Top-100 Fantasy Football Rankings So You Can Have Someone To Blame For Your Draft
Look, someone had to do it. Someone had to have a top-100 fantasy football player ranking list here at Barstool, so why not plant that flag?
Obviously, I know the reason why. Because the only names anyone will remember will be the misses. So be it. Spoiler alert - there are going to be misses on this list. Heard it here first. But I wanted to challenge myself this year and give one a go. So here it is. The top-100 players on my board which goes Round 1 - 8 and, as is tradition, the first four picks of Round 9. Since this is my first season doing this, that technically counts as "tradition".
Quick resume for those who don't already know - I used to write on fantasy football for a few outlets including Fantasy Pros and Fantasy Points and developing the industries only true wins above replacement model which estimates how many wins any player was likely to provide YOUR fantasy team. It's complex as all hell, and probably the only smart thing I've ever done.
Let's talk through some of these takes. You'll notice the shaded column indicates how far my ranking is from ADP. Some of those ADPs have probably moved by now as it's been a couple weeks since I pulled it, but you'll get the idea.
ROUND 1
Christian McCaffrey #1 overall
Everyone (including me) who got burned last year is exactly why he's going to be a steal. I get it. What he did to us was borderline evil. But this is a true Warren Buffett "Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful" situation. There have been no health issues in camp, the 49ers are primed for a comeback season, they have (on paper) the easiest schedule in the league, and most people reading this can't even think of another running back's name on his team.
Saquon Barkley
I did a blog looking at running back seasons after a 400+ carry season (including playoffs) just to see if there's any player that can do what we assume Barkley will do with a top-pick. Turns out Eddie George and Terrell Davis provided some precedence so I'm wheels up on Barkley again this year. Just like I was last year, by the way.
Bijan Robinson
Could absolutely be the #1 dude. I just think Allgeier is too good of a backup to give him the workload that will require.
Chase Brown
Obviously taking a big stand here. I'm not really worried too much about negative game scripts as the Bengals should be able to keep up with anyone despite perhaps occasionally not bothering to field a defense. But I just don't see any competition here and he's going to be involved in the passing game.
ROUND 2
Ashton Jeanty
This one will be interesting. I'm pretty much testing my "it doesn't matter how good you are as a running back if your offensive line stinks" take which really rolls nicely off the tongue. He is a true generational three-down workhorse who has an old-school coach that will use him as such. Problem? He plays for the Raiders. And from what I'm hearing - their offensive line stinks. I'm happy to be wrong here though because I want see him do some Saquon Barkley shit. But count me for having him as over hyped.
George Kittle
It's not just about the smelling salts being back. But much like CMC, I just think 49ers are getting undervalued and he lost a lot of competition for targets. And one indicator of a great season for a tight end is having wide outs that aren't exactly target hogs. Probably not the most shocking concept, but it does mean tight ends have more opportunity for option 1 reads.
And yeah - I fought this for a while and I would rather him over Bowers. Barely, but I can't see the Raiders offense doing more than the 49ers. Both dudes will be fun to watch though. Sorry I'm down on your guys, Raiders fans. Nothing personal. It's just that you're the Raiders.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
One of my biggest fades. I am worried about the Lions. Jared Goff is not a good quarterback when he doesn't have great protection and things just aren't going to be as rosy as last year. Plus Jameson Williams seems to be coming on and I think he'll start to get more targets under new coordination. I'm not paying his ADP for last year.
Josh Allen
I'll blogged ad nauseum about how important an elite QB is and this is the spot I'd be good with taking him, knowing I can still get a guy like James Cook or Kenneth Walker in Round 3. Josh Allen is always worth a first round pick by WAR and you never have to take him there. It's insane.
Omarion Hampton
Much like Najee Harris, I don't see much competition for the stand out rookie. The loss of Slater has me worried though, I will say that. But I think this will just give you some value on him. At 29 spots ahead of ADP, I would still definitely wait a little after Round 2 before drafting him. Just know someone else in your league is thinking the same. Might still be safe at end of Round 3. But I think it's easy money that he breaks out.
ROUND 3
Courtland Sutton
He's the big move up in Round 3. 9th in receiver fantasy points from week 9-17. It took a while to develop chemistry with Bo Nix, but understandable for a rookie quarterback. That gives me confidence it's going to continue where it left off and not how it started. Hidden gem.
Brian Thomas Jr.
I could be very wrong here for being so down on him. Dude's a special talent and I even think Jacksonville can have a little bit of a bounce back with Liam Cohen. But with Travis Hunter, I already see these two being in a 1a 1b situation. That's OK if you're Ja'Marr Chase or CeeDee Lamb, but I see a pull back here. You're paying for his ceiling.
Alvin Kamara
Just a heck of a value here. The stink of the Saints is going too far in PPR. I could have easily moved him up some too. Great target for "whoops I forgot to draft a running back" guys.
ROUND 4
Stefon Diggs
Man, that bright green really blinds the eyes. I'm pretty much all in on the Patriots offense buzz and I don't get why Diggs isn't getting the respect a Captain of Memorial Day deserves. I'll definitely take my chances waiting if he falls a round or two or five, but circle this guy.
Calvin Ridley
Another guy I just don't get why isn't higher. Do we not remember how bad Will Levis was last year? Look, Cam Ward doesn't have to be Peyton Manning here. What else is going on in Tennessee? The corpse of Tyler Lockett?
Tetairoa McMillan
No one wants to draft a Panther. I get it. But that's exactly why you're getting a deal on this rookie who could come out and be the go-to for Bryce Young who is all the sudden… serviceable??
ROUND 5
TreVeyon Henderson
I might move him up higher to be honest. He could end up being that running back who wins your league with a mid-round pick. Stevenson is still a big part of the plan from what I understand, but if Henderson comes out there and wow's everyone, what's stopping him?
Justin Fields
I'm not drafting him in Round 5, but he's worth the risk for the upside. That's all you can ask for quarterback after the elites. Just grab a couple and hope one hits.
Rome Odunze
I get the sense he's going to be the guy over DJ Moore. Maybe just camp talk. But I like taking a shot here.
ROUND 6
Caleb Williams
There's literally nothing this guy doesn't now have at his disposal. Completely rebuilt offensive line. Weapons. And the best coaching prospect in years. Every position group on offense is stacked. Caleb might have been bad last year and might still be bad this year. But if he's anything remotely close to what people thought he might be he could be a league winner. And he's still late enough in drafts you can get an insurance policy.
Jauan Jennings
I mean - someone is going to have to catch some passes other than Kittle and McCaffrey. I always though he looked like a baller when he got the chance.
ROUND 7
Cooper Kupp
Everyone thinks Cooper Kupp is dead dead dead. Maybe. But with where he's going in ADP, I think it's worth fishing for upside if he's doing the "year after the year" of an injury routine.
ROUND 8
Anthony Richardson
Guys going in the 200s or at least was when I pulled ADP. That's just insane. This is fantasy football. Not real football. There is no chance Daniel Jones plays 17 games even if he starts Week 1. It'll be a blood bath for the Colts, but get some rushing points out of your quarterback you got for free.
Dak Prescott
Another sneaky bounce back candidate especially with Pickens in town. Don't forget he was one of the best just a couple years ago.
1/3 OF ROUND 9
Trever Lawrence
Shit or get off the pot, dude. This is your last chance.
Happy draft day. Whenever you celebrate.