Fantasy Football Preview 2009

I haven't made any contributions lately, not because i haven't wanted to, but because I don't feel there has been anything worth writing about. Sure I could write about what I see on the baseball diamond every day, but there's really no point in writing about baseball games that everyone sees in one way or another. Not that I don't love baseball a ton, but i'm also glad football season is upon us. Of course with football season comes the even more important fantasy season. So what i'd like to do is pick some players I like, some I don't like and some really deep sleepers who will burn the waiver wires up come week 6 or 7. Now I've debated doing this for a week or so because the last thing I want is to someone seeing this and using it against me (they know who they are).

Guys I Like

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints-Some people would tell me this is obvious. If you have a mid first round pick and you get a stud running back and the next time your pick comes around and Brees is still there, how many people would take someone like Ryan Grant or Brandon Jacobs and let the best QB in the league go to someone else. The point is, Brees still plays on a team with no defense, and a team with tons of weapons. If he's sitting there, i'm taking him.

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons-The addition of Tony Gonzalez makes Ryan a top 10 QB. As a rookie, this guy threw a TD on his 1st NFL pass. The Falcons have a great running game with Turner the Burner as well as a bunch of solid pass catchers. I think he could put of the type of numbers Aaron Rodgers did last year.

Sage Rosenfels, QB, Minnesota Vikings-With a strong running game, a solid defense and a deep the two deeps threats he has, I could see Rosenfels as a good part time option, especially against weaker teams. From 15 down it's a crap shoot anyway. I'd take Sage before other back-up QB's/

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina-I don't get why people have him in the 8-10 range. This guy is still a top 5 running back. Jonathon Stewart is still an injury waiting to happen and the Panthers will still run the ball. After this guy won me a championship last year, I can't turn the other way and ignore a 20 TD performance. Oh and outside of Turner and All Day, every other running back has questions.

Felix Jones, RB, Dallas Cowboys-I believe Dallas is going to return to their days of a dominant running game where they had a starter (Julius Jones) and a closer (Marion Barber). Handling the full workload was a tough task for Barber so I believe with a healthy Jones they'll return to that. Oh and has anyone seen Julius Jones play? If he can start and put up 1,000 yards, there's absolutely no reason Felix can't.

Tim Hightower, RB, Arizona Cardinals-Chris Wells is more fragile than a glass plate in the greased up hands of a three year old. Hightower is also a touchdown machine. There's another guy in the Arizona running game that i'd look for, he will be addressed later.

Shady McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles-If Wellls is the glass plate then Westbrook is a ceramic cup in that same senario. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Westbrook goes downhill this year and Shady takes full advantage of that. For a later draft pick, 1,000 yards is very possible.

Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Bills-We already know he'll be starting at least 3 games. In my opinion Marshawn Lynch isn't all that great to begin with. Jackson saw quite a few carries last year when Lynch was on the field, so this year I think it could be more. I'd flip the workload from last year the other way in favor of Jackson. You could do worse in the later rounds.

Percy Harvin, Wildcat Extrodinaire, Minnesota Vikings-The thing about Percy Harvin is that he can score from basically anywhere on the field. So if your league awards points for return TD's that makes Harvin more valuble. Obviously, he is a rookie wide receiver, but if you need a 5th or 6th WR then he's worth the gamble.

Nate Washington, WR, Tennessee Titans-The former Steelers home run hitter is now a Titan. While Washington was with the Steelers, he was mainly just a guy that would strike from 74 yards or 65 yards then disappear for a month. It seems like Washington is going to be a guy in Tennessee that starts and gets tons of looks with screens, slants and his specialty, the deep ball.

Laverneous Coles, WR, Cincinnati Bengals-Coles is a guy who's been very productive in recent years and someone who i think will continue to be productive with the Bengals. As long as Carson Palmer is healthy, there is no reason Coles doesn't top 80 catches and 1,000 yards. For where he's going, those numbers would be very nice.

Earl Bennett, WR, Chicago Bears- I know your reaction. Who? Sort or like last year when Lance Moore was just a guy with a funny name. Bennett was a college teammate with Jay Cutler and is in perfect position to start opposite Devin Hester. Bennett is fairly similar to Cutler's primary option in Denver, a guy named Brandon Marshall. Cutler is going to put up some numbers, and Devin Hester won't turn into a 1,500 yard WR over night, so I expect Bennett to put up numbers.

Guys I Don't like

Reggie Bush, RB, New Orleans Saints-Bush is a third down back that gets way too much attention. I don't care what round it is, i'm not taking him. Even when he was healthy last year he managed to get benched for not playing hard. I expect another typical Reggie Bush year where he lands on the bench and makes fantasy owners wonder why they drafted him. STAY AWAY.

Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia Eagles-While experts may rate McNabb in their top 15 quarterbacks, he's not in my top 25. Last year, his four best games came against the stoudt defenses of Cleveland, Seattle, St. Louis and Arizona. Oh and it's shocking, but Donovan played 16 games last year, which means he won't this year. He's slow, out of shape and bound to come up with some bogus injury. He may even tear his ACL again because he can't take a hit. Maybe as a back-up, but there's no way he's starting on my team.

Baby Ladainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers-Last year he was "injured" for parts of the regular season and all of the playoffs. He's 30 and going downhill. I wouldn't take BLT until the 3rd round, and chances are by then, someone has stupidly taken him. I expect him to be watching Darren Sproles for most of this season.

Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles-Same reasons as BLT. He's had a history of injuries and is getting to the magic age when running backs fall apart. He also has ankle surgery in the off-season. If you draft him before the 3rd, get use to the term "Game time decision." Grab Shady McCoy as well. I expect him to be carrying more of the load for the Eagles.

Willie Parker, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers-Just as the two guys above, Parker is getting near 30 and has spent much of the last two years in the trainers room. With Mendenhall and Moore back for the Super Bowl Champs, Parker will get less carries even if he can manage to stay on the field. I wouldn't touch him.

Chris Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals-I think the fact that he hasn't seen pre-season action and he's already hurt says enough. Even if he does start, he won't be that effective. If you want a Cardinals rusher, you don't want Wells.

All Giants WR's-You don't want any of them, until someone has distinguished themself. Of course unless you want to shoot your team in the hip.

Benard Berrian/Lee Evans/Ted Ginn Jr., Wr's- Unless you really like playing Wide Receiver roulette, you don't want either of these guys. Last year Berrian would look like a top 10 receiver then get shutout (that actually happened). Give me Lav Coles or Torry Holt; someone consistant.

Any Jets WR-I don't trust anyone if Kellen Clemens is starting. There's a reason he's been a career back-up.

Deep Sleepers

Anyone could have seen Vincent Jackson or Roddy White last year. Here's some guys that you're going to get very very late that can help you.

Greg Jones, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars-The former Florida State junk food gobbler could be taking a bite out of MJD's carries. Del Rio supposedly likes Jones as a grinder. If you're taking MJD top 5, then you want to grab Greg late in the draft as insurence.

LaRod Stephens Howling, RB, Arizona Cardinals-No this is not a homer pick. I believe LSH can actually be a viable option in Arizona. Lets go through the options ahead of him (currently 4th on the depth chart). Tim Hightower averaged 2.8 yards per carry last season which as far as i know, won't keep you on the field very long. Chris Wells just bumped his head getting out of his car and looks like he'll miss 6-8 weeks with "concussion-like symptoms" or maybe stepped awkwardly going down some steps and suffered an "ankle sprain." Then you have Jason Wright. Let me tell you something, Jason Wright sucks. If you don't believe me, maybe 588 yards in 5 years will change your mind. All it takes is an opportunity.

Mike Walker, Wr, Jacksonville- Aside from Torry Holt, what do the Jags have in terms of Wideouts? Nothing? That's what i though. Walker's also a major red-zone threat.

Lawrence Maroney, RB, New England-Watch and see. You're taking him in the last round, what is there to lose?

Ian Johnson, RB, Minnesota Vikings-If anything happens to All Day, considering Johnson's build this may be a guy you want.

Tatum Bell, RB, Eventually in Denver- You know it's going to happen.

Pat White, QB/WR, Miami Dolphins-He's a Pennington headshot away from being the 2006 version of Vick.

Mike Vick, QB, TBD- There is no way I could not include him. The wildcat is made for him.