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Fantasy Mastermind Moment Best of 2001: Early preseason fantasy rankings
Updated: Wednesday August 01, 2001 6:37 PM
By Michael Nazarek, Special to CNNSI.com Welcome to summer of 2001! Guess what? The NFL season is just around the corner and your fantasy draft is even closer. Have no fear! The Mastermind returns once again to offer my pearls of wisdom periodically for the next five months. What? You've never heard of me? I believe an introduction may be order. My name is Michael Nazarek, and I'm a fantasy fanatic. I've been playing this wonderful game since 1988, and return to CNNSI.com for a second season to help you in your quest to win a fantasy championship. Drafting is the most important part of fantasy football, so let's get right to it... Note: The following fantasy player rankings are based upon a performance scoring system (Pass TD = 3 pt, Rush/Rec TD = 6 pt, 20 Pass Yards = 1 pt, 10 Rush/Rec Yards = 1 pt).
Quarterbacks1. Daunte Culpepper, MIN: This big kid can do it all. He's got a big gun and the weapons around him to succeed. His bull-rushing abilities put him over the top as the cream of the fantasy QB crop. 2. Kurt Warner, SL: The big bomber is healthy and ready to rock and roll once again. Faulk, Bruce, and Holt return making another 40-TD season a very reachable goal. 3. Peyton Manning, IND: The standard of the prototypical young studly Pro Bowl QB. He can pick apart the best defenses, making a 33-TD passing season look like a walk in the park. 4. Rich Gannon, OAK: The most underrated fantasy QB in the league gets two more experienced targets in Charlie Garner and Jerry Rice. What more could a veteran passer yearning for a Super Bowl title want?
5. Jeff Garcia, SF: Losing Garner and Rice hurts, but his developing talent, and Terrell Owens should easily keep him a top-10 fantasy starter. 6. Brett Favre, GB: Remember when a 35-TD season was automatic for Favre? With a healthy Dorsey Levens and a rededicated Antonio Freeman, don't count out a return to form. 7. Donovan McNabb, PHI: A bit overrated for my taste, but McNabb should continue to develop with a healthy Duce Staley on the field. The key here is whether he can develop chemistry with new wideouts James Thrash and Freddie Mitchell. 8. Brian Griese, DEN: A very talented young player who seems to be injury prone. He has the horses to succeed, but whether he'll last the season is the real question. 9. Trent Green, KC: A wide-open player going to a new wide-open offense. The knee is a concern along with the loss of Sylvester Morris. Will Derrick Alexander produce? Will Derrick Mayes step up? Could produce major numbers if everything comes together. 10. Vinny Testaverde, NYJ: The old man can still get the job done. Matthew Hatchette and Santana Moss will take the pressure off Wayne Chrebet. Vinny is two years removed from his Achilles injury and could surprise in 2001.
Running Backs1. Marshall Faulk, SL: Twenty-six TDs and nearly 2,200 total yards of offense! The Marshall is locked and loaded and his knee is feeling fine. The Rams have their eye on returning to the Super Bowl and Faulk will lead the way. 2. Edgerrin James, IND: Consistently one of the top producing STUD RBs in the league over his two years of pro football. If you can't grab Faulk, James is the next best thing. 3. Eddie George, TEN: What a workhorse! He carried the Titans for the team's final six games of Y2K. Yes, he had two offseason surgeries, but says he's ready to go. Do you doubt him? I think not! 4. Fred Taylor, JAX: Taylor proved what a fantasy STUD he can be when he's healthy late last year. High risk, high reward. When he plays, he'll produce, but those who draft him better make plans for at least a few games without Freddie.
5. Jamal Lewis, BAL: A bruising youngster on a championship team that is just coming into his own. With a full season of starts ahead of him, Lewis could top 1,500 rushing yards and 10 scores very easily this season. 6. Curtis Martin, NYJ: Martin is the consummate workhorse back. Injuries are never a real factor, and he consistently produces 100-yard rushing games. Those who think rookie Lamont Jordan will steal scores from him are underestimating C-Mart. 7. Stephen Davis, WAS: Davis often carries the Redskins on his back. In the new West Coast Offense, he'll catch more passes. The only question here is his durability. 8. James Stewart, DET: Ditto for Stewart, but his team's offense is more questionable with an injury-prone Charlie Batch leading the way. 9. Corey Dillon, CIN: If he was running behind the Broncos front four, he'd be a top-three back for sure. Dillon's happy for the first time in his career with a fat new contract, and the team actually has a decent QB in Jon Kitna. Watch out! 10. Duce Staley, PHI: The foot will be a constant source of injury concern, but so far, so good. Mark my words. A healthy Staley will rush for 1,500+ yards and 10+ scores. No doubt! 11. Terrell Davis, DEN: Has 2,000-yard season talent, but big questions remain. Will the leg hold up? What about the hamstring? Or the ankle? You get the picture. 12. Jamal Anderson, ATL: He's two years removed from the torn ACL injury and is showing signs of getting his wiggle back. One of the most underrated players this summer should easily outperform last season's 1,000-yard, 6-TD season. 13. Lamar Smith, MIA: Surprised everyone with his big season last year. The Dolphins refused to sign him to a fat, long-term deal, giving him plenty of motivation to prove he deserves that contract. 14. Tiki Barber, NYG: The spark that ignites the Giants' flame. Yes, he'll share time with Dayne, but he's still the most dangerous player on a run-oriented offense. 15. Warrick Dunn, TB: Much like Barber, Dunn will share time with Mike Alstott, but the coaches know he can carry the load. A threat to score anytime he touches the football.
Wide Receivers1. Randy Moss, MIN: The most consistent deep threat in the game today. Can also take the short pass the distance for a score. Is a virtual lock for 15+ scores. What more do you want from your top fantasy wideout? 2. Marvin Harrison, IND: A very dangerous multiple-threat receiver. Harrison scores in the red zone as well as via the deep ball. He's also prone to multiple-TD games, a fantasy fanatic's delight! 3. Terrell Owens, SF: With Rice out of the picture, Owens becomes the top threat in the passing offense. Garcia is talented, and even with a questionable running game, Owens should produce double-digit scores. 4. Isaac Bruce, SL: The Reverend is still THE MAN in the eyes of Warner. In the wide-open passing offense, Ike can still kick it. Could be a bit underrated this summer. All the better for owners who draft him! 5. Rod Smith, DEN: Led the league with more than 1,600 total yards from scrimmage in Y2K. Griese is healthy again, meaning Smith is primed for many more deep passes and scores.
6. Torry Holt, SL: Many view Holt as the new primary threat in St. Louis. Regardless, he's become one of the most dangerous deep threats in the game. Doesn't score much, but those 150+ yards games are SWEET! 7. Cris Carter, MIN: Whether he retires after the season or not, Carter remains a mortal lock for 1,200 yards and 10 scores. You can set your alarm clock by his play. 8. Eric Moulds, BUF: A fat new contract shouldn't slow him down, not with a new disciplinarian for a head coach. If Rob Johnson stays healthy, Moulds could push for top-five fantasy numbers. 9. Antonio Freeman, GB: Mr. Underachiever gets one final chance to redeem himself. Favre is healthy and Freeman knows he has no more excuses. If he keeps his nose clean, he should be good for a dozen scores. 10. Tim Brown, OAK: Some think Rice will steal catches and scores. Not I. Timmy will get even more looks. Why? Rice will steal the COVERAGE from Brown, making owners who invest a pick in him very happy. 11. Joe Horn, NO: I tooted his horn all season long last year. Both Aaron Brooks and Jeff Blake love to target Horn early and often. If Williams stays healthy, Horn could be a top-10 receiver. 12. Ed McCaffrey, DEN: Easy Ed just keeps on chuggin'. He's beat up and banged up. No matter. Need a first down? He's your man. Need a score? He's your man. Need a No. 1 WR in the fourth round? He's your man. 13. Derrick Alexander, KC: Played with more consistency in Y2K and got many more red zone looks than usual. He'll be looked upon to produce big time as the deep threat, especially with Morris sidelined. 14. Jimmy Smith, JAX: Ranked this low only on the basis of his health. If he doesn't start slow, Smith could produce another 1,200 yards and eight scores. 15. Keyshawn Johnson, TB: Meshawn gets a new offensive coordinator and a promise to throw the ball his way more. Do you feel sorry for him? I don't either.
Tight Ends1. Tony Gonzalez, KC: Let's face it. This guy plays like a big wideout in a passing offense geared to get him the football. I've even seen him taken at the start of the second round! 2. Shannon Sharpe, BAL: Sharpe gets a new QB in Elvis Grbac who loves to throw to his TE. Shannon isn't a force like Gonzo, but he'll see more looks than most other TEs in the league.
3. Frank Wycheck, TEN: Consistently Steve McNair's favorite target, Wycheck can score any week of the season. Best of all, he won't cost an arm and a leg in your fantasy draft. 4. Freddie Jones, SD: The best young TE in the league on the verge of breaking out. Unfortunately, hernia surgery places the first part of his season at risk. 5. Jay Riemersma, BUF: When he's healthy, he's deadly in the red zone, as he scored all five of his TDs inside the 20 last season. Johnson will rely on his big man often in critical situations. These rankings should offer you a good start towards creating your own personal draft lists. Remember, fantasy winners always come prepared for their draft. That means owners should always create their own rankings for at least the top 30 QBs, 70 RBs, 90 WRs, 30 TEs, and 30 PKs along with a list of the top defenses for good measure. One final note, make a point to check back here at CNNSI.com and you won't go wrong, especially with the staff of writers assembled to offer the very latest fantasy information. Good luck and happy drafting! Michael Nazarek is the Fantasy Football Mastermind, and has more than a dozen years of fantasy related experience. His company offers an NFL draft kit, preseason draft guide, a weekly newsletter, and free fantasy news (updated daily) at its web site. For more information as well as expanded fantasy player rankings for the 2001 season go to http://www.ffmastermind.com or call 256-851-1749.
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