We’ve updated our player rankings again. Click on the links below to see each position.

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Receivers

Tight Ends

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If you just play Fantasy Football because you want to fit in at work or you want to see what all the boners are about, do the following and you won’t finish in last:

1.) Copy and paste the cheat sheets for each position to a Word doc. You can find them in our “Fantasy Football Draft Special” section. Print them out. If you don’t like ours, use someone elses.

2.) Draft positions in the following order: 2 running backs, 3 wide receivers, QB, TE, running back, wide receiver, 1 team defense, 1 kicker, runningback or receiver, QB. (You can go TE then QB if you want, and after you’ve taken a defense and a kicker, you just need one backup QB and the rest should be receivers and running backs.

The important thing is to get two good running backs, and 3 solid receivers before you take anything else. Running backs get you the most consistent points, and there aren’t a lot of great ones. Receivers are also in short supply, and because you need three, you have to get them early as well. QBs and TEs are loaded this year, and because you only need one of each, a 10-12 team league leaves plenty of room to wait.

3.) Make sure to look at the bye week of the players you have. If one of your backs has a bye on the 7th week, you’re going to eventually need a running back to take his place on week 7.

4.) Only take 1 defense and 1 kicker. They have bye weeks too, but you can pick one up during their bye week and get points from any of the ones that are available throughout the season.

5.) Do NOT take Larry Johnson if you have the first pick. Trust us on this. If you need an explanation, look at our running back rankings or read a newspaper. He’s not hurt, but the best parts of his offensive line are, and they don’t have the same offensive coordinator. We recommend Tomlinson, but Alexander is the safer choice.

6.) During the season, never trade one of your players for two players. If you know what you’re doing, there are some exceptions, but if you’re just playing for fun, don’t do it. It won’t be fun anymore if you’re in last place by the sixth week. In fact, don’t make any trades at all, if you can help it. If your players aren’t doing well in the first three weeks, don’t panic. The season is 17 weeks long.

Dante Stallworth’s value just went up.  He’ll be the best receiver on a team dying for a go-to-guy in the passing game.  He’s very fast and athletic, but on the small side, and gets hurt a lot.  Still, he’s a more talented player than Reggie Brown, and as long as he stays healthy, Stallworth is good for at least 60 catches, 1,000 yards and 5 or more scores.

Article [ESPN]

Player Updates For August 28th

Larry Johnson: While coach Herm Edwards is optimistic Shields will be ready for the season opener against the Bengals, keep in mind that high ankle sprains can linger. Shields, who did not practice Saturday, suffered the injury during Thursday night’s loss against the Giants. Meanwhile, two-time Pro Bowl left guard Brian Waters (foot) returned to practice Saturday, his first since sustaining the injury on Day 2 of training camp. Johnson should be a top running back regardless, but whether he comes close to matching last season’s lofty totals is likely to depend in large part on the health of his offensive line.

Stephen Jackson: Jim Thomas, of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, reports the interest in free agent RB Stephen Davis (Panthers) by the St. Louis Rams is believed to be more of an attempt to shore up the No. 2 spot rather than a reflection of concern about RB Steven Jackson’s durability. Jackson received an injection in his foot earlier this week to calm down what head coach Scott Linehan described as a tendinitis problem in the heel.

Clinton Portis: Head coach Joe Gibbs said Portis’ (shoulder) rehab is ahead of schedule and that he expects the running back to be starting in Week 1, the Washington Post reports.

Cadillac Williams: Williams played only in the Bucs’ first two series before he was pulled out of the game. Overall, Williams’ stats weren’t that impressive (four rushes for three yards, two catches in two targets for nine yards). However, the Cadillac’s number was called six times in 11 snaps over those two series, and Williams got the ball on the Bucs’ only first-and-goal snap of the game (on the opening series, the Cadillac gained five yards on first-and-goal from the seven; Mike Alstott punched it in for the score on second down). Overall, Williams looked good in very limited duty, and he showed he’ll play a big part in the Bucs’ pass offense this year as well.

Brian Westbrook: Westbrook (sprained foot) has been running in a pool and could return to practice next week, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

LaMont Jordan: Updating a previous report, the NFL Network reports Oakland Raiders RB LaMont Jordan (ankle) was able to return to the game Friday, Aug. 25, despite his ankle injury.

Domanick Davis: HoustonTexans.com reports Houston Texans RB Wali Lundy started at running back Sunday, Aug. 27, in place of RB Domanick Davis (knee).

Willis McGahee: McGahee has been running significantly more passing routes out of the backfield compared to the previous two years and his receiving skills have been impressive, according to The Buffalo News.
McGahee has been a good fantasy runner through two seasons, but his receiving points have left a little to be desired, with 22 and 28 catches and no receiving touchdowns. But remember coach Dick Jauron and his assistants are running an entirely new offense, and they seem motivated to get McGahee the ball through the air as well. Expect his catches and receiving yards to go up, probably slightly with an upside of double the previous years.

Deuce McAllister: McAllister had a couple of nice runs, including a 15-yard trip to paydirt and a personal long of 27 yards. Reggie Bush had five carries and five receptions, so it appears that the Saints will have no problem getting both backs plenty of touches.

Kevin Jones: Tom Kowalski, of MLive.com, reports Detroit Lions RB Kevin Jones was more involved in the team’s offense Friday, Aug. 25. He finished the game with 43 yards on 11 carries and 27 yards on three receptions.
“Any back — Marshall [Faulk] was no different — you need to get 11-15 reps in one of these games where you just kind of get into your groove so to speak so you get ready for the season,” Martz said. “He kind of needs to do that.” Jones carried seven times for 25 yards in the preseason opener against Denver and six times for seven yards at Cleveland.

Willie Parker: The Steelers may not go with a defined Jerome Bettis short-yardage role, deciding rather to stick with Parker in the red zone, coach Bill Cowher said at his weekly press conference on Thursday.

Tatum Bell: Bell still stands to see a good deal of touches in the Broncos’ offense, but Mike Bell will remain the official starter. Both will have fantasy value, and it will be interesting to see what Mike Shanahan does with the two a few weeks into the regular season.

Chester Taylor: The Associated Press reports Minnesota Vikings RB Chester Taylor struggled to find running room Friday, Aug. 25. He finished the team’s preseason game with 27 yards on 10 carries. He is currently averaging 2.8 yards per carry.

Joseph Addai: Bob Kravitz, of the Indianapolis Star, reports the Indianapolis Colts’ running game has been a concern during the preseason. RB Dominic Rhodes has only rushed for 46 yards on 17 carries, while RB Joseph Addai has 32 yards on 21 carries.

Thomas Jones: Jones said his hamstring felt fine following his first preseason action Friday night, the Chicago Tribune reports.
“[I felt] OK, first game back, things a little shaky,” Jones said. “We had a lot of penalties and weren’t that sharp, but we’ve got another preseason game to go. But my hamstring felt fine, and I didn’t feel rusty at all.” Jones, who missed the first two exhibition games with a strained hamstring, likely is a slight frontrunner in the race for the starting running back job with Cedric Benson (shoulder) still sidelined.

Ahman Green: Rob Demovsky, of PackersNews.com, reports Green Bay Packers RB Ahman Green (quadriceps) will start the team’s preseason game Monday, Aug. 28, according to head coach Mike McCarthy. He is expected to participate in 18 to 20 snaps.

Kevan Barlow: Barlow had a lost fumble and a holding penalty in his brief appearance Friday. He finished the game with three carries for 11 yards.
Barlow nonetheless remains the team’s No. 1 back by default, and he figures to see more snaps after he’s had some time to digest the new playbook.

Greg Jones: Vic Ketchman, of Jaguars.com, reports Jacksonville Jaguars FB Greg Jones (knee) suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season.

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See Tight Ends 1-15

#16 Alex Smith (Buccaneers)
‘05: Receiving (41 REC. 367 YDS. 2 TD)

He did well as a rookie in Gruden’s offense, and they’ve talked about drawing up more plays fro him this season. Young quarterbacks like to fall back on their tight ends, which should help keep Smith involved as well. He’s athletic with good size, but doesn’t have enough speed to be a big-play tight end. He should get more work in the end-zone this season. 60 receptions and around 5 TDs are within his capabilities.

#17 Bubba Franks (Packers)
‘05: Receiving (*10 Games: 25 REC. 207 YDS. 1 TD)

Brett Favre has liked him in the red-zone in the past, but he was injured and inconsistent last year. The Packers don’t have the receiving corp that they used to, so Franks might end up getting more this year than usual. He’ll be on the field a lot because of his blocking, which will keep him involved in the offense. He’s not far removed from being a valuable fantasy option. He’s a big and reliable target in the red-zone. Sort of a sleeper. Get him late and keep him as a backup if you have the room and drafted a weak tight end to start.

#18 Itula Mili (Seahawks)
‘05: Injured

He’s more of a blocker, but Stevens is out for 6-8 weeks, and the Seahawks throw to their tight ends often. Last season, he was in the running for the starting spot, but had a variety of injuries. He’ll be good for receptions and may get a lot of looks in the red-zone, but Shaun Alexander limits how often.

#19 Jeb Putzier (Texans)
‘05: Receiving (37 REC. 481 YDS. 0 TD)

The Texans’ new offensive coordinator, Gary Kubiak, brought him from Denver, where he was used often. David Carr will probably use him as a check-down option, and Putzier has the speed to make a few big plays. Domanick Davis isn’t a big back, and the Texans’ O-line isn’t strong, so Putzier could get a lot of red-zone opportunities.

#20 Zach Hilton (Saints)
‘05: Receiving (*15 Games: 35 REC. 396 YDS. 1 TD)

He’s a sleeper at this point. He’s 6′8″ and long, and he did well late last season. He still has to win the starting job, but he’ll see time nonetheless. Drew Brees has an average arm, so he may rely on the tight end often. Hilton will be a nice target in the red-zone with his size. Keep an eye on him after the draft, because he likely won’t be drafted in 12-14 team leagues. More…

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Receivers 1-51

#52 Kevin Curtis (Rams)
‘05: Receiving (60 REC. 801 YDS. 6 TD)

He’ll suffer without Mike Martz’s offense. The Rams will run more this year, so Curtis’ only hope is an Isaac Bruce injury. He’s very fast, has good hands, but he’s only 5′11″. Watch how the Rams’ pass-attack does early in the season. Curtis may end up with Bruce’s job by the end of the season. You can only expect so much out of either of them this year.

#53 Eric Parker (Chargers)
‘05: Receiving (*15 Games: 57 REC. 725 YDS. 3 TD)

He’s faster than McCardell, and had a decent season in ‘05. If Philip Rivers ends up being better than Drew Brees, Parker could have a great year. That’s not likely to happen. Keep an eye on him though. McCardell is only getting older.

#54 Justin McCareins (Jets)
‘05: Receiving (43 REC. 713 YDS. 2 TD)

Two years ago, he was the biggest sleeper in the draft. He’s big, fast, and can get down field quickly. The Jets aren’t going to throw well, and Coles is their best receiver, so he’s not in a position to do much more than he did last year. But who knows? Maybe Pennington will come back strong, and McCareins has a 1,000 yard season. On another team, he’s capable of it.

#55 Robert Ferguson (Packers)
‘05: Receiving (*11 Games: 27 REC. 366 YDS. 3 TD)

He’s another Jerry Porter in that he thinks he’s better than he really his, but he has upside. He’s strong and quick, so he doesn’t get jammed at the line often, and he’ll catch balls over the middle. The Packers have always expected him to be better than what he’s done so far, but the Packers are going to throw a lot this season, and Donald Driver isn’t good enough to be the only receiver that Brett Favre looks at. He was ever poised for a good year, this would be the year. More…

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See Quarterbacks 1-28

#29 Chad Pennington (Jets)
‘05: (*3 Games: 49/83 CMP/ATT. 530 YDS. 2 TD. 3 INT)

His shoulder is never going to be the same, and his arm wasn’t strong to begin with. Assuming he wins the starting job and stays healthy, he still has to overcome a bad O-Line and running game.

#30 Alex Smith (49ers)
‘05: Passing (*9 Games: 84/165 CMP/ATT. 875 YDS. 1 TD. 11 INT)

He’s bound to improve off of such a terrible year, and he’ll only be into his second year. Norv Turner is a good offensive coordinator for young QBs, and Smith has better weapons around him this year with Antonio Bryant, and Vernon Davis. He’ll struggle with INTs and sacks, but he’ll throw enough to be playable in very deep leagues.

#31 Rex Grossman (Bears)
‘05: Injured.

He’s not going to pass much in the Bears’ run-heavy offense, which will be to his benefit. He won’t be forced into making a lot of mistakes, so he may have a decent TD/INT ratio. Don’t expect much, but he’s never had a chance to prove himself in a full season. He may end up with a decent season. More…

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This year’s group of tight ends is deep, Miles…Deep.

The top 10 are very strong, the top 6 are better than ever, and the top two are worth early picks, depending on the type of league you’re in. You can either take a tight end early, and fish for receivers all year, or you can take a receiver, wait on tight ends, and come away from the draft with a decent TE and two or three good receivers. Unless you’re in a two-TE league, you’ll be fine waiting on tight ends. Two-TE leagues are creepy.

#1 Antonio Gates (Chargers)
‘05: Receiving (*15 Games: 89 REC. 1,101 YDS. 10 TD)

Here’s the scouting report on him: “best athlete at the TE position, Gates has blossomed into an all-around tight end with a high ceiling. [Last season]Was more precise running routes and can catch in traffic. It takes two to stop Gates; he’s too fast for linebackers and bigger and stronger than defensive backs. 26 and still improving.”

When you watch him in real life, you can see that he’s not the product of an offense so much as the cause for a particular offensive system. Drew Brees and the entire Charger offense worked because of Gates in ‘04 and ‘05. The same will be true for Philip Rivers in ‘06. Gates gets open with his speed and agility, and stays open with his giant frame and great body positioning. The ball just needs to be near him to become a completion.
#2 Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs)
‘05: Receiving (79 REC. 905 YDS. 2 TD)

He’s been the safest pick at the position for a long time, and some say he still is. We think he’s boring and comes with more of a ceiling than Gates does. Gonzalez will be forced to stay in to block more often this year, now that Willie Roaf has retired. The Chiefs started to keep him in for two TE sets last year, because it effective for running plays to the outside. Gonzalez is still the Chiefs’ best receiver, and he’ll get twice as many receptions as 75% of the leagues other TE. The 2 touchdowns last season are a concern, but the Chiefs may have to throw into the end-zone more often this year.

#3 Todd Heap (Ravens)
‘05: Receiving (75 REC. 855 YDS. 7 TD)

He’s fast and tall (6-5), he catches everything, and he can run after the catch. The Ravens finally have a good passer, and Heap has two solid receivers on the field to take some pressure off of him underneath. Steve McNair threw to his tight ends a ton last year in Tennessee. He’s never had one as good as Heap, and this year might see him put up better numbers than Tony Gonzalez.

#4 Jeremy Shockey (Giants)
‘05: Receiving (*15 Games: 65 REC. 891 YDS. 7 TD)

He plays crazy, and he’s always hurt because of it. If someone told me he’d play a full 16 games this year without showing me his final stats, I’d think about taking him over Heap and Gonzalez. He’s a great open-field runner, and can get into the end-zone if he’s near it. Fact is, he’s never going to play fully healthy, but if he starts 15 games, he’s good enough to be in the top five. I had him last year, and every Friday showed a different injury he’d be playing with on Sunday. He’s an idiot, but I love watching him play. Nonetheless, if he’s on the board, and I know Kellen Winslow won’t go for another 2 or 3 rounds, I’m passing on Shockey. Too risky for an early pick when you consider how deep this top tier is. More…

This is the last of the “reliable” receivers in the draft. The rankings will depend on your league’s particular scoring format, and what you’re looking for out of a receiver. The bottom half is made up of players that will get you at least some stats each week. If depth charts change in the next two weeks, certain players may move up or down in value. The rest of our receiver rankings as well as a few sleepers will be up shortly.

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See Receivers 1-30

#31 Rod Smith (Broncos)
‘05: Receiving (85 REC. 1,105 YDS. 6 TD)

He’s old and slow, but he’s always in shape, and does the little things well enough to make up for his lack of speed. Last year, he was the only reliable receiver in Denver, but managed to have another good season. Javon Walker will force teams to pay less attention to Smith, and he’ll have room to work underneath on #2 corners. He should equal last year’s reception, and TD totals, but the yardage may drop a bit. In most drafts, we all have our eyes on the younger receivers with more upside, and they normally don’t pan out. Smith might fall lower than ever in this year’s drafts, because of Javon Walker’s arrival. He’ll be a very solid 3rd receiver, and last year, he produced like a strong number two.

#32 Donte’ Stallworth (Saints)
‘05: Receiving (70 REC. 945 YDS. 7 TD)

He’s one of the most explosive receivers in the league. But he’s also very injury prone. His value increases if Joe Horn takes a step back this year. Drew Brees’ shoulder problems, a coaching change, and a bad offensive line probably won’t let all four of the Saints’ weapons put up great stats, so keep an eye on which one of the two receivers best fits into the new offense. If Brees can’t get the ball downfield effectively, Stallworth is in a better position to do well, because he can turn short receptions into 40-yard touchdown runs.

#33 Muhsin Muhammad (Bears)
‘05: Receiving (*15 Games: 64 REC. 750 YDS. 4 TD)

The Bears have inexperienced quarterbacks, and they don’t pass very often, but when they do, they have a big, fast, difficult to tackle receiver to throw to. He’ll never repeat that ‘04 performance, but not many do what he did that year. It seems safe to say that Muhsin will have a better year now that Rex Grossman is back. Not too much better, but good enough to warrant the third receiver spot on your dork-squad.

#34 Nate Burleson (Seahawks)
‘05: Receiving (*12 Games: 30 REC. 326 YDS. 1 TD)

He’s nothing special on his own, but he’ll become very valuable, if Darrell Jackson goes down with another injury. Even if Jackson stays healthy, Burleson will put up decent numbers as the #2 receiver in one of the most productive pass offenses. So you can pick him up for his small, but steady stats, and hope that an injury puts him in position to do much more. How can someone drop in value in one season? We’re not saying that he’ll win you anything, but he’s worth a late pick.

#35 Drew Bennett (Titans)
‘05: Receiving (*13 Games: 58 REC. 738 YDS. 4 TD.)

He was a top 15 receiver in ‘04, when he had a better receiver on the other side the offense. He’s a good touchdown scorer, because of his height, and David Givens should take enough pressure off of him to give Bennett a comeback season. The Titans will throw a lot this season, and Norm Chow likes to use timing and touch passes to big receivers, especially near the end-zone. Bennett won’t get you a lot of catches, but he should get at least 7 TDs and close to 900 yards this year.

#36 Keenan McCardell (Chargers)
‘05: Receiving (70 REC. 917 YDS. 9 TD)

The quarterback change change shouldn’t hurt his numbers much, and age is the only concern. He’s another one of those old-timers that can do a lot with the little that he has left. Rivers could end up having a solid year, and McCardell could end up repeating last year’s performance. Or, Rivers could flop, and McCardell could take a slight dip. Either way, he’s their #1 WR, and he’s good enough to avoid being a bad pick as your 3rd or 4th receiver.

#37 Laveranues Coles (Jets)
‘05: Receiving (73 REC. 845 YDS. 5 TD)

He’s not that much worse than Santana Moss to rank him at the bottom of this list, but he’s playing in a very bad offense and has no QB. He has the speed and running ability to have a 10 TD season. He wasn’t a terrible 3rd receiver to have last year, and he’ll put up roughly the same numbers this season. He could fall low enough to use as a nice bye-week play. Better for yardage-heavy leagues.

#38 Antonio Bryant (49ers)
‘05: Receiving (69 REC. 1,009 YDS. 4 TD)

He pulled off a 1,000 yard season for the Browns last year, and they never had a good quarterback. Norv Turner’s offense in San Francisco will be at least equal to the Browns’ ‘05 offense, so another 1,000 yards is possible. Alex Smith will struggle, and that bodes well for Bryant’s style of play; he’s not afraid to go over the middle, and he’s strong enough to be a nice possession receiver on intermediate routes even though he has average height. Touchdowns might not come often, so leave him alone and take a guy like Matt Jones if you’re in a TD league.

#39 Mark Clayton (Ravens)
‘05: Receiving (*14 Games: 44 REC. 471 YDS. 2 TD)

Steve McNair will look to Derrick Mason more often during the first few weeks of the season (they played together in Tennessee for a long time), but Clayton is polished for a second-year WR and makes more happen with the ball in his hands. If Jamal Lewis struggles this year, the Ravens may resort to throwing more often than ever. They have a skilled quarterback for the first time, and the receivers to match. Clayton won’t get a lot of touchdowns, and his ranking is based on the hunch that Mason has lost a step while Clayton has largely improved since last season. More…

Toward the end of this group, the rankings can’t be followed too strictly. Once the more dependable receivers are gone, it’s a matter of preferring speedy receivers and yards, big receivers and receptions, or upside vs. steady production. We are nerds.

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See receivers 1-20

#21 Deion Branch (Patriots)
‘05: Receiving (78 REC. 998 YDS. 5 TD)

He could have easily had 7-8 touchdowns last season. He’s fast, quick, and arguably the best route runner in the league. He’s just another one of those smallish receivers that won’t get a lot of red-zone looks. He’s capable of turning more short receptions into long touchdowns than he did last season. David Givens is in Tennessee now, so Tom Brady will look to Branch more often this year. The Patriots spread the ball around too much to expect a lot of scores from him, but the yardage and receptions should be around 80 and 1,000, respectively.

#22 Joe Horn (Saints)
‘05: Receiving (*13 Games: 49 REC. 654 YDS. 1 TD)

If Drew Brees’ shoulder isn’t healthy for the start of the season, drop Horn about 10 spots down your list. Horn was injured throughout last season, and always entered games with a variety of nagging injuries. Last year was a rough one for that entire team. Dante’ Stallworth is pushing for the #1 spot in the offense, but he won’t get it this year, if Horn is healthy. He’s a very complete receiver with a nose for the end-zone, and unlike Stallworth he plays every down with the same intensity. Drew Brees will especially look to him early in the season. Horn may not get double digit TDs this year, but he’s only two years removed from an 11 TD season. He’ll rack up receptions, but the yardage will probably take a dip. Stallworth, Bush, and McAllister will make it impossible for teams to double Horn. He’s a good enough route-runner to beat most corners one-on-one. He could be a late-round steal if people in your draft are high on Stallworth. More…

The top two receivers on this list are ranked as high as they are because of their potential to single handedly win you a head-to-head match up. T.O. and Steve Smith can go for 200 yards and 3 scores in any given week, and they produce consistently as well. They come with more injury and off-field problems than Fitzgerald or Johnson, but they also come with bigger rewards.

Owens won’t go as high as Smith in most drafts, but he’s a better red-zone threat, and he has Smith’s ability to turn short receptions into long scores. Over the last two seasons, he has the highest TD/Game ratio of any receiver.

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#1 Terrell Owens (Cowboys)
‘05: Receiving (*7 Games: 47 REC. 763 YDS. 6 TD)

Right now, his hamstring is becoming a bigger issue, but Smith is working through a similar injury. Parcells’ offense is a complicated one, and T.O. needs to get on the practice field soon. Having said that, here’s why we put him at the top: There isn’t a corner in the NFL that can play him tight, especially with Bledsoe’s deep passing capability and Terry Glenn on the other side of the field. Steve Smith scored 12 receiving touchdowns last season, because he beat people in space. T.O. has the same ability to turn 12 yard receptions into touchdowns, but his big frame is also perfect around the end-zone. Steve Smith doesn’t have that luxury, and with Keyshawn Johnson in Carolina, his red-zone looks will decrease even more.

It also boils down to this: when you have the first pick of all the receivers, how can you pass on a player that basically averaged a touchdown a game over the last two seasons. He has a lot to prove this year. He wants to make the Eagles look stupid for refusing to renegotiate his contract. He’s playing in the same division as Philadelphia this year, and he’s playing for a coach that knows how to handle big personalities. T.O. is also a very hard worker, and he wants to be seen as the best receiver in the NFL. This year, everything is in place for him to do just that. It’s not a popular choice, but when you decide to take the first available wide receiver, you want the one player that you can rely on to get you 8-10 catches, 70-100 yards, and potentially score 2-3 touchdowns every week. Steve Smith is incredible, but it just doesn’t make sense to take a player with limited potential near the goal line.

#2 Steve Smith (Panthers)
‘05: Receiving (103 REC. 1,563 YDS. 12 TD)

He’s our favorite receiver in the NFL. No other player on this list has as much potential to have 4 or 5 two hundred yard games. He’s fast, quick, strong, and very physical for being 5′9″. According to ESPN, no receiver was used in an offense more than Smith in ‘05. He plays angry, and he overpowers corners with his strength and speed. It’s hard to put him at #2, but Keyshawn Johnson will take away red-zone looks, and Smith scored many of his touchdowns off of long runs. If your league rewards yardage more heavily, he’s number one without question. When I’m drafting, I’ll let someone else take Smith. He’ll go higher than T.O. in almost every draft, but it will be too early. T.O. can be had in the later half of the second round, and probably the third as well. Steve Smith will be taken in the second half of the first round, which may kill whoever takes him. More…

This comes from a local news site in Denver:

“The Denver Broncos have made undrafted rookie Mike Bell of the U-of-A as their Number One running back headed into the preseason opener this week at Detroit. Ron Dayne says Bell has earned the top spot, given the way he’s been working in camp. He was running as third-string running back behind Ron Dayne and former Oklahoma State standout Tatum Bell, who isn’t related to Mike Bell.

Before camp started, Denver coach Mike Shanahan said the running back position was wide open since last year’s leading rusher, Mike Anderson left to Baltimore.

Mike Bell rushed for three-thousand-163 yards and 17 touchdowns at Arizona. He has lived in Denver until he was ten years old, grew up a Broncos fan and idolized former star Terrell Davis.”

If you’re heading into drafts anytime soon. Take both Bells. I wouldn’t be surprised if Shanahan goes with Mike Bell for the season. Tatum Bell will be in a contract situation at the end of this year, and Shanahan is world renowned for pulling great running backs out of thin air. Other sources have said that Mike Bell was the second best running back in college football last year. Outside of Reggie Bush.

Link to full article [ESPN]

NFC EAST

1.) Dallas (13-3) Obviously, the Cowboys went out and made the biggest buzz in the offseason by acquiring TO. They now have that go-to-guy to get them into the playoffs and also give them an opportunity to make some noise once they get there. Don’t get us wrong, we think that TO is a dork and has the similar personality flaws as Tom Cruise. However, Parcells is calling the shots and TO should be good in the Big D until at least the end of this season’s playoff run. Lining up opposite of TO is another deep threat in Terry Glenn, and with Jason Witten at the TE spot, Drew Bledsoe has no excuses to not get the job done this year. Marion Barber and Julius Jones will fight for carries on the ground as well, so their offense is very well rounded. They even added Mike Vanderjagt for a little more consistency on the special teams side. With an already strong Defense in the works the Cowboys should have a strong season. More…

A few of these guys will have big years, and at least one of them will end up a top 15er next year, but who the Hell knows which one until week 8 or 9?

Quarterbacks 1-17

Fantasy Football Draft Special

#18 Josh McCown/John Kitna (Lions)

Whoever wins this job outright will have definite value by mid-season. Mike Martz has some toys to play with in D-Block. Roy Williams, Carl Rogers,and Mike Williams aren’t the same quick and agile receivers that Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce were, but they’re athletic and fast enough to make things happen. Kevin Jones will be another weapon at either McCown or Kitna’s disposal. People are betting on McCown to win the job, but Martz doesn’t need a guy with a cannon as much as someone that can make good reads and put the ball where it needs to be. I’m thinking Kitna will have the job for at least this year. Marc Bulger and Kurt Warner before him weren’t mobile or blessed with big NFL arms either. If Kitna takes the job and runs with it, he’ll move up this list. If McCown gets the job, and it appears that Martz will use this year as a time to develope a young QB, you’ll see some good numbers, but they’ll come a little later in the season.

#19 Brett Favre (Packers)
‘05: Passing (372/607 CMP/ATT. 3,881 YDS. 20 TD. 29 INT)
Rushing (62 YDS. 0 TD)

He’s still got a cannon, and he’s still one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play. I think he started to play like a maniac toward the end of the year, and that’s why he threw more picks than touchdowns. You can’t just say that he’s lost it after one bad year. Sure he’s old, but he’s still got more talent than most of the NFL’s quarterbacks. Ahman Green being back can only help him. I bet he throws more TDs than INTs this year. The only question is how many?

#20 Mark Brunell (Redskins)
‘05: Passing (262/454 CMP/ATT. 3,050 YDS. 23 TD. 10 INT)
Rushing (111 YDS. 0 TD)

He’ll be a nice little backup QB for you this year, and he’s going to have a few games that are NFL bests. The Redskins are poised to be one of the better offenses in the league this year. Al Saunders will bring that K.C. scheme that gave Trent Green a lot of success, Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El will help take pressure off of Santana Moss, and Mark Brunell will hopefully stay healthy long enough to reap the benefits. He’s been very underrated in every list I’ve seen. We’re geniuses.

#21 Steve McNair (Ravens)
‘05: Passing (*14 Games: 292/476 CMP/ATT. 3,161 YDS. 16 TD. 11 INT)
Rushing (139 YDS. 1 TD)

If the Ravens’ offensive line does better than they did last season, McNair could return to his 2003 form. He’s old and doesn’t run as well as he used to, but he still has a strong arm and toughness. Jamal Lewis, Todd Heap, Mark Clayton, and Derrick Mason are probably a much better supporting cast than people realize, because they’ve had Kyle Boller throwing at them. (Sorry Pat). I think he’ll also be a nice little backup to sit on for those bye weeks and injuries.

#22 Drew Brees (Saints)
‘05: Passing (323/500 CMP/ATT. 3,576 YDS. 24 TD. 15 INT)
Rushing (49 YDS. 1 TD)

Stop acting like San Diego had a “system.” They had a good tight end and a good running back. Drew Brees will have two good running backs, and two good receivers in New Orleans. The head coach is new, but he’s a very smart offensive coach. Marty S. wasn’t exactly a great offensive mind, so why is Brees a piece of shit anywhere but San Diego? He’s not a strong armed QB, but he’s proven that he can spread the ball around effectively, and the Saints have Stallworth, Horn, Bush, and McAllister. Maybe the Chargers know something that no one else does, but why then isn’t Phil Rivers in anyone’s top 20? I’ll sit on Brees this year, and see what happens if I have the room. He’s proven he can do the job for an NFL team, so he gets a big edge over Rivers. More…

Fantasy Football Draft Special

As a general strategy, I stay away from drafting any QB too early. Every year, some random asshole goes off and has a career year. It’s sometimes incredibly unpredictable. If you have a hunch, and want to impress dudes in your league, go ahead and do it, but it will more than likely bite you right square in your hairy ass. We’ve read through ESPN’s mag, Pro Football Weekly’s mag, the KFFL mag, and every credible, pay-site that we could find. As far as quarterbacks go, none of them agree on anything besides Peyton Manning at #1. After that, you can’t go wrong with guys like Brady, Hasselbeck, and Carson Palmer, as long as he’s healthy. Enjoy our two-cents…

#1 Payton Manning (Colts)
‘05: Passing (305/453 CMP/ATT. 3,747 YDS. 28 TD 10 INT)
Rushing (45 YDS. 0 TD)

Like I said, he’s the safest choice. Someone might come out and have a better year, but Pete King from SI said that Peyton is literally psychotic about out-preparing every team he faces, and I like my QBs like I like my ex-girlfriends: crazier than a rat in a tin shit-house. Don’t get over-excited and draft him in the first round, if you can help it. He may have to pass more in the red-zone without Edge behind him, but his 49 TD season came with Edge still around, so who knows. He ruined a lot of guys’ seasons last year, if they took him in the first round. More…

Fantasy Football Draft Special

It’s hard to make fun claims about these guys, because we have no idea how much they’ll play. I know one thing for sure is that dorks in your league will take the rookies too early. These rankings are based on a combination of talent, and the system they play in. The rankings will change as training camp continues. Some of these players, such as Joseph Addai, are potential starters at this point. All of them will see carries regardless of potential injuries to the players ahead of them on the depth chart.

Running Backs 13-33

#34 Joseph Addai (Colts)

Dominic Rhodes is the starter by default, and we’re expecting Addai to take over slowly. Early on, the Colts will rely on Rhodes’ understanding of the system and his pass blocking ability. Indie is planning on nothing less than a Super Bowl appearance, so Addai won’t get to carry the load until they have full confidence in his understanding of their offense. People have him ranked very high, but it’s not a safe strategy to make a rookie entering a complex system on a playoff team your second back. Rhodes did well enough for the Colts to ease Addai into the starting role. More…

Reggie Bush signed a six year deal with the Saints [ESPN], and will be in camp. This is good news for people hoping to draft him or who already have. If he stays healthy, everyone is expecting a lot of production, and he’s in a good position to do so. He’s still not a first-round back on our list, but that’s only because we’re expecting him to have a few quiet weeks early on.

Willie Roaf plans to retire this year [ESPN]. The Chiefs are still hoping that Roaf will change his mind, but it looks very doubtful that Roaf will play this year. This effects Larry Johnson’s value no matter how you look at it. Roaf is an 11 time Pro Bowl tackle, and a future Hall of Famer. He’s been the most dominant left tackle in football for a long time, and Johnson ran behind him a lot last season. Roaf’s absence will most likely force the Chiefs to keep Tony Gonzalez in as a blocker more often this year, which will make things easier on opposing defenses. Roaf made that K.C. line the most dominant in the NFL, and offensive line guru, Al Saunders is also out of Kansas City. On top of that, right tackle, John Welbourn retired after last season, and the Chiefs brought in Kyle Turley to replace him. Turley had a long period away from football, and is a drop-off in talent. Larry Johnson is a talented back, but losing Roaf effects his value more than people would like to admit. If I’m drafting tomorrow, I’m taking Alexander or Tomlinson over L.J. We changed our rankings accordingly.

Fantasy Football Draft Special

This is a shaky group to rank. When you hit this point in the draft, your choice between any one of these players will depend on taste, and could determine where you finish in the standings.

Despite their risks, Dillon and Davis seem to be the safest bets in the group to have 12 or more touchdowns, and significant yardage. Davis is an injury risk, but not as much as DeShaun Foster, who would rank in our top 10 if he wasn’t an injury risk.

Reggie Bush has been projected to have stats closest to Brian Westbrook’s best possible season. He could be better, but he could be much worse.

Running Backs 4-12

#13 Corey Dillon (Patriots)
‘05: Rushing (209 ATT. 733 YDS. 3.5 AVG. 12 TD) Receiving (181 YDS 1 TD)

It’s understandable that most people keep Dillon out of their top 20. The only reason to do that would be because of injury risk. Every preseason, Fantasy mags and websites will rank unproven players over guys like Dillon, and people pay for taking their advice. The Pats drafted Laurence Maroney because Corey Dillon is getting old, and they didn’t want to get caught with their pants down if he got hurt. He still has at least a year until anyone takes his job. In that offense, Dillon will get his numbers in the red-zone. He only carried the ball 209 times, yet managed to score 13 touchdowns. Maroney looks like he’ll fit New England’s offense well in the near future, but Dillon is a tough, NFL, back. He’ll put up solid number for at least one more year. More…

Fantasy Football Draft Special

These are the backs that should make up the first round in most drafts. With any of the next five, you have a good idea of what to expect, but there are some minor risks. Of this group, LaMont Jordan has the most upside, which is why we put him ahead of Edge.

Running Backs 1-3

#4 Tiki Barber (Giants)
‘05: Rushing (357 ATT. 1,378 YDS. 5.2 AVG. 9 TD) Receiving (530 YDS. 2 TD)

If your league weighs yardage heavily, Barber is a great back to own. He had 2,390 combined yards last season, and Eli Manning can only improve. Barber is 31, but he hasn’t been a featured back long enough to say that he’ll hit a wall just yet. He’s really only become a work-horse in the last two years. He’s not a sexy pick, but he’ll have another productive year. Like Portis, Barber’s a smaller back, and will lose a few end-zone carries to Brandon Jacobs.

#5 Clinton Portis (Redskins)
‘05: Rushing (352 ATT. 1,516 YDS. 4.3 AVG. 11 TD) Receiving (216 YDS. 0 TD)

Portis finished strong in his second season in Washington. In the last five games, he rushed for 100 yards or more, and scored six touchdowns. A few factors support his chances of putting up bigger numbers this year. First, and perhaps most importantly, the Redskins brought in offensive line coach, Al Saunders. He’s the same guy who coached the Chief line that made Priest Holmes a Fantasy god, and Larry Johnson this year’s favorite to gain 2,000 yards. Joe Gibbs will continue to run the ball as much as he can behind one of the league’s stronger offensive lines, and Saunders can do nothing but improve the Redskins, already successful running game. On top of that, Mark Brunell and Santana Moss improved the passing attack enough to keep teams honest. The only negatives with Portis are his small frame, and Ladell Betts, who stole a few goaline carries last season.

#6 LaMont Jordan (Raiders)
‘05: Rushing (272 ATT. 1,025 YDS. 3.8 AVG. 9 TD) Receiving (563 YDS. 2 TD)

The Raiders seem to start every year with a few over-hyped players, and last season Jordan did better than we expected. He asked for the ball toward the end of the year, and we like that he delivered when Norv Turner gave it to him. Art Shell is known for running consistently, and he brought in Jackie Slater to work with a decent offensive line. Under Norv Turner, Jordan averaged 19 carries a game, but when he carried the ball more than 23 times, he averaged 97 yards a game, and scored 6 of his 9 TDs. He’s also a dependable receiver: 70 receptions for 468 yards. He could be in for a monster year, especially considering the more compatible pass-catch duo of Randy Moss and Aaron Brooks. Jordan’s big frame and speed also prevent any goal line substitutions.

#7 Edgerrin James (Cardinals)
‘05: Rushing (360 ATT. 1,506 YDS. 4.2 AVG. 13 TD) Receiving (337 YDS. 1 TD)

He’s getting old, he’s playing for a team with a weak offensive line, but the Cardinals’ offense will pass well enough to give him room to run. You know he’ll get more carries, and you know he can find the end-zone. As long as Kurt Warner continues to throw well, Boldin and Fitzgerald will keep teams from stacking the box, and Edge should have plenty of chances to score. He’s a dependable pick in the first round.

#8 Steven Jackson (Rams)
‘05: Rushing (254 ATT. 1,046 YDS. 4.1 AVG. 8 TD) Receiving (320 YDS. 2 TD)

He was under-utilized in Mike Martz’s offense, which may explain why he seemed to take games off after December. He had a few 30 yard games, and that’s really the only reason for us placing him so far down the list. He has the potential to be a top 5 back, and Scott Linehan’s offense will favor the run. He wasn’t Marshall Faulk, but Jackson did catch 43 balls and 2 touchdowns. We think he’ll be happier and more productive out of Faulk’s shadow, and in an offense that better suits his running style.

#9 Ronnie Brown (Dolphins)
‘05 Rushing (207 ATT. 907 YDS. 4.4 AVG. 4 TD) Receiving (232 YDS. 1 TD)

The safe pick here is McGahee, but Ronnie Brown has too much potential for a big year. He’s the complete package, and he’ll get plenty of touches in a decent, Miami offense. Everyone in football is calling Nick Saban a great talent evaluator, and we’re banking on the guy he drafted ahead of ‘Lac Williams and Cedric Benson. Daunte Culpepper throwing to Chris Chambers and Randy McMichael should keep defenses honest in the box, and as long as Brown can hold up for 16 games, 1,400 yards and 10 TDs are a given. The fact that in his last 8 games, he never carried the ball more than 15 times, and scored only 1 TD should tell you why it’s a risk to put him this high on the list.

#10 Willis McGahee (Bills)
‘05 Rushing (325 ATT. 1,247 YDS. 3.8 AVG. 5 TD) Receiving (178 YDS. 0 TD)

I can easily imagine Willis having a huge season, and making every Fantasy dork with a website eat his rankings list. I hate doubting any former, Miami running back, especially one who put on a show for 11 games two years ago. He’s just surrounded by a terrible cast in Buffalo, and it’s hard for any running back to produce when no pass threat exists. On the other hand, the Bills offense can only improve, and McGahee has shown he’s capable of putting up big numbers quickly. Bottom line: 1,250 yards, and no less than 8 touchdowns.

#11 Rudi Johnson (Bengals)
‘05: Rushing (337 ATT. 1,458 YDS. 4.3 AVG. 12 TD) Receiving (90 YDS. 0 TD)

Everything about the Bengal offense is contingent upon Carson Palmer’s knee injury. If he’s unable to perform or play, Johnson drops in value a bit. He’s still a very reliable option in the first round, and for some reason doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves. Chris Perry will get a lot of use, but Johnson is good enough to keep him from taking away too many carries. He seems to be surrounded with questions, but at the end of the season, he’ll still have the numbers that merit a top 10 choice. As far as Palmer goes, his knee should be fine by week 5, and Anthony Wright did well enough in Baltimore to run the Cincinnati pass-attack in Palmer’s place.

#12 Cadillac Williams (Bucs)
‘05 Rushing (290 ATT. 1,178 YDS. 4.1 AVG. 6 TD) Receiving (81 YDS. 0 TD)

I like the way he runs so much that I’ll have trouble taking him any lower than 7th. He has some risks, but they’re minor. He had a great rookie season with some inconsistencies toward the end, but that’s really all you can say against him. He is small for being such physical runner, which makes him an injury risk. Still, on draft day, I might decide to be a crazy boy, and draft him over LaMont and Edge. ‘Lac’s a hard player not to root for during a Monday Night game in which he runs over a strong safety who’s 30 pounds heavier.

Running Backs 13-33

The Big 3

Lucky is the bro-dude to have his choice of the these three backs. After that, it gets a bit dicey…

#1 Shaun Alexander (Seahawks)
‘05: Rushing (370 ATT. 1,880 YDS. 5.1 AVG. 27 TD) Receiving (78 YDS. 1 TD)

Once again, we still like LT in real life, but Shaun Alexander plays in a much better system. He probably won’t get into the end zone 28 times again, but he’s good for at least 15 to 20. He also led the NFL with 54 carries for 10 or more yards. Like the Chiefs, Seattle has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, as well as an effective enough passing attack to keep teams honest against the run. If Seattle plays as well as they did last year, you may lose his numbers during the playoffs, but that’s something you can never account for. You know exactly what you’re getting with him, and he’s arguably the best choice overall. A little boring for our taste, but take him #1 if you like.

#2 LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers)
‘05: Rushing (339 ATT. 1,462 YDS. 4.3 AVG. 18 TD) Receiving (370 YDS. 2 TD)

This year will either showcase L.T. as the Hall of Fame back that he is, or break him down two years ahead of schedule. I’m thinking both. Teams are going to test Phil Rivers, and unless he adjusts to being an NFL QB quickly, L.T. will face 8 in the box for most of the season.

Last year, the Chargers did an excellent job of using him in a variety of ways to keep defenses guessing, including 3 successful half-back passes for touchdowns. This season will be a much more difficult test for the offensive coordinator. If nothing else, you can count on a lot more carries as long as San Diego’s defense holds up.

Personally, I like L.T. too much to take Alexander before him, but I wouldn’t recommend it on a site that needs to build credibility. There are potentially 5 or 6 backs that are in a position to out-rush and out-score #21, but he’s the best back in the NFL, wherever he plays.

#3 Larry Johnson (Chiefs)
‘05: Rushing (336 ATT. 1,750 YDS. 5.2 AVG. 20 TD) Receiving (343 YDS. 1 TD)

[Update]The Kansas City Chiefs have replaced the Broncos as the NFL’s best running football team. They turned Priest Holmes into this generation’s Emmit Smith. Larry Johnson would not do what he did last year, if he was in Detroit or San Francisco, but he fits in K.C. to the tune of 1,750 yards, 20 TD’s, and 5.2 YPC, in only 9 starts.

He was a dominant back at Penn State as well, so it’s not as if the talent comes from nowhere. He runs over safeties, and he runs by most linebackers. If you averaged out a full season as a starter last year, he would have totaled over 2,300 yards and 30 TD’s. You will also never have to worry about his End Zone carries getting pilfered, because he’s such a big body.

LT is in our opinion, the best running back in the NFL, but Fantasy Football isn’t real life. Shaun Alexander is certainly a safer choice at #1, but you just can’t ignore LJ’s huge potential for TDs and yardage. Don’t give the guy behind you the pleasure of having no choice but to take a potential monster.

We’ve ranked 50 running backs total. Check out 4-12

Position by position rankings and analysis, as well as draft strategy will begin August 1st.