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Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007 04:33 AM

Week 15 value meter

Week 15: Thursday Game: Denver at Houston; Saturday Game: Cincinnati at San Francisco

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.

Last updated December 11. * = check status (not necessarily injury status)

Quarterback

  1. Tom Brady NE vs. NYJ
    1. Tony Romo DAL vs. PHI
    2. Drew Brees NO vs. AZ
    3. Carson Palmer CIN at SF
    4. Derek Anderson CLE vs. BUF -- Note: Huge game this week - if Cleveland wins, Buffalo basically is knocked out of the final playoff spot.
    5. Peyton Manning IND at OAK
    6. Matt Hasselbeck SEA at CAR
    7. Brett Favre GB at STL -- Note: Could see limited use with first-round bye imminent, but Aaron Rodgers is banged up right now.
    8. Ben Roethlisberger PIT vs. JAC
    9. Kurt Warner AZ at NO -- Note: Wrenched his knee in the loss to Seattle, but should start again this week.
    10. Jeff Garcia TB vs. ATL -- Note: Sat last week, but should start this week against Atlanta. They clinch the NFC South with a win.
    11. Jay Cutler DEN at HOU
    12. Eli Manning NYG vs. WAS
    13. Donovan McNabb PHI at DAL
    14. Philip Rivers SD vs. DET -- Note: Swollen knee on Monday, probably won't practice on Wednesday.
    15. Trent Edwards BUF at CLE
    16. David Garrard JAC at PIT
    17. Jon Kitna DET at SD
    18. Vince Young TEN at KC -- Note: Sore ribs, sore fantasy owners cringing from the lack of production.
    19. Sage Rosenfels HOU vs. DEN -- Note: Matt Schaub is likely out again with a dislocated left shoulder. The fact that the game is on Thursday doesn't help.
    20. Todd Collins WAS at NYG -- Note: Jason Campbell is out with a dislocated kneecap.
    21. Tarvaris Jackson MIN vs. CHI
    22. Kyle Boller BAL at MIA -- Note: Yanked in favor of Troy Smith in last week's blowout loss, but should start again this week.
    23. Marc Bulger STL vs. GB -- Note: Effects of concussion are still lingering. We might see Brock Berlin again this week.
    24. Kyle Orton CHI at MIN -- Note: Rex Grossman is out for the season, and Brian Griese is a known commodity. So, instead, it's a chance to see what they have in Orton, and for Deadspin readers to rejoice.
    25. Shaun Hill SF vs. CIN -- Note: Trent Dilfer (concussion) is doubtful, and Alex Smith has opted for season-ending shoulder surgery.
    26. Chris Redman ATL at TB
    27. Kellen Clemens NYJ at NE -- Note: Got the dreaded vote of confidence after last week's loss to the Browns.
    28. Brodie Croyle KC vs. TEN
    29. Josh McCown OAK vs. IND -- Note: Sore finger, but probably should start again this week. JaMarcus Russell will get some playing time, however.
    30. Vinny Testaverde CAR vs. SEA
    31. John Beck MIA vs. BAL -- Note: Yanked in favor of Cleo Lemon last week, and his status as the starter is up in the air still.

Running Back

  1. Joseph Addai IND at OAK
    1. LaDainian Tomlinson SD vs. DET
    2. Ryan Grant GB at STL
    3. Brian Westbrook PHI at DAL -- Note: Bruised knee. Watch him carefully - the Eagles might treat him more cautiously now that their playoff hopes are fading.
    4. Earnest Graham TB vs. ATL
    5. Adrian Peterson MIN vs. CHI -- Note: Despite what happened last week, cautiously optimistic he'll have a good rebound game.
    6. Steven Jackson STL vs. GB
    7. Willis McGahee BAL at MIA -- Note: Aggravated his toe injury in the loss to the Colts.
    8. Kolby Smith KC vs. TEN -- Note: Minor ankle injury.
    9. Marshawn Lynch BUF at CLE -- Note: Sharing the workload with Fred Jackson, although he'll still get a majority of the carries.
    10. Marion Barber DAL vs. PHI
    11. Aaron Stecker NO vs. AZ -- Note: The starter with Reggie Bush out.
    12. LenDale White TEN at KC --Note: Finger was a non-issue for him last week.
    13. Jamal Lewis CLE vs. BUF
    14. Clinton Portis WAS at NYG -- Note: Hand injury shouldn't keep him out.
    15. Frank Gore SF vs. CIN
    16. Willie Parker PIT vs. JAC
    17. Rudi Johnson CIN at SF
    18. Selvin Young DEN at HOU -- Note: The better of the three backs, but Henry still gets the goal line love.
    19. Kevin Jones DET at SD -- Note: Remarkable turnaround from the previous week.
    20. Edgerrin James AZ at NO
    21. Adrian Peterson CHI at MIN
    22. Fred Taylor JAC at PIT
    23. Brandon Jacobs NYG vs. WAS -- Note: Healthy, but lost two fumbles and saw Reuben Droughns take away the goal-line action again.
    24. Thomas Jones NYJ at NE
    25. Laurence Maroney NE vs. NYJ
    26. Justin Fargas OAK vs. IND -- Note: Rib injury, but still expected to start.
    27. Darius Walker HOU vs. DEN
    28. Julius Jones DAL vs. PHI
    29. Shaun Alexander SEA at CAR -- Note: Devolving into a true time-share. Remember when Seattle was weighing the merits to ponying up to sign him to the big extension? This is the nightmare salary cap scenario they were contemplating.
    30. Maurice Jones-Drew JAC at PIT
    31. Travis Henry DEN at HOU -- Note: Not fully healthy, but enough to at least get goal-line carries.
    32. Jerious Norwood ATL at TB -- Note: Six carries are not going to produce a breakout performance. Yet he was still better than Warrick Dunn on Monday night.
    33. DeShaun Foster CAR vs. SEA
    34. Chester Taylor MIN vs. CHI
    35. Fred Jackson BUF at CLE
    36. Maurice Morris SEA at CAR
    37. DeAngelo Williams CAR vs. SEA
    38. Leon Washington NYJ at NE
    39. Ladell Betts WAS at NYG
    40. T.J. Duckett DET at SD
    41. Ron Dayne HOU vs. DEN -- Note: Ankle injury flared up last week, and the Texans have a short week for him to get better. Look for Darius Walker and Adimchinobe Echemandu to split the workload this week.
    42. Jesse Chatman MIA vs. BAL -- Note: Ankle injury, might not be able to go again this week.
    43. Correll Buckhalter PHI at DAL -- Note: Suffered a concussion in the loss to the Giants.
    44. Reuben Droughns NYG vs. WAS
    45. Warrick Dunn ATL at TB
    46. Adimchinobe Echemandu HOU vs. DEN
    47. Chris Brown TEN at KC
    48. Kenny Watson CIN at SF -- Note: Losing carries not just to Rudi Johnson, but also to DeDe Dorsey.
    49. Pierre Thomas NO vs. AZ
    50. DeDe Dorsey CIN at SF
    51. Kenton Keith IND at OAK -- Note: Thumb injury, may sit out this week.
    52. Najeh Davenport PIT vs. JAC
    53. Kevin Faulk NE vs. NYJ
    54. Leonard Weaver SEA at CAR
    55. Greg Jones JAC at PIT
    56. Musa Smith BAL at MIA
    57. Maurice Hicks SF vs. CIN
    58. Jason Wright CLE vs. BUF
    59. Michael Turner SD vs. DET
    60. Samkon Gado MIA vs. BAL
    61. Michael Robinson SF vs. CIN
    62. Andre Hall DEN at HOU
    63. Michael Pittman TB vs. ATL
    64. Larry Johnson KC vs. TEN -- Note: Out again, and you should assume that he'll continue to be so unless the Chiefs go out of their way to say otherwise - after all, they have nothing left to play for this season.
    65. *Reggie Bush NO vs. AZ -- Note: PCL tear, almost certainly out for the year.

Wide Receiver

  1. Randy Moss NE vs. NYJ
    1. Terrell Owens DAL vs. PHI
    2. Braylon Edwards CLE vs. BUF
    3. Marques Colston NO vs. AZ
    4. Greg Jennings GB at STL
    5. Reggie Wayne IND at OAK
    6. Joey Galloway TB vs. ATL -- Note: Productive despite toe injury.
    7. Wes Welker NE vs. NYJ
    8. Andre Johnson HOU vs. DEN
    9. T.J. Houshmandzadeh CIN at SF
    10. Plaxico Burress NYG vs. WAS -- Note: Moved as well as he has in a long time last week.
    11. Hines Ward PIT vs. JAC
    12. Chad Johnson CIN at SF
    13. Torry Holt STL vs. GB
    14. Bobby Engram SEA at CAR
    15. Larry Fitzgerald AZ at NO -- Note: Still not 100 percent due to groin injury.
    16. Brandon Marshall DEN at HOU
    17. Shaun McDonald DET at SD
    18. Donald Driver GB at STL -- Note: Hasn't scored since Week 3.
    19. Deion Branch SEA at CAR -- Note: Only four targets last week.
    20. Roddy White ATL at TB
    21. Kevin Curtis PHI at DAL -- Note: Hasn't scored since Week 6.
    22. Derrick Mason BAL at MIA
    23. Bernard Berrian CHI at MIN
    24. Patrick Crayton DAL vs. PHI -- Note: Injured his foot late in the win over Detroit.
    25. Calvin Johnson DET at SD -- Note: Still should be pretty prominent in the passing game, despite last week's disappointing output.
    26. Laveranues Coles NYJ at NE -- Note: Still monitoring his high ankle sprain.
    27. Anthony Gonzalez IND at OAK
    28. Lee Evans BUF at CLE
    29. Sidney Rice MIN vs. CHI
    30. Chris Henry CIN at SF
    31. Santonio Holmes PIT vs. JAC
    32. Jerricho Cotchery NYJ at NE -- Note: Doubtful (finger) one day, six catches and 119 yards the next. It's enough to drive you crazy.
    33. Kevin Walter HOU vs. DEN
    34. Justin Gage TEN at KC
    35. Anquan Boldin AZ at NO -- Note: Sat out last week with toe injury, but encouraged by progress in his recovery.
    36. Arnaz Battle SF vs. CIN
    37. Isaac Bruce STL vs. GB
    38. Jabar Gaffney NE vs. NYJ -- Note: Surpassing Stallworth in the offense?
    39. Bryant Johnson AZ at NO
    40. Reggie Williams JAC at PIT
    41. Dwayne Bowe KC vs. TEN
    42. Jerry Porter OAK vs. IND
    43. David Patten NO vs. AZ -- Note: Agonizingly inconsistent.
    44. Donte Stallworth NE vs. NYJ -- Note: Losing time to Gaffney?
    45. Nate Burleson SEA at CAR -- Note: Three touchdowns in his last four games.
    46. Steve Smith CAR vs. SEA
    47. Santana Moss WAS at NYG
    48. Jerheme Urban AZ at NO
    49. Reggie Brown PHI at DAL -- Note: Minor knee injury.
    50. Brandon Stokley DEN at HOU
    51. Devard Darling BAL at MIA
    52. Roscoe Parrish BUF at CLE
    53. Chris Chambers SD vs. DET
    54. Ike Hilliard TB vs. ATL
    55. Roydell Williams TEN at KC
    56. Amani Toomer NYG vs. WAS
    57. Muhsin Muhammad CHI at MIN
    58. Ronald Curry OAK vs. IND
    59. Marty Booker MIA vs. BAL
    60. Joe Jurevicius CLE vs. BUF
    61. Devery Henderson NO vs. AZ
    62. Mike Furrey DET at SD
    63. Ted Ginn MIA vs. BAL
    64. Michael Jenkins ATL at TB -- Note: Nine catches on Monday night, but matchup this week is considerably worse.
    65. Keenan McCardell WAS at NYG
    66. James Jones GB at STL
    67. Mark Clayton BAL at MIA
    68. Ernest Wilford JAC at PIT
    69. Dennis Northcutt JAC at PIT
    70. Vincent Jackson SD vs. DET
    71. Andre Davis HOU vs. DEN
    72. Josh Reed BUF at CLE
    73. Drew Carter CAR vs. SEA
    74. Laurent Robinston ATL at TB
    75. Brad Smith NYJ at NE
    76. Drew Bennett STL vs. GB
    77. Darrell Jackson SF vs. CIN
    78. Javon Walker DEN at HOU -- Note: Continued knee soreness.
    79. Antwaan Randle El WAS at NYG
    80. Brandon Jones TEN at KC
    81. Marvin Harrison IND at OAK -- Note: Out again this week.
    82. *D.J. Hackett SEA at CAR -- Note: Progressing nicely from ankle sprain, but probably won't play this week.

Tight End

  1. Antonio Gates SD vs. DET -- Note: Lower back bruise or hip injury? Expected to play nonetheless.
    1. Jason Witten DAL vs. PHI
    2. Kellen Winslow CLE vs. BUF
    3. Donald Lee GB at STL
    4. Chris Cooley WAS at NYG
    5. Dallas Clark IND at OAK
    6. Owen Daniels HOU vs. DEN
    Tony Gonzalez KC vs. TEN -- Note: Sprained an ankle but returned last week.
  2. Jeremy Shockey NYG vs. WAS -- Note: How much is his abdominal strain hurting his production? We hear he's going to throw a mean New Year's Party, though.
  3. Alge Crumpler ATL at TB
  4. Alex Smith TB vs. ATL
  5. Tony Scheffler DEN at HOU
  6. Ben Watson NE vs. NYJ
  7. Heath Miller PIT vs. JAC
  8. Desmond Clark CHI at MIN
  9. Greg Olsen CHI at MIN
  10. Chris Baker NYJ at NE
  11. Marcedes Lewis JAC at PIT
  12. Zach Miller OAK vs. IND
  13. Vernon Davis SF vs. CIN
  14. Daniel Wilcox BAL at MIA -- Note: Dolphins' linebackers not very apt at defending the tight end.
  15. Eric Johnson NO vs. AZ
  16. Robert Royal BUF at CLE
  17. Randy McMichael STL vs. GB
  18. Bo Scaife TEN at KC
  19. Quinn Sypniewski BAL at MIA
  20. Todd Heap BAL at MIA -- Note: (Hamsting) Will try to give it a go this week.
  21. Jeff King CAR vs. SEA
  22. Will Heller SEA at CAR
  23. Ben Utecht IND at OAK
  24. L.J. Smith PHI at DAL -- Note: Knee and rib injuries.

Kicker

  1. Nick Folk DAL vs. PHI
    1. Stephen Gostkowski NE vs. NYJ
    2. Mason Crosby GB at STL
    3. Phil Dawson CLE vs. BUF
    4. Shayne Graham CIN at SF
    5. Rob Bironas TEN at KC
    6. Jeff Reed PIT vs. JAC
    7. Nate Kaeding SD vs. DET
    8. Josh Brown SEA at CAR
    9. Ryan Longwell MIN vs. CHI
    10. Kris Brown HOU vs. DEN
    11. Lawrence Tynes NYG vs. WAS
    12. Robbie Gould CHI at MIN
    13. Jason Elam DEN at HOU
    14. David Akers PHI at DAL
    15. Mike Nugent NYJ at NE
    16. Matt Bryant TB vs. ATL
    17. Adam Vinatieri IND at OAK
    18. Jeff Wilkins STL vs. GB
    19. Jason Hanson DET at SD
    20. Rian Lindell BUF at CLE
    21. Matt Stover BAL at MIA
    22. Neil Rackers AZ at NO
    23. Sebastian Janikowski OAK vs. IND
    24. Joe Nedney SF vs. CIN

Defense

  1. Minnesota vs. Chicago
    1. Tampa Bay vs. Atlanta
    2. New England vs. New York Jets
    3. New York Giants vs. Washington
    4. Green Bay at St. Louis -- Note: It looks as if Bulger won't play, meaning that the Packers get to feast on Brock Berlin. If Bulger starts, move them down a couple of pegs.
    5. San Diego vs. Detroit -- Note: Without Shawne Merriman this week.
    6. Pittsburgh vs. Jacksonville
    7. Indianapolis at Oakland
    8. Seattle at Carolina
    9. Dallas vs. Philadelphia
    10. Baltimore at Miami
    11. New Orleans vs. Arizona
    12. Cincinnati at San Francisco
    13. Houston vs. Denver
    14. Cleveland vs. Buffalo
    15. Tennessee at Kansas City
    16. Kansas City vs. Tennessee
    17. Denver at Houston
    18. Chicago at Minnesota
    19. Jacksonville at Pittsburgh
    20. Carolina vs. Seattle
    21. Miami vs. Baltimore
    22. San Francisco vs. Cincinnati
    23. Washington at New York Giants
    24. Buffalo at Cleveland
    25. Arizona at New Orleans
    26. St. Louis vs. Green Bay
    27. Detroit at San Diego
    28. Atlanta at Tampa Bay
    29. Oakland vs. Indianapolis
    30. Philadelphia at Dallas
    31. New York Jets at New England