2007 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKS, 1.0

PREPARATION = 24/7/365!

What better way to soothe the pain of these difficult, off-season days than with an outrageously early glance into the fantasy football crystal ball. Many more details and logic to follow between now and draft day, but in the meantime, take a gander.

Hey, did my 2006 predictions land me a third place finish out of 12 elite fantasy professionals in last years Pro Forecast magazine's experts poll?

Oh Yeah.

So think twice before you scoff at some of the non-consensus thinking I present to you below -- at the end of the day, intelligent deviation is your best co-pilot. With that said, it is with the swagger of a proven winner that I offer you an early peek at my lists, a bust, and some sleepers.

Needless to say, I will be updating and adding my signature analysis and logic as we march toward September

2007 RANKINGS:

QB: TOP 15

1) Peyton Manning, IND
2) Tom Brady, NE
3) Drew Brees, NO
4) Carson Palmer, CIN
5) Marc Bulger, STL
6) Jon Kitna, DET
7) Donovan McNabb, PHI
8) Michael Vick, ATL
9) Philip Rivers, SD
10) Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
11) Eli Manning, NYG
12) Vince Young, TEN
13) Brett Favre, GB
14) J.P. Losman, BUFF
15) Rex Grossman, CHI

RB: TOP 20

1) LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
2) Steven Jackson, STL
3) Larry Johnson, KC
4) Joseph Addai, IND
5) Brian Westbrook, PHI
6) Frank Gore, SF
7) Travis Henry, DEN
8) Willie Parker, PIT
9) Rudi Johnson, CIN
10) Laurence Maroney, NE
11) Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC
12) Reggie Bush, NO
13) Shaun Alexander, SEA
14) Cedric Benson, CHI
15) Edgerrin James, ARI
16) willis mcgahee
17) Thomas Jones, NYJ
18) Marshawn Lynch, BUF
19) Deuce McAllister, NO
20) DeAngelo Williams, CAR

WR: TOP 20

1) Marvin Harrison, IND
2) Steve Smith, CAR
3) Terrell Owens, DAL
4) Torry Holt, STL
5) Chad Johnson, CIN
6) Donald Driver, GB
7) Reggie Wayne, IND
8) Javon Walker, DEN
9) Lee Evans, BUF
10) Roy Williams, DET
11) T.J. Houshmandzadeh, CIN
12) Marques Colston, N.O.
13) Vincent Jackson SD
14) Larry fitzgerald
15) Randy Moss, NE
16) Anquan Boldin, ARI
17) Laveranues Coles, NYJ
18) Darrell Jackson, S.F.
19) Plaxico Burress, NYG
20) Deion Branch, SEA

TE: TOP 15

1) Antonio Gates, SD
2) Tony Gonzalez, KC
3) Todd Heap, BAL
4) Kellen Winslow, CLE
5) Jeremy Shockey, NYG
6) Alge Crumpler, ATL
7) Chris Cooley, WAS
8) Eric Johnson, NO
9) Jason Witten, DAL
10) L.J. Smith, PHI
11) Vernon Davis, SF
12) Ben Watson, NE
13) Heath Miller, PIT
14) Randy McMichael, STL
15) Owen Daniels, HOU

KICKERS: TOP 15

1) Robbie Gould, CHI
2) Jeff Wilkins, STL
3) Nate Kaeding, SD
4) Jason Hanson, DET
5) Adam Vinatieri, IND
6) Shayne Graham, CIN
7) Josh Scobee, JAC
8) Stephen Gostkowski, NE
9) Joe Nedney, SF
10) Neil Rackers, ARI
11) Olindo Mare, NO
12) Matt Stover, BAL
13) Josh Brown, SEA
14) Jason Elam, DEN
15) David Akers, PHIL

DEFENSE / ST’s: top 15

1) Ravens
2) Bears
3) Chargers
4) Cowboys
5) Steelers
6) Broncos
7) patriots
8) Vikings
9) Eagles
10) Dolphins
11) Packers
12) Bills
13) Seahawks
14) Panthers
15) Niners

FIRST ROUND BUST CANDIDATE:

SHAUN ALEXANDER – with an honorable mention to borderline first round pick Ronnie Brown, Alexander is a back who absolutely won’t escape the first round… but possibly should, for some significant reasons:

1) Seattle’s blocking just ain’t what it used to be. A year later, Steve Hutchinson looks like a steal in a world suddenly full of $65,000,000 guards. Regardless, the Seahawk line just didn’t open the same kind of holes without him.

2) As far as I’m concerned, there is too much mystery about Alexander’s ailing foot, which put him on the shelf for much of last season. Once he did return to action, he looked absolutely pedestrian. Running backs fade fast, and I can’t help wondering if all that mileage has caught up with him…

3) …or is it just that big, “set for life” signing bonus he finally got before ‘06? Motivation has always been up-and-down here. Buyer beware…

A FIRST LOOK AT SOME SELECT, DIVISONAL SLEEPERS:

NFC SOUTH:

ERIC JOHNSON, TE, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Drew Brees knows a little something about utilizing a pass-catching tight end, and Johnson was a catch-machine in S.F. before injuries grounded him – there is potential here to land a huge sleeper at a critical fantasy football position.

DEANGELO WILLIAMS, RB, CAROLINA PANTHERS: To many a fantasy owner’s dismay, Williams was barely eased in as a rookie, but indications are he’ll get a lot more carries this year. Deshaun Foster is not only an injury risk, he has also proved he’s not the answer, and Carolina is going to get back to running the ball in a big way – Williams is a potential workhorse you can snag after the big, early run on RB’s.

JURIOUS NORWOOD, RB, ATLANTA FALCONS: Nothing less than explosive last season in limited action. A home run hitter who can go 70 yards any time he touches the ball. I have immense respect for Warrick Dunn (year after year one the greatest values in any fantast draft), but the mileage has to add up sometime, and this kid is primed and ready.

AFC EAST: While not as loaded with potential breakout studs as the NFC South, this division also has some players who are flying low on the radar…

J.P. LOSMAN, QB, BUFFALO BILLS: Quietly put together a nice statistical season in ’06, and Losman to Lee Evans is arguably the finest long-ball touchdown tandem in the league. This year he gets another year in O.C. Steve Fairchild’s system, better blocking, and a nifty rookie RB in Marshawn Lynch who can catch the ball to a fair-thee-well. J.P. will be sitting there late, and he is poised to breakthrough this year.

MARTY BOOKER, WR, MIAMI DOLPHINS: As of this writing we still don’t know who the QB is in Miami, but it’s worth noting that Booker got you more points last year than Chris Chambers did, yet is consistently ranked much lower – that spells value. Even with rookie Ted Ginn aboard, it’s a push with Wes Welker gone.

JERICHO COTHERY, WR, NEW YORK JETS: Maybe not a classic sleeper after a dynamic ’06 that landed him in the top 20 in WCOFF scoring, but no doubt Cotchery will represent great value in this year’s draft. As long as Pennington stays healthy, the Jet passing game will over-achieve.

TOP 25 OVERALL:

1. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
2. Steven Jackson, STL
3. Larry Johnson, KC
4. Brian Westbrook, PHI
5. Frank Gore, SF
6. Joseph Addai, IND
7. Travis Henry, DEN
8. Willie Parker, PIT
9. Rudi Johnson, CIN
10. Laurence Maroney, NE
11. Peyton Manning, IND
12. Marvin Harrison, IND
13. Steve Smith, CAR
14. Terrell Owens, DAL
15. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC
16. Reggie Bush, NO
17. Shaun Alexander, SEA
18. Cedric Benson, CHI
19. Torry Holt, STL
20. Chad Johnson, CIN
21. Tom Brady, NE
22. Drew Brees, NO
23. Carson Palmer, CIN
24. Mark bulger, STL.
25. Antonio Gates, SD