Take a look back at who we had as our top ranked players to start our 2007 cheat sheets. These are our off season rankings and are the starting point for our cheat sheets each season and were posted in June of 2007. Our cheat sheets are updated daily as we get closer to the season but this was where we start in '07!
Running Backs
LaDainian Tomlinson – Even with changes in SD if LT is #1 on your RB list you shouldn’t be playing fantasy football.
Steven Jackson – Showed exactly what he can do when he’s “the man” for a strong offense.
Shaun Alexander – Look for Alexander to bounce back quickly and have another big year.
Larry Johnson – Hold out a possibility with LJ that can’t be ignored and the quickly crumbling offensive line in KC takes LJ out of the “upper echelon” in fantasy football. Still, he’ll be the workhorse and the #1, #2 and #3 goal line option in KC (if they ever get to the goal line).
Brian Westbrook – Biggest concern for Westbrook is the multiple weapons Philly likes to use around the end zone. But Westbrook gets the ball in many ways and as he goes so goes the Eagles.
Joseph Addai – Proved his value last year and we’ll be watching and listening very closely in pre-season – as soon as it seems he’s going to get the carries of a true #1 back he moves up the rankings.
Frank Gore – Don’t look now but the 49ers don’t suck nearly as bad anymore and Gore is a big reason why.
Willie Parker – A lot of short runs can be frustrating but the consistency with which Parker breaks big ones seemingly every game is impressive.
Reggie Bush – Likely only going to get better and that’s a scary thought, he’s a threat from many places on the field and gets the ball in many ways. Have to temper excitement a bit on Saints players as a reality check following an emotional ride last season but Bush is the real deal.
Rudi Johnson – The starting RB in a high powered offense is always a nice guy to have on your roster.
Travis Henry – Every RB that gets the ball in Denver seems to put up numbers. If Henry is “the” guy in Denver he could be a nice producer this season.
Willis McGahee – Break out year seems imminent, why not this season?
Laurence Maroney – Another young RB that appears to have everything it takes to be successful.
Maurice Jones-Drew – Again, a multi-threat as he does a nice job catching the ball out of the backfield.
Clinton Portis – Health, health, health?
Deuce McAllister - A forgotten man seemingly, but still very talented.
Ronnie Brown – Too much talent not to bounce back and put up some nice numbers.
Cedric Benson – One headed monster now, if he stays healthy should have a big season.
Thomas Jones – Fresh start could propel him to some very nice numbers.
Adrian Peterson – Behind a great offensive line Peterson has a chance to be the top rookie RB in the league as the Vikings look to be ready to give him the chance.
Brandon Jacobs – He’s the goal line option and has a nose for the end zone.
Quarterbacks
Peyton Manning – No reason to think he doesn’t continue to be the top QB in the NFL and in fantasy football.
Carson Palmer – Simply too many weapons at his disposal and a full year remove from knee surgery now look for another big year from Carson.
Tom Brady – All he does is win and throw TD passes. Now with a new weapon in Moss who we believe will (for at least 1 season) be an asset rather than a hindrance.
Drew Brees – Perhaps back to earth a bit this season a bit but they have a lot of offensive weapons on this team and he will put up some nice points.
Marc Bulger – Fast offense and fast turf now with a solid running game to support him.
Donovan McNabb – Injury concerns (as always with McNabb) but if healthy we like McNabb – particularly with a chip on his shoulder after the Eagles drafted Kolb.
Matt Hasselback – Continues to be underrated and with a great RB behind him, perhaps that’s why but his potential for huge games can’t be ignored.
Mike Vick – Changes in Atlanta warrant watching and the affect on Vick won’t be known until the season gets going, but he’s still such a huge threat to get you point multiple ways.
Matt Leinart – Solid rookie campaign, we worry a bit don’t expect a “sophomore slump” from this guy who seems he was born to be a QB.
Vince Young – As with Vick, can get you points in more than one way. But Young will get more attention from defenses this year and still some questions about what he has around him.
Philip Rivers – Expect some decline from the Chargers offense with a much tougher schedule and coaching changes but with a fake to LT giving you the fake Rivers can throw on a D he’ll have plenty of chances to make big plays.
Tony Romo – Not entirely sold on Romo but the offense is solid and he certainly has potential to have a huge year.
Jay Cutler – See above. Another guy we aren’t completely sold on just yet but the starting QB on a playoff caliber team can’t be too far down the QB list.
Jon Kitna – Yet more help at WR the Lions offense could continue to get better and Kitna, though not likely to ever be great is in a spot to put a big numbers.
Jake Delhomme – If the Panthers can just stay healthy they have a potent team and Delhomme is a good weapon. You’ll likely see Jake higher on our cheat sheets as the season nears.
Ben Roethlisberger – A wild ride to start his career and changes in Pittsburgh leave Big Ben a rather sizeable question mark but if you can stand the downs, the ups can be big.
Brett Favre – The guy can still throw the ball all over the place – unfortunately he often does. If the Packers can be a better football, Favre moves up the list because the INT problems are a direct result of always being behind in games.
Eli Manning – Wheels are coming off for Eli but he clings onto our Top 20 as the skill is there and the talent is around him, he just has too many implosions still.
Chad Pennington – Can he stay injury free? If so the Jets offense is opening up and Pennington has the ability to put up some huge numbers as he did at times last year. Just too often we saw the “other side of the coin”
Alex Smith – With Gore providing a running game and the offensive line showing signs they may be coming around (finally) we may finally see the breakout year from Smith. If we see it in pre-season look for Smith to move quickly up on our Cheat Sheets.
Steve McNair – Some emerging weapons around him and his defense giving him the chance to make a good performance look great McNair remains a nice option.
Wide Receivers
Marvin Harrison – Best WR of his generation, perhaps the best of all-time.
Chad Johnson – Expect the Bengals offense to better this season and Johnson to benefit as much as anyone.
Torry Holt – Still getting it done week after week.
Steve Smith – See comments on Delhomme – when the Panthers are firing on all cylinders Smith is one of the best to have.
Reggie Wayne – I guess being #2 behind the best isn’t too bad.
Terrell Owens – Concerns about Owens attitude and effort always at hand but the guy makes plays and loves the end zone.
TJ Houshsmandzadeh – With Palmer fully healthy there are plenty of TD passes to go around in Cinncy.
Roy Williams – Looking to finally fulfill long coming expectations as a star in this league, first step last year makes him a solid choice this season.
Plaxico Burress – Just keeps getting catching balls and scoring touchdowns.
Anquan Boldin – With Leinart looking like the real deal Arizona WRs are still a commodity, take your favorite.
Larry Fitzgerald – See above…..
Marques Colston – As we’ve said with several Saints players, not likely to see a repeat of the magic from last season but this guy can play and they have a lot of weapons to keep defenses busy.
Randy Moss – Randy, Randy, Randy. IF (and that is a HUGE IF) Randy decides to actually show up and play (and if he can’t for the Pats he simply can’t) he has the talent to move up this list on our cheat sheets.
Javon Walker – With time in Denver under his belt Walker could make big strides.
Donald Driver – Favre can still sling it and one of his favorite targets remains Driver.
Lee Evans – In an offense that wants big plays, Evans will have chances to be on the other end of many of those.
Andre Johnson – Never a great option to have a Texan on your team these days, but this is the best one.
Reggie Brown – When fully healthy the Eagles can put up some points, Brown emerging as a weapon.
Mark Clayton – Not in a high powered offense but a favorite option of a very solid QB.
Hines Ward – See Plaxico Burress. This guy just keeps making plays.
Braylon Edwards – No question he has the ability to be a star, could finally be this season.
