By: Tyler Ward & Stephen Patterson
It's that time of the year again - fantasy football season is gearing up, which means get to your computers and sign up! We have started our own leagues (check comments for IDs) on Yahoo, so be sure to check the post and sign up.
So, in order to help ya'll this year, we are creating our own rankings.
Here's some tips you should abide by:
- Stay away from Buffalo receivers. With no aerial game, the Bills are doomed to be one of the worst passing attacks in football. Lee Evans may do alright, but outside of him, their stats will be minimal.
- QB's to stay away from: Trent Edwards/Ryan Fitzpatrick (Buffalo), Matt Leinart/Derek Anderson (Arizona), Josh Freeman (Tampa Bay), Jake Delhomme (Cleveland), Any rookie starting QB
- Do not invest heavily in Philip Rivers. With Vincent Jackson possibly missing the first ten games, they will have no wide receiver corps outside of tight end, Antonio Gates. Malcom Floyd will be the #1 receiver, so his stats may actually go up (i.e. Miles Austin last season). I wouldn't draft Rivers unless I had another quarterback that can do decent & would be available in later rounds (Matt Ryan & Carson Palmer).
- Beware of Matt Cassel and his receivers. Although he was good two seasons ago, he was with the Patriots and had a tremendous core of receivers. With Kansas City and a not-so-storied environment, Cassel will probably never be the quarterback the Chiefs expected him to be. Cassel will have a difficult time this year and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets benched at one point. Dwayne Bowe may have a decent season, but outside of him, the Chiefs have one of the worst receiver combinations in the league.
- Sleeper: Owen Daniels, TE, Houston: In my opinion, Daniels was one of the best tight ends in the league last season before going down for the season with a torn ACL. Through 8 games, Daniels had 40 catches for a little over 500 yards, but had to miss the other eight games. At that pace, he could have had one of the best statistical seasons for a tight end. Since he is coming off an injury, he can be picked at a later round - and with Matt Schaub being the quarterback, the Texans will definitely have another high-powered offense. Daniels could have a big season ahead of him.
- Don't invest heavily in Rashard Mendenhall & Ryan Mathews: Both are ranked in the top 10 overall on Yahoo's fantasy football rankings. Something seems wrong here. Mathews has never played a down in the NFL, but yet he's above players like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees? I don't get it. I don't think he'll have a spectacular season because he will have to share some time with Darren Sproles. Mendenhall hasn't really been one of the best running backs in the NFL, so I don't see him as being that good of a runner. Definitely not worth a Top 10 pick.
- Washington's crowded backfield: The Redskins have Clinton Portis, Willie Parker, and Larry Johnson at running back and with all three being former 1,000 yard runners, there will not be enough ball given out. Portis is the starter going into the season, but with decent back-ups, Portis will likely get 65-70% of the carries - maybe not even that. They also added McNabb to the team, which can give them a solid aerial attack. With a good quarterback at the helm, they won't be able to run the ball each and every down. If Portis, Parker, and Johnson want to return to the 1,000 yard form, the Redskins will have to run the ball on every possession. One could be extremely valuable and is worth grabbing up in a later round, though.
- Biggest Rookie Impact? C.J. Spiller, Buffalo: With a not-so-good passing attack, the Bills could heavily rely on C.J. Spiller as their starting running back. Spiller could also be a receiving threat in short pass situations. And with rumors swirling around Marshawn Lynch, Spiller could have the immediate chance to make an impact on the Bills.
- Draft Julian Edelman, not Wes Welker: As of right now, Welker has injury issues and Edelman could take over for Welker in that slot role. He could turn out to be a sleeper for New England, if given the opportunity.
- Stay away from Texans running backs: Steve Slaton's time can be running out in Houston - with his consistent fumbles, he has lost favor amongst Texans fans. Arian Foster could get more carries this season and with the drafting of Ben Tate, Houston could give a lot of time to Foster or Tate.
- Vince Young - Nope, not a starter: I would stay away from Vince Young and the Titans receivers. Young is not a pass-first quarterback, so his passing yards will never be like Manning, Brees, or Tom Brady. He could get many points when he runs the ball, however. But, like Michael Vick, the Titans quarterback will run the ball, instead of giving receivers ample time to run their routes. The majority of Young's passing yards will mroe than likely go to standout Kenny Britt.
- Don't use a high pick on Kevin Kolb: There's been a lot of hype surrounding the Eagles and Kevin Kolb as their new starter. But, let's be realistic. Kolb is not that great of a quarterback - how is he top 15 in the league so far? Yes, he threw for over 300 yards in two consecutive games, but one of them was a complete garbage game, when the Eagles were getting blown out by the Saints, so Kolb dominated a defense that didn't even try. Philly does have decent receivers, but since Kolb has only two career starts on his resume, he won't have an entirely great season. He may be a serviceable back-up on your team, but he is definitely not a starter.
- Possible Sleepers: Hakeem Nicks (WR- NYG), Chad Henne (QB - MIA), Jerome Harrison (RB - CLE), Malcom Floyd (WR - SD), Kenny Britt (WR - TEN), Fred Jackson (RB - BUF), Dexter McCluster (WR/RB - KC), Alex Smith (QB - SF), John Carlson (TE - SEA), Nate Burleson (WR - DET), LeSean McCoy (RB - PHI), Mario Manningham (WR - NYG), Justin Forsett (RB - SEA), Mohamed Massaquoi (WR - CLE), Jermaine Gresham (TE - CIN), Felix Jones (RB - DAL), Bernard Scott (RB - CIN), Jason Snelling (RB - ATL), Matt Stafford (QB - DET), James Jones (WR - GB), Michael Bush (RB - OAK), Julian Edelman (WR -NE), Martellus Bennett (TE - DAL), Chansi Stuckey (WR - CLE), Jahvid Best (RB - DET)
- Stay Away From: Kyle Orton (QB - DEN), Vince Young (QB - TEN), Matt Cassel (QB - KC), Santana Moss (WR - WAS), Ronnie Brown (RB - MIA), Joseph Addai (RB - IND), Brandon Jacobs (RB - NYG), Marion Barber III (RB - DAL), Tim Tebow (QB - DEN), Bernard Berrian (WR - MIN), Mike Sims-Walker (WR - JAC), Lee Evans (WR - BUF), Dwayne Bowe (WR - KC), Sam Bradford (QB - STL), Trent Edwards (QB - BUF), Nate Washington (WR - TEN), Arian Foster/Ben Tate (RB - HOU), Carnell Williams (RB - TB), Thomas Jones (RB - KC), Marshawn Lynch (RB - BUF), Antonio Bryant (WR - CIN), Devin Aromashodu (WR - CHI), Deion Branch (WR - SEA), Matt Leinart (QB - ARI)
- You Can Always Count On: Peyton Manning (QB - IND), Aaron Rodgers (QB - GB), Matt Schaub (QB - HOU), Drew Brees (QB - NO), Chris Johnson (RB - TEN), Adrian Peterson (RB - MIN), Steven Jackson (RB - STL), Ray Rice (RB - BAL), Andre Johnson (WR - HOU), Greg Jennings (WR - GB), Reggie Wayne (WR - IND), Brandon Marshall (WR - MIA), Antonio Gates (TE - SD), Jason Witten (TE - DAL), Joe Flacco (QB - BAL)
- Stay Away From: Kyle Orton (QB - DEN), Vince Young (QB - TEN), Matt Cassel (QB - KC), Santana Moss (WR - WAS), Ronnie Brown (RB - MIA), Joseph Addai (RB - IND), Brandon Jacobs (RB - NYG), Marion Barber III (RB - DAL), Tim Tebow (QB - DEN), Bernard Berrian (WR - MIN), Mike Sims-Walker (WR - JAC), Lee Evans (WR - BUF), Dwayne Bowe (WR - KC), Sam Bradford (QB - STL), Trent Edwards (QB - BUF), Nate Washington (WR - TEN), Arian Foster/Ben Tate (RB - HOU), Carnell Williams (RB - TB), Thomas Jones (RB - KC), Marshawn Lynch (RB - BUF), Antonio Bryant (WR - CIN), Devin Aromashodu (WR - CHI), Deion Branch (WR - SEA), Matt Leinart (QB - ARI)
- You Can Always Count On: Peyton Manning (QB - IND), Aaron Rodgers (QB - GB), Matt Schaub (QB - HOU), Drew Brees (QB - NO), Chris Johnson (RB - TEN), Adrian Peterson (RB - MIN), Steven Jackson (RB - STL), Ray Rice (RB - BAL), Andre Johnson (WR - HOU), Greg Jennings (WR - GB), Reggie Wayne (WR - IND), Brandon Marshall (WR - MIA), Antonio Gates (TE - SD), Jason Witten (TE - DAL), Joe Flacco (QB - BAL)
Quarterback Rankings:
1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis
2. Drew Brees, New Orleans
3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
 |
| Manning |
4. Matt Schaub, Houston
5. Philip Rivers, San Diego
6. Tom Brady, New England
7. Joe Flacco, Baltimore
8. Tony Romo, Dallas
9. Jay Cutler, Chicago
10. Eli Manning, New York
11. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati
12. Matt Ryan, Atlanta
13. Donovan McNabb, Washington
14. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh
15. Chad Henne, Miami
16. Alex Smith, San Francisco
17. Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia
18. Kyle Orton, Denver
19. Vince Young, Tennessee
 |
| Ryan |
21. David Garrard, Jacksonville
22. Matt Moore, Carolina
23. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle
24. Mark Sanchez, New York
25. Jake Delhomme, Cleveland
26. Matt Stafford, Detroit
27. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay
28. Matt Leinart, Arizona
29. Trent Edwards, Buffalo
30. Matt Cassel, Kansas City
31. Sam Bradford, St. Louis
32. Byron Leftwich, Pittsburgh
Running Back Rankings:
 |
| Johnson |
2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
3. Ray Rice, Baltimore
4. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville
5. Michael Turner, Atlanta
6. Frank Gore, San Francisco
7. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina
8. Steven Jackson, St. Louis
9. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati
10. Ryan Grant, Green Bay
11. Knowshon Moreno, Denver
12. Shonn Greene, New York
13. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina
14. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh
15. Matt Forte, Chicago
 |
| McCoy |
17. Ryan Mathews, San Diego
18. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia
19. C.J. Spiller, Buffalo
20. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis
21. Chris "Beanie" Wells, Arizona
22. Ronnie Brown, Miami
23. Clinton Portis, Washington
24. Felix Jones, Dallas
25. Jerome Harrison, Cleveland
26. Brandon Jacobs, New York
 |
| Harrison |
28. Jahvid Best, Detroit
29. Fred Jackson, Buffalo
30. Thomas Jones, Kansas City
31. Carnell Williams, Tampa Bay
32. Laurence Maroney, New England
33. Ricky Williams, Miami
34. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York
35. Donald Brown, Indianapolis
36. Darren Sproles, San Diego
37. Michael Bush, Oakland
38. LaDainian Tomlinson, New York
39. Justin Forsett, Seattle
40. Willis McGahee, Baltimore
Wide Receiver Rankings:
1. Andre Johnson, Houston
2. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis
3. Randy Moss, New England
 |
| Johnson |
5. Brandon Marshall, Miami
6. Calvin Johnson, Detroit
7. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
8. Anquan Boldin, Baltimore
9. Greg Jennings, Green Bay
10. Roddy White, Atlanta
11. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia
12. Marques Colston, New Orleans
13. Sidney Rice, Minnesota
14. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati
15. Steve Smith, New York
16. Donald Driver, Green Bay
17. Steve Smith, Carolina
18. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco
19. Percy Harvin, Minnesota
 |
| Crabtree |
21. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh
22. Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville
23. Hakeem Nicks, New York
24. Santana Moss, Washington
25. Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh
26. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City
27. Lee Evans, Buffalo
28. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia
29. Kenny Britt, Tennessee
30. Santonio Holmes, New York
31. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seattle
32. Dez Bryant, Dallas
33. Terrell Owens, Cincinnati
34. Braylon Edwards, New York
 |
| Maclin |
36. Antonio Bryant, Cincinnati
37. Josh Morgan, San Francisco
38. Robert Meachem, New Orleans
39. Derrick Mason, Baltimore
40. Nate Burleson, Detroit
41. Chris Chambers, Kansas City
42. Mario Manningham, New York
43. Jerricho Cotchery, New York
44. Chaz Schilens, Oakland
45. Malcom Floyd, San Diego
46. Devin Hester, Chicago
47. Mohamed Massaquoi, Cleveland
48. Kevin Walter, Houston
49. Bernard Berrian, Minnesota
50. Austin Collie, Indianapolis
Tight End Rankings:
1. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis
 |
| Clark |
3. Jason Witten, Dallas
4. Vernon Davis, San Francisco
5. Brent Celek, Philadelphia
6. Owen Daniels, Houston
7. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta
8. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay
9. Zach Miller, Oakland
10. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh
11. Chris Cooley, Washington
12. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota
13. Kevin Boss, New York
14. Greg Olsen, Chicago
15. Kellen Winslow Jr., Tampa Bay
16. John Carlson, Seattle
17. Dustin Keller, New York
18. Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati
 |
| Shockey |
20. Todd Heap, Baltimore
21. Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville
22. Martellus Bennett, Dallas
23. Bo Scaife, Tennessee
24. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit
25. Ben Watson, Cleveland
26. Tony Scheffler, Detroit
27. Donald Lee, Green Bay
28. Anthony Fasano, Miami
29. Will Heller, Seattle
30. Ed Dickson, Baltimore
31. Daniel Graham, Denver
32. Randy McMichael, San Diego
Defense Rankings:
1. New York Jets
2. Green Bay Packers
 |
| Revis & the Jets Defense |
4. Chicago Bears
5. Minnesota Vikings
6. Baltimore Ravens
7. Dallas Cowboys
8. New Orleans Saints
9. Cincinnati Bengals
10. San Francisco 49ers
10. San Francisco 49ers
11. New York Giants
12. Tennessee Titans
13. Indianapolis Colts
14. Pittsburgh Steelers
 |
| Bengals Defense |
16. New England Patriots
17. Miami Dolphins
18. San Diego Chargers
19. Arizona Cardinals
20. Denver Broncos
21. Atlanta Falcons
22. Buffalo Bills
23. Oakland Raiders
24. Houston Texans
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
26. Seattle Seahawks
27. Carolina Panthers
28. Kansas City Chiefs
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30. Detroit Lions
31. St. Louis Rams
32. Cleveland Browns
Kicker Ratings:
1. Mason Crosby, Green Bay
2. Nate Kaeding, San Diego
3. Rob Bironas, Tennessee
 |
| Crosby |
5. Garrett Hartley, New Orleans
6. David Akers, Philadelphia
7. Kris Brown, Houston
8. Robbie Gould, Chicago
9. Matt Prater, Denver
10. Lawrence Tynes, New York
11. Ryan Longwell, Minnesota
12. Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland
13. Dan Carpenter, Miami
14. Adam Vinateiri, Indianapolis
15. Jeff Reed, Pittsburgh
16. Ryan Succop, Kansas City
17. Jason Hanson, Detroit
18. Jay Feely, Arizona
19. Matt Bryant, Atlanta
20. Josh Scobee, Jacksonville
