Fantasy Football: Pick the Top Player at Each Position
by Chris Pokorny on Aug 18, 2010 9:30 AM EDT
in General News
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PrintThis week's topic to generate some discussion on fantasy football involves who you would draft at each possible position assuming every player was available. From seeing the opinions of other people, this might help you gauge who is going to be off the board right away at each position.
To ensure everyone understands the concept, think of it this way:
- If you said, "I want a RB," and every running back was available, who would you take?
- If you said, "I want a QB," and every quarterback was available, who would you take?
- ...and so on, until you have picked someone for QB, RB, WR, TE, K, and then a defense.
I haven't done a lot of research yet, but right now here is what I am thinking:
- Quarterback: Last year's guru might have been Drew Brees, but looking back there were a lot of quarterbacks who ended up being pretty comparable to each other. Quarterbacks can always have an off year in which they are inconsistent though, so I always revert to the reliable Peyton Manning. With that said, the position seems so deep that I would not be very upset if I didn't get Manning, especially with guys like Aaron Rodgers and Matt Schaub up-and-coming.
- Running Back: The Vikings' Adrian Peterson punched it into the end zone a few more times last year, but there's no doubt in my mind that my top running back would be Chris Johnson. The amount of yardage he had compared to other running backs, and the fact that Vince Young might be in line for a good season with the Titans, paves the way for another promising year.
- Wide Receiver: The past two years, I would have put Larry Fitzgerald here. With Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin gone though, his stock drops a little bit due to the risk (although that makes him a potential sleeper at the same time). With Tom Brady under center in New England, it's hard to go against Randy Moss or Wes Welker as players who will deliver consistently. With that said, I have to go with Miles Austin; he didn't really play much in Dallas' first four games, and then was outstanding the rest of the way.
- Tight End: For the past six seasons, Antonio Gates has been a sure bet to have nearly a 1,000 yards, 8+ touchdown season. That's more than I could hope for from the tight end position.
- Kicker: With the news of Brett Favre likely returning, I'd take a stab at Ryan Longwell, who had a lot of extra points last season and was accurate enough. The kicker position isn't nearly as important as others in fantasy football, but sometimes you end up taking those 8-10 points for granted and one week of a "zero" on the board results in a loss.
- Defense: I love what the New York Jets were able to do defensively. If everything works out with Darrelle Revis, I have to take them first, even ahead of the Baltimore Ravens.
Now it's your turn to weigh in! Don't be shy if you feel you have an awkward pick like Terrell Owens at receiver; this is all about getting a wide array of opinions!
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QB: Aaron Rogers
RB: Chris Johnson
WR: Miles Austin
TE: Antonio Gates
DST: Vikings
K: Longwell
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
Yes, feel free to pick either DEF, DST, or both.
Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.
by Chris Pokorny on Aug 18, 2010 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions
QB: Aaron Rogers – (3rd year as a starter and is only getting better, also rarely turned the ball over)
RB: Chris Johnson – (Legit potential to break several rushing records)
WR: Andre Johnson – (Absolute beast in up and coming offense)
TE: Dallas Clark – (Huge numbers from last season likely to continue)
DST: Vikings – (Great defense and Harvin returning)
K: Nate Kaeding – (Insanely accurate and kicks a lot)
K: Nate Kaeding – (Insanely accurate and kicks a lot)
- Minus the postseason
Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.
by Chris Pokorny on Aug 18, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
About to say that. Surprised the Chargers are keeping him actually.
by TheDriveStillHurts on Aug 18, 2010 11:40 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Note: With Wes Welker’s injury in Week 17 of last season, he is expected to be limited in a significant portion of this year.
Don’t sleep on him, he is already back practicing.
He is going late in drafts. I would scoop him up.
by Bernie19Kosar on Aug 18, 2010 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions
he’ll be decent, but even if he feels fine, he won’t be 100% until next season.
I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough.
by notthatnoise on Aug 18, 2010 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Probably, but if you are in a PPR and you can get 80-90 catches in the 10-15th round, that is pretty sweet.
by Bernie19Kosar on Aug 18, 2010 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions
QB: Aaron Rodgers/Drew Brees (Not sure who will put up more points)
RB: Chris Johnson (Been on his band wagon since his rookie year and each year has paid off for me)
WR: Andre Johnson (Gotta feeling he lights it up this year. Would pick Fitz but I dont trust the QB’s)
TE: Antonio Gates (Consistent as can be but keep an eye on Vernon Davis)
DST: Jets (With or without Revis…Dont trust Baltimores secondary)
K: Phil Dawson (Why not…It’s kicker after all)
QB: Trying to find reasons to take Brady, but just can’t. I’ll stick with Peyton.
RB: Ray Rice- top 5 O-line and offense is developing some semblance of a passing game.
WR: Andre Johnson- reminds me of T.O. in his prime, maybe better.
TE: Dallas Clark – plays like a slot receive with Peyton throwing to him; SD still spreads its targets around too much to like Gates over him.
DST/DEF: negligible to me, would probably take MIN for Harvin’s return abilities.
K: pick one out of a hat.
You are reading my signature.
Indy also spreads out the ball to a lot of targets too, and V-Jax is still holdikng out.
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
I appreciate Male Beauty
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
they spread the ball around more, and they throw it a ton more: IND threw the ball 82 times more than SD during the regular season in ’09.
Clark had 19 more targets than Gates last year, and 40+ more than either Collie or Garcon. I don’t think Gates will magically attract all of Jackson’s passes for 4 weeks, nor will apply the same coverage to non-VJ receivers and leave Gates open to the same coverage.
You are reading my signature.
Good point that Indy throws more. I guess i disagree that Gates won’t get those targets. Without V-Jax, their receivers are not all that special, and they have a rookie RB, so I think the targets will be fairly even (I also think collie and garcon will get more targets now that they are a year older).
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
I appreciate Male Beauty
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
QB: Brees.
RB: A. Peterson (but really a toss-up between him & C. Johnson)
WR: Andre Johnson
TE: Dallas Clark (V. Davis is a close second — he saved me last season)
D: baltimore (I hate saying that)
K: Gostkowski
by TheDriveStillHurts on Aug 18, 2010 1:13 PM EDT reply actions
there are a lot of defenses you could slide in and not be much, if any, worse than the jets of vikings. The packers led the league in INTs last season and had the second most defensive TDs (not that you can really project that). The saints had twice as many TDs as the next closest team. They gave up a lot of yards, but they had a bunch of sacks and turnovers.
I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough.
QB: Rodgers GB-Did you see that game?
RB: Peterson MN-Coin flip w/ CJ2K
WR: Jennings GB-Think he grows w/Rodgers
TE: Dallas Clark IND-Basically a WR labeled as a TE
D: SF 49ers-Solid D return game improved w/ Ginn
K: Crosby GB-Solid K, w/ a wk 10 bye
and no I am not a closet Packer fan
"Let your Cleveland hang out!!!" *tm
QB DREW BREES- Need I say more
RB RYAN MATTHEWS- This kid is going to be a beast mark my words
WR ANDRE JOHNSON- nuff’ said
TE ANTONIO GATES- I pick him over Clark because Jackson is out so hes going to get more looks
K PHIL DAWSON
DEF MINNY- these guys are viscous against the run and have decent CB’s
by usarmyjon13f on Aug 18, 2010 5:31 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Wouldn’t it make sense to pick a Dallas Clark instead of Antonio Gates BECAUSE Jackson is out? He’s always targeted an awful lot… And I would think that with Jackson out, opposing defenses will be able to focus even more on shutting him down since there’s one less other option for Rivers to throw to.
Just my opinion though. I have Brent Celek as my TE in my league so it doesn’t make much difference to me :)
QB: Brees
RB: Chris Johnson
WR: Andre Johnson
TE: Kellen Winslow
K: Mason Crosby
D/ST: Browns (I expect huge improvement on D and we have the best ST player in the world)
by Justin Kowalczyk on Aug 18, 2010 6:23 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Chris Johnson/MJD
WR: Andre Johnson is a machine
TE: Vernon Davis
K: No freaking idea
DST: Jets
I always take phil dawson if I can get him.
I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough.
by notthatnoise on Aug 18, 2010 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions
QB: Brees
RB: Chris Johnson
WR: Andre Johnson/Calvin Johnson
(am i the only one who thinks Miles Austin won’t pan out?)
TE: Gates
K: sure, Ryan Longwell… maybe the Texans Kicker…anyone in a dome
DST: 49ers
by discoinferno083 on Aug 18, 2010 7:05 PM EDT reply actions
I am far less than sold on Miles Austin. He has less than a season under his belt and nobody was game-planning for him. I’m not saying he can’t be great, I’m just not convinced.
I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough.
by notthatnoise on Aug 18, 2010 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Personally, I think Miles Austin is a beast. I expect big things from him. However, I think the primary thing going against him coming into this season is that he’s not sneaking up on any defenses this year. Teams now know that he demands the coverage, or he’ll torch you.
One thing I find interesting, is that if you extrapolate his statistics throughout season as if he had started every game, he’d have led in both total receiving yards and TDs.
Still, the possibility of a 1-yr-wonder (however unlikely it may be, very) means I don’t pick him before Andre Johnson.
I’m probably being overly cautious here, but I just feel like if I’m going to use a pick that high on a WR I’d like it to be one I can trust.
I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough.
by notthatnoise on Aug 19, 2010 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
QB: jake delhomme
RB: jerome harrison
WR: momass
TE: ben watson
K: phil dawson
DST: browns
by Dawg Nuts on Aug 18, 2010 7:07 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
This is what my team looked like in my first fantasy football year (except insert Couch, Green, KJ, Rickey Dudley, Dawson, Browns).
Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.
by Chris Pokorny on Aug 18, 2010 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Round by Round Draft Picks for my 2002 team (first year playing):
1. Tim Couch
2. Kevin Johnson
3. Cleveland Defense
4. Quincy Morgan
5. William Green
6. Ricky Dudley
7. Jeff Wilkins
8. Derrick Mason
9. Terrell Davis
10. Peerless Price
11. Vinny Testaverde
12. Phil Dawson
13. Marty Booker
14. Travis Henry
15. Jacksonville Defense
What a horrible draft. I quickly realized that after people in the league told me of my lack of understanding on the purpose of fantasy football. I ended up finishing the season at 8-7, just shy of the playoffs, after making some trades and free agent pickups.
By the end of the year, my roster looked roughly like this:
QB – Brett Favre or Aaron Brooks
RB – Corey Dillon, Garrison Hearst, Duce Staley, or Moe Williams
WR – Isaac Bruce, Chad Johnson, Randy Moss, Andre Davis, Koren Robinson
TE – Jeremy Shockey
K – Phil Dawson
DEF – Cleveland
Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.
by Chris Pokorny on Aug 18, 2010 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions
FYI, my memory isn’t that good; I just referenced the old league page from my Yahoo profile.
Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.
by Chris Pokorny on Aug 18, 2010 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow, bravo on that finish. That is borderline biblical.
by Bernie19Kosar on Aug 19, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
thats a great turnaround.
Is it just me, or did you draft two kickers and 2 defenses? and took your first kicker before you took your 2nd RB?
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
I appreciate Male Beauty
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
Yes, because of this:
What a horrible draft. I quickly realized that after people in the league told me of my lack of understanding on the purpose of fantasy football.
Regarding defenses though, there’s nothing wrong with drafting two of them.
Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.
by Chris Pokorny on Aug 19, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah…there isn’t. I normally draft one and pick up a waiver wire one in the bye week…it is just the combination of stuff. I bet if I look back at my first fantasy football draft, it will also be bad too.
I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
I appreciate Male Beauty
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
Drafting two defenses is silly. If you get to the point where you need a backup defense, there’s always going to be one on the waiver wire with a good matchup.
I’ve had drafts before where I took, for example, the Ravens and Vikings, and each were candidates to give me 20 points per week. It paid off big time, especially when one of those teams faced a powerhouse offense. I’m not saying it’s necessary, but I haven’t found it to be silly. There are other seasons where I do draft only one defense.
Now, drafting a defense that can be found on the waiver wire any given week would be silly, unless you use your final pick on that defense because they have a great couple of matchups to start the season.
Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.
by Chris Pokorny on Aug 23, 2010 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Ravens and Vikings
That just doesn’t seem viable to me. I think after one of them is drafted, you’d be losing out on a decent pick to draft the other. Their both top tier defenses (and have been for years) so I’d assume they both had to go relatively high for a defense. That’s a pick I’d definitely prefer to use elsewhere.
I do love drafting a top 5 defense, that way I can put it on the back burner, until they have a bye week. But, 20 points a week?!? That’s a crazy high average even for having 2 defenses.
"i want to suck the f-ing quarterback. This is football." -discoinferno083
Ravens = Round 6
Vikings = Round 13
It was from the 2007 draft with my fellow SBN writers. The Ravens ended up tanking compared to usual though. I didn’t say they were averaging 20 points a week, I was trying to say that I looked at their matchups and often thought, “this could be the defense of the week,” which would be near 20 points (hence the word candidates).
Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.
by Chris Pokorny on Aug 23, 2010 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d actually go w/ Moore instead of Watson for this team.
"Let your Cleveland hang out!!!" *tm
by Drexel Dawg on Aug 19, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
No, Peyton. I have no respect for their RBs, so I expect big pass numbers.
It’s not a lie if you believe it.
by Brownie's Year on Aug 18, 2010 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Unfortunately, naming the top guy at each position doesn’t do you much good in fantasy football. If you could grab the top guy at each position, it wouldn’t matter whether you preferred Manning or Rodgers or Brees.
Perfectly understandable. With that said, I often find myself in the draft asking each of these questions. For example, it might be the end of the first round and I might think, “hmm, the best running backs are gone, I want the best wide receiver. Who is that?” Other positions (TE, K, DEF) come into play during the later rounds; I sometimes find myself being the barrier breaker for the position, and then other players at the position fly off the board after that.
You’ll only get one of the “Top 1” players from this group: QB, WR, RB.
However, you could get one from that group, plus the top TE, K, and DEF if you play it out right.
Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.
by Chris Pokorny on Aug 19, 2010 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions
A Tom Brady without his favorite target (Wes Welker)? In a very different (and by different I mean worse) offense than NE had in ’07. In a league with QBs like Rodgers, Brees, and Manning.
It’s one thing to like Tom Brady as a pick, I’d just hope you understand his value means you can grab him around the 5th round (in average leagues).
I have a feeling Welker is gunna start soon. Week 2 at the latest. The reports coming out indicate good news for him.
(Not that I rate Brady so highly anyway)
like I said above somewhere, just because he’s playing and feels great doesn’t mean he’s actually back to 100%. I had the same injury, and while I felt like I was completely healed, I noticed that I just couldn’t do some things I did before until two years after the surgery.
I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough.
by notthatnoise on Aug 19, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, and Wes Welkers receiving style puts an intense amount of stress on the ACL and MCL. To do the kind of things he does (extremely quick cuts and changes of direction) effectively you need a healthy knee.
If NE ever wants him back to 100%, they’d be smart to not play him that much, even if he’s asking them too.
the thing is playing him all the time won’t necessarily be a problem. his knee will be sore after games and probably after some practices, but other than that it will be fine. In fact, playing is good for his knee, since he needs to strengthen all of those little muscles again that are hard to hit in a weight room.
I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough.
by notthatnoise on Aug 19, 2010 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Even so, I don’t think he’ll be able to do what he normally could with a 50-70% knee.
I could be wrong, but he’s still a bottom 40 WR for me. Buyer beware type of guy that I’ll be happy to let players (who pay less attention) break the bank on.
I did a mock draft this morning, and he went in the fifth or sixth round, which I would think is about right considering his upside and his downside this year.
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
Personally, I wouldn’t take him prior to the 9 or 10. I’m actually high on Edleman right now, I like him as a sleeper, in second to last round. (I have a strong feeling he’ll still be available.)
Upside: Welker 2.0
Downside: @ second to last pick, none
I like Edelman, but the problem is that you’ll be wasting a roster spot until Welker gets hurt. And then the Patriots will play that “questionable” game with Welker and you’ll never know when to start Edelman or not.
QB- Aaron rodgers.
RB- Charles KC. Should have a great season w/out Johnson in the mix.
WR- fitzgerald. Even w/out good play at QB the guy catches everything.
TE- Gates. Gotta support the former flash.
D/ST – either browns or jets for obvious reasons.
K- Dawson. Easily the most consistent kicker in the leauge.
"We don't take no prisoners! I say we kill'em, every other team! That way we don't got to feed them or nothing!
-Coach Kevin Hockett
by brownsboy14 on Aug 19, 2010 7:41 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
ummm…KC signed Thomas Jones in the offseason. TJ is one of the best RB sleeper values this season. Just a heads’ up that Charles doesn’t exactly have a clear road to an amazing Fanstasy season.
by discoinferno083 on Aug 19, 2010 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions
and I like to have the word “season” in my posts as many times as possible. My bad, it’s early.
by discoinferno083 on Aug 19, 2010 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks, I didn’t know that the chiefs signed another running back. I think that w/ the way he played towards the end of the season,, the chiefs will have to give him a shot. Thanks for the advice though.
"We don't take no prisoners! I say we kill'em, every other team! That way we don't got to feed them or nothing!
-Coach Kevin Hockett
by brownsboy14 on Aug 19, 2010 11:24 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
also saw….i think on NFL.com….. Jones might be currently considered the #1 back… with Charles a close #2….. definitely something to watch.
by discoinferno083 on Aug 21, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not sure if anyone else is watching the Colts @ Bills preseason game going on right now (here), but C.J. Spiller honestly just rose his fantasy stock in 1 play, a 31 yard scamper for a TD with 2 or 3 broken/missed tackles. He looks solid.
Upside: Chris Johnson 2.0 (rookie)
Downside: Bills
It’s a risk I’d be willing to take in the 3rd or 4th round. I took the same risk on the original CJ in his rookie season as well.
CJ is talented enough to create magic even with that awful O line. Guy has legs like Maurice Jones Drew. I would definitely take a gamble on him.
"I spoil a lot of people with my play."
"But I mean, even my family gets spoiled at times watching me doing things that I do, on and off the court." -Lebron James
i just dont see him getting many opportunities behind Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. I dont think either one of them played tonight.
Moisture is the essence of wetness.
He is much better than both.
"I spoil a lot of people with my play."
"But I mean, even my family gets spoiled at times watching me doing things that I do, on and off the court." -Lebron James
Im skeptical. He had one poor preseason appearance and one good one. Im not ready to wish him to the top of the depth chart.
Moisture is the essence of wetness.
Jackson was sneaky good prior to the implosion of their offensive line.
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
I’m not basing it on preseason games, I am basing it off of what I saw of him in college.
"I spoil a lot of people with my play."
"But I mean, even my family gets spoiled at times watching me doing things that I do, on and off the court." -Lebron James
Meh. Im not trying to argue with you really, but to say he’s MUCH better than the other two is, IMO, a bit myopic. Lest we forget Marshawn Lynch’s collegiate career, and the fact that Jackson and Lynch are both +1000yd rushers. As a RB, Spiller was really good, but no world-beater. He made his name on ST.
Moisture is the essence of wetness.
do we have any IDP players you’d recommend snagging? Maybe D’Qwell (sp?) off waivers….I like Roth and Trusnik, but don’t know if they…(or any other of our circus-full of LB’s) would produce enough consistent tackles and numbers to merit drafting…any input?
by discoinferno083 on Aug 21, 2010 5:35 PM EDT reply actions
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