2012 NFL Positional Rankings – REVISED

One last look at rankings before we head into the regular season. Good luck in your remaining fantasy drafts.

2012 NFL positional rankings

Updated 8-29-2012.

QB

1. Aaron Rogers – stud
2. Tom Brady – stud x2
3. Cam Newton – think he gets even better even if the rushing TDs aren’t duplicated
4. Michael Vick – classic candidate for a post-hype big year
5. Drew Brees – at this ranking, I’m assured of not getting him but tough outside games @GB, @DEN & @NYG
6. Matthew Stafford – funny, no one is mentioning injury prone
7. Peyton Manning – maybe a homer pick, but too much made of deep throws. Plenty of damage to be done underneath.
8. Matt Ryan – set up for a nice year as the offense becomes even more aerial-oriented
9. Tony Romo – a guy getting no pub this offseason. Has plenty of weapons
10. Phillip Rivers – think he bounces back with a completely healthy Gates
11. Eli Manning – I don’t trust him to repeat his career year, much less improve on it.
12. Robert Griffin III – I’m drinking the koolaid and love guys who can move the chains running
13. Jake Locker – loaded with talent around him
14. Russell Wilson- He had me at running quarterback
15. Jay Cutler – Probably too low with Marshall coming in but I’d rather take a chance on the runners I have listed above him
16. Carson Palmer – sneaky good the end of last year. Should improve on that with the young WR in OAK
17. Joe Flacco – Wish I could believe the Ravens will open up the offense
18. Matt Schaub – impressive preseason
19. Josh Freeman – post-hype guy that added a legit #1 WR and can run
20. Christian Ponder – intriguing pick with a big arm

RB

1. Arian Foster – deserves this position but I have an down feeling about him this year
2. LeSean McCoy – I’ve come around on him as the #2 ranked back.
3. Ray Rice – gets it done
4. Darren McFadden – no guts, no glory
5. Demarco Murray – brings the pain
6. Marshawn Lynch – appears to not be suspension, back issues always could flare up though
7. Stephen Jackson – can still be a workhorse
8. Chris Johnson – I’m avoiding him this year but if he falls, I’d have to take him. Prove it year
9. Jamaal Charles – this is a tough one, but I’d roll the dice
10. Matt Forte – could lose goal-line carries but should still be a focal point of offense
11. Ryan Matthews – I’m hoping to get him in the late second round of any draft I’m in
12. Doug Martin – I’d rather take a chance on him than some of these other riskier options
13. Fred Jackson – Can’t duplicate last year with Spiller around, but can still be valuable
14. Adrian Peterson – If you already have a couple of RBs, I would take a chance on him
15. Trent Richardson – what a difference a day makes, there is just too much unknown right now to be higher
16. Maurice Jones-Drew – never trust the RB holding out from camp who has Blaine Gabbert at QB
17. Darren Sproles – even in a non-PPR, he gets enough passes to be worth starting each week
18. Michael Turner – someone else will probably take him before this ranking
19. Reggie Bush – always underrated but puts up numbers and should be startable again this year
20. Ahmad Bradshaw – He’s the starting running back which is valuable but Wilson looms large by midyear
21. Willis McGahee – Think he’s a steal in drafts. Clear goal-line running back
22. Peyton Hillis – I wouldn’t want him as my flex but think he’ll have some 2 TD games
23. Frank Gore – I haven’t read anything positive on his outlook this year but he does have a starting job and is going relatively late
24. Steven Ridley – runs with a purpose but the fantasy community is forgetting Patriot rbs are untrustworthy
25. Cedric Benson – Keeps surprising me
26. Kevin Smith – I have him in a lot of leagues, hopefully he makes me look smart
27. BenJarvis Green-Ellis – I’d rather let someone else take him
28. C.J. Spiller – Think he’ll be a useful part of a platoon. A decent flex play.
29. Donald Brown – Someone has to run the ball in Indy even though I like Vick Ballard with your last pick in the draft
30. Rashad Jennings – Regardless of MJD, he’s talented

WR

1. Calvin Johnson – should be a spokesperson for head and shoulders because that’s where he is in the WR ranks
2. Andre Johnson – he has to stay healthy at some point and the targets are always there. Slightly undervalued
3. Hakeem Nicks – More of a gut feeling here but after ceding the limelight some last year it’s a good buy-back time
4. Julio Jones – just a beast at the WR position and we’ve only seen the beginning
5. Percy Harvin – reports are that he is more involved than ever after last year’s puzzling usage
6. Dez Bryant – betting that this is his year
7. Steve Smith – Safe bet knowing that Newton will get him the ball downfield
8. A.J. Green – I love this guy
9. Eric Decker – big jump up but I haven’t seen a reason to temper expectations
10. Larry Fitzgerald – I know he produces no matter what but I’m not excited about dealing with his erratic QB play
11. Brandon Marshall – what’s not too like about his trade to CHI?
12. Jordy Nelson – Did you pay attention to this guy last year? He’ll be better this year.
13. Greg Jennings – can’t go wrong here either but I prefer Nelson given the choice
14. Brandon Lloyd – Brady loves this guy and he’s flying under the radar in drafts
15. Roddy White – still a very useful fantasy WR
16. Victor Cruz – I remember when he was a sleeper last season, we were all so young
17. Jeremy Maclin – Really think the Eagles offensive passing game is stout
18. Wes Welker – Not as consistent as you may think, will probably go before Lloyd in your draft
19. Marques Colston – Meachem out of town can only help him
20. Dwayne Bowe – his talent is never the question
21. Antonio Brown – He’s going to have a good year
22. Mike Wallace – finally reported and I would take a chance on him but not as my #1
23. Demaryius Thomas – I really can’t fault you for liking his talent before Decker though
24. Torrey Smith – I’ve targeted him in all drafts
25. Miles Austin – Don’t forget about him, no Laurent Robinson anymore. Please heal your hamstring though
26. Kenny Britt – Do not forget this guy destroyed the WR position at the beginning of last year
27. Steve Johnson – they do not neglect their WR in the passing game up there in Buffalo
28. Pierre Garcon – I’m told by people who know that I have him too low and a breakout is coming
29. Vincent Jackson – underrated this year but reports from camp have been stellar
30. DeSean Jackson – I believe in the Eagles offense this year.

TE

1. Jimmy Graham – the guy to own
2. Rob Gronkowski – not a bad silver medal
3. Antonio Gates – think he could challenge for the #2 spot on this list, gonna be a monster
4. Aaron Hernandez – had a ton of red zone targets last year but Gronk capitalized, should even out a little more
5. Jermichael Finley – hope he doesn’t burn me again but the camp reports are making it difficult to not buy in again
6. Vernon Davis – Not a guy I reach for in my drafts
7. Tony Gonzalez – the opposite of Cook. Should be good for consistent low-end production
8. Jason Witten – not flashy but consistent
9. Kyle Rudolph – Definitely one of my favorite late targets this year
10. Fred Davis – the trendy pick of the season but the Redskins added a ton or WR that are capable
11. Greg Olsen – If I miss out on Rudolph, he’s my fallback option
12. Jared Cook – no stranger to the hype of the Hazean, I feel that if you get a TE this late – go for upside
13. Dustin Keller – it is what it is
14. Jacob Tamme – the guy on Denver that Peyton has a relationship with and has been dominating practice so far
15. Brent Celek – looked much better last year and I’m betting on the PHI passing attack
16. Cory Fleener – like the Cook pick, take the guy that could far out-produce this ranking

DEF

Defenses should be taken with your next to last pick in the draft. If you are confused about that, just reread that first sentence until it sinks in. Kickers should be taken last. Not even for Ray Finkle. Kickers I’ve been drafting are Matt Prater, Alex Henery and Rob Bironas. Ranking defenses is a useless endeavor because someone in your league will take the first few early so you have the others to choose from the first week. Stream defenses every week based upon matchups unless you stumble onto one worth holding. Here are some nice week 1 matchups (on paper):

1. PHILADELPHIA vs. Cleveland
2. HOUSTON vs. Miami
3. Buffalo vs. NY Jets
4. MINNESOTA vs. Jacksonville
5. DETROIT vs. St. Louis