Updated Nov. 29, 2009 @ 3:30 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.
ILL — player has an illness 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: none

QUARTERBACKS

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers at Lions
2. Peyton Manning, Colts at Texans
3. Drew Brees, Saints vs. Patriots
4. Tom Brady, Patriots at Saints
5. Brett Favre, Vikings vs. Bears
6. Philip Rivers, Chargers vs. Chiefs
7. Matt Schaub, Texans vs. Colts
8. Carson Palmer, Bengals vs. Browns
9. Eli Manning, Giants vs. Broncos
10. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks at Rams
11. Matt Ryan, Falcons vs. Buccaneers
12. Kurt Warner, Cardinals at Titans — INJ, DOWN (INACTIVE)
    
13. Jay Cutler, Bears at Vikings
14. Donovan McNabb, Eagles vs. Redskins
15. Tony Romo, Cowboys vs. Raiders
16. Alex Smith, 49ers vs. Jaguars
17. David Garrard, Jaguars at 49ers
18. Vince Young, Titans vs. Cardinals
19. Joe Flacco, Ravens vs. Steelers
20. Jason Campbell, Redskins at Eagles
21. Kyle Orton, Broncos at Giants — INJ
22. Matt Leinart, Cardinals at Titans — (he'll start in place of Warner)
23. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills vs. Dolphins
24. Matt Cassel, Chiefs at Chargers
25. Jake Delhomme, Panthers at Jets
26. Chad Henne, Dolphins at Bills
27. Matthew Stafford, Lions vs. Packers — INJ, UP (he'll start)
28. Brady Quinn, Browns at Bengals
29. Bruce Gradkowski, Raiders at Cowboys
30. Josh Freeman, Buccaneers at Falcons
31. Mark Sanchez, Jets vs. Panthers
32. Daunte Culpepper, Lions vs. Packers
33. Kyle Boller, Rams vs. Seahawks
34. Dennis Dixon, Steelers at Ravens — he'll start in place of Roethlisberger

Not listed: Marc Bulger, Rams; Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

RUNNING BACKS

1. Chris Johnson, Titans vs. Cardinals
2. Adrian Peterson, Vikings vs. Bears — INJ/ILL, DOWN (he will start)
   
3. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars at 49ers — INJ
4. Ricky Williams, Dolphins at Bills
5. Frank Gore, 49ers vs. Jaguars
6. Cedric Benson, Bengals vs. Browns — INJ (INACTIVE)
7. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers at Jets
8. Ryan Grant, Packers at Lions
9. Bernard Scott, Bengals vs. Browns — UP (he'll start in place of Benson)
10. Joseph Addai, Colts at Texans
11. Thomas Jones, Jets vs. Panthers
12. Marion Barber, Cowboys vs. Raiders
13. Steven Jackson, Rams vs. Seahawks — INJ (he'll start)
    
14. Ray Rice, Ravens vs. Steelers
15. Kevin Smith, Lions vs. Packers
16. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers vs. Chiefs
17. Michael Turner, Falcons vs. Buccaneers — INJ, UP (he's active)
18. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers at Ravens 
19. Steve Slaton, Texans vs. Colts — INJ
20. Laurence Maroney, Patriots at Saints
21. LeSean McCoy, Eagles vs. Redskins
22. Justin Forsett, Seahawks at Rams — UP (he'll start in place of Jones)
23. Tim Hightower, Cardinals at Titans
24. Knowshon Moreno, Broncos at Giants
25. Matt Forté, Bears at Vikings
26. Brandon Jacobs, Giants vs. Broncos
27. Pierre Thomas, Saints vs. Patriots
28. Fred Jackson, Bills vs. Dolphins
29. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers at Jets — INJ (he's active)
    
30. Felix Jones, Cowboys vs. Raiders
31. Beanie Wells, Cardinals at Titans
32. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs at Chargers
33. Cadillac Williams, Buccaneers at Falcons
34. Julius Jones, Seahawks at Rams — INJ (INACTIVE)
35. Marshawn Lynch, Bills vs. Dolphins — UP
36. Mike Bell, Saints vs. Patriots
37. Donald Brown, Colts at Texans
38. Darren Sproles, Chargers vs. Chiefs
39. Chester Taylor, Vikings vs. Bears
40. Darren McFadden, Raiders at Cowboys
41. Reggie Bush, Saints vs. Patriots — INJ
42. Michael Bush, Raiders at Cowboys
43. Rock Cartwright, Redskins at Eagles — (he'll start in place of Portis)
44. Justin Fargas, Raiders at Cowboys
45. Kevin Faulk, Patriots at Saints
46. Jamal Lewis, Browns at Bengals
47. Larry Johnson, Bengals vs. Browns
48. Derrick Ward, Buccaneers at Falcons
49. Jason Snelling, Falcons vs. Buccaneers — DOWN
50. Correll Buckhalter, Broncos at Giants
51. Shonn Greene, Jets vs. Panthers
52. Chris Brown, Texans vs. Colts
53. LenDale White, Titans vs. Cardinals — INACTIVE
54. Willie Parker, Steelers at Ravens
55. Tashard Choice, Cowboys vs. Raiders
56. Leonard Weaver, Eagles vs. Redskins
57. Jerious Norwood, Falcons vs. Buccaneers — UP (he's active)
58. Lex Hilliard, Dolphins at Bills
59. Willis McGahee, Ravens vs. Steelers
60. Marcus Mason, Redskins at Eagles
61. Ryan Moats, Texans vs. Colts
62. Chris Jennings, Browns at Bengals
63. Kahlil Bell, Bears at Vikings
64. Sammy Morris, Patriots at Saints — INJ

Not listed: Ladell Betts, Redskins; Brian Westbrook, Eagles; Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants; Clinton Portis, Redskins; Fred Taylor, Patriots

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals at Titans
2. Reggie Wayne, Colts at Texans — INJ
3. Andre Johnson, Texans vs. Colts
4. Randy Moss, Patriots at Saints
5. Vincent Jackson, Chargers vs. Chiefs — INJ
6. Greg Jennings, Packers at Lions
7. Roddy White, Falcons vs. Buccaneers
8. Chad Ochocinco, Bengals vs. Browns
9. Donald Driver, Packers at Lions
10. Marques Colston, Saints vs. Patriots
11. Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars at 49ers — INJ
12. Wes Welker, Patriots at Saints
13. Sidney Rice, Vikings vs. Bears
14. Anquan Boldin, Cardinals at Titans
15. Miles Austin, Cowboys vs. Raiders
16. Terrell Owens, Bills vs. Dolphins
17. DeSean Jackson, Eagles vs. Redskins
18. Hines Ward, Steelers at Ravens
19. Brandon Marshall, Broncos at Giants
20. Derrick Mason, Ravens vs. Steelers
21. Mario Manningham, Giants vs. Broncos
22. Calvin Johnson, Lions vs. Packers — INJ, UP (he'll play)
23. Steve Smith, Panthers at Jets — INJ (he'll start)
    
24. Michael Crabtree, 49ers vs. Jaguars
25. Steve Smith, Giants vs. Broncos
26. Devin Hester, Bears at Vikings
27. Robert Meachem, Saints vs. Patriots
28. Hakeem Nicks, Giants vs. Broncos
29. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seahawks at Rams
30. Steve Breaston, Cardinals at Titans
31. Pierre Garcon, Colts at Texans
32. Percy Harvin, Vikings vs. Bears
33. Nate Burleson, Seahawks at Rams
34. Lee Evans, Bills vs. Dolphins          
35. Mike Wallace, Steelers at Ravens
36. Santonio Holmes, Steelers at Ravens
37. Chris Chambers, Chiefs at Chargers
38. Laveranues Coles, Bengals vs. Browns — INJ (he'll start)
39. Patrick Crayton, Cowboys vs. Raiders
40. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles vs. Redskins
41. Bernard Berrian, Vikings vs. Bears
42. Roy Williams, Cowboys vs. Raiders
43. Austin Collie, Colts at Texans
44. Devery Henderson, Saints vs. Patriots
45. Kevin Walter, Texans vs. Colts
46. Santana Moss, Redskins at Eagles
47. Jerricho Cotchery, Jets vs. Panthers
48. Jordy Nelson, Packers at Lions
49. James Jones, Packers at Lions
50. Kenny Britt, Titans vs. Cardinals
51. Antonio Bryant, Buccaneers at Falcons
52. Braylon Edwards, Jets vs. Panthers
53. Andre Caldwell, Bengals vs. Browns
54. Donnie Avery, Rams vs. Seahawks
55. Torry Holt, Jaguars at 49ers
56. Nate Washington, Titans vs. Cardinals
57. Jason Avant, Eagles vs. Redskins
58. Davone Bess, Dolphins at Bills
59. Josh Morgan, 49ers vs. Jaguars
60. Mohamed Massaquoi, Browns at Bengals
61. Malcom Floyd, Chargers vs. Chiefs
62. Earl Bennett, Bears at Vikings
63. Michael Jenkins, Falcons vs. Buccaneers
64. Eddie Royal, Broncos at Giants
65. Mark Clayton, Ravens vs. Steelers
66. Johnny Knox, Bears at Vikings
67. Bryant Johnson, Lions vs. Packers
68. Chaz Schilens, Raiders at Cowboys
69. Louis Murphy, Raiders at Cowboys
70. Sammie Stroughter, Buccaneers at Falcons
71. Kelley Washington, Ravens vs. Steelers
72. Muhsin Muhammad, Panthers at Jets
73. Lance Long, Chiefs at Chargers
74. Chansi Stuckey, Browns at Bengals
75. Antwaan Randle El, Redskins at Eagles
76. Justin Gage, Titans vs. Cardinals — INJ (INACTIVE)

Not listed: Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs; Anthony Gonzalez, Colts

TIGHT ENDS

1. Dallas Clark, Colts at Texans
2. Antonio Gates, Chargers vs. Chiefs
3. Vernon Davis, 49ers vs. Jaguars
4. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons vs. Buccaneers
5. Greg Olsen, Bears at Vikings
6. Kellen Winslow, Buccaneers at Falcons
7. Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings vs. Bears
8. Heath Miller, Steelers at Ravens
9. Brent Celek, Eagles vs. Redskins
10. Jason Witten, Cowboys vs. Raiders — INJ (he will start)
    
11. Zach Miller, Raiders at Cowboys
12. John Carlson, Seahawks at Rams
13. Jeremy Shockey, Saints vs. Patriots
14. Kevin Boss, Giants vs. Broncos
15. Jermichael Finley, Packers at Lions
16. Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars at 49ers
17. Dustin Keller, Jets vs. Panthers
18. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions vs. Packers
19. Ben Watson, Patriots at Saints
20. Todd Heap, Ravens vs. Steelers
21. Tony Scheffler, Broncos at Giants
22. David Thomas, Saints vs. Patriots
23. Tom Santi, Colts at Texans
24. Fred Davis, Redskins at Eagles
25. Joey Haynos, Dolphins at Bills
26. Bo Scaife, Titans vs. Cardinals
27. Dante Rosario, Panthers at Jets
28. Randy McMichael, Rams vs. Seahawks
29. Anthony Fasano, Dolphins at Bills — INJ

Not listed: Chris Cooley, Redskins

KICKERS

1. Nate Kaeding, Chargers vs. Chiefs
2. Ryan Longwell, Vikings vs. Bears
3. Mason Crosby, Packers at Lions
4. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots at Saints
5. David Akers, Eagles vs. Redskins
6. John Carney, Saints vs. Patriots
7. Lawrence Tynes, Giants vs. Broncos
8. Olindo Mare, Seahawks at Rams
9. Matt Stover, Colts at Texans
10. Shayne Graham, Bengals vs. Browns
11. Rob Bironas, Titans vs. Cardinals
12. Dan Carpenter, Dolphins at Bills
13. Jason Elam, Falcons vs. Buccaneers
14. Rian Lindell, Bills vs. Dolphins
15. Nick Folk, Cowboys vs. Raiders
16. Joe Nedney, 49ers vs. Jaguars
17. Jay Feely, Jets vs. Panthers
18. Josh Scobee, Jaguars at 49ers
19. Neil Rackers, Cardinals at Titans
20. Kris Brown, Texans vs. Colts
21. Robbie Gould, Bears at Vikings
22. Matt Prater, Broncos at Giants
23. Jason Hanson, Lions vs. Packers
24. Ryan Succop, Chiefs at Chargers
25. Jeff Reed, Steelers at Ravens
26. Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders at Cowboys
27. Billy Cundiff, Ravens vs. Steelers
28. Shaun Suisham, Redskins at Eagles
29. John Kasay, Panthers at Jets
30. Phil Dawson, Browns at Bengals
31. Josh Brown, Rams vs. Seahawks
32. Connor Barth, Buccaneers at Falcons

Not listed: Adam Vinatieri, Colts

DEFENSES

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

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.