Let me take another run at the weighing of the different positions. I want to present it in a slightly different way, and I want to bring quarterbacks and tight ends into the discussion. Some, after all, may be thinking about selecting Rob Gronkowski or Cam Newton in the top 5.
On the chart below, I’m listing the top performer for each year at each of the notable positions since 2000. That’s 16 years, and with there being QB, RB, WR and TE, that makes 64 total players – the best for each of those seasons.
Listed are those players, and the points they scored (using standard scoring).
Now let’s suppose that if you didn’t have the best player at any particular position, you’d figure out a way to at least get the worst. That is, if you didn’t have the No. 1 quarterback, you’d have the No. 12 guy (with there being 12-teams in your league). Same with tight ends.
For running backs and wide receivers, fantasy teams typically start two, so I used the 24th guy for those positions. We’ll say that teams in your league, by hook or by crook, would figure out a way to get that kind of production at each position.
Then compare those No. 1 guys to the worst starters (for their given year). That gives you an estimate of net worth.
In this century, running backs (in bold) have tended to dominate. But the worst running back came last year, when Devonta Freeman (who wasn’t coveted at drafts) outscored the 24th-best running back by only 122 points.
Wide receivers have a black dot. They’ve tended to come after running backs in relative value.
I’ve not saying this means you must select a running back in the first round. A lot of those wide receivers look very safe and solid, and there’s something to be said for not blowing your first-round pick on a guy who gets hurt or busts.
I’ve also tossed the quarterbacks into this, and if you can get a hold of that No. 1 quarterback, he’s tended to be better than the No. 1 wide receiver. At least by this measure.
Tight end has been the weakest of the positions.
This is not meant to be the final word or ultimate conclusion on the topic. This is just one chart looking at it one way. But it reinforces my gut belief that if you can get a hold of a really good running back – like LeVeon Bell or Todd Gurley this year (I think) – they’re probably going to beat out that top receiver in a standard format. If you’re going PPR, then that really supercharges those 110-catch wide receivers.
TOP PERFORMERS VERSUS WORST STARTERS | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Pos | Player | Points | Base | Diff |
2006 | RB | LaDainian Tomlinson | 426 | 161 | 265 |
2003 | RB | Priest Holmes | 373 | 142 | 231 |
2005 | RB | Shaun Alexander | 364 | 143 | 221 |
2000 | RB | Marshall Faulk | 379 | 159 | 220 |
2002 | RB | Priest Holmes | 373 | 154 | 218 |
2001 | RB | Marshall Faulk | 343 | 135 | 208 |
2009 | RB | Chris Johnson | 349 | 150 | 199 |
2010 | RB | Arian Foster | 330 | 138 | 192 |
2012 | RB | Adrian Peterson | 311 | 121 | 190 |
2014 | RB | DeMarco Murray | 304 | 122 | 183 |
2007 | QB | Tom Brady | 462 | 281 | 181 |
2013 | RB | Jamaal Charles | 312 | 132 | 180 |
2011 | QB | Drew Brees | 476 | 302 | 174 |
2013 | QB | Peyton Manning | 497 | 323 | 174 |
2004 | QB | Daunte Culpepper | 450 | 280 | 171 |
2007 | RB | LaDainian Tomlinson | 307 | 142 | 165 |
2007 | WR | • Randy Moss | 287 | 131 | 157 |
2011 | RB | Ray Rice | 301 | 149 | 152 |
2004 | RB | Shaun Alexander | 307 | 157 | 149 |
2003 | WR | • Randy Moss | 267 | 121 | 146 |
2000 | QB | Daunte Culpepper | 422 | 278 | 144 |
2011 | TE | Rob Gronkowski | 241 | 98 | 143 |
2008 | RB | DeAngelo Williams | 286 | 148 | 137 |
2011 | WR | • Calvin Johnson | 265 | 130 | 135 |
2014 | WR | • Antonio Brown | 261 | 137 | 125 |
2013 | TE | Jimmy Graham | 218 | 93 | 124 |
2015 | RB | Devonta Freeman | 247 | 126 | 122 |
2001 | QB | Kurt Warner | 394 | 273 | 121 |
2008 | QB | Drew Brees | 389 | 271 | 119 |
2006 | QB | Peyton Manning | 373 | 257 | 116 |
2015 | WR | • Antonio Brown | 256 | 142 | 114 |
2009 | QB | Aaron Rodgers | 409 | 296 | 114 |
2000 | TE | Tony Gonzalez | 174 | 63 | 112 |
2005 | WR | • Steve Smith Sr. | 237 | 125 | 112 |
2000 | WR | • Randy Moss | 236 | 126 | 111 |
2012 | QB | Drew Brees | 437 | 327 | 110 |
2002 | WR | • Marvin Harrison | 241 | 133 | 109 |
2002 | QB | Daunte Culpepper | 388 | 281 | 106 |
2001 | WR | • Marvin Harrison | 243 | 137 | 106 |
2004 | TE | Antonio Gates | 174 | 69 | 105 |
2014 | QB | Andrew Luck | 443 | 342 | 102 |
2015 | QB | Cam Newton | 455 | 358 | 97 |
2015 | TE | Rob Gronkowski | 184 | 89 | 94 |
2013 | WR | • Josh Gordon | 227 | 134 | 93 |
2005 | TE | Antonio Gates | 170 | 77 | 93 |
2012 | WR | • Calvin Johnson | 226 | 134 | 92 |
2004 | WR | • Muhsin Muhammad | 238 | 147 | 91 |
2014 | TE | Rob Gronkowski | 184 | 96 | 88 |
2003 | TE | Tony Gonzalez | 152 | 64 | 88 |
2008 | WR | • Larry Fitzgerald | 215 | 128 | 87 |
2008 | TE | Tony Gonzalez | 166 | 83 | 83 |
2010 | WR | • Brandon Lloyd | 209 | 126 | 83 |
2009 | WR | • Andre Johnson | 213 | 134 | 79 |
2007 | TE | Jason Witten | 157 | 79 | 78 |
2006 | WR | • Marvin Harrison | 209 | 131 | 78 |
2009 | TE | Vernon Davis | 175 | 99 | 76 |
2010 | QB | Peyton Manning | 369 | 296 | 73 |
2006 | TE | Antonio Gates | 146 | 81 | 65 |
2010 | TE | Jason Witten | 156 | 94 | 62 |
2003 | QB | Daunte Culpepper | 342 | 283 | 59 |
2002 | TE | Todd Heap | 122 | 63 | 59 |
2001 | TE | Tony Gonzalez | 130 | 73 | 57 |
2012 | TE | Jimmy Graham | 152 | 96 | 56 |
2005 | QB | Carson Palmer | 332 | 276 | 56 |