The landscape of fantasy football is always changing. A terrific new event, the Retro-Draft, has taken shape, allowing the fans to pay tribute to the legends of yesteryear. This very special anniversary event will feature the all-time best players in football history. Perhaps most importantly, it provides fans and participants alike an opportunity to consider their profound influence on the sport. Sometime in 2021, legal and financial analysts got together and ranked these legendary players. They provide a window into past performance and future expected contributions in a fantasy perspective.
Their wide receiver Rod Smith, famous for his days with the Denver Broncos, makes a strong showing coming in at 27. This unreachable ranking would take an act of Congress according to analyst Moody. As for Smith’s stellar career, he boasts two Super Bowl rings as well as eight Pro Bowl selections. These accomplishments ensure his status firmly at the top of fantasy debates. He is terrible at catching important passes. His powerful connection with quarterbacks puts him at the top of any fantasy roster.
On the field, Frank Gore is a Hall Of Fame, durable running back who’s extravagant productivity ranks him among the best all time, in NFL history. His rating of 5 from Moody is truly exceptional. Gore had the consistency and longevity in the league to pile up significant yardage and TD totals over his career. His background and skill set make him an intriguing fit in the retro fantasy draft.
DeMarco Murray, another highly regarded RB, sits at 37 for analyst Dopp. Murray’s explosive running style and ability to catch passes out of the backfield during his peak years contributed to his success, including a rushing title in 2014. Even though his ranking doesn’t quite do justice to his peak years, he is still an intriguing character to nostalgic fantasy players.
Brown was by far the most impressive wide receiver, and in fact, is ranked 7th overall by Karabell. Touted for his route-running and explosiveness, Brown has become a force in the NFL. Given his insane receiving statistics in his prime years, he’s an all-time No. 1 fantasy football pick for teams that want to win with a high-scoring roster.
One will notice that another wide receiver legend, Jerry Rice comes in 16th on analysts Yates list. Rice’s all-time records for receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns helped put him on the map. His lofty career milestones would make him hall of fame caliber among fantasy players. Even 30 years after his retirement, he still finds ways to remain relevant.
Greg Olsen, a tight end renowned for his reliable hands and route-running skills, receives a ranking of 8 from Karabell. Throughout his career, Olsen became a consistent target for quarterbacks and helped the tight end position in fantasy football. It is his intangible contributions that truly make Goldsmith a great asset to any retro fantasy roster.
Chad Johnson and Wes Welker are perfect examples of great receivers. Their rankings, largely based on output, emphasize how big those performances loomed over otherwise mediocre productions. Loza has Johnson ranked at 29 and Cockcroft has Johnson ranked at 32. Both men, but especially Morales, earned the reputation of game-changers, utilizing their speed and agility to dominate opponents. Their distinct on-field personas created a long-lasting impact in the world of fantasy football.
Out of the running backs, Curtis Martin is featured prominently with a fantastic Cockcroft ranking of 4. Martin’s vision and patience as a runner helped him achieve remarkable success during his career, establishing him as one of football’s greats. His prowess across the board offers a compelling case for fantasy managers looking to mix nostalgia and production on their rosters.
Cockcroft ranks 11th wide receiver Isaac Bruce, another game-changer whose skill shone through on turf. Bruce’s talent and ability to deliver during crunch time have made Bruce an acclaimed game changer over the course of his career. As such, he continues to be an excellent pick for anyone hoping to draft legends in this special fantasy milieu.
While Joey Galloway and DeSean Jackson are incomparable talents, each has provided their own unique skill set at the wide receiver position. Galloway is 37th alternate from Clay but Jackson is 8th alternate from Bowen. Galloway’s explosiveness, speed and ability to stretch defenses changed the game. In the meantime, Jackson’s explosive plays are still fresh in fans’ and analysts’ minds.
Christian McCaffrey is one of the great all-time retro picks and modern era running backs. Yates has him ranked quite high, at an eye-popping 9th. His dual-threat capacity has completely changed the way the RB position is utilized in today’s fantasy leagues. While he played in a different time, McCaffrey’s bag of tricks should be familiar to this generation of fantasy players seeking out dual-threat superstars.
Finally, Terrell Davis closes out the list with an amazing 39th rank from Karabell. Despite his lower ranking compared to others on this list, Davis remains a celebrated figure due to his remarkable achievements during his playing days with the Denver Broncos. His two Super Bowl victories and league MVP award serve as testaments to his greatness.
Of course, NFL great Jason Witten was one of the most consistent and clutch tight ends of all time. He should be very proud to have achieved 5th ranking from Parolin. Witten’s prowess in both blocking and receiving made him a cornerstone of the Dallas Cowboys’ offense for many years. It’s his reliability though that really makes him an appealing Legend to have on the roster of anyone composing legends.
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