The rankings below reflect standard scoring redraft leagues. They’ll be updated each month up until the season begins.

Quarterbacks

Tier 1

1. Aaron Rodgers — Green Bay Packers

2. Drew Brees — New Orleans Saints

3. Cam Newton — Carolina Panthers

4. Tom Brady — New England Patriots

5. Peyton Manning — Denver Broncos

Aaron Rodgers is an obvious top choice, finishing the last five fantasy seasons as a top-3 quarterback. Brees is getting his coach back, and should continue to produce high volume totals. Cam Newton’s got the tools to be the best fantasy quarterback, especially if he finishes like he did last year. He’s certainly the riskiest of the top-tier quarterbacks.

Tier 2

6. Matthew Stafford — Detroit Lions

7. Matt Ryan — Atlanta Falcons

8. Colin Kaepernick — San Francisco 49ers

9. Andrew Luck — Indianapolis Colts

10. Tony Romo — Dallas Cowboys

11. Russell Wilson — Seattle Seahawks

12. Robert Griffin III — Washington Redskins

In Tier 2, Matthew Stafford and Colin Kaepernick probably have the most upside. Stafford’s touchdown efficiency was awful in 2012, but the pass attempt volume is there to put up monster numbers. Kaepernick has a few more weapons on offense, and if he stays healthy, could easily be in top-tier discussion entering 2014.

Tier 3

13. Eli Manning — New York Giants

14. Michael Vick — Philadelphia Eagles

15. Ben Roethlisberger — Pittsburgh Steelers

16. Jay Cutler — Chicago Bears

17. Joe Flacco — Baltimore Ravens

Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco are some of the more boring potential QB1’s, but each have proven to be fantasy relevant for chunks of weeks during their careers. Todd Haley actually was turning Roethlisberger into a pretty good fantasy option before his injury last season. I like Vick as a high-upside number two, with obvious potential to be a top fantasy option. Cutler also has a lot of upside in Marc Trestman’s offense, and has a solid middle-of-the-field threat now in Martellus Bennett.

Tier 4

18. Philip Rivers — San Diego Chargers

19. Alex Smith — Kansas City Chiefs

20. Josh Freeman — Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Alex Smith is higher in my ranks than most because I think he’s a great fit for Andy Reid’s Chiefs. He won’t light up the stat sheet, but should be a pretty reliable play. Josh Freeman needs to step up his game this year, especially with Mike Glennon breathing down his neck. I still think he’ll be a viable bye week filler, but wouldn’t enjoy having him as my starter.

Tier 5

21. Andy Dalton — Cincinnati Bengals

22. Sam Bradford — St. Louis Rams

23. Matt Schaub — Houston Texans

24. Ryan Tannehill — Miami Dolphins

25. Carson Palmer — Arizona Cardinals

Similar to Freeman, Andy Dalton needs to take his game to the next level. It’ll be his third year under center for the Bengals, and with the newly drafted offensive talent, Dalton has opportunity to be a solid fantasy option. His arm strength is always a concern, especially when colder weather games hit. I’m not as high on Bradford and Tannehill as some, but think they both provide obvious upside. The Rams will probably take some time to be a cohesive offensive unit, and Tannehill could show some growing pains with newly acquired weapons, too. Carson Palmer is a sneaky late-round pick, as he’ll be paired up with the dynamic Larry Fitzgerald. If the Cardinals can get their offensive line going, Palmer could surprise us in 2013 under Bruce Arians.

Tier 6

26. Jake Locker — Tennessee Titans

27. Brandon Weeden — Cleveland Browns

28. Christian Ponder — Minnesota Vikings

29. E.J. Manuel / Kevin Kolb — Buffalo Bills

30. Geno Smith / Other Jets QB — New York Jets

I hope and pray none of these guys are on any of my teams in 2013. Of course the Jets and Bills quarterback situations will come down to pre-season play, but I still would avoid the job winners regardless. Weeden is a sneaky play, too, given the new scheme in Cleveland and the talent the Browns have on offense. Still, the position is deep enough where he can be a waiver wire pickup once the season starts.

Running Backs

Tier 1

1. Adrian Peterson — Minnesota Vikings

It’s hard for me to put anyone on Peterson’s level. It shouldn’t surprise anyone, however, if Adrian Peterson doesn’t finish as the league’s best fantasy running back in 2013. It’s not an easy thing to do. He’s still the smartest, safest pick to make at number one.

Tier 2

2. Doug Martin — Tampa Bay Buccaneers

3. C.J. Spiller — Buffalo Bills

4. Jamaal Charles — Kansas City Chiefs

5. Marshawn Lynch — Seattle Seahawks

6. Trent Richardson — Cleveland Browns

7. Arian Foster — Houston Texans

8. LeSean McCoy — Philadelphia Eagles

9. Ray Rice — Baltimore Ravens

I really think drafting in the nine or ten spot this season is going to be more beneficial than two or three. Though I love Doug Martin and C.J. Spiller, a case could be made for any of the guys in Tier 2 to be the number two pick overall. Arian Foster has durability concerns, but is still a huge touchdown scorer. Marshawn Lynch is going to benefit from better offensive talent, and Jamaal Charles could easily end up being the top back in 2013. It’s a matter of preference.

Tier 3

10. Steven Jackson — Atlanta Falcons

11. Matt Forte — Chicago Bears

12. Alfred Morris — Washington Redskins

13. Maurice Jones-Drew — Jacksonville Jaguars

I’ve been pretty open about how I feel about Steven Jackson in Atlanta. In general, I love it. He should be able to finish as an RB1 in most league formats. Forte, even in non-PPR formats, should be regarded as a low-end RB1 to high-end RB2. Trestman is going to get him the ball. Alfred Morris scares me a bit because of his lack of experience, but he’s the clear guy in Washington. And, of course, don’t forget about Maurice Jones-Drew. It wasn’t long ago when he led the league in rushing yards and was one of the best fantasy assets. I’m looking forward to seeing him bounce back.

Tier 4

14. Chris Johnson — Tennessee Titans

15. Darren McFadden — Oakland Raiders

16. Darren Sproles — New Orleans Saints

17. Stevan Ridley — New England Patriots

This tier should scare anyone. Chris Johnson obviously has the talent to be a top running back, but he’s got to get it together between the ears. The Titans offensive line should be improved, but CJ?K is a risk. Darren McFadden won’t be running in a zone blocking scheme this year, making him a little more attractive in fantasy. He’s still a player you draft knowing you may only get ten or eleven games from him. Also, I love Sproles in all league formats, not just PPR. As I wrote here, he’s one of the most consistent fantasy backs in the NFL.

Tier 5

18. Reggie Bush — Detroit Lions

19. DeMarco Murray — Dallas Cowboys

20. Chris Ivory — New York Jets

21. Frank Gore — San Francisco 49ers

Chris Ivory falls into Tier 5 with some other questionable backs. I love Ivory’s upside, and we have to remember that Shonn Greene was a reasonably effective runner in fantasy last year. Sure, his numbers were skewed with a big performance, but he’s also a bad running back. Ivory has legitimate potential to crack the top 10 at the position. I’d move Reggie Bush up in these rankings if they were PPR, but for now, I like Bush at 18. He could get close to 70 to 80 receptions this year.

Tier 6

22. Montee Ball — Denver Broncos

23. Vick Ballard — Indianapolis Colts

24. Ryan Mathews — San Diego Chargers

Montee Ball has the most opportunity of any rookie back. Anyone running with Peyton Manning under center is going to effective, as we saw with Knowshon Moreno last season. You don’t have to be ultra-talented, you just need to be fed the rock. Vick Ballard is an interesting pick in 2013. He’s more of a plodder, but the lack of competition in the Colts backfield makes him attractive. Oh, and Ryan Mathews (I feel like I had to mention his name).

Tier 7

25. David Wilson — New York Giants

26. Le’Veon Bell — Pittsburgh Steelers

27. Lamar Miller — Miami Dolphins

Lots of upside in this tier, but also a lot of risk. I’m not completely convinced that David Wilson will be the lead back in New York, but time will tell. He looks to be more talented than teammate Andre Brown, but will surely lose some goalline touches. Le’Veon Bell, as of right now, will be the lead back for the Steelers. People are speculating, however, that Ahmad Bradshaw will be brought in for those duties. I’m not on the Bradshaw to Pittsburgh bandwagon. Like Wilson, I’m not entirely sure Lamar Miller will automatically be the lead dog in Miami. Rookie Mike Gillislee has impressed Dolphins coaches early on, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see more of a committee system in Miami in 2013.

Tier 8

28. Jonathan Stewart — Carolina Panthers

29. Andre Brown — New York Giants

30. Rashard Mendenhall — Arizona Cardinals

31. Mark Ingram — New Orleans Saints

32. BenJarvus Green-Ellis — Cincinnati Bengals

33. Shane Vereen — New England Patriots

Mark Ingram has shot up the draft boards as of late, but it’s not necessarily because Chris Ivory is out of town. The Saints actually started running the ball pretty efficiently over the second half of the season, making Ingram a candidate for breakout in 2013. BenJarvus Green-Ellis should see a decrease in carries for Cincinnati this season with Gio Bernard coming to town. And if DeAngelo Williams is indeed cut by the Panthers, I’ll probably be moving Jonathan Stewart up a few notches before the season starts.

Tier 9

34. Giovani Bernard — Cincinnati Bengals

35. Bernard Pierce — Baltimore Ravens

36. Ben Tate — Houston Texans

37. Mikel Leshoure — Detroit Lions

38. Eddie Lacy — Green Bay Packers

39. Jonathan Franklin — Green Bay Packers

Rookie Eddie Lacy’s toe injury is scary, especially when you consider Jonathan Franklin’s presence right behind him in the potential Green Bay depth chart. If this were PPR rankings, I’d give the edge to Franklin over Lacy. I also feel dirty putting two backups this high on a running back list, but that’s how today’s NFL works. Ben Tate and Bernard Pierce would be tough to trust on a weekly basis, but should provide solid bye week depth. Plus, they’re handcuffs to two stud backs.

Tier 10

40. Danny Woodhead — San Diego Chargers

41. Isaiah Pead — St. Louis Rams

42. Bryce Brown — Philadelphia Eagles

43. Fred Jackson — Buffalo Bills

44. Shonn Greene — Tennessee Titans

45. Zac Stacy — St. Louis Rams

It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Zac Stacy ends up being the Rams lead back, and at the very least, he should see goal line carries. Pead is the most explosive of the bunch in St. Louis, but his size is a little concerning. Don’t sleep on Danny Woodhead in San Diego, either. After all, he’s just one year removed from being a low-end RB2 in some leagues.

Tier 11

46. Ryan Williams — Arizona Cardinals

47. Ahmad Bradshaw — Free Agent

48. Pierre Thomas — New Orleans Saints

49. Jacquizz Rodgers — Atlanta Falcons

50. Daryl Richardson — St. Louis Rams

51. LaMichael James — San Francisco 49ers

52. Mike Goodson — New York Jets

I’m a big Ahmad Bradshaw fan. I just wish his feet would work. If he signs with a team needing running back help, like the Steelers, I could see him being a nice low-end RB2 option. It’s amazing to see how far Jacquizz Rodgers has fallen after the Steven Jackson signing. He’ll be a third down back, which is fine for the 49th ranked running back. Pierre Thomas is a veteran to keep an eye out on. Some like him more than Mark Ingram, but even so, the Saints seem pretty set on getting running backs the ball in 2013.

Tier 12

53. Mike Gillislee — Miami Dolphins

54. Stepfan Taylor — Arizona Cardinals

55. DeAngelo Williams — Carolina Panthers

56. Andre Ellington — Arizona Cardinals

57. Latavius Murray — Oakland Raiders

58. Mike Tolbert — Carolina Panthers

59. Jonathan Dwyer — Pittsburgh Steelers

60. Knowshon Moreno — Denver Broncos

This tier is full of players who may not even play for their current teams in 2013. DeAngelo Williams is the biggest name that may get cut, and some believe the Broncos will opt to keep Willis McGahee over Knowshon Moreno (I don’t). Jonathan Dwyer, too, may not be a Steeler next year. Other than that, this section is full of rookie backs without immediate opportunity.

Wide Receivers

Tier 1

1. Calvin Johnson — Detroit Lions

Like Adrian Peterson, I see Calvin Johnson in an easy tier of his own. Probably easier than Peterson, too. We have to essentially treat Calvin like a running back.

Tier 2

2. A.J. Green — Cincinnati Bengals

3. Dez Bryant — Dallas Cowboys

4. Brandon Marshall — Chicago Bears

5. Julio Jones — Atlanta Falcons

You can go wrong with any of these guys in the second round of your fantasy draft. A.J. Green is limited by Andy Dalton’s arm strength, but is still a crazy red zone threat. Dez Bryant was unstoppable over the second half of last season, and I think it’ll continue into 2013. Brandon Marshall should actually be more efficient in 2013 under Trestman (sensing a Bears theme with these rankings?), and could lead the NFL in receptions.

Tier 3

6. Demaryius Thomas — Denver Broncos

7. Percy Harvin — Seattle Seahawks



I don’t think Demaryius Thomas’ stock took too big of a hit when the Broncos signed Wes Welker. There are more mouths to feed, but Thomas is a freak athlete who can get down the field and make plays.

Tier 4

8. Roddy White — Atlanta Falcons

9. Vincent Jackson — Tampa Bay Buccaneers

10. Victor Cruz — New York Giants

11. Andre Johnson — Houston Texans

12. Randall Cobb — Green Bay Packers

13. Michael Crabtree — San Francisco 49ers

Roddy White has gotten little love since Julio Jones came into the picture in Atlanta. White is a model for consistency, and is one of the more valuable picks in 2013 fantasy drafts. I’m also pretty high on Vincent Jackson. I think his rapport can continue this season with Josh Freeman, and given their solid run game, Jackson could see some nice single coverage matchups.

Tier 5

14. Jordy Nelson — Green Bay Packers

15. Larry Fitzgerald — Arizona Cardinals

16. Hakeem Nicks — New York Giants

17. Reggie Wayne — Indianapolis Colts

18. Marques Colston — New Orleans Saints

19. Dwayne Bowe — Kansas City Chiefs

Another guy being overlooked is Dwayne Bowe. He’s only a few seasons removed from a 15-touchdown year, and gets Alex Smith this year running a favorable West Coast offense. Marques Colston has been unbelievably consistent from a year-to-year standpoint since entering the league, and I expect him to finish as a top-20 wideout. Larry Fitzgerald can easily finish as a top option at wideout with Carson Palmer under center. The Cardinals just have to get their offensive line in order.

Tier 6

20. Wes Welker — Denver Broncos

21. Pierre Garcon — Washington Redskins

22. Steve Smith — Carolina Panthers

23. Antonio Brown — Pittsburgh Steelers

24. Torrey Smith — Baltimore Ravens

I’m in love with Steve Smith’s value this season. Over the last two seasons, Smith has compiled the 12th most fantasy points at wide receiver. I was higher on Pierre Garcon earlier this off-season, but his foot looks like it’s still giving him issues. Welker would be higher on this list if it were PPR, and I think he’s got a significant edge over Broncos’ wideout Eric Decker.

Tier 7

25. Danny Amendola — New England Patriots

26. James Jones — Green Bay Packers

27. T.Y. Hilton — Indianapolis Colts

28. Cecil Shorts — Jacksonville Jaguars

29. Josh Gordon — Cleveland Browns

Tier 7 should be called the “upside” tier. Though James Jones saw a ridiculous touchdown rate in 2012, his role should remain similar entering 2013 with Greg Jennings out of the picture. I really am looking forward to Josh Gordon under Chudzinski, and Cecil Shorts saw a nice bump in rankings with the recent suspension of Justin Blackmon. And if Reggie Wayne shows any sign of old age, T.Y. Hilton could really have a big year.

Tier 8

30. Greg Jennings — Minnesota Vikings

31. Mike Williams — Tampa Bay Buccaneers

32. Stevie Johnson — Buffalo Bills

33. Mike Wallace — Miami Dolphins

Mike Williams is very touchdown dependent, but you can almost guarantee 60-plus receptions and over 900 yards from him. Jennings is attractive because of volume, as there’s little competition in Minnesota. Having him as a WR3 would be nice in 12-team standard leagues.

Tier 9

34. Lance Moore — New Orleans Saints

35. Eric Decker — Denver Broncos

36. DeSean Jackson — Philadelphia Eagles

37. Tavon Austin — St. Louis Rams

38. Kendall Wright — Tennessee Titans

39. Danario Alexander — San Diego Chargers

40. Jeremy Maclin — Philadelphia Eagles

In 2012, Lance Moore had seven top-24 finishes. That tied him for 13th in the NFL at the wide receiver position. He’s unpredictable, but he’s still a fantasy asset as long as Drew Brees is throwing him the rock. I have Tavon Austin at 36, and he’d be higher in PPR formats. I think he’s the only rookie wide receiver that will impact that fantasy landscape from Day 1.

Tier 10

41. Miles Austin — Dallas Cowboys

42. Mohamed Sanu — Cincinnati Bengals

43. Alshon Jeffery — Chicago Bears

44. Brian Quick — St. Louis Rams

45. Kenny Britt — Tennessee Titans

46. Chris Givens — St. Louis Rams

One of my favorite wide receiver sleepers this season is Mohamed Sanu. The Bengals receiver caught four touchdowns in three games prior to a season-ending injury, and should see soft coverage with A.J. Green lined up opposite of him. I’m a fan of second-year receivers, and this group has Sanu, Jeffery and Quick. Each of them have a chance to break out this season.

Tier 11

47. Vincent Brown — San Diego Chargers

48. Sidney Rice — Seattle Seahawks

49. Michael Floyd — Arizona Cardinals

50. Emmanuel Sanders — Pittsburgh Steelers

51. Brian Hartline — Miami Dolphins

52. Justin Blackmon — Jacksonville Jaguars

53. Ryan Broyles — Detroit Lions

54. Rueben Randle — New York Giants

Emmanuel Sanders has had opportunities to be the guy in Pittsburgh, but hasn’t really lived up to expectations. With rookie Markus Wheaton behind him, Sanders will need a solid start to the season in order to remain fantasy relevant. Also, don’t overlook Brian Hartline. He should see favorable looks with Mike Wallace stretching the field this season.

Tier 12

55. Stephen Hill — New York Jets

56. Denarius Moore — Oakland Raiders

57. DeAndre Hopkins — Houston Texans

58. Anquan Boldin — San Francisco 49ers

59. Greg Little — Cleveland Browns

60. Markus Wheaton — Pittsburgh Steelers

If Denarius Moore had a better quarterback situation, I’d be higher on him. Don’t forget: Denarius Moore was a must-start for a good portion of the 2012 season. Markus Wheaton has a great opportunity to become the number two option in Pittsburgh this season, and will certainly be the deep threat to replace Mike Wallace. I’m not one to draft rookie wideouts, but Wheaton is attractive at the end of drafts.



Tight Ends

Tier 1

1. Jimmy Graham — New Orleans Saints

2. Rob Gronkowski — New England Patriots

The obvious top tier, Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski will, and should, be second round targets in August. I’m not as concerned about Gronkowski’s injuries as others, and think his touchdown efficiency is enough upside to draft him in the late-second round.

Tier 2

3. Aaron Hernandez — New England Patriots

4. Jason Witten — Dallas Cowboys

If you look at his numbers, Aaron Hernandez is actually a little overrated. And if you look at the numbers, Jason Witten is underrated. Hernandez has had trouble staying on the field, but with the question marks surrounding Gronkowski, he’s got a shot to really be the tight end this season. His targets are usually there, he just hasn’t consistently been productive. Witten, on the other hand, hasn’t missed a game since 2007. You can automatically mark him for about 950 yards and a few scores. If he gets a few more touchdowns than he did last season, Witten could sore into top-tight end territory.

Tier 3

5. Tony Gonzalez — Atlanta Falcons

6. Dennis Pitta — Baltimore Ravens

With no retirement, Tony Gonzalez should continue to provide top fantasy numbers for fake football teams. He’s been a top-3 fantasy option ten different times throughout his career, and since his rookie season, has been a top-10 each year but one. Dennis Pitta is looking to take on the role of the departed Anquan Boldin, and he performed very well with Jim Caldwell calling plays. I see Pitta as a strong TE1 option.

Tier 4

7. Kyle Rudolph — Minnesota Vikings

8. Greg Olsen — Carolina Panthers

Somebody’s got to catch passes in both Minnesota and Carolina, right? Kyle Rudolph and Greg Olsen will provide the Vikings and Panthers with middle-of-the-field options, as there’s no true number two wideouts in either of those systems. I like Rudolph slightly more because of his red zone presence.

Tier 5

9. Jared Cook — St. Louis Rams

10. Owen Daniels — Houston Texans

11. Brandon Pettigrew — Detroit Lions

12. Martellus Bennett — Chicago Bears

13. Dwayne Allen — Indianapolis Colts

14. Vernon Davis — San Francisco 49ers

Jared Cook may finally get the opportunity we’ve been waiting for in 2013. I was big on Lance Kendricks in St. Louis last season because of Brian Schottenheimer’s tight end use, and hopefully Cook can be that nice option this season. Martellus Bennett will fit nicely in Chicago, and the last time Cutler had a moderately talented tight end (Greg Olsen), he put up fairly good numbers. Dwayne Allen will be an interesting play out of Indianpolis under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton. I expect the Colts to utilize both tight ends this season, especially in the red zone.

Tier 6

15. Jermichael Finley — Green Bay Packers

16. Antonio Gates — San Diego Chargers

17. Brandon Myers — New York Giants

18. Jordan Cameron — Cleveland Browns

19. Rob Housler — Arizona Cardinals

20. Dustin Keller — Miami Dolphins

The big sleepers of 2013 will be Jordan Cameron and Rob Housler. Cameron is getting Kyle Rudolph-type hype this off-season, and for good reason. He’ll be in Chudzinski’s system, which has produced nice statistics from guys like Greg Olsen and Antonio Gates. Housler is a quick tight end, running a 4.46 40-yard dash at his combine, and could be the security blanket Carson Palmer needs while he’s under pressure.

Tier 7

21. Tyler Eifert — Cincinnati Bengals

22. Heath Miller — Pittsburgh Steelers

23. Coby Fleener — Indianapolis Colts

24. Zach Miller — Seattle Seahawks

I’m expecting Tyler Eifert to play a decent role in Cincinnati this year, especially considering the way Jermaine Gresham played against Houston in the first round of the playoffs a season ago. Heath Miller will more than likely not start the season due to a torn ACL, but if he were, he’d be a top-12 tight end option. Also, don’t sleep on Zach Miller. He finished the season strong, including a 142-yard performance against the Falcons in the playoffs.

Tier 8

25. James Casey — Philadelphia Eagles

26. Jermaine Gresham — Cincinnati Bengals

27. Jacob Tamme — Denver Broncos

28. Marcedes Lewis — Jacksonville Jaguars

29. Ed Dickson — Baltimore Ravens

30. Brent Celek — Philadelphia Eagles

I was ready to dub James Casey the biggest tight end sleeper this season, but given the crowded tight end situation in Philly, I don’t see Casey as anything more than a bye week filler. Ed Dickson may see more looks with so few receiving options in Baltimore, but Dennis Pitta is still the guy to own there.



