WhatIfSports NFL Fantasy Rankings: Week 16

Jake WestrichDec 20, 2008

2008 Week 16 Fantasy Rankings

BtB presents position-by-position cheat sheets

December 16th, 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 10,001 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

	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
1.	Drew Brees	QB	Saints	Lions	24.6
2.	Shaun Hill	QB	49ers	Rams	22.9
3.	Steve Slaton	RB	Texans	Raiders	22.6
4.	Pierre Thomas	RB	Saints	Lions	20.8
5.	Kurt Warner	QB	Cardinals	Patriots	20.1
6.	Matt Schaub	QB	Texans	Raiders	19.6
7.	Dan Orlovsky	QB	Lions	Saints	18.7
8.	Adrian Peterson	RB	Vikings	Falcons	18.6
9.	Jay Cutler	QB	Broncos	Bills	18.3
10.	Chad Pennington	QB	Dolphins	Chiefs	18.2
11.	Matt Forte	RB	Bears	Packers	17.8
12.	Peyton Manning	QB	Colts	Jaguars	17.5
13.	Matt Cassel	QB	Patriots	Cardinals	17.1
14.	Philip Rivers	QB	Chargers	Buccaneers	17.0
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
15.	Aaron Rodgers	QB	Packers	Bears	16.9
16.	Brian Griese	QB	Buccaneers	Chargers	16.9
17.	Thomas Jones	RB	Jets	Seahawks	16.6
18.	DeShaun Foster	RB	49ers	Rams	16.5
19.	Kevin Smith	RB	Lions	Saints	16.2
20.	Marc Bulger	QB	Rams	49ers	16.1
21.	Andre Johnson	WR	Texans	Raiders	15.8
22.	Calvin Johnson	WR	Lions	Saints	15.4
23.	Matt Ryan	QB	Falcons	Vikings	15.3
24.	Marshawn Lynch	RB	Bills	Broncos	15.3
25.	Brett Favre	QB	Jets	Seahawks	15.2
26.	Donovan McNabb	QB	Eagles	Redskins	15.1
27.	J.P. Losman	QB	Bills	Broncos	15.0
28.	Tyler Thigpen	QB	Chiefs	Dolphins	14.9
29.	Steve Smith	WR	Panthers	Giants	14.6
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
30.	Tarvaris Jackson	QB	Vikings	Falcons	14.4
31.	Steven Jackson	RB	Rams	49ers	14.3
32.	Antonio Bryant	WR	Buccaneers	Chargers	13.9
33.	Roddy White	WR	Falcons	Vikings	13.9
34.	Seneca Wallace	QB	Seahawks	Jets	13.8
35.	Isaac Bruce	WR	49ers	Rams	13.6
36.	DeAngelo Williams	RB	Panthers	Giants	13.4
37.	Wes Welker	WR	Patriots	Cardinals	13.3
38.	Jake Delhomme	QB	Panthers	Giants	13.3
39.	Ben Roethlisberger	QB	Steelers	Titans	13.2
40.	Tony Romo	QB	Cowboys	Ravens	13.1
41.	Brian Westbrook	RB	Eagles	Redskins	13.1
42.	Kyle Orton	QB	Bears	Packers	13.0
43.	Warrick Dunn	RB	Buccaneers	Chargers	13.0
44.	JaMarcus Russell	QB	Raiders	Texans	12.9
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
45.	LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	Chargers	Buccaneers	12.9
46.	Ronnie Brown	RB	Dolphins	Chiefs	12.6
47.	Marques Colston	WR	Saints	Lions	12.2
48.	Eli Manning	QB	Giants	Panthers	12.1
49.	Derrick Ward	RB	Giants	Panthers	12.1
50.	Joe Flacco	QB	Ravens	Cowboys	12.0
51.	Clinton Portis	RB	Redskins	Eagles	11.8
52.	Michael Turner	RB	Falcons	Vikings	11.7
53.	Ryan Fitzpatrick	QB	Bengals	Browns	11.6
54.	Leon Washington	RB	Jets	Seahawks	11.4
55.	Greg Jennings	WR	Packers	Bears	11.4
56.	Anquan Boldin	WR	Cardinals	Patriots	11.1
57.	Ryan Grant	RB	Packers	Bears	11.0
58.	Jason Campbell	QB	Redskins	Eagles	11.0
59.	Maurice Morris	RB	Seahawks	Jets	10.9
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
60.	Eddie Royal	WR	Broncos	Bills	10.9
61.	John Kasay	K	Panthers	Giants	10.8
62.	Brandon Marshall	WR	Broncos	Bills	10.8
63.	Larry Fitzgerald	WR	Cardinals	Patriots	10.6
64.	Larry Johnson	RB	Chiefs	Dolphins	10.6
65.	Reggie Wayne	WR	Colts	Jaguars	10.6
66.	Bernard Berrian	WR	Vikings	Falcons	10.5
67.	Nate Kaeding	K	Chargers	Buccaneers	10.5
68.	Darren McFadden	RB	Raiders	Texans	10.5
69.	Donnie Avery	WR	Rams	49ers	10.5
70.	David Garrard	QB	Jaguars	Colts	10.4
71.	Robbie Gould	K	Bears	Packers	10.4
72.	Dominic Rhodes	RB	Colts	Jaguars	10.4
73.	Nick Folk	K	Cowboys	Ravens	10.4
74.	Lee Evans	WR	Bills	Broncos	10.3
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
75.	Fred Jackson	RB	Bills	Broncos	10.3
76.	Le'Ron McClain	RB	Ravens	Cowboys	10.3
77.	Sammy Morris	RB	Patriots	Cardinals	10.2
78.	Dwayne Bowe	WR	Chiefs	Dolphins	10.0
79.	Cedric Benson	RB	Bengals	Browns	10.0
80.	Hines Ward	WR	Steelers	Titans	9.9
81.	Randy Moss	WR	Patriots	Cardinals	9.8
82.	Ricky Williams	RB	Dolphins	Chiefs	9.7
83.	Vincent Jackson	WR	Chargers	Buccaneers	9.7
84.	Garrett Hartley	K	Saints	Lions	9.5
85.	J.J. Arrington	RB	Cardinals	Patriots	9.5
86.	Jeff Reed	K	Steelers	Titans	9.4
87.	Adam Vinatieri	K	Colts	Jaguars	9.4
88.	Reggie Bush	RB	Saints	Lions	9.4
89.	Derrick Mason	WR	Ravens	Cowboys	9.3
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
90.	Jamal Lewis	RB	Browns	Bengals	9.3
91.	Braylon Edwards	WR	Browns	Bengals	9.2
92.	Torry Holt	WR	Rams	49ers	9.2
93.	Jason Witten	TE	Cowboys	Ravens	9.1
94.	Steelers	DEF		Titans	9.1
95.	Kris Brown	K	Texans	Raiders	9.1
96.	Bryant Johnson	WR	49ers	Rams	9.1
97.	David Akers	K	Eagles	Redskins	9.1
98.	Carnell Williams	RB	Buccaneers	Chargers	9.1
99.	Steve Breaston	WR	Cardinals	Patriots	9.0
100.	Rian Lindell	K	Bills	Broncos	9.0
101.	Justin Fargas	RB	Raiders	Texans	9.0
102.	DeSean Jackson	WR	Eagles	Redskins	8.9
103.	Mason Crosby	K	Packers	Bears	8.9
104.	Devin Hester	WR	Bears	Packers	8.8
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
105.	Lance Moore	WR	Saints	Lions	8.8
106.	Dan Carpenter	K	Dolphins	Chiefs	8.7
107.	Maurice Jones-Drew	RB	Jaguars	Colts	8.7
108.	P.J. Pope	RB	Broncos	Bills	8.7
109.	Joe Nedney	K	49ers	Rams	8.7
110.	Santana Moss	WR	Redskins	Eagles	8.6
111.	Ted Ginn Jr.	WR	Dolphins	Chiefs	8.6
112.	Jonathan Stewart	RB	Panthers	Giants	8.6
113.	Ryan Longwell	K	Vikings	Falcons	8.6
114.	Shayne Graham	K	Bengals	Browns	8.6
115.	Donald Driver	WR	Packers	Bears	8.5
116.	Davone Bess	WR	Dolphins	Chiefs	8.4
117.	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	WR	Bengals	Browns	8.4
118.	Chris Johnson	RB	Titans	Steelers	8.4
119.	John Carney	K	Giants	Panthers	8.3
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
120.	Selvin Young	RB	Broncos	Bills	8.3
121.	Michael Jenkins	WR	Falcons	Vikings	8.2
122.	Dallas Clark	TE	Colts	Jaguars	8.2
123.	LaMont Jordan	RB	Patriots	Cardinals	8.2
124.	Matt Stover	K	Ravens	Cowboys	8.1
125.	Matt Prater	K	Broncos	Bills	8.1
126.	Jerricho Cotchery	WR	Jets	Seahawks	8.1
127.	Ken Dorsey	QB	Browns	Bengals	8.0
128.	Jason Hanson	K	Lions	Saints	8.0
129.	Deion Branch	WR	Seahawks	Jets	8.0
130.	Mark Clayton	WR	Ravens	Cowboys	7.9
131.	Tatum Bell	RB	Broncos	Bills	7.8
132.	Kevin Walter	WR	Texans	Raiders	7.8
133.	Terrell Owens	WR	Cowboys	Ravens	7.8
134.	Rob Bironas	K	Titans	Steelers	7.8
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
135.	Marion Barber	RB	Cowboys	Ravens	7.7
136.	Willie Parker	RB	Steelers	Titans	7.6
137.	Muhsin Muhammad	WR	Panthers	Giants	7.6
138.	John Carlson	TE	Seahawks	Jets	7.6
139.	Domenik Hixon	WR	Giants	Panthers	7.6
140.	John Standeford	WR	Lions	Saints	7.4
141.	Jason Elam	K	Falcons	Vikings	7.4
142.	Laveranues Coles	WR	Jets	Seahawks	7.3
143.	Jay Feely	K	Jets	Seahawks	7.3
144.	Marvin Harrison	WR	Colts	Jaguars	7.2
145.	Tim Hightower	RB	Cardinals	Patriots	7.2
146.	Hank Baskett	WR	Eagles	Redskins	7.1
147.	Malcom Floyd	WR	Chargers	Buccaneers	7.1
148.	Devery Henderson	WR	Saints	Lions	7.1
149.	Adrian Peterson	RB	Bears	Packers	7.1
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
150.	Chester Taylor	RB	Vikings	Falcons	7.1
151.	Josh Scobee	K	Jaguars	Colts	7.0
152.	Ahmad Bradshaw	RB	Giants	Panthers	6.9
153.	Josh Brown	K	Rams	49ers	6.9
154.	Jamaal Charles	RB	Chiefs	Dolphins	6.9
155.	Mewelde Moore	RB	Steelers	Titans	6.8
156.	Thomas Clayton	RB	49ers	Rams	6.8
157.	Owen Daniels	TE	Texans	Raiders	6.7
158.	Shaun Suisham	K	Redskins	Eagles	6.6
159.	Ravens	DEF		Cowboys	6.6
160.	Titans	DEF		Steelers	6.6
161.	Neil Rackers	K	Cardinals	Patriots	6.6
162.	Matt Bryant	K	Buccaneers	Chargers	6.5
163.	Zach Miller	TE	Raiders	Texans	6.5
164.	Phil Dawson	K	Browns	Bengals	6.5
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
165.	Connor Barth	K	Chiefs	Dolphins	6.5
166.	Antonio Gates	TE	Chargers	Buccaneers	6.5
167.	Cowboys	DEF		Ravens	6.5
168.	Sebastian Janikowski	K	Raiders	Texans	6.5
169.	Stephen Gostkowski	K	Patriots	Cardinals	6.4
170.	Chris Cooley	TE	Redskins	Eagles	6.4
171.	Joseph Addai	RB	Colts	Jaguars	6.3
172.	Amani Toomer	WR	Giants	Panthers	6.3
173.	Santonio Holmes	WR	Steelers	Titans	6.2
174.	Josh Reed	WR	Bills	Broncos	6.1
175.	Tashard Choice	RB	Cowboys	Ravens	6.1
176.	Bears	DEF		Packers	6.0
177.	David Martin	TE	Dolphins	Chiefs	5.9
178.	Montell Owens	RB	Jaguars	Colts	5.9
179.	Eagles	DEF		Redskins	5.8
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
180.	Browns	DEF		Bengals	5.8
181.	Bengals	DEF		Browns	5.8
182.	Correll Buckhalter	RB	Eagles	Redskins	5.8
183.	Jerramy Stevens	TE	Buccaneers	Chargers	5.7
184.	Dennis Northcutt	WR	Jaguars	Colts	5.7
185.	Darren Sproles	RB	Chargers	Buccaneers	5.6
186.	Bobby Wade	WR	Vikings	Falcons	5.6
187.	Johnnie Lee Higgins	WR	Raiders	Texans	5.6
188.	Dolphins	DEF		Chiefs	5.5
189.	Rashied Davis	WR	Bears	Packers	5.5
190.	Antonio Pittman	RB	Rams	49ers	5.5
191.	Bobby Engram	WR	Seahawks	Jets	5.5
192.	Dustin Keller	TE	Jets	Seahawks	5.4
193.	Jets	DEF		Seahawks	5.4
194.	Saints	DEF		Lions	5.3
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
195.	Texans	DEF		Raiders	5.3
196.	Colts	DEF		Jaguars	5.3
197.	Vikings	DEF		Falcons	5.3
198.	Kerry Collins	QB	Titans	Steelers	5.2
199.	Chargers	DEF		Buccaneers	5.2
200.	Julius Jones	RB	Seahawks	Jets	5.2

* 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 -2 points, fumbles lost are -2 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.

Paul Bessire is the Senior Quantitative Analyst and Content Manager for WhatIfSports.com and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. With any comments, questions or topic suggestions, Paul can be reached at BtB@whatifsports.com. Thanks