This article is part of our Weekly Rankings series.
***First posted Thursday, 1/8.***
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. Bal |
| 2. | *Aaron Rodgers GB vs. Dal Note: Sat out practice Wednesday with a calf strain, but expected to return Thursday. |
| 3. | Peyton Manning DEN vs. Ind |
| 4. | Andrew Luck IND at Den |
| 5. | *Tony Romo DAL at GB Note: (Back) Standard maintenance day off Wednesday. |
| 6. | Russell Wilson SEA vs. Car |
| 7. | Joe Flacco BAL at NE |
| 8. | Cam Newton CAR at Sea |
Running Backs
| 1. | DeMarco Murray DAL at GB |
| 2. | C.J. Anderson DEN vs. Ind |
| 3. | Eddie Lacy GB vs. Dal |
| 4. | *Marshawn Lynch SEA vs. Car Note: (Back) Full participant in Wednesday's practice. |
| 5. | Justin Forsett BAL at NE |
| 6. | Jonathan Stewart CAR at Sea |
| 7. | LeGarrette Blount NE vs. Bal |
***First posted Thursday, 1/8.***
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. Bal |
| 2. | *Aaron Rodgers GB vs. Dal Note: Sat out practice Wednesday with a calf strain, but expected to return Thursday. |
| 3. | Peyton Manning DEN vs. Ind |
| 4. | Andrew Luck IND at Den |
| 5. | *Tony Romo DAL at GB Note: (Back) Standard maintenance day off Wednesday. |
| 6. | Russell Wilson SEA vs. Car |
| 7. | Joe Flacco BAL at NE |
| 8. | Cam Newton CAR at Sea |
Running Backs
| 1. | DeMarco Murray DAL at GB |
| 2. | C.J. Anderson DEN vs. Ind |
| 3. | Eddie Lacy GB vs. Dal |
| 4. | *Marshawn Lynch SEA vs. Car Note: (Back) Full participant in Wednesday's practice. |
| 5. | Justin Forsett BAL at NE |
| 6. | Jonathan Stewart CAR at Sea |
| 7. | LeGarrette Blount NE vs. Bal |
| 8. | Dan Herron IND at Den Note: Fumbled twice, but will remain the starter again this week. |
| 9. | Shane Vereen NE vs. Bal |
| 10. | Ronnie Hillman DEN vs. Ind |
| 11. | James Starks GB vs. Dal |
| 12. | Joseph Randle DAL at GB |
| 13. | Zurlon Tipton IND at Den |
| 14. | DeAngelo Williams CAR at Sea |
| 15. | Robert Turbin SEA vs. Car |
| 16. | Bernard Pierce BAL at NE |
| 17. | Christine Michael SEA vs. Car |
| 18. | *Juwan Thompson DEN vs. Ind Note: (Hip/Knee) Full participant for Wednesday's practice, should be available Sunday if needed. |
| 19. | Lance Dunbar DAL at GB |
| 20. | *Trent Richardson IND at Den Note: (Illness) Didn't register a carry last week - but it's not certain whether that was due to the illness, or recent performance. |
| 21. | Fozzy Whittaker CAR at Sea |
| 22. | Brandon Bolden NE vs. Bal |
| 23. | *Jonas Gray NE vs. Bal Note: (Ankle) Limited in Wednesday's practice. |
| 24. | Mike Tolbert CAR at Sea |
Wide Receivers
| 1. | Dez Bryant DAL at GB |
| 2. | *Demaryius Thomas DEN vs. Ind Note: (Ankle/Finger) Full participant Wednesday. |
| 3. | Jordy Nelson GB vs. Dal |
| 4. | T.Y. Hilton IND at Den |
| 5. | Randall Cobb GB vs. Dal |
| 6. | Emmanuel Sanders DEN vs. Ind |
| 7. | *Brandon LaFell NE vs. Bal Note: (Toe) Limited at Wednesday's practice, but later said that he was 'fine.' |
| 8. | *Julian Edelman NE vs. Bal Note: (Concussion) Limited Wednesday, but fully expects to play this weekend. |
| 9. | Steve Smith BAL at NE |
| 10. | Doug Baldwin SEA vs. Car |
| 11. | Donte Moncrief IND at Den |
| 12. | Torrey Smith BAL at NE |
| 13. | Terrance Williams DAL at GB |
| 14. | Kelvin Benjamin CAR at Sea |
| 15. | Hakeem Nicks IND at Den |
| 16. | Cole Beasley DAL at GB |
| 17. | Davante Adams GB vs. Dal |
| 18. | Reggie Wayne IND at Den |
| 19. | Wes Welker DEN vs. Ind |
| 20. | Jerricho Cotchery CAR at Sea |
| 21. | Danny Amendola NE vs. Bal |
| 22. | Cody Latimer DEN vs. Ind |
| 23. | *Jermaine Kearse SEA vs. Car Note: (Hamstring) Full practice Wednesday. |
| 24. | *Philly Brown CAR at Sea Note: (Shoulder) Did not practice Wednesday, but participated in Thursday's workout. |
Tight Ends
| 1. | Rob Gronkowski NE vs. Bal |
| 2. | Greg Olsen CAR at Sea |
| 3. | Julius Thomas DEN vs. Ind |
| 4. | Coby Fleener IND at Den Note: Had a touchdown called back last week, but should be heavily targeted against the Broncos. |
| 5. | Owen Daniels BAL at NE |
| 6. | Jason Witten DAL at GB |
| 7. | Luke Willson SEA vs. Car |
| 8. | Andrew Quarless GB vs. Dal |
| 9. | Dwayne Allen IND at Den |
| 10. | Tim Wright NE vs. Bal |
| 11. | Richard Rodgers GB vs. Dal |
| 12. | Cooper Helfet SEA vs. Car |
| 13. | Gavin Escobar DAL at GB |
| 14. | Jacob Tamme DEN vs. Ind |
Flex (RB/WR/TE)
| 1. | Dez Bryant DAL at GB |
| 2. | *Demaryius Thomas DEN vs. Ind Note: (Ankle/Finger) Full participant Wednesday. |
| 3. | Rob Gronkowski NE vs. Bal |
| 4. | Jordy Nelson GB vs. Dal |
| 5. | DeMarco Murray DAL at GB |
| 6. | C.J. Anderson DEN vs. Ind |
| 7. | T.Y. Hilton IND at Den |
| 8. | Eddie Lacy GB vs. Dal |
| 9. | *Marshawn Lynch SEA vs. Car Note: (Back) Full participant in Wednesday's practice. |
| 10. | Randall Cobb GB vs. Dal |
| 11. | Emmanuel Sanders DEN vs. Ind |
| 12. | *Brandon LaFell NE vs. Bal Note: (Toe) Limited at Wednesday's practice, but later said that he was 'fine.' |
| 13. | *Julian Edelman NE vs. Bal Note: (Concussion) Limited Wednesday, but fully expects to play this weekend. |
| 14. | Justin Forsett BAL at NE |
| 15. | Jonathan Stewart CAR at Sea |
| 16. | LeGarrette Blount NE vs. Bal |
| 17. | Dan Herron IND at Den Note: Fumbled twice, but will remain the starter again this week. |
| 18. | Steve Smith BAL at NE |
| 19. | Doug Baldwin SEA vs. Car |
| 20. | Donte Moncrief IND at Den |
| 21. | Torrey Smith BAL at NE |
| 22. | Greg Olsen CAR at Sea |
| 23. | Julius Thomas DEN vs. Ind |
| 24. | Terrance Williams DAL at GB |
| 25. | Kelvin Benjamin CAR at Sea |
| 26. | Shane Vereen NE vs. Bal |
| 27. | Ronnie Hillman DEN vs. Ind |
| 28. | James Starks GB vs. Dal |
| 29. | Joseph Randle DAL at GB |
| 30. | Coby Fleener IND at Den Note: Had a touchdown called back last week, but should be heavily targeted against the Broncos. |
| 31. | Owen Daniels BAL at NE |
| 32. | Jason Witten DAL at GB |
| 33. | Hakeem Nicks IND at Den |
| 34. | Cole Beasley DAL at GB |
| 35. | Luke Willson SEA vs. Car |
| 36. | Andrew Quarless GB vs. Dal |
| 37. | Dwayne Allen IND at Den |
| 38. | Zurlon Tipton IND at Den |
| 39. | DeAngelo Williams CAR at Sea |
| 40. | Robert Turbin SEA vs. Car |
| 41. | Davante Adams GB vs. Dal |
| 42. | Reggie Wayne IND at Den |
| 43. | Wes Welker DEN vs. Ind |
| 44. | Jerricho Cotchery CAR at Sea |
Kickers
| 1. | Steven Hauschka SEA vs. Car |
| 2. | Connor Barth DEN vs. Ind |
| 3. | Stephen Gostkowski NE vs. Bal |
| 4. | Adam Vinatieri IND at Den |
| 5. | Mason Crosby GB vs. Dal |
| 6. | Dan Bailey DAL at GB |
| 7. | Justin Tucker BAL at NE |
| 8. | Graham Gano CAR at Sea Note: Missed a 43-yard attempt in the win over the Cardinals. |
Defenses
| 1. | Seattle Seahawks vs. Car |
| 2. | New England Patriots vs. Bal |
| 3. | *Denver Broncos vs. Ind Note: Brandon Marshall (foot) was limited at Wednesday's practice. |
| 4. | Baltimore Ravens at NE |
| 5. | Green Bay Packers vs. Dal |
| 6. | *Carolina Panthers at Sea Note: Big loss for the Panthers - DT Star Lotulelei is out with a fractured foot. S Thomas DeCoud (hamstring) was limited in Wednesday's practice. |
| 7. | *Dallas Cowboys at GB Note: Rolando McClain (concussion) won't be able to practice until at least Friday. |
| 8. | *Indianapolis Colts at Den Note: Greg Toler (knee) didn't practice Wednesday. |
