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| Authored by Andrew Perna - 18th July, 2007 - 6:15 pm
 Each year sites like ESPN, CBS Sportsline, and The Huddle provide you with a fantasy rankings longer than Santa?s naughty-and-nice list. My question is ? why do you need a list of the Top 500 projected fantasy football players when a typical league only drafts about 170 players? Actually, the standard twelve-team league with a roster including eight starters and six bench spots drafts 168 players, but I digress.
With out further ado, I bring you Andrew Perna?s 2007 Fantasy Football Draft Ranking List. The Top 180 guys are ranked, all you?ll need to win your fantasy football league (plus a little more). I even broke then down into sets of twelve, in case you wanted to turn this into a make-shift Mock Draft, but look for a real one of those next week.
1. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego RB
2. Steven Jackson, St. Louis RB
3. Frank Gore, San Francisco RB
4. Larry Johnson, Kansas City RB
5. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis RB
6. Shaun Alexander, Seattle RB
7. Rudi Johnson, Cincinnati RB
8. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis QB
9. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh RB
10. Ronnie Brown, Miami RB
11. Willis McGahee, Baltimore RB
12. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia RB
It?s hard to rank anyone above LaDainian Tomlinson this year, but consensus number one?s rarely live up to their top billing. I really like Joseph Addai here at the fifth spot, more than likely you?ll be able to grab him towards the end of the first round.
13. Laurence Maroney, New England RB
14. Steve Smith, Carolina WR
15. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis WR
16. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati QB
17. Reggie Bush, New Orleans RB
18. Chad Johnson, Cincinnati WR
19. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville RB
20. Deuce McAllister, New Orleans RB
21. Tom Brady, New England QB
22. Drew Brees, New Orleans QB
23. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis WR
24. Cedric Benson, Chicago RB
There?s a wide variety of players listed in this grouping, with all of the elite running backs off the table at this point. The only question mark here is Benson. Chicago running backs are great on the field, but that success doesn?t usually transfer to the realm of fantasy football. Proceed with caution.
25. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona WR
26. Thomas Jones, New York Jets RB
27. Terrell Owens, Dallas WR
28. Marc Bulger, St. Louis QB
29. Clinton Portis, Washington RB
30. Edgerrin James, Arizona RB
31. Torry Holt, St. Louis, WR
32. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia QB
33. Antonio Gates, San Diego TE
34. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo RB
35. Roy Williams, Detroit WR
36. Travis Henry, Denver RB
There are four sure things here: Fitzgerald, Bulger, Holt and Gates. They aren?t the kind of players who are going to strike fear in your opponent, but they?ll get the job done each and every week nonetheless. Lynch and Henry are the question marks in this bunch. Lynch because he?s a rookie, and Henry because he plays for Denver.
37. Lee Evans, Buffalo WR
38. Donald Driver, Green Bay WR
39. Chester Taylor, Minnesota RB
40. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants RB
41. Anquan Boldin, Arizona WR
42. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati WR
43. Marion Barber, Dallas RB
44. Ahman Green, Houston RB
45. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland RB
46. Randy Moss, New England WR
47. Marques Colston, New Orleans WR
48. Javon Walker, Denver WR
Evans is quite possibly the most underrated receiver in all of football, with Driver not all too far behind. I wouldn?t have a problem starting either of the two as my number one wide receiver ? you shouldn?t either. We?re also getting into backs who could be sharing a majority of the carries with someone else. If you?re taking Taylor, Jacobs or Barber you might want to grab Peterson, Droughns and Jones later on.
49. Fred Taylor, Jacksonville RB
50. Andre Johnson, Houston WR
51. LaMont Jordan, Oakland RB
52. Laveranues Coles, New York Jets WR
53. Cadillac Williams, Tampa Bay RB
54. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City TE
55. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle QB
56. Plaxico Burress, New York Giants WR
57. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina RB
58. Julius Jones, Dallas RB
59. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota RB
60. Reggie Brown, Philadelphia WR
Mr. Taylor, for years fantasy owners avoided you because of your injury history. So what did you do in 2006? You played fifteen games, ran for 1,146 yards and five scores despite sharing the load with super-rookie Maurice Jones-Drew. Now you?re slipping down the charts because of competition instead of a lack of confidence in your health. Does that feel any better?
61. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh WR
62. Ladell Betts, Washington RB
63. Alge Crumpler, Atlanta TE
64. Michael Vick, Atlanta QB
65. Jeremy Shockey, New York TE
66. Warrick Dunn, Atlanta RB
67. Santana Moss, Washington WR
68. Kevin Jones, Detroit RB
69. Jerious Norwood, Atlanta RB
70. DeShaun Foster, Carolina RB
71. Vince Young, Tennessee QB
72. Chris Chambers, Miami WR
Beware of Michael Vick?s legal troubles. It?s becoming more and more likely that Roger Goodell is going to suspend the Falcons? quarterback. That wouldn?t just be bad for Atlanta fans, it could sink the early part of your season as well.
73. Philip Rivers, San Diego QB
74. Darrell Jackson, San Francisco WR
75. Todd Heap, Baltimore TE
76. Joey Galloway, Tampa Bay WR
77. Kellen Winslow II, Cleveland TE
78. Deion Branch, Seattle WR
79. Braylon Edwards, Cleveland WR
80. LenDale White, Tennessee RB
81. Vernon Davis, San Francisco TE
82. Donte? Stallworth, New England WR
83. Chris Cooley, Washington TE
84. Tony Romo, Dallas QB
There are two players I?ll have my eyes on this season here: Jackson and Stallworth. Both receivers have changed addresses, and figure to improve on their injury-ruined 2006 seasons.
85. L.J. Smith, Philadelphia TE
86. Vincent Jackson, San Diego WR
87. Bernard Berrian, Chicago WR
88. Matt Leinart, Arizona QB
89. D.J. Hackett, Seattle WR
90. Terry Glenn, Dallas WR
91. Mark Clayton, Baltimore WR
92. Jericho Cotchery, New York Jets WR
93. Issac Bruce, St. Louis WR
94. Vernand Morency, Green Bay RB
95. Mike Bell, Denver RB
96. Ben Watson, New England TE
Chances are Matt Leinart will be much better than several of the eighty-seven players I ranked above him, but he hasn?t shown it just yet. Although with Fitzgerald and Boldin on either side of him it seems as though it?d be kind of hard to fail.
97. Greg Jennings, Green Bay WR
98. Dominic Rhodes, Oakland RB
99. Calvin Johnson, Detroit WR
100. Chris Henry, Tennessee RB
101. Michael Turner, San Diego RB
102. Eli Manning, New York Giants QB
103. Jerry Porter, Oakland WR
104. Randy McMichael, St. Louis TE
105. Devery Henderson, New Orleans WR
106. Reuben Droughns, New York Giants RB
107. Jason Witten, Dallas TE
108. Muhsin Muhammad, Chicago WR
Calvin Johnson might be the biggest impact rookie since?well?Joseph Addai and Reggie Bush. He shouldn?t be counted on as more than a low-second, or top-third option at wide receiver, but given time that could change. Treat Eli with the same caution Giants? fan do: close your eyes every time he throws the ball.
109. Jay Cutler, Denver QB
110. Brandon Stokley, Denver WR
111. Chad Pennington, New York Jets QB
112. Brandon Jackson, Green Bay RB
113. Alex Smith, San Francisco QB
114. Kevin Curtis, Philadelphia, WR
115. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh WR
116. Matt Jones, Jacksonville WR
117. Brandon Marshall, Denver WR
118. Mike Furrey, Detroit WR
119. Chicago Bears D/ST
120. Maurice Hicks, San Francisco RB
If you took Frank Gore as your top running back, grab Hicks. It only makes sense to have your top player?s back-up. Technically it?s called ?handcuffing,? but you don?t need to worry about the dictionary definition. Just know that if you don?t do it, you can forget about hoisting that trophy.
121. Tatum Bell, Detroit RB
122. Baltimore Ravens D/ST
123. Jon Kitna, Detroit QB
124. New England Patriots D/ST
125. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh TE
126. Derrick Mason, Baltimore WR
127. Brett Favre, Green Bay QB
128. Ronald Curry, Oakland WR
129. Anthony Thomas, Buffalo RB
130. Jake Delhomme, Carolina QB
131. Drew Bennett, St. Louis, WR
132. Daniel Graham, Denver TE
The only reason you should be taking Brett Favre as your starting quarterback is if you happen to be a huge cheesehead. Otherwise you?re going to be greatly disappointed. The Packers have a decent wide receiver corps, but question marks abound at running back. Forget exiting the NFL with his dignity, let?s hope he does so intact.
133. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis TE
134. J.P. Losman, Buffalo, QB
135. Joe Horn, Atlanta WR
136. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh QB
137. Reggie Williams, Jacksonville WR
138. San Diego Chargers D/ST
139. Leon Washington, New York Jets RB
140. Owen Daniels, Houston TE
141. Eddie Kennison, Kansas City WR
142. Joe Jurevcius, Cleveland WR
143. Adrian Peterson, Chicago RB
144. Drew Carter, Carolina WR
Don?t mistake number 1-4-3 with the promising rookie out of Oklahoma, this Peterson will probably be playing second fiddle a lot longer than the former Sooner.
145. Ashley Lelie, San Francisco WR
146. Correll Buckhalter, Philadelphia RB
147. Eric Parker, San Diego WR
148. Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST
149. Trent Green, Miami QB
150. Damon Huard, Kansas City QB
151. T.J. Duckett, Detroit RB
152. Jason Campbell, Washington QB
153. Bryant Johnson, Arizona WR
154. Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST
155. Miami Dolphins D/ST
156. Philadelphia Eagles D/ST
Bryant Johnson is more than capable of filling in should one of the Cardinals? top receivers go down. He?s proven that in the past; grab him as a promising-third to top-forth option at wide receiver.
157. Tony Hunt, Philadelphia RB
158. Brady Quinn, Cleveland QB
159. JaMarcus Russell, Oakland QB
160. Denver Broncos D/ST
161. Minnesota Vikings D/ST
162. Carolina Panthers D/ST
163. Michael Bush, Oakland RB
164. Byron Leftwich, Jacksonville QB
165. Lorenzo Booker, Miami RB
166. Devin Hester, Chicago WR
167. Rex Grossman, Chicago QB
168. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City WR
There are four rookies listed here, with Bush be the most promising. His fell late into the draft because of an injury, but could supplant LaMont ?The Biggest Bust of 2006? Jordan before long.
169. Robbie Gould, Chicago K
170. Jeff Wilkins, St. Louis K
171. Adam Vinatieri, New England K
172. Jason Elam, Denver K
173. Jay Feeley, Miami K
174. Nate Kaeding, San Diego K
175. Shayne Graham, Cincinnati K
176. David Akers, Philadelphia K
177. Jason Hansen, Detroit K
178. Matt Stover, Baltimore K
179. Neil Rackers, Arizona K
180. Stephen Gostkowski, New England K
Kickers, smickers. Final round selections, and final round selections only!
?07 Fantasy Football Archive:
A Fantasy Warm-up, and Tips!
What kind of things excite you about the upcoming Fantasy Football season? Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
