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#1 | RB Marshall Faulk |
There really can't be
much doubt at this point. Injuries and longevity questions may always
lurk in the back of your mind, but how can you deny a guy who has
scored more often in the past two years than any RB ever has in two
years? His situation has not changed at all in STL, either. |
|
#2 | WR Kurt Warner |
Again, recent history
cannot be denied, and the Rams are in cruise mode. Until the league
catches up with them, he must be deemed a very safe and highly
productive selection. |
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#3 | RB Shaun Alexander |
During his 1998 junior
year at Alabama, we were telling anyone who would listen that this was
the best back in college football and would be an excellent pro RB. We
rest our case. |
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#4 | QB Peyton Manning |
Some FFers are
concerned that the presence of Head Coach Tony Dungy will dull the Indy
offense. However, Dungy has displayed true wisdom by completely leaving
the offense alone. With The Edge presumably returning, and the WR corps
presumably improved, his dependability reigns. |
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#5 | RB Ricky Williams |
Judge Dred needed a
fresh start. The 'Fins needed a stud RB. I'd say it's a marriage made
in heaven, but Ricky would put on a wedding dress again. |
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#6 | RB Ahman Green |
He's the mini-Faulk,
and with changes in the WR corps, he may be relied on more than ever.
The downside is that rookie Najeh Davenport is a sleeper to become a
goalline/short-yardage back and siphon off some of his work. |
 |
#7 | RB LaDainian Tomlinson |
Last year's top
fantasy rookie rusher has gone through his baptism by fire, and we
believe it toughened him up. The season is 25% longer than what he
experienced at TCU, and with a little seasoning he should be improved
for 2002. |
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#8 | WR Randy Moss |
The above are safe
picks. This one never is and never has been, yet he continues to
produce. Will he take the bull by its Viking horns without Cris Carter
to lean on, or turn into a leader? It's a stretch to expect he'll be a
great role model, but it's a stretch to think he'll be a disaster this
season. A few great games should be ahead. |
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#9 | QB Daunte Culpepper |
Is it a run on
Vikings? Why not? Culp now has a much improved O-line, the "sophomore
slump" behind him, and if the WR2 position doesn't reel in a proven
veteran, he still has Moss, TE Chamberlain, and his powerful running
skills to rack up the nice stats. |
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#10 | RB Michael Bennett |
Some will say this is
a stretch, because most of us gave up on him by the middle of his
rookie year. But down the stretch he showed clearly that he was no
longer lost, and started making things happen while the team crumbled
around him. A better start this year could mean a huge breakout,
especially if MIN isn't forever playing from behind. |
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#11 | WR Torry Holt |
A year ago we warned
that Holt had overtaken Bruce as the #1 STL wideout. Well, Holt had
seven games with 100 yds and/or a TD, and Bruce had five. Each has his
moments, obviously, but Holt is clearly more productive. |
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#12 | WR Terrell Owens |
The controversial
giant has made nice-nice with Coach Mooch, and is being allowed his
hoop dreams in the Adirondack League. As long as he stays healthy,
there's no reason to expect less than another dozen or so scores in
2002. |
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#13 | WR Marvin Harrison |
These three wideouts
are in a knotted clump in our staff's voting, and any of the three is a
solid selection, of course. Like Holt and Owens, you can always count
on Harrison to have about a half-dozen outings that could win a game
for you almost single-handedly. |
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#14 | RB Edgerrin James |
This rating may be too
high for a guy coming off knee surgery to a repeat an ACL that was
shredded during the regular season, but his draft value won't be lower
than 2nd round. Will he be his old self? No, but The Edge at 80% is
better than most backs at 100%. |
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#15 | QB Jeff Garcia |
One of our favorite "I
toldja so" players, Garcia was a bit less of a passing threat late last
year than he had been at times, but still did OK, including the
occasional scramble for a TD. Now with the hopes of development at TE
and healthier WR depth, the stats should be prettier. |
 |
#16 | RB Corey Dillon |
The Bungles continue
to be a one-man show. It'll be interesting to see what will happen with
the offense if Gus Frerotte comes on board to provide an improved
passing game, but history shows that relying too heavily on a CIN
player will burn you. Dillon is the only reliable one in years. |
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#17 | WR Rod Smith |
Someone should give
this warrior a Purple Heart. Smith fought through sprained ankles to
post decent numbers last year while he was the only real receiving
threat the Broncos had, and now that the old gang is all back together
with McCaffrey and Sharpe, the pressure is off. Nice things should
follow. |
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#18 | RB Anthony Thomas |
Was last year the
beginning of a new era of glory for Da Bearssss, or a one-year flash in
the pan? The development of the A-Train will have a lot to do with the
answer to that question, and we're not betting against them. |
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#19 | RB Priest Holmes |
Another mini-Faulk, no
one will be surprised by the good Father this year. Still, if the
passing game can draw some attention to him, he could easily parlay his
breakthrough season into a nice little career. |
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#20 | QB Donovan McNabb |
Last year we had our
doubts, with a brand new inexperienced receiving staff and his run
support coming back from injury, but things worked out all right. Looks
like there's no reason to expect less than continued improvement. |
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#21 | WR Eric Moulds |
Here's a guy who's
been in desperate need of a unified locker room and some stability at
the QB position. Mr. Moulds, meet Mr. Bledsoe. |
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#22 | WR David Boston |
Huge receiver has hit
his NFL stride, but may be in trouble with the league due to a recent
DUI and a test that revealed cocaine and marijuana in his system. |
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#23 | TE Tony Gonzalez |
For those in
TE-required leagues, he provides an instant advantage over every
competitor. For other leagues, he's an average starting receiver and
shouldn't be considered before the 5th round. |
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#24 | QB Brett Favre |
Year in, year out.
There doesn't seem to be an end. He threw 29 TD passes last year with a
receiving corps that was considered mediocre. What happens if things
improve? |
|
#25 | QB Drew Bledsoe |
Sometimes a new
acquisition just makes too much sense. In this case, here's a team that
seems reasonably well set all the way around except under center. With
a great rookie tackle to help an average O-line protect him, he should
easily be a top 10 QB. |
 |
#26 | RB Curtis Martin |
C-Mart may surprise
us, but it looks like he's begun a downward spiral toward retirement.
With young bull LaMont Jordan pushing for playing time, Martin did not
score at all last year after Week 10. Is he wearing down? |
 |
#27 | RB Antowain Smith |
We had practically
given up on this big guy, but his feel-good story merged with the Pats'
feel-good story to cover us with warm fuzzies and now he's got a new
contract with lots of zeros on it. The hope now is that he doesn't ease
up now that he's proven himself. |
 |
#28 | RB Eddie George |
As with C-Mart, it
looks like the Big E may be running out of gas. He could just as easily
prove us wrong, however, and show that his foot/ankle/toe/leg/shoulder
problems of the past two years are like Johnny Unitas: History. |
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#29 | WE Keyshawn Johnson |
Oh, to be a fly on the wall in Jon Gruden's office. The initial meeting must've gone something like this: "Keysh, I promise you're gonna score more than once this season." |
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#30 | RB Deuce McAllister |
The Saints became
comfortable enough with Deuce's skills that they dealt Williams away
and will let the kid have the ball. He's had chronic injury problems
while in college, but if the year of part-time duty helped him shake
off all the dings and get back to full strength, he could open some
eyes. There are no questions regarding his talent. |
|
#31 | WR Joe Horn |
Don't let last year's
slow start fool you. Horn had an abdominal injury at the end of
preseason and it took some time for him to play at his top level.
That's long ago now, and as long as the team's dreadful lack of effort
late last year was a fluke, he'll be back. |
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#32 | QB Brian Griese |
He has proven to be
more than what many expected, and has shown himself to be an adequate
player in the Shanahan system. With the return of TE Sharpe and a
little better luck on the injury front (including his chronic arm
problems), another year of fine stats should be about to take place. |
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#33 | WR Jimmy Smith |
This veteran provided
one of last year's nice surprises by coming back from serious
intestinal surgery and providing his usual excellent work, but he isn't
getting younger and no longer has McCardell to draw off DBs. |
|
#34 | TE Bubba Franks |
Favre has
traditionally leaned on his TE, of course, and in Bubba's third season
he could become the team's top receiver. The loss of the Pack's top two
WRs gives him an opening, and he has earned more trust as he has
developed. |
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#35 | TE Shannon Sharpe |
Welcome home, Horseface. |
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#36 | QB Trent Green |
Last year was a
nightmare in many ways for Chefs fans, but Green still piled up nearly
4000 yds of offense. With better health and more experience at WR, a
top 10 finish for this passer is foreseen. |
 |
#37 | QB Rich Gannon |
The old guy is
reportedly not totally thrilled about how things are going in
Raidertown these days. Still, he knows his presence still could put
Oakland in the Super Bowl this year. Without him they're shot, and job
openings are nil. He'll come around. |
|
#38 | RB Travis Henry |
Henry's rookie year
was clearly spent in a situation where he could not contribute as much
as he'd like, primarily because of staying in near-permanent catchup
mode. With Bledsoe in town, his situation improves dramatically. |
|
#39 | WR Tim Brown |
This will be his 15th
NFL season. Some guys are simply meant to last, like his running
partner, a certain Mr. Rice, who has been in the league for three years
more. |
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#40 | WR Laveranues Coles |
The second season in a
new offensive system usually means good things. Coles had his
occasional moments last year, and seems poised for the big breakout. |
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#41 | TE Marcus Pollard |
No TE scored more
often last year, and only two racked up more yardage. With Ken Dilger
no longer on the roster, his chances may continue to increase. |
|
#42 | RB Terrell Davis |
So after three
disappointing seasons in a row, why take a chance on TD? For starters,
it's the first time since 1999 he's not had to spend offseason in
serious rehab. No doubt he won't be quite what he once was, but he is
more than due for some good luck for a change, and should put in a
solid season. |
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#43 | RB Garrison Hearst |
Count our names among
those on the long list of people who didn't think Hearst could come
back after his ankle injury. We were wrong, and for his sake we
couldn't be more glad. That said, only for one season has he ever been
more than a #2 fantasy RB at best. |
 |
#44 | RB Stephen Davis |
The big back's TD
totals have fallen from 17 to 11 to 5 last year, although his carries
have increased from 290 to 332 to 356 in 2001. Look for better
efficiency this year, as multiple-WR sets could make defenders leave
gaps open for Davis that he hasn't seen since college. |
 |
#45 | RB Emmitt Smith |
You won't get any
bonus points for the game this fall when #22 will become the league's
all-time leading rusher, but this tough guy will fight for you all
season in any event. Right about in the middle of the pack of starting
RBs this season, we figure. |
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#46 | RB Fred Taylor |
His value is about as
wildly inconsistent from one owner to the next as any player ever has
been. Some won't touch him, while a few still must get him on their
team. The thing to remember is that no NFL rusher has ever come back
from his particular type of groin injury, and he's not exactly the type
who's fought off injuries in the past. |
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#47 | WR Chris Chambers |
The guy has a freakish
build, with unbelievably long arms and incredible speed, and proved
last year he can make tough catches right and left. His five-week
stretch with seven TD receptions was memorable. Watch him get better. |
 |
#48 | RB James Stewart |
No, the Lions aren't
thrilled with him. He's not exactly the lightning-fast playmaker they'd
like to have in their offense. But since the alternative is Lamont
Warren or rookie 7th-round pick Luke Staley, expect Stewart to get the
bulk of the work again this year. |
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#49 | RB Tiki Barber |
He will always need a
complementary back like Dayne to get the tougher yards, but Barber
excels in fantasy leagues that give bonuses for RB receptions. He is at
his best as a #3 fantasy RB, and has proven reliable enough to
contribute from that position. |
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#50 | RB Jerome Bettis |
The former battering
Ram is still with the team that suits him best, and is still the top
ballcarrier, but health issues continue to concern fantasy owners. |
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#51 | RB Duce Staley |
There was well-founded
talk this spring that Staley would have quite a fight on his hands to
outdo Correll Buckhalter for the starting tailback position this year,
but now that Buckhalter's season is already over with a torn ACL, it's
a moot point. |
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#52 | WR Rod Gardner |
A year ago we referred
to this big guy as "a man among boys" in his senior year in college. He
had a few nice moments in his rookie season, but now as the team's
tallest receiver in an offense that wants to throw it a ton, Gardner
could go nuts. Still, he has to learn the offense, and there will be
several other targets who are more familiar with the offense. |
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#53 | WR Isaac Bruce |
The best #2 starting
wideout in the league is still practically an every-week starter, in
spite of his uneven production. How can you bench a Ram? |
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#54 | QB Kordell Stewart |
By now it's a touchy
proposition to list Slash as a possible fantasy starter. Yet he's
matured well through all the knocks and bumps of his NFL career, and
the offense has come around to utilizing him well. His rushing skills
and improving WRs will make him a great fantasy backup and fair starter. |
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#55 | QB Aaron Brooks |
Unlike a year ago,
there is now no question that Brooks is the team's signal-caller.
However, equally unlike the situation a year ago, there is much
question whether this team is headed in the right direction.
Regardless, Brooks will be throwing the ball all year to multiple
targets. |
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#56 | WR Troy Brown |
This longtime backup
and complementary receiver became the hero of many last year, when
mental patient Terry Glenn pulled a series of bizarre moves and left
him in charge. He's still in charge. |
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#57 | WR Derrick Mason |
A year ago we
predicted Mason would be the first-ever 1000-yd Titan WR. He easily
surpassed that mark and became a surprise top 10 receiver. Encore? |
|
#58 | WR Darrell Jackson |
Half of Jackson's six
2001 TDs came in the five games where Trent Dilfer started or played
for a significant amount of time. Dilfer's play put the overmatched
Matt Hasselbeck on the bench, and Jackson's numbers should benefit. |
|
#59 | QB Tom Brady |
His first four weeks
as starter were statistically tremendous. The rest of the year he was
average, fantasy-wise. But consider that this is the first time Brady
will be going through the entire offseason as the unquestioned starter.
That preparation should help the passing game improve. |
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#60 | QB Brad Johnson |
Jon Gruden, famous QB
guru, has another project on his hands. After a year of getting
acclimated to former OC Clyde Christensen's offense, Johnson has some
new stuff to learn. It'll again take him the first few weeks of the
season to get on solid footing, but his numbers should be up from last
year. |
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#61 | TE Frank Wycheck |
He's famous for two
things: Throwing laterals and leading the team in receptions. He is not
famous for scoring TDs. Has therefore no value in leagues that give no
bonus points for receptions, not many points for yardage, or don't
require the use of a starting TE each week. |
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#62 | WR Plaxico Burress |
One of the league's
three or four tallest WRs finally started understanding NFL football
last year. The results were spotty, but sometimes quite rewarding for
his fantasy owners. He should improve this year on that inconsistency. |
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#63 | WR Amani Toomer |
Is he a good receiver? You bet. Will he be the top Giants' receiver? Maybe if not for Tiki. |
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#64 | TE Byron Chamberlain |
This former Bronco
came to Minnesota last year and proved the TE could be a valuable
weapon for them on a fairly regular basis. With Cris Carter gone and no
solid WR2 yet on the roster, his role could easily be increased. |
 |
#65 | RB Warrick Dunn |
The drafting of big TJ
Duckett hurts his value some, but when all is said and "Dunn," he
should get more touches than Duckett this year, with many receptions.
The problems at WR could even be a boon for Dunn owners, as he could be
plugged in as a flanker in many situations. |
 |
#66 | RB William Green |
A very talented back
who nonetheless wouldn't have been more than a 2nd-round pick if the RB
pool hadn't been so shallow this year, Green will almost certainly
prove the best rusher the Browns have had in over 15 years. Then again,
they haven't had a 1000-yard rusher since 1985. |
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#67 | QB Michael Vick |
Certainly young #7 has
a lot to learn at this point. He left school too early and was as raw
as chocolate chip cookie dough last season. (Homer Simpson voice:
"Mmmmmm, chocolate chip cookie dough.....") That dirt-poor receiving
corps doesn't help his cause, either, but he has the instincts of a
McNabb, who did fine last year with mediocre wideouts. |
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#68 | WR Johnnie Morton |
There is tremendous
upside to selecting Morton this season, of course. For now he is
obviously their most consistent receiver, and looks like a good fit in
the offense. If he is indeed the missing piece of the puzzle, the
numbers could be huge. Hey, we all doubted the Priest last year..... |
|
#69 | WR Freddie Mitchell |
Our favorite of last
year's rookie wideouts, Mitchell showed flashes of brilliance late in
the season and we expect he'll overtake Thrash by midseason as the #1
wideout. He'll be a star. |
 |
#70 | WR Muhsin Muhammad |
Is having a little
legal trouble right now, having been found with two handguns and some
weed, meaning the league could slap him out of action for a few weeks.
Other than that, a second season with QB Weinke should be a good thing
for fantasy numbers. |
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#71 | RB Charlie Garner |
This scatback is more
valuable in leagues that give bonus points for receptions and/or TDs by
that route, but Wheatley will continue getting most of the scores,
health permitting. Still, Garner has proven that he can produce
spectacular numbers occasionally, and is well worth a mid-round risk. |
|
#72 | TE Wesley Walls |
Bounced back a bit
after 2K's injury, and second year back should be better. With so many
changes in Carolina, Walls is a rock of stability, and team should lean
on him. |
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#73 | WR Terry Glenn |
I believe many
dictionaries, next to the phrase "tenuous situation," would have mug
shots of Glenn and Favre. Will the boisterous good ol' boy QB with the
golf clubs and hunting habit bring Glenn out of his shell and make a
team player out of him? Or will Glenn drag the team down with his
gloominess? Place your bets..... |
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#74 | WR Kevin Johnson |
After a disastrous
sophomore slump in 2K, Johnson came back to post career highs in yds
and TDs. If the run game develops as we expect, he should find himself
open a bit more often. |
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#75 | RB DeShaun Foster |
He hasn't earned the
#1 tailback position yet, as Lamar Smith's experience keeps him atop
the depth chart for now. And there's that pesky fumbling problem that
must be solved. But when healthy, Foster's big play ability and
instincts will take your breath away. This is a cheap risk that could
pay off huge. He'll be starting soon. |
 |
#76 | RB Jamal Lewis |
Certainly many people
will believe this is way too low to rank such a potential stud. But
consider that he's had significant, serious injuries in four of the
past five years, and that the team is in turmoil right now. Also, it's
his first year back after a torn ACL, so he will not be at full
strength. Many will overpay in your draft. |
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#77 | TE Todd Heap |
The Ravens didn't
draft this kid in the first round last year just to look at him, and
with Sharpe gone back to Denver, it's his time to shine. The WR corps
has lost three of its top five players, too, so an increased role for
the TE is very reasonable. |
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#78 | WR Joey Galloway |
The former Seahawk has
been missing in action as a Cowboy, yet there's a lot to like about his
chances this season. His passer seems to have finally figured out how
to properly throw the football, for one. A comeback year is a strong
possibility. |
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#79 | WR Ed McCaffrey |
Speaking of comebacks,
most NFL fans will love to see "Easy Ed" in action again. He's faster
than he looks and tougher than sheet metal. |
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#80 | TE Jay Riemersma |
Yep, you better
believe Drew Bledsoe has fond memories of the days when he often found
TE Ben Coates wide open for a score. However, Riemersma is not Coates,
and former Buc Dave Moore has come to Buffalo to battle for the top TE
job. This current rating will probably plummet this summer. |
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#81 | TE Chad Lewis |
McNabb's largest
target doubled his previous career best of three TDs by scoring six
times in '01, but receptions fell way off after his breakout 2000
season. Is hurt too often to be relied upon too strongly, but potential
remains high. |
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#82 | TE Anthony Becht |
Showed significant
improvement in his second year in the league, and should show
significant improvement in his second year in the newest Jets offense. |
|
#83 | WR Germane Crowell |
What's next in this
lanky WR's up-and-down career? If the offense makes any progress at all
this year, and if he stays healthy, he could be well worth a draft
position commensurate with his ranking on our list. |
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#84 | WR Jerry Rice |
The San Francisco
Treat came across the bay to play for Jon Gruden. At this point he
seems the embodiment of the old joke, "The only reason I stay around
here is to see what happens next." One last decent season is reasonable. |
|
#85 | WR Marty Booker |
In the wake of
continued injury problems for Marcus Robinson, Booker proved one of
last season's pleasant surprises on a team that was shockingly good all
the way around. He looks to be the #1 target again this year, but it's
not like CHI will be throwing a ton. |
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#86 | QB Steve McNair |
This perpetual gimp
always seems about to fall apart as if held together by rotting string,
yet he toughs it out time and time again and even posts good fantasy
numbers occasionally. However, if EGeorge is healthy, his passing will
not be enough to make him a fantasy starter. |
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#87 | QB Mark Brunell |
Didn't even throw for
3000 yds last year, but missed one or two games. With the team
splintering, Boselli & McCardell gone, and the run game as much a
question mark as ever, Lefty's future is too shaky to take him as
anything but a pretty good backup. |
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#88 | WR James Thrash |
Philly does spread the
ball around, so Thrash will again fall into that uncomfortable category
of, "Is this the week he scores?" More often than not, it won't be. |
|
#89 | TE Eric Johnson |
Mark it down now. The
Niners got a steal in last year's 7th round with this kid. Could easily
end the year with 2nd-most receptions on the squad. |
|
#90 | WR Curtis Conway |
Wideouts at this point
are mostly a dime a dozen, but Conway quietly had a great 2001 season
(1246 yds from scrimmage, 7 TDs) and there is an upside to 2002 as
well. Still, production has been noticeably spotty over the course of
his career. |
|
#91 | QB Kerry Collins |
Still not much of a
fantasy starter except in very large leagues, Collins is at least
durable. Here's some neat trivia: Last year he became the only player
in NFL history to make every single pass attempt made by his team for
two consecutive seasons. |
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#92 | QB Jake Plummer |
This could be the last
slither of Jake the Snake, but at least with David Boston in town he
has a stud receiver to help him along. Was a top 15 passer last year in
most scoring formats. |
 |
#93 | WR Corey Bradford |
Never could make the
big breakthrough in Green Bay. A fresh start could be just the thing.
Too bad it's with an expansion team. |
|
#94 | RB James Allen |
What's this, two
Houston players in a row?! Well, there aren't many starting tailbacks
left, you know. But in any event, 4th-round pick Jonathan Wells could
plant Allen on the bench permanently even before the season begins, but
being the ballcarrier for an expansion team is not a recipe for success
in either case. |
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#95 | QB Chris Weinke |
A year ago we
correctly forecast this was the rookie who had the best chance by far
to make an impact at his position. Now he has a new offense to learn,
but has a year of rough NFL experience under his belt. Some nice things
could happen. Neat trivia: Wouldja believe Weinke led the league in
rushing TDs by a QB with 6? |
|
#96 | TE Stephen Alexander |
Year after year we
expect something special from this guy, and it never happens. New coach
Marty Schottenheimer brought him out west to improve the O-line
blocking, so don't expect Freddie Jones numbers. |
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#97 | TE Alge Crumpler |
Once again it's
important to note that our inclusion of TEs on this list are only
important to leagues that must start a TE each week. Crumpler may
battle Dunn for the team's lead in receptions this year, but will
probably be virtually worthless in any other format. |
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#98 | WR Jeff Graham |
Just signed away from
San Diego, Graham immediately becomes their only deep threat. He won't
battle Crumpler and Dunn for lead in receptions, but will occasionally
post an 80-yd TD strike for you. |
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#99 | TE Freddie Jones |
Weren't we just
talking about former Chargers? And mentioning Jones as well? Perfect
symmetry. The Crudinals haven't had a good pass-catching TE perhaps
since Jackie Smith. They do now. |
|
#100 | QB Tim Couch |
If rookie RB William
Green does finally give the Browns a decent rushing attack, Couch will
be one happy fella. His receiving corps is the best it's been since the
team was reinstalled in the NFL, and last year's career highs (3040
pass yds, 17 TDs) should be easily surpassed. |
