he filled in for Brady. Cassel hasn’t thrown for a lot of yards though, instead he manages the game well enough to get wins, and put up solid numbers. Cassel is moving up the ranks and is around a QB2 still, but an excellent bye week replacement. He needs to keep progressing to cement his status as the Chiefs QB of the future, a title he is not guaranteed by any means. Given the weapons around him, Cassel has a chance to surprise in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

Eagles QB controversy take 2: Many were quick to give up on the Kevin Kolb experiment when Andy Reid inserted Mike Vick into his starting lineup, but the knowledgeable Dynasty owner recognized there would be future value and the situation had yet been played out completely. Kolb played exceptionally well Sunday with 300 plus yards passing and 3 TD’s in a big Eagles win. Stepping in for an injured Mike Vick, Kolb gives us reason to believe he has earned another shot at the job, even though Andy Reid has said Vick remains the starter. With the bye coming up in two weeks for Philly this will likely give Vick more time to rest up and be at full strength, meaning Kolb could play Week 7, with a big decision coming before Week 9's game. Both Kolb and Vick are nice borderline QB1 options at this level they are playing. In Dynasty leagues Kolb holds the edge because he is younger, has better accuracy and is still improving, but both of these guys could be starting QB's in 2011.

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Running Backs:

Injuries in football are inevitable, and they often open the door for new players to step in and prove themselves. Chris Ivory has taken his opportunity and ran with it. Ivory posted a huge game Sunday, running for 158 yards on only 15 carries. Despite his strong performance, Ivory will unlikely be the feature back when Pierre Thomas returns from injury, but this is the Saints and their backfield can often be a mystery to fantasy owners - despite an abundance of talented rushers.  Sean Peyton has been reluctant to use Thomas as a feature runner in the offense and this could mean additional touches for Ivory even after PT returns. He has therefore situated himself in the category of an Emerging Dynasty Prospect.  Should Thomas remain an injury liability - and Reggie Bush for that matter - Ivory could garner a heavy workload in an elite offense. There should be little risk involved in acquiring him, as the buy in should be relatively low. Make a move for him now.

Clinton Portis is done.  Lets not kid ourselves here.  He was a good player that endured a heavy workload.  Shanahan hoped to get more from the aging Beast, but the time has come to send him to the glue factory.  In steps Ryan Torain, who busted out a solid week producting 100 yards and 2 TD's on 20 carries.  Torain is a decent prospect, but not worth selling the farm for. While he is running ok for now, he has a history of injury and was spotted after yesterdays game heavily icing his knee after leaving at the start of the 4th Quarter.  In fact, he doesn't look all that explosive and kind of lumbers around with the football.  Not impressive.  Mike Shanahan’s known for producing successfull runners out of relatively no-name RB's, so whomever is toting the rock in Washington is likely to find some success.  In steps Keiland Williams, who also found the end zone yesterday on one of his 4 receptions.  Williams has served as the 3rd down back behind Torain because of his receiving skills.  He is a bigger back at 5-11, 230 lbs. who can catch the football and make plays on limited touches.  On an offense with few legit receiving options, a pass catching RB could very quickly catch the eye of Shanahan.  While Torain is the Dynasty Prospect to own immediately, you should be going out and adding Williams to your roster on the cheap. 

This season got off to a rocky start for Giants running back Brandon Jacobs. He was complaining, he was throwing his helmet into the stands, and all the while his carries were diminishing as quickly as his yards per carry.  The Giants clearly have their feature back in Ahmad Bradshaw, who is a legit Dynasty Prospect. He can serve as a solid RB2, but right now he is losing goal line carries to Brandon Jacobs.  Jacobs is showing some aggression on the field again, playing more like he has in the past and less trying to be like Barry Sanders. Defenses have a reason to be worried - and fantasy owners once again have a reason to start him, but only as a flex option.  Jacobs value is limited, but a TD a game can help put a team over the top through the bye weeks or as a backup due to injury.  His Dynasty value has all but disappeared, but owners should be looking to move him while his value remains as high as it ever will again.

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Wide Receivers:

That didn't take long. Like we said earlier in the season, when Big Ben returns expect Mike Wallace to benefit the most. It showed this week, when he grabbed his 3rd TD of the season.  He also pulled in a 50-yard reception, proving the chemistry is back with the QB and Wallace. While he had a few solid performances with the Steelers QB Carousel, none of those options have the deep ball accuracy to take advantage of Wallace's ability.  Hines Ward also scored and received a healthy chunk of targets, something that was missing in the first few weeks of the season. With these two guys already back on track with Roethlisberger under center, they are both steady WR3 options. Obviously, the Dynasty player to own is Wallace. Hines Ward is not going to play forever and eventually Wallace could become the Steelers number one option. He'll have to prove he is capable of handling that role and his skillset may be more suited for a WR2 role, but as an explosive deep threat, Wallace should be a fantasy mainstay for years. If you had a difficult time prying Wallace from his owners hands prior to this week, good luck in going after him now.


DeSean Jackson owners were starting to hit the panic button after his slow Week 4 and 5 performances with Kevin Kolb under center. That changed early Sunday, when he started off in Beast mode with 2 TD’s within 6 minutes. The jubilation was short lived however, as he left the game after a nasty helmet-to-helmet hit. He was on the ground for about 5 minutes until he walked off. Now it seems it was a serious concussion that might sideline him more than one game, so watch his status throughout the week. Don’t expect to be a full strength until after the Eagles Week 8 bye. In his absence Jeremy Maclin stepped up and continued to play very well today in Jackson’s absence with over 150 yards and 2 TD’s. Maclin now has 6 TD this season making him a very viable #2 receiver any week, especially now with DJax hurt and Kolb throwing the ball well. Maclin has a been a steady target by both Kolb and Vick, so consider him a solid starting option. His Dynasty value is lower than Jackson's simply cause of the explosiveness and upside, but the two are closer than many think. While Jackson is a full grown Beast already, Maclin is right behind him and could quickly become a more consistent fantasy option.

Welcome back to New England Deion Branch. He just went from a fantasy afterthought in Seattle to at least a FLEX starter as a member of the Patriots. He is clearly Brady’s favorite target with Randy Moss back in Minnesota, looking like the two hadn't missed a beat. He was targeted 12 times and caught crucial catches in the 4th quarter to tie the game and win the game in OT. Don’t expect him to put up Randy Moss numbers, Branch is more a possession receiver, which plays well into the Patriots game plan.  He is the go to guy at the WR position even though Brady has great TE’ s, so put Branch in your lineup for the time being, especially in PPR leagues. But at 31 years old, Branch is more trade bait than anything in your Dynasty league. Sell high if you can.

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Tight Ends:

No Tight End is happier to have his starting QB back on the field than Heath Miller.  While never posting spectacular fantasy numbers, Miller is a consistent performer with Big Ben under center.  Miller scored for the first time this season this past weekend, while posting his usual 5 receptions and bi-weekly trip to the end zone.  Miller is coming off a 76 reception season in 2009, and has been well below that type of production while Big Ben was busy learning his lesson.  It may be too late for those looking to land some reliable TE Depth by acquiring Miller on the cheap, but over the next few days, those in need of TE help should be sending out feelers to Miller owners with hopes of a decent deal on consistent high end TE2 production.

If Colt McCoy’s first game is a sign of things to come, then the Cleveland Tight End position has just seen a nice bump in value.  Looking at the 2010 numbers of Benjamin Watson and Even Moore there was nowhere to go but up.  Week 6 provided some solid insight though as to what may lie ahead for these players.  Watson caught six balls for 88 yards and a score which was the most productive day for a tight end on Sunday. Moore caught four balls for 84 yards. The two combined for 172 yards, McCoy only threw for 281 yards. If McCoy continues to start for the Browns these two players may be worth a start in a tough spot.  While neither players garner a starting spot on your Dynasty Squad it was interesting how much production came for the tight end position from the Browns in this game.  While the Browns aren't posting eye popping passing numbers, sometimes a security blanket Tight End can serve a fantasy owner well when nothing else is going right.

Jermichael Finley has officially become a top acquisition option for rebuilding teams.  Finley's injury is one where a successful surgery and rehab process will strengthen the ligaments in his knee.  While the Packers have put him on IR today, a return to Beastliness will occur in 2011.  Rebuilding team must make an immediate move to acquire Finley from a frustrated owner.  The situation is even better if you have a nice Tight End to move to a contending owner that just lost a big piece of their weekly must start roster.  If you find yourself out of the championship hunt, it is worth overpaying for a player like Finley.