This article is part of our Weekly Rankings series.
Updated Saturday.
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. ***Flex Rankings are for PPR leagues.***
I will update these during the week, usually twice per week to account for injury or other news during practice. The timing of those updates will vary based on the news at hand and my schedule for the given week. But the first of those updates usually won't happen until Thursday. 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. 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. Please refer to the rankings first when asking "should I start Player A vs. Player B?". And then refer to the rankings again
Updated Saturday.
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. ***Flex Rankings are for PPR leagues.***
I will update these during the week, usually twice per week to account for injury or other news during practice. The timing of those updates will vary based on the news at hand and my schedule for the given week. But the first of those updates usually won't happen until Thursday. 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. 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. 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. My response will correspond with the rankings.
Quarterback
| 1. | Tom Brady NE vs. Ten |
| 2. | Drew Brees NO at Min Note: Brees produced a vintage performance thanks to the Panthers selling out to stop the run, throwing for 376 yards. |
| 3. | Case Keenum MIN vs. NO Note: Sam Bradford has been activated from the IR, but it's not yet public whether he or Teddy Bridgewater will be the backup. |
| 4. | Ben Roethlisberger PIT vs. Jax |
| 5. | *Matt Ryan ATL at Phi Note: Missed practice Tuesday due to a personal matter. Returned to practice Wednesday. |
| 6. | Marcus Mariota TEN at NE |
| 7. | Nick Foles PHI vs. Atl |
| 8. | Blake Bortles JAC at Pit Note: Threw for only 87 yards in an ugly performance against the Bills, though his 88 rush yards eased the fantasy pain. |
Running Backs
| 1. | Le'Veon Bell PIT vs. Jax |
| 2. | Dion Lewis NE vs. Ten |
| 3. | Alvin Kamara NO at Min |
| 4. | Mark Ingram NO at Min |
| 5. | *Devonta Freeman ATL at Phi Note: (Knee) Limited practice Tuesday. After last week's sequence, this doesn't seem like a concern. Cleared of all injuries before Saturday's game. |
| 6. | Leonard Fournette JAC at Pit Note: Either he, his offensive line or both parties looked rather ordinary against the Bills. |
| 7. | Jerick McKinnon MIN vs. NO |
| 8. | *Derrick Henry TEN at NE Note: Should start even if DeMarco Murray returns. |
| 9. | *Jay Ajayi PHI vs. Atl Note: (Knee) Full practice Tuesday. |
| 10. | Latavius Murray MIN vs. NO |
| 11. | Tevin Coleman ATL at Phi |
| 12. | *James White NE vs. Ten Note: (Ankle) Limited practice Tuesday. Will play, while Burkhead and Gillislee aren't expected to go. |
| 13. | LeGarrette Blount PHI vs. Atl |
| 14. | Corey Clement PHI vs. Atl |
| 15. | Chris Ivory JAC at Pit |
| 16. | Terron Ward ATL at Phi |
| 17. | Stevan Ridley PIT vs. Jax |
| 18. | *T.J. Yeldon JAC at Pit Note: Inactive with an illness last week. Not on the injury list this week. |
| 19. | David Fluellen TEN at NE |
| 20. | Kenjon Barner PHI vs. Atl |
| 21. | *DeMarco Murray TEN at NE Note: (Knee) Didn't practice Tuesday. Ruled out again this week. |
| 22. | *Rex Burkhead NE vs. Ten Note: (Knee) Limited practice Tuesday. Not expected to play. |
| 23. | *Mike Gillislee NE vs. Ten Note: (Knee) Didn't practice Tuesday. Not expected to play. |
Wide Receivers
| 1. | *Julio Jones ATL at Phi Note: (Ankle) Did not practice Tuesday, but expected to practice in some form Wednesday. Didn't practice Wednesday but still removed from the injury list. |
| 2. | Brandin Cooks NE vs. Ten |
| 3. | Stefon Diggs MIN vs. NO |
| 4. | Michael Thomas NO at Min |
| 5. | Adam Thielen MIN vs. NO |
| 6. | *Antonio Brown PIT vs. Jax Note: (Calf) Full participant in practice Monday. Missed practice Friday due to an illness, but listed as questionable both because of the illness and because of his calf. This might come back to haunt me, but I'm moving him down some. |
| 7. | JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT vs. Jax |
| 8. | Rishard Matthews TEN at NE |
| 9. | Ted Ginn NO at Min Note: Ginn's 80-yard touchdown was a game-changer last week. With Xavier Rhodes likely on Michael Thomas, the Saints might need another big game from Ginn this week. |
| 10. | Alshon Jeffery PHI vs. Atl |
| 11. | Nelson Agholor PHI vs. Atl |
| 12. | *Chris Hogan NE vs. Ten Note: (Shoulder) Limited practice Tuesday. Completely removed from the injury list. |
| 13. | Dede Westbrook JAC at Pit |
| 14. | Marqise Lee JAC at Pit |
| 15. | *Mohamed Sanu ATL at Phi Note: (Knee) Limited practice Tuesday. Limited practice all week. |
| 16. | Eric Decker TEN at NE |
| 17. | Danny Amendola NE vs. Ten |
| 18. | Martavis Bryant PIT vs. Jax |
| 19. | Allen Hurns JAC at Pit |
| 20. | Corey Davis TEN at NE |
| 21. | Keelan Cole JAC at Pit Note: Only one target last week. |
| 22. | Torrey Smith PHI vs. Atl |
| 23. | Taylor Gabriel ATL at Phi |
| 24. | Jaydon Mickens JAC at Pit |
| 25. | Willie Snead NO at Min |
| 26. | Eli Rogers PIT vs. Jax |
| 27. | *Brandon Coleman NO at Min Note: (Neck) Ruled out this week. |
Tight Ends
| 1. | Rob Gronkowski NE vs. Ten |
| 2. | *Kyle Rudolph MIN vs. NO Note: (Ankle) Full practice Wednesday. |
| 3. | Zach Ertz PHI vs. Atl |
| 4. | Delanie Walker TEN at NE Note: Will the Pats focus their efforts on taking away Walker? |
| 5. | Austin Hooper ATL at Phi |
| 6. | Vance McDonald PIT vs. Jax |
| 7. | Josh Hill NO at Min |
| 8. | *Marcedes Lewis JAC at Pit Note: (Ankle) Limited Wednesday, but had a full practice Thursday. |
| 9. | Jesse James PIT vs. Jax |
| 10. | Trey Burton PHI vs. Atl |
| 11. | Jonnu Smith TEN at NE |
| 12. | Levine Toilolo ATL at Phi |
| 13. | Michael Hoomanawanui NO at Min |
| 14. | Brent Celek PHI vs. Atl |
Flex (RB/WR/TE)
| 1. | Le'Veon Bell PIT vs. Jax |
| 2. | Dion Lewis NE vs. Ten |
| 3. | Alvin Kamara NO at Min |
| 4. | *Julio Jones ATL at Phi Note: (Ankle) Did not practice Tuesday, but expected to practice in some form Wednesday. Didn't practice Wednesday but still removed from the injury list. |
| 5. | Rob Gronkowski NE vs. Ten |
| 6. | *Antonio Brown PIT vs. Jax Note: (Calf) Full participant in practice Monday. Missed practice Friday due to an illness, but listed as questionable both because of the illness and because of his calf. This might come back to haunt me, but I'm moving him down some. |
| 7. | Mark Ingram NO at Min |
| 8. | *Devonta Freeman ATL at Phi Note: (Knee) Limited practice Tuesday. After last week's sequence, this doesn't seem like a concern. Cleared of all injuries before Saturday's game. |
| 9. | Brandin Cooks NE vs. Ten |
| 10. | Stefon Diggs MIN vs. NO |
| 11. | Michael Thomas NO at Min |
| 12. | Leonard Fournette JAC at Pit Note: Either he, his offensive line or both parties looked rather ordinary against the Bills. |
| 13. | Jerick McKinnon MIN vs. NO |
| 14. | *Derrick Henry TEN at NE Note: Should start even if DeMarco Murray returns. |
| 15. | Adam Thielen MIN vs. NO |
| 16. | *Kyle Rudolph MIN vs. NO Note: (Ankle) Full practice Wednesday. |
| 17. | Zach Ertz PHI vs. Atl |
| 18. | Delanie Walker TEN at NE Note: Will the Pats focus their efforts on taking away Walker? |
| 19. | *Jay Ajayi PHI vs. Atl Note: (Knee) Full practice Tuesday. |
| 20. | Latavius Murray MIN vs. NO |
| 21. | JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT vs. Jax |
| 22. | Rishard Matthews TEN at NE |
| 23. | Ted Ginn NO at Min Note: Ginn's 80-yard touchdown was a game-changer last week. With Xavier Rhodes likely on Michael Thomas, the Saints might need another big game from Ginn this week. |
| 24. | Alshon Jeffery PHI vs. Atl |
| 25. | Nelson Agholor PHI vs. Atl |
| 26. | *Mohamed Sanu ATL at Phi Note: (Knee) Limited practice Tuesday. Limited practice all week. |
| 27. | Dede Westbrook JAC at Pit |
| 28. | Marqise Lee JAC at Pit |
| 29. | Tevin Coleman ATL at Phi |
| 30. | *James White NE vs. Ten Note: (Ankle) Limited practice Tuesday. Will play, while Burkhead and Gillislee aren't expected to go. |
| 31. | Austin Hooper ATL at Phi |
| 32. | Vance McDonald PIT vs. Jax |
| 33. | *Rex Burkhead NE vs. Ten Note: (Knee) Limited practice Tuesday. Not expected to play. |
| 34. | Eric Decker TEN at NE |
| 35. | Danny Amendola NE vs. Ten |
| 36. | Martavis Bryant PIT vs. Jax |
| 37. | Corey Clement PHI vs. Atl |
| 38. | Allen Hurns JAC at Pit |
| 39. | Corey Davis TEN at NE |
| 40. | Keelan Cole JAC at Pit Note: Only one target last week. |
Kickers
| 1. | Stephen Gostkowski NE vs. Ten |
| 2. | Kai Forbath MIN vs. NO |
| 3. | Wil Lutz NO at Min Note: Only one field goal last week - but it was a huge one, both in distance (57 yards) and importance, as without it the Panthers could have forced overtime with a field goal at the end. |
| 4. | Matt Bryant ATL at Phi Note: Health woes in the past - hit two 50+ field goals against the Rams last week. |
| 5. | Chris Boswell PIT vs. Jax |
| 6. | Ryan Succop TEN at NE |
| 7. | Jake Elliott PHI vs. Atl |
| 8. | Josh Lambo JAC at Pit |
Defenses
| 1. | Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jax |
| 2. | New England Patriots vs. Ten |
| 3. | Atlanta Falcons at Phi |
| 4. | *Jacksonville Jaguars at Pit Note: Paul Posluszny left Sunday's game in the second quarter with a hip injury and did not return. |
| 5. | Minnesota Vikings vs. NO |
| 6. | *Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atl Note: Brandon Graham and Jalen Mills practiced fully Tuesday after sitting out the regular season finale with ankle injuries. |
| 7. | New Orleans Saints at Min |
| 8. | Tennessee Titans at NE |
