Fantasy Mastermind Moment

Ranking the best heading into the 2003 season

Donovan McNabb was by far the top fantasy quarterback last year before his leg injury. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

By Michael Nazarek, Special to SI.com

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 fantasy advice for the next five months.

What? You've never heard of me? I believe an introduction may be in order. My name is Michael Nazarek, and I'm a fantasy fanatic. I've been playing this wonderful game since 1988, and return to SI.com for a fourth 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).

Running Backs
No.	Player	Team	Comment
1.	LaDainian Tomlinson	Chargers	He's young. He's talented. The Chargers base their entire offense around him. He'll see more deep looks in the passing game. He's simply the best fantasy stud RB in the game right now.
2.	Marshall Faulk	Rams	Overlooked by some, a healthy Faulk is a devastating fantasy producer. After an injury-plagued season, Faulk has rededicated himself to being the leader the Rams need. And don't think he won't get the job done.
3.	Clinton Portis	Broncos	The next stud RB to play for the Broncos, Portis has nearly unlimited potential. His only drawback may be a case of fumblitis that he seems to suffer once each season.
4.	Ricky Williams	Dolphins	OK, Ricky proved he was the real deal last season. Keep taking your anxiety pills, and there's the good chance you'll lead the league in rushing again. Remember when people said Williams came up short compared to Edgerrin James? Who's coming up short now?
5.	Deuce McAllister	Saints	If Williams was the golden goose that the Saints traded away, then Deuce is the golden egg that hatched into a stud RB. And that's only the beginning.
6.	Shaun Alexander	Seahawks	People say Alexander had a disappointing 2002 season. Yeah, I really think 18 scores are disappointing. If the chips fall right, Alexander could lead the league in scoring by a RB in 2003.
7.	Edgerrin James	Colts	It's two years since James tore his ACL, and you know what that means, right? HE'S BAAAACK!
8.	Travis Henry	Bills	Henry has a breakout season only to see the Bills draft Willis McGahee in the first round. Don't you think that will provide some serious motivation for him to prove they made a mistake with that pick?
9.	Fred Taylor	Jaguars	Goodbye, Stacey Mack. Hello, 2,000 rushing yards? Only if he stays healthy. I hope that thigh bruise isn't too serious.
10.	Tiki Barber	Giants	The most underrated RB in the league. Barber nearly topped 2,000 total yards in 2002 with 11 scores. Will newly signed Dorsey Levens and slow-footed Ron Dayne eat into those numbers? I don't think so.
11.	Jamal Lewis	Ravens	Guess who else is two seasons removed from his torn ACL? The Ravens may not have Peyton Manning to take the pressure off, but that doesn't mean Lewis won't get the job done.
12.	Priest Holmes	Chiefs	Why 12? If Holmes takes several hits on his hip in Monday night's game without problems, he's a top-10 RB. If he then gets a new deal, he's a top-three RB. But until that happens, buyer beware.
13.	Corey Dillon	Bengals	Something tells me Dillon won't be tripped up at the goal like he was on more than one occasion last season. Head coach Marvin Lewis alone helps his fantasy value.
14.	Stephen Davis	Panthers	Is it his fault the Redskins failed to use him properly in 2002? The Panthers will run Davis left, Davis right, and Davis up the middle. Just what he needs to regain his studly status.
15.	Ahman Green	Packers	He be a top 10 RB if for not two words: Najeh Davenport. The coaches are raving about Davenport and won't hesitate to use him to keep Green "fresh." Translation: Fewer touches for Green, which means less fantasy value.

Wide Receivers
No.	Player	Team	Comment
1.	Marvin Harrison	Colts	Key stat: 143 catches. Are you kidding me? And he did that without a solid No. 2 WR opposite him? No question here who's the best receiver in the game today.
2.	Randy Moss	Vikings	Primed for a rebound season from a "terrible" 1,347-yard, eight-TD year. Isn't it funny how Moss' poor year is considered a great season for most other wideouts?
3.	Terrell Owens	49ers	Next to Harrison, Owens is the best. Why No. 3? If Garcia's back goes out, so does Owens' big fantasy season.
4.	Eric Moulds	Bills	He showed last year that the only thing missing from his game was a good QB. Enter Drew Bledsoe and all is right in Moulds' world.
5.	Joe Horn	Saints	He consistently produces 1,300 yards and eight scores. If Brooks can produce for a full season, Horn could top 1,500 yards and 10-plus scores.
6.	Plaxico Burress	Steelers	So young and so talented, Burress is just finding himself as a stud WR. With a QB in his corner like Tommy Maddox, we could be looking at the next Randy Moss.
7.	Donald Driver	Packers	First there was Sterling Sharpe, then there was Robert Brooks, then came Antonio Freeman, and now there's Driver. Ain't life grand for Brett Favre's primary target?
8.	Torry Holt	Rams	Nothing changes here. Holt can be a dominant deep threat for fantasy owners, but the lack of consistent scores keeps him out of the top five.
9.	Hines Ward	Steelers	A Steeler racking up 112 catches in one season? Are you kidding me? So much for thinking 2001's 94-catch total was a fluke, eh?
10.	David Boston	Chargers	The guy is a thoroughbred racehorse with a knee injury, which is healed. He's ready to go, but can Drew Brees get him the ball consistently? We'll soon see.
11.	Jerry Rice	Raiders	Yeah, Jerry Porter is the second coming… blah, blah, blah. Hey! He's still Jerry Freakin' Rice!
12.	Peerless Price	Falcons	Moving to a new team as the No. 1 WR is challenging to say the least, but if Price develops quick chemistry with Mike Vick, he could easily break into the top 10.
13.	Chad Johnson	Bengals	Ah, one of my long-shot sleepers from last summer has hit the big time with a top 15 ranking! Yes, my friends, there is finally another Bengal to draft in the first 12 rounds other than Corey Dillon.
14.	Amani Toomer	Giants	If Barber was the league's most underrated RB, Toomer fills the bill as the most underrated WR. While big Jeremy Shockey grabs all the headlines, all Toomer does is average nearly 85 yards receiving per game and score four times as many TDs. What's not to like?
15.	Derrick Mason	Titans	You can slot Mason right behind Toomer in the "lack of respect" category. Simply put, Steve McNair wouldn't be an MVP candidate without Mason. He's tough, too. He's taken hit after hit and left a game only to return and catch the game-winning score. I'll take that kind of play for my No. 2 fantasy WR any day of the week.

Tight Ends
No.	Player	Team	Comment
1.	Jeremy Shockey	Giants	I drafted this guy as my starting TE in nearly all of my league drafts last summer, even before the big catch, hit and run in preseason. To all those late bandwagon jumpers I say… I TOLD YOU SO!
2.	Tony Gonzalez	Chiefs	Gonzo had what many consider an "off" year, producing only 773 yards and seven scores in 2002. And he did that facing double- and even triple-teams. It's scary just how good this guy really is.
3.	Todd Heap	Ravens	If you can't get Shockey or Gonzo in your draft this summer, Heap is the next best thing. He's athletic, has great hands, and is the most talented receiver on the Ravens' roster.
4.	Bubba Franks	Packers	Ah, Brett Favre's go-to receiver in the red zone. Franks doesn't gain much yardage, but there is the good chance he'll lead the league in scores. Not bad for a TE you can probably grab in the eighth round of a 12-team draft.
5.	Randy McMichael	Dolphins	This kid was the hottest TE in the league for the first half of 2002, his rookie season, but faded badly once Jay Fiedler got hurt. The Dolphins need him to rebound and he's ready to prove to all he's the real deal.

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 40 QBs, 80 RBs, 100 WRs, 40 TEs and 32 PKs along with a list of the top defenses for good measure. One final note, make a point to check back here at SI.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 15 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 2003 season go to http://www.ffmastermind.com or call 702-568-7118.

 

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