This off season, just like any other has been filled with all sorts of big names on the move. Thomas Jones, LT, Anquan Boldin, Warners retirement, and now McNabb to the division rival Redskins. Every single one of these transactions affects the values of every player on those teams. For example, Thomas Jones heading to Kansas City both decreases his value and Jamaal Charles value, while increasing the value of Shonn Greene tremendously. Now for my pre draft positional rankings
QB
1. Drew Brees
2. Peyton Manning
3. Aaron Rogers
4. Tom Brady
5. Philip Rivers
6. Kevin Kolb
7. Matt Shaub
8. Brett Farve (pending return)
9. Tony Romo
10. Joe Flacco
11. Matt Ryan
12. Donovan McNabb
13. Eli Manning
14. Jay Cutler
15. Kyle Orton
While Peyton Manning is not a guarantee to score the second most points for all quarterbacks, he is ALWAYS consistent posting at least 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns in each of the past four seasons. McNabb being shipped down I-95 creates an interesting question mark of whether Kevin Kolb will be able to perform at an elite level or not. Prior to the 2009 season I could not of been a bigger Kolb hater, but after he was the first ever quarterback to throw for over 3oo yards in his first two starts I became a believer. With electrifying and young weapons at his arsenal, and a coach who does not know what running the football means there is no reason for Kolb to be anything less than great. On the other side of this trade, McNabb's value has never been less than it is now. A below average offensive line with underachiving wide recievers and a team with now three solid veteran running backs (Portis, Johnson, Parker) at their desposal it looks like the Skins will go to the ground often and when they dont, McNabb may end up on the ground. I would really love to rank Jay Cutler higher because he has amazing talents, but Chicagos front office refuses to give him talents to throw to.
RB
1. Chris Johnson
2. Adrian Peterson
3. Maurice Jones-Drew
4. Ray Rice
5. Frank Gore
6. Rashard Mendenhall
7. Michael Turner
8. DeAngelo Williams
9. LeSean McCoy
10. Shonn Greene
11. Steven Jackson
12. Cedric Benson
13. Ryan Grant
14. Jamaal Charles
15. C.J. Spiller (pending team drafted to)
It is extremly rare for a player who finished first in total points one year to do it again, but lets be real. Chris Johnson went over 2,000 yards in only his second NFL season and there is no reason he should be any less sucessful. What people dont notice is that other than one huge game, the first six games with Kerry Collins behind center CJ2K only had one double diget scoring game. After Vince Young took over though Johnson never failed to go over the century mark and scored in seven of the final ten games, five of which were multiple touchdowns. With Young calling the shots from the start this year its a scary thought as to what Johnson will acomplish. Ray Rice was the most consitant running back in the league last year with all but two double diget games, McCoy and Greene should benifit with their new starting roles while the signing of Thomas Jones is a knife in the value of Jamaal Charles who before the signing I had in my top five players overall.
WR
1. Andre Johnson
2. Desean Jackson
3. Reggie Wayne
4. Randy Moss
5. Larry Fitzgerald
6. Vincent Jackson
7. Calvin "Megatron" Johnson
8. Brandon Marshall (pending most likley getting into fights with coaching staff)
9. Sidney Rice (pending Farve return)
10. Greg Jennings
11. Anquan Boldin
12. Miles Austin
13. Roddy White
14. Marques Colston
15. Percy Harvin (pending Farve return)
Andre Johnson is a freak, no further explination required. Reggie Wayne is the most consistant wide reciver in the NFL, likley because his quarterback is so consistant. With Kolb at the helm for Philly now I see a potential increase in Desean Jacksons value. The two games last season Kolb started Desean had 17 and 20 points. McNabb is a fantastic quarterback, but lets be real, he has his off games which affect his teamates fantasy value. Megatron is too talented to have another down year, Stafford has a year under his belt now and if the Lions have any brains they will draft a left tackle to protect him, both increasing Calvins value. I hate Miles Austin, but he is a decent player.
TE
1. Dallas Clark
2. Brent Celek
3. Antonio Gates
4. Tony Gonzales
5. Vernon Davis
6. Jason Witten
7. Jermichael Finley
8. Visanthe Shianco (pending Farve return)
9. Owen Daniels
10. Greg Olsen
Again, the Colts player (Clark) is the most consitant player at his position in the league. Celek emerged last year and should only get better, as well as Vernon Davis. Brett Farve has a man crush on Visanthe Shianco when they enter the red zone so if Farve returns Shianco has great value in later rounds. Greg Olsen has too much talent to not break out one of these years.
