Bleacher Report - Articles by Josh Satler

2009 Fantasy Rankings: Week Two QBs

Josh Satler — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:07:10 -0400

1. Aaron Rodgers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are coming off a back-breaking defeat and will have a hard time recovering emotionally for Week Two. And let's not forget, Rodgers never really got untracked in their Week One win over the Bears. Look for a vastly different result against the Bengals, as Rodgers locates Jennings and Driver throughout the afternoon. The top fantasy football QB in a week of difficult matchups.

2. Tom Brady vs. New York Jets

Even with an improved Jets defense, Brady always makes life miserable for Gang Green in the Meadowlands. And you can be sure Belichick will remember Rex Ryan’s off-season comments as they prepare for this one. Look for Brady to incorporate more of a short passing game to offset the Jets’ rush, and then go deep to Moss/Galloway when the opportunity presents itself.

3. Matt Ryan vs. Carolina Falcons

Ryan had a big day against the Panthers at home last season and will have a solid day once again Michael Turner gets untracked on the ground. That’ll set up the play action perfectly and look for Ryan locate Gonzalez and White for big plays all afternoon. 250 yards and two TDs.

4. Drew Brees vs. Philadelphia Eagles

No. 4 is a bit low for a guy coming off a 350 plus yard, 6 TD performance, but the Eagles’ D is just a tad bit better than the Lions. It’s actually a whole lot better, and new DC Sean McDermott appears to utilize his LBs more so in his scheme than his predecessor (Jim Johnson) did. Regardless, look for Brees to once again spread the ball around effectively and finish with 250 yards and at least two TDs.

Sleepers

Jason Campbell vs. St. Louis Rams

Although the Giants made Campbell look awful on Sunday, the Rams defense put up the most pathetic performance of the afternoon (28-0 loss to Seahawks). It appears as if it will take time—and players—to implement Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme, so expect Campbell to bounce back, as he’s a solid fantasy sleeper this Sunday.

Trent Edwards vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Romo made it look easy in Week one as he lit up the Bucs defense for a huge afternoon. While we don’t expect similar numbers this week, due mostly to the Bills style of offense, Owens and Evans provide more than enough firepower for Edwards to throw for a few TDs.

Others We Like

Peyton Manning vs. Miami Dolphins

The loss of Anthony Gonzalez could mean more double teams for Reggie Wayne, but there’s still enough receiving threats (Clark) to expect a solid day. The Dolphins are also better vs. the run so look for Manning and Co. to attack through the air: 250 yards with two TDs.

Matt Schaub vs. Tennessee Titans

The Titans are stout against the run but showed some vulnerability vs. the pass in their opening night loss to the Steelers. Schaub has had pretty good success in his career against Tennessee, and we see him and his skill players (Johnson, Walter, Daniels, etc.) getting back on track Sunday.

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Chicago Bears

The Bears will be playing this one without LB Brian Urlacher, which will affect how they gameplan for Pittsburgh. The Steelers appear to once again have issues running the ball, so look for Roethlisberger to once again take to the air and locate Ward and Holmes for a big game.

2009 NFL Picks: Week One

Josh Satler — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:13:19 -0400

We’re back with our 2009 NFL picks section, where we’ll select our top games with the point spread and find one underdog to play with the money line.

Best Bet

1. Baltimore Ravens (-13) vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are not coming into this game in good shape. They fired their offensive coordinator just a week ago and QB Matt Cassel probably won’t be ready to go. And even if he is, it won’t really matter.

Look for Baltimore to take Larry Johnson out of the game and then force whoever plays at QB into turnovers. Offensively, the Ravens will find a lot of success both on the ground and through the air. This is the safest bet on the board.

Next in Line

2. New Orleans Saints (-13) vs. Detroit Lions

Even with starting RB Pierre Thomas likely to sit this one out, it should be a laugher. The Lions defense will have no answers for Drew Brees’ passing attack, and running backs Reggie Bush and Mike Bell will do fine on the ground.

Defensively, aside from a few plays by Calvin Johnson, the Saints' D should have things under control. Playing with a big lead will render RB Kevin Smith useless and DC Gregg Williams’ blitz package will force QB Matt Stafford into multiple turnovers.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (+7) vs. Indianapolis Colts

If there’s one divisional team which constantly gives the Colts fits, it’s the Jaguars. For whatever the reason, they play Manning tough. This will also be the first game under new coach Jim Caldwell, so we’ll have to see how the team responds to his coaching style.

With star S Bob Sanders out of the mix, the Colts’ D looks rather ordinary. Look for Jacksonville to rely heavily on RB Maurice Jones-Drew and eat away at the Colts’ smaller defense, keeping Manning and Co. sitting on the sidelines. The Colts should win, but it won’t be by seven.

4. New England Patriots (-11.5) vs. Buffalo Bills

The Bills were so bad this preseason they fired their offensive coordinator (as well [see: the wrong end of the best bet]). The Pats, on the other hand, have been hitting on all cylinders with their No. 1 starters and we think they’re going to send a message to the rest of the league letting everyone know they’re back.

Look for Brady and Co. to come out firing and for the Pats defense, playing with a large lead to stifle Edwards and Co.

Others We Like

New York Giants (-6.5) vs. Washington Redskins

Don’t expect this to be a high-scoring affair, as both the Giants and Redskins possess top-10 defenses. While both have some question marks on offense, the 'Skins have more. In the end, the Giants—playing at home—will execute their offensive game plan more effectively and cover the point spread.

Cincinnati Bengals (-4) vs. Denver Broncos

How many times have the Bengals been favorites on opening day against anyone in the past decade? Very few. Here, they look like an excellent bet facing the lowly Denver Broncos. Look for Palmer’s return to re-ignite this offense—and team—to enable the Bengals to win by at least seven.

New York Jets (+4.5) vs. Houston Texans

See below.

Money Line

New York Jets (+190) vs. Houston Texans

It sometimes happens where teams with playoff aspirations falter out of the gate (Jacksonville a year ago). This game has "stumble" written all over it. While the Texans have a talented team—especially at the skill positions (Slaton, Johnson, Daniels, etc.), Schaub comes in less than 100 percent, leaving the Texans vulnerable.

The Jets are the more physical team and will beat Houston in the trenches. Even though they’re playing without DE Shaun Ellis and LB Calvin Pace, they still have plenty of talent/depth to overcome those losses.

Defensively, look for them to key in on Steve Slaton, making Houston one-dimensional. Offensively, expect a heavy dose of Thomas Jones and Leon Washington on the ground to keep Mark Sanchez in manageable passing situations.

The game will be close, but we like the Jets to pull out the 20-17 victory.

2009 NFL Suicide Pool—Week One

Josh Satler — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:52:23 -0400

The first week of the suicide pool is always the trickiest to pick. It has featured some epic upsets—Chargers vs. Panthers last year—and because of this, we usually try and shy away from the heavy favorites or top tier teams.

This year we’re bucking the trend…at least from the heavy favorite standpoint. For Week one of our suicide pool, we’re selecting the New Orleans Saints. This game just has easy win written all over it.

Offensively, it’ll be business as usual; the Saints will use the passing game to set up the running game. And after Drew Brees and Co. have struck early on and taken a large lead, watch for New Orleans to feed the ball to their running backs (Bell, Bush) to run out the clock.

Defensively, look for the Saints to key on RB Kevin Smith and put the game into QB Matt Stafford’s hands. The Saints defense, while not formidable, will be much improved under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and once they jump out to a double-digit lead you can bet he’ll bring the house and force Stafford into mistakes and turnovers.

When all is said and done, you’ll be moving onto week two of your suicide pool while the Lions will have suffered their 18th straight loss dating back to 2007.

2009 Fantasy Booms and Busts—Week One

Josh Satler — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:33:58 -0400

It’s our fantasy booms and busts edition to kick off the 2009 season. This week we’ll look at three from each position and tell you who will boom, and who will bust.

Fantasy Booms

1. QB Tom Brady

As mentioned in our Week one fantasy football rankings, the NFL world braces for Brady’s return and we’re expecting an airout in on national television.

Don’t be surprised if he throws for 200 yards and two TDs in the first half alone. When it’s all said and done, or the Pats are up by 25 late in the game, expect Brady to have well over 300 yards with three, maybe four TDs.

2. RB Ray Rice

The more this matchup is examined, the more we like Rice. Not only should Baltimore jump out to an overwhelming lead, but the Chiefs defense is extremely soft…especially in the middle.

Last year’s top pick defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey hasn’t developed and now they’re switching to a 3-4, a style he’s not suited for. All this adds to a huge fantasy day from Rice who should easily top the 100-yard plateau.

3. WR Larry Fitzgerald

Apparently, 49ers cornerback Nate Clements has been getting torched all camp and now he gets the best receiver in the NFL. Fitzgerald entered another stratosphere last post season and he’s poised to carry that over in week one against a defense that doesn’t do a good job of pressuring the quarterback.

Fantasy Busts

1. QB Jay Cutler

The 2009 version of the Packers defense is going to look drastically different than 2008. They’re healthy, they’ve added two top rookies in the draft, defensive tackle B.J Raji, linebacker Clay Mathews. Dom Capers is going to implement a more aggressive approach which takes advantage of his linebackers speed.

Cutler on the other hand has very few receiving options outside of tight end Greg Olsen and wide receiver Devin Hester at this point. He’ll certainly have better days ahead, but Sunday isn’t going to be one of them.

2. RB Steve Slaton

Although the Jets will be playing without defensive ends Ellis and Pace, they’re plenty deep and will focus their attention on taking Slaton out of the gameplan. Head Coach Rex Ryan knows that if you make Schaub one dimensional, it’s much easier to defend than when you have a running back picking up first downs and keeping the offense balanced.

3. WR Antonio Bryant

Bryant’s coming off a career year in which he supplanted Joey Galloway as the No. 1 wide receiver, but he’ll struggle on Sunday. Quarterback Byron Leftwich has an extremely slow release and DE/LB DeMarcus Ware and Co. will be all over him before he has a chance to locate his top receiving option. And cornerback Terrance Newman, who’ll be lining up against him, is no slouch either.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Rankings: Defense/Special Teams in Week One

Josh Satler — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:47:02 -0400

Must Starts

1. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Ravens couldn't have asked for a better fantasy matchup, and they're our top defense in Week One. They're facing a team that's possibly without its starting QB, just fired its offensive coordinator a week ago, and is still trying to get its offensive line in order. Look for a dominating performance from Ray Lewis and Co. on Sunday.

2. Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns

The Vikes had one of the top fantasy football defenses in 2008, and they'll be improved in 2009 thanks to the help they'll now receive from their offense. They're built to get after the passer (Jared Allen, Williams Wall, etc.), and playing with the lead is the best way to do that.

With the Browns still searching for an identity—and a starting QB—to begin the Eric Mangini era, look for at least five sacks, a few turnovers, and possibly a score from this unit.

3. San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders

This much maligned unit of 2008 should be vastly improved with LB Shawne Merriman back in the fold. Ron Rivera's aggressive style should create trouble for the young Raiders offense, which is still searching for an identity. Look for a big effort on Monday night from the Chargers' D.

4. New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins

Although they're a bit banged up on defense, the Giants' talented D will be ready to go on Sunday vs. the Jason Campbell-led Redskins. The gameplan will be to take Clinton Portis away, and then, with Campbell's penchant for holding onto the ball too long, send the dogs after him: Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Co.

Expect multiple sacks and a few turnovers.

Sleepers

Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

The Packers' D should be much improved under DC Dom Capers. The new 3-4 alignment fits perfectly with their talented group of linebackers, and B.J. Raji should be a force inside. Jay Cutler's also been known to force balls throughout his career, and we see him turning the ball over on this night. Nice fantasy sleeper play in week one.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Buccaneers

DeMarcus Ware must be salivating at the opportunity to face Byron Leftwich and his slow release on opening day. If Dallas can jump to an early lead, it will be a long day for Tampa Bay and a big afternoon for the Cowboys' D on the road. Look for Dallas to keep the Bucs under 10 points in Week One.

Others with Favorable Matchups

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tennessee Titans

Emotions should be running high as the Steelers kick off the 2009 season on Thursday Night. Although the Titans are stronger offensively, the Steelers' D should feed off of the energy and put on a dominating effort. James Harrison and Co. should put Kerry Collins on his back a few times in this one.

New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills

The firing of its offensive coordinator just a week before the season is an ominous sign for the Bills offense, although we still like this unit in 2009. But Monday night will be tough, especially if the Pats offense comes out firing on all cylinders. It'll then make Buffalo one-dimensional, and that's when the Pats are most dangerous—when their talented front seven can get after the QB.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Saint Louis Rams

Aside from Steven Jackson, the Rams don't have much on offense in the way of a passing game, so if the Hawks can limit No. 39's success on the ground, they should be able to force Marc Bulger into a few turnovers and multiple sacks.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Rankings: Tight Ends in Week One

Josh Satler — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:35:46 -0400

Must Starts

1. Dallas Clark vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

While the Jaguars always seem to come up big when facing the Colts, Clark always comes up big against the Jags. And this year, he should to an even greater extent. With the loss of Marvin Harrison, Clark now becomes Peyton's No. 2 target (behind Reggie Wayne), so look for a big effort on Sunday. He ranks as the top fantasy tight end in Week One.

2. Antonio Gates vs. Oakland Raiders

Gates is once again healthy, and this presents major problems for defenses. While the Raiders linebacking corps is both solid and quick, it won't be able to keep up with Gates on Monday night. The long-time standout TE should eclipse the 80-yard mark with at least one touchdown and be a force in the red zone.

3. Tony Gonzalez vs. Miami Dolphins

This is a nice spot to unveil Tony G. to the football world in his new-high flying Falcons offense. While the Dolphins defense is much improved, there have been few (defenses) over Gonzalez's 13-year career which have been able to stop him. And it won't happen on Sunday.

4. Jason Witten vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This won't be an easy spot for Witten, as the Bucs have a quick defense, but he should be Romo's No. 1 target and have multiple opportunities to put up yards and possibly score a TD. The matchup for the 2009 top-ranked fantasy football TE isn't the most favorable, but he should still do well.

Sleepers

1. Jermichael Finley vs. Chicago Bears

With all of the receiving weapons the Bears will have to deal with (Greg Jennings, Donald Drier, Jordy Nelson, etc.), this is an excellent matchup for the up-and-coming second-year TE from Texas. Look for the rapport that he and Aaron Rodgers have developed since late last season and in the preseason to carry over to Week One. An excellent fantasy sleeper play.

2. Zach Miller vs. San Diego Chargers

Miller's had some strong games vs. the Chargers and is adept at getting open down the seam on this defense. In what should be a lopsided affair in San Diego's favor, look for the Raiders to be in pass mode and for Miller to get a lot of looks.

Others with Favorable Matchups

Todd Heap vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Until this unit begins to gel, the Chiefs defense is officially a mess. This is good news for Heap owners, as Flacco will target him often in Week One.

Jeremy Shockey vs. Detroit Lions

The Saints' offense should have a field day against the Lions, and you know Brees wants to incorporate the TE into the offensive game plan. Shockey says he's rededicated himself in 2009, and Week One is excellent opportunity to show if that's the case.

Visanthe Shiancoe vs. Cleveland Browns

Favre has always loved to target his TE in the red zone and we think until he becomes fully comfortable in the Vikings offense, he'll look at Shiancoe often. After establishing himself as a quality fantasy football TE in 2008, look for that to continue in 2009.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Rankings: Week One Wide Receivers

Josh Satler — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:45:55 -0400

1. Randy Moss vs. Buffalo Bills

It is our opinion that we're going to see an aerial show on Monday night in Tom Brady's comeback—and all we need to do is look back to 2007 to see how dangerous the Brady/Moss combo is. While he'll probably get Leodis McKelvin, a talented young corner to cover him, it won't matter. Look for over 100 yards and two TDs in a big-time fantasy effort.

2. Larry Fitzgerald vs. San Francisco 49ers

The Fitz show will be front and center when the Niners head to the desert on opening day. With San Francisco's defense incapable of pressuring Kurt Warner, the Arizona QB will have the necessary time to locate this year's top fantasy football wide receiver, and this should lead to a big afternoon. Expect 100 yards and at least one TD.

3. Calvin Johnson vs. New Orleans

The freakish Calvin Johnson will once again prove impossible for NFL defenses to cover. The Saints, who should actually be improved on that side of the ball under new DC Gregg Williams, will have little success stopping Johnson, even with Matthew Stafford getting the starting nod on Monday. With the expected deficit the Lions should be playing with, that'll make for a lot of passing opportunities.

4. Roddy White vs. Miami Dolphins

White's become a star receiver in this league, and he'll continue getting better playing with Matt Ryan. While Miami is very disciplined as a unit, White will prove too much for this secondary to handle and will torch whichever corner Miami tries to line up opposite him.

Sleepers

Josh Morgan vs. Arizona Cardinals

While he'll most likely line up against Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Morgan has an opportunity for a big game if he can carry over his late season rookie success into year two. The Niners could also be playing from behind, which will increase his opportunities for catches and yards.

Ted Ginn Jr. vs. Atlanta Falcons

There was a reason the Falcons went out and traded for CB Tye Hill last week; their secondary is suspect. Look for Chad Pennington to target Ginn on a few deep balls and for at least one of them to connect. Solid fantasy sleeper play.

Others with Favorable Matchups

Greg Jennings vs. Chicago Bears

Jennings entrenched himself as one of the best receivers in the league last year and was rewarded with a multi-year extension this offseason. With Aaron Rodgers now beginning to flourish, look for he and Jennings to pick up right where they left off and for Jennings to once again be Rodgers' deep threat. He'll score in this one.

Vincent Jackson vs. Oakland Raiders

The Chargers should have a fairly easy go of it in Oakland with success coming both on the ground and in the air. When they do take to the air, look for Philip Rivers to target his No. 1 outside weapon and for Jackson to torch the Raiders secondary, assuming CB Nnamdi Asomugha isn't playing or isn't fully healthy.

Terrell Owens vs. New England Patriots

Monday night will be a good opportunity to see if the moves New England made in the offseason have shored up its secondary. Either way, this will be one of the few games we see T.O. on in prime time, and we expect him to make his presence felt. Trent Edwards will be looking towards his new No. 1 early and often.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Football Rankings: Week One Running Backs

Josh Satler — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:18:56 -0400

Must Starts:

1. Adrian Peterson vs. Cleveland Browns

The road for 2,000 begins in the Dawg Pound. Look for Peterson to get the ball early and often and shred this Browns' defense for over 150 yards and two TDs. Mangini's influence will certainly make for a more disciplined defense in 2009, but it won't happen on opening day and it won't happen against the premier fantasy football running back.

2. Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Indianapolis Colts

Check back before game time, but if Jones-Drew is past his shin bruise he suffered in the preseason finale, look for him to carve up this undersized Colts' defense. In fact, he's always come up big when playing the Colts, and this time he won't be sharing carries with Fred Taylor. 100 yards and at least one TD.

3. Pierre Thomas vs. Detroit Lions

Thomas should have a lot of opportunities to carry the ball vs. the Lions after the Saints jump out to a large lead. And going against a defense which ranks towards the bottom of the league, 100 yards with a TD or two seem certainly within reach.

4. Michael Turner vs. Miami Dolphins

The Falcons and their high octane offense kick off the season against last season's Cinderella team, the Miami Dolphins. And look for Atlanta to stay with what made them so successful a year ago: the run. Turner should get the ball at least 25 times in this one and that should be enough to hit the century mark with at least one TD.

Sleepers

1. Cedric Benson vs. Denver Broncos

The interior of the Broncos defense last season had a hole as big as the Atlantic Ocean, and they didn't do much to address it this offseason. Benson finished off 2008 very strong and will look to pick things up where he left off. A great fantasy sleeper play in week one.

2. Chris "Beanie" Wells vs. San Francisco 49ers

Wells will have an opportunity to kick off his career with a bang against the 49ers. While the Niners possess a solid linebacking core, their defensive line is small, and that means that the Cards blockers will have a chance to get to the second level and create nice running lanes for Wells.

Others With Favorable Matchups

Ray Rice vs. Kansas City Chiefs

There was a reason why the Chiefs were 2-14 last season; they had no defense. They've got a lot of youth on that side of the ball which will one day gel and become a legit NFL defense, but this Sunday won't be that day. Look for Rice to do a lot of damage running the ball and as a receiver out of the backfield.

DeAngelo Williams vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Williams was a fantasy football superstar last season and single-handedly won people their leagues. The Eagles have questions on defense to address and are undersized in the interior of their defense. They also lost standout MLB Stewart Bradley in training camp. This adds up to a big day for Williams.

Steven Jackson vs. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks suffered quite a few losses to their defense in the offseason so this is a very nice situation for Jackson to find himself in. And with the Rams likely to rely on the running game in order to protect its defense, look for Jackson to thrive in the great northwest.

Pro Football 101 Week One NFL Fantasy Rankings: Quarterbacks

Josh Satler — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:27:06 -0400

Must Starts

1. Tom Brady vs. Buffalo Bills

Brady returns to the gridiron to face the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night. And while the Bills possess a pretty solid young defense, in the end, it will not matter.

Brady will come out slinging and easily eclipse the three hundred yard mark with at least three TDs. The Brady to Moss show should be in full effect under the bright lights and he tops this week's QB fantasy rankings.

2. Drew Brees vs. Detroit Lions

Jim Schwartz was a heck of a defensive coordinator in his time with the Titans. Unfortunately he wasn't able to bring his players along to Detroit—because while they should be improved, they'll prove no match for Brees and his explosive offense.

Look for Brees to pick this secondary apart and to easily surpass the 300-yard mark with three TDs.

3. Phillip Rivers vs. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders pass defense is actually one of their strong points, but star CB Nnadi Asomugha is out with an injury—although he says he'll be back in time for Week One.

Regardless, the Chargers are a team that's built through the air. Look for Rivers to take advantage of Jackson and Gates, along with Sproles on dumps out of the backfield, to eclipse 250 yards with at least three TDs.

4. Carson Palmer vs. Denver Broncos

Nothing has happened in the offseason to suggest the Broncos will be any better on defense in 2009. On the other hand, the Bengals possess a solid offense with the return of Carson Palmer, and the offseason signing of Laveurnes Coles to take over as the No. 2 receiver gives them a solid trio of receivers. And oh yeah, Chad Ochocinco is motivated once again.

Look for a big day from Palmer with 250 yards and two to three TDs.

Sleepers

1. Joe Flacco vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Although Baltimore's expected to feature more of a running offense this season, the Chiefs are weak defensively. And Flacco will have many opportunities to attack through the air and find his TE and receivers in favorable matchups.

A great fantasy sleeper if your regular starter has a poor matchup.

2. Trent Edwards vs. New England

With the addition of T.O., the Bills are expected to be more dangerous on offense, and the Patriots still need to show that the offseason upgrades in the secondary will pan out. The Bills should also be playing from behind in this one—so expect a lot of passing opportunities for Edwards.

Others We Like

1. Kurt Warner vs. San Francisco 49ers

Playing at home and coming off the Super Bowl appearance, the Cardinals should be pretty amped up. And the Niners don't possess a formidable pass rush, which means that Warner will have time to locate his outstanding receiving targets for what should be a big day through the air.

2. Aaron Rodgers vs. Chicago Bears

The Aaron Rodgers Show is in full effect this season, and all of the pieces are in place for a very potent offense. The Bears secondary was its weak link last year and we like for Green Bay to attack this unit heavily. Look for 250 yards and two TDs.

3. Brett Favre vs. Cleveland Browns

Although Favre isn't fully acclimated to his new offense in Minnesota, Cleveland certainly doesn't present much of a defensive challenge in Week One. When not handing the ball off to superstar runner Adrian Peterson, look for Favre to locate—and hit—his weapons (Berrian, Harvin, Schiancoe) all day long.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Busts: Tight Ends in 2009

Josh Satler — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:57:35 -0400

1. Kellen Winslow

In time, the move to Tampa Bay should revitalize Kellen Winslow's career.

This year, with so much uncertainty at the QB position, it's probably safe to assume he won't be putting up numbers similar to 2007. Still, he should be a viable target for Byron Leftwich, and a safety net for Josh Freeman (when he's ready), so his catch total could be decent.

Yards and TDs will be hard to come by this coming season. A few player rankings list him in the top 10; we don't think his production will warrant that high of a fantasy ranking come the end of the year.

2. Heath Miller

While not flashy, Heath Miller possesses very good hands and is a solid TE by NFL standards. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, his production doesn't translate to No. 1 fantasy TE numbers.

The main reason for this is the Pittsburgh Steelers love to use their receivers in the passing game. More often than not, Miller is the fourth or fifth option, behind even the running backs out of the backfield.

The best bet for Miller in 12 person leagues is keep him as a No. 2 and use him only when your starter is out.

3. Bo Scaife

Although he's certainly not a big name, Bo Scaife played very well last season and became Kerry Collins' go-to-guy early on. Still, that didn't equate to many balls ending up in the end zone (Scaife had just two TD's).

This year, the Tennessee Titans have added some receivers to the mix (Nate Washington, Kenny Britt) which should mean even fewer opportunities to come Scaife's way.

This season's pool of TEs is extremely deep. While he was a fantasy starter for many weeks last season, there are more attractive options available this season.

Pro Football 101: Fantasy Busts Zeros In on Wide Receivers In 2009

Josh Satler — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:18:23 -0400

1. Brandon Marshall

Has anyone gotten off to a worse start this year than Brandon Marshall? As soon as Jay Cutler was dealt he demanded a trade. Then, after being found not guilty in his court case, he said he didn't trust the organization for the way PR handled it. And when he was finally able to get back on the field, he was suspended due to conduct detrimental to the team.

The bottom line is this: with Kyle Orton at the helm, there was no way he was going to duplicate the numbers he put up last year. Now, with this latest suspension, it's hard to see Marshall doing much of anything for Denver this season because he's been so adamant about getting out of town. And pretty soon, the players aren't going to put up with him either.

When it comes to your fantasy football draft, buyer beware.

2. Roy E. Williams

Williams was an utter disappointment after coming over from Detroit last October. Now you can blame some of it on not being familiar with the playbook, but he looked more like a No. 4 receiver than a potential No. 1. And even with T.O. no longer on the team, we're still not sure he possesses the toughness to match-up against top tier corners in this league.

This isn't Detroit where opposing teams don't always bring their A game; this is Dallas and the spotlight will be very bright.

So when you're building out your fantasy roster at the receiver position, it might be worthwhile to keep Williams as a No. 3 until he proves doubters wrong.

3. Antonio Bryant

Bryant was the ultimate fantasy sleeper last season as he went from a fill-in early on to the top receiver by midseason. And in the process he replaced long time No. 1 receiver Joey Galloway. The issue this year is there's a lot of uncertainty at the QB position; Leftwich isn't the long term solution and the rookie (Freeman) is too green to make an impact in year one.

If your league gives point per receptions, he still could do well. But anything which places a heavy value on TDs is one I'd approach with caution when deciding between Bryant and another receiver.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Busts: Running Backs in 2009

Josh Satler — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:19:04 -0400

Clinton Portis

It’s difficult to put a guy of Clinton Portis' caliber in a fantasy bust article, but a repeat of his 2008's fantasy numbers seems highly unlikely.

He was heavily used last season and we’re not sure he’ll be able to hold up in 2009 with a similar workload. The Washington Redskins have even stated that they plan to incorporate Ladell Betts as the primary third down back to eliminate wear and tear.

Another cause for concern is the Skins' offensive line. Since releasing RT Jon Jansen in the offseason, they're still trying to solidify the right side.

Portis will still have plenty of opportunities and based on talent alone, deserves to be a second round pick in most 12 person leagues, but expect a drop off in production.

Willie Parker

Willie Parker’s days as a featured back in Pittsburgh are numbered. Last year's first round pick, Rashard Mendenhall, is going to be given every opportunity to show what he can do and Parker has been unable to avoid the injury bug over the past few seasons.

While he still has potential to be a No. 2 fantasy running back in most leagues, "Fast" Willie Parker’s fantasy football stats will almost certainly see a decline because he'll be splitting carries in 2009. He'll also most likely find himself on the bench in the fourth quarter as the Steelers try and grind their way to victory.

If you plan on grabbing Parker, make sure you get Mendenhall.

Joseph Addai

There's one train of thought which suggests that Joseph Addai is poised for a bounce back in 2009.

After starring as a rookie in 2006, he's been unable to avoid the injury bug or post similar results since. And this year, with the defensive line being a far greater need than the running back position, the Colts opted to select RB Donald Brown at the bottom of the first round.

So it seems that even GM Polian isn't exactly sure what to expect from Addai.

Another sign, which doesn't bode too well for him, is if the preseason is any indication, it will be Brown who receives the carries near the goal line.

So be cautious come fantasy draft time; grab him too high and you could regret it.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Busts: Quarterbacks in 2009

Josh Satler — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:13:29 -0400

Our fantasy busts edition will feature QBs who are poised to see a drop off in production in 2009, meaning you should be careful as to how high you select them in your fantasy football draft.

Kurt Warner

Warner only makes this list because we don’t see a repeat of last year’s stellar fantasy performance.

In 2008, everything fell into place; after a horrible start for Edgerrin James, followed up by his complaining and then benching, the Cards abandoned the run completely and gave rookie Tim Hightower only a few carries mostly near the goal line. Overall, there were games where the pass to run ratio was 75/25.

This year, he's a year older, had offseason hip surgery, and first round selection Chris "Beanie" Wells is now in the equation, meaning the Cards intend to run the ball more. While we still expect a solid year, blessed with weapons such as Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston, don't expect 4,500 passing yards and 30 TDs.

Jay Cutler

There’s reason for hope in Chicago with the arrival of Jay Cutler. He gives them a legitimate NFL QB which is something they haven’t had in a long time. However, from a fantasy football standpoint, this is a step back.

He no longer has the weapons (Marshall and Royal) he had in Denver and instead has a converted DB as his likely top receiver. And while TE Greg Olsen's a solid player, it won't be long before defenses begin to key on him.

He’ll still produce solid number because a gun slinger by nature puts a lot of balls in the air, but another 4,000 yard, 25 TD season seems like a long shot.

Matt Cassel

Cassel stepped in admirably for Brady and put together a tremendous fantasy season for a guy who had only thrown a handful of passes since his high school season in 1999. Blessed with Randy Moss and Wes Welker, he finished up with 3,600 yards and 21 TDs.

That’s not going to happen in KC.

He’s walking into a rebuilding situation and a team that let its top receiver of all-time, Tony Gonzalez, go in the offseason.

Dwayne Bowe is a big time threat and will certainly help out, but the line is young, the receiving weapons outside of Bowe are limited, and a drop off is a more than likely result because of it. Although he was paid like it, he won't be a top tier fantasy QB in 2009.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Sleepers: Tight Ends in 2009

Josh Satler — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:23:19 -0400

While tight ends rarely impact your fantasy team as other positions do, they still provide a lot of valuable points and can be the difference to a win or loss. If you don't grab one of the top guys at the position, you can still find quality later on. Here's three fantasy sleepers to consider.

1. Brent Celek

Certainly not a household name, Celek, in his second year in the league, showed that he was quite adept at finding the soft zone in the defense. He and McNabb developed a strong rapport towards the end of the season.

It culminated in an ultra impressive NFC Championship Game where Celek reeled in 10 catches for 80 yards and two TDs.

This year, with rookie TE Cornelius Ingraham out with a torn ACL, Celek has an excellent opportunity to step up and be McNabb's mid-range target over the middle.

He'll most likely be available later in the draft and could end up a tremendous fantasy sleeper if he can build upon last season's playoffs.

2. Martellus Bennett

Word out of Big D is that Bennett reminds a lot of people, in both physique and skill, of another great TE in this league: Antonio Gates. And while he's the back-up behind this year's top fantasy ranking TE, Jason Witten, we think the Cowboys will employ more two TE sets this year to compensate for the loss of T.O to the offense.

Roy Williams just didn't do enough over the last ten games of the season to inspire trust that defenses will pay him the respect that a No. 1 deserves. So once they begin to focus on Witten, which could have an adverse effect on his fantasy numbers, we see Bennett taking advantage of nickel backs and LBs and Romo quickly taking advantage of this mismatch.

3. Vernon Davis

As hard as this is to say, Davis might be a valuable fantasy sleeper over the course of this season. Mike Singletary seems to have certainly reached his TE in the short time they've been together and so far the results seem to support it.

With the recent announcement of Shaun Hill as the starting QB, look for the veteran to use Davis as his middle target and for San Francisco to move the TE around to take advantage of his size and speed.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Sleepers: Wide Receivers in 2009

Josh Satler — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:56:58 -0400

Any receiver that's taken at the top half of the fantasy draft is usually selected in the range he should be, and the only thing you need to worry about is whether you're selecting him too high based on his probable return—e.g., Chad Ochocinco, a high-round draft choice who was a mess before last season and then went on to bomb in it.

This edition is going to look at a three mid-to-late-round sleepers, who, if taken at the proper time, can help solidify your roster and even add value to it as a No. 2 or flex play.

1. Lee Evans

We've said it before and we'll say it again, Evans has the look of a very nice fantasy sleeper pick this season. The acquisition of T.O. will make Evans an afterthought to most defenses, and this is exactly what you want as a fantasy owner.

Blessed with blazing deep speed, he'll be sure to capitalize on those one-on-one matchups and could be poised for a huge season.

2. Josh Morgan

The absence of Michael "I think I should be paid based on mock drafts rather than the real draft" Crabtree provides an excellent opportunity for the second-year receiver out of Virginia Tech to step up. In his limited time as a rookie, we saw the speed, hands, and ability to get open that left us with the impression that there's more to come.

And with Shaun Hill recently named the starting quarterback, providing stability at the position, we think he'll become a fixture in San Francisco's offense and provide the big plays this corps has been lacking since the days of T.O.

Excellent late-round fantasy sleeper.

3. Jordy Nelson

The Packers used their second-round draft choice on Nelson last year, and he performed admirably as the third receiving option. Overall, he finished with 33 catches for 366 yards and two TDs.

This year, with Aaron Rodgers on the cusp of becoming a top-flight QB in the NFL, Nelson becomes an excellent breakout receiver option. The Packers run a lot of their offense from the three-receiver set, meaning Nelson will have the luxury of lining up primarily against the nickel back, which should present a lot of mismatches in the Packers' favor.

And if either Greg Jennings or Donald Driver go down during the season, he slides right in to a starting role.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Sleepers: Running Backs in 2009

Josh Satler — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:27:46 -0400

Every year, a few running backs come out of nowhere to surprise the NFL and significantly add to—or carry—a fantasy football team.

Last year's rookie running back crop was strong, and in particular, Steve Slaton (212 fantasy points), who was expected to be nothing more than a third down back when the season began and ended up the fantasy sleeper of the entire draft.

Others like Le'Ron McClain, who no one had ever heard of coming into the season, ended up scoring 159 points, while Pierre Thomas, who started the season as a third stringer behind Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, added 148 points—most coming down the stretch.

But it's picks like these which can propel a fantasy team to the playoffs.

Today we'll focus on three backs, who should be overlooked on draft day, that we feel could make a significant impact in 2009.

Rashard Mendenhall

When Willie Parker recently questioned his contract situation, he had every right to do so. And when the Pittsburgh Steelers failed to address his concerns, it signalled a changing of the guard soon to come in Pittsburgh. Team's don't invest first round draft choices in players unless they intend to give them a long look.

While his rookie season was a washout, after he broke his shoulder early on against the Ravens and was placed on IR, all systems are a go in year two for Rashard Mendenhall.

And this year, the Steelers will look to establish the ground game to setup the pass. While there's plenty of firepower at the skill positions, which will be good to keep defenses honest, the Steelers' offensive line gelled late last season and Tomlin will want to wear teams down in fourth quarter. And our money says that the 220 pound back, out of Illinois, will be the man to do so.

Provided he can stay healthy, Mendenhall could really burst onto this scene and be terrific late round fantasy sleeper.

Michael Bush

Michael Bush has a chance to take a big step forward and become the other half of the Oakland Raiders' duo at running back in 2009. Darren McFadden is a shoe-in and home run threat every time he touches the ball, but Bush brings more to the table than incumbent starter, Justin Fargas, and finished off last season with 421 yards and three TDs on just 95 carries.

And in the finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he rattled off 27 carries for 177 yards and two TDs to send Tampa packing for the offseason.

With expected improvement from this offensive unit, as the young players are another year older, it might be worthwhile to think about Bush in the later rounds of your fantasy draft and he could end up being a pleasant surprise.

Glen Coffee

The San Francisco 49ers used their third round pick on Glen Coffee because they were desperate to find a second option to Frank Gore, after the DeShaun Foster experiment failed miserably in 2008. And Gore, although a very good back when healthy, has seen his game falter after his big 2006 season, which netted him a new contract.

Some of that can definitely be attributed to the overall struggles of the offense, but some must go to him as he hasn't run with the same determination he once ran with.

So that brings us to Coffee, who ran for 129 yards in the first half of San Francisco's win over the Raiders last week. He's a big, fast, tough runner, and could end up initially as the goal line back, and in the event Gore suffers an injury, a whole lot more.

Keep an eye on him late in the draft.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Sleepers: 2009 Quarterbacks

Josh Satler — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:13:30 -0400

While selecting Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and a handful of others doesn't take much skill in a fantasy football draft, finding a late-round sleeper who impacts your team does. And more times than not it's the late round gem who puts you into the playoffs and even a championship...case in point being Derek Anderson in 2007 and Chad Pennington in 2008.

This edition takes a look at two potential 2009 fantasy sleepers to consider at the QB position after the initial wave of talented passers have come off the board.

Trent Edwards

While he was erratic for much of 2008, only finishing with 2,699 yards and 11 TDs, the offense was relatively easy to defend with few threats outside of WR Lee Evans.

That all changed when the Bills scooped up T.O. days after he was released. In addition to what he brings to the table from a production standpoint, 10 TDs is probably a good number to expect, Owens addition instantly makes Edwards more appealing as defenses will shift focus away from Evans, leaving the speed burner and excellent receiver in his own right alone in one-on-one situations.

On top of this, his third and fourth receiving options, James Hardy and Josh Reed, will have favorable match-ups against nickel backs and both tailbacks are solid receivers out of the backfield.

And being blessed with playing a last-place schedule, this all provides ample reason to expect Edwards to have a solid 2009 fantasy campaign.

Matt Hasselback

The aging vet endured a horrendous 2008 campaign and only played in seven total games as a result of a lingering lower back injury. And once the Hawks were officially out of it, they shelved him for the season as there was no point in risking anything long term.

But the outlook is much brighter this season. Not only is he healthy, but he plays in a weak division and has the luxury of facing a third-place schedule in 2009. Seattle also went out an upgraded its receiving corps to include T.J. Houshmandazadeh, who will give Hasselback another option alongside Deion Branch, Nate Burleson and young stud TE, John Carlson.

With not much of a running game to speak of, look for Seattle to rely on the passing game heavily and use the short safe passing game to set-up the deep ball.

Sure to be overlooked come draft day, Hasselback, an extremely accurate QB, could end up one of the best fantasy sleepers in the entire draft.

The Pro Football 101 Guide To Winning Your NFL Suicide Pool

Josh Satler — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:33:12 -0400

One of the new gambling rages on the NFL is the suicide pool.

To recap for those not familiar with the term or have heard about it in their office and are interested in getting involved; the NFL suicide pool allows you to choose one team each week with no point spread.

If your team wins then you move on to the following week, but you can no longer use that team for the rest of the season.

And if you lose, adios; your season is over.

Some of these pools get ridiculously large and can have jackpots well into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Entry fees usually range anywhere from $10 on up to $500 or more.

So what's the best way to approach the suicide pool each week?

1. Don't be a sheep

Don't go with the obvious favorite just because everyone else is. And that especially goes for week one when strange things have been known to happen.

In 2003, the two touchdown underdog Houston Texans, in their second year of existence, beat the Dolphins, a playoff team, 21-20 in Miami, and in 2008, the heavily favored Chargers lost to the Panthers on the final play of the game 26-24.

2. Save the better teams for later on in the season

Just because the Patriots should win an easy matchup early on, why not look for a lesser publicized game and keep your better teams in your back pocket for later in the season? It's an incredibly powerful position to be in when you're left in it with a few others and still have top teams to choose from while they're scraping the bottom of the barrel.

3. Road records

I always keep an eye on terrible road teams and will take their opponent, even if that opponent is a bad team themselves, because of the likelihood that the road team will lose.

Case in point was last season when the hot Houston Texans, on a four-game winning streak, went into the Blackhole and were beaten 27-16 by the horrendous Raiders. Poor road teams are about as consistent as it gets.

4. Trends

Remember, with suicide pools we're not talking about beating the point spread, but rather winning straight up. So if a team gets on a roll and strings a number of wins together, it might be worthwhile to parlay one of those wins for yourself.

Conclusion

The art of winning an NFL suicide pool is as much about luck as it is strategy, but if you keep these points in mind, it'll greatly increase the chances of your being around when the money is on the line.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Rankings: Tight Ends 11-20 In 2009

Josh Satler — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:41:23 -0400

11. Kevin Boss

Although the TE position wasn't a major part of the Giants' offense in 2008, when they did look to Boss, he delivered. He ended up leading the team with six TDs on just 33 catches and with both Burress and Toomer gone this year, look for Boss's role in the offense to increase.

12. Zach Miller

Miller was an excellent fantasy sleeper in 2008 and show a lot of ability over the course of the season. While Russell was incredibly inconsistent in his second year, he did manage to develop a strong rapport with Miller and expect bigger things in 2009.

13. Visanthe Schiancoe

Regardless of who lines up behind center, Jackson or Rosenfels, look for Schiancoe to repeat his strong 2008 campaign this year. He finally emerged as a leading receiving threat and with so much attention expected to be paid to Berrian, Harvin, and Rice, look for a lot of one on one match-ups which he'll exploit.

14. Heath Miller

While the Steelers passing game runs through its receivers, Miller is an excellent receiver over the middle and just signed a 33 million dollar contract. So you know Pittsburgh has plans to use him.

15. Tony Scheffler

The loss of Cutler hurts, but just because Orton's the QB doesn't mean that Scheffler's fantasy numbers will fall off a precipice. In fact, we see Orton targeting him more because in McDaniels' offense, which he brought over from New England, the TE position is heavily featured.

16. Brent Celek

If Celek can carry over his momentum from the 2008 NFC Championship Game, 10 catches for over 80 yards and two TDs, he'll do well in 2009. And with rookie TE Cornelius Ingram gone for the season with a torn ACL, look for his looks from McNabb to increase and for Celek to be an nice late round fantasy sleeper.

17. Jeremy Shockey

Oh how far Jeremy Shockey's star has fallen since he burst onto the NFL scene in 2003; two years ago the Giants won the Super Bowl after he went out with an injury and last year he was dealt to the Saints and was a major disappointment. If he plans on salvaging his career, he must do it now. And blessed to be playing with Brees, we think he will.

18. Anthony Fasano

A QB as smart as Pennington understands the importance of the TE in any passing game and so does Tony Sparano. Fasano, one of Parcells' picks in Dallas who followed him to Miami, caught seven TDs in 2008 and should do well once again.

19. Bo Scaife

Kerry Collins insertion into the starting role instantly raised Scaife's fantasy value. He quickly became a favorite and should see less attention from the defense this year with the additions to the receiver position (Washington, Britt, etc.)

20. Vernon Davis

No one questions Davis' work ethic or athleticism, it's his ability to catch the ball and make plays which keeps his critics active. However, once Mike Singletary took over as coach, he seemed to light a fire under the former first round TE and it could mean that Davis finally begins to realize some of that potential in 2009.

NFL Fantasy Rankings: Top 10 Tight Ends in 2009

Josh Satler — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:29:58 -0400

1. Jason Witten

T.O.'s departure makes the sure handed Witten even more important in the Cowboys' offense. Look for OC Garret to move him around and Romo to target him at least eight-to-10 balls per game.

2. Antonio Gates

Rumor has it that Gates is finally healthy. If so, look out for a big fantasy campaign in 2009 as the Chargers have the outside threats to diminish attention paid towards the stud TE and Rivers and Gates have an excellent rapport.

3. Tony Gonzalez

Everything appears set for another superb season by Gonzalez. Coming off a 96 catch, 10 plus TD season, he now teams with Matt Ryan and will be deadly across the middle and in the red zone.

4. Dallas Clark

With the loss of Marvin Harrison, Clark's role takes on even more importance in the Colts' offense as he becomes Peyton's No. 2 option. He's a nightmare for Linebackers and Safeties to cover, and Manning's pinpoint location always seems to find him.

5. Greg Olsen

The happiest man at the Cutler signing was first and foremost Cutler, second Olsen. The talented TE raised his level of play in 2008 and now having a legit NFL QB throwing the ball to him, rather than Orton, his numbers should improve greatly.

6. Kellen Winslow

It's worth keeping an eye on the QB situation, but this is a great position for Winslow to become a top flight fantasy football TE once again. With Antonio Bryant on the outside, it'll free up Winslow in one-on-one match-ups which he should exploit.

7. Chris Cooley

Cooley's just a shade below the top-tier TEs but solid nonetheless. While his catch total in 2008 was solid, he only reached the end zone once, but look for that number to increase as they head into year two under Jim Zorn.

8. John Carlson

Carlson's rookie year was extremely impressive in that he led the team in receiving and did so without Matt Hasselback behind center. With Hasselback back and healthy, and Carlson entering year two, he could end up a top five fantasy TE by year's end.

9. Owen Daniels

Daniels is another TE who had a big 2008 but failed to reach the end zone often. This year should be another strong campaign; after Andre Johnson, he's definitely Matt Schaub's No. 2 and an excellent option down the seam.

10. Dustin Keller

It took until the midpoint of last season before the Jets realized what they had in Keller. With exceptional speed for a TE, no LB or Safety is going to cover him, and with a young QB behind center, look for Keller to be a safety valve and focal point in Rex Ryan's offense.

Pro Football 101: 11-20 Fantasy Wide Receivers in 2009

Josh Satler — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:27:43 -0400

11. Marques Colston

The only thing keeping Colston out of the top 10 fantasy receiver conversation is his proneness to injury. Aside from that, he's in a dream situation playing with Brees in that offense and two years ago put up over 1,200 yards and 11 TDs.

12. Dwayne Bowe

Bowe had a heck of a year for the 2-14 Chiefs in 2008 and really took a big step forward in year two. And now with TE Gonzalez shipped to Atlanta, he'll have even more of an opportunity to shine as Matt Cassel's No. 1 guy.

13. Vincent Jackson

Jackson's right on the cusp of entering the top 10 receivers, and he and Rivers have developed a strong rapport which reached new levels in 2008. With the amount of throwing they do down in San Diego, look for both his catches and TDs to increase this year.

14. Braylon Edwards

Clearly a top 10 talent, Edwards suffered from a classic case of drops in 2008 which severely hurt his production. Although the QB situation remains unsettled in Cleveland, both guys are talented enough to get the ball to Edwards. He could end up a nice fantasy sleeper after being overlooked come draft time.

15. Wes Welker

Brady's favorite underneath guy will undoubtedly eclipse the 100-catch plateau again this season. The question is, will he garner enough yards and TDs to be a borderline one or top of tier two fantasy football wide receiver? We think he will.

16. Brandon Marshall

While there's no denying the talent, the off-field issues and attitude are worrisome. Playing with Cutler last season, he put up big numbers in terms of catches and yards, but only six receptions ended up in the end zone. It's hard for us to see him bettering those numbers with Kyle Orton at the helm. Marshall's value is no better than a No. 2 this year.

17. Antonio Bryant

Bryant was an excellent fantasy sleeper in 2008 and dethroned Joey Galloway as the No. 1 guy in Tampa. This year, the QB position is unsettled, which doesn't bode well for a repeat performance, but he still can't be overlooked.

18. DeSean Jackson

Jackson could be poised to take a huge step forward as he'll enter the season as McNabb's No. 1 outside threat. And with his speed and game-breaking ability, there's a lot to like and good reason to expect big yardage and a few long TDs.

19. Santonio Holmes

Holmes had his coming out party in last year's postseason and took home the Super Bowl MVP after an impressive eight catch, 125 yard, and two TD performance. While Roethlisberger is excellent at spreading the ball around, there's no longer any question as to who Big Ben's go-to guy is.

20. Santana Moss

Moss is still a dangerous threat who should be better in year two under Jim Zorn. Last season, the passing game never really found its rhythm, yet he still posted 79 catches for 1,044 yards and six TDs.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Rankings: Top 10 Wide Receivers in 2009

Josh Satler — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:10:31 -0400

1. Larry Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald's utter dominance through the 2008 postseason elevated him to another level. And now, just entering his prime, he's going to give DBs fits for a long time.

2. Randy Moss

The return of Brady puts Moss right back at the top of fantasy receivers. Although the Pats won't be as pass happy as 2007, at least 30 TDs should come through the air and Moss will be on the receiving end of many of those.

3. Andre Johnson

Johnson ranks No. 3 on this list because he doesn't have the passing attack which the top two have. He's still impossible to cover one on one and even with the increased attention paid him by opposing defenses, possesses the size, speed, and strength to post elite numbers and sit in the top three of our fantasy rankings for receivers.

4. Calvin Johnson

Johnson's freakish athletic ability is a nightmare for any defense to handle and last year he was a man against boys for most of it. Even in double and triple coverage he still managed to score TDs. Keep an eye on the QB situation as that's the only thing working against him but he'll be a top scorer in fantasy football when it's all said and done.

5. Roddy White

White's on the verge of stardom and has the luxury of playing with one of the brightest young QBs to ever enter the league, Matt Ryan. Tony Gonzalez's presence will keep safetys from double covering him and that should translate into a lot of catches and some long TDs.

6. Greg Jennings

Jennings is another top tier receiver entering his fourth season and second with QB Rodgers. The duo quickly developed a nice rapport in 2008 and Jennings became the big-play receiver in Green Bay.

7. Steve Smith

Smith possesses an amazing combination of speed and power and his play making ability is as good as any in the league. The only thing hindering his fantasy success is the run first system he plays in and the inconsistent QB he plays with. But even with that going against him, he's still the Panthers' No. 1 passing option and always puts up points.

8. Terrell Owens

T.O. is 35 and beginning to show some signs of his age. But he still keeps himself in phenomenal shape and is difficult in one on one match-ups. Although his production fell in 2008, he still managed 10 TDs. Now playing in Buffalo, he should quickly become Edwards go to guy and quietly post solid numbers.

9. Anquan Boldin

While still unhappy about his contract situation, Boldin realizes that the best way to command a big pay day is by putting up big time numbers. And in Arizona's pass happy offense, there's enough love to go around that he'll have another chance to do so.

10. Reggie Wayne

Wayne's clearly Manning's top guy in 2009 as Harrison is no longer with the club. Last season's overall drop in production was because of all of the issues along the offensive line and in-continuity on the offense in general. This year that won't be a problem.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Rankings: Running Backs 11-20 in 2009

Josh Satler — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:56:51 -0400

11. Brandon Jacobs

The bruising back scored 15 TDs in 2008 and rushed for a thousand yards in his just 13 games. This year, with the uncertainty at receiver, the running game becomes even more of a focal point and that means a lot of Jacobs.

12. Steve Slaton

Initially pegged as a third down back, Slaton showed he was much more. Now's he's considered one of the building blocks for the franchise and after 1,282 and nine TDs it's easy to see why. With Andre Johnson commanding much of the defenses attention, look for Slaton to once again flourish.

13. Frank Gore

Gore's a talented back who has taken a few steps back over the past few seasons. The entire 49ers' offense has for that matter. Things are looking brighter by the Bay this season and perhaps the weapons on the outside will open things up once again for Gore.

14. Marion Barber

Barber's as tough a runner as they come, but the real question is whether he's durable; last season didn't answer that in the affirmative. Still, with a big offensive line and a pro bowl QB, Barber will be featured and should produce.

15. Larry Johnson

2008 was a wash as he went down with an injury shortly after the midpoint of the season. With the improvements to this year's version of the offense, notably at QB, look for LJ to be a nice surprise this year and a nice fantasy sleeper pick.

16. MarShawn Lynch

The three-game suspension to start the season moved him to No.16. Lynch is a steady back who can do a lot of things good, not great, and we expect upon his return a solid stat line with T.O. in the lineup.

17. Thomas Jones

Jones had a very strong 2008 campaign and finished fourth in fantasy football scoring. This year he's bickering over his contract, playing with an inexperienced QB, and all but certain to lose carries to Leon Washington. He still should have a solid season, just not like last year.

18. Joseph Addai

Addai was a top five fantasy back last year but injuries ravished his season. And now Indy used their top pick on Donald Brown out of UConn which doesn't bode well for Addai. If the offensive line comes together, and he can stay healthy, he'll end up ranked much higher than this pre-season ranking.

19. Kevin Smith

The second-year back from the 0-16 team had a solid rookie campaign coming on strong in the end. Calvin Johnson always keeps the safety out of the box and Smith showed he could run inside, or outside, so expect improvement in his sophomore season.

20. Ryan Grant

The wonder back of 2007 certainly didn't transfer it over to 2008, but a lot of that can be attributed to his training camp injury after his holdout. With no hold out this year, and a very good offense around him, look for Grant to bounce back.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Rankings: Top 10 Running Backs in 2009

Josh Satler — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:23:54 -0400

1. Adrian Peterson

Can you say 2,000? Because it could happen in 2009. Entering his third year season, with a solid offensive line to play behind, a new dynamic weapon (Harvin) in town to divert attention from the him, Peterson is poised to blow up.

Now as long as Rosenfels or Jackson can keep defenses honest...

2. Maurice Jones-Drew

Jones-Drew finally becomes the man in Jacksonville and is ready to become a superstar. While he's always been a stellar runner, especially near the goal line, he'll now see his carries increase to between 20 and 25 per game.

And after Jacksonville went out and upgraded its line in the off-season, everything is in order for a huge season.

3. DeAngelo Williams

2008 was not an aberration. Williams was always highly touted as a former first round draft pick, and he blossomed in his first full season as the starter. The second half of last season was ridiculous: 15 TDs and six 100 yard games.

Even with the carries set to go Jonathan Stewart's way, Williams is still a top fantasy running back.

4. Michael Turner

Turner proved Atlanta's GM Dimitroff a very smart man after rattling off 1,699 yards and 17 TDs in his first year in Atlanta. The one negative facing Turner in 2009 is the opposing schedule gets much tougher. But Turner is a horse and Atlanta's offense is stacked.

5. Chris Johnson

The selection is based on speed, speed, and more speed. Johnson quickly asserted himself as the featured back in the Titans' system and should take a huge step forward in his sophomore season. He's a big threat as both a running back and receiver out of the backfield.

6. LaDainian Tomlinson

For those of you who feel that Tomlinson is done, don't let this opinion deter you from taking him in the latter half of the first round. In an off season by his standards, LaDainian still ran for over 1,100 yards and scored 12 total TDs.

If Norv's Turner's run schemes can open up holes in 2009, don't be surprised to see a 1,300 yard, 15 TD season.

7. Matt Forte

The trade for Jay Cutler immediately raises Forte's stock, as defenses will now have a passer to contend with. Playing for a team devoid of dangerous outside threats, and behind a big offensive line, Forte will have an opportunity to shine in Chi-town.

8. Steven Jackson

Jackson has the skill and talent to be the number two running back in fantasy football; he just can't seem to stay healthy, and is also stuck on a poor team. The Rams did draft a future star at LT (Jason Smith) with the second overall pick.

Look for Spagnuolo to rely on the talented back in his first season, and look for Jackson to deliver.

9. Brian Westbrook

Westbrook was slowed by injury in 2008, but still managed a quality overall season with 14 total TDs. This year, the Eagles line is re-tooled and the offense looks stronger than ever. While second round pick Lesean McCoy will ease Westbrook's workload, No. 36 is the guy who makes the offense go.

10. Clinton Portis

Jim Zorn's 2008 game plan consisted of Portis, Portis and more Portis. And the eight year vet delivered. With question marks along the offensive line, look for yards to be harder to come by; but Portis' talent, drive, and his receiving ability out of the backfield will net him a solid season.

Pro Football 101: 11-20 Fantasy Quarterbacks in 2009

Josh Satler — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:10:26 -0400

11. Matt Ryan

The rookie sensation received an early Christmas present when the Falcons acquired Tony Gonzalez prior to free agency. The opposing schedule presents difficulties, but with the collection of skill players at his disposal (White, Gonzalez, etc.), and the probable improvement in year two, there is lots to like.

12. Chad Pennington

The bounce back 2008 campaign for Pennington will be tougher to replicate because of the first place schedule, but the offense is littered with young, talented offensive threats (Ginn Jr., Camarillo, Bess, Fasano) and Pennington should once again produce.

13. Matt Hasselback

A nagging injury forced Hasselback to miss most of his '08 campaign, but that appears to be behind him. With the weapons at his disposal, including new comer, T.J. Houshmandazadeh, he could be a top 10 fantasy football QB by season's end.

14. Trent Edwards

The addition of T.O., to play alongside Lee Evans, instantly boosts Edwards stock and makes him a borderline number one in fantasy football QB. And with Lynch out early on, the Bills will probably need to rely more on the passing game, making him a nice fantasy sleeper play.

15. Matt Schaub

The only thing preventing Schaub from taking a step forward is his proneness for injuries. Aside from that, Andre Johnson and the weapons are there, and with RB Steve Slaton to keep defenses balanced, look for some big games out of this passing game.

16. Eli Manning

Manning's game dropped with the loss of Burress in December and OC Kevin Gilbride failed to adjust the game plan. Overall, he still surpassed 3,000 yards with 21 TDs. With a changing of the scheme to account for the young, talented, and speedy receivers, look for Manning to step-up his game.

17. Matt Cassel

A repeat of 2008 shouldn't be expected because Moss and Welker didn't come over in the trade that brought him to KC, but he does have Bowe, who's poised to join the elite ranks at receiver. And with Haley now running his offense, and Larry Johnson to provide the offense balance, Cassel will do well.

18. Joe Flacco

The well received news that Derrick Mason would un-retire as training camp opened bodes well for Flacco in year two. Although this will still be a running team first and foremost, Mason, along with Clayton and Heap, will help Flacco take another step forward this year.

19. David Garrard

Garrard finally has his No. 1, albeit an old No. 1 in Torry Holt. This should take some pressure off of the younger guys and allow the Jaguars passing game to take pressure off the running attack.

20. Jason Campbell

The unwanted Campbell enters 2009 with a lot to prove. And he'll have to do it with many question marks along the offensive line. While there's plenty of talent at the skill positions, you still need your line to provide the necessary time to allow the play to develop.

Pro Football 101: Top 10 Fantasy Quarterbacks in 2009

Josh Satler — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:29:33 -0400

1. Drew Brees

Duplicating 2008's numbers won't be easy, over 5,000 yards and 34 TDs, but Brees is playing the best ball of his career and the offensive system, and skill players (Colston, Moore, Bush, Shockey), perfectly suit his style.

2. Tom Brady

If Brady's knee is fully healed, then he's your top fantasy football quarterback. With an explosive set of skill players (Moss, Welker, Galloway, etc.) at his disposal, only an injury and the bitter late-season cold will be able to slow him down.

3. Peyton Manning

The loss of Marvin Harrison, who was already on his last legs as is, shouldn't hurt Manning's fantasy value. He still has Wayne, Gonzalez, and Clark, and factor in two running backs with solid hands out of the backfield and you've got a lot of points on the board.

4. Donovan McNabb

McNabb supplants Romo as the top NFC East QB and has a lot of weapons in his arsenal. DeSean Jackson looks poised to take a step forward in year two, the other receivers are steady and a wild card could be Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles top selection in 2009. Factor in Reid's pass-happy system and Brian Westbrook and there's a lot to like out of McNabb.

5. Kurt Warner

When you've got Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin on the outside, and then you throw in Steve Breaston in the slot, what you have is an explosive passing game. The Cards will most likely incorporate the run into the offense more often this season but Warner will still end up with top tier fantasy numbers.

6. Carson Palmer

Provided Palmer is healthy, he's ready for a huge comeback in 2009. Chad Ochocinco finally has his head on straight, Chris Henry seems to have his life in order, free agent Laveranues Coles is still dangerous and Palmer is one of the most accurate, strong-armed QBs in the game. Great fantasy sleeper value as he sure to be overlooked come draft time.

7. Tony Romo

Romo's got the talent to end up a top three fantasy QB, but the loss of T.O., both in terms of production and the offensive scheme, is a blow. And there are a lot of question marks as to whether Roy Williams can step-up and be the number one guy. If he can, Romo does well; if not, he'll still end up a quality starter but not the scorer he was two years ago.

8. Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers showed in year one of the post Favre era that there would be no drop off in production at the QB position in Green Bay.

In fact, he posted a 4,000 yard season with 28 TDs. With an array of options to throw to including Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson, look for another big season.

9. Phillip Rivers

The run first, pass second days are a thing of the past in San Diego and the Chargers now use the pass to set-up the run. And they do this well.

With fast rising receiver Vincent Jackson on the outside, Gates at TE, and Tomlinson and Sproles out of the backfield, Rivers, who eclipsed 4,000 yards and threw 34 TDs should post another solid fantasy season.

10. Ben Roethlisberger

Roethlisberger will never be a top-tier fantasy QB due to the style of offense Pittsburgh employs, and the late-season weather, but he still finds himself in the top 10. With a plethora of weapons to target (Holmes, Ward, Sweed, and Miller), look for Big Ben to toss 25 TDs in 2009.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Rankings: AFC East Defense, Special Teams

Josh Satler — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:04:19 -0400

The AFC East features solid defenses collectively, but only the Pats are a top tier fantasy defense.

1. New England Patriots

The Patriots' D, and in particular at the linebacker and secondary positions, showed its age in 2008 and wasn't able to execute coach Bill Belichick's schemes as well as in years past.

Overall, they finished off the season with only 147 fantasy points.

This year, look for a huge turnaround. The offense should be as good as ever and provide the defense to attack the opposing QB. On top of that, the Pats loaded up on young talent (Chung, Wheatley) in the draft and vets in free agency (Springs) to help out in the secondary and solidify the unit.

And when you add that to a front seven that consists of Vince Wilfork, Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, Adalius Thomas, and Jerod Mayo, you've got one of the top fantasy football defenses in the game.

Special teams: Wes Welker handled punt returns in 2008, although he's not much of a threat to break one.

2. New York Jets

After the Jets went out and spent big bucks in free agency prior to 2008, the moves quickly yielded positive returns as the Jets' D became one of the better units in the game.

They ended up scoring 195 fantasy points.

A new boss is in town, Rex Ryan, and he was the architect of some of the great Ravens defenses of the past few years. His style is aggressive, and he has the personnel to sack the QB (DE Ellis, DT Jenkins) and force turnovers (CB Revis, S Rhodes, LB Harris, etc).

Special teams: Leon Washington is an explosive returner and good for a few scores per season.

3. Miami Dolphins

The Fins had an excellent inaugural season in the Parcells/Sparano regime, and the defense became more disciplined in carrying out its assignments. Overall, they finished with 197 fantasy points.

We don't expect the same results this year.

Sure, DE Jason Taylor is back and should provide a decent pass rush opposite LB/DE Joey Porter (17 sacks), plus improvement is expected from second year DE Phillip Merling, but the Fins must now face a first-place schedule as opposed to the last-place one from a year ago.

That's not a recipe for a repeat performance.

Special teams: Ted Ginn Jr. has emerged as a receiving threat, but his bread and butter is still special teams. Look for at least one score in 2009.

4. Buffalo Bills

The Bills are one of the younger defenses in the NFL is actually pretty solid all around. The issues last season stemmed from a few key defensive injuries and an offense that disappeared after Week 7, thus putting the defense in unfavorable situations.

They finished with 148 points.

Things should improve this year. The young defense (McKelvin, Posluszny, Whitner, etc) is now a year older and better, and the offense, with the addition of T.O., sould put more points on the board, which would allow first-round pick Aaron Maybin and the other front seven to attack the QB.

While their intra-division schedule will be tough, playing a last place schedule should help them pad the stats and make them a nice late-round fantasy sleeper.

Special teams: Leodis McKelvin is a dynamic returner who took one to the house in his rookie season. Expect more of that in 2009.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Rankings: AFC North D/ST in 2009

Josh Satler — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:45:09 -0400

The AFC North features two of the top fantasy football defenses in the league.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers come out atop this division because their team didn't suffer any major offseason losses, and they're poised to make another title run in 2009. Last year, they finished second in fantasy with 260 points.

The usual cast of characters is back for another year (Harrison, Polamalu, Hampton, Woodley, etc.) and the offense that can score and control the clock. Look for the Steelers, featuring LeBeau's complex blitzing schemes, to once again showcase a dominating defense which creates sacks and forces turnovers in droves.

Special Teams: Shaun McDonald will probably get a crack at special teams after coming over from Detroit in free agency.

2. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens ranked number one in fantasy a year ago with 290 total points. They were simply the most dominating defense in football, blessed with immense talent and the luxury of facing one of the weaker schedules in football.

But there are reasons why we see this unit taking a step back in 2009—although the talent is still there.

First off, they lost coordinator Rex Ryan, and LB Bart Scott to a lesser degree, to the Jets. Second, the schedule will be much tougher this year. Third, if Derrick Mason decides to stay retired, points and scoring will be harder to come by, which will leave the defense on the field alot.

But with stalwarts such as Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata, and Terrell Suggs still around, even though a drop off in scoring is likely, this still remains a top five defense heading into the season.

Special Teams: Yamon Figures handles returns and might break one in 2009.

3. Cinncinatti Bengals

The Bengals finished off their 2008 campaign with 132 points and a 4-12 record, but their numbers only tell part of the story; playing without Carson Palmer, the team was often on the short end of the scoreboard and the defense was getting worn out late in games.

This year, they could end up an excellent fantasy sleeper pick, as their young talent is only now beginning to come into its own. Rookie LB Keith Rivers missed most of last year after Hines Ward blindsided him; they drafted LB Rey Maulaluga and already have other guys like CB Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph.

And blessed with an easy schedule, this has the makings of an improved season.

Special Teams: Antonio Chatman handled returns but isn't much of a threat.

4. Cleveland Browns

Things are looking quite bad once again in the Dawg Pound in 2009. A year after posting just a 153 fantasy points, and this coming on the heels of big expectations in Cleveland, Romeo Crennel was ousted and Eric Mangini was brought in to turn the ship around.

But that won't be easy. After missing out on LB Aaron Curry at pick number five, who went one sooner to the Seahawks, they traded out of round one and failed to land an impact defender in the draft.

And as we all saw last season, DT Shaun Rodgers and Corey Williams alone aren't going to get it done. They need some of the younger guys to step up and for the offense to do its part.

Special Teams: Josh Cribbs is one of the best in the game and is capable of returning three or four to the house.

Pro Football 101: How To Pick Against The Point Spread

Josh Satler — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:09:39 -0400

There are really two reasons why the NFL is by far the most popular sport in America today: fantasy football and gambling.

Without it, who'd really watch the 3-10 Browns play the 4-9 Bengals outside of their loyal fanbases in December?

Very few.

But gambling keeps interest levels high.

So what is the best way to pick games using the point spread?

Pro Football 101 uses four factors when deciding which game to pick: teams, a team's record at home versus on the road, date/weather, and record against the spread.

While the last one isn't nearly as important as the first three, there are teams who get very hot against the spread, and it's worth noting as you can bankroll their streak.

The Teams Involved

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Some teams are just better than others, and tend to perform more consistently on a weekly basis. They should always be in the conversation when deciding teams to bet on.

Team's Record at Home/Road

Most teams in today's NFL cannot win on the road. For example, the .500 Texans from a year ago were just 2-6 away from home.

If you have a decent team with a horrible road record, don't be afraid to bet against them, even if who you bet on is .500 or below overall. The odds are in your favor that the road team will continue to play poorly while your team, playing at home, will step up and cover the spread.

Date/Weather

When and where is the game taking place? Is it early in the season, or after a team has clinched a playoff spot?

When the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals went to New England late last year, as a seven-point underdog and playing in the cold, they were pulverized 47-7. And by the third quarter, Kurt Warner was out of the game.

It didn't matter though, because they had already wrapped up the NFC West. So keep an eye on the circumstances surrounding the games, i.e. date, weather, key injuries, etc.

Record Against the Spread

Some teams, whether they're the favorites or underdogs, have an uncanny ability to cover the spread...while others, who possess solid overall records, aren't as fortunate.

In 2008, the 2-14 Chiefs were 8-8 against the spread, while the 12-4 Panthers were 8-7-1.

Although they had completely different outcomes to their respective seasons, both returned about the same amount of money to your online gaming account.

So keep an eye on these trends.

Conclusion

As with anything in life, luck definitely plays its part, but if you keep these four things in mind when picking your teams each week, it should greatly increase your chances for success.

Pro Football 101 Fantasy Rankings: AFC South D/ST in 2009

Josh Satler — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:24:46 -0400

The AFC South features a few of the best defenses in fantasy football, starting in Tennessee with the Titans.

1. Tennessee Titans

Yes, the loss of DT Albert Haynesworth will be big, as a man of his size and talent is hard to replace, but it certainly won't mean an end to this Titans' defense. Over Jeff Fisher's tenure, defense has been his backbone, and long before the days of Haynesworth, he was leading his team to a Super Bowl appearance in 1999 relying on this unit.

Last year, in a truly dominating effort, the Titans finished fourth with 246 fantasy points and probably didn't even go until late in your draft.

This season looks promising as well, although a slight drop off is to be expected. Offenses will now game plan the Titans' defense differently with Haynesworth in Washington, but in his absence vs. the Steelers last season, then rookie, DT Jason Jones, racked up three sacks. Also, DE Kearse, DE Vanden Bosch, LB Bulluck, CB Finnegan, etc. are still there and the scheme is still one of the top ones in the league.

Special Teams: Mark Jones will handle returns and is steady, but not spectacular.

2. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts defense thrives when given the lead; when the game is tied or they're down, it's a completely different story. And the reason for this is the personnel is quicker and smaller and that style only works when you can pin your ears back (DE Freeney, DE Mathis) and go after the QB. When it's straight up, the Colts' smaller defenders get eaten alive against solid running teams. In 2008, the Colts scored 182 points.

This year, look for more of the same, but the potential for an even stronger season. Finishing 12—4, they're now able to play a second place schedule and Polian drafted DT Moala in the second round to shore up that line. As long as Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Bob Sanders can stay healthy, and throw in CB Marlon Jackson, and the Colts offense continues to do its job, you can expect another impressive showing and a top 10 fantasy football defensive finish.

Special Teams: Pierre Garcon received some opportunities on special teams and is a favorite to land the job again.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

Last season was an aberration because the offense didn't hold up to its end of the bargain. Three and outs left the defense on the field way too long and as a natural result, they wound up towards the bottom of the league with only 117 points.

Things should be different this year and that's why they're our fantasy sleeper pick out of this division. The talent is there (DT Henderson, DE Hayward, CB Mathis, etc.), and blessed with a last place schedule, they should feast on their competition (out of the division) and force sacks and create turnovers in bunches.

Special Teams: Brian Witherspoon handled returns and could score once or twice this year.

4. Houtson Texans

Being last in this division is nothing to hang their head about, and the Texans actually have a pretty good defense, and could be poised to take a big step forward in 2009. After coming out of the gates very slowly in 2008, they finished with just 117 points.

This year they're a real dark horse in the AFC. Offensively, they possess the firepower to sustain drives and put points on the board, and if their young defense with DE Williams, DT Okoye, CB Robinson and newcomer, LB, Cushing takes another step forward, there should be ample opportunities for not only sacks, but turnovers. This could become a nice late round draft play.

Special Teams: Jacoby Jones is an extremely dangerous return man who took two back to the house in 2008.