Fantasy Football Fanhouse

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Seattle

Tom Herrera — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:45:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse previewed each and every team, closing with the Seahawks. Click here to view the rest.

Meet the ...
Jim Mora Space Needlers, starring T.J. WhosYoMama on air guitar and T.J. Duckett on drums. Mora succeeds Mike Holmgren after his decade-long reign and vows to change some things. That includes ramping up the rushing attack and attacking on defense. But Mora's goal is easier stated than accomplished short-term, and when looking at this roster from a fantasy perspective, the more enticing options seem to be in the passing game.

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The Breakout
Julius Jones cuts to the inside, trying to prove that preconception wrong. I'm banking he can do it. Jones already "broke out" years ago when he topped 1,000 yards for Dallas, so this is more of a resurgence pick. Although he's received under 200 carries in back-to-back seasons, expect a significant uptick in his workload this year. New offensive coordinator Greg Knapp is installing the quick-hitting zone-blocking scheme that's been successful for him throughout his NFL coaching career. In every season he's been a coordinator, Knapp's offense has finished in the top 10 in the league in rushing. So when he yells "One cut and go!," it's Jones who must be the key to making it work.

"It fits perfectly with my style of running," Jones told AP writer Gregg Bell. "I've dropped a lot of weight in order to be quick and fast and make this one cut and get downhill." The 27-year-old rusher comes into the new season 10 pounds lighter, claiming it's the lightest he's been since his rookie year.

The touchdown total might be meager again, especially with Duckett taking the short-yardage carries, but Jones should be an absolute steal considering where he's being drafted. He went in the 10th round in our recent mock draft with Fantasy Football Cafe.

The Bust
John Carlson is receiving some hype after a very successful rookie season. But after totaling 627 yards on 55 receptions in 2008, I just don't see how much higher his ceiling can be this year. Part of the reason he became such a go-to target was the lack of quality receiving options in Seattle. This season, T.J. Houshmandzadeh is aboard along with speedy rookie Deon Butler, and Nate Burleson appears to be doing surprisingly well in his recovery from knee surgery.

With the Seahawks spreading the ball around, fantasy owners could be disappointed if they rely on Carlson as their every-week tight end. Out of the sleeper TE group, I'd prefer someone like Dustin Keller, who the Jets will rely on heavily due to a lack of receiving threats.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Matt Hasselbeck
QB2 - Seneca Wallace
RB1 - Julius Jones
RB2 - T.J. Duckett
RB3 - Justin Forsett
WR1 - Nate Burleson
WR2 - T.J. Houshmandzadeh
WR3 - Deon Butler
WR4 - Deion Branch
TE - John Carlson
K - Olindo Mare

The D/ST
Despite the additions of rookie linebacker Aaron Curry and defensive tackle Cory Redding, this unit also took substantial hits by losing Julian Peterson in the Redding deal and Rocky Bernard via free agency. The Seahawks finished near the bottom of the league last season with 24.5 points allowed per game and forcing turnovers was not a strong point (only nine interceptions). They won't be worth owning in 12-team leagues, but through the benefit of being an NFC West team, you'll see them with fine matchups along the way. Overall, they'll be a solid plug-and-play option.

The Skinny
o. From fuming at those who believe he's just an underneath route-runner to boycotting Madden 10 because of a poor rating, it appears Housh has a big chip on his shoulder. Going from 12 touchdowns to only four last year will do that to you ... or just being a member of that putrid Bengals offense. While I don't think he'll reach double-digit touchdowns, he should bounce back and be worthy of your WR2 slot.

o. Without a doubt, the biggest bust of the Seahawks' 2008 season was Hasselbeck. After missing nine games with a bulging disc in his back, the 33-year-old quarterback tackled a rigorous offseason regimen which included swimming in the Columbia River. Now healthy and eight pounds slimmer, Hasselbeck could be a fine bargain as QB2 capable of playing like a QB1 certain weeks. He's currently being drafted in the 12th round or later.

o. Nate Burleson has been one of the highlights of training camp. Just 10 months removed from major reconstructive knee surgery, Burleson has shown unexpected explosiveness. He's not worth drafting in shallow leagues, but keep an eye on how involved he is in the passing game early on. Remember that he scored 11 total touchdowns two seasons ago.

o. Versatile running back Justin Forsett could carve out a sizable role, especially if Jones gets banged up at any point. Keep him on the radar in deep leagues.

o. As far as kickers go, Mare was underrated last year. He reached the 100-point mark for the third time in his last four seasons and notched a 88.9% completion rate. Solid last-round snag.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Seattle originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: 49ers

Will Brinson — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet the ...
Perennial sleepers. It seems like almost every season, people are discussing the fact that the 49ers are ready to break out and surprise people and win the NFC West. And then, almost every season, they suck. They might not be great this year either. Mike Singletary brings a more disciplined approach than even Mike Nolan, but you can't possibly expect Shaun Hill or Alex Smith to lead a team to the playoffs. Or can you? Well, actually, for fantasy purposes, who cares? There's going to be a lot of running and a lot of surprises on defense in San Fran this year, and that's going to be where you pick up the value.

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The Breakout
The DS/T. I want to say Glen Coffee for myriad reasons, but the fact is that the Niners might be this year's Arizona Cardinals from a defensive fantasy perspective considering they now have a very nice core in place. Don't believe me? Shame on you. At linebacker, Takeo Spikes, Manny Lawson and Patrick Willis are pretty ridiculous; Dre' Bly, Nate Clements and Michael Lewis all shore up the secondary and that overall effect of the improved squad, coupled with a pretty mediocre division is going to make these guys one of the surprises in terms of defensive units this year. I'll be doing what I did with the Cardinals last season and grabbing them late. I suggest you do the same.

The Bust
I don't suppose I can use Vernon Davis here can I? (Aside: I loathe Davis. Simply loathe him.) How about instead I roll with Michael Crabtree? Okay, cool. Why, you ask? Excellent question. Here's why: he's simply too valued by fantasy players to accurately reflect his production. That's not to say he lacks talent; I pegged him as the best talent in the entire NFL Draft several times leading up to the 49ers getting him and eventually, I think he'll be very good and very valuable in fantasy. But just not this year, when people are expecting WR3 production out of him, and I'm not sure that's happening with the combination of quarterback suck, contract delays and a running game plan for the Niners this season.

All that being said, if I've got my core positions filled and have three wideouts locked up and Crabtree's sitting out there, I'll take him for the upside/bye-week potential (and keeper leagues are a whole different ballgame too), but right now, I'm probably looking elsewhere for my youthful WR production.

The Depth Chart
QB1 -- Shaun Hill
QB2 -- Alex Smith
RB1 -- Frank Gore
RB2 -- Glen Coffee
WR1 -- Josh Morgan
WR2 -- Isaac Bruce
WR3 -- Michael Crabtree
WR4 -- Brandon Jones
TE1 -- Vernon Davis
K -- Joe Nedney

The DS/T
See above. Weak division, tons of talent, great coach and Manny Lawson.

The Skinny
o. Gore is the only legitimate fantasy star on this team. Period. End of story. Despite my earlier notions of injury history and the sleeper status of Coffee, he's still an early-round pick worth investing in, because of the system he's playing in and his relative consistency over the past three years.

o. Bruce and Crabtree are lower-end wideouts; the same as Morgan and Jones, who are nothing but fliers if you believe that Hill or Smith can find a groove (not a good chance) or that Bruce and/or Crabtree could get injured (pretty decent chance). Just don't mess with Vernon. It's not healthy for the heart.

o. And as noted, the defense should be secretly stellar. Other than that, my best advice is to "steer clear, Big Tuna."

Fantasy Football Team Preview: 49ers originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Rams

Matt Snyder — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:45:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet the ...
Steve Spagnuolo era. The first order of business? To rebuild almost everything. The Rams have already begun a makeover which will most certainly continue after another season of double-digit losses. I don't think I'm going out on a limb when I say this is the last year Marc Bulger will be the Rams' starting quarterback. There isn't much to like about this squad from a fantasy perspective -- outside of the beast who is pictured to the right.

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The Breakout
Really, no one jumps off the page at me. Donnie Avery will be a popular sleeper/breakout selection among the masses, but let's be careful to not allow him to enter the he's gotten so much credit for being a sleeper he's going to be a bust zone. For example, I don't like his current value much. He's going before Jerricho Cotchery, Donald Driver and Devin Hester.

That being said, he will see an uptick in statistical production from last season. Torry Holt took his 119 targets from 2008 with him. Avery was targeted 103 times and you can expect that to rise up to around 120. That means we're looking at around 65 catches, 850 yards and a handful of touchdowns. If that piques your interest at a certain point in the draft, go ahead and take a stab. He'll work as a WR3.

The Bust
Everyone is rated pretty low other than Steven Jackson, but I'm going to warn everyone I can against seeing the name Marc Bulger and hoping for some sort of return to glory. I expect Jackson to remain healthy all season, and that will help take some pressure off Bulger. Still, his receiving options are pretty lackluster and the Rams will be forced to heavily rely upon Jackson. The days of 3,800-plus passing yards and 20-plus touchdown heaves are a thing of the past -- even with the Rams likely playing catchup frequently. Bulger's a low-end QB2 and nothing more.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Marc Bulger
QB2 - Kyle Boller
RB1 - Steven Jackson
RB2 - Antonio Pittman
RB3 - Kenneth Darby
WR1 - Donnie Avery
WR2 - Keenan Burton
WR3 - Ronald Curry
WR4 - Laurent Robinson
TE - Randy McMichael
K - Josh Brown

The D/ST
Um, no. Seriously, just say no. Spagnuolo is going to tear it down before he builds it back up. There is absolutely no discernible reason to own the Rams defense in any fantasy league. The development of youngsters like Chris Long and James Laurinaitis bears watching for future reference, but it shouldn't be because the Rams D/ST is active in your fantasy league.

The Skinny
o. There's a lot of crap to wade through here, which is quite the reversal from the Greatest Show on Turf days. There is one person I really love this year, though: Steven Jackson.

When Jackson plays, he's a monster. Last season he was viewed as a bust, yet he averaged almost 130 yards from scrimmage when he was on the field. He scored eight touchdowns in 11 games (he's technically listed with 12 games, but remember: one game he suited up and didn't see the field). The big knock is that he always misses games. The one time he did play every game in a season he had 2,334 yards and 16 touchdowns. There was a passing game behind him, but Spagnuolo has been praising Jackson as a star of offseason workouts for both his talent and his work ethic. Remember, last season he was holding out for more money and probably wasn't in game shape when he finally reported to camp. This time around, he's motivated to play all 16 games and prove he's an elite back. The Rams are going to use a run-heavy West Coast offense -- with Jackson as the clear-cut focal point -- this year, so he'll be racking up rushing and receiving yards at a ridiculous pace. He's worth a mid-first-round pick at the latest in my mind.

o. Avery, as I said, is in line for a good season, but not great. Be careful not to take him too high, or he could end up becoming a bust. He's good value around 40th among receivers, but not much higher.

o. Curry is a somewhat intriguing option in huge leagues. He has tons of athleticism and three seasons where he was useful in fantasy leagues as at least a stop-gap, but last season he was worthless. You could argue he's been stuck on bad teams and in bad situations, but is this one really much better? He's worth watching, but don't get too excited and draft him as a WR4 or anything. I'd like the gamble pick for your sixth receiver, if you have roster space for that many.

o. As for the rest? Personally, I'd ignore everything else on this team except McMichael. McMichael is coming off a season in which he only played four games due to a broken leg. He's been a quasi-reliable outlet option for passers on bad teams in the past. He can work as a bye-week replacement as a low-end TE2.

o. Burton and Robinson are shaky-at-best options, and the team won't be scoring near enough points to make Brown a worthwhile, consistent kicking option.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Rams originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Panthers

Will Brinson — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet the ...
Home of Smash and Dash. Why is that important? Because that's the nickname of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, one of the most prolific running back combinations in the NFL last year. Oh, yes, and in case you didn't see the Jake Delhomme Meltdown Party against the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs last year, the running game is mildly important to the Panthers success.

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The Breakout
Yikes. See, the Panthers are, in fantasy, very much what they are in real life ... pretty easy to read. In other words, you have your studs: DeAngelo and Steve Smith. And then you have, well, not a ton of things to like about the team, at least in terms of upside. So I'm going to roll with my boy J-Stew here. Not only do I own his jersey (and obvious sign of awesomeness) but last year, Stewart was recovering from turf toe issues that surfaced in his senior year and hung around throughout the offseason.

That means he'll see more touches than a lot of people would expect and the nice thing is that you don't have to spend a ton to get him -- we've got him ranked 27th overall in terms of running backs, and it's the same most places because of Williams' monster year in 2008. And if -- God forbid -- Williams goes down, Stewart will be a monster. He's still going to see plenty of goal line action and when you're talking about a bench RB or a flex play in deeper leagues, you're talking about a lot of upside.

The Bust
It hurts me to say it -- as a fan anyway -- but, um, Steve Smith. Yes, one of my favorite NFL players of all-time will be your Carolina Panthers bust this year. Why? Well, for starters: Delhomme. That's obvious, right? What's not obvious is Smith's standing amongst the elite receivers; because the Panthers do design plays built for his speed, he still managed to top 1,400 yards last year. But he wouldn't have done that were it not for a ridiculous yards per catch average, because he "only" caught 78 balls. What does this mean? Well, if you take a look at the Panthers' play-calling progression last year, you'll see that as the season wore on, there was a very heavy emphasis on the run. In 2009, there won't any sort of delay as Smash and Dash will take hold immediately. The result of that will be an inconsistent and disappointing season for Smith, at least relative to where you draft him.

The Depth Chart
QB1 -- Jake Delhomme
QB2 -- Matt Moore
RB1 -- DeAngelo Williams
RB2 -- Jonathan Stewart
WR1 -- Steve Smith
WR2 -- Mushin Muhammad
WR3 -- Dwayne Jarrett
WR4 -- Kenny Moore
TE1 -- Jeff King
TE2 -- Dante Rosario
K -- John Kasay

The DS/T
Now, here's where things get kind of spicy. (And I would have listed them as the sleeper, but really, can you have a DS/T "sleeper"? I think not.) Jon Beason mans the middle, Thomas Davis is sneaky awesome and Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall serve as very nice corners; Ken Lucas is gone for salary reasons but the drop won't be much. No offense, Ken. But I think the key is this: Julius Peppers. Obvious, right? Well, here's why -- he's due for a legitimate free-agency run after this year after the 'Cats franchised him. Which means if he wrecks havoc and makes the Pro Bowl and the Panthers go on a run and he does something silly like win the DPOY, well, he is gonna get straight paid, son. Which makes me think he's in for a big year. I could be wrong -- I'm not often -- but I don't think I am.

The Skinny
Look, I love the Panthers. I'm not afraid to say it. But this year, there will not be a ton of superb value coming out of Charlotte for fantasy players. That's just the facts. Steve Smith: awesome, but see above. DeAngelo Williams? Also awesome, but he's a first-rounder in every league. On the other hand, if he falls out of the top five or six picks, you're getting great value, so obvs snatch him up there.

o. Jake Delhomme is nothing more than a backup -- at best -- QB under the hopes that two years removed from TJ surgery he'll be revived and lead the Panthers to glory via the aerial game. I think it's a possibility, but not a really good one, especially considering how much they'll rely on the running game.

o. The defense is solid as hell, but it's not elite, which means that you can grab them later if you're someone who likes to wait on picking a defense -- considering there's not a ton of defensive line depth, I'm pretty hesitant to say that anyone should mortgage any sort of value pick to get them.

o. Stewart, as I've noted above, seems like a very nice value play and Donte Rosario is actually a nice late-round, sleeper-style TE2 to target given his progression last season. Muhammad and Jarrett could have a little upside in really deep leagues, simply because they'll see the field on plenty of snaps, but the reality is that you can't expect much from them in terms of week-to-week production.

Which, honestly, outside of the running game, might be a pretty good way to sum up the 2009 Carolina Panthers, at least from a fantasy perspective.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Panthers originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Saints

Knox Bardeen — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet the...
League's highest scoring, most powerful offense. Who cares if they don't make the playoffs. As fantasy owners we couldn't care less if the Saints are 0-16 or 16-0. We want lots of positive yardage plays and lots of touchdowns. And those are things the Saints offer in droves. Drew Brees has replaced Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as the most prolific fantasy quarterback and head coach Sean Payton keeps the Saints high-powered offense burning away. Last season the team threw the ball 62% of the time. Don't expect that to change too much in 2009.

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The Breakout
Pierre Thomas only rushed for 625 yards in 2008. But pay close attention to his last six games. In five of those last six games he rushed for 75-plus yards and scored six touchdowns. When you finish the season like that, you can expect good things to happen in the following year. A healthy Reggie Bush will take some of the carries away from Thomas, but you can be sure that Thomas will blow past the 129 carries mark he set last season. It's also a pretty safe bet that Thomas will eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark too. And don't be too worried about the Saints' pass-first mantra. Thomas has pillow-soft hands as he caught 31 passes in 2008 for three touchdowns. The saints will find ways to get Thomas in the end zone.

The Bust
While the 10 touchdowns, 79 receptions and 928 yards receiving look fantastic, you need to remember that Lance Moore flourished because Marques Colston went down with a thumb injury and missed six weeks. With Colston back, Moore isn't going to be the go-to guy. And even though the Saints offense throws the ball a ton, he might not be able to duplicate the season he had in 2008. Don't forget that Moore underwent off-season shoulder surgery and is going to be limited in the early weeks of training camp. Moore was a waiver wire darling for many a team last year. But be careful not to spend too much on him at draft day this season.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Drew Brees
QB2 - Mark Brunell
RB1 - Pierre Thomas
RB2 - Reggie Bush
WR1 - Marques Colston
WR2 - Devery Henderson
WR3 - Lance Moore
WR4 - Skyler Green
TE1 - Jeremy Shockey
TE2 - Dan Campbell
K - Garrett Hartley

The D/ST
Do you know what happens when your offense puts up more points than anyone else in the NFL? It forces the other team to try and keep up. When the Saints are on defense it was their job to keep that from happening. They didn't do a fantastic job with that in 2008. They allowed 339.5 yards per game and ranked 17th against the run and 23rd against the pass. This squad just isn't ever going to be a top-five rated fantasy defense. But new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams plans to be aggressive and attack every chance the Saints get. It will take Williams a while to beef this defense up, so you're better off spending your time elsewhere when it comes to team defense.

New Orleans ranked fourth in the NFL in punt return average with 11.9 yards per return and scored three times, which tied them for league's best. You can thank Reggie Bush for that. Expect more of the same in 2009, as long as Bush is healthy.

The Skinny
o. Reggie Bush spent time away from the club due to a torn meniscus in his left knee and a torn MCL, injuries that happened at separate times. Everyone knows that Bush can be explosive. The question is can he remain healthy enough to benefit fantasy owners. As it sits right now, he questionable for the start of training camp as he is recovering from off-season micro-fracture surgery.

o. Devery Henderson averaged an amazing 24.8 yards per catch in 2008. He caught three touchdown passes and is considered one of the best deep threats in the NFL. Unfortunately, he's not consistent enough for early- or middle-round draft consideration. There are too many other options for Drew Brees to consider before he locks eyes with Henderson.

o. Here's one for the category of deep sleeper. Mike Bell is fighting in camp and looks to become more a part of the Saints offense. The only way that happens is if Reggie Bush remains or gets hurt or the team becomes disenchanted with Bush the running back. We already know that Sean Payton has an affinity for bigger backs and that he was impressed with what Bell did at OTA's.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Saints originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Bucs

Knox Bardeen — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:40:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
Team full of new faces both on the field and on the coaching staff. Since we last played "real" football, Tampa Bay has fired their head coach, Jon Gruden, released fan favorites like Jeff Garcia, Warrick Dunn and Joey Galloway, and saw their defensive coordinator Monte Kiffen head north to coach college football at Tennessee. The team brought in Byron Leftwich and created a quarterback competition, Derrick Ward to share rushing responsibilities with Earnest Graham, and Kellen Winslow, a huge upgrade at tight end. The front office hopes these changes help redefine the offense and give it a new energy; something many felt the offense lacked while being run by Jon Gruden.

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The Breakout
Derrick Ward is used to being the number two option. He even rushed for 1,025 yards last season as the secondary rusher behind Brandon Jacobs. In 2009, Ward gets to see what it's like to be out front. Ward should start the season as the Buccaneers number one option at running back and he'll most likely see the majority of work. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry over 182 attempts last season. If he keeps that pace up while rushing the ball in the 225 carry neighborhood, Ward could do some awesome things. Especially behind a stacked offensive line like he'll enjoy in Tampa.

The Bust
Calling Antonio Bryant a bust is more a result of draft value versus actual on the field results. Let me explain. Bryant enjoyed a wonderful comeback year in 2008 after sitting out all of 2007. He caught 83 passes for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns. But, a lot has changed on the offensive side of things in Tampa. One of the biggest is the fact that nobody really knows who's going to be throwing the ball come regular season. If rookie Josh Freeman wins the job, the offense could be scaled back and become a run first style attack. You also have to look at the addition of Kellen Winslow. Winslow will greatly cut into Bryant's targeted numbers. To obtain Bryant in your fantasy draft you're going to have to grab him higher then he could be worth. That's never a good sign.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Byron Leftwich / Josh Freeman
QB2 - Luke McCown
RB1 - Derrick Ward
RB2 - Earnest Graham
WR1 - Antonio Bryant
WR2 - Michael Clayton
WR3 - Dexter Jackson
WR4 - Maurice Stovall
TE1 - Kellen Winslow
TE2 - Jerramy Stevens
K - Matt Bryant

The D/ST
Monte Kiffin is no longer running the show in Tampa and the new guy, Jim Bates, tends to think differently about working the defense. Gone are the days where Tampa is a top-five passing defense (187.3 yards per game allowed in 2008) and a top-ten overall (306.1 yards per game allowed in 2008) unit. Also gone are veterans Cato June, Phillip Buchanon and Derrick Brooks. The defense going into 2009 has questions to answer at the line, back field and in the linebacker corps. They'll likely answer those questions and remain a good defense, but I'd hold off on drafting Tampa Bay as high as you did in recent years.

Clifton Smith turned himself into a Pro Bowl returner even though he had trouble holding onto the ball as a running back. He averaged 27.6 yards and scored one touchdown returning kickoffs, and averaged 14.1 yards with one touchdown returning punts. He'll be the featured return specialist in 2009 and you should expect more Pro Bowl type numbers.

The Skinny
- There is a three-way battle for the starting quarterback job in Tampa headed into training camp. It's anyones guess who'll come out victorious. Leftwich is considered the favorite over McCown, but Josh Freeman could pose a threat too, once he signs and gets to camp. If Freeman can grasp the offense in Tampa, he'll be considered for the post as early as week one. He's the future for the Buccaneers at quarterback. But, he shouldn't be relied upon in 2009 for your fantasy team.

- Earnest Graham had an injury-shortened 2008 and expects to get a good share of the carries in the backfield as he shares time with Derrick Ward. Remember that Ward is option number one and Graham is a little more then option number two but less than option one-B. I wouldn't be surprised to see Earnest Graham accumulate 185 carries and rush for 750 yards.

- It's going to be nice to see Kellen Winslow get a fresh start in Tampa. Maybe the weather will help him stay healthy, which has been his Achilles heel (pun intended). If he can avoid the IR, Winslow should give you 80-plus catches and 1,000-plus yards. If not... see 2008.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Bucs originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Falcons

Knox Bardeen — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
2008 From worst to first sensation of the NFC South. The Falcons won 11 games and earned a wild card berth in 2008 thanks, in no small part, to a breakout campaign by running back Michael Turner and Offensive Rookie of the Year efforts from quarterback Matt Ryan. Not only are the key players back on offense, but the team added 10-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez to the mix. With the ground game sizzling and Ryan's growth set to continue in 2009, the addition of Gonzalez should boost the fantasy value of everyone around.

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The Breakout
Michael Turner led the NFL in 2009 with 376 carries. The Falcons have already expressed an interest in curtailing that figure down towards the 300-325 carry mark. Who benefits from the reduction in Turner's carries? Jerious Norwood. As a third down back, Norwood averaged 5.1 yards per carry and complimented Michael Turner extremely well. With an extra 50 carries or so, Norwood could increase his yardage by 50%. He could also double his touchdown total to eight as well. Norwood also caught the ball 36 times in 2008. Don't expect that number to increase drastically with the addition of Tony Gonzalez though. Without an injury to Turner, Norwood isn't going to be anything more than a third down back and a change of pace runner. But, in this day and age of the two running back system, Norwood's extra work makes sense.

The Bust
There's currently a lot of hype surrounding wide receiver / punt returner Harry Douglas. I've even seen a few sources predicting Douglas to take over at the slot position, overtaking Michael Jenkins. We need to remember that Douglas is an undersized, second year player who performed inconsistently in his rookie season. He only had 23 receptions and only three times eclipsed the 40 yards receiving per game mark. It's true that Douglas has been very impressive in OTA's, but let's see a solid building year at the third wide receiver slot in 2009 before we go ahead and give Jenkins' job to Douglas. Did I mention that Tony Gonzalez will probably cut into a lot of Douglas' receptions. I can see Douglas evolving into the #2 guy in Atlanta, but not until 2010.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Matt Ryan
QB2 - Chris Redman
RB1 - Michael Turner
RB2 - Jerious Norwood
WR1 - Roddy White
WR2 - Michael Jenkins
WR3 - Harry Douglas
WR4 - Brian Finneran
TE1 - Tony Gonzalez
TE2 - Ben Hartsock
K - Jason Elam

The D/ST
As explosive and magical as the offense was in 2008, the defense was equally unheralded. The Falcons ranked 24th overall in yards per game allowed and allowed 127.5 yards per game on the ground. The defense wasn't the focus headed into 2008 and it showed. However, in the 2009 draft, the Falcons used seven of their eight picks on the defensive side of the ball. If GM Thomas Dimitroff sees success with his defensive selections in 2009 like his offensive picks shined in 2008, the Falcons could be upgraded tremendously.

Jerious Norwood performed admirably averaging 25.7 yards per kickoff return. He didn't reach the end zone on special teams but he set up the offense with good field position and should continue to do the same in 2009. Harry Douglas will become the full-time punt returner this season. This could be his chance to really shine. He averaged 11.9 yards per punt return in 2008 and scored once as a part-time return man. With a full season of returns, watch for Douglas to explode on special teams.

The Skinny
- Matt Ryan was only the second quarterback in NFL history (Peyton Manning was the first) to throw for 3,000 yards in his rookie season. Expect even more from him this year as his relationship with Roddy White grows and he finds ways to hook up with new target Tony Gonzalez. Ryan should also benefit from more opportunities to pass the ball as he gains more experience.

- The addition of Tony Gonzalez is going to benefit others, not just Matt Ryan. Being able to open up the passing attack with two top receiving threats will do wonders for the running game. It's true that Michael Turner will probably see his workload cut down. But, since defenses will have to use extra resources to cover both Gonzalez and Roddy White, Turner could see the same kind of success this season with fewer carries.

- The Falcons team defense is not where you want to try and earn points for your fantasy team. While they spent a lot of attention to upgrading through the 2009 draft, it remains to be seen if these rookies can combine with the veteran tools to fill the holes made vacant by Keith Brooking, Michael Boley, Domonique Foxworth and others. You can expect this defensive unit to get better, but not enough in 2009 to help your fantasy team.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Falcons originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Arizona

Matt Snyder — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet the ...
Defending NFC champions. A few inches either way, and we could say the Super Bowl champions. Soak that up. The Arizona Cardinals almost took home a title. It was like a bizarro world Super Bowl -- if you only looked at the NFC side, that is. Regardless, the Cardinals did it with a prolific passing attack, and you know we love that in fantasy football.

They've lost their offensive coordinator and replaced Edgerrin James' aging legs with some fresh ones. Other than that, they look pretty similar in fantasy land. And that's a good thing.

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The Breakout
Beanie, baby. It's Beanie time. The Cardinals were last in the NFL in 2008 in rushing yards and only the Colts averaged less yards per carry. Yes, they have a stellar passing game, but there was a reason they were only 9-7 and then made a run through the NFC playoffs. They started to run the football with success in the playoffs. Edgerrin James had 73 yards on 16 carries (4.6 per carry) against both the Eagles and Falcons in Arizona's victories. We're ignoring the Carolina game because Jake Delhomme gave them that one. Anyway, those two solid games were enough to help the Cards score over 30 points each time against good defenses.

With a new coordinator and the inordinate amount of focus defenses will give to the aerial attack, running the ball will be important for the Cardinals. Edge is now gone. Tim Hightower proved he couldn't handle being much more than a short-yardage back. Chris "Beanie" Wells was drafted in the first round and he's a prototypical, throwback every-down back. He's a chain-mover. Expect the Cards to give him the ball enough for the 1,000-yard barrier to be broken. There is some concern he loses goal-line carries to Hightower, but Wells isn't small. He'll get his fair share of scores (we'll say six).

The Bust
Tim Hightower is being taken before Fred Jackson, Leon Washington, Julius Jones and Ahmad Bradshaw; among many others who will outscore him this season. Did we learn nothing from last season? Rookie backs (Matt Forte, Steve Slaton, Chris Johnson, Kevin Smith, Jonathan Stewart, etc.) don't need time to adjust. Wells will win this job outright, and he'll do so before the season begins.

Hightower only had 399 yards rushing, and that was with having the starting job for half the season. He only averaged a paltry 2.8 yards per carry. Sure, he scored 10 touchdowns, but there's a lot of fortune involved there and he's actually smaller than Beanie Wells. For my money, there's no reason to take Hightower as more than a handcuff to Wells. If you don't own Wells, don't bother with Hightower.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Kurt Warner
QB2 - Matt Leinart
RB1 - Beanie Wells
RB2 - Tim Hightower
RB3 - Jason Wright
WR1 - Larry Fitzgerald
WR2 - Anquan Boldin
WR3 - Steve Breaston
WR4 - Jerheme Urban
WR5 - Early Doucet
TE - Anthony Becht
K - Neil Rackers

The D/ST
o. Because of their ability to find pay dirt, the Cardinals emerged as a D/ST1 last season. Sure, they allowed points, but they also scored touchdowns six times. They were mediocre at getting after the passer (31 sacks), but only four teams took the ball away more. Antonio Smith, Travis LaBoy and Roderick Hood are gone, but Bryant McFadden was added to the secondary. Expect some growth from Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, especially with McFadden opposite him. It's tough to count on the touchdowns being there again, though, so the Cardinals should be a spot-start or bye-week replacement at D/ST.

The Skinny
o. Love this team for fantasy. You've got an elite quarterback, the top-ranked receiver, another elite receiver (Boldin), a useful WR3 most weeks (Breaston), and a breakout running back on the way. The kicker is worth a weekly start, too, due to the fact that the Cardinals can rack up points. It's quite the coincidence (or is it?) Warner engineers this group, because a team so chock full of desirable fantasy options is reminiscent of the Greatest Show on Turf teams.

o. One last note: I would definitely handcuff Warner with Leinart. Seriously. In order to get Warner, you'll have to use a pretty high pick. Thus, you shouldn't be using another pick on a quarterback until you get into the 20s in the rankings (someone like Shaun Hill or Jake Delhomme comes to mind). If Warner gets hurt, though, it's a decent enough bet Leinart outscores those guys, considering the ridiculously talented supporting cast. It's at least enough of a chance to grab him as a QB3 and to let him gather dust on the bench. Insurance never hurt anyone, especially when you are counting on a 38-year-old signal-caller.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Arizona originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Lions

Sean Lalley — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet the...
Team with the 2009 slogan, "Nowhere to go, but up." Ah yes, ladies and gentlemen, the Detroit Lions. Insert jokes here. It's tough to get too excited about the Lions this season. They do have one of the most talented players in the league in Calvin Johnson. Then again, they must rely on a worn-out veteran (with no knees left) or a young rookie to deliver him the ball.

Let's not kid ourselves, nobody really delivers the ball to Calvin Johnson -- he goes out and grabs the ball wherever it may be. Yup, he's just that good and he gives Lions fans a reason for hope. This season anything would be an improvement. However, from a fantasy football perspective, we could care less if the Lions go 0-16 or 10-6 ... as long as Megatron continues to be a stud, it's all good.

The Breakout
From the obvious department, let's welcome in Kevin Smith. Relatively speaking, Smith already has kinda-sorta busted out already. You just missed it last season because he was sucking wind for an 0-16 team. Regardless, this is the season Smith arrives at fantasy stardom and leaves those second-guessing him quite bitter they passed him by. Smith figures to be an integral part of this offense and really, aside from Megatron who else is there? Yes, Smith will see plenty of looks and touches and build upon his nearly 1,000 rushing yards, 8 TDs and 39 catches from a year ago. Don't even blink when it comes to Maurice Morris as the backup, Smith is the guy the Lions are banking on and so should you.

The Bust
There has to be significant hype for that player to be considered a bust. Um, would somebody on the Lions please stand up? OK, this really is a tough one. However, we're gonna have to roll with Daunte Culpepper. I know a lot of people are getting visions or hallucinations of Daunte heaving the ball downfield to a circus catch from Calvin Johnson, but let's not get our roll on just yet. Wake up people -- it's not 2002 anymore, this is not another Culpepper-to-Moss connection. Culpepper will have a hard enough time staying healthy and trying to just manage games. Sure, he'll find Megatron a lot, but he will also find the turf of Ford Field and opposing cornerbacks just as much.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Daunte Culpepper
QB2 - Matthew Stafford
RB1 - Kevin Smith
RB2 - Maurice Morris
RB3 - Aveion Cason
WR1 - Calvin Johnson
WR2 - Bryant Johnson
WR3 - Dennis Northcutt
WR4 - Derrick Williams
TE1 - Brandon Pettigrew
TE2 - Casey FitzSimmons
K - Jason Hanson

The D/ST
The average projection has the Lions defense firmly entrenched at the bottom of the league. You should get my drift; friends don't let friends start the Lions defense in fantasy football. It's just that simple, no need to evaluate and talk about the bright side of things, this unit is brutal and it's going to take a long road to recovery.

The Skinny
There are only two certainties in this Lions offense that you can trust: Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith. However, if you're willing to sacrifice your chances of winning your league, be my guest and dig deeper.

- We all know what we're getting from Calvin Johnson, dude is a freak. However, it's the production and where it's gonna come from after Megatron that raises a few eyebrows. Ideally, the role of WR2 will belong to Bryant Johnson. The acquisition of Dennis Northcutt means he will likely occupy the WR3 slot, but reports indicate the Lions also do like rookie Derrick Williams. Still though, it's anybody's guess who besides Megatron is a factor, as he's the only really proven commodity and can catch anything.

- The strong suspicion is that Culpepper will be the starting QB with Matthew Stafford being the backup in training and Drew Stanton shoved to the side. However, the Lions like to keep this a mystery by refusing to announce the "official" depth chart until after training camp.

- And that would mean one could expect that at some point Stafford will get a chance to start and/or see extensive action. By no means should there be a stampede to the waiver wire when this day arrives. Keep in mind he's a rookie QB on an awful team, you can do better.

- Look for Brandon Pettigrew to be a pleasant surprise in Detroit. He's not going to throw around numbers that make your jaw drop, but as he gets acclimated he's got the potential to be a nice little sneaky sleeper down the stretch.

It's tough to get excited for the fantasy prospects of a team that went 0-16 a season ago, but the Lions could have an interesting offense this season. There is potential to be a high-scoring machine that can't stop anyone on defense. The problem for fantasy purposes is we really just don't know who will complement the stars (Johnson and Smith).

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Lions originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Packers

Knox Bardeen — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:22:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
The team that happily doesn't have to wonder if Brett Favre is coming to camp. Following a future hall of famer and face of the franchise isn't east. But, Aaron Rodgers make it look that way. In his first full year, Rodgers started all 16 games and threw for 4,038 yards and 28 touchdowns. Rodgers spread the love to two 1,000 yard receivers in Greg Jennings and Donald Driver and enjoyed a 1,203 yard campaign from his running back Ryan Grant, who battled through injuries and a somewhat slow start to the season. The key players from 2008 are still around heading into 2009 and there's no reason to think Rodgers shouldn't grow as a quarterback and the rest of the crew around him benefit from his experience.

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The Breakout
Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin hopes to run the ball more in 2009. While that will benefit Ryan Grant, it also could greatly expand the role of third down back Brandon Jackson. Jackson rushed for 248 yards last season as Grant's backup, but averaged 5.5 yards per carry, compared to Grant's 3.9 yards per carry. Combine the yards per carry difference with the fact that Grant fumbled (three times) almost as much as he scored (five times) and you have a recipe for Jackson to really steal some of the workload from Jackson.

The Bust
While most of the offensive components made smooth transitions from Favre to Aaron Rodgers, tight end Donald Lee suffered. His receiving yards were cut nearly in half from 575 yards in 2007 to 303 yards in 2008 and he had close to 20% fewer receptions. Also consider that Jermichael Finley has been an absolute beast in OTA's this summer and you have the makings of a hostile takeover at the tight end position. It wouldn't be a far cry to see Finley with more receptions at the end of the season than Lee.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Aaron Rodgers
QB2 - Matt Flynn
RB1 - Ryan Grant
RB2 - Brandon Jackson
WR1 - Greg Jennings
WR2 - Donald Driver
WR3 - Jordy Nelson / James Jones
WR4 - Ruvell Martin
TE1 - Donald Lee
TE2 - Jermichael Finley
K - Mason Crosby

The D/ST
The defense took some lumps last season falling from a fifth ranked squad overall in 2007 to 17th in 2008. The Packers addressed that issue in a number of ways. First, they brought in a new coordinator in Dom Capers. Capers plans to unveil a more aggressive, attacking style and introduce Cheeseheads to the 3-4 defense. Management also lent a helping hand to the defense by using two first round picks in the draft on defensive tackle B.J. Raji and linebacker Clay Matthews. Both should make an immediate impact.

The Packers led the NFL in defensive touchdowns in 2008. They got three from free safety Nick Collins and two from cornerback Charles Woodson. Include Will Blackmon's two punt return touchdowns from last season and the defense and special teams units are highly explosive from a scoring standpoint. If Capers new look defense tightens things up, Green Bay could move back towards a top-five fantasy defense.

The Skinny
- Growing as a number one target, Greg Jennings broke out in 2008. But, he hasn't topped out yet. He led the league in 40-yard or more receptions with eight and finished with a touchdown and 70 or more yards receiving in 14 of his 16 games in 2008. Expect more of the same and an increase to his career high 80 receptions and 1,292 yards receiving as his relationship with Aaron Rodgers continues to grow.

- The Packers didn't need a receiver when they used their second round pick in 2008 on Jordy Nelson, but they saw the 6-3 receiver as the future compliment to Greg Jennings. He's been impressive in OTA's, even called an offensive stand-out. His receiving yards could double this season from his rookie campaign of 366 yards.

- In Capers' new 3-4 scheme, Aaron Kampman could flourish. Sure he's been a defensive end his entire NFL career, but he did play linebacker in college at Iowa. He'll now be featured in pass rush situations and could become a DeMarcus Ware type defender. Expect a lot of sacks from Kampman.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Packers originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Bears

Matt Snyder — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet the ...
First Chicago Bears team with a franchise quarterback since face masks were invented. A message to non-Bears fans from Bears fans: Don't bring us down. If you want to make fun of us for being a bit overzealous about Jay Cutler, then maybe you should take a gander at the load of crap the Bears have been using at quarterback. From Cade McNown to Moses Moreno to Chad Hutchinson to Peter Tom Willis to ... whatever. You get the point. Let us also remember that having Cutler doesn't necessarily make everyone fantasy gold automatically. The tremors are more real than fantasy.

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The Breakout
Devin Hester has only played two seasons at receiver and his growth has been extraordinary. He's likely never going to be a bona fide No. 1 NFL wideout, but he's explosive enough to make big plays at the drop of a hat. He actually led the Bears in receiving yards in 2008, and his numbers suffered greatly with Kyle Orton's inability to complete the deep pass late in the season. The naysayers will pontificate about how he's nothing more than pass interference bait, but we haven't gotten much of a chance to see if that's true or not. It's nothing more than speculation. We have seen an 80-yard touchdown catch to tie the Vikings with less than two minutes left in the game (10-14-07 ... from Brian Griese). With Cutler's rocket for an arm and the already improving receiving skills of Hester, all the tools are there for a 1,000-yard season and close to double-digit touchdowns.

The Bust
In terms of what the Bears are and how it relates to fantasy football, Jay Cutler is going to be different than he was last season for the Broncos. You can forget about 4,500 passing yard seasons for the Bears. I could go on and on about how that's not what the Bears need and how he'll provide exactly what they'll need, but that's not the topic at hand today. We're talking about fantasy, and if Cutler is a top-10 fantasy quarterback this season he'll be 10th. The Bears have a much better defense than the Broncos did last season, so he won't be chucking it recklessly near as many times as he did last season. The numbers he'll put up will be better than Kyle Orton's '08 stat line, and it will help Hester -- as I said above -- but Cutler's stats will take a step backward this year from where they were in Denver. Just be cognizant of the differences before taking Cutler as your QB1, that's all I'm saying.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Jay Cutler
QB2 - Caleb Hanie
RB1 - Matt Forte
RB2 - Kevin Jones
RB3 - "The Other" Adrian Peterson
RB4 - Garrett Wolfe
WR1 - Devin Hester
WR2 - Earl Bennett
WR3 - Rashied Davis
WR4 - Juaquin Iglesias
WR5 - Johnny Knox
TE1 - Greg Olsen
TE2 - Desmond Clark
K - Robbie Gould

The D/ST
The bark has been bigger than the bite from the Monsters of the Midway the past two seasons. A staff makeover and a few tweaks has the Bears confident they can rekindle some of the magic the defense had in the 2005-2006 seasons.

With the addition of Rod Marinelli to the staff and demotion of maligned former coordinator Bob Babich -- not to mention being much more healthy than in 2008 -- the Bears are ready to get back to where they've become accustomed. Remember, this is mostly the same personnel as the Super Bowl team, and none of the guys are too old to still contribute at a high level. Behind a healthy Tommie Harris, rapidly developing Marcus Harrison and freakishly athletic Jarron Gilbert, the interior of the defensive line will go from weakness to strength, and that frees up the outside pass rush and the play-making abilities of Brian Urlacher. The secondary is still suspect, but the addition of D.J. Moore and development of Zack Bowman will alleviate some of the pressure on Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher.

Finally, we know this about Lovie Smith's defense: They look to take the ball away and they look to score when they do. For my money, they are worth a D/ST1 pick and could certainly regain top-5 form.

The Skinny
o. Again, please don't misconstrue my pick of Cutler as a fantasy bust to mean he's a bad quarterback. Far from it. He is just not going to live up to the stat line he established in Denver for several reasons. What he does in Chicago is make everyone around him better. Forte is a legitimate top-5 overall pick and could conceivably be considered as the top pick (I have him slotted third overall after AP and Turner). I already told you I love Hester, Olsen is an every-week starter at TE with the potential to crack the top five, and Gould is a solid option at kicker. As for the rest?

o. Someone else is going to step up and garner some meaningful stats at receiver. Davis -- while a hard worker and likable person to Bears fans like myself -- has very little fantasy upside, so the quicker he goes away, the better for fantasy football contestants. Iglesias and Bennett are both good last-round flier options in larger leagues as a WR5 with the potential to gain some value as a spot-starter or injury replacement. Bennett had a huge season his sophomore year at Vanderbilt with Cutler as his signal-caller, so the rapport shouldn't be a problem. Iglesias is said to already be very polished as a possession receiver. You shouldn't be drafting him, but Knox is a burner with pretty solid upside. Reports from OTAs were very positive. Keep an eye on him early in the season in really huge keeper leagues. You never know what Cutler can do with a speedy threat like that.

o. Kevin Jones is a must-have handcuff to Forte. Reports from around the team this offseason have Jones in much better physical condition and the Bears pledging to use him more in an effort to save Forte's legs.

o. Things are certainly exciting in Chicago with the addition of Cutler, but 2009 is a growth year for the passing attack. We'll have a better grasp on things next year at this time. For now, there are some risks worth taking, but the reliable fantasy players are, in order: Forte, Olsen, Cutler (as long as you're careful), Gould, the defense and Hester.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Bears originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Vikings

Ryan Dembinsky — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
Dude we're sick of seeing on the cover of all the magazines. Well, that is until we land the first pick in our fantasy drafts. Adrian Peterson comes in as the entirely unanimous No. 1 in every league known to man. Unless you have a huge homer crush on Michael Turner, Maurice Jones-Drew or Matt Forte, Peterson is the best fantasy player in the game. But of course he could get injured, something he is known to do ...

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The Vikings are blessed with such a crappy division that every year folks claim that if they could just find that last remaining piece to the puzzle, they would be Super Bowl contenders. The funny thing is that the Vikings are, lest you forget, part of the NFC North. That means they suffer the wrath of the chronically awful quarterback. Nobody knows why, but for some mysterious reason (actually we're pretty sure it's the ugly chicks), the teams of the NFC North -- with the rare exception of the Green Bay Packers -- lean toward horrible quarterbacks. Favre Schmarve. This year is no different. The Vikings probably won't have a good quarterback and they probably won't win a Super Bowl.

The Breakout
I'll spare you the obviousness. We all know that burritos are delicious and we also know that Adrian Peterson will have a big year for fantasy owners. He is the No. 1 pick after all, and you can't move up from No. 1. It's mathematically impossible. Breakouts should outperform expectations.

So the breakout to watch for this season is actually tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. Remember about four seasons ago when the better fantasy players started picking up T.J. Houshmandzadeh (especially in leagues scoring return yards and TDs) and everybody else just made fun of the name? Likewise, this should be the year we learn to spell Visanthe Shiancoe (unless you already know how from Googling his dong). Shiancoe showed signs of greatness last season when he caught 42 passes for almost 600 yards and 7 TDs. If he improves even modestly upon those numbers, Shiancoe should elevate to elite TE status. While this will be his seventh season, it's only his third with Minnesota and his numbers are on the upswing since his arrival in the Twin Cities.

The Bust
We mentioned the NFC North teams and their perpetual habit of trying to plug mediocre backups into starting quarterback roles, while convincing themselves they found their guy. Well, Sage Rosenfels may be the next in that long line. Rosenfels is decent, but nothing if not inconsistent. In 2008, he got his opportunity to shine when Matt Schaub went down in Houston and the tossed six touchdowns to go with his 10 interceptions and 239 yards per game. Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. He might be an upgrade from Tarvaris Jackson, but not by much. The Vikings have not yet named a starter between Rosenfels and Jackson and also continue to bumble with the Favre possibility, only adding to the uncertainty.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Sage Rosenfels (or Tarvaris Jackson or Brett Favre)
QB2 - Tarvaris Jackson
RB1 - Adrian Peterson
RB2 - Chester Taylor
WR1 - Bernard Berrian
WR2 - Bobby Wade
WR3 - Sidney Rice
WR4 - Percy Harvin
TE1 - Visanthe Shiancoe
TE2 - Jimmy Kleinsasser
K - Ryan Longwell

The D/ST
On paper the Vikings might have the best defense in the league. They have the best defensive lineman in Jared Allen and one of the elite front fours in the NFL. Over the course of the past three years, the Vikes have scored 11, 9, and 11 defensive touchdowns respectively. Obviously, that translates to big-time fantasy points. The only problem with the unit is that despite the sacks and teeders, they lack somewhat in the turnover department for an elite defense. Last season, the Purple only intercepted 12 passes (just six teams picked off less). Given the pressure up front though, one would naturally assume this number should rise, so consider the Vikings a top-five defense. Just don't jump on them too early. Finally, in terms of special teams -- beware of Percy Harvin. He's lethal.

The Skinny
- Probably the most important fantasy advice I can give you with regard to Minnesota is steal Chester Taylor before Peterson's owner gets him. Not only will you strike fear directly into the heart of your opponent, but you'll get trade bait and a great backup. In 2008, Taylor's numbers were down and he still nabbed 800 all-purpose yards and six TDs. In 2007, he cracked 1,100 all-purpose and scored seven times. Plus, keep in mind Peterson has only stayed healthy a complete season just once since he began college (last season). Should Peterson go down, you're sitting on a diamond mine.

- Are you holding your breath for the big news as to whether or not Favre will play in 2009? Me either. In reality, he'd be a nice bonus for Minnesota, but as a fantasy player it really doesn't make much difference. Favre is not really fantasy-relevant, and other than Shiancoe and a long shot for Harvin, this receiving corps is pretty uninteresting. Berrian provides a solid deep threat and Wade makes for a fine 15th-rounder or waiver-wire pickup when your team falls apart due to injuries, but neither will even be a great start for fantasy purposes.

- A lot of folks are predicting bust city for Percy Harvin. Well, beyond what we mentioned about him above as a kick and punt return threat, Harvin has been lining up in the "Wildcat" formation, in the backfield, and in the slot. So clearly the Vikings are thinking creatively about how to get him the ball. Plus, the NFL is a herd-following league. With game-breaking lilliputians like Steve Slaton and Devin Hester paving the way for a more optimistic viewpoint on explosive smaller players, expect the Vikings to try to follow suit with Harvin.

- If kicker Ryan Longwell is available in the 16th round, he should make a good fantasy kicker again this season. He went 6-for-6 beyond fifty yards last season, so his 34-year-old chassis shouldn't be a concern.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Vikings originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Cowboys

Knox Bardeen — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:44:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
The team that decided to become more "Romo-friendly". Tony Romo got rid of two divas this offseason. He broke it off with longtime gal Jessica Simpson and the team released wide receiver Terrell Owens. While neither departure is guaranteed to help the Cowboys, getting rid of Owens with no true number one receiver in house will most likely shift the offense back towards a run-first philosophy, which will be quite a change from the 58% pass offense that Dallas utilized in 2008.

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The Breakout
If Dallas is going to have any chance of success in 2009, the breakout player on this roster must be wide receiver Roy Williams. With a five-year resume that features only one 1,000-yard campaign (2006), Williams is primed and ready to show Dallas fans why the team spent $45 million on the 27-year-old Texas grad. Williams is going to finally have some powerful tools around him to assist in his breakout attempt. He'll also enjoy the two-pronged running attack of Barber and Jones which should take a bit of pressure off.

The Bust
A pinkie toe injury kept Marion Barber from tallying 1,000 yards rushing in 2008. Felix Jones and Tashard Choice will act as Barber's pinkie toe in 2009. You'll see Dallas run the ball a lot this season, which should be good news for Barber. However, the team also plans to get Jones and Choice more involved in the rushing attack. Nothing good from a fantasy football perspective comes from these three runners sharing carries.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Tony Romo
QB2 - Jon Kitna
RB1 - Marion Barber
RB2 - Felix Jones
WR1 - Roy Williams
WR2 - Patrick Crayton
WR3 - Miles Austin
WR4 - Sam Hurd
TE1 - Jason Witten
TE2 - Martellius Bennett
K - Nick Folk

The D/ST
DeMarcus Ware is a special, special pass rusher and defensive deity. Unfortunately, the rest of the Cowboys defense just doesn't stand out. Dallas imported Keith Brooking, Gerald Sensabaugh and Igor Olshansky to replace Zach Thomas, Chris Canty and "the other" Roy Williams, but these moves don't enhance the defensive unit's skill set, it just maintains the status quo. And that status quo in 2008 saw the Cowboys give up 22.8 points per game, which was good for a 20th ranking in the NFL.

Adam Jones was miserable as a punt return specialist in 2008. He averaged 4.5 yards per return which was easily the worst in the NFL. Crayton will take over punt return duties in 2009 and should perform much better. In limited duty last year, Crayton averaged 9.5 yards per return. While that's still middle of the road, it's a marked upgrade.

Austin ranked 33rd in kickoff return average last season. That means a few teams had two return guys who were better then Austin. This is an area that the Cowboys would love to see some improvement in heading into the new season. If the Cowboys are going to become more of a running team, field position becomes extremely important.

The Skinny
- Witten finished 2008 with 952 receiving yards, which was good for second among tight ends. However, Witten only danced in the end zone four times. For those of you that felt T.O. and his selfish need to be the main target in the end zone kept Witten from becoming the truly elite tight end, we'll finally get to see if you're right. Witten should see many more red zone looks in 2009, but he'll also be focused on by defenses a little bit more as well. Here's where the cream rises, right?

- The best deep threat option of the receiving corps is Austin. He didn't get a chance to overtake Crayton during OTAs because he was sidelined with a hamstring injury. But his 6-foot-3 frame and blazing speed could prove too much for opposing defenses and Crayton to hold back.

- Whether it'll be in a "Wildcat" formation or a "Razorback" formation featuring Tashard Choice at quarterback, Jones should get quite a few carries every week. He'll touch the ball seven to ten times each week and as an explosive runner, could do some serious damage to defenses. Barber will still see the goal-line action, but Jones could make a definite impact, especially in yardage-heavy leagues.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Cowboys originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Redskins

Matt Snyder — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet the ...
Second consecutive season under the same playbook. This is quite significant because the Redskins' current signal-caller hasn't been afforded this "luxury" since his senior year in high school. I can't even imagine what Jason Campbell has done with all his extra time this offseason, what with not having to learn an entire new playbook. Every other player has to know his own job on each play. The quarterback has to know the job of all 11 players on each play. Comfort matters.

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The Breakout
Jason Campbell is going 23rd among quarterbacks in current drafts. Now, I might be going a little overboard when I hype him, but this is ridiculous. He had a really high completion percentage and took incredible care of the ball last season through the air. His 3,245 yards were serviceable and the 13 touchdown passes were pretty modest, but he was handled with kid gloves. Expect those to come off this season, as he'll finally have some level of comfort in the offense.

His offensive line is better -- albeit not substantially -- which will keep the running game consistent and defenses honest. He has two veteran, reliable wideouts and a great pass-catching tight end. The vets will help the progress of Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly.

It really looks like the Redskins will have a wide variety of weapons on offense and Campbell is ready to be a leader. In this case, I'm expecting 3,500 yards and close to 20 touchdown passes. That's a very solid QB2 at the minimum.

The Bust
I like Santana Moss a lot as a player, but he's going in the top 30 for fantasy wide receivers and there are a few reasons to believe he's going to fall short of that. Don't confuse the pick of Campbell above with this pick of Moss as mixed signals. Moss is going to yield some of his touchdowns back to Cooley, who inexplicably only had one TD last season. The growth of Thomas will also penetrate some of Moss' 2008 numbers. I'm looking for about 65 catches, 850 yards and a small handful of scores. That's somewhere in the mid-30s for receivers, and in most leagues he's gonna go around 25.

He's not a big-time bust, but Portis and Cooley are the only Redskins highly-ranked and neither is being drafted as an elite-tier option (Portis' ADP is 13th among RBs and Cooley's is 7th among TEs). There's really no one else I'd even consider putting here.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Jason Campbell
QB2 - Todd Collins/Colt Brennan
RB1 - Clinton Portis
RB2 - Ladell Betts
WR1 - Santana Moss
WR2 - Antwaan Randle El
WR3 - Devin Thomas
WR4 - Malcolm Kelly
TE1 - Chris Cooley
TE2 - Fred Davis
K - Shaun Suisham/Dave Rayner (avoid both in all formats)

The D/ST
Because of defensive coordinator Greg Blache's scheme, the defense is much better in real life than fantasy. Only five teams allowed less points and only three teams allowed less yardage in 2008 -- and the Redskins' 2009 defense is better. The problem is that the 'Skins were 29th in fantasy defense points in '08. They get the job done by not putting up gaudy stats.

They've added run-stopper extraordinaire Albert Haynesworth -- who also managed 8 1/2 sacks from up the middle in '08 -- and freakishly talented Brian Orakpo this offseason. Both should help the Redskins in the sack department, where only three teams had less last season. Only two teams had less takeaways than the 'Skins in 2008, and the added pressure on the quarterback should enable an increase there as well.

Still, the defense of Blache is predicated on stopping the opponent while minimizing the risks taken. Fantasy stats aren't accrued easily this way, so the Redskins are likely to end up a top-5 real-life defense (and, seriously, I'm almost ready to say top-2) and down in the late-teens in fantasy football. Don't get starry-eyed and allow the line between fantasy and reality to blur unless they are used as a stopgap.

The Skinny
o. This team, as I alluded to in my concluding paragraph of the "bust" pick, is a group of bargains. Getting Clinton Portis as the 13th running back, especially considering he was the MVP of last season's first half, is a bit crazy. Campbell is falling way too far and Cooley is a top-5 tight end you can get later than that. Then, there are three players with varying upside who won't cost anything at all.

o. Devin Thomas was a disappointment his rookie year, but he's only 22. He has plenty of talent and reports from OTAs have been good. Campbell seems to like him and it would behoove him to develop the young wideout from Michigan State as he looks to improve the passing attack. Thomas has enough big-play potential to warrant a last-round pick in deep leagues as your fifth or sixth receiver in hopes he pans out. If not, no big loss.

o. Malcolm Kelly is the possession guy of the second-year combo with Thomas. He's reportedly looked solid in offseason workouts, but he's going to have to fight for touches in this role with Moss, Randle El, Cooley and even Portis. He's like Thomas in that you could take a flier late in huge leagues, but we like Thomas better.

o. Fred Davis would have potential for growth if he played on a team like the Bears or Colts where they like to utilize two-tight end sets frequently. The Redskins don't, though, so he'll be riding pine behind Cooley. If Cooley suffers a prolonged injury, immediately think about Davis. He's got solid size and speed for a tight end.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Redskins originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Eagles

Sean Lalley — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:20:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
Eagles, backed by two injury-prone, aging talents with yet another shot at fantasy greatness! Andy Reid and company have loaded up on new toys for Donovan McNabb. They are hoping to rekindle the memories of when a guy named T.O. was around. Finally, McNabb breathes deep and says, "Now I have enough playmakers." However, will he and his homeboy Brian Westbrook actually be able to stay healthy?

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The Breakout
This offense has a lot of potential breakouts/budding stars. It's hard not to like the potential of DeSean Jackson putting it all together this season or the thought of Jeremy Maclin adding another weapon for McNabb. But I'm going with the sleeper route so to speak and that's gonna be Brent Celek. He will flourish in an offense that loves to utilize the tight end positon. You probably haven't much of a clue to who this guy is. That's fine, just know that he grabbed three TDs in the Eagles' playoff run last year. Was it a flash in the pan? Doubt it. He's taking over the role as the No. 1 TE, a role that L.J. Smith couldn't ever quite grasp. McNabb has plenty at his disposal and Celek will be a key ingredient. Chances are Celek will go undrafted, but his numbers won't be too far off from some of the tight ends that get snagged in the later rounds. It's a reach, but you already know about Jackson, Maclin and McCoy to name a few.

The Bust
Sorry to say this, but Brian Westbrook is at the point in his fantasy career where you have to wonder a few things. Like, can he stay healthy for another grueling season? Is he still a Top 5 running back? The short answer is no. I'm not suggesting you jump off the bridge. However, the days of Westbrook being a lock to give you exactly what you need from your RB1 are gone. He will have a solid season production-wise and very well could stay healthy, but the Eagles are sure to take it easy on their feature back. They drafted LeSean McCoy in the 2nd round and brought in Lorenzo Booker via free agency last season. Both rushers will get a fair share of touches as they learn and adjust to the offense. The Eagles "believe" they are playing for a bigger prize this season and that can only mean keeping Westbrook fresh for a stretch run. Don't avoid Westbrook altogether, but just proceed with tempered expectations and don't overpay for him. Sound good?

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Donovan McNabb
QB2 - Kevin Kolb
RB1 - Brian Westbrook
RB2 - LeSean McCoy
RB3 - Lorenzo Booker
WR1 - Kevin Curtis
WR2 - DeSean Jackson
WR3 - Jason Avant
WR4 - Reggie Brown
WR5 - Jeremy Maclin
TE1 - Brent Celek
TE2 - Matt Schobel
K - David Akers

The D/ST
The Eagles are young and loaded on defense. They are stacked in the secondary and at linebacker. They always give you decent numbers fantasy-wise. That said, it's tough to consider them a Top 5 fantasy defense. You can always feel comfortable using Philly on a weekly basis (pending on matchups), but you may be best served waiting it out and plucking this unit off the waiver wire if it lands there.

The Skinny
This team has proven fantasy stars with a lot of wear and tear, yet there are plenty of young assets that can be had on the cheap and could very well produce in the perfect offensive system. Expectations are always high in Philadelphia, and so should be your expectations for most of the skill positions on the Eagles.

- Donovan McNabb is entering another season as "the questioned" unquestioned leader of this team (if that makes sense). He will no doubt at some point this season be forced to look over his shoulder and see Kevin Kolb. Despite all that, McNabb has done nothing but produce when he's healthy. He's certainly not going to turn back the clock to 2005, but he's got perhaps the best offense he's ever had around him. Keep in mind as well that he wasn't too far off Peyton Manning territory in standard leagues last year. Food for thought.

- DeSean Jackson has the potential to be an absolute monster. It appears the Eagles will push him away from full-time return duties, which could be good and bad. Regardless, his goal is to focus more on receiving duties, which could pay great dividends. Let's not forget Jeremy Maclin is certainly no slouch at kickoff/punt returns. This could be a fierce combination.

- Look for Jason Avant to have a "sneaky" good season. I'm pretty much over the Kevin Curtis phenomenon. You know what you are getting with him -- some big games and some duds. As the young weapons learn the ropes, expect McNabb to build upon the rapport with an older steady hand in Avant.

Yes, there a lot of mouths to feed on this offense ... who can you trust? For drafting purposes, I suggest sticking with the usual suspects McNabb, Westbrook and Jackson. Don't get cute. You can test drive the rest of these guys at any given point. Oh yeah, if you do need a kicker ... David Akers ain't all that bad.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Eagles originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Giants

Sean Lalley — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
Team that wants you to believe they can win with anybody. That's right, it's the system and not the players. The Giants shed a bulk of their offense in the offseason, some by choice, others ... well not so much. Their franchise QB bid farewell to his top receiving options and a key running back bolted for free agency.

Yet, let's not worry too much. The Giants still have a monster with Brandon Jacobs, a ball-hawking defense that thrives on pressure, and some potential budding stars on offense. Will Eli shake off the tough offseason and put up those solid and consistent numbers we all crave? Well, maybe. Yeah, that's a good theme for owning most of this Giants offense. Do you trust (fill-in-the blank) ... "well, maybe."

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The Breakout
Ahmad Bradshaw is ready for the bright lights of the big city. We've seen what he can do as a supporting cast member of "Earth, Wind and Fire." However, the Giants backfield is sure to have a two-headed, change-of-pace look this season with Brandon Jacobs and Bradshaw getting the bulk of the carries. The Giants will rely heavily on Bradshaw to use his speed to create a new combination (or return to the old days) of "Thunder and Lightning." Derrick Ward saw ample time over the course of the past two seasons spelling Jacobs, and that role now belongs solely to Bradshaw. Look for those increased touches and opportunities leading to better production and ample chances for the home run. Really, what's not to like about Bradshaw this season?

The Bust
I know a lot of people love him, but sorry folks the bust here is gonna be Domenik Hixon. Why? Well, it's painfully obvious, he's really not that good. I know he filled in admirably after the team benched/suspended/double-secret probation'd Plaxico Burress, but I'd hardly let such a small sample size blind you. Take note that Hixon will be entering his fourth season in the league and he's shown us what exactly? A few decent-to-solid games as a new face in the offense is not something I'm gonna bet the house on. Don't trust me? Take a look at the stink-fest he dished out from Week 6 through Week 11 last season. He had few decent games down the stretch where he managed to average just under 60 yards per contest. Um, yeah and that's the No. 1 WR in this offense and a possible WR2 for you? No thanks. There is plenty of talent in the making on the Giants roster at this position. I'll try me some Mario Manningham or Hakeem Nicks based on potential alone if you don't mind.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Eli Manning
QB2 - David Carr
RB1 - Brandon Jacobs
RB2 - Ahmad Bradshaw
RB3 - Danny Ware
WR1 - Domenik Hixon
WR2 - Steve Smith
WR3 - Mario Manningham
WR4 - Hakeem Nicks
WR5 - Sinorice Moss
TE1 - Kevin Boss
TE2 - Michael Matthews
K - Lawrence Tynes

The D/ST
In short, I really, really like this defense, as do many. It should come back with a mission and purpose this season. The return of Osi Umenyiora immediately bolsters the potential for racking up points on sacks. And the plan is no different this season for the defense: put pressure on the opposing lines and QBs. My one caution with this defense is that some folks might reach a little too soon for them. They are by no means the Ravens or Bears of years past, but the hype machine is looking that way. Really, I can't ever make an argument for taking a defense in the 5th or 6th round. That said, somebody will, and they may very well own the top fantasy defense.

The Skinny
The Giants are going to be a productive team when it comes to winning on Sundays. But when it comes to fantasy football there is still a lot of enigma surrounding this team. They have arguably only one legitimate stud for fantasy purposes in Brandon Jacobs (unless you count the D/ST), several decent options and the rest are question marks based on potential only.

- The departures of Burress and Amani Toomer have created some holes on this offense and left the top WR position wide open. Most think it belongs to Hixon by default, but not here. There is talent to be found, but are you willing to wait for it? Really, it's a tough argument to wage that I'd trust anyone on the Giants' receiving corps to even be a key reserve for my fantasy squad.

- The Giants will miss Ward to an extent, but as mentioned the tandem of Jacobs and Bradshaw should suffice. The unproven Danny Ware plays the third fiddle, which could lead to depth shortage in the backfield.

- A lot folks are down on Manning, both fantasy and reality-wise. Well, it's a big season for Peyton's little brother. I've never been a big advocate of young Manning as a starting fantasy QB. He's going to have to carry this team a lot if it's going to have a chance. He'll spread the ball around (as usual) and turn in some monster games along with some stinkers. The suggestion is to always proceed with kid gloves when it comes to Eli and remember how bad he can be down the stretch.

- Kevin Boss should be a nice little surprise in the Giants offense. He had his moments last season, but with Eli's favorite passing target now gone, expect for him to look to Boss as his familiar face.

You can find worse than a lot of the Giants' skilled positions, but you can also find much better. The thought here is that you shouldn't be drafting any Giants outside of Jacobs before the 6th round (at least).

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Giants originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Chiefs

Ryan Dembinsky — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
Conclusion of the Butt Chiefs. That lousy 2-14 Chiefs squad from 2008 has nowhere to go but up from here, so they will no longer be the butt of everyone's joke. Remember that explosive offense for the NFC Champion, Arizona Cardinals. Well, former offensive coordinator Todd Haley assumes his first head coaching job this season in Kansas City. In other words, the Chiefs offense just became very relevant for fantasy football owners. Sure, Haley still faces a massive challenge in terms of personnel, but you can rest assured that this season, the Chiefs' offense will make plays just like Haley's Cardinals did.

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The first big move involved signing New England's surprise success story at quarterback, Matt Cassel, who stepped in admirably in Tom Brady's absence. The big issue remains on the offensive line and thus raised the question as to whether Cassel will spend the season starting at the sky, but the passing game should post giant stats much like Kurt Warner's did in Arizona. The running game will likely be less than stellar, but again, think Arizona. The running game hardly matters.

The Breakout
Dwayne Bowe is a virtual lock for a big season. Coming into his third year after already posting two very impressive ones, Bowe stands to benefit from Haley's offense more so than anyone. Haley's pass happy attack and the addition of a quality quarterback in Matt Cassel make Bowe a top ten, maybe top five receiver this season. Better yet, many fantasy players are still not that familiar with Bowe's past numbers and potential for bigger ones, so he should be a decent value as he'll likely fall to the third, maybe fourth round. Furthermore, the departure of Tony Gonzalez certainly will not reduce Bowe's touches. Bowe is almost worth planning your draft strategy around this season.

The Bust
Anyone else having a case of deja vu? Take my colleague Matt Snyder's advice from last season, because it hasn't changed a bit. "Larry Johnson on your fantasy team is a big mistake." Coming off a suspension for a night club incident and a team that can hardly stand him, Larry Johnson's days are numbered. He cannot block, which will certainly annoy Todd Haley and Co. and he is inching closer to thirty every day. Amazingly, people still refuse to listen; Johnson's ADP remains an unbelievably overrated No. 57. The only good thing Larry Johnson provides on draft day is fodder to make fun of the idiot who actually drafts him in the fifth round. The one caveat for Johnson is that if the Chiefs do release him, there is a chance he might find a better home elsewhere, at which point it is worth reassessing his value.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Matt Cassel
QB2 - Tyler Thigpen
RB1 - Larry Johnson
RB2 - Jamaal Charles
RB3 - Kolby Smith
WR1 - Dwayne Bowe
WR2 - Mark Bradley
WR3 - Bobby Engram
WR4 - Devard Darling
TE1 - Brad Cottam
TE2 - Sean Ryan
K - Connor Barth

The D/ST
In addition to the revamped offense, the Chiefs have a new defensive coordinator in Clancy Pendergast, another Arizona guy. The defense should improve with a fortified defensive line thanks to first round pickup Tyson Jackson, but the personnel overall is definitely nothing special. Zach Thomas and Mike Vrabel should also bolster the linebacker corps, but this unit will be available on waivers for your disposal should they surprise anyone. Temper any expectations here as there are an awful lot of moving parts.

The Chiefs kicking situation is also not important to key in on. The starter should be Connor Barth, but draft pick Ryan Succop may challenge him for the role. Both will obviously be on the waiver wires since 95% of people have probably never heard of either of them.

The Skinny
- Looking to play the late quarterback pickup game? Matt Cassel is the perfect choice. Cassel's ADP is currently around #100 and as mentioned, the Chiefs are going to pass like crazy. Furthermore, they are still likely to be playing from behind in a lot of games, so he will rack up yards like you won't believe. The Chiefs claim that Tyler Thigpen will still compete for the starting job, but you can count on Cassel having a good year. I would recommend pairing him with another late round QB or even two for safety if you opt for this approach though.

- Given the departure of Tony Gonzalez and the Arizona-esque offense, it is doubtful that the tight end position will have much impact. Brad Cottam looks like the best offensive weapon, but he'll be on waivers if he does manage to break out.

- Keep an eye on matchups with Kansas City as they face a lot of tough defenses (Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New York Giants, San Diego, and Philadelphia).

- Finally, watch out for Jamaal Charles as a late sleeper (ADP around 150). He has the best speed and actually blocks, so if the coaching staff decides to bag Larry Johnson, which is not entirely unlikely, he may be a good pickup.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Chiefs originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Raiders

Matt Snyder — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet the ...
Running game that needs help from the passing game. One thing is for sure, the Oakland Raiders can run the football. They finished 10th in the NFL last season in rushing offense. The problem is that they only had nine rushing touchdowns (only three teams had less), which we can attribute to the fact that the Raiders had the worst passing offense in the NFL.

If the Raiders can find a way to stretch the field and move the ball through the air, expect the rushing game to get even better.

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The Breakout
If you've read anything I've written this offseason, do I even need to say his name? He's pictured above. He's tumbled down draft boards a year after he was highly sought after, and he's as explosive as any running back in football. Some know him as "Run DMC." I know him as my No. 1 value pick in fantasy football this season.

Darren McFadden is currently being selected as the 26th running back in drafts. Reggie Bush, Joseph Addai, Marshawn Lynch (who is suspended for the first three games of the season), Derrick Ward and Knowshon Moreno are among the cast of characters ahead of McFadden. Did one injury-riddled season make us forget how much talent McFadden has? He was getting the workload in college ahead of Felix Jones. He still averaged 4.4 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns in a rookie year while saddled with injuries to his big toe. If you don't think that sounds bad, just picture how difficult it is to make hard side-to-side cuts while running full speed with a bad big toe. Agility is McFadden's game, and it was stripped from him during his rookie campaign. He's healthy and getting rave reviews in offseason workouts.

Furthermore, I direct you what I mentioned in the intro. The Raiders need to inject some life into the passing game. Naysayers of McFadden might point to the presence of Justin Fargas and Michael Bush in the backfield, but those two combined for 29 catches in 2008. McFadden himself caught 29 passes and he was injured. The best way for the Raiders to make the passing attack more explosive is to utilize the back with the pass-catching skills. He'll be on the field more than the other two.

The Bust
It's pretty difficult to name a bust on a team where the only two highly-ranked guys (McFadden and Zach Miller) are going to play well. I did find this little oddity on the latest ADP charts, though. JaMarcus Russell is currently being drafted after Jeff Garcia. Russell is the starter and Garcia is the backup. In fact, this isn't even a job competition. According to the Raiders beat, Russell would have to do "a faceplant of major proportions" to not be the starting quarterback this season.

And yet, owners are still drafting the backup before the starter. That doesn't make sense at all. Garcia is a wasted pick -- no matter the round -- and he's going before the actual starter. B - U - S - T.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - JaMarcus Russell
QB2 - Jeff Garcia
RBBC1* - Darren McFadden
RBBC2* - Michael Bush
RBBC3* - Justin Fargas
WR1 - Chaz Schilens
WR2 - Johnnie Lee Higgins
WR3 - Darrius Heyward-Bey
WR4 - Javon Walker
WR5 - Louis Murphy
TE - Zach Miller
K - Sebastian Janikowski

*RBBC = Running Back By Committee -- I ranked them how I like them to perform from a fantasy perspective, but right now all three figure heavily in the offensive plans.

The D/ST
They aren't a bad real defense, but nothing is overly exciting from a fantasy standpoint. The star of the defense is Nnamdi Asomugha, but he's too good to help in fantasy. I can translate. He's such a good cover corner, teams either don't throw to his man or they are so careful when throwing in his direction he doesn't have the chance to pick it off. He only had one interception in 2008.

As a team the Raiders aren't bad anywhere for fantasy defense purposes. They are just average. They finished 13th in sacks and 18th in takeaways in 2008. They do have a good return game, but those touchdowns aren't consistent enough to shoot them up the draft board; the overwhelming majority of leagues don't award points for return yardage.

Overall, they are a low-end D/ST2 that does a much better real job than fantasy.

The Skinny
o. Miller and McFadden are both very solid value picks who can blossom into stars this season if things fall into place. Other than that, no one is really getting much run, which means you have a solid shot of finding no-risk value picks.

o. Russell should be taken as a third quarterback and anything from him this year is gravy. It's far too early to write him off, considering he's only made 16 career starts and was dropped into a bad situation. Plus, we've seen bits of him being good.

o. Schilens had six catches for 98 yards and two TDs over the last two weeks of 2008. That's good, but not great -- and it was only two games. He's going to be the top wide receiver for Oakland this season, but they'll be spreading the ball around. Don't look for him to do more than a WR4 and a late-round selection with the potential to be a good spot-start.

o. Higgins found the end-zone seven times in 2008, thanks to three return scores. Once he started playing offense, he played well. In the last three games of the season, Higgins caught 12 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Like Schilens, target Higgins as a WR4 and watch his early-season progress (we like Higgins more, for what it's worth).

o. Heyward-Bey is being drafted ahead of both Higgins (by three rounds) and Schilens (by a ridiculous nine rounds). That's bust range. He'll use his speed in the slot frequently this season, but he's more of a project for the Raiders -- and reports from offseason workouts haven't been good. He's nothing more than a last-round flier and should not be taken before either of his aforementioned receiving cohorts.

o. Walker's career has been derailed by lots of unfortunate injuries and what seems like bad luck. Avoid him in all formats.

o. Bush and Fargas are interesting queries. You know McFadden is going to get his touches and be on the field more than either of them. If either Bush or Fargas can squeeze the other one out (the way LaMont Jordan was squeezed out a few years ago), you have a solid second running back like a Jonathan Stewart in Carolina-type situation. Fargas is currently being drafted three rounds earlier than Bush, but I like Bush better. He seems like a better complement to McFadden with his size and ability to bruise inside. Plus, Fargas only averaged 3.9 yards per carry and scored just one time last season (even McFadden had four). Take Bush as a RB4 with decent upside and ignore Fargas, considering where he's being drafted.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Raiders originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Broncos

Ryan Dembinsky — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
Kyle Orton Dead Arm Syndrome: a condition characterized by a complete lack of strength in the upper arm. Despite hosting the NFL's second most productive offense in 2008, averaging just shy of 400 yards per game, and the third best passing offense in the league, the introduction of Orton as the starting quarterback puts the kibosh on the productivity. Orton has a weak arm, relies heavily on check-down passes and makes bad decisions. In terms of supporting cast, the receivers are a huge upgrade from his days in Chicago with Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, but Marshall wants out so be sure to keep a close eye on this situation. Also, new head coach and signal-caller Josh McDaniels runs a spread offense, so he'll need to rely on Orton probably more than anyone would ever want. I don't expect the offense to suffer immensely with a solid new batch of runners, but it definitely takes a dive from last season.

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The Breakout
It is very rare that I back a rookie for a breakout, but Knowshon Moreno looks like the guy in Denver. I know, I know; it's the Denver backfield. Still, Mike Shanahan is gone and the noob on the block, Josh McDaniels, should be a bit more transparent with his running game. Sizing up the competition back there with Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, Peyton Hillis, and perhaps Ryan Torain competing for carries, this will be a tough spot to win, but are any of those guys really the future of the organization? Moreno is going to be the guy in Denver for a long time and it starts this season.

The Bust
Not to discredit Hillis on his triumphant fill-in role in the decimated Broncos backfield last season -- scoring five TDs in just four starts before suffering a hamstring injury -- but he'll be playing a more traditional fullback role this season. While he should ascend to become an important player in the NFL, his fantasy status will tank to that of a late-season waiver wire leak-plugger. He should find the end zone a handful of times, but he certainly won't be carrying the load with a whole slew of new talent in the Denver backfield.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Kyle Orton
QB2 - Chris Simms
RB1 - Correll Buckhalter
RB2 - LaMont Jordan
RB3 - Knowshon Moreno (expected to be #1 ev
RB4 - Peyton Hillis (listed as starting Fullback)
WR1 - Brandon Marshall
WR2 - Eddie Royal
WR3 - Brandon Stokley
WR4 - Brandon Lloyd
WR5 - Jabar Gaffney
WR6 - Matt Willis
TE1 - Daniel Graham (Graham is the blocking TE, but Scheffler is really the receiving threat)
TE2 - Tony Scheffler
K - Matt Prater

The D/ST
With a new face in Mike Nolan at the helm on defense, the initial reaction might lead one to hope for an improvement in 2009, but the personnel is still not there. The Broncos' pass rush is weak and they do not know how to stop the run. In 2008, Denver ranked 30th in points allowed, 27th against the run and 26th against the pass. Unless things take a miraculous turn under Nolan, owners should not consider the Denver defense as a reliable start.

The Skinny
There are an awful lot of moving parts with a new head coach, a new (read: awful) quarterback, and a stacked, yet totally uncertain backfield situation. The key to successfully maneuvering the Broncos from a fantasy perspective is to only go after players if they fall to good values and most importantly, to watch closely.

- The one thing to keep in mind with the Broncos is that they have a terrific offensive line. Last season, despite working through eight different starting running backs, they still averaged 4.8 yards per carry and 116 yards per game. As per the norm with Denver, figuring out which back will get the ball is the tricky part. The smart money is on Moreno, but whoever gets the ball will produce.

- In terms of the passing game, temper all expectations and play it safe. If Marshall remains in Denver and falls to a relatively low round in your draft, he makes a sensible pickup and Royal should get his fair share of targets, but these are guys to take only if available on the cheap. Like it or not, their value is down and their productivity should follow. As for Orton, he may prove to be a serviceable to solid No. 2 quarterback and should be available late, but do not get your hopes up.

Finally, McDaniels likes blocking tight ends, so Tony Scheffler likely will not make a huge splash. He's just a decent No. 2 this year. Then again, my FanHouse colleague Matt Snyder argues otherwise, expecting Orton's weaker arm to ultimately benefit Scheffler.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Broncos originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Chargers

R.J. White — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
Highest scoring team in football! After a dismal 4-8 start, the playoffs looked out of reach for the 2008 San Diego Chargers. Then they did what they do best: win in December. Rattling off four straight victories (marking the third consecutive year the team finished on a big winning streak) meant the 8-8 Chargers were crowned champions of the AFC West yet again. Don't let the pedestrian .500 record fool you -- this was the No. 1 offense in football last year. With all the major players back in 2009, the Chargers should make another run at leading the league in points scored.

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The Breakout
While he didn't see a lot of carries last year, Darren Sproles plays an intriguing part in this high-powered offense. He's surpassed Brian Westbrook as the league's most dangerous player on a screen pass, scoring five TDs on just 29 receptions last year. He also showed what he is capable of in the running game in that critical final game of the season, gaining 115 yards on 14 carries while both rushing for a TD and catching a TD pass. LaDanian Tomlinson is still the bell cow of the offense, but the Chargers didn't slap their franchise tag on Sproles just to give him five or six touches a game. Questions also surround Tomlinson as he enters his age 30 season. At the least, Sproles should be able to double his 61 carries from last year while adding 10-20 receptions. He's actually very similar to Reggie Bush, who is generally taken about 40 picks ahead of Sproles.

The Bust
2008 was a perfect storm for Vincent Jackson. He benefited from various injuries to his entire competition for passes. The incomparable Tomlinson was limited first by a serious toe injury, then by a sore groin. Supposed No. 1 WR Chris Chambers missed a few games with an ankle injury that limited him throughout the season. He saw as many targets in 2008 as he did in a truncated season after coming to San Diego via trade. Finally, Antonio Gates suffered injuries to his ankle and toe, as well as his hip, which accounts for the significant drop in catches and targets that Gates received. After being targeted over 100 times in 2008, I think we'll see Jackson back at 80 targets in 2009, which would likely limit his upside. He's looking like a fourth-round or early fifth-round fantasy pick, and I see many receivers taken a few rounds later that I'd rather have at that price.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Philip Rivers
QB2 - Billy Volek
RB1 - LaDanian Tomlinson
RB2 - Darren Sproles
RB3 - Gartrell Johnson (R)
WR1 - Vincent Jackson
WR2 - Chris Chambers
WR3 - Malcom Floyd
WR4 - Legedu Naanee
TE1 - Antonio Gates
K1 - Nate Kaeding

The D/ST
Yes, yes, and yes. The dangerous Shawne Merriman returns. Intriguing first-round pick Larry English should contribute immediately. Eric Weddle has become one of the game's best safeties and a top defensive back in IDP leagues. Kevin Burnett was brought in to strengthen the middle. Cornerbacks Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie are playmakers. Jamal Williams is still huge. The Chargers are a legitimate top-five defense that you might be able to draft at a discount after last year's poor season.

The Skinny
- Philip Rivers took about 18 steps forward last year while putting up top-five numbers. He didn't throw the ball much more than usual, but he was able to limit mistakes (interceptions dropped from 15 to 11) while adding a ton of TDs and yardage. He might get over-drafted a bit (most QBs do), but he really showed enough to maintain his place as a fantasy starter for years.

- What to do with LaDanian Tomlinson? If you want him, you'll have to use a first-round pick on him. However, you really want to avoid risk with your first pick, and Tomlinson brings with him plenty of that. He turned 30 this year, a mark of the apocalypse for NFL running backs. The Chargers will likely give Sproles a larger workload this year in an attempt to keep Tomlinson fresh. With that being said, he's got the type of talent to make this paragraph look silly come September.

- Draft Antonio Gates. Even though he suffered a new injury seemingly every week, he was still able to turn in a top-five season at the TE position. When he remains healthy, he's the best tight end in the game without question. If you can get him in the fifth round, after solidifying your RB and WR positions, you should jump at the chance.

- With kickers, you'd like to grab one that plays either in a dome or in a warm-weather city. You also want to pick a guy that plays on a top scoring offense, ensuring he'll see a lot of work. Nate Kaeding is lucky enough to fill both scenarios. He's also incredibly accurate. Not that I ever take a kicker before the last round, but he'd be my first choice at the position.

Fantasy Football Team Preview: Chargers originally appeared on Fantasy Football Fanhouse on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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