2016 Fantasy Football Rankings v2.0

I can't believe it's been almost three months since my last rankings update, but tonight seemed like a good time for a new post.  I mean, the Hall of Fame Game pretty much signals the start of the NFL season, so what better time than....what's that?  Oh they didn't play it because the field was messed up?  Great way to start the season, NFL.  I'm sure someone is getting fired.

Who am I kidding though?  The Olympics are on, and swimming at that.  My wife wasn't about to let me flip the channel over to preseason football..

Anyway, back in May when I wrote up my rookie update rankings, I said the following:
"I know it's early, but I don't think it's unrealistic to think that Ezekiel Elliott will be a 1st rounder in your fantasy draft.  Plan accordingly."

When discussing this with guys in my league, everyone seemed to think that was a crazy idea.  But since that time, I've been reading a lot of fantasy football articles, and it appears that most "experts" tend to agree with me.  Also since that time, Zeke has been accused of sexual assault and dealt with a hamstring injury in camp.  I still have him as a first rounder, but it just goes to show you that you need to keep up with all of the news around the league as you get ready for your draft.

As for other rookies, I doubt any of them will get drafted until at least the middle rounds, but if you like someone then you'd better grab them at that point.  During the first 3 or 4 rounds of my drafts, I definitely like to "play it safe", mostly taking the best player available.  And yes, this year, that includes a rookie running back in the first round!  But once my team starts taking shape (and maybe that third IPA has suddenly disappeared), it's time to take some chances.  It's really not that difficult to rank the top 40 or so players.  And for the most part, people tend to agree on a lot of the rankings in those first few rounds.  But beyond that, that's where things really change.  That's where you draft a guy like Duke Johnson or Danny Woodhead, who becomes your solid FLEX guy all year.  Or maybe you take a chance on an unproven receiver like Kevin White, and he ends up being a difference maker.  But hey, maybe none of those guys end up doing squat this year.  We'll just have to wait and see.

I'll try to get a preseason article and another rankings update posted before Labor Day, which is when I'll be doing my money league draft this year.  Until then, enjoy the latest rankings!

Cheers,
Bart

1. Antonio Brown: With Le'Veon dropping, he now claims my top spot.

2. Todd Gurley

3. Odell Beckham, Jr.

4. Julio Jones

5. Adrian Peterson

6. David Johnson

7. Lamar Miller

8. Ezekiel Elliott

9. DeAndre Hopkins: Target monster belongs in the top-10.

10. AJ Green: With Cincy losing Sanu and Jones, I think AJ is in for a top-5 WR year.

11. Dez Bryant: In a 12- team league, it just felt wrong to have him out of the 1st Rd.

12. Le'Veon Bell: Skips a drug test, 4-game suspension, nearly falls out of my first round. 13. Rob Gronkowski

14. Cam Newton: With all of the uncertainty after Round 1, he and Rodgers back up here for me.

15. Aaron Rodgers

16. Allen Robinson

17. Devonta Freeman: Down a bit. Tevin Coleman could get a lot more work this year.

18. Doug Martin

19. LeSean McCoy: With Karlos out the first 4 games, I bump Shady up a few spots.

20. Jamaal Charles

21. Eddie Lacy: Still playing on his rookie contract, moved him to this RB tier.

22. Mark Ingram

23. Jordy Nelson

24. Alshon Jeffery

25. Brandon Marshall: With Fitz back, moved way back up to this WR tier.

26. CJ Anderson

27. Thomas Rawls: Will continue to slide down my board until he shows that he's healthy.

28. Mike Evans

29. Amari Cooper

30. Brandin Cooks: Up about ten spots. I feel like he's due for a huge year.

31. Carlos Hyde

32. Latavius Murray: I'm still way higher on him than the experts, but lowered slightly.

33. Jeremy Hill: A top-15 RB the last two years. Boring pick, but I think a good pick here.

34. Keenan Allen

35. Sammy Watkins: Down slightly. Foot injury is a bit concerning.

36. Demaryius Thomas

37. TY Hilton: Moved to the bottom of this WR tier. I think Moncrief's ready for a big jump.

38. Russell Wilson

39. Andrew Luck: Also dropped TY's QB down a few spots to this tier with Wilson.

40. Jordan Reed: Bumped him up about 15 spots. A flat out beast when healthy.

41. Matt Forte: Down a few spots. Starting to sound like a committee for the Jets.

42. Ryan Mathews

43. Jonathan Stewart: Dealing with a lingering foot issue this offseason has me moving him down.

44. Matt Jones

45. Jeremy Maclin: He and Landry just feel like top-20 WRs and belong in top-50 overall.

46. Jarvis Landry

47. Randall Cobb

48. Kelvin Benjamin

49. Drew Brees: With Big Ben losing Martavis, Brees leapfrogged him.

50. Ben Roethlisberger

51. Frank Gore: Moved him back into this RB tier. Old, boring, safe pick.

52. DeMarco Murray: He fell a few spots to this RB tier. Henry looming.

53. Golden Tate: Moved to the top of this WR tier. Was great when Megatron out last year.

54. Eric Decker

55. Doug Baldwin

56. Michael Floyd

57. Julian Edelman: Down a bit. Injuries becoming a concern, and Brady out 4 weeks.

58. Giovani Bernard

59. Dion Lewis: Growing concern that he could start the season on the PUP list.

60. Jeremy Langford: Fox likely to use hot hand/committee, and keep an eye on Jordan Howard...

61. Greg Olsen

62. Carson Palmer: Moved up a few spots.  Believe he belongs well above Brady/Bortles.

63. Donte Moncrief: Moved him and a couple of other WRs up a few spots to this tier.

64. DeVante Parker

65. John Brown

66. Allen Hurns

67. Ameer Abdullah

68. Jay Ajayi: Down a bit with the Dolphins signing Arian Foster. Might need to fall more...

69. Duke Johnson: Up slightly to this RB tier, now in the Giovani Bernard role with Hue.

70. Melvin Gordon: I like the potential, but I was a little high on him coming off surgery and all.

71. Chris Ivory

72. Justin Forsett

73. Danny Woodhead

74. T.J. Yeldon: Also dropped him a bit.  I believe more in Ivory (TDs)  At least for now...

75. Jordan Matthews

76. Emmanuel Sanders: I moved both him and Demaryius slightly down.

77. Tyler Lockett

78. Michael Crabtree

79. DeAngelo Williams: Will be a workhorse the first 4 weeks, more if Le'Veon continues idiocy.

80. Tom Brady: Speaking of being out the first 4 games, Brady drops to this tier.

81. Blake Bortles

82. Corey Coleman: With Josh Gordon (supposedly) back Week 5, Coleman slightly down.

83. Larry Fitzgerald: Moved him and DeSean down a few notches.

84. DeSean Jackson

85. Travis Kelce

86. Delanie Walker

87. Tyler Eifert: Likely to miss the first few games, so down quite a bit.

88. Coby Fleener: He moves way up my rankings, as he looks to be mini Jimmy in Nawlins.

89. Isaiah Crowell

90. Charles Sims

91. Javorius Allen

92. Philip Rivers: Moved above Eli. Keenan Allen healthy. Travis Benjamin addition is nice.

93. Eli Manning

94. Andy Dalton

95. Kevin White

96. Marvin Jones: Moved him up to this tier, but I may keep moving him up if he stays healthy.

97. Markus Wheaton

98. Gary Barnidge: Moved him into my top-100.

99. Ladarius Green: Him too.  I'm believing the hype!

100. Torrey Smith: Also believing the Chip Kelly hype and moving my man Torrey up here.

101. Sterling Shepard: This might be too high for the rookie, but he could be NYG's #2 WR.

102. Travis Benjamin

103. Rashad Jennings

104. LeGarrette Blount

105. Theo Riddick: In a contract year and should get more touches. Keeps moving up my board.

106. Tevin Coleman: Talk of more playing time has me moving him way up.

107. Derek Carr

108. Tyrod Taylor

109. Jameis Winston: Moved him into this tier with the other high upside QBs.

110. Marcus Mariota

111. Kamar Aiken: Someone has to catch balls for the Ravens, and Aiken can be that guy.

112. Vincent Jackson

113. Tavon Austin

114. Josh Gordon: Risky to have him up this high, but the definition of high risk/reward pick.

115. Derrick Henry

116. C.J. Prosise: Moving up this rookie. If Rawls not healthy, could he start Week 1?

117. Jordan Howard: RBBC talk in Chicago, and Howard could be goal line back (maybe more).

118. Arian Foster: Signed a one year deal with Miami that's full of incentives. Up a bunch.

119. Karlos Williams: Was already lowering him and then he gets hit with 4-game suspension.

120. Julius Thomas

121. Zach Ertz

122. Tony Romo: Moved him way down to this tier with Cousins. Injury a big concern.

123. Kirk Cousins

124. Laquon Treadwell

125. Phillip Dorsett: A sneaky late round fantasy pick who could pay dividends.

126. Dorial Green-Beckham: Had him too high for a guy who looks like he may not even start!

127. Sammie Coates: Moved him up slightly. Feel like he COULD be #2 WR in Pittsburgh.

128. Devin Funchess: Making strides in the offseason and moves up here from the watch list.

129. Michael Thomas: Seems like he's in a great spot to replace Colston in this offense.

130. Stefon Diggs

131. Tyler Boyd

132. Willie Snead

133. Seahawks DEFENSE: Moved what I see as the top-5 defenses up about 20 spots.

134. Cardinals DEFENSE

135. Broncos DEFENSE

136. Panthers DEFENSE

137. Texans DEFENSE

138. Devontae Booker: Moved him up here and Ronnie Hillman down to the watch list.

139. Wendell Smallwood: He's up here to, replacing Sproles.

140. Dwayne Allen

141. Antonio Gates

142. Eric Ebron: Could be this year's Eifert.  Had to get him into the rankings.

143. Zach Miller: He also belongs in my top-168.

144. Stephen Gostkowski: That's right. I moved a couple of kickers up. Wanna fight about it?

145. Justin Tucker

146. James Starks

147. Bilal Powell: Sounds like he and Forte could both get work, so he moves up to the rankings.

148. Darren McFadden: Broke his elbow, so now behind the 8 ball. Down a bit.

149. Shaun Draughn: Should be the passing down back in Chip's O, which means a lot of touches.

150. Chris Thompson

151. Cameron Artis-Payne

152. Rams DEFENSE

153. Bengals DEFENSE

154. Patriots DEFENSE

155. Bills DEFENSE

156. Vikings DEFENSE: I like their schedule and their D is improving.

157. Jets DEFENSE

158. Chiefs DEFENSE: Early bye and dealing with injuries.  Down a bit for me.

159. Dan Bailey

160. Chandler Catanzaro

161. Graham Gano

162. Roberto Aguayo

163. Blair Walsh: Not that you cared, but moved him up a few spots.

164. Steven Hauschka

165. Brandon McManus

166. Adam Vinatieri

167. Cairo Santos

168. Mason Crosby

...and a few more players to consider at each position QBs Matt Ryan Matthew Stafford Joe Flacco Ryan Fitzpatrick Jay Cutler Ryan Tannehill Brock Osweiler Alex Smith RBs Kenyan Drake: He moves down to the watch list with the Arian Foster signing. Kenneth Dixon Paul Perkins Tyler Ervin DeAndre Washington: 5th round pick, could push Latavius for touches... Keith Marshall: Added him here too, seeing as how Matt Jones is still very unproven. Darren Sproles: Moved him down to the watchlist. Probably done from a fantasy perspective. Ronnie Hillman: Him too, assuming the rookie Booker takes his place. CJ Spiller Tim Hightower Chris Johnson Alfred Morris Josh Ferguson Charcandrick West: I don't know who JC's handcuff is, so have West/Ware both down here for now. Spencer Ware Andre Ellington: Moved him down to the watch list. Jerick McKinnon: Him too. He's strictly a handcuff for AP. Terrance West: Added to the watch list.  Apparently having a really good camp. Joique Bell (FA) WRs Steve Smith: Until he proves he's healthy, he stays down here. Old and coming off a serious injury. Josh Doctson Will Fuller Chris Hogan Nate Washington Kendall Wright Breshad Perriman Terrance Williams Anquan Boldin: Signed with Detroit, but not sure he belongs in top-168. Pierre Garcon: Moved him down to the watch list. Very low ceiling. Mohamed Sanu: Same with him I feel like.. Bruce Ellington: If he's the slot receiver in Chip's offense, could be in for a breakout year 3. TEs Austin Sefarian-Jenkins: Dropped him down to the watch list. Jimmy Graham: Him too. I'm staying away from a patellar tendon injury return (V. Cruz). Clive Walford: Added him to the watch list. Had some nice games in 2015. Charles Clay: Also added him to the list.  Could be a top-10 TE if Tyrod throws him the ball! Vance McDonald: Here's a late round flyer who could be a TE1 this year (yes, really). Martellus Bennett