With all of this talk about the NFL Draft, it's natural for fantasy football owners to get a little bit fired up for another NFL season.
Being a fan of historical facts and statistical success, I decided to do a little research and create the first-ever one-man, three-round, all-time draft. Rather than look at career numbers, which can be a bit deceptive for players with longer careers, I've based this draft on the greatest single seasons from 1960-2007.
While career statistical success was part of the total equation, it didn't count for more than what a player did in that one memorable season. For example, no one would argue that Gale Sayers was more valuable than some of the backs that made our draft, but his best single-season totals didn't surpass those runners included.
Each numbered position of the draft will represent an individual team, so no more than one quarterback, two running backs or two wide receivers will be selected for each roster. The draft is based on NFL.com's standard scoring system that rewards one point for each 25 passing yards, 10 rushing and receiving yards and six points for all touchdowns.
ROUND 1
| No. 1 | Analysis |
 Tom Brady QB, New England 2007 |
One season after LaDainian Tomlinson produced monster fantasy totals in San Diego, Brady exploded for what became the greatest fantasy football season of all time. He threw for a career-best 4,806 yards and broke Peyton Manning's record for touchdown passes in a season with 50, and his 52 total scores is a record from the quarterback position. Overall, Brady scored an incredible 513 fantasy points and led countless fantasy footballers to their league's championship. |
| No. 2 | Analysis |
 Dan Marino QB, Miami 1984 |
The most prolific quarterback to ever grace the gridiron, Marino produced the second greatest fantasy football season in the Super Bowl era. He threw for what is still an NFL record 5,084 yards (no quarterback has come within 250 yards of that number), and his 48 touchdown passes were also a record for 20 seasons. Marino, who completed a career-best 64.2 percent of his passes and led his Dolphins to Super Bowl XIX, recorded an incredible total of 491 fantasy points. |
| No. 3 | Analysis |
 LaDainian Tomlinson RB, San Diego 2006 |
Tomlinson led the NFL with 1,815 rushing yards, added 508 yards as a receiver out of the backfield, scored a record 31 total touchdowns and finished with an incredible 419 fantasy points in what was a memorable season. He rushed for 100-plus yards 10 times, scored multiple touchdowns in 10 starts and led countless fantasy football owners to a title. L.T. was be the consensus No. 1 overall selection in most 2007 drafts, and he'll no doubt be a top-three choice in 2008. |
| No. 4 | Analysis |
 Peyton Manning QB, Indianapolis 2004 |
One of the elite quarterbacks in fantasy football, Manning led countless owners to a league championship in 2004 as he threw for an incredible 4,557 yards and what was an NFL record 49 touchdown passes. He set another NFL record with at least four touchdown passes in five consecutive contests (including six in less that three quarters in a win over the Detroit Lions) and finished the season with 480 points. He'll be a first- or second-round pick in all 2008 drafts. |
| No. 5 | Analysis |
 Daunte Culpepper QB, Minnesota 2004 |
One of the most versatile quarterbacks in the NFL over the past decade, Culpepper recorded a total of 41 touchdowns and finished with what was the fifth-most passing yards (4,717) ever in 2004, but his accomplishments were overshadowed due to Manning's success. Culpepper, who would also rush for 406 yards, scored three or more touchdowns in eight of his 16 starts and had 476 points. Unfortunately, an injured knee and the loss of Randy Moss ended his run of success. |
| No. 6 | Analysis |
 Steve Young QB, San Francisco 1998 |
A two-time NFL MVP and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Young came out from behind the shadow of Joe Montana to become one of the league's most accurate and versatile quarterbacks. He would produce his best overall fantasy numbers in 1998, when he recorded 464 points on a career-best 4,170 passing yards, 454 rushing yards and a total of 42 touchdowns. Young's success culminated in Super Bowl XXIX, when he threw for 325 yards and a record six touchdown passes. |
| No. 7 | Analysis |
 Marshall Faulk RB, St. Louis 2000 |
Once the most coveted players in the history of fantasy football, Faulk had several productive seasons in Indianapolis and St. Louis during what was a Hall of Fame career. His best season came in 2000, when he had 375 fantasy points on 1,359 rushing yards, 830 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns. The versatile back is also one of two running backs (Roger Craig) to record 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season, so his value in fantasy land was immense. |
| No. 8 | Analysis |
 Priest Holmes RB, Kansas City 2002 |
Holmes was once stuck behind Errict Rhett on Baltimore's depth chart, but he exploded onto the scene as a member the Chiefs to surpass Marshall Faulk as the top overall player in fantasy football. He thrived in the offense of head coach Dick Vermeil with a career-best 1,615 rushing yards, 672 receiving yards and 24 total touchdowns in 2002, all of which totaled 373 points. Holmes, who missed significant time with an injured neck, returned for four contests in 2007. |
| No. 9 | Analysis |
 Emmitt Smith RB, Dallas 1995 |
The all-time leader in career rushing yards with an incredible 18,355, Smith was a true fantasy stud throughout the 1990s. His greatest statistical season came in 1995, when he recorded 365 fantasy points on a career-best 1,773 rushing yards, 375 receiving yards and what was at one time an NFL record 25 touchdowns. Smith, who will soon be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, is also second behind Jerry Rice in career touchdowns with a total of 175. |
| No. 10 | Analysis |
 George Blanda QB/K, Houston 1961 |
Fantasy football was no more than an infant in Blanda'a era, but he would have been an absolute star. One of the NFL's most versatile athletes, Blanda was both a quarterback and a kicker. His best season came in 1961, when Blanda recorded career bests in passing yards (3,330 and passing touchdowns (36) as a member of the Houston Oilers. He also converted on 16 field goals and a career-best 64 extra points to finish with an impressive 462 fantasy points. |
| No. 11 | Analysis |
 Shaun Alexander RB, Seattle 2005 |
Alexander rushed for an NFL best 1,880 yards and scored what was an NFL record 28 total touchdowns to finish with 364 fantasy points in 2005. He rushed for 100-plus yards 11 different times and made multiple trips to the end zone in nine of his 16 starts. Alexander would become a victim of the dreaded Madden cover curse in 2006 and he faltered in 2007 as well, so it looks like his time as an elite fantasy running back are now in the rearview mirror. |
| No. 12 | Analysis |
 Randall Cunningham QB, Philadelphia 1990 |
At a time when pocket passers such as Marino, Warren Moon and Joe Montana were the norm, Cunningham's rocket arm and immense skills as a runner revolutionized the quarterback position. Once known as the "Ultimate Weapon", Cunningham had 443 fantasy points on 3,466 passing yards, a career-best 942 rushing yards and 35 total touchdowns in what was an MVP season. He also posted monster numbers for Minnesota in 1998, so his fantasy value was evident during his career. |
ROUND 2
| No. 13 | Analysis |
 O.J. Simpson RB, Buffalo 1975 |
Simpson didn't need a white Ford Bronco to run from defenders in 1975, as he recorded 1,817 rushing yards, 426 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns for a total of 363 fantasy points. What made his numbers even more spectacular was the fact that Simpson achieved them in just 14 games. He had one more solid season with the Buffalo Bills (1976) before his pro football career ended with a thud after two unimpressive seasons with the San Francisco 49ers from 1978-1979. |
| No. 14 | Analysis |
 Brett Favre QB, Green Bay 1995 |
A future member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Favre was one of the top quarterbacks in fantasy football for much of his time in the NFL. His best season came in 1995, when he recorded 441 fantasy points on a career-best 4,413 passing yards and 41 total touchdowns. To prove that age doesn't affect the great quarterbacks, Favre threw for 4,155 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2007. He also overtook Marino in career passing yards (61,657) and passing touchdowns (442). |
| No. 15 | Analysis |
 Terrell Davis RB, Denver 1998 |
While his career was short lived due to knee injuries, Davis did make some serious noise in his time between the white lines. His best statistical season came in 1998, when he became the fourth back ever to reach the 2,000-yard mark. He also scored 23 total touchdowns and 361 fantasy points. Davis rushed for 56 scores in his first four seasons; a mark that no member of the Hall of Fame has matched. As a result, he could land in Canton in the very near future. |
| No. 16 | Analysis |
 Kurt Warner QB, St. Louis 1999 |
Warner came out of nowhere to become one of the most feared quarterbacks in fantasy football. The replacement for Trent Green after an ACL ailment, Warner threw for 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns in his first season as an NFL starter. He went on to have one more enormous season in St. Louis before the team moved on with marc Bulger. Warner still has some gas left in the tank, however, as he threw for 3,417 yards and 27 touchdowns in 14 games with Arizona last season. |
| No. 17 | Analysis |
 Ahman Green RB, Green Bay 2003 |
Green scored a solid 345 fantasy points on a career-best 1,883 rushing yards, 367 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in 2003. A versatile running back who had been a solid contributor for fantasy footballers when at 100 percent, Green has seen his value waver in the past four seasons due to knee injuries. He missed much of the 2007 season due to knee problems, and it seems like the former Nebraska standout's time as a viable fantasy back is in the rearview mirror. |
| No. 18 | Analysis |
 Eric Dickerson RB, L.A. Rams 1983 |
One of the most graceful runners in the history of pro football, Dickerson had his best statistical season as a rookie with 341 points on 1,808 rushing yards, a career-best 404 receiving yards and a career-best 20 total touchdowns. He had an NFL-record 2,105 rushing yards the next season and finished his Hall-of-Fame career sixth on the all-time list with a total of 13,259 rushing yards. Dickerson also scored 90 rushing touchdowns, which is tied for 12th all-time. |
| No. 19 | Analysis |
 Larry Johnson RB, Kansas City 2005 |
Johnson started his career behind former fantasy superstar Priest Holmes, but he exploded onto the scene in 2005 with 1,750 rushing yards, 343 receiving yards and 21 total touchdowns. He rushed for 100-plus yards in his final nine contests that season, rushed for 200-plus yards twice, and led countless owners to a championship. His numbers remained solid in 2006, but the wear and tear of an NFL record 416 carries might have led to a forgettable 2007. He's still a first-round choice in all drafts. |
| No. 20 | Analysis |
 Steven Jackson RB, St. Louis 2006 |
In what is the his most productive fantasy season to date, Jackson rushed for 1,528 yards, hauled in an incredible 90 passes for 806 yards and scored 16 total touchdowns in 2006. Believe it or not, but his 2,334 all-purpose yards that season is the fifth-most recorded in NFL history. While he did miss significant time due to an injured groin last season, Jackson is one of the best backs in the NFL and should be a top-five selection in all fantasy drafts in 2008. |
| No. 21 | Analysis |
 Ricky Williams RB, Miami 2002 |
Williams has had his share off off-the-field issues, but his production on the field, at least in 2002, was second to none. He rushed for a career-best 1,853 yards, caught 47 passes for 363 yards and scored 17 total touchdowns for a combined 323 fantasy points. Williams, who thrived under the guidance of offensive coordinator Norv Turner, rushed for 1,000-plus yards just one more time after the 2002 season. He enters next season second on Miami's depth chart. |
| No. 22 | Analysis |
 Steve Beuerlein QB, Carolina 1999 |
How in the world did the likes of Joe Montana, Y.A. Tittle and Daryle Lamonica not earn a spot ahead of Beuerlein in one of our top three rounds? Well, none of those three quarterbacks ever had a single season as productive as Beuerlein did in 1999, when he exploded for a career-best 4,436 passing yards and 38 total scores. Beuerlein never came close to those totals in his other 14 NFL seasons, but he's a second-round selection based on our single-season parameters. |
| No. 23 | Analysis |
 Barry Sanders RB, Detroit 1997 |
It can be argued that Sanders is the greatest running back of all time, but the decision to cut his career short after the 1998 season cost him countless rushing records. His best fantasy numbers came in 1997, when the Oklahoma State product rushed for 2,053 yards and scored 14 total touchdowns. Sanders, who finished his illustrious 10-year career with 15,269 rushing yards, would have ended up as the league's all-time leading rusher had he continued his career. |
| No. 24 | Analysis |
 Edgerrin James RB, Indianapolis 1999 |
Fantasy footballers who took a chance on James in 1999 drafts were thrilled with the statistical results. He rushed for 1,553 yards and 13 touchdowns, hauled in 62 passes for 586 yards and scored four times as a receiver. Outside of 2001-2002, when he endured a surgical procedure to repair a torn ACL, James has rushed for 1,000-plus yards in each of his pro seasons. |
ROUND 3
| No. 25 | Analysis |
 Jim Brown RB, Cleveland 1965 |
Much like Sanders, Brown left the NFL in the prime of his career. His best NFL season came in 1965 (which was also his last NFL season), as he totaled 1,544 rushing yards, 328 receiving yards and 21 total touchdowns. Brown left the game after nine seasons but still ranks eighth in rushing yards (12,312), fifth in rushing touchdowns (104) and 16th in scrimmage yards (14,811). Imagine what he would have done had he remained in pro football for a few more seasons. |
| No. 26 | Analysis |
 Randy Moss WR, New England 2007 |
One of the most talented athletes in the NFL, Moss has had several solid seasons but none more productive than 2007. He finished with 1,493 yards and scored 23 touchdowns, which broke Jerry Rice's previous record of 22 receiving scores set in 1987. Moss, who finished with two more fantasy points (287) than Rice's 285 points in 1995, experienced a complete reversal of statistical fortunes in New England and is one again the top wide receiver in all of fantasy football. |
| No. 27 | Analysis |
 Jamal Anderson RB, Atlanta 1998 |
Anderson carried the football what was then a record 410 times, rushed for 1,846 yards and scored a total of 16 times in what was a memorable 1998 season. Anderson, who finished with 311 fantasy points, also helped lead the Falcons to their first (and only appearance) in the Super Bowl. He blew out his knee in 1999, returned to rush for 1,024 yards and six touchdowns in 2000 but sustained another serious knee ailment in 2001. Those injuries ended his pro football career. |
| No. 28 | Analysis |
 Jamal Lewis RB, Baltimore 2003 |
Lewis exploded onto the fantasy football scene in 2003, as he rushed for 2,066 yards (second-most in NFL history behind Dickerson's 2,105 yards) and totaled 2,271 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns. While he did experience a lean statistical season in 2005 (906 yards, three touchdowns), Lewis has rushed for 1,100-plus yards and scored a combined 20 total touchdowns over the past two seasons. He'll be seen as an attractive No. 2 fantasy runner in most 2008 drafts. |
| No. 29 | Analysis |
 Jerry Rice WR, San Francisco 1995 |
Rice had the second greatest fantasy football season among wide receivers in 1995, when he finished with 285 points on an NFL record 1,848 yards and 16 total touchdowns. He also finished his illustrious career in San Francisco, Oakland and Seattle as the NFL's all-time leader in receptions (1,549), scrimmage yards (23,540), receiving yards (22,895) and touchdowns (207) and was without question the greatest wide receiver to ever grace a pro football field. |
| No. 30 | Analysis |
 Chuck Foreman RB, Minnesota 1975 |
Foreman's name doesn't come to mind when we think about the greatest running backs of all time, but he had one of the best statistical seasons at the position in 1975. The Miami (FL) product rushed for 1,070 yards, caught 73 passes for 691 yards and scored a career-best 22 total touchdowns. In fact, Foreman's 22 scores is tied with Emmitt Smith for the 12th-best total in a season. What makes this accomplishment even greater is that Foreman did it in 14 contests. |
| No. 31 | Analysis |
 Tony Romo QB, Dallas 2007 |
He might receive more press for dating Jessica Simpson, but Romo's 2007 season was one of the greatest of all time based on fantasy points. Once buried on the Cowboys depth chart, Romo has come out of nowhere to become an absolute star after a season with 4,211 passing yards and 38 total scores. He still ranks behind Brady and Manning at the quarterback position on most 2008 rank lists, but Romo is almost guaranteed to be a first-round selection in all fantasy formats. |
| No. 32 | Analysis |
 Dan Fouts QB, San Diego 1981 |
Fouts didn't look much like a football player with his calm demeanour and thick beard, but he sure could throw strikes downfield. The Oregon product was a fantasy star in the offense of head coach Don Coryell, but his best season came in 1981. Fouts threw for 4,802 yards (the fourth-best single season total of all time) with 33 touchdowns and finished the season with an impressive 390 fantasy points. He would finish with an incredible 43,040 career passing yards. |
| No. 33 | Analysis |
 Tiki Barber RB, N.Y. Giants 2005 |
Barber didn't make much of an impact in fantasy football circles until his fourth season, but he emerged into a surefire first-round selection after 2002. His best statistical season came in 2005, however, when Barber recorded a career-best 1,860 rushing yards, 54 receptions, 530 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns. His 2,390 total yards from scrimmage that season still ranks second all time, a mere 39 yard behind Faulk's record of 2,429 set in the 1999 season. |
| No. 34 | Analysis |
 Roger Craig RB, San Francisco 1985 |
One of the most versatile running backs of his time, Craig was an enormous component in San Francisco's offense in the 1980s. His best fantasy season came in 1985, when he became the first back to ever record 1,000-plus yards both rushing and receiving. Craig, who finished with 2,066 scrimmage yards, 92 receptions and 15 total touchdowns that season, was the 1980s version of Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook. He finished 1985 with a spectacular 296 fantasy points. |
| No. 35 | Analysis |
 Clinton Portis RB, Denver 2002 |
Another running back on our list out of the University of Miami, Portis recorded a memorable rookie season with 33 catches, 1,872 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns. What makes those numbers even more incredible is that Portis rushed for a combined 46 yards and no touchdowns in his first two pro contests and didn't emerge atop the Broncos depth chart until Week 5. He went on to rush for 100-plus yards in seven of his final 12 games that season. |
| No. 36 | Analysis |
 Billy Sims RB, Detroit 1980 |
When we associate the term "running back" with the Detroit Lions franchise, Barry Sanders is the first name that comes to mind. But it was Sims, not Sanders, who had the team's best rookie season at the position in the past three decades. Sims, the first overall selection in the 1980 NFL Draft, rushed for 1,303 yards and 13 touchdowns in his first NFL season. He also caught a career-best 51 passes for 621 yards and found the end zone three times as a receiver. |
