Zoneblitz.com’s weekly position-by-position breakdown to help YOU set your fantasy lineup!
Quarterbacks
- Peyton Manning vs. Oakland
- Matthew Stafford at Washington
- Aaron Rodgers at Cincinnati
- Drew Brees vs. Arizona
- Andy Dalton vs. Green Bay
- Colin Kaepernick vs. Indianapolis
- Cam Newton vs. NY Giants
- Matt Ryan at Miami
- Tom Brady vs. Tampa Bay
- Sam Bradford at Dallas
- Eli Manning at Carolina
- Tony Romo vs. St. Louis
- Russell Wilson vs. Jacksonville
- Matt Schaub at Baltimore
- Philip Rivers at Tennessee
- Andrew Luck at San Francisco
- Robert Griffin III vs. Detroit
- Ryan Tannehill vs. Atlanta
- Joe Flacco vs. Houston
- Jay Cutler at Pittsburgh
- Terrelle Pryor at Denver
- Jake Locker vs. San Diego
- Carson Palmer at New Orleans
- EJ Manuel at NY Jets
- Geno Smith vs. Buffalo
I felt like I was reaching just getting Tom Brady in my top 10 against the Bucs’ improved secondary with his depleted receiving corps, but he’s at home and may have Rob Gronkowski back, so I snuck him in there. Week 3 will be the biggest challenge yet for Michael Vick, Philip Rivers and Carson Palmer. It’ll be interesting to see how each responds.
Running Backs
- Adrian Peterson vs. Cleveland
- Marshawn Lynch vs. Jacksonville
- Alfred Morris vs. Detroit
- Matt Forte at Pittsburgh
- Doug Martin at New England
- DeMarco Murray vs. St. Louis
- Joique Bell at Washington
- Arian Foster at Baltimore
- Chris Johnson vs. San Diego
- CJ Spiller vs. Buffalo
- DeAngelo Williams vs. NY Giants
- Frank Gore vs. Indianapolis
- Knowshon Moreno vs. Oakland
- Bernard Pierce vs. Houston
- James Starks at Cincinnati
- Daryl Richardson at Dallas
- Darren McFadden at Denver
- Rashard Mendenhall at New Orleans
- Stevan Ridley vs. Tampa Bay
- Lamar Miller vs. Atlanta
- Pierre Thomas vs. Arizona
- Darren Sproles vs. Arizona
- Giovani Bernard vs. Green Bay
- Ryan Mathews at Tennessee
- Bilal Powell vs. Buffalo
- BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs. Green Bay
- David Wilson at Carolina
- Fred Jackson vs. Buffalo
- Trent Richardson at San Francisco
- Andre Ellington at New Orleans
- Jason Snelling at Miami
- Ahmad Bradshaw at San Francisco
- Brandon Jacobs at Carolina
- Chris Ivory vs. Buffalo
- Da’Rel Scott at Carolina
- Ben Tate at Baltimore
- Maurice Jones Drew at Seattle
- Jacquizz Rodgers at Miami
- Chris Ogbonnaya at Minnesota
- Marcel Reece at Denver
- Willis McGahee at Minnesota
- Daniel Thomas at Indianapolis
- Robert Turbin vs. Jacksonville
- Mike Tolbert vs. NY Giants
- Danny Woodhead at Tennessee
- Ronnie Brown at Tennessee
- Jackie Battle vs. San Diego
- Bruce Miller vs. Indianapolis
- Montee Ball vs. Oakland
- Rashad Jennings at Denver
- Roy Helu vs. Detroit
- Bobby Rainey at Minnesota
- Vonta Leach vs. Houston
- Felix Jones vs. Chicago
- Ronnie Hillman vs. Oakland
- Lance Dunbar vs. St. Louis
- Kendall Hunter vs. Indianapolis
- Isaac Redman vs. Chicago
- Isaiah Pead at Dallas
- Jonathan Dwyer vs. Chicago
At this point I’m assuming Reggie Bush will play, but cede a larger than usual piece of his workload to Joique Bell—hence my current ranking of them. Both are start-worthy if they both play against a terrible Redskins defense. Knowshon Moreno has a nice matchup, but I couldn’t go any higher than 19 based on Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman lurking. On the other side of the ball I have Darren McFadden ranked high because even though the Raiders will likely get blown out, I still think he’ll be used plenty in the passing game.
UPDATE: The Trent Richardson trade has thrown a wrench into things, so here’s my quick take on my rankings there. I think the Colts will want to bust out their new toy right away, but there’s really no way Richardson can absorb the playbook in three days. So Ahmad Bradshaw will still get plenty of work, but this is probably it for Bradshaw as a potential flex play. As for Cleveland, Willis McGahee has the same playbook issues as Richardson PLUS is going to a worse team AND wasn’t already playing football. So yeah, he’ll be rusty. McGahee will be the workhorse there, assuming he passes his physical on Thursday and actually signs with the Browns, but I’d be surprised if he’s not getting most of the work by Week 4.
Wide Receiver
- Calvin Johnson at Washington
- Victor Cruz at Carolina
- AJ Green vs. Green Bay
- Dez Bryant vs. St. Louis
- Jordy Nelson at Cincinnati
- Randall Cobb at Cincinnati
- Demaryius Thomas vs. Oakland
- Julio Jones at Miami
- Wes Welker vs. Oakland
- Brandon Marshall at Pittsburgh
- Andre Johnson at Baltimore
- Reggie Wayne at San Francisco
- Marques Colston vs. Arizona
- Hakeem Nicks at Carolina
- Larry Fitzgerald at New Orleans
- Vincent Jackson at New England
- Anquan Boldin vs. Indianapolis
- Pierre Garcon vs. Detroit
- Tavon Austin at Dallas
- Eddie Royal at Tennessee
- Mike Wallace vs. Atlanta
- Stevie Johnson at NY Jets
- Steve Smith vs. NY Giants
- Torrey Smith vs. Houston
- Eric Decker vs. Oakland
- TY Hilton at San Francisco
- Julian Edelman vs. Tampa Bay
- James Jones at Cincinnati
- DeAndre Hopkins at Baltimore
- Miles Austin vs. St. Louis
- Brian Hartline vs. Atlanta
- Golden Tate vs. Jacksonville
- Marlon Brown vs. Houston
- Chris Givens at New Orleans
- Nate Burleson at Washington
- Josh Gordon at Minnesota
- Austin Pettis at Dallas
- Antonio Brown vs. Chicago
- Kendall Wright vs. San Diego
- Andre Roberts at New Orleans
- Robert Woods at NY Jets
- Rueben Randle at Carolina
- Emmanuel Sanders vs. Chicago
- Leonard Hankerson vs. Detroit
- Harry Douglas at Miami
- Mike Williams at New England
- Greg Jennings vs. Cleveland
- Aaron Dobson vs. Tampa Bay
- Vincent Brown at Tennessee
- Roddy White at Miami
- Cecil Shorts at Seattle
- Lance Moore vs. Arizona
- Jerome Simpson vs. Cleveland
- Santana Moss vs. Detroit
- Stephen Hill vs. Buffalo
- Kenny Stills vs. Arizona
- Sidney Rice vs. Jacksonville
- Michael Floyd at New Orleans
- Rod Streater at Denver
- Denarius Moore at Denver
I like the top 20 wide receivers a LOT more than the top 20 running backs, though that seems like it’ll be a theme all year so I’ll stop bringing it up. Still can’t recommend Roddy White as nothing more than a deep league flex until he’s proven himself fully healthy. I’d rather miss one big game from him than have him in my lineup for multiple duds. With Malcom Floyd injured, I can’t help but buy into Eddie Royal as a WR2 this week.
Tight Ends
- Jimmy Graham vs. Arizona
- Julius Thomas vs. Oakland
- Tony Gonzalez at Miami
- Owen Daniels at Baltimore
- Greg Olsen vs. NY Giants
- Jared Cook at Dallas
- Vernon Davis vs. Indianapolis
- Martellus Bennett at Pittsburgh
- Jordan Cameron at Minnesota
- Antonio Gates at Tennessee
- Jason Witten vs. St. Louis
- Rob Gronkowski vs. Tampa Bay
- Jermichael Finley at Cincinnati
- Tyler Eifert vs. Green Bay
- Charles Clay vs. Atlanta
- Coby Fleener at San Francisco
- Jordan Reed vs. Detroit
- Delanie Walker vs. San Diego
- Brandon Myers at Carolina
- Jermaine Gresham vs. Green Bay
- Kellen Winslow vs. Buffalo
- Kyle Rudolph vs. Cleveland
- Garrett Graham at Baltimore
- Zach Miller vs. Jacksonville
- Heath Miller vs. Chicago
I’m obviously assuming that Rob Gronkowski plays this week. If he doesn’t, I probably move Brady down at least one spot and of course Gronk drops off this list. Fortunately he’s got a noon kickoff on Sunday so you don’t have to play any guessing games. With Dwayne Allen out for the year, Coby Fleener is another guy to add to the tremendous depth at tight end this season now that he’s not splitting looks.
Kicker
- Stephen Gostkowski vs. Tampa Bay
- Sebastian Janikowski at Denver
- Garrett Hartley vs. Arizona
- Josh Brown at Carolina
- Nick Folk vs. Buffalo
- Rob Bironas vs. San Diego
- Caleb Sturgis vs. Atlanta
- Robbie Gould at Pittsburgh
- Graham Gano vs. NY Giants
- Dan Bailey vs. St. Louis
- Steven Hauschka vs. Jacksonville
- Greg Zuerlein at Dallas
- Blair Walsh vs. Cleveland
- David Akers at Washington
- Jay Feely at New Orleans
- John Potter vs. Detroit
- Nick Novak at Tennessee
- Billy Cundiff at Minnesota
- Matt Prater vs. Oakland
- Phil Dawson vs. Indianapolis
- Mason Crosby at Cincinnati
- Adam Vinatieri at San Francisco
- Dan Carpenter at NY Jets
- Matt Bryant at Miami
- Randy Bullock at Baltimore
It’ll be a bounceback week for Randy Bullock, so much so that I ranked him 25th after the Thursday night games.
Defense
- Seahawks vs. Jacksonville
- Vikings vs. Cleveland
- Bears at Pittsburgh
- Bills at NY Jets
- Broncos vs. Oakland
- Cowboys vs. St. Louis
- Patriots vs. Tampa Bay
- Panthers vs. NY Giants
- 49ers vs. Indianapolis
- Jets vs. Buffalo
- Texans at Baltimore
- Titans vs. San Diego
- Buccaneers at New England
- Falcons at Miami
- Browns at Minnesota
- Lions at Washington
- Saints vs. Arizona
- Rams at Dallas
- Chargers at Tennessee
- Colts at San Francisco
- Cardinals at New Orleans
- Dolphins vs. Atlanta
- Giants at Carolina
- Steelers vs. Chicago
- Ravens vs. Houston
I actually had the Bucs a spot higher, but couldn’t convince myself that any defense playing in Foxborough, regardless of what Brady has to work with, could be considered a start this week. But honestly, they probably can if Gronk is out.
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