The bye weeks are over, thus, there were no automatic teams to slot in at the bottom of the rankings. That also means gamers shouldn’t be stuck scraping the bottom of the barrel to the same degree going forward starting with this week.

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A 13.5-point spread favoring the Eagles, per Pinnacle, plus a tough matchup make Jordan Howard a low-floor RB2 with a double whammy of game-script and performance risk. The Ravens are 7.5-point favorites at home against the Texans, but Houston is ranked one spot ahead of them. Baltimore’s defense is a top-shelf play, and game script should work in the favor of Alex Collins, making him a low-end RB2. Beyond that, the pickings are slim on the Ravens. Lamar Miller is a volume-driven, low-end RB2/Flex in a tough matchup, but without D’Onta Foreman nipping at his heels anymore due to a torn Achilles suffered last week, the volume should be safe. Furthermore, DeAndre Hopkins reminded everyone he’s not only QB-proof, but he’s also matchup proof. Nuk tallied a 4-76-1 line last week despite opposing Patrick Peterson.

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Leonard Fournette is having a great rookie season and eclipsed 100 yards rushing in a game for the fourth time in eight games this year last week, and he’s a matchup-proof RB1. Having said that, the matchup is tough against a Cardinals defense that’s allowed the fifth fewest fantasy points per game to backs, per Pro-Football-Reference. Marqise Lee is having a career year, but it would be best to leave him on fantasy benches since he stands out as the obvious recipient of Patrick Peterson shadow coverage. That leaves Fournette backed by his elite defense as the only other lineup lock, though, Dede Westbrook has some Flex appeal after tying for second on the team in targets (six) and receptions (three) while sitting alone in second in receiving yards (35) in his debut. The totals are not impressive, but it was his first NFL regular season game, and he has a soft matchup against a secondary that’s coughed up the sixth most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. I’ve frequently been critical of Cam Newton this year, so it’s only fair for me to gush about his great matchup this week. In his last five games, Newton’s rushed for 346 yards and two touchdowns on 45 attempts. That breaks down to per game averages of nine carries and 69.2 yards. The Jets are tied for the second most rushing yards (204) allowed to quarterbacks this year. Newton’s passing ceiling also gets a lift from the impending return of tight end Greg Olsen — who himself adds another fantasy starter to Carolina’s total and helps them rank in the top half of the Fantasy Football Power Rankings this week.

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The Chiefs threw up all over themselves in a shocking loss against the Giants, but they return home this week in a bounce-back spot against the reeling Bills. The usual suspects should be mainstays in fantasy lineups, but after a bad showing last week, Alex Smith is more of a fringe starter. Given his expectations entering the year, it’s entirely possible that many gamers who have him on their roster have another strong option, too. If Robert Woods wasn’t set to miss a few games, the Rams would be in the top five. Alas, Woods is injured, and that hurts their fantasy ranking. Cooper Kupp becomes a solid WR3 in Woods’ absence, and Sammy Watkins is a viable boom-or-bust Flex thanks to the possibility of an increased role in the Woods-less receiving corps. Todd Gurley is a threat to lead running backs in scoring this week, and Jared Goff is a top-10 QB in a game that projects to be a shootout with an over/under total of 53 points (highest of the week by five points right now) and the Rams favored by 2.5 points.

The Vikings boast quality and quantity. Adam Thielen is a high-end WR2, Stefon Diggs is a low-end WR2 with ample upside, and Kyle Rudolph is a low-end starting tight end. Minnesota’s two-headed backfield of Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray also check in as low-end RB2/Flex options. They’re both reaching the teens in touches, and the matchup is attractive for each of them. Murray is somewhat touchdown dependent, but the Lions have allowed the second most rushing touchdowns (10) to running backs this season, so that’s no worry. McKinnon’s bread is buttered as a pass catcher, and Detroit’s coughed up the fifth most receptions (61) and ninth most receiving yards (473) to backs.

5 – Eagles (vs. Bears)
Philadelphia’s running-back situation will go under the spotlight tomorrow, but the short of it is that there is no “safe” option, but there are options. This ranking is largely fueled by the passing attack. Carson Wentz is an every-week starter. Ditto for tight end Zach Ertz. Alshon Jeffery has yet to reach triple-digit yardage in a game this year, but he’s in a bit of a groove with at least one touchdown or more than 70 yards receiving in four of his last five games. He’s riding a three-game touchdown streak in which he’s hauled in four of his six touchdown grabs on the year. The Eagles are 13.5-point favorites at home, and that’s advantageous for their defense scoring fantasy points.

4 – Falcons (vs. Buccaneers)
The Falcons hung 34 on the Seahawks in Seattle, and they return home for an easier matchup against the Buccaneers. If Devonta Freeman returns from his one-game, concussion prompted absence, he’s an RB1. If not, Tevin Coleman is a solid RB2. Coleman reverts to a Flex if Freeman returns. Julio Jones‘ 2017 remains an underwhelming campaign by his lofty standards, but this is a blowup spot against a Bucs defense that’s allowing the second most fantasy points per game to receivers. Matt Ryan rounds things out as a top-10 QB this week.

3 – Patriots (vs. Dolphins)
The Patriots are fourth in scoring offense (29.0 points per game), and Tom Brady‘s showing no signs of decline. Rob Gronkowski a threat to lead tight ends in scoring on a weekly basis, and Brandin Cooks is a WR2 with WR1 upside if Chris Hogan returns this week, and an outright WR1 coming off of a 6-149-1 showing if Hogan is once again sidelined. New England has an implied team over/under total of 32.5 points this week, and as a 17-point favorite, their defense checked in as a streaming suggestion in the Streaming Defenses piece this week.

2 – Steelers (vs. Packers)
You know a player is a special talent when a game in which he tallied 103 yards from scrimmage on 12 carries and nine receptions is somewhat disappointing. That’s Le’Veon Bell‘s line last week. He’s going to torch the Packers. Speaking of torching, Antonio Brown barbecued the Titans for a 10-144-3 line on 13 targets. He’s the unquestioned top WR in real life and fantasy. Juju Smith-Schuster came back to Earth after totaling 12 receptions for 290 yards and two touchdowns in Week 8 and Week 10 (sandwiched around a Week 9 bye) with a 4-47-0 line, but he was targeted another eight times. He remains a fantasy starter. The Steelers are at home — good news for Ben Roethlisberger given his home/road splits in recent years — and Big Ben is coming off of easily his best game of the year. Roethlisberger erupted for 299 yards and four touchdown passes on 45 pass attempts at home against the Titans last week. Get him in starting lineups this week. The Steelers defense is playing good football this year, Green Bay’s backup quarterback Brett Hundley is not, and the Steelers are 13.5-point favorites against the Packers this week. Need I say more?

1 – Saints (@ Rams)
The Saints are the third-highest scoring offense this year averaging 30.2 points per game. Their defense stumbled last week, and they’ll be challenged again this week by a Rams offense that’s second in scoring (30.3 points per game). Hooray, shootout! Mark Ingram is a slam-dunk RB1, but Alvin Kamara is legitimately at worst a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside, too. Michael Thomas is a WR1 who’s steadily produced at a very good level but hasn’t had a monster game in his sophomore season. Having said that, he’s totaled 15 receptions for 208 yards receiving the last two weeks. Drew Brees is an every-week starter, and he’s coming off of throwing for a season-high 385 yards with a pair of scores. The Saints haven’t needed to lean on him as much as they have in year’s past, but last week served as a reminder of what he’s capable of in a shootout scenario — a situation that appears likely to present itself again this week.

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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.