Each week, TSN.ca Fantasy Editor Scott Cullen and NFL Editors Ben Fisher and Mike Hetherington discuss three hot fantasy football topics.

Which recent breakout RB is more legitimate, Mark Ingram or Denard Robinson?

Cullen: I’m going to go with Ingram being more legitimate. It’s taken him three unimpressive NFL seasons to get where he is this year, and if the Saints could be convinced to give Ingram feature-back touches, then that should mean a good prognosis for the future, both this season and beyond. Saying that, I’m more excited about Robinson, who has made the transition from college quarterback into a suddenly valuable fantasy running back. Both guys are 24, so they should have years of strong production ahead of them, but the safer play is Ingram, who plays on a better team and has more track record at the position.

Fisher: Ingram’s had the best two weeks of his career and convinced a lot of owners he’s worth starting the rest of the year. But has he convinced Sean Payton? Ingram’s lone impediment could be losing carries to Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson as they get healthier. Still, I feel Ingram’s the safer choice over Robinson because of the offences each is in. Even if Ingram is splitting carries three ways, the Saints have nearly three times as many touchdowns on the ground as Jacksonville.

Hetherington: I’ll go with the explosive play of “shoelace” Robinson, simply because he has the coaching staff fully behind him. Ingram is likely to start sharing touches once again when Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas return from injury, while Robinson is firmly entrenched as the No. 1 in Jacksonville. Although Ingram is the more talented back, Robinson is the safer play and therefore the more legitimate RB1.

Who is the better fantasy WR, DeSean Jackson or his replacement as No. 1 in Philadelphia, Jeremy Maclin?

Cullen: Up to this point in the season, it was Maclin, who has been one of the top handful of fantasy wideouts, but the worm may be turning in this equation. Jackson’s first half was spread over three quarterbacks, with Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy filling in when Robert Griffin III got hurt. RGIII is back and should be a safer bet to keep Jackson productive. On the other hand, Maclin has racked up most of his yardage with Nick Foles at quarterback and while Maclin had a great game last week, even once Mark Sanchez came into the game, this is still Mark Sanchez and I wouldn’t want to have my wide receiver value tied to a quarterback with Sanchez’s history.

Fisher: A question muddied somewhat by each players’ uncertain quarterback situation throughout the year, I’ll go with the guy in the better offence. While they have almost identical receiving yards totals, Maclin has twice as many touchdowns as Jackson in the first half of the season. This answer changes quickly if both Robert Griffin and Mark Sanchez revert to their 2012 selves. 

Hetherington: Jackson likely has higher upside each week as a deep threat but I’ll go with the safer start of Maclin, who’s been a machine over the past two weeks. Maclin is clearly the top option in the passing game in Philadelphia, while Jackson is fighting for catches with Pierre Garcon. The current Eagle also gets the edge in touchdowns; he’s doubled Jackson’s output so far this season (8 to 4). Though I give Maclin the slight edge, both are legitimate fantasy WR1s. Can you imagine if they both were still in the city of brotherly love? That would be what Larry Fitzgerald calls a ‘champagne problem.’

Were the past two weeks just a hot streak for Ben Roethlisberger or has he proven he’s a legit QB1?

Cullen: Can it be both? Obviously, the last two weeks are so far beyond reasonable expectations for a starting quarterback – historic, even – and that’s inflated Roethlisberger’s value. At the same time, it’s also some evidence that the Steelers’ passing game has found a rhythm, going beyond the pitch-and-catch between Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown that marked their early-season attack. So, don’t expect six touchdowns every week, but Big Ben should be a viable QB1 the rest of the way. Having the Jets and Titans up the next two weeks, even on the road, can help Roethlisberger solidify that status.

Fisher: I’m going to need a couple more six touchdown weeks to rank Roethlisberger as a legit QB1. Had Big Ben put up even just really good weeks (25 points or so) he’d fall roughly 30 points in the rankings and be hovering right around the Top 10 mark, not good enough for a QB still not through his bye week. Bouyed by the past two weeks Roethlisberger should finish 2014 as a QB1, but don’t necessarily expect Top 10 production from the Steelers QB the rest of the way. 

Hetherington: I think this is a hot streak for Big Ben – he’s probably not going to throw six touchdowns in another game this year - but I also believe he’s emerged as a QB1. The Steelers offence as a whole has been on the upswing in recent weeks and adding deep threat Martavis Bryant has done wonders for Roethlisberger. Facing the Jets and Titans before their Week 12 bye, don’t expect Ben to cool down any time soon.