NFL Fantasy Rankings Week Three

Jake WestrichSep 17, 2008

2008 Week Three Fantasy Rankings

BtB presents position-by-position cheat sheets

By Paul Bessire, WhatIfSports.com

Sept. 17, 2008

We present our updated, weekly fantasy football projections. This thorough analysis and statistical evaluation of every player and team in the NFL is part of a broader endeavor with FOXSports.com's Fantasy Football.

Each regular season game is simulated 201 times, with the sum of the averages of those games being our final predicted outcome. This allows us to account for every player and statistical interaction in an NFL game.

Rosters and depth charts are up-to-date and as accurate as possible as of Tuesday morning for each week. Information on scoring and injury analysis appears at the very bottom of this article.

To view a pop-up with positional rankings, please click on one of the links below. Good luck this season!

Quarterback	Running Back	Wide Receiver	Tight End
Kicker	Team Defense	Individual Defense

Overall rankings

	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
1.	Brandon Jacobs	RB	Giants	Bengals	22.4
2.	Jay Cutler	QB	Broncos	Saints	21.3
3.	Drew Brees	QB	Saints	Broncos	21.1
4.	Frank Gore	RB	49ers	Lions	21.1
5.	Tony Romo	QB	Cowboys	Packers	19.4
6.	Brian Westbrook	RB	Eagles	Steelers	19.2
7.	Philip Rivers	QB	Chargers	Jets	19.1
8.	Earnest Graham	RB	Buccaneers	Bears	18.7
9.	Adrian Peterson	RB	Vikings	Panthers	18.4
10.	Matt Hasselbeck	QB	Seahawks	Rams	18.2
11.	Kurt Warner	QB	Cardinals	Redskins	18.1
12.	J.T. O'Sullivan	QB	49ers	Lions	17.9
13.	Brett Favre	QB	Jets	Chargers	17.9
14.	Jon Kitna	QB	Lions	49ers	17.9
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
15.	Eli Manning	QB	Giants	Bengals	17.4
16.	Peyton Manning	QB	Colts	Jaguars	17.3
17.	Michael Turner	RB	Falcons	Chiefs	17.0
18.	Chris Johnson	RB	Titans	Texans	16.8
19.	Reggie Bush	RB	Saints	Broncos	16.4
20.	Derek Anderson	QB	Browns	Ravens	16.3
21.	Thomas Jones	RB	Jets	Chargers	16.2
22.	Jason Campbell	QB	Redskins	Cardinals	16.2
23.	Willie Parker	RB	Steelers	Eagles	15.8
24.	Trent Edwards	QB	Bills	Raiders	15.5
25.	Calvin Johnson	WR	Lions	49ers	15.3
26.	Donovan McNabb	QB	Eagles	Steelers	15.1
27.	Marshawn Lynch	RB	Bills	Raiders	15.1
28.	Brandon Marshall	WR	Broncos	Saints	14.9
29.	Marion Barber	RB	Cowboys	Packers	14.9
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
30.	Ben Roethlisberger	QB	Steelers	Eagles	14.8
31.	Larry Fitzgerald	WR	Cardinals	Redskins	14.7
32.	Aaron Rodgers	QB	Packers	Cowboys	14.6
33.	LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	Chargers	Jets	14.4
34.	Tyler Thigpen	QB	Chiefs	Falcons	14.4
35.	Plaxico Burress	WR	Giants	Bengals	14.3
36.	Julius Jones	RB	Seahawks	Rams	14.0
37.	Jake Delhomme	QB	Panthers	Vikings	13.9
38.	Joe Flacco	QB	Ravens	Browns	13.7
39.	Matt Cassel	QB	Patriots	Dolphins	13.6
40.	Clinton Portis	RB	Redskins	Cardinals	13.1
41.	Kevin Smith	RB	Lions	49ers	12.9
42.	Joseph Addai	RB	Colts	Jaguars	12.8
43.	Matt Forte	RB	Bears	Buccaneers	12.8
44.	Larry Johnson	RB	Chiefs	Falcons	12.7
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
45.	Darren McFadden	RB	Raiders	Bills	12.7
46.	Steven Jackson	RB	Rams	Seahawks	12.6
47.	Eddie Royal	WR	Broncos	Saints	12.5
48.	Greg Jennings	WR	Packers	Cowboys	12.4
49.	Kerry Collins	QB	Titans	Texans	12.4
50.	Santana Moss	WR	Redskins	Cardinals	12.2
51.	Seahawks	DEF		Rams	12.2
52.	Terrell Owens	WR	Cowboys	Packers	12.2
53.	Willis McGahee	RB	Ravens	Browns	12.1
54.	Matt Ryan	QB	Falcons	Chiefs	12.0
55.	Brian Griese	QB	Buccaneers	Bears	12.0
56.	Matt Schaub	QB	Texans	Titans	11.6
57.	Ryan Grant	RB	Packers	Cowboys	11.4
58.	Randy Moss	WR	Patriots	Dolphins	11.3
59.	Anthony Gonzalez	WR	Colts	Jaguars	11.3
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
60.	Fred Jackson	RB	Bills	Raiders	11.2
61.	Reggie Wayne	WR	Colts	Jaguars	11.2
62.	David Garrard	QB	Jaguars	Colts	11.2
63.	Derrick Ward	RB	Giants	Bengals	11.2
64.	Lee Evans	WR	Bills	Raiders	11.1
65.	Andre Johnson	WR	Texans	Titans	11.0
66.	Jason Witten	TE	Cowboys	Packers	10.9
67.	Anquan Boldin	WR	Cardinals	Redskins	10.9
68.	John Kasay	K	Panthers	Vikings	10.8
69.	Roddy White	WR	Falcons	Chiefs	10.8
70.	Santonio Holmes	WR	Steelers	Eagles	10.8
71.	Braylon Edwards	WR	Browns	Ravens	10.7
72.	Giants	DEF		Bengals	10.6
73.	Laurence Maroney	RB	Patriots	Dolphins	10.6
74.	Kellen Winslow	TE	Browns	Ravens	10.6
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
75.	Patriots	DEF		Dolphins	10.5
76.	Steve Smith	WR	Panthers	Vikings	10.5
77.	DeSean Jackson	WR	Eagles	Steelers	10.4
78.	Jamal Lewis	RB	Browns	Ravens	10.3
79.	Chris Chambers	WR	Chargers	Jets	10.3
80.	Jerious Norwood	RB	Falcons	Chiefs	10.3
81.	Marc Bulger	QB	Rams	Seahawks	10.1
82.	Nick Folk	K	Cowboys	Packers	10.0
83.	Robbie Gould	K	Bears	Buccaneers	10.0
84.	Leon Washington	RB	Jets	Chargers	9.9
85.	Kyle Orton	QB	Bears	Buccaneers	9.9
86.	Selvin Young	RB	Broncos	Saints	9.7
87.	Edgerrin James	RB	Cardinals	Redskins	9.7
88.	John Carney	K	Giants	Bengals	9.7
89.	Adam Vinatieri	K	Colts	Jaguars	9.6
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
90.	Dwayne Bowe	WR	Chiefs	Falcons	9.6
91.	Jeremy Shockey	TE	Saints	Broncos	9.5
92.	Isaac Bruce	WR	49ers	Lions	9.5
93.	Billy McMullen	WR	Seahawks	Rams	9.5
94.	LenDale White	RB	Titans	Texans	9.5
95.	Bryant Johnson	WR	49ers	Lions	9.4
96.	Antonio Bryant	WR	Buccaneers	Bears	9.2
97.	Jonathan Stewart	RB	Panthers	Vikings	9.2
98.	Steve Slaton	RB	Texans	Titans	9.1
99.	Nate Kaeding	K	Chargers	Jets	9.1
100.	Fred Taylor	RB	Jaguars	Colts	9.1
101.	Matt Prater	K	Broncos	Saints	8.9
102.	Rian Lindell	K	Bills	Raiders	8.9
103.	Neil Rackers	K	Cardinals	Redskins	8.9
104.	Rob Bironas	K	Titans	Texans	8.9
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
105.	Carson Palmer	QB	Bengals	Giants	8.8
106.	Roy Williams	WR	Lions	49ers	8.7
107.	Sammy Morris	RB	Patriots	Dolphins	8.7
108.	Torry Holt	WR	Rams	Seahawks	8.7
109.	Tarvaris Jackson	QB	Vikings	Panthers	8.6
110.	Darren Sproles	RB	Chargers	Jets	8.5
111.	Andre Hall	RB	Broncos	Saints	8.4
112.	Michael Bush	RB	Raiders	Bills	8.4
113.	David Akers	K	Eagles	Steelers	8.4
114.	Pierre Thomas	RB	Saints	Broncos	8.3
115.	Jay Feely	K	Jets	Chargers	8.1
116.	Joe Nedney	K	49ers	Lions	8.1
117.	DeAngelo Williams	RB	Panthers	Vikings	8.1
118.	49ers	DEF		Lions	8.1
119.	Ricky Williams	RB	Dolphins	Patriots	8.0
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
120.	Chris Perry	RB	Bengals	Giants	8.0
121.	Vincent Jackson	WR	Chargers	Jets	8.0
122.	Mason Crosby	K	Packers	Cowboys	7.9
123.	Warrick Dunn	RB	Buccaneers	Bears	7.9
124.	Jeff Reed	K	Steelers	Eagles	7.8
125.	JaMarcus Russell	QB	Raiders	Bills	7.8
126.	David Patten	WR	Saints	Broncos	7.8
127.	Courtney Taylor	WR	Seahawks	Rams	7.7
128.	Amani Toomer	WR	Giants	Bengals	7.7
129.	Jason Hanson	K	Lions	49ers	7.6
130.	Browns	DEF		Ravens	7.6
131.	Chad Pennington	QB	Dolphins	Patriots	7.6
132.	Tony Gonzalez	TE	Chiefs	Falcons	7.5
133.	Jerricho Cotchery	WR	Jets	Chargers	7.5
134.	Martin Gramatica	K	Saints	Broncos	7.4
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
135.	Josh Scobee	K	Jaguars	Colts	7.4
136.	Todd Heap	TE	Ravens	Browns	7.4
137.	Chris Cooley	TE	Redskins	Cardinals	7.3
138.	Jason Elam	K	Falcons	Chiefs	7.3
139.	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	WR	Bengals	Giants	7.3
140.	Nick Novak	K	Chiefs	Falcons	7.3
141.	Phil Dawson	K	Browns	Ravens	7.2
142.	Hines Ward	WR	Steelers	Eagles	7.2
143.	Maurice Jones-Drew	RB	Jaguars	Colts	7.2
144.	Derrick Mason	WR	Ravens	Browns	7.2
145.	Donald Driver	WR	Packers	Cowboys	7.2
146.	Wes Welker	WR	Patriots	Dolphins	7.2
147.	Matt Bryant	K	Buccaneers	Bears	7.0
148.	Ryan Longwell	K	Vikings	Panthers	7.0
149.	Olindo Mare	K	Seahawks	Rams	7.0
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
150.	Chansi Stuckey	WR	Jets	Chargers	6.9
151.	Laveranues Coles	WR	Jets	Chargers	6.8
152.	Chad Johnson	WR	Bengals	Giants	6.8
153.	Antonio Gates	TE	Chargers	Jets	6.8
154.	Stephen Gostkowski	K	Patriots	Dolphins	6.7
155.	Devery Henderson	WR	Saints	Broncos	6.7
156.	Kris Brown	K	Texans	Titans	6.7
157.	Shaun Suisham	K	Redskins	Cardinals	6.6
158.	Cowboys	DEF		Packers	6.6
159.	John Carlson	TE	Seahawks	Rams	6.6
160.	Bills	DEF		Raiders	6.6
161.	Matt Stover	K	Ravens	Browns	6.5
162.	Redskins	DEF		Cardinals	6.5
163.	Marvin Harrison	WR	Colts	Jaguars	6.5
164.	Ravens	DEF		Browns	6.4
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
165.	DeShaun Foster	RB	49ers	Lions	6.4
166.	Muhsin Muhammad	WR	Panthers	Vikings	6.3
167.	Buccaneers	DEF		Bears	6.2
168.	Shayne Graham	K	Bengals	Giants	6.2
169.	Mewelde Moore	RB	Steelers	Eagles	6.1
170.	Brandon Jackson	RB	Packers	Cowboys	6.1
171.	Mark Clayton	WR	Ravens	Browns	6.0
172.	Jaguars	DEF		Colts	5.9
173.	Chris Taylor	RB	Texans	Titans	5.9
174.	Titans	DEF		Texans	5.9
175.	Michael Jenkins	WR	Falcons	Chiefs	5.9
176.	Antwaan Randle El	WR	Redskins	Cardinals	5.9
177.	Ahmad Bradshaw	RB	Giants	Bengals	5.9
178.	Josh Brown	K	Rams	Seahawks	5.9
179.	Chester Taylor	RB	Vikings	Panthers	5.9
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
180.	Ronnie Brown	RB	Dolphins	Patriots	5.8
181.	Colts	DEF		Jaguars	5.8
182.	Bears	DEF		Buccaneers	5.8
183.	Greg Camarillo	WR	Dolphins	Patriots	5.8
184.	Javon Walker	WR	Raiders	Bills	5.7
185.	Josh Reed	WR	Bills	Raiders	5.7
186.	Panthers	DEF		Vikings	5.7
187.	Matt Jones	WR	Jaguars	Colts	5.7
188.	Rams	DEF		Seahawks	5.7
189.	Eagles	DEF		Steelers	5.6
190.	Patrick Crayton	WR	Cowboys	Packers	5.6
191.	Reggie Williams	WR	Jaguars	Colts	5.4
192.	Packers	DEF		Cowboys	5.3
193.	Broncos	DEF		Saints	5.2
194.	Falcons	DEF		Chiefs	5.2
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
195.	Cardinals	DEF		Redskins	5.1
196.	Randy McMichael	TE	Rams	Seahawks	5.1
197.	Bernard Berrian	WR	Vikings	Panthers	5.1
198.	Justin Gage	WR	Titans	Texans	5.0
199.	Jets	DEF		Chargers	5.0
200.	Sebastian Janikowski	K	Raiders	Bills	5.0

* The individual players and defensive teams below are ranked based entirely on projected full-season fantasy points using the FOX Fantasy Football Default Scoring where for QBs, RBs, WRs and TE, all TDs are six points, each 25 yards passing are one point, interceptions are -two points, fumbles lost are -two points, each 10 yards receiving are one point and two-point conversions are two points.

For kickers, all extra points are one point and all field goals are at least three points with an extra bonus point for field goals made over 40 yards and another bonus point for field goals made over 50 yards.

Individual defensive players (linked to below, but not inlcuded in overall rankings) earn one point for each solo tackle, one point for each sack, two points for each interception and six points for each touchdown.

Team defenses include special teams and are treated similarly for sacks, interceptions and touchdown returns, while a more complex system, based on the outcome of each individual game, is utilized for points allowed per game.

Please note: These overall fantasy rankings are strictly based on total points earned for the season. They do not account for position scarcity, number of owners drafting and their drafting styles, roster restrictions, custom league scoring rules or other items that should be considered while drafting.

Injuries are accounted for based on a player's past history and the likelihood of missing games due to injury. This is reflected in his games played (GP) value.

However, unless the injury is already known and takes place at the beginning of the season, the players are arbitrarily injured throughout the season (as opposed to just at the end or beginning of the year).

Players with less than 16 GP will likely vary the most from their projected numbers because they are injury-prone or have depth chart and playing time concerns.