Elite (26-plus points)
1. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
vs. 49ers
Peyton will remain atop this list regardless of opponent until further notice.
2. Drew Brees, QB, Saints
vs. Falcons
How can he not be an elite play?
Stellar (21-25 points)
3. Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys
vs. Seahawks
Romo is heating up and so are the Cowboys. Tony should remain consistent for one more week at least.
4. Matt Forte, RB, Bears
vs. Browns
Forte has been a bust this season, but he's got an elite matchup against the Browns. Expect him to have his second good game of the season.
5. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans
vs. Jaguars
The Titans are desperate and Vince Young is making his first start of the season. Note to Jeff Fisher, give VY an easy job early and have him hand it off to your best player.
6. David Garrard, QB, Jaguars
at Titans
Garrard has tanked for a few weeks in a row, but he gets to face a defense he already picked apart once this season. Of course, everyone is picking apart the Titans.
7. Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts
vs. 49ers
Wayne is the best option at WR as far as fantasy value is concerned.
8. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
at Packers
As always, not a great matchup, but too much potential to push him any lower.
9. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers
vs. Raiders
Oakland's run defense is getting worse and worse on a weekly basis. This makes for a good opportunity for the Bolts to finally get LT headed in the right direction.
10. Steve Slaton, RB, Texans
at Bills
Buffalo has the worst run defense in the league. Backs are averaging more than five yards a carry. Sounds like Slaton might finally be able to get on track.
11. Matt Schaub, QB, Texans
at Bills
Schaub remains fantasy football's top scorer and should always be near the top of this list.
Super (16-20 points)
12. Steven Jackson, RB, Rams
at Lions
Jackson has found a way to put together decent numbers on a horrid team. Now he gets to face another horrid team. This could lead to a big day.
13. Marques Colston, WR, Saints
vs. Falcons
By far, Colston is Brees' favorite target. He's the only fantasy consistency at wideout for the Saints.
14. Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys
vs. Seahawks
Austin makes his professional debut on this list. He has posted the fourth-highest receiving yards total in back-to-back games in league history.
15. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
vs. Minnesota
Rodgers is the top-rated passer in the NFC. I asked about a dozen fantasy football enthusiasts who held that honor currently in the conference and no one every guessed Rodgers.
16. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars
at Titans
The Jags aren't as desperate as the Titans, but should still rely on their best player more.
17. Kevin Smith, RB, Lions
vs. Rams
Even Smith's OL can block well enough to find some decent yardage totals against the Rams.
18. Phillip Rivers, QB, Chargers
vs. Raiders
While the Chargers should try to establish the run game Sunday, face it, they have had to rely on a heavy passing game for success. Oakland's pass defense is underrated, though.
19. Brett Favre, QB, Vikings
at Packers
I'm tempted to move Favre further up this list. This storyline writes itself and the motivation for this game is easy to find for Favre.
20. Marc Bulger, QB, Rams
at Lions
Need a decent one-week fill in? Bulger might be your guy this week.
Solid (11-15 points)
21. Dallas Clark, TE, Colts
vs. 49ers
Clark is still the toop TE option in fantasy football, although Houston's Owen Daniels is hot on his trail.
22. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans
at Bills
Stop me if you've heard this before, but Johnson is the most complete WR in the NFL.
23. Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings
at Packers
Rice has quickly become Favre's favorite target. It'd be nice if he found the end zone more frequently, but his yardage totals are consistently solid.
24. Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions
vs. Rams
If Johnson returns to action Sunday, he's coming back against a secondary ripe for the picking. Doesn't matter who the QB is for the Lions. Just throw it up. Johnson will pull it down. Sounds like a great game plan to me.
25. Donald Driver, WR, Packers
vs. Vikings
No Antoine Winfield spells troubles for the Vikings secondary, meaning either Driver or Greg Jennings is going to have a good matchup on ever pass play.
26. Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals
vs. Panthers
The Panthers aren't a great matchup, but Warner's potential is too much to keep off this list.
27. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
vs. Panthers
See Warner.
28. Thomas Jones, RB, Jets
vs. Dolphins
Jones needs to be a workhorse for the Jets with Leon Washington out. Although, Shonn Greene did have a monster game last week. It's hard to say Greene will be consistent, yet.
29. Ronnie Brown, RB, Dolphins
at Jets
Speaking of workhorses. The Wildcat baffled the Jets in the first meeting. Expect it to have a similar effect in Round 2. Ricky Williams is also a solid play.
30. Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles
vs. Giants
The Giants are missing Kenny Phillips more than most realize in the secondary. If McNabb's OL is focused on giving him time, which they should be considering it's a divisional game, then the Eagles signal-caller has a great chance to put up good numbers. |
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