On Monday, we started a series in which we ranked each of the 32 NFL teams by their Fantasy Football prowess. We covered eight teams each on Monday (32-25), Tuesday (24-17), and Wednesday (16-9). Today, we wrap up the series with the league's top eight teams. Which team makes the biggest contribution to Fantasy Football? Read on to find out.
-To qualify as a ‘Fantasy Starter’, the player must rank as a top 12 QB or TE, top 24 RB, or top 36 in our site rankings (0.5 PPR scoring)
-‘Team Fantasy Points’ determined by calculating the fantasy points scored by all offensive players. Passing: 1 pt = 20 yards, 1 INT = -2 pts, Rushing: 1 pt = 10 yards, Receiving: 1pt = 10 yards, 0.5 pts = 1 reception. All positions: 6 pts = 1 TD, -1 pt = 1 fumble
-Teams are ranked based on a combination of ‘Total Fantasy Points’ and ‘Fantasy Starters’
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8. Philadelphia Eagles
Team Fantasy Points: 1,387
Fantasy Starters: 4 (Vick, McCoy, Jackson, Maclin)
A ranking of eighth probably seems low for the high-powered offensive attack that is the Philadelphia Eagles, but it’s easier to understand when you consider how pass heavy the team has been under Andy Reid. The starters are all back from 2010, but this year’s offense will feature a ridiculous amount of depth. A second-team made exclusively of newcomers Vince Young, Ronnie Brown, Steve Smith, Donald Lee, and Johnnie Lee Higgins could compete with several of the league’s starting units.
Stud: QB Michael Vick
Vick’s style of play will always make his fantasy owners nervous, but those same owners will also enjoy ridiculous production when he’s healthy. Fantasy quarterbacks bank on pass attempts and scrambles for points and the only way to get those is by virtue of drop backs. The Eagles consistently are among the NFL leaders in the drop back category, allowing Vick plenty of opportunities to rack up points. Don’t let him fall past Round 2.
Disappointment: RB LeSean McCoy
McCoy has quietly proven to be a very effective NFL running back, but the problem is that the Eagles don’t run the ball enough to put him in the “elite” RB category. 17 or so touches each game will allow him to rack up near 1,500 total yards, but our current projection of 210 carries ranks him just 29th in the league. He’s still a RB1, but more on the “back-end” side of things—even in PPR.
Sleeper: TE Brent Celek
After a huge 2009 campaign, Celek’s catch rate and target numbers dwindled with Michael Vick under center in 2010. Vick has already hinted that he’ll get his tight end more involved this year, which should be more than enough convincing for you to target Celek as your TE2. A repeat of 2009 is unlikely, but TE1 status isn’t out of the question.
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7. Houston Texans
Team Fantasy Points: 1,424
Fantasy Starters: 4 (Schaub, Foster, Johnson, Daniels)
The Texans can’t seem to get over the hump and into the playoffs, but they sure do have an appealing fantasy offense. We know they have a dynamic passing game, led by the Matt Schaub-to-Andre Johnson connection, but the 2010 emergence of Arian Foster gives them a more balanced attack. The No. 2 WR situation continues to underwhelm, but tight end Owen Daniels is back to full health and will be second in line for targets. You won’t find many teams with more fantasy potential on the bench at the tailback (Derrick Ward / Ben Tate / Steve Slaton) or tight end (Joel Dreessen / James Casey / Garrett Graham) positions.
Stud: RB Arian Foster
The odds are heavily against Foster repeating his dominant 2010 numbers, but he should still be able to settle in as one of the league’s most productive backs. The Texans are very deep at running back, but they are unlikely to stop Foster from seeing close to two dozen touches every week. He should be off the board no later than pick three in all formats…even with the hamstring injury.
Disappointment: N/A
Sleeper: WR Dorin Dickerson
Kevin Walter catches everything thrown his direction and Jacoby Jones is a playmaker, but neither have the upside of 2010 seventh round pick Dorin Dickerson. A tight end at Pitt, the Texans converted Dickerson to wide receiver last off-season. He has the size and athleticism to make a splash at the NFL level, but is still learning the ropes. If he gets off to a strong start, don’t be surprised if he pushes Walter and Jones for serious playing time.
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6. Dallas Cowboys
Team Fantasy Points: 1,434
Fantasy Starters: 5 (Romo, Jones, Austin, Bryant, Witten)
According to our rankings, only three of the 32 NFL teams enjoy 5+ fantasy “starters”. Dallas (along with Indianapolis and Atlanta) is one of those teams. Tony Romo is a bit underrated and should be categorized in the second tier of quarterbacks. Jones is a player we talked about as a 2011 sleeper back in 2010 and he’s showing that potential this pre-season. Considering how heavily the Cowboys offense will rely on its top three pass-catchers, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, and Jason Witten could all end up as No. 1 options (top 12) at their respective position, which would be an impressive feat.
Stud: QB Tony Romo
Quietly one of Fantasy’s most productive quarterbacks, Tony Romo isn’t quite getting the love this off-season. Savvy drafters are smart enough to wait at quarterback and grab Romo once the “big six” are off the board, but he’s still being overlooked by many. My current projections show him just 18 fantasy points (1.1 per game) behind third-ranked Drew Brees.
Disappointment: N/A
Sleeper: RB Felix Jones
It’s hard to call Jones a sleeper at this point as he’s currently skyrocketing up everyone’s draft board. Still, considering his unbelievably unlucky Touchdown rate in 2010, there’s so much room for improvement that he’s worth a mention. He’s the clear feature back with Marion Barber in Chicago and Tashard Choice hasn’t done enough to make this a timeshare. Jones won’t carry a full load like some premier fantasy backs, but he’ll see 16-18 touches/week will be enough to make him a solid RB2 play.
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5. Green Bay Packers
Team Fantasy Points: 1,454
Fantasy Starters: 3 (Rodgers, Jennings, Finley)
The Superbowl Champs are one of only two teams in our Top 12 with fewer than four “starters”, but they make up for it with superstars at three of our four positions. Aaron Rodgers and Jermichael Finley have a legit shot at being the top scorer at their respective position and Jennings is a top-12 option at wideout. The Donald Driver-Jordy Nelson-James Jones-Randall Cobb committee is outstanding as a whole, but will make it tough for any of them to really emerge as a consistent fantasy threat. Ryan Grant just missed the cut as a Top 24 RB, but is a good early-season Flex option.
Stud: QB Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers and the aforementioned Michael Vick are far and away the top two options at quarterback this season. In fact, if you miss out on one of these two fine players in the first two rounds, you’re better off waiting quite a while at the position. Rodgers enjoys an acceptable running game, a pair of superstar pass-catchers, three additional veteran wide receivers who could start on a weekly basis if called upon, and an early-round draft pick who could be one of the game’s next best playmakers. Rodgers is a slam dunk at the quarterback position.
Disappointment: WR Greg Jennings
I still like Jennings as a Top 12 fantasy wideout, but I’m seeing him drafted among the top five or six receivers and that is unacceptable. He did rack up well over 1,500 yards and scored 14 times in 20 games last season (including the playoffs, obviously), but he did this with Finley on Injured Reserve. Finley will be back in 2011 and you can bet that he’s going to steal both targets and touchdowns from Jennings. Consider that Jennings’ TD rate was 6.6% in 2009 when Finley was around most of the season and 14.4% in 2010 with Finley out most of the way. Expect numbers closer to his 2009/2010 average in 2011.
Sleeper: RB James Starks / Alex Green
Although I see Ryan Grant as the team’s feature back, there’s no question that Starks, and to a lesser extent, Alex Green will be hot on his tail for touches. The three will most likely offset one another in 2011, but an injury here or a fumble problem there by Grant could lead to one of Starks or Green emerging.
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4. New England Patriots
Team Fantasy Points: 1,461
Fantasy Starters: 3 (Brady, Welker, Gronkowski)
The Patriots roster currently shows six running backs who could legitimately see, at least, a handful of touches every week. This bodes well for the team in terms of depth at the position, but it’s a pain in the rear for fantasy owners. Although BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead are worth a look at the Flex, they’re not quite RB2 material. Tom Brady and Wes Welker are relatively safe, but things are not as a clear in the No. 2 WR and No. 1 TE department. Chad Ochocinco and Rob Gronkowski have the edge, respectively, but Deion Branch and Aaron Hernandez will be in the mix for snaps, as well.
Stud: Tom Brady
As good as the Patriots offense is, it’s a bit surprising that not one of their offensive players is in the “No. 1 at their position” discussion. Tom Brady is the closest. You can bet on some regression in the interception department this year, but he’ll still produce touchdowns with the league’s best. He rarely scrambles and the new, conservative approach in New England won’t allow him to put up the yardage numbers of a Drew Brees or Peyton Manning, which is why he falls in tier No. 2. Regardless, he’s a Top 5 option at the position.
Disappointment: Aaron Hernandez
As talented as Hernandez can be in the receiving game, he’s going to continue to be limited by the other mouths that need feeding in New England. The problem starts at tight end where Rob Gronkowski plays almost every down. The Patriots do use a second tight more than anyone, but half the time that’s a blocker (Alge Crumpler in 2010, Lee Smith or Will Yeatman in 2011). If that’s not troubling enough, Hernandez now has additional competition for slot snaps with Chad Ochocinco in the picture. When Ochocinco, Welker, Gronkowski, and Deion Branch are on the field together, Hernandez is the odd man out. He’ll have a few big games when New England is playing from behind, but he’s a TE2 at best on draft day.
Sleeper: Taylor Price
Stevan Ridley is the popular Patriots sleeper right now, but the New England backfield is so crowded that I decided to go another direction. The top three receivers are all but locked into their positions as of now, which certainly limits Price’s upside, but look a little closer. Welker and injury-plagued Branch are in contract years. Chad Ochocinco is 33 and on the decline. The Patriots have every reason to get Taylor Price experience and it will only take one injury to get him in the No. 3 WR mix. Julian Edelman and Brandon Tate provide competition, but Price wasn’t a 2010 third round pick simply so he could ride the pine. Don’t draft him, but keep him on your watch list.
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3. Indianapolis Colts
Team Fantasy Points: 1,462
Fantasy Starters: 6 (Manning, Addai, Wayne, Collie, Garcon, Clark)
The uncertainty surrounding Peyton Manning’s neck injury is taking a chunk of the appeal out of the other members of the Colts offense, but there’s still plenty to love. Even if Manning misses a few games, he’ll return as one of fantasy’s elite options at the position. Joseph Addai has a little bit of competition from Donald Brown and rookie Delone Carter, but he’s still RB2 material in 2011. Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, and Pierre Garcon make for arguably the best one-two-three wide receiver attack in fantasy. Dallas Clark returns from injury as a top four option at the tight end position.
Stud: Dallas Clark
Antonio Gates might be the clear No. 1 Tight End this year, but Clark isn’t too far behind. You can safely expect him to average close to eight targets every week and the Colts high-powered offense means plenty of touchdown opportunities. Injuries are becoming a bit of a concern with Clark, but he’s worth the risk considering his on-field production.
Disappointment: Jacob Tamme
Elite handcuff? Absolutely. Worth considering in a draft? Not a chance. Tamme was so good in place of Clark last season that I named my series on handcuffs after him. That being said, he’s still the No. 2 receiver in Indianapolis with Clark back to 100%. Even if he sees a few more snaps, 2-3 targets is his best case scenario as long as he’s second on the depth chart. If you’re one of those people drafting him late, stop it!
Sleeper: Austin Collie
Collie missed a large chunk of the 2010 season thanks to a pair of concussions, but do you recall who the top-scoring fantasy receiver was when he went down with his first concussion? If you guessed Collie, you’re correct. Manning relied so heavily on Collie that when he returned briefly in week 11, Manning threw his direction on six of Collie’s 10 snaps. In week 15, Collie ran just 27 pass routes, but was targeted a whopping 10 times. A healthy Pierre Garcon / Reggie Wayne / Dallas Clark trio around him will make for a four-way timeshare, but the offense is pass-heavy enough to support them all as fantasy starters. A full 16-game season will mean close to 90 receptions and 10 scores for Collie.
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2. San Diego Chargers
Team Fantasy Points: 1,486
Fantasy Starters: 4 (Rivers, Mathews, Jackson, Gates)
A few months ago, I announced my Superbowl 46 prediction: Chargers over the Eagles. That being the case, it should go without saying that I think very highly of the Chargers’ offense. Philip Rivers is one of the league’s premier quarterbacks and his favorite target, Antonio Gates, is widely considered to be the game’s top tight end. Ryan Mathews is a bit unproven, but he showed his upside in 2010. He and converted fullback Mike Tolbert team up to form an impressive one-two punch at tailback. The wide receivers will look quite different than they did in the 2010 season opener, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Vincent Jackson should be in for a full season and underrated Malcom Floyd was brought back as the No. 2. Patrick Crayton and impressive rookie Vincent Brown will battle for snaps in 3-WR sets. All in all, the Chargers should rival the NFL leaders in offensive scoring.
Stud: Antonio Gates
The injury issues are troubling, but the upside here is too great to pass on. My projections show Gates not only as the top scoring Tight End in 2011, but also as a Top 5 scorer if Wide Receiver and Tight End were to be combined. Many will suggest waiting at TE this year because it’s so deep, but that’s a mistake if Gates is still on the board late in Round 3. If he makes it through the entire 2011 season with his health, you basically have another Top 5 WR on your team. If not, have you heard that Tight End is deep this year? There will be someone serviceable on the Waiver Wire for those few weeks you think he’ll miss.
Disappointment: Vincent Jackson
The only reason Jackson is here is because he’s being discussed in some circles as a Top 5 fantasy wideout. Don’t buy it. What do Roddy White, Andre Johnson, Hakeem Nicks, Larry Fitzgerald, and Calvin Johnson have in common? They’re all the No. 1 option in their respective team’s passing game. As explosive as the Chargers offense is, Jackson is No. 2 (or, at least, 1A) behind Gates. Jackson is certainly a WR1 this season, but don’t reach too high.
Sleeper: Vincent Brown
Brown was a guy I felt could be WR3 material this season, but that was before the Chargers surprisingly re-signed Malcom Floyd. Instead, he’s stuck in a camp battle with Patrick Crayton for the No. 3 job. As mentioned, San Diego sports an offense that is extremely generous to its pass catchers, which would mean big things for Brown if he were to find playing time. He’s worth a bench stash in deep leagues.
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1. New Orleans Saints
Team Fantasy Points: 1,508
Fantasy Starters: 4 (Brees, Colston, Moore, Graham)
The top team in our Fantasy Team Power Rankings is the New Orleans Saints. Led by Head Coach Sean Payton, the Saints have been among the elite NFL offenses for several years now. Drew Brees deserves a large portion of the credit and the player’s around him benefit significantly. Rookie Mark Ingram and newcomer Darren Sproles join Pierre Thomas to create what should be one of the league’s finest 1-2-3 punches at the tailback position. Marques Colston isn’t at full health, but he and Lance Moore should still be starter material at wideout in 2011. Robert Meachem is on a lot of sleeper lists, but he continues to rotate with Devery Henderson. Jimmy Graham is the new No. 1 Tight End and should end 2011 as one of the game’s top fantasy options at the position.
Stud: Drew Brees
Your next best option if you miss on Aaron Rodgers and Michael Vick, Brees leads one of the league’s elite passing games. The Saints have put some effort into leaning harder on the run game (eg. Entire 2009 season, selection of Ingram), but they rely so heavily on Brees’ abilities that they’ll always end up on the pass-heavy side of the league. The offense around him this year is younger, but likely an improvement, which means that another big year should be expected.
Disappointment: Robert Meachem
Meachem has everything you want in a breakout wide receiver…just like he did last year…and the year before that. Regardless of his clear talent, the Saints high-powered passing game, and what seems to be a void in the team’s starting lineup at wide receiver, Meachem simply hasn’t climbed his way into a full-time gig. With Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Jimmy Graham, and a tailback likely to be on the field on just about every passing play, Meachem will continue his timeshare with veteran Devery Henderson. The talent is there, but the opportunity isn’t. He’s not worth a selection at his current ADP.
Sleeper: Lance Moore
A borderline top 30 option at wide receiver, Moore has consistently fallen way too far in drafts this year. His ADP has risen to the 40 range recently, but for most of the off-season, he was going much later, and on many occasions, after Robert Meachem. As mentioned, Meachem is behind him on the depth chart and doesn’t play nearly as many snaps. In 2-WR sets, Moore and Colston are on the field. When a third wideout is added, Colston moves to the slot, leaving Moore out wide with Henderson or Meachem. This means that Moore rarely needs to leave the field. Draft him at his ADP and you’ll have a steal at WR3.