Fantasy Clicks: Preseason NFL fantasy rankings
BY DAVID KOMER Recent Fantasy Clicks 07-01-10: Mystery Men 06-29-10: Mystery Men 06-24-10: The Good Hands People 06-22-10: Panther vs. Panther 06-15-10: The 2010 Breakout Bargain Bin List 06-08-10: From Bust To Boom? 06-02-10: One Less Sleeper In Seattle 05-25-10: The Cutler Conundrum 05-18-10: Who's No. 4? 05-11-10: A Tale Of Two Indians 05-04-10: Sophomores On The Clock 04-27-10: NFL Draft Revelations 04-23-10: NFL Draft Revelations 04-13-10: All Miguel, All The Time 03-30-10: Catch As Catch Can 03-30-10: Catch As Catch Can 03-24-10: A Sleeper In The Cards 03-10-10: In Case Of Emergency: Twins' Closer |
The Fab 50
Adrian Peterson: Rich Gabrielson/Icon SMI |
This might be the first time since the Brett Favre and Steve Young days of the mid-1990s that two quarterbacks could be first-round fantasy picks in most drafts. In the pre-Tom Brady days, Peyton Manning was the default, fall-back position for teams picking last in the first round with the next-best QB not going until the third. You'll notice a lack of overall top-20 receivers as I slotted just four, with the possibility of a fifth going. But the top three elite quarterbacks, including Manning, have filled part of that receiver void in my first 20 picks. One more thing that might stand out at first glance is that I'm bullish on Ryan Mathews. Depending on how his preseason goes next month, I could see myself moving him up a few spots.
Here is my overall Fab 50:
1 RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings
2 RB Chris Johnson, Titans
3 RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars
4 RB Frank Gore, 49ers
5 RB Michael Turner, Falcons
6 RB Ray Rice, Ravens
7 WR Andre Johnson, Texans
8 QB Drew Brees, Saints
9 QB Aaron Rodgers, Packers
10 WR Randy Moss, Patriots
11 RB Shonn Greene, Jets
12 QB Peyton Manning, Colts
13 RB Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
14 RB Ryan Grant, Packers
15 RB Ryan Mathews, Chargers
16 WR Reggie Wayne, Colts
17 WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
18 RB Cedric Benson, Bengals
19 RB Steven Jackson, Rams
20 RB DeAngelo Williams, Panthers
21 WR Miles Austin, Cowboys
22 WR Brandon Marshall, Dolphins
23 QB Tom Brady, Patriots
24 WR Roddy White, Falcons
25 WR Marques Colston, Saints
26 QB Tony Romo, Cowboys
26 RB Knowshon Moreno, Broncos
27 WR Calvin Johnson, Lions
28 WR Vincent Jackson, Chargers
29 RB Beanie Wells, Cardinals
30 WR Greg Jennings, Packers
31 WR DeSean Jackson, Eagles
32 QB Phillip Rivers, Chargers
33 TE Dallas Clark, Colts
34 WR Steve Smith, Giants
35 RB LeSean McCoy, Eagles
36 WR Steve Smith, Panthers
37 RB Pierre Thomas, Saints
38 RB Joseph Addai, Colts
39 TE Vernon Davis, 49ers
40 RB Jonathan Stewart, Panthers
41 QB Matt Schaub, Texans
42 WR Sidney Rice, Vikings
43 TE Antonio Gates, Chargers
44 RB Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
45 WR Michael Crabtree, 49ers
46 WR Anquan Boldin, Ravens
47 RB Matt Forte, Bears
48 RB Jamaal Charles, Chiefs
49 TE Jason Witten, Cowboys
50 RB Brandon Jacobs, Giants
NOTE: Rankings were compiled prior to Vincent Jackson's three-game suspension.
Top 25 Quarterbacks
While picking between Peterson and Johnson is a dead heat, the next four RB slots can be mixed and matched. Usually the next tier begins with Jones-Drew or Rice, although with the latter likely not getting goal line duties, I'm a bit cooler on the Ravens' starting tailback than most. Greene gets a narrow nod over Mendenhall to start the third tier of backs, due to the Steelers missing Ben Roethlisberger (and possibly their passing game) to start the year and the Jets mostly full-strength, Santonio Holmes notwithstanding, with a stronger offensive line.
1 Adrian Peterson, Vikings
2 Chris Johnson, Titans
3 Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars
4 Frank Gore, 49ers
5 Michael Turner, Falcons
6 Ray Rice, Ravens
7 Shonn Greene, Jets
8 Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
9 Ryan Grant, Packers
10 Ryan Mathews, Chargers
11 Cedric Benson, Bengals
12 Steven Jackson, Rams
13 DeAngelo Williams, Panthers
14 Knowshon Moreno, Broncos
15 Beanie Wells, Cardinals
16 LeSean McCoy, Eagles
17 Pierre Thomas, Saints
18 Joseph Addai, Colts
19 Jonathan Stewart, Panthers
20 Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
21 Matt Forte, Bears
22 Jamaal Charles, Chiefs
23 Brandon Jacobs, Giants
24 Felix Jones, Cowboys
25 Jahvid Best, Lions
26 Jerome Harrison, Browns
27 Justin Forsett, Seahawks
28 Marion Barber, Cowboys
29 Clinton Portis, Redskins
30 Reggie Bush, Saints
31 Willis McGahee, Ravens
32 C.J. Spiller, Bills
33 Cadillac Williams, Bucs
34 Lawrence Maroney, Patriots
35 Fred Jackson, Bills
36 Ben Tate, Texans
37 Ricky Williams, Dolphins
38 Michael Bush, Raiders
39 Steve Slaton, Texans
40 Montario Hardesty, Browns
Top 50 Receivers
Expect a run on receivers in the early second round, where the most value will be found. There is plenty of quality to choose from, but after the top 20 come off the board, a noticeable drop off awaits.
1 Andre Johnson, Texans
2 Randy Moss, Patriots
3 Reggie Wayne, Colts
4 Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
5 Miles Austin, Cowboys
6 Brandon Marshall, Dolphins
7 Roddy White, Falcons
8 Marques Colston, Saints
9 Calvin Johnson, Lions
10 Vincent Jackson, Chargers
11 Greg Jennings, Packers
12 DeSean Jackson, Eagles
13 Steve Smith, Giants
14 Steve Smith, Panthers
15 Sidney Rice, Vikings
16 Michael Crabtree, 49ers
17 Anquan Boldin, Ravens
18 Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars
19 Chad Ocho Cinco, Bengals
20 Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
21 Donald Driver, Packers
22 Santana Moss, Redskins
23 Robert Meachem, Saints
24 T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seahawks
25 Braylon Edwards, Jets
26 Hines Ward, Steelers
27 Mike Wallace, Steelers
28 Hakeem Nicks, Giants
29 Percy Harvin, Vikings
30 Pierre Garcon, Colts
31 Julian Edelman, Patriots
32 Wes Welker, Patriots
33 Eddie Royal, Broncos
34 Devin Hester, Bears
35 Bernard Berrian, Vikings
36 Devin Aromashodu, Bears
37 Steve Breaston, Cardinals
38 Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
39 Dez Bryant, Cowboys
40 Donnie Avery, Rams
41 Mohamed Massaquoi, Browns
42 Malcom Floyd, Chargers
43 Antonio Bryant, Bengals
44 Lee Evans, Bills
45 Nate Washington, Titans
46 Derrick Mason, Ravens
47 Mario Manningham, Giants
48 Santonio Holmes, Jets
49 Golden Tate, Seahawks
50 Devin Thomas, Redskins
Top 20 Tight Ends
In mixed leagues without tight end requirements, they should be in play after the first 14-17 receivers come off the board on draft day. In tight end required leagues, owners can breathe a little easier this year with a very solid 9-10 yardage and red zone threats leading the way.
1 Dallas Clark, Colts
2 Vernon Davis, 49ers
3 Antonio Gates, Chargers
4 Jason Witten, Cowboys
5 Jermichael Finley, Packers
6 Brent Celek, Eagles
7 Tony Gonzalez, Falcons
8 Owen Daniels, Texans
9 Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings
10 Kellen Winslow, Bucs
11 John Carlson, Seahawks
12 Zach Miller, Raiders
13 Heath Miller, Steelers
14 Greg Olsen, Bears
15 Dustin Keller, Jets
16 Chris Cooley, Redskins
17 Jermaine Gresham, Bengals
18 Todd Heap, Ravens
19 Kevin Boss, Giants
20 Tony Scheffler, Lions
Top 20 Kickers
Dan Carpenter and Joe Nedney could finish much higher than most rankings suggest, as both the Dolphins' and 49ers' offenses should see a big improvement. And whatever you do, don't be the owner to pick a kicker first in anything less than the last few rounds. It's lame, and there's always more than enough to go around.
1 Nate Kaeding, Chargers
2 Garrett Hartley, Saints
3 Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots
4 Mason Crosby, Packers
5 David Akers, Eagles
6 Rob Bironas, Titans
7 Ryan Longwell, Vikings
8 Lawrence Tynes, Giants
9 Robbie Gould, Bears
10 Kris Brown, Texans
11 Nick Folk, Jets
12 Jeff Reed, Steelers
13 Dan Carpenter, Dolphins
14 Joe Nedney, 49ers
15 David Buehler, Cowboys
16 Jay Feely, Cardinals
17 Matt Prater, Broncos
18 Matt Bryant, Falcons
19 Olindo Mare, Seahawks
20 Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders
Top 20 Team Defenses
After everyone's universal No. 1, the next three teams could pretty much go in any order.
1 Jets
2 Packers
3 Vikings
4 Eagles
5 49ers
6 Chargers
7 Ravens
8 Cowboys
9 Saints
10 Bears
11 Steelers
12 Giants
13 Cardinals
14 Titans
15 Texans
16 Patriots
17 Broncos
18 Colts
19 Bengals
20 Panthers
Have A Link, Comment or Question For Us?
