Fantasy Football Rankings 2012: Updated Rankings for Every Position

The second week of the 2012 NFL preseason is in the books, and as teams across the NFL prepare for the all-important third preseason "dress rehearsal" games this week, draft season in fantasy football leagues is in high gear and nearing the home stretch.

The preseason has answered a number of questions regarding many players across the NFL while raising a few more, and taking into account the effects of depth chart shakeups and injuries, here's an updated look at position-by-position rankings for fantasy football leagues in 2012.

Please note that these rankings are for point-per-reception (PPR) fantasy football leagues.

Aaron Rodgers and the Top 20 Quarterbacks

I'll freely admit I've been back and forth on this one, with both Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers and Tom Brady of the New England Patriots occupying the top spot among fantasy quarterbacks at some point over the summer.

However, given the ruthless efficiency with which Rodgers carved up opposing defenses last season en route to throwing 45 touchdown passes versus only six interceptions and Green Bay's lack of a running game, it's Rodgers who has reclaimed the title of king of the fantasy mountain under center.

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

4. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

5. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

6. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

7. Eli Manning, New York Giants

8. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

9. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

10. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

11. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

12. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

13. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

14. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

15. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins (R)

16. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

17. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills

18. Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders

19. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

20. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ray Rice and the Top 20 Running Backs

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice racked up over 2,000 total yards and scored 15 touchdowns last season on his way to finishing the 2011 season as fantasy football's top running back.

The fifth-year pro has also averaged over 70 catches a season over the past three years while not missing a game, and that skill as a receiver and durability is what puts the 25-year-old over the top among the fantasy football options at the running back position.

1. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

2. Arian Foster, Houston Texans

3. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

4. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

5. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

6. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs

7. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

8. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders

9. Darren Sproles, New Orleans Saints

10. DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

11. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams

12. Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers

13. Trent Richardson, Cleveland Browns (R)

14. Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (R)

15. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants

16. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers

17. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills

18. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks

19. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars

20. Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins

Calvin Johnson and the Top 20 Wide Receivers

If the Detroit Lions' second preseason game was any indication, then wide receiver Calvin Johnson is ready to pick up right where he left off last season, when the 26-year-old led the National Football League with 1,681 receiving yards.

Johnson shredded the Baltimore Ravens for five catches, 111 yards and a touchdown in about a half, and "Megatron" is easily the top fantasy option at his position in 2012.

1. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions

2. Wes Welker, New England Patriots

3. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

4. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans

5. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons

6. Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears

7. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

8. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers

9. Victor Cruz, New York Giants

10. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints

11. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

12. Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants

13. Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings

14. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers

15. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers

16. Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills

17. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys

18. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos

19. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs

20. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

Jimmy Graham and the Top 20 Tight Ends

The times certainly have changed in fantasy football, as the record-setting season turned in by New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and gaudy stats posted by Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints have led to one and sometimes both players being selected in the first round of fantasy drafts.

Both players are excellent fantasy options, but it's Graham who has the better chance of approaching his 99 receptions and 1,300-plus receiving yards from last season, especially with wide receiver Robert Meachem departing New Orleans in the offseason.

1. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints

2. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

3. Aaron Hernandez, New England Patriots

4. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers

5. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons

6. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers

7. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions

8. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

9. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers

10. Fred Davis, Washington Redskins

11. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans

12. Jacob Tamme, Denver Broncos

13. Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles

14. Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Bengals

15. Jared Cook, Tennessee Titans

16. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers

17. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings

18. Dustin Keller, New York Jets

19. Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts (R)

20. Lance Kendricks, St. Louis Rams

David Akers and the Top 20 Kickers

Trying to predict who will be the top fantasy kicker before the season is often times an exercise in futility, as there's usually a great deal of variance at the position from season to season.

However, David Akers of the San Francisco 49ers has finished as a top-three fantasy option at his position four years running, and that, coupled with the fact that Akers made 11 more field goals than any other kicker in the NFL last year, is enough for the 37-year-old to get the nod.

1. David Akers, San Francisco 49ers

2. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots

3. Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers

4. Jason Hanson, Detroit Lions

5. Nate Kaeding, San Diego Chargers

6. Garrett Hartley, New Orleans Saints

7. Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders

8. Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys

9. Alex Henery, Philadelphia Eagles

10. Robbie Gould, Chicago Bears

11. Randy Bullock, Houston Texans

12. Neil Rackers, Washington Redskins

13. Matt Prater, Denver Broncos

14. Matt Bryant, Atlanta Falcons

15. Lawrence Tynes, New York Giants

16. Billy Cundiff, Baltimore Ravens

17. Mike Nugent, Cincinnati Bengals

18. Rob Bironas, Tennessee Titans

19. Rian Lindell, Buffalo Bills

20. Shaun Suisham, Pittsburgh Steelers

Philadelphia Eagles and the Top 20 Team Defenses

This is another one I've been back and forth on, due in no small part to the fact that team defenses can be wildly unpredictable as changes in personnel, philosophy or injuries wreak havoc on attempts to portend which defenses will perform best in the upcoming season.

With that said, the Philadelphia Eagles tied for the league lead in sacks in 2011 and were a top-10 fantasy defense. A tasty Week 1 matchup with the Cleveland Browns is enough for me to give the Eagles the narrowest of edges over the San Francisco 49ers as fantasy football's top defense this year.

1. Philadelphia Eagles

2. San Francisco 49ers

3. Baltimore Ravens

4. Green Bay Packers

5. Houston Texans

6. Pittsburgh Steelers

7. Chicago Bears

8. New York Giants

9. Buffalo Bills

10. Detroit Lions

11 New England Patriots

12. Seattle Seahawks

13. Denver Broncos

14. New York Jets

15. Cincinnati Bengals

16. Dallas Cowboys

17. San Diego Chargers

18. Atlanta Falcons

19. Minnesota Vikings

20. New Orleans Saints