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Week 3 value meter

Published:
Updated:

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
  2. Carson Palmer, CIN at SEA
  3. Matt Hasselbeck, SEA vs. CIN
  4. 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.
  5. Vince Young, TEN at NO
  6. Jake Delhomme, CAR at ATL -- We haven't yet seen whether the ATL secondary is decent - this will be their first real test.
  7. Ben Roethlisberger PIT vs. SF
  8. Donovan McNabb, PHI vs. DET -- Paltry 5.2 YPA on Monday night.
  9. Drew Brees, NO vs. TEN -- Have to downgrade a couple of spots until we see something, anything, encouraging.
  10. Jeff Garcia, TB vs. STL -- Very efficient in shredding of the Saints. More of the same this week?
  11. Jason Campbell, WAS vs. NYG
  12. *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.
  13. Tony Romo DAL at CHI
  14. *Matt Schaub, HOU vs. IND -- Probable loss of Andre Johnson really hurts this week.
  15. *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.
  16. Jay Cutler, DEN vs. JAC
  17. *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.
  18. Philip Rivers, SD at GB
  19. *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.
  20. Brett Favre, GB vs. SD
  21. Alex Smith, SF at PIT
  22. *Chad Pennington, NYJ vs. MIA -- Who starts this week? Kellen Clemens or Pennington (ankle)? All signs point to Pennington if he's healthy enough.
  23. Trent Green, MIA at NYJ
  24. Derek Anderson, CLE at OAK -- Nice game and all, but this week is a much stiffer test.
  25. Matt Leinart, AZ at BAL
  26. Rex Grossman CHI vs. DAL
  27. *Damon Huard KC vs. MIN -- Will remain the starter over Brodie Croyle in Week 3.
  28. *Steve McNair, BAL vs. AZ -- McNair (groin) expected to return for Week 3. Are the Ravens better off with Kyle Boller?
  29. Joey Harrington, ATL vs. CAR -- Harrington or Byron Leftwich? Death is not an option.
  30. David Garrard, JAC at DEN
  31. *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.
  32. 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.
  2. *Shaun Alexander, SEA vs. CIN -- Playing with a cast on his wrist, ran much better in the second half in Week 2.
  3. Joseph Addai, IND at HOU
  4. Willie Parker PIT vs. SF
  5. *Brian Westbrook, PHI vs. DET -- Sprained knee a concern?
  6. Steven Jackson, STL at TB
  7. *Frank Gore, SF at PIT -- Leg strain appears to be minor.
  8. Rudi Johnson, CIN at SEA
  9. *Travis Henry, DEN vs. JAC -- Overcame a sore ankle in the win over the Raiders.
  10. Willis McGahee, BAL vs. AZ
  11. Adrian Peterson, MIN at KC
  12. Laurence Maroney, NE vs. BUF
  13. Clinton Portis, WAS vs. NYG -- Knee appears to be just fine.
  14. LaMont Jordan, OAK vs. CLE
  15. *Cadillac Williams, TB vs. STL -- Ribs held up, and he was used in goal-line situations.
  16. Larry Johnson, KC vs. MIN -- It's going to get better at some point, really - just not this week.
  17. Cedric Benson, CHI vs. DAL
  18. *Ahman Green, HOU vs. IND -- Some cramping in Week 2's win over Carolina.
  19. Reggie Bush, NO vs. TEN
  20. Jamal Lewis, CLE at OAK
  21. *Thomas Jones, NYJ vs. MIA
  22. Edgerrin James AZ at BAL
  23. *Deuce McAllister, NO vs. TEN -- Swollen left eye.
  24. Fred Taylor, JAC at DEN
  25. Marshawn Lynch, BUF at NE
  26. Marion Barber, DAL at CHI
  27. Derrick Ward, NYG at WAS
  28. Warrick Dunn, ATL vs. CAR -- Not quite in "football shape."
  29. Ronnie Brown, MIA at NYJ
  30. LenDale White, TEN at NO
  31. *Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC at DEN -- "Unspecified injury" = withdrawal pains due to the lack of carries so far this season?
  32. DeShaun Foster, CAR at ATL
  33. *Tatum Bell, DET at PHI -- With Kevin Jones probably playing, Bell's carries go way down.
  34. Ladell Betts WAS vs. NYG
  35. Chris Brown TEN at NO
  36. DeShawn Wynn GB vs. SD
  37. Jerious Norwood ATL vs. CAR
  38. *Sammy Morris NE vs. BUF -- Note: Stealing some goal-line carries away from Maroney?
  39. DeAngelo Williams CAR at ATL
  40. Julius Jones DAL at CHI
  41. *Kevin Jones DET at PHI -- Expected to get about 10 carries this week.
  42. *Brandon Jackson GB vs. SD -- Losing carries to DeShawn Wynn.
  43. *Jesse Chatman MIA at NYJ
  44. Reuben Droughns NYG at WAS
  45. Adrian Peterson CHI vs. DAL
  46. *Chester Taylor MIN at KC -- Questionable again this week with an oblique injury.
  47. Selvin Young, DEN vs. JAC
  48. Michael Turner, SD at GB
  49. Musa Smith, BAL vs. AZ
  50. Leon Washington, NYJ vs. MIA
  51. Anthony Thomas, BUF at NE
  52. Michael Bennett, KC vs. MIN
  53. Michael Pittman, TB vs. STL
  54. Ron Dayne, HOU vs. IND
  55. Kenton Keith, IND at HOU
  56. *Maurice Morris, SEA vs. CIN -- Hip injury.
  57. Kevin Faulk, NE vs. BUF
  58. *Vernand Morency, GB vs. SD -- Emergence of DeShawn Wynn kills his value.
  59. Correll Buckhalter, PHI vs. DET
  60. Aaron Stecker, NO vs. TEN
  61. Justin Fargas, OAK vs. CLE
  62. Marcel Shipp, AZ at BAL
  63. *Mewelde Moore, MIN at KC -- Some action with Chester Taylor hurt.
  64. Earnest Graham, TB vs. STL
  65. Brian Calhoun, DET at PHI

WIDE RECEIVERS

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

TIGHT ENDS

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

KICKERS

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

DEFENSE

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

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