2009 Fantasy Football Rankings Cheat Sheet (26-50)

26.) Greg Jennings (WR) — You have a flury of wide receivers to debate about.  You could go with Greg Jennings, Terrell Owens, or Steve Smith.  All should post very similar numbers.  All should have around 1,200 yards, and 8-10 TDs.  I’m going with Greg Jennings who had 1292 yards and 9 TDs last season.

27.) Steve Smith (WR) — Missed the first 2 games last season and still had over 1,400 yards.  Lacks high TD numbers, but you can always count on solid yardage.

28.) Ronnie Brown (RB) — Due for over 1,300 combined yards and 8-10 TDs in an offense that likes to run the ball.  Has some injury concerns, but those are in the past.  The TD numbers aren’t high enough for higher pick.  Should be given more carries this year since he’s distanced himself from the ACL injury and Ricky Williams wasn’t getting it done last season.  Last year he averaged 13.3 carries per game and put up 1,170 combined yards.  With 20-25 touches a game, he could have monster stats this year.

29.) Ryan Grant (RB) — Failed to live up the first-round status last season, but he should rebound this year.  Only 4 TDs last season, but a return to his 2007 form could yield a potential of over 1,500 yards and 10 TDs.

30.) Phillip Rivers (QB) — If you missed out on Brees/Brady/Manning, it’s time to take a QB and Rivers is your guy.  He posted “Peyton-like” numbers last season with over 4,000 yards and over 30 TDs and he’s only getting better.  With the addition of Chris Chambers, he finally has the receivers to work with.

31.) Kurt Warner (QB) — With Fitzgerald, Boldin, and Breaston, it’s impossible for Warner to have a bad year, but the offseason injury and age is starting to be a concern.  I picked him up in round 6 last year and loved it, but expect him to be gone in round 3 this season.

32.) Aaron Rodgers (QB) — Posted 4,028 yards and 28 TDs last season.  Trails Warner by just a tad.

33.) Donovan McNabb (QB) — I was debating whether I would take Donovan McNabb ahead of Kurt Warner.  Warner’s 2008 numbers were much better than McNabb’s by 600 yards and 7 TDs.  However, Warner is coming off a hip surgery, is 38-years-old, and has management willing to put in Matt Leinart if he starts off the season with 3-4 bad games.  McNabb has an additional receiving threat in Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, and Michael Vick, along with the impressive DeSean Jackson in his sophomore year.  I’m an Eagles fan, so the bias is definitely there, but my personal nod has to go to #5, but unbiasly, Kurt Warner and Aaron Rodgers both look like better picks.

34.) Knowshon Moreno (RB) — Denver loves to run the football and they have the zone-blocking scheme that benefits Moreno’s run style.  There is a reason they reached in the draft to pick Moreno #12.  Remember Chris Johnson last season? Moreno has the potential to post monster numbers as a rookie.  If he’s there in the 4th round, take him.

35.) Thomas Jones (RB) — 1,300 rushing yards, 200 receiving yards, and 13 TDs last season.  Rookie Shonn Green is sidelined with an injury.  Look for a healthy dose of Thomas Jones to help out QB Mark Sanchez.  Leon Washington will cut into his carries though.

36.) Terrell Owens (WR) — He had a bit of a down year last season and now he’s in cold Buffalo with an average QB.  I think he’ll be right in that 1,000 yard, 10 TD area.

37.) Marshawn Lynch (RB) — His draft status would be much higher if it wasn’t for a 3-game suspension that he has to serve to begin the season due to a drug violation.

38.) Kevin Smith (RB) — Had 1,000 yards and 8 TDs in only 12 starts.  Look for him to improve on his rookie numbers with an increased workload.

39.) T.J Houshmandzadeh (WR) — Posted nearly 1,000 yards with a QB that deserves to play in NFL Europe.  With Hasselbeck, he should return to closer to his 1,100 yard and 8-12 TD numbers that we’re used to seeing from T.J.  He’s still the ultimate possession receiver, so he’ll get a lot of touches in Seattle’s west-coast offense.

40.) DeSean Jackson (WR) — I’m extremely bias here since DeSean Jackson is my favorite player, but look for DeSean to improve upon last year’s rookie numbers.  The TD numbers aren’t quite there, but I anticipate a 1,200 yard, 6 TD season from him.

41.) Wes Welker (WR) — Tom Brady’s favorite underneath target.  Always atop the league in receptions.  A lock for 1,000 yards.  Look for the TD numbers to improve closer to 8, compared to last year’s 3.

42.) Reggie Bush (RB) — I’m staying away due to the injury concerns.  Worth the gamble if he can stay healthy throughout a full season.  Pierre Thomas will get more carries at the goalline, so he may be worthy of the pick before Bush, but it’s tough to pass on a name like Reggie Bush.

43.) Darren McFadden (RB) — Will deepthreat Darrius Heyward-Bey give Darren McFadden the ability to be that home-run hitter out of the backfield.  60-80 yard touches are always possible with McFadden, but he failed to woo fantasy owners last year and Justin Fargas is still your every-down back on the Raiders.

44.) Jason Witten (TE) — Tony Romo’s favorite target, but with T.O. gone and no other receiving threats, he’ll constantly draw double-teams.  Should still get a ton of redzone looks though.

45.) Antonio Gates (TE) — One of only 3 TE’s worth taking in the first 5 rounds of the draft.  Hopefully the injuries stop bothering him and another 1,000 yard and 10 TD season is in the cards for him.

46.) Tony Gonzalez (TE) — If you miss out on Witten, go with Tony.  He put up 1,000 yards and 10 TDs on the Chiefs last year.  Can you imagine how many TD looks he’ll get with Matt Ryan and the Falcons this year?

47.) Joseph Addai (RB) — Was a first-round lock last season, but had a down year.  The Colts drafted RB Donald Brown in the first-round this year, so what does that tell you about their confidence in Addai?  Only 554 and 5 TDs in 12 games last season.  If he can return to 2006/2007 form, this pick could pay dividends.  Donald Brown will get a heavy workload though.  Worthy of a higher pick, but he’s fallen down my board.  This is a high risk/reward play.

48.) Dwayne Bowe (WR) — An underrated receiver who may go overlooked by many others in your league.  With Matt Cassell, he should improve upon his 2008 numbers of 1,022 yards and 7 TDs.

49.) Pierre Thomas (RB) — Pierre Thomas was a great waiver pickup last season as he proved he was a player in the second half of the season.  He is able to both run and catch the football so a typical stat line for Thomas would be 80 rushing yards, 40 receiving yards, and 1 TD each week.  The more I look at his numbers, you’ll see why I think he’s worth a late 3rd, early 4th round pick.  The only question is how much Reggie Bush will cut into his workload, so you want to read the news coming out of camp as to how many carries you can expect Thomas to get.

50.) Chad Ochocinco (WR) — If Carson Palmer is ready to go and with Laveranues Coles on the other side of him to prevent constant double-teams, Ocho Cinco can return to greatness.