Fantasy Football: 10 Players in Free Fall to Cross Off Your Cheat Sheet
As fantasy drafts begin to get underway, Donovan McNabb and a handful of high-profile players are rapidly falling down draft boards.
McNabb's ankle injury has made him a question mark for the season opener against the Cowboys and caused fantasy owners to pass on selecting the quarterback as a reliable No. 2 fantasy option.
Here's a look at 10 marquee players in a fantasy free fall.
No. 10: Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks
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Once a popular sleeper pick, Forsett has done nothing to distinguish himself from the rest of the Seahawks running backs in the preseason.
The fourth-year back put together a solid campaign in 2009, when he rushed for 619 yards and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. With Julius Jones aging and Leon Washington recovering from a broken leg, it appeared Forsett had the inside track to be the featured back in Seattle this season.
Now, it appears he might have to play his way onto the field once the season starts.
Fantasy owners should no longer consider Forsett as a viable No. 3 running back option.
No. 9: Donovan McNabb, Washington Redskins
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Despite throwing for 3,553 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, McNabb's move to Washington clearly diminished his fantasy value. Then came his ankle injury, which has caused him to slip to No. 92 in CBSSportsline.com's average draft positions.
McNabb is officially considered questionable for Week 1, and even if he returns fantasy owners would be wise to avoid selecting the 33 year-old.
The Redskins will likely be a run oriented offense under Mike Shanahan and aside from Santana Moss, lack any proven commodities on the outside.
Chad Henne or Matthew Stafford might be better options for fantasy owners looking for a productive No. 2 quarterback.
No. 8: Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
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It's difficult to ignore what Charles did last season, when he made Chiefs' fans and fantasy owners alike forget about Larry Johnson while rushing for 1,159 yards and seven touchdowns despite playing on one of the NFL's worst offenses.
This season, Charles figured to be the Chiefs starter and get the bulk of the workload. That could still happen, but for the moment the speedy running back appears set to split carries with veteran Thomas Jones.
Making matters worse, Jones figures to get the majority of the work around the goal line.
Don't be surprised if Charles replicates his 5.9 yards per carry again this season, but it seems unlikely he will match his yardage totals from a season ago.
At this point, it's a risk to consider him as a No. 2 fantasy running back option.
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No. 7: Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons
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Gonzalez's big name and red zone pedigree still carries weight with fantasy owners, but with a new crop of young tight ends ready to produce, it might be a good idea to look elsewhere.
Evidently fantasy owners agree, as both Jermichael Finley and Brent Celek have catapulted Gonzalez in average draft position on CBSSportsline.com.
The Falcons lack a great deal of weapons on the outside, meaning the veteran will still get plenty of targets.
Gonzalez is still a No. 1 option at tight end, but he isn't likely to match the numbers of some of his younger counterparts.
No. 6: Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers
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The days of Donald Driver being a go-to fantasy receiver are most likely over.
Driver battled a knee problem early in training camp and is likely to lose targets to younger receivers James Jones and Jordy Nelson this season.
It's difficult to completely rule out another 1,000-yard season for the 35 year-old, but at this point in his career he is most likely nothing more than a solid No. 3 option for fantasy owners.
No. 5: Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
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Donovan McNabb isn't the only key member of the Redskins' offense battling injuries.
Portis' stock has fallen considerably thanks to his age and the crowded condition of the 'Skins backfield. His ankle injury in the third preseason game against the Jets certainly didn't help matters.
Even though Mike Shanahan loves to run the ball, there are simply too many questions concerning Portis at this point in his career to expect a season worthy of being a solid No. 2 option on a successful fantasy team.
No. 4: Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars
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Jones-Drew's lackluster preseason performance isn't a big deal, but his nagging knee soreness could be.
The Jaguars are playing it safe and plan to rest him until the start of the regular season. The injury is not believed to be serious, but it could have at least some impact on his production.
Many fantasy owners are still making Jones-Drew a top five pick, but it might be wise to consider passing on a back who carried the ball an astounding 314 times last season.
No. 3: Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos
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Moreno's prognosis has changed at least three times since the start of Broncos camp, which means he is far from a sure thing as the regular season approaches.
The hamstring injury that has caused him to miss time is reportedly healing and isn't expected to be a factor once the regular season rolls around.
But hamstring injuries for a running back are never a good thing, especially for a slasher like Moreno. The Broncos won't be one of the more potent offensive units in the NFL this season, and Moreno could lose goal line carries to LenDale White.
It's safe to say Moreno hasn't done enough to make fantasy owners consider him as anything more than a decent No. 3 running back option.
No. 2: Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings
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With Sidney Rice expected to miss at least half of the season, Percy Harvin's fantasy stock should be soaring through the roof.
Apparently, his continued bouts with migraines are giving fantasy owners pause.
Harvin made an impressive return to the field Saturday against the Seahawks, catching two passes for 30 yards and withstanding two big shots to the head.
Until the situation with his migraines has some clarity, it's difficult to know what to expect from Harvin.
Despite being the go-to option on what figures to be one of the NFL's best offenses, Harvin is still being selected behind the likes of Donald Driver and Michael Crabtree in many drafts.
No. 1: Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers
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Smith has returned to practice after missing the start of training camp with a broken arm sustained in a flag football game in the offseason, and should be ready for the start of the regular season.
That's the good news.
The bad news is that the Panthers offense doesn't figure to be particularly lethal this season, with Matt Moore at quarterback and an offensive line hit hard by injuries.
Smith is still considered a solid No. 2 option for fantasy owners by some fantasy experts, but his output could be very inconsistent this season.
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