Wild Card Round player rankings

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 31. * = check status (not necessarily injury status)

Quarterbacks

1. *Matt Hasselbeck SEA vs. WAS (Note: X-rays on right wrist were negative.)
   2. *Ben Roethlisberger PIT vs. JAC (Note: Sat out the season finale with a sore ankle.)
   3. David Garrard JAC at PIT
   4. Philip Rivers SD vs. TEN
   5. *Jeff Garcia TB vs. NYG (Note: Hasn't played much or well since the back injury.)
   6. *Todd Collins WAS at SEA (Note: Almost no chance that Jason Campbell takes over this week, as Collins is 4-0 since the injury.)
   7. Eli Manning NYG at TB
   8. *Vince Young TEN at SD (Note: Quad injury knocked him out in the third quarter against the Colts, and Kerry Collins rallied the Titans for the win. Collins also played well in an earlier start against the Texans - is there a tough decision to be made if Young is healthy enough to go?)

Running Backs

1. LaDainian Tomlinson SD vs. TEN
   2. Fred Taylor JAC at PIT
   3. *Earnest Graham TB vs. NYG (Note: Rested a sore ankle in Week 17.)
   4. Najeh Davenport PIT vs. JAC
   5. Clinton Portis WAS at SEA (Note: Finished the season on a roll.)
   6. *Brandon Jacobs NYG at TB
   7. *Shaun Alexander SEA vs. WAS (Note: Wrist injury no longer appears to be a problem. His ability to run effectively, on the other hand, remains in doubt.)
   8. LenDale White TEN at SD
   9. Maurice Jones-Drew JAC at PIT
   10. *Maurice Morris SEA vs. WAS
   11. *Michael Pittman TB vs. NYG
   12. *Reuben Droughns NYG at TB
   13. *Ahmad Bradshaw NYG at TB (Note: Sat out Week 17 with a calf injury.)
   14. *Michael Turner SD vs. TEN
   15. Greg Jones JAC at PIT
   16. Ladell Betts WAS at SEA
   17. Chris Brown TEN at SD
   18. *Darren Sproles SD vs. TEN
   19. *Michael Bennett TB vs. NYG
   20. LaBrandon Toefield JAC at PIT
   21. Gary Russell PIT vs. JAC
   22. Chris Henry TEN at SD

Wide Receivers

1. Bobby Engram SEA vs. WAS
   2. Hines Ward PIT vs. JAC (Note: Sat out Week 17, but no apparent lingering injury.)
   3. *Plaxico Burress NYG at TB (Note: Ankle appears to be fine.)
   4. *Joey Galloway TB vs. NYG (Note: Sat out with a shoulder injury in Week 17, but should play against the Giants.)
   5. Reggie Williams JAC at PIT
   6. Chris Chambers SD vs. TEN
   7. Santonio Holmes PIT vs. JAC
   8. Santana Moss WAS at SEA
   9. *D.J. Hackett SEA vs. WAS (Note: Was able to hold up for the season finale (ankle), catching four passes for 41 yards.)
   10. Justin Gage TEN at SD
   11. *Ike Hilliard TB vs. NYG (Note: Sat out Week 17 with a knee injury, should play this week.)
   12. *Nate Burleson SEA vs. WAS
   13. Ernest Wilford JAC at PIT
   14. *Deion Branch SEA vs. WAS (Note: Scratched in Week 17 with a calf injury, but should play this week.)
   15. Roydell Williams TEN at SD
   16. Amani Toomer NYG at TB
   17. Vincent Jackson SD vs. TEN
   18. Dennis Northcutt JAC at PIT
   19. Steven Smith NYG at TB
   20. Antwaan Randle El WAS at SEA

Tight Ends

1. Antonio Gates SD vs. TEN
   2. Heath Miller PIT vs. JAC
   3. Alex Smith TB vs. NYG
   4. Chris Cooley WAS at SEA
   5. Marcedes Lewis JAC at PIT
   6. Kevin Boss NYG at TB
   7. Jerramy Stevens TB vs. NYG
   8. Bo Scaife TEN at SD
   9. Will Heller SEA vs. WAS
   10. Marcus Pollard SEA vs. WAS

Kickers

1. Josh Brown SEA vs. WAS
   2. Nate Kaeding SD vs. TEN
   3. Josh Scobee JAC at PIT
   4. Jeff Reed PIT vs. JAC
   5. Matt Bryant TB vs. NYG
   6. Rob Bironas TEN at SD
   7. Lawrence Tynes NYG at TB
   8. Shaun Suisham WAS at SEA

Defenses

1. Seattle vs. Washington
   2. San Diego vs. Tennessee
   3. Tampa Bay vs. New York Giants
   4. Jacksonville at Pittsburgh
   5. Pittsburgh vs. Jacksonville
   6. New York Giants at Tampa Bay
   7. Washington at Seattle
   8. Tennessee at San Diego

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