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Preseason Schedule Analysis
The “Big Boards" Version 2
9/1/09

Predictable consistency. We seek it in life just as we do in fantasy. If your co-worker, boss or significant other is going to be temperamental at work or home, you'd like to know that person is going to have a "down" day every Thursday in the morning before lunch. No one is ever going to operate at 100% efficiency or let the stresses of the world fall off their shoulders like water droplets on a raincoat.

Much like the aforementioned example, our fantasy studs will have down days. Sometimes, they are for reasons we don't find out until two days, two weeks or two months after. Most of the time, though, I believe the answers for their success or lack thereof can be found by evaluating the quality of their opponent. After all, the opponent's defensive coordinator spends all week (supposedly, in some cases) trying to eliminate the very offensive weapons which make our fantasy teams go. Just like not all players are created equal, schedules are not created equal for every team either. And like it or not, every fantasy owner should want strive to match the best players they can draft against the weakest opponents possible. Not only does this allow for huge games for your fantasy team, but it lessens the risk that your core players will fail to live up to expectations.

Speaking of risk, a lot of times - early in a draft - it's just as important to minimize risk as much it is to maximize talent. In other words, it is often beneficial to build your team's foundation with players that have as few questions marks as possible rather than to draft upside, upside and more upside. As I have stated repeatedly throughout the summer, I want consistency.

I'm sure many of you wondered at the end of my last Big Board why I would follow it up with another one this week. The main reason for back-to-back Big Boards in consecutive weeks is simple - opinions can change quickly, as can coach's impressions on a player's readiness for the season. For instance, this week's biggest riser - Cadillac Williams - wasn't so much as an afterthought until I watched the Bucs-Dolphins preseason game last week in which HC Raheem Morris told FOX that he not only plans on keeping him around, but also to make him a key part of Tampa Bay's three-headed RBBC (more on that later). As any astute fantasy owner knows, a change like that affects three players' values, not one. It's this kind of announcement that can drive fantasy writers crazy, but one that we must adapt to nonetheless in order to make sure we provide the best insight possible for our readers.

I doubt I will be able to cover all the changes in this week's Big Boards, but I will make sure I will touch on as many as I feel are worth getting into more detail about. Some of the changes were made after further thought about who I could trust more while others were made simply based on what coaches had to say about a player's ever-changing role. Still other alterations were made after observing each of the 16 Week Three preseason games.

Once again, I want to remind each of my readers about the player’s rankings and subsequent place on the board. I will push a player down my board if I cannot trust him to stay healthy all season. If you take the time to tear down each position I provide below, you will notice that I don’t follow the point totals or averages to a tee. Outside of trust issues, I will push a player down my board – despite a higher average or overall point total – if I believe he will simply be more consistent throughout the season or if his playoff schedule appears treacherous – no, I don't claim to see the future, but history tells us that defenses like Baltimore, Minnesota and Pittsburgh will end more fantasy championship dreams than they help.

Note: I used the same color coding system in this article that I used in my previous PSAs breakdowns to designate poor (red), neutral (no color) and advantageous (green) matchups during Weeks 14-16.

Here is the scoring system that I used to rank the players:

 PPR Big Board
Overall Pos Rank Pos Bye Player Pt Total Avg 14 15 16
1 1 RB 7 Maurice Jones-Drew 333 22.2      
2 2 RB 9 Adrian Peterson 287 19.1
3 3 RB 5 LaDainian Tomlinson 282 18.8
4 4 RB 9 Steven Jackson 295 19.7
5 5 RB 5 Matt Forte 274 18.3
6 1 WR 8 Randy Moss 312 20.8
7 6 RB 6 Frank Gore 282 18.8
8 7 RB 10 Steve Slaton 265 17.7
9 2 WR 7 Calvin Johnson 301 20.1
10 3 WR 10 Andre Johnson 294 19.6
11 4 WR 4 Larry Fitzgerald 291 19.4
12 8 RB 6 Ronnie Brown 276 18.4
13 9 RB 8 DeAngelo Williams 232 15.5
14 1 QB 5 Drew Brees 348 23.2
15 10 RB 7 Chris Johnson 266 17.7
16 5 WR 4 Steve Smith (CAR) 283 18.9
17 11 RB 4 Brian Westbrook 241 18.5
18 2 QB 8 Tom Brady 331 22.1
19 12 RB 10 Brandon Jacobs 213 16.4
20 6 WR 4 Anquan Boldin 259 19.9
21 7 WR 8 Wes Welker 276 18.4
22 8 WR 5 Marques Colston 274 18.3
23 9 WR 6 Greg Jennings 259 17.3
24 10 WR 4 Roddy White 259 17.3
25 11 WR 6 Reggie Wayne 245 16.3
26 3 QB 6 Peyton Manning 297 19.8
27 4 QB 5 Aaron Rodgers 305 20.3
28 14 RB 7 Kevin Smith 244 16.3
29 14 RB 6 Marion Barber 245 16.3
30 15 RB 4 Michael Turner 224 14.9
31 16 RB 5 Ryan Grant 214 14.3
32 12 WR 9 Terrell Owens 253 16.9
33 17 RB 8 Clinton Portis 205 13.7
34 5 QB 5 Philip Rivers 297 19.8
35 18 RB 7 Ray Rice 222 14.8
36 19 RB 5 Pierre Thomas 206 13.7
37 20 RB 9 Darren McFadden 222 14.8
38 6 QB 4 Donovan McNabb 286 19.1
39 13 WR 8 Chad Ochocinco 232 15.5
40 14 WR 8 Dwayne Bowe 246 16.4
41 15 WR 7 Eddie Royal 233 15.5
42 16 WR 6 Anthony Gonzalez 222 14.8
43 17 WR 4 DeSean Jackson 219 14.6
44 7 QB 8 Carson Palmer 285 19.0
45 21 RB 9 Marshawn Lynch 195 16.3
46 1 TE 5 Antonio Gates 217 14.5
47 2 TE 6 Jason Witten 217 14.5
48 18 WR 7 T.J. Houshmandzadeh 231 15.4
49 22 RB 8 Cedric Benson 196 13.1
50 23 RB 6 Joseph Addai 193 12.9
51 24 RB 5 Reggie Bush 193 14.8
52 8 QB 10 Matt Schaub 269 17.9
53 9 QB 4 Kurt Warner 263 20.2
54 19 WR 6 Roy Williams 207 13.8
55 3 TE 6 Dallas Clark 201 13.4
56 4 TE 4 Tony Gonzalez 203 13.5
57 5 TE 5 Greg Olsen 205 13.7
58 20 WR 5 Lance Moore 213 14.2
59 21 WR 5 Vincent Jackson 204 13.6
60 22 WR 8 Laveranues Coles 226 15.1
61 23 WR 9 Lee Evans 212 14.1
62 24 WR 9 Bernard Berrian 205 13.7
63 10 QB 4 Matt Ryan 257 17.1
64 11 QB 6 Tony Romo 253 16.9
65 12 QB 5 Jay Cutler 252 16.8
66 25 WR 7 Derrick Mason 210 14.0
67 26 WR 10 Kevin Walter 204 13.6
68 25 RB 8 Willie Parker 183 12.2
69 26 RB 7 Knowshon Moreno 191 12.7
70 27 RB 10 Ahmad Bradshaw 158 10.5
71 28 RB 9 Leon Washington 179 11.9
72 29 RB 6 Donald Brown 159 10.6
73 30 RB 4 Chris Wells 160 10.7
74 31 RB 9 Thomas Jones 178 11.9
75 27 WR 9 Percy Harvin 198 13.2
76 32 RB 8 Derrick Ward 187 12.5
77 33 RB 4 Jonathan Stewart 159 10.6
78 34 RB 4 LeSean McCoy 158 10.5
79 6 TE 8 Chris Cooley 190 12.7
80 7 TE 8 Kellen Winslow 206 13.7
81 35 RB 8 Larry Johnson 149 9.9
82 36 RB 7 LenDale White 146 9.7
83 28 WR 8 Hines Ward 198 13.2
84 29 WR 8 Santonio Holmes 198 13.2
85 30 WR 9 Braylon Edwards 183 12.2
86 31 WR 9 Jerricho Cotchery 191 12.7
87 32 WR 8 Santana Moss 176 11.7
88 37 RB 7 Julius Jones 143 9.5
89 38 RB 4 Tim Hightower 148 9.9
90 33 WR 7 Brandon Marshall 185 12.3
91 7 TE 7 John Carlson 178 11.9
92 39 RB 6 Felix Jones 91 8.3
93 40 RB 8 Rashard Mendenhall 154 10.3
94 41 RB 8 Kevin Faulk 148 9.9
95 34 WR 5 Donald Driver 184 12.3
96 35 WR 7 Torry Holt 184 12.3
97 36 WR 5 Devin Hester 180 12.0
98 37 WR 5 Chris Chambers 176 11.7
99 38 WR 8 Antonio Bryant 174 11.6
100 39 WR 8 Chris Henry 175 11.7
101 40 WR 9 Donnie Avery 175 11.7
102 13 QB 8 Ben Roethlisberger 235 15.7
103 8 TE 10 Owen Daniels 154 10.3
104 42 RB 9 James Davis 161 10.7
105 9 TE 6 Vernon Davis 156 10.4
106 41 WR 4 Steve Breaston 175 11.7
107 43 RB 9 Fred Jackson 139 9.3
108 14 QB 7 Matt Hasselbeck 232 15.5
109 44 RB 4 Jerious Norwood 131 8.7
110 45 RB 8 Fred Taylor 131 8.7
111 46 RB 5 Darren Sproles 131 8.7
112 15 QB 10 Eli Manning 227 15.1
113 16 QB 9 Brett Favre 235 15.7
114 17 QB 8 Matt Cassel 231 15.4
115 18 QB 8 Jason Campbell 222 14.8
116 19 QB 7 Kyle Orton 231 15.4
117 47 RB 9 Shonn Greene 99 6.6
118 48 RB 8 Cadillac Williams 108 7.2
119 49 RB 8 Earnest Graham 107 7.1
120 50 RB 9 Jamal Lewis 148 9.9
121 42 WR 6 Ted Ginn Jr. 168 11.2
122 43 WR 4 Michael Jenkins 167 11.1
123 51 RB 7 Le’Ron McClain 127 8.5
124 52 RB 8 Jamaal Charles 127 8.5
125 53 RB 8 Laurence Maroney 118 8.4
126 54 RB 7 Willis McGahee 111 7.4
127 10 TE 9 Zach Miller 153 10.2
128 11 TE 5 Jeremy Shockey 139 9.3
129 12 TE 9 Visanthe Shiancoe 138 9.2
130 13 TE 9 Dustin Keller 141 9.4
131 14 TE 7 Bo Scaife 142 9.5
132 44 WR 10 Steve Smith (NYG) 161 10.7
133 20 QB 7 David Garrard 216 14.4
134 45 WR 7 Justin Gage 165 11.0
135 55 RB 9 Chester Taylor 101 6.7
136 56 RB 8 Ladell Betts 100 6.7
137 21 QB 9 Trent Edwards 228 15.2
138 22 QB 4 Jake Delhomme 217 14.5
139 1 DT 8 Steelers DST 161 10.7
140 2 DT 10 Giants DST 155 10.3
141 46 WR 6 Josh Morgan 157 10.5
142 47 WR 5 Earl Bennett 156 10.4
143 48 WR 7 Nate Washington 155 10.3
144 49 WR 4 Muhsin Muhammad 161 10.7
145 50 WR 8 Devin Thomas 151 10.1
146 51 WR 4 Kevin Curtis 147 9.8
147 52 WR 6 Davone Bess 138 9.2
148 53 WR 10 Domenik Hixon 135 9.0
149 15 TE 4 Brent Celek 109 7.3
150 3 DT 5 Chargers DST 146 9.7
151 4 DT 7 Ravens DST 141 9.4
152 57 RB 9 Michael Bush 114 7.6
153 58 RB 7 Edgerrin James 104 6.9
154 59 RB 10 Chris Brown 90 6.0
155 60 RB 6 Tashard Choice 71 4.7
156 61 RB 7 Justin Forsett 88 5.9
157 62 RB 6 Glen Coffee 62 4.1
158 63 RB 8 Sammy Morris 104 6.9
159 64 RB 6 Peyton Hillis 99 6.6
160 23 QB 7 Joe Flacco 206 13.7
161 24 QB 7 Kerry Collins 199 13.3
162 54 WR 9 Sidney Rice 126 8.4
163 55 WR 6 Isaac Bruce 136 9.1
164 56 WR 7 Nate Burleson 124 8.3
165 65 RB 5 Mike Bell 65 4.3
166 5 DT 5 Bears DST 126 8.4
167 6 DT 7 Titans DST 122 8.1
168 7 DT 5 Packers DST 116 7.7
169 8 DT 9 Vikings DST 115 7.7
170 9 DT 8 Patriots DST 113 7.5
171 57 WR 5 Robert Meachem 96 6.4
172 10 DT 6 Cowboys DST 110 7.3
173 11 DT 9 Jets D/ST 104 6.9
174 12 DT 8 Bengals DST 111 7.4
175 16 TE 6 Anthony Fasano 108 7.2

PPR Changes

Top 10: Moss moves ahead of Gore. If ever I was to take a WR in the top five picks of any draft, it would be Moss. He just misses out here, but I have to move him ahead of Gore simply because the Niners' RB has given us just one out of four possible full seasons since joining San Fran in 2005. On the other hand, Moss has three full seasons of work to his credit in that same time. Furthermore, consider that Moss has scored 13 or more TDs in five of his 11 seasons in the NFL. Do you want to bet against him doing it again with one of the game's best QBs throwing him the ball in a pass-heavy offense? I don't.

This time around, Calvin and Andre Johnson both slip ahead of Chris Johnson. To be quite honest with you, this portion of the draft is subject to change day-to-day. Ultimately, I went with the receiving Johnsons simply because I now believe there are more inclined to be "surer bets" than "Every Coach's Dream". We're not quite at the point of our evolution in fantasy football where elite WRs trump every other position in PPR, but the case can be made now that outside of the top 5-6 RBs, players like Moss, Fitzgerald and both Johnson WRs should come off the board next because even if they don't score in a certain game, it is not out of the realm of possibility they turn in a 10-catch, 150-yard game either. In the end, I just can't seem to shake the feeling that Chris Johnson hit his carry limit last season and we know LenDale White will get the majority of work inside the 5. Therefore, I'm almost obligated to put him behind the top four WRs and RBs like Ronnie Brown and Steven Jackson who each have similar receiving skills AND the coach's blessing to convert at the stripe. Meanwhile, Monday Night's game showed us that Steve Slaton may still be option 1A or 1B at the goal line. Given the injury history of Chris Brown and Arian Foster, I'd like to believe now that Slaton will at least match last season's 10-TD output.

11-20: To the relief of many (I'm sure), I finally got a hint of the confirmation I've been looking for from John Fox this week regarding DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, so D-Will visits the top 15. In short, Fox told the AP that Stewart was losing ground to rookie Mike Goodson in the pecking order for carries as the second-year back continues to battle a sore Achilles. Before going all-in on the DeAngelo bandwagon, however, keep in mind that the most lopsided split Fox has issued his top two RBs since 2004 is 63%-37% and that Williams' 273 carries last season were the most for a Panthers RB since Stephen Davis in 2003. Also bear in mind that Carolina faced six of the seven teams (seven total games) who allowed 4.6 YPC or worse last season. There will not be a repeat of the 383 rushing yards (7.2 YPC) and six total TDs he scored against the hapless defenses of the Chiefs, Raiders and Lions in 2008. And the defense has already shown chinks in the armor, meaning he will probably get fewer carries than he did a season ago. D-Will is probably a top-five RB talent in the league and will probably have some huge games this season, but in my estimation, he has a whole host of things not working in his favor. Therefore, he's better off being a RB2 in 12-team leagues.

Pierre Thomas

Pierre Thomas: On the slide.

21-50: Pierre Thomas slid a bit due to the semi-emergence of Mike Bell. No, I'm not sure Bell steals more than 50-75 total touches from Bush and Thomas, but it's pretty clear he is going to take some. For an offense that is so good to PPR fantasy owners and the Saints' RBs they own, that is amount that should still allow Thomas to be quite productive, but not ahead of team centerpieces such as Kevin Smith and Ryan Grant.

On the other hand, I am quite thrilled with Rice, who I've been able to snag in the fifth round as a RB3 on a number of occasions. OC Cam Cameron seems quite taken with his abilities - as he should be - and eight catches (18 total touches) this weekend vs. Carolina shows me that Baltimore wants to showcase him. I now expect him to log roughly 60% of the touches in the Ravens' backfield and get some of the work at the goal line if he doesn't need a breather at the time, which should make him a solid RB2 option in 12-team leagues. Much like Rice, I am now more convinced than ever that Kevin Smith will transition just fine into OC Scott Linehan's power-based running attack. His hands make him a PPR asset and with only Mo Morris and rookie Aaron Brown in reserve, Smith is one of the best bets for around 320 carries and 350 total touches in fantasy this season.

I must admit I have been thoroughly impressed by what I have seen from Rodgers this preseason. Cleveland, Buffalo and Arizona won't exactly top the charts in pass defense this year, but just about any player that goes out for a pass in the Packers' offense anymore is a weapon. I'm still not a fan of late-season matchups vs. Baltimore and Pittsburgh (Weeks 13 and 15, respectively), but his value has shot up so much in my mind that I am now willing to put him in the same tier with Peyton Manning and not think twice about it. This is an explosive offense that maybe only a Wisconsin blizzard can slow down.

One of the biggest mistakes novice drafters make is thinking since there are 24 starting spots for RBs in a 12-team league, there must be 24 RBs capable of being a RB1 or RB2. This year, I think I'm drawing that RB2 line with my 21st-ranked back in Lynch (when he returns from suspension). Yes, backs like Benson, Addai, Bush, Parker and Thomas Jones will all have their good days, but each has serious flaws in their fantasy "game". Sheer numbers dictate that at least three owners will be without an able-bodied RB2 and even more will be if those same owners choose to load up at other positions in the first three rounds. (In case you were wondering, I feel Ronnie Brown is the last of the RB1 candidates in PPR.)

(As an example, I completed a money league draft Monday night in which one owner spent his first five picks on RBs and two other owners who used their first three picks at the same position. As a result, players such as Ahmad Bradshaw, Reggie Bush, Chris Wells, Larry Johnson and Thomas Jones will be forced to be their team's RB1 or RB2 in a non-PPR league. I'm not a fortune teller, but I'll put some pretty good money on most of those backs not living up to typical RB2 standards.)

51-100: I felt my ranking of Lance Moore was a bit low in the previous Big Board, but felt powerless to move him up as he had yet to play in the preseason and I was naturally a bit concerned that his offseason shoulder surgery may be holding him back a bit. No worries anymore; sure, Brees and Moore picked on a helpless Oakland defense this weekend, but the thing I was most concerned with - his recovery - didn't appear to be a problem. He's a safe WR2 in my mind and is going much later than he should, especially in PPR.

Tony Gonzalez said earlier in the offseason he believes the 2009 Falcons are the best team he has ever played on, at least on offense anyway. That may be true on a few levels, but the same problems that exist on this team are the same ones that haunted the 2003 Chiefs - porous defense. And because Michael Turner is not Priest Holmes and the line is not anchored by Willie Roaf and Will Shields, it will be up to Matt Ryan to make up the difference. After watching him vs. most of San Diego's regulars for a half on Saturday, I'm willing to buy in on him as solid fantasy QB1 option in the sixth round or so. Atlanta will remain a running team, but "Matty Ice" will be called upon on a number of occasions to bail out the defense.

Much like his team, Moreno keeps spiraling downward in terms of his fantasy stock. He may or may not be 100% by Week 1 and given the circus that Brandon Marshall is creating for himself, Denver may not have much of a chance to get anything going this season. The schedule was already going to be difficult with a fully-loaded roster of committed and healthy players, but my point projection for Moreno is looking a bit high at the present time.

My summer-long infatuation with Shonn Greene has cooled just a bit, although I do like him to still claim a Le'Ron McClain-type role at some point this season. Apparently, when HC Rex Ryan termed his rookie as a "fourth-quarter weapon", he didn't mean anything but "fourth-quarter weapon". A rib injury suffered in Week Two may cost the rookie the rest of the preseason, but even before then, Thomas Jones and Leon Washington were getting all the work with the first-teamers. At least early in the season, expect something like a 50-40-10 split for Jones, Washington and Greene, in that order. Washington may even be the better PPR back, but I moved both veterans up since Greene will like be a slow starter in 2009. Jones' numbers this preseason have been dreadful - to his credit, the competition has been stout - but even with his stellar 2008, he is still going a bit high in my opinion with his 5.12 ADP. Despite keeping himself in incredible shape, he is my candidate to become the 2008 version of Willis McGahee in 2009. On the other hand, Washington is highly undervalued since he is going at the end of the ninth round on average and should be viewed in the same kind of light that Ray Rice is this season.

Derrick Ward takes one of the biggest hits of the week after HC Raheem Morris announced his plans for a 2-2-1 backfield split. Now, a 2-2-1 is a great way to press a team if the hope is to get the opponent to run time off the shot clock in basketball, but for fantasy football, it puts the fantasy value of Cadillac Williams, Ward and Earnest Graham all in peril. Morris also stated there would be no designated goal-line back, but with each back likely getting no more than four series a game, it becomes an absolute mess. Ward's ability to catch the ball should allow him to be a flex option in PPR, but he is not a RB2 candidate again until one of his two teammates gets hurt.

Other notable top 100 players:

Chris "Beanie" Wells - He looks like a much different back than the one I remembered at Ohio State. Hightower will remain a factor because he too has stepped up his game, but at this point, I would not blink if Wells was my RB3 or flex in non-PPR or PPR.

Jonathan Stewart - At this time of this writing, he has missed 14 straight practices. At the pace his Achilles is healing, he may be do fantasy owners little good in September. It may be time to spend a last-round pick on rookie Mike Goodson.

Rashard Mendenhall - I think the Steelers want him to emerge, but I don't see any of the Edgerrin James' comparisons Steelers OC Bruce Arians gave his second-year back prior to last season. Until I see a bit more explosion and decisiveness, the Pittsburgh backfield split may go 70-30 in the favor of Willie Parker.

101-175: The stories of this group are misplaced tight ends and rising but aging veteran QBs, which makes for a perfect transition to Favre and Shiancoe. Favre has always loved his tight ends and after I realized I had not appreciated that fact enough, the former Giant made a significant jump up my board. Hasselbeck is another veteran QB who I gave a bit more credit to than I did last week. His offensive line scares me, but as long as he is standing, the trio of Houshmandzadeh, Carlson and Burleson were enough for me to bump him up. Meanwhile, both Orton and Trent Edwards have nosedived in my eyes. The Brandon Marshall saga is getting progressively worse while Buffalo's no-huddle attack is looking a lot like the one that huddled last season. Terrell Owens' absence has hurt the team this preseason, but he can only help so much. Owens appears set to return for Week 1, but then Marshawn Lynch begins to serve the first game of his three-game suspension. Edwards’ owners may need to wait until October to get the player they hoped would surpass average fantasy QB2 production.

I could very well have Jamaal Charles too low here as it appears that Larry Johnson will only stay on the field when the offense is "on schedule". Otherwise, it appears the ex-Longhorn is the play. It's early, but this looks a lot like the Edgerrin James-J.J. Arrington setup that new HC Todd Haley oversaw in Arizona last season.

 Non-PPR Big Board
Overall Pos Rank Pos Bye Player Pt Total Avg 14 15 16
1 1 RB 7 Maurice Jones-Drew 274 18.3
2 2 RB 9 Adrian Peterson 264 17.6
3 3 RB 5 LaDainian Tomlinson 236 15.7
4 4 RB 6 Frank Gore 229 15.3
5 5 RB 5 Matt Forte 220 14.7
6 1 WR 8 Randy Moss 221 14.7
7 6 RB 4 Michael Turner 217 14.5
8 2 WR 7 Calvin Johnson 208 13.9
9 7 RB 10 Steve Slaton 222 14.8
10 8 RB 6 Ronnie Brown 236 15.7
11 9 RB 9 Steven Jackson 232 15.5
12 10 RB 7 Chris Johnson 227 15.1
13 11 RB 4 DeAngelo Williams 209 13.9
14 3 WR 4 Larry Fitzgerald 196 13.1
15 4 WR 10 Andre Johnson 189 12.6
16 1 QB 5 Drew Brees 348 23.2
17 12 RB 10 Brandon Jacobs 196 15.1
18 13 RB 6 Marion Barber 197 13.1
19 14 RB 4 Brian Westbrook 192 14.8
20 5 WR 4 Steve Smith (CAR) 190 12.7
21 6 WR 5 Marques Colston 187 12.5
22 2 QB 8 Tom Brady 331 22.1
23 7 WR 5 Greg Jennings 179 11.9
24 8 WR 4 Roddy White 176 11.7
25 3 QB 6 Peyton Manning 297 19.8
26 4 QB 5 Aaron Rodgers 305 20.3
27 9 WR 4 Anquan Boldin 169 13
28 10 WR 8 Wes Welker 168 11.2
29 11 WR 6 Reggie Wayne 161 10.7
30 15 RB 7 Kevin Smith 196 13.1
31 16 RB 5 Ryan Grant 190 12.7
32 12 WR 9 Terrell Owens 174 11.6
33 17 RB 8 Clinton Portis 189 12.6
34 5 QB 5 Philip Rivers 297 19.8
35 6 QB 4 Donovan McNabb 286 19.1
36 13 WR 8 Chad Ochocinco 157 10.5
37 14 WR 6 Anthony Gonzalez 149 9.93
38 15 WR 4 DeSean Jackson 143 9.53
39 16 WR 7 Eddie Royal 145 9.67
40 18 RB 7 Ray Rice 180 12
41 19 RB 5 Pierre Thomas 176 11.7
42 17 WR 8 Dwayne Bowe 149 9.93
43 18 WR 7 T.J. Houshmandzadeh 147 9.8
44 20 RB 9 Darren McFadden 189 12.6
45 7 QB 8 Carson Palmer 285 19
46 19 WR 5 Vincent Jackson 144 9.6
47 20 WR 9 Bernard Berrian 144 9.6
48 21 RB 8 Cedric Benson 174 11.6
49 22 RB 9 Marshawn Lynch 161 13.4
50 1 TE 5 Antonio Gates 143 9.53
51 8 QB 10 Matt Schaub 269 17.9
52 2 TE 6 Jason Witten 133 8.87
53 23 RB 7 Knowshon Moreno 154 10.3
54 24 RB 9 Thomas Jones 149 9.93
55 21 WR 8 Laveranues Coles 142 9.47
56 22 WR 6 Roy Williams 138 9.2
57 9 QB 4 Kurt Warner 263 20.2
58 10 QB 4 Matt Ryan 257 17.1
59 11 QB 6 Tony Romo 253 16.9
60 23 WR 5 Lance Moore 136 9.07
61 24 WR 9 Lee Evans 138 9.2
62 12 QB 5 Jay Cutler 252 16.8
63 3 TE 6 Dallas Clark 128 8.53
64 4 TE 4 Tony Gonzalez 128 8.53
65 5 TE 5 Greg Olsen 131 8.73
66 25 RB 8 Willie Parker 168 11.2
67 26 RB 6 Joseph Addai 162 10.8
68 27 RB 4 Jonathan Stewart 140 9.33
69 28 RB 4 Chris Wells 142 9.47
70 29 RB 8 Derrick Ward 158 10.5
71 30 RB 7 LenDale White 138 9.2
72 31 RB 5 Reggie Bus 133 10.2
73 32 RB 6 Donald Brown 121 8.07
74 25 WR 9 Percy Harvin 145 9.67
75 26 WR 8 Santonio Holmes 137 9.13
76 27 WR 10 Kevin Walter 131 8.73
77 28 WR 7 Derrick Mason 131 8.73
78 29 WR 8 Hines Ward 123 8.2
79 30 WR 7 Brandon Marshall 118 7.87
80 33 RB 8 Larry Johnson 135 9
81 6 TE 8 Kellen Winslow 126 8.4
82 31 WR 9 Braylon Edwards 120 8
83 32 WR 9 Jerricho Cotchery 120 8
84 7 TE 8 Chris Cooley 118 7.87
85 34 RB 10 Ahmad Bradshaw 131 8.73
86 35 RB 9 Leon Washington 130 8.67
87 36 RB 4 LeSean McCoy 125 8.33
88 33 WR 8 Chris Henry 130 8.67
89 8 TE 7 John Carlson 115 7.67
90 37 RB 7 Julius Jones 122 8.13
91 38 RB 8 Rashard Mendenhall 132 8.8
92 39 RB 6 Felix Jones 76 6.91
93 40 RB 4 Tim Hightower 120 8
94 34 WR 8 Santana Moss 109 7.27
95 41 RB 9 James Davis 123 8.2
96 42 RB 9 Shonn Greene 96 6.4
97 35 WR 7 Torry Holt 118 7.87
98 36 WR 9 Donnie Avery 118 7.87
99 37 WR 5 Chris Chambers 117 7.8
100 38 WR 5 Devin Hester 115 7.67
101 39 WR 5 Donald Driver 111 7.4
102 40 WR 8 Antonio Bryant 111 7.4
103 43 RB 8 Fred Taylor 110 7.33
104 44 RB 8 Laurence Maroney 104 7.43
105 45 RB 8 Cadillac Williams 134 8.93
106 46 RB 8 Earnest Graham 134 8.93
107 47 RB 9 Jamal Lewis 129 8.6
108 48 RB 7 Willis McGahee 98 6.53
109 49 RB 5 Darren Sproles 97 6.47
110 41 WR 6 Ted Ginn Jr. 107 7.13
111 42 WR 4 Steve Breaston 107 7.13
112 13 QB 8 Ben Roethlisberger 235 15.7
113 14 QB 7 Matt Hasselbeck 232 15.5
114 15 QB 8 Matt Cassel 231 15.4
115 16 QB 9 Brett Favre 235 15.7
116 50 RB 9 Chester Taylor 72 4.8
117 51 RB 7 Le'Ron McClain 107 7.13
118 52 RB 9 Michael Bush 100 6.67
119 17 QB 10 Eli Manning 227 15.1
120 18 QB 8 Jason Campbell 222 14.8
121 19 QB 7 Kyle Orton 231 15.4
122 20 QB 7 David Garrard 216 14.4
123 43 WR 7 Nate Washington 104 6.93
124 44 WR 4 Michael Jenkins 103 6.87
125 45 WR 4 Muhsin Muhammad 101 6.73
126 46 WR 7 Justin Gage 100 6.67
127 47 WR 10 Steve Smith (NYG) 99 6.6
128 9 TE 10 Owen Daniels 93 6.2
129 10 TE 9 Zach Miller 94 6.27
130 11 TE 6 Vernon Davis 94 6.27
131 12 TE 5 Jeremy Shockey 89 5.93
132 13 TE 9 Visanthe Shiancoe 88 5.87
133 14 TE 9 Dustin Keller 87 5.8
134 53 RB 7 Edgerrin James 98 6.53
135 48 WR 6 Josh Morgan 97 6.47
136 49 WR 4 Kevin Curtis 97 6.47
137 50 WR 10 Domenik Hixon 92 6.13
138 54 RB 9 Fred Jackson 94 6.27
139 55 RB 8 Kevin Faulk 93 6.2
140 56 RB 8 Sammy Morris 91 6.07
141 57 RB 8 Jamaal Charles 84 5.6
142 58 RB 4 Jerious Norwood 87 5.8
143 59 RB 10 Chris Brown 83 5.53
144 60 RB 8 Ladell Betts 69 4.6
145 61 RB 6 Tashard Choice 64 4.27
146 21 QB 9 Trent Edwards 228 15.2
147 22 QB 4 Jake Delhomme 217 14.5
148 51 WR 5 Earl Bennett 98 6.53
149 1 DT 8 Steelers DST 161 10.7
150 2 DT 10 Giants DST 155 10.3
151 62 RB 6 Glen Coffee 55 3.67
152 63 RB 6 Peyton Hillis 81 5.4
153 52 WR 6 Isaac Bruce 84 5.6
154 53 WR 7 Nate Burleson 79 5.27
155 15 TE 7 Bo Scaife 81 5.4
156 54 WR 6 Davone Bess 76 5.07
157 55 WR 9 Sidney Rice 79 5.27
158 3 DT 5 Chargers DST 146 9.73
159 4 DT 7 Ravens DST 141 9.4
160 23 QB 7 Joe Flacco 206 13.7
161 24 QB 7 Kerry Collins 199 13.3
162 15 TE 6 Anthony Fasano 67 4.47
163 16 TE 4 Brent Celek 66 4.4
164 64 RB 8 Bernard Scott 90 6
165 56 WR 5 Robert Meachem 64 4.27
166 57 WR 6 Patrick Crayton 66 4.4
167 5 DT 5 Bears DST 126 8.4
168 6 DT 7 Titans DST 122 8.13
169 7 DT 5 Packers DST 116 7.73
170 8 DT 9 Vikings DST 115 7.67
171 9 DT 8 Patriots DST 113 7.53
172 65 RB 5 Mike Bell 55 3.67
173 10 DT 6 Cowboys DST 110 7.33
174 11 DT 9 Jets D/ST 104 6.93
175 12 DT 8 Bengals DST 111 7.4

Non-PPR Changes

Top 10: Michael Turner finds his final resting place as the #6 overall back (and #7 overall) as I came to the conclusion that despite my disdain for one-trick RBs, the "Burner" is everything else a fantasy owner wants in a RB1 - he is the team's workhorse who does not see his carries taken from him at the goal line in an offense that will score a lot of points. I still wouldn't want him as my RB1 because I have little reason to believe he won't be an inconsistent RB once again after considering his running schedule gives him very few breaks. Then again, there will be also be those weeks he will really explode as well.

DeAngelo Williams

DeAngelo Williams: Tempting.

11-20: I was very tempted to move DeAngelo Williams past Steven Jackson on this week's board. My mind hasn't changed on Jackson's non-PPR inconsistency, so while he should finish higher than ninth overall among RBs, he could very well take his owners on a rollercoaster ride in the process. Williams, on the other hand, may set the world on fire in Weeks 1-13, but I still can't get past that brutal fantasy playoff schedule. I've bumped his 15-game totals up to 1,310 total yards and 13 total TDs, numbers that I feel are only attainable if his "Double Trouble" teammate Jonathan Stewart is hampered by injury all season. Pierre Thomas slides even further in non-PPR than he did in PPR due to the recent emergence of Mike Bell. As stated earlier, I don't expect a sizable workload for Bell, but he's going to chip away at Thomas' value ever so slightly, making him a mid-tier RB2 option at best.

21-50: In a number of drafts I have taken part in, Terrell Owens is slipping too far, sometimes in the middle of the fourth round. That is WR2 territory and there aren't any other WR2s available that can post 1,200 yards and 12 TDs. Speaking of WR2s, do whatever you have to do to secure at least one of the WRs I have ranked 13-18 (Ochocinco, Gonzalez, Jackson, Royal, Bowe, Houshmandzadeh). Pairing any of those WRs with any of the 12 receivers listed before them should ensure that the top WR slots are locked down all season long. Just like I mentioned in the PPR section regarding RBs and the mistake some drafters make in assuming a certain amount of players to fill RB1 or RB2 slots, the same could be said for WRs. I'm comfortable with the receivers ranked through Berrian, but after him, I get a bit concerned because at least four teams will be stuck with a wideout who will not be suited for a WR1 or WR2 spot in 12-team leagues.

51-100: After some further reflection, Derrick Mason should be poised to come close to matching last season's surprising totals barring injury. I get the sense that OC Cam Cameron wants Joe Flacco to throw just a bit more in 2009 - someone will have to pick up those catches besides Ray Rice coming out of the backfield. I think the team may to get others involved more heavily (Kelley Washington, Demetrius Williams, Mark Clayton), but ultimately, Mason is the only dependable target he has on the perimeter.

101-175: The biggest change to this part of the board is to a rookie who has experienced a meteoric rise from sixth-round draft pick this spring to someone who may be worth that same level of pick in fantasy if recent speculation is true - James Davis. There are some rumblings that Jamal Lewis may not even make the final 53-man roster and based on his production in 2008 and rough preseason so far, it's not hard to understand why. Davis would become the obvious beneficiary and would become one of the best candidates to extend the 15-year streak of at least one rookie RB crossing the 1,000-yard threshold. As a result, save yourself a headache on draft day and avoid Lewis. (I would move Lewis down further, but his release is unlikely given the $4M roster bonus he received this spring.) While you're at it, make Davis a target in the 12-13th round area and lock yourself up a potential RB3/flex option.

Favre has seen about as much movement as any player on my board over the last week. Over the weekend, I bumped him up from #18 to #13 in my QB rankings, only to remind myself that he will turn 40 during the season and, with each passing year, he becomes even more susceptible to injury. I think he will be productive and he still has a consecutive-games streak to maintain, but last season's shoulder injury should serve as a reminder that while he may start all 16 games again, the chances he will play most of them healthy is slim.

I'll close things out by quickly detailing the inclusion of Peyton Hillis and Mike Bell. At some point, Broncos HC Josh McDaniels is going to realize that Hillis is everything LaMont Jordan is and more. It's not hard to envision a committee approach that features the rookie Moreno and Hillis being the heavy lifters. On the other hand, Bell squeaks onto the Big Board after an impressive preseason. HC Sean Payton hinted last week that Bell may have worked himself into the backfield picture as a result. I don't foresee much more than 5-8 touches/game (if that), but his fantasy potential is about as good as it has been since his rookie year in Denver.