As I watched games this week, I realized I was about due for this column. Typically, around this time every season, I re-evaluate how I rank fantasy players. I try to identify weaknesses on my rosters and areas of need on other teams in my leagues. At this point, we need to figure out who's getting hot at the right time, who's out-performed thus far, and who will come on late.
So here's my shot at mid-season rankings. Feel free to use them, modify them, or just plain disagree with them.
Quarterback
1. Aaron Rodgers -- Regaining 2011 form; hitting his stride at the right time.
2. Peyton Manning -- Looks healthy; will need to throw to keep Denver in games.
3. Robert Griffin III -- Better than advertised; rushing will provide crazy value.
4. Drew Brees -- New Orleans offense will need to put up 35 a week to win.
5. Eli Manning -- Playing at an MVP level; receivers are getting healthy.
6. Tom Brady -- Offense predicated on the pass; running game just makes him better.
7. Matt Ryan -- Playing very well; fantastic at home; starting to slow down lately.
8. Ben Roethlisberger -- Offense is all him; always looking downfield for big plays.
9. Cam Newton -- Post-game antics aside, he's a tremendous talent; goal line threat.
10. Michael Vick -- fantasy > reality; still a top rushing threat; job security?
Running Back
1. Arian Foster -- Easily the top back; runs, catches, and scores; model of consistency.
2. Ray Rice -- One of few feature backs; offense needs to run through him.
3. Adrian Peterson -- Crazy that he started Week 1; crazier that he's getting better.
4. Alfred Morris -- Consistent double-digit performer; Mike Shanahan will ride him.
5. LeSean McCoy -- Philadelphia needs to get him the ball; will use bye to get him going.
6. Marshawn Lynch -- Seattle feeds him to run offense; relentless runner; "Beast Mode."
7. Frank Gore -- San Francisco's workhorse; great offensive line; focal point of offense.
8. Chris Johnson -- Big play ability; regaining form; inconsistent.
9. DeMarco Murray -- Dallas turning to balanced attack; a beast when healthy.
7. Larry Fitzgerald -- Quarterback musical chairs hurts; still a force at receiver.
8. Marques Colston -- Top receiver on a top offense; getting hot right now.
9. Jordy Nelson -- Taken over for Greg Jennings as Green Bay's top wide receiver; red zone/big play threat.
10. Reggie Wayne -- Andrew Luck's top target in Indianapolis; Luck will get better and so will Wayne.
11. Roddy White -- Still top guy on high-powered pass offense; size and speed combination.
12. Vincent Jackson -- Getting hot; huge Week 7; developing chemistry with Josh Freeman.
13. Julio Jones -- Flashes of brilliance, but inconsistent; already a top wideout.
14. Miles Austin -- Impressive consistency; top target for Tony Romo.
15. Demaryius Thomas -- Peyton Manning's top guy; 100 yards or touchdown every week.
16. Andre Johnson -- Still dangerous; top receiver on a top offense; injury risk.
17. Steve Johnson -- Ryan Fitzpatrick's favorite target; still inconsistent.
18. Steve Smith -- If Cam Newton gets going, watch out; still a top receiver.
19. Antonio Brown -- Reliable possession guy for Pittsburgh; still learning a new offense.
20. Dwayne Bowe -- Incredible natural talent; success now tied to Brady Quinn.
Tight End
1. Rob Gronkowski -- Still a top tight end; touchdown potential is unparalleled.
2. Tony Gonzalez -- Reliable possession guy for Matt Ryan; top red zone target.
3. Jimmy Graham -- Difficult matchup for defenses; versatility, size and speed.
4. Vernon Davis -- Top target for San Francisco; huge upside.
5. Heath Miller -- Big red zone target for Ben Roethlisberger; six-plus targets in three of last four games.
6. Owen Daniels -- Finally healthy; reliable pass catcher in play action.
7. Kyle Rudolph -- Christian Ponder looks his way in red zone; will continue to get looks.
8. Antonio Gates -- Still a Top 10 tight end; Phillip Rivers' inconsistency hurts production.
9. Jason Witten -- Overcame early drops; still a trusted safety valve for Tony Romo.
10. Brent Celek -- Target volume; defenses lose him with other Philadelphia weapons.
Good luck in Week 8.
Drew Magyar is a fantasysharks.com staff writer and can be reached at drewmagyar@gmail.com. "What Did We Learn" will be posted each Tuesday morning during the season, and "Rock and a Hard Place" will be posted each Friday morning.
What Did We Learn - Week 7 fantasysharks.com 5 years ago
As I watched games this week, I realized I was about due for this column. Typically, around this time every season, I re-evaluate how I rank fantasy players. I try to identify weaknesses on my rosters and areas of need on other teams in my leagues. At this point, we need to figure out who's getting hot at the right time, who's out-performed thus far, and who will come on late.
So here's my shot at mid-season rankings. Feel free to use them, modify them, or just plain disagree with them.
Quarterback
1. Aaron Rodgers -- Regaining 2011 form; hitting his stride at the right time.
2. Peyton Manning -- Looks healthy; will need to throw to keep Denver in games.
3. Robert Griffin III -- Better than advertised; rushing will provide crazy value.
4. Drew Brees -- New Orleans offense will need to put up 35 a week to win.
5. Eli Manning -- Playing at an MVP level; receivers are getting healthy.
6. Tom Brady -- Offense predicated on the pass; running game just makes him better.
7. Matt Ryan -- Playing very well; fantastic at home; starting to slow down lately.
8. Ben Roethlisberger -- Offense is all him; always looking downfield for big plays.
9. Cam Newton -- Post-game antics aside, he's a tremendous talent; goal line threat.
10. Michael Vick -- fantasy > reality; still a top rushing threat; job security?
Running Back
1. Arian Foster -- Easily the top back; runs, catches, and scores; model of consistency.
2. Ray Rice -- One of few feature backs; offense needs to run through him.
3. Adrian Peterson -- Crazy that he started Week 1; crazier that he's getting better.
4. Alfred Morris -- Consistent double-digit performer; Mike Shanahan will ride him.
5. LeSean McCoy -- Philadelphia needs to get him the ball; will use bye to get him going.
6. Marshawn Lynch -- Seattle feeds him to run offense; relentless runner; "Beast Mode."
7. Frank Gore -- San Francisco's workhorse; great offensive line; focal point of offense.
8. Chris Johnson -- Big play ability; regaining form; inconsistent.
9. DeMarco Murray -- Dallas turning to balanced attack; a beast when healthy.
10. Stevan Ridley -- Capable runner on high-powered offense; inconsistent production.
11. Matt Forte -- Getting over injury; Jay Cutler-Brandon Marshall tandem will open up running lanes.
12. Trent Richardson -- Top 10 talent even on poor offense; needs to get healthy.
13. Jamaal Charles -- Speed and explosiveness is off the charts; success tied to quarterback play.
14. C.J. Spiller/Fred Jackson -- Injury makes either one a Top 10 guy; both dynamic.
15. Willis McGahee -- Peyton Manning makes him better; Denver leads means an increased workload.
16. Ryan Mathews -- Feature back; getting healthy; upcoming schedule a plus.
17. Shonn Greene -- Run-first attack starting to pay off; health concerns.
18. Reggie Bush -- Explosive plays; rookie quarterback plus a poor receiving corps means feast or famine.
19. Michael Turner -- Offensive attack means less work; goal line opportunities.
20. Rashard Mendenhall -- True rushing threat on good offense; needs to get healthy.
Wide Receiver
1. A.J. Green -- Consistent, dependable production; seven touchdowns last six games.
2. Calvin Johnson -- Success tied to Matthew Stafford; he's a freak; just one touchdown, though.
3. Victor Cruz -- Seems to make big play every week; reliable target for Eli Manning.
4. Wes Welker -- Started slow; Tom Brady's go-to guy again; can't be covered in slot.
5. Brandon Marshall -- Perfect reunion with Jay Cutler; gaining steam; unstoppable.
6. Percy Harvin -- Quietly putting up crazy numbers; dual threat playmaker.
7. Larry Fitzgerald -- Quarterback musical chairs hurts; still a force at receiver.
8. Marques Colston -- Top receiver on a top offense; getting hot right now.
9. Jordy Nelson -- Taken over for Greg Jennings as Green Bay's top wide receiver; red zone/big play threat.
10. Reggie Wayne -- Andrew Luck's top target in Indianapolis; Luck will get better and so will Wayne.
11. Roddy White -- Still top guy on high-powered pass offense; size and speed combination.
12. Vincent Jackson -- Getting hot; huge Week 7; developing chemistry with Josh Freeman.
13. Julio Jones -- Flashes of brilliance, but inconsistent; already a top wideout.
14. Miles Austin -- Impressive consistency; top target for Tony Romo.
15. Demaryius Thomas -- Peyton Manning's top guy; 100 yards or touchdown every week.
16. Andre Johnson -- Still dangerous; top receiver on a top offense; injury risk.
17. Steve Johnson -- Ryan Fitzpatrick's favorite target; still inconsistent.
18. Steve Smith -- If Cam Newton gets going, watch out; still a top receiver.
19. Antonio Brown -- Reliable possession guy for Pittsburgh; still learning a new offense.
20. Dwayne Bowe -- Incredible natural talent; success now tied to Brady Quinn.
Tight End
1. Rob Gronkowski -- Still a top tight end; touchdown potential is unparalleled.
2. Tony Gonzalez -- Reliable possession guy for Matt Ryan; top red zone target.
3. Jimmy Graham -- Difficult matchup for defenses; versatility, size and speed.
4. Vernon Davis -- Top target for San Francisco; huge upside.
5. Heath Miller -- Big red zone target for Ben Roethlisberger; six-plus targets in three of last four games.
6. Owen Daniels -- Finally healthy; reliable pass catcher in play action.
7. Kyle Rudolph -- Christian Ponder looks his way in red zone; will continue to get looks.
8. Antonio Gates -- Still a Top 10 tight end; Phillip Rivers' inconsistency hurts production.
9. Jason Witten -- Overcame early drops; still a trusted safety valve for Tony Romo.
10. Brent Celek -- Target volume; defenses lose him with other Philadelphia weapons.
Good luck in Week 8.
Drew Magyar is a fantasysharks.com staff writer and can be reached at drewmagyar@gmail.com. "What Did We Learn" will be posted each Tuesday morning during the season, and "Rock and a Hard Place" will be posted each Friday morning.