The following top 40 players are ranked on how I would draft them if the draft was held today. These ranks may change and I will adjust them based on FA signings, drafts, trades, and injuries. I will try to update these rankings once a month during the fantasy football off-season.

1. Adrian Peterson
2. Michael Turner
3. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears – 2008 was just the beginning for this dual threat. He proved that not only he can top 20 carries a game, but he can add 5-6 catches as well. Forte is a younger, and now better version of Brian Westbrook.
4. Clinton Portis
5. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers – You can argue he should be ranked #1 or 2 based on his numbers last year but honestly how many 1 yard TD carries will be available? I project 5-6 fewer TD’s in 2009 but somewhere around 1500 yards again.
6. Steven Jackson
7. Kevin Smith
8. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints – #1 in yardage, tied for 1st with 34 TD’s, #1 in TFP (traditional fantasy points). Safest bet in the draft.
9. Steve Slaton
10. Brian Westbrook
11. Marian Barber
12. Marshawn Lynch
13. Thomas Jones, RB, New York Jets – I’m a little surprised to hear Thomas Jones trashing Brett Favre in post-season interviews since I’d see his value going down if Favre doesn’t come back.
14. Peyton Manning
15. Maurice Jones-Drew
16. Brandon Jacobs
17. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals – Clear cut #1 in the draft next year at WR. This has been a curse in recent years.
18. LaDainian Tomlinson
19. Frank Gore
20. Chris Johnson
21. Andre Johnson
22. Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons – Numbers should get even better in Matt Ryan’s second season behind center.
23. Ryan Grant
24. Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys – You can blame injuries but he just plain lacked confidence at the end of the season. He has the weapons and arm though to be the #1 fantasy QB.
25. Steve Smith
26. Aaron Rogers
27. Greg Jennings
28. Brandon Marshall
29. Reggie Bush
30. Willie Parker, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers – No longer “Fast” Willie Parker, but 3 more TD’s in 2008 than 2007 in 4 fewer games. Despite the waning numbers the Steelers are financially committed to Parker so he will be the #1 RB there for at least the next couple of seasons.
31. Ronnie brown
32. Jay Cutler
33. Philip Rivers
34. Randy Moss
35. Derrick Ward, RB, New York Giants – For now he is a NY Giant. This rank assumes he signs elsewhere like Arizona or Seattle where they desperately need a feature RB.
36. Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis Colts – I’m not sure I could actually bring myself to drafting Addai after the last 2 seasons, but his upside is still that of a top 10 RB.
37. Calvin Johnson
38. Vincent Jackson
39. Terrell Owens
40. Tyler Thigpen, QB, Kansas City Chiefs – Surprised? 18 TDs and 386 rushing yards in 12 full games as a starter. Thigpen was the #3 fantasy QB in the second half of 2008. What a find for Kansas City in the 7th round of the draft.

Players on tap: Tim Hightower, Matt Cassel, Donovan McNabb, LenDale White, Chris “Beanie” Wells, Matt Ryan, Kurt Warner, Lance Moore, Antonio Bryant, Cadillac Williams, Dwayne Bowe, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston, Eddie Royal, Kevin Walter, Braylon Edwards, DeSean Jackson, Lee Evans, Ted Ginn Jr., Jonathon Stewart, Tony Gonzalez, Visanthe Shiancoe, Jason Whitten, Dallas Clark, Matt Shaub, Shaun Hill, TJ Houshmanzadeh.