This article is part of our Weekly Rankings series.
***First posted Thursday, 1/1. Two Saturday Games - CAR/AZ, PIT/BAL.***
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. | Ben Roethlisberger PIT vs. Bal |
| 2. | Tony Romo DAL vs. Det |
| 3. | Matthew Stafford DET at Dal |
| 4. | Andrew Luck IND vs. Cin |
| 5. | Cam Newton CAR vs. Ari |
| 6. | Joe Flacco BAL at Pit Note: It looked as if Flacco was going to finish the season with back-to-back stinkers, but then led three big drives in the fourth quarter. |
| 7. | Andy Dalton CIN at Ind |
| 8. | *Ryan Lindley ARZ at Car Note: Might not start - Drew Stanton hasn't practiced yet, but if he does practice Wednesday and Thursday and looks good, he'll start instead. |
| 9. | *Drew Stanton ARZ at Car Note: (Knee) Did not practice Tuesday, and needs to practice Thursday and |
***First posted Thursday, 1/1. Two Saturday Games - CAR/AZ, PIT/BAL.***
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. | Ben Roethlisberger PIT vs. Bal |
| 2. | Tony Romo DAL vs. Det |
| 3. | Matthew Stafford DET at Dal |
| 4. | Andrew Luck IND vs. Cin |
| 5. | Cam Newton CAR vs. Ari |
| 6. | Joe Flacco BAL at Pit Note: It looked as if Flacco was going to finish the season with back-to-back stinkers, but then led three big drives in the fourth quarter. |
| 7. | Andy Dalton CIN at Ind |
| 8. | *Ryan Lindley ARZ at Car Note: Might not start - Drew Stanton hasn't practiced yet, but if he does practice Wednesday and Thursday and looks good, he'll start instead. |
| 9. | *Drew Stanton ARZ at Car Note: (Knee) Did not practice Tuesday, and needs to practice Thursday and look good doing so to start Saturday. |
Running Backs
| 1. | Jeremy Hill CIN at Ind Note: Three straight games with 20+ carries heading into the playoffs. |
| 2. | DeMarco Murray DAL vs. Det |
| 3. | Jonathan Stewart CAR vs. Ari |
| 4. | *Justin Forsett BAL at Pit Note: Bounced back in Week 17 after disappointing in the fantasy playoffs. |
| 5. | Joique Bell DET at Dal |
| 6. | Dan Herron IND vs. Cin |
| 7. | *Le'Veon Bell PIT vs. Bal Note: Hyperextended knee - did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, but reported feeling much better than he did Monday or Tuesday. Very murky whether he'll be able to play. |
| 8. | Giovani Bernard CIN at Ind |
| 9. | Kerwynn Williams ARZ at Car Note: Had 17 carries last week against seven for Taylor. |
| 10. | Reggie Bush DET at Dal |
| 11. | Dri Archer PIT vs. Bal |
| 12. | Joseph Randle DAL vs. Det |
| 13. | Trent Richardson IND vs. Cin |
| 14. | Josh Harris PIT vs. Bal Note: Could be a bit of a platoon between Harris and Archer if LeVeon Bell can't go, with Harris running more between the tackles, and Archer catching more passes. |
| 15. | *DeAngelo Williams CAR vs. Ari Note: (Hand) Fully practiced Wednesday and is 'ready-to-roll' for Saturday's game against Arizona, but I doubt that he substantially cuts into Stewart's role. |
| 16. | Stepfan Taylor ARZ at Car |
| 17. | Bernard Pierce BAL at Pit |
| 18. | Theo Riddick DET at Dal |
| 19. | Lance Dunbar DAL vs. Det |
| 20. | *Ben Tate PIT vs. Bal Note: Signed by the Steelers as insurance in case Bell can't go, but I don't think he'll start if Bell sits. |
| 21. | Zurlon Tipton IND vs. Cin |
Wide Receivers
| 1. | Antonio Brown PIT vs. Bal |
| 2. | Dez Bryant DAL vs. Det |
| 3. | *Calvin Johnson DET at Dal Note: (Ankle) Limited participation in Wednesday's practice, but had a full practice Thursday. |
| 4. | *T.Y. Hilton IND vs. Cin Note: (Hamstring) Saw limited action in Week 17. |
| 5. | Steve Smith BAL at Pit |
| 6. | Golden Tate DET at Dal |
| 7. | *A.J. Green CIN at Ind Note: (Concussion) Did not practice Wednesday, still in the league's protocol. Limited practice Thursday. |
| 8. | Kelvin Benjamin CAR vs. Ari |
| 9. | Mohamed Sanu CIN at Ind Note: Hasn't had more than three targets in a game since Week 12, but the Bengals might need to lean more on him this week with Green concussed. |
| 10. | Torrey Smith BAL at Pit |
| 11. | Michael Floyd ARZ at Car |
| 12. | Cole Beasley DAL vs. Det |
| 13. | Martavis Bryant PIT vs. Bal |
| 14. | Terrance Williams DAL vs. Det |
| 15. | Larry Fitzgerald ARZ at Car |
| 16. | Donte Moncrief IND vs. Cin |
| 17. | *Reggie Wayne IND vs. Cin Note: (Groin) Was limited at practice Wednesday, believes that he'll be good to go for Sunday. Full practice Thursday. |
| 18. | John Brown ARZ at Car |
| 19. | Jerricho Cotchery CAR vs. Ari |
| 20. | Markus Wheaton PIT vs. Bal |
| 21. | Hakeem Nicks IND vs. Cin |
| 22. | Philly Brown CAR vs. Ari |
| 23. | Lance Moore PIT vs. Bal |
| 24. | Jaron Brown ARZ at Car |
| 25. | *Cobi Hamilton CIN at Ind Note: Added from the Bengals' practice squad due to Sanzenbacher's concussion. |
| 26. | *Dane Sanzenbacher CIN at Ind Note: Placed on IR (Concussion). |
Tight Ends
| 1. | Greg Olsen CAR vs. Ari |
| 2. | Coby Fleener IND vs. Cin |
| 3. | Heath Miller PIT vs. Bal |
| 4. | Owen Daniels BAL at Pit |
| 5. | Jason Witten DAL vs. Det |
| 6. | *Dwayne Allen IND vs. Cin Note: (Knee) Full practice Wednesday. |
| 7. | Eric Ebron DET at Dal |
| 8. | Gavin Escobar DAL vs. Det |
| 9. | John Carlson ARZ at Car Note: Three-way split in playing time for AZ now between Carlson, Rob Housler and Darren Fells. |
| 10. | *Jermaine Gresham CIN at Ind Note: (Back) Did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. |
Flex (RB/WR/TE)
| 1. | Antonio Brown PIT vs. Bal |
| 2. | Dez Bryant DAL vs. Det |
| 3. | *Calvin Johnson DET at Dal Note: (Ankle) Limited participation in Wednesday's practice, but had a full practice Thursday. |
| 4. | Jeremy Hill CIN at Ind Note: Three straight games with 20+ carries heading into the playoffs. |
| 5. | DeMarco Murray DAL vs. Det |
| 6. | *T.Y. Hilton IND vs. Cin Note: (Hamstring) Saw limited action in Week 17. |
| 7. | Steve Smith BAL at Pit |
| 8. | Golden Tate DET at Dal |
| 9. | *A.J. Green CIN at Ind Note: (Concussion) Did not practice Wednesday, still in the league's protocol. Limited practice Thursday. |
| 10. | Jonathan Stewart CAR vs. Ari |
| 11. | *Justin Forsett BAL at Pit Note: Bounced back in Week 17 after disappointing in the fantasy playoffs. |
| 12. | Joique Bell DET at Dal |
| 13. | Greg Olsen CAR vs. Ari |
| 14. | Kelvin Benjamin CAR vs. Ari |
| 15. | Dan Herron IND vs. Cin |
| 16. | *Le'Veon Bell PIT vs. Bal Note: Hyperextended knee - did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, but reported feeling much better than he did Monday or Tuesday. Very murky whether he'll be able to play. |
| 17. | Giovani Bernard CIN at Ind |
| 18. | Mohamed Sanu CIN at Ind Note: Hasn't had more than three targets in a game since Week 12, but the Bengals might need to lean more on him this week with Green concussed. |
| 19. | Torrey Smith BAL at Pit |
| 20. | Michael Floyd ARZ at Car |
| 21. | Coby Fleener IND vs. Cin |
| 22. | Heath Miller PIT vs. Bal |
| 23. | Cole Beasley DAL vs. Det |
| 24. | Martavis Bryant PIT vs. Bal |
| 25. | Terrance Williams DAL vs. Det |
| 26. | Larry Fitzgerald ARZ at Car |
| 27. | Kerwynn Williams ARZ at Car Note: Had 17 carries last week against seven for Taylor. |
| 28. | Reggie Bush DET at Dal |
| 29. | Dri Archer PIT vs. Bal |
| 30. | Joseph Randle DAL vs. Det |
| 31. | Trent Richardson IND vs. Cin |
| 32. | Donte Moncrief IND vs. Cin |
| 33. | *Reggie Wayne IND vs. Cin Note: (Groin) Was limited at practice Wednesday, believes that he'll be good to go for Sunday. Full practice Thursday. |
| 34. | John Brown ARZ at Car |
| 35. | Owen Daniels BAL at Pit |
| 36. | Jason Witten DAL vs. Det |
| 37. | Jerricho Cotchery CAR vs. Ari |
| 38. | Markus Wheaton PIT vs. Bal |
| 39. | Josh Harris PIT vs. Bal Note: Could be a bit of a platoon between Harris and Archer if LeVeon Bell can't go, with Harris running more between the tackles, and Archer catching more passes. |
| 40. | *DeAngelo Williams CAR vs. Ari Note: (Hand) Fully practiced Wednesday and is 'ready-to-roll' for Saturday's game against Arizona, but I doubt that he substantially cuts into Stewart's role. |
| 41. | Stepfan Taylor ARZ at Car |
| 42. | Hakeem Nicks IND vs. Cin |
| 43. | Philly Brown CAR vs. Ari |
| 44. | *Dwayne Allen IND vs. Cin Note: (Knee) Full practice Wednesday. |
| 45. | Eric Ebron DET at Dal |
Kickers
| 1. | Dan Bailey DAL vs. Det |
| 2. | Justin Tucker BAL at Pit |
| 3. | Shaun Suisham PIT vs. Bal Note: Finished the season seventh among kickers in points. |
| 4. | Adam Vinatieri IND vs. Cin |
| 5. | Mike Nugent CIN at Ind |
| 6. | Graham Gano CAR vs. Ari |
| 7. | Matt Prater DET at Dal |
| 8. | Chandler Catanzaro ARZ at Car |
Defenses
| 1. | Carolina Panthers vs. Ari |
| 2. | *Indianapolis Colts vs. Cin Note: Jerrell Freeman (Hamstring) practiced Wednesday. |
| 3. | *Dallas Cowboys vs. Det Note: Henry Melton (bone bruise in knee) out for the playoffs. |
| 4. | Baltimore Ravens at Pit Note: Haloti Ngata (suspension) returns this week. |
| 5. | *Arizona Cardinals at Car Note: Larry Foote (knee) will return this week. |
| 6. | *Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Bal Note: Troy Polamalu (Knee) practiced Thursday, has missed the last two weeks. Ike Taylor (shoulder/forearm) sat out last week but hopes to return Saturday night. |
| 7. | Cincinnati Bengals at Ind |
| 8. | *Detroit Lions at Dal Note: Jim Caldwell said it would be a 'miracle' for Nick Fairley (knee) to play, but he practiced Thursday. |
