(Stew Milne, USA TODAY Sports)

NOTE: These player rankings track a player’s value for the remainder of the season and are intended to be used as a tool, not necessarily a definitive guide to player valuation. The scoring system is performance PPR.

There is no exact science behind season-long rankings, considering all of the variables and situational uncertainties at work. Defensive teams have been added but will not have analysis.

QUARTERBACKS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		Patrick Mahomes	KC	12
2		Deshaun Watson	HOU	10
3		Aaron Rodgers	GB	11
4		Baker Mayfield	CLE	7
5		Matt Ryan	ATL	9
6	10	Lamar Jackson	BAL	8
7		Jared Goff	LAR	9
8		Carson Wentz	PHI	10
9		Dak Prescott	DAL	8
10		Russell Wilson	SEA	11
11		Tom Brady	NE	10
12	6	Cam Newton	CAR	7
13	17	Kyler Murray	ARI	12
14		Philip Rivers	LAC	12
15		Jameis Winston	TB	7
16		Derek Carr	OAK	6
17		Andy Dalton	CIN	9
18		M. Stafford	DET	5
19	18	Kirk Cousins	MIN	12
20		Josh Allen	BUF	6
21		Jimmy Garoppolo	SF	4
22	9	Drew Brees	NO	9
23	19	M. Trubisky	CHI	6
24		Jacoby Brissett	IND	6
25		Joe Flacco	DEN	10
26	36	Daniel Jones	NYG	11
27		Marcus Mariota	TEN	11
28	33	Gardner Minshew	JAC	10
29	NR	Mason Rudolph	PIT	7
30	NR	Teddy Bridgewater	NO	9
31	23	Sam Darnold	NYJ	4
32		Dwayne Haskins	WAS	10
33	35	Josh Rosen	MIA	5
34	31	R. Fitzpatrick	MIA	5
35		Case Keenum	WAS	10
36	28	Eli Manning	NYG	11
37		Nick Foles	JAC	10
38		Ryan Tannehill	TEN	11

QUARTERBACK MOVEMENT

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Injuries were the big news item on Sunday, and that starts with Roethlisberger, who will undergo elbow surgery and miss the rest of the season. Minus Big Ben, the Steelers will turn their offense over to Mason Rudolph, who looked capable in passing for 112 yards and two scores in relief. The smart money says we’ll see a more balanced attack going forward, but I still saw enough from Rudolph to add him to my watch list.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Brees (hand) is set to miss multiple games for the first time since he joined the Saints in 2006. Initial reports are saying six weeks, so I’m eyeing Week 10 (eight weeks, six games) as a likely return point for Brees and dropping him to low-end QB2 range. New Orleans paid a premium for Teddy Bridgewater, and I think he can keep the team afloat. Bridgewater was always more of a game manager than a difference maker, though, so I’m adding him to the rankings as a QB3 until he proves otherwise.

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

I don’t know what’s wrong with Newton, but if you didn’t come away from Thursday night thinking there was something amiss we were watching different games. Newton looked like he was moving around in quicksand, and while he did throw for 300-plus yards and showed more arm strength, his accuracy was atrocious at times, and he hasn’t thrown a TD pass in four straight games. Perhaps the extra rest helps Newton get back on track.

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

After completing eight passes in Week 1, Cousins increased that to 14 on Sunday … on 22 more attempts. As bad as the final numbers were, they don’t do the performance justice: 136 of his 230 passing yards came on three plays, two of which probably should’ve been intercepted. In fact, with worse luck (or better hands from Jaire Alexander), Cousins could’ve turned the ball over seven times against the Packers. It’s hard to imagine this doesn’t mean more Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison.

Others of note

Kyler Murray gets a bump after throwing for 349 yards against the Ravens, even if I doubt that 11 runs in a game is a sustainable approach … The training wheels were officially back on Mitchell Trubisky this week as he didn’t top 100 passing yards until his final throw of the game. That offense looks Fox-esque thus far, and I think a run-heavy approach is the direction that the Bears are going … If you contract a middle-school kissing disease you get dropped in the rankings. Sorry, Sam Darnold. And no, I would not add Luke Falk in any format … You had my curiosity Gardner Minshew, but now you have my attention.

RUNNING BACKS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		C. McCaffrey	CAR	7
2		Saquon Barkley	NYG	11
3		Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	8
4	7	Dalvin Cook	MIN	12
5		Alvin Kamara	NO	9
6		David Johnson	ARI	12
7		Joe Mixon	CIN	9
8		James Conner	PIT	7
9		Todd Gurley II	LAR	9
10		Le’Veon Bell	NYJ	4
11		Josh Jacobs	OAK	6
12		Nick Chubb	CLE	7
13		Aaron Jones	GB	11
14		Chris Carson	SEA	11
15		Kerryon Johnson	DET	5
16		Derrick Henry	TEN	11
17	19	Sony Michel	NE	10
18		L. Fournette	JAC	10
19	13	Devonta Freeman	ATL	9
20		M. Gordon III	LAC	12
21		D. Montgomery	CHI	6
22		James White	NE	10
23		Mark Ingram II	BAL	8
24		Austin Ekeler	LAC	12
25		Marlon Mack	IND	6
26	21	Duke Johnson	HOU	10
27		Phillip Lindsay	DEN	10
28		Damien Williams	KC	12
29	33	Matt Breida	SF	4
30		D. Singletary	BUF	6
31	50	Carlos Hyde	HOU	10
32	43	Peyton Barber	TB	7
33		Tarik Cohen	CHI	6
34	38	Royce Freeman	DEN	10
35		Miles Sanders	PHI	10
36		Latavius Murray	NO	9
37		LeSean McCoy	KC	12
38		Kenyan Drake	MIA	5
39		Rashaad Penny	SEA	11
40	37	Tevin Coleman	SF	4
41		Malcolm Brown	LAR	9
42	49	A. Mattison	MIN	12
43	36	Jordan Howard	PHI	10
44		Kareem Hunt	CLE	7
45		Ronald Jones II	TB	7
46		Kalen Ballage	MIA	5
47		Jaylen Samuels	PIT	7
48	66	Adrian Peterson	WAS	10
49	53	Frank Gore	BUF	6
50	62	Raheem Mostert	SF	4
51		Justice Hill	BAL	8
52		Tony Pollard	DAL	8
53	59	Chris Thompson	WAS	10
54		Justin Jackson	LAC	12
55		Darwin Thompson	KC	12
56	58	Jamaal Williams	GB	11
57	70	Ito Smith	ATL	9
58		D. Henderson	LAR	9
59		Nyheim Hines	IND	6
60	54	Dion Lewis	TEN	11
61		Jalen Richard	OAK	6
62	26	Derrius Guice	WAS	10
63		Darren Sproles	PHI	10
64		C.J. Anderson	DET	5
65		Damien Harris	NE	10
66		Ty Montgomery	NYJ	4
67		Giovani Bernard	CIN	9
68		R. Armstead	JAC	10
69		T.J. Yeldon	BUF	6
70		Chase Edmonds	ARI	12
71		Mike Davis	CHI	6
72		Wayne Gallman	NYG	11
73		Jordan Scarlett	CAR	7

RUNNING BACK MOVEMENT

Washington Redskins

It turns out Derrius Guice’s injury was more severe than originally believed, and he’s not eligible to return until Week 11 after being placed on IR. That obviously sends him tumbling down my rankings, and brings Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson up. The two backs will have defined roles with AD being the early-down bruiser, and Thompson operating in passing downs. I don’t expect huge things from either guy, but they could have value in plus matchups. As for Guice, it’s hard not to be skeptical as to what he’ll offer for the rest of 2019.

Carlos Hyde, Houston Texans

Through two weeks, Hyde has 31 touches for 175 yards to Duke Johnson’s 19 for 121. It certainly looks like Hyde is going to do the heavy lifting with Johnson sprinkled in as a change of pace and passing down specialist — that was pretty much the role he filled in Cleveland. I’m moving Hyde way up and dropping Johnson a bit to bring them closer together, and if the trend continues I’ll be flipping them with Hyde being the top back to own in Houston.

David Montgomery, Chicago Bears

I didn’t move Montgomery off a quiet Week 1, and I’m not moving him this week either despite operating as the centerpiece of Chicago’s offense. I really do like his upside and all-around ability, but it’s hard to get too excited about anyone on a team that’s scored 19 points in two games.

Others of note

Minnesota’s offensive approach going forward: run, run, run and then run. As such, Dalvin Cook enters my top five and Alexander Mattison bumps up as well … I’m not moving Joe Mixon or David Johnson yet as both have been dinged up, but the clock is ticking to show me something, especially Mixon … James Conner‘s knee injury doesn’t sound serious, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see his role expanded with Rudolph under center … A week after taking a backseat to Ronald Jones, Peyton Barber had 24 touches to Jones’ four so it looks like Barber is still the top back in Tampa … Devin Singletary looked good against the G-Men before injuring his hammy; minus a recovery time frame he stays where he is … I’m taking the same approach with the Chiefs, though Damien Williams has inspired zero confidence with his running this year before his knee trouble … Austin Ekeler had a critical fumble, but I don’t see that affecting Melvin Gordon’s holdout one way or the other. I’m keeping them both in the RB2/RB3 range.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	10
2		Davante Adams	GB	11
3		Julio Jones	ATL	9
4		Michael Thomas	NO	9
5		J. Smith-Schuster	PIT	7
6		O. Beckham Jr.	CLE	7
7		Mike Evans	TB	7
8		Antonio Brown	NE	6
9		Brandin Cooks	LAR	9
10		Keenan Allen	LAC	12
11	8	Adam Thielen	MIN	12
12	16	Cooper Kupp	LAR	9
13		Amari Cooper	DAL	8
14	19	Chris Godwin	TB	7
15		Kenny Golladay	DET	5
16		Tyler Lockett	SEA	11
17	13	Robert Woods	LAR	9
18		Julian Edelman	NE	10
19	12	Tyreek Hill	KC	12
20		DJ Moore	CAR	7
21		Tyler Boyd	CIN	9
22	18	Stefon Diggs	MIN	12
23		T.Y. Hilton	IND	6
24		Mike Williams	LAC	12
25		Tyrell Williams	OAK	6
26	32	L. Fitzgerald	ARI	12
27		Calvin Ridley	ATL	9
28	24	A. Robinson II	CHI	6
29		Sammy Watkins	KC	12
30	21	Robby Anderson	NYJ	4
31		S. Shepard	NYG	11
32		A.J. Green	CIN	9
33	38	Marquise Brown	BAL	8
34		Dede Westbrook	JAC	10
35		Jarvis Landry	CLE	7
36		Josh Gordon	NE	10
37		E. Sanders	DEN	10
38		Will Fuller V	HOU	10
39		Alshon Jeffery	PHI	10
40		Curtis Samuel	CAR	7
41	47	Christian Kirk	ARI	12
42	35	Corey Davis	TEN	11
43		M. Valdes-Scantling	GB	11
44		DeSean Jackson	PHI	10
45	74	John Ross	CIN	9
46		C. Sutton	DEN	10
47		Michael Gallup	DAL	8
48	67	Terry McLaurin	WAS	10
49		Jamison Crowder	NYJ	4
50	61	DK Metcalf	SEA	11
51		John Brown	BUF	6
52	57	DJ Chark Jr.	JAC	10
53		Kenny Stills	HOU	10
54		M. Jones Jr.	DET	5
55		J. Washington	PIT	7
56	70	Deebo Samuel	SF	4
57		Anthony Miller	CHI	6
58		G. Allison	GB	11
59		Tre’quan Smith	NO	9
60	44	Donte Moncrief	PIT	7
61	49	Dante Pettis	SF	4
62		Golden Tate	NYG	11
63		Trey Quinn	WAS	10
64		DeVante Parker	MIA	5
65	91	Nelson Agholor	PHI	10
66		Randall Cobb	DAL	8
67		Chris Conley	JAC	10
68		Mohamed Sanu	ATL	9
69		Rashard Higgins	CLE	7
70		P. Richardson Jr.	WAS	10
71		Danny Amendola	DET	5
72		KeeSean Johnson	ARI	12
73	84	Mecole Hardman	KC	12
74		Keke Coutee	HOU	10
75		Adam Humphries	TEN	11
76		Hunter Renfrow	OAK	6
77		Willie Snead IV	BAL	8
78		P. Dorsett II	NE	10
79		Zay Jones	BUF	6
80		A.J. Brown	TEN	11
81		Albert Wilson	MIA	5
82		Robert Foster	BUF	6
83		Ted Ginn Jr.	NO	9
84		M. Goodwin	SF	4
85		Miles Boykin	BAL	8
86		B. Perriman	TB	7
87		D. Hamilton	DEN	10
88		P. Williams	MIA	5
89		Taylor Gabriel	CHI	6
90		Chad Beebe	MIN	12
91		Andy Isabella	ARI	12
92		Jalen Hurd	SF	4
93		D. Thomas	NYJ	10
94		Devin Funchess	IND	6

WIDE RECEIVER MOVEMENT

Philadelphia Eagles

If thought the injury bug was done snacking on prominent NFL talent for the week, think again. The Eagles lost Alshon Jeffery (calf) and DeSean Jackson (groin) early in Sunday’s loss to Atlanta, and it sounds as though Jeffery could miss the next two games — Philly plays on Thursday in Week 4, which increases the likelihood he’ll be held out. There’s been nothing new on D-Jax, but it wouldn’t be surprising for him to end up on the same timetable as Jeffery. In their absence we’re moving Nelson Agholor up despite some brutal plays Sunday night. Understand, however, that his value is likely to be short lived.

Minnesota Vikings

Despite the individual and collective talent of Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, I feel compelled to move both players down in the rankings due primarily to Cousins’ struggles and what that likely means to the run-pass distribution. Thielen (8-118-1) is the preferred option, and I’m keeping him in fringe WR1 territory. Diggs (3-86-1) is more concerning as he’s struggled late in each of his four seasons. If that trend continues this would become a hugely disappointing year for Diggs.

Kansas City Chiefs

With Tyreek Hill (shoulder) expected to miss several more weeks I’m moving him down a few spots. Minus Hill, I’m not sure there’s an alpha in Kansas City, which has already produced standout performances from Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman. Bottom line, Patrick Mahomes is the star, and he’s finding whoever the defense ignores, which could make week-to-week value for non-Hill wideouts tough to anticipate.

Others of note

Michael Thomas will stay put for now while we see how he works with Bridgewater after a week’s worth of preparation … Michael Gallup will have arthroscopic knee surgery and miss a few weeks, but since I already had him ranked pretty conservatively I won’t be adjusting him … The Jets’ quarterback situation pushes Robby Anderson down, despite Luke Falk zeroing in on him. Defenses will wise to that. I’m using the season-ending injury to Quincy Enunwa to keep Jamison Crowder where he is … I’m not moving JuJu Smith-Schuster. If anything, I could see Rudolph throwing his way even more often than Big Ben … Cooper Kupp is the most reliable of the Rams receivers right now, so I’m essentially swapping him and Robert Woods, though all three remain viable WR2s … I’m still not fully on the John Ross bandwagon, but 270 receiving yards and three TDs have to count for something … It’s not a great time for receivers named Donte (or Dante).

TIGHT ENDS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team
1		Travis Kelce	KC
2		Zach Ertz	PHI
3		Evan Engram	NYG
4		George Kittle	SF
5	12	Mark Andrews	BAL
6		Austin Hooper	ATL
7	5	O.J. Howard	TB
8		Jared Cook	NO
9	11	Vance McDonald	PIT
10		Darren Waller	OAK
11		T.J. Hockenson	DET
12	6	Hunter Henry	LAC
13		Delanie Walker	TEN
14		Jimmy Graham	GB
15		Eric Ebron	IND
16	21	Greg Olsen	CAR
17		David Njoku	CLE
18		Trey Burton	CHI
19	31	Jason Witten	DAL
20		Kyle Rudolph	MIN
21		Jack Doyle	IND
22		Jordan Reed	WAS
23	NR	Will Dissly	SEA
24		Mike Gesicki	MIA
25		Dallas Goedert	PHI
26		Chris Herndon	NYJ
27		Noah Fant	DEN
28		Tyler Eifert	CIN
29		Cameron Brate	TB
30		Gerald Everett	LAR
31		Matt LaCosse	NE
32		Jonnu Smith	TEN
33		Tyler Higbee	LAR
34		Nick Vannett	SEA
35		C.J. Uzomah	CIN
36		Vernon Davis	WAS
37		Hayden Hurst	BAL

TIGHT END MOVEMENT

Vance McDonald, Pittsburgh Steelers

Tight ends can be a young quarterback’s best friend, and Rudolph found McDonald for a pair of touchdowns after replacing Roethlisberger on Sunday. Granted, the yards weren’t there (his seven grabs covered a mere 38 yards), but the Steelers are short on reliable options in the passing game. I think McDonald could be a busy target in the weeks to come.

O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Howard’s initial placement in the top five was based more on talent than past production, but he’s off to a terrible start with only four receptions (none in Week 2) and one “he can play a heck of a lot better” comment from head coach Bruce Arians. I’m officially worried about Howard am moving him down a couple pegs with another drop pending if there’s no improvement in Week 3.

Others of note

Hunter Henry is set to miss about a month with a knee fracture, which pushes him out of the top 10, but with so few contributors at the position you shouldn’t even entertain the notion of cutting him … Mark Andrews has topped 100 yards and scored in each of Baltimore’s first two games. With their passing game better than anticipated it’s time to elevate Andrews, albeit with the caveat that he has faced some truly uninspired competition … I wrote last week that there were going to be ups and downs with T.J. Hockenson. Consider Week 2 a reminder … Greg Olsen went for 110 yards Sunday, marking just his second 100-plus-yard performance since October 2016. He could be worth a speculative pickup … Jason Witten scored for the second straight week. You could probably do worse.

DEFENSE

Rk	Mv	Team	Team	Bye
1		Bears	CHI	6
2		Rams	LAR	9
3		Ravens	BAL	8
4		Patriots	NE	10
5		Vikings	MIN	12
6		Chargers	LAC	12
7		Cowboys	DAL	8
8		Texans	HOU	10
9		Jaguars	JAC	10
10	14	Packers	GB	11
11		Eagles	PHI	10
12		Seahawks	SEA	11
13		Saints	NO	9
14	17	49ers	SF	4
15		Chiefs	KC	12
16		Browns	CLE	7
17	11	Broncos	DEN	10
18		Titans	TEN	11
19		Jets	NYJ	4
20	25	Lions	DET	9
21		Panthers	CAR	6
22		Colts	IND	6
23	28	Bills	BUF	9
24		Raiders	OAK	11
25		Falcons	ATL	5
26		Cardinals	ARI	5
27	19	Redskins	WAS	10
28		Steelers	PIT	6
29		Buccaneers	TB	7
30	27	Bengals	CIN	12
31		Giants	NYG	7
32		Dolphins	MIA	7