Note: The Week 10 Rankings are after our Fantasy Playoff Preview. They were updated Friday afternoon.

This year's Billy Volek is out there. Volek will forever be synonymous with monstrously performances that happen to fall during the fantasy playoffs. It happens every season; last season Ron Dayne churned out 334 rushing yards and five scores in Fantasy Nation's three-week celebration. And the playoffs are closer than you think.

Vince Vaughn plugging Fred Clause on Monday Night Football was the turning point for me. Once the holiday commercials have arrived, you know we're getting close.

***

A lot of publications try to project favorable fantasy playoff schedules before the season, but it's not that useful. NFL teams, especially defenses, are too unpredictable. The Titans looked like one of the worst defenses in the league before Week 1 and now may be the toughest matchup in the league. Defense can even fluctuate greatly within a season.

With that said, half the season is complete and we have enough material to grade the best and worst schedules for the fantasy playoffs. The biggest reason why Volek exploded in 2004 was the schedule, so let's see if we can unearth this year's hero. For more boring details on how I arrived at these subjective rankings, head over to Pancake Blocks.

And we haven't forgotten the Week 10 rankings. Skip ahead if that's what you are looking for.

Shameless plug: Season Pass will have new feature this week: The Top 200 players overall for the fantasy playoff weeks. We are offering a $5 discount on our Season Pass package – just enter the discount code "PLAYOFFS" (all caps). The playoff ranks will go up every Friday.

Top Three Fantasy Playoff RB Schedules

1. Jamal Lewis, Browns: NYJ, BUF, CIN

Lewis is on the downside of his career, but he'll be useful in the fantasy playoffs. Who knew he was joining a juggernaut offense?

Buffalo's improving defense is a neutral matchup, but the Jets and Bengals are among the league's worst. And since both the Jets and Bengals also struggle against the pass, Lewis should have plenty of scoring opportunities.

2. Ryan Grant, Packers: OAK, STL, CHI

Another reason to like Grant as an asset down the stretch. The Raiders are possibly the worst rush defense, and the Rams and Bears aren't very good. If he stays healthy, I don't see Grant losing this job.

3. Earnest Graham, Bucs: HOU, ATL, SF

The matchups don't leap off the page, but they are all favorable. Graham could be a decent RB2 these weeks if Jon Gruden hasn't gone to a committee.

Other Notable RB Upgrades

* LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers: TEN, DET, DEN

LT2 owners get a very difficult matchup to open the playoffs, but two huge point-scoring opportunities if they advance.

* Priest Holmes/Kolby Smith, Chiefs: DEN, TEN, DET

Same schedule as Tomlinson, but the Titans matchup in the middle. The starter by Week 14 will be worth considering in two of these matchups.

* Joseph Addai, Colts: BAL, OAK, HOU

Like Tomlinson, Addai gets two great matchups if he survives the first week.

* Laurence Maroney, Patriots: PIT, NYJ, MIA

Maroney should probably be benched against Pittsburgh, but he should be able top 100 total yards against the Jets and Dolphins.

* Ahman Green/Ron Dayne, Texans: TB, DEN, @ IND

Cover two teams like Tampa and Indy aren't great against the run. Denver is among the worst.

Toughest Three Fantasy Playoff RB Schedules

1. Cedric Benson, Bears: WAS, MIN, GB

More good news for Benson owners! No favorable matchups here as the Redskins are solid against the run, Minnesota is among the best, and the Packers are quite good.

2. Brian Westbrook, Eagles: NYG, DAL, NO

Trouble on the horizon? All three of these defenses have improved against the run during the year. Luckily, Westbrook can beat you in a lot of ways. Just don't expect monster games.

3. Kevin Jones, Lions: DAL, SD, KC

Like Westbrook, Jones might be better off trying to gain yards in the passing game. The Cowboys are good run defenders, and the Chargers are solid expect when they face Adrian Peterson

And another thing

* Thomas Jones' blah season could get a pick-me-up against the Browns in Week 14, but his owners may want to bench him after that. New England and then Tennessee is the hardest schedule possible in Weeks 15-16.

Top Three Fantasy Playoff QB/WR/TE Schedules

1. Cleveland Browns (Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow): NYJ, BUF, CIN

The rich get richer. The Browns will have to survive the next two regular season weeks (PIT, BAL), but their schedule is among the best in the league after that. They have a potentially explosive championship week matchup against the Bengals. Derek Anderson should remain in lineups in the playoffs. This is a caution to not sell high on your Browns.

2. San Francisco 49ers (Alex Smith, Darrell Jackson, Vernon Davis): MIN, CIN, TB

Sometimes the matchup only means so much. Smith and Jackson are only fantasy options if they show serious improvement before Week 14. Davis should continue his resurgence.

3. Seattle Seahawks (Matt Hasselbeck, Deion Branch, D.J. Hackett, Bobby Engram): AZ, CAR, BAL

The matchups aren't outstanding, but Seattle is one of the rare teams that don't play an above average pass defense. Baltimore is decidedly average.

About those Patriots

It's safe to say that most Tom Brady and Randy Moss owners will be in the playoffs. Pittsburgh @ New England really stands out as a Week 14 matchup. There are a ton of offensive stars in this game in what figures to be a relative defensive struggle. Think Colts vs. Pats. After that game, the Patriots should return to the merry ways against the Jets and Dolphins. Brady owners who get to the semifinals may be difficult to beat.

Toughest Three Fantasy QB/WR/TE Schedules

1. Houston (Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Owen Daniels): TB, DEN, IND

Yikes. The Bucs and Colts are elite, while the Broncos have been hot and cold This is one reason Andre Johnson owners shouldn't get their hopes up too high regarding his return. He still would be difficult to sit in most formats.

2. Jaguars (David Garrard, um … Dennis Northcutt): CAR, PIT, OAK

Tough matchups, but no one is counting on the Jaguars anyway.

3A. Chiefs (Dwayne Bowe, Tony Gonzalez): DEN, TEN, DET

Kansas City also faces the Broncos this week, so we'll see if they can pass against them.

3B. Chargers (Philip Rivers, Chris Chambers, Antonio Gates): TEN, DET, DEN

The Lions have improved, and the Titans are among the best. Rivers and Chambers owners shouldn't expect them to improve upon their slow seasons.

Other Passing Game Downgrades

Jets (Kellen Clemens, Jerricho Cotchery, Laveranues Coles): CLE, NE, TEN

The Jets wideouts are among the most consistent in the league, and should score big in the opening week of the fantasy playoffs. After that, however, Coles and Cotchery owners shouldn't expect fireworks against two of the best pass defenses in the league.

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Now on to the Week 10 rankings. We'll take out the comments this week and break down the games more on Pancake Blocks. We also talk starts and sits on the NBC Fantasy Fix.

Week 10 Quarterbacks

Rank	Player Name	Opponent	Notes
1	Peyton Manning	at SD	-
2	Drew Brees	vs. STL	-
3	Tony Romo	at NYG	-
4	Carson Palmer	at BAL	-
5	Ben Roethlisberger	vs. CLE	-
6	Brett Favre	vs. MIN	-
7	Matt Hasselbeck	vs. SF
8	Jon Kitna	at ARZ
9	Marc Bulger	at NO	-
10	Derek Anderson	at PIT	-
11	Donovan McNabb	at WAS	-
12	Eli Manning	vs. DAL	-
13	Kurt Warner	vs. DET
14	J.P. Losman	at MIA	-
15	Steve McNair	vs. CIN	Probable(groin)
16	Brian Griese	at OAK	-
17	Jay Cutler	at KC	Expected to start
18	Cleo Lemon	vs. BUF	-
19	Joey Harrington	at CAR	-
20	Jason Campbell	vs. PHI	-
21	Vince Young	vs. JAC	Probable(quadriceps)
22	Damon Huard	vs. DEN	-
23	Josh McCown	vs. CHI	Probable(foot)
24	Philip Rivers	vs. IND	-
25	David Garrard	at TEN	Game-Time Decision, Quinn Gray could start
26	Vinny Testaverde	vs. ATL	Questionable(achilles) Matt Moore could start
27	Alex Smith	at SEA	Probable(shoulder)
28	Brooks Bollinger	at GB	-

Week 10 Running Backs

Rank	Player Name	Opponent	Notes
1	LaDainian Tomlinson	vs. IND	-
2	Adrian Peterson	at GB	-
3	Brian Westbrook	at WAS	-
4	Joseph Addai	at SD	-
5	Willie Parker	vs. CLE	-
6	Reggie Bush	vs. STL	Questionable(knee)
7	Marshawn Lynch	at MIA	-
8	Willis McGahee	vs. CIN	-
9	Brandon Jacobs	vs. DAL	-
10	Steven Jackson	at NO	Probable(back)
11	Kevin Jones	at ARZ	-
12	Clinton Portis	vs. PHI	-
13	Marion Barber	at NYG	-
14	Frank Gore	at SEA	Questionable(ankle)
15	LenDale White	vs. JAC	Probable(toe)
16	Edgerrin James	vs. DET	-
17	Cedric Benson	at OAK	-
18	Justin Fargas	vs. CHI	-
19	Travis Henry	at KC	Questionable(knee)
20	Jesse Chatman	vs. BUF	-
21	DeShaun Foster	vs. ATL	-
22	Maurice Jones-Drew	at TEN	-
23	Jamal Lewis	at PIT	-
24	Priest Holmes	vs. DEN	-
25	Warrick Dunn	at CAR	-
26	Ryan Grant	vs. MIN	Probable(head)
27	Shaun Alexander	vs. SF	Might be Game-time Decision
28	Kenny Watson	at BAL	-
29	Julius Jones	at NYG	-
30	Fred Taylor	at TEN	-
31	Selvin Young	at KC	Move up 16 spots if Henry is out
32	Chester Taylor	at GB	-
33	Rudi Johnson	at BAL
34	Jerious Norwood	at CAR	Questionable (ankle)
35	Kolby Smith	vs. DEN	-
36	Reuben Droughns	vs. DAL	Filling in for Ward
37	LaMont Jordan	vs. CHI	-
38	Adrian Peterson	at OAK	-
39	Najeh Davenport	vs. CLE	-
40	DeAngelo Williams	vs. ATL	-
41	Kenton Keith	at SD	-
42	Michael Robinson	at SEA	-
43	Maurice Morris	vs. SF	Move him up 20 spots if Alexander is out
44	Ladell Betts	vs. PHI	-
45	Michael Turner	vs. IND	-
46	Brian Leonard	at NO	-
47	Chris Henry	vs. JAC	-
48	T.J. Duckett	at ARZ	-
49	Maurice Hicks	at SEA	Move up 15 spots if Gore is out
50	Correll Buckhalter	at WAS	-
51	Jason Wright	at PIT	-
52	J.J. Arrington	vs. DET	-
53	Brandon Jackson	vs. MIN	-

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