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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02:  Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans runs the ball in the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 2, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles won 34-24. (Photo by Al Bello/
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02: Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans runs the ball in the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 2, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles won 34-24. (Photo by Al Bello/Al Bello/Getty Images

Fantasy Football: Power Ranking Arian Foster and the 32 Team MVPs of 2010

Nick CaronJun 7, 2018

The 2010 fantasy football season saw quite a few surprises paired with even more disappointments.

While players like Houston’s Arian Foster and Buffalo’s Steve Johnson burst onto the scene, others like San Diego’s Ryan Mathews and Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams were considered massive flops.

Every NFL team had a fantasy MVP, but rather than just listing them out in alphabetical order, I thought it’d be fun to rank them based on a variety of factors:

  • Total points on the season
  • Where the player was drafted on average
  • Where the player finished among players at his position
  • Point-scoring consistency
  • How the player performed during the fantasy playoffs (Weeks 14 through 17)

With these factors in mind, here are the power rankings of the 32 fantasy football team MVPs for the 2010 season.

32. Mike Goodson, RB, Carolina Panthers

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 12:  Mike Goodson #33 of the Carolina Panthers during their game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 12: Mike Goodson #33 of the Carolina Panthers during their game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

You know it’s a tough season when the fantasy MVP of your team is a player who finished 39th at his position, but that’s what happened for Mike Goodson and the Carolina Panthers.

Goodson came out of nowhere after the poor play of quarterbacks Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen and injuries to both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart left the Panthers grasping at straws to produce anything on offense.

He responded with a string of nice games spanning from Weeks 10 through 14, scoring an average of 10.6 points per game during that stretch.

Jonathan Stewart returned from injury in Week 12, which limited Goodson’s opportunities and he was eventually essentially removed from the offense by Week 16.

Goodson actually finished with eight fewer points on the year than did Stewart, but his ADP (undrafted) makes his value better for those who eventually picked him up.

Pre-season Position ADP: Undrafted
End-of-season Position Ranking: 39

31.Brandon Marshall, WR, Miami Dolphins

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MIAMI - DECEMBER 19:  Receiver Brandon Marshall #19 of the Miami Dolphins reacts against the Buffalo Bills at Sun Life Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Miami, Florida. The Bills defeated the Dolphins 17-14.  (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
MIAMI - DECEMBER 19: Receiver Brandon Marshall #19 of the Miami Dolphins reacts against the Buffalo Bills at Sun Life Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Miami, Florida. The Bills defeated the Dolphins 17-14. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Brandon Marshall got what he wanted this past offseason when he was traded from the Broncos to another team that was willing to give him the richest contract ever signed by an NFL wide receiver.

He proceeded to disappoint his new team, the Miami Dolphins, breaking his streak of three straight 100-catch seasons and scoring just three touchdowns—his worst season since he was a rookie in 2006.

Fantasy owners were disappointed in his lack of performance throughout the year. Still, Marshall was the Dolphins’ best fantasy player this season when he was healthy and finished the season with two 100-yard performances in Weeks 15 and 16.

Pre-season Position ADP: 7
End-of-season Position Ranking: 29

30.Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 02:  Running back Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes with the ball against the St. Louis Rams during their game at Qwest Field on January 2, 2011 in Seattle, Washington.  (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 02: Running back Marshawn Lynch #24 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes with the ball against the St. Louis Rams during their game at Qwest Field on January 2, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Marshawn Lynch started the season as the perceived-to-be third option in the Buffalo Bills’ trio behind Fred Jackson and incoming rookie CJ Spiller. After giving him just three touches in Week 1, the Bills began to showcase Lynch for potential trades in Weeks 2 and 3, giving him 30 carries during that span.

Lynch was soon traded to the Seahawks where he became the de facto starting running back for Pete Carroll and his team, as they had been underwhelmed with Justin Forsett.

Lynch's season was also underwhelming and included just four double-digit fantasy days on the year, but Lynch did perform well in some of his more fantasy-friendly matchups against the Panthers and Cardinals when fantasy owners could have needed him.

Pre-season Position ADP: 57
End-of-season Position Ranking: 33

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29.New York Jets Defense / Special Teams

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 19:  Darrelle Revis #24of the New York Jets warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 19, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 19: Darrelle Revis #24of the New York Jets warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 19, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Struggles offensively, particularly in the passing game, led to the defense/special teams being named the MVP of the playoff-bound New York Jets.

Considered primarily a defensive-focused team to begin with, the Jets had a nice season that included five total defense and special teams touchdowns, good enough for fifth-best in the league.

They allowed over 20 points to opposing offenses just four times on the year and had most of their biggest games of the year down the stretch when fantasy owners needed them the most.

Some would argue that LaDainian Tomlinson was the fantasy MVP of this team but Tomlinson’s efforts down the stretch were mediocre at best as he scored just one touchdown after Week 6.

Pre-season Position ADP: 1
End-of-season Position Ranking: 5

28.Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 2:  Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals catches a touchdown against the San Francisco 49er during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on January 2, 2011 in San Francisco, California.(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 2: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals catches a touchdown against the San Francisco 49er during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on January 2, 2011 in San Francisco, California.(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Despite playing with four different quarterbacks over the course of the season, two of which were rookies, Larry Fitzgerald performed admirably and was still a viable fantasy option during most weeks of the season.

Fitzgerald finished well below his career average in fantasy output but was by far the most consistent fantasy contributor in Arizona yet again.

He hit double-digit fantasy points in seven games this season including two of the final three weeks of the season and had at least one catch in every game, finishing with 90 on the season—fourth best in the NFL.

Pre-season Position ADP: 8
End-of-season Position Ranking: 16

27.Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 29:  Marcedes Lewis #89 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on November 29, 2009 in San Francisco, California.  (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 29: Marcedes Lewis #89 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on November 29, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

While it was David Garrard and Maurice Jones-Drew who finished as the team’s highest-scoring fantasy players, no player on the roster broke out more than tight end Marcedes Lewis, who finished as the fourth-highest scoring tight end in 2010.

Lewis’ 10 receiving touchdowns on the year tied for the league best at his position and shattered his previous career-best number of two touchdowns in a season. He also set career-best marks in receptions (58) and yards (700) during his surprising season.

While he went undrafted in most leagues, Lewis was a valuable fantasy asset to those who took a chance on him, particularly early in the year when he scored five touchdowns in five games from Week 4 to Week 8.

Pre-season Position ADP: Undrafted
End-of-season Position Ranking: 4

26.Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 21:  Mike Williams #19 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is congratulated by Josh Freeman #5 after he scored a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 21, 2010 in San Francisco, California.  (Photo by E
SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 21: Mike Williams #19 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is congratulated by Josh Freeman #5 after he scored a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 21, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by E

A likely candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Tampa Bay’s Mike Williams shocked many fantasy players when he finished 12th among wide receivers in scoring this season.

Williams, a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, was not expected to be a major contributor in the offense going into the year.

The team actually drafted fellow wide receiver Arrelious Benn two rounds before, but it was Williams who stood out both in training camp, as well as when it counted in the regular season.

The situation is actually very similar to what happened in Arizona a few years back when the Cardinals drafted wide receivers Bryant Johnson in the first round and Anquan Boldin in the second round.

Mike Williams had a monster rookie season that included 11 touchdowns, four of which came during the fantasy playoffs of Weeks 15 through 17.

Pre-season Position ADP: 47
End-of-season Position Ranking: 12

25.Ryan Torain, RB, Washington Redskins

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 26: Austen Lane #92 of the Jacksonville Jaguars attempts to tackle Ryan Torain #46 of the Washington Redskins during the game at EverBank Field on December 26, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida.  (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Image
JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 26: Austen Lane #92 of the Jacksonville Jaguars attempts to tackle Ryan Torain #46 of the Washington Redskins during the game at EverBank Field on December 26, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Image

Washington Redskins running back Ryan Torain was not even on an NFL roster going into the 2010 season. But he joined in Week 3 after injuries and a disappointing start to the year from Clinton Portis had the Redskins offense reeling.

Though Torain himself was eventually injured and missed four games during the middle of the season, he put up big numbers for the Redskins when he was healthy, averaging 11.4 fantasy points in the games he played.

He had a nice stretch during the fantasy playoffs from Weeks 14 to 16, compiling 45 total points.
Not bad for a player who apparently wasn’t good enough to be on a roster going into the year.

Pre-season Position ADP: Undrafted
End-of-season Position Ranking: 29

24.Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 02:  Jason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball after a reception for a long gain late in the fourth quarter against Daniel Te'o-Nesheim #52 of the Philadelphia Eagles on January 2, 2011 at Lincoln Financial Field in P
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 02: Jason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball after a reception for a long gain late in the fourth quarter against Daniel Te'o-Nesheim #52 of the Philadelphia Eagles on January 2, 2011 at Lincoln Financial Field in P

After years of being called the best overall tight end in the NFL by many experts, Jason Witten finally became the top-scoring fantasy tight end in 2010.

His 146 fantasy points only narrowly edged out Antonio Gates, who missed a good portion of the year with injury, but Witten wins the crown anyway.

Witten was the only tight end who broke 1,000 yards receiving this season after three did so in 2009. His performance down the stretch, though, is what made him the biggest fantasy stud at his position.

He racked up five straight double-digit fantasy days in the five final games of the season, catching at least one touchdown pass in each of those games.

Even without Tony Romo, Jason Witten continued to prove that he is absolutely one of the premier tight ends in the league and should be considered so going into 2011.

Pre-season Position ADP: 5
End-of-season Position Ranking: 1

23.Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 27:  Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints walks off the field in the second half during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 27, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Photo by Scott Halleran/Gett
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 27: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints walks off the field in the second half during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 27, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Gett

One of only two quarterbacks selected in the first round of average 12-team fantasy drafts, Drew Brees had what many would consider to be a somewhat disappointing fantasy season in 2010.

His 4,620 passing yards put him third-best in the league and his 33 touchdown passes were second best, which kept him as an elite fantasy quarterback.

Unfortunately, Brees struggled with inaccuracy and decision-making this season by throwing 22 interceptions, which was second-worst in the NFL—four more than he had in any other prior season.

Those in leagues that do not score negatively for interceptions saw Brees finish only a handful of points behind Aaron Rodgers and Michael Vick, but most leagues have transitioned to a more balanced scoring system.

Pre-season Position ADP: 2
End-of-season Position Ranking: 6

22.Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 02:  Running back Steven Jackson #39 of the St. Louis Rams looks on during their game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on January 2, 2011 in Seattle, Washington.  (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 02: Running back Steven Jackson #39 of the St. Louis Rams looks on during their game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on January 2, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Rookie quarterback Sam Bradford stole many of the headlines in St. Louis this season, as he helped lead his league-worst team in 2009 to within a win of the playoffs in 2010. But it was running back Steven Jackson who should be most credited with giving the Rams stability in their offense.

Jackson is one of the elite talents in the league at his position and while he didn’t put up many huge fantasy days, he was able to avoid having many lows as well.

Jackson finished 2010 with 11 games of double-digit fantasy numbers which was better than studs Chris Johnson, Peyton Hillis, Adrian Peterson, Maurice Jones-Drew and Michael Turner.

While he was selected higher in most drafts than he finished at his position, it’s hard to complain too much about a player who put up over 1,600 total yards.

Pre-season Position ADP: 7
End-of-season Position Ranking: 13

21.Terrell Owens, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 25: Terrell Owens #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches a pass under pressure from Darrell Revis #24 of the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on November 25, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 25: Terrell Owens #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches a pass under pressure from Darrell Revis #24 of the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on November 25, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the

When Terrell Owens joined the Cincinnati Bengals this past offseason, many experts wondered how long it would be before he started complaining about Carson Palmer not throwing him the ball enough.

In an odd turn of events, though, Owens actually quickly became Palmer’s favorite target, catching 72 passes for 983 yards and nine touchdowns—best on the team in each category.

Owens missed the final three weeks of the season with an injury but still finished eighth in the league in targets with 139 on the year. This comes out to an average of nearly 11 passes per game going his way when he was healthy.

Most fantasy owners did not expect to get the kind of season they did from Owens, who looked like he might not have a team to play for during the offseason.

Pre-season Position ADP: 26
End-of-season Position Ranking: 15

20.Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 14:  Frank Groe #21 of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the sidelines during their game against the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park on November 14, 2010 in San Francisco, California.  (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 14: Frank Groe #21 of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the sidelines during their game against the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park on November 14, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

In a season that started off in an absolutely disastrous way for the San Francisco 49ers, seemingly the only source of productivity on offense was coming from star running back Frank Gore.

Gore played extremely well even in the team’s losses as he contributed an average of over 13 fantasy points per game before he was knocked out for the year against the Cardinals in Week 12.

It’s hard to rank a player who missed so much of the season because, while he was hot when he was healthy, he also hurt his fantasy owners by missing the final five games of the season, which likely led to quite a few lost fantasy championships.

Then again, as I always say, I’d rather have a player be injured and out of the game than try to play through an injury and give me a goose-egg on my fantasy team when I start him.

Pre-season Position ADP: 5
End-of-season Position Ranking: 20

19.Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens

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CLEVELAND - DECEMBER 26:  Running back Ray Rice #27 of the Baltimore Ravens runs by linebackers Eric Barton #50 and Matt Roth #53 of the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio.  (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty I
CLEVELAND - DECEMBER 26: Running back Ray Rice #27 of the Baltimore Ravens runs by linebackers Eric Barton #50 and Matt Roth #53 of the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty I

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice finished the 2009 season with over 2,000 total yards, making him one of the hottest prospects going into the 2010 fantasy season.

His 78 receptions, best among running backs, also made him a particularly intriguing pick for those in PPR leagues.

The 2010 season was considered somewhat of a disappointment for those who took Rice in the top few picks of the draft, though.

A 1,700-plus total yard season is normally good enough to make any running back a stud, but Rice scored just six touchdowns on the year and had less than double-digit points in seven games on the year.

Rice had a very good year by most accounts, but it has to be considered inadequate for those who took him to be their every-week stud running back.

Pre-season Position ADP: 3
End-of-season Position Ranking: 10

18.Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02:  Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears carries the ball after making a catch against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02: Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears carries the ball after making a catch against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Matt Forte looked like one of the biggest studs and a top five pick going into 2009, but a disappointing season put him 17th among running backs at the end of the year and put a bad taste in many fantasy owners’ mouths for 2010.

He turned things around this season, though, and actually finished significantly higher than his pre-draft stock. He put up over 1,600 yards with nine touchdowns on the year despite playing in a Mike Martz offense where he split goal line carries with Chester Taylor.

Certainly Forte’s preseason draft value won’t be up to what it was in 2009 next year, but he did do a good job in re-gaining the respect of fantasy owners with a solid performance in 2010.

Pre-season Position ADP: 19
End-of-season Position Ranking: 11

17.Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 14:  Hakeem Nicks #88 of the New York Giants reacts against the Dallas Cowboys on November 14, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 33-20.  (Photo by Jim McIsaac
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 14: Hakeem Nicks #88 of the New York Giants reacts against the Dallas Cowboys on November 14, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 33-20. (Photo by Jim McIsaac

After wide receiver Steve Smith finished as the team’s top-scoring receiver in 2009, many expected more of the same this season, but 2010 saw the breakout of second-year Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks.

Nicks started the year off with a bang, catching three touchdown passes in the first game of the season against the Panthers.

In all, he had three multiple-touchdown fantasy days, all of which came against bad defenses in games when he was likely started by almost all fantasy owners.

While he had his share of mental lapses and ended up missing three games due to injury, Nicks finished well above his preseason stock and put up great numbers when he was healthy, including two double-digit fantasy days in the championship Weeks 15 and 16.

Pre-season Position ADP: 19
End-of-season Position Ranking: 7

16.Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02:  Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to pass the ball during NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to pass the ball during NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Perhaps the biggest rock that has ever been in fantasy football, Peyton Manning once again finished near the top of his position in scoring in 2010.

Without much of a running game behind him, Manning was forced to throw a career-high 679 passes on the year, 88 more than he had thrown in any season prior. That’s music to fantasy owners’ ears, though, as he translated that to 4,700 yards on the year, also a career-best.

On the negative side, Manning threw 17 interceptions which was more than he has thrown in any season since 2002, but his 33 touchdowns made up for it. It was the fourth time in the past five seasons that he has passed the 30-touchdown plateau.

You know what you’re getting from Peyton Manning—rock-star fantasy numbers every year. This guy is the definition of a stud.

Pre-season Position ADP: 3
End-of-season Position Ranking: 4

15.Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers

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CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 26:  Philip Rivers #17  of the San Diego Chargers is dejected after throwing an interception during the Chargers 34-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio.  (P
CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 26: Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers is dejected after throwing an interception during the Chargers 34-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (P

With the hold-out of his left tackle Marcus McNeil, his top receiver Vincent Jackson, and injuries to Antonio Gates, Ryan Mathews, Malcom Floyd, Patrick Crayton, and Legedu Naanee, the 2010 season can only be described as absolutely phenomenal for Philip Rivers.

Despite these setbacks and others, Rivers led the NFL in passing yardage with 4,710 yards on the season and hit 30 passing touchdowns for the second time in his career.

Even though the Chargers missed the playoffs for the first time under his leadership, 2010 was the season that truly elevated Rivers to the elite quarterback discussion.

His fantasy value should be even higher next year, as he should be able to avoid having to throw to scrubs off the street all season.

Pre-season Position ADP: 7
End-of-season Position Ranking: 5

14.Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 17: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions catches the ball on an 87-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 17, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Gian
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 17: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions catches the ball on an 87-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 17, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Gian

This guy just continues to impress no matter who is throwing him the ball.

Matt Stafford was knocked out early in Week 1 and only played two other games during the season, leading to journeyman Shaun Hill being the team’s primary passer during most of the regular season.

Even Hill missed time, though, as third-stringer Drew Stanton saw significant playing time in four games.

Even with the carousel at quarterback, Calvin Johnson remained a stud. He had double-digit fantasy numbers in 10 games and had 12 touchdown catches, the second-highest total in the league this year.

Imagine what “Megatron” could do if Matt Stafford could just stay healthy.

Pre-season Position ADP: 4
End-of-season Position Ranking: 5

13.Steve Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills

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MIAMI - DECEMBER 19:  Receiver Steve Johnson #13 of the Buffalo Bills catches a pass  against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Miami, Florida.The Bills defeated the Dolphins 17-14.  (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
MIAMI - DECEMBER 19: Receiver Steve Johnson #13 of the Buffalo Bills catches a pass against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Miami, Florida.The Bills defeated the Dolphins 17-14. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

One of the true breakout stars of the 2010 season, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson finished as the 10th-ranked wide receiver.

His unbelievable rise came in the third year of his career after catching just 12 total passes in his first two seasons.

The Bills were humiliated and dominated throughout most of the year, but Johnson was an obvious choice for fantasy MVP on the team, as he caught 82 passes for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns on the year.

It’s going to be hard to figure out exactly where to draft Johnson in the 2011 season but there is no question that the owners who took a chance on him in 2010 were delighted by the production they got in return.

Pre-season Position ADP: Undrafted
End-of-season Position Ranking: 10

12.Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05:  Mike Wallace #17 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland.  (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Mike Wallace #17 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

The breakout of Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace is now official.

The second-year wide receiver completely owned opposing defenses this season, catching 60 passes for 1,257 yards—a ridiculous 21-yard per reception average, best in the league for receivers who caught over 50 passes this season.

Wallace was without his usual quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, for the first four games of the season, but still managed to put up a huge game against the Buccaneers in Week 3, the first time he cracked 100 yards on the year.

He proceeded to do so six more times throughout the year including each of the final three weeks of the year when fantasy owners needed it the most.

Pre-season Position ADP: 28
End-of-season Position Ranking: 5

11.Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02:  Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans runs for a touchdown during NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans runs for a touchdown during NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

After breaking the all-time single season yardage record in 2009, it’s no surprise that Chris Johnson was widely considered the top fantasy player going into 2010.

While Johnson failed to produce at nearly the rate he did last year, his 1,600-plus total yards were among the best in the league and his 12 total touchdowns were a great number as well.

Some owners were disappointed in the production they got from Johnson, but that is only because of the ridiculous pace he set last year.

Johnson finished as the fifth-highest scoring running back on the year and had plenty of nice fantasy days to keep reasonable fantasy owners happy.

Pre-season Position ADP: 1
End-of-season Position Ranking: 5

10.Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 19:  Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball during their game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 19, 2010 in Oakland, California.  (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 19: Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball during their game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 19, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Many fans and NFL analysts alike were calling Darren McFadden a “bust” going into the 2010 season.

After being selected fourth overall by the Raiders back in 2008, McFadden had failed to live up to lofty expectations, having rushed for fewer than 500 yards in each of his first two seasons.

The year 2010, though, was certainly the breakout year for the former Arkansas Razorback.

Despite playing in only 13 games, McFadden tore up opposing defenses to the tune of 1,664 total yards and 10 touchdowns.

His ability as a receiver made him a valuable asset in PPR leagues and he was among the best values among players who were actually drafted in fantasy leagues this season.

Pre-season Position ADP: 42
End-of-season Position Ranking: 6

9.Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02:  Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates a touchdown by teammate BenJarvis Green-Ellis in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.  (Photo by Elsa
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates a touchdown by teammate BenJarvis Green-Ellis in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa

Another tremendous season from New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will likely be capped off by the second NFL Most Valuable Player award of his career.

Brady threw for a league-best 36 touchdown passes while throwing just four interceptions, adding an additional rushing touchdown—the second best fantasy season of his career, next to the 52 total touchdown season he had back in 2007.

The most impressive statistic of all, though, is that Brady finished the season on an NFL record of pass attempts without an interception. He has not thrown a pick since Week 6.

Brady also threw multiple touchdowns in every game since Week 8, even in Week 17, when the team had nothing to play for. He had double-digit points in all 16 games this season.

Pre-season Position ADP: 4
End-of-season Position Ranking: 3

8.Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02:  Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Considered the top quarterback going into the season, Aaron Rodgers did his fantasy owners justice by finishing as the second-highest scoring quarterback, only behind the outrageous season of Michael Vick.

Rodgers did it with both his arm and his legs as he threw for 3,922 yards while rushing for 356 yards. His 32 total touchdowns while throwing only 11 interceptions were among the best ratios in the league.

Though he didn’t finish as the top scoring quarterback for the second straight season, his point total this season would have been better than any quarterback (besides himself) in 2009, so it’s hard to be disappointed by that kind of fantasy output.

This is particularly true when you consider that he also missed nearly two full games of action in Weeks 14 and 15.

He returned in Week 16, the championship week for most fantasy leagues, and absolutely destroyed the Giants for over 400 yards passing and four touchdowns, making him the highest-scoring player in the league when it mattered the most.

Pre-season Position ADP: 1
End-of-season Position Ranking: 2

7.Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 28: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings runs against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 28, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 28: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings runs against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 28, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Vikings season was a train wreck, but running back Adrian Peterson continued his tremendous fantasy career by finishing as the second-highest scoring running back for the second straight season.

This marked the fourth straight season that Peterson finished in the top three of running backs. He’s done so in every year of his NFL career. The guy is simply as good as it gets when it comes to fantasy consistency.

The biggest problem with Peterson’s fantasy season was not that he didn’t put up the season statistics to make him an elite player, but rather that he was a non-factor in Weeks 14 and 15 against the Giants and Bears.

Peterson suffered knee and ankle injuries in the loss to the Giants in Week 15 which was part of the reason he was only able to rush for 26 yards in that game. Worse yet, he was a surprise scratch the following Monday night during the championship of many fantasy leagues.

Panicked fantasy owners had to scramble in an effort to pick up running back Toby Gerhart who started in the place of Peterson.

This was a classic example of why it is so important to handcuff your studs, though, as Gerhart was already owned in many leagues and many disgusted owners had to take a goose-egg from Peterson.

Pre-season Position ADP: 2
End-of-season Position Ranking: 2

6.Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24:  Roddy White #84 of the Atlanta Falcons against the Cincinnati Bengals at Georgia Dome on October 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24: Roddy White #84 of the Atlanta Falcons against the Cincinnati Bengals at Georgia Dome on October 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

A tremendously productive season from Roddy White was highlighted by the fact that he was the most consistent wide receiver in fantasy football this season.

White caught three or more passes in every game this year, turning in a league-best 115 receptions which he turned into 1,389 yards and 10 touchdowns.

He was able to do this largely because he was the most targeted receiver in the NFL this season with 179 passes going his way.

He didn’t finish in spectacular fashion but White was able to catch a touchdown in each of the final three weeks of the season, making him a valuable fantasy commodity in the clutch.

Pre-season Position ADP: 6
End-of-season Position Ranking: 3

5.Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 26:  Receiver Dwayne Bowe #82 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball after making a catch on a 75 yard touchdown play during the game against the Tennessee Titans on December 26, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mis
KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 26: Receiver Dwayne Bowe #82 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball after making a catch on a 75 yard touchdown play during the game against the Tennessee Titans on December 26, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mis

While Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel were the Chiefs’ leading fantasy players, it was Dwayne Bowe who truly had the breakout season that propelled many fantasy owners to a championship.

Bowe was tremendous this season as he led all players with 15 touchdown receptions—three more than the next best player. He finished as the second-highest scoring fantasy receiver in most leagues and was likely the top-scoring receiver touchdown-heavy leagues.

He struggled in Weeks 13 and 14 but had an exceptional championship game in Week 16 when he caught six passes for 153 yards and a touchdown.

When it was all said and done, Bowe finished with six games of 20-plus fantasy points and really revitalized his career after a disappointing 2009 season.

Pre-season Position ADP: 18
End-of-season Position Ranking: 2

4.Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns

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CLEVELAND - DECEMBER 26:  Tailback Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns runs the ball by linebacker Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio.  (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND - DECEMBER 26: Tailback Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns runs the ball by linebacker Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

It’s not often that a player who was considered the No. 3 player in his own team’s backfield going into the season finishes as a top-five fantasy player, but that’s exactly what Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis did this season.

Hillis dominated through almost the entire first half of the season as he scored at least one touchdown in 10 of the first 11 games of the season.

Though most fantasy owners were disappointed by his late-season statistics, it’s hard to be too critical of a guy who went undrafted in just about every league.

He can be attributed with putting many fantasy teams in position for the playoffs despite being the only real source of offense the Browns had all season.

Pre-season Position ADP: Undrafted
End-of-season Position Ranking: 4

3.Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos

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DENVER - DECEMBER 26:  Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd #84 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a 41-yard reception against corner back Jason Allen #30 of the Houston Texans during the third quarter at INVESCO Field at Mile High on December 26, 2010 in Denv
DENVER - DECEMBER 26: Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd #84 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a 41-yard reception against corner back Jason Allen #30 of the Houston Texans during the third quarter at INVESCO Field at Mile High on December 26, 2010 in Denv

Never can I remember being more surprised by a player having a breakout season than I was this year when Brandon Lloyd burst onto the scene.

Lloyd, an eight-year NFL veteran, had never caught more than 50 passes in a season and had only caught 15 touchdowns in his previous seven seasons combined.

He had been all but forgotten in the NFL world, let alone the fantasy world where statistics are the only thing that matters.

But Lloyd shocked everyone this season by leading all fantasy receivers with an unbelievable 1,448 yards receiving on the year, the second-highest total from a Broncos receiver in the history of the franchise.

He added 11 touchdowns as well, more than any Broncos receiver since Rod Smith matched that number back in 2001.

Lloyd’s remarkable season was capped off by solid performances in Weeks 15, 16 and 17 as he helped secure fantasy championships for many of his owners.

I have to admit that I doubted him all year, but there is no denying the mind-boggling numbers that Brandon Lloyd put up.

Pre-season Position ADP: Undrafted
End-of-season Position Ranking: 1

2.Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19:  Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Few could have predicted the meteoric rise of a man who spent time in prison and is now the face of dog fighting in America, but the script to Michael Vick’s story just keeps getting better.

After spending most of 2009 as the third-string quarterback in Philadelphia, Vick was elevated to backup going into 2010. But an injury to starter Kevin Kolb in Week 1’s matchup against the Packers gave Vick the chance he needed.

Though the Eagles lost the game to the Packers, Vick exploded with 175 yards passing and 103 yards rushing in the first real action he had been given in nearly four years.

He proceeded to absolutely destroy every defense he faced during the season, compiling 19 or more fantasy points in every full game he played.

It’s difficult to not place Michael Vick as the top “Fantasy MVP” from this season, but Vick did have a few blemishes on the year.

One thing to consider is that practically no one could have had Vick in their lineup in Week 1 when he went off against Green Bay, so he wasn’t of much value to owners that week.

Then again in Week 4, when he was knocked out of the game against the Redskins, Vick had produced only two fantasy points in a game when practically everyone who owned him had him in their lineup.

He then missed three straight games in Weeks 5, 6, and 7, and was held out of a meaningless Week 17 matchup against the Cowboys to try to avoid injury for the playoffs.

Even with all of this, Vick finished as the highest-scoring fantasy quarterback in 2010 and will be a first round pick in practically every fantasy draft in 2011. What a story.

Pre-season Position ADP: Undrafted
End-of-season Position Ranking: 1

1.Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans

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HOUSTON - JANUARY 02:  Running back Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans rushes for major yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Reliant Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Houston, Texas.  (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON - JANUARY 02: Running back Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans rushes for major yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Reliant Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

The 2010 fantasy football MVP is Houston Texans running back Arian Foster, who led all scorers at all positions during his incredible breakout season.

Foster led all running backs in practically every single statistical category—rushing yardage (1,614 yards), receiving yardage (604 yards), and total touchdowns (18).

He had double-digit fantasy points in an amazing 14 games and his season point total quietly neared Chris Johnson’s marvelous 2009 season.

The one blemish, if you can count it, was a five-point performance against the Titans in Week 15, which certainly was a disappointment from a player who averaged nearly 20 points per game on the year, but even the biggest studs occasionally have trouble when defenses completely focus on stopping them.

Many expected No. 2 or No. 3 running back numbers from Foster this year but few could have expected that he would completely blow out the next highest scoring back, Adrian Peterson, by over 80 points on the year.

Foster’s breakout season can be directly tied to a good percentage of fantasy championships around the country this year.

Pre-season Position ADP: 16
End-of-season Position Ranking: 1

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