Fantasy Football Rankings 2017: Post-Free Agency Top 100 Big Board

The Wolf updates his Top 100 Big Board to reflect all the major moves from a busy free agency period. Find out where all the important players rank now!

Though a few big-names remain homeless, the main waves of free agency have come crashing down.  Thus, it’s crucial to reexamine our original 2017 Fantasy Football Rankings with all of these movers & shakers in mind.  Indeed, the draft and training camps will alter these lists even further, but this stage of the offseason deserves to be captured on it’s own.

As such, The Wolf has released a new set of the most up-to-date & comprehensive Post Free Agency positional rankings:

Now, it’s time to combine all this madness into a Top 100 Big Board. As a scoring preface, these rankings assume a 1/2 PPR system, as it’s both the best scoring format and also the most common.

 

Top 100 Big Board, Post Free Agency Edition

Overall RankName (Team)Positional RankMovement
Tier One - The Big Three
1David Johnson (ARI)RB1
2Le'Veon Bell (PIT)RB2
3Ezekiel Elliott (DAL)RB3
Tier Two - Elite WR1s
4Antonio Brown (PIT)WR1
5Julio Jones (ATL)WR2
6Mike Evans (TB)WR3
7Odell Beckham JR. (NYG) WR4
Tier 2.5 - RB1 and WR1s
8DeMarco Murray (TEN)RB4With his coach's endorsement as "the guy" in this RB dreamboat "Exotic Smashmouth"scheme, more receiving work reportedly on the way, and the best handcuff situation in all of football, Murray should be the first back taken after the Big Three
9LeSean McCoy (BUF)RB5
10Melvin Gordon (LAC)RB6Woodhead's removal, and the opened up red zone + passing game looks, locks Gordon into the massive 25.3 touches a game that facilitated a bonafide RB1 season. With a run-heavy mind in Anthony Lynn, expect this to continue in 2017.
11AJ Green (CIN)WR5
12Jordy Nelson (GB)WR6
13Jay AjayiRB7(+2) With the team believing Ajayi has "just scratched the surface," especially in the receiving game, Ajayi's 2017 value is further cemented
14Michael Thomas (NO)WR7(+3) We were already predicting a WR1 season out of Thomas, and Brandin Cooks' trade + the newly available targets certainly strengthen his case. Has sneaky upside to lead the position in scoring.
15Dez Bryant (DAL) WR8
16Devonta Freeman (ATL)RB8(-4) Some reports suggest new OC Steve Sarkisian is keeping the same playbook / Zone Blocking in place (good news for Freeman); others have him bringing in a power-based scheme (bad news). We'll need clarity before making a final decision, but losing Kyle Shanahan can't be considered anything but negative.
17 TY Hilton (IND)WR9
18Carlos Hyde (SF)RB9(+10) First, Hyde gained Kyle Shanahan and his historically elite Zone Blocking Scheme, which has made fantasy stars out of duds like Steve Slaton and Alfred Morris. Then, he gained a beastly full back to pave the way in Kyle Juszczyk. Health, admittedly a huge risk with Hyde, is the lone barrier to RB1 stats all season.
Tier 3 - Ideal #2 Options, Elite TEs
19Brandin Cooks (NE) WR10(+10) Sure, this offense is crowded and never just funnels targets to one guy; nonetheless, Cooks will be a matchup nightmare, and should bust a big play more often than not, in addition to a bevy of short yardage plays. Belichick will utilize him more similarly to his short, "rack up the YAC" college role instead of a primarily deep threat.
20Mark Ingram (NO)RB10
21Lamar Miller (HOU)RB11
22Rob Gronkowski (NE)TE1
23Demaryius Thomas. (DEN)WR11(+12) Reuniting with new OC Mike McCoy seriously boosts Thomas' value, who had 94 catches, 1434 yards, and 10 TDs the last time McCoy called the shots (many thanks to a bevy of screens and racked up YAC). Of course, Thomas was playing with a HOF QB, and still has Trevor Siemian tossing the rock, but new coach Vance Joseph is already speaking on how the time wants Thomas "to be a dominant player all the time" and "become a leader..."I want him to be a guy. I want him to step out and be a guy. It's time. He can take over a game, but I want his mindset every game to be every game we play to walk on the field and take over the game." I'm digging his chances of returning to WR1 form
24Jordan Reed (WAS)TE2With DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon removed, head coach Jay Gruden has already stated the offense will "run through Reed." With even more guaranteed usage than Gronk, Reed's ceiling might be the sneaky highest of all tight ends. The health risk is substantial, however.
25Davante AdamsWR12
26DeAndre Hopkins (HOU)WR13(+7) Yes, removing Osweiler was this important, even if Tom Savage is the replacement. Unfortunately, Tony Romo is retired, but an upgrade is automatic, regardless of who's under center.
27Amari Cooper (OAK)WR14
28Doug Baldwin (SEA) WR15
29Spencer Ware (KC)RB12Jamaal Charles' release clears the path to a featured back role; Ware will rise further if this remains the case following the draft
30Todd Gurley (LAR) RB13
31Jordan Howard (CHI) (was 18)RB14(-11)
32Alshon Jeffery (PHI)WR16(+5) As the likely alpha WR1 with a burgeoning young QB, Alshon will have every opportunity to reconstruct his WR1 appeal... if he can actually stay on the field
33Tyreek Hill (KC)WR17Stock Up: Even more receiving work out of the backfield should be up for grabs w/ Jamaal Charles gone, and this guy is a threat to score every time he touches the rock. Reid has promised more involvement, and while his efficiency is bound to drop, Hill should continue feasting with more usage
34Keenan Allen (LAC)WR18
Tier 4 - Elite QBs, Solid #2 Res + WRs, Upside TE1s
35Bilal Powell (NYJ)RB15
36Isaiah Crowell (CLE)RB16(+30) Crowell rockets up the rankings in the wake of Cleveland's massive line upgrades. The mauling Kevin Zietler at right guard and sturdy JC Tretter at center join an already beefy front cast to create one of the top-five lines in football. Dating back to the days where he made a bonafide RB1 out of Darren McFadden, HC Hue Jackson schemes brilliant run games, and now he finally has the big boys to execute. If Crowell dodges some draft day bullets, he'll drip in RB1 upside and launch even further.
37Tom Brady (NE) QB1(+19) Though he was already #1, Brady's status is further cemented with Brandin Cooks added to an already stacked weapons cabinet. 50+ TDs are very real.
38Sammy WatkinsWR19(+5) Watkins has tremendous chemistry with Tyrod Taylor, so the QBs return is important. Plus, Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin depart, and OC Rick Dennison's Shanahan-esque scheme was already going to warrant target showers. He'll be a WR1 when on the field... a huge question mark, however.
39Aaron Rodgers (GB)QB2
40Travis Kielce (KC)TE3
41Ty MontgomeryRB17(+20) Eddie Lacy's massive body has been removed, and Coach McCarthy is talking up Montgomery as if he's ready for a featured back role. Dodging a draft day bullet would send him soaring further, and Montgomery could come crashing down if the team makes a major backfield move (re: Cook or McCafferty). For now, he's set to be featured in an RB Dreamboat scheme.
42Allen Robinson (JAX)WR20
43Terrelle Pryor (WAS)WR21(+15) Pryor originally sky rocketed into my top-15 WRs thinking he'd be the clear No.1 of an ascending QB; yet, an interview w/ Washington sports reporters suggests his role is far from guaranteed, and Jamison Crowder could be the teams leading pass-catcher. Regardless, Pryor and his development / role in this offense are crucial to monitor
44Rishard Matthews (TEN)WR22(+8) Though the Titans were clearly seeking a new No.1, Matthews exits free agency with the role firmly in hand. Though a major rookie addition seems likely, the development time doesn't make this nearly as grim as a Cooks or Alshon acquisition would've been.
45Golden Tate (DET)WR23
46Jamison CrowderWR24(+20) On our podcast, Washington reporter Grant Paulsen predicted 97 catches, 1150 yards, and 5 TDs out of Crowder, who he believes will step in and do the majority of make up for Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson's removal. Crowder's middle-of-the-field skillset meshes with Kirk Cousins accuracy-obsessed game, and he also has a previous rapport + the coaching staff's trust on his side. Crowder will continue rising if reports continue praising him as the top dog.
47Greg Olsen (CAR)TE4
48Willie Snead (NO)WR25(Previously Unranked) Snead soars from unranked to the top-50 after becoming Drew Brees' clear-cut No.2 in Sean Payton's pass-heavy attack. A high-end WR2, potentially even low-end WR1 season out of Snead is quite possible with this increased opportunity. Beat writer Nick Underhill joined us on our podcast and set Snead's receiving over/under at 1,000 yards. I'm digging the over.
49Michael Crabtree (OAK)WR26
50Brandon MarshallWR27(+15) Marshall's red zone skillset + the short stature of other Giants receivers + the team's heavy throwing % at the stripe = huge TD and general upside
51Jimmy Graham (SEA)TE5
52Tevin Coleman (ATL)RB18See Freeman, Devonta
53Tyler Eifert (CIN)TE6
54Drew Brees (NO)QB3
Tier 5- Ideal #3 WRs and Res
55Julian Edelman (NE)WR28(-23) Brandin Cooks arrival signals an end to Edelman's days as the true WR1. Yes, yardage and catches will still be had as Tom's most reliable possession guy, but Cooks will eat into this short-to-intermediate work, and is 100x the athlete. And Jules can say good bye to the end zone, where Cooks is surprisingly dangerous.
56Paul Perkins (NYG)RB19(+7) Fresh off a +8 boost after Rashad Jennings' release, Perkins stock rises even further with Brandon Marshall's explosive threat added.
57Rob Kelley (WAS)RB20
58C.J. Anderson (DEN)RB21(-20) New OC Mike McCoy's scheme has historically been very kind to passing games, but devastating for RBs. Coupled with poor health, Anderson seems like a lackluster 2017 investment, despite his consistent flashes on the field.
59Pierre Garcon (SF)WR29(Previously Unranked) Welcome back to Kyle Shanahan's goldmine, Pierre. From Andre Johnson in Houston to Julio Jones most recently in Atlanta, Shanahan has produced monstrous seasons out of his alpha WRs. True, Garcon is a far cry from those talents; yet, he himself rode the Shanahan gravy train in 2013 when he led the league in both targets (181) and receptions (113), ultimately churning out 1,346 yards, and 5 TDs. A bevy of looks and yardage are on the horizon for Pierre, who led the league in targets and receptions the last time he played in this scheme.
60Kelvin Benjamin (CAR)WR30
61Eric Decker (NYJ)WR31(+5): Though his own health and quarterback remain major questions, Decker rises as his usage is bound to increase + new OC John Morton comes from New Orleans pass-happy attack
62Matt Ryan (ATL)QB4
63Larry Fitzgerald (ARI)WR32
64Jarvis Landry (MIA)WR33
65Stefon DiggsWR34
66Donte Moncrief (IND)WR35
Tier 6 - Flex-worthy options RB.+ WRs, remaining TE1s
67Hunter Henry (LAC)TE7
68Andrew Luck (IND)QB5
69Ameer Abdullah (DET)RB22(+5) Though big backs like Blount and Peterson still linger, on top of a loaded class of RBs, Abdullah still leaves the first round of free agency unscathed and clearly atop Detroit's depth chart.
70Adrian Peterson (FA)RB23
71CJ Prosise (SEA)RB24
72Eddie Lacy (SEA)RB25(+9) As a huge Rawls guy, I absolutely hate this signing. Yet, with $5.5 million and $3 mil guaranteed invested in Tub Tub, the 'Hawks clearly view Lacy as the guy. Weight-incentives in this contract have Lacy dropping to the 240s by camp, and, at his rookie playing weight, Lacy could be an absolute force with the Seahawks. I hate that I keep finding reasons to not quit Lacy, but Seattle's last power-back reclamation project (Marshawn Lynch) went swimmingly, and if Lacy's looking the part, I'll be a (regrettable) buyer.
73Theo Riddick (DET)RB26
74Cameron Meredith (CHI)WR36(Previously Unranked) Alshon's departure leaves Chicago's No.1 wideout role up for grasp, whatever that's worth with Mike Glennon chucking the rock. As of now, Meredith appears first in line for those duties, but things could change rapidly here.
75Delanie Walker (TEN)TE8
76Tyrell Williams (LAC)WR37
77Emmanuel Sanders (DEN)WR38
78DeSean Jackson (TB)WR39
79Martavis Bryant (PIT)WR40At this point, Bryant's reinstatement feels like a when, not if. As soon as it's official, he'll fly into the top-25 WR and top-50 overall range.
80Frank Gore (IND)RB27
81Martellus Bennett (GB)TE9(Previously Unranked) After losing Jared Cook, the Packers present the ideal landing spot for Bennett. The team plans to run more two-tight end sets and attack the seams with Bennett, which could result in some huge numbers.
82Rex Burkhead (NE)RB28(Previously Unranked) Though this backfield is a complete mystery, Burkhead's high salary suggests he sits atop the depth chart. Meanwhile, Hue Jackson, who previously coached Burkhead and is a strong evaluator of RBs, noted "He's very talented...He's a guy that was playing behind some very talented players [with the Bengals], and so he's going to get his opportunity now, and he's going to flourish. He's a really good player. A really good player. He's very versatile because he's a good runner, a good pass-catcher. He's a good blocker. He's very bright." This backfield's makeup is one of 2017's most crucial, and fascinating, fantasy storylines.
83Jack Doyle (IND)TE10(Previously Unranked) Doyle and his massive beanstalk shoot up the rankings with Dwayne Allen's removal. In Rob Chudzinski's TE friendly scheme + with a QB who loves throwing to seam stretchers in the red area, Doyle should be a reliable TE1 all year
84Kyle Rudolph (MIN)TE11
85Josh Doctson (WAS)WR41(Previously Unranked): Local Redskins reporters suggest the coaching staff view Doctson very highly, despite his injury-ruined rookie campaign. He was drafted with an "AJ Green, perennial Pro Bowler" type of vision, and though competition for targets appears fierce, Docston is a sneaky bet to claim the main role. Huge upside this late.
86Mike Wallace (BAL)WR42(+10) The team avoided any free agent splashes, and Steve Smith has since retired, leaving Wallace in line for a flurry of targets. This should add some floor to his "boom-or-bust" nature.
Tier 7 - Remaining Upside QB1s and Bench Plays
87Derek Carr (OAK)QB6
88Kirk Cousins (WAS)QB7
89Dak Prescott (DAL)QB8
90Marcus Mariota (TEN)QB9
91Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)QB10The fantasy impact of Bryant’s return on Big Ben’s value cannot be overstated. In 22 games when both he and Bryant are on the field together, Roethlisberger has thrown for 7,287 yards (331 avg) and 43 TDs (1.95 avg). Additionally, Roethlisberger had a passer rating of 126.5 when targeting Bryant, along with a 11:1 touchdown to interception ratio. A 16 game pace would yield 5,299 yards and 31 TDs… a shoe-in top-three campaign. Both of them remaining on the field, however, is a huge ask.
92Derrick Henry (TEN)RB29
93Latavius Murray (MIN)RB30(-32) Murray leaves behind the gaping holes paved Oakland's league-topping lines, to the clogged lanes produced by Minnesota's pathetic front five. The Vikings’ running game was stagnant all last season, regardless of who was toting the rock. Expect another unexciting year from the Vikings backfield.
94Quincy Enunwa (NYJ)WR43(Previously unranked) As explored with Decker, Marshall's departure leaves a massive target void. Moreover, new OC John Morton + his Saints' influences should do nothing but help Enunwa.
95Ted Ginn (NO)WR44(Previously Unranked) Love the fit with New Orleans and Drew Brees (second most deep ball yardage last season). Sean Payton reportedly has an "exact vision" for Ginn, which assuredly involves maximizing his game-changing speed, perhaps in a poor-man Cooks role. As we learn more about his involvement, Ginn could sky rocket.
96DeAndre Washington (OAK)RB31(Previously Unranked): All the Marshawn Lynch rumors make a major backfield addition feel inevitable, Beast Mode or not. Should Washington escape free agency and the draft atop this depth chart, however, he'll immediately slide into the top-20 RBs given the dream set-up the Oakland backfield presents.
97Corey Coleman (CLE)WR45
98Zach Ertz (PHI)TE12
99Jared Cook (OAK)TE13
100Jeremy Hill (CIN)RB33I was already down on this sluggish, inconsistent plodder, but losing two stalwart offensive linemen further ensures his YPC will hover around 2.9

Dropped Out: 

Quarterback:  Cam Newton (CAR)

Running Back:  Kenneth Dixon (BAL), Dion Lewis (NE), James White (NE), Thomas Rawls (SEA)

Wide Receiver:  Sterling Shepard (NYG), Malcolm Mitchell (NE), Jordan Matthews (PHI)

Next Up: 

Quarterback:  Philip Rivers (LAC), Russell Wilson (SEA), Jameis Winston (TB), Tyrod Taylor (BUF)

Running Back:  Thomas Rawls (SEA), Danny Woodhead (BAL), LeGarrette Blount (FA)

Wide Receiver: JJ Nelson (ARI), Will Fuller (HOU),  Kevin White (CHI), Robert Woods (LAR)

Tight End: Cameron Brate (TB), Eric Ebron (DET)

Where is The Wolf spot on? Where is he dead wrong? What player ranking makes you question his sanity? Sound off below! 

And if you missed our Quarterbacks Running BacksWide Receivers, or Tight Ends, be sure to check them out.  Also, be sure to like our Facebook Page, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to not miss any developments. For audio based learners or those with long commutes, make sure to subscribe (and rate us 5 stars) and tune into the Fantasy Fullback Dive on iTunes or Stitcher

Author

  • Founder of Roto Street Journal. Lover of workhorse backs, target hog wideouts, and Game of Thrones. Aspiring to be the "Brady" and "Leo" of the fantasy universe.

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