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Ranking Fantasy Football's First Round

Eric Stashin
Jul 8, 2009

Today I wanted to take a look at how I rank the Top 12 players in the league and the order I would draft them (obviously, league rules would alter this slightly):

  1. Adrian Peterson - Minnesota Vikings - Like there should be any question here.
  2. Michael Turner - Atlanta Falcons - Heโ€™s the No. 2 back on my board, so he goes No. 2 here.
  3. LaDainian Tomlinson - San Diego Chargers - His ADP is 6.70, but I really donโ€™t get it.ย  I know, heโ€™s old by NFL standards at 30-years old, and he โ€œstruggledโ€ last season to over 1,500 combined yards and 12 TD.ย  Maybe Iโ€™ll be proven wrong, but if Iโ€™m picking at No. 3, Iโ€™m going to take him every time.
  4. Matt Forte - Chicago Bears - Heโ€™s a second year back, so he is still a little bit of a risk.ย  Can he repeat his โ€˜08 performance?ย  How will Jay Cutlerโ€™s presence affect him?ย  Either way, heโ€™s going to be one of the better backs in the league.
  5. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jacksonville Jaguars - While some think heโ€™s a โ€œno doubtโ€ performer now that heโ€™s the man in the backfield for Jacksonville, there is reason to be skeptical.ย  Heโ€™s never carried the ball more than 197 times in a season and never exceeded 941 yards.ย  Still, with 38 total TD in his first three seasons while sharing the load, itโ€™s a pretty good bet that heโ€™s going to be top fantasy back this season.
  6. Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona Cardinals - This is a tough decision.ย  Do you go with the top WR on the board, or some potentially questionable RB?ย  Considering the production Fitzgerald has posted the past two seasons, I donโ€™t think you can go wrong with him in this slot.
  7. Steven Jackson - St. Louis Rams - Injuries make him a risk, but if he stays on the field heโ€™s going to be the teamโ€™s entire offense.ย  Weโ€™ll have to take a deeper look into his potential in the coming days.
  8. Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints - Heโ€™s the top QB in the game, having thrown for over 5,000 yards and 34 TD.ย  With a healthy Marques Colston, just how much better could he be?ย  To me, heโ€™s a definite first round pick, though exactly where is up for debate.
  9. Clinton Portis - Washington Redskins - At this point heโ€™s the next RB on my board, so heโ€™s going to be my pick in this slot.
  10. Frank Gore - San Francisco 49ers - As I said in my rankings, the acquisition of Michael Crabtree should go a long ways to opening up some holes and taking the focus off of him.ย 
  11. Andre Johnson - Houston Texans - Two consecutive 100+ catch seasons says it all.ย 
  12. Chris Johnson - Tennessee Titans - While he may lose a few TDs to LenDale White (maybe a few is an understatement), heโ€™s still one of the better RB in the league.

Where do you disagree?ย  Who do you think should go in the first round?ย  Who shouldnโ€™t?

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