Fantasy Football Rankings Redraft: June

Welcome to my Fantasy Football Rankings two-round mock draft! By mid-June, teams have pretty much sorted out who they plan to go to camp with — and from there they’ll figure out who they’ll go to war with. We’re beyond the NFL Draft, and a lot of the offseason training activities. Fantasy Football owners have already read all about the Top 12 Fantasy Football Rookies For 2012, and now they’re setting up their draft strategies. So let me explain what this is all about.

I’ve taken some time to review some of the major media sites, like CBSSports.com, ESPN.com and NFL.com, and I’ve averaged out their top-five players at each position.

Then I took a look at some smaller sites that have proven to be ahead of the curve with some early Fantasy rankings, and I averaged out the top 12 quarterback rankings and the top 24 running back rankings. I still plan on doing the wide receivers and tight ends, as well.

With all of that said, here are what I think the first two rounds SHOULD look like, with explanations for oddities. Enjoy!

Fantasy Football Rankings two-round mock draft!

ROUND ONE

1.01  Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore: I realize this is against the grain — and every website out there. I like Rice more and I still don’t think we’ve seen the best season from him yet, as do all of the NFL draft personnel. He was the top scorer last year, and

1.02 Arian Foster, RB, Houston: Feel free to yell at me. I get it. It’s an unpopular decision, but I have made known the 8 reasons NOT to take Foster first overall.

1.03 LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia: At least we can all agree on the No. 3 pick! It’s very possible that McCoy outscores both Foster and Rice this season.

1.04 Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay: Thought long and hard about Megatron here because there are so many good Fantasy quarterbacks. The difference is — Rodgers is the only slam dunk at the position.

1.05  Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit

1.06 Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville

1.07 Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego

1.08 Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee: Probably the best high-risk/high-reward guy in the first round.

1.09 Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle: It’s weird to see Lynch as a possibly first-round pick, but he’s earned it.

1.10 Matt Forte, RB, Chicago: A protracted holdout could bump him out of the first round soon.

1.11 Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans: Call me a chicken, but the Saints are snake-bitten for this upcoming season and Brees worries me. New coaching, a possible contract holdout, continued scrutiny, and normal attrition has me preferring three QBs ahead of Brees this season. The odds are very much against him having a 2007 Tom Brady-type season. With that said, he seems to throw for touchdowns in his sleep.

1.12 Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI

ROUND TWO

2.01  Tom Brady, QB, New England

2.02 Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland

2.03 Andre Johnson, WR, Houston 

2.04 Cam Newton, QB, Carolina

2.05 Roddy White, WR, Atlanta: Originally had him higher, but a few people cited he should be much lower because of Julio Jones’ presence, I decided to drop him a few more spots. Meanwhile, I still have great faith in White, whose talent matches the three receivers above him.

2.06 Wes Welker, WR, New England

2.07 Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay

2.08 DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas

2.09 Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, N.Y. Giants

2.10 Michael Turner, RB, ATL: He has averaged 11 TDs over the past three years, second only to Adrian Peterson’s 14. The Falcons are talking about lessening his load, but I think that could be a good thing for this guy in the long run.

2.11 Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit:  Imagine if they all stay healthy at the same time. He could move into Brees’ realm when you consider the weapons around him.

2.12 Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis

Rising fast – Trent Richardson, RB, CLE: The Browns have a good offensive line and questions at QB, which means they’ll want to run, run, run. He’ll get a lot of attention from defenses, however, which prevents the top Fantasy rookie from getting drafted in the top two rounds.

Dropping hard – Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England: Some have this tight end as high as the FIRST ROUND, but as good as he is, he would have to duplicate last season’s numbers to justify a spot higher than Round 3. I just think Gronk is NOT a second-round pick.

Is there anyone you’d move up or down? Am I missing someone?