Rest Of Season Fantasy Rankings

With the season’s second half upon us, how would you draft differently if your league drafted today? Would Adrian Peterson still be the consensus top pick? Where would Matt Schaub go? And which Steve Smith could come off the board first?

These rankings are meant to capture a player’s fantasy value for the rest of the season. They do not take into account what players have done up to this point (as they say, past performance does not predict future results). As we get closer to the fantasy playoffs, we’ll take schedules increasingly into account, as well as speculation into whether playoff teams will rest key players down the stretch.

Quarterbacks

Comments: The only concern with Peyton Manning is that the Colts may rest him in Week 16, during most league’s fantasy championships, if the Colts have wrapped up the top seed in the AFC...While Brady, Rivers and Schaub all have favorable schedules down the stretch, Kurt Warner is the one to keep an eye on: with games against the Lions and Rams in Weeks 15 and 16, the Cardinals win quite a few owners a fantasy title...If the Eagles keep throwing at anything like the pace they did last week, McNabb should be a very solid option in the season’s second half...Bretty Favre and Tony Romo has less than stellar December records the past few years. Just something to keep in mind...Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan have both slumped lately...Can you spell fantasy victory without VY? The Titans’ signal-caller could be a good insurance policy as a spot-start option for Ryan or Flacco owners anxious about their quarterbacks.

Running Backs

Comments: The stats don’t lie: Chris Johnson is the best (fantasy) back in the land. Runs like this don’t hurt...Ray Rice has become a lock for at least 100 total yards and a touchdown a week. His ceiling is Brian Westbrook without the injury problems...Someday someone needs to write a book about Steven Jackson’s 2009 season. It’s been that good. His yardage has been consistently great, but recently he’s managed to find paydirt as well...With Ronnie Brown out, look for Ricky Wiliams to party like it’s 2003...With Reggie Bush questionable this weekend with a “knee bruise”, look for Pierre Thomas to rack up the carries. Sean Payton and the Saints coaches will likely look to limit Bush’s touches over the second half to save him for the playoffs, so don’t be surprised if Thomas (and Bell) are a bit more consistent the next few weeks...Brandon Jacobs has played better the last few weeks, going for over 5.0 YPC. He should be better over the season’s final seven weeks...Beanie Wells might not take as the Cardinals’ “starter” this season, but if he can keep getting a majority of the carries, he could be a solid RB2, especially given the Cards’ soft schedule...Handcuffs dominate the bottom of our running back rankings. A handful of them will get starts the next few weeks, but it’s unclear whether they’ll have any opportunities beyond that (yes, that means you, Justin Forsett and Jason Snelling).

Wide Receivers

Comments: The top five receivers are almost interchangeable; all have extremely favorable schedules the rest of the way...Don’t sleep on Wes Welker. Remember, he missed two games at the beginning of the season, so his per-game averages are better than they appear at first blush. He is an elite option at wide receiver...Matt Ryan’s sophomore struggles have dragged Roddy White down a bit, although his touchdowns have buoyed his value...Anquan Boldin is seriously undervalued coming off of injury. Considering how easy the Cardinals’ closing schedule is, trading for Boldin at the deadline could be a coup that sends many a fantasy team on the way to a championship...Brandon Marshall owners: be afraid of Chris Simms. Very afraid. If Kyle Orton is hampered the rest of the season, Marshall’s numbers could take a dive...Don’t look now, but the last few weeks the original Steve Smith has gotten back on track (more or less), putting up decent yardage and scoring several times...Roy Williams may let a ball bounce off his facemask every now and then, or fumble the ball away on a big play, but he’s ben the Cowboys’ top receiver the last two weeks. He’s an example of a player who’s better in fantasy than he is in real life...Look for Kevin Walter to continue to pick up a fair share of the targets that had gone to Owen Daniels earlier in the year.

Tight Ends

Comments: With Owen Daniels a spectator for the rest of the season, Dallas Clark is far and away the top option at tight end...Brent Celek has quietly posted decent yardage totals the last few weeks, along with becoming a key target at the goal line. Considering how much the Eagles pass the ball, he’s a top tier fantasy option...Greg Olsen is another tight end benefitting from his team’s pass-happy ways. The Bears have taken to the air even more than usual the last two weeks, and Olsen has put up over 70 yards both weeks, along with three touchdowns in the game two week’s ago. He could easily become Cutler’s go-to target over the second half...Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten are big-names who have put maddeningly mediocre numbers so far. Gonzalez has been the victim of a poor Falcons passing game, while Witten has had most of his looks come underneath, as he’s set a career low in yard per catch. Move both of them to an owner who still thinks it’s 2007...Zach Miller is an elite talent held hostage by a miserable situation. Maybe Bruce Gradkowski can make it better. It could hardly get any worse.