Fantasy Football is right around the corner and it is time for Fantasy CPR to unveil it’s full fledge rankings! Today we start with the quarterback. Earlier last week, I broke down my top ten quarterbacks for 2009. Now, here is a listing of the top 35 quarterbacks to watch in your fantasy draft. The quarterback is one of the most interesting positions in the draft. Over the last few years, beyond the top three to eight quarterbacks, the most valuable signal callers in fantasy have come after the seventh round. Training camp battles in Detroit, New York, and Cleveland have many debatng on which arm to target in the late rounds. We know that Brady Quinn currently leads the race in Cleveland. If Matt Stafford starts for the Detroit Lions, he could be the Matt Ryan of 2009. Two of Fantasy CPR’s top ten quarterbacks are bouncing back from serious injury in 2009.

Without further ado, here is the top 35 Quarterback Rankings to start the 2009 season:

The Banged Up Bunch-

We expect Tom Brady to make a full recovery this season. There are other quarterbacks though that could be spending a good chunk of their season off the field. Even some of the top notch quarterbacks are injury risks. Peyton Manning had off-season knee surgery, which could slow him against a really tough opening schedule. Signs have led to the fact that the Colts are worried about Manning. After losing one of the best offensive coordinators in the game, and drafting Curtis Painter, it seems that Manning’s numbers could drop. Kurt Warner made it through his first full season for the first time in seven years last year for the Cardinals. Warner doesn’t react well to the full out blitz and with the fallout between him and Anquain Boldin, I wouldn’t be surprised if Matt Leinart armbars Kurt Warner into submission. In Matt Schaub’s tenure in Houston, he has only played in 22 of the 32 games he has been there for. If he could stay healthy, he would climb these rankings. It seems to be the only thing holding him back. Ben Roethlisberger has played most of his career injured. You have to wonder when enough is enough. Donovan McNabb and Carson Palmer are bouncing back from injuries. Palmer nearly opted for the Jake Delhomme route, but team doctors decided that rest on the elbow would be enough for 2009. Though Carson Palmer is in the top ten, you are taking a big risk if you give Palmer your starting job. I believe that it is a risk willing to take. Especially if you draft a solid backup in the third. Other starters Matt Hasselbeck and Trent Edwards are bouncing back from injury as well.

Rounds the Banged Up Bunch are being drafted: Peyton Manning- 5th round, Carson Palmer-10th round, Kurt Warner-4th round, Donovan McNabb-7th round, Trent Edwards-11th round, Matt Hasselbeck-10th round.

Get your pillow out! Sleepers and High Risers!-

We all love this time of the year simply because we want to find the next best stud. This year, the quarterback is full of guys that could break out at anytime during the season. Starting at the top of the board is Brett Favre’s supposedly unqualified replacement in Green Bay. After finally getting his chance last year, Aaron Rodgers made the best of it, throwing multiple touchdowns in ten games and having one of the best yards per attempt average in the NFL. Rodgers is surrounded by a very talented receiving corps that puts him over the top in 2009.  Philip Rivers doesn’t have as solid of a receiving corps, but with the emergence of the air game in 2008, Rivers looks promising in 2009. He isn’t going to throw 34 touchdowns like last year, but over 25 should be chalked up on your cheat sheet. Matt Ryan has one year of experience under his belt, with a new target at tight end. Roddy White has emerged as a number one receiver. Fantasy experts are expecting ten more touchdowns from Ryan this season. Most also have him ranked in the top ten, but we have him in the top 15. If Michael Turner and the running game struggles, a lot of pressure will be put on Ryan in 2009. That’s not saying that he isn’t a fantasy weapon for the next upcoming years though.  Matt Cassel breaks our top ten despite being sacked teh most in the NFl last year and a pretty solid inconsitency on his deep ball. New weapon Dwayne Bowe will help out on the wild deep ball, and Head Coach Todd Haley is a real offensive genius.

Some sleepers in the bottom of the rankings include Shaun Hill who enters as the favorite to start in week one as the 49er’s starter. He doesn’t have a cannon, but he has a new go-to-guy alongside veteran Issac Bruce. Josh Morgan is also developing into a severe threat for the San Fran offense. It isn’t asking too much to expect 200 yards a game from Hill, with a decent touchdown to interception clip. Obvious sleepers include Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez, both of which are in contention to be starters. Rumor has it that the Lions believe that Stafford can start right away, but are taking the Matt Ryan approach. They don’t want to get on the bad side of fans, so they will wait until pre-season, and let the play on the field tell the story. The staff in New York once loved Kellen Clemons, but after brining in the godfather and drafting Sanchez, it is clear they don’t have faith in him. Other quarterbacks outside the top 35 that are sleepers include Chad Henne. Bill Parcells and company love his arm strength, talent, and personality. He is definitely someone worth looking into late into the season. Matt Leinart could aslo be a nice waiver wire addition, considering Warner hasn’t had a full healty season since 2001. Kyle Orton, who has a pretty vertical offense, and a nice slant receiver in Eddie Royal, could be a sleeper to keep your eye on as well.

Rounds that Sleepers and High Risers are being drafted: Aaron Rodgers-6th round, Philip Rivers-3rd round, Matt Ryan-7th round, Matt Cassel-9th round, Matt Stafford-12th round, Kyle Orton-11th round.

Falling off the Map-

Like every single year, there are some quarterbacks that either changed systems, got traded or just are getting older. These guys are “falling off the map.” One of the top quarterbacks in this grouping is Tony Romo, who lost his second favorite target in T.O. The question has to be, “Will Roy Williams be a typical number one receiver?”  I don’t think that will be the case. Jay Cutler’s value has dropped as well, simply because the Bears have absolutely nobody that Cutler can go to consistently. Devin Hester has yet to prove that he is a go to receiver. Greg Olson is climbing up tight end charts, but beyond that, Cutler plays in the Lovie Smith offense, that doesn’t include him throwing the ball forty times a game. Eli Manning is wishing that his former big target didn’t know what a gun is. Look for Manning to shoot himself in the foot, by throwing more interceptions than his solid 2009 campaign. Many believe that youngster Joe Flacco will have a hard time considering he lost Derrick Mason. If they add a Burress or Braylon Edwards, then Flacco’s value climbs going into the season, but at that rate I don’t see that happening.

Rounds that players falling off the map are being drafted: Tony Romo-7th round, Jay Cutler-9th round, Eli Manning-10th round, Joe Flacco-13th Round

Top 50 Running Backs:

Running Backs are the keystone to having a solid fantasy football season. Last year, Michael Turner, Matt Forte, DeAngelo Williams and Steve Slaton broke out and saved fantasy football seasons. Now, runners such as Maurice Jones-Drew, Chris Johnson, Kevin Smith and Brandon Jacobs are leading a new core of top notch running backs in the NFL and on the Fantasy Gridiron. One of the biggest keys on draft day is to find a good balance of runners that can catch, score, and just flat out run. Depending on the league you are in, receptions could be a key going into your season. That is taken into effect in our rankings.  Though the old school thought of taking three running backs to start your draft is starting to fade, there is no doubt that the running game is what brings you a championship.

Whether you are a Nascar driver, horse jockey, or fantasy football owner–blowing a tire, busting a horseshoe, or losing your best running back will point you in the bottom of the standings. With that being said, here are the top 50 running backs in our eyes going into 2009:

The Big Names-

The number one ranking at the running back position is pretty darn obvious. Though Adrian Peterson averaged just a bit less than a yard per carry in 2008, he was a non-stop, consistent runner to depend on.  In PPR leagues, his value drops a bit, considering he lost some elusiveness receiving out of the backfield in 2008, compared to his rookie year.

This is where Matt Forte fits into the rankings. Though it was quite an enternal battle between Michael Turner, Maurice Jones-Drew and Forte, The Bears running back showed last year that he can be a solid force receiving and running. Maurice Jones-Drew has yet to prove that he is a real force. Forte isn’t going to produce 500 yards receiving like many thought he would pre Cutler trade, but he will get in the endzone a handful of times via the air attack. Running wise, with NFC North defenses gaining a step (Green Bay front line, Detroit Linebacking corps) and the implementation of a passing game, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Forte rush for less than 1,200 yards. The key to watch is his yards per carry. With a year of experience, the thought would be the hole would open up a bit, but only time will tell.

Another runner to keep your eye on is Deangelo Williams. The Panthers scored 30 rushing touchdowns last year. In total, DeAngelo scored 20 times. In the second half of the season, Williams was downright possesed. 983 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns, and two four touchdown games. The guy is only 26 years old. He is quickly falling off the fantasy map, and he is just getting started. Seventh might be just a bit low in the rankings, but with the Carolina offense you never know. If you don’t handcuff Williams with Stewart, then make sure that Williams is going to get the majority of the carries. Touchdown production will drop in 2009, but he is still a top ten draft pick.  For the first time in his career, LaDainian Tomlinson falls to the bottom of the top notch runners. This is a guy whose yard per carry average has dropped from 5.2 in 2006, down to 3.8 in 2008.  We have talked a bunch about Michael Turner on Fantasy CPR Live and on Fantasy CPR.com. The 370 rule is something that I take seriously, but when you look at Turner’s situation in Atlanta, you have to believe that he will have fantasy value.

Injuries Waiting to Happen-

One of the running backs that I have always loved is Steven Jackson, but health has always been an issue. Jackson missed five games in 2008, and most of 2007 with various pains. This is a guy that if you are willing to take a chance, could provide you the best fantasy numbers of all running backs. The key though is staying healthy. Jackson has a new offensive line in front of him, a new coach that will love to run the ball, and practically no aerial game around him. This is a running back who once caught 90 receptions. In a PPR league, that is irreplaceable. Last year he only brought in 40 catches. 2009 could be another season where Jackson busts out in the air and scores a bunch of touchdowns. Who else is going to score in St. Louis? Nobody if Jackson remains injury prone and out of action.

Brian Westbrook could be on his last leg (literally). His knees and ribs were bother hammered in 2008, but he put together solid numbers yet again. The price for Westbrook, considering the fact that his offensive line is falling apart, his workload has been decreased in the passing game, and newcomer LeSean McCoy has good hands.  Putting the numbers together and it seems that if Westbrook does stay on the field, his numbers will drop drastically. This is a guy who had two surgeries in the off-season.

Reggie Bush is supposedly back, but can he stay healthy? We know he can’t go up the middle, but he is a top 5 PPR running back. Since his rookie year, Bush’s legs haven’t been healthy. Meanwhile Brandon Jacobs has no problem plowing and mowing down defenders up the middle. His legs though have been injured in all kinds of ways in a young career. Can Brandon Jacobs really handle more than 200 rushing attempts throughout the year? I don’t think so. He is still someone you should target for touchdowns, but like in the past, you need to handcuff him with another runner in the Giant backfield.

Another runner that could possibly be on his last legs is Clinton Portis. Portis has definitely got to workload in the past, and that is what is scary. If he can get on the field, he will score, because he is the go to guy at the goal line.

Sleeper City-

There are a lot of running backs that could be in the middle rounds, and in your starting three. Kevin Smith is someone that I am really high on in 2009. Rudi Johnson isn’t going to get the carries he did last season. Smith should average four yards per carry, and run for 1200 yards. It isn’t the running game that has me excited though. Smith is one of the best young receivers in the backfield, and Scott Linehan will be running the offense in Detroit. Whippty Doo! The Lions offensive line is a bit improved, and that should be a factor as well.

Pierre Thomas showed last season why  he could be an eventual top 10 runner in fantasy. The Guy has averaged close to five yards per carry in his first two season. Thomas is the red zone runner in New Orleans. If anything, ten touchdowns on the ground, and a few in the air. This is a guy that could go in the seventh to tenth round, despite having so much value. Some people think that Thomas is the DeAngelo Williams of 2009.  Speaking of DeAngelo Williams, I am a pretty big fan of his running mate Jonathan Stewart. He is going to get in the endzone. nine double digit carry games in 2008, with some potential to catch some passes. Last year he rushed for 836. This year it doesn’t seem those numbers will get any lower.

The Raiders are full of sleepers in 2009. Micheal Bush could be a late swing running back, but the real question is on Darren Mcfadden. If you would of told me that Felix Jones would of had a better rookie season, I might of laughed. Mcfadden did average 4.4 yards per carry last season, despite 113 carries. The Oakland offense is praying that they can muster a decent receiving corps, but when it all comes down to it, Mcfadden is the only option in Oakland.

My favorite “sleeper” in 2009 is Derrick Ward, who will be the top running back in Tampa Bay. The man put up 1,000 yards behind Brandon Jacobs in 2009. Above 5.5 yards per carry in 2008, Ward is going to get the majority of the carries. Carnell Williams is off injury, Earnest Graham is an injury risk, and the Bucs have no idea who will lead them behind center. Ward is currently going in the fourth round, but after training camp, we might see that draft position rise.

Top 24 Defenses:

Fantasy Football might be the only thing that defense isnt the most important aspect of it. That being said, if you can grab a top notch defense, it will make a difference. One of the biggest changes in value year to year comes at the Defense position. With so many new staffs bringing in better talent, defenses jump and fall every fantasy football season. Take the Tennesee Titans and New York Jets. The Titans have lost Albert Haynesworth and could possibly fall out of the top ten production wise. Their defensive coordinator has taken on the challenge in Detroit (poor guy). However, they do return all of their starters but Haynesworth. The Secondary is thin, but this is a defense that should remain in the top five. The Jets are a defense to watch after Rex Ryan took over as head coach. Adding Lito Sheppard alongside Darelle Revis automatically gives the Jets an impressive CB corps. Bart Scott and David Harris could instantly become the best ILB duo in the league. The Jets will do a lot of blitzing, so the weakness around the edges will be taken care of in that sense.

Some defenses on the rise include the Carolina Panthers and San Fransisco 49ers. Jon Beason is a freak. The middle pass rush up front is possibly the best in the league. Richard Marshall is a better corner than his replacement. Early in the off-season I had the Panters ranked right in the middle. Now, with Julius Peppers at 100% and Everette Brown looking good I am up on the Panthers as a starting defense. The 49ers are an interesting defense going into 2009. After the firing of Mike Nolan, the defense switched to the 3-4 and knocked ten points per game off of the scoreboard for the rest of the season. This is a defense you want to start, but they could be a very good backup for your bye week.

One defense that I am down on is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last year they finished ninth in yards allowed and tenth in points allowed. This year they take the field without Derrick Brooks, Cato June, Jovan Haye and Phillip Buchanon. The defense doesn’t have the staff to run a solid tampa 2. This is something that could cause issues under new coach Raheem Morris. Sure Gaines Adams is a solid force up front, but Ronde Barber is getting older, and up the middle the Buccaneers will struggle against the run. Especially in the NFC South, where Michael Turner and the Carolina Gang can get it done on the ground.

There are a lot of questions about the defenses ranked in teh bottom half of the top ten. Will the Cowboys’ secondary hold up in 2009? Are the eagles going to be a force after all of the peices they lost this off-season? Especially with the passing of defensive mastermind Jim Johnson. The Green Bay Packers have brought in two solid peices to help a squad that allowed 131 rushing yards a game. Dom Capers is in town to install the 3-4, and if Aaron Kampman has trouble adjusting to the OLB position, this already weak pass rush could get worse. With that being said, Green Bay could still be a sleeper defense.

Top 60 Wide Receivers:

The Wide Receiver position in fantasy football in a lot of ways is like former pop star Madonna. Though it might not be the biggest position in the fantasy football gridiron, it has definitely solitified it’s role in the fantasy football jungle by having it’s own created image and sticking with it. Though some Receivers will be reaches, like Madonna and JT’s Four Minutes, you know what you are getting for the most part. Madonna will never be the pop star that Michael Jackson was. Larry Fitzgerald will never bring as much fantasy value to the table as Adrian Peterson. Not at least in the near future.

When drafting, it is key to find the best value for the current pick, with all bias set aside. In the middle rounds, the wide receivers have proven over the last few years, that they are more valuable. After the top ten running backs are off the board, you have to make some very tough choices going into the middle second round and throughout the fifth. Over the past few seasons, middle round running backs have been just as productive as the late rounders. With that being said, the top notch wide receivers over the years have shown consistent production. You can almost surely bet the top notch receivers will get their numbers.

That is why it is so important to ink a star go-to-receiver for your team, whether it be PPR or any other format of league.  Here are your top sixty wide receivers for the 2009 fantasy football season:

The Big Names, With Big Game-

We all know the big name receivers. Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss, and Steve Smith. Most of this group is going in the late first to early second rounds. As expected, many are taking Randy Moss really high, because of what he did with Tom Brady in 2007. Larry Fitzgerald has been the first receiver off the board in most and for some reason not all drafts. He is number one on our boards becuase of the threat he brings to the table.

When looking at the number two wide receiver in fantasy, I differ a bit from many 0ther analyst’s thoughts. Not Andre, but Calvin “Megatron” Johnson is second on our board. He has one more year of experience, less than three different quarterbacks that will throw to him in 2009, and a defense that is going to force the offense into a lot of throwing situations. Let’s face it, the Lions are not going to lose all of their games, but losing twelve isn’t out of question.  With Randy Moss connecting with his favorite tosser, he could be very valuable in 2009, and Steve Smith is small in size, but makes up for it with his heart and determination to get to the ball. Smith is the darkhorse of this group, and if you can get him in the late second round, it could be the biggest acquisition of the draft. Many are taking Greg Jennings before him, and I think that is just plain silly. Steve Smith belongs in the upper echelon of fantasy wide receivers.

The Secondary Receiver-

Unless you are have a superstud running back lineup, it is going to be key to get that secondary receiver to add more points to your weekly totals. Superstar Camera Lovin’ Ball catchin’ Chad Ocho Cinco and Terrell Owens could have major bounce back years. Especially Terrell Owens. Despite his current lower than 5 AM Fresh Prince of Bel Air ratings on the T.O. Show, I am hooked. I’m also hooked on bringing in Owens for 2009. This comes from the same guy who had enough of him at the end of the 2008 fantasy season. This is a new role though, and T.O. is the go to guy. If he is around when you are looking secondary recevier, he could be a solid option. Another favorite is Roddy White, who alongside Michael Turner, showed he belonged in the starting lineup of the National Fantasy Football league. Will White produce like he did last season? Most likely not, but he will keep his yardage. Many think Tony Gonzalez is the go to receiver, but Matt ryan could build a special bond with White that extends back to 2008 in spring training.

On of my favorite secondary receivers, that has number one ability is Dewayne Bowe. In a logjam of upcoming fantasy starts, Bowe is one of those types that has consistently increased all offensive numbers and can offer even more to an offense now losing one of the best tight ends in the game. Matt Cassel isn’t going to help increase touchdown receptions, but expect ten touchdowns and a healthy amount of yards per game in 2009 from Bowe. Bowe has that to offer, unlike a Greg Jennings, because receiving wise, Bowe is the only threat in Kansas City.

Sleepers-

In the bottom half of these rankings are some real talented receivers that could translate into stolen talent in the end of drafts. Devin Hester and Earl Bennett of the Chicago Bears are of extreme interest to me. Someone is going to step up as the man threat for Jay Cutler. We all know that Greg Olson will have a major part in the offense, but Bennett is a big deep threat that Cutler is comfortable with, and well Hester…. he can make defenses look ugly. If you are in a special teams happy league, then Hester is the no brainer. Otherwise, I think Earl Bennett is on top. Hester dropped a lot of balls this weekend, but he will also get better with time in training camp.

Rookies Darius Heyward-Bey, Percy Harvin, Jeremy Maclin, Kenny Britt, and Brian Robiskie round out the bottom of the rankings. At least one of these rookies will have a breakout year. My bet is on either Harvin or Robiskie.