Shuffle Up: Carson Palmer's golden revival; the swan song of Peyton Manning

Okay, here are the Shuffle Up rules.

We are talking rest-of-season value. Everything to this point is an audition. If you want leaders to this point, you’ll find them elsewhere. If you want Week 6 rankings, click over here.

Today, we do quarterbacks. If I have time later in week, I'll run the tight ends.

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You’ll disagree with stuff because that’s why we have a game. Try to stay grounded and rational with your players, it’s one of the most important skills in your fantasy toolbox.

The prices are unscientific and just a way to compare the players. When players are at the same price, it means they are considered even. I do not compare prices with other shuffles, and I do every shuffle from scratch.

I will comment on many (perhaps most) players, but I do not promise a comment on everyone.

If you have a constructive piece of criticism, I’ll consider it. See something out of place? Offer some reasoning. I may alter the list between initial post and the end of the day.

(I am not ranking Ben Roethlisberger and Tony Romo. I seem to expect less from long-term injury returnees than the rest of the world. You can price them however you want.)

And now we shuffle, shufflers.

$31 Tom Brady: Bye out of the way, offense is loaded; just lost LT, though
$30 Aaron Rodgers: Offense a little off of late, could use one more playmaker
$27 Andrew Luck: Too much upside to rank lower, but when will he be 100 percent?
$25 Andy Dalton: Last year was never real, an unfair setup. Weapons back, spike ensues.
$24 Russell Wilson: Line is a mess and offense has no structure, but rushing holds floor up.
$23 Matt Ryan: Offense is more balanced than expected; an eyelash overrated right now.
$23 Cam Newton: His rate of running worries you, but he's such a tank, maybe you shake it off.
$22 Carson Palmer

I'd like to be a little higher on Palmer, I really would. If I knew he'd play all 16 games, he certainly gains a few bucks. I love the Bruce Arians offense, like everyone does. What keeps me grounded on Palmer, in addition to the age and durability concerns, is the good-not-elite supporting cast. There's no tight end in the offense. Michael Floyd isn't doing anything. Larry Fitzgerald might be a WR1 again, but it's to the lower end of the line. John Brown is a high-end WR3 asked to step up a slot.

And some weeks, the defense and/or the running game will carry the show.

$21 Philip Rivers: Maybe they'll get running game going, but line may not be fixable.
$20 Drew Brees: It's all volume these days, still likely hurt and not playing that well.
$19 Eli Manning: Unreal last week, but if Beckham isn't right, look out below.
$16 Tyrod Taylor: Just about an impossible rank until we know health status.
$15 Ryan Tannehill: Losing Philbin can't hurt, though the offensive staff remains.
$15 Sam Bradford
$14 Marcus Mariota: Feels like there's untapped rushing potential here, maybe started Week 5.
$13 Blake Bortles: This assumes a good shoulder. Awful Jacksonville defense is a float.
$12 Peyton Manning

I'd go lower on Manning if I didn't love his wideouts so much. And before you jump on some of the names above Manning and raise a ruckus, remember this isn't a legacy fantasy league. We're about numbers, not names. Manning's obviously smart as a whip, but physically compromised as well. And the physical limitations he battles certainly won't get any less frustrating when the weather gets colder.

I don't think Manning is droppable in every league right now, but in pools where the waiver-wire offers streaming options every week, I wouldn't bother rostering him. The ceiling is shot. Mind you, he still has a sure-starter floor (the Broncos won't bench him), and two good guys to throw to - that's something in a deeper pool. But I don't think it's going to get much better.

$12 Joe Flacco: Who's he throwing to? At least his pass defense is awful.
$12 Jay Cutler: Easy target in real world, but he's not as bad as the Internet thinks.
$10 Ryan Fitzpatrick 
$9 Matthew Stafford: Coordinator is misusing most of his offense pieces.
$9 Jameis Winston: The poor man's Brees – not playing well, but lots of shootouts likely.
$8 Alex Smith: No guts, no glory.
$7 Derek Carr
$6 Teddy Bridgewater 
$6 Brian Hoyer: Gets dragged forward by Hopkins; will O'Brien leave his QB alone? 
$5 Nick Foles

[Week 6 rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Receiver | Flex | All Positions]

$5 Josh McCown: It's been fun but schedule is murder going forward; eventually, it's Johnny Time. 
$4 Colin Kaepernick
$3 Kirk Cousins
$2 Michael Vick 
$2 Matt Cassel 
$2 EJ Manuel
$1 Mark Sanchez 
$1 Johnny Manziel