Big Board: Keeping up with Mr. Jones
By Brandon Funston, Yahoo! Sports Nov 3, 1:34 pm EST
Big Boards: Football | Baseball | Basketball | Hockey
The Big Board takes into consideration past returns, current performance and expected future gains in determining who should be included among the top 50 fantasy football players. Essentially, the Big Board is a cheat sheet designed for a fantasy owner who is planning to participate in a draft today. Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football default scoring settings are used as the baseline for the Big Board, which is updated on a regular basis.
| Big Board 50: Football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Player | Stock | Pvs. |
| 1 | Maurice Jones-Drew(notes), Jac, RB | At rough mid-point of season, a tick up on Peterson in FAN PPG | 1 |
| 2 | Adrian Peterson, Min, RB | Bonus points: Has already surpassed rec. yard total of ’08 | 2 |
| 3 | Michael Turner(notes), Atl, RB | Yards come and go, but he churns out TDs in this ATL offense | 4 |
| 4 | Chris Johnson, Ten, RB | Has produced 2 of the top 4 single-game FAN PT outings at RB | 3 |
| 5 | Ray Rice(notes), Bal, RB | No. 4 fantasy RB’s versatility has proven to be matchup proof | 36 |
| 6 | DeAngelo Williams(notes), Car, RB | 25 TDs in past 19 games; No. 2 RB in FAN PTS past 3 weeks | 5 |
| 7 | Cedric Benson(notes), Cin, RB | Gotta give it to him - he’s delivered v. PIT, BAL and DEN | 26 |
| 8 | Ronnie Brown(notes), Mia, RB | RB gone wild(cat): 7 TDs in past 6 games | 6 |
| 9 | Reggie Wayne(notes), Ind, WR | Top fantasy wideout has a TD in 6 of first 7 games | 10 |
| 10 | Frank Gore(notes), SF, RB | Excluding MIN game (injured) is No. 2 among RB in FAN PPG | 8 |
| 11 | Thomas Jones(notes), NYJ, RB | TJ top scoring fantasy RB for 5-week stretch of Weeks 4-8 | - |
| 12 | Andre Johnson(notes), Hou, WR | Most targeted WR in NFL likely to see more w/ TE Daniels out | 9 |
| 13 | Steven Jackson, StL, RB | 2nd only to Chris Johnson in Yards from Scrimmage | 15 |
| 14 | Larry Fitzgerald(notes), Ari, WR | Targeted at least 9 more times than anyone else in past 3 weeks | 13 |
| 15 | Randy Moss(notes), NE,WR | 5th-most targeted WR has 38 TDs in 39 games w/ Pats | 14 |
| 16 | Pierre Thomas(notes), NO, RB | Bell’s presence pesky, but NO bakes a big fantasy pie | 7 |
| 17 | Drew Brees(notes), NO, QB | Packed w/ production: Amazingly, hasn’t yet attempted 40 passes | 17 |
| 18 | Peyton Manning(notes), Ind, QB | Has topped 300 passing yards 9 of past 11 games (inc. playoffs) | 18 |
| 19 | Rashard Mendenhall(notes), Pit, RB | No. 7 among RB in FAN PPG from Weeks 4-8 | - |
| 20 | Aaron Rodgers(notes), GB, QB | After top 2 finish at QB in FAN PPG in ’08, currently No. 1 in ’09 | 38 |
| 21 | Vincent Jackson(notes), SD, WR | No. 1 fantasy wideout from Weeks 6-8 | 30 |
| 22 | Roddy White(notes), Atl, WR | Gonzo stealing some looks, but not in red zone (6 TDs in past 6) | 41 |
| 23 | Wes Welker(notes), NE, WR | Targeted at least 10 times in each of his 5 games played | 47 |
| 24 | Marques Colston(notes), NO, WR | Physicality, hands are beautiful combo w/ Brees’ distribution skills | 28 |
| 25 | Marion Barber(notes), Dal, RB | Has been spotty past few weeks while dealing w/ sore thigh | 11 |
| 26 | Philip Rivers(notes), SD, QB | Has 249+ passing yards in each game and very soft playoff sched | 19 |
| 27 | Tom Brady(notes), NE, QB | Not back to ’07 form yet, but No. 4 @ QB in FAN PPG all good | 31 |
| 28 | DeSean Jackson(notes), Phi, WR | Track-star talent has 6 TDs, all from 54+ yards | 34 |
| 29 | Chad Ochocinco(notes), Cin, WR | No. 85 back home in the top 10 among fantasy wideouts | 43 |
| 30 | Calvin Johnson(notes), Det, WR | MegaTron’s health (knee) = mega-frustrating (basically 3 DNPs) | 16 |
| 31 | Greg Jennings(notes), GB, WR | Starting to get QB’s attention again: 4th-most looks past 3 weeks | 35 |
| 32 | Dallas Clark(notes), Ind, TE | 3 TDs and averaging 91 receiving ypg in past 6 games | 29 |
| 33 | Brandon Jacobs(notes), NYG RB | Starting to build steam with 4.3 YPC in past 5 games | 21 |
| 34 | Joseph Addai(notes), Ind, RB | Up-n-down, but TD production all but assured in Indy juggernaut | - |
| 35 | Miles Austin(notes), Dal, WR | 3-game run (Week 5-8) amazing, but sched in next 4 will test him | - |
| 36 | Steve Smith, NYG, WR | Has not topped 70 yards or scored a TD in past 4 | 20 |
| 37 | Steve Smith, Car, WR | Connectivity issues w/ Jake showing signs of recovery in past 2 | 27 |
| 38 | Matt Forte(notes), Chi, RB | Needs to show positives vs. tougher opponents than DET, CLE | 12 |
| 39 | Ryan Grant(notes), GB, RB | Boring, perhaps, but consistent: 10+ FAN PTS in 6 of 7 games | 40 |
| 40 | Kevin Smith(notes), Det, RB | Despite 6th-most touches, just 19th in FAN PTS at RB | 24 |
| 41 | Matt Schaub(notes), Hou, QB | Daniels loss hurts, but pass TD/yard leader not a 1-trick pony | - |
| 42 | Sidney Rice(notes), Min, WR | Physical beast has all the tools and finally a QB to exploit them | - |
| 43 | Antonio Gates(notes), SD, TE | Not in the (red) zone: TDs in 2 of past 16 games (inc. playoffs) | 33 |
| 44 | Vernon Davis(notes), SF, TE | Has come alive in past 5: 61 receiving ypg and 7 TDs | - |
| 45 | Brandon Marshall(notes), Den, WR | 3rd straight 100-catch season unlikely, but TDs (4) all good | 42 |
| 46 | LaDainian Tomlinson(notes), SD, RB | Major upside gone, but big workload still has its advantages | 32 |
| 47 | Hines Ward(notes), Pit, WR | Old faithful: At 33, on pace for career-best 1,376 receiving yards | 46 |
| 48 | Knowshon Moreno(notes), Den, RB | Lead pony in very heavy run offense, but Buckhalter lurking | 39 |
| 49 | Tim Hightower(notes), Ari, RB | Most targeted RB has 18 TDs in 27 games w/ ARI (inc. playoffs) | - |
| 50 | Anquan Boldin(notes), Ari, WR | Ankle issue looks like it could be season-long thorn to deal with | 23 |
Updated Nov 3, 1:34 pm EST
