FanHouse Nfl Position Rankings

It's no secret that kicker is the most fickle and unpredictable position in fantasy sports. Even the most seemingly sure-fire starters can throw up a terrible stat-line due to exterior variables (like Nick Folk last week, though he did miss a field goal).

Still, we have to plow forward and the best we can do is judge the stats in front of us or hope to find a high-scoring affair. In Week 12, we have a doozy of a Monday Night Football game with serious shootout potential. So we'll roll with those two kickers atop the rankings.

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Given my two week streak of relative bricks on the No. 1 picks -- last week with the Bengals and two weeks ago with the Saints -- we need a rebirth of sorts. Hence, we look to the Eagles and their cupcake against the league's fourth-worst offense in terms of total yards per game, the Redskins. The Eagles rank third in the league in interceptions (16) and second in sacks (30), so coupled with no Portis, no Betts, and three offensive linemen on the injured reserve, the Skins are in trouble. Look for the Eagles to pad those sacks and interceptions a little more, as this could get ugly.

The next two spots go to the usual suspects, the teams who play the Browns and Lions, respectively. While Cincinnati and Green Bay typically fall around the low teens in our defense rankings, they are certainly solid enough to dominate these two lousy offenses. The Lions look to be playing without both Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson, so the old Turkey Day tradition will likely be a feast only for Green Bay (again).

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Welcome back, Mr. Clark. It's been a while, but by no means did you ever fall off the radar. It's been a sweet and dandy type season for Dallas Clark. And during a week devoted to feasting, that's exactly what he's gonna do against the Texans. All Clark did was rope in 14 catches for 119 yards the last time he faced the Texans. Of course, the game plan will change, but the results won't ... start Clark with a confident smirk.

The rest of the usual suspects are back as the top options again this week. Vernon Davis responded from his bad week a few weeks back with a monster day at Green Bay. I'm banking that Kellen Winslow follows suit this week and responds like only a soldier can after his stinker last weekend. He draws a Falcons defense that just allowed Kevin Boss to shred them last week. What's not to like? As for the rest of the ranks...

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The top five WR list includes three old stalwarts and the two biggest breakouts of the 2009 campaign.

A few people took a gamble on the potential of Sidney Rice near the end of their drafts. Heck, I've been holding on to him for two years in a dynasty league hoping he'd one day fulfill that potential. That day finally arrived this year, as Rice has emerged as a near WR1 and a must-start every week.

Conversely, Mike Sims-Walker came out of nowhere to emerge as the best pickup at the position this year by far. Those that frequent our chats know the love we have for MS-Dub, and that love parade continues this week.

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Marion Barber came into the season regarded as a definite starter in all fantasy leagues. Though owners likely nabbed him in the second round, he has still be a pretty sizable bust in all formats. Coming off a 99-yard performance against Washington is good, though the lost fumble and lack of a touchdown might still make owners reluctant to trust him on Thanksgiving.

Worry not, my friends. Barber gets to face a porous Raiders run defense that ranks 30th in the NFL in rushing in terms of yardage. They have also given up an NFL-high 16 rushing touchdowns. Expect Barber to get nasty on Thanksgiving afternoon, even if you're napping from the tryptophan.

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The grueling grind of the season is beginning to take its toll on a number of QBs, as several starters have suffered injuries and could potentially miss this week's game. I've tried to factor each injury into these rankings, but we'll likely need a few updates once we have a clearer picture on the health of Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner for Sunday's games, and Kyle Orton and Matthew Stafford for Thursday's games (though I'm almost certain Stafford won't play).

1. Aaron Rodgers, GB at DET
2. Brett Favre, MIN vs. CHI
3. Tom Brady, NE at NO
4. Kurt Warner, ARI at TEN
5. Matt Schaub, HOU vs. IND

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When slotting fantasy football kickers, there are myriad factors which should be considered. After looking at all of them, I've determined my favorite option for Week 11 is Matt Prater. The Broncos are desperately in need of a win this weekend in a pivotal home tilt against the Chargers. With Kyle Orton banged up, expect the Broncos to try and shorten the game by running the ball and making short throws. These kinds of drives often end up stalling in the red zone. Only two teams have allowed more field goals this season than the Chargers, who have allowed 13 of their 16 field goals in 31 red zone trips. Predicting the top kicker for the week is the most difficult of any position because of all the variables that go into kicker points, but I'm rolling with Prater this week.

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For anybody paying close enough attention to realize the offering by the fantasy gods that is the Bengals' home stretch, you begin your three-game win streak here in Week 11. Starting with this week's matchup against the Raiders, this marks the beginning of an Oakland, Cleveland, Detroit three-game run -- all of which are sure to be top-five matchups in our rankings. This week, we mark the Bengals at numero uno.

The second best start this week goes to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who should avenge a tough loss against the aforementioned Bengals with a cupcake matchup versus a Kansas City team that has now lost its starting running back and best receiver in two short weeks. Coupled with a Pittsburgh defense that is tied for third in the NFL in sacks and have forced eight fumbles, the Chiefs are in trouble and Pittsburgh fantasy owners can sleep well.

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It was hard not to feel a little burnt by Vernon Davis last week. He talks the good talk and it was impossible not to back him up in this space. Well, rest assured that last week was just a speed bump in the ways of fantasy football. Davis should return to his lofty position amongst the elite pass-catching tight end options this week. The 49ers will make sure Davis is involved early and often and a rebound seems to be in the cards.

One other guy known for his talking more so than most and hasn't been gaining a lot of talk in this space is Kellen Winlsow. Ah yes, it's time to acknowledge the solid season he is having. He's thriving on a pretty bad football team, but that doesn't matter to us fantasy owners. Show us the stats and talk all you want soldier, we like it that way. He's got a great rapport building with Josh Freeman and clearly is the best option for the Bucs. He draws the Saints this weekend and he'll be sniffing for the end zone and seeking to continue his ascension. And that's why he's leading us off this week. As for the rest of the ranks ...

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Sidney Rice, come on down! You're the next contestant on ... Who Wants to Be a WR1!

Rice, you've joined a list of relatively unheralded wideouts that have emerged as fantasy superstars in 2009, along with the likes of Steve Smith (not the one you drafted in the first five rounds in August), Mike Sims-Walker, and most recently, Miles Austin.

What brought you to this point? How about a 201-yard performance on just seven catches; does that do anything for you?

Moving forward, Rice is a clear-cut WR2 that will flirt with bouts of WR1-dom. If he can throw WR1 numbers up on a consistent basis, my Ronnie Brown-less season might be saved.

On to the rankings ...

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