Fantasy Football Week 1: Is CJ Spiller Ready To Be an Elite RB?

C.J. Spiller is ready to live up to the hype after being officially named the Bills' starting running back last week by head coach Chan Gailey.

For the first time in years, Bills fans will be treated to an explosive, versatile running back capable of breaking big plays whenever he touches the ball.

Spiller isn't the only rookie poised to make a big impact in fantasy circles this fall.

Fellow running backs Jahvid Best and Ryan Mathews will have big roles and could become fantasy gems.

Here's a look at 10 fantasy football prospects ready to breakout in 2010.

No. 10: Nate Washington, WR, Tennessee Titans

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SEATTLE - AUGUST 14: Wide receiver Nate Washington #85 of the Tennessee Titans looks on prior to the preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on August 14, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Assuming his lingering wrist injury heals during the course of the season, Washington figures to have an impact for as the Titans No. 1 receiver this season.

Promising second-year receiver Kenny Britt was expected to become the team's top target but has found himself in Jeff Fisher's doghouse after displaying a lackluster amount of effort throughout camp.

That means Washington should get the majority of the targets when the Titans decide to take to the air.  In 2009, the veteran quietly caught 47 passes for 569 yards and six touchdowns. 

Those numbers could improve this year, making him a solid No. 3 WR candidate in deep leagues.

No. 9: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

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CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 15: Jermaine Gresham #84 of the Cincinnati Bengals gets tackled after catching a pass by Wesley Woodyard #59 of the Denver Broncos during a preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium on August 15, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals wo

After missing his final season at Oklahoma with a knee injury and arriving late to camp, not many people knew what to expect from Jermaine Gresham.

A solid preseason vaulted the rookie atop the Bengals depth chart at tight end.  That alone isn't a huge accomplishment, but Gresham's production is likely to cause fantasy owners to get him off the bench and into the lineup.

Carson Palmer has never had the benefit of a legitimate downfield threat at tight end, and Gresham's speed and athletic ability make him a dangerous weapon.

Don't expect him to get off to a great start Sunday against the Patriots, but impressive results are sure to follow.

No. 8: Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 02: Ahmad Bradshaw #44 of the New York Giants is tackled by Patrick Chung #25 of the New England Patriots on September 2, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Ima

Bradshaw has bulked up and shown enough improvement in his first three seasons in the NFL.  Now, it appears he will be the featured back for the Giants, at least between the 20s.

In addition to compiling respectable rushing numbers, the former Marshall running back should also be a factor in the passing game for the Giants.

Brandon Jacobs is still expected to get the bulk of the work around the goal line, which reduces Bradshaw's value.  At the same time, Bradshaw is likely to challenge the 1,000-yard mark this season, making him difficult for fantasy owners to ignore.

No. 7: Johnny Knox, WR, Chicago Bears

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CHICAGO - AUGUST 28: Johnny Knox #13 of the Chicago Bears tries to regain his balance after catching a pass as Michael Adams #27 of the Arizona Cardinals grabs his leg during a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The C

The Bears offense is an absolute mess right now, making it difficult for fantasy owners to have a great deal of faith in Jay Cutler or Matt Forte.

One player who fantasy owners should keep a close eye on is Johnny Knox.

After getting off to a fantastic start last season, the speedster slowed down and finished with relatively modest numbers.

Knox totaled 45 receptions for 527 yards and five touchdowns in 2009, averaging a mere 11.7 yards per reception.

Cutler doesn't seem to have great chemistry with most of the Bears' receivers, but Knox appears to be the exception.  Look for him to get the majority of targets this season and produce plenty of big plays.

No. 6: Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers

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ST. LOUIS - JANUARY 3: Michael Crabtree #15 of the San Francisco 49ers walks on the field during the game against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on January 3, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The 49ers beat the Rams 28-6. (Photo by Dilip Vishwa

Despite catching heat over a lack of enthusiasm in practice, Crabtree's talent is difficult to ignore.

After missing the first five games last season while holding out as a rookie, Crabtree didn't miss a beat and finished with 48 receptions for 625 yards and two touchdowns.

It's possible he could get off to a slow start after missing much of the preseason with a neck injury, but fantasy owners should be patient.

Crabtree is likely to get plenty of chances this season with opposing defenses geared up to stop the running game and talented tight end Vernon Davis.

His overall numbers figure to improve dramatically from a season ago, especially his touchdown total.

No. 5: LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA - DECEMBER 27: LeSean McCoy #29 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against the Denver Broncos on December 27, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Broncos 30-27. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/

The Eagles no longer have the services of legendary fantasy football PPR performer Brian Westbrook, and will look to Shady McCoy to bring big play production from the running back position.

McCoy is no Westbrook when it comes to catching the ball, but he did manage to catch 40 passes for 308 yards out of the backfield in his rookie season.  He also rushed for 637 yards and four touchdowns while showing tremendous potential.

McCoy appears to be a lock for a 1,000-yard season and is a solid No. 2 RB starter in fantasy leagues.

No. 4: Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions

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DETROIT - AUGUST 28: Jahvid Best #44 of the Detroit Lions looks for open field during a first quarter run against the Cleveland Browns during a preseason game on August 28, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Best flew somewhat under the radar during his sensational career at Cal.  Now, he could be remembered as the running back who helped the Lions return to respectability.

Kevin Smith's slow recovery from an ACL injury opened the door for Best, and the speedster hasn't missed a beat.  The Lions are likely to utilize him in the passing game as well, making him a solid total yards producer.

His impact should be felt early and often this season, starting in Week 1 against the Bears.

No. 3: Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers

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SAN DIEGO - AUGUST 14: Running back Ryan Mathews #24 of the San Diego Chargers carries for a first down on fourth and one against the Chicago Bears on August 14, 2010 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Another member of the talented running back class of 2010, Mathews displayed power and explosion at Fresno State and could become the steal of the draft.

The Chargers will feature Mathews and Darren Sproles as life after LaDainian begins, a combination that is sure to author plenty of big plays.

Mathews's value is enhanced by a schedule featuring plenty of teams who were far from adept at stopping the run last season.  It starts with a matchup with the Chiefs, who ranked 31st in the NFL against the run in 2009.

There's a strong chance the rookie could be flirting with the 1,000-yard mark by Week 10.

No. 2: Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 20: Mike Wallace #17 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs in for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers during the game on December 20, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/G

Hines Ward is clearly slowing down, so the Steelers desperately need a big injection of speed at wide receiver.  That's where Mike Wallace comes in.

The departure of Santonio Holmes opened the door for Wallace to start in his second season in the NFL, and his production is likely to increase dramatically in his expanded role.

Preseason numbers don't really matter, but Wallace provided a bit of foreshadowing by totaling six catches for 150 yards and a touchdown.

His ability to beat the defense vertically and by running after the catch makes him a valuable fantasy option.

It's a good idea to plug him into your lineup as a high-end No. 3 or low-end No. 2 against the vulnerable Falcons pass defense in Week 1, even with the suspension to Ben Roethlisberger.

No. 1: C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills

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TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 19: C.J. Spiller #21 of the Buffalo Bills runs with Gary Brackett #58 of the Indianapolis Colts during game action August 19, 2010 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Brad White/Getty Images)

Spiller's speed has never been questioned, but prior to his final season at Clemson, his durability was relatively unknown.

He carried the ball a career-high 216 times last season for the Tigers, rushing for over 1,200 yards.  In the process, he eased concerns regarding his lack of toughness.

His ability to catch the ball made him an attractive commodity to the Bills and should prompt fantasy owners to insert him into the lineup right away.  Spiller's versatility and the presence of two veteran backs could lead him to work out of the slot at times this season in Chan Gailey's offense.

Spiller figures to be a fantasy star this season and for many more years to come.