Well it's been about a month since my last rankings update, and training camps are now underway, so I thought I'd get another update before anyone tears another ACL or Achilles during a conditioning drill (sorry, Charger fans).
There hasn't been a ton of news since my last update, but DeMarco Murray retired, LeSean McCoy has some serious domestic drama/allegations, and Josh Gordon didn't up for the start of training camp. I can't wait to see that last one unfold on Hard Knocks!
Before I get to my rankings, I thought it might be interesting to predict who will finish the season in the top-12 at each position. You might be thinking "Isn't that what you're doing with your rankings?" Well, sort of...but not quite. These lists are going to differ slightly from my rankings because I'm throwing in guys who aren't on the radar to finish in the top-12 at their position. This will provide you some insight into who I think has major upside and who might be prone to being a bust in 2018.
I'm still more or less going to stick by my rankings when it comes to doing my fantasy drafts, and I suggest you do the same. But there's always a lot of turnover in the top-12 at each position when you look at end of season ranks, so I thought it'd be fun to put some predictions out there and see what turns out to be right when the season ends. This will also serve as a taste of my big preseason article that I'll get out there in a couple of weeks, and I'll add some notes below each section.
Again, this is just a rough prediction of what the top-12 at each position
could look like after the 2018 season (with some
bold picks sprinkled in)...
QBs
Tom Brady
Cam Newton
Aaron Rodgers
Andrew Luck
Russell Wilson
Deshaun Watson
Matthew Stafford
Marcus Mariota
Philip Rivers
Jared Goff
Kirk Cousins
Matt Ryan
You'll notice right away that while I have Rodgers as my #1 QB in my rankings below, I'm not picking him to finish that way at the end of the year. He certainly could, but it's also very possible he doesn't. Alex Smith and Carson Wentz were both top-5 fantasy QBs last season, but I think there's a chance that neither is in 2018. I'm not convinced Wentz will start Week 1, and if he misses a few games, he'll have a hard time cracking the top-12 by the end of the year. It feels weird to have someone like Drew Brees outside of my top-12, but it's probably going to happen at some point. Could it be this year? Sure. Could he finish in the top-5 this year? Of course.
RBs
Ezekiel Elliott
David Johnson
Le'Veon Bell
Saquon Barkley
Todd Gurley
Melvin Gordon
Alvin Kamara
Derrius Guice
Dalvin Cook
Jay Ajayi
Kareem Hunt
Sony Michel
The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to go against the typical Bell/Gurley #1 overall and make Zeke my guy this year. He's going to get so much work behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. If he plays all 16 games, he has a legit shot at 2000 rushing yards this season. Yes, really. As you look at the rest of my list, you'll notice it's an extremely
young top-12 with 3 guys from last year's draft class and 3 from this year's. But hey, there were 4 rookies in the top-15 last year...and there might've been 5 if Dalvin Cook didn't miss nearly the whole season with a knee injury. I don't see why half of the top-12 RBs couldn't be under the age of 23, do you? You may also notice that 1/3 of my top-12 includes a running back from each NFC East team. I mean, other than the Giants, the rest of the teams in the NFC East have really good offensive lines. And the Giants have Saquon Barkley, sooooo yeah...I think it's a possibility.
WRs
Odell Beckham, Jr.
Davante Adams
Antonio Brown
T.Y. Hilton
Doug Baldwin
Julio Jones
Stefon Diggs
DeAndre Hopkins
Chris Hogan
Randall Cobb
Michael Thomas
Sammy Watkins
I have less than half of last year's top-12 here, so I'm making some bold choices with this list. But I don't think it's unrealistic to think that Chris Hogan has a big year with the lack of other WR options in New England. I also think it's very possible that Stefon Diggs has a much better year than Adam Thielen, especially since he's in a contract year. Remember when Randall Cobb was a top-10 WR in 2014? That could happen again, right...? Sammy Watkins actually had 8 touchdowns last year with the Rams on just 70 targets, and 6 of those scores were in the last 8 games of the regular season. We'll find out soon if Mahomes is any good, but if Watkins stays healthy and gets 100+ targets, I don't see why he couldn't be a top-12 WR.
TEs
Zach Ertz
Rob Gronkowski
Jimmy Graham
Kyle Rudolph
Jordan Reed
Delanie Walker
Travis Kelce
Greg Olsen
Trey Burton
Antonio Gates
Hayden Hurst
Charles Clay
Gronk not the #1 TE? Kelce outside of the top-5?!? Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? The bottom half of my list gets a little wacky too. I think Antonio Gates will come out of retirement right before the season starts and finish in the top-10. I also like for Hayden Hurst to be this year's Evan Engram. Speaking of Engram, you don't see him in this top-12. I also didn't list everyone's favorite "sleeper" tight end George Kittle. Well, my big preseason article may help explain those omissions and some of the others as well.
Until then, let's do the rankings!
| 1. Ezekiel Elliott: He will get so much work this year. I felt the need to make him my #1 overall. |
| 2. Le'Veon Bell |
| 3. Todd Gurley |
| 4. Alvin Kamara |
| 5. David Johnson |
| 6. Saquon Barkley |
| 7. Antonio Brown: I know I'd take an RB in the top half of Round 1, so AB down 2 spots. |
| 8. Odell Beckham, Jr.: Up one spot. A healthy OBJ could easily be the #1 fantasy WR. |
| 9. DeAndre Hopkins |
| 10. Julio Jones |
| 11. Michael Thomas |
12. Davante Adams: Moved him up to this WR tier, so 6 RBs and then 6 WRs in Round 1.
| 13. Rob Gronkowski |
| 14. Leonard Fournette: His injury history concerns me, so he's down a RB tier. |
| 15. Dalvin Cook |
| 16. Kareem Hunt |
| 17. Melvin Gordon |
| 18. Devonta Freeman: Moved him up to this RB tier. As consistent as they come. |
| 19. Keenan Allen |
| 20. A.J. Green |
| 21. T.Y. Hilton: Assuming Luck is 100% healthy, moved Hilton WAY up to this WR tier. |
| 22. Mike Evans |
| 23. Doug Baldwin |
24. Zach Ertz: With Burton gone, I say Ertz hits 10+ TDs and could be the #1 fantasy TE. Up.
| 25. Jerick McKinnon |
| 26. Joe Mixon |
| 27. Christian McCaffery |
| 28. Derrius Guice: Moved up to this RB tier. Maybe a homer pick. Maybe a right pick. We'll see. |
| 29. Larry Fitzgerald: Virtual guarantee for 100+ targets and 1000 yards. Up. |
| 30. Stefon Diggs: I'm going against the grain and swapping Thielen and Diggs in my rankings. |
| 31. Amari Cooper: Up too. With Crabtree gone, he should get lot of targets (and fantasy points). |
| 32. Adam Thielen |
| 33. Jordan Howard |
| 34. Alex Collins |
| 35. Jay Ajayi |
36. Travis Kelce
| 37. JuJu Smith-Schuster |
38. Demaryius Thomas: For some reason, I still believe he could return to WR1 territory. Up.
39. Alshon Jeffery: Hasn't had more than 821 receiving yards since 2014. Down a WR tier. |
| 40. Lamar Miller: Foreman may not be ready Week 1. Miller a boring but solid pick. Up. |
| 41. Rashaad Penny |
| 42. Marshawn Lynch: I get the feeling he scores double digit TDs with Gruden coaching. Up. |
| 43. LeSean McCoy: Remember when Zeke was suspended without being charged? Me too. Down. |
| 44. Ronald Jones: I really like his potential to be a workhorse for the Bucs. Up to this RB tier. |
| 45. Brandin Cooks |
| 46. Chris Hogan: Up to this WR tier. I think he has a big year, and he won't last much past top-50. |
| 47. Michael Crabtree: He feels like a top-20 WR to me, so he's up slightly. |
48. Tyreek Hill
| 49. Sony Michel |
| 50. Kenyan Drake: Basically had a couple of good games last year. Felt a little high. Down. |
| 51. Derrick Henry: He also has bust potential with Dion Lewis there. Down as well. |
| 52. Mark Ingram |
| 53. Dion Lewis |
| 54. Royce Freeman: Moved him up a RB tier, but not sure he'll be the starter or not. We'll see... |
| 55. Tevin Coleman |
| 56. Golden Tate |
| 57. Corey Davis |
| 58. Marvin Jones: Tate is more consistent while Jones has the big games. Lowered Jones a bit. |
| 59. Jarvis Landry |
60. Allen Robinson
| 61. Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers and Watson down about 10 spots. I'm waiting on QB again this year. |
| 62. Deshaun Watson |
| 63. Tom Brady: Moved him and Russell up to this QB tier, but all of these QBs are relatively low. |
| 64. Russell Wilson: If I get one of these 4 QBs though, it won't be in the first few rounds. |
| 65. Jimmy Graham: Moved this big TE tier up about 10 spots. |
| 66. Kyle Rudolph |
| 67. Greg Olsen |
| 68. Delanie Walker |
| 69. Josh Gordon: In the news which is never good for him. Down a couple of WR tiers. |
| 70. Devin Funchess: Moved him down here with Shepard/Parker (and now Gordon). |
| 71. Sterling Shepard: Moved Shepard up to this tier. He's better with OBJ in the lineup. |
72. DeVante Parker: He's up to this WR tier too. Finally time to break out...?
| 73. Marlon Mack |
| 74. Rex Burkhead |
| 75. Tarik Cohen: Moved him and C.J. Anderson up to this RB tier. |
| 76. C.J. Anderson |
| 77. Chris Thompson: He fell down to this tier. Guice could be true workhorse. |
| 78. Kerryon Johnson |
| 79. Jamaal Williams: Has a chance to run away with the job with the Jones suspension. Up. |
| 80. Cam Newton |
| 81. Andrew Luck: In his last 3 fully healthy seasons, he's been a top-5 fantasy QB. Up. |
| 82. Carson Wentz: I have concerns about him being ready for Week 1. Down a QB tier. |
| 83. Drew Brees |
84. Evan Engram: Down. I have a feeling he regresses a lot with Saquon there.
| 85. Pierre Garcon |
| 86. Allen Hurns |
| 87. Randall Cobb |
| 88. Will Fuller |
| 89. Emmanuel Sanders |
| 90. Kelvin Benjamin |
| 91. Robert Woods |
| 92. Robby Anderson |
| 93. Aaron Jones: Starts the year with a two game suspension, but I'm not lowering him. |
| 94. Nick Chubb |
| 95. Isaiah Crowell: He felt too high. Down a RB tier. |
96. Devontae Booker: Up to this RB tier. Don't sleep on him as the the Week 1 starter.
| 97. Jordan Reed: Moved him up about 30 spots. Could be a top-5 TE if healthy. |
| 98. Kirk Cousins: Moved down to this QB tier with Stafford/Rivers. |
| 99. Matthew Stafford |
| 100. Philip Rivers |
| 101. Sammy Watkins |
| 102. Julian Edelman |
| 103. Rishard Matthews: In a contract year, and I think Mariota has more TDs this year. Up. |
| 104. Marqise Lee |
| 105. D.J. Moore |
| 106. D'Onta Foreman |
| 107. Frank Gore |
108. Matt Breida: Call me crazy, but I think he'll get plenty of touches in a decent offense. Up.
| 109. Jamison Crowder |
| 110. Cooper Kupp |
| 111. Kenny Stills |
| 112. Marquise Goodwin |
| 113. Jordy Nelson: I move him slightly down in every rankings update... |
| 114. Nelson Agholor |
| 115. Josh Doctson |
| 116. Mike Williams |
| 117. Michael Gallup: Up a WR tier. Could be the #1 WR in Dallas. |
| 118. Bilal Powell |
| 119. Giovani Bernard |
120. Carlos Hyde
| 121. Trey Burton |
| 122. Jordan Matthews: Up a WR tier too. He could be useful even beyond the first 4 games. |
| 123. Geronimo Allison: Cobb in a contract year which makes Allison a more attractive keeper. Up. |
| 124. Kenny Golladay: Good keeper potential with Tate in a contract year. Up. |
| 125. Calvin Ridley |
| 126. Cameron Meredith: Down slightly in this WR tier. His health could be an issue Week 1. |
| 127. Chris Carson: What if Penny's NOT the guy? Carson back into top-150. |
| 128. Duke Johnson |
| 129. Kenneth Dixon: Moved him and Clement up. Both should be more involved this year. |
| 130. Corey Clement |
| 131. Nyheim Hines: I think about Indy being down in games and him being involved a lot. Up. |
132. Theo Riddick
| 133. Dez Bryant: Down two more WR tiers as he remains unsigned. |
| 134. Tyler Lockett |
| 135. Paul Richardson |
| 136. Tyrell Williams: He felt a little high, assuming Mike Williams healthy now. Down. |
| 137. Ryan Grant: Let's assume Luck is healthy & Grant is the #2 WR. Up. |
| 138. Spencer Ware |
| 139. Peyton Barber: Down a couple of RB tiers. Starting to feel more like a handcuff. |
| 140. Jared Goff |
| 141. Marcus Mariota |
| 142. George Kittle |
| 143. Charles Clay |
144. Austin Seferian-Jenkins: Down a couple of spots in this last TE tier.
| 145. Chargers DEFENSE |
| 146. Broncos DEFENSE |
| 147. Jaguars DEFENSE |
| 148. Ravens DEFENSE |
| 149. Rams DEFENSE |
| 150. Saints DEFENSE |
| 151. Eagles DEFENSE |
| 152. Vikings DEFENSE |
| 153. Steelers DEFENSE |
| 154. Lions DEFENSE: Removed the Seahawks. Detroit has a good early schedule. |
| 155. Patriots DEFENSE |
156. Titans DEFENSE: Replaced the Chiefs with the Titans. TEN@MIA Week 1.
|
|
| Watch List: |
QBs
Jimmy Garoppolo: Down to the watch list with Mahomes.
Patrick Mahomes: Because to be honest, someone will draft them way higher than I will anyway.
Matt Ryan
Alex Smith
Ben Roethlisberger
Dak Prescott
Blake Bortles |
Mitchell Trubisky
|
RBs
Latavius Murray
Chris Ivory
Jordan Wilkins
Ty Montgomery
Doug Martin
James White
Jeremy Hill
Kalen Ballage
LeGarrette Blount
Ameer Abdullah
Charles Sims
Austin Ekeler
T.J. Yeldon
|
| WRs |
John Ross
Mohamed Sanu
Willie Snead
John Brown
Albert Wilson
Ted Ginn
Jaron Brown
Kenny Britt
Chester Rogers
Deon Cain
Chris Godwin
Terrelle Pryor
Quincy Enunwa
Jermaine Kearse
James Washington
Dante Pettis
Courtland Sutton
Christian Kirk
Anthony Miller
Donte Moncrief
Dede Westbrook
Keelan Cole
Keke Coutee: Added to the watch list. If he's the #3 WR, could shine if an injury to Nuke or Fuller.
J'Mon Moore: He could beat out Allison for the #3 WR spot in Green Bay. Added to the list.
|
| TEs |
Hayden Hurst
Mike Gesicki
Tyler Eifert
Benjamin Watson
David Njoku
Jack Doyle
Eric Ebron
O.J. Howard
Cameron Brate
Vance McDonald
Antonio Gates
Ricky Seals-Jones: I know I have too many TEs in my watch list, but what's one more?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
