Thomason: 2015 Preseason Fantasy Football Positional Rankings, Version 3
By Jack Thomason--
(CBS) By now, some of you have realized the downfall of conducting a fantasy football draft too early in August. The preseason can be great for scouting the next emerging stud, but it can also be devastating if you have to select keepers or draft ahead of the third preseason game.
As we witnessed recently with season-ending injuries to Carolina's Kelvin Benjamin and Green Bay's Jordy Nelson, there's far more to lose drafting early in the preseason. If you have already had your draft and you were a Benjamin or Nelson owner, I'm sorry. The best you can do is fight to move your draft later in August next year and scour through waivers and the trade market to attempt to fill that void left by injury.
For those of you who haven't drafted, let's take a look at what has changed in my ranks following injury updates, camp news and preseason observations. As for what's to come, I'll have my final season ranks out after Week 3 of the preseason. We know that's the week in which starters play the most and most positional battles have concluded.
The arrows denote who has risen and fallen since my last set of rankings.
Quarterback
1. Andrew Luck, Colts (Week 10 bye)
2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (Week 7 bye) ↓
3. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (Week 9 bye)
4. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (Week 11 bye)
5. Peyton Manning, Broncos (Week 7 bye)
6. Matt Ryan, Falcons (Week 10 bye)
7. Drew Brees, Saints (Week 11 bye)
8. Eli Manning, Giants (Week 11 bye) ↑
9. Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins (Week 5 bye) ↑
10. Cam Newton, Panthers (Week 5 bye) ↓
11. Tom Brady, Patriots (Week 4 bye) ↑
12. Tony Romo, Cowboys (Week 6 bye)
13. Phillip Rivers, Chargers (Week 11 bye)
14. Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings (Week 5 bye) ↑
15. Matt Stafford, Lions (Week 9 bye)
16. Sam Bradford, Eagles (Week 8 bye)
17. Carson Palmer, Cardinals (Week 9 bye) ↑
18. Jay Cutler, Bears (Week 7 bye) ↓
19. Jameis Winston, Buccaneers (Week 6 bye) ↑
20. Alex Smith, Chiefs (Week 9 bye) ↑
21. Colin Kaepernick, 49ers (Week 10 bye)
22. Marcus Mariota, Titans (Week 4 bye)
23. Joe Flacco, Ravens (Week 9 bye)
24. Andy Dalton, Bengals (Week 7 bye)
Running back
1. Le'Veon Bell, Steelers (Week 11 bye)
2. Adrian Peterson, Vikings (Week 5 bye)
3. Eddie Lacy, Packers (Week 7 bye)
4. C.J. Anderson, Broncos (Week 7 bye)
5. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs (Week 9 bye)
6. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks (Week 9 bye)
7. DeMarco Murray, Eagles (Week 8 bye)
8. Matt Forte, Bears (Week 7 bye)
9. Jeremy Hill, Bengals (Week 7 bye)
10. Frank Gore, Colts (Week 10 bye)
11. Lamar Miller, Dolphins (Week 5 bye)
12. Justin Forsett, Ravens (Week 9 bye)
13. Mark Ingram, Saints (Week 11 bye)
14. Andre Ellington, Cardinals (Week 9 bye)
15. LeSean McCoy, Bills (Week 8 bye) ↓
16. CJ Spiller, Saints (Week 11 bye)
17. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers (Week 5 bye)
18. Alfred Morris, Redskins (Week 8 bye)
19. Melvin Gordon, Chargers (Week 10 bye) ↓
20. Carlos Hyde, 49ers (Week 10 bye)
21. Latavius Murray, Raiders (Week 6 bye) ↑
22. Ameer Abdullah, Lions (Week 9 bye) ↑
23. Joseph Randle, Cowboys (Week 6 bye) ↓
24. T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars (Week 8 bye) ↓
25. Doug Martin, Buccaneers (Week 6 bye) ↑
26. Chris Ivory, Jets (Week 5 bye) ↑
27. Todd Gurley, Rams (Week 6 bye)
28. Giovanni Bernard, Bengals (Week 7 bye)
29. Joique Bell, Lions (Week 9 bye)
30. LeGarrette Blount, Patriots (Week 4 bye)
31. Shane Vereen, Giants (Week 11 bye) ↑
32. Arian Foster, Texans (Week 9 bye)
33. Tre Mason, Rams (Week 6 bye)
34. Isaiah Crowell, Browns (Week 11 bye) ↓
35. Duke Johnson, Browns (Week 11 bye)
36. Ryan Mathews, Eagles (Week 8 bye) ↑
37. Danny Woodhead, Chargers (Week 10 bye)
38. Devonta Freeman, Falcons (Week 10 bye)
39. Tevin Coleman, Falcons (Week 10 bye)
40. Bishop Sankey, Titans (Week 4 bye)
41. Rashad Jennings, Giants (Week 11 bye) ↓
42. David Johnson, Cardinals (Week 9 bye) ↑
43. Matt Jones, Redskins (Week 8 bye) ↑
44. David Cobb, Titans (Week 4 bye) ↑
45. Reggie Bush, 49ers (Week 10 bye)
46. Ronnie Hillman, Broncos (Week 7 bye) ↑
47. Alfred Blue, Texans (Week 6 bye)
48. Roy Helu, Raiders (Week 6 bye)
49. Charles Sims, Buccaneers (Week 6 bye)
50. Knile Davis, Chiefs (Week 9 bye)
Receiver
1. Julio Jones, Falcons (Week 10 bye) ↑
2. Antonio Brown, Steelers (Week 11 bye)
3. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos (Week 7 bye)
4. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (Week 6 bye)
5. Calvin Johnson, Lions (Week 9 bye)
6. Odell Beckham Jr., Giants (Week 10 bye)
7. A.J. Green, Bengals (Week 7 bye)
8. Randall Cobb, Packers (Week 7 bye) ↑
9. Mike Evans, Buccaneers (Week 6 bye)
10. Alshon Jeffrey, Bears (Week 7 bye)
11. T.Y. Hilton, Colts (Week 10 bye)
12. Jordan Matthews, Eagles (Week 8 bye) ↑
13. Brandin Cooks, Saints (Week 11 bye) ↑
14. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (Week 9 bye) ↓
15. Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos (Week 7 bye)
16. Brandon Marshall, Jets (Week 5 bye) ↑
17. Keenan Allen, Chargers (Week 10 bye)
18. Andre Johnson, Colts (Week 10 bye)
19. Amari Cooper, Raiders (Week 6 bye)
20. Davante Adams, Packers (Week 7 bye) ↑
21. Julian Edelman, Patriots (Week 4 bye)
22. Golden Tate, Lions (Week 9 bye)
23. DeSean Jackson, Redskins (Week 8 bye)
24. Sammy Watkins, Bills (Week 8 bye)
25. Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs (Week 9 bye) ↑
26. Allen Robinson, Jaguars (Week 8 bye)
27. Anquan Boldin, 49ers (Week 10 bye)
28. Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers (Week 6 bye) ↑
29. Charles Johnson, Vikings (Week 5 bye) ↑
30. Jarvis Landry, Dolphins (Week 5 bye)
31. Martavis Bryant, Steelers (Week 11 bye) ↓
32. John Brown, Cardinals (Week 9 bye) ↑
33. Nelson Agholor, Eagles (Week 8 bye) ↑
34. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (Week 9 bye)
35. Mike Wallace, Vikings (Week 5 bye)
36. Eric Decker, Jets (Week 5 bye)
37. Brandon LaFell, Patriots (Week 4 bye)
38. Steve Smith, Ravens (Week 9 bye)
39. Roddy White, Falcons (Week 10 bye) ↓
40. Kendall Wright, Titans (Week 4 bye)
41. Devin Funchess, Panthers (Week 5 bye) ↑
42. Eddie Royal, Bears (Week 7 bye) ↑
43. Marques Colston, Saints (Week 11 bye)
44. Michael Floyd, Cardinals (Week 9 bye)
45. Stevie Johnson, Chargers (Week 10 bye) ↑
46. Pierre Garcon, Redskins (Week 8 bye)
47. Rueben Randle, Giants (Week 11 bye) ↓
48. Victor Cruz, Giants (Week 11 bye) ↑
49. Breshad Perriman, Ravens (Week 9 bye) ↓
50. Markus Wheaton, Steelers (Week 11 bye) ↑
Tight end
1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (Week 4 bye)
2. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks (Week 9 bye)
3. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (Week 9 bye)
4. Greg Olsen, Panthers (Week 5 bye) ↑
5. Martellus Bennett, Bears (Week 7 bye)
6. Delanie Walker, Titans (Week 4 bye)
7. Julius Thomas, Jaguars (Week 8 bye)
8. Jason Witten, Cowboys (Week 6 bye)
9. Tyler Eifert, Bengals (Week 7 bye)
10. Jordan Cameron, Dolphins (Week 5 bye)
11. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (Week 5 bye)
12. Zach Ertz, Eagles (Week 8 bye)
13. Josh Hill, Saints (Week 11 bye) ↓
14. Jordan Reed, Redskins (Week 8 bye) ↑
15. Dwayne Allen, Colts (Week 10 bye)
16. Richard Rogers, Packers (Week 7 bye) ↑
17. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Buccaneers (Week 6 bye) ↓
18. Coby Fleener, Colts (Week 10 bye)
19. Larry Donnell, Giants (Week 11 bye)
20. Owen Daniels, Broncos (Week 7 bye)
21. Ladarius Green Chargers (Week 10 bye)
22. Antonio Gates, Chargers (Week 10 bye)
23. Heath Miller, Steelers (Week 11 bye) ↓
24. Charles Clay, Bills (Week 8 bye)
Defense
1. Seattle Seahawks (Week 9 bye)
2. Buffalo Bills (Week 8 bye)
3. Houston Texans (Week 9 bye) ↑
4. New York Jets (Week 5 bye)
5. Denver Broncos (Week 7 bye)
6. St. Louis Rams (Week 6 bye) ↓
7. Carolina Panthers (Week 6 bye)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 8 bye)
9. Arizona Cardinals (Week 9 bye)
10. Minnesota Vikings (Week 5 bye)
11. Green Bay Packers (Week 7 bye)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (Week 7 bye)
13. Miami Dolphins (Week 5 bye)
14. Detroit Lions (Week 10 bye) ↑
15. Cleveland Browns (Week 11 bye)
16. New England Patriots (Week 4 bye)
17. Baltimore Ravens (Week 9 bye)
18. Kansas City Chiefs (Week 9 bye)
19. Tennessee Titans (Week 4 bye)
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 6 bye) ↑
21. Indianapolis Colts (Week 10 bye)
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 8 bye)
23. Dallas Cowboys (Week 6 bye)
24. San Francisco 49ers (Week 10 bye)
Jack Thomason is 670 The Score's fantasy football expert. Follow him on Twitter @jthomason77 and feel free to ask fantasy questions.
