Thomason: 2016 Fantasy Football Positional Rankings
By Jack Thomason--
(CBS) Can you smell the freshly cut blades of grass? Can you hear the crack of the pads when 300-pound men slam into one another and the clanking of beer mugs and cans as friends all over the world get together for their annual fantasy football draft parties?
It's football season, baby! The preseason is here and now and there's only two weeks to go until kickoff of Week 1. For that reason, I'm bringing you my 2016 positional ranking for the half-point point-per-reception (PPR) setting.
I wanted to take a second to enjoy this moment. Every year, millions of fans get together with their family, friends and acquaintances for this big event. It's something special that we should enjoy and embrace. I know many people who think that the draft is their favorite part of fantasy football, as it's a reason for high school or college buddies to get together again.
I have one standing league in which friends from around the country fly into our old stomping grounds of Boston every year on the Friday of Labor Day weekend and we rip it up! It's become a tradition and something to look forward to annually with friends who spread out over the country, and it's a way to never lose touch.
Yes, fantasy football is about winning and competition, but it's also about camaraderie, friendship, laughter and fun. Enjoy it and as competitive as it is, don't take it too seriously, as there's always next year!
Now let's get to those rankings:
Quarterback
1. Cam Newton, Panthers (Week 7)
2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (Week 4 bye)
3. Drew Brees, Saints (Week 5 bye)
4. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (Week 5 bye)
5. Andrew Luck, Colts (Week 10 bye)
6. Carson Palmer, Cardinals (Week 9 bye)
7. Philip Rivers, Chargers (Week 11 bye)
8. Tyrod Taylor, Bills (Week 10 bye)
9. Matt Stafford, Lions (Week 10 bye)
10. Tom Brady, Patriots (Week 9 bye)
11. Eli Manning, Giants (Week 8 bye)
12. Blake Bortles, Jaguars (Week 5 bye)
13. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (Week 8 bye)
14. Tony Romo, Cowboys (Week 7 bye)
15. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets (Week 11 bye)
16. Kirk Cousins, Redskins (Week 9 bye)
17. Marcus Mariota, Titans (Week 13 bye)
18. Andy Dalton, Bengals (Week 9 bye)
19. Derek Carr, Raiders (Week 10 bye)
20. Jameis Winston, Buccaneers (Week 6 bye)
21. Matt Ryan, Falcons (Week 11 bye)
22. Joe Flacco, Ravens (Week 8 bye)
23. Jay Cutler, Bears (Week 9 bye)
24. Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins (Week 8 bye)
Running back
1. David Johnson, Cardinals (Week 9 bye)
2. Todd Gurley, Rams (Week 8 bye)
3. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (Week 7 bye)
4. Lamar Miller, Texans (Week 9 bye)
5. Adrian Peterson, Vikings (Week 6 bye)
6. Le'Veon Bell, Steelers (Week 8 bye)
7. Devonta Freeman, Falcons (Week 11 bye)
8. LeSean McCoy, Bills (Week 10 bye)
9. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs (Week 5 bye)
10. C.J. Anderson, Broncos (Week 11 bye)
11. Carlos Hyde, 49ers (Week 8 bye)
12. Mark Ingram, Saints (Week 5 bye)
13. Doug Martin, Buccaneers (Week 6 bye)
14. Eddie Lacy, Packers (Week 4 bye)
15. Thomas Rawls, Seahawks (Week 5 bye)
16. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers (Week 7 bye)
17. Latavius Murray, Raiders (Week 10 bye)
18. DeMarco Murray, Titans (Week 13 bye)
19. Melvin Gordon, Chargers (Week 11 bye)
20. Ryan Mathews, Eagles (Week 4 bye)
21. Jeremy Langford, Bears (Week 9 bye)
22. Frank Gore, Colts (Week 10 bye)
23. Jeremy Hill, Bengals (Week 9 bye)
24. Rashad Jennings, Giants (Week 8 bye)
25. Matt Forte, Jets (Week 11 bye)
26. Charles Sims, Buccaneers (Week 6 bye)
27. Danny Woodhead, Chargers (Week 11 bye)
28. Duke Johnson, Browns (Week 13 bye)
29. Giovani Bernard, Bengals (Week 9 bye)
30. LeGarrette Blount, Patriots (Week 9 bye)
31. Bilal Powell, Jets (Week 11 bye)
32. T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars (Week 5 bye)
33. Ameer Abdullah, Lions (Week 10 bye)
34. Matt Jones, Redskins (Week 9 bye)
35. Jay Ajayi, Dolphins (Week 8 bye)
36. Chris Ivory, Jaguars (Week 5 bye)
37. Derrick Henry, Titans (Week 13 bye)
38. Isaiah Crowell, Browns (Week 13 bye)
39. DeAngelo Williams, Steelers (Week 8 bye)
40. Theo Riddick, Lions (Week 10 bye)
41. James White, Patriots (Week 9 bye)
42. Justin Forsett, Ravens (Week 8 bye)
43. Tevin Coleman, Flacons (Week 11 bye)
44. DeAndre Washington, Raiders (Week 10 bye)
45. James Starks, Packers (Week 4 bye)
46. Shaun Draughn, 49ers (Week 8 bye)
47. Christine Michael, Seahawks (Week 5 bye)
48. Arian Foster, Dolphins (Week 8 bye)
49. Jerick McKinnon, Vikings (Week 6 bye)
50. Chris Thompson, Redskins (Week 9 bye)
51. Darren Sproles, Eagles (Week 4 bye)
52. Alfred Morris, Cowboys (Week 7 bye)
53. Devontae Booker, Broncos (Week 11 bye)
54. Chris Johnson, Cardinals (Week 9 bye)
55. Spencer Ware, Chiefs (Week 5 bye)
56. Jordan Howard, Bears (Week 9 bye)
57. Javorius Allen, Ravens (Week 8 bye)
58. Shane Vereen, Giants (Week 8 bye)
59. Dion Lewis, Patriots (Week 9 bye)
60. Kenneth Dixon, Ravens (Week 8 bye)
Receiver
1. Antonio Brown, Steelers (Week 8 bye)
2. Julio Jones, Falcons (Week 11 bye)
3. Odell Beckham Jr., Giants (Week 8 bye)
4. A.J. Green, Bengals (Week 9 bye)
5. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (Week 7 bye)
6. Allen Robinson, Jaguars (Week 5 bye)
7. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (Week 9 bye)
8. Alshon Jeffery, Bears (Week 9 bye)
9. Brandon Marshall, Jets (Week 11 bye)
10. Keenan Allen, Chargers (Week 11 bye)
11. Mike Evans, Buccaneers (Week 6 bye)
12. Sammy Watkins, Bills (Week 10 bye)
13. Brandin Cooks, Saints (Week 5 bye)
14. Jordy Nelson, Packers (Week 4 bye)
15. Amari Cooper, Raiders (Week 10 bye)
16. Jarvis Landry, Dolphins (Week 8 bye)
17. T.Y. Hilton, Colts (Week 10 bye)
18. Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs (Week 5 bye)
19. Golden Tate, Lions (Week 10 bye)
20. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos (Week 11 bye)
21. Donte Moncrief, Colts (Week 10 bye)
22. Eric Decker, Jets (Week 11 bye)
23. Julian Edelman, Patriots (Week 9 bye)
24. Randall Cobb, Packers (Week 4 bye)
25. Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos (Week 11 bye)
26. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (Week 9 bye)
27. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks (Week 5 bye)
28. Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers (Week 7 bye)
29. John Brown, Cardinals (Week 11 bye)
30. Michael Floyd, Cardinals (Week 11 bye)
31. Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (Week 5 bye)
32. Jordan Matthews, Eagles (Week 4 bye)
33. DeSean Jackson, Redskins (Week 9 bye)
34. Marvin Jones, Lions (Week 10 bye)
35. DaVante Parker, Dolphins (Week 8 bye)
36. Stefon Diggs, Vikings (Week 6 bye)
37. Sterling Shepard, Giants (Week 8 bye)
38. Devin Funchess, Panthers (Week 7 bye)
39. Michael Crabtree, Raiders (Week 10 bye)
40. Willie Snead, Saints (Week 5 bye)
41. Corey Coleman, Browns (Week 13 bye)
42. Rishard Matthews, Titans (Week 13 bye)
43. Josh Gordon, Browns (Week 13 bye)
44. Kamar Aiken, Ravens (Week 8 bye)
45. Allen Hurns, Jaguars (Week 5 bye)
46. Torrey Smith, 49ers (Week 8 bye)
47. Kevin White, Bears (Week 9 bye)
48. Markus Wheaton, Steelers (Week 8 bye)
49. Michael Thomas, Saints (Week 5 bye)
50. Tavon Austin, Rams (Week 8 bye)
51. Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers (Week 6 bye)
52. Phillip Dorsett, Colts (Week 10 bye)
53. Travis Benjamin, Chargers (Week 11 bye)
54. Kenny Stills, Dolphins (Week 8 bye)
55. Steve Smith Sr., Ravens (Week 8 bye)
56. Mohamed Sanu, Flacons (Week 11 bye)
57. Eli Rogers, Steelers (Week 8 bye)
58. Tyler Boyd, Bengals (Week 19 bye)
59. Tajae Sharpe, Titans (Week 13 bye)
60. Anquan Boldin, Lions (Week 10 bye)
Tight end
1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (Week 9 bye)
2. Jordan Reed, Redskins (Week 9 bye)
3. Greg Olsen, Panthers (Week 7 bye)
4. Coby Fleener, Saints (Week 5 bye)
5. Delanie Walker, Titans (Week 13 bye)
6. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (Week 5 bye)
7. Antonio Gates, Chargers (Week 11 bye)
8. Tyler Eifert, Bengals (Week 9 bye)
9. Julius Thomas, Jaguars (Week 5 bye)
10. Gary Barnidge, Browns (Week 13 bye)
11. Martellus Bennett, Patriots (Week 9 bye)
12. Eric Ebron, Lions (Week 10 bye)
13. Zach Ertz, Eagles (Week 4 bye)
14. Jason Witten, Cowboys (Week 7 bye)
15. Dwayne Allen, Colts (Week 10 bye)
16. Benjamin Watson, Ravens (Week 8 bye)
17. Zach Miller, Bears (Week 9 bye)
18. Clive Walford, Raiders (Week 10 bye)
19. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Buccaneers (Week 6 bye)
20. Vance McDonald, 49ers (Week 8 bye)
21. Charles Clay, Bills (Week 10 bye)
22. Virgil Green, Broncos (Week 11 bye)
23. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks (Week 5 bye)
24. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (Week 6 bye)
25. Jared Cook, Packers (Week 4 bye)
Defense
1. Denver Broncos (Week 11 bye)
2. Seattle Seahawks (Week 5 bye)
3. Arizona Cardinals (Week 9 bye)
4. Carolina Panthers (Week 7 bye)
5. Houston Texans (Week 9 bye)
6. Kansas City Chiefs (Week 5 bye)
7. New York Jets (Week 11 bye)
8. Minnesota Vikings (Week 6 bye)
9. Green Bay Packers (Week 4 bye)
10. New England Patriots (Week 9 bye)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (Week 9 bye)
12. Oakland Raiders (Week 10 bye)
13. Los Angeles Rams (Week 8 bye)
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 5 bye)
15. Buffalo Bills (Week 10 bye)
16. Washington Redskins (Week 9 bye)
17. New York Giants (Week 8 bye)
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 8 bye)
19. Baltimore Ravens (Week 8 bye)
20. San Diego Chargers (Week 11 bye)
21. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 4 bye)
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 5 bye)
23. Detroit Lions (Week 10 bye)
24. Tennessee Titans (Week 13 bye)
Jack Thomason is 670 The Score's fantasy football expert. Follow him on Twitter @jthomason77 and feel free to ask fantasy questions.
