Don's Week 12 Rankings

Quarterbacks
1. Tom Brady vs PHI
2. Tony Romo vs NYJ
3. Brett Favre at DET
4. Matt Hasselbeck at STL
5. Derek Anderson vs HOU
6. Ben Roethlisberger vs MIA
7. Drew Brees at CAR
8. Carson Palmer vs TEN
9. Peyton Manning at ATL
10. Kurt Warner vs SF
11. Matt Schaub at CLE
12. Vince Young at CIN
13. Eli Manning vs MIN
14. Jeff Garcia vs WAS
15. Jon Kitna vs GB
16. Marc Bulger vs SEA
17. Jay Cutler at CHI
18. David Garrard vs BUF
19. Donovan McNabb at NE
20. Jason Campbell at TB

NOTES: Check the status on Matt Hasselbeck (ribs) and Donovan McNabb (ankle, thumb).

Hasselbeck won’t practice much this week, but is expected to play on Sunday. McNabb is at risk to miss Sunday’s game and backup A.J. Feeley is not recommended unless you are desperate.

Peyton Manning’s ranking is so low because Marvin Harrison might not play again this week and they have other injuries at the wide receiver position. Manning is of course capable of going off at any time, but he’s not putting up the numbers we have grown to expect.

Eli Manning faces a suspect Vikings’ secondary, but he has been average lately and Plaxico Burress (ankle) is really hobbling.

Running Backs
1. Joseph Addai at ATL
2. Brian Westbrook at NE
3. Willie Parker vs MIA
4. LaDainian Tomlinson vs BAL
5. LenDale White at CIN
6. Willis McGahee at SD
7. Steven Jackson vs SEA
8. Edgerrin James vs SF
9. Maurice Jones-Drew vs BUF
10. Earnest Graham vs WAS
11. Marion Barber vs NYJ
12. Maurice Morris at STL
13. Chester Taylor at NYG
14. Reggie Bush at CAR
15. Jamal Lewis vs HOU
16. Cedric Benson vs DEN
17. Clinton Portis at TB
18. Brandon Jacobs vs MIN
19. Ryan Grant at DET
20. Frank Gore at ARI
21. Justin Fargas at KC
22. Thomas Jones at DAL
23. Jesse Chatman at PIT
24. Ron Dayne at CLE
25. Kevin Jones vs GB
26. Selvin Young at CHI
27. Laurence Maroney vs PHI
28. DeShaun Foster vs NO
29. Julius Jones vs NYJ
30. Kolby Smith vs OAK
31. Warrick Dunn vs IND
32. Fred Taylor vs BUF
33. Andre Hall at CHI
34. Reuben Droughns vs MIN
35. Rudi Johnson vs TEN
36. Kenny Watson vs TEN
37. Anthony Thomas at JAC
38. Chris Brown at CIN
39. Michael Pittman vs WAS
40. Brandon Jackson at DET

NOTES: Check the injury status on Brandon Jacobs (hamstring), Ryan Grant (ankle), Selvin Young (knee) and Laurence Maroney (foot).

Jacobs says he’s fine, but he might not be a great play this week anyway because the Giants face one of the top rush defenses in Minnesota.

Grant plays on Thursday this week so he won’t be able to receive as much treatment as usual. Brandon Jackson would presumably receive most of the work if Grant cannot go.

Young’s injury appears to be minor so he could be starting this week if Travis Henry does indeed get suspended.

Maroney appeared to suffer a foot injury, but he and the Patriots are downplaying it. Considering how explosive New England’s passing game is, they really do not need him.

Priest Holmes hurt his neck in Sunday’s loss at Indianapolis and there are reports he might retire. Larry Johnson has already been ruled out so Kolby Smith would get the start if Holmes can’t go. Bump Smith up a few spots if he does start because Oakland’s rush defense is awful.

Rudi Johnson has had a real tough time this year and the Bengals haven’t been able to run the ball that well in general. Kenny Watson is clearly the superior player at this point, but the team seems reluctant to bench Johnson.

Wide Receivers
1. Randy Moss vs PHI
2. Terrell Owens vs NYJ
3. Braylon Edwards vs HOU
4. Larry Fitzgerald vs SF
5. Andre Johnson at CLE
6. Reggie Wayne at ATL
7. Marques Colston at CAR
8. T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs TEN
9. Greg Jennings at DET
10. Wes Welker vs PHI
11. D.J. Hackett at STL
12. Torry Holt vs SEA
13. Hines Ward vs MIA
14. Chad Johnson vs TEN
15. Brandon Marshall at CHI
16. Anquan Boldin vs SF
17. Roy Williams vs GB
18. Chris Henry vs TEN
19. Plaxico Burress vs MIN
20. Donald Driver at DET
21. Bobby Engram at STL
22. Joey Galloway vs WAS
23. Bernard Berrian vs DEN
24. Jerricho Cotchery at DAL
25. Lee Evans at JAC
26. Dwayne Bowe vs OAK
27. Donte Stallworth vs PHI
28. Shaun McDonald vs GB
29. Steve Smith vs NO
30. Santana Moss at TB
31. Chris Chambers vs BAL
32. Derrick Mason at SD
33. Roddy White vs IND
34. Kevin Curtis at NE
35. Patrick Crayton vs NYJ
36. Deion Branch at STL
37. Kevin Walter at CLE
38. Calvin Johnson vs GB
39. Justin Gage at CIN
40. Ronald Curry at KC

NOTES: Marvin Harrison (knee), Laveranues Coles (ankle), Santonio Holmes (knee) were left off this list because all three are not expected to play this week.

Check the injury status T.J. Housmandzadeh (hip), Steve Smith (shin), Patrick Crayton (ankle) and Calvin Johnson (back).

Houshmandzadeh is not expected to practice much this week, but should play. Smith said he feels better this week so he has a good chance to start against New Orleans on Sunday. Crayton is real iffy at this point, especially considering the Dallas game is on Thursday. Johnson should play versus Green Bay, but he’s not 100 percent and not seeing as many snaps as a result.

Justin Gage is a sleeper this week going against a porous Bengals’ defense. And Vince Young has been throwing the ball better lately and looking for Gage often.

Tight Ends
1. Kellen Winslow vs HOU
2. Jason Witten vs NYJ
3. Antonio Gates vs BAL
4. Jeremy Shockey vs MIN
5. Heath Miller vs MIA
6. Tony Gonzalez vs OAK
7. Dallas Clark at ATL
8. Donald Lee at DET
9. Ben Watson vs PHI
10. Chris Cooley at TB
11. L.J. Smith at NE
12. Greg Olsen vs DEN
13. Owen Daniels at CLE
14. Tony Scheffler at DEN
15. Alex Smith vs WAS
16. Vernon Davis at ARI
17. Alge Crumpler vs IND
18. Bo Scaife at CIN
19. Chris Baker at DAL
20. Leonard Pope vs SF

NOTES: As documented in this column before, Cincinnati has allowed opposing tight ends to put up good numbers all season. Bo Scaife is a sleeper this week as a result.

Kickers
1. Nick Folk vs NYJ
2. Stephen Gostkowski vs PHI
3. Rob Bironas at CIN
4. Jeff Reed vs MIA
5. Phil Dawson vs HOU
6. Josh Brown at STL
7. Kris Brown at CLE
8. Mason Crosby at DET
9. Shayne Graham vs TEN
10. Neil Rackers vs SF
11. Nate Kaeding vs BAL
12. Adam Vinatieri at ATL
13. Jason Hanson vs GB
14. Jason Elam at CHI
15. Robbie Gould vs DEN
16. Matt Stover at SD
17. Lawrence Tynes vs MIN
18. Jeff Wilkins vs SEA
19. Rian Lindell at JAC
20. David Akers at NE

D/ST
1. Pittsburgh vs MIA
2. New England vs PHI
3. New York Giants vs MIN
4. Dallas vs NYJ
5. Seattle at STL
6. Arizona vs SF
7. Jacksonville vs BUF
8. Indianapolis at ATL
9. San Diego vs BAL
10. Green Bay at DET
11. Tampa Bay vs WAS
12. Kansas City vs OAK
13. Tennessee at CIN
14. Baltimore at SD
15. Chicago vs DEN
16. Detroit vs GB
17. Minnesota at NYG
18. Denver at CHI
19. St. Louis vs SEA
20. Washington at TB