This article is part of our Weekly Rankings series.
Week 17 Rankings
Here are our rankings for the coming week at each position to help you decide your starting lineup. Our rankings are based on the following scoring system: three points for a passing touchdown; six points for a rushing/receiving touchdown; one point for every 20 passing yards; and one point for every 10 rushing/receiving yards.
Last updated January 4. * = check status (not necessarily injury status)
Quarterback
1. *Michael Vick PHI vs. GB
Note: Sat out Week 17 with a quad injury, but coach Andy Reid said that Vick would be ready for the Wild Card Round game against the Packers.
2. Aaron Rodgers GB at PHI
Note: If you're in a "use him only once" fantasy pool, don't you have to use either Rodgers or Vick this week and hope that your guy puts up big numbers in a losing effort? You could conceivably use both if you're in a two-qb pool under that framework, but the nightmare is that you miss out on a shootout like the GB-AZ game last year.
3. Peyton Manning IND vs. NYJ
4. Drew Brees NO at SEA
Note: Torched the Seahawks earlier this season, but that was in New Orleans, plus we're not certain about Colston's status yet. It doesn't help that this game
5. Joe Flacco BAL at KC
6. *Matt Cassel KC vs. BAL
Note: Very odd timing to see Cassel's offensive coordinator take the same position at the University of Florida.
7. *Mark
Week 17 Rankings
Here are our rankings for the coming week at each position to help you decide your starting lineup. Our rankings are based on the following scoring system: three points for a passing touchdown; six points for a rushing/receiving touchdown; one point for every 20 passing yards; and one point for every 10 rushing/receiving yards.
Last updated January 4. * = check status (not necessarily injury status)
Quarterback
1. *Michael Vick PHI vs. GB
Note: Sat out Week 17 with a quad injury, but coach Andy Reid said that Vick would be ready for the Wild Card Round game against the Packers.
2. Aaron Rodgers GB at PHI
Note: If you're in a "use him only once" fantasy pool, don't you have to use either Rodgers or Vick this week and hope that your guy puts up big numbers in a losing effort? You could conceivably use both if you're in a two-qb pool under that framework, but the nightmare is that you miss out on a shootout like the GB-AZ game last year.
3. Peyton Manning IND vs. NYJ
4. Drew Brees NO at SEA
Note: Torched the Seahawks earlier this season, but that was in New Orleans, plus we're not certain about Colston's status yet. It doesn't help that this game
5. Joe Flacco BAL at KC
6. *Matt Cassel KC vs. BAL
Note: Very odd timing to see Cassel's offensive coordinator take the same position at the University of Florida.
7. *Mark Sanchez NYJ at IND
Note: How badly will his shoulder hamper his performance?
8. *Charlie Whitehurst SEA vs. NO
Note: If Pete Carroll knows who will start between Whitehurst and Matt Hasselbeck, he's not saying.
Off this week: Matt Ryan ATL, Ben Roethlisberger PIT, Jay Cutler CHI, Tom Brady NE
Running Back
1. LeSean McCoy PHI vs. GB
Note: Held out last week, completely as a precaution.
2. Jamaal Charles KC vs. BAL
3. Ray Rice BAL at KC
4. Shonn Greene NYJ at IND
5. Marshawn Lynch SEA vs. NO
6. *Pierre Thomas NO at SEA
Note: Just how serious was the ankle injury that deactivated Thomas in Week 17?
7. Brandon Jackson GB at PHI
8. *Dominic Rhodes IND vs. NYJ
9. *Joseph Addai IND vs. NYJ
10. *Reggie Bush NO at SEA
Note: Showed signs of life with Thomas out and then Ivory getting hurt. Keep in mind that Ladell Betts is already on the IR list.
11. LaDainian Tomlinson NYJ at IND
12. Willis McGahee BAL at KC
13. Justin Forsett SEA vs. NO
14. Thomas Jones KC vs. BAL
15. John Kuhn GB at PHI
16. Jerome Harrison PHI vs. GB
17. *James Starks GB at PHI
18. Donald Brown IND vs. NYJ
Note: Just three carries last week. He's clearly third in the pecking order behind Addai and Rhodes, who are more like #1 and #1A.
19. Leon Washington SEA vs. NO
20. Julius Jones NO at SEA
Note: Insurance in case Thomas can't play, with Ivory out.
21. Joe McKnight NYJ at IND
Note: One week cameo last week, but back to obscurity this week.
22. *Mike Hart IND vs. NYJ
Note: Inactive last week, as was Javarris James.
23. *Chris Ivory NO at SEA
Note: Placed on IR due to his foot injury.
Off this week: Michael Turner ATL, Rashard Mendenhall PIT, BenJarvus Green-Ellis NE, Matt Forte CHI, Danny Woodhead NE, *Jason Snelling ATL, Chester Taylor CHI, Mewelde Moore PIT, Isaac Redman PIT,
Wide Receiver
1. Greg Jennings GB at PHI
2. *DeSean Jackson PHI vs. GB
Note: Sat out last week with a sore foot, but that was seemingly precautionary.
3. Dwayne Bowe KC vs. BAL
4. Jeremy Maclin PHI vs. GB
5. Santonio Holmes NYJ at IND
6. Reggie Wayne IND vs. NYJ
Note: Does Wayne get the Revis treatment or do the Jets try to move Revis around?
7. *Marques Colston NO at SEA
Note: How quickly will he be able to recover from the knee procedure that sidelined him last week?
8. Pierre Garcon IND vs. NYJ
9. Derrick Mason BAL at KC
10. Mike Williams SEA vs. NO
11. Braylon Edwards NYJ at IND
12. James Jones GB at PHI
13. Anquan Boldin BAL at KC
14. Lance Moore NO at SEA
15. Robert Meachem NO at SEA
Note: No rhyme or reason to Meachem's production. Even if Colston is out, no guarantee for production from Meachem.
16. Blair White IND vs. NYJ
17. Donald Driver GB at PHI
18. Jordy Nelson GB at PHI
19. T.J. Houshmandzadeh BAL at KC
20. Devery Henderson NO at SEA
Note: No catches last week even with Colston out.
21. Jerricho Cotchery NYJ at IND
22. *Dexter McCluster KC vs. BAL
23. *Golden Tate SEA vs. NO
24. Ben Obomanu SEA vs. NO
25. Adrian Arrington NO at SEA
26. Chad Hall PHI vs. GB
27. Ruvell Martin SEA vs. NO
Off this week: Roddy White ATL, Mike Wallace PIT, Johnny Knox CHI, Wes Welker NE, Deion Branch NE, Earl Bennett CHI, Hines Ward PIT, Devin Hester CHI, *Emmanuel Sanders PIT, Jason Avant PHI vs. GB, Michael Jenkins ATL, Brian Finneran ATL
Tight End
1. Jacob Tamme IND vs. NYJ
2. *Jimmy Graham NO at SEA
Note: Left Week 17's game with an ankle injury, after scoring a touchdown. Obviously this ranking assumes he'll be healthy enough to play.
3. *Todd Heap BAL at KC
Note: Came back from his hamstring injury in Week 17 and caught three passes.
4. Dustin Keller NYJ at IND
5. Tony Moeaki KC vs. BAL
6. Brent Celek PHI vs. GB
7. Andrew Quarless GB at PHI
8. John Carlson SEA vs. NO
9. Donald Lee GB at PHI
10. Ed Dickson BAL at KC
11. *David Thomas NO at SEA
Note: Insurance in case Graham and/or Shockey can't go.
12. Brody Eldridge IND vs. NYJ
13. *Jeremy Shockey NO at SEA
Note: Held out in Week 17.
Off this week: Tony Gonzalez ATL, Rob Gronkowski NE, *Aaron Hernandez NE, Greg Olsen CHI, *Heath Miller PIT,
Kicker
1. David Akers PHI vs. GB
2. Adam Vinatieri IND vs. NYJ
3. Mason Crosby GB at PHI
4. Garrett Hartley NO at SEA
5. Nick Folk NYJ at IND
6. Billy Cundiff BAL at KC
7. *Olindo Mare SEA vs. NO
Note: Mare is playing through a sore back.
8. Ryan Succop KC vs. BAL
Off this week: Matt Bryant ATL, Shayne Graham NE, Shaun Suisham PIT, Robbie Gould CHI
Defense
1. New Orleans at Seattle
2. Indianapolis vs. New York Jets
3. Baltimore at Kansas City
4. New York Jets at Indianapolis
5. Green Bay at Philadelphia
6. Kansas City vs. Baltimore
7. Philadelphia vs. Green Bay
8. Seattle vs. New Orleans
Off this week: Pittsburgh, Atlanta, New England, Chicago
Flex Position (RB/WR/TE)
1. LeSean McCoy PHI vs. GB
Note: Held out last week, completely as a precaution.
2. Jamaal Charles KC vs. BAL
3. Greg Jennings GB at PHI
4. Ray Rice BAL at KC
5. Shonn Greene NYJ at IND
6. *DeSean Jackson PHI vs. GB
Note: Sat out last week with a sore foot, but that was seemingly precautionary.
7. Dwayne Bowe KC vs. BAL
8. Jeremy Maclin PHI vs. GB
9. Marshawn Lynch SEA vs. NO
10. *Pierre Thomas NO at SEA
Note: Just how serious was the ankle injury that deactivated Thomas in Week 17?
11. Brandon Jackson GB at PHI
12. *Dominic Rhodes IND vs. NYJ
13. *Joseph Addai IND vs. NYJ
14. Santonio Holmes NYJ at IND
15. Reggie Wayne IND vs. NYJ
Note: Does Wayne get the Revis treatment or do the Jets try to move Revis around?
16. *Marques Colston NO at SEA
Note: How quickly will he be able to recover from the knee procedure that sidelined him last week?
17. Pierre Garcon IND vs. NYJ
18. *Reggie Bush NO at SEA
Note: Showed signs of life with Thomas out and then Ivory getting hurt. Keep in mind that Ladell Betts is already on the IR list.
19. LaDainian Tomlinson NYJ at IND
20. Derrick Mason BAL at KC
21. Mike Williams SEA vs. NO
22. Braylon Edwards NYJ at IND
23. Jacob Tamme IND vs. NYJ
24. James Jones GB at PHI
25. Anquan Boldin BAL at KC
26. Willis McGahee BAL at KC
27. Justin Forsett SEA vs. NO
28. Lance Moore NO at SEA
29. Robert Meachem NO at SEA
Note: No rhyme or reason to Meachem's production. Even if Colston is out, no guarantee for production from Meachem.
30. Blair White IND vs. NYJ
31. Donald Driver GB at PHI
32. Jordy Nelson GB at PHI
33. *Jimmy Graham NO at SEA
Note: Left Week 17's game with an ankle injury, after scoring a touchdown. Obviously this ranking assumes he'll be healthy enough to play.
34. *Todd Heap BAL at KC
Note: Came back from his hamstring injury in Week 17 and caught three passes.
35. Dustin Keller NYJ at IND
36. Thomas Jones KC vs. BAL
37. John Kuhn GB at PHI
38. Jerome Harrison PHI vs. GB
39. *James Starks GB at PHI
40. Tony Moeaki KC vs. BAL
41. Brent Celek PHI vs. GB
42. Donald Brown IND vs. NYJ
Note: Just three carries last week. He's clearly third in the pecking order behind Addai and Rhodes, who are more like #1 and #1A.
43. Leon Washington SEA vs. NO
44. Julius Jones NO at SEA
Note: Insurance in case Thomas can't play, with Ivory out.
45. Joe McKnight NYJ at IND
Note: One week cameo last week, but back to obscurity this week.
46. T.J. Houshmandzadeh BAL at KC
47. Devery Henderson NO at SEA
Note: No catches last week even with Colston out.
48. Jerricho Cotchery NYJ at IND
49. *Dexter McCluster KC vs. BAL
