Empty the Bench

Ranks Preview by Andrew Thell

Roddy White has been limited in practice this week, but he’s going to suit up on Sunday. And you’re going to be starting him. The Saints duo of new corners looked good against the Pats two weeks ago, but the secondary took a big step back last week in allowing Jason Campbell to tear them up. What’s great about White is that the Matt Ryan situation hardly affects him. He and Chris Redman have a nice rapport dating back to the 2007 season when Redman was a big part of White’s late-season coming out party. Last week Redman targeted White a massive 20 times, resulting in 9 receptions for 104 yards and a TD (albeit with 0:00 on the clock).

In the same game you need Robert Meachem in your lineup. He’s shockingly emerged as the most reliable scorer in the Saints loaded offense with 7 TDs over the last five games. At training camp Meachem said Saints fans were finally going to see a first-round pick on the field this season. The last few weeks they have.

With news that Daunte Culpepper will start this week Calvin Johnson’s projection certainly takes a hit. Still, Pep can huck it and the Ravens corners are extremely beatable. I’m not benching Megatron.

**UPDATE: It appears Hester will sit out.** The Bears are optimistic that Devin Hester will be in Chicago’s lineup this week. I’m less optimistic about his chances of being in mine. Jay Cutler has been atrocious of late and he deserves plenty of blame, but the bottom line is that Hester just isn’t getting it done. 6 receptions the last three weeks, no touchdowns since Week 7 and just 3 TDs total on the season. You can do better, especially with the excellent Packers secondary in town.

We talked about Pierre Garcon’s emergence and recent consistency last week and he came out and made us look good, nabbing 6 receptions for 136 yards. He’s been on fire since the Colts’ Week 6 bye. The Denver defense is tough, but they do give up points to No. 2 WRs. Keep rolling with the hot hand.

Just a hunch, but I think Andre Johnson pushes around Seattle’s smallish secondary this week: 9 receptions, 146 yards, 2 TDs.

See also:
- Week 14 QB Rankings
- Week 14 RB Rankings
- Week 14 TE Rankings
- Week 14 DEF Rankings

1. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals @ SF
2. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans vs. SEA
3. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts vs. DEN
4. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints @ ATL
5. Wes Welker, New England Patriots vs. CAR
6. Randy Moss, New England Patriots vs. CAR
7. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions @ BAL
8. Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings vs. CIN
9. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons vs. NO
10. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals @ MIN
11. Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys vs. SD
12. Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals @ SF
13. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers @ CLE
14. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos @ IND
15. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers @ DAL
16. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles @ NYG

WR rankings 17 through 46, after the jump…

17. Stevonne Smith, Carolina Panthers @ NE
18. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers @ CHI
19. Steve Smith, New York Giants vs. PHI
20. Derrick Mason, Baltimore Ravens vs. DET
21. Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. MIA
22. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers @ CHI
23. Pierre Garcon, Indinapolis Colts vs. DEN
24. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles @ NYG
25. Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans vs. STL
26. Nate Burleson, Seattle Seahawks @ HOU
27. Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings vs. CIN
28. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers vs. ARZ
29. Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets @ TB
30. TJ Houshmandzadeh, Seattle Seahawks @ HOU
31. Chris Chambers, San Diego Chargers vs. BUF
32. Robert Meachem, New Orleans Saints @ ATL
33. Kevin Walter, Houston Texans vs. SEA
34. Braylon Edwards, New York Jets @ TB
35. Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bills @ KC
36. Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills @ KC
37. Devery Henderson, New Orleans Saints @ ATL
38. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. NYJ
39. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers @ CLE (Check Status)
40. Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants vs. PHI
41. Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals @ SF
42. Davonne Bess, Miami Dolphins @ JAC
43. Mark Clayton, Baltimore Ravens vs. DET
44. Malcolm Floyd, San Diego Chargers @ DAL
45. Mohammen Massaquoi, Cleveland Browns vs. PIT
46. Devin Hester, Chicago Bears vs. GB (Check Status)

See also:
- Week 14 QB Rankings
- Week 14 RB Rankings
- Week 14 TE Rankings
- Week 14 DEF Rankings