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Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007 01:33 PM

Week 3 value meter

By Jeff Erickson

Here are our rankings for the coming week at each position to help you decide your starting lineup. They 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 September 18 (check status -- not necessarily an injury)*

QUARTERRBACKS

  1. Peyton Manning, IND at HOU
    1. Carson Palmer, CIN at SEA
    2. Matt Hasselbeck, SEA vs. CIN
    3. Tom Brady, NE vs. BUF -- Only danger here is that the Pats get off to such a huge lead that they stop passing early. Unlike Pittsburgh, they don't seem to be likely candidates to shut it down.
    4. Vince Young, TEN at NO
    5. Jake Delhomme, CAR at ATL -- We haven't yet seen whether the ATL secondary is decent - this will be their first real test.
    6. Ben Roethlisberger PIT vs. SF
    7. Donovan McNabb, PHI vs. DET -- Paltry 5.2 YPA on Monday night.
    8. Drew Brees, NO vs. TEN -- Have to downgrade a couple of spots until we see something, anything, encouraging.
    9. Jeff Garcia, TB vs. STL -- Very efficient in shredding of the Saints. More of the same this week?
    10. Jason Campbell, WAS vs. NYG
    11. Marc Bulger, STL at TB -- Sore ribs - getting sacked six times will do that for you. Racked up the yards despite the absence of Orlando Pace, but those yards came at a cost.
    12. Tony Romo DAL at CHI
    13. Matt Schaub, HOU vs. IND -- Probable loss of Andre Johnson really hurts this week.
    14. Jon Kitna, DET at PHI -- "Miracle" recovery from a "mild" concussion on Sunday. Somewhere, colleague Will Carroll is pulling his hair out over this one.
    15. Jay Cutler, DEN vs. JAC
    16. Josh McCown, OAK vs. CLE -- Goes from being doubtful to starting Sunday's loss to the Broncos. No matter though - if you started him, you lost out. He'll start this week, and the matchup is juicy.
    17. Philip Rivers, SD at GB
    18. Eli Manning, NYG at WAS -- Shoulder held up reasonably well in loss to the Packers. This could be a deceptively tough matchup for him this week, however.
    19. Brett Favre, GB vs. SD
    20. Alex Smith, SF at PIT
    21. Chad Pennington, NYJ vs. MIA -- Who starts this week? Kellen Clemens or Pennington (ankle)? All signs point to Pennington if he's healthy enough.
    22. Trent Green, MIA at NYJ
    23. Derek Anderson, CLE at OAK -- Nice game and all, but this week is a much stiffer test.
    24. Matt Leinart, AZ at BAL
    25. Rex Grossman CHI vs. DAL
    26. Damon Huard KC vs. MIN -- Will remain the starter over Brodie Croyle in Week 3.
    27. Steve McNair, BAL vs. AZ -- McNair (groin) expected to return for Week 3. Are the Ravens better off with Kyle Boller?
    28. Joey Harrington, ATL vs. CAR -- Harrington or Byron Leftwich? Death is not an option.
    29. David Garrard, JAC at DEN
    30. *Tarvaris Jackson, MIN at KC -- Ugly, ugly play in the loss to the Lions, but his running touchdown at least mitigated some of the damage from a fantasy perspective. His groin injury is possibly significant. Kelly Holcomb is more likely to start than Brooks Bollinger if Jackson can't go.
    31. J.P. Losman, BUF at NE -- Fantastic, another good defense for Dick Jauron to justify his conservative game plan against.

RUNNING BACKS

  1. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD at GB -- I'm not worried yet - it's no disgrace to struggle against the Bears, and the Chargers fell way behind the Patriots early on.
    1. Shaun Alexander, SEA vs. CIN -- Playing with a cast on his wrist, ran much better in the second half in Week 2.
    2. Joseph Addai, IND at HOU
    3. Willie Parker PIT vs. SF
    4. Brian Westbrook, PHI vs. DET -- Sprained knee a concern?
    5. Steven Jackson, STL at TB
    6. Frank Gore, SF at PIT -- Leg strain appears to be minor.
    7. Rudi Johnson, CIN at SEA
    8. Travis Henry, DEN vs. JAC -- Overcame a sore ankle in the win over the Raiders.
    9. Willis McGahee, BAL vs. AZ
    10. Adrian Peterson, MIN at KC
    11. Laurence Maroney, NE vs. BUF
    12. Clinton Portis, WAS vs. NYG -- Knee appears to be just fine.
    13. LaMont Jordan, OAK vs. CLE
    14. Cadillac Williams, TB vs. STL -- Ribs held up, and he was used in goal-line situations.
    15. Larry Johnson, KC vs. MIN -- It's going to get better at some point, really - just not this week.
    16. Cedric Benson, CHI vs. DAL
    17. Ahman Green, HOU vs. IND -- Some cramping in Week 2's win over Carolina.
    18. Reggie Bush, NO vs. TEN
    19. Jamal Lewis, CLE at OAK
    20. Thomas Jones, NYJ vs. MIA
    21. Edgerrin James AZ at BAL
    22. Deuce McAllister, NO vs. TEN -- Swollen left eye.
    23. Fred Taylor, JAC at DEN
    24. Marshawn Lynch, BUF at NE
    25. Marion Barber, DAL at CHI
    26. Derrick Ward, NYG at WAS
    27. Warrick Dunn, ATL vs. CAR -- Not quite in "football shape."
    28. Ronnie Brown, MIA at NYJ
    29. LenDale White, TEN at NO
    30. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC at DEN -- "Unspecified injury" = withdrawal pains due to the lack of carries so far this season?
    31. DeShaun Foster, CAR at ATL
    32. Tatum Bell, DET at PHI -- With Kevin Jones probably playing, Bell's carries go way down.
    33. Ladell Betts WAS vs. NYG
    34. Chris Brown TEN at NO
    35. DeShawn Wynn GB vs. SD
    36. Jerious Norwood ATL vs. CAR
    37. Sammy Morris NE vs. BUF -- Note: Stealing some goal-line carries away from Maroney?
    38. DeAngelo Williams CAR at ATL
    39. Julius Jones DAL at CHI
    40. Kevin Jones DET at PHI -- Expected to get about 10 carries this week.
    41. Brandon Jackson GB vs. SD -- Losing carries to DeShawn Wynn.
    42. Jesse Chatman MIA at NYJ
    43. Reuben Droughns NYG at WAS
    44. Adrian Peterson CHI vs. DAL
    45. Chester Taylor MIN at KC -- Questionable again this week with an oblique injury.
    46. Selvin Young, DEN vs. JAC
    47. Michael Turner, SD at GB
    48. Musa Smith, BAL vs. AZ
    49. Leon Washington, NYJ vs. MIA
    50. Anthony Thomas, BUF at NE
    51. Michael Bennett, KC vs. MIN
    52. Michael Pittman, TB vs. STL
    53. Ron Dayne, HOU vs. IND
    54. Kenton Keith, IND at HOU
    55. Maurice Morris, SEA vs. CIN -- Hip injury.
    56. Kevin Faulk, NE vs. BUF
    57. Vernand Morency, GB vs. SD -- Emergence of DeShawn Wynn kills his value.
    58. Correll Buckhalter, PHI vs. DET
    59. Aaron Stecker, NO vs. TEN
    60. Justin Fargas, OAK vs. CLE
    61. Marcel Shipp, AZ at BAL
    62. Mewelde Moore, MIN at KC -- Some action with Chester Taylor hurt.
    63. Earnest Graham, TB vs. STL
    64. Brian Calhoun, DET at PHI

WIDE RECEIVERS

  1. Steve Smith, CAR at ATL
    1. Chad Johnson, CIN at SEA
    2. Reggie Wayne, IND at HOU
    3. Randy Moss, NE vs. BUF
    4. Terrell Owens, DAL at CHI
    5. Marvin Harrison, IND at HOU
    6. Javon Walker, DEN vs. JAC
    7. Torry Holt, STL at TB
    8. Roy Williams, DET at PHI
    9. Joey Galloway, TB vs. STL
    10. Plaxico Burress, NYG at WAS -- Note: Ankle and pinkie sprains.
    11. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, CIN at SEA
    12. Marques Colston, NO vs. TEN
    13. Donald Driver, GB vs. SD
    14. Hines Ward, PIT vs. SF
    15. Larry Fitzgerald, AZ at BAL
    16. Ronald Curry, OAK vs. CLE
    17. Santana Moss, WAS vs. NYG
    18. Braylon Edwards, CLE at OAK
    19. Chris Chambers, MIA at NYJ
    20. Reggie Brown, PHI vs. DET -- Note: If he's going to bounce back, this is as good of a matchup as he'll get to do so.
    21. Santonio Holmes, PIT vs. SF
    22. Anquan Boldin, AZ at BAL
    23. Laveranues Coles, NYJ vs. MIA
    24. Bernard Berrian, CHI vs. DAL
    25. Lee Evans, BUF at NE -- Note: Okay, maybe it's time to panic a little bit. It's not his fault - it's the conservative play-calling.
    26. Darrell Jackson SF at PIT -- Note: "Tweaked" back injury.
    27. Antwaan Randle El, WAS vs. NYG
    28. Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ vs. MIA
    29. Deion Branch, SEA vs. CIN
    30. Isaac Bruce, STL at TB
    31. Wes Welker, NE vs. BUF
    32. Vincent Jackson, SD at GB
    33. Derrick Mason, BAL vs. AZ
    34. Calvin Johnson, DET at PHI
    35. Mark Clayton, BAL vs. AZ -- Note: Toe injury has limited him - don't give up yet.
    36. Brandon Jones, TEN at NO
    37. Devery Henderson, NO vs. TEN -- Note: Huge disappointment this year. Will returning home help?
    38. Nate Burleson, SEA vs. CIN
    39. Brandon Marshall, DEN vs. JAC
    40. James Jones, GB vs. SD -- Note: We're assuming he starts over Jennings again this week.
    41. Donte Stallworth, NE vs. BUF
    42. Mike Furrey, DET at PHI
    43. Brandon Stokley, DEN vs. JAC -- Quietly filling in nicely as the third receiver for Denver.
    44. Jerry Porter, OAK vs. CLE
    45. Shaun McDonald, DET at PHI
    46. Joe Horn, ATL vs. CAR
    47. Drew Bennett, STL at TB
    48. Bobby Engram, SEA vs. CIN
    49. Roydell Williams, TEN at NO
    50. Muhsin Muhammad, CHI vs. DAL -- Decreased role, or is his ankle injury slowing him down?
    51. Dennis Northcutt JAC at DEN
    52. Roddy White, ATL vs. CAR
    53. Patrick Crayton, DAL at CHI -- Dislocated pinkie finger.
    54. Drew Carter, CAR at ATL
    55. Dwayne Bowe, KC vs. MIN
    56. Sam Hurd, DAL at CHI
    57. Jacoby Jones, HOU vs. IND -- Somebody has to step up if Andre Johnson is out.
    58. Kevin Curtis, PHI vs. DET
    59. Ernest Wilford, JAC at DEN
    60. Demetrius Williams, BAL vs. AZ
    61. Jason Avant, PHI vs. DET
    62. Eric Moulds, TEN at NO
    63. Glenn Holt, CIN at SEA -- Replaces Tab Perry as the #3 receiver for the Bengals.
    64. Arnaz Battle, SF at PIT
    65. Ike Hilliard, TB vs. STL
    66. Amani Toomer, NYG at WAS
    67. Marty Booker, MIA at NYJ
    68. Roscoe Parrish, BUF at NE
    69. Samie Parker, KC vs. MIN
    70. Craig Davis, SD at GB
    71. Anthony Gonzalez, IND at HOU
    72. Bryant Johnson, AZ at BAL
    73. Andre Johnson, HOU vs. IND -- Doubtful for Week 3 because of his knee sprain.
    74. Greg Jennings, GB vs. SD -- Could sit out another game.
    75. Eddie Kennison, KC vs. MIN

TIGHT ENDS

  1. Antonio Gates, SD at GB
    1. Kellen Winslow, CLE at OAK
    2. Todd Heap, BAL vs. AZ
    3. Jason Witten, DAL at CHI
    4. Jeremy Shockey, NYG at WAS
    5. Ben Watson, NE vs. BUF
    6. Owen Daniels, HOU vs. IND -- Could be very busy with Andre Johnson hurting.
    7. Tony Gonzalez, KC vs. MIN -- Has now gone six consecutive regular season games without a touchdown.
    8. Dallas Clark, IND at HOU
    9. Alge Crumpler, ATL vs. CAR
    10. Marcus Pollard, SEA vs. CIN -- Bengals got torn apart up the middle by Winslow and Steve Heiden last week.
    11. Vernon Davis, SF at PIT
    12. Chris Cooley, WAS vs. NYG
    13. Eric Johnson, NO vs. TEN
    14. Heath Miller, PIT vs. SF
    15. Randy McMichael, STL at TB
    16. Desmond Clark, CHI vs. DAL
    17. L.J. Smith, PHI vs. DET -- Still dealing with groin issue.
    18. Alex Smith, TB vs. STL -- Emerging as a favorite target for Jeff Garcia.
    19. Marcedes Lewis, JAC at DEN
    20. Jeff King, CAR at ATL
    21. David Martin, MIA at NYJ
    22. Bo Scaife, TEN at NO
    23. Chris Baker, NYJ vs. MIA
    24. Zach Miller, OAK vs. CLE
    25. Ben Utecht, IND at HOU
    26. Bubba Franks, GB vs. SD -- Note: Splitting time with Donald Lee.
    27. Donald Lee, GB vs. SD
    28. Sean McHugh, DET at PHI
    29. Leonard Pope, AZ at BAL
    30. Daniel Graham, DEN vs. JAC
    31. Reggie Kelly, CIN at SEA
    32. Greg Olsen, CHI vs. DAL

KICKERS

  1. Adam Vinatieri, IND at HOU
    1. Jason Elam, DEN vs. JAC
    2. Robbie Gould, CHI vs. DAL
    3. Jeff Reed, PIT vs. SF
    4. Josh Brown, SEA vs. CIN
    5. Jeff Wilkins, STL at TB
    6. Mason Crosby, GB vs. SD
    7. Nick Folk, DAL at CHI
    8. Jason Hanson, DET at PHI
    9. Shayne Graham, CIN at SEA
    10. Nate Kaeding, SD at GB
    11. Matt Stover, BAL vs. AZ
    12. David Akers, PHI vs. DET
    13. Shaun Suisham, WAS vs. NYG
    14. Olindo Mare, NO vs. TEN
    15. Kris Brown, HOU vs. IND
    16. Neil Rackers, AZ at BAL
    17. John Kasay, CAR at ATL
    18. Stephen Gostkowski, NE vs. BUF
    19. Joe Nedney, SF at PIT
    20. Jay Feely, MIA at NYJ
    21. Matt Bryant, TB vs. STL
    22. Rob Bironas, TEN at NO
    23. Lawrence Tynes, NYG at WAS

DEFENSE

  1. Baltimore vs. Arizona
    1. New England vs. Buffalo
    2. Denver vs. Jacksonville
    3. Chicago vs. Dallas
    4. Pittsburgh vs. San Francisco
    5. Minnesota at Kansas City
    6. Carolina at Atlanta
    7. Philadelphia vs. Detroit
    8. San Diego at Green Bay
    9. Green Bay vs. San Diego
    10. Tampa Bay vs. St. Louis -- Darkhorse to pick up a bunch of sacks this week.
    11. Kansas City vs. Minnesota
    12. Dallas at Chicago
    13. Jacksonville at Denver
    14. Washington vs. New York Giants
    15. Oakland vs. Cleveland
    16. Miami at New York Jets
    17. New York Jets vs. Miami
    18. Indianapolis at Houston
    19. San Francisco at Pittsburgh
    20. Detroit at Philadelphia
    21. Atlanta vs. Carolina
    22. Arizona at Baltimore
    23. Seattle vs. Cincinnati
    24. New Orleans vs. Tennessee
    25. Tennessee at New Orleans
    26. St. Louis at Tampa Bay
    27. New York Giants at Washington
    28. Houston vs. Indianapolis -- Emerging defense, but can't in good conscience recommend them against the Colts.
    29. Cincinnati at Seattle
    30. Cleveland at Oakland
    31. Buffalo at New England

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