This article is part of our Weekly Rankings series.
***First posted Friday, 1/16.***
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. Flex Rankings are for PPR leagues.
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. | Tom Brady NE vs. Ind |
| 2. | Andrew Luck IND at NE |
| 3. | *Aaron Rodgers GB at Sea Note: (Calf) Limited practice this week but he's listed as probable and obviously is going to play. |
| 4. | Russell Wilson SEA vs. GB |
Running Backs
| 1. | Marshawn Lynch SEA vs. GB Note: Rested Wednesday, full practice Thursday. |
| 2. | Dan Herron IND at NE |
| 3. | *Eddie Lacy GB at Sea Note: (Knee) Listed as probable. Had to sit out the second quarter last week with an asthma attack. |
| 4. | LeGarrette Blount NE vs. Ind Note: On the field for just 11 snaps last week, but that probably was more of a function of the opponent and the game flow. |
| 5. | *Shane Vereen NE |
***First posted Friday, 1/16.***
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. Flex Rankings are for PPR leagues.
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. | Tom Brady NE vs. Ind |
| 2. | Andrew Luck IND at NE |
| 3. | *Aaron Rodgers GB at Sea Note: (Calf) Limited practice this week but he's listed as probable and obviously is going to play. |
| 4. | Russell Wilson SEA vs. GB |
Running Backs
| 1. | Marshawn Lynch SEA vs. GB Note: Rested Wednesday, full practice Thursday. |
| 2. | Dan Herron IND at NE |
| 3. | *Eddie Lacy GB at Sea Note: (Knee) Listed as probable. Had to sit out the second quarter last week with an asthma attack. |
| 4. | LeGarrette Blount NE vs. Ind Note: On the field for just 11 snaps last week, but that probably was more of a function of the opponent and the game flow. |
| 5. | *Shane Vereen NE vs. Ind Note: Took a hard hit to the head last week, but not listed on the initial injury report. |
| 6. | James Starks GB at Sea |
| 7. | Robert Turbin SEA vs. GB |
| 8. | Zurlon Tipton IND at NE |
| 9. | Brandon Bolden NE vs. Ind |
| 10. | *Jonas Gray NE vs. Ind Note: (Ankle) Inactive last week, but will the Pats be tempted to revisit his resounding success from their earlier meeting against the Colts? |
| 11. | Christine Michael SEA vs. GB |
| 12. | *Trent Richardson IND at NE Note: Healthy scratch last week. |
Wide Receivers
| 1. | T.Y. Hilton IND at NE |
| 2. | Jordy Nelson GB at Sea |
| 3. | Julian Edelman NE vs. Ind Note: It's amazing that last week's touchdown pass was the first time the Patriots had used a play where Edelman throws, given that he was a college quarterback. |
| 4. | Doug Baldwin SEA vs. GB |
| 5. | Randall Cobb GB at Sea |
| 6. | *Brandon LaFell NE vs. Ind Note: (Shoulder/toe) Listed as probable. |
| 7. | Donte Moncrief IND at NE Note: Had eight targets in the win over the Broncos. |
| 8. | Hakeem Nicks IND at NE |
| 9. | Davante Adams GB at Sea |
| 10. | Jermaine Kearse SEA vs. GB |
| 11. | Danny Amendola NE vs. Ind |
| 12. | Reggie Wayne IND at NE Note: Wasn't targeted at all last week against the Broncos. |
| 13. | Ricardo Lockette SEA vs. GB |
| 14. | *Paul Richardson SEA vs. GB Note: Torn ACL against the Panthers - 2015 season in jeopardy. |
Tight Ends
| 1. | Rob Gronkowski NE vs. Ind |
| 2. | Coby Fleener IND at NE |
| 3. | Luke Willson SEA vs. GB |
| 4. | Dwayne Allen IND at NE |
| 5. | Andrew Quarless GB at Sea |
| 6. | Richard Rodgers GB at Sea Note: Caught just one pass last week, but it went for a touchdown. |
| 7. | Tim Wright NE vs. Ind |
| 8. | Cooper Helfet SEA vs. GB |
| 9. | *Tony Moeaki SEA vs. GB Note: (Calf) Full practice Wednesday. |
Flex (RB/WR/TE)
| 1. | Rob Gronkowski NE vs. Ind |
| 2. | Marshawn Lynch SEA vs. GB Note: Rested Wednesday, full practice Thursday. |
| 3. | T.Y. Hilton IND at NE |
| 4. | Jordy Nelson GB at Sea |
| 5. | Julian Edelman NE vs. Ind Note: It's amazing that last week's touchdown pass was the first time the Patriots had used a play where Edelman throws, given that he was a college quarterback. |
| 6. | Doug Baldwin SEA vs. GB |
| 7. | Dan Herron IND at NE |
| 8. | LeGarrette Blount NE vs. Ind Note: On the field for just 11 snaps last week, but that probably was more of a function of the opponent and the game flow. |
| 9. | Randall Cobb GB at Sea |
| 10. | Coby Fleener IND at NE |
| 11. | *Brandon LaFell NE vs. Ind Note: (Shoulder/toe) Listed as probable. |
| 12. | Donte Moncrief IND at NE Note: Had eight targets in the win over the Broncos. |
| 13. | Luke Willson SEA vs. GB |
| 14. | *Shane Vereen NE vs. Ind Note: Took a hard hit to the head last week, but not listed on the initial injury report. |
| 15. | James Starks GB at Sea |
| 16. | Hakeem Nicks IND at NE |
| 17. | Davante Adams GB at Sea |
| 18. | Jermaine Kearse SEA vs. GB |
| 19. | Dwayne Allen IND at NE |
| 20. | Andrew Quarless GB at Sea |
| 21. | Danny Amendola NE vs. Ind |
| 22. | Robert Turbin SEA vs. GB |
| 23. | Zurlon Tipton IND at NE |
| 24. | Reggie Wayne IND at NE Note: Wasn't targeted at all last week against the Broncos. |
| 25. | Ricardo Lockette SEA vs. GB |
| 26. | Richard Rodgers GB at Sea Note: Caught just one pass last week, but it went for a touchdown. |
| 27. | Tim Wright NE vs. Ind |
| 28. | Brandon Bolden NE vs. Ind |
| 29. | *Jonas Gray NE vs. Ind Note: (Ankle) Inactive last week, but will the Pats be tempted to revisit his resounding success from their earlier meeting against the Colts? |
| 30. | Christine Michael SEA vs. GB |
| 31. | Cooper Helfet SEA vs. GB |
Kickers
| 1. | Stephen Gostkowski NE vs. Ind Note: Ranking among kickers at this point is a rough proxy of the likelihood of each team to win. |
| 2. | Steven Hauschka SEA vs. GB |
| 3. | Mason Crosby GB at Sea |
| 4. | Adam Vinatieri IND at NE |
Defenses
| 1. | Seattle Seahawks vs. GB |
| 2. | New England Patriots vs. Ind |
| 3. | *Indianapolis Colts at NE Note: Both Greg Toler (groin) and Vontae Davis (knee) are listed as questionable but expected to play. Josh McNary, a special teams' player, is on the exempt list after being arrested on rape charges. |
| 4. | Green Bay Packers at Sea |
