ff guru kit

8/8/2019 ff guru kit

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R Name team b pos pts

1 Chris Johnson TEN 9 RB 2952 Adrian Peterson MIN 4 RB 2833 Maurice Jones-Drew JAC 9 RB 2794 Michael Turner ATL 8 RB 244.55 Ray Rice BAL 8 RB 237.56 Frank Gore SF 9 RB 2377 Andre Johnson HOU 7 WR 212.58 Aaron Rodgers GB 10 QB 412.259 Randy Moss NE 5 WR 202.510 Steven Jackson STL 9 RB 22911 Ryan Mathews SD 10 RB 221.512 Drew Brees NO 10 QB 369.25

13 Rashard Mendenhall PIT 5 RB 217.514 Reggie Wayne IND 7 WR 193.515 Calvin Johnson DET 7 W R 192.516 Peyton Manning IND 7 Q B 358.2517 Miles Austin DAL 4 WR 179.518 Tom Brady NE 5 QB 353.2519 DeAngelo Williams CAR 6 RB 21520 Cedric Benson CIN 6 RB 20521 Roddy White ATL 8 WR 17822 Larry Fitzgerald ARI 6 W R 177.523 Greg Jennings GB 10 WR 175.524 Brandon Marshall MIA 5 WR 16825 DeSean Jackson PHI 8 W R 166

26 Ryan Grant GB 10 RB 19727 Shonn Greene NYJ 7 RB 19628 Marques Colston NO 10 WR 165.529 Steve Smith CAR 6 WR 160.530 Anquan Boldin BAL 8 WR 16031 Jamaal Charles KC 4 RB 194.532 Jahvid Best DET 7 RB 183.533 Matt Schaub HOU 7 QB 32134 Steve Smith NYG 8 WR 159.535 LeSean McCoy PHI 8 RB 18336 Dallas Clark IND 7 TE 14837 Antonio Gates SD 10 TE 147.538 Jermichael Finley GB 10 TE 146.539 Jonathan Stewart CAR 6 RB 182.240 Tony Romo DAL 4 QB 320.7541 Chad Ochocinco CIN 6 W R 15842 Wes Welker NE 5 WR 155.543 Arian Foster HOU 7 RB 17644 Pierre Thomas NO 10 RB 17345 Joseph Addai IND 7 RB 171.546 Matt Forte CHI 8 RB 17147 C.J. Spiller BUF 6 RB 170.548 Philip Rivers SD 10 QB 315.2549 Mike Sims-Walker JAC 9 WR 14850 Marion Barber DAL 4 RB 170.5


51 Ronnie Brown MIA 5 RB 170.552 Chris Wells ARI 6 RB 17053 Tony Gonzalez ATL 8 TE 128.554 Brent Celek PHI 8 TE 128.555 Jason Witten DAL 4 TE 12856 Hines Ward PIT 5 WR 14857 Jeremy Maclin PHI 8 WR 14258 Michael Crabtree SF 9 WR 141.559 Johnny Knox CHI 8 WR 134.560 Malcom Floyd SD 10 WR 134.561 Hakeem Nicks NYG 8 WR 13462 Vernon Davis SF 9 TE 124.5

63 Ahmad Bradshaw NYG 8 RB 16464 Brett Favre MIN 4 QB 313.565 Joe Flacco BAL 8 QB 313.2566 Clinton Portis WAS 9 RB 158.567 Reggie Bush NO 10 RB 158.568 Knowshon Moreno DEN 9 RB 15869 Felix Jones DAL 4 RB 15770 Ricky Williams MIA 5 RB 15471 Donald Driver GB 10 WR 13172 Dwayne Bowe KC 4 WR 13173 Santana Moss WAS 9 WR 129.574 Pierre Garcon IND 7 WR 12975 Terrell Owens CIN 6 WR 128.5

76 Zach Miller OAK 10 TE 115.577 Owen Daniels HOU 7 TE 113.578 Justin Forsett SEA 5 RB 15179 Cadillac Williams TB 4 RB 14980 Chester Taylor CHI 8 RB 148.581 Michael Bush OAK 10 RB 14882 Jay Cutler CHI 8 QB 312.2583 Bernard Berrian MIN 4 W R 12784 Carson Palmer CIN 6 QB 304.7585 Vincent Jackson SD 10 WR 126.586 Eli Manning NYG 8 QB 304.2587 Lee Evans BUF 6 WR 122.588 Kevin Kolb PHI 8 QB 304.2589 Percy Harvin MIN 4 WR 121.590 Matt Ryan ATL 8 QB 288.2591 Robert Meachem NO 10 WR 121.592 Derrick Mason BAL 8 WR 12193 Mike Wallace PIT 5 WR 12094 Heath Miller PIT 5 TE 11395 Visanthe Shiancoe MIN 4 TE 107.596 Montario Hardesty CLE 8 RB 14697 Steve Slaton HOU 7 RB 145.598 Brandon Jacobs NYG 8 RB 145.599 Tim Hightower ARI 6 RB 142100 Jerome Harrison CLE 8 RB 141


101 Thomas Jones KC 4 RB 1102 LaDainian Tomlinson NYJ 7 RB 103 Donald Brown IND 7 RB 104 Darren McFadden OAK 10 RB 105 Kellen Winslow TB 4 TE 106 Chris Cooley WAS 9 TE 107 Matthew Stafford DET 7 QB 108 Eddie Royal DEN 9 WR 109 T.J. Houshmandzadeh SEA 5 WR 110 Laurent Robinson STL 9 WR 111 Fred Jackson BUF 6 RB 1112 Darren Sproles SD 10 RB 1

113 Willis McGahee BAL 8 RB 114 Leon Washington SEA 5 RB 115 Donovan McNabb WAS 9 QB 116 Vince Young TEN 9 QB 117 Chad Henne MIA 5 QB 2118 Ben Roethlisberger PIT 5 QB 119 Devin Hester CHI 8 WR 120 Mohamed Massaquoi CLE 8 WR 121 Jabar Gaffney DEN 9 WR 122 Mike Williams TB 4 WR 123 Devin Aromashodu CHI 8 WR 124 Louis Murphy OAK 10 WR 125 Jerricho Cotchery NYJ 7 WR

126 Steve Breaston ARI 6 WR 1127 John Carlson SEA 5 TE 9128 Greg Olsen CHI 8 TE 9129 Dustin Keller NYJ 7 TE 130 Nate Burleson DET 7 WR 131 Mike Thomas JAC 9 WR 132 Laurence Maroney NE 5 RB 133 Larry Johnson WAS 9 RB 134 Julius Jones SEA 5 RB 9135 Chris Chambers KC 4 WR 1136 Braylon Edwards NYJ 7 WR 137 Kevin Walter HOU 7 WR 138 Dez Bryant DAL 4 WR 139 Legedu Naanee SD 10 WR 1140 Lance Moore NO 10 WR 141 Davone Bess MIA 5 WR 142 Jacoby Jones HOU 7 WR 9143 Kenny Britt TEN 9 WR 144 Santonio Holmes NYJ 7 WR 145 Devin Thomas WAS 9 WR 146 NYJ NYJ 7 1147 Danny Amendola STL 9 WR 148 Sammie Stroughter TB 4 WR 149 Anthony Gonzalez IND 7 WR 150 Sidney Rice MIN 4 WR

Top 150Last Updated: 8/31/10

Note: The following cheat shecustomized to Yahoos DefaultLeague Configuration/Scoring

2 0 1 0 D r af t K it


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Cheat SheetLast Updated: 8/30/10

Note: The following cheat shecustomized to Yahoos DefaultLeague Configuration/Scoring

2 0 1 0 D r af t K it

R QBs Tm Bye FPts

1 Aaron Rodgers GB 10 3 58.52 Drew Brees NO 10 315.33 Peyton Manning IND 7 301.44 Tom Brady NE 5 3005 Tony Romo DAL 4 269.46 Matt Schaub HOU 7 2687 Philip Rivers SD 10 2668 Joe Flacco BAL 8 262.49 Brett Favre MIN 4 261.510 Jay Cutler CHI 8 254.811 Carson Palmer CIN 6 253.112 Kevin Kolb PHI 8 253.113 Eli Manning NYG 8 252.614 Matt Ryan ATL 8 24115 Donovan McNabb WAS 9 235

16 Vince Young TEN 9 231.517 Matthew Stafford DET 7 222.518 David Garrard JAC 9 22119 Ben Roethl isberger PIT 5 219.520 Chad Henne MIA 5 218.121 Jason Campbell OAK 10 215.822 Matt Cassel KC 4 214.423 Kyle Orton DEN 9 214.124 Mark Sanchez NYJ 7 210.525 Alex Smith SF 9 210.426 Jake Delhomme CLE 8 193.527 Josh Freeman TB 4 189.628 Matt Hasselbeck SEA 5 184.529 Trent Edwards BUF 6 182.730 Matt Moore CAR 6 177.531 Sam Bradford STL 9 141.232 Derek Anderson ARI 6 126.333 Matt Leinart ARI 6 71.634 Tim Tebow DEN 9 67.935 A.J. Feeley STL 9 6136 M ichael Vick PHI 8 52.537 Charl ie Whitehurst SEA 5 51.338 Byron Leftwich PIT 5 46.939 Seneca Wallace CLE 8 46.540 Jimmy Clausen CAR 6 43.1

R Running Backs Tm Bye FPts1 Chris Johnson TEN 9 2952 Adrian Peterson MIN 4 2833 Maurice Jones-Drew JAC 9 2794 Michael Turner ATL 8 244.5

5 Ray Rice BAL 8 237.56 Frank Gore SF 9 2377 Steven Jackson STL 9 2298 Ryan Mathews SD 10 2 21.59 Rashard Mendenhall PIT 5 217.510 DeAngelo Williams CAR 6 21511 Cedric Benson CIN 6 20512 Ryan Grant GB 10 19713 Shonn Greene NYJ 7 19614 Jamaal Charles KC 4 194.515 Jahvid Best DET 7 183.516 LeSean McCoy PHI 8 18317 Jonathan Stewart CAR 6 182.218 Arian Foster HOU 7 176

28 Terrell Owens CIN 6 128.5

29 Bernard Berrian MIN 4 12730 Vincent Jackson SD 10 126.531 L ee Evans BUF 6 122.532 Percy Harvin MIN 4 121.533 Robert Meachem NO 10 121.534 Derrick Mason BAL 8 12135 Mike Wallace PIT 5 12036 Eddie Royal DEN 9 119.537 T.J. HoushmandzadehSEA 5 119.538 Laurent Robinson STL 9 116.539 Devin Hester CHI 8 11440 Mohamed Massaquoi CLE 8 109.541 Jabar Gaffney DEN 9 109.542 Mike Williams TB 4 107.543 Devin Aromashodu CHI 8 107

44 Louis Murphy OAK 10 10745 Jerricho Cotchery NYJ 7 106.546 Steve Breaston ARI 6 10547 Nate Burleson DET 7 104.548 Mike Thomas JAC 9 10349 Chris Chambers KC 4 102.550 Braylon Edwards NYJ 7 102.5

R TEs Tm Bye FPts1 Dallas Clark IND 7 1482 Antonio Gates SD 10 147.53 Jermichael Finley GB 10 146.54 Tony Gonzalez ATL 8 128.55 Brent Celek PHI 8 128.56 Jason Witten DAL 4 1287 Vernon Davis SF 9 124.58 Zach Miller OAK 10 115.59 Owen Daniels HOU 7 113.510 Heath Miller PIT 5 11311 Visanthe Shiancoe MIN 4 107.512 Kellen Winslow TB 4 10713 Chris Cooley WAS 9 106.514 John Carlson SEA 5 96.515 Greg Olsen CHI 8 92.516 Dustin Keller NYJ 7 85.517 Kevin Boss NYG 8 83.518 Jermaine Gresham CIN 6 76.519 Ben Watson CLE 8 7620 Jeremy Shockey NO 10 75.521 Anthony Fasano MIA 5 73.522 Marcedes Lewis JAC 9 72.523 Bo Scaife TEN 9 6924 Todd Heap BAL 8 64.525 Fred Davis WAS 9 61.526 Tony Scheffler DET 7 60.527 Aaron Hernandez NE 5 57.528 Rob Gronkowski NE 5 56.529 Jared Cook TEN 9 55.530 Brandon Pettigrew DET 7 54.5

19 Pierre Thomas NO 10 173

20 Joseph Addai IND 7 171.521 Matt Forte CHI 8 17122 C.J. Spiller BUF 6 170.523 Marion Barber DAL 4 170.524 Ronnie Brown MIA 5 170.525 Chris Wells ARI 6 17026 Ahmad Bradshaw NYG 8 16427 Clinton Portis WAS 9 158.528 Reggie Bush NO 10 158.529 Knowshon Moreno DEN 9 15830 Felix Jones DAL 4 15731 Ricky Williams MIA 5 15432 Justin Forsett SEA 5 15133 Cadillac Williams TB 4 14934 Chester Taylor CHI 8 148.5

35 Michael Bush OAK 10 14836 Montario Hardesty CLE 8 14637 Steve Slaton HOU 7 145.538 Brandon Jacobs NYG 8 145.539 Tim Hightower ARI 6 14240 Jerome Harrison CLE 8 14141 Thomas Jones KC 4 138.542 LaDainian Tomlinson NYJ 7 138.543 Donald Brown IND 7 13844 Darren McFadden OAK 10 136.545 Fred Jackson BUF 6 13546 Darren Sproles SD 10 11947 Willis McGahee BAL 8 11848 Leon Washington SEA 5 11749 Laurence Maroney NE 5 10650 Larry Johnson WAS 9 96

R Wide Reciever s Tm Bye FPts1 Andre Johnson HOU 7 212.52 Randy Moss NE 5 202.53 Reggie Wayne IND 7 193.54 Calvin Johnson DET 7 192.55 Miles Austin DAL 4 179.56 Roddy White ATL 8 1787 Larry Fitzgerald ARI 6 177.58 Greg Jennings GB 10 175.59 Brandon Marshall MIA 5 16810 DeSean Jackson PHI 8 16611 Marques Colston NO 10 165.512 Steve Smith CAR 6 160.513 Anquan Boldin BAL 8 160

14 Steve Smith NYG 8 159.515 Chad Ochocinco CIN 6 15816 Wes Welker NE 5 155.517 Mike Sims-Walker JAC 9 14818 Hines Ward PIT 5 14819 Jeremy Maclin PHI 8 14220 Michael Crabtree SF 9 141.521 Johnny Knox CHI 8 134.522 Malcom Floyd SD 10 134.523 Hakeem Nicks NYG 8 13424 Donald Driver GB 10 13125 Dwayne Bowe KC 4 13126 Santana Moss WAS 9 129.527 Pierre Garcon IND 7 129

R PKs Tm FPts

1 David Akers PHI 8 12 Garrett Hartley NO 10 13 Stephen Gostkowski NE 5 14 Nate Kaeding SD 10 15 Rob Bironas TEN 9 16 Jay Feely ARI 6 17 Robbie Gould CHI 8 18 Matt Prater DEN 9 19 Mason Crosby GB 10 110 Ryan Longwell MIN 4 11 Sebastian Janikowski OAK 10 112 Lawrence Tynes NYG 8 13 Dan Carpenter MIA 5 114 Matt Bryant ATL 8 115 Shayne Graham BAL 8 116 Joe Nedney SF 9 12

17 Jeff Reed PIT 5 118 Ryan Succop KC 4 119 David Buehler DAL 4 120 Rian Lindell BUF 6 21 Josh Scobee JAC 9 122 Olindo Mare SEA 5 123 Phil Dawson CLE 8 124 Nick Folk NYJ 7 25 John Kasay CAR 6 126 Adam Vinatieri IND 7 127 Josh Brown STL 9 128 Jason Hanson DET 7 129 Graham Gano WAS 9 930 Connor Barth TB 4 8

R DTs Bye FPts

1 NYJ 7 94.42 GB 10 119.63 PIT 5 131.74 PHI 8 125.85 SF 9 130.76 MIN 4 113.07 NO 10 145.38 NYG 8 164.59 DAL 4 139.910 CIN 6 190.411 BAL 8 127.212 MIA 5 232.613 WAS 9 192.714 OAK 10 186.115 CHI 8 211.016 SD 10 184.7

17 DEN 9 267.818 HOU 7 195.619 IND 7 172.620 TEN 9 257.121 NE 5 237.022 ARI 6 257.723 ATL 8 203.824 CAR 6 UD25 BUF 6 198.626 TB 4 207.127 DET 7 UD28 CLE 8 208.129 KC 4 UD30 JAC 9 UD31 STL 9 UD32 SEA 5 UD


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2010 OL RankingsLast Updated , 8/31/10

R

Team RunGrade

PassGrade

Total Comments

1 New York Jets 90 89 179 Only loss from this excellent OL was LG Faneca, but rookie Ducassehas the ability to step right in and keep this line performing at highlevel.

2 Baltimore Ravens 90 89 179 One of the best OLs in the biz and solid for both the run and the pass,made stronger because it looks like T Gaither has dropped weight andwill be in town all year.

3 Tennessee Titans 88 88 176 Getting older and lost their veteran C, yet his play had fallen off anyway and still overall one of the best lines in the business.

4 Carolina Panthers 88 87 175 The OL is clearly the strength of this team along with the runninggame. Very solid on the edges and overall one of the better lines inthe league - if the two tackles are healthy.

5 New York Giants 88 87 175 They are starting to slip and underperformed in 2009, but still haveexcellent continuity and stability here for the run and the pass.

6 New Orleans Saints 88 87 175 Losing LT Brown hurts but he was somewhat overrated and thisotherwise solid line is helped by the incredible clock in QB Brees'head.

7 Green Bay Packers 87 88 175 Should be much healthier on the edges and addition of #1 pickBulaga (who is battling for LG spot) really helps their depth.

8 San Francisco 49ers 87 87 174 Major upgrades at T and G in the draft should result in this being oneof the better lines in the league for both the run and the pass.

9 New England Patriots 87 87 174 Hanging in there overall and some youth infused at LT could helpthem, but overall they are still one of the better groups in the league.

10 Philadelphia Eagles 87 88 175 Had some injury issues last year, but should be strong on the edges.Still, they do have some issues inside although C Jackson and LGHerremans are off the PUP.

11 Denver Broncos 87 87 174 In one year's time they have gone from an elite group to one withissues, especially if LT Clady can't play early in the season.

12 Atlanta Falcons 86 86 172 Not a lot of stars on this line, but they are serviceable for both therun and the pass.

13 Cleveland Browns 87 87 174 Quietly did a great job for the run and serviceable in pass protection.Overall, they are above-average.

14 Miami Dolphins 87 87 174 Pretty solid overall and room for improvement in 2010 if Incognito isan upgrade over Smiley at RG.

15 Dallas Cowboys 86 86 172 Still have solid talent but unathletic line with a potential issue at LTwith first-year starter Doug Free, and now LG Kosier and RT Colombohave knee problems.

16 Cincinnati Bengals 88 85 173 Very strong last year blocking for the run, yet their pass protectionneeds to improve. If so, this line is pretty good.

17 Houston Texans 86 88 174 The improvement of LT Brown has helped, but they still do have toreplace G Pitts and continue to improve overall.

18 Minnesota Vikings 85 87 172 Disappointing in '09 blocking for the run and barely above-average forthe pass but overall still decent and return all five starters.

19 Indianapolis Colts 85 87 172 As usual, QB Manning makes them look better than they are. They're

getting bigger, but run blocking was still mediocre last year.20 San Diego Chargers 86 86 172 If they stay healthy they should be okay but this line has had injury

issues and is getting older and LT McNeil contract squabble could betrouble.

21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 87 85 172 Better for the run than the pass, but at least this line has beentogether for a while and should be cohesive.

22 St. Louis Rams 86 86 172 If former #1 pick LT Smith plays up to his potential this line should bein solid shape despite the loss of RT Barron, who wasn't very goodanyway.

Yahoo! Sports/FantasyGuru.com 2010 Fantasy Football Draft KitLast Update: 8/31/10


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23 Washington Redskins 85 86 171 #1 pick Williams should be a fixture at LT and RT Jamaal Brown givesthem solid bookends, so could be very decent if the other veteransare healthy.

24 Arizona Cardinals 87 85 172 Better for the run than pass, but they were shaky in pass pro and theQB got hit a lot in '09.

25 Pittsburgh Steelers 86 86 172 Addition of #1 pick Pouncey should help their run blocking but itremains to be seen if new RT Adams can fill in for injured Colon.

26 Jacksonville Jaguars 86 86 172 Disappointed a little in 2009 specifically blocking for the run, butthere's some young talent here that could come to the surface.

27 Detroit Lions 84 84 168 Nothing to get too excited about here, but they seem to quietly do adecent enough job. But overall, this line is average at best.

28 Chicago Bears 84 85 169 Very sluggish for the running game last year and also shaky for thepass. Some potential to improve if all goes well and former #1 pick LTWilliams a huge key.

29 Kansas City Chiefs 85 85 170 Some improvements made in the offseason should help, but this linewas terrible last year blocking for the pass. Run-blocking wasserviceable.

30 Oakland Raiders 84 84 168 Not a very talented line and have issues across the board, yet theymay not be horrible in 2010 with a better QB and commitment torunning game.

31 Seattle Seahawks 84 84 168 Addition of LT Okung and OG Pitts should help them, but overall thisline still has some issues and is probably below average for run andthe pass.

32 Buffalo Bills 83 83 166 Major issues on the edges, but there is a chance this OL isn't horrible

this year. Unfortunately, that's their upside: not being horrible.

2010 Draft Planby John HansenPublisher, FantasyGuru.com

As usual, a wise draft plan entails understanding the nuances of each position and how they relate toeach other and getting the most value for your picks. Its about knowing which players to target andwhen. Being flexible always helps, and finding the right combination of reliable and upside picks isusually ideal. Of course, as always, readers need to consider factors such as their scoring system andleague setup, the level and tendencies of their competition, and anything else that could screw up the2010 championship plan. Heres how Im approaching each position right now. Flexibility is a big key.

The Quarterback PlanFor years, in the Expert leagues I participate in, players like Peyton Manning would remain on theboard far too long. Pick after pick after pick, the Mannings of the world would stay on the board, simplybecause people in these leagues refused to take a QB too early. That strategy often resulted in teamstaking shaky RBs with issues over a sure thing like Manning. That wasnt a tragedy in the past, and evenmy own teams were able to excel despite my implementing the same strategy because, while a poorearly pick might have put me behind the 8-ball, I was able to make up ground elsewhere. But thats notas easy to do now. I still dont want to take a QB in the 1 st round because I put a great value on theclear studs at the RB and WR positions, but after that, the QBs are officially in play for me.

So this year, when Im drafting in the 2 nd and 3 rd rounds, Im not going to rule out taking a QB. It makestoo much sense in this day and age. Its clear the position is keying offensive attacks more than ever,and the ridiculous numbers put up in 2009 by lower-end guys like Eli Manning and even Brett Favre drive that point home. Not only that, but its silly to invest such a high pick in a player like JamaalCharles in the second round because its just not a smart investment. I love Charles ability, and hecould certainly come through for you, but why risk it that high? If you draft Charles over a top-flight QB,youre going to have to hope he comes through, as opposed drafting a guy like (Peyton) Manning, who isas sure a thing as there is in pro sports so you know hes going to come through. You just want to tryto eliminate as much doubt as possible, and with Thomas Jones there now and with Charles not exactly



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about (8/29) , while David Garrard and Jason Campbell are certainly also in play. They dont exciteme too much, but the final numbers will likely once again be there and in the top-20.

The Running Back PlanFirst of all, as weve learned over the last couple of seasons, no one should be locked into taking a RBwith ones first pick, especially later in the 1 st round. However, with some of the stud wideouts havingsome issues going into 2010 Larry Fitzgeralds new QB and Reggie Waynes team having a ton of other options these days I will prefer to take a back with my first pick. There are fewer and fewer true

featured backs right now, so if I get a crack at one, Im going to take him. Thats why Im okay with aguy like rookie Ryan Mathews in the 1 st round.

8/28/10 Update : Weve moved Mathews up into the top-12, so well sign off on him as a 1 st pick.

Of course, taking Mathews that early is probably way over the top, given his ADP, which is around 19, soI probably wouldnt take him that high. But he fits the profile of a RB who merits a #1 pick. Otherwise, Iview the following backs as viable #1 picks: Chris Johnson , Adrian Peterson , Maurice Jones-Drew ,Michael Turner , Ray Rice , Frank Gore , Steven Jackson , and Mendenhall. The first five guys areslam-dunks, even Turner in a PPR (Im that high on him this year).

The players in the next group are viable anywhere from very late in the 1 st to anywhere in the 2nd:DeAngelo Williams , Cedric Benson , and Shonn Greene . I wouldnt feel great about any other RB in

the 2 nd .

Regardless of how important and productive the QBs have been lately, I really do want at least one of these RBs on my team this year.

If I roll with an Andre Johnson in the 1 st and acquiring one of the aforementioned runners isntpossible, then Ill have to do well and draft a sleeper or two at RB and I might be inclined to playthings aggressively with a Jonathan Stewart or a Jamaal Charles (JC, ideally, in a PPR) in an effort tocatch up. As much as everyone has downgraded the RBs lately, I do want at least one stud I can hangmy lid on. Ryan Grant is certainly more than serviceable, of course, and LeSean McCoy and PierreThomas are good PPR guys.

Things do fall off from there, however, which is why I want to get at least one of the options mentionedabove, and it would be great to get two of them.

Not including some players who dont really do it for me ( Ronnie Brown , and Knowshon Moreno ,thanks to his injury), Im next up going to focus on some of the solid options wholl slip a few rounds,perhaps down to the 5 th through 7 th or 8 th rounds, players like Jahvid Best , C.J. Spiller , MarionBarber , Matt Forte , Ahmad Bradshaw , Arian Foster , Clinton Portis , and Ricky Williams . I dontfeel great about all these players, but they are at least affordable. I do still like the potential of Jones,Slaton, Jackson, Best, and Hardesty. These are all great flex starters or acceptable #2 RBs if youreloaded elsewhere.

As you might be able to see, theres some solid depth in the middle rounds these days at RB, so Improbably not going to load up on the position early. A pair of RBs the first five rounds is fine, but I dontsee any sense in stockpiling backs because you might end up with too many good ones and, of course,not enough good receivers.

Other options include solid complementary players in good situations like Reggie Bush and ChesterTaylor . And then you still have a few guys who could be money for their teams and great values, likeJerome Harrison , Michael Bush , and Justin Forsett . This is a really interesting group.

You also have older guys who should be very active for your depth, such as Thomas Jones andCadillac Williams and younger guys who have a chance like Laurence Maroney .



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There are also some real bargains with legit potential like Tim Hightower , Willis McGahee , and LeonWashington .

And Im sure a few others will emerge as being more desirable than I think they are right now, perhapslike Bernard Scott and Toby Gerhart .

In short, my advice this year with the RBs is to be smart. Reaching for a shaky player early is a badmove, yet theres a lot to be said for a good player whos a lock to get volume, like Cedric Benson got

last year. So in some ways, the position is as valuable as ever for fantasy. This is not the year to beproactive and draft Darren McFadden early, and its not the year to pay anything close to a premiumfor Brandon Jacobs based on his name and the hope that he returns to form. If they fall in your draftand present a good value, thats fine, but reaching for a player with issues at this position will likelycome back to haunt you. But with that said, this may be the year to take a shot late in the 1 st round ona guy like Mendenhall, who could handle 300+ carries for the Steelers and really come through. Youalways have to take some chances when drafting a fantasy team; Im just preaching for fantasy playersto take calculated risks that make sense.

The Wide Receiver PlanThis position is interesting this season in that weve all learned the importance of it early in drafts inrecent years, with stud wideouts at times being more valuable and reliable than the supposed studrunners. That currently remains the case, but this years landscape at the position is a little thin at the

top. On the other hand, theres a ton of depth, so my basic strategy is to ensure I acquire one or two of the elite options and then focus more on taking advantage of the excellent depth at the position. Forexample, in an early May expert draft, I was able to get Bear WR Johnny Knox as my #6 receiver, inthe 14 th round. Knoxs stock has risen significantly, just as I predicted in an earlier version of this article,but that was a great example of the outstanding depth. I could have addressed another position andadded him as even my #4 wideout, and he would be a solid one. Heck, at this point, Im ready andwilling to roll with Knox as my third receiver.

So later in the 1 st round (or sooner in a PPR), Im going to strongly consider Andre Johnson , who isclearly the cream of the crop, and Randy Moss , Reggie Wayne , and Calvin Johnson are worthy picksanywhere from 10 th overall on, especially if Im staring at a shakier RB. Similar to the RB position, Imgoing to place an even greater value on the true #1 wideouts, the go-to guys, since more and moreteams are implementing multiple receiver sets, thus spreading the production in the passing gameamong more players and making those featured receivers even more valuable. If I do get a guy likeJohnson, Ill look to hold off on getting my second wideout for another round or two while addressingother positions and target a solid guy like Mike Sims-Walker as my #2. If I add two or more non-WRsin the first 1-3 rounds, Ill likely look to get two of the remaining quality wideouts, perhaps Sidney Rice and (Carolinas) Steve Smith would be nice. I see a significant drop-off after the top 20 receivers,which is usually the case, so I do want to get a pair of wideouts from the following group, if at allpossible: Johnson, Wayne, Moss, Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson , Roddy White , Miles Austin , BrandonMarshall , Greg Jennings , Marques Colston , DeSean Jackson , Steve Smith , Anquan Boldin ,Chad Ochocinco , Steve Smith (NYG), Mike Sims-Walker , Hines Ward , Wes Welker , JeremyMaclin , Michael Crabtree , and Hakeem Nicks .

Otherwise, Im going to do my best to take advantage of the great depth at the position and will firsttarget anyone who could potentially turn into his teams go-to guy. Remember, that was a lesson learnedlast year albeit an obvious one with a guy like Austin in Dallas. Players like Austin are rare, so Illalso target very active #2 wideouts on teams that throw the ball a lot. Nicks and Crabtree are greatexamples of potential go-to receivers, and Dwayne Bowe , Johnny Knox , Robert Meachem , PierreGarcon , Percy Harvin , and Malcom Floyd are other nice young options with upside. There are alsosome solid veteran types in this realm, and Im okay with most of them as my #3, including DonaldDriver, Santana Moss , and Terrell Owens and T.J. Houshmandzadeh,

There are always some sneaky depth options in guys who arent go-to guys but play key roles in goodoffenses or receivers who have some issues but whose teams really need them to step up, meaning they



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have a chance, yet wont go too high in your draft. Candidates this year are: Derrick Mason, LeeEvans, Eddie Royal , Devin Heste r, and Mohamed Massaquoi,

The viable options dont stop there, which is why its advisable to stay patient at this position and dontload up on too many receivers in the first half of your draft. Doing that will not only offset theadvantages of the good depth, but it will also cost you at another position, most likely. Late, its all aboutupside at this position, so look for younger players who could surprise and emerge as key players fortheir teams. Some players who fit this bill are: Laurent Robinson , Dez Bryant, Devin Aromashodu,

Mike Williams, Louis Murphy, Mario Manningham, Jacoby Jones, Julian Edelman , and believe itor not Darrius Heyward-Bey .I havent even mentioned all the solid veterans like Jerricho Cotchery and all the intriguing youngsterslike Mike Williams , Brandon LaFell , Brandon Tate , and Golden Tate , so its important to note thatthe position is very deep this year. It may not be deep in terms of actual production once the seasonstarts, but its definitely deep in terms of potential, so the WW will likely be a source for a productivewideout or two for your teams this year.

So to summarize, I want to address the position early and secure as many sure things as possible, but Idont want to go nuts the first half of my draft because the depth is excellent.

The Tight End PlanMy plan here is to usually hold off on the position, since I love finding undervalued players among this

group. But this year Im flexible because, as stated throughout this article, Im all about impact players,so Im not going to rule out a Dallas Clark in the 3 rd round. Most likely, unless I really feel strong andwant to attempt to hit it out of the park with a Jermichael Finley in like the 5 th or even 4 th round very possible because I absolutely love him I will hold off on this position because, as is the case everyyear, there are good players who slip a little and present good value. Owen Daniels last year was agreat example of a value, and he might be again in this great offense, although he comes with risk aswell, given his knee injury. We pushed Brent Celek and Visanthe Shiancoe as values last year, andthey certainly were, especially Celek, who is a nice pick this year, for sure. He hasnt quite arrived as aplayer considered by the masses as a stud, so hes still a pretty good value. I really like Zach Miller inOakland, and Im really warming up to Heath Miller , who should be the #2 option in the Steelerpassing game this year. Both are great values. Kellen Winslows always a guy who seems to dropmore than his talent and potential, but he also drops for a reason (knee problems, poor QB).

Otherwise, if you really hold off on the position, the two Millers, Chris Cooley , John Carlson , andDustin Keller are good choices. Carlson and Keller have a little more upside, although Im not sureKeller can be a go-to guy on a team with plenty of other options in the passing game.

Later, when looking for a backup, Id prefer to go for the gusto and look for an upside option, like GregOlsen and Ben Watson . Olsens kind of a big name, but at this point, after his disappointing 2009season and the presence of TE-hater Mike Martz , I view Olsen as a luxury pick, not someone you cantruly rely on. I love Cook, but its a tad too early to say fantasy players will be able to count on him (infact hes disappointing in camp a little bit), so hes nothing more than an upside backup. Kevin Boss isa sneaky back-up option. There are some other intriguing situations and players who may potentiallyemerge, but its too early to name any names, and most likely guys like Jermaine Gresham , TonyMoeaki , Ed Dickson , and Rob Gronkowski will be Waiver Wire pickups, not draftable commodities.

The Place Kicker PlanFantasy players have caught on, so no one should invest too heavily in a kicker anymore, so make sureyou hold off until at least the last 2-3 rounds before selecting one. But that doesnt mean you cant tryto locate some sneaky values at this position in the final few rounds. Some guys are in great spots butcoming off so-so seasons, like Stephen Gostkowski and Mason Crosby . Some seem to be in reallygood situations in terms of getting chances, like Jay Feely , Rob Bironas , and Matt Prater . Some areyounger emerging guys like Dan Carpenter and Ryan Succop . And some are on teams with improvedoffenses, like Robbie Gould and Shayne Graham , who is a good kicker with nice potential.



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The Team Defense PlanLets face it; the fantasy defenses are officially a joke. Due in large part to some of the rule changesimplemented by the league, the defenses are downright defenseless. Taking one too early is just dumb,so similar to the approach with the kickers, youll probably be right along with everyone else in yourdraft and will be looking to add your fantasy D in one of the final 2-3 rounds. And again, that doesntmean you cant find a value. For the most part, this years group actually seems pretty decent, withNew York Jets , Philadelphia , Green Bay , New Orleans , Minnesota , and Pittsburgh looking likethe best options. Even if you hold off a little, you should be able to get one of these units. I understand

that taking the Jet defense higher could be considered in line with the strategy of grabbing the bestavailable starter on the board, but Im not seeing that strategy applying to the defenses. There are toomany variables for a unit that includes 11 players. In short, based on how lame the fantasy defenseshave been lately, I wouldnt be shocked if the Jet D disappointed, despite their obvious talent. I like theSaint defense again, by the way. Sure, they wont score 8 TDs again this year, but the formula thatenabled them to make some many big plays last year definitely remains in 2010.

Otherwise, I give San Francisco , New York Giants , and Cincinnati a chance to come through. If youswing and miss on the defense you choose, thats what the Waiver Wire is for. Who would have thoughtthe Saint defense would have been so good last year? Certainly not I.

2010 PPR GoldThe goal of this article is to isolate some players who may be more valuable in PPR leagues this yearthan most people expect or at least should have as much (or preferably more) value in PPR leaguesthan they did last year, based on an expanded role, a shift in offensive philosophy, or both.

Some of the players listed below are bigger names, but we obviously didnt include every player whosgood for catches. The real focus is to point out players who are standing out a little more than theirpeers for PPR and also players who we think can surprise with their catch totals in addition to pointingout some players you should be able to get at a low price, yet should give you a solid number of cheapcatches.

Lets take a look.

Running BacksEarly Rounds (1-2)

Adrian Peterson (Min) Dont look now, but AP could be a major player in the PPR realm. Thatsbecause veteran Chester Taylor is gone (and hes taking 44 receptions from last year with him), andPeterson made big strides in 09 catching the ball from QB Brett Favre . Last year, Peterson doubled hisreceptions (from 21 to 43) while more than tripling his receiving yards (125 to 436). He once again didnot score on a reception only four red- zone targets didnt help but he had an excellent 10.1 yardsper catch and a respectable 75% catch rate, up from a poor 54%. He finished #2 in standard scoring,thanks to his TDs, but his expanded role in the passing game helped him hold steady at #2 in a PPRleague. New backup Toby Gerhart has something to offer in the passing game, but hes hardly arefined receiver and neither is new Viking Ryan Moats and its not clear yet how effective either will

be in pass protection. So it sure looks like Petersons going to see the field a lot on 3 rd down. So whilethe addition of Gerhart and possibly Moats will help keep him fresh as a runner, it may actually meanmore action for Peterson in the passing game, which is music to PPR owners ears.

8/25 Update: Is there a legit chance Peterson catches 60 balls this year? Look at it this way: hewas the only player to catch a ball from Favre in his first preseason game, Sidney Rice will nowmiss at least six games after hip surgery, and they cut Ryan Moats to add another WR ( JavonWalker ) to the roster. We find it hard to believe the Vikings will ignore their best player, and theyneed him now more than ever.



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8/19 Update: Well, Favre is back. That could cut back on his carries, but considering he madesuch a big jump in receptions last year with #4, his stock in PPR leagues shouldnt be hurt at all.Peterson sat out the teams first preseason game as a precaution due to the minor hamstringissue hes been dealing with in camp.

8/11 Update : If Favre doesnt play, itll be interesting to see how Petersons pass-catching isaffected. Will Tarvaris Jackson dump off more, especially if #1 WR Sidney Rice s hip continuesto act up (or the Vikings dont shovel him extra cash to pad the area)? This is definitely asituation to monitor if youre considering taking Peterson #1 or #2 overall in a PPR league.

Steven Jackson (Stl) While Jackson last year had his second-best reception total (50), his receivingyards were down (322) because he gained only 6.3 yards per catch, a career low. He also caught only68% of his targets, below average for a RB. But in his defense, he played all season with a stiff at QB(and you can take your pick among Marc Bulger , Kyle Boller , and Keith Null ). The fact is, the Ramsdidnt utilize him in the passing game very well, and you have to believe that will improve in 2010, theirsecond season running the West Coast offense. Keep in mind that Ram OC Pat Shurmur was in Phillyfor a decade, and in that time, the Eagles threw to their RBs a ton. That said, Jacksons upside in a PPRleague is through the roof, since the Rams are one of the few teams left that really uses only one RB,and Jackson, despite being on a terrible team last year, was second in the league with a remarkable1424 rushing yards. As long as the team doesnt bring veteran Brian Westbrook in, Jackson lookssneaky-good in a PPR league.

8/25 Update: Jackson carried 4 times for 20 yards in his preseason debut, which has to makefantasy owners a little happier, given his injury situation.

8/19 Update: Jackson was active for the teams first preseason game, but he did not play as aprecaution coming off the back surgery. With Westbrook signing with the 49ers, Jacksoncontinues to have no competition for touches in the St. Louis backfield.

8/11 Update : Nothing really new on Jacksons potential involvement in a PPR, but hes beencleared to practice after sitting out rehabbing his surgically repaired back, so he has a chance toget some chemistry with QBs A.J. Feeley and Sam Bradford ). Also, theres been no progress onbringing in a veteran receiving back behind him.

Rashard Mendenhall (Pit) What some people may not realize about Mendenhall last year is that heessentially pushed veteran Mewelde Moore aside and took on the role of the teams 3 rd -down back.That bodes well for his PPR chances over the course of a full season here in 2010. Although he wasconsidered an effective receiver coming out of college, Mendenhall was still a pleasant surprise in thepassing game in 2009, getting as many targets (31) as Moore and catching them at a higher rate (81%vs. 68%) for a better average gain (10.4 to 7.3 yards per catch). Over the course of a full season, thatsecured role and effectiveness in the passing game is a clear indication of his high PPR worth especially since hell be the bell cow as a runner. He could be even more important in the passing gameif their shaky receiving corps turns into a real weakness, plus the injury to RT Willie Colon could meana few more dump-off passes to Mendenhall. The presence of Moore is a possible roadblock, since Moorecould potentially regain that 3 rd -down role, but unless he fails to deliver in the passing game, Mendenhallhas a legit chance to catch 45+ balls.

8/25 Update: The Steelers are prepared to hand over just about every RB role to Mendenhall,which includes third downs, short-yardage situations, and at the goal line, in addition to being the#1 back on first and second down. That's all good, but he's still not standing out at all in thepreseason, so we're still struggling with him a little. He had some shaky moments this pastweekend, but in his defense, his blocking wasn't very good, and he did still seem to run it hardwhen he did.

8/19 Update: Mendenhalls performance in the teams first preseason game wasn't horrible, andhe had a few nice runs and one really good one, but on that one, he lost the ball. He also didntregister a catch. Its only one game, but if the fumbling issues continue, we have to wonder if hell lose touches to Moore.



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8/11 Update : Rookie power back Jonathan Dwyer doesnt seem to be making much progress,so it appears as if Mendenhall will see the field for a really good amount of time in each game.However, Moore is always a solid receiver, so he could cut into Mendenhalls PPR totals.

Jamaal Charles (KC) Its obvious that the versatile and dynamic Charles has some serious PPR juice,but its worth pointing that out here because the addition of Thomas Jones shouldnt hurt Charles toomuch in a PPR. It may in standard scoring systems, since Jones is still a quality runner but hiscontributions in the passing game are negligible. Jones in 09 had his worst year by far in terms of

catching the ball, with only 10 receptions. His 5.8 yards per catch were poor, but not out of line with hisequally poor numbers from 2005-2008. In short, hes pretty worthless as a receiver. Charles catch ratelast year (73%) was a little below average, and his yards per reception was 7.4, also below average, buthe definitely has the ability to get vertical in the passing game and averaged 10.1 yards per catch in2008 on 27 receptions. He also showed surprising toughness last year, and that should help get him onthe field in passing situations. The presence of rookie Dexter McCluster could hurt Charles a little, butthis is a guy who was an absolute fantasy beast the second half of the season, so KC should be inclinedto get him on the field as much as possible. First and foremost, especially with Jones a very viable 1 st -and 2 nd -down back, Charles should be the guy in passing situations.

8/25 Update: Charles may be starting to gain more respect from HC Todd Haley , especiallyafter Haley saw Jones fumble very early for the Chiefs this past weekend. And once again,Charles looked much better than Jones, showing both his speed and elusiveness in the running (5

carries, 26 yards) and passing game (3/23). And again, if they want to get Cassel in the shotgun,Charles is the guy they need on the field with him, not Jones.

8/19 Update: Chief HC Todd Haley said that Jamaal Charles' role is still to be determined according to the Kansas City Star . Jamaal is a developing player, Haley said Monday. Jamaal isa player that, last year at times in that development, had good days, bad days and in-betweendays like a lot of other guys. That is part of the development, and that is part of becoming adependable player on a daily basis. By the way, those comments came just days after Charlesoutplayed Jones in the teams first preseason game, rushing for 37 yards on 4 carries and haulingin 2 balls for 6 yards. Were not sure if Haley is just trying to keep Charles grounded or screwwith fantasy owners heads, but either way, we dont like it.

8/11 Update : Charles has actually entered camp behind Jones on the depth chart, which wedont really much into considering Todd Haley is the coach here. But if the Chiefs are planning togive Jones a good deal of carries, that could actually open up Charles to catching a few morepasses, which might not move him down boards too much.

Earlier Rounds (3-6)

Jahvid Best (Det) Hes small and shaky/inexperienced in pass protection, but if he can get the jobdone, he has a ton to offer as a receiver, and hell be utilized plenty as it stands now. We just want toget a better handle on his role in August.

8/25 Update: The Lions got yet another impressive game from Best, who finished with 49 yardson the ground on 8 carries, and he added 10 yards and 2 catches in the passing game. Hecontinued to show an ability to run inside and to catch the ball out of the backfield. Things will betougher for him in the regular season, of course, but so far he's been everything they'd hoped, sofantasy owners should be encouraged.

8/19 Update: Best caught 1 of his 2 targets (the other being picked off) in the teams firstpreseason game. He ran well between the tackles, showed off his great jets on a 15-yard run tothe outside, and most encouraging, he picked up the blitz well on one play. He's certainly going toplay a large role and (finally) force teams to respect the Lions' outside speed, and he did nothingin the opener to change their big plans for him.

8/11 Update : The recovery of Kevin Smith from knee surgery has gone much better thanexpected, and the solid Smith should not be discounted this year. Its possible Smith receives adecent deal of first- and second-down touches, though the Lions clearly drafted Best to offer upsome explosion that even a healthy Smith cant offer.



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LeSean McCoy (Phi) The Eagles have not typically run the ball much over the last few years, but theythrow to their backs a ton. McCoy ranked a strong 12 th in RB pass targets as a rookie (55), even withveteran Brian Westbrook still getting 34 targets in 2009. McCoys 4.1 yards per carry and 7.7 yardsper catch were both below average, but even if he only repeats those numbers, he can be productive if he gets most of the touches that went to Westbrook last year. Totals of 200 rushes and 60 receptionsdont seem unreasonable and would produce almost 1300 yards at his rookie yardage averages. 60receptions would likely place McCoy in the top-10 at RB in a PPR league, so hes very appealing in this

format. He may not be ready to be split out a lot like Westbrook, but he picked up a lot in his rookieseason, and his role is clearly expanding. Were actually a little concerned about McCoy in standardformats, due in part to the presence of veteran Mike Bell , who is trimmed down and looking good thisyear. But in PPR, we have few qualms about the man they call Shady.

8/25 Update: McCoy caught his first pass of the preseason against the Bengals, a 9-yardreception.

8/19 Update: The team played its first preseason game last week, and McCoy carried 8 timesfor 30 yards, including several nice runs up the gut. He didnt catch a single pass, but the factthat the Eagles flexed him out on the first play of the game might be an indication of how theyplan to use him.

8/11 Update : McCoy thinks he'll be involved a lot in the screen game, which he thinks will bebig part of the offense. For now, he appears safe to grab as a low-end #2 RB, but make sure you

keep an eye on Philly's OL, which still has issues in the interior.

Pierre Thomas (NO) Thomas last year ranked a solid 22 nd in pass targets at the RB position, and hisoverall role should be expanding at least a little in 2010 with RB Mike Bell gone. But while ReggieBush did finish 8 th in the league with 68 targets, his role in the passing game did decrease in 2009,which is something to keep an eye on. It seemed as if the Saints used Bush as more of a movable chesspiece and matchup problem for opposing defenses than ever as opposed to a guy who was force-fedthe ball and that could work in Thomas favor this year. Bush doesnt really have a defined role, yetThomas should. That will get him on the field more, and being on the field will increase his chances of hauling in passes from QB Drew Brees .

8/25 Update: Aside from carrying 7 times for 24 yards, Thomas once again proved hes one of the best screen receivers in the league, taking a dump-off from backup QB Chase Daniel to thehouse for a 31-yard score.

8/19 Update: With so many weapons in the Saints offense, you never know where the toucheswill go. Thomas, who started, had 4/26 in the passing game and added 27 yards on the ground.While the team added Ladell Betts to the mix, hes probably going to be more of a short-yardage back.

8/11 Update : The Saints love Thomas versatility, and he may actually see more action nowthat Lynell Hamilton , who could have filled the Bell role, is likely out for the season with an ACLinjury. It could mean more carries and occasionally an extra catch.

Matt Forte (Chi) As bad as things got for him last year, Forte was still 6 th at RB with 71 pass targets and that was without Mike Martz . Backs obviously catch the ball a ton in Martz offense, and theres nobetter example of that than the 2006 season logged by Lion RB Kevin Jones , who managed to finish asthe 6 th RB in PPR points per game that year and was 7 th overall in pass targets at RB despite playing inonly 12 games (he had 78 targets and 61 receptions) and despite rushing for only 181/689/6. Theresno question the presence of Chester Taylor is a roadblock for Fortes value, but Forte who iscompletely healthy and has regained his form this year should at worst be on the field about 60% of the time. Hes much younger and a little more dynamic than Taylor. The team will likely have moresuccess throwing to their receivers, but their OL is still an issue, so QB Jay Cutler should be dumpingthe ball off to these two backs plenty. In short, the Martz influence and potential in PPR is so strong thatthe timeshare with Taylor shouldnt be considered a huge issue in this format, plus Fortes draft stockhas clearly suffered, so hell be relatively affordable.



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8/25 Update: While the OL is still an issue, you have to feel better about Forte's chances thisyear after watching him run on his 89-yard TD. The line created a nice hole for him on this one,and Forte, who showed terrific burst, made a nice cut up field to make a defender miss, and heoutran the Raider defense for a big-time confidence-boosting run, which illustrated how he's inmuch better shape health-wise right now compared to this time last year.

8/19 Update: Despite a subpar 7 yards on 4 carries (and zero catches) in the preseason opener,Forte is confident he is back at full-speed and much healthier than last season, when he foughtthrough leg injuries, according to the Chicago Sun-Times .

8/11 Update : Forte isnt as natural a receiver as Taylor, but to his credit hes recovered quicklyfrom knee surgery, and he appears healthier than he has at any point since 2008. Hell probablyenter the season as the starter but will need to remain quick to hold off Taylor.

Middle Rounds (7-9)

Chester Taylor (Chi) While Fortes value is on the rise in a PPR league with Mike Martz there,Taylors obviously looking good, too. Taylor may actually be the better value as well, since hes going upto 6-7 rounds later (or more), and while Forte should be RB #1, Taylor could be a #1A or an extremelyactive #2. Although clearly not as dynamic, Taylors skill set actually compares to Marshall Faulks ,which is something Martz probably saw and influenced the team to sign him. Hes also good in passprotection, which will be needed on this team. So if youre looking for some cheap receptions, look atTaylor.

8/25 Update: Taylor caught 2 passes for 22 yards and attempted just 2 runs for 1 yard. Taylorlooked good on one run, but that was about it. At least hes catching the ball, though, and oncethe games start up, were confident hell continue to do that at least, as hes a more naturalreceiver than Matt Forte .

8/19 Update: Taylor didnt get much going on the ground in the teams preseason game againstthe Chargers (6 carries, 10 yards), but he did catch his only pass target for a 14-yard gain, whichis more than we can say for Forte, who didnt receive a single target and had just 7 yards on theground.

Jerome Harrison (Cle) The addition of RB Montario Hardesty in the draft appears to spell an endfor Harrisons massive workload, but its probably for the best, since Harrison is best suited to be achangeup/3 rd -down back because of his lack of size. Although Harrison added a solid 34 receptions in2009 (compared to the 23 he had in his first three seasons combined), he saw his per-catch averagedrop from 8.7 to 6.5. The decline could be due to heavier use, so if he slides into that complementaryrole, he should approach that previous career average of 8.7 yards per catch. And the fact is that he was21 st at RB in pass targets, despite not being much of a factor the first half of the season, so Harrison hasa lot of untapped potential as a receiver. Hardesty is a decent receiver, but he looks like the 1 st - and 2 nd -down back initially, which could mean a lot of time on the field for Harrison on 3 rd down. The Brownsdont look to be running a West Coast offense, and instead will be looking to run an offense similar tothe Patriots, with more of a power running game. However, the Pats throw to their backs plenty, so theoffense should be fine for PPR production. Whether Harrison is carrying the load or being used as anactive complement to Hardesty (or James Davis ), his role should be set as a pass-catching weapon, soHarrison looks like a good bet to haul in 40-45 passes this year.

8/25 Update: Against the Rams, Harrison ran 5 times for 13 yards and added a 32-yardreception, though the nasty conditions helped to contribute to a fumble.

8/19 Update: Harrison scored a TD and picked up 25 yards on the ground but didnt register acatch in the teams preseason tilt against the Packers last weekend.

8/11 Update : A knee injury has sidelined Hardesty for a couple of weeks, and thats allowedHarrison to place a firm grip on the starting job for now. While we expect Hardesty to become

the guy in the run game before long, Harrison will still have a role in this offense, and his valuein a PPR should shine.



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Tim Hightower (Ari) We fully expect stud talent Beanie Wells to assume a larger workload this year,but the one factor that really works in Hightowers favor and will get him on the field is his passprotection. Hes very good at it, and Wells is shaky, so Hightower or as we referred to him at times lastyear Captain Checkdown should continue to see a healthy number of pass targets. Hightowers 6.8yards per catch was not very good, and his 79% catch rate was just a little above average, but hisreceiving stats were still among the best in the league for RBs: 62 catches (2 nd ) on 80 targets (2 nd ) and428 receiving yards. Especially with a shakier QB under center now in Matt Leinart , the Cards shouldbe inclined to design plays for Hightower to catch the ball, and when all else fails, Leinart should be

inclined to check the ball down to him if hes in trouble, and he should be in trouble often, since theCardinal OL isnt great in pass protection.

8/25 Update: For some reason, the Cardinals seem unwilling to give Beanie Wells a biggerrole at this point of the preseason, and we know that Hightower is a versatile player, so hell gethis chance to make an impact, especially in PPR leagues.

8/19 Update: Hightower got the start for Arizona in its first preseason game, carrying the ball 4times for 16 yards, while also hauling in 1 catch for 6 yards.

8/11 Update : Our pal Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic believes Hightower will be thestarter once again, though he expects Wells to get the majority of the touches. But althoughWells has elite ability, its obvious Hightower is going nowhere. The team loves his versatility andhis dirty work (blocking, catching), and he should remain a strong presence.

LaDainian Tomlinson (NYJ) His game is probably going to fall off further this year, but someone hasto catch the ball here because Shonn Greenes not going to cut it. Greene had only four more pastargets (and the same number of receptions) than our own Adam Caplan last year, and we dont thinkrookie Joe McKnight is going to be ready to contribute this year. That could easily mean 40+ catchesfor LT.

8/25 Update: He continues to show a surprising burst, and he continues to be worked into theoffensive flow frequently and early so the good stuff surrounding LT continue. We're not goingoverboard, but he looks like a useful depth option, especially in a PPR.

8/19 Update: Tomlinson looked better than we saw him in all of 2009, showing a little speedand the balance that has been his calling card for his great career. He carried 8 times for 17 yardsand added 1/17 in the passing game, but he did have a 14-yard rushing TD taken off the boardby a holding call.

8/11 Update : The Jets believe they can ride the hot hand depending on the situation, so fornow Tomlinson looks like he'll have more of the 5-8 carry role we envisioned for him this year. Heshowed some of the LT of old in the team's scrimmage over the weekend, catching a deep balland running the rest of the way to score a 70-yard TD.

Justin Forsett (Sea) He caught 41 balls in sporadic action last year, and in his final nine games,hauled in 3.3 receptions per game, which would translate to 50+ over the course of a full season.

8/25 Update: Forsett got the start, but he carried just 5 times for 13 yards, while the guy whowont go away, Julius Jones , gained 14 yards on 5 carries and added a couple of catches for 12yards. Its a situation that will have to be monitored going forward, especially for those in PPRleagues who would like to use an upside pick on Washington (who looked really good given hissituation) or Forsett.

8/19 Update: Forsett gained 47 yards on 8 total touches, including a 30-yard reception and 13-yard run in last weekends preseason game. We'd like to see more consistency from him, but he'sgot upside, of which Jones has absolutely zilch.

8/11 Update : RB Leon Washington has moved on from his broken leg quicker than expected,but he's not expected to be in the mix as an every-down back. We still like Forsett the most of the RBs in Seattle, but we'll need to see how the rotation shakes out in the preseason.

Late Rounds (10+)



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Steve Slaton (Hou) He tried to gain some weight to handle the bulk of the carries in 2009, but it wasa pretty ugly season last year for Slaton, the runner. Only a great 44/417/4 in the passing game wasenough to salvage something for Slaton owners, who got the 10 th -ranked performance in a PPR leagueand 18 th in a non-PPR league. His fantasy scoring was helped by four receiving TDs, and while RBs whoscore four or more TDs on catches generally see a drop in their receiving TDs the next year, backs whohave four of more receiving TDs and three or fewer rushing scores (like Slaton) generally did not see adrop in their receiving TDs. These backs were mostly 3 rd -down backs, a role that Slaton may evolve intothis season. Hes already dropped some weight (hes back down to his 2008 weight of 200 pounds as of

the spring), so he seems to be focusing on his strength, which is functioning as more of a change-uptype of back in this offense. With rookie Ben Tate a good bet to handle most of the rushing workload on1 st and 2 nd down, Slaton should see a large majority of the work on 3 rd down, which should do wondersfor his PPR value. He announced on his Twitter page on 6/29 that hes ready to rock & roll, so he shouldbe more than ready for camp and in a great position to bounce back.

8/25 Update: Although he might have been helped by Arian Foster 's fumble, the fact remainsthat Foster looked good, and head coach Gary Kubiak said last week he thinks Foster's ready forthe lead role. Slaton should still play plenty, but unless the undrafted free agent from Tennesseekeeps fumbling, it's much more Foster running the ball than Slaton, who may offset any Fosterfumbles with drops of his own. Still, Slaton definitely projects as a top receiving threat out of thebackfield.

8/19 Update: Slaton fumbled again in his first game of the 2010 preseason, and right on top of

the end zone no less, so that's no good. But he did look very quick on a nice 21-yard catch andrun, so it wasn't all bad news for him. If he can get this fumbling problem under control, heshould have a very active role as a changeup and key 3rd-down back and this is a greatoffense, so there's potential. But if he keeps fumbling, it'll be a moot point because he'll loseprecious playing time. However, the ankle injury to Ben Tate does take some of the pressure off Slaton, since Tate could have carved out a role as a change-of-pace back.

8/11 Update : Though Slaton hasnt exactly locked down a starting role, hes certainly far aheadof Tate at this point, as the rookie has struggled immensely in his transition to the NFL game.With Arian Foster primed to handle the majority of the carries, Slaton will be free to do what hedoes best: catch the football.

Darren McFadden (Oak) If things go to plan in Oakland (or at least our ideal plan), Michael Bush will carry more of the rushing load, with McFadden emerging as a Reggie Bush -type player in theoffense. McFaddens no Bush, but he does have untapped potential as a receiver, and they do want toget him consistent touches. Using him in the passing game can accomplish that and can help get themost out of a player who has deficiencies as a runner.

8/25 Update: McFadden (hamstring) plans to make his preseason debut against the 49ersaccording to the AP. McFadden returned to practice on 8/24 for the first time in more than twoweeks, and he ran with the first team during workouts.

8/19 Update: McFadden told reporters on the subject of his injured hamstring "I feel like I'mcoming along pretty good," McFadden said. "It wasn't bad. It's feeling good right now, but I don'tfeel like I can open all the way up like I need to still. "At this point, it's something I just need totake care of just so I don't have to deal with it all season. So I'd rather get it healthy now, andthen it won't bother me all season." The hamstring did cause him to miss the teams firstpreseason game, and by those comments, it looks like hell miss another.

8/11 Update : Its beginning to get hard to endorse McFadden in any format or any round. Ahamstring injury looks like it will keep him sidelined for a while, and that will open the doors forMichael Bush to assert himself. Its becoming even more clear that McFadden is a satelliteplayer, at best.

Darren Sproles (SD) Sproles was completely miscast last season, as the Chargers tried to make himmore of a traditional RB because it was evident LaDainian Tomlinson didnt have the same burst thatonce made him great. But the Chargers had no choice but to allow LT a ton of touches again, becauseSproles was incapable of handling a full workload. Sproles 93 carries were a career-high, but his 3.7



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YPC was a career-worst. Still, he performed admirably in the passing game, with a good 45/497/4 line.If rookie RB Ryan Mathews can handle the workload that Tomlinson could not last year, Sprolesbecomes an interesting flex option as a pass-catcher and change-of-pace type of back. The receivingwas enough to rank Sproles #30 at the RB position in PPR leagues last season, so if hes freed up to domore of the things he excels at, he could better that.

8/25 Update: With a more effective runner in Mathews carrying the load in 2010, it appears asif the Chargers will be able to utilize Sproles more effectively this year, and his quick 24-yard

catch-and-run in their first series was evidence of that fact. The Chargers probably know nowafter last year that Sproles needs to be used in a certain way to maximize his potential, and wethink they will.

8/11 Update : Added 8/11.

Donald Brown (Ind) Although Joseph Addai is a good receiver, Brown has the potential to be agreat receiver, and hes pretty darn good in pass protection. His role should be expanding, so his PPRpotential should as well.

8/25 Update: Brown entered the game for Addai midway through the 1st quarter and lookedboth quick and powerful on his 4-carry, 23-yard performance on the ground. He also added acatch for 7 yards. Still, he has done nothing to take the job from Addai at this point.

8/19 Update: Brown had a forgettable day, rushing for -4 yards on 5 carries and making just 1

catch of -3 yards in the first preseason game against the 49ers.

Wide Receivers

Early Rounds (1-2)

Roddy White (Atl) White may be the most underrated fantasy receiver in the league, and whatpeople dont seem to realize is that hes one of the few unquestioned go-to guys at his position for histeam. Yes, they have TE Tony Gonzalez , and wideout Harry Douglas could surprise this year with hiscatch total, but Whites still by far the main guy at the position, and his PPR value is pretty powerful.White told us last year that his brief holdout and contract squabble was a little bit of a distraction lastyear, and it hurt his timing and chemistry with QB Matt Ryan , yet that wont be a problem this year. So

what we have here is a young, durable, and incredibly consistent player whos been money in the bankfor those looking for 80+ catches three years running. And if it helps, we find his bubbly personality tobe delightful.

8/25 Update : White caught 2 passes for 26 yards in the Falcons matchup with the Patriots asRyan and the offense executed the no-huddle pretty well. A quicker offense might mean morecatches, so we like this development.

8/19 Update: White was targeted twice in the teams first preseason game, catching a 22-yardpass from QB Chris Redman in the 2nd quarter.

Earlier Rounds (3-6)

Steven Smith (NYG) In 2009, Smith finished an impressive 13 th at 10.2 FPG, with an awesome

107/1220/7 line, and he caught at least three balls in every game (he caught six balls or more in 11games, making PPR owners cry tears of joy). Smith was nothing more than a slot receiver before 2008,but the loss of Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer led to an increased opportunity for Smith to showoff his stuff, as did the ineffectiveness of the Giant run game in 2009. In 2008, the Giants ran on 49% of their plays and tried to throw 519 times (pass attempts plus sacks). Last season, they ran on only 44%of their plays and tried to throw 574 times. Those two factors, along with an expanded role, meantSmith went from 83 to 155 targets. He caught 69% of his targets both seasons and saw a moderateincrease in yards per catch (from 10.1 to 11.4), so most of his increased statistics was due to greateropportunity and only a small amount to a performance increase, at least in terms of YPC. But theres



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also a lot to be said for any wideout being able to haul in 107 balls. Theres no doubt the Giants will tryto run the ball a bit more in 2010, but Smith is the #1 guy for a more effective passing game under QBEli Manning , and the pairs chemistry is excellent. A hundred catches is always a difficult number topredict for a guy, but if anyone in New York gets there, itll almost certainly be Smith again.

8/25 Update : Smith missed some time earlier this month with a groin injury, but he was backon the field this past weekend, and he made a ridiculous catch for a gain of 45 yards down thesideline that saw him readjust with the ball being thrown to the wrong shoulder. That play alone

was reason for a mention here. He's still pretty damn good. 8/19 Update: Smith was held out of the teams first preseason game thanks to his nagginggroin injury but has since returned to practice.

8/11 Update : Nothing new to report on Smith, other than that our pal Ralph Vacchiano believesthe pass-based offense in New York is here to stay. Theres a lot of talent at WR here, so Smithmight not catch 100 balls again, but he could come close.

Hines Ward (Pit) In 2009, Ward looked better than ever for a good stretch. He always seemed to beopen, likely because Pittsburgh does a great job scheming to get him open. Ward had a fantastic season,putting up 95/1167/6 on 136 targets (8 th -most in the league). He had five games with 100+ yards, butmore important for PPR purposes, he caught 6 or more balls in 10 games. He caught 70% of his targets,more than any WR with 100+ targets except Wes Welker . Of course, there are issues in 2010. QB BenRoethlisberger will miss at least the first four games with a conduct suspension, and Byron Leftwich

or Dennis Dixon under center wont exactly scare opposing teams. But the Steelers also dealt away WRSantonio Holmes , and the targets (136 of them in 09) will have to go to someone . Chances are thatsWard. Without Ben in the lineup, his downfield involvement and overall effectiveness may take a hit, buthe should still get the opportunity to catch a lot of balls. Unless the team fails to address the loss of RTWillie Colon by adding former Cowboy Flozell Adams , were still confident enough in Ward to deliverin this format again in 2010.

Michael Crabtree (SF) It took longer than they would have liked, but once the Niners got Crabtree onthe field for his rookie season, there really wasnt anything about him they couldnt like. He has goodsize, runs well, and his hands are good, pretty much a perfect guy to play pitch-and-catch with QB AlexSmith in what should be a run-oriented offense. Smith doesnt have the strongest arm, which may limitCrabtrees potential down the field, but in PPR, thats less of an issue. For a veteran WR playing a fullseason, his 48/625/2 line, with 13.0 average yards per reception and 56% catch rate (both a little belowthe NFL average), would not look so good. But context is everything. For a rookie who missed thepreseason with a holdout and played only 11 games, those numbers are very good. With a modestimprovement to a 60% catch rate, the 8 targets per game and 13.7 yards per reception he averaged thelast seven weeks, and more red zone looks, 75/1000 seems like a doable projection for a full season.While we do think hes a little overvalued overall, his potential appears better in PPR leagues.

8/25 Update : Crabtree returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since straining his neck8/11.

8/19 Update: Crabtree was held out of the teams preseason game against the Colts because of a strained neck but has since returned to practice, albeit in a limited capacity. The injury isconsidered minor.

8/11 Update : The 49ers have indeed been utilizing Crabtree out of the slot, which could createmismatches and help his production in PPR.

Mike Sims-Walker (Jac) - If it werent for Sims-Walker, the Jaguars may have had the worst passingoffense in the history of football in 2009, considering the Jags lacked any sort of explosiveness ordynamite outside of him. Sims-Walker has good size (and plays bigger than he already is), runs goodroutes, comes back to the ball well, and catches the ball well away from his body, all great traits for apossession receiver, and music to the ears of PPR owners. On the season, Sims-Walker finished with a63/869/7 line, although he really fizzled late in the season. Still, the Jags kept feeding him pass targets,6.8 targets per game down the stretch, compared to 7.6 early on, not much of a drop off. Figuring outwhich Sims-Walker will show up in 2010 even if its the full season version versus the quick starter or



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late-season fader, is a key call fantasy owners will have to make this year. We tend to think the first half Sims-Walker will show up, basically out of necessity. David Garrard is an inconsistent QB, but he has tothrow to someone , and Sims-Walker is about all they have in terms of size.

8/25 Update : Sims-Walker said he was more focused in the team's second preseason gameafter struggling in the team's first preseason game according to the Florida Times-Union . Sims-Walker led the Jags with 64 yards on 3 catches.

8/19 Update: Sims-Walker jammed his shoulder in last weeks game against the Eagles and left

after catching just 1 ball for 2 yards. His arm is already out of a sling, and he continues to saythat the injury is not serious however there is no timetable for his return. 8/11 Update : So far, it doesnt appear as if the Jags have any real clue as to who can take looks

away from MSW, so he appears safe to receive the majority of the targets once again.

Jeremy Maclin (Phi) Maclin wasnt expected to have a very large role this past season forPhiladelphia, but like DeSean Jackson in 2008, injuries pushed him into a prominent role, and heresponded well, putting up a solid 55/762/4. More impressive, he was an above-average WR in yards percatch (13.9) and catch rate (62%). Since 1978, seven other rookie WRs caught between 50 and 60passes (Maclin had 55) and between 700 and 800 yards (762). Three of those receivers had top-10 totalpoint performances the next season, and Maclin seems as good a candidate as any to pull that off,especially in a PPR with accurate QB Kevin Kolb now throwing him the football. Maclin is a little more of a complete receiver compared to Jackson . Hes a tough receiver who plays physically and excels catchingthe ball inside the hash marks in traffic. Hes also terrific after the catch and pretty darn good downfield,so he looks like a complete receiver with upside who projects well as a starter in the NFL. Thats exactlywhat hell be to start the 2010 season. Due this his size and quickness, hes a great fit for the WestCoast offense, at least, and that translates well to PPR typically.

8/25 Update : Maclin once again avoided what could have been a brutal injury when he suffered just a bruised shoulder, as opposed to a dislocated one, against the Bengals. Its the second timeMaclin has sidestepped a potential serious injury this summer. Hes back and practicing, but itmight soon be time to wrap him in bubble paper.

8/19 Update: Maclin and the Eagle first-team offense as a whole looked very good in their firstpreseason game against the Jaguars. Maclin caught a pair of passes for 32 yards on patterns inthe middle of the field on some nice throws from Kolb, who already looks very comfortable in thestarting role.

8/11 Update : Maclin has looked fantastic running routes this off-season, which is a great signfor his transition to the timing-based attack the Eagles will employ this year, but the best news of camp came when he avoided a serious injury. Maclin was carted off the field last week, and theEagles ended practice early because of it, but MRIs revealed only a bone bruise instead of thetorn knee ligaments that were feared. Maclin has since returned to practice.

Johnny Knox (Chi) We've been excited about Knox's potential since he developed a very quick andclear chemistry with QB Jay Cutler last season, and the hiring of new OC Mike Martz sealed the deal,since Knox has a physical skill set that resembles that of Isaac Bruce , who became a Hall of Famer inMartz's scheme. Now Knox has been the most targeted WR in Bears' camp, and while Martz says that'sby chance, we tend to think it goes a little deeper than that. What's more, Bruce has been working withthe Bear WRs as they attempt to nail down Martz's offense, which is just fantastic news for Knox,

especially. If we had to guess at the #1 WR in Chicago thus far, if there is one, it appears that Knox(who has arguably been their most impressive skill player at any position in camp) has the edge, andhe's still going relatively late in drafts.

8/25 Update : He caught only one pass, but it was for a 21-yard TD in the back of the endzone.It was a broken play and one on which Cutler was scrambling, but that was also a pretty goodsign because the duo is generally on the same page. They're still working on things like timing,but Knox was still Cutler's most targeted wideout for the second week in a row (4 targets in thisone), so he's still looking like a go-to guy.



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8/19 Update: Although it was only two plays, they were revealing. QB Jay Cutlers first pass of the 2010 season was a nice 33-yard gainer to his favorite target (and our favorite WR sleeper),Knox. Knox was wide open on the play, perhaps an early testament to new OC Mike Martz, who isknown for putting his receivers in a great position to succeed. But Knox also ran a great route onthe play. Cutler's next and last pass was a 14-yarder to Knox, showing that the duo is still on thesame page. Knox dealt with a hamstring injury early this week, but has since returned topractice.

8/11 Update : Added 8/11.

Dwayne Bowe (KC) Bowes had some issues, so he scares us a little. But when you look simply at theplayer, youre left with a high-end talent capable of being a fairly dominant player. And his skill set isparticularly suitable for production in the PPR format. Bowe already runs good routes and has greatinstincts to go along with size, both of which he uses to outmuscle others to go get the ball. He can be agood possession receiver in the type of spread offense that would benefit QB Matt Cassel the most. His09 season was pretty ugly, but from Weeks Five through Sixteen, although he played in only sevengames, he averaged 10 targets per game, which is about what he averaged in 2008. Assuming he canstay on the field, its not unreasonable to expect him to see that level of opportunity again in 2010.Thats encouraging, and at his career catch rate (56%) and yards per reception (12.8) neither of whichis a very high number hed post 90 receptions and 1150 yards, probably with 7 TDs (based on hiscareer TD/Target rate). Thats probably an upper-end projection, and with a more reasonable 140targets, Bowes line would be more like 80/1000/6, so pretty darn good for PPR. We think the Chief

offense is on the rise, and while they have more options now, Bowe should command the ball, and heseems to be doing everything he can this year to endear himself to head coach Todd Haley this timearound. Drafting him will entail some risk until he proves otherwise, but given the type of player he is a bigger, physical guy who can do dirty work underneath his risk is offset for those in PPR league.

8/25 Update : With QB Matt Cassel looking more comfortable this past week, Bowe was able tocontribute with a 3/33 performance.

8/11 Update : The Chiefs have been pleased with Bowe's attitude early in training camp, and itcould help him permanently stay out of Haley's doghouse, where he became a frequent guest lastseason. Bowe isn't an elite physical talent, but we've seen his ability to become a productiveplayer nonetheless. It remains to be seen how the Chiefs will utilize him in new coordinatorCharlie Weis ' offensive attack, but if Bowe remains focused, there's no reason he can't haul in70+ balls, as he did in his first two NFL seasons.

Middle Rounds (7-9)

Malcom Floyd (SD) Obviously, if Vincent Jackson is shipped out of town, someone has to catch theball from the WR position, and Floyd would likely be the top target. Weve always liked the player, and if he is thrust into the #1 WR role and responds even relatively well, his overall value soars, including hisPPR value.

8/25 Update: It sure seems like Jackson isn't going to be a factor for the Chargers this year, soFloyd is moving up in the world. Floyd (who caught 3 passes for 47 yards this past weekend andmade a really nice play on one catch) has been a favorite target of Rivers, and we believe in hisability.

8/19 Update: Floyd didnt make a catch in the Chargers preseason debut, perhaps a result of areduced workload stemming from a calf tweak suffered mid last week.

8/11 Update : There appears to be no resolution to the Jackson situation on the horizon, andFloyd has been using his time wisely; hes apparently been making some spectacular catches inCharger camp.

Mike Williams (TB) Hes going to enter camp ahead of fellow rookie Arrelious Benn , and likelybecause of his ability to stretch the field. But the bottom line is this: Williams has more than enoughtalent to wind up being the teams #1 WR and thats all you need to know in a PPR league. If he staysfocused on the prize a starting job he could be a real steal.



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8/25 Update: Williams, who still definitely appears to have a lock on a starting job, had anotherfine performance, with 3/44 in the passing game this past weekend. Hes still a little raw, but hisability jumps off the screen when you watch him play. The guy has exciting skills and potential.No question hes worth a later pick for upside, maybe even a pick around 100 overall, which is a9th-round pick in a 12-team league.

8/19 Update: In his preseason debut, Benn saw some targets from 2 nd -string QB JoshJohnson but was held without a catch, and his development is something well be watching

intently as we move forward, especially since Maurice Stovall rolled his ankle and vet MichaelClayton (1 catch, 12 yards) continues to disappear into the background. 8/11 Update : Although Benn has made some strides in the last few weeks, Williams still

appears to be the favorite to enter the season as the Bucs #1 WR.

Late Rounds (10+)

Eddie Royal (Den) Its impossible to consider Royals awful 2009 anything but a disaster. His 91-catchrookie season (on 128 targets) was certainly no fluke, but the transition to Kyle Orton at QB hurt himsignificantly. His second season saw him post an ugly 37/345/0 line on 79 targets, a drop of 54 catchesand a fall from a stellar 71% catch rate to an atrocious 46.8%. After catching at least three passes in 14of 15 games as a rookie, Royal did it in just five games in 2009. Because the Denver passing game wasso limited using short, underneath routes with Orton, it looked like Royal would fit in perfectly. We know

the team wanted to minimize their reliance on Orton, but it became so close to the vest that onlyBrandon Marshall was seeing targets consistently, while Royal was frozen out. The result was one of the biggest fantasy bust seasons in the past few years. His rookie season YPC (10.8) wasnt exactlygood, but the 91 catches helped him out in PPR, although a drop to 9.3 in 2009 was brutal. But Royal isa smart, fluid receiver with good hands who can play between the seams very well. And now, with theBroncos trading Marshall in the off-season, he could be thrown back into a role in which hes asked toproduce in a big way yet again. This is not to suggest that Royal is worth a high draft pick in PPR leagues not at all. But he could rebound and turn out a solid PPR campaign if hes asked to produce starter-type numbers alongside rookie Demaryius Thomas (who, by the way, probably isnt ready to excel justyet). Royal is too good a player to be wasted again, and we have serious doubts about Thomas ability tohandle the learning curve and his route-running limitations right away in the pros. In addition, Orton hasmajor problems completing longer passes, which is fine for Royal, since hes an intermediate guy.Seriously, if he can pick up a healthy number of Marshalls 153 targets from 2009 (5 th -most in theleague), then somethings very wrong in Denver.

8/19 Update: Royal didnt have a huge game statistically in his preseason opener, but he didcatch a 12-yard TD pass across the middle in the red zone, which is a nice sign.

8/11 Update : Royal has stood out recently after a couple of quiet weeks, which is better thanhearing nothing. Hes still at the top of the depth chart, alongside Jabar Gaffney .

Jabar Gaffney (Den) Could Gaffney, cast to the side by multiple teams during the past decade, reallybe the Broncos #1 receiving option entering 2010? It sounds ugly, but it might be the break PPR ownerslooking for a sleeper were waiting for. Gaffney actually doubled Eddie Royal s output in receiving yardsa season ago, putting up a decent 54/732/2 line on 84 targets (64.2% catch rate), despite a smalleroverall role than Royals. And with rookie Demaryius Thomas still recovering from an off-season footinjury, the veteran Gaffney may be asked to start right away for the Broncos. There isnt much upsidefor Gaffney in terms of explosion his 13.6 YPC in 2009 was actually his best since 2004 but heproduced when needed. Over the last two games of the 2009 season, with Royal out, Gaffney put up aline of 21/282/2, just 16 fewer catches and 63 fewer yards in two games than Royal had all year .Gaffneys currently running with the Bronco starters, and at the least, we know coach Josh McDaniels will decide competitions like these on merit, not on name. Gaffney finished strong last year and is in asgood a position as any to produce.

8/25 Update : Gaffney had a really nice game against the Lions, catching 6 passes for 98 yards,as QB Kyle Orton looked really good as well.



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8/19 Update: Gaffney had a solid preseason debut, catching 2 passes for 37 yards from thestarting lineup.

8/11 Update : Gaffney is alongside Royal atop the Broncos depth chart.

Laurent Robinson (Stl) If he can stay healthy, he will definitely catch some balls for the Rams thisyear as their prototypical #1 WR for their West Coast offense. First he has to win the job again andprove to be looking healthy this summer.

8/19 Update: In what the team hopes to be a sign of things to come, Bradford fired a nice passover the middle to Robinson, who picked up some nice YAC on the 18-yard play. Robinson startedalongside Donnie Avery , and he looked to be moving well during his 2-catch, 27-yard night, inhis first game action since fracturing his fib

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