Week 14 QB, RB & WR Rankings

So we've made it to the Fantasy Football playoffs.  Similarly to the NFL Playoffs, you just have to get in and anything can happen.  I'm posting the rankings for this week a little earlier than usual because I'm going on a family trip this weekend, so make sure you consult your favorite injury report for any of the news that breaks today or tomorrow.  I've put players I have injury related concerns about in boldface italics.  Hit me up on Twitter if you have any Sit/Start questions, and as always, start the player ranked closest to #1 on this list.

RB

1) Jamaal Charles, Kansas City
2) Matt Forte, Chicago
3) DeMarco Murray, Dallas
4) Reggie Bush, Detroit
5) LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia
6) Knowshon Moreno, Denver
7) Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
8) Andre Brown, NY Giants
9) Ray Rice, Baltimore
10) Chris Johnson, Tennessee
11) CJ Spiller, Buffalo
12) Eddie Lacy, Green Bay
13) Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh
14) Alfred Morris, Washington
15) Fred Jackson, Buffalo
16) Marshawn Lynch, Seattle
17) Shane Vereen, New England
18) Steven Jackson, Atlanta
19) Frank Gore, San Francisco
20) Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati
21) Rashard Mendenhall, Arizona
22) Chris Ivory, NY Jets
23) Ryan Mathews, San Diego
24) Donald Brown, Indianapolis
25) Lamar Miller, Miami
26) Pierre Thomas, New Orleans
27) Bobby Rainey, Tampa Bay
28) Zac Stacy, St. Louis
29) Montee Ball, Denver
30) Joique Bell, Detroit
31) Darren Sproles, New Orleans
32) BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cincinnati
33) Danny Woodhead, San Diego
34) Andre Ellington, Arizona
35) DeAngelo Williams, Carolina
36) Rashad Jennings, Oakland
37) Willis McGahee, Cleveland
38) Stevan Ridley/LeGarrette Blount, New England
39) Jacquizz Rodgers, Atlanta
40) Jonathan Dwyer, Pittsburgh

Ray Rice cracks my Top 10 because I feel he's still capable of exploiting plus matchups.  Minnesota has been extremely friendly to opposing RBs all season, allowing at least one 10 point performer in all but one game.  If you're still alive with Rice on your team, use him now!

Shane Vereen is the only Patriot RB I'm willing to trust and I have him as a Top 20 back this week because he's starting to see legit carries to go along with his targets in the passing game.  Cleveland is tough against the run, with only two backs going over 10 points in the last 5 games, but Vereen should see plus field time and plenty of action.  Conversely, since I never know who Belichick is going to activate, Ridley and Blount carry an equal ranking to me, so if Ridley is active, he's my #38 RB.  If Ridley is inactive again, Blount is no better than #38.

I don't like any of the RBs in the Carolina-New Orleans games, so take that for what it's worth.  I'd be surprised if you made the playoffs riding any of the inconsistent backs on these teams.

I'm down on Danny Woodhead this week despite the Giants being friendly matchup for pass catching backs.  His playing time is slipping as trust in Ryan Mathews grows.  Wood head is still an RB2 for PPR owners, but he is falling into the low end, TD-dependent flex options for standard league owners.

Even if Andre Ellington plays, I still think Mendenhall is the better Cardinal back this week.  Take it for what it's worth.

WR

1) Calvin Johnson, Detroit
2) Brandon Marshall, Chicago
3) AJ Green, Cincinnati
4) Demaryius Thomas, Denver
5) Alshon Jeffery, Chicago
6) Wes Welker, Denver
7) Torrey Smith, Baltimore
8) DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia
9) Josh Gordon, Cleveland
10) Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay
11) Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh
12) Dez Bryant, Dallas
13) Keenan Allen, San Diego
14) Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City
15) Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
16) Kendall Wright, Tennessee
17) Eric Decker, Denver
18) Victor Cruz, NY Giants
19) Jordy Nelson, Green Bay
20) Harry Douglas, Atlanta
21) Julian Edelman, New England
22) Pierre Garcon, Washington
23) Michael Floyd, Arizona
24) TY Hilton, Indianapolis
25) Roddy White, Atlanta
26) Mike Wallace, Miami
27) Marques Colston, New Orleans
28) Riley Cooper, Philadelphia
29) Nate Burleson, Detroit
30) Danny Amendola, New England
31) Stevie Johnson, Buffalo
32) Greg Jennings, Minnesota
33) Anquan Boldin, San Francisco
34) Golden Tate, Seattle
35) Hakeem Nicks, NY Giants
36) Steve Smith, Carolina
37) Nate Washington, Tennessee
38) Michael Crabtree, San Francisco
39) Emmanuel Sanders, Pittsburgh
40) James Jones, Green Bay
41) Miles Austin, Dallas
42) Jacoby Jones, Baltimore
43) Doug Baldwin, Seattle
44) Rueben Randle, NY Giants
45) Brian Hartline, Miami
46) Andre Holmes, Oakland
47) Donnie Avery, Kansas City
48) Tavon Austin, St. Louis
49) Jarrett Boykin, Green Bay
50) Terrance Williams, Dallas

Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are starting to resemble Roddy White and Julio Jones from last year, with predictable home/road splits.  Marshall has 9 TDs on the season, 7 of them coming at home and only one home game (the storm game vs. Baltimore) where he hasn't scored.  Jeffery has 5 TDs on the season with 4 of them coming on the road.  The Bears host the Cowboys this week and I think the trend continues.  The home fans love to celebrate TDs with Brandon in the end zone!

Victor Cruz at 18, Hakeem Nicks at 35 & Rueben Randle at 44 in a plus matchup vs. San Diego is an indicator of their QB play in plus matchups.  If Eli had performed adequately in any of the excellent matchups he's had this year, these three would all be Top 30 WRs this week.

Mike Wallace is at 26 because I like players going against their former team.  Pittsburgh has also gotten torched plenty in the passing game recently.  Wallace carries WR2 upside this week.

The San Francisco-Seattle game isn't going to be a good study for those interested in successful passing games.  I expect this to be a low scoring slug-fest, similar to Carolina-San Fran a few weeks back.  Exercise caution in starting your 49er and Seahawk offensive weapons this week.

Andre Holmes showed some athleticism and good hands on Thanksgiving Day against Dallas.  I think he is the Raider to own and play this week.

QB

1) Drew Brees, New Orleans
2) Matthew Stafford, Detroit
3) Peyton Manning, Denver
4) Cam Newton, Carolina
5) Philip Rivers, San Diego
6) Nick Foles, Philadelphia
7) Tony Romo, Dallas
8) Josh McCown, Chicago
9) Joe Flacco, Baltimore
10) EJ Manuel, Buffalo
11) Tom Brady, New England
12) Eli Manning, NY Giants
13) Matt Ryan, Atlanta
14) Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tennessee
15) Carson Palmer, Arizona
16) Alex Smith, Kansas City
17) Russell Wilson, Seattle
18) Robert Griffin III, Washington
19) Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh
20) Andy Dalton, Cincinnati
21) Andrew Luck, Indianapolis
22) Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco
23) Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay
24) Matt McGloin, Oakland
25) Ryan Tannehill, Miami

I figure Jimmy Graham will be the primary beneficiary, but coming off the embarrassment of Monday Night in Seattle, I wouldn't want to own any QB over Drew Brees this week.  In my league of record, the Brees owner is on bye this week and he'll likely miss out on a 30+ point game.

Tony Romo is ranked higher on some other sites, but I look at Romo's history against the Bears and on Monday Night and I suggest exercising some caution.  The Bears are most easily beaten via the run and with the explosive quality of Chicago's offense, I expect Dallas to try and be a dominant running team.  That being said, Romo has Dez, and the Bears have struggled against dominant #1 types this season.

Joe Flacco will not have a better matchup this season.  If you're a Russell Wilson, RGIII, or Matt Ryan owner, you may want to take the upside this week and start Flacco against a Viking defense that has allowed 9 multiple TD games to QBs and gave up 15+ points to Matt Flynn a few weeks back.

EJ Manuel is someone I'm extremely high on this week.  Tampa Bay has been terrible against opposing passers this year, and Manuel has been told to take more chances and lead the Buffalo offense.  Tampa has allowed a QB to throw for 2 or more TDs in 9 of 12 games, including 8 straight.  If you're in a 4 point TD, 1 point INT league, there is very little downside to Manuel this week.

Follow me on Twitter @BernacK6.