The Big Lead

Fantasy Football Starter Rankings: Start Derek Carr, Arian Foster Likely a Game-Time Decision

By Jason Lisk

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Earlier in the week, I recommended Derek Carr as a starting option this week in the waiver wire pickups. I’ve got him at #7 with a favorable matchup at Chicago. At worst, he’s a top 12 option given the other matchups and who is available with Tom Brady and Marcus Mariota on bye, Drew Brees potentially limited, and Ben Roethlisberger, Tony Romo, and Jay Cutler out.

At running back, we have Arian Foster potentially returning this week. He is practicing on a limited basis and will be a game-time decision. If you are a Marshawn Lynch owner, that will probably be a game-time decision as well, and with the Lions-Seahawks game coming on Monday night, you will likely have to make a decision before then, unless you have another back or flex option in that game.

As always, I’ve marked those who are questionable with ++ and probable with a +. This will be updated as injury news becomes solidified. These rankings reflect the projection if the player participates.

QUARTERBACKS

  1. Aaron Rodgers at SF
  2. Andrew Luck vs JAC++
  3. Cam Newton at TB
  4. Russell Wilson vs DET
  5. Matt Ryan vs HOU
  6. Carson Palmer vs STL
  7. Derek Carr at CHI
  8. Peyton Manning vs MIN
  9. Philip Rivers vs CLE
  10. Andy Dalton vs KC
  11. Tyrod Taylor vs NYG
  12. Eli Manning at BUF
  13. Ryan Tannehill vs NYJ*
  14. Blake Bortles at IND
  15. Michael Vick vs BAL
  16. Joe Flacco at PIT
  17. Colin Kaepernick vs GB
  18. Sam Bradford at WAS
  19. Drew Brees vs DAL++
  20. Matthew Stafford at SEA
  21. Jameis Winston vs CAR
  22. Alex Smith at CIN
  23. Brandon Weeden at NO
  24. Ryan Fitzpatrick vs MIA*
  25. Teddy Bridgewater at DEN
  26. Kirk Cousins vs PHI
  27. Nick Foles at ARI
  28. Ryan Mallett at ATL++
  29. Josh McCown at SD+
  30. Jimmy Clausen vs CHI

RUNNING BACKS

  1. LeVeon Bell vs BAL
  2. Jamaal Charles at CIN
  3. Eddie Lacy at SF+
  4. Latavius Murray at CHI
  5. Matt Forte vs OAK
  6. Adrian Peterson at DEN
  7. Devonta Freeman vs HOU++
  8. Karlos Williams vs NYG
  9. Joseph Randle at NO
  10. Mark Ingram vs DAL
  11. Frank Gore vs JAC
  12. Melvin Gordon vs CLE
  13. Carlos Hyde vs GB
  14. Justin Forsett at PIT
  15. Arian Foster at ATL++
  16. Chris Ivory vs MIA*++
  17. Giovani Bernard vs KC
  18. T.J. Yeldon at IND
  19. Jonathan Stewart at TB++
  20. Marshawn Lynch vs DET++
  21. Jeremy Hill vs KC
  22. DeMarco Murray at WAS++
  23. C.J. Anderson vs MIN
  24. Danny Woodhead vs CLE
  25. Lamar Miller vs NYJ*
  26. Todd Gurley at ARI
  27. Chris Johnson vs STL
  28. Matt Jones vs PHI
  29. Ameer Abdullah at SEA
  30. Andre Ellington vs. STL++
  31. Thomas Rawls vs DET [Monitor Lynch’s status, could move up if Lynch completely out]
  32. Isaiah Crowell at SD
  33. Doug Martin vs CAR
  34. Bilal Powell vs MIA*
  35. Ryan Mathews at WAS
  36. Ronnie Hillman vs MIN
  37. Rashad Jennings at BUF
  38. Darren Sproles at WAS
  39. Alfred Morris vs PHI
  40. Shane Vereen at BUF
  41. Duke Johnson at SD
  42. Lance Dunbar at NO
  43. Lorenzo Taliaferro at PIT
  44. Charles Sims vs CAR
  45. C.J. Spiller vs DAL
  46. Darren McFadden at NO
  47. Joique Bell at SEA
  48. Alfred Blue at ATL
  49. David Johnson vs STL
  50. James Starks at SF

WIDE RECEIVERS

  1. Julio Jones vs HOU++
  2. Randall Cobb at SF+
  3. Antonio Brown vs BAL
  4. Odell Beckham at BUF
  5. Larry Fitzgerald vs STL
  6. Steve Smith at PIT
  7. A.J. Green vs KC
  8. Amari Cooper at CHI
  9. Demaryius Thomas vs MIN
  10. Keenan Allen vs CLE
  11. Emmanuel Sanders vs MIN
  12. DeAndre Hopkins at ATL
  13. Calvin Johnson at SEA
  14. Mike Evans vs CAR
  15. Brandon Marshall vs MIA*
  16. T.Y. Hilton vs JAC
  17. James Jones at SF
  18. Allen Robinson at IND
  19. Jordan Matthews at WAS
  20. Donte Moncrief vs JAC
  21. Jeremy Maclin at CIN
  22. Alshon Jeffery vs OAK++
  23. Jarvis Landry vs NYJ*
  24. Brandin Cooks vs DAL++
  25. John Brown vs STL++
  26. Percy Harvin vs NYG++
  27. Travis Benjamin at SD++
  28. Michael Crabtree at CHI
  29. Steve Johnson vs CLE
  30. Ted Ginn at TB
  31. Pierre Garcon vs PHI
  32. Allen Hurns at IND++
  33. Marvin Jones vs KC
  34. Richard Matthews vs NYJ*
  35. Vincent Jackson vs CAR
  36. Golden Tate at SEA
  37. Mike Wallace at DEN
  38. Terrance Williams at NO
  39. Rueben Randle at BUF
  40. Leonard Hankerson vs HOU
  41. DeSean Jackson vs PHI++
  42. Anquan Boldin vs GB
  43. Doug Baldwin vs DET
  44. Kenny Britt at ARI++
  45. Robert Woods vs NYG
  46. Cole Beasley at NO
  47. Cecil Shorts at ATL
  48. Malcom Floyd vs CLE
  49. Torrey Smith vs GB
  50. Nate Washington at ATL
  51. Darrius Heyward-Bey vs BAL

TIGHT ENDS

  1. Greg Olsen at TB
  2. Travis Kelce at CIN
  3. Jimmy Graham vs DET
  4. Jordan Reed vs PHI
  5. Tyler Eifert vs KC
  6. Martellus Bennett vs OAK
  7. Charles Clay vs NYG
  8. Jason Witten at NO+
  9. Kyle Rudolph at DEN
  10. Eric Ebron at SEA
  11. Jordan Cameron vs NYJ*++
  12. Dwayne Allen vs JAC++
  13. Zach Ertz vs WAS
  14. Ladarius Green vs CLE++
  15. Heath Miller vs BAL
  16. Maxx Williams at PIT
  17. Jared Cook at ARI
  18. Richard Rodgers at SF
  19. Larry Donnell at BUF
  20. Vernon Davis vs GB++
  21. Gary Barnidge at SD
  22. Ben Watson vs DAL
  23. Coby Fleener vs JAC
  24. Levine Toilolo vs HOU
  25. Brandon Myers vs CAR

KICKERS

  1. Steven Hauschka vs DET
  2. Mason Crosby at SF
  3. Matt Bryant vs HOU
  4. Adam Vinatieri vs JAC
  5. Chandler Catanzaro vs STL
  6. Josh Lambo vs CLE
  7. Brandon McManus vs MIN
  8. Justin Tucker at PIT
  9. Dan Carpenter vs NYG
  10. Nick Folk vs MIA*
  11. Caleb Sturgis at WAS
  12. Sebastian Janikowski at CHI
  13. Graham Gano at TB
  14. Mike Nugent vs KC
  15. Dan Bailey at NO
  16. Zach Hocker vs DAL

DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS

  1. BRONCOS vs MIN
  2. SEAHAWKS vs DET
  3. PACKERS at SF
  4. CARDINALS vs STL
  5. JETS vs MIA
  6. BILLS vs NYG
  7. RAIDERS at CHI
  8. PANTHERS at TB
  9. BENGALS vs KC
  10. EAGLES at WAS
  11. FALCONS vs HOU
  12. VIKINGS at DEN
  13. COLTS vs JAC
  14. RAVENS at PIT
  15. CHIEFS at CIN
  16. RAMS at ARI

*NYJ vs. MIA is in London on Sunday Morning