By Zack Cimini

It wasn’t a shock; well maybe the timing of the signing of Favre was. The finality and deal of two years finally came to a dotted line contract solution. Now the media hoopla of the Favre saga will continue for weeks upon weeks. In a month though the NFL season will begin and that’s what Favre is back for, to win. He has the right formula of players around him, and surely will be a boost to the Vikings offense. This will make a Vikings offense more dangerous and fantasy friendly. Two combinations we all love. If Tarvaris Jackson can have an impact fantasy wise (his last three games in 08’, 4 TD’s against the Cards, and over 230 yards passing in the last two games), imagine what Favre will do.

Immediately a fantasy owner thinking Adrian Peterson was downgradeable because of their inconsistency behind center. That changes now as Favre has led mediocre backs to career years, from Edgar Bennett, Dorsey Levens, Samkon Gado, Ryan Grant, and even last year with Thomas Jones. Peterson now jumps the board as undoubtedly the number one option for fantasy owners. He’ll get the ball plenty of times and will benefit from Favre being able to make big plays down the field off of him. This will work vice versa in the hands of Favre. Allowing him to take far fewer hits and keep his arm protected from over throwing. This was an area that sparked up and plagued him down the stretch last season with the Jets.

What’s scary is Favre will have a couple of weapons that talent wise may be the highest caliber of players he has ever played with. Adrian Peterson without a question will be the best running back he has played with, and Percy Harvin is a dynamic talent that we’re all waiting to see in action in the NFL. Likely he is going to be a big play receiving threat with a mix of gadget plays mixed in for him as well. His speed is lethal and any space is going to be lights out see you later to the opposing defense.

A position Favre always loves to get involved is the tight end. Visanthe Schiancoe came out with a bang last year and was already on fantasy radars for the 2nd tier tight end selections. Now Schiancoe is around the field of being in the first tier. To have almost 600 yards receiving and seven touchdowns last season could only make fantasy owners grin that have already had their drafts. Ones that are coming up should keep an eye on how tight ends are going before letting Schiancoe slip too far.

At receiver Bernard Berrian has a skill set similar to a player Favre meshed with well in his last few years with Green Bay, that being Greg Jennings. Berrian makes a living off big plays but we will have to see how strong Favre’s arm will be from the gate and down the stretch. Sidney Rice and Bobby Wade will fight for the second receiver spot but we really don’t see either or having a serious fantasy impact. Based upon the few clips of Favre’s first practice he is going to have to make up time to build chemistry with his set of receivers. Numerous drops were showed on easy simple routes with no defense to make it difficult.

As for Favre’s fantasy worthiness, we see him as a spot starter for fantasy owners. So scoop him up as your primary backup and insert him in for favorable matchups. His erratic play will continue but should be more limited, as the Vikings are going to be more manageable with how they throw Favre into the fire. Truthfully his fit is perfect for the Vikings and should lead them to the playoffs. How deep in the playoffs is the main question.

Steelers Preview

Owners of a seventh Super Bowl ring, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be expected to contend for another AFC North title and be playing well into January and February.

As usual the team will be carried by its defense, anchored by Troy Polamalu and reigning MVP James Harrison. The top ranked defense remains intact, returning 10 starters. With the usual wizardry of coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau it isn’t difficult to imagine the latest incarnation of the Steel Curtain as the best defensive unit in the league.

The Steelers also could have the most productive fantasy weapon in the division on the offensive side of the ball. Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes, whose late game heroics snatched the Lombardi Trophy from the Arizona Cardinals, may be the first AFC North player off your draft board.

The wide receiver seems poised for a breakout year after his playoff performance, and his one-game team suspension last year should be all the punishment he gets for the marijuana incident last October. There are plenty of bigger issues on commissioner Roger Godell’s plate right now, so Holmes shouldn’t be expected to miss time. Even in a sometimes stagnant offense, the former Ohio State star will join the divisions’ other top receivers.

Lining up on the opposite side of the field will again be 12-year veteran Hines Ward. The wide receiver is gaining a reputation as a dirty player, but should always be remembered for his pass catching abilities. Ward is a possession receiver, so in any league that values catches he should be remembered. Right now he seems to be on par with Lee Evans and Santana Moss.
Both wide receivers should come close to 1,000 yards receiving and grab at least five touchdowns. It would be Holmes’ first 1,000-yard season and Ward’s second straight.

The man throwing them the ball is still Ben Roethlisberger, someone who seemingly has given fantasy owners headaches over the years. He isn’t a frontline quarterback in the league, but a safe option for a little more than 10 points a week. With Carson Palmer again recovering from injury, Roethlisberger is the best quarterback in the division, and probably the safest as well. Expect another season of more than 3,000 yards and 17 touchdowns.

With Byron Leftwich now out of the mix, Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon will be fighting for the job of first clipboard holder. Roethlisberger has only missed four games due to football injuries in his career and has a penchant for fighting through injury. In addition, the Steelers offensive line has been better at protecting the Miami University product.

The line also has traditionally done a good job of run blocking for Willie Parker and company. Parker should no longer be considered an elite running back. Often injured, Parker could end up sharing some time with second-year back Rashard Mendenhall. Parker is still a viable option as a fantasy back, but you should have a backup ready if he goes down or the Steelers move more to a two-back system.

If Parker gets back to 1,000 yards it will have been a successful season, but he won’t find the end zone much. His career high is 13 in 2006, but hasn’t had more than five touchdowns any other year. Mendenhall may get more looks this year close to the goal line.

Tight end Heath Miller returns to the offense, though he is probably not a top-10 talent. Miller is a solid blocker and can catch the ball, but Roethlisberger doesn’t look his way often. The tight end position seems to have become a bit deeper and Miller is much more valuable in real life than if fantasy.

Despite kicking in the treacherous conditions of Heinz Field, Jeff Reed remains a usable kicker. He is probably more of an option during a bye week.

The Super Bowl champions’ schedule is not especially strong. The Steelers will have to endure some tough defenses early in the year with Tennessee, Chicago and San Diego all coming in the first quarter. But only Chicago is a road game. They also travel to Miami at the end of the year and get to go to Ford Field. Pittsburgh has a bye in week eight.

Traditionally Pittsburgh does not play rookies much. A team that is as full of veteran talent as this doesn’t have to and this year’s rookies are unlikely to change that. First round draft choice Evander Hood should play in the defensive front, but don’t look for him to replace any of the starters. Of the rookies, wide receiver Mike Wallace seems to be the most likely to make any significant contributions. With the departure of Nate Washington, Wallace may be called on as the third or fourth receiver.

Bengals Preview
Carson Palmer is back and not a moment too soon for Marvin Lewis, who must be on the hot seat after a couple poor seasons.
Palmer won’t return as the top-five quarterback he used to be, but he surely will perform better than Ryan Fitzpatrick and Palmer’s brother, Jordan.

Palmer has recovered from serious injuries before and there’s no reason to believe this year will be any different. He can easily throw for 3,500+ yards and 20 touchdowns with a pass-friendly offensive scheme. That may even be too conservative if he can stay healthy. Palmer has passed for at least 4,000 yards and 26 touchdowns in each of the three seasons he has played all 16 games.

Palmer is already missing one of his favorite targets from previous years, now that T.J. Houshmandzadeh has taken his act to the West Coast. Another big time talent may be on his way out of Cincinnati, but there’s really no reason to believe that a Chad Ochocinco trade will actually happen this year. He no longer seems to be an exceptionally gifted receiver, but still has the full diva personality. Whether he can bounce back from his terrible 2008, remains unseen, but having Palmer back won’t hurt any. He’s not a top-15 wide receiver anymore, but he could have more value than some expect.

Last year was Ochocinco’s worst season since his rookie year. It seems unlikely that he won’t rebound at all and could even get back to 1,000 yards.

But he may get plenty of looks now because the Bengals’ top running back is Cedric Benson. Fantasy players who were stuck in a league with a Week 17 championship game last year already knew that, as Benson torched Kansas City in his coming back party. He’s still not a 1,000-yard back, but Benson will likely find his way onto more than a few teams.

Also in the offensive mix is Houshmandzadeh’s replacement, Laveranues Coles. He’ll be asked to be versatile as a receiver, both stretching defenses and being more possession oriented. If Ochocinco can prove himself as a threat again, Coles will likely have more freedom to operate. Look for around 900 yards and about six touchdowns.

The biggest offensive hole for the Bengals was tight end and the team attempted to fill it on draft day. Taking Chase Coffman in the third round, Cincinnati may have found a rookie playmaker by default. Palmer has traditionally liked throwing to his tight ends and Coffman has shown to be a very good route runner in college. He will have to make the transition to lining up on the line of scrimmage, which he didn’t do much of at Missouri, but provided he can do that, he should become a key part of this year’s offensive set.

The Bengals drafted Andre Smith in the first round to replace the three tackles the team parted ways with after last year. Cincinnati also released running back Chris Perry and safety Mike Doss.

In an attempt to beef up their defense, Cincinnati signed two Dallas castoffs. Defensive tackle Tank Johnson and safety Roy Williams join the 19th ranked defense. They also drafted USC linebacker Rey Maualuga, who slipped to them in the second round. It should be an improved unit, but not one to look for great production from.

The schedule isn’t too tough for Cincinnati, with home dates against Denver, Detroit and Kansas City. They will also travel to Oakland, but do get stern road tests three of the last four weeks, with trips to Minnesota, San Diego and the Jets. Their bye comes in week eight between home contests with Chicago and Baltimore.

Whatever the Bengals’ record is this year, they should be able to provide entertainment value. HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series will chronicle Cincinnati’s training camp this year, complete with the likely feuds of Ochocinco and ownership and Palmer’s outspoken attitude. He recently said he thinks the Bengals can start the year 6-0 and is certainly looking at playoffs at the end of the year. With no hype surrounding the team they may be able to sneak under the radar, but how far their quarterback can take them remains to be seen.

Ravens Preview
After such a successful season in Jim Harbaugh’s first year, expectations will be high in Baltimore.

Defense continues to be this team’s calling card and Ed Reed and Ray Lewis anchor one of the top units in football. There are plenty of young, talented players in the mix as well, keeping the Ravens fresh as their stars age. This defense is one of the top three in the league and will force plenty of turnovers.

The Ravens offense, however, is the weak point on the team, though Harbaugh is improving that side of the ball. With a solid running game, Baltimore seems prepared to play with the best teams in the AFC all year long.

The running game is far from an ideal fantasy situation however. Fullback Lorenzo Neal is out, and while the impact in Baltimore won’t be as serious as it was in San Diego last year, there will be fallout. Le’Ron McClain will take over duties as fullback, but likely will continue to be a touchdown vulture. McClain won’t see the ball much outside the red zone, but his knack for finding the end zone last year made him a viable starter.

Willis McGahee and Ray Rice will continue to share carries outside the red zone and neither should be a frontline option. But both should see enough carries to net seven or eight points a week. McGahee could even find the end zone with some regularity and Rice will factor in the passing game, but counting on any of the Baltimore running backs will likely not be for the faint of heart.

Likewise, Joe Flacco owners could be in for a headache. The rookie had a solid year directing the Baltimore offense, but don’t look for a breakout just yet. Flacco doesn’t have the weapons to make him a passing force and the learning curve is still steep for second-year quarterbacks. It’s likely that his touchdown-interception ratio is close to one, but he should throw for 3,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. He can be an option as a backup.

Derrick Mason remains the primary receiver for the Ravens and, while he isn’t spectacular, gets plenty of balls thrown his way every Sunday. Mason won’t break many big gains, but is a Hines Ward-type who can be a pain in the neck for the opposition. He doesn’t drop many balls and is very consistent. Look for another 1,000 yard season with a quarterback he is more comfortable with, but as usual Mason will not be dancing in too many end zones.

Mason had surgery on his left shoulder in February and has been limited at minicamp, but said that if he continues according to plan he will be ready for the first game.

Tight end Todd Heap has been joined by L.J. Smith in the lineup, so Baltimore now has a pair of 29-year old tight ends who aren’t especially productive. Both have seen big drops in the production over the past two years, and now that there isn’t a clear starter neither should be expected to rebound immediately. One of them will get 400 yards and a few touchdowns this year, but it’s unclear who wins that battle in training camp.

The last remaining connection to the old Browns is gone. Kicker Matt Stover was given his walking papers after 18 years with the Ravens/Browns. Graham Gano and Steven Hauschka will fight to become his replacement during camp.

Baltimore took offensive tackle Michael Oher with their first round draft choice. He will immediately compete for a spot on the starting unit. The Ravens other five picks probably won’t be as fortunate in terms of playing time this season.
Other newcomers include center Matt Birk and wide receiver Kelley Washington who is expected to provide a veteran presence. He may also end up in the starting lineup, but will have to knock off Mark Clayton.

Baltimore will face three stern defenses on the road in the first half of the season. The Ravens travel to San Diego, New England and Minnesota weeks two, four and six. They then have their bye in week seven. Baltimore will play Pittsburgh twice in five weeks, including a week 16 matchup on the road, which could decide the division.

Browns Preview
A new season brings a new coach and GM to Cleveland. But unless the State Farm ads come true and LeBron James brings his other-worldly talent to the Browns, look for another bleak fall on the North Coast.

Coach Eric Mangini and GM George Kokinis have started a much needed house cleaning from the Romeo Crennel days. Gone are Kellen Winslow, Joe Jurevicius and Ken Dorsey. Still suiting up in the brown and orange are Braylon Edwards, Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. There’s still time in the offseason, but with no takers thus far on any of the three, it seems that they will all open the season with the Browns.

The quarterback situation means neither Anderson nor Quinn is worth even putting on your bench, unless the comic relief is needed. Not that either quarterback did anything last year to make themselves valuable in the fantasy sports world anyway. There is some speculation that Quinn will be named starting quarterback, but this has come out of the Browns camp before.
Unlike some other high-profile receivers, Edwards seems relatively happy with his current team. Mostly it’s the fans that are tired of the Michigan grad dropping balls, no matter how badly thrown they were. He could rebound and be a nice receiver this season and could create an interesting draft day situation between himself, DeSean Jackson and Bernard Berrian for fantasy players. Edwards is capable of another 1,000 yard season with about seven touchdowns. But its’ also possible that Edwards’ 2007 season was an aberration.

A quarterback controversy and a new playbook mean that the Browns will lean on Jamal Lewis. His running style should create yards even with a shaky offensive line and means that he still gets the ball at the goal line, if Cleveland ever gets there.
The Browns added tight end Robert Royal to replace Winslow, but he won’t equal Winslow’s offensive production. He also will share time with Steve Heiden, though Heiden is more of a blocking tight end. Royal had 351 yards last year in Buffalo and may be able to duplicate that in Cleveland, though not as much is expected from the position without Winslow.

Phil Dawson has had a successful career kicking in the rough elements of the AFC North and should continue to be one of the most trustworthy Browns. He won’t get many extra point attempts, but field goals aren’t out of the question even when the weather turns ugly. Dawson isn’t the best option at kicker, but he’s far from the worst.

One of the good parts of a new sheriff in town (literally, Cuyahoga County appointed a new one in May) is the rookies will be given a chance to perform right away. Though the Browns seemed unwilling to pick in the first round and eventually took center Alex Mack, Mangini did take two wide receivers in the second round. Neither is a good option to start the year, but scouts around the league think Ohio State grad Brian Robiskie can contribute this year. He’s a possession receiver and could be a sleeper this season, with the potential to rack up 700 yards and a few scores.

Mohamed Massaquoi is more of a downfield threat and the Browns could insert him into the offense right away as well. The Georgia alum won’t be on anyone’s big board, but if Edwards continues to be unable to hold onto the football, Massaquoi may get looks.

The front end of the Browns’ schedule is dominated by road games. Five of Cleveland’s first eight games are on the road, including visits to Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Chicago. With a bye in week nine, the Browns will end the year at home against Oakland and Jacksonville. Also in the second half of the schedule are visits to Kansas City and Detroit.
Unfortunately for Browns fans this means plenty of time spent on the freezing cold lakefront, but it could be a positive for Lewis and the rest of the ground game as they try to churn out victories.

The Top Rookies (by position) for the 2009-2010 NFL Season

By Dustin Sullivan

Here are my top three rookies by position for the upcoming season. There might be some surprises that many of you readers might not have seen coming.
Quarterbacks
1. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
Sanchez is going into a Jets program that fits him perfectly. He will be the starter from Day 1 there and will be a successful franchise player for the Jets. The only problem for Sanchez is finding the right receiver to catch all the passes he’s going to attempt. I would use Sanchez as a backup for you fantasy team since there are a lot more veteran QB’s in the league.

2. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
Although he may not start out as the starter in Detroit, Stafford will probably finish the season as the starter. Stafford is compared by many to Brett Farve during his first couple of seasons in the league. Stafford is a very accurate passer, but lacks in speed. I would count it somewhat a risk to pick Stafford on your fantasy team unless you think he’s going to play any this season and be useful to your team.

3. Pat White, Miami Dolphins
Although Chad Pennington is probably going to be the starter in Miami, look out for Pat White to be very useful to the Dolphins’ “wild cat” offense. White is very fast and mobile, thus making him a perfect player for the Dolphins, but I would be careful to put him on your fantasy team because he may not get enough playing time even as a sub for your team.

Running Backs

1. Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts
Look for Colts RB Donald Brown to compliment the overall running game of the Colts’ offense. His speed, toughness, and ability to break several tackles makes him a dangerous running back in the league. Look to put Donald Brown on your starting roster! Don’t be afraid to take a chance on him just because he’s going to share the carries with Joseph Addai; Brown will be very active in the Colts offense and have a very productive season.

2. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos
Look for Moreno to come into training camp as the starting running back for the Broncos. Moreno is a powerful runner with plenty of speed. Moreno will be the most productive back for the Broncos if the new coaching staff gives him a chance to carry the ball more than ten times a game. Moreno would be a good choice as a backup for your fantasy team early in the season, but pay attention to how well he does and make the final move on him at about Week 5.

3. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles
McCoy is the second best rookie running back, but unless Brian Westbrook gets hurt at any point of the season. With Westbrook getting up there in age, McCoy looks to be the starting running back of the future for the Eagles. He might get some playing time this season, but don’t look for him to be productive from a fantasy standpoint this season. The only way he will be a starter is if Westbrook’s injury problems continue.

Wide Receivers

1. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers
The very versatile and aggressive Crabtree is the perfect fit for the 49ers. Crabtree was the best receiver out of this year’s draft and one team (not to be mentioned in this article, *cough* The Raiders *cough* *cough*) and the 49ers took advantage of this steal in the draft. Crabtree has the ability to out run and just out play the defensive coverage with speed and quick feet. His catching ability will make it look like Jerry Rice is back in San Fran. I would definitely put Crabtree on my starting roster as he might be rookie of the year this year.

2. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles, by far, had the best draft in the 1st round as they picked up a great running back in McCoy and an even better receiver in Jeremy Maclin. Maclin’s great catching ability will help Donovan McNabb and the Eagles. Look for Maclin to become one of the top targets that McNabb looks for on every play that Maclin is a part of. I would put Maclin as a reserve on your fantasy roster, but keep an eye on him!

3. Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings
Whoever the QB is in Minnesota at the start of the season, they can count on Percy Harvin to be a very productive receiver for them. Look for Harvin to be the top receiver on the Vikings depth chart at the start of the season due to a lack of talent at the receiver for the Vikings besides Harvin. But be careful to make him a starter on your fantasy roster, without a tested QB Harvin might take some time to really get going in the league.

Tight End: Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions
Pettigrew will try to help Stafford resurrect this Lions team and put some wins on the board for this struggling team. Pettigrew will try to compliment a very strong receiving core by being reliable in short yardage and red zone situations. From a fantasy standpoint, he might be someone you look at for a tight end spot.

Kicker: David Buehler, Dallas Cowboys
Although he was the top kicker taken in the Draft, it will be some time before you see this guy kicking field goals for the Cowboys. I would wait a few years before making this guy my kicker on my fantasy team.

There isn’t a scarier moment in football.

The star of the team lies face down on the turf, writhing in agony. The play continues past him and almost no one seems to have noticed that only 21 men are running down the field.

For those watching on TV, at the end of the play the camera will cut to a shot of the star clutching his knee as trainers rush on the field. These are the plays that make or break a season, and possibly the job of a coach. The backup hurriedly warms up on the sideline as the announcers wonder how the team can possibly recover its Super Bowl hopes without the star.

As the player heads to the locker room, fans everywhere wonder who will take over while the game hangs in balance.
Obviously some teams are better prepared for injuries than others. When Carson Palmer went down last year the Bengals had to call on Ryan Fitzpatrick, while the Patriots were able to move Matt Cassel into the starting role when Tom Brady was lost for the year. Players like Cassel seem to surface every year, just waiting for an opportunity to perform.

A quick look at the top skill players in the league will reveal more than a few players that are now perennial All-Pros, who once had to fight their way on the field.

But knowing who these players are doesn’t just help NFL coaches and GMs; rather it can help you find gold on your league’s waiver wire.

Everyone knows Darren Sproles is a talented backup and LaDanian Tomlinson owners will likely find a spot on their bench for the diminutive Chargers running back. But who else is just a play away from stardom?

1. Darren Sproles, Chargers
The pint-sized running back played much better than anticipated after LaDanian Tomlinson was injured last season. Sproles scored three times in two playoff games and averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2008. He got the franchise tag this year and the team did consider releasing Tomlinson, so he’ll get his touches.

2. Chester Taylor, Vikings
Because Adrian Peterson has been taken out in passing downs, Taylor gets plenty of opportunities. He gained 798 total yards and scored six touchdowns last year. Since Taylor’s rookie year, he has not gained less than four yards a carry. If Peterson continues to be unable to pass block, Taylor will have a real chance to contribute in his contract season.

3. Steve Breaston, Cardinals
This is somewhat of a cheat, since Breaston is the third wide receiver and a proven commodity. But we’ll run with this as long as Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are in the desert. Breaston had more than 1,000 receiving yards last season, and it’s probably not reasonable to think of him doing that again, but if he can grab a few more touchdowns than last year, when he had three, Breaston will be a valuable fantasy player.

4. Chris Wells, Cardinals
One of three Cardinals to make this list, its possible Wells will own the starting job by the time training camp breaks in the desert. The Ohio State product is a punishing running back and will see red zone opportunities regardless. In college, Wells had some trouble staying healthy, but if he can find a way to stay on the field, this is the rookie to watch out for.

5. Felix Jones, Cowboys
Jones was injured in his rookie season, but he showed immense promise before going down. The Arkansas product averaged 8.9 yards a carry in six games. The problem for Jones will be getting carries in an offense that includes Marion Barber and Tashard Choice.

6. Fred Jackson, Bills
Marshawn Lynch’s three-game suspension will provide Jackson with an opportunity to force Buffalo to give him carries all year. In Jackson’s lone start last year, he rushed for 136 yards against a good Patriots defense. He can also catch the ball, piling up 317 yards last year.

7. LeSean McCoy, Eagles
No one is really sure how Brian Westbrook’s offseason surgery will impact the longtime Philadelphia running back, but he is 30 years old. McCoy is in a great spot to have impact with Westbrook missing the entire preseason.

8. Donald Brown, Colts
It seems that Indianapolis doesn’t believe in Joseph Addai, which makes Brown an interesting backup. The first-round pick out of Connecticut, Brown could be this year’s rookie running back to watch. Right now though, Brown is not a short-yardage back, so touchdowns will probably not be coming his way.

9. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
DeSean Jackson’s success last season is an indicator that talented rookie wide receivers are a great fit with the Philadelphia offense. Maclin didn’t play in a pro style offense at Missouri, but he’s blazing fast with great hands and better size than Jackson. Donovan McNabb will find him and he will score touchdowns.

10. Shonn Greene, Jets
Greene is another big, Big Ten running back. Combine his 235-pound frame with a 31-year old Thomas Jones; Greene is in an outstanding spot to score touchdowns. If Jones goes down, the Jets seem to have a lot of faith in their rookie out of Iowa; they did trade up to draft him after all.

11. Austin Collie/Pierre Garcon, Colts
Whoever wins the third wide receiver spot in the high-octane Colts’ offense will become fantasy relevant. Neither one was picked high in the draft nor are they burners. But they are solid possession receivers with great hands. As long as Peyton Manning is throwing them the ball, they’ll be just fine.

12. Matt Leinart, Cardinals
Kurt Warner is a fragile, old quarterback. Leinart is worked out with Tom Brady in the off season and seems to have taken last year’s demotion to heart. Were Warner to go down or be ineffective, Leinart could finally become the type of pro expected of the Heisman winner.

13. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
A first-round draft choice last year, Mendenhall struggled through preseason and then was injured four games into the season. But Willie Parker is incapable of being an every down back, so Mendenhall has a great chance to be the short-yardage guy. Look for touchdowns out of another large Big Ten running back.

14. Chris Simms, Broncos
This assumes Kyle Orton is the starting quarterback in Denver. Simms has proven himself as a starter before and Orton has proven to be average. It’s possible Orton flourishes with Josh McDaniel’s’ offense and all the weapons in the Mile High city, but it’s also possible Simms has his first shot at being a starter since that vicious hit ruptured his spleen.

15. Kevin O’Connell, Patriots
After Matt Cassell’s and Tom Brady’s unbelievable success, O’Connell just has to be on this list. There is nothing to say that Brady isn’t fully recovered or will be injured again, but with this offensive system unknown quarterbacks can have plenty of success. He was only 4-of-6 last year, but as the Patriots’ backup he is worth knowing.

By Chris Burrows

Notjustagame.com

Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco’s Baltimore debut last year turned heads and made fans “Wacko for Flacco” when he led the Ravens to the AFC championship but his mediocre digits (2,971 yards, 14 TD’s, and 12 interceptions) didn’t make him a very viable fantasy starter. 2009, however, should be very kind to Flacco. The Ravens added OT Michael Oher with a first-round pick and Minnesota center Matt Birk—both are major upgrades to a lacking frontline that will give Flacco time to do his thing.

Steven Jackson
No one’s counting on a Rams schedule that stretches into February. Too many losses in too many seasons with cash flow petering out don’t make playoff appearances. However, with a shrunken offense that no longer includes Torry Holt and a new coaching staff leading the charge, the hobbling and penniless Rams will be hitching their hopes to six-year veteran RB Steven Jackson. He’s always delivered impressive stats even in dismal seasons—he topped 1,500 rushing yards in 2006—but Jackson will be one of Marc Bulger’s only options with finesse receiver Holt no longer in the picture and Bulger’s arm increasingly less dependable. Steven Jackson is going to have to produce—he’s the only hope in the Gateway City.

Hines Ward
Hines Ward won’t get any better. I don’t think he can. But the rest of the 20 returning Pittsburgh starters will be hungry for another run to the bowl. And Hines will have no choice but to keep up. No team can claim that much carryover into the next season, and what worked then can only work better next time around with some support from the draft. Ward shows no signs of slowing down in his 12th season. He went the distance leading up to an appearance in the big show last season with 1,043 yards and 7 end zone grabs. There won’t be a championship hangover for Ward—his 12th season will be his best yet.

Frank Gore
2009 is the year of the rebound for the 49ers running back who showed up to camp trimmer than before according to a Sports Illustrated report and hyped for a season under new offensive direction after a dismal 2008. The 49ers are returning to a run-based offense that Gore is familiar with and which he was able to put up huge numbers on in 2006 when he ran for 1,695 yards on 312 carries. In the interceding two seasons Gore ran up much lower yardage because he wasn’t given the ball (only 360 and 240 attempts and 1,102 and 1,036 yards respectively), but 2009 and new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye whose power running style encourages a strong ground offensive should put the ball firmly back into Gore’s hands.

Reggie Bush
Look for Drew Brees and Reggie Bush to be connecting an awful lot in the upcoming season as the disappointing RB looks to silence his critics. In his first three seasons with the Saints Bush was anything but breakout posting 1,550 rushing yards over the three years and an almost identical reception yardage. However, in 2009 expect Brees to utilize Bush more as a rusher as the team looks to step up its run-blocking protection.

Tom Brady
This goes without saying but I will anyway. Pats fans will be encouraged to see Brady play in 15 more games this season than he did in the last (and probably a few more than that). Back off the injured bench and committed to a competitive season, Brady is a shoe-in for top QB in all the land. We don’t even need to go over the stats.

Anthony Gonzalez
Likely filling the void left by a much missed Marvin Harrison, former third sport receiver Anthony Gonzalez will be tracking many more than his total 664 reception yards in 2008. Gonzalez will need to prove his worth if he intends to hold the vacated spot for very long as competition among the receivers will be fierce. The other pass-grabber for the Manning machine is Reggie Wayne who will be useful but won’t likely improve much on his 1,145 reception yards in 2008.

Donovan McNabb
With Jeremy Maclin, Jason Peters and LeSean McCoy now in his arsenal, Donovan McNabb has no choice but to improve in ’09. McNabb was less than hopeful when, after some major departures (Tra Thomas, Brian Dawkins), the Eagles’ ownership was slow to sign anybody in the offseason—he demanded to see that change before signing a contract extension. And it did. Jason Peters, a top left tackle, was salvaged from Buffalo, WR Jeremy Maclin was drafted out of Missouri and rusher LeSean McCoy was drafted from Pittsburgh to sew up a deficiency in the Eagle’s ability to convert on third and shorts. 2008 was generous to the aging McNabb, he netted over 3,900 yards—the most ever in his 12 seasons with the Eagles but saw a dip in his rating that will be helped by an even more capable offense into 2010.

Philip Rivers
He’s improved in every season that he’s played in the NFL, and next season the Charger’s QB will be blocked by two newly drafted linemen and has two top performing rushers—LaDanian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles—at his service once again. Tomlinson himself belongs on this list as he looks to quiet critics concerned with his age and his less than an impressive ’08-’09 that featured an offense based around fourth quarter pass catch-ups. For 2009 look for the ever-improving sixth season vet to make a run at the playoffs. He’d make the perfect sleeper QB for any fantasy team.

Matt Forte
Returning for his sophomore year with the Bears, Matt Forte has nothing to prove. He ran for 1,238 yards and scored a total 12 6-pointers in his first season in Chicago overshadowing the overhyped experiment known as Devin Hester who—to the chagrin of fantasy owners and Chicagoans—was more buck than bang. Forte will be leading the ground charge of the Bear’s newest hype—Jay Cutler—who worked with a long list of Broncos backs last season to accrue a team total of 1,862 rushing yards, and the team nearly led the league in yards per carry with 4.8. Forte is really Cutler’s only choice on the ground (the second most rushing yards for a Bear last season was Kevin Jones who carried for 109 yards). 2009 will be the year of the Cutler-Forte show in Chi-town.

By Zack Cimini

Not many players in the past have been considered fantasy worthy from the Oakland Raiders. Definitely not mentionable in drafts were any Raiders wide receivers. That will now change as the Raiders new head coach is trying to move things back to where they were in the Rich Gannon era.

Even though the Raiders have been losing games they’ve fought well in most losses, especially last season. Displays of working towards the future were evident with the blossoming of running backs Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden. As a receiving threat, Zach Miller, was the only player that put up respectable numbers for his position at tight end. Part of the problem there were the inept and underperformers behind center. Jamarcus Russell hopefully shook off his first good stretch of action as he is going to need to perform in a hurry. If not, the Raiders signed experienced savvy veteran Jeff Garcia. Garcia has been able to step in with any team over the last four to five years and do well. We expect Garcia to see action at some point this year. Due to the fact that he finds his way onto the field one way or another.

Who will catch the balls thrown by either Garcia or Russell? Well the Raiders obviously just spent their first round pick on speedster Darrius Heywood-Bey. Not often though can rookie receivers come in and demonstrate consistent play, although being a top ten receiver you’d expect Bey to be able too. Currently Bey is listed as the Raiders third receiver but will likely jump over Javon Walker. Walker who was once a Pro Bowl caliber receiver just a few short years ago has stumbled to where did he go land.

The Raiders other starter is going to be the name no one has heard and will surely be on the waiver wire in fantasy leagues. If you’re in a dynasty league, hopefully you either snatched him up last season or in this off-seasons fantasy draft. Chaz Schilens, at 6’4 and 230 pounds has the speed and physical tools to be a pleasant surprise at receiver. Here is an athlete that didn’t begin playing football until his junior year of high school. Even at that he was able to attract the attention of several division one schools and found himself at San Diego State. Quietly he had solid seasons there and snuck into the draft as a 7th round pick by the Raiders last season.

Instantly he jumped over the Raiders fourth round pick last year in Arman Shields, and began to find his way onto the field during the regular season. Some highlights of last year include a three reception 78 yard performance against the Ravens, as well as starting the last two games of the season in which he caught a touchdown in each. He creates separation with ease (4.38 forty) and has great leaping ability (43 inch vertical leap). This will already be combined by Heywood-Bey whose speed and status will create enough nightmares for defenses.

These two could be a dynamic tandem grouped together for awhile. As long as the Raiders can consistent quarterback play expect Schilens to easily get between 800- 1,000 yards and six to eight touchdowns. He will no longer be a sleeper after this season. He is already off to a great impact start that we anticipated. In limited action he totaled five catches for 52 yards in week one’s preseason action. Russell seems to already have chemistry with him and they even drew a 47 yard pass interference penalty as well.