By - Jeff Mertes

Back when guys like Butkus, Nitschke and Bednarik snarled and meant it, NFL players still able to cut the mustard past thirty were few and far between.  Once in awhile, Methuselahs like George Blanda and Y.A. Tittle somehow survived to be productive long past the time when most had turned to peddling insurance, were shutting down the grill at a second failed restaurant or had become color men on grid broadcasts.

Many NFL hall-of-fame greats succumbed to hitting the wall at or near the age of thirty – Cliff Battles (rb) 27, Ernie Nevers (rb) 28, Gale Sayers (rb) 28, Doak Walker (rb) 28, Jim Brown (rb) 29, Earl Campbell (rb) 30, Kellen Winslow (te) 30, Lee Roy Selmon (de) 30, Lynn Swann (wr) 30, Barry Sanders (rb) 30, Jack Christensen (db) 30, Dick Butkus (lb) 31, Leroy Kelly (rb) 31, Paul Hornung (rb) 31, Red Grange (rb) 31, Jim Taylor (fb) 31, Steve Van Buren (rb) 31, and Bob Waterfield (qb) 32 to name a few.  These were among the best, or were the best, players of their day. Whether due to mental fatigue, or physical ailment, all were toast right around the big 3-0.

The great wall of thirty has more or less come tumbling down for many positions thanks to improved protective equipment, athletic training and the marvels of modern medicine.  Prudent fantasy football drafting, though, should be mindful of the effect of age on production at each position.

RUNNING BACKS - A three-decade barrier still exists for pig snout carriers.  Despite the surgical ability of modern docs to repair broken running backs to degrees approaching bionic, the speed, strength and ferocity of NFL defenders continues to take tremendous tolls.  Most good turf jockeys tend to peak from 25-29, then taper off to feeble levels by age 33, if still in the game.  Young backs are prime with second year players picking up steam.  Stud rookies with raw talent, fresh legs and no fear are also often productive. Leave the thirtysomethings on the shelf for someone else to break.  Gas-o-line: Stick a fork in potato packers at thirty-one, cause most are as good as done.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES – This is a doughnut position as far as age is concerned (not to mention that these trench warriors like to gobble ‘em up, too).  The key, though, is in the hole.  It takes a couple of years of strength, seasoning (and doughnut consumption) before these sumos become productive from 25-30.  Then they start to crumble steadily away.  Also keep in mind that defensive tackles are invariably less productive than defensive ends from a fantasy football standpoint so, if you aren’t required to draft them, then don’t do it.  Gas-o-line: Forget the dough, unless you go for the ho’.

TIGHT ENDS – Ho-hum.  If you have to specifically pick ‘em, keep in mind that usually until about the age of 25, tight ends are even less than almost worthless in fantasy football circles.  These dinosaurs generally peak, as in molehill, from about 26-31…but beyond that point isn’t really much different than pinnacle years as long as the player is still starting.  Gas-o-line: Experience pays, yawn.

DEFENSIVE ENDS – Peach-fuzzied rookies and grizzled vets can all put up decent numbers from the ends of defensive lines.  If an NFL newbie has what it takes to start, then he quite often is productive…and sometimes remarkably so if a star occupies the other end of the line.  For the most part, dee-ees hit their strides from 25-31, with just a slight drop-off as long as they’re able to start.  Gas-o-line: DE-studs are de-studs no matter the age.

LINEBACKERS – The impact of age on linebacker productivity is quite similar to defensive ends with decent stats posted beginning at about 24 and including blue chip rookies that are also often able to make quality contributions.  Generally, these headhunting smuckers hit peak years from 24-32 (a wide open window, to be sure).  Backers are often quite productive into their mid-thirties if still able to start.  Gas-o-line: Hit it big with big hitters young or old.

CORNERBACKS – This is a contrary, doughnut position.  Offensive coordinators look for weak links and pick on young corners until they prove themselves.  So, cornerbacks from 22-26 are often quite productive as inexperienced starters, especially if on the opposite side of the field from an established star.  Since young corners are picked-on unmercifully, they get more opportunities to pilfer passes and make tackles than their established brethren.  Once a young cornerback proves his mettle, though, then he often disappears from the top tier as being desirable from a fantasy football standpoint until injury or age slows him down.  The doughnut of productivity is usually from 23-25 and from 31-34 (if the aging vet hasn’t been switched to safety).  Gas-o-line: Corner the market on the outer edges.

SAFETIES – Experience counts for a bunch at safety.  Rookie safeties usually don’t make much whoopee for fan football teams because it often takes a year or two to earn a starting spot.  Prime time for deep defenders typically extends from 26-32 with production remaining solid past 33.  Top-flight cornerbacks often switch to free safety once they lose foot speed to the aging process.  Gas-o-line: Seasoning is a safe safety bet.

WIDE RECEIVERS – It’s quite well known that pass grabbers don’t normally post decent stats until the third NFL season.  Receivers learn to rely less on speed and raw talent while developing route running and concentration skills.  From about age 25, wide receiver productivity heads upward with peak performance extending to 33 before tapering off.  Gas-o-line: Receivers age with grace.

PLACE KICKERS – In addition to leg whip, booting a football is a mental challenge.  Very bad short-term memory is a must.  A lobotomy may be better.  For the most part, even highly touted place kickers flounder some during the first year while others often bounce around trying to catch on.  On the flipside, once a kicker has proven he has accuracy, range, ice water in his veins as well as a bad memory, he can continue to be productive deep into his thirties (Morten Andersen is in his mid-forties).  For the most part, target top kickers aged 26-35 and simply avoid any NFL first year booter. Gas-o-line: A track record helps get the skin through the uprights.

QUARTERBACKS – Most simmer for quite a while before hitting a boiling point between 28-36.  Yes, indeed, placing hands in a center’s crotch is an old guy’s domain.  There’s an awful lot of latitude age wise…just don’t draft anyone, including a rookie, who is under 25 and inexperienced.  Gas-o-line: Look for a touch of gray to keep the I-N-Ts away.

Aside from a fairly obvious thirtysomething wall that running backs still tend to splat against, upper echelon modern day players at other positions (except defensive tackle) seem to be able to scramble right over and into their mid-thirties.  Keep position age production tendencies in mind and try to draft players in their primes.  Play the odds and odds are you’ll get more dub-ewes
than most.