THese are my personal TOP 200 Rankings.... Well actually there is 208 but close enough. You might notice two things that will stand out.
1) I have Tomlinson as the #1 overall. Most all of the experts have Adrian Peterson here because they feel Tomlinson is dropping. I believe he had one off year because of turf toe and will bounce back this season. His receiving abilities put him up above Peterson as it does with Forte and Jones-Drew as well.
2) All of the Kickers are ranked at the very end. If you have read much of my other stuff, you will know I do not believe a kicker should be taken until the very last pick of your draft. Read Fantasy Football Draft: Basic Rules to Follow
Hope my rankings help you.
Showing posts with label NFG-Players Rankings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFG-Players Rankings. Show all posts
7/12/2009
Kicker Rankings (NFG Rankings) - 2009
Okay, here are my Kicker Rankings. Anyone who knows me and anyone who has read my earlier articles knows my number one rule in Fantasy Football is "Do Not Draft a Kicker until your LAST pick!" In my opinion you do not even need these rankings. On your last pick of the draft, take any kicker who is a starter and be ready to pick up whoever starts off well on free agency. If you want details on why I say that, read "Fantasy Football Drafting: Basic Rules to Follow". For those of you who just don't want sound advice, here are my personal top 10 Kickers.
1) Stephen Gostkowski – NE
2) Mason Crosby – GB
3) Rob Bironas – TEN
4) Jason Elam – ATL
5) John Kasay – CAR
6) Matt Prater – DEN
7) Matt Bryant – TB
8) Nate Kaeding – SD
9) Robbie Gould – CHI
10) Garrett Hartley – NO
11) David Akers - PHI
12) Shayne Graham - CIN
13) Ryan Longwell - MIN
14) Neil Rackers - ARI
15) kris Brown - HOU
16) Nick Folk - DAL
1) Stephen Gostkowski – NE
2) Mason Crosby – GB
3) Rob Bironas – TEN
4) Jason Elam – ATL
5) John Kasay – CAR
6) Matt Prater – DEN
7) Matt Bryant – TB
8) Nate Kaeding – SD
9) Robbie Gould – CHI
10) Garrett Hartley – NO
11) David Akers - PHI
12) Shayne Graham - CIN
13) Ryan Longwell - MIN
14) Neil Rackers - ARI
15) kris Brown - HOU
16) Nick Folk - DAL
7/06/2009
Team Defense Rankings (NFG Rankings) - 07/06/2009
The first thing to consider here is that it is almost impossible to do a good job of ranking Fantasy Defenses. Too many factors come into play. A top defense in one year can draft to make the defense even better, only to be bad because the offense couldn't’t keep them off the field to rest. If one player, any player, of the eleven on a defense has a bad season, it can have a domino effect.
Second thing to consider is the fact I would advise against taking any defense early. I cannot tell you how often top defenses in a season were picked up from waivers. Sure you can take Pittsburgh and be guaranteed a good defense, but to get them you will have to take them early and at the expense of not taking a player who can be a great player. I strongly advise waiting on defenses until double digit rounds at the very earliest. Odds are there will be a few defenses that surprise the fantasy world that you can pick up from waivers.
I looked over some other rankings. I looked at what they ranked in 2008. I checked on if they drafted in a way that would help the defense out. These are my Fantasy Defense Rankings.
1.) Pittsburgh Steelers
2.) New York Giants
3.) Minnesota Vikings
4.) Baltimore Ravens
5.) Tennessee Titans
6.) Philadelphia Eagles
7.) New York Jets
8.) Chicago Bears
9.) Dallas Cowboys
10.) Green Bay Packers
11.) Miami Dolphins
12.) Buffalo Bills
13.) New England Patriots
14.) Arizona Cardinals
15.) San Diego Chargers
16.) Washington Redskins
17.) Seattle Seahawks
18.) Atlanta Falcons
19.) Carolina Panthers
20.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
21.) Indianapolis Colts
22.) Detroit Lions
23.) Houston Texans
24.) San Francisco 49ers
25.) Jacksonville Jaguars
26.) Denver Broncos
27.) New Orleans Saints
Second thing to consider is the fact I would advise against taking any defense early. I cannot tell you how often top defenses in a season were picked up from waivers. Sure you can take Pittsburgh and be guaranteed a good defense, but to get them you will have to take them early and at the expense of not taking a player who can be a great player. I strongly advise waiting on defenses until double digit rounds at the very earliest. Odds are there will be a few defenses that surprise the fantasy world that you can pick up from waivers.
I looked over some other rankings. I looked at what they ranked in 2008. I checked on if they drafted in a way that would help the defense out. These are my Fantasy Defense Rankings.
1.) Pittsburgh Steelers
2.) New York Giants
3.) Minnesota Vikings
4.) Baltimore Ravens
5.) Tennessee Titans
6.) Philadelphia Eagles
7.) New York Jets
8.) Chicago Bears
9.) Dallas Cowboys
10.) Green Bay Packers
11.) Miami Dolphins
12.) Buffalo Bills
13.) New England Patriots
14.) Arizona Cardinals
15.) San Diego Chargers
16.) Washington Redskins
17.) Seattle Seahawks
18.) Atlanta Falcons
19.) Carolina Panthers
20.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
21.) Indianapolis Colts
22.) Detroit Lions
23.) Houston Texans
24.) San Francisco 49ers
25.) Jacksonville Jaguars
26.) Denver Broncos
27.) New Orleans Saints
7/04/2009
Tight End Rankings (NFG Rankings) - 07/04/2009
These Tight End Players Rankings are the NFL Fantasy Guide Rankings own biased opinions. The Ultimate Player Rankings we tout will come shortly.
1) Antonio Gates – SD – His season last year was hampered by a nagging injury and he still put up strong numbers. Now that he is healthy, Gates should put up #1 Tight End stats again. Especially since Tomlinson is also healthy and will draw defenses more than he did last year.
2) Jason Witten – DAL – Owens is gone and Romo will be a little more comfortable turning to Witten knowing he wont have to deal with Owens whining for it. Roy Williams is good enough to warrant defenses to worry about him but not good enough to demand the ball every play.
3) Tony Gonzalez – ATL – Originally I had Gonzalez #1, until I considered the tangibles. He is getting older and on a new team. In KC he did not have others who needed the ball as much as his teammates in Atlanta. Roddy White will still get his passes but his presence might actually open Tony up more.
4) Dallas Clark – IND – Manning has become comfortable turning to Clark and rightfully so. Dallas Clark is not quite in the level of the three above him but he is not far below them either. I have him getting about 10 to 15 fantasy points less than the others after a full season.
5) Kellen Winslow – CLE – The only thing keeping Winslow from ranking in the top three is his lack of touchdowns. He will usually end up with 2 or 3 TD’s less than the top Tight Ends.
6) Chris Cooley – WAS – As there was a 10 point drop from Clark to the TE’s above him, there is a 10 point drop from Winslow to Cooley.
7) John Carlson – SEA – The presence of TJ Houshmandzadeh should give Carlson a little more room. This should allow him to at least repeat his 2008 numbers and maybe just a touch better.
8) Owen Daniels – HOU – Daniels gets the catches and the yardage to be a top-5 TE. Unfortunately he has yet to show a propensity for getting the score. Only 2 TD’s in 2008.
9) Greg Olsen – CHI – Olsen could easily be a top-5 TE if it were not for one problem. Desmond Clark! Even with the loss of plays to Desmond Clark, Olsen is a strong fantasy TE.
10) Zach Miller – OAK – Oakland does not have the best receivers in the game. The Raider’s below average offensive line forces the QB to get rid of the ball too soon. Usually it is to Zach Miller.
11) Kevin Boss – NYG – Boss is primed for a strong year and the Giants are planning to use him more to help their passing game.
12) Brent Celek – PHI – Like Boss, Celek is also expected to become a bigger part of the passing game to take some pressure off of Westbrook. With Vick to keep defenses worried, Celek should find himself open often.
13) Tony Scheffler – DEN – If Brandon Marshall plays in Denver this season, this should be a good ranking for Scheffler. However, if Marshall leaves, Scheffler will not have as much room to make plays.
14) Dustin Keller – NYJ – Keller has only had one season under his belt and whether he builds on that season or falls short in his sophomore year is a big question. I’m betting he builds but not a lot.
15) Anthony Fasano – MIA – Fasano stepped up his game in his first season with Miami. He should be good to at least repeat his 2008 season.
16) Visanthe Shincoe – MIN – I am guessing we have seen Shiancoe in his best season. He might come close to repeating but I doubt he will surpass his 2008 numbers. Likely he will be a couple Touchdowns shy.
17) Heath Miller – PIT – What you have seen the last two seasons is what you will get. Near around 500 yards and 4 or 5 touchdowns.
18) Donald Lee – GB – In 2008 he played in more games but had less yards. I would bet his 2009 season will fall somewhere between his 2008 and 2007 seasons.
19) Brandon Pettigrew – DET – Being from the Detroit area myself, I can tell you there are high hopes from fans that Pettigrew will be great. Until he shows it, don’t count on it. 450 yards and 5 TD’s would be my highest expectations, especially since he will be needed to protect the QB more.
20) Jeremy Shockey – NO – If Shockey could have stayed healthy and kept a good attitude, he would have been better off in New York. On the Saints he did not have one TD in 2008. I would expect that to change but he wont be anything special.
21) Bo Scaife – TEN – Scaife could be ranked five spots higher if he could score more than twice in a season. Only two touchdowns will keep him at 19th.
22) Todd Heap – BALT – His 75 grab seasons now seem a thing of the past and 35 catches looks more like what he will get. Don’t draft Heap any higher. Likely he will end up available on free-agency so keep an eye on him.
1) Antonio Gates – SD – His season last year was hampered by a nagging injury and he still put up strong numbers. Now that he is healthy, Gates should put up #1 Tight End stats again. Especially since Tomlinson is also healthy and will draw defenses more than he did last year.
2) Jason Witten – DAL – Owens is gone and Romo will be a little more comfortable turning to Witten knowing he wont have to deal with Owens whining for it. Roy Williams is good enough to warrant defenses to worry about him but not good enough to demand the ball every play.
3) Tony Gonzalez – ATL – Originally I had Gonzalez #1, until I considered the tangibles. He is getting older and on a new team. In KC he did not have others who needed the ball as much as his teammates in Atlanta. Roddy White will still get his passes but his presence might actually open Tony up more.
4) Dallas Clark – IND – Manning has become comfortable turning to Clark and rightfully so. Dallas Clark is not quite in the level of the three above him but he is not far below them either. I have him getting about 10 to 15 fantasy points less than the others after a full season.
5) Kellen Winslow – CLE – The only thing keeping Winslow from ranking in the top three is his lack of touchdowns. He will usually end up with 2 or 3 TD’s less than the top Tight Ends.
6) Chris Cooley – WAS – As there was a 10 point drop from Clark to the TE’s above him, there is a 10 point drop from Winslow to Cooley.
7) John Carlson – SEA – The presence of TJ Houshmandzadeh should give Carlson a little more room. This should allow him to at least repeat his 2008 numbers and maybe just a touch better.
8) Owen Daniels – HOU – Daniels gets the catches and the yardage to be a top-5 TE. Unfortunately he has yet to show a propensity for getting the score. Only 2 TD’s in 2008.
9) Greg Olsen – CHI – Olsen could easily be a top-5 TE if it were not for one problem. Desmond Clark! Even with the loss of plays to Desmond Clark, Olsen is a strong fantasy TE.
10) Zach Miller – OAK – Oakland does not have the best receivers in the game. The Raider’s below average offensive line forces the QB to get rid of the ball too soon. Usually it is to Zach Miller.
11) Kevin Boss – NYG – Boss is primed for a strong year and the Giants are planning to use him more to help their passing game.
12) Brent Celek – PHI – Like Boss, Celek is also expected to become a bigger part of the passing game to take some pressure off of Westbrook. With Vick to keep defenses worried, Celek should find himself open often.
13) Tony Scheffler – DEN – If Brandon Marshall plays in Denver this season, this should be a good ranking for Scheffler. However, if Marshall leaves, Scheffler will not have as much room to make plays.
14) Dustin Keller – NYJ – Keller has only had one season under his belt and whether he builds on that season or falls short in his sophomore year is a big question. I’m betting he builds but not a lot.
15) Anthony Fasano – MIA – Fasano stepped up his game in his first season with Miami. He should be good to at least repeat his 2008 season.
16) Visanthe Shincoe – MIN – I am guessing we have seen Shiancoe in his best season. He might come close to repeating but I doubt he will surpass his 2008 numbers. Likely he will be a couple Touchdowns shy.
17) Heath Miller – PIT – What you have seen the last two seasons is what you will get. Near around 500 yards and 4 or 5 touchdowns.
18) Donald Lee – GB – In 2008 he played in more games but had less yards. I would bet his 2009 season will fall somewhere between his 2008 and 2007 seasons.
19) Brandon Pettigrew – DET – Being from the Detroit area myself, I can tell you there are high hopes from fans that Pettigrew will be great. Until he shows it, don’t count on it. 450 yards and 5 TD’s would be my highest expectations, especially since he will be needed to protect the QB more.
20) Jeremy Shockey – NO – If Shockey could have stayed healthy and kept a good attitude, he would have been better off in New York. On the Saints he did not have one TD in 2008. I would expect that to change but he wont be anything special.
21) Bo Scaife – TEN – Scaife could be ranked five spots higher if he could score more than twice in a season. Only two touchdowns will keep him at 19th.
22) Todd Heap – BALT – His 75 grab seasons now seem a thing of the past and 35 catches looks more like what he will get. Don’t draft Heap any higher. Likely he will end up available on free-agency so keep an eye on him.
7/02/2009
Wide Receiver Rankings (NFG Rankings) 2009
Please remember these are my personal opinion at this time. The Ultimate Receiver Rankings will come out as more experts release their own player rankings. Due to there being so many Wide Receivers, I have only put notes after the top 30 Receivers.
1) Larry Fitzgerald – ARI – One of the best Wide Receivers in the game every year. No reason not to do it again.
2) Randy Moss – NE – Even if Tom Brady doesn’t come back as good as he was before his injury, Brady will be good enough to get the ball to Moss.
3) Greg Jennings – GB – Green Bay has a sub par running game. Which means Rogers will have to throw the ball a lot again. Jennings will reap the benefits.
4) Andre Johnson – HOU – Led the NFL in receptions and yards in 2008. Only had 8 TD’s.
5) Calvin Johnson – DET – His nickname ‘Megatron’ is fitting. 6’5” – 239 lbs, his talent is as great as his size. Even on a bad team he is a great receiver.
6) Anquan Boldin – ARI – Still healing from a crushed face, Boldin came back to put up strong numbers yet again. To my knowledge he is healthy from the start this year.
7) Roddy White – ATL – The strong running game by Michael Turner keeps this guy open.
8) Terrell Owens – BUF – Owens days of being the top fantasy receiver are gone. He is still a very good one… even with his attitude.
9) Reggie Wayne – IND – With Marvin Harrison falling from the elite status and now no longer a Colt, Wayne’s status has suffered a little. Anthony Gonzalez just doesn’t draw the coverage that Harrison once did.
10) Antonio Bryant – TB – When talking about strong offenses, Tb is usually not the team that comes to mind. Yet Bryant put up strong numbers for them.
11) Marques Colston – NO – If he stays healthy, he helps your fantasy team. Who doesn’t when Brees is throwing to them?
12) Dwayne Bowe – KC – Two years of near equal stats says he is the real thing. Now has has Cassel to throw the ball to him.
13) Steve Smith – CAR – Getting older and no longer dominates as he once did. His small size needs the speed to keep him a top fantasy option.
14) Eddie Royal – DEN – I have heard good and bad about him. Some say he is overrated. If Brandon Marshall leaves Denver, Royal’s numbers might drop a bit.
15) Chad Ochocinco (Johnson) – CIN – Says he is ready to play football this year. All anyone needs to do is read his new last name to know he is a bit of a head case. That will keep him from reaching top-10 receiver status again.
16) Wes Welker – NE – His numbers have been near identical two straight seasons. Expect him to break the 1,000 yard mark again.
17) Braylon Edwards – CLE – Braylon Showed he has the talent to produce big stats. Until he puts a couple top seasons together you cant count on it.
18) Bernard Berrian – MIN – For right now, rank Berrian here. If Favre ends up playing for Minnesota, move him up about five spots.
19) Hines Ward – PIT – One would think Ward’s age is ready to catch up to him. Until it does, count on him for near 1000 yards and 7 TD’s.
20) Laveranues Coles – CIN – His numbers might go up just a bit with Palmer throwing the ball, but be aware that if he gets too many passes, Ochocinco will cry about it.
21) T.J. Houshmandzadeh – SEA – T.J. will be the top guy in Seattle. That is not always a good thing. He will face a lot more double coverage than he did with Chad across from him.
22) Brandon Marshall – DEN – Everything depends on if he stays in Denver or leaves. If he leaves his ranking will depend on where he ends up. This ranking is with him in Denver.
23) Donald Driver – GB – He gets the yardage. He just doesn’t get enough touchdowns the last two seasons.
24) Vincent Jackson – SD – Vincent stepped up and became a go to receiver in 2008 and though I think his stats might dip just a bit, he will still be good again in 2009.
25) Santana Moss – WAS – In 4 of his last 5 seasons Moss has shown basically what you will get from him. He had one big year but I would tend to believe the other four are who he is. If he plays 16 games, Santana Moss should rake in near 1000 yards and 6 TDs.
26) Isaac Bruce –SF – Without Crabtree signing, Bruce should get more receptions and scoring chances.
27) Derrick Mason – BAL – Year in and year out Mason seems to want to hang in around 1050 yards and 5 Touchdowns.
28) Santonio Holmes – PIT – Reports have it Holmes wants to improve on last year. So long as he plays fiddle number two to Hines Ward, don’t count on too much of an improvement.
29) Nate Washington – TEN – Moving from under the shadows of Ward and Holmes, Washington is now in Tennessee where he will now be one of the top receivers.
30) Kevin Walter – HOU – It seems as if Walter has found his comfort zone and unless Andre Johnson gets hurt, he can be expected to stay around 880 yards and 6 TDs.
31) Roy Williams – DAL – I have seen Roy Williams play a lot and he has never shown he could reach his potential. IF he doesnt get enough passes, he breaks down and starts dropping the ones he does get. Expect one of the other Dallas receivers to evolve into the go to guy for Romo.
32) Devin Hester – CHI
33) Anthony Gonzalez – IND
34) Deion Branch – SEA
35) Torry Holt – JAC
36) DeSean Jackson – PHI
37) Patrick Crayton – DAL
38) Donnie Avery – ST.L.
39) Lee Evans – BUF
40) Jerricho Cotchery – NYJ
41) Kevin Curtis – PHI
1) Larry Fitzgerald – ARI – One of the best Wide Receivers in the game every year. No reason not to do it again.
2) Randy Moss – NE – Even if Tom Brady doesn’t come back as good as he was before his injury, Brady will be good enough to get the ball to Moss.
3) Greg Jennings – GB – Green Bay has a sub par running game. Which means Rogers will have to throw the ball a lot again. Jennings will reap the benefits.
4) Andre Johnson – HOU – Led the NFL in receptions and yards in 2008. Only had 8 TD’s.
5) Calvin Johnson – DET – His nickname ‘Megatron’ is fitting. 6’5” – 239 lbs, his talent is as great as his size. Even on a bad team he is a great receiver.
6) Anquan Boldin – ARI – Still healing from a crushed face, Boldin came back to put up strong numbers yet again. To my knowledge he is healthy from the start this year.
7) Roddy White – ATL – The strong running game by Michael Turner keeps this guy open.
8) Terrell Owens – BUF – Owens days of being the top fantasy receiver are gone. He is still a very good one… even with his attitude.
9) Reggie Wayne – IND – With Marvin Harrison falling from the elite status and now no longer a Colt, Wayne’s status has suffered a little. Anthony Gonzalez just doesn’t draw the coverage that Harrison once did.
10) Antonio Bryant – TB – When talking about strong offenses, Tb is usually not the team that comes to mind. Yet Bryant put up strong numbers for them.
11) Marques Colston – NO – If he stays healthy, he helps your fantasy team. Who doesn’t when Brees is throwing to them?
12) Dwayne Bowe – KC – Two years of near equal stats says he is the real thing. Now has has Cassel to throw the ball to him.
13) Steve Smith – CAR – Getting older and no longer dominates as he once did. His small size needs the speed to keep him a top fantasy option.
14) Eddie Royal – DEN – I have heard good and bad about him. Some say he is overrated. If Brandon Marshall leaves Denver, Royal’s numbers might drop a bit.
15) Chad Ochocinco (Johnson) – CIN – Says he is ready to play football this year. All anyone needs to do is read his new last name to know he is a bit of a head case. That will keep him from reaching top-10 receiver status again.
16) Wes Welker – NE – His numbers have been near identical two straight seasons. Expect him to break the 1,000 yard mark again.
17) Braylon Edwards – CLE – Braylon Showed he has the talent to produce big stats. Until he puts a couple top seasons together you cant count on it.
18) Bernard Berrian – MIN – For right now, rank Berrian here. If Favre ends up playing for Minnesota, move him up about five spots.
19) Hines Ward – PIT – One would think Ward’s age is ready to catch up to him. Until it does, count on him for near 1000 yards and 7 TD’s.
20) Laveranues Coles – CIN – His numbers might go up just a bit with Palmer throwing the ball, but be aware that if he gets too many passes, Ochocinco will cry about it.
21) T.J. Houshmandzadeh – SEA – T.J. will be the top guy in Seattle. That is not always a good thing. He will face a lot more double coverage than he did with Chad across from him.
22) Brandon Marshall – DEN – Everything depends on if he stays in Denver or leaves. If he leaves his ranking will depend on where he ends up. This ranking is with him in Denver.
23) Donald Driver – GB – He gets the yardage. He just doesn’t get enough touchdowns the last two seasons.
24) Vincent Jackson – SD – Vincent stepped up and became a go to receiver in 2008 and though I think his stats might dip just a bit, he will still be good again in 2009.
25) Santana Moss – WAS – In 4 of his last 5 seasons Moss has shown basically what you will get from him. He had one big year but I would tend to believe the other four are who he is. If he plays 16 games, Santana Moss should rake in near 1000 yards and 6 TDs.
26) Isaac Bruce –SF – Without Crabtree signing, Bruce should get more receptions and scoring chances.
27) Derrick Mason – BAL – Year in and year out Mason seems to want to hang in around 1050 yards and 5 Touchdowns.
28) Santonio Holmes – PIT – Reports have it Holmes wants to improve on last year. So long as he plays fiddle number two to Hines Ward, don’t count on too much of an improvement.
29) Nate Washington – TEN – Moving from under the shadows of Ward and Holmes, Washington is now in Tennessee where he will now be one of the top receivers.
30) Kevin Walter – HOU – It seems as if Walter has found his comfort zone and unless Andre Johnson gets hurt, he can be expected to stay around 880 yards and 6 TDs.
31) Roy Williams – DAL – I have seen Roy Williams play a lot and he has never shown he could reach his potential. IF he doesnt get enough passes, he breaks down and starts dropping the ones he does get. Expect one of the other Dallas receivers to evolve into the go to guy for Romo.
32) Devin Hester – CHI
33) Anthony Gonzalez – IND
34) Deion Branch – SEA
35) Torry Holt – JAC
36) DeSean Jackson – PHI
37) Patrick Crayton – DAL
38) Donnie Avery – ST.L.
39) Lee Evans – BUF
40) Jerricho Cotchery – NYJ
41) Kevin Curtis – PHI
6/24/2009
Running Back Rankings (NFG Rankings) - 06/24/2009
Please be aware that these are my own early opinions and will change as the season draws near. More importantly, please understand that these are not the Player Rankings which I have touted to be better than other experts rankings. I will put those out as the season draws near and other experts put out their own rankings for me to compare them all.
1) LaDanian Tomlinson – SD --- Some believe that Tomlinson is not as productive as he once was. He is 30 years old now, but he has only played 8 seasons. Ask yourself, Barry Sanders who retired early after 10 seasons… did he have 1500 plus yards every year? No. Neither did Emmitt Smith. They both had their seasons where they did not have the usual numbers. If Tomlinson does not bounce back, he is still a top-5 fantasy football running back. If he does bounce back, he is the number one RB easily. Tomlinson is also feeling healthy this year with no turf toe bothering him. He is easily my first pick in any draft in any format… unless your league does not count receiving yards from a running back.
2) Maurice Jones-Drew – JAC --- This is the season Jones-Drew has been waiting for. With Fred Taylor out of the mix, Jones-Drew will be the #1 running back and carry the heavy load. So long as his body can hold up to the heavy load, his numbers will soar. I am confident he can handle the load. Some believe he might be too small at 5'7" tall, but even with the shorter height, he is over 200 pounds of muscle.
3) Matt Forte – CHI --- As a rookie, Matt Forte had a huge year on a team that was not considered to be a great team. Usually I would expect a 2nd year player who had a huge rookie campaign to tail off a little. This is not the case. With Cutler on the team, I believe defenses will have to respect the pass a little more. This will open Forte up for bigger gains. As it stands I would say he is a good bet to repeat his 2008 numbers.
4) Adrian Peterson – MIN --- This is the one I would expect to get flack for my ranking. Many would take Peterson #1 overall. I would not. He is a great RB without a doubt, however, he will likely score less touchdowns than the others I ranked above him and he does not catch as many passes as they do either. Exciting? Yes. Great runner? Absolutely. But his 20 receptions and 10 to 12 TD’s drop him in my rankings.
5) DeAngelo Williams – CAR --- The only reason I do not rank Williams in the #2 position is because he is expected to lose some carries this season to a healthier Jonathon Stewart. Even so, DeAngelo will be worthy of a #1 Running Back spot on any fantasy team. His only real down fall is that he doesn't catch a lot of passes… and of course that he will share some carries with Jonathon Stewart.
6) Steve Slaton – HOU --- As a rookie, Slaton took charge of the running back position and he should be able to post the same numbers again. However, until he does it a second season in a row, don’t draft him higher than this.
7) Chris Johnson – TEN --- Chris is expected to share carries with LenDale White again. To make things worse, White has worked hard to get in shape and has shed pounds. Yet even so, Johnson is a force to be reckoned with and I would be glad to have him on any fantasy team.
8) Michael Turner – ATL --- Turner was true to his name in 2008 as he turned quite a few heads. He should have another big season but I would expect his numbers to drop just a bit. After all, defenses will be ready for this guy this time around and lets face the facts… he wont play the Lions in 2009.
9) Steve Jackson – ST.L. --- Jackson is no longer a sure thing. For two seasons in a row he has missed a few games and barely broke 1000 yards. With Tory Holt gone, the passing game might be worst and defenses will concentrate more on Jackson. Yet if he can stay healthy, he is still a top 10 running back.
10) Brandon Jacobs – NYG --- Jacobs is a beast. At 6’4” and 264 lbs, he has the ability to move the line and score the short yardage touchdowns. Singe tacklers will often be dragged for extra yardage. He also has the ability to move and make a defender miss when he wants. Unfortunately he is also an upright runner and susceptible to injury.
11) Brian Westbrook – PHI --- When healthy, Westbrook can run and catch with the best of them. If I knew he would stay healthy for a whole season, I would rank him in the top-3. Unfortunately, we NEVER know how long he will stay healthy. The man is a walking injury waiting to happen. In fact, in his seven seasons, he has never played a full 16 games.
12) Clinton Portis – WAS --- Other than one bad season where Portis missed half the year, he has been as stable and consistent as one could ask for. If you took him one or two spots higher it would be understandable. If he had a better passing game around him to keep defenses honest I would move him up myself.
13) Frank Gore – SF --- There is one thing that Gore has going for him over other years. He now has Michael Crabtree to draw some attention away from him. If the passing game picks up enough, it will open a little more room for Gore.
14) Pierre Thomas – NO --- With Duece McCallister out of the way, Thomas is expected to take over Duece's role. He will get most of the carries and most of the goal line touches, but he will still lose some carries and most of the receptions to Reggie Bush.
15) Kevin Smith – DET --- I will admit from the start, I may just be biased here since I have always been a Lions fan. Yes I still am…. Stop laughing! Still, in his rookie season, Kevin Smith came just shy of 1000 yards. With the addition of TE – Pettigrew, there might be a tiny bit more running room for Smith. He will also be the go to guy from the start this season where as in 2008 he split a lot of carries in the beginning.
16) Ronnie Brown – MIA --- Oh how we wish Ricky Williams would either have never come back or had been traded. Ricky serves mostly to just take touches away from the better running back. Unfortunately, so long as the two are together, Ronnie Brown will only get between 200 to 250 carries a season.
17) Ryan Grant – GB --- The one thing that keeps Grant from being ranked higher is the fact he does not score many touchdowns. Only 5 total in 2008.
18) Jonathon Stewart – CAR --- Stewart is expected to share the carries with DeAngelo Williams this season, which means he will get more touches than he had last year. Some believe he may get more carries than Williams.
19) Marshawn Lynch – BUF --- Marshawn played in 2 more games in 2008 than he played in 2007, and he had 30 fewer carries. Until he shows he can take on a heavy load, don’t expect it out of him.
20) Marion Barber – DAL --- In his first years in Dallas, Barber looked like a star waiting for his chance to be the go to guy. Last year he was and he still did not break a thousand yards rushing. Let’s be honest, with Owen’s gone, defenses will come in a little now. Not good for Barber.
21) Derrick Ward – TB --- The move of Ward to Tampa Bay was good for fantasy all around. Brandon Jacobs should get a few more touches with Ward gone and now Derrick Ward becomes the top Running Back in TB. With the move he should get a lot more carries.
22) Chris Wells – ARI --- The rookie, Wells, is expected to be the starter and carry the load as well. Hightower might steal some carries but it is not expected to be many.
23) Jamal Lewis – CLE --- In the twilight of his career, Lewis’ numbers are showing a decline. Most notably his yards per carry, which dropped from 4.4 to 3.8 yards per carry.
24) Darren McFadden – OAK --- McFadden is finally healthy and impressing. He is expected to get the most carries and should grow as the season goes.
25) LenDale White – TEN --- White is the 2nd string running back in Tennessee, but he gets his share of carries and a lot of touchdowns.
There is a smattering of running backs who could be arranged and re-arranged in the next 10 slots. Among these, it would be my opinion to take the players who have the higher upside being as they are younger and could show more to become a keeper in the future. If you are not in a keeper league, take the one you like most personally. These running backs are the following….
Knowshawn Moreno – DEN
Willis McGahee – BAL
Willie Parker – PIT
Thomas Jones – NYJ
Reggie Bush – NO
Larry Johnson – KC
Darren McFadden – OAK
Justin Fargas – OAK
Cedric Benson – CIN
Ricky Williams – MIA
Sammy Morris – NE
1) LaDanian Tomlinson – SD --- Some believe that Tomlinson is not as productive as he once was. He is 30 years old now, but he has only played 8 seasons. Ask yourself, Barry Sanders who retired early after 10 seasons… did he have 1500 plus yards every year? No. Neither did Emmitt Smith. They both had their seasons where they did not have the usual numbers. If Tomlinson does not bounce back, he is still a top-5 fantasy football running back. If he does bounce back, he is the number one RB easily. Tomlinson is also feeling healthy this year with no turf toe bothering him. He is easily my first pick in any draft in any format… unless your league does not count receiving yards from a running back.
2) Maurice Jones-Drew – JAC --- This is the season Jones-Drew has been waiting for. With Fred Taylor out of the mix, Jones-Drew will be the #1 running back and carry the heavy load. So long as his body can hold up to the heavy load, his numbers will soar. I am confident he can handle the load. Some believe he might be too small at 5'7" tall, but even with the shorter height, he is over 200 pounds of muscle.
3) Matt Forte – CHI --- As a rookie, Matt Forte had a huge year on a team that was not considered to be a great team. Usually I would expect a 2nd year player who had a huge rookie campaign to tail off a little. This is not the case. With Cutler on the team, I believe defenses will have to respect the pass a little more. This will open Forte up for bigger gains. As it stands I would say he is a good bet to repeat his 2008 numbers.
4) Adrian Peterson – MIN --- This is the one I would expect to get flack for my ranking. Many would take Peterson #1 overall. I would not. He is a great RB without a doubt, however, he will likely score less touchdowns than the others I ranked above him and he does not catch as many passes as they do either. Exciting? Yes. Great runner? Absolutely. But his 20 receptions and 10 to 12 TD’s drop him in my rankings.
5) DeAngelo Williams – CAR --- The only reason I do not rank Williams in the #2 position is because he is expected to lose some carries this season to a healthier Jonathon Stewart. Even so, DeAngelo will be worthy of a #1 Running Back spot on any fantasy team. His only real down fall is that he doesn't catch a lot of passes… and of course that he will share some carries with Jonathon Stewart.
6) Steve Slaton – HOU --- As a rookie, Slaton took charge of the running back position and he should be able to post the same numbers again. However, until he does it a second season in a row, don’t draft him higher than this.
7) Chris Johnson – TEN --- Chris is expected to share carries with LenDale White again. To make things worse, White has worked hard to get in shape and has shed pounds. Yet even so, Johnson is a force to be reckoned with and I would be glad to have him on any fantasy team.
8) Michael Turner – ATL --- Turner was true to his name in 2008 as he turned quite a few heads. He should have another big season but I would expect his numbers to drop just a bit. After all, defenses will be ready for this guy this time around and lets face the facts… he wont play the Lions in 2009.
9) Steve Jackson – ST.L. --- Jackson is no longer a sure thing. For two seasons in a row he has missed a few games and barely broke 1000 yards. With Tory Holt gone, the passing game might be worst and defenses will concentrate more on Jackson. Yet if he can stay healthy, he is still a top 10 running back.
10) Brandon Jacobs – NYG --- Jacobs is a beast. At 6’4” and 264 lbs, he has the ability to move the line and score the short yardage touchdowns. Singe tacklers will often be dragged for extra yardage. He also has the ability to move and make a defender miss when he wants. Unfortunately he is also an upright runner and susceptible to injury.
11) Brian Westbrook – PHI --- When healthy, Westbrook can run and catch with the best of them. If I knew he would stay healthy for a whole season, I would rank him in the top-3. Unfortunately, we NEVER know how long he will stay healthy. The man is a walking injury waiting to happen. In fact, in his seven seasons, he has never played a full 16 games.
12) Clinton Portis – WAS --- Other than one bad season where Portis missed half the year, he has been as stable and consistent as one could ask for. If you took him one or two spots higher it would be understandable. If he had a better passing game around him to keep defenses honest I would move him up myself.
13) Frank Gore – SF --- There is one thing that Gore has going for him over other years. He now has Michael Crabtree to draw some attention away from him. If the passing game picks up enough, it will open a little more room for Gore.
14) Pierre Thomas – NO --- With Duece McCallister out of the way, Thomas is expected to take over Duece's role. He will get most of the carries and most of the goal line touches, but he will still lose some carries and most of the receptions to Reggie Bush.
15) Kevin Smith – DET --- I will admit from the start, I may just be biased here since I have always been a Lions fan. Yes I still am…. Stop laughing! Still, in his rookie season, Kevin Smith came just shy of 1000 yards. With the addition of TE – Pettigrew, there might be a tiny bit more running room for Smith. He will also be the go to guy from the start this season where as in 2008 he split a lot of carries in the beginning.
16) Ronnie Brown – MIA --- Oh how we wish Ricky Williams would either have never come back or had been traded. Ricky serves mostly to just take touches away from the better running back. Unfortunately, so long as the two are together, Ronnie Brown will only get between 200 to 250 carries a season.
17) Ryan Grant – GB --- The one thing that keeps Grant from being ranked higher is the fact he does not score many touchdowns. Only 5 total in 2008.
18) Jonathon Stewart – CAR --- Stewart is expected to share the carries with DeAngelo Williams this season, which means he will get more touches than he had last year. Some believe he may get more carries than Williams.
19) Marshawn Lynch – BUF --- Marshawn played in 2 more games in 2008 than he played in 2007, and he had 30 fewer carries. Until he shows he can take on a heavy load, don’t expect it out of him.
20) Marion Barber – DAL --- In his first years in Dallas, Barber looked like a star waiting for his chance to be the go to guy. Last year he was and he still did not break a thousand yards rushing. Let’s be honest, with Owen’s gone, defenses will come in a little now. Not good for Barber.
21) Derrick Ward – TB --- The move of Ward to Tampa Bay was good for fantasy all around. Brandon Jacobs should get a few more touches with Ward gone and now Derrick Ward becomes the top Running Back in TB. With the move he should get a lot more carries.
22) Chris Wells – ARI --- The rookie, Wells, is expected to be the starter and carry the load as well. Hightower might steal some carries but it is not expected to be many.
23) Jamal Lewis – CLE --- In the twilight of his career, Lewis’ numbers are showing a decline. Most notably his yards per carry, which dropped from 4.4 to 3.8 yards per carry.
24) Darren McFadden – OAK --- McFadden is finally healthy and impressing. He is expected to get the most carries and should grow as the season goes.
25) LenDale White – TEN --- White is the 2nd string running back in Tennessee, but he gets his share of carries and a lot of touchdowns.
There is a smattering of running backs who could be arranged and re-arranged in the next 10 slots. Among these, it would be my opinion to take the players who have the higher upside being as they are younger and could show more to become a keeper in the future. If you are not in a keeper league, take the one you like most personally. These running backs are the following….
Knowshawn Moreno – DEN
Willis McGahee – BAL
Willie Parker – PIT
Thomas Jones – NYJ
Reggie Bush – NO
Larry Johnson – KC
Darren McFadden – OAK
Justin Fargas – OAK
Cedric Benson – CIN
Ricky Williams – MIA
Sammy Morris – NE
6/19/2009
Quarterback Rankings (NFG Rankings) - 06/19/2009
It is early and many experts have yet to post there rankings. Therefore I have decided to go ahead and put out my own personal Quarterback rankings.
Please understand a couple of things. These are strictly my own opinion at this time. The rankings I claim to be better than others are yet to come. However, they will have to wait until other experts are placing their rankings out there so I can compare them. Also, because it is still so early, my own opinion will surely change as the season grows closer.
1) Aaron Rodgers - GB -- OK, this one surprised me as well, but in his first season as a starter he had huge numbers. Though I would expect those numbers to drop a little, he also puts up numbers in the rushing category as well. What put Rodgers over the top for me is that the coaches plan to let him loose more this season.
2) Drew Brees - NO -- He had a huge year in 2008 and even if he falls off a little he will still be one of the best quarterbacks in fantasy football.
3) Peyton Manning - IND. -- Consistent from year to year and always one of the best. You cant go wrong in drafting him as the top quarterback. Keep in mind however that Manning has a new Coach and Tom Moore, the only Offensive Coordinator Manning has had since his rookie campaign will have a reduced and as of yet unspecified role. There is no telling what these changes can do to a players stats. Even a player like Peyton Manning.
4) Tom Brady - NE -- Let's face the facts. As great as he is, he is a question mark this season. I am expecting him to be great again but he will not avoid the pressure as easy this season and will take a few more sacks.
5) Phillip Rivers - SD -- In 2008 Rivers stepped up and became one of the top quarterbacks in the league. He will still have pretty much the same team around him so I would expect him to come close to those numbers again in 2009.
6) Donovan McNab - PHI -- Year in and year out McNabb is a threat to put up some huge numbers. If he can stay healthy. Where he is valued, all depends on how long you believe he will stay healthy.
7) Matt Ryan - ATL -- Ryan had a very good rookie season. Now we will see how he does facing teams that have seen him and can plan against him. His numbers should go up but don't expect a huge jump this season. If you are in a keeper league, take him above Garrard and Palmer.
8) Jay Cutler - CHI -- Cutler will no longer have Brandon Marshall and he will no longer have Royal catching his passes. It has to be expected that his numbers will suffer some this season.
9) Carson Palmer - CIN -- Coming off an injury, he also lost one of his two best receivers in Houshmandzadeh. Word has it, Palmer is looking good and has zip on his passes. He should have a good year, but not as good as he used to be.
10) David Garrard - JAC -- Last season was Garrard's first full season as a starter and he played decent. He is no star in the making but he is no slouch. His scrambling ability lifts him over Ryan by a hair.
11) Michael Vick - PHI -- Dont think for a second that Vick will simply ride the bench. Though he is no threat to McNabb, Vick was signed to play in the Eagles version of the Wildcat offense. He will get his share of runs, receptions and even a few pass plays.
12) Chad Pennington - MIA -- Chad had his best season in his first with Miami. I would expect near the same numbers from him in 2009. Not much better and not much less.
13) Kurt Warner - ARI -- This is the pick that many will disagree with me on. He was great in 2008, but I have to expect his numbers to fall at least a bit from those. Especially at his ripe age of 37 years old. His absolute lack of scrambling ability and his fumbles and interceptions causes him to fall to this place.
14) Jason Campbell - WAS -- Campbell improved from 2007 to 2008 as the starting quarterback. I don't expect him to become a great fantasy QB but I do expect him to improve from last season as well.
15) Matt Cassel - KC -- Many have high hopes for Cassel. Unfortunately he moved to Kansas City. He took a lot of sacks in 2008 and I would expect him to take as many again this season. That kind of punishment will take its toll. More than anything however, I could not expect him to put up near the numbers he did without Moss, Welker and the great Patriots team around him.
16) Matt Schaub - HOU -- If Schaub can stay healthy, he can put up some good numbers. If you are still needing a QB and those listed before this are taken, he is worth a flier.
17) Kyle Orton - DEN -- His value automatically sky rocketed when he was traded to Denver and was named the starting quarterback. For Orton, 16th is a sky rocketed ranking. Expect to drop him a couple notches lower when Marshall is traded.
18) Joe Flacco - BAL -- Flacco is a byproduct of a bad team. Even on this bad team he throws for very high completion percentages. If there is a break out sleeper in QB, this is him.
19) Trent Edwards - CLE -- I am fully expecting Edwards to beat out Quinn for the starting job. If he does, he can put up decent numbers.
20) Tony Romo - DAL -- I understand there is a small love fest for Romo out there. However, he has not played great the last few years and whether we liked him or not, Romo was better off with Owens over Roy Williams.
21) Eli Manning - NYG -- Never has put up huge numbers and now he no longer has Buress.
22) Ben Roethlisberger - PIT -- Great quarterback and one of the better game managers. He never puts up huge numbers.
23) Matt Hasselbeck - SEA -- If he can stay healthy, Hasselbeck has something going for him that most quarterbacks don't have in 2009. A great improvement in his receivers from last season. TJ Houshmandzadeh's presence will lift Hasselbeck's numbers greatly.
24) Jake Delhomme - Car -- When healthy he can put up decent numbers. Not great but decent. Staying healthy is a big question however.
Please understand a couple of things. These are strictly my own opinion at this time. The rankings I claim to be better than others are yet to come. However, they will have to wait until other experts are placing their rankings out there so I can compare them. Also, because it is still so early, my own opinion will surely change as the season grows closer.
1) Aaron Rodgers - GB -- OK, this one surprised me as well, but in his first season as a starter he had huge numbers. Though I would expect those numbers to drop a little, he also puts up numbers in the rushing category as well. What put Rodgers over the top for me is that the coaches plan to let him loose more this season.
2) Drew Brees - NO -- He had a huge year in 2008 and even if he falls off a little he will still be one of the best quarterbacks in fantasy football.
3) Peyton Manning - IND. -- Consistent from year to year and always one of the best. You cant go wrong in drafting him as the top quarterback. Keep in mind however that Manning has a new Coach and Tom Moore, the only Offensive Coordinator Manning has had since his rookie campaign will have a reduced and as of yet unspecified role. There is no telling what these changes can do to a players stats. Even a player like Peyton Manning.
4) Tom Brady - NE -- Let's face the facts. As great as he is, he is a question mark this season. I am expecting him to be great again but he will not avoid the pressure as easy this season and will take a few more sacks.
5) Phillip Rivers - SD -- In 2008 Rivers stepped up and became one of the top quarterbacks in the league. He will still have pretty much the same team around him so I would expect him to come close to those numbers again in 2009.
6) Donovan McNab - PHI -- Year in and year out McNabb is a threat to put up some huge numbers. If he can stay healthy. Where he is valued, all depends on how long you believe he will stay healthy.
7) Matt Ryan - ATL -- Ryan had a very good rookie season. Now we will see how he does facing teams that have seen him and can plan against him. His numbers should go up but don't expect a huge jump this season. If you are in a keeper league, take him above Garrard and Palmer.
8) Jay Cutler - CHI -- Cutler will no longer have Brandon Marshall and he will no longer have Royal catching his passes. It has to be expected that his numbers will suffer some this season.
9) Carson Palmer - CIN -- Coming off an injury, he also lost one of his two best receivers in Houshmandzadeh. Word has it, Palmer is looking good and has zip on his passes. He should have a good year, but not as good as he used to be.
10) David Garrard - JAC -- Last season was Garrard's first full season as a starter and he played decent. He is no star in the making but he is no slouch. His scrambling ability lifts him over Ryan by a hair.
11) Michael Vick - PHI -- Dont think for a second that Vick will simply ride the bench. Though he is no threat to McNabb, Vick was signed to play in the Eagles version of the Wildcat offense. He will get his share of runs, receptions and even a few pass plays.
12) Chad Pennington - MIA -- Chad had his best season in his first with Miami. I would expect near the same numbers from him in 2009. Not much better and not much less.
13) Kurt Warner - ARI -- This is the pick that many will disagree with me on. He was great in 2008, but I have to expect his numbers to fall at least a bit from those. Especially at his ripe age of 37 years old. His absolute lack of scrambling ability and his fumbles and interceptions causes him to fall to this place.
14) Jason Campbell - WAS -- Campbell improved from 2007 to 2008 as the starting quarterback. I don't expect him to become a great fantasy QB but I do expect him to improve from last season as well.
15) Matt Cassel - KC -- Many have high hopes for Cassel. Unfortunately he moved to Kansas City. He took a lot of sacks in 2008 and I would expect him to take as many again this season. That kind of punishment will take its toll. More than anything however, I could not expect him to put up near the numbers he did without Moss, Welker and the great Patriots team around him.
16) Matt Schaub - HOU -- If Schaub can stay healthy, he can put up some good numbers. If you are still needing a QB and those listed before this are taken, he is worth a flier.
17) Kyle Orton - DEN -- His value automatically sky rocketed when he was traded to Denver and was named the starting quarterback. For Orton, 16th is a sky rocketed ranking. Expect to drop him a couple notches lower when Marshall is traded.
18) Joe Flacco - BAL -- Flacco is a byproduct of a bad team. Even on this bad team he throws for very high completion percentages. If there is a break out sleeper in QB, this is him.
19) Trent Edwards - CLE -- I am fully expecting Edwards to beat out Quinn for the starting job. If he does, he can put up decent numbers.
20) Tony Romo - DAL -- I understand there is a small love fest for Romo out there. However, he has not played great the last few years and whether we liked him or not, Romo was better off with Owens over Roy Williams.
21) Eli Manning - NYG -- Never has put up huge numbers and now he no longer has Buress.
22) Ben Roethlisberger - PIT -- Great quarterback and one of the better game managers. He never puts up huge numbers.
23) Matt Hasselbeck - SEA -- If he can stay healthy, Hasselbeck has something going for him that most quarterbacks don't have in 2009. A great improvement in his receivers from last season. TJ Houshmandzadeh's presence will lift Hasselbeck's numbers greatly.
24) Jake Delhomme - Car -- When healthy he can put up decent numbers. Not great but decent. Staying healthy is a big question however.
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