Colts Are Cream of Fantasy Crop: Head Up Fantasy Power Rankings

Just for fun, we're going to rank each real NFL team as if they were a fantasy football team. The question is quite simple, who would sport the best squad in fantasyland if you needed a QB, two running backs, two receivers, a tight end, a defense/special teams, kicker, and a flex player?

This is also a cheap ploy -- but not as cheap as the free fantasy leagues on fleaflicker -- to link every single team preview (just click on the team name).

Just check out the Colts' fantasy starting lineup, it's disgusting. Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Dominic Rhodes, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Dallas Clark, a quality defensive unit, Adam Vinatieri, and Anthony Gonzalez. Wow. I'm sure to hear complaints from Cowboys, Chargers, and Patriots fans here, but you can't run out a better lineup, using this criteria, than Indy. If you played in a 14-team league and had a replacement for Rhodes, this lineup gets you to the playoffs.


The three aforementioned teams have an argument, but each has at least one hole. The Cowboys, for example, run out Patrick Crayton at the WR2 slot, and the flex guy is whomever wins the WR3 job. The Chargers have similar issues, with Vincent Jackson as the WR2 and the flex in flux. The Pats have either Lamont Jordan, Sammy Morris, or Kevin Faulk as the RB2.

Without further ado, let's rank 'em ...

1. Colts -- The buck stops here. I already wrote out the starting lineup. Not only that, but Mike Hart is a very sleepy option going into the season as he'll win the third-string running back job. I said it in the preview, anyone can accrue stats from the running back position in this offense.

2. Patriots -- It's hard to go wrong here, but the Colts do have a decided advantage over these boys at tight end and running back No. 2. The difference between Wes Welker and Marvin Harrison isn't enough to offset those positions, especially with Anthony Gonzalez being a much better flex than Jabar Gaffney.

3. Chargers -- As you saw in the preview, I love this squad. If you were making a fantasy team, though, they'd be top heavy. LaDanian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, and the defense are elite, while Philip Rivers and Chris Chambers are quality options. After that, though, the stock of this team plummets. You could argue that the three elite units pick up the slack of the lesser starters. Either way, the team is awesome.

4. Cowboys -- I bet if you went through mock draft forms and did some analysis on where players were being drafted, the 'boys would challenge the Colts for the top spot. They are easily the most overrated team in fantasy this season. Brinson has covered how overvalued Tony Romo is twice, I'm anti-T.O., and the defense isn't top three (it's being picked that way). Hell, I even saw Marion Barber drafted second overall in one draft -- which was fine with me because I was able to get Adrian Peterson from the three-hole. All this being said, overrated doesn't mean they aren't good. This team is damn good.

5. Packers -- As I said in the preview, this is a fantasy paradise. Aaron Rodgers will do enough to keep the receivers very valuable, and Ryan Grant's holdout only made Brandon Jackson that much stronger an option. Receiver goes four deep, the tight end is strong, and the defense is elite.

6. Steelers -- Not one weak spot, when you consider the additions of Limas Sweed and Rashard Mendenhall via the draft. They are separated from the top group only because of the absence of truly elite players.

7. Giants -- The Champs are quite loaded as well, with three usable running backs, and quality options at every position.

8. Browns -- Thin at running back, and the defense still has to prove that the changes will help transform things positively. Everywhere else, though, the Brownies are stellar.

9. Saints -- Adding Jeremy Shockey made the offense even more high-octane. Drew Brees and Marques Colston are very solid picks considering they get overshadowed by others at their position.

10. Bengals -- The passing attack contains three studly options (Carson Palmer, TJ Houshmandzadeh, and Chad Johnson), while the running game has two able-bodied players.


11. Seahawks -- Quality all-around, without anything really spectacular. I do love the defense and think it's very underrated.

12. Eagles -- Many things went poorly last year, Brian Westbrook excepted. The defense and Donovan McNabb will bounce back.

13. Rams -- It wasn't long ago that you would have seen them ranked first or second. Still some lingering play-makers from the Greatest Show. They'll have a big bounce-back year.

14. Redskins -- The new offense is a much better fit for Jason Campbell and Clinton Portis ... and the receiving corps is now loaded with young talent after that draft.

15. Jaguars -- Questions at receiver, but nowhere else. The only problem is they aren't elite anywhere, just solid. Reggie Williams' injury is a blow to an already thin receiving group.

16. Jets -- Now that the QB situation is solved with Favre in town, you've gotta give Thomas Jones and the receivers a big bump up.

17. Vikings -- Not awful, despite the fact that it's all running and defense. Adrian Peterson has to count for something, right?

18. Bills -- A team full of sleepers. Marshawn Lynch, Trent Edwards, Lee Evans, James Hardy, and the defense should all be great value picks this season.

19. Broncos -- Already thin at wideout, now they lose Brandon Marshall for three games. Selvin Young could be a stud, but will Mike Shanahan let him?

20. Panthers -- Steve Smith is going to be out two games, but other than that there's a lot to like on this underrated offense.

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21. Cardinals -- Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin make this team, because they ultimately create a good QB of anyone throwing to them. Edgerrin James, however, is on his last legs and doesn't really have a viable backup.

22. Texans -- Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson is a potentially prolific tandem. With Gary Kubiak at the helm, this team will run the football ... but do you count on Ahman Green? Chris Brown? Chris Taylor or Steve Slaton?

23. 49ers -- Mike Martz showed up so everyone loves these guys. Alex Smith still scares me, as does the age of Isaac Bruce. You do have Frank Gore and a quality sleeper in Bryant Johnson.

24. Ravens -- Things will be interesting this year at QB, but interesting doesn't garner fantasy points. Avoid the passing attack and rely on the running game.

25. Titans -- A whole lotta vanilla here, but they do have a quality second running back in rookie speedster Chris Johnson.

26. Raiders -- Darren McFadden and JaMarcus Russell? Love it. Everything else? Not so much.

27. Bucs -- I'm not buying anyone here to exceed expectations ... and they aren't that high from a fantasy standpoint.

28. Lions -- Unfortunately, the departure of fantasy sweetheart Mike Martz takes away the most desirable fantasy cog here. They are going to concentrate more on the run, with a third-round draftee and Tatum Bell.

29. Bears -- Kevin Jones has been added to the mix since I wrote the fantasy preview, but this is still mostly a scrap heap. There's upside in Matt Forte, Devin Hester, and even Rex Grossman; but this is still only a kicking and defense fantasy bastion.

30. Falcons -- It's gonna be a long season.

31. Chiefs -- Larry Johnson isn't "LJ" anymore. Tony Gonzalez isn't Tony Gonzalez anymore (though he is a super hero). Of course, Brodie Croyle is still Brodie Croyle.
32. Dolphins -- Running back Ronnie Brown was an elite player last year before injury. Let's hope he returns to form, or else the team will completely embarrass itself week in, week out.

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