2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 150

This article is an introduction to RotoBaller’s 2013 fantasy football rankings.  Today we’ll be taking a look around the NFL at the top 150 players for fantasy football, and give you our fantasy analysis.  

RotoBaller.com’s team of writers will be releasing more of their fantasy football rankings, sleepers and analysis over the next few weeks to help get you prepared for the NFL season and your 2013 drafts.  Stay tuned!

2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 150

1. Adrian Peterson (RB, MIN)
2. Arian Foster (RB, HOU)
3. Ray Rice (RB, BAL)
4. Marshawn Lynch (RB, SEA)
5. Doug Martin (RB, TB)
6. Jamal Charles (RB, KC)
7. Alfred Morris (RB, WAS)
8. Calvin Johnson (WR, DET)
9. Trent Richardson (RB, CLE)
10. Maurice Jones-Drew (RB, JAX)

Notes: If I had to pick two in this group that I’m hesitant about, it’s the second-year backs in Doug Martin and Alfred Morris. After strong first years, expectations are higher and they will probably be more targeted by defenses. I love Trent Richardson and MJD; the Browns have said that T-Rich will get 300 touches and all reports indicate MJD is 100%.

11. C.J. Spiller (RB, BUF)
12. Steven Jackson (RB, ATL)
13. Matt Forte (RB, CHI)
14. A.J. Green (WR, CIN)
15. Jimmy Graham (TE, NO)
16. LeSean McCoy (RB, PHI)
17. Brandon Marshall (WR, CHI)
18. Drew Brees (QB, NO)
19. Stevan Ridley (RB, NE)
20. Aaron Rodgers (QB, GB)

Notes: From spots 10-20, we see more WR/QB in the picture. Brandon Marshall is sure to see less action as the Bears spread the wealth, and Ridley lacks consistency.  But there is excitement for Atlanta’s new RB Steven Jackson who catches out of the backfield, and say what you want, but Brees has outdone Aaron Rodgers two years in a row in fantasy points.

21. Chris Johnson (RB, TEN)
22. Frank Gore (RB, SF)
23. Julio Jones (WR, ATL)
24. Peyton Manning (QB, DEN)
25. Larry Fitzgerald (WR, ARI)
26. Dez Bryant (WR, DAL)
27. DeMarco Murray (RB, DAL)
28. Demaryius Thomas (WR, DEN)
29. Reggie Bush (RB, DET)
30. Darren Sproles (RB, NO)

Notes: In this tier, I like Larry Fitzgerald who now has Carson Palmer as a QB. Palmer knows how to target his stars, he just didn’t have one in Oakland. Murray should be fun to own as the Cowboys are making no secret of committing to the run.

31. Rob Gronkowski (TE, NE)
32. Roddy White (WR, ATL)
33. Randall Cobb (WR, GB)
34. Cam Newton (QB, CAR)
35. Dwayne Bowe (WR, KC)
36. Jordy Nelson (WR, GB)
37. David Wilson (RB, NYG)
38. Tom Brady (QB, NE)
39. Andre Johnson (WR, TEX)
40. Danny Amendola (WR, NE)

Notes: Maybe I’ll get some flack for putting Newton over Brady, but there are a lot of questions in New England with receivers, to say nothing of the specter of a Brady injury that we've just seen come out of Patriots camp, and Newton rushes for the TDs. It’s take-your-pick between Cobb/Nelson in Green Bay-- both will produce nicely and are a worthy of a pick in this range.

41. Reggie Wayne (WR, IND)
42. Vincent Jackson (WR, TB)
43. Lamar Miller (RB, MIA)
44. Victor Cruz (WR, NYG)
45. Hakeem Nicks (WR, NYG)
46. Jason Witten (TE, DAL)
47. Matt Ryan (QB, ATL)
48. Montee Ball (RB, DEN)
49. Marques Colston (WR, NO)
50. Darren McFadden (RB, OAK)

Notes: One of the ultimate risk/rewards is in the above tier, and his name is Darren McFadden. He will surely be picked higher than this in most drafts because he’s got top-10 potential. The great value here would be Matt Ryan, who I am targeting in most of my drafts.

51. Pierre Garcon (WR, WAS)
52. Matthew Stafford (QB, DET)
53. Robert Griffin III (QB, WAS)
54. Cecil Shorts (WR, JAX)
55. Steve Smith (WR, CAR)
56. Russell Wilson (QB, SEA)
57. Antonio Brown (WR, PIT)
58. DeSean Jackson (WR, PHI)
59. Ahmad Bradshaw (RB, IND)
60. Mike Wallace (WR, MIA)

Notes: I love the value you might get in Ahmad Bradshaw around here. He’s in a new system, but the Colts should utilize him similarly, if not better than the way that New York did. DeSean Jackson looks to bounce back after an extremely disappointing fantasy year, and Mike Wallace’s new home could up his receptions, but I don’t expect as many TDs.

61. Rashard Mendenhall (RB, ARI)
62. Eddie Lacy (RB, GB)
63. Eric Decker (WR, DEN)
64. Tony Gonzalez (TE, ATL)
65. Colin Kaepernick (QB, SF)
66. Torrey Smith (WR, BAL)
67. Steve Johnson (WR, BUF)
68. Greg Jennings (WR, MIN)
69. Vernon Davis (TE, SF)
70. Le'veon Bell (RB, PIT)

Notes: Two rookies appear here. I think Lacy has the most potential of all the rookies, but Bell has the biggest opportunity. Decker is good value here even if Welker takes some of his receptions, and Jennings is an unknown in Minnesota, but you have to expect he’ll get the most targets on a weekly basis for the Vikings.

Update:  Bell unfortunately came down with a  right foot injury, and is expected to miss up to six weeks with a small ligament tear.  He should be downgraded in fantasy football drafts to a mid-to-late round pick, but still has the upside to contribute when healthy this year.

Update: Andre Brown unfortunately injured his left leg and is expected to miss at least 4-6 weeks with a small fracture. He should be downgraded in fantasy football drafts, to a late round stash at best. Brown still has the upside to contribute when healthy this year, but will be out for a while and can more realistically be left for the waiver wire in shallower leagues. Until Brown is ready, Michael Cox, Ryan Torrain or Da’Rel Scott will compete for the backup role behind David Wilson, and may have the potential to hold similar fantasy value as Brown if given similar opportunity. We’re thinking that rookie Michael Cox, a 6 foot, 220 lb bruiser, with average speed but great agility, can win this competition and carve out a role as the Giants’ number 2 running back.

71. Chris Ivory (RB, NYJ)
72. T.Y. Hilton (WR, IND)
73. Andre Brown (RB, NYG)
74. Lance Moore (WR, NO)
75. Tavon Austin (WR, STL)
76. Ryan Mathews (RB, SD)
77. BenJarvus Green-Ellis (RB, CIN)
78. Tony Romo (QB, DAL)
79. Miles Austin (WR, DAL)
80. Ronnie Hillman (RB, DEN)

Notes: Here we see our first must-handcuff RBs on the rankings in Andre Brown and Ronnie Hillman. Both have greater potential and will share carries with primary backs. Tony Romo falls here in the rankings due to the commitment to the run, but should throw often when they are behind in games.

81. Sidney Rice (WR, SEA)
82. Josh Gordon (WR, CLE)
83. Fred Jackson (RB, BUF)
84. Owen Daniels (TE, HOU)
85. Emmanuel Sanders (WR, PIT)
86. Shane Vereen (RB, NE)
87. Giovani Bernard (RB, CIN)
88. Ben Roethlisberger (QB, PIT)
89. Eli Manning (QB, NYG)
90. Mark Ingram (RB, NO)

Notes: Fred Jackson is a must-own for Spiller owners; Vereen is a darkhorse solid RB because Ridley might be catching balls with all the New England injuries. Eli Manning could be a lot more solid this year after his high INT rate in 2012.

91. Ben Tate (RB, HOU)
92. Andrew Luck (QB, IND)
93. Daryl Richardson (RB, STL)
94. DeAngelo Williams (RB, CAR)
95. Kyle Rudolph (TE, MIN)
96. Antonio Gates (TE, SD)
97. Mikel LeShoure (RB, DET)
98. Kenny Britt (WR, TEN)
99. Andy Dalton (QB, CIN)
100. Ed Dickson (TE, BAL)

Notes: To round out the top 100, Luck makes the cut and could improve in a big way on a rookie campaign. Kenny Britt is the top WR on the board at this point and Antonio Gates is an awesome risk/reward pick for TE at this point in the rankings.

Rounding Out the Top 150

101. Matt Schaub (QB, HOU)
102. LaMichael James (RB, SF)
103. Joe Flacco (QB, BAL)
104. Bryce Brown (RB, PHI)
105. DeVier Posey (WR, HOU)
106. Isaiah Pead (RB, STL)
107. Greg Olsen (TE, CAR)
108. Philip Rivers (QB, SD)
109. Jonathan Stewart (RB, CAR)
110. Aaron Dobson (WR, NE)
111. Brian Hartline (WR, MIA)
112. Joseph Randle (RB, DAL)
113. Jermichael Finley (TE, GB)
114. Kendall Wright (WR, TEN)
115. Vincent Brown (WR, SD)
116. Santonio Holmes (WR, NYJ)
117. Josh Freeman (QB, TB)
118. Santana Moss (WR, WAS)
119. Brandon Pettigrew (TE, DET)
120. Justin Blackmon (WR, JAX)
121. Fred Davis (TE, WAS)
122. Cordarrelle Patterson (WR, MIN)
123. Ryan Williams (RB, ARI)
124. Jermaine Gresham (TE, CIN)
125. Michael Vick (QB, PHI)
126. Malcolm Floyd (WR, SD)
127. Alex Smith (QB, KC)
128. Michael Floyd (WR, ARI)
129. Knowshon Moreno (RB, DEN)
130. DeAndre Hopkins (WR, HOU)
131. Kendall Hunter (RB, SF)
132. Julian Edelman (WR, NE)
133. Jay Cutler (QB, CHI)
134. Sam Bradford (QB, STL)
135. Golden Tate (WR, SEA)
136. Pierre Thomas (RB, NO)
137. Marcel Reese (RB, OAK)
138. Greg Little (WR, CLE)
139. Jonathan Franklin (RB, GB)
140. Bernard Pierce (RB, BAL)
141. Jacquizz Rodgers (RB, ATL)
142. Shonn Greene (RB, TEN)
143. Isaac Redman (RB, PIT)
144. Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR, IND)
145. Carson Palmer (QB, ARI)
146. Brandon Weeden (QB, CLE)
147. Mike Gillislee (RB, MIA)
148. Jacoby Jones (WR, BAL)
149. E.J. Manual (QB, BUF)
150. Roy Helu (RB, WAS)

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