A fantasy championship can be a reality

By George Gouvas Sports Central Columnist

Although baseball has always been my favorite pastime, we have reached the time of the year where I am at my best.

As the temperatures gradually drop and the leaves begin to change color, I have now begun my quest to become the New York Yankees of my fantasy football leagues.

Over the past two seasons, I have been able to secure championships in fantasy football in two different leagues, under different sets of rules. One league favors the quarterback position, the other, running backs dominate. One league allows us to protect one player each season, the other, like most leagues, start from scratch.

I know many of you have been furiously perusing fantasy publications and frantic clicking away on the Internet, hoping to find something that your fellow league members won't. I wish I could say that I'm the next Chris Mortensen or Joe Theisman, but I can't. It all comes down to plain old dumb luck. But, if any of you are looking for a little edge, I have decided to share my fantasy cheat sheet and plain old dumb luck with you, the readers of eSports and rank the top players at each fantasy position.

Good luck and enjoy the 2001 football season.

Quarterbacks

1. Kurt Warner - Faulk, Bruce, Holt, and a solid offensive line, all the weapons a QB needs.

2. Peyton Manning - As soon as the Colts add defense, they will be unstoppable.

3. Brian Griese - A new contract and a plethora of running backs, along with stud WRs.

4. Daunte Culpepper - Best wideouts in the game; will throw more with Robert Smith retired.

5. Donovan McNabb - Expect at least 35 TDs through the air and on the ground combined.

6. Jeff Garcia - Rice and Garner left for Oakland, but Owens and Stokes will rack up yardage.

7. Brett Favre - Still the best pure quarterback in the game, but doesn't have the weapons.

8. Rich Gannon - Rice and Gardner will add to his passing yards.

9. Aaron Brooks - The third running quarterback in the top ten. Great, cheap TDs.

10. Elvis Grbac - With Jamal Lewis out, Billick gets his wish to throw more often.

Others to consider - Trent Green, Steve McNair, Rob Johnson, Brad Johnson.

Running Backs

1. Marshall Faulk - The best overall fantasy player in the NFL.

2. Edgerrin James - Just a notch below Faulk, but puts up the same kind of numbers.

3. Eddie George - The most consistent ground-gainer in the game.

4. Curtis Martin - The West Coast Offense will take away carries, but add passing yardage.

5. Corey Dillon - Still no QB, Dillon will be the Bengals entire offense again.

6. Fred Taylor - If healthy, Taylor will put up scary numbers.

7. Stephen Davis - Will always get the ball at the goal line and put points on the board.

8. Lamar Smith - Last season was no fluke.

9. Jamal Anderson - He is finally 100% and will put numbers of old.

10. Warrick Dunn - With a real quarterback at the helm, Dunn will be even better.

Others to consider - LaDamian Tomlinson, Michael Bennett, Duce Staley, Travis Henry.

Wide Receivers

1. Randy Moss - No explanation needed.

2. Marvin Harrison - Even double coverage doesn't effect his fantasy numbers.

3. Terrell Owens - With the loss of Charlie Garner, expect more TDs from the WRs.

4. Issac Bruce - If this guy would stay healthy, he would be my number two behind Moss.

5. Chris Carter - Even in his final season, he'll catch touchdowns.

6. Rod Smith - Griese's number one deep threat.

7. Keyshawn Johnson - He now has a real quarterback; big bounce back season.

8. Derrick Alexander - Trent Green at quarterback makes this guy a top ten receiver.

9. Ed McCaffrey - The toughest receiver in the game; 100-catch season.

10. Eric Moulds - I look for bigger things out of Rob Johnson, so this guy will benefit.

Others to consider - James Thrash, Kevin Dyson, Travis Taylor, Darrell Jackson.

Tight Ends

1. Tony Gonzalez - More like a WR than a TE, another big year expected.

2. Shannon Sharpe - Will benefit the most from Jamal Lewis' injury.

3. Ken Dilger - Surprisingly, high on my list, but I have a feeling about Dilger.

4. Byron Chamberlin - Will find himself open a lot in Minnesota.

5. Chad Lewis - McNabb's favorite target last season, will continue to produce.

6. Desmond Clark - With Chamberlin gone, big things are expected.

7. Kyle Brady - The new West Coast offense will need the TE to catch the ball.

8. Frank Wychek - Very consistent; good for seven to eight scores.

9. Stephen Alexander - If Jeff George stays healthy, Alexander will put up numbers.

10. Jay Riemersma - The Bills are young at RB, so Riemersma will have to step up.

Others to consider - Bubba Franks, Greg Clark, Wesley Walls, Freddie Jones.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.