Fantasy Rankings

Fantasy Football has become not only an entertaining past time while you root for your favorite team in the ultimate team sport. It has entirely changed the fan interaction with the NFL. Leagues, web sites, TV shows and more are dedicated to providing information and resources. Cowboy fans hope they destroy the Eagles, but hope Westbrook gets 150 yards in the process. Packer fans want to pound the Vikings, but not beat up too bad on the Vikings defense. Good or bad for the game, it has morphed the NFL into a baseball-time individual important game. So, with that, we take a look at the top players at each position, based off of projected stats based on past years, team around him, player talent, and schedule.

Quarterbacks:

1. Tom Brady, New England
-The main difference between this offense and the 2007 50 TD year for Brady is Joey Galloway instead of Stallworth. Sounds like maybe an upgrade. Scary.

2. Drew Brees, New Orleans
-The most accurate passer in the league has tons of weapons, and after nearly breaking the Marino record for yards, Brees has his receivers healthy and a motivated Reggie Bush.

3. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis
-Always a dominate passer, he falls behind Brees and Brady because he needs Gonzalez to be Marvin Harrison, which I don’t think he has in him. Still 1st round worthy.

4. Matt Ryan, Atlanta
-While some may project a sophomore slump, this offense added Tony Gonzalez and have more chemistry together than last year’s team. 4,000 yards and 30 TDs sounds right.

5. Phillip Rivers, San Diego
-Fellow draft year quarterbacks Big Ben and Eli may have the rings, but Rivers has the better offense and is one of the best passers in the NFL. LT looks healthy, which helps.

6. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
7. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati
8. Kurt Warner, Arizona
9. Tony Romo, Dallas
10. Eli Manning, New York Giants
11. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh
12. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia
13. Matt Hasselback, Seattle
14. Brett Favre, Minnesota
15. Jason Campbell, Washington
16. Trent Edwards, Buffalo
17. Matt Schab, Houston
18. Marc Bulger, St. Louis
19 David Garrard, Jacksonville
20. Jake Delhomme, Carolina
21. Jay Cutler, Chicago 
22. Chad Pennington, Miami
23. Brady Quinn, Cleveland
24. Kerry Collins, Tennessee
25. Joe Flacco, Baltimore
26. Matt Stafford, Detroit
27. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
28. Kyle Orton, Denver
29. Matt Cassell, Kansas City
30. JaMarcus Russell, Oakland
31. Byron Leftwich, Tampa Bay
32. Shaun Hill, San Francisco
33. Jeff Garcia, Oakland
34. Daunte Culpepper, Detroit
35. Chad Henne, Miami
36. Vince Young, Tennessee
37. Alex Smith, San Francisco
38. Derek Anderson, Cleveland
39. Kellen Clemens, New York Jets
40. Chris Sims, Denver

Running Backs:

1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
-One of the best offensive lines in the league added run blocking mauler Phil Loadholt who will help a lot. Plus, the Favre addition will help get that 8th guy out of the box.

2. Michael Turner, Atlanta
-A surprising case where having his back-up, Jerious Norwood, likely to become more involved, Turner will be fresher and still get his 100+ yards and 1-2 TDs a game.

3. LaDanion Tomlinson, San Diego
-By all reports, LT looks like the 2001-2005 version. Sometimes it’s hard to believe reports, but this may be his last great year, so he should seize. Sproles will keep him fresh.

4. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville
-No Fred Taylor adds drastically to his carries and his role as a full-time guy, but that also makes him a risk of getting nicked up or wear down by week 14. Still a top flight guy.

5. Steven Jackson, St. Louis
-Will be the whole offense, but he has the size, toughness, and versatility to get 20-25 carries and 5-10 receptions a game. 150 total yards per game is great for a running back.

6. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants
7. Matt Forte, Chicago
8. Marion Barber, Dallas
9. Frank Gore, San Francisco
10. Larry Johnson, Kansas City
11. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia
12. Clinton Portis, Washington
13. Derrick Williams, Carolina
14. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo
15. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh
16. Ronnie Brown, Miami
17. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis
18. Ryan Grant, Green Bay
19. Steve Slaton, Houston
20. Thomas Jones, New York Jets
21. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland
22. Reggie Bush, New Orleans
23. Willis McGahee, Baltimore
24. Derrick Ward, Tampa Bay
25. Lawrence Maroney, New England
26. Darren Sproles, San Diego
27. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati
28. Correll Buckhalter, Denver
29. Julius Jones, Seattle
30. Tim Hightower, Arizona
31. LeRon McClain, Baltimore
32. Darren McFadden, Oakland
33. Chester Taylor, Minnesota
34. Justin Fargas, Oakland
35. Jerious Norwood, Atlanta
36. Ricky Williams, Miami
37. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans
38. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants
39. Felix Jones, Dallas
40. Michael Bush, Oakland
41. Fred Taylor, New England 
42. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina
43. Donald Brown, Indianapolis
44. Fred Jackson, Buffalo
45. Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay
46. Leon Washington, New York Jets
47. Knowshon Moreno, Denver
48. Ray Rice, Baltimore
49. Chauncey Washington, Jacksonville
50. Chris Wells, Arizona

Wide Receivers:

1. Randy Moss, New England
-Plays with the best quarterback in the best offense on the best team. Oh yeah, and he’s arguably the most talented receiver to every play the game. 1,400 yards isn’t unlikely.

2. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis
-Not getting a ton of love this year because Harrison is gone, but in that Colts system based on routes and timing, Wayne won’t lose his production, and it may increase.

3. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
-One of the best young receivers in the league exploded last year and in the playoff run, and though Kurt may be in for a down year, Fitzgerald still a lock for 1,200 and 10 TDs.

4. Andre Johnson, Houston
-Everyone’s new favorite receiver, Johnson’s shear ability will make him a threat whether Matt Schab stays healthy or even if Rex Grossman takes over. 

5. Calvin Johnson, Detroit
-Quarterback situation may push him down, but for the same reason as Andre Johnson, he’s too athletic to not get 1,000+ guaranteed as long as he stays healthy.

6. Roddy White, Atlanta
7. Steve Smith, Carolina
8. Greg Jennings, Green Bay
9. TJ Houshmanzadah, Cincinnati
10. Lee Evans, Buffalo
11. Anquan Boldin, Arizona
12. Marques Colston, New Orleans
13. Braylon Edwards, Cleveland
14. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh
15. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati
16. Roy Williams, Dallas
17. Terrell Owens, Buffalo
18. Wes Welker, New England
19. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh
20. Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis
21. Tory Holt, Jacksonville
22. Chris Chambers, San Diego
23. Jericho Cotchery, New York Jets
24. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City
25. Donald Driver, Green Bay 
26. Bernard Berrian, Minnesota
27. Brandon Marshall, Denver
28. Santana Moss, Washington
29. Devin Hester, Chicago
30. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia
31. Derrick Mason, Baltimore
32. Ted Ginn Jr., Miami
33. Michael Jenkins, Atlanta
34. Lance Moore, New Orleans
35. Deion Branch, Seattle
36. Nate Washington, Tennessee
37. Chris Henry, Cincinnati
38. Laverneous Coles, Cincinnati
39. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia
40. Vincent Jackson, San Diego
41. Eddie Royal, Denver
42. Darius Heyward Bey, Oakland
43. James Jones, Green Bay
44. Donnie Avery, St. Louis
45. Steve Smith, New York Giants
46. Dominic Hixon, New York Giants
47. Bobby Wade, Minnesota
48. Kevin Walter, Houston
49. Justin Gage, Tennessee
50. Mark Clayton, Baltimore
51. Davon Bess, Miami
52. Percy Harvin, Minnesota
53. Joey Galloway, New England
54. Mike Clayton, Tampa Bay
55. Rasheed Davis, Chicago
56. Issac Bruce, San Francisco
57. Johnnie Lee Higgins, Oakland
58. Antwan Randle El, Washington
59. Josh Reed, Buffalo
60. Devin Thomas, Washington

Tight Ends:

1. Antonio Gates, San Diego
-Still the best tight end, Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson still aren’t dominating threats, and Gates will still be Rivers’s go-to-guy in one of the best offenses in the NFL.

2. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta
-Last year was one of the Top 5 tight ends on a terrible pass offense. Now he has protection around him at receiver, won’t be asked to block a lot, and has Ryan at QB.

3. Jason Witten, Dallas
-Roy Williams is good on one side, but he never has been a great route runner and Patrick Clayton, Sam Hurd, and Miles Austin are not good complements; Romo’s best friend.

4. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis
-Since the loss of Brandon Stokley 3 years ago, Dallas Clark has become the slot receiver more and more. Gonzalez can’t handle the inside catchers, so Clark will be the under guy.

5. John Carlson, Seattle
-The same top 4 as usual, Carlson has emerged as the best of the next tier. Hasselback has been begging for a safety valve, and Carlson is their best red-zone guy.

6. Zach Miller, Oakland
7. Owen Daniels, Houston
8. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh
9. Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans
10. Greg Olsen, Chicago
11. Kevin Boss, New York Giants
12. Brent Celek, Philadelphia
13. Chris Cooley, Washington
14. Todd Heap, Baltimore
15. Vernon Davis, San Francisco
16. Shawn Nelson, Buffalo
17. Anthony Fasano, Miami
18. Dustin Keller, New York Jets
19. Alge Crumpler, Tennessee
20. Tony Scheffler, Denver
21. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit
22. Leonard Pope, Arizona
23. Donald Lee, Green Bay
24. Chase Coffman, Cincinnati
25. Ben Watson, New England

Defenses:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers
-Harrison and Woodley should be great in the pass rushing game, and rookie Evander Hood will keep the front 3 healthy. They won the Super Bowl with defense.

2. Minnesota Vikings
-Winfield is one of the best CBs in the league, Greenway and Henderson are above average LBs, the Williams’s dominate the run, and Allen is the NFC’s best pass rusher.

3. Baltimore Ravens
-They lost Bart Scott, which hurts in the run defense, but Terrell Suggs is still there to get 12+ sacks, and Ray Lewis is still in charge. The secondary is maybe tops in the NFL.

4. New England Patriots
-They never are in rebuilding mode, so with former staples Vrabel, Bruschi, and Harrison are gone, Adalius, Mayo, Meriweather, and depth at CB keeps them in the top of the NFL.

5 Tennessee Titans
-Even with Albert Haynesworth gone, this scrappy defense has great depth along the D-Line, plus physical cornerbacks. Jim Schwartz gone makes me a little nervous though.

6. New York Giants
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Chicago Bears
9. San Diego Chargers
10. Dallas Cowboys
11. Philadelphia Eagles
12. Washington Redskins
13. Miami Dolphins
14. Jacksonville Jaguars 
15. Houston Texans
16. Carolina Panthers
17. New York Jets
18. Indianapolis Colts
19. Cleveland Browns
20. Atlanta Falcons
21. Green Bay Packers
22. Buffalo Bills
23. San Francisco 49ers
24. Oakland Raiders
25. Kansas City Chiefs
26. Detroit Lions
27. New Orleans Saints
28. Arizona Cardinals 
29. Cincinnati Bengals
30. Tampa Bay Bucs
31. St. Louis Rams
32. Denver Broncos

Top 30 Overall

1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
2. Tom Brady, New England
3. Michael Turner, Atlanta
4. LaDanion Tomlinson, San Diego
5. Drew Brees, New Orleans
6. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville
7. Steven Jackson, St. Louis
8. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants
9. Matt Forte, Chicago
10. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis
11. Marion Barber, Dallas
12. Frank Gore, San Francisco
13. Larry Johnson, Kansas City
14. Randy Moss, New England
15. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia
16. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina
17. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis
18. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
19. Matt Ryan, Atlanta
20. Andre Johnson, Houston
21. Phillip Rivers, San Diego
22. Clinton Portis, Washington
23. Calvin Johnson, Detroit
24. Roddy White, Atlanta
25. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo
26. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
27. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh
28. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati
29. Kurt Warner, Arizona
30. Steve Smith, Carolina