2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Pre-Season Update - 9 comments

With 90 percent of the free agency moves finished and a slew of trades in the books, it’s time to give you the Cafe’s 2011 Fantasy Football Rankings Update. Below, you’ll find the rankings in their entirety. Thanks to Cafe members bungle613, WaCougMBS, Dan Lambskin, ironman, dream_017, thriftyrocker, murphysxm and aaawall91 for contributing updated rankings for this list. We’ll also be posting individual positions on separate pages (eventually, you’ll find the links directly below this intro) along with analysis. Unlike our previous rankings, this Update is non-PPR. Update: The rankings have been updated as of 8/30/11. All updates are mine and mine alone, so I have left the original average rank of each player intact.

QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | DF | IDP

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Avg
1	Aaron Rodgers	GB	1.44
2	Michael Vick	PHI	2.22
3	Drew Brees	NO	3.67
4	Philip Rivers	SD	4.56
5	Tom Brady	NE	4.67
6	Peyton Manning	IND	4.78
7	Tony Romo	DAL	7.22
8	Matt Schaub	HOU	8.00
9	Matt Ryan	ATL	9.67
10	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	9.78
11	Matthew Stafford	DET	14.44
12	Josh Freeman	TB	12.89
13	Joe Flacco	BAL	14.22
14	Jay Cutler	CHI	14.33
15	Sam Bradford	STL	14.78
16	Kevin Kolb	ARI	18.56
17	Kyle Orton	DEN	22.78
18	Eli Manning	NYG	10.44
19	Ryan Fitzpatrick	BUF	18.78
20	Matt Cassel	KC	19.22
21	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	20.00
22	Donovan McNabb	MIN	21.67
23	Chad Henne	MIA	31.00
24	Matt Hasselbeck	TEN	24.22
25	Jason Campbell	OAK	24.67
26	David Garrard	JAC	26.33
27	Colt McCoy	CLE	26.56
28	Cam Newton	CAR	26.78
29	Alex Smith	SF	28.56
30	John Beck	WAS	N/A
31	Tarvaris Jackson	SEA	30.44
32	Andy Dalton	CIN	33.11
33	Kerry Collins	IND	N/A
34	Tim Tebow	DEN	28.67
35	Blaine Gabbert	JAX	33.89
36	Rex Grossman	WAS	34.00
37	Christian Ponder	MIN	34.22
38	Jake Locker	TEN	34.44

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Avg
1	Adrian Peterson	MIN	2.00
2	Jamaal Charles	KC	4.00
3	Ray Rice	BAL	4.75
4	Arian Foster	HOU	1.50
5	Chris Johnson	TEN	2.88
6	LeSean McCoy	PHI	6.75
7	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	8.00
8	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	8.00
9	Darren McFadden	OAK	8.25
10	Frank Gore	SF	10.25
11	Steven Jackson	STL	10.88
12	Matt Forte	CHI	12.00
13	Michael Turner	ATL	12.63
14	Peyton Hillis	CLE	16.00
15	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	16.88
16	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	17.88
17	Jahvid Best	DET	18.13
18	LeGarrette Blount	TB	18.38
19	Shonn Greene	NYJ	19.50
20	Felix Jones	DAL	23.75
21	Cedric Benson	CIN	22.50
22	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	23.25
23	Beanie Wells	ARI	32.50
24	Mark Ingram	NO	24.63
25	Fred Jackson	BUF	24.50
26	Joseph Addai	IND	26.75
27	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	27.00
28	Ryan Grant	GB	24.50
29	Ryan Mathews	SD	20.13
30	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	NE	30.38
31	Mike Tolbert	SD	38.50
32	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	32.88
33	Reggie Bush	MIA	48.63
34	Tim Hightower	WAS	48.25
35	Michael Bush	OAK	38.13
36	Daniel Thomas	MIA	27.75
37	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	27.25
38	James Starks	GB	41.38
39	C.J. Spiller	BUF	41.50
40	Pierre Thomas	NO	43.75
41	Danny Woodhead	NE	50.25
42	Roy Helu	WAS	45.88
43	LaDainian Tomlinson	NYJ	45.88
44	Willis McGahee	DEN	46.50
45	Thomas Jones	KC	46.75
46	Rashad Jennings	JAC	47.13
47	Ryan Torain	WAS	38.00
48	Stevan Ridley	NE	N/A
49	Ronnie Brown	PHI	45.75
50	Montario Hardesty	CLE	50.88
51	Ricky Williams	BAL	53.25
52	Darren Sproles	NO	55.00
53	LaRod Stephens-Howling	ARI	N/A
54	Derrick Ward	HOU	66.88
55	Marion Barber	CHI	57.00
56	Ben Tate	HOU	63.88
57	Javon Ringer	TEN	N/A
58	Justin Forsett	SEA	56.75
59	Bernard Scott	CIN	56.88
60	Jason Snelling	ATL	58.50
61	Jerome Harrison	DET	59.25
62	DeMarco Murray	DAL	58.50
63	Delone Carter	IND	56.25
64	Kendall Hunter	SF	63.75
65	Tashard Choice	DAL	64.88
66	Jacquizz Rodgers	ATL	67.38
67	Mike Goodson	CAR	67.88
68	Ike Redman	PIT	68.00
69	Cadillac Williams	STL	68.13
70	Taiwan Jones	OAK	N/A
71	Donald Brown	IND	61.00
72	Shane Vereen	NEP	56.63
73	Christopher Ivory	NO	68.25
74	Toby Gerhart	MIN	68.25
75	Bilal Powell	NYJ	68.75

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Avg
1	Andre Johnson	HOU	1.50
2	Calvin Johnson	DET	2.25
3	Roddy White	ATL	3.13
4	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	4.13
5	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	5.00
6	Greg Jennings	GB	7.13
7	Reggie Wayne	IND	7.50
8	Mike Wallace	PIT	8.00
9	Vincent Jackson	SD	9.00
10	Miles Austin	DAL	10.00
11	Dwayne Bowe	KC	11.13
12	DeSean Jackson	PHI	13.00
13	Brandon Marshall	MIA	13.25
14	Mike Williams	TB	13.50
15	Steve Johnson	BUF	18.50
16	Marques Colston	NO	19.00
17	Percy Harvin	MIN	19.13
18	Wes Welker	NE	19.25
19	Santonio Holmes	NYJ	19.75
20	Dez Bryant	DAL	20.50
21	Brandon Lloyd	DEN	21.13
22	Mario Manningham	NYG	27.38
23	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	18.38
24	Anquan Boldin	BAL	22.00
25	Chad Ochocinco	NE	28.38
26	Austin Collie	IND	23.38
27	Kenny Britt	TEN	24.38
28	Sidney Rice	SEA	25.75
29	Steve Smith	CAR	28.00
30	Santana Moss	WAS	29.00
31	Pierre Garcon	IND	30.88
32	Mike Thomas	JAC	33.63
33	Julio Jones	ATL	37.63
34	Mike Sims-Walker	STL	44.50
35	A.J. Green	CIN	38.13
36	Malcom Floyd	SD	39.88
37	Michael Crabtree	SF	40.13
38	Danny Amendola	STL	41.00
39	Mike Williams	SEA	41.88
40	Robert Meachem	NO	42.25
41	Braylon Edwards	SF	43.25
42	Lance Moore	NO	44.13
43	Johnny Knox	CHI	37.63
44	Deion Branch	NE	45.38
45	Jacoby Ford	OAK	45.63
46	Hines Ward	PIT	46.50
47	Jordy Nelson	GB	47.63
48	Davone Bess	MIA	48.38
49	Plaxico Burress	NYJ	49.38
50	Andre Roberts	ARI	68.25
51	Steve Smith	PHI	69.50
52	Jerome Simpson	CIN	54.63
53	Mohamed Massaquoi	CLE	72.63
54	Nate Burleson	DET	56.75
55	Lee Evans	BAL	57.00
56	James Jones	GB	58.00
57	Derrick Mason	NYJ	61.25
58	Donald Driver	GB	61.75
59	Eddie Royal	DEN	62.13
60	Emmanuel Sanders	PIT	63.25
61	Roy Williams	CHI	53.88
62	Jacoby Jones	HOU	63.50
63	Steve Breaston	KC	63.88
64	Brandon Gibson	STL	N/A
65	Jason Hill	JAX	68.00
66	Greg Little	CLE	53.75
67	Devin Hester	CHI	69.00
68	Earl Bennett	CHI	71.38
69	Nate Washington	TEN	N/A
70	Antonio Brown	PIT	N/A
71	Donnie Avery	STL	75.13
72	Jabar Gaffney	WAS	N/A
73	Jordan Norwood	CLE	N/A
74	Eric Decker	DEN	79.75
75	Arrelious Benn	TB	80.00
76	Torrey Smith	BAL	81.38
77	Denarius Moore	OAK	N/A
78	Kevin Walter	HOU	81.88
79	Jordan Shipley	CIN	82.38
80	Darrius Heyward-Bey	OAK	N/A
81	Dexter McCluster	KC	82.63
82	Louis Murphy	OAK	56.50
83	Anthony Armstrong	WAS	83.13
84	Leonard Hankerson	WAS	74.00
85	Danario Alexander	STL	65.38
86	Titus Young	DET	83.88
87	Jason Avant	PHI	84.13
88	Randy Moss	RET	84.63
89	Josh Morgan	SF	84.63
90	Ramses Barden	NYG	85.00
91	Bernard Berrian	MIN	85.25
92	Randall Cobb	GB	86.00
93	Michael Jenkins	MIN	86.25
94	Terrell Owens	FA	83.25
95	Josh Cribbs	CLE	87.13

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Avg
1	Antonio Gates	SD	1.22
2	Dallas Clark	IND	2.78
3	Jason Witten	DAL	3.11
4	Jermichael Finley	GB	4.00
5	Vernon Davis	SF	4.78
6	Owen Daniels	HOU	6.89
7	Jimmy Graham	NO	7.89
8	Kellen Winslow	TB	8.33
9	Rob Gronkowski	NE	13.78
10	Chris Cooley	WAS	10.67
11	Aaron Hernandez	NE	17.11
12	Zach Miller	SEA	11.22
13	Lance Kendricks	STL	23.33
14	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	12.22
15	Brandon Pettigrew	DET	12.33
16	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	12.44
17	Todd Heap	ARI	20.56
18	Greg Olsen	CAR	17.11
19	Dustin Keller	NYJ	18.67
20	Jared Cook	TEN	19.78
21	Jermaine Gresham	CIN	20.33
22	Ben Watson	CLE	21.22
23	Brent Celek	PHI	21.78
24	Tony Moeaki	KC	22.11
25	Julius Thomas	DEN	23.56
26	Kevin Boss	OAK	24.11
27	Fred Davis	WAS	24.22
28	Heath Miller	PIT	24.44

Rank	Kickers	Team	Avg
1	Nate Kaeding	SD	1.88
2	Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	4.00
3	Matt Bryant	ATL	4.75
4	Neil Rackers	HOU	5.75
5	Mason Crosby	GB	6.63
6	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	7.75
7	Garrett Hartley	NO	8.63
8	Josh Brown	STL	9.75
9	Nick Folk	NYJ	10.38
10	Adam Vinatieri	IND	10.50
11	David Akers	SF	12.25
12	Alex Henery	PHI	12.50
13	Robbie Gould	CHI	12.50
14	Billy Cundiff	BAL	12.75
15	Rob Bironas	TEN	15.75
16	Lawrence Tynes	NYG	15.88
17	Dan Carpenter	MIA	16.75
18	Ryan Longwell	MIN	17.63
19	David Buehler	DAL	17.63
20	Jay Feely	ARI	17.88
21	Shaun Suisham	PIT	20.38
22	Matt Prater	DEN	21.25
23	Josh Scobee	JAC	22.88
24	Jeff Reed	SEA	24.00

Rank	Team Defense	Team	Avg
1	Pittsburgh Steelers	PIT	2.38
2	Green Bay Packers	GB	2.38
3	Philadelphia Eagles	PHI	2.88
4	New York Jets	NYJ	4.25
5	Baltimore Ravens	BAL	6.63
6	New England Patriots	NE	7.00
7	Chicago Bears	CHI	7.00
8	Detroit Lions	DET	8.75
9	Dallas Cowboys	DAL	9.75
10	New York Giants	NYG	10.75
11	New Orleans Saints	NO	11.38
12	Arizona Cardinals	ARI	11.88
13	San Diego Chargers	SD	12.75
14	Oakland Raiders	OAK	12.75
15	Atlanta Falcons	ATL	13.50
16	Minnesota Vikings	MIN	14.00
17	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	TB	19.00
18	Tennessee Titans	TEN	19.63
19	Miami Dolphins	MIA	20.63
20	San Francisco 49ers	SF	21.00
21	St. Louis Rams	STL	22.75
22	Seattle Seahawks	SEA	22.75
23	Kansas City Cheifs	KC	22.88
24	Cleveland Browns	CLE	23.38

R.J. White is the head editor at the Cafe, writes for FanDuel and Razzball and has previously written for FanHouse. Catch up with him in the forums under the name daullaz. Follow him on Twitter; don't follow him in real life.

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9 Responses to “2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Pre-Season Update”

latraffic says:

August 12, 2011 at 4:30 pm

Thanks for the hard work everyone. These continuously updating list have helped me greatly over the years and I plan to print them out for my upcoming draft. I admit, a few suprises at #1 but overall, quality stuff.
Reply
joejlitz says:

August 12, 2011 at 4:42 pm

Nice to see the rankings updated, fellas. Good job!
Reply
joejlitz says:

August 12, 2011 at 5:23 pm

A couple of comments:
QB: While he is not the DEN QB of the future, Orton could have early season value. As the designated starter for the 2011 season, it’s not unthinkable that he would match his early season success of last year. With the weapons he has, I move him up at least 4 slots above McNabb, Cassel, Sanchez, and Fitzpatrick.

RB: Your 14-19 selections – I love where they fall because, while most of them will meet their RB2 potential, they also have the potential to finish as a RB1.

WR: Dwayne Bowe at 11. I didn’t think I would ever see him ranked so high in the preseason. 15 TDs will do that for you, I guess. But TDs are fickle and I think Bowe comes back to the medium.

WR: Hines Ward is pretty low, behind a LOT of guys I am not high on…
Reply
liono123 says:

August 15, 2011 at 2:47 pm

Where’s Shiancoe in the TE rankings? Could use an update as it looks like Hightower is the lead guy in WAS.
Reply
daullaz says:

August 15, 2011 at 10:01 pm

No one voted for Shiancoe in the TE rankings. And while I will provide updates on individual position pages (which I’m working on now), I won’t touch the tables, which are the work of the collective.
Reply
backtoprison says:

August 24, 2011 at 6:27 pm

Re: Orton – I’d be careful ranking him much higher. With McDaniels gone and Fox a run-first kinda coach, Orton might not be so free to light it up.
Reply
gravyfries says:

August 28, 2011 at 3:36 pm

Great article. Are you going to update this for PPR at some point?
Reply
DaShiz23 says:

August 30, 2011 at 4:43 am

Is there an updated ranking broken down into tiers somewhere at the Cafe that I am missing? Thank You
Reply
daullaz says:

August 30, 2011 at 3:29 pm

Gravy – I’m not sure if I’ll get to a PPR update, but I’ll try.

DaShiz – No tiers, but with the Average rankings posted next to each player, you can break each position down into tiers by looking for the big breaks in the posted numbers (i.e., after Peyton, after Big Ben, etc.)
Reply