Top 20 by Position

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Two months ago, fantasy writer Ryan Fay (who posts as RFay8585 in the forums) did a series of player rankings for the Cafe. However, things can change in two months. Some players retire, others get hurt, one’s general feel for a player can fluctuate. Now, as the preseason begins to wind down, here’s Ryan’s updated set of rankings by position that includes tight ends and kickers.

QUARTERBACKS
1. Daunte Culpepper – Min
2. Peyton Manning – Ind
3. Donovan McNabb – Phi
4. Matt Hasselbeck – Sea
5. Chad Pennington – NYJ
6. Steve McNair – Ten
7. Tom Brady – NE
8. Trent Green – KC
9. Brett Favre – GB
10. Marc Bulger – StL
11. Aaron Brooks – NO
12. Michael Vick – Atl
13. Jeff Garcia – Cle
14. Byron Leftwich – Jax
15. Jake Delhomme – Car
16. Jake Plummer – Den
17. Carson Palmer – Cin
18. Rex Grossman – Chi
19. Joey Harrington – Det
20. David Carr – Hou

Ranking Michael Vick 12th will certainly raise eyebrows, but as talented as he is, I am not impressed with him as a passer. In his career, he has attempted 634 passes and completed only 331 of them. That gives him a career completion percentage of 52.2, which is absolutely dreadful. Until he can get that mark into at least the high fifties, I can’t see him being as good as some think he already is. He’s only 24, however, so there’s still plenty of time to become even better. Remember, this will be his fourth season in the pros, but he’s only a few months older than rookie Eli Manning.

There are a lot of Tom Brady haters out there, but unjustly so. Brady has thrown 50 touchdown passes in the last two seasons. The list of guys who can equal or better that is awfully short. I’m not a Patriots fan, but he’s better than a lot of fantasy owners think he is.

RUNNING BACKS
1. LaDainian Tomlinson – SD
2. Clinton Portis – Was
3. Priest Holmes – KC
4. Deuce McAllister – NO
5. Shaun Alexander – Sea
6. Edgerrin James – Ind
7. Jamal Lewis – Bal
8. Ahman Green – GB
9. Fred Taylor – Jax
10. Kevan Barlow – SF
11. Corey Dillon – NE
12. Rudi Johnson – Cin
13. Thomas Jones – Chi
14. Brian Westbrook – Phi
15. Travis Henry – Buf
16. Tiki Barber – NYG
17. Marshall Faulk – StL
18. Chris Brown – Ten
19. Michael Bennett – Min
20. Curtis Martin – NYJ

Ahman Green’s a fantastic back, but I was surprised when he was the consensus third-best back on this site, with one ranker even placing him as high as number two. Last season has all the markings of a career year. There was nothing in his statistical profile to suggest he’d suddenly burst out for 1,883 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns like he did in 2003. And likewise, there’s little to indicate that he’ll repeat those numbers. His 355 carries last season surpassed his previous career high of 304 in 2001 by 51. That’s another concern; expect Green to return to his pre-2003 levels.

Tiki Barber will fall in many drafts because people see Ron Dayne having a great preseason. I attended several Giants practices this summer, and neither saw nor read anything in the local papers that would suggest that Barber is no longer the main option. Dayne may cut into Barber’s carries, but Tiki still gained over 1,400 total yards when Dayne rushed for 690 yards in 2001.

Where’s Dom Davis? He’s not in my top 20, but he isn’t be far behind. I don’t trust Davis’s ability to repeat his 2003 season, and his YPC average dropped by a yard in the second half. A healthy Tony Hollings is another reason to dampen expectations. The coaching staff said early in preseason that Hollings could get 10-12 carries a game during the regular season, and he has worked to earn those carries this summer. Hollings gained 57 yards on 15 carries in week one of the preseason, while picking up 32 more on two receptions. Davis was held out due to injury, and was held out again in week two, but Hollings only gained 9 yards on 14 carries in that game. The two backs played in the same game for the first time this past week. Hollings went 13-79-1 while Davis put up a line of 7-49-0 in the loss to Denver.

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Randy Moss – Min
2. Marvin Harrison – Ind
3. Torry Holt – StL
4. Terrell Owens – Phi
5. Hines Ward – Pit
6. Chad Johnson – Cin
7. Laveraneus Coles – Was
8. Derrick Mason – Ten
9. Steve Smith – Car
10. Joe Horn – NO
11. Eric Moulds – Buf
12. Darrell Jackson – Sea
13. Chris Chambers – Mia
14. Andre Johnson – Hou
15. Amani Toomer – NYG
16. Isaac Bruce – StL
17. Charles Rogers – Det
18. Santana Moss – NYJ
19. Plaxico Burress – Pit
20. Jimmy Smith – Jax

Santana Moss is a top ten wide receiver for some, but those who value him that highly are asking for trouble. After a tremendous midseason surge, Moss was held scoreless in his final five games of the season while being kept under 80 yards each time. The small-statured Moss has battled a sore hamstring and has missed the past two preseason games. It’s not serious, but for a speed guy, it’s not a good way to start the year.

TIGHT ENDS
1. Tony Gonzalez – KC
2. Todd Heap – Bal
3. Jeremy Shockey – NYG
4. Kellen Winslow – Cle
5. Alge Crumpler – Atl
6. Randy McMichael – Mia
7. Freddie Jones – Ari
8. Boo Williams – NO
9. Antonio Gates – SD
10. LJ Smith – Phi
11. Daniel Graham – NE
12. Bubba Franks – GB
13. Jim Kleinsasser – Min
14. Jason Witten – Dal
15. Erron Kinney – Ten
16. Dallas Clark – Ind
17. Marcus Pollard – Ind
18. Itula Mili – Sea
19. Anthony Becht – NYJ
20. Desmond Clark – Chi

Jeremy Shockey has been limited by a sore foot and hamstring trouble this summer, but is expected to be ready for the season. Despite playing in only nine games last year, his 48 receptions still ranked fourth among tight ends.

Freddie Jones has slipped in several drafts and rankings I’ve seen. I’m not sure why, though. He was third in receptions and seventh in yards among tight ends last season, and has adapted well to new coach Dennis Green down in Arizona.

KICKERS
1. Mike Vanderjagt – Ind
2. Jeff Wilkins – StL
3. Adam Vinatieri – NE
4. David Akers – Phi
5. Jason Elam – Den
6. Matt Stover – Bal
7. Josh Brown – Sea
8. Ryan Longwell – GB
9. John Kasay – Car
10. Paul Edinger – Chi
11. Sebastian Janikowski – Oak
12. Martin Gramatica – TB
13. Olindo Mare – Mia
14. John Hall – Was
15. John Carney – NO
16. Jay Feely – ATL
17. Joe Nedney – Ten
18. Jeff Reed – Pit
19. Morten Andersen – KC
20. Jason Hanson – Det

Simply put, never draft a kicker until the last round of your draft. This position is the least important, most replaceable aspect of a fantasy team.