2017 Fantasy Football Rankings v2

Back in January, I gave you my "way too early" rankings.  Then after free agency kicked into high gear, I did another update.  Since then, we've seen Adrian Peterson go to New Orleans and Marshawn Lynch signed with the Raiders.  We've also had the NFL draft, so it seemed like a great time to version up the big board.  The draft included a pretty wild first round.  Three teams traded up for QBs, one of which was Chicago for Trubisky (which no one really expected).  The experts got Fournette to Jacksonville right in their mock drafts, and McCaffrey to Carolina was also a popular choice (which also happened).  As for the WRs, they went a bit earlier than expected, and Corey Davis was the only one who landed in a seemingly nice spot for fantasy purposes.  A lot of mock drafts had Green Bay taking a running back in the first or second round, but I wasn't believing that hype. 

Here's what I said in April:
Maybe this is the year Ted Thompson pulls the trigger in Round 1, but I wouldn't hold my breath.  If I were a betting man (and I am), I'd say Green Bay helps their secondary in the first round of this draft.  That being said, if a prime Eddie Lacy replacement like D'Onta Foreman falls into their lap at the end of Round 2, I'll adjust my next rankings accordingly.

Green Bay actually traded out of the first round, but both of their second round picks helped their secondary (they took a corner and a safety).  Their next two picks were also on the defensive side of the ball, but they did snag three RBs in this draft (in the 4th, 5th, and 7th rounds).  I didn't have Jamaal Williams on my radar before the draft, but I sure do now.  I added some other guys to my watch list (or even my top-200) based on where they landed.  I also removed a few rookies and veterans from my watch list, and here are some explanations of why you no longer see these guys:

Jimmy Garoppolo: There were trade rumors with him, but no trade = no fantasy value behind Brady.
Matt Jones: Unless he's traded between now and training camp, he's off my watch list.
Jerick McKinnon: With the Vikings taking Dalvin Cook in 2nd round, not much role left for Jerick.
Justin Forsett: I said last time I thought he was done in the league, and now he's retiring.
Dede Westbrook (R): Fell to the 4th round. Drafted by the Jags. I see no value in 2017.
Amara Darboh (R): No Seattle WR gets fantasy numbers except for Doug Baldwin.
Chris Godwin (R): Love the pick for Winston, but too many WRs for Godwin to have fantasy value.
Travis Rudolph (R): He went undrafted but signed with the Giants, who have plenty of WRs already.
ArDarius Stewart (R): Drafted by the Jets, so probably doomed. I won't be drafting him in fantasy.
DeShone Kizer (R): Speaking of doomed, this poor guy got drafted by the Browns. No thanks.


So let's see who else moved around after the draft, shall we?

Cheers,
Bart

1. Le'Veon Bell

2. David Johnson

3. Ezekiel Elliott

4. Antonio Brown

5. Julio Jones

6. Mike Evans

7. Odell Beckham, Jr.

8. LeSean McCoy

9. Jay Ajayi

10. Jordan Howard

11. AJ Green

12. Jordy Nelson 13. Melvin Gordon

14. Devonta Freeman

15. Todd Gurley

16. Michael Thomas

17. T.Y. Hilton

18. Dez Bryant

19. DeMarco Murray: Felt too high. Derrick Henry has to be bigger part of committee in '17.

20. Leonard Fournette (R): Went #4 to Jacksonville, and should be workhorse there. Way up for me.

21. Carlos Hyde

22. Lamar Miller

23. Rob Gronkowski

24. Aaron Rodgers

25. DeAndre Hopkins

26. Amari Cooper

27. Doug Baldwin

28. Brandin Cooks

29. Davante Adams

30. Sammy Watkins: Swapped him with ARob. Sammy now playing for a big contract.

31. Ty Montgomery: The Packers drafted some RBs, but waited a while. Cut Michael. Ty way up!

32. Isaiah Crowell: Browns didn't draft a RB til nearly the last pick in the draft. Crowell up.

33. Marshawn Lynch: Now a Raider and all the way up to this RB tier.

34. Paul Perkins: Giants rumored to sign Blount, but Perkins stays up here until that happens.

35. Allen Robinson

36. Michael Crabtree

37. Demaryius Thomas

38. Alshon Jeffery 39. Tom Brady

40. Drew Brees

41. Andrew Luck

42. Travis Kelce

43. Jordan Reed

44. CJ Anderson: The Jamaal Charles signing may be nothing, but CJ down slightly to this RB tier.

45. Christian McCaffery (R): Went #8 to Carolina. Up quite a bit, especially for my keeper league.

46. Frank Gore: Thought Indy would draft a RB early. They didn't. Gore WAY up, even at his age.

47. Spencer Ware: Chiefs traded up to draft Hunt in the 3rd Rd. Ware down, but not much.

48. Tevin Coleman

49. Mark Ingram: With the Saints signing AP & drafting Kamara, Ingram down a couple RB tiers.

50. Dalvin Cook (R): Vikes moved up to get him. Down slightly but ahead of Latavius.

51. Terrelle Pryor, Sr.

52. Keenan Allen: Down a few. The TEs and both Williams boys will take away targets.

53. Jarvis Landry

54. Kelvin Benjamin

55. Larry Fitzgerald

56. Corey Davis (R): Tennessee took him at #5. Up slightly, but Titans a run-heavy offense.

57. Golden Tate

58. Emmanuel Sanders

59. Ameer Abdullah

60. Joe Mixon (R): Bengals took him in Rd 2. Way up. Might need to be higher than this...

61. Latavius Murray: Dalvin Cook will have big role.  Latavius down.

62. Jonathan Stewart: Same with McCaffrey in Carolina. The Daily Show down too.

63. Eddie Lacy: He felt too high for what will likely be a RBBC. Down a bit.

64. Rob Kelley: Redskins took Perine in Rd 4. Should push Kelley for touches, so he's down.

65. Brandon Marshall: And he felt too low where I had him. Up to the top of this WR tier.

66. Eric Decker

67. Julian Edelman: Injury history + Cooks = Edelman back down a WR tier for me.

68. Donte Moncrief

69. Jamison Crowder

70. LeGarrette Blount: I didn't think he'd still be a Patriot, and likely right. Stays put for now though.

71. Adrian Peterson: Had him in the 50s, but now likely behind Ingram in New Orleans, down a bit.

72. Matt Forte

73. Russell Wilson

74. Matt Ryan

75. Derek Carr

76. Kirk Cousins

77. Cam Newton: Moved back up to this QB tier. Panthers added some weapons for him in the draft.

78. Dak Prescott

79. Stefon Diggs: Moved him up to the top of this small WR tier.

80. Martavis Bryant: Conditionally re-instated, but I assumed so last update when I moved him up.

81. Tyreek Hill

82. Bilal Powell

83. Theo Riddick

84. C.J. Prosise

85. Kenneth Dixon

86. Giovani Bernard: Down a bit with Bengals taking Mixon so high.

87. Danny Woodhead

88. Greg Olsen: Moved this TE tier slightly up.

89. Jimmy Graham

90. Tyler Eifert

91. Jameis Winston: Bucs added Howard and Godwin in draft. Up a couple of spots.

92. Matthew Stafford

93. Marcus Mariota

94. Philip Rivers: With addition of Mike Williams, it felt like Rivers belonged up a QB tier.

95. Ben Roethlisberger

96. Doug Martin: Starts '17 suspended, but apparently looking good after a little rehab. Up slightly.

97. Mike Gillislee: Now in a crowded backfield, but in New England. TD upside. He's WAY up.

98. Jeremy Hill: Afraid Mixon will take over, so he's down. Nearly out of top-100.

99. Derrick Henry: Felt too low. Has to be bigger part of offense in second season.

100. Darren Sproles: Could end up leading the Eagle RBs in snaps. Had him way too low.

101. Rishard Matthews: Titans took Corey Davis higher than expected. Rishard down a bunch.

102. Mike Williams (R): Chargers not a great landing spot for fantasy, so he's down a lot for me.

103. Mike Wallace: The Ravens didn't draft a WR, so Mike Wallace moves up my big board.

104. Cameron Meredith: Likely the #1 WR for the Bears in '17. Up a bit.

105. Willie Snead: He keeps moving up my top-200. Should be clear #2 WR in New Orleans.

106. Duke Johnson

107. Jamaal Charles: Signed with Denver, but stays out of my top-100 for now.

108. Thomas Rawls

109. Ryan Mathews: Expected to play in 2017, but neck/back issues concerning for a RB. Down.

110. Samaje Perine (R): Redskins took him in Rd 4. Wouldn't be surprised if he surpassed Fat Rob.

111. DeSean Jackson

112. John Brown: Team says he's healthy, so he's way up for me.

113. Corey Coleman

114. Randall Cobb: Had him a bit too low. Jordy is old and Montgomery now a RB...

115. Kenny Britt: Felt too high in top-100. Corey Coleman should start being the man, right?

116. Delanie Walker: Top -100 felt too high for Delanie Walker, especially with Corey Davis there.

117. Martellus Bennett

118. Kyle Rudolph

119. Breshad Perriman: Up slightly with the Ravens not taking a single WR in the draft.

120. Kevin White

121. DeVante Parker

122. Josh Doctson

123. Devin Funchess

124. J.J. Nelson: Like I said, the team says John Brown is healthy. J.J. down a bit.

125. Quincy Enunwa

126. John Ross (R): Went to the Bengals at #9. Big play guy, but didn't feel right in top-100.

127. T.J. Yeldon: With the Jags taking Fournette at #4, Yeldon is a 3rd down back at best. Down.

128. Jalen Richard: Should still have passing down role, even with Marshawn there. Down though.

129. Jamaal Williams (R): Packers grabbed him in Rd 4. Could play a big role in 2017.

130. Terrance West

131. Kareem Hunt (R): Chiefs traded up to get him in the 3rd round. He'll push for playing time.

132. Pierre Garcon

133. Jeremy Maclin

134. Marvin Jones

135. Will Fuller: Watson an upgrade, so he's up a few spots.

136. Adam Thielen

137. Marqise Lee

138. Tyler Lockett

139. Tyrod Taylor: Moved Eli and friends up to this tier with Tyrod.

140. Eli Manning: Added Brandon Marshall and now Evan Engram this offseason. Up.

141. Andy Dalton: Got another weapon in John Ross. Back up slightly.

142. Carson Wentz

143. Blake Bortles

144. Deshaun Watson (R): Should start for the Texans right way. Run potential has him in top-150.

145. Zach Ertz

146. Jack Doyle

147. Hunter Henry

148. Eric Ebron

149. Jonathan Williams: Likely #2 RB left in Buffalo, and they run a lot. He's way up to top-150.

150. Charles Sims: He felt way too high, especially after Bucs drafted McNichols.

151. Dion Lewis: Blount has to be on his way out of NE now, but Gillislee/Burkhead there. Down.

152. DeAndre Washington: With the Raiders signing Lynch, DeAndre WAY down.

153. Alvin Kamara (R): Saints drafted him. Crowded backfield, but he'll get touches. Up slightly.

154. Marlon Mack (R): A 4th round pick by the Colts, and Gore is old as hell.

155. Jacquizz Rodgers

156. Zay Jones (R): Bills traded up to get him in Rd 2. Could be instant #2 WR in Buffalo.

157. Kenny Stills

158. Tyrell Williams: Taking Mike Williams at #7 signals to me that Tyrell needed to move down.

159. Cole Beasley

160. Sterling Shepard: Down even more with the addition of Evan Engram.

161. Robert Woods: Top-150 felt too high.  I'm not sure he does much in LA with Goff...

162. Jordan Matthews

163. James White

164. Chris Thompson

165. Tim Hightower

166. Rex Burkhead: Blount has to be gone now, but Gillislee there. Down.

167. Jared Cook: Getting a few more TEs into the top-200. Cook maybe a post-post-hype sleeper.

168. Julius Thomas 169. C.J. Fiedorowicz 170. Devontae Booker: Down a few spots with Denver signing Jamaal Charles. 171. Knile Davis: This could change to De'Angelo if Steelers re-sign him...or rookie Connor. 172. Kenyan Drake 173. Kenjon Barner 174. Taylor Gabriel: His production may have been a bit fluky. Down a bit. 175. Ted Ginn 176. Curtis Samuel (R): Panthers took him in Rd 2, and should be a slot WR. Up from watch list. 177. Broncos DEFENSE: Earliest bye week (Week 5). No reason to be 30 picks above other Ds. 178. Seahawks DEFENSE: At GB Week 1. Also no reason to be above rest of defenses. 179. Ravens DEFENSE: Moved up. Good schedule and used ALL high draft picks on defense. 180. Texans DEFENSE: Up a bit. I like their schedule. 181. Patriots DEFENSE 182. Panthers DEFENSE 183. Vikings DEFENSE 184. Giants DEFENSE    185. Cardinals DEFENSE: Tough first three games. Down a few. 186. Bengals DEFENSE 187. Steelers DEFENSE: Great schedule, including at Cleveland Week 1. You could do worse. 188. Bills DEFENSE: Jets at home Week 1, and new head coach who is a great defensive mind. 189. Justin Tucker 190. Stephen Gostkowski 191. Mason Crosby 192. Caleb Sturgis: I like a late bye for a kicker, and his is Week 10. So he's up a bunch. 193. Sebastian Janikowski 194. Cairo Santos 195. Dan Bailey 196. Adam Vinatieri 197. Matt Prater 198. Nick Novak 199. Steven Hauschka 200. Zane Gonzalez (R): Drafted by the Browns in the last round, and he'll round out my top-200.

[The Watch List] QBs Carson Palmer Joe Flacco Ryan Tannehill RBs Chris Ivory: Down to the watch list with Fournette in town. Wonder if they'll cut Ivory... Christine Michael: Packers released him, so he's down to the watch list. Wendell Smallwood: With the Eagles drafting Pumphrey, Smallwood to the watch list. DeAngelo Williams Shane Vereen Shaun Draughn Zach Zenner Alfred Morris Darren McFadden Alfred Blue Robert Turbin Jeremy Langford Benny Cunningham Corey Clement (R): Undrafted but signed with the Eagles. If Mathews gone, Corey could get work. Jeremy McNichols (R): Stays on watch list, but not sure he'll overtake Sims for 3rd down duty. Wayne Gallman (R): Giants got him in Rd 4 too. Crowded backfield. Stays in watch list. D'Onta Foreman (R): May get goal line touches, but HOU not a great landing spot. Watch list. Donnel Pumphrey (R): Added to watch list, but likely won't replace Sproles til 2018. James Connor (R): Drafted by PIT in 3rd Round (fittingly). Added to watch list. Could back up Bell. Joe Williams (R): Another RB drafted in the 4th Rd. This time by San Fran. Keep an eye on him. Aaron Jones (R): The other RB the packers took (Rd 5). Probably little value, but you never know. Rashad Jennings James Starks Matt Asiata Charcandrick West: Chiefs trade up to get Hunt. West likely 3rd RB at best. Down to watch list. WRs Tajae Sharpe: Down to watch list with the Titans drafting Corey Davis. Michael Floyd: Still an unsigned free agent. Down to the watch list. Tyler Boyd: He's down to the watch list with the Bengals taking John Ross at #9 overall. Brandon Coleman: Added to the watch list. Thought Saints might draft a WR but didn't. Tavon Austin Allen Hurns Brian Quick Andre Ellington Malcolm Mitchell Laquon Treadwell Kendall Wright Torrey Smith Kamar Aiken Phillip Dorsett Eli Rogers Sammie Coates Anquan Boldin Mohamed Sanu Robby Anderson Brandon LaFell Josh Gordon Vincent Jackson JuJu Smith-Schuster (R): Steelers took him at end of Rd 2. I suppose he could have value if Martavis slips up, but likely still behind Coates/Rogers.  He'll stay in the watch list. TEs Cameron Brate: The addition of O.J. Howard has me moving Brate to the watch list. O.J. Howard (R): Same with Howard himself. Not sure either has TE1 value now. Evan Engram (R): Drafted by the G Men in Round 1, but doubt he'll have much fantasy value in '17. David Njoku (R): Drafted by the Browns. Stays on the watch list, but could move up. Gary Barnidge: Browns released him, which could be good for his fantasy value. Watch list for now. Austin Hooper Ladarius Green Dwayne Allen Coby Fleener Vance McDonald Charles Clay Zach Miller Vernon Davis Tyler Higbee Gerald Everett (R) DEFs Chiefs: Down to the watch list. At New England Week 1. Would need to draft two Ds if take KC... Bucs Dolphins Eagles Ks Jake Elliott (R): Bengals took him in the 5th round, so I'm assuming he'll be their starter.