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Who's the most valuable player in the AFC South for fantasy football purposes?

Well in rankings recently revealed by the fantasy experts at ESPN.com, it's Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew. In his first season not sharing the backfield with Fred Taylor, these folks anticipate only Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner will be more productive.

Tennessee's Chris Johnson is fifth, Houston's Andre Johnson is 11th, Houston's Steve Slaton is 18th, Indianapolis' Peyton Manning is 22nd and his top receiver, Reggie Wayne, is 24th.

Indy's Joseph Addai landed 40th, and Tristan Cockcroft wrote that Addai was one of five players who created the most debate during the rankings meetings:

"After we placed Addai 24th among running backs, Nate Ravitz put his feelings best when he said, 'We're going to look really bad on Addai at season's end.' The group, though, was concerned enough about Addai's lackluster 2008 season, the Colts' offensive line and the team's draft-day addition of Donald Brown that the former fantasy first-rounder continued to slide further and further down the board."

Here are complete team-by-team looks at the rankings as they pertain to the AFC South up to No. 250, plus the top rookie if he didn't rank that high:

Houston

11. Andre Johnson
18. Steve Slaton
59. Matt Schaub
72. Owen Daniels
80. Kevin Walter
214. Ryan Moats
230. Kris Brown
390. James Casey

My first thought: Should Daniels be 14 spots lower than Dallas Clark if he's projected to catch a few more balls for more yards and score only two fewer TDs?

Indianapolis

22. Peyton Manning
24. Reggie Wayne
40. Joseph Addai
58. Dallas Clark
83. Anthony Gonzalez
96. Donald Brown

My first thought: Too low for Manning. If I drafted him early third round of a 10-team draft, I'd be thrilled.

Jacksonville

3. Maurice Jones-Drew
90. Torry Holt
113. David Garrard
200. Chauncey Washington
204. Rashad Jennings
209. Mike Walker
221. Greg Jones
237. Marcedes Lewis

My thought: It's ridiculous to put Washington and Jennings ahead of Jones at this point, when in letting Fred Taylor (92nd) go the Jaguars said their plan is to get Jones double-digit touches a game.

Tennessee

4. Chris Johnson
56. LenDale White
103. Titans defense/special teams
137. Justin Gage
157. Rob Bironas
171. Nate Washington
179. Bo Scaife
197. Kenny Britt
219. Kerry Collins

My first thought: Both the Titans (Albert Haynesworth) and Ravens (Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard) suffered hits in free agency, but I am surprised to see Tennessee's D/ST ranks third and the Ravens' ranks fourth (111th).