By Jeff Erickson
Week 7: Bye Week -- Carolina, Cleveland, Green Bay, San Diego
Buffalo, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, San Francisco 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 16. * = check status (not necessarily injury status)
Quarterback
- Tom Brady NE at MIA
- Tony Romo DAL vs. MIN
- Carson Palmer CIN vs. NYJ -- Note: Offensive line woes are a real problem.
- Peyton Manning IND at JAC
- Matt Hasselbeck SEA vs. STL
- Eli Manning NYG vs. SF
- Jeff Garcia TB at DET
- Donovan McNabb PHI vs. CHI
- Jon Kitna DET vs. TB
- Matt Schaub HOU vs. TEN
- Ben Roethlisberger PIT at DEN
- Jason Campbell WAS vs. AZ
- *Kyle Boller BAL at BUF -- Note: One more start before the bye week, but Steve McNair expected to take back over in Week 9.
- Jay Cutler DEN vs. PIT
- David Garrard JAC vs. IND
- *Marc Bulger STL at SEA -- Note: Expected to return (ribs) this week.
- Brian Griese CHI at PHI
- Drew Brees NO vs. ATL
- *Vince Young TEN at HOU -- Note: Questionable after leaving with a quad injury last week.
- Damon Huard KC at OAK
- Daunte Culpepper OAK vs. KC
- Chad Pennington NYJ at CIN -- Note: Will start at least one more week -- like the matchup, hate the recent play.
- Joey Harrington ATL at NO
- *Cleo Lemon MIA vs. NE -- Note: Trent Green fully participated in team activities on Monday; we'll see what that means in terms of who starts this week, but it's likely Lemon.
- *Alex Smith SF at NYG -- Note: Returning from a separated shoulder.
- *Tim Rattay AZ at WAS -- Note: Kurt Warner expected to miss at least one week, with the Cards on bye next week.
- *Tarvaris Jackson MIN at DAL
- Trent Edwards BUF vs. BAL -- Note: A decision between Edwards and J.P. Losman (knee) won't be made until Wednesday at the earliest.
Running Back
- Brian Westbrook PHI vs. CHI
- Ronnie Brown MIA vs. NE
- Adrian Peterson MIN at DAL -- Note: If you were drafting today, how high would Peterson go?
- Larry Johnson KC at OAK -- Note: Should do pretty well again this week, but all isn't necessarily well. He was shut down in the second half, despite the Chiefs trying to protect a lead.
- *Willie Parker PIT at DEN -- Note: How much work does Davenport get?
- Frank Gore SF at NYG
- *Joseph Addai IND at JAC -- Note: Likely to return this week after his chest injury. How many carries will Kenton Keith get, now that he's proven to be a viable backup?
- Reggie Bush NO vs. ATL
- Thomas Jones NYJ at CIN
- Travis Henry DEN vs. PIT -- Note: Suspension hearing probably will take a few more weeks.
- Maurice Jones-Drew JAC vs. IND
- Willis McGahee BAL at BUF
- *Shaun Alexander SEA vs. STL -- Note: Wrist injury still bothering him.
- *Clinton Portis WAS vs. AZ
- *Brandon Jacobs NYG vs. SF -- Note: "Stinger," ankle injury and Reuben Droughns taking away goal-line carries. Ugh.
- Marshawn Lynch BUF vs. BAL
- *LaMont Jordan OAK vs. KC -- Note: Welcome to the Raiders, where "doubtful" = starting and getting most of the carries.
- Cedric Benson CHI at PHI
- Edgerrin James AZ at WAS
- LenDale White TEN at HOU
- Marion Barber DAL vs. MIN
- *Brian Leonard STL at SEA -- Note: Could Jackson come back this week?
- Kevin Jones DET vs. TB
- Ahman Green HOU vs. TEN
- *Kenny Watson CIN vs. NYJ
- *Rudi Johnson CIN vs. NYJ -- Note: No setbacks with his hamstring, but at the same time he didn't have his explosiveness and didn't get used in the second half.
- Earnest Graham TB at DET -- Note: Should eventually lose some carries to the newly acquired Michael Bennett.
- *Laurence Maroney NE at MIA -- Note: It was "getting close" for Maroney to get back last week, now with Sammy Morris hurting, more likely he'll be back this week.
- *Sammy Morris NE at MIA -- Note: Chest injury forced him out of last week's win over Dallas. More uncertainty to deal with, especially given the Pats' reputation with injuries.
- *Fred Taylor JAC vs. IND -- Note: Groin injury "locked-up" in the second half last week.
- Chester Taylor MIN at DAL
- Jerious Norwood ATL at NO -- Note: One big run, but really, only six carries can't be that encouraging.
- Warrick Dunn ATL at NO
- Julius Jones DAL vs. MIN
- *Chris Brown TEN at HOU -- Note: Dealing with an ankle injury.
- *Kenton Keith IND at JAC
- *Justin Fargas OAK vs. KC
- *Derrick Ward NYG vs. SF -- Note: Still dealing with an ankle injury.
- *Selvin Young DEN vs. PIT
- *Najeh Davenport PIT at DEN -- Note: Domestic violence issue not expected to curtail his playing time.
- Leon Washington NYJ at CIN
- *Tatum Bell DET vs. TB -- Note: Whining about his low workload lately.
- *Kevin Faulk NE at MIA -- Note: Watch the status on Maroney and Morris.
- Ladell Betts WAS vs. AZ
- *Correll Buckhalter PHI vs. CHI
- *Ron Dayne HOU vs. TEN
- Aaron Stecker NO vs. ATL
- Musa Smith BAL at BUF
- Anthony Thomas BUF vs. BAL
- *Reuben Droughns NYG vs. SF -- Note: Still getting the goal line carries even with Jacobs back, now Jacobs is banged up again.
- Greg Jones JAC vs. IND
- Adrian Peterson CHI at PHI
- *Dominic Rhodes OAK vs. KC
- Samkon Gado HOU vs. TEN
- Michael Bennett TB at DET -- Note: Just traded to the Bucs.
- Maurice Morris SEA vs. STL
- Marcel Shipp AZ at WAS
- Travis Minor STL at SEA
- Jesse Chatman MIA vs. NE
- *Steven Jackson STL at SEA -- Note: "Outside chance" he returns from his groin injury.
- Chris Henry TEN at HOU -- Note: Could be active for the first time this season.
- *Kolby Smith KC at OAK -- Note: The new backup now that Michael Bennett has been dealt.
- *Priest Holmes KC at OAK -- Note: Returning to practice this week.
Wide Receiver
- Terrell Owens DAL vs. MIN
- Randy Moss NE at MIA
- T.J. Houshmandzadeh CIN vs. NYJ
- *Plaxico Burress NYG vs. SF
- Chad Johnson CIN vs. NYJ
- Reggie Wayne IND at JAC
- Roy Williams DET vs. TB
- *Marvin Harrison IND at JAC -- Note: Expected to return after missing Week 5 with a knee injury.
- *Larry Fitzgerald AZ at WAS -- Note: Fumbled in each of the last three games. Still had a productive day last week despite Tim Rattay at the helm.
- Joey Galloway TB at DET -- Note: Feast or famine receiver. Lions secondary portends to the former this week.
- Patrick Crayton DAL vs. MIN
- Jerricho Cotchery NYJ at CIN
- Wes Welker NE at MIA
- Laveranues Coles NYJ at CIN
- *Torry Holt STL at SEA -- Note: Grinding it out with his knee injury.
- Kevin Curtis PHI vs. CHI
- Donte Stallworth NE at MIA
- *Marques Colston NO vs. ATL
- *Anquan Boldin AZ at WAS -- Note: Should practice on Wednesday, but who is going to throw to him?
- Reggie Brown PHI vs. CHI
- Roddy White ATL at NO
- *Hines Ward PIT at DEN -- Note: (Knee) should be back this week.
- Shaun McDonald DET vs. TB
- Brandon Marshall DEN vs. PIT
- *Santonio Holmes PIT at DEN -- Note: Shouldn't be on the injury list this week because of his hamstring injury, but then again, he wasn't before his late scratch in Week 5.
- Dwayne Bowe KC at OAK
- Ronald Curry OAK vs. KC
- Derrick Mason BAL at BUF
- *Bernard Berrian CHI at PHI
- Bobby Engram SEA vs. STL
- Jerry Porter OAK vs. KC
- Mike Furrey DET vs. TB
- Marty Booker MIA vs. NE
- Andre Davis HOU vs. TEN
- Dennis Northcutt JAC vs. IND
- *Antwaan Randle El WAS vs. AZ
- Darrell Jackson SF at NYG
- *Calvin Johnson DET vs. TB -- Note: Should be able to go this week despite his back injury.
- Roscoe Parrish BUF vs. BAL
- Anthony Gonzalez IND at JAC
- Amani Toomer NYG vs. SF
- Lee Evans BUF vs. BAL -- Note: Still trailing Josh Reed for second place on the team in receiving yards.
- Brandon Stokley DEN vs. PIT
- Muhsin Muhammad CHI at PHI
- Roydell Williams TEN at HOU
- Arnaz Battle SF at NYG
- Bryant Johnson AZ at WAS
- *Isaac Bruce STL at SEA -- Note: Optimistic that he can return from his hamstring injury this week.
- *Mark Clayton BAL at BUF
- *D.J. Hackett SEA vs. STL -- Note: Could return from his ankle injury this week.
- *Javon Walker DEN vs. PIT -- Note: Low ranking reflects the pessimism about his knee injury.
- Nate Burleson SEA vs. STL
- Ernest Wilford JAC vs. IND
- *Devery Henderson NO vs. ATL
- Ike Hilliard TB at DET
- Sidney Rice MIN at DAL
- *Lance Moore NO vs. ATL
- Ben Obomanu SEA vs. STL
- Sam Hurd DAL vs. MIN
- Keenan McCardell WAS vs. AZ
- Bobby Wade MIN at DAL
- *Drew Bennett STL at SEA -- Note: Left in the 2nd quarter with a hamstring injury.
- Ted Ginn Jr. MIA vs. NE -- Note: Increasing role in the team offense to begin with, should be magnified with the Chambers trade.
- *Jacoby Jones HOU vs. TEN
- Reggie Williams JAC vs. IND
- Kevin Walter HOU vs. TEN
- *Demetrius Williams BAL at BUF
- Antonio Chatman CIN vs. NYJ
- Samie Parker KC at OAK
- Eric Moulds TEN at HOU
- Derek Hagan MIA vs. NE
- Jason Avant PHI vs. CHI
- *Santana Moss WAS vs. AZ -- Note: Killer fumble against the Packers.
- *Andre Johnson HOU vs. TEN -- Note: Possibility of a return this week.
- *Brandon Jones TEN at HOU -- Note: Out two-to-three weeks with a knee surgery.
- *Chris Chambers SD - OFF -- Note: Traded to the Chargers in time for their bye week.
Tight End
- Tony Gonzalez KC at OAK -- Note: Interesting week, with the top two tight ends off this week.
- Jason Witten DAL vs. MIN -- Note:Bears TE's had eight catches for 111 yards against the Vikes last week.
- Dallas Clark IND at JAC
- Jeremy Shockey NYG vs. SF
- Chris Cooley WAS vs. AZ
- Owen Daniels HOU vs. TEN
- Desmond Clark CHI at PHI
- Greg Olsen CHI at PHI
- Chris Baker NYJ at CIN -- Note: Opposing TE's have torched the Bengals all year.
- Heath Miller PIT at DEN
- Eric Johnson NO vs. ATL
- Randy McMichael STL at SEA
- *Ben Watson NE at MIA -- Note: Another ankle injury, Kyle Brady took over the reps after the injury.
- *Alex Smith TB at DET -- Note: Injured his ankle last week against the Titans.
- *Alge Crumpler ATL at NO -- Note: Is his theme song "Missing You"?
- *Vernon Davis SF at NYG -- Note: Might return from a knee injury this week.
- Bo Scaife TEN at HOU
- Marcedes Lewis JAC vs. IND
- Marcus Pollard SEA vs. STL
- Quinn Sypniewki BAL at BUF
- John Madsen OAK vs. KC
- Leonard Pope AZ at WAS
- David Martin MIA vs. NE
- *Kyle Brady NE at MIA
- Jeb Putzier HOU vs. TEN
- Reggie Kelly CIN vs. NYJ
- Dominique Byrd STL at SEA
- Visanthe Shiancoe MIN at DAL
- *Todd Heap BAL at BUF - Note: Status very iffy this week with a hamstring injury, particularly with the bye week coming up.
- *L.J. Smith PHI vs. CHI
Kicker
- Nick Folk DAL vs. MIN
- Stephen Gostkowski NE at MIA
- Adam Vinatieri IND at JAC
- Kris Brown HOU vs. TEN
- Rob Bironas TEN at HOU
- Jeff Reed PIT at DEN
- David Akers PHI vs. CHI
- Matt Stover BAL at BUF
- Jason Elam DEN vs. PIT
- Jason Hanson DET vs. TB
- Lawrence Tynes NYG vs. SF
- Shaun Suisham WAS vs. AZ
- Shayne Graham CIN vs. NYJ
- Jay Feely MIA vs. NE
- Josh Brown SEA vs. STL
- Neil Rackers AZ at WAS
- Jeff Wilkins STL at SEA
- Sebastian Janikowski OAK vs. KC
- Robbie Gould CHI at PHI
- Joe Nedney SF at NYG
- Olindo Mare NO vs. ATL
- Matt Bryant TB at DET
Defense
- New York Giants vs. San Francisco -- Note: What a difference a month makes.
- Washington vs. Arizona
- Baltimore at Buffalo
- New England at Miami
- Dallas vs. Minnesota
- Philadelphia vs. Chicago
- Pittsburgh at Denver
- New Orleans vs. Atlanta
- Buffalo vs. Baltimore
- Seattle vs. St. Louis
- Denver vs. Pittsburgh
- Houston vs. Tennessee
- Chicago at Philadelphia
- Kansas City at Oakland
- Tampa Bay at Detroit
- Tennessee at Houston
- Oakland vs. Kansas City
- Jacksonville vs. Indianapolis
- Indianapolis at Jacksonville
- Atlanta at New Orleans
- Detroit vs. Tampa Bay
- Cincinnati vs. New York Jets
- New York Jets at Cincinnati
- Arizona at Washington
- Minnesota at Dallas
- St. Louis at Seattle
- San Francisco at New York Giants
- Miami vs. New England