NFL Quarter Century: The 25 best fantasy football players since 2000

The author, inspired by colleague Frank Schwab's NFL Quarter Century series, presents his personal ranking of the top 25* fantasy football players from the past 25 years. He emphasizes the subjective nature of such lists—acknowledging potential debates about peak performance versus longevity, recency bias, and nostalgia—and invites readers to compare their own rankings via social media for fun.

For statistical analysis, the author uses basic scoring (non-PPR), citing two reasons: Pro-Football-Reference.com's data limitations for half-point PPR searches, and historical accuracy, as early fantasy leagues rarely used PPR scoring during the 1990s and early 2000s. This approach aligns with his data source while respecting the era's conventions.

The list begins with two entries: At #25, Tom Brady, noted as the cumulative fantasy points leader over the 25-year span with 13 top-10 QB finishes, though his sole QB1 season came in 2007. His inclusion reflects unparalleled consistency despite lacking rushing dynamism. At #24, Mike Evans defied the long-held fantasy maxim that rookie wide receivers were unreliable due to the position's complexity, emerging as a rare immediate-impact exception.