We've previewed both teams playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday, and now it's time to merge the rankings and see who the best prospects will be. The quarterbacks will score the most fantasy points, but the projections are similar enough that -- depending on scoring -- one of the lead running backs or perhaps Julian Edelman should be selected first.
A case can be made for Tom Brady with the top pick under the idea that you know what you're going to get. With Jared Goff, we're in uncharted territory: a young passer in the sport's biggest game on its biggest stage, facing Bill Belichick with two weeks to prepare. Meltdown potential can't be ruled out with Goff, which is unlikely with Brady. Sean McVay might also design a game plan which puts most of the work on the ground game, protecting his young passer.
But my guess is that both quarterbacks will wind up in about the same area: maybe the Patriots are able to do more with the ground game, as has been the case in both postseason games so far, or maybe Goff will manage some late production (as both of New England's opponents have so far). Whatever: if I were in a two-team draft, I'd either want to have Edelman, who should be the busiest wideout in this game, or perhaps my favorite lead back. Rankings say Todd Gurley, primarily because of his involvement as a receiver (and with the Patriots, you've got three different running backs and a fullback who are possibilities to score any touchdowns).
Rankings are below; feel free to tell me where you think I've gone wrong. I think Rob Gronkowski looks a little low, but it's tough to know what to put more stock in: his season, or his big AFC Championship Game. James White would be higher if not for the Rex Burkhead factor; he played a lot and was very productive at Kansas City, so I think he'll be involved.
| SUPER BOWL LIII PLAYER RANKINGS | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | Pass | Rec | Run | Yards | TD | FF(Std) | FF(PPR) |
| QB | Tom Brady | 277 | 0 | 1 | 278 | 2.08 | 22.4 | 22.4 |
| QB | Jared Goff | 272 | 0 | 7 | 279 | 1.77 | 21.4 | 21.4 |
| RB | Todd Gurley | 0 | 39 | 61 | 99 | .75 | 14.4 | 18.4 |
| RB | Sony Michel | 0 | 6 | 80 | 86 | 0.73 | 13.0 | 13.7 |
| WR | Julian Edelman | 0 | 81 | 2 | 84 | 0.37 | 10.6 | 17.6 |
| WR | Brandin Cooks | 0 | 69 | 2 | 71 | 0.38 | 9.3 | 13.9 |
| WR | Robert Woods | 0 | 66 | 1 | 67 | 0.32 | 8.6 | 13.3 |
| RB | James White | 0 | 45 | 10 | 54 | 0.51 | 8.5 | 13.8 |
| PK | Stephen Gostkowski | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| TE | Rob Gronkowski | 0 | 48 | 0 | 48 | 0.32 | 6.7 | 10.3 |
| PK | Greg Zuerlein | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| D/ST | New England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.19 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| WR | Josh Reynolds | 0 | 43 | 0 | 43 | 0.33 | 6.3 | 9.4 |
| RB | C.J. Anderson | 0 | 3 | 40 | 42 | 0.30 | 6.1 | 6.6 |
| WR | Phillip Dorsett | 0 | 34 | 0 | 34 | 0.44 | 6.0 | 9.4 |
| RB | Rex Burkhead | 0 | 22 | 19 | 42 | 0.28 | 5.9 | 8.3 |
| D/ST | Los Angeles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.15 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| WR | Chris Hogan | 0 | 31 | 0 | 31 | 0.30 | 4.9 | 7.0 |
| TE | Tyler Higbee | 0 | 28 | 0 | 28 | 0.19 | 3.9 | 6.2 |
| TE | Gerald Everett | 0 | 25 | 0 | 25 | 0.16 | 3.4 | 5.8 |
| WR | Cordarrelle Patterson | 0 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 0.15 | 2.2 | 2.9 |
| RB | James Develin | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0.18 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| TE | Dwayne Allen | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0.02 | 0.4 | 0.7 |
| WR | KhaDarel Hodge | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0.02 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
| QB | Sean Mannion | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| WR | JoJo Natson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.03 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| TE | Johnny Mundt | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.01 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| QB | Brian Hoyer | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| RB | John Kelly | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| WR | Matthew Slater | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
--Andy Richardson