Fantasy Football Rankings 2015: The Top 50 Big Board Before Training Camps Begin
The fantasy football machine is whirring into gear. With training camps just around the corner, it's time to dive into some fantasy rankings.
Let's take a look at the top 50 players for 2015 as we head into the preseason. These rankings are based on standard fantasy scoring, and they take positional scarcity into account. That is to say, there aren't many tight ends or quarterbacks because wide receivers and running backs are far more valuable. Standard leagues only let you play one quarterback and tight end each, right?
Nos. 50-46
1 of 30
50. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
It was a down year for Drew Brees in 2014, which only meant he was third in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks. What a terrible season.
Brees has been near or at the top of fantasy leaderboards for nigh a decade, and that probably won't change much even with Jimmy Graham gone. But age and attrition could conspire to drag him out of the top five in 2015.
49. Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills
The rookie receiver class was outstanding last season, but Sammy Watkins faded from sight as the season wore on, injuries nagged, quarterbacks stunk and others shined bright.
Even so, Watkins wound up 25th in fantasy scoring among wide receivers. The quarterback situation isn't any better, but a better overall offense should help matters.
48. Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Speaking of injuries, Giovani Bernard's sophomore slump was made possible by a hip injury. That and the emergence of rookie Jeremy Hill.
Despite the latter's usurpation of the lead role, Bernard is going to figure heavily in Cincinnati's offensive plans.
47. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers
DeAngelo Williams is gone. It was a long time coming, but Jonathan Stewart's emergence—finally, after all this time—helped push him out the door.
Stewart wound up 22nd in fantasy scoring at his position after a slow start and playing just 13 games last season, but his extensive injury history keeps him from being ranked higher here. That and the fact any one of Fozzy Whittaker, Mike Tolbert and rookie Cameron Artis-Payne could emerge as contenders for playing time in that backfield.
46. Joique Bell, RB, Detroit Lions
He may not be an all-around threat, but Joique Bell figures to get the majority of touches in Detroit this season. Even if rookie Ameer Abdullah forces his way into the conversation, Bell should see a ton of early-down work.
More importantly, the big back should have the goal-line touches on lockdown, giving him some interesting week-to-week upside.
Nos. 45-41
2 of 30
45. Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers
Last season was frustrating for Keenan Allen's fantasy owners. Despite a litany of targets, Allen's lack of touchdowns made him a fantasy dud for much of the season.
Touchdowns are fickle, though, and his 3.5 percent touchdown rate is likely to regress positively in 2015. That is especially true if Allen becomes a focal point with tight end Antonio Gates out for the first four games of the year.
44. Jordan Matthews, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
This is a bit of a risk considering we don't know exactly how the Philadelphia Eagles will dole out the targets in 2015. Jordan Matthews had a good rookie year, but he did much of his damage from the slot.
Can he be effective on the outside, or will the Eagles continue utilizing him from the slot?
Still, that's a great offense with a theoretical upgrade at quarterback if Sam Bradford can stay healthy.
43. Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets
Injuries hampered Brandon Marshall last season, and his quarterback could do the same in 2015.
Marshall is stranded in New York with Geno Smith calling the signals. Whether he helps Smith buck his critics or succumbs to poor quarterback play will be one of the more interesting storylines of fantasy football in 2015.
42. Andre Johnson, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Could Andre Johnson finally break the double-digit touchdown barrier? With Andrew Luck under center, that is definitely on the table.
Of course, if Johnson scores that much, he'll be ranked much higher than this at season's end.
41. Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints
It's time for Mark Ingram to live up to his hype.
The former first-round pick looked like a man possessed last season, and he wound up 15th in fantasy scoring among running backs despite missing three games. He'll have newcomer C.J. Spiller to contend with, but Ingram should see a heavy workload that includes goal-line work.
Nos. 40-36
3 of 30
40. Andre Ellington, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Last season was a bitter disappointment for fantasy owners who banked on Andre Ellington's breakout. His promising rookie season and relative lack of competition for touches made for an enticing option in fantasy drafts.
He hurt his foot before the season started, and that all but sunk his season. He missed four games and never lived up to the hype.
As bad as that all sounds, Ellington wound up 20th in fantasy scoring at his position. Even with rookie David Johnson competing for touches, a healthy Ellington should cash in on last year's hype in 2015.
39. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Speaking of poor health, Cam Newton's 2014 campaign was an injury-marred mess.
Newton had offseason ankle surgery that kept him out for most of the preseason. That forced the Carolina Panthers to play him in a meaningless fourth preseason game, and he broke his ribs for his trouble.
The injury caused him to miss the first game of the year and look tentative when he came back, but he eventually found his groove on the ground. He should get his passing groove back with a full offseason to work with second-year stud Kelvin Benjamin and promising rookie Devin Funchess.
38. Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers
A rookie running back ranked this highly? And it's not Todd Gurley?
The latter aside—he is coming back from a torn ACL, after all—Gordon is primed for a huge year. The Chargers need a steady running back after years of disappointment from now-departed Ryan Mathews, and Gordon was a stat machine in college.
37. Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots
At 5'10" and 200 pounds, it's easy to overlook Julian Edelman. He doesn't even seem that big on screen. Heck, Antonio Brown is the same size.
Edelman's value takes a bit of a hit with quarterback Tom Brady suspended—even if his punishment is eventually reduced—but he is going to be a target hog regardless. Tight end Rob Gronkowski is going to garner a ton of defensive attention, and Edelman will capitalize as he has been wont to do for the Patriots.
36. Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Dolphins
After a few years of fantasy disappointment, Lamar Miller finally put it all together for a top-10 season last year. The only issue was that Miller didn't have many big games.
He had just one multi-touchdown game, and he barely cracked 1,000 rushing yards despite being the lead back and remaining healthy for much of the year. He should reprise his role—even with rookie Jay Ajayi in the fold—but Miller doesn't scream upside in the fantasy realm.
.jpg?w=256 "Saints Bills Football")
.jpg?w=256 "Eagles Sirianni Football")
.jpg?w=256 "Ravens Browns Football")
Nos. 35-31
4 of 30
35. Justin Forsett, RB, Baltimore Ravens
After bouncing around the league, Justin Forsett finally found a home—and his groove—in Baltimore last season.
The 29-year-old was a big surprise, scoring the eighth-most fantasy points among running backs last season. His situation hasn't changed much outside of losing Gary Kubiak as his offensive coordinator.
Kubiak's expertise in the running game likely helped Forsett climb to new heights last season, but Marc Trestman is no offensive slouch. What Forsett might lose in the run game he will gain in the passing attack.
34. Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos
Look, Peyton Manning had a horrible run in the fantasy playoffs last season, and he almost retired after his postseason came to an abrupt end. But that doesn't mean you should avoid him in 2015.
As long as he is healthy, Manning will be putting up huge numbers through the air.
33. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
What Russell Wilson lacks in passing statistics he more than makes up for with his legs.
Wilson led all quarterbacks in rushing last season, and we should see more of the same in 2015. Even if those numbers dip a bit, he has a shiny new toy in Jimmy Graham to help him score some points through the air.
32. Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints
Brandin Cooks was on pace to catch the most passes among rookie receivers last season before an injury knocked him out midway through his inaugural campaign. With Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills exiled, Cooks' target count should see a huge boost.
31. Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina Panthers
He may have had issues with drops as a rookie, but Kelvin Benjamin is a big-time touchdown threat. He is also Cam Newton's top wideout, though he will be competing for targets with tight end Greg Olsen.
Nos. 30-26
5 of 30
35. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
He may not have won the fantasy passing crown last season, but Aaron Rodgers continues to put up huge numbers on an annual basis. With a stockpiled arsenal and a good running game to boot, there is no reason to think the reigning MVP won't have another huge year.
34. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts
The last year's small-receiver breakout included 5'9" T.Y. Hilton.
Indianapolis' diminutive wideout wound up 10th in fantasy scoring among wide receivers, a ranking that could have been higher were it not for a bit of a depressed touchdown rate. He might lose some targets to incoming veteran Andre Johnson, though, which is why he's ranked a bit further down here.
33. Alfred Morris, RB, Washington
Alfred Morris seems like a forgotten man in the fantasy landscape. With Roy Helu gone, he should see an even bigger share of Washington's workload, and he has been better with Robert Griffin III under center throughout his career.
32. Jeremy Hill, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have two good backs on their hands, and Jeremy Hill is the more complete one. Not only that, but he should see the bulk of the goal-line carries, giving him a leg up on Giovani Bernard.
31. Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers
Randall Cobb wound up sixth in fantasy scoring at his position last season, a marvelous feat considering his teammate, Jordy Nelson, finished second.
The Packers' Swiss army knife took less money to stay in Green Bay, and his fantasy owners will thank him for that.
25. Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers
6 of 30
There is some natural trepidation in taking unproven Carlos Hyde early in fantasy drafts. But how many running backs outside the top five or six have a clearer path to playing time than the second-year man out of Ohio State?
Frank Gore is gone, and Reggie Bush is a 30-year-old mirage that is likely destined for a third-down role. If Kendall Hunter works his way into the mix, it'll be a surprise to most—he has done nothing to merit a role during his four years in the league, though he missed last season with a torn ACL.
So Hyde has a high floor. But what about his upside?
That much is up in the air, which is why he's not ranked higher here. His rookie season wasn't particularly flashy while averaging just 4.0 yards per carry. Receiving a larger role could get him into the game flow often, and into the hearts and minds of fantasy owners and 49ers fans alike.
24. Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis Colts
7 of 30
Carlos Hyde's predecessor left big shoes to fill.
At 32, Gore is ancient by today's running back standards. The fact that he has 2,784 touches to his name doesn't help matters.
Despite all that mileage heaped on the years, Gore's fantasy output hasn't seen much of a drop-off in recent years. He has been a steady performer, albeit one without a ton of upside given the relatively limited offenses in which he has operated.
The 49ers may have been good in recent history, but they featured a middling offense. That all changes for Gore in 2015, when he steps foot on the field with a different team for the first time in his NFL career.
The veteran has joined quarterback Andrew Luck and that potent Colts offense, one that is going to give opposing defenses fits of rage and depression. With Luck's ever-present passing threat and an improving offensive line, the running game is going to have plenty of room to operate.
23. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
8 of 30
DeAndre Hopkins officially took over for Andre Johnson this offseason after the latter was given his merciful release. Of course, that may have happened anyway given that Johnson said his role would've been reduced had he stayed, as he told ESPN's Josina Anderson:
"I don't know a lot of guys in the league that catch 85 balls and have almost 1,000 yards that that's a down year for them. But you have a year like that and then it's, "Well your old, we want to reduce your role,' and all this stuff—I don't get that. But that's the nature of the business. Like I said, it doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense to a lot of people. That's just the way it is. I expected it to happen and I don't have any ill feelings against the Texans organization.
"
We've already noted that Johnson will be fine in Indianapolis, but his departure means great things are in store for his successor if he can stay healthy.
In fact, Hopkins already surpassed his predecessor last season, finishing 14th in fantasy scoring among WRs despite getting into the end zone just six times and dealing with a cornucopia of sadness at quarterback.
The quarterback situation isn't much better this year, but Hopkins should see a spike in targets—meaning more opportunities to score fantasy points—now that he's the No. 1 wideout.
22. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9 of 30
Practically lost in all the hoopla surrounding fellow rookie Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans had a fantastic inaugural campaign himself.
Despite missing a game and having Josh McCown and Mike Glennon under center, Evans wound up 11th in fantasy scoring at his position. The massive wideout proved to be dangerous all over the field, particularly as a scoring threat—Evans hit paydirt 12 times last season.
There should be no sophomore slump from the second-year big man, particularly because he'll have a new-and-improved quarterback—rookie Jameis Winston.
Granted, there is always the chance that drafting Winston was a huge mistake, but it's hard to believe Winston won't at least match his predecessor's play.
21. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
10 of 30
Andrew Luck became king of the hill in the fantasy realm last season. There is no reason to think someone will usurp his throne in 2015.
Not only is Luck still a nascent player in the league—he is entering just his fourth season, after all—but his supporting cast keeps improving.
The Colts went out and got a proven—albeit aging—No. 1 receiver, one who will be playing with a bona fide quarterback for the first time in his career. He will join rising star T.Y. Hilton and speedy rookie Phillip Dorsett in what figures to be one of the best wide receiver corps in the league.
Then there is the running game, which got a boost from the addition of Frank Gore. A serious threat on the ground should balance the offense and help Luck become more efficient.
20. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears
11 of 30
Alshon Jeffery's situation in Chicago is almost a carbon copy of DeAndre Hopkins' conditions in Houston, except for one thing—Jeffery has a quarterback.
Now, that quarterback might be oft-maligned Jay Cutler, but it's hard to argue that he isn't a huge upgrade over Ryan Mallett or Brian Hoyer. Cutler is good for a handful of major duds, but he has also been great for the fantasy stock of his receivers.
Case in point, Jeffery's 2014 campaign, one that saw him finish 12th in fantasy scoring at wideout. That was with Brandon Marshall still in the fold, though he dealt with injury for part of the season.
Marshall is gone now, and Jeffery looked like his heir apparent early on last season. He will flirt with a top-10 finish at wide receiver in 2015.
19. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
12 of 30
Last season left a sour taste in the mouths of the many fantasy owners who took A.J. Green early in drafts.
Cincinnati's star receiver battled injuries throughout the year, missing four games and being hampered at times when active. He scored just six times as a result.
While he came nowhere near meeting value, however, Green did wind up 21st in fantasy scoring at WR—and 13th on a per-game basis. We've already seen Green buoy fantasy teams in years past, and his injury woes should be in the rearview mirror.
Green has the potential to top the leaderboard at wide receiver, and he is currently being taken at the back end of the second round, according to average draft position data over at Footballguys.com.
18. DeMarco Murray, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
13 of 30
How could the reigning rushing and fantasy running back champion be ranked so low?
DeMarco Murray certainly bucked his injury-prone label last season, to the point that he garnered exactly 500 touches between the regular season and playoffs. That volume combined with a fantastic offensive line in Dallas helped him fend Le'Veon Bell off for the fantasy football crown at his position.
The trouble is that none of that will be true in 2015.
Philadelphia certainly boasts a talented team, but Murray downgraded his fantasy situation in a big way. For starters, that offensive line isn't what he had with the Dallas Cowboys. It might be good—even with the departure of guard Evan Mathis—but Murray's line was elite in Dallas.
Then there is the fact that Murray's touches are going to decrease.
All right, so that's a matter of opinion, but how will he approach anywhere near 450 regular-season touches with Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles in the fold?
Worse is the foreboding all those touches brings—running backs with at least 360 carries and 50 receptions have scored just 82.5 percent of their fantasy output the following season, not including Ricky Williams' abrupt retirement after the Miami Dolphins nearly ran him into the ground in 2002 and 2003.
There's a chance Murray can pull an Emmitt Smith or LaDainian Tomlinson and actually outperform himself, but are you willing to bet your fantasy football farm on that given everything you know now?
17. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
14 of 30
Speaking of regression, let's discuss Antonio Brown.
There are no obvious markers for the diminutive wideout, and he plays a far less demanding position. But history doesn't favor the small guys when it comes to big fantasy seasons.
In fact, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com, there have only been three other receivers under 6'0" to top 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns in a season—Steve Smith, Henry Ellard and Stanley Morgan. They each did it once, and saw drop-offs of varying degrees the following season.
That all may not mean a thing—Brown is a fantastic receiver who has earned quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's trust. I'm not even projecting a huge drop-off—Brown is clearly a top-10 option here.
But anything less combined with some bigger performances from contemporaries means Brown will slide down the leaderboard a bit in 2015.
16. Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers
15 of 30
Being the top target for Aaron Rodgers certainly has its fantasy perks.
Jordy Nelson has finished second in fantasy scoring in two of the past four seasons, including last year's runner-up finish to Antonio Brown. Only injuries have been able to slow Nelson down.
Simply put, Nelson is a great wideout that is catching passes from an MVP quarterback, making him one of the best fantasy options you can buy.
15. LeSean McCoy, RB, Buffalo Bills
16 of 30
It was a bit of a frustrating season for LeSean McCoy's fantasy owners in 2014. Despite being healthy all year long and carrying the ball 314 times, the shifty running back managed just an 11th-place finish in fantasy scoring at his position.
At one point, it just seemed like head coach Chip Kelly was trolling fantasy owners—McCoy was pulled at the goal line for the likes of Chris Polk and Darren Sproles, both of whom played the part of touchdown vulture on several occasions.
McCoy won't have to worry about that in 2015, at least not if head coach Rex Ryan has any say in the matter. "We prefer to ground-and-pound it, we're going to run it 50 times if we can on you," he said on WGR 550-AM in Buffalo, per Sal Maiorana of the Democrat & Chronicle.
Guess who will get the majority of carries in Buffalo.
Granted, McCoy's fantasy stock is not without its caveat emptor. He is playing behind an offensive line that has been one of the worst in the league, one that didn't get a tangible upgrade in the offseason. Then there is the fact that he just hasn't looked as good as he did a couple of years ago.
Still, opportunity is key to fantasy success, and McCoy will have that in spades.
14. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
17 of 30
Holdout? What holdout?
You don't expect Demaryius Thomas to walk away from millions of guaranteed dollars just because he wants a long-term deal, do you?
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's remember the fact that Thomas has Peyton Manning tossing him footballs. He might not lead the league in targets if the Broncos do run the ball more under new head coach Gary Kubiak, but Thomas should be one of the safest players you can draft in 2015.
13. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
18 of 30
If it weren't for the injury boogeyman, Arian Foster's draft stock might be higher this offseason.
Houston's lead back has missed 11 games over the past two seasons and has only played one full season out of the past four. A big reason for that was those league-leading 351 carries he had back in 2012—yet another reason to downgrade DeMarco Murray, incidentally—but he just seems to get dinged up a few times a year.
Even if you can't count on a full season, however, Foster should provide some stable production when he is on the field. He has finished among the top five in fantasy scoring in four of the past five seasons, his eight-game campaign in 2013 being the outlier.
The Texans aren't quite the rushing juggernaut they were a couple of years ago, but Foster is still the main man in Houston. He should be a solid second-round pick.
12. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
19 of 30
The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
That's the theory, anyway, as Calvin Johnson teeters on the brink of fantasy collapse. It started two years ago, when Megatron couldn't stay operational for a full season. He still managed a top-five season back in 2013, but that wasn't the case last season.
Johnson missed three games and limped his way through a few more en route to a 15th-place finish among his peers at receiver. It was a disappointing season for fantasy owners, to say the least.
Who knows if this is going to be a trend with Johnson, whose body might be betraying him after years of punishment at 6'5" and 236 pounds. His upside is too high to ignore, however—if the past couple of seasons were aberrations, fantasy owners who pass on him are going to be kicking themselves come December.
11. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears
20 of 30
Finally, after years of failed promise, Matt Forte delivered for his fantasy owners last season.
The arrival of offensive-minded head coach Marc Trestman heralded Forte's arrival on the mountaintops of fantasy football, and he made his way there on the wings of a thousand targets.
Well, it was more like 225 targets over the past two seasons, but his pass-catching prowess certainly vaulted him into the top five in fantasy scoring at running back. Unfortunately, that era came to an abrupt end in Chicago.
Trestman was fired, and Forte's target count may suffer a significant drop. Worse, he is going to be 30 this season—no spring chicken.
Forte should still see plenty of touches, which is why he hasn't fallen out of the top 10 here. But drafting him early should come with a grain of salt or two—he is liable to fall off a cliff.
10. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons
21 of 30
What was it with top receivers and health problems last season?
Julio Jones was just one of many with a problem last season, though his woes were less pronounced than that of his peers.
Atlanta's star wideout missed one game—after injuring his hip in an offensive supernova—in a bounce-back season after suffering a serious foot injury the year before. Unfortunately, his touchdown rate wasn't quite what fantasy owners had hoped for—he would score on just 3.7 percent of his targets, well below the other wideouts in the top 12 of fantasy scoring last year.
It seems impossible that will continue in 2015. Jones' career average is 5.8 percent, after all, and he is too tough to keep down for that long.
9. C.J. Anderson, RB, Denver Broncos
22 of 30
Ah, the Montee Ball conundrum.
At this time last year, we were singing Ball's praises as a top fantasy option thanks to his impending role as the starting running back in a Peyton Manning-led offense. Then injuries and poor play conspired to make him a massive fantasy bust.
C.J. Anderson occupies that role heading into training camp this year. But can we trust him?
His 2014 campaign certainly bodes well for his future fantasy owners. Anderson finished 12th among running backs in fantasy scoring despite being inactive for a couple of games and totaling 17 carries through the season's first seven weeks. He took that starting job and ran away with it.
That should continue in 2015, but be mindful of the canary in the mine in the coming weeks.
8. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
23 of 30
Look, you can point at Le'Veon Bell's massive second half last season all you want, but that doesn't change the fact that he will be scoring zero points through the first weeks of the season.
That is, of course, unless commissioner Roger Goodell eases Bell's punishment.
Pittsburgh's bell cow will surely come back and post big numbers, but there are no guarantees he will match his output from last season. Even if he does, taking him any earlier than this is going to force fantasy owners to alter their roster construction—how else will they make up for that gaping hole early in the season?
7. Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers
24 of 30
After a preseason filled with hype, Eddie Lacy got off to a maddeningly slow start last season. Three straight games below 50 yards without a touchdown made plenty of fantasy owners see red, to the point where Lacy could scarcely redeem himself.
Those that stuck with him were rewarded nicely, however—the big back bounced back to finish sixth in fantasy scoring, finishing below 10 fantasy points just twice the rest of the way.
He's a slow starter. So what? Lacy has carved himself a big role in a fantastic offense, and we should see more of the same in 2015.
6. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
25 of 30
As with Demaryius Thomas, pay little heed to Dez Bryant's contractual hullabaloo. He'll play this season, lest he give up millions of dollars in futile protest of the CBA.
Bryant might be the best receiver in the league at this point. It feels like he has been in the league for a decade, yet he is just 26.
Despite battling back issues for parts of last season, Bryant led the league in touchdown receptions. That helped him finish third in fantasy scoring among wideouts despite the presence of an incredible running game.
With DeMarco Murray gone, the Cowboys might need to lean on Bryant and that passing game more in 2015. His touchdown rate might regress a bit, but that'll be offset by the 30 or so more targets he could get.
5. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants
26 of 30
Who else could be atop the rankings at receiver than last year's rookie sensation, Odell Beckham Jr.?
Despite missing the first four games of his career and reportedly playing through two torn hamstrings, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post, Beckham wound up fifth in fantasy scoring at his position. He blew away the competition in per-game scoring, outpacing his closest competitor, Antonio Brown, by a whopping 1.6 points per game.
Will his production regress? Perhaps. Like some of the greats before him, however, he proved he could put up huge numbers even when opposing defenses keyed on him. Did Randy Moss care if he was double-covered?
It's a bit premature to say Beckham is the next Moss, but he certainly was dominant last year. The only real concern here is injury—his hamstrings were still balky during the offseason, per ESPN.com's Dan Graziano.
4. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
27 of 30
How will Adrian Peterson do at 30 years of age and after a year away from the game? Nobody knows, but the tantalizing possibilities are too good to pass up here.
The last time we saw him on the field, Peterson was scoring fantasy points in bunches. He finished sixth in scoring in 2013 despite missing a couple of games and playing in a terrible offense.
Who knows whether he will hold up for a full season, but he has certainly bucked the odds before. More importantly, Peterson will have a stranglehold on playing time in an offense that will be vastly improved since the last time he participated.
3. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
28 of 30
Considering the dearth of tight ends in the top 50, how could the only one be ranked so highly?
It's simple—Rob Gronkowski is a head and shoulders above everyone else.
New England's monster is the best tight end in all of football, and that applies to the fantasy realm as well. His biggest challengers all took situational hits—Seattle's Jimmy Graham was traded to an offense with far less passing volume, San Diego's Antonio Gates was recently banned for four games and Julius Thomas signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Those challengers all scored at least 2.2 fewer fantasy points per game than Gronkowski last season, a gulf that only figures to widen in 2015.
It's generally not a good idea to draft a tight end early, but Gronkowski is an exception to that principle. He provides a positional advantage like no other.
2. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks
29 of 30
One of the steadiest fantasy performers in the NFL is one of the most underrated on an annual basis.
Granted, it's all relative—Marshawn Lynch has still been touted as a top-12 running back in past preseasons, but sexy names like LeSean McCoy and even C.J. Spiller have gone ahead of him with regularity.
Meanwhile, Beast Mode just kicks butt and takes names, earning a top-four fantasy finish in each of the past three seasons for his trouble. Little has changed in Seattle to believe Lynch won't knock on that door again in 2015.
1. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
30 of 30
Do we have to rank someone No. 1? He'll invariably be a bust, right?
This year's recipient of the Miglio Fantasy Jinx award goes to Jamaal Charles, the elusive Kansas City running back.
Charles has been a bit of a fantasy enigma in recent years thanks to some erratic usage. Despite being relatively healthy for much of the season, Kansas City's starter garnered just 205 carries last season. He still wound up seventh in fantasy scoring among ball-carriers.
Look for that number to go up in 2015 as the Chiefs parlay his talents and a strong defense into more victories. More importantly, Alex Smith is still his quarterback—Charles is going to catch a ton of passes once more.
The Chiefs have to figure out how to get the ball to Charles more often, right? He averages 5.5 yards per carry for his career, and he has never gone below 5.0 in a season. He's just too good to keep off the field.
All fantasy statistics and rankings courtesy of FFToday.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Saints Bills Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Eagles Sirianni Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Ravens Browns Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Titans Football")
.png?w=600 "Landing Spots For NBA Free Agents ✈️")
