All-Name FA FF Team

Some big names are out there still not signed with a team. A few years ago this team might have struck fear into opponents in FF, now you just have to wonder. These players likely won't sign until after week one when their contracts will no longer be guaranteed for the season. So watch for injuries and any of these players to sign, could add some depth to your FF team but proceed with extreme caution.

STARTERS:
QB - Dante Culpepper
RB - Shaun Alexander
RB - Travis Henry
WR - Joe Horn
WR - Terry Glenn
WR - Koren Robinson
TE - Marcus Pollard
K - John Carney

BENCH:
QB - Tim Rattay
RB - Cedric Benson
RB - Ron Dayne
RB - Mike Bell
WR - Eric Moulds
WR - Keenan McCardell
WR - David Givens

Top Ten 2008 FF Defenses/Special Teams

In part six of our series on the top ten at each position we move to the side of the ball that wins championships - DEFENSE. While that may be true in the NFL, it certainly is not true in FF. I rank defense slightly ahead of kickers in terms of importance which isn't saying much. I had teams like Chicago and Baltimore as my top ranked defenses a year ago and it was San Diego and Minnesota owners who got the points. So take my list with a grain of salt and don't spend a high draft pick on any of these or your likely to be disappointed.

1) San Diego Chargers
2007 Stats: 17.8 points allowed/game, 30 INTs, 42 sacks, 8 Def TDs, 2 ST TDs
Shawne Merriman and gang brings back last years top scoring FF defense from last season with no signs of slowing down. The Chargers lead the league in picks a year ago and bolstered their secondary by adding first-round pick CB Antoine Cason. Not a bad addition to Antonio Cromartie who scored three TDs himself off of picks.

2) Minnesota Vikings
2007 Stats: 19.4 points, 15 INTs, 38 sacks, 9 Def TDs, 1 ST TD
When you add one of the best defensive players to one of the best defensive teams you get one intriguing FF defense. In comes Jared Allen from Kansas City so expect QB pressure and sacks to both rise. Allen had 15.5 sacks a year ago to add to defense that teams already couldn't run on.

3) New England Patriots
2007 Stats: 17.1 points, 19 INTs, 47 sacks, 8 Def TDs, 2 ST TDs
The Pats lost CB Asante Samuel in free agency to Philadelphia and that hurts. But the strength of Bill Belichick's defense is their linebackers and New England got stronger their with the addition of the tenth overall pick in the draft, ILB Jerod Mayo. But Tedy Bruschi is slowing down and I'm not so sure that with a new secondary this defense is worth where they will likely get drafted in most drafts.

4) Chicago Bears
2007 Stats: 21.8 points, 16 INTs, 41 sacks, 8 Def TDs, 6 ST TDs
The Bears Cover2 defense used to scare every offense in the league. They might not be quite as intimidating but still have Brian Urlacher and company. And lets not forget that there is no better returner in the game than Devin Hester. The biggest concern with this defense is actually the offense that can't seem to stay on the field and could cause the D to get tired.

5) Dallas Cowboys
2007 Stats: 20.3 points, 19 INTs, 46 sacks, 4 Def TDs, 0 ST TDs
The Boys have stars on their helmets and had a lot of stars on their defense as well last year. Demarcus Ware is one of the premier ends/linebackers in the league. The rich got rich with the addition of LB Zach Thomas and CB Adam "Pacman" Jones. It is Pacman, who now prefers to be called Adam that should get FF owners excited assuming the commish allows him to play. He adds playmaking ability to both defense and special teams in Big D, something they could have used more of last year.

6) New York Giants
2007 Stats: 21.9 points, 15 INTs, 53 sacks, 6 Def TDs, 1 ST TD
Michael Strahan is retired which hurts what was the best three-man defensive end rotation in the league. The Super Bowl champs still have DE Osi Umenyioa, the lone Pro Bowler from last years defense that lead the league with 53 sacks and added another 5 on Tom Brady in the game that really mattered. Justin Tuck will move to Strahan's spot except for on obvious passing plays when he will move into the middle to make room for Mathias Kiwanuka.

7) Green Bay Packers
2007 Stats: 18.2 points, 19 INTs, 36 sacks, 6 Def TDs, 2 ST TDs
The Pack don't get a lot of press for their defense, especially with the Brett Favre saga stealing all the limelight the past few weeks. But this defense can be had in the draft after the top five or six are gone and that could be a bargain considering they have a very productive Aaron Kampman up front harassing the QB forcing them to throw into solid coverage by CBs Charles Woodson and Al Harris. Throw in a nice LB duo of AJ Hawk and Nick Barnett in a weak offensive division and GB looks pretty good.

8) Seattle Seahawks
2007 Stats: 18.2 points, 20 INTs, 45 sacks, 5 Def TDs, 3 ST TDs
Like Green Bay the Seahawks represent good value in the draft. They lead the NFC in interceptions thanks to seven by Marcus Trufant. The NFC West has a lot of unstable offenses, which also boots their value.

9) Indianapolis Colts
2007 Stats: 16.4 points, 22 INTs, 28 sacks, 3 Def TDs, 1 ST TD
Indy has always been known for the offense but guess who allowed the fewest points in the league last year. Yup, the Colts. As hard as that is to believe they have two great playmakers in Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders, if they stay healthy so does the Colts defense.

10) Pittsburgh Steelers
2007 Stats: 16.8 points, 11 INTs, 36 sacks, 3 Def TDs, 1 ST TD
Steady defense doesn't allow many points, it just doesn't score many in FF either. The Steelers ranked as the top defense lat year giving up just 266.4 yards per game and gave up the second fewest points. Hopefully safety Troy Polamalu stays healthy and will create a lot of turnovers this season.

Just Missed:
Jacksonville Jaguars
Baltimore Ravens
Tamp Bay Buccaneers
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans

Top Ten 2008 FF Kickers

In part five of our series on the top ten at each position we move to perhaps the least important of all spots - the kicker. Why are they not that important, well actually they can be important it is just that you should pick a kicker with one of your last draft picks. Why? Because the top kickers change pretty dramatically from year-to-year. Nate Kaeding was likely the top pick last year but he disappointed. Same for Neil Rackers a few years ago after he broke all kinds of NFL records. I could go on and on. Then there is the issue of what type of a team is best for a kicker. A great offense is sure to get you some points, but if they are so good they get into the end zone instead of kicking field goals that might not be great either. Bob Bironas wouldn't have kicked eight field goals against the Texans last year if the Titans would have been scoring touchdowns instead of coming up short. Bottom line, you can wait for a kicker in your draft.

1) Nick Folk, Cowboys
2007 Stats: 26 FGs, 53 XPs, 131 points
Folk is a good kicker on one of the leagues best offenses. He connected on 75% of his FG attempts from 40+ yards with a long of 53.

2) Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots
2007 Stats: 21 FGs, 74 XPs, 137 points
Played on the best offense a year ago but doesn't get a ton of FG attempts. Hit on 60% of his FG attempts from 40+ yards with a long of just 45.

3) Shayne Graham, Bengals
2007 Stats: 31 FGs, 37 XPs, 130 points
Has a fairly balanced FG/XP ratio, not that anyone really tracks that - perhaps I just made it up. Hit on 64.7% of FG attempts from 40+ yards with a long of 48.

4) Adam Vinatieri, Colts
2007 Stats: 23 FGs, 49 XPs, 118 points
Used to be money kicking in the big game with the Patriots. Now that he kicks indoors he is still pretty good. Didn't make any of his mere three attempts, however, of 40 or more yards last season which hurts in leagues where you get more points for longer kicks.

5) Rob Bironas, Titans
2007 Stats: 35 FGs, 28 XPs, 133 points
Set NFL record with 8 FGs against the Texans last year and the Titans were bad enough to need every one of them. Looks to be that guy that has a significant drop off this year. Strong leg and good accuracy over 40+ yards connecting on 86.7% of those attempts with a long of 56.

6) Josh Brown, Rams
2007 Stats: 28 FGs, 43 XPs, 127 points
The former Seahawk brings his 80% indoor kicking accuracy to the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. Hit on 64.7% of his FG attempts from 40+ yards with a long of 54.

7) Nate Kaeding, Chargers
2007 Stats: 24 FGs, 46 XPs, 118 points
A down year compared to a year earlier but Kaeding still plays on an offense that feature the best RB in the league and perhaps the best TE. Hit on 80% of his 40+ FG attempts with a long of 51.

8) Phil Dawson, Browns
2007 Stats: 26 FGs, 42 XPs, 120 points
Really benefited from the emergence of Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards as the Browns offense awakened in 2007. Hit 80% of FG attempts from 40 and beyond with a long of 51.

9) Mason Crosby, Packers
2007 Stats: 31 FGs, 48 XPs, 141 points
Led all kickers in points a season ago and will benefit from Favre being gone with more FG attempts but hurt with fewer XPs. Hit on 63.2% of 40+ attempts with a long of 53.

10) Neil Rackers, Cardinals
2007 Stats: 21 FGs, 47 XPs, 110 points
It is hard to believe but Rackers had only one less XP than Crosby did in Green Bay and two less than Vinatieri had in Indy. Connected on just 53.3% of his FG attempts of 40 or more yards with a long of 52.

Just Missed:
Robbie Gould, Bears
Josh Scobe, Jaguars
David Akers, Eagles
Jason Hanson, Lions
Kris Brown, Texans

Top Ten 2008 FF Tight Ends

four of our series on the top ten at each position we move to the oft forgotten tight end spot. Where to draft a tight end is always interesting as you start choosing before taking your second or third wide receiver and a tight end. There are certainly a number of tight ends who can make the difference between winning and losing on any given week. This year there are seven really solid looking guys at the spot and a second tier right behind them that can also produce so there isn't a huge premium on the position or a major drop off, except for the yardage. Point-per-reception leagues might alter the rankings below, but not significantly. The big question in the draft comes down to Gates or Witten?

1) Jason Witten, Cowboys
2007 Stats: 96 catches, 1,145 yds, 7 TDs
Tight end 1A is Tony Romo's best pal and the second option in the passing game in Dallas. He was only three passes and 27 yards short of leading the league in both categories among tight ends. How close are Romo and Witten? They are roommates on the road meaning Witten has all the scoop on Jessica Simpson! I give Witten the nod because of fewer passing options in Dallas, a better QB, OL, and no health issues. But you might as well flip a coin on this one and you probably can't go wrong either way.

2) Antonio Gates, Chargers
2007 Stats: 75 catches, 984 yds, 9 TDs
Gates played in all 16 games last year but wasn't a full strength. He had foot surgery and is said to be running routes well now. All things being equal I looked at both teams schedules and the Chargers play the AFC West for six games and the NFC South for four while the Cowboys could be in the most competitive division in football. But all things are not equal. The former basketball player is very gifted but San Diego now has some options at WR and a capable backup TE that could take away a few of Rivers targeted passes to Gates moving him to 1B.

3) Kellen Winslow Jr., Browns
2007 Stats: 82 catches, 1,106 yds, 5 TDs
Winslow has been moving up the charts but took a huge leap forward last year as the Browns found their QB and an offense for the first time in years. Is Jr. better than his dad? Probably not. But after recovering from a stupid motorcycle accident three years ago he is now a legitimate Pro Bowl tight end. One of only three at his position to cross the 1,000-yard mark last year, Winslow was Cleveland's leading receiver with 82 catches and is Derek Anderson's check down target when Braylon Edwards isn't open deep.

4) Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs
2007 Stats: 99 catches, 1,172 yds, 5 TDs
The Chiefs were awful last year, especially on offense. Larry Johnson where are you? But the nine time Pro Bowler still lead all tight ends in receptions and yards. But Gonzo is 32 now and with Kansas City stalled on offense you have to begin to wonder how productive can Tony be this year. He only had five touchdowns in 2007, another concern. But name a positional FF player that has been more dependable than Tony over the years - oh wait, you can't.

5) Dallas Clark, Colts
2007 Stats: 58 catches, 616 yds, 11 TDs
Clark plays in one of the leagues most potent offenses and his 11 scores last year was tops among tight ends. Dallas tends to disappear when the Colts are in their half of the field, but once they get near the redzone you can see Manning start to look for his big target. He also doesn't need to share time with Ben Utecht who has moved to the Bengals. That is one less player to share catches with that already included Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Anthony Gonzalez, and Joseph Addai.

6) Chris Cooley, Redskins
2007 Stats: 66 catches, 786 yds, 8 TDs
Cooley has been a very steady performer since joining the Skins in 2004 despite the parade of QB's he has had to deal with. There are two concerns for Chris this year. The first is that Jim Zorn is the new head coach and he looks to run the ball a lot more in the tough NFC East. The second is that Chris hooked up with a married a smoking hot Redskins cheerleader, Christie Olglevee, and you gotta worry where all his focus will be!

7) Jeremy Shockey, Saints
2007 Stats: 57 catches, 619 yds, 3 TDs
The biggest question mark in the top ten is exactly where to put Shockey and I was tempted to put him much higher but this is a new team so lets give it a year to short out. Still, Shockey had his best season in New York under coordinator Sean Payton who is now the Saints head coach. We all know that Brees loves passing to the tight end as evidenced by his work with Antonio Gates in San Diego. Still, he hasn't played in a game since breaking his leg last December and until I see him I can't move him further up the list.

8) Health Miller, Steelers
2007 Stats: 47 catches, 566 yds, 7 TDs
The former first-round pick setf his best career marks last year in receptions, yards and touchdowns, problem is they weren't all that eye popping. Miller could also face some competition in the redzone with new WR Limas Sweed and a stronger goal line running attack with first round pick Rashard Mendenhall and free agent Mewelde Moore. Big Ben has a lot of choices in the passing game including Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes, meaning Miller should be matched up favorably against linebackers.

9) Vernon Davis, 49ers
2007 Stats: 52 catches, 509 yds, 4 TDs
The sixth-overall pick in the 2006 draft is a physical freak, but that hasn't meant great production at the pro level. Former Lions OC Mike Martz takes over the reigns in the bay and has stated that he plans to utilize the athleticism of Davis, but name a tight end who has thrived in a Mike Martz offense? But with former Lions backup QB J.T. O'Sullivan reportedly ahead of Alex Smith on the depth chart, well, that doesn't bode well for the 24-year old.

10) Todd Heap, Ravens
2007 Stats: 23 catches, 239 yds, 1 TD
Usually a steady performer, Heap only appeared in six games for Baltimore last season with injuries. He also suffered a right calf injury in training camp. You also have to wonder who his quarterback will be this year, Kyle Boller or Troy Smith. Neither sounds very exciting. The Ravens also lack any sort of deep threat in the passing game. But Heap is the likely top target of whomever wins the camp battle at QB giving him some value.

Just Missed:
Alge Crumpler, Titans
Tony Scheffler, Broncos
Owen Daniels, Texans
Greg Olson, Bears
Ben Watson, Patriots

Rookies to grab:
Dustin Keller, Jets
John Carlson, Seahawks

Top Ten 2008 FF Wide Receivers

In part three of our series on the top ten at each position we move to the prima donnas, I mean wide receiver spot. This is one of the hardest positions to predict from year-to-year, even at the top spots on your draft board. Randy Moss was washed up in Oakland but in New England he regained his dominance and the top spot as the most dangerous FF WR out there. Wideouts can make or break you from week to week and given that most leagues start at least three they may occupy the most spots on your roster. The real interesting decision come in the middle to late part of the draft when you are deciding between your 4th or 5th WR spot and a backup QB or kicker or defense - that is where real FF champions are made.

1) Randy Moss, Patriots
2007 Stats: 98 catches, 1,493 yds, 23 TDs
Just think the Pats got Owens a year ago in a trade with the Oakland Raiders giving up just a fourth round draft pick, talk about value. Moss has the most gifted physical skills of any receiver in the league and now that he has joined forces with the best quarterback in the league he is virtually unstoppable. Moss is the only receiver worthy of a first-round selection in the FF draft this year and that should tell you all you need to know. How many teams wouldn't mind having their RBs put up his kind of numbers? Even if his TDs were cut in half this year he would be a top five fantasy WR - wow!

2) Terrell Owens, Cowboys
2007 Stats: 81 catches, 1,355 yds, 15 TDs
Drama no more for TO who has blended in nicely to his new home in Big D. While quarterback Tony Romo is making the news with his on again off again romance with Jessica Simpson, TO is quietly sitting in the background and putting up big numbers. OK, so maybe TO still isn't that quiet but we don't have to see him doing crunches on TV all the time fighting with the coaching staff and front office. Owens seems to have found peace as he enters the twilight of his career and that makes his selection far less risky in the draft.

3) Reggie Wayne, Colts
2007 Stats: 104 catches, 1,510 yds, 10 TDs
With the decline of Marvin Harrison in Indy Reggie has now clearly grabbed the top spot in the Colts receiving core. There are still plenty of weapons for Manning including second year pro Anthony Gonzalez, who could be a nice sleeper this year, and the steady Dallas Clark at tight end. Only T.J. Houshmandzadeh had more catches than Mr. Wayne last season but the return of Harrison to full strength does pose a bit of a threat to his overall productivity this year. Still, Wayne is making even Jim Sorgi look good in the preseason so expect another great season out of him.

4)Braylon Edwards, Browns
2007 Stats: 80 catches, 1,289 yds, 16 TDs
The former Wolverine was the breakout receiver in 2007 and looks to equal that performance again this year. Edwards will likely sit out most of the preseason after Donte Stallworth stepped on his foot cutting Braylon who was running in only his socks. Don't they teach you about shoes at Michigan? It is a minor injury and shouldn't hamper Edwards at all who is joined by Stallworth who comes over from the Pats, Joe Jurevicius, and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. at key targets for quarterback Derek Anderson.

5) Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
2007 Stats: 100 catches, 1,409 yds, 10 TDs
Arizona has one of the best wide receiver tandems in Fitgerald and Anquan Boldin. Unfortunately the quarterback spot still appears a bit shaky with third-year quarterback Matt Leinart trying to holdout veteran and for FF superstar Kurt Warner off for the starting spot. Last season Fitzgerald had nearly an identical season as he had in 2005, his best, when he had 103 catches, 1,409 receiving yards, and ten touchdowns - freaky. The only troubling spot in Fitzgerald's game last year was his first three career lost fumbles.

6) Andre Johnson, Texans
2007 Stats: 60 catches, 851 yds, 8 TDs
The big Texans receiver appeared in only nine games last season after injuring his knee. Johnson missed Houston's entire offseason after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. He has tweaked his groin in training camp but that shouldn't hamper his efforts to gel with quarterback Matt Schaub in his second year with the Texans after leaving the Falcons. Andre is Houston's only real threat of offense, however, allowing defenses to key on him. Still the man taken one pick after Charles Rogers six years ago is a beast and FF stud.

7) T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals
2007 Stats: 112 catches, 1,143 yds, 12 TDs
The hardest name to spell in the top ten and well beyond, TJ lead the league in receptions last year teaming up with Chad Johnson as a terrific wideout duo in Cincinnati. He is nursing a sore hamstring he claims is at 80% while Johnson hurt his shoulder when he landed awkwardly after a big hit from Lions cornerback Brian Kelly. When healthy, the two are dominant and had the most catches for teammates in the NFL since 2004. With third WR Chris Henry no longer around, expect another big year from the Palmer to Houshmandzadeh combo.

8) Marques Colston, Saints
2007 Stats: 98 catches, 1,202 yds, 11 TDs
Talk about a late round steal. Colston, a seventh-round draft pick, has an NFL record 168 receptions through his first two seasons and was just rewarded with a three year contract extension that should bump his salary nicely from the $445K he was scheduled to make. New Orleans traded for tight end Jeremy Shockey from the Giants which will take some pressure off of Colston who remain Drew Brees's favorite target. He set the club record for catches and receiving yards last season while tying the team record for touchdowns. Not bad for a guy out of Hofstra.

9) Plaxico Burress, Giants
2007 Stats: 70 catches, 1,025 yds, 12 TDs
The former Michigan State Spartan and now world champion is still bothered by ankle issues that bothered him last season. Still, Plaxico proved he doesn't need to practice during the week to be productive on Sundays. Eli Mannings big target has some new orthotics to deal with the bum ankle and help his flat feet. It is something the Super Bowl hero will probably have to deal with the remainder of his career. Don't expect Burress to suit up in the preseason but he has already said he will starting in the season opener against Washington.

10) Steve Smith Panthers
2007 Stats: 87 catches, 1,002 yds, 7 TDs
It wasn't long ago that Smith stood atop this list. But injuries to himself and quarterback Jake Delhomme haven't helped, neither has his camp antics that included a tussle with Ken Lucas that concluded in the starting cornerbacks nose being broken from Smith's right cross - nice. If you draft Smith prepare to have a replacement for the first two games because head coach John Fox suspended Smith without pay for the incident. It is almost like having three bye weeks this year - wonderful. That might be reason alone to knock him out of the top ten.

Just Missed:
Chad Johnson, Bengals
Torry Holt, Rams
Wes Welker, Patriots
Anquan Boldin, Cardinals
Roy Williams, Lions

Rookies to grab:
Devin Thomas, Redskins
Earl Bennett, Bears
Donnie Avery, Rams

Top Ten 2008 FF Running Backs

In part two of our series on the top ten at each position we move to the critical running back spot. I don't think RBs are critical as they once were with the emergence of high scoring QBs, but they are very important building blocks of any solid FF team. With running-back-by-committee the rage in the NFL and third-down specialty backs, the difference between the 10th best back and the 25th has shrunk considerably. There are only a handful of stud RBs available who are sure to get the Lions share of their teams carries.

1) LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
2007 Stats: 1,474 yds, 15 TDs (19 total), 4.7 ypc
Receiving: 60 catches, 475 yds, 3 TDs
I've seen a number of publications that have Peterson listed ahead of LT but that is crazy. Tomlinson is a triple threat - running, receiving, and passing (6 TD passes over the last three years). He has a solid body of work and doesn't have a history of injuries. He also doesn't have Michael Turner behind him to steal carries like he did the past few years. Plus LT has much more of a passing threat with Rivers versus Tavaris Jackson in Minnesota. Oh, and lets not forget that he doesn't turn the ball over with zero fumbles a year ago versus four by AP. He is hands down the #1 pick in the draft - case closed.

2) Adrian Peterson, Vikings
2007 Stats: 1,341 yds, 12 TDs (13 total), 5.6 ypc
Receiving: 19 catches, 268 yds, 1 TD
What an exciting rookie AP turned out to be leading the league in rushing yards per game (95.8), yards-per-carry (5.6), and 40+ yard rushes (5). Those who want to appoint him the new king, however, shall have to wait a little longer. Injuries are still a major concern given his upright power running style. Peterson is somewhat of a triple threat himself, but his third area is in the kicking game where he had 16 kickoff returns for 412 yards. Something that should bring more concern to owners than joy. Still, AP should thrill FF owners for years to come.

3) Brian Westbrook, Eagles
2007 Stats: 1,333 yds, 7 TDs (12 total), 4.8 ypc
Receiving: 90 catches, 771 yds, 5 TDs
Always one of the most underrated backs in the league and always one of the most productive. Westbrook's rushing stats weren't mind blowing, but when you add on his 90 catches (especially in points per receptions leagues) he moves way up the list of top FF performers. His seven rushing TDs tied his career high while his receptions set a new standard for him. The biggest concerns here are the fact that he will be 29 this season with over 1,000 rushing attempts on his tires and has never played all 16 games in a season, but usually gets pretty close.

4) Joseph Addai, Colts
2007 Stats: 1,072 yds, 12 TDs (15 total), 4.1 ypc
Receiving: 41 catches, 364 yds, 3 TDs
Addai might not have the same level of talent as the other top five RBs, but he does play in a very productive system on a very productive team. He is a solid dual threat with 40 and 41 catches respectively in his first two seasons. Most important, he is a guy you can count on for scoring you a TD a game in 2008 and entering just his third season, and second as a starter, he doesn't have much wear on his wheels. Indy will continue to feed Addai the ball to keep some pressure off of Manning in the passing game and if for some reason Manning goes down count on Addai to take on an even bigger role in the offense.

5) Stephen Jackson, Rams
2007 Stats: 1,002 yds, 5 TDs (6 total) 4.2 ypc
Receiving: 38 catches, 271 yds, 1 TD
Jackson had a breakout monster year in 2006 with over 1,500 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns, and 90 receptions. Last year he was injury plauged just like the rest of the Rams offense and appeared in just 12 games. When the 25-year old was healthy, in weeks 11-15, he never put up less than 90 yards rushing and had a 143-yard rushing performance against the Pack in week 15. He appears to be healthy again this year and will really benefit from the return of LT Orlando Pace and a number of other key blockers along the OL.

6) Frank Gore, 49ers
2007 Stats: 1,102 yds, 5 TDs (6 total) 4.2 ypc
Receiving: 53 catches, 436 yards, 1 TD
Like Jackson, Gore had a huge 2006 with 2,180 total yards while averaging 5.4 ypc. Last year Gore stalled along with the rest of San Francisco's offense. Enter Mike Martz. The former Rams head coach and Lions OC takes over the struggling offense. This makes Gore a wildcard. With the Lions, Martz ran the ball less than any other team in the league. With the Rams, Martz helped turn Marshall Faulk into one of the greatest FF studs off all-time. Then again, Faulk was surrounded by league MVP QB Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, etc.. In SF, journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan is pushing Alex Smith for the starting QB role, not a good sign, on an offense that includes the much older Bruce as one of its top receiving threats - ouch.

7) Marion Barber III, Cowboys
2007 Stats: 975 yds, 10 TDs (12 total), 4.8 ypc
Receiving: 44 catches, 282 yds, 2 TDs
Barber is coming off his third season where he set career highs in every single significant statistical category. He made the Pro Bowl and wasn't even a starter in Dallas. This year Barber moves over to the starting role and could be in store for even bigger things in one of the leagues most potent offenses. While splitting time with Julius Jones, Barber appeared in all 32 games the last two seasons and was a TD machine with 28 scores. The concern was again is RBBC, only with one Jones gone another one arrives in the form of first-round pick Felix Jones. The two will try to give the boys a thunder (Barber) and Lighting (Jones) duo at RB.

8) Clinton Portis, Redskins
2007 Stats: 1,262 yds, 11 TDs (11 total), 3.9 ypc
Receiving: 47 catches, 389 yds, 0 TDs
Nobody in the top ten puts on a better show in the post-game conference than the colorful Portis. Bad news is nobody loses the ball more either (5 fumbles lost in 2007). Entering his 5th season in Washington (7th in the league) but will be in his first under Jim Zorn's West Coast offense after former Cheifs OC Al Saunders and HC Joe Gibbs couldn't get the Skins going. The OL was devastated by injuries last year and QB Jason Cambell went down in week 14 with a knee injury, yet Portis continued to have a productive season and should productive once again in 2008.

9) Marshawn Lynch, Bills
2007 Stats: 1,115 yds, 7 TDs (8 total), 4.0 ypc
Receiving: 18 cathes, 184 yds, 0 TDs
The second running back taken in the 2007 draft didn't cause a stir like Adrian Peterson but had a successful rookie year on a very average Buffalo team lead by Dick Jauron. Lynch appeard in 13 games and proved he is a much better runner than driver after pleading guilty to a hit-and-run accident involving his SUV back on May 31. The Bills had more players end up on the IR than any other team in the league last season which hurt, but their massive OL should gel more this year benefiting Lynch as well as a more experienced Trent Edwards at the helm.

10) Larry Johnson, Chiefs 559 yds, 3 TDs (4 total), 3.5 ypc
2007 Stats: 2,392 yds, 11 TDs, 15 INTs, 70.3 QB rating
Receiving: 30 catches, 186 yds, 1 TD
The heir apparent after Priest Holmes got injured in the RB mecca of Kansas City, the once thought of can't miss FF stud has taken a mighty fall after a very disappointing 2007. LJ hasn't played in a game since November 4th and didn't look that great when he did suit up last year with a mere 3.5 ypc average. Like Gore, Johnson is the big high risk high reward pick in the top ten who if he can come close to his 2006 form will greatly reward FF owners who take a chance on him.

Just Missed:
Willis McGahee, Ravens
Ryan Grant, Packers
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars
Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
Jamal Lewis, Browns

Rookies to grab:
Darren McFadden, Raiders
Matt Forte, Bears
Kevin Smith, Lions
Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
Felix Jones, Cowboys

Top Ten 2008 FF Quarterbacks

Let's start breaking down the positions before the draft starting with the QBs. There are three tiers among the top quarterbacks with a clear top three followed by another five in tier two. After that it gets very murky with little separating the number 8 QB from number 15. So if you don't get one of the top eight, you might as well focus on building the rest of your team up and grabbing a pair of QBs later in the draft.

1) Tom Brady, Patriots
2007 Stats: 4,806 yds, 50 TDs, 8 INTs, 117.2 QB rating
Key Weapons: Randy Moss, Wes Welker
Brady has always been a great NFL quarterback, but now that Brady has some real weapons he has become very relevant in fantasy football. So relevant in fact that he could well crack the top five overall on many draft boards. I would expect the Pats to put a bit more emphasis on the run this year and Brady's numbers to dip, but when your dipping down from 50 touchdowns you have a lot of room to mess with.

2) Peyton Manning, Colts
2007 Stats: 4,040 yds, 31 TDs, 14 INTs, 98.0 QB rating
Key Weapons: Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Anthony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark
The former undisputed king of FF quarterbacks has been knocked off the top spot. In fact, I was fairly close to moving him to the third spot with the aging of Marvin Harrison and the "minor" knee surgery he had last month. But this is Peyton Manning we are talking about and he is a sure fire 30 TD performer with a ton of weapons still around him and I didn't even list Joseph Addai among his weapons.

3) Tony Romo, Cowboys
2007 Stats: 4,211 yds, 36 TDs, 19 INTs, 97.4 QB rating
Key Weapons: Terrell Owens, Jason Witten
I was tempted to put Romo ahead of Manning but his relative inexperience and on-again off-again distraction with Jessica Simpson wouldn't allow it. It is scary to think how good Romo can be this year with a full season of experience under his belt. He has a great offensive line protecting him, a solid one-two punch at RB with Marion Barber and Felix Jones to take pressure off, and also posses a running threat himself.

4) Drew Brees, Saints
2007 Stats: 4,423 yds, 28 TDs, 18 INTs, 89.4 QB rating
Key Weapons: Marques Colston, Reggie Bush, Jeremy Shockey
I put Brees at the top of what I consider the second tier of quarterbacks after the Big Three. Brees started slow last year but ended up putting huge passing yards, second only to Brady, and a very respectable 28 TDs. Head coach Sean Payton knows how to maximize the QB position and having RB Reggie Bush gives him a nice underneath threat on every play. The addition of Jeremy Shockey proved to be the difference however.

5) Carson Palmer, Bengals
2007 Stats: 4,131 yds, 26 TDs, 20 INTs, 86.7 QB rating
Key Weapons: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chad Johnson
Palmer has the big arm and the weapons to challenge the top tier, but the Bengals are a team that can end up with more players in the clink than on the field. It is a team that always seems on the verge of implosion. New TE Ben Utecht comes over from the Colts and understands the passing game. Palmer will, however, put up a decent amount of yards and a good number of touchdowns, they can however come in bunches with plenty of dry spells in between.

6) Derek Anderson, Browns
2007 Stats: 3,787 yds, 29 TDs, 19 INTs, 82.5 QB rating
Key Weapons: Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow Jr.
Who would have guessed Derek Anderson of all people would be on this list a year ago? Certainly not the Browns who traded back into the first-round to take quarterback Brady Quinn out of Notre Dame in the first-round. But Anderson had a huge year with the emergence of wideout Braylon Edwards and a solid performance from a healthy TE Kellen Winslow. Still, Anderson played in bunches much like Palmer and remains high risk/high reward.

7) Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
2007 Stats: 3,154 yds, 32 TDs, 11 INTs, 104.1 QB rating
Key Weapons: Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, Heath Miller
Big Ben stayed off the bike last season and finished the season as the second highest rated quarterback in the NFL, setting a team record for QB rating. After a great season there are plenty of concerns including an improved running game with first-round pick Rashard Mendenhall added to a RB core that already included fast Willie Parker. The biggest concern is the OL that has allowed 96 sacks the past two season and lost All-Pro guard Alan Faneca.

8) Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks
2007 Stats: 3,966 yds, 28 TDs, 12 INTs, 91.4 QB rating
Key Weapons: Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram
A steady performer, Hasselbeck quietly set career highs for both yards and touchdowns last season. He has been dealing with back issues this preseason but those don't appear serious. Former superstar FF RB Shaun Alexander has been replaced by Julius Jones who never really shined in Big D. Matt lacks the weapons of the top seven QBs which push him down to this spot and at the back of the line of second tiered QBs. After Matt it gets real scary.

9) Donovan McNabb, Eagles
2007 Stats: 3,324 yds, 19 TDs, 7 INTs, 89.9 QB rating
Key Weapons: Kevin Curtis, Brian Westbrook
Entering his tenth NFL season McNabb's health is always going to be a big concern. He just didn't look right last year coming back from his knee injury. Gone are the days when he had TO as a huge receiving threat and his legs as a major running threat. Second-round pick DeSean Jackson adds much needed speed to Philly's group of receivers and TE L.J. Smith is a consistent performer, but former second-round pick QB Kevin Kolb remains ready should McNabb falter.

10) Marc Bulger, Rams
2007 Stats: 2,392 yds, 11 TDs, 15 INTs, 70.3 QB rating
Key Weapons: Torry Holt, Drew Bennett
His completion percentage, yards-per-attempt, and QB rating have been on the decline for a couple of years but I expect Bulger to bounce back from a horrible 2007 campaign. He is healthy again and LT Orlando Pace is back. Two other OL, Richie Incognito and Mark Setterstrom are also back, both from knee injuries. But Drew Bennett is now his second biggest weapon with Isaac Bruce moving to the niners and the number three WR is even scarier - buyer beware.

Just Missed:
Brett Farve, Jets
David Garrard, Jaguars
Eli Manning, Giants
Jay Cutler, Broncos
Jake Delhomme, Panthers

To QB or not to QB - that is the question

Looking back at the 2007 season might cause many a veteran FF player to start changing his mind on how he manages his draft. Before last season it was pretty easy, take two stud running backs with your first two picks. But say you spent the second overall pick on Stephen Jackson (1,002 yards, 5 touchdowns) or the third overall pick on Larry Johnson (559 yards, 3 touchdowns), your stud performed like a dud and they weren't alone. With the fourth pick in many drafts teams selected Shaun Alexander (716 yards 4 touchdowns), and the fifth pick went towards Frank Gore (1,102 yards, 5 touchdowns). Four of the first five selections were huge busts with LanDainian Tomlinson being the lone selection and worthy once again of being the top overall pick in the draft.

Meanwhile, you were facing teams that had a quarterback named Brady, Manning or Romo - all of whom threw for over 4,000 yards and had over 30 touchdowns. If you were smart enough, err lucky enough, to have drafted Brady he put up an NFL record 50 touchdowns and probably got you to the playoffs by himself. The NFL is becoming a passing league and with RBBC the rage in the backfields, drafting a running back has become a risky proposition. All three quarterbacks mentioned could be taken in the first round of many drafts and for good reason, they seem like safe bets. Each has at least one stud receiver and a talented cast around them on offense.

Other quarterbacks had great years as well. Nobody could have predicted the meteoric rise of Derek Anderson in Cleveland (3,787 yards, 29 touchdowns), but he has Brady Quinn sitting in the wings. Drew Brees started slow but finished with 28 touchdown passes and remains a viable option along with Ben Roethlisberger who also threw for 28 scores, but it gets tricky after that. The other quarterback who threw for 28 touchdowns was Brett Favre but he retired, err un-retired, err well I'm sure you are as sick as I am about that fiasco. Regardless, Farve looks to be either the backup to Aaron Rogers or will be wearing a different uniform this season which makes him a big question mark. Carson Palmer is the other quarterback who should be considered as a potential top five quarterback this year, but then the drop off will leave you with the likes of Matt Hasselbeck, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Jay Cutler, Donovan McNabb, David Garrard, Jon Kitna, or Jeff Garcia - take your pick and no thank you.

So there are two solid tiers of quarterbacks this year, the Brady, Manning and Romo trio in group one which will probably cost you a first round pick. Then the Brees, Roethlisberger, Palmer trio which you can get a bit cheaper at higher risk.

At running back you have one tier, LT, then question marks galore. The second pick overall will likely be Adrian Peterson, but he has a significant injury history to consider and Chester Taylor sitting there to steal some carries. Stephen Jackson is coming off of a disappointing and injury filled 2007 campaign. Brian Westbrook may have been one of the most underrated FF performers over the last few years but he turns 29 before the season starts and has a lot of wear-and-tear on his tires the last few years (518 carries in 2006-2007). Frank Gore is now suiting up for pass happy Mike Martz who is running the offense for the 49ers. Willie Parker's team spent a first-round pick on Rashard Mendenhall while also signing Najeh Davenport to create a very crowded backfill. Likewise, the Cowboys drafted Felix Jones in the first-round to compete with Marion Barber who has never proven himself as a starting running back anyways. How much longer can Edgerrin James, Fred Taylor or Jamal Lewis last? In fact, the only running back that seems a pretty safe bet is Joseph Addai, after that there is just a huge crop of players that includes everyone above plus the likes of Clinton Portis, Marshawn Lynch, Brandon Jacobs, Ryan Grant, Ronnie Brown, Maurice Jones-Drew, Laurence Maroney, Michael Turner, Reggie Bush, and I haven't even mentioned the rookies yet. Point is, there isn't a lot of separation after the top few running back and those that will be taken in the next few rounds.

Point is, if you ever wanted to consider revising your take a stud RB in the first two round theory this is the year to do it. Imagine your quarterback/running back combo of Garrard, McGahee, and Parker trying to outscore Brady or Manning or Romo alone any week when they are throwing for 350 plus yards and three or more touchdowns. They won't need much help from the likes of their running backs of Julius Jones or Rudi Johnson to beat you soundly.