Fantasy Football Rankings & Projections Update for August 2
Josh Moore, Executive Editor
With a week of player movements now in the rearview mirror, our first player update since the opening of free agency on Friday saw the most movement of any rankings update in the history of 4for4.com. Things are going to continue to move at a frenzied pace. We'll be with you every step of the way keeping all our draft materials up to date up through kickoff.
In a crazy year like this one is shaping up to be, a Premium Subscription to 4for4.com gives you an even bigger advantage over the competition. Can you imagine drafting from a magazine written months ago?
Below we'll highlight players making moves up and down the rankings in the last week. Be sure to check back often, as these rankings will be sure to change quickly.
Full Player Rankings & Projections Here
QB
Tom Brady moves to QB3 up with the acquisition of a #1 WR in Chad Ochocinco.
Jay Cutler moves up slightly to QB13. Roy Williams was a good addition for the Bears. Cutler is a nice later round QB value if INTs aren't costly in your league.
Joe Flacco drops to QB16 as the Ravens lose Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Donte' Stallworth & T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The Ravens could bring back Mason or make another signing, but they appear to be relying on rookies & 2nd year guys.
Tim Tebow is slipping. His legs give loads of upside, but the conservative Fox looks to be leaning Orton. Clearly a situation to monitor in camp.
Kevin Kolb lands with the Cardinals and at QB19 in the rankings. Larry Fitzgerald is a great #1, but the rest of the offense is still below average.
Donovan McNabb found a team willing to start him (Vikings) and comes in at QB28. A poor OL & loss of Sidney Rice hurt his value. Also he may lose starts to Christian Ponder as season wears on.
Bruce Gradkowski will open the season as the Bengals starting QB, but don't expect him to finish that way. QB32.
Vince Young at QB36 as a clear cut backup for the Eagles but will likely be a top waiver add at some point this season.
RB
Ray Rice moves up as he looks to be the focal point of the Ravens offense in 2011. Rice should benefit from the addition of fullback Vonta Leach and the departure of Willis McGahee.
DeAngelo Williams will be the RB1 in Carolina, but Jonathan Stewart and a rookie QB limit his upside. Williams comes in at RB22.
Beanie Wells moves up to RB31. We're not sold on Wells as a runner, but he has a clearer path with Hightower out of the mix. Rookie Ryan Williams will be a factor.
Panthers Jonathan Stewart drops all the way to RB32 with the DeAngelo Williams signing. He's an RB2 on a bad offense.
Jaguars Rashad Jennings is our number one handcuff (MJD) at RB37.
Dolphins Reggie Bush lands in a good situation in Miami. He's a much better option in PPR leagues.
We like FA Jason Snelling as a player, but his value is very dependent on an eventual landing spot. Currently RB45.
Broncos Willis McGahee comes in at RB49 but could be valuable if/when Knowshon Moreno goes down.
Darren Sproles value takes a hit as he lands in a crowded Saints backfield. RB51 but more valuable in PPR formats. Pierre Thomas is also hurt by the Sproles signing and injury concerns, dropping to RB54.
Tim Hightower comes in at RB55 as he's likely the 3rd down option in an increasingly crowded Redskins backfield.
Ravens RB Jalen Parmele enters the rankings at RB56. As it stands he's the goal line back in Baltimore.
Marion Barber found a team in Chicago but is clearly second fiddle to Matt Forte and will have some competition from Chester Taylor who's signed on for another 3 years. Barber moves up to RB66.
Raiders Marcell Reece could gain value in an H-Back type role if Zach Miller leaves town. Currently only RB80.
Panthers 3rd down back Mike Goodson is the biggest loser of the week, falling all the way to RB85 with the DeAngelo Williams signing.
Jets Rookie Bilal Powell is getting some buzz, but we don't see him getting significant touches his rookie season.
WR
Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald creeps up to WR4 with a QB not named Derek Anderson, Max Hall or John Skelton.
Dallas WR Miles Austin moves up slightly to WR11, benefiting from the departure of Roy Williams.
Dez Bryant is a bigger mover in Dallas, charging up to WR15 with the departure of Roy Williams clearing Bryant's path to more receptions.
Chad Ochocinco is a big mover as the Patriots #1 wideout -- WR22. Deion Branch slides all the way to WR68.
Sidney Rice slides to WR29 in Seattle -- not a great landing spot for Rice with Tarvaris Jackson at QB.
Braylon Edwards WR31 - needs to find a team.
Now with the Bears, Roy Williams shoots up the rankings to WR35 with a change of scenery. Williams should be 1A/1B with Johnny Knox.
49ers Michael Crabtree is already looking like he'll miss most or all of camp... again. He drops to WR45.
James Jones resigned with the Packers and dropped to WR47. We would have liked him better in a less crowded situation. Jordy Nelson also a big loser in that deal, dropping to WR53.
Jerome Simpson at WR49 now is the clear #2 in Cincinnati with the departure of 85. Simpson flashed at the end of last season.
Plaxico Burress found a team and comes in at WR54. The Jets are a relatively good landing spot for Burress where he will be the WR2.
Seahawks WR Mike X Williams saw his value killed by the Sidney Rice & Tarvaris Jackson signings, sliding all the way to WR57. Ben Obomanu is now undraftable.
One of last year's pre-season sleeper darlings, Giants WR Victor Cruz could stick as the Giants WR3 with Steve Smith unsigned and likely not ready by week 1 even if re-signed.
Mark Clayton's stock is in free fall as he remains teamless and lingering injury concerns mount.
Apparently the Vikings are content with Bernard Berrian as the WR2. We aren't -- WR88.
TE
Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez drops a couple spots to TE12 with the Chad Ochocinco signing, but could move up a spot if Zach Miller signs with Seattle.
Greg Olsen moves up to TE18, higher in PPR rankings. The Panthers are a great landing spot for Olsen, but ultimately still a bad offense with a rookie QB.
Todd Heap drops to TE21 as he moves to a worse situation in Arizona.
Ravens Ed Dickson moves up to TE23 with the departure of Todd Heap. Dickson appears in line to take over as the Ravens TE1 and could move higher once he secures the job.
Kellen Davis is the new TE1 in Chicago with Olsen out of town, but has limited upside in the Mike Martz system.
K
Perennial top fantasy option David Akers sees his value crushed with a move to the 49ers. He's now K22, while Eagles rookie Alex Henery moves into 3rd in the kicker rankings.
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