If you watched Super Bowl XLIV, well, you probably noticed that Pierre Thomas was one reason that the Saints won that game. Thomas ran for 30 yards on nine carries and caught six passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. He was a beast when it counted and he showed tremendous power, speed and versatility. More importantly, the Saints' coaching staff seemed to count on him more than any other Saints running back. Lately there has been a grip of speculation regarding Reggie Bush's possible release this off-season... Well, this only adds fuel to the fire. The Saints are looking at paying Bush $8M next season if they keep him. Anything can happen, and Bush is still an outstanding pass-catching back, and his return abilities are of course insanely valuable, but Thomas proved his worth in today's Super Bowl win and I can see PT having a breakout year in 2010 (while Bush could be in Seattle, or elsewhere). If you're wondering about Mike Bell, he is an impending restricted free agent this off-season, so if Bush is cut, the Saints will likely resign Bell, or draft a rookie runner in the middle-to-late rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft. Dynasty owners should be trying to buy Pierre Thomas now while his value is still relatively low. I wouldn't be shocked at all if Thomas is treated like a fantasy RB2 come August, 2010.

Detroit Lions QB Matt Stafford had a rough year. He was drafted first overall to a team that went 0-16 the year before, signed a huge contract and then he got fed to the wolves by being allowed to start from day one -- No pressure there. I was high on Stafford coming out of college, even after he got drafted by the Lions. I liked his arm, delivery, size (6'3" and 232 lbs.), attitude and the system that he played in during his college career (pro style). I also like the fact that he has no non-sense Jim Schwartz as his head coach. All of these attributes are why I am so high on the kid. Mix all that together with the fact that he can throw the ball to wide receiver Calvin Johnson and I see a star in the making. Don't just look at his numbers, they don't tell the whole story. Stafford made the Lions competitive in almost every game he played in. Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez went to the playoffs, but had a better offensive line, running game and defense. Stafford had to play from behind in every game with a shaky line and got hit - A lot, which led to him playing with an injury most of the year. Stafford played in 10 games and was 201 of 377 for 2,267 yards with 13 touchdowns and 20 picks. He also added 2 rushing touchdowns and had 4 fumbles with 1 lost. Sanchez played in 15 games and was 196 of 364 for 2,444 yards with 12 touchdowns and 20 picks. Mark had 3 rushing touchdowns with 10 (that's right 10) fumbles with 3 lost. The numbers are similar, and Stafford played in five less games with an inferior team. If you look at any rookie quarterback's numbers, you won't be very impressed. Stafford's first five interceptions were in his first two games against New Orleans and Minnesota. Both of those teams have really good defenses and New Orleans in particular is very good at causing turnovers. He had another four against Green Bay, another good defense, in a blow out loss. So almost half of his interceptions came against three of the best teams in the NFC . Don't panic and give up on him in dynasty leagues. The powers that be in Detroit should upgrade the offensive and defensive lines and that will make a world of difference for Stafford. He will still be a shaky fantasy play in the 2010 season, but after another season with a healthy Megatron , Matt will start to live up to his status as a first overall draft choice. Get him now while he is still dirt cheap and sit on him -- The pay off will be worth it.

The Chicago Bears have just hired Mike Martz as the team's new offensive coordinator. This move is HUGE for Matt Forte owners, as an inconsistent passing attack was a big reason why Forte failed fantasy owners in 2009. Forte was a top 3-4 overall pick in all leagues and formats last August and clearly the Bears rusher busted. He did suffer an early-season knee injury, and that injury lingered for much of the 2009 NFL season, but the biggest contributing factor to Forte's disappointing sophomore fantasy season was the team's inability to provide Forte with room to run. Well, all that is about to change. Forte was already one of our biggest bounce-back candidates heading into 2010, but this signing now makes us even more confident in the runner heading into his third NFL season. One of Forte's biggest strengths is his ability to be a receiver and Martz is famous for turning getting his running backs heavily involved in the passing game. Forte is one of the best receiving backs in the NFL, so this marriage between Martz and Forte is a perfect fit. In two seasons in the NFL, Forte has averaged over 58 receptions per season. Forte might just be on the verge of having his best receiving season yet. Buy-low in dynasty leagues and hopefully the runner remains undervalued heading into 2010 August yearly drafts. So what kind of numbers do I project for Matt Forte entering 2010? Well, it's a bit early to be sure, but I'd venture to say 1,050 rushing, 600 receiving, 12 total scores with 60-65 receptions sounds about right. Mark it down!

Tashard Choice, of the Dallas Cowboys, is someone to keep on your radar this off season. He is "technically" the third string guy, but his time is approaching for fantasy relevance sooner than later. Out of the three running backs in Dallas, who is always the healthy guy? Who has the owner backing him for more playing time? Jerry Jones was on the Miles Austin bandwagon last off season and look what happened. Who has the size (5'10" and 212 lbs) and skill set (career average of 5.3 YPC on 156 carries and can catch the ball) to be a legit starter for an NFL team? The answer to all three questions is Tashard Choice. It would be wise to do your best to get this guy on the cheap this off season, because after the 2010 season it is not gonna happen. Jerry Jones has stated publicly numerous times that Choice should be more involved in the offense. He has also recently stated that there are concerns about Barber's injury history. When he was the starter in Dallas with both Barber and Jones banged up, Tashard has performed well against some good defensive teams (Pittsburgh, Ravens, Eagles). I firmly believe that Marion Barber is going to lose a considerable amount of carries to Jones and Choice. Jones does not seem to be able to stay healthy so far in his brief career (see Barber, Marion), which leaves me to believe that Choice is going to be the starter after the dust settles. Will Choice ever be a top 5 guy? I don't believe so, but he has the potential and skill set to be a solid number one back, especially in PPR leagues. Tashard Choice is a guy who can potentially compliment your stud running back (ADP,CJ3,MJD) as a sweet number 2 because a crafty owner will be able to draft him in the later rounds or acquire at a modest price.

Matt Forte, who recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on his left knee, is very underrated heading into 2010. Sure, Forte had an awful 2009, and he disappointed an unmeasurable amount of fantasy owners last season, but it's time to go bargain shopping. If you're in a dynasty league and do not currently own the runner, test those trade waters. I've seen some fantasy owners send him packing for third- to fourth-round fantasy talent -- Take full advantage of those in your league that are undervaluing the Chicago starter. Should he be treated like a top 10 dynasty talent right now? Absolutely not, but that doesn't mean he can't get back to that fantasy level. If you own him, hang onto him, as you won't get enough for him if you try shipping him off. If you don't own him, like I said, it's time to strike - The risk is low given how he is being valued and the upside is huge. A lot of Forte's struggles in 2009 can be attributed to Chicago's inability to pass the football, but it's also important to note that Forte played through a partially torn hamstring and an early-season MCL sprain. Forte is expected to be healthy in time for OTAs in 2010. Forte is cemented in as one of my biggest bounce-back candidate entering the 2010 fantasy football season.

Arian Foster was a huge deep sleeper of mine heading into last season, but he didn't get his shot until the final two weeks of the 2009 season. In Week 16 against the Dolphins, Foster ran the football 19 times for 97 rushing yards and 1TD. In Week 17 against the Patriots, Foster ran the football 20 times for 119 rushing yards and 2TDs. His two monster performances in Weeks 16 and 17 will likely place him in the top running back spot heading into August, but will he keep the gig? I say yes. Foster is a big boy at 6-1, 215... and he has good speed for that size. His hands are solid and his offensive line is pulling for him to win the starting job in 2010. If you're looking for 2010 super sleeper at the running back position, Arian Foster is your guy. Draft him in the middle rounds as your fantasy RB3 (or flex-option), but don't be shocked if he plays like a solid fantasy RB2 when all is said and done in '10. A strong preseason could increase Foster's draft value, but for now it's safe to say that Foster should be positioned to exceed expectations in 2010. Invest.

Jerome Harrison is awfully tough to rank right now heading into the 2010 fantasy football off-season. Is he a fantasy RB2? Is he better than that? Is he only flex-worthy? What kind of dynasty value does he have? These are all tough questions to answer at this stage in the game, but here goes my take Harrison. Let me take a stab at each one of these questions, starting with the dynasty question. While it's easy to call Jerome Harrison a player on the rise, keep in mind that he will be roughly 27.5 years of age when the 2010 fantasy football season kicks off. He is not a young guy and he isn't a long-term answer in Cleveland. I also urge all you Harrison believers out there to keep in mind that Harrison has already been given ample opportunity to produce in this league. I'm not going to sit here and say that Harrison's finish to the 2009 fantasy football season wasn't impressive, as he rushed for 286-3TDs, 148-1TD and 127-1TD in his final three games, but he did so against the Chiefs, Raiders and Jaguars. The Jaguars were ranked in the middle of the league against the run entering Week 17, but both the Chiefs and Raiders were in the bottom four against the run when Harrison faced each unit. I'm suggesting that Harrison will not enter 2010 as the Browns starting rusher, because he will, but my advice is to sell-high in dynasty leagues and let someone else draft Harrison as their fantasy RB2 entering 2010 redraft leagues. If I owned Jerome Harrison in a dynasty league, I'd try to package him with another average fantasy athlete in order to buy-low on a Matt Forte. That would be the perfect lateral step if you ask me, as Matt Forte is very underrated and Jerome Harrison is the perfect sell-high candidate. Sell-high! I'm not a believer in Harrison heading into 2010 and beyond (especially beyond).

It's time to go Shonn Greene shopping if you do not already own the runner in dynasty leagues. His time is near, and even though Thomas Jones still looks great heading into Week 17, Greene is inching closer to that Jets' full-time running back gig. Again, Jones has been a machine in Weeks 1-16, hitting 20 carries or more in 10 of his 15 games. He is 31, so that's extremely impressive stuff, but he will enter 2010 at the age of 32... very few rushers have ever had a successful 32-age rushing season. Even if a runner somehow manages to start their 32-age season in strong fashion, they rarely ever finished it (at least as a starter). Players like Shaun Alexander and Marshall Faulk played well through 28, but their production dropped off significantly at 29. Priest Holmes rushed for 27 touchdowns at age 30, but he only played eight games during his 31-age season. Curtis Martin is an amazing story, as he rushed for 1,697 and 14 total scores during his 31-age season in 2004, but during his next season, his 32-age season, Martin played 12 games and rushed for just 220 yards. Most elite NFL rushers fall off well before their 30 and few ever play well at the ages of 30-31, let alone 32. The odds are against T-Jones playing well in 2010. If he does play well early on, the odds are against him finishing the season. Through Week 16, rookie running back Shonn Greene has reached double-digit carries four times - And in Week 16, the future starter racked up 95 yards on the ground. He is a powerful runner and has all the tools necessary to excel at the NFL level. If given the touches, and if starting for an entire season, Greene could easily produce 1,200+ rushing yards and could score 8-10 times. Will he start 16 games next season? Well, it's certainly possible, but fantasy owners should prepare for Greene to grab that Jets' starting gig a couple weeks into the 2010 NFL season. Trade for Greene now if you can - His value will only increase as we approach August, 2010... Now would be the time to try and acquire the rusher at flex-type, or less, type value.

If you're in a year-round dynasty league and you're looking for some 2010 advice, try to acquire Falcons rusher Michael Turner heading into the early 2010 fantasy football off-season. The Falcons stud rusher has essentially been out since Week 10. He attempted to play in Weeks 12 and 15, but totaled just 40 yards in those two games and carried the football just 13 times in those two outings he attempted to play in. So really, dynasty fantasy owners have been without Turner's services since Week 10. Try and take advantage of this! Dynasty owners who own Turner are likely frustrated with the runner and might deal him relatively cheap. What's cheap? Well, you won't get him for a second-round type talent, but how about giving up a decent fantasy RB2 along with a decent fantasy WR2 for Turner? Take a stab and try to pull off a 2-for-1 type of deal that has you upgrading your RB2 into a RB1 (Turner). Invest low! Make no mistake, Turner will be back to form in 2010 and he will likely have a chip on his shoulder. He played with a chip on his shoulder in 2008, when so many doubted his ability to be a starter in this league. How did that turn out? Expect Turner to respond to the 2010 doubts much like he did to the 2008 doubts. Think about this... if you calculate Turner's 2009 stats per start, Turner would have finished with 1,266 rushing yards and 14.5 rushing touchdowns on the year. He has 10 rushing scores right now and he has only played in 11 games this year. That's extremely impressive. Turner is still a beast, he just needs to get healthy. Now go shopping!

Knowshon Moreno is very undervalued in dynasty leagues right now and fantasy owners that do not currently own the runner should go after him via trade if the price is right. If you're in a dynasty league, there is a good chance your league has already locked down trading until the off-season. There is also a good chance that this dynasty advice becomes outdated before the off-season even approaches. The reason I say that this advice could become outdated is because Moreno could go nuts in Weeks 16 or 17 (or in the playoffs). If Moreno does go nuts in the coming weeks, he is probably going to be treated like a top 25 overall dynasty talent heading into 2010... he might even go in the top 25 overall in redraft leagues come August, 2010... The talent is there and the opportunity should be there as well in 2010. Don't get me wrong, the guy still has a lot to prove after an up and down rookie season, but we have faith in the runner and feel that he can be a top 10 fantasy RB talent by his third season (maybe earlier). Test those trade waters and jump on our FFX Forums for trade advice.

Is he a top 10-15 overall pick entering 2010? That's a tough question to answer, but we'd venture to say that most of you out there see him as at least a second-round grab heading into early 2010 fantasy football mock drafts. This is probably a safe place to slot Charles this early on in the 2010 mock drafting process, but the upside for top 10-15 overall numbers is certainly present. Just don't rank him too high -- yet. What is too high? Well, let's first talk about his recent play... Charles has been a fantasy beast as of late. In Week 14, the stud ran the football 20 times for 143 yards and 1TD. In Week 15, the Chiefs' starting running back ran the football 25 times for 154 yards and a score. Since he took over as the main runner in Kansas City, and since getting over 10 carries per game, Charles has scored in every single outing (Weeks 10-15). That's impressive. That's six straight games with touchdowns... While I won't suggest that counting on Charles as your first player taken in 2010 will be a mistake, I would caution fantasy owners to approach him more as a solid second-round grab, or great third-round grab, heading into 2010. His value could change in my eyes as we head into the 2010 fantasy off-season, so know that, but for now I have Charles ranked inside my top 16-24 overall. While many of you have already vaulted him into your top 15, and that's fine and very arguable, I feel top 24 is still very respectable and the safest approach to take - for now. The "2010 Jamaal Charles Debate" will be a good one -- Expect to see a grip of fantasy content on the guy in the coming weeks and months! And expect him to be one of the most talked about fantasy football players heading into August, 2010.

Jerome Harrison went nuts in Week 15 against the Chiefs, rushing the football 34 times for 286 yards and 3TDs. This came out of nowhere, as Chris Jennings was the primary rusher in Week 14 and Harrison was even ready for action that week. Harrison broke a franchise record with this Week 15 performance, surpassing the great Jim Brown. Harrison, with his 286 rushing yards in Week 15, now sits in the NFL's number three spot for most rushing yards in one game. We'd venture to say that very few fantasy owners out there started Harrison in Week 15. In fact, we'd venture to say that he is available on waivers in most leagues out there. Check your waiver wire and grab the runner if he is in fact available in your league. Just don't expect RB2-type numbers out of the rusher entering Week 16 -- That would be a bit unrealistic. Even after his huge record setting outing in Week 15, Harrison just doesn't come across as an elite-like talent. Plus, he has already had a chance to shine in the past and he has failed to deliver. He is a strong start this week as a RB3 or flex option, as Oakland is one of the worst rushing defense in the league, but selling high is advised in dynasty formats.

One of my favorite sleeper starts of the Week is Texans rusher Arian Foster. I like this kid a lot and I talked about him a lot in the off-season/early in-season. He could be the real deal... all he needs is the opportunity. Well, that opportunity might just be here, as Texans coach Gary Kubiak said this week that he was "impressed" with Foster against the Seahawks. "He can learn a lot of things," said Kubiak. "But he handled his job in protection for the most part pretty good, so I think we just get him involved more, give him an opportunity." Ryan Moats is good, and we do like him quite a bit, but he is not the best blocker, so Foster could really take advantage of the opportunity that faces him in Week 15. The Texans' Week 15 match-up couldn't be better, as Foster is going up against the Rams. The Rams are 27th against the run this season, surrendering 147 rushing yards per game, and the defensive unit has given up 19 rushing scores through Week 14. This match-up is beautiful for Foster owners and I'm really starting to think that 90-100 rushing yards and 1TD is to be expected in this one. The Rams give up 147 rushing yards per game on the ground! Foster is sure to get a grip of those if healthy and playing well in Week 15.

Recent reports suggest that Texans coach Gary Kubiak will feature RB Arian Foster in the final three games of the season. Ryan Moats fumbled in Week 14 and Chris Brown didn't get it done. "We're fixing to pick it up big-time for (Foster)," Kubiak said. Arian Foster didn't have an amazing Week 14 on the ground, as he rushed for just 34 yards on 13 carries, but he added four receptions for 54 yards. Trust us, this guys is good... real good. We have talked him up a lot this year, but in all fairness, it has taken longer than expected for Foster to get his shot, so it's possible that most of you that listened to us earlier in the year had to drop the runner after weeks of waiting. If that's the case, race to the waiver wire and place your bid! Foster is a power back with good speed and great hands. He has solid size at 6-1, 215 and he is exciting to watch. As we said on our breaking newswire, the "hit and miss" game is the only way to land players like Mike Sims-Walker and Marques Colston. It's a trial and error process landing studs off the waiver wire, but studs can be found each and every year. And you can't land 'em if you don't take stabs in the dark. Take your stabs! Go get Foster if you don't already own him, especially in dynasty leagues.

It's official! Alabama running back Mark Ingram has won the Heisman Trophy. Just so you Xtremers know, the stud college running back cannot enter the 2010 NFL Draft. The sophomore will have to wait through one more college season before he can declare. He might not have come out anyway... Ingram has great size at 5-foot-10, 212 pounds. He is often compared to Emmitt Smith in style of play and frame. He has great vision and knows how to hit the hole. He has quick feet and very solid strength. He will will definitely need to work on pass protection at that next level and he could work on his speed a touch. Past that, he really doesn't have too many weaknesses. His biggest strength might just be his ability to pick up yards after contact, something that goes a long way at the next level. Congrats to Ingram for winning the Heisman and we wish him good luck in the BCS title game. We will be talking about Ingram soon enough when he enters the 2011 NFL Draft.

With Mike Sims-Walker now downgraded to "doubtful" for Week 14, dynasty league owners should attempt to acquire the stud receiver before he returns to action. Now, Sims-Walker could still play in Week 14, so be sure to monitor our Breaking News Wire on Sunday morning, but for now, he is doubtful and this is good news for those looking to buy-low. In just 11 played games this season, Sims-Walker has has pulled in at least six receptions six different times. The Jaguars stud has also pulled in 100+ yards on two occasions and he has reached at least the 90-yard mark four times. If he had played Week 1, and if he wasn't about to miss Week 14, he'd be on pace for 75 receptions, 1,093 receiving yards and 8.7TDs for 2009. Here at FFX, Sims-Walker currently sits at No. 11 for 2010 dynasty wide receivers. That's pretty bold, I know, but that's how we roll here at FFX. Now, go get him before it's too late! Need an example of what to offer for the Jaguars WR, or how much you might need to surrender? I have two examples for you, both are expert league trades that we actually pulled off in order to acquire Sims-Walker. In one dynasty expert league, we gave up Matthew Stafford and Justin Forsett for Sims-Walker. We actually just made this trade yesterday, using his current questionable status to our advantage. That's a monster steal right there, but that just goes to show that Sims-Walker is actually undervalued in a lot of leagues right now despite the breakout season that he is having. You won't get him that cheap in every league, though, as in another expert dynasty league we had to give up a lot more to get him. In the second league, we had to surrender an injured Ronnie Brown, Fred Jackson and Pierre Garcon all to acquire Sims-Walker. See the value difference across even expert leagues? We were able to steal him away in one and we had to pay the price in the other, but still, he was well worth the acquisition in the league where we had to give up Brown, Jackson and Garcon. Sims-Walker is the next stud wide receiver and he has already proved that if you ask us.

If you're in a deep dynasty league and you're in need of a tight end, consider scooping up Browns TE Evan Moore. He pulled in six balls for 80 yards in Week 13 and he was just recently activated from the practice squad. Josh Cribbs had this to say about the guy: "On scout team, he was unbelievable, just killing our first-team defense." Moore played basketball and football at Stanford. He is a former wide receiver and has a monster frame (6'6, 247). If you play in a smaller-to-medium size league, just keep an eye on him. If you're in a bigger dynasty league and have a spot to burn, consider grabbing him just in case he is the real deal.

Smitty called this one way back in August during the 2009 preseason. The Jermichael Finley train has officially left the station and it isn't coming back. Finley probably isn't available in a dynasty league near you, but check just in case. If he is available for grabs in your dynasty league(s), good luck putting in your Tuesday bid! The Gates-like tight end was outstanding in Week 13, catching seven passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns in the Monday night win against the Ravens. Aaron Rodgers is turning into an elite passer and it has become clear that Rodgers is most comfortable when Finley is on the field. Rodgers has developed an unmatched rapport with the tight end and that rapport will probably get stronger in the coming years. The two were in a zone on Monday and you have to think that Rodgers is going to ensure that Finley is getting his targets moving forward. While it's a bit early to call Finley a future top 4-6 fantasy tight end, it's awfully tough to ignore the warning signs.

Mike Sims-Walker is a tough player to rank right now heading into 2010, he really is. Is the 2009 stud receiver going to maintain his elite status heading into next season? Or, will he be even better in 2010? I'll be honest... my only concern when it comes to Sims-Walker is his health. He didn't come out of nowhere this season, we actually had him pegged as a breakout receiver well over a year ago. In truth, a lot of fantasy owners here on our forums had him pegged as a breakout receiver as well, but injuries slowed him down last year and his upside quickly vanished to the Jaguars' bench. I'm not suggesting that Sims-Walker won't remain healthy moving forward, he can, but what I'm saying is that his health is the only thing I question if forced to say. He is an elite talent and I have him slotted in that 14-16 wide receiver range heading into next season. He has the upside to be a top 10 fantasy wide receiver next season, so know that, but I think the 14-16 range is a respectable ranking for the moment. If you own him in dynasty formats, excellent work and don't sell unless you're getting ridiculous value in return. If you plan on drafting the receiver next season in redraft formats, expect to spend at least a late third-round pick on the future stud. For those of you Sims-Walker owners out there about to head into your 2009 fantasy playoffs, enjoy the next couple of weeks - He won't be slowing down any time soon!

With Jamal Lewis (concussion) out for the year, Chris Jennings is now the starter in Cleveland. Jennings shouldn't be available in any medium to large size leagues. We talked about him a couple of weeks ago, so this shouldn't be the first time you're hearing his name... we mentioned him as a nice waiver wire grab back when he passed up Jerome Harrison on the team's depth chart. Well, now he is the starter, and while we wouldn't expect the world, he has a solid rushing schedule moving forward. If you're in need at running back in Weeks 13-16, he might just help you out. In Week 13 the runner is at home playing the Chargers and he faces the Chiefs and Raiders in Weeks 15 and 16. Again, he isn't going to be a strong fantasy RB2, but he is a decent flex play if you have holes in your line-up. Make sure you check your waiver wire just in case he is available in your league.

Is C.J. Spiller the next elite rookie running back to enter the NFL? First of all, I wanted to kickoff this Player Spotlight by clarifying my most recent Toby Gerhart Player Spotlight. I had mentioned Gerhard as a player on the rise, but he is not my top ranked rookie running back. His 2009 college numbers are by far the most impressive out of all the potential 2010 NFL rookie rushers, but it remains to be seen if NFL scouts view Gerhart as an every-down back. Ok, so that said, it's time to evaluate Spiller. While Gerhart produced much more impressive stats in 2009 (1,736-26TDs), I think Spiller has the best shot at being an fantasy football stud. I like Jahvid Best, but I'll touch on the concerns I have for Best in his upcoming Player Spotlight. Again, I like Gerhart a lot, but his role in the NFL will depend on the team and coaches that draft him. As for Spiller, if drafted into the right situation, I can see him developing into a strong fantasy football running back. How strong? That depends entirely on his situation. I'm not as excited about Spiller (at the moment) as I was about both Chris Wells and Knowshon Moreno, but Spiller has time to change my opinion.

We warned fantasy worlds about this kid in the off-season and we advised everyone here at FFX to grab the speedster weeks ago. To all who listed, nice work. If you started Forsett this week against the Rams, excellent work. In Week 12, Forsett rushed the football 22 times for 130 yards and 2TDs. He looked solid and he clearly proved that he has all the tools needed to be a starter in this league. The runner has four touchdowns over the last three weeks. The Seahawks will continue to feed him the rock, even if Julius Jones returns soon. Not only has Forsett possibly locked down the starting gig for the remainder of the 2009 season, he might just be the future of that Seattle rushing attack. Now, that said, dynasty league owners should entertain trade offers should they flood in. It's a smart play to do so, as you might be able to sell-high for undervalued players like Matt Forte (we still believe in his future) and others... but don't sell-low by any means. Forsett might be the real deal and he is only worth trading away on the rise if you can make a splash with your future line-up. Look for more on Forsett in the coming weeks, as we will most certainly breakdown his future value as we near the off-season. Like you, we want to see more out of him before we start predicting strong 2010 fantasy numbers, but we promise to bring you more on Forsett very soon.

Wow. Toby Gerhart might just be a top five overall pick in next year's 2010 NFL Draft. Yea, I know it's early, and many of you dynasty leaguers aren't quite ready for the off-season scouting grind, but this is just how we roll. Here at FFX, it's never too early to start attacking the next generation of fantasy football studs and this kid is near the top of my list as far as talent heading into December... but will that talent translate into the NFL? If you don't know much about Toby Gerhart, or about his monster 2009 college season, let me break it down. The Stanford running back is a solid 6-1 and weighs 235 pounds. He has the ideal frame for an NFL back. Gerhart, a Senior at Stanford, has a nose for the end zone, as he has racked up an insane 26 rushing touchdowns in just 12 games. Twenty-six rushing scores is unbelievable in just 12 outings! The big-play rusher averaged 5.6 yards per carry through those 12 contests and he rushed for over 100 yards in 10 of those games (he hit the 200-yard mark in three of those). Here, let me spit out just his last four 2009 outings and you decide for yourself how productive this kid is going to be at the next level. Gerhart had 223 rushing yards and 3TDs vs. Oregon on 11/7, 178 rushing yards and and 3TDs @USC on 11/14, 136 rushing yards and 4TDs vs. California on 11/21 and then 205 rushing yards and 3TDs vs. Notre Dame two days ago on 11/28. Those are his last four games, not his best four, his last four. Gerhart scored a rushing touchdown in 11 of his 12 games this year and had at least two rushing scores in nine of the 12 outings. I have to admit that I'm still undecided about ranking the 2010 rookie running backs as it stands right now, but I like C.J. Spiller most of all -- for now. That said, Gerhart might be an up-and-coming runner in this league as well. Will his style and ability translate? Will this kid be drafted as a full-time rusher at the next level? That's tough to say. Spiller is my top rookie running back as of this moment, but clearly Gerhart (1,736-26TDs) has been the most productive 2009 college rusher and that is something to take seriously. The question is, will he be drafted into the right situation and get a chance to start?

Knowshon Moreno was extremely impressive in his Week 12 outing against the Giants on Thursday night. The future fantasy stud rushed the football 19 times for 88 yards and a touchdown. He also added two receptions for 19 yards against New York. While these numbers aren't absolutely amazing, Moreno looked like a stud in-the-making. He was effective after taking initial hits in the backfield, he looked shifty near the goal line and he looked like a veteran between the tackles. All of the tools are there for Moreno to become an elite fantasy football running back, he just needs to stay healthy and Denver needs to improve a bit in the passing department. Knowshon Moreno has top 10-15 overall upside entering 2010 redraft leagues and his value should be even higher in dynasty formats. This kid is going to be amazing.

LeSean McCoy looked great in his Week 11 start against the Bears. He ran the football 20 times for 99 yards (5.0) and 1TD. He also had a long run of 17. More importantly, that Eagles are now 6-4 and clearly the offense is going to be getting back to the run in order to open up the pass. McCoy is quite possibly a top 5RB start in Week 12 against bad Redskins rushing defense. McCoy, who has great receiving skills, grabbed zero receptions last week and was targeted just once the entire game - Imagine how productive he will be once he gets more action in the passing game. If you're in a dynasty league, now is the time to strike if you want to trade for McCoy. Well, actually, last week was the time to strike, but it's safe to say that McCoy's value will only go up and up with each game that he plays, we still say go after the runner in dynasty leagues if your league still allows trading.

Clinton Portis (concussion) has already been ruled out for Week 12 and Ladell Betts is likely out for the year with a torn MCL - This means that Rock Cartwright is now the Redskins starting running back. How quickly things change in this league! It's possible the Redskins sign a runner like Warrick Dunn, but Cartwright will be the main guy in Week 12 and is worth grabbing in all formats given that he is a starting NFL running back right now. He isn't a long-term fantasy RB2, and probably will never be, but if injury has hit your roster pretty hard, he could be very useful this week.

Smitty already addressed the rise of LeSean McCoy earlier this week, but I couldn't resist to talk him up heading into his Week 11 match-up against Chicago (21st against the run). My breakout player for Weeks 11-16 is definitely McCoy. The rookie couldn't have landed in a better situation for the future, but the future is now. It's here. Brian Westbrook is out for AT LEAST three games, but I don't expect him back at all this season. Even if he returns, he won't be at full speed for quite some time, if ever. Plus, what's full speed for Westy anyway? If McCoy produces, and I have no doubt that he will, Westy won't have anything to come back to even if he is able to start the last couple of games this season. The Eagles haven't run the football much this season, at least not effectively, but as Smitty said in his recent Spotlight on McCoy, Philly will have to change that in order to get some wins and I think the Eagles coaching staff will make the necessary changes. McCoy has the versatility of the Westbrook of old, as he can catch the football as well as he runs it. Smitty already made a bold statement in his recent LeSean McCoy Player Spotlight earlier this week, calling McCoy a top 10 RB moving forward. I say top 5-10!

Recent news suggests that Steve Slaton will get the start in Week 11 against the Titans. The Titans rank just 16th against the run through nine games, so this isn't the toughest match-up for Slaton... instead, his toughest battle, at least on Monday night, will be holding onto the football. If you're league still allows for trading, it isn't a bad idea at all to go after Slaton via trade. I'm not huge on the guy, at least I wasn't, but value is value and right now he will cost you very little to acquire via trade. If he fails to hold onto the starting gig in Houston, you won't lose much if you invest in him right now. But what if he rebounds to form? It's worth the risk. Again, Slaton was on our sell-high list heading into the season, especially in dynasty leagues... and for good reason... but fantasy players are like stock... it's time to look into buying low. As for Week 11, Slaton is a solid flex option. After his Week 11 match-up, fantasy worlds should have a better idea what is to come for Slaton in the coming weeks and years.

Pierre Thomas is a strong start in Week 11. If you haven't heard, Reggie Bush has been ruled out with a knee injury, and while Mike Bell is sure to get some work in Week 11, Thomas is the runner we'd count on having the best outing. Honestly, that Tampa Bay rushing defense is so bad, both Thomas and Bell are strong starts this week, but Thomas is the runner I expect to have over 100 and a touch. The Bucs are 31st against the run and surrender 167.3 yards per game on the ground. They also give up over one score per game on the ground, so Thomas owners couldn't have asked for a better match-up. If your league still allows trading, consider going after Thomas before his Week 11 outing. His value is relatively low, so there is almost no risk... Thomas has always had the ability to be a strong fantasy RB2, he just needs the touches. Well, he is about to get those touches.

Bernard Scott is set to start in Week 11, as Benson is out with a hip injury. How good is Scott? What is he capable of? Well, first of all, the Bengals face the Raiders in Week 11, a defense that ranks 29th in the league against the run (155.6 yards per game). Oakland is tied for dead last in the league in surrendered rushing touchdowns (14), so Scott is quite arguably a strong fantasy RB2 play this week given the match-up alone... but if you're looking for more reasons to get excited about Scott's first NFL start, let me refresh your memory on how good this guy was in college... Scott ran for 2,165 yards and 39 touchdowns in college last year and had 1,892 yards and 27 touchdowns during his junior season. Clearly Scott has a nose for the goal line and he knows how to deliver big-time performances. He had 292 yards rushing and 7TDs in Abilene Christian's '08 Division II playoff win over West Texas A&M. Now, even if Scott explodes in Week 11, that doesn't mean that he will threaten Benson's job once Benson returns, as Benson has had a phenomenal season this year, but Scott is a fine fantasy RB2 in Week 11 and he might have a bright future if he can prove his worth in this one start. Scott was arrested five times in four years back in college, so he has a lot to prove, but things look good for Scott heading into Week 11 at least.

Ricky Williams went nuts in Week 11, but is it now time to sell-high on Ricky? The Dolphins beat the Panthers on Thursday night, in large part to Ricky. With Ronnie Brown out for the season (surgery/foot), Ricky took over as the Dolphins' starter in Week 11 and ran the football 22 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns. He also added two receptions for 19 yards and another touchdown. I'll admit, this monster outing by Ricky has me frustrated, as a lot of those Week 11 stats would have been owned by Ronnie Brown, but it's time to move on and evaluate the current situation. Ronnie is gone, an injury that personally hit many of my teams hard, and Ricky is now the starter in Miami. So now what? Do Ricky owners sell-high? Or, do Ricky owners ride it out? Well, I think it's clear that Ricky doesn't have a long career left at the age of 32, so certainly sell-high in dynasty formats if the price is right. What kind of deals should Ricky dynasty owners go after? How about Ricky for Matt Forte? I still like Forte in dynasty leagues and this is the kind of move I'd jump all over. Before you sell Ricky in redraft leagues, consider that the Dolphins face the Bills in Week 12, so his trade value might even go up after next week. If you have trade ideas, jump on our FFX forums and ask away... or utilize our Ask Our Staff feature! Again, I'm not saying don't believe in Ricky, I'm just saying explore your options - Selling high isn't a bad idea at all if you invest in the right player(s).

It has been quite a while since we have written on on running back Arian Foster. No, he isn't starting in Week 11. No, he isn't even the team's No. 2 rusher entering Week 11... yep, this is merely a dynasty Player Spotlight on the runner, as we still see a ton of talent in this kid and it's worth mentioning given the recent chatter floating around news wires right now. What chatter? Well, the buzz isn't huge, but the word is that the Texans are considering activating him from the team's practice squad this week and honestly I feel that Foster would instantly be the best runner on that Texans' roster. And that's saying a lot given how much I really do like Ryan Moats, but I've been a believer in Foster since the early 2009 off-season and that hasn't changed just because he hasn't had the chance to play. If you have a spot to burn in deeper dynasty leagues, consider picking up Foster just in case he gets a chance to play down the stretch. He is an insanely talented rusher and has a lot of upside in that offense. Is there a chance he never starts for the Texans? Absolutely, in fact there is a chance he never gets activated this week, but again, the upside is there and I've grabbed him in two of our 20+ man roster dynasty leagues.

With Julius Jones banged up, Justin Forsett is looking like a strong fantasy option heading into Weeks 11-16, although he faces the Vikes in Week 11. He isn't likely available in your league, right? Because we advised all Xtremers to pick him up weeks ago, remember? If you don't have him on your roster, yes, go check your league's free agent pool and put in a request if for some reason he is still out there for grabs. He might not be a strong fantasy RB2 heading into Week 11, as I said he faces the Vikes, but he is still a decent flex-play this week and next week (Rams). If you don't know, Forsett had a fantastic Week 10 outing against the Cards, rushing the football 17 times for 123 yards (7.2) and 1TD. He also added 5 catches for 26 yards.

If you're in need at the running back position heading into Week 11, scout and monitor Browns RB Chris Jennings. Word on the wire is that the runner has passed up Jerome Harrison on the team's RB depth chart, which means that he is next in line for carries after Jamal Lewis. Jennings isn't a big name, and he didn't do much in Week 10 with his eight carries (17 yards), but Jamal isn't getting it done and the same goes for Harrison. Don't run to your waiver wire just yet, but Jennings is worth monitoring and scouting in the largest of fantasy leagues, that's all I'm saying here.

Get ready for the LeSean McCoy show! If you have yet to hear, Brian Westbrook sustained yet another concussion in Week 10 and the runner is sure to miss a handful of weeks, if he ever returns to the field again this season. Westy is done as an NFL starter, and probably a fantasy starter as well... it's now McCoy's time to shine! Look for the Eagles to change their offensive approach and get back to being a dynamic attack. Sure, the Eagles' coaching staff could screw this one up in Weeks 11-16, as they haven't done a good job running the football this season through Week 10, but the insertion of McCoy into that Eagles' line-up should create quite the offensive spark. So how good could McCoy be in Weeks 11-16? If the Eagles use him right, McCoy could be a top 10RB moving forward. Get ready for the rise of McCoy Dynasty league owners! If he finished the 2009 season strong, McCoy might be a first-round pick entering all 2010 fantasy drafts.

Already made your fantasy playoffs? If so, you also might want to consider buying low on a player like Calvin Johnson before he gets back to form. The elite talent could still be a good week away from looking like the Calvin of old, which is a top 5-7 fantasy receiver, but that shouldn't matter to you if you already have a seat at your fantasy playoff table. Need an example on how to land Calvin? How about trading in a Donald Driver, along with another bench player, in exchange for Calvin? Some might actually argue that they would rather have Driver down the stretch, and that's fine, but I'll roll the dice with Calvin any week. Again, this kind of move is only recommend for those of you who can wait for a guy like Calvin to get 100 percent healthy. Now, if Calvin takes a good week or so to get back to productive, yes, you could be hurting your playoff seeding a touch if Calvin isn't replacing Driver's production, but the move might also make your playoff run a cakewalk. Unless he suffers a setback, I see Calvin getting back to form within two games.

If your fantasy football playoff hopes are slipping away, it's time to make some bold moves. Either invest in some players that are currently in brutal slumps, like Roddy White, Greg Jennings or Matt Forte, or sell-high on a player that is having a shockingly good season, like Cedric Benson for example, and turn your one player into two starters. I'm not suggesting that Benson will bust moving forward -- He has certainly been one of this year's most impressive surprises -- But, if your playoff window is closing, you might be forced to sell-high on one player in order to collect two starters for your line-up. Need an example before we head into Week 10? Trading in a strong-playing Benson for a combo like Pierre Thomas/Calvin Johnson might be a move worth looking into. I've even seen offers from some FFX users where the Benson owner is getting a player like Steven Jackson and some for Benson. Again, I can't stress enough that this advice is only for those NEEDING to make a move, but sometimes moves have to be made to get back in the mix. Need help? Get on our Fantasy Football Forums!

Already a lock to make your league's fantasy playoffs? If so, consider buying low on Calvin Johnson. Buy while his fantasy owners are frustrated and itching for a win. Calvin is currently listed "day to day" due to his healing knee and he will likely be a game-time decision in Week 9 against Seattle. While Johnson could sit another week, none of that matters if you have already locked yourself into a playoff slot (and of course this is assuming that your league isn't a league based on points). Obviously you might still be fighting for playoff positioning, and that's important no doubt -- so don't put your line-up in an impossible position -- but if you make the right move now (buying Johnson), you could set yourself up nicely for Weeks 14-16. Calvin is a top 5-10 fantasy receiver when healthy and our guess is that he will be back at least by next week. Even if he missed 2-3 more weeks, he'd be back in action well before Week 14 (unless he suffers a setback)... but again, all that said, he should be back by Week 10 and might very well take the field this Sunday. Test those trade waters now and send out those offers. Run your offers by our FFX Forums!

Is it time to panic on Slaton? Ryan Moats had 23 carries for 126 yards (5.5) and 3TDs in Week 8. Wow. Did he ever look good and speedy. Steve Slaton was benched in Week 8 after a first quarter fumble and that opened the door to Moats in today's Week 8 outing against the Bills. The tough little runner also pulled in 2 passes for 25 yards. Is it time to panic? I know that sounds crazy given how well Slaton played last season as a rookie, but we have had our concerns about Slaton all off-season long and we made our opinions known loud and clear. We have had those same concerns all season long and have consistently told fantasy owners to sell-high, or stay clear when it comes to Slaton. I will be the first to say that Slaton's size had a lot to do with our doubts, so what does that say about Moats who is even smaller? Well, sometimes guys like MJD are built in such a way that they can take a pounding and Moats might fit the mold at 5-8 and 210 (1 inch shorter and nine pounds more than Slaton). He is extremely shifty and has tremendous speed. He is compact! We have liked Moats for quite a while, but he has never really been given an opportunity to shine. In Philly, he was never given the touches and it looked like Houston was overlooking him as well - until now. I actually went on 1060AM KDUS back in 2005 and called Moats a potential elite rusher in-the-making as he entered his rookie season with the Eagles. He failed to meet my expectations, but I saw the talent in him back in 2005 and I still see it now. Again, it's hard to just write off Slaton completely, and it wouldn't shock me at all to see the Texans coaching staff support Slaton heading into Week 9, even after this monster outing by Moats in Week 8... coaches do that and sometimes they leave fantasy worlds up and arms with indecision like this... but Moats might have made too big of a statement to ignore heading into Weeks 9-16. The one thing going for Moats, when it comes to coaching commitments to previous starters, is that it isn't that Slaton was just playing bad, he was coughing up the football, something coach Gary Kubiak is sick and tired of. Slaton has 5 lost fumbles on the year - It might just be Moats' time. If Moats is available in your league, put in your claim ASAP! If you already own Moats in dynasty leagues, consider yourself a fantasy harbinger.

Is it time to panic? Steve Slaton was benched in Week 8 after a first quarter fumble and that opened the door to Ryan Moats, who rushed the football 23 times on Sunday for 126 yards (5.5) and 3TDs. The tough little runner also pulled in 2 passes for 25 yards. Is it time to panic? I know that sounds crazy given how well Slaton played last season as a rookie, but we have had our concerns about Slaton all off-season long and we made our opinions known loud and clear. We have had those same concerns all season long and have consistently told fantasy owners to sell-high, or stay clear when it comes to Slaton. I will be the first to say that Slaton's size had a lot to do with our doubts, so what does that say about Moats who is even smaller? Well, sometimes guys like MJD are built in such a way that they can take a pounding and Moats might fit the mold at 5-8 and 210 (1 inch shorter and nine pounds more than Slaton). He is extremely shifty and has tremendous speed. He is compact! We have liked Moats for quite a while, but he has never really been given an opportunity to shine. In Philly, he was never given the touches and it looked like Houston was overlooking him as well - until now. I actually went on 1060AM KDUS back in 2005 and called Moats a potential elite rusher in-the-making as he entered his rookie season with the Eagles. He failed to meet my expectations, but I saw the talent in him back in 2005 and I still see it now. Again, it's hard to just write off Slaton completely, and it wouldn't shock me at all to see the Texans coaching staff support Slaton heading into Week 9, even after this monster outing by Moats in Week 8... coaches do that and sometimes they leave fantasy worlds up and arms with indecision like this... but Moats might have made too big of a statement to ignore heading into Weeks 9-16. The one thing going for Moats, when it comes to coaching commitments to previous starters, is that it isn't that Slaton was just playing bad, he was coughing up the football, something coach Gary Kubiak is sick and tired of. Slaton has 5 lost fumbles on the year - It might just be Moats' time. If Moats is available in your league, put in your claim ASAP! If you already own Moats in dynasty leagues, consider yourself a fantasy harbinger.

There is no arguing that Cedric Benson has been an absolute beast this season. He has surpassed all expectations and honestly proved a lot of us here at FFX wrong -- So far, that is. The rusher is on pace for 374 carries this year, and if he stays healthy, that kind of workload won't likely change in the colder months of November and December. I don't think anyone can argue that a healthy Benson won't keep getting it done on Sundays, at least for this year... he has done more than prove his role and ability in that Bengals offense this season, but will he really stay healthy? He has a relatively good rushing schedule moving forward, so don't sell in redraft leagues unless you're getting almost too much value in return, but definitely test the trade waters and bring your possible deals to our Fantasy Football Forums -- Get some advice! Just get involved and see what's what in terms of Benson's trade market value. As for you Benson dynasty owners out there, you should definitely be looking to shop the rusher, especially if your team isn't in it to win it this season. If you're in a rebuilding mode, get rid of Benson while his value is extremely high and trade him in for a struggling Matt Forte, or even a wide receiver like Greg Jennings. Players like Forte and Jennings will rebound and the odds are stacked against Benson carrying this kind of 2009 success into 2010, especially if he hits that dreaded 370 carries (the "370 Carry Curse"). If he hits that total in the carries department, he is almost a sure bet to struggle next season... Michael Turner, who I still believe in, is struggling after his 370 carry season last year, as he is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry through six games. Don't get me wrong, I would trade for Turner in a second, because I still feel like Turner can get his power back moving forward, but getting an insane amount of carries, like 350 or more, can definitely slow a runner down heading into that next season. Oh, and if Benson doesn't hit 370 carries this year, or doesn't even come close, well, then you really made out in the end if you unloaded Benson for a Forte or Jennings. Benson has a bye this week, but start shopping Benson today, even before kickoff.

Hurting bad at wide receiver this week? Consider grabbing Joshua Cribbs for this week. Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has just said that he "wouldn't rule out seeing" Cribbs in the game at running back on Sunday and he might see a decent amount of touches... at least decent enough if you're extremely in need at the position. Don't expect terrific numbers, but Cribbs is a very talented football player and it sounds like Cleveland wants to use him kind of like a Ronnie Brown-type, which means some Wildcat offense and more. If given the carries to go along with his receiving duties, Cribbs could produce solid numbers. Again, solid in terms of a decent bye week type. We shall see how serious Daboll is about his recent statement on Cribbs, as we can't guarantee that the Browns coaching staff will stick to this plan of attack, but I thought this was worth throwing out there for those of you starting the weakest of the weak this Sunday (due to byes, injuries, etc.).

I'm with Smitty when it comes to Pierre Thomas. I think most everyone here at FFX believes Thomas is undervalued as we creep toward Week 8. I think Smitty said it best when he said that this offense is so good, and Thomas is so gifted, he could have 80 yards or so and 2TDs on 12 carries. Fantasy owners shouldn't count on that kind of production, and we all want to see him average more than 12 carries, but the point is that Thomas is very undervalued right now. Trading for Thomas won't be easy after he tears up the Falcons on Monday night. I really do think PT can be a strong fantasy RB2 in Weeks 8-16. I don't even have Mike Bell in any of my leagues, but I'm targeting Thomas in every one of them, especially my dynasty leagues. In FFX's Week 8 Start Bench Advice, Smitty calls Thomas a possible top 15 overall player from here on out. I actually think he can be better than that!

Doubting Greg Jennings’ fantasy value heading into Week 7 is a huge mistake. It’s true that he has struggled in a few games this season, but much like Matt Forte, another one of my "buy-low" favorites this week, Jennings has had that early bye, so he has actually only played five games so far this season — And Jennings has actually had two 100-yard games already, it’s just that he had two horrible games in Weeks 2 and 4. In Week 2, he didn’t catch one single pass. A lot of that was the offense itself that week, not necessarily Jennings... And in Week 6, Jennings actually caught 6 balls, but he didn’t grab a score and only racked-up 64 yards. All in all, I think it’s a big-time mistake to undervalue Jennings this year. Two 100-yard games in five weeks is solid, he just needs to become a touch more consistent and I think that he will (starting this week). Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings remain two of my biggest "trade for them now" candidates moving forward. I know I said this last week, but I stand by the advice even if it ends up my advice was a week early. Don’t be surprised if Jennings finishes out the season as a top five fantasy wide receiver per start. The same goes for Aaron Rodgers at the quarterback position. Roll that dice if you don’t have either Jennings or Rodgers... and start sending out those last minute offers if you can. If you own either, or both, hang tight, that breakout game is likely this week. We told you to bank on a bounce-back outing out of Randy Moss and Tom Brady last week… well, get ready for the Rodgers/Jennings comeback tour. It kicks off in Week 7.

Doubting Greg Jennings’ fantasy value heading into Week 7 is a huge mistake. It’s true that he has struggled in a few games this season, but much like Matt Forte, another one of my "buy-low" favorites this week, Jennings has had that early bye, so he has actually only played five games so far this season — And Jennings has actually had two 100-yard games already, it’s just that he had two horrible games in Weeks 2 and 4. In Week 2, he didn’t catch one single pass. A lot of that was the offense itself that week, not necessarily Jennings... And in Week 6, Jennings actually caught 6 balls, but he didn’t grab a score and only racked-up 64 yards. All in all, I think it’s a big-time mistake to undervalue Jennings this year. Two 100-yard games in five weeks is solid, he just needs to become a touch more consistent and I think that he will (starting this week). Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings remain two of my biggest "trade for them now" candidates moving forward. I know I said this last week, but I stand by the advice even if it ends up my advice was a week early. Don’t be surprised if Jennings finishes out the season as a top five fantasy wide receiver per start. The same goes for Aaron Rodgers at the quarterback position. Roll that dice if you don’t have either Jennings or Rodgers... and start sending out those last minute offers if you can. If you own either, or both, hang tight, that breakout game is likely this week. We told you to bank on a bounce-back outing out of Randy Moss and Tom Brady last week… well, get ready for the Rodgers/Jennings comeback tour. It kicks off in Week 7.

Pierre Thomas is not on the Saints' Week 7 injury report, but what kind of value does he have moving forward? Is he a strong fantasy RB2? A strong flex option? Mike Bell is stealing goal line touches, and some regular carries as well, but I'm here to say that PT owners shouldn't panic. Anything can happen, and no runner's job is ever 100 percent secure in this league, but I actually see this recent Mike Bell buzz as opportunity... opportunity for those who don't currently own PT (especially in dynasty leagues). I suggest that fantasy owners, who do not already own Thomas, take a stab at trading for the runner. His value might never be this low again as we head down the fantasy stretch... and I honestly see PT looking extra impressive in the coming weeks. Once he starts looking like a weekly guarantee for 100 total yards and a score, something he can do off even 14-15 carries per game, this "warning" and "sleeper" advice will look almost funny in hindsight. As for this week, the Dolphins are actually ranked No. 3 against the run, so this Week 7 match-up isn't an easy one, but it's only a matter of time (maybe 1 week) before fantasy owners all around start once again seeing Thomas as a strong fantasy RB2. It actually surprises me how many people are doubting PT right now. Mike Bell is good, and he certainly could steal touches, but I just don't understand how so many fantasy owners are forgetting that PT can score twice and total 100 yards on 12 carries... he is that kind of running back and he is in that kind of offense. Take advantage of the doubters in your league.

It is time to recognize one of the hottest QBs this year....Matt Schaub. It surprises me that no one seems to be talking about him. I would assume that because of his injury plagued past, people have become immune to his potential and situation. After a rough game one, Matt has accumulated 1,810 passing yards with 14TDs, 5 INTs and a 102.7 passer rating on the season. At his current pace, that projects out to 4,826 passing yards and 37TDs. Will he achieve those marks? If he stays healthy, he very well could. The Houston running game has been suspect as of late and that Houston defense stinks...it's terrible. Schaub will have to throw the rock to keep the Texans in games. Also, in Weeks 11-16, Schaub faces Tennessee, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Seattle, St. Louis, and Miami. Not exactly a murderers' row at defense during that stretch. Let us not forget that he has a freakin beast to throw to as well, in Andre Johnson...along with a resurgent Owen Daniels... and even Steve Slaton is getting involved. Here at FFX, his ADP was in the 80s...that's 50 or 60 spots later than the big names went. He has truly been one of the bigger draft day steals at the QB position. As long as Schaub stays off the injury report, he will be a key figure in anyone's championship run.

Tom Brady, Wes Welker and Randy Moss were absolutely amazing in Week 6. Brady tossed for 380 yards and 6TDs during the 59-0 win against the Tennessee Titans. Brady did most of the damage in the second quarter alone, and Moss pulled in eight receptions for 129 yards and 3TDs, while Welker grabbed 2TDs to go along with 10 receptions for 150 yards. Granted the Titans are the worst passing defense in the entire NFL, but fantasy owners better accept the fact that New England's offense is back to form. Many fantasy owners were considering selling low on Brady, or Moss... or both. Well, each week I dedicate some post, or an entire section of our Start Bench Advice, to advising fantasy owners to stay the course when it comes to Tom Brady and Randy Moss. And for those that do not have either player rostered, my exact advice for six straight weeks has been "buy-low, buy-low, buy-low." Congrats if you got in on that and bought low! You may have just handed yourself a championship when all is said and done. Tampa Bay is not a weak passing defense by any means, as they rank 11th against the pass through six games this season, but I fully expect a 3TD performance out of Brady in Week 6. This offense is back. Yea, again I know... Tennessee is weak. Well, there is more to this game of fantasy football than that... observe and report is what we do for a living and I'm here to say... Brady looked sharp and he is back. And if Brady is back, Moss is back. That's the great part, because Moss' value is tied to Brady's output. Congrats to all those that followed our most talked about 2009 fantasy football draft strategy... Brady-Moss. The duo is ready to rumble down the stretch!

Tom Brady, Wes Welker and Randy Moss were absolutely amazing in Week 6. Brady tossed for 380 yards and 6TDs during the 59-0 win against the Tennessee Titans. Brady did most of the damage in the second quarter alone, and Moss pulled in eight receptions for 129 yards and 3TDs, while Welker grabbed 2TDs to go along with 10 receptions for 150 yards. Granted the Titans are the worst passing defense in the entire NFL, but fantasy owners better accept the fact that New England's offense is back to form. Many fantasy owners were considering selling low on Brady, or Moss... or both. Well, each week I dedicate some post, or an entire section of our Start Bench Advice, to advising fantasy owners to stay the course when it comes to Tom Brady and Randy Moss. And for those that do not have either player rostered, my exact advice for six straight weeks has been "buy-low, buy-low, buy-low." Congrats if you got in on that and bought low! You may have just handed yourself a championship when all is said and done. Tampa Bay is not a weak passing defense by any means, as they rank 11th against the pass through six games this season, but I fully expect a 3TD performance out of Brady in Week 6. This offense is back. Yea, again I know... Tennessee is weak. Well, there is more to this game of fantasy football than that... observe and report is what we do for a living and I'm here to say... Brady looked sharp and he is back. And if Brady is back, Moss is back. That's the great part, because Moss' value is tied to Brady's output. Congrats to all those that followed our most talked about 2009 fantasy football draft strategy... Brady-Moss. The duo is ready to rumble down the stretch!

There are no better starts in Week 6 than both Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings. The Packers face the Lions in Week 6, a defense that ranks 27th against the pass, surrendering 244.6 yards per game through the air. As far as surrendering touchdowns goes, the Lions are the worst in the league. Detroit gives up an average of 3TD passes per game (through five weeks of action). This match-up is gold for both Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings (even Donald Driver). I expect Rodgers to throw for 3-4TD in this contest, and look for Greg Jennings to grab two of those touchdown passes -- Jennings shoul rack-up well over 100 yards receiving as well. We said to trade for Jennings heading into his bye last week -- This will be why. Enjoy the show.

After having back-to-back games with zero touchdown passes in Weeks 3 and 4, Tony Romo bounced-back in a major way in Week 5 against the Chiefs (351 and 2TDs). This was to be expected, though, as the Chiefs are playing awful football right now, especially on the defensive side of the football (29th against the run). Our Week 5 player projections stated that the Week 5 match-up would surely increase the value of Tony Romo... it clearly did. Now it's time to take advantage and trade Romo before his value drops yet again. He is on a bye this week, so some fantasy owners might be more apt to trade for the passer heading into Week 7, not Week 6, but test the trade waters regardless. Why doubt Romo moving forward? Well, for starters he just doesn't look sharp this season. I know that's vague, but that Cowboys offense is hit and miss each week and much of it has to do with the defensive match-up, and as you will soon read, that is going to be a problem moving forward... Even though we like Miles Austin a lot, he is no Terrell Owens and Romo needs a receiver like Owens in order to thrive against tough passing defenses. Dallas faces four top 12 passing defenses in Weeks 13-16. Even worse, in Weeks 8-16, the entire second half of the fantasy season, Dallas faces just two passing defenses that aren't inside the top 12 against the pass. Not a good schedule!

Miles Austin was amazing on Sunday, as he pulled in 10 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys. He pulled in the game-winning touchdown and absolutely has the confidence of Tony Romo. He has always had that big-play ability, but consistency has been a problem for Austin. That said, the inconsistent play can be attributed to lack of opportunity. Sure, he would pull in a nice touchdown grab one week, then he would have to fight for targets during the next outing. Well, that should all change moving forward. While I don't feel comfortable declaring Austin the new No. 1 wide receiver in Dallas moving forward, I think he has a shot at being that good moving forward. Roy Williams has done nothing but disappoint fantasy owners over the last few years, and he certainly has not pulled his weight so far this season... if he remains healthy, Austin could turn into an excellent fantasy WR3 or even a low-end fantasy WR2 moving forward. He most likely isn't on waivers right now, but it doesn't hurt to check.

With Correll Buckhalter officially listed as out for Week 5, it's time to get ready for the Knowshon Moreno show. Moreno does have a somewhat tough Week 5 match-up against New England, a rushing defense that currently ranks 11th against the run through four weeks of action. That defensive unit surrenders just 95.2 yards per game and has given up just one rushing touchdown so far this season. That's a pretty decent rushing defense right there, but Moreno could still have a nice outing unless this game gets out of hand quickly. This could happen. Don't get me wrong, start Moreno this week if you have him. He is a strong fantasy RB2 play this week without hesitation, but the Broncos have to keep this game close in order for Moreno to get a chance to run the football and control that clock. If Moreno struggles to get the touches in this one, because Denver is trying to pass their way back into the Week 5 battle, don't get too down on Moreno heading into the remainder of the season. Again, he could and might just blow-up in his first NFL start, but I just want to say "believe" in this kid no matter what happens this weekend. His time has come and he could finish out the season in such a strong fashion that many will consider him an early favorite to be a top 12-15 overall pick next season in even yearly league formats. The sky is the limit for this rookie if he stays healthy.

What a great move for the Jets! I won't lie, I have been dropping Braylon Edwards slowly on my personal set of "looking forward" rankings, but I have been stubborn in accepting that he wasn't coming around over in Cleveland. Well, all that has changed and my favorite underachieving wide receiver is now about to shine once again. In case you have been living under a rock recently, the Jets have traded for Braylon Edwards in a deal that sent Chansi Stuckey to Cleveland. That move could prove decent for Stuckey, but Mohamed Massaquoi will likely benefit most of all the Browns receivers moving forward. Massaquoi is a solid receiver and should be owned in all leagues. As for Edwards, a change in scene could be the difference maker for his future. Cleveland is a deathtrap for fantasy talent right now, while New York is on the rise and a future Super Bowl contending organization. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if the Jets were in a Super Bowl by next season. Sanchez will revive Edwards' career, much like Tom Brady revived Randy Moss' career. To the same degree? Um, no. Absolutely not. That said, the winning environment in New York could have Edwards looking like that top 5-7 fantasy wide receiver we all saw back in 2007. Yea, he could be that good soon enough! Moss couldn't do much without a QB over in Oakland. Well, Cleveland can destroy stud talent just like Oakland can... A new home can make a big difference. If you bought Edwards on the cheap, genius move!

If you're looking to buy-low, consider trading for Packers WR Greg Jennings as he heads into his Week 5 bye. Why is Jennings undervalued right now? Well, for starters, the receiver has pulled in just five passes during the last three weeks and didn’t catch a single pass in Week 2. Given that we’re only four weeks into the 2009 NFL season, it's easy to assume that Jennings is struggling, right? Well, one wouldn't know this if they didn't have have his game log stats in front of them, but he has two 100-yard games through those same four weeks and and caught six passes in Week 1. Still, fantasy owners have that "what have you done for me lately" mentality, and given that Jennings had a mediocre Week 4 outing (3-31-0TDs), coupled with that fact that Jennings is on a bye this week, he might be quite the bargain right now via trade. Take a stab! I touch on this topic in a bit more detail in our Week 5 Fantasy Football Start and Bench Advice, so be sure to check it out! Aaron Rodgers and Jennings will connect early and often coming off the Week 5 bye. I expect Rodgers to finish as a top 4-5 fantasy quarterback at season's end, and Jennings should finish as a top 4-7 fantasy receiver this year when all is said and done.

It's Michael Bush time! What does that mean, though? It's tough to get too excited about Michael Bush given how bad that Raiders team is this year. Bush will see a serious bump in fantasy value, though, now that Darren McFadden will miss 2-4 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair torn meniscus in his right knee. McFadden was playing awful up until this point in the season, given his abilities, but was it really McFadden's fault that he couldn't produce great fantasy numbers? If not, Bush won't have much more luck running behind that Raiders' offensive line. When you can't pass, defenses will shutdown the run. It's just that simple. It's important to note that Justin Fargas could technically still win the starting gig in Oakland still, as Bush got just three carries in Week 4 and Fargas actually received 10 carries. In the end, though, I believe Bush will win the job until McFadden comes back, but honestly I'm not sure he is worth much more than a flex-option play in even larger leagues. I'm a believer in the theory that it was that Oakland team holding McFadden back, not McFadden holding McFadden back. If only McFadden was drafted to start somewhere else. I'm afraid fantasy lands will never know how good he could have been.

I talked this guy up a lot heading into Week 1. It took a couple of weeks for him to get the targets, but apparently that Green Bay coaching staff finally sees the light. Finley exploded in Week 4, pulling in six passes for 128 yards and a touchdown on Monday night at Minnesota. This guy is a beast and has top five tight-end talent. He really does. He has the size and power of an Antonio Gates, yet he has the shifty abilities of a wide receiver. Aaron Rodgers clearly developed an early rapport with Finley during the preseason, but the Packers' coaching staff decided to wait, for some odd reason, until now to unleash their beast-in-the-making. Nothing is for sure in this league, and players get hurt all the time -- so don't go trading the farm for Finley -- but, just know that Finley has elite talent and he will take full advantage of the opportunity if healthy (and if the opportunity is present). The Pack have a bye this week (Week 5), but the Finley show should continue in Week 6. Hopefully that Packers' coaching staff doesn't screw this one up and throw to him less in Week 6.

Wow. What a ride Brandon Marshall has taken us on so far this season. Marshall exploded in Week 4, pulling in four passes for 91 yards and 1TD. Marshall had the game-winning score with two minutes left in the contest and led his team to victory with the score. Marshall made an impressive leaping catch and then broke several tackles on his way to the end zone. Has Marshall rejoined the elite for fantasy wide receivers, or is now the time to trade away the receiver before he turns back into a mediocre fantasy WR2? My gut tells me not to trust Marshall just yet, at least not as an elite fantasy WR1... not yet at least. Instead, consider him a fantasy WR2 back on the rise. But I will say this... don't hesitate to sell-high if the price is right. What's the right price? Get on our fantasy football forums and let's talk some football!

As of right now, Ronnie Brown is the second best fantasy running back in football. Keep in mind that Adrian Peterson still has yet to play in his Week 4 match-up tonight against the Pakers, but stealing a line from coach Dennis Green, Brown is who we thought he was. I screamed it all off-season long... Brown has top 5-10 fantasy running back upside this season and many called this prediction more ridiculous than my Michael Turner predictions back in 2008. Brown is insanely talented and he couldn't be in a better situation. He is guaranteed a GRIP of touches each and every week, as he commands that exciting Dolphins' Wildcat attack. Even on a bad week, Brown could get 7-8 of those Wildcat touches in that package alone. If you have Brown and stayed the course, congrats and don't consider selling. He will continue to shine week in and week out!

If you haven't heard yet, Rashard Mendenhall will be getting his shot in Week 4. Fantasy owners have been waiting a long time for this, but the wait is finally over. Mendy, who will start against the Chargers tonight (Sunday night), is a decent fantasy RB2 play, especially if you have a regular starter on a bye, but Mewelde Moore will still get some touches. I expect Mendy to rack-up roughly 100 total yards in his Week 4 match-up against that Chargers' rushing defense - The Chargers are 26th against the run so far this season. Mendy couldn't have been handed a much better first assignment... hopefully he gets the touches.

Matt Forte (knee) was limited during Bears practice yesterday, but the stud is fully expected to play in Week 4 against the Lions. The Lions were dead last against the run last season, and while that Lions unit is currently ranked 16th against the run through three games in 2009, don't let that stat fool you. The only reason the Lions look much improved against the run is because teams are lambasting the Lions through the air this season. Drew Brees threw 6TD passes against Detroit in Week 1, Brett Favre threw 2TDs against them in Week 2 and out of nowhere Jason Campbell drops 340 yards and 2TDs against the unit in Week 3 (41 attempts)... see a pattern here? Even though this actually could be a concern for Forte in Week 4, because Jay Cutler could be passing like crazy in this one, I still see Forte getting back to his 2008 form in this contest. If you own Cutler, Forte, Devin Hester or Earl Bennett, get them in your line-up this week. If you want to trade for a top 5RB at a significant discount, attack Matt Forte before he destroys Detroit in Week 4.

Jay Cutler is going to have a big game against the Lions in Week 4. Which Chicago wide receiver will have that monster game on Sunday? Keep an eye on Earl Bennett. It's very possible that Bennett was dropped after his mediocre Week 2 outing, where he pulled in just two passes for 22 yards. He rebounded a bit in Week 3, catching four passes for 80 yards. He will be a hot pick-up once again this week if available heading into waiver night. He is a very polished receiver and I firmly believe that he has the best chance out of all those Bears WRs to emerge as a fantasy stud. Will he be a stud? Do the Bears absolutely have a stud-in-the-making at the receiver position? Both are tough questions to answer, but if any receiver on that Bears roster has what it takes to be the next emerging top 15 fantasy WR, it's Bennett. Cutler can make it happen if Bennett is the right man for the job. Again, Cutler is going to have a big game this week.

Ok, it's time to believe in this speedster. DeSean Jackson jumped a TON on our 2009 Redraft Fantasy Football Rankings. He moved up 13 spots today alone and has been climbing steadily for a couple weeks now. He got off to a slow start in Week 1, pulling in just two passes for nine yards, but with Kevin Kolb under center in Weeks 2 and 3, Jackson took off. Don't worry about Donovan McNabb returning to the Eagles' line-up, Jackson will continue to produce. He has great rapport with McNabb and I honestly think Jackson would be doing just as well if McNabb had suited up in Weeks 2 and 3. The kid is for real and he is now ranked as our No. 11 fantasy wide receiver moving forward? Too high? Well, I invite you to argue this on the forums! DeSean Jackson is officially a high-end fantasy WR2 moving forward if you ask me. After pulling in 101 yards and 1TD in Week 2 and then 149 yards and 1TD in Week 3, how can anyone not see that Jackson has arrived?

It's tough to know what's going on right now with Roddy White. He does have a touchdown so far this season, but his yardage totals have been mediocre at best (42, 53, 24). Should fantasy owners sell now before his value drops even lower? Or should fantasy owners hang in there? If you don't own White, should you buy-low? These are all great questions, but to me the answer is simple. I say go get Roddy if the price is right. If you own him already, hang onto him. Trading him is a bad idea. He is proven. He is in a slump, yes, but he is proven. On top of that, he finally has consistency in the quarterback department and he is right in the middle of a high-octane offensive attack, which believe me will eventually have him scoring serous points soon enough. White will get his and it is coming soon. Matt Ryan is an excellent passer and I see both turning it on big-time from here on out. This is a good thing for Michael Turner owners as well, as a revived Roddy White will start opening up more rushing lanes for The Burner. I see the Falcons doing some serious offensive damage moving forward. Trade for Matt Ryan as well if the price is right.

A few of us here at FFX have been recommending for weeks now that fantasy owners buy-low on Pierre Thomas. Well, if you waited, it's probably too late to get in on that action. In his first game back from injury, Thomas carried the rock just 14 times, but he racked up an impressive 126 yards and two touchdowns in the week 3 match-up. Thomas' job was never in danger, even though Mike Bell owners have been screaming it from the rooftops for weeks now. His Week 3 productivity on limited action is why. On 20 carries in that Saints offense, this guy can rip off 100 and a touch each and every outing. The Pierre Thomas show has begun. Enjoy the show!

Mario Manningham is probably not someone you can currently buy-low, as he was the hottest waiver wire grab exiting that insane Week 2 performance (10-150-1). Will he continue to succeed and play like the Giants' new number one wide receiver moving forward? I think so. Since Week 1, Manningham has climbed the most on our 2009 Fantasy Football Rankings.... he has climbed an FFX record 117 spots in just under two weeks. I wouldn't expect consistency, as he still has some learning to do, but Manningham is in a unique situation and could be forced to mature rather quickly. In years past, NFL receivers took 2-3 years to develop, but studs like Anquan Boldin and Marques Colston have proven that youngsters at the position can excel if forced into an active role early on in their career. Eddie Royal is yet another example of a young receiver forced to grow up fast, and he was actually a rookie last season. Manningham is in that kind of situation in just his second season... and he could really flourish. Congrats if you own him in dynasty leagues and don't sell-high.... hang onto him and play with the house's money!

Don't forget about Chaz Schilens in dynasty leagues. He is probably a free agent in most leagues right now, but he shouldn't be in deeper leagues. He is a talented receiver, and while he is currently banged up with a foot injury, he could play in Week 4 or 5. He has the talent to be that No. 1WR in OAK right away and he has the talent to really excel at the NFL. He is no lock to produce in this league, but if you have a spot to burn in your larger dynasty league, he is worth the grab. If it doesn't workout, big deal, you were only using your last roster spot on this add/drop project. You have to take stabs at the unknowns in order to eventually land that next Marques Colston. You miss more than you hit, but that's the game and Schilens is on deck!

While there is some risk to this advice given his recent ankle injury, and given his long injury history in general, I say go after Brian Westbrook via trade. It's wise to acquire LeSean McCoy as well, though, which could complicate this advice a bit (pulling off two deals), but it's distinctly possible that the Westbrook owner in your league already owns McCoy. Having the two is key, though, as McCoy could produce top 10RB numbers when inserted into the Eagles line-up. And even though Westy has kind of started off the season slow, he has looked good when carrying the football. His slow start has created fear among those who own him, but I like his chances this year. Once Vick gets in there this week in the Wildcat formation, and once Donovan McNabb returns from injury, Westy should find plenty of room to run the football. He should also see more targets in the passing game with McNabb back soon and Vick confusing defenses as early as Week 3. Go get Westbrook if the price is right! What is the right price? Use our Ask Our Staff feature and get some expert advice on the matter! Or, jump on our FFX forums!

After his first outing, we had a lot of Ronnie Brown panic going on around these parts... We said stay the course and guess what? Brown delivered. I've been projecting top 5-10 fantasy running back numbers out of Brown all off-season and his Week 2 performance was proof that the upside is there for that kind of production. Brown looked FANTASTIC in that Monday night loss to the Colts. The wildcat field general rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns on just 24 carries. Brown commanded that Wildcat offense 13 times on Monday night. That's right, 13 times! That Colts rushing defense is far from superior, but Brown didn't just crank out good numbers in open spaces.. he looked amazing, powerful and most importantly healthy. For those that listened back in August, and for those who listened and didn't panic after one week of football, congrats! The Ronnie Brown show has officially begun. Next week Brown and that Wildcat attack will face off against the Chargers, a run defense that has surrendered over 100 yards rushing in each of the first two weeks. Brown should once again total 100 yards rushing and he should have no problem punching in a score in the the upcoming Week 3 battle. You might be asking yourself, what about Ricky Williams? Williams' early success will turn out to be a great thing for Brown and that Wildcat attack. If the Dolphins don't have a successful duo, that Wildcat formation won't work. Defenses need to be equally worried about the running back and the quarterback (Ronnie) in that formation. Ricky having much success only fuels Brown's rise. If defenses are confused and unable to focus on just Brown, then Brown finds open rushing lanes. That's how it works. Ricky (19 carries for 69 yards) is a good thing in this situation. Get ready for a big Week 3, Brown owners!

Patriots rookie Julian Edelman had a great Week 2 performance starting in place of injured Wes Welker. The rookie pulled in eight balls for 98 yards against the Jets on Sunday, but as soon as Welker returns, which should be Week 3, Edelman will once again hit the bench, or at best be the team's WR3. If in that WR3 role for NE, Edelman could do fairly well, though. Joey Galloway looked lost at times on Sunday, whereas Edelman instantly meshed with Brady and that New England passing attack. Pick the rookie up in dynasty leagues if he is available, he could still prove useful moving forward.

Chris Johnson was amazing in Week 2 against the Texans. Simply amazing. He ran for 197 yards and 2TDs in the match-up, and also caught 9 passes for 87 yards and 1TD. He did it all. As I just posted on our Breaking News Wire about the runner, I still have my concerns about Johnson having a long career (meaning anything more than 2-3 years more), but who cares at this point? One could certainly argue that he will have a long career in this league, how can you not have a case after today? Still, I myself firmly believe that his running style and his frame, which is ideal for a slash-type role, will lead to injury, but again, who cares as we currently sit in 2009? If you're in a redraft league, you have NOTHING to worry about... clearly. Dynasty league owners should put those concerns, if you even have them at all, on hold and just enjoy the 2009 fantasy football season, because Johnson is rumbling and stumbling into the end zone left and right. If you boldly drafted Chris Johnson ahead of other similar-type talents, but players that were perceived to be of higher value back in August (like Steven Jackson or Frank Gore), congrats on your decision making! Johnson is a top 5 overall player moving forward in 2009. Dynasty league owners... Let's enjoy the 2009 show and talk about his long-term value in August of 2010!

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano just dropped a bomb on fantasy worlds recently, commenting on his RRBC approach moving forward. What did he say? "There is no real star in this bunch of guys," Sparano said. "It has kind of been done by committee here." This isn't what Ronnie Brown owners wanted to hear, but things get taken out of context all of the time and fantasy owners shouldn't be freaking out right now. For one, this news will probably lower Brown's value enough to where you can't trade him for anyone better than a fourth-round like talent. Don't sell-low. Plus adding to the taking things out of context logic, coaches often take this approach with their runners to motivate them. Remember this same kind of talk about Jesse Chatman during that 2007 preseason, the same season that Brown was a top two fantasy running back through seven games? Chatman was getting more love than Brown and Brown owners jumped ship. Coaches make waves all the time when it comes to motivating their players, but again, most of the time this is taken out of context because a coach is just trying to praise another player in his comments (in this case Ricky Williams). As I just wrote on Brown's most recent breaking news post, I'll be the first to admit when it's time to change directions, for example with Thomas Jones. I wasn't big on Jones heading into 2009 given that he is 31, the dreaded age of running backs. However, Jones looked awesome in Week 1 and an important characteristic to have if you want to be a successful fantasy owner is to be able to observe and react and not stick to your guns just because you drafted a player. So, as I proposed on our breaking news post about Brown and this situation, is it time to cut ties with Ronnie Brown just because of this news (and his mediocre Week 1 outing)? Absolutely not. Again, I'll admit when I feel I have made an inaccurate projection or prediction, but this news only inspires me to buy-low in all of those leagues where I didn't land Ronnie. Here is the reality for those that drafted Brown back in August... if you drafted Ronnie, you probably drafted him at top 22-27 overall value. I've been screaming all off-season long that Brown could crank out top 5-10RB numbers at season's end, and I still feel like the upside is there for all that, but the beautiful part is that Brown only cost you a draft selection in that 22-27 overall range back in August (if that)... Worst case scenario, I feel Brown will earn that value at year's end. That's worst case... So I ask, what is there to freak out about? I see panic all over the forums and many are calling for Brown's head already. For one, only one week has passed so far. Second, Brown still has a chance to prove it on the field, even if let's say his coach didn't believe in him - Remember that. In addition to all that, Ricky Williams can never stay healthy - It's only a matter of time before Brown starts producing those elite fantasy numbers that he once produced back in 2007 (when he was a top two fantasy RB through seven games). And again, during that 2007 preseason, there was more worry about Jesse Chatman taking Brown's job than there currently is about Ricky Williams taking his job. Buy-low if you don't already have Brown. If you already own Brown, are you really trying to jump ship already after one week on a player you landed in the 22-27 range? His upside on a full season is far too great to sell-low and give up. Again, worst case scenario you get what you paid for. That's worst case! I would be honest about this if I thought Brown wouldn't produce when all is said and done... I believe in Brown's talent, and if he stays healthy, he will shine when given the touches and no one will be able to hold him back, not even Sparano.

There are a number of players that disappointed in Week 1 and now is the time to act if you want to buy them low. Everyone should know by now not to judge players off of just one week, especially Week 1 alone, but every single year people do. Count on it. Many consider trading away studs for other players that had an excellent Week 1. Other fantasy owners doubted some of their studs to start the season and if one of those studs had a bad week already, that owner might have an itchy trigger finger. Take Andre Johnson for example. No one is going to trade you AJ for a lesser wide receiver just because Matt Schaub didn't move the football down the field in Week 1, but you might be able to trade two of your players for AJ if that AJ owner is hurting at other positions. For example, maybe you own Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger and now you have the flexibility to deal one of the two. Now you can trade a lesser WR with one of your QBs for AJ. Or maybe you were lucky enough to pick up Cadillac Williams before Week 1. Now you can trade away Caddy and a receiver slightly lesser than AJ... for AJ. Those are the kind of moves you can pull off right now. Again, no one will trade you AJ for nothing, life just doesn't work that way, so don't think that's what I'm saying. But after one bad week, people do often want to make some moves, so start sending out offers. What's the worst that can happen? The other owners say no?

I'm not extremely high on Terrell Owens, but I know a bargain when I see one. Owens is up to his old tricks, sure, but his value was already very low entering Week 1. Now it seems that one can trade for the receiver at almost fantasy WR3-type value. He is a fantasy WR2, and a very good one at that. He is on my target list heading into Week 2. I personally think that he is worth all the risk given the cost. Take a stab at him via trade!

I'll be honest here, I don't know what to make of Caddy right now. He looked good in Week 1. Strike that, he looked great. His 13 carries for 97 yards and 1TD shocked just about everyone. I honestly had Caddy written off in terms of ever again being a starter in this league, but apparently the entire world didn't get the memo. That memo reads, "You actually can tear both patellar tendons and still start at the NFL level." I wish this was black and white, but it's not. Caddy could once again fall off the face of the earth, even if he stays healthy, or he could return to his rookie form. If I had to make a prediction right this very second, I would guess that Caddy will be inconsistent, which will eventually open the door full-time to Derrick Ward. I think Ward will respond.

Every year week one does a number on the minds of disappointed fantasy owners. Many upset owners freak out and jump ship on certain players, and others just question their draft day decisions to the point where they are considering benching studs for potential duds entering week two. One player many fantasy owners appear ready to give up on after one strange week of football is Chris Wells. While it's true that the back could kick things off slower than expected in 2009, he is the future of that Cardinals rushing attack and his time will eventually come (and this year). When it does, Wells is going to explode. Could his rise to the elite occur five weeks into the season? Eight? Well, that's tough to say, but my guess is that entering week 5, Wells will start looking like a fantasy RB2. Keep in mind that he has to stay healthy as he improves his pass blocking, and finds his place in that Cardinals' potent offensive attack, but his future is bright, make no mistake about it. If you're in a dynasty league and you currently don't own Wells, test the trade waters and try and steal him away from his frustrated owner. I fully expect Wells to be a future top 10RB in the NFL. I think he will start looking like that back during the second-half of the season.

After a mediocre Week 1 outing, should Ronnie Brown owners jump ship? Absolutely not. Keep in mind that we're only one week into the season! Also, keep in mind that DeAngelo Williams, who scored 18 rushing touchdowns last season, had just eight fantasy points in Week 1 of last year. Brown played decent against the Falcons on Sunday, he just didn't get the carries. Brown had just 10 carries, but managed a respectable 43 yards (4.3). That average isn't jaw-dropping, but clearly his lack of production had more to do with lack of workload and not lack of ability. Now, could that be the problem? Could Brown be embedded in the middle of a RBBC in Miami? I mean, Ricky Williams did get seven carries and responded with 39 yards... so should Brown owners be worried? I don't think so. There is always risk in fantasy football, but I say don't jump ship. I say don't even think about it. Just like lane changing during rush hour traffic, the slow-looking lane you change out of is sure to pick back up as soon as you leave it. Don't change lanes with Ronnie - Ride it out. Also, if you don't currently own the Dolphins rusher, buy-low if some Brown owner in your league is looking to sell fast.

Sleeper alert. Rookie receiver Louis Murphy pulled in four passes for 87 yards and a touchdown during Monday night's 24-20 loss to the Chargers. The rookie actually had a second touchdown taken away last night. He knows how to get open and he has a nose for the end zone it appears. He looks to be JaMarcus Russell's favorite new receiver and he is worth a grab in even medium size dynasty leagues.

Brian Westbrook looked great on Sunday, rushing the football 13 times for 64 yards. That's 4.9 yards-per-carry. He also caught 3 passes for 8 yards and 1TD. As a Westbrook owner in numerous leagues this season, I have to admit... I was hoping the stud would see more than 16 touches. That said, he did some serious damage on his limited action. Westbrook is clearly healthy and ready to rumble in 2009. With Donovan McNabb (fractured rib) possibly out for 1-2 weeks, you can bet that the Eagles will heavily lean on Westy in the coming weeks. Buy-low while you still can! Westy's solid Week 1 performance was kind of a quiet performance. He still appears to be relatively undervalued moving forward. Attack!

Some doubt LaDainian Tomlinson this season, as the running back is entering the 2009 fantasy football season at the age of 30. Is this the year of decline for LT2? I say no. While many rushers do take a fantasy dive at the age of 30, a handful of elite rushers have still been able to thrive at 30. It's extremely rare for even elite talents to excel during their 31-age season in the NFL, but it's more than possible for a 30 year-old running back to still play at an elite level. And if anyone can mirror the explosive efforts of other 30 year-old runners, it's LT2... and guess what? Tomlinson faces the third-worst rushing defense in the league on Monday night. The Oakland Raiders surrendered 159.7 rushing yards per game last season and surrendered 23 rushing touchdowns in 16 contests. Tomlinson is gold in this match-up and will really look like a draft day bargain coming out of this one. Enjoy his Week 1 explosion!

Are you considering benching Ray Rice today? You may want to reconsider that! Of course starting or benching Rice ultimately depends on your Week 1 alternatives, but keep in mind that the Ravens face the one of the league's worst rushing defenses today. Last season, the Chiefs ranked 29th in the league against the run, surrendering 158.9 rushing yards per contest. Kansas City also surrendered 25 rushing touchdowns in 2008 (4th to last in the NFL). That Ravens coaching staff could always screw this one up and employ a RBBC in 2009, but Rice has top 10-12RB potential if getting the touches. Start Rice today unless you have unbelievable alternatives - I wouldn't b shocked if Rice had 140 total ru/rec yards and at least one score against the Chiefs today.

If you own Joseph Addai, you're probably on the the fence this week as far as using him. Clearly starting or benching Addai depends on the alternatives, but in general, I think Addai is very underrated heading into the season's first week. Is he still a first-round running back (yea, remember those days before the April 2009 NFL Draft?)? The answer is no, he is no longer a first-round fantasy talent. That said, he still has the upside to produce like a strong fantasy RB2 this season. Now, the presence of rookie Donald Brown does make trusting Addai, especially for the long-term, kind of iffy, but you probably drafted Addai as your flex-option anyway and I think that he is a strong flex play at home against the Jaguars. The Jaguars ranked 13th last season against the run, so the match-up isn't exactly gold, but 80 rushing yards and a score is well within reach for the still-starting Colts rusher. Don't bench a Brandon Jacobs or even a Ray Rice in favor of Addai, but don't hesitate to use Addai if it makes sense. If you have a big-time dilemma, jump on our forums before kickoff today and get some FFX advice!

Don't be to apprehensive about using Mike Bell this week if you're in need at the position. With Pierre Thomas (MCL) ruled out, both Reggie Bush and Mike Bell will share the workload in Week 1 against the league's worst rushing defense. Last year, the Lions ranked dead last against the run, surrendering 172.1 yards rushing per game. Detroit also gave up the most rushing touchdowns in 2008 (31). Both Reggie Bush and Bell could score in this game - With ease. Speaking of Bush, rumors are currently floating around suggesting that Bush (calf) might not be 100 percent entering today's game, but he is NOT listed on the team's injury report (as of this moment)... that suggests to us that he is healthy enough to count on as a flex-option today. As for Bell, he is a solid flex play as well - Bell couldn't have asked for a better match-up this week. It's just too bad Pierre Thomas didn't get to breakout against the league's worst rushing defense. Thomas missing this gift-of-a-match-up could end up being good news, though, as Thomas owners could grow worried if Bell excels in today's game. If you have interest in acquiring Thomas via trade, consider buying low now, or next week.

While I'm not a HUGE Antonio Bryant fan this year, he is a solid start this week against Dallas. I never thought I'd say this, because I felt like Bryant was overvalued a ton early in the off-season, but he is starting to get overlooked. His knee injury made a lot of fantasy owners pass on him during August drafts, and even though he is back and ready for Week 1, his value isn't rebounding. He isn't an excellent fantasy WR2 if you ask me, but he is a fine fantasy WR3/flex - Still, despite being back and healthy, so many are doubting him as even a flex heading into Week 1. Test the trade waters tonight if you can and see if you can steal Bryant away from his current owner. If you own Bryant already, he is a solid start this week - If you didn't know, he practiced fully on Friday and is listed as probable for the team's opener against Dallas.

I could regret saying this, as Brandon Marshall continues to disappoint fantasy worlds, but now might be the time to buy-low. I'd never recommend that anyone use Marshall as their No. 1 fantasy receiver in 2009, but given that he still has fantasy WR2-type upside and can be had at the cost of a fantasy WR3, it might be time to invest. What kind of trades should you attempt to make? My advice is to send a Steve Smith (CAR) packing for a package like Brandon Marshall and Chris Wells. Even Brandon Marshall and Knowshon Moreno isn't a bad deal. Clearly this isn't a move for every team, but if you're struggling at the RB position and want to take a chance, split your talent into two players. With players like Wells, Moreno and Marshall involved, you might even get Steve Smith type talent out of just one of them. No, I'm not predicting that Marshall scores like a Steve Smith, and CLEARLY I'd take Smith over Marshall any day of the week, but one can't sit there and say it isn't possible. Because the upside is present with Marshall, getting that extra player (especially a Chris Wells) makes this a crafty move for those looking to divide fantasy talent. I am worried about whether or not Kyle Orton can deliver as a starter in this league. Hopefully he gets traded. If Marshall does, the receiver could return to top 5WR status. Know that, but also know a trade seems less likely this week than last week.

Brian Westbrook (ankle/knees) will hit the field in Week 1 without a 2009 preseason snap to his name, but the bottom line is that Westy is healthy and back at practice full-time. Will he be rusty in Week 1? Maybe. Will he share carries initially? Possibly. Do I care? No... not at the cost. Westbrook is my number one player to target via trade right now because he is being treated like a 20+ overall fantasy talent in some leagues. The injury risk is there, no question, but landing LeSean McCoy is the key and it ensures top 5-7 overall fantasy numbers in my opinion. A perfect example of buying Westy on the cheap is to offer a Clinton Portis plus a WR3-type for Westbrook. Now, since most of you have already had your drafts, things can get complicated if you don't have McCoy already... I still would trade a Westy for a Portis-type, even without the must-own rookie handcuff, but the Philly duo is the key to that 16-game production. In one league, I traded Portis and Matt Ryan for Westbrook (I didn't need Ryan as my starter), and then I turned and sold Santonio Holmes for LeSean McCoy (I didn't need Holmes). Now, Holmes is a good receiver, and that owner got a good deal in that trade, but I drafted the depth to make all this happen and I upgraded my Clinton Portis into a Brian Westbrook/LeSean McCoy combo without touching my starting line-up. That's how I roll.

Ok, so don't go dropping a solid player on your roster just yet for Edison, but the receiver has some solid upside in the deepest of dynasty leagues. The Titans sixth-round pick caught five passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns last Thursday night against the Packers and most likely locked down the Titans' No. 5 wide receiver spot. Being No. 5 on the depth chart isn't all that promising at a glance, but it won't take much for a gifted receiver like Edison to climb the ranks over in Tennessee. It's not like that Titans' roster is saturated with true fantasy WR1s or anything. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Edison is going to amount to much, it's tough to predict such things with players that may, or may not, get an opportunity... we can't predict opportunity... but I just grabbed him in a 24+ roster dynasty league because the risk is low and I usually have 1-2 rolling spots to burn for project players just like Edison. If you have a league like this, I suggest reading up on the receiver. If your league isn't quite big enough for such a risky investment, be sure to keep Edison on your radar and just monitor his status with the Titans moving forward. Again, if you don't have the spots to burn and the space to stash him, hold off on him and just monitor! There's no hope of sneaking him through waivers to the practice squad now. Edison caught an 8-yard TD from Vince Young and later added a 31-yarder from Patrick Ramsey. He's locked up the fifth receiver role and could enter the season as high as No. 4 on the depth chart.

While a lot of rookie wide receivers have gotten way more press than Seahawks newcomer Deon Butler, don't believe for a minute he is not as good a prospect. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Butler is a burner who ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine this year, and he has already shot up the depth chart in Seattle. With both Nate Burleson and Deion Branch dinged up, Butler got his first start opposite TJ Houshmandzedah a few weeks ago and promptly caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from QB Matt Hasselbeck on the team's first drive. Evaluating rookie prospects has as much to do with opportunity as it does with talent, and Butler has both. If you look closely at the WR corps in Seattle, no one outside of Houshmadzadeh is a lock as a starter and both Burleson and Branch are well known for their injury troubles. That leaves Butler with a great shot to start at some point during the season and he has the ability to put up some quality fantasy starts as a rookie in that passing offense. He has jumped into my top 15 among rookies, ahead of all other WRs not named Crabtree, Harvin or Maclin.

If anyone had doubts about Adrian Peterson being the consensus No. 1 overall pick heading into September, those doubts likely vanished into the night after Peterson ran for 117 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries during Monday night's Week 3 preseason game at Houston. That sentence I just wrote wasn't nearly as long as Peterson's touchdown scamper on his first carry of the game. Peterson took a 75-yard touchdown to the house, showing that he didn't lose any speed over the off-season. I like both Michael Turner and Maurice Jones-Drew this year, and I'm not sure who I like better, but AP is my clear No. 1 overall player on my personal set of 2009 fantasy football rankings. It's not even close and tonight was one reason why. Don't even consider passing on him if you're lucky enough to have landed that one-slot. If you don't want AP, for whatever reason, trade the one-pick away! I personally think AP could rush for 18TDs this season.

I'm not sure how many times we have to say this before people starting drafting him, but Jermichael Finley might just be the next breakout tight end in fantasy football. Finley's ADP is... well, that's the thing, he doesn't have an ADP. No one is drafting Finley when using our Live Mock Drafts Feature, which is crazy considering how much we've pimped him over the last week. But, hey, use this to your advantage. If you still haven't had your 2009 fantasy football draft, grab the Packers' tight end at the end of your draft. You don't even need to draft Finley as your team's starter, in fact don't! Play it safe and have two solid options and have Finley sitting in your No. 2 spot. Don't be surprised, though, if Finley puts your starter on the bench by Week 3 or 4. Aaron Rodgers looks amazing this preseason and part of that has to do with the presence of his new favorite weapon. Finley has performed well all preseason, but he caught two touchdown passes during the Packers' Week 3 outing and the coaching staff would be crazy to take Rodgers' new safety net away from him. And don't forget that Finley was being called "unguardable" earlier this month during Packers camp. Ok, so I might be getting a little ahead of myself on this one, I can admit it, but rising stars emerge all the time in this league and you have to play the "Hit and Miss" game until you land those "out of nowhere" studs, right? If you don't play the "Hit and Miss" game, you will always be that owner than never grabs the emerging Marques Colston. Given there is ZERO risk in grabbing Finley as one of your last drafted players, it's safe to say that this is an experiment worth performing. Grab him and figure it out later. This game called fantasy football is all about predicting, observing and then reacting... I will talk a lot about this in the coming weeks and months, but basically to be a successful fantasy owner, you need to be able to acknowledge your good calls and bad calls and know when to react. Like I said, if Finley doesn't work out, big deal... then you can react and drop him. Just think later on this one and get it done - He's worth the grab!

I'm all about Shonn Greene for the long-term, but I'm starting to think that Leon Washington is going to be one of the biggest PPR surprises in all of 2009. Washington is extremely talented, he has lightning speed and the running back has big play ability that no other runner has on that Jets' roster. Thomas Jones will almost certainly begin the 2009 season as the team's starter on paper, and Greene could take over the starting role by the end of the season, but Washington's skills won't be overlooked. I'm not 100% convinced that Washington can be a full-time runner at the NFL level, at least for multiple seasons, but I'm also nowhere near convinced that he can't. As Smitty always says with smaller-type backs, it is possible for RBs to put on "good" weight and thrive at 217-220 pounds (like DeAngelo Williams did coming out of college), so anything is possible for Washington. If you're in a PPR league and you still haven't had your draft, you wouldn't be crazy to consider Washington a strong flex-option this season. I want to repeat that I like Shonn Greene's future in the NFL, but this might just be Washington's year.

Where should fantasy owners draft Reggie Bush in 2009? What about Pierre Thomas? Will Thomas destroy Bush's value in 2009? Bush is a hot topic right now, as so many predict big out of Pierre Thomas his year, which is causing many to doubt Bush's role in that Saints offense entering 2009. Well, Saints beat writer Jeff Duncan just wrote that "everyone in the organization" believes Reggie Bush is primed for a breakout year." How can Bush possibly breakout when Pierre Thomas is ready to take the fantasy world by storm? As I continue to say, the Saints offense is built to produce two successful rushers. Bush is the kind of runner that can still dominate in PPR formats, because he can rush the ball 150+ times and pull in 70 or so receptions... that means that Bush can produce 1,200+ ru/rec yards and possibly 8-10 touchdowns. If you own Bush in PPR formats, don't stress about Pierre Thomas' rise to the elite. There's room for both and healthy Pierre Thomas will actually help Bush face single coverage in the passing attack. Remember Bush's rookie year where he totaled 1,307 ru/rec yards, 88 receptions and 8 touchdowns? Bush dominated during his rookie campaign and it was because Deuce McAllister was keeping defenses honest with his 244 carries for 1,000+ yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. If Thomas is dominating, defenses won't have time to focus on Bush as the slash-type rusher navigates around the field in open spaces. So how good of a season can Bush have in 2009? If forced to guess right now, I predict Bush runs the football 155 times for 620 yards, pulls in 75 passes for 600 yards and scores 8 total ru/rec touchdowns. As you can see, that's a solid non-PPR campaign, but those are killer numbers in PPR formats. Of course these numbers are only attainable if Bush remains healthy, but if Thomas does his job can carries the ball at least 220 times in 2009, Bush should have a strong chance at playing 14 games this year.

I've said this over and over here at FFX, but I feel it's important enough to keep repeating... one of my favorite draft strategies in 2009 is to draft both Tom Brady and Randy Moss with my first- and second-round picks. Brady alone is capable of leading almost any team into the playoffs, and if both stay healthy, I'm predicting a 45TD campaign out of Brady and a 15-18TD campaign out of Moss. Crazy? I say no. Not even close! Brady and Moss have picked up right where they left off in 2007. Brady threw two touchdowns last week and during this week's preseason outing against the Redskins, Brady completed 12-of-19 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns... Moss pulled in six passes for 90 yards and caught two touchdowns. If both remain healthy, just one of these studs can help any team compete on Sundays. Having both just isn't fair. I've drafted in a handful of expert fantasy football drafts already this month and I've used this strategy in a few of those drafts. I have to say that I like my Brady/Moss built teams more than any of my other 2009 squads!

I've said this over and over here at FFX, but I feel it's important enough to keep repeating... one of my favorite draft strategies in 2009 is to draft both Tom Brady and Randy Moss with my first- and second-round picks. Brady alone is capable of leading almost any team into the playoffs, and if both stay healthy, I'm predicting a 45TD campaign out of Brady and a 15-18TD campaign out of Moss. Crazy? I say no. Not even close! Brady and Moss have picked up right where they left off in 2007. Brady threw two touchdowns last week and during this week's preseason outing against the Redskins, Brady completed 12-of-19 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns... Moss pulled in six passes for 90 yards and caught two touchdowns. If both remain healthy, just one of these studs can help any team compete on Sundays. Having both just isn't fair. I've drafted in a handful of expert fantasy football drafts already this month and I've used this strategy in a few of those drafts. I have to say that I like my Brady/Moss built teams more than any of my other 2009 squads!

Ray Rice is still being undervalued in a major way right now. I have two major steals at the running back position this year. One is Ronnie Brown... The other is Ray Rice. Brown is my monster-breakout prediction (top 5-10 fantasy numbers), but still has top 12-15RB upside this year if you ask me. He can be had as a flex-option, yet he could punch in 10 scores. Don't draft Rice as a fantasy RB2, because he can be had later, but honestly I am expecting fantasy RB2-type production right out of the gate. It is possible that a RBBC approach ruins all that, but so far so good in the preseason - It looks like Rice will get the goal line work in 2009 and will get most of the touches too. Sharing carries here and there is fine by me -- The Ravens will run the ball plenty! Target Rice if you haven't drafted yet. If you have already had your 2009 fantasy draft, trade for Rice before his value climbs into fantasy RB2 material.

Call me crazy, but Anquan Boldin still has top 5-7WR upside. All I see is Fitz, Fitz and Fitz everywhere I look. I like Larry Fitzgerald this year. Who doesn't? Still, with Fitz looking like a top 12 pick this season, Boldin should be a bargain. Boldin is the idea fantasy WR1 if you want to go RB/RB or RB/QB with your first two picks. Not every league is undervaluing Boldin, so don't count on stealing him away from your buddies in every single league you do this year, but for the most part, Boldin is the cheapest fantasy WR1 around. With defenses surely committed to slowing down Fitz in 2009, I think Boldin could catch 90+ passes for 1,200+ yards and roughly 12 or so scores. Keep stealing Boldin from others in August drafts and don't expect his draft value to change all that much heading into September. Let me also say that Fitz should still outscore Boldin, and will likely have better numbers, but the difference is that Boldin can be grabbed almost two rounds later. As you can see, I expect Kurt Warner to have a big year!

Last year I warned everyone about the rise of Michael Turner, predicting top 5-10 numbers -- This year I've been screaming DRAFT RONNIE BROWN! Last night during the Dolphins' second 2009 preseason game, Brown dominated on the Dolphins' first drive. In that first series alone, Brown totaled 48 yards and scored on a 28-yard touchdown pass. Brown finished with 7 carries for 31 yards and pulled in 3 passes for 43 yards and 1TD (28). Preseason stats don't impress me all that much - What matters in preseason play is how that player looks when on the field. Are they fast? Is the explosion present? Do they look healthy? Have they lost a step? In Brown's case, it's particularly important to observe his explosion and speed. Brown was a top 2 overall running back in 2007 before suffering a mid-season ACL tear. He was as good as Adrian Peterson for almost half a season, but the ACL tear took him out. Veteran fantasy owners know that ACL injuries take time to bounce-back from. Running backs typically need a full-season of playing on the recovering knee before they get back to form. Well, last year was Brown's first year back from injury. He struggled at times, especially toward the end of the 2008 regular season, but he had the confidence of the coaches, the playing time and carries... he also show flashes of brilliance in that Wildcat formation, which is surely to make Brown even more dominate in 2009. Guess what? Brown is back physically! He looks as quick and as strong as he did back in early 2007 -- I firmly believe that Brown could crank out top 5-10 fantasy running back numbers in 2009. Don't draft him as a top 10RB because he will fall into the early third-round in most August drafts, but if your league appears to be high on the Dolphin, I would recommend grabbing No. 23 in the late second-round. He will extremely outplay that draft slot! I'm thinking 1,600 total ru/rec yards and 12-15 scores sounds about right for Brown in 2009. Chew on that all you Ronnie Brown doubters!

If you're looking for a sleeper tight end in 2009, Jermichael Finley is your guy! Finley has looked dominate this preseason and he caught 3 passes for 46 yards during Saturday night's Week 2 preseason game against the Bills. According to multiple reports, Rodgers recently called Finley an "unguardable" player. Donald Lee could still hold onto that Packers' starting TE job, but I have a good feeling about Finley. A real good feeling. Our very own "X" here at Fantasy Football Xtreme has had Finley on his radar longer than I have, but I really became a believer last night when I watched him dominate those Buffalo defenders. He's fast, athletic and has one of the best passers in the league tossing him the rock. He also has Greg Jennings stretching defenses, which gives Finley room to navigate into open spaces. If Finley does in fact win the starting TE gig in Green Bay, Finley will be Rodgers' safety net in 2009. Grab this second-year tight end if he is still available in your league - He is starting to look like a serious breakout candidate.

Doubt Michael Turner once, shame on you; Doubt Michael Turner twice (this season), well, you have no one to blame but yourself! We warned you. We pimped Turner like no other back in 2008, calling him a top 5-10 fantasy running back when most fantasy football Websites had him as a fourth-round talent... well, this year is no different, but for the most part, most everyone is on "The Burner" wagon. There are, however, a handful of doubters in almost every league and anyone who has already had a 2009 fantasy draft is probably feeling pretty foolish if they passed on Turner expecting a second-year bump in the road. While Turner did have 377 carries last season, he is clearly built to take a beating and he knows how to finish runs in the end zone -- That right there can help any rusher avoid some of the injury risk a runner faces. In Turner's first 2009 preseason contest, the stud ran the ball for 63 yards and a touchdown (40-yard score). In last night's Week 2 preseason outing against the Rams, Turner ran the football seven times for 65 yards and a touchdown (with a long of 40 yards). Turner is averaging 9.8 yards-per-carry so far this preseason -- The rusher is clearly ready to rumble in 2009 and should have no problem finishing as a top 4-5 fantasy rusher in all leagues and formats. He should total 1,500+ total ru/rec yards and score over 14-15 total touchdowns. Only Adrian Peterson and Maurice Jones-Drew deserve consideration ahead of Turner come draft day.

Is Terrell Owens, 35, still a top ten fantasy receiver? It's extremely rare for a 34-35 year-old receiver to produce "elite" fantasy numbers, but it has happened -- If anyone is going to excel at 35 yet again at the receiver position, it's Owens. The guy takes better care of himself than any other receiver in the league, and surprisingly enough, the stud has only missed one game over the past three NFL seasons. Considering that Owens was thought to be a regular injury risk just a few seasons ago, that's pretty impressive actually. It's no secret that age invites injury, and older receivers struggle to stay on the field for 16 games, but given his current draft/trade value, count on Owens in 2009. Don't draft him as a fantasy WR1, because you don't have to, but he might just earn you low-end fantasy WR1-type numbers at season's end. Owens' current ADP is 3.07, according to our Fantasy Football Xtreme ADP (created using our FFX live mock draft data)... Now, I know Owens is going from having Tony Romo tossing him the ball to Trent Edwards tossing him the rock, but Owens should be able to grab at least 70-80 passes in Buffalo on 15-16 games. Most don't even realize that Owens had just 69 catches last season, yet he still managed to drop 1,052 yards and 10 scores. Those aren't bad numbers on 69 catches, and that reception total is very doable in Buffalo in 2009! Continue stealing Owens in that 3.07 - 4.01 range in upcoming 2009 fantasy football drafts and prepare for what could be a low-end fantasy WR1-type season. Do monitor Owens' current toe injury -- He should be fine, but keep an eye on it.

It's official - Brett Favre is a Viking. Is this good news for Bernard Berrian? What happens to Sage Rosenfels? Well, for starters, this can't be a bad thing for the Vikings, even though I honestly think that Rosenfels had a shot to thrive in Minnesota. Favre still has a cannon and he might just march this Vikings team into the Super Bowl. Bernard Berrian owners should be extremely pleased with the Favre signing, not because Favre will be able to deliver a better pass, but because this move provides Berrian with the most secure quarterback situation in the NFL. No receiver has the ball delivery security that Berrian now has. If Favre goes down, or falters, Rosey will step in and shine. Both QBs have what it takes to sling the football and this offense is so dynamic and dangerous, whomever is under center on Sundays should thrive. As for Favre, he knows how to turn a single receiver into a fantasy star -- Don't think for a second Berrian can't crank out top 15 fantasy WR numbers once he becomes comfortable with Favre's delivery and style of play. Don't count on top 15 numbers out of Bernard, but don't be shocked if he, a universal fantasy WR3 in most leagues, plays like a fantasy WR2 at season's end.

It's official - Brett Favre is a Viking. Is this good news for Bernard Berrian? What happens to Sage Rosenfels? Well, for starters, this can't be a bad thing for the Vikings, even though I honestly think that Rosenfels had a shot to thrive in Minnesota. Favre still has a cannon and he might just march this Vikings team into the Super Bowl. Bernard Berrian owners should be extremely pleased with the Favre signing, not because Favre will be able to deliver a better pass, but because this move provides Berrian with the most secure quarterback situation in the NFL. No receiver has the ball delivery security that Berrian now has. If Favre goes down, or falters, Rosey will step in and shine. Both QBs have what it takes to sling the football and this offense is so dynamic and dangerous, whomever is under center on Sundays should thrive. As for Favre, he knows how to turn a single receiver into a fantasy star -- Don't think for a second Berrian can't crank out top 15 fantasy WR numbers once he becomes comfortable with Favre's delivery and style of play. Don't count on top 15 numbers out of Bernard, but don't be shocked if he, a universal fantasy WR3 in most leagues, plays like a fantasy WR2 at season's end.

Brian Westbrook (ankle/knees) was back at practice today and the runner participated in "every facet" of the full-contact practice. Westbrook is one of the most underrated fantasy runners entering 2009 fantasy drafts, as I firmly believe he is still a top five fantasy running back. Because of Westy's injury history, though, rookie rusher LeSean McCoy is a MUST-HAVE for all Westbrook owners -- So if you do plan to target Westy in your upcoming yearly league draft, be sure to reach for McCoy. Reach an entire round, or round and a half, if you have to -- Just land McCoy no matter what! Together, fantasy owners should get top 5RB numbers on just 16 starts. Westbrook's quick recovery and full-contact practice appearance are sure to give his current ADP a nice little bump, but Westy should still remain a draft day steal until he has an impressive preseason performance. Once Westy shows flashes of brilliance this preseason, fantasy owners are going to come to terms with the fact that Westy has one more "elite" season left. Just grab McCoy, though! I can't stress that enough! Now go steal Westy away from your buddies in your upcoming yearly league draft!

I don't want to cause Kevin Smith owners to panic, but rookie RB Aaron Brown looked extremely solid during Saturday's preseason game against the Falcons. Brown excelled in both the passing and rushing game, totaling 98 ru/rec yards and 2TDs. Brown scored on a 32-yard run in the third quarter and then caught a 45-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter, after which he did threw down a back flip. Brown, who was fighting for a roster spot hours prior to the game, may have earned himself strong consideration for the primary back-up role in Detroit (if not some solid third-down work right out of the gate in 2009). It's only the preseason, I know, but this kid has tremendous ability and speed and I just can't help myself. I grabbed him in one of my 24-player dynasty leagues -- He is worth the gamble in such a deep league in my opinion. He looked that solid. He won't take Kevin Smith's job unless Smith suffers some sort of injury, which is totally possible given Smith's long resume in the career carries department (college and rookie season).

Sell-high on Steve Slaton! I know what you're thinking, but here is why. It's not that I don't like Slaton for the 2009 season, but the guy isn't built to start at the NFL level -- At least not for long. Because he will be forced into that role, I don't think he will last long (at least in terms of being even a second- to third-round fantasy talent). Slaton could have a long and healthy career if playing more of a Reggie Bush-type role for the Texans, but Houston appears set to start their youngster and playing part-time isn't what fantasy owners want anyway, injury risk or not... So given his projected workload in the coming years, I just don't see Slaton dominating for more than 2-3 years, if not less. Crazy? Well, I ask you first to reflect back on Cadillac Williams. How good did he look coming off his monster rookie season? Be honest! He looked better than Slaton currently does heading into his second season? If you say no, look back at your draft results from that season and you will see Caddy getting drafted well before Slaton's current ADP. Caddy was a top 10 overall pick heading into his sophomore campaign, then he fell off the face of the earth. Even before he stumbled upon his long string of never ending injuries, he didn't look the same as he did during his rookie season. Need another example why I'm not solid on Slaton for the long-term? Big or small, productive rookie runners don't always continue their success heading into their second seasons. Remember Anthony "Atrain" Thomas? Again, now we're talking a bigger back faltering, but the point now is that rookies that perform during their first year don't always continue on that course of success heading into their second seasons. That alone doesn't make Slaton a guy to dodge come draft day, especially in 2009 drafts (again, he could do well for another season), but all of this does add up and make Slaton dangerous to count on for a handful of seasons to come. So draft him in 2009 yearly leagues with confidence, although I still say wait until the late second-round, but consider trading the runner in dynasty formats if you can laterally step into a safer runner. Oh, and if own Slaton, or plan to, grab Arian Foster! Foster is the kind of player that could step in and play solid football. We own him in two deep dynasty leagues already.

Is Knowshon Moreno still inside my top 10 overall heading into the future? For those of you who have been with us all off-season long, you know how much I like this 2009 rookie running back class. I firmly believe that this class could produce two top 10 running backs of the future and at least one top 15-20 overall fantasy player by 2010. I honestly like this running back class just as much as last year's, if not more. Before the Jay Cutler trade (traded to CHI), I had both Moreno and Chris Wells inside my top 10 overall in dynasty formats. Well, Cutler getting shipped to Chicago really put a ding in Moreno's 2009 value. That trade single-handedly dismantled the franchise for the 2009 NFL season -- If Denver isn't smart next off-season, the move could actually end up setting the franchise back a good five years. Moreno went from "lock" to "potential lock" to become an elite running back, that's all. All of that talent Moreno has is still there, but environment can certainly alter one's fantasy value and Denver didn't do Moreno any favors post-draft. Monitor Moreno's current injury, by the way... he limped off the field tonight during the team's preseason opener. Make sure you stay on the news, but our guess is he will be fine.

I've written about Ronnie Brown a lot already this off-season, but here is an update to my Ronnie Brown prediction. Brown will finish as a top 8RB in 2009 in all leagues and formats. If you reflect back on 2007, only Adrian Peterson was better than Brown during the first seven games of that season. Before Brown suffered a torn ACL during that Week 7 outing back in 2007, he was averaging 141.5 yards per game. That yardage total is insane. As explained on our FFX Injury Dictionary, when a running back tears an ACL, it takes a full year of playing on the recovering knee before that player can get back to form. With 2007 in the rear view, and with Brown clearly the focal point of that Miami offense (especially that Wildcat formation), the sky is the limit for Brown. I was called more than crazy last year when I told everyone to invest in Michael Turner expecting top 5-10 running back numbers -- Get ready for top 8RB numbers out of Brown in '09.

What kind of fantasy football numbers am I expecting out of Tom Brady in 2009? What about Randy Moss? Here are my projections as far as touchdowns go: Brady will throw for 40+ touchdowns and Moss will pull in at least 15 of those 40. It's always kind of frustrating to have a guy pegged as a monster draft day steal (given where that player's current ADP is) and then a strong preseason performance (last night's 2TD passes in one half) changes all that. Tom Brady has been my absolute No. 1 "Draft Day Steal" candidate heading into 2009. Ronnie Brown has a kung-fu grip on that second slot, but Brady is by far in my number one slot for "Steal Of The Draft" entering 2009. Even if Brady becomes a lock to get drafted in the second-round in all leagues and formats, that is still insanely solid value. I have had several drafts where I've been handed the 12/13 back-to-back picks. With those back-to-back selections, my favorite strategy this year has been going Randy Moss/Tom Brady. The duo can carry you every single week -- Toss in some solid talent around those guys and you have a Championship recipe in the making. I recommend this strategy in all leagues and formats, it's my new favorite approach!

There is a lot of negative buzz floating around right now on Dwayne Bowe. The receiver was dropping passes on Tuesday and was then listed as third-string on the team's depth chart. Clearly this is a motivational tactic and even doubters aren't buying into the "statement" being made with all that... but the bottom line is that many are starting to doubt Bowe again and this is great news for those who believe in the guy. Bowe has monster upside this year and is very capable of catching 90 passes in 2009, but because many are concerned about his work ethic and how that Chiefs' coaching staff views the receiver, his ADP is starting to drop a bit. Take advantage of this. Buy-low in dynasty leagues and consider him a potential steal in upcoming yearly league drafts. Bowe is very capable of being an excellent fantasy WR2 in 2009.

If you haven't heard yet, Bucs receiver Antonio Bryant has suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee and will likely be sidelined for the rest of training camp. At this point, and things could change, Bryant is expected to be ready for Week 1. The thing is, I'm not so sure I trust Bryant as a fantasy WR2 this season. I was just starting to come around and think he was worth that kind of gamble value-wise, but this injury reminds me that Bryant has never been consistent year in and year out, and his quarterback situation is far from solid. Bryant is extremely gifted, and he had a huge 2008, finishing with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns... but consistency matters when you invest in a player to be your fantasy WR2. His monster 2008 season came after being out of football for all of 2007. The season before that (2006) was Bryant's only other season, besides last season, where he caught 60 or more passes. Two seasons with 60+ receptions is not consistent. If Bryant had an elite quarterback tossing him the rock, or at least a top 10 passer, I might have more faith in Bryant heading into August drafts. For now, my advice is to only draft Bryant in upcoming drafts if he falls to bargain value (which he could). Bargain to me, though, at this point, is fantasy WR3-type value-- No higher. On side note, Brian Clark is expected to step up in Bryant's absence. Monitor his preseason.

In his Bills debut against the Titans last night, Terrell Owens caught two passes for 27 yards. I'll be honest, I had some concerns about Owens entering this season at 35, but T.O. looked quick and explosive. I know, it's just the preseason, but sometimes it's nice to see how some players move around the football field, especially the players getting up there in age like Owens. He passed the test in my eyes and I honestly believe that the only thing that can hold him back from being a top 10 fantasy receiver in 2009 is Trent Edwards. Will Edwards feed Owens enough targets this year? That's a tough one, but my guess is that he will. Owens may not get enough looks to get back into that top 5WR-range, but he certainly can catch 80 passes for 1,000+ yards. He could also grab double-digit touchdowns. We landed Owens as our fantasy WR2 in one of our recent PPR expert league drafts - That pick will turn out to be gold, he looks that quick still!

Marques Colston came out of nowhere in 2006 and has produced elite numbers ever since. Don’t let his 2008 numbers fool you - he was injured early and was not back fully healthy until after the Saints’ week 9 bye. Over the final 8 games of the year, Colston put up 45/678/5 which is right in line with expected production had he played a full season. And although he did have some minor offseason surgery, he has looked fantastic in offseason workouts thusfar, so there should be no worries there. In my opinion, Colston could very well lead the league in receiving when you consider the prolific offense he plays in – I expect 95/1400/11 when all is said and done.

With the departure of Marvin Harrision, Reggie Wayne has now assumed the role of Peyton Manning’s #1 guy. He was already a dominating fantasy receiver in spite of Harrison’s presence - he didn't go under 1,000 yards or 80 receptions over the last four seasons. I don’t expect Wayne to have any problem performing in his new role, and I see more of the same out of him this season, with a slight bump in production; 98/1450/12.

Roddy White has finally signed that contract extension he was looking for from the Falcons, and now he can get back to his job being a solid WR1 for your team. If the last two seasons are any indication, you can expect around 85 catches, 1200 yards and 9 TDs from the youngster this year, and dynasty players should consider him a solid WR1 for the foreseeable future, especially now that he is playing with an-and-coming QB in Matt Ryan.

Antonio Gates took a step back last season, but he is still easily one of the elite tight ends come draft day and he should be in your top 3. I’ve never really put emphasis at the TE position when drafting, but Gates (and Witten) are the exceptions, so if you can grab either in the 4th or 5th round, you should consider it. Gates current ADP is in the 46-50 range, so it will depend what spot you draw whether you have the opportunity to add him to your squad.

The Colts have been one of the top offenses in the league for many years, so anytime a new player is added to the mix he immediately gets more consideration from fantasy owners. That’s exactly what has happened with Anthony Gonzalez, and a lot is expected out of the youngster this year with the departure of Marvin Harrison. Whether he call live up to those expectations remains to be seen. I’m not sure I believe Gonzalez can make the jump from 57/664/4 to WR2 numbers in spite of being the Colts #2, but if you can draft him as your WR3/4 that is much better value.

As a rookie last season, Felix Jones was able to showcase himself and had a some nice games in spite of playing second fiddle to starter Marion Barber. It didn’t last long, however, as Jones got hurt before midseason and never returned to the field. This year, he enters the season with high expectations and coaches have already said he will get more work. Hard to know what to expect, but I still see Barber with a majority of the touches in a 65/35 split, maybe as high as 60/40. With his explosiveness he should be able to put up very good numbers with that kind of work, making him an excellent pickup as an RB4/flex with upside in seasonal leagues.

Kurt Warner just turned 38, but you wouldn’t know it based on his performance last season for the Cardinals. All he did was pass for 4,500 yards, 30 TDs and lead his team to the Super Bowl and what makes it all the more incredible is he was on the QB scrap heap just a few years ago. In spite of his age, Warner is a top 5 QB in seasonal leagues and should put up similar numbers to last season . If you are still having second thoughts about Warner’s age, just remember the two guys he is throwing to.

If there is anyone who is a boom or bust player it is Roy Williams, and I have often voiced my opinion of the latter. My reasons are simple: over the course of his first five seasons in the NFL, Williams has only had a single season where he eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving and has never surpassed 8 touchdowns – his average season is 56-for-816 and 6 TDs. Bad teams, bad QBs, injuries – I’ve heard all the excuses, but facts are facts and in my opinion elite players find a way to put up the numbers. That said, this is fantasy football and every player can be a value at the right price – that price for me is a WR3, any higher and Williams is a very risky proposition.

If you think you might sneak Wes Welker by everyone in your upcoming PPR draft, don’t be so sure. The little guy is on everyone’s radar after putting up two straight seasons of 112/1175 with the Patriots and I can tell you from experience in recent drafts that he is going in the 18-22 range overall. It’s really no surprise, so if you want Welker on your team be prepared to draft him in the early to mid second round of your PPR draft. And make no mistake, he's worth it.

There are no guarantees in this game, but Drew Brees comes pretty close. Outside of injury, there is almost no risk Brees won’t reach the 4,500 yards/30 TD plateau – and you are very likely assured of more. Since being acquired by the Saints in 2006, he has averaged 403/4636 and 30TDs with a steady increase in production over each of those three seasons. With a bevy of offensive weapons and a poor Saints defense, Brees is capable of single-handedly winning games for your fantasy team week in, week out.

Bernard Berrian is one of those players whose value can be widely debated depending who you talk to. Some say he is the clear #1 on a good Vikings team with the home run ability to put up very good numbers approaching that of a WR2. Others say the Vikings have one of the poorer QB situations in the league and are a run-first team, which makes him a borderline WR3. No matter which side you fall on, there is little doubt there are a lot of variables in play that could make his season go in either direction, and his value probably lies somewhere in the middle. These are the types of players you look to draft for value and not necessarily reach for – in my opinion Berrian should be on your radar as a WR4/flex with the hope he produces more.

We just got awful news on Rams wide receiver Donnie Avery. The second-year guys will be out 4-6 weeks with foot injury and his availability for Weeks 1-3 could be in question. He woke up with discomfort on Saturday and had X-rays taken, but the X-rays did not show a fracture. He then had an MRI after sitting out practice on Sunday morning and those results “showed more than we thought,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “It’s probably a four-to-six-week injury.” Spagnuolo said, but reportedly declined to comment further on the matter. No one has been higher on Avery heading into 2009 than I have. I had him pegged as an Xtreme Breakout Candidate. He still might thrive, even if he misses a couple games... he could even heal faster than initially expected and be back before the 4-6 week timetable given. Really, we need to know more about the injury and what is really going on before we speculate further. We will keep you posted but it doesn't look good for Week 1 as of this moment.

It's no secret that I expect BIG things out of Donnie Avery this year. With the departure of Torry Holt, the second-year receiver is now the number one receiving option in St. Louis. That Rams offensive line should be much improved as well, as the team made former Browns center, Jason Brown, the league’s highest-paid center in the league. The Rams also signed FB Mike Karney to block in front of Steven Jackson. In my opinion, that Rams offense will be more dynamic than most think and Jackson is going to have a monster season. I'm not predicting a playoff appearance out of the Rams or anything, but offensively St. Louis will be sound. Some will say that Holt leaving will be a bad thing for Avery's fantasy stats, but I say Avery just gets a ton more targets. Some say that as a number one receiver, defenses will just shut Avery down on a weekly basis. Well, I say it takes a breakout season before opposing defense even think about game planning around you. Keep in mind that Avery is still an unknown in a lot of ways. Sure, he is on some fantasy radars, like ours, but he is still unproven and NFL defenses are going to take the "wait-and-see" approach when it comes to Avery. I see the receiver pulling in 1,000 yards and 7 or so scores in just his second season as a pro. Draft him as your fantasy WR3, because you can, but get ready for fantasy WR2-type fantasy numbers.

Fantasy players have finally gotten their wish - Maurice Jones-Drew is now the primary runner in Jacksonville and has risen to elite level in many people’s minds. That is not surprising considering Drew has averaged 1300 yards and 12 TDs in part-time duty since his rookie season in 2006. Add in an average of 49 receptions over that span and it is easy to see why MoJo is going #1 overall in some PPR drafts. If you want him, you’d better be in the top 3 in drafts this season.

Want to whip fantasy players into a feeding frenzy? Just mention Calvin Johnson’s name. No receiver is more universally loved than Johnson, a physical specimen at 6’5” and 235 pounds who can run and catch the football as well as anyone. There is little doubt about Johnson’s dynasty value, but if there are any words of caution to be had, it’s to temper expectations this season while rookie QB Matthew Stafford works on his game. I still expect WR1 numbers, but see him in the 5-7 range among wideouts this season.

Titans RB Chris Johnson exploded on the scene in 2008 and was easily one of the year’s biggest steals after putting up 1,500 total yards and 10TDs. You won’t be able steal him in this year’s drafts, but you can grab him as your RB1 with confidence and expect similar, if not better, numbers in 2009. If you play in PPR leagues you can expect Johnson to be off the board even earlier – somewhere in the 5-7 range – so if you want him, you’ll have to go get him.

Greg Jennings is right on the edge of elite status, but I expect that to change after this season. The young wideout has shown steady progression since coming into the league 3 years ago, and now has a bonafide QB throwing to him in Aaron Rodgers. Sprinkle in a good running game led by Ryan Grant, and a great #2 WR in Donald Driver and you have the makings of a monster season for Jennings. You won’t be able to steal Jennings in your draft, but you will have the luxury of knowing he’ll likely be there on the back end if you want to grab a stud runner early in round 1.

If you are looking for a guy who has the potential for RB1 numbers at an RB2 price, Ryan Grant is the guy to target. Many have already forgotten his 2007 season where he racked up over 1,100 total yards and 8 TDs in 7 starts. He was banged up in 2008 after suffering early injuries, but was still able to finish the year with over 1,300 total yards and 5 TDs as the Packers primary runner. His current ADP is in the 38-42 range, which is a bargain if you consider his RB1 potential in that high powered offense.

Stud, pure and simple, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald might be the perfect wide receiver. Not only has he put up top 3 numbers since he has been in the league, but he doesn’t come with the baggage or off-the-field issues of many of his counterparts. If you are planning to draft a WR with your first pick this year, even in the top 5, Fitzgerald is the one you should consider above all others.

If you like roller coasters, then having WR Brandon Marshall on your team won’t affect you in the least. Trouble seems to follow this guy wherever he goes and the “diva” tag often associated with the receiver position fits him well. As with Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson before him, the enormous talent this kid has continues to outweigh his personal issues. If you can stomach the wild ride, the payoff with Marshall will be top 5 numbers for the foreseeable future.

Larry Johnson used to be one of the elite RBs in the game, but no more. That said, his value has slipped to the point where he is now a tremendous value – in some drafts he is slipping into the 6th round with an ADP in the low 60’s. Even if you don’t like LJ, it is hard to pass up value like that and he looks to be one of those mid-round players that might pay off big for fantasy teams in 2009. It's also a good idea to consider adding Jamal Charles later in your draft as insurance - there are no guarantees in this game and Johnson is no exception.

If there is a buyer beware player for me, it is Bengals RB Cedric Benson. He has never proven himself to be anything more than an average back – emphasized by his pedestrian 3.7 career rushing average. He moved from Chicago to Cincinnati last year and while he had trouble early in the season, he was able to pull it together and finish up strong with back-to-back 100 yard outings... against Cleveland and Kansas City. The outlook this season is a bit cloudy – while he does seem to be in a position to have to lose the #1 job, I don’t think it will take much for that to happen. Rookie Bernard Scott has looked really good in camp so far and may very well find himself the starter by mid-season if Benson stumbles out of the gate.

With the departure of Julius Jones to Seattle last season, fantasy players were drooling at the potential of Marion Barber as a full time player in Dallas. But, as often happens in this game, it didn’t quite work out that way and he took a step back in production last year. He was only able to muster similar numbers to 2007, with fewer touchdowns. In retrospect, it seems like Barber is one of those players who can produce more with less, and that is the way 2009 is shaping up in Dallas. The emergence of Felix Jones will take touches away from Barber, but I don’t believe it will hurt his production – and it may help. Barber is a perfect RB2 if you can swing it, but his ADP suggests you will need to draft him in the early second if you want him on your team.

I find it so strange that Frank Gore, who is only 26, is getting so underrated entering 2009 and beyond. In my view, Gore is a top 5-7 overall pick entering 2009. He is even inside my top 7, or so, overall in dynasty formats. What is not to like? Ok, so he has knee issues, but Gore has played in at least 14 games in all four of his NFL seasons. It's time to let the knee worries go! Last season the 49ers' starting rusher ran the ball 240 times for 1,036 yards and he had 8 total scores. He also pulled in 43 passes for 373 yards. Those are solid stats, yet so many are down on the guy entering early drafts. Why? San Fran could struggle to make the playoffs, but I don't think they will struggle as bad as people think offensively. Gore will be the centerpiece of that 49ers’ attack and the offense will use more zone blocking in 2009, which will absolutely benefit Frank Gore. Shaun Hill and Alex Smith have both reportedly stated that Gore has looked better than ever this training camp. If healthy, I expect Gore to have double-digit scores and over 1,500 total ru/rec yards.

Is Michael Turner worthy of the No. 1 overall pick in 2009 fantasy football drafts? Well, many are concerned about Turner's workload this year, as the Falcons' coaching staff has made it very clear that Turner's carries will be reduced this year. And this is the reason some fantasy owners are freaking out? He had 370 carries, people! Turner owners better hope that his workload is reduced in 2009 or he won't even play 12 games. If you already own Turner in dynasty leagues, or if you plan to draft him in your upcoming yearly league draft, you need not worry... the stud will still get 290+ carries in 2009, if healthy, and the presence of Tony Gonzalez could really up his yards-per-carry. Less carries could equal similar rushing yardage if that's the case, so Turner will be fine in the yardage department this upcoming year. There is absolutely no reason to question Turner's place inside the top 1-4 overall in any league and in any format. In fact, the presence of Gonzo near the goal line could help Turner duplicate last year's touchdown total (17).

Browns rookie RB James Davis has been impressive at times this off-season, especially as of late. Multiple sources are talking up his "speed" and "elusivness" in recent practices. In no way shape or form am I comparing the runner to LaDainian Tomlinson... I repeat, I am NOT comparing him to LaDainian Tomlinson, but he runs a little like LT2 in terms of mechanics. He is fast, smart and could really thrive if given the chance. Davis broke off a 40-yard cut-back run on Thursday and we're hearing nothing but good things about the rookie. With Jamal Lewis entering 2009 at the age of 30, the sky is the limit for Davis. I don't expect Lewis to finish the season as the team's starter - I see Davis taking over down the stretch. He may not start for a while, but he is a stash-type rusher for sure! Don't read this and get so pumped that you go out and trade a strong fantasy WR2 for the rookie, but don't overlook him either. If you don't own Davis in your dynasty league(s), test the trade waters. If you haven't drafted yet in your yearly league(s), keep him on your radar when the rushers start getting thin. Davis is no lock by any means, but he has a ton of upside given that he costs so very little in all leagues and formats.

Arian Foster is reportedly impressing that Houston coaching staff so far in camp. Big deal, right? Well, Foster has a ton of upside and we recommend that all deep dynasty league owners consider scooping him up if he is available on waivers. I'm not going to sit here and say that Foster will turn that Houston rushing attack into a RBBC this season, but if Slaton goes down, Foster could capitalize. At that point, anything can happen. I know that sounds crazy to all of you that believe in Slaton, but I will continue to beat a dead horse on this one. I predict that Slaton, if he continues to get starter-type carries in that smallish frame of his, will only last 2-3 years in this league (at least as a dominant full-time starter). If you think that this is nonsense, consider the downfall of Cadillac Williams, who was also designed a little too small for an NFL starter-type role. Another one-year wonder, even though he was a bigger-built rusher, was Anthony "A-Train" Thomas. I know, you saw that downfall coming as well... Sure you did... Look, all of us, or at least most of us, would like to pretend that we didn't get caught up in Caddy's rookie success, or A-Train's early domination, but must of us did! A-Train and Caddy were both borderline first-round picks entering their second seasons and both flopped. Does this mean that Slaton will also flop? Absolutely not. In fact, I said above that Slaton could still play at a dominating level for another 2-3 years, but just be aware of Foster and make sure all of you Slaton owners scoop him up if he is still available for the taking. I don't own Slaton in any of my dynasty leagues, but I do own Foster in just about every single one. The guy has tremendous upside given the risk - And that risk is almost zero since Foster is a free agent in most dynasty leagues.

The off-season has not been very good to Joseph Addai or his fantasy owners. With the drafting of Donald Brown, Addai went from first-round potential to 4th- to 5th-round pick. The good news? Well, his value has dropped almost too far, making him now a potential draft day steal. Look, I'm not going to advise that anyone draft him as their No. 1 fantasy back anymore, there is some risk now that Brown is on that Colts' roster, but many sources, including the Indianapolis Star, feel that Addai's job is not in danger heading into 2009. Brown and Addai are a must-handcuff this fantasy season, but that doesn't mean Addai can't still rush for 1,100 yards and score 8-10 times. Doubt him, hate him, do whatever you want on draft day, but just remember that Addai is still very young and rookies like Donald Brown bust all the time - Also keep in mind that Addai is a proven top 10 fantasy back. Will he rebound? Will Brown eventually win the job in Indy? Honesty I don't know what to think - All I know is that for the cost of almost a flex-option in 2009, I'm going to feel extremely good coming out of drafts this August with Addai in my flex/RB3 slot.

I am extremely high on Chris Wells this year and I'm even higher on him for the future. If you have been on top of the news as of late, Wells was carted off the field after Friday's practice, but the injury appears to be very minor. Even so, expect the Cardinals' staff to be overly cautious with the rookie this week. He could miss a good portion of the week, if not all of it. This injury has instantly ignited some concern about Wells' ability to stay healthy this year, but that's music to my ears, as it will only lower his draft value during this month of August. Some say the injury is evidence that the runner won't stay healthy as a pro, but I say that the injury is perfect timing for those who are getting ready to draft the rook. Wells has had some injuries in the past, and Hightower is a must-own for Wells owners, but I still firmly believe that Wells will have such a strong 2009 he will quite possibly be a top 12-15 overall pick in 2010 yearly drafts. I actually hope Wells doesn't start in Week 1, as rookies often breakdown and get injured if they attempt to start all 16 games during their first NFL season. Get ready for a whole lot of Wells in 2009, but the Wells Show just might get started a handful of weeks into the 2009 NFL season. It will be worth the wait!

We have some Justin Forsett buzz floating around our FFX Forums right now and for good reason. Does anyone believe in Julius Jones this year? I am not going to sit here and say that Julius has no shot to produce in 2009, but my money is on Forsett or Devin Moore stealing at least half of the touches by mid-season. Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, especially when we''re talking about the probability of back-ups rising to the top, but both Moore and Forsett will cost you very little so both are worth the risk in my opinion. Both are smaller-type backs, which is the only negative, and neither will likely have a long career as an NFL starter if one ever does win the gig in Seattle (or elsewhere later on). That said, both are currently available to be picked up in most medium size dynasty leagues, so I say use one of your last roster spots on either one. If forced to pick one, the one word that would come out of my mouth would be the word BOTH. It''s ridiculous to suggest that a fantasy owner in a smaller-type league should grab both, but I play in two large dynasty leagues where I always have project spots open for deep-type sleepers. I own both Forsett and Moore in both of our FFX expert dynasty leagues because I really do believe that one will beat out Jones for the starting gig in good time.

This is one of those deep sleeper shout-outs, but with a warning that this player is far from a sure thing. Brandon Rideau is currently sitting third on the depth chart at WR for the Bears. Rideau is 6-foot-3 and could develop if he gets the targets. Will he get the targets, though? That I do not know, but he is worth keeping an eye on this month as position battles begin. Chicago will especially be a fun team to watch when it comes to position battles, as they have an extremely young group of WRs on that Bears'' roster. We all know how good Jay Cutler is and he turned a rookie (Eddie Royal) into a PPR monster. Earl Bennett seems to be the breakout favorite here at FFX, but Rideau, Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Juaquin Iglesias all have a shot to be Cutler''s top receiver in 2009. Someone is going to shine aside from Greg Olsen. Just monitor Rideau. Knox is another player I like a lot on that roster.

If you haven\'t heard, Brett Favre is not coming out of retirement - For now. Of course that can change, and Favre might drop a bomb weeks from now without warning, but for now we have to go with the facts. The fact is that Sage Rosenfels is the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikes could have one of the most explosive offenses in the entire league in 2009 and many consider them a Super Bowl contender. If you think back, it was the acquisition of Rosenfels that really completed that roster in Minny. Then came Favre - Then went Favre. I know I can speak for Smitty and myself when I say that Rosenfels is very undervalued from a fantasy perspective. He could be a top 10 fantasy QB this coming season and Minnesota if on the field to start. Favre may have a year left, and certainly he could perform well in the right situation, but Rosenfels\'\' career is just getting going and Minny should put their trust in the solid passer. He is smart, he has a good arm and he knows how to feed the deep ball, something Bernard Berrian is going to tear up! If you want to go bargain shopping for a starting fantasy QB late in your 2009 fantasy football draft, consider scooping up Rosey. You might want to back him up with a decent fantasy back-up just in case, but I really think that Rosey can be one of the better value grabs, as far as QBs, in August drafts.

I'm in the middle of two yearly league expert drafts and I've landed Randy Moss in both. I grabbed him at 1.11 in one and 2.01 in the other. Both of these leagues are PPR, so I'm a bit shocked he has been falling that far. Don't worry, I'll post an article on these two drafts in the coming days and I will be sure to talk about Moss' current bargain-draft value. Yes, you can still be a bargain in the first- and second-round. Moss is capable of scoring 15+ touchdowns this year -- He should be going in the middle of the first-round in PPR drafts. I will talk about this, as well as Tom Brady's 2009 draft value, in the upcoming article on these two drafts. Look for it soon!

We talk a lot about hidden gems and sleepers during this part of the offseason, so I am going to go ahead and pass along one of my favorites - Raiders WR Louis Murphy. A team captain for the Florida Gators last season, the 200 pound Murphy has good height at just over 6-foot-2 and ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at the combine this past spring. More than the physical attributes, Raiders coach Tom Cable recently came out and specifically pointed to his 4th round pick's performance during OTAs saying, "He’s probably the surprise of our (rookie) class. He has all the makings of a special football player at this level — mainly because he was impressive on a daily basis. We really think we found one.” With the current state of the Raider receivers, it is not hard to imagine a guy like Murphy coming from nowhere to win a starting job this summer - even over first round pick Darrius Heyward-Bay who has already been plagued with offseason injuries. I am going to look to add Murphy to at least a few of my dynasty teams and I suggest others in deeper dynasty leagues do the same. It's not like it will cost you a lot to take the chance.

I remember last off-season when we moved Matt Forte to our number three ranked rookie running back nearing August. We took a lot of heat for that and a lot of users were upset on our forums. Most everyone had Jonathan Stewart way ahead of Forte, but that's just how fantasy football works. I'm not saying this to say that we know all, as Stewart probably moved back ahead of Forte at some point nearing September... my point is that no one can be called crazy for liking one player over another. Not when they are in the same ballpark, anyway. Matt Forte is in everyone's ballpark. Even Adrian Peterson's ballpark. I personally have Forte ranked as my number two overall player. Peterson is my top dog. It's not that I don't like Steven Jackson or Michael Turner this year, I just feel that Forte is in the best situation out of all running backs not named Adrian Peterson. The Jay Cutler trade was the best thing that could have ever happened to Forte owners. After a breakout rookie season, defenses would have been ready for the sophomore rusher in 2009. "Would have" being the key phrase. I'm not suggesting that defenses would have shut him down on a nightly basis if Cutler was not in a Bears uniform this season, but Forte would have been slowed down a bit for sure. All that has changed with the addition of Cutler. Defenses won't be able to focus just on Forte, or just on Cutler. Instead, both the Bears' rushing attack and passing attack will excel in 2009. Forte is going to once again have open lanes in 2009 and he might just get more yards-per-carry (last year he only averaged 3.9). So even if his workload gets cut down a little bit, he should average more per pop and be able to duplicate last season's numbers on less touches. Last year Forte had 316 carries for 1,238 yards, 8 total touchdowns and 63 receptions for 477 yards. He might actually get in the end zone more. I'm thinking 10-12 rushing touchdowns vs. last year's 8. As far as total scores, 14-15 is certainly doable in my opinion (last year Forte had 12 total). Forte might just be the safest player to take at No. 2 overall in 2009.

I realize Thomas Jones is still on the roster, but if you read our Thirdy-Year Old Running Back Article, you will find that it's near impossible for Thomas Jones to dominate at the age of 31. Read the article if you wish to differ. The Jets specifically traded up to draft Greene in this year's NFL Draft, and he was the team's number one ranked runner coming out of this 2009 rookie class - They want to use him and that Jets' coaching staff has acknowledged that Greene is the future of that rushing attack. That Jets offensive line had one of its best seasons in franchise history last year and the unit is intact and ready to rumble. The Jets will surprise in 2009 - In a major way! I said this same thing about Atlanta last off-season when so many were quick to judge that offense's limitations. All of this is HUGE news for Shonn Greene owners, dynasty or redraft. I wouldn't be shocked if Greene was a second-round pick by 2010 - He could have that solid of a rookie campaign.

Darren McFadden is one of my bigger sleepers this year. He was banged up last season and didn't really have the rookie outing most fantasy owners were hoping for. He only produced five games with more than 9 carries and he only topped 100 yards on the ground just once. Not good. The potential is definitely there, though, and I think the touches will be there as well. McFadden might not average over 15 carries per game, and he shouldn't be anyone's high-end fantasy RB2 this year, but he should easily get over 15 touches per game, with occasional big-carry games. That is a very good flex-option, and a decent fantasy RB2 for fantasy owners drafting WRs early. I'm starting to see McFadden fall into the fifth-round in some early drafts. He has decent value in the fourth-round, which is where his ADP has been most of the off-season, but if the recent trend continues and the fifth-round becomes his new resting spot, I think fantasy owners should get ready to scoop him up.

If you're in a dynasty league, consider attacking Derrick Ward via trade before it's too late. Ward is the most dynamic running back on that Tampa Bay roster and he will be running behind one of the best offensive lines in the entire league. Earnest Graham will certainly command some early carries in 2009, but the Bucs were third in the league last season in terms of passing to their running backs (98 receptions) — Since Ward is by far the best receiving back on that Bucs' roster, he should be the most used rusher in Tampa by the middle of the season. Redraft league owners should prepare for Ward to fall into the fifth- to sixth-round range, at least in early August. However, I expect Ward's value to climb extremely fast after some preseason play. The value in Ward this year is in that you can get him at the cost of a flex-option, or a fantasy RB3. If his ADP does eventually climb into the high fourth-round, Ward becomes less appealing in my eyes. So I say attack now in dynasty leagues and attack him in the fifth- to sixth- round range in yearly leagues while it lasts.

With the recent news that Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason is set to retire, many fantasy owners are going to expect big things out of Mark Clayton this year. While I still like Clayton a lot as a player, and he will most likely be the WR1 in Baltimore this year, don't count out second-year receiver Marcus Smith. Smith was looking solid last off-season before suffering a lingering shoulder injury, but he is a big guy and might surprise fantasy worlds if he gets a shot to produce (and stays healthy). Only monitor Smith in the deepest of dynasty leagues.

Tom Brady was arguably the biggest steal in 2007 fantasy football drafts. He was a fifth- to seventh-round pick that year, depending on the league, but he ended up tossing 50 touchdown passes. If you owned Brady during that 2007 season, you probably won your league. Brady, who is still recovering from a torn ACL (2008), appears to be on track to start Week 1. The big question everyone seems to be asking is, Will Brady and that Patriots offense pick up right where they left off back in 2007? Well, Randy Moss seems to think so. In fact, Moss was recently quoted saying that the Patriots offense could be better this upcoming season than it was back in 2007. Of course NFL athletes are going to be overly optimistic about their situations no matter what, but honestly, what has changed since 2007? Sure, Moss is 32, but Marvin Harrison was still in his prime at the age of 34 - He caught 95 passes for 1,366 yards and 12TDs at that age. Joey Galloway actually played at his prime through the age of 35, so Moss easily has 1-2 more elite years left in my opinion. Brady's recovery shouldn't concern fantasy owners too much either, as quarterbacks have a much easier time getting back up to speed after such an injury. Running backs usually take a full season of playing on the recovering-knee before they get back to pre-injury form, but quarterbacks are different. Use Brady's current ADP to your advantage as we near 2009 August drafts. Brady is falling into the third-round in a lot of early 2009 mock drafts and that screams value given that he could end up being the number one overall fantasy scorer at year's end. The Patriots used their first three 2009 NFL draft picks on defensive players, so even that Patriots defense should be back to form in 2009. While I won't expect 50TDs and 23TDs out of Brady and Moss in '09, I see no reason why Brady can't toss 38-42 scores, with roughly 14-15 going to Moss.

Moore could turn out to be a great late-round grab this upcoming fantasy season. He will be competing for the back-up role in Seattle this year, and he will be going up against Justin Forsett. Forsett is also a good running back, but Moore has much more pure ability and speed. I find it entertaining that no one is anticipating failure for Julius Jones this season. I think that one of Forsett or Moore will be starting at some point in 2009. Even though I have a good feeling about Moore, I just grabbed both rushers in one of my deep dynasty leagues. This strategy won't work in smaller type leagues, and you don't need Julius to make it work.

If you're looking for value at the end of the first-round this upcoming August, Frank Gore is your guy! Gore's current ADP is right around the 1.12 - 2.02 range. Getting a late first-round pick is usually dreaded, but this year those 1.11 and 1.12 draft slots are money! The WR/WR strategy is a solid one this season if you hold a late first-round pick, but now I'm looking at using such back-to-back selections on a Gore/Westbrook combo. For more on Westbrook entering 2009, read my most recent article on Westy under fantasy articles. As for Gore, the guy is only 26 and he is the focal point of that San Fran offense. Gore has been hard at work this off-season and the stud was "noticeably slimmer" at the team's mid-May OTAs. I know many have concerns about his knees, and I once did myself, but Gore has only missed three games during his three starting seasons in the NFL. It's time to start trusting Gore's 26 year-old knees! Need more reasons to like Gore in '09? Well, the 49ers have brought back fullback Moran Norris. Norris was in Detroit last season, but it was Norris that paved the way for Gore back in 2006, the season the stud ran for 1,695 yards, pulled in 61 receptions for 485 yards and scored nine total touchdowns. Gore even had nine 100-yard games that year. Getting Norris back is huge for Gore, especially mentally. Let others doubt Gore this August - Just don't let him fall past you in that 1.11-2.04 range! Gore is actually in my top six overall heading into 2009, so you can imagine how pumped I'm going to be if I start landing the guy with second-round picks!

Smitty just posted a must-read article on how Brian Westbrook is a 2009 must-own. I urge all of you to read it. His perspective makes a lot of sense. He basically touches on how Brian Westbrook is starting to become a bargain grab as we near August and all yearly leaguers should take advantage of his bargain value. As the article states, the key to drafting Westbrook this upcoming season is making sure you handcuff him to rookie LeSeaon McCoy. I couldn't agree more. I have to be honest, I have had my doubts about Westbrook this year, and his knees, feet and ankles concern me, but McCoy really is a great runner and the combo of the two will turn out to be a quality RB1 in '09. With the security that McCoy brings to the table, it's amazing that Westbrook is falling past the 2.04-2.05 area. Westy as your second player taken is money! Westy owners just have to nab McCoy. It is the most important part.

I see a lot of Clinton Portis posts on our forums and I think it\'s time to address the runner\'s value heading into 2009. Here is my advice when it comes to Porits in dynasty formats: Trade him! Why? His downfall is on the horizon. Could he crank out one more 14-15 game season? Sure, it\'s possible, but when a smaller-type runner has carried the football over 2,000 times and he is still being treated like a top 15-18 overall pick in dynasty formats, it\'s time to consider a trade-in. We have talked about \"Lateral Trading\" before here on FFX and that might be the best route to take if you currently own Portis in a dynasty league. Not familiar with our \"Lateral Trading\" advice? No problem. Here it is in a nutshell: Take a lateral step (trade one player for another) into a quietly similar talent, but you want to trade into a player that has more youth or upside... possibly players that have a bit of risk or questions... basically target extremely undervalued players. Need an example? How about trading Portis for a Marshawn Lynch or even a Darren McFadden? Now, the most important part about this trade technique is targeting guys that are quietly as good - Remember that. If you don\'t view Lynch as a possible equal, or McFadden for that matter, target different players! You want the player to have hidden value, possibly so much hidden value that they are a quiet equal, if not a better long-term investment, than the player your giving up. You\'re essentially buying low and selling high. In the Portis for Lynch example, you\'re taking advantage of the fact that Lynch is scheduled to miss the first three games of the \'09 season - The missed time is the hidden aspect of the trade that is really masking the fact that you\'re getting the better dynasty player in the deal. Fantasy owners hate suspensions - Use info like that! The thing that\'s great in the Portis for McFadden example is that McFadden is ranked so much lower than Portis in dynasty formats (even though I think McFadden is going to surprise in \'09), one might even be able to upgrade at another position in the swap... let\'s say you have Anthony Gonzalez... try upgrading him into aBraylon Edwards. Get the point? Shaun Alexander\'s final elite season was at the age of 28 and he fell off the face of the earth when he entered that 29-age season. Given Portis\' 2,000 career carries, and given that he will be 28 when the \'09 season begins, Portis\' 28-age season (this season) could be his last elite season (like Alexander\'s 28-age season) - And that\'s if Portis can even stay healthy this upcoming year). Sell Portis, but sell smartly like suggested above!

If you have a roster spot to burn in one of your deep dynasty leagues, consider scooping up Texans rookie running back Arian Foster. Foster is no sure thing, as he is currently battling for a roster spot, but I honestly think that he will soon grab that back-up running back job over in Houston. From there, all he needs is opportunity. Don't get me wrong, I realize how good Steve Slaton was last season as a rookie, and you won't hear me say that Slaton doesn't have serious talent, but I am a bit skeptical about his long-term value. I know this isn't what Slaton owners want to hear, and many will strongly disagree with me on the topic of Slaton, but sophomore slumps happen all the time and often times struggling sophomores never reemerge. Looking for examples? How about Cadillac Williams and Anthony "A-Train" Thomas. Both were top 15 overall fantasy picks heading into their sophomore campaigns and both failed fantasy owners in a major way. Now, not every running back runs into a sophomore slump, but I don't think Slaton has the frame (5-9/200) of a full-time rusher in this league. Could Slaton have a long career if his carries were limited? Sure, but it doesn't sound like Houston is interested in limiting his workload - I predict this will lead to injury. Will Arian Foster benefit? Maybe, but all I know for certain is that Foster has enough upside to keep an eye - Slaton owners should strongly consider picking him up, at least until the back-up running back battle is over in Houston.

With Browns running back Jerome Harrison making waves in OTAs, now might be the right time to try and workout a trade for rookie running back James Davis. His value has dropped recently due to the recent Harrison hype, and while Harrison is a relatively talented runner, I still firmly believe that Davis is the most talented back on that Browns roster. If you haven't had your 2009 rookie draft yet, this is even better news, as Davis could slip into the late second-round or even the early third-round. That's bargain value right there! I can't guarantee that Davis will get the opportunity that he needs in order to succeed at the next level, but the talent is present with this running back and that's all we can go on at this point. There are two extremely talented dark horse running backs in this 2009 rookie class and Davis is one of them -- Bernard Scott is the other.

Is it a good idea to trade Andre Johnson in dynasty leagues? I say yes, but only if the price is right. Johnson's value will never be higher and if you can make a lateral step into another stud-like receiver like Anquan Boldin, you might be able to request an upgrade at another position (in the same deal). I talk about lateral trading a lot on FFX and A.J. is the perfect player to use if you want to use this trading technique. The idea is you take an overvalued player that you currently own and downgrade him into a player you quietly see as almost an equal. Essentially, it's selling high and buying low. It's not that I don't see A.J. as a possible top 2-3 fantasy wide receiver this season, but a player like Boldin could play just as well as A.J. during any given season -- Both are that good. So, to get Boldin and be able to ask for another upgrade at another position, you could be setting yourself up quite nicely heading into 2009. An example would be Andre Johnson and the 1.09 for Anquan Boldin and the 1.03. Using another player upgrade instead of a draft pick, you might get away with a trade like: Andre Johnson and Jay Cutler for Braylon Edwards and Peyton Manning. The point is to target players you quietly like almost as much as the player on your roster that you believe you can sell-high. Then sift through all of the relevant rosters and come up with a two-for-two that gets you a major upgrade at another position. Now go build a dynasty!

One player to monitor this off-season is Bills WR Steven Johnson. He probably isn\'t a player that you\'d draft in upcoming yearly drafts, but he is a guy to keep an eye on in larger dynasty leagues. The second-year player has been impressive thus far in camp, and according to a BuffaloNews.com report, he has received high praise from his quarterback. \"If you guys could watch some of this tape of the past couple practices of him getting off of the press, it\'s ridiculous,\" quarterback Trent Edwards said. \"It\'s making some of the best corners on our team [look bad], getting right by them. He\'s shifty, he moves well, he comes out of his breaks well and I\'m happy he\'s one of our receivers.\" Don\'t release quality talent to scoop this youngster up, but like I said, keep an eye on him in larger dynasty leagues and grab him if he continues to impress in the coming months.

If you're looking for a huge deep sleeper entering 2009, Bengals rookie RB Bernard Scott is your man! Scott has HUGE upside entering this upcoming fantasy season, but he comes with a bag full of risk. The good news is that he can be grabbed in the second-round in 2009 fantasy football rookie drafts, and you can draft him after Cedric Benson in 2009 redraft leagues (for now). The stud college rusher ran for 2,165 yards and 39 touchdowns in college last year and had 1,892 yards and 27 touchdowns during his junior season. The guy is a big-time player and can throw down MONSTER performances at any given time. He had 292 yards rushing and 7TDs in Abilene Christian's '08 Division II playoff win over West Texas A&M. If that doesn't impress you, I don't know what will? So, you might be asking yourself, where is the risk? Five arrests in four years! The good news is that all five of Scott's arrests have been either expunged or dismissed. Will he stay out of trouble? Clearly we don't know the answer to that, but the sky is the limit if this kid can leave all of that in the rear view. My advice is to grab Scott in all redraft and dynasty leagues. He may be somewhat of risk, but again, he won't cost you more than a middle-round pick in 2009 redraft leagues and you can likely get Scott in the second-round in 2009 fantasy football rookie drafts. Some may even question you if you grab Scott as high as an early second, but I'll be honest... I think Scott is worth grabbing in the late-first in 2009 rookie drafts!

We were invited to participate in an early 2009 Expert Fantasy Football Mock Draft - That draft is currently in the second-round and you can follow the draft live as it happens by reading our most recent fantasy article. We will be updating it frequently. So, where did Frank Gore go in this draft? Surprisingly, he fell to 2.06! If Gore's value continues to drop as we head toward August, you're going to see me trading down in a lot of upcoming expert drafts. I'm not going to trade into the 2.06 and expect Gore to last to that slot again, but if this undervaluing continues in the coming weeks and months, I might strongly consider trading down any pick I get in that 2-7 range so that I may land Gore, a player I consider to be a top 5-7 overall player in 2009, at bargain value. It's all about draft value and Gore is starting to look like one of the bigger early-round steal candidates for the 2009 fantasy football season. Also keep in mind that the runner is only 26, so trading for Gore in all dynasty leagues and formats is strongly advised! He might be a bigger steal in dynasty formats than redraft formats.

We have been receiving a handful of emails today on Raiders WR Chaz Schilens. Everyone wants to see him moved up on our fantasy rankings -- Don't worry, he jumped up a ton on the rankings as of this afternoon. The 6-4 beast-of-a-receiver has been running with the first-team and was reportedly the best and most impressive receiver at mandatory minicamp. He is quickly becoming a lot of people's favorite dark horse receiver this off-season. As I said, he is 6-4 and runs a 4.4 forty. He also has a 43-inch vertical and that could be a big reason why the Raiders passed on Michael Crabtree in April's draft (at least that's what some reports suggest). His ability to go up and aggressively get a jump ball could really help him hang onto that starting job that he apparently already has. Don't expect too much, especially with JaMarcus Russell under center in Oakland, but don't overlook this kid either. He is definitely worth owning in deep dynasty leagues and FFX Spotlight worthy!

Sammie Stroughter reportedly has everyone buzzing in Tampa Bay. The 5-9, 189-pound rookie receiver has been lining up with the first-team as of late. He is being called a 'natural hand-catcher" and he is picking things up quick over in Tampa Bay. We have already grabbed Stroughter in both of our dynasty expert leagues and we recommend that all of you Xtremers grab him as well in larger dynasty leagues (if he is even available). Don't drop a proven producer for the unproven rookie, but we have a good feeling about this kid and his path to the starting line-up isn't all that long.

I've been talking about Earl Bennett for quite some time now and it's time start trading for the guy while his value is extremely low. If he is available on waivers in your dynasty league, consider yourself very lucky and scoop him up. Most of us won't be that lucky, though, as he isn't likely to be available in most medium-to-large size dynasty leagues. For those that do not see him on waivers, start trying to quietly trade for the receiver. Someone is going to have to step up in Chicago at receiver, as Jay Cutler is going to make one of those Bears wide receivers a star... Will it be Devin Hester? Johnny Knox? How about Juaquin Iglesias? I'd be lying if I said I knew for sure that both Bennett and Knox will shine, but those are the two I believe in. Knox has tremendous speed and Bennett is the possession receiver. Will Cutler turn two Bears WRs into a Brandon Marshall and a Eddie Royal? Probably not, but one should shine -- Cutler knows how to speed along the careers of young WRs!

Reggie Bush claims to be about 75 percent healed from his December microfracture procedure and he is expected to be very limited when organized training activities begin on Tuesday. Bush has missed 10 games during the past two seasons due to repeated issues with that oft-injured left knee of his. However, Bush does expect to be a "full-go" during training camp, but don't be surprised if Bush kicks things off slowly in early 2009. Microfracture can often be a tough thing to bounce-back from, but if Bush doesn't push it, he should be fine come mid-season. A healthy Bush is exactly what Pierre Thomas owners should be hoping for. The two runners play completely different roles in that Saints offense and both are going to be far more dangerous when on the field at the same time. A healthy Reggie will give Thomas the kind of success that Deuce McAllister (1,057/198/10TDs) had during Bush's rookie season, when Bush had 88 receptions (2006).

The Seahawks have just signed rookie RB Devin Moore. We were extremely high on Moore earlier this off-season -- The only reason he dropped on our fantasy big board was because other teams weren't taking notice. Well, quietly Moore has found himself in a solid fantasy situation, as only Julius Jones and Justin Forsett (another guy to keep an eye on in the deepest of leagues) stand in his way. My advice, again in the deepest of dynasty leagues, is to consider scooping up both Moore and Forsett. Only do this if you have spots to burn, but my guess is that one of those two will be starting for the Seahawks by season's end. If you only have room to stash one of these guys on your bench, I'd say Moore has the most upside to eventually start in Seattle.

Looking for a big-time sleeper tight end in dynasty leagues? Or, are you looking for a guy to grab late in your upcoming redraft leagues? Consider investing in Eagles TE Brent Celek. Word out of Philly is that Celek is the unquestioned starter entering '09. The guy had a decent year in 2008 (27/318/1), but he didn't get the keys to the starting line-up until late in the '08 season. He did his real damage during the playoffs, where he grabbed 19 balls for 151 yards and three touchdowns. Ten of those catches, 83 of those yards and two of those touchdowns came in the NFC title game alone. If you're in a dynasty league, make sure this kid isn't a free agent. If you're planning on buying low at the tight end position come August, keep Celek on your radar.

Many are wondering if Santonio Holmes is capable of top 10-15 wide receiver numbers in '09. I say that he is. Having those kind of expectations does come with some risk, but Holmes had a great 2007 (52/942/8) and looked much like that same receiver during the playoffs in '08. Given Holmes' 18.1 yards-per-catch average in 2007, a 1,200-yard season isn't out of the question if he can pull in 70-80 balls. Not possible in Pittsburgh? Think again. In 2007, Roethlisberger was a top 5-6 fantasy QB in most scoring formats, posting 3,158 yards passing with 34 total touchdowns, while ranking 16th in attempts. That's quite impressive. And while some are getting the feeling that a monster season is out of the question for a Pittsburgh receiver, keep in mind that Hines Ward has average 84.5 receptions per season over his last eight seasons. Given that Ward is 33, this could be Holmes' time to shine and the best part is that he may only cost you fantasy WR3-type value in '09.

Witherspoon owners should rejoice at the prospect of this LB returning to his natural position at WLB where his skills and talents can be maximized. I'd try to acquire Witherspoon before less attentive owners realize that this shift should translate into 80+ solo tackles, 100 total tackles with a handful of forced fumbles, sacks and passes defensed. There will be more than enough plays to go around for both Witherspoon and Laurinaitis to be considered LB2s this year.

Looking for a deep rookie sleeper at the wide receiver position? Well, Johnny Knox might just be your guy. Knox has great hands and posted a 4.34 forty at the 2009 NFL Combine. In just two years at ACU, Knox pulled in 121 receptions for 2,227 yards and 30TDs - That's an impressive two-year resume. The Bears also drafted rookie receiver Juaquin Iglesias this year, and both Earl Bennett and Devin Hester still have a lot of upside, but we really like Knox given his current value. We actually just landed him in the 7th-round in our 2009 Expert Fantasy Football Rookie Draft. That's almost no risk and all reward right there! Jay Cutler knows how to speed along a rookie's learning process, as he proved with Eddie Royal in Denver last season. Don't be surprised if Knox matures fast and the Bears utilize his tremendous hands and speed right out of the gate in '09.

It seems that many fantasy owners are forgetting how "on-the-rise" Santonio Holmes is in this league. Yea, there is some risk with Holmes, as he busted in 2008 (821/5) after looking so promising in 2007 (942/8). Despite taking a step backwards last season, Holmes was able to step it up during the 2008 NFL Playoffs. Holmes was Super Bowl XLIII MVP, pulling in nine passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. Some say that Holmes put together one of the most dominant fourth-quarter drives by a wide receiver in Super Bowl history. If you don't remember, Pittsburgh was down by three with less than three minutes left on the clock.. on the drive, Holmes pulled in 73 yards on four catches, including that intense six-yard sideline touchdown grab behind three defenders. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie put some solid pressure on Holmes during Super Bowl XLIII, yet Holmes was able to shine. For some reason Holmes can be had as a fantasy WR3 in 2009, but he can EASILY hand you fantasy WR2 numbers!

Shonn Greene was my dark horse entering this '09 draft and I'm really liking his future value with the Jets. First off, what a draft for the Jets! Greene has first-round talent in my opinion, so to be able to move up and grab Mark Sanchez and then land Shonn Greene in the third-round -- Wow is all I can say. As for Greene, I quietly have him ranked as my third-best fantasy rookie running back. Now, I have Joseph Addai in one of my dynasty leagues and I'd be tempted to take Donald Brown over Greene in that league if I had the 1.03 or 1.04 pick, but that is the only situation where I can see myself not ranking and taking Greene as the third rookie rusher. Thomas Jones will start 2009, but Greene is the future and that Sanchez-Greene duo is going to turn heads in the near future.

The Jaguars just selected Liberty RB Rashad Jennings with the 250th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. This is a great move for the Jaguars, but this could hurt MJD in terms of goal line touches. MJD owners shouldn't be worried at all, though, as the "Human Bowling Ball" is going to get his in 2009. The selection of Virginia OT Eugene Monroe No. 8 overall is huge for MJD entering this season. He could be a top 1-2 overall player in PPR formats and at least top 3-5 in non-PPR formats. I love MJD this year and Jennings is only going to keep the little guy fresh and healthy. Jennings is a must-have handcuff, though!

As we enter day two of the 2009 NFL Draft, Iowa RB Shonn Greene still does not have a home. I really like this kid. I can't predict where he will go in today's second day of the 2009 NFL Draft, but the former Iowa rusher is by far the number one player left on my draft board. In 2008 at Iowa, Greene scored 20 touchdowns, rushed for 1,850 yards and hit the 100-yard mark in every single 2008 game he played. Every single game! That's 13 straight games, which includes his Outback Bowl performance. Greene also scored in every single game but one and scored 14 of his 20 touchdowns in his final six outings. Greene is the kind of running back that could shock fantasy worlds much like Chris Johnson did in his rookie season. Monitor where he lands today - You might see him go to the Bengals or the Browns and then you will be squeezing him into your top five overall for 2009 rookies.

Chris Wells probably landed in the most ideal spot so far for rookie runners. Coach Whisenhunt comes from that Pittsburgh Steelers attack and wants to get back to that between-the-tackles running -- Wells is a perfect fit! I still like Knowshon Moreno as my number one overall rookie in this 2009 class, but I like both Moreno and Wells a ton and believe that both can be top 5-10 fantasy running backs of the future. Both Moreno and Wells could rush for 1,000 yards in their first seasons. Both are in great long-term situations!

As you probably already know, the Denver Broncos have selected Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno with the No. 12 overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft. My initial reaction was shock, but only because the Broncos have addressed the running back position all off-season. Why now throw even more money at the position? That said, all of those Denver running backs, aside from maybe Ryan Torain, are merely mediocre talents, and Torain can't seem to stay healthy. Knownshon Moreno is in a solid long-term situation and I firmly stand by my predictions that state this kid is the next top 5 overall fantasy talent. It could take a season for him to get to that level, but he is a future fantasy stud in the making!

With Tony Gonzalez now in Atlanta, Dwayne Bowe could see more targets than ever. Bowe was top five in targets for receivers last season and you can bet that Todd Haley is going utilize Bowe every chance he gets. With Matt Cassel now under center in Kansas City, Bowe's dynasty future looks bright, especially in PPR formats. Cassel may or may not be the answer, and certainly this trade hurts him from a fantasy perspective, but I like Bowe in Kansas City! Tyler Thigpen is a good quarterback and having both of those quarterbacks on that K.C. roster provides great fantasy security for Bowe owners. Don't be surprised if Bowe kicks off the season in the top 5-10 for fantasy receivers. Even though I believe Kansas City will surprise some people in 2009, just like I predicted with Atlanta last year, that Chiefs defense is going to get scored on and that equals a lot of third- and fourth-quarter passing for that Chiefs offensive attack. Bowe is in for a big 2009!

The word on the wire is that Browns WR Braylon Edwards will soon be in a Giants uniform. Well, there are conflicting reports, but two sources suggest that the Browns and Giants are expected to get a deal done before the 2009 NFL Draft later this month. This move will really help Edwards' stats. The Browns are falling apart. With Edwards, they might move the ball on occasion and Edwards could still manage top 10-15WR numbers in 2009... But in New York, Edwards might just get back to that top 5-10WR form we witnessed over a year ago. Make no mistake, even with the drops, Edwards is an elite fantasy talent and capable of being a top 5WR during any given season. He just needs the targets and a situation where he can grab touchdowns. A Giants uniform will get him those touchdown opportunities! We will let you know if the deal goes down - As we said, there are conflicting reports on this!

Looking for a very deep sleeper at the wide receiver position? Well, consider grabbing Seahawks WR Ben Obomanu. Obomanu reportedly ran with the first-team on Tuesday as the Seahawks opened minicamp. He isn't a flashy grab, as Obomanu has almost no experience. He missed the entire 2008 season due to a broken clavicle, and he caught just 12 passes in 2007, but he is a player to monitor if you're in the deepest of leagues. With Nate Burleson battling back from a torn ACL, the opportunity is there for Obomanu in 2009. Now he just has to stay healthy.

Reggie Bush is one of my favorite buy-low dynasty players right now, especially in PPR formats. Bush recently stated that he expects his role in the Saints' offensive attack to increase this upcoming NFL season. There is some speculation that New Orleans will draft a running back in the upcoming 2009 NFL Draft, but my gut tells me that they will not. Pierre Thomas should be the main man between the tackles in '09, but Bush will be the versatile player that he once was back in 2006, when Deuce McAllister was the between the tackles guy. Bush is at his best when defenses cannot focus on him, and with Thomas in the backfield in 2009, defenses will have their hands full. Keep an eye on Bush's knee issues in the coming months, as he had microfracture surgery this off-season. That is the only concern I have when it comes to Bush this upcoming season. If healthy, he is low-end RB1. In non-PPR formats, I predict that he ends up being a sneaky RB2 at season's end.

Jay Cutler is obviously the most talked about fantasy player right now on our Fantasy Football Forums. Everyone is asking how this trade will affect everyone involved, from Cutler himself down to Eddie Royal, Brandon Marshall and even Greg Olsen. It's tough to speculate how solid Cutler is going to be in 2009, because so much can, and probably will, happen in the coming weeks and months. The Bears could sign a wide receiver like Torry Holt, or they could draft a solid rookie receiver like Hakeem Nicks or Jeremy Maclin - Holt could help keep Cutler inside the top 8-10 for fantasy QBs in 2009 and a stud rookie could do the same for Cutler in 2010. My quick and initial advice on the matter is to not sell-low. You just can't. Culter won't be a top 5 fantasy QB in 2009, but Cutler owners just have to ride the wave right now.

Now that Jay Cutler is a Chicago Bear, Brandon Marshall fantasy owners have to be worried about the receiver moving forward. Kyle Orton might be a better quarterback than most think, as the options and offensive attack in Chicago were limited, but this Cutler trade CAN'T be a good thing for Marshall owners. While I'm concerned, and definitely convinced that Marshall won't be quite as good without Cutler under center in Denver, I think Marshall still has top 10 dynasty wide receiver value. Marshall is an elite talent and could still pull in 5-6 catches per game in '09 and grab at least 9-12 scores, but because of his looming suspension and recent hip surgery, Marshall is definitely a buy-low and sell-high candidate right now. If you can get him cheap do it - If you can sell him for a Braylon Edwards and some, as Smitty suggests in his lateral trading examples, do it!

I can't figure out why so many fantasy owners are giving up on Chad Ocho Cinco. Granted, the guy comes with a lot of risk in 2009, but his ADP is right around the 56-60 range overall. That's a steal. Chad is only 31, and with T.J. Houshmandzadeh now in Seattle, No. 85 could be in for a huge bounce-back season. Fact: Houshmandzadeh is older than Chad Ocho Cinco, as Housh turns 32 later this year and Chad just turned 31. Don't get me wrong, I don't advise anyone to draft Chad earlier than his 5th- to 6th-round ADP, but my advice is to take a chance on Ocho Cinco this season if the price is right. Carson Palmer is reportedly 100 percent healthy and Chad should have a chip on his shoulder to start the year. If you think Chad isn't capable of having a 200-yard/3TD game on any given Sunday, you're forgetting how talented the receiver is and you're thinking Chad is older than he is!

Ronnie Brown is one of the most underrated fantasy running backs entering 2009. Brown suffered a torn ACL right in the middle of the 2007 season, but he showed flashes of brilliance last season, which was his first season back from injury. Typically runners struggle that first season back from ACL surgery, but Brown didn't. He didn't crank out top 5-10 running back numbers last season, but he did score 10 touchdowns on just 214 carries and was the focal point of that impressive wildcat offense. The Dolphins did a great job last season given their offensive limitations, and I only see things getting better for Miami in 2009. The word on the wire is that Miami won't have much of a RBBC (running back by committee) in 2009. I truly believe that Brown can be a top 10-13 fantasy back in 2009 -- And the best part is that he will only cost you a third-round pick!

In the right environment, Chris Wells could turn into a future top 5-10 fantasy running back. Some call this 2009 rookie running back class weak, but I say it's extremely strong. In fact, I believe that both Knowshon Moreno and Wells have a great shot at being top 12 overall fantasy talents by 2010. Bold? Absolutely, but these two studs are loaded with talent... if healthy, only a bad landing spot could ruin their 2009+ fantasy potential. Even though Moreno is currently my No. 1 ranked rookie rusher, I have Wells ranked right behind him. These two are so close and so talented, either one could be a top 8RB in their rookie season. Wells, who stands at 6-1 and weighs 235 pounds, was reportedly clocked as low as 4.34 and as high as 4.42 in the 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. That's ridiculously fast for his size. Wells is locked into my top 2 overall heading into early 2009 fantasy football rookie drafts.

Angelo Crowell was on IR last year after undergoing a procedure for chondromalacia (runner's knee), which is strange, as the original timetable had him out for 4-6 weeks. Regardless, from 2005-2007 he has produced 125, 95 and 140 total tackles over those years. He has played both SLB and WLB, and with the Buccaneers needing both, I'd be very surprised if he isn't in their starting line-up to begin the season. From a fantasy perspective, start off by treating him as a LB3 with the upside for more.

Good-bye DL stud, hello LB sleeper. Yes, he played LB in college -- 8 years ago. Yes, his main responsibility is to rush the passer, but if I'm an OC, the left side of that Packers defense is going to see so many different screens, slot receivers, players in movement and gimmicks.. that the learning curve will last well into November. If you have to grab him do it as a LB3, but be sure it's a late, late pick. It's tough to be optimistic about his fantasy value as the learning curve could be steep.

When recently asked what the identity of the Rams would be in 2009, St. Louis executive vice president Billy Devaney talked about how the Rams offense is built around RB Steven Jackson. “There isn’t any secret — our best player on the team is Steven Jackson,” Devaney said. “We’re going to build our offense around Steven Jackson. There isn’t any secret about that. … First and foremost, we’re going to try to run the ball and try to establish ourselves as a strong running team.” The Rams should be much improved in the offensive line and blocking departments this upcoming season, as the organization made former Browns center, Jason Brown, the league’s highest-paid center in the league. St. Louis also signed FB Mike Karney to block in front of Jackson in 2009. Both are great signings. In our eyes, Jackson is a top 3-5 fantasy running back in all leagues and formats entering 2009 -- even PPR formats! Especially PPR formats!

Want a deep sleeper wide receiver for the 2009 season and beyond? Pick-up Josh Morgan! As we just posted on our breaking news, the 49ers reportedly expect the kid to be a "top flight" receiver in this league. Morgan is no lock to be an elite fantasy talent, but he is absolutely worth rostering. He shouldn't be available in any dynasty or keeper leagues, but it appears that many fantasy owners still haven't received the memo on this one... If Morgan is available, grab him immediately! He might shine as early as this upcoming fantasy season, as the third-year breakout year is starting to become the second-year breakout year. Expect to hear a lot more about Morgan in the coming weeks and months.

Don't overlook Darren McFadden in 2009. A combination of injuries and lack of carries last season should make him quite the bargain come August drafts. Where do you grab the second-year running back this upcoming fantasy season? Well, don't grab him until at least the middle of the fourth-round or the beginning of the fifth. Why? Because you don't have to. McFadden's current ADP is in the fifth- to sixth-round range, which will be a bargain in hindsight if you ask me. In 2008, McFadden only had five games with more than 9 carries, and he only had one 100-yard performance. Given the fact that his shoulder is reportedly 100%, and because he did average 4.4 yards-per-carry last season when he did carry the football, I think McFadden is going to be a very nice surprise given his projected 2009 draft value. Invest!

Eighteen. No, that's not Terrell Owens' new jersey number, that's the number of teams not interested in signing the stud. The list, so far, includes: Cowboys, Giants, Redskins, Ravens, 49ers, Vikings, Falcons, Browns, Chargers, Eagles, Jets, Titans, Rams, Saints, Texans, Jaguars, Dolphins, Raiders, Buccaneers. That list should grow a little more at the very least, but keep in mind that a couple of teams could reconsider... like the Vikings. I expected a few teams to stay clear of Owens, but this is getting ridiculous. Owens has at least one more top 10-12 wide receiver season left in the tank and someone is going to step up and take a chance. The team that ends up taking a chance on Owens, assuming the team has a solid passer, will likely look brilliant at season's end. I know Owens is 35, but very few NFL players have ever had his work ethic... he is a beast and I think that this parade of rejection is going to be painful to reflect back on for some NFL GMs come September.

After pleading guilty to misdemeanor illegal possession of a firearm on Thursday, Marshawn Lynch will receive no jail time. “Today I pled guilty to a misdemeanor violation of having a firearm in a vehicle,” Lynch said in a statement reportedly emailed to Pro Football Talk. “I am embarrassed by my recent arrest and conviction. I deeply regret that I placed myself in this situation." So what does this mean for fantasy owners in 2009? Well, the running back’s case will be reviewed by the league under the Personal Conduct Policy, and given Lynch's involvement in that hit-and-run accident last season, I wouldn't be shocked at all if he got slapped with a four game suspension. I have a feeling that Commissioner Goodell might step it up in the punishment department this year. He has actually been somewhat lenient as of late if you ask me, but I really believe all that is about to change, at least with those repeating mistakes. I'm guessing here, but I say four games!

If you haven't heard, the recent disorderly conduct charge filed against Broncos WR Brandon Marshall has been dropped and the case was dismissed. Marshall's attorney has stated that Marshall should have never been charged in the first place - There is a chance that Marshall escapes without a suspension, but we still think the league will come down on him in some way shape or form. While some will celebrate after this, I still say that this guy cannot be trusted from a fantasy perspective. If you own Marshall, use this recent news to your advantage and sell-high. I know many Marshall owners are going to suggest that reacting to this most recent charge, which was dropped, is a bad move, but I just don't trust Marshall for the long-term. I'm not the only one, as rumors are circling around Denver right now suggesting that his long-term value is now clouded in the eyes of that Broncos organization. Stay tuned, as Marshall could still face a suspension just for the recent arrest alone.

Brandon Marshall was arrested again! According to an ESPN report, the receiver was booked in an Atlanta City jail on Sunday on a disorderly conduct charge. What does this mean for his future fantasy value? It's way too early to know for certain, but my initial guess is that Marshall is going to miss a handful of games in 2009. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell can suspend Marshall even without a conviction, and given that Marshall reportedly promised to stay out of trouble after last year's legal issues, you can bet that good old Roger Goodell is going to make an example out of the Broncos receiver. This is Marshall's fourth arrest since March of 2006. Fourth! For some reason there are a lot of Marshall believers even right now after this breaking news, so I say shop the guy before it's too late. Eddie Royal's stock just went up, but I still have my concerns about Denver in general heading into 2009. First Cutler is shopped and now he is pissed - Now this! Denver is in trouble!

If you haven't heard, Kellen Winslow was traded to the Bucs today. Is the tight end worth more in Tampa Bay? My initial guess is no way. I don't know that the move lowers Winslow's value all that much, but it sure doesn't raise his value that's for sure. If I'm a top tier tight end, I like the combination of Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson over Luke McCown and... um, who is the back-up in Tampa right now? Oh, yea, Brian Griese! Jeff Garcia is gone and McCown appears to be the 2009 starter. Not good. McCown could impress, but we highly doubt he ends up being a better option than either Quinn or Anderson. If you're trying to figure out where to slot Winslow this season, I say anything higher than 5-7 is too high. If Tampa does something drastic at the quarterback position, clearly I'd change my stance here.

It was learned early this morning that soon-to-be rookie WR Michael Crabtree has a stress fracture in his foot. Initial reports suggested that Crabtree was going to immediately have the same surgery that 2008 rookie RB Jonathan Stewart had. He will now wait until after his Texas Pro Day (March 26) to have the surgery. "I don't know where that report came from," Crabtree said. "It [stress fracture] has been there for about a year and it's never caused me any pain. I can play with it the rest of my life. It won't stop me from running. I'm going to run." I still stand by my "don't freak out" stance. Crabtree is still the our No. 1 ranked rookie receiver heading into the 2009 NFL Draft, and unless he suffers a setback, or a report surfaces suggesting that his fracture won't heal properly, he is on his way to being a stud at the NFL level. Get on or get off the wagon!

If you haven't heard, WR Michael Crabtree has a slight stress fracture in his left foot and his foot will require surgery. The incoming rookie is expected to be sidelined for at least 10 weeks, which means he will likely cancel his NFL pro day. If all goes well, and we do believe he will have the surgery, doctors reportedly feel that he can be ready for training camp. Fantasy owners shouldn't freak out and drop Crabtree on their rookie rankings. Jonathan Stewart was in this same situation last year and had the same type of surgery, yet Stewart went No. 13 overall to the Panthers. Crabtree should be everyone's No. 1 ranked rookie WR heading into 2009. He has Calvin Johnson upside and his lack of speed should not concern anyone. Think Larry Fitzgerald. When you can go up and get a ball that no one else can get, you do not need blazing speed. Crabtree is fast enough!

We have taken a lot of heat so far this off-season because of our extremely high ranking of incoming rookie running back Knowshon Moreno. Our staff average rankings have the back ranked No. 8 overall on our 2009 Dynasty Rankings. Yea, I said overall! Bold? Yea, well that's how we roll! Our only concern with Moreno has been his college playing weight of 207 pounds - Well, Moreno clearly hit the weights this off-season, as the stud weighed in at 217 pounds today at the combine. At 5-11, 217 pounds, Moreno has an ideal NFL RB frame. In 2008, the Georgia running back produced three 3TD-performances, rushed for over 100 yards seven times and scored in every single regular season game but two. With the added weight, Moreno is now inside my personal top 5-10 overall in dynasty formats. Crazy? I've been called worse. This kid is for real!

With the combine finally getting underway, a guy I am keeping an eye on is Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin. He is certainly not getting the press Michael Crabtree is, but I think he could be the best of this bunch when it is all said and done. He is only average size at 5’11” and 195 lbs, but this kid has blazing 4.35 speed and has a knack for finding the endzone – looking over his rushing and receiving stats you’ll find he scored a TD once every 9 touches! That makes him a threat to score any time he touches the ball and he should have an immediate impact in the NFL. It still remains to be seen which team drafts him, but if he can hook up with an established offense that already has a true #1 WR (the Texans for instance), his career could take off quickly (think Eddie Royal). If you are a dynasty player, Harvin is someone who could very well be available at the tail end of round one and that would be a major steal.

After reading Smitty's Spotlight on Knowshon Moreno, I decided to get to work on my Shonn Greene Player Spotlight. Smitty then beat me to it, but what he said was exactly right. This 2009 RB draft class is phenomenal. I even think it's better than last year's draft class. I know some may call that crazy, but we have seen rookie RBs rise and fall fast in this league. A-Train for example. I'm not saying that Matt Forte is going to fail, I actually like him the most from last year's draft class, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Steve Slaton fall from the elite. He is talented, but he doesn't have the frame to run between the tackles for the long-term. Chris Wells and Shonn Greene are built to grind it out. Greene is my No. 1 ranked rookie and Wells and Moreno are closely behind. This class will surprise and 2-3 of these rookie RBs will be top 10RBs of the future! Fact: Shonn Greene rushed for 100+ in every college game last season.

We currently have Knowshon Moreno ranked as our No. 1 rookie running back coming out of this 2009 NFL Draft class. Does that mean that Moreno is a lock to be our No. 1 ranked rookie rusher come September? The answer is absolutely NO! This draft class is so good, landing spots can determine everything. For now, predictions and guessing have to do and Moreno currently has a kung-fu grip on the top spot. Moreno is so talented, we truly believe that with 10 added pounds, top 5-10RB production is possible by 2010. That being said, don't think for a second that Chris Wells and Shonn Greene can't be top 10RBs of the future either. The odds are against all three being NFL studs, we know that, but Greene is serious talent and and reminds us a lot of Ronnie Brown (before ACL tear). Greene rushed for 1,850 yards and 20TDs last season. Stud!

According to reports, the Chiefs have offered Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley the team's head coaching job and Haley has accepted. This is great news for Dwayne Bowe and that Chiefs passing game. Haley's play calling and aggressive passing attack are a big reason why the Cardinals shocked the world last season. Bowe already had top 10WR upside written all over him, but the addition of Haley could make Bowe one of the biggest WR steals in 2009 fantasy football drafts. His current ADP is right around the 5th- to 6th-round range, so use that information to your advantage (and monitor it as it changes), but expect Bowe to shine during this upcoming fantasy football season.

It's official -- The New England Patriots have placed their 2009 franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel. What does this mean? Well, no one knows quite yet, but two scenarios will likely play out. The organization will either trade Matt Cassel, 26, or they will keep him as insurance to Tom Brady (ACL). If they do keep Cassel, New England will be committing roughly $30 million to just Brady and Cassel alone in 2009. That's a lot of money for two quarterbacks. The franchise tag for quarterbacks in 2009 is $14.65 million. It's tough to guess which scenario is most likely to go down, as conflicting reports are surfacing on Brady's rehabilitation. Things should be more clear as we head toward March - Until then, fantasy owners just have to wait and see. As for ranking Cassel in 2009, we'd suggest you slot him right around the 10-12 range. The upside is there for more, but until he has a new home, he may only be guaranteed to start a handful of games, if that, in 2009. Stay tuned.

There are some great discussions going on right now in our forums about the top players at each position for the upcoming season. I'm here to tell you that Andre Johnson has assumed the role of the #1 fantasy WR in the game in all formats. He had his skeptics after a 2007 season that saw him miss seven games due to injury, but came back strong this past season and posted career highs in receptions (115), yards (1,575) and touchdowns (8). Even with the injury in 2007, it was obvious Johnson was on pace for tremendous output – 107/1500/12. There are very few guys in the league with his combination of size, speed, agility and toughness - and he comes baggage-free! The Texans are an emerging force in the league and have an established QB in Matt Schaub, complimentary receiver in Kevin Walter, and new-found RB stud in Steve Slaton. All of this bodes well for the 27-year-old stud and I expect more of the same for years to come.

He is my pick for the impact rookie linebacker for 2009 and the first one I'd select, after Curry! With the recent release of Pisa Tinoisamoa in St Louis, Laurinaitis is set to start at MLB and rack up a ton of tackles for a defense that should be on the field quite a bit each Sunday. Laurinaitis is a blue collar type of LB that will be around the ball, giving him an opportunity to approach 100 tackles with 80+ solos a conservative guess. He worth an early second round pick in rookie only drafts and begins the year as a legit LB2 with potential for more.

Joseph Addai owners, and I am one of them, are currently pulling out their hair, as the Colts just selected RB Donald Brown with the 27th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. While this definitely isn't what Addai owners wanted, DeAngelo Williams survived the drafting of Jonathan Stewart thus far. I like Brown, I think he is a good running back, but Joseph Addai can still put up second-round fantasy numbers in 2009 and beyond (and will now be a big-time bargain for redraft leaguers this upcoming season). Brown still has a lot to prove and the Colts aren't going to just shove Addai aside. That said, Addai owners better see about getting that 1.04 pick in their 2009 rookie drafts - Handcuffing would be a great move regardless of how much we still like Addai.

There is a little DeShawn Wynn buzz floating around Green Bay at the moment. Some expect Wynn to cut into Ryan Grant's 2009 workload, but I say don't believe it. I mean, Wynn will steal some touches this season, and he should in order to keep Grant healthy and on the field, but fantasy owners should use this news to their advantage. Wynn's pass blocking ability could eventually move him ahead of current back-up Brandon Jackson, but that's about as far as this thing will go in my opinion - Unless Grant gets hurt. Grant isn't a fantastic fantasy RB2, but he is a decent fantasy RB2 for sure. However, he is an outstanding fantasy RB3 and flex-option in 2009. Try to land him as your RB3/flex!