Skip to main content

Week 5 value meter

Published:
Updated:

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

  1. Tom Brady NE vs. CLE
  2. Tony Romo DAL at BUF
  3. Peyton Manning IND vs. TB
  4. Brett Favre GB vs. CHI
  5. Vince Young TEN vs. ATL
  6. *Jon Kitna DET at WAS -- Note: Sore thigh during the Bears game, but stayed in.
  7. Drew Brees NO vs. CAR -- Note: Belief without evidence here.
  8. Ben Roethlisberger PIT vs. SEA
  9. Eli Manning NYG vs. NYJ
  10. *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.
  11. Jay Cutler DEN vs. SD -- Note: If Walker can't go, downgrade about four spots.
  12. Jeff Garcia TB at IND
  13. Jason Campbell WAS vs. DET
  14. Matt Hasselbeck SEA at PIT
  15. *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.
  16. Chad Pennington NYJ at NYG
  17. David Garrard JAC at KC
  18. Damon Huard KC vs. JAC
  19. 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.
  20. Trent Edwards BUF vs. DAL
  21. Joey Harrington ATL at TEN
  22. Steve McNair BAL at SF -- Note: Continuing problems in the red zone.
  23. *Brian Griese CHI at GB -- Note: Pretty ugly start against the Lions. He'll get the nod again this week, though.
  24. *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.
  25. *Matt Leinart AZ at STL -- Note: Bruised back, platoon arrangement. Too bad, because this is a nice matchup.
  26. Philip Rivers SD at DEN
  27. Derek Anderson CLE at NE
  28. *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

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

Wide Receiver

  1. Randy Moss NE vs. CLE
  2. Terrell Owens DAL at BUF
  3. Reggie Wayne IND vs. TB
  4. *Plaxico Burress NYG vs. NYJ -- Note: Moved pretty well despite the ankle injury last week.
  5. Donald Driver GB vs. CHI
  6. Steve Smith CAR at NO -- Note: Loss of Delhomme really hurts.
  7. Roy Williams DET at WAS
  8. *Marvin Harrison IND vs. TB -- Note: Bruised knee crushed his fantasy owners last week.
  9. Braylon Edwards CLE at NE
  10. Torry Holt STL vs. AZ
  11. Larry Fitzgerald AZ at STL
  12. Santonio Holmes PIT vs. SEA
  13. Marques Colston NO vs. CAR
  14. Joey Galloway TB at IND
  15. Jerricho Cotchery NYJ at NYG
  16. Chris Chambers MIA at HOU
  17. Deion Branch SEA at PIT
  18. Lee Evans BUF vs. DAL
  19. Laveranues Coles NYJ at NYG
  20. *Greg Jennings GB vs. CHI -- Note: Will rest his hamstring in practice until Friday.
  21. *Javon Walker DEN vs. SD -- Note: Knee injury "not long-term," but status for Sunday up in the air still.
  22. Dwayne Bowe KC vs. JAC
  23. Antwaan Randle El WAS vs. DET
  24. *Anquan Boldin AZ at STL -- Note: Residual soreness in his hip - officially questionable right now.
  25. *Hines Ward PIT vs. SEA -- Note: Knee improving, but still questionable.
  26. Brandon Marshall DEN vs. SD
  27. Vincent Jackson SD at DEN -- Note: Dropped an easy touchdown last week.
  28. Wes Welker NE vs. CLE
  29. Patrick Crayton DAL at BUF
  30. Derrick Mason BAL at SF
  31. Shaun McDonald DET at WAS
  32. Donte Stallworth NE vs. CLE
  33. Roddy White ATL at TEN
  34. Bernard Berrian CHI at GB
  35. James Jones GB vs. CHI
  36. Dennis Northcutt JAC at KC
  37. Brandon Jones TEN vs. ATL
  38. Lance Moore NO vs. CAR
  39. Darrell Jackson SF vs. BAL
  40. Roydell Williams TEN vs. ATL
  41. *Calvin Johnson DET at WAS -- Note: Last-minute scratch in Week 4. Close to being ready.
  42. Brandon Stokley DEN vs. SD
  43. *Isaac Bruce STL vs. AZ -- Note: Hamstring injury in the second half of loss to the Cowboys.
  44. *Mark Clayton BAL at SF -- Note: Slowly starting to recover from nagging injuries.
  45. Nate Burleson SEA at PIT
  46. Ernest Wilford JAC at KC
  47. Devery Henderson NO vs. CAR
  48. Andre Davis HOU vs. MIA
  49. Ike Hilliard TB at IND
  50. Joe Jurevicius CLE at NE
  51. Bobby Engram SEA at PIT
  52. Sam Hurd DAL at BUF
  53. Mike Furrey DET at WAS
  54. Bryant Johnson AZ at STL
  55. Reggie Williams JAC at KC
  56. Kevin Walter HOU vs. MIA
  57. Drew Bennett STL vs. AZ
  58. Muhsin Muhammad CHI at GB
  59. *Demetrius Williams BAL at SF
  60. Arnaz Battle SF vs. BAL
  61. Amani Toomer NYG vs. NYJ
  62. Marty Booker MIA at HOU
  63. Roscoe Parrish BUF vs. DAL
  64. Samie Parker KC vs. JAC
  65. Craig Davis SD at DEN
  66. Eric Moulds TEN vs. ATL
  67. Anthony Gonzalez IND vs. TB
  68. Joe Horn ATL at TEN
  69. Drew Carter CAR at NO
  70. 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.
  71. *Jacoby Jones HOU vs. MIA -- Note: Separated shoulder, some hope of playing this week.
  72. *Santana Moss WAS vs. DET -- Note: Unable to practice on Monday with strained groin.
  73. *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

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

Kicker

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

Defense

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