By Jeff Erickson
Week 17: Saturday Game: New England at New York Giants
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 25. * = check status (not necessarily injury status)
Quarterback
- Kurt Warner AZ vs. STL
- Marc Bulger STL at AZ
- Drew Brees NO at CHI
- *Ben Roethlisberger PIT at BAL -- Note: Sore ankle shouldn't keep him out. Still has the third seed to play for.
- Tom Brady NE at NYG -- Note: How much will he play?
- Derek Anderson CLE vs. SF -- David Garrard JAC at HOU
- Carson Palmer CIN at MIA
- Donovan McNabb PHI vs. BUF
- *Todd Collins WAS vs. DAL -- Note: Likely to start the finale, with Jason Campbell's knee still swollen.
- Jay Cutler DEN vs. MIN
- *Philip Rivers SD at OAK
- Vince Young TEN at IND -- Note: Don't confuse "something to play for" with "likely to play well."
- Shaun Hill SF at CLE -- Note: First road start.
- Chris Redman ATL vs. SEA
- Jon Kitna DET at GB -- Kyle Orton CHI vs. NO
- *Sage Rosenfels HOU vs. JAC
- Cleo Lemon MIA vs. CIN -- Note: Will start the season finale over John Beck.
- *Matt Moore CAR at TB
- Brett Favre GB vs. DET -- Note: Could be very limited with Green Bay locked into the No. 2 slot.
- Matt Hasselbeck SEA at ATL -- Note: Third seed clinched for the Seahawks, so Hasselbeck could be used sparingly.
- Trent Edwards BUF at PHI -- Note: Playing without top lineman next week.
- *Tony Romo DAL at WAS -- Note: Home field is clinched and his thumb is sore; this sounds like a recipe for Brad Johnson, especially with Terrell Owens probably out.
- *Jeff Garcia TB vs. CAR -- Note: Rested early last week, likely will get the same treatment this week.
- *Eli Manning NYG vs. NE -- Note: Another QB in the group that might sit out.
- *Brodie Croyle KC at NYJ -- Note: Injured his hand against the Lions last week, Damon Huard played better. Croyle has already been named the starter for next season, however.
- Peyton Manning IND vs. TEN -- Note: Assume this will be like the final preseason game for the Colts; Manning might play a couple of series before Jim Sorgi takes over.
- *JaMarcus Russell OAK vs. SD -- Note: Russell gets his first start, but it's possible that Josh McCown might still play some.
- *Kellen Clemens NYJ vs. KC -- Note: Expected to return from the ribs/shoulder injuries that sidelined him last week, although he hasn't officially been named the starter over Chad Pennington just yet.
- Tarvaris Jackson MIN at DEN
- *Troy Smith BAL vs. PIT -- Note: Ravens are likely to play it safe with Kyle Boller and his concussion.
Running Back
- Steven Jackson STL at AZ
- *LaDainian Tomlinson SD at OAK -- Note: Limited action last week, but still has something to play for and a fantastic matchup against a rival that he regularly torches.
- *Brian Westbrook PHI vs. BUF
- Adrian Peterson MIN at DEN
- Fred Taylor JAC at HOU
- LenDale White TEN at IND
- Jamal Lewis CLE vs. SF
- Frank Gore SF at CLE
- Marshawn Lynch BUF at PHI
- Clinton Portis WAS vs. DAL
- Maurice Jones-Drew JAC at HOU
- Kenny Watson CIN at MIA
Note: Bad fumble late in the win over Cleveland, but played well otherwise. Likely to start again this week, although Rudi Johnson might be available to play. - Laurence Maroney NE at NYG
- Dominic Rhodes OAK vs. SD
- Adrian Peterson CHI vs. NO
- Najeh Davenport PIT at BAL -- Note: Starting with Parker out, but don't be surprised if they rest him late in the game, given that they won't have Parker in the playoffs.
- T.J. Duckett DET at GB -- Note: Carrying the load with Kevin Jones out for the year.
- Kolby Smith KC at NYJ -- Note: Larry Johnson declared out again.
- *Maurice Morris SEA at ATL -- Note: Perhaps worth a gamble that he'll get extensive work now that their playoff spot has been determined.
- *Jerious Norwood ATL vs. SEA
- *Ahmad Bradshaw NYG vs. NE
- *Aaron Stecker NO at CHI -- Note: Sprained a ligament in his left foot in Week 16, but still optimistic that he can go this week. Reggie Bush might be back, however.
- Edgerrin James AZ vs. STL -- Note: Losing time in the red zone to J.J. Arrington.
- DeAngelo Williams CAR at TB
- *Darius Walker HOU vs. JAC
- *Kenton Keith IND vs. TEN
- Selvin Young DEN vs. MIN
- Thomas Jones NYJ vs. KC
- Warrick Dunn ATL vs. SEA -- Note: Last hurrah?
- DeShaun Foster CAR at TB
- *Musa Smith BAL vs. PIT -- Note: More playing time with Willis McGahee out, but what will he be able to do with it?
- *Ryan Grant GB vs. DET
- *Michael Pittman TB vs. CAR -- Note: More action with the Bucs likely using Graham sparingly.
- *Earnest Graham TB vs. CAR -- Note: Rested after the second quarter last week.
- *Shaun Alexander SEA at ATL
- *Samkon Gado MIA vs. CIN
- *Brandon Jacobs NYG vs. NE -- Note: Ankle injury probably not too bad, but with playoff spot clinched he might sit anyhow.
- *Marion Barber DAL at WAS -- Note: Expect him to be among the backs getting rested this week.
- *Rudi Johnson CIN at MIA -- Note: Has a chance to play after sitting last week with a hamstring injury, but Kenny Watson likely to start.
- *Joseph Addai IND vs. TEN -- Note: Really limited last week; expect more of the same this week.
- Leon Washington NYJ vs. KC
- Chris Brown TEN at IND
- *Ron Dayne HOU vs. JAC -- Note: In uniform last week, but didn't record a single carry while nursing an ankle injury.
- Chester Taylor MIN at DEN
- *Michael Bennett TB vs. CAR
- *Reggie Bush NO at CHI -- Note: Might try to give it a go this week, with the Saints' playoff hopes hanging by a thread and Stecker banged up.
- *Darren Sproles SD at OAK
- *Travis Henry DEN vs. MIN -- Note: Only four carries last week.
- Fred Jackson BUF at PHI
- Julius Jones DAL at WAS
- Tyson Thompson DAL at WAS
- Ladell Betts WAS vs. DAL
- *LaMont Jordan OAK vs. SD
- *Jesse Chatman MIA vs. CIN
- *Michael Turner SD at OAK
- *Correll Buckhalter PHI vs. BUF
- *Reuben Droughns NYG vs. NE
- Pierre Thomas NO at CHI
- Kevin Faulk NE at NYG
- *Mike Anderson BAL vs. PIT -- Note: McGahee is out, but Anderson has a quadriceps injury of his own.
- *Maurice Hicks SF at CLE
- Jason Wright CLE vs. SF
- Michael Robinson SF at CLE
- *Willis McGahee BAL vs. PIT -- Note: Fractured ribs, won't play.
- *Willie Parker PIT at BAL -- Note: Fractured fibula, out for the season.
- *Kevin Jones DET at GB -- Note: Torn ACL.
- *DeDe Dorsey CIN at MIA -- Note: Out with a high ankle sprain.
Wide Receiver
- Randy Moss NE at NYG
- Braylon Edwards CLE vs. SF
- Andre Johnson HOU vs. JAC
- Hines Ward PIT at BAL
- Brandon Marshall DEN vs. MIN
- *Torry Holt STL at AZ -- Note: Tirade towards head coach Scott Linehan on the sidelines last week.
- T.J. Houshmandzadeh CIN at MIA
- *Anquan Boldin AZ vs. STL -- Note: The toe injury appears to be just fine.
- *Marques Colston NO at CHI -- Note: Chest contusion, but should play.
- *Larry Fitzgerald AZ vs. STL
- Wes Welker NE at NYG
- Santonio Holmes PIT at BAL
- Roddy White ATL vs. SEA
- Reggie Williams JAC at HOU
- Chad Johnson CIN at MIA
- Santana Moss WAS vs. DAL -- Note: More effective with Collins at the helm, although in fairness Moss is finally healthy now.
- Bobby Engram SEA at ATL
- *Jerricho Cotchery NYJ vs. KC
- Lee Evans BUF at PHI
- Shaun McDonald DET at GB
- Chris Henry CIN at MIA
- Kevin Curtis PHI vs. BUF
- Steve Smith CAR at TB
- *Reggie Brown PHI vs. BUF -- Note: Productive despite knee injury.
- *Reggie Wayne IND vs. TEN -- Note: How much playing time will he get?
- Bernard Berrian CHI vs. NO
- David Patten NO at CHI
- Chris Chambers SD at OAK
- Isaac Bruce STL at AZ
- *Greg Jennings GB vs. DET -- Note: Bruised ankle, plus playoff seed locked up.
- *Anthony Gonzalez IND vs. TEN -- Note: Minor foot injury, but should be limited in Week 17.
- *Joey Galloway TB vs. CAR -- Note: Bruised shoulder, plus the Bucs' playoff seed has been clinched.
- *Plaxico Burress NYG vs. NE -- Note: Ankle, hamstring and the elements all problematic.
- Deion Branch SEA at ATL
- Calvin Johnson DET at GB
- Donald Driver GB vs. DET
- Derrick Mason BAL vs. PIT
- Patrick Crayton DAL at WAS
- Kevin Walter HOU vs. JAC
- Justin Gage TEN at IND
- *Arnaz Battle SF at CLE
- Roydell Williams TEN at IND
- Jabar Gaffney NE at NYG
- Devard Darling BAL vs. PIT
- *Bryant Johnson AZ vs. STL
- Dwayne Bowe KC at NYJ
- Ronald Curry OAK vs. SD
- Jerry Porter OAK vs. SD
- Donte Stallworth NE at NYG
- *Nate Burleson SEA at ATL
- *Jerheme Urban AZ vs. STL
- Roscoe Parrish BUF at PHI
- *Ike Hilliard TB vs. CAR
- Ernest Wilford JAC at HOU
- Amani Toomer NYG vs. NE
- Muhsin Muhammad CHI vs. NO
- Marty Booker MIA vs. CIN
- Drew Bennett STL at AZ
- *Joe Jurevicius CLE vs. SF
- Devery Henderson NO at CHI
- Mike Furrey DET at GB
- Ted Ginn MIA vs. CIN
- Michael Jenkins ATL vs. SEA
- Vincent Jackson SD at OAK
- Brad Smith NYJ vs. KC
- Darrell Jackson SF at CLE
- James Jones GB vs. DET
- Robert Ferguson MIN at DEN
- Bobby Wade MIN at DEN
- Mark Clayton BAL vs. PIT
- *D.J. Hackett SEA at ATL
- Dennis Northcutt JAC at HOU
- Andre Davis HOU vs. JAC
- Josh Reed BUF at PHI
- Drew Carter CAR at TB
- Laurent Robinston ATL vs. SEA
- *Javon Walker DEN vs. MIN
- Antwaan Randle El WAS vs. DAL -- Note: First receiving touchdown comes in Week 16.
- *Terry Glenn DAL at WAS -- Note: Injury to Owens forces the team's hand.
- *Marvin Harrison IND vs. TEN -- Note: Possible that he could be on the field for a handful of snaps this week, finally.
- *Sidney Rice MIN at DEN
- *Terrell Owens DAL at WAS -- Note: Almost certainly will sit out Week 17 due to ankle injury.
Tight End
- Kellen Winslow CLE vs. SF
- Tony Gonzalez KC at NYJ
- Chris Cooley WAS vs. DAL
- Tony Scheffler DEN vs. MIN
- *Antonio Gates SD at OAK
- Owen Daniels HOU vs. JAC
- Heath Miller PIT at BAL
- Vernon Davis SF at CLE
- Billy Miller NO at CHI
- *Jason Witten DAL at WAS
- *Donald Lee GB vs. DET
- Desmond Clark CHI vs. NO
- *Dallas Clark IND vs. TEN
- Alge Crumpler ATL vs. SEA
- Greg Olsen CHI vs. NO
- Alex Smith TB vs. CAR
- Jerramy Stevens TB vs. CAR
- Zach Miller OAK vs. SD
- *Chris Baker NYJ vs. KC
- Marcedes Lewis JAC at HOU
- *Kevin Boss NYG vs. NE
- Randy McMichael STL at AZ
- Bo Scaife TEN at IND
- *Brent Celek PHI vs. BUF
- *Robert Royal BUF at PHI -- Note: Sore foot.
- *Todd Heap BAL vs. PIT -- Note: All three Ravens tight ends hurt.
- Will Heller SEA at ATL
- *Ben Watson NE at NYG
- *Eric Johnson NO at CHI
- *Daniel Wilcox BAL vs. PIT
- *L.J. Smith PHI vs. BUF
Kicker
- Phil Dawson CLE vs. SF
- Mason Crosby GB vs. DET
- Shayne Graham CIN at MIA
- Josh Brown SEA at ATL
- Jeff Reed PIT at BAL
- Nick Folk DAL at WAS
- Adam Vinatieri IND vs. TEN
- Nate Kaeding SD at OAK
- Stephen Gostkowski NE at NYG
- Neil Rackers AZ vs. STL
- Jason Elam DEN vs. MIN
- Josh Scobee JAC at HOU
- Robbie Gould CHI vs. NO
- Jason Hanson DET at GB
- Rob Bironas TEN at IND
- Ryan Longwell MIN at DEN
- Jeff Wilkins STL at AZ
- Kris Brown HOU vs. JAC
- Rian Lindell BUF at PHI
- Lawrence Tynes NYG vs. NE
- Mike Nugent NYJ vs. KC
- Matt Stover BAL vs. PIT
- David Akers PHI vs. BUF
- Joe Nedney SF at CLE
- Matt Bryant TB vs. CAR
Defense
- San Diego at Oakland
- Pittsburgh at Baltimore
- Indianapolis vs. Tennessee
- New England at New York Giants
- Green Bay vs. Detroit
- Jacksonville at Houston
- Chicago vs. New Orleans
- Denver vs. Minnesota
- Tampa Bay vs. Carolina
- Dallas at Washington
- Philadelphia vs. Buffalo
- New Orleans at Chicago
- Seattle at Atlanta
- Minnesota at Denver
- Cleveland vs. San Francisco
- Cincinnati at Miami
- Buffalo at Philadelphia
- New York Jets vs. Kansas City
- Washington vs. Dallas
- Detroit at Green Bay
- Tennessee at Indianapolis
- New York Giants vs. New England
- Kansas City at New York Jets
- Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh
- Carolina at Tampa Bay
- Miami vs. Cincinnati
- San Francisco at Cleveland
- Atlanta vs. Seattle
- Houston vs. Jacksonville
- Arizona vs. St. Louis
- St. Louis at Arizona
- Oakland vs. San Diego