Category: Player Rankings

NOTE: These player rankings track a player’s value for the remainder of the season and are intended to be used as a tool, not necessarily a definitive guide to player valuation. The scoring system is performance PPR.

There is no exact science behind season-long rankings, considering all of the variables and situational uncertainties at work. Defensive teams have been added but will not have analysis.

This is the final installment of 2019.

QUARTERBACKS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		Patrick Mahomes	KC	12
2		Lamar Jackson	BAL	8
3		Russell Wilson	SEA	11
4		Dak Prescott	DAL	8
5	4	Deshaun Watson	HOU	10
6		Aaron Rodgers	GB	11
7		Kyler Murray	ARI	12
8	9	Drew Brees	NO	9
9		Matt Ryan	ATL	9
10		Kirk Cousins	MIN	12
11		Jameis Winston	TB	7
12	11	Tom Brady	NE	10
13	18	Baker Mayfield	CLE	7
14		Carson Wentz	PHI	10
15		Josh Allen	BUF	6
16	23	Jimmy Garoppolo	SF	4
17	25	Ryan Tannehill	TEN	11
18		Derek Carr	OAK	6
19		Daniel Jones	NYG	11
20	19	Ryan Fitzpatrick	MIA	5
21	16	Jacoby Brissett	IND	6
22		Philip Rivers	LAC	12
23	17	Jared Goff	LAR	9
24		Sam Darnold	NYJ	4
25	39	Andy Dalton	CIN	9
26		Kyle Allen	CAR	7
27		Nick Foles	JAC	10
28	21	M. Stafford	DET	5
29	30	Mitchell Trubisky	CHI	6
30		Jeff Driskel	DET	5
31		Brandon Allen	DEN	10
32		Dwayne Haskins	WAS	10
33	NR	Devlin Hodges	PIT	7
34	35	Gardner Minshew	JAC	10
35	29	Mason Rudolph	PIT	7
36	40	Drew Lock	DEN	10
37		Chase Daniel	CHI	6
38		Marcus Mariota	TEN	11
39		Josh Rosen	MIA	5
40		Case Keenum	WAS	10

QUARTERBACK MOVEMENT

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

This is the final re-ranking column for the year, so expect more tweaks and projections than usual since future adjustments won’t be happening. Let’s start with Stafford (back), who missed a third consecutive game. The loss to the Redskins makes the rest of the year academic — and quite honestly it’s better for Detroit to lose and improve their draft slot. I don’t care how “maniacal” Stafford is about returning this season, the team needs to step in and tell him to get healthy for 2020. I’m guessing that’s what happens and moving him down. Jeff Driskel has been all right, but Sunday was brutal.

Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

I’ve seen enough of Goff and the 2019 Rams offense. The former No. 1 pick finished November with ZERO touchdown passes and five interceptions. Yes, he faced three tough defenses, but he had Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks and Todd Gurley out there Monday night and looked lost. It would not surprise me if an “injured” Goff gives way to Blake Bortles at some point.

Others of note

Everyone in my top five has, on paper, a very tough closing schedule except Russell Wilson. There are no adjustments coming from that, but I thought it was worth pointing out … Baker Mayfield has looked much better recently and still has two games with the Bengals and one with Arizona on the schedule. He could have some nice QB1 numbers down the stretch … Same deal with Ryan Tannehill, who has played better than expected and faces some struggling secondaries in December … Ryan Finley has been pulled for Andy Dalton; I don’t think the Red Rifle is playable, but he should help guys like Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd carry more value … One other switch of note is Mason Rudolph giving way to Devlin Hodges. That’s not a great situation for anyone involved in the Steelers passing game.

RUNNING BACKS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		Christian McCaffrey	CAR	7
2		Dalvin Cook	MIN	12
3	5	Alvin Kamara	NO	9
4		Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	8
5	8	Nick Chubb	CLE	7
6		Saquon Barkley	NYG	11
7	4	Aaron Jones	GB	11
8		Josh Jacobs	OAK	6
9		Leonard Fournette	JAC	10
10	13	Derrick Henry	TEN	11
11		Le’Veon Bell	NYJ	4
12		Melvin Gordon III	LAC	12
13	9	Chris Carson	SEA	11
14		Mark Ingram II	BAL	8
15	11	Todd Gurley II	LAR	9
16		Phillip Lindsay	DEN	10
17		Carlos Hyde	HOU	10
18		Joe Mixon	CIN	9
19		Austin Ekeler	LAC	12
20	28	Devonta Freeman	ATL	9
21	27	Devin Singletary	BUF	6
22		Kenyan Drake	ARI	12
23	17	James Conner	PIT	7
24		Damien Williams	KC	12
25		Sony Michel	NE	10
26	30	Miles Sanders	PHI	10
27	19	Jordan Howard	PHI	10
28	22	James White	NE	10
29	23	Tevin Coleman	SF	4
30	NR	Jonathan Williams	IND	6
31	34	Matt Breida	SF	4
32	29	David Montgomery	CHI	6
33		Ronald Jones II	TB	7
34	46	Bo Scarbrough	DET	5
35		Latavius Murray	NO	9
36		Kareem Hunt	CLE	7
37		Jamaal Williams	GB	11
38		Duke Johnson	HOU	10
39	44	Tarik Cohen	CHI	6
40		Chase Edmonds	ARI	12
41	45	Frank Gore	BUF	6
42	51	Rashaad Penny	SEA	11
43		Derrius Guice	WAS	10
44	NR	Benny Snell	PIT	7
45	41	Kalen Ballage	MIA	5
46		Peyton Barber	TB	7
47	40	Royce Freeman	DEN	10
48	47	Adrian Peterson	WAS	10
49		Alexander Mattison	MIN	12
50	32	David Johnson	ARI	12
51		Nyheim Hines	IND	6
52		LeSean McCoy	KC	12
53	NR	Gus Edwards	BAL	8
54		Tony Pollard	DAL	8
55		Raheem Mostert	SF	4
56	38	Jaylen Samuels	PIT	7
57		Giovani Bernard	CIN	9
58		Malcolm Brown	LAR	9
59	53	Brian Hill	ATL	9
60	NR	Ty Johnson	DET	5
61		Marlon Mack	IND	6
62	NR	Jay Ajayi	PHI	10
63		Ryquell Armstead	JAC	10
64	56	Darrell Henderson	LAR	9
65		Darrel Williams	KC	12
66		Jalen Richard	OAK	6
67		Chris Thompson	WAS	10
68		Reggie Bonnafon	CAR	7
69		Justin Jackson	LAC	12
70		Dion Lewis	TEN	11

RUNNING BACK MOVEMENT

Arizona Cardinals

Chase Edmonds (hamstring) is expected to return in Week 13, but all signs point to this being Kenyan Drake’s job with Edmonds and perhaps David Johnson sprinkled in. We’ll know more after Sunday, but I’m left to speculate without ever seeing the Cardinals take the field with all three backs healthy. My final read is Drake as an RB2, Edmonds as a flex and Johnson as someone to hold in reserve just in case there are injuries or the Cardinals change course.

Indianapolis Colts

A week ago I thought Jordan Wilkins (ankle) would be the back to own with Marlon Mack (hand) out. No more. Jonathan Williams broke off a second consecutive 100-plus-yard performance, and I’d be shocked if the Colts didn’t keep feeding him the ball. As such, Williams is in as an RB3 with Wilkins departing the rankings — I don’t see him getting more than a few touches. There’s still no timeline on Mack, who I’ve dropped toward the bottom, though I wouldn’t get rid of him just yet.

Pittsburgh Steelers

There isn’t much news relating to James Conner (shoulder) and his injury, but one thing was made clear in Week 12: Benny Snell is the preferred backup over Jaylen Samuels. The only caveat to that is Samuels’ best game came in Hodges’ lone start, and he’s taking the reins going forward.

[lawrence-related id=447172]

Others of note

It sounds like Devonta Freeman (foot) could play on Thanksgiving, and after getting nothing out of Brian Hill as a starter I’m sure the Falcons are anxious to have Freeman back on the field … Anyone else mildly concerned about Chris Carson’s fumbling problems? I wonder if that’ll crack open the door for Rashaad Penny, who was good against the Eagles … Kareem Hunt’s return hasn’t impacted Nick Chubb at all, and better play from Mayfield should open things up for Chubb, who has earned a top-five slot … Bo Scarborough has looked decent, and the Lions don’t want to throw a million times if it’s Driskel instead of Stafford.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		Michael Thomas	NO	9
2		DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	10
3		Julio Jones	ATL	9
4		Mike Evans	TB	7
5		Tyreek Hill	KC	12
6		Chris Godwin	TB	7
7	6	Davante Adams	GB	11
8	9	Julian Edelman	NE	10
9		Amari Cooper	DAL	8
10		Stefon Diggs	MIN	12
11	16	D.J. Moore	CAR	7
12		Adam Thielen	MIN	12
13	13	Tyler Lockett	SEA	11
14	11	Kenny Golladay	DET	5
15		Keenan Allen	LAC	12
16		John Brown	BUF	6
17	10	Cooper Kupp	LAR	9
18	14	Odell Beckham Jr.	CLE	7
19	32	Tyler Boyd	CIN	9
20		DJ Chark Jr.	JAC	10
21	29	T.Y. Hilton	IND	6
22		Calvin Ridley	ATL	9
23	18	Courtland Sutton	DEN	10
24		Christian Kirk	ARI	12
25	30	Jarvis Landry	CLE	7
26		Robert Woods	LAR	9
27		Michael Gallup	DAL	8
28	22	Golden Tate	NYG	11
29	26	Marvin Jones Jr.	DET	5
30	51	Will Fuller V	HOU	10
31	20	JuJu Smith-Schuster	PIT	7
32		DeVante Parker	MIA	5
33	35	Allen Robinson II	CHI	6
34		Terry McLaurin	WAS	10
35		Mike Williams	LAC	12
36	31	Brandin Cooks	LAR	9
37	33	Alshon Jeffery	PHI	10
38		Tyrell Williams	OAK	6
39		Sammy Watkins	KC	12
40		Emmanuel Sanders	SF	4
41		DK Metcalf	SEA	11
42	47	Deebo Samuel	SF	4
43	49	Randall Cobb	DAL	8
44		Jamison Crowder	NYJ	4
45	53	Dede Westbrook	JAC	10
46		Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	12
47	50	Cole Beasley	BUF	6
48		Marquise Brown	BAL	8
49	43	Curtis Samuel	CAR	7
50	56	Darius Slayton	NYG	11
51	59	A.J. Brown	TEN	11
52		Nelson Agholor	PHI	10
53	48	Josh Gordon	SEA	11
54	60	Chris Conley	JAC	10
55	64	James Washington	PIT	7
56	44	Mohamed Sanu	NE	10
57	69	Allen Hurns	MIA	5
58	68	Robby Anderson	NYJ	4
59	54	Corey Davis	TEN	11
60		Allen Lazard	GB	11
61	71	Auden Tate	CIN	9
62		Demaryius Thomas	NYJ	10
63	72	Sterling Shepard	NYG	11
64		Mecole Hardman	KC	12
65	73	Anthony Miller	CHI	6
66	80	N’Keal Harry	NE	10
67		Danny Amendola	DET	5
68	46	Hunter Renfrow	OAK	6
69		Phillip Dorsett II	NE	10
70	58	Taylor Gabriel	CHI	6
71		Tim Patrick	DEN	10
72		Adam Humphries	TEN	11
73		Andy Isabella	ARI	12
74	67	Kenny Stills	HOU	10
75		Willie Snead IV	BAL	8
76		Diontae Johnson	PIT	7
77		M. Valdes-Scantling	GB	11
78	55	Zach Pascal	IND	6
79		Tre’Quan Smith	NO	9
80	88	Trey Quinn	WAS	10
81		Pharoh Cooper	ARI	12
82		Chester Rogers	IND	6
83		Russell Gage	ATL	9
84		Ted Ginn Jr.	NO	9
85		Geronimo Allison	GB	11
86		Zay Jones	OAK	6
87		DeSean Jackson	PHI	10
88		Alex Erickson	CIN	9
89		Miles Boykin	BAL	8
90	79	Paul Richardson Jr.	WAS	10
91	81	Keke Coutee	HOU	10
92		Devin Funchess	IND	6
93	62	A.J. Green	CIN	9
94		John Ross	CIN	9
95		Antonio Brown	FA	—

WIDE RECEIVER MOVEMENT

New York Giants

There’s a lot of moving parts with the G-Men. Sterling Shepard finally returned in Week 12, just in time for Golden Tate (concussion) to suffer a head injury of his own. Darius Slayton remained involved even with Shepard back, but would a healthy Evan Engram (foot) affect the overall dynamic? I still like Tate as the top wideout and Slayton as a matchup play.

Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

Jones (shoulder) has a shoulder injury, but he’s one of those guys that’ll miss practice all week, check out of the game a half-dozen times doubled over in pain and still catch 10 passes for 170 yards and two scores. I think he’ll fight through it.

Others of note

It sounds like Tyreek Hill (hamstring) may not miss a single game with his hamstring injury … Speaking of hamstrings, Adam Thielen should return this week as well … Will Fuller is an every-week play when he’s healthy. His presence down the field opens up so much offensively for Deshaun Watson… As noted, Dalton’s return should be a positive for Boyd as well as Auden Tate and Alex Erickson; of those two, I’m rolling with Tate. As for A.J. Green (ankle), something tells me he’ll still be day-to-day in mid January … Denver’s passing game is just brutal right now, so I feel obligated to bump Courtland Sutton out of the top 20 … Hunter Renfrow (ribs) is set to miss time with a rib injury. That’s not enough to make me bump up Tyrell Williams, though.

TIGHT ENDS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		Travis Kelce	KC	12
2		Zach Ertz	PHI	10
3	4	George Kittle	SF	4
4		Hunter Henry	LAC	12
5		Darren Waller	OAK	11
6		Jared Cook	NO	9
7		Mark Andrews	BAL	8
8	6	Evan Engram	NYG	7
9		Jacob Hollister	SEA	11
10		Austin Hooper	ATL	5
11		Greg Olsen	CAR	6
12	22	Jack Doyle	IND	6
13		Dallas Goedert	PHI	10
14	11	Noah Fant	DEN	10
15	16	Ryan Griffin	NYJ	4
16		Jimmy Graham	GB	11
17		Tyler Eifert	CIN	12
18		Kyle Rudolph	MIN	12
19		Gerald Everett	LAR	9
20		Mike Gesicki	MIA	7
21	18	Vance McDonald	PIT	6
22		O.J. Howard	TB	7
23		Cameron Brate	TB	7
24		T.J. Hockenson	DET	9
25		Delanie Walker	TEN	11
26		Jason Witten	DAL	8
27		Irv Smith	MIN	12
28		Jonnu Smith	TEN	11
29		David Njoku	CLE	7
30	28	Darren Fells	HOU	10

TIGHT END MOVEMENT

Others of note

George Kittle (ankle) is officially back, whereas Austin Hooper (knee) is unlikely to play on Thanksgiving but could return the following week … Eric Ebron (ankle) is done for the year, which should mean more targets for Jack Doyle; he’s someone I’d pluck off waivers immediately … Engram (foot) missed another game, and with the Giants eyeing up on a high pick I wonder how aggressive they’ll be in trying to get him back on the field … Does anyone hate fantasy football more than Bruce Arians? Rather than call a play for O.J. Howard or Cameron Brate at the goal line, Arians called Vita Vea’s number. Great. Thanks, Bruce. Awesome job.

DEFENSE

Rk	Mv	Team	Team	Bye
1		Patriots	NE	10
2		49ers	SF	4
3		Steelers	PIT	6
4		Ravens	BAL	8
5		Bills	BUF	9
6	9	Vikings	MIN	12
7		Saints	NO	9
8	7	Bears	CHI	6
9	6	Rams	LAR	9
10	15	Eagles	PHI	10
11		Seahawks	SEA	11
12		Colts	IND	6
13		Titans	TEN	11
14	21	Browns	CLE	7
15		Falcons	ATL	5
16	19	Packers	GB	11
17		Cowboys	DAL	8
18	12	Chargers	LAC	12
19		Texans	HOU	10
20		Panthers	CAR	6
21	28	Jets	NYJ	4
22		Broncos	DEN	10
23		Chiefs	KC	12
24	14	Jaguars	JAC	10
25		Raiders	OAK	11
26		Lions	DET	9
27		Giants	NYG	7
28	24	Cardinals	ARI	5
29		Buccaneers	TB	7
30		Dolphins	MIA	7
31		Redskins	WAS	10
32		Bengals	CIN	12