Ed Barkowitz: The top 10 fantasy stars of all time

PERHAPS YOU saw last night that the NFL unveiled its 10 greatest players of all time. The problem with that list is guys such as Dick Butkus. How good could he be if he never helped anybody win a fantasy league?

Just kidding.

But here are the 10 best fantasy players of all time. (Boy, didn't Grandpop miss out by not having fantasy back when Jim Brown was in his prime?)

10. Walter Payton, RB: Had a string of 10 1,000-yard seasons in 11 years, including four in which he had 10-plus touchdowns . . . Also was an excellent receiver . . . It's a high crime that Refrigerator Perry scored a TD in Super Bowl XX and Payton did not.

9. Randy Moss, WR: Theatrics and petulance aside, he's put up monster numbers . . . Second all-time in TD catches (153), including four seasons of at least 15 . . . Set NFL record with 23 in 2007 . . . Often seemed uninterested, which is probably why he is with his third team this season.

8. Barry Sanders, RB: A steady yardage machine, Sanders averaged 1,527 yards in his career - ranging from 1,115 to 2,053 . . . Played for some bad teams, which hurt his touchdown total (109, 15th all-time) . . . Always played on Thanksgiving, which made the turkey taste even better.

7. Brett Favre, QB: Holds every major passing record . . . Has six 4,000-yard seasons and seven others of at least 3,800 yards . . . Biggest knock is interceptions as he has averaged about 16 per year . . . Often feasted on inferior division rivals while with Green Bay.

6. Dan Marino, QB: Retired as the NFL leader in just about every major passing category . . . Had a 5-year run from 1984-88, when he averaged 35 touchdown passes . . . Was ridiculous in 1984, when he had 5,084 yards passing and 48 touchdowns, including four in each of the last four games.

5. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB: Second all-time in rushing TDs (143), including an NFL-record 28 in 2006 . . . Also had three TD catches in '06 . . . Had 100 catches in 2003 and averages nearly 60 per season . . . Surprisingly emerged as the Jets' No. 1 option this season, though only a secondary fantasy back.

4. Peyton Manning, QB: Passed for at least 4,000 yards in an NFL-record 10 seasons and is on his way to making it 11 this year . . . Cut down on interceptions midway through his career . . . Best season was 2004, when he had 49 TD passes . . . Only criticism is that his team is usually so far ahead, he seldom plays during fantasy football playoffs.

3. Jerry Rice, WR: The all-time leader with 208 touchdowns . . . posted 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 1986-96 and averaged about 14 touchdowns per . . . Often produced late in the season (during fantasy playoffs), including 289 yards and three TDs in Week 16 in 1995.

2. Jim Brown, RB: Played only nine seasons and is still fifth all time, with 106 rushing touchdowns, and 10th with 126 total scores . . . Averaged an NFL-record 104.3 yards per game and was at the top of his game when he retired in 1965, after running for 1,544 yards and scoring 21 total TDs.

1. Emmitt Smith, RB: Had 164 rushing touchdowns, an NFL record by far . . . Had 97 rushing TDs over the 6-year stretch from 1991-96, including a then-NFL record of 25 in 1995 . . . Also caught seven TDs during that run . . . Also holds the NFL record with 18,355 yards rushing, though his last four seasons were subpar.

POSITION WATCH

* Quarterback: The Cardinals are going back to Derek Anderson, whose four TDs and seven INTs make him as appetizing as ground-up glass on a kaiser roll . . . Oakland coach Tom Cable will decide today to start Jason Campbell or Bruce Gradkowski on Sunday against Kansas City.

* Running back: With Ryan Torain dealing with a hamstring issue, the Redskins could turn to Keiland Williams at some point after this week's bye. Williams, a 5-11, 230-pound rookie who began the season on the practice squad, should be added in larger leagues.

* Wide receiver: Minnesota's Sidney Rice can go back on the fantasy radar, though he might be nothing more than bench material until fantasy playoff season . . . Green Bay's James Jones and Jordy Nelson will play more, with Donald Driver (quad) shelved.

STAT STUFF

* After putting up a four-interception clunker in Week 2, Baltimore's Joe Flacco has nine TD passes, one rushing TD and only one pick in six games since.

* After starting the season with 19 catches and five touchdowns in the first four games, Jets tight end Dustin Keller has seven grabs and no scores in the last three.

* The Eagles' LeSean McCoy, San Francisco's Frank Gore and Chicago's Matt Forte are the three players to lead their teams in rushing and receptions. McCoy's 38 catches are eight more than Jeremy Maclin among the Birds.

* Atlanta wide receiver Roddy White is averaging 127.7 yards in three home games, compared with 91.0 in four on the road. The Falcons host Tampa Bay on Sunday.

* Steelers quarterback and Ohio native Ben Roethlisberger is 6-1 at Cincinnati and 5-1 at Cleveland. Pittsburgh is at Cincy on Monday night.

HISTORY LESSON OF THE WEEK

Buffalo wide receiver Steve Johnson's five-game streak with a touchdown catch ties the team record held by Elbert Dubenion (1964), Eric Moulds (1999) and Lee Evans (2004). You've heard of Moulds and Evans, but Dubenion was the top wide receiver for Buffalo during the 1960s when the Bills won two AFL titles.In 1963, a non-title year, Dubenion caught a 93-yard touchdown against Boston that wound up being the longest TD catch in AFL playoff history. Eat your heart out, Chris Berman.

Ed Barkowitz, who is more disgusted than Brad Childress with Randy Moss, has been writing about fantasy football in the Daily News since 2001. Send e-mail to fantasyfootball@phillynews.com.