Don's Week 9 Rankings

Quarterbacks
1. Tom Brady at IND
2. Tony Romo at PHI
3. Peyton Manning vs NE
4. Carson Palmer at BUF
5. Derek Anderson vs SEA
6. Brett Favre at KC
7. Matt Hasselbeck at CLE
8. Philip Rivers at MIN
9. Drew Brees vs JAC
10. Donovan McNabb vs DAL
11. Ben Roethlisberger vs BAL
12. Jason Campbell at NYJ
13. Jay Cutler at DET
14. Jon Kitna vs DEN
15. Kurt Warner at TB
16. Jeff Garcia vs ARI
17. Damon Huard vs GB
18. J.P. Losman vs CIN
19. Alex Smith at ATL
20. Kellen Clemens vs WAS

NOTES: Check the injury status of Matt Hasselbeck (oblique), Kurt Warner (elbow) and Alex Smith (shoulder).

Hasselbeck was unable to practice on Monday and might be the dreaded game-time decision because oblique injuries are tricky. Warner should be fine after resting his elbow during the bye week. Smith experienced some general soreness on Monday after attempting 43 passes on Sunday. He should be good to go this week, however.

Cutler has a favorable matchup with Detroit, although they have created a lot of turnovers this season.

Losman was named the starter for this week’s game and could put up some good numbers against a suspect Bengals’ defense.

Running Backs
1. Kevin Jones vs DEN
2. Joseph Addai vs NE
3. Brian Westbrook vs DAL
4. LaDainian Tomlinson at MIN
5. Marshawn Lynch vs CIN
6. Willie Parker vs BAL
7. Adrian Peterson vs SD
8. Larry Johnson vs GB
9. LenDale White vs CAR
10. Reggie Bush vs JAC
11. Willis McGahee at PIT
12. Marion Barber at PHI
13. Edgerrin James at TB
14. Maurice Jones-Drew at NO
15. Laurence Maroney at IND
16. Frank Gore at ATL
17. Thomas Jones vs WAS
18. Shaun Alexander at CLE
19. Rudi Johnson at BUF
20. Jamal Lewis vs SEA
21. Clinton Portis at NYJ
22. Earnest Graham vs ARI
23. Fred Taylor at NO
24. Kenny Watson at BUF
25. Ryan Grant at KC
26. Selvin Young at DET
27. Jerious Norwood vs SF
28. Julius Jones at PHI
29. DeShaun Foster at TEN
30. LaMont Jordan vs HOU
31. Ron Dayne at OAK
32. Justin Fargas vs HOU
33. Ahman Green at OAK
34. DeAngelo Williams at TEN
35. Jerome Harrison vs SEA
36. Warrick Dunn vs SF
37. Chester Taylor vs SD
38. Chris Henry vs CAR
39. Michael Bennett vs ARI
40. Travis Henry at DET

NOTES: Check the status of Reggie Bush (ribs), Frank Gore (ankle), Rudi Johnson (hamstring), Kenny Watson (concussion), Ahman Green (knee) and Travis Henry (ribs).

Bush should be fine, his rib injury was described as minor. R. Johnson practiced on Wednesday while Watson did not. As of now it looks like R. Johnson may return and Watson could sit.

Green is probably the riskiest play of the above group because his knee injury appears to be a chronic problem.

Gore is gimpy, but should be able to play through the pain while Henry will probably be another game-time decision.

Kevin Jones is at the top of the list this week because the Lions appear to be more balanced on offense and the Broncos looked awful trying to stop the run on Monday night.

Marshawn Lynch could have a breakout game against Cincinnati this week so you might want to consider playing him over more well known names.

Wide Receivers
1. Randy Moss at IND
2. Reggie Wayne vs NE
3. T.J. Houshmandzadeh at BUF
4. Braylon Edwards vs SEA
5. Terrell Owens at PHI
6. Chad Johnson at BUF
7. Wes Welker at IND
8. Steve Smith at TEN
9. Brandon Marshall at DET
10. Hines Ward vs BAL
11. Larry Fitzgerald at TB
12. Donald Driver at KC
13. Kevin Curtis vs DAL
14. Roy Williams vs DEN
15. Anquan Boldin at TB
16. Patrick Crayton at PHI
17. Chris Chambers at MIN
18. Roddy White vs SF
19. Lee Evans vs CIN
20. Dwayne Bowe vs GB
21. Santonio Holmes vs BAL
22. Reggie Brown vs DAL
23. Joey Galloway vs CAR
24. Marques Colston vs JAC
25. Greg Jennings at KC
26. Jerricho Cotchery vs WAS
27. Laveranues Coles vs WAS
28. Donte Stallworth at IND
29. Marvin Harrison vs NE
30. Deion Branch at CLE
31. Ike Hilliard vs CAR
32. Derrick Mason at PIT
33. Calvin Johnson vs DEN
34. Kevin Walter at OAK
35. David Patten vs JAC
36. Brandon Stokley at DET
37. Joe Jurevicius vs SEA
38. Roydell Williams vs CAR
39. Ronald Curry vs HOU
40. D.J. Hackett at CLE

NOTES: Check the injury status of Santonio Holmes (quad), Laveranues Coles (concussion), Marvin Harrison (knee), Calvin Johnson (back), Deion Branch (foot) and D.J. Hackett (ankle).

Holmes, Branch and Hackett are probably the safest bets to play, although Hackett’s issue was a high ankle sprain, which can be a tricky injury to recover from. By the way, Branch and Hackett would be ranked significantly higher against a poor Browns secondary if they were not both coming off injuries.

Coles has had various injuries all season, but a concussion is obviously a serious issue. He might be a game-time decision.

Harrison should play, but his knee injury has lingered a bit longer than expected. Johnson re-aggravated his back injury last week so his status for this week’s game is unknown.

Chambers is ranked so high because he faces the worst pass defense in the league in Minnesota. Evans could be in store for another big game against a weak Bengals’ defense.

Tight Ends
1. Antonio Gates at MIN
2. Jason Witten at PHI
3. Kellen Winslow vs SEA
4. Dallas Clark vs NE
5. Tony Gonzalez vs GB
6. Heath Miller vs BAL
7. Chris Cooley at NYJ
8. Vernon Davis at ATL
9. Donald Lee at KC
10. Jeff King at TEN
11. Todd Heap at PIT
12. Owen Daniels at OAK
13. Eric Johnson vs JAC
14. Tony Scheffler at DET
15. Robert Royal vs CIN
16. Zach Miller vs HOU
17. Will Heller at CLE
18. Bo Scaife vs CAR
19. Kyle Brady at IND
20. Marcedes Lewis at NO

NOTES: Check the injury status of Todd Heap (thigh), Owen Daniels (ankle) and Kyle Brady (unspecified).

Heap had the bye week to rest so he should be available. Daniels suffered a high ankle sprain so he might not be ready this week. Both players would be ranked slightly higher if they were healthy.

Brady’s injury is not believed to be too serious even though the Patriots won’t release the nature of it.

Robert Royal faces the Bengals, who have allowed big games from opposing tight ends all season. He could be a sleeper this week in deep leagues.

Kickers
1. Nick Folk at PHI
2. Stephen Gostkowski at IND
3. Phil Dawson vs SEA
4. Adam Vinatieri vs NE
5. Rob Bironas vs CAR
6. Jeff Reed vs BAL
7. Nate Kaeding at MIN
8. Matt Stover at PIT
9. David Akers vs DAL
10. Jason Hanson vs DEN
11. Jason Elam at DET
12. Rian Lindell vs CIN
13. Kris Brown at OAK
14. Shayne Graham at BUF
15. Josh Brown at CLE
16. Neil Rackers at TB
17. Mason Crosby at KC
18. John Kasay at TEN
19. Sebastian Janikowski vs HOU
20. Shaun Suisham at NYJ

D/ST
1. Pittsburgh
2. San Diego
3. Tennessee
4. Tampa Bay
5. Kansas City
6. Green Bay
7. Baltimore
8. New Orleans
9. Washington
10. Minnesota
11. Carolina
12. Detroit
13. Oakland
14. New England
15. Dallas
16. Arizona
17. Seattle
18. Denver
19. Philadelphia
20. Atlanta