2012 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 150

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There will be many more 2012 Fantasy Football Rankings and features in the late spring and summer, including tons of 2012 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts, Player Rankings, Sleepers and Busts. I'll also have an extensive 2012 NFL Fantasy Football Preseason Stock Report.

2012 Fantasy Football Rankings - Top 150 (May 10):

2012 Fantasy Football Rankings - Top 150 Update (May 10): Many changes for the 2012 NFL Draft. Check out the stock report section of my 2012 Fantasy Football Rankings for details.

Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

Ray Rice, RB, Ravens
LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles
Arian Foster, RB, Texans
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans
Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions (Prev: 5)
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
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.
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots
Andre Johnson, WR, Texans
Greg Jennings, WR, Packers
Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants
Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions (Prev: 12)
Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints
Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers
Fred Jackson, RB, Bills (Prev: 15)
Trent Richardson, RB, Browns (Prev: 56)
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.
Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders (Prev: 34)
Victor Cruz, WR, Giants
Cam Newton, QB, Panthers
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants
Julio Jones, WR, Falcons
Roddy White, WR, Falcons
A.J. Green, WR, Bengals
Wes Welker, WR, Patriots
Brandon Marshall, WR, Bears
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.
Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs
Matt Forte, RB, Bears
Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings
Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys
Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys
DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys
Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs
Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers
Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers
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.
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos (Prev: 26)
Frank Gore, RB, 49ers (Prev: 38)
Brandon Lloyd, WR, Patriots
Marques Colston, WR, Saints
Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys
Eli Manning, QB, Giants
Steven Jackson, RB, Rams
Roy Helu, RB, Redskins
Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings (Prev: 59)
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.
Malcom Floyd, WR, Chargers
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles
DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles
Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
Michael Turner, RB, Falcons
Vincent Jackson, WR, Buccaneers
Reggie Bush, RB, Dolphins
Jahvid Best, RB, Lions
Kenny Britt, WR, Titans
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.
Chris Wells, RB, Cardinals
James Starks, RB, Packers (Prev: 68)
Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys
Steve Johnson, WR, Bills
Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers (Prev: NR)
Shonn Greene, RB, Jets
Isaac Redman, RB, Steelers (Prev: 70)
Darren Sproles, RB, Saints
Robert Griffin, QB, Redskins
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.
Peyton Manning, QB, Broncos (Prev: 31)
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers
Eric Decker, WR, Broncos (Prev: 93)
Pierre Garcon, WR, Redskins
Matt Schaub, QB, Texans
Denarius Moore, WR, Raiders
Aaron Hernandez, TE, Patriots
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Raiders (Prev: NR)
Jay Cutler, QB, Bears (Prev: 90)
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.
Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Bengals
Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers
Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
Mark Ingram, RB, Saints (Prev: 77)
Ben Tate, RB, Texans
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers
Willis McGahee, RB, Broncos
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.
C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills
Joseph Addai, RB, Patriots (Prev: NR)
Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints (Prev: NR)
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills
Michael Bush, RB, Bears
Jacob Tamme, TE, Broncos
Robert Meachem, WR, Chargers
Sidney Rice, WR, Seahawks
Ronnie Hillman, RB, Broncos (Prev: NR)
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.
Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons
Brent Celek, TE, Eagles
Ryan Williams, RB, Cardinals
Carson Palmer, QB, Raiders
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Falcons
Jake Locker, QB, Titans
Santana Moss, WR, Redskins
Donald Brown, RB, Colts
Titus Young, WR, Lions
Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets
Fred Davis, TE, Redskins
Toby Gerhart, RB, Vikings
Tim Tebow, QB, Jets
49ers Defense
LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers (Prev: 80)
Kevin Smith, RB, Lions
Alex Green, RB, Packers
Shane Vereen, RB, Patriots
Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers
Daniel Thomas, RB, Dolphins
Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Lions
Greg Little, WR, Browns
Brian Hartline, WR, Dolphins
Eagles Defense
Packers Defense
Isaiah Pead, RB, Rams
David Wilson, RB, Giants
Coby Fleener, TE, Colts
Mike Goodson, RB, Raiders
Vick Ballard, RB, Colts
Delone Carter, RB, Colts
Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys
Michael Floyd, WR, Cardinals
Justin Blackmon, WR, Jaguars (Prev: 86)
Leonard Hankerson, WR, Redskins
Curtis Brinkley, RB, Chargers
Jermaine Gresham, TE, Bengals
Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers
Bills Defense
Lions Defense
Giants Defense
Bears Defense
Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens
Torrey Smith, WR, Ravens
James Jones, WR, Packers
Mario Manningham, WR, 49ers
Nate Washington, WR, Titans
Danny Amendola, WR, Rams
Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals
Martellus Bennett, TE, Giants
Anquan Boldin, WR, Ravens
Jabar Gaffney, WR, Patriots
Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Chiefs
Steelers Defense
Austin Collie, WR, Colts
Kendall Wright, WR, Titans
Dan Herron, RB, Bengals

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Missing Include

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