NPC’s new top-tier for fantasy football

Right now there are millions of people shaking their heads because one of their premiere fantasy football players has either gone down with a season ending injury, or their “best” player is not performing up to snuff.

But have no fear NPC fans, most fantasy football sites are still courting new leagues, and it is not too late to redraft a fantasy team you can be proud of. I’m not too proud to admit that I was really wrong on many first round picks, from Jamal Charles, who is out for the year with an ACL tear, to Peyton Manning, who probably wont take a single snap for the entire season.

But here is our chance for redemption…..I propose to you a new up to the minute top-tier of players you need to draft to make sure your belated fantasy football team can get back on track.

1. Ray Rice
As much as it pains me to type that name after what he did to the black and gold in the first week, Rice has been an absolute fantasy stud. Through the first two weeks of the year, Rice has racked up a modest 150 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown. His receiving numbers are what make Rice such a commodity for PPR leagues. He leads the Ravens with nine receptions, and is second on the team with 95 receiving yards. He also has two receiving touchdowns, making him the second highest scoring running back currently in the league. Rice is a durable player who should continue to rack up big numbers for the rest of the season.

2. Adrian Peterson
Peterson may not have the most outstanding fantasy numbers to this point, but he is the most consistent running back in the league, and should still be viewed as a top-2 pick in any league. Peterson currently has 218 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns. Where Peterson is hurting fantasy owners is in the PPR department. Peterson has only recorded four receptions for 27 yards. That is not going to open any eyes, but Peterson seems to be in mid-season form as far as his rushing is concerned.

3. LeSean McCoy
The “dream team” offense has lived up to the pre-season hype thus far, and McCoy is a big reason why. McCoy leads all fantasy running backs in PPR leagues, and his balance of superb running ability and pass-catching skills is making McCoy a nightmare for teams in real life, and in fantasy football. McCoy has 217 rushing yards this season with three touchdowns, and six receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown. If McCoy can keep up these numbers, he will finish as the best fantasy pick of the year, and I don’t see any reason why he would slow down.

4. Tom Brady
Most people would say picking a quarterback this early in the draft is ludicrous….. I say a quarterback who throws for more than 900 yards in the first two games of the season is ludicrous. If it is possible, Brady has taken his game to an even higher level. Brady has far and away the most fantasy points in all of football, and with the weapons he has on his team, there is not reason he can’t continue to put up the numbers he is now. Predicting how Brady will finish the season is almost impossible, but I have a feeling many records will be rewritten when the season is over.

5. Chris Johnson
Johnson has been somewhat of a fantasy bust for owners this season with only 77 rushing yards and no touchdowns. Johnson has caught 9 passes for 37 yards, but CJ is not striking fear into opposing teams….yet. It is not surprising the Johnson struggled in his fist game of the season coming off his contract hold out. If you miss an entire training camp, you are simply not going to be ready to perform in week 1. In week two the Titans played the Ravens who literally lined up nine men in the box every play to stop Johnson, letting Hasselbeck throw for a massive amount of yards. I don’t care if Barry Sanders was in his prime, if the Ravens are stacking the box; no running back is going to succeed. I’m not giving up on Johnson just yet. He is far too talented to continue at this pace, and with the Broncos next on the schedule, look for CJ to return to dominant form.