LeBron James: Breaking Down King James' NFL Positional Power Rankings
The NBA lockout has LeBron James with a lot of time on his hands. On Friday, he took to Twitter and released his Top 5 NFL quarterbacks, receivers and running backs.
Why he did this, I am not exactly sure. But you've got to cut the guy a little bit of slack. It's not like he has anything better to do.
We're going to take a more in-depth look at the players that he chose. Who belongs? Who doesn't? Who's out of place? Let's find out.
Here are the tweets from James:
No. 5 WR: Mike Wallace
1 of 15Why King James is right:
Mike Wallace is a genuine big-play threat. When he's on the field, the Steelers have a chance to score.
Why King James is Wrong:
No real reason. Wallace is a little too dependent on the big play to be higher than No. 5, but he certainly belongs in this list.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
0. He was a year too late for Pittsburgh's 2008 championship, and lost the Super Bowl last season.
Who Should Be Here Instead:
Wes Welker, Greg Jennings
No. 4 WR: Larry Fitzgerald
2 of 15Why King James is right:
It's obvious. Fitzgerald is one of the most physically gifted receivers in the history of the game. Few can match his big-play ability.
Why King James is Wrong:
Fitzgerald is too low. If he was in a big market or on a good team, he would easily be a Top 2 WR.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
Wes Welker, Greg Jennings
No. 3 WR: Steve Smith
3 of 15Why King James is right:
Smith's numbers this year are incredible. He's had a big role in the performance of phenom Cam Newton.
Why King James is Wrong:
He's been inconsistent in recent years. Smith is having a great 2011 season, but is still a little inconsistent to be a Top 3 receiver.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
Andre Johnson
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No. 2 WR: Andre Johnson
4 of 15Why King James is right:
Johnson has been the game's best receiver in recent years. He's a great red-zone option and one of the most dependable receivers in the game.
Why King James is Wrong:
Not wrong, just inconsistent. Smith is included based on his 2011 season. Johnson's been out for much of 2011, so it seems like he's included because of his recent years.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
No. 1 WR: Calvin Johnson
5 of 15Why King James is right:
There isn't a more unstoppable receiver in the league right now.
Why King James is Wrong:
The only knock on Johnson is that he hasn't performed on the big stage. But he's been on dismal teams. That knock will change this year.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
Nobody.
No. 5 RB: Ray Rice
6 of 15Why King James is right:
He's not. Rice is a reliable back, but hasn't been good enough to justify this high of a ranking.
Why King James is Wrong:
For a team that focuses so much on the run, Rice's numbers aren't great. I am not saying that he sucks, but he's not a Top 5 RB in the game.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
Frank Gore, Darren Sproles
No. 4 RB: Matt Forte
7 of 15Why King James is right:
Matt Forte is similar to what LeBron was in Cleveland. If Forte were to ever leave the team, the offense would be abysmal. As it is, he keeps them afloat.
Why King James is Wrong:
Forte is too low.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
LeSean McCoy
No. 3 RB: LeSean McCoy
8 of 15Why King James is right:
McCoy is still young, but is one of the game's best all-around backs. He easily belongs on this lost.
Why King James is Wrong:
I like him in the Top 5, but not ahead of Forte. The Eagles' offense is loaded with talent. The Bears' is not.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
Arian Foster
No. 2 RB: Arian Foster
9 of 15Why King James is right:
Foster has been an elite back over the last few years. He's done a lot to keep the Texans on top of the AFC South standings since Andre Johnson's injury.
Why King James is Wrong:
I would like to see what happens to his numbers when Johnson gets back. I also put Forte ahead of him. Foster is great, but doesn't fave Forte's all-around prowess.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
Matt Forte
No. 1 RB: Adrian Peterson
10 of 15Why King James is right:
Peterson has been the best back in the league since his rookie season of 2007. This is really a no-brainer.
Why King James is Wrong:
A case could be made that he's been a little inconsistent this year, but not very inconsistent.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
Nobody
No. 5 QB: Cam Newton
11 of 15Why King James is right:
Newton is just a rookie, but he's an all-around dangerous threat. He's on a phenomenal pace this year, can run the ball and is the obvious Rookie of the Year.
Why King James is Wrong:
I could explain this one on my own. Instead, I would rather have you read what Bleacher Report's own Mike Chiari had to say via Twitter.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
No. 4 QB: Michael Vick
12 of 15Why King James is right:
No player is as exciting, electrifying or terrifying for opponents as Vick. There isn't a single thing that Vick can't do to help his team win games.
Why King James is Wrong:
No real objections. Vick hasn't done it in the big games often enough to be at an elite level. Two-time Super Bowl winner Ben Roethlisberger deserves a little more credit.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
Matthew Stafford, Ben Roethlisberger
No. 3 QB: Drew Brees
13 of 15Why King James is right:
Brees is an annual threat to break Dan Marino's single-season passing record. He's the face of one of the more memorable Super Bowl champions in recent memory. He may not have done enough yet, but Brees is well on his way to Canton.
Why King James is Wrong:
I can't believe I am saying this, but Brees is too low. His team is nowhere near as balanced as the one that Tom Brady plays on.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
Tom Brady
No. 2 QB: Tom Brady
14 of 15Why King James is right:
If Tom Brady never throws another pass, he is a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback and one of the Top 5 in the history of the game. Brady is in the middle of another spectacular season. Since he plays on a team with little defense, he needs to be spectacular every week.
Why King James is Wrong:
I put Brees ahead of Brady. As great as Brady is, he doesn't do well when he's under pressure. His only championships came on teams with great defenses. Since he's lost that, he hasn't won anything.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
No. 1 QB: Aaron Rodgers
15 of 15Why King James is right:
Rodgers is not only the reigning Super Bowl-winning quarterback, but he's the obvious choice for NFL MVP thus far. He's the best player on the league's best team. Rodgers has dealt with a lot over the years, like the shadow of Brett Favre. But at this point, he's the unquestioned best quarterback in the game.
Why King James is Wrong:
He's not.
Rings ahead of LeBron:
Who Should Be Here Instead:
Nobody
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