Updated Nov. 8, 2009 @ 12:32 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: Bills, Vikings, Jets, Raiders, Rams, Browns

QUARTERBACKS

1. Peyton Manning, Colts vs. Texans
2. Drew Brees, Saints vs. Panthers
3. Tom Brady, Patriots vs. Dolphins
4. Aaron Rodgers, Packers at Buccaneers
5. Philip Rivers, Chargers at Giants
6. Matt Schaub, Texans at Colts
7. Jay Cutler, Bears vs. Cardinals
8. Kurt Warner, Cardinals at Bears
9. Donovan McNabb, Eagles vs. Cowboys
10. Joe Flacco, Ravens at Bengals
11. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers at Broncos
12. Tony Romo, Cowboys at Eagles
13. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks vs. Lions
14. Carson Palmer, Bengals vs. Ravens
15. Matt Ryan, Falcons vs. Redskins
16. Alex Smith, 49ers vs. Titans
17. David Garrard, Jaguars vs. Chiefs
18. Eli Manning, Giants vs. Chargers
19. Kyle Orton, Broncos vs. Steelers
20. Matt Cassel, Chiefs at Jaguars
21. Jason Campbell, Redskins at Falcons
22. Vince Young, Titans at 49ers
23. Jake Delhomme, Panthers at Saints
24. Matthew Stafford, Lions at Seahawks
25. Chad Henne, Dolphins at Patriots
26. Josh Freeman, Buccaneers vs. Packers

Not listed: none

RUNNING BACKS

1. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars vs. Chiefs
2. Michael Turner, Falcons vs. Redskins
3. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers at Saints
4. Chris Johnson, Titans at 49ers
5. Ryan Grant, Packers at Buccaneers
6. Frank Gore, 49ers vs. Titans
7. Ray Rice, Ravens at Bengals
8. Cedric Benson, Bengals vs. Ravens
9. Joseph Addai, Colts vs. Texans
10. Ronnie Brown, Dolphins at Patriots
11. Marion Barber, Cowboys at Eagles
12. Matt Forté, Bears vs. Cardinals
13. Pierre Thomas, Saints vs. Panthers
14. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers at Saints
15. Brian Westbrook, Eagles at Cowboys — INJ, UP (INACTIVE)
    
16. Brandon Jacobs, Giants vs. Chargers
17. Clinton Portis, Redskins at Falcons
18. LeSean McCoy, Eagles vs. Cowboys — UP (he'll start in place of Westbrook)
19. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers at Giants
20. Laurence Maroney, Patriots vs. Dolphins
21. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers at Broncos
22. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs at Jaguars
23. Mike Bell, Saints vs. Panthers
24. Julius Jones, Seahawks vs. Lions
25. Knowshon Moreno, Broncos vs. Steelers
26. Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants vs. Chargers 
27. Kevin Smith, Lions at Seahawks — INJ, DOWN
28. Ryan Moats, Texans at Colts — UP (he'll start)
29. Ricky Williams, Dolphins at Patriots
30. Tim Hightower, Cardinals at Bears
31. Felix Jones, Cowboys at Eagles
32. Steve Slaton, Texans at Colts — DOWN
33. Reggie Bush, Saints vs. Panthers
34. Beanie Wells, Cardinals at Bears
35. Donald Brown, Colts vs. Texans — UP (INACTIVE)
    
36. Cadillac Williams, Buccaneers vs. Packers
37. Darren Sproles, Chargers at Giants
38. Willis McGahee, Ravens at Bengals
39. Derrick Ward, Buccaneers vs. Packers
40. Correll Buckhalter, Broncos vs. Steelers
41. Justin Forsett, Seahawks vs. Lions — UP
42. Maurice Morris, Lions at Seahawks — UP
43. Kevin Faulk, Patriots vs. Dolphins
44. Willie Parker, Steelers at Broncos
45. LenDale White, Titans at 49ers
46. Leonard Weaver, Eagles vs. Cowboys — DOWN
47. Chris Brown, Texans at Colts
    
48. Tashard Choice, Cowboys at Eagles
49. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots vs. Dolphins
50. Kolby Smith, Chiefs at Jaguars
51. Sammy Morris, Patriots vs. Dolphins — INJ (INACTIVE)
52. Jason Snelling, Falcons vs. Redskins — INJ
53. Jerious Norwood, Falcons vs. Redskins — INJ

Not listed: Larry Johnson, Chiefs; Fred Taylor, Patriots

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Reggie Wayne, Colts vs. Texans
2. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals at Bears
3. Vincent Jackson, Chargers at Giants
4. Randy Moss, Patriots vs. Dolphins
5. Andre Johnson, Texans at Colts
6. Roddy White, Falcons vs. Redskins — INJ, UP (he'll start)
   
7. Derrick Mason, Ravens at Bengals
8. DeSean Jackson, Eagles vs. Cowboys
9. Chad Ochocinco, Bengals vs. Ravens
10. Marques Colston, Saints vs. Panthers
11. Miles Austin, Cowboys at Eagles
12. Wes Welker, Patriots vs. Dolphins
13. Greg Jennings, Packers at Buccaneers
14. Devin Hester, Bears vs. Cardinals — UP (he'll start)
15. Hines Ward, Steelers at Broncos
16. Brandon Marshall, Broncos vs. Steelers
17. Calvin Johnson, Lions at Seahawks — INJ
18. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seahawks vs. Lions
19. Donald Driver, Packers at Buccaneers — INJ
20. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs at Jaguars
21. Nate Burleson, Seahawks vs. Lions
22. Austin Collie, Colts vs. Texans
23. Steve Smith, Panthers at Saints
24. Steve Smith, Giants vs. Chargers
25. Hakeem Nicks, Giants vs. Chargers
26. Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars vs. Chiefs
27. Santonio Holmes, Steelers at Broncos
28. Steve Breaston, Cardinals at Bears — UP (he'll start)
    
29. Michael Crabtree, 49ers vs. Titans
30. Santana Moss, Redskins at Falcons
31. Johnny Knox, Bears vs. Cardinals
32. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles vs. Cowboys
33. Mario Manningham, Giants vs. Chargers — UP
34. Torry Holt, Jaguars vs. Chiefs
35. Mike Wallace, Steelers at Broncos
36. Devery Henderson, Saints vs. Panthers
37. Pierre Garcon, Colts vs. Texans — INJ, he's active
38. Antonio Bryant, Buccaneers vs. Packers — INJ (INACTIVE)
39. Andre Caldwell, Bengals vs. Ravens
40. Patrick Crayton, Cowboys at Eagles
41. James Jones, Packers at Buccaneers
42. Roy Williams, Cowboys at Eagles
43. Kelley Washington, Ravens at Bengals
44. Mark Clayton, Ravens at Bengals
45. Chris Henry, Bengals vs. Ravens
46. Isaac Bruce, 49ers vs. Titans
47. Kevin Walter, Texans at Colts
48. Robert Meachem, Saints vs. Panthers — UP
49. Laveranues Coles, Bengals vs. Ravens
50. Michael Jenkins, Falcons vs. Redskins
51. Earl Bennett, Bears vs. Cardinals
52. Josh Morgan, 49ers vs. Titans
53. Nate Washington, Titans at 49ers
54. Kenny Britt, Titans at 49ers
55. Justin Gage, Titans at 49ers
56. Malcom Floyd, Chargers at Giants
57. Bobby Wade, Chiefs at Jaguars — INJ (INACTIVE)
58. Sammy Stroughter, Buccaneers vs. Packers — UP
59. Bryant Johnson, Lions at Seahawks
60. Jason Avant, Eagles vs. Cowboys
61. Eddie Royal, Broncos vs. Steelers
62. Jabar Gaffney, Broncos vs. Steelers
63. Mark Bradley, Chiefs at Jaguars
64. Antwaan Randle-El, Redskins at Falcons
65. Davone Bess, Dolphins at Patriots
66. Jacoby Jones, Texans at Colts
67. Mike Thomas, Jaguars vs. Chiefs
68. Sam Hurd, Cowboys at Eagles
69. Brian Hartline, Dolphins at Patriots
70. Chris Chambers, Chiefs at Jaguars
71. Dennis Northcutt, Lions at Seahawks
72. Greg Camarillo, Dolphins at Patriots
73. Ted Ginn Jr., Dolphins at Patriots
74. Brandon Stokley, Broncos vs. Steelers
75. Anquan Boldin, Cardinals at Bears — INJ (INACTIVE)
76. Lance Moore, Saints vs. Panthers — INJ, DOWN (INACTIVE)
77. Muhsin Muhammad, Panthers at Saints — INJ
78. Julian Edelman, Patriots vs. Dolphins — INJ (INACTIVE)

Not listed: Anthony Gonzalez, Colts

TIGHT ENDS

1. Dallas Clark, Colts vs. Texans
2. Antonio Gates, Chargers at Giants
3. Vernon Davis, 49ers vs. Titans
4. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons vs. Redskins
5. Jeremy Shockey, Saints vs. Panthers
6. Jason Witten, Cowboys at Eagles
7. Brent Celek, Eagles vs. Cowboys
8. John Carlson, Seahawks vs. Lions
9. Heath Miller, Steelers at Broncos
10. Greg Olsen, Bears vs. Cardinals — UP
11. Todd Heap, Ravens at Bengals — UP
12. Kellen Winslow, Buccaneers vs. Packers
13. Ben Watson, Patriots vs. Dolphins — INJ, DOWN
14. Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars vs. Chiefs
15. Tony Scheffler, Broncos vs. Steelers
16. Sean Ryan, Chiefs at Jaguars
17. Kevin Boss, Giants vs. Chargers
18. Fred Davis, Redskins at Falcons
19. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions at Seahawks
20. Spencer Havner, Packers at Buccaneers
21. Bo Scaife, Titans at 49ers
22. Alge Crumpler, Titans at 49ers
23. Donald Lee, Packers at Buccaneers
24. Anthony Fasano, Dolphins at Patriots
25. Jermichael Finley, Packers at Buccaneers — INJ (INACTIVE)
26. Dante Rosario, Panthers at Saints — INJ, DOWN

Not listed: Chris Cooley, Redskins; Owen Daniels, Texans

KICKERS

1. Mason Crosby, Packers at Buccaneers
2. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots vs. Dolphins
3. Matt Stover, Colts vs. Texans
4. David Akers, Eagles vs. Cowboys
5. John Carney, Saints vs. Panthers
6. Lawrence Tynes, Giants vs. Chargers
7. Nate Kaeding, Chargers at Giants
8. Olindo Mare, Seahawks vs. Lions
9. Robbie Gould, Bears vs. Cardinals
10. Neil Rackers, Cardinals at Bears — UP
11. Josh Scobee, Jaguars vs. Chiefs
12. Steven Hauschka, Ravens at Bengals
13. Nick Folk, Cowboys at Eagles
14. Joe Nedney, 49ers vs. Titans
15. Matt Prater, Broncos vs. Steelers
16. Jason Elam, Falcons vs. Redskins
17. Jeff Reed, Steelers at Broncos
18. Kris Brown, Texans at Colts
19. Dan Carpenter, Dolphins at Patriots
20. Shayne Graham, Bengals vs. Ravens
21. Rob Bironas, Titans at 49ers
22. Jason Hanson, Lions at Seahawks
23. Shaun Suisham, Redskins at Falcons
24. Ryan Succop, Chiefs at Jaguars
25. John Kasay, Panthers at Saints
26. Connor Barth, Buccaneers vs. Packers

Not listed: Adam Vinatieri, Colts

DEFENSES

1. Green Bay Packers at Buccaneers
2. New Orleans Saints vs. Panthers
3. New England Patriots vs. Dolphins
4. Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos
5. Baltimore Ravens at Bengals
6. Denver Broncos vs. Steelers
7. Seattle Seahawks vs. Lions
8. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Chiefs
9. Indianapolis Colts vs. Texans
10. Atlanta Falcons vs. Redskins
11. San Francisco 49ers vs. Titans
12. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cowboys
13. New York Giants vs. Chargers
14. Arizona Cardinals at Bears
15. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Ravens
16. San Diego Chargers at Giants
17. Chicago Bears vs. Cardinals
18. Dallas Cowboys at Eagles
19. Washington Redskins at Falcons
20. Miami Dolphins at Patriots
21. Houston Texans at Colts
22. Detroit Lions at Seahawks
23. Kansas City Chiefs at Jaguars
24. Tennessee Titans at 49ers
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Packers
26. Carolina Panthers at Saints

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.