Week 5 value meter

Published: Oct 02, 2007 at 08:42 AM

By Jeff Erickson

Week 5: Bye Week - Cincinnati, Minnesota, Oakland, Philadelphia

Jacksonville, New Orleans, Tennessee, Washington return

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 October 2. * = check status (not necessarily injury status)

Quarterback

Tom Brady NE vs. CLE
1. Tony Romo DAL at BUF
2. Peyton Manning IND vs. TB
3. Brett Favre GB vs. CHI
4. Vince Young TEN vs. ATL
5. *Jon Kitna DET at WAS -- Note: Sore thigh during the Bears game, but stayed in.
6. Drew Brees NO vs. CAR -- Note: Belief without evidence here.
7. Ben Roethlisberger PIT vs. SEA
8. Eli Manning NYG vs. NYJ
9. *Marc Bulger STL vs. AZ -- Note: Still starting despite the rib injury. The Rams think that Bulger gives the Rams a better chance to win hurt than Gus Frerotte does healthy.
10. Jay Cutler DEN vs. SD -- Note: If Walker can't go, downgrade about four spots.
11. Jeff Garcia TB at IND
12. Jason Campbell WAS vs. DET
13. Matt Hasselbeck SEA at PIT
14. *Matt Schaub HOU vs. MIA -- Note: Bruised thigh, but that shouldn't be a big deal. Hanging in there despite losing so many weapons on offense.
15. Chad Pennington NYJ at NYG
16. David Garrard JAC at KC
17. Damon Huard KC vs. JAC
18. Trent Green MIA at HOU -- Note: Just so bad - he'll pile up yardage totals only because the Dolphins will often be playing from behind, but he's part of the problem in Miami.
19. Trent Edwards BUF vs. DAL
20. Joey Harrington ATL at TEN
21. Steve McNair BAL at SF -- Note: Continuing problems in the red zone.
22. *Brian Griese CHI at GB -- Note: Pretty ugly start against the Lions. He'll get the nod again this week, though.
23. *David Carr CAR at NO -- Note: Ugly, ugly performance against the Bucs. Contrast his performance with Schaub's, despite Schaub not having his full choice of skill players. Jake Delhomme might need surgery.
24. *Matt Leinart AZ at STL -- Note: Bruised back, platoon arrangement. Too bad, because this is a nice matchup.
25. Philip Rivers SD at DEN
26. Derek Anderson CLE at NE
27. *Trent Dilfer SF vs. BAL -- Note: Alex Smith out four-to-six weeks with a separated shoulder. At least Dilfer demonstrated that the Niners' passing woes aren't all a function of Smith's play.

Running Back

LaDainian Tomlinson SD at DEN -- Note: Got back on track last week, but what was up with him not getting the ball with the Chargers on the 5-yard line late in the game?
1. Ronnie Brown MIA at HOU
2. Willie Parker PIT vs. SEA
3. *Joseph Addai IND vs. TB -- Note: Shoulder injury against the Broncos - results on MRI aren't back yet.
4. Willis McGahee BAL at SF -- Note: Ran really well against Cleveland - just not often enough.
5. Larry Johnson KC vs. JAC
6. Marion Barber DAL at BUF
7. Reggie Bush NO vs. CAR -- Note: Workload, especially around the goal line, should pick up with Deuce McAllister out for the season.
8. Frank Gore SF vs. BAL
9. Marshawn Lynch BUF vs. DAL
10. LenDale White TEN vs. ATL
11. *Travis Henry DEN vs. SD -- Note: Aggravated both knee and ankle injuries in loss to the Colts.
12. Fred Taylor JAC at KC
13. Thomas Jones NYJ at NYG
14. Edgerrin James AZ at STL
15. *Clinton Portis WAS vs. DET -- Note: Recurring knee tendinitis.
16. Shaun Alexander SEA at PIT
17. DeShaun Foster CAR at NO
18. *Ahman Green HOU vs. MIA -- Note: Knee is improving - hoping to practice on Wednesday. If he were fully healthy, he'd be up a few spots.
19. Brian Leonard STL vs. AZ
20. *Derrick Ward NYG vs. NYJ -- Note: Splitting carries with Jacobs this week?
21. *Laurence Maroney NE vs. CLE -- Note: Late scratch with a strained groin on Monday night, after pregame warmups on the field.
22. Jamal Lewis CLE at NE
23. *Michael Pittman TB at IND -- Note: Splitting carries with Earnest Graham with Cadillac Williams out for the season.
24. Earnest Graham TB at IND
25. Sammy Morris NE vs. CLE
26. Kevin Jones DET at WAS
27. *Cedric Benson CHI at GB -- Note: In the doghouse?
28. Julius Jones DAL at BUF
29. Ladell Betts WAS vs. DET
30. Warrick Dunn ATL at TEN
31. *Ron Dayne HOU vs. MIA -- Note: Watch Green's status - Dayne makes for a good start this week if Green can't play.
32. Chris Brown TEN vs. ATL
33. DeAngelo Williams CAR at NO
34. Maurice Jones-Drew JAC at KC
35. Leon Washington NYJ at NYG
36. DeShawn Wynn GB vs. CHI
37. Aaron Stecker NO vs. CAR
38. Jerious Norwood ATL at TEN
39. *Kenton Keith IND vs. TB -- Note: Watch Addai's status.
40. Tatum Bell DET at WAS
41. *Brandon Jackson GB vs. CHI
42. Reuben Droughns NYG vs. NYJ
43. Musa Smith BAL at SF
44. Selvin Young DEN vs. SD
45. Najeh Davenport PIT vs. SEA
46. Greg Jones JAC at KC
47. Adrian Peterson CHI at GB
48. Jesse Chatman MIA at HOU
49. *Vernand Morency GB vs. CHI -- Note: Recurring soreness in his knee.
50. Samkon Gado HOU vs. MIA
51. Michael Turner SD at DEN
52. Anthony Thomas BUF vs. DAL
53. Michael Bennett KC vs. JAC
54. Maurice Morris SEA at PIT
55. Kevin Faulk NE vs. CLE
56. Marcel Shipp AZ at STL
57. Brian Calhoun DET at WAS
58. *Brandon Jacobs NYG vs. NYJ -- Note: Cleared to practice last week, possible that he's on the field against the Jets this week.
59. Cadillac Williams TB at IND -- Note: Out for the season.

Wide Receiver

Randy Moss NE vs. CLE
1. Terrell Owens DAL at BUF
2. Reggie Wayne IND vs. TB
3. *Plaxico Burress NYG vs. NYJ -- Note: Moved pretty well despite the ankle injury last week.
4. Donald Driver GB vs. CHI
5. Steve Smith CAR at NO -- Note: Loss of Delhomme really hurts.
6. Roy Williams DET at WAS
7. *Marvin Harrison IND vs. TB -- Note: Bruised knee crushed his fantasy owners last week.
8. Braylon Edwards CLE at NE
9. Torry Holt STL vs. AZ
10. Larry Fitzgerald AZ at STL
11. Santonio Holmes PIT vs. SEA
12. Marques Colston NO vs. CAR
13. Joey Galloway TB at IND
14. Jerricho Cotchery NYJ at NYG
15. Chris Chambers MIA at HOU
16. Deion Branch SEA at PIT
17. Lee Evans BUF vs. DAL
18. Laveranues Coles NYJ at NYG
19. *Greg Jennings GB vs. CHI -- Note: Will rest his hamstring in practice until Friday.
20. *Javon Walker DEN vs. SD -- Note: Knee injury "not long-term," but status for Sunday up in the air still.
21. Dwayne Bowe KC vs. JAC
22. Antwaan Randle El WAS vs. DET
23. *Anquan Boldin AZ at STL -- Note: Residual soreness in his hip - officially questionable right now.
24. *Hines Ward PIT vs. SEA -- Note: Knee improving, but still questionable.
25. Brandon Marshall DEN vs. SD
26. Vincent Jackson SD at DEN -- Note: Dropped an easy touchdown last week.
27. Wes Welker NE vs. CLE
28. Patrick Crayton DAL at BUF
29. Derrick Mason BAL at SF
30. Shaun McDonald DET at WAS
31. Donte Stallworth NE vs. CLE
32. Roddy White ATL at TEN
33. Bernard Berrian CHI at GB
34. James Jones GB vs. CHI
35. Dennis Northcutt JAC at KC
36. Brandon Jones TEN vs. ATL
37. Lance Moore NO vs. CAR
38. Darrell Jackson SF vs. BAL
39. Roydell Williams TEN vs. ATL
40. *Calvin Johnson DET at WAS -- Note: Last-minute scratch in Week 4. Close to being ready.
41. Brandon Stokley DEN vs. SD
42. *Isaac Bruce STL vs. AZ -- Note: Hamstring injury in the second half of loss to the Cowboys.
43. *Mark Clayton BAL at SF -- Note: Slowly starting to recover from nagging injuries.
44. Nate Burleson SEA at PIT
45. Ernest Wilford JAC at KC
46. Devery Henderson NO vs. CAR
47. Andre Davis HOU vs. MIA
48. Ike Hilliard TB at IND
49. Joe Jurevicius CLE at NE
50. Bobby Engram SEA at PIT
51. Sam Hurd DAL at BUF
52. Mike Furrey DET at WAS
53. Bryant Johnson AZ at STL
54. Reggie Williams JAC at KC
55. Kevin Walter HOU vs. MIA
56. Drew Bennett STL vs. AZ
57. Muhsin Muhammad CHI at GB
58. *Demetrius Williams BAL at SF
59. Arnaz Battle SF vs. BAL
60. Amani Toomer NYG vs. NYJ
61. Marty Booker MIA at HOU
62. Roscoe Parrish BUF vs. DAL
63. Samie Parker KC vs. JAC
64. Craig Davis SD at DEN
65. Eric Moulds TEN vs. ATL
66. Anthony Gonzalez IND vs. TB
67. Joe Horn ATL at TEN
68. Drew Carter CAR at NO
69. Keenan McCardell WAS vs. DET -- Note: Signed this week by the Redskins, look for McCardell to take a couple of weeks to get up to speed.
70. *Jacoby Jones HOU vs. MIA -- Note: Separated shoulder, some hope of playing this week.
71. *Santana Moss WAS vs. DET -- Note: Unable to practice on Monday with strained groin.
72. *Andre Johnson HOU vs. MIA -- Note: X-rays show improvement on his knee, but still uncertain if he'll get on the field this week.

Tight End

Antonio Gates SD at DEN
1. *Kellen Winslow CLE at NE -- Note: Bruised shoulder, but still productive.
2. Jason Witten DAL at BUF
3. Jeremy Shockey NYG vs. NYJ
4. Alge Crumpler ATL at TEN
5. Tony Gonzalez KC vs. JAC
6. Dallas Clark IND vs. TB
7. *Todd Heap BAL at SF -- Note: Dealing with a hamstring injury now.
8. Chris Cooley WAS vs. DET -- Note: Got off to a slow start last year, too.
9. Owen Daniels HOU vs. MIA
10. Ben Watson NE vs. CLE
11. Heath Miller PIT vs. SEA
12. Eric Johnson NO vs. CAR
13. Bo Scaife TEN vs. ATL
14. Jeff King CAR at NO
15. Alex Smith TB at IND
16. Desmond Clark CHI at GB
17. Marcedes Lewis JAC at KC
18. Marcus Pollard SEA at PIT
19. Greg Olsen CHI at GB
20. Randy McMichael STL vs. AZ
21. Chris Baker NYJ at NYG
22. Quinn Sypniewki BAL at SF
23. Bubba Franks GB vs. CHI
24. Donald Lee GB vs. CHI
25. Sean McHugh DET at WAS
26. Leonard Pope AZ at STL
27. David Martin MIA at HOU
28. Jeb Putzier HOU vs. MIA
29. *Ben Utecht IND vs. TB -- Note: Doubtful with his concussion.

Kicker

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

Defense

New England vs. Cleveland
1. Green Bay vs. Chicago
2. Tennessee vs. Atlanta
3. Baltimore at San Francisco
4. Chicago at Green Bay
5. Pittsburgh vs. Seattle
6. Indianapolis vs. Tampa Bay
7. Dallas at Buffalo
8. Houston vs. Miami
9. New York Giants vs. New York Jets -- Note: Prime example of how quickly things can change in the NFL.
10. San Diego at Denver
11. Seattle at Pittsburgh
12. Arizona at St. Louis
13. Washington vs. Detroit
14. Detroit at Washington
15. Denver vs. San Diego
16. New Orleans vs. Carolina
17. New York Jets at New York Giants
18. San Francisco vs. Baltimore
19. Kansas City vs. Jacksonville
20. Tampa Bay at Indianapolis
21. Jacksonville at Kansas City
22. St. Louis vs. Arizona
23. Atlanta at Tennessee
24. Miami at Houston
25. Carolina at New Orleans
26. Buffalo vs. Dallas
27. Cleveland at New England

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