Sunday Morning Adjustment: Week 13 Fantasy Football Positional Rankings!

With games less than 24 hours away, we have rankings for you that factor in all of the latest injuries and analysis!

Quarterback

1. Peyton Manning - home vs. Dallas - 4pm Sunday - Dallas has given up the 2nd most fantasy points to QBs this season. Not much to think about in this one.
2. Aaron Rodgers - home vs. San Francisco - 1pm Sunday - Rodgers is match-up-proof at this point. The Niners have a decent pass D, but have only faced four QBs in the top 12 in fantasy points this season. Welcome # 5.
3. Philip Rivers - home vs. Oakland - 4pm Sunday - I say Phil chucks three TDs by the half and then we watch Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert alternate series in the 2nd half. The Raiders have allowed the 13th most fantasy points to QBs on the season, but 2nd most over the last three weeks. Start him if ya got him.
4. Matt Cassel  - home vs. Denver - 1pm Sunday -Until some coats Dwayne Bowe with a fire extinguisher, and as long as he is facing a crap pass defense like the Broncos, you’d be wise to play Cassel if you have him on your roster. He’s averaging 24.2 PPG over his last five games good for 4th best among QBs. It’s looking like Charlie Weis’ system does translate nicely in the pros (Golden Tate must be missing his old college coach). Cassel threw for 469 yards and four TD passes vs. Denver in their first meeting, but keep in mind that KC fell behind 35-0 early. Let’s assume the tables turn a bit in this one, and it’s the Chiefs that are out to an early lead, do you honestly think that cry-baby Todd Haley has forgotten that game a few weeks ago? No, he’s still feeling pretty salty is my guess. The Broncos pass defense is really starting to fall apart. Over their last four games they are allowing 28.9 fantasy points to opposing QBs and Philip Rivers is the only QB they have faced in that four game stretch that is top 11 QB in average points scored at the position. The Broncos are currently giving up the fifth most points to fantasy QBs. You’d have to be sitting on Rivers, Vick, Peyton Manning, Brees, or Rodgers to pass up plugging Cassel into your lineup in this match up.
5. Drew Brees - at Cincinnati - 1pm Sunday - The Bengals have been oddly stingy when it comes to defending QBs; only only six TDs and about 205 or so YPG over their last five contests. That said, this team has likely checked out after having rattled off eight straight losses. TO's done wonders, hasn't he? In an off-year, Brees still averages the fifth most fantasy points among QBs.
6. Kyle Orton - at KC - 1pm Sunday -  The Chiefs are allowing the 9th most fantasy points to QBs over the last five weeks on average, and Orton sits as the 4th highest fantasy point guy among QBs. I think the Chiefs might have a little surprise up their sleeves this Sunday, though.  
7. Eli Manning - home vs. Washington - 1pm Sunday - No Nicks, No Steve Smith, noooo douuubt! No diggity, even. Manning used Kevin Boss like he was his bitch last Sunday, and will probably do so again this week against a soft Redskin pass defense (they've allowed the third most fantasy points to QBs)

 Click here for the entire top 15 QB rankings list!

Running Back

1. Jamaal Charles - home vs. Denver - 1pm Sunday - I'm not ranking him #1 to be different, I promise.  He's hitting his stride as of late and is now getting consistent touches in this high-octane offense. He is the 6th leading fantasy RB over the last three weeks and the Donkeys are allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to RBs through 12 weeks of football.  This one is all about the match up!
2. Peyton Hillis - at Miami - 1pm Sunday - Miami has been tough defending the run (11th fewest points to RBs) but Hillis is doing as much damage through the air as he is on the ground, and with few other options on offense, the Browns will feature him both ways again vs. the 'Fins.
3. Michael Turner - at Tampa - 4pm Sunday - He gets stronger as defenses start to feel fatigued as winter sets in. The Bucs allow the 10th most fantasy points to RBs.
4. Steven Jackson - at Arizona - 4pm Sunday -Gone are the days where Steven Jackson was an automatic start and match-up proof. Speaking of proof, he has scored only seven TDs in his last 26 games; ugly. The 26 games before that he had scored 20 TDs. It has taken him 18 goal-line carries to score just three goal-line TDs; credit the offensive line for some of these woes. The good news this week is that you can go on ahead and toss all of those stats out the window because the Cardinals give up the most fantasy points to opposing RBs. Here’s a mind-bender for you; six different RBs scored at least 10.9 fantasy points over the last three games vs. this defense. 
5. Maurice Jones-Drew - at Tennessee - 1pm Sunday - He's been on a tear over the last month (3rd leading fantasy RB over the last five weeks in PPG) and that has come against a couple of tough run defense (including Giants, Browns, and Dallas). The Titans allow the 16th most fantasy PPG to RBs, so his chances are solid to produce high end RB1 numbers again in Week 13.
6. Chris Johnson - home vs. Jags - 1pm Sunday - The Jags contained him in their first meeting... up until the fateful 4th down with a minute to go up by three scores, and they went for it and CJ28 ripped off a 35 yard TD. But Collins is back under center, and they have Randy Moss to account for in this one. I like his chances. The Jags are allowing the 12th most fantasy points to opposing RBs.
7. Matt Forte - at Detroit - 1pm Sunday -Like sands through the hour glass, so are the fantasy points for Forte vs. the Lions. He is averaging 131.4 total yards, has scored 5 TDs, and is averaging 19.1 fantasy PPG in his last five games vs. the Lions. Five different RBs (Forte, LeSean McCoy, Fred Jackson, Adrian Peterson, & Brandon Jacobs) had their fantasy season highs vs. Detroit. You should not need much more than that to get him in there.
8. Knowshon Moreno - at KC - 1pm Sunday - Just as McDaniels bragged before the season started, Moreno has been getting it done through the air with 120+ yards and a TD over his last three games; just through the air. He is averaging 16.9 fantasy points over his last five games which is good for 7th best in the NFL. The receiving yards should continue this weekend as the Chiefs are giving up 6.4 points to RBs through the air which is 5th highest in the league. Moreno lit the Chiefs up for 21.6 points a few weeks ago.
9. Darren McFadden - at San Diego - 4pm Sunday - Much has been made this week about how the Raider coaching staff is all worried that McFadden has reverted back to the running style that had him chalked up as an NFL bust for his first two seasons as a pro. Let's give some credit to the Steelers 2nd ranked run defense (Week 11) and the fact that the Raiders didn't really have the ball much in Week 12 facing the Dolphins. That said, the Chargers allow only 3.5 YPC on the ground, and have allowed the 10th fewest fantasy points to RBs. Are you really going to leave his big-game potential on the bench, though? If your answer is yes, you had better be sitting on a rock-solid fantasy backfield.
10. Fred Jackson - at Minnesota - 1pm Sunday- As Coach Gailey continues to integrate Fred into the passing game more, his fantasy stock has risen with that (22 catches in the last five games). The Vikings are tough defending their ground space ranking 6th among fewest fantasy allowed to RBs. On touches alone, Fabulous Fred is a low-end RB1 consideration.
11. Rashard Mendenhall - at Baltimore - 8pm Sunday - Mendy toted the ball 36 times (for 156 rush yards and a TD) in Week 12, but that was facing a weak Bills run defense. If they try that again, they will have to do so facing the 5th toughest run defense in the NFL. Even though Ben is hobbled, I can't see this strategy paying fantasy dividends, but there are few better options below this.
12. Adrian Peterson - home vs. Buffalo - 1pm Sunday - It's looking more and more like he be in the starting lineup facing the Bills' defense that allows the 4th most fantasy points to RBs. There is plenty of risk with this play, though. If you have Toby Gerhart on staff, have him at the ready in case of a late-breaking "no-go" news item.

Click here for the entire top 24 RB rankings list!

Wide Receiver

1. Greg Jennings - home vs. San Francisco - 1pm Sunday - He's nursing a foot injury which kept him out of practice Wednesday of this week, but he'll good to go facing the Niners who are right in the middle of the NFL in defending opposing WRs.
2. Reggie Wayne - home vs. Dallas - 4pm Sunday - Wayne did not practice on Wednesday (but who did?) due to his lingering knee issues, but should be in line for a nice day vs. a Cowboy pass defense who allows more fantasy points to WRs than all but one (Seattle) team in the NFL.
3. Steve Johnson - at Minnesota - 1pm Sunday - The Vikings allow the 14th most fantasy points to WRs on the season (9th most over the last 5 weeks), so Stevie makes for a decent play; he'll be pretty pissed off after dropping a game-winner last weekend. Hopefully God doesn't hold a grudge for being called out after it all.
4. Brandon Lloyd - at KC - 1pm Sunday - Lloyd is on a bit of a Dwayne-Bowe style tear of his own with six TDs in his last four games vs. worthy pass defenses no less (San Diego, St Louis, KC, and San Fran). Three short weeks ago, he roasted the Donkeys for two of those six TDs. The Broncos are allowing the 4th most fantasy points to WRs over their last four games. Queue Lloyd up as a WR1.
5. Roddy White - at Tampa - 4pm Sunday - His knee is a little banged up and he, like every other veteran skill position player in the NFL, sat out practice this past Wednesday. He has yet to go three games in a row without putting up 100+ yards, and his last two have been for 49 and 83 yards. I'll leave the math to you. Tampa's pass D stats have been solid this season, but the only quality (aka top 12 in fantasy points) QBs they've faced this season are Brees and Matt Ryan who combined for 500+ yards and four TDs against them. White did not have a great game when they hosted Tampa (49 yards and no scores), but he's still a WR1 play this week.
6. Marques Colston - at Cincinnati - 1pm Sunday - The Bengals allow the 12th most fantasy points to WRs and Colston is among the top six hottest WRs in fantasy over the last five weeks. He's once again a WR1 in fantasy in all formats.
7. Mike Wallace - at Baltimore - 8pm Sunday - Wallace had a lead first game vs. the Ravens, but that was with Charlie Batch under center. Ben is no Batch. I didn't say Ben is no bitch, I said Batch. Just wanted to be crystal on that. After three straight 100+ yard performances, Wallace ceded the show to Hines Ward in Week 12. While the Ravens pass D ranking is respectable (13 fewest fantasy points to WRs), keep in mind they were torched by Buffalo and Atlanta (two teams with QBs in the top 12 in fantasy points scored).
8. Terrell Owens - home vs. New Orleans - 1pm Sunday - The Saints give up the fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs, but how good are they really? They have faced one team all year that ranks in the top 12 in fantasy points scored at the QB position. Seven of the other 10 games have been against teams that QBs rank in the bottom seven in fantasy points scored. This isn't about Carson Palmer being any good, it's more-so about the documented trend that the Bengals like to go down early in games and are forced to chuck it 40+ times to keep the game respectable. TO will draw Jabari Greer in this one, but Greer is no Revis; and TO is on display for his last NFL contract down this next five game stretch.
9. Dwayne Bowe - home vs. Denver - 1pm Sunday - The numbers certainly don't lead me to this, but something tells me that the Chiefs will be looking for some payback in this one. Check out my theory, dog... The Donkeys will be focused on shutting down Bowe, and are likely to at least dedicate Renaldo Hill to help Champ Bailey not get embarrassed by him again (180+ yards and two TDs). Meanwhile, Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones will be carving up the 2nd worst fantasy rush defense in the NFL. I know, it was a rush-job on that theory, but Im thinking Bowe busts this week - relatively speaking. He's still a WR1 play, just don't expect 145 yards and 2 scores, which has been typically over the last several games.
10. Miles Austin - at Indy - 4pm Sunday - He's scored TDs in three straight games (Week 12 was a long running TD), but keep one thing in mind with that... the Saints were able to shut him down receiving (only 3 catches and 25 yards), and the two weeks before that were against pass defenses on the decline (Lions and Giants). Indy's pass D is actually trending upward having let up the fourth fewest fantasy points to WRs over the past 3 weeks and 10th fewest all season.
11. Larry Fitzgerald - home vs. St. Louis - 4pm Sunday - He's not light on targets; maybe a little light on QB talent, though.  It's an off-year to be sure, but the Rams are giving up the 10th most fantasy points to WRs.  I like Larry Sunday as a low-end WR1 this week.
12. Santonio Holmes - at New England - Monday Night Football - Man, was I wrong about this dude. Four TDs and 246 yards over his last three games puts him into the "hot" category and makes me a believer. The Pats have the 2nd most porous pass defense in the NFL.

 Click here for the entire top 36 WR rankings list!

Tight End

1. Jacob Tamme - home vs. Dallas - 4pm Sunday - The Cowboys are allowing the 14th fewest fantasy points to opposing TEs, but Tamme is the clear #1 TE as long as Gates is hobbled, no matter the match-up.
2. Antonio Gates - home vs. Oakland - 4pm Sunday - On one leg he is the clear #2 TE fantasy play.
3. Vernon Davis - at Green Bay - 1pm Sunday - The weakest part of the Green Bay defense is their ability to defend opposing TEs having allowed the 16th most fantasy points to TEs through 12 weeks. That was actually a compliment. In match last season, VD went off for 108 yards and a score. A lot has changed, though, so don't expect anything near that, but at the end of the day he is healthy for the first time in a few weeks, and the TE pool has been quite meager this season.
4. Tony Gonzalez - at Tampa - 4pm Sunday - For as bland of a season as he's having, he still ranks 7th among TEs in a basic format. The Bucs allow the 13th fewest fantasy points to opposing TEs.
5. Marcedes Lewis - at Tennessee - 1pm Sunday - He has three multi-TD reception games in 2010 (eight total TDs), and with Mike Sims-Walker on the shelf, you can expect that his targets will increase. The Titans have allowed the 8th most fantasy points to opposing TEs through 12 weeks.

Click here for the entire top 15 TE rankings list!