This week Tom Brady and Peyton Manning face off on Sunday night football. While this should be a fun game fantasy football owners are hoping for a massive shootout that see’s both quarterbacks putting up big stats.

While this week will be all about the Patriots and Colts for fantasy it’s really about the stud running backs and great matchups.

At this time of the year, we start to see the running backs around the league play more of a factor. Every week we go from here the weather starts to worsen around the country and teams lean on the running game for production. Make sure you pick wisely when choosing your running backs.

Below we have our survivor pool rankings split into three sections, and they are studs, mid range and poor plays.

We hope these survivor pool rankings help you choose those stud players you need this week for a successful start to the 2009 survivor fantasy season.

Quarterbacks

Studs

• Tom Brady @ Colts
• Peyton Manning vs Patriots
• Drew Brees @ Rams
• Tony Romo @ Packers
• Aaron Rodgers vs Cowboys
• Kurt Warner vs Seahawks

Mid Range

• Ben Roethlisberger vs Bengals
• Donovan McNabb @ Chargers
• Philip Rivers vs Eagles
• Brett Favre vs Lions
• Jay Cutler @ 49ers

Poor Plays

• Carson Palmer @ Steelers
• David Garrard @ Jets

Running Backs

Studs

• Adrian Peterson vs Lions
• Steven Jackson vs Saints
• Chris Johnson vs Bills
• Pierre Thomas @ Rams
• Ronnie Brown vs Buccaneers
• Michael Turner @ Panthers
• Ray Rice @ Browns
• DeAngelo Williams vs Falcons

Mid Range

• Rashard Mendenhall vs Bengals
• Maurice Jones-Drew @ Jets
• Frank Gore vs Bears
• Matt Forte @ 49ers
• Thomas Jones vs Jaguars
• Marion Barber @ Cowboys

Poor Plays

• Cedric Benson @ Steelers ( Better Matchups Coming Soon Use Then)
• Kevin Smith @ Vikings
• LaDainian Tomlinson vs Eagles (Already Talking Retirement)

Wide Receivers

Studs

• Randy Moss @ Colts
• Reggie Wayne vs Patriots
• Larry Fitzgerald vs Seahawks
• Marcus Colston @ Rams
• Devin Hester @ 49ers

Mid Range

• Miles Austin @ Packers
• DeSean Jackson @ Chargers
• Roddy White @ Panthers
• Wes Welker @ Colts
• Greg Jennings vs Cowboys
• Donald Driver vs Cowboys
• Brandon Marshall @ Redskins
• Sidney Rice vs Lions

Poor Plays

• Terrell Owens @ Titans
• Chad Ochocinco @ Steelers

Tight Ends

Studs

• Vernon Davis vs Bears
• Dallas Clark vs Patriots
• Greg Olsen @ 49ers
• Jeremy Shockey @ Rams

Mid Range

• Heath Miller vs Bengals
• Tony Gonzalez @ Panthers
• Antonio Gates vs Eagles
• Dustin Keller vs Jaguars
• Brent Celek @ Chargers

Poor Plays

• John Carlson @ Cardinals (Needs to Get it Going)

Kickers

Studs

• David Akers @ Chargers
• Nick Folk @ Packers (Check Weather Before Sunday)
• Stephen Gostkowski @ Colts
• Nate Kaeding vs Eagles
• Ryan Longwell vs Lions

Mid Range

• Robbie Gould @ 49ers
• Rob Bironas vs Bills
• Shayne Graham @ Steelers
• Mason Crosby vs Cowboys

Poor Plays

• John Kasey vs Falcons
• Jason Hanson @ Vikings

Defense/ ST

Studs

• Ravens @ Browns
• Vikings vs Lions
• Saints @ Rams
• Broncos @ Redskins

Mid Range

• Dolphins vs Buccaneers
• Titans vs Bills
• Steelers vs Bengals
• Cowboys @ Packers

Poor Plays

• Packers vs Cowboys
• Bengals @ Steelers

NFL Fantasy Football Player Rankings writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com