Updated Oct. 25, 2009 @ 7:56 p.m. ET

The following player rankings are based on expectations for this week only, not for the entire season, taking into account this week's specific matchups and injuries. The initial rankings are compiled before the release of the NFL's early injury report and are updated Thursday to reflect the status of each player.

We base our rankings on the following scoring system: For skill-position players, one point for every 10 rushing/receiving yards, one point for every 30 passing yards, six points for a TD run or catch, four points for a TD pass, two points for a two-point conversion run or catch, two points for a two-point conversion pass. For kickers, three points for FGs of 18-39 yards, four points for FGs of 40-49 yards, and five points for FGs of 50-plus yards. Defensive rankings are based primarily on points allowed, yardage allowed and sack potential.

Glossary of notations

INJ — player has an injury that may affect productivity or availability.
UP — player was moved up on draft board after original posting.
DOWN — player was moved down on draft board after original posting.
Not listed — player is temporarily sidelined due to injury or suspension but otherwise would be ranked.
INACTIVE — on game day, player has been designated inactive (posted shortly before kickoff, when available).

Players and/or notations added after the original posting are shown in boldface.

Note: Remember to check back for late-week and weekend updates, as well as game inactives (when available) in the 90 minutes preceding the 1 p.m. Sunday kickoffs. You'll also find regular updates in Michael Blunda's "Finding Paydirt" blog, including Sunday mornings.

Byes: Broncos, Lions, Titans, Seahawks, Jaguars, Ravens

QUARTERBACKS

1. Peyton Manning, Colts at Rams
2. Drew Brees, Saints at Dolphins
3. Tom Brady, Patriots at Buccaneers
4. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers vs. Vikings
5. Philip Rivers, Chargers at Chiefs
6. Aaron Rodgers, Packers at Browns
7. Matt Schaub, Texans vs. 49ers
8. Eli Manning, Giants vs. Cardinals
9. Jay Cutler, Bears at Bengals
10. Donovan McNabb, Eagles at Redskins
11. Matt Ryan, Falcons at Cowboys
12. Brett Favre, Vikings at Steelers
13. Kurt Warner, Cardinals at Giants
14. Carson Palmer, Bengals vs. Bears
15. Tony Romo, Cowboys vs. Falcons
16. Shaun Hill, 49ers at Texans
17. Matt Cassel, Chiefs vs. Chargers
18. Jake Delhomme, Panthers vs. Bills
19. Chad Henne, Dolphins vs. Saints
20. Mark Sanchez, Jets at Raiders
21. Derek Anderson, Browns vs. Packers
22. Marc Bulger, Rams vs. Colts
23. Josh Johnson, Buccaneers vs. Patriots
24. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills at Panthers
25. Jason Campbell, Redskins vs. Eagles
26. JaMarcus Russell, Raiders vs. Jets

Not listed: Trent Edwards, Bills

RUNNING BACKS

1. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers vs. Bills
2. Cedric Benson, Bengals vs. Bears
3. Thomas Jones, Jets at Raiders
4. Adrian Peterson, Vikings at Steelers
5. Michael Turner, Falcons at Cowboys
6. Ronnie Brown, Dolphins vs. Saints
7. Brian Westbrook, Eagles at Redskins
8. Joseph Addai, Colts at Rams
9. Ryan Grant, Packers at Browns
10. Steve Slaton, Texans vs. 49ers
11. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers at Chiefs
12. Frank Gore, 49ers at Texans
13. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers vs. Bills — INJ, UP (he's active)
14. Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants vs. Cardinals
15. Steven Jackson, Rams vs. Colts
16. Donald Brown, Colts at Rams
17. Matt Forté, Bears at Bengals
18. Marshawn Lynch, Bills at Panthers
19. Marion Barber, Cowboys vs. Falcons
20. Tim Hightower, Cardinals at Giants
21. Pierre Thomas, Saints at Dolphins
22. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers vs. Vikings
23. Cadillac Williams, Buccaneers vs. Patriots
24. Brandon Jacobs, Giants vs. Cardinals
25. Clinton Portis, Redskins vs. Eagles
26. Laurence Maroney, Patriots at Buccaneers
27. Felix Jones, Cowboys vs. Falcons — UP (he's active)
    
28. Ricky Williams, Dolphins vs. Saints
29. Reggie Bush, Saints at Dolphins
30. Leon Washington, Jets at Raiders
31. Fred Jackson, Bills at Panthers
32. Larry Johnson, Chiefs vs. Chargers
33. Mike Bell, Saints at Dolphins
34. Jamal Lewis, Browns vs. Packers
35. Justin Fargas, Raiders vs. Jets
36. Darren Sproles, Chargers at Chiefs
37. Tashard Choice, Cowboys vs. Falcons
38. Glen Coffee, 49ers at Texans
39. Willie Parker, Steelers vs. Vikings 
40. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots at Buccaneers
41. Chester Taylor, Vikings at Steelers
42. Chris Brown, Texans vs. 49ers
43. Michael Bush, Raiders vs. Jets
44. Jerome Harrison, Browns vs. Packers 
45. Mewelde Moore, Steelers vs. Vikings
46. LeSean McCoy, Eagles at Redskins
47. Beanie Wells, Cardinals at Giants
48. Kevin Faulk, Patriots at Buccaneers
49. Ladell Betts, Redskins vs. Eagles
50. Derrick Ward, Buccaneers vs. Patriots
51. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs vs. Chargers
52. Jerious Norwood, Falcons at Cowboys — INJ (INACTIVE)

Not listed: Darren McFadden, Raiders; Fred Taylor, Patriots; Sammy Morris, Patriots

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Andre Johnson, Texans vs. 49ers
2. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals at Giants
3. Randy Moss, Patriots at Buccaneers
4. Reggie Wayne, Colts at Rams
5. Vincent Jackson, Chargers at Chiefs
6. Roddy White, Falcons at Cowboys
7. Wes Welker, Patriots at Buccaneers
8. Marques Colston, Saints at Dolphins
9. Hines Ward, Steelers vs. Vikings
10. Steve Smith, Giants vs. Cardinals
11. Chad Ochocinco, Bengals vs. Bears
12. Greg Jennings, Packers at Browns
13. Santonio Holmes, Steelers vs. Vikings
14. Donald Driver, Packers at Browns
15. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs vs. Chargers
16. DeSean Jackson, Eagles at Redskins
17. Steve Smith, Panthers vs. Bills
18. Sidney Rice, Vikings at Steelers
19. Mario Manningham, Giants vs. Cardinals
20. Anquan Boldin, Cardinals at Giants — INJ, UP (he's active)
21. Hakeem Nicks, Giants vs. Cardinals
22. Devin Hester, Bears at Bengals
23. Austin Collie, Colts at Rams
24. Steve Breaston, Cardinals at Giants
25. Miles Austin, Cowboys vs. Falcons — UP
26. Santana Moss, Redskins vs. Eagles
27. Bernard Berrian, Vikings at Steelers
28. Johnny Knox, Bears at Bengals
29. Kevin Walter, Texans vs. 49ers
30. Terrell Owens, Bills at Panthers
31. Lance Moore, Saints at Dolphins
32. Antonio Bryant, Buccaneers vs. Patriots
33. Patrick Crayton, Cowboys vs. Falcons — UP
34. Percy Harvin, Vikings at Steelers — INJ, UP (he's active)
35. Lee Evans, Bills at Panthers
36. Pierre Garcon, Colts at Rams
37. Braylon Edwards, Jets at Raiders
38. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles at Redskins
39. Roy Williams, Cowboys vs. Falcons — UP (he'll start)
40. Ted Ginn Jr., Dolphins vs. Saints
41. Josh Morgan, 49ers at Texans
42. Donnie Avery, Rams vs. Colts — UP (he will start)
    
43. Devery Henderson, Saints at Dolphins
44. Robert Meachem, Saints at Dolphins
45. Mike Wallace, Steelers vs. Vikings
46. Andre Caldwell, Bengals vs. Bears
47. Earl Bennett, Bears at Bengals
48. Michael Crabtree, 49ers at Texans — UP
49. Muhsin Muhammad, Panthers vs. Bills
50. Mohamed Massaquoi, Browns vs. Packers
51. Isaac Bruce, 49ers at Texans
52. Jacoby Jones, Texans vs. 49ers
53. Davone Bess, Dolphins vs. Saints
54. Keenan Burton, Rams vs. Colts
55. Laveranues Coles, Bengals vs. Bears
56. Mark Bradley, Chiefs vs. Chargers
57. Bobby Wade, Chiefs vs. Chargers
58. Chaz Schilens, Raiders vs. Jets — UP, INJ
    
59. Jerheme Urban, Cardinals at Giants
60. Michael Jenkins, Falcons at Cowboys
61. Malcom Floyd, Chargers at Chiefs
62. Chris Henry, Bengals vs. Bears — INJ
63. Antwaan Randle El, Redskins vs. Eagles
64. Louis Murphy, Raiders vs. Jets

Not listed: Anthony Gonzalez, Colts; Jerricho Cotchery, Jets; Julian Edelman, Patriots

TIGHT ENDS

1. Dallas Clark, Colts at Rams
2. Antonio Gates, Chargers at Chiefs
3. Owen Daniels, Texans vs. 49ers
4. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons at Cowboys
5. Jason Witten, Cowboys vs. Falcons
6. Heath Miller, Steelers vs. Vikings
7. Greg Olsen, Bears at Bengals
8. Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings at Steelers
9. Jeremy Shockey, Saints at Dolphins
10. Vernon Davis, 49ers at Texans
11. Brent Celek, Eagles at Redskins
12. Zach Miller, Raiders vs. Jets
13. Chris Cooley, Redskins vs. Eagles
14. Kellen Winslow, Buccaneers vs. Patriots
15. Jermichael Finley, Packers at Browns
16. Ben Watson, Patriots at Buccaneers
17. Kevin Boss, Giants vs. Cardinals
18. Dustin Keller, Jets at Raiders
19. Dante Rosario, Panthers vs. Bills
20. Desmond Clark, Bears at Bengals
21. Randy McMichael, Rams vs. Colts
22. Sean Ryan, Chiefs vs. Chargers
23. Donald Lee, Packers at Browns
24. Jeff King, Panthers vs. Bills
25. Robert Royal, Browns vs. Packers — INJ (INACTIVE)
    

Not listed: none

KICKERS

1. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots at Buccaneers
2. John Carney, Saints at Dolphins
3. Nate Kaeding, Chargers at Chiefs
4. Mason Crosby, Packers at Browns
5. Lawrence Tynes, Giants vs. Cardinals
6. Matt Stover, Colts at Rams
7. David Akers, Eagles at Redskins
8. Joe Nedney, 49ers at Texans
9. Kris Brown, Texans vs. 49ers
10. Jay Feely, Jets at Raiders
11. Nick Folk, Cowboys vs. Falcons
12. Ryan Longwell, Vikings at Steelers
13. Robbie Gould, Bears at Bengals
14. Jason Elam, Falcons at Cowboys
15. Shayne Graham, Bengals vs. Bears
16. Neil Rackers, Cardinals at Giants
17. John Kasay, Panthers vs. Bills
18. Jeff Reed, Steelers vs. Vikings
19. Rian Lindell, Bills at Panthers
20. Dan Carpenter, Dolphins vs. Saints
21. Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders vs. Jets
22. Shaun Suisham, Redskins vs. Eagles
23. Ryan Succop, Chiefs vs. Chargers
24. Josh Brown, Rams vs. Colts
25. Billy Cundiff, Browns vs. Packers
26. Shane Andrus, Buccaneers vs. Patriots
27. Phil Dawson, Browns vs. Packers — INJ (INACTIVE)

Not listed: Adam Vinatieri, Colts

DEFENSES

1. Indianapolis Colts at Rams
2. New York Jets at Raiders
3. New England Patriots at Buccaneers
4. Green Bay Packers at Browns
5. Philadelphia Eagles at Redskins
6. New York Giants vs. Cardinals
7. New Orleans Saints at Dolphins
8. Carolina Panthers vs. Bills
9. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Vikings
10. San Diego Chargers at Chiefs
11. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Bears
12. Chicago Bears at Bengals
13. Buffalo Bills at Panthers
14. Dallas Cowboys vs. Falcons
15. Oakland Raiders vs. Jets
16. Atlanta Falcons at Cowboys
17. Washington Redskins vs. Eagles
18. Houston Texans vs. 49ers
19. Minnesota Vikings at Steelers
20. San Francisco 49ers at Texans
21. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Chargers
22. Miami Dolphins vs. Saints
23. Arizona Cardinals at Giants
24. Cleveland Browns vs. Packers
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Patriots
26. St. Louis Rams vs. Colts

In addition to the above player rankings, each week during the season Pat Fitzmaurice will post "Fitz's Five," "Ten most intriguing players" of the week, and "The 60-second rant" — all in the Fantasy section.