Weekly Rankings: Conference Championships Value Meter

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Updated on January 22, 2016 3:00AM EST

Here are this week's Playoff Value Meter rankings. The rankings are strictly for this week. Go to Chris Liss's Playoff Draft Rankings if you want a resource for a full playoff draft.

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: four 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. Flex Rankings are for PPR leagues.

I will update these once during the week during the playoffs, to account for injury or other news during practice. The timing of this update will vary based on the news at hand and my schedule for the given week. But it won't happen until Thursday at the earliest, most likely Friday. At any rate, I will post a "last updated" note at the top of the article, or an "update in progress" note if it's while I'm doing it.

By all means, if you want to discuss a rank, or want me to add a player, chime in on the comments. I try to be receptive to your feedback and try to respond to most comments, though on occasion the volume can be quite thick. Please refer to the rankings first when asking "should I start Player A vs. Player B?".

Quarterback

1.	Cam Newton CAR vs. Ari
2.	Tom Brady NE at Den
3.	Carson Palmer

Here are this week's Playoff Value Meter rankings. The rankings are strictly for this week. Go to Chris Liss's Playoff Draft Rankings if you want a resource for a full playoff draft.

Quarterback

1.	Cam Newton CAR vs. Ari
2.	Tom Brady NE at Den
3.	Carson Palmer ARZ at Car
4.	Peyton Manning DEN vs. NE Note: Averaged only 6.0 yards per attempt in the win over the Steelers with no touchdowns.

Running Backs

1.	C.J. Anderson DEN vs. NE
2.	*Jonathan Stewart CAR vs. Ari Note: (Ankle) Returned to practice Thursday but was limited.
3.	*David Johnson ARZ at Car Note: (Toe) Limited in Wednesday's practice.
4.	James White NE at Den Note: Saw 42 snaps to just 17 for Jackson, but had only one carry and two receptions.
5.	Steven Jackson NE at Den
6.	Cameron Artis-Payne CAR vs. Ari
7.	Ronnie Hillman DEN vs. NE
8.	Mike Tolbert CAR vs. Ari
9.	Andre Ellington ARZ at Car
10.	Brandon Bolden NE at Den
11.	Kerwynn Williams ARZ at Car
12.	*Fozzy Whittaker CAR vs. Ari Note: (Ankle) Full practice Wednesday.

Wide Receivers

1.	*Julian Edelman NE at Den Note: (Foot) Limited in Wednesday's practice.
2.	Michael Floyd ARZ at Car
3.	Demaryius Thomas DEN vs. NE
4.	Larry Fitzgerald ARZ at Car
5.	Ted Ginn CAR vs. Ari
6.	*John Brown ARZ at Car Note: (Shoulder) Limited practice Wednesday.
7.	Emmanuel Sanders DEN vs. NE
8.	Devin Funchess CAR vs. Ari
9.	Danny Amendola NE at Den
10.	Philly Brown CAR vs. Ari
11.	Keshawn Martin NE at Den
12.	Brandon LaFell NE at Den
13.	J.J. Nelson ARZ at Car

Tight Ends

1.	*Rob Gronkowski NE at Den Note: (Knee/Back) Limited in Wednesday's walk-through.
2.	*Greg Olsen CAR vs. Ari Note: Briefly left with a shoulder injury Sunday but later returned to action.
3.	Owen Daniels DEN vs. NE
4.	Jermaine Gresham ARZ at Car
5.	Darren Fells ARZ at Car
6.	Vernon Davis DEN vs. NE
7.	Scott Chandler NE at Den

Flex (RB/WR/TE)

1.	*Julian Edelman NE at Den Note: (Foot) Limited in Wednesday's practice.
2.	*Rob Gronkowski NE at Den Note: (Knee/Back) Limited in Wednesday's walk-through.
3.	Michael Floyd ARZ at Car
4.	*Greg Olsen CAR vs. Ari Note: Briefly left with a shoulder injury Sunday but later returned to action.
5.	C.J. Anderson DEN vs. NE
6.	*David Johnson ARZ at Car Note: (Toe) Limited in Wednesday's practice.
7.	Demaryius Thomas DEN vs. NE
8.	*Jonathan Stewart CAR vs. Ari Note: (Ankle) Returned to practice Thursday but was limited.
9.	Larry Fitzgerald ARZ at Car
10.	James White NE at Den Note: Saw 42 snaps to just 17 for Jackson, but had only one carry and two receptions.
11.	Ted Ginn CAR vs. Ari
12.	*John Brown ARZ at Car Note: (Shoulder) Limited practice Wednesday.
13.	Emmanuel Sanders DEN vs. NE
14.	Danny Amendola NE at Den
15.	Devin Funchess CAR vs. Ari
16.	Owen Daniels DEN vs. NE
17.	Cameron Artis-Payne CAR vs. Ari
18.	Steven Jackson NE at Den
19.	Philly Brown CAR vs. Ari
20.	Ronnie Hillman DEN vs. NE
21.	Brandon LaFell NE at Den
22.	Jermaine Gresham ARZ at Car
23.	Darren Fells ARZ at Car
24.	Keshawn Martin NE at Den
25.	J.J. Nelson ARZ at Car
26.	Mike Tolbert CAR vs. Ari
27.	Andre Ellington ARZ at Car

Kickers

1.	Stephen Gostkowski NE at Den Note: I don't always put the kicker on the best offense first, but in this case I think it makes sense, especially at altitude and Gostkowski's track record.
2.	Graham Gano CAR vs. Ari
3.	Chandler Catanzaro ARZ at Car
4.	Brandon McManus DEN vs. NE

Defenses

1.	*Carolina Panthers vs. Ari Note: Jared Allen (foot) is currently doubtful, has a shot of being listed as questionable.
2.	*New England Patriots at Den Note: Chandler Jones (abdomen/toe) listed a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
3.	*Denver Broncos vs. NE Note: CB Chris Harris (shoulder) will be a game-time decision.
4.	Arizona Cardinals at Car