This article is part of our Weekly Rankings series.
Friday Update Complete
Welcome to the Weekly Value Meter Rankings. This is a guide to help you decide who to start and sit this week. If you're looking for Playoff Draft Rankings, please see Chris Liss's rankings.
Here are my operating assumptions for the rankings:
- The RB/WR/TE position rankings are for PPR leagues.
- The Flex rankings are for Standard leagues.
- 1 point per 10 rushing/receiving yards.
- 1 point per 20 passing yards.
- 4 points per passing touchdowns.
These are the rankings I use when I make my start/sit decisions. Please consult the rankings first before asking "Player X vs. Player Y?" without any other mitigating factors. Of course, I welcome debate - if you think I'm wrong, let me know. But please check out the rankings first before asking your start/sit question. This truly reflects my opinion in my leagues.
These are my particular rankings. If you want a second opinion elsewhere on the site, you can see our Weekly Projections.
I welcome debate on the rankings in the comments. Please keep it friendly.
Quarterbacks
| 1. | Patrick Mahomes KC vs. CLE |
| 2. | Josh Allen BUF vs. BAL |
| 3. | Lamar Jackson BAL at BUF |
| 4. | *Tom Brady TB at NO Note: Brady overcame a tough passing matchup against Washington to throw for 381 yards and two touchdowns. Will the third time be the charm against the Saints this week, or will he struggle again? |
| 5. | Aaron Rodgers GB vs. LAR |
| 6. | Drew Brees |
Friday Update Complete
Welcome to the Weekly Value Meter Rankings. This is a guide to help you decide who to start and sit this week. If you're looking for Playoff Draft Rankings, please see Chris Liss's rankings.
Here are my operating assumptions for the rankings:
- The RB/WR/TE position rankings are for PPR leagues.
- The Flex rankings are for Standard leagues.
- 1 point per 10 rushing/receiving yards.
- 1 point per 20 passing yards.
- 4 points per passing touchdowns.
These are the rankings I use when I make my start/sit decisions. Please consult the rankings first before asking "Player X vs. Player Y?" without any other mitigating factors. Of course, I welcome debate - if you think I'm wrong, let me know. But please check out the rankings first before asking your start/sit question. This truly reflects my opinion in my leagues.
These are my particular rankings. If you want a second opinion elsewhere on the site, you can see our Weekly Projections.
I welcome debate on the rankings in the comments. Please keep it friendly.
Quarterbacks
| 1. | Patrick Mahomes KC vs. CLE |
| 2. | Josh Allen BUF vs. BAL |
| 3. | Lamar Jackson BAL at BUF |
| 4. | *Tom Brady TB at NO Note: Brady overcame a tough passing matchup against Washington to throw for 381 yards and two touchdowns. Will the third time be the charm against the Saints this week, or will he struggle again? |
| 5. | Aaron Rodgers GB vs. LAR |
| 6. | Drew Brees NO vs. TB |
| 7. | *Baker Mayfield CLE at KC Note: The Steelers weren't able to lay a hand on Mayfield, leading to him having a very efficient performance in the win. |
| 8. | *Jared Goff LA at GB Note: Goff was able to gut it out against the Packers, throwing for 155 yards and a touchdown. He'll probably be asked to do more against the Packers this week. Goff will indeed start, and John Wolford has been ruled out. Blake Bortles will be the backup. |
| 9. | *Taysom Hill NO vs. TB Note: Hill was a little less active than usual on Sunday - at times he was getting his knee checked out in the medical tent. Hill was restricted to one limited practice Friday because of that knee. |
| 10. | *John Wolford LA at GB Note: Wolford (neck stinger) is day-to-day, but we'd have to presume Goff will start after getting through the majority of last week's game against the Seahawks. Officially ruled out. |
Running Backs
| 1. | Nick Chubb CLE at KC |
| 2. | Alvin Kamara NO vs. TB |
| 3. | Aaron Jones GB vs. LAR |
| 4. | J.K. Dobbins BAL at BUF |
| 5. | *Cam Akers LA at GB Note: Akers is likely to see heavy usage again this week against the Packers. |
| 6. | *Devin Singletary BUF vs. BAL Note: Zack Moss is out for the remainder of the playoffs with an ankle injury. |
| 7. | Kareem Hunt CLE at KC |
| 8. | *Leonard Fournette TB at NO Note: Fournette will start on Sunday, even if Ronald Jones, who is a game-time decision with a quad injury, is active. |
| 9. | Gus Edwards BAL at BUF |
| 10. | *Darrel Williams KC vs. CLE Note: CEH had just one limited practice this week and is listed as questionable after sitting out Thursday and Friday. |
| 11. | *Malcolm Brown LA at GB Note: The Rams used Brown as the closer, with him getting eight touches in the fourth quarter. |
| 12. | *Latavius Murray NO vs. TB Note: Murray left Sunday's win over the Bears with a thigh injury. Murray did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, but returned to a limited practice Friday and is listed as questionable. |
| 13. | *Le'Veon Bell KC vs. CLE Note: Bell (knee) had three full practices this week and is no longer on the injury report. |
| 14. | Jamaal Williams GB vs. LAR |
| 15. | *T.J. Yeldon BUF vs. BAL Note: Yeldon will be Singletary's backup with Zack Moss out. |
| 16. | *Ke'Shawn Vaughn TB at NO Note: Vaughn's late fumble against the Football Team could quash future opportunities, even if Ronald Jones has to miss another game. |
| 17. | Antonio Williams BUF vs. BAL |
| 18. | AJ Dillon GB vs. LAR |
| 19. | Darwin Thompson KC vs. CLE |
| 20. | *Ronald Jones TB at NO Note: Jones injured his quad in warmups and didn't play a single snap. It's hard to trust him going forward, and it's a bad matchup this week anyways. Jones had limited reps on Thursday and Friday and will be a game-time decision, and Fournette will start even if Jones plays. |
| 21. | *Ty Montgomery NO vs. TB Note: If Latavius Murray (thigh) cannot play, Montgomery would be next in line to be Kamara's backup. |
| 22. | *LeSean McCoy TB at NO Note: McCoy (illness) sat out last week's win over Washington but had full practices this week. |
| 23. | *Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC vs. CLE Note: Edwards-Helaire (ankle) hasn't practiced since suffering his injury against the Saints. Edwards-Helaire had a limited practice Wednesday, but did not practice Thursday or Friday and is listed as questionable. |
| 24. | Darrell Henderson LA at GB |
Wide Receivers
| 1. | Tyreek Hill KC vs. CLE |
| 2. | *Stefon Diggs BUF vs. BAL Note: Diggs (oblique) was limited to start the week on Tuesday. Full practice Thursday, not on the injury report. |
| 3. | Michael Thomas NO vs. TB |
| 4. | *Chris Godwin TB at NO Note: Godwin popped up on the injury list and had limited reps in practice this week with thigh and quadriceps injuries, but has been cleared from the injury list. |
| 5. | *Davante Adams GB vs. LAR Note: It's always tough to rate an elite WR against Jalen Ramsey. I just think that the Packers will have to be creative to find ways to get him the ball. |
| 6. | Antonio Brown TB at NO |
| 7. | Marquise Brown BAL at BUF |
| 8. | Jarvis Landry CLE at KC |
| 9. | *Mike Evans TB at NO Note: Evans (knee) had three limited practices this week and has been cleared from the injury list. |
| 10. | Robert Woods LA at GB |
| 11. | Emmanuel Sanders NO vs. TB |
| 12. | *Cooper Kupp LA at GB Note: Kupp left Saturday's win with bursitis in his knee and did not practice Tuesday. Kupp was a limited participant in practice later in the week and is listed as questionable. |
| 13. | Gabriel Davis BUF vs. BAL |
| 14. | *Demarcus Robinson KC vs. CLE Note: Robinson might not get a ton of targets, but he's going to play a lot of snaps with Sammy Watkins ruled out. |
| 15. | *Allen Lazard GB vs. LAR Note: Lazard (core/wrist) was limited at Tuesday's practice. Lazard has been cleared from the injury list and will be good-to-go on Saturday. |
| 16. | *Cole Beasley BUF vs. BAL Note: Beasley (knee) was limited to begin the week. Beasley was limited all week in practice but does not have an injury designation |
| 17. | Marquez Valdes-Scantling GB vs. LAR |
| 18. | Rashard Higgins CLE at KC |
| 19. | *Byron Pringle KC vs. CLE Note: Pringle could be a sneaky play with Sammy Watkins ruled out, though like Mecole Hardman, he'll get fewer snaps than Demarcus Robinson. |
| 20. | Deonte Harris NO vs. TB |
| 21. | *Mecole Hardman KC vs. CLE Note: Hardman is always a boom-or-bust player, but the 'boom' potential could increase with Sammy Watkins out. I think Demarcus Robinson will get more snaps, though. |
| 22. | John Brown BUF vs. BAL |
| 23. | Miles Boykin BAL at BUF |
| 24. | *Equanimeous St. Brown GB vs. LAR Note: St. Brown (knee) was listed as limited on Tuesday's injury report. St. Brown was cleared from Thursday's injury report. |
| 25. | Donovan Peoples-Jones CLE at KC |
| 26. | Willie Snead BAL at BUF |
| 27. | *Josh Reynolds LA at GB Note: No targets against the Seahawks. |
| 28. | Isaiah McKenzie BUF vs. BAL |
| 29. | Dez Bryant BAL at BUF |
| 30. | *Van Jefferson LA at GB Note: After a 62 percent snap share in Week 17, Jefferson was limited to special teams against Seattle. |
| 31. | Marquez Callaway NO vs. TB |
| 32. | Devin Duvernay BAL at BUF |
| 33. | *Tre'Quan Smith NO vs. TB Note: Smith (ankle) could return this week. Smith was designated to return from IR on Wednesday, suggesting that the Saints think he could play on Sunday. |
| 34. | *Sammy Watkins KC vs. CLE Note: Watkins (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game. |
Tight Ends
| 1. | Travis Kelce KC vs. CLE |
| 2. | Mark Andrews BAL at BUF |
| 3. | Robert Tonyan GB vs. LAR |
| 4. | Rob Gronkowski TB at NO |
| 5. | *Austin Hooper CLE at KC Note: Hooper had 11 targets in the win over the Steelers. |
| 6. | *Jared Cook NO vs. TB Note: Cook (back) was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, but had a full practice Friday and was cleared from the injury list. |
| 7. | Dawson Knox BUF vs. BAL |
| 8. | Cameron Brate TB at NO |
| 9. | Tyler Higbee LA at GB |
| 10. | Gerald Everett LA at GB |
| 11. | *David Njoku CLE at KC Note: Njoku did not practice Wednesday or Thursday with a hamstring injury, but had a limited practice Friday. He's listed as questionable. |
| 12. | Adam Trautman NO vs. TB |
| 13. | Marcedes Lewis GB vs. LAR |
Flex (RB/WR/TE)
| 1. | Tyreek Hill KC vs. CLE |
| 2. | *Stefon Diggs BUF vs. BAL Note: Diggs (oblique) was limited to start the week on Tuesday. Full practice Thursday, not on the injury report. |
| 3. | Travis Kelce KC vs. CLE |
| 4. | Nick Chubb CLE at KC |
| 5. | Aaron Jones GB vs. LAR |
| 6. | Alvin Kamara NO vs. TB |
| 7. | Michael Thomas NO vs. TB |
| 8. | J.K. Dobbins BAL at BUF |
| 9. | *Chris Godwin TB at NO Note: Godwin popped up on the injury list and had limited reps in practice this week with thigh and quadriceps injuries, but has been cleared from the injury list. |
| 10. | *Cam Akers LA at GB Note: Akers is likely to see heavy usage again this week against the Packers. |
| 11. | *Davante Adams GB vs. LAR Note: It's always tough to rate an elite WR against Jalen Ramsey. I just think that the Packers will have to be creative to find ways to get him the ball. |
| 12. | Antonio Brown TB at NO |
| 13. | Marquise Brown BAL at BUF |
| 14. | Jarvis Landry CLE at KC |
| 15. | Mark Andrews BAL at BUF |
| 16. | *Mike Evans TB at NO Note: Evans (knee) had three limited practices this week and has been cleared from the injury list. |
| 17. | Robert Woods LA at GB |
| 18. | *Devin Singletary BUF vs. BAL Note: Zack Moss is out for the remainder of the playoffs with an ankle injury. |
| 19. | Kareem Hunt CLE at KC |
| 20. | Emmanuel Sanders NO vs. TB |
| 21. | *Leonard Fournette TB at NO Note: Fournette will start on Sunday, even if Ronald Jones, who is a game-time decision with a quad injury, is active. |
| 22. | *Cooper Kupp LA at GB Note: Kupp left Saturday's win with bursitis in his knee and did not practice Tuesday. Kupp was a limited participant in practice later in the week and is listed as questionable. |
| 23. | Gabriel Davis BUF vs. BAL |
| 24. | Robert Tonyan GB vs. LAR |
| 25. | Rob Gronkowski TB at NO |
| 26. | *Allen Lazard GB vs. LAR Note: Lazard (core/wrist) was limited at Tuesday's practice. Lazard has been cleared from the injury list and will be good-to-go on Saturday. |
| 27. | Gus Edwards BAL at BUF |
| 28. | *Darrel Williams KC vs. CLE Note: CEH had just one limited practice this week and is listed as questionable after sitting out Thursday and Friday. |
| 29. | *Jared Cook NO vs. TB Note: Cook (back) was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, but had a full practice Friday and was cleared from the injury list. |
| 30. | *Demarcus Robinson KC vs. CLE Note: Robinson might not get a ton of targets, but he's going to play a lot of snaps with Sammy Watkins ruled out. |
| 31. | *Malcolm Brown LA at GB Note: The Rams used Brown as the closer, with him getting eight touches in the fourth quarter. |
| 32. | *Latavius Murray NO vs. TB Note: Murray left Sunday's win over the Bears with a thigh injury. Murray did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, but returned to a limited practice Friday and is listed as questionable. |
| 33. | *Le'Veon Bell KC vs. CLE Note: Bell (knee) had three full practices this week and is no longer on the injury report. |
| 34. | *Cole Beasley BUF vs. BAL Note: Beasley (knee) was limited to begin the week. Beasley was limited all week in practice but does not have an injury designation |
| 35. | Marquez Valdes-Scantling GB vs. LAR |
| 36. | *Austin Hooper CLE at KC Note: Hooper had 11 targets in the win over the Steelers. |
| 37. | Dawson Knox BUF vs. BAL |
| 38. | Jamaal Williams GB vs. LAR |
| 39. | Rashard Higgins CLE at KC |
| 40. | *Mecole Hardman KC vs. CLE Note: Hardman is always a boom-or-bust player, but the 'boom' potential could increase with Sammy Watkins out. I think Demarcus Robinson will get more snaps, though. |
| 41. | Deonte Harris NO vs. TB |
| 42. | *Byron Pringle KC vs. CLE Note: Pringle could be a sneaky play with Sammy Watkins ruled out, though like Mecole Hardman, he'll get fewer snaps than Demarcus Robinson. |
| 43. | John Brown BUF vs. BAL |
| 44. | *Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC vs. CLE Note: Edwards-Helaire (ankle) hasn't practiced since suffering his injury against the Saints. Edwards-Helaire had a limited practice Wednesday, but did not practice Thursday or Friday and is listed as questionable. |
| 45. | *Ke'Shawn Vaughn TB at NO Note: Vaughn's late fumble against the Football Team could quash future opportunities, even if Ronald Jones has to miss another game. |
Kickers
| 1. | Harrison Butker KC vs. CLE |
| 2. | Justin Tucker BAL at BUF |
| 3. | Tyler Bass BUF vs. BAL |
| 4. | Mason Crosby GB vs. LAR |
| 5. | *Wil Lutz NO vs. TB Note: Lutz has been struggling as of late and missed another kick in the win over the Bears. |
| 6. | Ryan Succop TB at NO |
| 7. | Cody Parkey CLE at KC |
| 8. | Matt Gay LA at GB |
Defenses
| 1. | *Los Angeles Rams at GB Note: Aaron Donald is going to try to play with rib cartilage damage, though he did not practice Tuesday. |
| 2. | New Orleans Saints vs. TB |
| 3. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NO |
| 4. | *Buffalo Bills vs. BAL Note: Ed Oliver (ankle) was limited on Tuesday. |
| 5. | *Baltimore Ravens at BUF Note: Marcus Peters (back) was listed as a non-participant on Tuesday. |
| 6. | Cleveland Browns at KC |
| 7. | Green Bay Packers vs. LAR |
| 8. | Kansas City Chiefs vs. CLE |
