The 2015 regular season draws near and so does your upcoming Fantasy Draft.
To help you game plan and strategize, here is your hub for 140 Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Defenses and Kickers all ranked with recommendations on where to draft them.
Click any of the positions below to access their cheat sheets.
The last two things on your mind in a Fantasy Football Draft are Defenses and Kickers, but they are still positions that will either put you over the top in a close game…or kill you.
Aggressive Fantasy players rarely stick with the defenses and kickers that they drafted, always rotating for great matchups. If you grab a solid point producer though, that’s one less stress you need to deal with for your weekend.
Here are my Top 10 for both defenses and kickers. You know when you should be drafting them already, so I spared the recommendations this time.
2014: 28 Takeaways, 49 sacks, 1,405 Return, 11 TDs
Eagles defense won games for people by themselves last year. Seattle will get overdrafted because they are talked about the most, but they don’t really score much. Philly gets pointage and they’ve improved in the off-season by adding Kiko Alonso. Philly is also insane in special teams situations blocking kicks and returning.
2014: 30 Takeaways, 54 sacks, 1,124 Return, 4 TDs
The Bills upgraded their already excellent D by hiring Rex Ryan. They don’t score a lot of TDs, but they do get to the quarterback a lot which forces turnovers and scoring chances.
2014: 24 Takeaways, 37 sacks, 1,072 return, 3 TDs
The Seahawks give you the best opportunities for shutouts and control the game by running a lot. They can pack on the INT and Sack points as long as they get the opportunity to…Oh and #LegionOfBoom
2014: 25 Takeaways, 40 sacks, 1,581 return, 5 TDs
The Rams D-Line could be the best in football and with an unreliable offense, they get plenty of opportunities to reek havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
2014: 14 Takeaways, 46 sacks, 2,035 return, 3 TDs
The Chiefs didn’t generate many takeaways last year, but they have the best return game and pass rusher (Justin Houston) in football. They also get one of the best safeties in the league back in Eric Berry,
2014: 34 Takeaways, 38 sacks, 630 return, 6 TDs
Houston is the anti-KC. They take the ball away and they score. Plus, they have JJ Watt.
2014: 25 Takeaways, 35 sacks, 684 return yards, 5 TDs
The Cardinals were very vulnerable to the pass last year, which is surprising when they have Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu in their secondary. That may be the bright side because they DO have Peterson and Mathieu, two of the league’s best athletes…and an excellent pass rush.
2014: 25 Takeaways, 40 sacks, 1,124 return, 5 TDs
Patriots lost Revis but they always fill in their vacancies well. Very savvy pass rushers and special teams have a penchant for coming up big.
2014: 22 Takeaways, 49 sacks, 1,359 return, 3 TDs
The Baltimore D isn’t going to carry you like they used to, but they are very good for spot starts and getting sacks. Their divisional games are generally slugfests too that work in their favor.
2014: 27 Takeaways, 41 sacks, 888 return, 6 TDs
The formula to GB’s success last season was getting out to a big lead early and then forcing opposing teams to throw and and be pressured into turnovers. I anticipate that to be a similar circumstance for them again this year, but they can give up a lot of points at times.
2014: 35/37 FG, 51 XP
What you generally want in your kicker is someone who doesn’t miss often, gets a lot of opportunities, and picks up plenty of XPs. The Patriots spend a lot of time in their opponents’ territory and that Gostkowski rarely misses.
2014: 32/36 FG, 54 XP
Similar to the Patriots, the Eagles get into their opponents’ territory plenty for Parkey to get attempts. It also helps that they score TDs on both offense and defense for him to pick up XPs
2014: 31/37 FG, 41 XP
Hauschka has some of the best range in the league, his longest FG last year being from 58 yards out. His leg definitely shortens the field for the Seahawks.
2014: 30/35 FG, 40 XP
Bullock benefits from getting to play in a dome for most of his season without dealing with the elements. Not sure how many scoring chances the Texans will get with their quarterback and running back situations, but Bullock’s good.
2014: 34/38 FG, 31 XP
Scuzzy Dan made the 2nd most FGs in the league last year, and will get a chance to kick plenty more if Buffalo commits to their run game. Scoring touchdowns may still be an issue without a viable quarterback in their system.
2014: 29/32 FG, 40 XP
Bryant is reliable. As long as the Falcons offense does their job this year, his attempts and extra points will certainly rise.
2014: 30/31 FG, 50 XP
Vinatieri is SO OLD but still SO ACCURATE. The Colts should be scoring in the bunches again this season, and having a better RB in Gore will make Vinatieri an excellent pick for your team.
2014: 29/35 FG, 42 XP
Tucker admittedly plays Fantasy Football as well and is well aware that you depend on him each Sunday….and he is very dependable.
2014: 26/35 FG, 29 XP
So much of a kicker’s success is dependent on the offense putting him in a position to kick. Year 2 of Bridgewater and the return of Adrian Peterson should bode well for Blair Walsh getting more attempts.
2014: 25/29 FG, 56 XP
At the very least, you want your kicker to kick a lot of PATs. Bailey led the league in XPs last season and I don’t expect his attempts to waver too much this year. Cowboys Stadium has never been too bad to him either.
You have to love how the Tight End position has evolved over the years. Every since Tony Gonzalez hit the scene, former basketball players and big wide receivers have converted into heavy hitters in Fantasy Football.
I wouldn’t take one in the first round, but here are my Top 20 and where you should look to take them.
2014: 1,124 rec yards, 82 catches, 12 TD
Regardless if it’s Brady throwing or if it’s Garoppolo, Gronk will smash. However, he’s not going to be 1st round worthy like he’s projected. Great player but he won’t carry your team enough to give up picking a high end point producing skilled player.
Pick 2nd Round
2014: 889 rec yards, 85 catches, 10 TDs
Graham was a bit inconsistent last season, partially thanks to Drew Brees and being injured. He’s being downplayed in Seattle, but I think he’s a perfect fit with Russell Wilson. Could be a touchdown machine.
Pick 3rd Round
2014: 916 rec yards, 90 catches, 6 TDs
Martysaurus could do big things this season. “Denver-Julius Thomas” big things. He was spread out in the first preseason game like Thomas was in the Gase system, and that makes him dangerous around the end zone. He was targeted nearly as much as Gronk last season and that shouldn’t change.
Pick 4th or 5th Round
2014: 1008 rec yards, 84 catches, 6 TDs
Olsen and Benjamin are Cam’s best two offensive options again this year. Olsen seems to be more helpful in between the 20s and that helps for reception and yard points.
Pick 5th Round
2014: 862 rec yards, 67 catches, 5 TDs
Kelce is solid and seems more reliable for Alex Smith than his receivers are. The offense runs through Jamaal Charles but on 3rd down and in the red zone, Kelce is key.
Pick 5th or 6th Round
2014: 704 rec yards, 64 catches, 5 TDs
The more unsure we get about the Cowboys running backs, the better I feel about Tony Romo throwing more to Bryant and Witten. Witten isn’t as athletic as he used to be, but he is gets the job done.
Pick 7th Round
2014: 424 rec yards, 24 catches, 2 TDs
Cameron dealt with a mess last year in Cleveland. I would expect him to bounce back pretty well with Tannehill at quarterback, who will benefit from having a bigger target in the red zone.
Pick 7th Round
2014: 702 rec yards, 58 catches, 3 TDs
If the Eagles quarterbacks are going to be any good, they’re going to have to rely heavily on Ertz, who is the best pass catcher they have. He’ll also be valuable as a compliment to pounding the rock with Murray.
Pick 7th Round
2014: 890 rec yards, 63 catches 4 TDs
A rookie quarterback’s best friend is his tight end, and Delanie Walker is a fast one. Walker missed the first preseason game because he was coming back from a thumb injury, but I expect him to help calm Mariota’s nerves in no time.
Pick 8th Round
2014: 231 rec yards, 24 catches, 2 TDs
I think Rudolph will be a steal in mid to late rounds because Vikings OC Norv Turner LOVES his tight ends. Rudolph was banged up a bit last season but should play well with a further developed Bridgewater at quarterback.
Has 8th Round Value but you’ll find him available 10th round
2014: 489 rec yards, 43 catches, 12 TDs
Thomas was successful because of Peyton Manning and the Adam Gase offense. Now he’s in Jacksonville where star players can’t stay healthy and longtime Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis is also there. Thomas won’t get as many looks but has a chance to prove that he’s better than just a system receiver.
Pick 8th Round
2014: 395 rec yards, 29 catches, 8 TDs
Coby Fleener is also in Indy, but Dwayne Allen is the better receiver in the end zone. Luck targeted Allen 50 times last season, and I expect that to go up with Gore established in the run game.
Pick 10th Round
2014: 527 rec yards, 48 catches, 4 TDs
Broncos HC Gary Kubiak always brings his favorite TE along, “old reliable” Owen Daniels. Sometimes Daniels looked very good as a TD threat, and a lot of times he was nowhere to be found. Decent late round backup
Pick 11th Round
2014: 623 rec yards, 64 catches, 6 TDs
Larry Donnell is dealing with tendonitis in his Achilles but the Giants don’t seem worried about him missing Week 1. He put together some of the best games for tight ends, and sometimes didn’t do much at all. Expect him to be much more consistent in year 2 of the new offensive system.
Pick 11th Round
2014: 465 rec yards, 50 catches
With Niles Paul out for the season, Jordan Reed is the man for Washington. RG-III plays well with TEs, especially in the red zone, and Reed is an excellent weapon when healthy.
Pick 12th Round
2014: 821 rec yards, 69 catches, 12 TDs
Even though Gates is missing 4 games for suspension, you aren’t drafting to use him that early in the season anyway. Although Ladarius Green will be getting an audition to start the season, Gates is still one of the best ever at the position and will be an excellent weapon to have in your pocket
Pick Late Rounds
2014: 37 rec yards, 3 catches
Eifert didn’t do anything last year, literally. But now Jermaine Gresham is gone and Eifert is the #1 TE in Cincy, so you have to think production will only go up from here.
Pick Late Rounds
2014: 226 rec yards, 19 catches
Green is getting a crack at showing he can take over when Antonio Gates is done or hurt (or suspended longer). If Philip Rivers can’t make him worth your while, nobody can.
Pick Late Rounds
2014: 176 rec yards, 14 catches, 5 TDs
Jimmy Graham’s replacement caught a decent number of touchdowns last year, but is taking reps with the 2nd team so far this preseason. Decent fill in for a back up spot, or an easy drop when you want to add someone better.
Pick Late
2014: 761 rec yards, 66 catches, 3 TDs
Heath is usually a fill in guy when you need a spot start at TE or someone gets injured. Really it just helps to have him already because Roethlisberger will always have him as a security blanket when he needs one.
Pick Late
michaelpiff 