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elcome to our 2009 Edition of In addition to giving you tons of great CLAYTON G RAY
the Footballguys Strategy Guide. information for your draft, it’s our goal for SENIOR EDITOR:
JASON WOOD
We are completely stoked about the magazine to give you a taste of what
this new CD format but I’d be lying if I we do with the website. For instance, we STATISTICIAN:
said I wasn’t at least a little conflicted. On have a few Player Spotlights and Face-offs DOUG DR I N E N
one hand, we’re bummed to be leaving the in the magazine. On the website, we’ll have ART DIRECTOR:
KEVI N U LR ICH
print media for the magazine where we’ve more than 200 of these. In the magazine,
been recognized as one of the best fantasy each player will have four or five sentences CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS:
DAVE BAKE R
magazines in the country. But with rising written about him. On the website, every SIG M U N D B LOOM
printing costs, mailing costs, and a decline player has entire sections and tabs of ANTHONY BOR B E LY
J E N E B RAM E L
in print advertising, we felt the need to content (career stats, game logs, news, M I KE B ROWN
change course here. And like everything we overview, outlook, game summaries, etc) JOE B RYANT
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J E FF HASE LEY
this CD that will include not only the than 2 million posts last season. In other B R UCE H E N DE RSON
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So instead of seeing this as the end of getting some work done. MAU R I LE TR E M B LAY
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JASON WOOD
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t Footballguys.com we take fantasy football seriously. ated format of our full depth charts that appear on the web site.
Our depth charts are updated on a daily basis during Please visit www.footballguys.com to view the full version of our
the regular season and throughout most of the offsea- NFL depth charts, including individual defensive players (IDPs)
son as well. The depth charts presented here represent an abbrevi- and a more complete listing of backups at each position.
INJURY RECAP
P
ro football players often suffer injuries
that linger from one season into the next.
Below is a review of the most significant
injuries that fantasy relevant skill position players
are afflicted with entering the 2009 training
camps. For the latest and most complete injury
news (and other news), check out the player
pages and news blogger at Footballguys.com.
+ QUARTERBACKS +
Cleveland QB Derek Anderson did not have
offseason surgery on the knee injury he suffered
last season. The injury healed naturally.
New England QB Tom Brady is
participating fully in the team’s offseason
workouts and is working without limitations on
his surgically repaired knee (ACL, September
2008). He is expected to be at full speed for
training camp.
Buffalo QB Trent Edwards is rehabbing a
shoulder injury but should be ready for the start
of training camp.
Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck said his
offseason weight training regimen has been
successful (April 7th), and he participated fully
in the team’s first minicamp in April. So far, his
injured back looks to be at 100 percent.
Cincinnati QB Carson Palmer avoided
ICON SMI
further surgery on his injured right elbow early Darren McFadden
this year and as of April 26 was said to be ready
to participate full speed in offseason OTAs. He’s
said to have a “chip on his shoulder” and is eager to prove + RUNNING BACKS +
he’s back to 100 percent. Denver RB J.J. Arrington was unable to participate in May
Cleveland QB Brady Quinn was reportedly near 100 mini-camp as he continues to recover from a torn meniscus
percent recovered from finger surgery as of February 2009. “It cartilage in his knee. He may be on the bubble if he can’t get
feels great,” he said. “It’s amazing. This is what I was born to into action soon.
do and it feels great to be throwing again. I’m pain-free and Dallas RB Marion Barber’s dislocated pinkie toe (an issue
everything was 100 percent successful.” Quinn should be at full at the end of last season) is apparently healed – he’s been doing
speed for training camp. strenuous offseason workouts with no reported problems.
Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers played through a sprained New Orleans RB Reggie Bush is said to be recovering well
throwing shoulder since week 4 of 2008, but did not require from his late December knee surgery (microfracture surgery/
offseason surgery as of mid-May. knee cartilage repair). The team hopes he’ll be ready to go for
San Francisco QB Alex Smith threw in minicamps during the start of training camp.
April but was seen holding his sore throwing arm shoulder NY Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw suffered a minor ankle
(surgically repaired last November). It remains to be seen if he sprain while stepping off a street curb on April 2. He resumed
can get to 100 percent healthy in time for training camp. full participation in OTAs on April 21.
Arizona QB Kurt Warner had surgery in mid-March Chicago RB Matt Forte reports that the sore toe that
to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. As of May 4, he was bothered him at the end of 2008 has completely healed during
participating in minicamp on a limited basis and appears to be the offseason.
on schedule to return to full participation by training camp. Tampa Bay RB Earnest Graham suffered a high ankle
sprain with ligament damage back in November NY Giants WR Ramses Barden suffered a hamstring injury
of 2008, but he is expected to be able to participate during minicamp in early May. The injury isn’t considered
in OTAs/training camp. On May 8 his agent Drew serious, but nagging hamstring injuries have dogged more than
Rosenhaus asserted that Graham is fully healed. one WR so we’ll keep an eye on his recovery.
Indianapolis RB Mike Hart is said to be “on schedule” Arizona WR Anquan Boldin was sent for an MRI after
for returning from a torn ACL (suffered last October). He reporting a hamstring injury at the mandatory 3-day minicamp
may be on the bubble with the Colts since they drafted Donald in early May. It appears the “hamstring” complaint may have
Brown. had more to do with his contractual squabble with the team than
Dallas RB Felix Jones is apparently 100 percent recovered an actual injury, however.
from his surgically repaired turf toe (November 2008 surgery Seattle WR Nate Burleson is running pass patterns again
on ligaments attached to his left big toe). He has been running without any problem. Burleson, eight months removed from
and cutting in workouts and looks solid. reconstructive knee surgery, is catching “everything thrown
Tennessee RB Chris Johnson reported in early April that his way” and is said to be running effortlessly. He should
his injured ankle was 95 percent healed and that he expects to participate fully in training camp.
participate in minicamps and training camp at 100 percent. He’s Seattle WR Deion Branch had arthroscopic knee surgery
been working out extensively with a speed and performance after the 2008 season and was seen in street clothes at the
expert. teams’ first minicamps. The team hopes he’ll be ready for
Cleveland RB Jamal Lewis is recovering from an training camp.
arthroscopic procedure on his ankle performed in February – no San Diego rookie WR Demetrius Byrd (seventh round pick,
rookie RBs were picked in the 2009 Draft, so the Browns are once considered a first round prospect), is recovering from a
presumably comfortable with Lewis’ health. serious car accident suffered just days before the NFL draft.
New England RB Laurence Maroney believes he is 100 He’s been released from the hospital and continues his rehab.
percent recovered from his troublesome shoulder injury of last Miami WR Greg Camarillo is recovering from late-season
October. We’ll see when training camp rolls around. ACL/meniscus surgery in his knee. He hopes to be ready for
Oakland RB Darren McFadden is said to be 100 percent training camp, but that goal may be tough only six months
recovered from an arthroscopic shoulder surgery performed in removed from knee surgery as of mid-May.
January. He should be fine for training camp. New Orleans WR Marques Colston is recovering well from
Baltimore RB Willis McGahee revealed in May he had arthroscopic knee surgery. The Saints hope he’ll participate
arthroscopic surgery on an ankle, not on the knee that has been at some point during their OTAs, targeting a June return. He
troubling him in the past (as the team first indicated, in error). should be 100 percent for training camp.
He expects to be fully recovered for the start of training camp San Francisco WR Michael Crabtree is recovering from a
in late July. foot injury. He is expected to get in the mix by the end of May
Pittsburgh RB Rashard Mendenhall has participated in and should be ready for training camp.
offseason sessions and minicamps and looks fully recovered Dallas WR Patrick Crayton had arthroscopic ankle surgery
from last September’s broken shoulder. in January, but he is expected to be healthy for training camp.
Kansas City RB Kolby Smith did not participate in the Philadelphia WR Kevin Curtis had sports hernia surgery
first minicamp as his sprained knee is still an issue early in the in mid-April (a follow-up to last year’s surgery, performed in
offseason. August 2008). Curtis is expected to be up to speed by training
New England RB Fred Taylor suffered a minor wrist camp, hopefully.
(sprained left wrist) injury in early May while lifting weights. San Diego WR Craig Davis is expected to be 100 percent
He should be fine well before training camp opens. for training camp after rehabbing a groin injury that landed him
San Diego RB LaDainian Tomlinson participated fully in on IR last year.
May minicamps and appears 100 percent recovered from the Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald played with a broken left
groin injury that sidelined him during the playoffs at the end thumb and torn cartilage in his left hand between his middle
of last season. “No, I wasn’t restricted and I did everything. and ring fingers during 2008. “My hands are so messed up right
Of course you are always concerned because it is the first now,” he said in February. “I’m just glad I don’t have to catch
time back on the field and especially after being injured. But I a ball again for a couple months. I can mend up.” Fitzgerald is
wasn’t restricted at all and it was great.” Tomlinson commented. expected to be fine for training camp.
Denver RB Ryan Torain suffered an ACL tear in early Buffalo WR James Hardy is coming off a torn ACL suffered
November and wasn’t able to participate in May mini-camps. last season and may not be ready for the start of training camp
He’ll likely begin the season on the PUP list. as of mid-May 2009. He said in March (two months after knee
Philadelphia RB Brian Westbrook talked about his surgery) that he hopes to play in the last preseason game.
recent arthroscopic knee surgery on April 9th and said for the Oakland rookie WR Derrius Heyward-Bey sat out of
first time in years, he doesn’t feel any pain heading into an Sunday, May 10th’s workout due to a sore hamstring. The injury
offseason. He should be ready for the start of training camp. isn’t considered serious but does bear watching as nagging
hamstring injuries are the sort of injury that can dog a player.
+ WIDE RECEIVERS + Green Bay WR James Jones battled a torn PCL throughout
St. Louis WR Donnie Avery played 2008 with a cracked hip last season, but he is expected to be fine for training camp.
– he was told at the end of the season he’d need 8-10 weeks of Washington WR Malcolm Kelly is recovering from
rest to heal. He should be ready for training camp. offseason (March) knee surgery. He may not be ready for the
start of training camp. Fellow 2008 draft pick Devin Thomas is coming off a broken foot suffered in the Alamo Bowl. It’s
was coming along nicely in mini-camp, but then injured his unclear if he will be able to participate in training camp.
hamstring. The team hopes Thomas will be able to participate in San Diego TE Antonio Gates sat out May minicamp due to
June OTAs. soreness in his injured big toe, and lingering effects from a late
Baltimore WR Derrick Mason underwent surgery to fix the season high ankle sprain. “I don’t know how I got through last
scapula and the labrum in his left shoulder in March, and may season,” Gates said. “The toe bothered me for months and then
miss all of training camp as a result: “It turned out to be more I hurt the ankle. But, somehow, I made it through.” The toe is
than we anticipated,” he said in early May. “But great doctors said to be “structurally” fine, but pain management is obviously
find a way to mend you back.” He expects to be in the Week 1 part of the package for Gates with this injury. He should be
starting lineup, but he turns 35 this year and his recovery may ready for training camp.
not go as smoothly as planned. Missing training camp may Baltimore TE Todd Heap was still struggling with his sore
mean that he’ll get off to a slow start in 2009. back as of minicamps. It remains to be seen if he’ll be able
Denver WR Brandon Marshall continues to recover from to participate fully in OTAs and minicamps, let alone training
early April hip surgery. He may not be ready for the start of camp.
training camp, although in recent comments he indicated his Cleveland TE Steve Heiden had ACL and MCL surgery in
hip is feeling “great.” The Broncos are installing a new offense December – he probably won’t be ready for training camp and
during the offseason and minicamps, and Marshall won’t get may not contribute much for the first half of the season.
any reps in the new system until training camp. Philadelphia rookie TE Cornelius Ingram may need
New Orleans WR Lance Moore tore the labrum and additional surgery to repair a damaged ACL in his knee. If so,
dislocated his left shoulder working out in mid-April. He had he’ll probably sit out the 2009 season.
surgery to repair the damage but may be iffy for the start of St. Louis TE Randy McMichael, who broke a bone in his
training camp as of mid-May. The team is hopeful he’ll be lower right leg Sept. 28 vs. Buffalo (also tearing a tendon in
ready for the start of regular season. his leg), and landed on IR as a result. As of May 8, agent Drew
Washington WR Santana Moss missed May minicamp due Rosenhaus asserts that McMichael is 100 percent recovered and
to shin splints – he’s expected to be fine for training camp. ready to play ball in 2009.
St. Louis WR Derrick Stanley suffered a torn ACL and Oakland TE Zach Miller had offseason sports hernia
cartilage damage in his knee during mid-December and surgery (he disclosed this in early May). He may not participate
underwent surgery to repair the damage. It is unclear if he’ll be in June practices, but is hopeful to be in action for training
ready for training camp. camp. Keep an eye on how Miller progresses once training
New England WR Brandon Tate (#83 pick in the 2009 camp begins as groin injuries are notorious for causing
Draft) is recovering from ACL and MCL (October 2008) injuries continuing problems even after surgical intervention (see
in his knee. He may not contribute to the Patriots this season. Philadelphia Kevin Curtis above, and Baltimore L.J. Smith,
Washington WR James Thrash missed May minicamp due below).
to a neck injury of unspecified type. He is expected back for Detroit TE Brandon Pettigrew had a minor issue with a
June minicamps. tight hamstring in his first practices with Detroit, but he was
Pittsburgh WR Hines Ward is recovering from offseason held out more due to an abundance of caution rather than an
shoulder surgery (torn rotator cuff). He won’t participate in actual injury.
OTA/minicamps but is expected to be back for training camp. Carolina TE Dante Rosario underwent lower back surgery
Oakland WR Javon Walker surprised the Raiders in early in early May. He may be ready for training camp, but that is up
May by revealing he had further knee surgery on the right in the air as of mid-May.
knee originally repaired in 2007 (while he was with Denver) New Orleans TE Jeremy Shockey is said to be fully healed
– the team didn’t know about the procedure until a mandatory from last season’s sports hernia and is “anxious” to have a big
minicamp, when Walker was unable to participate. HC Tom year with the Saints in 2009.
Cable doesn’t expect Walker to be ready for the start of training Baltimore TE L.J. Smith sat out of early May practices due
camp, but he looks very dicey for 2009. to ongoing groin problems due to his sports hernia surgery
Baltimore WR Demetrius Williams recently indicated his performed a couple of years ago. He’s battled pain from the
80 percent recovered from a late-October/early-November injury/procedure for years now.
Achilles/ankle injury/surgery. He has been running in practices, Arizona TE Steven Spach had surgery to repair the ACL,
but still walks with a limp so we’ll see if he’s 100 percent by MCL and meniscus in his knee in late January. He’ll have a
training camp. hard time getting on the field for the start of regular season.
Dallas WR Roy Williams is apparently over his late-season Baltimore Quinn Sypniewski was signed to a one-year, $1
plantar fascia foot injury and the Cowboys are reportedly million contract in early April despite missing last season with
“elated” with his progress this offseason in the team’s offensive an ACL injury (suffered last April). He appears to be recovered
system. from the injury.
T
he NFL is a demanding league, and the coaching carou-
sel never stops spinning. This offseason was particularly Baltimore Ravens
tumultuous. Nine teams hired new head coaches, and Head Coach: John Harbaugh
two more – Oakland and San Francisco – removed the interim Offensive Coordinator: Cam Cameron
tags from 2008 midseason coaching replacements. Defensive Coordinator: Greg Mattison (replaces Rex Ryan)
Four teams replaced Super Bowl winning head coaches:
Denver (Mike Shanahan), Indianapolis (Tony Dungy), Seattle What to expect on defense: Fans have to be nervous about
(Mike Holmgren), and Tampa Bay (Jon Gruden). The Broncos the state of the Ravens vaunted defense. Rex Ryan, a fixture
looked outside the organization for Shanahan’s replacement, but on the defensive staff since joining the team in 1999, has taken
the other three teams promoted from within. the Jets head coaching job, and brought a number of assistant
Although the head coaching turnover is what grabs headlines, coaches with him. The Ravens promoted linebackers coach
the changing landscape among assistant coaches remains vitally Greg Mattison, a surprising move after just one season on the
important to NFL fans and fantasy football owners. This year, an staff. Mattison has 36 years of collegiate coaching experi-
astounding 21 defensive coordinators were replaced; in one case, ence but had never coached in the NFL before last season. He
by the team’s head coach (Wade Phillips in Dallas). That’s clearly and John Harbaugh coached together under Jack Harbaugh in
a sign of the times, as defenses struggle to keep up with explosive the 80s, so there is a trust level there. Realistically, Mattison
offenses the NFL rules committee seems to be so intent on pro- won’t change much about the scheme; an aggressive 3-4 defen-
ducing. On the offensive side, 11 new coordinators are in place. sive front. He has enormous shoes to fill, but his cupboard is
Just remember, the smartest hires in February can look like the stocked with groceries.
worst in December; and the guys everyone assumes will struggle
are just as likely to emerge from the pack.
Carolina Panthers
Head Coach: John Fox
Arizona Cardinals Offensive Coordinator: Jeff Davidson
Head Coach: Ken Whisenhunt Defensive Coordinator: Ron Meeks (replaces Mike Trgovac)
Offensive Coordinator: Russ Grimm & Mike Miller (replace Todd Haley)
Defensive Coordinator: Bill Davis (replaces Clancy Pendergast) What to expect on defense: One of the more surprising
coaching changes this offseason for a number of reasons. Mike
What to expect on offense: The Cardinals offense won’t Trgovac had been with Carolina for seven seasons, coming
look much different this year under the watchful eyes of Russ aboard with John Fox. Despite a late season defensive swoon,
Grimm and Mike Miller. Whisenhunt will call the plays on the Panthers offered Trgovac a contract extension but ultimately
game day, and work closely with Grimm and Miller to game he opted to depart. Meeks steps in after his own seven-year
plan. Grimm, who has worked alongside Whisenhunt for a long stint in Indianapolis; where his defenses were known for being
time in Pittsburgh and Arizona, will serve as the run game coor- undersized but productive. Meeks will continue to run a 4-
dinator. Miller, the WR coach last season, will be the passing 3 defensive front that emphasizes consistent pressure on the
game coordinator. Expect a renewed emphasis on the ground outside. It’s less clear whether Meeks plans to implement the
game. The team drafted Chris “Beanie” Wells in order to inject Cover-2 – a hallmark of the Tony Dungy coaching tree that will
life and balance into the playcalling. depend on what Meeks sees from his players in camp.
What to expect on defense: Hopefully, improvement. The
Cardinals made the Super Bowl last year despite allowing
almost 27 points per game defensively. Clancy Pendergast was Cleveland Browns
let go in favor of Bill Davis, the Cardinals linebackers coach. Head Coach: Eric Mangini (replaces Romeo Crennel)
Although it’s hard to argue change was warranted, it’s unclear Offensive Coordinator: Brian Daboll (replaces Rob Chudzinski)
whether Davis will have more success. Davis struggled as the Defensive Coordinator: Rob Ryan (replaces Mel Tucker)
49ers defensive coordinator before joining the Cardinals staff,
and the Cardinals haven’t done much to improve the defensive What to expect on offense: We know that the organization
roster. will run through Eric Mangini, and very little will be said by
Dallas Cowboys
Head Coach: Wade Phillips
Offensive Coordinator: Jason Garrett
Defensive Coordinator: Wade Phillips (replaces Brian Stewart)
ICON SMI
playcalling from Brian Stewart last year and it became an easy
Josh McDaniels
decision to let the DC go this offseason. Interestingly, Jerry
Jones opted not to hire a replacement, instead letting Phillips
handle both roles. Being an NFL head coach is a daunting task, tor. Nolan was inconsistent as the 49ers head coach but has
as is being the defensive play-caller. Needless to say, Phillips is vast experience as an NFL coordinator; serving as DC with the
going to have to rely heavily on his defensive assistants during Giants, Jets, Redskins and Ravens. The Broncos will need to be
the week to help game plan. patient, as their personnel isn’t ideally suited for a 3-4 yet.
best remembered for his dual stints in Kansas City, it was his Williams has carved out an impressive career in a number of
time in Tennessee coaching alongside Schwartz that landed NFL stints, he simply wasn’t a good fit with Jack Del Rio and
him this job. Cunningham has promised an aggressive, blitz- the Jaguars. Mel Tucker joins the Jaguars staff from Cleveland,
happy defensive approach, and will look to use man coverage where he served as defensive coordinator last season and
much more than he did in Kansas City under Herm Edwards. coached defensive backs from 2005-2007. Tucker’s inexperi-
The defense will be built around the linebacking corps of Ernie ence, particularly in a 4-3 scheme signals that Jack Del Rio will
Sims, Julian Peterson, Larry Foote and Jordan Dizon. be taking a more hands on approach this year.
What to expect on defense: The Texans fired Richard Smith What to expect on offense: Todd Haley takes over for Herm
after another uninspiring defensive campaign and promoted Edwards fresh from a run to the Super Bowl as the Arizona
from within, naming Frank Bush to his first defensive coordina- Cardinals offensive coordinator. Haley opted to retain Chan
tor post. Bush coached the defensive line the last two seasons Gailey as offensive coordinator, signaling that he’s serious
and plans on using more deception, and running a lot of differ- about the holistic requirements of the head coaching position.
ent blitzes out of the base 4-3 formation. In addition to adding Retaining Gailey doesn’t mean the offense won’t look differ-
wrinkles to the existing playbook, Bush has to integrate a num- ent this year. The team traded for QB Matt Cassel, and you
ber of projected new starters. He expects to put more players in can be sure the Chiefs will throw the ball more than they did
the box to stop the run, and that will put pressure on the defen- under Herman Edwards. It’s unlikely the Chiefs have the offen-
sive backs to cover downfield. Bush also wants his defensive sive personnel to run the 3- and 4-WR sets Haley utilized in
lineman to push upfield; he never wants them going sideways. Arizona, but they should have a more effective rushing attack
now that Larry Johnson is back in the team’s good graces.
What to expect on defense: The Chiefs are going to run
Indianapolis Colts a 3-4 front this year and drafted Tyson Jackson with the third
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (replaces Tony Dungy) overall pick to expedite the transition. The Chiefs don’t have
Offensive Coordinator: Clyde Christensen (replaces Tom Moore) the linebackers in place to fully leverage the flexibility of a 3-4
Defensive Coordinator: Larry Coyer (replaces Ron Meeks) defense, so expect Clancy Pendergast to play a relatively close
to the vest scheme in his first season. Pendergast joins Haley
What to expect on offense: A seismic changeover occurred from Arizona, where he served as defensive coordinator until
this offseason as HC Tony Dungy, OC Tom Moore and OL being fired after the Super Bowl. Chiefs fans have a right to be
Coach Howard Mudd all retired. Dungy was the least surpris- skeptical about Pendergast’s appointment, the Cardinals finished
ing, and the Colts had his replacement formally in place. Jim no better than 26th in points allowed over the last four seasons.
Caldwell takes over the head reins, and Clyde Christensen
will transition to OC following eight seasons as an offensive
assistant. On one hand, Tom Moore was the only OC Peyton
New England Patriots
Head Coach: Bill Belichick
Manning’s ever known, on the other hand, for years Manning
Offensive Coordinator: Vacant (no one replaces Josh McDaniels)
has been taking three plays into the huddle and making the call
Defensive Coordinator: Dean Pees
himself. It’s tough to say how the players will react to the loss
of Dungy, Moore and Mudd, but don’t underestimate the pre-
What to expect on offense: For those who argue Josh
paredness and resiliency of this veteran group.
McDaniels wasn’t a product of Bill Belichick’s system, the fact
What to expect on defense: While the Colts defense had a
the Pats aren’t going to hire a coordinator in his place should
reputation for giving up big chunks of yardage under former
give them pause. Can you really be irreplaceable when the team
DC Ron Meeks, the fact remains that Meeks’ defenses were
doesn’t bother to replace you? Offensively things won’t change
among the stingiest and most aggressive in the AFC under his
in New England regardless of who calls the plays. As long as
watch. Regardless, Meeks opted out after Tony Dungy retired,
Tom Brady is healthy, the Pats will have a potent offense.
and the Colts have brought in Larry Coyer as his replacement.
Schematically, Coyer is cut from the same Cover-2 cloth that
Dungy and Meeks are, but he had the tendency to blitz more New Orleans Saints
while calling the defensive plays in Denver a few seasons ago. Head Coach: Sean Payton
Offensive Coordinator: Pete Carmichael (replaces Doug Marrone)
Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Coordinator: Gregg Williams (replaces Gary Gibbs)
Head Coach: Jack Del Rio
Offensive Coordinator: Dirk Koetter What to expect on offense: When Doug Marrone decided
Defensive Coordinator: Mel Tucker (replaces Gregg Williams) to accept the head coaching position at Syracuse University,
the Saints wasted no time in promoting Pete Carmichael to
What to expect on defense: When Mike Smith left to take offensive coordinator. Carmichael has been the team’s QB
the Falcons head coaching job, the Jaguars thought they had coach the last three seasons and has an excellent working rela-
found the best replacement possible in Gregg Williams. While tionship with Drew Brees. Sean Payton will continue calling
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the plays, but Carmichael will be more involved in the game- What to expect on offense: The Raiders are going to play
planning now. Al Davis’ style of ball, and he’s going to put coaches in place to
What to expect on defense: Payton’s tenure has been charac- make sure of it. Tom Cable took over as interim head coach last
terized by explosive offenses paired with meandering defenses. year, and the team’s play improved under his watch. An offen-
Gregg Williams hopes to change that by bringing the most sive line coach by nature, Cable will try to bring consistency
aggressive zone-blitzing scheme to the Big Easy. Williams and toughness to the zone-blocking scheme. He will call the
has been defensive coordinator in Jacksonville, Tennessee and plays but rely heavily on Passing Game Coordinator Ted Tollner
Washington and will be asked to get more out of the Saints and QB coach Paul Hackett for game-planning. Tollner, a jour-
front seven. Williams likes to use a lot of man coverage so he neyman coordinator if there ever was one, has experience in
can blitz from all over the field, but the Saints defensive backs both the West Coast offense and the Air Coryell system.
aren’t particularly well suited to play on an island. What to expect on defense: Rob Ryan outlasted three
Raiders head coaches and has finally moved on to Cleveland
New York Giants as his contract had run out. John Marshall has big shoes to fill,
but the Raiders defense ranked 24th and 26th in points allowed
Head Coach: Tom Coughlin
over the last two seasons. Marshall has nearly 30 years of NFL
Offensive Coordinator: Kevin Gilbride
coaching experience, including stints as defensive coordinator
Defensive Coordinator: Bill Sheridan (replaces Steve Spagnuolo)
in San Francisco, Carolina and Seattle. The Raiders will use a
4-3 defensive front under Marshall, and will play a read-and-
What to expect on defense: Giants fans knew this day
react 2-gap system.
was coming, but they hoped it wouldn’t be so soon. Steve
Spagnuolo, whose arrival in New York coincided with the
team’s return to elite status, has taken the head coaching job
in St. Louis. The Giants opted to promote from within, nam-
San Diego Chargers
Head Coach: Norv Turner
ing linebackers coach Bill Sheridan to the post. Sheridan has Offensive Coordinator: Clarence Shelmon
enormous shoes to fill, but benefits from an absolutely stacked Defensive Coordinator: Ron Rivera (replaces Ted Cottrell)
roster. His main job will be maintaining the status quo, while
integrating new pieces like Michael Boley, Rocky Bernard and What to expect on defense: The Chargers fired Ted Cottrell
Chris Canty. last October and promoted LB coach Ron Rivera. Rivera had
been a successful defensive coordinator in Chicago before wear-
New York Jets ing out his welcome by flirting with too many head coaching
opportunities. Rivera is a versatile coach and acquitted himself
Head Coach: Rex Ryan (replaces Eric Mangini)
Offensive Coordinator: Brian Schottenheimer well last year in a 3-4 scheme. But he prefers a 4-3 front and the
Defensive Coordinator: Mike Pettine (replaces Bob Sutton) Chargers are going to mix up their front seven looks this year to
encompass Rivera’s experience calling both schemes.
What to expect on offense: New head coach Rex Ryan is
a defensive guy through and through, and he was impressed
enough with incumbent OC Brian Schottenheimer to retain his
San Francisco 49ers
Head Coach: Mike Singletary (replaces Mike Nolan)
services. Schottenheimer is a disciple of both the West Coast Offensive Coordinator: Jimmy Raye (replaces Mike Martz)
offense and the Air Coryell offense and leverages a power run- Defensive Coordinator: Greg Manusky
ning attack to set up downfield passing. The biggest question
for Schottenheimer is getting the team’s young QBs ready to What to expect on offense: Mike Singletary has far more
play, as either first rounder Mark Sanchez or inexperienced notoriety for his achievements as a player than he does in his
Kellen Clemens will be under center. brief coaching career. Singletary is going to heavily rely on
What to expect on defense: One word – aggression. Ryan’s his assistants in his first full season as the 49ers head coach.
defenses in Baltimore were ferocious, combining unbridled Offensively, Jimmy Raye will call the shots. Raye is from the
aggression with world-class preparation and scouting. Even Coryell School, but he’s much more conservative than Mike
though Ryan’s defenses look chaotic, it’s actually the disci- Martz. The good news is Raye has been an NFL offensive
plined roles each man maintains that allow for such attacking coordinator for six different teams. The bad news is he’s lasted
play. The Jets will likely undergo a bit of a transition period, less than two seasons per stop. Raye’s first order of business is
but this is a team loaded with quality defensive personnel. Plus, choosing a quarterback - no easy feat with this roster.
the additions of LB Bart Scott, S Jim Leonhard and CB Lito What to expect on defense: On the surface, not much has
Sheppard will speed up the process. Mike Pettine will serve as changed in San Francisco. Manusky was Mike Nolan’s defen-
Ryan’s right hand man, just as he did in Baltimore coaching the sive coordinator and Singletary was a defensive assistant, too.
outside linebackers. So what’s changed from this time last year? Nolan is gone
and so is the propensity to play a complex hybrid system that
morphs back and forth between 3- and 4-man fronts. Once
Oakland Raiders Singletary took over last year, Manusky ditched the hybrid
Head Coach: Tom Cable (replaces Lane Kiffin) approach for a pure 3-4 and simplified the playbook. The result
Offensive Coordinator: Ted Tollner (replaces Greg Knapp) was a nearly 10-point improvement in points allowed. Expect
Defensive Coordinator: John Marshall (replaces Rob Ryan) more of the same in 2009.
E
very year, some journeyman
turns into a star simply because
he’s got a new address. Is it
due to a new system? The weather?
Something in the water? The answers to
these are: probably, probably not, usu-
ally.
Some situations may upgrade a player
for obvious reasons. For instance, if
someone was a backup before but now
he’s going to start, the chances are pretty
ICON SMI
good that he’ll be more valuable. But Derrick Ward
how do we know which players will turn
into stars? And how do we know how
worked wonders when he was in Arizona.
the stars (I’m looking at you, Jay Cutler) QUARTERBACK The bad news is that Kansas City doesn’t
will respond to a change of scenery?
That’s where we come in. have many proven weapons, particularly
1. Jay Cutler - Chicago (from Denver)
We’ve broken down each key situa- following the trade of future Hall of
What happened: Once it became clear
tion by position to give a comprehensive Fame TE Tony Gonzalez to Atlanta.
that new head coach Josh McDaniels
look at all that has gone on this offsea- coveted Matt Cassel to run his offense,
son in the fantasy world. Our team of 3. Sage Rosenfels - Minnesota (from Houston)
the coach and Cutler didn’t see eye to
writers has managed to steal playbooks What happened: After three seasons
eye. Bears GM Jerry Angelo pulled the
for all 32 teams to see exactly how backing up Matt Schaub in Houston,
trigger on a bold move that gives the
these players will be utilized. And even Rosenfels was traded to Minnesota
Bears their best signal caller in decades,
if certain aspects of that last sentence to compete for the starting role with
if not ever.
are complete fabrications, just know Tarvaris Jackson.
What it means: Bears fans will now
that you’re in good hands here with our What it means: Rosenfels is a gun-
find out if they really have been a
evaluation and analysis. slinger who brings a startlingly different
quarterback short of a title these last
Even if you don’t take our suggestions approach to the position than Jackson.
few years. Cutler will solidify the posi-
to the bank, be aware that all of these On one hand, Rosenfels completes a high
tion and should dramatically improve
players are in the unique position of percentage of passes. On the other hand,
Chicago’s passing attack.
having just about everything you knew he’s a turnover machine (29 intercep-
about them basically tossed out the tions in 453 attempts). If he wins the
2. Matt Cassel - Kansas City (from NE)
window. We simply can’t guarantee with job, Rosenfels could be a fantasy sleeper
What happened: Cassel stepped in
any certainty how one player adjusts or in leagues that don’t penalize turnovers
for an injured Tom Brady last year and
adapts to his new surroundings, espe- harshly. Of course, all of this goes out the
played quite well. Scott Pioli obtained
cially this early in the offseason. But window if Favre comes to town.
the rights to Cassel, who will serve as
that’s what makes this part of fantasy the cornerstone of the Chiefs rebuilding
football so much fun. It’s also why 4. Byron Leftwich - Tampa Bay (from Pittsburgh)
effort.
you’d do well to read what is below, and What happened: Leftwich played
What it means: Cassel will be the
then follow up with us on our website well in limited action last year as Ben
unquestioned starter for a team in des-
throughout the summer months to see Roethlisberger’s backup, and parlayed
perate need of offensive cohesion. The
exactly how each player is adjusting. that into a two-year contract with Tampa.
good news is that head coach Todd Haley
decent upside to be a serviceable fantasy and is a large, punishing lineman. He to leave and sign with Miami.
backup. doesn’t have great quickness and can be What it means: He is a very talented
exposed by speed rushers but his addi- player, and the Dolphins believe his
5. Robert Royal - Cleveland (from Buffalo) tion, along with fellow newcomer Jason upside outweighs the likelihood for
What happened: The Browns traded Peters, ensures the Eagles offensive line injury. The Dolphins gave up a talented
Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay and added will be big and physical in 2009. young center in his own right in Samson
Royal via free agency. Satele, so Grove needs to play exception-
What it means: Cleveland looks to be 4. C Matt Birk - Baltimore (from Minnesota) ally well and stay healthy this season.
a team in turmoil with so many changes What happened: The Ravens lost tal-
on offense for 2009. Royal may have the ented young center Jason Brown to the 9. T Tra Thomas - Jacksonville (from Philadelphia)
inside track to start at tight end but is Rams in free agency this offseason, but What happened: Jacksonville suffered
unlikely to be a major contributor as a somewhat made amends by signing vet- through horrible injury woes along the
receiver. eran center Matt Birk to a four-year deal. offensive line last season. In an attempt
What it means: Birk has 11 years of to stabilize the offensive line and return
OTHER NOTABLE TIGHT ENDS WHO experience. While he may not be the to dominance, the Jaguars picked up
CHANGED TEAMS: player he once was, his veteran savvy and Thomas.
Alex Smith - New England (from Tampa Bay)
talent will definitely fill the hole in the What it means: Thomas is getting a
Anthony Becht - St. Louis (from Arizona)
Dan Campbell - New Orleans (from Detroit) middle of the Ravens offensive line. little long in the tooth at 34, but should
Michael Gaines - Chicago (from Detroit) still have another good season or two and
Will Heller - Detroit (from Seattle) 5. G Derrick Dockery - Washington (from Buffalo) is certainly an upgrade at the right tackle
Tony Curtis - Kansas City (from Dallas) What happened: Dockery played well, position.
but the Bills could not justify his salary
OFFENSIVE LINE and released him. The Redskins had a 10. T Orlando Pace - Chicago (from St. Louis)
hole at the guard position and welcomed What happened: The Bears signed
1. T Jason Peters - Philadelphia (from Buffalo) Dockery back with open arms. formerly-elite lineman Orlando Pace in
What happened: The Bills traded their What it means: He has played with the an attempt to shore up a weakness at left
former franchise LT to Philadelphia other starting linemen in the past, and he tackle.
because of a contract dispute. The Eagles will have an easy transition back into the What it means: At the top of his game,
gave up three picks (including the 28th Redskins fold. Pace was truly dominant. He has been
overall pick this season) for the rights to injury prone for a few seasons now, how-
Peters. 6. T Marvel Smith - San Francisco (from Pittsburgh) ever, and has not been as effective as he
What it means: Peters has become What happened: Smith was a very was early in his career. Still, his arrival
one of the more dominant left tackles in good player early on in his career, but alone is a boon for the offensive line as
the game. He has the speed and quick- a nagging back injury has derailed his he’ll give them a strong, veteran pres-
ness to deal with the speed rushers and productivity. Now he is looking to regain ence. Pace has had a Hall of Fame career,
the strength to punish defenders in the his reputation as a top tackle with a new and if he can come even close to his past
running game. He is an upgrade for the franchise. production, he could have a Pro Bowl
Eagles over longtime starter Tra Thomas. What it means: If Smith can put injury season for the club.
woes behind him, he can step into a start-
2. C Jason Brown - Saint Louis (from Baltimore) ing role and do a good job. It is just as OTHER NOTABLE OFFENSIVE LINE-
What happened: The Rams needed a likely, however, that his bad back will MEN WHO CHANGED TEAMS:
lot of offensive line help and landed a persist for the rest of his career, limiting T Khalif Barnes - Oakland (from Jacksonville)
huge piece in revamping it this offseason his effectiveness. G Mike Goff - Kansas City (from San Diego)
when they inked Brown. C Geoff Hangartner - Buffalo (from Carolina)
T Daniel Loper - Detroit (from Tennessee)
What it means: Brown is a talented, 7. C Samson Satele - Oakland (from Miami)
T Frank Omiyale - Chicago (from Carolina)
young center who will become the leader What happened: A few weeks after T Erik Pears - Oakland (from Denver)
of an offensive line looking to improve signing Jake Grove, the Dolphins traded G Duke Preston - Green Bay (from Buffalo)
this season. He is just 25 and entering his their gifted, young center Samson Satele T Kevin Shaffer - Chicago (from Cleveland)
fifth season in the league. Having played to the Raiders for a draft choice. T John St. Clair - Cleveland (from Chicago)
in all 16 games each of the last two sea- What it means: Satele had shoulder G Floyd Womack - Cleveland (from Seattle)
sons, he is a great player to re-build a surgery to repair a torn labrum but
team around. should be back to full health by the start DEFENSIVE LINE
of the season. He is a strong, intelligent
3. T Stacy Andrews - Philadelphia (from Cincinnati) player and the Raiders will be very happy 1. DT Albert Haynesworth - Washington (from Tennessee)
What happened: It is going to be the to have him manning the interior of their What happened: The league’s most
Andrews brothers show in 2009 after offensive line. dominant defensive tackle left the Titans
Stacy signed a six-year deal to join his and signed with the Redskins for seven
brother Shawn on the right side of the 8. C Jake Grove - Miami (from Oakland) years.
Eagles offensive line. What happened: Grove was unable to What it means: Haynesworth has yet
What it means: Andrews has played in stay healthy throughout his five seasons to play a full 16-game season, but over
29 of 32 games over the last two seasons in Oakland, and the Raiders allowed him the past couple of years he has clearly
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FOOTBALLGUYS.COM 23
emerged as one of the best fantasy near the size or strength of Haynesworth, a breakout season in 2007. Although he
defensive tackles in the game. He will Haye is one of the quickest defensive played SLB in Atlanta and wasn’t always
certainly help solidify the interior of the tackles in the league. The Titans will a three-down player, he’ll likely be
Redskins defensive line and should make likely use a committee approach to try moved to WLB with the Giants and play
things much easier for pass rushers like and fill Haynesworth’s shoes, but Haye in all downs and situations. With all the
Andre Carter and rookie Brian Orakpo. could become a serviceable starter in DT- talent the Giants have on the defensive
required leagues. line and an aging Antonio Pierce at MLB,
2. DE Antonio Smith - Houston (from Arizona) Boley is in a great situation and could
What happened: Smith left Phoenix OTHER NOTABLE DEFENSIVE produce like a LB3 for fantasy owners.
and signed a five-year contract to play LINEMEN WHO CHANGED TEAMS:
DT Rocky Bernard - NY Giants (from Seattle)
opposite Mario Williams. 4. ILB Kevin Burnett - San Diego (from Dallas)
DT Shaun Cody - Houston (from Detroit)
What it means: A former fifth-round DT Colin Cole - Seattle (from Green Bay)
What happened: Burnett joins a very
pick with just 15.5 career sacks, Smith DT Rod Coleman - New Orleans (from Atlanta) strong LB group in San Diego after sign-
was the best pass rusher available in free DE Demetric Evans - San Francisco (from ing a two year contract.
agency this year. Playing opposite Mario Washington) What it means: Although Burnett was
Williams along with the switch from a DT Grady Jackson - Detroit (from Atlanta) never able to emerge as a starter dur-
3-4 to a 4-3 defense should boost his DT Tank Johnson - Cincinnati (from Dallas) ing his four years in Dallas, he proved
DT C.J. Mosley - Cleveland (from NY Jets)
numbers and could make him a Top 20 to be a very strong nickel linebacker.
DT Cory Redding - Seattle (from Detroit)
fantasy defensive end. DE Darrell Reid - Denver (from Indianapolis) The Chargers have not gotten a lot of
DE Darrell Robertson - Kansas City (from New production from Matt Wilhelm and Tim
3. DE Chris Canty - NY Giants (from Dallas) England) Dobbins at ILB, so they should give
What happened: The Giants added a Burnett a chance to win that job. Given
versatile player for their defensive line by LINEBACKER his strength in coverage, there is a good
signing Canty from Dallas to a six-year chance that Burnett could emerge as a
deal. 1. ILB Bart Scott - New York Jets (from Baltimore) three-down linebacker alongside Stephen
What it means: Canty’s numbers in What happened: Scott signed a six- Cooper.
Dallas were not that impressive (10 year contract to follow Rex Ryan out of
career sacks in 64 games), but he is mov- Baltimore and join him with the Jets. 5. OLB Angelo Crowell - Tampa Bay (from Buffalo)
ing to a much better situation. The Giants What it means: Ryan signed Scott What happened: After spending last
have the league’s best collection of pass to become a focal point of the new year on injured reserve, Crowell left the
rushers, which should create a lot of one- defense. Scott has often been overshad- Bills and signed a one-year contract with
on-one situations. Canty could see a lot owed by Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs in Tampa.
of snaps at defensive tackle, but he can Baltimore, but he’ll combine with David What it means: Crowell has been a
also play end on run downs and the con- Harris to give the Jets a very strong ILB very productive fantasy linebacker in
tract he signed should ensure that he gets tandem. While he may not live up to the Buffalo, but he may be limited to a two-
plenty of playing time. huge contract, Scott should see a bump in down role in Tampa. Initial indications
his production and wind up as a Top 20 are that Jermaine Phillips will be moved
4. DE Kenyon Coleman - Cleveland (from NY Jets) fantasy LB. from safety to WLB replace Derrick
What happened: In a draft day trade, Brooks, which would leave Crowell at
the Jets shipped Kenyon Coleman and 2. OLB Julian Peterson - Detroit (from Seattle) SLB. He’s an athletic and versatile line-
a package of players and picks to the What happened: Peterson refused to backer, but he may need some breaks to
Browns for the chance to draft Mark take a salary cut, so the Seahawks traded become a quality fantasy starter again.
Sanchez. him to Detroit for Cory Redding and a
What it means: Coleman has been an fifth round pick. OTHER NOTABLE LINEBACKERS
effective starter for the past two years WHO CHANGED TEAMS:
What it means: The Seahawks felt
OLB Tully Banta-Cain - New England (from San
and should make a quick adjustment Peterson’s skills were on the decline and Francisco)
playing in the same scheme under Eric that he was no longer worth the money ILB Eric Barton - Cleveland (from NY Jets)
Mangini. Look for him to start at DE on he was due. Peterson should provide ILB Keith Brooking - Dallas (from Atlanta)
a strong defensive line. Although he has a big boost to the Lions defense. He’s ILB Andra Davis - Denver (from Cleveland)
limited upside as a pass rusher, Coleman expected to line up at SLB in the base OLB Cato June - Houston (from Tampa Bay)
is a reliable fantasy option due to his sur- package but could also see plenty of time OLB Niko Koutouvides - Tampa Bay (from Denver)
prisingly high tackle numbers. OLB Mike Peterson - Atlanta (from Jacksonville)
as a DE in passing situations after aver-
ILB Pat Thomas - Buffalo (from Kansas City)
aging eight sacks per year over the last ILB Zach Thomas - Kansas City (from Dallas)
5. DT Jovan Haye - Tennessee (from Tampa Bay) three seasons. OLB Mike Vrabel - Kansas City (from New
What happened: After losing Albert England)
Haynesworth in free agency, the Titans 3. OLB Michael Boley - New York Giants (from Atlanta)
signed Haye to a four-year contract.
What it means: Haye broke out in 2007
What happened: Boley left the Falcons DEFENSIVE BACK
to sign a five-year contract with the
and finished as the top fantasy defensive Giants. 1. S Gibril Wilson - Miami (from Oakland)
tackle, but he struggled with injuries for What it means: Boley was a three- What happened: One year after sign-
much of 2008. While he doesn’t have year starter for the Falcons and enjoyed ing a big contract, the Raiders released
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24 FOOTBALLGUYS.COM
Wilson and he quickly signed a five-year 5. S James Butler - St. Louis (from NY Giants) Rayner’s sixth stop in the NFL. He previ-
contract with the Dolphins. What happened: Butler signed a four- ously played for Indianapolis, Green Bay,
What it means: Wilson has been one year contract to be the Rams strong Kansas City, San Diego and Cincinnati.
of the most consistent fantasy defensive safety. What it means: Rayner, whose strength
backs in the league over the last five What it means: Butler’s production is on kickoffs, will compete with incum-
seasons. Although he is at his best play- with the Giants was not that impressive, bent Shaun Suisham. Suisham struggled
ing up in the box, the Dolphins already but he was often splitting time with oth- last year and missed 10 field goal
use Yeremiah Bell in that role. Therefore, ers. He has ideal size for strong safety attempts (although some of that has been
Wilson is expected to start out at free and should see plenty of time up in the attributed to his holder, punter Ryan
safety. His tackle numbers will likely box as O.J. Atogwe patrols the deep sec- Plackemeier - who is no longer with the
take a hit, but he could also see a cor- ondary. With rookie James Laurinaitis team).
responding bump in big plays. He should playing in front of him, Butler could be
remain a top ten safety. headed for a breakout season. Note: As of press time, three high-profile kick-
ers (John Carney, Martin Gramatica, and Matt
2. S Sean Jones - Philadelphia (from Cleveland) OTHER NOTABLE DEFENSIVE Stover) remained unsigned.
What happened: Jones left the Browns BACKS WHO CHANGED TEAMS:
to sign a one-year contract with the S CC Brown - New York Giants (from Houston) RETURNER
CB Phillip Buchanon - Detroit (from Tampa Bay)
Eagles.
S Josh Bullocks - Chicago (from New Orleans) 1. CB Chris Carr - Baltimore (from Tennessee)
What it means: Jones has proven to be CB Chris Carr - Baltimore (from Tennessee)
one of the league’s best playmaking safe- After several years of quantity with
S Sean Considine - Jacksonville (from
ties, with 14 interceptions over the past Philadelphia) the Raiders, and a year of quality with
three seasons. Although he played strong CB Travis Daniels - Kansas City (from Miami) the Titans in 2008, Carr landed with the
safety in Cleveland, he’s expected to CB Drayton Florence - Buffalo (from Jacksonville) Ravens. He’ll take over on both kickoff
compete for the free safety spot vacated CB Domonique Foxworth - Baltimore (from and punt returns. WR Yamon Figurs
Atlanta) gradually lost both jobs last year due to
by Brian Dawkins. He’ll get competition CB Andre Goodman - Denver (from Miami)
for the starting spot from Quintin Demps, injury and ineffectiveness.
CB Eric Green - Miami (from Arizona)
but Jones is a physical presence and a CB Jabari Greer - New Orleans (from Buffalo)
ballhawk who should be an excellent fit CB Anthony Henry - Detroit (from Dallas) 2. RB J.J. Arrington - Denver (from Arizona)
in the Eagles aggressive defense. S Renaldo Hill - Denver (from Miami) Eddie Royal was drafted by the
CB Corey Ivy - Cleveland (from Baltimore) Broncos last year to be their return spe-
CB Eric King - Detroit (from Tennessee) cialist but quickly emerged as a starting
3. S Brian Dawkins - Denver (from Philadelphia)
S Jim Leonhard - NY Jets (from Baltimore) wide receiver. So, his special teams work
What happened: The longtime Eagle CB Bryant McFadden - Arizona (from Pittsburgh)
left Philadelphia by signing a five-year was scaled back to just punt returns.
CB Karl Paymah - Minnesota (from Denver)
contract with the Broncos. CB Hank Poteat - Cleveland (from NY Jets)
Arrington emerged as a decent threat on
What it means: Dawkins has been one S Gerald Sensabaugh - Dallas (from Jacksonville) kickoff return with the Cardinals, and
of the best safeties in the league and a S Darren Sharper - New Orleans (from Minnesota) should step into that role for Denver.
great leader for the Eagles over the years. CB Lito Sheppard - NY Jets (from Philadelphia)
CB Shawn Springs - New England (from 3. WR Mark Jones - Tennessee (from Carolina)
At 35, he’s probably lost a step, but he’ll
Washington) Jones has evolved into a journeyman
be a great addition for a Broncos defense CB Donald Strickland - NY Jets (from San
that struggled to stop anybody last year. return specialist. He grew into the role
Francisco)
While he may not get as many opportuni- with Tampa before getting injured. Last
year, the Panthers brought him in after
ties to blitz in Denver, he should remain
a reliable fantasy option as long as he is
KICKER WR Ryne Robinson was injured. This
healthy. year, he’ll take over the job for the Titans
1. Mike Nugent - Tampa Bay (from NY Jets)
after Chris Carr landed in Baltimore.
What happened: After suffering a quad
4. CB Leigh Bodden - New England (from Detroit) injury in Week 1, Nugent did not play
What happened: After a disappointing 4. WR Glenn Holt - Minnesota (from Cincinnati)
the remainder of the year. Jay Feely then Holt will compete for a spot on the
season in Detroit, Bodden signed a one- kicked well enough to keep the job even
year deal with the Patriots. roster as starting kickoff returner and
after Nugent was healthy. Nugent made backup wide receiver. The Vikings have
What it means: Bodden finished 2007 the decision of which kicker to keep a
as the highest scoring fantasy cornerback had a different annual leading kickoff
relatively easy call by opting to test free returner for 11 consecutive years.
in the league, but struggled in 2008 after agency.
a trade to Detroit. There were reports that What it means: The Bucs signed OTHER NOTABLE RETURNERS WHO
the Patriots offered a multiyear deal, but Nugent to compete with incumbent Matt CHANGED TEAMS:
it appears that Bodden hopes to turn his Bryant. Bryant, meanwhile, had a strong CB Phillip Buchanon - Detroit (from Tampa Bay)
career around with a big 2009 and then scoring year in 2008, although he did RB Correll Buckhalter - Denver (from Philadelphia)
sign an even bigger contract next season. miss some long range kicks, which con- WR Bobby Engram - Kansas City (from Seattle)
Bodden is a physical cornerback who CB Ellis Hobbs - Philadelphia (from New England)
tinues to be his weak area.
excels in man-to-man coverage, and the WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh - Seattle (from
Patriots system should be a great fit. Cincinnati)
2. Dave Rayner - Washington (from Cincinnati) RB Derrick Ward - Tampa Bay (from NY Giants)
What happened: Washington is
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FOOTBALLGUYS.COM 25
2009 Preseason
2009
J
ust because games aren’t being
played doesn’t mean there isn’t
a tremendous amount of football
activity afoot. Between scouting,
the draft, free agency, mini-camps,
training camp, preseason games and the
occasional holdout or trade demand,
there’s almost always something worth
discussing or analyzing regardless of the
time of year.
At Footballguys.com we strive
to provide fantasy leaguers with all
the relevant information in a timely
manner, and we’ll give you our honest
assessments every step of the way.
Below you’ll find a compilation of
some of the situations we’re watching
as the preseason turns into training
camp. With new developments arising
daily, remember that this is merely a
STARTING POINT. To find up-to-date
information and analysis that looks at
these situations and hundreds more,
be sure to visit www.footballguys.com
and take advantage of our Daily Email
Updates, industry-best News Blogger,
best-in-class message boards and our
thousands of pages of analysis and
statistical data.
ICON SMI
Matthew Stafford
Quarterback Situations to Watch Bowl. Jay Cutler is the best QB they’ve Kyle Orton will start, but Chris Simms
had in a long time, if not ever, will he is healthy and will give him a run for his
• How good can Trent Edwards be
really be the missing piece? money.
(Buffalo)? — Edwards completed almost
66 percent of his passes last year and • Can Palmer stay healthy • When does Stafford play (Detroit)?
now gets Terrell Owens added to his (Cincinnati)? — Carson Palmer missed — Matthew Stafford will start sooner
arsenal. With the promise of a no huddle the majority of last season with a torn rather than later, but will he get the green
offense, can Edwards become a reliable elbow ligament but avoided Tommy John light in Week 1?
fantasy starter? surgery. Will that decision come back to
• Will Tom Moore’s retirement affect
haunt him?
• Was Delhomme’s contract Manning? (Indianapolis)? — Peyton
extension a good idea (Carolina)? • Is Romo as good without Owens Manning lost the only OC he’s known
— Jake Delhomme had one of the worst (Dallas)? — The Cowboys believe in the NFL to retirement. Will there be a
playoff games in league history and waiving Terrell Owens was addition by period of adjustment to worry about?
was then rewarded with a hefty new subtraction, but the fact is QBs enjoy
• Will we see the Garrard of 2007 or
extension. Does the 34-year old justify their career seasons with him in the
2008? (Jacksonville)? — Garrard’s TD
his new deal? lineup. Can Romo find new weapons and
rate was cut in half last year and his sack
remain a top fantasy passer?
• Is Jay Cutler the missing piece total doubled, with the additions of WR
(Chicago)? — Bears fans have long • Kyle Orton or Chris Simms Torry Holt and two new bookend rookie
believed they were a QB short of a Super (Denver)? — The consensus believes tackles put him back on track?
FREE 32 PAGE CAMP UPDATE: http://freeupdate.footballguys.com
26 FOOTBALLGUYS.COM
• How much work will Donald • Will the Jets appease Thomas the short yardage hammer last year while
Brown take from Joseph Addai Jones and Leon Washington (New York Chris Johnson did everything else. Are
(Indianapolis)? — The Colts drafted Jets)? — Thomas Jones wants a new those roles constant?
Donald Brown in the first round, and deal. Leon Washington wants a new deal.
• Will Clinton Portis outperform his
he’ll definitely play a large role. The Rookie Shonn Greene wants to take their
ADP again (Washington)? — Every
question is how will he eat into Joseph jobs. Will NY get their vet tandem signed
year it’s the same old story. Teams bet
Addai’s workload? and sealed?
Clinton Portis will wear down and then
• Is Maurice Jones-Drew ready to be • Is Darren McFadden a go-to he goes out and puts up another monster
THE man (Jacksonville)? — MJD has weapon (Oakland)? — McFadden ran season. Is it possible to be drafted too
been an all-purpose weapon for years, for less than 50 yards in all but one game low nearly every year of your career?
but this year he’s in line for a dramatic last year, but he should be healthy and
increase in his workload following the ready for a larger role this season. Is he a
Wide Receiver Situations to Watch
release of Fred Taylor. Is he up to the task major weapon or a fantasy tease?
or will the Jags need to find someone to
• Is Brian Westbrook still an elite RB
pair him with? • Can the Cardinals bring Anquan
(Philadelphia)? — Brian Westbrook saw
Boldin back into the fold (Arizona)?
• Has Larry Johnson mended fences his YPR and YPC drop last season, and
— The trade rumors were rampant this
(Kansas City)? — With a new regime his ability to stay on the field is always
offseason, but it appears the Cardinals
aboard, Larry Johnson seemed a good a worry. Is Brian Westbrook nearing the
want to keep Boldin for another run at
bet to be cut or traded. Yet his quiet end of his time as one of the NFL’s most
the title. Can they make peace in the
offseason appears to have appeased the explosive runners?
absence of a new long-term contract?
new brass, and LJ now looks to be a
• Does Rashard Mendenhall play
focal point of the offense. • How will Roddy White adjust to
a big role (Pittsburgh)? — Rashard
Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta)? — Roddy
• Does Ronnie Brown have to share Mendenhall was supposed to be a short
White was Matt Ryan’s top option in
the load with Ricky Williams (Miami)? yardage bell cow last year before getting
2008. Will the addition of a HOF tight
— Ronnie Brown is ultra-productive as hurt. Will he lock down an important role
end make things easier for him, or will
both a runner and receiver when he’s this year or can Fast Willie Parker eek out
he need to adjust to fewer targets?
healthy. But he’s always nicked up it another solid season?
seems, and Ricky Williams played hard • Are the Ravens happy going to war
• Will LaDainian Tomlinson have
in 2008. Will the Fins make them share with this WR corps (Baltimore)? —
to share carries (San Diego)? —
the role again? The Ravens were rumored to be pursuing
Tomlinson had to redo his deal to stay in
Anquan Boldin, yet they ignored the
• Is 2,000 yards within reach for San Diego and has plenty of competition
position in the draft. Are they confident
Peterson (Minnesota)? — When you for touches. Will LT have the chance to
in the guys behind Derrick Mason?
run for 1,760 yards as a second-year regain his 20-carry form?
player, is 2,000 yards really out of • Will Terrell Owens presence help
• Is Glen Coffee going to spell
the question? If anyone can do it, it’s Lee Evans (Buffalo)? — We know
Frank Gore from time to time (San
Peterson especially if the Vikings can get Owens will get his, and that he’ll help
Francisco)? — Frank Gore is the
the QB situation settled. Trent Edwards. But will T.O.’s presence
centerpiece but third round rookie Glen
help or hurt Evans?
• Is Fred Taylor the new Corey Dillon Coffee needs to contribute, as well. Will
(New England)? — The Patriots have a the 49ers integrate Coffee immediately? • Can Muhsin Muhammad keep
trove of RBs on the roster, but none have fighting father time (Carolina)?
• Can Steven Jackson stay on the
Fred Taylor’s career numbers. Will the — Muhsin Muhammad had 923 yards
field (St. Louis) — Jackson has missed
Pats give Taylor a major role as they did receiving last year at 35 years old.
eight games in the last two seasons,
with Corey Dillon? Is there any reason to worry he can’t
keeping him from a spot atop the fantasy
maintain that level as a 36-year old?
• Will Pierre Thomas build off his elite. Is this the year he regains his
strong second half (New Orleans)? premiere form? • Defining the WR pecking order
— The Saints cut Deuce McAllister and (Chicago) — The Bears have a
• How will Earnest Graham and
ignored RB in the draft; which bodes gunslinger now, but Jay Cutler needs
Derrick Ward split the touches (Tampa
well for Pierre Thomas. Can he build off people to throw to. Will Devin Hester
Bay)? — The Bucs wasted little time
his late season heroics or will we look start? Is Earl Bennett ready to emerge?
this offseason signing Derrick Ward to a
back on them as a fluke? Will the rookies contribute?
long-term deal following his 1,000-yard
• Can Ahmad Bradshaw replace season in New York. Is Ward the clear • Integrating Laveranues Coles
Derrick Ward (New York Giants)? cut starter or will the Bucs find a role for (Cincinnati) — The Bengals lost T.J.
— Derrick Ward ran for 1,000 yards as Earnest Graham, too? Houshmandzadeh in free agency but
a backup, can Ahmad Bradshaw step in signed Laveranues Coles to a multi-year
• Are Chris Johnson and LenDale
and provide the necessary complement to deal. Will he quickly integrate into the
White satisfied with their two-headed
bruising Brandon Jacobs? fold, and how will Chad Ochocinco
approach (Tennessee)? — White was
handle his new running mate?
ICON SMI
situation. But who starts opposite CJ this
TJ Houshmandzadeh
year is very much in question. Bryant
Johnson, Ron Curry, Adam Jennings and
Derrick Williams all have designs on the
• Who starts opposite Dwayne • How long will Lance Moore be out
job.
Bowe (Kansas City)? — The (New Orleans)? — Lance Moore was
• Will Donald Driver have to share rebuilding Chiefs lost Tony Gonzalez set to test the free agent waters after a
more time (Green Bay)? — GM Ted and they need a number of receivers breakout season, but he tore his labrum
Thompson believes Driver remains to emerge as complements to Dwayne lifting weights and now must play under
an elite talent, but the Packers have a Bowe. Does Bobby Engram have gas a one-year deal in New Orleans. How
number of talented young receivers who left in the tank? Is Mark Bradley an long will his rehab take?
deserve playing time, too. Will Driver NFL starter?
• Replacing Plaxico and Toomer
remain a full-time starter?
• Sorting out the pecking order (New York Giants) — The Giants need to
• Does Kevin Walter have a higher (Miami) — The Dolphins drafted two replace both Plaxico Burress and Amani
ceiling (Houston)? — Kevin Walter receivers and have Ted Ginn, Davone Toomer - no small feat. Will Steve Smith
delivered a Top 20 season last year, but Bess, Greg Camarillo and Brandon and Domenik Hixon hold down the jobs
many believe he’s capable or more than London all vying for roles. No one’s job or will rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses
60 catches and 899 yards. Does he have should be considered secure entering Barden push for time immediately?
more upside or was 2008 a career year? camp.
• Who is going to catch the ball
• Can Anthony Gonzalez replace • Will Percy Harvin start besides Jerricho Cotchery (New York
Marvin Harrison (Indianapolis)? immediately (Minnesota)? — The Jets)? — Jerricho Cotchery is the
— Anthony Gonzalez regressed in his Vikings need Percy Harvin to provide clear cut WR1, but the Jets have major
second season, yet he will be counted on offensive versatility, and he will be on the question marks beyond him. Is David
to replace Marvin Harrison in the starting field quickly. But is he a polished enough Clowney or Chansi Stuckey ready to start
lineup. Is Gonzalez up to the task? receiver to start in Week 1? full-time?
• Is Torry Holt still an impact • Who fills Jabar Gaffney’s spot • Who starts in Oaktown (Oakland)?
receiver (Jacksonville)? — Torry Holt (New England)? — Jabar Gaffney — Javon Walker had another knee
was cut by the Rams and signed with played a lot more offensive snaps than operation and seems unlikely to
Jacksonville – filling a desperate need for the typical WR3 but left for Denver in start. Is rookie first rounder Darrius
the Jaguars. But is Holt still an impact the offseason. Is Joey Galloway a lock to Heyward-Bey polished enough to start
receiver or have age and injury caught up fill that role or will a younger receiver immediately, and can Chaz Schilens hold
to him? surprise? off Johnnie Lee Higgins?
• What do the Eagles have planned • Is Devin Thomas or Malcolm Kelly • How do you replace Tony Gonzalez
for Jeremy Maclin (Philadelphia)? — ready to contribute (Washington)? — (Kansas City)? — You simply can’t
The Eagles didn’t draft Jeremy Maclin Antwaan Randle El shouldn’t be starting, replace a HOF tight end, but the Chiefs
19th overall to sit him on the bench, but the Redskins need at least one of will need to start someone in his old
but where does he fit? Is he a starter last year’s rookie WRs to emerge in their spot. Will Brad Cottam, Sean Ryan, Tony
opposite DeSean Jackson or better suited second season. Curtis or Jake O’Connell get the nod?
for the slot?
• Is Visanthe Shiancoe legit
Tight End Situations to Watch
• Does Limas Sweed earn a role (Minnesota)? — Visanthe Shiancoe
(Pittsburgh)? — Ward and Holmes are came out of nowhere to post a Top 5
the starters, but there’s an opportunity • Will Tony Gonzalez adjust to his fantasy finish in 2008, was that a sign of
for Limas Sweed to step into the role new surroundings (Atlanta)? — Tony things to come or a fluke born out of his
vacated by Nate Washington. Can he Gonzalez finds himself starting anew in seven TDs in 42 catches?
win the coaches over, or will veteran his 13th season. Will he be able to step
• Defining roles for the new
Shaun McDonald fill the slot? into the same kind of go-to role as an
additions (New England)? — The
Atlanta Falcon?
• What does Vincent Jackson do Patriots never sit idly by, and this year
for an encore (San Diego)? — Vincent • Defining Todd Heap and L.J. they targeted upgrading the TE position
Jackson broke out last year with 1,098 Smith’s roles (Baltimore) — Todd by signing Chris Baker and trading
yards and seven TDs. Was that the start Heap is great when healthy, and L.J. for Alex Smith. How will they fit into
of great things, or will we look back on Smith started for most of his career in the rotation, and does this mean Ben
that as his career best? Philadelphia, where John Harbaugh Watson’s days are numbered?
coached before Baltimore. How will the
• How good can Michael Crabtree • Can Jeremy Shockey re-establish
Ravens divide the touches between these
be (San Francisco)? — The 49ers re- himself (New Orleans)? — Jeremy
two talented but inconsistent players?
signed Isaac Bruce and signed Brandon Shockey missed four games and was
Jones, but then Michael Crabtree fell • Does Greg Olsen emerge as an hobbled for most of last season. Will
into their laps on draft day. Crabtree elite playmaker (Chicago)? — Greg full health and a training camp to work
should start immediately; will he live up Olsen was a Top 10 fantasy TE last year with the offense allow him to reestablish
to the mountainous expectations? despite starting only seven games. This himself as an elite TE?
year, he’ll start right away and have Jay
• Can T.J. Houshmandzadeh • Finding depth beyond Dustin
Cutler throwing him passes. Watch out.
be the top Hawk (Seattle)? — T.J. Keller (New York Jets) — Dustin Keller
Houshmandzadeh has lived in Chad • Replacing Kellen Winslow is going to catch a lot of passes this year,
Ochocinco’s shadow for a long time but (Cleveland) — The Browns cut ties but the Jets are woefully undermanned
is now set to be the Seahawks new top with Kellen Winslow and can’t possibly at the position. Right now Bubba Franks
receiver. Is he ready for the attention that replace him with any one player. Will and undrafted free agent J’Nathan
brings from opposing defenses? the combination of Robert Royal, Steve Bullock are the most likely backups.
Heiden and Martin Rucker be enough?
• Who starts opposite Donnie Avery • Can the veterans hold off
(St. Louis)? — Donnie Avery is an • Can Jason Witten lead the league Cornelius Ingram (Philadelphia)? —
emerging star, but someone needs to in receptions (Dallas)? — With Terrell Matt Schobel and Brent Celek wouldn’t
start alongside him. Will it be Laurent Owens gone, Jason Witten is almost start for many teams and are the weak
Robinson, Keenan Burton or Derek assured of being the most targeted TE links in a stellar offensive cast. Can
Stanley? in the league. Might he lead the NFL in rookie Cornelius Ingram overtake them
receptions? this season?
• Will Bryant and Clayton earn
their new paydays (Tampa Bay)? • Does Tony Scheffler have a future • How is Antonio Gates’ ankle
— Antonio Bryant resurrected his career with the Broncos (Denver)? — Tony (San Diego)? — Antonio Gates wasn’t
last season and was franchised, and Scheffler has allegedly been on the himself last year rehabbing a bum toe,
Michael Clayton was given a monster trading block ever since Josh McDaniels and then hurt his ankle come playoff
new contract in spite of pedestrian took over. If they don’t trade him, will time. He admitted to lingering pain
numbers. Can they live up to their new they make use of his receiving prowess in the ankle at mini-camp. Is that an
contracts or will these deals be ridiculed or has the sun set on his time as a ominous sign for the league’s most
this time next year? Bronco? explosive TE?
• Have the Titans done enough at • Are expectations too high for • Kellen Winslow gets a new lease
WR (Tennessee)? — The Titans signed Brandon Pettigrew (Detroit)? — on life (Tampa Bay) — Winslow was
Nate Washington in the offseason and Brandon Pettigrew was the cream of the traded to Tampa Bay and then signed to
then drafted Kenny Britt in the first rookie TE crop, and his future is bright. a monster new deal. Will the fire still
round. Are those additions enough But are expectations too big for the burn bright in his new digs, and how
to improve the Titans weak link on rookie on a team desperate to erase the good can he be now that he’s back in
offense? memories of an 0-16 season? Florida?
BUFFALO BILLS CLEVELAND BROWNS GREEN BAY PACKERS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Sep 14 @ New England 7:00pm Sep 13 Minnesota 1:00pm Sep 13 Chicago 8:20pm Sep 13 @ Baltimore 1:00pm
Sep 20 Tampa Bay 4:05pm Sep 20 @ Denver 4:15pm Sep 20 Cincinnati 1:00pm Sep 20 Oakland 1:00pm
Sep 27 New Orleans 4:05pm Sep 27 @ Baltimore 1:00pm Sep 27 @ St. Louis 1:00pm Sep 27 @ Philadelphia 1:00pm
Oct 4 @ Miami 4:05pm Oct 4 Cincinnati 1:00pm Oct 5 @ Minnesota 8:30pm Oct 4 NY Giants 1:00pm
Oct 11 Cleveland 1:00pm Oct 11 @ Buffalo 1:00pm Week 5 Bye Oct 11 Dallas 1:00pm
Oct 18 @ NY Jets 4:15pm Oct 18 @ Pittsburgh 1:00pm Oct 18 Detroit 1:00pm Oct 18 @ Washington 1:00pm
Oct 25 @ Carolina 4:05pm Oct 25 Green Bay 1:00pm Oct 25 @ Cleveland 1:00pm Oct 25 San Diego 1:00pm
Nov 1 Houston 1:00pm Nov 1 @ Chicago 1:00pm Nov 1 Minnesota 1:00pm Week 8 Bye
Week 9 Bye Week 9 Bye Nov 8 @ Tampa Bay 1:00pm Nov 8 @ Jacksonville 1:00pm
Nov 15 @ Tennessee 1:00pm Nov 16 Baltimore 8:30pm Nov 15 Dallas 4:15pm Nov 15 @ Oakland 4:05pm
Nov 22 @ Jacksonville 1:00pm Nov 22 @ Detroit 1:00pm Nov 22 San Francisco 1:00pm Nov 22 Pittsburgh 1:00pm
Nov 29 Miami 1:00pm Nov 29 @ Cincinnati 1:00pm Nov 26 @ Detroit 12:30pm Nov 29 @ San Diego 4:05pm
Dec 3 NY Jets 8:20pm Dec 6 San Diego 4:05pm Dec 7 Baltimore 8:30pm Dec 6 Denver 1:00pm
Dec 13 @ Kansas City 1:00pm Dec 10 Pittsburgh 8:20pm Dec 13 @ Chicago 1:00pm Dec 13 Buffalo 1:00pm
Dec 20 New England 1:00pm Dec 20 @ Kansas City 1:00pm Dec 20 @ Pittsburgh 1:00pm Dec 20 Cleveland 1:00pm
Dec 27 @ Atlanta 1:00pm Dec 27 Oakland 1:00pm Dec 27 Seattle 1:00pm Dec 27 @ Cincinnati 1:00pm
Jan 3 Indianapolis 1:00pm Jan 3 Jacksonville 1:00pm Jan 3 @ Arizona 4:15pm Jan 3 @ Denver 4:15pm
MINNESOTA VIKINGS NEW YORK JETS ST. LOUIS RAMS TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Sep 13 @ Cleveland 1:00pm Sep 13 @ Houston 1:00pm Sep 13 @ Seattle 4:15pm Sep 13 Dallas 1:00pm
Sep 20 @ Detroit 1:00pm Sep 20 New England 1:00pm Sep 20 @ Washington 1:00pm Sep 20 @ Buffalo 4:05pm
Sep 27 San Francisco 1:00pm Sep 27 Tennessee 1:00pm Sep 27 Green Bay 1:00pm Sep 27 NY Giants 1:00pm
Oct 5 Green Bay 8:30pm Oct 4 @ New Orleans 4:05pm Oct 4 @ San Francisco 4:15pm Oct 4 @ Washington 1:00pm
Oct 11 @ St. Louis 1:00pm Oct 12 @ Miami 8:30pm Oct 11 Minnesota 1:00pm Oct 11 @ Philadelphia 1:00pm
Oct 18 Baltimore 1:00pm Oct 18 Buffalo 4:15pm Oct 18 @ Jacksonville 1:00pm Oct 18 Carolina 1:00pm
Oct 25 @ Pittsburgh 1:00pm Oct 25 @ Oakland 4:05pm Oct 25 Indianapolis 1:00pm Oct 25 New England 1:00pm
Nov 1 @ Green Bay 1:00pm Nov 1 Miami 1:00pm Nov 1 @ Detroit 1:00pm Week 8 Bye
Week 9 Bye Week 9 Bye Week 9 Bye Nov 8 Green Bay 1:00pm
Nov 15 Detroit 1:00pm Nov 15 Jacksonville 1:00pm Nov 15 New Orleans 1:00pm Nov 15 @ Miami 1:00pm
Nov 22 Seattle 1:00pm Nov 22 @ New England 4:15pm Nov 22 Arizona 4:05pm Nov 22 New Orleans 1:00pm
Nov 29 Chicago 1:00pm Nov 29 Carolina 1:00pm Nov 29 Seattle 1:00pm Nov 29 @ Atlanta 1:00pm
Dec 6 @ Arizona 4:15pm Dec 3 @ Buffalo 8:20pm Dec 6 @ Chicago 1:00pm Dec 6 @ Carolina 1:00pm
Dec 13 Cincinnati 1:00pm Dec 13 @ Tampa Bay 1:00pm Dec 13 @ Tennessee 1:00pm Dec 13 NY Jets 1:00pm
Dec 20 @ Carolina 8:20pm Dec 20 Atlanta 1:00pm Dec 20 Houston 1:00pm Dec 20 @ Seattle 4:15pm
Dec 28 @ Chicago 8:30pm Dec 27 @ Indianapolis 4:15pm Dec 27 @ Arizona 4:05pm Dec 27 @ New Orleans 1:00pm
Jan 3 NY Giants 1:00pm Jan 3 Cincinnati 1:00pm Jan 3 San Francisco 1:00pm Jan 3 Atlanta 1:00pm
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS OAKLAND RAIDERS SAN DIEGO CHARGERS TENNESSEE TITANS
Sep 14 Buffalo 7:00pm Sep 14 San Diego 10:15pm Sep 14 @ Oakland 10:15pm Sep 10 @ Pittsburgh 8:30pm
Sep 20 @ NY Jets 1:00pm Sep 20 @ Kansas City 1:00pm Sep 20 Baltimore 4:15pm Sep 20 Houston 1:00pm
Sep 27 Atlanta 1:00pm Sep 27 Denver 4:15pm Sep 27 Miami 4:15pm Sep 27 @ NY Jets 1:00pm
Oct 4 Baltimore 1:00pm Oct 4 @ Houston 1:00pm Oct 4 @ Pittsburgh 8:20pm Oct 4 @ Jacksonville 1:00pm
Oct 11 @ Denver 4:15pm Oct 11 @ NY Giants 1:00pm Week 5 Bye Oct 11 Indianapolis 8:20pm
Oct 18 Tennessee 4:15pm Oct 18 Philadelphia 4:05pm Oct 19 Denver 8:30pm Oct 18 @ New England 4:15pm
Oct 25 @ Tampa Bay 1:00pm Oct 25 NY Jets 4:05pm Oct 25 @ Kansas City 1:00pm Week 7 Bye
Week 8 Bye Nov 1 @ San Diego 4:05pm Nov 1 Oakland 4:05pm Nov 1 Jacksonville 4:05pm
Nov 8 Miami 1:00pm Week 9 Bye Nov 8 @ NY Giants 4:15pm Nov 8 @ San Francisco 4:15pm
Nov 15 @ Indianapolis 8:20pm Nov 15 Kansas City 4:05pm Nov 15 Philadelphia 4:15pm Nov 15 Buffalo 1:00pm
Nov 22 NY Jets 4:15pm Nov 22 Cincinnati 4:15pm Nov 22 @ Denver 4:15pm Nov 23 @ Houston 8:30pm
Nov 30 @ New Orleans 8:30pm Nov 26 @ Dallas 4:15pm Nov 29 Kansas City 4:05pm Nov 29 Arizona 1:00pm
Dec 6 @ Miami 8:20pm Dec 6 @ Pittsburgh 1:00pm Dec 6 @ Cleveland 4:05pm Dec 6 @ Indianapolis 1:00pm
Dec 13 Carolina 1:00pm Dec 13 Washington 4:05pm Dec 13 @ Dallas 4:15pm Dec 13 St. Louis 1:00pm
Dec 20 @ Buffalo 1:00pm Dec 20 @ Denver 4:05pm Dec 20 Cincinnati 4:05pm Dec 20 Miami 1:00pm
Dec 27 Jacksonville 1:00pm Dec 27 @ Cleveland 1:00pm Dec 25 @ Tennessee 7:30pm Dec 25 San Diego 7:30pm
Jan 3 @ Houston 1:00pm Jan 3 Baltimore 4:15pm Jan 3 Washington 4:15pm Jan 3 @ Seattle 4:15pm
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PHILADELPHIA EAGLES SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Sep 13 Detroit 1:00pm Sep 13 @ Carolina 1:00pm Sep 13 @ Arizona 4:15pm Sep 13 @ NY Giants 4:15pm
Sep 20 @ Philadelphia 1:00pm Sep 20 New Orleans 1:00pm Sep 20 Seattle 4:05pm Sep 20 St. Louis 1:00pm
Sep 27 @ Buffalo 4:05pm Sep 27 Kansas City 1:00pm Sep 27 @ Minnesota 1:00pm Sep 27 @ Detroit 1:00pm
Oct 4 NY Jets 4:05pm Week 4 Bye Oct 4 St. Louis 4:15pm Oct 4 Tampa Bay 1:00pm
Week 5 Bye Oct 11 Tampa Bay 1:00pm Oct 11 Atlanta 4:05pm Oct 11 @ Carolina 1:00pm
Oct 18 NY Giants 1:00pm Oct 18 @ Oakland 4:05pm Week 6 Bye Oct 18 Kansas City 1:00pm
Oct 25 @ Miami 4:15pm Oct 26 @ Washington 8:30pm Oct 25 @ Houston 1:00pm Oct 26 Philadelphia 8:30pm
Nov 2 Atlanta 8:30pm Nov 1 NY Giants 4:15pm Nov 1 @ Indianapolis 1:00pm Week 8 Bye
Nov 8 Carolina 4:05pm Nov 8 Dallas 8:20pm Nov 8 Tennessee 4:15pm Nov 8 @ Atlanta 1:00pm
Nov 15 @ St. Louis 1:00pm Nov 15 @ San Diego 4:15pm Nov 12 Chicago 8:20pm Nov 15 Denver 1:00pm
Nov 22 @ Tampa Bay 1:00pm Nov 22 @ Chicago 8:20pm Nov 22 @ Green Bay 1:00pm Nov 22 @ Dallas 1:00pm
Nov 30 New England 8:30pm Nov 29 Washington 1:00pm Nov 29 Jacksonville 4:05pm Nov 29 @ Philadelphia 1:00pm
Dec 6 @ Washington 1:00pm Dec 6 @ Atlanta 1:00pm Dec 6 @ Seattle 4:15pm Dec 6 New Orleans 1:00pm
Dec 13 @ Atlanta 1:00pm Dec 13 @ NY Giants 8:20pm Dec 14 Arizona 8:30pm Dec 13 @ Oakland 4:05pm
Dec 19 Dallas 8:20pm Dec 20 San Francisco 1:00pm Dec 20 @ Philadelphia 1:00pm Dec 21 NY Giants 8:30pm
Dec 27 Tampa Bay 1:00pm Dec 27 Denver 1:00pm Dec 27 Detroit 4:05pm Dec 27 Dallas 8:20pm
Jan 3 @ Carolina 1:00pm Jan 3 @ Dallas 1:00pm Jan 3 @ St. Louis 1:00pm Jan 3 @ San Diego 4:15pm
GRADING SYSTEM
erview
A Excellent
B+ Very Good
B Good
C+ Fair
C Average
D Poor
F Terrible
Arizona Cardinals
Overall Grade: C+ / Overall Rank 14th
2009 Grades
Run blocking: C Cohesion: A
Pass blocking: B+ Experience: A
Depth: C Potential: B+
Projected Starters
LT Mike Gandy – 16 starts in 2008 / 8th season
LG Reggie Wells – 16 starts in 2008 / 7th season
C Lyle Sendlein – 16 starts in 2008 / 3rd season
RG Deuce Lutui – 16 starts in 2008 / 4th season
RT Levi Brown – 16 starts in 2008 / 3rd season
ICON SMI
Steve Hutchinson
Team Notes
• New Additions: T Herman Johnson
• Key Losses: None Projected Starters
• Yet to sign: None
Baltimore Ravens LT Langston Walker – 16 starts / 8th season
Overall Grade: C / Overall Rank 20th LG Kirk Chambers – 4 starts / 6th season
Atlanta Falcons
C Geoff Hangartner – new addition / 5th season
2009 Grades RG Brad Butler – 13 starts / 4th season
Overall Grade: B+ / Overall Rank 8th RT Demetrius Bell – 0 starts / 2nd season
Run blocking: B+ Cohesion: C
Pass blocking: C Experience: B
2009 Grades Key Backups: C/G Seth McKinney, C Eric Wood
Depth: A Potential: B
Run blocking: A Cohesion: B [R], T Jonathon Scott, T Chris Denman, G Andy
Pass blocking: A Experience: B Levitre [R]
Projected Starters
Depth: C Potential: A
LT Jared Gaither - 15 starts in 2008 / 3rd season
LG Ben Grubbs – 16 starts in 2008 / 3rd season Team Notes
Projected Starters • New Additions: G/C - Seth McKinney
C Matt Birk – new addition / 12th season
LT Sam Baker – 5 starts in 2008 / 2nd season (Cleveland), C/G - Geoff Hangartner (Carolina), C
RG Marshall Yanda- 5 starts / 3rd season
LG Justin Blalock – 16 starts in 2008 / 3rd season Eric Wood [R], G Andy Levitre [R]
RT Michael Oher – rookie (first round pick)
C Todd McClure – 16 starts in 2008 /10th season • Key Losses: LT Jason Peters (traded to
RG Harvey Dahl- 16 starts in 2008 / 4th season Philadelphia), C/G Duke Preston (Green Bay), G
Key Backups: G/C Chris Chester, T Adam Terry
RT Tyson Clabo – 16 starts in 2008 / 3rd season Derrick Dockery (Washington)
Team Notes
Key Backups: C/G Ben Wilkinson, G Brett
• New Additions: Center Matt Birk (Minnesota), T
Romberg, T Garrett Reynolds [R]
Michael Oher [R]
Team Notes
• Key Losses: Jason Brown (St. Louis) Carolina Panthers
• Yet to Sign: None Overall Grade: B+ / Overall Rank 9th
• New Additions: Brett Romberg, T Garrett
Reynolds [R]
• Key Losses: None Buffalo Bills 2009 Grades
• Yet to Sign: Harvey Dahl (RFA) Overall Grade: F / Overall Rank 32nd Run blocking: A Depth: B
• Center Todd McClure has not missed a start Pass blocking: A Cohesion: C
since 2001 2009 Grades Experience: B Potential: A
Run blocking: D Cohesion: F
Pass blocking: D Experience: C Projected Starters
Depth: C+ Potential: D LT Jordan Gross – Pro Bowl – 15 starts / 7th season
Sig
nU
p To
E E ates
Da
OVERALL
RANKINGS
RANKINGS
Tefertiller
Pasquino
Tremblay
Rudnicki
Haseley
Borbely
Norton
Wimer
Bryant
Bloom
Henry
Wood
OVERALL
Hicks
Gray
Avg
( ( ( ( ( ( ( (
( ( ( ( ( (
September 4-6, 2009
LIVE DRAFTS AT:
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RANKINGS
N
o matter if you are a Here are the experts that contrib- Rookie-Only Rankings: Sigmund
first-time player or uted to this feature: Bloom, Anthony Borbely, Jene Bramel,
a longtime fantasy Offensive Rankings: Joe Bryant, Jeff Haseley, Bob Henry, John Norton,
shark, it’s always nice David Baker, Sigmund Bloom, Jeff Pasquino, Aaron Rudnicki, Jeff
to compare your efforts to experts Anthony Borbely, Clayton Gray, Tefertiller, Matt Waldman and Jason
in the industry. We asked 23 of our Jeff Haseley, Bob Henry, Mike Wood.
staff experts to rank the positions Herman, Andy Hicks, John Norton, IDP Rankings: David Baker,
you see in these pages. We have cut Jeff Pasquino, Aaron Rudnicki, Jeff Sigmund Bloom, Anthony Borbely,
some of these lists off at 50 play- Tefertiller, Maurile Tremblay, Mark Jene Bramel, Bob Magaw, John
ers, but you can find the full rank- Wimer, and Jason Wood. Norton, Jeff Pasquino, and Aaron
ings at Footballguys.com. Rudnicki.
Terfertiller
Pasquino
Tremblay
Rudnicki
Haseley
Borbely
Norton
Wimer
Bryant
Bloom
Baker
Henry
Wood
QUARTERBACKS
Hicks
Gray
Avg
Tefertiller
Pasquino
Tremblay
Rudnicki
Haseley
Borbely
Norton
Wimer
Bryant
Bloom
Henry
Baker
Wood
RUNNING BACKS
Hicks
Gray
Avg
Tefertiller
Pasquino
Tremblay
Rudnicki
Haseley
Borbely
Norton
Wimer
Bryant
Bloom
Henry
Baker
Wood
WIDE RECEIVERS
Hicks
Gray
Avg
Tefertiller
Pasquino
Tremblay
Rudnicki
Haseley
Borbely
Norton
Wimer
Bryant
Bloom
Henry
Baker
Wood
TIGHT ENDS
Hicks
Gray
Avg
NFL TRIVIA
????
Question 1: Kurt Warner threw for 4,582 yards last
season at 37 years old. Only two QBs in league his-
tory have thrown for 4,000+ yards at an older age,
can you name them? Answer on page 52
KICKERS
Terfertiller
Pasquino
Tremblay
Rudnicki
Haseley
Herman
Borbely
Norton
Wimer
Bryant
Bloom
Henry
Baker
Wood
KICKERS
Hicks
Gray
Avg
NFL TRIVIA
????
Question 2: In 2008, the Cardinals had three 1,000-yard
receivers: Larry Fitzgerald (1,431 yards), Anquan Boldin
(1,038 yards) and Steve Breaston (1,008 yards). This has
happened only four other times in league history; can
you name the teams and receivers? Answer on page 52
RANKINGS
Tefertiller
Pasquino
Tremblay
Rudnicki
Haseley
Borbely
Norton
Wimer
Bryant
Bloom
Henry
Baker
Wood
DEFENSES
Hicks
Gray
Avg
TRIVIA ANSWERS
????
Answer 1: Warren Moon (he did it twice as a 38 and 39 year old)
and Brett Favre (38 years old in 2007)
Answer 2: •1980 San Diego Chargers (John Jefferson, Charlie Joiner,
Kellen Winslow) • 1989 Washington Redskins (Gary Clark, Art Monk, Ricky
Sanders) • 1995 Atlanta Falcons (Eric Metcalf, Bert Emanuel, Terance
Mathis) • 2004 Indianapolis Colts (Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison,
Brandon Stokley)
Tefertiller
Waldman
Pasquino
Pasquino
Rudnicki
Rudnicki
Average
Average
Haseley
Borbely
Borbely
ROOKIE-ONLY ROOKIE-ONLY
Bramel
Norton
Norton
Bloom
Bloom
Wood
(OFFENSE) (DEFENSE)
Pasquino
Pasquino
Rudnicki
Rudnicki
Average
Average
Borbely
Borbely
IDP DEFENSIVE
Bramel
Bramel
Magaw
Norton
Norton
Bloom
Bloom
Baker
OVERALL LINEMEN
Pasquino
Rudnicki
Rudnicki
Average
Average
Borbely
Borbely
DEFENSIVE
Bramel
Magaw
Bramel
Magaw
Norton
Norton
Bloom
Bloom
LINEBACKERS
Baker
Baker
BACKS
QUARTERBACKS (BYE) PTS RUNNING BACKS (BYE) PTS WIDE RECEIVERS (BYE) PTS DEFENSES (BYE)
1. Drew Brees, NO (5) 326 1. Adrian Peterson, Min (9) 253 1. Larry Fitzgerald, Ari (4) 198 1. Pittsburgh Steelers (8)
2. Tom Brady, NE (8) 322 2. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac (7) 241 2. Andre Johnson, Hou (10) 192 2. Minnesota Vikings (9)
3. Peyton Manning, Ind (6) 307 3. Michael Turner, Atl (4) 234 3. Randy Moss, NE (8) 191 3. Baltimore Ravens (7)
4. Aaron Rodgers, GB (5) 306 4. Ladainian Tomlinson, SD (5) 232 4. Calvin Johnson, Det (7) 191 4. New York Giants (10)
5. Donovan McNabb, Phi (4) 303 5. Steven Jackson, StL (9) 229 5. Reggie Wayne, Ind (6) 186 5. Philadelphia Eagles (4)
6. Philip Rivers, SD (5) 298 6. Matt Forte, Chi (5) 226 6. Steve Smith, Car (4) 185 6. San Diego Chargers (5)
7. Kurt Warner, Ari (4) 291 7. Clinton Portis, Was (8) 226 7. Roddy White, Atl (4) 174 7. Chicago Bears (5)
8. Tony Romo, Dal (6) 275 8. DeAngelo Williams, Car (4) 222 8. Greg Jennings, GB (5) 173 8. New England Patriots (8)
9. Jay Cutler, Chi (5) 273 9. Steve Slaton, Hou (10) 210 9. Marques Colston, NO (5) 172 9. Tennessee Titans (7)
10. David Garrard, Jac (7) 269 10. Frank Gore, SF (6) 206 10. Dwayne Bowe, KC (8) 162 10. Dallas Cowboys (6)
11. Ben Roethlisberger, Pit (8) 267 11. Brian Westbrook, Phi (4) 205 11. Anquan Boldin, Ari (4) 160 11. Carolina Panthers (4)
12. Matt Schaub, Hou (10) 261 12. Chris Johnson, Ten (7) 201 12. Terrell Owens, Buf (9) 157 12. New York Jets (9)
13. Matt Ryan, Atl (4) 255 13. Brandon Jacobs, NYG (10) 198 13. Brandon Marshall, Den (7) 154 13. Green Bay Packers (5)
14. Carson Palmer, Cin (8) 253 14. Ronnie Brown, Mia (6) 187 14. Braylon Edwards, Cle (9) 150 14. Miami Dolphins (6)
15. Matt Hasselbeck, Sea (7) 248 15. Marion Barber, Dal (6) 186 15. Chad Ochocinco, Cin (8) 148 15. Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
16. Matt Cassel, KC (8) 247 16. Darren McFadden, Oak (9) 185 16. DeSean Jackson, Phi (4) 147 16. Indianapolis Colts (6)
17. Trent Edwards, Buf (9) 238 17. Pierre Thomas, NO (5) 185 17. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Sea (7) 145 17. Houston Texans (10)
18. Eli Manning, NYG (10) 237 18. Reggie Bush, NO (5) 180 18. Wes Welker, NE (8) 144 18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)
19. Joe Flacco, Bal (7) 232 19. Kevin Smith, Det (7) 180 19. Donnie Avery, StL (9) 142 19. Buffalo Bills (9)
20. Shaun Hill, SF (6) 228 20. Ryan Grant, GB (5) 170 20. Antonio Bryant, TB (8) 142 20. Arizona Cardinals (4)
21. Jason Campbell, Was (8) 227 21. Marshawn Lynch, Buf (9) 170 21. Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ (9) 139 21. Washington Redskins (8)
22. Chad Pennington, Mia (6) 224 22. Thomas Jones, NYJ (9) 163 22. Santonio Holmes, Pit (8) 137 22. Oakland Raiders (9)
23. Jake Delhomme, Car (4) 215 23. Cedric Benson, Cin (8) 161 23. Santana Moss, Was (8) 137 23. Atlanta Falcons (4)
24. Kyle Orton, Den (7) 215 24. Derrick Ward, TB (8) 158 24. Vincent Jackson, SD (5) 135 24. San Francisco 49ers (6)
25. Mark Sanchez, NYJ (9) 196 25. Larry Johnson, KC (8) 156 25. Eddie Royal, Den (7) 133 25. New Orleans Saints (5)
26. JaMarcus Russell, Oak (9) 195 26. Knowshon Moreno, Den (7) 155 26. Hines Ward, Pit (8) 132 26. Seattle Seahawks (7)
27. Matthew Stafford, Det (7) 189 27. Chris Wells, Ari (4) 138 27. Roy Williams, Dal (6) 130 27. Cleveland Browns (9)
28. Kerry Collins, Ten (7) 182 28. Joseph Addai, Ind (6) 136 28. Anthony Gonzalez, Ind (6) 129 28. Cincinnati Bengals (8)
29. Marc Bulger, StL (9) 181 29. LenDale White, Ten (7) 134 29. Laveranues Coles, Cin (8) 128 29. Denver Broncos (7)
30. Sage Rosenfels, Min (9) 176 30. Jamal Lewis, Cle (9) 131 30. Torry Holt, Jac (7) 127 30. Kansas City Chiefs (8)
31. Brady Quinn, Cle (9) 142 31. Jonathan Stewart, Car (4) 130 31. Donald Driver, GB (5) 124 31. Detroit Lions (7)
32. Byron Leftwich, TB (8) 132 32. Willie Parker, Pit (8) 128 32. Lee Evans, Buf (9) 124 32. St. Louis Rams (9)
33. Luke McCown, TB (8) 84 33. Julius Jones, Sea (7) 128 33. Michael Crabtree, SF (6) 122 KICKERS (BYE)
34. Derek Anderson, Cle (9) 68 34. Leon Washington, NYJ (9) 127 34. Bernard Berrian, Min (9) 121 1. Stephen Gostkowski, NE (8)
35. Chris Simms, Den (7) 65 35. Donald Brown, Ind (6) 123 35. Derrick Mason, Bal (7) 121 2. Nate Kaeding, SD (5)
TIGHT ENDS (BYE) PTS 36. Darren Sproles, SD (5) 118 36. Devin Hester, Chi (5) 120 3. Rob Bironas, Ten (7)
1. Antonio Gates, SD (5) 132 37. Chester Taylor, Min (9) 118 37. Ted Ginn Jr., Mia (6) 115 4. Mason Crosby, GB (5)
2. Jason Witten, Dal (6) 130 38. Ray Rice, Bal (7) 117 38. Steve Breaston, Ari (4) 113 5. Jason Elam, Atl (4)
3. Tony Gonzalez, Atl (4) 123 39. Fred Taylor, NE (8) 110 39. Lance Moore, NO (5) 110 6. Nick Folk, Dal (6)
4. Dallas Clark, Ind (6) 114 40. Ricky Williams, Mia (6) 106 40. Kevin Walter, Hou (10) 109 7. Garrett Hartley, NO (5)
5. Kellen Winslow, TB (8) 109 41. Earnest Graham, TB (8) 103 41. Hakeem Nicks, NYG (10) 105 8. David Akers, Phi (4)
6. Owen Daniels, Hou (10) 100 42. Fred Jackson, Buf (9) 102 42. Chris Chambers, SD (5) 104 9. Kris Brown, Hou (10)
7. Greg Olsen, Chi (5) 97 43. Le'Ron McClain, Bal (7) 101 43. Muhsin Muhammad, Car (4) 104 10. Neil Rackers, Ari (4)
8. Chris Cooley, Was (8) 96 44. Jerious Norwood, Atl (4) 97 44. Steve Smith, NYG (10) 104 11. Ryan Longwell, Min (9)
9. Zach Miller, Oak (9) 88 45. Willis McGahee, Bal (7) 97 45. Mark Clayton, Bal (7) 98 12. Adam Vinatieri, Ind (6)
10. John Carlson, Sea (7) 87 46. Kevin Faulk, NE (8) 96 46. Michael Jenkins, Atl (4) 97 13. Robbie Gould, Chi (5)
11. Dustin Keller, NYJ (9) 86 47. Sammy Morris, NE (8) 95 47. Justin Gage, Ten (7) 94 14. John Kasay, Car (4)
12. Jeremy Shockey, NO (5) 77 48. Rashard Mendenhall, Pit (8) 94 48. Earl Bennett, Chi (5) 92 15. Shayne Graham, Cin (8)
13. Visanthe Shiancoe, Min (9) 75 49. Felix Jones, Dal (6) 92 49. Domenik Hixon, NYG (10) 91 16. Jeff Reed, Pit (8)
14. Bo Scaife, Ten (7) 75 50. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG (10) 92 50. Plaxico Burress, FA 89 17. Lawrence Tynes, NYG (10)
15. Heath Miller, Pit (8) 72 51. LeSean McCoy, Phi (4) 79 51. Isaac Bruce, SF (6) 86 18. Josh Scobee, Jac (7)
16. Tony Scheffler, Den (7) 70 52. Edgerrin James, FA 74 52. Nate Washington, Ten (7) 85 19. Josh Brown, StL (9)
17. Anthony Fasano, Mia (6) 70 53. Tim Hightower, Ari (4) 74 53. Antwaan Randle El, Was (8) 79 20. Joe Nedney, SF (6)
18. Vernon Davis, SF (6) 65 54. Mewelde Moore, Pit (8) 70 54. Chaz Schilens, Oak (9) 79 21. Rian Lindell, Buf (9)
19. Kevin Boss, NYG (10) 60 55. Brandon Jackson, GB (5) 70 55. Chris Henry, Cin (8) 79 22. Dan Carpenter, Mia (6)
20. Todd Heap, Bal (7) 60 56. Jamaal Charles, KC (8) 68 56. Kevin Curtis, Phi (4) 79 23. Jason Hanson, Det (7)
21. Marcedes Lewis, Jac (7) 58 57. T.J. Duckett, Sea (7) 66 57. Deion Branch, Sea (7) 76 24. Phil Dawson, Cle (9)
22. Donald Lee, GB (5) 58 58. Michael Bush, Oak (9) 66 58. Jeremy Maclin, Phi (4) 75 25. Matt Prater, Den (7)
23. Randy McMichael, StL (9) 57 59. Justin Fargas, Oak (9) 65 59. Miles Austin, Dal (6) 74 26. Jay Feely, NYJ (9)
24. Brent Celek, Phi (4) 56 60. Maurice Morris, Det (7) 63 60. Michael Clayton, TB (8) 73 27. Olindo Mare, Sea (7)
25. Brandon Pettigrew, Det (7) 51 61. Correll Buckhalter, Den (7) 60 61. Devery Henderson, NO (5) 68 28. Mike Nugent, TB (8)
26. Robert Royal, Cle (9) 50 62. Laurence Maroney, NE (8) 57 62. Bryant Johnson, Det (7) 67 29. Shaun Suisham, Was (8)
27. Desmond Clark, Chi (5) 46 63. Jerome Harrison, Cle (9) 55 63. Dennis Northcutt, Jac (7) 65 30. Sebastian Janikowski, Oak (9)
28. David Martin, Mia (6) 45 64. Ladell Betts, Was (8) 53 64. Bobby Engram, KC (8) 63 31. Steve Hauschka, Bal (7)
29. L.J. Smith, Bal (7) 41 65. Justin Forsett, Sea (7) 53 65. Patrick Crayton, Dal (6) 63 32. Ryan Succop, KC (8)
A twelve-team league where each team starts one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one PK, and one Team Defense/ST.
Passing: 1 point per 20 yards, 4 points per TD, -1 point per interception thrown • Rushing/Receiving: 1 point per 10 yards, 6 points per TD
PPR
QUARTERBACKS (BYE) PTS RUNNING BACKS (BYE) PTS RECEIVERS (BYE) PTS DEFENSES (BYE)
1. Drew Brees, NO (5) 326 1. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac (7) 296 1. Larry Fitzgerald, Ari (4) 292 1. Pittsburgh Steelers (8)
2. Tom Brady, NE (8) 322 2. Matt Forte, Chi (5) 286 2. Andre Johnson, Hou (10) 290 2. Minnesota Vikings (9)
3. Peyton Manning, Ind (6) 307 3. Adrian Peterson, Min (9) 278 3. Calvin Johnson, Det (7) 279 3. Baltimore Ravens (7)
4. Aaron Rodgers, GB (5) 306 4. Steven Jackson, StL (9) 277 4. Reggie Wayne, Ind (6) 276 4. New York Giants (10)
5. Donovan McNabb, Phi (4) 303 5. Ladainian Tomlinson, SD (5) 274 5. Steve Smith, Car (4) 272 5. Philadelphia Eagles (4)
6. Philip Rivers, SD (5) 298 6. Brian Westbrook, Phi (4) 262 6. Randy Moss, NE (8) 270 6. San Diego Chargers (5)
7. Kurt Warner, Ari (4) 291 7. Clinton Portis, Was (8) 260 7. Roddy White, Atl (4) 258 7. Chicago Bears (5)
8. Tony Romo, Dal (6) 275 8. Reggie Bush, NO (5) 255 8. Dwayne Bowe, KC (8) 252 8. New England Patriots (8)
9. Jay Cutler, Chi (5) 273 9. Frank Gore, SF (6) 255 9. Marques Colston, NO (5) 252 9. Tennessee Titans (7)
10. David Garrard, Jac (7) 269 10. Steve Slaton, Hou (10) 254 10. Greg Jennings, GB (5) 251 10. Dallas Cowboys (6)
11. Ben Roethlisberger, Pit (8) 267 11. Chris Johnson, Ten (7) 246 11. Anquan Boldin, Ari (4) 246 11. Carolina Panthers (4)
12. Matt Schaub, Hou (10) 261 12. DeAngelo Williams, Car (4) 245 12. Wes Welker, NE (8) 237 12. New York Jets (9)
13. Matt Ryan, Atl (4) 255 13. Michael Turner, Atl (4) 242 13. Brandon Marshall, Den (7) 237 13. Green Bay Packers (5)
14. Carson Palmer, Cin (8) 253 14. Marion Barber, Dal (6) 236 14. Terrell Owens, Buf (9) 229 14. Miami Dolphins (6)
15. Matt Hasselbeck, Sea (7) 248 15. Ronnie Brown, Mia (6) 226 15. Chad Ochocinco, Cin (8) 228 15. Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
16. Matt Cassel, KC (8) 247 16. Darren McFadden, Oak (9) 225 16. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Sea (7) 227 16. Indianapolis Colts (6)
17. Trent Edwards, Buf (9) 238 17. Pierre Thomas, NO (5) 220 17. DeSean Jackson, Phi (4) 221 17. Houston Texans (10)
18. Eli Manning, NYG (10) 237 18. Kevin Smith, Det (7) 220 18. Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ (9) 220 18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)
19. Joe Flacco, Bal (7) 232 19. Brandon Jacobs, NYG (10) 216 19. Braylon Edwards, Cle (9) 220 19. Buffalo Bills (9)
20. Shaun Hill, SF (6) 228 20. Marshawn Lynch, Buf (9) 211 20. Donnie Avery, StL (9) 219 20. Arizona Cardinals (4)
21. Jason Campbell, Was (8) 227 21. Derrick Ward, TB (8) 200 21. Antonio Bryant, TB (8) 214 21. Washington Redskins (8)
22. Chad Pennington, Mia (6) 224 22. Ryan Grant, GB (5) 191 22. Santana Moss, Was (8) 213 22. Oakland Raiders (9)
23. Jake Delhomme, Car (4) 215 23. Thomas Jones, NYJ (9) 191 23. Eddie Royal, Den (7) 210 23. Atlanta Falcons (4)
24. Kyle Orton, Den (7) 215 24. Cedric Benson, Cin (8) 184 24. Hines Ward, Pit (8) 204 24. San Francisco 49ers (6)
25. Mark Sanchez, NYJ (9) 196 25. Knowshon Moreno, Den (7) 180 25. Laveranues Coles, Cin (8) 203 25. New Orleans Saints (5)
26. JaMarcus Russell, Oak (9) 195 26. Leon Washington, NYJ (9) 178 26. Santonio Holmes, Pit (8) 202 26. Seattle Seahawks (7)
27. Matthew Stafford, Det (7) 189 27. Larry Johnson, KC (8) 172 27. Anthony Gonzalez, Ind (6) 200 27. Cleveland Browns (9)
28. Kerry Collins, Ten (7) 182 28. Joseph Addai, Ind (6) 163 28. Torry Holt, Jac (7) 197 28. Cincinnati Bengals (8)
29. Marc Bulger, StL (9) 181 29. Chester Taylor, Min (9) 163 29. Vincent Jackson, SD (5) 195 29. Denver Broncos (7)
30. Sage Rosenfels, Min (9) 176 30. Darren Sproles, SD (5) 155 30. Roy Williams, Dal (6) 194 30. Kansas City Chiefs (8)
31. Brady Quinn, Cle (9) 142 31. Julius Jones, Sea (7) 152 31. Derrick Mason, Bal (7) 194 31. Detroit Lions (7)
32. Byron Leftwich, TB (8) 132 32. Ray Rice, Bal (7) 152 32. Donald Driver, GB (5) 191 32. St. Louis Rams (9)
33. Luke McCown, TB (8) 84 33. Donald Brown, Ind (6) 146 33. Lee Evans, Buf (9) 184 KICKERS (BYE)
34. Derek Anderson, Cle (9) 68 34. Willie Parker, Pit (8) 144 34. Michael Crabtree, SF (6) 182 1. Stephen Gostkowski, NE (8)
35. Chris Simms, Den (7) 65 35. Kevin Faulk, NE (8) 143 35. Steve Breaston, Ari (4) 180 2. Nate Kaeding, SD (5)
TIGHT ENDS (BYE) PTS 36. Jamal Lewis, Cle (9) 143 36. Devin Hester, Chi (5) 177 3. Rob Bironas, Ten (7)
1. Jason Witten, Dal (6) 210 37. Chris Wells, Ari (4) 143 37. Bernard Berrian, Min (9) 176 4. Mason Crosby, GB (5)
2. Antonio Gates, SD (5) 200 38. LenDale White, Ten (7) 142 38. Ted Ginn Jr., Mia (6) 174 5. Jason Elam, Atl (4)
3. Tony Gonzalez, Atl (4) 196 39. Ricky Williams, Mia (6) 140 39. Kevin Walter, Hou (10) 168 6. Nick Folk, Dal (6)
4. Dallas Clark, Ind (6) 186 40. Jonathan Stewart, Car (4) 140 40. Lance Moore, NO (5) 168 7. Garrett Hartley, NO (5)
5. Kellen Winslow, TB (8) 175 41. Fred Jackson, Buf (9) 135 41. Steve Smith, NYG (10) 167 8. David Akers, Phi (4)
6. Owen Daniels, Hou (10) 166 42. Jerious Norwood, Atl (4) 129 42. Hakeem Nicks, NYG (10) 163 9. Kris Brown, Hou (10)
7. Chris Cooley, Was (8) 161 43. Earnest Graham, TB (8) 126 43. Muhsin Muhammad, Car (4) 159 10. Neil Rackers, Ari (4)
8. Greg Olsen, Chi (5) 157 44. Fred Taylor, NE (8) 124 44. Chris Chambers, SD (5) 157 11. Ryan Longwell, Min (9)
9. Zach Miller, Oak (9) 143 45. Willis McGahee, Bal (7) 117 45. Michael Jenkins, Atl (4) 150 12. Adam Vinatieri, Ind (6)
10. Dustin Keller, NYJ (9) 140 46. Le'Ron McClain, Bal (7) 116 46. Mark Clayton, Bal (7) 147 13. Robbie Gould, Chi (5)
11. John Carlson, Sea (7) 139 47. Sammy Morris, NE (8) 110 47. Justin Gage, Ten (7) 144 14. John Kasay, Car (4)
12. Bo Scaife, Ten (7) 125 48. Felix Jones, Dal (6) 110 48. Earl Bennett, Chi (5) 142 15. Shayne Graham, Cin (8)
13. Jeremy Shockey, NO (5) 123 49. Mewelde Moore, Pit (8) 109 49. Domenik Hixon, NYG (10) 141 16. Jeff Reed, Pit (8)
14. Visanthe Shiancoe, Min (9) 120 50. Rashard Mendenhall, Pit (8) 106 50. Isaac Bruce, SF (6) 135 17. Lawrence Tynes, NYG (10)
15. Heath Miller, Pit (8) 117 51. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG (10) 103 51. Plaxico Burress, FA 134 18. Josh Scobee, Jac (7)
16. Tony Scheffler, Den (7) 108 52. Brandon Jackson, GB (5) 100 52. Antwaan Randle El, Was (8) 131 19. Josh Brown, StL (9)
17. Anthony Fasano, Mia (6) 108 53. LeSean McCoy, Phi (4) 99 53. Nate Washington, Ten (7) 126 20. Joe Nedney, SF (6)
18. Vernon Davis, SF (6) 99 54. Jamaal Charles, KC (8) 98 54. Kevin Curtis, Phi (4) 123 21. Rian Lindell, Buf (9)
19. Todd Heap, Bal (7) 98 55. Tim Hightower, Ari (4) 89 55. Chris Henry, Cin (8) 121 22. Dan Carpenter, Mia (6)
20. Kevin Boss, NYG (10) 96 56. Edgerrin James, FA 82 56. Chaz Schilens, Oak (9) 120 23. Jason Hanson, Det (7)
21. Marcedes Lewis, Jac (7) 93 57. Maurice Morris, Det (7) 82 57. Deion Branch, Sea (7) 118 24. Phil Dawson, Cle (9)
22. Donald Lee, GB (5) 93 58. Michael Bush, Oak (9) 82 58. Michael Clayton, TB (8) 116 25. Matt Prater, Den (7)
23. Randy McMichael, StL (9) 92 59. Justin Fargas, Oak (9) 77 59. Miles Austin, Dal (6) 116 26. Jay Feely, NYJ (9)
24. Brent Celek, Phi (4) 91 60. Jerome Harrison, Cle (9) 75 60. Jeremy Maclin, Phi (4) 114 27. Olindo Mare, Sea (7)
25. Robert Royal, Cle (9) 84 62. T.J. Duckett, Sea (7) 73 61. Bryant Johnson, Det (7) 108 28. Mike Nugent, TB (8)
27. Brandon Pettigrew, Det (7) 81 61. Leonard Weaver, Phi (4) 73 62. Bobby Engram, KC (8) 105 29. Shaun Suisham, Was (8)
26. Desmond Clark, Chi (5) 81 63. Correll Buckhalter, Den (7) 69 63. Dennis Northcutt, Jac (7) 103 30. Sebastian Janikowski, Oak (9)
28. David Martin, Mia (6) 73 64. Ladell Betts, Was (8) 68 64. Greg Camarillo, Mia (6) 103 31. Steve Hauschka, Bal (7)
29. L.J. Smith, Bal (7) 69 65. Justin Forsett, Sea (7) 65 65. Keenan Burton, StL (9) 103 32. Ryan Succop, KC (8)
A twelve-team league where each team starts one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one PK, and one Team Defense/ST.
Passing: 1 point per 20 yards, 4 points per TD, -1 point per interception thrown • Rushing/Receiving: 1 point per 10 yards, 1 point per reception, 6 points per TD
QUARTERBACKS (BYE) PTS RUNNING BACKS (BYE) PTS RECEIVERS (BYE) PTS DEFENSES (BYE)
1. Tom Brady, NE (8) 113 1. Adrian Peterson, Min (9) 84 1. Randy Moss, NE (8) 78 1. Pittsburgh Steelers (8)
2. Drew Brees, NO (5) 106 2. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac (7) 84 2. Larry Fitzgerald, Ari (4) 72 2. Minnesota Vikings (9)
3. Peyton Manning, Ind (6) 105 3. Ladainian Tomlinson, SD (5) 84 3. Calvin Johnson, Det (7) 60 3. Baltimore Ravens (7)
4. Aaron Rodgers, GB (5) 101 4. Michael Turner, Atl (4) 78 4. Reggie Wayne, Ind (6) 60 4. New York Giants (10)
5. Philip Rivers, SD (5) 101 5. DeAngelo Williams, Car (4) 78 5. Marques Colston, NO (5) 60 5. Philadelphia Eagles (4)
6. Donovan McNabb, Phi (4) 97 6. Steven Jackson, StL (9) 72 6. Andre Johnson, Hou (10) 54 6. San Diego Chargers (5)
7. Kurt Warner, Ari (4) 96 7. Matt Forte, Chi (5) 72 7. Steve Smith, Car (4) 54 7. Chicago Bears (5)
8. Ben Roethlisberger, Pit (8) 87 8. Brandon Jacobs, NYG (10) 72 8. Greg Jennings, GB (5) 54 8. New England Patriots (8)
9. Jay Cutler, Chi (5) 82 9. Clinton Portis, Was (8) 66 9. Anquan Boldin, Ari (4) 54 9. Tennessee Titans (7)
10. Tony Romo, Dal (6) 80 10. Brian Westbrook, Phi (4) 66 10. Terrell Owens, Buf (9) 54 10. Dallas Cowboys (6)
11. Matt Hasselbeck, Sea (7) 80 11. Pierre Thomas, NO (5) 66 11. Roddy White, Atl (4) 48 11. Carolina Panthers (4)
12. Eli Manning, NYG (10) 79 12. Steve Slaton, Hou (10) 60 12. Dwayne Bowe, KC (8) 48 12. New York Jets (9)
13. Matt Ryan, Atl (4) 75 13. Frank Gore, SF (6) 60 13. Brandon Marshall, Den (7) 48 13. Green Bay Packers (5)
14. David Garrard, Jac (7) 74 14. Chris Johnson, Ten (7) 60 14. Braylon Edwards, Cle (9) 48 14. Miami Dolphins (6)
15. Carson Palmer, Cin (8) 73 15. Ronnie Brown, Mia (6) 60 15. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Sea (7)48 15. Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
16. Matt Cassel, KC (8) 71 16. Reggie Bush, NO (5) 60 16. Chad Ochocinco, Cin (8) 42 16. Indianapolis Colts (6)
17. Trent Edwards, Buf (9) 71 17. LenDale White, Ten (7) 60 17. Wes Welker, NE (8) 42 17. Houston Texans (10)
18. Matt Schaub, Hou (10) 68 18. Marion Barber, Dal (6) 54 18. Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ (9) 42 18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)
19. Kyle Orton, Den (7) 67 19. Darren McFadden, Oak (9) 54 19. Santonio Holmes, Pit (8) 42 19. Buffalo Bills (9)
20. Shaun Hill, SF (6) 62 20. Kevin Smith, Det (7) 54 20. Vincent Jackson, SD (5) 42 20. Arizona Cardinals (4)
21. Jake Delhomme, Car (4) 62 21. Cedric Benson, Cin (8) 54 21. Hines Ward, Pit (8) 42 21. Washington Redskins (8)
22. Joe Flacco, Bal (7) 61 22. Larry Johnson, KC (8) 54 22. Roy Williams, Dal (6) 42 22. Oakland Raiders (9)
23. Jason Campbell, Was (8) 61 23. Marshawn Lynch, Buf (9) 48 23. Torry Holt, Jac (7) 42 23. Atlanta Falcons (4)
24. Chad Pennington, Mia (6) 61 24. Thomas Jones, NYJ (9) 48 24. Michael Crabtree, SF (6) 42 24. San Francisco 49ers (6)
25. Mark Sanchez, NYJ (9) 52 25. Knowshon Moreno, Den (7) 48 25. DeSean Jackson, Phi (4) 36 25. New Orleans Saints (5)
26. JaMarcus Russell, Oak (9) 52 26. Chris Wells, Ari (4) 48 26. Donnie Avery, StL (9) 36 26. Seattle Seahawks (7)
27. Matthew Stafford, Det (7) 51 27. Jonathan Stewart, Car (4) 48 27. Antonio Bryant, TB (8) 36 27. Cleveland Browns (9)
28. Kerry Collins, Ten (7) 50 28. Le'Ron McClain, Bal (7) 48 28. Santana Moss, Was (8) 36 28. Cincinnati Bengals (8)
29. Sage Rosenfels, Min (9) 48 29. Ryan Grant, GB (5) 42 29. Eddie Royal, Den (7) 36 29. Denver Broncos (7)
30. Marc Bulger, StL (9) 42 30. Joseph Addai, Ind (6) 42 30. Anthony Gonzalez, Ind (6) 36 30. Kansas City Chiefs (8)
31. Brady Quinn, Cle (9) 41 31. Jamal Lewis, Cle (9) 42 31. Laveranues Coles, Cin (8) 36 31. Detroit Lions (7)
32. Byron Leftwich, TB (8) 28 32. Donald Brown, Ind (6) 42 32. Donald Driver, GB (5) 36 32. St. Louis Rams (9)
33. Luke McCown, TB (8) 20 33. Derrick Ward, TB (8) 36 33. Lee Evans, Buf (9) 36 KICKERS (BYE)
34. Chris Simms, Den (7) 20 34. Chester Taylor, Min (9) 36 34. Bernard Berrian, Min (9) 36 1. Stephen Gostkowski, NE (8)
35. Derek Anderson, Cle (9) 19 35. Fred Taylor, NE (8) 36 35. Devin Hester, Chi (5) 36 2. Nate Kaeding, SD (5)
TIGHT ENDS (BYE) PTS 36. Sammy Morris, NE (8) 36 36. Lance Moore, NO (5) 36 3. Rob Bironas, Ten (7)
1. Antonio Gates, SD (5) 48 37. Rashard Mendenhall, Pit (8) 36 37. Derrick Mason, Bal (7) 30 4. Mason Crosby, GB (5)
2. Tony Gonzalez, Atl (4) 42 38. Willie Parker, Pit (8) 30 38. Ted Ginn Jr., Mia (6) 30 5. Jason Elam, Atl (4)
3. Jason Witten, Dal (6) 36 39. Leon Washington, NYJ (9) 30 39. Steve Breaston, Ari (4) 30 6. Nick Folk, Dal (6)
4. Dallas Clark, Ind (6) 36 40. Darren Sproles, SD (5) 30 40. Kevin Walter, Hou (10) 30 7. Garrett Hartley, NO (5)
5. Kellen Winslow, TB (8) 30 41. Ricky Williams, Mia (6) 30 41. Hakeem Nicks, NYG (10) 30 8. David Akers, Phi (4)
6. Greg Olsen, Chi (5) 30 42. Willis McGahee, Bal (7) 30 42. Chris Chambers, SD (5) 30 9. Kris Brown, Hou (10)
7. Chris Cooley, Was (8) 30 43. Felix Jones, Dal (6) 30 43. Muhsin Muhammad, Car (4) 30 10. Neil Rackers, Ari (4)
8. John Carlson, Sea (7) 30 44. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG (10) 30 44. Steve Smith, NYG (10) 30 11. Ryan Longwell, Min (9)
9. Owen Daniels, Hou (10) 24 45. T.J. Duckett, Sea (7) 30 45. Plaxico Burress, FA 30 12. Adam Vinatieri, Ind (6)
10. Zach Miller, Oak (9) 24 46. Julius Jones, Sea (7) 24 46. Mark Clayton, Bal (7) 24 13. Robbie Gould, Chi (5)
11. Dustin Keller, NYJ (9) 24 47. Ray Rice, Bal (7) 24 47. Michael Jenkins, Atl (4) 24 14. John Kasay, Car (4)
12. Jeremy Shockey, NO (5) 24 48. Earnest Graham, TB (8) 24 48. Justin Gage, Ten (7) 24 15. Shayne Graham, Cin (8)
13. Visanthe Shiancoe, Min (9) 24 49. Fred Jackson, Buf (9) 24 49. Earl Bennett, Chi (5) 24 16. Jeff Reed, Pit (8)
14. Bo Scaife, Ten (7) 24 50. Jerious Norwood, Atl (4) 24 50. Domenik Hixon, NYG (10) 24 17. Lawrence Tynes, NYG (10)
15. Heath Miller, Pit (8) 24 51. Kevin Faulk, NE (8) 24 51. Isaac Bruce, SF (6) 24 18. Josh Scobee, Jac (7)
16. Tony Scheffler, Den (7) 24 52. LeSean McCoy, Phi (4) 24 52. Nate Washington, Ten (7) 24 19. Josh Brown, StL (9)
17. Anthony Fasano, Mia (6) 24 53. Tim Hightower, Ari (4) 24 53. Chaz Schilens, Oak (9) 24 20. Joe Nedney, SF (6)
18. Vernon Davis, SF (6) 24 54. Edgerrin James, FA 18 54. Chris Henry, Cin (8) 24 21. Rian Lindell, Buf (9)
19. Kevin Boss, NYG (10) 24 55. Mewelde Moore, Pit (8) 18 55. Kevin Curtis, Phi (4) 24 22. Dan Carpenter, Mia (6)
20. Todd Heap, Bal (7) 18 56. Brandon Jackson, GB (5) 18 56. Deion Branch, Sea (7) 24 23. Jason Hanson, Det (7)
21. Marcedes Lewis, Jac (7) 18 57. Michael Bush, Oak (9) 18 57. Jeremy Maclin, Phi (4) 24 24. Phil Dawson, Cle (9)
22. Donald Lee, GB (5) 18 58. Correll Buckhalter, Den (7) 18 58. Antwaan Randle El, Was (8) 18 25. Matt Prater, Den (7)
23. Randy McMichael, StL (9) 18 59. Laurence Maroney, NE (8) 18 59. Miles Austin, Dal (6) 18 26. Jay Feely, NYJ (9)
24. Brent Celek, Phi (4) 18 60. Leonard Weaver, Phi (4) 18 60. Michael Clayton, TB (8) 18 27. Olindo Mare, Sea (7)
25. Brandon Pettigrew, Det (7) 18 61. Kevin Jones, Chi (5) 18 61. Devery Henderson, NO (5) 18 28. Mike Nugent, TB (8)
26. Robert Royal, Cle (9) 12 62. Greg Jones, Jac (7) 18 62. Bryant Johnson, Det (7) 18 29. Shaun Suisham, Was (8)
27. Desmond Clark, Chi (5) 12 63. Jamaal Charles, KC (8) 12 63. Dennis Northcutt, Jac (7) 18 30. Sebastian Janikowski, Oak (9)
28. David Martin, Mia (6) 12 64. Justin Fargas, Oak (9) 12 64. Bobby Engram, KC (8) 18 31. Steve Hauschka, Bal (7)
29. L.J. Smith, Bal (7) 12 65. Maurice Morris, Det (7) 12 65. Greg Camarillo, Mia (6) 18 32. Ryan Succop, KC (8)
A twelve-team league where each team starts one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one PK, and one Team Defense/ST.
Passing: 4 points per TD, -1 point per interception thrown • Rushing/Receiving: 6 points per TD
A twelve-team league where each team starts one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one PK, and one Team Defense/ST.
Salary cap = $200 per team, minimum bid = $1 • Passing: 1 point per 20 yards, 4 points per TD, -1 point per interception thrown • Rushing/Receiving: 1 point per 10 yards, 6 points per TD
DEFENSIVE BACKS (BYE) PTS DEFENSIVE LINEMAN (BYE) PTS LINEBACKERS (BYE) PTS
1. SS Adrian Wilson, Ari (4) 193 1. DE Trent Cole, Phi (4) 167 1. MLB Barrett Ruud, TB (8) 234
2. FS Eric Weddle, SD (5) 183 2. DE Jared Allen, Min (9) 166 2. ILB Karlos Dansby, Ari (4) 233
3. CB Charles Tillman, Chi (5) 181 3. DE Mario Williams, Hou (10) 158 3. MLB Jon Beason, Car (4) 226
4. SS Yeremiah Bell, Mia (6) 181 4. DE Justin Tuck, NYG (10) 152 4. ILB Patrick Willis, SF (6) 225
5. CB Antoine Winfield, Min (9) 178 5. DE John Abraham, Atl (4) 144 5. MLB Curtis Lofton, Atl (4) 224
6. FS Gibril Wilson, Mia (6) 175 6. DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, Ten (7) 143 6. ILB D.J. Williams, Den (7) 224
7. SS Chris Horton, Was (8) 175 7. DE Robert Mathis, Ind (6) 139 7. ILB Ray Lewis, Bal (7) 220
8. SS Troy Polamalu, Pit (8) 174 8. DE Justin Smith, SF (6) 139 8. OLB James Harrison, Pit (8) 216
9. SS Kevin Payne, Chi (5) 174 9. DE Aaron Schobel, Buf (9) 136 9. MLB Kirk Morrison, Oak (9) 211
10. SS Quintin Mikell, Phi (4) 173 10. DE Julius Peppers, Car (4) 136 10. ILB Bradie James, Dal (6) 211
11. CB Richard Marshall, Car (4) 172 11. DE Adewale Ogunleye, Chi (5) 128 11. MLB Jonathan Vilma, NO (5) 209
12. SS Bernard Pollard, KC (8) 172 12. OLB Aaron Kampman, GB (5) 127 12. ILB Lawrence Timmons, Pit (8) 209
13. CB Chris Gamble, Car (4) 171 13. DE Osi Umenyiora, NYG (10) 126 13. MLB London Fletcher, Was (8) 208
14. FS Oshiomogho Atogwe, Stl (9) 170 14. DT Albert Haynesworth, Was (8) 125 14. MLB E.J. Henderson, Min (9) 207
15. SS Antoine Bethea, Ind (6) 169 15. DE Darryl Tapp, Sea (7) 124 15. ILB Stephen Cooper, SD (5) 205
16. SS Sabby Piscitelli, TB (8) 169 16. DE Patrick Kerney, Sea (7) 124 16. OLB Demarcus Ware, Dal (6) 203
17. SS Michael Lewis, SF (6) 168 17. NT Shaun Rogers, Cle (9) 123 17. MLB DeMeco Ryans, Hou (10) 202
18. SS Patrick Chung, NE (8) 166 18. DE Chris Long, Stl (9) 123 18. MLB Paul Posluszny, Buf (9) 200
19. FS Kenny Phillips, NYG (10) 164 19. DE Derrick Burgess, Oak (9) 122 19. ILB D'Qwell Jackson, Cle (9) 200
20. CB Cedric Griffin, Min (9) 163 20. DE Antonio Smith, Hou (10) 121 20. ILB Bart Scott, NYJ (9) 199
21. SS William Moore, Atl (4) 159 21. DT Kevin Williams, Min (9) 120 21. MLB Stewart Bradley, Phi (4) 198
22. FS Eugene Wilson, Hou (10) 158 22. DE Gaines Adams, TB (8) 118 22. MLB Gary Brackett, Ind (6) 198
23. CB Corey Graham, Chi (5) 158 23. DT Tommy Kelly, Oak (9) 117 23. MLB Lofa Tatupu, Sea (7) 197
24. CB DeAngelo Hall, Was (8) 158 24. DE Shaun Ellis, NYJ (9) 115 24. MLB James Laurinaitis, Stl (9) 194
25. FS Kerry Rhodes, NYJ (9) 158 25. DE Cliff Avril, Det (7) 113 25. WLB Justin Durant, Jac (7) 193
26. SS Louis Delmas, Det (7) 157 26. DE Charles Grant, NO (5) 113 26. WLB Lance Briggs, Chi (5) 192
27. CB Brandon Flowers, KC (8) 157 27. DE Will Smith, NO (5) 113 27. ILB Jerod Mayo, NE (8) 192
28. CB Ronde Barber, TB (8) 155 28. DE Richard Seymour, NE (8) 111 28. ILB David Harris, NYJ (9) 189
29. CB Ronald Bartell, Stl (9) 155 29. DT Jason Jones, Ten (7) 111 29. ILB Nick Barnett, GB (5) 187
30. CB Terrence McGee, Buf (9) 153 30. DE Darnell Dockett, Ari (4) 110 30. WLB Thomas Davis, Car (4) 187
31. CB Aqib Talib, TB (8) 153 31. DE Trevor Scott, Oak (9) 109 31. MLB Brian Urlacher, Chi (5) 185
32. CB Quentin Jammer, SD (5) 153 32. DE Aaron Smith, Pit (8) 107 32. ILB Derrick Johnson, KC (8) 184
33. SS Roman Harper, NO (5) 151 33. DE Dewayne White, Det (7) 106 33. MLB Rey Maualuga, Cin (8) 184
34. CB Rashean Mathis, Jac (7) 151 34. DE Darren Howard, Phi (4) 105 34. WLB Will Witherspoon, Stl (9) 184
35. FS Bob Sanders, Ind (6) 151 35. DE Alex Brown, Chi (5) 103 35. ILB James Farrior, Pit (8) 183
36. CB Terence Newman, Dal (6) 149 36. DE Andre Carter, Was (8) 103 36. SLB Chad Greenway, Min (9) 181
37. SS Chinedum Ndukwe, Cin (8) 149 37. DE Antwan Odom, Cin (8) 103 37. OLB Shawne Merriman, SD (5) 180
38. FS Nick Collins, GB (5) 148 38. NT Jay Ratliff, Dal (6) 102 38. WLB Keith Rivers, Cin (8) 178
39. FS Antrel Rolle, Ari (4) 148 39. NT Kelly Gregg, Bal (7) 102 39. ILB Channing Crowder, Mia (6) 177
40. CB Leon Hall, Cin (8) 147 40. DT Kyle Williams, Buf (9) 99 40. WLB Keith Bulluck, Ten (7) 177
41. SS Michael Mitchell, Oak (9) 147 41. DE Marques Douglas, NYJ (9) 98 41. WLB Clint Session, Ind (6) 177
42. CB Brandon McDonald, Cle (9) 147 42. DE Ray Edwards, Min (9) 98 42. WLB Ernie Sims, Det (7) 174
43. FS Brandon Meriweather, NE (8) 146 43. DE Derrick Harvey, Jac (7) 97 43. ILB A.J. Hawk, GB (5) 174
44. CB Dunta Robinson, Hou (10) 146 44. DT Tony Brown, Ten (7) 96 44. WLB Thomas Howard, Oak (9) 173
45. CB Brian Williams, Jac (7) 146 45. DT Tommie Harris, Chi (5) 95 45. ILB Gerald Hayes, Ari (4) 173
46. SS Chris Hope, Ten (7) 145 46. DE Mathias Kiwanuka, NYG (10) 95 46. MLB Antonio Pierce, NYG (10) 170
47. CB Darrelle Revis, NYJ (9) 145 47. NT Kris Jenkins, NYJ (9) 94 47. WLB Mike Peterson, Atl (4) 170
48. CB Cortland Finnegan, Ten (7) 144 48. DE Greg White, TB (8) 93 48. MLB Larry Foote, Det (7) 164
49. CB Tracy Porter, NO (5) 144 49. NT Jamal Williams, SD (5) 92 49. ILB Kevin Burnett, SD (5) 163
50. FS Erik Coleman, Atl (4) 144 50. NT B.J. Ragi, GB (5) 91 50. ILB Keith Brooking, Dal (6) 163
51. SS Tyrell Johnson, Min (9) 144 51. NT Vince Wilfork, NE (8) 91 51. ILB Takeo Spikes, SF (6) 162
52. FS Madieu Williams, Min (9) 144 52. OLB Matt Roth, Mia (6) 90 52. OLB Terrell Suggs, Bal (7) 162
53. FS Ken Hamlin, Dal (6) 143 53. DT Damione Lewis, Car (4) 90 53. SLB Brian Cushing, Hou (10) 160
54. CB Marcus Trufant, Sea (7) 143 54. DE Aaron Maybin, Buf (9) 89 54. WLB Akeem Jordan, Phi (4) 160
55. SS Ed Reed, Bal (7) 143 55. DE Dwight Freeney, Ind (6) 89 55. WLB Jermaine Phillips, TB (8) 160
56. FS Michael Griffin, Ten (7) 142 56. DE Leonard Little, Stl (9) 89 56. OLB Calvin Pace, NYJ (9) 160
57. FS Dawan Landry, Bal (7) 142 57. DT Grady Jackson, Det (7) 88 57. SLB Julian Peterson, Det (7) 158
58. SS Sean Jones, Phi (4) 141 58. DT Cory Redding, Sea (7) 88 58. ILB Eric Barton, Cle (9) 157
59. CB Charles Woodson, GB (5) 140 59. DE Michael Johnson , Cin (8) 87 59. WLB Leroy Hill , Sea (7) 156
60. SS Mike Adams, Cle (9) 138 60. DT John Henderson, Jac (7) 87 60. OLB Adalius Thomas, NE (8) 155
61. CB Kelvin Hayden, Ind (6) 138 61. NT Haloti Ngata, Bal (7) 87 61. ILB Tavares Gooden, Bal (7) 150
62. SS Chris Harris, Car (4) 137 62. DT Sedrick Ellis, NO (5) 86 62. WLB Kawika Mitchell, Buf (9) 150
63. SS Renaldo Hill, Den (7) 137 63. DT Jonathan Babineaux, Atl (4) 86 63. WLB Rocky McIntosh, Was (8) 148
64. CB Nick Harper, Ten (7) 135 64. DT Rocky Bernard, NYG (10) 84 64. ILB Andra Davis, Den (7) 147
65. CB Brandon Carr, KC (8) 135 65. DE Glenn Dorsey, KC (8) 83 65. SLB Aaron Curry, Sea (7) 146
1.5 points per solo tackle, .75 points per assisted tackle, 4 points per sack • 4 points per forced fumble, 4 points per fumble recovery
4 points per interception, 1.5 points per pass defensed • 6 points per touchdown, 2 points per safety
DYNASTY
QUARTERBACKS (BYE) BACKS (BYE) RECEIVERS (BYE) DEFENSES (BYE)
1. Drew Brees, NO (5) 1. Adrian Peterson, Min (9) 1. Larry Fitzgerald, Ari (4) 1. Pittsburgh Steelers, Pit (8)
2. Tom Brady, NE (8) 2. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac (7) 2. Calvin Johnson, Det (7) 2. New York Giants, NYG (10)
3. Peyton Manning, Ind (6) 3. Steven Jackson, StL (9) 3. Reggie Wayne, Ind (6) 3. Minnesota Vikings, Min (9)
4. Aaron Rodgers, GB (5) 4. Michael Turner, Atl (4) 4. Andre Johnson, Hou (10) 4. Baltimore Ravens, Bal (7)
5. Jay Cutler, Chi (5) 5. Chris Johnson, Ten (7) 5. Steve Smith, Car (4) 5. New England Patriots, NE (8)
6. Tony Romo, Dal (6) 6. Matt Forte, Chi (5) 6. Randy Moss, NE (8) 6. Chicago Bears, Chi (5)
7. Philip Rivers, SD (5) 7. Frank Gore, SF (6) 7. Anquan Boldin, Ari (4) 7. San Diego Chargers, SD (5)
8. Matt Ryan, Atl (4) 8. Marion Barber, Dal (6) 8. Greg Jennings, GB (5) 8. Dallas Cowboys, Dal (6)
9. Donovan McNabb, Phi (4) 9. DeAngelo Williams, Car (4) 9. Dwayne Bowe, KC (8) 9. New York Jets, NYJ (9)
10. Carson Palmer, Cin (8) 10. Brandon Jacobs, NYG (10) 10. Roddy White, Atl (4) 10. Philadelphia Eagles, Phi (4)
11. Ben Roethlisberger, Pit (8) 11. Reggie Bush, NO (5) 11. Brandon Marshall, Den (7) 11. Tennessee Titans, Ten (7)
12. Matt Schaub, Hou (10) 12. Knowshon Moreno, Den (7) 12. Marques Colston, NO (5) 12. Carolina Panthers, Car (4)
13. Eli Manning, NYG (10) 13. Jonathan Stewart, Car (4) 13. Michael Crabtree, SF (6) 13. Green Bay Packers, GB (5)
14. Kurt Warner, Ari (4) 14. Marshawn Lynch, Buf (9) 14. Wes Welker, NE (8) 14. Jacksonville Jaguars, Jac (7)
15. David Garrard, Jac (7) 15. Steve Slaton, Hou (10) 15. Braylon Edwards, Cle (9) 15. Arizona Cardinals, Ari (4)
16. Matt Cassel, KC (8) 16. Clinton Portis, Was (8) 16. Santonio Holmes, Pit (8) 16. Houston Texans, Hou (10)
17. Mark Sanchez, NYJ (9) 17. Brian Westbrook, Phi (4) 17. Eddie Royal, Den (7) 17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, TB (8)
18. Matthew Stafford, Det (7) 18. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD (5) 18. Chad Ochocinco, Cin (8) 18. Indianapolis Colts, Ind (6)
19. Joe Flacco, Bal (7) 19. Ronnie Brown, Mia (6) 19. Santana Moss, Was (8) 19. Oakland Raiders, Oak (9)
20. Brady Quinn, Cle (9) 20. Darren McFadden, Oak (9) 20. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Sea (7) 20. Atlanta Falcons, Atl (4)
21. Matt Hasselbeck, Sea (7) 21. Kevin Smith, Det (7) 21. Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ (9) 21. Buffalo Bills, Buf (9)
22. Kyle Orton, Den (7) 22. Pierre Thomas, NO (5) 22. Lee Evans, Buf (9) 22. Miami Dolphins, Mia (6)
23. Jason Campbell, Was (8) 23. Joseph Addai, Ind (6) 23. Anthony Gonzalez, Ind (6) 23. Seattle Seahawks, Sea (7)
24. JaMarcus Russell, Oak (9) 24. Chris Wells, Ari (4) 24. Hakeem Nicks, NYG (10) 24. Washington Redskins, Was (8)
25. Jake Delhomme, Car (4) 25. Donald Brown, Ind (6) 25. Roy Williams, Dal (6) 25. San Francisco 49ers, SF (6)
26. Shaun Hill, SF (6) 26. Ryan Grant, GB (5) 26. DeSean Jackson, Phi (4) 26. New Orleans Saints, NO (5)
27. Trent Edwards, Buf (9) 27. Felix Jones, Dal (6) 27. Donnie Avery, StL (9) 27. Cleveland Browns, Cle (9)
28. Marc Bulger, StL (9) 28. Ray Rice, Bal (7) 28. Jeremy Maclin, Phi (4) 28. Denver Broncos, Den (7)
29. Josh Freeman, TB (8) 29. Shonn Greene, NYJ (9) 29. Vincent Jackson, SD (5) 29. Cincinnati Bengals, Cin (8)
30. Chad Pennington, Mia (6) 30. Rashard Mendenhall, Pit (8) 30. Lance Moore, NO (5) 30. St. Louis Rams, StL (9)
31. Chad Henne, Mia (6) 31. LeSean McCoy, Phi (4) 31. Steve Breaston, Ari (4) 31. Kansas City Chiefs, KC (8)
32. Derek Anderson, Cle (9) 32. Thomas Jones, NYJ (9) 32. Laveranues Coles, Cin (8) 32. Detroit Lions, Det (7)
33. Matt Leinart, Ari (4) 33. Willie Parker, Pit (8) 33. Antonio Bryant, TB (8) KICKERS (BYE)
34. Sage Rosenfels, Min (9) 34. Larry Johnson, KC (8) 34. Bernard Berrian, Min (9) 1. Nate Kaeding, SD (5)
35. Kevin Kolb, Phi (4) 35. Derrick Ward, TB (8) 35. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oak (9) 2. Rob Bironas, Ten (7)
TIGHT ENDS (BYE) 36. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG (10) 36. Terrell Owens, Buf (9) 3. Nick Folk, Dal (6)
1. Jason Witten, Dal (6) 37. Darren Sproles, SD (5) 37. Percy Harvin, Min (9) 4. Stephen Gostkowski, NE (8)
2. Antonio Gates, SD (5) 38. Leon Washington, NYJ (9) 38. Hines Ward, Pit (8) 5. Garrett Hartley, NO (5)
3. Kellen Winslow, TB (8) 39. Jerious Norwood, Atl (4) 39. Donald Driver, GB (5) 6. Kris Brown, Hou (10)
4. Dallas Clark, Ind (6) 40. Earnest Graham, TB (8) 40. Josh Morgan, SF (6) 7. Mason Crosby, GB (5)
5. Tony Gonzalez, Atl (4) 41. Willis McGahee, Bal (7) 41. Kevin Walter, Hou (10) 8. Neil Rackers, Ari (4)
6. Chris Cooley, Was (8) 42. Cedric Benson, Cin (8) 42. Brian Robiskie, Cle (9) 9. Robbie Gould, Chi (5)
7. Owen Daniels, Hou (10) 43. LenDale White, Ten (7) 43. Kenny Britt, Ten (7) 10. Shayne Graham, Cin (8)
8. Zach Miller, Oak (9) 44. Tashard Choice, Dal (6) 44. Steve Smith, NYG (10) 11. Jeff Reed, Pit (8)
9. Greg Olsen, Chi (5) 45. Jamal Lewis, Cle (9) 45. Chris Chambers, SD (5) 12. Josh Scobee, Jac (7)
10. Dustin Keller, NYJ (9) 46. Tim Hightower, Ari (4) 46. Mike Thomas, Jac (7) 13. Jason Elam, Atl (4)
11. John Carlson, Sea (7) 47. Chester Taylor, Min (9) 47. Sidney Rice, Min (9) 14. Adam Vinatieri, Ind (6)
12. Tony Scheffler, Den (7) 48. Fred Jackson, Buf (9) 48. Miles Austin, Dal (6) 15. Lawrence Tynes, NYG (10)
13. Brandon Pettigrew, Det (7) 49. LeRon McClain, Bal (7) 49. Brandon Tate, NE (8) 16. David Akers, Phi (4)
14. Heath Miller, Pit (8) 50. Michael Bush, Oak (9) 50. Ted Ginn, Mia (6) 17. Ryan Longwell, Min (9)
15. Jeremy Shockey, NO (5) 51. Andre Brown, NYG (10) 51. Devin Hester, Chi (5) 18. Dan Carpenter, Mia (6)
16. Shawn Nelson, Buf (9) 52. Justin Fargas, Oak (9) 52. Jordy Nelson, GB (5) 19. John Kasay, Car (4)
17. Vernon Davis, SF (6) 53. Gartrell Johnson, SD (5) 53. Torry Holt, Jac (7) 20. Joe Nedney, SF (6)
18. Jared Cook, Ten (7) 54. Jamaal Charles, KC (8) 54. Derrick Mason, Bal (7) 21. Josh Brown, StL (9)
19. Visanthe Shiancoe, Min (9) 55. Julius Jones, Sea (7) 55. Juaquin Iglesias, Chi (5) 22. Rian Lindell, Buf (9)
20. Bo Scaife, Ten (7) 56. Laurence Maroney, NE (8) 56. Domenik Hixon, NYG (10) 23. Sebastian Janikowski, Oak (9)
21. Travis Beckum, NYG (10) 57. Javon Ringer, Ten (7) 57. Deion Branch, Sea (7) 24. Phil Dawson, Cle (9)
22. Kevin Boss, NYG (10) 58. Rashad Jennings, Jac (7) 58. Mark Clayton, Bal (7) 25. Jay Feely, NYJ (9)
23. Brent Celek, Phi (4) 59. Bernard Scott, Cin (8) 59. Kevin Curtis, Phi (4) 26. Mike Nugent, TB (8)
24. Todd Heap, Bal (7) 60. Glen Coffee, SF (6) 60. James Jones, GB (5) 27. Jason Hanson, Det (7)
25. Anthony Fasano, Mia (6) 61. Mike Goodson, Car (4) 61. Plaxico Burress, NYG (10) 28. John Carney, FA
26. Chase Coffman, Cin (8) 62. Brandon Jackson, GB (5) 62. Devin Thomas, Was (8) 29. Olindo Mare, Sea (7)
27. James Casey, Hou (10) 63. Cedric Peerman, Bal (7) 63. Matt Jones, Jac (7) 30. Matt Prater, Den (7)
28. Cornelius Ingram, Phi (4) 64. Mewelde Moore, Pit (8) 64. Nate Burleson, Sea (7) 31. Steve Hauschka, Bal (7)
29. Donald Lee, GB (5)RUNNING 65. Ricky Williams, Mia (6)WIDE 65. Mike Wallace, Pit (8) 32. Shaun Suisham, Was (8)
A twelve-team league where each team starts one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one PK, and one Team Defense/ST.
Passing: 1 point per 20 yards, 4 points per TD, -1 point per interception thrown • Rushing/Receiving: 1 point per 10 yards, 6 points per TD
B
ased on the Expert Rankings (pages (Diff) refers to the difference between our rank
49-62), we have constructed an Expert and the ADP list. A positive Diff value indicates
Top 220 List. This list is ordered by our staff expectations to exceed drafted position
consensus rank. Average Draft Position (ADP) (value). A negative Diff value indicates staff
has been added as a reference to indicate when expectations to fall short of drafted position
these players will likely be drafted. Difference (over-valued/reach).
PROJECTIONS
Offense by David Dodds
IDP by John Norton
A
ll fantasy football magazines
rank players. We are no excep-
tion. In fact, we have provided
Expert Rankings starting on
page 42. But we also project player stats. We
do this because projections are the lifeblood of
everything we do at Footballguys.com. These
numbers drive our Value Based Drafting
applications like the Draft Dominator.
By the time you are picking up this maga-
zine, we will have likely changed these pro-
jections 40 times.
Look carefully at the detail of the data. We
are projecting completion percentages, yards
per attempt, etc. We aren’t regurgitating last
year’s numbers. We look at what changed
within each team and project accordingly.
We spent over 40 hours doing this set of
offensive projections alone. Why does it take us
that long? Because we make sure our numbers
add up to historical norms for the league. We
also factor in Strength of Schedule differences,
three-year weighted team stat averages, player’s
age, situation, and a host of other variables.
Aaron Rodgers
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
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RECEIVING STATS
Tight Ends REC YDS TDS
FANTASY
PTS
1. Antonio Gates, SD 68 836 8 131.6
2. Jason Witten, Dal 80 936 6 129.6
3. Tony Gonzalez, Atl 73 810 7 123.0
4. Dallas Clark, Ind 72 785 6 114.5
5. Kellen Winslow, TB 66 792 5 109.2
6. Owen Daniels, Hou 66 759 4 99.9
7. Greg Olsen, Chi 60 666 5 96.6
8. Chris Cooley, Was 65 663 5 96.3
9. Zach Miller, Oak 55 644 4 88.4
10. John Carlson, Sea 52 572 5 87.2
11. Dustin Keller, NYJ 54 621 4 86.1
12. Jeremy Shockey, NO 46 529 4 76.9
13. Visanthe Shiancoe, Min 45 513 4 75.3
14. Bo Scaife, Ten 50 505 4 74.5
15. Heath Miller, Pit 45 482 4 72.2
16. Tony Scheffler, Den 38 464 4 70.4
17. Anthony Fasano, Mia 38 460 4 70.0
18. Vernon Davis, SF 34 408 4 65.4
19. Kevin Boss, NYG 36 364 4 60.4
ICON/SMI
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2009 Player
PROJECTIONS
Running Backs
RUSHING STATS RECEIVING STATS FANTASY
ATT YDS TDS REC YDS TDS PTS
1. Adrian Peterson, Min 325 1,528 13 25 165 1 253.3
2. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac 240 1,104 12 55 462 2 240.6
3. Michael Turner, Atl 335 1,508 13 8 51 0 233.9
4. Ladainian Tomlinson, SD 275 1,155 12 42 315 2 231.7
5. Steven Jackson, StL 280 1,162 9 48 413 3 229.5
6. Matt Forte, Chi 280 1,106 9 60 432 3 225.8
7. Clinton Portis, Was 315 1,339 10 34 258 1 225.7
8. DeAngelo Williams, Car 260 1,300 12 23 138 1 221.8
9. Steve Slaton, Hou 265 1,179 9 44 321 1 210.0
10. Frank Gore, SF 245 1,054 8 49 407 2 206.0
11. Brian Westbrook, Phi 215 935 7 57 450 4 204.6
12. Chris Johnson, Ten 230 1,081 8 45 324 2 200.5
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13. Brandon Jacobs, NYG 245 1,139 11 18 117 1 197.6
Adrian Peterson
14. Ronnie Brown, Mia 225 956 9 39 296 1 186.6
15. Marion Barber, Dal 230 966 7 50 350 2 185.6
16. Darren McFadden, Oak 225 990 7 40 320 2 185.0
17. Pierre Thomas, NO 200 910 10 35 277 1 184.7
18. Reggie Bush, NO 145 595 5 75 608 5 180.2
19. Kevin Smith, Det 235 975 8 40 280 1 179.5
20. Ryan Grant, GB 280 1,148 7 21 137 0 170.5
21. Marshawn Lynch, Buf 220 924 7 41 291 1 169.5
22. Thomas Jones, NYJ 220 968 8 28 179 0 162.7
23. Cedric Benson, Cin 240 900 8 23 173 1 161.3
24. Derrick Ward, TB 200 890 5 42 328 1 157.8
25. Larry Johnson, KC 215 914 9 16 110 0 156.4
26. Knowshon Moreno, Den 200 900 7 25 168 1 154.8
27. Chris Wells, Ari 220 869 8 5 33 0 138.2
28. Joseph Addai, Ind 190 732 6 27 211 1 136.2
29. LenDale White, Ten 165 693 10 8 50 0 134.3
30. Jamal Lewis, Cle 220 814 7 12 78 0 131.2
ICON SMI
31. Jonathan Stewart, Car 165 759 8 10 60 0 129.9
32. Willie Parker, Pit 215 871 5 16 112 0 128.3 Michael Turner
33. Julius Jones, Sea 205 882 4 24 161 0 128.2
34. Leon Washington, NYJ 120 588 3 51 383 2 127.1
35. Donald Brown, Ind 160 640 6 23 168 1 122.8
36. Darren Sproles, SD 115 552 3 37 329 2 118.1
37. Chester Taylor, Min 110 462 4 45 356 2 117.8
38. Ray Rice, Bal 160 656 3 35 273 1 116.9
39. Fred Taylor, NE 150 645 6 14 98 0 110.3
40. Ricky Williams, Mia 130 527 4 34 238 1 106.5
41. Earnest Graham, TB 150 623 4 23 170 0 103.3
42. Fred Jackson, Buf 125 525 3 33 251 1 101.6
43. Le'Ron McClain, Bal 115 437 8 15 98 0 101.5
44. Jerious Norwood, Atl 90 473 3 32 262 1 97.5
45. Willis McGahee, Bal 135 527 4 20 140 1 96.7
46. Kevin Faulk, NE 75 368 2 47 357 2 96.5
47. Sammy Morris, NE 110 484 6 15 110 0 95.4
48. Rashard Mendenhall, Pit 125 494 6 12 83 0 93.7
49. Felix Jones, Dal 100 490 4 18 133 1 92.3
ICON SMI
PROJECTIONS
Defensive Backs FANTASY
TCK AST SACK INT FF FR PD TD PTS
1. SS Adrian Wilson, Ari 75 21 3 3 2 2 15 1 192.8
2. FS Eric Weddle, SD 88 21 2 2 2 1 6 1 182.8
3. CB Charles Tillman, Chi 77 12 0 4 1 1 19 1 181.0
4. SS Yeremiah Bell, Mia 89 20 0 1 2 2 10 0 180.7
5. CB Antoine Winfield, Min 80 13 2 3 2 1 13 0 178.3
6. FS Gibril Wilson, Mia 78 18 0 4 2 1 11 1 175.0
7. SS Chris Horton, Was 76 24 1 4 2 1 7 1 174.5
8. SS Troy Polamalu, Pit 61 21 1 6 2 2 14 1 174.3
9. SS Kevin Payne, Chi 77 17 1 3 2 1 10 1 174.3
10. SS Quintin Mikell, Phi 71 25 2 2 2 2 9 1 172.8
11. CB Richard Marshall, Car 76 10 1 3 1 0 19 1 172.0
12. SS Bernard Pollard, KC 82 26 1 1 2 1 6 1 171.5
13. CB Chris Gamble, Car 74 9 0 4 0 0 21 1 171.3
ICON SMI
14. FS Oshiomogho Atogwe, Stl 76 9 0 6 2 1 9 1 170.3
Adrian Wilson
15. SS Antoine Bethea, Ind 70 29 2 3 2 1 7 1 169.3
16. SS Sabby Piscitelli, TB 73 22 1 3 1 1 12 1 169.0
17. SS Michael Lewis, SF 78 23 2 1 2 1 7 0 167.6
18. SS Patrick Chung, NE 78 28 1 1 2 1 5 1 165.5
19. FS Kenny Phillips, NYG 71 17 0 4 2 1 9 1 163.8
20. CB Cedric Griffin, Min 78 10 0 2 2 1 14 0 162.5
21. SS William Moore, Atl 78 21 0 1 2 1 7 0 158.7
22. FS Eugene Wilson, Hou 73 21 0 3 1 1 8 1 158.3
23. CB Corey Graham, Chi 74 13 0 3 0 0 13 1 158.3
24. CB DeAngelo Hall, Was 61 12 1 4 2 0 19 1 158.0
25. FS Kerry Rhodes, NYJ 64 25 1 3 2 2 8 1 157.8
26. SS Louis Delmas, Det 75 33 0 1 2 1 4 0 157.5
27. CB Brandon Flowers, KC 74 11 0 2 2 1 13 1 157.3
28. CB Ronde Barber, TB 64 8 2 3 2 1 14 1 155.0
29. CB Ronald Bartell, Stl 65 4 1 4 1 1 15 1 155.0
30. CB Terrence McGee, Buf 63 7 0 4 1 0 19 1 153.3
31. CB Aqib Talib, TB 58 10 0 6 1 0 17 1 153.0
ICON/SMI
32. CB Quentin Jammer, SD 69 11 0 2 1 1 18 0 152.8
Eric Weddle
33. SS Roman Harper, NO 79 8 0 1 2 1 9 0 151.0
34. CB Rashean Mathis, Jac 59 5 1 5 1 0 17 1 150.8
35. FS Bob Sanders, Ind 65 28 0 2 2 2 6 1 150.5
36. CB Terence Newman, Dal 55 9 0 6 1 1 16 1 149.3
37. SS Chinedum Ndukwe, Cin 62 28 0 3 1 1 9 1 148.5
38. FS Nick Collins, GB 62 14 0 4 2 0 13 1 148.0
39. FS Antrel Rolle, Ari 66 15 0 3 1 1 13 0 147.8
40. CB Leon Hall, Cin 54 13 0 4 1 0 21 1 147.3
41. SS Michael Mitchell, Oak 76 24 0 1 1 0 5 0 146.5
42. CB Brandon McDonald, Cle 59 10 0 4 0 1 17 1 146.5
43. FS Brandon Meriweather, NE 60 18 1 4 1 1 9 1 146.0
44. CB Dunta Robinson, Hou 56 10 0 5 1 1 15 1 146.0
45. CB Brian Williams, Jac 67 6 0 3 2 1 11 1 145.5
46. SS Chris Hope, Ten 67 17 0 3 1 1 9 0 144.8
47. CB Darrelle Revis, NYJ 50 13 1 5 1 1 17 1 144.8
48. CB Cortland Finnegan, Ten 60 13 1 3 1 1 15 0 144.3
49. CB Tracy Porter, NO 65 6 0 3 1 1 16 0 144.0
ICON/SMI
PROJECTIONS
Linebackers FANTASY
TCK AST SACK INT FF FR PD TD PTS
1. MLB Barrett Ruud, TB 105 39 3 2 2 1 8 1 233.8
2. ILB Karlos Dansby, Ari 93 33 5 2 3 3 11 1 232.8
3. MLB Jon Beason, Car 106 30 0 4 3 1 9 1 226.0
4. ILB Patrick Willis, SF 105 31 2 2 3 1 10 1 224.8
5. MLB Curtis Lofton, Atl 102 39 3 1 2 2 7 1 223.8
6. ILB D.J. Williams, Den 105 48 2 1 2 1 6 0 223.5
7. ILB Ray Lewis, Bal 88 35 4 3 3 2 10 1 220.3
8. OLB James Harrison, Pit 63 32 15 1 5 2 4 1 215.5
9. MLB Kirk Morrison, Oak 101 37 1 2 1 1 7 1 210.8
10. ILB Bradie James, Dal 85 40 7 1 2 2 6 0 210.5
11. MLB Jonathan Vilma, NO 100 36 1 2 2 1 7 0 208.5
12. ILB Lawrence Timmons, Pit 86 46 5 1 1 1 6 1 208.5
13. MLB London Fletcher, Was 94 41 1 2 2 1 8 1 207.8
ICON/SMI
14. MLB E.J. Henderson, Min 93 37 5 1 3 1 4 0 207.3
Barrett Ruud
15. ILB Stephen Cooper, SD 93 32 1 3 2 1 7 1 205.0
16. OLB Demarcus Ware, Dal 63 15 16 0 5 2 4 1 202.8
17. MLB DeMeco Ryans, Hou 92 31 1 2 3 2 7 1 201.8
18. MLB Paul Posluszny, Buf 92 30 1 2 3 1 8 1 200.1
19. ILB D'Qwell Jackson, Cle 88 43 2 2 1 1 7 1 199.8
20. ILB Bart Scott, NYJ 91 37 4 1 2 1 5 0 198.8
21. MLB Stewart Bradley, Phi 93 27 2 1 3 1 7 1 197.9
22. MLB Gary Brackett, Ind 95 38 0 1 2 1 7 1 197.5
23. MLB Lofa Tatupu, Sea 90 28 1 2 2 2 9 1 196.5
24. MLB James Laurinaitis, Stl 97 27 2 1 2 1 5 0 194.3
25. WLB Justin Durant, Jac 93 19 1 2 2 2 8 1 192.8
26. WLB Lance Briggs, Chi 90 18 1 2 2 2 11 1 192.0
27. ILB Jerod Mayo, NE 95 31 1 1 2 2 4 0 191.8
28. ILB David Harris, NYJ 88 36 2 1 2 2 4 0 189.0
29. ILB Nick Barnett, GB 92 32 2 0 1 1 6 0 186.8
30. WLB Thomas Davis, Car 90 23 3 1 1 1 7 0 186.6
31. MLB Brian Urlacher, Chi 85 20 1 2 1 2 12 1 184.5
ICON/SMI
32. ILB Derrick Johnson, KC 87 28 2 1 2 1 7 1 184.0
Patrick Willis
33. MLB Rey Maualuga, Cin 82 48 1 1 2 1 3 1 183.5
34. OLB Will Witherspoon, Stl 84 20 4 1 2 1 7 1 183.5
35. ILB James Farrior, Pit 80 42 3 1 1 1 6 0 182.5
36. SLB Chad Greenway, Min 80 24 6 1 2 1 5 0 180.5
37. OLB Shawne Merriman, SD 55 18 14 1 3 1 5 1 179.5
38. WLB Keith Rivers, Cin 80 40 1 1 2 1 5 1 177.5
39. ILB Channing Crowder, Mia 90 25 1 1 1 1 6 0 177.4
40. WLB Keith Bulluck, Ten 82 26 1 2 2 2 7 0 177.0
41. WLB Clint Session, Ind 92 32 0 0 2 1 4 0 177.0
42. WLB Ernie Sims, Det 85 43 1 0 1 1 3 0 174.3
43. ILB A.J. Hawk, GB 85 34 3 0 1 0 4 0 173.8
44. WLB Thomas Howard, Oak 81 19 1 3 1 1 8 1 172.8
45. ILB Gerald Hayes, Ari 78 28 3 0 2 2 7 0 172.5
46. MLB Antonio Pierce, NYG 81 28 1 1 1 1 7 1 170.0
47. WLB Mike Peterson, Atl 82 29 1 1 1 1 6 0 169.6
48. MLB Larry Foote, Det 82 38 0 0 1 1 4 0 163.5
49. ILB Kevin Burnett, SD 80 29 1 1 1 0 6 0 163.0
ICON/SMI
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VBD By Joe Bryant and David Dodds
ICON ?SMI
ICON ?SMI
But like most popular things, neither of these choices is the 15 quarterbacks, 36 running backs, 38 wide receivers, 8 tight
ideal baseline. After years of experimenting, we have found that ends, 2 defenses and 1 place kicker.
the best baseline is based on the number of players that will be These represent our baseline players for each position.
taken at a given point in a draft. We personally use 100 players Here’s how to get the X number. Simply compare the fantasy
as this basis, but you can play around with other points if you points each player will score to the corresponding baseline
like. After nine years, we’ve settled on using 100 players for player. In our example, let’s assume that our 15th quarterback
most leagues. A rather complex formula has been developed will score 138 fantasy points. His X number by definition is 0.
to estimate how many players by position will be taken at the All players above him will have a positive X number based on
100th pick of the draft, but suffice it to say it is based on scoring the difference in fantasy points of that player and the baseline
criteria, number of teams, number of required starters, number player. Assume Aaron Rodgers projects to 200 fantasy points.
of rounds of the draft and number of flex positions. His X number will be 62 (200-138).
There are three easy ways to calculate the number by position In essence, that X number tells you how that player stacks up
that will be selected based on all of these factors. against the other players at his position. It tells you how about
1. Look at last year’s draft and count the positions. the “peer pressure” that player sees. This is the number that
2. Compare to a mock draft / average draft list with similar determines value.
league structure
3. Let the VBD App calculate this for you.
Using our baseline, we need to value each player. As stated, 4. SORTING YOUR X NUMBERS
we do that by measuring how much better or worse we expect Up to this point, we have just lists of players at each position.
that player to perform when measured against the baseline Pretty much the standard fare “cheatsheets” you see every-
player at his position. Keep in mind, at this point we’re still talk- where. But as we said earlier, there’s a problem with position
ing about keeping all the positions in their own lists. We only lists: If your league is like our leagues, we don’t conduct our
care right now about how one quarterback compares to another draft by saying, “OK Guys, now we’re going to draft all the
quarterback. quarterbacks. And when we’re done with that, we’ll draft all the
In our sample league consisting of 18 rounds, 12 teams with running backs…” Doesn’t work that way does it? You need to
the following starters (1 quarterback, 2 running backs, 3 wide know how all the different players are valued not just among
receivers, 1 tight end, 1 place kicker and 1 defense), our pro- their position peers but among each other. We do that by sorting
gram tells us approximately the following positions (on average) the X numbers.
will be taken in the first 100 picks: It’s a very simple matter of throwing all the players (and their
FREE 32 PAGE CAMP UPDATE: http://freeupdate.footballguys.com
78 FOOTBALLGUYS.COM
X numbers) in one heap and ranking by the X number. What Have Start 1 Start 2 Start 3 Start 4 Start 5+
you’ll see will likely surprise you. Depending on your league, 0 of a position 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
don’t be shocked to see some players sort out much higher than 1 of a position 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
“conventional wisdom” says. 2 of a position 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.0
You’ll most likely find that your kickers all have fairly low X 3 of a position 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.0
numbers and are usually bunched tightly. This reinforces what 4 of a position 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
you already know. Even though they may score a lot of points,
they’re all just about the same and you can afford to wait and So as an example, if you have a quarterback already and you
snag a good one later. start only 1, then the need factor is 0.8 for your next QB. Multi-
And there you have it. All the players are ranked by their X plying this need factor by the X number will yield the relative X
number which means they’re ranked by their value. A key point value for that player for your fantasy team.
is to understand what the list is telling you. It’s ranking the This is a major distinction from previous written works
players by their value, or where they deserve to be drafted. This regarding Value Based Drafting. It attempts to translate math-
is not necessarily the order in which you should draft them (see ematically what we have all done in drafts. You aren’t going to
items 6-8 below). keep drafting quarterbacks if you can only play 1 each week.
Additional quarterbacks represent value still (for trades, etc), but
5. DETERMINE THE AVERAGE DRAFT for your particular team it is reduced (based on the table above).
POSITION OF ALL THE PLAYERS Most serious VBD owners have always done this intuitively but
Up to now, everything is based on your value. And this is now we’re putting the math behind it.
good, because you want to draft a team that you solidly believe
will perform. But to ignore all the opinions of the rest of the 15 7. KNOW WHEN TO DEVIATE
million people that play fantasy football could have you over- FROM VBD PRINCIPLES
paying for a few players if you are not careful. One of the biggest misconceptions with Value-Based princi-
Remember the goal is to maximize value with every single ples is that you should use them for the entire draft. This simply
pick. isn’t true. Sure you would like to get value throughout your
An excellent source for average draft value is draft, but after approximately half of your roster is filled, you
fantasyfootballcalculator.com. will generally end up with your best team by using your position
They compile many mock drafts by date and allow you to lists to address your unique needs. Always look at the best avail-
customize a list based on a few variables. Myfantasyleague.com able player by position, but also make sure that person fills bye
also produces lists based on actual league drafts using their soft- week needs, etc for your roster.
ware. If this sounds like too much work, do not fret - our VBD This includes (but is not limited to) the following not based
App contains all of this data based on the number of teams and on X Value:
how you score the tight end position. • Covering bye weeks
The reason this data is important is it can provide the right • Handcuffing the backup to a key player on your roster
clues when a player might get selected. If Jerricho Cotchery • Looking for favorable match ups for certain tough weeks
projects to number 60 on your overall list (as sorted by absolute For these reasons, we believe the perfect draft will often
X numbers), but is being drafted at pick 75 on average, you abandon strict VBD drafting after all baselines have been passed
would be smart to wait on him with your sixth pick. If the aver- (this is generally around pick 120 or so). What exactly does this
age draft info also tells you Anthony Gonzalez and Laveranues mean? It just means that later in the draft, you’ll likely draft
Coles (who you rate as very similar to Jerricho Cotchery) are from your positional lists and not from your overall list.
also expected to go around pick 75, you may be able to use this In Summary, if you only remember three things, make it these three:
to your advantage and squeeze out additional value by watching 1. The object of the game is not to score a ton of points, but to
when they get drafted. outscore your opponent. You must fill a roster with a specified
Remember your absolute X numbers represent worth to you. number of players at specified positions. The surest way to out-
But if you draft everyone at worth, your draft will be average. score your opponent is to build a team of players that outscore
The goal is to squeeze value with every single pick. And that is their peers. The players who most distance themselves from the
done by keeping a pulse on what an average draft is likely to do. other players at their respective positions are therefore the most
valuable. Remember the eight-player draft example where you
6. MULTIPLY X VALUES BY NEED FACTOR can’t lose after drafting the 20-point wide receiver.
TO DETERMINE RELATIVE VALUE 2. Factors such as the specific number of teams, starting
With your first round pick, absolute need and relative need lineup requirements, frozen players, and scoring system for your
are the same. You need all positions equally. But as the draft league dramatically affect the values of each player. These fac-
continues, this is not the case. If you start two running backs tors can cause the same player in two different leagues to have
and you have taken a running back with your first three picks, dramatically different values.
it stands to reason that your immediate need is likely not at run- 3. If this seems like a lot of work (and it is) we will do all of
ning back. You’ll likely want to veer from your VBD list if it’s the math for you at Footballguys.com
showing your next pick should be a running back. Think about these principles. Play around with them and see
Again for simplicity, we are going to give a formula that how they work for you. Once you understand the concepts be-
should work for most leagues. To determine the need factor of a hind the Value Based Draft System, you’ll be well on your way
position at any time in the draft, use the following table: to dominating your league.
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FOOTBALLGUYS.COM 79
A
fantasy draft is all about
obtaining the most value with ADP - 7.11 / QB13 / #83 Overall
Selected by Baker, Bloom, Borbely, Dowling, Grant, ADP - 5.1 / QB8 / #58 Overall
each selection. There is value Selected by Bloom, Dodds, Henry, Hicks, Wimer,
available throughout a draft, and grabbing Haseley, Magaw, and Waldman
Waldman - Tom Brady is the most popu- and Wood
it is one of the most important keys to a Wimer - Donovan McNabb enjoyed a
lar rebound QB this year, but the best bar-
successful fantasy team. In an attempt to renaissance season last year, and he enters
gain will be Palmer, who told the media in
point out this value, we asked our staff 2009 happy, healthy, and with a reloaded
March that his elbow is 100 percent and took
to look through the Top 150 players and roster of pass receivers. The Eagles’ offense
steps to prove it on the practice field. From
identify players that should outperform 2005-2007 he was ranked No. 1, No. 6, and is pass-happy as Andy Reid has plenty of tar-
their draft position. For each player No. 9 among his fantasy brethren. The team gets for McNabb to utilize. Plus, Philadelphia
chosen by at least two writers, we list their will be cautious with Palmer’s elbow during boasts the premier dual-threat RB in the
Average Draft Position (ADP) in a 12- the preseason, but Chad Ochocinco’s return league in Brian Westbrook. McNabb figures
team league, their rank at their position to health, the addition of versatile running to be among the Top 5 at his position by sea-
and their overall rank. For each player mates Laveranues Coles, TE Chase Coffman, sons’ end – he’s a bargain at QB #8.
listed, we asked a writer to offer reasoning and FB Brian Leonard should help the
as to why value was present. Bengals return to a higher level of productiv- WR Chad Ochocinco, Cin
ity in 2009.
The following writers contributed to ADP - 6.05 / WR23 / #65 Overall
this feature: Dave Baker, Sigmund Player Receiving 7 Votes Selected by Borbely, Dodds, Dowling, Grant, Levin,
Bloom, Anthony Borbely, Michael and Waldman
Brown, David Dodds, Colin Dowling, RB Knowshon Moreno, Den Levin - Regardless of whether the Bengals
Will Grant, Clayton Gray, Jeff Haseley, improve or decline as a team, one thing is
Bob Henry, Andy Hicks, Marc Levin, ADP - 6.02 / RB27 / #62 Overall clear – Carson Palmer will be throwing a
Bob Magaw, Jeff Pasquino, Aaron Selected by Haseley, Henry, Hicks, Pasquino, significantly greater number of passes to
Rudnicki, Jeff Tefertiller, Maurile Tefertiller, Tremblay, and Wimer Chad Ochocinco in 2009 than last year. The
Tremblay, Matt Waldman, Mark Wimer, Tremblay - Talented rookie RBs can loss of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, replaced by
Jason Wood, and David Yudkin. often be productive in the NFL right away. Laveranues Coles, means Ochocinco is vir-
putably the most gifted pure RUSHER on the QB Trent Edwards, Buf than his 2008 tally of 14 carries per game.
roster. In the last six regular season games, Miami is a run-heavy offense, Brown is in
he rattled off 475 yards and six TDs rush- ADP - 10.08 / QB18 / #116 Overall the final year of his contract, and in the six
ing (chipping in 200+ yards and three TDs Selected by Gray, Pasquino, Waldman, and Wood games before his ACL tear in 2007, he was
receiving). Prorated over 16 games = com- Gray - Trent Edwards must have stolen the leading fantasy RB. Of backs that have at
bined 1,800 yards and 24 TDs. While highly lunch money from some of my colleagues least one 370-carry season, their first one is
unlikely to approach those lofty proration- because this is borderline ridiculous. The (on average) in their fifth season. This is Year
fuelled numbers, he is the top rushing option guy played in only 14 games last season, 5 for Brown. Coincidence? Probably, but I’ll
on the most potent, explosive offense in the yet he finished as the #23 fantasy QB. In the bite because of his skill, the track record for a
league, and the Saints didn’t bring in a chal- offseason, he loses no significant receiver Parcells-style team, and his full recovery.
lenger to usurp his de facto feature role. and adds the fairly productive Terrell Owens,
but the fantasy community only consid- WR Anthony Gonzalez, Ind
RB Chris Wells, Ari ers Edwards to be an average backup?
Considering that, over the last decade, the ADP - 7.02 / WR29 / #74 Overall
ADP - 6.07 / RB29 / #67 Overall average starting passer throwing to Owens Selected by Brown, Dowling, and Pasquino
Selected by Bloom, Henry, Magaw, and Tremblay finished as the #7.3 fantasy QB (and no Dowling - Gonzalez at WR29, after play-
Henry - Wells is a physically gifted run- starting QB ranked lower than #20), and this ers like Bernard Berrian and Santana Moss,
ner joining a team of physically gifted skill draft position for Edwards has to be consid- borders on insanity. With Marvin Harrison
players. He should excel as long as he stays ered the low end of his 2009 range. no longer in the picture, Anthony Gonzalez
healthy and outperforms Tim Hightower in is going to have plenty of chances to put up
training camp. Hightower won’t go away QB Kyle Orton, Den great numbers. And while Gonzalez has a
and he’ll get plenty of touches, but Wells long way to go before we compare him to the
has much more big play potential on a ADP - 10.11 / QB19 / #119 Overall man he’s replacing, it’s an undeniable reality
team loaded with playmakers. With an ADP Selected by Haseley, Rudnicki, Tefertiller, and that whoever is catching passes in one of the
around RB29, Wells has starter potential but Yudkin NFL’s most prolific offenses is going to put
you can draft him as your third RB. Rudnicki - After spending several years up some great numbers.
developing on the bench, Orton emerged
QB Matt Schaub, Hou as an effective starting QB in 2008. He did RB Cedric Benson, Cin
this despite playing in a rather conservative
ADP - 6.08 / QB11 / #68 Overall offense with some of the worst WRs in the ADP - 7.05 / RB32 / #77 Overall
Selected by Dowling, Gray, Henry, and Tremblay league to throw to. After the trade to Denver, Selected by Dowling, Tefertiller, and Yudkin
Tremblay - Schaub leads what I think will he’s likely to take over an offense that has a Yudkin - Benson was part of the Bengals
be one of the more dynamic offenses in the much better collection of offensive weapons late season surge, amassing 462 yards
league this season. Andre Johnson has grown and an aggressive coach who got the most from scrimmage in Cincinnati’s three-game
into a Top notch receiver, and Schaub was out of Matt Cassel. At this point in the draft, winning streak to end the season. With the
on pace to finish as the No. 4 fantasy QB Orton is a relatively low-risk selection with a offense having some key figures healthy
last season if he hadn’t gotten injured. Some potential high reward. again, Benson should be the beneficiary of
are discounting Schaub based on durability starting on an above average offense. Rudi
concerns, but I think he’s just suffered some TE Zach Miller, Oak Johnson ranked in the Top 10 three times
bad luck in each of the past two seasons and in recent years, which illustrates that the
is no more of an injury risk this season than ADP - 11.08 / TE12 / #128 Overall Bengals can support a decent ground game.
the next QB. Selected by Bloom, Dodds, Tefertiller, and Yudkin
Bloom - Miller still had a respectable Players Receiving 2 Votes
WR Bernard Berrian, Min low-end fantasy starter type season last
year, and that was with him often marooned RB Steve Slaton, Hou
ADP - 6.12 / WR28 / #72 Overall at the line of scrimmage to give help to a
Selected by Haseley, Magaw, Waldman, and Wood feeble pass blocking offensive line. This year, ADP - 2.01 / RB10 / #13 Overall
Waldman - Receivers with high yards- JaMarcus Russell and the Raiders pass- Selected by Wimer and Wood
per-catch averages on low reception-counts ing offense is sure to continue the trend of Wood - Fantasy success is about ability
understandably make fantasy owners ner- improvement started in December of last and opportunity. Slaton proved last year
vous, but Berrian doesn’t fit the mold of season, and Miller should be the main ben- he has plenty of ability (1,659 yards from
one-season wonders. He has increased his eficiary. It’s a no brainer to wait on TE if you scrimmage and 10 TDs) and this offseason
productivity for three consecutive seasons can get Miller in the 11th round. provided him a world of opportunity. The
and last year he lacked the continuity of only other backs on the roster are Chris
one starting QB. Expect Sage Rosenfels to Players Receiving 3 Votes Brown, Ryan Moats and a pair of street free
bring more stability and productivity to the agents. In other words, Slaton is going to get
Vikings offense and the addition of rookie RB Ronnie Brown, Mia a boatload of touches week in, week out and
Percy Harvin will make it more difficult for that means he’s a great bet for elite fantasy
opposing defenses to limit Berrian’s produc- ADP - 3.1 / RB17 / #34 Overall numbers.
tivity. Berrian ended last year as WR 18, and Selected by Brown, Haseley, and Waldman
I think he should have at least as good of a Waldman - All signs point to a breakout RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG
year in 2009. year for Brown. He will be two years removed
from his ACL injury and should average more ADP - 2.07 / RB14 / #19 Overall
Selected by Pasquino and Wood hard not to get a little excited about his production, only to disappear for even longer
Pasquino - Jacobs is in line to have the chances. He came into the league highly stretches. The arrival of Terrell Owens sig-
lion’s share of the workload for the Giants. regarded as the fourth overall pick in 2007, nals a possible return to the fantasy elite for
New York had two 1,000-yard rushers last but injuries derailed his game from the start. Evans because defenses can no longer gear
season (Derrick Ward and Jacobs), and they He did manage 164 yards against the Chiefs their coverage to Evans with impunity. His
love to control the game on the ground. The in Week 2 though to show he belongs in this Top 10 potential is more than worth it in the
passing game for the Giants will suffer with league. At RB23, he represents a goldmine if sixth round.
inexperienced options at wide receiver after he can stay healthy all year.
the Plaxico Burress adventures of 2008, so WR Laveranues Coles, NYJ
expect New York to try to win games running WR Braylon Edwards, Cle
the ball and playing solid defense. As long as ADP - 7.07 / WR31 / #79 Overall
Jacobs remains healthy, he is a strong RB1 ADP - 5.04 / WR19 / #52 Overall Selected by Pasquino and Tefertiller
candidate that can be had on the cheap. Selected by Brown and Dodds Pasquino - The Bengals need receivers,
Brown - Yes, he had some problems with so welcome Laveranues Coles into the mix.
WR Dwayne Bowe, KC the drops a year ago. But the fact is, he was With T.J. Houshmandzadeh gone to Seattle in
able to drop all those long passes because free agency and few options to catch the ball
ADP - 3.04 / WR11 / #28 Overall he was very open. What that tells me is that outside of Chad Ochocinco and head case
Selected by Brown and Haseley his route-running and burst off the line are Chris Henry, Coles is instantly a top option
Haseley - I have a definite interest fine, and if he can reduce the drops even by for the Bengals passing game. Cincinnati
in Dwayne Bowe this year. He and Tony a small amount, then a Top 10 WR ranking will welcome back Carson Palmer at quar-
Gonzalez shared the offensive load in the is all but a given. Kellen Winslow is also terback, and he will be asked to throw early
passing game for the Chiefs last season gone, meaning Edwards’ targets will likely and often with a below average defense.
(150+ targets each). The trade that sent increase. Coles finds himself in a great spot to post
Gonzalez to the Falcons leaves a gaping hole big fantasy numbers.
in the Chiefs receiving corps. As of now there WR Eddie Royal, Den
is nobody else who will pick up that slack QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pit
except Bowe. Bowe should easily see the ADP - 5.09 / WR21 / #57 Overall
same, if not more production than last year. Selected by Tremblay and Wimer ADP - 8.01 / QB14 / #85 Overall
If Matt Cassel shows he’s for real, Bowe Tremblay - Rookie WRs often struggle ini- Selected by Hicks and Pasquino
could be a very nice Top 5 fantasy surprise. tially, but Royal showed excellent quickness, Hicks - Ben Roethlisberger was progress-
If Cassel struggles, the Chiefs still have Tyler route-running, and hands from the first time ing nicely as a fantasy quarterback, moving
Thigpen who would play with a chip on his he took an NFL field. He is also an excellent from 20th, to 18th, 12th & fifth in his first
shoulder. I can’t find a reason to think that runner after the catch and should be a great four seasons. Last year he dropped to 17th
Bowe won’t be a huge fantasy producer in fit for Josh McDaniels’ offense. Kyle Orton as the Steelers imposed their authority on
2009. may not have Jay Cutler’s arm, but Royal games. If they repeat last year’s success, then
excels at getting open underneath the cover- Roethlisberger will still be a fantasy option,
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Sea age (similar to Wes Welker) and turning short but history rarely repeats in the NFL. If the
passes into worthwhile gains. Steelers show any signs of regressing in the
ADP - 3.11 / WR15 / #35 Overall areas in which they excelled in 2008 or other
Selected by Baker and Wimer RB Derrick Ward, TB NFL teams are better equipped to match
Baker – T.J. Houshmandzadeh may be them, then it will be Big Ben to the rescue.
on the wrong side of 30, but the guy can ADP - 6.03 / RB28 / #63 Overall Expect results closer to 2007 than 2008.
still play, as evidenced by his 92 receptions Selected by Haseley and Tefertiller
in that thing they called an offense last Tefertiller - Derrick Ward played very WR Michael Crabtree, SF
year in Cincinnati. This season, though, well for the New York Giants the last couple
Houshmandzadeh gets a real passer again of seasons. The Buccaneers invested a good ADP - 8.03 / WR34 / #87 Overall
in Matt Hasselbeck, and a change of scenery amount of money in the former unknown Selected by Magaw and Wood
could be just what the doctor ordered for from Ottawa University in Kansas. Tampa Wood - Michael Crabtree is arguably the
another 1,000+ receiving yards and double- Bay has few options in the backfield and most polished receiver to enter the league
digit touchdowns. That should easily make should rely on Ward to carry the load. His in years. Few prospects can match his col-
him better than a Top 15 WR. ability in the passing game will also be a legiate production, and he actually landed in
big asset to the Buccaneers offense. Derrick an attractive situation where he should start
RB Darren McFadden, Oak Ward is a bargain at this ADP, running immediately. While the QB situation is in
behind the young, talented Buccaneers flux, Crabtree isn’t the typical rookie receiver
ADP - 4.11 / RB23 / #47 Overall offensive line. and shouldn’t be drafted as such. As long as
Selected by Dodds and Gray he is signed and in camp on time, Crabtree
Dodds - The Oakland RBs accounted WR Lee Evans, Buf should have little trouble finishing as a Top
for 2,389 rushing/receiving yards in 2008. 25 receiver.
In 2007 they amassed 2,394 rushing and ADP - 6.06 / WR24 / #66 Overall
receiving yards. Oakland’s offensive line Selected by Bloom and Magaw WR Devin Hester, Chi
is an above average unit and excels at run Bloom - It’s understandable to be frus-
blocking. So when I hear about McFadden trated with Lee Evans. After a breakout ADP - 9.02 / WR40 / #98 Overall
turning heads in camp this offseason, it’s 2006, he’s had sporadic stretches of good Selected by Henry and Tefertiller
Henry - As the 40th WR off the board Top 5 fantasy season on tap – he’s a steal at
around the eighth or ninth round, Hester his current ADP of TE #13. WR Lance Moore, NO
is just the type of player you can swing for ADP - 6.1 / WR26 / #70 Overall
the fences if he’s your fourth WR. With Jay Players Receiving 1 Vote Selected by Tremblay
Cutler throwing to him, he could easily
finish among the Top 30 or so WRs. Just RB Steven Jackson, StL RB LenDale White, Ten
don’t reach for him as anything more than a ADP - 1.05 / RB5 / #5 Overall ADP - 7.03 / RB31 / #75 Overall
high potential player with designs on being Selected by Gray Selected by Dowling
your super sub – he could end up being a
consistent player in lineups this year. RB DeAngelo Williams, Car RB Jamal Lewis, Cle
ADP - 1.06 / RB6 / #6 Overall ADP - 7.08 / RB33 / #80 Overall
RB Ray Rice, Bal Selected by Magaw Selected by Henry
ADP - 9.1 / RB41 / #106 Overall WR Anquan Boldin, Ari RB Donald Brown, Ind
Selected by Bloom and Haseley ADP - 3.02 / WR9 / #26 Overall ADP - 7.12 / RB34 / #84 Overall
Haseley - At first glance the Ravens back- Selected by Gray Selected by Bloom
field is a crowded mess that includes Willis
McGahee, Le’Ron McClain, Ray Rice and WR Wes Welker, NE WR Kevin Walter, Hou
rookie RB Cedric Peerman, who I really like. ADP - 3.08 / WR13 / #32 Overall ADP - 8.09 / WR36 / #93 Overall
However, a second, more detailed look sug- Selected by Gray Selected by Tefertiller
gests that McClain will see plenty of duties
as the team’s fullback and Willis McGahee WR Terrell Owens, Buf RB Willis McGahee, Bal
may be one or two injuries past being as ADP - 3.09 / WR14 / #33 Overall ADP - 8.1 / RB37 / #94 Overall
effective as he once was. That leaves Rice Selected by Hicks Selected by Levin
and Peerman. I like Peerman, but he doesn’t
have the total package that Rice has, not to QB Aaron Rodgers, GB RB Tim Hightower, Ari
mention Rice has a year of experience under ADP - 3.12 / QB4 / #36 Overall ADP - 9.05 / RB39 / #101 Overall
his belt. He knows the offense and knows Selected by Wimer Selected by Levin
how to protect his QB. This could be the year
Rice is given the opportunity to carry the RB Marshawn Lynch, Buf RB Julius Jones, Sea
team. If given that chance, I have no doubts ADP - 4.03 / RB19 / #39 Overall ADP - 9.06 / RB40 / #102 Overall
that he’ll have success. The best part – Rice Selected by Baker Selected by Rudnicki
could be doing this as your RB4.
QB Philip Rivers, SD TE John Carlson, Sea
QB Joe Flacco, Bal ADP - 4.05 / QB6 / #41 Overall ADP - 9.08 / TE9 / #104 Overall
Selected by Brown Selected by Yudkin
ADP - 10.06 / QB17 / #114 Overall
Selected by Grant and Tefertiller QB Tony Romo, Dal WR Chris Chambers, SD
Tefertiller - Flacco finished as QB20 last ADP - 4.1 / QB7 / #46 Overall ADP - 10.01 / WR42 / #109 Overall
season. His development should take a giant Selected by Wimer Selected by Grant
step forward with another offseason to work
with Coach Harbaugh and company. Many RB Jonathan Stewart, Car RB Jerious Norwood, Atl
young passers improve dramatically in year ADP - 5.01 / RB24 / #49 Overall ADP - 10.1 / RB47 / #118 Overall
two. The Ravens will rely heavily on their Selected by Borbely Selected by Rudnicki
big quarterback in 2009. Derrick Mason and
Mark Clayton are adequate options. Plus, WR Vincent Jackson, SD WR Justin Gage, Ten
Flacco has the mobility to pull the ball down ADP - 5.02 / WR18 / #50 Overall ADP - 11.03 / WR44 / #123 Overall
and make a play on the ground. He is agile Selected by Gray Selected by Rudnicki
for a big guy.
WR Antonio Bryant, TB RB Fred Taylor, NE
TE Visanthe Shiancoe, Min ADP - 5.05 / WR20 / #53 Overall ADP - 11.04 / RB48 / #124 Overall
Selected by Haseley Selected by Rudnicki
ADP - 11.1 / TE13 / #130 Overall
Selected by Magaw and Wimer QB Matt Ryan, Atl WR Jeremy Maclin, Phi
Wimer - Visanthe Shiancoe hauled in ADP - 5.12 / QB9 / #60 Overall ADP - 11.11 / WR46 / #131 Overall
42/596/7 last season, ending up as the #5 Selected by Brown Selected by Pasquino
fantasy TE in the land - while catching balls
from the likes of Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris QB Jay Cutler, Chi WR Josh Morgan, SF
Jackson. This year, the team brought in ADP - 6.04 / QB10 / #64 Overall ADP - 12.09 / WR50 / #141 Overall
Sage Rosenfels to compete for the top job in Selected by Wood Selected by Bloom
Minnesota, and I think Rosenfels will win the
job and substantially upgrade the Minnesota WR Hines Ward, Pit RB Sammy Morris, NE
passing attack. Shiancoe stands to benefit ADP - 6.09 / WR25 / #69 Overall ADP - 13.02 / RB53 / #146 Overall
from better QB play, and may have another Selected by Wimer Selected by Yudkin
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84 FOOTBALLGUYS.COM
T
he flip side of succeeding with value Player Receiving 8 Votes keep games low scoring. I can’t believe I’m
players is failing with overvalued
saying this, but LenDale White appears moti-
players. These are players that will QB Tony Romo, Dal vated to make amends for his sloppy work
not put up stats commensurate to their draft
habits and fumbling away the Titans playoff
spot, and avoiding them is another of the ADP - 4.1 / QB7 / #46 Overall victory. Johnson will remain a fantasy starter
important keys to a successful fantasy team. Selected by Brown, Dodds, Henry, Pasquino, but not a No. 1 RB.
In an attempt to point out these players, we Rudnicki, Tremblay, Wood, and Yudkin
asked our staff to look through the Top 150
players and identify players that should under
Brown - Romo already had a couple of WR Brandon Marshall, Den
strikes against him going into this season,
perform their draft position. For each player and that was before the release of Terrell ADP - 3.05 / WR12 / #29 Overall
chosen by at least two writers, we list their Owens and his subsequent signing in Selected by Brown, Dowling, Henry, Levin,
Average Draft Position (ADP) in a 12-team Buffalo. Romo, for all of his stardom, hasn’t Waldman, and Wimer
league, their rank at their position and their played terribly well in some of the more cru- Henry - While I love Marshall’s game and
overall rank. For each player listed, we asked cial moments of his career to this point. The abilities, he’s recovering from offseason hip
a writer to offer reasoning as to why this Cowboys have gone from Super Bowl favor- surgery and on a short leash due to his legal
player was overvalued. ites to also-rans in their own division under woes. Take Jay Cutler away and replace
his watch, and he has presided over one of him with Kyle Orton or Chris Simms, and
The following writers contributed to the biggest turnarounds in recent memory as Marshall’s just not worth the risk with an
this feature: Dave Baker, Sigmund America weeps that Jessica Simpson fills out ADP of WR12 – in the third round range.
Bloom, Anthony Borbely, Michael her Daisy Dukes a bit too well these days. You’re better off taking your chances with
Brown, David Dodds, Colin Dowling,
Wes Welker, Dwayne Bowe or even Braylon
Will Grant, Clayton Gray, Jeff Haseley, Player Receiving 7 Votes Edwards. Edwards’ hands maybe suspect,
Bob Henry, Andy Hicks, Marc Levin,
but at least he’s healthy and not a suspension
Jeff Pasquino, Aaron Rudnicki, Jeff QB Matt Cassel, KC risk.
Tefertiller, Maurile Tremblay, Matt
Waldman, Mark Wimer, Jason Wood, ADP - 7.09 / QB12 / #81 Overall
and David Yudkin.
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FOOTBALLGUYS.COM 85
Players Receiving 5 Votes season. Even if he takes that next step this QB Kurt Warner, Ari
season, his ADP of QB9 going around the
RB Matt Forte, Chi 5/6 turn assumes that he will, so there’s noth- ADP - 4.02 / QB5 / #38 Overall
ing to gain by taking him there. Selected by Dodds, Grant, Hicks, and Tefertiller
ADP - 1.04 / RB4 / #4 Overall Grant - I love Kurt Warner as much as
Selected by Gray, Haseley, Henry, Pasquino, and RB Le’Ron McClain, Bal the next guy. I like seeing him succeed when
Tremblay everyone is expecting him to fail. I even
Henry - While I love Forte’s game, I don’t ADP - 7.01 / RB30 / #73 Overall thought that Leinart would be the guy in
think he’ll get the ball as often as he did last Selected by Bloom, Dodds, Dowling, Pasquino, and Arizona last year. That being said, Warner
year. The Bears offensive line lost some pop Rudnicki is 38 this season. Expecting him to have
when John Tait retired, and Kevin Jones has Rudnicki - McClain was a surprise another 4500 yard passing season is asking
looked great in minicamps now that he’s a breakout player last year, leading the Ravens a lot. Maybe he has one more year in the
year removed from a torn ACL. The Bears in rushing and finishing as a Top 20 fantasy tank. Maybe he can do it again. But at the
won’t go away from Forte, but it’s unlikely RB. This year, however, the team has moved top of the fourth round, there are plenty of
that he will get 316 carries and 63 catches him to fullback to replace Lorenzo Neal, and other options that will have great production
again. Still a solid RB1 in fantasy terms, I’d the team has two perfectly capable feature and value for your team and will not be as
prefer taking Forte late in Round 1. backs in Willis McGahee and Ray Rice. risky as taking Warner.
McClain may wind up as a short yardage
RB Joseph Addai, Ind back and steal some TDs, but people drafting WR Vincent Jackson, SD
him this high and expecting a repeat of last
ADP - 4.04 / RB20 / #40 Overall year’s performance are probably going to be ADP - 5.02 / WR18 / #50 Overall
Selected by Haseley, Hicks, Pasquino, Tefertiller, disappointed. Selected by Baker, Bloom, Pasquino, and Wimer
and Wood Bloom - Jackson benefitted from a lot of
Pasquino - The Colts’ actions speak TE Tony Scheffler, Den factors coming together last year – a career
louder than their words, and no action is year from Philip Rivers, the banged up trio
bigger than their drafting of another tailback ADP - 11.02 / TE11 / #122 Overall of Chris Chambers, LaDainian Tomlinson,
in the first round in April. Donald Brown Selected by Brown, Dodds, Tefertiller, Tremblay, and Antonio Gates, and an offense tilted
from UCONN joins Indianapolis and will at and Wimer towards the pass. Surely there will be more
a bare minimum take the role of former Colt Tremblay - Scheffler is one of the more competition for targets this season, and
Dominic Rhodes. Addai was a disappoint- athletic pass-receiving tight ends in the Jackson still could face a suspension after
ment last year, and with both the offensive league. But even athletic tight ends are no his second DUI arrest in January. Count
line coach and the offensive coordinator sure bet to produce strong fantasy num- on someone else to be your WR2 in the fifth
leaving the Colts may underperform across bers in a Josh McDaniels offense. Ask round.
the board this year. Look for Addai to share Ben Watson. Moreover, it appears that the
the workload and drop out of the Top 25 fan- Broncos will try to run the ball more this QB Jay Cutler, Chi
tasy rushers for 2009. season; and with Scheffler relatively ineffec-
tive as a blocker, he may lose playing time to ADP - 6.04 / QB10 / #64 Overall
WR Roy Williams, Dal the Broncos’ blocking TEs, Daniel Graham Selected by Levin, Pasquino, Waldman, and Yudkin
and Richard Quinn. Levin - Sure, Cutler finished as the #11
ADP - 4.08 / WR16 / #44 Overall QB in 2007 and the #5 QB in 2008, but that
Selected by Bloom, Dodds, Tefertiller, Wood, and Players Receiving 4 Votes was with WR Brandon Marshall grabbing
Yudkin 100+ catches, 1,200+ yards and a handful of
Yudkin - Williams just did not click at all QB Drew Brees, NO TDs. Devin Hester, as Chicago’s #1 receiver,
with Tony Romo last season, and Williams’ will be a poor substitute. Expecting QB10
production numbers were terrible. He should ADP - 1.11 / QB1 / #11 Overall numbers from a QB in this offense is grossly
have been aided by defenders cheating to Selected by Bloom, Dodds, Grant, and Gray overestimating Cutler’s ability to make those
cover Terrell Owens, but this year Williams Dodds - It’s hard not to like Brees. He around him better.
will be the one seeing double coverage. gets the most out of his body and has always
Unless things change dramatically, Williams over-achieved. And when you could get him WR Lee Evans, Buf
won’t approach the Top 15 receivers. as the fifth best QB, he was a safe selection
that still had some potential to outperform ADP - 6.06 / WR24 / #66 Overall
QB Matt Ryan, Atl his ADP. At QB1 (and an ADP of 11 over- Selected by Dodds, Gray, Pasquino, and Tefertiller
all), all Brees can do is underperform. This Dodds - In four of his five seasons as a
ADP - 5.12 / QB9 / #60 Overall year the quarterbacks are deeper than ever starter in Buffalo, he has finished 24th or
Selected by Baker, Bloom, Hicks, Tefertiller, and (Garrard has an ADP of QB20), so even if worse as a wide receiver. This is despite him
Wimer Brees was guaranteed to throw for 4,000 not missing a single game during these five
Bloom - Matt Ryan was a fantastic story yards and 40 TDs, he likely could not justify years. In the offseason, the Bills brought in
last year, but the league seemed to catch up an 11th overall selection. Let others reach in Terrell Owens making Lee Evans the clear
to him in December. Not only did he finish the early rounds for QBs that overachieved WR2 on the team now. Owens is a target,
the season with some of his worst football of in 2008. Use those early rounds to stockpile reception and TD hound which will likely cut
the year, Ryan is also subject to sophomore RBs and WRs (the positions that will win considerably into Lee Evans opportunities in
slump that seems to bring down so many your fantasy league). 2009. There simply aren’t enough passes to
rookie QBs that saw success in their first go around for Lee Evans to catapult much
ICON SMI
in the Top 5 exactly once, and that was three
Steve Breaston
seasons ago. His yards per carry average
has now dropped in each of the last three
year, and it’s not as if the Rams made whole- sixth overall pick. Let someone else be disap- for the struggling Seattle Seahawks. He goes
sale changes across the board that suggest pointed. from playing across from Chad Ochocinco
a turnaround is imminent. Jackson’s final with Carson Palmer tossing the ball to being
season ranking in the last four years is 11th, WR Reggie Wayne, Ind the only legitimate receiver with the oft-
third, 14th, 13th. The trend is for him to fin- injured Matt Hasselbeck under center. The
ish outside the Top 10; don’t pay for him as ADP - 2.08 / WR5 / #20 Overall Seahawk offense struggles without much of
if it’s common. Selected by Gray, Haseley, and Wood a run game and few options in the passing
Haseley - Reggie Wayne had only six TDs game. There are several pass receivers that
RB DeAngelo Williams, Car last year with just two after Week 6. He has offer more upside and value as a high-end
only had two multiple TD games since 2004 fantasy WR2 at this ADP.
ADP - 1.06 / RB6 / #6 Overall and only one since Week 1 of 2007. The
Selected by Brown, Grant, and Gray Colts have a new coach this year, and while
Grant - After two seasons of obscurity I’m not predicting this, Manning eventually WR Santonio Holmes, Pit
an ineffectiveness, it seemed as if Williams is going to slow down. Reggie Wayne is a
was about to be replaced by rookie Jonathan good WR, but is he still an elite one? Since ADP - 4.12 / WR17 / #48 Overall
Stewart. Instead, Stewart took the backseat Week 11 last year, he had as many fantasy Selected by Hicks, Tefertiller, and Wood
and Williams exploded for almost 1,700 points as the slumping Torry Holt. Tefertiller - Holmes played great down
yards and 20 TDs. This season, will it be the stretch last season and gave the Steelers
more of the same? Stewart was a 13th over- WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Sea a huge boost in the Super Bowl. But, we
all pick. To expect him to sit on the sidelines need to remember that Hines Ward was the
again is pretty silly. Stewart is going to push ADP - 3.11 / WR15 / #35 Overall team’s WR1 during the season. The former
hard for more carries. Williams and Stewart Selected by Brown, Gray, and Tefertiller Buckeye only accumulated 821 receiving
will be the best 1-2 punch in the league. But Tefertiller - Houshmandzadeh left the yards and five scores on the season. This was
it will mean Williams will not be worth the high octane offense of the Cincinnati Bengals good for a WR32 finish. And now, after a
great Super Bowl, we are drafting Santonio Selected by Gray and Haseley people still want to take Lynch as their start-
Holmes higher than he has ever finished? Haseley - It’s hard to even consider er? If you want to use a second-round pick
This is curious with Ward being drafted eight overvaluing the future Hall of Famer, but on a guy who misses the first three weeks
spots later as WR25. eventually he’ll have to slow down. Last of the season, then you are already starting
season, Peyton Manning finished as the sixth behind the 8-ball.
Players Receiving 2 Votes ranked QB, which is his lowest finish since a
ninth place campaign during his rookie year. QB Philip Rivers, SD
RB Michael Turner, Atl Reggie Wayne had a down year, Marvin
Harrison is gone, there are some question ADP - 4.05 / QB6 / #41 Overall
ADP - 1.02 / RB2 / #2 Overall marks at the RB position, and oh by the way, Selected by Pasquino and Wimer
Selected by Baker and Waldman the Colts have a new head coach and offen- Wimer - Philip Rivers was a Top 5 fan-
Baker - While it may be hard to discount sive coordinator. I am not saying the Colts tasy QB last season, largely due to throwing
Michael Turner’s numbers last year, I’m not are going to struggle, but they could. Last 34 TDs and also crossing the 4000 yards-
nearly as hyped on him this year as many. Yes year there were times well past Manning’s passing barrier. However, the Chargers
– 17 touchdowns and nearly 1,700 rushing recovery from knee surgery, where he just are planning on emphasizing the running
yards are eye-opening, but I personally doubt didn’t look like his old self. He’ll probably game this year with a healthy LaDainian
he carries the ball 377 times again in 2009. still be the third QB taken in drafts this year, Tomlinson, and Rivers’ #1 receiver last year,
And while adding Tony Gonzalez may help but something tells me he won’t finish in that Vincent Jackson, is in legal trouble (DUI
the offense, it also could mean less carries for spot. arrest while serving probation on a DUI
Turner. As great as last season was for Turner, conviction). Antonio Gates is struggling with
it smells like a peak year to me, and I think he WR Wes Welker, NE his chronically injured toe. I don’t see Rivers
has nowhere to go but down. Do I still like the repeating a Top 10 finish this season.
guy? Sure. But I can’t see myself drafting him ADP - 3.08 / WR13 / #32 Overall
with the second overall pick. Selected by Brown and Wood RB Larry Johnson, KC
Brown - Two seasons ago, Welker caught
RB Marion Barber, Dal 112 passes and was the 11th-ranked wide- ADP - 5.03 / RB25 / #51 Overall
out. A year ago, with Tom Brady out, Welker Selected by Bloom and Dowling
ADP - 2.04 / RB12 / #16 Overall still managed to snag 111 passes but was Dowling - As a Larry Johnson fan it pains
Selected by Wimer and Wood only WR21 on fantasy lists. The problem was me to admit it, but the bloom is off the rose.
Wood - I like Marion Barber, but I worry that his scores dropped from eight to three. He turns 30 during the upcoming season
about his ability to perform as a fantasy RB1 Now he’s being taken as the 13th receiver off and has been a shell of himself for the last
this year, which is what his current ADP the board. Unless you think Brady is going to two years. As much as we try not to convince
assumes. The league is embracing a commit- step back in and toss another 45-50 scores, ourselves otherwise, 400-rush seasons (like
tee system, and the Cowboys have not one, Welker will be hard-pressed to crack the top Johnson had in 2006) are great predictors of
but two compelling alternatives. Felix Jones 13 with his dreadful YPC and lack of scor- things going downhill, in a hurry, in future
was a big-play threat every time he touched ing. seasons. Toss in that Johnson is playing for a
the ball last year and is healthy. Tashard new coach who has rarely shown a fondness
Choice proved equally capable of handling RB Reggie Bush, NO for rushing the ball in the past, and Johnson
a large role. Expect all three to help Dallas, simply isn’t worth the gamble this year.
but in turn be less-than-ideal fantasy options. ADP - 4.01 / RB18 / #37 Overall
Selected by Tefertiller and Yudkin TE Antonio Gates, SD
QB Tom Brady, NE Yudkin - Bush has battled the injury bug
so far in his career, and he ended last year ADP - 5.06 / TE2 / #54 Overall
ADP - 2.09 / QB2 / #21 Overall with a knee injury that may have some lin- Selected by Brown and Wood
Selected by Brown and Wimer gering effects. His games played, touches, Wood - Antonio Gates is going to be the
Wimer - Tom Brady had a career year and fantasy scoring have dropped each sea- first TE off the board in many drafts, and
two seasons ago (398/578 for 4,806 yards, son. Bush will need a bigger workload, more almost certainly will be drafted shortly after
50 TDs and eight interceptions), but he TDs, and to play in a lot more games to rank someone takes Jason Witten in most others.
missed almost an entire year of football in the Top 20 in a standard scoring fantasy While Gates is a viable fantasy starter, it’s
due to his torn ACL – and he is reportedly league. risky to draft him at projected ADP. Gates
expected to wear the knee brace for the rest admitted to lingering soreness in his ankle
of his career. Throwing a ball takes a whole RB Marshawn Lynch, Buf during May mini-camp; and that has to
body motion - we have yet to see what effect worry anyone who plans on using an early
the devastating knee injury has had on ADP - 4.03 / RB19 / #39 Overall round pick on him.
Brady’s passes. I think QB2 is wildly optimis- Selected by Hicks and Wood
tic for a player coming off a serious injury Hicks - In case you have missed the news, WR Eddie Royal, Den
and who’ll also do without the offensive Marshawn Lynch will be suspended for the ADP - 5.09 / WR21 / #57 Overall
coordinator, Josh McDaniels, who helped first three games of the 2009 season, yet Selected by Hicks and Pasquino
craft the phenomenal 2007 season. he is still rated as a fantasy starter? The Hicks - According to his ADP, Eddie
rap sheet for Lynch is getting longer every Royal is expected to duplicate his phenom-
QB Peyton Manning, Ind season and people will still take him as their enal rookie season. This is despite losing his
starter? The Bills signed Dominic Rhodes head coach & quarterback. The Broncos will
ADP - 2.1 / QB3 / #22 Overall and Fred Jackson continues to impress, yet have a more than likely rejuvenated running
game following the drafting of first-round Players Receiving 1 Vote WR Laveranues Coles, Cin
pick Knowshon Moreno and the addition of ADP - 7.07 / WR31 / #79 Overall
a slew of capable assistants in free agency. RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac Selected by Gray
With the QB battle between Kyle Orton and ADP - 1.03 / RB3 / #3 Overall
Chris Simms likely to be a huge fantasy Selected by Grant QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pit
regression from Jay Cutler, expect one of the ADP - 8.01 / QB14 / #85 Overall
prime fantasy casualties to be Eddie Royal. RB Steve Slaton, Hou Selected by Gray
ADP - 2.01 / RB10 / #13 Overall
WR Lance Moore, NO Selected by Hicks WR Michael Crabtree, SF
ADP - 8.03 / WR34 / #87 Overall
ADP - 6.1 / WR26 / #70 Overall WR Calvin Johnson, Det Selected by Tremblay
Selected by Borbely and Hicks ADP - 2.02 / WR3 / #14 Overall
Borbely - Moore came out of nowhere last Selected by Rudnicki TE Chris Cooley, Was
year and became a favorite target of Drew ADP - 8.04 / TE6 / #88 Overall
Brees, finishing with over 900 yards and WR Roddy White, Atl Selected by Gray
10 TDs. But last year, Reggie Bush missed ADP - 2.12 / WR7 / #24 Overall
six games, Marques Colston missed five, Selected by Haseley TE Owen Daniels, Hou
and Jeremy Shockey missed four. That adds ADP - 8.06 / TE7 / #90 Overall
up to a load of targets that Moore got last WR Dwayne Bowe, KC Selected by Bloom
year. I expect his numbers to decline sharply ADP - 3.04 / WR11 / #28 Overall
because he will likely be the fourth target in Selected by Tremblay RB Willis McGahee, Bal
the passing game. That is just too risky when ADP - 8.1 / RB37 / #94 Overall
compared to his ADP of WR26. I would RB Kevin Smith, Det Selected by Dodds
rather let another owner draft him. ADP - 3.07 / RB16 / #31 Overall
Selected by Levin RB Tim Hightower, Ari
TE John Carlson, Sea ADP - 9.05 / RB39 / #101 Overall
WR Terrell Owens, Buf Selected by Yudkin
ADP - 9.08 / TE9 / #104 Overall ADP - 3.09 / WR14 / #33 Overall
Selected by Haseley and Pasquino Selected by Bloom QB Matt Hasselbeck, Sea
Pasquino - Carlson was one of very few ADP - 9.09 / QB16 / #105 Overall
glimmers of hope for Seattle last year. The RB Ronnie Brown, Mia Selected by Hicks
team was decimated with wide receiver ADP - 3.1 / RB17 / #34 Overall
injuries along with Matt Hasselbeck missing Selected by Gray WR Deion Branch, Sea
time, so Carlson had to step up and con- ADP - 9.12 / WR41 / #108 Overall
tribute much more than expected in his first RB Thomas Jones, NYJ Selected by Rudnicki
year. Carlson was a Top 10 fantasy tight end ADP - 4.06 / RB21 / #42 Overall
with 55 catches and seven scores, but the Selected by Borbely RB Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG
Seahawks now have TJ Houshmandzadeh, ADP - 10.03 / RB43 / #111 Overall
Nate Burleson and Deion Branch ready to RB Jonathan Stewart, Car Selected by Henry
take more targets. Carlson will have a tough ADP - 5.01 / RB24 / #49 Overall
time getting that many catches and scores Selected by Brown QB Kyle Orton, Den
in his second year with so many other pass ADP - 10.11 / QB19 / #119 Overall
catchers available. WR Braylon Edwards, Cle Selected by Wood
ADP - 5.04 / WR19 / #52 Overall
TE Dustin Keller, NYJ Selected by Wimer WR Percy Harvin, Min
ADP - 10.12 / WR43 / #120 Overall
ADP - 10.05 / TE10 / #113 Overall WR Antonio Bryant, TB Selected by Dodds
Selected by Rudnicki and Wimer ADP - 5.05 / WR20 / #53 Overall
Rudnicki - Keller had an impressive Selected by Pasquino WR Jeremy Maclin, Phi
rookie season and finished as a pretty decent ADP - 11.11 / WR46 / #131 Overall
starter in most leagues. While it would be TE Tony Gonzalez, Atl Selected by Yudkin
reasonable to expect improvement from him ADP - 5.07 / TE3 / #55 Overall
in his second year, the Jets passing game Selected by Grant WR Patrick Crayton, Dal
is a potential disaster. Brett Favre is gone ADP - 12.02 / WR48 / #134 Overall
so the team will be forced to rely on Kellen TE Dallas Clark, Ind Selected by Dodds
Clemens or the rookie Mark Sanchez at QB. ADP - 5.08 / TE4 / #56 Overall
Laveranues Coles has also moved on to the Selected by Pasquino TE Heath Miller, Pit
Bengals, which means Keller should see a lot ADP - 12.05 / TE14 / #137 Overall
more defensive attention. The Jets are going WR Chad Ochocinco, Cin Selected by Gray
to rely heavily on their running game and ADP - 6.05 / WR23 / #65 Overall
defense this year, resulting in fewer quality Selected by Wimer TE Jeremy Shockey, NO
targets for Keller. ADP - 12.06 / TE15 / #138 Overall
Selected by Tefertiller
DRAFTED RUNNING BACKS Dynasty Outlook: Top 10-25 WR with bust risk
Pos Pick Player Ht Wt College Team NFL Comparison: Bigger and faster Chris Chambers
RB 1.12 Moreno, Knowshon 5’11 217 Georgia Broncos
RB 1.27 Brown, Donald 5’10 210 Connecticut Colts 4. Jeremy Maclin - Philadelphia Eagles - 6’0, 198
RB 1.31 Wells, Chris 6’1 235 Ohio State Cardinals Scouting Report: Maclin will bring world-class speed and
RB 2.21 McCoy, LeSean 5’10 198 Pittsburgh Eagles decent size to an offense already stocked with burners at wide
RB 3.01 Greene, Shonn 5’11 227 Iowa Jets
receiver. He’ll be one of the most dangerous return threats in
RB 3.10 Coffee, Glen 6’0 209 Alabama 49ers
RB 4.11 Goodson, Mike 6’0 208 Texas A&M Panthers the league. He’ll need to learn the route tree because he played
FB 4.28 Fiammetta, Tony 6’0 245 Syracuse Panthers in a spread offense at Mizzou.
RB 4.29 Brown, Andre 6’0 224 N. C. St. Giants 2009 Outlook: In on passing downs and returns; pushing
RB 4.34 Johnson, Gartrell 5’10 219 Colorado State Chargers Kevin Curtis soon
FB 5.09 Johnson, Quinn 6’1 246 LSU Packers Dynasty Outlook: Top 15-40 WR
RB 5.33 Summers, Frank 5’9 241 UNLV Steelers
NFL Comparison: Bigger Ted Ginn
RB 5.37 Ringer, Javon 5’9 205 Michigan State Titans
RB 6.12 Peerman, Cedric 5’10 216 Virginia Ravens
RB 6.19 Brown, Aaron 6’1 196 TCU Lions 5. Percy Harvin - Minnesota Vikings - 5’11, 192
RB 6.22 Davis, James 5’11 218 Clemson Browns
Scouting Report: Few college players were more dangerous
RB 6.36 Scott, Bernard 5’10 200 Abilene Christian Bengals
RB 7.02 Ogbonnaya, Chris 6’0 220 Texas Rams
with the ball in their hands than Harvin, but even fewer had his
RB 7.03 Williams, Javarris 5’10 223 Tennessee St. Chiefs terrible off the field reputation. Harvin is a work in progress
RB 7.06 Vakapuna, Fui 5’11 244 BYU Bengals as a wide receiver, but he runs like Chris Johnson in the open
RB 7.31 Stephens-Howling, LaRod 5’7 180 Pittsburgh Cardinals field.
RB 7.41 Jennings, Rashad 6’1 231 Liberty Jaguars 2009 Outlook: Wildcat QB and novelty player with some
work in 3- and 4-WR sets
Dynasty Outlook: Top 15-40 WR with bust risk
WIDE RECEIVERS NFL Comparison: Laveranues Coles
by Sigmund Bloom
1. Michael Crabtree - San Francisco 49ers - 6’2, 215 6. Brian Robiskie - Cleveland Browns - 6’3, 209
Scouting Report: Unlike most WRs that go in the Top 10 of Scouting Report: Robiskie plays exactly the way you’d
the draft, Crabtree isn’t a burner nor does he tower over most expect a WR coach’s son would. He runs crisp routes, catches
NFL corners. What he does do is attack the ball in the air like a everything thrown his way, and uses his big frame naturally to
DB and run angry after the catch like an RB. His ball skills and block out. He won’t win footraces or break ankles in the open
hands are so good that it seems like he was born to play WR. field, but Robiskie should be a terrific #2 possession receiver.
He’ll have to get over a broken foot and character concerns to 2009 Outlook: Competing with a host of players to start
fulfill his potential. opposite Braylon Edwards
2009 Outlook: Competing with Josh Morgan and Brandon Dynasty Outlook: Top 20-50 WR
Jones to start NFL Comparison: Muhsin Muhammad with less strength
Dynasty Outlook: Top 5-15 WR
NFL Comparison: Shorter Brandon Marshall
7. Kenny Britt - Tennessee Titans - 6’3, 218
Scouting Report: Britt is big, fast, strong, and a whale of a
2. Hakeem Nicks - New York Giants - 6’1, 212 blocker for a wide receiver. He doesn’t routinely hands-catch
Scouting Report: The Giants have found their future #1 WR and lets the ball get to his body too often, but he still is the best
in Hakeem Nicks. He has extraordinarily soft hands that allow talent the Titans have had at wide receiver since Derrick Mason
him to make circus catches, and he’s surprisingly elusive and left town.
strong running after the catch. Nicks plays with a “my ball” 2009 Outlook: Competing to start and push Nate Washington
mentality that should help him overcome a lack of great speed to the slot
or size. Dynasty Outlook: Top 25-50 WR
2009 Outlook: Competing with Domenik Hixon to start NFL Comparison: Bigger and stronger Derek Hagan before
Dynasty Outlook: Top 10-25 WR his hands turned into skillets
NFL Comparison: Thinner Dwayne Bowe
8. Jarett Dillard - Jacksonville Jaguars - 5’10, 191
3. Darrius Heyward-Bey - Oakland Raiders - 6’2, 210 Scouting Report: Dillard fell to the fifth round because he
Scouting Report: Everyone laughed at Al Davis when he doesn’t run in the 4.4s, and he’s less than six feet tall. He’ll be
selected Heyward-Bey #7, but the Raiders could have the last one of the steals of the draft because his precise routes will cre-
laugh. His 4.3 speed is legit, and his ability to track and adjust ate separation and his pillow soft hands and 40+ inch vertical
to the deep ball will make him lethal when JaMarcus Russell will allow him to make plays that most WRs can’t.
lets one fly. He has inconsistent hands and his game needs some 2009 Outlook: Competing for WR2 with Mike Walker and
polish, but Heyward-Bey will be one of the best deep threats in Mike Thomas
the league. Dynasty Outlook: Top 25-75 WR
2009 Outlook: In on passing downs; pushing Javon Walker/ NFL Comparison: Slower Greg Jennings
Johnnie Lee Higgins soon
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92 FOOTBALLGUYS.COM
DRAFTED WIDE RECEIVERS as a receiver. He’s not a supreme athlete, but he was still under-
Pos Pick Player Ht Wt College Team used in the passing game at Oklahoma State.
WR 1.07 Heyward-Bey, Darrius 6’2 210 Maryland Raiders 2009 Outlook: Should start from day one
WR 1.10 Crabtree, Michael 6’2 215 Texas Tech 49ers Dynasty Outlook: Top 10-20 TE
WR 1.19 Maclin, Jeremy 6’0 198 Missouri Eagles NFL Comparison: Daniel Graham with more reliable mitts
WR 1.22 Harvin, Percy 5’11 192 Florida Vikings
WR 1.29 Nicks, Hakeem 6’1 212 North Carolina Giants
WR 1.30 Britt, Kenny 6’3 218 Rutgers Titans 4. Shawn Nelson - Buffalo Bills - 6’5, 240
WR 2.04 Robiskie, Brian 6’3 209 Ohio State Browns Scouting Report: Nelson spent a lot of time split out wide at
WR 2.18 Massaquoi, Mohamed 6’2 210 Georgia Browns Southern Miss, so his prowess as a blocker was a pleasant sur-
WR 3.18 Williams, Derrick 6’0 194 Penn State Lions prise at the Senior Bowl. He’s a fluid athlete with a long frame,
WR 3.19 Tate, Brandon 6’0 183 North Carolina Patriots
and he’s terrific at catching the ball outside of his frame.
WR 3.20 Wallace, Mike 6’0 199 Mississippi Steelers
WR 3.21 Barden, Ramses 6’6 229 Cal Poly Giants
2009 Outlook: Will compete to start on opening weekend
WR 3.23 Turner, Patrick 6’5 223 Southern Cal Dolphins Dynasty Outlook: Top 10-20 TE
WR 3.27 Butler, Deon 5’10 182 Penn State Seahawks NFL Comparison: Shorter Marcedes Lewis
WR 3.35 Iglesias, Juaquin 6’1 210 Oklahoma Bears
WR 4.07 Thomas, Mike 5’8 195 Arizona Jaguars
WR 4.08 Hartline, Brian 6’2 195 Ohio State Dolphins 5. Chase Coffman - Cincinnati Bengals - 6’6, 250
WR 4.24 Murphy, Louis 6’2 203 Florida Raiders Scouting Report: He won’t be useful as an inline TE, or
WR 4.27 Collie, Austin 6’1 200 BYU Colts even an H-back, but Coffman’s hands, ball skills, and toughness
WR 5.04 Knox, Johnny 6’0 185 Abilene Christian Bears catching balls over the middle are tops in this unique class. He
WR 5.05 McKinley, Kenny 6’0 189 South Carolina Broncos is coming off a broken foot and will need to overcome a lack of
WR 5.08 Dillard, Jarett 5’10 191 Rice Jaguars
burst off the line and speed in his routes.
WR 5.24 Foster, Brooks 6’1 211 North Carolina Rams
WR 6.02 Lawrence, Quinten 6’0 184 McNeese State Chiefs
2009 Outlook: Pushing Ben Utecht for snaps on passing
WR 6.21 Gibson, Brandon 6’1 206 Washington St. Eagles downs
WR 6.33 Edison, Dominique 6’2 204 Stephen F Austin Titans Dynasty Outlook: Top 10-20 TE with bust risk
WR 7.15 Byrd, Demetrius 6’0 199 LSU Chargers NFL Comparison: Less athletic Todd Heap
WR 7.20 Johnson, Manuel 5’11 189 Oklahoma Cowboys
WR 7.24 Stroughter, Sammie 5’9 189 Oregon State Buccaneers
WR 7.28 O’Connell, Jake 6’3 250 Miami (OHIO) Chiefs 6. Cornelius Ingram - Philadelphia Eagles - 6’4, 245
WR 7.34 Mitchell, Marko 6’4 218 Nevada Redskins Scouting Report: Like most Florida players, Ingram is a ter-
WR 7.42 Kinder, Derek 6’0 202 Pittsburgh Bears rific athlete and playmaker, but what he did in Gainesville is
WR 7.43 Brown, Freddie 6’3 215 Utah Bengals nothing like what he’ll be asked to do in the NFL. He’s coming
WR 7.44 Underwood, Tiquan 6’1 184 Rutgers Jaguars
off an ACL tear, but he should be a good fit in the Philly pass-
ing offense once he’s healthy.
2009 Outlook: Pushing Brent Celek for snaps on passing
TIGHT ENDS downs
by Sigmund Bloom Dynasty Outlook: Top 10-20 TE with bust risk
NFL Comparison: Randy McMichael
1. Travis Beckum - New York Giants - 6’3, 239
Scouting Report: The Giants got themselves a supersized
slot receiver at the end of the third round. Beckum has eerie
accurate ball tracking and runs strong after the catch. He’s com-
ing off a broken leg, and he’ll need to be more consistent in his
routes and off the field work ethic to hit it big in the Big Apple. DRAFTED TIGHT ENDS
2009 Outlook: Worked into passing sets as the year goes on Pos Pick Player Ht Wt College Team
Dynasty Outlook: Top 5-15 TE TE 1.20 Pettigrew, Brandon 6’5 263 Oklahoma State Lions
NFL Comparison: Dustin Keller TE 2.32 Quinn, Richard 6’4 264 North Carolina Broncos
TE 3.25 Cook, Jared 6’5 246 South Carolina Titans
TE 3.34 Coffman, Chase 6’6 244 Missouri Bengals
2. Jared Cook - Tennessee Titans - 6’5, 246 TE 3.36 Beckum, Travis 6’3 243 Wisconsin Giants
Scouting Report: The most athletically gifted of this strong TE 4.21 Nelson, Shawn 6’5 240 Southern Miss Bills
class of receiving TEs, Cook runs, leaps, and adjusts to the ball TE 4.22 Hill, Anthony 6’5 262 N. C. St. Texans
TE 5.13 Drew, Davon 6’4 256 East Carolina Ravens
in the air like a wide receiver. Questions about his coachabil-
TE 5.16 Casey, James 6’3 246 Rice Texans
ity and one-dimensional game caused him to fall to the third TE 5.17 Ingram, Cornelius 6’4 245 Florida Eagles
rounds. TE 5.25 Nalbone, John 6’4 251 Monmouth (NJ) Dolphins
2009 Outlook: Mixed in on passing downs TE 6.07 Miller, Zach 6’4 233 Nebraska-Omaha Jaguars
Dynasty Outlook: Top 5-15 TE with bust risk TE 6.11 Pascoe, Bear 6’5 251 Fresno State 49ers
NFL Comparison: Slightly less freakish Vernon Davis TE 6.29 Myers, Brandon 6’4 250 Iowa Raiders
TE 6.35 Phillips, John 6’5 251 Virginia Cowboys
TE 7.12 Williams, Eddie 6’1 239 Idaho Redskins
3. Brandon Pettigrew - Detroit Lions - 6’6, 263 TE 7.32 Johnson, David 6’2 260 Arkansas State Steelers
Scouting Report: Pettigrew is like a third offensive tackle as TE 7.39 Morrah, Cameron 6’3 244 California Seahawks
a run and pass blocker, and he has a big frame and great hands TE 7.46 Gronkowski, Dan 6’6 255 Maryland Lions
LINEBACKERS Drafted In First Four Rounds 5. Malcolm Jenkins - New Orleans Saints - 6’0, 204
Pos Pick Player Ht Wt College Team Scouting Report: Jenkins has the size, physicality, and men-
OLB 1.04 Curry, Aaron 6’2 254 Wake Forest Seahawks
tality to be a shutdown corner, the only thing missing is elite
OLB 1.15 Cushing, Brian 6’3 243 Southern Cal Texans
OLB 1.18 Ayers, Robert 6’3 272 Tennessee Broncos
speed. He played some free safety at Ohio State, so there is a
OLB 1.26 Matthews, Clay 6’3 240 Southern Cal Packers plan B, but the Saints plan on keeping him at corner.
ILB 2.03 Laurinaitis, James 6’2 244 Ohio State Rams 2009 Outlook: Competing with Randall Gay and Tracy Porter to start
ILB 2.06 Maualuga, Rey 6’2 249 Southern Cal Bengals Dynasty Outlook: Top 15-50 DB
OLB 2.13 Sintim, Clint 6’3 256 Virginia Giants NFL Comparison: Antrel Rolle
OLB 3.05 Williams, Jason 6’1 241 Western Illinois Cowboys
OLB 3.12 Levy, DeAndre 6’2 236 Wisconsin Lions DEFENSIVE BACKS Drafted In First Four Rounds
OLB 3.33 McKenzie, Tyrone 6’2 243 South Florida Patriots Pos Pick Player Ht Wt College Team
ILB 4.04 Maiava, Kaluka 5’11 229 Southern Cal Browns CB 1.14 Jenkins, Malcolm 6’0 204 Ohio State Saints
ILB 4.18 Arnoux, Stanley 6’0 232 Wake Forest Saints CB 1.25 Davis, Vontae 5’11 203 Illinois Dolphins
LB 4.30 McRath, Gerald 6’2 231 Southern Miss Titans CB 2.01 Delmas, Louis 6’0 202 W. Michigan Lions
SS 2.02 Chung, Patrick 5’11 212 Oregon Patriots
DEFENSIVE BACKS CB
CB
2.05
2.09
Smith, Alphonso
Butler, Darius
5’9
5’11
193
183
Wake Forest
Connecticut
Broncos
Patriots
by Sigmund Bloom
CB 2.10 Byrd, Jairus 5’10 207 Oregon Bills
SS 2.15 Mitchell, Mike 6’0 220 Ohio Raiders
1. William Moore - Atlanta Falcons - 6’0, 221 CB 2.16 McBath, Darcel 6’0 198 Texas Tech Broncos
S 2.23 Moore, William 6’0 221 Missouri Falcons
Scouting Report: Moore played like a franchise safety in
S 2.27 Martin, Sherrod 6’1 198 Troy Panthers
2007, and then he got posterized by deep throws way too often CB 2.29 Smith, Sean 6’4 214 Utah Dolphins
in 2008. He’s an instinctive player who blows up receivers who CB 3.02 Fletcher, Bradley 6’0 196 Iowa Rams
come into his zone with a ballhawk mentality, but sometimes he CB 3.09 Cox, Derek 6’1 189 William & Mary Jaguars
looks like a linebacker miscast in the secondary. CB 3.16 Barnes, Kevin 6’0 187 Maryland Redskins
2009 Outlook: Starting SS CB 3.22 Allen, Asher 5’10 194 Georgia Vikings
Dynasty Outlook: Top 5-20 DB with bust risk CB 3.24 Webb, Lardarius 5’10 179 Nicholls State Ravens
CB 3.26 Owens, Christopher 5’10 181 San Jose State Falcons
NFL Comparison: Roy Williams, both the good and the bad
CB 3.28 Powers, Jerraud 5’9 188 Auburn Colts
CB 3.30 Mouton, Ryan 5’9 187 Hawaii Titans
2. Patrick Chung - New England Patriots - 5’11, 212 S 3.31 Johnson, Rashad 5’11 203 Alabama Cardinals
CB 3.32 Lewis, Keenan 6’0 208 Oregon State Steelers
Scouting Report: Chung is a classic intimidator who punishes
CB 4.02 Washington, Donald 6’0 197 Ohio State Chiefs
wide receivers and running backs alike. He’s at his best playing CB 4.12 Quin, Glover 5’11 204 New Mexico Texans
downhill versus the pass and lining up in the box against the run. FS 4.14 Bruton, David 6’2 219 Notre Dame Broncos
He can be exposed if he’s left on an island in deep coverage. S 4.16 Vaughn, Chip 6’1 221 Wake Forest Saints
2009 Outlook: Competing with James Sanders and Brandon CB 4.19 Moore, D.J. 5’9 192 Vanderbilt Bears
McGowan to start CB 4.31 Toler, Greg 5’11 191 St Pauls Cardinals
L
ast year, Drew Brees became only the second QB in of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Tony Romo has to prove he can
NFL history to throw for more than 5,000 yards en deliver without Terrell Owens. Jay Cutler has to prove that he
route to the top fantasy ranking. Few were surprised can excel in a new city with a more conservative offensive
to hear that Brees was one of three QBs to throw for at least approach.
4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, but they may be The next group of QBs is really a case of the eye of the
surprised to know the other two were Philip Rivers and Kurt beholder. Some will target Matt Ryan because of his youth and
Warner. This year, Brees, Rivers and Warner are part of a breakout potential. Others may view the steady veteran hand
seven-QB tier atop the QB rankings. Peyton Manning is in of Eli Manning or Big Ben Roethlisberger as the smart play.
his usual spot as a Top 3 option, and Tom Brady will join him You don’t want to reach for the QBs beyond the Top 7, focus
as long as his knee is 100 percent. Aaron Rodgers, last year’s on building your WR and RB depth and then target one or two
breakout star, and veteran Donovan McNabb, who has his mid-level QBs in the seventh to 10th rounds.
deepest arsenal ever, round out the top slots. Cutler isn’t the only projected starter to change teams this
The next tier of QBs could put up numbers rivaling the offseason. The Chiefs acquired Matt Cassel from the Patriots,
the Broncos will start either Kyle Orton or Chris Simms,
Byron Leftwich will compete for PT in Tampa Bay, and Brett
QUARTERBACKS
1. Drew Brees - NO
6-1, 220, age: 30
year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank
2009 PROJ 595 380 4373 31 18 11 0 326 1
2008 NO 635 413 5069 34 17 -1 0 372 1
2007 NO 655 443 4428 28 18 52 1 328 4
2006 NO 554 356 4418 26 11 32 0 317 2
The Good - Drew Brees is coming off one of the finest
fantasy seasons ever for a quarterback. More than 5,000 yards
and 30 TDs put Brees in statistical territory only occupied
previously by Dan Marino. He achieved these figures despite
missing his top WR, top RB, and top TE for significant peri-
ods of time throughout the season. With the supporting cast in
New Orleans largely intact and all key players at 100 percent,
there is no logical reason why Brees cannot continue his fanta-
sy success again this season. Having just turned 30, he should
be at the top of his game, and the attack minded Saints offense
is unlikely to change a successful formula.
The Bad - It is often difficult to replicate or even get close
to a year of fantasy excellence. Some of the more recent great
ICON SMI
QUARTERBACKS
The Good - “It was the best of times” - in 2007. We’ve of his first 11 seasons - and he’s hit the 4,000 yard mark in
already seen Tom Brady set the single-season TD passing nine of those seasons. He’s finished as a Top 10 fantasy QB in
record with 50 TDs to go along with 4,800 passing yards. all 11 seasons, and has finished outside the Top 5 only twice:
That translated into an NFL-record 589 points scored for New his rookie year, and last year when a knee injury slowed him
England and an undefeated regular season. The key cogs in the initially. In other words, Manning’s realistic “worst case” sce-
offense are still in place, and New England has added some nario is better than most QBs’ realistic “best case” scenario.
proven veterans to the mix. If collectively the offense stays Expect a Top 5 season out of Manning even if it’s a down year
healthy, opposing defensive coordinators will again be losing for him.
sleep and loading up on Maalox. Pick your poison on who to The Bottom Line - Manning got off to a slow start last
cover - Moss, Welker, Galloway, one of the TEs, or stick guys season after undergoing knee surgery in July. He skipped the
in the box to thwart the run – there are just too many options preseason and wasn’t quite himself during the first few games.
to worry about. After averaging just 15.8 fantasy points per game during the
The Bad - “It was the worst of times” - in 2008. On the sec- first three games, he averaged a much more Manning-like
ond drive of the year, Brady went down for the season with a 20.9 fantasy points per game over the remaining 13 games.
knee injury. It doesn’t get any worse than that. Brady may for- Manning will be drafted as a Top 3 fantasy QB in most
ever hold a dubious record that may not ever be broken: big- leagues and is a decent bet to live up to his draft position.
gest drop-off in TD passes from one season to the next. Given
that Brady is coming back from a serious injury and hasn’t 4. Kurt Warner - ARI
played much since the Pats loss to the Giants in the Super 6-2, 220, age: 38
Bowl (he barely participated in camp last year), he could be year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank
rusty and not completely healed. He may have to permanently 2009 PROJ 540 344 3888 28 16 4 0 291 7
wear a knee brace which could hamper his mobility, limit his 2008 ARI 599 402 4582 30 14 -2 0 335 4
scrambling, and reduce his rushing attempts. 2007 ARI 452 282 3409 27 17 15 1 269 10
The Bottom Line - It’s unlikely the Patriots offense will 2006 ARI 168 108 1377 6 5 3 0 88 37
take a nosedive with Brady coming back. Given the arsenal The Good - If Kurt Warner fully recovers from his hip inju-
Brady has to work with, he should be in for another Top 5 ry, receives adequate protection from his offensive line, and
fantasy season if healthy. He has already displayed what could receives sufficient run support to force eight men in the box
happen if all the planets align properly and could lap many on occasion, he is destined for another Top 5 fantasy season.
other QBs in fantasy scoring. However, the Pats have bulked The Bad - Though we rarely predict injury when making
up their running attack and may try to implement more of a projections, acknowledging an existing injury is reasonable.
ball-control offense in order to keep their defense off the field In a worst-case scenario, Warner would struggle in his recov-
more than in recent seasons. That could also lead to a lot of ery, and the Cardinals offensive line and running game would
dink and dunk passes - something Matt Cassel made a living struggle as they did for much of 2008. It is difficult to imagine
on last year and a scheme the Patriots have used at times with Warner, who is nearing the end of his career, overcoming those
Brady. obstacles to repeat as an elite fantasy QB. That said, even if all
goes wrong, he is unlikely to lose his starting spot. The team
invested too much money in him to bench him. He would still
Rodgers barring injuries. The only possible risk is if the the Chargers continue the transition from running team to
offensive line regresses and doesn’t allow him as much time passing team and Rivers gets over 500 attempts in 2009, he
to throw. If the rushing attack does better this season, he may could improve on his 2008 fantasy stats. Vincent Jackson has
throw 50 fewer passes for 400 fewer passing yards. That would established himself as a solid NFL WR1, and Antonio Gates
put him around 3,600 yards and 24 touchdowns as his worst- should be healthy (after struggling through toe and hip injuries
case scenario. in 2008.
The Bottom Line - Rodgers had a wonderful season last The Bad - Rivers had his best year as a pro in 2008, but it
year, and he has a great group of receivers. His numbers could have been an aberration rather than a sign of things to
may take a slight downtick if the rushing attack improves, as come. He lacks the arm strength of many of the other upper-
expected, this season, but he is still likely to throw for 3,800 tier QBs. While Vincent Jackson appears to be coming into
yards and 26+ touchdowns this season. He was the third-best his own, Chris Chambers disappeared over the second half of
fantasy quarterback in 2008 and should finish Top 5 once 2008 and the other WRs (Malcom Floyd and Buster Davis) are
again in 2009. unproven. Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson have been
nagged by injuries and may never be the players they were ear-
6. Donovan McNabb - PHI lier in their careers. If the offense around him regresses, Rivers
6-2, 226, age: 33 could regress to his 2007 season level.
year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank The Bottom Line - Rivers is an underdog to repeat his Top
2009 PROJ 555 338 3774 25 15 176 2 303 5 5 performance of a year ago, but is a favorite to finish in the
2008 PHI 571 345 3916 23 11 147 2 304 7 Top 10. The Chargers still have a high-powered offense that
2007 PHI 473 291 3324 19 7 236 0 259 13 should score a lot of points, and QBs on high-scoring offenses
2006 PHI 316 180 2647 18 6 212 3 238 13 are nearly always good fantasy bets. In particular, the Chargers
The Good -McNabb is one of a handful of veteran QBs should continue to enjoy success in the red zone with their
capable of finishing atop the fantasy rankings under ideal bevy of large receivers (Gates, Jackson, and Floyd are like a
circumstances. He’s coming off his best fantasy season since basketball team’s front court), so Rivers should comfortably
2004, throwing for almost 4,000 yards to go along with 23 toss 25+ TDs again. Expect a fantasy finish somewhere in the
TDs and just 11 interceptions. With a strong arm, a rebuilt 4-9 range.
offensive line and complete mastery of the playbook, McNabb
is positioned for a big year. DeSean Jackson should emerge 8. Tony Romo - DAL
as a 1,000-yard threat in his second season. If rookie Jeremy 6-2, 219, age: 29
Maclin can provide an explosive after-the-catch option, year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank
McNabb could deliver Top 5 numbers including 4,000 yards 2009 PROJ 525 333 3712 23 18 96 1 275 8
passing and 25+ touchdowns. 2008 DAL 450 276 3448 26 14 41 0 266 10
The Bad - If either Stacy Andrews or Jason Peters struggle 2007 DAL 520 335 4211 36 19 129 2 360 2
as the Eagles’ new tackles, McNabb could suffer undue pres- 2006 DAL 337 220 2903 19 13 102 0 218 19
sure - something that affected his play in 2007. If Brian The Good -To hear some people tell it, Tony Romo flopped
Westbrook suffers further decline, the entire cohesion of the in 2008. Yet, in 13 games he threw for 3,448 yards and 26
Eagles offense could grind to a halt, particularly given the lack touchdowns. He was a Top 10 fantasy passer in spite of miss-
FREE 32 PAGE CAMP UPDATE: http://freeupdate.footballguys.com
98 FOOTBALLGUYS.COM
QB Jay Cutler
Chicago Bears
ICON SMI
by Jason Wood – Senior Writer, Footballguys.com
J
ay Cutler grew up a Chicago Bears best Chicago QB in genera-
fan, but he never had reason to tions doesn’t mean he’s a great
think his NFL fortunes would ever bet to lead your fantasy team
coincide with his childhood fandom. to a championship. In fact,
After all, teams simply don’t let fran- there are a lot of reasons to
chise passers go. It’s so rare to find a think that Jay Cutler will be
true franchise cornerstone that no organi- more valuable to the Bears
zation would be foolish enough to let one than he will be to fantasy
go in his prime. Cutler will be a Denver owners.
Bronco for life. Right? The Offensive Line – The
Yikes, if you’re a Broncos fan read- Bears offensive line only
ing this let me apologize for the flippant allowed 29 sacks last year
recap but let’s be honest, this offseason (13th best) and signed Orlando
was shocking. Regardless of where you Pace to improve the left tackle
place the blame, the simple truth is Josh position this offseason, but
McDaniels and Jay Cutler couldn’t co- that can’t compare to the
exist. The Bears traded two 1sts, a 3rd, a Broncos OL, which allowed a
5th and Kyle Orton for the 26-year old league-low 12 sacks. accomplished. Turner is infamous for
star. In Chicago expectations are sky Receiving Corps – It’s fair to say being an ultra-conservative play-caller
high. For years, Bears fans have thought the Bears receivers will look better which doesn’t play into Jay Cutler’s
they were only a QB away from Super with Jay Cutler throwing to them, and strengths.
Bowl contention. Earl Bennett and the pair of rookies are
Jay Cutler is the best quarterback particularly attractive sleepers. But it’s Final Thoughts
in modern Bears history. Sid Luckman equally fair to say that Brandon Marshall Jay Cutler is one of the best young
is a Hall of Famer, and I’m not going to is demonstrably better than any Bears quarterbacks in the league. The fact the
try to compare his achievements in the receiver and Eddie Royal may be, too. Bears were able to acquire him, in his
1940s to offensive numbers of today’s Run/Pass Balance – The Broncos prime, was a coup and sets the Bears up
game. But Luckman’s career ended in threw 620 passes last year while the as a title contender for years to come. But
1950, which means Jay Cutler is the best Bears have averaged 500 pass attempts is what’s good for Bears fans necessarily
QB the Windy City has seen in almost during Lovie Smith’s tenure. It’s easier what’s good for fantasy owners? Even
60 years. Don’t believe me? Take a look to think the Bears will throw more with though Cutler should win more games in
at the Bears Top 5 passers of the modern Cutler under center, but realistically he’ll Chicago than he did in Denver, it’s not
era: still throw fewer than 550 passes. clear he’s going to be a better fantasy
Offensive Coaching – Mike Shanahan player. The Bears run a more conserva-
1. Jim Harbaugh (’87-’93) – 89 games, 58.2% is a two-time Super Bowl champion and
completion, 11,567 yards, 50 TDs, 56 INTs
tive offense, maintain a more balanced
offensive guru, while Bears OC Ron run/pass ratio, have a less imposing
2. Jim McMahon (’82-’88) – 66 games, 57.8%
Turner is, shall we say, decidedly less offensive line, and don’t have proven
completion, 11,203 yards, 67 TDs, 56 INTs
3. Erik Kramer (’94-’98) – 49 games, 58.6% WRs on the roster. Cutler should ele-
completion, 10,582 yards, 63 TDs, 45 INTs Positives vate the Bears offense to new levels,
4. Billy Wade (’61-’66) – 59 games, 54.5% • Jay Cutler is a strong-armed, accurate passer but the aforementioned factors should
completion, 9,958 yards, 68 TDs, 66 INTs in his prime
crimp his upside. Cutler could be a
5. Ed Brown (’54-’61) – 98 games, 48.7% • The Bears have above average receiving options
completion, 9,698 yards, 63 TDs, 88 INTs at TE and RB
Top 5 fantasy passer on talent alone,
• The Bears offensive line is above average, with depth but more likely slots as a rock solid
Compare that to Jay Cutler’s career QB2 who should finish in the 10-12
numbers: Negatives range this year.
• Ron Turner is a conservative play-caller
• Jay Cutler (’06-’08) – 37 games, 62.5% • The Bears wide receivers aren’t as good as the If you’d like access to more than
Broncos
completion, 9,024 yards, 54 TDs, 37 INTs 120 other detailed Player Spotlights,
• Expect the Bears to have a more balanced
run/pass ratio be sure to visit Footballguys.com
But just because Jay Cutler is the and become a subscriber.
for Top 10 production. Don’t pay Top 5 prices for Romo, but if throw less (the Falcons’ rushing attack is pretty awesome). If
he falls into the QB10-12 range, he’s not only worth rostering, Roddy White were to miss some time due to injury, there isn’t
he offers tremendous upside. another top-tier receiver on the squad that could fill in.
The Bottom Line - Ryan exploded onto the scene last year,
9. Jay Cutler - CHI leading the Falcons to the playoffs. He had one of the most
6-4, 225, age: 26 impressive rookie seasons in history, completing 61 percent
year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank of his passes for 3,440 yards and 16 TDs. The team has added
2009 PROJ 530 321 3498 23 16 162 1 273 9 Gonzalez at the TE position, boasts Roddy White and Michael
2008 DEN 616 384 4526 25 18 200 2 340 3 Jenkins at WR, and has a good pass-catching back in Jerious
2007 DEN 467 297 3497 20 14 205 1 267 11 Norwood. Ryan has a wide array of targets that should allow
2006 DEN 137 81 1001 9 5 18 0 83 40 him to far exceed last year’s 16th-place fantasy ranking.
See Cutler’s full-page Spotlight on Page 99.
12. Matt Schaub - HOU
10. Carson Palmer - CIN 6-5, 237, age: 28
6-5, 230, age: 30 year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank
year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank 2009 PROJ 485 311 3676 20 18 92 1 261 12
2009 PROJ 505 313 3560 22 15 20 0 253 14 2008 HOU 380 251 3043 15 10 68 2 221 21
2008 CIN 129 75 731 3 4 38 0 48 41 2007 HOU 289 192 2241 9 9 52 0 144 22
2007 CIN 575 373 4131 26 20 10 0 292 9 2006 ATL 27 18 208 1 2 21 0 14 55
2006 CIN 520 324 4035 28 13 37 0 304 5 The Good - When healthy, Matt Schaub, RB Steve Slaton,
The Good - Palmer returns with a vengeance this season. and WR Andre Johnson form one of the most dangerous trios
All reports from the summer are true and he’s healthier than in the league. Schaub threw for over 3,000 yards last season
ever. Although T.J. Houshmandzadeh is no longer with the in just 10.5 games. He was the No. 5 fantasy QB in terms
team, the Bengals added veteran Laveranues Coles during the of points per game. With another year of starting experience
offseason to make up for the receiving gap. Coles is a solid under his belt, Schaub could reasonably be a Top 5 fantasy QB
veteran who knows how to break apart opposing defenses. this season if he plays 16 games.
This frees up Chad Ochocinco to do what he does best: make The Bad - Schaub is not the safest pick. He missed five
big plays. With the addition of a big OT in No. 6 overall games with a shoulder injury and concussion in 2007 and
rookie pick Andre Smith, Palmer gets some much needed pro- another five with an intestinal illness and a knee injury in
tection. 2008. Moreover, his production depends not only on his own
The Bad - If Palmer is healthy, he’ll be on the field. If he’s health but also on that of Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton. The
on the field, he’ll be throwing. Yet setting the league on fire Texans lack depth at the offensive skill positions, so an injury
with attempts and incompletions isn’t going to win you any to any of its primary weapons will set the whole offense back
fantasy games. In a ‘how bad could it get?’ scenario, Palmer quite a bit.
could try his best, but fail to make a bad team good by him- The Bottom Line - If Schaub stays healthy, he’ll be a
self. The Bengals running game flames out and defenses stack fantasy starter. Andre Johnson has developed into a topnotch
five and six DBs against Palmer. He finishes the season as a offensive weapon, and Schaub can make all the throws asked
QUARTERBACKS
The Bad - Pittsburgh is not known for an awesome air 2006 NYG 522 301 3244 24 18 21 0 242 11
attack. With their stifling defense they only need their offense The Good - Eli Manning had almost no chance of matching
to move the ball and eat up the clock. Big Ben has only had his 2007 achievements last year. After all, how do you follow
more than 18 TD passes once (32 in 2007) and usually throws up a Super Bowl win and marrying your long-time sweet-
17 TDs on the season. The Steelers will once again be mak- heart? But last year was hardly a disappointment. Manning
ing a championship run, and with that tremendous defense it led his team to a personal-best 12 wins, completed 60 percent
should be more of the same for the passing attack in 2009. of his passes for the first time, and threw at least 21 TDs
The Bottom Line - The Steelers want to win games with for the fourth consecutive season. Perhaps most impressive,
a tough defense and a clock-chewing ground game which Manning cut his interception total in half, throwing just 10
leaves little room for Roethlisberger to put up big numbers picks. Manning’s best case is a Top 5 fantasy finish, some-
unless the team gets in a shootout. Big Ben needs a better thing he accomplished in 2005. In order for that to happen,
offensive line because he took a beating week in and week the group of young receivers led by Domenik Hixon, Steve
out in 2008. Sure, he can make big plays when the called play Smith, Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden will need to replace
breaks down, but too often he was running for his life behind Plaxico Burress’ incomparable productivity.
a porous line. Throwing for 20 TDs would be an improvement The Bad - Another season, another December swoon.
for Roethlisberger, and on this Steelers team that could be his Manning may have had legitimate reasons to struggle in
ceiling. December, but that’s little solace for fantasy owners who had
to start him in their league’s playoffs. Without Plaxico Burress
14. David Garrard - JAX to win jump balls, it’s hard to believe Manning won’t regress a
6-1, 237, age: 31 bit in 2009 and that means sub-60 percent passing and 15-20
year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank interceptions. That also means Manning is, once again, a qual-
2009 PROJ 500 312 3375 19 14 264 2 269 10 ity fantasy backup but not a worthwhile fantasy starter.
2008 JAX 535 335 3620 15 13 322 2 272 9 The Bottom Line - Manning has the experience and track
2007 JAX 325 208 2509 18 3 182 1 219 16 record to comfortably expect Top 12 to 15 numbers at the
2006 JAX 241 145 1735 10 9 250 0 143 28 worst. The question fantasy owners must ask themselves is
The Good - Since David Garrard took the reins in whether the youth movement at WR can overcome the loss
Jacksonville midway through the 2006 season, his top receiv- of Burress and whether any of that matters in December.
ers have been Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, Dennis Northcutt, Manning should be viewed as an excellent QB2 because he
and Ernest Wilford - not exactly an all-star cast. This season could put up QB1 numbers in any given week, but don’t reach
he’ll have seven-time Pro Bowler Torry Holt in the mix. Holt for him expecting QB1 production.
had a down year in 2008, but he still outperformed each of
Jacksonville’s WRs. If Holt can bounce back and give Garrard 16. Matt Hasselbeck - SEA
a legitimate playmaker to throw to on the outside (and if the 6-4, 220, age: 34
Jaguars’ offensive line can offer him some protection), Garrard year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank
possibly could challenge for a spot among the Top 5 fantasy 2009 PROJ 510 298 3188 22 14 88 1 248 15
QBs. 2008 SEA 209 109 1216 5 10 69 0 78 36
The Bad - One might think that, barring injury, 2009 could 2007 SEA 562 352 3966 28 12 79 0 306 7
not be any worse for Garrard than was 2008. The Jaguars’ 2006 SEA 371 210 2442 18 15 110 0 190 22
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FOOTBALLGUYS.COM 101
3,300 yards and 22 touchdowns, and perhaps substantially bet- and suddenly finds himself surrounded by superior talent. The
ter than that. But his frequent assortment of injuries over the Broncos have a better offensive line, better wide receivers,
past eight season make him difficult to count on as a starter. and arguably a better ground game than the Bears which could
mean that Orton is primed for a banner year. Add in the fact
17. Matt Cassel - KC that he will now be coached by QB guru Josh McDaniels and
6-5, 230, age: 27 it only enhances his potential production. In 2008 Jay Cutler
year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank had a phenomenal season in Denver, but Orton is no Cutler.
2009 PROJ 515 287 3116 20 15 198 1 247 16 While he may not throw for as many yards (Denver could fea-
2008 NE 516 327 3693 21 11 271 2 297 8 ture Knowshon Moreno more than expected) Orton could be a
2007 NE 7 4 38 0 1 12 1 8 70 more efficient QB - especially in the red zone.
2006 NE 8 5 32 0 0 4 0 2 64 The Bad - The Broncos brought in Chris Simms to compete
See Cassel’s full-page Face-off on Page 103. for the QB position and it could be a battle that goes back
and forth throughout the season. Simms has reportedly looked
18. Trent Edwards - BUF very good in mini camp and he has a much stronger arm than
6-4, 220, age: 26 Orton. Head Coach Josh McDaniels may vacillate back and
year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank forth between the two until one emerges. Orton looked good
2009 PROJ 450 280 3128 20 15 106 1 238 17 in the first half of the 2008 season, but after an ankle injury
2008 BUF 374 245 2699 11 10 117 3 199 22 (that he, perhaps mistakenly, played through) he looked like
2007 BUF 269 151 1630 7 8 49 0 106 30 a below average QB. Orton should be better protected behind
The Good - Entering his third year in the NFL, Trent the Denver offensive line, but if the pressure gets to him he
Edwards has already started 23 games, but he is still a young usually falters.
QB who should continue to improve as he gains more experi- The Bottom Line - We expect Orton to win the starting job
ence. The Bills have not given him a lot to work with in the in Denver, although it could take him until the end of training
past as they had Lee Evans at WR and not a whole lot else. camp to do so. We’ve seen what Orton can do with average
This year, however, the Bills made one of the offseason’s big- weapons and average protection, so it’s not out of the question
gest headlines when they signed Terrell Owens to a one-year to expect his numbers to match - or perhaps improve upon -
contract. Adding one of the league’s elite receivers should have his 2008 performance.
a dramatic impact on the Bills offense. With two of the best
WRs in the league at his disposal along with a deep group 20. Jake Delhomme - CAR
of RBs to keep the chains moving, Edwards could be on the 6-2, 205, age: 34
verge of a breakout season. year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank
The Bad - Although Edwards has shown some promise as a 2009 PROJ 436 250 3008 19 14 28 0 215 23
game manager and has a high completion percentage, he does 2008 CAR 414 246 3288 15 12 21 2 226 20
not take a lot of chances and frequently looks for a checkdown 2007 CAR 86 55 626 8 1 26 0 65 43
when a bigger play might be available. He’s also limited by 2006 CAR 431 263 2805 17 11 12 0 198 21
the conservative nature of the Bills coaching staff. Owens The Good - Jake Delhomme is certainly capable of a big
doesn’t have a great history of getting along with his QBs and season – he threw for 3,800+ yards and 29 TDs in 2004. In his
M M
att Cassel will be one of the more polarizing players in att Cassel has backed up some of the best QBs in
fantasy drafts this year. There will be many people in every the game today – Carson Palmer while at USC and
draft who do not want to touch him. This is to your advan- Tom Brady during his time in New England. Many
tage. The case against Cassel is relatively easy to make: wondered how he would perform if he was forced into the start-
1) Cassel is a system QB. ing lineup, and in 2008 we got to see that after Tom Brady went
2) He had Randy Moss & Wes Welker among others to account for down in Week 1. This offseason Cassel was given the franchise
his “successful” season. tag by the Patriots, traded to Kansas City for a second round
3) He moves from an 11-5 team to a 2-14 team. pick, and is now the main man for the Chiefs as they begin the
4) His new team lost their best receiver. rebuilding process.
5) Tyler Thigpen is ready to start at a moment’s notice. Last season Cassel finished as the No. 8 fantasy QB,
I’m sure that there are more issues that could be dredged and many people are expecting him to do the same
up, particularly from a statistical point of view, but his – or even more – this year. As Joe Bryant likes
passer rating was Top 10 in the league and all of this to say, things change fast around here so
was achieved by a player who hadn’t started since you have to stay on top of the happenings
high school. Despite a slow start last year, Cassel in the NFL. First off, Cassel likely had a
found his groove and ended the season as the career year in 2008, and as history tells
eighth ranked fantasy QB. He threw back-to- us repeatedly, very few players repeat
back 400-yard games and passed for at least or improve on their numbers after such
three touchdowns in five games. His touch- a performance. So why wouldn’t Matt
down to interception ratio was impressive and Cassel at least come close to those num-
his ability to run the ball added an additional bers again? Let’s look into this a little
two touchdowns and almost 300 yards. In short further.
Cassel did more than was expected of him. Last season Cassel struggled in the pre-
Let’s look at the move to Kansas City and season and some thought that he might lose
remove the fear factor. his roster spot to the Patriots 2008 third-round
Last year despite a conservative offense, and let’s verify pick Kevin O’Connell. The Patriots didn’t feel they
that by quoting former coach Herm Edwards “If we score 21 points, I’ll could trust a rookie behind Tom Brady and kept Cassel on the
say, ‘Whoa, we scored a lot of points.’ Twenty-one points – that’s a lot of roster which proved to be their saving grace when Bernard
points.” Kansas City still ranked in the Top 10 in pass attempts and pass- Pollard rolled up on Brady’s knee. He looked rough the first
ing TDs, higher than New England. The introduction of new head coach, several weeks of the season, but Josh McDaniels started to
former Arizona offensive coordinator Todd Haley, should give a boost to open things up and by the middle of the year he was running
the offense, particularly the passing game. The Cardinals ranked third in the offense effectively. However, even with elite talent sur-
points scored, with 136 more than Kansas City. rounding him, too often Cassel looked painfully average.
The departure of Tony Gonzalez to the Falcons will hurt, but they He likes to lock on to his receivers and tends to hold on to
have plenty of other options for Cassel. Dwayne Bowe is quickly mak- the ball too long which was evident because he was sacked
ing a name for himself as one of the best young receivers in the game, 47 times in 2008. Now he goes to a team in Kansas City that
and Mark Bradley came from the scrap heap to become an excellent doesn’t have the same type of weapons as New England, let
complement to Bowe. The Chiefs have good pass-catching backs in Larry alone the same type of offensive line. He goes from throwing
Johnson & Jamaal Charles, and they also have high hopes for the probable to Randy Moss and Wes Welker to throwing to Dwayne Bowe
replacement of Tony Gonzalez, last year’s third-round pick Brad Cottam. and Mark Bradley. That is a huge difference that will show up
A lot of people when rating Cassel don’t seem to account for possible in his final numbers. Todd Haley is his new head coach and he
improvement in a guy who hadn’t played competitively for seven years. did great things with the Arizona offense – but Cassel is not
Cassel’s first season as a starter is as good if not better than almost any Kurt Warner. What is the biggest difference between Cassel
other quarterback ever to play the game. His pass completion percentage and Warner (or Tom Brady)? It’s quickness when going through
was Top 10 all-time for a first season starting quarterback, with mainly reads and decisiveness when throwing the football. Being with
established greats such as Joe Montana, Brett Favre and Tom Brady a new team, with less dangerous weapons, and more pressure
ahead of him. Drafting Matt Cassel to be your starting QB would be on his shoulders = Matt Cassel struggling to match his numbers
ICON/SMI
risky, but as your backup or part of a committee he’ll be very useful. from 2008.
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FOOTBALLGUYS.COM 103
QUARTERBACKS
to the Martz playbook and it wasn’t until Mike Singletary unquestioned starter in Tennessee. He proved last year that he
took over the head coaching role that Hill was given an could run this offense effectively and may be asked to do more
extended run to close out 2008. As for Hill’s fantasy pros- in 2009. However, the Titans are a run-first team so Collins’
pects this year, with the arrival of Jimmy Raye expect the pri- production will be very limited by the system.
mary focus to be the running game. The drafting of Michael
Crabtree gives him a big play weapon, but is Crabtree going 29. Brady Quinn - CLE
6-4, 225, age: 25
to be a big contributor in his rookie season? There are a lot
year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank
of questions marks surrounding Hill, but the promise of his
2009 PROJ 295 157 1859 11 9 80 1 142 31
upside is tantalizing.
2008 CLE 89 45 518 2 2 21 0 34 42
2007 CLE 8 3 45 0 0 0 0 2 74
25. JaMarcus Russell - OAK The Bottom Line - Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson will
6-6, 255, age: 24
battle in training camp for the starting job. Even if Quinn
year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank
wins the job, he’ll spend part of the season looking over his
2009 PROJ 420 241 2667 14 10 94 1 195 26
2008 OAK 368 198 2423 13 8 127 1 184 24
shoulder. This offense may be one of the NFL’s worst and lacks
2007 OAK 66 36 373 2 4 4 0 23 60
playmakers.
The Bottom Line - This is the year that JaMarcus Russell
starts to earn that No. 1 overall draft pick. He started to “get 30. Mark Sanchez - NYJ
6-2, 227, age: 23
it” at the end of the 2008 season, and now with better WRs
year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank
he should have the best season of his career. Over 3,000 yards
2009 PROJ 438 267 2738 15 14 68 1 196 25
passing with around 15 passing TDs certainly isn’t out of the
The Bottom Line - Mark Sanchez will more than likely
question for the big signal caller.
win the job in training camp. And just as likely, he will proba-
bly fail to wow many people in Year 1. There are precious few
26. Marc Bulger - STL rookie quarterbacks who stepped into starting roles and pro-
6-3, 210, age: 32
year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank
duced. Barring injury, Sanchez will likely start the majority of
2009 PROJ 445 246 2715 14 14 34 0 181 29 the season and if all goes according to plan he will start show-
2008 STL 440 251 2720 11 13 41 0 173 26 ing signs of progress towards the latter stages of December.
2007 STL 378 221 2392 11 15 13 0 150 21
2006 STL 588 370 4301 24 8 44 0 307 3 31. Byron Leftwich - TB
The Bottom Line - Based on Marc Bulger’s previous 6-5, 240, age: 29
accomplishments, he is worth considering as a low-end QB2 year team patt pcmp pyds ptds int ryds rtds FP FP Rank
in 12-team fantasy leagues. But with so many unproven play- 2009 PROJ 305 173 1983 9 8 51 0 132 32
2008 PIT 36 21 303 2 0 7 1 30 44
ers he’ll have to rely on, playing in a new system that may take
2007 ATL 58 32 279 1 2 7 0 17 64
a while to jell; he is no better than a late-round flyer.
2006 JAX 183 108 1159 7 5 41 2 97 34
The Bottom Line - Despite a very impressive performance
by rookie Josh Freeman in the preseason, the Bucs should
QUARTERBACKS
value except in dynasty leagues or as Warner’s handcuff in
leagues with exceptionally large rosters. Seneca Wallace, SEA
Seneca Wallace is certainly not your prototypical NFL
Josh McCown, CAR quarterback. He’s only 5’11 and weighs in around 200 pounds.
It is most likely that Josh McCown will not see the field for However, he has shown excellent ability to be a solid backup.
any significant action in 2009. Of course, there is always the He is perfectly capable of filling in for a few starts if needed,
standard chance of injury, but Jake Delhomme generally stays and he will continue in that role this season. In the last few
on the field (three 16-game seasons in the last five years). years, Matt Hasselbeck’s body has allowed Wallace to see the
However, if Delhomme starts throwing five INTs with regular- field for 28 games (including 12 starts), so it’s reasonable to
ity, the Panthers will certainly be forced to turn to McCown. If expect him to see action again in 2009.
McCown were to move under center, look for Carolina to lean
even more heavily on their potent ground attack. Pat White, MIA
The Wildcat formation is here to stay in Miami and may be
Luke McCown, TB even better than ever this season with the addition of Pat White
Luke McCown is in a four-way battle for the starting job in who has the perfect skill-set to master the formation. There is
Tampa Bay. At the moment, it looks like he is on the second more to White than a ‘slash’ role as he has a live enough arm
rung behind Byron Leftwich. However, McCown’s window of to make plays even within a conventional offense, but in 2009
opportunity could be slammed shut soon. If he can not win the his role will be to step into the ‘Wildcat’ role but under center
starting job this season, McCown will have little role with the and perhaps from the backfield to provide additional options
Buccaneers with first round rookie Josh Freeman in town. to guard against.
T
he running back position is unforgiving and fantasy Maurice Jones-Drew is the consensus #2 fantasy RB this
owners have to accept the inevitable changing of the year, as he will no longer have to share touches with Fred
guard. The owner of the first pick this year can’t sim- Taylor. Michael Turner, last year’s breakout star, joins veterans
ply call out LaDainian Tomlinson’s name and sit back waiting Tomlinson and Steven Jackson in the Top 5. A trio of second-
patiently for his next pick. Tomlinson, while finishing as a year stars, Matt Forte, Steve Slaton and Chris Johnson, are
Top 10 RB again, suffered through injuries and had to redo his expected to deliver RB1 returns again. Curiously, DeAngelo
contract to stay in San Diego. The new top dog is Minnesota’s Williams is being drafted more on the threat Jon Stewart poses
Adrian Peterson who led the league with 1,760 yards rushing to his carries than for his unbelievable productivity last season
and has a shot at 2,000 yards this season. (20 TDs).
There’s been a lot of discussion that the league is moving This year’s rookie class is sure to have a number of impact
toward a running back-by-committee approach, but the num- players. Knowshon Moreno (DEN), Beanie Wells (ARI) and
bers don’t really bear that out. Last season 16 RBs had at least Donald Brown (IND) should all have important roles right
1,000 yards rushing - in line with the league average over the from the start. Free agency doesn’t seem to have another
last decade. Also, 12 RBs rushed for 10 or more TDs, slightly Michael Turner for us this year, as Derrick Ward is the highest
RUNNING BACKS
higher than average. The Bottom Line is that stud, workhorse rated RB to change teams and he slots right outside the Top
30.
The thing to remember this year is that RB depth gives you
flexibility on draft day. You need not overweight RB at the
expense of other positions. Realistically full-time NFL start-
ers are going to fall into the sixth, seventh and eighth rounds.
Do your homework, and consider handcuffing your projected
starters to insulate yourself from inevitable injury. Visit our
website: Footballguys.com where you can view customized
rankings that are tailor-made for your league’s scoring system.
Maurice Jones-Drew third-best fantasy back in each of those two seasons. However,
with improved offensive line and quarterback play this season,
RUNNING BACKS
Jennings has the talent to help the Jaguars immediately, and seasons and now has Darren Sproles waiting behind him for
fullback Greg Jones could get additional carries as well. work. Tomlinson will turn 30 before the season starts, an age
The Bottom Line - The Jaguars’ running game hit a road at which few running backs have bounced back to reverse pre-
bump last season with all the injuries they suffered along the vious declines in their production.
offensive line. While Jones-Drew still averaged a respect- The Bottom Line - Norv Turner said during the offseason
able 4.2 yards per carry that was nearly a full yard below his that he intends to get Tomlinson more touches than he had last
previous pace. With a rejuvenated offensive line, expect the season. If that comes to fruition, another #7 finish is about
Jaguars’ running game to bounce back; and with Taylor gone, the worst one can reasonably expect out of Tomlinson, which
expect Jones-Drew to play a bigger role and projects for a top makes him a solid pick in the first half of round one - that is,
5 finish. if you don’t have concerns about his ability to stay healthy,
in which case you may want to pass on him in the first round
3. Michael Turner - ATL entirely.
5-10, 237, age: 27
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank 5. Steven Jackson - STL
2009 PROJ 335 1508 13 8 51 0 234 3 6-2, 233, age: 26
2008 ATL 377 1699 17 9 6 41 0 276 2 year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
2007 SD 71 316 1 7 4 16 0 39 73 2009 PROJ 280 1162 9 48 413 3 230 5
2006 SD 80 502 2 3 3 47 0 67 51 2008 STL 254 1043 7 62 40 379 1 190 13
The Good - Michael Turner could repeat his stellar 2008 2007 STL 237 1002 5 52 38 271 1 167 14
campaign this year and be among the most valuable pure run- 2006 STL 346 1528 13 111 90 806 3 329 3
ners in the league. He’s 27 but has relatively low mileage. The Good - Steven Jackson is the focal point of the Rams’
With the arrival of Tony Gonzalez and Matt Ryan’s continuing offense. They will get him the ball often, both as a runner and
maturation as a passer, teams won’t be able to concentrate 7-8 as a receiver out of the backfield, and he has the individual tal-
men in the box very often. Turner should have a lot of seams ent to put up big numbers. For the Rams to be successful, they
to work with during 2009. will have to rely heavily on their running game, and they play
The Bad – Those 377 carries were a lot of work, folks. If in a conference with a number of weak defenses. If the young
Turner hasn’t been able to rest and recuperate sufficiently dur- talent around him develops some cohesion, Jackson has the
ing the offseason, he could turn in a less-than-magnificent potential to finish atop the fantasy RB standings.
season. One has to regard last year’s stellar performance as The Bad - Jackson has been a Top 10 fantasy RB only once
a ceiling – it’s hard to see him doing much more than he did in his five-year career. When he is healthy, he gets a huge
during 2008. workload - but that has limited his ability to stay healthy. The
The Bottom Line - Michael Turner tore up the NFC in his Rams’ offense is in a state of transition, and while the running
first season as a starter, finishing #2 among all fantasy RBs game should be the strongest part of that offense, the Rams
last year. He posted an outstanding 4.5 yards per carry, rushed may find themselves behind early in games which may limit
for over 200 yards twice and went over 100 yards rushing in their ability to feed Jackson the ball on the ground and also
eight out of 17 games. Turner is the type of fantasy back who limit his scoring chances. Jackson is still practically a lock to
can carry a team to victory on any given week. The Atlanta finish in the Top 20 at his position unless he suffers a major
L T
ast year, Matt Forte took the league by storm gaining 1715 here is an old saying in fantasy football that you
total yards with 12 total TDs. He was the first rookie RB can’t win a fantasy draft in the first round, but you
to eclipse 300 carries since LaDainian Tomlinson turned certainly can lose it. Is that a myth? Looking back at
the trick in 2001. Forte finished seventh in rushing yards, despite the past five years, less than 40 percent of all Top 12 running
the Bears as a team finishing 24th in the same category. That sta- backs from the prior season repeat. Think about that – the
tistic emphasizes the fact that Forte was the featured back and it odds are not just against Matt Forte, but every RB that was a
wasn’t even close. In fact, he had 282 more carries than the next Top 12 guy last year. So what in particular would make you
closest Bears RB (Kevin Jones). Wrap your brain around that. shy away from taking him with your first pick?
There is no doubt who the feature back is in Chicago and from a Forte was a workhorse for the Bears, logging 316 carries
fantasy standpoint, having a RB with that distinction is hard to find (fourth most of any RB) along with 63 catches (first amongst
in the multi-back era. RBs). He was such a big part of the Bears’ offense last year
Will Matt Forte exceed expectations in 2009? Considering he that no other RB had over 109 yards rushing and Forte led
exceeded nearly all expectations last year, he’s not sneaking up on all Bears in receptions. To put it in perspective, Forte was on
anyone this time around. Forte will be drafted as a RB1 this year – that the field for 850 out of a possible 1,012 offensive plays
much we know. In order for him to be a success at that draft – or 84 percent of the time. No other Bear run-
spot, he’ll have to at least match what he did last year. ning back was over 7 percent. Talk about
There are two factors to consider when look- being a key part of a team’s offense
ing ahead to the Bears 2009 season and how – Forte WAS the Bears offense. The
it affects Matt Forte’s chances of success. Bears’ coaches recognize this issue,
Both involve the trade acquisition of QB Jay and they are already saying that a
Cutler from Denver. second back will emerge and give
1. Will the running game improve with Forte some much needed relief.
Jay Cutler under center? Kevin Jones is looking healthy
Yards per carry average for all seven Denver RBs and he has been a starter in the
last year = 5.17 NFL, so he is the best candidate
Yards per carry for Matt Forte last year = 3.9 to give Forte some plays off.
Was Cutler’s presence the reason for There’s another big reason to
Denver’s rushing success last year? He is think that Forte won’t be quite the
a downfield passer and that means opposing offensive force that he was last year
defenses will have to honor and respect the deep – and his name is Jay Cutler. The Bears
ball, thus leaving less defenders in the box to stop the invested heavily to improve their anemic
run. Advantage - running game. passing attack with the trade to get Cutler,
2. Will Forte continue to see passes come his way with Jay and then the front office went and drafted three
Cutler at QB? wideouts in April. Chicago seems ready to commit harder
Forte led the team with 63 receptions last year. Will Forte’s toward a balanced offense, which should reduce Forte’s car-
receiving numbers take a dip with Jay Cutler at QB? Probably so. ries. Forte racked up over 1,200 yards last year, but he failed
The highest number of receptions by a Denver RB in the last two to reach the league average of 4.0 yards per carry and needed
years combined is 38 by Selvin Young. over 300 carries to get there. While an improved passing
How effective can Matt Forte be this year? It’s hard to imagine game is likely to open up more space for Forte to run, his
the offense won’t improve with Jay Cutler at QB. This means more number should be called fewer times in 2009 due to a bigger
sustained drives, more plays in the red zone, which leads to an commitment to the passing game.
increase in scoring opportunities. It is fairly safe to say that Forte Choosing your first fantasy RB is an important decision
will probably not come close to 63 receptions again, but his yards as it will heavily influence the strength of the entire team.
per carry average should increase from 3.9 YPC. I haven’t even Selecting someone with limited upside and good reasons to
mentioned the signing of Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Pace. His expect some downside is a risk I would advise against, so
presence will help an offensive line that is evolving. The increase in that is why I would let someone else in your league take Matt
expected scoring opportunities, combined with being in a one-back Forte.
ICON/SMI
on every down and may even be split out wide as a receiver. year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
RUNNING BACKS
His speed makes him a threat to score every time he touches 2009 PROJ 230 966 7 50 350 2 186 15
2008 DAL 238 885 7 61 52 417 2 184 16
the ball so he should have good TD totals even though he loses
2007 DAL 204 975 10 54 44 282 2 198 7
goalline touches.
2006 DAL 135 654 14 32 23 196 2 181 14
The Good – Marion Barber has the talent to put up Top 5
12. Steve Slaton - HOU fantasy numbers, but in order for Barber to realize his poten-
5-9, 197, age: 23
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank tial, a lot of things need to fall into place. One, he has to stay
2009 PROJ 265 1179 9 44 321 1 210 9 healthy and handle more than 200 carries per season. Two, the
2008 HOU 268 1282 9 59 50 377 1 226 6 Cowboys have to be willing to put Tashard Choice back on
The Good - Steve Slaton led all rookies with 1,282 rushing the bench and keep Felix Jones as a true backup. Three, the
yards last season (good for sixth in the NFL). He finished as Cowboys passing attack has to remain potent in the absence of
the No. 6 fantasy RB on the year and improved as the season Terrell Owens.
went along. He enters 2009 as the clear-cut starter, as the The Bad - Fantasy owners hope that 2008 was the worst
Texans did not draft a running back to cut into his workload. case scenario. Despite a career-high 238 carries, Barber had
Slaton should get plenty of touches again this season, and his worst fantasy season since becoming a full-time contribu-
could find his way into the Top 5 if all goes well. tor. He only averaged 3.7 yards per carry, missed time and
The Bad - Slaton is a smaller back, and many worry about only started 13 games. With both Choice and Jones looking
his ability to carry a full workload over the course of a full good in limited playing time last year, the Cowboys could
season. Although Slaton significantly outperformed expecta- decide to use a three-headed committee which would really
tions last year, He has a track record of only one year and it hurt Barber’s fantasy prospects.
could prove to be an aberration. The Bottom Line - Barber may be a buy-low candidate this
The Bottom Line - With his small stature and sparse track year because of his 17th place finish last season. While owners
record in the NFL, most fantasy owners will hesitate to spend have to be mindful of the dual threat Jones and Tashard pres-
a first-round pick on Slaton this year, but he should go near ent, Barber has been too good and is being paid too much not
the top of round two in most 12-team drafts. He has Top 5 to have the largest role in the backfield.
upside and very little downside as long as he stays healthy, as
he will be a huge focal point of the Texans’ offense. Consider 15. Ronnie Brown - MIA
6-1, 223, age: 28
him even money to finish the season as a fantasy RB1 in 12-
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
team leagues.
2009 PROJ 225 956 9 39 296 1 186 14
2008 MIA 214 916 10 43 33 254 0 183 17
13. Brandon Jacobs - NYG 2007 MIA 119 602 4 46 39 389 1 129 27
6-4, 260, age: 27
2006 MIA 241 1008 5 38 33 276 0 158 25
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
2009 PROJ 245 1139 11 18 117 1 198 13
The Good - Ronnie Brown, now more than a full year away
2008 NYG 219 1089 15 12 6 36 0 202 12 from his knee injury, should run with more explosiveness
2007 NYG 201 1011 4 38 23 174 2 154 21 and elusiveness than he showcased last year. If his body can
2006 NYG 96 423 9 14 11 149 0 111 37 hold up, he should become the 20-touch per game player the
RUNNING BACKS
team is expecting him to carry the full-time load in 2009. The Bottom Line - Bush finds himself at a bit of a career
The Bad - The Broncos signed Correll Buckhalter, J.J. crossroads this year. Of vital importance will be injury news
Arrington, LaMont Jordan, and Darius Walker to free agent and his rehab. A full recovery and Bush could finally put
deals, so they expect to use multiple backs. Moreno would be together that season he’s teased us with - meaning obvious
the lead back in the committee but could be replaced on short fantasy stardom. If he cannot handle a full workload and only
yardage and goalline situations by LaMont Jordan. He could plays sparingly then his value will once again be limited, and
also be taken out of the game on certain passing downs for he could be relegated to a complementary role.
Arrington.
The Bottom Line - Many expect the Broncos to run a 19. Kevin Smith - DET
New England-style offense and that certainly is a possibility. 6-1, 217, age: 23
However, they didn’t draft Moreno that high for him to simply year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
be a committee back. They anticipate that he will be involved 2009 PROJ 235 975 8 40 280 1 180 19
2008 DET 238 976 8 54 39 286 0 174 18
on every down as a runner and receiver. Moreno is a special
back - the likes that Denver hasn’t seen since the days of The Good - Smith had a very strong second half of the sea-
Clinton Portis. son last year with the Lions - especially considering just how
terrible they were. He rushed for 708 yards in the months of
17. Ryan Grant - GB November and December and averaged almost 22 carries per
6-1, 218, age: 27
game. The best-case scenario for Smith in 2009 is similar pro-
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank duction to his final eight games of a year ago.
2009 PROJ 280 1148 7 21 137 0 170 20 The Bad - The Lions offense could improve this season
2008 GB 312 1203 4 22 18 116 1 162 22 but still struggle for consistency behind rookie QB Matthew
2007 GB 188 956 8 37 30 147 0 158 17 Stafford. The offensive line is a weak point and will likely fail
The Good - In a perfect world, Ryan Grant puts behind his to consistently open holes to run through. New Lion, veteran
somewhat disappointing 2008 campaign and returns to the Maurice Morris from Seattle, could take some of the carries
2007 form that made him one of the more exciting running away from Smith.
backs in the NFL. Last year he had 312 carries but only man- The Bottom Line - With a rookie signal-caller under center,
aged four rushing touchdowns. His lengthy offseason holdout expect the Lions to steal a page from the Falcons book from
probably had a negative impact on his season, so he should last season and establish a strong rushing attack to take pres-
have a more focused 2009. sure away from Stafford. Smith showcased last season that he
The Bad - There is always a chance that the Grant we saw is capable of 20+ carries per game, and he will likely receive a
in 2007 was the anomaly. Without a Hall of Fame quarterback heavy workload even if he does lose some touches to Morris.
in the backfield, defenses were able to concentrate more on
Grant and lessened his impact. 20. Larry Johnson - KC
The Bottom Line - The Packers offensive line is solid, the 6-1, 228, age: 30
passing game is terrific and the rushing attack should be bet- year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
ter than last year. There is no reason for Grant not to increase 2009 PROJ 215 914 9 16 110 0 156 25
last season’s poor yard-per-carry average this season, and his 2008 KC 193 874 5 17 12 74 0 129 29
2007 KC 158 559 3 42 30 186 1 98 40
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FOOTBALLGUYS.COM 113
21. Marshawn Lynch - BUF he’s not really a breakaway threat. He also faltered a bit late in
5-10, 223, age: 23 the season last year, so the Jets could look to limit his touches
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank while at the same time getting their other dynamic runners on
2009 PROJ 220 924 7 41 291 1 170 21 the field.
2008 BUF 250 1036 8 67 47 300 1 188 15
2007 BUF 280 1115 7 26 18 184 0 176 12
23. Darren McFadden - OAK
The Good - Although Marshawn Lynch has been suspended 6-1, 211, age: 22
for three games to start the season, there still remains a chance year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
it could be reduced. Also in his favor, the addition of Terrell 2009 PROJ 225 990 7 40 320 2 185 16
Owens at WR should take a lot of defensive attention away 2008 OAK 113 499 4 39 29 285 0 102 44
from him and give him more room to run. If the Bills rebuilt The Good – Darren McFadden flashed his playmaking abil-
offensive line can run block better than they did a year ago and ity several times throughout his rookie season. This year the
Lynch stays healthy, he should be a borderline Top 10 RB. Raiders are expecting even more out of him, and he’s expect-
The Bad - The commissioner has suspended Lynch for the ing more from himself. He is very dangerous when he gets the
first three games of the season so he’ll get a late start com- ball in his hands, and the Raiders will use him as their primary
pared to everyone else. Despite playing in two extra games in receiver out of the backfield as well.
2008 (compared to 2007), Lynch saw his total number of car- The Bad - Darren McFadden is not an effective inside run-
ries drop by 30 last year. With the added depth at RB thanks ner, so the Raiders will have to use him on plays where they
to the signing of Dominic Rhodes and return of Fred Jackson, can get him the ball in space. Defenses will be keyed to stop
there’s a good chance the Bills will again use more of a com- the ground game, and they’ll be daring JaMarcus Russell to
mittee approach this year and limit Lynch’s touches. beat them. McFadden will not only have to produce against
The Bottom Line - The suspension will certainly hurt teams geared to stop him, he will also have to prove that he
Lynch’s overall production, but he has a chance to put up can stay injury free.
better numbers in fewer games than he did a year ago if the The Bottom Line - McFadden could see his carries double
Owens signing has a positive impact on the Bills offense. The from his rookie season as long as he can stay healthy. The
trade of LT Jason Peters figures to hurt the offensive line, but Raiders added weapons to their passing game so opposing
he was an average run blocker anyway. The RBBC approach defenses should not be able to just stack the line of scrimmage
the Bills used last year should be in place again but Lynch is to shut down the run. McFadden can rack up yardage in sev-
too talented to not be the lead back whenever he’s available. eral different ways and doesn’t need a ton of touches to have
After his suspension, he should make a relatively safe option fantasy-worthy production. Like Reggie Bush, McFadden is
as RB2 who could certainly perform like a RB1 down the not a traditional back, but a team that is willing to use him in
stretch. the right way will be rewarded with very good production.
RB DeAngelo Williams
Carolina Panthers
ICON SMI
by Jason Wood – Senior Writer, Footballguys.com
W
hen DeAngelo Williams was at the other RBs that have averaged 5.5+
drafted in the first round of yards per rush on 200+ carries in a season: their top runner 60 percent or more of the
the 2006 draft, fantasy owners carries – When you’re coming off a 12-4
were excited at the prospects. The Panthers • James Brooks • Clinton Portis season and you’ve had the success John
wanted to get back to running the ball with • Jim Brown (2x) • Barry Sanders (2x) Fox has over seven seasons as head coach,
• Eric Dickerson • O.J. Simpson (2x) you don’t fix something that’s not broken.
authority and Williams needed only to
• Adrian Peterson
outplay DeShaun Foster in training camp.
Yet, things didn’t go according to plan Why We’ve Probably Seen the Peak
We’re looking at four Hall of Famers,
as Foster had almost 2x the carries while Williams stands an excellent chance of
the best young RB in the game today and
Williams was relegated to backup duties. enjoying many more Top 10 fantasy sea-
two other multiple Pro Bowl runners.
In 2007, it was more of the same as Foster sons, but he’s not a strong bet to repeat his
The important point to remember is that
had 247 carries to Williams’ 144. #1 ranking for a number of reasons.
EVERY ONE of these backs was a fan-
Fast forward to the 2008 NFL draft and 1) His YPR is likely to regress – Only
tasy star for much of their career. So yes,
the Panthers selection of Jonathan Stewart Jim Brown, Barry Sanders and O.J.
while DeAngelo Williams may never again
with the 13th overall pick. Between the Simpson has more than one season with
match last year’s feats, history suggests
coach’s insistence on giving DeShaun 5.5+ YPC and 200+ carries
he’s got quite a few Top 10 fantasy seasons
Foster more work for two years and then 2) His TDs are likely to regress – Only
left in him.
using a high first round pick on another five RBs have had more than one 20+ TD
RB last year, it’s understandable that fan- season
The Jonathan Stewart Factor
tasy owners doubted whether Williams was 3) Carolina has an extremely difficult
Jonathan Stewart is an imposing figure.
ever going to emerge. schedule – Many know that Carolina plays
At 5’11, 235 pounds with plenty of speed,
Well, what a difference a year makes. a first-place schedule this year, but in fact
Stewart has all the tools necessary to be a
Williams not only proved his doubters the Panthers have the second hardest sched-
300-carry franchise back. And his rookie
wrong, but smashed through all reasonable ule based on last year’s win percentages
numbers hint at great things in the future.
expectations. He ran for 1,515 yards on
He averaged 4.5 yards per rush and scored
just 273 carries, averaging an impressive Final Thoughts
10 rushing touchdowns, managing to fin-
5.5 yards per rush. He led the league with DeAngelo Williams was the top fantasy
ish as the 24th best fantasy RB. So why
18 rushing touchdowns and added another RB last year, yet somehow people seem
shouldn’t you worry about Stewart eating
two receiving scores. When the dust ill at ease with drafting him as their RB1
into Williams’ touches?
settled, DeAngelo Williams was THE best this year. Don’t make the same mistake.
1. Williams’ role steadily increased
fantasy RB in 2008. Sure, history tells us that the kind of sea-
as the season wore on – In the first four
You would think a first-place finish son Williams had is nearly unrepeatable.
weeks of the season, both Williams and
last year would have fantasy owners lin- But that doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t
Stewart averaged 50 rushing yards per
ing up to draft Williams this year; and be a fantasy star. The least accomplished
game, but Stewart scored three TDs to
yet his ADP indicates quite a few people runner to do what Williams did last year
Williams’ zero. In the final month of the
are skeptical. The critics seem to worry was James Brooks, and he had FIVE Top
season, Williams was averaging 140 yards
about two things: 1) Williams’ numbers 10 fantasy seasons. Four others are in the
and 1.8 TDs while Stewart averaged 63
are impossible to repeat, and 2) Jonathan Hall of Fame. The simple fact is seasons
yards and 1.0 TD.
Stewart will force a true time share. like Williams aren’t flukes, and he is an
2. The Panthers have consistently given
Williams doesn’t have to duplicate elite talent. The coaches aren’t going
last year’s stats to be a fantasy stud. His to reduce his touches simply because
2008 totals were elite, even by historical Positives there’s a talented backup on the roster.
• A formidable OL returns intact
standards. Jon Stewart is going to get touches, but
• Williams became more dominant as the season
progressed not at the expense of Williams, who is
• Only 11 RBs have rushed for 1,500 yards • Every RB to do what he did has had an elite career the closest thing to a lock for Top 10
and scored 20+ TDs in a season numbers as any RB.
• Only eight RBs have averaged 5.5 yards
per rush on 200+ carries in a season
Negatives
• Jonathan Stewart is too good to keep off the field If you’d like access to more than 120
• Only three RBs have averaged 5.5 YPR on • The Panthers have a very difficult schedule other detailed Player Spotlights, be sure
200+ carries and scored 15+ TDs • Stewart’s 2008 numbers will be next to impossible
to visit Footballguys.com and become a
to repeat
subscriber.
By way of illustration, take a look
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the Panthers rushed the ball 504 times last year. That’s more year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
2009 PROJ 190 732 6 27 211 1 136 28
than enough work to keep two running backs happy.
2008 IND 155 544 5 39 25 206 2 117 39
2007 IND 261 1072 12 49 41 364 3 234 5
26. Chris Wells - ARI 2006 IND 226 1081 7 50 40 325 1 189 11
6-1, 235, age: 21
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
The Good - Addai finished as the #5 fantasy RB in 2007
2009 PROJ 220 869 8 5 33 0 138 27 when he got about 63% of the touches from the Colts’ RB
The Good - A good analogy for Chris Wells’ skill set is position. Last year he missed time with injuries, but if he can
somewhere between Jerome Bettis and Ron Dayne. While return to his 2007 level of production, a Top 10 season is well
those backs were shorter and heavier, they were college big within reason. The obvious obstacle is that he may not get
backs with burst through the line. If the stars line up, Wells 63% of the touches again now that first-round pick Donald
will be the team’s starter with an improved offensive line and Brown is in the mix. But if the Colts decide to work Brown
a passing game that prevents eight in the box. Bettis’ first year into the rotation slowly, and if Addai performs well enough to
RUNNING BACKS
position to redeem himself after several years of being con- their first free agent acquisition in the offseason, but it could
sidered a bust. As the full-time starter, Benson comes into mean that he’s just another body in the their backfield. Earnest
the season ready to run wild. With Palmer back under center, Graham is one year removed from a 10-touchdown season,
defenses can’t stack eight men in the box, so Benson has a so he is more than capable of providing a legitimate one-two
chance to exploit the holes that the offensive line opens for punch in what could be a potent backfield.
him. The Bottom Line - The Buccaneers signed Ward to be a
The Bad - Benson is a classic under achiever, never play- key participant in their 2009 running game. The question is,
ing a full 16 game season or touching the ball more than 240 just how often will the team turn to him? Keen observation in
times in a season and has a 3.7 career yards-per-carry average. camp will be a must in this situation – if he takes to his new
Benson alternately performs just well enough to make you surroundings, Ward could be a surprisingly effective fantasy
want him on your roster, and just poorly enough to make you player this year.
wish he were on somebody else’s.
The Bottom Line - Opportunities abound for the Bengal 32. Jamal Lewis - CLE
offensive players, and Benson is no exception. After setting 6-0, 240, age: 30
career bests in touches and yards, Benson seems poised to year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
finally shake off the label of fantasy bust. All he has to do 2009 PROJ 220 814 7 12 78 0 131 30
is perform. Yet he has squandered such opportunities in the 2008 CLE 279 1002 4 32 23 178 0 142 25
past and could very easily do it this season as well. For 2009, 2007 CLE 298 1304 9 39 30 248 2 221 6
expect Benson to push the envelope that is his career best, but 2006 BAL 314 1132 9 26 18 115 0 179 16
don’t be surprised if that isn’t good enough to crack your start- The Good - Jamal Lewis is getting a little long in the tooth,
ing line up either. but he still has a few carries left in him. The Browns obviously
believe in him this season as they added no one of significance
30. Donald Brown - IND to the backfield. Jerome Harrison will get some looks, but this
5-11, 210, age: 22 is still Lewis’ team. He will be their primary back.
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank The Bad - Lewis’ rushing average is pretty abysmal for a
2009 PROJ 160 640 6 23 168 1 123 35 lead back - he has been over 3.6 YPC only once in the last five
The Good - Rookie running backs tend to adapt faster to years. While he generally plays hurt, Lewis does experience a
NFL life than players at other positions. Joseph Addai will still variety of nicks and bruises. These minor ailments add up and
have a role in the offense, but Donald Brown could get the reduce his overall effectiveness.
majority of the workload right off the bat, in which case he’ll The Bottom Line - The 2007 season looks like a blip on the
have Top 15 potential. (Note that Addai was the 11th best fan- radar now, and it appears that Lewis has fallen into that RB3
tasy RB as a rookie when he took the lead in a shared work- range where he’ll be good enough to have on your roster, but
load with Dominic Rhodes.) not productive enough to start every week. A new offensive
The Bad - While Brown could get the majority of the Colts’ line helps, but with 2600 touches under his belt already, his
RB touches as a rookie, it’s at just as likely that he’ll fill a best years are obviously in the past.
complementary role. Addai is a fairly accomplished NFL run-
ning back, and a player like that generally sees more time on
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
34. Felix Jones - DAL 2009 PROJ 135 527 4 20 140 1 97 45
5-10, 207, age: 22 2008 BAL 170 671 7 32 24 173 0 126 32
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank 2007 BAL 294 1207 7 49 43 231 1 192 8
2009 PROJ 100 490 4 18 133 1 92 49 2006 BUF 259 990 6 28 18 156 0 151 26
2008 DAL 30 266 3 2 2 10 0 46 73 The Good – Willis McGahee is arguably the most talented
The Good - Felix Jones needs only to pick up where he left runner on the Ravens but has slipped a bit in the minds of fan-
off as a rookie as he was explosive as a tailback, averaging tasy owners recently. He had a decent season a year ago when
a mind-boggling 8.9 yards per rush, and also was a dynamic given the opportunity, but didn’t even lead the team in carries.
kick returner. Unfortunately, Jones’ rookie season lasted just McGahee was the go-to guy at crunch time in the postseason.
six games, and he succumbed to a toe injury that required sur- If that suggests the Ravens trust him above everyone else, then
gery. Ideally, Jones will step back into the same role in 2009 there is no reason to think he can’t return close to 2007 level
and split carries with Barber. If he can do that, and maintain type of production this season.
his explosiveness, Jones could have a Maurice Jones-Drew The Bad - McGahee was passed up on the depth chart by
type of season and be a surprisingly strong fantasy play. unheralded fullback Le’Ron McClain a year ago. If he can get
The Bad – Jones’ injury opened the door for another rookie, beaten out for carries by an almost unknown, then certainly
Tashard Choice, to make an impact. Choice showed that he second-year man Ray Rice is a threat to his job. The two play-
too is capable of playing a major role, and it would be foolish ers together could relegate McGahee to an afterthought in
for the Cowboys to relegate him to the bench. Jones could end most fantasy circles.
up part of a three-man RB rotation in which case all three will The Bottom Line - McGahee enters the season as the
struggle to have consistent fantasy value. “starter”, but what that means is really anybody’s guess. As
The Bottom Line - Jones should back up Marion Barber evidenced by our staff rankings, just about everyone is split on
and get more touches than most RB2s around the league. His how the team plans to use their running backs this year.
ability to hit the home run makes him someone worth drafting.
You can never predict when he’ll break a big run or catch, but 37. Ray Rice - BAL
if you have to play three RBs in most weeks, Jones could be a 5-8, 199, age: 22
daunting option as your RB3 or flex. And obviously if Barber year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
gets hurt, Jones would be a stud-in-the-making. 2009 PROJ 160 656 3 35 273 1 117 38
2008 BAL 107 454 0 43 33 273 0 73 55
35. LeRon McClain - BAL The Good - Willis McGahee’s knee gave him a lot of trou-
6-0, 260, age: 25 ble last season in the early going. And for all of his produc-
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank tion, Le’Ron McClain still averaged fewer than four yards per
2009 PROJ 115 437 8 15 98 0 102 43 carry. Ray Rice, meanwhile, was drafted in the second round,
2008 BAL 232 902 10 30 19 123 1 168 20 produced when the team needed him to, and led the three
2007 BAL 8 18 0 13 9 55 1 13 103 backs in yards per carry. He has excellent skills and should
The Good - Since Le’Ron McClain burst onto the scene have earned himself a greater piece of the rushing pie in 2009.
unexpectedly a season ago, it’s tough to expect a repeat per- The Bad - McClain is still likely going to handle the major-
RUNNING BACKS
see a greater number of carries in 2009. The Seahawks will some nagging injuries and he looked his age and a step slower.
move to a zone blocking scheme this season, which suits He also suffered from a banged up Jaguars’ offensive line, but
Jones’ one-cut style of running. If Matt Hasselbeck can stay overall his 2008 campaign was not very noteworthy.
healthy and T.J. Houshmandzadeh proves to be an effective The Bottom Line - Taylor landed in a good spot after being
threat on the outside, Jones could see running lanes open up shown the door in Jacksonville. The Patriots will likely use a
for him along with more scoring opportunities. If everything rotation of backs or substitute players based on game situa-
goes right, Jones could creep into the Top 24 at his position. tions and field position. Taylor probably won’t see more than
The Bad - Jones was the Seahawks’ most effective running 10 or 12 carries a game (and not near the goal line) unless the
back last season, but he was generally erratic from week to week. other backs can’t go for some reason. He should play a role,
The Seahawks could still sign a free agent RB like Edgerrin but he probably won’t be a centerpiece any longer.
James or Warrick Dunn, who could come in and steal carries
from Jones. With T.J. Duckett likely to get most of the goal-line 41. Rashard Mendenhall - PIT
work, Jones relies on yardage for his fantasy production. 5-10, 225, age: 22
The Bottom Line - Jones had a much more productive first year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
half of the season (70 fantasy points) in 2008 than second half 2009 PROJ 125 494 6 12 83 0 94 48
(19). While he should see 200+ carries this season, his lack of 2008 PIT 19 58 0 3 2 17 0 8 118
opportunities on the goal line substantially deflates his fantasy The Steelers are hoping that Rashard Mendenhall can take
potential. over for Willie Parker in 2010. This season he should be the
primary backup to the injury-prone RB and is a must handcuff
39. Earnest Graham - TB for Parker owners. With Gary Russell gone the Steelers could
5-9, 215, age: 29 try Mendenhall out as the goalline back even though that’s an
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank area he struggled with in his rookie season.
2009 PROJ 150 623 4 23 170 0 103 41
2008 TB 132 563 4 33 23 174 0 102 45 42. Leon Washington - NYJ
2007 TB 222 898 10 70 49 324 0 182 11 5-9, 199, age: 27
2006 TB 11 59 0 4 1 4 0 6 120 year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
The Good - Earnest Graham was slowed by an ankle liga- 2009 PROJ 120 588 3 51 383 2 127 34
ment injury last year, but all signs point to him being fully 2008 NYJ 76 448 6 60 47 355 2 128 30
healed. Graham is only one year removed from being the 11th 2007 NYJ 71 353 3 51 36 213 0 76 48
ranked fantasy RB and could find himself as a major contribu- 2006 NYJ 151 650 4 31 25 270 0 116 35
tor in the Buccaneers running game, teaming with Derrick Leon Washington will be an excellent option should some-
Ward to give the Bucs a solid one-two punch. thing happen to Thomas Jones. But assuming Jones keeps
The Bad - Graham fell flat in his attempt to assure that his plugging along as he has been, Washington’s role isn’t likely
10-touchdown season in 2007 was not a fluke. Last year, it to increase very much in 2009 as the team also added rookie
was Warrick Dunn who took over the rushing duties for Tampa Shonn Greene. Washington will still be an adept receiver out
Bay, and this year it could be Derrick Ward filling that role. of the backfield and will still fill a role on third downs in pass-
It’s very possible that Graham could once again see his role ing situations. About the only significant increase in playing
RUNNING BACKS
game of the season, and the Raiders will be forced to find him LeSean McCoy should find a role as the RB2 and see sever-
carries in a crowded backfield. Still, he’s the third option right al touches per game, which would make him worthy of a roster
now in Oakland. spot. Should Brian Westbrook get hurt, McCoy would be an
immediate starter in most fantasy leagues and an absolute no
Jamaal Charles, KC brainer in PPR leagues.
HC Todd Haley knows that he can’t go to Larry Johnson in
passing situations, and this could be a year where the Chiefs Mewelde Moore, PIT
are forced to throw the ball a lot while they play catch up. It’s There is a good chance that Mewelde Moore could once
not crazy to project Charles to get a significant number of again lead the Steelers RBs in fantasy points scored. He is a
touches this season. dynamic receiver, an effective runner, and instantly makes an
impact when he comes into the game. However, Moore is a
Tashard Choice, DAL player that may be best used in a limited role and the Steelers
Tashard Choice is one of those backups fantasy owners need could have a three- or four-headed RBBC in 2009.
to have an itchy trigger finger over. He’s not worth drafting in
10-team redraft leagues, but he’s someone that could actually Maurice Morris, DET
be a starting-caliber RB if his role was redefined due to injury Maurice Morris is a dependable veteran running back.
or in a year or two when he gets to test free agency. However he doesn’t have much upside and is on the down
slope of his career. He is still capable of stepping into an
T.J. Duckett, SEA offense for a few games and carrying the ball 20+ times, but
T.J. Duckett showed a great nose for the endzone last season he has only nine career TDs. He’ll be a nice second option to
and scored eight TDs on only 62 carries. If the offense can get Kevin Smith this season.
back on track, he could approach double-digit scores.
Sammy Morris, NE
Shonn Greene, NYJ Sammy Morris may end up the best value of the NE RBs
Barring injury to Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, and the last one drafted. He could produce as a borderline Top
Shonn Greene isn’t going to be a feature back in 2009. He 25 running back (if he plays each week) but may be had as the
probably wouldn’t even be a feature back if one of the two got 50th back off the draft board. If he stays healthy, he could see
hurt - it would be more of a timeshare situation than anything. 10 touchdowns this season. That said, this is a very crowded
Thus, his upside is fairly limited for 2009 in terms of being a backfield.
consistent fantasy contributor. He should, however, be fun to
watch. Dominic Rhodes, BUF
There are some rumors that Fred Jackson is unhappy with
his contract situation so he could be a holdout risk if that
Brandon Jackson, GB doesn’t get settled. That, along with the Marshawn Lynch sus-
Brandon Jackson has good size and quickness but did not pension could give Rhodes an opening. Most likely scenario is
seize his opportunity for an increased role last year. As such, that he’ll split time with Jackson while Lynch sits out.
Jackson remains the third-down / change-of-pace back while
L
ast season the WR position came back to Earth a bit right now. Fitzgerald is joined by Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss
after a monstrous 2007. Only three receivers caught and Andre Johnson atop the rankings. Reggie Wayne, Dwayne
100+ passes after six accomplished the feat in 2007. Bowe and Greg Jennings transitioned smoothly to their roles
Two receivers had back-to-back, 100+ catch seasons, Wes as their respective teams’ top targets. Anquan Boldin deserves
Welker and Brandon Marshall, but neither are considered a mention here, but his contractual issues make him a bit risk-
can’t-miss fantasy prospects this year. Marshall faces possible ier. Steve Smith, Marques Colston and the mercurial Terrell
disciplinary action, a new coaching staff and a new quarter- Owens round out the Top 12.
back while Welker only ranked 21st last season as his TD and Target at least two wide receivers in the first five rounds of
yardage totals didn’t keep pace with his prodigious reception your draft, and try your best to roster three of the Top 20-22
total. receivers. Over the last five years, that’s been the average cut-
off for 1,000-yard receivers (20.4 per season), 70-catches (22.2
per season) and six touchdowns (27.6 per season).
A number of notable receivers changed teams this offseason,
including Owens to Buffalo; T.J. Houshmandzadeh to Seattle;
WIDE RECEIVERS
Larry Fitzgerald
out Anquan Boldin, and with or without good quarterback
play. If Fitzgerald plays 16 games with Kurt Warner, he is a
virtual lock to be among the fantasy elite.
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WIDE RECEIVERS
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
oped a great rapport and chemistry working with Brady, and 2009 PROJ 0 0 0 90 1260 10 186 5
if that magic is still there, he should again be a Top 3 receiver. 2008 IND 0 0 0 131 82 1145 6 150 14
Even without Brady, Moss ended up as the No. 10 fantasy WR 2007 IND 1 4 0 156 104 1510 10 211 4
last year - that would be his floor. 2006 IND 0 0 0 137 86 1310 9 185 3
The Good - After joining the team as Marvin Harrison’s
3. Andre Johnson - HOU sidekick in 2001, Wayne showed steady improvement over
6-2, 221, age: 28 most of his career until he had back-to-back Top 5 fantasy
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank seasons in 2006 and 2007, passing Harrison as the team’s clear
2009 PROJ 2 10 0 98 1372 9 192 2 WR1 by 2007. The Colts offense had a bit of a down season in
2008 HOU 0 0 0 170 115 1575 8 206 2 2008, and Wayne’s stats suffered as well. Most people expect-
2007 HOU 0 0 0 86 60 851 8 133 22 ed another Top 5 finish at the WR position from Wayne last
2006 HOU 3 14 0 165 103 1147 5 146 18 season, and most of the elements that led to those expectations
The Good - Much like Torry Holt, Andre Johnson had mul- are still in place this season.
tiple thousand-yard seasons early in his career without even The Bad - Some of Wayne’s struggles last season were like-
sniffing double-digit touchdowns. In 2008, he went over 100 ly due to Peyton Manning’s early troubles with his knee. But
yards in eight of his 16 games, yet scored multiple TDs only another factor was that the team’s running game was largely
once. He was the No. 2 fantasy WR, but was tied for eighth in ineffective, so opposing defenses were able to devote a lot of
touchdowns. If Johnson can find the end zone at a frequency attention to stopping the passing game.
more commensurate with his overall talent, he could be the top The Bottom Line - We expect Wayne to bounce back from
fantasy WR in the game. his disappointing 2008 performance. The Colts are dedicated
The Bad - Along with Larry Fitzgerald and Randy Moss, to improving their running game (as shown by the first-round
Andre Johnson has almost no downside risk as long as both he selection of Donald Brown), which should open up the pass-
and his quarterback stay healthy. Johnson has been a huge part ing game and allow Wayne to face single coverage more often,
of the offense since Matt Schaub joined the team two years as he did in 2006 and 2007. Wayne is probably more likely to
ago and has averaged a shade fewer than 100 yards a game finish inside the Top 5 than he is to finish outside the Top 10.
over the last two seasons. He is a nearly lock to get 150+ tar-
gets as long as he stays healthy. 6. Steve Smith - CAR
The Bottom Line - Johnson will be one of the first five 5-9, 179, age: 30
WRs selected in just about every fantasy draft this season. If year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
he can break the double-digit touchdown barrier, he would be 2009 PROJ 5 35 0 87 1279 9 185 6
a difference-maker who could carry some fantasy squads by 2008 CAR 5 40 0 128 78 1421 6 182 5
himself. 2007 CAR 9 66 0 148 87 1002 7 149 16
2006 CAR 8 61 1 140 83 1166 8 177 8
4. Calvin Johnson - DET The Good - Steve Smith did well last season but lost game
6-5, 235, age: 24 time due to an off-the-field incident, leading to lower total
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank receptions than usual. If he can play a full 16 games, he might
2009 PROJ 3 17 0 88 1294 10 191 4 get back to the 100+ receptions we saw from him a few years
2008 DET 3 -1 0 151 78 1331 12 205 3 ago. He is an elite NFL receiver with a high motor and a huge
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7. Greg Jennings - GB
5-11, 192, age: 26
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
2009 PROJ 0 0 0 78 1186 9 173 8
2008 GB 0 0 0 140 80 1292 9 183 4
2007 GB 0 0 0 84 53 920 12 164 12
2006 GB 0 0 0 105 45 632 3 81 54
The Good - Greg Jennings finished as the fourth-best fan-
tasy receiver last year. He has developed nice chemistry with
WIDE RECEIVERS
ICON SMI
are going to sling the ball around all year. Roddy White
The Bottom Line - There is no reason to anticipate a drop in
his statistics in 2009. Jennings is young and entering the prime in the land last year, far exceeding most peoples’ expectations.
of his career. If the Packers rushing attack thrives this season, Now that Matt Ryan has a year of experience under his belt as
he could see a slight drop but he should still finish as a Top 10 an NFL starter, White should be in a position to at least main-
receiver in 2009 with a ceiling that soars into the Top 5. tain his 2008 numbers. He will turn 28 in November, so he’s
still got a young man’s legs (and recuperative powers).
8. Roddy White - ATL
6-1, 201, age: 28 9. Anquan Boldin - ARI
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank 6-1, 216, age: 29
2009 PROJ 2 10 0 84 1252 8 174 7 year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
2008 ATL 2 4 0 148 88 1382 7 181 6 2009 PROJ 8 48 0 86 1015 9 160 11
2007 ATL 1 -2 0 137 83 1202 6 156 14 2008 ARI 9 67 0 126 89 1038 11 176 7
2006 ATL 0 0 0 64 30 506 0 51 80 2007 ARI 1 14 0 99 71 853 9 141 19
The Good - There is a good chance that Roddy White could 2006 ARI 5 28 0 152 83 1203 4 147 17
be at 100+ receptions when the season ends, which would land The Good - The best case for Anquan Boldin is easy to
him in the elite tier of receivers in PPR leagues. The addition imagine: The Cardinals pay him what he is asking. Kurt
of Tony Gonzalez to the team should reduce the amount of Warner and Larry Fitzgerald stay healthy and productive all
coverage that White receives from opposing DBs, allowing year. Boldin does not get injured following one those big shots
him to find more soft spots in opposing defenses. he takes on the field. If those things happen, it is easy to imag-
The Bad - Gonzalez is usually at 90+ receptions every year, ine Boldin continuing his incredible career per game averages
so his presence on the field could eat into the number of foot- of 81 receiving yards and 0.5 TDs per game.
balls thrown to the wide receivers, leading to a dip in produc- The Bad - The worst thing that could happen to Boldin is
tion for White. Also, the sophomore slump sometimes afflicts that he sits out a good chunk of the season due to a contract
NFL quarterbacks. If Ryan falters in his second season in the holdout - while that is currently a possibility, it seems unlikely.
league, White might drop back towards the pack at his position The second worst thing would be the loss of Kurt Warner to
rather than improve his numbers. injury.
The Bottom Line - White built upon his fine 2007 cam- The Bottom Line - Currently, it is most likely that Boldin
paign with a stellar 2008 – he was the sixth-best fantasy WR and the Cardinals will agree to an extension and the offseason
WIDE RECEIVERS
considering top notch receivers for your fantasy draft. He is 6-4, 230, age: 25
a key component of the top passing offense in the league and year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
won’t cost you as high a draft pick as most of the other elite 2009 PROJ 2 10 0 83 1046 8 154 13
WRs. While Colston probably won’t have as many explosive 2008 DEN 2 -4 0 181 104 1265 6 162 11
games as other top guys, he will be consistent, catch lots of 2007 DEN 5 57 0 170 102 1325 7 180 9
passes and be a reliable threat to reach the end zone. 2006 DEN 2 12 0 38 20 309 2 44 89
The Good - Many expected Brandon Marshall’s stats to
11. Dwayne Bowe - KC jump into the stratosphere after an 18/166/1 game against San
6-2, 220, age: 25 Diego, but it never came to fruition. Jay Cutler often locked
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank onto Marshall during games and defenses recognized that
2009 PROJ 0 0 0 90 1143 8 162 10 when the QB was in trouble he was going to heave it towards
2008 KC 0 0 0 157 86 1022 7 144 16 #15. Even though he was targeted 181 times he only came
2007 KC 0 0 0 117 70 995 5 130 24 away with six receiving TDs because the Broncos frequently
The Good - The Chiefs shipped Tony Gonzalez off to the stalled in the red zone. His numbers could go down - but he
Falcons which should lead to more receptions and production should still be a Top 15 fantasy WR with an increase in TD
for the big WR. This team should also be playing from behind catches.
and passing a lot in 2009. Because of Bowe’s large frame, The Bad - Marshall had offseason hip surgery and another
he makes for a great target in the red zone and may approach off-the-field incident. He’s already received a break from
double digit receiving TDs in 2009. Bowe will play the part commissioner Roger Goodell, but this time - even though the
that Randy Moss did for Cassel in 2008, and he’ll be the new charges were dropped - he could face up to a four-game sus-
Larry Fitzgerald for Todd Haley. pension. Also, as the Broncos go to a more run-heavy offense
The Bad - Without Gonzalez attracting the attention of the he may see his opportunities cut in the red zone. There is a
defense it means more double and perhaps triple coverage real chance that the QB play could be far below average in
for Bowe. Even if the Chiefs have to shift into all-out passing Denver, and if that’s the case, Marshall and the other receivers
mode, a defense could take Bowe almost completely out of the will struggle.
game with good coverage and help over the top. The Bottom Line - If Marshall can stay healthy and out of
The Bottom Line - Bowe will be heavily relied on by his trouble, he should continue to be among the Top 15 fantasy
new QB Matt Cassel. Bowe is the type of player that will work receivers. He is still a premier WR, and the opportunity is there
his tail off for his team, and Cassel should quickly build a for him to be a dominant fantasy force once again. However,
bond and a trust with the talented, young receiver. there are enough obstacles for that outcome that one must be
cautious where they select Marshall in their fantasy drafts.
12. Terrell Owens - BUF
6-2, 213, age: 36 14. T.J. Houshmandzadeh - SEA
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank 6-1, 197, age: 32
2009 PROJ 2 10 0 72 1015 9 156 12 year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
2008 DAL 7 33 0 140 69 1052 10 168 9 2009 PROJ 1 9 0 82 959 8 145 17
2007 DAL 1 5 0 141 81 1355 15 226 2 2008 CIN 1 9 0 137 92 904 4 115 31
2006 DAL 0 0 0 151 85 1180 13 196 2
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WIDE RECEIVERS
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank 2008 DET 0 0 0 39 17 232 1 29 71
2009 PROJ 2 10 0 65 943 7 137 22 2008 DAL 1 13 0 42 19 198 1 27 71
2008 PIT 2 9 0 114 55 821 5 113 32 2007 DET 2 1 0 104 63 836 5 114 33
2007 PIT 5 17 0 85 52 942 8 144 18 2006 DET 2 2 0 153 82 1310 7 173 10
2006 PIT 1 13 0 86 49 824 2 96 41 The Good - The best case for Roy Williams is that he and
The Good - Santonio Holmes and Ben Roethlisberger his teammates and the coaches and the Dallas fans all forget
showed a great on-field rapport in the postseason that was about 2008. The Cowboys paid a king’s ransom for Williams
capped by Holmes winning the Super Bowl XLIII MVP. (first-, third-, and sixth-round picks) and then to Williams
This trend should continue in 2009 even if Hines Ward is (five years for $45 million). This year, Williams is the unques-
healthy. He knows how to come back to his QB when the play tioned WR1 because Terrell Owens was released. Tony Romo
breaks down and can take short passes long distances with his is the best QB Williams has ever played with, so it’s not
run after the catch ability. Holmes should continue to improve impossible to think his 82-catch, 1,310 yard season from 2006
his production in 2009. is within reach.
The Bad - There just isn’t that much opportunity for The Bad - A repeat of last year would be disastrous.
a receiver to be more than an average fantasy option in Williams wasn’t just disappointing after coming to Dallas, he
Pittsburgh. The Steelers have a suffocating defense that they was downright awful. If he gets off to a rough start, the pres-
rely on to set up the ground game that can grind out the clock. sure will mount and he may never recover.
Roethlisberger only threw for 17 TD passes in 2008, and he The Bottom Line - Williams is an elite athlete who has the
should throw for around the same number this season. If Hines strength and hands to be a true No. 1 for the Cowboys. The
Ward can stay healthy it could mean that Holmes is still the tricky part is that at least one fantasy owner in every league
No. 2 WR on a run first team with limited upside. is probably willing to draft Williams with his 2006 season in
The Bottom Line - Holmes had a fantastic postseason mind, but that’s far too high a price to pay. He has that Top 10
and looks to continue that hot streak into 2009. Holmes even potential, but he’s absolutely not worth paying Top 10 value
proved to be a better receiver in the red zone than many had for on draft day.
given him credit for. He’ll be a top target when Roethlisberger
is scrambling around looking for positive yards on a broken 23. Santana Moss - WAS
play. Holmes shouldn’t be a Top 10 fantasy WR in 2009 but 5-9, 185, age: 30
should be a consistent WR2 for his fantasy owners. year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
2009 PROJ 2 10 0 76 996 6 137 23
21. Jerricho Cotchery - NYJ 2008 WAS 1 27 0 138 79 1044 6 143 17
6-0, 207, age: 27 2007 WAS 3 13 0 115 61 808 3 100 40
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank 2006 WAS 7 82 0 101 55 790 6 123 27
2009 PROJ 2 10 0 81 964 7 139 21 The Good - Is there a harder receiver in the league to
2008 NYJ 2 8 0 111 71 858 5 117 30 forecast? After a 1,483-yard season in 2005, Santana Moss’
2007 NYJ 5 38 0 127 82 1130 2 129 25 numbers fell across the board in 2006 and 2007, making him a
2006 NYJ 5 25 0 125 82 961 6 135 23 risky proposition heading into 2008. But just as fantasy own-
The Good - Jerricho Cotchery has been on the cusp of a ers began to discount him, Moss puts together a Top 20 fantasy
breakout season for the last two years. Laveranues Coles is season. As long as Jason Campbell evolves in his second year
I J
’m positively elated about Chad Ochocinco this season. Why? ust two short years ago, Chad Ochocinco was a dominant
Because for all of Chad Ochocinco’s drama, it is simply wide receiver. He averaged 15.5 yards per catch, and posted
unfathomable that he’s being selected as the 23rd wide receiv- 93/1440/8 during 2007. But last year, Carson Palmer’s
er off the board right now. Drafters have declared that Ochocinco elbow injury sidelined the star QB for most of the year, and the
is barely a WR2 for this season. offense fell apart. As a result, Ochocinco’s attitude crashed and
HUH? burned.
Between 2002 and 2007 Ochocinco averaged 88 receptions, “In order to get back to being the Chad [Ochocinco] that
1340 yards, eight touchdowns. He had four Top 6 fantasy seasons. everybody feared, he was a guy who worked very, very hard at
The downside on him this year is pretty easy to identify: He’s his craft. And if you don’t do that, it falls away very quickly and
a malcontent, he was limited in 2008 by injury, he may not try people forget about you,” Head Coach Marvin Lewis said
hard anymore for the Bengals. But what no one seems to about Ochocinco’s 2009 prospects on April 13th.
be talking about is that two of the biggest factors in This is the crux of the question about
his awful 2008 season are easily remedied. First, his Ochocinco during 2009 – will he care enough
injuries do not appear to be lingering. Second, and to apply himself once again? He was very
most important, is best answered with a rhetori- ordinary when he didn’t care to (53/540/4
cal question: did you see who was playing quar- receiving last year during 13 games – he
terback for the Bengals last season? It wasn’t did not have a single 100+ yard receiving
Carson Palmer, who just happens to be returning game, and only got above 60 yards receiv-
to full health in his own right. ing once). Granted, Ochocinco had a cast of
So for all the negatives – and there are some less-than-impressive quarterbacks to work
– the two biggest reasons Chad Ochocinco was with – mainly Ryan Fitzpatrick (221/372 for
awful in 2008 no longer apply. He’s healthy and his 1905 yards, eight TDs and nine interceptions),
Pro Bowl caliber quarterback is healthy as well. and a few cameos by Jordan Palmer (7/12 for 41
And just to make Ochocinco more attractive, consider yards, 0 TDs and 0 interceptions) – but Ochocinco
that T.J. Houshmandzadeh is now no longer a Bengal. The one guy didn’t impress anybody, either.
who was stealing targets from Ochocinco is now in Seattle. There are warning signs that Ochocinco isn’t with Lewis’ pro-
In Ochocinco we have a former Top 6 receiver who is now gram. Last season, he was deactivated Week 12 after showing up
healthy, playing with a great quarterback who is now healthy, to a team meeting groggy and then walking out of the session
and who has almost no competition for receptions at the receiv- early (and having a confrontation with Lewis). He’s already lost
er position. $250,000 in workout bonuses this year for not participating in the
Yes, his personal drama may be a distraction. But if there is late March/early April offseason conditioning program. Carson
one thing to know about Chad Ochocinco it is this: Chad is about Palmer sounded annoyed with his absence, stating “I’m not wor-
Chad. And Chad is about money. Under no circumstances is a ried about him; I’m worried about the guys we have here. The
player with an ego the size of Ochocinco’s ego going to take the guys that want to be here and want to work now are the guys who
field and laze through the season just to spite his team. His ego are in the locker room right now and are here today.” This isn’t
won’t allow it. And for that reason alone he’s worth a pick after exactly a picture of a motivated, #1 wide receiver, is it?
more then 20 other receivers have been selected. Another reason to be concerned about Ochocinco is that he has
To sum things up, I’ll leave you with another rhetorical question: crossed the “big 3-0” – he turned 31 on Jan. 9, and after eight
of all the receivers being drafted around Ochocinco – DeSean NFL seasons is at the stage of his career when many veteran’s
Jackson, Eddie Royal, Hines Ward, Lee Evans – which one do you production drops off seemingly overnight.
think is in the best situation to be a Top 10 receiver in 2009? The The departure of T.J. Houshmandzadeh changes the mix at
one with Terrell Owens or Brandon Marshall or Santonio Holmes receiver. Aging veteran Laveranues Coles has arrived from the
lining up across from him? The one with Donovan McNabb Jets to fill the hole, but it remains to be seen if he can help shake
spreading the ball around to a dozen different pass catchers? Or Ochocinco loose. We’re still not sure that Carson Palmer’s elbow
the one that’s been there before, catching the ball from an All Pro is back to 100 percent – there are a lot of question marks around
quarterback, with no other viable options in the receiving game to Ochocinco’s prospects entering 2009. I’m staying far away from
steal his targets? Ochocinco this year.
ICON/SMI
WIDE RECEIVERS
The Bad - Despite a stellar rookie season, Jackson showed
and down his entire career and his best case scenario is reli- lapses in judgment that some perceived as immaturity. With
ant on his durability. If healthy he should once again be Ben Jeremy Maclin aboard and Kevin Curtis established, Jackson
Roethlisberger’s most trusted target and should easily surpass isn’t guaranteed the top spot; he’ll have to earn it. Since he’s
100 targets. It’s not out of the question to expect Ward to small in stature, Jackson can be outmuscled by physical defen-
compile over 1,000 receiving yards and a handful of TDs. This sive backs.
would make him a fantasy starter, but not a WR1 in most fan- The Bottom Line - History suggests that receivers who put
tasy leagues. up the kind of numbers Jackson did as a rookie are likely to
The Bad - Ward is getting up there in age and may find enjoy very productive careers. There’s no reason Jackson can’t
it difficult to stay injury-free in 2009. He never backs down deliver on a 1,000-yard campaign and once again lead the
from anyone, and this style of play leads to more punishment team statistically. Consider Jackson a Top 25 WR with consid-
and more injuries for the veteran. Santonio Holmes could pass erably higher upside.
him as the main target for Roethlisberger in 2009 as Holmes
seemed to find his groove in the postseason when Ward was 27. Laveranues Coles - CIN
dinged up. 5-11, 192, age: 32
The Bottom Line - Ward is a solid fantasy player when year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
healthy and will continue to be a reliable target for the Steelers 2009 PROJ 2 10 0 75 908 6 128 29
passing game. Pittsburgh wants to give Big Ben more time 2008 NYJ 2 9 0 116 70 850 7 128 24
to throw the football with improved line play, and that could 2007 NYJ 0 0 0 89 55 646 6 101 39
translate into more targets for Ward. 2006 NYJ 2 14 0 151 91 1098 6 147 16
The Good - In his new home in Cincinnati, Laveranues
25. Vincent Jackson - SD Coles assumes the role of WR2 opposite Chad Ochocinco, but
6-6, 235, age: 26 his role is equally important as he’ll be counted on almost as
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank much. T.J. Houshmandzadeh had 92 receptions last season, and
2009 PROJ 4 28 0 60 900 7 135 24 while Coles won’t be expected to replace him one-for-one, the
2008 SD 4 69 0 101 59 1098 7 159 12 expectation is that he’ll be far more productive than ‘typical’
2007 SD 0 0 0 80 41 623 3 80 53 WR2s. A Top 20 campaign would not be out of the question.
2006 SD 3 16 0 56 27 453 6 83 53 The Bad – This is the Bengals we’re talking about. There’s
The Good - Vincent Jackson had a breakout season in 2008. always the chance that Ochocinco burns out early again, and
After finishing outside the Top 50 in each of his first three Coles is left holding the bag on a team with plenty of offen-
seasons in the league, he broke into fantasy WR1 territory last sive question marks. If the revamped offensive line can’t get
season, finishing No. 12 at his position. Jackson’s size-speed on the same page or Carson Palmer and Coles can’t find a way
combo makes him a threat to score both on the deep ball and to connect, it is going to be a long season for the veteran WR.
in the red zone. If last year wasn’t a fluke, Jackson could equal The Bottom Line - With a renewed running game, taking
his 2008 production. advantage of a retooled offensive line, it’s possible that Coles
The Bad - Philip Rivers led the NFL in touchdown passes hit the jackpot by coming to Cincinnati. Expect another Top 30
last season while a banged up Antonio Gates had a career performance from Coles, as he benefits from Chad Ochocinco
low (excluding his rookie season) in touchdown receptions. taking all of the coverage to his side of the field.
Such favorable conditions may not repeat themselves in 2009.
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FOOTBALLGUYS.COM 129
29. Anthony Gonzalez - IND The Good - Evans produced like an elite fantasy WR in
6-0, 195, age: 25 2006, but his numbers dropped off considerably the past two
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank years. The QB play was very inconsistent, the coaches were
2009 PROJ 0 0 0 71 930 6 129 28 conservative, and the other WRs were poor. This year, those
2008 IND 0 0 0 79 57 664 4 90 44 limitations could be gone. Trent Edwards will be entering his
2007 IND 0 0 0 51 37 576 3 76 61 third year as a starter and the signing of Terrell Owens should
The Good - Anthony Gonzalez steps into a starting role in give the offense a lot more confidence.
one of the NFL’s most prolific passing offenses. After recover- The Bad - In an offense that doesn’t pass very often to
ing from a thumb injury, Gonzalez had a four-game stretch in begin with, adding a receiver like Owens to the mix may not
2007 where he caught 20 passes for 347 yards and three TDs. leave enough targets for Evans to even match his production
As a full-time starter in 2009, a Top 20 fantasy season at his from the past two years.
position is well within his reach. The Bottom Line - The Bills now appear to have most of
The Bad - After such an impressive rookie year, Gonzalez the pieces in place for a productive passing attack, minus trad-
was relatively quiet in 2008 after giving back the starting ing away LT Jason Peters. Although Owens will command
flanker position to Marvin Harrison. Gonzalez worked out of plenty of targets, he should also draw much of the coverage
the slot, but he failed to score five or more fantasy points in to his side of the field and Evans is a nightmare for most CBs
11 of 16 games. If he doesn’t show improvement this season, in man coverage. Evans could improve on last year’s numbers
he could finish with about the same stats he did last year, and provide a solid WR2 option for your fantasy team.
which would mean another season in the No. 45 range as a
fantasy WR. 32. Donnie Avery - STL
The Bottom Line - While Gonzalez has Top 20 potential at 5-11, 192, age: 25
his position, he is more likely to finish as a WR3 in terms of year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
his fantasy prospects. Reggie Wayne is still the main receiver 2009 PROJ 7 56 0 77 1009 6 142 19
in Indy, and Gonzalez will play a complimentary role in an 2008 STL 10 69 1 104 53 674 3 98 39
offense that, while still formidable, is not as high-flying as it The Good - With Torry Holt departed for Jacksonville, the
was five years ago. torch has been passed to Donnie Avery, who now becomes
the Rams’ top WR. Avery is a sure bet to lead the team in tar-
30. Lance Moore - NO gets, and he has the YAC ability to thrive in a West Coast-style
5-11, 184, age: 26 offense. With steady play from the Rams offensive line and quar-
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank terback, Avery has the potential for a Top 20 fantasy season.
2009 PROJ 0 0 0 58 737 6 110 39 The Bad - Avery has a one-year track record, and even
2008 NO 0 0 0 119 79 928 10 152 13 that was wildly erratic. He has big-play talent, but the Rams’
2007 NO 2 7 1 50 32 302 2 49 83 offense is in a state of transition, and the whole unit could go
2006 NO 0 0 0 3 1 10 0 1 164 through a difficult learning curve along with Avery.
The Good - Heading onto 2008 Moore was the forgotten The Bottom Line - Avery is a high-upside, high-risk player.
man of the Saints offense. Due to the inconsistency of the He has the speed and ability to make big plays, and is a threat
other WRs when Marques Colston suffered a thumb injury, to score from anywhere on the field, but he is young and incon-
New Orleans decided to give Moore his chance and he record-
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130 FOOTBALLGUYS.COM
WIDE RECEIVERS
a viable fantasy WR3.
ICON SMI
2009 PROJ 0 0 0 70 847 7 127 30
2008 STL 0 0 0 119 64 796 3 98 40 Michael Crabtree
2007 STL 0 0 0 149 93 1189 7 161 13
2006 STL 0 0 0 178 93 1188 10 179 6 imagine him being unsuccessful in the pros.
The Good - While Torry Holt had his worst fantasy season The Bad - Several teams shied away from Michael Crabtree
in 2008, he had finished as a borderline WR1 the previous during the draft with unofficial reasons being that they think
year, and at 33 years old, he should still have a few strong sea- he’s a diva in training or were wary of his entourage. Another
sons left. As the clear WR1 for the Jaguars this season, Holt key factor in Crabtree’s drop to the 10th pick was foot surgery
has a very realistic chance to finish somewhere around the No. for a stress fracture that was found after the combine. Also of
20 fantasy WR. concern to those thinking of taking Crabtree is the lack of a
The Bad - Changing teams always means some additional proven quarterback on the 49ers roster.
risk for a fantasy WR. While Holt had a down year in 2008, The Bottom Line - Crabtree is simply a touchdown
he was still targeted 119 times. The last Jacksonville WR to be machine who works hard, has fantastic hands and is the best
targeted that many times in a season was Jimmy Smith. blocking WR in the class of 2009. For this year in redraft
The Bottom Line - Holt’s days of fantasy stardom are likely leagues he will probably be overvalued, so caution needs to be
over, but he’s probably the most reliable WR the Jaguars have exercised when considering him for your roster. Even the best
had since Jimmy Smith. Holt should become a frequent target receivers generally take a year or two to become accustomed
for Garrard while the Jaguars’ younger WRs are brought along to the speed of the NFL.
slowly. Holt can probably be considered a fantasy starter in
leagues that start three WRs. 36. Derrick Mason - BAL
5-11, 193, age: 35
35. Michael Crabtree - SF year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
6-2, 215, age: 22 2009 PROJ 0 0 0 73 905 5 120 35
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank 2008 BAL 1 3 0 121 80 1037 5 134 22
2009 PROJ 2 12 0 60 2007 BAL 0 0 0 164 103 1087 5 139 20
786 7 122 33 2006 BAL 1 -4 0 112 68 750 2 87 49
The Good - After a few teams unbelievably passed on The Good - Mason has probably hit his ceiling in each of
him, Michael Crabtree fell into the delighted laps of the San the past two seasons. A realistic upside for Mason would be
Francisco 49ers. Crabtree won’t just be given a starting role, for him to just crack the Top 20. That would involve staying
but if he signs quickly and learns at a reasonable pace he healthy again all season, remaining at the same talent level as
should be starting in Week 1. His dynamic playmaking ability he was a year ago, maintaining the same activity within the
at the college level resulted in huge numbers, and it’s hard to offense, and perhaps grabbing a touchdown or two that he oth-
at all from what he was able to accomplish over the past cou- 2009 PROJ 2 10 0 67 824 5 113 38
ple of seasons. 2008 ARI 2 8 0 113 77 1006 3 119 28
The Bottom Line - Having Cutler as quarterback will give 2007 ARI 2 8 0 14 8 92 0 10 137
Hester no room for excuses. He finally has a top-tier passer, The Good - Far and away, the best thing that could happen
so now he just has to get open. Cutler should be able to find to Steve Breaston’s 2009 fantasy outlook would be the depar-
Hester on deep patterns, but the WR will need to develop ture of Anquan Boldin. Since that is unlikely to happen (and
more as a route-runner if he is to be a viable fantasy starter. gets less likely with each passing day), Breaston’s ceiling is his
2008 campaign.
38. Kevin Walter - HOU The Bad - The worst situation for Breaston would be the
6-3, 221, age: 28 loss of Kurt Warner at QB. Also, if the team finds its running
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank game, the three-wide set might be utilized a little less often,
2009 PROJ 3 15 0 59 779 5 109 40 which means Breaston’s targets would decrease.
2008 HOU 3 23 0 95 60 899 8 140 19 The Bottom Line - Breaston’s 2008 performance was
2007 HOU 5 30 0 106 65 800 4 107 36
impressive. He caught nearly 70% of his targets for over 1,000
2006 HOU 1 3 0 21 17 160 0 16 116
yards. With Larry Fitzgerald and Boldin around, Breaston is an
The Good - Walter is a big target who makes his presence
extremely long-shot to surpass those numbers. He remains an
felt in the red zone. The Texans’ offense is loaded with other
excellent NFL backup WR and would be a nice fantasy option
weapons (Andre Johnson, Steve Slaton, and Owen Daniels),
if either of the starting WRs were out.
so Walter will nearly always face single-coverage. It’s hard to
imagine him improving on last year’s numbers, which probably 41. Chris Chambers - SD
represent his best-case scenario for 2009. 5-11, 210, age: 31
The Bad - Walter is clearly the No. 4 option in this offense. year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
While that is good enough for decent numbers, there isn’t a 2009 PROJ 1 6 0 53 737 5 104 42
lot of room for error. If Matt Schaub were to miss time with 2008 SD 1 1 0 64 33 462 5 76 52
an injury, the overall numbers of the offense would certainly 2007 SD 2 17 0 63 35 555 4 81 29
suffer and Walter’s looks would likely be among the first to 2007 MIA 1 -5 0 66 31 415 0 41 29
decline. 2006 MIA 8 95 0 154 59 677 4 101 37
The Bottom Line - Walter is unlikely to duplicate his TD If Chris Chambers can stay healthy, regaining the touchdown-
total from 2008, and he is therefore unlikely to repeat as a a-game pace he set in the first five games of 2008 is not impos-
Top 20 fantasy WR. While he has a chance to finish as a sible. If veterans Antonio Gates and Tomlinson, and impend-
WR2 again this season, he will more likely be a weak WR3 or ing free agent Malcom Floyd avoid the nagging injuries that
strong WR4. plagued them last year, Chambers will be no higher than 4A
in the pecking order. Chambers is a solid bye week/injury WR
in non-PPR leagues, but his production will be inconsistent as
long as the Chargers maintain their full compliment of weapons
on offense and get more from their running game this year.
WIDE RECEIVERS
receiver, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be much of a fantasy fac-
progress of Jeremy Maclin, who is the future at the position tor. If healthy he could break into the Top 32 fantasy WRs but
but probably needs some seasoning, meaning Curtis could be predicting which week to start him in could be an exercise in
a solid buy low candidate. Of course, this assumes Curtis is futility. Gage is good for depth in fantasy leagues but should
healthy after another medical procedure in May. be considered as nothing more than a bye week/injury fill in
receiver.
44. Deion Branch - SEA
5-9, 193, age: 30 48. Muhsin Muhammad - CAR
year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank 6-2, 217, age: 36
2009 PROJ 0 0 0 42 517 4 76 57 year team ratt ryds rtds targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
2008 SEA 0 0 0 59 30 412 4 65 63 2009 PROJ 0 0 0 55 743 5 104 43
2007 SEA 0 0 0 85 49 661 4 90 48 2008 CAR 0 0 0 108 65 923 5 122 26
2006 SEA 4 30 0 101 53 725 4 100 39 2007 CHI 0 0 0 81 40 570 3 75 63
If Deion Branch is fully recovered from the knee injury 2006 CHI 0 0 0 117 60 863 5 116 30
that set him back in each of the last two years, he could play Muhsin Muhammad proved critics wrong last year and
a prominent role in the Seahawks offense and be a strong re-joined the ranks of fantasy-worthy starters as he almost
fantasy WR3, if not better. But he carries a lot of risk since he finished as starter among fantasy wide receivers. This year,
faces serious competition for playing time from Nate Burleson he will again be the complement to Steve Smith. Muhammad
and Deon Butler. Once 40+ receivers have gone off the board, will never repeat his dynamic 2004 campaign, but he’ll be a
Branch becomes an attractive pick based on his upside poten- solid reserve fantasy wide out if nothing goes wrong for him
tial. health-wise.
Earl Bennett, who was Jay Cutler’s go-to guy at Vanderbilt. He will come from newly-signed Laurent Robinson. However,
will definitely earn some playing time this year, and he could the starting nod may be more nominal than significant as both
finish with a relatively high ceiling if everything falls into players should get a similar number of looks unless one of
place. them really excels.
WIDE RECEIVERS
last legs as an NFL player. There are reasons why only a few Michael Jenkins, ATL
receivers have played at age 38, and Galloway will certainly Michael Jenkins was a lot more productive during 2008 than
have to swim against the tide if he expects to have a solid sea- he was in 2007, going from 10 yards per reception to 15.5 per
son. He may come up with some big plays now and again and grab - his best mark over the past four years. He posted just
may have a decent game or two, but the chances of him being one ‘goose-egg’ all year (Week 2, vs. TB), and was usually
a regular fantasy contributor are not great. in the 50-70 yards receiving neighborhood during the other
games in which he played. Jenkins isn’t a starting-caliber fan-
James Hardy, BUF tasy wideout entering 2009, but he should be a useful guy to
Given that his torn ACL occurred so late in the 2008 season have on your bench for bye-weeks or in case of injury among
and the one-year signing of Owens, this is looking like it will your Top 3 players at the position.
probably be a developmental year for James Hardy. He could
see some time in situational packages near the goalline, but his Bryant Johnson, DET
best strategy is probably to get healthy and then compete for a Bryant Johnson has been incredibly consistent throughout
starting spot in 2010. the years, and there is no reason to believe his numbers will
drop this season. He will definitely be second-fiddle to Calvin
Marvin Harrison, FA Johnson in the passing game, but he should help defenses stay
The Colts released Marvin Harrison after the 2008 season, honest and not completely roll coverage over on Johnson.
and he has clearly lost a step or two. He has received little
interest from the other 31 teams and could soon retire. James Jones, GB
James Jones is a talented receiver, but it is unlikely he will
Percy Harvin, MIN move past the fourth spot in the depth charts. With three capa-
The Vikings made a great choice this year by drating Percy ble receivers in front of him, it is unlikely he can surpass the
Harvin. Defenses are not going to be able to key on him, and 30-reception, 400-yard mark in 2009.
he is so fast out of the blocks that he should be able to get
past most defenders. He is going to be a hybrid of sorts for the Jeremy Maclin, PHI
Vikings, likely lining up both in the backfield and in the slot, The Eagles didn’t use a first round pick on Jeremy Maclin
and he should finish the season with at least 80 total touches. to sit him. Provided he can show the coaching staff enough
during training camp, he’ll see the field. The question is
Devery Henderson, NO whether it will be as a full-time starter or as a WR3 in the slot.
Devery Henderson is a wonderful late-round pick for those Either way, Maclin will make big plays when he gets the ball
who play in survivor leagues, but in week to week matchups and has room to run. He is also an explosive returner for those
his use needs to be carefully considered. His best value is leagues that reward individual return stats.
perhaps as a bye week replacement. Some owners with con-
siderable strength at other positions could consider playing Josh Morgan, SF
Henderson regularly in the hope that he hits a home run, but Josh Morgan started the 2008 season as one of the more
more often than not he’ll be a weak play, particularly in points hyped rookies. Not bad for a sixth rounder who wasn’t expect-
per reception leagues. ed to contribute much when he was drafted. Morgan was
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TIGHT ENDS
Intro by Jason Wood a starter rostered by the ninth or tenth rounds, but take your
time in drafting a backup. The second tier is littered with guys
T
he days of tight end being a fantasy afterthought are who should catch 40+ balls, 400+ yards and some scores. One
long gone. Waiting until the late rounds to draft your last word of advice, remember that rookie tight ends rarely
starter is no longer smart; it’s a recipe for failure. The help fantasy teams. Even Tony Gonzalez (33 catches, two TD)
tight end position has become an integral component of many and Jason Witten (347 yards, one TD) struggled as rookies, so
team’s passing attacks. In 2008, 15 tight ends had 500 receiv- let someone else target Brandon Pettigrew on draft day. Visit
ing yards and nine caught 5 or more touchdowns. If you’re not our website: Footballguys.com where you can view custom-
drafting someone with that as their baseline, you’ll be behind ized rankings that are tailored to your league’s scoring system.
the curve.
Jason Witten is the clear class of this group due to his 1. Jason Witten - DAL
health, stability and potential to lead his team in targets. Some 6-5, 257, age: 27
others face question marks, as Tony Gonzalez and Kellen year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
Winslow moved to the NFC this offseason, and Antonio Gates 2009 PROJ 80 936 6 130 2
continues to rehab from injuries. Despite these questions, all 2008 DAL 121 81 952 4 121 2
three should be off the board within the first five or six rounds 2007 DAL 141 96 1145 7 156 1
if they’re healthy. Dallas Clark rounds out the Top 5 as he’s 2006 DAL 93 64 754 1 81 12
Peyton Manning’s most reliable red zone option. The Good - How many tight ends are guaranteed to lead
their team in targets? How many are devastating blockers?
TIGHT ENDS
2. Antonio Gates - SD
6-4, 260, age: 29
year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
2009 PROJ 68 836 8 132 1
2008 SD 92 60 704 8 118 4
2007 SD 117 75 984 9 152 2
2006 SD 119 71 924 9 146 1
The Good - Before playing his way through multiple inju-
ries in 2008, Antonio Gates had been the No. 1 or No. 2 fan-
tasy TE the previous four seasons. Even hobbled some games,
he finished fourth at his position last year. If Gates is healthy,
he’s the most talented pass-catching TE in the league. He has
the quickness to beat double-teams, makes tough catches in
traffic and can come down with jump balls. Gates has been a
force around the goal line and led the Chargers in receiving
ICON SMI
TIGHT ENDS
offense could explode early on and keep rolling throughout the be 100 percent healthy and there is no reason to think other-
season. wise. The Bucs offense will feature plenty of Winslow and
The Bad - Gonzalez could see fewer targets transitioning Bryant, a tandem similar to Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez
to his new surroundings. If so, his fantasy production could last year for the Chiefs. If Winslow can stay healthy he should
drop below the Top 3 TE. As we saw last year with Jeremy reach 65-70 catches or even 80+. Winslow automatically
Shockey, moving to a new team isn’t always an easy thing to upgrades a poor red zone offense and should often have TD-
do. Gonzalez is 33 and at the point where performance could scoring opportunities.
suddenly drop off with nagging injuries.
The Bottom Line - Gonzalez snagged 90+ catches the 6. Owen Daniels - HOU
last two years with Tyler Thigpen, Damon Huard, and Brodie 6-3, 250, age: 27
Croyle. He’s been a Top 3 TE in nine of the past 10 seasons. year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
Now he is playing with Matt Ryan on a stacked offense. 2009 PROJ 66 759 4 100 6
Gonzalez could be poised for another double-digit TD season 2008 HOU 100 70 862 2 98 6
in Atlanta this year. 2007 HOU 94 63 768 3 95 8
2006 HOU 51 34 352 5 65 14
4. Dallas Clark - IND The Good – Owens Daniels has improved his targets, recep-
6-3, 257, age: 30 tions, and yards each season in the NFL, but his TD total has
year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank dropped each year. He finished as the No. 6 fantasy TE while
2009 PROJ 72 785 6 114 4 scoring only two touchdowns last year. If he can maintain his
2008 IND 107 77 848 6 121 3 yardage total while getting back to five scores, Daniels could
2007 IND 101 58 616 11 130 5 finish as a Top 3 fantasy TE.
2006 IND 58 30 367 4 61 15 The Bad - Daniels is overshadowed by Andre Johnson and
The Good – Dallas Clark has been a top TE the last two Steve Slaton, and has generally been targeted during
seasons, and last year was his best fantasy season. The Colts Johnson’s off games. Johnson had fewer than five receptions
struggled some offensively last year and did not run the ball six times last season and Daniels averaged 6 receptions for 80
well, so Peyton Manning had to rely on Clark more than ever yards. In 10 games when Johnson caught 5+ passes, Daniels
before. His upside this year is to repeat 2008’s production with averaged 3.4 receptions for 38 yards. If Johnson remains the
a few more TDs, solidly establishing him as an upper echelon go to guy, Daniels’ production could be capped.
fantasy TE. The Bottom Line - Daniels will likely finish in the Top 5-
The Bad - Manning spreads the ball to whoever is open, 10 TEs and has the potential to finish higher with more goal
and he may not target Clark 100+ times like he did past two line looks. He shouldn’t be ranked ahead of Witten, Gates,
seasons. The common denominator in those two seasons is that Gonzalez, Winslow, or Clark. Daniels makes a nice handcuff
the Colts did not have a second serious threat at WR to line for Andre Johnson owners, since Daniels tends to have better
up opposite Reggie Wayne. If Anthony Gonzalez fills that role games when Johnson is less of a factor.
this season, Clark’s targets could fall by 30%, and he could
He’s a lock to start this season and will play a large role in
8. Greg Olsen - CHI the passing game. Carlson has the speed to run seam routes
6-5, 255, age: 24 and is a threat to make a big play down the field. With T.J.
year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank Houshmandzadeh occupying the secondary’s attention, Carlson
2009 PROJ 60 666 5 97 7 may have more space in the middle of the field and could sur-
2008 CHI 82 54 574 5 87 10 pass last year’s No. 2 fantasy ranking.
2007 CHI 66 39 391 2 51 23 The Bad - With healthier WRs in town this year, Carlson
The Good - Greg Olsen became a legitimate top-ten fantasy may see many fewer targets. Ten different WRs had catches
tight end in 2008 and is still getting better. He has the ability last season, none of whom played a full 16 games. With
to outrun linebackers and run over defensive backs. Someday Houshmandzadeh, Carlson may be a decoy more often and a
he’ll be a Top 5 TE. His best-case scenario is if he develops a primary target less frequently. If his targets drop from 80 to
rapport with Jay Cutler, becoming a favorite target like Jason 60, he would be just a fantasy backup.
Witten is for Tony Romo. With the questionable receiving The Bottom Line - A second-year player carries more risk
corps in Chicago, Olsen could finish with 80+ receptions for than a veteran, but Carlson’s skills make him a near lock to
900+ yards if everything falls into place. finish in the top half of starting NFL tight ends. He may have
The Bad - Cutler spreads the ball to 5-6 different targets a smaller role this season and is unlikely to repeat his #7 fanta-
and Olsen’s numbers stay similar to last year’s. Unless injuries sy finish, but he should be a worthwhile fantasy starter again.
strike, he is unlikely to finish with fewer than 50 receptions,
600 yards and 4-5 touchdowns. 11. Dustin Keller - NYJ
The Bottom Line - Olsen will elevate from “good” to 6-2, 242, age: 25
“great” in 2009. He has the tools to be an elite player. With a year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
capable QB, Olsen should set career highs in receptions, yard- 2009 PROJ 54 621 4 86 11
age and touchdowns. He’ll share some time with Desmond 2008 NYJ 78 48 535 3 72 14
Clark but expect Olsen to see most of the targets as he begins The Good - The Jets should have a lot of receiving targets
to reach his potential. available with the departure of Laveranues Coles and Chris
Baker, and Dustin Keller could be a prime beneficiary. That’s
9. Zach Miller - OAK without factoring in any improvement from the second year
6-5, 255, age: 24 tight end, who was already a fantasy factor as a rookie. Keller
year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank has excellent ball skills and is more of a Dallas Clark-type
2009 PROJ 55 644 4 88 9 than a Bubba Franks-type. In other words, he’s a receiver first
2008 OAK 86 56 778 1 84 11 and a blocker second.
2007 OAK 69 44 444 3 62 16 The Bad - With only Jerricho Cotchery having significant
The Good - Some people expected Zach Miller to finish as experience, defenses may focus more coverage on Keller. He
a Top 10 fantasy TE in 2008 and despite a slow start he nearly won’t sneak up on anyone like he did last year. The Jets pass-
made it. After a Week 3 game against Buffalo where he fin- ing game could take a step backwards. Brett Favre has retired,
TIGHT ENDS
The Bottom Line - Can Shockey still be a top fantasy TE? 6-3, 250, age: 28
He should be a major part of a productive offense, but beware year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
of taking him based on his reputation. He averaged less than 2009 PROJ 50 505 4 74 14
10 yards per catch and didn’t score a touchdown last year. Add 2008 TEN 84 58 561 2 68 16
in his injury history, and you must exercise caution before 2007 TEN 78 46 421 1 48 25
taking him too early. If he freefalls on draft day, be ready to 2006 TEN 56 29 370 2 56 16
pounce. The Good - Kerry Collins looked to Bo Scaife often last
year. Scaife used his athletic ability to pile up positive yards
13. Visanthe Shiancoe - MIN after the catch and should again be a reliable target. Tennessee
6-4, 251, age: 29 may pass more this year because the defense might be weaker
year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank with the loss of Albert Haynesworth.
2009 PROJ 45 513 4 75 13 The Bad - The Titans have three quality TEs on the ros-
2008 MIN 59 42 596 7 102 5 ter with Scaife, Alge Crumpler, and rookie Jared Cook.
2007 MIN 43 27 323 1 38 32 Crumpler’s best days are behind him but he could be used in
2006 NYG 14 12 81 0 8 67
certain situations. Cook is a playmaker that’s more of a super
The Good - Shiancoe could easily match his numbers sized WR than TE. Scaife will also lose targets to new WRs
from a year ago. If defenses key on Adrian Peterson, Bernard Nate Washington and Kenny Britt.
Berrian and newcomer Percy Harvin, that would allow The Bottom Line - Scaife may not match his numbers from
Shiancoe plenty of room to get open in the secondary. last season if the passing game focuses on wide receivers. He
The Bad - The Vikings have increased options on offense should again finish as a Top 20 TE, but he’s a fantasy backup
this season, and Shiancoe’s production could take a hit as a with limited upside.
result. With such a powerful running attack, there are only so
many passes available to catch. 16. Tony Scheffler - DEN
The Bottom Line - Shiancoe set career bests in receptions, 6-6, 260, age: 26
yards and touchdowns, but some of that success stemmed from year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
mediocre play at the receiver position. The WR corps should 2009 PROJ 38 464 4 70 16
improve this season, and that should keep Shiancoe from 2008 DEN 60 40 645 3 82 12
matching last year’s Top 10 finish. 2007 DEN 65 49 549 5 85 10
2006 DEN 37 18 286 4 53 20
The Good - Tony Scheffler remains in Denver, but his quar-
terback Jay Cutler has moved on to Chicago. So what do the
Broncos and Scheffler do now? They’ll apparently find a way
to utilize Scheffler to his fullest capability. He creates matchup
problems and can do damage in the middle of the field.
The Bad - The Patriots’ system didn’t feature a pass-catch-
was based mostly upon his seven TDs. If he regresses to three move the chains. If he can maintain the intensity he showed in
or four, he becomes just another mediocre backup. last year’s playoffs (19 catches for 151 yards in three games),
The Bottom Line - Fasano is likely to post similar numbers he will be worth rostering as a fantasy backup.
but could become a go-to guy in the passing attack. With ques- The Bad - Celek is really a starter by default. He’s lim-
tions surrounding the receiving corps, the Dolphins best option ited physically and wouldn’t start for many NFL teams. If
may be Fasano, who displayed last season he can run crisp Cornelius Ingram is everything the team hopes he is, Celek
routes and get open. could find himself as a backup by midseason.
The Bottom Line - It would be shocking to see Brent Celek
18. Kevin Boss - NYG put up Top 10 fantasy numbers and should be thought of as
6-7, 250, age: 25 nothing more than a TE2 in 12-team leagues.
year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
2009 PROJ 36 364 4 60 19 21. Todd Heap - BAL
2008 NYG 55 33 384 6 74 13 6-4, 250, age: 29
2007 NYG 14 9 118 2 24 43 year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
The Good - Kevin Boss caught six touchdowns last year 2009 PROJ 38 418 3 60 20
despite only catching 33 passes. That should be considered his 2008 BAL 64 35 403 3 58 23
upside. He’s a reliable red zone target and should remain in the 2007 BAL 34 23 239 1 30 38
mix near the goal line. 2006 BAL 116 73 765 6 112 4
The Bad - Boss may have replaced Jeremy Shockey, but he The Bottom Line - It’s tough to envision Heap as an elite
didn’t replace his productivity. Boss isn’t a special athlete, but tight end again. He seems to have a role within the offense
he found ways to get first downs and touchdowns. If the cadre similar to other run-first teams. Last season, he had five games
of receivers develops as planned, Boss could see his TDs cut in with either zero or one catch. In the previous five seasons, he
half, while still catching 30 receptions. never had fewer than two catches in a game. That speaks vol-
The Bottom Line - Boss is entrenched as the starter, and umes as to what his current role is.
he’ll catch at least 30 passes and 3 TDs. Coming off a TE13
fantasy ranking, Boss is worth having on a roster as a backup. 22. Randy McMichael - STL
6-3, 247, age: 30
19. Vernon Davis - SF year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
6-3, 253, age: 25 2009 PROJ 35 389 3 57 23
year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank 2008 STL 21 11 139 0 14 53
2009 PROJ 34 408 4 65 18 2007 STL 67 39 429 3 61 17
2008 SF 49 31 358 2 49 26 2006 MIA 96 62 640 3 82 11
2007 SF 85 52 509 4 75 14 The Bottom Line - McMichael may be overlooked this
2006 SF 42 20 265 3 45 22 season, but he does have potential in the Rams’ new west coast
The Good - Vernon Davis has the size and speed to be a offense. As a late-round flyer, McMichael has more upside
TIGHT ENDS
2008 JAX 72 41 489 2 61 20 2008 DAL 27 20 283 4 52 24
2007 JAX 57 37 391 2 51 22 The Bottom Line - Bennett is one of the few backup tight
2006 JAX 21 13 126 1 19 46
ends that could project as an impact fantasy player. He would
The Bottom Line - Lewis likely won’t see enough targets be a legitimate Top 10 fantasy prospect with an injury to
to be considered as a fantasy starter. He’s a marginal fantasy Witten. It’s hard to justify drafting a backup TE, but he’s some-
backup in 12-team leagues. one to consider if he ends up as an NFL starter.
26. Ben Watson - NE Others:
6-3, 253, age: 29
year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank
2009 PROJ 26 265 2 38 32
Chris Baker, NE
The Patriots signed Chris Baker to a five-year deal in the
2008 NE 47 22 209 2 33 33
first 12 hours of free agency after the Jets let him go to avoid
2007 NE 49 36 389 6 76 13
2006 NE 92 49 643 3 82 10
paying a hefty roster bonus. Baker is a good two-way TE who
The Bottom Line - Watson has been a recent disappoint- might be able to usurp targets from the inconsistent fantasy
ment, and it’s possible that this will be his final year with the tease Ben Watson. He’ll probably catch a handful of short TDs
Patriots. He’s become somewhat of an afterthought and is fre- and he could get back in the Top 20.
quently benched in favor of a third wide receiver.
Chase Coffman, CIN
27. L.J. Smith - BAL Chase Coffman was taken in the third round and is likely
6-3, 258, age: 29
the best receiving tight end on the roster. While Carson Palmer
year team targets rec cyds ctds FP FP Rank and the Bengals have made little use of the position in the
2009 PROJ 28 288 2 41 29 past, T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s targets will be dispersed some-
2008 PHI 64 37 298 3 48 28 where. Rookie tight ends can sometimes be overwhelmed,
2007 PHI 44 22 236 1 30 39 but there’s opportunity here. If Coffman can handle the NFL
2006 PHI 80 50 611 5 91 9 game, he should pass Reggie Kelly and Ben Utecht on the
The Bottom Line - Smith will probably grab a handful of depth chart.
scores, but relying on him for consistent production would not
be advised. Starter Todd Heap has struggled to produce the Alge Crumpler, TEN
last two seasons, so why would his backup become a relevant In his first season with the Titans, Alge Crumpler post mar-
fantasy performer? ginal numbers. He’s no longer the fantasy force he once was in
Atlanta. However, he’s valuable to the Titans as a reserve TE
and mentor to young players like Jared Cook. Unfortunately
he can’t earn fantasy points as a mentor and should only be
rostered in deep leagues.
A
lthough football is a team sport, kickers are com-
monly considered an exception - it is simply the
kicker and his leg against the ball and the goalposts.
That oversimplification disregards the line blocking, the long-
snapper, and the holder. It also doesn’t account for the fact
that return teams, the defense, and especially the offense all
set up the scoring opportunities for the kicker. Even the most
accurate kicker is worthless, from a fantasy perspective, if he
doesn’t get a chance to kick. While most fantasy teams involve
selecting an individual kicker, it is helpful to understand team
history of kicking. The table on Page 146 shows the annual
kicker scoring rank of each team over the past 15 years, with
Top 5 finishes highlighted in yellow and Top 10 finishes in
green. It accounts for all kicking points scored by a team in a
given year, even if they utilized multiple kickers.
KICKERS
The following rankings and associated projections reflect
a consensus opinion from the staff at Footballguys. The
commentary reflects the opinions of Mike Herman, Staff
Kickologist. We offer these to help aid you in slotting players.
1. Stephen Gostkowski, NE
Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS
2009 NE 31 37 83.8% 43 7 1 51 136
2008 NE 36 40 90.0% 40 9 1 50 148
2007 NE 21 24 87.5% 74 3 0 45 137
2006 NE 20 26 76.9% 43 2 1 52 103
After having been first in 2004, the Patriots finished 19th
in kicker scoring in both 2005 and 2006. In 2007 they jumped
ICON SMI
back up to second thanks to their ridiculous number of touch-
Stephen Gostkowski
downs. Last year they again ranked second, thanks to a large
(although not ridiculous) number of field goals. They once
again scored 100+ kicking points. The last time they failed to Vanderjagt’s 86.5 percent and just ahead of Robbie Gould’s
do so was 1995. Although Gostkowski was very accurate last 85.9 percent. He has been accurate on his limited long range
year, hidden within his big year were two missed chip shots. attempts, going 6 of 9 from 50+ yards. Each of the last two
He has quickly proven to be one of the better kickers on kick- years he made 46 PATs, which were actually the fewest of
offs. Teams scoring over 140 kicking points have dropped an his pro career. Many teams would love to be able to score
average of 40 points the following year (minimum 17, maxi- 46 touchdowns. The Chargers have ranked in the Top 10 in
mum 74). Item to watch this summer: the overall offensive kicker scoring in four of Kaeding’s five years in the NFL. He
after the departure of Josh McDaniels. has averaged 121.4 points a year, highest in the league during
that span. The offensive coaches and players are back again
2. Nate Kaeding, SD in 2009, so odds are that Kaeding can sustain that pace for at
Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS least another year.
2009 SD 30 34 88.2% 44 6 1 53 134
2008 SD 27 32 84.4% 46 3 1 57 127 3. Rob Bironas, Ten
2007 SD 24 27 88.9% 46 7 1 51 118 Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS
2006 SD 26 29 89.7% 58 7 1 54 136 2009 Ten 31 36 86.1% 39 9 3 55 132
Last year Kaeding reached 100-career made field goals, 2008 Ten 29 33 87.9% 40 15 1 51 127
qualifying him for the NFL’s all time accuracy list. His cur- 2007 Ten 35 39 89.7% 28 9 4 56 133
rent 86.1 percent puts him at number two, trailing Mike 2006 Ten 22 28 78.6% 32 4 1 60 98
4. Mason Crosby, GB
Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS
2009 GB 29 36 80.6% 43 6 4 54 130
2008 GB 27 34 79.4% 46 5 3 53 127
2007 GB 31 39 79.5% 48 9 3 53 141
In his first two years in the league, Mason has seen plenty
of field goal opportunities. As a result, the Packers have
ranked first and seventh in kicker scoring. Of Mason’s four
misses from under 40 yards, one hit the upright and two were
blocked. He has left room for improvement on 40+ yard kicks
in terms of consistency, although he has demonstrated his
range by making some 50+ yarders. For 2009, history suggests
KICKERS
KICKERS
Neil Rackers attempts the last three years. Item to watch this summer: the
overall offensive after the departure of offensive coordinator
opportunities in the NFC Championship game. Duplicating the Todd Haley.
Top 5 finish in 2009 will be difficult, as teams scoring over
140 kicking points have dropped an average of 37 points the 11. Ryan Longwell, Min
following year (minimum 17, maximum 74). Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS
2009 Min 26 31 83.9% 38 7 2 53 116
8. Garrett Hartley, NO 2008 Min 29 34 85.3% 40 6 6 54 127
Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS 2007 Min 20 24 83.3% 39 10 1 55 99
2009 NO 26 31 83.9% 44 8 1 51 122 2006 Min 21 25 84.0% 27 4 0 49 90
2008 NO 13 13 100.0% 28 4 0 47 67 After moving from Green Bay via free agency in 2006,
Since releasing John Carney prior to the 2007 season, Longwell has been very consistent, missing only a handful of
the Saints tried Olindo Mare, Martin Gramatica, and Taylor field goals each year. The four he did miss in 2006 were all
Mehlhaff at kicker. None were the answer. Midway through from 46+ yards, the four in 2007 were all from 48+ yards, and
last season they tried out five kickers and appear to have found of the five he missed last year, three were from 47+ yards and
the answer in Hartley. He was perfect on all his field goal the other two were blocked. After the Vikings finished 28th in
and PAT attempts and did very well on kickoffs. Head coach kicker scoring in 2006 and 24th in 2007, they jumped up to
Sean Payton noted that he, the staff, and the other players have seventh last year. It was their first Top 10 ranking since Gary
confidence when Hartley kicks. The Saints offense emerged Anderson’s perfect season in 1998. The offensive coaching
in 2006, and they finished tenth in kicker scoring with 115 staff is back in 2009 for their fourth year. The Vikings signed
points. In 2007 things went wrong and they finished 30th Taylor Mehlhaff at the end of last year. He’ll get a shot at
with only 87 points. Last year they scored 119 points on the being a kickoff specialist, although Longwell’s improvement to
strength of PATs and ranked 19th. Item to watch this summer: acceptability in that department makes that a long shot.
the overall offensive under newly promoted offensive coordi-
nator Pete Carmichael. 12. Adam Vinatieri, Ind
Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS
9. Kris Brown, Hou 2009 Ind 24 29 82.8% 42 8 0 48 114
Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS 2008 Ind 20 25 80.0% 43 4 2 52 103
2009 Hou 27 33 81.8% 39 7 3 52 120 2007 Ind 23 29 79.3% 49 0 0 39 118
2008 Hou 29 33 87.9% 37 8 2 53 124 2006 Ind 25 28 89.3% 38 9 0 48 113
2007 Hou 25 29 86.2% 40 7 5 57 115 Vinatieri has had two consecutive sub par years in terms of
2006 Hou 19 25 76.0% 26 11 0 49 83 field goal percentage, including five misses from under 40
The Texans ranked 31st in kicker scoring in their inaugural yards. On a brighter note, last year he made two field goals
year back in 2002. Brown gradually climbed up to 18th after from 50+ yards, ending a five year drought in that category.
KICKERS
2006 Sea 25 31 80.6% 36 7 3 54 111 year, they could have been in the Top 10 as they had the third
Brown was a consistently solid fantasy scorer during his highest number of field goal attempts. Lindell’s misses from
five years with Seattle, as they ranked anywhere from sixth long range led to his worst field goal percentage since 2003.
and 13th in kicker scoring. The 21st place ranking with the Only Denver and Washington squandered more kicker scoring
Rams last year was indicative of their up and down pattern. opportunities. At the other end of the range, Lindell has never
Their kicker scoring ranks over the prior 10 years were 26th, missed a PAT in his nine years in the NFL. The team enters its
third, seventh, 26th, first, 24th, first, 12th, fifth, and 26th. fourth year under head coach Dick Jauron, whose teams have
Brown has been perfect from under 40 yards the last two traditionally not produced high scoring kickers. History is
years. He also has the range and accuracy to make long kicks, working against Lindell seeing as many field goal attempts as
with seventeen 50+ yard FGs the last four years. He has prov- he did last year. Most teams see a drop-off, some significant,
en to be a clutch kicker, including two game winners against after a big year in that statistic.
the Rams in 2006. Item to watch this summer: the overall
offensive under new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. 22. Dan Carpenter, Mia
Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS
19. Josh Scobee, Jac 2009 Mia 21 25 84.0% 31 7 1 51 94
Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS 2008 Mia 21 25 84.0% 40 9 1 50 103
2009 Jac 23 28 82.1% 31 7 2 54 100 The last time the Dolphins led the league in kicker scor-
2008 Jac 19 25 76.0% 33 5 4 53 90 ing was in 1992, and they have not finished in the Top
2007 Jac 12 13 92.3% 26 3 0 48 62 10 since 2000. After ranking 23rd in kicker scoring in
2006 Jac 26 32 81.3% 41 14 0 48 119 2006, they dropped to 29th in the disappointing 2007. In
Scobee has always had a strong leg, but his accuracy has rebuilding mode last year they managed to climb back up
varied. He struggled during his first two years in the league to 23rd. Part of that rebuilding occurred during the sum-
but began to show signs of improvement during his third year. mer when Jay Feely was released and the undrafted rookie
Despite missing the first half of his fourth year in 2007, he Carpenter was given the starting job. During the course of
returned in the second half to post his best numbers to date. 2008, he kept a low profile and just did his job on place-
Last year Scobee regressed, including three misses from under kicking and kickoffs, which is exactly what the Dolphins
40 yards. At the same time, the Jaguars’ offense also struggled, wanted. For 2009 he’ll need to do the same since he still
in part due to several injuries along the offensive line. That has to play under the watchful eye of an executive vice
meant fewer kicking scoring opportunities. All this added up president of football operations who isn’t fond of kickers
to a 29th place finish in kicker scoring in 2008. If the offense not named Matt Bahr.
can regroup, Scobee should see more scoring opportunities
than he had last year, however it is unlikely that he’ll bounce
all the way back to the Top 10 numbers of 2006.
Matt Prater Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS
KICKERS
KICKERS
kicker scoring in seven of the last ten years. A new coaching
healthy. Nugent decided to test out free agency. Bryant and
staff did not stop the pattern last year as they finished seventh
Nugent will compete for the job that landed the Bucs in the
in kicker scoring opportunities. Item to watch this summer:
Top 10 in kicker scoring each of the last two years. Items to
Hauschka vs. Gano.
watch this summer: Bryant vs. Nugent; and the offense under
a new coaching staff. 32. Connor Barth, KC
Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS
29. Sebastian Janikowski, Oak 2009 KC 17 21 81.0% 23 4 0 49 74
Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS 2008 KC 10 12 83.3% 24 1 0 45 54
2009 Oak 18 23 78.3% 26 5 4 56 80
The Chiefs went through numerous kickers during 2008:
2008 Oak 24 30 80.0% 25 2 3 57 97
they started with a three-way battle between Billy Cundiff,
2007 Oak 23 32 71.9% 28 7 6 54 97
Nick Novak, and rookie Connor Barth. Cundiff was released
2006 Oak 18 25 72.0% 16 3 3 55 70
early on, and Jay Feely was brought in for a couple days near
In 2005, Janikowski’s field goal percentage, his long range
the end of preseason. Novak won the starting job to begin
field goals, and his kickoff distances were all the worst of
the regular season but lasted only six weeks. Then Barth was
his career. In 2006, the Raiders’ offense was one of the worst
re-signed. For 2009 Barth is back; however the new coaching
in the NFL and provided Janikowski with very few scor-
regime brought in competition via the last pick of the draft.
ing opportunities. In 2007 and 2008, Janikowski again had
Ryan Succop had a strong career placekicking, punting, and
poor numbers, although it wasn’t quite as bad as it looked on
kicking off at South Carolina, although an abdominal muscle
paper. Nine of his misses were from 50+ yards, including a
tear affected his senior year numbers. Whoever wins the job
64 yard attempt (which would have broken the NFL record)
will be kicking for a team that finished 32nd in kicker scor-
that hit the upright, and last year’s infamous 76 yard attempt.
ing last year with only 79 points. Item to watch this summer:
The Raiders ranked only 26th and 28th in kicker scoring the
Barth vs Succop.
last two years. Heading into 2009, a new coaching staff and
young team mean that Janikowski will once gain probably
have limited opportunities.
33+. Free Agents
When a kicker gets injured or a young prospect doesn’t pro-
duce, there are plenty of other kickers looking for work in the
30. Shaun Suisham, Was NFL. Established veterans, such as John Carney, Matt Stover,
Year Team FGM FGA Pct XPM 40-49 50+ lng PTS
2009 Was 16 20 80.0% 30 7 0 49 78
or Martin Gramatica, often get the first call. The losers of the
2008 Was 26 36 72.2% 25 11 1 50 103
kicker competitions in Baltimore, Kansas City, Seattle, Tampa
2007 Was 29 35 82.9% 29 10 1 50 116 Bay, and Washington will most likely hit the market. There
2006 Dal/Was 9 11 81.8% 14 1 1 52 41 are also plenty of younger prospects that have been lurking in
After a promising 2007, Suisham had a 2008 to forget, recent NFL training camps.
missing a league high ten field goals. With some of the blame
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FOOTBALLGUYS.COM 151
T
he Footballguys team strives to provide the tools that in your Individual Defensive Player league? You are in the
everyone needs to win championships. In need of team right place. Footballguys has assembled a team of the most
defense analysis? We have you covered in the team knowledgeable IDP writers on the planet, and we are dedicated
pages beginning on Page 170. Looking to gain an advantage to providing the best tools and analysis available anywhere.
This article only scratches the surface of what our defensive
crew has to offer. We could fill this magazine with nothing
but defense if they would let us, but the offensive guys want
to play too. If there is a player we don’t talk about here, check
out the website and learn all you need to know about him.
From draft day through the fantasy playoffs, if IDP is your
game, we have you covered like no one else. Because when
you win, we win.
DEFENSES
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
331.5 26.6 31 17 13 3
POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
NT Bryan Robinson 16 16 4 1 0 0 0 0
DE Darnell Dockett 16 37 12 4 1 3 0 1
DE Calais Campbell 16 24 5 0 1 0 0 1
OLB Chike Okeafor 16 49 10 3.5 1 0 1 3
OLB Clark Haggans 11 18 2 1.5 0 1 0 2
ILB Karlos Dansby 16 94 25 3.5 2 3 2 5
ILB Gerald Hayes 16 68 21 1.5 4 2 0 4
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie 16 38 4 0 0 0 4 19
CB Bryant McFadden (Pit) 10 37 4 1 0 1 2 8
FS Antrel Rolle 16 78 11 0 0 0 1 5
SS Adrian Wilson 15 60 15 2.5 2 0 2 5
OLB Cody Brown Rookie, Pick No. 63, Connecticut
DE/OLB Bert Berry 14 15 7 5 2 1 0 3
Ray Lewis both veteran pass rushers and neither is likely to play enough
effective snaps to be a consistent IDP option. SS Adrian
Fantasy Prospects
ILB Karlos Dansby – Stud with LB1 upside BALTIMORE RAVENS
SS Adrian Wilson – Playmaking DB1 safety Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
FS Antrel Rolle – Unlikely to repeat 2008 numbers 261.1 15.2 35 8 26 6
DE/DT Darnell Dockett – Inconsistent, but capable POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
ILB Gerald Hayes – Excellent depth at minimum NT Haloti Ngata 16 43 12 1 0 0 2 6
DE/NT Kelly Gregg Missed 2008 with Injury
DE Trevor Pryce 16 18 9 4.5 0 0 0 2
ATLANTA FALCONS OLB Terrell Suggs 16 53 15 8 2 0 2 9
Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD OLB Jarret Johnson 16 45 12 5 2 1 0 3
348.2 20.3 34 8 12 2 ILB Tavares Gooden 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 0
POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD ILB Ray Lewis 16 84 32 3.5 1 2 3 9
DT Jonathan Babineaux 16 32 7 3.5 0 1 0 2 CB Fabian Washington 12 28 3 0 0 0 1 15
DT Peria Jerry Rookie, Pick No. 21, Mississippi CB Domonique Foxworth 15 35 3 0 0 0 1 11
DE Jamaal Anderson 15 24 3 2 0 0 0 2 SS Dawan Landry 2 8 3 0 0 0 0 0
DE John Abraham 16 37 1 16.5 4 0 0 1 FS Ed Reed 16 34 7 1 1 2 9 16
WLB Mike Peterson (Atl) 15 69 14 0 0 0 0 0 ILB Jason Phillips Rookie, Pick No. 137, TCU
DEFENSES
MLB Curtis Lofton 16 67 27 1 1 0 0 3 ILB Jameel McClain 11 12 4 2.5 0 0 0 0
SLB Stephen Nicholas 16 16 4 1 0 0 0 2
CB Chris Houston 16 52 9 0 0 1 2 16 The Ravens give us some quality options but the headliner
CB Chevis Jackson 16 26 5 0 0 0 1 5 is future hall of fame ILB Ray Lewis. Once a perennial 100+
FS Erik Coleman 16 80 15 0 2 0 3 6 solo a season guy, Lewis’s tackle numbers have slipped into
SS William Moore Rookie, Pick No. 55, Missouri the mid 80s over the past three seasons but big play ability
SLB Coy Wire 16 28 6 0 0 0 0 1 has kept him in the top 12 in each of those years despite miss-
DE Lawrence Sidbury Jr. Rookie, Pick No. 125, Richmond ing two games in both 2006 and 2007. Over that span Lewis
has put up 11 sacks, seven picks and has had a hand in eight
With long-time leader Keith Brooking gone, second-year forced fumbles. There is some injury risk with the 34-year
MLB Curtis Lofton takes over the defense. He’s strong old but he’s still a Top 12 guy. The Ravens have a lot of faith
against the run and is expected to improve his coverage skills in youngsters Tavares Jackson and Jameel McClain, who
enough to assume an every down role. Lofton’s 2008 numbers will compete to replace Bart Scott at the other ILB position.
look pedestrian on paper, but are extremely impressive when Gooden was injured early in his rookie season so we have
you consider that he sat nearly out nearly all of the team’s little to go on until we see him play. McClain made the most
defensive snaps in nickel packages. If Lofton remains produc- of his limited opportunity in 2008 by recording 12 tackles and
tive in an every-down role, 100 solo tackles and a LB1 finish 2.5 sacks. The winner has the potential to be a contributor as
are well within reach. WLB Mike Peterson left Jacksonville depth or maybe even an LB3. Both of these guys should be on
after a contentious 2008 season and is looking for a fresh the dynasty watch list as even Lewis can’t play forever. Terrell
start as a Falcon. His production has declined significantly Suggs value depends on what position your league software
in the past two seasons and there’s no guarantee his numbers designates him. As a DE he is dependable as they come. He’s
will rebound in Atlanta. Either Coy Wire or Stephen Nicholas never finished worse than No. 14 and has finished among the
will get the call at SLB. Wire bumped Michael Boley from Top 10 in four of the last five seasons, including #2 in 2008.
the lineup in 2008 but Nicholas was atop the depth chart in Ed Reed is the premier big play safety in the league, but he
mini camp. Should he win the job, he could be an every down doesn’t put up enough tackles to have consistent fantasy value.
guy and a sneaky sleeper. DE John Abraham will continue Kelly Gregg is a worthy option for owners who must play inte-
to be a durability concern but remains a threat for double- rior linemen.
digit sacks. He’s a solid target in all formats. DT Jonathan
Babineaux failed to put up the big pass rush numbers expect- Fantasy Prospects
ed of him last season, but will again have big opportunity as ILB Ray Lewis - Quality LB2
the Falcons’ three-technique DT between Abraham and first ILB Tavares Gooden - Sleeper with LB3 potential
round pick Peria Jerry. FS Erik Coleman was very productive ILB Jameel McClain - Sleeper with LB3 potential
last season, but will have to fight rookie SS William Moore DE Terrell Suggs - Stud DE if you can play him there
and Lofton for tackles this season. If Moore plays to his FS Ed Reed - Lacks consistency, generally overvalued
Aaron Schobel has fully recovered from the foot injury that most productive corner on his own team. Richard Marshall
landed him on IR last season ending a string of five years with was stuck behind Ken Lucas for three seasons but averaged
Top 12 finishes. When healthy Schobel is among the most over 70 solo tackles a year over that time, making him more
consistent fantasy options at the position - he can be counted valuable than most starters. He could well finish among the
on for 40+ solo tackles and is always a threat to reach double- Top 10 defensive backs this season. Strong safety Chris Harris
digit sacks. With a shortage of quality fantasy options at the slumped behind the two high tackling linebackers, but has
position his value will be even higher. Aaron Maybin totaled DB2 upside.
12 sacks for Penn State last year and seems a perfect fit as
a bookend to Schobel. It remains to be seen if he will hold Fantasy Prospects
an every down job as a rookie, but he will see the field often MLB Jon Beason – Stud in all formats
and is a strong sleeper. The Bills use a lot of Cover-2 which DE Julius Peppers – Solid DL1 despite trade risk
helps to keep Terrence McGee annually among the leagues top WLB Thomas Davis – Could repeat breakout 2008
tackle producing corners. He’s a sure starter in corner-required CB Richard Marshall – Finally gets chance to play full time
leagues. SS Chris Harris – Solid depth option with upside
Fantasy Prospects
DE Aaron Schobel - Quality starter CHICAGO BEARS
DE Aaron Maybin - Sleeper with long term upside Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
MLB Paul Posluszny - Solid LB3 with LB1 potential 334.7 21.9 28 10 22 3
CB Terrence McGee - Starter in corner-required leagues POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
SS Donte Whitner - Cover-2 scheme ruins his value DT Tommie Harris 14 33 4 5 0 1 0 0
DT Marcus Harrison 16 24 4 2 0 0 0 2
DE Alex Brown 16 42 2 6 1 1 1 6
CAROLINA PANTHERS DE Adewale Ogunleye 16 48 14 5 0 0 1 4
Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD SLB Hunter Hillenmeyer 13 14 4 1 0 0 0 2
326.1 20.6 37 13 12 2 WLB Lance Briggs 16 91 19 1 1 2 3 11
POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD MLB Brian Urlacher 16 79 14 0 0 1 2 10
DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu 14 31 5 0 1 0 0 2 CB Charles Tillman 15 81 12 0 4 0 3 17
DT Damione Lewis 15 33 10 3.5 1 1 0 5 CB Corey Graham 16 77 14 0 1 1 1 8
DE Julius Peppers 16 40 11 14.5 5 0 0 5 FS Craig Steltz 11 18 0 0 0 0 1 1
DE Tyler Brayton 16 35 5 4.5 1 1 0 3 SS Kevin Payne 16 73 15 1 0 0 4 7
WLB Thomas Davis 16 92 21 3.5 2 1 0 6 FS Josh Bullocks 16 34 7 0 1 0 1 6
SLB Na'il Diggs 16 43 11 1 0 0 1 2 CB/S Danieal Manning 15 27 6 0.5 0 0 1 4
MLB Jon Beason 16 110 28 0 0 1 3 8
MLB Brian Urlacher aligned much closer to the line of
FREE 32 PAGE CAMP UPDATE: http://freeupdate.footballguys.com
154 FOOTBALLGUYS.COM
DEFENSES
LB2
CB Charles Tillman – Still a Top 5 corner DE Corey Williams 15 33 17 0.5 1 1 0 4
WLB Lance Briggs – Solid LB2 option DE Kenyon Coleman (NYJ) 16 44 10 0 1 0 0 1
DE Adewale Ogunleye – All around end with DL1 upside NT Shaun Rogers 16 62 14 5 0 0 0 4
SS Kevin Payne – Could ascend to elite DB status OLB Kamerion Wimbley 16 52 14 4 1 0 1 2
OLB David Bowens (NYJ) 16 22 19 4.5 2 1 1 3
ILB D'Qwell Jackson 16 96 58 2 0 0 3 6
ILB Eric Barton (NYJ) 16 93 26 1.5 1 1 0 4
CINCINNATI BENGALS CB Brandon McDonald 16 64 11 0 1 0 5 17
Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
CB Eric Wright 16 61 5 0 2 3 3 13
325.5 22.8 17 12 12 3
FS Brodney Pool 15 60 5 1 1 1 3 6
POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
SS Mike Adams 14 36 8 0 0 1 2 2
DT Domata Peko 16 29 38 0.5 0 0 0 2
OLB David Veikune Rookie, Pick No. 52, Hawaii
DT Pat Sims 11 22 14 1 0 0 0 0
OLB Abram Elam (NYJ) 16 48 21 2 3 0 1 3
DE Antwan Odom 12 19 7 3 2 0 0 2
DE Robert Geathers 11 22 16 2.5 1 1 0 1
MLB/SLB Dhani Jones 16 75 41 0 1 1 1 8 The 3-4 scheme generally doesn’t provide many fantasy
MLB/SLB Rey Maualuga Rookie, Pick No. 38, USC options, and the Browns’ version is no exception. D’Qwell
WLB Keith Rivers 7 24 13 0 1 0 1 1 Jackson had a breakout season in 2008 when reached career
CB Leon Hall 16 61 14 0 0 1 3 24 highs in tackles with 96, picks with three, and sacks with two.
CB Johnathan Joseph 8 31 11 0 1 1 1 13 The next highest tackle total on the team was just 64. Jackson
FS Chinedum Ndukwe 11 43 21 3 0 1 1 4 has become a very solid player but is no lock to repeat. New
SS Roy Williams (Dal) 3 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 head coach Eric Mangini brought a number of players with
FS Chris Crocker 14 35 9 1.5 1 0 1 3 him from the Jets, including ILB Eric Barton who was New
FS Marvin White 12 53 15 0 0 0 1 4 York’s leading tackler. As much as this club may struggle
DE Michael Johnson Rookie, Pick No. 70, Georgia Tech through the transition, the chances of both players nearing
DT Tank Johnson (Dal) 16 13 9 1 1 0 0 0 90 solo stops is very slim. Until we learn what roles these
two will hold it’s impossible to predict which to draft. Nose
The Bengals give us no IDPs that are a sure thing. MLB tackle Shaun Rogers broke out for a career best 62 solo tack-
Rey Maualuga has the most upside and long term value. He’s les and added five sacks on his way to becoming the fantasy
a risk this year, however, because he’s not certain to be an game’s top option among interior linemen in 2008. Before
every-down player as a rookie, and there have been rumors drafting Rogers based on last year’s production consider this,
that he may line up at SLB for a while. Don’t let this scare you it’s extremely rare for a player at that position to put up such
off. The SLB position is generally less complicated, so it’s not gaudy numbers, and exceptionally rare for them to repeat.
unusual for rookies to get their feet wet there. He is the MLB He’s a strong option in tackle-required leagues, but the rest
for the future. WLB Keith Rivers was on pace for 96 solo of us should let someone else take the chance. The Browns
Fantasy Prospects
ILB D’Qwell Jackson - Has LB2 potential
ILB Eric Barton - Has LB2 potential
SS Abram Elam - Worth as depth if he wins the job
SS Mike Adams - Possible DB3 if he wins the job
NT Shaun Rogers - Quality starter in tackle required
DALLAS COWBOYS
Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
294.3 22.8 59 14 8 1
POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
DE Marcus Spears 16 23 12 1 1 0 0 2
DE Igor Olshansky (SD) 16 21 8 2 0 0 0 0
NT Jay Ratliff 16 33 18 7.5 0 1 0 5
OLB Greg Ellis 16 25 10 7.5 0 1 1 1
OLB DeMarcus Ware 16 69 15 20 6 1 0 2
ILB Bradie James 16 80 36 8 3 2 0 4
ILB Keith Brooking (Atl) 16 71 31 0 0 0 0 3
CB Terence Newman 10 32 5 0 0 1 4 11
CB Mike Jenkins 14 19 0 0 0 0 1 4
DEFENSES
ICON SMI
to hold their value in tackle neutral or tackle heavy scoring
formats. Ware was extremely consistent, notching at least one DeMarcus Ware
sack in 14 of his 16 games and adding nearly 50 additional
solo tackles on his way to a Top 5 finish in most leagues. ILB Bradie James – LB2 with upside
He’ll need to put up similar numbers to hold his value in NT Jay Ratliff – Should hold value in all formats
tackle heavy leagues, but he’s clearly the most sudden edge ILB Keith Brooking – Could surprise if he plays every
rusher in the NFL. ILB Bradie James began earning time in down
the Cowboys’ nickel packages by midseason and had a huge SS Gerald Sensabaugh – Boom or bust DB pick
second half, riding a favorable schedule to 50 solo tackles and
six sacks in his final eight games. He’s unlikely to continue DENVER BRONCOS
that torrid pace into 2009 but is a solid LB2 option in all Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
scoring systems. ILB Keith Brooking put up over 100 solos 374.6 28 26 7 6 2
the last time he played ILB under Wade Phillips in 2002. His POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
range has declined, but he could fulfill the expectations many DE Kenny Peterson 16 15 9 3 1 0 0 1
saw for Zach Thomas last season if he earns an every-down DE Marcus Thomas 16 23 11 0 0 0 1 1
NT Ronald Fields (SF) 16 13 6 0 0 0 0 0
role. Consider him a risky LB3/4 option. NT Jay Ratliff is a
OLB Elvis Dumervil 16 17 7 5 1 1 0 0
strong option in DT-required leagues and should again provide
OLB Robert Ayers Rookie, Pick No. 18, Tennessee
enough pass rush to have value in all leagues. Keep an eye on
ILB Andra Davis (Cle) 16 62 28 0 0 0 1 3
new SS Gerald Sensabaugh. He was unable to seize an oppor-
ILB D.J. Williams 11 68 25 2.5 0 1 0 2
tunity in Jacksonville and rookie Michael Hamlin could work
CB Champ Bailey 9 39 5 1 2 0 1 3
his way into the mix soon. However, Sensabaugh could have CB Andre Goodman (Mia) 16 33 6 0 1 1 5 19
decent value in 2009, especially if Brooking falters. FS Ken SS Renaldo Hill (Mia) 16 62 15 0 0 0 3 4
Hamlin is an inconsistent fantasy option but deserves a late FS Brian Dawkins (Phi) 16 64 11 3 6 1 1 6
flier in big-play oriented scoring systems. CB Alphonso Smith Rookie, Pick No. 37, Wake Forest
S/CB Darcel McBath Rookie, Pick No. 48, Texas Tech
Fantasy Prospects
OLB DeMarcus Ware – Good value in all systems Denver gives us very little in the way of IDP prospects
DEFENSES
CB Charles Woodson 16 50 12 3 1 1 7 17
Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
SS Atari Bigby 7 15 6 0 0 0 1 2
404.4 32.3 30 16 4 1
FS Nick Collins 16 60 12 0 0 0 7 15
POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
S Aaron Rouse 14 40 14 0 0 0 2 3
DT Grady Jackson (Atl) 15 23 5 2 0 0 0 1
DT Chartric Darby 15 23 9 1.5 0 1 0 0
Long time stud DE Aaron Kampman will move to OLB in the
DE Cliff Arvil 15 18 5 5 4 1 0 0
Packers’ new 3-4 scheme, so it’s unlikely that he’ll remain clas-
DE Dewayne White (TB) 12 28 10 6.5 3 1 1 2
SLB Julian Peterson (Sea) 16 65 21 5 4 1 0 5
sified as a DL in most league management software. He’ll need
WLB Ernie Sims 16 72 41 1.5 0 0 0 1
to make a smooth and very successful transition to have more
MLB Larry Foote (Pit) 16 34 29 1.5 1 0 0 3 than marginal IDP value unless the scoring system is very sack
CB Anthony Henry (Dal) 16 39 11 2 1 2 1 5 heavy. Nick Barnett will likely face more blockers as the strong
CB Phillip Buchanon (TB) 16 48 4 0 1 1 2 6 inside linebacker this season, but should have enough oppor-
FS Louis Delmas Rookie, Pick No. 33, Western Michigan tunity to finish in the Top 25. A.J. Hawk is a solid fit at weak
SS Daniel Bullocks 16 64 30 0 2 1 0 2 inside linebacker and may be in line for his best season yet. FS
FS Gerald Alexander 5 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nick Collins exploded with seven interceptions and 15 passes
MLB DeAndre Levy Rookie, Pick No. 76, Wisconsin defended last season, but he only had 60 solo tackles and isn’t
a great bet to repeat his high fantasy finish. The strong safety
There will be a new face in nearly every defensive position position may be more valuable in the new scheme, but neither
this season. Ends Dewayne White and Cliff Avril will return, Aaron Rouse nor Atari Bigby will hold much value if they
with Avril slated to have a larger role in the defense. Though remain in rotational roles. Charles Woodson is expected to move
undersized, if he can stay effective against the run and build on back to corner after taking snaps at SS last season. He’s risky at
the pass rush talent he flashed as a rookie, Avril could become age 33, but his all-around talent will be worth a flier as depth
an every week fantasy start. Ernie Sims was never able to take in DB leagues. He even warrants CB2 consideration in leagues
advantage of the extra opportunity afforded to weak side back- that breakout corner as a position. DE Cullen Jenkins is talented
ers in Tampa-2 defenses, but new head coach Jim Schwartz enough to roster in deeper leagues despite the historically less
has high hopes that he’ll improve with a change in scheme. productive 3-4 DE role. Rookie OLB Clay Matthews is raw and
The middle linebacker position will be an open competition faces an uphill climb in tackle-heavy scoring leagues.
between veteran free agent acquisition Larry Foote and third
round draft pick DeAndre Levy. Foote fits the Schwartz mold Fantasy Prospects
a little better than Levy and may have a slight edge on the OLB Aaron Kampman – Move to OLB hurts
rookie for the starting job entering camp. Neither player will ILB Nick Barnett – Will remain solid LB option
have much upside unless they secure a role on passing downs. ILB A.J. Hawk – Possibly a career season at ILB
OLB Julian Peterson should produce similar numbers to those FS Nick Collins – May not repeat big 2008
he did in Seattle, making him a better option in sack heavy OLB Clay Matthews – Unlikely to put up big numbers
Fantasy Prospects
MLB DeMeco Ryans - Solid LB1
OLB Brian Cushing - Rook with big upside
DE Mario Williams - Top 3 DL
DE Antonio Smith - Sleeper with DL2 potential
DE Connor Barwin - Dynasty Special
S Eugene Wilson - Strong sleeper
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
DEFENSES
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Bad as the Chiefs were last season, SS Bernard Pollard lead
Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD the club with only 78 solo stops. When you look at their roster
330.9 22.9 29 4 13 3 it’s difficult to pick out someone who is sure to succeed. ILB
POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD Derrick Johnson would be the most logical assumption, but
DT Rob Meier 15 26 4 2 0 0 0 2 he has never posted more than 83 tackles in his career and
DT John Henderson 14 35 10 3 0 0 0 2 reached just 68 in 14 games last year. At least we can be con-
DE Derrick Harvey 16 16 4 4.5 0 0 1 2 fident that he will have an every-down role. The same can’t be
DE Reggie Hayward 16 22 2 4.5 2 1 0 3 said for Zach Thomas, who at age 36 is not the same player we
SLB Clint Ingram 16 32 5 1 0 0 0 0 remember. He was a two-down player with Dallas and could
WLB/MLB Daryl Smith 14 59 10 2.5 1 0 0 3 be here as well. The SS position is often a productive one in
DEFENSES
MLB/WLB Justin Durant 14 62 8 0 0 0 0 5 3-4 schemes, so Pollard is a strong candidate to repeat. There
CB Rashean Mathis 12 39 1 1 1 1 4 9 were rumors that DaJuan Morgan was going to replace him
CB/S Brian Williams 16 74 8 0 0 0 2 10 last year, but Morgan failed to impress. Corners in this scheme
FS Reggie Nelson 13 48 6 0 0 0 2 4 don’t usually excel in the box scores, but both Brandon
SS Sean Considine (Phi) 16 23 7 0 0 0 0 0 Flowers and Brandon Carr are the type who could. They were
DE Quentin Groves 16 11 2 2.5 1 0 0 1
both drafted by the previous regime to play in a Cover-2. That
scheme requires physical and aggressive corners who like con-
Individually there is not a lot of production to be found tact. Both players are worth a shot in corner-required leagues.
here. With Peterson gone Justin Durant gets his opportunity
to play full time. It’s not yet certain if he will play in the Fantasy Prospects
middle or at WLB, but either way Durant is hands down the ILB Derrick Johnson - Should make a solid LB3
favorite to lead the club in IDP production. Daryl Smith has SS Bernard Pollard - DB2 with DB1 potential
been given more than ample opportunity to prove himself in ILB Zach Thomas - Depth at best
recent years, but the only thing he has proven is that regard- CB Brandon Flowers - Starter in CB-required leagues
less of position he’s an average player with average produc- CB Brandon Carr - Starter in CB-required leagues
tion. Brian Williams posted solid and consistent numbers
as a strong safety in 2008 before injuries at corner forced
him back to that position. Sean Considine is not a starting MIAMI DOLPHINS
caliber NFL safety, so if they can find a corner to relieve Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
him, Williams may go back. Derrick Harvey only posted 4.5 329 19.8 40 12 18 2
sacks last year but that was enough to tie him for the team POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
lead. There was a reason the Jags traded up to take him at #8 NT Jason Ferguson 16 18 4 0 0 0 0 0
last April. He may be poised for breakout season ala Mario DE Kenard Lang 16 25 6 2 0 0 0 3
Williams in his second year. Rashean Mathis is a big play DE Phillip Merling 16 21 6 2 0 1 1 2
threat and a solid starter in corner-required leagues. OLB Matt Roth 16 46 8 6 2 0 0 4
OLB Joey Porter 16 36 11 16.5 3 1 0 1
Fantasy Prospects ILB Channing Crowder 15 92 21 0 1 1 0 6
MLB/WLB Justin Durant - LB3 with upside ILB Akinola Ayodele 16 58 17 0 0 1 2 4
DE Derrick Harvey - Sleeper with big potential CB Will Allen 16 42 8 1 1 0 3 15
CB Rashean Mathis - Starter in corner-required leagues CB Eric Green (Ari) 13 27 5 0 0 0 1 6
CB/SS Brian Williams - Solid DB3 if he lands at SS FS Gibril Wilson (Oak) 16 96 33 0.5 1 3 2 4
SS Yeremiah Bell 16 100 20 1 3 1 0 10
CB Vontae Davis Rookie, Pick No. 25, Illinois
OLB Jason Taylor (Was) 13 42 12 15 3 0 0 3
Fantasy Prospects
ILB Jerod Mayo - Quality LB3 with upside
SS Patrick Chung - Potential to be a top 10 DB
OLB Adalius Thomas - Viable depth in most leagues
DE Richard Seymour - Depth in large leagues
DEFENSES
MLB Jonathan Vilma rebounded nicely after recovering
from a knee injury and returning to his preferred 4-3 front
last season. He rode a 98-solo (132-total) tackle season to a
Top 12 finish in most IDP leagues. Though there will be some
turnover at defensive tackle, Vilma should again produce as
a LB1. Defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant could
see improvements in their sack totals under the more aggres-
sive Gregg Williams. Both are solid run defenders and should
ICON SMI
finish among the Top 20 defensive ends. SS Roman Harper Osi Umenyiora
withstood questions about his coverage skills and a possible
three-headed safety rotation last year to finish with 82 solos.
Free agent acquisition Darren Sharper, the return of CB
Tracy Porter from injury and the addition of Jabari Greer and NEW YORK GIANTS
Malcolm Jenkins to improve the pass coverage could allow Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
Harper to return to a more traditional SS role. Should he play 292 18.4 42 5 17 2
in the box more often, Harper will generate both steady tackle POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
numbers and a number of big plays. Porter showed flashes of DT Fred Robbins 14 29 6 5 0 0 0 2
becoming a solid fantasy option before a broken arm ended DT Rocky Bernard 15 43 12 5 1 1 0 1
his 2008 season and should be considered in deeper leagues DE Justin Tuck 16 53 14 13 3 0 1 2
DE Osi Umenyiora Missed 2008 with a knee injury
or those requiring corners. NT Sedrick Ellis should get more
SLB Danny Clark 16 43 27 0 2 0 0 1
three-technique snaps this season and may fulfill his potential
WLB Michael Boley (Atl) 16 63 10 0 0 1 1 9
as a Top 10 fantasy DT. Owners should also watch the off-
MLB Antonio Pierce 15 72 22 1 2 0 0 2
season progress of Jenkins, who could have big upside as a
CB Corey Webster 16 48 2 1 2 0 3 24
starting rookie corner, and Dan Morgan, who will try to stay CB Aaron Ross 15 46 6 0 0 0 3 8
healthy enough to push for an every-down role at OLB. SS Michael Johnson 16 47 25 1 0 1 2 4
FS Kenny Phillips 16 55 12 0 0 0 1 5
Fantasy Prospects OLB Clint Stintim Rookie, Pick No. 45, Virginia
MLB Jonathan Vilma – Back to LB1 form DE Mathias Kiwanuka 16 35 16 8.5 2 2 0 1
SS Roman Harper – Top target with DB1 upside DE Chris Canty 16 26 11 3.5 0 0 0 5
DE Will Smith – Strong DL2 option
DE Charles Grant – Tackle producing DL3 with upside The Giants’ defensive line is full of talent - a situation that
CB Malcolm Jenkins – Strong sleeper if he starts may either boost the production of all its members or divide
the box score spoils around and hurt the value of everyone.
CB Chris Johnson 15 33 2 0 1 0 3 12
FS Kenny Phillips – Stud in waiting with DB2 upside FS Hiram Eugene 16 46 11 0 1 0 0 3
OLB Clint Sintim – Rookie sleeper with big-play potential SS Michael Mitchell Rookie, Pick No. 47, Ohio
DE Trevor Scott 16 19 5 5 1 0 0 0
SS Michael Huff 16 23 5 0 0 0 0 5
NEW YORK JETS
Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
The Raiders give us a consistent Top 10 LB in Kirk
329.4 22.2 41 16 14 5
Morrison, who has posted at least 96 solo stops in each of his
POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
three seasons at MLB, and he has become a big play threat as
NT Kris Jenkins 16 38 14 4 1 0 0 2
well. Morrison is on a run of four consecutive seasons as the
DE Shaun Ellis 16 41 18 6.5 2 1 0 0
DE Marques Douglas (Bal) 16 24 12 0 0 0 0 0
Raiders tackle leader and is in line to make it five in a row.
OLB Bryan Thomas 16 39 19 5.5 2 1 0 1
The Raiders give us several other options as well. Thomas
OLB Calvin Pace 16 62 18 7 5 4 0 3 Howard has been a solid LB3 since becoming a Raider in
ILB Bart Scott (Bal) 16 61 21 1.5 2 0 0 5 2006. He’s averaged better than 80 solos and led the leagues
ILB David Harris 11 53 23 1 0 1 0 1 linebackers with six interceptions in 2007. DE Derrick
CB Darrelle Revis 16 45 13 1 1 2 5 16 Burgess led the league with 16 sacks in 2005 and posted
CB Lito Sheppard (Phi) 15 18 3 0 1 0 1 4 at least eight in each of his first three seasons in Oakland.
SS Jim Leonhard (Bal) 16 55 14 1 0 0 1 6 Injuries have slowed him for the past two years, but he should
FS Kerry Rhodes 16 60 24 1 0 2 2 5 be healthy entering camp. Burgess is capable of 40+ tackles
OLB Vernon Gholston 15 5 8 0 0 0 0 0 and double-digit sacks. The Raiders are excited about second
end Trevor Scott, who was second on the team in sacks as a
As a rookie ILB David Harris looked like the next great IDP rookie despite limited opportunity. Scott has turned heads this
star. That never materialized. In fact he was one of the game’s offseason and has the coaches expecting much. Tackle Tommy
biggest busts last year, averaging fewer than five solo tackles Kelly is consistent as it gets at the DT position. Coming off
per game. Meanwhile Bart Scott was a box score disappoint- a knee injury in 2007, he got off to a slow start last year, but
ment for a second consecutive season in Baltimore. At least once he was up to speed, Kelly produced 21 solo stops and 3.5
playing next to Ray Lewis gives Scott an excuse. Someone has sacks over the final eight games. The club stepped up early
to step up here, so does Harris bounce back or does escaping in the draft and selected SS Michael Mitchell. Raider safeties
the shadow of Lewis make Scott shine? One of these guys have consistently put up strong tackle numbers over the years,
is going to be very productive. It’s a situation we will need so keep Mitchell on your short list for sleepers no matter who
to watch throughout training camp. Calvin Pace followed a laughs at Al.
strong 2007 campaign as the Cardinals SLB with an excellent
2008 at OLB in New York. He was among a select few 3-4 Fantasy Prospects
outside linebackers to be deserving of fantasy consideration MLB Kirk Morrison - Solid LB1
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
274.3 18.1 48 14 15 4
POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
DT Mike Patterson 16 28 14 0.5 1 1 1 1
DT Brodrick Bunkley 16 34 13 2 0 1 0 2
DE Trent Cole 16 59 18 9 2 0 0 2
DE Darren Howard 16 21 5 10 1 1 1 3
SLB Chris Gocong 16 43 16 2 1 1 1 5
WLB Akeem Jordan 16 53 8 0 0 2 0 0
MLB Stewart Bradley 16 86 22 1 1 1 1 6
CB Asante Samuel 15 31 4 0 0 0 4 22
CB Sheldon Brown 16 42 9 1 1 0 1 12
ICON SMI
FS Quintin Demps 16 16 2 1 1 0 0 1
Troy Polamalu
SS Quintin Mikell 16 68 25 2 2 0 3 9
S Sean Jones (Cle) 12 48 8 0 1 0 4 4
WLB Omar Gaither 16 51 8 2.5 1 2 0 6 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
DE Victor Abiamiri 10 5 6 2 1 0 0 3 Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
237.2 13.9 51 9 20 3
Trent Cole is one of the best all-around defensive ends in POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
DEFENSES
the game, and at age 27, he is in the prime of his career. He’s a NT Casey Hampton 13 13 9 1 0 0 0 1
tackling machine with 108 solo stops over the past two seasons DE Aaron Smith 16 44 16 5.5 0 0 0 4
and has eight or more sacks in each of the past three. He’s as DE Evander Hood Rookie, Pick No. 32, Missouri
dependable as they come. MLB Stewart Bradley performed OLB James Harrison 15 67 34 16 7 0 1 3
very well in his first full season at MLB, finishing with 86 OLB Lamarr Woodley 15 41 19 11.5 2 4 1 2
solo tackles. With the year of experience, his production ILB Lawrence Timmons 16 43 22 5 1 1 1 3
should improve this season making him a solid third starter. ILB James Farrior 16 89 44 3.5 1 1 0 5
Quentin Mikell also was a productive starter, filling up his stat CB William Gay 16 33 8 0 0 0 1 7
line with 68 solo (93 total) tackles, two sacks, three intercep- CB Ike Taylor 16 50 15 0 0 0 1 14
tions and nine passes defended. The value of both Mikell and FS Ryan Clark 14 52 35 0 0 0 1 6
free agent acquisition Sean Jones remains up in the air, how- SS Troy Polamalu 16 54 19 0 0 0 7 17
ever, as both are taking snaps at SS this offseason. If Mikell CB Keenan Lewis Rookie, Pick No. 96, oregon State
can relegate Jones to a reserve role, he’ll again have DB2
value with some additional upside. If Mikell is moved to FS While most 3-4 schemes give us very few quality IDP
with Jones taking snaps at SS, both players may struggle to put options, the Steelers are the exception to that rule. When OLB
up top numbers. The WLB position is also an open competi- James Harrison had a great 2007 season, most of us thought
tion entering camp, though incumbent Akeem Jordan played him a one-year wonder. Harrison proved all doubters wrong
well enough that he should be considered the favorite over when he was named the NFL’s 2008 Defensive MVP and fin-
Omar Gaither. As an every-down linebacker, Jordan will be ished as the fantasy game’s top IDP. His 2008 numbers will be
roster worthy in deeper leagues as bye-week depth. A sleeper nearly impossible to match, but we would be nuts not to count
to eye here is DE Darren Howard who led the club in sacks him as a Top 5 LB this draft season. Harrison stole the head-
with 10 and has the ability to be an every-down player. DT lines, but LaMarr Woodley had an excellent 2008 as well, fin-
Mike Patterson deserves consideration in leagues that require ishing in the Top 12 among outside linebackers. With Harrison
defensive tackles. getting all the attention Woodley could be even better in his
third season. James Farrior has been a solid LB2-LB3 for
Fantasy Prospects years, but the 34-year old may begin to see the numbers fade,
DE Trent Cole – Top 5 DL in all scoring systems especially if young Lawrence Timmons proves to be as adver-
MLB Stewart Bradley – Solid LB3 with marginal upside tised. Timmons takes over for Larry Foote as Farrior’s sidekick
SS Quentin Mikell – Could take a hit if Jones starts on the inside. Maybe the most telling tale here is the reaction
WLB Akeem Jordan – Depth if wins starting job of Foote, who didn’t even put up a fight. In fact he acknowl-
S Sean Jones – Risky unless he wins every-down role edged last year that “the kid is good, I’d get him on the field
DE Darren Howard – Sleeper with DL2 potential too if I were them”. Look for Timmons to soon bypass Farrior
and become the leader both emotionally and statistically. SS
Troy Polamalu is right up there with Ed Reed as the leagues
best big-play safeties. The difference is that Polamalu adds
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FOOTBALLGUYS.COM 163
CB Tye Hill 4 20 0 0 1 0 0 2 if the Chargers return to form, Weddle has established himself
as a fantasy force. He isn’t likely to repeat triple-digit tackles
Safety O.J. Atogwe has been an underappreciated fantasy but should be very productive. ILB Stephen Cooper served
option for years. Early in his career, an above-average number a four-game suspension to open last season and still finished
of big plays buoyed marginal tackle numbers. Last season, with 72 solo tackles and four picks. The Chargers seem to have
Atogwe put up 77 solo tackles and continued to generate big found the centerpiece their defense had been missing since the
plays (nine combined forced fumbles and fumble recoveries, departure of Donnie Edwards. Free agent addition Kevin Burnett
five interceptions). In the new aggressive 4-3 scheme to be could be a factor if he lands an every-down role. Quentin
installed by Steve Spagnuolo, Atogwe compares very favor- Jammer was the team’s second-leading tackler with 75 solos last
ably to Gibril Wilson and Brian Dawkins, who were both year and is a quality option in corner-required leagues.
very strong DB options in this scheme. Will Witherspoon
will be moved to WLB this season after a season-and-a-half Fantasy Prospects
of struggles as the Rams’ MLB. He is a natural at WLB and ILB Stephen Cooper - LB2 with LB1 potential
was very productive at the position as a Carolina Panther. The SS Eric Weddle - Probable Top 5 DB
change should improve his numbers this season. While rookie OLB Shawne Merriman - LB2 with injury risk
James Laurinaitis is unlikely to equal the production of Patrick ILB Kevin Burnett - Sleeper, probable LB3
Willis, DeMeco Ryans or Jerod Mayo in their debut seasons, CB Quentin Jammer - CB1 in corner-required
he’s likely to be handed an every-down role in a situation
with above-average tackle opportunity. He’s safe to draft as a SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
LB3 with upside in tackle-heavy scoring systems. As many Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
young pass rushers have in the past, expect DE Chris Long to 326 23.8 30 6 12 1
improve in his second season - he could blossom into a Top 15 POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
DL. Those in leagues that require corners in starting lineups NT Aubrayo Franklin 16 33 13 1 2 0 0 1
should consider Ron Bartell as a CB2 or strong depth option. DE/OLB Justin Smith 16 49 25 7 1 0 1 3
He’s proven an ability to get his hands on the ball and has no DE Ray McDonald 15 20 7 1 0 0 0 4
significant competition for a starting role. OLB Manny Lawson 14 33 12 3 1 1 0 3
OLB Parys Haralson 16 28 12 8.5 0 1 0 2
Fantasy Prospects ILB Takeo Spikes 16 61 35 1 2 1 3 6
MLB James Laurinaitis – Top prospect among rookies RILB Patrick Willis 16 109 32 1 1 1 1 10
FS O.J. Atogwe – Top-tier DB CB Nate Clements 16 56 7 0 1 0 2 9
WLB Will Witherspoon – Move to WLB will help CB Walt Harris 16 44 10 1 0 0 3 14
DE Chris Long – Poised to step up in second season FS Dashon Goldson 9 18 3 0 0 0 0 1
SS Michael Lewis 16 76 20 2 1 1 0 6
CB Ron Bartell – Strong sleeper in CB-required leagues
CB Tarell Brown 15 26 4 0 0 0 2 3
DE Kentwan Balmer 16 6 1 0 0 0 0 1
DEFENSES
SS Michael Lewis – Likely Top 25 defensive back
CB Nate Clements – No longer a strong IDP option DT Chris Hovan 15 36 7 1 0 0 0 1
OLB Manny Lawson – Unlikely to breakout DE Gaines Adams 16 27 11 6.5 0 0 2 6
DE Greg White 16 25 7 5 1 0 0 1
SLB Angelo Crowell (Buf) Missed 2008 with an injury
WLB Jermaine Phillips 11 48 11 0 1 1 3 5
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS MLB Barrett Ruud 16 102 35 3 0 1 2 6
Team Stats YPGA PPGA SK FR INT Def TD
CB Aqib Talib 15 17 6 0 0 0 4 9
378 24.5 35 11 9 3
CB Ronde Barber 16 67 8 2 0 1 4 12
POS Player G TKL AST Sack FF FR INT PD
FS Tanard Jackson 16 59 10 1 2 1 1 3
DT Brandon Mebane 16 29 10 5.5 4 1 0 0
SS Sabby Piscitelli 15 40 8 0 1 0 2 8
DT Cory Redding (Det) 13 31 7 3 0 0 0 0
DT Roy Miller Rookie, Pick No. 81, Texas
DE Patrick Kerney 7 15 6 5 2 1 0 3
LB Geno Hayes 9 10 3 0 0 0 0 1
DE Darryl Tapp 16 46 9 5.5 4 1 0 0
OLB Aaron Curry Rookie, Pick No. 4, Wake Forest
OLB LeRoy Hill 12 63 21 1 0 0 0 3 Barrett Ruud topped 100 solos last season and would seem-
MLB Lofa Tatupu 15 69 25 0 1 0 1 4 ingly have little room to improve upon those gaudy numbers.
CB Ken Lucas (Car) 16 53 7 0 0 0 2 10 However, the Jim Bates defensive scheme is notorious for
CB Marcus Trufant 16 60 4 0 0 2 1 13 allowing middle backers to rack up tackles, most recently
FS Deon Grant 16 62 17 0 0 0 2 8 seen during the huge 2007 season turned in by then MLB D.J.
S Brian Russell 16 55 17 1 1 0 0 3 Williams in Denver. With the turnover at OLB, Ruud is a near
SS Jordan Babineaux 14 57 3 0 1 1 1 3 lock to top 100 solos again this season and may finish as the
CB Josh Wilson 16 69 7 1 3 2 4 9 games top IDP. DE Gaines Adams should also thrive in Bates’
DE Lawrence Jackson 16 21 8 2 0 0 0 0 scheme, which will align him well outside the offensive tackle
to improve his edge rush angle. If he can take advantage and
Lofa Tatupu returns as the anchor of the Seattle defense. improve his run defense, he could finish 2008 among the Top
The more aggressive scheme should free him up to attack the 15 defensive linemen. Now that Kevin Carter has moved on,
ball quicker, but his talented OLB teammates might hold back Greg White will finally get his shot at an every-down DE role.
his big upside by limiting his opportunities in pursuit outside His 13.5 sacks in limited action over the past two years sug-
the box. Fourth overall pick Aaron Curry didn’t fall into the gest he might be a good answer for the Bucs and a sleeper for
best role in Seattle. He’ll lineup at strong side linebacker and us. Jermaine Phillips and Angelo Crowell are penciled in at the
is talented enough to assume an every-down role right away, OLB spots entering training camp. Whichever earns an every-
but he will have to contend with Leroy Hill for the all impor- down role will have some value, but will have trouble cracking
tant nickel duties. Hill was re-signed shortly after the draft, the Top 30 linebackers in the new scheme. Sabby Piscitelli will
and his experience gives him a legitimate shot at the every- replace Phillips at strong safety and should have DB3 upside
down job, at least for the short term. The winner of this dual or better. Ronde Barber will soon follow Derrick Brooks into
SS Chris Hope 16 63 15 1 0 0 4 8 MLB London Fletcher remains one of the most consistent
DE Dave Ball 15 19 9 4.5 1 0 1 1 fantasy linebackers in the league. He posted a seventh consec-
MLB Gerald McRath Rookie, Pick No. 130, Southern Miss utive season with 94 or more solo tackles in 2008, but slipped
DT Jovan Haye (TB) 15 25 8 0 0 0 0 1 in the rankings after failing to add his usual complement of
big plays in pass rush or coverage. He’s now 34 years old, but
The 2008 Titans were among the leagues best defenses, but his impeccable history of durability suggests he’s got at least
when it comes to IDP the picking is slim here. Former fantasy one more season of steady production in him. The addition
stalwart Keith Bulluck regained his title as team tackle leader, of DT Albert Haynesworth and OLB/DE Brian Orakpo has
but for a second consecutive season, he fell well short of 80 defensive coordinator Greg Blache thinking of playing less
solos. At least in 2007 he was able to compensate some in the read-and-react in the front seven and allowing his linemen to
big play columns, but even those numbers were absent last play a more attacking style. That philosophical change could
year. The production we know Bulluck is capable of can’t be resurrect the numbers of DE Andre Carter, who put up just 24
ignored, but he can’t be drafted as anything more than depth solos and four sacks last year. Haynesworth will retain good
with upside at this point. Safety Chris Hope was the fantasy value in leagues requiring defensive tackles, but it’s easy to
games top DB in 2006 but proved to be a one-year wonder. wonder if his production the last two seasons was motivated
He did rebound a little last season when his four picks and by contract situation. Orakpo could have added value if he
eight passes defended helped pick up the mediocre 63 solo is classified as a DE in your software even though he takes
tackles to make him a decent backup. He should have similar base defensive snaps at LB. Rocky McIntosh should earn the
value in 2009 and does have some upside. DE Kyle Vanden start at WLB but may rotate with H.B. Blades in nickel pack-
Bosch returns from a 2008 season in which he missed several ages. Durability is also a major concern for McIntosh, who
games with a groin injury and was not himself when he did has a balky knee and shoulder. Early offseason rumors raised
play. He is by far the top IDP prospect from this unit, averag- concerns about whether the starting strong safety job was up
ing nearly 48 tackles and 11 sacks over his first three seasons for competition. Expect Chris Horton to hold onto the job and
with the team. The Titans did manage to provide quality again have DB3 value or better.
options for owners in tackle-required leagues last season. Just
because Haynesworth is gone doesn’t mean that will change. Fantasy Prospects
His replacement Jason Jones posted 24 tackles and five sacks MLB London Fletcher – Consistent LB1
in a part time role and fellow starter Tony Brown contributed DT Albert Haynesworth – Huge contract could affect motivation
a solid 38-14-4. Both of these guys are strong starters if you DE Andre Carter – Could rebound alongside Haynesworth
must play tackles. Cortland Finnegan and Nick Harper are SS Chris Horton – DB3 with upside
quality options for CB-required leagues. WLB Rocky McIntosh – Value depends on nickel duties
F
or seven straight years, Footballguys.com has promoted and Chicago up. Tampa Bay lost Jeff Garcia and Jon Gruden,
the Defensive Team By Committee (DTBC) strategy and may be starting a rookie QB; they dropped in the rankings.
to help fantasy players dominate their leagues. Fantasy On the other side, Philadelphia added bookend tackles Jason
defenses are inconsistent from year to year, so predicting which Peters and Stacy Andrews while drafting flashy talents Jeremy
defenses and special teams (D/STs) will do well is difficult. Maclin and LeSean McCoy; Philadelphia vaulted into the top
Even still, of course, the teams available at the ends of your five of these rankings as a result. The bottom three teams – St.
drafts usually provide less rewards. So how do you get great Louis, Cleveland and Detroit – were terrible in 2008; we don’t
production while saving your most important draft picks? expect their offenses to improve in 2009.
We spend countless hours analyzing team offenses, and
relatively few thinking about team defenses. But an average
defense against a bad offense will do just as well as a great
09 Proj Team 09 Rk 08 Rk
defense against an average offense. Therefore, the key to the 297 New England Patriots 1 4
DTBC system is to find two teams available late in your draft 278 New Orleans Saints 2 1
whose combined schedule features predominantly weak offens- 274 San Diego Chargers 3 3
es. Since you start your defense based on matchups, and your 265 Philadelphia Eagles 4 10
D/ST will usually oppose a weak offense, your D/ST position 261 Green Bay Packers 5 7
will score lots of fantasy points. At least, that’s the plan. 259 Atlanta Falcons 6 6
In 2006, the recommended DTBC pairing ranked third in 259 Indianapolis Colts 7 13
fantasy points per game. Two years ago the DTBC was off the 256 Arizona Cardinals 8 5
charts good, outscoring even the top individual D/ST on a FP/G 246 Carolina Panthers 9 8
basis. Last year, the DTBC was not very good, as both the Bills 245 New York Giants 10 2
and Saints struggled. We let you down in 2008, but that doesn’t 244 Dallas Cowboys 11 19
mean the theory is wrong or that this year is going to be disap- 243 Minnesota Vikings 12 17
pointing. Hopefully, you’ll follow our advice again and you can 241 Tennessee Titans 13 16
ride your DTBC to your fantasy playoffs.
240 Chicago Bears 14 20
When picking a D/ST committee, you should look for four
238 Denver Broncos 15 9
factors:
236 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 21
• A very easy combined schedule
234 Houston Texans 17 12
• Two teams with late average draft positions (ADPs)
• Big play ability – think pass rushers and defensive backs 233 Jacksonville Jaguars 18 23
with good hands 232 Baltimore Ravens 19 14
• Reason to expect improvement in 2009 229 Miami Dolphins 20 11
226 Buffalo Bills 21 24
The first step in creating the DTBC system is to grade the 223 New York Jets 22 18
offenses. I’ve used the Footballguys.com projections to rank the 222 Cincinnati Bengals 23 32
offenses, scoring them the following way: (0.3 x Points scored) 221 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 15
+ (0.03 x Total Yards) - (2 x Interceptions thrown). Each team’s 218 Seattle Seahawks 25 27
projection is shown in the first column in the table, along with 218 San Francisco 49ers 26 25
their projected rank, and how they ranked under the scoring 216 Washington Redskins 27 22
system in 2008. While most leagues award significant points 208 Oakland Raiders 28 28
for sacks, I don’t factor into the team offensive projections 201 Kansas City Chiefs 29 26
sacks allowed data, as those numbers are particularly difficult 196 St. Louis Rams 30 30
to predict. But don’t worry: we’ll absolutely keep pass rushers 195 Cleveland Browns 31 31
in mind when we select the DTBC. 182 Detroit Lions 32 29
Not surprisingly, the Jay Cutler trade bumped Denver down
After grading the offenses, I went through the NFL schedule wasn’t a better nose tackle prospect in the draft than B.J. Raji,
and assigned the corresponding projection for each opponent and he’s a big body who can help eat up blockers. Ryan Pickett
that every team played. For example, when the Jets host the is a former first round pick with over 100 starts to his name,
Patriots in Week 2, New York’s D/ST receives 297 points. but he’s not a household name. The former DT is certainly
However, for road games, an additional five points are added, large enough to play as a 3-4 end, but that may not be an ideal
so when the Ravens travel to Foxboro in Week 4, Baltimore’s fit for him. Expect Pickett to play tackle next to Raji when the
D/ST gets 302 points. Obviously, you want your committee Packers play four down lineman and Pickett will also see some
to have the lowest possible number of combined points. Bye time at nose while Johnny Jolly plays end. Cullen Jenkins will
weeks are valued at 400 points to avoid combining D/STs that man the other end spot, and his above average size and speed
share the same bye week. After doing this for every game in combination makes him a good fit there.
every week, we can now rank each team’s schedule and pair up Aaron Kampman had 37 sacks the last three years as a
the defenses to form the best possible committee. One note: defensive end, but over 90 percent of those came in nickel and
I’m ranking the committees through 16 weeks, as most fan- dime situations. In the base 3-4 defense, Kampman will play
tasy leagues don’t play in Week 17. as an outside linebacker/pass rushing specialist, but in nickel
and dime sets he’ll play at end. Either way, expect another
The 2009 Defensive Team By Committee good year out of Kampman. The other pass rusher is rookie
Clay Matthews, the first round pick from USC. Matthews has
Green Bay Packers (ADP: D/ST 12) experience in the 3-4 and should be a good fit immediately for
• DE Ryan Pickett, NT B.J. Raji, DE Cullen Jenkins the Packers. A.J. Hawk, the former weak side linebacker, shifts
• OLB Aaron Kampman, ILB A.J. Hawk, ILB Nick Barnett, inside in the new 3-4 defense. Hawk’s a natural fit as a 3-4
OLB Clay Matthews
ILB and his physical style of play should suit him well there.
• CB Charles Woodson, FS Nick Collins, SS Atari Bigby, CB Al Harris
Rounding out a terrific unit is Nick Barnett, who was a solid
MLB for half a decade for the Pack but was never a big play
Like the other duo in this year’s DTBC, Green Bay now guy. With more beef up front, Barnett may finally have fantasy
plays a 3-4 defensive front. The key to any 3-4 defense is the status that matches his NFL ability. Barnett tore his ACL last
nose tackle, as Kris Jenkins proved for the Jets last year. There year, but is expected to be fine by opening day.
The secondary features two cornerbacks who debuted twelve
years ago; since then, Woodson and Harris have made seven
Pro Bowls and intercepted 55 passes. While both players have
their best days behind them, they’re still solid cornerbacks for
2009. Nick Collins continues to mature as a player – in 2008 he
intercepted seven passes and led the league in INT return yards
(295) and touchdowns (three). Strong safety Atari Bigby suf-
fered through injuries in 2008, but in 2007 he intercepted five
passes and forced three fumbles.
The most important addition for GB may be off the field.
Green Bay hired Dom Capers to coach the defense, and he
brought in former pass rushing great Kevin Greene to coach
the outside linebackers. There’s no doubt that Capers will have
the Packers playing aggressively in 2009. Whether or not he
produces a good NFL defense is an open question; for fan-
tasy purposes, though, Green Bay should produce a bunch of
sacks, turnovers and some scores this year. As a bonus, Will
Blackmon is one of the better return men in the league, and
he’ll handle both punt and kick return duties. He’ll team with
Jordy Nelson on kick returns, but Blackmon’s most dangerous
returning punts – he’s scored three times on just 44 career punt
returns.
more 3-4 sets in the desert. While it’s difficult to project exactly
who will be playing where in Arizona, the Cardinals have a
bunch of depth on defense and will exploit that advantage • Week 15 – Arizona @ Detroit (187)
this season. Gabe Watson’s the team’s best bet at nose tackle, • Week 16 – Arizona vs. St. Louis (196)
but DT Bryan Robinson will also see extensive playing time. This committee runs the weather gamut, with an opening day
Darnell Dockett should play inside in the 4-3 but will be on matchup in the desert and a night game in the Frozen Tundra
the outside in the Cardinals base defense; he’s a wide body in December. More importantly, you get an amazing seven
that is athletic enough to be a playmaker as a 3-4 end. Calais games against bottom three offenses (St. Louis, Cleveland, and
Campbell stands tall at 6’7, making him a good fit for the Detroit). The toughest two games are when the Packers play the
3-4 defense, but he was inconsistent as a rookie in 2008. He Vikings, a team that, at the least, should have some turnover
displayed terrific talent at the University of Miami and should prone players at QB and RB. With the exception of Carson
only improve as he matures. Palmer, none of the quarterbacks that our defensive combo will
The Cardinals have several options at the outside linebacker have to face are very scary. While this
position. Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor are veteran defensive committee option looks nice,
Team oppFP
pass rushers who have combined for over 100 career sacks. you might want to consider …
GB 3346
Veteran Clark Haggans and second round pick Cody Brown
Pit 3420
(Connecticut) will also help attack the passer. Between the four Grabbing Just One? Min 3425
of them, Arizona should have no problem bringing the heat. On In some leagues, it’s just too costly to
Ari 3427
the inside, Karlos Dansby is good for about 10 big plays a year spend two rosters spots on defenses. In
Cin 3440
– sacks, forced fumbles, recoveries or INTs. Gerald Hayes isn’t larger leagues, it may not be feasible to
SD 3441
a big play guy, but is a sure tackler and solid linebacker in the grab two defenses that you like. If you’re
Cle 3492
middle. only drafting one defense, it still pays to
Sea 3498
As talented as the linebackers are, the strength of the Arizona know the ability level of its opponents.
Hou 3502
defense is the secondary. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie However, this year, it really pays to
Chi 3522
(“DRC”) and Adrian Wilson are going to be perennial Pro know. The Pittsburgh Steelers – the team
Bal 3535
Bowl candidates for the next few years. DRC is already one with the best defense in the NFL – hap-
Oak 3545
of the most athletic defensive players in the NFL and is a ter- pen to have the second easiest schedule
KC 3550
rific playmaker who had four INTs in the second half of the in the league. Pittsburgh plays five games
Det 3554
season and then two more in the playoffs. Adrian Wilson can do against bottom five offenses and then
Ind 3557
it all – get to the passer (eight sacks in 2005, two in the NFC two more against the Bengals. With the
NO 3564
Championship Game), create turnovers and make big plays (his second easiest schedule, you might want
Jac 3566
resume includes both a 99-yard fumble return TD and 99-yard to consider reaching early on the Steelers
Was 3572
INT return TD). Playing alongside these two stars is Antrel defense. Another defensive stalwart,
Phi 3583
Rolle, another terrific athlete who plays “centerfield” for the Minnesota, has the third easiest schedule.
StL 3592
Cardinals. He struggled initially in 2008 as he transitioned The full list is presented at right: Note
SF 3596
from corner to safety, but he was living up to high expectations that both the bye week (which was con-
NE 3597
by the end of the year. Arizona signed yet another ex-Steeler, sidered a 400 point week earlier in the
Den 3614
Bryant McFadden, to play the other cornerback spot. McFadden article) and Week 17 have been removed.
Dal 3629
is just hitting his prime and was one of the more prized free
Ten 3642
agents this offseason. He’s a solid cover corner who played very Backup Options Buf 3645
well down the stretch, and will provide a nice upgrade to the The table below shows some alternate
NYG 3665
Arizona secondary. combinations in case you grab one-half
Atl 3705
If your league combines defense and special teams, Arizona of the committee but are unable to secure
Car 3721
continues to look like a strong sleeper. Whether it’s Steve the other. For example, if you have Green
NYJ 3722
Breaston, Jason Wright, Early Doucet or even DRC on kick Bay but not Arizona, Seattle is a great
TB 3771
and punt returns, Arizona should feature an electric return man backup choice. Note: Some of the stud
Mia 3776
every time the opponent kicks the ball. defenses (Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and
Minnesota) match up well but obviously
The Combined Schedule aren’t expected to be available late. They are therefore not listed
• Week 1 – Arizona vs. San Francisco (218) in the table below.
• Week 2 – Green Bay vs. Cincinnati (222)
• Week 3 – Green Bay @ St. Louis (201) Green Bay with… Points Arizona with… Points
• Week 4 – Green Bay @ Minnesota (MNF) (248) Seattle 3453 Cincinnati 3470
• Week 5 – Arizona vs. Houston (234) Cleveland 3455 Seattle 3503
• Week 6 – Green Bay vs. Detroit (182) Cincinnati 3458 Washington 3503
• Week 7 – Green Bay @ Cleveland (200) Buffalo 3469 Denver 3526
• Week 8 – Green Bay vs. Minnesota (243) Houston 3473 San Francisco 3531
• Week 9 – Green Bay @ Tampa Bay (226)
• Week 10 – Arizona vs. Seattle (218) Lastly, be sure to check out Footballguys.com for an
• Week 11 – Arizona @ St. Louis (201) expanded and updated version of this article in August. The
• Week 12 – Green Bay @ Detroit (Thanksgiving) (187) projections will have been updated many times since then,
• Week 13 – Green Bay vs. Baltimore (MNF) (232) and as a result, the ratings of each offense will have changed
• Week 14 – Arizona @ San Francisco (MNF) (223) since May.
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FOOTBALLGUYS.COM 169
ICON SMI
is highly unlikely he will steal the role back from say than that as the team does not utilize the full-
Warner. Absent injury, he is not likely to see much Kurt Warner back in the offensive game plan. The team is more
playing time this year. If pressed into action, however, likely to double up Hightower and Wells in the
he would be blessed by a trio of potent receivers in their prime. And, if he backfield than look for offense from the fullback spot.
is the clear starter at any point this year, he should be considered a decent
to solid QB2. Brian St. Pierre is an afterthought at this point but could WIDE RECEIVERS
hold minimal value in dynasty leagues, especially if the owner envisions an Starters: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston
open competition after Warner retires. Backups: Early Doucet, Jerheme Urban, Sean Morey, Shane
Morales, Justin Brown
RUNNING BACKS
Starter: Tim Hightower Starting WRs: There are insufficient superlatives to describe
Backup: Chris Wells [R], Jason Wright, LaRod Stephens-Howling [R] WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. They are a better pair-
Fullback: Tim Castille ing than Warner enjoyed with Holt/Bruce and probably better than
Manning enjoyed with Harrison/Wayne in their prime. Fitzgerald is
Starting RB: The Cardinals did not get rid of Edgerrin James the franchise. He is young, insanely talented, tough, coachable, a solid
without a significant level of confidence in Tim Hightower. Despite character, happy and paid. Boldin is the same outside of the last two
drafting Chris Wells in the first round, Hightower will begin the camps adjectives. After another offseason of trade speculation, expect the
as the team’s starting running back. He made a big name for himself team to satisfy Boldin with a new contract rather than trade him or let
in 2008 with his short yardage and goal line proficiency. On third or him hold out into the season. Simply put, the team needs Boldin in
fourth and less than two yards, he averaged 2.6 YPC. That means that uniform this season, and that’s what will happen. The guy sacrificed
most of the time he got the first down. Moreover, nine of his 10 rushing his body and his contract to the team for a year, and the team will
TDs came from inside the five-yard line. Hightower was also profi- probably recognize that by the time the season draws near. Boldin
cient in two areas that are difficult for rookie RBs to master – block- proved he can miss significant time and come back and play at a high
ing and receiving. Those two skills alone should insure Hightower the level. Steve Breaston is an excellent third receiver. He is not a Pro
inside track on starting. That said, the offensive line is atrocious, and Bowl player, but he is capable of turning in a handful of nice games.
Hightower will likely be embroiled in a committee with Wells, especial- Backup WRs: This is a deep crew of receivers. The Cardinals
ly while the team drives between the 20s. As a triple threat (blocking, intend to play a lot of spread offense, which is why we list Breaston
as a starter. That means the fourth and fifth receivers hold some value
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED – especially in leagues that require three starting WRs. Early Doucet
did not impress much as a rookie, but he will have a chance to flash
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
his speed and step into a supporting role. Tall and lanky veteran
RB Chris Wells Draft College Arizona Cardinals
RB LaRod Stephens-Howling Draft College Arizona Cardinals Jerheme Urban, on the other hand, had a few decent games while
RB Dan Kreider Free Agent St. Louis Rams Arizona Cardinals filling in for injuries to Anquan Boldin. He is an adequate fourth WR
RB Jason Wright Free Agent Cleveland Browns Arizona Cardinals in this offense and a fantasy WR5 with upside in deeper leagues.
TE Anthony Becht Free Agent St. Louis Rams Arizona Cardinals
TE Dominique Byrd Free Agent St. Louis Rams Arizona Cardinals TIGHT ENDS
Starter: Leonard Pope
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST Backups: Ben Patrick, Anthony Becht, Steven Spach
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
RB Edgerrin James Free Agent Arizona Cardinals Free Agent The tight end has been an afterthought in the Cardinals offense and,
RB Terrelle Smith Free Agent Arizona Cardinals Detroit Lions given the lack of attention the team gave to the OL in the offseason,
RB J.J. Arrington Free Agent Arizona Cardinals Denver Broncos we can expect the TE to be closer to an additional lineman than a
receiving threat in this offense. Leonard Pope has decent hands and
is a big body, but the Cardinals have two receivers in Fitzgerald and 2008 SEASON STATS
Boldin who create matchup problems for shorter, less powerful CBs. Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
One of the backups is likely to be the team’s best receiving TE, for Kurt Warner 599 402 4582 30 14 18 -2 0
whatever that is worth. Ben Patrick and Anthony Becht are better
receivers than Pope, but they do not block as well – and this team Matt Leinart 29 15 264 1 1 4 5 0
needs blocking. No Arizona TE caught a touchdown in 2008, and it is
likely no more than two or three scores emerge from the group. Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
Tim Hightower 143 399 10 34 237 0
PLACE KICKER Edgerrin James 133 514 3 12 85 0
PK: Neil Rackers
J.J. Arrington 30 188 1 30 254 1
Last year the Cardinals edged up to 15th in kicker scoring, while
Neil Rackers went 25 of 28 (89.3 percent) on field goals. In 2007 Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
they had dropped to 17th, after having been 8th in 2006 and first in Larry Fitzgerald 96 1431 12 Ctgry Avg Rnk
2005. It’s easy to remember that 2005 season when Rackers hit 95.2 Anquan Boldin 89 1038 11 Pts 26.7 4th
percent on field goals, but also easy to forget that he has hit under 80
percent on six of his nine years in the league. Rackers has struggled Steve Breaston 77 1006 3 Yds 365.8 4th
from long range the last three years, hitting only 5 of 18 on 50+ Jerheme Urban 34 448 4 P-Yds 292.1 2nd
yard field goals. He still has the range for the longer kicks, if not Early Doucet 14 90 0 R-Yds 73.6 32nd
the accuracy, and still piles up touchbacks on kickoffs. The last two
years saw a shift to more PATs and fewer FG attempts for Rackers, Tight End Rec Yards TDs
as the offense performed well under the Whisenhunt regime. Heading
into 2009 the team is coming off a tough loss in the Super Bowl and Ben Patrick 11 104 0
has new coordinators on both offense and defense. A slight drop in Leonard Pope 9 77 0
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Rackers’ point production compared to 2008 is reasonable.
TEAM DEFENSE
losophy and hybrid 3-4 defensive scheme won’t change. That’s good
As was the case in 2007, the Cardinals struggled to keep offenses news for those in leagues with scoring systems that favor big plays
from scoring and managed only middle of the league finishes in over stingy points and yardage numbers. The Cardinals are still flush
sacks and interceptions. However, they finished in the middle of most with playmakers at every level. DE/DT Darnell Dockett, LB Karlos
leagues’ fantasy rankings on the strength of six combined defensive Dansby, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, FS Antrel Rolle and SS
and special teams touchdowns. Despite their 2008 Super Bowl run, Adrian Wilson are all capable of generating big plays and defensive
Arizona elected to shake up the defense by firing coordinator Clancy points. Consider this group a strong DST2 in leagues that heavily
Pendergast. Early reports suggest that the team’s aggressive phi- reward big plays.
ICON SMI
journeyman-level QB, who threw for 0 comple- an impressive 15.7 yards per reception. White
ATLANTA FALCONS
tions last year. He is firmly seated on the bench/ Michael Turner is now firmly established as the No. 1 WR in
underneath a set of ear phones as long as Matt Atlanta, and there is no reason to expect him
Ryan is healthy. Redman last saw action during 2007, when he threw to lose touches during 2009 - White is one of the stars in the NFL
for 89/149, 1079 yards, 10 TDs and five interceptions for the Falcons at this point in his career. Now that Matt Ryan has a year of experi-
over seven games of action. He’d been out of football since 2004 ence under his belt as an NFL starter, White should be in a position
before rejoining the league with Atlanta in 2007. to maintain or even improve on his 2008 numbers. White will turn 28
in November, so he’s still got a young man’s legs (and recuperative
RUNNING BACKS powers). Michael Jenkins was a lot more productive during 2008
Starter: Michael Turner (50/777/3) than he was during 2007 (53/532/4), going from 10 yards
Backups: Jerious Norwood, Jason Snelling per reception to 15.5 per grab, his best mark over the past four years.
Fullback: Ovie Mughelli The improvement landed him at No. 41 among all fantasy WRs, mak-
ing Jenkins a valuable WR4 – a guy to start on your other players’
Starting RB: Michael Turner tore up the NFC in his first sea- bye weeks or when the Atlanta passing game had a particularly juicy
son as a starter, gaining 377/1699/17 rushing and 6/41/0 receiving to matchup. He posted just one ‘goose-egg’ all year (Week 2, vs. TB),
land at No. 2 among all fantasy RBs last year. He posted an outstand- and was usually in the 50-70 yards receiving neighborhood during
ing 4.5 yards per carry during the 2008 campaign, a very high mark the other 16 games in which he played. Jenkins isn’t a starting-caliber
for a player with over 350 carries. He rushed for over 200 yards twice fantasy wideout entering 2009, but he should be a useful guy to have
(Week 1, with 22/220/2 rushing and 1/6/0 receiving and Week 17 with on your bench for bye weeks or in case of injury.
25/208/1) last season and had over 100 yards rushing in eight out of Backup WRs: Harry Douglas made Laurent Robinson expend-
17 games. Turner is the type of fantasy back that can carry a team to able this year, contributing 23/320/1 receiving to the team during
victory on any given week. The Atlanta offense has improved during 2008. He is a solid contributor to the Falcons who could end up being
the offseason with the addition of Tony Gonzalez, which will help a waiver wire steal if an opportunity to move up in the pecking order
Turner find more room to roam during 2009 – he has one of the most arrives during 2009. Brian Finneran is a long-time Falcon who has
enviable collections of teammates in the NFL. Look for Turner to be overcome two serious knee injuries (2006, 2007) to return to the rota-
one of the most productive NFL backs during 2009 – he should be tion, but only managed 21/169/1 receiving. Douglas would be the guy
high on your draft list. to watch if something opens up higher in the depth chart during 2009.
Backup RBs: Jerious Norwood is a fine pass catching RB
(36/388/2 receiving last season, in addition to 95/489/4 rushing) who TIGHT ENDS
is a perfect complement to Michael Turner. He was the 37th-best fan- Starter: Tony Gonzalez
tasy RB in the land last year, making Norwood a viable fill-in player Backup: Justin Peelle
in weeks when the matchup was particularly good, and he’s a spec-
Tony Gonzalez has snagged more than 90 catches during the last
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED two years (99/1172/5 during 2007; 96/1058/10 during 2008) while
working with the likes of Tyler Thigpen, Damon Huard, and Brodie
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team Croyle. He’s been the No. 1 (as he was during 2008), No. 2 or No. 3
RB Verron Haynes Free Agent Pittsburgh Steelers Atlanta Falcons
fantasy TE in nine of the last 10 seasons, with one ‘disappointment’
TE Tony Gonzalez Trade Kansas City Chiefs Atlanta Falcons
in 2005 when he finished seventh (due to having only two TDs that
year, 78/905/2). Now, he is playing with an exciting playmaker named
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST Matt Ryan, and he’s joining a stacked offensive attack that is strong
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team at every position across the board. Here is Gonzalez’s assessment of
WR Laurent Robinson Trade Atlanta Falcons St. Louis Rams his new home: ‘The Chiefs get a high pick, and I get an opportunity
TEAM DEFENSE
Tight End Rec Yards TDs
There was little to like about the Atlanta defense last season when Justin Peelle 15 159 2
they finished in the bottom third of the NFL in most categories. Ben Hartsock 3 26 0
ATLANTA FALCONS
Only the 16.5 sacks by DE John Abraham kept the 2008 season Jason Rader 1 26 0
from being a total bust for fantasy owners. The Falcons turned over
a number of starting positions this offseason. Gone are NT Grady
Jackson, OLBs Keith Brooking and Michael Boley, SS Lawyer Lofton, will take over the huddle. The team hopes he’ll fulfill his
Milloy and CB Domonique Foxworth. Free agency brought them promise as an every-down player this year. Despite the turnover,
only WLB Mike Peterson but Atlanta used seven of their eight draft it’s unlikely that the Falcons will make the leap to a viable fantasy
picks on defense. First round DT Peria Jerry and intriguing small performer this season. They remain short on playmakers and will
school talent DE Lawrence Sidbury were drafted to help Abraham in again struggle to get off the field quickly. This unit won’t be worth
pass rush, and S William Moore is expected to become an immedi- consideration in fantasy leagues until they show improvement in all
ate replacement for Milloy. Last year’s second round pick, Curtis phases of the game.
ICON SMI
line to start for the Ravens last season while Joe second thought as a fantasy option. A year later,
Flacco learned the job from the comfort and safety Joe Flacco there is debate as to which of the Ravens run-
of the bench. But an illness in preseason wiped out ning backs is the most valuable – the former first
Smith from consideration for the job, leaving Flacco unchallenged for round pick, the former second round pick, or the fourth round fullback
the starting gig. Smith is still the same athletically gifted player he was at who stampeded his way to 11 touchdowns. McClain started and fin-
Ohio State three years ago, but the problem he now faces is that he’s bur- ished strong a year ago, and only missed out on his first career 1,000
ied on the bench behind an up-and-coming star. Bouman is an unspectac- yard season because of underutilization in the middle of the year. From
ular veteran for a team with two very young quarterbacks on the roster. Week 6 to Week 11 (a six game stretch), McClain had just 35 carries
for 110 yards and 1 touchdown. In his other ten games, he had 196
RUNNING BACKS carries for 797 yards and 9 touchdowns. How he’ll be used this season
Starter: Willis McGahee is a subject of great debate. McGahee and Rice are still on the roster,
Backups: Ray Rice, Cedric Peerman [R] and McGahee was the go-to guy in the postseason. Rice is considered
Fullback: Le’Ron McClain the future of the franchise at the position, yet McClain was by far the
most productive.
Starting RB: Willis McGahee is the starting halfback in name
only. His 170 carries were second on the team to fullback Le’Ron WIDE RECEIVERS
McClain and just 63 more than rookie Ray Rice. He did crack the 100 Starters: Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton
yard mark three times, but he also had less than twenty yards on three Backups: Marcus Smith, Demetrius Williams
different occasions as well. Surprisingly, despite 124 fewer carries in
2008 than in 2007, he scored just one less touchdown. His numbers are Starting WRs: Try as we might, fantasy football owners just
close enough to his career norms that it would seem that he didn’t lose can’t seem to be able to get rid of Derrick Mason. He followed up
anything ability-wise. But his opportunities greatly decreased from an unexpected 1,000 yard season in 2007 with yet another in 2008.
the previous season despite playing only one less game. The reason? Along the way, his 13.0 yards per reception average was his highest
Because of the presence of the aforementioned Rice and McClain. since his 13.7 in 2003. At 35, it’s clear that Mason’s best days are
Rice was the second round rookie that was supposed to be the primary behind him. But with 183 receptions and ten touchdowns combined
threat to McGahee’s job, but it was actually McClain who took the over the last two seasons, it’s just as clear that Mason still is a very
position and made it his. Heading into 2009, it’ll be interesting to see viable option and the clear-cut No. 1 receiver in Baltimore. Lining
up across from Mason is Mark Clayton, who faces an important test
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED in 2009. Clayton experienced early success with 939 yards and five
touchdowns in just his second NFL season. His third year was expect-
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
ed to be a breakout campaign, but an ankle injury derailed that before
QB John Beck Free Agent Miami Dolphins Baltimore Ravens
RB Cedric Peerman Draft College Baltimore Ravens
it ever really began. Healthy again, most expected that 2008 would be
TE Davon Drew Draft College Baltimore Ravens the year he would really break out and establish himself as a top-flight
TE L.J. Smith Free Agent Philadelphia Eagles Baltimore Ravens option. While he did turn in a solid campaign, he didn’t really come
WR Marcus Maxwell Free Agent Cincinnati Bengals Baltimore Ravens close to a breakout performance. This year should really tell us a lot
going forward about what to expect from Clayton. Is he a budding
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST superstar, waiting for his opportunity to shine? Or is he a good, not
great, receiver who will simply be bye week filler in fantasy circles?
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
QB Kyle Boller Free Agent Baltimore Ravens St. Louis Rams
Backup WRs: Marcus Smith didn’t catch a single pass a year
QB Todd Bouman Free Agent Baltimore Ravens Jacksonville Jaguars ago and was thrown to just four times. So it’s a bit difficult to gauge
RB Lorenzo Neal Free Agent Baltimore Ravens Oakland Raiders what kind of an impact he can have going forward with such little
TE Daniel Wilcox Free Agent Baltimore Ravens Free Agent statistical analysis to base it on. He’s still pretty raw but he’s got good
size and speed and should fit in as the slot receiver in 2009. Williams
was expected to make more of an impact than he actually did in 2008, 2008 SEASON STATS
as his season ended in Week 8 after an Achilles injury that eventually Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
required surgery. Interestingly, that game featured the biggest con- Joe Flacco 428 257 2971 14 12 52 180 2
tribution of his pro career, a 70-yard touchdown grab. Williams has
excellent speed and is the best downfield threat on the team, some- Troy Smith 4 3 82 1 0 9 24 0
thing the Ravens could look to take more advantage of.
Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
TIGHT ENDS LeRon McClain 232 902 10 19 123 1
Starter: Todd Heap Willis McGahee 170 671 7 24 173 0
Backup: L.J. Smith Ray Rice 107 454 0 33 273 0
Lorenzo Neal 12 25 0 7 35 0
Todd Heap experienced a slight uptick in overall production from
2007 to 2008, but nothing close to his halcyon days from 2002-2006.
And despite the increase in overall fantasy points, he was actually sig- Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
nificantly worse on a per-game basis last year than in any other season Derrick Mason 80 1037 5 Ctgry Avg Rnk
since his rookie year. The Ravens have established a new offensive iden- Mark Clayton 41 695 3 Pts 24.1 11th
tity under Cam Cameron, one that utilizes the running backs and receiv- Demetrius Williams 13 180 1 Yds 324.0 18th
ers a lot more. The tight end spot has sort of been relegated to glorified P-Yds 175.5 28th
offensive lineman. The fact that Heap failed to bounce back, coupled Tight End Rec Yards TDs
his increasing age, doesn’t speak well for his ability to have a bounce-
R-Yds 148.5 4th
Todd Heap 35 403 3
back campaign in 2009. He’ll still be one of the top three options in the
passing game, but for a team that established a real run-first identity Daniel Wilcox 5 19 2
last year, the opportunities might be tough to come by. Especially with
the addition of another proven receiver at the tight end spot in L.J.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Smith. For years, Smith has been a productive receiving tight end in yards, and won the Lou Groza Award. Hauschka and Gano will com-
Philadelphia. Now he joins Baltimore, where even the starter had trouble pete to replace Matt Stover, who was not re-signed.
making very many big plays. Smith is very good after the catch and
could prove to be a viable red zone option, but he’s never been known TEAM DEFENSE
for having the best hands in the world.
Baltimore finished near the top of nearly all important defensive
PLACE KICKER categories in 2008. Second in yards allowed, third in scoring, top three
PK: Steve Hauschka, Graham Gano against both run and pass, but the most telling statistics for fantasy
owners were the league leading 26 interceptions, 31 total takeaways
At N.C. State in 2007, Steve Hauschka had a stellar year, making and six touchdowns. The club lost ILB Bart Scott to free agency
16 of 18 (88.9 percent) field goals, including a perfect 8 of 8 from but have Tavares Gooden waiting in the wings to replace him. They
40+ yards. He was also perfect on all 25 PATs and was named a semi- released former starter Chris McAlister who missed most of last
finalist for the Lou Groza Award. Last year for the Ravens, he handled season anyway, then added veteran Dominique Foxworth and drafted
kickoffs and two long field goal attempts (missing from 53 yards and Lardarius Webb who they believe will eventually start for them. They
good from 54 yards) during the latter half of the year. Graham Gano get DE Kelly Gregg back from injury and used a second round pick
handled kickoffs and punting during most of his career at Florida on OLB Paul Kruger to boost the pass rush that produced the 10th
State, but finally added placekicking to his responsibilities as a senior most sacks in the league. The Ravens have added some young talent
in 2008. He made 24 of 26 field goals, including 5 of 7 from 50+ and lost very little. They may be even better than last year.
2008 WEEK BY WEEK STATS
Baltimore Cin bye Cle @Pit Ten @Ind @Mia Oak @Cle @Hou @NYG Phi @Cin Was Pit @Dal Jac
17-10 week 28-10 20-23 10-13 3-31 27-13 29-10 37-27 41-13 10-30 36-7 34-3 24-10 9-13 33-24 27-7
QB Flacco 15-29-129-0 - 13-19-129-2 16-31-192-0 18-27-153-2 28-38-241-317-23-232-012-24-140-0 17-29-248-0 15-23-185-0 20-33-164-2 12-26-183-0 19-29-280-0 10-21-134-1 11-28-115-2 17-25-149-0 17-23-297-0
(rush stats) 4-37 6-(-2) 2-(-1) 2-4 3-12 2-3 4-23 4-2 2-8 6-57 5-3 3-15 4-11 1-5 4-4
38(run) 4 11 70/12(run) 47,28 43,1 10 1,53 4,70 28 13
QB Smith dnp - dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp 1-1-43-0 0-0-0-0 1-1-14-0 dnp dnp 0-0-0-0 dnp dnp 0-0-0-0 1-2-25-0
(rush stats) 3-13 1-1 2-6 3-4
RB McClain 19-86 - 17-66 16-63 11-51 2-(-2) 6-17 7-32 14-34 4-19 2-10 18-88 25-86 20-61 23-87 22-139 25-70
(rec stats) 2-24 1-4 3-26 2-12 1-2 3-10 1-1 1-3 1-6 3-31 1-4
RB McGahee dnp - 15-64 13-42 22-64 8-18 19-105 23-58 0-0 25-112 9-18 7-8 dnp 11-32 6-18 8-108 4-24
(rec stats) 1-11 3-19 1-2 4-26 2-47 2-(-1) 1-9 2-7 1-(-8) 2-15 3-21 2-25
(P) 5 (P) (Q) (P) 5 1 (P) (Q) 1,4 (P) (P) 77 13
RB Rice 22-64 - 5-21 1-0 0-0 6-23 7-13 8-64 21-154 7-17 8-19 8-7 11-41 3-31 dnp dnp dnp
3-19 7-64 2-46 3-37 3-22 2-2 (P) 4-18 3-42 4-14 2-9 (D) (Q)
RB Neal 0-0 - 1-2 0-0 2-4 0-0 1-2 0-0 1-2 0-0 0-0 2-4 1-1 0-0 1-2 1-5 2-3
(rec stats) 1-13 1-(-2) 1-4 2-15 1-(-1) 1-6
(P)
WR Mason 4-44 - 4-42 8-137 5-38 6-70 6-87 1-3 9-136 3-41 7-82 3-40 6-91 3-60 3-23 6-66 6-77
(rush stats) 1-3
11 (Q) 28 (Q) (Q) 32 (P) 28 (Q) (P) 13 (P) (Q)
WR Clayton 3-21 - 2-14 0-0 4-37 3-13 1-13 0-0 4-87 3-40 1-10 2-76 5-164 2-19 3-38 4-35 4-128
(rush stats) 1-42 1-(-1) 1-9 1-2 1-17 1-12
WR Williams 1-3 - 3-26 1-6 1-22 6-53 0-0 1-70 dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp
(P) (Q) 70 (Q)
TE Heap 1-5 - 2-32 0-0 4-41 1-13 3-29 2-17 0-0 5-58 3-16 2-26 4-39 2-54 1-24 2-24 3-25
(P) (P) (P) 1,14 4 (P)
TE Wilcox 0-0 - 0-0 1-4 1-1 0-0 0-0 2-13 dnp dnp dnp 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
4 (P) (O) (D) (Q) 1 (P)
ICON SMI
from a 24-3 halftime deficit to a 33-27 overtime Lynch returns to the lineup.
win. After a trade to the Bengals, Fitzpatrick Trent Edwards Fullback: Corey McIntire bounced around
saw extensive action in 2008 while filling in for the league and NFL Europe before signing with
BUFFALO BILLS
Carson Palmer. He only managed to throw eight TDs in 13 games but the Bills in Week 5 last year. He replaced Darian Barnes who was
generally showed good accuracy and decision making. Fitzpatrick was released. He’s a prototypical fullback who is unlikely to make much of
also a very active scrambler and finished as the league’s third-leading an impact as a rusher or receiver.
QB rusher with 304 yards. He signed a three-year contract with the
Bills this offseason and should fit in well as an experienced backup
who can step in if needed. Gibran Hamdan originally entered the WIDE RECEIVERS
league as a seventh-round draft pick of the Redskins in 2002. Starters: Terrell Owens, Lee Evans
Backups: Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish, Steve Johnson, James Hardy
RUNNING BACKS
Starter: Marshawn Lynch Starting WRs: Terrell Owens is one of the best and most con-
Backups: Fred Jackson, Dominic Rhodes troversial players in the league. Coming off a disappointing season that
Fullback: Corey McIntire was filled with drama, the Cowboys decided to release him this off-
season and he signed a one-year contract with the Bills soon after. He
Starting RB: Marshawn Lynch followed up his impressive fills a huge need for the team, but it seems like a strange fit given the
rookie season with a very similar campaign in 2008. Although his conservative nature of the Bills coaching staff. At 35 years old, Owens
rush attempts declined as the Bills moved to more of a committee may have lost a step, but he also has 38 TDs over the past three years
approach with Fred Jackson, he also became much more active in the and his size should make him a very reliable target for Trent Edwards
passing game. Lynch is an explosive talent with the ability to do just inside the red zone. Owens still has the ability to command a lot of
about everything you need him to. He runs extremely hard and often attention from defenses, which should help open things up for Lee
refuses to go down on first contact, which has made him particularly Evans on the other side of the field. Evans is 28 years old and coming
effective when he gets near the end zone. Unfortunately, Lynch has off a frustrating season in which he broke 1,000 yards for the second
had some off-field problems in recent years which resulted in the time in his career but also finished with just three TDs. Evans appears
commissioner suspending him for the first three games of the season. to be the perfect complement to Owens as he’s one of the league’s best
Lynch has shown a lot of promise at this point in his career, but he’ll deep threats and not the type to complain when he’s not getting enough
need to be more consistent and stay out of trouble if he wants to prove targets. This tandem has to be considered one of the league’s best.
Backup WRs: Josh Reed was pretty much the starting WR2 by
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED default in recent years but he’s a much better fit playing from the slot.
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team He lacks ideal speed to gain separation on the outside but changes
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick Free Agent Cincinnati Bengals Buffalo Bills directions quickly, is great running with the ball in his hands, and is
RB Dominic Rhodes Free Agent Indianapolis Colts Buffalo Bills an excellent downfield blocker. The addition of Owens will push Reed
TE Shawn Nelson Draft College Buffalo Bills back to the slot and likely hurt his numbers, but he should still see
WR Terrell Owens Free Agent Dallas Cowboys Buffalo Bills plenty of playing time and remain an effective check down option for
Edwards. Roscoe Parrish is an elite punt returner, but his contribu-
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST tions as a receiver have been disappointing. He has game-breaking
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
speed but is small and lacks the strength needed to play anything but a
QB J.P. Losman Free Agent Buffalo Bills Free Agent situational role. Steve Johnson was a late round pick a year ago who
TE Kevin Everett Free Agent Buffalo Bills Free Agent showed flashes that suggest he could emerge as a productive player.
TE Robert Royal Free Agent Buffalo Bills Cleveland Browns James Hardy was a second round pick a year ago who struggled to
adjust to the level of competition and suffered a torn ACL late in the
With the offseason release of three-year starter Robert Royal, the Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
Bills will likely go into training camp with an open competition for Marshawn Lynch 250 1036 8 47 300 1
the starting TE job this year. Derek Fine was a fourth-round pick out Fred Jackson 130 571 3 37 317 0
of Kansas last year. He saw limited playing time but looked impres-
sive in a game against the Jets when he finished with four receptions
for 43 yards and a TD. While the players he is competing against are Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs
probably better receivers, Fine could have an edge as a blocker. The Lee Evans 63 1017 3
Bills may have found a long-term starter when they selected Shawn Josh Reed 56 597 1
Nelson in the fourth round of this year’s draft. Nelson will likely need Roscoe Parrish 24 232 1 Team Per Game Stats
to improve his blocking, but he has good size, soft hands, and is the
only player in this group with enough speed to threaten defenses and Steve Johnson 10 102 2 Ctgry Avg Rnk
create mismatches. Derek Schouman is undersized for the TE spot James Hardy 9 87 2 Pts 21.0 23rd
but a good athlete who initially saw time as an H-back. Yds 305.1 25th
Tight End Rec Yards TDs P-Yds 190.0 22nd
PLACE KICKER Robert Royal 33 351 1 R-Yds 115.1 14th
PK: Rian Lindell
Derek Schouman 15 153 1
Several years ago, there were concerns over Rian Lindell’s long Derek Fine 10 94 1
range field goal abilities. He proved the critics wrong over the sub-
sequent three year span. Last year the concerns resurfaced when he
missed seven attempts from 40+ yards. Nonetheless, the Bills finished yards allowed, and finished with the 13th rated pass defense. On the
BUFFALO BILLS
12th in kicker scoring on the strength of numerous attempts. Lindell other hand, the 22nd rated run D left plenty to be desired, and they
hit 30 of 38 (78.9 percent) on field goals. He also added 34 PATs. In floundered in the all-important big play columns finishing in the
his nine years in the NFL, Lindell has never missed an extra point. bottom half of the league with 24 takeaways while only four clubs
The coaching staff and most of the offense return for 2009, so it might posted fewer sacks. The Bills did very little in free agency to help the
seem that they could once again provide Lindell with numerous field defense, adding only corner Florence Drayton who will likely be the
goal opportunities. The past two decades have proven otherwise, as nickel back. The other significant additions came via the draft where
the large majority of teams were unable to repeat in that category. pass rushing DE Aaron Maybin was picked up in Round 1, and ball
hawking DB Jairus Byrd was selected in the second. The rookies will
TEAM DEFENSE contribute right away but the most significant factor here is probably
the return of DE standout Aaron Schobel from injury. On paper the
The 2008 season was a disappointment for a Bills defense that Bills don’t seem to have made great improvement. They do, however,
had grand expectations. They managed middle of the pack rankings have a lot of talented young players on this squad. Don’t be surprised
in several categories including a respectable 14th in both points and if they begin to gel by mid-season and finish strong this year.
ICON SMI
but only managed 63/111 for 730 yards, three Ryne Robinson
TDs and five interceptions. McCown and Moore Steve Smith
will battle for the No. 2 QB position, but neither Starting WRs: Steve Smith is a fantasy
is a threat to Delhomme’s position. favorite, with an astonishing 18.2 yards-per-reception average last sea-
son. He went over 100 yards receiving during eight games last year,
RUNNING BACKS and just missed in two other weeks (96 yards and a TD in Week 5 and
Starter: DeAngelo Williams 96 yards receiving Week 6). He also carries the ball on occasion, with
Backups: Jonathan Stewart, Mike Goodson [R] 5/40/0 rushing last year and 42/273/2 rushing during his career. Smith
Fullback: Brad Hoover, Tony Fiammetta [R] is a driven competitor who pushes all the players around him to excel,
but unfortunately he hasn’t been a model teammate (as ex-teammate
Starting RB: DeAngelo Williams posted career-best numbers Ken Lucas can attest). If he can keep his nose clean this year and play
last season. He went over 100 yards rushing and receiving in eight a full 16-game schedule, he might get back to the 100+ receptions we
of 17 games last season and cranked out a series of multiple-TD saw from him a few years back. He is an elite NFL receiver with a
games in the second half of the year, lifting many fantasy owners to high motor and a huge desire to excel, all qualities that fantasy (and
the playoffs and championships in their leagues. He was the No. 1 NFL) owners appreciate. Muhsin Muhammad proved critics wrong
fantasy running back in the land last year, vastly outperforming his last year and re-joined the ranks of fantasy-worthy starters as he fin-
average draft position. Williams is firmly entrenched as the starter in ished at No. 26 among all fantasy wide receivers. He caught at least
Carolina, though he shares duties with Jonathan Stewart (who also one ball in every game last year and was usually in the 40- to 70-yard
scored double-digit TDs during 2008, with 184/836/10 rushing and receiving range. This year, he will again be the complement to Steve
8/47/0 receiving). The Carolina offense is very run-oriented, with Smith – Muhammad isn’t likely to repeat his dynamic 2004 campaign,
504 rushing attempts last season vs. 414 passing attempts. With over but he’ll be a solid No. 3 fantasy wide out if nothing goes wrong for
500 carries available, it is likely that Williams and Stewart could both him health wise. He’s a guy who keeps himself in top condition and
be viable fantasy players during 2009. Williams is only 26 this year, seems able to defy father time. Also, he took relatively few hits in his
which means he has many productive seasons ahead of him in the years while playing for the Bears, which seems to have added time to
NFL. He had three games over 100 yards rushing in the last five con- his career. The backups and tight ends in Carolina are nothing special,
tests - he still had plenty of gas in his tank then, which bodes well for so Smith and Muhammad figure to command a majority of the balls
his 2009 prospects. that Delhomme throws.
Backup RBs: Jonathan Stewart is a great complement to Backup WRs: Dwayne Jarrett is, as we said last year, essen-
tially an untouchable in fantasy terms. He has scored 0 TDs over two
NFL seasons and has accumulated just 192 yards receiving during
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED that time. He will need an injury to Smith or Muhammad to sniff the
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team starting lineup. Further, unless he vastly improves this year, Jarrett
RB Mike Goodson Draft College Carolina Panthers could be pushed for his No. 3 spot by a pair of unproven reserves in
RB Tony Fiammetta Draft College Carolina Panthers Kenneth Moore or Ryne Robinson.
WR Marcus Monk Free Agent New York Giants Carolina Panthers
TIGHT ENDS
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST Starter: Dante Rosario
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team Backup: Jeff King
QB Brett Basanez Free Agent Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears
RB Nick Goings Free Agent Carolina Panthers Free Agent Last season, Dante Rosario increased his number of receptions
WR D.J. Hackett Free Agent Carolina Panthers Free Agent three-fold over his 2007 numbers and still ended up with only
WR Mark Jones Free Agent Carolina Panthers Tennessee Titans 18/209/1 receiving. He is simply not a viable fantasy football TE. He
may top the depth chart in Carolina, but Dante Rosario is a marginal
fantasy TE (at best). Jeff King regressed last season (after post- 2008 SEASON STATS
ing 46/406/2 in 2007). He may have lost the starter’s role to Dante Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
Rosario. He’ll need to earn the top job back in Carolina. Based on Jake Delhomme414 246 3288 15 12 20 21 2
his 2007 campaign, we know King can play well as a receiver, but he
needs to develop more rapport with Jake Delhomme – those 46 recep- Josh McCown 0 0 0 0 0 4 -3 0
tions came from other QBs.
Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
PLACE KICKER DeAngelo Williams 274 1518 18 22 121 2
PKs: John Kasay, Rhys Lloyd Jonathan Stewart 183 833 10 8 47 0
After a 2005 season in which John Kasay’s field goal percentage Brad Hoover 9 18 0 6 39 0
dipped to 76.5 percent, he rebounded in 2006 with 88.9 percent and Nick Goings 9 10 0 3 1 0
followed up in 2007 hitting 85.7 percent. Last year he posted a career
high of 90.3 percent (28 of 31). Despite the improved accuracy, his Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
scoring has been up and down, varying with the offense’s success or Steve Smith 78 1421 6 Ctgry Avg Rnk
lack thereof. The Panthers’ annual kicker scoring going back the years
has been 130, 99, 100, 121, 99, 125, 74, 91, and 122 points. Kasay Muhsin Muhammad 65 923 5 Pts 25.9 7th
used to have a tendency to miss one extra point in most years; how- D.J. Hackett 13 181 0 Yds 349.7 10th
ever he has made them all the last three years. After a stretch of injury Dwayne Jarrett 10 119 0 P-Yds 197.4 19th
plagued years, Kasay has played in all 16 games the last four years. Mark Jones 2 32 0 R-Yds 152.3 3rd
Carolina added Rhys Lloyd as a kickoff specialist last year, and that
allowed Kasy to concentrate on scoring.
Tight End Rec Yards TDs
TEAM DEFENSE Jeff King 21 195 1
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Dante Rosario 18 209 1
The Panthers ranked in the middle of every important statistical
category last season. Not surprisingly, they weren’t an inspiring fan-
tasy option either. The pivotal question here will be whether DE Julius flourished in their respective roles last season. Richard Marshall and
Peppers signs his franchise tender and stays or succeeds in forcing a Chris Gamble are ball hawking corners with a nose for the end zone
trade. The team’s pass rush would suffer without him and the ripple and safeties Chris Harris (eight forced fumbles in 2007) and Charles
effect would be felt throughout the defense. With the second round Godfrey, are capable of generating big plays. Though this team has
selection of Everett Brown the Panthers have done what they could disappointed in the year end rankings for two consecutive seasons,
to prepare for that possibility. On paper this unit appears capable of they should still be considered as a late DST2 pick in all league for-
holding opponents yardage and scoring in check while generating mats. If they go undrafted, don’t hesitate to pick them up should they
plenty of big plays. MLB Jon Beason and WLB Thomas Davis both get off to a hot start.
terback. While blessed with good size and Devin Hester as well as Rashied Davis will
ICON SMI
confidence, nobody really knows at this point Greg Olsen
get the starting nod, and both are still learning
whether he is a career backup type in the NFL their craft. Hester did manage to become a more
or capable of more if given the opportunity. consistent receiver last year, finishing with 51
We will know how confident the Bears are in Hanie if they go into the receptions for 665 yards and three scores and has the quickness to
season with him slotted in as the No. 2 quarterback. give opposing defenses fits. He didn’t have a 100-yard receiving game
but did manage to grab at least four passes in eight of the 16 games.
RUNNING BACKS Rashied Davis had a couple of nice moments last year and did set
Starter: Matt Forte career marks in receptions and yards. The bad news however is those
Backups: Kevin Jones, Garrett Wolfe, Adrian Peterson career marks were just 35 receptions and 445 yards. From Week 10
Fullbacks: Jason McKie, Jason Davis on, he caught just eight total passes without a touchdown and was
benched for poor play.
Starting RB: The Bears have to be pleased with how well Backup WRs: A third-round pick in 2008, Earl Bennett failed
rookie RB Matt Forte played last season. He finished the season with to catch a single pass as a rookie last season. However, he appears to
316 carries and 1,238 rushing yards on the year. He also caught 63 be the third receiver by default heading into 2009. He has nice size
passes and scored 12 total touchdowns. He did everything the club and some talent, but his lack of production last season is difficult to
needed him to do and then some. His first and second half splits were ignore. Brandon Rideau has great size (6’4) to go along with some
near identical and he has emerged as a 20+ carry per game back for natural talent. The bad news however is he has yet to catch a single
the Bears. He had three 100-yard rushing games, 12 games with 3+ ball in the NFL. The Bears also drafted talented WR Joaquin Iglesias
receptions and scored in ten of the sixteen games. He is blessed with in the third round this year. He is quicker than fast and could compete
great size, surprising quickness and soft hands and is entrenched as for playing time out of the gate this season. Knox is a speedster, but
the starting tailback in Chicago. he’ll need to improve his route running to become anything other than
Backup RBs: Last season, some folks envisioned Kevin Jones a deep threat.
getting some significant playing time in Chicago, but he simply was
TIGHT ENDS
Starter: Greg Olsen
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED Backups: Desmond Clark, Kellen Davis, Michael Gaines
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
QB Brett Basanez Free Agent Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears What the Bears lack at the receiver position, they make up for it at
QB Jay Cutler Trade Denver Broncos Chicago Bears the tight end spot. Greg Olsen finished as the ninth-best fantasy tight
TE Michael Gaines Free Agent Detroit Lions Chicago Bears end in 2008, catching 54 passes and scoring five times. He became to
WR Derek Kinder Draft College Chicago Bears top target for the Bears. He has great size and quickness and he may
WR Johnny Knox Draft College Chicago Bears
become even a bigger part of the offense in 2009. Desmond Clark
WR Juaquin Iglesias Draft College Chicago Bears
is the perfect No. 2 tight end for the Bears. A 10-year veteran, Clark
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST had a lesser role with the club last season but still managed to grab 41
passes. He has had three straight 40-reception seasons. Kellen Davis is
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team an interesting prospect, blessed with great size, who could emerge as
QB Kyle Orton Trade Chicago Bears Denver Broncos a compliment to Greg Olsen once Clark is out of the picture. Michael
QB Rex Grossman Free Agent Chicago Bears Free Agent
Gaines is the team’s blocking TE.
WR Brandon Lloyd Free Agent Chicago Bears Free Agent
PLACE KICKER
PK: Robbie Gould
2008 SEASON STATS
Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
As a rookie in 2005, Robbie Gould was a serviceable replacement Kyle Orton 465 272 2972 18 12 24 49 3
for Doug Brien. In 2006 he easily held off Josh Huston for the job,
and subsequently emerged as one of the top kickers in the league.
Rex Grossman 62 32 257 2 2 3 4 20
He was 32 of 36 on FGs (88.9 percent), including 12 of 14 from 40+
yards, and totaled 143 points (1st). In 2007 he did nearly as well on Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
field goals hitting 31 of 36 (86.1 percent), again including 12 of 14 Matt Forte 316 1238 8 63 477 4
from 40+ yards, and totaled 126 points (7th). In 2008, he hit 89.7 Kevin Jones 34 109 0 2 5 0
percent (26 of 29) on field goals. They slipped to 15th in kicker scor-
ing however, as the number of field goals dropped and the number of
Adrian Peterson 20 100 0 6 45 0
PATs increased to a more typical distribution. The coaches remain the Garrett Wolfe 15 69 0 0 0 0
same for 2009, but there are several big changes in the offense, which Jason McKie 11 26 2 11 64 1
should increase offensive productivity. Jason Davis 1 0 0 1 12 0
TEAM DEFENSE
Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
The Bears had a solid pass rush, a Top 5 finish in interceptions, Devin Hester 51 665 3 Ctgry Avg Rnk
six combined special teams/defensive touchdwns, and a Top 10 fan- Rashied Davis 35 445 2 Pts 23.4 14th
tasy finish in 2008. Head Coach Lovie Smith changed up his defen- Brandon Lloyd 26 364 2 Yds 295.9 26th
sive front last season and successfully improved against the run, but Marty Booker 14 211 2 P-Yds 191.3 21st
a Bottom 5 pass defense was often the team’s undoing. Smith has
hinted that he may move back toward his Cover-2/Tampa-2 roots in
R-Yds 104.6 24th
2009, which could improve the team’s points against and yardage Tight End Rec Yards TDs
against figures. Veteran DE Adewale Ogunleye will continue to Greg Olsen 54 574 5
be the team’s primary pass rusher, while the back seven will again Desmond Clark 41 367 1
CHICAGO BEARS
be anchored by MLB Brian Urlacher and CB Charles Tillman. The
Bears will still have question marks in the secondary where the
corner and free safety play will need to improve if this defense is keep the Bears a solid fantasy option even if the defense struggles
to return to its once stingy ways. Kick returners Devin Hester and to remain consistent. Expect the Bears to again be one of the first
Danieal Manning will continue to provide added value and should defenses to come off the draft board.
ICON SMI
‘always a bridesmaid’ quality to him that makes for the Bengals to use a two-RB set rather than
CINCINNATI BENGALS
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Leon Hall in 2006 and 2007 got the ball rolling. In 2008 they added Tight End Rec Yards TDs
the best OLB in the draft Keith Rivers and this season arguably the Reggie Kelly 31 207 0
best MLB available in Rey Maualuga. Throw in solid later round Ben Utecht 16 123 0
pickups like tackles Domata Peko and Pat Sims, safeties Chinedum Dan Coats 2 19 0
Ndukwe and Marvin White plus this year’s potential late round steal
Nate Lawrie 2 11 0
DE Michael Johnson, along with a handful of solid free agents and
what you have is the best collection of talent this club has assembled several areas. Most notably the 21st-rated run defense and a pass rush
since their last trip to the Super Bowl. Don’t overlook the key addition that mustered just 17 sacks, but this is not the same old Bengals. It
of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer who led the club to a ranking will take time to build chemistry, but look for this unit to show con-
of 12th in total defense in 2008. There is room for improvement in siderable improvement.
in a battle for the starting job with Quinn. To fur- starter-quality WR in many leagues. This season
ICON SMI
ther complicate matters, Peter King of SI.com Jamal Lewis he has a lot more talent around him and some
reports that former Jet backup Brett Ratliff was a impressive rookies to take the pressure off. He
favorite of Eric Mangini when he was in New York. If Ratliff proves to should bounce back this season, although be careful not to expect a
be a solid backup, it could make Quinn or Anderson expendable. Top 10 finish until the QB controversy is resolved. Opposite of him
will be one of the two rookie WRs that the Browns drafted in the sec-
RUNNING BACKS ond round. The favorite right now has to be Brian Robiskie from Ohio
Starter: Jamal Lewis State. He was taken 36th overall and has the talent to be a starter on
Backups: Jerome Harrison, Noah Herron, James Davis [R] Day 1. Mohamed Massaquoi was taken 14 slots later, and has poten-
Fullback: Lawrence Vickers tial to be a starter for the Browns as well. However, he was much more
inconsistent in college and will have to work on the mental aspect of
Starting RB: Jamal Lewis barely cracked the 1,000 yards the game if he hopes to start opposite Edwards this season.
rushing mark last season. His four TDs tied a career low for him as Backup WRs: The Browns brought in Donte’ Stallworth last
well. Yet he’s still the best RB on the team and the assumed starter for season with the hope that he could provide some experience to a young,
2009. However, you can expect similar stats out of Lewis as he winds talented crew. Instead, Stallworth’s off-the-field troubles may have ended
down his career. Mangini was able to get production out of an older his career. Josh Cribbs was a minor spark for the Browns last season,
guy like Thomas Jones in New York. Perhaps Lewis will have one but his value is more on the punt and kick return side than on offense.
more solid year left in him. One key stat to be afraid of with Lewis David Patten returns to Cleveland on the downside of his career. He
though: 2,400 carries and over 200 receptions. That’s a lot of mileage still has some gas in the tank, but probably won’t be worth much unless
for a guy of his age, and a big obstacle to overcome if he’s going to the rookies flame out or someone goes down to injury. Syndric Steptoe
have another solid year. Approach with caution. saw action for most of last season, but still caught less than half the
Backup RBs: Jerome Harrison has steadily improved over his balls that were thrown to him. Paul Hubbard is a young prospect who
first three seasons, but not enough to warrant wanting him as a start- has much to prove before being considered a reasonable fantasy option.
league in 1999. Two years ago was their best finish, when they ranked
ninth in kicker scoring (120 points) as the offense came to life. The life 2008 SEASON STATS
was short lived, as they dropped to 22nd last year. Dawson did make Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
30 of 36 (83.3 percent) field goals, however he had only 18 PATs. That Derek Anderson283 142 1615 9 8 25 55 0
was down from 2007 when he made 26 of 30 (86.7 percent) field goals,
but had a career high 42 PATs. It was still better than his poor 2006 Ken Dorsey 91 43 374 0 7 2 0 0
season when he hit (72.4 percent), and scored only 88 points. Dawson Brady Quinn 89 45 518 2 2 5 21 0
is consistent in an unusual way. Most NFL kickers are nearly automatic Bruce Gradkowski 21 7 26 0 3 1 2 0
on short range field goals and their accuracy decreases as the distance
increases. Dawson’s kicking percentages are consistent regardless of the Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
distance. Jamal Lewis 279 1002 4 23 178 0
Jerome Harrison 34 246 1 12 116 1
TEAM DEFENSE
Jason Wright 23 85 0 22 156 1
Another dismal showing by the Browns defense in 2008 prompted Lawrence Vickers 10 31 0 10 78 0
a coaching change. It now falls to former Raiders defensive coordina- Charles Ali 0 0 0 4 13 0
tor Rob Ryan to improve a unit that finished 28th versus the rush,
recorded just 17 sacks and landed 26th in total defense. Ryan was Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs
an interesting selection for the job since he comes from a 4-3 back- Braylon Edwards 55 877 3
ground but will be coaching a 3-4 defense. The lineup will sport sev-
Team Per Game Stats
eral new faces this year. Many of which were brought over with new Syndric Steptoe 19 182 0 Ctgry Avg Rnk
head coach Eric Mangini from the Jets 3-4. Abram Elam will com- Donte Stallworth 17 170 1 Pts 14.5 30th
pete for the SS job, Eric Barton takes over at ILB, Kenyon Coleman Josh Cribbs 2 18 1 Yds 249.1 31st
steps in at DE and David Bowens will compete with second round Steve Sanders 1 18 0 P-Yds 148.8 31st
pick David Veikune at OLB. All these former Jets know Mangini’s
CLEVELAND BROWNS
defense which will help with the transition, but none of them are true
R-Yds 100.3 26th
Tight End Rec Yards TDs
impact players and that’s what the Cleveland defense is really lack-
Kellen Winslow 43 428 3
ing. Veikune could prove to be the guy they need to work opposite
Kamerion Wimbley and improve the pass rush. It looks like another Steve Heiden 23 249 0
long season in Cleveland. Darnell Dinkins 5 41 1
Martin Rucker 2 17 0
2008 WEEK BY WEEK STATS
Cleveland Dal Pit @Bal @Cin bye NYG @Was @Jac Bal Den @Buf Hou Ind @Ten @Phi Cin @Pit
10-28 6-10 10-28 20-12 week 35-14 11-14 23-17 27-37 30-34 29-27 6-16 6-10 9-28 10-30 0-14 0-31
QB Anderson 11-24-114-0 18-32-166-2 14-37-125-3 15-24-138-1 - 18-29-310-0 14-37-136-0 14-27-246-0 17-33-219-1 dnp dnp 5-14-51-1 16-26-110-0 dnp dnp dnp dnp
(rush stats) 4-24 3-6 1-2 4-11 4-(-2) 3-4 2-8 1-0 2-5
2 19 4 22,11 1 3 28,7
QB Dorsey dnp dnp dnp dnp - dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp 0-3-0-1 22-43-150-1 11-28-156-2 10-17-68-3 dnp
(rush stats) 1-0 1-0
QB Quinn dnp dnp dnp dnp - dnp dnp dnp dnp 23-35-239-0 14-36-185-0 8-18-94-2 dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp
(rush stats) 1-3 4-18
5,16 (P) (O)
QB Gradkowski dnp dnp dnp dnp - dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp 2-5-8-1 5-16-18-2
(rush stats) 1-2
RB Lewis 13-62 19-38 12-56 25-79 - 21-88 19-80 20-81 19-49 19-60 18-65 10-58 24-77 7-7 14-32 16-76 23-94
(rec stats) 1-14 3-28 3-21 2-15 1-4 1-18 1-7 1-13 2-24 2-10 1-7 2-3 3-14
(Q) (P) 1 4 2 1
RB Harrison 0-0 1-2 0-0 4-20 - 2-41 3-12 1-(-1) 1-5 5-48 3-80 7-31 2-6 2-2 dnp 1-(-1) 2-1
(rec stats) 1-23 1-19 1-5 2-26 1-9 1-21 1-8 2-6 2-(-1)
19(rec) 72 (Q) (P) (Q) (Q)
RB Wright 1-5 0-0 1-11 5-18 - 1-3 1-2 1-1 1-2 1-1 0-0 0-0 2-11 2-1 0-0 7-30 dnp
(rec stats) 1-9 1-10 1-6 2-18 3-22 3-18 5-40 6-33
(P) 7(rec) (P)
RB Vickers 0-0 1-2 1-4 1-6 - 1-2 1-2 2-10 dnp dnp dnp 0-0 1-2 1-1 0-0 dnp 1-2
(rec stats) 1-3 2-21 1-8 1-6 1-13 (D) (D) 1-4 (Q) 1-3 (Q) 1-(-1) 1-21 (Q) (P)
RB Ali 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 - 0-0 1-(-2) 0-0 0-0 1-1 1-12 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-2
(rec stats) (P) (D) (Q)
WR Edwards 2-14 3-32 3-27 3-22 - 5-154 4-58 2-64 4-86 1-15 8-104 5-85 2-36 3-38 5-102 4-35 1-5
(Q) 4 (P) 11 28
WR Steptoe 1-12 2-16 2-6 2-24 - 1-20 0-0 1-53 2-9 1-7 1-8 1-4 1-3 4-20 0-0 0-0 0-0
WR Stallworth dnp dnp dnp dnp - 2-19 2-24 3-13 dnp 4-48 0-0 1-18 1-4 1-15 1-13 1-4 1-12
(rush stats) 1-(-4)
(D) (Q) (D) (P) 3 (Q) (P) (P)
WR Cribbs dnp 0-0 1-17 0-0 - 0-0 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
(rush stats) 1-5 1-0 1-12 1-2 3-48 1-2 2-6 1-0 6-24 5-25 5-32 2-7
(Q) (Q) (P) 1 2(run) (Q) (Q) (P)
WR Sanders 1-18 0-0 0-0 0-0 - dnp dnp dnp 0-0 dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp
TE Winslow 5-47 7-55 2-14 5-54 - dnp 2-17 dnp 5-64 10-111 3-40 1-11 3-15 dnp dnp dnp dnp
2 (Q) (Q) 5,16 (Q) (Q) (O) (O) (O) (D)
TE Heiden 1-9 0-0 0-0 0-0 - 5-59 1-10 3-73 2-25 3-24 0-0 1-5 3-15 4-29 0-0 dnp dnp
(P) (Q) (Q)
TE Dinkins 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 - 1-22 1-4 1-5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 dnp 0-0 1-6 1-4 dnp
22 (Q) (Q) (O) (Q) (Q)
TE Rucker dnp dnp dnp dnp - dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp 1-9 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-8
(O) (O) (O) (O)
ICON SMI
2009 as the Cowboys traded for Jon Kitna, who welcome and now roams in Buffalo. That puts
will serve as an ideal backup. He can not only tremendous pressure on Roy Williams to fill
DALLAS COWBOYS
Tony Romo
play in Romo’s stead, but he is also capable of big T.O.’s shoes, and many people outside of Dallas
passing numbers in his own right. Kitna has started 115 regular season are skeptical. The Cowboys made a splash by acquiring the enigmatic
games and has been a top-10 fantasy QB on three separate occasions, Williams midway through last season, giving him a monster contract
for three different teams (Seattle ’99, Cincinnati ’03, and Detroit ’06). extension in the process. Williams caught only 19 passes in 10 games,
The team further improved their depth by drafting Texas A&M passer averaging just 10.4 yards per catch. He’s going to have to do much
Stephen McGee, who has considerably more long-term potential than better as Tony Romo’s go-to receiver, because there is no one else on
his QB3 predecessor, Richard Bartel. the roster capable of commanding attention from opposing defensive
coordinators. At his best, Williams can be a difference maker. He had
RUNNING BACKS 1,310 yards receiving in 2006 and has the size (6’4, 210 pounds) to
Starter: Marion Barber III make plays in traffic. But it’s been a downhill spiral since then; he
Backups: Felix Jones, Tashard Choice needs a great training camp to calm the critics. The other starting
Fullback: Deon Anderson spot remains in flux, with Patrick Crayton the likely Week 1 starter.
Crayton seemed on his way to carving out a solid career as the Dallas
Starting RB: The 2008 season was supposed to be the year WR3, until Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens were shown the door.
Marion Barber emerged as a full-time franchise back. Julius Jones Crayton has started 26 games over the last three seasons, and has aver-
was sent packing, Barber was given a big contract extension, and the aged more than 40 catches and 500 yards per season. If he starts full
Cowboys were going to rely on him while two rookies backed him up time in 2008, he will need to do more, starting with more consistency
when necessary. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Make no mis- breaking in and out of his routes.
take, Barber’s workload did increase in 2008, but it would be disingenu- Backup WRs: Miles Austin had 13 catches last season but is a
ous to say his season was an unqualified success. Last year, he ran the sure bet to do much more in 2009. The coaches love Austin’s attitude
ball 238 times and caught a career-best 52 receptions yet scored fewer and work ethic, and think he’s capable of making an impact, particu-
TDs (nine) than he did as a part-time player in 2006 and 2007. Running larly on the outside in 3WR sets. Austin averaged more than 21 yards
behind what many consider a good offensive line, Barber averaged just per catch last year and caught three TDs in limited action. At 6’3, 215
3.7 yards per carry. On a positive note, Barber had at least 100 yards pounds Austin fits the big receiver mold the Cowboys prefer. Isaiah
from scrimmage and/or scored a TD in eight games. The fact is, Barber Stanback is a converted college QB who will have a shot at the WR4
was a solid fantasy RB2, but most expected him to be an RB1. This role in camp. He’s a wild card given his inexperience. Sam Hurd and
year, Barber is healthy and has a renewed sense of purpose, but he also Travis Wilson need big training camps to hold down roster spots.
has given the coaches no reason to increase his workload.
TIGHT ENDS
Starter: Jason Witten
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED Backups: Martellus Bennett, John Phillips [R], Rodney Hannah
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
QB Stephen McGee Draft College Dallas Cowboys Jason Witten is the best tight end in football, and it’s hard to make
QB Jon Kitna Trade Detroit Lions Dallas Cowboys a credible argument to the contrary. His 81 catches and 952 yards last
TE John Phillips Draft College Dallas Cowboys season would have been mind-boggling numbers for most NFL TEs,
WR Manuel Johnson Draft College Dallas Cowboys
but for Witten they were par for the course. With five Pro Bowls in six
years, Witten is one of the few playmaking tight ends who also excel
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST in pass protection. As long as he’s healthy, you can count on elite
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team production in all facets of the game. Martellus Bennett had a strong
WR Terrell Owens Free Agent Dallas Cowboys Buffalo Bills rookie season, catching 20 passes for 283 yards and four TDs. His
14.2 yards per reception illustrate the rare athleticism Bennett brings
to the position. He could start for many NFL teams, and gives the 2008 SEASON STATS
Cowboys a chance to create mismatches in two-TE formations. Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
Tony Romo 450 276 3448 26 14 28 41 0
PLACE KICKER
PKs: Nick Folk, David Buehler Brad Johnson 78 41 427 2 5 2 -1 0
Brooks Bollinger 17 10 71 1 1 0 0 0
During their 90s dynasty years, the Cowboys ranked in the Top 6
in kicker scoring for eight consecutive years. After that, they ranked Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
in the bottom half each for the next seven years. In 2006 they finally Marion Barber 238 885 7 52 417 2
returned to the upper half, ranking 14th in kicker scoring, and then Tashard Choice 92 472 2 21 185 0
vaulted to fourth in 2007. As a rookie that year, Nick Folk made 26 of
Felix Jones 30 266 3 2 10 0
31 (83.9 percent) field goals and was perfect on all 53 PAT attempts.
His accuracy was even better last year (20 of 22, 90.9 percent), however Deon Anderson 2 3 0 2 7 1
his opportunities decreased and consequently his scoring dropped by 29
points. The Cowboys finished only 26th in kicker scoring. If the offense Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
can stay healthy and effective for 2009, Folk should be able to rebound Terrell Owens 69 1052 10 Ctgry Avg Rnk
as a fantasy kicker. Folk’s reputation coming out of college was as a Patrick Crayton 39 550 4 Pts 22.6 18th
strong leg. He has made two 50+ yarders in each of his two years in Roy Williams 19 198 1 Yds 344.5 13th
the NFL. He didn’t fare as well on kickoffs last year however, and the
Cowboys drafted strong-legged David Buehler out of USC. Miles Austin 13 278 3 P-Yds 236.8 9th
Isaiah Stanback 2 24 0 R-Yds 107.7 21st
TEAM DEFENSE
Tight End Rec Yards TDs
The Cowboys led the league in sacks last season, averaging over Jason Witten 81 952 4
three-and-a-half per game. Four players had seven or more sacks, led Martellus Bennett 20 283 4
DALLAS COWBOYS
by OLB DeMarcus Ware’s league best of 20. Poor finishes in points Tony Curtis 8 32 0
against, interceptions (only eight) and just two combined defensive
and special teams touchdowns kept them from finishing in the top
five in most fantasy leagues. Though Dallas lost underrated DE
Chris Canty and nickel backer Kevin Burnett, the bulk of the defense solid veteran presence in the middle. FS Ken Hamlin and CB Terence
remains intact. Jay Ratliff has played much bigger than his size at Newman anchor the secondary. The aggressive 3-4 front favored by
the nose and should continue to be a disruptive force in the middle. head coach Wade Phillips should keep the pass rush numbers high. If
Bradie James has blossomed into a strong all-around linebacker and the Cowboys can improve their points-against numbers and generate
free agent acquisition Keith Brooking will give the team another more big plays in the secondary, they have Top 5 upside.
ICON SMI
2007 was lost due to that injury. He was released backfield. He could play on some passing downs
DENVER BRONCOS
by the Bucs in 2008 but ended up signing with Eddie Royal when Moreno needs a breather. LaMont Jordan
the Tennessee Titans where he backed up Kerry has familiarity with this offense from last season
Collins. The Denver Broncos signed him to a 2-year, 6-million dol- when he was with the Patriots. He could be a nice goalline back for the
lar contract in March of 2009. So far in Denver he has impressed team with his size and power. Ryan Torain still hasn’t fully recovered
coaches at mini camp with his strong arm. Many expect Simms to from his torn ACL and is on the roster bubble.
be the backup behind Kyle Orton, but if he performs well enough in Fullback: Peyton Hillis is not a traditional fullback but rather a
training camp he could win the starting job. Sixth-round pick Tom multi-purpose back that can be used in any number of ways. With all
Brandstater is going to be a project for the same coach that made the RBs already on the roster Hillis may be the forgotten man when it
Matt Cassel a franchise player. He is a big, strong armed QB that can comes to getting carries. However, he showed that he can be a very good
effectively run bootlegs, but he needs to work on reading a defense. receiver out of the backfield and could be a pass catching option on third
downs. Hillis may also beat out LaMont Jordan as the goalline back.
RUNNING BACKS
Starter: Knowshon Moreno [R] WIDE RECEIVERS
Backup(s): Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, LaMont Jordan, Starters: Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal
Ryan Torain Backups: Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney, Kenny McKinley [R]
Fullback(s): Peyton Hillis
Starting WRs: Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal form one
of the most exciting WR tandems in the league and are both potential
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED Top 25 fantasy receivers. Last year Marshall ranked as the No. 11
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
fantasy WR and Royal checked in at No. 20. Things are quite differ-
QB Tom Brandstater Draft College Denver Broncos ent for the duo entering the 2009 season. QB Jay Cutler was moved to
QB Chris Simms Free Agent Tennessee Titans Denver Broncos Chicago, and at this time it looks like Kyle Orton will be leading the
QB Kyle Orton Trade Chicago Bears Denver Broncos team. Head Coach Josh McDaniels is looking to turn Marshall and
RB Knowshon Moreno Draft College Denver Broncos Royal into Moss and Welker for Patriots West. Orton is not a franchise
RB Correll Buckhalter Free Agent Philadelphia Eagles Denver Broncos QB like Cutler, but under McDaniels this team could become more
RB Darius Walker Free Agent Houston Texans Denver Broncos efficient in the red zone as last year they ranked No. 17 in points
RB LaMont Jordan Free Agent New England Patriots Denver Broncos scored. With a running game led by Knowshon Moreno, the Broncos
RB J.J. Arrington Free Agent Arizona Cardinals Denver Broncos
could have more sustained drives and more success inside the 20-yard
TE Richard Quinn Draft College Denver Broncos
WR Kenny McKinley Draft College Denver Broncos
line. This could translate into more scoring opportunities for Marshall
WR Jabar Gaffney Free Agent New England Patriots Denver Broncos and Royal.
Backup WRs: Brandon Stokley is still one of the best pos-
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST session receivers in the game, but he is getting up there in age. He
was targeted 85 times last year and will still be an important part of
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team the passing game, although his numbers should take a slight down-
QB Jay Cutler Trade Denver Broncos Chicago Bears
turn. One of the reasons for his reduced production could be Jabar
QB Patrick Ramsey Free Agent Denver Broncos Tennessee Titans
RB Michael Pittman Free Agent Denver Broncos Free Agent
Gaffney. He has experience with Coach McDaniels from their time
RB Selvin Young Free Agent Denver Broncos Free Agent together in New England but may only get on the field with the
TE Dan Campbell Free Agent Denver Broncos New Orleans Saints Broncos go with 4-WR sets. Kenny McKinley broke many of Sterling
TE Nate Jackson Free Agent Denver Broncos Free Agent Sharpe’s records while at South Carolina. He is a quick receiver that
WR Cliff Russell Free Agent Denver Broncos Free Agent can get to top speed, but durability is a concern.
WR Darrell Jackson Free Agent Denver Broncos Free Agent
TIGHT ENDS
Starters: Daniel Graham
2008 SEASON STATS
Backups: Tony Scheffler, Richard Quinn [R] Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
Jay Cutler 616 384 4526 25 18 57 200 2
Daniel Graham is known as one of the best blocking TEs in the
league, but in 2008 he flashed some of the receiving ability that made
him a Mackey Award-winning TE in college. Protecting the QB is Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
paramount so Graham may be used less as a receiver than he was Michael Pittman 76 320 4 10 112 0
last season. The Broncos were rumored to have been shopping Tony Peyton Hillis 68 343 5 14 179 1
Scheffler before the NFL Draft. He is the best receiving option out Selvin Young 61 303 1 3 16 0
of all the TEs on the roster and could even line up split out wide.
Richard Quinn was a surprise second-round pick for the Broncos in
Tatum Bell 44 249 2 10 57 0
the 2009 NFL Draft. With only 12 career receptions Quinn was not Andre Hall 35 144 0 3 25 0
a featured part of the Tar Heels offense. He was considered to be the Ryan Torain 15 69 1 0 0 0
second-best blocking TE in this draft behind Brandon Pettigrew. The
Broncos selected him to be the eventual replacement for Graham. Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
Quinn could see some playing time when the Broncos go with two-TE
Brandon Marshall 104 1265 6 Ctgry Avg Rnk
sets in the red zone but shouldn’t be much of a fantasy factor.
Eddie Royal 91 980 5 Pts 26.7 4th
PLACE KICKER Brandon Stokley 49 528 3 Yds 365.8 4th
PK: Matt Prater P-Yds 292.1 2nd
Tight End Rec Yards TDs R-Yds 73.6 32nd
The Broncos decision to go with unproven Matt Prater looked
brilliant during the first half of 2008, as he missed only two kicks and
Tony Scheffler 40 645 3
showed his extremely strong leg. But the misses started piling up and Daniel Graham 32 389 4
the kickoffs started fading in the second half of the year. Prater ended
DENVER BRONCOS
up hitting 25 of 34 (73.5 percent) on field goals and 39 of 40 on
PATs. The Broncos finished only 19th in kicker scoring despite rank- is at the helm they are making the switch official. Anytime a team
ing 8th in opportunities. Prater faces several challenges in 2009. He’ll makes this transition there is both a learning curve and a period
face competition for the job. Even if he keeps the job, will the offense of personnel adjustment. The coaches will try Elvis Dumervil and
under new coaches and a new system produce scoring opportunities as rookie Robert Ayers at the all important OLB positions. Although
well as under the previous regime, and if so how quickly? they seem to have the skill set to make the move, nothing is certain.
In the secondary Journeymen Andre Goodman and Renaldo Hill
TEAM DEFENSE will start at corner and SS respectively while the FS position will be
turned over to 36-year old Brian Dawkins. The DL lacks 3-4 type
There weren’t many defenses worse than the Broncos last season players as well. In fact the only position that seems solid is ILB
– 29th in total D, 30th in scoring D, 26th against the pass and 27th where D.J. Williams will pair with former Browns starter Andra
versus the run, 26th in sacks and dead last with only 13 takeaways. Davis. This unit can’t be much worse than last year’s but there is no
Denver tinkered with a 3-4 last year and now that Josh McDaniels reason to believe they will be a lot better either.
Starting QB: For the moment, Daunte Culpepper is unof- Starting RB: In a season where little went right for the Detroit
ficially the starting quarterback. After coming to the Lions just after Lions, 2008 rookie Kevin Smith did display the occasional flash of bril-
midseason (Detroit was desperate due to injuries to Jon Kitna and liance to let Detroit fans know there is at least hope on the horizon. He
Dan Orlovsky), Culpepper was thrust into the starting line-up. He was is a big back that thrives on 20+ carries per game. In fact, he did carry
woefully out of shape (tipping the scales in the the ball at least 20 times in six of the final eight
290 range) and struggled with consistency. After games of the season and rushed for at least 86
five weeks, Culpepper suffered a shoulder sprain yards six times during that stretch. He rushed for
and missed the last three games of the season. He 670 yards and scored four touchdowns during the
then took things serious over the offseason and second half of the season when the Lions really
reported to minicamp in much better condition began to lean on him to move the ball. With better
(dropping around 30 pounds). He was expect- players around him, Smith could really become a
ing to be the team’s unquestioned starter and strong player for the Lions in 2009 and beyond.
some had high hopes with him being reunited Backup RBs: The Lions brought in veteran
with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, with running back Maurice Morris from Seattle this
whom Culpepper experienced career seasons in season to spell starter Kevin Smith. Morris isn’t
Minnesota. However, the 2009 NFL Draft got in flashy but he can move the chains and handle a
the way. While Culpepper’s experience gives him 20 carry per game workload if called upon. He’ll
an edge on Matthew Stafford, the Lions view the likely get 7-10 touches per game with Detroit, giv-
rookie as their future and are even more clearly ing Smith some rest when needed. Aveion Cason is
not ready to win now. All they have is future, so simply around for depth. Aaron Brown had a very
the Stafford era could begin relatively soon. good freshman season with TCU but never elevated
ICON SMI
Backup QBs: While an official depth chart his play from there. He may earn some reps down
hasn’t been released, the coaching staff seems Calvin Johnson the road but is more likely to play on special teams.
ready to bring Matthew Stafford along slowly. Fullbacks: Jerome Felton should be the
DETROIT LIONS
They’ve seen the countless number of franchise rookies that have fal- starting fullback this season. He started six games last season and had
tered after being thrust into starting roles and hope to avoid derailing two carries and nine receptions. He shouldn’t be on anybody’s fantasy
Stafford’s career. In minicamp, Stafford showed normal rookie jitters radar but should continue to improve as a blocker, helping the run-
of being a little too hot on his throws and rushing his movements a ning game to improve. Don’t be surprised if veteran Terrelle Smith
bit. He’ll settle down in subsequent camps and will soon show why he emerges as the starter as he is a very capable blocker.
was taken first overall. He has a great arm and can be very accurate.
As shown by starting in Georgia as a freshman, Stafford is also a cere- WIDE RECEIVERS
bral player and should not be overwhelmed mentally. Drew Stanton Starters: Calvin Johnson, Bryant Johnson
was once considered to be the QB of the future, but he could soon Backups: Ronald Curry, Derrick Williams [R], John
be out of the league. The Lions are now grooming Stafford for the Standeford, Adam Jennings
future and are even considering bringing in another veteran for depth.
Stanton may simply be a guy that just doesn’t make it. Starting WRs: While Kevin Smith emerged as a legitimate run-
RUNNING BACKS ning back during the second half last season, Calvin Johnson is the
true star of this offense. Playing with mediocre quarterbacks through-
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED out last season, Johnson still managed to catch 78 passes for 1,331 and
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
12 touchdowns. Lord only knows what kind of season he could have if
QB Matthew Stafford Draft College Detroit Lions he had a quarterback like Drew Brees throwing him the ball. Johnson
RB Aaron Brown Draft College Detroit Lions is truly an elite talent. Amazing size, good body control and almost
RB Maurice Morris Free Agent Seattle Seahawks Detroit Lions impossible to cover one-on-one, he is only a quarterback away from
RB Terrelle Smith Free Agent Arizona Cardinals Detroit Lions being the best fantasy receiver in the NFL. Bryant Johnson was a
TE Brandon Pettigrew Draft College Detroit Lions good signing by the Lions. He was miscast as a WR1 in San Francisco
TE Dan Gronkowski Draft College Detroit Lions but should thrive as a No. 2 drawing single coverage on an ongoing
TE Will Heller Free Agent Seattle Seahawks Detroit Lions basis. He won’t have big numbers thanks to the presence of Calvin
WR Derrick Williams Draft College Detroit Lions
Johnson, but Bryant Johnson will do enough to keep defenses honest.
WR Bryant Johnson Free Agent San Francisco 49ers Detroit Lions
WR Ronald Curry Free Agent Oakland Raiders Detroit Lions
Backup WRs: The Ronald Curry pickup this offseason was
a very nice move by the Lions, and he may be a surprise this season.
Curry as the third option will be difficult for defenses to handle as
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST they roll their coverage over to stop Calvin Johnson. For a 0-16 team
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team just one season ago, the Lions skilled positions actually look strong.
QB Dan Orlovsky Free Agent Detroit Lions Houston Texans The other backup positions should be decided during training camp
QB Jon Kitna Trade Detroit Lions Dallas Cowboys with many players having a legitimate shot. The most likely candidate
RB Brian Calhoun Free Agent Detroit Lions Free Agent to emerge as the fourth receiving option is rookie Derrick Williams
RB Moran Norris Free Agent Detroit Lions San Francisco 49ers from Penn State. He isn’t a fantastic prospect but has enough quick-
RB Rudi Johnson Free Agent Detroit Lions Free Agent
ness and ability to earn some playing time.
TE John Owens Free Agent Detroit Lions Seattle Seahawks
TE Michael Gaines Free Agent Detroit Lions Chicago Bears
WR Mike Furrey Free Agent Detroit Lions Cleveland Browns TIGHT ENDS
WR Shaun McDonald Free Agent Detroit Lions Pittsburgh Steelers Starters: Brandon Pettigrew [R]
WR Steve Sanders Free Agent Detroit Lions Free Agent Backups: Casey Fitzsimmons, Michael Gaines
WR Travis Taylor Free Agent Detroit Lions Free Agent
The Lions added Brandon Pettigrew, the top tight end prospect
with the 20th pick in this year’s draft. He is a multi-dimensional tight 2008 SEASON STATS
end that has very good receiving skills and even better blocking abil- Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
ity. At 6’5 and 263 pounds, he will create havoc down the field as Dan Orlovsky 255 143 1616 8 8 7 29 0
he has the athleticism to out-run linebackers and run over defensive Jon Kitna 120 68 758 5 5 6 26 0
backs. In addition, he has the frame to add another 10+ pounds or
Daunte Culpepper 115 60 786 4 6 12 25 1
so without missing a beat. As teams key to stop Calvin Johnson,
Pettigrew may find plenty of open space down the middle of the field. Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
Casey Fitzsimmons and Michael Gaines are capable blocking tight Kevin Smith 238 976 8 39 286 0
ends but don’t add much excitement in the passing attack.
Rudi Johnson 76 237 1 12 88 1
PLACE KICKER Aveion Cason 4 7 0 4 27 0
PK: Jason Hanson Jerome Felton 2 4 0 9 53 0
DETROIT LIONS
TEAM DEFENSE ferred for a more traditional 4-3 scheme with big bodies at defensive
tackle and a preference for size with speed in the back seven. The
There wasn’t much to like about the Lions defense last season. Lions grabbed versatile OLB Julian Peterson in a trade with Seattle
Although they finished with a respectable 31 sacks, their 4 intercep- and brought in Larry Foote to compete at MLB and space-eating NT
tions were a league low and only Chicago forced fewer fumbles. Grady Jackson to play the nose. Anthony Henry and Phillip Buchanon
Detroit was also last in the league in both yardage and points allowed. were signed to retool the cornerback group. The makeover continued
Not surprisingly, the team canned Rod Marinelli and brought in for- in the draft with FS Louis Delmas and LB Deandre Levy, both of
mer Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz as head coach. whom could start as rookies. Despite the turnover and scheme change,
Schwartz will move away from the Tampa-2 defense Marinelli pre- the Lions are not yet likely to be an option in fantasy leagues.
ICON SMI
pick, Flynn’s upside may be quite limited, but developed nice chemistry with Aaron Rodgers
he still has enough ability to beat out last year’s Greg Jennings and should continue his productive ways in
second-round pick Brian Brohm, who really years to come. At 25, Jennings is only starting
disappointed in Green Bay last year. Brohm does have the accuracy, to reach his prime now. Donald Driver simply continues to amaze.
poise and intelligence to eventually be a starting quatrerback. It is He had his fifth-straight 1,000-yard receiving season in 2008 and
definitely a battle to watch at training camp this year to see if either caught 74 passes. He also managed a respectable five touchdown
young player elevates his play. receptions and finished as the 23rd-best fantasy receiver. At 34-
years of age, father time is catching up to Driver, but he should have
RUNNING BACKS another couple of seasons with strong production.
Starter: Ryan Grant Backup WRs: If Driver’s production takes a dip this season,
Backups: Brandon Jackson, DeShawn Wynn it will likely be because second-year receiver Jordy Nelson earns a
Fullbacks: Korey Hall, Quinn Johnson [R] bigger role. Nelson is a big, strong, quick receiver that the Packers
really like. As a rookie in 2008, Nelson caught 33 passes and scored
Starting RB: When it comes to RB Ryan Grant’s play last twice. He is talented enough to see many passes thrown his way
season, there is some good and bad news. The good news is Grant as WR3 in this offense and will replace Driver in the near future.
proved he is capable of carrying the ball 300 times in a season. He James Jones and Ruvell Martin will round out the receiving corps,
finished with 312 carries for 1,203 rushing yards and had four 100- and Jones should see the majority of the action between those two
yard rushing games. He has great size and is difficult to tackle once players. Jones saw his production take a big dive in 2008 from his
he gets up a head of steam. The bad news is Grant had just four rookie campaign in 2007, but he has caught 67 passes in two sea-
rushing touchdowns (one score every 78 carries) which was amongst sons.
the worst in the NFL at the position. He did not appear as capable
of making defenders miss as the 2007 campaign and his YPC went TIGHT ENDS
down by a full yard. He is still likely to get the bulk of the work this Starters: Donald Lee
season, and he should finish with 300+ carries and 1,200+ yards. Backups: Tory Humphrey, Jermichael Finley
Backup RBs: Last preseason, Brandon Jackson was generat-
ing some buzz with his size and quickness, but it never really mate- Donald Lee is a good starting tight end. He has enough quick-
rialized on game day. He did average 5.5 YPC on just 48 carries and ness to get open in underneath passing routes and has scored 11
added an additional 30 receptions. There is a potential of much more touchdowns over the past two seasons. He caught 33 passes in
production from this former second-round pick, but it is unlikely he 2008. However, most were thrown within five yards of the line of
will wrestle the starting job away from Ryan Grant and his upside scrimmage, so he finished with only 303 receiving yards. Four-year
(unless injuries occur) is a 10-touch per game player. DeShawn veteran Tory Humphrey accumulated the first stats of his career
Wynn was a forgotten man in this offense last year and will likely last year, finishing with 11 receptions for 162 yards. He had some
nice moments but failed to catch a touchdown pass. He will likely
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED be surpassed by Jermichael Finley, who has some nice long-term
potential.
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
RB Quinn Johnson Draft College Green Bay Packers
RB Tyrell Sutton Free Agent Free Agent Green Bay Packers PLACE KICKER
PK: Mason Crosby
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST Mason Crosby was nearly unstoppable from long range dur-
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team ing his sophomore and junior seasons at Colorado, and very likely
WR Shaun Bodiford Free Agent Green Bay Packers New York Giants would have been a rare first-day draft selection had he come out
at that time. He stayed for his senior year, struggled, and fell to the
Packers in the sixth round of the 2007 draft. He scored 141 points in 2008 SEASON STATS
his rookie year, placing Green Bay atop the kicker scoring rankings. Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
In his second year he followed up with 127 points and the Packers Aaron Rodgers 536 341 4038 28 13 56 207 4
ranked 7th in kicker scoring. Mason’s 79.5 percent (31 of 39) on
field goals in 2007 and 79.4 percent (27 of 34) in 2008 are below Matt Flynn 5 2 6 0 0 4 4 0
average for an NFL kicker, especially in a time when accuracy was
up across the board. This year the offense and its coaches remain Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
relatively intact. Mason will be working under a new special teams Ryan Grant 312 1203 4 18 116 1
coordinator who was promoted from assistant. Brandon Jackson 45 248 1 30 185 0
TEAM DEFENSE John Kuhn 8 10 1 4 21 2
DeShawn Wynn 8 110 1 3 30 0
Though the Packers were an average defense when measured by Kregg Lumpkin 1 19 0 3 22 0
points and yardage, the unit forced 28 turnovers last season and
scored nine combined defensive and special teams touchdowns. Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
The big plays helped Green Bay to a Top 10 fantasy finish in the
standard FBG scoring system. Surprisingly the Packers offseason Greg Jennings 80 1292 9 Ctgry Avg Rnk
began with the hiring of long-time, 3-4 zone blitz guru Dom Capers, Donald Driver 74 1012 5 Pts 26.2 5th
which confirmed rumors that they would be changing to a 3-4. They Jordy Nelson 33 366 2 Yds 351.1 8th
then spent the off-season shuffling personnel to fit the new scheme. James Jones 20 274 1 P-Yds 238.3 8th
Defensive end Aaron Kampman was moved to outside linebacker Ruvell Martin 15 149 1 R-Yds 112.8 17th
with OLB A.J. Hawk shifted inside alongside Nick Barnett. Green
Bay then addressed two other critical needs in the draft by tak-
ing stud NT prospect B.J. Raji and versatile OLB prospect Clay Tight End Rec Yards TDs
ICON SMI
ther has tremendous arm strength or rushing abili- came into the league in 2003, but he has really
ty, both have good intelligence and can be accurate Andre Johnson blossomed since Matt Schaub took over the QB
HOUSTON TEXANS
when given time in the pocket. Orlovsky lacks the position from David Carr. Johnson’s 2007 sea-
pocket presence of Schaub, but that may improve with the move out of son was cut short, but in just nine games he caught 60 passes for 851
Detroit. With Schaub an injury risk, Orlovsky could easily see playing yards. In 2008 he proved it wasn’t a fluke: in 16 games he caught 115
time in Houston. The Texans would like him to be as effective off the passes for a league-best 1,575 yards, and finished as the No. 2 fan-
bench as Sage Rosenfels had been. Alex Brink was the Texan’s seventh- tasy WR. Johnson has an outstanding combination of size, speed, and
round draft choice a year ago; he was initially cut before being signed hands. He also runs good patterns and can gain yards after the catch.
to the practice squad. If there’s a knock on him from a fantasy standpoint, it’s that he doesn’t
catch enough touchdowns. He hasn’t yet sniffed double digits in that
RUNNING BACKS category, but when the catches and yards are there, the touchdowns
Starter: Steve Slaton usually come. (Think: Torry Holt.) Lining up across from Johnson is
Backups: Chris Brown, Ryan Moats, Jeremiah Johnson Kevin Walter, who has also benefited from Matt Schaub’s arrival in
Fullback: Vonta Leach town. Walter has caught 60+ passes for 800+ yards in each of the last
two seasons. Despite putting up decent numbers in 2007 (mostly when
Starting RB: Steve Slaton, the team’s third-round draft pick a Andre Johnson was missing from the lineup), Walter was drafted as
year ago, surpassed all realistic expectations, rushing for a franchise a fantasy WR5 or WR6 at best last season, but far surpassed even the
record 1,282 yards. He also set a franchise record (for RBs) by aver- most optimistic expectations as his 8 touchdown receptions (which
aging 4.8 yards a carry. Slaton became the workhorse back for the tied him with Johnson) helped land him in the top 20 at his position.
Texans last year somewhat by default, and many expected the team to Backup WRs: Andre Davis, a former second-round pick
select a running back during this year’s draft to help share the work- by the Browns, is a speed-receiver who has made some big plays
load in 2009. That didn’t happen, which means Slaton will again be (including a 99-yard touchdown reception in 2004) but has been
called on to lead the Texans’ running game, and should get over 300 inconsistent throughout his career. Davis was productive during his
touches again if he can stay healthy. Slaton has excellent speed, and first three years with the Browns, but a toe injury suffered in his third
runs surprisingly tough inside for a smaller back. season may have slowed him for the next two, which he spent with
Backup RBs: Chris Brown was signed last offseason and prob- the Patriots and Bills before coming to Houston. Davis has found a
ably would have gotten a fair amount of playing time, but a herniated niche as a backup with the Texans, but has had some durability issues
disc forced him onto injured reserve before the season started. Injuries (including finger injuries in each of the last two seasons). David
Anderson was a restricted free agent this offseason. The Broncos
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED signed him to an offer sheet, but the Texans matched the offer, bring-
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team ing him back to compete with Davis for the WR3 role. Jacoby Jones
QB Dan Orlovsky Free Agent Detroit Lions Houston Texans was the Texans’ third-round pick in 2007. The team hoped that he’d
TE Anthony Hill Draft College Houston Texans eventually challenge for a starting position, but so far his main contri-
TE James Casey Draft College Houston Texans bution has been as a punt-returner.
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST TIGHT ENDS
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team Starter: Owen Daniels
QB Sage Rosenfels Trade Houston Texans Minnesota Vikings
Backups: Anthony Hill [R], James Casey [R]
RB Ahman Green Free Agent Houston Texans Free Agent
RB Cecil Sapp Free Agent Houston Texans Free Agent
RB Darius Walker Free Agent Houston Texans Denver Broncos Owen Daniels was a second-day draft pick in 2006. He started imme-
TE Mark Bruener Free Agent Houston Texans Free Agent diately, and has improved every season so far. He was the sixth-best fan-
WR Tim Carter Free Agent Houston Texans St. Louis Rams tasy TE a year ago and made his first trip to the Pro Bowl. Daniels is a
HOUSTON TEXANS
Joel Dreessen 11 77 0
TEAM DEFENSE
DeMeco Ryans will be joined by arguably the most talented OLB
Since their inception the Texans have struggled to get over the in this year’s draft, first-round pick Brian Cushing, to help improve
hump defensively. Last season saw them again finish in the bottom the 23rd rated run defense and provide more big plays. Houston had
half of the league in every important category. The numbers weren’t some youngsters step up for them down the stretch last year as well.
good in 2008 but the club did find players to fill some holes. With Second year players Xavier Adibi at OLB, safety Dominique Barber
all the offseason attention to the defense, 2009 could be the turn- and corner Antwan Molden are all expected to start or make a sig-
ing point. Former first-round picks DE Mario Williams, DT Travis nificant contribution this year. And finally the resigning of Eugene
Johnson and DT Amobi Okoye will be joined by free agent upgrade Wilson upgrades and solidifies the safety position. We can expect
DE Antonio Smith and talented rookie pass rusher Connor Barwin considerable improvement from this group and possibly even a Top
to boost a pass rush that totaled only 25 sacks a year ago. Stud MLB 12 fantasy finish.
last season as a team (their worst since 1996). size-speed combination, but at this point he’s all
Reggie Wayne
The Colts let Dominic Rhodes go this offseason, potential. He’s been set back by injuries during
but that doesn’t mean that Addai’s share of the his first two years in the league and has only one
workload will increase. First-round pick Donald Brown is expected career reception. But at 6’2, 229, he makes an enticing redzone tar-
to fill Rhodes’ role (at a minimum), so Addai should be considered a get. Pierre Garcon was the Colts’ sixth-round draft pick last season.
member of a rotation, not a workhorse stud. He is a speedy player who will compete for playing time in the slot,
Backup RBs: The Colts spent their first-round pick this year on but probably has a better chance at seeing action returning kicks and
RB Donald Brown out of Connecticut. Brown and Addai should give punts.
the Colts a strong one-two punch out of the backfield. Like Addai,
Brown is a well-rounded back who can run inside or outside, and is TIGHT ENDS
also a fine receiver. Brown is also an intelligent player who should Starter: Dallas Clark
pick up the Colts’ offense quickly. While Addai is probably the favor- Backups: Jacob Tamme, Gijon Robinson
an H-back, Robinson saw action in nearly every game last season and
played fairly well, albeit in limited duty. 2008 SEASON STATS
Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
PLACE KICKER Peyton Manning 555 371 4002 27 12 20 21 1
PK: Adam Vinatieri
Jim Sorgi 30 22 178 0 0 5 8 0
During his first year with the Colts in 2006, Adam Vinatieri went
25 of 28 (89.3 percent) on field goals, for the second highest percent- Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
age of his career. In 2007 he made 23 of 29 (79.3 percent) for his sec- Joseph Addai 155 544 5 25 206 2
ond worst percentage of this decade. Last year wasn’t much better at Dominic Rhodes 152 538 6 45 302 3
80.0 percent (20 of 25). Nonetheless, Vinatieri kept his streak alive of
scoring at least 100 points every year. It didn’t look promising after he Chad Simpson 15 45 1 3 30 0
had only 37 points in the first half of the season, but he had 66 points Najeh Davenport 10 31 0 4 54 0
in the second half. The last time the Colts failed to score 100 kicking Mike Hart 2 9 0 1 18 0
points was way back in 1994. During that stretch they have scored as
many as 157 in a year. Cary Blanchard, Mike Vanderjagt, and now Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
Vinatieri have benefited from a steady supply of scoring opportuni-
ties. After ten years in the league, Vinatieri’s career averages are 82.1 Reggie Wayne 82 1145 6 Ctgry Avg Rnk
percent on field goals and 114.6 points scored per year. Marvin Harrison 60 636 5 Pts 23.6 13th
Anthony Gonzalez 57 664 4 Yds 335.5 15th
TEAM DEFENSE Pierre Garcon 4 23 0 P-Yds 255.9 5th
Roy Hall 1 9 0 R-Yds 79.6 31st
The Colts finished 2008 with the seven rated scoring defense and
were No. 6 against the pass. On the other side of that coin was their
24th ranked run defense and middle of the pack numbers in sacks and Tight End Rec Yards TDs
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
takeaways. They addressed the rush defense by adding a pair of 300+ Dallas Clark 77 848 6
pound tackles in the draft. Second-round pick Fili Moala is a high Gijon Robinson 19 166 0
motor guy capable of dominating between the tackles. He should chal- Tom Santi 10 64 1
lenge for a starting job or at least see time in the rotation right away.
Fourth rounder Terrence Taylor is a fireplug who will likely contribute Jacob Tamme 3 12 0
on short yardage. The other change aimed at stopping the run will be
the insertion of 240-pound second-year pro Phillip Wheeler at SLB. the Colts to finish among the Top 12 fantasy defenses last year, but
Beyond Moala, Wheeler and the return from injury of corner Marlin they lacked consistency. They seem destined for a similar finish in
Jackson, the lineup remains the same. Four defensive scores helped 2009.
league for six years, mostly as a backup, but he playing time late last season but is mostly an
ICON SMI
did start seven games for the Dolphins in 2007. unknown commodity at the NFL level.
That season went poorly for the Dolphins and for David Garrard Fullbacks: Greg Jones has an outstanding
Lemon, although he did have a 300+ yard game size-speed combination and can play some tailback
against Baltimore. Lemon saw almost no playing time with the Jaguars as well as fullback. He lost the 2006 season due to a knee injury and may
last year since Garrard stayed healthy. Lemon is a mobile quarterback not have completely regained his agility since then. Although Jones got
with a strong arm, but lacks accuracy and good decision-making under only two carries last year, he is a better runner than most fullbacks and is
fire. Many observers thought that Todd Bouman outperformed Lemon a threat to score in goal-line situations.
in last year’s training camp, but the Jaguars stuck with Lemon as their
backup (while Bouman landed in Baltimore backing up Joe Flacco and WIDE RECEIVERS
Troy Smith). The Jaguars have brought Bouman back to compete with Starters: Torry Holt, Mike Walker
Lemon once again in this year’s training camp. Backups: Dennis Northcutt, Mike Thomas [R], Jarett Dillard
[R], Troy Williamson
RUNNING BACKS
Starter: Maurice Jones-Drew Starting WRs: With Matt Jones and Reggie Williams gone,
Backups: Rashad Jennings [R], Chauncey Washington, Alvin the Jaguars will have a new look at the WR position this year. Former
Pearman Ram Torry Holt joins the team after 10 productive seasons in St.
Fullbacks: Greg Jones, Montell Owens Louis. Holt has been remarkably durable throughout his career, having
missed only two games in ten seasons. He’ll be 33 when the season
Starting RB: Maurice Jones-Drew split time with Fred Taylor starts, and last year marked his worst fantasy season as a pro. He
in each of his three seasons with the Jaguars so far, and he has never caught 64 passes for 796 yards (the least since his rookie year) and
carried the ball more than 200 times in a season. With Taylor headed just three touchdowns (the fewest in his career). Can a 33-year-old
to New England, Jones-Drew’s workload should increase in 2009. receiver bounce back to fantasy starting material? Initial indications
He is a quick runner with exceptional balance and surprising power out of the Jaguars’ first mini-camp are good, as Garrard and Holt have
and toughness. He is also an excellent receiver out of the backfield established some chemistry right away. Mike Walker is expected to
occupy the other starting WR spot. Walker was the Jaguars’ third-
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED round draft pick in 2007, but missed his entire rookie season after suf-
fering a knee injury in the final preseason game. He started to come
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
QB Todd Bouman Free Agent Baltimore Ravens Jacksonville Jaguars on early in 2008, leading the Jaguars with 11 receptions in Weeks 4
RB Rashad Jennings Draft College Jacksonville Jaguars and 5 combined. Week 5 marked his first 100-yard game, but a knee
TE Zach Miller Draft College Jacksonville Jaguars injury kept him out of the next four games and when he returned late
WR Jarett Dillard Draft College Jacksonville Jaguars in the season at less than 100 percent his impact was minimal. He
WR Mike Thomas Draft College Jacksonville Jaguars heads into 2009 healthy, and could have a breakout fantasy season.
WR Tiquan Underwood Draft College Jacksonville Jaguars Backup WRs: Dennis Northcutt was the Browns’ second-
WR Torry Holt Free Agent St. Louis Rams Jacksonville Jaguars round draft pick in 2000, and signed with the Jaguars before the
2007 season. He’s been in the league nine years, but has never been
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST a worthwhile fantasy starter (even in leagues that start three WRs).
Northcutt has excellent speed and big-play ability, but his career with
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
RB Fred Taylor Free Agent Jacksonville Jaguars New England Patriots
both the Brown and the Jaguars has been marred by bad drops in key
TE George Wrighster Free Agent Jacksonville Jaguars New York Giants situations. Northcutt will compete with Mike Walker for the starting
WR Jerry Porter Free Agent Jacksonville Jaguars Free Agent job opposite Holt. Northcutt has the edge in experience, but he’ll have
WR Matt Jones Free Agent Jacksonville Jaguars Free Agent to develop greater consistency to beat out the more physically talented
WR Reggie Williams Free Agent Jacksonville Jaguars Free Agent youngster. Mike Thomas was this year’s fourth-round draft pick – the
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
After injuring his quadriceps before Week 1, Josh Scobee ended up
playing in only eight games in 2007. In half a year’s work, he was 12
of 13 (92.3 percent ) on field goals and 26 of 27 on PATs, for the best were instead a huge disappointment. Much of the blame falls on a
numbers of his NFL career. The strong finish did not carry over into defense that was 21st in scoring, recorded only 29 sacks and the sec-
2008. Last year Scobee made only 19 of 25 (76.0 percent) field goals, ond lowest takeaway total in the league at 17. This on the heels of the
including three misses from under 40 yards. His biggest strength club using first and second round picks on ends Derrick Harvey and
remains kickoffs, where he has averaged 65.2 yards on kickoffs, and Quentin Groves who accounted for just seven sacks between them.
had 11, 20, 21, 12, and 10 touchbacks. After four years near the bot- The coaching staff must be convinced that these two will improve
tom of the kicker scoring rankings, the Jaguars climbed to 15th in in their second year because the only help for the defense this off-
2005 and then 6th in 2006. In 2007 they slipped back to 19th with season comes in the form of third-round picks Terrance Knighton
Scobee and fill-in John Carney’s combined 109 points, and last year at DT and Derek Cox at corner, and free agent Sean Considine at
they dropped back down to the bottom at 29th. safety. Jacksonville really missed Marcus Stroud and they hope that
Knighton can come close to replacing him. Justin Durant will move
TEAM DEFENSE into the lineup at linebacker replacing Mike Peterson and Considine is
projected to claim the starting job at SS. With no impact additions the
The Jaguars were supposed to make a lot of noise last season but pressure will be on this group to play much better in 2009.
ICON SMI
run Chan Gailey’s pistol offense very effectively. Backups: Bobby Engram, Devard Darling,
He finished the season as the No. 12 fantasy QB Dwayne Bowe Jeff Webb, Terrance Copper, Taurus Johnson
and many thought he would start the season as the
No. 1 QB for KC. When the Chiefs traded for Matt Cassel, it signaled Starting WRs: Dwayne Bowe likes to call himself “D-Show”
the end of Thigpen’s starting days. However, he does have the athleti- and he could certainly put on a show in 2009. He will be asked to
cism and experience to be a quality backup. There was a time when play the Randy Moss role in this new offense. Entering his third year,
Brodie Croyle was supposed to be the QB of the future in Kansas many inside the organization are expecting a breakout year from the
City. He has struggled to stay healthy during his three years with the big receiver. He’s gone from the No. 24 fantasy receiver in his rookie
Chiefs and has thrown only six TDs and eight INTs. With only Ingle season to No. 16 last year. This could be the year that he breaks into
Martin behind him on the depth chart, it appears that Croyle’s job as the Top 15, and because he’s such a great option in the red zone, get-
the No. 3 QB is safe for this year. ting double-digit TDs isn’t out of the question. Mark Bradley sur-
prised many around the league with his out-of-nowhere performance
RUNNING BACKS in 2008. He was certainly on the fantasy radar when he came out
Starter: Larry Johnson of Oklahoma, but injuries and inconsistencies plagued him during
Backups: Jamaal Charles, Kolby Smith, Javarris Williams [R], his time in Chicago. Signed by the Chiefs in Week 7, it didn’t take
Jackie Battle, Dantrell Savage Bradley long to make an impact. In his second game with the Chiefs
Fullback: Mike Cox he caught five passes for 42 yards and one TD. With Dwayne Bowe
drawing double teams consistently, Bradley should be able to exploit
Starting RB: Larry Johnson started the 2008 season on fire, one-on-one coverage. The biggest question with Bradley is whether or
highlighted by his 198-yard effort against Denver in Week 4. However, not he can stay healthy for an entire season.
his season started to slide after that, and he missed several games due to Backup WRs: The Chiefs signed Bobby Engram to work
injury in the middle of the season. He returned in limited duty at first out of the slot and perhaps be a starting receiver if Mark Bradley is
but only scored two rushing TDs over the last half of the season. Earlier injured or ineffective. Engram is getting up there in age, but is one of
in the offseason there were reports of Larry Johnson demanding a trade. the hardest workers in football. A savvy route runner, Engram knows
how to find the soft spot in a zone and should help KC keep drives
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED alive with his sure hands. Devard Darling is a reclamation project
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team of sorts since leaving Baltimore last year. He has deep-threat ability
QB Matt Cassel Trade New England Patriots Kansas City Chiefs as evidenced by his 18.1 YPC in 2007. Jeff Webb was selected in the
RB Javarris Williams Draft College Kansas City Chiefs sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft but has yet to stay healthy and
TE Jake O’Connell Draft College Kansas City Chiefs develop as a consistent WR. Terrance Copper has bounced around
TE Sean P. Ryan Free Agent San Francisco 49ers Kansas City Chiefs from Dallas, New Orleans, and Baltimore and now finds himself in
TE Tony Curtis Free Agent Free Agent Kansas City Chiefs KC. He will be in a fight for a roster spot with Priority Free Agent
WR Quinten Lawrence Draft College Kansas City Chiefs Taurus Johnson. Johnson is a raw speedster with natural talent and
WR Bobby Engram Free Agent Seattle Seahawks Kansas City Chiefs
could develop into a solid backup receiver.
WR Terrance Copper Free Agent Baltimore Ravens Kansas City Chiefs
TIGHT ENDS
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST Starters: Brad Cottam
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
Backups: Sean Ryan, Tony Curtis
QB Damon Huard Free Agent Kansas City Chiefs San Francisco 49ers
TE Tony Gonzalez Trade Kansas City Chiefs Atlanta Falcons The Chiefs made plans for life without Tony Gonzalez when they
TE John Paul Foschi Free Agent Kansas City Chiefs Oakland Raiders picked Brad Cottam out of Tennessee in the third round of the 2008
WR Kevin Robinson Free Agent Kansas City Chiefs Free Agent NFL Draft. With Gonzalez now gone to Atlanta it will be time for
Cottam to shine. He is a big target at 6’7, 270 pounds and moves sur-
prisingly well for such a big man. He does have good hands and can 2008 SEASON STATS
overpower defenders for the football. New Head Coach Todd Haley Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
didn’t feature the TE in his offense in Arizona. In New England the Tyler Thigpen 420 230 2608 18 12 62 386 3
TEs were asked to stay in and block more than go out for passes,
so we’ll see if that holds true now that Scott Pioli is in Kansas City. Damon Huard 81 50 477 2 4 4 13 0
Cottam is very talented but shouldn’t come anywhere near Tony Brodie Croyle 29 20 151 0 0 0 0 0
Gonzalez’s stats from 2008. Quinn Gray 8 7 76 1 0 1 27 0
PLACE KICKER Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
PK: Connor Barth, Ryan Succop Larry Johnson 193 874 5 12 74 0
Jamaal Charles 67 357 0 27 272 1
The incumbent Connor Barth and rookie Ryan Succop will battle
for the kicking job. Barth narrowly lost out to Nick Novak last pre- Kolby Smith 35 100 1 10 52 0
season, but was re-signed for the final 10 weeks after Novak struggled Dantrell Savage 15 53 0 2 0 0
during the first six games. Barth went 10 of 12 (83.3 percent) on field Mike Cox 1 -2 0 8 19 0
goals and was perfect on 24 PATs. Ryan Succop had a strong career
placekicking, punting, and kicking off at South Carolina, although an Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
abdominal muscle tear affected his senior year numbers. He appeared Dwayne Bowe 86 1022 7 Ctgry Avg Rnk
to be fully recovered by year’s end, and the new coaching staff of the
Chiefs thought enough of him to select him with the final pick in Mark Bradley 30 380 3 Pts 18.2 26th
the draft. After some success during the Dick Vermeil years, Kansas Devard Darling 17 247 1 Yds 308.7 24th
City slipped to 16th in Herm Edwards first year in 2006, and then Will Franklin 7 83 0 P-Yds 195.6 20th
plummeted to 31st in 2007 and 32nd last year scoring only 79 points. Jeff Webb 5 46 0 R-Yds 113.1 16th
Whoever wins the job may not be very busy.
ICON SMI
last year. Henne is a smart, athletic kid with
natural leadership ability. Finally, in this year’s Ronnie Brown touchdowns, and his slender build is some-
MIAMI DOLPHINS
draft, the Dolphins added an intriguing player in times overmatched by defenders that are more
Pat White. With amazing athleticism and natural talent, White fits physical. He also had two rushing touchdowns and will get plenty of
perfectly into the ‘Wildcat’ formation that the Dolphins utilized so looks this season. The second receiver position appears to be Greg
well last year. He can run the ball as well as some NFL backs but also Camarillo’s to lose right now. He is far from flashy but did catch 55
upgrades the passing option from that formation. White has enough passes for the team a year ago and has decent size and quickness. His
talent to emerge as a legitimate starting quarterback but for now, 11.1 YPR is a concern.
expect plenty of wildcat looks for the rookie. Backup WRs: One of the better stories from Miami last year
was the emergence of undrafted WR Davone Bess from the University
RUNNING BACKS of Hawaii. He was an unknown heading into the season, but his quick-
Starter: Ronnie Brown ness and superb underneath route running proved invaluable, as he
Backups: Ricky Williams, Patrick Cobbs became the third/slot receiver and a favorite of Chad Pennington. His
Fullbacks: Lousaka Polite, Chris Brown upside is likely limited (although the same thing was said about Wes
Welker), but he’ll continue to get many receptions in key situations
Starting RB: Last season, Ronnie Brown rebounded nicely and with hard work could emerge as a very nice player. Two rookie
from his devastating 2007 injury, rushing for 916 yards on just 214 receivers Patrick Turner and Brian Hartline will be in the hunt
carries and had 10 rushing touchdowns. He led the ‘Wildcat’ forma- for playing time along with veterans Brandon London and Ernest
tion that gained so much attention last year and did a great job for an Wilford, who was a huge disappointment last year.
overachieving football team. He still has yet to carry the ball more
than 241 times in one season and has yet to show the durability neces- TIGHT ENDS
sary to carry the ball 20 times per game without wearing down. He Starter: Anthony Fasano
has great size plus explosive quickness when healthy and his knee Backup: David Martin, John Nalbone [R]
should be even stronger this season after exceeding expectations last
year. Expect more of the same from Brown in 2009. The Dolphins found a player when the franchise traded for TE
Backup RBs: Make no mistake about it – Ricky Williams is Anthony Fasano last year. He is a skilled receiving tight end who
not the player he once was. He is not going to come in and dominate caught seven touchdowns for the club last year. His downfield block-
football games as he did for the franchise when he was almost unstop- ing is better than advertised and he can get open down field. He
finished with 34 receptions and a very strong 13.4 YPR average. At
only 25, his best days are still ahead of him. Not to be outdone, vet-
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED eran TE David Martin also had a strong season. He finished with 31
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team receptions and 450 yards and scored three times. His average of 14.5
QB Pat White Draft College Miami Dolphins yards per reception was very impressive. Nalbone looks good both as
TE John Nalbone Draft College Miami Dolphins a blocker and a receiver, but he’ll be challenged to acclimate his game
WR Brian Hartline Draft College Miami Dolphins coming from the small-school competition encountered at Monmouth.
WR Patrick Turner Draft College Miami Dolphins
PLACE KICKER
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST PK: Dan Carpenter
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
QB John Beck Free Agent Miami Dolphins Baltimore Ravens During his senior season at Montana, Dan Carpenter made 19 of
RB Boomer Grigsby Free Agent Miami Dolphins Houston Texans 23 (82.6 pecent) field goals, including 3 of 3 from 50+ yards. When
TE Aaron Halterman Free Agent Miami Dolphins Free Agent the Dolphins signed him after the draft, Jay Feely and Dave Rayner
were already on the roster. In the end, neither one of them was a
Bill Parcells or Steve Hoffman guy. Both were eventually released. 2008 SEASON STATS
Carpenter made 21 of 25 (84.0 percent) field goals and was perfect Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
on his 40 PATs last year. After ranking 23rd in kicker scoring in Chad Pennington 476 321 3653 19 7 30 62 1
2006, Miami dropped to 29th (89 points) during the Cam Cameron
experiment of 2007. Carpenter’s 103 points last year brought the Chad Henne 12 7 67 0 0 0 0 0
Dolphins back to 23rd in kicker scoring. They have not finished in
the Top 10 since 2000. With everything in place from last year, it Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
would be reasonable to see Carpenter’s totals improve, although the Ronnie Brown 214 916 10 33 254 0
elusive top ten finish is probably further down the line. Ricky Williams 160 659 4 29 219 1
TEAM DEFENSE Lousaka Polite 23 85 0 6 24 0
Patrick Cobbs 12 88 1 19 275 2
The Dolphins were a huge surprise in 2008 and their defense was Casey Cramer 0 0 0 2 3 1
a big reason. The ninth-best scoring defense also had 40 sacks and
30 takeaways, landing them among the Top 10 fantasy units. The one Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
weakness that showed up last season was at 25th-rated pass defense.
The club addressed that shortcoming by adding three potentially new Ted Ginn 56 790 2 Ctgry Avg Rnk
starters in the secondary. Free agency landed Gibril Wilson who is Greg Camarillo 55 613 2 Pts 21.6 21st
among the league’s best safeties, and Eric Green who was previously Davone Bess 54 554 1 Yds 345.6 12th
a starter in Arizona. They then further solidified the secondary in Derek Hagan 3 51 0 P-Yds 227.0 10th
the draft by using their first round pick on corner Vontae Davis and Brandon London 3 30 0 R-Yds 118.6 11th
a second on corner Sean Smith. Davis was arguably the top corner
in this draft. He’s a fast, physical playmaker who has the ability to Ernest Wilford 3 25 0
match up with an opponent’s best receiver. Wilson and Davis should
step right into the starting lineup while Green will compete with Tight End Rec Yards TDs
holdover Will Allen at the other corner. A tougher schedule will make
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Anthony Fasano 34 454 7
it difficult for the Dolphins to improve on last year’s numbers, but David Martin 31 440 3
they have certainly addressed their needs and should remain very pro-
ductive. The return of Jason Taylor will be a big plus. Joey Haynos 2 22 1
ICON SMI
soon be the starting QB in Minnesota. ing a ‘glass is half full’ approach to analyzing
Backup QBs: It certainly appears Adrian Peterson his season as he only managed to grab 15 total
that Tarvaris Jackson is destined to be the passes on the season with a horrible 9.4 yards
backup in Minnesota this season. He had a poor effort in the playoff per catch. Both veteran Bobby Wade and new rookie Percy Harvin
game against Philadelphia and that likely sealed his fate for the 2009 will push for playing time and Rice could slide as low as fourth in
campaign. However it should be pointed out that he is young and he the depth chart unless he improves.
did manage to toss nine touchdowns against just two interceptions in Backup WRs: The Vikings added a missing ingredient through
limited duty. He also had two good games to end the regular season the draft this year by selecting Percy Harvin in the first round. He
in 2008, throwing for 230+ yards in both games against the Falcons has a first step that is second to none and his explosiveness will give
and Giants. He is a talented kid, and it is too early to write him off defenses nightmares as they try and prepare for the power running
completely. attack only to be hit with blinding quickness from Harvin several
times per game. He will carry the ball, catch screen passes and cause
RUNNING BACKS havoc all over the field. Great pick for the Vikings. He may beat out
Starter: Adrian Peterson Sidney Rice for the WR2 position in order to have him on the field
Backups: Chester Taylor, Albert Young making plays more often. Bobby Wade had a productive season in
Fullback: Naufahu Tahi 2008. His statistics were almost identical to his 2007 campaign (53
receptions for 645 yards and two touchdowns), and he will slot into
Starting RB: Adrian Peterson is a man amongst boys, literal- the picture somewhere as well. The other receivers are simply role
ly in every sense of the word. He is almost unstoppable at times and players who will have a minimal impact.
only his take no prisoners approach can derail him due to injuries.
Peterson rushed for 1,760 yards last season on 363 carries. At 6’2 TIGHT ENDS
and 217 pounds, he is a load to tackle in open space as he can run Starters: Visanthe Shiancoe
through a defender or around him with his exceptional agility. The Backups: Jim Kleinsasser, Garrett Mills
only concern in regards to his game in 2008 was the nine fumbles.
He will have to cut that number down, but Peterson is only 24 years Visanthe Shiancoe had a breakout season for the Vikings last
old and still maturing as a player. year, setting career highs in receptions, yardage and touchdowns. He
Backup RBs: Peterson is one of those rare running backs that finished as the fifth-best fantasy tight end in 2008; his previous high
come one every few seasons, but the Vikings have a great backup as had been 32nd. It is unlikely he will finish that high again in 2009,
well. Chester Taylor is a quick, powerful running back in his own so expect him to slide back down the ladder this year. However, he
right. He is the perfect compliment to Adrian Peterson, spelling him is a big, strong target over the middle and it is possible he devel-
ops some chemistry with new quarterback Sage Rosenfels and has
another solid campaign. Shiancoe is the clear-cut No. 1 tight end
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED
with veteran Jim Kleinsasser being nothing more than a blocking
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team tight end at this point in his career.
QB Sage Rosenfels Trade Houston Texans Minnesota Vikings
WR Percy Harvin Draft College Minnesota Vikings PLACE KICKERS
WR Glenn Holt Free Agent Cincinnati Bengals Minnesota Vikings
PKs: Ryan Longwell, Taylor Mehlhaff
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST In 1998, Gary Anderson scored an NFL record 164 points for the
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team Vikings. In the nine subsequent years, they averaged only 99 kick-
RB Maurice Hicks Free Agent Minnesota Vikings Free Agent ing points a year. Last year Ryan Longwell scored 127 points, and
WR Robert Ferguson Free Agent Minnesota Vikings Free Agent the Vikings ranked seventh in kicker scoring for their first Top 10
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
board, but prospective owners will want to confirm that the ongo- Jim Kleinsasser 6 92 0
ing court case against Pat and Kevin Williams ends favorably this Garrett Mills 5 65 0
summer before drafting them ahead of another top tier defense like Jeff Dugan 2 12 0
Baltimore or the New York Giants.
RB Tapeh 0-0 0-0 dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp - dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp
(rec stats) 1-7
WR Wade 0-0 3-42 3-35 7-75 8-64 4-71 5-60 - 3-16 3-24 2-12 1-9 1-15 2-19 2-67 5-38 4-98
4 (Q) 59
WR Berrian 3-38 0-0 3-79 5-78 6-110 5-131 6-81 - 2-104 0-0 3-46 1-6 4-122 3-29 1-41 2-18 4-81
(rush stats) 1-3 2-22 1-1
(P) 33 (Q) 86 (Q) 5 (Q) 49 99 41 54 (Q)
WR Rice 2-31 0-0 dnp 1-6 dnp dnp 0-0 - 1-8 1-3 2-22 3-27 1-8 2-21 1-6 0-0 1-9
23 (Q) (Q) (Q) (Q) (Q) 8 (P) 3 6
WR Allison 0-0 2-37 1-5 2-23 1-13 0-0 3-32 - 0-0 0-0 1-(-1) 0-0 dnp 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
(rush stats) 1-1 (P)
WR Ferguson 0-0 0-0 1-9 0-0 0-0 2-16 0-0 - dnp dnp dnp dnp 0-0 dnp dnp dnp dnp
(P)
TE Shiancoe 3-21 1-23 2-38 4-47 2-16 1-10 4-68 - 1-25 3-4 2-41 3-60 1-20 5-65 1-8 7-136 2-14
34 4 24 25 11 21,17
TE Kleinsasser 0-0 1-12 0-0 1-15 0-0 2-40 0-0 - 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-20 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-5
(Q) (P) (P)
TE Mills 3-49 0-0 1-10 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 - dnp dnp 1-6 dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp
(Q) (Q) (D) (Q) (Q)
TE Dugan dnp dnp dnp dnp 0-0 dnp dnp - 0-0 0-0 dnp 0-0 1-3 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-9
more than they did in season’s past. It’s unlikely yet they still ranked sixth with a stout 2,278 total
ICON SMI
the Pats will be looking to chase scoring records rushing yards. Given that whatever they did last
again, instead opting to keep Brady upright and Tom Brady year worked effectively, there’s little incentive for
on the field. The offense should be more balanced New England to due much differently.
this year. Even so, Brady should be one of the most productive quar-
terbacks in the league and leading a Super Bowl caliber team. WIDE RECEIVERS
Backup QBs: Kevin O’Connell and Matt Gutierrez remain Starters: Randy Moss, Wesley Welker, Joey Galloway
unproven commodities - much like Cassel was last year. The two have Backups: Greg Lewis, Brandon Tate [R], Sam Aiken, Matt Slater
combined for seven career passing attempts. The Patriots have explored
veteran free agent options since Brady got hurt but have not pulled the Starting WRs: Randy Moss and Wes Welker comprise one
trigger on any of them. At the very least, the team can breathe a little of the most formidable receiving tandems in the league, with Moss
easier with the knowledge that it is possible for a backup to succeed in the deep threat and Welker the underneath water bug that frequently
the Patriots’ offensive system. There was a point early last year when moves the sticks. Moss set a league scoring record in 2007, and
Cassel struggled and O’Connell was rumored to have been placed on a Welker has had over 110 receptions in back-to-back seasons as a
fast-track to start later in the season. New England remains confident in Patriot (joining Cris Carter and Jerry Rice as the only receivers to
O’Connell’s long-term NFL potential and would probably turn to him accomplish that feat). With Brady leading the offense again, Moss
if needed. The Pats could still add a veteran quarterback if the price is should return to uber-elite status and see his numbers improve from
right and if he seemed like a good fit and a quick learner. 2008 (although expecting a return to his 2007 totals would be asking
a lot). Welker has had at least five receptions in 29 of 35 games with
RUNNING BACKS New England, and there is no reason to think that his targets or recep-
Starters: Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris tions will drop off much as he has become a steady contributor to the
Backups: Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis offense. Joey Galloway comes to town for what should be his final
rodeo, and with so many other receiving threats, he may have enough
Starting RBs: Just to clarify, the most likely outcome in terms of in the tank to put up respectable WR3 numbers a la Donte’ Stallworth
the New England backfield is a running back by committee approach. or Jabar Gaffney the past few seasons. New England frequently
So no matter who gets tabbed as a starter, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, utilizes a spread offense, multiple receiver sets, and the shotgun, so
Galloway should see a lot of time on the field.
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED Backup WRs: New England acquired Greg Lewis from the
Eagles mostly for receiver depth. That and he played very well against
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
QB Julian Edelman Draft College New England Patriots
the Patriots over the years. Brandon Tate was a first-round talent who
RB Fred Taylor Free Agent Jacksonville Jaguars New England Patriots fell into the third round due to injury. He probably will miss most if
TE Alex Smith Trade Tampa Bay Buccaneers New England Patriots not all of the season and will most likely have to wait until 2010 to be
TE Chris Baker Free Agent New York Jets New England Patriots able to contribute, perhaps taking over for Galloway down the road.
WR Brandon Tate Draft College New England Patriots Sam Aiken had eight catches for 101 yards last season and has seen
WR Greg Lewis Trade Philadelphia Eagles New England Patriots more action on special teams. Matt Slater appears to be predominant-
WR Joey Galloway Free Agent Tampa Bay Buccaneers New England Patriots ly a kick returner and is another special teams guy. Lewis will likely
see the most playing time of the reserves in four-wide formations. It
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST remains to be seen well Aiken or Slater would do in larger roles, as
they have not been in on many offensive plays to date.
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
QB Matt Cassel Trade New England Patriots Kansas City Chiefs
RB Heath Evans Free Agent New England Patriots New Orleans Saints TIGHT ENDS
RB LaMont Jordan Free Agent New England Patriots Denver Broncos Starter: Ben Watson
WR Jabar Gaffney Free Agent New England Patriots Denver Broncos Backups: Chris Baker, Alex Smith, David Thomas
WR Kelley Washington Free Agent New England Patriots Free Agent
New England had high hopes for Ben Watson since he entered the
league several years ago, but he’s struggled to produce, stay healthy, 2008 SEASON STATS
and hold onto the football. His numbers dipped to 22 receptions, 209 Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
receiving yards, and two TDs, leaving him as an after thought in the Matt Cassel 516 327 3693 21 11 74 271 2
Patriots offense for most of the season. Considering that more than
a third of that production came in a single game against the Jets, Tom Brady 11 7 76 0 0 0 0 0
Watson’s fantasy owners were left holding the bag for most of the
season. With 2009 a contract year for Watson, he will need to revert Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
back to his 2006 form if he wants to stick in New England. With Sammy Morris 156 727 7 17 161 0
Watson’s production on the decline, the Pats brought in Chris Baker Kevin Faulk 83 507 3 58 486 3
from the Jets to give their TE production a boost. But Baker’s totals LaMont Jordan 80 363 4 0 0 0
last year were even worse than Watson’s, even though he’s shown
BenJarvus Green-Ellis 74 275 5 3 37 0
flashes of being a reliable receiver when given a chance in New York.
The Patriots also consummated a trade with the Bucs for Alex Smith. Laurence Maroney 28 93 0 0 0 0
Smith has seen his annual reception total drop each year since he
entered the league in 2005. David Thomas has been considered a Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
deep sleeper the past two years but has not seen the ball very often. Wes Welker 111 1165 3 Ctgry Avg Rnk
It’s unlikely the Pats will roster four tight ends, so one of them will Randy Moss 69 1008 11 Pts 25.6 8th
probably be shown the door. Considering that the Patriots have been Jabar Gaffney 38 468 2 Yds 365.4 5th
using the tight end spot less and less the past few years, there are sev-
eral players fighting for limited targets this year. Sam Aiken 8 101 0 P-Yds 223.1 12th
R-Yds 142.4 6th
PLACE KICKER Tight End Rec Yards TDs
ICON SMI
#3 is Joey Harrington. Harrington would probably for New England on at least two occasions when
get an extended run should Brees be out for a Drew Brees injury knocked out other players. His impact to
significant period of time, but he has been below the Saints is not likely to be as prominent, but
average at every single one of his NFL stops so far and expecting him he could join the growing list of players the Saints call upon to con-
to turn into a viable fantasy option in New Orleans is unrealistic. tribute. Darian Barnes joined the Saints late in 2008 after brief stints
with three of the four AFC East teams. He has also played for Detroit,
RUNNING BACKS Tampa Bay & Dallas. As a fantasy option he is almost nonexistent. He
Starters: Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas has not had a carry since 2004 and only five receptions since then.
Backups: Mike Bell, Lynell Hamilton, P.J Hill, Herb Donaldson
Fullbacks: Heath Evans, Darian Barnes WIDE RECEIVERS
Starters: Marques Colston, Lance Moore
Starting RBs: Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas offer that Backup(s): Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Adrian
rare possibility of two backs from the same team being viable fan- Arrington
tasy starters. Pierre Thomas should dominate the carries, while Bush
should dominate the receptions. Both had stretches in 2008 which Starting WRs: Marques Colston is a dominant fantasy option
would put them among the fantasy elite. For the first six weeks of and should be one of the first 12 receivers taken in your draft. He
the season, Reggie Bush ranked as a RB1 with a reception total that overcame a thumb injury which caused him to basically miss half
would have shattered the record for a RB were he not to subsequently the season, to finish the season with 22 receptions, four TDs and
get injured. Pierre Thomas was arguably the dominant fantasy back 306 yards from his final three games. As the No. 1 receiver on the
between Week 11 and Week 16, recording eight touchdowns, 19 No. 1 passing offense in the NFL he actually may be undervalued
receptions and over a hundred yards a game in combined yardage. this season. He is tough, can make any catch and is reliable as a red
Both will be useful to the New Orleans Saints in keeping a balanced zone threat. The Saints like to mix their offense up, so for some plays
offense but will hurt each other as fantasy options. Thomas was clear- Devery Henderson will start. However, for the majority of plays
ly not the same back when Bush was fit, and Bush can’t move the ball Lance Moore should be in on the action. Moore has been success-
as well as Thomas on the ground. Bush has an injury history and has fully developed by the Saints going from an undrafted free agent to
to recover from off season knee surgery placing doubts about his long the 13th ranked receiver in 2008. With 10 touchdowns and almost 80
term viability, so a little caution needs to be exercised before drafting receptions, Moore caught most fantasy owners off guard. Following a
Bush too high. training accident in the offseason, however, which caused severe dam-
age to his shoulder, he could be drafted too early by those not paying
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED attention. If he comes back in time for training camp then his value
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team will still be negated by the return of Colston, but he could still be a
RB Heath Evans Free Agent New England Patriots New Orleans Saints nice choice if his value slips.
TE Dan Campbell Free Agent Denver Broncos New Orleans Saints Backup WRs: Devery Henderson is one of the most danger-
TE Darnell Dinkins Free Agent Cleveland Browns New Orleans Saints ous receivers in the game. Averaging over 20 yards a catch for the
last three seasons, he re-signed with the Saints in the offseason, and
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST more of the same can be expected this season. As a fantasy option
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team his value is limited as he averages two catches a game, but he’s
RB Aaron Stecker Free Agent New Orleans Saints Free Agent capable of numerous big games a season making him perfect for
RB Deuce McAllister Free Agent New Orleans Saints Free Agent survivor leagues. Robert Meachem is an inferior version of Devery
RB Mike Karney Free Agent New Orleans Saints St. Louis Rams Henderson, and to avoid the label of first-round bust he must produce
TE Mark Campbell Free Agent New Orleans Saints Free Agent something this season. Unlike his rookie season he at least got onto
WR David Patten Free Agent New Orleans Saints Cleveland Browns the field in 2008, but after some bright early moments, he once again
lost the trust of the coaching staff. Adrian Arrington was placed on
injured reserve in his rookie season, and it remains to be seen whether 2008 SEASON STATS
he can make any impact this year. Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
Drew Brees 635 413 5069 34 17 22 -1 0
TIGHT ENDS
Starter: Jeremy Shockey
Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
Backups: Billy Miller, Dan Campbell
Pierre Thomas 129 625 9 31 284 3
Jeremy Shockey faces a crucial year in 2009. Injuries have Deuce McAllister 107 418 5 18 128 1
limited his play in the last couple of seasons, and his style of play Reggie Bush 106 404 2 52 440 4
lends itself to further injuries. If healthy, he could leap back into the
fantasy elite. Despite his injury problems in 2008 he still registered Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
50 catches. Although he didn’t score, he can usually be relied upon Lance Moore 79 928 10 Ctgry Avg Rnk
to get a few each season so it could be a pleasant surprise if he is
available late in your draft. Even if Shockey is healthy, veteran Billy Marques Colston 47 760 5 Pts 28.9 1st
Miller could still see playing time, but his biggest impact will come Devery Henderson 32 793 3 Yds 410.7 1st
if Shockey is out of the lineup. With Shockey hampered or injured Robert Meachem 12 289 3 P-Yds 311.1 1st
he became a favorite target of Drew Brees in 2008 registering 45 David Patten 11 162 1 R-Yds 99.6 28th
catches. Unless Shockey misses time, Miller shouldn’t be a draft
consideration. Dan Campbell has briefly registered on fantasy Tight End Rec Yards TDs
radars during spells with Detroit, Dallas and the Giants, but it would
Jeremy Shockey 50 483 0
be a shock if that happened this season.
Billy Miller 45 579 1
PLACE KICKER Mark Campbell 12 121 2
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but this year things are more established. David (five catches for 42 yards and a TD). Three backs
NEW YORK GIANTS
Carr, another former first overall pick, has found Brandon Jacobs will battle for the third tailback slot. Danny
a home as Eli Manning’s backup. He appeared Ware must contend with rookie Andre Brown
in three games last year and completed nine of twelve passes for 115 and free agent Dwayne Wright. Ware has the experience, but Brown is
yards and two TDs. Carr always had the ability, but it wasn’t clear the more compelling option. A rookie fourth round draft pick, Brown
whether the pounding he took early in his career would make him has great size (6’0, 224 pounds) and is a three-down back who fell into
perpetually gun shy. Luckily for Carr, the Giants field one of the the second day because of two collegiate foot surgeries.
league’s best offensive lines and, as long as he stays upright, Carr has Fullback: Madison Hedgecock has cemented his role as one of
the vision and downfield accuracy to keep the Giants afloat should the leagues’ most bruising FBs, and will again be out in front for Brandon
Eli Manning be sidelined. The QB3 spot comes down to second-year Jacobs and his backups. Hedgecock has limited offensive potential but is
Andre Woodson versus rookie Rhett Bomar. Both are developmental capable of the occasional reception in goal line situations.
athletes with good arms.
WIDE RECEIVERS
RUNNING BACKS Starters: Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith
Starter: Brandon Jacobs Backups: Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks [R], Ramses
Backups: Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware, Andre Brown [R], Barden [R], Sinorice Moss, David Tyree
Fullbacks: Madison Hedgecock
Starting WRs: The long-time starting tandem of Plaxico Burress
Starting RB: What a difference a year makes. Last year, skep- and Amani Toomer is no more, and it’s unclear who exactly takes their
tics wondered whether Brandon Jacobs’ physical style would keep place. The truth is any declaration of who starts this year is premature
him in the trainer’s room more than he saw the field. Jacobs missed until we get through the majority of training camp. But for now, we’re
three games last year, so it remains a concern. But the truth is Giants going to give the edge to Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith. Hixon was
fans and fantasy owners have to be thrilled with what they got in those the surprise of 2008, starting seven games for the Giants after project-
ing as a fringe roster option at the start of the preseason. Hixon is 6’2,
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED 192 pounds and played his college ball at Akron. In his first significant
playing time, Hixon caught 43 passes for 596 yards (13.9 yards per
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
reception) and two TDs. There’s no reason Hixon shouldn’t improve
QB Rhett Bomar Draft College New York Giants
RB Andre Brown Draft College New York Giants
on those numbers with a full training camp as a first unit player. Steve
RB Allen Patrick Free Agent Cleveland Browns New York Giants Smith’s role is less certain, although he has the pedigree. Coming out of
TE Travis Beckum Draft College New York Giants USC as the team’s all-time receiving leader, Smith caught 57 receptions
TE George Wrighster Free Agent Jacksonville Jaguars New York Giants and started four games in 2008 as a second year receiver. Smith is sure
WR Hakeem Nicks Draft College New York Giants handed and makes great cuts; he’s able to get separation despite the
WR Ramses Barden Draft College New York Giants lack of a second gear.
WR Shaun Bodiford Free Agent Green Bay Packers New York Giants Backup WRs: Hixon and Smith shouldn’t feel too comfortable
in their roles as projected starters, because GM Jerry Reese used first
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST and third round picks in the draft on receivers. The Giants selected
UNC’s Hakeem Nicks in the first round, and most expect Nicks to be
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
a long-time starter; the only question being whether he starts in 2009
QB Anthony Wright Free Agent New York Giants Free Agent
RB Derrick Ward Free Agent New York Giants Tampa Bay Buccaneers
or not. Nicks is an all around weapon who attacks the ball. He’s not a
RB Reuben Droughns Free Agent New York Giants Free Agent burner, but projects as an elite possession receiver who already runs
WR Amani Toomer Free Agent New York Giants Free Agent routes with NFL precision. The team will let Nicks compete for a role
WR Plaxico Burress Free Agent New York Giants Free Agent immediately, and it would be surprising if he wasn’t starting at some
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ing weekend for the first time in his NFL career. and isn’t an offensive contributor, statistically
With the selection of Mark Sanchez in the first Jerricho Cotchery speaking. He hasn’t had more than twelve car-
round, however, it appears that Clemens’s starting ries in a season since 2003 and hasn’t scored a
NEW YORK JETS
days may have to wait. He is a former second-round pick so the tal- touchdown since 2005. He was a productive receiver for several years,
ent is there, but the Jets are clearly trying to hit a home run with the but even that has gone by the wayside as he caught just one pass a
Sanchez pick – and they’ll give him every opportunity to live up to year ago. He’ll certainly help in the blocking aspect, but that won’t do
the hype. Clemens would need to clearly outplay Sanchez in training much for his fantasy stat line.
camp to secure the starting gig. Erik Ainge was due to battle Clemens
for the starting gig, though at this point he has really no chance of WIDE RECEIVERS
winning the starting spot. He’ll vie for the backup job, but more than Starters: Jerricho Cotchery, Chansi Stuckey
likely his role will be the No. 3 QB this season. Backups: Brad Smith, David Clowney, Wallace Wright,
Marcus Henry
RUNNING BACKS
Starter: Thomas Jones Starting WRs: Jerricho Cotchery will fill the role of number
Backups: Leon Washington, Shonn Greene [R] one receiver somewhat by default after the defection of Laveranues
Fullback: Tony Richardson Coles to Cincinnati. Over the last few seasons, the two have been sort
of co-number one receivers anyway, so Cotchery at least has some
Starting RB: Thomas Jones is the starting tailback, although experience as something of a go-to guy. He was expected to elevate
he’s expected to share some more of the workload this season. He his game into the fringes of the elite a year ago, especially after devel-
turned in his best pro campaign a year ago, with his highest yards per oping a great rapport with Brett Favre during training camp. But for
carry average since 2003 and career highs in both yards from scrim- whatever reason, it never really came to fruition for Cotchery. The
mage and touchdowns. His fifteen total scores were thirteen more news this past April that the Jets had contacted the agent for Plaxico
than he had the year before. In fact, his previous career high was just Burress also doesn’t speak well about their feeling of Cotchery as the
nine. While it’s entirely possible that Jones is about to enter a late No. 1 receiver, either. Still, for now that’s what he is. After missing his
career resurgence, history tells us that the number of scores was some- entire rookie season, Chansi Stuckey made a splash a year ago with
thing of an outlier and that we should expect that number to decrease. touchdowns in each of his first three career games. He didn’t come
close to maintaining that level of production the rest of the way (zero
touchdowns the last 13 games), but he showed enough to convince the
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED Jets that he’s worthy of a starting gig – at least for the time being. He’s
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team not so far ahead of the backups on the depth chart that his spot is set
QB Mark Sanchez Draft College New York Jets in stone, and he’ll need to turn in a good camp to entrench himself in
RB Shonn Greene Draft College New York Jets the starting lineup.
Backup WRs: After the presumed starters, there’s something
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST of a muddied field of players following them. Brad Smith has very
good skills, but hasn’t been very productive in his limited work over
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
the first three seasons. He’s typically very good once he’s got the ball
QB Brett Favre Free Agent New York Jets Retired
in his hands, but he’s still something of a raw project the team is try-
QB Brett Ratliff Trade New York Jets Cleveland Browns
RB Jesse Chatman Free Agent New York Jets Free Agent ing to mold into a wide receiver. David Clowney caught just one pass
RB Marcus Mason Free Agent New York Jets Washington Redskins last year, his rookie season. The former fifth-round pick played in just
RB Noah Herron Free Agent New York Jets Cleveland Browns three games due to injury, and will look to make more of an impact
TE Chris Baker Free Agent New York Jets New England Patriots this year as he is elevated to No. 4 on the depth chart. The Jets’ No. 5
WR Laveranues Coles Free Agent New York Jets Cincinnati Bengals spot will be filled by someone from amongst the group of sixth-round
ICON SMI
still a reliable leader that a team can count on in change-of-pace back that can’t run between the
OAKLAND RAIDERS
case the starter goes down with an injury. There is JaMarcus Russell tackles but is dangerous on screen passes.
a chance that Garcia could be handed the reigns to Fullbacks: Oren O’Neal will lead the way
the offense if JaMarcus Russell struggles to progress further as a QB. for the Raiders ground game in 2009. Luke Lawton is a versatile back
Andrew Walter was once thought of as the QB of the future in Oakland that can be used as a goalline back. Marcel Reece is a converted TE/WR/
and now will be fighting for a roster spot with Bruce Gradkowski. H-back who gives the Raiders a receiving option from the FB position.
Some think that Gradkowski didn’t get a fair shot in Tampa Bay or None of these players should have a fantasy impact this year.
Cleveland. Even though he has starting experience in the league he is
merely a backup-type QB. WIDE RECEIVERS
Starters: Chaz Schilens, Darrius Heyward-Bey [R]
RUNNING BACKS Backups: Johnny Lee Higgins, Javon Walker, Louis Murphy
Starter: Justin Fargas
Backups: Darren McFadden, Michael Bush, Louis Rankin Starting WRs: Chaz Schilens ended the 2008 season with a
Fullbacks: Oren O’Neal, Luke Lawton, Marcel Reece couple of TD receptions and showed the ability to make the tough
catch, take a big hit, and control the football. He has been the most con-
Starting RB: Justin Fargas didn’t match his production from sistent WR in mini-camp. With the seventh pick in the first round many
2007 largely due to the fact that he had to share time with Darren expected the Raiders to take Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin if they
McFadden. Fargas is still the lead back in the committee although his were available. However, the Raiders felt that Darrius Heyward-Bey
production may once again slip in 2009. He has been hampered by inju- was a better fit for their offense, and it’s hard to disagree. DHB is a
ries ever since his early college days at Michigan and his pro career has huge 6’3, 210-pound WR that ran the fastest 40-time of any receiver at
been no different. Although he’s not missing as many games as before, the 2009 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He can be a game changer
one can always count on Fargas having a reservation with the training in the NFL with his big-play ability and should be in the starting lineup
by the end of training camp.
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED Backup WRs: Johnny Lee Higgins is a good returner that
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team flashed consistency as a receiver at the end of the 2008 season when
QB Danny Southwick Free Agent Free Agent Oakland Raiders he had three TD receptions in the final three games. Javon Walker has
QB Jeff Garcia Free Agent Tampa Bay Buccaneers Oakland Raiders been a bust for the Raiders since coming over as a free agent from the
RB Gary Russell Free Agent Pittsburgh Steelers Oakland Raiders Denver Broncos. Injuries and inconsistencies have plagued him during
RB Lorenzo Neal Free Agent Baltimore Ravens Oakland Raiders his time in silver and black, and that trend should continue this sea-
TE Brandon Myers Draft College Oakland Raiders
son. Walker had more surgery on his knee that he neglected to tell the
TE John Paul Foschi Free Agent Kansas City Chiefs Oakland Raiders
Raiders until the start of mini camp. Walker may miss the entire pre-
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey Draft College Oakland Raiders
WR Louis Murphy Draft College Oakland Raiders season because of this latest surgery and may find himself on the PUP
to start the season - or he could just end up getting cut. Louis Murphy
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST has elite speed and an excellent size/speed ratio. He can eat up yards
in a hurry with his long stride and has shown the ability to adjust to
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team poorly thrown passes.
QB Marques Tuiasosopo Free Agent Oakland Raiders Free Agent
RB Justin Griffith Free Agent Oakland Raiders Seattle Seahawks
TE Ben Troupe Free Agent Oakland Raiders Free Agent
TIGHT ENDS
TE Fred Wakefield Free Agent Oakland Raiders Free Agent Starters: Zach Miller
WR Ashley Lelie Free Agent Oakland Raiders Free Agent Backups: Tony Stewart, Brandon Myers [R]
WR Drew Carter Free Agent Oakland Raiders Free Agent
WR Ronald Curry Free Agent Oakland Raiders Detroit Lions Zach Miller was on the verge of cracking the Top 10 at his posi-
OAKLAND RAIDERS
season paint a dismal picture but there are some things to build Zach Miller 56 778 1
on. Only nine clubs were better versus the pass in 2008 and the Tony Stewart 11 81 0
Raiders pass rush ranked 13th with 32 sacks. The question enter-
ing this season is have they done enough to improve or have they
actually regressed? Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has moved during free agency the only reinforcements are safety Michael
on and some of the personnel decisions have left many scratching Mitchell, who was a consensus reach in the second round, and
their heads. Both of last year’s big free agent additions are gone. a trio of rookie defensive ends who are all developmental guys.
DeAngelo Hall was jettisoned during the season followed by the Factor in the coaching change at DC which should bring a some-
team’s second-leading tackler Gibril Wilson who was released after what less aggressive style, and you have a Raiders club that doesn’t
the season despite leading the club in takeaways. After being quiet seem likely to turn it around in 2008.
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contest against the Ravens last year. McNabb WIDE RECEIVERS
had played miserably, and Reid handed the reins Brian Westbrook Starters: DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis
over to the young second year signal caller out of Backups: Jeremy Maclin [R], Reggie
Houston. Unfortunately, Kolb struggled in completing 10-of-23 passes Brown, Hank Baskett, Jason Avant
with two interceptions and a measly 73 yards. Whether Kolb can suc-
cessfully execute the West Coast offense remains an enormous ques- Starting WRs: The Eagles have not been shy about drafting
tion mark, but the Eagles coaching staff appears to have confidence wide receivers, contrary to popular sentiment. The problem is most
in him. A.J. Feeley, a long-time Eagles backup and emergency starter, of the Eagles choices haven’t panned out, whether it is Todd Pinkston
rounds out the QB roster. or Freddie Mitchell or most recently Reggie Brown. But the team
ended its hard luck last season with the selection of DeSean Jackson.
RUNNING BACKS Jackson is small (5’9, 169 pounds) but plays much bigger. Cut from
Starter: Brian Westbrook the same cloth as the Panthers’ Steve Smith, Jackson is fearless, has
Backups: LeSean McCoy [R], Lorenzo Booker great hands and runs laser-sharp routes. His crisp routes and undeni-
Fullback: Leonard Weaver able after-the-catch ability thrust him into the Eagles lineup faster
than expected. Jackson became the first rookie in almost 70 years to
Starting RB: After two MVP-caliber seasons, Brian Westbrook open the season with back-to-back 100-yard games and ended the sea-
came back to Earth a bit in 2008. After leading the NFL with 2,104 son with 912 yards on 62 catches. If Jackson can correct the inconsis-
yards from scrimmage in 2007, Westbrook failed to crack the Top 10 tencies and lack of focus he showed at times, he should be a perennial
last year with 1,338 yards. He failed to crack the 1,000-yard rushing 1,000-yard threat. It’s unclear whether Kevin Curtis will ultimately
mark and his receiving totals (54 receptions, 402 yards) marked five- start opposite Jackson, particularly if Curtis has another setback fol-
year lows. What Eagles fans and fantasy owners need to ask them- lowing a February procedure on the same sports hernia that hobbled
selves is whether this hearkens to the inevitable fall-off that all great him last season. When healthy, Curtis provides Donovan McNabb
runners endure at some point in their career or whether Westbrook with another 1,000-yard threat and a sure-handed option that can get
can bounce back behind a rebuilt offensive line. It would be unfair yards after the catch.
to characterize Westbrook’s 2008 season as disappointing though, Backup WRs: Donovan McNabb wanted more playmakers and
considering he finished as the 10th best fantasy back in standard scor- the Eagles listened, trading up to the 19th pick in the first round to
ing. He had at least 100 yards from scrimmage or a TD in six games. select Jeremy Maclin. According to some post draft reports, Maclin
Westbrook certainly remains an above average weapon; it’s just a mat- was the top ranked rookie WR on a majority of NFL draft boards
[ahead of Michael Crabtree]. Whether that’s true or not, Maclin was
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED coveted for his explosive open field abilities. Unlike DeSean Jackson,
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team Maclin isn’t a finished product. He must improve his route running
RB LeSean McCoy Draft College Philadelphia Eagles and will need to adjust to the complexity and minutiae that comes with
RB Leonard Weaver Free Agent Seattle Seahawks Philadelphia Eagles the West Coast offense, but he’ll be on the field quite a bit. It’s just
TE Cornelius Ingram Draft College Philadelphia Eagles a question of whether he plays in 3WR sets out of the slot or earns a
WR Brandon Gibson Draft College Philadelphia Eagles starting role as Jackson did a season ago. Rounding out the corps is
WR Jeremy Maclin Draft College Philadelphia Eagles a trio of veterans: Reggie Brown, Hank Baskett and Jason Avant.
The Eagles probably won’t keep all three in which case Reggie Brown
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST will need to reestablish his value. Technically a starter at times last
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team year, Brown has fallen short of expectations and is no longer viewed
RB Correll Buckhalter Free Agent Philadelphia Eagles Denver Broncos as a difference maker. Avant and Baskett are inexpensive, hard-work-
TE L.J. Smith Free Agent Philadelphia Eagles Baltimore Ravens ing veterans who have both made huge plays at opportune moments.
WR Greg Lewis Trade Philadelphia Eagles New England Patriots They’re well suited as backups.
TIGHT ENDS
Starter: Brent Celek
2008 SEASON STATS
Backups: Cornelius Ingram [R], Matt Schobel Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
Donovan McNabb 571 345 3916 23 11 39 147 2
Brent Celek has done more for the Eagles than fans had any reason
to expect. A fifth rounder out of Cincinnati two seasons ago, Celek was
Kevin Kolb 34 17 144 0 4 13 2 0
considered a back of the roster prospect. But injuries and inconsistent
play from L.J. Smith forced Celek into a more prominent role and he Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
did enough to earn 11 starts in his first two seasons. With Smith now a Brian Westbrook 233 936 9 54 402 5
Raven, Celek is the odds-on favorite to start for the contending Eagles. Correll Buckhalter 76 369 2 26 324 2
Celek doesn’t do anything particularly well, but is a smart and attentive
player who has found a role making first down catches in the middle of
Kyle Eckel 24 79 0 0 0 0
the field. Eagles fans hope that his breakout 10-catch performance in Lorenzo Booker 20 53 0 6 11 0
the NFC Championship game is a harbinger of things to come. In case
it’s not, the Eagles drafted his likely successor in Cornelius Ingram. Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
Ingram is an uber athletic pass catcher who fell in this year’s draft DeSean Jackson 62 912 2 Ctgry Avg Rnk
because he missed the 2008 season with a knee injury. Ingram is a for-
Hank Baskett 33 440 3 Pts 26.0 6th
mer University of Florida shooting guard and has a higher ceiling than
any TE in the Reid era. Veteran Matt Schobel rounds out the roster for Kevin Curtis 33 390 2 Yds 350.5 9th
now, but the Eagles may look to upgrade as the preseason progresses. Jason Avant 32 377 2 P-Yds 244.4 6th
Greg Lewis 19 247 1 R-Yds 106.1 22nd
PLACE KICKER Reggie Brown 18 252 1
PK: David Akers, Sam Swank
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
After three straight sub-par years, David Akers rebounded in 2008. Tight End Rec Yards TDs
He hit 82.5 percent (33 of 40) on field goals. Within the seven missed L.J. Smith 37 298 3
kicks, the two short attempts were blocked and three were from 50+ Brent Celek 27 318 1
yards. Akers made 10 of 15 field goals from 40+ yards, after having made Matt Schobel 2 10 0
only two of 10 the year before. His 65.8 yard average on kickoffs and 17
touchbacks were both career highs. Akers played in all 16 games the last
three years after missing four games due to injury in 2005. After five con- against and yardage allowed. They narrowly edged out Baltimore
secutive years in the Top 10 in kicker scoring, the Eagles sagged into the and Pittsburgh for the top overall finish in the scoring system used
20s during 2005 through 2007 before finishing third last year. for FBG rankings. The Eagles lost veteran leader Brian Dawkins in
free agency, but gained veteran CB Ellis Hobbs in a trade with New
TEAM DEFENSE England and playmaking safety Sean Jones via free agency. The team
returns a talented and deep defensive line, led by Trent Cole, who had
The high pressure scheme of Jim Johnson helped the Eagles to 59 solo tackles and nine sacks in 2008. Stewart Bradley and Quentin
perform as one of the most consistent fantasy defenses in the league Mikell will anchor the back seven along with a host of playmakers in
last season, generating 48 sacks and 29 turnovers, seven combined the secondary. Expect this defense to again put up a solid number of
defensive and special teams touchdowns and solid finishes in points sacks and takeaways and finish among the Top 10 fantasy DSTs.
be a capable backup for Big Ben and is the perfect catch a few passes. The Steelers drafted the
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game manager that will not throw the game away. He next Fuamatu-Ma’afala when they selected
missed all of last season with an injury and Byron Ben Roethlisberger Frank “the Tank” Summers in the 2009 NFL
Leftwich took over as the No. 2 QB. Leftwich left Draft. Summers is a big back that can pick up
for a starting opportunity in Tampa Bay, which means Batch should be the tough yards between the tackles and has surprising speed. We could
backup to Big Ben once again. Dennis Dixon is an athletic playmaking see Summers end up being the goalline vulture for the Steelers run-
QB that ran the spread option at Oregon. Dixon is working on becom- ning game now that Gary Russell is no longer on the team.
ing a better passer but could be asked to play some Wildcat QB for the
Steelers in 2009. Mike Reilly is a record-setting QB that played at Central WIDE RECEIVERS
Washington, but he is a project QB that could take several years to develop. Starters: Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes
Backups: Limas Sweed, Mike Wallace [R], Shaun McDonald,
RUNNING BACKS Dallas Baker, Martin Nance
Starter: Willie Parker
Backups: Mewelde Moore, Rashard Mendenhall, Justin Vincent Starting WRs: Hines Ward is one of the toughest WRs in the
Fullbacks: Carey Davis, Frank Summers [R] game today, and every Sunday he gives his full effort. He finished
2008 with another 1,000 yard season (the fifth of his career) and once
Starting RB: Willie Parker’s days as the feature back for the again led the Steelers in targets on the year. He doesn’t appear to be
Steelers are close to coming to an end. He started off the 2008 season slowing down and could have a couple of more seasons with similar
with a bang in a game against Houston where he had 138 yards rush- production. Santonio Holmes made huge strides as a receiver in his
ing and three TDs. The rest of his season was marred with injuries third year. Holmes’ season was capped off by an incredible game-
and inconsistencies. He ended up with the lowest rushing yards, yards winning TD catch that helped him win the Super Bowl MVP. He was
per carry, and attempts since his rookie year. He did have a big game targeted over 100 times on the season and proved to be a trustworthy
against San Diego in the playoffs (146 yards and two TDs), but when receiver for QB Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers are expecting him
Willie plays a tough run defense he cannot rise to the occasion. He to increase his production, and he could perhaps crack 1,000 yards
lost goalline opportunities to Gary Russell, and he lost third downs receiving in a season for the first time in his career.
to Mewelde Moore. If Rashard Mendenhall had stayed healthy, he Backup WRs: Nate Washington is gone, but the Steelers are hop-
might have lost even more carries. This season is shaping up to be a ing that Limas Sweed can take his game to the next level. Sweed was
three-headed committee, and while Willie Parker will be the starter, he singled out by Head Coach Mike Tomlin for having inconsistent hands,
and it’s something that really struck a nerve with the young receiver. He is
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED a huge target, but he doesn’t have the deep speed to challenge a defense.
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
With better concentration Sweed could turn into a nice red zone option
RB Frank Summers Draft College Pittsburgh Steelers for the Steelers. In the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft the Steelers
TE David Johnson Draft College Pittsburgh Steelers selected Mike Wallace from Ole Miss. He has the footwork and speed to
WR Mike Wallace Draft College Pittsburgh Steelers develop into a No. 2 WR but is raw and is still learning the intricacies of
WR Jayson Foster Free Agent Denver Broncos Pittsburgh Steelers the position. Shaun McDonald was signed to compete as a slot receiver
WR Shaun McDonald Free Agent Detroit Lions Pittsburgh Steelers and to contribute as a returner. Dallas Baker has size and long arms but
hasn’t shown much progress as a route runner. Martin Nance was Big
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST Ben’s favorite target when they were at Miami (OH). He is a large receiv-
er but is too slow in and out his breaks to get open consistently.
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
QB Byron Leftwich Free Agent Pittsburgh Steelers Tampa Bay Buccaneers
RB Gary Russell Free Agent Pittsburgh Steelers Oakland Raiders TIGHT ENDS
RB Verron Haynes Free Agent Pittsburgh Steelers Atlanta Falcons Starters: Heath Miller
WR Nate Washington Free Agent Pittsburgh Steelers Tennessee Titans Backups: Matt Spaeth, David Johnson [R], Sean McHugh
Heath Miller missed a couple of games for the first time in his pro
career, and his production slipped from his usual Top 10 status. He 2008 SEASON STATS
caught one more pass than he did in 2007, but he also had four fewer Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
TDs. As long as he can stay healthy for all 16 games his production Ben Roethlisberger 468 280 3308 17 15 34 101 2
should slightly increase from 2008. Miller is a great option in the
red zone and has the athletic ability to do some damage in the deep Byron Leftwich 36 21 303 2 0 4 7 1
middle of the field. He is also very savvy and knows how to push for Dennis Dixon 1 1 3 0 0 2 -3 0
extra yardage and move the chains. Matt Spaeth didn’t have any TD
catches in 2008 but still presents a huge target for his QB. Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
Willie Parker 210 791 5 3 13 0
PLACE KICKER
PK: Jeff Reed Mewelde Moore 140 588 5 40 320 1
Gary Russell 28 77 3 1 -2 0
Jeff Reed hit a career best 92.0 pecent (23 of 25) on field goals Rashard Mendenhall 19 58 0 2 17 0
in 2007. It was a big turnaround from 2006 when he hit only 74.1 Carey Davis 12 35 0 5 27 0
percent on field goals, the second lowest percentage of his career. He Najeh Davenport 2 5 0 0 0 0
again did well last year, making 27 of 31 (87.1 percent) field goals.
He was perfect on field goals under 40 yards in 2007 and missed only
one from that range last year. Reed had always managed to kick fairly Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
well at Heinz Field, a place that has probably cost some kickers their Hines Ward 81 1043 7 Pts 21.7 20th
job. Over the last three years, however, 10 of his 13 missed field goals Santonio Holmes 55 821 5 Yds 311.9 22nd
have been at home. Last year he missed a PAT, his first miss since Nate Washington 40 631 3 P-Yds 206.3 17th
2003. The Steelers have ranked 18th, 25th, and 18th the last three
years in attempted kicking points, limiting Reed’s fantasy value. Limas Sweed 6 64 0 R-Yds 105.6 23rd
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
TEAM DEFENSE Tight End Rec Yards TDs
Heath Miller 48 514 3
Pittsburgh is the birth place of the 3-4 zone blitz defense. It’s an Matt Spaeth 17 136 0
aggressive attacking style of play which at its best, forces offenses to
react to the defensive scheme rather than the other way around. By its Sean McHugh 3 24 0
design the zone blitz is meant to create a lot of big plays. Thus over
the years the Steelers have been one of the most consistently produc- 51 sacks, 29 takeaway and three defensive scores. There were no
tive options in the fantasy game. The 2008 season was no exception immediate impact additions over the offseason, but every starter is
as Pittsburgh sported defensive player of the year James Harrison, returning except ILB Larry Foote. That change only happened because
and was once again among the Top 3 fantasy defenses in any scor- Lawrence Timmons is an upgrade. Some will make an argument for
ing system. It’s hard to beat a unit that finishes first in yards, scoring Baltimore as the first defense off the board but the Steelers have more
and pass defense while coming in second versus the run, recording depth and are a can’t-miss option.
Backup QBs: The Chargers traded for Billy blocker, but generally used position and leverage
ICON SMI
Volek early during the 2006 regular season and he to seal off his defender from the running lane.
rose to No. 2 on the depth chart shortly thereafter. Antonio Gates Hester can also play halfback (he averaged 5.0
Volek has started 10 games in his NFL career and yards per carry last season), but the drafting of
has averaged 279 passing yards per game in those starts. Volek has Gartrell Johnson means that he will probably stay at fullback.
decent, but not elite, arm strength and accuracy. He has above-average
experience and past production for a backup quarterback. When pressed WIDE RECEIVERS
into duty in the playoff game against the Colts in 2007, Volek led the Starters: Vincent Jackson, Chris Chambers
Chargers on a game-winning touchdown drive. Charlie Whitehurst, Backups: Malcom Floyd, Craig Davis, Legedu Naanee,
entering his fourth year in the league, was the Chargers third-string Kassim Osgood
quarterback for most of the past two seasons; he has a good arm,
mechanics and mobility. Starting WRs: Vincent Jackson had teased fantasy owners
with strong finishes in 2006 and 2007, but waited until 2008 (his
RUNNING BACKS fourth year in the league) to put together a true breakout season. He
Starter: LaDainian Tomlinson has an outstanding combination of size and speed, and with Antonio
Backups: Darren Sproles, Gartrell Johnson [R] Gates struggling through injuries all year, Jackson became Philip
Fullback: Jacob Hester, Mike Tolbert Rivers’ favorite target last season. Jackson is both a red zone threat
and a deep threat. Lining up across from Jackson is Chris Chambers,
Starting RB: In 2006, LaDainian Tomlinson led the league in whom the Chargers traded for before the midway point in 2007.
rushing with 1,815 yards, set NFL records for rushing touchdowns Chambers was plagued by dropped balls with the Dolphins earlier in
(28) and total touchdowns (31), and was named league MVP. He his career, but has been a reliable, sure-handed receiver since com-
started slow in 2007, but rebounded to score 15 times the last 11 ing to the Chargers. He got off to a fast start in 2008, scoring five
games, and won the rushing title for the second consecutive season. touchdowns in the first five games before he was slowed by an ankle
His 2008 season, however, was marked by injury and disappointment. injury. Chambers had a quiet second half of the season, when he was
While Tomlinson did not miss a game, the toe injury he suffered in outshone not only by Vincent Jackson, but also by Malcom Floyd.
the first game slowed him during the first half of the season and he Chambers enters the 2009 season healthy and his starting job should
ended up averaging just 3.8 yards a carry – the lowest since his rookie be safe, but as the Chargers get their younger WRs more playing time
year. When healthy, Tomlinson has excellent vision, lateral quickness, and more targets, Chambers’ production may suffer.
acceleration, body control, patience, power, speed, balance and tough- Backup WRs: Malcom Floyd is a big receiver with excellent
ness. However, he will turn 30 before the season starts and has a lot hands and overall athleticism. He adjusts well to the ball in the air,
of mileage on him. His last two seasons have been progressively less and like Vincent Jackson, is both a red-zone threat and a deep threat.
productive than his record-setting 2006 season, and the trend may He gained Philip Rivers’ trust over the second half of the 2008 season,
continue as he winds down his career. and may have earned a bigger role in the offense in 2009. While he
struggles against tight man coverage, he is a good fit as a third receiv-
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED er who can exploit coverage by a defense’s weaker defensive backs.
Challenging Floyd for playing time will be the Chargers’ first-round
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team pick from 2007, Craig ‘Buster’ Davis. Davis has shown flashes in
RB Gartrell Johnson Draft College San Diego Chargers prior years’ training camps and has made occasional plays in games.
WR Demetrius Byrd Draft College San Diego Chargers
When he’s been on the field he’s performed well enough, but his avail-
ability has been compromised by almost constant nagging injuries.
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST Legedu Naanee may be ready for a step up in playing time. He is a
big, versatile receiver with decent run-after-the-catch ability. Kassim
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
TE Scott Chandler Free Agent San Diego Chargers Free Agent Osgood is a special teams ace.
TIGHT ENDS
2008 SEASON STATS
Starter: Antonio Gates Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
Backups: Brandon Manumaleuna, Kris Wilson Philip Rivers 478 312 4009 34 11 31 84 0
Antonio Gates struggled through last season, nursing a toe that
had been dislocated during the 2007 playoffs, a bruised hip suffered Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
in the first game of 2008, and a high ankle sprain suffered later in the LaDainian Tomlinson 292 1110 11 52 426 1
season. He lacked the explosiveness out of his cuts that he had shown Darren Sproles 61 330 1 29 342 5
in previous seasons, but still ended up with 704 receiving yards and Jacob Hester 19 95 1 12 91 1
a team-high eight receiving TDs. Gates has good size (6’4, 260) and
– when healthy – excellent quickness on underneath routes, as well as
Mike Tolbert 13 37 0 13 171 1
a knack for shielding defenders from the ball with his body. Heading
into 2009, the hip and ankle should be fine, but the toe may not Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
ever heal 100 percent. Gates has a high pain threshold and will play Vincent Jackson 59 1098 7 Pts 27.4 2nd
through injuries that might sideline other players; and as he proved Chris Chambers 33 462 5 Yds 349.0 11th
last season, a wounded Gates can still be a Top 5 fantasy tight end.
Malcom Floyd 27 465 4 P-Yds 241.1 7th
But to be considered a top-flight fantasy stud, Gates will have to show
during training camp that he can cut and push off of his toe without Legedu Naanee 8 64 0 R-Yds 107.9 20th
difficulty. Gates’ primary backup, Brandon Manumaleuna, has good Craig Davis 4 59 0
hands but lacks the speed to get downfield. He is primarily a blocker,
and occasionally a check-down receiver. Kris Wilson is another effec- Tight End Rec Yards TDs
tive blocker, but tends to be used as more of an H-back.
Antonio Gates 60 704 8
ICON SMI
ment of his first two years as a pro. However, Smith the fantasy world with three receptions and two
is in the best position to take over should Hill fail or Frank Gore rushing attempts in three years. In the most recent
get injured. Damon Huard is a journeyman who after incarnations of the 49er offense the fullback has
failing in Kansas City gets an opportunity to provide veteran leadership to rarely seen the ball. This could change under the Jimmy Raye offense, but
his inexperienced rivals. If he were to play, it would be wise not to expect it would be wise to take a wait and see approach first.
too much. Nate Davis was selected in the fifth round of the 2009 draft and
offers significant upside if he adapts to the demands of the NFL. WIDE RECEIVERS
Starters: Isaac Bruce, Michael Crabtree [R]
RUNNING BACKS Backups: Josh Morgan, Brandon Jones, Jason Hill, Arnaz Battle
Starter: Frank Gore
Backups: Glen Coffee [R], Michael Robinson, Thomas Clayton Starting WRs: The top of the WR depth chart is uncertain fol-
Fullbacks: Moran Norris, Zak Keasey lowing the drafting of Michael Crabtree with the 10th overall pick.
If Crabtree signs quickly then the path for him becoming a starter will
Starting RB: Frank Gore will be looking to rebound from con- almost certainly be made easier. Crabtree was the consensus No. 1
secutive seasons of decreasing production. With new offensive coordinator WR in the draft by a large margin. Crabtree is NFL ready, a dynamic
Jimmy Raye promising to play tough physical football, this should play playmaker and hard worker. Other teams that rated him as a diva may
right into the hands of Frank Gore owners. As one of the more natural eventually regret that decision. Opposite Crabtree is likely to be Isaac
runners in the NFL, the talent of Frank Gore has never been in question Bruce, at least in the early part of the season. Despite turning 37 this
and he’ll be one of the few backs who should play on all downs. The 49ers year, Bruce demonstrated in 2008 that he still had the legs and desire
to perform well. Bruce almost retired in the off season but decided to
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED stick with the 49ers in early April. It would be a surprise however to see
Bruce perform even to last year’s standards. The absence of Mike Martz
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team will hurt Bruce the most. The 49ers will attempt to pass the ball far less
QB Nate Davis Draft College San Francisco 49ers and have a deep group of promising young receivers to call on.
QB Damon Huard Free Agent Kansas City Chiefs San Francisco 49ers Backup WRs: Josh Morgan, Jason Hill and Arnaz Battle
RB Glen Coffee Draft College San Francisco 49ers
have all started at some stage in recent years for the 49ers. Morgan and
RB Jamel White Free Agent Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers
RB Kory Sheets Free Agent Free Agent San Francisco 49ers
Hill are still young enough to regain a starting role, but Battle could
RB Moran Norris Free Agent Detroit Lions San Francisco 49ers struggle to win a roster spot. Morgan both impressed and frustrated the
TE Bear Pascoe Draft College San Francisco 49ers coaching staff with his inconsistency, but he flashed some big-play abil-
WR Michael Crabtree Draft College San Francisco 49ers ity and if he improves he could be one to watch out for this year. Hill
WR Brandon Jones Free Agent Tennessee Titans San Francisco 49ers finds himself in a difficult position. He clearly has potential to become
a starting receiver and caught 30 balls once Mike Singletary took over
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST as coach. Others however look to have the edge right now and he’ll
need a bit of luck to appear on fantasy radars this year. A player who’ll
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team definitely be involved somewhere is the former Titan Brandon Jones,
QB J.T. O’Sullivan Free Agent San Francisco 49ers Cincinnati Bengals who signed a five-year contract as a free agent. It’s hard to imagine him
QB Jamie Martin Free Agent San Francisco 49ers Free Agent
in a starting role, but he could find his niche as a No. 3.
QB Kirby Freeman Free Agent San Francisco 49ers Free Agent
RB David Kirtman Free Agent San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks
RB DeShaun Foster Free Agent San Francisco 49ers Free Agent TIGHT ENDS
TE Sean P. Ryan Free Agent San Francisco 49ers Kansas City Chiefs Starter: Vernon Davis
WR Bryant Johnson Free Agent San Francisco 49ers Detroit Lions Backups: Delanie Walker, Bear Pascoe [R]
TE Billy Bajema Free Agent San Francisco 49ers St. Louis Rams
ICON SMI
Wallace is about five inches shorter and 15 in 2008) accumulated no rushing or receiving
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
pounds lighter, possesses an extremely strong arm Matt Hasselbeck stats while bouncing from Seattle to Indianapolis
and excellent running ability, and can sometimes and then back to Seattle, but he did show his
make poor decisions while utilizing improper technique. That aside quickness and cutting ability in punt and kick returns. Assuming
– Wallace has generally been very good in relief of Hasselbeck and the Seahawks do not sign another veteran, Forsett should get a few
is entrenched in that role. However, their flirtation with taking Mark touches in relief of Jones. Devin Moore and Tyler Roehl are a pair of
Sanchez solidifies the belief that Seattle does not envision Wallace as undrafted free agents with decent chances of sticking on the roster.
a starting caliber player. Sixth rounder Mike Teel has good intangibles Fullbacks: The Mohawk-wearing Owen Schmitt definitely
and leadership qualities and a very strong arm. He needs some work plays with intensity and has broken a few of his own facemasks while
on his accuracy and hasn’t shown much ability to progress through his blocking. After the departure of Leonard Weaver, most expected
reads. Teel does not appear ready to play this season, but he should Schmitt to easily assume the starting role, but the signing of veteran
stick with the team over 2008 undrafted free agent Jeff Rowe. Justin Griffith signals that there will be competition. Griffith, while
still not fully healthy with a knee injury, has familiarity with the staff
RUNNING BACKS due to his prior relationship with new HC Jim Mora during their time
Starter: Julius Jones with the Falcons. Griffith could have more fantasy value as Schmitt is
Backups: T.J. Duckett, Justin Forsett, Devin Moore [R], Tyler Roehl [R] more of a blocker than a receiver, but neither player will be a force.
Fullbacks: Owen Schmitt, Justin Griffith
WIDE RECEIVERS
Starting RB: In a bit of a surprise to observers, OC Greg Knapp Starters: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch
said in mid-April that he was happy with Seattle’s current crop of Backups: Nate Burleson, Ben Obomanu, Deon Butler [R],
backs. He added that the team’s zone scheme has a history of giving Jordan Kent, Logan Payne, Courtney Taylor
guys “career best seasons” and pointed out Warrick Dunn’s 1400-yard
season in 2004 and Justin Fargas’ 1000-yard campaign in Oakland. Starting WRs: On paper, the Bengals have an excellent pair of
complementary WRs in T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch.
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED Houshmandzadeh arrives as a free agent from Cincinnati, where he put
up multiple highly-productive seasons (over 90 catches in each of the
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
last three years and over 70 in each of the last five). He has shown to
QB Mike Teel Draft College Seattle Seahawks
RB Devin Moore Free Agent College Seattle Seahawks
be a reliable redzone target (21 total TDs in 2006 and 2007) and has
RB Tyler Roehl Free Agent College Seattle Seahawks already meshed with Matt Hasselbeck in that arena during minicamp.
RB Justin Griffith Free Agent Oakland Raiders Seattle Seahawks Houshmandzadeh doesn’t have great speed, but he is an excellent route
TE Cameron Morrah Draft College Seattle Seahawks runner and uses his size and football smarts to create separation in
TE John Owens Free Agent Detroit Lions Seattle Seahawks tight quarters. He is not afraid of working in traffic (which has lead to
WR Deon Butler Draft College Seattle Seahawks a few nagging injuries) and has great hands. He is an excellent posses-
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh Free Agent Cincinnati Bengals Seattle Seahawks sion receiver and will be a reliable target for Seattle. Branch, on the
other hand, excels as a deep threat. He can explode on the snap and
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST create separation with his quickness and burst. Branch’s only real prob-
lem is his health. He has been plagued by injuries in his seven-year
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
RB Leonard Weaver Free Agent Seattle Seahawks Philadelphia Eagles
career (only one 16-game season) and underwent offseason surgery to
RB Maurice Morris Free Agent Seattle Seahawks Detroit Lions clean up his surgically repaired knee. The team fully expects him to be
TE Will Heller Free Agent Seattle Seahawks Detroit Lions healthy for training camp, but the litany of injuries is a worry.
WR Bobby Engram Free Agent Seattle Seahawks Kansas City Chiefs Backup WRs: Here’s another Seahawk that was bitten by the
WR Koren Robinson Free Agent Seattle Seahawks Free Agent injury bug in 2008. Nate Burleson was set to build upon a quality
2008 campaign (nine TDs) when, in the opening game, he was lost
for the year with a knee injury. When the Seahawks run three-WR 2008 SEASON STATS
sets, Burleson will be in that package, so it’s conceivable he will get a Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
large number of starts. However, with the arrival of Houshmandzadeh, Seneca Wallace 242 141 1532 11 3 16 78 0
Burleson’s targets will not match the 95 he saw in 2007. However,
he should be able to create mismatches against nickel corners. Ben Matt Hasselbeck209 109 1216 5 10 11 69 0
Obomanu worked in Branch’s starting job (while Branch rehabbed),
but he looks like a WR4 at best. Deon Butler has an opportunity to Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
return kicks, but barring injury, he won’t work into the regular WR Julius Jones 158 698 2 14 66 0
rotation. Courtney Taylor has been the talk of minicamp, but he’ll Maurice Morris 132 574 0 19 136 2
have to beat out Jordan Kent and Logan Payne for the WR5 spot.
T.J. Duckett 62 172 8 0 0 0
TIGHT ENDS Leonard Weaver 30 130 0 20 222 2
Starter: John Carlson
Backups: Cameron Morrah [R], John Owens Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
Bobby Engram 47 489 0 Ctgry Avg Rnk
Despite a history of not relying heavily upon rookies, we entered
the 2008 season expecting then-HC Mike Holmgren to use John Koren Robinson 31 400 2 Pts 18.4 25th
Carlson often. The rookie was a second round selection (fairly high Deion Branch 30 412 4 Yds 274.1 28th
for a TE) and had little competition. Those expectations were realized Courtney Taylor 9 98 0 P-Yds 163.6 29th
as Carlson played a huge role in the offense and ended the season as Billy McMullen 7 124 0 R-Yds 110.5 19th
Seattle’s top pass catcher. Of course, that’s a low number for a team-
leading receiver, but Carlson did show to have great all-around ability
for a tight end. He catches well, runs nice routes, and is an underrated Tight End Rec Yards TDs
blocker. Cameron Morrah was taken in the seventh round and is a John Carlson 55 627 5
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
very one-dimensional player. He has fairly soft hands and good quick-
ness, but he lacks enough size and strength to even be an adequate
blocker. John Owens is the anti-Morrah with great blocking ability
but hands of stone. TEAM DEFENSE
PLACE KICKER Aside from a Top 10 finish in sacks, Seattle was well below average
PKs: Olindo Mare, Brandon Coutu in every major defensive category last season, including Bottom 10
finishes in both points and yardage allowed. Under new head coach
Brandon Coutu and Olindo Mare will compete for the second Jim Mora and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, the team will try to
straight year. After struggling on field goals for two years, hitting ramp up their aggressiveness this season. It may be difficult for the
26 of 36 (72.2 percent) in 2006 and 10 of 17 (58.8 percent) in 2007, team to follow up on its 35 sack season without OLB Julian Peterson,
Mare rebounded last year making 24 of 27 (88.9 percent). He did not who was dealt to Detroit for DL Cory Redding. The status of defen-
have any lingering issues from the groin and hip injuries suffered the sive end Patrick Kerney is also a question, given the multiple surgeries
year before. Although Mare won the job last year and did very well, the veteran has undergone in the past 12 months. The Seahawks will
the Seahawks also opted to keep Coutu on the roster. Coutu did well replace Peterson with fourth overall pick Aaron Curry who was the
consistently throughout his career at Georgia. He hit 53 of 66 on field consensus best outside linebacker in the draft. Even a fully healthy
goals. His long field goal each of the last three years was over 50 Kerney and productive Curry aren’t likely to improve this defense
yards. He did not miss a single PAT attempt. enough to make them roster worthy in fantasy leagues.
ICON SMI
Baltimore as their off-and-on starter (he started 42 Steven Jackson McCoy in 2008. Sam Gado will be lucky to
games as a Raven). He has good size and athleticism make the final roster.
ST. LOUIS RAMS
and possesses a very strong arm. However, he lacks consistency and Fullbacks: Mike Karney has good size and is generally a good
seems unable to read through his progressions with any regularity. He blocker. As the only natural fullback in St. Louis, he will be counted
simply lacks the intangibles necessary to excel at this level. Boller is a upon as the lead man for Jackson. Karney is best when he doesn’t
solid option as a backup QB, but his shortcomings will prevent him from have to make quick adjustments.
mounting a significant challenge to any starting job. Keith Null was taken
in the sixth round and is a very intelligent passer with excellent accuracy WIDE RECEIVERS
on intermediate and short throws. He does, however, lack arm strength and Starters: Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton
faces a big adjustment from the spread offense he ran at West Texas A&M. Backups: Laurent Robinson, Derek Stanley, Brooks Foster [R]
RUNNING BACKS Starting WRs: Not too long ago, the Rams were stocked at the
Starter: Steven Jackson WR position with Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt consistently turning in
Backups: Antonio Pittman, Ken Darby, Chris Ogbonnaya [R], Sam Gado dominant fantasy seasons. Well, the veterans are gone, and Donnie
Fullback: Mike Karney Avery is now St. Louis’ top receiving threat. Avery flashed excel-
lence in his rookie season, and he has the elite speed, acceleration,
and hands that are required to be a WR1. Of course, he was helped by
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED having Holt playing across from him, so it remains to be seen if Avery
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team is capable of anchoring a WR corps. The Rams obviously believe in
QB Keith Null Draft College St. Louis Rams him, and we expect Avery to lead them in receiving. Keenan Burton
QB Kyle Boller Free Agent Baltimore Ravens St. Louis Rams will get the first shot at starting opposite Avery. Burton lacks elite-
RB Chris Ogbonnaya Draft College St. Louis Rams level speed, but he has good quickness and can make plays after the
RB Mike Karney Free Agent New Orleans Saints St. Louis Rams
catch. Still, he is a work in progress and will need to hold off new-
TE Billy Bajema Free Agent San Francisco 49ers St. Louis Rams
WR Brooks Foster Draft College St. Louis Rams
signed Laurent Robinson.
WR Laurent Robinson Trade Atlanta Falcons St. Louis Rams Backup WRs: Many thought Laurent Robinson would imme-
WR Tim Carter Free Agent Houston Texans St. Louis Rams diately slot into the WR2 spot when he signed this offseason, but the
Rams did not promise him a starting job. He opened minicamps as the
team’s third receiver and could excel in that role. If Keenan Burton
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST falters, Robinson could easily move up the ladder. He has nice speed
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team and is very athletic, but his technique often breaks down in traffic.
QB Trent Green Free Agent St. Louis Rams Free Agent Derek Stanley is a quick, undersized player that is more suited to the
RB Brian Leonard Trade St. Louis Rams Cincinnati Bengals role of returner than receiver. Brooks Foster brings size to the table but
RB Dan Kreider Free Agent St. Louis Rams Arizona Cardinals struggles with consistency.
RB Richard Owens Free Agent St. Louis Rams Free Agent
RB Travis Minor Free Agent St. Louis Rams Free Agent
TIGHT ENDS
TE Anthony Becht Free Agent St. Louis Rams Arizona Cardinals
TE Dominique Byrd Free Agent St. Louis Rams Arizona Cardinals
Starter: Randy McMichael
WR Dane Looker Free Agent St. Louis Rams Free Agent Backups: Joe Klopfenstein, Billy Bajema, Daniel Fells
WR Dante’ Hall Free Agent St. Louis Rams Free Agent
WR Drew Bennett Free Agent St. Louis Rams Free Agent With the outflow of WRs this offseason, Randy McMichael could
WR Joel Filani Free Agent St. Louis Rams Tampa Bay Buccaneers be called upon often in the St. Louis passing game. While he isn’t
WR Torry Holt Free Agent St. Louis Rams Jacksonville Jaguars as dangerous in the passing game as he once was, McMichael is still
Freeman is Morris’ guy. back to anything close to his once dominant form.
ICON SMI
Backup QB: The Buccaneers have five QBs Fullbacks: Not much to see here. B.J.
on their current roster – Byron Leftwich, Luke Antonio Bryant Askew and Jameel Cook are fortunate to com-
McCown, Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson and Brian bine for two touches in a game.
Griese. The early thinking is that Josh Johnson and or Brian Griese
will be off the team by the time training camp begins. Leftwich is a WIDE RECEIVERS
proven quality backup QB in the league. He had minimal game action Starting WRs: Antonio Bryant, Michael Clayton
last season with Pittsburgh, but he engineered drives and kept the team Backup WRs: Dexter Jackson, Maurice Stovall, Sammie
more than afloat while starter Ben Roethlisberger rested his injuries. Stroughter [R]
Luke McCown did not have a single pass attempt in 2008, but this
will be his third year with the team and he does have NFL game expe- Starting WRs: The Buccaneers released veteran Joey Galloway
rience that other QBs on the roster don’t have. McCown also had a 7.3 in the offseason and re-signed rising star Antonio Bryant and veteran
yards-per-attempt average in five games in 2007, including an impres- Michael Clayton. Bryant is coming off a stellar 2008 season that
sive 91.7 QB rating. saw him really blossom in the second half, catching five of his seven
TDs after week 12. He had six games of at least 100-yards receiving
RUNNING BACKS in 2008, which was fifth-highest among all WRs. Bryant is expected
Starting RB: Derrick Ward to be a major contributor in the offense once again. In releasing Joey
Backup RBs: Earnest Graham, Clifton Smith, Cadillac Williams Galloway, Tampa Bay will turn to veteran Michael Clayton, who is
Fullbacks: B.J. Askew, Jameel Cook mostly known for his impressive rookie season that resulted in a Top
15 fantasy ranking among all WRs. He hasn’t come close to the top
Starting RB: The Buccaneers released several veteran players 25 since then, but 2008 marked the most receptions (38) since his 80-
in the offseason, including long-time RB, Warrick Dunn. These moves catch rookie season. Clayton will likely be the teams third down field
freed up cap space and opened the door for the team to sign free agent option behind Bryant and newly signed TE Kellen Winslow Jr.
RB Derrick Ward. Last year Ward rushed for 1,000 yards with the Backup WRs: Depth is not something the Bucs have a lot of in
their receiving corps this year. Expect the passing game to be centered
on Antonio Bryant, Kellen Winslow, Michael Clayton and even the
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED duo of RBs Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham. Second-year speedster
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team Dexter Jackson figures to have more of a role in 2009. Fourth-year
QB Josh Freeman Draft College Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Maurice Stovall rounds up the depth chart, but he has not had
QB Byron Leftwich Free Agent Pittsburgh Steelers Tampa Bay Buccaneers more than ten catches in a season in his three year career.
RB Derrick Ward Free Agent New York Giants Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TE Kellen Winslow, Jr Trade Cleveland Browns Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TIGHT ENDS
WR Sammie Stroughter Draft College Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Joel Filani Free Agent St. Louis Rams Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Starting TE: Kellen Winslow, Jr.
Backup TE: Jerramy Stevens, John Gilmore
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST The Buccaneers bolstered their TE position by trading for and sign-
ing standout TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. Winslow figures to be a major
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team
contributor in the Bucs offensive plans – provided he rebounds from a
QB Jeff Garcia Free Agent Tampa Bay Buccaneers Oakland Raiders
RB B.J. Askew Free Agent Tampa Bay Buccaneers Free Agent
less than acceptable 2008 season that included five missed games due
RB Warrick Dunn Free Agent Tampa Bay Buccaneers Free Agent to assorted injuries. When healthy, Winslow is a very dependable target
TE Alex Smith Trade Tampa Bay Buccaneers New England Patriots that will add a new facet to the Buccaneers offensive game plan that
WR Anthony Mix Free Agent Tampa Bay Buccaneers Free Agent didn’t exactly feature the TE in previous seasons. Look for Winslow
WR Ike Hilliard Free Agent Tampa Bay Buccaneers Free Agent to rebound as a top five fantasy TE in 2009. Veteran Jerramy Stevens
WR Joey Galloway Free Agent Tampa Bay Buccaneers New England Patriots will occupy the team’s backup TE role behind Kellen Winslow Jr.
Stevens, who has been a primary receiving TE in prior seasons will take
a back seat to Winslow, but don’t be surprised if they both see the field 2008 SEASON STATS
at the same time during red zone opportunities. His presence should Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
result in an improvement compared to last year’s dismal red zone pro-
Jeff Garcia 376 244 2712 12 6 35 148 1
duction. The Bucs also have veteran John Gilmore, who is coming off
his best year of his seven-year career. Brian Griese 184 110 1073 5 7 5 -1 0
PLACE KICKER Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
PKs: Matt Bryant, Mike Nugent Warrick Dunn 186 786 2 47 330 0
Earnest Graham 132 563 4 23 174 0
Matt Bryant is coming off back-to-back solid seasons with the
Cadillac Williams 63 233 4 7 43 0
Bucs. In 2007 he made 28 of 33 (84.8 percent) field goals and added
34 PATs. The 118 points placed Tampa at 10th in kicker scoring. Last Clifton Smith 8 40 0 4 24 0
year he made 32 of 38 (84.2 percent) field goals plus 35 PATs, for a B.J. Askew 7 14 2 13 66 0
total of 131 points and a 4th-place ranking. After a strong 2006, Mike
Nugent took a step backwards in 2007 with the Jets, hitting only 80.6 Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
percent (29 of 36) on field goals – although three of the misses were Antonio Bryant 83 1248 7 Ctgry Avg Rnk
from 50+ yards. Last year he suffered a thigh injury during the first Pts 22.6 19th
Ike Hilliard 47 424 4
game, and subsequently watched Jay Feely from the sidelines for the
rest of the year. Although he was healthy enough to kick again later Michael Clayton 38 484 1 Yds 341.0 14th
in the season, the Jets opted to continue using Feely who was kicking Joey Galloway 13 138 0 P-Yds 226.2 11th
well at that time. Nugent to test out free agency, and was signed by the R-Yds 114.8 15th
Bucs. Whoever wins the job will be relying on scoring opportunities Tight End Rec Yards TDs
ICON SMI
for his job. Reports have indicated that Young much if at all. Casey Cramer comes back to the
TENNESSEE TITANS
may finally be serious about his career and has Chris Johnson Titans after spending a year with Miami.
re-dedicated himself this offseason. Chris Simms
was on the roster last year, but he switched places with former Denver WIDE RECEIVERS
backup Patrick Ramsey. Ramsey’s skill set is very similar to Kerry Starters: Justin Gage, Nate Washington
Collins and there are some that have speculated that he could end up Backups: Kenny Britt [R], Lavelle Hawkins, Justin McCareins,
being the No. 2 QB and not Vince Young. Chris Davis, Mark Jones, Paul Williams, Dominique Edison [R],
Dudley Guice [R]
RUNNING BACKS
Starter: Chris Johnson Starting WRs: Justin Gage is a big target that has flashed play-
Backups: LenDale White, Chris Henry, Javon Ringer [R], making ability since he came to the Titans in 2007. He finished the
Quinton Ganther, Rafael Little 2008 season with a bang, and had over 100-yards receiving in each of
Fullbacks: Ahmard Hall, Casey Cramer his final two games. Kerry Collins targeted him 74 times they failed
to connect 40 times so Gage finished the season with only 34 recep-
Starting RB: Chris Johnson was everything that the Titans had tions. The Titans need him to play with consistency, so defenses will
hoped for – and more! He immediately made an impact and provided honor the pass instead of just stacking the line of scrimmage to stop
the type of big-play threat that the running game had been missing. He the run. Nate Washington comes over from Pittsburgh, and the Titans
finished the season with almost 1,500 total yards and 10 TDs which made are hoping that he can become the same deep threat for Kerry Collins
him the 11th ranked RB in fantasy football. He could have easily been Top that he was for Ben Roethlisberger. Washington only scored three TDs
10 – maybe Top 5 – had he not lost carries and goalline opportunities to in 2008, but all came on a hot streak in the first half of the season
LenDale White. Johnson may be unproven carrying the full load but he where he had at least 57 yards receiving and a TD in three consecutive
looked good last season and the Titans may be moving away from White. weeks. Like Gage, Washington needs to drop fewer passes in order to
He is an electric playmaker that has the ability to take it to the house on improve his game.
any play. He doesn’t need a lot of carries to produce and defenses certainly Backup WRs: The Titans have a ton of backup WRs with
have to gameplan for him because of his rare ability. This season he could potential and they are hoping that one or more come out of this group
as solid starting options. With their first round pick in 2009 they
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED selected WR Kenny Britt from Rutgers. He is a big and physical tar-
get that has plenty of speed but also drops too many passes. Lavelle
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team Hawkins has great body control and leaping ability but didn’t play his
QB Patrick Ramsey Free Agent Denver Broncos Tennessee Titans
way on to the field much in 2008. Justin McCareins could be on the
RB Javon Ringer Draft College Tennessee Titans
TE Jared Cook Draft College Tennessee Titans
roster bubble with the number of quality WRs currently behind him
WR Dominique Edison Draft College Tennessee Titans on the depth chart. Chris Davis and Mark Jones are return men that
WR Kenny Britt Draft College Tennessee Titans won’t see many receptions. Paul Williams is a big and athletic player
WR Mark Jones Free Agent Carolina Panthers Tennessee Titans that can’t seem to seize any opportunity to move up. Dominique
WR Nate Washington Free Agent Pittsburgh Steelers Tennessee Titans Edison and Dudley Guice are both hard-working rookies that have
the skills to reach the starting lineup if they fulfill their potential.
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team TIGHT ENDS
QB Chris Simms Free Agent Tennessee Titans Denver Broncos Starters: Bo Scaife
WR Brandon Jones Free Agent Tennessee Titans San Francisco 49ers Backups: Alge Crumpler, Jared Cook [R]
WR Justin McCareins Free Agent Tennessee Titans Free Agent
WR Roydell Williams Free Agent Tennessee Titans Washington Redskins Bo Scaife had great chemistry with Vince Young, but when Kerry
TENNESSEE TITANS
and 26th in kicker scoring from 2004 to 2006. The last two years they
Craig Stevens 1 9 0
have ranked 4th and 7th.
TEAM DEFENSE
There was plenty to like about the Titans defense in 2008. They seeing significant action in the rotation and may well have been part
were among the Top 10 in every important category including second of the reason Tennessee didn’t break the bank to keep Haynesworth.
in points allowed and third in takeaways. This unit returns ten starters, They also used a second this year on DT Sen’Derrick Marks and
but the one who isn’t coming back may be the most important. Albert picked up Jovan Haye in free agency to add veteran depth. The Titans
Haynesworth was the most dominating interior lineman in the league lowest mark last year was a ninth rated pass defense, so they nabbed
last year and will be missed greatly. That said, it’s not as if the club Ryan Mouton in the third round to bolster the corner position. This
has not prepared. Last year’s second round pick Jason Jones will step was a Top 5 defense in 2008, and despite the loss of Haynesworth,
into the lineup after a solid rookie year. He gained experience while they should finish in a similar position this season.
great size, athleticism and the arm to make every season, which may go down as one of the big-
throw. He started all 16 games in 2008 and com- gest statistical anomalies in leagues history.
ICON SMI
pleted a career high 62.3 percent of his passes, Since then, he’s caught 47 passes and ran 44
and was only intercepted 1.2 percent of the time. Chris Cooley times, but his great value is as a punishing lead
Give credit to Campbell for not throwing a tantrum blocker. The Skins drafted Eddie Williams in
and demanding a trade. It remains to be seen whether he can be a great the seventh round. He will have a chance to make the final 53-man
quarterback, but he’s clearly shown the capacity to be a great teammate. roster.
Backup QBs: Todd Collins will be 38 in November and will
need to hold off Colt Brennan for the backup job. Collins is a steady, WIDE RECEIVERS
intelligent veteran with starting experience, but isn’t going to rock the Starters: Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El
boat or lobby for the starting job. Brennan, on the other hand, would Backups: Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, Billy McMullen, James Thrash
love a shot at the starting gig. He enters his second season with a bet-
ter understanding of the playbook and, hopefully, a sturdier frame. Starting WRs: After consecutive subpar seasons, Santana
Brenna was an ultra productive collegiate passer at the University of Moss proved that he’s still a difference maker. Moss stayed healthy
Hawaii but was considered a developmental pro prospect because he last year and caught 79 receptions for 1,044 yards to go along with six
played in a gimmicky offense in college. While Brennan doesn’t have touchdowns. It was only Moss’ third 1,000-yard season in eight, and it
the strongest arm, he has a quick release and is fearless. ended what looked like a steady decline. No longer the burner, Moss
has evolved his game and is now primarily a guy who makes his living
RUNNING BACKS catching short and intermediate passes and generating yards after the
Starter: Clinton Portis catch. Moss remains the team’s best pass catcher, but would be served
Backups: Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright well by the continued development of Devin Thomas and Malcolm
Fullback: Mike Sellers, Eddie Williams [R] Kelly. Opposing defenses are able to keep a lid on Moss in most cases
because they don’t respect Antwaan Randle El as a threat. Randle
Starting RB: Clinton Portis is the Rodney Dangerfield of All Pro El is arguably one of the least productive starting WRs in the league.
running backs. It seems that every year he’s the forgotten man among Randle El has never had more than 53 receptions or 728 yards and last
elite runners, as fantasy owners expect his play to fall off. And yet, every year’s four TD catches were a career high. He can make the easy grabs
year Portis delivers. Last year was no exception, as Portis finished with but doesn’t make plays on the ball. In spite of limited productivity,
1,487 rushing yards (fourth in the NFL), caught 28 passes and scored Randle El remains the team’s second best option sadly.
nine touchdowns on route to his fifth career Top 10 fantasy finish. Backup WRs: Last year the Redskins took a big step toward
Entering his eighth season, Portis is only 28 years old and has shown no improving an anemic receiving corps with the selections of Devin
signs of slowing down. He logged 342 carries last year and averaged a Thomas and Malcolm Kelly. Both were highly regarded prospects
and are expected to be the foundation of the Redskins WR corps for
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS ADDED years to come. Unfortunately, neither player distinguished himself as
a rookie. Thomas caught 15 receptions for only 120 yards, but has the
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team size (6’2, 215 pounds) to be a red zone threat provided he can show
RB Marcus Mason Free Agent New York Jets Washington Redskins a better understanding of the playbook this year. Kelly battled injury
TE Eddie Williams Draft College Washington Redskins
and only caught three passes last year; but is a polished route runner
WR Marko Mitchell Draft College Washington Redskins
WR Roydell Williams Free Agent Tennessee Titans Washington Redskins
with good hands. The good news for both second year players is that
Washington needs them to contribute and would be more than happy
to see them win starting spots sooner rather than later.
NOTABLE SKILL POSITION PLAYERS LOST
Pos Player Name Type 2008 Team 2009 Team TIGHT ENDS
TE Devin Frischknecht Free Agent Washington Redskins Free Agent Starter: Chris Cooley
WR John Halman Free Agent Washington Redskins Free Agent Backups: Todd Yoder, Fred Davis
Chris Cooley had his best and worst season in 2008. The good
news is he caught a career high 83 passes and 849 yards. The bad 2008 SEASON STATS
news is Cooley somehow managed only one TD in those 83 recep- Quarterback Atts Comps Yards TDs INTs Rush Yards TDs
tions. How did that happen? Consider it a fluke as evidenced by 27 Jason Campbell 506 315 3245 13 6 47 258 1
TDs he scored in his first four seasons. Cooley is a smooth route run-
ner with excellent hands. Although Cooley isn’t much of a blocker,
Running Back Rush Yards TDs Rec Yards TDs
he’s on the field in most downs and distances and is Jason Campbell’s
security blanket. Fred Davis is another offensive-minded TE who Clinton Portis 342 1487 9 28 218 0
came out of USC with an abundance of self confidence but needs to Ladell Betts 61 206 1 22 200 0
do a lot more as a second year player if he wants to show up in the Mike Sellers 6 24 0 12 98 1
box scores. Todd Yoder is the savvy veteran blocker of the group. His
job is helping to open holes for Clinton Portis. Wide Receiver Rec Yards TDs Team Per Game Stats
Santana Moss 79 1044 6 Ctgry Avg Rnk
PLACE KICKERS
PKs: Shaun Suisham, Dave Rayner Antwaan Randle El 53 593 4 Pts 16.6 28th
Devin Thomas 15 120 0 Yds 320.0 19th
After more John Hall injury woes, Shaun Suisham was brought in James Thrash 9 81 1 P-Yds 189.1 23rd
for the final five games of 2006, and actually provided some stabil- Malcolm Kelly 3 18 0 R-Yds 130.9 8th
ity at the position. In 2007, his first full season in the NFL, Suisham
made 29 of 35 (82.9%) field goals, including 11 of 15 from 40+ Tight End Rec Yards TDs
yards. Last year was not a banner year for Suisham however, as he
Chris Cooley 83 849 1
missed the most field goals in the NFL, going only 26 of 36 (72.2%).
With some of the blame attributed to the holder, the team felt that Todd Yoder 8 50 1
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Suisham had enough potential to re-sign him for this year. They also Fred Davis 3 27 0
signed the journeyman Dave Rayner to provide competition. Rayner’s
last full season was 2006 with Green Bay. In 2007 he played part of
the year for Kansas City and later in the year as a kickoff specialist for
San Diego. In 2008 he surfaced in Cincinnati for two games, filling in overall. Not surprisingly, Washington threw a truckload of money
for the ailing Shayne Graham. Despite last years misses, Suisham has at the problem this offseason by signing DT Albert Haynesworth.
the better field goal numbers of the two, while Rayner has the better Haynesworth will clog the middle on rushing downs and may be asked
kickoff numbers to draw blockers in the nickel package. His presence should help vet-
eran DE Andre Carter and first-round draft pick Brian Orakpo, who
TEAM DEFENSE is likely to play SLB on base defensive downs but put his hand down
in the nickel. An improved pass rush could send the big play numbers
The value of the Washington defense in your league in 2008 was skyrocketing in the back seven, where MLB London Fletcher is an
dependent on scoring system. They were among the best in the league above average zone defender and safeties LaRon Landry and Chris
in yardage allowed and points against, likely making them a Top 10 Horton have both shown an ability to generate big plays in coverage.
defense in leagues that favored those stats. The Redskins however, The team’s three top cornerbacks, DeAngelo Hall, Carlos Rogers and
managed only 24 sacks, 18 takeaways and one touchdown, landing Fred Smoot are also capable of cashing in on the mistakes of opposing
them among the bottom dwellers in leagues based on big plays. That quarterbacks. Despite last season’s poor finish in some leagues, don’t
included FBG official scoring, in which the Redskins finished 27th be afraid to roster Washington as a backup.
Gut
Top 10 finishes (including a No. 1 and
No. 4 at QB) coming into 2008. The fact
W
hile this magazine and our up. Well, after we clarified our question, low profile is the best reason to wait on
website are both heavily based he was eager to write out some thoughts QB this year.
on statistics and historical on many players.
analysis, one can’t fully succeed on Kyle Orton, Denver
numbers alone. There are times when you Predicting success for Orton isn’t
just know something is going to happen.
It can’t be figured or mathematically
QUARTERBACKS outlandish if you go back and watch his
games in the first half of 2008 – he was
explained, but you know it is coming. Tom Brady, New England one of the best QB in the league. Now
Yes, sometimes, you just have to follow We lost the opportunity to determine he gets to play in a system that produced
your gut. whether the “real Tom Brady” would the surprise QB1 on 2008, with two
Well, we asked our veteran staffer have numbers closer to his record- outstanding young WRs, and he’s on
Sigmund Bloom to empty his guts. At breaking 2007 or his historical numbers one of the worst defensive teams in the
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234 FOOTBALLGUYS.COM
to snag late in your draft. In 2005, you even outproduce Reggie Wayne. Why have been one of the top rookie wide
would have gotten Willie Parker. Last isn’t there more optimism about a strong receivers along with Eddie Royal and
year, you would have gotten Pierre technician entering his third year and DeSean Jackson.
Thomas. Bush ran for 177 yards and starting for the first time in a top passing
a pair of TDs in Week 17 vs the Bucs. offense?
Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas have
both been injury prone, and Bush could Roy Williams, Dallas
TIGHT ENDS
get goal line carries even if that pair stays Williams has put it all together to have Zach Miller, Oakland
healthy. Talented RB + team that loves to a good fantasy season exactly once. He Miller was often marooned near the
run + strong finish to the previous season didn’t even look like a starting quality line of scrimmage to block on passing
= RB you want on your roster. NFL wide receiver in his first partial downs, he was in the most anemic
season with the Cowboys, showing no passing attack in the league, and he still
chemistry with Tony Romo and rarely was sixth among TEs in yardage last
WIDE RECEIVERS flashing the talent that made him a
Top 10 draft pick. We already know
year. With the natural progression of
Miller and QB JaMarcus Russell entering
Eddie Royal, Denver that Jason Witten is the apple of Tony their third season (and accompanying
Let’s see – Brandon Marshall is Romo’s eye, and whether it’s injuries or growth in the Raider passing game),
coming off hip surgery, meaning he’ll underachieving, Williams is unlikely to Miller could easily approach 1,000 yards
be behind the curve in learning the change that this year. and greatly increase his TD total from
McDaniels offense (plus he might face an one (remember Jason Witten had one TD
early season suspension after another off Devery Henderson, New Orleans the year before he was the No. 1 fantasy
the field incident), Royal was clearly just The Saints were happy enough with TE) this season.
learning routes and reading coverages Henderson to sign him to a multi-year
last year, and McDaniels’ offense has a deal, seemingly endorsing him over Dustin Keller, New York Jets
role for a quick WR that works close to 2007 first round pick Robert Meachem. After Laveranues Coles left for greener
the line of scrimmage. Should anyone Lance Moore tore his labrum lifting pastures, it was widely assumed that the
be surprised if the Virginia Tech product weights, and while he hopes to be back Jets would do something about their No.
catches over 100 balls this year? for the beginning of the season, healthy 2 WR situation. Surely they wouldn’t
shoulders are almost as important to leave it up to David Clowney, Brad
Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh wideouts as healthy knees. Henderson Smith, and Chansi Stuckey to compete
I know we don’t usually want to could easily post his first 1,000-yard for the job? They did, and that can only
put too much stock in a Super Bowl season this year, but you wouldn’t know mean that Keller will graduate to being
performance, but didn’t it just feel like it by the lack of respect he’s getting in the No. 2 target in the pecking order,
Holmes staking his claim to be the the fantasy world. even though he is an oversized slot
Steelers No. 1 wideout? Nate Washington receiver masquerading as a TE.
got an inordinate amount of the deep Malcom Floyd, San Diego
targets last year. If half of them go to How many receivers could post 27 Owen Daniels, Houston
Holmes, he should add at least 300 yards catches, 465 yards, and four TDs on only When your team drafts two TEs during
and four TDs to his modest 2008 stats. If 37 targets? Every time Floyd gets on the same offseason that you don’t show
most of them go to Holmes, he could be the field with Philip Rivers, good things up for OTAs and demand an extension,
a fantasy WR1 in 2009. happen. He’s over the collapsed lung that it’s not a great sign for your future with
prematurely ended his 2008 campaign. the team. The Texans drafted a solid two-
Terrell Owens, Buffalo Vincent Jackson could begin 2009 way traditional inline TE in Anthony Hill,
For the first time, TO was not signed suspended because of his second DWI and a very talented H-back/slot receiver
to a long-term deal when he hit free arrest back in January. That could make in the mold of Daniels in James Casey.
agency. For the first time, TO’s new team Floyd a starter, and if he’s as productive Expect a step back from Daniels career-
does not have a QB with a big arm or as he was last year, he might be hard to high receptions and yards totals in 2008.
the scrambling and improvisation ability get off the field.
to keep plays alive and find Owens Randy McMichael, St. Louis
downfield. For the first time in a long Josh Morgan, San Francisco McMichael is set to be the redwood
time, TO will not be a fantasy WR1 that After showing signs of being a future in the forest of St. Louis passing game
you leave in your lineup every week. star last year, Josh Morgan is dead to targets, and he’s already caught the eye of
most fantasy players right now because new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.
Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis Michael Crabtree is lining up at his split With Donnie Avery best suited to be a
Gonzalez has converted over 70 end position. The 49ers will eventually deep threat, and two unproven wideouts
percent of his targets into catches. He’s come to their senses and get both of competing to start on the other side
gained Peyton Manning’s trust on third their two most talented wideouts on the of Avery, Marc Bulger should lean on
down and key game situations. This is field even if it’s not the plan right now. McMichael this year. He was on pace to
clearly his year to step up into the 75- to If Morgan hadn’t hurt his groin early last catch 44 passes for 556 yards last year,
80-catch, 1,100- to 1,200-yard, six- to season, his value this season wouldn’t and that should be his floor for this year
eight-TD strong WR2 range. He might seem so debatable, because he would now that Torry Holt has moved on.
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236 FOOTBALLGUYS.COM
Passes Attempted
2. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD 77 52 67.5% 2. Jason Witten, DAL 121 81 66.9% 2. Andre Johnson, HOU 170 115 67.6%
3. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX 75 62 82.7% 3. Chris Cooley, WAS 111 83 74.8% 3. Dwayne Bowe, KC 157 86 54.8%
4. Kevin Faulk, NE 74 58 78.4% 4. Dallas Clark, IND 107 77 72.0% 4. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI 154 96 62.3%
5. Brian Westbrook, PHI 73 54 74.0% 5. Owen Daniels, HOU 100 70 70.0% 5. Calvin Johnson, DET 151 78 51.7%
6. Reggie Bush, NO 73 52 71.2% 6. Antonio Gates, SD 92 60 65.2% 6. Wes Welker, NE 150 112 74.7%
7. Warrick Dunn, TB 68 47 69.1% 7. Zach Miller, OAK 86 56 65.1% 7. Roddy White, ATL 148 88 59.5%
8. Marshawn Lynch, BUF 67 47 70.1% 8. Bo Scaife, TEN 84 58 69.0% 8. Greg Jennings, GB 140 80 57.1%
9. Frank Gore, SF 66 43 65.2% 9. Greg Olsen, CHI 82 54 65.9% 9. Terrell Owens, DAL 140 69 49.3%
10. Chris Johnson, TEN 62 43 69.4% 10. Kellen Winslow, CLE 82 43 52.4% 10. Santana Moss, WAS 138 79 57.2%
11. Steven Jackson, STL 62 40 64.5% 11. John Carlson, SEA 80 55 68.8% 11. Braylon Edwards, CLE 138 55 39.9%
12. Marion Barber, DAL 61 52 85.2% 12. Dustin Keller, NYJ 78 48 61.5% 12. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, CIN 137 92 67.2%
13. Leon Washington, NYJ 60 47 78.3% 13. Desmond Clark, CHI 73 41 56.2% 13. Antonio Bryant, TB 137 83 60.6%
14. Steve Slaton, HOU 59 50 84.7% 14. Jeremy Shockey, NO 72 50 69.4% 14. Reggie Wayne, IND 131 82 62.6%
15. Dominic Rhodes, IND 59 45 76.3% 15. Marcedes Lewis, JAX 72 41 56.9% 15. Eddie Royal, DEN 129 91 70.5%
16. Chester Taylor, MIN 55 45 81.8% 16. Heath Miller, PIT 65 48 73.8% 16. Steve Smith, CAR 128 78 60.9%
17. Derrick Ward, NYG 54 41 75.9% 17. L.J. Smith, PHI 64 37 57.8% 17. Anquan Boldin, ARI 126 89 70.6%
18. Kevin Smith, DET 54 39 72.2% 18. Todd Heap, BAL 64 35 54.7% 18. Hines Ward, PIT 126 82 65.1%
19. Jerious Norwood, ATL 54 36 66.7% 19. Billy Miller, NO 63 45 71.4% 19. Randy Moss, NE 126 69 54.8%
20. Mewelde Moore, PIT 53 40 75.5% 20. Tony Scheffler, DEN 60 40 66.7% 20. Derrick Mason, BAL 121 80 66.1%
21. Tim Hightower, ARI 49 33 67.3% 21. Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN 59 42 71.2% 21. DeSean Jackson, PHI 121 62 51.2%
22. Fred Jackson, BUF 45 37 82.2% 22. Jerramy Stevens, TB 58 36 62.1% 22. Lance Moore, NO 119 79 66.4%
23. Ronnie Brown, MIA 43 33 76.7% 23. Robert Royal, BUF 57 33 57.9% 23. Torry Holt, STL 119 64 53.8%
24. Ray Rice, BAL 43 33 76.7% 24. Kevin Boss, NYG 55 33 60.0% 24. Laveranues Coles, NYJ 116 70 60.3%
25. Thomas Jones, NYJ 42 36 85.7% 25. Anthony Fasano, MIA 53 34 64.2% 25. Donald Driver, GB 115 74 64.3%
26. Pierre Thomas, NO 41 31 75.6% 26. Donald Lee, GB 50 39 78.0% 26. Santonio Holmes, PIT 114 55 48.2%
27. J.J. Arrington, ARI 41 30 73.2% 27. Daniel Graham, DEN 50 32 64.0% 27. Steve Breaston, ARI 113 77 68.1%
28. Jamaal Charles, KC 40 27 67.5% 28. Vernon Davis, SF 49 31 63.3% 28. Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ 111 71 64.0%
29. Brandon Jackson, GB 39 30 76.9% 29. Ben Watson, NE 47 22 46.8% 29. Muhsin Muhammad, CAR 108 65 60.2%
30. Darren McFadden, OAK 39 29 74.4% 30. David Martin, MIA 45 31 68.9% 30. Matt Jones, JAX 107 64 59.8%
31. Joseph Addai, IND 39 25 64.1% 31. Steve Heiden, CLE 43 23 53.5% 31. Marvin Harrison, IND 107 60 56.1%
32. Adrian Peterson, MIN 39 21 53.8% 32. Reggie Kelly, CIN 42 31 73.8% 32. Isaac Bruce, SF 107 60 56.1%
33. Ricky Williams, MIA 38 29 76.3% 33. Alge Crumpler, TEN 40 24 60.0% 33. Donnie Avery, STL 104 54 51.9%
34. Jason Wright, CLE 37 22 59.5% 34. Brent Celek, PHI 38 27 71.1% 34. Lee Evans, BUF 102 63 61.8%
35. Clinton Portis, WAS 36 28 77.8% 35. Alex Smith, TB 38 21 55.3% 35. Vincent Jackson, SD 101 59 58.4%
36. Ladell Betts, WAS 35 22 62.9% 36. Michael Gaines, DET 37 23 62.2% 36. Chad Johnson, CIN 97 53 54.6%
37. Chris Perry, CIN 35 21 60.0% 37. Jeff King, CAR 33 21 63.6% 37. Kevin Walter, HOU 95 60 63.2%
38. Darren Sproles, SD 34 29 85.3% 38. Dante Rosario, CAR 31 18 58.1% 38. Bernard Berrian, MIN 95 48 50.5%
39. Earnest Graham, TB 33 23 69.7% 39. Chris Baker, NYJ 30 21 70.0% 39. Ted Ginn, MIA 93 56 60.2%
40. Correll Buckhalter, PHI 32 26 81.3% 40. Ben Utecht, CIN 28 16 57.1% 40. Devin Hester, CHI 92 52 56.5%
41. Willis McGahee, BAL 32 24 75.0% 41. Casey Fitzsimmons, DET 28 12 42.9% 41. Amani Toomer, NYG 89 48 53.9%
42. Jamal Lewis, CLE 32 23 71.9% 42. Martellus Bennett, DAL 27 20 74.1% 42. Bobby Wade, MIN 88 53 60.2%
43. Leonard Weaver, SEA 32 20 62.5% 43. Matt Spaeth, PIT 26 17 65.4% 43. Marques Colston, NO 88 47 53.4%
44. DeAngelo Williams, CAR 30 22 73.3% 44. Gijon Robinson, IND 24 19 79.2% 44. Antwaan Randle El, WAS 87 53 60.9%
45. Tashard Choice, DAL 30 21 70.0% 45. Justin Peelle, ATL 23 15 65.2% 45. Brandon Stokley, DEN 85 49 57.6%
46. Michael Bush, OAK 30 19 63.3% 46. John Gilmore, TB 22 15 68.2% 46. Greg Camarillo, MIA 83 55 66.3%
47. LeRon McClain, BAL 30 19 63.3% 47. Randy McMichael, STL 21 11 52.4% 47. Steve Smith, NYG 82 57 69.5%
48. Patrick Cobbs, MIA 27 19 70.4% 48. Derek Schouman, BUF 20 15 75.0% 48. Mark Clayton, BAL 82 41 50.0%
49. Maurice Morris, SEA 27 19 70.4% 49. Brandon Manumaleuna, SD 19 15 78.9% 49. Michael Jenkins, ATL 81 50 61.7%
50. Antonio Pittman, STL 27 18 66.7% 50. Joe Klopfenstein, STL 19 11 57.9% 50. Roy Williams, DAL 81 36 44.4%
The
Perfect Draft
T
he Perfect Draft. We have all dreamt of
having it. Some of us have experienced
it. And for those that have....we want
it again and again. And why not? You surely
are not reading this magazine to be average.
You want to dominate your leaguemates. You
want to have such a good roster that others
salivate. You want them all to come to you
when discussing trades. And in this article
I am going to break down how to have that
perfect draft.
Let’s start with the two basic principles of
Value Based Drafting (VBD). I will expound
on them as we go through this.
ICON SMI
the perfect draft. Throw away the biases. Let David Garrard
value guide your draft. Let others succumb
to prejudices and generalities. You are here to starts 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 Def and 1 PK. Fantasy points
win your league. And you do that by getting value with every are calculated as follows:
pick.
How do we define value? Value Based Drafting (VBD) has • Passing TDs = 4 points
shown us that we can compare unlike positions for comparative • Interceptions = -1 points
value. The cornerstone of VBD starts with solid projections. • Rushing/receiving TDs = 6 points
And these projections can be manipulated to form Top 200+ • Passing yardage = 0.05 pts per yard (1 pt per 20 yards)
lists. I have provided my own Top 220 list here (based on my • Rushing/receiving yardage = 0.10 pts per yard (1 pt per 10 yards)
projections) that has been sorted by position. I have highlighted
favorable differences in green to indicate players that may be
bargains on draft day.
QUARTERBACKS
With history as our guide, we know the top quarterbacks
Let’s have the perfect draft.
are almost always drafted too early. And this makes sense. The
The goal is to get you the best possible team and to make
quarterback position generally scores the most points so fantasy
sure you don’t overpay for players that can still be had a
players want to roster a good one. But since most leagues only
few rounds later. What I look for are players that I project
require one starting quarterback there is little pressure on the
significantly better than where they are being drafted. The
remaining quarterbacks after the first six or seven are gone. Just
positional analysis tracks to my projections.
scratch off Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning from
This article assumes a 12 team league using scoring that
your cheatsheets. Someone is likely to overpay for these players
FREE 32 PAGE CAMP UPDATE: http://freeupdate.footballguys.com
238 FOOTBALLGUYS.COM
in virtually every league across America. Additionally, guys like the first four rounds, you will not have the perfect draft. Resist
Aaron Rodgers, Donovan McNabb, Kurt Warner, Philip Rivers the temptation and let others grab these stars. How can I say
and Tony Romo are all expected to be picked within the Top 50 that with such conviction? Because draft after draft, I have seen
selections. the same thing happen. People overpay for the top quarterbacks,
I am going to say this the easiest way I know how. Don’t be and then a lull takes place before a mad rush ensues (starting at
that owner that takes a quarterback in the first four rounds of the end of Round 7 and continuing through Round 10) for the
your draft. It’s generally a losing strategy unless you can get quality quarterbacks left. The guys you need are in this second
the top tier guys (Brees and Brady) in the middle of the third group, and by waiting you will secure the running back and
round or better. If you are one of the owners that gets a QB in wide receiver talent needed to field a dominant team.
Rank ADP Pos Player Rank ADP Pos Player Rank ADP Pos Player
follow going forward. an elite RB in Round 1, you position yourself to nab the top
I have no idea who the primary ball-carrier will be for the talent at wide receiver in Round 2 through Round 6. At the end
New England Patriots (Fred Taylor, Maurice Morris, Laurence of Round 6, you should have two or three RBs and three or four
Maroney, or Kevin Faulk) or the Indianapolis Colts (Joseph WRs. By the end of the draft, you should have seven to 10 WRs
Addai vs. Donald Brown), yet I know both teams will be very on your squad. That may seem excessive, but some of these
successful running the ball. players will likely bust and depth at WR allows you maximum
In years past, the goal was to try and lock up RBs with your flexibility to trade during the season.
first two to three selections. There were not enough RBs to go Although a team constructed like this may look slightly weak
around so hoarding these backs was the shark move. It forced at RB2, it will provide you with a powerhouse weekly roster by
other owners to reach in the middle rounds for players that locking down great WR talent. This will allow you to draft for
would rarely yield production unless the starter was injured or value the entire draft and stockpile talent that likely can be used
benched. But with so many teams running RBBC these days, to trade for a RB that breaks out this season.
supply on the second, third and fourth tier backs has actually Running Backs Steve Slaton, Chris Johnson, Pierre Thomas,
increased. LenDale White, Le’Ron McClain were all after-thoughts last
Instead of risking your second and third picks on “lesser season (with many going undrafted), yet each provided much
backs” mired in RBBCs, I believe you will construct your firepower to teams in need.
best fantasy roster by selecting your RB1 starter in the first
round and then move on to the elite WRs (that do not come If any of these players are still around, I would take them
with question marks). In my opinion, drafting RBs for value in before a top WR in Round 2:
Rounds 3 through Round 8 should yield the optimal team.
- RB LaDainian Tomlinson
Here are the running backs that I would target for value: - RB Steve Slaton
- RB Frank Gore
Ronnie Brown, Mia (Value = 19, ADP = 34) – He is now - RB Clinton Portis
fully back from his ACL surgery. It’s clear that the Dolphins - RB Brian Westbrook.
want to run the ball, and I expect Brown to improve on his 247
touches in 2009. Even with his limited touches last year, Brown But unless you are drafting at the end of Round 1, it’s
still managed to finish as the 17th best fantasy back. Look to unlikely any of these players will make it to you. If that’s the
get him in the third round. case, look to select a premier wide receiver in the second round
Darren McFadden, Oak (Value = 28, ADP = 47) – Few are from among this list:
doubting his talent, but durability issues continue to plague
McFadden. If he can hold it together though, he gets to operate - Larry Fitzgerald
behind an effective run blocking offensive line. You can pick up - Andre Johnson
McFadden’s handcuffs (Justin Fargas and Michael Bush among - Randy Moss
the last picks in your draft) so this can be a cheap position to - Calvin Johnson
take to own the Oakland rushing attack. Look to get him in the - Reggie Wayne
fourth round. - Steve Smith
Pierre Thomas, NO (Value = 30, ADP = 45) – He takes over - Roddy White
Deuce McAllister’s role and has amassed impressive numbers - Greg Jennings.
with his limited attempts. He has averaged 4.9 yards per carry
and 8.7 yards per reception in the 27 games he has played in. Here are the other WRs that I would target for value:
He scored nine combined TDs in his last six games when he
was asked to do more. Look to get him in the fourth round. Braylon Edwards, Cle (Value = 36, ADP = 52) in the fifth
Cedric Benson (Value = 45, ADP = 77) – Let’s get this round or later. He struggled in 2008 but still is clearly the best
on record. I actually think this guy is very soft. But the fact WR on the Browns. Winslow is now gone and Donte Stallworth
remains he will be the starting RB for the Bengals. And in the has big legal problems. This represents a great buy-low moment
sixth round that is very nice value. for an exceptionally skilled player.
Derrick Ward (Value = 48, ADP = 63) – I expect Derrick Chad Ochocinco, Cin (Value = 38, ADP = 65) in the fifth
Ward will easily beat out Earnest Graham to be the lead back round or later. It was clear Ochocinco was hurt all year. He
for the Bucs. This is great value in the fifth round or later. toughed through the year, but it’s questionable whether that was
Julius Jones (Value = 80, ADP = 102) – Words can’t wise. But that decision leads to great value for those paying
describe how much value this is. He is the starting RB for the attention in 2009.
Seahawks and has minimal competition for carries. Make sure DeSean Jackson, Phi (Value = 43, ADP = 61) in the fifth
you get him on your roster in the seventh round or later for round or later. He flashed moments of brilliance in his rookie
outstanding depth. campaign. Look for him to build on that effort and be the best
WR in Philadelphia going forward.
WIDE RECEIVERS Donnie Avery, StL (Value = 52, ADP = 82) in the sixth
The biggest key to having a great wide receiver corps is round or later. With Torry Holt now with the Jaguars, Avery is
implementing the QB and RB strategies from Step 1 and Step the default WR1 on a team that is expected to have to throw the
2 above. By waiting at QB until Round 7 or later and grabbing ball a lot while playing from behind.
ICON SMI
Hakeem Nicks, NYG (Value = 98, Donnie Avery
ADP = 144) in the 10th round or later.
This is a personal bias, but I think he open for Witten. These situations have created a logjam of sorts
will be the best WR for the Giants in 2009. He will compete at the top spots with Jason Witten (ADP = 43), Antonio Gates
with Domenik Hixon for the starting job in camp. (ADP = 54), Tony Gonzalez (ADP = 55), Dallas Clark (ADP =
Muhsin Muhammad, Car (Value = 104, ADP = 153) in the 56) all going before the end of the fifth round. With as deep as
11th round or later. Veteran knows the routes and always brings the tight ends are this year, I think it would be a huge mistake
value. to target any of the Top 4 TEs. All will be taken at a time when
Mark Clayton, Bal (Value = 110, ADP = 164) in the 12th it’s imperative to stock up key RB and WR talent.
round or later. He has had a very inconsistent career, but there But fear not. There are always bargains at the tight end
is talent here. Is this the year it rises to the surface and he position late in a draft. In fact once the Top 7 or Top 8 names
fulfills his potential? come off the board, there is minimal pressure on the TE
Michael Jenkins, Atl (Value = 113, ADP = 163) in the 12th position the rest of the draft. It’s no surprise that since TEs
round or later. – The addition of Tony Gonzalez ensures Jenkins catch a relatively small amount of passes, primarily on short
will never see double coverage. That alone should yield a few and intermediate routes (again, excluding the top tier guys),
easy scores. there usually isn’t a great deal of variance between the fourth-
Earl Bennett, Chi (Value = 116, ADP = 195) in the 13th best TE and the 12th-best, witness:
round or later. He is having an amazing offseason. I suspect you
will not be able to get him at these levels for much longer. • 2008 – 4th (118 points), 12th (82 points) = 36 points difference (2.25 per game)
Plaxico Burress, FA (Value = 120, ADP = 168) in the 14th • 2007 – 4th (141 points), 12th (79 points) = 62 points difference (3.88 per game)
round or later. He was let go because of legal issues and even • 2006 – 4th (113 points), 12th (81 points) = 32 points difference (2.00 per game)
if he gets past those will likely be suspended by the league too. • 2005 - 4th (119 points), 12th (77 points) = 42 points difference (2.63 per game)
But in the 14th round, you are swinging for the guy that can • 2004 - 4th (113 points), 12th (69 points) = 44 points difference (2.75 per game)
make the difference in Week 16 for your team. And he could be • 5 YR AVG -- 4th (121 points), 12th (78 points) = 43 points difference (2.69 per game)
that guy if allowed to play.
Antwaan Randle El, Was (Value = 130, ADP = 202) in the So ultimately, once you get past the big TEs, you're really
15th round or later. The Redskins have installed an offense that debating over approximately two points per week (which is why
should be suited for his skill set. This late in the draft, it’s all it is wise to just wait until the later rounds to select a TE).
about opportunity. The tight end that I will be targeting in most of my drafts
Chaz Schilens, Oak (Value = 135, ADP > 220) in the 16th this year is Greg Olsen, Chi (Value = 85, ADP = 99). He gets
round or later. As I write this, he looks to be the top WR in a big upgrade at quarterback with the addition of Cutler and
Oakland. Somebody has to catch the ball there. it’s no secret that Cutler loves to involve the TE in the offense.
Some other WRs will undoubtedly slip in your drafts besides In Denver, Cutler targeted the position 236 times over the last
the above targeted bargain list. In recap, grab 3-4 receivers in two seasons as a starter. In Greg Olsen, he gets a significant
Round 2 through Round 6 and then wait for exceptional value upgrade over Tony Scheffler. Olsen established career highs
to emerge at WR because it always does. in targets, receptions, yards and TDs in 2008 and is poised to
continue that trend in what looks to be a better offense with
TIGHT ENDS more opportunities this season.
This is a strange year for tight ends. Both Tony Gonzalez About the same time that Greg Olsen will be selected,
and Kellen Winslow will be playing for new teams this season. Chris Cooley will be taken off the board. Cooley played
Jason Witten looks like he should have an increased role with under a different offense last year (that better utilizes the tight
Terrell Owens leaving, but TO was a big reason the middle was end position) and established career highs in targets (111),
Mock Draft
T
here is a ton of strategy advice in this guide, but it the WR position. I think I ended up with a well-rounded team.
is useless without proper implementation. In early
May, Footballguys.com called together 12 staffers 2. You picked three rookie WRs. Was that by design?
to participate in the Fifth Annual Footballguys.com Strategy No. I’m generally not a fan of picking rookie WRs, but during
Guide Mock Draft. After the draft, each participant was asked the later rounds of the draft I like to target the players with the
a couple of question regarding their draft strategy. Hopefully, highest upside remaining, even if there’s a good chance they’ll
their answers will assist you in formulating your own draft bust. The three rookie WRs I got should all get a lot of playing
attack plan. time immediately and could be this year’s version of DeSean
Jackson or Eddie Royal. I felt they had better upside potential
than any of the veterans who were still available.
Maurile Tremblay
1. Would your strategy have changed if you had a
different draft position in the first round? Matt Waldman
Picking from the #1 slot, I always had to wait 23 picks before 1. Is there a pick you would like to do over? Why?
it would be my turn again. That meant I had to anticipate runs Rashad Jennings at 13.02 - I think Jennings has the talent
at a given position to avoid missing out on players from a to see time as the potential No. 2 to Maurice Jones-Drew, but I
certain tier. I was the first to pick a QB (at the 2/3 turn) and should have picked WR Mike Walker. The former UCF receiver
also the first to pick a TE (at the 4/5 turn). With my top-rated has all the skills to be a quality fantasy starter, and he’s fully
RB, QB, and TE locked up, I could take a shotgun approach to healthy for the first time since his junior year. He would have
Dave Baker
1. What are your thoughts on handcuffs? Jason Wood
I think handcuffs can be an important part of your team 1. Is there a pick you would like to do over? Why?
whenever dealing with a player with an injury history, a I took DeSean Jackson at 6.07, and think he was definitely
questionable starting status, or someone who has a clear the best WR on the board at the time. However, the last two
backup with talent. Generally speaking, I think owners place QBs I really wanted as my starter - Jay Cutler and Matt Schaub
too much emphasis on handcuffs, but when handled correctly - went before my seventh round pick which forced me to reach
they can play an important role. The real problem with for Matt Ryan, the last of my Top 10 QBs. I was really surprised
handcuffs, though, is you often have to pick them earlier than that none of my QB1s fell to me in the seventh round, yet there
ideal and it can cause problems for rounding out your squad. were a number of receivers available in that spot that I ranked
comparably to Jackson.
2. What is your strategy with drafting wide receivers?
Early on in the draft, my strategy is to go with the flow of 2. What are your thoughts on handcuffs?
the draft, but as I assemble my squad, I always look closely at In a shallow league like this one, handcuffs are a luxury you
my receivers. More than once, I’ve saved drafts and leagues by really can’t afford. It’s one thing if you target a RB2 that you
selecting wide receivers. In a redraft league, I often look for know, at worst, will be a major part of the offense anyway and
solid veterans when rounding out the unit. The younger guys, would be a stud if the RB1 got hurt. But there’s just no room on
especially rookies, are unlikely to have breakout seasons unless the roster for a QB2 or a WR3; the waiver wire will be chock
they are prominent enough to be drafted early. Otherwise, I like full of viable options.
to use the middle rounds to grab a bunch of veteran guys.
David Dodds
Jeff Haseley 1. How were you able to carry out your predraft plan?
1. Which player drafted is most pivotal to the success of From a middle position like I had, I like to remain extremely
your team? flexible and look for value to emerge. My general plan was to
I’m going with Derrick Ward here. He’s occupying my RB2 slot, have two RBs and three WRs after five rounds unless I could
yet there are questions surrounding how much of the load he’ll get Brady in the third or later. I generally wait on QB but feel
receive in Tampa Bay. If Ward exceeds expectations, he’ll be a Brady represented too much value to pass on him in the third.
ICON/SMI
Will Grant Adrian Peterson
1. Would your strategy have changed if you had a
different draft position in the first round?
guy available, or guys who had a big upside given their draft
In general, I wait on taking a QB until the seventh or eighth position. In a league that requires three WRs each week, this was
round. It’s far more important to build your RB and WR corps necessary to insure that I had a good mix of guys each week.
than it is to load up on a stud QB. However, given my starting
position (1.08), it made sense to consider taking Brady or
Manning at 3.08. This allowed me to focus on other positions Jeff Tefertiller
and leave my backup QB until my last pick. If I would have 1. How were you able to carry out your predraft plan?
drafted earlier, I’d have taken a RB or WR with my third and My strategy was to hoard running backs early in the draft. I
fourth round picks. took Fitzgerald in the first just because I saw plenty of running
backs slipping and hoped that one would slide to the 2.04. I
2. What is your strategy at the WR position? was shocked to see Portis there in second round. I added two
Since I took a QB in the third round, I was one of the last more good backs in the third and fourth rounds. I was waiting
teams to take their first WR. To make up the lost ground, I on WR2-4 until the middle rounds and knew that there would
took a WR with six of the next eight picks, focusing on the best be good options available. I targeted the quarterbacks and tight
2 QB Brees, NO WR Smith, Car WR Wayne, Ind RB Lynch, Buf WR Jennings, GB RB Barber, Dal
3 ➞ WR White, Atl RB Grant, GB RB Moreno, Den WR Colston, NO WR Boldin, Ari WR Bowe, KC
➞
6 WR Moss, Was RB Brown, Ind QB Cutler, Chi WR Ward, Pit WR Berrian, Min WR Jackson, Phi
7 ➞ RB Benson, Cin RB Jones, Dal QB Schaub, Hou WR Holt, Jac RB Sproles, SD QB Ryan, Atl
➞
8 RB McGahee, Bal QB Hasselbeck, Sea WR Walter, Hou WR Mason, Bal RB Washington, NYJ WR Breaston, Ari
9 ➞ WR Ginn, Mia TE Olsen, Chi RB Taylor, NE WR Chambers, SD TE Daniels, Hou TE Cooley, Was
➞
10 RB Graham, TB QB Edwards, Buf TE Keller, NYJ QB Manning, NYG WR Gage, Ten WR Burress, FA
11 ➞ WR Harvin, Min WR Bruce, SF RB McCoy, Phi TE Miller, Oak QB Orton, Den RB Taylor, Min
➞
12 WR Maclin, Phi WR Clayton, Bal WR Austin, Dal RB Fargas, Oak RB Hightower, Ari QB Pennington, Mia
13 ➞ WR Heyward-Bey, Oak RB Jennings, Jac WR Thomas, Jac WR Jenkins, Atl WR Bradley, KC WR Walker, Jac
➞
14 Titans Defense Vikings Defense Chargers Defense TE Miller, Pit TE Scaife, Ten WR Engram, KC
15 ➞ WR Rice, Min WR Sweed, Pit RB Jackson, GB Bears Defense Patriots Defense Jets Defense
➞
18 PK Longwell, Min PK Gould, Chi RB Faulk, NE WR Clayton, TB WR Higgins, Oak TE Fasano, Mia
ends who were undervalued and at the end of my tiers. There Had I picked in the early part of the first round, I probably
were solid passers available later than in past years. would’ve gone RB-WR-RB. Now that’s not to say I would’ve
definitely done that because you always need to remain flexible,
2. What is your strategy at the WR position? but it probably would’ve worked out that way. In a 12-team
I targeted five receivers with different bye weeks. Fitzgerald league, it’s difficult to get a top RB late in the third or early in
as an anchor in the first allowed me to wait on the other wide- the fourth, but there are typically some good RBs available in
outs. I am high on Coles and Driver this season. In the ninth the early part of the third round.
round, I decided to take a risk on a rookie, Hakeem Nicks. As a
WR5, I wanted to shoot for upside. 2. How do you handle bye weeks? Do the byes change
which players you target?
I go against the grain regarding byes. Most people balance
Colin Dowling their rosters with players having byes at different times, but I
1. Is there a pick you would like to do over? Why? never worry about that. The worst case is that all of your key
Given the chance to NOT select Donovan McNabb as early players are off the same week, right? All that means is that
as I did would be something I’d do over. I had hoped for one of those players are available for every other week. Would you
Brady, Manning, and Brees, but when all three were selected rather have 5-10 less points every single week, or have 40 less
in a flurry, I admittedly panicked and picked McNabb. Given points one time but then be at full strength for the rest of the
the chance to do it again, I’d pass on McNabb (at least at that season?
point) and target some of the better value quarterbacks like
Schaub, Palmer, and Roethlisberger in a later round. Taking
McNabb early may not turn out so bad, but I have a gaping Anthony Borbely
hole at receiver which could have - and should have - been 1. How were you able to carry out your predraft plan?
addressed at the time. I have two basic strategies when I draft last in Round 1. First,
I want each of my first six picks to be a RB or WR because, by
2. How do you handle bye weeks? Do the byes change the time the 7/8 turn rolls around, those two positions are pretty
which players you target? thin. Second, I almost always take a QB at the 7/8 turn. Waiting
I almost never consider bye weeks when drafting. I simply 22 more picks to take one is asking for trouble. Drafting Jamal
don’t think that the downside of passing on a better player just Lewis and Antonio Bryant at the 5/6 turn made my draft and it
to ensure coverage every week is a good gamble. Players get went pretty much according to plan.
hurt, fantasy trades can be made, and surprises rise up from
the late rounds or the waiver wire to help out. NOT choosing a 2. How do you handle bye weeks? Do the byes change
player because his bye week is the same as another player on which players you target?
your team is silly. If your league uses divisions, try to avoid too many players
on a bye in weeks in which you play a division rival. You cannot
afford to lose a lot of division games, so know when you play
Michael Brown teams in your division and know the players who have byes in
1. Would your strategy have changed if you had a those weeks. I am not suggesting you pass on good players, but
different draft position in the first round? you can take different players within the same tier.
RB Parker, Pit WR Holmes, Pit WR Royal, Den WR Williams, Dal TE Gonzalez, Atl WR Bryant, TB 5
➞
WR Cotchery, NYJ WR Evans, Buf QB Romo, Dal WR oore, NO QB Rivers, SD RB Lewis, Cle 6
➞
TE Clark, Ind TE Winslow, TB WR Coles, Cin QB Palmer, Cin WR Gonzalez, Ind QB Roethlisberger, Pit 7
➞
RB McClain, Bal RB Mendenhall, Pit WR Driver, GB RB White, Ten WR Avery, StL WR Crabtree, SF 8
➞
RB Jones, Sea WR Hixon, NYG WR Nicks, NYG WR Hester, Chi RB Williams, Mia QB Cassel, KC ➞ 9
WR Branch, Sea WR Crayton, Dal TE Carlson, Sea WR Muhammad, Car RB Bradshaw, NYG WR Smith, NYG 10
➞
QB Garrard, Jac WR Bennett, Chi RB Maroney, NE RB Norwood, Atl RB Jackson, Buf TE Shockey, NO ➞ 11
a WR Curtis, Phi RB Greene, NYJ RB Charles, KC RB Bush, Oak QB Flacco, Bal RB Rice, Bal 12
➞
TE Shiancoe, Min Steelers Defense RB Choice, Dal TE Pettigrew, Det TE Scheffler, Den RB Duckett, Sea 13
➞
Ravens Defense RB Morris, NE Eagles Defense WR Washington, Ten Giants Defense WR Robinson, StL 14
WR Galloway, NE WR Robiskie, Cle TE Celek, Phi PK Gostkowski, NE WR Camarillo, Mia TE McMichael StL 15
➞
➞
WR Burleson, Sea PK Bironas, Ten RB Betts, Was Dolphins Defense WR Johnson, Det QB Hill, SF 16
➞
I
wrote the first Random Shots uncomfortable on multiple levels. their problems.
column some 10 years ago with ■ Every NFL player has a ridiculously ■ 49ers coach Mike Singletary is
no greater purpose than to relieve short window of time to produce. But a dream for a guy like me that writes
the pressure inside my head. There wide receivers seem to fall especially goofy things about football. With Jon
were simply too many (mostly useless) fast. Terry Glenn was a solid player in Gruden off the field and into the booth,
thoughts banging into each other. Most 2006 with six TDs and 1,058 yards. we need a guy like Singletary. This off-
were generated from watching 16 hours Three years later he’s reportedly naked season, he was asked by a group of fans
of football every Sunday. It was blogging wandering the hotel halls before being about his commitment to smash mouth
back before blogging was a word. (It is a busted on marijuana possession. No con- football. Singletary summed up his phi-
word, right?) firmation on the rumor Jimmy Smith and losophy saying that he wanted his team
The interesting thing to me was that Matt Jones were following him to Jamal to be “Physical with an F.” You gotta like
as I published the column each week, Anderson’s room. Things move fast. that.
I started receiving lots of replies back ■ The Lions have a logo that is ■ I like Brian Allee-Walsh of The
along the lines of “I can’t believe you more fierce. I’m sure that’ll solve all New Orleans Times-Picayune paper. But
saw that?” I thought I was the only one typing all that for a source seems like
that thought that was weird, funny, stupid a lot of letters and too many hyphens.
or just generally “out there.” Pretty soon, Sorry, this is the kind of thing I worry
it sort of took on a life of its own and about.
I had people tell me they were watch- ■ Dallas Owner Jerry Jones put
ing games looking for “Random Shots a gag order on all Cowboy officials
moments.” Even with the stalker factor and coaches at the NFL Combine
bumping the redline, it was kind of nice in Indianapolis this spring. He was
knowing I wasn’t the only guy thinking extremely clear that no one would be
these things. allowed to speak to reporters on any
From there, we went to an every-week subject. Jones said, “The way to clear
feature during the season and never that (problem) up, because I’m the one
looked back. This year, I wanted to do who knows, is we get together and
some of the same sort of thing taking we all say it, so everybody hears it,
a look at some of the goofy things at the same time. So we can find
we’ve seen since the regular season a way to cut back on some of this
ended. So here goes. misinformation.”
Joe Bryant Translation: Nobody gets to talk
Owner – www.Footballguys.com but me.
■ Daniel Kaplan of the Sports
■ The Cowboys have finally decid- Business Journal reported in
ed on a name for their new stadium: February that the NFL paid former
“Cowboys Stadium”. I wonder how commissioner Paul Tagliabue $3.6
long it took them to come up with that million in the 12-month period
gem. I guess it sounds better than the ending last March 31, even though
more accurate “let’s just use a generic Tagliabue had resigned in August
name to serve as a placeholder until of 2006. It’s assumed it was for a
Jerry can land the overpaying ego consulting role. Nice work if you
crazed corporate whale”. can get it.
■ Matt Millen: Further proof that ■ I’m not a guy that spends
no matter how miserably one fails, a lot of time worrying about the
there’s always TV to fall back on. If feelings of NFL athletes. But I
Millen can land a job with NBC, Ryan seriously feel sort of bad for Sage
Leaf should be a Sports Center anchor. Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson.
■ Lawrence Taylor on Dancing Have two quarterbacks ever been
with the Stars. That was pretty forgotten more quickly? Granted,
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248 FOOTBALLGUYS.COM
Be Honest
W
ell? How’d we do? As I wrote in the intro- the story means for your fantasy team trying to read
duction, I have the honor of opening this “between the lines” a bit.
magazine and also closing it. I made a Those two items will put you ahead of most fantasy
bunch of big promises on the front end talking about football owners in your league. But if you’re really
all the cool stuff we do and how we’ll give you what serious about winning, and want more than just the
you need to Dominate Your League. Camp Report and Email Updates, we’ve got you cov-
Now that you’ve had a chance to soak it in, I’m inter- ered there too. A subscription to our Footballguys web-
ested in what you think. For ten years, we’ve continually site gives you access to everything we do all the way
improved our Footballguys.com website based upon through the Super Bowl. If you like the magazine, I
feedback from our customers. And we’ve done the same can say without hesitation that you’ll love the web-
thing with our magazine each year. So if you have an site. As I wrote in the opening, this magazine is just
idea on how we can make this better, please shoot me an the “tip of the iceberg” for what we do online. Last
email at bryant@footballguys.com. And if you can spare year, we produced over 50,000 pages of content and
30 seconds, we’d be honored if you’d take our magazine it’ll likely be even more comprehensive this season. It’s
survey here http://www.footballguys.com/magsurvey/. a ridiculous advantage. But we’re OK with that.
We want to hear from you. How good do I think the subscription is? Good
Next item. As cool as we think this magazine is (and enough for us to put our money where our mouth is.
I think it’s pretty cool), it needs to be updated. As I sit As we have every year since we started, we’ll be offer-
at my desk and type this on May 18, there are lots of ing a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. If you don’t
question marks out there. For instance, we don’t know think it’s worth the subscription price, we’ll give you a
whether Brett Favre will play football this year. There full refund, no questions asked.
are plenty more issues out there that are FAR from In one of my favorite all-time Terrell Owens’ quotes,
being resolved. You will absolutely know things in July he was asked for one word to describe himself. Owens
as you read this that I didn’t know in May as I typed it. quickly answered, “Confident.” He was then asked for
That’s the nature of the NFL these days. Things move another word. Owens did not hesitate and said, “Very.”
fast. That’s how we feel about how much you’ll like the
Fortunately, we have a solution – actually two solu- Footballguys subscription.
tions. And better yet, they’re simple and they’re FREE. Thanks again for reading. I’ve long contended that
#1. If you’re reading this magazine you can our Footballguys readers are the best and smartest and
receive a free Training Camp Report that cov- most successful fantasy football owners on the planet.
ers all the updated news and situations by visiting It’s a huge honor for me and my partner David Dodds
http://freeupdate.footballguys.com. We cover every and for all the folks on the Footballguys Staff to be
team and every situation that you’ll need to know able to serve you.
about. The Training Camp Report will also include Have a great 2009 and I hope all the bounces go
an updated Top 200 list and performance and basic your way. Now get out there and start Dominating.
cheatsheets. It’s all you need to be totally up to date.
#2. Our Free Daily Email Updates will keep you on
top of everything that’s happening all the way up until
the Week 1 kickoff. Each day, we sort through the hun-
dreds of NFL articles out there and bring you the 15-
30 most important stories that you’ll need to know. We
give you the story summary and our opinion on what Joe