This article will take a weekly look at players who could provide value in a given week. The basis for this value will be the difference between the Top 200 forward, a look at the top 200 players with the whole season in mind, and the weekly rankings. Both of these are from the Footballguys.com Insider content. An emphasis will be on the players with the largest differences between the season outlook and this week only. Also, a preference will be given to differences for the higher ranked players. Some of these differences will be due to injury, matchup of the week, or short-term situation. Now, let's take a look at this week's value players.
Quarterback
Top 200 ranking: 35
Weekly ranking: 5
Difference: +30
Nick Foles looked great last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while filling in for the injured Michael Vick. He gets another start this week against the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas does not have a strong pass defense and we expect this to be a high scoring affair. With another great outing, Foles could create a quarterback competition. The injuries for the Cowboys defense should translate to more time to throw for the youngster.
Top 200 ranking: 9
Weekly ranking: 3
Difference: +6
Newton had a slow start to the season, but gets another great matchup this week against the St. Louis Rams. The Rams defense is not strong and we expect the Panthers to be able to move the ball with ease. Carolina has played better offensively since the bye week so there is hope that adjustments were made by coordinator Mike Shula and company.
Running Back
Top 200 ranking: 26
Weekly ranking: 17
Difference: +9
Jones-Drew is coming off his best performance of the season against the Denver Broncos. The Jaguars face another AFC West team in the San Diego Chargers Sunday. San Diego yields big yardage to opposing tailbacks and this week should be no different. We project the Jacksonville star to be a fantasy starter again this week.
Top 200 ranking: 41
Weekly ranking: 21
Difference: +20
Few could have predicted the huge game Jacobs had last week in the loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday night. The Giants have lost all other tailbacks to injury other than rookie Michael Cox, so the team signed Peyton Hillis. He expect the veteran ball carrier to be the workhorse against the Vikings as the Giants search for their first win of the season.
Top 200 ranking: 52
Weekly ranking: 26
Difference: +26
DeMarco Murray was injured in last week's contest and could miss a few games. His backup, Lance Dunbar, is out with a hamstring injury, so rookie Joseph Randle will be the starter against the Philadelphia Eagles. While we are not huge fans of the Oklahoma State star, he has a golden opportunity against one of the worst defenses in the league. If desperate for a RB2/flex, Randle could reward fantasy owners.
Wide Receiver
Top 200 ranking: 5
Weekly ranking: 1
Difference: +4
Dez Bryant has played very well this season. While a must start every week, he is the top ranked receiver against the Eagles. We are looking for a shootout and quarterback Tony Romo knows how to sling the ball around. With DeMarco Murray out of the lineup, Romo should pass the ball even more. Bryant could be sitting on a monster performance.
Top 200 ranking: 23
Weekly ranking: 17
Difference: +6
Wallace has been wildly inconsistent for fantasy owners this season. We are expecting the Dolphins to target their overpriced receiver often against the Buffalo Bills this weekend. When Miami does target the former Steeler often, he has broken off big plays. The Bills secondary is not especially strong so this could be a big fantasy performance for Wallace.
Top 200 ranking: 20
Weekly ranking: 12
Difference: +8
Reggie Wayne has been relatively quiet this season, but has put up solid fantasy numbers. He is still the top receiver in Indianapolis and has a great matchup against the Denver Broncos this week. Champ Bailey has missed extended action and Denver is not deep in the secondary.
Tight End
Top 200 ranking: 7
Weekly ranking: 1
Difference: +6
Gonzalez is still playing while the other offensive stars in Atlanta are dropping like flies. Julio Jones is out for the season with the foot injury. Roddy White and Steven Jackson are iffy to play against Tampa Bay this Sunday. We are expecting quarterback Matt Ryan to target the All Pro tight end early and often.
Top 200 ranking: 6
Weekly ranking: 2
Difference: +4
San Diego travels across the country to meet the Jacksonville Jaguars after playing on Monday Night Football. The Jaguars are yielding big production to opposing tight ends and we are expecting the veteran to be the beneficiary Sunday. Gates has played very well this season and looks back to his pre-injury self, making plays after the catch.
Feel free to email me (Tefertiller@Footballguys.com) with feedback. Also, I am on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/JeffTefertiller), LinkedIn, and Google+, so you can ask me questions on one of these as well.
