 "Photo: AP photo")
Rankings by position:
Running backs
1. Adrian Peterson
2. Chris Johnson
3. Maurice Jones-Drew
4. Ray Rice
5. Frank Gore
6. Michael Turner
7. Steven Jackson
8. Shonn Greene
9. Deangelo Williams
10. Cedric Benson
11. Ryan Mathews
12. Rashard Mendenhall
13. Ryan Grant
14. Jamaal Charles
15. Beanie Wells
Wide Receivers
1. Andre Johnson
2. Randy Moss
3. Reggie Wayne
4. Calvin Johnson
5. Roddy White
6. Larry Fitzgerald
7. Miles Austin
8. Brandon Marshall
9. Greg Jennings
10. Sidney Rice
11. Desean Jackson
12. Anquan Boldin
13. Wes Welker
14. Marques Colston
15. Steve Smith
Quarterbacks
1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Peyton Manning
3. Drew Brees
4. Tony Romo
5. Tom Brady
6. Matt Schaub
7. Phillip Rivers
8. Jay Cutler
9. Joe Flacco
10. Brett Favre
11. Donovan McNabb
12. Matt Ryan
13. Kevin Kolb
14. Eli Manning
15. Matt Stafford
Tight Ends
1. Dallas Clark
2. Antonio Gates
3. Vernon Davis
4. Jason Witten
5. Jermichael Finley
6. Brent Celek
7. Owen Daniels
8. Tony Gonzalez
9. Kellen Winslow
10. Visanthe Shiancoe
11. Zach Miller
12. John Carlson
13. Dustin Keller
14. Chris Cooley
15. Heath Miller
Deep sleepers for 2010
Mike Williams – Tampa Bay looked very thin at the wide receiver position
before the draft. The team drafted Arrelious Benn in the second round, and
Mike Williams in the fourth round. Williams has impressed the Buccaneer
organization enough to the point that they are considering having him be the
number one receiver at the start of the season. Most fantasy experts think
that Benn will have a better season because he was selected higher in the
NFL Draft, but Williams has pure talent to offer for the Buccaneers. Even if
the Bucs aren't the greatest team, they have to throw it to someone.
Williams is a playmaker that reminds some of a young Brandon Marshall. He's
worth a look in the last few rounds.
Dexter McCluster – McCluster is a playmaker. He was in college, and his game
translates to the NFL. The Kansas City Chiefs took McCluster in the second
round, which means they must have plans for him. The team plans to use him
as a slot receiver, as their version of Wes Welker from the New England
Patriots. If he turns out to be anything like Welker, drafting him in the
last few rounds is tremendous value.
Mike Bell – Mike Bell signed with the Philadelphia Eagles during this
offseason, where he is most likely going to be used as a short-yardage back.
Bell played well during the limited playing time he had in New Orleans.
Although he is in a timeshare with Lesean McCoy, taking Bell in the later
rounds could reward you with 7-10 touchdowns in 2010.
Chad Henne – No man was happier on the Dolphins than Henne when the team
signed wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Henne played solid in the games he
started in 2009. His stats were hampered last season by poor wide receivers,
and lack of experience. Look for Henne to be a quality backup quarterback
this season.
Anthony Gonzalez – Gonzalez was a disaster for fantasy owners in 2009, as he
was injured during the first game of the season. The injury ended up to be
severe, and caused him to miss the rest of the season. The Colts had young
wide receivers in Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie, to fill the void. Both
played well, and now fantasy owners make Gonzalez an afterthought. Before
Gonzalez got hurt last year, he was the Colts second receiver. Even if he
doesn't retain his number two status, he will at least be the third
receiver. I'd take a shot on Gonzalez. You don't have to reach on him, but
he could potentially be a solid WR3 in most fantasy leagues.
Potential Breakout Players
Mike Wallace – With Santiono Holmes out in Pittsburgh, enter Mike Wallace.
Wallace is a fast, explosive receiver, much like Holmes. His value may be
hampered for the first few weeks with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger
suspended, but expect Wallace to do big things when he returns. His value is
set as a mid round pick with WR3 potential.
Shonn Greene – Don't let the signing of former superstar LaDainian Tomlinson
fool you. Shonn Greene is the guy to own in New York. Greene played
fantastic as the spell back to Thomas Jones in 2009. The Jets traded up in
the third round of the 2009 draft, and we saw why last season. Greene is a
bruiser that hits the hole just as hard as any running back in the league.
He reminds me of the Falcons running back Michael Turner. I'd take Greene at
the end of the first round if I had the chance, but he is going in the
second round in most drafts. Take Greene and he will give you RB1 stats all
season long.
Justin Forsett – A crowded Seattle backfield could hamper Forsett's stats a
little bit, but his talent will show, and he will get the majority of the
carries. Forsett is fighting for playing time with Julius Jones, Leon
Washington, and Quinton Ganther. In the limited opportunities he had in
2009, Forsett was easily the most explosive runner on the Seahawks roster. I
view Forsett's value as a mid-round pick, with the upside to be a RB3 in
most formats.
Pierre Thomas – With running back Mike Bell out of the backfield in New
Orleans, only Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush are left to carry the
Saints' workload. Bush isn't the every down back that can be used in fantasy
on a regular basis. That leaves Thomas. The Saints running back is expected
to carry a bigger workload and get most of the goal line touches. I like to
think of Thomas as a great value that can be had in the third or fourth
round, as a second running back.
Michael Crabtree – The former Texas Tech stud's stats were held up by a
holdout in the beginning of the season. The 49ers found an identity on
offense, with tight end Vernon Davis, running back Frank Gore, and wide
receiver Michael Crabtree as the main focuses on the offensive side of the
ball. Crabtree's production in college, and an increased role on offense can
only make me drool about the fantasy production that he might be able to put
up.
Players to avoid in 2010
Greg Olsen – Although Olsen has plenty of talent to offer, the Bears did not
get much better offensively this offseason. His quarterback is coming off a
down year, and a scheme change could make the situation worse. New offensive
coordinator Mike Martz has a track record of using Tight Ends to block
rather than be receivers. Unfortunately, blocking doesn't count for anything
in fantasy. I'd rather take a shot on Dustin Keller of the Jets, or Zach
Miller of the Raiders instead of Olsen this season.
Darren McFadden – The Raiders had a very good offseason in 2010, but I don't
think that the offseason did enough to keep McFadden in the starting lineup.
McFadden didn't impress in the carries he had last year, and is an injury
risk. I'd rather have his teammate Michael Bush this season, as he proved to
be explosive in the opportunities he was given in recent years.
Steve Slaton – The backfield in Houston is always a committee style
workload. Slaton got the majority of the carries in 2008, but was benched
due to fumbling problems in 2009, and saw more third down back duties as a
result. His situation had another speed bump when the Texans drafted Auburn
running back Ben Tate in the second round. I'd expect Slaton to be the third
down back in 2010, with Ben Tate and Arian Foster getting the majority of
the carries. Slaton is only worth a late round pick.
Austin Collie – The Colts had a nice surprise at the wide receiver position,
as Collie had a breakout season in 2010, when starting wide receiver Anthony
Gonzalez went down with a knee injury. Although Collie and fellow breakout
wide receiver Pierre Garcon played great in the chances they had in 2010,
Gonzalez will be back to reclaim his number two wide receiver status. That
leaves Garcon as the number three receiver, and Collie as the odd man out.
Dallas Clark is always a big part of the Colts' offense, so that leaves
limited targets for Collie. The Colts have a lot of weapons, so I think
getting Collie the ball will be his biggest problem.
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