2011 Fantasy Football Player Rankings
by John Clifton
Our 2011 fantasy football rankings include team information and bye weeks in parentheses. I also include comments here and there to suggest why a player is listed where he is--or why he's on the list at all. Assuming these are meant to be copied-and-pasted onto a printed cheat sheet, you can either keep the comments or leave them off. Keep them and you'll have important notes to refer to later in the draft, since most of the notes are about sleepers and late-round selections.
NFL Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings 2011
Aaron Rodgers tops the list of elite quarterbacks once more. You won't find much bad you can say about Rodgers, though I suppose the concussion problem might worry some owners. You might think I'm crazy putting Tony Romo ahead of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, but Romo has Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, and Jason Witten as his targets. Teams could send the fat kid to cover Roy Williams the last couple of seasons, so expect Dez Bryant's ascension to starter to open up the offense. Tyron Smith should give Romo better protection this year, too.
I downgrade Manning out of the Top 5 because of the neck injury. While he should be fine, none of the quarterbacks in the Top 5 have an injury issue remotely to that level. Every quarterback eventually experiences drop-off--everyone but Peyton Manning. I'm betting this is the year we see a little bit of that, though I could be entirely wrong. Michael Vick was great last year, but either defenses were starting to figure him out at the end of 2010, or he was starting to wear down from the hits. Either way, I don't necessarily think Michael Vick is going to be the fantasy force he was last year (and I started him in two leagues). Michael Vick stands around 6'0" and is thin for an NFL quarterback. He takes a lot of hits with his style, which means he's an injury risk at all times.
1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (8)
2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (11)
3. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (6)
4. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (5)
5. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (7)
6. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (11)
7. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles (7)
8. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans (11)
9. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (11)
10. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (9)
11. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears (8)
12. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (8)
13. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)
14. Eli Manning, New York Giants (7)
15. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams (5)
16. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (5)
17. Donovan McNabb, Washington Redskins (9)
18. Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia Eagles (6)
19. Marc Sanchez, New York Jets (8)
20. Matt Cassell, Kansas City Chiefs (6)
21. Matt Hasselbeck, Tennessee Titans (6)
22. Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns (5)
23. Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills (7)
24. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (7)
25. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers (7)
26. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars (9)
27. Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins (5)
28. Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos (6)
29. Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos (6)
30. Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders (8)
31. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (9)
32. Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle Seahawks (6)
33. Vince Young, Philadelphia Eagles (7)
34. Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars (9)
35. Rex Grossman/John Beck, Washington Redskins (5)
36. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (7)
37. Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans (6)
38. Jon Kitna, Dallas Cowboys (5)
Week 11 is a big week for bye week quarterbacks, with Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and Matt Schaub off. The bye situation could get critical for teams that don't plan when drafting this year. Most seasons have one or two weeks with 6 bye teams, but 2011 has four weeks where that happens. From Week 5 to Week 8, teams could see their playoff hopes evaporate, if a wave of byes and injuries hit them at the same time.
NFL Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings 2011
The top 20-25 running backs are pretty solid this year, which is more than the RB crop has offered in recent seasons. For this reason, you can either wait in the 2nd round, knowing a decent second running back option could fall to you in the 3rd round. Another option is to target the running back position hard in all three first rounds, knowing it's going to then thin out somewhat. Then you can focus heavily on the quarterback and wide receiver positions. That was a key strategy 10 years ago, but due to the glut of decent platoon running backs in the 25-40 spots, I would prefer to add one elite wide receiver in the first three rounds, then target one of the better options among the semi-starter running backs in that part of the draft as my third runner.
Running backs are injured more than any other offensive position, so either build depth with runners in platoon situations, get your star runners' handcuff RBs, or continue to draft sleepers late in the draft (and add runners aggressively through free agency all years).
1. Arian Foster - Houston Texans (11)
2. Adrian Peterson - Minnesota Vikings (9)
3. Ray Rice - Baltimore Ravens (5)
4. Lesean McCoy - Philadelphia Eagles (7)
5. Chris Johnson - Tennessee Titans (6)
6. Jamaal Charles - Kansas City Chiefs (6)
7. Frank Gore - San Francisco 49ers (7)
8. Rashard Mendenhall - Pittsburgh Steelers (11)
9. Shonn Greene - New York Jets (8)
10. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jacksonville Jaguars (9)
11. Darren McFadden - Oakland Raiders (8)
12. Steven Jackson - St. Louis Rams (5)
13. Peyton Hillis - Cleveland Browns (5)
14. Michael Turner - Atlanta Falcons (8)
15. Knowshon Moreno - Denver Broncos (6)
16. LaGarrette Blount - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)
17. Ryan Mathews - San Diego Chargers (6)
18. Ahmad Bradshaw* - New York Giants (7) - Still not signed at time of
publication.
19. Matt Forte - Chicago Bears (8)
20. Jahvid Best - Detroit Lions (9)
21. Deangelo Williams - Carolina Panthers (9)
22. Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints (11)
23. Felix Jones - Dallas Cowboys (5)
24. Fred Jackson - Buffalo Bills (7)
25. Joseph Addai - Indianapolis Colts (11)
26. Ryan Grant - Green Bay Packers (8)
27. Cedric Benson - Cincinnati Bengals (7)
28. Daniel Thomas, Miami Dolphins (5)
29. Beanie Wells - Arizona Cardinals (6)
30. Marshawn Lynch - Seattle Seahawks (6)
31. Ryan Torain - Washington Redskins (5)
32. Benjarvus Green-Ellis - New England Patriots (7)
33. James Starks - Green Bay Packers (8)
34. Demarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys (5)
35. Ryan Williams, Arizona Cardinals (6)
36. Jonathan Stewart - Carolina Panthers (9)
37. Michael Bush - Oakland Raiders (8)
38. Bernard Scott - Cincinnati Bengals (7)
39. Reggie Bush - Miami Dolphins (5)
40. Brandon Jacobs - New York Giants (7)
41. Darren Sproles - New Orleans Saints (11)
42. C.J. Spiller - Buffalo Bills (7)
43. Ricky Williams - Baltimore Ravens (5)
44. Ladainian Tomlinson - New York Jets (8)
45. Roy Helu - Washington Redskins (5)
46. Derrick Ward - Houston Texans (11)
47. Pierre Thomas - New Orleans Saints (11)
48. Donald Brown - Indianapolis Colts (11)
49. Thomas Jones - Kansas City Chiefs (6)
50. Evan Royster, Washington Redskins (5)
51. Tashard Choice - Dallas Cowboys (5) - Note: Lonyae Miller or Phillip
Tanner might end up as the Cowboys' 3rd runner. If so, insert here
instead. The Boys' third guy could be important, since Jones and Murray
each have injury questions.
52. Ben Tate - Houston Texans (11)
53. Anthony Dixon - San Francisco 49ers (7)
54. Ronnie Brown - Philadelphia Eagles (7)
55. Shane Vereen, New England Patriots (7)
56. Julius Jones - Seattle Seahawks (6)
57. Isaac Redman - Pittsburgh Steelers (11)
58. Jerome Harrison - Cleveland Browns (5)
59. Da'Rel Scott, New York Giants (7)
60. Delone Carter, Indianapolis Colts (11)
61. Alex Green, Green Bay Packers (8)
62. Jason Snelling - Atlanta Falcons (8)
63. Toby Gerhart - Minnesota Vikings (9)
64. Montario Hardesty - Cleveland Browns (5)
65. Jonathan Dwyer - Pittsburgh Steelers (11)
66. Dexter McCluster - Kansas City Chiefs (6)
67. Jacquizz Rogers, Atlanta Falcons (8)
68. Taiwan Jones, Oakland Raiders (8) - 4.29 40 time.
69. Kendall Hunter, San Francisco 49ers (7)
70. Steven Ridley, New England Patriots (7)
71. Bilal Powell, New York Jets (8) - Behind Shonn Greene and Ladainian
Tomlinson.
72. Jamie Harper, Tennessee Titans (6) - Only interesting if Chris
Johnson holds out significant time.
73. Johnny White, Buffalo Bills (7) - Rookie who converted to RB in the
2010 college season. Only a dynasty option.
74. Anthony Allen, Baltimore Ravens (5) - Behind Ray Rice and Ricky
Williams.
75. Baron Batch, Pittsburgh Steelers (11) - Might replace Mewelde Moore
76. Dion Lewis, Philadelphia Eagles (7) - Behind Lesean McCoy and Ronnie
Brown.
77. Marion Barber - Chicago Bears (8)
78. Chester Taylor - Chicago Bears* (8)
79. Justin Forsett - Seattle Seahawks (6)
80. Steve Slaton - Houston Texans (11)
81. James Davis - Washington Redskins (5)
82. Tim Hightower - Washington Redskins (5)
83. Carnell Williams - St. Louis Rams (5)
NFL Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings 2011
The wide receiver crop in 2011 strikes me as deep and talented, though volatile. My suggestion is to collect someone like Roddy White or Andre Johnson in the top two rounds and then wait to add your second receiver. If you choose running backs high, keep picking over the WR position in the top ten rounds, or as long as you're still in the Top 40 or 50 players. Only draft players below the 50-spot as bye week fill-ins and deep sleepers.
Between the #11 and #25 picks, I don't see a whole lot of difference in the upward potential of the players. If you feel the same when it gets to that part of the list, wait an extra round and select a top player at another position instead.
1. Andre Johnson - Houston Texans (11)
2. Roddy White - Atlanta Falcons (8)
3. Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona Cardinals (6)
4. Calvin Johnson - Detroit Lions (9)
5. Hakeem Nicks (7)
6. Reggie Wayne (11)
7. Vincent Jackson (6)
8. Greg Jennings - Green Bay Packers (8)
9. Desean Jackson - Philadelphia Eagles (7)
10. Dwayne Bowe - Kansas City Chiefs (6)
11. Santonio Holmes - New York Jets (8) - He was Top 15 in only 3/4ths
of a season in 2010.
12. Miles Austin - Dallas Cowboys (11)
13. Jeremy Maclin - Philadelphia Eagles (7)
14. Mike Wallace - Pittsburgh Steelers (11)
15. Mike Williams - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)
16. Dez Bryant - Dallas Cowboys (5) - He didn't even know the playbook
last year.
17. Brandon Marshall - Miami Dolphins ()
18. Anquan Boldin - Baltimore Ravens ()
19. Kenny Britt - Tennessee Titans () - Check on any suspension news
before pulling the trigger.
20. Percy Harvin - Minnesota Vikings () - McNabb did wonders for Santana
Moss in 2010.
21. Marques Colston - New Orleans Saints (11)
22. Wes Welker - New England Patriots (7) - Two years removed from the
injury, he should be much improved.
23. Chad Ochocinco - New England Patriots (7)
24. Austin Collie - Indianapolis Colts (11) - Collie was #1 in the NFL
until he got injured.
25. Brandon Lloyd - Denver Broncos () - They call it a "career year" for
a reason.
26. Sidney Rice - Seattle Seahawks ()
27. Santana Moss - Washington Redskins
28. Steve Johnson - Buffalo Bills ()
29. A.J. Green - Cincinnati Bengals ()
30. Steve Smith - Carolina Panthers ()
31. Lance Moore - New Orleans Saints (11)
32. Michael Crabtree - San Francisco 49ers ()
33. Pierre Garcon - Indianapolis Colts (11)
34. Hines Ward - Pittsburgh Steelers (11)
35. Nate Burleon - Detroit Lions ()
36. Johnny Knox - Chicago Bears
37. Mohamed Massaquoi - Cleveland Browns
38. Mike Thomas - Jacksonville Jaguars
39. Davone Bess - Miami Dolphins
40. Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers ()
41. Julio Jones - Atlanta Falcons
42. Mike Sims-Walker - St. Louis Rams
43. Donnie Avery - St. Louis Rams
44. Nate Washington - Tennessee Titans
45. Louis Murphy - Oakland Raiders
46. Donald Driver - Green Bay Packers
47. Kevin Walter - Houston Texans
48. Mario Manningham - New York Giants ()
49. Steve Smith - Free Agent Formerly of the New York Giants () - May or
may not be ready for start of the regular season. If he resigns with the
Giants, move Manningham down 5-10 spots.
50. Stephen Williams - Arizona Cardinals
51. Plaxico Burress - New York Jets
52. Jordan Shipley - Cincinnati Bengals
53. Torrey Smith - Baltimore Ravens
54. Jordy Nelson - Green Bay Packers
55. Robert Meachem - New Orleans Saints
56. Eddie Royal - Denver Broncos
57. Bernard Berrian - Minnesota Vikings
58. Braylon Edwards - San Francisco 49ers
59. Arrelious Benn - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
60. Lee Evans - Buffalo Bills
61. Devid Gettis - Carolina Panthers
62. Roy Williams - Chicago Bears
63. Jason Hill - Jacksonville Jaguars
64. Josh Cribbs - Cleveland Browns
65. Kevin Ogletree - Dallas Cowboys
66. Jacoby Ford - Oakland Raiders
67. Legedu Naanee - Carolina Panthers ()
68. Danny Amendola - St. Louis Rams
69. Devin Hester - Chicago Bears
70. Demaryius Thomas - Denver Broncos* - May go on PUP list.
71. Titus Young - Detroit Lions
72. Harry Douglas - Atlanta Falcons
73. Deion Branch - New England Patriots
74. Derrick Mason - New York Jets
75. Darius Heyard-Bey - Oakland Raiders
76. Donte Stallworth - Washington Redskins
77. Jabar Gaffney - Washington Redskins
78. Leonard Hankerson - Washington Redskins - If you want to take a
flier on a rookie, the Skins coaches have talked up Hankerson.
NFL Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings 2011
With 3 of the 6 top-ranked tight ends coming off major injuries sometime in the past two years and Antonio Gates already having foot troubles, this looks like a year to wait a while on drafting a tight end. Another reason to do so is because we're living through a golden age of tight ends. The Top 12 I consider all solid starters in good situations and that's not even counting the two Patriots' tight ends that many publications have as Top 12 options. I prefer to get someone I'm pretty sure is going to be on the field every single play as a starter, though I wouldn't blame you if you waited a while to draft a tight end, then drafted one of the Patriots' talented young TEs for their upside potential. Young tight ends like Ed Dickson, Jared Cook, and Jermaine Gresham are better situated this year to make contributions, and each of them has big upside.
Greg Olsen was a disappointment last year, but Mike Martz is a tight end killer, so you can't really blame Olsen. With rookie Cam Newton throwing the ball in 2011, expect Greg Olsen to get a lot of targets as a dump-off option. I was tempted to list Jermichael Finley #1, because he or Dallas Clark either one could beat Gates when healthy, but it's hard to place either one over Gates they went on I.R. last year. Jason Witten gets slotted so high because he's the healthiest tight end in the Top 5 who doesn't have Alex Smith throwing to him.
1. Antonio Gates - San Diego Chargers (6)
2. Jermichael Finley - Green Bay Packers (8)
3. Jason Witten - Dallas Cowboys (5)
4. Dallas Clark - Indianapolis Colts (11)
5. Vernon Davis - San Francisco 49ers (7)
6. Owen Daniels - Houston Texans (11)
7. Jimmy Graham - New Orleans Saints (11)
8. Brandon Pettigrew - Detroit Lions (9)
9. Zach Miller - Seattle Seahawks (6)
10. Mercedes Lewis - Jacksonville Jaguars (9)
11. Chris Cooley - Washington Redskins (5)
12. Tony Gonzales - Atlanta Falcons (8)
13. Rob Gronkowski - New England Patriots (7)
14. Aaron Hernandez - New England Patriots (7)
15. Ed Dickson - Baltimore Ravens (5)
16. Jared Cook - Tennessee Titans (6)
17. Greg Olsen - Carolina Panthers (9)
18. Todd Heap - Arizona Cardinals (6)
19. Jermaine Gresham - Cincinnati Bengals (7)
20. Kellen Winslow - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)
21. Vishanthe Shiancoe - Minnesota Vikings (9)
22. Brent Celek - Philadelphia Eagles (7)
23. Kevin Boss - Oakland Raiders (8) - Boss was always a disappointment
in New York (stats-wise), but the Raiders are used to throwing the ball
to the tight end. Jason Campbell has thrown to his TE in Washington
(Cooley, Davis) and Oakland (Miller).
24. Dustin Keller - New York Jets
25. Lance Kendricks - St. Louis Rams (5) - Sleeper potential all over
this one.
26. Kyle Rudolph - Minnesota Vikings (9) - Make sure the rookie
high-rounder doesn't take Shiancoe's spot. McNabb's tight end should get
a lot of looks, either way.
27. Tony Moeaki - Kansas City Chiefs
28. Ben Watson - Cleveland Browns (5)
29. Heath Miller - Pittsburgh Steelers (11)
30. Jacob Tamme - Indianapolis Colts (11) - If Dallas Clark has any kind
of a setback, rush as fast as you can to pick up Jacob Tamme.
31. John Carlson - Seattle Seahawks (6)
You can view our 2010 fantasy football rankings here if you want to compare and contrast.