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RotoWire 150

Rank Player Pos Team Comment
1 Adrian Peterson RB MIN Best runner in the league held up well last year under full load
2 Maurice Jones-Drew RB JAC Fred Taylor's gone; MJD can do it all
3 Matt Forte RB CHI Rare back who gets carries, goal-line carries and catches
4 Larry Fitzgerald WR ARZ Safest player on the board; playoffs showed upside
5 Steve Slaton RB HOU Does it all, plays in a good offense
6 Chris Johnson RB TEN Electrifying runner behind top-tier offensive line; spelled at goal line
7 Calvin Johnson WR DET No. 3 WR last year in terrible condtions; sky's the limit
8 Michael Turner RB ATL Powerful workhorse carries a heavy load; doesn't catch passes
9 Brian Westbrook RB PHI Tremendous when healthy, but never plays 16 games
10 Randy Moss WR NE Gets Tom Brady back; more than three-years younger than T.O.
11 Steven Jackson RB STL Do-it-all back gets improved line; needs to stay healthy
12 DeAngelo Williams RB CAR 2008 Fantasy MVP shares carries with Jonathan Stewart
13 Brandon Jacobs RB NYG Battering ram runs behind top line; durability a concern
14 Andre Johnson WR HOU Heavily targeted top talent; needs more in-close and downfield looks
15 Steve Smith WR CAR Top per-play receiver in the league
16 Frank Gore RB SF Does it all, but needs to avoid nagging injuries
17 Kevin Smith RB DET Conditions should improve for all-purpose back
18 LaDainian Tomlinson RB SD Should have another good season, health permitting
19 Drew Brees QB NO Averaged 645 passing attempts last two years
20 Ronnie Brown RB MIA One more year removed from ACL injury; should see bigger workload
21 Marion Barber RB DAL Back to timeshare, but should still be a bruiser at the goal line
22 Pierre Thomas RB NO Should see most of the work between tackles and at goal line
23 Greg Jennings WR GB Explosive playmaker is big-armed QB's top target
24 Reggie Wayne WR IND Peyton Manning's No. 1
25 Roddy White WR ATL Finally playing with quality QB
26 Anquan Boldin WR ARZ Unhappy with contract; money in the bank when healthy
27 Tom Brady QB NE Looking healthy; still has Randy Moss
28 Marques Colston WR NO Top target in league's most prolific offense
29 Dwayne Bowe WR KC Should see lots of red-zone work
30 Peyton Manning QB IND League MVP still at the top of his game
31 Ryan Grant RB GB Workhorse between the tackles on quality offense
32 Clinton Portis RB WAS Has already accrued 2052 career carries
33 Brandon Marshall WR DEN Physical phenom will still produce without Cutler
34 Braylon Edwards WR CLE Expect a bounce back - too much talent not to
35 Terrell Owens WR BUF Conditions will be worse in Buffalo; turns 36 in December
36 Chris Wells RB ARZ Bruising back should beat out Hightower for job
37 Knowshon Moreno RB DEN No. 12 overall pick should play out of the gate
38 Aaron Rodgers QB GB Solid first season as starter; huge arm
39 Antonio Gates TE SD Should be healthier in 2009
40 Reggie Bush RB NO Huge in PPR; will be a big part of top offense
41 Derrick Ward RB TB Versatile power back runs behind underrated line
42 Jonathan Stewart RB CAR Could be top five overall if DeAngelo Williams gets hurt
43 Joseph Addai RB IND Will lose some carries to Donald Brown
44 Kurt Warner QB ARZ Shredded NFL's top defense in SB; durability only issue
45 Darren McFadden RB OAK Dynamic back should see a big increase in workload
46 Larry Johnson RB KC Status unclear, but should be starting back in improved attack
47 Roy Williams WR DAL First-rate tools; must keep focus and stay healthy as Dallas' new No. 1
48 T.J. Houshmandzadeh WR SEA New location, same role - top flight possession threat
49 Marshawn Lynch RB BUF Three-game suspension drops him 15-20 spots
50 Anthony Gonzalez WR IND Peyton Manning's clear No. 2; faster than Wayne
51 Tony Gonzalez TE ATL New location, better QB/offense
52 Cedric Benson RB CIN Undisputed starter; offense should improve with Palmer back
53 Antonio Bryant WR TB Breakout season, but QB situation in flux
54 Santana Moss WR WAS Still explosive when healthy
55 Lee Evans WR BUF Serious deep threat will co-exist with T.O.
56 Chad Johnson WR CIN Still likely to be Carson Palmer's downfield look
57 Jason Witten TE DAL Less room to roam with T.O. gone
58 Donald Brown RB IND Will compete with injury-prone Addai for carries
59 Thomas Jones RB NYJ Shonn Greene will push Jones for carries
60 Dallas Clark TE IND Career-high 848 yards in 2008; 11 TDs in '07
61 Vincent Jackson WR SD Big play wideout with excellent size; still second fiddle to Gates in RZ
62 DeSean Jackson WR PHI Explosive downfield threat should be McNabb's top target
63 Kellen Winslow TE TB Elite tight end when healthy; TB offense could struggle
64 Rashard Mendenhall RB PIT Now healthy, former first-round pick should expand role
65 Donnie Avery WR STL Team's unquestioned No. 1 wideout - has deep speed
66 Shonn Greene RB NYJ Will battle Thomas Jones for touches behind solid line
67 Jerricho Cotchery WR NYJ With Coles gone, not much competition for targets
68 Laveranues Coles WR CIN Will play T.J. Houshmandzadeh's role, but lacks red-zone size
69 Santonio Holmes WR PIT Super Bowl MVP gets down the field, but needs more targets
70 Wes Welker WR NE Great in PPR formats; lack of size and deep speed limits upside
71 Donovan McNabb QB PHI Pass-heavy offense, multiple downfield weapons, rushing yards
72 Hines Ward WR PIT Tough, physical target still going strong
73 Bernard Berrian WR MIN Elite deep threat, but Vikings will always be run-first
74 Eddie Royal WR DEN Loses Cutler, but speed and shiftiness should ensure targets
75 Torry Holt WR JAC Arrives in Jacksonville as clear No. 1 target; will be 33
76 Philip Rivers QB SD Top real-life QB in run-first offense; first-rate red-zone targets
77 Felix Jones RB DAL Home run threat should see far more work this year
78 Greg Olsen TE CHI Cutler's arrival gives talented pass catcher massive upside
79 Matt Schaub QB HOU Posted 8.0 YPA; needs to stay healthy for a full season
80 Tony Romo QB DAL First time playing without top-five all-time receiver
81 Michael Crabtree WR SF Polished prospect with everything but deep speed
82 Darren Sproles RB SD Dynamic multipurpose threat will spell Tomlinson
83 Ray Rice RB BAL Will battle Willis McGahee for lion's share of Ravens carries
84 Kevin Walter WR HOU Texans' red-zone and downfield specialist
85 Lance Moore WR NO Saints top target last year; role should shrink with Colston healthy
86 Chris Cooley TE WAS Heavily targeted tight end; should catch a few more TDs
87 Matt Ryan QB ATL Posted unheard of 7.9 YPA as a rookie
88 Carson Palmer QB CIN Once elite fantasy QB is healthy again
89 Owen Daniels TE HOU Solid source of yardage; needs more red-zone looks
90 Ahmad Bradshaw RB NYG Will compete with Andre Brown for departed Derrick Ward's role
91 Steve Breaston WR ARZ Bump up 30 spots if Boldin gets traded
92 Devin Hester WR CHI Speedster could be Jay Cutler's top wideout
93 Donald Driver WR GB Still effective possession receiver in prolific offense
94 Willie Parker RB PIT Injuries, lack of catches and goal-line work limit upside
95 Jamal Lewis RB CLE Old warhorse likely on his last legs
96 Julius Jones RB SEA Seattle's starting back; will yield to Duckett at goal line
97 Laurence Maroney RB NE Someone has to carry the rock in New England this year
98 Jay Cutler QB CHI Conditions will be worse in Chicago, but has Hall-of-Fame arm
99 LenDale White RB TEN Goal-line specialist should cede more carries to Chris Johnson
100 Ted Ginn WR MIA Explosive deep threat should see more targets
101 Fred Jackson RB BUF Starter for three games; will play significant role after that
102 Mark Clayton WR BAL Downfield playmaker stuck on run-first team
103 Kevin Curtis WR PHI Veteran will still see targets in Philly's prolific pass offense
104 Steven Smith WR NYG Reliable possession receiver could be Eli's top target
105 Derrick Mason WR BAL Flacco's favorite target should be healthy in training camp
106 Justin Gage WR TEN Solid second half, but Titans will always run first
107 Chris Chambers WR SD Playmaker has fallen behind Vincent Jackson on depth chart
108 Muhsin Muhammad WR CAR Carolina's first red-zone look in passing game; has lost a step
109 Michael Jenkins WR ATL Productive receiver with good size in quality offense
110 Miles Austin WR DAL Big and fast, could be Tony Romo's deep threat
111 John Carlson TE SEA Caught five TDs as a rookie; gets Hasselbeck back
112 Dustin Keller TE NYJ Skilled pass-catcher should be security blanket for young QB
113 Jerious Norwood RB ATL Home run threat will back up heavily worked Michael Turner
114 Zach Miller TE OAK Averaged 13.9 per catch, amassed nearly 800 yards last year
115 Jamaal Charles RB KC Third-down back next in line after Larry Johnson
116 LeSean McCoy RB PHI Should see significant work spelling Brian Westbrook
117 Plaxico Burress WR FA Legal and league status up in the air; top-10 talent at position
118 Michael Bush RB OAK Monster Week 17 should have him in the Oakland RB mix
119 Tony Scheffler TE DEN Loses Cutler, but Olsen produced with Orton, and so could Scheffler
120 Mark Bradley WR KC Has all the tools; needs to stay healthy and focused
121 Domenik Hixon WR NYG Incumbent No. 1 receiver showed flashes last year
122 Patrick Crayton WR DAL Will battle Miles Austin for starting job
123 Jeremy Maclin WR PHI Playmaker should see immediate targets in Philly offense
124 Darrius Heyward-Bey WR OAK Speedster could start right off the bat
125 Earl Bennett WR CHI Vanderbilt teammate of Jay Cutler could earn starting role
126 Hakeem Nicks WR NYG First-rounder could evolve into team's No. 1 wideout
127 Chester Taylor RB MIN Mandatory Adrian Peterson insurance
128 Willis McGahee RB BAL Will compete with Ray Rice and Le'Ron McClain for touches
129 Ben Roethlisberger QB PIT One of the best in the league at keeping plays alive
130 New York Giants D NYG Elite pass rush and improving young secondary
131 Earnest Graham RB TB Derrick Ward's backup should be in the mix
132 Le'Ron McClain RB BAL Should play fullback, but did well when pressed into tailback duty
133 Philadelphia Eagles D PHI Aggressive blitzing defense with solid personnel
134 Trent Edwards QB BUF Young quarterback has one of league's top WR tandems
135 Tim Hightower RB ARZ Backup to Chris Wells could see goal-line work
136 James Davis RB CLE Could be next in line if Jamal Lewis runs out of gas
137 Andre Brown RB NYG Derrick Ward clone will battle Ahmad Bradshaw for touches
138 Eli Manning QB NYG Needs to find a reliable No. 1 wideout
139 Brandon Jackson RB GB Versatile back will back up Ryan Grant
140 Glen Coffee RB SF Frank Gore insurance
141 Leon Washington RB NYJ Dynamic playmaker needs more touches; unhappy with contract
142 Matt Hasselbeck QB SEA One of the league's solid pros; Mora's run-first scheme limits him
143 Pittsburgh Steelers D PIT Always a good bet as a fantasy defense
144 Matt Cassel QB KC No Randy Moss, but Dwayne Bowe's not a bad consolation prize
145 New York Jets D NYJ Rex Ryan will make this an attacking defense
146 Chris Henry WR CIN Team's best red-zone threat with Houshmandzadeh gone
147 Javon Walker WR OAK Claims finally to be pain-free
148 David Garrard QB JAC Rushing yards give Garrard upside; offensive line has improved
149 Devery Henderson WR NO Saints deep threat
150 Austin Collie WR IND Colts' No. 3 wideout could be involved from the start

Comments

By: Scott Pianowski
On: 6/30/2009 3:42:00 PM		 You're a lot more optimistic about the rookie class than I am. I can't see how Crabtree makes a profit slotted there.
 
By: Chris Liss
On: 6/30/2009 5:23:00 PM		 I'm of the mindset to target players who have top-10 ability at their position over players who have a better chance of being in the top-30 at their position. In other words, give me someone who has a 15 percent chance of scoring 10 TDs and a 50 percent chance of doing nothing over a player who has a 5 percent chance of scoring 10 TDs and a 20 percent chance of doing nothing. Crabtree has the red-zone size and skills to be the first read in the red zone, and though it'll be a run-first team, Gore hasn't done well near the goal line and Vernon Davis hasn't established himself either. I also think the knock on rookie WR is overblown and usually a matter of opportunity rather than the difficulty of the adjustment. QB is really the only position where it's really tough.
 
By: lzeis24
On: 6/30/2009 6:20:00 PM		 I agree with many on your list and your player analysis on your comment above...I hope you are right. I had to announce my keepers for one league today and I kept Wayne, Fitz, Ron Brown, and Pierre Thomas. I released Addai and J. Stewart (who I really like). I'm hoping Pierre isn't this years "sexy pick" who becomes a bust!!
 
By: Scott Pianowski
On: 6/30/2009 6:41:00 PM		 On rookie receivers, I'd argue that only the best of the best get the opportunity right away because the adjustment really *is* that difficult. And Crabtree won't get any head start with the adjustment, as the Texas Tech offense is nothing like what the Niners will run.
 
By: Chris Liss
On: 6/30/2009 8:02:00 PM		 I used to think that, too, but Marques Colston came out of nowhere, and then even last year guys like Eddie Royal, Donnie Avery and DeSean Jackson produced as soon as they got looks. I can see the less polished types struggling, but Crabtree's considered pretty refined for a rook.
 
By: daddymag
On: 7/1/2009 5:29:00 PM		 I like this list. I think with any rookies you have to watch some preseason action and see if they're getting first team reps, if the coaches are trusting them with the ball. I hit on Chris Johnson and DeSean Jackson last season that way. I didn't believe the hype, but once I saw first team reps, it was open season.
 

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