Bill Simmons wrote about LaDainian Tomlinson last month and called him the best fantasy football player of all-time. “Greatest ever” debates are always subjective, but at least when it comes to fantasy football, we can get pretty close to declaring a definitive answer. Joe Bryant’s landmark “Value Base Drafting” system explained that the “value of a player is determined not by the number of points he scores, but by how much he outscores his peers at his particular position.” Bryant came up with the concept of calculating a ‘VBD’ number for each player to measure their value.

A player’s VBD is easy to calculate. Each player’s VBD score is the difference between the amount of fantasy points he scored and the fantasy points scored by the worst starter (at his position) in your fantasy league. A player who scores fewer fantasy points than the worst starter has a VBD of 0. There is no standard scoring system for fantasy leagues, so a player’s fantasy points total will depend on the specific league’s scoring rules. ^[1]I’ve decided to use a blend of the most common scoring options: 1 point per 20 yards passing, 5 points per passing touchdown, -2 points per interception, 6 points for rushing/receiving … Continue reading And, of course, his VBD score will change depending on the number of starters at each position in the league. ^[2]Again, I’m using a blend here, but for baseline purposes I’m using QB12, RB24, WR32 and TE12, since the standard 12-team league starts 1 QB, 2 RBs, 2-3 WRs and 1 TE.

That said, once you pick a scoring system and a set of rules, it’s easy to calculate career VBD scores for every player since 1950 ^[3]I’ve pro-rated production for those players who were part of seasons when the NFL did not have a 16-game schedule; I also changed the baseline numbers depending on the number of teams in the … Continue reading. Let’s start with the quarterbacks:

Player	Years	POS	Teams	VBD	OVR RK	POS RK
Peyton Manning	1998--2010	QB	clt	1071	9	1
Brett Favre	1992--2010	QB	atl-gnb-nyj-min	1061	10	2
Dan Marino	1983--1999	QB	mia	988	14	3
Fran Tarkenton	1961--1978	QB	min-nyg	921	15	4
Steve Young	1985--1999	QB	tam-sfo	774	24	5
Joe Montana	1979--1994	QB	sfo-kan	727	33	6
Randall Cunningham	1985--2001	QB	phi-min-dal-rav	723	35	7
Tom Brady	2000--2011	QB	nwe	720	36	8
Drew Brees	2001--2011	QB	sdg-nor	688	38	9
John Elway	1983--1998	QB	den	660	40	10
Roger Staubach	1969--1979	QB	dal	630	44	11
Johnny Unitas	1956--1973	QB	clt-sdg	625	47	12
Warren Moon	1984--2000	QB	oti-min-sea-kan	592	57	13
Ken Anderson	1971--1986	QB	cin	539	74	14
Sonny Jurgensen	1957--1974	QB	phi-was	528	77	15
Dan Fouts	1973--1987	QB	sdg	526	78	16
Daunte Culpepper	1999--2009	QB	min-mia-rai-det	515	80	17
Aaron Rodgers	2005--2011	QB	gnb	507	83	18
Tobin Rote	1950--1964	QB	gnb-det-sdg-den	494	88	19
Roman Gabriel	1962--1977	QB	ram-phi	404	130	20
Rich Gannon	1988--2004	QB	min-was-kan-rai	396	135	21
Kurt Warner	1998--2009	QB	ram-nyg-crd	396	136	22
Bobby Layne	1950--1962	QB	chi-nyy-det-pit	385	140	23
Y.A. Tittle	1950--1964	QB	bcl-sfo-nyg	384	141	24
Daryle Lamonica	1963--1973	QB	buf-rai	368	153	25

No matter how many times I see it, it always surprises me to see Joe Montana rank so high in career VBD. I’ve long thought that his reputation as a winner and a clutch quarterback is a disservice to the man who was a legitimately dominant statistical quarterback in the regular season.

Next up: Running backs.

Player	Years	POS	Teams	VBD	OVR RK	POS RK
LaDainian Tomlinson	2001--2011	RB	sdg-nyj	1443	2	1
Marshall Faulk	1994--2005	RB	clt-ram	1308	3	2
Jim Brown	1957--1965	RB	cle	1297	4	3
Emmitt Smith	1990--2004	RB	dal-crd	1286	5	4
Walter Payton	1975--1987	RB	chi	1236	6	5
Barry Sanders	1989--1998	RB	det	1157	7	6
Curtis Martin	1995--2005	RB	nwe-nyj	900	16	7
Marcus Allen	1982--1997	RB	rai-kan	846	18	8
Ricky Watters	1992--2001	RB	sfo-phi-sea	841	19	9
Thurman Thomas	1988--2000	RB	buf-mia	828	21	10
Edgerrin James	1999--2009	RB	clt-crd-sea	789	22	11
Eric Dickerson	1983--1993	RB	ram-clt-rai-atl	784	23	12
Shaun Alexander	2000--2008	RB	sea-was	759	27	13
Tiki Barber	1997--2006	RB	nyg	746	28	14
Lenny Moore	1956--1967	RB	clt	744	29	15
Priest Holmes	1998--2007	RB	rav-kan	735	31	16
Chuck Foreman	1973--1980	RB	min-nwe	667	39	17
O.J. Simpson	1969--1979	RB	buf-sfo	655	41	18
Tony Dorsett	1977--1988	RB	dal-den	632	43	19
Ahman Green	1998--2009	RB	sea-gnb-htx	610	51	20
Terrell Davis	1995--2001	RB	den	609	52	21
Clinton Portis	2002--2010	RB	den-was	602	53	22
Roger Craig	1983--1993	RB	sfo-rai-min	595	56	23
Herschel Walker	1986--1997	RB	dal-min-phi-nyg	575	61	24
Leroy Kelly	1964--1973	RB	cle	567	62	25

In 2000 and 2001, Marshall Faulk missed four total games when he was the most dominant fantasy force on the planet. Had he not missed those, he would have likely ended up with over 1400 points of VBD. The debate between Faulk and Tomlinson would be a good one, although Tomlinson would win out based on longevity. As far as peak, the edge goes to Faulk, who holds two of the top four seasons in FP/G history at the position. Although in recent history, perhaps the best peak belonged to Priest Holmes, who — if you include his 8-game season in 2004 — had three of the top seven seasons by FP/G among all running backs.

But even if Tomlinson is the top fantasy running back of all time, he’s got some pretty stiff competition at wide receiver:

Wide Receivers

Player	Years	POS	Teams	VBD	OVR RK	POS RK
Jerry Rice	1985--2004	WR	sfo-rai-sea	1819	1	1
Randy Moss	1998--2010	WR	min-rai-nwe-oti	1146	8	2
Marvin Harrison	1996--2008	WR	clt	1019	12	3
Terrell Owens	1996--2010	WR	sfo-phi-dal-buf-cin	1013	13	4
Lance Alworth	1962--1972	WR	sdg-dal	847	17	5
Steve Largent	1976--1989	WR	sea	834	20	6
Cris Carter	1987--2002	WR	phi-min-mia	771	25	7
Torry Holt	1999--2009	WR	ram-jax	739	30	8
Don Maynard	1958--1973	WR	nyg-nyj-crd	729	32	9
Art Powell	1960--1968	WR	phi-nyj-rai-buf-min	724	34	10
Charley Taylor	1964--1977	WR	was	688	37	11
Tim Brown	1988--2004	WR	rai-tam	651	42	12
James Lofton	1978--1993	WR	gnb-rai-buf-phi-ram	630	45	13
Isaac Bruce	1994--2009	WR	ram-sfo	629	46	14
Raymond Berry	1955--1967	WR	clt	619	48	15
Bobby Mitchell	1958--1968	WR	cle-was	618	49	16
Larry Fitzgerald	2004--2011	WR	crd	613	50	17
Reggie Wayne	2001--2011	WR	clt	600	55	18
Sterling Sharpe	1988--1994	WR	gnb	591	59	19
Chad Ochocinco	2001--2011	WR	cin-nwe	582	60	20
Harold Carmichael	1971--1984	WR	phi-dal	562	63	21
Harold Jackson	1969--1983	WR	ram-phi-nwe-min-sea	558	64	22
Bob Hayes	1965--1975	WR	dal-sfo	557	65	23
Steve Smith	2001--2011	WR	car	546	67	24
Jimmy Smith	1995--2005	WR	dal-jax	546	68	25
Rod Smith	1995--2006	WR	den	545	69	26
Michael Irvin	1988--1999	WR	dal	544	71	27
Mark Clayton	1983--1993	WR	mia-gnb	529	76	28
Paul Warfield	1964--1977	WR	cle-mia	497	85	29
Cliff Branch	1972--1984	WR	rai	496	86	30
Ernest Givins	1986--1995	WR	oti-jax	494	87	31
Fred Biletnikoff	1965--1978	WR	rai	494	89	32
Lionel Taylor	1960--1968	WR	chi-den-oti	489	90	33
Hines Ward	1998--2011	WR	pit	487	91	34
Herman Moore	1991--2001	WR	det-nyg	483	93	35
Andre Rison	1989--2000	WR	clt-atl-cle-jax-gnb-kan-rai	481	95	36
Billy Howton	1952--1963	WR	gnb-cle-dal	477	96	37
Charley Hennigan	1960--1966	WR	oti	474	97	38
Gary Clark	1985--1995	WR	was-crd-mia	473	98	39
Andre Reed	1985--2000	WR	buf-was	470	99	40

Jerry Rice’s dominance at the position is unmatched. Although what Tony Gonzalez has done at tight end is a pretty close second:

Tight Ends

Player	Years	POS	Teams	VBD	OVR RK	POS RK
Tony Gonzalez	1997--2011	TE	kan-atl	1041	11	1
Shannon Sharpe	1990--2003	TE	den-rav	769	26	2
Kellen Winslow	1979--1987	TE	sdg	600	54	3
Antonio Gates	2003--2011	TE	sdg	592	58	4
Todd Christensen	1981--1988	TE	rai-nyg	552	66	5
Ben Coates	1991--2000	TE	nwe-rav	454	103	6
Ozzie Newsome	1978--1990	TE	cle	454	104	7
Jason Witten	2003--2011	TE	dal	453	105	8
Dave Casper	1974--1984	TE	rai-oti-min	421	119	9
Keith Jackson	1988--1996	TE	phi-mia-gnb	402	131	10
Mike Ditka	1961--1972	TE	chi-phi-dal	343	165	11
Jerry Smith	1965--1977	TE	was	335	174	12
Jackie Smith	1963--1977	TE	crd-dal	324	182	13
Wesley Walls	1989--2003	TE	sfo-nor-car-gnb	303	204	14
John Mackey	1963--1972	TE	clt-sdg	270	228	15
Rich Caster	1970--1981	TE	nyj-oti-was-nor	263	240	16
Riley Odoms	1972--1983	TE	den	253	248	17
Mark Bavaro	1985--1994	TE	nyg-cle-phi	244	258	18
Mickey Shuler	1978--1991	TE	nyj-phi	241	263	19
Frank Wycheck	1993--2003	TE	was-oti	241	264	20
Bob Tucker	1970--1980	TE	nyg-min	239	265	21
Brent Jones	1987--1997	TE	sfo	236	269	22
Steve Jordan	1982--1994	TE	min	226	276	23
Billy Cannon	1960--1970	TE	oti-rai-kan	224	282	24
Ted Kwalick	1969--1976	TE	sfo-rai	222	284	25

Let’s close with a look at the overall list:

Player	Years	POS	Teams	VBD	OVR RK	POS RK
Jerry Rice	1985--2004	WR	sfo-rai-sea	1819	1	1
LaDainian Tomlinson	2001--2011	RB	sdg-nyj	1443	2	1
Marshall Faulk	1994--2005	RB	clt-ram	1308	3	2
Jim Brown	1957--1965	RB	cle	1297	4	3
Emmitt Smith	1990--2004	RB	dal-crd	1286	5	4
Walter Payton	1975--1987	RB	chi	1236	6	5
Barry Sanders	1989--1998	RB	det	1157	7	6
Randy Moss	1998--2010	WR	min-rai-nwe-oti	1146	8	2
Peyton Manning	1998--2010	QB	clt	1071	9	1
Brett Favre	1992--2010	QB	atl-gnb-nyj-min	1061	10	2
Tony Gonzalez	1997--2011	TE	kan-atl	1041	11	1
Marvin Harrison	1996--2008	WR	clt	1019	12	3
Terrell Owens	1996--2010	WR	sfo-phi-dal-buf-cin	1013	13	4
Dan Marino	1983--1999	QB	mia	988	14	3
Fran Tarkenton	1961--1978	QB	min-nyg	921	15	4
Curtis Martin	1995--2005	RB	nwe-nyj	900	16	7
Lance Alworth	1962--1972	WR	sdg-dal	847	17	5
Marcus Allen	1982--1997	RB	rai-kan	846	18	8
Ricky Watters	1992--2001	RB	sfo-phi-sea	841	19	9
Steve Largent	1976--1989	WR	sea	834	20	6
Thurman Thomas	1988--2000	RB	buf-mia	828	21	10
Edgerrin James	1999--2009	RB	clt-crd-sea	789	22	11
Eric Dickerson	1983--1993	RB	ram-clt-rai-atl	784	23	12
Steve Young	1985--1999	QB	tam-sfo	774	24	5
Cris Carter	1987--2002	WR	phi-min-mia	771	25	7
Shannon Sharpe	1990--2003	TE	den-rav	769	26	2
Shaun Alexander	2000--2008	RB	sea-was	759	27	13
Tiki Barber	1997--2006	RB	nyg	746	28	14
Lenny Moore	1956--1967	RB	clt	744	29	15
Torry Holt	1999--2009	WR	ram-jax	739	30	8
Priest Holmes	1998--2007	RB	rav-kan	735	31	16
Don Maynard	1958--1973	WR	nyg-nyj-crd	729	32	9
Joe Montana	1979--1994	QB	sfo-kan	727	33	6
Art Powell	1960--1968	WR	phi-nyj-rai-buf-min	724	34	10
Randall Cunningham	1985--2001	QB	phi-min-dal-rav	723	35	7
Tom Brady	2000--2011	QB	nwe	720	36	8
Charley Taylor	1964--1977	WR	was	688	37	11
Drew Brees	2001--2011	QB	sdg-nor	688	38	9
Chuck Foreman	1973--1980	RB	min-nwe	667	39	17
John Elway	1983--1998	QB	den	660	40	10
O.J. Simpson	1969--1979	RB	buf-sfo	655	41	18
Tim Brown	1988--2004	WR	rai-tam	651	42	12
Tony Dorsett	1977--1988	RB	dal-den	632	43	19
Roger Staubach	1969--1979	QB	dal	630	44	11
James Lofton	1978--1993	WR	gnb-rai-buf-phi-ram	630	45	13
Isaac Bruce	1994--2009	WR	ram-sfo	629	46	14
Johnny Unitas	1956--1973	QB	clt-sdg	625	47	12
Raymond Berry	1955--1967	WR	clt	619	48	15
Bobby Mitchell	1958--1968	WR	cle-was	618	49	16
Larry Fitzgerald	2004--2011	WR	crd	613	50	17
Ahman Green	1998--2009	RB	sea-gnb-htx	610	51	20
Terrell Davis	1995--2001	RB	den	609	52	21
Clinton Portis	2002--2010	RB	den-was	602	53	22
Kellen Winslow	1979--1987	TE	sdg	600	54	3
Reggie Wayne	2001--2011	WR	clt	600	55	18
Roger Craig	1983--1993	RB	sfo-rai-min	595	56	23
Warren Moon	1984--2000	QB	oti-min-sea-kan	592	57	13
Antonio Gates	2003--2011	TE	sdg	592	58	4
Sterling Sharpe	1988--1994	WR	gnb	591	59	19
Chad Ochocinco	2001--2011	WR	cin-nwe	582	60	20
Herschel Walker	1986--1997	RB	dal-min-phi-nyg	575	61	24
Leroy Kelly	1964--1973	RB	cle	567	62	25
Harold Carmichael	1971--1984	WR	phi-dal	562	63	21
Harold Jackson	1969--1983	WR	ram-phi-nwe-min-sea	558	64	22
Bob Hayes	1965--1975	WR	dal-sfo	557	65	23
Todd Christensen	1981--1988	TE	rai-nyg	552	66	5
Steve Smith	2001--2011	WR	car	546	67	24
Jimmy Smith	1995--2005	WR	dal-jax	546	68	25
Rod Smith	1995--2006	WR	den	545	69	26
Eddie George	1996--2004	RB	oti-dal	544	70	26
Michael Irvin	1988--1999	WR	dal	544	71	27
Jim Taylor	1958--1967	RB	gnb-nor	542	72	27
Lydell Mitchell	1972--1980	RB	clt-sdg-ram	540	73	28
Ken Anderson	1971--1986	QB	cin	539	74	14
Maurice Jones-Drew	2006--2011	RB	jax	531	75	29
Mark Clayton	1983--1993	WR	mia-gnb	529	76	28
Sonny Jurgensen	1957--1974	QB	phi-was	528	77	15
Dan Fouts	1973--1987	QB	sdg	526	78	16
Ottis Anderson	1979--1992	RB	crd-nyg	520	79	30
Daunte Culpepper	1999--2009	QB	min-mia-rai-det	515	80	17
Brian Westbrook	2002--2010	RB	phi-sfo	515	81	31
Steven Jackson	2004--2011	RB	ram	509	82	32
Aaron Rodgers	2005--2011	QB	gnb	507	83	18
William Andrews	1979--1986	RB	atl	499	84	33
Paul Warfield	1964--1977	WR	cle-mia	497	85	29
Cliff Branch	1972--1984	WR	rai	496	86	30
Ernest Givins	1986--1995	WR	oti-jax	494	87	31
Tobin Rote	1950--1964	QB	gnb-det-sdg-den	494	88	19
Fred Biletnikoff	1965--1978	WR	rai	494	89	32
Lionel Taylor	1960--1968	WR	chi-den-oti	489	90	33
Hines Ward	1998--2011	WR	pit	487	91	34
Franco Harris	1972--1984	RB	pit-sea	485	92	34
Herman Moore	1991--2001	WR	det-nyg	483	93	35
Adrian Peterson	2007--2011	RB	min	481	94	35
Andre Rison	1989--2000	WR	clt-atl-cle-jax-gnb-kan-rai	481	95	36
Billy Howton	1952--1963	WR	gnb-cle-dal	477	96	37
Charley Hennigan	1960--1966	WR	oti	474	97	38
Gary Clark	1985--1995	WR	was-crd-mia	473	98	39
Andre Reed	1985--2000	WR	buf-was	470	99	40
Ricky Williams	1999--2011	RB	nor-mia-rav	470	100	36

Obviously fantasy football wasn’t widespread at all in the ’50s or ’60s, and wasn’t even very popular during most of Rice’s prime. So on a realistic level, Tomlinson and Faulk are probably the best fantasy football players of all-time, just because of the recent boom in the popularity of fantasy football. But from a statistical perspective — as is often the case — there is no topping Jerry Rice.