September 2, 2008, 10:36 AM
The Top 200: 2008 rankings
What were you thinking?
That's the question we anticipate coming up at least once from anyone reading our rankings. The tone may vary, from inquisitive to incredulous, but in the end, the question is the same, and it is valid. What were we thinking when we decided that Player X deserved to be ranked over Player Y?
There's no easy answer to that question. It depends on who Player X and Player Y are. In some cases, it's because, as a group, we unanimously believe that it's the right decision to make. It could also be that Player X narrowly edged out Player Y in a voting round following a heated debate in which at least one of our fantasy experts strongly considered doing bodily harm to another.
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| Top 200 fantasy football rankings | |||
| Rank | Name | Team | Positional |
| 1 | LaDainian Tomlinson | Chargers | RB1 |
| 2 | Adrian Peterson | Vikings | RB2 |
| 3 | Brian Westbrook | Eagles | RB3 |
| 4 | Joseph Addai | Colts | RB4 |
| 5 | Steven Jackson | Rams | RB5 |
| 6 | Tom Brady | Patriots | QB1 |
| 7 | Frank Gore | 49ers | RB6 |
| 8 | Clinton Portis | Redskins | RB7 |
| 9 | Marshawn Lynch | Bills | RB8 |
| 10 | Randy Moss | Patriots | WR1 |
| 11 | Marion Barber | Cowboys | RB9 |
| 12 | Larry Johnson | Chiefs | RB10 |
| 13 | Ryan Grant | Packers | RB11 |
| 14 | Peyton Manning | Colts | QB2 |
| 15 | Terrell Owens | Cowboys | WR2 |
| 16 | Willie Parker | Steelers | RB12 |
| 17 | Willis McGahee | Ravens | RB13 |
| 18 | Reggie Wayne | Colts | WR3 |
| 19 | Jamal Lewis | Browns | RB14 |
| 20 | Maurice Jones-Drew | Jaguars | RB15 |
| 21 | Braylon Edwards | Browns | WR4 |
| 22 | Andre Johnson | Texans | WR5 |
| 23 | Larry Fitzgerald | Cardinals | WR6 |
| 24 | Tony Romo | Cowboys | QB3 |
| 25 | Brandon Jacobs | Giants | RB16 |
| 26 | Laurence Maroney | Patriots | RB17 |
| 27 | T.J. Houshmandzadeh | Bengals | WR7 |
| 28 | Marques Colston | Saints | WR8 |
| 29 | Plaxico Burress | Giants | WR9 |
| 30 | Drew Brees | Saints | QB4 |
| 31 | Reggie Bush | Saints | RB18 |
| 32 | Michael Turner | Falcons | RB19 |
| 33 | Torry Holt | Rams | WR10 |
| 34 | Ben Roethlisberger | Steelers | QB5 |
| 35 | Darren McFadden | Raiders | RB20 |
| 36 | Chad Johnson | Bengals | WR11 |
| 37 | Steve Smith | Panthers | WR12 |
| 38 | Carson Palmer | Bengals | QB6 |
| 39 | Thomas Jones | Jets | RB21 |
| 40 | Santonio Holmes | Steelers | WR13 |
| 41 | Edgerrin James | Cardinals | RB22 |
| 42 | Antonio Gates | Chargers | TE1 |
| 43 | Earnest Graham | Buccaneers | RB23 |
| 44 | Derek Anderson | Browns | QB7 |
| 45 | Ronnie Brown | Dolphins | RB24 |
| 46 | Fred Taylor | Jaguars | RB25 |
| 47 | Jason Witten | Cowboys | TE2 |
| 48 | Donovan McNabb | Eagles | QB8 |
| 49 | Anquan Boldin | Cardinals | WR14 |
| 50 | Selvin Young | Broncos | RB26 |
| 51 | Brandon Marshall | Broncos | WR15 |
| 52 | Kellen Winslow | Browns | TE3 |
| 53 | Calvin Johnson | Lions | WR16 |
| 54 | LenDale White | Titans | RB27 |
| 55 | Matt Hasselbeck | Seahawks | QB9 |
| 56 | Tony Gonzalez | Chiefs | TE4 |
| 57 | Roy Williams | Lions | WR17 |
| 58 | Roddy White | Falcons | WR18 |
| 59 | Jonathan Stewart | Panthers | RB28 |
| 60 | Jay Cutler | Broncos | QB10 |
| 61 | Greg Jennings | Packers | WR19 |
| 62 | Wes Welker | Patriots | WR20 |
| 63 | Dallas Clark | Colts | TE5 |
| 64 | Julius Jones | Seahawks | RB29 |
| 65 | Matt Forte | Bears | RB30 |
| 66 | Lee Evans | Bills | WR21 |
| 67 | Dwayne Bowe | Chiefs | WR22 |
| 68 | Jerricho Cotchery | Jets | WR23 |
| 69 | Marvin Harrison | Colts | WR24 |
| 70 | Chris Cooley | Redskins | TE6 |
| 71 | Chris Perry | Bengals | RB31 |
| 72 | Hines Ward | Steelers | WR25 |
| 73 | Justin Fargas | Raiders | RB32 |
| 74 | Heath Miller | Steelers | TE7 |
| 75 | Donald Driver | Packers | WR26 |
| 76 | Brett Favre | Jets | QB11 |
| 77 | Kevin Smith | Lions | RB33 |
| 78 | Todd Heap | Ravens | TE8 |
| 79 | DeAngelo Williams | Panthers | RB34 |
| 80 | Santana Moss | Redskins | WR27 |
| 81 | Ricky Williams | Dolphins | RB35 |
| 82 | Joey Galloway | Buccaneers | WR28 |
| 83 | Laveranues Coles | Jets | WR29 |
| 84 | Marc Bulger | Rams | QB12 |
| 85 | Matt Schaub | Texans | QB13 |
| 86 | Jeremy Shockey | Saints | TE9 |
| 87 | Chester Taylor | Vikings | RB36 |
| 88 | Chris Chambers | Chargers | WR30 |
| 89 | Patrick Crayton | Cowboys | WR31 |
| 90 | Vernon Davis | 49ers | TE10 |
| 91 | San Diego Chargers D/ST | D1 | |
| 92 | Felix Jones | Cowboys | RB37 |
| 93 | Anthony Gonzalez | Colts | WR32 |
| 94 | Kenny Watson | Bengals | RB38 |
| 95 | Eli Manning | Giants | QB14 |
| 96 | Deuce McAllister | Saints | RB39 |
| 97 | Ahmad Bradshaw | Giants | RB40 |
| 98 | Tony Scheffler | Broncos | TE11 |
| 99 | Seattle Seahawks D/ST | D2 | |
| 100 | Bernard Berrian | Vikings | WR33 |
| 101 | Donte' Stallworth | Browns | WR34 |
| 102 | Nate Burleson | Seahawks | WR35 |
| 103 | Kurt Warner | Cardinals | QB15 |
| 104 | Alge Crumpler | Titans | TE12 |
| 105 | Rashard Mendenhall | Steelers | RB41 |
| 106 | Reggie Brown | Eagles | WR36 |
| 107 | Reggie Williams | Jaguars | WR37 |
| 108 | David Garrard | Jaguars | QB16 |
| 109 | Donald Lee | Packers | TE13 |
| 110 | Chicago Bears D/ST | D3 | |
| 111 | Jerious Norwood | Falcons | RB42 |
| 112 | Sidney Rice | Vikings | WR38 |
| 113 | Leon Washington | Jets | RB43 |
| 114 | Chris Johnson | Titans | RB44 |
| 115 | Benjamin Watson | Patriots | TE14 |
| 116 | Green Bay Packers D/ST | D4 | |
| 117 | Philip Rivers | Chargers | QB17 |
| 118 | Jake Delhomme | Panthers | QB18 |
| 119 | Aaron Rodgers | Packers | QB19 |
| 120 | Ted Ginn Jr. | Dolphins | WR39 |
| 121 | Isaac Bruce | 49ers | WR40 |
| 122 | Derrick Mason | Ravens | WR41 |
| 123 | Jason Campbell | Redskins | QB20 |
| 124 | Owen Daniels | Texans | TE15 |
| 125 | New York Giants D/ST | D5 | |
| 126 | Ladell Betts | Redskins | RB45 |
| 127 | Javon Walker | Raiders | WR42 |
| 128 | Jon Kitna | Lions | QB21 |
| 129 | Rudi Johnson | Lions | RB46 |
| 130 | Indianapolis Colts D/ST | D6 | |
| 131 | Kevin Boss | Giants | TE16 |
| 132 | Ronald Curry | Raiders | WR43 |
| 133 | Derrick Ward | Giants | RB47 |
| 134 | Vincent Jackson | Chargers | WR44 |
| 135 | Maurice Morris | Seahawks | RB48 |
| 136 | Bobby Engram | Seahawks | WR45 |
| 137 | Josh Morgan | 49ers | WR46 |
| 138 | Antwaan Randle El | Redskins | WR47 |
| 139 | Minnesota Vikings D/ST | D7 | |
| 140 | Jeff Garcia | Buccaneers | QB22 |
| 141 | Vince Young | Titans | QB23 |
| 142 | Amani Toomer | Giants | WR48 |
| 143 | Greg Olsen | Bears | TE17 |
| 144 | Jabar Gaffney | Patriots | WR49 |
| 145 | Matt Leinart | Cardinals | QB24 |
| 146 | LaMont Jordan | Patriots | RB49 |
| 147 | Bryant Johnson | 49ers | WR50 |
| 148 | JaMarcus Russell | Raiders | QB25 |
| 149 | Ahman Green | Texans | RB50 |
| 150 | Sammy Morris | Patriots | RB51 |
| 151 | Pierre Thomas | Saints | RB52 |
| 152 | Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST | D8 | |
| 153 | Drew Bennett | Rams | WR51 |
| 154 | D.J. Hackett | Panthers | WR52 |
| 155 | Devin Hester | Bears | WR53 |
| 156 | New England Patriots D/ST | D9 | |
| 157 | DeShaun Foster | 49ers | RB53 |
| 158 | Brandon Jackson | Packers | RB54 |
| 159 | Aaron Stecker | Saints | RB55 |
| 160 | Jerry Porter | Jaguars | WR54 |
| 161 | Justin Gage | Titans | WR55 |
| 162 | Andre Hall | Broncos | RB56 |
| 163 | Kevin Jones | Bears | RB57 |
| 164 | Dallas Cowboys D/ST | D10 | |
| 165 | Mark Clayton | Ravens | WR56 |
| 166 | Ben Utecht | Bengals | TE18 |
| 167 | Philadelphia Eagles D/ST | D11 | |
| 168 | Ray Rice | Ravens | RB58 |
| 169 | Matt Ryan | Falcons | QB26 |
| 170 | Courtney Taylor | Seahawks | WR57 |
| 171 | Eddie Royal | Broncos | WR58 |
| 172 | James Hardy | Bills | WR59 |
| 173 | Kolby Smith | Chiefs | RB59 |
| 174 | Michael Bush | Raiders | RB60 |
| 175 | Arizona Cardinals D/ST | D13 | |
| 176 | L.J. Smith | Eagles | TE19 |
| 177 | Muhsin Muhammad | Panthers | WR60 |
| 178 | Arnaz Battle | 49ers | WR61 |
| 179 | Dominic Rhodes | Colts | RB61 |
| 180 | Kevin Curtis | Eagles | WR62 |
| 181 | Hank Baskett | Eagles | WR63 |
| 182 | Chris Henry | Bengals | WR64 |
| 183 | DeSean Jackson | Eagles | WR65 |
| 184 | Nick Folk | Cowboys | K1 |
| 185 | Kevin Walter | Texans | WR66 |
| 186 | Shaun McDonald | Lions | WR67 |
| 187 | Brandon Stokley | Broncos | WR68 |
| 188 | Tennessee Titans D/ST | D15 | |
| 189 | Buffalo Bills D/ST | D17 | |
| 190 | Michael Pittman | Broncos | RB62 |
| 191 | Chris Henry | Titans | RB63 |
| 192 | Shayne Graham | Bengals | K2 |
| 193 | Nate Kaeding | Chargers | K3 |
| 194 | Stephen Gostkowski | Patriots | K4 |
| 195 | Robbie Gould | Bears | K5 |
| 196 | Mason Crosby | Packers | K6 |
| 197 | Phil Dawson | Browns | K7 |
| 198 | Josh Brown | Rams | K8 |
| 199 | Adam Vinatieri | Colts | K9 |
| 200 | Jeff Reed | Steelers | K10 |
