This article is part of our Weekly Rankings series.
Sunday Update Complete.
Saturday: Colts@Chiefs, Cowboys@Rams; Sunday: Chargers@Patriots, Eagles@Saints.
Here are my rankings (if you want a second opinion, please see our formula-based projections - these are not tied into my rankings at all) 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. Most importantly, the default rankings are now for PPR leagues.
**** PLEASE READ: Times change, and with them, so do I, even if I go kicking and screaming into the good night. The vast majority of the fantasy football universe plays with some form of PPR -whether it's a full point or 1/2 point. ESPN's default is full-point PPR, Yahoo's is .5 PPR. The DFS games for the vast majority are either half or full point PPR. I'm sympathetic to those of you who would prefer standard rankings, so please, feel free to ask your questions in the comments regarding how a player might change in a standard scoring league. ****
***PLEASE READ, PART II - The masses (ok, the not-so-silent minority) have spoken, and you really want more representation for standard leagues too, so the Flex Rankings are now Standard scoring.***
***These are not draft rankings. They are solely for this week.***
I will update these once this week, usually twice per week
Sunday Update Complete.
Saturday: Colts@Chiefs, Cowboys@Rams; Sunday: Chargers@Patriots, Eagles@Saints.
Here are my rankings (if you want a second opinion, please see our formula-based projections - these are not tied into my rankings at all) 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. Most importantly, the default rankings are now for PPR leagues.
**** PLEASE READ: Times change, and with them, so do I, even if I go kicking and screaming into the good night. The vast majority of the fantasy football universe plays with some form of PPR -whether it's a full point or 1/2 point. ESPN's default is full-point PPR, Yahoo's is .5 PPR. The DFS games for the vast majority are either half or full point PPR. I'm sympathetic to those of you who would prefer standard rankings, so please, feel free to ask your questions in the comments regarding how a player might change in a standard scoring league. ****
***PLEASE READ, PART II - The masses (ok, the not-so-silent minority) have spoken, and you really want more representation for standard leagues too, so the Flex Rankings are now Standard scoring.***
***These are not draft rankings. They are solely for this week.***
I will update these once this week, usually twice per week to account for injury or other news during practice. 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. If there is no such note, that means it's my first pass at the rankings for this current week.
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. This first week in particular, but in other weeks as well, I will change ranks according to injuries and sometimes even a change of heart. Please refer to the rankings first when asking "should I start Player A vs. Player B?". And then refer to the rankings again before asking a generic starting decision question. If you really desire a response to a starting question that doesn't have added complexity, please use our Ask An Expert service - it comes with your subscription. Otherwise, my response will correspond with the rankings. If I rank one player before another, that's how I plan on making my starting decisions.
Quarterback
| 1. | Patrick Mahomes KC vs. Ind |
| 2. | Drew Brees NO vs. Phi |
| 3. | Andrew Luck IND at KC |
| 4. | Jared Goff LA vs. Dal |
| 5. | *Nick Foles PHI at NO Note: As if there were any doubt, Foles has been confirmed as the starter again this week. |
| 6. | *Tom Brady NE vs. LAC Note: Fully recovered from an MCL sprain that was bothering him towards the end of the regular season. |
| 7. | Dak Prescott DAL at LAR |
| 8. | Philip Rivers LAC at NE |
Running Backs
| 1. | Ezekiel Elliott DAL at LAR |
| 2. | Alvin Kamara NO vs. Phi |
| 3. | *Todd Gurley LA vs. Dal Note: (Knee) Has participated in three walk-throughs so far, but was listed as limited at Tuesday's practice. Full practice Thursday, cleared from the injury list. |
| 4. | Marlon Mack IND at KC Note: Defied expectations to put together a monster game against the Texans, so much that Nyheim Hines saw very little action after the Colts jumped to a big lead. |
| 5. | Damien Williams KC vs. Ind |
| 6. | *Melvin Gordon LAC at NE Note: (Knee) Full practice Friday. |
| 7. | Sony Michel NE vs. LAC |
| 8. | Mark Ingram NO vs. Phi |
| 9. | James White NE vs. LAC |
| 10. | C.J. Anderson LA vs. Dal |
| 11. | Wendell Smallwood PHI at NO |
| 12. | *Austin Ekeler LAC at NE Note: (Groin) Not only played Sunday but had 15 touches, stepping up when Gordon was hurting. |
| 13. | Rex Burkhead NE vs. LAC |
| 14. | Darren Sproles PHI at NO |
| 15. | *Charcandrick West KC vs. Ind Note: Should be the top backup with Ware out. |
| 16. | Nyheim Hines IND at KC |
| 17. | *John Kelly LA vs. Dal |
| 18. | Justin Jackson LAC at NE |
| 19. | *Josh Adams PHI at NO Note: How quickly the tide turns - received just one offensive snap against the Bears, despite being healthy. |
| 20. | Darrel Williams KC vs. Ind |
| 21. | Rod Smith DAL at LAR |
| 22. | Jordan Wilkins IND at KC |
| 23. | *Justin Davis LA vs. Dal |
| 24. | *Spencer Ware KC vs. Ind Note: (Hamstring) Listed as limited after Tuesday's practice. Inactive this week. |
Wide Receivers
| 1. | Michael Thomas NO vs. Phi |
| 2. | Tyreek Hill KC vs. Ind |
| 3. | Amari Cooper DAL at LAR |
| 4. | Robert Woods LA vs. Dal |
| 5. | *T.Y. Hilton IND at KC Note: (Ankle) Sat out Tuesday's walk-through, surprising nobody. Cleared to play. |
| 6. | Brandin Cooks LA vs. Dal |
| 7. | Keenan Allen LAC at NE |
| 8. | Julian Edelman NE vs. LAC |
| 9. | *Alshon Jeffery PHI at NO Note: (Ribs) Limited during the week, but cleared from the injury list over the weekend. |
| 10. | *Golden Tate PHI at NO Note: (Knee) Limited Wednesday/Thursday, but full practice Friday and no longer on the injury list. |
| 11. | *Dontrelle Inman IND at KC Note: (Shoulder/Finger) Sat out Tuesday's walk-through. Removed from the injury list. |
| 12. | Mike Williams LAC at NE |
| 13. | Chris Hogan NE vs. LAC Note: Had 11 targets in Week 17 - could play a big role with Josh Gordon gone, but his performance has varied so much from week-to-week. |
| 14. | Chris Conley KC vs. Ind |
| 15. | Ted Ginn NO vs. Phi Note: (Knee) Rested for the season finale, but should be good to go this week. Officially removed from the injury list. |
| 16. | *Cordarrelle Patterson NE vs. LAC Note: (Knee) Full practice Wednesday. |
| 17. | Josh Reynolds LA vs. Dal |
| 18. | Michael Gallup DAL at LAR |
| 19. | Tre'Quan Smith NO vs. Phi |
| 20. | Kelvin Benjamin KC vs. Ind |
| 21. | Nelson Agholor PHI at NO |
| 22. | Tyrell Williams LAC at NE |
| 23. | *Sammy Watkins KC vs. Ind Note: (Foot) Returned to a limited practice Tuesday, his first practice in a month. Limited practice all week and will be heavily taped, but will play, despite the snow. |
| 24. | Keith Kirkwood NO vs. Phi |
| 25. | *Tavon Austin DAL at LAR Note: (Groin) Played just nine offensive snaps Saturday despite the injury to Allen Hurns. Limited at Tuesday's practice. Cleared from the injury list. |
| 26. | Zach Pascal IND at KC |
| 27. | Travis Benjamin LAC at NE |
| 28. | Chester Rogers IND at KC |
| 29. | Jordan Matthews PHI at NO |
| 30. | *Noah Brown DAL at LAR Note: Got 27 snaps against the Seahawks after Allen Hurns's injury, but only one reception. |
| 31. | *Cole Beasley DAL at LAR Note: Dealing with a high ankle injury and didn't practice Tuesday, but owner Jerry Jones was confident that Beasley would be able to play Saturday. Didn't practice all week, but still hopeful to be cleared to play after pregame warmups. |
| 32. | *Mike Wallace PHI at NO Note: (Ankle) Day-to-day despite having not played since Week 2. |
| 33. | *Allen Hurns DAL at LAR Note: Gruesome ankle injury, already has had surgery. |
Tight Ends
| 1. | Travis Kelce KC vs. Ind |
| 2. | Zach Ertz PHI at NO |
| 3. | *Eric Ebron IND at KC Note: (Hip) Sat out Tuesday's walk-through. Cleared to play. |
| 4. | Rob Gronkowski NE vs. LAC |
| 5. | Ben Watson NO vs. Phi |
| 6. | Gerald Everett LA vs. Dal |
| 7. | Dallas Goedert PHI at NO |
| 8. | Antonio Gates LAC at NE |
| 9. | *Blake Jarwin DAL at LAR Note: (Ankle) Did not practice Tuesday. Did not practice all week. Hoping to be cleared after warmups, but it's a high-ankle sprain. |
| 10. | *Hunter Henry LAC at NE Note: (Knee) Activated from the PUP list Monday - last week coach Anthony Lynn said that Henry would be on a 'pitch-count' when he returns. Officially active for Sunday's game. |
| 11. | Tyler Higbee LA vs. Dal |
| 12. | Virgil Green LAC at NE Note: Lost a critical fumble last week, and could lose snaps this week with the possible return of Hunter Henry. |
| 13. | Mo Alie-Cox IND at KC |
Flex (RB/WR/TE)
| 1. | Ezekiel Elliott DAL at LAR |
| 2. | Alvin Kamara NO vs. Phi |
| 3. | Michael Thomas NO vs. Phi |
| 4. | Tyreek Hill KC vs. Ind |
| 5. | Travis Kelce KC vs. Ind |
| 6. | *Todd Gurley LA vs. Dal Note: (Knee) Has participated in three walk-throughs so far, but was listed as limited at Tuesday's practice. Full practice Thursday, cleared from the injury list. |
| 7. | Marlon Mack IND at KC Note: Defied expectations to put together a monster game against the Texans, so much that Nyheim Hines saw very little action after the Colts jumped to a big lead. |
| 8. | Amari Cooper DAL at LAR |
| 9. | Damien Williams KC vs. Ind |
| 10. | Robert Woods LA vs. Dal |
| 11. | *T.Y. Hilton IND at KC Note: (Ankle) Sat out Tuesday's walk-through, surprising nobody. Cleared to play. |
| 12. | Brandin Cooks LA vs. Dal |
| 13. | Keenan Allen LAC at NE |
| 14. | Zach Ertz PHI at NO |
| 15. | *Melvin Gordon LAC at NE Note: (Knee) Full practice Friday. |
| 16. | Sony Michel NE vs. LAC |
| 17. | Julian Edelman NE vs. LAC |
| 18. | *Eric Ebron IND at KC Note: (Hip) Sat out Tuesday's walk-through. Cleared to play. |
| 19. | Rob Gronkowski NE vs. LAC |
| 20. | Mark Ingram NO vs. Phi |
| 21. | *Alshon Jeffery PHI at NO Note: (Ribs) Limited during the week, but cleared from the injury list over the weekend. |
| 22. | James White NE vs. LAC |
| 23. | *Golden Tate PHI at NO Note: (Knee) Limited Wednesday/Thursday, but full practice Friday and no longer on the injury list. |
| 24. | *Dontrelle Inman IND at KC Note: (Shoulder/Finger) Sat out Tuesday's walk-through. Removed from the injury list. |
| 25. | Mike Williams LAC at NE |
| 26. | C.J. Anderson LA vs. Dal |
| 27. | Wendell Smallwood PHI at NO |
| 28. | *Austin Ekeler LAC at NE Note: (Groin) Not only played Sunday but had 15 touches, stepping up when Gordon was hurting. |
| 29. | Rex Burkhead NE vs. LAC |
| 30. | Darren Sproles PHI at NO |
| 31. | Chris Hogan NE vs. LAC Note: Had 11 targets in Week 17 - could play a big role with Josh Gordon gone, but his performance has varied so much from week-to-week. |
| 32. | Chris Conley KC vs. Ind |
| 33. | Ted Ginn NO vs. Phi Note: (Knee) Rested for the season finale, but should be good to go this week. Officially removed from the injury list. |
| 34. | *Cordarrelle Patterson NE vs. LAC Note: (Knee) Full practice Wednesday. |
| 35. | *Spencer Ware KC vs. Ind Note: (Hamstring) Listed as limited after Tuesday's practice. Inactive this week. |
| 36. | *Blake Jarwin DAL at LAR Note: (Ankle) Did not practice Tuesday. Did not practice all week. Hoping to be cleared after warmups, but it's a high-ankle sprain. |
| 37. | Ben Watson NO vs. Phi |
| 38. | Josh Reynolds LA vs. Dal |
| 39. | Michael Gallup DAL at LAR |
| 40. | Tre'Quan Smith NO vs. Phi |
| 41. | Nyheim Hines IND at KC |
Kickers
| 1. | Wil Lutz NO vs. Phi |
| 2. | Harrison Butker KC vs. Ind |
| 3. | Greg Zuerlein LA vs. Dal |
| 4. | Adam Vinatieri IND at KC |
| 5. | Michael Badgley LAC at NE Note: The last time I gave Badgley credit for stabilizing the kicker position for the Chargers, he had a key miss in a loss to Denver. Let's just say he had a great game against Baltimore. |
| 6. | Brett Maher DAL at LAR |
| 7. | Stephen Gostkowski NE vs. LAC |
| 8. | Jake Elliott PHI at NO |
Defenses
| 1. | New Orleans Saints vs. Phi |
| 2. | *Los Angeles Rams vs. Dal Note: S Lamarcus Joyner (ankle) returned to a full practice Tuesday. |
| 3. | *New England Patriots vs. LAC Note: Devin McCourty remained in the concussion protocol last week during practice. Full practices this week, cleared from the concussion protocol. |
| 4. | Los Angeles Chargers at NE |
| 5. | *Kansas City Chiefs vs. Ind Note: Eric Berry (heel) doubtful. |
| 6. | Dallas Cowboys at LAR |
| 7. | *Indianapolis Colts at KC Note: S Mike Mitchell left Saturday's wild-card win with a calf injury. S Malik Hooker (foot) won't play. |
| 8. | *Philadelphia Eagles at NO Note: Sidney Jones (hamstring) missed the win over the Bears, and the banged-up secondary allowed 300+ yards to Mitch Trubisky. The Saints might be able to better exploit the Eagles' secondary injury issues. Sidney Jones is questionable after a full practice Friday. Michael Bennett (foot) missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, was limited Friday and is questionable. |
