RISE:

Demaryius Thomas (DEN, 116) is a player to keep your eyes on. Thomas who was drafted in the first round by the Denver Broncos out of Georgia Tech University just two seasons ago has missed significant time to injuries. His hype out of college was that of Calvin Johnson (DET, 1) which caused him to be drafted so highly. He showed sparkle last week, and was clearly Tim Tebow’s main target with 10 looks for the game. He was only able to reel in 3 of those targets but one was for a score. Brandon Lloyd was dealt to St. Louis for a reason, and that was to get Thomas the ball. If Tebow can ring in that gunslinger arm of his and be more accurate this wide-out will be a monster.

Shonn Greene (NYJ, 20) is finally getting the rock. The Jets have called his name at least 20 times in each of the last three games and he has produced when they have. In that span Greene has averaged over 4 yards per carry and scored once. Greene is clearly taking control of the running game and the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets are returning to the ground game. With favorable fantasy playoff matchups in Philly, Mia, KC and against the Giants, Greene should be a your go to RB2 for the stretch run.

Last week I mentioned about running back committees in Carolina and Washington, but things changed this weekend. With Tim Hightower (WSH, 26) suffering a season ending injury in the loss to Carolina, Ryan Torain (WSH, 59) should be named the starter. Mike Shanahan is the mad scientist of running backs so that may also mean Roy Helu (WSH, 53) will also begin to see some extended time out there. For the Carolina Panthers it seems as if Jonathan Stewart (CAR, 17) is the one emerging victorious. Since DeAngelo Williams (CAR, 38) had back-to-back games of 82 and 115 yards earlier in the season he has been on the decline, failing to reach the end zone or 50 yards. Stewart has 48 or more yards and a score in each of the last two games. Stewart also holds value in point per reception leagues with at least 3 catches in 4 games so far.

For years Hines Ward (PIT, 44) and Big Ben Roethlisberger (PIT, 7) had a special connection and during their tenure together they have been one of the best quarterback / wide receiver combinations in the league. Ward is getting older and subsequently slower and Roethlisberger seems to have found a new special target. Antonio Brown (PIT, 46) caught 7 passes for 102 yards last week, his first 100-yard game of the year. Brown has amassed double digit fantasy points in 4 of the 7 games so far this year, and while he hasn’t reach the fantasy promise land yet with a score he should’ve had at least one this past Sunday but Roethlisberger over threw him twice. Brown is getting the looks, and that means he will eventually get that elusive touchdown under his belt.

Other notable players on the rise include Michael Bush (OAK, 31), Delone Carter (IND, 45) and Jason Hill (JAC, 50). Darren McFadden (OAK, 7) left after only two carries Sunday giving Bush the major workload vs. Kansas City. The Raiders are on a bye this week, which could hurt Bush from getting another chance. But if DMac’s foot injury is worse than what initially thought, Bush would be the beneficiary of his missing playing time. Carter is clearly the Colts goal-line running back of choice and he was the only Colt to cross that goal-line in the Sunday Night Massacre against the Saints. Hill has three straight double-digit fantasy point weeks and scored a touchdown in two of them. With Mike Sims-Walker (JAC, 95) back in Jacksonville, Hill is playing in the slot again and producing.

FALL: 

I mentioned Chris Johnson earlier, and he currently sits outside of the top 20 in running backs, which means for 10 team leagues he isn’t even a RB2 and that’s shocking. CJ2k is no longer, only 18 yards rushing this week isn’t going to get it done for anyone’s fantasy football team. Granted the Titans were being demolished and couldn’t run the ball. Johnson did record six catches but for only 27 yards, a player of CJ’s caliber should be breaking out with those six catches (See: Arian Foster, 5 catches 119 yards, in that same game). Johnson cannot be trusted at this point. He received his payday and has packed it in and it doesn’t look good for your team. Buy low on this guy and stash him on your bench. If he can break out of the funk and prove people wrong he could be a huge asset for you come playoff time. Just don’t hold your breath.

Phillip Rivers (SD, 18) you would think by all accounts that Rivers would be a bust so far this season and that is just not the truth. However, the man isn’t playing like we have seen from him in the past. Rivers isn’t really having a problem getting the ball downfield, during the first five weeks of the season Rivers has collected at least 250 yards passing in each of them with over 300 yards in three of the games and only one game so far has he failed to reach the end zone. Where the problem lies with Rivers is his turnovers. In leagues where you get negative points for fumbles, and interceptions Rivers is falling. He has turned the ball over at least once in five of six games so far this year, with three turnovers in three of those games. The Jets pass defense stopped him for less than 200 yards passing for the first time this year and forced two interceptions. While Rivers numbers haven’t been dismal they haven’t been the same and that is causing this QB to crash.

I am sorry, but I do not believe all the hype surrounding Gods child in Denver. Since the start of the season, the controversy in the off-season and the attempted trade of Kyle Orton (DEN, 27), the fans, analysts, and preachers have been screaming for Tim Tebow (DEN, 33) to get his time behind center. He finally did, and I wasn’t impressed. Sure, Tebow threw for two scores ran in a two point conversion to tie it all in the fourth quarter and the Broncos went on to win. But he didn’t look extraordinary in that win, over throws to wide open receivers, terrible ball handling that eventually was fumbled, and spinning around turning his back to defenders were just some of the highlights that made me nearly sick to my stomach. Tebow ran for a big gain and bowled over a linebacker, but during that play he held the ball out, he spun out of tackles and was nearly running in circles — a real defense would’ve stopped him from doing so. A quick underneath route went for a big gain late when the Dolphins were trying to force him to pass and missed tackles. And if it weren’t for an amazing diving catch by Daniel Fells (DEN, 24) the comeback doesn’t happen. I am sure I will take some heat for this, but consider me unconvinced. I didn’t rush to the waiver wire to pick him up, and I am certainly not looking to trade for the man now.

Other notable players I consider to be falling are Rashard Mendenhall (PIT, 33), New Orleans Saints wide outs Robert Meachem (33) and Devery Henderson (53) and Knowshon Moreno (DEN, 56). Last week I told you to keep an eye on Mendenhall after he came out guns blazing against Jacksonville, this week was a disappointment to say the least. The Steelers did come out throwing Sunday with nearly 40 attempts but Mendenhall did get double digit carries, just couldn’t do anything with them averaging less than 3 yards per carry. This is not the first time Mendenhall has seen that problem, and it will not be the last. Mendenhall could be a great player but if he continues this way he is definitely falling. Meachem and Henderson combined for 3 catches and 36 yards in the 62-7 win over the Colts this past week. Neither wide-out has seen the end zone since week 3. And with Marques Colston (NO, 20) and Jimmy Graham (NO, 1) climbing the ranks, these two are falling down them. Willis McGahee (DEN, 19) suffered an injury that will give Moreno his shot to start. Moreno hasn’t ran the ball more than 8 times in a game and hasn’t reached the 30 yard mark yet. But with a fullback playing quarterback in Denver, Moreno probably won’t see any increased time, which to me means keep him out of your line up until we can prove he can take the ball.

Players to keep your eyes on:  

Antonio Gates (SD, 30) it is hard to believe that a player of Gates caliber could be so far down the list of top tight ends. But with another injury-plagued season so far Gates hasn’t been able to do much. He found the end zone Sunday and surpassed the 50-yard mark on 5 catches. If Gates can stay healthy he should be back to must start immediately.

In PPR leagues Mike Williams (TB, 38) still has some value, but it’s diminishing. Williams reached the 60-yard mark for just the second time all season Sunday. The problem is the masterful rookie with 11 touchdowns a season ago only has one so far this year. Williams is getting the targets and the completions just not reaching the end zone, which as fantasy players we need.

I guess I have to mention DeMarco Murray (DAL, 41) and his record-setting performance against the Rams. I just am not sold yet, which is tough for me to say, as I am both a Dallas Cowboy fan, and an Oklahoma Sooners fan. Murray was helped by a few things: first, the Felix Jones (DAL, 36) injury; second, the Rams 29th ranked defense against the run in terms of fantasy points given up; and third, a 91 yard TD in the first quarter. I like Murray and have for a while, and while I think he can take over as starting HB for the Cowboys, I am just not totally sure he will replicate these numbers week in and week out.

Written by Justin Mandaro exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com
You can follow Justin on twitter @PeckinRotoX 
Every Sunday from 10am – 12pm you can catch me on twitter with your start and sit questions. 

Rankings and stats are as of Week 7 games. 

Number in parenthesis is fantasy rank at players position. 

(October 8, 2011 – Photo by Elsa/Getty Images North America)