This article is part of our Weekly Rankings series.
Please note that these rankings are only for this week. If you want a playoff draft cheat sheet, please check out Chris Liss's Playoff Ranks.
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
Please note that these rankings are only for this week. If you want a playoff draft cheat sheet, please check out Chris Liss's Playoff Ranks.
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. | Jared Goff LA vs. Atl |
| 2. | Drew Brees NO vs. Car |
| 3. | Alex Smith KC vs. Ten |
| 4. | *Cam Newton CAR at NO Note: Really struggled in the loss to the Falcons - how bad is his shoulder bothering him? He was limited in Wednesday's practice, as has been the case for most of the season. |
| 5. | Blake Bortles JAC vs. Buf |
| 6. | Matt Ryan ATL at LAR |
| 7. | Marcus Mariota TEN at KC |
| 8. | Tyrod Taylor BUF at Jax |
Running Backs
| 1. | Todd Gurley LA vs. Atl |
| 2. | Alvin Kamara NO vs. Car |
| 3. | Mark Ingram NO vs. Car |
| 4. | Kareem Hunt KC vs. Ten |
| 5. | *Devonta Freeman ATL at LAR Note: (Knee) Sat out practice Tuesday, but practiced without limitations Thursday and is not on the injury list. |
| 6. | Leonard Fournette JAC vs. Buf |
| 7. | Christian McCaffrey CAR at NO |
| 8. | *Derrick Henry TEN at KC Note: Should once again see a heavy workload with Murray ruled out. |
| 9. | *LeSean McCoy BUF at Jax Note: (Ankle) No longer in the immobilization boot, was present for the stretching portion of practice but did not participate afterward. He's not guaranteed to practice Friday, either, but still expects to play. |
| 10. | Tevin Coleman ATL at LAR |
| 11. | *Charcandrick West KC vs. Ten Note: (Illness) Full practice Tuesday. |
| 12. | *Jonathan Stewart CAR at NO Note: Surprise scratch in Week 17 with a bad back, but he was practicing in full Thursday. |
| 13. | T.J. Yeldon JAC vs. Buf |
| 14. | Malcolm Brown LA vs. Atl |
| 15. | David Fluellen TEN at KC |
| 16. | Chris Ivory JAC vs. Buf |
| 17. | Terron Ward ATL at LAR |
| 18. | Marcus Murphy BUF at Jax |
| 19. | *DeMarco Murray TEN at KC Note: (Knee) Ruled out for the Wild Card game. |
| 20. | *Akeem Hunt KC vs. Ten Note: Out with an ankle injury. |
Wide Receivers
| 1. | Tyreek Hill KC vs. Ten |
| 2. | *Julio Jones ATL at LAR Note: (Ankle/Ribs) Cleared from the injury list after going no practice Tuesday, limited practice Wednesday and full practice Thursday. |
| 3. | *Michael Thomas NO vs. Car Note: (Hamstring) Full participant in Thursday's practice. |
| 4. | Cooper Kupp LA vs. Atl |
| 5. | Robert Woods LA vs. Atl |
| 6. | Rishard Matthews TEN at KC |
| 7. | Keelan Cole JAC vs. Buf |
| 8. | Mohamed Sanu ATL at LAR |
| 9. | *Devin Funchess CAR at NO Note: (Shoulder) Did not practice Thursday. |
| 10. | Ted Ginn NO vs. Car |
| 11. | Sammy Watkins LA vs. Atl |
| 12. | *Kelvin Benjamin BUF at Jax Note: (Knee) Limited practice Wednesday. |
| 13. | Dede Westbrook JAC vs. Buf |
| 14. | *Albert Wilson KC vs. Ten Note: (Hamstring) Full participant in Thursday's practice, but listed as questionable. |
| 15. | Corey Davis TEN at KC |
| 16. | Allen Hurns JAC vs. Buf |
| 17. | Eric Decker TEN at KC |
| 18. | *Deonte Thompson BUF at Jax Note: (Shoulder) Did not practice Wednesday but returned to practice Thursday. |
| 19. | Tavon Austin LA vs. Atl |
| 20. | *Taylor Gabriel ATL at LAR Note: (Hamstring) Full practice Thursday and cleared to play. |
| 21. | Jaydon Mickens JAC vs. Buf |
| 22. | Brandon Coleman NO vs. Car |
| 23. | Zay Jones BUF at Jax |
| 24. | *Pharoh Cooper LA vs. Atl Note: (Shoulder) Removed from the injury list. |
| 25. | Willie Snead NO vs. Car |
| 26. | Demarcus Robinson KC vs. Ten |
| 27. | *Marqise Lee JAC vs. Buf Note: (Ankle) Has yet to return to practice. |
| 28. | *De'Anthony Thomas KC vs. Ten Note: Suffered a broken tibia against the Broncos in Week 17. |
Tight Ends
| 1. | Travis Kelce KC vs. Ten |
| 2. | Greg Olsen CAR at NO |
| 3. | Delanie Walker TEN at KC |
| 4. | *Charles Clay BUF at Jax Note: (Knee) Limited practice Wednesday. |
| 5. | Austin Hooper ATL at LAR |
| 6. | Tyler Higbee LA vs. Atl |
| 7. | *Marcedes Lewis JAC vs. Buf Note: (Ankle) Limited practice Thursday. |
| 8. | Demetrius Harris KC vs. Ten |
| 9. | *Jonnu Smith TEN at KC Note: (Concussion) Full practice Tuesday. |
| 10. | Josh Hill NO vs. Car |
| 11. | Nick O'Leary BUF at Jax |
| 12. | *Levine Toilolo ATL at LAR Note: (Knee) Limited practice Tuesday. |
| 13. | *Michael Hoomanawanui NO vs. Car Note: (Concussion) Full practice Thursday. |
Flex (RB/WR/TE)
| 1. | Todd Gurley LA vs. Atl |
| 2. | Alvin Kamara NO vs. Car |
| 3. | Mark Ingram NO vs. Car |
| 4. | Kareem Hunt KC vs. Ten |
| 5. | Tyreek Hill KC vs. Ten |
| 6. | *Julio Jones ATL at LAR Note: (Ankle/Ribs) Cleared from the injury list after going no practice Tuesday, limited practice Wednesday and full practice Thursday. |
| 7. | *Devonta Freeman ATL at LAR Note: (Knee) Sat out practice Tuesday, but practiced without limitations Thursday and is not on the injury list. |
| 8. | Leonard Fournette JAC vs. Buf |
| 9. | Travis Kelce KC vs. Ten |
| 10. | *Michael Thomas NO vs. Car Note: (Hamstring) Full participant in Thursday's practice. |
| 11. | Cooper Kupp LA vs. Atl |
| 12. | Christian McCaffrey CAR at NO |
| 13. | *Derrick Henry TEN at KC Note: Should once again see a heavy workload with Murray ruled out. |
| 14. | Robert Woods LA vs. Atl |
| 15. | *LeSean McCoy BUF at Jax Note: (Ankle) No longer in the immobilization boot, was present for the stretching portion of practice but did not participate afterward. He's not guaranteed to practice Friday, either, but still expects to play. |
| 16. | Greg Olsen CAR at NO |
| 17. | Rishard Matthews TEN at KC |
| 18. | Keelan Cole JAC vs. Buf |
| 19. | Mohamed Sanu ATL at LAR |
| 20. | *Devin Funchess CAR at NO Note: (Shoulder) Did not practice Thursday. |
| 21. | Delanie Walker TEN at KC |
| 22. | Tevin Coleman ATL at LAR |
| 23. | Ted Ginn NO vs. Car |
| 24. | Sammy Watkins LA vs. Atl |
| 25. | *Kelvin Benjamin BUF at Jax Note: (Knee) Limited practice Wednesday. |
| 26. | Dede Westbrook JAC vs. Buf |
| 27. | *Charles Clay BUF at Jax Note: (Knee) Limited practice Wednesday. |
| 28. | *Charcandrick West KC vs. Ten Note: (Illness) Full practice Tuesday. |
| 29. | *Jonathan Stewart CAR at NO Note: Surprise scratch in Week 17 with a bad back, but he was practicing in full Thursday. |
| 30. | *Albert Wilson KC vs. Ten Note: (Hamstring) Full participant in Thursday's practice, but listed as questionable. |
| 31. | Corey Davis TEN at KC |
| 32. | Allen Hurns JAC vs. Buf |
| 33. | Eric Decker TEN at KC |
| 34. | *Deonte Thompson BUF at Jax Note: (Shoulder) Did not practice Wednesday but returned to practice Thursday. |
| 35. | Austin Hooper ATL at LAR |
| 36. | Tavon Austin LA vs. Atl |
| 37. | T.J. Yeldon JAC vs. Buf |
| 38. | *Taylor Gabriel ATL at LAR Note: (Hamstring) Full practice Thursday and cleared to play. |
| 39. | Tyler Higbee LA vs. Atl |
| 40. | *Marcedes Lewis JAC vs. Buf Note: (Ankle) Limited practice Thursday. |
Kickers
| 1. | *Harrison Butker KC vs. Ten Note: A free loot pickup by the Chiefs after the start of the season, Butker is a real weapon for the Chiefs, having made 38 of 42 attempts on the season. |
| 2. | Wil Lutz NO vs. Car |
| 3. | Josh Lambo JAC vs. Buf |
| 4. | Sam Ficken LA vs. Atl |
| 5. | Matt Bryant ATL at LAR |
| 6. | Graham Gano CAR at NO |
| 7. | Ryan Succop TEN at KC |
| 8. | Stephen Hauschka BUF at Jax |
Defenses
| 1. | Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buf |
| 2. | *Los Angeles Rams vs. Atl Note: Mark Barron (Achilles' tendon) will start Saturday after missing the last two weeks. Meanwhile CB Troy Hill avoided a concussion in Week 17 after getting checked out. |
| 3. | Kansas City Chiefs vs. Ten |
| 4. | New Orleans Saints vs. Car |
| 5. | Tennessee Titans at KC |
| 6. | *Buffalo Bills at Jax Note: CB Shareece Wright (concussion) remained sidelined Thursday. LB Matt Milano (hamstring) suited up for practice. |
| 7. | *Carolina Panthers at NO Note: S Kurt Coleman (ankle) had a full practice Wednesday. |
| 8. | Atlanta Falcons at LAR |
