FanHouse Nfl Position Rankings

Stephen Gostkowski has been one of the highest point-scoring kickers this season, so you'll always find him toward the top of the rankings. This week seems even more sure-fire, though, for two reasons. First of all, the Patriots' once-vaunted offense seemed to be back on track prior to a bye week, in which they were able to rest and further prepare. Secondly, only the Browns, Chiefs and Raiders have allowed more kicking points than the Pats' opponent this week, Miami. Gostkowski as the top kicking option is a no-brainer.

1. Stephen Gostkowski, NE vs. MIA
2. Lawrence Tynes, NYG vs. SD
3. Mason Crosby, GB at TB
4. John Carney, NO vs. CAR
5. David Akers, PHI vs. DAL

In preparing this weeks defensive unit rankings, I came upon a glaring oddity. The Seattle Seahawks rank dead last at intercepting opposing quarterbacks. Why you might ask then, do we rank them number one this week?

Well, first of all the Lions passing game continues to struggle with both Matt Stafford nursing and injury and Calvin Johnson looking unlikely to return (check back for the game-time call) in time for Week 9, but also Seatle cornerback Marcus Truffant has something to prove. After missing the first six games of the season, the 2007 pro-bowler played like absolute garbage last week, earning three pass interference calls that led to touchdown drives. Hence, look for Truffant and company to take it out on Detroit.

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Talk about two tight ends headed in different directions -- Vernon Davis and John Carlson have similar situations with offensive lines that need help protecting the quarterback. But Davis isn't going to stick back and help protect Alex Smith. Carlson, on the other hand, is being asked to block a lot these days. If Carlson wasn't facing a Lions defense this week, he'd be ranked a lot lower than where he sits.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is near the top of every major statistical category that quarterbacks track. Even though Manning has always put up incredible numbers, Dallas Clark said this week, "You probably never thought he (Manning)could raise his level of play, but he has." Not that Manning needed another reason to target Clark, but I bet Clark gets an extra red zone look or two just as a debt of gratitude from the All-Pro quarterback.

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It's looking like Anquan Boldin will miss this week's game, so he doesn't appear in our rankings (*until now). Everyone else, including Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne and any other injured receiver, has been ranked as if they'll play on Sunday.

Unsure whether you'll actually have your top wideout available to you for Week 9? Join us Sunday morning for our Tailgate chat, where we dole out lineup advice and keep you apprised of all the notable gameday inactives.

And if you're curious, no, Mike Sims-Walker didn't get hurt last week. The Titans finally manned up and played a little pass defense. Is this cause for concern with MSW, or just a blip on the radar? More after the jump.

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Am I scared about the prospects of Steve Slaton losing carries to Ryan Moats (and even Chris Brown)? Absolutely. I'm more concerned about the overreactions from across the fantasy football world. Sure, I took it on the chin with Slaton in one league, but last week was hardly indicative of what will transpire from here on out.

Consider the following:
- If Gary Kubiak was going to send a message to his second-year running back with problems holding onto the football, what better opponent than the league's worst run defense?

- Slaton shredded the Colts in Indy last year, and that was without Matt Schaub at the helm to take pressure off him.

- Frank Gore got loose for a 64-yard touchdown against the Colts and added 43 receiving yards. Slaton is faster, more elusive and a better pass-catcher than Gore.

So, yeah, of course last week made me worried about Slaton. But I live by the "no guts, no glory" credo. You'll find Slaton in my top 15. You can have Ryan Moats.

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It's been a tough stretch of games for owners of elite quarterbacks, starting with a Week 5 that saw Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler on the sideline and going through last week's off-week for Tom Brady, Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger. Rest easy, because the rigorous fantasy games featuring backup QBs are over.

This week, only Brett Favre gets a seat on the bench in terms of QBs you'd want to use in normal-sized leagues. Next week, you just have to make it without Matt Schaub. For owners of the seven QBs in the previous paragraph, it's smooth sailing unless an injury strikes.

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Just as we gave you Jay Feely last week, we're going against the Raiders to find a quality kicker for the Week 8 fantasy football rankings. The silver and black have now allowed 14 field goals and 19 extra points in seven games, tying them with the Chiefs for the most points allowed to opposing kickers.

This week, Nate Kaeding of the Chargers gets to kick against the Raiders at home. He's coming off two straight double-digit weeks in scoring, where he's hit six field goals and six extra points. Thus, the veteran is an absolute no-brainer to sit atop the ranks for this week.

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I gotta tell you, the conviction level feels a little low this week. Anybody who drops by Fantasy FanHouse from time to time knows that rarely will anyone around here ever admit to being wrong and never do we hold back on predictions, but man this week's matchups look like a crapshoot, as nothing jumps out screaming "me, me, me."

Fortunately, the Golden Rule of 2009 D/ST ranking reads as follows: "Unless otherwise instructed in a hallucination, stick with whoever plays the Raiders." The Raiders play on the road this week where they tend to lay down and die, and they face an improving San Diego team that looks to be finally shaking off the rust, so the Chargers get the nod for spot-start of the week. I just read a great stat on JaMarcus Russell -- he ranks 30th or worse in every single major quarterback category. That's about all you need to know.

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Everyone knew it was coming, but I was happy to anoint Owen Daniels to the fantasy tight end elite in this very space last week and he made me look wise. Well, a day late and a dollar short, let's welcome Vernon Davis into the upper echelon. You should feel good using either Daniels or Davis this weekend as they will continue to prove they deserve the praise bestowed upon them.

Also, there's something about Antonio Gates loving to face the Raiders. These occasions tend to bring out the best of times in Gates, who has scored seven touchdowns in his last ten games versus the Raiders. That's usually a good measure that Gates will be looking for the end zone this Sunday. And he very well could find it multiple times. Thus, he must lead the way in our ranks this week.

As for the rest of the ranks...

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Where do breakout receivers like Mike Sims-Walker, Miles Austin and Hakeem Nicks rank in this week's edition?

Going by Austin's last two games, he should be at the top, but it's not a stretch to think his 150-yard, two-TD per game stretch will come to an end this week. Sooner or later, Nicks will have a game where he doesn't catch a long TD; it would have come in Week 7 if not for a lucky bounce off Steve Smith's hands.

I have nothing bad to say about Sims-Walker, except that he'd better make curfew this week!

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