Fantasy FanHouse

Naptime, Son: Couch-Worthy Running Backs That Will Help Win Your League

Will Brinson — 2008-08-28T06:00:00+00:00

Whaaaaaaa? Marion Barber might not be the only option in Dallas??? Go on ...

Winning your fantasy draft is easy. And free. Well actually, the free part is easier than the easy part, if that makes sense. (Why? Because you only need to hit up FleaFlicker and rock out all the free fantasy football you can find.)

But easy isn't hard, and before I actually start confusing myself, let's cut to the chase: there are tons of "sleeper" backs in fantasy football drafts this year. And, handily, they can be broken up into convenient little tiers.

Power Naps
Chester Taylor, MIN -- I know, right? He's not even really a sleeper, just because he'll see tons of carries. But the fact, whether or not you choose to recognize it with your number one overall pick, is that Adrian Peterson hasn't finished a full season of football since he started getting money to play football. Or, if you prefer, since high school. If he goes down again, Taylor will be an absolute monster.

Ronnie Brown, MIA -- Brown just returned to practicing sans cast but all you hear out of Miami is "Ricky this, Ricky that", because everyone thinks Ricky Williams will start and carry the rock for the Fins. I'm not buying it, personally. Brown was a top five running back on easily the worst team in the entire league -- one that should have been passing from the 10 minute mark of the first quarter based on deficits -- until he got injured. Sure, he might not dive right in and be a dominant back, but when he's your RB3 or RB4, the upside is too good to pass up.

Jonathan Stewart, CAR -- Two things help him land in this group. First, a slow start to the preseason, his siiiick 50 yard touchdown rumble/sprint down the sideline against the Redskins notwithstanding. Secondly, DeAngelo Williams has been balling. Those two things have moved Stewart from a sure-fire fifth rounder to someone you can pull in the seventh or eighth round. And while he will split carries with Williams to a degree, Stewart is the prototypical John Fox back behind a prototypical (well, close anyway) John Fox line. Big year.

Piled Up
Ray Rice, BAL -- I haven't like Willis McGahee for a while; really ever since he dissed on the ladies of Buffalo. (No, I can't explain my affinity for the city either.) And now McGahee, who was solid as hell last year, could miss some significant time. Since the Ravens employ both Kyle Boller and Troy Smith, they will run. And Rice knows how to do that, which is fortunate. I'd reach up and grab him around 10th.

Kevin Smith, DET -- The former Central Florida unheralded superstar is climbing up draft boards with his preseason performance (and a total lack of any running game in Detroit). With Mike Martz no longer in the picture, the Lions will run more frequently and Smith will be the beneficiary. He'll be a starter and he don't cost much. That's the definition of sleeper.

Heavy Sedation
Felix Jones, DAL -- The "other guy" from Arkansas would be ranked higher on this list if Marion Barber wasn't such a straight up incumbent in Dallas. MB3 is going to see the bulk of the carries, of course, and he'll probably get the red zone action. Unless he gets hurt. Or Jerry Jones falls in love with his first round speed-demon and fellow Arkansan. Kidding on that last one. Kind of. Either way, Jones is a blazing fast back with a ton of upside, particularly in deeper leagues; if he gets significant touches, he could end up being a steal of an RB2.

Steve Slaton, HOU -- Someone has to run the ball in Houston. And that someone appears to be, for the moment, Slaton. He defines electric and only got somewhat overshadowed his senior year at West Virginia because of Noel Devine. Now, you could argue that he fit well in the system and he won't be a good power back. I would not disagree. But he runs likes an antelope (run-run-run-run-run) and as long as Andre Johnson is healthy, the Texans passing game is gonna be sick. Plus, he can catch.

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Profitable Returns for the Injured, Suspended, and Other Question Marks

Matt Snyder — 2008-08-27T15:35:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, NFL Sleepers, NFL Fantasy, NFL Injury Report

Ever hear of the economic principle, the law of diminishing returns? Basically, if production of an item reaches a certain point, it's counter-productive to create more output because the profits will decrease for each additional unit. In fantasy football, there is an opposite affect on players with question marks heading into the season.
A perfect example is Steve Smith. I already own him on multiple teams. Why? He's suspended for two games. Because of this suspension, however, owners are letting him fall too far on draft boards. You just have to approach drafting Smith like he has three bye weeks instead of one. Plug those holes with a someone like Nate Burleson -- who will be Matt Hasselbeck's top receiving option in the early season -- in the next few rounds and you're covered.

Smith is going to put up monster stats with Jake Delhomme back and other receivers attracting coverage this season in his 13 games. The point of profitable returns for Steve Smith is about round five. He can't fall lower than that.

Some others:

Chad Johnson and Chris Henry, Bengals flamboyant WRs
Johnson's got a torn labrum in his shoulder. That's not good for a receiver that may need to extend his arms to catch a pass while taking a hit. This is one guy I'm probably going to avoid, but if you plant the seeds of doubt in the minds of your fellow league-mates by stressing the injury, rounds six or seven could yield great returns if he miraculously stays healthy all season.

As for Henry, his value takes an obvious spike if Ocho goes down. The problem is that Henry is suspended for four weeks. That's a good enough chunk with the possibility that this idiot gets in trouble again to make him a serious risk on your team -- considering he's the Bengals third option through the air. Still, if you approach this thinking Johnson will be shut down before week five, you can gamble on 11 very productive games from a receiver with talent who has Carson Palmer throwing to him and TJ Houshmandzadeh taking eyes off him. Look for him in your last non-kicker round.

Willis McGahee, Ravens RB1
Sitting right on the lower-tier of number one fantasy running backs before the preseason, McGahee has distinguished himself by having his knee scoped. He swears up and down he's going to be ready for the season opener, but fantasy players are skeptical, as his stock is plummeting. Personally, I think he's falling too far. Even if he's not ready for week one -- again, he says he will be -- you know he's going to play in week two. He shouldn't be falling to the third round, and in many cases he is. Just make sure to handcuff him with Ray Rice.

Brandon Marshall, Broncos suspended WR
Marshall is currently appealing his suspension in order to get it reduced to two games, and it looks like a distinct possibility. Even if the suspension remains intact, Marshall shouldn't be falling into round six. The rapport he developed with Jay Cutler late last season won't go away, as the two mature into NFL veterans together. In three of the last four games Marshall went for over ten catches and one hundred yards, and he hit paydirt five times in the Broncos last seven games.

Giants D/ST, now without Osi Umenyiora and still retired Michael Strahan
The Giants defense last year was quite intimidating to opposing offenses, and one number really sticks out when you view the numbers: 52 sacks. What Osi and Strahan personally had is irrelevant, because the pressure they provided often set up sacks for others or forced QBs into rash decisions and turnovers.

The bottom line is that losing these two changes the entire complexion of the defense for the defending champs and they can't be counted on to produce starting D/ST points in fantasy. If you play in leagues where you draft two D/STs, however, you could still do much worse. Grab them as the top backup and hope Mathias Kiwanuka and Justin Tuck provide career years.

Dwayne Bowe, studly WR with a sucky QB
Dwayne Bowe is an extremely talented football player. He racked up 995 yards on 70 catches as a rookie to go with five scores. The only problem is that Brodie Croyle is a horrifying QB, and the Chiefs seem intent on sticking with him. Not only was Croyle 0-6 as a starter -- which doesn't really matter when we're talking Bowe's fantasy stuff, I'm just throwing it in because it's embarrassing -- but he only threw for over 200 yards once. In that game, Bowe only accounted for 64 of them with no TDs. While Dwayne did manage a few quality games with Croyle at the helm -- though none were stellar -- he also turned in two awful days and three that were mediocre at best.

He has too much upside to last through the eighth round, but don't count on Bowe as better than your third WR.

Derek Anderson, Browns concussed QB
Everyone is lining up to hate on Anderson now. He threw too many picks last year, including four in a late season loss to the Bengals which cost the Browns a playoff berth. He threw for less than 200 yards in three of the Browns final four games. The starting offense sputtered in the preseason game against the Giants until Anderson suffered a concussion ... only to seeBrady Quinn come in and start scoring points. People also like to say this situation is shaping up like Drew Brees being forced out of San Diego in favor of Philip Rivers.

And I say ... deep breaths everyone. Anderson is going to start the season as the Browns starting QB. There isn't cause for concern unless he gets injured in the regular season (especially if it's another head injury) or the offense royally sucks for multiple weeks early on. The latter scenario is doubtful because of the stout offensive line protecting him and the weapons at his disposal. He's easily a top ten QB, and if he's falling farther than that, so please draft him and stop the insanity.

To reiterate, there is still substantial risk involved for all of these guys. The true fantasy skill here lies in being able to surround whichever above player you wish to draft with quality depth at their respective position. If that happens, like with my Steve Smith example (covering him with Nate Burleson), you have taken a risk that will yield positive rewards.

On the other hand, playing fantasy football on fleaflicker is definitely risk-free.

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Chad Ocho Cinco Has a Very Serious Injury But He Refuses to Acknowledge It

Will Brinson — 2008-08-25T23:40:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Fantasy, NFL Injury Report

Chad Johnson has a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder. Yet, if you listen to Ocho Cinco, he is going to be just fine. I am not a medical "expert" per se, but I think that when you have anything that's torn in a important part of your body, you are not "fine".

Chad Being Chad

Chad Johnson will require surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, but that didn't stop the wideout from proclaiming himself ready to play. It is just another case of Chad being Chad.

Joe Robbins, Getty Images

Johnson reportedly started proceedings to have his last name officially changed Ocho Cinco. In the past, Johnson has been told he would be fined if he wore the nickname on his jersey during games.

Al Behrman, AP

The Bengals' star is known for his antics both on and off the field. "I'm the type that I want everyone to like me and what I do." The outspoken wideout has always found creative ways to push the NFL's celebration rules.

Ben Liebenberg, NFL Photos / Getty Images

Love him or hate him, you have to give him credit for his creativity when it comes to bringing laughs. Johnson put this sports jacket on after a 39-yard touchdown pass against the Baltimore Ravens in 2007.

David Kohl, AP

Johnson began sporting a blond mohawk in '06, a look that morphed into a team marketing ploy. Blond rubber scalps were sold in the team gift shop.

AJ Mast, AP

According to Chad, Tiger Woods has nothing on his golf game, as he showed versus the Ravens. The showman once used the pylon to putt the football after scoring a touchdown.

Dan Beineke, NFL / Getty Images

In another premeditated move, the Bengals wideout resuscitated a ball in the end zone after a score.

Jimmy DeFlippo, USP / ZUMA Press

Johnson has also used his celebrity for good causes. In 2007, he raised money for charity by racing a horse. Thanks to a head start, he won the race by several lengths.

David Kohl, AP

Still, the loudmouthed Bengals wide receiver is maintaining that nothing is wrong.

Johnson did not seem to worried about the injury, and claims he will be ready for the season opener at Baltimore on September 7.

"I'm lifting my normal weight. I do everything normal now. Everything," said Johnson, who caught 93 passes for 1,440 yards and eight touchdowns last season. "It's been what? Eight days? (since the injury) I'm back to normal."

It takes me eight days to recover from wakeboarding for a weekend, and while I'm no professional athlete, wakeboarding is no partially torn shoulder muscle. So forgive me if I'm not entirely sold on Johnson's health.

Oh, and it turns out the Bengals might not be sold either. They have T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Johnson and Chris Henry (again!), so if everyone's healthy, the very last thing they need in the entire world is a wide receiver. Yet, SCOOP Mortensen is reporting that Rudi Johnson is on the block in Cincy, as the Bengals are looking to get a wide receiver in return for the former stud running back.

I could take the time out to analyze what potential trades are available, but the fact that the Bengals have inked Henry and are now trying to ship Rudi out of town kind of sums up what's going on (again) with a once nearly rejuvenated franchise.

Fantasy Spin: Okay, I haven't been drafting Ocho Cinco thus far in any fantasy drafts, mainly because he's still going a little too high for my tastes, relative to what I think his production will be. Now that he's got this shoulder injury, I'm definitely not touching him unless he drops to the sixth or seventh round, which he probably won't. Bump up Housh on your draft boards, and Henry as well, barring a trade.

Which, if Mort is right, could actually skyjack the fantasy values of Rudi and Kenny Watson (and Chris Perry). You can get all three pretty late in drafts, and in a year where supposedly there's a ton of scary RB options, I'd absolutely consider all three in the teens. Watson's my personal top choice out of the three, but I imagine he'll be going higher anyway.

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J.P. Losman Is Impressing Folks in Buffalo While Trent Edwards Is Injured

Will Brinson — 2008-08-25T22:41:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Sleepers, NFL Fantasy, NFL Injury Report

Trent Edwards, I think we all believe, is the starting quarterback in Buffalo. The possibility of J.P. Losman somehow snaking Edwards' has seemed pretty far fetched up until now. However, with Edwards down because of injury, J.P. impressed some people -- against the Colts on Sunday.

J.P. Losman was efficient in replacing Trent Edwards (bruised knee). Losman finished 13-of-19 for 108 yards before hurting the thumb on his throwing hand while making a handoff on Omon's 1-yard TD run. Coach Dick Jauron said Losman's injury was nothing serious.

It was exactly the kind of performance the Bills wanted to see.

"He did a terrific job," Jauron said. "He handled the information, we got in and out. It was a noisy game, and it could have been noisier but we got off to that good start."

Muy interesante. I certainly don't think Losman is going to steal the job from Edwards while he's injured, but a strong preseason performance could certainly do a lot to tighten up the leash on Trent, especially when you think about the playoff aspirations that Buffalo has to have this year.

Don't get me wrong -- I still think Edwards is going to be fine and going to play the entire season, barring injury. But the fact that Losman can actually be quasi-decent is at least a comforting concept for a Bills team that certainly needs some strong quarterback play this season to remain competitive in the AFC.

Fantasy Spin: Edwards is the guy you want to draft, if you're interested in a nice sleeper-deep league QB2 type. My Buffalo mancrush is well documented and I whole heartedly agree with Snyder that he could end up being a nice option. Of course, counting out a backup with a neckbeard is dangerous.

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Preseason By The Numbers

Ryan Dembinsky — 2008-08-25T19:50:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Fantasy, NFL Fantasy Felony

Look, I understand that attempting to predict regular season success by sorting through preseason (exhibition, whatever) statistics makes roughly the same amount of sense as the average Ewok, but there is one thing you can tell from preseason numbers. When your gut tells you a particular player is going to have a bad year, it never hurts to confirm that hunch by looking at their performance in the pointless games. Let's take a look at some of the duds so far through the 2008 exhibition season.

Larry Johnson - Everybody says Larry Johnson is done based on his insane workload, 2007 burnout, and support of the worst offensive line in the NFL, but let's take a look at the numbers. As suspected, on the second highest total number of carries (35) in the league, Larry piled up a paltry 118 yards. That's a whopping 3.3 yards per carry with one touchdown folks. His longest rush went for 18 yards. If you're scoring at home, put him down as "do not touch with a radiation suit."

Matt Forte - Being a Bears guy, my colleague Matt Snyder is gonna string me up for this one, but the Bears line is just downright terrible. Forte ran the ball 25 times thus far and has yet to touch the century mark with 86 rushing yards total. Unsurprisingly, he has not spent time in the endzone either. Do not consider this a testament of his inability, but rather confirmation that whoever lines up behind Orton is gonna get killed out there.

Tatum Bell. Despite playing for the NFL's best team, the 3-0 Detroit Lions (screw you guys, this is as good as it gets for us Lion's fans), Tatum has done absolutely nothing good. On 16 carries, Tatum Bell has amassed a total of, get this, 26 yards. That's a APC of 1.6 yards. IN other words, Kitna could basically fall forward for more yards than Taco Bell running the ball.

Clinton Portis - Portis is always tough to gauge, but if you want to sleep at night, you might be better off passing on him in the latter part of round one. He is always nursing hurts and possesses an average yards-per-carry of 3.3 yards, and one of his 16 carries went for 17 yards, so you do the math. As a caveat, of all these guys this probably means the least for Portis as he is typically not much of a fan of preseason play, as evidenced by this concise verbiage in the Washington Post, "I kind of want to play, and I don't want to play. Being that I have to play, and it's not my choice, I can't do nothing but be excited about it." Portis is also expected to see an uptick in targets in the new West Coast offense, so we'll wait and see how that plays out.

Rashard Mendenhall - Rashard racked up the fifth most attempts so far this preseason, proving the Steelers are serious about his development, but he dropped the ball twice. If anything leads to rookie bench time, it's fumbling, so keep an eye on this. When he held on, he performed fine averaging a modest 4.3 yards per carry.

Laurence Maroney - This is more of a heads up than a red flag waving, but Maroney only averaged 2.2 yards per carry on 18 tries so far. The Pats have a great line in front of him, but keep an eye on Lamont Jordan. I still think he might have something in the tank, so beware of the committee.

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Coping With Your Pick

Sean Lalley — 2008-08-25T19:21:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Fantasy

So, you're closing in on your Fantasy draft and you've done your draft lottery and you realize you won't be grabbing one of the coveted prizes that is LaDainian Tomlinson or Adrian Peterson. Who doesn't want the thrill of picking #1? Who wouldn't want the assurance of having the sure thing. Yet, it's not the end of the world. Relax, it happens.

Well, I'm facing that predicament as we speak. The final hours are ticking away before my first "official" Fantasy draft takes place. And yet, another year and yet again I won't be picking off the top line. It feels like I've been here before, probably because I have been...for as far back as I can remember. Well, no use crying over the fact, for tonight I've got to just cope and accept my fate as the #8 pick.

Now, normally around here it's always a relaxed, yet informative tone. However, I'm turning the page ever so slightly today in order to focus more on what makes Fantasy Football so addictive. And that's the hype, the fun, the drama, the anxiety and more importantly the draft.

Let's face it, the draft is arguably the best thing about Fantasy Football. If you draft with your league in person it's a great excuse to drink in excess and heckle your buddies for a few good hours. Well, maybe your draft isn't quite like that and my apologies for you if that's the case. Anyhow, for me the draft is probably the best two hours of the season...give or take.

And that brings me to the the harsh reality that most of us will face this week. And that's having to deal with our pecking in order in the draft. So, just how can you cope with the realization you're either wedged in the middle of your draft or stuck at the end? Well, just a few suggestions come to mind.

1) Bribery - If you're crafty enough, perhaps you can bribe a trade to move up in the draft or even offer up some cash to somebody for a more favorable position. Then again, this method rarely, if ever works.

2) Drinking - Avoid the anxiety and panic of the draft by simply having fun under the influence.

3) Accept your Fate - Probably the most viable route would be to make due with the best you can. And that would mean re-organizing your big board and pick your targets. Have a plan.

OK, honestly you should attempt all three in that order and if you don't succeed with one at least you'll be good and buzzed for your draft with a decent strategy in your back pocket. Particularly, I don't find the 8th pick to be all that bad. As discussed in detail last week Matthew Greber broke down the scenarios for each position in a draft and just which one happens to the be the worst. And judging from his analysis I couldn't be happier to not have landed in the 6th slot.

In the 8th slot, I figure I can and know I will avoid Larry Johnson. I'll grab Tatum Bell before I succumb to a season of LJ...for obvious reasons. Now, I could be giving away some "top secret" hints at the route I'm planning for tonight, as my good buddy and writer at this very site, Ryan Dembinsky is slated to pick 7th in said draft. However, I'm hoping he's on his train home from work and won't catch this feed before we draft. At least, that's what I'm hoping for.

Moving on, my strategy is fairly simple and I'm confident I'm in a good spot. Knowing the folks in my league as I do, it's safe to say the first 4 picks will go according to plan (LT, AP, Westbrook and Steven Jackson). I'm guessing that somebody will fall in love with the dream boat, Tom Brady and also Randy Moss before the clock comes my way. To be safe, I'm crossing Joseph Addai off my list, as he'll be snagged as well.

So, if the cards shake out right I will be faced with the likes of Marshawn Lynch, Frank Gore or Marion Barber. Hmm. Well, I'm going to scratch Gore off my list, because I'm just not all that interested. To be honest, I'd be fairly happy to see either Lynch or Barber suiting up for my squad each week. Of course, if my plan of Brady and/or Moss is slightly off kilter...all bets are off. However, that's why it's important to know who you are drafting up against.

That said, the point is...what is the point? Right, I got it...have fun with the draft and remember there's no time to pout over your position in the order. As the cliche goes, "life hands you lemons, make lemonade." Basically, have fun with the draft, no matter what. Well, unless of course you have the 6th pick...just kidding. You can always build something out of nothing and don't sweat the fact that you won't be drafting LT or AP.

And if you still just can't cope with your draft slot...I can't help you. Good luck.

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Mort's Source: Warner to Start Over Leinart

Matt Snyder — 2008-08-24T13:20:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, NFL Fantasy

ESPN Scoopmaster Chris Mortensen is reporting that the Cardinals are going to enter the 2008 season with Kurt Warner as their starting quarterback ... not Matt Leinart.

Obviously, Leinart's case for backup QB last night was part of the decision (if the decision has been made, we all know that sometimes Mort likes to throw stories up before anyone else), but not the sole reason:

The source said Leinart's training-camp performance has been uneven, and the Cardinals are concerned about his arm strength and consistency.

I, for one, really thought the Cards were going to give the job to Leinart at least for the few first regular season games, as the line has been constructed for a left-handed QB and Warner's not going to be around forever. On the flip-side, if Warner gives them a better chance to win, they should definitely head into the season with him as the starter. It's a clean slate for every team in the first week of September, and the NFC West isn't exactly a beastly division.

Fantasy Spin*:
Horrible news for owners that were counting on Leinart as their backup QB, but great news for those that got Warner later in drafts. The Arizona offense will produce very solid numbers through the air, so Warner is a superb backup QB moving forward and should be ranked around 15 at his position. The values of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald aren't really changed, as either QB would heavily lean on them.

*This is all assuming Mort's nabbed a trustworthy source this time.

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Mistakes Are Being Made, So Please Stop Drafting Larry Johnson

Matt Snyder — 2008-08-21T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Fantasy

I'll start off by giving an arm-bash to Mathew Greber on this idea. He's been running a series called, "Mistakes Were Made," a look back at some things that escaped fantasy players and experts alike prior to the '07 football season. I'll put on my prognosticator hat and give a whirl as to some mistakes that are happening currently in fantasy drafts.

If you read an unfamiliar term, it should be covered in the fantasy football glossary. If you are are looking for a league, jump on fleaflicker. It's free, and really sweet.

The Top Mistake? Ladies and Gentlemen ... it ain't even close:

Larry Johnson
Yeah, that's right. Larry Johnson on your fantasy team is a big mistake. I'm seeing him go in the late first round or early second round personally, and I'm viewing an ADP chart right now where he's ranked 11th overall. Ugh. I'm not going to list all the players being drafted behind him on the ADP chart who deserve to be taken over him, because it would take too long. I will, however, list the most egregious examples, in no particular order: Marshawn Lynch, Ryan Grant, Reggie Wayne, Braylon Edwards, Terrell Owens, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Larry Fitzgerald, Drew Brees, Brandon Jacobs, Laurence Maroney, and Andre Johnson.

Overvalued Fantasy Stars

Larry Johnson's 20-touchdown season of 2005 seems like a distant memory now. Coming off an injury-shortened season, Johnson will try to be the driving force on an offense that looks very unintimidating on paper. This former fantasy stud has the odds stacked against him.

Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images

Tom Brady transformed into a juggernaut in fantasy football leagues last season. But FanHouse's experts agree that it's foolish to expect anything close to a record-breaking year from the Patriots quarterback this time around.

Elsa, Getty Images

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo didn't reach Brady's lofty touchdown plateau, but 36 scoring strikes were more than enough for a career season in 2007. Romo holds an inflated value as a result, and you shouldn't burn a second-round pick based on last year's totals.

Matt Slocum, AP

This will be the third year in a row you'll hear pundits rave about the star potential of Reggie Bush. But he'll be splitting time with Deuce McAllister, and when 2008 comes to a close, we may very well look back to another disappointing season for the dual-threat running back.

Rogelio V. Solis, AP

Here's where fantasy football can be skewed by reality. Many novice owners will put too much stock in Eli Manning's surprising Super Bowl title run. But you shouldn't expect Manning to emerge as a must-start quarterback.

Ross D. Franklin, AP

There's no doubt that Calvin Johnson has the talent to be an elite wideout, but Lions quarterback Jon Kitna has a bunch of other targets to throw to, including top threat Roy Williams. Johnson's a great receiver to draft, just don't take the gamble on him as your No. 2 option.

Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

The Chicago Bears defense was formidable in name only last season. Allowing 354.7 yards per game to opposing offenses doesn't equate to being 'Monsters of the Midway.' Let other fantasy leaguers buy the name, while you wait on less praised units like the Redskins.

Charles Rex Arbogast, AP

Much like his record-breaking partner Brady, wide receiver Randy Moss became a supreme force with his 23-touchdown season. But if you want to draft him this year, it will cost you a first-round pick instead of a fourth. In most leagues, it's not worth taking the early leap.

Eric Gay, AP

New Falcons running back Michael Turner has the nickname and the bruising style that everyone gets excited about, but "The Burner" faces an uphill battle in Atlanta with a questionable offensive attack, and he'll be sharing carries with speedster Jerious Norwood.

John Bazemore, AP

Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger won't get totally knocked off his feet this season, but it's unlikely that he throws another 32 touchdowns. For you to get any positive return on the high draft pick it'll take to get him, he'll have to meet 2007's numbers.

Chris McGrath, Getty Images

Again, I'd rather own a myriad of other dudes than Johnson, but those are the most glaring.

Why?

I mean, he's only a couple of seasons removed from being the consensus No. 1 pick in fantasy football. Right?

True, but he's also only two seasons removed from being run into the ground in the form of 416 carries. The season before that he nabbed 336 despite carrying the rock less than ten times in five games (when Priest Holmes was healthy). Is it possible that being injured last season saved him from being beaten up on a weekly basis by opposing defenses, thereby freeing him for a return to form this season? Only if you ignore all the other factors.

- The utter lack of a passing attack he'll have in '08 is one of those factors. In '05, Trent Green was throwing for over 4,000 yards to take pressure off LJ. Even Damon Huard stepped in for the injured Green in '06 to compile a 98 QB rating. Brodie Croyle isn't going to perform like that.

- The offensive line in KC used to be generally regarded as the best in the NFL. They helped make Priest and LJ both into superstars. Something happened, though: they got old. Now the majority of them are gone and being replaced by inexperience and less talent.

- Tony Richardson was also around for '05, and he's one of the best blocking backs of all time. Without him in '06, LJ's average per carry went down almost a yard (5.2 in '06 to 4.3).

Those proclaiming last season was a result of his holdout are fooling themselves, because there is just too much evidence to the contrary.

Leave him on the board. Please.

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Mistake No. 2

Taking low-ceiling receivers in the late rounds as your fifth wideout over potential breakouts
If you only have to play two or three receivers per week and you're sitting there late in a draft with four -- and all your bye weeks are covered -- do not waste your time on a low-upside guy like Isaac Bruce. There's a definite ceiling to his numbers at this age. What you should be doing -- when your perceived active roster fills -- is going after guys that have the potential to be breakthrough studs, considering you aren't planning on ever starting this guy anyway. DeSean Jackson is a guy that comes to mind. He's only behind the fickle Kevin Curtis and the uninspiring Reggie Brown on the Philly depth chart. You know Donovan McNabb is going to throw, so take the flier on Jackson.

Examples of the guys to take in this situation: Eddie Royal, Devin Thomas, James Hardy, Ted Ginn, and Robert Meachem.

Examples of the guys not to take in this situation: Justin Gage, Brandon Stokley, David Patten, Drew Bennett, Muhsin Muhammad, and Amani Toomer.

Beasts of the Backfield

No. 1 - LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
Even as he approaches his 30th birthday, Tomlinson is still the undisputed king of fantasy running backs. He's produced at least 1,775 total yards and 15 touchdowns in six straight seasons -- numbers that place him in a class of his own.

Harry How, Getty Images

No. 2 - Adrian Peterson, Vikings
It wasn't all about the highlights for Peterson in his rookie season. The statistics were mind-boggling too, including a record-setting 296-yard game against the Chargers. Durability is a question mark, but his lofty upside is worth the No. 2 spot.

Stephen Dunn, Getty Images

No. 3 - Joseph Addai, Colts
With the full-time gig last season, Addai totaled 704 yards and nine touchdowns over his first seven games played, but wore down in the second half. We expect stronger legs and even bigger numbers from Addai in his third season as a pro.

Andy Lyons, Getty Images

No. 4 - Brian Westbrook, Eagles
He often faces doubts about his ability to last, but Westbrook has thrived with a heavy workload his last two seasons. He's a monster in point-per-reception leagues, and a consistent top threat in any format.

Nick Laham, Getty Images

No. 5 - Steven Jackson, Rams
A training camp holdout isn't enough to keep Jackson from our top five. With the offensive line healthy again and Al Saunders in charge, Action Jackson should bring the same flash he exhibited over his final eight games last season (933 total yards and five scores).

Dilip Vishwanat, Getty Images

Other Mistakes
Holding onto the past with running backs
Edgerrin James and Willie Parker used to be top-10 overall selections; quality first-rounders in any format. Those days are gone -- and in Edge's case, long gone. You have no business taking them over Thomas Jones, Earnest Graham, or Selvin Young for varying reasons. Yet there they are, getting picked immediately before Jones and about four RBs before Young on ADP charts.

Taking Tony Romo over Drew Brees
You can post all the comments you wish, now, Cowboys fans ... but after the season when the dust has settled and Brees has better numbers, will you be back to admit defeat?

Drafting a kicker before the last round
Too much unpredictability teamed with not much difference between the tenth-highest scoring kicker and the 20th. There is no reason to draft a kicker before the last round, no matter the league size.

Falling in love with Frank Gore because of Mike Martz's presence
You can like Gore -- and I do -- to have a solid season, but if your reasoning is simply because of Mike Martz you need not look any further than the numbers of the Lions backfield the past two seasons. Don't let your mind run wild about how much better Martz is going to make Gore. Check yourself by asking where you'd list him without Martz and you'll have Gore slotted just right.

Specific questions or complaints? Feel free to hit us up in the Fantasy FanHouse inbox ...

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2008 Offensive Line Breakdowns: The Grim

Ryan Dembinsky — 2008-08-21T10:30:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, NFL Fantasy

While the offensive line might not represent a direct draft day decision for your roster, few areas of knowledge can offer a competitive advantage in fantasy football like having a good grasp of the various units of trench soldiers around the league. Over the course of a couple weeks, I'll break down every NFL team's offensive lines into five tiers: the crème de la crème, the highly competent, the serviceable, the grim, and the bunk.

It's important to note that the "grim" group is not the worst of the bunch, but rather just the 2 stars out of 5 where you give an extra star because you are friends with the production assistant. To paraphrase the words of a wise old sage, this group offensive lines is "like a slot machine, they pay off once in a while but then they'll rob you clean." If you really have faith in a skill player on one of these teams, go ahead and pull the trigger. This does not necessarily imply impending doom for all those involved, but tread gently down this path for these units are not very good.

The Chicago Bears: All you Matt Forte missionaries might want to rethink your calling. The Bears line is awful. The front office invested in first round manbeast, Chris Williams, to shore up the line with a strong left tackle, but he just went under the knife for a herniated disc in his back. If he can play, which will be half a season at best, the Bears cannot help but improve from last season. If not, things look pretty much the exact same: the worst run blocking in the NFL. Center Olin Kreutz, despite his age, remains a top player at his position. The rest of the spots would be equally well served with a roll of fiberglass insulation.

2007 Sacks Allowed: 43

2007 Yards Per Carry: 3.1

The Washington Redskins: On paper, this is a decent bunch, particularly with five-time pro bowl left tackle, Chris Samuels anchoring the left side. The problem in Washington is this is a crotchety old group of 30+ year olds whose bodies are ready for shuffleboard. Jon Jansen is coming off a broken ankle (nagging injury), Randy Thomas tore a triceps last season, and Pete Kendall has perpetual knee problems. If they stay healthy, the group should be solid enough, but don't hold your breath.

2007 Sacks Allowed: 29

2007 Yards Per Carry: 3.8

The Seattle Seahawks: When Steve Hutchinson departed after the 2005 season, so too did Seattle's offense. Walter Jones - coming off his second consecutive offseason shoulder surgery - and Chris Gray are nearing the end of their respective tours of duty. Seattle invested in some young talent, Rob Sims (RG) and Chris Spencer (C), but it remains to be seen if they are ready for prime time.

2007 Sacks Allowed: 36

2007 Yards Per Carry: 3.8

The Cincinnati Bengals: This group presents an anomaly: top pass blockers, terrible run blockers. Levi Jones went under the knife last year for, gasp, his knee. Willie Anderson also missed a lot of time as well. Look, I know what you are thinking: why does this guy keep downgrading these units based on potential injuries - an utterly un-predictable prediction. With any other position, I would agree, but when 300+ pound men's bodies start to go, they go fast. The shelf life is not the same as a quarterback or wide receiver. Furthermore, choosing who will fill the holes in Cincinnati is like choosing from a bag of Skittles full of only grapes and lemons - lose, lose.

2007 Sacks Allowed: 17

2007 Yards Per Carry: 3.7

The Denver Broncos: Denver's line is in the thick of a transitional period. Left tackle Matt Lepsis announced his retirement, so the Broncos selected the high profile Ryan Clady with the number 12 selection of the '08 draft. There is a lot of pressure on the youngster to deliver as he should start from day one. Two key cogs, center Tom Nolan and guard Ben Hamilton, finished their respective '07 seasons on the injured reserve with torn triceps and serious concussions respectively. If they cannot go, the replacements are not great.

2007 Sacks Allowed: 32

2007 Yards Per Carry: 4.6

The Houston Texans: Houston also nabbed a first rounder in left tackle Duane Brown, but he is not expected to start right off the bat. He will likely undergo mentoring from incumbent Ephraim Salaam until he earns confidence as the starter. The Texans also attained center Chris Myers from Denver, an immediate upgrade who knows Gary Kubiak's system. Right guard Fred Weary returns from a leg injury, but is expected to start. Right tackle Eric Winston and guard Chester Pitts provide some experience, but not a ton of skill at their respective spots. The remaining positions are up for grabs between a group of green linemen, Michael Brisiel, Brandon Frye, and Kasey Stoddard. Finally, Charles Spencer is attempting to return after major knee surgery in 2006. Overall there's just a lot of moving parts, but things could potentially fall into place. By the way, your team name is stupid.

2007 Sacks Allowed: 22

2007 Yards Per Carry: 3.8

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Jackson's Back, But Rams Offense Still Has Several Question Marks

Matt Snyder — 2008-08-21T10:15:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Fantasy

With the news of Steven Jackson's holdout concluding, I'm sure Rams fans and SJax's fantasy owners alike are toasting to the renewed hope in the dangerously-close-to-being-lost 2008 season.

As a guy who once coached my alma mater would say: "Not so fast, my friend."

The Rams still have offensive concerns. Let's sort through them.

The Offensive Line
Orlando Pace has missed practices with soreness in the surgically repaired shoulder which ended his season after just one game last year. One of the main reasons the Rams offense took such a hit last year was the absence of Pace. You could even argue -- I certainly would -- that's what led to Marc Bulger's injury problems, considering Pace is his backside protection and the injuries were to his dome and ribcage.

Guard Mark Setterstrom and tackle Brandon Gorin are already out for the season. They were slated as backups, but the line durability and depth was a major concern heading into the season, as the Rams used 13 different starters for the five slots last year.

Al Saunders' New Offense
The complicated (reported) hundred-or-so page offense never blew up in D.C. the way Dan Snyder had envisioned, as they finished 13th and 15th in total offense during his two seasons. The Rams have better weapons with which to excel, but are they grasping the x's and o's yet?

We're coming along . . . definitely improving," Torry Holt said. "We'll catch on. It's a rhythm-and-timing thing, and we'll continue to develop that as we go through practice. Hopefully we'll can put together something here real soon."

That would be a start, Torry. The season is right around the corner.

Marc Bulger Struggling
Struggling is really an understatement. His QB rating is 14.1, which is "Bad Rex" territory. How'd he get there? Well, completing only 10-of-23 passes will do, as will the three picks compared to zero touchdowns. This is likely a product of him trying to grasp the new system in addition to the line woes, Jackson's holdout, and the loss of reliable Isaac Bruce.

Obviously, this is where we throw in the disclaimer ... it's only been two preseason games, yada yada yada.

Still, with Jackson now practicing and the third preseason game looming large Saturday night at home, there's no better time for a sign of life from the Rams' offense.

Fantasy Spin:
I'm not ready to bail yet. They may get off to a slow start because of the delay in rapport this exhibition season, but Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, and Steven Jackson are all quality starting fantasy players ... and Jackson is an elite (top-five) player.

The main thing to watch with these guys is the offensive line. If the seven-time Pro Bowler Pace is out for any substantial time period, all bets are off. There was a reason the 2006 sixth-ranked offense fell all the way to 24th in '07.

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Prepare The Eulogy: The Back-to-Back Running Back Strategy Is Dead.

Matthew Greber — 2008-08-21T10:08:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, NFL Fantasy

It's a tried-and-true philosophy, one that has guided more fantasy football drafts than perhaps all other strategies combined: Take running backs with your first two picks.

A solid running back is the secret sauce to fantasy football - it's truly hard to win with problems at that position, while you can go a bit more low rent with the rest of your team. While there have always been teams that will grab an elite QB or WR in those first two rounds, it's the strategy where it's hardest to go wrong. (Unless you grab guys like Anthony Thomas or Reuben Droughns, two guys who went in the top two rounds in drafts of years past to the chagrin of their owners.)

Well, like many of the theories you heard about growing up, it turns out to not be true. At least not for this season.

In fact, it's a fair bet that close to half the teams in most leagues won't take their second running back until the third round - or later.Here's what's happening: On one hand, you have a deeper top set of wide receivers than you have in a long time. Not only is the top level (Randy Moss and about six other guys) pretty deep, the next level of guys is even deeper.

On the other hand, the exact opposite is true with running back. While the top tier is five deep, the next one is as well - if you include Larry Johnson, you have Frank Gore, Clinton Portis, Marshawn Lynch, Marion Barber and Ryan Grant as comfortable options at running back.

The next tier is not only pretty unsettled, but the possible names in that tier just aren't good options that early in the draft. Do you want to gamble on Maurice Jones-Drew, or take Terrell Owens as a lockdown #1 WR? Maybe you think Jamal Lewis will stay healthy - but is he really going to help your team as much as Braylon Edwards, or Peyton Manning? These running backs aren't just in a tier below guys like Lynch and Portis, the drop-off is considerable.

On the other hand, waiting to see if you can get one of those same guys in the third round in addition to a top WR or QB is a gamble worth taking. And if you miss out on those guys, there are actually quite a few good options even later, like Earnest Graham, Thomas Jones, even rookies like Matt Forte.

There are a few RB/RB combinations that are superior to these options, and most of them should be available to teams drafting in the lower half of the first round, like picks 8-10. Pairing Portis and Barber is a pretty tempting scenario. But for those drafting earlier, those prime second running backs will be long gone.

If you are in that top set of picks, you need to evaluate your options and see how happy you'd be with the way your team sets up by going RB/WR/RB, or even RB/WR/QB in your first three picks. It's quite possible you'll be happier going that route than a more traditional path.

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Bargain Values: Calvin Johnson

Sean Lalley — 2008-08-21T00:13:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Fantasy

Yes, the title can be a little misleading, considering Calvin Johnson is hardly a sleeper. In fact, he's plastered all over most people's fantasy boards, more so than Chris Henry is plastered at under rage hotel parties. However, if we've learned anything over the course of last season; it's hard to gage Calvin Johnson's value. This has happened for a couple reasons.

1) He was injured last season.

2) He plays for the Detroit Lions. Read that sentence again and let it soak in for second.

Moving on, the purpose behind this here piece is certainly not to uncover "sleepers" to help you out on draft day. Rather, this is a little running piece where I'm going to be looking at what I like to call "bargain values." Yes, we all like a bargain, whether it's a discount, a free meal or of course free drinks. Well, as in life, a bargain in Fantasy Football can be equally as gratifying. And so, first up I'll take a look at the dude they call "Megatron"...Calvin Johnson and just why he's a bargain value.

Follow me...

So, my bias as a Lions fan is at stake here, but hang with me. Currently, Calvin Johnson is pegged right around 45th to 55th overall on most Fantasy Boards. That would land him at about the 18th to 22nd WR off the board. Let me go ahead and apologize for not buying Roddy White, Dwayne Bowe, Jerricho Cotchery or even his teammate Roy Williams in the same breath. Hold your response, I know, I know...Calvin Johnson has done very little in "fantasy" terms to warrant much else.

However, simply stated Johnson is a freak. Aside from the fact that plays ~~in hell~~ for the Lions, he's got nothing, but pure upside. We are looking at the guy who possesses every skill and then some of a Top Tier WR. Does he make the leap this year? Um, let's give it a moment. He's looked every bit the part this pre-season, which is still only pre-season. Yet, watching him in action on Sunday against the Bengals it was hard not to notice the beginning of something special.

From the Detroit Free Press: "I'm healthy," Johnson said. "Our chemistry's real good right now. We're clicking." "Being 100% is totally different for that guy," Kitna said. "He's a freak of nature."

Can you really argue about getting a Top Tier WR in the 5th round? Last season, most people waited and waited for the explosion and that's made a few people leery. I understand. The saying goes that most WR's hit a sophomore slump, but don't expect that from Calvin Johnson. I'd liken what I expect from "Megatron" to be more like Larry Fitzgerald's sophomore explosion amongst the elite Fantasy WR's.

The Lions have preached they are going to focus on the run a little more this season, which makes sense now that ~~Satan~~ Mike Martz has taken his act to San Francisco. However, Johnson has flashed his raw combination of speed, power and agility early on thus far. He can run around you, through you or simply run right over you. And he's hardly afraid to lay out and snare any football thrown in his general vicinity. Sure, that can scare a few folks off with the potential injury. However, Johnson is going to live up to the hype this season. The freak will reside.

When the 5th round comes around and if you're lucky enough to see Calvin Johnson still on the board, snatch him up with confidence and thank me later. You'll be grabbing yourself a bargain value with the potential to produce amongst the upper echelon of Fantasy royalty. And did I fail to mention he's got a stallion at QB like Jon Kitna. Yes, I kid and scratch that thought, but don't worry about reaching for Johnson. Or play the smarts and wait for him to come your way. Either way, you'll rest easy on Sunday afternoon with a sure thing from the bargain corner.

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The Collective FanHouse Fantasy Positional Rankings: Your Home Base for Winning

Will Brinson — 2008-08-20T19:30:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, NFL Fantasy

What part of "I AM NUMBER ONE" do you not understand?

I'm not going to lie. I didn't think of this idea right away -- but then again, not all of my genius is immediate; oftentimes it is in fact delayed. Or inspired by the kind folks at WhereIStand who were interested in comparing Fantasy FanHouse's rankings with that of other major sites.

So here we are with a little post with all of our rankings for the Fantasy FanHouse, in case you missed them the first time they came through, published by the unstoppable machine that is Matt Snyder.

Basically, this will serve as your home page when you start to go to your draft and you think, "OH, SNAP! I need Fantasy FanHouse's rankings!" So, here you are. Enjoy.

Fantasy FanHouse's Preseason Quarterback Rankings

Fantasy FanHouse's Preseason Running Back Rankings

Fantasy FanHouse's Preseason Wide Receiver Rankings

Fantasy FanHouse's Preseason Tight End Rankings

Fantasy FanHouse's Preseason Team DST Rankings

Fantasy FanHouse's Preseason Kicker Rankings

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To Cuff, or Not to Cuff

Matt Snyder — 2008-08-19T14:50:00+00:00

Filed under: NFL Fantasy

From the days of Olandis Gary (yes, that's him in the picture ... I can't believe I found one) taking over for Terrell Davis to last season's Earnest Graham breakthrough following Cadillac Williams' injury, fantasy owners have long seen backup running backs rise to prominence via injury to a teammate. Conventional wisdom states that you grab the backup runner to your highly drafted starting running backs, and the term handcuff is used to describe this theory.

This isn't always the case, though, unless you have a very large league. Say you have a 10 owner league with only five bench spots. Simply put, DeShaun Foster should not be taking up room on that bench.

Let's take a look at whether or not to handcuff starting RBs around the league in four different categories.

Must Cuff
Ryan Grant -- Grant held out, and now has a slight injury in camp. Meanwhile Brandon Jackson -- supposed to be the starting back last season before injuries and inexperience derailed him -- has been receiving rave reviews from the Packers coaching staff. You can still draft Grant in the 2nd round, but it is imperative to grab Jackson as well.

Adrian Peterson -- The man-child himself. The problem is, he has missed games every year since he was a freshman at Oklahoma. The Vikings are going to play defense and run the football, so if Peterson's out, Chester Taylor is in. That's good news for Taylor owners, as he's always performed well behind that line. Make sure you are one of those owners if you took Peterson in the top five.

Willie Parker -- Rashard Mendenhall will cost a pretty penny, but it needs to be done if you take Fast Willie as your RB2.

LenDale White -- Just like above, you need Chris Johnson if you take LenDale as your RB2.

Ronnie Brown -- Now reports are showing Ricky Williams as the Dolphins #1 RB. Either way, you need to have them both if you spend a high pick on one of them.

Willis McGahee -- Still worth a higher round pick, but he's injured and may not be back for the start of the season. Enter Ray Rice. The diminutive rookie from Rutgers has been playing well in the pre-season, and the Ravens need to run in order to keep pressure off their subpar QBs.

Rudi Johnson -- Kenny Watson made the best of his time last year in replacing the injured Johnson ... and now Rudi's tweaked his hammy. Beware of a time-share here as well.

Julius Jones -- Maurice Morris is expected to share carries, yet is going four rounds later in drafts. It's really a no-brainer.

Selvin Young -- Yeah, I love him this year ... and I did write an extended rant on the myth that is "Mike Shanahan hates fantasy football." By the same token, the Broncos can still run the ball quite adeptly no matter who has the ball. Andre Hall had two big games last year (and one of them was with only seven carries).

Michael Turner -- One of the best handcuffs in recent memory, and he didn't really need an injury to announce his presence with authority. Now in the ATL, Jerious Norwood will seriously push him for time.

Laurence Maroney -- We should have learned a lesson after last season. While he was a stud in the last five games and I'm a huge fan this year, there's a reason they brought in Lamont Jordan. Bill Belichick always has reasons for signing guys.

Darren McFadden -- Justin Fargas had a career year last year in taking over mid-season. McFadden is still learning the ropes of the NFL. Even if you don't think you need Fargas, insurance is necessary.

Maybe Cuff (Smaller leagues, no; bigger leagues, yes)

Larry Johnson -- He'd be listed in the "must" section if there was a clear-cut backup. Instead you are left choosing between Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith. I'd go with Charles, but it hasn't been decided yet in Chiefs camp.

Marshawn Lynch -- Fred Jackson showed his abilities last year, but Marshawn is good enough that you shouldn't waste a spot in a small league.

Joseph Addai -- You're deciding between Dominic Rhodes and Mike Hart, but keep in mind that whomever plays RB in the Colts offense is a stud. In huge leagues you may as well take both.

Brandon Jacobs -- The Giants would go with a combo of Derrick Ward and Ahmed Bradshaw should BJakes go down again. Ward is the better option, but in smaller leagues don't bother.

Thomas Jones -- Leon Washington is a capable backup, but he's really little and his real value is outside the tackles. Plus, you've seen Brett Favre survive with a running game before ...

Matt Forte -- Kevin Jones is in the house, yes. The Bears are going to play ball control and hope the defense wins games for them -- as evidenced by the QB choice. Still, the line is absolutely brutal, and we don't know how healthy Jones is going to be.

Earnest Graham -- Hard to like Warrick Dunn at this point in his career, but it's conceivable if you have roster space. Cadillac is probably out until at least week nine, too.

Clinton Portis -- Ladell Betts was a stud two years ago, but useless last year because Portis stayed healthy.

Don't Cuff
LaDanian Tomlinson -- Darren Sproles and Jacob Hester would time-share if LDT gets hurt. Basically, your season is over anyway if he gets hurt for an extended time period, so you should spend your time finding a squad around him rather than choosing between the two.

Ahman Green -- He's here because you shouldn't draft him. Stephanie Stradley covered the Texans RB situation earlier today. I'm thinking gamble late on Steve Slaton or don't draft any of them at this point.

Steven Jackson -- Yeah, he's holding out. Big deal. None of the guys behind him are going to put up numbers good enough to start in fantasy anyway. You are better served to get an extra starting RB at this point as a buffer, and then you'd have trade bait when SJax returns.

Frank Gore -- Should he go down, you'd be looking at an inside-outside combo with DeShaun Foster and Michael Robinson. You don't want a piece of that.

Brian Westbrook -- I know everyone's gonna cry "injury-prone," but he's played 15 games in each of the last two years ... and the usefulness of Correll Buckhalter and Lorenzo Booker is yet to be determined with Booker joining the fray. Remember, the unknown is what we fear in fantasy.

Jamal Lewis -- The crap behind him isn't worth owning.

Kevin Smith -- It's Smith or bust, because Tatum Bell proved he wasn't startable last season.

Edgerrin James -- Tim Hightower is performing quite nicely in camp and pre-season games, but he's going to be sitting on the waiver wire should Edge go down.

Exempt (Straight two back systems where it's likely a waste to own both backs because they are both picked by different owners)

Jacksonville backfield -- Both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are worth owning independently. There's no reason to draft a third Jax back, either.

Marion Barber -- Felix Jones is getting drafted too high to really count as a handcuff, in light of the fact that he's taking the Julius Jones role. If you do get both, though, it's not a bad thing by any stretch.

Saints backfield -- Reggie Bush has a tough-to-define role. Deuce McAllister is going so low you can't really call it a handcuff, and Pierre Thomas is a nice late-round, deep sleeper.

Panthers backfield -- Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams are both going nearly right next to each other in drafts, so you really can't have both. Williams appears to have the leg up at this point, for what it's worth.

Final Thought
Remember, some of the backups are backups for a reason ... they just aren't very good. Having a starting RB in the NFL on your fantasy squad guarantees nothing. If you want to handcuff a guy and keep that roster spot filled, make sure it's worth it.

If you have specific league questions, as always, hit us up. We'll help.

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