Elite (26-plus points)
1. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars
vs. Bills
The Bills gave up 232 total yards to Chris Johnson last week. MJD is capable of the same thing.
2. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans
at Houston
Johnson is the best RB in the league hands down. He can do it all. Houston has gotten better against the run, but not good enough to stop Johnson.
3. Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals
at Rams
Warner has thrown seven TDs in the past two games. He'll have three or four against the Rams.
4. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
at Ravens
The Ravens pass defense is mediocre. Manning is obviously an elite QB. Does that tell you how elite of a matchup this is for the league's best QB?
5. Drew Brees, QB, Saints
at Buccaneers
Brees can torch any defense. Put him against one as bad as Tampa Bay's and he has to be slotted for an elite day.
Stellar (21-25 points)
6. Matt Shaub, QB, Texans
vs. Titans
The Titans allow QBs to complete nearly 70 percent of their passes this season. In Week 2, Schaub threw for 357 yards and four TDs against Tennessee.
7. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
vs. Seahawks
Seattle is vulnerable in both the rushing and passing game. This should lead to a big day for the Seahawks.
8. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens
vs. Colts
Rice has developed into one of the most versatile RBs in the league. Even if Indy can stop him in the run game, there's a good chance he can produce in the passing game.
9. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
vs. 49ers
The Niners aren't a great pass rushing team, meaning Rodgers might find more time to throw this week. Of course, the Pack's offensive line has made even the average pass rusher look like a Pro Bowler this season.
10. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
at Rams
No WR has a better chance of a big day than Fitz does against the putrid Rams.
Super (16-20 points)
11. Ricky Williams, RB, Dolphins
at Panthers
Ronnie Brown is on the IR, making Ricky Williams the focal point of an offense for the first time since 2003. Williams is averaging more than 5 yards a pop and Carolina has had one of the worst run defenses this season. It'll be interesting to see how the Fins replace Brown in the Wildcat.
12. Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts
at Ravens
Wayne had another unbelievable game Sunday night, keeping him atop the WR rankings for another week.
13. Brett Favre, QB, Vikings
vs. Seahawks
Is there enough plays for Favre and Peterson to have big days? Against the Seahawks? Yes.
14. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans
vs. Titans
In his first matchup against the Titans, Johnson had 10 catches for 149 yards and two TDs. He hasn't caught a TD since Week 5, though. Sounds like he's due.
15. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers
vs. Dolphins
In the past five games, Williams is averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He's listed as questionable, but so is the entire Panthers team it seems like. He'll play.
16. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers
at Chiefs
KC should provide Mendenhall a good platform to get going again like he was in his first two starts of the season.
17. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
vs. Jets
This is a questionable matchup. The Jets held Brady to his worst game of the season in Week 2. However, coach Bill Belichick is under fire for the calls he made in last week's disheartening loss to the Colts. Don't stir the rage inside of Belichick and Brady. The Jets are going to pay for that. Last time Belichick got ticked off, the Patriots went 16-0.
18. Phillip Rivers, QB, Chargers
at Broncos
The Broncos are starting to look more like the team everyone believed they would be this season. Rivers is catching them at the right time in other words.
19. Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles
at Bears
McNabb is putting up some sick numbers, including a 450-yard performance last week in a losing effort. The Bears can be exposed and Jay Cutler's eratic play could provide extra opportunities for McNabb.
Strong (11-15 points)
20. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
at Chiefs
Big Ben against the Chiefs? It hardly seems fair. Only reason he's this low on the list is because we expect the Steelers to get ahead and start working on their ground game with Mendenhall.
21. Steven Jackson, RB, Rams
vs. Cardinals
Jackson is an All-Pro. He deserves that kind of accolade for the production he's getting on a really bad team. Even against the Cardinals, Jackson is a must-start.
22. Randy Moss, WR, Patriots
vs. Jets
The yards are starting to pile up for Moss and he'd like nothing better than to stop all the talk about Darrelle Revis shutting him down in Week 2.
23. Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys
vs. Redskins
It's a favorable matchup, but Romo has to figure out a way to reconnect with Miles Austin now that teams are double teaming him.
24. Marques Colston, WR, Saints
at Buccaneers
Colston was shutout last week against the Rams. If the Rams can take him out of the game, then so can the Bucs, right? That potential is the only reason he's this low on the list against a bad defense.
25. Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints
at Buccaneers
The Bucs have the second worst run defense in the league. Thomas stays this low on this list, though, because it's hard to tell who will get the carries for New Orleans and how many times the Saints will elect to throw the ball instead.
26. Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants
vs. Falcons
The Giants have to get going and should go back to the run game -- not Eli Manning -- that made them one of the elite teams in the NFL in the first place.
27. Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals
at Raiders
With Cedric Benson nicked up, Palmer will be counted on to provide more offense than he has had to all season. He's in a rhythm and should be able to pick apart the Raiders.
28. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers
vs. Dolphins
Stewart is alternating games in which he scores. By that pattern, he shouldn't have a good game this week. Maybe this isn't a good matchup for him. Then again, his potential is worth keeping him in the starting lineup and Top 30.
29. Donald Driver, WR, Packers
vs. 49ers
Driver continues to be Rodgers favorite target mostly because of his understanding when Rodgers needs a check down from blitz packages. Rodgers doesn't have that same vibe with Greg Jennings, who remains the better big play WR.
30. Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings
vs. Seahawks
There's a good chance Rice will have over 100 yards again this week. Will he find the end zone for the third time this season? That's not as definite. |
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