Returner Recap and Latest News: Week 11

Individual returner projections for each week are included in your MyFBG projections and rankings automatically. My returner projections are included in the default projection set with David Dodds' offensive predictions. Choose David as the source, and then choose a scoring system in which you have included points for return yards.

The base return projections for a week can be seen on this page. You can also go to the content for the week and use the Returner Projections link to get to that page.

UPDATES

Both Dexter McCluster and Leon Washington have been limited in practice, making predicting the Titans return game this week a dicey proposition until inactives are announced.

Leodis McKelvin fractured an ankle in Buffalo's game Thursday against Miami. He might miss the rest of the season. Buffalo has a number of receivers who could be used as returners, including Sammy Watkins.

Week 10 Recap

Top Performers

An opponent scoring 7 touchdowns and 2 field goals may not help a team's win-loss record, but it makes a great recipe for kick returner success. Chris Williams of the Bears made the most of those ingredients with 10 kick returns for 288 yards and a touchdown. Add a dash of 13 yards on a punt return and Williams cooked up an NFL-best 301 total yards and a touchdown for Week 10. Atlanta's Devin Hester and Detroit's Jeremy Ross were the other top kick returners, both just breaking the century mark.

Darren Sproles took a punt back to the end zone for the second time this season for Philadelphia as he accumulated 85 yards on 3 punt returns. Marcus Thigpen's 53-yard punt return for Tampa Bay was enough for second place this week, and Thigpen placed fourth in total yards when his 2 kickoff returns for 50 yards are taken into account.

For the season, punt returns are occurring at about the same rate as last year, though for about a yard and a half less per return. Kickoff returns continue to trail last season, when teams averaged 2.5 returns per game compared to an average of 2.1 kickoff returns per team game this year.

All Week 10 Returners

Here are all returners for Week 10.

Returners Year to Date

Here are the top 40 returners for the year based on total return yards.

Week 11 Outlook

Job Changes

The Chicago Bears released punt returner Santonio Holmes. Chris Williams handles kickoff returns and was given a punt return this week, so might be first in line for the punt returner job as well.

Leodis McKelvin had been handling kickoff returns for the Bills since C.J. Spiller went on Injured Reserve. In Week 10, Buffalo gave the returns to Marquis Goodwin instead. Goodwin has been struggling with injuries for much of the season, but has been an option on kickoffs in the past when healthy.

The Steelers search for a kick returner continued as they gave several returns to receiver Markus Wheaton. LeGarrette Blount had been given a shot at the job but has failed to reach the high levels he produced at in New England last season.

INJURIES OF NOTE

Giants kick returner Michael Cox fractured his leg against the Seahawks. New York has several options they could turn to, including Quintin Demps, Preston Parker, and Odell Beckham Jr 

Titans punt returner Dexter McCluster suffered a knee bruise and is considered day-to-day. Kick returner Leon Washington handled punts after McCluster left the game.

Panthers primary returner Philly Brown was left inactive, making it the third straight game he has missed. Brenton Bersin handled punt returns again, but split kickoff returns with Fozzy Whittaker.

Despite reports Travis Carrie would likely be playing, the Raiders left him inactive Week 10. His status will need to be watched for Oakland's upcoming game against a San Diego team who are amongst the worst in the league when it comes to gaining touchbacks on kickoffs. Latavius Murray handled kick returns and Denarius Moore handled punts in the absence of Carrie.

Bruce Ellington injured an ankle and starts the week as Questionable to play in San Francisco's upcoming game. Carlos Hyde handled kick returns and Perrish Cox had the punt returns in Ellington's place.

Devin Hester hurt his ankle on a kick return in the fourth quarter, but later told a member of the media he would be fine for Atlanta's next game.