Top 10 Fantasy Football Players

Although Fantasy Football has been around for decades its real growth has only occured over the past 20 years or so. Over the last decade the spotlight on Fantasy Football has been brighter than ever before.

The three major offensive positions; quarterback, running back and wide receiver have always been the glamour positions in Fantasy Football. Having fantasy success has always been dependent on having the best running backs but the quarterbacks and wide receivers are starting to close the gap.

Top Fantasy Quarterbacks 2001-2009

There is very little argument that the best fantasy quarterback over the past decade has been Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning. From 2001 through 2009 Manning has averaged 336.65 fantasy points while amassing 3030 total points.

It may surprise many to know that since 2001 former Philadelphia Eagle now Washington Redskins QB Donovan McNabb has posted to second most fantasy points with 2472. His average over the past nine years sits at 274.69 fantasy points.

If it wasn’t for his lost 2007 season, New England Patriots QB Tom Brady would have similar numbers to Manning. Take away the year lost to injury and Brady has averaged 305.66 points a season to go along with his 2445 total points. He would fall short of Manning with a complete 2007 but would pass McNabb for second.

Top Fantasy Running Backs 2001-2009

As good as Peyton Manning has been, no one has been more valuable in fantasy football than former Charger running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Affectionately kmown as LT, Tomlinson has since moved on to the New York Jets but not before posting 3128 fantasy points and an astounding 347.6 nine year average. While his pro and fantasy careers are both in decline, LT has helped many fantasy owners claim their Fantasy League Championship.

Three running backs that are winding down their careers fall in well behind Tomlinson. Clinton Portis ranks second with 1895 fantasy points while Brian Westbrook comes in at 1767 and Thomas Jones sits in fourth with 1685 fantasy points.None of them will come close to surpassing the career numbers posted by LT.

Top Fantasy Wide Receivers 2001-2009

There is a changing of the guard at the wide receiver position but the best WR over the past nine seasons is still very active and adding to his total. New England Patriots WR Randy Moss currently sits at the top heap with a nine year average of 264.48 and his total sits 2380 fantasy points.

Moss passed new Cincinnati Bengals WR Terrell Owens during the 2009 season but Owens is a close second with 2346 fantasy points. Many think that Owens will return to fantasy greatness with the Bengals and QB Carson Palmer. He will be good, but his days of fantasy greatness are behind him.

Torry Holt was an integral part of the “Greatest Show On Turf” with the St. Louis Rams but has seen his totals steadily decline over the past six seasons. He may find himself without a team and retire in 2010 but “Big Game Holt” has recorded 2258 fantasy points and a 250.91 average over the past nine years.