Whether you believe in the gamesmanship in San Diego with the depth chart or not, Jackie Battle and Ryan Mathews have a fantastic matchup against the Saints defense that ranks last in points per game allowed to backs. I am starting Mathews as my RB2 in one league, with Battle also starting as the flex, so I don’t have to worry if the split is 60/40 one way or the other. I would start either of them if I had them.

The other start that you want to make over more established names is Domenik Hixon. He got more targets than Barden last week, and Nicks is out again. Couple that with a great matchup against Cleveland still without Joe Haden, and Hixon should benefit from attention given to Cruz and have opportunities in this game.

QUARTERBACK

1. Matt Ryan at Washington
2. Tom Brady vs. Denver
3. Eli Manning vs. Cleveland
4. Drew Brees vs. San Diego
5. Peyton Manning at New England
6. Aaron Rodgers at Indianapolis
7. Robert Griffin III vs. Atlanta
8. Andy Dalton vs. Miami
9. Joe Flacco at Kansas City
10. Philip Rivers at New Orleans
11. Christian Ponder vs. Tennessee
12. Michael Vick at Pittsburgh
13. Ben Roethlisberger vs Philadelphia
14. Cam Newton vs. Seattle
15. Andrew Luck vs. Green Bay

AVOID: Jay Cutler at Jacksonville, the Bears can afford to be conservative in this one. Matt Schaub against the Jets for the same reason, as you can expect a heavy dose of running against New York.

SLEEPERS: Alex Smith vs. Buffalo draws a pretty good matchup and should put up better numbers than last week.

RUNNING BACK

1. Arian Foster at NYJ
2. Ray Rice at KC
3. Marshawn Lynch at CAR
4. Adrian Peterson vs. TEN
5. Jamaal Charles vs. BAL
6. Reggie Bush at CIN
7. Frank Gore vs. BUF
8. Willis McGahee at NE
9. Trent Richardson at NYG
10. LeSean McCoy at PIT
11. Ryan Mathews at NO
12. Alfred Morris vs. ATL
13. Matt Forte at JAC
14. Ahmad Bradshaw vs. CLE
15. Steven Ridley vs. DEN
16. Maurice Jones-Drew vs. CHI
17. Darren Sproles vs. SD
18. Jackie Battle at NO
19. Cedric Benson at IND
20. Michael Turner at WAS
21. Ben Tate at NYJ
22. Shonn Greene vs. HOU
23. C.J. Spiller at SF
24. Michael Bush at JAC
25. Chris Johnson at MIN
26. Benjarvus Green-Ellis vs. MIA
27. Fred Jackson at SF
28. Donald Brown vs. GB
29. Jonathan Stewart vs. SEA
30. Shaun Draughn vs. BAL

AVOID: The Pittsburgh situation, including Mendenhall’s return, because it is not a good matchup and there is no telling how the splits will come. DeAngelo Williams with a bad matchup and return of Stewart to what should be at least half the touches.

SLEEPERS: I started Kendall Hunter last week, and got a touchdown, and he is a flex play again this week, just missing this list, with another great matchup. Danny Woodhead should get opportunities with last week’s star Brandon Bolden listed on the injury report.

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. A.J. Green vs. MIA
2. Roddy White at WAS
3. Percy Harvin vs. TEN
4. Victor Cruz vs. CLE
5. Jordy Nelson at IND
6. Julio Jones at WAS
7. Wes Welker vs. DEN
8. DeMaryius Thomas at NE
9. Brandon Marshall at JAC
10. Reggie Wayne vs. GB
11. Brandon Lloyd vs. DEN
12. Andre Johnson at NYJ
13. Brian Hartline at CIN
14. Antonio Brown vs. PHI
15. Torrey Smith at KC
16. Dwayne Bowe vs. BAL
17. Mike Wallace vs. PHI
18. Eric Decker at NE
19. Domenik Hixon vs. CLE
20. Marques Colston vs. SD
21. DeSean Jackson at PIT
22. Malcom Floyd at NO
23. Steve Johnson at SF
24. Michael Crabtree vs. BUF
25. James Jones at IND
26. Jerome Simpson vs. TEN
27. Anquan Boldin at KC
28. Steve Smith vs. SEA
29. Davone Bess at CIN
30. Andrew Hawkins vs. MIA

AVOID: Well, you may need to start him, but Steve Smith has his work cut out against Seattle’s corners and safeties. Jeremy Maclin still needs to prove he is healthy before I would feel comfortable starting him.

SLEEPERS: Pierre Garcon is now starting without limitation, so bump him up the list. Randall Cobb is a playmaker and should fill some of the void left by Jennings absence. Donnie Avery should benefit as the second target in Indianapolis. Both Nate Washington and Kendall Wright could get an uptick with a decent passing matchup, with veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck. We saw how bad Carolina’s safety play was, so you could take a chance on Sidney Rice producing some big plays downfield.

TIGHT END

1. Rob Gronkowski vs. DEN [update: Gronkowski will play but still has considerable hip pain. If you have a top 8 option you may go elsewhere, but otherwise probably can't take him out because he can still contribute while not 100%]
2. Jimmy Graham vs. SD
3. Tony Gonzalez at WAS
4. Vernon Davis vs. BUF
5. Antonio Gates at NO
6. Jermaine Gresham vs. MIA
7. Kyle Rudolph vs. TEN
8. Dennis Pitta at KC
9. Jermichael Finley at IND
10. Martellus Bennett vs. CLE
11. Owen Daniels at NYJ
12. Greg Olsen vs. SEA
13. Brent Celek at PIT
14. Heath Miller vs. PHI
15. Jared Cook at MIN

[photo via US Presswire]