Bleacher Report - Articles by Matt Kahkonen

Top 10 Fantasy Football RBs in 2009

Matt Kahkonen — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:05:22 -0400

Looking at this year's crop of running backs in the NFL, it's tough to pick the top 10. With just about every team attempting to run some sort of tandem in the backfield, it's no easy feat determining which backs will be receiving the majority of the carries, especially near the goal-line when they matter most. All in all though, this is good news for fantasy owners, as there should be no shortage of quality RB options available, even later in most drafts. Looking at the best options out there, it's amazing how young they all are, with most of them being 3rd or 4th year players at best. This goes to show just how brutal the position is on these players, and how amazing it is that they can ever manage to stay dominant for a decade or more. That being said, there should be some significant changes in the top 10 from last year at this time. There were just too many great RB's that came out of the 2008 draft class, not to mention Michael Turner tearing it up in his first year as a starter. So my final word of advice before getting this thing started. Don't panic if you can't get a top 5 or even top 10 RB. There are a TON of solid options out there.

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Under Pressure: A Mock Interview with Daunte Culpepper

Matt Kahkonen — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:43:18 -0400

Thanks for being here Daunte. Let's get right to it shall we?

1. Clearly the Lions organization drafted Matthew Stafford to be the face of the franchise and the quarterback of the near future. How much pressure does that put on you, knowing that such a highly touted draft pick is chomping at the bit to take your job?

2. Last year you were plagued by a nagging injury. Assuming you remain healthy this season, do you think the Lions offense gives you the tools necessary to regain the success you had in Minnesota?

3. One of the biggest complaints coming out of Lions fans after this offseason was that nothing was really done to address the offensive line. Do you feel that you will have sufficient protection in the pocket this year?

4. In Minnesota you played with one of the most tremendous receivers to come around in a long time in Randy Moss. How does Calvin Johnson compare to a guy like Randy Moss?

5. Coming off of an 0-16 season, what additional pressure, or lack thereof, are you feeling this year?

6. What are your impressions of the new coaching regime so far?

7. With their second pick in the draft, the Lions drafted tight end Brandon Pettigrew. How big of a boon is it to have another big, physical target like that to throw to around the end zone or first-down marker?

8. If the Lions could go out and get one player, whether it be through trade or free agency, who would you like them to get?

9. While Matthew Stafford is eventually planning on starting, he's also very new to the NFL, and will be trying to learn as much as he can. What kind of role have you been playing in helping him adapt to the professional level?

10. Calvin Johnson's nickname is Megatron. What nicknames would you give to some of your other teammates?

11. Don't run, but I'm gonna make you pull a Kitna here. How many wins are the Lions going to get this year?

A Few New Tricks from Your 2009 Detroit Lions

Matt Kahkonen — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:39:22 -0400

The Detroit Lions; the laughing stock of the league in 2008 and the first 0-16 team in NFL history, is hoping to pull a few rabbits out of their hat this year and make an impact in the NFC North. Before getting to their new and improved playbook though, lets take a look at what worked last year. When you really think about it, they had two consistently successful offensive plays throughout the season. 1. Throw the ball to Calvin Johnson 2. Kick a field goal with Jason Hanson The Lions addressed their most pertinent issue on the offensive side of the ball by drafting QB Matthew Stafford first overall. Odds are he will not be the starter on day one, although there's a chance they could put him in this year if they struggle early. The draft pick that should pay immediate dividends is the other first round pick, TE Brandon Pettigrew. Jim Schwartz loved using his TE's in Tennessee, and coming to Detroit, he didn't have anyone comparable to guys like Bo Scaife and Alge Crumpler. Pettigrew will be that guy. He will start immediately and he should get his fair share of targets. Picking up Ronald Curry and Bryant Johnson to compliment Calvin Johnson should help the passing game as well. Both receivers are solid veterans, and while they won't put up great numbers, they're significant upgrades from Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald. The only other significant offensive pickup was Maurice Morris, who will act as a backup to Kevin Smith. He is a good pass blocker that should get a handful of carries each game to give Smith a breather. Then there's the defensive side of the ball. Unfortunately I'm at a loss here. I really can't think of a single play that worked on a regular basis. The Lions couldn't get sacks, they couldn't get picks, and they gave up a ton of yards, both rushing and passing. In summary: their defense was a joke. Enter former Titans defensive coordinator and new Lions head coach Jim Schwartz. He turned the Titans into one of the most feared defenses in the game. They were equally effective at stopping the run and the pass, and put fear in the hearts of opposing quarterbacks. The problem Schwartz now faces is how to turn the most transparent defense in the NFL into a dominant force similar to what he had going in Tennessee. I guess he figured the best way to accomplish that goal is to get better players. Makes sense to me. Schwartz, along with GM Martin Mayhew, went out and picked up two pro-bowl caliber linebackers in Julian Peterson and Larry Foote to compliment Ernie Sims. The focus then shifted to the horrid secondary. Adding CB's Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry to compliment Travis Fisher, as well as drafting FS Louis Delmas in the 2nd round of the draft, should immediately improve the Lions pass defense from useless to decent, which is quite a leap for one offseason. Now Schwartz's defense in Tennessee was centered around a dominant defensive line, which was anchored by some guy named Albert Haynesworth. The Detroit Lions have nobody comparable to Haynesworth, and their D-line is swiss cheese compared to Tennessee's. They did pick up Grady Jackson, which is a good upgrade, but it's clear that Detroit chose to focus on fixing the secondary this year, and will presumably focus on the line next year. Put simply though, it's going to be up to the linebackers to stop the run, because the defensive line isn't going to help very much. All that being said, the Lions will definitely have a few new plays that should improve their effectiveness on both sides of the ball.

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The NFC North: Rankings By Position

Matt Kahkonen — Sun, 10 May 2009 13:23:54 -0400

Every team in the NFC North managed to make significant improvements in the offseason, whether it be through the draft, free agency, or trades. It should be a tight race throughout the season, as every team has a shot at winning the division.

To determine what teams have the best shot at the divisional crown, each team has been ranked in each key position.

Quarterback

1. Green Bay Packers: The Packers have Aaron Rodgers behind center, and he more than proved himself last season, throwing 26 TD's to just 13 picks. He has arguably the best receiving tandem in the division as well with Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. With a full season under his belt, he should be even better than he was last year.

2. Chicago Bears: In what was easily the biggest trade of the off season, the Chicago Bears traded for Jay Cutler. Cutler is just 25 years old and coming off a pro-bowl caliber season. The only reason I won't rank Cutler higher is the lack of weapons he has to throw to in Chicago, and the fact that he has to adapt to a new offense.

3. Minnesota Vikings: The starting QB in Minnesota is likely to be free agent pickup Sage Rosenfels, who did an admirable job backing up Matt Schaub in Houston last year. He should provide some of the same stability that veteran Gus Frerotte gave the Vikings in '08. Tarvaris Jackson could take back the starting job if he can perform like he did towards the end of last season.

4. Detroit Lions: Daunte Culpepper will start the season as quarterback, and it will be his job to lose, as the Lions don't want to rush Matthew Stafford into the starting role. He claims he's in the best shape of his life, and he has one of the best receivers in the game in Calvin Johnson. If he is anywhere near the form he was in when he played in Minnesota he'll do well. Unfortunately I don't think he's as good as he says.

Running Back

1. Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have Adrian Peterson, arguably the best running back in the NFL. He will challenge for the rushing title again this year, and his only weakness appears to be his tendency to fumble on occasion.

2. Chicago Bears: Last season rookie Matt Forte exceeded all expectations and carried the Bears offense on his back. He provided a solid rushing attack that the Bears haven't had since Thomas Jones left, and showed that he can catch the ball as well as any back in the game.

3. Detroit Lions: The Lions took a chance in drafting Kevin Smith last year, as he racked up a ton of carries in college. It paid off, however, as he quickly established himself as a solid NFL running back. He very nearly topped the 1,000 yard mark in '08, despite sitting behind Rudi Johnson for the first few games.

4. Green Bay Packers: Two years ago Ryan Grant came out of nowhere and put up some sick numbers, running all over everyone. Last year he came back down to Earth, and his YPC average dropped tremendously. If he doesn't start to play like he did in 2007, the Packers will start looking for another option in the backfield.

Wide Receiver / Tight End

1. Detroit Lions: "Megatron" AKA Calvin Johnson, maybe just be the most gifted athlete in the NFL. If Daunte Culpepper can consistently be mediocre or better, then CJ will put up some gaudy numbers. The additions of Brandon Pettigrew, Bryant Johnson, and Ronald Curry should also help whoever starts at quarterback.

2. Green Bay Packers: They have the deepest receiving core in the division. Jennings and Driver are both great, although Driver's getting old. Behind him they have some more solid options in James Jones and Jordy Nelson. They also have two decent tight ends in Donald Lee and Jermichael Finley.

3. Minnesota Vikings: This is a team that has some serious speed at the wide receiver position. Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, and Bobby Wade can all fly down the field. There are still question marks, however, as the Vikings still need a quarterback capable of getting them the ball. None of the receivers in Minnesota are good enough to go up and get the ball on a bad pass, with the exception of maybe Berrian. Visanthe Shiancoe will be the QB's best friend this year, as he's the safest option the Vikes have.

4. Chicago Bears: The Bears took steps to improve their receivers, but Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox are not the immediate answer. Devin Hester should continue to improve, and will make a few big plays, but he's too small and inexperienced to be a true No. 1. Rashied Davis and Earl Bennett are both gifted athletes, and have underperformed so far. They need to step up. The real bright spot comes from the tight end position with Desmond Clark and Greg Olson, who are both reliable options.

Offensive Line

1. Minnesota Vikings: Steve Hutchinson is one of the best guards in the game. Throw in Bryant McKinnie and the Vikings have one of the best left sides out there. John Sullivan and Anthony Herrera are both decent, and the addition of Philip Loadholt will immediately strengthen the right side of the line for them. Adrian Peterson is licking his chops.

2. Chicago Bears: They aren't the youngest offensive line, but they're still good, at least for a few more years. Orlando Pace, Olin Kreutz, and Chris Williams are all top- notch linemen. Beekman and Garza aren't quite pro-bowl caliber, but they can get the job done as well.

3. Green Bay Packers: The Packers adressed their line in the draft by grabbing Jamon Meredith, who could turn out to be one of the biggest steals this year. Tony Moll is a stud as well, but the rest of the line could use some work.

4. Detroit Lions: The Lions offensive line is improving, and Gosder Cherilus could become a dominant player, but that won't happen this year. Jeff Backus and Dominic Raiola have both underachieved, and need to play better if they want to keep their jobs.

Defensive Line

1. Minnesota Vikings: This is not even close. The Vikings have the most dominant defensive line in the NFL. Kevin and Pat Williams are pro-bowl tackles, and Jared Allen might be the best defensive end in the league. Ray Edwards is the odd man out, and he still got 5 sacks last year.

2. Chicago Bears: Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye are both great pass rushers and run stoppers, and both will be possible pro-bowlers again this season. in the middle, Tommie Harris is an absolute beast. Dusty Dvoracek is decent, but they could use an upgrade there in the future.

3. Green Bay Packers: Moving to the 3-4 defense, the Packers needed a top-notch nose tackle, and they got one in B.J. Raji. Cullin Jenkins and Justin Harrell will join him on the outside, and are both athletic run stoppers.

4. Detroit Lions: The Lions chose not to improve their defensive line very much in the off season. The addition of Grady Jackson helps, but it's not nearly enough. Draft pick Sammie Lee Hill could turn out to be a stud, but that'll take a couple years. As it is, the Lions line still needs a ton of work.

Linebacker

1. Green Bay Packers: This was tough, as the NFC North is filled with deep linebacking cores. The Packers need 4 good linebackers to run their defense, however, compared to every other team's 3. That gives them the edge. Aaron Kampman, A.J. Hawk, and Nick Barnett are both young, athletic, and electrifying playmakers. The addition of Clay Matthews gives them one of the smartest linebackers in this year's draft class.

2. Detroit Lions: The Lions got a lot of flak for passing on Rey Maualuga in the draft, but they made up for that by picking up a guy named Larry Foote. Foote will start in the middle with Julian Peterson and Ernie Sims on either side of him. The additions of Foote and Peterson give the Lions one of the scariest trio of linebackers in the game.

3. Chicago Bears: Brian Urlacher is perennially one of the best players in the NFL, and Lance Briggs is just as good. The only reason they aren't ranked higher is Nick Roach, who just isn't that good. Also, Urlacher isn't getting any younger.

4. Minnesota Vikings: Chad Greenway is an excellent young player, and he will be a starting linebacker for a long time. E.J. Henderson missed most of the '08 season, but if he stays healthy he should have a good year as well. Ben Leber is serviceable, but that's about it.

Secondary

1. Greenbay Packers: Nobody will want to throw the deep ball against the Packers with Al Harris and Charles Woodson sitting back there. Will Blackmon and Tramon Williams are good backups as well. While Atari Bigby is nothing special at strong safety, Nick Collins is a game changer at the free safety spot.

2. Chicago Bears: Like the Packers, the Bears are deep at cornerback with Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher leading the way. Josh Bullocks and Danieal Manning are both solid free safeties, although they're a bit weak at strong safety with Kevin Payne and Craig Steltz.

3. Detroit Lions: Like they did with their linebackers, the Lions improved their secondary by leaps and bounds. At the cornerback position they grabbed Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry, who will compliment Travis Fisher. At safety, Gerald Alexander and Daniel Bullocks are both young and talented, and are primed for breakout years. The addition of Louis Delmas in the draft gave them a playmaker that can immediately contribute as well.

4. Minnesota Vikings: Antonie Winfield is a solid corner, and so is Cedric Griffin. Neither of them are spectacular, however. The same goes for their safeties Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams. While Williams has moments of greatness, he is barely above average.

So....

In an attempt to tie these numbers into some sort of cohesive ranking, this is what I came up with. I just added each teams ranks in each category, and re-ranked them lowest to highest.

Using my calculations, this is how the division should pan out.

1. Packers (15 points)

2(tied). Vikings (17 points)

2(tied). Bears (17 points)

4. Lions (21 points)

From 0-16 to 9-7: Why The Lions Could Be Playoff Bound In 2009

Matt Kahkonen — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:29:43 -0400

To even suggest that the Detroit Lions could immediately rebound from a legendarily dreadful 0-16 season and have a winning record the very next year is madness, right? Not if last year's Miami Dolphins are any indication.

The fact of the matter is that the 2009 Detroit Lions are a completely different team and a completely different franchise than they were in their winless season a year ago.

The most important, long awaited change was getting rid of GM Matt Millen. Let him be a broadcaster or analyst, but that man should never be allowed to make decisions for an NFL franchise again.

The promotion of new GM Martin Mayhew was initially scoffed at as more Ford cronyism, but he immediately improved the Lions by trading away WR Roy Williams and a seventh round pick for a first, third, and sixth round pick from Dallas.

In retrospect, this trade has got to be seen as a tremendous steal for Detroit, as Williams failed to help the Cowboys at all last year. In making this trade, and following it up with a solid draft and free agent acquisitions, he's more than proved himself.

The second move that should start moving the Lions in the right direction is the hiring of former Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. He will bring a gritty, defense-minded mentality to a team in desperate need of some defensive help.

Now there's a fairly large majority of Lions fans who think that this year's draft was a disaster. I tend to disagree.

Let's start with Matthew Stafford. Yes, we may have overpaid him and he's far from a sure thing, but the Lions got the guy they wanted, and who are we to argue?

Fans can look ahead to next year's draft all they want, but is Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy really going to be any better? The Lions need a franchise quarterback, and after an 0-16 season, it is time to take a chance.

I doubt Stafford will play this year anyway, and if he does, it won't be until the season is already down the tubes. Judging by all the reports coming from the Lions, Daunte Culpepper is in the best shape of his life, and is looking like he should at least be better than he was in '08.

Moving on to the next couple of picks; Brandon Pettigrew and Louis Delmas.

Fans were livid that Detroit failed to address the offensive line, defensive line, or linebacker position. In my opinion, when a team has as many holes to fill as the Lions do, it doesn't matter what position you draft as long as you get players that can improve the team.

Pettigrew provides a top-notch tight end, which is a position the Lions have never been deep at. When Matthew Stafford becomes the starting quarterback, Pettigrew is going to be a godsend, as he will function as a safety valve and check down option, not to mention the fact that he's considered a terrific blocking tight end.

When the Lions took Louis Delmas, the safety from Western Michigan, there were a lot of people that were furious that Detroit didn't draft Rey Maualuga.

In retrospect though, why not take the best safety available? It's not like the Lions couldn't use some help in the secondary. Delmas will immediately be able to come in and make some plays for the Lions, something their safeties couldn't do last year.

Free agency was very kind to the Lions as well. They managed to pick up linebackers Larry Foote and Julian Peterson, cornerback Philip Buchanan, and running back Maurice Morris, as well as two veteran receivers, in Ronald Curry and Bryant Johnson, to play opposite Calvin Johnson—aka "Megatron".

So lets summarize these improvements.

Better secondary: check

Better linebackers: check

Franchise quarterback: check

So the Lions opted to work from the outside in, and all but neglected their offensive and defensive lines. They had far too many holes to fill, and it's a fool's errand to try to remedy all of them in one offseason.

Though they might not have made all the fans happy, the Detroit Lions still managed to make dramatic improvements on their offense and defense, and it should start paying dividends as early as this year.

Being that they're in the NFC North, the Lions do have a rough road ahead of them this year.

The Bears picked up Jay Cutler and should have a much improved offense because of it.

Green Bay had a stellar draft and filled some of the defensive holes they had, and the Vikings should contend for the division crown just like last year.

Long story short—the Lions are the worst team in the division.

Why then do I believe they could win eight games this year? Because of their defense.

Scoring points was not an issue for the Lions, and it won't be this year. Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith will put up points, no matter who the quarterback is.

Julian Peterson, Larry Foote, and Ernie Sims will start at linebacker for the Lions this year. That is a frightening prospect for any opposing quarterback or running back. Though the D-line could still use some work, the linebackers should help stop teams from running all over the Lions like they did last year.

The additions made to the secondary were outstanding as well, and I'd be surprised if there are many 300 yard passing games against Detroit in 2009. They're just that much better now.

So while there are still holes to fill, Martin Mayhew, Jim Schwartz, and the Detroit Lions just might manage to do the impossible this year and get a winning record.

So there it is, the Detroit Lions will win nine games this year, and with some luck they might even make the playoffs.

It's a bold prediction and I have a hard time believing it myself, but they just look too good on paper to have another season like 2008.

Fantasy Football 2009 Top 100 (May 6th, 2009)

Matt Kahkonen — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:12:35 -0400

Fantasy Football 2009

Top 100 (May 6th, 2009)

1. Adrian Peterson—RB Vikings: Put simply, Adrian Peterson is the most electrifying player in the NFL, and he still has plenty of 200+ yd rushing games in the tank.

2. Michael Turner—RB Falcons: He outscored AP last season in fantasy points, and as the Falcons offense improves, so will his numbers.

3. Matt Forte—RB Bears: Last year he was effective as both an RB and WR, and having Cutler behind center can only help his production.

4. Brandon Jacobs—RB Giants: Without Ward cutting into his carries, Jacobs will have many more opportunities.

5. Maurice Jones-Drew—RB Jaguars: Like Jacobs, Drew no longer has Taylor vulturing carries from him.

6. Clinton Portis—RB Redskins: Will get a ton of carries every game as long as he's healthy, and should put up close to 100 yards each week.

7. Steve Slaton—RB Texans: He didn't start the 2008 season as the No. 1 RB on the depth chart and still put up killer numbers. Imagine what he'll do with a full season.

8. Chris Johnson—RB Titans: If Lendale White would stop stealing goal-line carries, this guy could rival AP and Turner.

9. Brian Westbrook—RB Eagles: If it weren't for his injury history, he'd be ranked higher. As it is, he's the ultimate risk-reward pick.

10. DeAngelo Williams—RB Panthers: Did the most with the carries he got and will put up a ton of yards—even if Jonathan Stewart manages to steal some scores.

11. LaDanian Tomlinson—RB Chargers: He claims he was injured last year, and he still did halfway decent. I say he's healthy now and could be a top RB again.

12. Tom Brady—QB Patriots: The Pats say he's good to go, which means he'll be the best fantasy QB this year.

13. Drew Brees—QB Saints: All he needs to do is what he did in '08 to justify going this high, and Colston was out for half the season last year.

14. Marion Barber—RB Cowboys: He's a TD machine, but Felix Jones and Tashard Choice are too talented to not start cutting into his carries.

15. Calvin Johnson—WR Lions: He's a freak of nature and is only going to get better. If Culpepper has improved at all, then Johnson should easily beat his numbers from last year.

16. Larry Fitzgerald—WR Cardinals: He's arguably the best WR in the league and has Kurt Warner throwing him the ball.

17. Steven Jackson—RB Rams: The Rams suspect offensive line is still iffy, even after drafting Jason Smith. However, Jackson should still have a solid—if not great—year.

18. Andre Johnson—WR Texans: This number would be higher if Matt Schaub could ever stay healthy for an entire season.

19. Frank Gore—RB 49ers: If he can stay healthy he could be a top-10 scorer this year.

20. Randy Moss—WR Patriots: I'd rank him higher, but he's only getting older, and it's possible that Brady isn't quite where he was two years ago.

21. Ryan Grant—RB Packers: He really needs to show that he can be an every-down back this year, or he's going to find himself on the bench.

22. Kevin Smith—RB Lions: Quietly put up a nice rookie campaign, and as the Lions improve, so should Smith's numbers.

23. Greg Jennings—WR Packers: Has taken Donald Driver's spot as the top target in Green Bay and should continue to be a TD machine.

24. Roddy White—WR Falcons: Matt Ryan is only going to get better, which bodes well for White.

25. Ronnie Brown—RB Dolphins: He's had long enough to recover from his injury now and should put up some nice fantasy numbers.

26. Marques Colston—WR Saints: If he's healthy all year, he's a shoe-in for 1,000 yards and around 8 TDs.

27. Marshawn Lynch—RB Bills: Fred Jackson is getting older, and Lynch needs to prove himself. I think he'll do just that.

28. Reggie Wayne—WR Colts: He'll be as consistent as he always is as long as Manning is throwing to him.

29. Steve Smith—WR Panthers: With Jake Delhomme healthy, Smith is a top WR option again.

30. Kurt Warner—QB Cardinals: Has the potential to throw 30-40 TD's if he stays healthy all season.

31. Anquan Boldin—WR Cardinals: Seems to be a bit injury prone, and doesn't get the end zone targets that Fitzgerald does.

32. Peyton Manning—QB Colts: Will get his 30 TD's like he always does.

33. Brandon Marshall—WR Broncos: His numbers will suffer from the change at QB.

34. Joseph Addai—RB Colts: With Donald Brown coming in to take some carries away, Addai won't get the chances he used to have.

35. Pierre Thomas—RB Saints: Proved he can be a legitimate NFL running back and should get the starting gig.

36. Jonathan Stewart—RB Panthers: Gets enough carries, especially around the goal line, to put up good numbers.

37. Reggie Bush—RB Saints: Great in PPR leagues and still a solid flex option in any format.

38. Derrick Ward—RB Buccaneers: With a suspect passing game, the Bucs should be running Ward until his feet fall off.

39. Terrell Owens—WR Bills: If he has chemistry with Edwards, he'll be a stud...otherwise, look out.

40. T.J. Houshmandzadeh—WR Seahawks: If Hasselbeck is healthy, T.J. will be his number one target.

41. Dwayne Bowe—WR Chiefs: Having a good QB throwing to him now should really help his consistency.

42. Jason Witten—TE Cowboys: He's the number one guy in Dallas now, and he should reap the benefits.

43. Aaron Rodgers—QB Packers: Should put up 30ish TDs and a ton of yards.

44. Darren McFadden—RB Raiders: Look for this to be his breakout year. If he gets the carries he deserves, I don't think 1,400 yards is out of the question. Then again...it is the Raiders.

45. Philip Rivers—QB Chargers: Has been consistently solid and should continue to be so.

46. Willie Parker—RB Steelers: Rashard Mendenhall should cut into his carries, and he never seems to get many goal-line carries.

47. Thomas Jones—RB Jets: Shonn Greene could cut into his carries, and there are rumors that he could end up in Cleveland sharing time with Jamal Lewis.

48. Tony Gonzalez—TE Falcons: Should be a favorite target of Matt Ryan.

49. Antonio Gates—TE Chargers: Will be his usual self now that he's healthy.

50. Chris Wells3RB Cardinals: Hightower gets the goal line carries, Wells gets everything else.

51. Larry Johnson—RB Chiefs: Cassell should help him return to form, but Kolby Smith and Jamaal Charles will hurt his stock.

52. Kevin Walter—WR Texans: Possibly the best No. 2 WR in the NFL.

53. Santonio Holmes—WR Steelers: If the playoffs were any indication, Ben Roethlisberger will be throwing to this guy a whole lot more in the future.

54. Donovan McNabb—QB Eagles: Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy are just two more weapons for McNabb to use.

55. Braylon Edwards—WR Browns: If he could stop dropping the ball, he'd be a stud.

56. Knowshon Moreno—RB Broncos: Should get most of the carries in Denver if he stays healthy.

57. Bernard Berrian—WR Vikings: If the Vikes get Favre, this number goes up. If not, he's still a solid deep threat.

58. Roy Williams—WR Cowboys: He'll get more targets with TO gone.

59. Matt Ryan—QB Falcons: He's only going to improve, and Tony Gonzalez will help him do that.

60. Wes Welker—WR Patriots: This guy's money in PPR leagues, and is still a great No. 2 in any other format.

61. Shonn Greene—RB Jets: Could end up as the starter if the Jones trade happens. If not, he'll still get his shot.

62. Michael Crabtree—WR 49ers: He has all the skills necessary to step right in and dominate. SF's quarterback issues are the only thing hurting him.

63. Hines Ward—WR Steelers: He'll be steady as always, although he's getting older.

64. Vincent Jackson—WR Chargers: A big target in the end zone; will rack up some TD's.

65. Tony Romo—QB Cowboys: Losing TO hurts, although he's still a top-five QB.

66. Le'Ron McClain—RB Ravens: Should get most of the carries, including every goal line carry.

67. Antonio Bryant—WR Buccaneers: Not likely to replicate last year's success, but should still put up good numbers.

68. Jamal Lewis—RB Browns: He's a starting RB with very little competition. That's why he's here.

69. Eddie Royal—WR Broncos: Losing Cutler will hurt Royal the most.

70. Santana Moss—WR Redskins: A hit or miss guy on a week to week basis, but has the skills to be a monster.

71. Torry Holt—WR Jaguars: Should produce more than he did in '08.

72. Matt Cassell—QB Chiefs: He's good, but he'll miss the weapons he had in New England.

73. DeSean Jackson—WR Eagles: Should continue to be a productive deep threat.

74. Ted Ginn Jr.—WR Dolphins: Will be a good deep threat, return man, and wildcat weapon.

75. Julius Jones—RB Seahawks: Won't get the TDs, but should put up some decent yards.

76. Derrick Mason—WR Ravens: Flacco's No. 1 guy should get his catches each and every week.

77. Laveraneus Coles—WR Bengals: He's going to be Carson Palmer's new best friend.

78. Kyle Orton—QB Broncos: Orton is no Cutler, but he has way more weapons that he did in Chicago.

79. Fred Taylor—RB Patriots: Should get most of the carries in NE, which should mean a decent fantasy year.

80. Dallas Clark—TE Colts: One of Manning's favorites will get his catches like always.

81. Ahmad Bradshaw—RB Giants: Will cut into Jacob's carries and should put up similar numbers to what Ward did last year.

82. Tim Hightower—RB Cardinals: He's a TD machine.

83. Donnie Avery—WR Rams: With Holt gone, he'll get the majority of targets.

84. Cedric Benson—RB Bengals: He'll never live up to his potential, but he might be able to be a decent flex option this year.

85. Matt Schaub—QB Texans: If he stays healthy, he'll throw close to 30 TDs.

86. Donald Brown—RB Colts: He'll split carries with Addai to start...but Addai is injury prone.

87. Steve Breaston—WR Cardinals: Even as a No. 3 he'll get close to 1,000 yards. If Boldin or Fitz goes down, he turns into a must-start.

88. David Garrard—QB Jaguars: He's always steady, and Holt gives him a legitimate target.

89. Ben Roethlisberger—QB Steelers: Will throw for 20, rush for a few, and have a solid season.

90. Lee Evans—WR Bills: If Edwards can get it together, Evans could find himself wide open a lot, with TO getting the double teams.

91. Darius Heyward-Bey—WR Raiders: He was the seventh pick, and Al Davis is going to want to use his new toy as often as possible, if only to prove the naysayers wrong.

92. LeSean McCoy—RB Eagles: If Westbrook goes down—and he probably will—McCoy will be the man.

93. Lance Moore—WR Saints: Showed last year that he's the definitive No. 2 WR in New Orleans.

94. Devin Hester—WR Bears: Having Cutler throwing to him should really increase his effectiveness in the deep passing game.

95. Jerricho Cotchery—WR Jets: He's going to be the top target, but he'll likely have a rookie throwing him the ball.

96. Lendale White—RB Titans: Should take some goal-line carries from CJ, and might approach 1,000 yards if he's lucky.

97. Owen Daniels—TE Texans: Probably the best of the second-tier tight ends out there.

98. Carson Palmer—QB Bengals: Lost T.J., gained Coles...doesn't really add up, although he should do OK.

99. Kevin Curtis—WR Eagles: McNabb's steadiest target.

100. Brett Favre—QB ???: Just in case, I'm covering my ass.

Potential Sleepers:

Brandon Pettigrew—TE Lions: The Lions have never had a great tight end option, and Pettigrew will come in and contribute immediately.

Felix Jones—RB Cowboys: He should get his fair share of carries as well as handle return duties, but he'll really shine if Barber goes down.

Percy Harvin—WR Vikings: Will return kicks, punts, run the ball, and catch the ball. He could be a sort of Reggie Bush-lite.

Rashard Mendenhall—RB Steelers: If he can stop fumbling the ball, he could start taking a good number of carries from Parker.

Darren Sproles—RB Chargers: Even if LT is 100%, Sproles proved that he's too dangerous to ride the bench.

Stay Far Far Away:

Chad Ochocinco—WR Bengals: He's getting old, and even with Carson Palmer back, I'd be shocked if he even approaches 1,000 yards.

Laurence Maroney—RB Patriots: With Fred Taylor in New England, Maroney will be relegated to a limited supporting role.

Vernon Davis—TE 49ers: He should be a beast, but the fact is that he isn't, and he won't be.

Earnest Graham—RB Buccaneers: Derrick Ward will take the majority of the carries here. Graham will be lucky to snag a few TD's.

Justin Fargas—RB Raiders: McFadden is too talented not to get most of the work this year.

The NFL's Top 10 Offensive Rookies of 2008

Matt Kahkonen — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:45:46 -0500

It's been a terrific year for youngsters in the NFL. Rookies have stepped up like never before and carried their teams into playoff contention. It's not too unusual to see running backs step up in their first pro season, and there have been plenty of them this year as well. What's really been a shocker though is how well rookie quarterbacks, linemen, and receivers have done. It takes some serious adjustment time to get used to the speed of the NFL, but somehow these players have managed to do so with flying colors. Most of these guys were relative unknowns coming out of college, not garnering nearly the attention of guys like Adrian Peterson or Reggie Bush in the past. The fact is that there are two C-USA players on this list and even one Division I-AA player. How players of their caliber managed to slip past all the major colleges blows my mind. So without further ado, here's the best of the best of 2008's fantastic crop of NFL offensive rookies.

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The Future of the NHL: A Look Ahead 10 Years

Matt Kahkonen — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:09:07 -0400

Jaromir Jagr, Jarome Iginla, Martin Brodeur, Nicklas Lidstrom. These are some of the most recognizable names in hockey right now. There's no denying that these guys are all well on their way to the hall of fame. Ten years from now though, they will all be sitting pretty in the hall of fame, while a new generation of superstars emerge. We've already seen it start with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. Here are my predictions as to who might be taking home some hardware in the NHL by 2018.

Rocket Richard Trophy

John Tavares

There hasn't been a player with this much hype surrounding him since Sidney Crosby tore up juniors half a decade ago. He started his OHL career at 14 and has been leading the league in points since he was 16. He is draft eligible in 2009, and will almost assuredly be a consensus number one pick.

Others in the running: Steven Stamkos, Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin

Norris Trophy

Dion Phaneuf

Phaneuf came into the league in 2005 and had an immediate impact. He was a 20 goal scoring defenseman as a rookie, and has been one of the best in the league ever since. He was overshadowed by the likes of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, but he's primed to become the next Chris Pronger.

Others in the running: Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Dustin Byfuglien

Vezina Trophy

Carey Price

Canadiens fans scoffed when Cristobal Huet was traded away to Washington for next to nothing, but the Montreal organization was confident enough in Carey Price to make him the starting goaltender for their team going into the playoffs as a rookie. He's already shown that he has the skill to be a tremendous goaltender at the professional level, and he'll be playing in one of the best hockey markets in the world.

Others in the running: Justin Pogge, Jonathan Bernier, Marc Andre Fleury

Hart Memorial Trophy

Sidney Crosby

Sid the Kid will still be in his prime when 2018 rolls around, and he'll still be the best player in the league. He won't be putting up 60 goals, but he's the best playmaker in the league, and he makes everyone around him better, which is what being the MVP is all about.

Others in the running: Patrick Kane, John Tavares, Dion Phaneuf

2008 NFL Mock Draft

Matt Kahkonen — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:15:37 -0400

1. Miami Dolphins—Chris Long, DE, Virginia

2. St. Louis Rams—Glenn Dorsey, DE, LSU

3. Atlanta Falcons—Matt Ryan, QB, Boston

4. Oakland Raiders—Vernon Gholston, DE, OSU

5. Kansas City Chiefs—Jake Long, OL, Michigan

6. New York Jets—Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

7. New England Patriots—Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy

8. Baltimore Ravens—Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville

9. Cincinnati Bengals—Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

10. New Orleans Saints—Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida

11. Buffalo Bills—Keith Rivers, OLB, USC

12. Denver Broncos—Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State

13. Carolina Panthers—Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois

14. Chicago Bears—Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt

15. Detroit Lions—Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon

16. Arizona Cardinals—Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas

17. Minnesota Vikings—Desean Jackson, WR, California

18. Houston Texans—Dominique Rodgers Cromartie, CB, Tenn. State

19. Philadelphia Eagles—Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina

21. Washington Redskins—Kenny Phillips, FS, Miami

22. Dallas Cowboys—Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan

23. Pittsburgh Steelers—Jeff Otah, OL, Pittsburgh

24. Tennessee Titans—Limas Sweet, WR, Texas

25. Seattle Seahawks—James Hardy, WR, Indiana

26. Jacksonville Jaguars—Calais Campbell, DE, Miami

27. San Diego Chargers—Reggie Smith, S, Oklahoma

28. Dallas Cowboys—Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas

29. San Fransisco 49ers—Early Doucet, WR, LSU

30. Green Bay Packers—Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona

31. New England Patriots—No Pick

32. New York Giants—Sam Baker, OT, USC

The Jinx is in, Folks: John Kitna Guarantees Another 10-Win Season for the Lions

Matt Kahkonen — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:56:44 -0400

Another season of NFL football comes to an end, and like clockwork, someone in the Detroit Lions organization does something stupid. Jon Kitna is quickly climbing the ranks of the Lions totem pole of idiocracy, grabbing a firm hold of second place, right behind reigning and irreplaceable moron Matt Millen.

The Lions may be coming off their best season since Millen took over, but I don't think I'm alone when I say they're a far cry away from hitting the 10 win mark. I'd be hard pressed to find any Lions fan that even thinks they'll play .500 football in 2008. They've been less than impressive in free agency thus far, addressing one weak point, the secondary, but ignoring the fact that they haven't had a rushing game since Barry retired. I'm sorry, but Tatum Bell and Kevin Jones aren't the answer. The answer lies in a solid offensive line, but apparently drafting wide outs has been more imperative.

The firing of Mike Martz is troubling as well. As horrible as the Lions were in the second half of 2008, they weren't losing games because they weren't scoring, so I fail to see where firing Martz made any sense whatsoever. The numbers don't lie, the Lions have consistently had a bottom 5 defense in the NFL. Trading for Leigh Bodden was a huge step in the right direction, but nothing more than that. Ernie Sims and Leigh Bodden might be able to stop Donald Driver and Greg Jennings from blowing up, but they won't stop Adrian Peterson or Ryan Grant from running all over the field like Sea Biscuit on HGH.

When it's all said and done, the Lions will probably repeat their 7-9 mark in 2008, and it'd be a pleasant surprise if they do any better. Anyone thinking about the playoffs need to wake up and realize that Detroit doesn't stand a chance against Green Bay or Minnesota this year, it's that simple. Adrian Peterson will rush for another 1500 yards, but the real story will be Aaron Rodgers leading the Packers back to the NFC championship. You can quote me on that, it WILL happen, and the Lions will be fighting for scraps with Rex Grossman and the rest of the Bears.