With just a few days to the start of NFL training camps, it’s time for serious Fantasy Football Heads to start thinking strategy. Some of the more enthusiastic commissioners have already held their league drafts. For those of you who dared have your draft without my 2010 Fantasy Football Rankings, good luck with that. For the rest of you geniuses who were waiting with baited breath for my rankings, here’s my top 50 overall player rankings (standard 10-12 player league with 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 RB/WR, 1 TE, 1 K and 1 DEF/ST):
Click here for the 2010 NFL schedule.
1. Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans – With a newly re-structured contract C.J. is now a sure bet to show up for the beginning of training camp. Only a prolonged holdout would have left any doubt as to who was #1.
2. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings – The consensus #1 in most people’s 2009 preseason rankings comes in at #2 for 2010.
3. Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens – Has all the tools and now the team around him to top this list in 2011.
4. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars – Would have been my #3 overall if the team around him was better.
5. Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons – Could have easily gone with my top-rated WR or QB here, but I have a feeling Turner bounces back with a strong 2010 campaign.
6. Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers – Gore had an interesting 2009 with several explosive games sandwiched between a number of duds. Should be more consistent in an improving 49ers offense in 2010.
7. Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams – As with Gore, injuries are a concern but the numbers are there when healthy.
8. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints – Close call between Brees and Aaron Rodgers for top QB honors. Brees gets nod for longer history of consistency.
9. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers – You’d get very little argument from me if this guy was your #1 Fantasy QB.
10. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans – Size, speed, hands and a guy who’s developed into a Pro-Bowl caliber QB tossing him the ball. Any doubts as to why he’s the #1 receiver?
11. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers – Bounced back strong in his 2nd season after a disastrous rookie season in 2008. Should see plenty of opportunities with Willie Parker now in Washington.
12. Randy Moss, WR, New England Patriots – Just continues to put up big numbers year after year. Is there any reason to believe it won’t continue? Didn’t think so.
13. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers – Even though he shares carries with Jonathan Stewart, the Panthers commitment to the run provides Williams with plenty of opportunities to shine.
14. Shonn Greene, RB, New York Jets – Looked like a sure-fire top 10 guy prior to LaDanian Tomlinson arriving. Should emerge as the starter in a run-heavy offense, but the question remains: how many carries will LT steal?
15. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts – As steady as they come at the WR position.
16. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts – His reign as the No.1 Fantasy QB may be over, but Archie’s boy can start for my team anytime.
17. Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinnati Bengals – Let’s hope the surprise of 2009 has a better 2010 on the field than he’s had off of it.
18. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals – Perhaps the most difficult player on the list to rank. No Kurt, no Anquan – how does this impact the best pure receiver in the league?
19. Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay Packers – The best thing Grant has going for him is lack of competition in the Packers backfield. He is the Green Bay running game, so expect enough opportunities here to justify a top 20 ranking.
20. Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons – In QB Matt Ryan’s 3rd season, expect the Falcons to allow him more opportunities to throw the ball down the field. This sets up perfectly for White who was already one of the most explosive WRs in the NFL.
21. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots – Should be business as usual in 2010 for Mr. Brady.
22. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs – Was headed to the top 10 before back-to-back 1300 yard rusher Thomas Jones came over from the Jets. Will likely lose valuable goal line touches to Jones, but the explosive end to 2009 is hard to ignore.
23. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles – Has some big shoes to fill after the Eagles cut ties with the incredibly productive Brian Westbrook.
24. Miles Austin, WR, Dallas Cowboys – Last season’s breakthrough receiver should be even better this season now that he has the full confidence of Tony Romo.
25. Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers – The first rookie to grace these rankings has been designated the starter since draft day. The kid has a chance to be an elite back right away in this offense.
26. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions – If Lions QB Matt Stafford takes the leap many are expecting this season, Johnson could move way up this list for next season.
27. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos – The more talented Moreno should eventually secure most of the carries over his current running mate Correll Buckhalter. Question is: how soon does it happen?
28. Brandon Marshall, WR, Miami Dolphins – With a quicker than expected recovery from hip surgery, Marshall should have plenty of time to develop chemistry with his new QB.
29. Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals – Like Moreno in Denver, Wells should eventually distinguish himself from his less talented backfield mate Tim Hightower in 2010.
30. Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints – The Saints crowded backfield got a little less so with the departure of Mike Bell. This should allow Thomas more opportunities – especially around the goal line.
31. Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys – Romo now has as many weapons as any QB in the league and will take full advantage of that this season. Could be nipping at Brady’s heels.
32. Phillip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers – The absence of Vincent Jackson will hurt some, but the cupboard will be far from bare for Rivers and the Chargers offense.
33. Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints – Colston owners often find themselves the victim of Brees’ spread the wealth passing style, but he remains a Fantasy stud at WR nonetheless.
34. Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers – An explosive talent teamed with an elite QB = excellent Fantasy production.
35. DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles – Will he continue to make huge plays so consistently? I have my doubts, but he will have enough to go fairly early in most drafts.
36. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers – Has remained very productive despite sharing the load as a backup to DeAngelo Williams.
37. Sidney Rice, WR, Minnesota Vikings – Favre seems likely to make his annual training camp comeback, so expect Rice to once again put up excellent numbers.
38. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears – One of the biggest disappointments in 2009 after a stellar rookie season. The newly acquired Chester Taylor is a concern, but Forte should remain the no. 1 back in Chi-town.
39. Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis Colts – Quietly had a pretty productive 2009. Rushing numbers won’t impress you, but is a great flex option and solid RB2.
40. Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions – Our second rookie would be higher if durability wasn’t a concern. Should supplant incumbent Kevin Smith very early on.
41. Matt Schaub, QB, Houston Texans – The Texans offense was one of the more potent in the NFL with the emergence of Schaub as a high-end QB.
42. Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami Dolphins – A definite pattern has emerged with Brown: flashes of brilliance usually interrupted by injury. When healthy though, Brown is a very good RB option in all Fantasy formats.
43. Anquan Boldin, WR, Baltimore Ravens – Boldin finally moves out from under the shadow of Larry Fitzgerald and will show what he can do as the go-to-guy.
44. Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants – His days as a stud RB are in the past, but the bruising Jacobs is still the starter in an offense that loves the run.
45. Chad Ochocinco, WR, Cincinnati Bengals – Came back strong last season after a very disappointing 2008. Strong play should continue in 2010 – even with the addition of Antonio Bryant.
46. Ben Tate, RB, Houston Texans – Word is the Texans are very high on their rookie out of Auburn. He will begin by sharing time with Steve Slaton, but his more physical style should result in more carriers as the season wears on.
47. Vincent Jackson, WR, San Diego Chargers – Suspension and the potential for a prolonged holdout knock Jackson out of the top-tier WR rankings.
48. Dallas Clark, TE, Indianapolis Colts – Yes, a tight end did make it into the top 50, but Mr. Clark is so much more than just a TE in Indy.
49. Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens – Like a lot of others, I’m high on Flacco this season. He has a lot of weapons now at his disposal in Baltimore, and there’s just something about good young quarterbacks in their 3rd year.
50. Marion Barber, RB, Dallas Cowboys – There are signs of a slow down with the Barbarian, and Felix Jones waiting in the wings doesn’t help, but I have a feeling Barber has a strong 2010. He is still the goal line back of choice in Big D and that’s important in an offense that figures to be in the red zone a lot.
–Antwan Leonard
Antwan writes a Fantasy sports blog – H2H Fantasy Sports – with the latest in Head2Head Fantasy news, tips and recommendations.
Last year’s winner for the men was Alphonce Yatich who ended the race in 2:14:04. The top woman finisher was Iuliia Arkhipova who finished the course with a 2:32:09 time. Will we see an additional record broken this year?