Updated Jan. 3, 2010 @ 3:57 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. Matt Schaub, Texans vs. Patriots
2. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers at Dolphins
3. Jay Cutler, Bears at Lions
4. Tony Romo, Cowboys vs. Eagles
5. Donovan McNabb, Eagles at Cowboys
6. Brett Favre, Vikings vs. Giants
7. Eli Manning, Giants at Vikings
8. Vince Young, Titans at Seahawks
9. David Garrard, Jaguars at Browns
10. Matt Ryan, Falcons at Buccaneers — INJ, UP (he's active)
11. Joe Flacco, Ravens at Raiders
12. Kyle Orton, Broncos vs. Chiefs
13. Aaron Rodgers, Packers at Cardinals — DOWN
14. Philip Rivers, Chargers vs. Redskins — DOWN
15. Carson Palmer, Bengals at Jets
16. Alex Smith, 49ers at Rams
17. Chad Henne, Dolphins vs. Steelers
18. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks vs. Titans
19. Jason Campbell, Redskins at Chargers
20. Josh Freeman, Buccaneers vs. Falcons
21. Matt Moore, Panthers vs. Saints — INJ
22. Mark Sanchez, Jets vs. Bengals — UP
23. Matt Cassel, Chiefs at Broncos
24. Mark Brunell, Saints at Panthers — DOWN (he'll start)
    
25. Peyton Manning, Colts at Bills
26. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills vs. Colts — UP
27. Kurt Warner, Cardinals vs. Packers
28. Tom Brady, Patriots at Texans — DOWN
29. Charlie Frye, Raiders vs. Ravens
30. Derek Anderson, Browns vs. Jaguars
31. Daunte Culpepper, Lions vs. Bears — he'll start
32. Drew Stanton, Lions vs. Bears
33. Keith Null, Rams vs. 49ers

Not listed: Marc Bulger, Rams; Drew Brees, Saints

RUNNING BACKS

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

Not listed: Brandon Jacobs, Giants; Pierre Thomas, Saints

WIDE RECEIVERS

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

Not listed: Nate Burleson, Seahawks; Anthony Gonzalez, Colts; Steve Smith, Panthers; Brandon Marshall, Broncos; Torry Holt, Jaguars; Lance Moore, Saints; Devin Thomas, Redskins

TIGHT ENDS

1. Vernon Davis, 49ers at Rams
2. Brent Celek, Eagles at Cowboys
3. Antonio Gates, Chargers vs. Redskins
4. Heath Miller, Steelers at Dolphins
5. Greg Olsen, Bears at Lions
6. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons vs. Buccaneers — INJ, UP (he's active)
7. Kellen Winslow, Buccaneers vs. Falcons
8. Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings vs. Giants — INJ
9. Jermichael Finley, Packers at Cardinals
10. Jason Witten, Cowboys vs. Eagles
11. Fred Davis, Redskins at Chargers
12. Kevin Boss, Giants at Vikings
13. Zach Miller, Raiders vs. Ravens
14. Todd Heap, Ravens at Raiders
15. Ben Watson, Patriots at Texans
16. Dallas Clark, Colts at Bills
17. Dustin Keller, Jets at Bengals
18. Bo Scaife, Titans at Seahawks
19. Anthony Fasano, Dolphins vs. Steelers
20. Dante Rosario, Panthers vs. Saints
21. Joel Dreessen, Texans vs. Patriots
22. Jeff King, Panthers vs. Saints
23. Jeremy Shockey, Saints at Panthers — INJ
24. David Thomas, Saints at Panthers — INJ, DOWN

Not listed: Tony Scheffler, Broncos; Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars

KICKERS

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

Not listed: Joe Nedney, 49ers

DEFENSES

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

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.