WhatIfSports NFL Fantasy Rankings: Week 17

Jake WestrichDec 24, 2008

December 23rd, 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.	Aaron Rodgers	QB	Packers	Lions	22.3
2.	Drew Brees	QB	Saints	Panthers	20.6
3.	Jeff Garcia	QB	Buccaneers	Raiders	19.2
4.	Philip Rivers	QB	Chargers	Broncos	19.2
5.	Matt Cassel	QB	Patriots	Bills	18.1
6.	Kevin Smith	RB	Lions	Packers	17.4
7.	Maurice Morris	RB	Seahawks	Cardinals	17.0
8.	Matt Ryan	QB	Falcons	Rams	16.9
9.	LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	Chargers	Broncos	16.8
10.	Seneca Wallace	QB	Seahawks	Cardinals	16.4
11.	Dan Orlovsky	QB	Lions	Packers	16.0
12.	Jake Delhomme	QB	Panthers	Saints	15.8
13.	Ryan Grant	RB	Packers	Lions	15.6
14.	Sammy Morris	RB	Patriots	Bills	15.6
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
15.	Adrian Peterson	RB	Vikings	Giants	15.5
16.	Calvin Johnson	WR	Lions	Packers	15.5
17.	Chad Pennington	QB	Dolphins	Jets	15.1
18.	Joe Flacco	QB	Ravens	Jaguars	15.1
19.	Jay Cutler	QB	Broncos	Chargers	15.0
20.	Greg Jennings	WR	Packers	Lions	14.9
21.	Thomas Jones	RB	Jets	Dolphins	14.8
22.	Pierre Thomas	RB	Saints	Panthers	14.8
23.	Jason Campbell	QB	Redskins	49ers	14.7
24.	Tashard Choice	RB	Cowboys	Eagles	14.5
25.	Trent Edwards	QB	Bills	Patriots	14.5
26.	Matt Schaub	QB	Texans	Bears	14.3
27.	Antonio Bryant	WR	Buccaneers	Raiders	14.3
28.	Fred Jackson	RB	Bills	Patriots	14.3
29.	Eli Manning	QB	Giants	Vikings	13.9
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
30.	Michael Turner	RB	Falcons	Rams	13.9
31.	LaMont Jordan	RB	Patriots	Bills	13.9
32.	Matt Forte	RB	Bears	Texans	13.8
33.	Cedric Benson	RB	Bengals	Chiefs	13.8
34.	Tony Romo	QB	Cowboys	Eagles	13.8
35.	Steve Slaton	RB	Texans	Bears	13.7
36.	Jonathan Stewart	RB	Panthers	Saints	13.5
37.	Tarvaris Jackson	QB	Vikings	Giants	13.3
38.	Kurt Warner	QB	Cardinals	Seahawks	13.2
39.	Donovan McNabb	QB	Eagles	Cowboys	13.1
40.	Brett Favre	QB	Jets	Dolphins	12.8
41.	Le'Ron McClain	RB	Ravens	Jaguars	12.8
42.	Tyler Thigpen	QB	Chiefs	Bengals	12.7
43.	DeAngelo Williams	RB	Panthers	Saints	12.5
44.	Brian Westbrook	RB	Eagles	Cowboys	12.4
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
45.	Derrick Ward	RB	Giants	Vikings	12.4
46.	Byron Leftwich	QB	Steelers	Browns	12.4
47.	Larry Fitzgerald	WR	Cardinals	Seahawks	12.4
48.	Warrick Dunn	RB	Buccaneers	Raiders	12.3
49.	Kyle Orton	QB	Bears	Texans	11.8
50.	Ryan Fitzpatrick	QB	Bengals	Chiefs	11.8
51.	Wes Welker	WR	Patriots	Bills	11.6
52.	Rob Bironas	K	Titans	Colts	11.5
53.	Steve Breaston	WR	Cardinals	Seahawks	11.5
54.	JaMarcus Russell	QB	Raiders	Buccaneers	11.5
55.	Vincent Jackson	WR	Chargers	Broncos	11.4
56.	Steve Smith	WR	Panthers	Saints	11.3
57.	Frank Gore	RB	49ers	Redskins	11.3
58.	Mason Crosby	K	Packers	Lions	11.3
59.	Roddy White	WR	Falcons	Rams	11.1
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
60.	Derrick Mason	WR	Ravens	Jaguars	11.1
61.	Nate Kaeding	K	Chargers	Broncos	11.0
62.	Donald Driver	WR	Packers	Lions	10.9
63.	Santana Moss	WR	Redskins	49ers	10.8
64.	Brandon Marshall	WR	Broncos	Chargers	10.6
65.	Clinton Portis	RB	Redskins	49ers	10.6
66.	Larry Johnson	RB	Chiefs	Bengals	10.6
67.	Ronnie Brown	RB	Dolphins	Jets	10.5
68.	Marques Colston	WR	Saints	Panthers	10.4
69.	Steven Jackson	RB	Rams	Falcons	10.4
70.	Marc Bulger	QB	Rams	Falcons	10.3
71.	Steelers	DEF		Browns	10.3
72.	Mewelde Moore	RB	Steelers	Browns	10.3
73.	Hines Ward	WR	Steelers	Browns	10.3
74.	Justin Fargas	RB	Raiders	Buccaneers	10.0
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
75.	Nick Folk	K	Cowboys	Eagles	9.8
76.	Darren McFadden	RB	Raiders	Buccaneers	9.7
77.	Shaun Hill	QB	49ers	Redskins	9.6
78.	Matt Stover	K	Ravens	Jaguars	9.5
79.	John Kasay	K	Panthers	Saints	9.5
80.	Muhsin Muhammad	WR	Panthers	Saints	9.4
81.	Jeff Reed	K	Steelers	Browns	9.4
82.	Jason Elam	K	Falcons	Rams	9.3
83.	John Carney	K	Giants	Vikings	9.2
84.	Lee Evans	WR	Bills	Patriots	9.2
85.	Randy Moss	WR	Patriots	Bills	9.2
86.	Michael Jenkins	WR	Falcons	Rams	9.1
87.	Kenneth Darby	RB	Rams	Falcons	9.1
88.	Terrell Owens	WR	Cowboys	Eagles	9.1
89.	Torry Holt	WR	Rams	Falcons	9.1
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
90.	Chris Johnson	RB	Titans	Colts	9.0
91.	Ahmad Bradshaw	RB	Giants	Vikings	9.0
92.	Ricky Williams	RB	Dolphins	Jets	9.0
93.	Devery Henderson	WR	Saints	Panthers	9.0
94.	Willis McGahee	RB	Ravens	Jaguars	8.9
95.	Donnie Avery	WR	Rams	Falcons	8.9
96.	Bobby Engram	WR	Seahawks	Cardinals	8.8
97.	Ravens	DEF		Jaguars	8.8
98.	Jason Hanson	K	Lions	Packers	8.8
99.	Adam Vinatieri	K	Colts	Titans	8.8
100.	Jerious Norwood	RB	Falcons	Rams	8.8
101.	Ladell Betts	RB	Redskins	49ers	8.7
102.	Leon Washington	RB	Jets	Dolphins	8.7
103.	Andre Johnson	WR	Texans	Bears	8.6
104.	Eddie Royal	WR	Broncos	Chargers	8.6
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
105.	Mark Clayton	WR	Ravens	Jaguars	8.6
106.	Devin Hester	WR	Bears	Texans	8.5
107.	David Akers	K	Eagles	Cowboys	8.5
108.	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	WR	Bengals	Chiefs	8.5
109.	Josh Reed	WR	Bills	Patriots	8.4
110.	Jerricho Cotchery	WR	Jets	Dolphins	8.3
111.	Garrett Hartley	K	Saints	Panthers	8.2
112.	Deuce McAllister	RB	Saints	Panthers	8.1
113.	Darren Sproles	RB	Chargers	Broncos	8.0
114.	Laveranues Coles	WR	Jets	Dolphins	8.0
115.	Robbie Gould	K	Bears	Texans	8.0
116.	Olindo Mare	K	Seahawks	Cardinals	8.0
117.	Davone Bess	WR	Dolphins	Jets	8.0
118.	John Standeford	WR	Lions	Packers	7.9
119.	Maurice Jones-Drew	RB	Jaguars	Ravens	7.9
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
120.	David Garrard	QB	Jaguars	Ravens	7.8
121.	Stephen Gostkowski	K	Patriots	Bills	7.8
122.	Adrian Peterson	RB	Bears	Texans	7.7
123.	Shayne Graham	K	Bengals	Chiefs	7.6
124.	Ryan Longwell	K	Vikings	Giants	7.6
125.	Jamaal Charles	RB	Chiefs	Bengals	7.6
126.	Lance Moore	WR	Saints	Panthers	7.5
127.	Julius Jones	RB	Seahawks	Cardinals	7.5
128.	DeSean Jackson	WR	Eagles	Cowboys	7.4
129.	Ted Ginn Jr.	WR	Dolphins	Jets	7.4
130.	Jay Feely	K	Jets	Dolphins	7.4
131.	Sebastian Janikowski	K	Raiders	Buccaneers	7.3
132.	Josh Brown	K	Rams	Falcons	7.3
133.	Santonio Holmes	WR	Steelers	Browns	7.3
134.	Dwayne Bowe	WR	Chiefs	Bengals	7.3
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
135.	Isaac Bruce	WR	49ers	Redskins	7.3
136.	Neil Rackers	K	Cardinals	Seahawks	7.3
137.	James Johnson	RB	Bengals	Chiefs	7.2
138.	Bernard Berrian	WR	Vikings	Giants	7.2
139.	Carnell Williams	RB	Buccaneers	Raiders	7.2
140.	Jamal Lewis	RB	Browns	Steelers	7.2
141.	Chris Cooley	TE	Redskins	49ers	7.1
142.	Matt Bryant	K	Buccaneers	Raiders	7.1
143.	Matt Prater	K	Broncos	Chargers	7.1
144.	Reggie Wayne	WR	Colts	Titans	7.1
145.	Dan Carpenter	K	Dolphins	Jets	7.1
146.	Zach Miller	TE	Raiders	Buccaneers	7.1
147.	Harry Douglas	WR	Falcons	Rams	7.1
148.	Willie Parker	RB	Steelers	Browns	7.1
149.	Jason Snelling	RB	Falcons	Rams	7.0
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
150.	Connor Barth	K	Chiefs	Bengals	7.0
151.	Kris Brown	K	Texans	Bears	7.0
152.	Antonio Gates	TE	Chargers	Broncos	6.9
153.	Amani Toomer	WR	Giants	Vikings	6.9
154.	Shaun Suisham	K	Redskins	49ers	6.9
155.	Rian Lindell	K	Bills	Patriots	6.9
156.	Eagles	DEF		Cowboys	6.9
157.	Johnnie Lee Higgins	WR	Raiders	Buccaneers	6.8
158.	Jabar Gaffney	WR	Patriots	Bills	6.7
159.	Dennis Northcutt	WR	Jaguars	Ravens	6.7
160.	Correll Buckhalter	RB	Eagles	Cowboys	6.7
161.	Dominic Rhodes	RB	Colts	Titans	6.7
162.	Domenik Hixon	WR	Giants	Vikings	6.6
163.	Tatum Bell	RB	Broncos	Chargers	6.6
164.	Falcons	DEF		Rams	6.6
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
165.	Titans	DEF		Colts	6.5
166.	Redskins	DEF		49ers	6.5
167.	John Carlson	TE	Seahawks	Cardinals	6.4
168.	Tim Hightower	RB	Cardinals	Seahawks	6.4
169.	Kevin Walter	WR	Texans	Bears	6.3
170.	Vince Young	QB	Titans	Colts	6.3
171.	Braylon Edwards	WR	Browns	Steelers	6.2
172.	Brandon Jackson	RB	Packers	Lions	6.2
173.	Edgerrin James	RB	Cardinals	Seahawks	6.2
174.	Deion Branch	WR	Seahawks	Cardinals	6.2
175.	Xavier Omon	RB	Bills	Patriots	6.1
176.	Owen Daniels	TE	Texans	Bears	6.1
177.	Justin Gage	WR	Titans	Colts	6.0
178.	Seahawks	DEF		Cardinals	5.9
179.	Bryant Johnson	WR	49ers	Redskins	5.8
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
180.	Josh Scobee	K	Jaguars	Ravens	5.7
181.	Michael Clayton	WR	Buccaneers	Raiders	5.7
182.	Browns	DEF		Steelers	5.7
183.	Rashied Davis	WR	Bears	Texans	5.7
184.	Jim Sorgi	QB	Colts	Titans	5.6
185.	LenDale White	RB	Titans	Colts	5.6
186.	Jason Avant	WR	Eagles	Cowboys	5.6
187.	Anthony Gonzalez	WR	Colts	Titans	5.6
188.	Chargers	DEF		Broncos	5.5
189.	Phil Dawson	K	Browns	Steelers	5.5
190.	Reggie Brown	WR	Eagles	Cowboys	5.5
191.	Cowboys	DEF		Eagles	5.4
192.	Buccaneers	DEF		Raiders	5.4
193.	Visanthe Shiancoe	TE	Vikings	Giants	5.3
194.	Colts	DEF		Titans	5.3
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
195.	Raiders	DEF		Buccaneers	5.3
196.	Packers	DEF		Lions	5.3
197.	Chris Henry	WR	Bengals	Chiefs	5.3
198.	Jets	DEF		Dolphins	5.2
199.	Chester Taylor	RB	Vikings	Giants	5.1
200.	Texans	DEF		Bears	5.1

* 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 6 points, each 25 yards passing are 1 point, interceptions are -2 points, fumbles lost are -2 points, each 10 yards receiving are 1 point, and two-point conversions are 2 points.

For kickers, all extra points are 1 point and all field goals are at least 3 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 1 point for each solo tackle, 1 point for each sack, 2 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 fewer 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!