Weekly Rankings: Wild-Card Week Value Meter

Weekly Rankings: Wild-Card Week Value Meter

This article is part of our Weekly Rankings series.

Please note that these rankings are only for this week. If you want a playoff draft cheat sheet, please check out Chris Liss's Playoff Ranks.

Here are my rankings (if you want a second opinion, please see our formula-based projections - these are not tied into my rankings at all) for the coming week at each position to help you decide your starting lineup. Our rankings are based on the following scoring system: four 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. ***Flex Rankings are for PPR leagues.***

I will update these during the week, usually twice per week to account for injury or other news during practice. The timing of those updates will vary based on the news at hand and my schedule for the given week. But the first of those updates usually won't happen until Thursday. At any rate, I will post a "last updated" note at the top of the article, or an "update in progress" note if it's while I'm doing it. If there is no such note, that means it's my first pass at the rankings for this current week.

By all means, if you want to discuss a rank, or want me to add a player, chime in on the comments. I try to be receptive to your feedback and try to respond to most comments, though on occasion the volume can be quite

Please note that these rankings are only for this week. If you want a playoff draft cheat sheet, please check out Chris Liss's Playoff Ranks.

Here are my rankings (if you want a second opinion, please see our formula-based projections - these are not tied into my rankings at all) for the coming week at each position to help you decide your starting lineup. Our rankings are based on the following scoring system: four 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. ***Flex Rankings are for PPR leagues.***

I will update these during the week, usually twice per week to account for injury or other news during practice. The timing of those updates will vary based on the news at hand and my schedule for the given week. But the first of those updates usually won't happen until Thursday. At any rate, I will post a "last updated" note at the top of the article, or an "update in progress" note if it's while I'm doing it. If there is no such note, that means it's my first pass at the rankings for this current week.

By all means, if you want to discuss a rank, or want me to add a player, chime in on the comments. I try to be receptive to your feedback and try to respond to most comments, though on occasion the volume can be quite thick. Please refer to the rankings first when asking "should I start Player A vs. Player B?". And then refer to the rankings again before asking a generic starting decision question. If you really desire a response to a starting question that doesn't have added complexity, please use our Ask An Expert service - it comes with your subscription. My response will correspond with the rankings.

Quarterback

1.Jared Goff LA vs. Atl
2.Drew Brees NO vs. Car
3.Alex Smith KC vs. Ten
4.*Cam Newton CAR at NO
Note: Really struggled in the loss to the Falcons - how bad is his shoulder bothering him? He was limited in Wednesday's practice, as has been the case for most of the season.
5.Blake Bortles JAC vs. Buf
6.Matt Ryan ATL at LAR
7.Marcus Mariota TEN at KC
8.Tyrod Taylor BUF at Jax

Running Backs

1.Todd Gurley LA vs. Atl
2.Alvin Kamara NO vs. Car
3.Mark Ingram NO vs. Car
4.Kareem Hunt KC vs. Ten
5.*Devonta Freeman ATL at LAR
Note: (Knee) Sat out practice Tuesday, but practiced without limitations Thursday and is not on the injury list.
6.Leonard Fournette JAC vs. Buf
7.Christian McCaffrey CAR at NO
8.*Derrick Henry TEN at KC
Note: Should once again see a heavy workload with Murray ruled out.
9.*LeSean McCoy BUF at Jax
Note: (Ankle) No longer in the immobilization boot, was present for the stretching portion of practice but did not participate afterward. He's not guaranteed to practice Friday, either, but still expects to play.
10.Tevin Coleman ATL at LAR
11.*Charcandrick West KC vs. Ten
Note: (Illness) Full practice Tuesday.
12.*Jonathan Stewart CAR at NO
Note: Surprise scratch in Week 17 with a bad back, but he was practicing in full Thursday.
13.T.J. Yeldon JAC vs. Buf
14.Malcolm Brown LA vs. Atl
15.David Fluellen TEN at KC
16.Chris Ivory JAC vs. Buf
17.Terron Ward ATL at LAR
18.Marcus Murphy BUF at Jax
19.*DeMarco Murray TEN at KC
Note: (Knee) Ruled out for the Wild Card game.
20.*Akeem Hunt KC vs. Ten
Note: Out with an ankle injury.

Wide Receivers

1.Tyreek Hill KC vs. Ten
2.*Julio Jones ATL at LAR
Note: (Ankle/Ribs) Cleared from the injury list after going no practice Tuesday, limited practice Wednesday and full practice Thursday.
3.*Michael Thomas NO vs. Car
Note: (Hamstring) Full participant in Thursday's practice.
4.Cooper Kupp LA vs. Atl
5.Robert Woods LA vs. Atl
6.Rishard Matthews TEN at KC
7.Keelan Cole JAC vs. Buf
8.Mohamed Sanu ATL at LAR
9.*Devin Funchess CAR at NO
Note: (Shoulder) Did not practice Thursday.
10.Ted Ginn NO vs. Car
11.Sammy Watkins LA vs. Atl
12.*Kelvin Benjamin BUF at Jax
Note: (Knee) Limited practice Wednesday.
13.Dede Westbrook JAC vs. Buf
14.*Albert Wilson KC vs. Ten
Note: (Hamstring) Full participant in Thursday's practice, but listed as questionable.
15.Corey Davis TEN at KC
16.Allen Hurns JAC vs. Buf
17.Eric Decker TEN at KC
18.*Deonte Thompson BUF at Jax
Note: (Shoulder) Did not practice Wednesday but returned to practice Thursday.
19.Tavon Austin LA vs. Atl
20.*Taylor Gabriel ATL at LAR
Note: (Hamstring) Full practice Thursday and cleared to play.
21.Jaydon Mickens JAC vs. Buf
22.Brandon Coleman NO vs. Car
23.Zay Jones BUF at Jax
24.*Pharoh Cooper LA vs. Atl
Note: (Shoulder) Removed from the injury list.
25.Willie Snead NO vs. Car
26.Demarcus Robinson KC vs. Ten
27.*Marqise Lee JAC vs. Buf
Note: (Ankle) Has yet to return to practice.
28.*De'Anthony Thomas KC vs. Ten
Note: Suffered a broken tibia against the Broncos in Week 17.

Tight Ends

1.Travis Kelce KC vs. Ten
2.Greg Olsen CAR at NO
3.Delanie Walker TEN at KC
4.*Charles Clay BUF at Jax
Note: (Knee) Limited practice Wednesday.
5.Austin Hooper ATL at LAR
6.Tyler Higbee LA vs. Atl
7.*Marcedes Lewis JAC vs. Buf
Note: (Ankle) Limited practice Thursday.
8.Demetrius Harris KC vs. Ten
9.*Jonnu Smith TEN at KC
Note: (Concussion) Full practice Tuesday.
10.Josh Hill NO vs. Car
11.Nick O'Leary BUF at Jax
12.*Levine Toilolo ATL at LAR
Note: (Knee) Limited practice Tuesday.
13.*Michael Hoomanawanui NO vs. Car
Note: (Concussion) Full practice Thursday.

Flex (RB/WR/TE)

1.Todd Gurley LA vs. Atl
2.Alvin Kamara NO vs. Car
3.Mark Ingram NO vs. Car
4.Kareem Hunt KC vs. Ten
5.Tyreek Hill KC vs. Ten
6.*Julio Jones ATL at LAR
Note: (Ankle/Ribs) Cleared from the injury list after going no practice Tuesday, limited practice Wednesday and full practice Thursday.
7.*Devonta Freeman ATL at LAR
Note: (Knee) Sat out practice Tuesday, but practiced without limitations Thursday and is not on the injury list.
8.Leonard Fournette JAC vs. Buf
9.Travis Kelce KC vs. Ten
10.*Michael Thomas NO vs. Car
Note: (Hamstring) Full participant in Thursday's practice.
11.Cooper Kupp LA vs. Atl
12.Christian McCaffrey CAR at NO
13.*Derrick Henry TEN at KC
Note: Should once again see a heavy workload with Murray ruled out.
14.Robert Woods LA vs. Atl
15.*LeSean McCoy BUF at Jax
Note: (Ankle) No longer in the immobilization boot, was present for the stretching portion of practice but did not participate afterward. He's not guaranteed to practice Friday, either, but still expects to play.
16.Greg Olsen CAR at NO
17.Rishard Matthews TEN at KC
18.Keelan Cole JAC vs. Buf
19.Mohamed Sanu ATL at LAR
20.*Devin Funchess CAR at NO
Note: (Shoulder) Did not practice Thursday.
21.Delanie Walker TEN at KC
22.Tevin Coleman ATL at LAR
23.Ted Ginn NO vs. Car
24.Sammy Watkins LA vs. Atl
25.*Kelvin Benjamin BUF at Jax
Note: (Knee) Limited practice Wednesday.
26.Dede Westbrook JAC vs. Buf
27.*Charles Clay BUF at Jax
Note: (Knee) Limited practice Wednesday.
28.*Charcandrick West KC vs. Ten
Note: (Illness) Full practice Tuesday.
29.*Jonathan Stewart CAR at NO
Note: Surprise scratch in Week 17 with a bad back, but he was practicing in full Thursday.
30.*Albert Wilson KC vs. Ten
Note: (Hamstring) Full participant in Thursday's practice, but listed as questionable.
31.Corey Davis TEN at KC
32.Allen Hurns JAC vs. Buf
33.Eric Decker TEN at KC
34.*Deonte Thompson BUF at Jax
Note: (Shoulder) Did not practice Wednesday but returned to practice Thursday.
35.Austin Hooper ATL at LAR
36.Tavon Austin LA vs. Atl
37.T.J. Yeldon JAC vs. Buf
38.*Taylor Gabriel ATL at LAR
Note: (Hamstring) Full practice Thursday and cleared to play.
39.Tyler Higbee LA vs. Atl
40.*Marcedes Lewis JAC vs. Buf
Note: (Ankle) Limited practice Thursday.

Kickers

1.*Harrison Butker KC vs. Ten
Note: A free loot pickup by the Chiefs after the start of the season, Butker is a real weapon for the Chiefs, having made 38 of 42 attempts on the season.
2.Wil Lutz NO vs. Car
3.Josh Lambo JAC vs. Buf
4.Sam Ficken LA vs. Atl
5.Matt Bryant ATL at LAR
6.Graham Gano CAR at NO
7.Ryan Succop TEN at KC
8.Stephen Hauschka BUF at Jax

Defenses

1.Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buf
2.*Los Angeles Rams vs. Atl
Note: Mark Barron (Achilles' tendon) will start Saturday after missing the last two weeks. Meanwhile CB Troy Hill avoided a concussion in Week 17 after getting checked out.
3.Kansas City Chiefs vs. Ten
4.New Orleans Saints vs. Car
5.Tennessee Titans at KC
6.*Buffalo Bills at Jax
Note: CB Shareece Wright (concussion) remained sidelined Thursday. LB Matt Milano (hamstring) suited up for practice.
7.*Carolina Panthers at NO
Note: S Kurt Coleman (ankle) had a full practice Wednesday.
8.Atlanta Falcons at LAR
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Erickson
Jeff Erickson is a co-founder of RotoWire and the only two-time winner of Baseball Writer of the Year from the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. He's also in the FSWA Hall of Fame. He roots for the Reds, Bengals, Red Wings, Pacers and Northwestern University (the real NU).
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