This article is part of our Weekly Rankings series.
Update Complete (12:20 a.m. PT Saturday) - I will be offline most of the day Saturday, so make sure to check our breaking news before kickoff for any late-breaking changes.
Here are this week's Playoff Value Meter rankings. The rankings are strictly for this week. Go to Chris Liss's Playoff Draft Rankings if you want a resource for a full playoff draft.
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: 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 once during the week during the playoffs, to account for injury or other news during practice. The timing of this update will vary based on the news at hand and my schedule for the given week. But it won't happen until Thursday at the earliest, most likely Friday. 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.
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
Update Complete (12:20 a.m. PT Saturday) - I will be offline most of the day Saturday, so make sure to check our breaking news before kickoff for any late-breaking changes.
Here are this week's Playoff Value Meter rankings. The rankings are strictly for this week. Go to Chris Liss's Playoff Draft Rankings if you want a resource for a full playoff draft.
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: 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 once during the week during the playoffs, to account for injury or other news during practice. The timing of this update will vary based on the news at hand and my schedule for the given week. But it won't happen until Thursday at the earliest, most likely Friday. 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.
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?".
Quarterback
| 1. | Russell Wilson SEA at Min |
| 2. | Ben Roethlisberger PIT at Cin |
| 3. | Kirk Cousins WAS vs. GB |
| 4. | Aaron Rodgers GB at Was Note: Rodgers was sacked five times Sunday night, and that makeshift offensive line isn't getting any better. |
| 5. | *AJ McCarron CIN vs. Pit Note: The Bengals are preparing McCarron to start again on Saturday night. Officially starting with Dalton out. |
| 6. | Brian Hoyer HOU vs. KC Note: Hoyer will be without LT Duane Brown, who needs surgery to repair a quad injury. |
| 7. | Alex Smith KC at Hou |
| 8. | Teddy Bridgewater MIN vs. Sea |
| 9. | *Andy Dalton CIN vs. Pit Note: Dalton had the cast removed from his broken thumb, but doesn't yet know whether he'll throw in practice, let alone play on Saturday night. In perhaps the least surprising news ever, Dalton has officially been ruled out for Saturday night's game. |
Running Backs
| 1. | *Adrian Peterson MIN vs. Sea Note: Missed part of the second half with a back injury, but later returned and should play Sunday against the Seahawks. Limited practice early in the week, listed as probable after a full practice on Friday. |
| 2. | Alfred Morris WAS vs. GB Note: Probably the lead back for the Redskins this week against a Packers run defense that's exploitable. |
| 3. | *Christine Michael SEA at Min Note: Big bump up with Marshawn Lynch out this week. |
| 4. | *Spencer Ware KC at Hou Note: Outproduced West on a per carry basis and is getting the goal line carries. |
| 5. | *Alfred Blue HOU vs. KC Note: (Calf) Listed as probable. |
| 6. | *Eddie Lacy GB at Was Note: (Ribs) Limited practice all week, listed as probable. |
| 7. | Jeremy Hill CIN vs. Pit |
| 8. | Charcandrick West KC at Hou |
| 9. | Giovani Bernard CIN vs. Pit |
| 10. | *Fitzgerald Toussaint PIT at Cin Note: Likely to be the lead back Saturday night if DeAngelo Williams can't play. Jordan Todman and Will Johnson are also in the picture, and Johnson in particular could steal goal line carries. Williams ruled out, but don't overlook Todman and Johnson. |
| 11. | Bryce Brown SEA at Min |
| 12. | Jonathan Grimes HOU vs. KC Note: Scored twice but had just four carries, though he also had four receptions. |
| 13. | James Starks GB at Was |
| 14. | Jordan Todman PIT at Cin |
| 15. | Jerick McKinnon MIN vs. Sea |
| 16. | *Pierre Thomas WAS vs. GB Note: (Knee) Was able to play through an injury in Week 17 against Dallas. |
| 17. | Chris Thompson WAS vs. GB |
| 18. | Chris Polk HOU vs. KC Note: Had just three carries in the Week 17 win over Jacksonville - it appears he's back behind Blue and Grimes. |
| 19. | Fred Jackson SEA at Min |
| 20. | *Matt Jones WAS vs. GB Note: (Hip) Sat out last week against the Cowboys. Officially listed as questionable, but coach Jay Gruden was not very encouraged by his progress this week. |
| 21. | *Marshawn Lynch SEA at Min Note: (Abdomen) Will take part in Wednesday's practice with the intent of playing Sunday. Ruled out for Sunday's game against the Vikings. |
| 22. | *DeAngelo Williams PIT at Cin Note: Dealing with a foot injury, rather than an ankle sprain, according to coach Mike Tomlin. Keep in mind that he had a swollen foot earlier this season. He hasn't been ruled out yet, but it's not looking good. Officially ruled out for this week. |
Wide Receivers
| 1. | Antonio Brown PIT at Cin |
| 2. | A.J. Green CIN vs. Pit |
| 3. | DeAndre Hopkins HOU vs. KC |
| 4. | DeSean Jackson WAS vs. GB |
| 5. | Doug Baldwin SEA at Min |
| 6. | *Jeremy Maclin KC at Hou Note: (Hip) Did not practice Tuesday. Listed as probable after full practices Wednesday and Thursday. |
| 7. | *Martavis Bryant PIT at Cin Note: Missed the second half last week with a neck injury, but the Steelers believe he'll be able to practice and play this week. Full practice all week, listed as probable. |
| 8. | James Jones GB at Was Note: Led the Packers with 13 targets in the loss to the Vikings on Sunday night. |
| 9. | Pierre Garcon WAS vs. GB |
| 10. | Randall Cobb GB at Was |
| 11. | *Tyler Lockett SEA at Min Note: (Hip) Listed as probable, full practice Thursday. |
| 12. | Jermaine Kearse SEA at Min |
| 13. | Markus Wheaton PIT at Cin |
| 14. | Jamison Crowder WAS vs. GB |
| 15. | Marvin Jones CIN vs. Pit |
| 16. | Albert Wilson KC at Hou |
| 17. | Stefon Diggs MIN vs. Sea |
| 18. | *Nate Washington HOU vs. KC Note: Day-to-day after aggravating a hip injury in Sunday's win over the Jaguars. Listed as probable. |
| 19. | Mohamed Sanu CIN vs. Pit |
| 20. | Davante Adams GB at Was |
| 21. | Mike Wallace MIN vs. Sea |
| 22. | *Cecil Shorts HOU vs. KC Note: (Hamstring) 'Has a chance' to play on Saturday against the Chiefs. Listed as probable, as is Washington. |
| 23. | Jarius Wright MIN vs. Sea |
| 24. | Jaelen Strong HOU vs. KC |
| 25. | *Adam Thielen MIN vs. Sea Note: Had two big runs on trick plays, but later injured his shoulder and only has a nominal role in the offense anyhow. |
Tight Ends
| 1. | Jordan Reed WAS vs. GB |
| 2. | Tyler Eifert CIN vs. Pit Note: Back in the scoring column after essentially missing three games. |
| 3. | Travis Kelce KC at Hou |
| 4. | Heath Miller PIT at Cin |
| 5. | Kyle Rudolph MIN vs. Sea |
| 6. | Richard Rodgers GB at Was |
| 7. | Cooper Helfet SEA at Min |
| 8. | C.J. Fiedorowicz HOU vs. KC |
| 9. | Ryan Griffin HOU vs. KC |
| 10. | Chase Coffman SEA at Min |
| 11. | Tyler Kroft CIN vs. Pit |
| 12. | Garrett Graham HOU vs. KC |
| 13. | Andrew Quarless GB at Was |
| 14. | Demetrius Harris KC at Hou |
| 15. | Jesse James PIT at Cin |
| 16. | *Luke Willson SEA at Min Note: (Concussion) Ruled out for Sunday's game. |
Flex (RB/WR/TE)
| 1. | Antonio Brown PIT at Cin |
| 2. | A.J. Green CIN vs. Pit |
| 3. | DeAndre Hopkins HOU vs. KC |
| 4. | DeSean Jackson WAS vs. GB |
| 5. | Doug Baldwin SEA at Min |
| 6. | *Adrian Peterson MIN vs. Sea Note: Missed part of the second half with a back injury, but later returned and should play Sunday against the Seahawks. Limited practice early in the week, listed as probable after a full practice on Friday. |
| 7. | *Marshawn Lynch SEA at Min Note: (Abdomen) Will take part in Wednesday's practice with the intent of playing Sunday. Ruled out for Sunday's game against the Vikings. |
| 8. | Jordan Reed WAS vs. GB |
| 9. | *Jeremy Maclin KC at Hou Note: (Hip) Did not practice Tuesday. Listed as probable after full practices Wednesday and Thursday. |
| 10. | *Martavis Bryant PIT at Cin Note: Missed the second half last week with a neck injury, but the Steelers believe he'll be able to practice and play this week. Full practice all week, listed as probable. |
| 11. | James Jones GB at Was Note: Led the Packers with 13 targets in the loss to the Vikings on Sunday night. |
| 12. | Tyler Eifert CIN vs. Pit Note: Back in the scoring column after essentially missing three games. |
| 13. | Travis Kelce KC at Hou |
| 14. | Pierre Garcon WAS vs. GB |
| 15. | Randall Cobb GB at Was |
| 16. | *Tyler Lockett SEA at Min Note: (Hip) Listed as probable, full practice Thursday. |
| 17. | Jermaine Kearse SEA at Min |
| 18. | Alfred Morris WAS vs. GB Note: Probably the lead back for the Redskins this week against a Packers run defense that's exploitable. |
| 19. | Giovani Bernard CIN vs. Pit |
| 20. | *Spencer Ware KC at Hou Note: Outproduced West on a per carry basis and is getting the goal line carries. |
| 21. | *Alfred Blue HOU vs. KC Note: (Calf) Listed as probable. |
| 22. | *Fitzgerald Toussaint PIT at Cin Note: Likely to be the lead back Saturday night if DeAngelo Williams can't play. Jordan Todman and Will Johnson are also in the picture, and Johnson in particular could steal goal line carries. Williams ruled out, but don't overlook Todman and Johnson. |
| 23. | Heath Miller PIT at Cin |
| 24. | *Eddie Lacy GB at Was Note: (Ribs) Limited practice all week, listed as probable. |
| 25. | Jeremy Hill CIN vs. Pit |
| 26. | Charcandrick West KC at Hou |
| 27. | Jonathan Grimes HOU vs. KC Note: Scored twice but had just four carries, though he also had four receptions. |
| 28. | Markus Wheaton PIT at Cin |
| 29. | Kyle Rudolph MIN vs. Sea |
| 30. | Jamison Crowder WAS vs. GB |
| 31. | James Starks GB at Was |
| 32. | Marvin Jones CIN vs. Pit |
| 33. | Albert Wilson KC at Hou |
| 34. | *Christine Michael SEA at Min Note: Big bump up with Marshawn Lynch out this week. |
| 35. | *Pierre Thomas WAS vs. GB Note: (Knee) Was able to play through an injury in Week 17 against Dallas. |
| 36. | Stefon Diggs MIN vs. Sea |
| 37. | Mohamed Sanu CIN vs. Pit |
| 38. | Davante Adams GB at Was |
| 39. | Richard Rodgers GB at Was |
| 40. | Jerick McKinnon MIN vs. Sea |
| 41. | Jordan Todman PIT at Cin |
| 42. | Chris Thompson WAS vs. GB |
| 43. | Bryce Brown SEA at Min |
| 44. | Mike Wallace MIN vs. Sea |
| 45. | Jarius Wright MIN vs. Sea |
| 46. | Jaelen Strong HOU vs. KC |
Kickers
| 1. | Chris Boswell PIT at Cin Note: Has a decent chance of winning the Steelers' job next year if he doesn't flub in the playoffs. |
| 2. | Steven Hauschka SEA at Min |
| 3. | Dustin Hopkins WAS vs. GB |
| 4. | Cairo Santos KC at Hou Note: Had one of the biggest fantasy games of the season this year, but also ranked 30th in FG accuracy. |
| 5. | Mike Nugent CIN vs. Pit |
| 6. | Nick Novak HOU vs. KC |
| 7. | Mason Crosby GB at Was |
| 8. | Blair Walsh MIN vs. Sea |
Defenses
| 1. | *Seattle Seahawks at Min Note: Played without Kam Chancellor (pelvis) yet again in Week 17. |
| 2. | *Houston Texans vs. KC Note: Jadeveon Clowney (foot) missed Week 17 and is day-to-day for this week. |
| 3. | Washington Redskins vs. GB |
| 4. | *Kansas City Chiefs at Hou Note: Justin Houston (knee) hasn't played since Week 12, but could practice this week. LB Dee Ford is going through the concussion protocol. |
| 5. | Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pit |
| 6. | Pittsburgh Steelers at Cin |
| 7. | Minnesota Vikings vs. Sea |
| 8. | *Green Bay Packers at Was Note: Sam Shields (concussion) sat out again in Week 17. |
