Top 25 Fantasy Football Players of the Decade
Remember when your playoff hopes were on the line back in week 13 of 2004, and your QB, Donovan McNabb, went off, throwing for 464 yards and five touchdowns? Were you the shrewd GM brave enough to ignore the frequent concerns about Terrell Owens behavior and signed him anyway? Didn’t it always seem for a few years there that whoever had LaDainian Tomlinson won it all?
Did you ever go ahead and draft Randy Moss with your first pick, foregoing that all-important anchor running back? Was it always that same guy in your league who drafted the oh-so-fantasy-reliable Brian Westbrook? Did you see The Packers really give it to The Cowboys the other night? How about last year, when they shutout the Lions and piled on five sacks and three interceptions?
And if you jar your memory some, you may even recall Trent Green’s fabulous 2003.
Oh, Fantasy Football. How do we love thee? Let us count the ways.
In just the past 10 years the pastime has exploded in popularity, thanks in great part to technological advances, namely the Internet and digital television. Today up to 18 million people are playing some form of fantasy football in the U.S.
There were much fewer participants back when my league started 15 years ago. Everything was done mostly on paper – draft, waivers, scoring – with the occasional daring foray into excel. On draft day, we had an easel with paper and markers…and beer and pizza. Four hours in, in the sixth round, it was hard to read and write. During the season, we waited for the Commish to send out the email with the week’s results on Monday, or maybe on Tuesday, depending on how bad his hangover was from watching the Sunday games. These kids today have no idea how hard fantasy football life was back then.
No more. Today, the Internet makes everything easy and accessible. Some play in more than one league. Some play in leagues where they don’t personally know their opponents. And, of course, many of us continue to play in leagues that have been around for years with the same teams vying for a ring, a matter of great pride. These leagues, in particular, have developed their own history, rivalries and character.
Alas, the records from those early years are either lost or buried in some dusty cupboard or attic. But beginning in 2001, the first year of the decade, our league began using a site that tracked, totaled and stored all team and individual results. Some fancy excel numbers crunching later, and here you have it, in order…the Top 25 Fantasy Football Players of the Decade.
Fantasy numbers don't exactly match up with reality numbers, but this list also reflects some of the best players to hit the gridiron in the past 10 years.
It’s important to note that there are many variations on scoring and many people play in leagues with different rules, but the basic concept is pretty much the same. As with all lists of this kind, there will be disagreements, but for the most part, regardless of the differences in scoring, the cream did rise to the top. The list for your league is likely very similar.
Fantasy Football scoring tends to favor two positions: quarterbacks and running backs. So, I added top tens along the way for wide receivers, defenses, tight ends, and kickers. Finally, at the end of the slideshow, I posted a list of the top 200, in case you need to know where Adrian Peterson is. Or, Jimmy Smith. Or, The Jets D. Or…
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense
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The perenially-solid Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense have fallen off a bit the last couple of years, but since 2001 have been a top 10 ranked defense five times, including a league best in 2002, the year the Bucs won the Super Bowl.
11-time pro-bowler Derrick Brooks returned three interceptions for touchdowns that year. He anchored a defense that included pro-bowlers Warren Sapp, John Lynch, and Ronde Barber. Add the groundwork laid by Tony Dungy and the coaching of defensive-minded Jon Gruden, and you've got one potent fantasy defense.
24. Trent Green
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Yup. Trent Green. Consistency catapulted him straight up to the 24th spot.
Never flashy, Green managed to put up numbers week after week, year after year. He recorded over 4,000 yards three years in a row: 2003-2005. In 2004, his career year, he threw for 4,591 yards and 27 touchdowns. Fantasy-tastic.
23. Priest Holmes
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Between 2001 and 2003, he was THAT guy, the premier running back in all of fantasy football.
During those monster years, he ran for over 4,500 yards and scored 61 touchdowns (five in the air). In 2002, he led the league in yards from scrimmage, 2,287. In Week 12 of that year he had perhaps his best game ever: 197 yards on the ground with two TDs plus 110 yards receiving and another TD for the hat trick.
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22. Baltimore Ravens Defense
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Is Ray Lewis scary or what? Ed Reed? Chris McAlister? Terrell Suggs? Adalius Thomas? Peter Boulware? Of the defenses in the top 25, the Ravens Defense most consistently keeps the score low.
Ouch.
21. Carson Palmer
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It's been a while, but between 2005-2007, Palmer was a top 10 fantasy quarterback, including best in the league in 2005, just edging out Tom Brady. Palmer had 33 touchdowns that year, including one on the ground.
20. Ben Roethlisberger
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Ben Roethlisberger might even be just a little higher on the list if he didn't miss time with his motorcycle accident and recent suspension.
While he was all-pro in 2007 with 3,154 yards and 34 touchdowns (two running), he probably had a better year in 2009 with over 4,300 yards. Big Ben is in his prime.
19. New England Patriots Defense
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In 10 years, including 2010, the Patriots Defense finished as one of the top 10 fantasy defenses five times. In 2003 they were the No. 1 fantasy defense, thanks to Rodney Harrison, Ty Law, Richard Seymour, Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi, Asante Samuel, and of course Bill Belichick.
18. Brian Westbrook
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Had the 8th pick in the first round? You took Brian Westbrook, if he was still there. He's not the running back that you stay up at night worrying that someone else will take him, but he is the most versatile RB here. He missed a few games every year due to injury and made a GM wonder if he should play him in a particular week, but Westbrook does it from both land and air like no one on the list. A workhorse.
17. Edgerrin James
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Edgerrin James' best years were actually in 1999 and 2000, but he's still been so good from 2001 on that he comes in at No. 17.
After finally shaking some dogging injuries that plagued him for three years, he re-emerged in two straight pro-bowl seasons, 2004 and 2005, when he ran for a total of more than 3,000 yards.
16. Thomas Jones
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What? If you had him during the Bears years, you'd never believe it. Compared to the others on the list, he has a less stellar line. But this journeyman (five teams in 11 years) has managed to compile nearly 10,000 rushing yards in the past decade. Not shabby at all. He's got nearly another 2,000 yards in receptions.
15. Green Bay Packers Defense
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The Green Bay Packers Defense has been a top 10 fantasy defense five times in the past 10 years. Back in '01 and '02 they were the second best fantasy defense two times in a row.
They've been at the tops of the league for two years running, currently holding the fantasy defense title. In 2009, they had 37 sacks, 30 interceptions and three touchdowns.
But they're not the best defense on the list. Almost.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers Defense
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The top defense of the decade. Jason Gildon. Kendrell Bell. Joey Porter. James Farrior. Troy Polamalu. Aaron Smith. James Harrison. LaMarr Woodley. Bill Cowher. Mike Tomlin. The legacy continues.
Including this year, the Steelers have had a top 10 fantasy defense in an outrageous eight of 10 years.
Do yourself a favor, draft the Steelers defense next year, and maybe for the next decade.
13. Jamal Lewis
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Like Thomas Jones, Jamal Lewis is a little surprising...13th! He owes it in part to a huge 2003 when he rushed for over 2,000 yards with the Baltimore Ravens and became the must-have running back in the following draft. Also like Jones, he played the bulk of his career in the last 10 years, which helped him in comparison with some better players whose careers extended back into the 1990's.
Don't sell him short though; he's got 12,000 yards from scrimmage this past decade.
12. Terrell Owens
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Oh, those 49ers years. In 2001 and 2002 T.O. totaled 2,700 yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the league in TD receptions both years. But it didn't end in Frisco.
Seven of the last 10 years Owens has recorded more than 1,000 yards. He has 111 touchdowns since 2001 (three rushing), during which time he was a four-time First-team All-pro.
But, he's not the top receiver on the list...
11. Randy Moss
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...that would be this guy. Randy Moss. He has 115 touchdown receptions this decade, leading the league three times. He had two career years during this period. In 2003, he caught for a whopping 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns. In his first year with the New England Patriots, 2007, he hauled in nearly 1,500 yards and schooled defenses for 23 TDs.
Top 10 Fantasy Kickers Of The Decade
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Before we get to the all-inclusive top 10, let's look at the top 10's for Kickers, Defenses, Tight Ends and Wide Receivers.
Kickers
1. Jason Elam
2. David Akers
3. Jeff Wilkins
4. Ryan Longwell
5. Rob Bironas
6. Mason Crosby
7. Jay Feely
8. Mike Vanderjagt
9. Stephen Gostkowski
10. John Kasay
Top 10 Fantasy Defenses Of The Decade
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Defenses
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Green Bay Packers
3. New England Patriots
4. Baltimore Ravens
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6. Carolina Panthers
7. Chicago Bears
8. Philadelphia Eagles
9. New York Giants
10. Miami Dolphins
Top 10 Fantasy Tight Ends Of The Decade
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Tight Ends
1. Tony Gonzalez
2. Antonio Gates
3. Jason Witten
4. Jeremy Shockey
5. Todd Heap
6. Dallas Clark
7. Alge Crumpler
8. Chris Cooley
9. Randy McMichael
10. Kellen Winslow, Heath Miller
Top 10 Fantasy Wide Receivers Of The Decade
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Wide Receivers
1. Randy Moss
2. Terrell Owens
3. Torry Holt
4. Marvin Harrison
5. Reggie Wayne
6. Chad Johnson
7. Steve Smith (CAR)
8. Anquan Boldin
9. Larry Fitzgerald
10. Hines Ward
10. Tiki Barber
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Tiki Barber had ridiculous numbers fantasy-wise. If he didn't retire at the height of his career, he would have been not only higher on this list, but also possess a Super Bowl ring, and possibly a Hall of Fame career.
In his last five seasons, he ran for 1,387; 1,216; 1,518; 1,860; and 1,662 yards. Insane. Add this: in those five years, his receiving yards ranged between 461 and 597 yards. In 2004 and 2005, that helped him lead the league in yards from scrimmage.
9. Clinton Portis
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Clinton Portis is nearing the end of his career, so the past couple of years have been fruitless, but he was a fantasy stud for a while. Since 2001, he has been a top six fantasy back no less than five times.
He has collected 12,000 yards from scrimmage and 80 touchdowns in his career, all of which was played in the last 10 years.
8. Matt Hasselbeck
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Here's a surprise in the top 10, but Matt Hasselbeck has thrown for more than 3,000 yards six times in the last decade, including 3,996 not long ago, in 2007. He has 168 touchdowns since 2001.
He should be able to finish his career with more than 30,000 yards.
7. Shaun Alexander
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In 2004 and 2005, Shaun Alexander was the absolute stud running back in fantasy football and every GM's dream. If you didn't have the number one pick in the draft, though, forget it.
In the seven years he played from 2001 on, he was a top 10 fantasy RB five times and if injuries didn't slow him down, it would have been more.
In his monstrous 2005 campaign, he averaged 117.5 yards per game with 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns total.
6. Drew Brees
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Before Drew Brees was a stud, he was a stud.
The Saints won the Super Bowl last year and he was the Super Bowl MVP, but it wasn't his best year, fantasy-wise. Between 2006 and 2009, he threw for more than 4,000 each year, including a preposterous 5,069 in 2008.
He led the league in touchdowns two years in a row, 2007 and 2008, with 34. Since 2001, he has thrown for 220 touchdowns.
5. Tom Brady
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In the beginning of his career, Tom Brady usually hovered around 10th best QB in the league with regard to fantasy points. The Patriots had a multiple-tooled offense that did not rely that heavily on Brady's arm in those early days. That changed in 2005 when Brady threw for over 4,000 yards for the first time. He'd do it again two more times, including in 2007 - one of the best years for a quarterback ever: 4,806 yards and 50! touchdowns.
In the last 10 years, Brady has recorded over 32,000 yards and 239 touchdowns. He also has six rushing touchdowns during that time.
4. Donovan McNabb
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If based solely on throwing yards and touchdowns, Donovan McNabb would not be fourth. He'd still be in the top 25 and probably top 10, but it's his rushing statistics than put him over the edge and ahead of Brees and Brady.
Since 2001, McNabb has run for over 2,440 yards and crossed the plane 22 times.
Don't sell him short on his throwing ability, though. He's thrown for over 3,000 yards six times this decade, totaling more than 30,000 yards. Throw in 194 touchdowns in the air, and you have your number four fantasy player of the decade.
3. Brett Favre
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Brett Favre keeps on coming, though this year will almost certainly be his last. He just threw for 446 yards in Week 9, most in his career, but was probably on most teams' benches.
He will be missed in fantasy football land, though. Did you ever have to worry if he were going to play or not? Ha.
One is tempted to say his best years were before 2001. Not exactly so. Since then, not including this year, he's thrown for over 3,000 yards nine out of nine times (three of those over 4,000). Just about half of his all-time 70,000+ yards were recorded in the second half of his career, from 2001 on. Same for touchdowns.
To be sure, his best years were back in 1995-1997 when he led the league in touchdowns three times, but he has been a proven fantasy stud for the last decade as well, and probably has the most fantasy starts of any NFL player during that period, except for perhaps...
2. Peyton Manning
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The MAN-ning. Since 2001: 4,000 yards eight times, 297 touchdowns in the air.
In our league, here were his rankings amongst fantasy QB's:
2001: 4th
2002: 4th
2003: 2nd
2004: 2nd
2005: 3rd
2006: 1st
2007: 3rd
2008: 6th
2009: 4th
2010: Currently 4th
No quarterback comes close and for such an extended period of time. In fact, no fantasy player, regardless of position, comes close, except for one, who is better. The No. 1 Fantasy Football Player of the Decade...
1. LaDainian Tomlinson
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A name synonymous with fantasy football championships. And he's still adding to his fantasy line: 13,000 yards on the ground, over 4,000 yards received, 158 touchdowns...and counting. 2006 was his biggest year when he led the league with 1,815 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns.
No fantasy player has been taken number one or number two in the draft more than LaDainian Tomlinson.
He was a top five fantasy player, regardless of position, five times. He was the 4th, 1st and 2nd best player in fantasy three years in a row, 2005-2007.
He may very well be the best fantasy football player of the modern fantasy era.
The slideshow's not over yet - one more slide: The Top 200 Fantasy Football Players of the Decade.
The Top 200 Fantasy Football Players Of The Decade
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1. Tomlinson, Ladainian RB
2. Manning, Peyton QB
3. Favre, Brett QB
4. McNabb, Donovan QB
5. Brady, Tom QB
6. Brees, Drew QB
7. Alexander, Shaun RB
8. Hasselbeck, Matt QB
9. Portis, Clinton RB
10. Barber, Tiki RB
11. Moss, Randy WR
12. Owens, Terrell WR
13. Lewis, Jamal RB
14. Steelers, Pittsburgh DT
15. Packers, Green Bay DT
16. Jones, Thomas RB
17. James, Edgerrin RB
18. Westbrook, Brian RB
19. Patriots, New England DT
20. Roethlisberger, Ben QB
21. Palmer, Carson QB
22. Ravens, Baltimore DT
23. Holmes, Priest RB
24. Green, Trent QB
25. Buccaneers, Tampa Bay DT
26. Green, Ahman RB
27. Manning, Eli QB
28. Brooks, Aaron QB
29. Jackson, Steven RB
30. Culpepper, Daunte QB
31. Holt, Torry WR
32. Collins, Kerry QB
33. Warner, Kurt QB
34. Vick, Michael QB
35. Gonzalez, Tony TE
36. McNair, Steve QB
37. Panthers, Carolina DT
38. Harrison, Marvin WR
39. Williams, Ricky RB
40. Rivers, Philip QB
41. Garcia, Jeff QB
42. Romo, Tony QB
43. Plummer, Jake QB
44. Kitna, Jon QB
45. Bears, Chicago DT
46. Eagles, Philadelphia DT
47. Dillon, Corey RB
48. Giants, New York DT
49. Wayne, Reggie WR
50. Bulger, Marc QB
51. Gore, Frank RB
52. McGahee, Willis RB
53. Taylor, Fred RB
54. Delhomme, Jake QB
55. Johnson, Chad WR
56. Dunn, Warrick RB
57. Gates, Antonio TE
58. Jones-Drew, Maurice RB
59. Johnson, Larry RB
60. Peterson, Adrian RB
61. Smith, Steve WR
62. Pennington, Chad QB
63. McAllister, Deuce RB
64. Martin, Curtis RB
65. Dolphins, Miami DT
66. Seahawks, Seattle DT
67. Cutler, Jay QB
68. Johnson, Rudi RB
69. Faulk, Marshall RB
70. Carr, David QB
71. Chargers, San Diego DT
72. Bills, Buffalo DT
73. Titans, Tennessee DT
74. Gates, Antonio TE
75. Boldin, Anquan WR
76. Brown, Ronnie RB
77. Bledsoe, Drew QB
78. Fitzgerald, Larry WR
79. Rodgers, Aaron QB
80. Ward, Hines WR
81. Johnson, Brad QB
82. Jets, New York DT
83. Cardinals, Arizona DT
84. Garrard, David QB
85. Driver, Donald WR
86. Colts, Indianapolis DT
87. Witten, Jason TE
88. Johnson, Andre WR
89. Barber, Marion RB
90. Johnson, Chris RB
91. Broncos, Denver DT
92. Davis, Stephen RB
93. Addai, Joseph RB
94. Campbell, Jason QB
95. Henry, Travis RB
96. Shockey, Jeremy TE
97. Falcons, Atlanta DT
98. Horn, Joe WR
99. Saints, New Orleans DT
100. Elam, Jason PK
101. Heap, Todd TE
102. Clark, Dallas TE
103. Akers, David PK
104. Vikings, Minnesota DT
105. Davis, Domanick RB
106. Parker, Willie RB
107. Young, Vince QB
108. Brunell, Mark QB
109. Bettis, Jerome RB
110. Schaub, Matt QB
111. Mason, Derrick WR
112. Jackson, Darrell WR
113. Gannon, Rich QB
114. Burress, Plaxico WR
115. Jacobs, Brandon RB
116. Gonzalez, Tony TE
117. White, Roddy WR
118. Orton, Kyle QB
119. Bengals, Cincinnati DT
120. Wilkins, Jeff PK
121. Cowboys, Dallas DT
122. Smith, Jimmy WR
123. Turner, Michael RB
124. Grant, Ryan RB
125. Crumpler, Alge TE
126. Coles, Laveranues WR
127. Griese, Brian QB
128. Cooley, Chris TE
129. Flacco, Joe QB
130. George, Eddie RB
131. Cassel, Matt QB
132. Fiedler, Jay QB
133. Longwell, Ryan PK
134. Forte, Matt RB
135. Ryan, Matt QB
136. 49ers, San Francisco DT
137. Leftwich, Byron QB
138. Rams, St. Louis DT
139. Hearst, Garrison RB
140. Lions, Detroit DT
141. Williams, DeAngelo RB
142. Bironas, Rob PK
143. Crosby, Mason PK
144. Redskins, Washington DT
145. Moss, Santana WR
146. Pittman, Michael RB
147. Smith, Rod WR
148. Marshall, Brandon WR
149. Houshmandzadeh, T.J. WR
150. Jones, Julius RB
151. Colston, Marques WR
152. Smith, Emmitt RB
153. Jaguars, Jacksonville DT
154. Feely, Jay PK
155. Smith, Alex QB
156. McMichael, Randy TE
157. McCardell, Keenan WR
158. Vanderjagt, Mike PK
159. Maroney, Laurence RB
160. Gostkowski, Stephen PK
161. Bruce, Isaac WR
162. Winslow, Kellen TE
163. Miller, Heath TE
164. Chiefs, Kansas City DT
165. Garner, Charlie RB
166. Jennings, Greg WR
167. Kasay, John PK
168. Smith, Antowain RB
169. Droughns, Reuben RB
170. Brown, Kris PK
171. Lynch, Marshawn RB
172. Raiders, Oakland DT
173. Clark, Desmond TE
174. Davis, Vernon TE
175. Pollard, Marcus TE
176. Harrington, Joey QB
177. Maddox, Tommy QB
178. Walker, Javon WR
179. Rice, Ray RB
180. Staley, Duce RB
181. Testaverde, Vinny QB
182. Stewart, Jonathan RB
183. Couch, Tim QB
184. Taylor, Chester RB
185. Thomas, Anthony RB
186. White, LenDale RB
187. Jones, Kevin RB
188. Rhodes, Dominic RB
189. Barlow, Kevan RB
190. Chambers, Chris WR
191. Brown, Chris RB
192. Smith, Kevin RB
193. Williams, Carnell RB
194. Thomas, Pierre RB
195. Boston, David WR
196. Mendenhall, Rashard RB
197. Williams, Moe RB
198. Charles, Jamaal RB
199. Galloway, Joey WR
200. Bush, Reggie RB
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