Back in December, I sat down and drew up an early look at what your 2013 draft board might look like. Today, I went ahead and updated that list based on what we saw in the playoffs and, of course, a few roster moves.
I ranked 45 quarterbacks, 60 running backs, 70 wide receivers, and 35 tight ends. I assumed basic, non-PPR scoring.
Obviously, the draft and additional 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 in my rankings. Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Michael Vick, Lance Moore, Jeremy Maclin, Mike Williams, Anquan Boldin, Mikel Leshoure, Jermichael Finley, and Brandon Pettigrew 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 tiny 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, Matt Forte, 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. Bilal Powell, Jacquizz Rodgers, and Ryan Williams 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 could be 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 roll with a third running back, fifth 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 | Tm | Contract | Draft |
1 | Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay | 2014 | 2005-1 |
2 | Drew Brees | New Orleans | 2016 | 2001-2 |
3 | Tom Brady | New England | 2014 | 2000-6 |
4 | Peyton Manning | Denver | 2016 | 1998-1 |
5 | Cam Newton | Carolina | 2014 | 2011-1 |
6 | Andrew Luck | Indianapolis | 2015 | 2012-1 |
7 | Colin Kaepernick | San Francisco | 2014 | 2011-2 |
8 | Russell Wilson | Seattle | 2015 | 2012-3 |
9 | Matt Ryan | Atlanta | 2013 | 2008-1 |
10 | Robert Griffin III | Washington | 2015 | 2012-1 |
11 | Matthew Stafford | Detroit | 2014 | 2009-1 |
12 | Tony Romo | Dallas | 2013 | 2003-U |
13 | Eli Manning | New York Giants | 2015 | 2004-1 |
14 | Ben Roethlisberger | Pittsburgh | 2015 | 2004-1 |
15 | Michael Vick | Philadelphia | 2015 | 2001-1 |
16 | Philip Rivers | San Diego | 2015 | 2004-1 |
17 | Josh Freeman | Tampa Bay | 2013 | 2009-1 |
18 | Joe Flacco | Baltimore | UFA | 2008-1 |
19 | Matt Schaub | Houston | 2016 | 2004-3 |
20 | Andy Dalton | Cincinnati | 2014 | 2011-2 |
21 | Jay Cutler | Chicago | 2013 | 2006-1 |
22 | Ryan Tannehill | Miami | 2015 | 2012-1 |
23 | Sam Bradford | St. Louis | 2015 | 2010-1 |
24 | Alex D. Smith | San Francisco | 2014 | 2005-1 |
25 | Carson Palmer | Oakland | 2014 | 2003-1 |
26 | Jake Locker | Tennessee | 2014 | 2011-1 |
27 | Brandon Weeden | Cleveland | 2015 | 2012-1 |
28 | Kevin Kolb | Arizona | 2016 | 2007-2 |
29 | Nick Foles | Philadelphia | 2015 | 2012-3 |
30 | Christian Ponder | Minnesota | 2014 | 2011-1 |
31 | Chad Henne | Jacksonville | 2013 | 2008-2 |
32 | Kirk Cousins | Washington | 2015 | 2012-4 |
33 | Matt Flynn | Seattle | 2014 | 2008-7 |
34 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | Buffalo | 2017 | 2005-7 |
35 | Blaine Gabbert | Jacksonville | 2014 | 2011-1 |
36 | Matt Cassel | Kansas City | 2014 | 2005-7 |
37 | Ryan Mallett | New England | 2014 | 2011-3 |
38 | Matt Moore | Miami | UFA | 2007-U |
39 | Colt McCoy | Cleveland | 2013 | 2010-3 |
40 | Dennis Dixon | Baltimore | PS | 2008-5 |
41 | Mark Sanchez | New York Jets | 2016 | 2009-1 |
42 | Matt Hasselbeck | Tennessee | 2013 | 1998-6 |
43 | Jason Campbell | Chicago | UFA | 2005-1 |
44 | Terrelle Pryor | Oakland | 2014 | 2011-U |
45 | Tarvaris Jackson | Buffalo | UFA | 2006-2 |
Running Back
Rk | Player | Tm | Contract | Draft |
1 | Adrian L. Peterson | Minnesota | 2017 | 2007-1 |
2 | Arian Foster | Houston | 2016 | 2009-U |
3 | C.J. Spiller | Buffalo | 2014 | 2010-1 |
4 | Jamaal Charles | Kansas City | 2015 | 2008-3 |
5 | LeSean McCoy | Philadelphia | 2017 | 2009-2 |
6 | Doug Martin | Tampa Bay | 2015 | 2012-1 |
7 | Marshawn Lynch | Seattle | 2015 | 2007-1 |
8 | Ray Rice | Baltimore | 2016 | 2008-2 |
9 | Trent Richardson | Cleveland | 2015 | 2012-1 |
10 | Chris D. Johnson | Tennessee | 2016 | 2008-1 |
11 | Demarco Murray | Dallas | 2014 | 2011-3 |
12 | Maurice Jones-Drew | Jacksonville | 2013 | 2006-2 |
13 | Matt Forte | Chicago | 2015 | 2008-2 |
14 | Alfred Morris | Washington | 2015 | 2012-6 |
15 | Stevan Ridley | New England | 2014 | 2011-3 |
16 | Ryan Mathews | San Diego | 2014 | 2010-1 |
17 | Darren McFadden | Oakland | 2013 | 2008-1 |
18 | Frank Gore | San Francisco | 2014 | 2005-3 |
19 | David Wilson | New York Giants | 2015 | 2012-1 |
20 | Steven Jackson | St. Louis | 2013 | 2004-1 |
21 | Jonathan Stewart | Carolina | 2017 | 2008-1 |
22 | Darren Sproles | New Orleans | 2014 | 2005-4 |
23 | Ahmad Bradshaw | New York Giants | 2014 | 2007-7 |
24 | Lamar Miller | Miami | 2015 | 2012-4 |
25 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis | Cincinnati | 2014 | 2008-U |
26 | Mikel Leshoure | Detroit | 2014 | 2011-2 |
27 | Jacquizz Rodgers | Atlanta | 2014 | 2011-5 |
28 | Vick Ballard | Indianapolis | 2015 | 2012-5 |
29 | Reggie Bush | Miami | UFA | 2006-1 |
30 | Willis McGahee | Denver | 2014 | 2003-1 |
31 | Fred Jackson | Buffalo | 2014 | 2006-U |
32 | DeAngelo Williams | Carolina | 2015 | 2006-1 |
33 | Ryan Williams | Arizona | 2014 | 2011-2 |
34 | Mark Ingram | New Orleans | 2014 | 2011-1 |
35 | Bilal Powell | New York Jets | 2014 | 2011-4 |
36 | Andre Brown | New York Giants | ERFA | 2009-4 |
37 | Ben Tate | Houston | 2013 | 2010-2 |
38 | Shonn Greene | New York Jets | UFA | 2009-3 |
39 | Bernard Pierce | Baltimore | 2015 | 2012-3 |
40 | Knowshon Moreno | Denver | 2013 | 2009-1 |
41 | Cedric Benson | Green Bay | UFA | 2005-1 |
42 | Daryl Richardson | St. Louis | 2015 | 2012-7 |
43 | Rashard Mendenhall | Pittsburgh | UFA | 2008-1 |
44 | Daniel Thomas | Miami | 2014 | 2011-2 |
45 | Shane Vereen | New England | 2014 | 2011-2 |
46 | Michael Turner | Atlanta | 2013 | 2004-5 |
47 | Robert Turbin | Seattle | 2015 | 2012-4 |
48 | Bryce Brown | Philadelphia | 2015 | 2012-7 |
49 | Jason Snelling | Atlanta | 2014 | 2007-7 |
50 | Joique Bell | Detroit | RFA | 2010-U |
51 | Isaiah Pead | St. Louis | 2015 | 2012-2 |
52 | Kendall Hunter | San Francisco | 2014 | 2011-4 |
53 | Pierre Thomas | New Orleans | 2014 | 2007-U |
54 | Danny Woodhead | New England | UFA | 2008-U |
55 | Beanie Wells | Arizona | 2013 | 2009-1 |
56 | Ronnie Hillman | Denver | 2015 | 2012-3 |
57 | Michael Bush | Chicago | 2015 | 2007-4 |
58 | Chris Ivory | New Orleans | RFA | 2010-U |
59 | Mike Tolbert | Carolina | 2015 | 2008-U |
60 | Jonathan Dwyer | Pittsburgh | RFA | 2010-6 |
Wide Receiver
Rk | Player | Tm | Contract | Draft |
1 | Calvin Johnson | Detroit | 2019 | 2007-1 |
2 | A.J. Green | Cincinnati | 2014 | 2011-1 |
3 | Brandon Marshall | Chicago | 2014 | 2006-4 |
4 | Demaryius Thomas | Denver | 2014 | 2010-1 |
5 | Julio Jones | Atlanta | 2014 | 2011-1 |
6 | Dez Bryant | Dallas | 2014 | 2010-1 |
7 | Percy Harvin | Minnesota | 2013 | 2009-1 |
8 | Randall Cobb | Green Bay | 2014 | 2011-2 |
9 | Andre Johnson | Houston | 2016 | 2003-1 |
10 | Victor Cruz | New York Giants | RFA | 2010-U |
11 | Wes Welker | New England | UFA | 2004-U |
12 | Vincent Jackson | Tampa Bay | 2016 | 2005-2 |
13 | Michael Crabtree | San Francisco | 2014 | 2009-1 |
14 | Roddy White | Atlanta | 2014 | 2005-1 |
15 | Jordy Nelson | Green Bay | 2014 | 2008-2 |
16 | Hakeem Nicks | New York Giants | 2013 | 2009-1 |
17 | Eric Decker | Denver | 2013 | 2010-3 |
18 | Dwayne Bowe | Kansas City | UFA | 2007-1 |
19 | Pierre Garcon | Washington | 2016 | 2008-6 |
20 | Larry Fitzgerald | Arizona | 2018 | 2004-1 |
21 | Marques Colston | New Orleans | 2016 | 2006-7 |
22 | Reggie Wayne | Indianapolis | 2014 | 2001-1 |
23 | Greg Jennings | Green Bay | UFA | 2006-2 |
24 | Mike Wallace | Pittsburgh | UFA | 2009-3 |
25 | Torrey Smith | Baltimore | 2014 | 2011-2 |
26 | Steve L. Smith | Carolina | 2015 | 2001-3 |
27 | Miles Austin | Dallas | 2016 | 2006-U |
28 | Steve Johnson | Buffalo | 2016 | 2008-7 |
29 | Justin Blackmon | Jacksonville | 2015 | 2012-1 |
30 | Antonio Brown | Pittsburgh | 2017 | 2010-6 |
31 | James Jones | Green Bay | 2013 | 2007-3 |
32 | Danny Amendola | St. Louis | UFA | 2008-U |
33 | Cecil Shorts | Jacksonville | 2014 | 2011-4 |
34 | Josh Gordon | Cleveland | 2014 | 2012-U |
35 | Brandon Lloyd | New England | 2014 | 2003-4 |
36 | DeSean Jackson | Philadelphia | 2016 | 2008-2 |
37 | Kendall Wright | Tennessee | 2015 | 2012-1 |
38 | Lance Moore | New Orleans | 2015 | 2005-U |
39 | Mike A. Williams | Tampa Bay | 2013 | 2010-4 |
40 | Jeremy Maclin | Philadelphia | 2013 | 2009-1 |
41 | Denarius Moore | Oakland | 2014 | 2011-5 |
42 | Anquan Boldin | Baltimore | 2013 | 2003-2 |
43 | Danario Alexander | San Diego | RFA | 2010-U |
44 | T.Y. Hilton | Indianapolis | 2015 | 2012-3 |
45 | Kenny Britt | Tennessee | 2013 | 2009-1 |
46 | Santonio Holmes | New York Jets | 2015 | 2006-1 |
47 | Sidney Rice | Seattle | 2015 | 2007-2 |
48 | Michael Floyd | Arizona | 2015 | 2012-1 |
49 | Brian Hartline | Miami | UFA | 2009-4 |
50 | Vincent Brown | San Diego | 2014 | 2011-3 |
51 | Alshon Jeffery | Chicago | 2015 | 2012-2 |
52 | Brandon LaFell | Carolina | 2013 | 2010-3 |
53 | Rueben Randle | New York Giants | 2015 | 2012-2 |
54 | Malcom Floyd | San Diego | 2015 | 2004-U |
55 | Chris Givens | St. Louis | 2015 | 2012-4 |
56 | Emmanuel Sanders | Pittsburgh | RFA | 2010-3 |
57 | Mohamed Sanu | Cincinnati | 2015 | 2012-3 |
58 | Andre Roberts | Arizona | 2013 | 2010-3 |
59 | A.J. Jenkins | San Francisco | 2015 | 2012-1 |
60 | Davone Bess | Miami | 2013 | 2008-U |
61 | Joe Morgan | New Orleans | 2013 | 2011-U |
62 | Ryan Broyles | Detroit | 2015 | 2012-2 |
63 | Rod Streater | Oakland | 2014 | 2012-U |
64 | Golden Tate | Seattle | 2013 | 2010-2 |
65 | Jeremy Kerley | New York Jets | 2014 | 2011-5 |
66 | Stephen Hill | New York Jets | 2015 | 2012-2 |
67 | Mario Manningham | San Francisco | 2013 | 2008-3 |
68 | Greg Little | Cleveland | 2014 | 2011-2 |
69 | Nate Burleson | Detroit | 2014 | 2003-3 |
70 | Marvin Jones | Cincinnati | 2015 | 2012-5 |
Tight End
Rk | Player | Tm | Contract | Draft |
1 | Jimmy Graham | New Orleans | 2013 | 2010-3 |
2 | Rob Gronkowski | New England | 2019 | 2010-2 |
3 | Aaron Hernandez | New England | 2018 | 2010-4 |
4 | Jason Witten | Dallas | 2017 | 2003-3 |
5 | Owen Daniels | Houston | 2014 | 2006-4 |
6 | Kyle Rudolph | Minnesota | 2014 | 2011-2 |
7 | Greg Olsen | Carolina | 2015 | 2007-1 |
8 | Jermaine Gresham | Cincinnati | 2014 | 2010-1 |
9 | Dennis Pitta | Baltimore | RFA | 2010-4 |
10 | Vernon Davis | San Francisco | 2015 | 2006-1 |
11 | Martellus Bennett | New York Giants | UFA | 2008-2 |
12 | Antonio Gates | San Diego | 2015 | 2003-U |
13 | Fred Davis | Washington | UFA | 2008-2 |
14 | Jared Cook | Tennessee | UFA | 2009-3 |
15 | Brandon Pettigrew | Detroit | 2014 | 2009-1 |
16 | Jermichael Finley | Green Bay | 2013 | 2008-3 |
17 | Brandon Myers | Oakland | UFA | 2009-6 |
18 | Dustin Keller | New York Jets | UFA | 2008-1 |
19 | Heath Miller | Pittsburgh | 2014 | 2005-1 |
20 | Brent Celek | Philadelphia | 2016 | 2007-5 |
21 | Dwayne Allen | Indianapolis | 2015 | 2012-3 |
22 | Rob Housler | Arizona | 2014 | 2011-3 |
23 | Jordan Cameron | Cleveland | 2014 | 2011-4 |
24 | Tony Moeaki | Kansas City | 2013 | 2010-3 |
25 | Scott Chandler | Buffalo | 2013 | 2007-4 |
26 | Jacob Tamme | Denver | 2014 | 2008-4 |
27 | Marcedes Lewis | Jacksonville | 2015 | 2006-1 |
28 | Lance Kendricks | St. Louis | 2014 | 2011-2 |
29 | Anthony Fasano | Miami | UFA | 2006-2 |
30 | Coby Fleener | Indianapolis | 2015 | 2012-2 |
31 | D.J. Williams Jr. | Green Bay | 2014 | 2011-5 |
32 | Taylor Thompson | Tennessee | 2015 | 2012-5 |
33 | Michael Egnew | Miami | 2015 | 2012-3 |
34 | David Paulson | Pittsburgh | 2015 | 2012-7 |
35 | Michael Palmer | Atlanta | RFA | 2010-U |
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