Fantasy News & Analysis

Early 2013 Fantasy Football Rankings

Most Fantasy leagues are in the books for 2012, which leaves us football-hungry crazy persons latching on to playoff contests and, of course, our plans for 2013 fantasy drafts.

Today, I sat down and drew up an early look at what your 2013 draft board will look like. I ranked 30 quarterbacks, 60 running backs, 70 wide receivers, and 30 tight ends. I assumed basic, non-PPR scoring.

Obviously, the draft and offseason player movement will cause changes (some major, many minor) to the board, but most of the names you see near the top will be there come July and August.

Before my posting my rankings, I wanted offer some advice to commissioners by first pointing out the growing depth at ALL positions. Pre-Flex, most leagues start 12 quarterbacks/tight ends, 24 running backs, and 36 wide receivers. Take a look at a few of the players who just missed the cut at each of those positions. Colin Kaepernick, Michael Vick, Lance Moore, Jeremy Maclin, Darren Sproles, Antonio Gates, and Vernon Davis are a few of the names you'll see.

Running backs always fly off the shelves early because of the lack of reliability and depth at the position. That seems to be changing a little bit as we head to 2013. There are 12 pretty solid RB1 options, and the upper-tier of No. 2 backs isn't as ugly as usual. Stevan Ridley, Maurice Jones-Drew, Ryan Mathews, Alfred Morris, and Darren McFadden each have top-five upside, but are outside my top-12. Check out a few names in the RB3/Flex area. Daryl Richardson, Jacquizz Rodgers, and Lamar Miller each could be lead backs on their current team next season. They're obviously risky picks if you're drafting today, but think about the upside if they scoop up lead back duties. Steven Jackson, Fred Jackson, DeAngelo Williams, Shonn Greene, Michael Turner, Rashard Mendenhall, and Cedric Benson are among the formerly-fantasy relevant tailbacks who have a good shot of playing elsewhere in 2013. A few of them figure to land somewhere that will leave them squarely on the RB2 radar.

Starting a new league in 2013? Think about expanding on the conventional fantasy football starting lineup model. Make quarterbacks eligible for the flex. Go with an additional RB/WR/TE spot, too. Maybe go all out and add a third running back, fourth wide receiver, and second tight end slot. The biggest complaint of Fantasy Football owners is the amount of luck that comes with the game. A quick look at my early rankings (which, by the way, are minus incoming rookies) shows that the talent is there to rid of some of that luck simply by expanding the starting lineup. These days, a few strong early picks can carry Joe Autodrafter to the league championship game. By expanding starting lineups, missing on mid/late-round picks and failing to work the waiver wire will leave Joe on the sidelines come December.

My bet would be that larger starting lineups is the future of fantasy football, so I recommend getting a leg up now.

Okay, enough with the rambling. Here's the rankings:

*Team shown is the incumbent. ‘Contract' refers to the year of expiration on each player's contract.

Quarterbacks

Rk Player Team Contract
1 Robert Griffin III Washington 2015
2 Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 2014
3 Drew Brees New Orleans 2016
4 Peyton Manning Denver 2016
5 Cam Newton Carolina 2014
6 Tom Brady New England 2014
7 Matt Ryan Atlanta 2013
8 Andrew Luck Indianapolis 2015
9 Matthew Stafford Detroit 2014
10 Tony Romo Dallas 2013
11 Eli Manning New York Giants 2015
12 Russell Wilson Seattle 2015
13 Colin Kaepernick San Francisco 2014
14 Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh 2015
15 Michael Vick Philadelphia 2015
16 Philip Rivers San Diego 2015
17 Josh Freeman Tampa Bay 2013
18 Matt Schaub Houston 2016
19 Andy Dalton Cincinnati 2014
20 Nick Foles Philadelphia 2015
21 Joe Flacco Baltimore UFA
22 Jay Cutler Chicago 2013
23 Ryan Tannehill Miami 2015
24 Sam Bradford St. Louis 2015
25 Jake Locker Tennessee 2014
26 Brandon Weeden Cleveland 2015
27 Carson Palmer Oakland 2014
28 Chad Henne Jacksonville 2013
29 Christian Ponder Minnesota 2014
30 Alex D. Smith San Francisco 2014
W Ryan Fitzpatrick Buffalo 2017
W Mark Sanchez New York Jets 2016
W Matt Flynn Seattle 2014
W Tim Tebow New York Jets 2014
W Blaine Gabbert Jacksonville 2014
W Kevin Kolb Arizona 2016
W Matt Cassel Kansas City 2014
W Matt Moore Miami UFA
W Ryan Mallett New England 2014
W Matt Hasselbeck Tennessee 2013
W Brian Hoyer Arizona UFA

*I listed a handful of quarterbacks worth “watching” (W) this offseason. Each has a shot at finding a starting job somewhere in 2013, which would put them on the QB2/3 radar. For now, though, they're not worth ranking.

Running Backs

Rk Player Team Contract
1 Arian Foster Houston 2016
2 Adrian L. Peterson Minnesota 2017
3 C.J. Spiller Buffalo 2014
4 LeSean McCoy Philadelphia 2017
5 Ray Rice Baltimore 2016
6 Doug Martin Tampa Bay 2015
7 Jamaal Charles Kansas City 2015
8 Marshawn Lynch Seattle 2015
9 Trent Richardson Cleveland 2015
10 Chris D. Johnson Tennessee 2016
11 Demarco Murray Dallas 2014
12 Matt Forte Chicago 2015
13 Maurice Jones-Drew Jacksonville 2013
14 Alfred Morris Washington 2015
15 Stevan Ridley New England 2014
16 Ryan Mathews San Diego 2014
17 Darren McFadden Oakland 2013
18 Jonathan Stewart Carolina 2017
19 Frank Gore San Francisco 2014
20 Ahmad Bradshaw New York Giants 2014
21 Steven Jackson St. Louis UFA
22 BenJarvus Green-Ellis Cincinnati 2014
23 Mikel Leshoure Detroit 2014
24 Reggie Bush Miami UFA
25 Darren Sproles New Orleans 2014
26 Daryl Richardson St. Louis 2015
27 Jacquizz Rodgers Atlanta 2014
28 Lamar Miller Miami 2015
29 Vick Ballard Indianapolis 2015
30 Willis McGahee Denver 2014
31 Daniel Thomas Miami 2014
32 David Wilson New York Giants 2015
33 Fred Jackson Buffalo 2014
34 Isaiah Pead St. Louis 2015
35 Mark Ingram New Orleans 2014
36 DeAngelo Williams Carolina 2015
37 Shonn Greene New York Jets UFA
38 Ryan Williams Arizona 2014
39 Ben Tate Houston 2013
40 Ronnie Hillman Denver 2015
41 Michael Turner Atlanta 2013
42 Rashard Mendenhall Pittsburgh UFA
43 Cedric Benson Green Bay UFA
44 Andre Brown New York Giants ERFA
45 Bryce Brown Philadelphia 2015
46 Bilal Powell New York Jets 2014
47 Jahvid Best Detroit 2014
48 Jason Snelling Atlanta 2014
49 Danny Woodhead New England UFA
50 Beanie Wells Arizona 2013
51 Joique Bell Detroit RFA
52 Bernard Pierce Baltimore 2015
53 Donald Brown Indianapolis 2013
54 Robert Turbin Seattle 2015
55 Pierre Thomas New Orleans 2014
56 Kendall Hunter San Francisco 2014
57 Michael Bush Chicago 2015
58 Shane Vereen New England 2014
59 Chris Ivory New Orleans RFA
60 Brandon Bolden New England 2014

Wide Receiver

 

Rk Player Tm Contract
1 Calvin Johnson Detroit 2019
2 A.J. Green Cincinnati 2014
3 Brandon Marshall Chicago 2014
4 Demaryius Thomas Denver 2014
5 Julio Jones Atlanta 2014
6 Dez Bryant Dallas 2014
7 Percy Harvin Minnesota 2013
8 Randall Cobb Green Bay 2014
9 Andre Johnson Houston 2016
10 Victor Cruz New York Giants RFA
11 Wes Welker New England UFA
12 Vincent Jackson Tampa Bay 2016
13 Roddy White Atlanta 2014
14 Jordy Nelson Green Bay 2014
15 Hakeem Nicks New York Giants 2013
16 Pierre Garcon Washington 2016
17 Eric Decker Denver 2013
18 Larry Fitzgerald Arizona 2018
19 Marques Colston New Orleans 2016
20 Dwayne Bowe Kansas City UFA
21 Michael Crabtree San Francisco 2014
22 Reggie Wayne Indianapolis 2014
23 Miles Austin Dallas 2016
24 Mike Wallace Pittsburgh UFA
25 Greg Jennings Green Bay UFA
26 Torrey Smith Baltimore 2014
27 Steve L. Smith Carolina 2015
28 Danny Amendola St. Louis UFA
29 Cecil Shorts Jacksonville 2014
30 Brandon Lloyd New England 2014
31 Steve Johnson Buffalo 2016
32 Antonio Brown Pittsburgh 2017
33 James Jones Green Bay 2013
34 Josh Gordon Cleveland 2014
35 Justin Blackmon Jacksonville 2015
36 Kenny Britt Tennessee 2013
37 Lance Moore New Orleans 2015
38 Jeremy Maclin Philadelphia 2013
39 Mike A. Williams Tampa Bay 2013
40 Denarius Moore Oakland 2014
41 Danario Alexander San Diego RFA
42 DeSean Jackson Philadelphia 2016
43 Sidney Rice Seattle 2015
44 Brian Hartline Miami UFA
45 Santonio Holmes New York Jets 2015
46 T.Y. Hilton Indianapolis 2015
47 Kendall Wright Tennessee 2015
48 Vincent Brown San Diego 2014
49 Alshon Jeffery Chicago 2015
50 Brandon LaFell Carolina 2013
51 Anquan Boldin Baltimore 2013
52 Malcom Floyd San Diego 2015
53 Michael Floyd Arizona 2015
54 Ryan Broyles Detroit 2015
55 Jonathan Baldwin Kansas City 2014
56 Mohamed Sanu Cincinnati 2015
57 Rueben Randle New York Giants 2015
58 Chris Givens St. Louis 2015
59 Andre Roberts Arizona 2013
60 Emmanuel Sanders Pittsburgh RFA
61 Rod Streater Oakland 2014
62 Golden Tate Seattle 2013
63 Domenik Hixon New York Giants UFA
64 Davone Bess Miami 2013
65 Jeremy Kerley New York Jets 2014
66 Mario Manningham San Francisco 2013
67 Laurent Robinson Jacksonville 2016
68 Greg Little Cleveland 2014
69 A.J. Jenkins San Francisco 2015
70 T.J. Graham Buffalo 2015

Tight End

Rk Player Team Contract
1 Jimmy Graham New Orleans 2013
2 Rob Gronkowski New England 2019
3 Aaron Hernandez New England 2018
4 Jason Witten Dallas 2017
5 Tony Gonzalez Atlanta UFA
6 Owen Daniels Houston 2014
7 Kyle Rudolph Minnesota 2014
8 Greg Olsen Carolina 2015
9 Heath Miller Pittsburgh 2014
10 Jermaine Gresham Cincinnati 2014
11 Dennis Pitta Baltimore RFA
12 Martellus Bennett New York Giants UFA
13 Jared Cook Tennessee UFA
14 Antonio Gates San Diego 2015
15 Vernon Davis San Francisco 2015
16 Fred Davis Washington UFA
17 Brandon Pettigrew Detroit 2014
18 Jermichael Finley Green Bay 2013
19 Brandon Myers Oakland UFA
20 Brent Celek Philadelphia 2016
21 Dustin Keller New York Jets UFA
22 Dwayne Allen Indianapolis 2015
23 Jacob Tamme Denver 2014
24 Rob Housler Arizona 2014
25 Scott Chandler Buffalo 2013
26 Marcedes Lewis Jacksonville 2015
27 Lance Kendricks St. Louis 2014
28 Jordan Cameron Cleveland 2014
29 D.J. Williams Jr. Green Bay 2014
30 Tony Moeaki Kansas City 2013

Follow Mike Clay on Twitter at @MikeClayNFL

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