Photo via: Saints/Facebook
These are my very early ranks, so keep in mind I post these on Thursday. Make sure you check the injury report on Sunday for players that have missed practice. If it doesn't look like a player will play this week, I typically won't rank him. Keep in mind, these are PPR rankings, and don't forget to set your lineup for Thursday Night Football.
If you have any questions, feel free to hit me up on Twitter. Be sure to check out my show MoneyLine with Jerry Bo on ESPN 97.5FM. We're on every Sunday morning from 10-noon, and we'll talk a lot of fantasy football and NFL gambling getting you ready for kickoff every Sunday.
QB
Rodgers should bounce back after a tough loss against the Chargers. Photo by Andy Lyons/GettyImages
1 Lamar Jackson
2 Drew Brees
3 Patrick Mahomes
4 Russell Wilson
5 Aaron Rodgers
6 Philip Rivers
7 Kyler Murray
8 Dak Prescott
9 Jimmy Garoppolo
10 Jameis Winston
11 Josh Allen
12 Matt Ryan
13 Jared Goff
14 Matthew Stafford
15 Derek Carr
RB
Feed Zeke...Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
1 Christian McCaffrey
2 Saquon Barkley
3 Ezekiel Elliott
4 Dalvin Cook
5 Aaron Jones
6 Alvin Kamara
7 Josh Jacobs
8 Mark Ingram
9 Derrick Henry
10 Marlon Mack
11 Melvin Gordon
12 Le'Veon Bell
13 Nick Chubb
14 Jaylen Samuels
15 Chris Carson
16 Austin Ekeler
17 Tevin Coleman
18 David Johnson
19 Todd Gurley
20 David Montgomery
21 Damien Williams
22 Devin Singletary
23 Devonta Freeman
24 Ronald Jones
25 Latavius Murray
26 Jamaal Williams
27 Matt Breida
28 J.D. McKissic
29 Joe Mixon
30 Tarik Cohen
WR
Thomas comes in at No.1 this week. Photo by New Orleans Saints/Facebook
1 Michael Thomas
2 Chris Godwin
3 Amari Cooper
4 Julio Jones
5 Cooper Kupp
6 Tyreek Hill
7 Mike Evans
8 Tyler Lockett
9 Keenan Allen
10 Davante Adams
11 Stefon Diggs
12 Kenny Golladay
13 Emmanuel Sanders
14 Allen Robinson
15 D.J. Moore
16 John Brown
17 Mike Williams
18 Golden Tate
19 Calvin Ridley
20 Christian Kirk
21 Michael Gallup
22 Odell Beckham Jr
23 Marvin Jones
24 Zach Pascall
25 Sammy Watkins
26 Jamison Crowder
27 Devante Parker
28 Robert Woods
29 Marquise Brown
30 JuJu Smith-Schuster
31 Tyler Boyd
32 Larry Fitzgerald
33 D.K. Metcalf
34 Tyrell Williams
35 Danny Amendola
36 Jarvis Landry
TE
It's hard not to like Henry against the Raiders. Photo via:Chargers/Facebook
1 George Kittle
2 Travis Kelce
3 Hunter Henry
4 Austin Hooper
5 Darren Waller
6 Mark Andrews
7 Greg Olsen
8 Gerald Everett
9 Jared Cook
10 Jonnu Smith
11 Jack Doyle
12 Jason Witten
13 T.J. Hockenson
14 Mike Gesicki
15 Vance McDonald
DEF
1 Ravens
2 Colts
3 Bills
4 Saints
5 Bears
6 Cowboys
7 Rams
8 Giants
9 Chargers
10 49ers
11 Steelers
12 Vikings
13 Packers
14 Lions
15 Browns
KICKER
1 Justin Tucker
2 Wil Lutz
3 Robbie Gould
4 Harrison Butker
5 Brett Maher
6 Zane Gonzalez
7 Michael Badgley
8 Greg Zuerlein
9 Matt Gay
10 Mason Crosby
11 Matt Prater
12 Adam Vinatieri
13 Joey Slye
14 Dan Bailey
15 Steven Hauschka
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
How Rockets' latest financial gambles shake up the team and its future
Oct 22, 2024, 3:10 pm
C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.
Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.
“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”
'Everything is on the table. We have to get it fixed' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on offensive line and if personnel changes are being contemplated @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/AwK0rqeU2z
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.
They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.
Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.
Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.
“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”
Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.
'I have all the faith in Tank' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans expressed confidence in Tank Dell ability to get back to making explosive plays again as he did as a rookie @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/bojBEx3lYo
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
What's working
The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.
Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.
What needs help
The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.
Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.
Stock up
RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.
Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.
“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”
Stock down
Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.
Injuries
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.
Key number
3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.
Next steps
The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.