FF Upgrades/Downgrades after Week 10

Below is a list of player upgrades/downgrades in fantasy football value following Week 10 of the NFL season (excluding Monday Night's SF-SEA game).

UPGRADES

Quarterbacks
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MARC BULGER, STL – Bulger was near flawless in Sunday’s win at New Orleans, completing 27-of-33 pass attempts for 302 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Bulger was denied a possible third touchdown when Steven Jackson threw an option pass to Randy McMichael for a short score. Bulger has had a rough year, battling through injuries and poor play. Things are looking up for Bulger and St. Louis, however. Steven Jackson has returned and Torry Holt has battled through a knee injury and it looks like he might make it through a whole season. The schedule does not look all that bad for the Rams down the stretch with four favorable matchups over their final seven games (San Francisco, Atlanta, Cincinnati and Arizona). Bulger still carries some risk because the team’s offensive line is not in great shape and he has never been all that durable to begin with. But Bulger is the type of quarterback that can put up gaudy numbers and he might be available in your league.

Running Backs
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RYAN GRANT, GB – Grant ran for 119 yards on 25 carries with a touchdown and added five receptions for 20 yards in Sunday’s win over Minnesota. Grant’s performance is even more impressive considering that the Vikings boast one of the stingiest rush defenses in the league. Grant is not a great runner, but he seems to be a good fit for Green Bay’s offense. He has been productive in two of the last three games and could continue to put up solid yardage numbers because the Packers can move the ball up and down the field. Grant probably won’t score a lot of touchdowns - Brett Favre has been very efficient in the red zone this season, but at this point Grant looks like more than a serviceable option in all formats.

Wide Receivers
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CHRIS HENRY, CIN – Henry made his season debut on Sunday with a bang, catching four passes for a team-high 99 yards. Henry hauled in a 50-yard pass, showing his big-play capability, and was targeted seven times by Carson Palmer. Henry, who was suspended for the team’s first eight games, is one of the best third receivers in football and that means something considering Cincinnati has a high-powered passing game. Henry should have a handful of big games, scoring on a couple of long pass plays. But while Henry is an explosive player with tremendous upside, he does not get as many snaps as Chad Johnson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Because of this, temper your expectations just a little bit.

DOWNGRADES

Quarterbacks
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DAMON HUARD, KC – Huard was ineffective (6-of-15 for 83 yards with a pair of interceptions) in Sunday’s loss to Denver and was replaced by youngster Brodie Croyle. Huard also got banged up in the game and was seen on the sidelines holding an ice pack on his neck. Even if the injury is not serious, Huard needs to be downgraded at this point. The Chiefs are still in contention in the AFC West, but coach Herm Edwards won’t be afraid to make a switch at quarterback. Croyle is considered the team’s quarterback of the future so the change would make sense anyway. Huard is not a bad quarterback, he is accurate and smart, but does not have much of an arm and often has trouble moving the team down the field. Huard might get one more shot, but do not expect him to be in the starting lineup within the next couple of games.

BRIAN GRIESE, CHI – We upgraded Griese a couple of weeks ago in this column and while we hate to be inconsistent, things change quickly in the NFL. Griese hurt his left shoulder in Sunday’s win at Oakland and was carted off the field. Rex Grossman replaced Griese and threw the game-winning touchdown pass, a 59-yard strike to Bernard Berrian in the fourth quarter. Griese was starting to show signs of slipping anyway. Despite fourth quarter heroics against Minnesota and Philadelphia, Griese was a turnover machine with 10 interceptions and six fumbles (one lost) over six games. Even if Griese’s injury is not serious, which appears to be unlikely, coach Lovie Smith will probably give Grossman another opportunity in the starting lineup. We would not necessarily advise Grossman though - he can be a turnover machine himself.

Wide Receivers
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ANQUAN BOLDIN, ARI – Boldin had just three catches for 25 yards in Sunday’s win over Detroit while teammate Larry Fitzgerald snagged eight passes for 74 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Normally Boldin and Fitzgerald are 1A and 1B in Arizona’s passing game, but Boldin does not appear to be completely healthy. Since returning from a hip injury three games ago, Boldin has only 14 receptions for 94 yards. He did score two touchdowns at Washington, but that was three weeks ago and he had just 29 yards in that game. The schedule does favor the Cardinals down the stretch, including a matchup with Cincinnati this week, but it’s hard to imagine Boldin putting up the type of numbers we have grown to expect from him. Look for Boldin to have a couple of productive games over the final seven weeks, but play second fiddle to Fitzgerald.