Zoneblitz.com’s weekly position-by-position breakdown to help YOU set your fantasy lineup!

Quarterbacks

  1. Peyton Manning vs. Oakland
  2. Matthew Stafford at Washington
  3. Aaron Rodgers at Cincinnati
  4. Drew Brees vs. Arizona
  5. Andy Dalton vs. Green Bay
  6. Colin Kaepernick vs. Indianapolis
  7. Cam Newton vs. NY Giants
  8. Matt Ryan at Miami
  9. Tom Brady vs. Tampa Bay
  10. Sam Bradford at Dallas
  11. Eli Manning at Carolina
  12. Tony Romo vs. St. Louis
  13. Russell Wilson vs. Jacksonville
  14. Matt Schaub at Baltimore
  15. Philip Rivers at Tennessee
  16. Andrew Luck at San Francisco
  17. Robert Griffin III vs. Detroit
  18. Ryan Tannehill vs. Atlanta
  19. Joe Flacco vs. Houston
  20. Jay Cutler at Pittsburgh
  21. Terrelle Pryor at Denver
  22. Jake Locker vs. San Diego
  23. Carson Palmer at New Orleans
  24. EJ Manuel at NY Jets
  25. Geno Smith vs. Buffalo

I felt like I was reaching just getting Tom Brady in my top 10 against the Bucs’ improved secondary with his depleted receiving corps, but he’s at home and may have Rob Gronkowski back, so I snuck him in there. Week 3 will be the biggest challenge yet for Michael Vick, Philip Rivers and Carson Palmer. It’ll be interesting to see how each responds.

Running Backs

  1. Adrian Peterson vs. Cleveland
  2. Marshawn Lynch vs. Jacksonville
  3. Alfred Morris vs. Detroit
  4. Matt Forte at Pittsburgh
  5. Doug Martin at New England
  6. DeMarco Murray vs. St. Louis
  7. Joique Bell at Washington
  8. Arian Foster at Baltimore
  9. Chris Johnson vs. San Diego
  10. CJ Spiller vs. Buffalo
  11. DeAngelo Williams vs. NY Giants
  12. Frank Gore vs. Indianapolis
  13. Knowshon Moreno vs. Oakland
  14. Bernard Pierce vs. Houston
  15. James Starks at Cincinnati
  16. Daryl Richardson at Dallas
  17. Darren McFadden at Denver
  18. Rashard Mendenhall at New Orleans
  19. Stevan Ridley vs. Tampa Bay
  20. Lamar Miller vs. Atlanta
  21. Pierre Thomas vs. Arizona
  22. Darren Sproles vs. Arizona
  23. Giovani Bernard vs. Green Bay
  24. Ryan Mathews at Tennessee
  25. Bilal Powell vs. Buffalo
  26. BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs. Green Bay
  27. David Wilson at Carolina
  28. Fred Jackson vs. Buffalo
  29. Trent Richardson at San Francisco
  30. Andre Ellington at New Orleans
  31. Jason Snelling at Miami
  32. Ahmad Bradshaw at San Francisco
  33. Brandon Jacobs at Carolina
  34. Chris Ivory vs. Buffalo
  35. Da’Rel Scott at Carolina
  36. Ben Tate at Baltimore
  37. Maurice Jones Drew at Seattle
  38. Jacquizz Rodgers at Miami
  39. Chris Ogbonnaya at Minnesota
  40. Marcel Reece at Denver
  41. Willis McGahee at Minnesota
  42. Daniel Thomas at Indianapolis
  43. Robert Turbin vs. Jacksonville
  44. Mike Tolbert vs. NY Giants
  45. Danny Woodhead at Tennessee
  46. Ronnie Brown at Tennessee
  47. Jackie Battle vs. San Diego
  48. Bruce Miller vs. Indianapolis
  49. Montee Ball vs. Oakland
  50. Rashad Jennings at Denver
  51. Roy Helu vs. Detroit
  52. Bobby Rainey at Minnesota
  53. Vonta Leach vs. Houston
  54. Felix Jones vs. Chicago
  55. Ronnie Hillman vs. Oakland
  56. Lance Dunbar vs. St. Louis
  57. Kendall Hunter vs. Indianapolis
  58. Isaac Redman vs. Chicago
  59. Isaiah Pead at Dallas
  60. Jonathan Dwyer vs. Chicago

At this point I’m assuming Reggie Bush will play, but cede a larger than usual piece of his workload to Joique Bell—hence my current ranking of them. Both are start-worthy if they both play against a terrible Redskins defense. Knowshon Moreno has a nice matchup, but I couldn’t go any higher than 19 based on Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman lurking. On the other side of the ball I have Darren McFadden ranked high because even though the Raiders will likely get blown out, I still think he’ll be used plenty in the passing game.

UPDATE: The Trent Richardson trade has thrown a wrench into things, so here’s my quick take on my rankings there. I think the Colts will want to bust out their new toy right away, but there’s really no way Richardson can absorb the playbook in three days. So Ahmad Bradshaw will still get plenty of work, but this is probably it for Bradshaw as a potential flex play. As for Cleveland, Willis McGahee has the same playbook issues as Richardson PLUS is going to a worse team AND wasn’t already playing football. So yeah, he’ll be rusty. McGahee will be the workhorse there, assuming he passes his physical on Thursday and actually signs with the Browns, but I’d be surprised if he’s not getting most of the work by Week 4.

Wide Receiver

  1. Calvin Johnson at Washington
  2. Victor Cruz at Carolina
  3. AJ Green vs. Green Bay
  4. Dez Bryant vs. St. Louis
  5. Jordy Nelson at Cincinnati
  6. Randall Cobb at Cincinnati
  7. Demaryius Thomas vs. Oakland
  8. Julio Jones at Miami
  9. Wes Welker vs. Oakland
  10. Brandon Marshall at Pittsburgh
  11. Andre Johnson at Baltimore
  12. Reggie Wayne at San Francisco
  13. Marques Colston vs. Arizona
  14. Hakeem Nicks at Carolina
  15. Larry Fitzgerald at New Orleans
  16. Vincent Jackson at New England
  17. Anquan Boldin vs. Indianapolis
  18. Pierre Garcon vs. Detroit
  19. Tavon Austin at Dallas
  20. Eddie Royal at Tennessee
  21. Mike Wallace vs. Atlanta
  22. Stevie Johnson at NY Jets
  23. Steve Smith vs. NY Giants
  24. Torrey Smith vs. Houston
  25. Eric Decker vs. Oakland
  26. TY Hilton at San Francisco
  27. Julian Edelman vs. Tampa Bay
  28. James Jones at Cincinnati
  29. DeAndre Hopkins at Baltimore
  30. Miles Austin vs. St. Louis
  31. Brian Hartline vs. Atlanta
  32. Golden Tate vs. Jacksonville
  33. Marlon Brown vs. Houston
  34. Chris Givens at New Orleans
  35. Nate Burleson at Washington
  36. Josh Gordon at Minnesota
  37. Austin Pettis at Dallas
  38. Antonio Brown vs. Chicago
  39. Kendall Wright vs. San Diego
  40. Andre Roberts at New Orleans
  41. Robert Woods at NY Jets
  42. Rueben Randle at Carolina
  43. Emmanuel Sanders vs. Chicago
  44. Leonard Hankerson vs. Detroit
  45. Harry Douglas at Miami
  46. Mike Williams at New England
  47. Greg Jennings vs. Cleveland
  48. Aaron Dobson vs. Tampa Bay
  49. Vincent Brown at Tennessee
  50. Roddy White at Miami
  51. Cecil Shorts at Seattle
  52. Lance Moore vs. Arizona
  53. Jerome Simpson vs. Cleveland
  54. Santana Moss vs. Detroit
  55. Stephen Hill vs. Buffalo
  56. Kenny Stills vs. Arizona
  57. Sidney Rice vs. Jacksonville
  58. Michael Floyd at New Orleans
  59. Rod Streater at Denver
  60. Denarius Moore at Denver

I like the top 20 wide receivers a LOT more than the top 20 running backs, though that seems like it’ll be a theme all year so I’ll stop bringing it up. Still can’t recommend Roddy White as nothing more than a deep league flex until he’s proven himself fully healthy. I’d rather miss one big game from him than have him in my lineup for multiple duds. With Malcom Floyd injured, I can’t help but buy into Eddie Royal as a WR2 this week.

Tight Ends

  1. Jimmy Graham vs. Arizona
  2. Julius Thomas vs. Oakland
  3. Tony Gonzalez at Miami
  4. Owen Daniels at Baltimore
  5. Greg Olsen vs. NY Giants
  6. Jared Cook at Dallas
  7. Vernon Davis vs. Indianapolis
  8. Martellus Bennett at Pittsburgh
  9. Jordan Cameron at Minnesota
  10. Antonio Gates at Tennessee
  11. Jason Witten vs. St. Louis
  12. Rob Gronkowski vs. Tampa Bay
  13. Jermichael Finley at Cincinnati
  14. Tyler Eifert vs. Green Bay
  15. Charles Clay vs. Atlanta
  16. Coby Fleener at San Francisco
  17. Jordan Reed vs. Detroit
  18. Delanie Walker vs. San Diego
  19. Brandon Myers at Carolina
  20. Jermaine Gresham vs. Green Bay
  21. Kellen Winslow vs. Buffalo
  22. Kyle Rudolph vs. Cleveland
  23. Garrett Graham at Baltimore
  24. Zach Miller vs. Jacksonville
  25. Heath Miller vs. Chicago

I’m obviously assuming that Rob Gronkowski plays this week. If he doesn’t, I probably move Brady down at least one spot and of course Gronk drops off this list. Fortunately he’s got a noon kickoff on Sunday so you don’t have to play any guessing games. With Dwayne Allen out for the year, Coby Fleener is another guy to add to the tremendous depth at tight end this season now that he’s not splitting looks.

Kicker

  1. Stephen Gostkowski vs. Tampa Bay
  2. Sebastian Janikowski at Denver
  3. Garrett Hartley vs. Arizona
  4. Josh Brown at Carolina
  5. Nick Folk vs. Buffalo
  6. Rob Bironas vs. San Diego
  7. Caleb Sturgis vs. Atlanta
  8. Robbie Gould at Pittsburgh
  9. Graham Gano vs. NY Giants
  10. Dan Bailey vs. St. Louis
  11. Steven Hauschka vs. Jacksonville
  12. Greg Zuerlein at Dallas
  13. Blair Walsh vs. Cleveland
  14. David Akers at Washington
  15. Jay Feely at New Orleans
  16. John Potter vs. Detroit
  17. Nick Novak at Tennessee
  18. Billy Cundiff at Minnesota
  19. Matt Prater vs. Oakland
  20. Phil Dawson vs. Indianapolis
  21. Mason Crosby at Cincinnati
  22. Adam Vinatieri at San Francisco
  23. Dan Carpenter at NY Jets
  24. Matt Bryant at Miami
  25. Randy Bullock at Baltimore

It’ll be a bounceback week for Randy Bullock, so much so that I ranked him 25th after the Thursday night games.

Defense

  1. Seahawks vs. Jacksonville
  2. Vikings vs. Cleveland
  3. Bears at Pittsburgh
  4. Bills at NY Jets
  5. Broncos vs. Oakland
  6. Cowboys vs. St. Louis
  7. Patriots vs. Tampa Bay
  8. Panthers vs. NY Giants
  9. 49ers vs. Indianapolis
  10. Jets vs. Buffalo
  11. Texans at Baltimore
  12. Titans vs. San Diego
  13. Buccaneers at New England
  14. Falcons at Miami
  15. Browns at Minnesota
  16. Lions at Washington
  17. Saints vs. Arizona
  18. Rams at Dallas
  19. Chargers at Tennessee
  20. Colts at San Francisco
  21. Cardinals at New Orleans
  22. Dolphins vs. Atlanta
  23. Giants at Carolina
  24. Steelers vs. Chicago
  25. Ravens vs. Houston

I actually had the Bucs a spot higher, but couldn’t convince myself that any defense playing in Foxborough, regardless of what Brady has to work with, could be considered a start this week. But honestly, they probably can if Gronk is out.