Building an all-time fantasy football roster is a fun little exercise that boils down to nothing more than picking the best single-season lineup possible utilizing a scoring format of your choice.
Full-point-per-reception scoring was used, and the lineup parameters are as follows:
- 1 Quarterback
- 2 Running Backs
- 3 Wide Receivers
- 1 Tight End
- Flex (RB-WR-TE)
- 1 Kicker
- 1 Defense/Special Teams
Every slot was judged by peak fantasy output and not reputation, longevity, or Hall of Fame status. Some all-time greats miss the cut because another player posted one season with even more raw fantasy production.
Quarterbacks were weighed through classic fantasy scoring, skill players using performance PPR settings, and the flex spot went to the strongest remaining RB, WR, or TE season after the starting lineup was filled. Kicker and D/ST are harder to compare across eras, because scoring settings vary more from platform to platform, so those spots were based on traditional standard fantasy formats (distance for FGs and points-allowed bonuses for defenses) across all eras.
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The Best Fantasy Football Lineup in NFL History
Every pick represents the best version of that position fantasy managers have ever seen in one season.
- QB Lamar Jackson, Ravens (2024): 434.4 fantasy points
- RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers (2006): 481.1 PPR points
- RB Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (2019): 471.2 PPR points
- WR Cooper Kupp, Rams (2021): 439.5 PPR points
- WR Jerry Rice, 49ers (1995): 420.0 PPR points
- WR CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (2023): 403.2 PPR points
- TE Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (2011): 330.9 PPR points
- Flex RB Marshall Faulk, Rams (2000): 459.9 PPR points
- PK Jason Myers, Seahawks (2025): 202.0 fantasy points
- D/ST New England Patriots (2019): 232 fantasy points
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The Second-Best Fantasy Football Lineup in NFL History
The honorable mentions were not consolation prizes and certainly carried fantasy owners to titles during their respective years. They are the next names on the board and, in some cases, barely missed the starting lineup at all. For example, Ja'Marr Chase was 0.3 points away from topping Lamb for a spot in the all-time lineup.
- QB Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (2022): 429.4 fantasy points
- RB Priest Holmes, Chiefs (2003): 445.0 PPR points
- RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers (2003): 443.8 PPR points
- WR Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals (2024): 403.0 PPR points
- WR Antonio Brown, Steelers (2014): 386.9 PPR points
- WR Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (2023): 376.4 PPR points
- TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs (2022): 316.3 PPR points
- Flex RB Priest Holmes, Chiefs (2002): 442.7 PPR points
- PK Ka'imi Fairbairn, Texans (2025): 194.0 fantasy points
- D/ST Seattle Seahawks (2013): 196.0 fantasy points
