RADIO
RotoBaller's Nick Mariano lays out his fantasy football rankings for the inaugural Alliance of American Football (AAF) 2019 season.
While Super Bowl LIII and another Patriots parade that surrounded my condo marked the end of the 2018-19 NFL season, football is not over. In case you've been living under a rock and missed the huge news, the Alliance of American Football (AAF) starts up on February 9 -- yes, this Saturday -- and ends with a championship game on April 27.
Instead of making you all need to dig up the collegiate tape (on those who have it), or diving into the limited training camp and scrimmage reports available, I trudged through the madness and created RotoBaller's AAF fantasy football PPR rankings. You can also check out our AAF fantasy football mock draft.
The truth of the matter is very few players are in must-start spots, but there have been early standouts and those that earned heavy praise leading up to the season. That's enough for me to tinker with track records and make some preliminary ranks for you, the people. But first, let's hash out the AAF's details.
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Alliance of American Football - The Details
This is an eight-team league, so I'd suggest capping a fantasy league at six squads. It features some familiar names at the coaching and executive levels such as Bill Polian, Hines Ward, Mike Martz and Steve Spurrier. Also, there are some rule differences between the NFL and the AAF that you'll want to note:
- There are no kickoffs. Teams start at their 25-yard line and the AAF's version of an onside kick is getting one chance to convert 4th and 12 starting from their own 28.
- There are no extra points either, as teams must go for the two-point conversion.
- No television timeouts!
- Games that are tied after four quarters will have one 10-minute overtime session. Teams get the ball with a 1st and goal at the 10-yard line and try to score. OT can end in a tie.
- The play clock is 35 seconds instead of 40.
- There's an extra referee, known as the "Sky Judge," who gets to sit on high in the press box and use technology to overrule any on-field calls regarding player safety, as well as pass interference with under five minutes left in the fourth quarter (cough).
The usual lineup for games is two on Saturday and two on Sunday (full schedule here) -- but enough about the league, you want those delicious rankings of players that you either haven't heard of in eons or are completely new. If there's an appetite for more or heavy requests for analysis beyond the ranks then I'll gladly oblige.
AAF Quarterback Ranks
| Rank | Player Name | Position | Team |
| 1 | John Wolford | QB | Arizona Hotshots |
| 2 | Garrett Gilbert | QB | Orlando Apollos |
| 3 | Dustin Vaughan | QB | San Antonio Commanders |
| 4 | Christian Hackenberg | QB | Memphis Express |
| 5 | Luis Perez | QB | Birmingham Iron |
| 6 | Mike Bercovici | QB | San Diego Fleet |
| 7 | Josh Woodrum | QB | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 8 | Matt Simms | QB | Atlanta Legends |
| 9 | Trevor Knight | QB | Arizona Hotshots |
| 10 | Aaron Murray | QB | Atlanta Legends |
| 11 | Logan Woodside | QB | San Antonio Commanders |
| 12 | Brandon Silvers | QB | Memphis Express |
| 13 | Matt Linehan | QB | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 14 | Blake Simms | QB | Birmingham Iron |
| 15 | Alex Ross | QB | San Diego Fleet |
| 16 | Austin Appleby | QB | Orlando Apollos |
| 17 | Zach Mettenberger | QB | Memphis Express |
| 18 | Jack Heneghan | QB | Arizona Hotshots |
| 19 | Marquise Williams | QB | San Antonio Commanders |
AAF Running Back Ranks
| Rank | Player Name | Position | Team |
| 1 | Trent Richardson | RB | Birmingham Iron |
| 2 | Akeem Hunt | RB | Orlando Apollos |
| 3 | Tarean Folston | RB | Atlanta Legends |
| 4 | Kenneth Farrow II | RB | San Antonio Commanders |
| 5 | Terrence Magee | RB | Memphis Express |
| 6 | Jhurell Pressley | RB | Arizona Hotshots |
| 7 | Ja’Quan Gardner | RB | San Diego Fleet |
| 8 | Zac Stacy | RB | Memphis Express |
| 9 | Joel Bouagnon | RB | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 10 | D’Ernest Johnson | RB | Orlando Apollos |
| 11 | Denard Robinson | RB | Atlanta Legends |
| 12 | Aaron Green | RB | San Antonio Commanders |
| 13 | Paul James | RB | San Diego Fleet |
| 14 | Larry Rose III | RB | Arizona Hotshots |
| 15 | Akrum Wadley | RB | Atlanta Legends |
| 16 | Branden Oliver | RB | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 17 | Matt Asiata | RB | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 18 | Trey Williams | RB | San Antonio Commanders |
| 19 | De’Veon Smith | RB | Orlando Apollos |
| 20 | Ladarius Perkins | RB | Birmingham Iron |
| 21 | Tim Cook | RB | Arizona Hotshots |
| 22 | Rajion Neal | RB | Memphis Express |
| 23 | David Cobb | RB | San Antonio Commanders |
| 24 | Ryan Green | RB | Orlando Apollos |
| 25 | Justin Stockton | RB | Arizona Hotshots |
| 26 | Lawrence Pittman | RB | Atlanta Legends |
| 27 | Terrell Watson | RB | San Diego Fleet |
| 28 | Ty Isaac | RB | Birmingham Iron |
| 29 | Terrell Newby | RB | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 30 | Brandon Ross | RB | Birmingham Iron |
AAF Wide Receiver Ranks
| Rank | Player Name | Position | Team |
| 1 | Kenny Bell | WR | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 2 | Fabian Guerra | WR | Memphis Express |
| 3 | Mekale McKay | WR | San Antonio Commanders |
| 4 | Josh Huff | WR | Arizona Hotshots |
| 5 | Seantavius Jones | WR | Atlanta Legends |
| 6 | Charles Johnson | WR | Orlando Apollos |
| 7 | Francis Owusu | WR | San Diego Fleet |
| 8 | Brian Brown | WR | San Diego Fleet |
| 9 | Amba Etta-Tawo | WR | Birmingham Iron |
| 10 | Jordan Leslie | WR | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 11 | Malachi Jones | WR | Atlanta Legends |
| 12 | Ishmael Hyman | WR | Orlando Apollos |
| 13 | Kameron Kelly | WR | San Diego Fleet |
| 14 | DeVozea Felton | WR | Birmingham Iron |
| 15 | L’Damian Washington | WR | Birmingham Iron |
| 16 | Jalin Marshall | WR | Orlando Apollos |
| 17 | Dontez Ford | WR | San Diego Fleet |
| 18 | Kayaune Ross | WR | Memphis Express |
| 19 | Josh Stewart | WR | San Antonio Commanders |
| 20 | Richard Mullaney | WR | Arizona Hotshots |
| 21 | Bug Howard | WR | Atlanta Legends |
| 22 | Alton "Pig" Howard | WR | Memphis Express |
| 23 | Rashad Ross | WR | Arizona Hotshots |
| 24 | De’Mornay Pierson-El | WR | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 25 | Tobias Palmer | WR | Birmingham Iron |
| 26 | Reece Horn | WR | Memphis Express |
| 27 | Ervin Phillips | WR | Atlanta Legends |
| 28 | Kaelin Clay | WR | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 29 | Greg Ward Jr. | WR | San Antonio Commanders |
| 30 | Sam Mobley | WR | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 31 | De’Marcus Ayers | WR | San Antonio Commanders |
| 32 | Dontez Byrd | WR | Memphis Express |
| 33 | Quinton Patton | WR | Birmingham Iron |
| 34 | Damore’ea Stringfellow | WR | Memphis Express |
| 35 | Montay Crockett | WR | Atlanta Legends |
| 36 | Dres Anderson | WR | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 37 | Freddie Martino | WR | Arizona Hotshots |
| 38 | John Diarse | WR | San Antonio Commanders |
| 39 | Laquvionte Gonzalez | WR | San Diego Fleet |
| 40 | Quan Bray | WR | Birmingham Iron |
| 41 | James Quick | WR | Atlanta Legends |
| 42 | Adonis Jennings | WR | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 43 | Darius Prince | WR | San Antonio Commanders |
| 44 | Donteea Dye Jr. | WR | Orlando Apollos |
AAF Tight End Ranks
| Rank | Player Name | Position | Team |
| 1 | Gavin Escobar | TE | San Diego Fleet |
| 2 | Thomas Duarte | TE | Arizona Hotshots |
| 3 | Busta Anderson | TE | Birmingham Iron |
| 4 | Brandon Barnes | TE | Memphis Express |
| 5 | Stehly Reden | TE | San Antonio Commanders |
| 6 | Scott Orndoff | TE | Orlando Apollos |
| 7 | Tanner Balderree | TE | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 8 | Charles Standberry, Jr. | TE | Atlanta Legends |
| 9 | Gerald Christian | TE | Arizona Hotshots |
| 10 | Cam Clear | TE | San Antonio Commanders |
| 11 | Adrien Robinson | TE | Memphis Express |
| 12 | Braedon Bowman | TE | Birmingham Iron |
| 13 | Anthony Denham | TE | Salt Lake Stallions |
| 14 | Marcus Baugh | TE | San Diego Fleet |
| 15 | Garrett Hudson | TE | Atlanta Legends |
| 16 | Matt Weiser | TE | Orlando Apollos |
| 17 | Ben Johnson | TE | San Diego Fleet |
AAF Kicker Ranks
| Rank | Player Name | Position | Team |
| 1 | Nick Novak | K | Birmingham Iron |
| 2 | Nick Folk | K | Arizona Hotshots |
| 3 | Nick Rose | K | San Antonio Commanders |
| 4 | Younghoe Koo | K | Atlanta Legends |
| 5 | Donny Hageman | K | San Diego Fleet |
| 6 | Elliott Fry | K | Orlando Apollos |
| 7 | Josh Jasper | K | Memphis Express |
| 8 | Jimmy Camacho | K | Salt Lake Stallions |
AAF Defense Ranks
| Rank | Team | Position |
| 1 | Arizona Hotshots | D/ST |
| 2 | San Diego Fleet | D/ST |
| 3 | Memphis Express | D/ST |
| 4 | Birmingham Iron | D/ST |
| 5 | San Antonio Commanders | D/ST |
| 6 | Orlando Apollos | D/ST |
| 7 | Atlanta Legends | D/ST |
| 8 | Salt Lake Stallions | D/ST |
AAF Team Twitter Beats
| Team | Name | |
| Arizona | Jose Romero | @RomeroJoseM |
| Atlanta | Jaylon Thompson | @JaylonThompson |
| Birmingham | Marq Burnett | @Marq_Burnett |
| Memphis | Dylan Rubino | @DylanJRubino |
| Orlando | Tom Alexander | @TheTomAlexander |
| Salt Lake | Chantel Buchi | @chantelbuchi |
| San Antonio | Cole Thompson | @MrColeThompson |
| San Diego | Jeff Goldberg | @SDFleetBeat |
More Fantasy Football Analysis
Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.
