In football, the target market for products is very much different than Baseball, and yet many collectors still treat both sports as if they are similar. One of the main differences is the focus more on hit based content versus lower end set collecting products, most of which focus on the most recent rookie class. Because of the differences in the ways the players are drafted, the products change.

One of the most important aspect of a set is the autograph content, and I have been working from my own personal list of players that I feel NEED to be in each set for it to have the most impact. This is not EVERY player that is available, I am just tired of Devery Henderson being included in every Panini product when its obvious that those stickers shouldn’t be used.

Whenever people say “well what about Charles Woodson selling for CRAZY RIDICULOUS PRICES?”, I respond with how few autographs have increased the value when they do show up. Don’t get me wrong, deep checklists are a positive thing, but not for every single product that hits shelves. I think for guys like Jared Allen, Ray Lewis and Darelle Revis, who haven’t had many cards, it becomes a treat when they do show up in a set. I like that a lot. On the flip side, I also do not like when a guy I want to see isn’t included, especially when it’s a GREAT looking set.

Here is my list of MUST haves:

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers – He is the most valuable active player signature and is quickly becoming the face of the league in a different way than Peyton Manning ever was.

Peyton Manning – even though he is hurt and getting older, he is the CURRENT face of the league

Tom Brady – Consistently performs year to year, and has won three super bowls, an absolute necessity

Brett Favre – People love him and he is the record holder of enough things that he should be a perfect person to get for a product.

Drew Brees – Although he is in every product, he is a person that will never fall off the radar in terms of continuity of products years after release

Joe Montana – Greatest QB of all time? Probably. Great signature to pull out of a box? DEFINITELY.

Dan Marino – Current record holders sell, as do HOFers, the guy will always be valuable

John Elway – 2 time SB winner and HOFer, he needs to be there

Running Backs

Adrian Peterson – Most valuable non-QB star player available, has an ENORMOUS fan base.

Emmitt Smith – All time record holder, most valuable living running back signature there is.

Barry Sanders – HOFer, wide appeal, valuable signature despite never winning a super bowl.

Jim Brown – First “modern” style runner there is, the guy sells well for a running back that played a long time ago.

Wide Receivers

Calvin Johnson – The best of the best right now, and his stats speak for themselves.

Andre Johnson – a close second to megatron, he doesn’t sign much and that is a travesty.

Jerry Rice – typically, wide receivers face the same scenario in collecting that they do in the HOF, Rice is the exception.

In terms of these names, im sure there are names I forgot, but this is the list I would look for in every product before I dive in. Rookie class will continue to be a constant, but there are certain names that should be required. If you see what happens with some of the Defensive players who never get included in sets, but are incredibly valuable, I don’t think it’s a good idea to dilute that pool. Autographs are valuable in most cases because of production combined with team they play for, and I think there needs to be a larger focus on building this master list than anything when it comes to content. Signatures are so incredibly expensive, that I would not necessarily waste space on guys that shouldn’t be in EVERY product, just some of the products.