Quarterbacks Quarterbacks ADVERTISING c On the way up: Russell Wilson, Seahawks On the way down: Josh Freeman, Bucs c Riskiest pick: Carson Palmer, Cardinals c Late-round look: Sam Bradford, Rams c Avoid: Joe Flacco, Ravens c Top rookie: EJ Manuel,
Quarterbacks
c On the way up: Russell Wilson, Seahawks
On the way down: Josh Freeman, Bucs
c Riskiest pick: Carson Palmer, Cardinals
c Late-round look: Sam Bradford, Rams
c Avoid: Joe Flacco, Ravens
c Top rookie: EJ Manuel, Bills
c Sleeper: Michael Vick, Eagles
Definitely worth a shot as a QB2, since the Eagles figure to be trailing frequently. Vick’s also playing for a contract, which should be further impetus for him to slide or get out of bounds.
Top 10 (With Bye Week)
c 1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay, 4
c 2. Tom Brady, New England, 10
c 3. Drew Brees, New Orleans, 7
c 4. Peyton Manning, Denver, 9
c 5. Matt Ryan, Atlanta, 6
c 6. Matthew Stafford, Detroit, 9
c 7. Tony Romo, Dallas, 11
c8.Andrew Luck, Indianapolis, 8
c9. Robert Griffin III, Washington, 5
c 10. Cam Newton, Carolina, 4
Running backs
c On the way up: LeSean McCoy, Eagles
c On the way down: Chris Johnson, Titans
c Riskiest pick: DeMarco Murray, Cowboys
c Late-round look: Giovani Bernard, Bengals
c Avoid: Jonathan Dwyer, Steelers
c Top rookie: Montee Ball, Broncos
c Sleeper: David Wilson, Giants
The G-Men used the final pick in the 2012 first round to nab Wilson and released longtime stalwart Ahmad Bradshaw this winter. Wilson is a hot sleeper pick.
Top 10 (With Bye Week)
c 1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota, 5
c 2. LeSean McCoy, Eagles, 12
c 3. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle, 12
c 4. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City, 10
c 5. Trent Richardson, Cleveland, 10
c 6. Arian Foster, Houston, 8
c 7. Alfred Morris, Washington, 5
c 8. Doug Martin, Tampa Bay, 5
c 9. C.J. Spiller, Buffalo, 12
c 10. Matt Forte, Chicago, 8
Wide receivers
c On the way up: Pierre Garcon, Washington
c On the way down: Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
c Riskiest pick: DeSean Jackson, Eagles
c Late-round look: Kenny Stills, Saints
c Avoid: Santonio Holmes, Jets
c Top rookie: Tavon Austin, Rams
c Sleeper: Chris Givens, Rams
Love his big-play ability for a Rams team that figures to throw it often.
Top 10 (With Bye Week)
c 1. Dez Bryant, Dallas, 11
c 2. Calvin Johnson, Detroit, 9
c 3. Julio Jones, Atlanta, 6
c 4. Demaryius Thomas, Denver, 9
c 5. Brandon Marshall, Chicago, 8
c 6. A.J. Green, Cincinnati, 12
c 7. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona, 9
c 8. Victor Cruz, N.Y. Giants, 9
c 9. Andre Johnson, Houston, 8
c 10. Roddy White, Atlanta, 6
Tight ends
c On the way up: Jermichael Finley, Packers
c On the way down: Antonio Gates, Chargers
c Riskiest pick: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots
c Late-round look: Jared Cook, Rams
c Avoid: Heath Miller, Steelers
c Top rookie: Tyler Eifert, Bengals
c Slepper: Martellus Bennett, Bears
In 76 career games, Bennett has as many 100-yard outings as I do. To be fair, Bennett spent his first four seasons behind Jason Witten, but put up career-high numbers (55-626-5) with the Giants last year.
Top 10 (With Bye Week)
c 1. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans, 7
c 2. Rob Gronkowski, New England, 10
c 3. Vernon Davis, San Francisco, 9
c 4. Jason Witten, Dallas, 11
c 5. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay, 4
c 6. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta, 6
c 7. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota, 5
c 8. Jared Cook, St. Louis, 11
c 9. Greg Olsen, Carolina, 4
c 10. Jordan Cameron, Cleveland, 10
Kickers
c On the way up: Phil Dawson, 49ers
c On the way down: Mason Crosby, Packers
c Riskiest pick: Kai Forbath, Redskins
c Late-round look: All of ‘em
c Avoid: An early run on kickers. Wait till the last round-and-a-half.
c Top rookie: Caleb Sturgis, Dolphins
cSleeper: Steven Hauschka, Seahawks
Has shown a bigger leg in camp after going only 1-for-4 beyond 50 yards last season. With Russell Wilson running the offense, Hauschka should be a fine weekly option. Love that his bye isn’t until Week 12.
Top 10 (With Bye Week)
c 1. Matt Bryant, Atlanta, 6
c 2. Matt Prater, Denver, 9
c 3. Stephen Gostkowski, New England, 10
c 4. Phil Dawson, San Francisco, 9
c 5. Blair Walsh, Minnesota, 5
c 6. Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland, 7
c 7. Garrett Hartley, New Orleans, 7
c 8. Dan Bailey, Dallas, 11
c 9. David Akers, Detroit, 9
c 10. Greg Zuerlein, St. Louis, 11
Defenses and special teams
c On the way up: Cincinnati Bengals
c On the way down: Pittsburgh Steelers
c Riskiest pick: Denver Broncos
c Late-round look: All of ‘em
c Avoid: Eagles
c Sleeper: Detroit Lions
Putting No. 5 overall pick Ziggy Ansah on the outside of tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley gives the Lions a solid d-line. It’ll largely be up to the back seven to improve on the meager 17 takeaways Detroit had in 2012.
Top 10 (With Bye Week)
c 1. Seattle, 12
c 2. San Francisco, 9
c 3. Cincinnati, 12
c 4. Chicago, 8
c 5. Houston, 8
c 6. Denver, 9
c 7. New England, 10
c 8. Green Bay, 4
c 9. Baltimore, 8
c 10. Pittsburgh, 5
Rankings By Ed Barkowitz
The Associated Press
