This Year’s Best Fantasy Football Players

About seven months ago, with the NFL season hanging in the balance with the lockout in full effect, I provided an early look into the season. More specifically, I attempted to predict fantasy football’s MVP’s, by position (excluding placekicker and defense) for 2011.

Please take a look at my predictions (in italics) and who I have selected as my MVP’s based on their 2011 performance, year-to-date (in bold).

At quarterback, I predicted that Aaron Rodgers would be fantasy’s best, and the self-proclaimed “people’s champ” has indeed proven his worth. Yes, Aaron Rodgers is the best player in fantasy football…period.

My top running back prediction of Adrian Peterson has not been proven right. Don’t get me wrong, “AP” is still arguably pro football’s best running back as well as one of fantasy football’s top three backs, but 2011 honors must go to LeSean McCoy. The latter has been that good.

My wide receiver selection of Andre Johnson has been marred by injury. Nonetheless, it’s not an excuse. Injuries are a part of the game. Enter Calvin Johnson as 2011′s top fantasy football wideout.

And lastly, I, like countless others assumed that Antonio Gates would be fantasy football’s uber-tight end in 2011. Boy, was I ever wrong.

Not only has Jimmy Graham emerged as the best tight end this year by far, but he’s putting up numbers that top-tier wide receivers would envy. We may not see this kind of season from a tight end for years to come.