Fantasy rankings can be useful, as long as owners recognize that there is a limit to what you can get out of them. Rankings aren’t a draft guide, they are just a tool. Rankings are best used in comparison with average draft position. They help you find who is being drafted too high, or far more importantly too low. However, there are a lot of drawbacks to relying too much on rankings. They ignore the fact that the gap between 8 and 9 is massive compared to the gap between 14 and 19. That’s why I’ve included auction values, to help alleviate this problem. But it also ignores the fact that you only want one quarterback in each league. You may find yourself tempted to draft Drew Brees in the second because he is the highest player on your board. But you know that there is a value qb you can take in the 5th round. By all means ingest. There is good information to be found in rankings. Just remember it’s only one tool in your belt on draft day.
UPDATE: 8/10
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION | VALUE | COMMENTS |
| 1 | LeSean McCoy | PHI | RB | 65 | I've stated my case. McCoy is the guy here. |
| 2 | Arian Foster | HOU | RB | 61 | The top fantasy back just two years ago plays in what might be the easiest division in football. |
| 3 | Ray Rice | BAL | RB | 60 | The last of the can't miss backs. Rice might not finish on top, but he'll be up there. |
| 4 | Calvin Johnson | DET | WR | 55 | Further ahead of his peers than the top player at any other position. |
| 5 | Aaron Rodgers | GB | QB | 54 | The king stay the king. The guarantee on Rodgers is tough to pass up here. |
| 6 | Darren McFadden | OAK | RB | 49 | When healthy, possibly the best back in the league. |
| 7 | Maurice Jones-Drew | JAC | RB | 49 | Still only twenty-seven, MJD always produces, and with the QB situation in the River City, they'll have to use him. |
| 8 | Tom Brady | NE | QB | 41 | Quarterbacks could see a down year in 2012. Tom Brady likely won't. |
| 9 | Ryan Matthews | SD | RB | 41 | Downgraded because of recent injury. But he might be back by week one. Shoulder injury shouldn't slow him. |
| 10 | Matt Forte | CHI | RB | 40 | The Bears offense is improved. Forte will benefit from the extra touchdowns. |
| 11 | Greg Jennings | GB | WR | 37 | Averaged 70+ ypg for five straight years. |
| 12 | Chris Johnson | TEN | RB | 37 | For players that like to live dangerously. CJ2K could make your season, or tank it. |
| 13 | Andre Johnson | HOU | WR | 37 | The second most talented wideout in football. Still. |
| 14 | DeMarco Murray | DAL | RB | 36 | We have a limited sample size on Murray. But he looks to be getting the starting nod on a quality offense. |
| 15 | Brandon Marshall | MIA | WR | 36 | In his previous two seasons with qb Jay Cutler, Marshall averaged 1285 yards. Since then, they have both improved. |
| 16 | AJ Green | CIN | WR | 36 | With a season under his belt, (and a season under his qb's belt) Green has to improve on his stellar 2011. |
| 17 | Larry Fitzgerald | ARI | WR | 35 | As close to a lock for a top ten finish as it gets. I don't see where Fitzgerald's circumstances have improved much in 2012. |
| 18 | Michael Turner | ATL | RB | 35 | Not getting younger. But still finished seventh a year ago. My money says he has one good year left. |
| 19 | Roddy White | ATL | WR | 35 | This is no knock on White. The difference between Jennings and White is small. |
| 20 | Jimmy Graham | NO | TE | 32 | With the lock receivers gone, it's time to take the tight end that produces like a wideout. |
| 21 | Drew Brees | NO | QB | 31 | You can afford to wait on qbs in 2012. But if Brees is available here, take him. |
| 22 | Hakeem Nicks | NYG | WR | 31 | After the Steve Smith experience in New York, I'm not ready to put Cruz ahead of Nick after a single season. |
| 23 | Dez Bryant | DAL | WR | 30 | The obvious breakout candidate this year. As much pure talent as anyone, and a |
| 24 | Jamaal Charles | KC | RB | 29 | Should be healthy in September. But how high can you draft a running back on a bad offense. Hillis could become a vulture. |
| 25 | Fred Jackson | BUF | RB | 29 | Averaged 93 ypg before his injury. Just stay strong through that rough beginning the schedule makers set up for him. |
| 26 | Steven Jackson | STL | RB | 28 | Do you want a running back on a bad team? Not really, but better than a back that is splitting carries. St Louis will be better than last year. |
| 27 | Marshawn Lynch | SEA | RB | 27 | Will be drafted too high because of one playoff carry. Still on a bad team. |
| 28 | Rob Gronkowski | NE | TE | 24 | Gronk would be the top tight end on my board if not for a history of injuries dating back to college. |
| 29 | Frank Gore | SF | RB | 24 | There could be some gas left in the tank, and he could be a number two fantasy back for a bargain. |
| 30 | Wes Welker | NE | WR | 22 | The fact that the Pats were reluctant to give Welker a long-term contract indicates to me that they are ready to move on. |
| 31 | Matt Stafford | DET | QB | 22 | Quarterback is a position I don't worry about injuries as much. There should be enough quality backups to go around this year, |
| 32 | Stevie Johnson | BUF | WR | 22 | Johnson was 17th among wideouts in a year in which he missed a significant amount of time. Not a stretch to assume he finishes in the top 15. |
| 33 | Tony Romo | DAL | QB | 21 | If you've locked down stars at wr and rb, Romo makes a nice late third round pick. |
| 34 | Phil Rivers | SD | QB | 21 | Last year Rivers played horrendous. And still finished tenth among signal-callers. |
| 35 | Mike Wallace | PIT | WR | 18 | Great 2011, but his role could be usurped by Antonio Brown. And the offense looks like it's in decline. |
| 36 | Aaron Hernandez | NE | TE | 18 | And this is the guy that can do a lot of the things that Welker did. Expect a lot of sets with Hernandez in the slot in 2012. |
| 37 | Willis McGahee | DEN | RB | 18 | Peyton Manning has always allowed for his running back to produce beyond his ability. McGahee has more talent than any Manning back since Edge. |
| 38 | Miles Austin | DAL | WR | 17 | Should bounce back from an injury-riddled 2011. |
| 39 | Beanie Wells | ARI | RB | 17 | We've quickly forgotten that Beanie Wells was a top-ten fantasy back last year. He won't this year, but he'll still be top twenty. |
| 40 | Victor Cruz | NYG | WR | 17 | Should settle into his role as number two in the Meadowlands. |
| 41 | Steve Smith | CAR | WR | 16 | Will not like repeat his 2011 stats. Not only is getting older, but the improved Carolina team will not be hucking it deep in the 4th as often. |
| 42 | Shonn Greene | NYJ | RB | 16 | You know the Jets are going to run the ball a lot. Greene is the only dependable guy on the roster., |
| 43 | Vincent Jackson | TB | WR | 16 | Much more talented than Mike Williams who put up solid numbers in this offense two years ago. |
| 44 | Jeremy Maclin | PHI | WR | 16 | If he gets a full season with Vick, watch out. |
| 45 | Michael Vick | PHI | QB | 15 | Just make sure you get a backup. |
| 46 | Ahmad Bradshaw | NYG | RB | 14 | He will split carries, but that's not new. |
| 47 | Eli Manning | NYG | QB | 14 | You know you will get a top ten guy. Just don't expect a top five guy. |
| 48 | Antonio Gates | SD | TE | 14 | When he's on the field he produces. A perennial injury risk though. |
| 49 | Percy Harvin | MIN | WR | 13 | The wrist injury was a false alarm. |
| 50 | Cam Newton | CAR | QB | 13 | He likely won't repeat his 2010 rushing totals. But he's an every week fantasy starter. |
