2012 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 150

1. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens
2. LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles
3. Arian Foster, RB, Texans
4. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
5. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans
6. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
7. Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions (Prev: 5)
8. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars
9. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
10. Drew Brees, QB, Saints (Prev: 7)
    
    3/8: Arian Foster moves down two spots in this update. There's a good chance that Ben Tate will eat into Foster's workload next year. Tate is a very talented runner, arguably more so than Foster, so Gary Kubiak will have trouble keeping him off the field.
    
    I think it's pretty irresponsible to slot quarterbacks Nos. 1 and 2 in any sort of 2012 Fantasy Football Rankings, unless you're in a 2-QB league. I'm not against spending a first-round pick on a quarterback, but a blue-chip fantasy running back is so much more valuable than a blue-chip fantasy quarterback. Besides, the running back position is thinner than ever this year.
    
    I have Tom Brady over Drew Brees. While the former has a new, pass-friendly offensive coordinator (Josh McDaniels) and a new top wideout (Brandon Lloyd), Brees will probably be losing his coach for the year.
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots
12. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans
13. Greg Jennings, WR, Packers
14. Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants
15. Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions (Prev: 12)
16. Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints
17. Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers
18. Fred Jackson, RB, Bills (Prev: 15)
19. Trent Richardson, RB, Browns (Prev: 56)
20. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks
    
    Andre Johnson is really undervalued on Matthew Berry's list. Considering that he was a consensus mid-first-round pick last summer, slotting him at No. 19 seems pretty knee-jerky after just one season.
    
    I'm listing Hakeem Nicks over Victor Cruz because of Nicks' touchdown potential, but it's so close that I had trouble deciding between the two. Remember, Mario Manningham won't be back next year.
    
    Trent Richardson is no ordinary rookie; he's the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson. I have no problem ranking him this high.
    
    3/8: Marshawn Lynch drops because of his new contract. With lots of guaranteed money, Lynch can now go back to what he did best in Buffalo - slacking off. I don't trust him.
    
    I'll be pretty surprised if Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller split carries. Jackson was an MVP candidate in the first two months of the 2011 season, and the Bills are planning to give him extension. You don't give a RBBC guy a lucrative extension.
    
    
21. Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders (Prev: 34)
22. Victor Cruz, WR, Giants
23. Cam Newton, QB, Panthers
24. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants
25. Julio Jones, WR, Falcons
26. Roddy White, WR, Falcons
27. A.J. Green, WR, Bengals
28. Wes Welker, WR, Patriots
29. Brandon Marshall, WR, Bears
30. Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers
    
    I'd be careful with Cam Newton. There could be a sophomore slump, and it's highly doubtful he'll run as much as he did last year in an attempt to preserve his longevity.
    
    Berry has Julio Jones ranked No. 47. I can't disagree with him more about that. Check out Jones' numbers in his final six games: 31 catches, 525 yards and six touchdowns. That's 1,400 yards and 16 scores over a full season. I don't think Jones will reach those stats in 2012, but there's no denying that he's a monster. He's going to have a huge year.
    
    There's some talk that the Raiders might be thinking about trading Darren McFadden. That, along with his extensive injury history, is the reason I have him in the 20s. It surprised me to see Berry rank him even lower, but I think there's some buy-low potential here.
    
    I'm slightly down on Wes Welker. He turns 31 in May, he had just three touchdowns after Week 6 last season, and Tom Brady will have other receivers to throw to next year.
    
    
    
    
    
31. Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs
32. Matt Forte, RB, Bears
33. Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings
34. Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys
35. Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys
36. DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys
37. Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs
38. Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers
39. Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers
40. Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers
    
    Dez Bryant finished as the No. 15 fantasy receiver last year - and he didn't even know all of the routes. He has ridiculous upside.
    
    Dwayne Bowe is pretty undervalued (No. 51 in Berry's rankings). Despite truly awful quarterbacking for half the season, he caught 81 balls for 1,159 yards and five touchdowns in 2011.
    
    Antonio Brown will be undervalued this summer because he caught only two touchdowns in 2011. I have to believe that was an aberration.
    
    
41. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos (Prev: 26)
42. Frank Gore, RB, 49ers (Prev: 38)
43. Brandon Lloyd, WR, Patriots
44. Marques Colston, WR, Saints
45. Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys
46. Eli Manning, QB, Giants
47. Steven Jackson, RB, Rams
48. Roy Helu, RB, Redskins
49. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings (Prev: 59)
50. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers
    
    Philip Rivers is a great buy-low, bounce-back candidate. He was hurt all last season, so he'll rebound in 2012.
    
    Steven Jackson is over the dreaded 2,150-carry mark in his career. I'm not going near him.
    
    Steve Smith turns 33 in May and could begin declining.
    
    
51. Malcom Floyd, WR, Chargers
52. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles
53. DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles
54. Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
55. Michael Turner, RB, Falcons
56. Vincent Jackson, WR, Buccaneers
57. Reggie Bush, RB, Dolphins
58. Jahvid Best, RB, Lions
59. Kenny Britt, WR, Titans
60. Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers
    
    3/8: I had Adrian Peterson too high in my previous update.
    
    Antonio Gates is breaking down. I don't trust him.
    
    Don't draft Michael Turner. He was running on fumes at the end of last season, averaging 3.6 YPC or worse in six of his final seven games. It's likely that he be splitting carries with someone in 2012.
    
    I'm selling high on Reggie Bush. He's so injury-prone, so it would be unreasonable to expect him to stay healthy for most of next season.
    
    Your guess is as good as mine with Jahvid Best. He's expected to be ready for the 2012 season, but he's an injury waiting to happen.
    
    
    
    
    
61. Chris Wells, RB, Cardinals
62. James Starks, RB, Packers (Prev: 68)
63. Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys
64. Steve Johnson, WR, Bills
65. Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers (Prev: NR)
66. Shonn Greene, RB, Jets
67. Isaac Redman, RB, Steelers (Prev: 70)
68. Darren Sproles, RB, Saints
69. Robert Griffin, QB, Redskins
70. QB Dog Killer, QB, Eagles
    
    Kenny Britt was one of my top fantasy sleepers last year, and I was happy to own him in almost every league - until he tore his ACL in Week 3. He could be a nice buy-low candidate in the middle rounds.
    
    I don't understand how Vernon Davis isn't on Berry's list. Didn't he see what Davis did during the stretch? Once Davis learned Jim Harbaugh's offense, he became an animal. That will carry into 2012, and Davis will have a monstrous campaign.
    
    Steve Johnson could be undervalued a bit. Ryan Fitzpatrick played the second half of the year with numerous injuries.
    
    Rashard Mendenhall isn't expected to play in 2012. The Pittsburgh coaching staff is already talking up Isaac Redman.
    
    
71. Peyton Manning, QB, Broncos (Prev: 31)
72. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers
73. Eric Decker, WR, Broncos (Prev: 93)
74. Pierre Garcon, WR, Redskins
75. Matt Schaub, QB, Texans
76. Denarius Moore, WR, Raiders
77. Aaron Hernandez, TE, Patriots
78. Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Raiders (Prev: NR)
79. Jay Cutler, QB, Bears (Prev: 90)
80. Andrew Luck, QB, Colts (Prev: 85)
    
    I'm surprised that Berry didn't list James Starks in his top 100. Ryan Grant is a free agent, so Starks will probably handle most of the workload in 2012. He is injury-prone though, so that's obviously a concern.
    
    Robert Griffin is going to rush for a bunch of yards as a rookie.
    
    Denarius Moore is really talented. I expect him to really step up in Year 2.
    
    Jonathan Stewart is the best running back in Carolina. I have confidence that Ron Rivera will eventually realize this.
    
    Mark Ingram had a truly awful rookie campaign, but the Saints didn't spend two early picks on him to use him as a backup. He's a great buy-low candidate.
    
    
    
    
81. Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts
82. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Bengals
83. Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers
84. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
85. Mark Ingram, RB, Saints (Prev: 77)
86. Ben Tate, RB, Texans
87. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
88. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers
89. Willis McGahee, RB, Broncos
90. Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots (Prev: 69)
    
    3/8: Ben Tate moves up for reasons specified earlier.
    
    I'm down on Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers fired Bruce Arians and hired Todd Haley because they want to run the ball more.
    
    
91. C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills
92. Joseph Addai, RB, Patriots (Prev: NR)
93. Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints (Prev: NR)
94. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills
95. Michael Bush, RB, Bears
96. Jacob Tamme, TE, Broncos
97. Robert Meachem, WR, Chargers
98. Sidney Rice, WR, Seahawks
99. Ronnie Hillman, RB, Broncos (Prev: NR)
100. Peyton Hillis, RB, Chiefs
     
     Tony Gonzalez was done in 2010. He somehow bounced back in 2011, but it's highly unlikely he'll be able to maintain that level of play two years in a row.
     
     Ryan Fitzpatrick was a really good fantasy quarterback until he fractured his ribs in the middle of the season. He's a buy-low candidate.
     
     
101. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons
102. Brent Celek, TE, Eagles
103. Ryan Williams, RB, Cardinals
104. Carson Palmer, QB, Raiders
105. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Falcons
106. Jake Locker, QB, Titans
107. Santana Moss, WR, Redskins
108. Donald Brown, RB, Colts
109. Titus Young, WR, Lions
110. Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets
111. Fred Davis, TE, Redskins
112. Toby Gerhart, RB, Vikings
113. Tim Tebow, QB, Jets
114. 49ers Defense
115. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers (Prev: 80)
116. Kevin Smith, RB, Lions
117. Alex Green, RB, Packers
118. Shane Vereen, RB, Patriots
119. Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers
120. Daniel Thomas, RB, Dolphins
121. Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers
122. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Lions
123. Greg Little, WR, Browns
124. Brian Hartline, WR, Dolphins
125. Eagles Defense
126. Packers Defense
127. Isaiah Pead, RB, Rams
128. David Wilson, RB, Giants
129. Coby Fleener, TE, Colts
130. Mike Goodson, RB, Raiders
131. Vick Ballard, RB, Colts
132. Delone Carter, RB, Colts
133. Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys
134. Michael Floyd, WR, Cardinals
135. Justin Blackmon, WR, Jaguars (Prev: 86)
136. Leonard Hankerson, WR, Redskins
137. Curtis Brinkley, RB, Chargers
138. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Bengals
139. Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers
140. Bills Defense
141. Lions Defense
142. Giants Defense
143. Bears Defense
144. Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens
145. Torrey Smith, WR, Ravens
146. James Jones, WR, Packers
147. Mario Manningham, WR, 49ers
148. Nate Washington, WR, Titans
149. Danny Amendola, WR, Rams
150. Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals
151. Martellus Bennett, TE, Giants
152. Anquan Boldin, WR, Ravens
153. Jabar Gaffney, WR, Patriots
154. Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Chiefs
155. Steelers Defense
156. Austin Collie, WR, Colts
157. Kendall Wright, WR, Titans
158. Dan Herron, RB, Bengals

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