The only difference between the offseason and real season is the lack of live games. As the playoffs end, the draft begins, and as the draft ends, OTA’s begin. After OTA’s, training camp and the start of the season are right around the corner. True fantasy aficionados begin their preliminary research in the later spring months, so why not set the table and see what we’re working with early on into the fantasy season.

Here I’ll provide fantasy football fans with a short, super-early rankings just to get your brains going.

QB:

1. Patrick Mahomes (KC)
2. Jalen Hurts (PHI)
3. Josh Allen (BUF)
4. Lamar Jackson (BAL)
5. Joe Burrow (CIN)
6. Trevor Lawrence (JAX)
7. Justin Fields (CHI)
8. Justin Herbert (LAC)
9. Jared Goff (DET)
10. Aaron Rodgers (NYJ)
11. Kirk Cousins (MIN)
12. Tua Tagovailoa (MIA)
13. Deshaun Watson (CLE)
14. Dak Prescott (DAL)
15. Daniel Jones (NYG)

Obviously, the list has to start with Mahomes. The league’s MVP and Super Bowl MVP this prior season, he checks off all the boxes. With a Head Coach in Andy Reid who loves to get innovative with his star QB and the greatest tight end of all time still his right-hand man, Mahomes is the best QB there is to offer. Hurts, Allen, and Jackson all are great QBs who also provide you elite rushing upside as well. Lawrence and Fields should continue their breakout fantasy campaigns as they head into their third seasons, while Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson should bounce back into fantasy relevancy with much improved situations.

RB:

1. Christian McCaffrey (SF)
2. Austin Ekeler (LAC)
3. Saquon Barkley (NYG)
4. Nick Chubb (CLE)
5. Tony Pollard (DAL)
6. Josh Jacobs (LV)
7. Jonathan Taylor (IND)
8. Derrick Henry (TEN)
9. Travis Etienne Jr. (JAX)
10. Bijan Robinson (ATL)
11. Rhamondre Stevenson (NE)
12. Kenneth Walker III (SEA)
13. Aaron Jones (GB)
14. Miles Sanders (CAR)
15. Breece Hall (NYJ)

McCaffrey is the real deal. Despite us not knowing who his QB in San Fran will be, there’s no doubt he will be their key playmaker in that loaded offense regardless of the QB. Ekeler, Barkley, Chubb, Pollard, and Jacobs will all follow up their very successful campaigns with similar years in their stable situations. Etienne, Stevenson, Walker, and Hall all showed elite potential in their first years as lead backs. Lastly, the most intriguing rookie RB prospect since the aforementioned Saquon Barkley, Falcons’ RB Bijan Robinson is a tough player to profile. Despite his amazing talent as a pure rusher and pass-catcher, it is difficult to put him much higher due to Atlanta’s struggling offense and poor QB play.

WR:

1. Justin Jefferson (MIN)
2. Cooper Kupp (LAR)
3. Tyreek Hill (MIA)
4. Ja’Marr Chase (CIN)
5. Stefon Diggs (BUF)
6. Davante Adams (LV)
7. A.J. Brown (PHI)
8. Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)
9. Ceedee Lamb (DAL)
10. Garrett Wilson (NYJ)
11. Jaylen Waddle (MIA)
12. Chris Olave (NO)
13. D.K. Metcalf (SEA)
14. Terry McLaurin (WAS)
15. Calvin Ridley (JAX)

The reigning Offensive Player of the Year is easily fantasy’s top wide receiver. Minnesota’s offensive scheme revolved solely around the Cousins-Jefferson connection. He may be the first overall pick in drafts this summer. Besides Jefferson, there are a lot of great receiving options, starting with Kupp, Hill, Chase, Diggs, and Adams. Perennial fantasy stars. Guys like Wilson, Olave, and Ridley are young stars with much improved situations and great fantasy outlooks forming for the upcoming season.

TE:

1. Travis Kelce (KC)
2. George Kittle (SF)
3. Mark Andrews (BAL)
4. T. J. Hockenson (MIN)
5. Evan Engram (JAX)
6. Darren Waller (NYG)
7. Dallas Goedert (PHI)
8. Cole Kmet (CHI)
9. Pat Freiermuth (PIT)
10. David Njoku (CLE)
11. Greg Dulcich (DEN)
12. Chigoziem Okonkwo (TEN)
13. Zach Ertz (ARZ)
14. Michael Mayer (LV)
15. Hayden Hurst (CAR)

By no one’s surprise, I’d hope, Kelce maintains that #1 TE spot still. Behind him, there are a few good weekly options, and then a whole lot of gambles. Tight end predicts to once again be the worst position in fantasy football. In leagues of 12 or more teams with a mandatory tight end slot, numerous teams will once again struggle to field a tight end who can score double digit points consistently weekly. Once you get passed Goedert in these rankings, good luck!

And on that note, we will conclude this brief yet important fantasy check-in. It’s always important to be on your toes in fantasy, and the season is surely underway already. With potential-future-Hall of Famer DeAndre Hopkins on the open market, Jets sophomore running back Breece Hall ramping up his workload, and the 49ers QB situation beginning to shake out, the news is already flowing for fantasy football.  Make sure you know all you can so you can win your league.