Fantasy Football Stud Players

The players that are sure thing if they are still on the draft board in your fantasy football league.

Quarterback

Peyton Manning, Colts

Payton Manning should be the first quarterback taken in any fantasy league and that is for good reason. Manning is the highest scoring quarterback year after year and he benefits from having great receivers (Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison) and playing half of his games in a dome.

Carson Palmer, Bengals

Carson Palmer had a down year last season but most of the blame for that was put on his substantial knee injury. They say it takes two years to fully heal from a torn ACL and this will be Palmer's second season since. He also has a talented offense around him.

Drew Brees, Saints

Drew Brees had a great season last year and that should continue into this year. Brees has a lot of talent surrounding him including breakout receiver Marques Colston and superstar Reggie Bush. Brees should have plenty of options for where to throw the ball.

Running Backs

LaDanian Tomlinson, Chargers

Tomlinson is by far the top running back out there to start the season. His 31 touchdowns last season speak for themselves.

Larry Johnson, Chiefs

The only reason Johnson is this low in the rankings is because he has missed most of the preseason and will not be in 100% game shape for the start of the season. He should move up later in the season.

Steven Jackson, Rams

Steven Jackson moves up a spot with Larry Johnson not being 100% to start the season. Jackson should see a lot of touches this season and he should also find the endzone a lot.

Frank Gore, 49ers

Frank Gore was the NFC's leading rusher last season, but yards don't mean as much as touchdowns. Gore needs to improve on his touchdown total but with the improved 49ers offense he should be able to get a decent number. Gore is a nice top-5 pick.

Shaun Alexander, Seahawks

Shaun Alexander looks poised for a comeback year after his disappointing 2006 season (Madden curse, anyone?). His age is a question mark, but he will be the number one back in Seattle.

Brian Westbrook, Eagles

Brian Westbrook does it all. He receives and catches at a great clip and Donovan McNabb has said he will gain over 2,000 total yards this season. Westbrook is another back who needs to find the endzone a little more.

Wide Receivers

Marvin Harrison, Colts

Marvin Harrison is the top receiver year after year and for good reason. The Manning-Harrison combination will go down as one of the greatest in NFL history.

Chad Johnson, Bengals

Chad Johnson has all but guaranteed that he will break the single-season receiving record. If he does this he will be a steal no matter where on the board you draft him.

Steve Smith, Panthers

Steve Smith definitely has the talent to be the second best receiver in the NFL, but question marks for the rest of the Panthers offense may make him a questionable second-overall receiver pick.

Terell Owens, Cowboys

Terrell Owens stayed and Bill Parcells left. This is good news for TO. If he can only convince Tony Romo to throw him the ball a little more he will be a fantasy stud.

Tight Ends

Antonio Gates, Chargers

Antonio Gates is far and away the top choice in fantasy drafts and for a good reason. Since breaking into the NFL after playing basketball at Kent State, Gates has racked up more fantasy points than any other tight end. Gates should be Rivers's #1 target in the red zone.

Tony Gonzales, Chiefs

Gonzales has been one of the top tight ends since he entered the league and he will enter the Hall of Fame at tight end. This season he should be one of the only reliable targets on the Chiefs, but the lack of a great quarterback should worry his owners. He should get a ton of receptions this season though.

Jeremy Shockey, Giants

Jeremy Shockey is always a popular fantasy pick at tight end. He has great size and speed for a tight end and he has great hands. He also has a knack for finding the end zone and should be a reliable starter this season.

Defenses

Chicago Bears

The Bears defense was great last season and should put up similar numbers this season. They will get their fair share of takeaways, but even more importantly their return game is solid, especially with Devin Hester.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens always have a great defense and this year is no exception. They also play in the offensively challenged AFC North. No Adalius Thomas could cause some problems, however.

Kicker

Adam Vinatieri

4 Super Bowls. 2 Super Bowl winning kicks. Adam Vinatieri is a sure-fire Hall-of-Famer and his leg does not seem to be tiring. He kicks half of his games in a dome and he is the best bet for a kicker again this season.