Fantasy Football 2011: Michael Vick and the Top 200 NFL Players for Your Draft

Ah, it's finally here. The new CBA is ratified, free agency is dwindling down and preseason is around the bend.

Yes, I am one happy guy because I thrive on a pretend game called fantasy football. The teams are fake, and there are no real owners, yet the pride, passion and tears that go into managing these squads are all very real. 

I sadly have lost count of how many mock drafts I have done and how many times I have modified my draft strategy. I take this too seriously, but who cares.

We live in a world full of stresses and commotion for most of our time on Earth. Let's live in a fantasy world for 17 Sundays this fall/winter. 

Without further ado, here are the top 200 overall fantasy football players for the 2011 season. 

Numbers 200-191

200. Nate Kaeding, K. The San Diego Chargers kicker is one of the game's most consistent. 

199. Greg Olsen, TE. The former Chicago Bear is now a Carolina Panther. This move should help him out as Chicago ignored the tight end in their offensive scheme. 

198. Josh Morgan, WR. The San Francisco 49er is a very deep sleeper/bye-week replacement. He's now the No. 3 guy after Michael Crabtree and Braylon Edwards. 

197. Saints DST. The New Orleans defense and special teams rank as the 11th best DST.

196. Jason Hill, WR. On the wide receiver starved Jaguars, Hill could have a breakout season starting alongside WR Mike Thomas.

195. Danario Alexander, WR. The St. Louis Ram showed moments of brightness in his rookie season last year. He should improve in his sophomore effort with a more experienced Sam Bradford throwing him the ball. 

194. Chargers DST. Safety Eric Weddle will be motivated after re-signing with a huge contract, and the addition of LB Takeo Spikes will only help the San Diego Squad. 

193. Anthony Dixon, RB. The third-string running back on the San Francisco 49ers will see limited playing time unless an injury cripples one of his superiors.

192. Titus Young, WR. He's apparently fighting a leg injury, but the rookie out of Boise State could have a successful year as the No. 2 WR in Detroit. 

191. Jordan Shipley, WR. If the former Texas Longhorn is going to breakout, this is his year to do it on the decimated Cincinnati Bengals. 

Numbers 190-181

190. Mason Crosby, K. The deadly accurate kicker for the Green Bay Packers should be one of the first taken in his position. 

189. Kevin Walter, WR. The Houston Texan has quietly produced over 600 yards in each of the last four seasons. Matt Schaub throwing to him certainly helps.

188. Louis Murphy, WR. The Oakland Raider is a very talented young receiver who should safely put up over 600 yards and few touchdowns. 

187. Matt Bryant, K. I rank the Atlanta Falcon as the top kicker in this year's draft. He's deadly accurate and will get a lot of field goal opportunities on Atlanta's high-powered offense.

186. Ben Obomanu, WR. The Seattle Seahawk had a good showing in the playoffs last season and has a knack for getting a ton of yards per catch. He's got more competition however with Sidney Rice around.

185. David Garrard, QB. The Jacksonville Jaguar QB will have to play well if he wants to keep his starting job. Rookie Blaine Gabbert will compete. 

184. Donovan McNabb, QB. The veteran will have a modest year but is still very talented, very experienced and has Percy Harvin to throw to. 

183. Cadillac Williams, RB. After six seasons with the Bucs, he will now share the role of Steven Jackson's backup with Jerious Norwood. 

182. DeMarco Murray, RB. If he gets his chance to the shine, the rookie out of Oklahoma has tremendous upside for the Dallas Cowboys. 

181. Eric Decker, WR. No one quite knows who will be the quarterback in Denver, yet Decker has potential to breakout no matter who is throwing him the ball. Sleeper pick!

Numbers 180-171

180. Tashard Choice, RB. He will be the second "choice" on Dallas, yet he should still pick up a decent amount of touches. 

179. Arrelious Benn, WR. Teammates Mike Williams and Kellen Winslow will attract most of the defense's attention, leaving Benn open to make some big plays. 

178. Delone Carter, RB. The rookie will sit at No. 2 after Joseph Addai on the Indianapolis Colts depth chart. 

177. Nate Washington, WR. The arrival of Matt Hasselbeck in Tennessee could help Washington and all the fellow Titan receivers. 

176. Donald Driver, WR. Don't rush to draft the veteran because of his reputation, but keep him in mind. Driver still definitely has some gas in the tank. 

175. Mike Williams, (Sea.) WR. He's not as good as the Tampa Bay receiver who shares his name, but this Mike Williams should be the No. 2 guy in Seattle after Sidney Rice at WR. 

174. Brian Westbrook, RB. One of the top picks in fantasy drafts circa 2006, Westbrook will backup Frank Gore in San Francisco and should definitely be owned by all Gore owners. 

173. Keiland Williams, RB. He has a lot of competition, but Williams has major sleeper potential in Washington if he wins the job. 

172. Todd Heap, TE. The longtime Baltimore Raven could see a career revival as an Arizona Cardinal, especially since he will be working with quarterback Kevin Kolb and not the 2010 Cards quarterbacks.

171. Lee Evans, WR. One of the most frustrating fantasy wide receivers due to his inconsistency, he may get more open this year since defenses will focus more attention on teammate Stevie Johnson. 

Numbers 170-161

170. Matt Hasselbeck, QB. The veteran will bring a great deal of experience to the Tennessee Titans and will prove to be a locker room leader. He will also hook up with Kenny Britt for some big plays. 

169. Jalen Parmele, RB. The Baltimore Raven will back up star running back Ray Rice and will have major upside if Rice gets injured. All Rice owners should draft Parmele late. 

168. Ben Tate, RB. He broke his ankle in preseason last year, and as a result, Arian Foster became the Houston Texans sole running back and took full advantage. Tate will know back up the top-five fantasy running back. 

167. Mark Clayton, WR. Clayton will be one of the many receivers on the St. Louis Rams, all of whom have potential to make big plays. 

166. Earl Bennett, WR. He played with quarterback Jay Cutler at Vanderbilt and can hopefully benefit from that relationship this season. 

165. Justin Forsett, RB. He could see a fair share of carries on the lackluster Seattle Seahawks, backing up the inconsistent Marshawn Lynch. 

164. Joe McKnight, RB. The No. 3 running back on the New York Jets could easily become the No. 2 if LaDainian Tomlinson or Shonn Greene go down with injuries. 

163. Brandon Pettigrew, TE. The Detroit Lion will be a red-zone target for Matthew Stafford. 

162. Jacoby Jones, WR. He'll compete with Kevin Walter as the No. 2 receiver in Houston. He is younger, faster and has more upside. 

161. Anthony Armstrong, WR. The quarterback situation will obviously hurt his production, but the small Washington Redskin has a ton of potential to be the star in D.C. 

Numbers 160-151

160. Greg Little, WR. The rookie may be the Cleveland Browns top receiver, yet he still only ranks here on the list. 

159. Lance Moore, WR. One of Drew Brees many toys. He'll have big games, but it depends how much Brees decides to share. 

158. Malcom Floyd, WR. He is still a free agent but will be at least a mild contributor wherever he goes.

157. Javon Ringer, RB. Ringer's job is to back up up top-five running back Chris Johnson in Tennessee. If you own Johnson, prepare for the worst and draft Ringer. 

156. Nate Burleson, WR. The veteran always finds a way to find the end zone. He quietly scored six touchdowns last season, and he will fall very late on the draft boards. 

155. Jerome Simpson, WR. He may be the No. 1 wide receiver in Cincinnati. That's sad, but Simpson needs to make a statement. 

154. Danny Amendola, WR. I swear the Rams have more wide receivers than any other team. Amendola is very valuable in leagues that reward kickoff points. 

153. Roy Helu, RB. The rookie will compete with a few other candidates for the starting job in Washington. 

152. Emmanuel Sanders, WR. With Hines Ward getting older, it's Sanders time to step up in Pittsburgh and prove himself to be a reliable target. 

151. Rashad Jennings, RB. He backs up the one and only Maurice Jones-Drew, and everyone knows that MJD sometimes gets hurt. Jennings will hold a starting job if this happens. 

Numbers 150-141

150. Isaac Redman, RB. Rashard Mendenhall's backup in Pittsburgh. You know the routine. If you own Mendenhall, draft Redman late. 

149. Tim Tebow, QB. The most discussed player who has barely played, Tebow could have a starting quarterback job by midseason. 

148. Giants DST. There is some tension in NY right now with DE Osi Umenyiora, but the Giants should still be a sack-producing squad in 2011. 

147. Ravens DST. The squad may be aging, but it is still one of the league's best. Don't argue with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. 

146. Kyle Orton, QB. One of the best fantasy quarterbacks last season, he amazingly is fighting for a starting job. 

145. DeMaryius Thomas, WR. If he can stay healthy, I think Thomas can become one of the league's elite wide receivers. If he can stay healthy...

144. Deon Branch, WR. He may be old, but when you are one of Tom Brady's receivers, you become a little ageless. Branch can still produce and could be a late steal. 

143. Hines Ward, WR. One of the best statistical receivers of all time, Ward may be entering his last season. Don't draft him too high based on reputation, but he will still have his big weeks. 

142. Jordy Nelson, WR. He really started to shine last season and did particularly well with the Packers in the playoffs and the Super Bowl. If you can nab Nelson late, do it! Sleeper pick!

141. Toby Gerhart, RB. Believe it or not, Gerhart could steal some carries from Adrian "AD" Peterson this season. 

Numbers 140-131

140. Jacoby Ford, WR. The return specialist will greatly improve his production as a receiver this year in Oakland. 

139. Robert Meachem, WR. Probably the most talented receiver on New Orleans other than Marques Colston, his production will be significant but spotty. 

138. Patriots DST. What else is new? The Patriots will once again be good. 

137. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB. The Harvard grad had a surprisingly good season last year for a very dismal Buffalo Bills team. The Bills will still be bad but Fitzpatrick should be able to repeat some of his stats. 

136. Reggie Bush, RB. The Saints needed to relieve themselves of Bush's financial burden, yet I could see him personally and professionally thriving in Miami. 

135. Ricky Williams, RB. Ricky will be competing with the man described right above for the starting job in Miami. Realistically, the two will split carries and are interchagable picks in this year's draft. 

134. Brandon Jackson, RB. Jackson proved to be reasonably productive at times on Green Bay last year. This year he will be a Cleveland Brown and should see a few downs per game. 

133. James Starks, RB. Starks was a postseason hero for the Packers last year, who were basically a Super Bowl champion team with no solid running back. Ryan Grant will return from injury for his starting job, yet Starks has potential to compete for it. 

132. Cowboys DST. DeMarcus Ware is enough of a sack monster by himself to make this defense a safe draft pick. 

131. Steve Smith (NYG), WR. Technically, Steve Smith is still a free agent, yet I expect him to re-sign with New York and have a solid season if he stays healthy. 

Numbers 130-121

130. Jason Snelling, RB. Michael Turner's former backup, Snelling will be productive in whatever city decides to sign him. He's a strong runner. 

129. Tony Gonzalez, TE. He may be past his prime, but the Atlanta Falcons tight end is still a top-10 fantasy tight end, worth a pick seventh round. 

128. Matt Stafford, QB. If he can stay healthy, Stafford could be one of the best fantasy quarterbacks this season. 

127. Derrick Mason, WR. The veteran signed with the New York Jets and should be considered a solid bye-week replacement. 

126. Eddie Royal, WR. He put together a surprise season in 2008 and hasn't been the same since. I'll give him one more chance to impress in Denver. 

125. Mark Sanchez, QB. While Sanchez may not be the league's most refined quarterback, you have to figure he has upside throwing the ball to Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress. 

124. James Jones, WR. Jones could have gone somewhere else and held a higher depth chart spot but he chose to stay in Green Bay. This tells me that he comfortable there, and you should therefore feel good about drafting him as a WR3. 

123. Davone Bess, WR. In PPR leagues, Bess is absolute gold. In regular leagues, he may just be bronze, but the Miami wideout should still be able to put together decent numbers, especially if teams double team Brandon Marshall. 

122. Bears DST. The Bears DST was the main reason they were able to make it to the NFC Championship game last season. Two words: Devin Hester. 

121. Chris Cooley, TE. Cooley is probably Washington's top receiver and one of the most reliable fantasy tight ends. 

Numbers 120-111

120. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB. The man who is partially responsible for making fantasy football so popular, the once dominant LT is still a reliable back on the Jets. Don't expect him to match his production from last year but expect him to be good. 

119. Darren Sproles, RB. A true little man, Sproles will do well in the Saints system that features a lot of people doing a little bit. 

118. Montario Hardesty, RB. Hardesty was injured last season, and Peyton Hillis blew up. A lot of people are saying that Hardesty will split carries with Hillis. I wouldn't go that far, but he will produce. 

117. Packers DST. Great line, great linebackers, great defensive backs. Great. 

116. Jets DST. Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis? Yea, not many teams pass much on the Jets. 

115. Rob Gronkowski, TE. You may want to be a little weary because he will split time with Aaron Hernandez, yet I think Gronkowski has the upper hand in New England. 

114. Chad Ochocinco, WR. I think Chad is prepared for a career revival in New England. It's corny but Randy Moss Part 2. 

113. Steve Smith (Car.), WR. The veteran is not what he once was, but Carolina went to great lengths to re-sign him, and he should be drafted late to see what he can do.

112. Danny Woodhead, RB. The little man was a breakout star for New England last season. He will definitely be good again but inconsistent as well.

111. Joe Flacco, QB. The Baltimore Ravens QB will need to develop more a relationship with Anquan Boldin if the Ravens want to be more than just a wild-card team.  

Numbers 110-101

110. Kenny Britt, WR. The Tennessee Titans receiver had one of the most crazy fantasy games last season. If he can stay out of trouble, he should have a very solid year. 

109. Steve Breaston, WR. A move to Kansas City should benefit the former Arizona Cardinal, who finally gets out of Larry Fitzgerald's spotlight. 

108. Santana Moss, WR. The veteran always has potential for a big play, but I would veer away from drafting him this season. 

107. Sam Bradford, QB. The St. Louis Rams sophomore will try to take his young squad to the playoffs. He has a healthy handful of receivers to throw to. 

106. Michael Crabtree, WR. The arrival of Braylon Edwards in San Francisco will hurt Crabtree's production. So will his health.

105. Marion Barber, RB. Being the third-down back in Chicago behind Matt Forte will bring out a Marion Barber we haven't seen in a few seasons. 

104. Tim Hightower, RB. He has a lot of competition, but he is in the best position to get the starting running back job in San Francisco. 

103. Steelers DST. Nothing has changed hear. They should be one of the first two DST units drafted. 

102. Eagles DST. The Eagles and their new toys Jason Babin, Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie have potential to make the best defensive unit this year. 

101. Johnny Knox, WR. Knox should be at least the No. 2 receiver in Chicago this year. He could be a good late-round pick that ends up producing. 

Numbers 100-91

100. Ronnie Brown, RB. Brown left Miami for Philly this offseason, and the move should help him out. He was becoming buried in Miami.

99. Ryan Williams, RB. The rookie will compete for the starting job in Arizona, but as of now, it belongs to Beanie Wells.

98. Mike Leshoure, RB. Another rookie running back, Leshoure can be a difference in Detroit if he can make enough of an impression in camp.

97. Kellen Winslow, TE. With a great young quarterback in Josh Freeman, there is no reason to question why Kellen Winslow wouldn't have a good season.

96. AJ Green, WR. He will have a tough time taking off in his rookie season, but AJ Green's potential will show despite playing on the dismal Bengals.

95. Roy E. Williams, WR. Some are starting to label Williams as a bust, and this is his season to prove them wrong. If failed big time in Dallas, but he might be able to improve in Chicago.

94. Julio Jones, WR. He will line up on the other side of the field as Roddy White, the best receiver in the game, and this should allow defenses to leave the talented open.

93. Thomas Jones, RB. He's a backup to Jamaal Charles, but he still gets enough carries, especially on the goal line, to put up some stats.

92. Kevin Kolb, QB. In his first season as a starter, Kolb will have to prove that he isn't just all hype. Playing with Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona should help him prove to the world that he is the real deal.

91. Beanie Wells, RB. He hasn't been what people thought he could be, but lucky for him, he has another chance this year to show what he has as the clear cut starter in Arizona.  

Numbers 90-81

90. Willis McGahee, RB. The veteran will play in Denver this year where he will have a chance to start over the struggling Knowshon Moreno. I like McGahee a lot this year. 

89. Mike Tolbert, RB. Nicknamed the "Nugget," Tolbert should compete with Ryan Matthews this year for the starting job in San Diego. One thing is for sure, he's tough to take down. 

88. Michael Bush, RB. The Oakland Raider will back up Darren McFadden and should generate enough production to be a bye-week replacement. 

87. Pierre Thomas, RB. When Thomas is healthy, he could be one of the best runners in the league. The problem is that he doesn't seem to stay that way often. Draft with caution. 

86. Owen Daniels, TE. Some injuries derailed him last season, but he should be able to be a big contributor on the very efficient Houston Texans offense this season. 

85. Braylon Edwards, WR. Teams were for some reason very hesitant to sign Edwards. He may be a little overrated, but he's still some player. He should turn into the No. 1 guy in San Fran. 

84. Mike Sims-Walker, WR. The combo of Sims-Walker and Sam Bradford in St. Louis could be one of the best receiver/QB relationships in the league this year. 

83. Pierre Garcon, WR. The No. 3 wide receiver on the Colts, he is still a great option since Peyton Manning is his quarterback. 

82. Fred Jackson, RB. I think Jackson will lose the starting job to C.J. Spiller this year, but as for now, he has it in Buffalo. 

81. Brandon Jacobs, RB. Ahmad Bradshaw is clearly the starter for the Giants but Jacobs always gets his fair share of carries and will likely start a few games. 

Numbers 80-71

80. Ryan Torain, RB. Why do I have Ryan Torain so high? Because I think that he will breakout this year if he gets the starting job in Washington over Hightower, Keiland Williams and Roy Helu.

79. Mercedes Lewis, TE. In one of the most unnoticed beast performances last season, Lewis found the end zone 10 times. He will once again be a red-zone machine this season. 

78. Wes Welker, WR. The king of PPR leagues, Welker is always good for a few 100-yard games and a ton of receptions. 

77. Sidney Rice, WR. He got injured last year after his breakout season in 2009, but he is healthy and should be the clear cut star in Seattle this season. 

76. Mario Manningham, WR. The No. 2 man on the Giants, he will have solid production, just not as much as No. 1 receiver Hakeem Nicks. 

75. Austin Collie, WR. Another receiver who is golden in PPR leagues, Collie could emerge as the No. 1 receiver in Indianapolis this year if Reggie Wayne has a rare off year. 

74. Ryan Matthews, RB. He was a major bust last year. The potential is there, but he needs to work harder with competition from Mike Tolbert. 

73. Dez Bryant, WR. With Roy Williams gone, Dez Bryant can emerge as a starter in Dallas with a healthy Tony Romo. 

72. C.J. Spiller, RB. A major bust last year, but possesses the electrifying traits to find his stride and be a bright spot on a dull Buffalo Bills team. 

71. Percy Harvin, WR. With Sidney Rice gone, Harvin is the No. 1 guy in Minnesota. Hopefully he can develop a relationship with Donovan McNabb. 

Numbers 70-61

70. Stevie Johnson, WR. Stevie had a breakout year last season and is now the obvious No. 1 receiver in Buffalo. This guy knows how to get open!

69. Mike Thomas, WR. I'm pretty high on Mike Thomas this year. He is the best receiver in Jacksonville, and while they are no great team, Garrard will be able to get him the ball. Sleeper pick!

68. Marshawn Lynch, RB. He's a beast, as we all know from his playoff run versus the Saints last season. Lynch will be inconsistent at times this season but is still a safe bet as a backup fantasy running back. 

67. Anquan Boldin, WR. Boldin was flat out awful in his first year as a Raven last season. I expect that to change this year. He has potential to be a top-10 WR.

66. Joseph Addai, RB. He's got some major problems staying healthy, but when he is, boy is he filthy! The Colts don't run a lot so this hurts him a bit, but he's still worth a mid-round pick. 

65. Knowshon Moreno, RB. Moreno was average last season as a starter, and sources have said that he isn't a hard worker. With Willis McGahee in town, Moreno will have to try harder to impress in Denver. 

64. Jermichael Finley, TE. Unfortunately, Finley was out with an injury during the Packers whole season last year, but he is back this year and will be one of the best fantasy tight ends. 

63. Vernon Davis, TE. Davis has been one of the best tight ends in the league over the last couple seasons, and that should not change this year as he has a natural ability to get open. 

62. Mark Ingram, RB. The rookie from Alabama has the upper hand right now out of the Saints running back. He should get the most carries and most importantly for fantasy owners, the most on the goal line. 

61. Zach Miller, TE. A move to Seattle should help Miller put up better numbers than he did in Oakland. He will easily outperform fellow tight end John Carlson. 

Numbers 60-51

60. Mike Williams, (Tampa) WR. Williams was one of the most consistent wide receivers in fantasy last year. He didn't have huge yardage, but the young receiver had a knack for the end zone. His numbers should only improve this year with him and quarterback being a year older. 

59. Deangelo Williams, RB. The Panthers made sure they re-signed Williams, who when healthy, has potential to be one of the best runners in the league. 

58. Santonio Holmes, WR. After signing a huge new contract, Holmes better be motivated to perform in New York and take off with the Jets. 

57. Jeremy Maclin, WR. He's fighting off a few injuries at the moment, but he is one of the best receivers in the game when he's healthy. He'll be just fine this year.

56. Shonn Greene, RB. The New York Jets running back isn't the strongest starter in the league, but he's still a starter and will therefore put up points by default. 

55. Daniel Thomas, RB. It looks like the rookie will have the starting job in Miami or at least receive more carries than Ricky Williams and Reggie Bush. 

54. Jahvid Best, RB. Best should have a much better season this year than last, when he disappointed a lot of people. 

53. Jason Witten, TE. Witten always finds the end zone and has some 100-yard games. With a healthy Tony Romo, have no fear in drafting him. 

52. Brandon Lloyd, WR. Lloyd was the No. 1 wide receiver last season, sort of out of nowhere. He's a great player, but he won't repeat his numbers from last season. 

51. Dallas Clark, TE. Barely a tight end and more of a receiving halfback—and often wideout—Clark is one of the reasons why the Colts offense is so deadly and unique. 

50. Marques Colston, WR

One of the most consistent fantasy receivers over the last few seasons, Marques Colston is the perfect pick for a No. 1 receiver for your team. 

Not only is he talented, but he has a great relationship with his quarterback, Drew Brees. In fantasy, it's not just about the receiver who is catching the ball but who is throwing the ball to them (see: Larry Fitzgerald case in 2010).

The New Orleans Saint No. 1 receiver should serve you well despite his veteran status. 

49. Brandon Marshall, WR

He may never repeat the year he had in 2010 with the Denver Broncos, but Brandon Marshall still has all the upside to be a No. 1 fantasy receiver. 

He is incredibly big, athletic and plays on a team where he is one of the sole targets. A lot of balls will go his way, and he is bound to catch some. He'll probably be the most productive Miami Dolphin this season. 

48. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB

This guy was an end-zone machine last season. He scored 13 touchdowns, and he didn't even play in the first three games. 

Don't draft the "Law Firm" as your No. 1 running back, but drafting him a little later as your No. 2 should be a safe bet. 

New England has not been a running team as of recently, yet it seems that they really trust BenJarvus Green-Ellis. 

47. Antonio Gates, TE

The only tight end in the top 50, Antonio Gates is clearly the most elite player at his position.

Not only does he use his size as an advantage to get open, but he also runs great patterns and has great hands. 

With Philip Rivers throwing him the ball, Gates could be the one tight end who could be taken by the early fourth round. Drafting the San Diego Charger is like drafting a tall, heavy, athletic receiver. 

46. Ben Roethlisberger, QB

Big Ben Roethlisberger never looks pretty doing it, but he always finds a way to put up big numbers.

With Mike Wallace emerging as one of the best receivers in the game, Big Ben has a deadly downfield target that always makes it possible for him to put up big yards. 

He should absolutely be starting in a 14-team league and is right on the cusp of being a starter in a 12-team league.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will certainly be competitive too, so expect Big Ben to have a lot of assistance in helping him score. 

45. Jay Cutler, QB

I have Jay Cutler ranked a lot higher than most people because a) he is in way better shape than he's been in years, and b) I think Roy Williams will have a big year in Chicago. 

Cutler has a cannon and will be throwing a lot. I'm predicting over 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns for the gunslinger, and by my count, the 13th ranked fantasy quarterback. 

44. Jonathan Stewart, RB

Jonathan Stewart is younger and healthier than DeAngelo Williams, and he will receive the bulk of the carries in Carolina. 

The Panthers obviously need to improve all around, but Stewart will be able to produce on offense and put up big numbers for both the Panthers and your fantasy football team. 

43. Ryan Grant, RB

Coming back from injury that sidelined him all year last season, I think Grant will bounce back and round out the Green Bay Packer's offense, giving them a much appreciated running game. 

Grant should be able to rush for at least 800 yards and find the end zone eight times as I predict Green Bay will run a more conservative offense this season. 

42. Miles Austin, WR

Miles Austin broke out of nowhere in 2009. The D1-AA college athlete shocked everyone, and as a result, he was a top fantasy draft pick at wide receiver in 2010.

He was, however, a disappointment last season, and certainly his volatile quarterback situation didn't help. 

With Tony Romo healthy, expect Austin to bounce back to form. 

41. DeSean Jackson, WR

DeSean Jackson is the game's most explosive player and has the potential at any moment to turn a simple five-yard route into an 85-yard sprint down the field. Draft Jackson high and feel confident in doing so.

Look at Tom Coughlin's reaction in the back of that picture. That was during that infamous December game when Jackson returned a punt as time expired. 

40. Dwayne Bowe, WR

Dwayne Bowe really found his stride last season after years of average play. A lot of people were beginning to write him off when he showed up and scored 15 touchdowns. 

I don't think he'll be able to match that touchdown mark this year, but Bowe is certainly worth drafting as a No. 1 fantasy wide receiver. 

39. Eli Manning, QB

Eli Manning had some serious interception problems last season, but in his defense, he had to deal with injuries to nearly all of his receivers. 

With a healthy receiving corps, I expect Eli to have a better year and play more consistent football. 

I couldn't resist that picture. 

38. Matt Cassel, QB

Matt Cassel doesn't get the credit he deserves in my mind. 

He took a very young Kansas City Chiefs team last year that no one gave any credit to, and he brought them to the playoffs. 

With a stud receiver in Dwayne Bowe and a nice new addition in Steve Breaston, I think Cassel is a safe low-end No. 1 fantasy quarterback. 

37. Vincent Jackson, WR

All is well in San Diego. Last season started with a distraction when Vincent Jackson held out, and he didn't even end up playing half the season. 

Now that his contract is settled, Jackson will go back to hooking up with Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers for sick plays. 

36. Reggie Wayne, WR

Reggie Wayne is just a model of consistency. His relationship with Peyton Manning seems to be without flaw, and a game is never complete if Wayne doesn't lay his body out to make the tough grab. 

When you draft Wayne, you know you are drafting a guy who gives 100 percent. 

35. Josh Freeman, QB

Josh Freeman had a crazy good rookie campaign with a team that everyone thought would be terrible. 

At 22 years old, Freeman threw 25 touchdowns and only six picks! Wide receiver Mike Williams and running back LeGarrette Blount were also rookies.

The future is bright for Freeman and the young Tampa Bay Bucs.

34. Felix Jones, RB

Felix Jones finally has his chance this year to prove how good of a runner he is, and I think he will step to the challenge. 

The Dallas Cowboys will pass more than they will run, but Jones will get plenty of touches and the ability to produce for both the Cowboys and your fantasy team. 

33. Matt Schaub, QB

Matt Schaub is a quarterback who is built for fantasy. He has one of the best wide receivers on his team and a killer offense line. Schaub loves to hang in the pocket and make long passes that translate to big points for your fantasy sqaud. 

Schaub's concern this year will be getting the Houston Texans to finally reach the playoffs, but as far as you're concerned, draft him with confidence. 

32. Mike Wallace, WR

Mike Wallace is one of the fastest guys in the league, and his role in Pittsburgh is only going to increase as Hines Ward gets older and Wallace becomes the No. 1 wide receiver for the Steelers. 

His explosiveness is a plus, but I think we will see a Mike Wallace this season who will be playing a shorter game, running more slants and getting more receptions. Either way, one of top wide receivers in fantasy football. 

31. Tony Romo, QB

Tony Romo is coming back this year following a shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of last year. 

Expectations will be high in Dallas after they did so surprisingly bad last year. 

With new head coach Jason Garrett, I expect the Cowboys to be a much better football team as a whole. WIth a more experienced Dez Bryant lining up on one side and Miles Austin on the other, Romo's numbers will translate to wins for the Cowboys and your fantasy squad. 

30. Hakeem Nicks, WR

Some people have Hakeem Nicks ranked as high as the No. 3 overall fantasy wide receiver. I have him ranked six, but he should unarguably be one of the top wide receivers taken in any fantasy draft. 

He has a knack for getting open, and quarterback Eli Manning loves him. 

29. Greg Jennings, WR

Greg Jennings is an absolute monster. Just when you think he is having a quiet game he explodes with a huge play that is game changer for not only his Green Bay Packers but for your fantasy squad. 

I have no doubts that Greg Jennings will hook up with Aaron Rodgers for at least seven touchdowns this season. 

28. Cedric Benson, RB

Cedric Benson got in some off-field trouble and plays for the terrible Cincinnati Bengals, yet you can never overlook a running back who's going to get 30 touches some games. 

Benson is the sole runner on Cincy, and despite him having almost no explosiveness, he will pound it out for 80-plus yards and a touchdown in at least 10 of his games this year. 

27. Peyton Manning, QB

He has maybe lost a (small) step, but Peyton Manning is still one of the most feared and dominant quarterbacks that the league has to offer. 

That being said, he won't be as high of a fantasy performer as his reputation would presume. His numbers will be a little more modest this year compared to the past, but you can always count on Peyton to be productive and reliable. 

26. LeGarrette Blount, RB

LeGarrette Blount was one of the best runners to end the season last year, and I think he will run that way this entire season. 

Entering his sophomore season, the Tampa Bay Bucs have more faith in Blount, and he will get almost all of the team's carries. 

I rank him as about the 16th best fantasy running back. 

25. Philip Rivers, QB

Philip Rivers proved last season that you should never doubt him to produce. There was a time last season where he had no Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd, and he still tore it up. I know, I owned him!

With his full cast of characters back this year, Rivers will put up phenomenal numbers once again, and the Chargers as a team should bounce back from a weak season. 

24. Drew Brees, QB

Drew Brees is so good and so consistent and so accurate. He's such an all-package quarterback. To add to all that, he has a filthy lineup of options to throw to. 

Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson and Jimmy Graham combine to make one of the league's most talented receiving squads and one of the most frustrating in fantasy football because you never know who will be getting the ball. 

Don't worry about Brees though because you know he always has the ball. 

23. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB

Ahmad Bradshaw re-signed with the Giants and will be their go-to man in the backfield. 

His main issue last season was his fumbles, but if he can fix that, he's one of the best running backs available on the draft board.

He's a high-end No. 2 running back who's worth a pick by the third round in all leagues. 

22. Matt Forte, RB

The Chicago Bears running back comes off an inconsistent year for some reason, but he is in fact quite the opposite. Not only had he put together 1,000-yard rushing campaigns in all three of his NFL seasons, but he is usually good for 400 to 600 receiving yards and a few touchdowns. 

Marion Barber could prove to vulture a few goal-line carries from Forte, but his versatile role in the Bears offense makes him a safe pick as a low-end No. 1/high-end No. 2 fantasy running back. 

21. Matt Ryan, QB

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback has really developed into one of the league's best and in my eyes will be the fourth best fantasy quarterback this season. 

He plays on a high powered offense featuring a great offensive line, a powerful runner in Michael Turner and three top-tier targets.

Wide receiver Roddy White is the best receiver in football, tight end Tony Gonzalez is a huge red-zone target, and rookie Julio Jones should shine. The White/Jones tandem will be one of football's best, and Ryan is a top-tier fantasy quarterback.

20. Larry Fitzgerald, WR

Larry Fitzgerald disappointed a lot of people last year who drafted him very early, but his lack of success last season wasn't really his fault. The Arizona Cardinals wide receiver had no one to throw him the ball. 

With Kevin Kolb taking the snaps under center this year, Fitzgerald's production should go back up. Anyone halfway decent throwing the ball is enough for Fitz to put up big numbers.

If Kolb really finds his stride, Fitzgerald could end up being the No. 1 fantasy wide receiver. 

19. Tom Brady, QB

What really needs to be said at this point about the quarterback who needs no introduction?

Three Super Bowl wins, four appearances. Whenever you think New England is poised for a bad year, Brady comes up and puts together an MVP-like season. 

He's one of the safest picks on the draft board, and the third ranked fantasy quarterback. 

18. Calvin Johnson, WR

Calvin Johnson's nickname should say it all: Megatron. 

Literally, watching Calvin Johnson play, you would think he is a robot. Last season he racked up over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns with Drew Stanton, Shaun Hill and Matt Stafford throwing him the ball.

I watched a few Detroit Lions games last season, and their offensive strategy was basically just to toss the ball up in the general vicinity of Megatron. 

The Lions will be a better team this year, and with Matt Stafford hopefully staying healthy for the whole season, Megatron will match or better his numbers from last season. 

17. Frank Gore, RB

Don't be confused by my critique, Frank Gore will still be one of the best running backs in the league, but don't draft him in the top 10 like you may have in the past few years.

Gore is a great, powerful runner who is rather versatile as a receiver, but he never seems to play all 16 games, and I'm not too high on any San Francisco this season. He'll still have huge games but be weary of drafting the injury-prone stud. 

16. Michael Turner, RB

I'll probably be hitting myself in the head by Week 3 when I had Michael Turner ranked 16th on this list because he easily has potential to be in the top seven. 

Turner is one of the most powerful runners in the league, and he plays on one of the league's best offenses. My reason for having him ranked a little lower than most is I think the Atlanta Falcon's will be a pass-happy team this season. 

That being said, all of Turner's fellow offensive weapons will attract a lot of defensive attention and could open some doors for Turner.

I have him ranked as the 12th best fantasy running back but feel free to argue with me and draft him higher. You shouldn't regret it. 

15. Darren McFadden, RB

Here's a guy who's very talented and who finally broke out last season in his third year in the league, but I have to label him as a bust alert.

My doubts with McFadden lie in that he has trouble staying healthy, plays on a weak Oakland Raiders offense and had two very poor seasons before last year.

He's still a unanimous top-12 running back, but be weary because I think he has the most potential to disappoint.  

14. Peyton Hillis, RB

A lot of people are doubting Peyton Hillis' ability to repeat his success from last season, yet I'm not buying into all the skepticism. 

I find it hard to believe that he will once again be a top-three fantasy running back, but I think he is still a very safe pick as No. 1 for your team. 

The Cleveland Browns back won't be nearly as threatened as some think by the return of Montario Hardesty. I think when you factor in Hillis' size, speed, power and confidence, there is no question on who will be getting the bulk of the carries in Cleveland. 

13. Rashard Mendenhall, RB

Rashard Mendenhall will once again be one of the most quiet successes in football. 

I don't know what it is. Maybe it's that he's quiet or just not a flashy runner. Maybe it's cause he plays on a Pittsburgh Steelers team full of loud mouths and prima donnas. Either way, you never really here much about Mendenhall.

Quiet or not, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, and he should safely be able to repeat that being the sole back in Pittsburgh. 

12. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB

Maurice Jones-Drew, perhaps one of the first Cinderella stories in fantasy football, is no longer an under-the-radar guy. 

From the time MJD broke out as the powerful backup to Fred Taylor in 2006, he's been a consistent combination of yards and touchdowns. 

The stocky runner has a tremendous ability to breakout into a long sprint, and he's a tough guy to take down. The only question in drafting him is his health.

He has had knee troubles in the past. Assuming he's healthy, he should rush for over 1,000 yards and at least seven touchdowns. He should be about the eighth running back taken off the draft board. 

11. LeSean McCoy, RB

LeSean "Shady" McCoy is the perfect example of a Philadelphia Eagles player. He is versatile and explosive. He'll be quiet and then be taking off down the field. He's a "Shady" guy. 

I have a lot of confidence in McCoy this season. I think the Eagles will give him even more opportunities than last year by running a lot more traditional run schemes. 

Also look out for the mega-Wildcat featuring Shady, DeSean Jackson, Vince Young, Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin...wow. 

10. Andre Johnson, WR

The No. 1 fantasy receiver in many people's eyes, I rank Andre Johnson No. 2. He'll no doubt have another ridiculous season. 

He has a great relationship with quarterback Matt Schaub, and the two have loads in confidence in one another. 

Johnson is one of two wide receivers that can be drafted in the first round if you have the 10th to 12th pick. You won't be sorry. 

9. Roddy White, WR

Roddy White, my No. 1 ranked fantasy wide receiver, will be a monster this year. He guaranteed last season that he would be the league's top receiver, and while Brandon Lloyd nabbed the actual title, White was not far behind. 

He is the absolute prime of his career and plays on a powerful Atlanta Falcons offense where defenses won't know where to focus their attention.

Either way, I don't care if you put 10 guys on White, he'll get open and make the catch. He should be drafted in the first round in all leagues. 

8. Aaron Rodgers, QB

Last year's Super Bowl MVP and apparently my doppelganger, Aaron Rodgers will probably be the best passing quarterback in the league this year. 

The Green Bay Packers are such a complete football team that Rodgers shouldn't be sweating it to much during the games.

The defense will hold most games under control and Rodgers will just need to contribute and hook up with Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver or James Jones. Take your pick.

If you are picking below seventh in the first round, I say take Rodgers. He'll be more consistent than any of the other guys left on the table despite their big-game upside.  

7. Michael Vick, QB

Michael Vick should really be listed quarterback/running back because of his versatility. The dude is just an absolute natural athlete who can make a pass from the pocket, make a pass on the run or take off down the field. 

Last season he threw 21 touchdowns and rushed for nine. He would be a top-20 running back just on his rushing ability alone. 

The major upside with Vick is his ability to put together monster performances like his Monday Night Football game versus the Washington Redskins last season. In that game, he tossed four touchdowns and rushed for two. Just another day at work for Michael Vick. 

If you want to, drafting him first isn't the worst idea if you have the pick. At least you know he'll be touching the ball every play. 

6. Steven Jackson, RB

On an improved St. Louis Rams squad, I see Steven Jackson having one of his best years to date. His line is better, the passing game is better, and he has a more reliable backup to take some carries. 

I was never a Jackson advocate before this season because I always thought he carried more workload than was good for him. 

He'll still be the very dominant back in St. Louis, but expect him to have less of a weight on his shoulders and therefore find the end zone a lot easier. 

5. Ray Rice, RB

Ray Rice and the next four guys I will write about don't need much of an introduction. But here I go anyway...

To put into context Rice's ability, he rushed for over 1,200 yards last season and five touchdowns and racked up over 500 yards and one touchdown receiving, and people thought he underperformed. 

Rice is quick and small and has the potential to turn a three-yard run up the middle into a downfield race between him and the cornerback. 

I think Rice will have his best year yet this season. 

4. Chris Johnson, RB

Chris Johnson blew up in 2009, rushing for over 2,000 yards. While he may never repeat those numbers in his career, he's rushed for over 1,000 yards in all three of his NFL seasons. He also has rushed for nine, 14 and 11 touchdowns in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. 

Some people are bitter at CJ because he didn't put up the No. 1 pick numbers that people hoped for last year, but he's still so consistent that you really can't complain. 

He's an easy top-four pick in this year's draft. 

3. Adrian Peterson, RB

Almost 6,000 rushing yards in four seasons is pretty amazing. Adrian Peterson has proved to be one of the most consistent players in the league, and while he shows no signs of slowing down, I think he will a very SMALL pinch. 

Peterson has gotten awfully beat up over the last four years, and sometimes the physicality of being a running back just gets the best of guys. 

He's still a solid pick for 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns and should definitely be one of the first three players off the draft board. To say that Peterson may lose a step still ranks him as a top-three running back amazingly. What a talent. 

2. Arian Foster, RB

Last year's fantasy surprise and league rushing leader, I think Arian Foster has all the potential to match his figures. Even if he falls a little shorter, he will still put together a solid enough resume to rank himself in the top three easily. 

Houston has a great offensively line and a great offense. Foster will see plenty of goal-line carries and should get at least 20 touches a game. 

If you're lucky enough to draft him, consider yourself fortunate. He will be drafted between first and fourth in all leagues, and if he drops below that, then everyone drank too much before the draft. 

1. Jamaal Charles, RB

Definitely a top-five guy on most analysts' list but maybe not a very popular No. 1 overall pick, I give the Kansas City Chiefs running back the nod for a variety of reasons. 

They are...

1.) His speed

2.) His size

3.) Thomas Jones

4.) The Chiefs potential

The first two are obvious, Charles is small and fast. He cuts like a knife and is hard to bring down and even harder to catch. A threat to any defense. 

The reason why I list Thomas Jones is because I really see him taking a step back this year. He has had a great career but is 32, and I see him getting banged up easier than before. He stole some goal-line carries from Charles last year, but I expect those occurrences to be fewer and farther between this season. 

Lastly, I think the Chiefs are the team to beat in the AFC West. The have a powerful offense that they will thrive on and are really going to be working hard to make the playoffs again and win for the first time in a while. 

I predict that Charles will not only be the number one fantasy running back, but I think he will be a nominee for league MVP and has potential to flirt with 2,000 yards. 

Good Luck! Feel Free to Ask for Advice...

With the completion of this top 200 list, I just want to say good luck to all of you who are competing in fantasy football leagues. 

Whether you are playing for pride, money, bragging rights or your friend's car, keep it clean, keep it fair and be (reasonably) polite. A good league thrives on a little trash talk, a fair deal of confidence but mostly, honest play. 

If you are the commissioner, be objective. Don't veto any trades that are fair and investigate any that seem to be rigged. Whatever you do, don't let anyone give up.

At the end of the day, the point of fantasy football is to enhance the excitement that watching football already gives us. Don't get frustrated if you're doing bad, just laugh it off and have a beer!

Feel free to contact me on Bleacher Report, via email at [e-mail] or visit my fantasy football website whoneedsreality.com. I will be updating videos on a regular basis, and I value your opinions as much as I hope you will value mine. 

Take care folks. Remember, it's only fantasy, but Who Needs Reality?