Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /var/www/wp-content/themes/flex-mag/functions.php on line 939
Notice: Trying to get property 'count' of non-object in /var/www/wp-content/themes/flex-mag/functions.php on line 1008
Share
Share
Share
Email
This year’s fantasy drafts are going to be dominated by receivers early on, a sign of how much the league has changed over the past few years. Here are my top 50 players for the upcoming season. Rankings are for standard, non PPR leagues.
1. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh – I couldn’t tell you the last time a receiver was the top ranked fantasy player. Antonio Brown has dominated in fantasy football for the past three years and it’s hard to imagine anything changing in 2016. PPR or not, he’s the top player heading into 2016.
2. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota – Peterson has been a model of fantasy consistency during his time in the NFL. Even at the age of 31, it’s hard to expect anything less than 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns for Peterson this year. And that’s just his floor.
3. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles – The lone Ram in the top 50 is the best fantasy option the Rams have had in years. Gurley shined during his rookie season, finishing third in rushing despite missing the first three games of the year and a chunk of offseason training. The potential is limitless for a healthy Gurley with a full offseason of work under his belt.
4. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta – Jones has 240 receptions for 3,464 yards over the last two years. Despite non-elite touchdown numbers, Jones is still a top two receiver thanks to the insane amount of yards he’s expected to accumulate. Upping his touchdowns may even push him past Antonio Brown.
5. Odell Beckham Jr, WR, New York Giants – Beckham set the record for most receiving yards by any player during the first two years of his career last season and has been dominating secondaries since his debut in 2014. It’s hard to imagine him failing to continue his record-setting pace this season.
6. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England – Not only is Gronkowski one of the best receivers regardless of position, but his status as the alpha of NFL tight ends gives him a boost to his stock. Gronk owners have a ridiculous advantage over the rest of the league, because his numbers have been much better than the next best tight end over the past few years.
7. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston – Hopkins has put up elite fantasy numbers over the past two years despite poor play at quarterback. If Brock Osweiler plays up to his potential, Hopkins could be the best receiver in football. Even if Osweiler doesn’t, Hopkins is probably still going to put up elite numbers.
8. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh – Despite the three game suspension, Bell is an elite back in an elite system and might even be the No. 1 overall pick if he wasn’t suspended. Just make sure to grab DeAngelo Williams early on.
9. David Johnson, RB, Arizona – There’s plenty of ways you can knock Johnson’s draft stock – he’s playing in a crowded backfield, Arizona can be pass-happy, he has a small sample size. But Johnson’s upside is just too much to pass up on. He was an absolute monster during his limited time on the field in 2015, and many experts believe that the Cardinals will unleash him in 2016. He’s not the safest pick, but he could easily end 2016 as the top fantasy running back.
10. AJ Green, WR, Cincinnati – Things we can all be sure of in life: death, taxes, and AJ Green 1,000 yard seasons.
11. Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay – Martin had a great comeback season in 2015, finishing second in the NFL in rushing yards. Many are down on Martin this year, and he may be a bargain for some owners, because he has the potential to slip in the draft. I wouldn’t be worried about drafting Martin. He should put up similar numbers to last season.
12. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas – Bryant was on fire during his preseason debut and looks to be back to form after an injury-riddled 2015 season. He’s in a similar situation to DeAndre Hopkins – his numbers will be dominant if Romo returns to form, but even if Romo regresses a bit, Bryant should still be reliable for some solid fantasy numbers. (Note from the editor: Romo is now out 6-10 weeks with a broken bone in his back.)
13. Lamar Miller, RB, Houston – Miller was criminally underused in Miami and a fresh start in Houston looks like the perfect opportunity. He’s going to get plenty of carries and should put up some solid fantasy numbers.
14. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas – The Cowboys’ rookie tailback should also get plenty of touches, but I’m not as sold on him as other fantasy experts are. He’s already got a hamstring issue, and I don’t believe he’s as good of a prospect as Todd Gurley was last season. But many experts are hyping him up as the breakout rookie running back, and some people even have him atop their list of fantasy backs going into the season. If you want Elliott, you probably have to take him in the top 5-10 picks. I think he’s a bit of a risk. Let another owner deal with him. Elliott’s stock is entirely in the eye of the beholder.
15. Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay – Assuming Nelson recovered from his injury smoothly, it should be more of the same for the Nelson-Rodgers connection in Green Bay.
16. Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville – Allen Robinson is the real deal. He’s a young, skilled receiver in a pass happy offense and a quarterback that loves to throw the ball up and let Robinson make a play. He has an extremely high ceiling and a relatively high floor. He’s a safe bet with a lot of upside.
17. Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay – I have a feeling that last season was just a perfect storm of bad voodoo for Eddie Lacy. He’s been committed to coming back strong in the offseason, and I expect we’ll see more of 2014 Lacy than 2015 Lacy. He could turn out to be a bargain as someone likely to be taken in the mid to late second round.
18. DeVonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta – Freeman had a ridiculously good six-game stretch in early 2015, piling up 956 total yards and nine touchdowns. In the other nine games he played in 2015, he totaled 678 yards and five touchdowns. Freeman has a decent floor, but he’s likely going to be drafted relatively high thanks to his crazy opening stretch last season. The question for owners is this: which Freeman do you think you’re drafting, early season Freeman or late season Freeman?
19. Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans – Ingram put up nice, consistent numbers last year both on the ground and through the air. Add a few more touchdowns, and he becomes an elite fantasy back.
20. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City – One of the riskiest picks in the draft. He’s coming off an injury, has already been placed on the PUP list in training camp, and has been used sporadically in Andy Reid’s system in Kansas City. But there’s still no denying that a healthy Jamaal Charles is one of the best players in the NFL, and that’s why he’s likely to be drafted high in most leagues.
21. Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle – Similar to David Johnson, Rawls is in a crowded backfield and has a small sample size of what we know he can do. That’s not to mention he’s coming off a season-ending injury. Yet Rawls has a lot of potential, and many experts believe he’s the heir apparent to Beast Mode. He’s a high-risk, high-reward pick, but if Rawls slips down the board in your league he’s absolutely worth taking a shot on.
22. Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets – Marshall and his quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick proved to be a match made in heaven in New York, both on the field and in fantasy. Marshall is a safe pick in a draft filled with questions.
23. Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland – The young and talented receiver will continue to grow with his young and talented quarterback. Expect big things from Cooper this season.
24. Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego – Allen and Philip Rivers have great chemistry, and they should produce a nice bounce back season for the Chargers passing game.
25. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay – With an improving quarterback and a young offense around him, Evans may blossom into the dominant red zone threat he was drafted to be. He should have a solid 2016 season.
26. Jonathan Stewart – The quintessential low-ceiling, high-floor pick, you know what to expect from Stewart, and you’ve known for years. He’s an ideal pick for those who draft receivers high.
27. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver – For those concerned about what Thomas will turn into without Peyton Manning, remember that the man was a legit fantasy option with Tim Tebow throwing him the ball.
28. LeSean McCoy, RB, Buffalo – McCoy had a solid season in Buffalo and should have another solid season in 2016. He’s a nice pick, especially for those who drafted receivers early.
29. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina – The most exciting thing about having Newton as your fantasy quarterback is his running ability. Newton is often the go to option in the red zone and is one of the most efficient running quarterbacks in NFL history. He’s the top-ranked quarterback in fantasy coming off an MVP season.
30. Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo – Watkins ended the season last year with a crazy six-game stretch: 35 receptions, 679 yards and six touchdowns. He’s only going to get better this season.
31. Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans – Drew Brees’ favorite target is basically a guarantee for a 1,000 yard season.
32. Jordan Reed, TE, Washington – Reed is the second-best fantasy tight end and should put up similar numbers to his stellar 2015 season. Owners may have to reach a bit to grab him, because he’s so high up compared to the rest of the tight ends, but he’s worth it.
33. Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina – Cam Newton put up MVP numbers with an undesirable receiving corps. Assuming Benjamin has made a full recovery, he’s going to see plenty of targets.
34. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis – Hilton was able to record over 1,000 yards last season, despite having Andrew Luck for just seven games. The Colts have something to prove this year, which should benefit Hilton greatly.
35. Matt Forte, RB, New York Jets – A change of scenery should be great for Matt Forte. He’s going to put up numbers and makes for a great RB2.
36. Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco – Hyde put up a third of his rushing yards in a single game last season and was far from impressive besides that. But he’s going to get plenty of touches, and I have a feeling he’s going to be much more productive than last year.
37. Julian Edelman, WR, New England – Edelman is a much better option in PPR than in standard leagues, but he’s still a solid player in both. Edelman racks up plenty of yardage and has been Brady’s second favorite target in recent years.
38. Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay – Having Jordy Nelson will take away some targets from Cobb, but he’s a much better player when he’s not the main target in the offense. Cobb and Aaron Rodgers should both get a boost with Nelson back.
39. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay – Like I said above…
40. CJ Anderson, RB, Denver – Denver will feature a run-heavy offense this season, and Anderson is the most talented back on the roster.
41. Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami – Landry was sixth in the league in targets last year, ahead of guys like Odell Beckham and A.J. Green. The Dolphins are going to feed him once again this season.
42. Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina – Olsen was Cam Newton’s favorite target last season. Kelvin Benjamin will take some of Olsen’s looks, but he can still be counted on to be a top five tight end.
43. Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland – Murray was very unimpressive last season, but the Raiders haven’t given up on him yet. He’s going to see a ton of rushes. Drafting Murray depends on how much you believe he’ll take the ball and run with it.
44. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Kansas City – Maclin gave the Chiefs a much needed boost in the passing game last season. He should be good for another 1,000-yard season with a decent amount of touchdowns.
45. Arian Foster, RB, Miami – A healthy Arian Foster may still be one of the 10 best running backs in football. That’s the risk fantasy owners have to take.
46. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle – Wilson tore up defenses during the second half of last season, throwing for three or more touchdowns in six of seven games. With some uncertainty at the running back position, Wilson should be given the green light to air it out this season.
47. Golden Tate, WR, Detroit – The Lions love to pass the ball, and Golden Tate is the heir apparent to Calvin Johnson’s targets.
48. Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle – He’s the top receiver in a productive passing offense, but the risk is there due to the fact that he’s only had one stretch of fantasy relevance during his career.
49. Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets – Decker was sixth in the league in touchdowns last season. While it may be unlikely he has 12 touchdowns again, he’s going to get plenty of looks and is a solid pick.
50. DeMarco Murray, RB, Tennessee – I have faith that the Titans will actually use Murray like he should be used and he’ll make some great players and look like he did in Dallas. The real question that owners need to ask before they draft Murray: how much faith do you have in Derrick Henry?
Steve Rebeiro is a staff writer for Rams Talk and a recent graduate of Marquette University. For more of his opinions, follow him on Twitter here.
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /var/www/wp-content/themes/flex-mag/functions.php on line 939
Notice: Trying to get property 'count' of non-object in /var/www/wp-content/themes/flex-mag/functions.php on line 1008
This year’s fantasy drafts are going to be dominated by receivers early on, a sign of how much the league has changed over the past few years. Here are my top 50 players for the upcoming season. Rankings are for standard, non PPR leagues.
1. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh – I couldn’t tell you the last time a receiver was the top ranked fantasy player. Antonio Brown has dominated in fantasy football for the past three years and it’s hard to imagine anything changing in 2016. PPR or not, he’s the top player heading into 2016.
2. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota – Peterson has been a model of fantasy consistency during his time in the NFL. Even at the age of 31, it’s hard to expect anything less than 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns for Peterson this year. And that’s just his floor.
3. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles – The lone Ram in the top 50 is the best fantasy option the Rams have had in years. Gurley shined during his rookie season, finishing third in rushing despite missing the first three games of the year and a chunk of offseason training. The potential is limitless for a healthy Gurley with a full offseason of work under his belt.
4. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta – Jones has 240 receptions for 3,464 yards over the last two years. Despite non-elite touchdown numbers, Jones is still a top two receiver thanks to the insane amount of yards he’s expected to accumulate. Upping his touchdowns may even push him past Antonio Brown.
5. Odell Beckham Jr, WR, New York Giants – Beckham set the record for most receiving yards by any player during the first two years of his career last season and has been dominating secondaries since his debut in 2014. It’s hard to imagine him failing to continue his record-setting pace this season.
6. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England – Not only is Gronkowski one of the best receivers regardless of position, but his status as the alpha of NFL tight ends gives him a boost to his stock. Gronk owners have a ridiculous advantage over the rest of the league, because his numbers have been much better than the next best tight end over the past few years.
7. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston – Hopkins has put up elite fantasy numbers over the past two years despite poor play at quarterback. If Brock Osweiler plays up to his potential, Hopkins could be the best receiver in football. Even if Osweiler doesn’t, Hopkins is probably still going to put up elite numbers.
8. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh – Despite the three game suspension, Bell is an elite back in an elite system and might even be the No. 1 overall pick if he wasn’t suspended. Just make sure to grab DeAngelo Williams early on.
9. David Johnson, RB, Arizona – There’s plenty of ways you can knock Johnson’s draft stock – he’s playing in a crowded backfield, Arizona can be pass-happy, he has a small sample size. But Johnson’s upside is just too much to pass up on. He was an absolute monster during his limited time on the field in 2015, and many experts believe that the Cardinals will unleash him in 2016. He’s not the safest pick, but he could easily end 2016 as the top fantasy running back.
10. AJ Green, WR, Cincinnati – Things we can all be sure of in life: death, taxes, and AJ Green 1,000 yard seasons.
11. Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay – Martin had a great comeback season in 2015, finishing second in the NFL in rushing yards. Many are down on Martin this year, and he may be a bargain for some owners, because he has the potential to slip in the draft. I wouldn’t be worried about drafting Martin. He should put up similar numbers to last season.
12. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas – Bryant was on fire during his preseason debut and looks to be back to form after an injury-riddled 2015 season. He’s in a similar situation to DeAndre Hopkins – his numbers will be dominant if Romo returns to form, but even if Romo regresses a bit, Bryant should still be reliable for some solid fantasy numbers. (Note from the editor: Romo is now out 6-10 weeks with a broken bone in his back.)
13. Lamar Miller, RB, Houston – Miller was criminally underused in Miami and a fresh start in Houston looks like the perfect opportunity. He’s going to get plenty of carries and should put up some solid fantasy numbers.
14. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas – The Cowboys’ rookie tailback should also get plenty of touches, but I’m not as sold on him as other fantasy experts are. He’s already got a hamstring issue, and I don’t believe he’s as good of a prospect as Todd Gurley was last season. But many experts are hyping him up as the breakout rookie running back, and some people even have him atop their list of fantasy backs going into the season. If you want Elliott, you probably have to take him in the top 5-10 picks. I think he’s a bit of a risk. Let another owner deal with him. Elliott’s stock is entirely in the eye of the beholder.
15. Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay – Assuming Nelson recovered from his injury smoothly, it should be more of the same for the Nelson-Rodgers connection in Green Bay.
16. Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville – Allen Robinson is the real deal. He’s a young, skilled receiver in a pass happy offense and a quarterback that loves to throw the ball up and let Robinson make a play. He has an extremely high ceiling and a relatively high floor. He’s a safe bet with a lot of upside.
17. Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay – I have a feeling that last season was just a perfect storm of bad voodoo for Eddie Lacy. He’s been committed to coming back strong in the offseason, and I expect we’ll see more of 2014 Lacy than 2015 Lacy. He could turn out to be a bargain as someone likely to be taken in the mid to late second round.
18. DeVonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta – Freeman had a ridiculously good six-game stretch in early 2015, piling up 956 total yards and nine touchdowns. In the other nine games he played in 2015, he totaled 678 yards and five touchdowns. Freeman has a decent floor, but he’s likely going to be drafted relatively high thanks to his crazy opening stretch last season. The question for owners is this: which Freeman do you think you’re drafting, early season Freeman or late season Freeman?
19. Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans – Ingram put up nice, consistent numbers last year both on the ground and through the air. Add a few more touchdowns, and he becomes an elite fantasy back.
20. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City – One of the riskiest picks in the draft. He’s coming off an injury, has already been placed on the PUP list in training camp, and has been used sporadically in Andy Reid’s system in Kansas City. But there’s still no denying that a healthy Jamaal Charles is one of the best players in the NFL, and that’s why he’s likely to be drafted high in most leagues.
21. Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle – Similar to David Johnson, Rawls is in a crowded backfield and has a small sample size of what we know he can do. That’s not to mention he’s coming off a season-ending injury. Yet Rawls has a lot of potential, and many experts believe he’s the heir apparent to Beast Mode. He’s a high-risk, high-reward pick, but if Rawls slips down the board in your league he’s absolutely worth taking a shot on.
22. Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets – Marshall and his quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick proved to be a match made in heaven in New York, both on the field and in fantasy. Marshall is a safe pick in a draft filled with questions.
23. Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland – The young and talented receiver will continue to grow with his young and talented quarterback. Expect big things from Cooper this season.
24. Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego – Allen and Philip Rivers have great chemistry, and they should produce a nice bounce back season for the Chargers passing game.
25. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay – With an improving quarterback and a young offense around him, Evans may blossom into the dominant red zone threat he was drafted to be. He should have a solid 2016 season.
26. Jonathan Stewart – The quintessential low-ceiling, high-floor pick, you know what to expect from Stewart, and you’ve known for years. He’s an ideal pick for those who draft receivers high.
27. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver – For those concerned about what Thomas will turn into without Peyton Manning, remember that the man was a legit fantasy option with Tim Tebow throwing him the ball.
28. LeSean McCoy, RB, Buffalo – McCoy had a solid season in Buffalo and should have another solid season in 2016. He’s a nice pick, especially for those who drafted receivers early.
29. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina – The most exciting thing about having Newton as your fantasy quarterback is his running ability. Newton is often the go to option in the red zone and is one of the most efficient running quarterbacks in NFL history. He’s the top-ranked quarterback in fantasy coming off an MVP season.
30. Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo – Watkins ended the season last year with a crazy six-game stretch: 35 receptions, 679 yards and six touchdowns. He’s only going to get better this season.
31. Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans – Drew Brees’ favorite target is basically a guarantee for a 1,000 yard season.
32. Jordan Reed, TE, Washington – Reed is the second-best fantasy tight end and should put up similar numbers to his stellar 2015 season. Owners may have to reach a bit to grab him, because he’s so high up compared to the rest of the tight ends, but he’s worth it.
33. Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina – Cam Newton put up MVP numbers with an undesirable receiving corps. Assuming Benjamin has made a full recovery, he’s going to see plenty of targets.
34. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis – Hilton was able to record over 1,000 yards last season, despite having Andrew Luck for just seven games. The Colts have something to prove this year, which should benefit Hilton greatly.
35. Matt Forte, RB, New York Jets – A change of scenery should be great for Matt Forte. He’s going to put up numbers and makes for a great RB2.
36. Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco – Hyde put up a third of his rushing yards in a single game last season and was far from impressive besides that. But he’s going to get plenty of touches, and I have a feeling he’s going to be much more productive than last year.
37. Julian Edelman, WR, New England – Edelman is a much better option in PPR than in standard leagues, but he’s still a solid player in both. Edelman racks up plenty of yardage and has been Brady’s second favorite target in recent years.
38. Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay – Having Jordy Nelson will take away some targets from Cobb, but he’s a much better player when he’s not the main target in the offense. Cobb and Aaron Rodgers should both get a boost with Nelson back.
39. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay – Like I said above…
40. CJ Anderson, RB, Denver – Denver will feature a run-heavy offense this season, and Anderson is the most talented back on the roster.
41. Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami – Landry was sixth in the league in targets last year, ahead of guys like Odell Beckham and A.J. Green. The Dolphins are going to feed him once again this season.
42. Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina – Olsen was Cam Newton’s favorite target last season. Kelvin Benjamin will take some of Olsen’s looks, but he can still be counted on to be a top five tight end.
43. Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland – Murray was very unimpressive last season, but the Raiders haven’t given up on him yet. He’s going to see a ton of rushes. Drafting Murray depends on how much you believe he’ll take the ball and run with it.
44. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Kansas City – Maclin gave the Chiefs a much needed boost in the passing game last season. He should be good for another 1,000-yard season with a decent amount of touchdowns.
45. Arian Foster, RB, Miami – A healthy Arian Foster may still be one of the 10 best running backs in football. That’s the risk fantasy owners have to take.
46. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle – Wilson tore up defenses during the second half of last season, throwing for three or more touchdowns in six of seven games. With some uncertainty at the running back position, Wilson should be given the green light to air it out this season.
47. Golden Tate, WR, Detroit – The Lions love to pass the ball, and Golden Tate is the heir apparent to Calvin Johnson’s targets.
48. Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle – He’s the top receiver in a productive passing offense, but the risk is there due to the fact that he’s only had one stretch of fantasy relevance during his career.
49. Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets – Decker was sixth in the league in touchdowns last season. While it may be unlikely he has 12 touchdowns again, he’s going to get plenty of looks and is a solid pick.
50. DeMarco Murray, RB, Tennessee – I have faith that the Titans will actually use Murray like he should be used and he’ll make some great players and look like he did in Dallas. The real question that owners need to ask before they draft Murray: how much faith do you have in Derrick Henry?
Steve Rebeiro is a staff writer for Rams Talk and a recent graduate of Marquette University. For more of his opinions, follow him on Twitter here.
Recommended for you