Pre-Draft Reviews

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TEAM #1 CEREBRALS


QB:
C. Palmer, C. Pennington, B. Croyle

Analysis:
C. Palmer is a top 5 QB in this league and should continue to be for years to come. B. Croyle should get the chance to start this year but would not hold my breath on him keeping the job. He looked horrible at times last year and I don’t see him as the QB of the future in KC. C. Pennington will be lucky if he is still on the NYJ roster come opening day. His days as a starting QB in this league are probably over.


Final Grade: B
With C. Palmer as starting QB here the team is set at #1. The concern is what’s behind Palmer. B. Croyle is a below-average QB at best and Pennington is barely worth a roster spot. A better back-up QB is a must here.

RB:
S. Young, T. Henry, L. Jordan, M. Bush, C. Henry, A. Pittman, R. Williams

Analysis:
Young and Henry will continue to split time in the backfield negating each others overall fantasy value. If one of them were to get the bulk of the carries then they could possible turn into a good #2 back. L. Jordan is nothing more than a depth player who is barley roster worthy at this point as he has been over taken by J. Fargas in Oakland. M. Bush is one of those boom or bust type players whose current situation is not looking that bright. With J. Fargas re-signed and the lingering rumors of McFadden, it will be hard for M. Bush to ever become a fantasy factor. C. Henry showed some flashes last year but all in all he is nothing more than a role player in Tennessee behind L. White. Good depth player that could produce ok numbers should L. White go down. A. Pittman and R. Williams just fill out that roster here and will most likely never make any kind of impact on a fantasy roster.

Final Grade: D-
This position needs some serious attention. S. Young and T. Henry are the best backs on this roster and they are no more than a #2 starter on any given day.

WR/TE: S. Smith (CAR), P. Burress, R. Williams (Det), A. Gonzalez, T. Ginn, LJ Smith, D. Hester, D. Williams

Analysis: S. Smith is an elite WR who had major QB issues last year. With the return of J. Delhomme & the addition of a couple of WRs in the off-season to play opposite him, we should see Smith return to form. P. Burress finally got it together last year. Will he continue to keep it going? I think so. I expect him and Manning to continue to develop together next year. R. Williams has elite talent but situation hurts him right now. The loss of M. Martz and the desire to work on the running game there does not bode well for his fantasy stats. That said, I think he will still be a solid #2 type WR on a week to week basis, just not a #1. A. Gonzalez showed a lot of potential as a rookie, but he is destined for a slot role in Indy in my opinion. Still should be able to put up decent numbers in that Indy offense that will make him a borderline #3/4 WR. T. Ginn will never live up to his draft slot, but I think he could turn into a average fantasy WR. Will he ever be a star? I don’t think so. He is just not a good enough WR. His return ability as well as potential big plays will help him produce like #3/4 WR though. LJ Smith is a nice depth player that can be used a spot start on a week by week basis. D. Hester is a return threat but not much else. Can be used as an emergency start in hopes you get a return out of him that particular week. D. Williams has some talent, but QB situation in Baltimore keeps him from ever reaching it. Good developmental guy to have on bench.

Final Grade: A
Team has 3 legit starters from week to week and a good mix of depth behind them.

OL: SD, SD, NO, IND, STL, MIN, DEN, NYJ, TEN

Final Grade: B-
Quality starters but needs more quality depth.

DL:
T. Harris, T. Warren, S. Rogers, A. Carriker, B. Robison, S. McClover

Analysis:
T. Harris is a nice young DT on a very good defense. He fits nicely as a #3/4 starter. He has limited upside in fantasy because he is a DT. T. Warren is quality depth, but not an every week starter. Good for one or twp spot starts a year. 3-4 ends have a hard time staying consistent in the box scores. S. Rogers is very talented, yet not very motivated. Will a change of scenery help? Maybe, but still limited fantasy potential. Average depth player. Carriker, Robison, and McClover are nothing more than depth at this point. None of them have a very high upside.

Final Grade: D-
No true every week starters. T. Harris is a borderline #3 right now. Team needs to find a #1 and #2 starter. It will be tough getting points on a week to week basis out of this crew.

LB:
E. Sims, C. Crowder, J. Farrior, T. Davis, J. Durant, C. June

Analysis:
E. Sims is a rising star in fantasy football. Expect him to post top 10-15 numbers for the next 4 years at least. C. Crowder is a big unknown at this point. He did not look great last year when he took over for an injured Z. Thomas. With a year under his belt, maybe he will improve. Still could have a solid year just based on opportunity alone as the starting MLB for Miami. J. Farrior is an aging vet but still posts solid numbers. He still can be considered a #2/3 LB on any given week. This could be his last year producing at that level though. T. Davis is a very solid NFL player, but playing SLB makes it difficult for him to have a significant impact in fantasy. I expect him to be a nice #4 LB who can be used as a starter but not relied on every week. J. Durant is a nice young talent playing on a very good defense in JAX. Should be lining up on the weak side this year and should be able to post #4 LB numbers on a weekly basis. I would not count on much higher numbers right now as he is still young and learning the position but definitely has potential to become a solid #3 backer in fantasy. C. June is all but worthless playing in Tampa. Nothing more than roster space at this point.

Final Grade: C+
E. Sims is a nice #1. Beyond him the team has some solid players but no real stud. C. Crowder and J. Farrior fit nicely into the #3/4 role but no real #2 at this point. Depth is also concern.


DB:
C. Woodson, E. Reed, D. Robinson, D. Bullocks, D. Sharper, M. McCree, A. Rouse

Analysis:
C. Woodson is a solid DB who should continue to put up decent fantasy numbers. I expect GB defense to be on field a little more this year so that will only help his cause. E. Reed is a special player in NFL, but in fantasy it’s just hard to count on him from week to week. He is too much of a big play guy and doesn’t get enough tackles. D. Robinson is good young DB who prior to injury was posting decent numbers. Will he return from the injury the same person is the question. D. Bullocks is also coming off inury and should be inserted back into starting lineup this year. At this point he can only be counted on for depth. D. Sharper continues to be a solid performer. Good for #3/4 numbers on a weekly basis. M. McCree is just an average depth player. A. Rouse is nice young talent who could develop into a special player in the future if given the chance.

Final Grade: C-
No true “stud” player. C. Woodson is more of a #2/3 player while the rest of the roster has some question marks.

Salary Cap:
Currently in great cap shape.
Draft Picks:
5.6, 5.7, 6.7, 7.10
Team Needs:
Back-up QB, Starting RB, Defense (DL, LB, DB)
Players to target:
With no picks till late in the draft will be tough to fill needs. Not going to be able to fill RB void, but could possible find a QB in the 5th as well as some LB’s and DB’s with potential.
Final Thoughts:
It will be hard for CEREBRALS to compete within its division this year as it just has too many holes to fill. Top priority for this team right now has to be RB. If it can find a true #1 RB, it should be able to fill some of the other holes through UFA and possibly trades. Due to low draft picks, will not be able to fill any immediate needs through draft. This team is most likely looking at a 3rd place finish within the division again this year.


Final Grade: C-

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TEAM 2: ETERNAL RAMNATION

QB:
M. Bulger, T. Edwards, J.P. Losman, C. Lemon

Analysis:
M. Bulger had a down year last year due to injuries to himself as well as SJAX and OL. I look for him to return to a solid #1 QB this year. T. Edwards is a rising start I believe in BUF. He makes for a solid #2 QB right now with potential as a low #1 if BUF continues to improve. J.P Losman is nothing more than a backup right now who could get another shot as a starter down the road. C. Lemon is just depth.


Final Grade: B-
Overall, this team is solid at QB. If Bulger returns to form this year as I suspect he will ER should have no issues at QB. T. Edwards fits in nicely as the #2 here and adds youth to the team. Probably needs to add another starting QB as a #3 to be safe.

RB:
J. Addai, R. Grant, T. Jones, W. Dunn, V. Morency, D. White

Analysis:
J. Addai is a slightly above average RB talent wise, but in a great situation in Indy. He should finish close to top 5 in league if not in top 5. R. Grant came out of nowhere last year to become a legit fantasy RB. I expect him to have another solid year however, with the loss of B. Favre he will need A. Rodgers to step up if he is going to have similar success to last year. T. Jones is solid bye week filler, #3 type RB. If jets add McFadden in draft, it will really hurt his numbers though. W. Dunn is on his last leg in the NFL. I look for him to be a role player in TB and should be the same in EFS. Morency and White are just added depth in case of injuries.

Final Grade: B+
ER is very solid with Addai, Grant, & Jones. That said there are a lot of questions surrounding Grant and Jones going into this year therefore hard to give any higher a grade. If Grant can produce close to pace he was last year, team should be fine for years with two young RBs.

WR/TE:
C. Johnson, M. Colston, T. Holt, D. Clark, D. Bennett, B. Watson, D. Jarrett, T. Copper, R. McMichael

Analysis:
There has been a lot of talk about CJ in the off-season, but personally I feel he will return to Cincy and play with a chip on his shoulder. I expect him to come out like he always does and perform at his best. M. Colston should continue to put up great numbers in the NO offense and can be counted on weekly. T. Holt is getting older but still one of the best WRs in the game. I look for him to rebound this year along with the rest of the Rams offense. #1 type numbers can still be expected. D. Clark is perfect fit in the #4 WR/TE role. D. Bennett should continue to improve in his second year with the Rams and put up decent numbers now that Bruce has moved on. B. Watson plays on an elite offense which will continue to enhance his numbers but still see him as #4 type starter. The rest of WR corp just adds young potential and depth.

Final Grade: A
Overall, ER is set with 3 potential #1 type WRs going into this year. CJ and Holt are getting older but expect them to play at high level for at least 2-3 more years. M. Colston is just beginning his career and should continue to produce top 10 numbers for years to come. D. Clark is a nice #4 that can be used on bye weeks and can produce #1 type numbers on any given week due to his situation in Indy.

OL: CIN, NO, DAL, DAL, SD, NYG, NYG, STL, CLE

Final Grade: A-
Nice set of starters and depth. No issues here at all.

DL:
A. Schobel, W. Smith, M. Anderson, M. Douglas, J. Abraham, C. Jenkins

Analysis:
A. Schobel is still a top flight DE that should continue to produce quality #1 type numbers as long as other DL step up on opposite side of him. Expect W. Smith to continue to improve on his numbers as well as he should get a healthy C. grant back arcoss from him to take pressure off. M. Anderson is a solid young end that should continue to find oppurtunities to sack the QB. Don’t look for big tackle numbers so expect a #2 end ceiling. M. Douglass is a nice #4 end that is capable of having a nice week with a good matchup. J. Abraham is such a talent but injuries have really slowed him down. If he can stay healthy and regain his form, he could be a nice #2 starter. C. Jenkins is a good depth player that can be counted on in a pinch.

Final Grade: B
Overall, the team has good talent with Schobel and Smith as 1 & 2. M. Anderson is nice fit at #3 with higher upside. Abraham could surprise and other two ends are decent depth.

LB:
D. Ware, K. Dansby, B. Scott, D. Thornton, M. Lawson, B. James, B. Thomas, E. Barton, P. Tinoisamoa, K. Ellison

Analysis:
D. Ware is stud. Expect him to continue to produce like one. K. Dansby is nice player as well and #1 numbers are definitely possible. B. Scott is more of a #3/4 LB these days but on any given week he can produce big numbers. Thornton is a solid fit in his current role with ER. M. Lawson has tons of potential. B. James can contribute solid numbers if needed. The rest of LBs are depth players at best.

Final Grade: B+
Good solid group of LBs here. Ware and Dansby make for a good foundation for years. Scott and Thornton are solid starters and depth is pretty good. Could use a better LB to play as #3 in turn pushing Scott to #4 and Thornton to #5 where they are more suited.


DB:
B. Sanders, T. McGee, C. Hope, E. Wright, M. Huff, R. Nelson, D. Smith, R. Clark, Y. Bell, A. Archuleta, S. Schweigert

Analysis:
B. Sanders is an elite safety when healthy. Injuries are only concern with him. T. McGee gets a huge boost from return game which enables him to put up #1 numbers on weekly basis. C. Hope is a solid DB but is returning form a serious injury and only time will tell if he can regain his form. E. Wright play nice last year and should continue to be one of the better CB in the league. Huff will have a hard time producing anything more than average DB numbers with Wilson in town now but still solid depth player. R. Nelson is very nice up and coming safety but still has a limited ceiling due to role in defense. Remaining DBs are average to below average depth players at best.

Final Grade: B-
Sanders and McGee keep grade higher. But with concerns around Sanders staying healthy & C. Hope returning from injury, ER could have possible issues this year at DB.

Salary Cap:
Good Shape

Draft Picks:
2.1, 3.9, 4.9, 4.10

Team Needs:
QB, RB, DL, DB

Players to target:
I think with 1st pick in 2nd round (or 1.13 as ER likes to say), the team needs to target a DL or DB. If K. Phillips is still on board I think you take him. C. Long will be gone, but D. Harvey could still be on board at that spot. I think K. Phillips and D. Harvey have to be primary targets there. If both are gone, look for next best on board. In the 3rd and 4th, I would look for RB and/or QB. There are some potential guys who could drop and could get a steal there in our draft.

Final Thoughts:
ER is sitting in pretty good shape heading into the draft. He can definitely fill a need drafting where he does and I look for ER to have a pretty good year overall. Depth could become and issue at a few positions (QB, RB, DL, DB), but should finish 1st in the division and compete for championship when all is said and done.


Final Grade: B+

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TEAM 3: BAYDAWGS

QB:
B. Roethlisberger, D. McNabb, J. Campbell

Analysis:
Big Ben has become a legit fantasy #1 over the last year. I expect him to continue to progress with S. Holmes so his numbers should only improve. McNabb is still an good fantasy QB when healthy, but Philly needs to find a true #1 WR before McNabb can become elite. J. Campbell showed some promise last year as the starter and should improve even more this year. Not sure if he will ever be a true #1 though.


Final Grade: A
No worries at QB for BayDawgs. The team will have Big Ben starting for years to come. McNabb is perfect #2 that came come in for a few games and performs at elite levels in case of injury so team never skips a beat. I love Campbell as a #3. Perfect QB to let develop and not have to worry about using him.

RB:
L. Johnson, C. Portis, J. Lewis, K. Watson, K. Irons, T. Hunt

Analysis:
LJ was once considered an elite back. Not sure if you can say that anymore with all the OL troubles as well as QB troubles in KC. I still look for him to produce top 10 numbers if he stays healthy so still a solid #1 back. C. Portis had a good year last year coming off an injury and I look for him to produce even better numbers this year as Washinton focuses more on running the ball. Could see him as the true #1 on this team ahead of LJ before all is said and done. J. Lewis resurrected his career last year in Clevland and should provide another solid year as Clevlands offense continues to improve.

Final Grade: A-
There are still some questions surrounding LJ and Portis going into this season but overall this group of RBs is very good. Expect J. Lewis to put up great numbers for a #3 back.

WR/TE:
A. Gates, G. Jennings, S. White, V. Jackson, H. Miller, A. Crumpler, R. Brown, C. Jackson


Analysis:
Gates is a stud and should continue to produce like one for years. Jennings had a great year last year but think he will find it hard to repeat those TD numbers again this year with Rodgers at the helm. White is a nice up and coming WR but is still limited due to QB situation in Atl. VJ started to gain some chemistry with Rivers in the playoffs last year and it should carry over into this season. #3 tyoe numbers is definitely doable. The rest of the guys are solid depth.

Final Grade: B
Overall, this is a solid group of WRs. Other than Gates, I don’t see any real stars though. Just a bunch of #2/3 WRs. But still should produce solid stats at the position throughout the year.
OL:
NE, IND, IND, SD, CLE, GB, DET,


Final Grade: B-
Solid set of starters. Could use some more quality depth.

DL:
D. Freeney, T. Laboy, R. Coleman, A. Odom, P. Daniels, C. Williams, K. Carter, K. Edwards, V. Adeyanju

Analysis:
Freeney is not the stud he once was and I don’t know if he ever will be. Laboy could have a bigger impact in his new home but still an average starter at best. The rest of this DL is more suited to be depth than starters.

Final Grade: D+
The DL needs a lot of help. Freeney has potential to break out on any given Sunday but the rest of this DL is below-average at best.

LB:
P. Willis, B. Urlacher, L. Hill, K. Wimbley, L. Woodley, A. Spencer, S. Fujita, V. Hobson, C. Ingram

Analysis:
Willis is a beast and poised to be one of the best for many years. Urlacher is still one of the best. L. Hill is average most of the time with some good games mixed in every now an then. Wimbley, Woodley, and Spencer are still unknown really at this time but all have potential to put up solid numbers. The rest are just depth players to fill out roster.

Final Grade: B+
Willis and Urlacher are both studs but beyond those guys there is a lot of question marks. This unit could turn out to be very good if Wimbley and Woodley step it up this year, but right now I think this unit needs one more true starter going into the year to be rated any higher.


DB:
L. Bodden, D. Hall, R. Mathis, K. Hayden, T. Jackson, A. Ross, C. Rogers, G. Alexander, G. Earl,

Analysis:
I like Bodden and think he will continue to be one of the better CB’s in the league this year even in his new home. Not sure what to think of Hall in Oakland right now, but considering the offensive troubles there, I expect him to be on the field a lot so should put up decent numbers on a week to week basis. R. Mathis is solid. K. Hayden is young guy who played well last year in Indy, but I expect him to be a #4 type guy this year. Jackson has potential, but with the addition of Hobbs in Tampa, that will have a negative impact on his fantasy potential.

Final Grade: C+
Hard to rank this group any higher right now. Top 4 guys are all corners and they are so finicky from year to year. I think Bodden and Hall could produce solid starting numbers but the rest of the guys are question marks. I think another legit starting DB is a must here.

Salary Cap:
Good Shape.
Draft Picks:
1.2, 1.8, 2.5, 4.8, 5.8, 6.8, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8
Team Needs:
Defense is need here. DL first followed by DB and LB.
Players to target:
At 1.2, it’s going to be hard to fill an immediate need. I think you have to go Mendenhall here based on value alone. 1.8 could be a nice spot to land a needed DL. C. Long could fall here. In the 2nd round, I think I would target best DL or DB on the board. If BD is able to land Long at 1.8, then targeting a safety here is best bet. A player like R. Smith should be available. In the later rounds I would just look to fill out the roster by grabbing some potential gems. I would grab best WR available at 4.8 and then focus on defense the rest of the draft.

Final Thoughts:
Overall, BD has a lot of potential this year. I think this team will be right there in the end fighting for division and playoff spot. Will need to fix DL issues primarily if its going to make any real noise this year though.


Final Grade: B

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TEAM 4: CREEPING DEATH

QB:
J. Delhomme, A. Smith, D. Huard

Analysis:
Going into the season with Delhomme as starting QB is not safe. A. Smith as a backup is even worse at this point with the possibility of him losing his job in training camp. The rest of the QBs on the roster are not even rosterable at this point.


Final Grade: F
Alot of help is needed here. If Delhomme is not ready to start season, CD might not even have a QB currently on the roster to start.

RB:
B. Jacobs, F. Taylor, C. Benson, A. Bradshaw, L. Betts

Analysis:
I like Jacobs in NYG if he can stay healthy but A. Bradshaw will cut into his carries this year a lot more than last based on the way he played in the playoffs. Expect F. Taylor to continue to put up decent stats splitting carries with MJD. Benson is a bust and might not even be starter going into camp. Betts is a nice value if Portis goes down. Until that happens though, he is nothing more than depth. The rest of the RBs on roster are not even worth mentioning at this point.

Final Grade: D
Jacobs as a number 1 back is not good. He fits better into a #3 role with #2 upside. Taylor is in same boat as well. Bradshaw is tied to Jacobs so his value is very limited and the rest of the RBs will not provide any help.

WR/TE:
B. Engram, D. Lee, R. Williams, M. Jones, Randle El, A. Toomer, R. Meachem

Analysis:
Engram played well last year but asking him to repeat numbers he produced last year will be tough. Lee played well also, but with Favre gone he might struggle as well. R. Williams should continue to improve and could end up being best WR on this roster. Rest of the WRS are just depth at best.

Final Grade: F
There is no true #1 or #2 WR on this team. Engram and Williams could produce #3 numbers possibly if they play well enough but overall there is a serious need for talent here.

OL:
NE, NO, NYG, DEN, AZ, WAS

Final Grade: C
A couple of legit starters but need to find 1 or 2 more solid teams and then add some depth.

DL:
J. Taylor, D. Dockett, A. Okoye, A. Smith, M. Roth,

Analysis:
Taylor should continue to produce elite level stats for another couple of years. Dockett came on strong last year after he switched to a 3-4 end. Being a 3-4 end though, I expect his numbers to fluctuate from year to year. He should continue to put up solid #3 type numbers though from game to game I think. Okoye is nice depth but not a starter. I like A. Smith’s potential and he could be used in a pinch to produce quality numbers. Rest of players are depth at best.

Final Grade: C
J. Taylor keeps this grade higher but this position needs to be addressed. Overall CD needs to find a solid #2 starter allowing Dockett to be a solid #3.

LB:
DJ Williams, M. Boley, T. Suggs, P. Lenon, N. Harris, M. Vrabel

Analysis:
DJ Williams had a great year kast year at the Mike postion but he is slated to move back to Will this year and that will impact his stats. He still should produce good numbers, but don’t expect a year like last year. Boley should continue to produce good numbers for Atl. Suggs disappeared last year but is a tremendous talent and could bounce back this year. Will he stay listed as LB though? He could get re-classified as a DL. Lenon produced good numbers last year in Detroit but that was more because of situation than it was talent. He could be replaced in camp this year if Detroit drafts a LB. Harris and Vrabel are good depth players.

Final Grade: B-
Williams and Boley should be good starters all year. Suggs is a big ? mark as well as Lenon. Solid depth players though. CD needs to find one more legit starter and he should be solid going into year.


DB:
C. Harris, T. Polamalu, M. Trufant, R. Hood, C. Chavous, R. Hood, A. Rolle

Analysis:
C. Harris is nice young safety in Carolina and should continue to improve and put up great stats. T. Polamalu is solid #2 guy with potential to put up #1 numbers on any given week. Trufant had a great year last year, but as always with corners, he could slip a little next year. I expect him to be a solid #3 start though week to week. R. Hood played well last year but with the return of A. Wilson and the possibility that Rolle could be moved to safety, I expect him to go back to average stats. Chavous, Rolle, and everyone else are depth players.

Final Grade: B
Overall, I think CD is set at 1-3 with Harris, Polamalu, & Trufant. The team could use a better #4.

Salary Cap:
Great Shape
Draft Picks:
3.11, 5.11, 6.2, 6.6, 7.2
Team Needs:
CD needs a lot of help in a lot of areas, mainly on the offensive side of the ball. QB, RB, and WR have to be first priority.
Players to target:
With no draft picks til 3.11, its going to be tough to find an impact player this year. Best player available on offense is way to go at 3.11. After that, just BPA regardless of position.

Final Thoughts:
CD needs a lot of help. Good news is he has 3 first round picks in 09 to help turn this team around. I think being active in UFA is key. Every year players come out of nowhere to produce and being on top of things and getting them in UFA will help a lot. Expect another last place finish in the division and possibly worst record overall in league.


Final Grade: D-

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TEAM 5: TIMID MOSSE

QB:
D. Brees, M. Schaub, S. Hill, Q. Gray

Analysis:
Brees is great #1. Look for him to continue to put up Top 5 QB numbers. M. Schaub is pefect #2 in my opinion. He can provide you with #1 numbers on any given week but you don’t have to worry about starting him every week. S. Hill could end up stealing the job away from A. Smith in SF but even then he is nothing more than a depth player.


Final Grade: A
Overall I see no major concerns at QB. Could use a #3 QB behind Brees and Schaub.

RB:
W. McGahee, F. Gore, K. Jones, A. Green, M. Morris, P. Thomas

Analysis:
W. Mcgahee should continue to improve in 2nd year with Baltimore. I look for him to put up high end #2 RB numbers but QB situation needs to improve. Gore should be solid but as with Baltimore I worry about QB situation. KJ needs to get healthy, and then he needs to find a team. He has the talent, just not able to stay on the field to use it. Green is solid depth. Draft could hurt him if team finds a RB to replace him, which I think they are looking to do. Morris will be part of a running back by committee approach in Seattle, but with Jones and Alexander around, I expect him to receive the fewest carries of the bunch. P. Thomas showed a lot of potential last year and with the possibility of McAllister not returning to NO he could find himself with a big role opposite R. Bush next year.

Final Grade: B
Overall Mcghee and Gore should be solid starters next year. A #3 back is needed here though. KJ & Thomas have potential to fill that role but too many question marks right now to count on them.

WR/TE:
W. Welker, H. Ward, J. Walker, B. Berrian, S. Moss, J. Porter, I. Bruce, M. Bradley

Analysis:
Welker exploded last year in that NE offense. He should continue to find open spots on the field as long as Moss is in town. Ward is solid. Walker is a big question mark but has potential to gel with Russell in Oakland and could have a solid year, providing he stays healthy of course. Berrian goes to Minnesota where he will play opposite Rice with Jackson throwing the ball. I don’t like that scenario. If QB play is solid, then I expect Berrian to be as well. S. Moss is another solid but not spectacular WR. The rest of the players are depth players at best.

Final Grade: B-
Welker and Ward will be solid starters this year but beyond those two there is a lot of concerns. I think the rest of these guys could fill a #4 role on team. TM needs to find 1 more legit starting WR.

OL:
NE, DAL, PHI, CIN, GB, DEN, PIT

Final Grade: B
Solid starters need to add a little better depth.

DL:
P. Kerney, J. Tuck, G. Adams, M. Strahan

Analysis:
Kerney played like a stud last year and I think he will again this year. Tuck played very well last year. Having Umenyiora and Strahan on either side of you helps a lot. G. Adams had a solid year last year and starting picking it up towards the end of last year. I look for him to improve more this year and should provide solid #3 numbers with #2 type potential. Strahan will be solid as long as he continues to play.

Final Grade: B-
There are solid starters to count on week to week, but not much depth behind them.

LB:
K. Bulluck, E. Henderson, L. Tatupu, B. Ruud, S. Phillips, F. Keiaho, D. Brooks, L. Johnson

Analysis:
Bulluck was down last year but I think that was more of a fluke than the norm. Henderson busted out last year and should continue to be a solid #1 guy. Tatupu, Ruud, Phillips, and Keiaho are all solid LBs capable of providing #2 type numbers on any given week. Brooks and Johnson are great depth.

Final Grade: A
Overall this is a great group. No concerns here.


DB:
L. Landry, K. Hamlin, A. Cromartie, C. Bailey, C. Finnegan, D. Landry, H. Abdullah, J. Bullocks

Analysis:
Landry played well last year in his rookie year. I look for him to continue to improve. Playing FS could limit his potential in fantasy though. Hamlin is solid in DAL. Again, playing FS makes him limited. Cromartie and Bailey are great corners that can produce big numbers on any given week. Finnegan is a great tackling corner and played very well last year. I like his potential to continue to produce solid tackle numbers. Landry, Abdullah, and Bullocks are solid depth players.

Final Grade: B-
Overall, this is a solid group. No studs but a lot of solid players that should provide decent stats from week to week.

Salary Cap:
Good Shape
Draft Picks:
1.3, 1.7, 1.11, 2.10, 3.5, 5.4, 5.10, 5.12
Team Needs:
QB, RB, WR, DL

Players to target:
With 3 picks in the first round TM should be able to fill some needed spots. At 1.3 I like RB. Stewart will most likely be back on the board there and he will make a nice addition to team. At 1.7, I think M. Ryan will still be on the board and would make a nice pick based on need for a #3. He would fit nicely there in a developmental spot. At 1.11, I would go WR. There are numerous WRs in this draft that have potential, but there will be a slim few that go to a team that will most likely start them right away. Kelly, Thomas, Sweed are all options. Possibly could wait till 2nd round to pick up a WR due to depth this year and go for a DL with this pick. Maybe Merling or Campbell could work here. Personally I would wait till 2nd to pick up DL and go for the best WR at 1.11 though. At 2.5 I would look DL and at 3.5 I would go for a DB. With all the 5th round picks, I would target some late draft steals at WR and LB.

Final Thoughts:
TM has a solid team with just a few holes that need to be filled. I think DL has to be top priority for him. Then focus on WR. If he can pick up some nice players in the draft to fill those spots he will be set. Should make the playoffs and finish with one of the better records in the league.


Final Grade: B+

[TOTAL DOMINATION]

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TEAM 6: BRONCOFAN1407

QB:
T. Romo, D. Garrard, D. Stanton

Analysis:
T. Romo should continue to produce big numbers in Dallas with TO and Witten at his disposal. I expect Top 5 numbers. D. Garrard played well last year and is perfect fit as a #2 QB. Stanton is just waiting on his chance right now and has the potential in Det offense to produce some quality numbers when he does get his shot.


Final Grade: A
Overall, there are no major concerns here. BF will need to find a better 3rd option though.

RB:
M. Lynch, M. Jones-Drew, J. Jones, D. McAllister, S. Alexander

Analysis:
Lynch had a great year last year that was overshadowed by ADP’s year. I expect Lynch to be a great back in this league for a lot of years. Right now, I would count on him as a low end #1 back. MJD should continue to produce ok numbers but will never be a legit 1 or high 2 back as long as F. Taylor is still around. Expect low end #2 numbers from him. J. Jones moves to Seattle where he should get a shot to start. But overall I expect a running back by committee approach with Jones, Alexander, and Morris. D. McAllister is nothing more than a depth player at this point in his career with his knee issues and R. Bush/ P. Thomas in town. Alexander is also nothing more than a depth player at this point. J. Jones will take away any value that he has at this point.

Final Grade: B
I like Lynch. He should fit nicely into #1 back role this year. MJD is no more than a #2 back at best right now due to Taylor. Jones should suffice as a number 3 back and the others are fine depth. Probably would look to add another feature back somewhere.

WR/TE:
T. Owens, A. Johnson, B. Marshall, C. Johnson, D. Hackett, D. Stallworth

Analysis:
TO should continue to produce great numbers in Dallas for another 2 years. AJ is a stud as well and has a lot of years ahead of him if he can stay healthy. Marshall has a lot of talent but so many off the filed issues could derail his career. As long as he is on field though, he will produce. CJ had injury issues last year that kept him from producing on a regular basis. I expect him to continue to improve and should be solid this year as a #3 WR. Hackett is solid and should provide good depth.

Final Grade: A+
No issues at all at WR. Nice set of studs mixed with good depth. One of the best, if not the best, WR corps in the league.

OL:
NE, DAL, NO, PHI, DEN, DEN. GB, WAS

Final Grade: A-
BF has solid starters and ok depth. I would like to add one more solid team somewhere.

DL:
J. Smith, B. Berry. C. Kelsay, KGB, T. Pryce

Analysis:
Smith will struggle this year I believe to put up solid numbers in SF 3-4 defense. Berry cannot stay healthy to produce. Kelsay is a rotational guy who is solid for a depth player. KGB is also solid depth as well. Pryce is on his last leg and is nothing more than a bench player right now.

Final Grade: F
Serious help is need here as there is nobody on this team that you can count on week to week. Smith is only guy worth a starting spot and would be better suited for a #3/4 role than a #1 role.

LB:
D. Ryans, L. Briggs, G. Hayes, A. Davis, L. Timmons

Analysis:
D. Ryans is a stud and should continue to be one for many years. Briggs is solid and is perfect as a #2 guy for BF. I like Hayes as a number 3 and should be solid all year in AZ. A. Davis will struggle to find stats in Cleveland with D. Jackson and L. Williams taking away snaps. Timmons has some potential but right now nothing more than that.

Final Grade: B-
Overall, I like top 3 but beyond that BF needs to find some better talent.


DB:
N. Clements, C. Griffin, C. Hart, E. Hobbs, W. Harris

Analysis:
Clements should continue to put up solid numbers in SF as there defense should continue to be on the filed a lot. Expect Griffin to be solid as well, but right now I would want him as my #3/4 starter. Hart should be solid as a depth player. Hobbs should get a shot to start in Tampa but look for depth player numbers as well.

Final Grade: D
Another position I think needs serious attention. Clements is a solid starter, but fits better into a number 2 or 3 role rather than number 1. Griffin would be good number 4 with upside. The rest of the guys on the roster make up solid depth but not starters at this point. I think adding a starter or two is a must.

Salary Cap:
Great Shape
Draft Picks:
1.9, 1.10, 2.6, 2.9, 3.1, 6.9, 7.9
Team Needs:
Entire defense needs help. DL, DB, & LB
Players to target:
In the 1st round, BF needs to target a DB or DL with his first to picks. I like K. Phillips to be on the board for him and that pick would immediately help his team. I expect Merling, Harvey, & Campbell to all be there for DL at following pick. In the 2nd, I expect Bronco to look to grab the best LB on the board as well as maybe looking to grab a QB or RB. In the 3rd, I would look to grab the best defensive player available as that is the real need here on his team.

Final Thoughts:
Bronco should put up great offensive numbers this year but defensive will drag this team down. I think defense has to be priority for him in draft. If he can add some key pieces there he will be ok. Overall I expect a playoff push for BF this year.


Final Grade: B+

[TOTAL DOMINATION]

Courtesy of Timid Moose



TEAM #7 Total Domination:

QB: Upgrading Carson Palmer is almost impossible, but Chad found a way to do it by adding P Manning in the off season. The backup situation for Total D is a potential issue with Kyle Boller not a legit starter, B Quinn on the bench for now, and J Russell very unproven; I for one am not a fan of him but he certainly has the physical ability to prove me wrong. Chris Redman is also on the roster; he may start in Atlanta, but I'm not so sure he should. Fortunately for Chad, P Manning has been the most durable player in the league since Brett Favre and other than the bye week, he should be pretty safe here. Despite a questionable back up situation for this season(which could be great in a year or two), Total D gets a high grade here because of Manning.

Grade: A

RB: Without a doubt, the best RB tandom in the league, and probably in EFS...ever. In fact, I think it's safe to call S Jackson, LT, and A Peterson in one backfield an EFS travesty; at least for the rest of us. Add in Kolby Smith who played well enough to earn the KC starting job in the future and Ch Taylor who scores in his current role and provides insurance for Peterson, and you've got a ridiculous backfield.

Grade: A+

WR/TE: Randy Moss re-emerged in New England and now pairs with Larry Fitzgerald to give Total D the best 1-2 Rec punch in the league. I am alittle concerned about the QB situation in Arizona, but Fitzgerald is so great that who's throwing the ball may be of little consequence. Dwayne Bowe qas inconsistent at times last year but showed he could be a playmaker. Other than Gonzalez, who's getting up in age, the team has no playmakers in the passing game so I have to think they try to get the ball to Bowe consistently. Chris Chambers is still a solid option, but shares the ball with Gates, LT, V Jackson, and presumably C Davis in his 2nd year; still a valuable backup in EFS in my mind. J Cotchery has also proved to be a reliable receiver, though he also struggles at time with sub-par QB play. D Hagan has not done much yet, though I still believe he could be a solid possession rec, and the Dolphins don't much else in that area. All in all, the 3-6 guys aren't great, but Bowe could emerge as a great #3, and the other two guys are very solid and capable of filling for bye weeks or injuries.

Grade: A+

DB: This could be another dominant group. K Rhodes had a "down" year and averaged over 14 points; Antoine Winfield and Adrian Wilson are elite players coming off of injury plagued seasons, both of whom I expect to bounce back with big years. Gibril Wilson has moved to Oakland, which is always a concern since players go there to kill their careers, but he is a great talent and should continue to put up big numbers. Add in B Pollard who looks like a player in KC, D Whitner who is still full of upside, and an aging but effective Ronde Barber, and you have another strong position for Total D.

Grade: A


DL: I know he had a down year for Carolina, but if Julius Peppers is your #5 DL.....yeah. Mario Williams is a freak and may emerge as the best overall DL in football and Kyle VandenBosch is a high motor guy who has proven to play at a consistent high level over the last 3 seasons. Add in Elvis Dumervil, the 5'11" Bronco who looks like he doesn't belong on the field but continues to get to the QB, and the previously mentioned Peppers, and this is a scary group. But wait; it gets worse for the other 11 owners because Darryl Tapp is a RFA scheduled to rejoin Total D shortly. This is a dominant group.

Grade: A+


LB: If you think J Peppers is a dominant #5 DL, how do you feel about Shawn Merriman as a #5 LB.......yeah (again). Will Witherspoon continues to be a great LB in StL and tackled everything that moved last year. Kirk Morrison continues to be a legit #1 EFS LB and Jon Beason emerged as a stud. Perhaps the scariest player on this squad is David Harris who flourished in the Jets' 3-4 system, and averaged 17.87/game after not starting the first 5-6 games of the season. I believe, without looking at the stt sheet, that he recorded 22 tackles in a game last year. Merriman is still a force in San Diego and Paul Posluszny should return from a broken forearm to make an impact in Buffalo. This group's grade is only an A+ because there's nothing higher to give out.

Grade: A+


Draft: Not much to report with picks #30 and #71. With four ratings of "A+" and two of "A", there's not a lot of need for the picks anyway. I expect Chad to go best available in both spots, probably adding a DB and a project skill position guy with high upside.

Overall: A+

[TOTAL DOMINATION]

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TEAM #8 STEILACOOM SENTINELS:

QB: A very solid group to build with. M Hasselbeck is not all that flasjy, but he is definately a top QB and the Seahawks are going to throw. Jeff Garcia, if the Sentinels re-sign him, is still a legit EFS backup, though not much else. J Kitna wil spparently start again, and until last year proved he could at least throw it up to Roy Williams. The most intriguing guy here is Aaron Rodgers. Personally, I think the guy is going to be very good here. If the line stays intact and R Grant proves he can run consistently, Rodgers mobility and propensity for not turning the ball over will be a great fit for the Green Bay offense. He may never be elite, but I do think he could settle in as a top 10-12 EFS QB.

Grade: A+


RB: Well, this group makes up for the strong QB situation. Edge had another decent year in ARZ, but he's just about out of gas in my mind. D Rhodes is nothing more than a compliment back, and might not even be that if the Raiders somehow draft another RB. Ron Dayne is in RFA, and on a side note, he still stinks. Brandon Jacksno was a reach of necessity last year, but he didn't play well before his injury and Ryan Grant came out of nowhere and looks like a legit starter for Green Bay. This position must be addressed in the draft.

Grade: F

WR/TE: How do you address a weak receiver corp? You pay Marvin Harrison $11.193 a year to join the squad. Harrison is coming off his worst season as a pro, obviously due to injury. I think he can still play at a high level and his relationship with Manning has to help. Make no mistake that R Wayne is the man here now though and the days of M Harrison catching 100 balls are sadly behind us. Chris Cooley is a great TE and pairs with aging vets and RFAs Derrick Mason and Joey Galloway to give the Sentinels some depth, assuming they are re-signed. Patrick Crayton and James Jones both have talent but are currently limited to roles as the #3 receivers in Dallas and Green Bay respectively. There is some depth here, but nothing to get excited about.

Grade: C+

DB: With his return abilities, D Revis leads this group of young players. L Hall proved he can play as a rookie and should make an even bigger impact in year two. Nick Harper played well but is in RFA, as is Chris McAllister who had a down year due to injury. If Sentinels brings these guys back and McAllister is healthy, I think they give him two more decent options. I'm not sure that Ty Law has much left to give or if Ko Simpson can make an impact in Buffalo. Not a strong group, but a couple of very promising youg CBs could anchor this group for several years.

Grade: C-

DL: Good news--Jared Allen is an absolute Monster who can't be double teamed consistently because T Hali is enough of a presence to prevent it. Bad news---other than one more decent option in Kelly Gregg, Sentinels has absolutely nothing at DL. Jarvis Moss could be used a little more in year two, but he certainly can't be depended upon for production. Jared Allen plus two scrubs is still almost as good as many other combos in the league, but if he goes down, there is big trouble here.

Grade: C+

LB: Three studs anchor this crew: London Fletcher, Nick Barnett, and Julian Peterson. Fletcher is older but this squad also has his future replacement in HB Blades. Stewart Bradley, Leon Williams, and Quincy Black are all young players with great potential and all three should be on the field full time in the near future. Ian Gold and J Seau are still plugging along, and add some depth (assuming Seau doesn't retire....again).

Grade: A-

Draft: #4 overall and and four picks in the top 31. There are multiple holes on this team so he'll needa highly successful draft to start building this franchise. At #4, I think F Jones could be the pick. Depending on where he goes, this could be a reach, but I don't see much way around going RB at 4, and think Sentinels should readdress RB with one of the other top 31 picks. I think a DL to pair with Allen or a potential stud for the DBs would make a lot of sense at 16.

Overall: C+

[TOTAL DOMINATION]

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TEAM #9 CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP:

QB: The bad news-the back-ups here are a couple of years away from contributing, if they ever do at all. The good news-back-ups aren't much of a concern when you have Tom Brady as the starter. With Moss, Welker, and B Watson stil in the mix next year, I expect another great season from Brady; probably not quite as good as 49 ppg, but still elite. Kellen Clemens can't beat out a soft throwing QB with a bum shoulder, K Kolb is still firmly behind McNabb, and though he showed flashes last year, I'm not sure the Ravens are going to turn the offense over to Troy Smith anytime soon.

Grade: A


RB: The one-two punch of Brian Westbrook and Ronnie brown could be great if healthy; of course, nobody knows how healthy Brown is going to be. I expect him to share the load with somebody in Miami for most if not all of this season. However, Brown did prove in 2007 that, even behind a very bad OL, he can be a stud back. Westbrook will continue to put up numbers in a system made for him in Philly. The backup situation, like with the QBs, is shaky. D Ward played well last year, but is still behind B Jacobs and will battle for time with A Bradshaw who played great down the stretch and was the leading rusher in the Superbowl.L Washington played okay last year, but T Jones is the #1 and I wouldn't be suprised if the Jets go RB in the draft. Darren Sproles and Sammy Morris are both just solid backups in the NFL, and fringe guys waiting for an injury to their respective starters to make an imoact in EFS.

Grade: B-

WR/TE: This is a very "under the radar" group of receivers, but a sI took a close look at them and their potential, this could be a great receiving corps. Reggie Wayne is an absolute beast, and just as Isaac Bruce and Jerry Rice eventually passed the torch to T Holt and TO respectively, M Harrison has passed the torch to Wayne. S Holmes is a playmaker in the Pittsburgh offense, and as long as Heath Miller, Hines Ward, and Willie Parker are around to keep defenses honest, he'll be dangerous. Anquan Boldin is slightly overrated in my mind because of his role behind (clearly behind) Larry Fitzgerald, but he is a very solid #3 for sure and can be a #1 with an injury to Fitzgerald and decent QB play. Todd Heap can't seem to stay healthy, but is still an elite player when on the field, and L Coles is just one strong armed QB away from becoming a big playmaker again. Add in Ronald Curry who should have a bigger role in Oakland, Ben Utecht who becomes the #1 TE for Carson Palmer, and high upside guys like promising Sidney Rice in Minnesota and former 1st round pick Bryant Johnson in SF, and you have a very solid group. Question marks abound behind the top three guys, but even if half of them pan out this will be a great group.

Grade: A


DB: This is a group that underachieved in 2007. A couple of young guys did not live up to expectations and a couple of old guys broke down. Jason Allen and Brandon Merriweather both failed to deliver on the high expectations of being drafted in the first rounds over the last two seasons. Brian Dawkins and Mike Brown both continued to struggle with injuries and are probably very close to the end of the road. Ike Taylor did put up very good numbers but will ahve to be re-signed, and Atari Bigby was a pleasant suprise. After watching Bigby play, I'm not sure that he's not just another big hitter type who will eventually be replaced by the more well-rounded Aaron Rouse. Michael Lewis played well in his first year in SF and Brodney Pool continued to contribute some in Cleveland. All in all, I assume the young guys will get more opportunities and should improve some and that the older guys are about done. That said, that leaves the DB position here pretty weak.

Grade: C+


DL: This just in...Trent Cole is a monster! Cole proved he wasn't a one year wonder with a great 2007. Add in Aaron Kampan who continues to be an impact guy in Green Bay, and CSWS hasa great 1-2 combo at DL. If Leonard Little can bounce back for a couple more good seasons, then this becomes a great DL. I believe the Rams will go after C Long if he is available at 2, and that helps L Little drastically. Dewayne White is still a solid #4 with Ray Edwards adding depth after that. Little is the question mark that will make the difference between a very good group and an elite group.

Grade: A-


LB: This is another position with a lot of question marks for CSWS. Ray Lewis, who will probably be re-signed after RFA, is still a very good player. Antonio Pierce has been very consistent as a middle LB for years now and Morlon Greenwood continues to play well in Houston. These three guys are a solid, not great, top three. The keys to me are Omar Gaither and Daryl Smith. If either of them can be great instead of just solid starters, thn this corps moves up a couple of grades. But as of last year, they had not made that distinction. Zach Thomas got out of Miami but moved to another 3-4 defense; unfortunately, I think that limits his abilities. Jarrett Johnson did not put up the kind of numbers most expected from him in 2007, and Ahmad Brooks has yet to perform in Cincinatti; he may get his first full time opportunity this year though.

Grade: C+

Draft: Don't look for much help here with his first picks being 3.12 and 4.12. Fortunately, DB and LB can be addressed in these rounds with some level of effectiveness.

Overall Grade: B+

[TOTAL DOMINATION]

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TEAM #10 JUST2BUFF:

QB: One big question here: "Is Derek Anderson for real?" If he is, this is a great Qb situation for Buff. Anderson certainly has all the weapoms he could ask for, and the staff seems to be committed to leaving Brady Quinn on the bench without even taking a look at him. Eli Manning may never put up monster numbers, but he is a legit NFL QB and will be the Giants' starter for a long time. If the Cardinals hadn't invested the high pick on Leinart, Kurt Warner would still be putting up big numbers in Arizona, but instead he's a backup at best. Rex Grossman is inconsistent at best and lossed all of his weapons over the past two seasons, and Tarvaris Jackson failed to prove he has any business at QB i nthe NFL. The Vikes did go out and get him more receivers, but we'll see what he can do with it.

Grade: B+


RB: Not a flashy group, but very deep. Willie Parker is a great RB in a system committed to the run. Marion Barber emerged as the #1 and best all around back in Dallas last year, and his role may be even bigger in 2008. The NFL and fantasy leagues everywhere patiently waited for Michael Turner to leave San Diego to take a starting job elsewhere; he will get his shot in a subpar offense in Atlanta, but I think he will become a very good back nonetheless. Buff also has Jerious Norwood who is always capable of the long run, and will also be a serviceable fill-in if Turner goes down. The wild card of the group is probably Ernest Graham, who filled in for the Bucs last year. He did so well that I think he remains the starter in 2008 and should continue to post very good numbers. Justin Fargas adds good depth although the Oakland backfield is as clear as mud, and Lorenzo Booker might get a little more playing time while Ronnie Brown recovers in Miami.

Grade: A

WR/TE: Kellen Winslow continues to be a slightly scary guy from a health perspective, but has consistently produced and is turning into a top TE in the NFL. His additional TE points don't hurt in an offense as explosive as Cleveland's was last year. Speaking of explosive, Braylon Edwards proved he was every bit as good as he was projected to be and was just waiting on steady QB play. Donald Driver, who should still put up decent numbers without Favre, and Lee Evans, who I expect to have a nice bounce back season, provide good #3 and 4 options. For even more depth, Buff has Vernon Davis who I expect top break out once SF gets decent QB play, Zack Miller in Oakland, and Deion Branch in Seattle. Chris Henry probably won't be in the league much longer, and Mark Clayton was disappointing in 2008.

Grade: A-

DB: Roman Harper has proven to be a big playmaker in the secondary, and the same can be said for Sean Jones. Both are very young and should be a great combo for J2B for the foreseeable future. Add in Charles Tillman who should continue to thrive in Chicago and Jermaine Phillips who Buff added in RFA, and you have a solid group. Roy Williams seems to get worse and worse in coverage each year, and I'm not so sure he's around much longer. Marlin Jackson is a legit NFL DB and should contribute to Buff for years to come.

Grade: B-


DL: The top three here are very formidable. Osi Umenyiora is young and can be an absolute monster on the best DL in the NFL. Andre Carter has completely revitalized his career in Washington, and is another guy who could be helped exponentially if his team drafts a guy that offenses actually have to block for the other side of the DL. Tamba Hali is the second best DL on his team (and a distant 2nd) but is very good and will never be double teamed thanks to Jared Allen. Combined with the previously mentioned Carter and Umenyiors, this is a strong group. Jamal Anderson disappopinted last year, but certainly has a ton of talent and should contribute as the #4 here; if he can't, this DL unit will lack any depth and will struggle at times. Luis Castillo and Tim Crowder are good pros (Castillo may be a great pro), but the fantasy numbers won't be there consistently.

Grade: B+

LB: The superstar of this group...Jonathan Vilma. Mark my words. Vilma is not good, or great, he is lights out. In a 4-3, Vilma is going to tackle everything that moves. Look for a breakout season and for Vilma to be the #1 LB for J2B. Add in the blooming Derrick Johnson and Chad Greenway who each averaged around 15 ppg last season and Stephen Cooper who emerged as the top option at ILB in San Diego, and this is a deep unit.Rocky McIntosh continues to improve as a pass rusher in Washington and Keith Brooking and Mike Peterson are older but still productive. Peterson was acquired for a hefty price tag in RFA, but should fill in as needed for injuries and bye weeks. Matt Wilhelm and Matthias Kiwanuke round out this group, and both could start a few games as needed. Rumors have Kiwanuke moving back to DE, which is a much better fit for him and would make Buff a very happy EFS owner.

Grade: B+


Draft: #6, #15, #23, #24: Should be able to grab some needed defensive help in a big way. In our mock draft, we have Buff nabbing Keith Rivers, Leodis McKelvin, Calais, Campbell, and J Hardy.

Overall Grade: B+

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TEAM #11 DA COWBOYS

QB: Matt inherited an absolute mess here. Josh McCown is a career backup that just isn't much help in EFS and Dante Culpepper has absolutely been exposed as a guy who could toss it 60 yards to Randy Moss and not much else. I'm not sure if anyone else has gone from the top of the fantasy world to the scrap heap as fast as Culpepper, but I expect another season of nothiing from him. Lastly, Da Cowboys have Matt Leinart. The good news is that Leinart has a ton of weapons at his disposal and has shown some ability to get the ball to them, though not consistently. The bad news, Leinart really has been outplayed by Kurt Warner over the past two seasons and can't seem to really take the job. Because the future of the franchise rides on Leinart, he'll be the starter this year in Arizona, but how long will he keep it if he's slow out of the gates or has an early injury? We'll see. Overall, this is a bad QB situation and probably will not be fixed with any success in the draft as 1.1 probably goes on a RB.

Grade: F

RB: Although much better than the QB position for this team, the RB corps still leaves alot to be desired. Lendale White proved to be very boring, but durable and consistent in Tennessee last year and would appear to be the man going forward. I don't think he's an ideal #1 RB for EFS, but that's what Da Cowboys are looking at currently. Rudi Johnson really seems to have hit the wall at this point in his career, and I'm not sure the Bengals offense, which is going to be throwing in bunches, is a great fit for him anymore. Because he has always been limited as a receiver, he was never a true #1 in EFS but a very good #2; however, I think he is a #3 at best this year barring a miraculous bounce back season a la Jamal Lewis. Cadillac Williams can play in the NFL, but he can't stay healthy and just isn't useful enough as a receiver for a guy his size. Not to mention Ernest Graham broke out last year. At this point , Williams' future and fantasy value are very uncertain. Chris Brown could be the sleeper in this group after moving to Houston. The offense is up and coming, they've removed the plodding ron Dayne, and the only thing between C Brown and a solid season is the aging Ahman Green. If Brown can win the job or if Green gets injured, look for Brown to be at least a solid fill in here. Brian Leonard is a solid player with little fantasy value and Chris Perry is just another Michigan enigma. Tatum Bell cannot carry the load for an NFL team, and his value is minimal in my mind.

Grade: C-

WR/TE: This unit will be carried by the TEs for the second stragiht season. Nate Burleson and Kevin Curtis both put up solid, if not consistent, seasons last year, and I expect similar performances in 2008. Troy Williamson just can't catch which causes some issues at this particular position, so my guess is that he will continue to struggle. Jacoby Jones is a playmaker and can make some impact as a returner and big play guy if given the chance and his teammate, Kevin Walter, proved to be a solid option for Houston all year last season. The real talent lies with the TEs here, starting with Jason Witten. Witten answered any questions about how he would manage to produce in an offense full of weapons and only one football. Behind Witten comes Tony Gonzalez who may be the best TE ever and is still playing at an incredibly high level and now how Dwayne Bowe to take some of the heat off of him. Owen Daniels continues to improve and should benefit from teams having to keep most of their defensive attention on big #80. Eric Johnson proved he could still play last season, but he just can't stay healthy and ultimately, New Orleans wants t othrow the ball downfield as much as often to their outside threats. The wild card here is Greg Olson, who played pretty well for a struggling Bears team last year. Olson comes from a long line of top notch Hurricanes TEs, and if the Bears can get any kind of running game and QB play, I look for Olson to be a game changer. Unfortunatley, I think that's at least a year or two away.

Grade: B

DB: OJ Atogwe has become a great fantasy player in St Louis, but there's just not much behind him here. Madieu Williams once had a very bright future and maybe getting out of the black hole in Cincinatti will help him; we'll see. Shawn Springs plays at a high level but appears to be braking down some and I don't think he can be counted on for the entire season. The rest of the DBs here are nothing exciting though they are on the field at least. This group includes the somewhat underachieving Terrance Newman, Antoine Bethea, Deon Grant, Michael Griffin, and Jacques Reeves, who should start some in Houston.

Grade: D-

DL: Another unit that is a mess for Matt. Jovan Haye is the top performer on his squad, and that's ecause he grabbed him off the UFA list. A good additon for sure, but when your top performer was signed from UFA in the offseason, things are not going well. Albert Haynesworth, Marcus Stroud and Kevin Williams are great players, but DTs just don't make much of an impact in EFS. Robert Geathers is decent but not much more, and the same can be said for Bobby McCray and Aaron Smith. James Hall was a complete disappointment in St Louis last year and Erasmus James has been one continuous injury plagued disappointment since he was drafted out of Wisconsin.

Grade: F

LB: Assuming James Harrison doesn't become a complete menace to society, he will pair with Gary Brackett to give Da Cowboys a nice 1-2 punch for the next few seasons. The big question here is how the next four guys on the depth chart will respond to their new teams or positions. Kawika Mitchell moves to Bffalo where they plan on using him at WLB. That's good news except that it moves Angelo Crowell to SLB despite the fact that he's proven to be a playmaker as the Will backer. Calvin Pace was highly inconsistent last year and truly lives and dies by the big play, but he should have plenty of opportunities to make big plays in the Jets defense, seeing as how nobody else makes any. Lastly, Demorrio Williams moves to the Chiefs, and assuming they move him to WLB, he can be an impact player. There are a lot of questions here, but some good talent as well. DQwell Jackson and Greg Ellis are not great in their current systems butadd solid depth to the unit.

Grade: B+

Draft: This team really needs a QB, but there isn't a QB worth the #1 pick. I expect the only pick here is Darren McFadden who certainly has a bright future. The RB corps immediately improves here if that's the case. The bad news of course is that this team has a lot of holes and not another pick until #34 overall.

Overall Grade: C-

[TOTAL DOMINATION]

Courtesy of Timid Moose




TEAM #12 RAIDER NATION


QB: If you're wondering why your team doesn't have one of the top young, "upside" QBs, it's because they're all being hoarded by the Nation. Jay Cutler, Phillip Rivers, and Vince Young should be a formidable force for the next several years. Personally, I think at least one of these guys probably never emerges as a great player, and all of them have to learn to be consistent if they're going to be viable starters to their NFL teams and Raider Nation. I'm not sure how long RN holds all three of these guys with many holes on his roster, but as of noww he's set for the future.

Grade: A

RB: Reggie Bush, DeAngelo Williams, and Lawrence Maroney were three of the most sought after rookies in our league over the last few seasons. None of them have really delivered to the level that their talent promised, but all have proven they can play in the NFL and just need more opportunities and health. To me, Maroney is the best of the group when healthy, and I'm excited to se what Williams does with the opportunity in Carolina. Bush seems to be a #3 fantasy back, #2 at best. Behind these three, there's not much here in Maurice Hicks, Garret Wolfe, Adrian Peterson (not THAT Adrian Peterson) and DeShawn Wynn.

Grade: B

WR/TE: TJH leads the way here and could find himself as the #1 guy in Cincinatti soon. Unfortunately, I'm not so sure that he values how much attention Chad Johnson commands, leaving him one on one most of the time. The Jeremy Shockey saga continues in New York, so we'll have to wait and see how that pans out. I expect him to be moved at some point, but that's just a guess. Ultimately, Shockey will be a head case but will produce whereever he goes. He should be a viable #3 receiver for sure. Steve Smith (not THAT Steve Smith) came on strong in the playoffs last year and could make a play for a starting job this year. Craig Davis was a bit of a disappointment in San Diego, but he certainly could still emerge. Anthony Fasano is a good player with little value behind Witten, and Justin Gage is a decent player in an offense that really can't throw in Tennessee. This group is in dire need of at least 1 or 2 more guys who can make an impact in 2008.

Grade: C-

DB: I like Asante Samuel in Philly, and I think he's a viable #2/3 DB for EFS. Jonathan Joseph proved he can play in Cincinatti, but if history repeats in Cincinatti he'll find a way to be arrested by August (maybe twice). Sammy Knight is somehow still playing at a high level and continues to be a ball hawk. Daniel Manning is a solid young player but not uch more than a fantasy back up, and Chris Houston did not excel as a rookie. If Pacman Jones can get reinstated he could make a huge impact to this group, but his reinstatement is far from a sure thing and his ability to stay out of trouble is somewhere near the bottom 10 percentile in my mind.

Grade: F (D+ w/ Pacman)

DL: Adewale Ogunleye is the star of this group and is coming off a career season in Chicago. I'm not sure he can repeat his performance, but anything close will keep him a #1 DL option and make him extremely valuable to RN. Derrick Burgess is coming off his worst season in 3 years, but I expect him to bounce back and be a very viable #2 DL for this team. Alex Brown and Charles Grant are decent depth but not much else, and Haloti Ngata and Richard Seymour are not nearly as valuable in EFS as they are in the NFL. Jevon Kearse could find the fountain of youth in Tennessee, but I highly doubt that he will return to being an impact player. This is a decent group with Burgess and Ugunleye, but could really use another impact guy in the mix.

Grade: C+

LB: Thomas Howard proved he can be a big time player and still ahs youth on his side. Adalius Thomas is a little older but is still an impact player and on a very good defense with a coach that knows how to utilize his players. AJ Hawk really dropped off in year two, but I expect a return to the promise he showed as a rookie, giving Raider Nation three very good options. Behind them, however, is a bit of a train wreck. Michael Okwo still hasn't seen an NFL game, Roosovelt Colvin is little more than an EFS role player, and Bobby Carpenter is hard to get a feel for. In the one or two opportunities he's had to play he has performed vey well. But with the addiditon of Zach Thjomas he has fallen even further in the mix in Dallas, and I don't think he plays much this year other than special teams. Ultimately, I can see him being traded (maybe to Miami) where he could make an impact.

Grade: C

Draft: Possibly the saving grace for this team is the plethera of draft picks. At the top RN has #5, 12, 14, 19, 20, 26, 27, and 32. Additionally, he has three picks in the 4th, and two in both the 6th and 7th. #5 is probably too early to address the two biggest needs of DB and Rec, so RN probably goes DL or LB at 5 (maybe Gholston, C Long, or K Rivers) and then WR or DB at 12 if a D Thomas or K Phillips are on the board. Those first few picks could go several different ways but I expect RN to address Rec (at least once) DB (at least once) DL, and LB with his first 8 picks.

Overall: C (An effective draft could lift them to a B-)