Tight end production fluctuates from year to year. 2009 was a comeback year for the position. Where we are in 2010 is a boom year.

Breakout years from Vernon Davis, Jermichael Finley, Brent Celek, Owen Daniels (pre-injury), Kellen Winslow, Visanthe Shiancoe, and others mean this year’s draft is deeper than ever at tight end. Due to this, it isn’t as necessary to reach for a tight end. In the fourth and fifth rounds, tight ends will start flying off the board. But why reach?

Like kickers, tight end production will still fluctuate. With all the career years in ’09, letdowns are inevitable. If you reach and miss on a TE in the fifth round, that’s a draft spot where you could’ve landed a near sure-fire potential RB2 or WR2 or QB1.

Inevitably, there are going to be people who select a tight end early and those who will wait. Finding that in-between area is the challenge this year. Wait an extra round or two then take your guy.

(Note: Catch up on previous Fantasy Football positions here: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers )

Rankings

Tier 1 2010 Top Fantasy Football Tight Ends

1. Dallas Clark – Indianapolis Colts (Bye: 7)
2. Antonio Gates – San Diego Chargers (Bye: 10)

Clark and Gates are the cream of the crop. Clark put up a career year across the board as Indianapolis lacked the presence of a true WR2. He had 100 receptions, 1106 yards and 10 touchdowns. Those will be tough numbers to top but even a slight drop-off will put him amongst the best at the position.

Gates has had better years but he consistently does very well. San Diego has a great offense and with WR1 Vincent Jackson holding out, Gates should get more targets than usual. Consider him a lock for 75 receptions, 1000 yards and 10 or more touchdowns.

Tier 2 2010 Top Fantasy Football Tight Ends

3. Vernon Davis – San Francisco 49ers (Bye: 9)
4. Jermichael Finley – Green Bay Packers (Bye: 10)
5. Tony Gonzalez – Atlanta Falcons (Bye: 8 )

After years as being an underachiever, a guy with all the talent in the world but nothing to show for it, the guy who prompted head coach Mike Singletary to take off his pants and give one of the more memorable post-game interviews in years, Vernon Davis had a career season scoring 13 touchdowns. The offense sputtered out of the gate in 2009, but when Alex Smith took over at quarterback, Davis and the 49ers played much improved.

Finley is one of those guys who is getting a ton of pre-season hype, mostly because of how he flourished when given a consistent role in Green Bay’s offense. Finley is definitely a player with a ton of upside and expectations.

Gonzalez is a legend. With his first reception in 2010, he’ll be the first tight end to tally 1,000 career receptions. It is unlikely Gonzalez finishes in the top three this year, but he’s very reliable and Matt Ryan’s check-down hero.

Tier 3 2010 Top Fantasy Football Tight Ends

6. Brent Celek – Philadelphia Eagles (Bye: 8 )
7. Jason Witten – Dallas Cowboys (Bye: 5)
8. Owen Daniels – Houston Texans (Bye: 7)
9. Kellen Winslow – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Bye: 4)

Even here in tier 3, there are three great players.

Celek had a great 2009 season with 76 receptions, 971 yards and 8 touchdowns. Emerging after blowing up in 2008’s playoffs, Celek is one of the promising young tight ends in the league.

Witten, despite having 94 receptions, only had 2 touchdowns in 2009. He has a penchant of being a guy who does most of his damage in between the 20s, rather than in the red-zone, but PPR league or not, Witten is very consistent and hasn’t missed a game in his career.

Before Daniels endured a season-ending ACL injury, he was the top tight end in fantasy football. By occupying the wide open middle, he freed up his teammate Andre Johnson and vice versa. Daniels has to prove his season wasn’t a fluke and that he’s fully recovered but a big year is still worth something despite the injury.

Winslow shined in Cleveland, a team that has struggled finding a WR1 since Braylon Edwards’ breakout season. Then, after battling injuries, Winslow arrived in Tampa and re-established himself as a fantasy relevant TE. He’s a lock for a ton of receptions, 850 yards and a big handful of TDs. But the Bucs offense needs to improve dramatically in order for Winslow to be a reliable member of your squad.

Tier 4 2010 Top Fantasy Football Tight Ends

10. Zach Miller – Oakland Raiders (Bye: 10)
11. Visanthe Shiancoe – Minnesota Vikings (Bye: 4)
12. Chris Cooley – Washington Redskins (Bye: 9)
13. Greg Olsen – Chicago Bears (Bye: 8 )

Mill is the best tight end you’ve never heard of. Forced into obscurity because he is a Raider, Miller is my sleeper candidate for 2010. He’s a better receiver than a blocker; he just needs a reliable presence at QB, something very rare in PR2.

Shiancoe, more than any other guys in the Top 15, needs to establish himself as a pass-catcher. Despite a big season, Shaincoe still does not see the ball very often. He’s present but he’s not playing up his caliber of talent. Shiancoe a beast in the red-zone, but not every play goes for six points in the NFL.

Cooley broke his ankle in October of the 2009 season. Now that he’s finally returned, things are a little different. New head coach, new QB, new OC, new system. Cooley is talented, but he wasn’t playing that great last season before he got hurt and he needs to score more often.

Olsen has been a TE that the fantasy community has been waiting to exceed their expectations. 2009 came close but he can do better. With 60 receptions, 612 yards and 8 TDs, there’s still some room for improvement.

Tier 5 2010 Top Fantasy Football Tight Ends

14. John Carlson – Seattle Seahawks (Bye: 5)
15. Heath Miller – Pittsburgh Steelers (Bye: 5)
16. Kevin Boss – New York Giants (Bye: 8 )
17. Jeremy Shockey – New Orleans Saints (Bye: 10)
18. Jermaine Gresham – Cincinnati Bengals (Bye: 6)
19. Todd Heap – Baltimore Ravens (Bye: 8 )

Carlson is your best bet for a sleeper amongst this group. He’s the best natural receiver of the bunch and unfortunately, due to Seattle’s trouble along the offensive line, Carlson was forced to stay in to block many plays. Given more opportunities to make plays, he’s more than capable.

If it weren’t for unreliable quarterback play to start the season, Miller would likely be in Tier 4. Miller had a career year with 76 receptions, 789 yards and a half-dozen touchdowns. He’s improved a little bit every season he’s been in the league and that’s what you like to see.

Boss was expected to have a bigger year last season since the Giants lacked a steady receiver at the time. He did well, but he remains a guy best suited to be a backup TE2. Manning and co. will pass more in 2010 so it is possible Boss could improve.

Shockey is still a good TE, he just happens to play on a team that’s so good that the ball can only go around so much. Shockey will definitely put together 60 receptions, 650 yards and four touchdowns if he can stay healthy but he inevitably gets dinged up. But I still he’s got one good big year left in him.

Gresham just might be in the top 3 of athletic tight ends. Coming out of Oklahoma, he could do it all. With Cincinnati, who hasn’t had a fantasy relevant TE in years and years, he has an opportunity to be the next Jermichael Finley.

Heap has had a rough few years. I don’t think most people have him this high, but I expect the Ravens offense to improve and thus give him more red-zone opportunities and more targets.

Tier 6 2010 Top Fantasy Football Tight Ends

20. Dustin Keller – New York Jets (Bye: 7)
21. Fred Davis – Washington Redskins (Bye: 9)
22. Bo Scaife – Tennessee Titans (Bye: 9)
23. Tony Scheffler – Detroit Lions (Bye: 7)
24. Daniel Fells – St. Louis Rams (Bye: 9)
25. Anthony Fasano – Miami Dolphins (Bye: 5)

The remaining players should be considered TE2 at best

Keller will mostly be asked to block but keep an eye on him. Sanchez is still a developing rookie and a good tight end is a young QB’s best friend.

Davis, I don’t understand the hype. He played great, but Chris Cooley is still the man on the team. Davis is going a bit earlier than this but even if he does play, he’s still a TE2 in a new offense. Things could change drastically for him.

Scaife isn’t going to do much for you. He rarely scores, the Titans love to the run and Scaife requested trade and had missed most of training camp.

Scheffler replaces Brandon Pettigrew, who is still struggling to recover from a knee injury sustained last Thanksgiving. He’s not much of a blocker, but he was brought to Detroit to catch the ball.

Fells performed well when he was finally inserted into the fantasy lineup. Bradford and Fells need to develop of chemistry but in time, Fells could be a deep sleeper at TE.

Fasano put together a semi-memorable 2008 as the best TE nobody owned by scoring 7 TDs but came back to deeper obscurity in 2009. He’s a deep league option only.

Receivers, like running backs, are in a state of flux this season. As the best offenses in the NFL continue to spread the ball around, finding consistent options at WR isn’t easy. Beyond the top 15 to 20 receivers, it’s a bit of a crapshoot. There’s a healthy mix of safe veterans and high-upside players who’ve played three seasons or less.

When drafting receivers, there are two concerns. One, if it’s a PPR league, get them early. Two, if it isn’t a PPR league, seek out value. Inevitably guys are going to be undervalued and slip in the draft. For example, Anquan Boldin of the Baltimore Ravens is slipping in drafts.

As a bit of strategy for 2010, tight ends start to fly off the board in round 5. As teams shift their focus away from receivers, one is bound to fall in your lap. Don’t follow the crowd here. Instead, grab a receiver like the 49ers WR Michael Crabtree or Jags WR Mike Sims-Walker. Both these guys are solid WR2s and even better flex options. Focus on how far a guy has slid and where you are in the draft rather than worrying about filling your roster positions.

(Note: Catch up on previous Fantasy Football positions here: Quarterbacks, Running Backs)

Rankings

Tier 1 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

1. Andre Johnson – Tennessee Titans (Bye: 7)
2. Randy Moss – New England Patriots (Bye: 5)

I was tempted to have Johnson alone in this tier but if I were that critical, I’d end up with 20 tiers. Johnson is the best receiver in the game hands down. As evidenced by his average draft position ranging from No. 5 to No. 10. Johnson is a lock to finish amongst the top five receivers in fantasy football this season, barring injury. Moss belongs here because of his touchdown production. Since coming to New England, he’s averaged 16 touchdowns per season. Nobody else in the league can touch that number. Johnson and Moss can both win games for you single-handedly, that’s why they’re Tier 1.

Tier 2 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

3. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts (Bye: 7)
4. Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins (Bye: 5)
5. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals (Bye: 6)

Tier 2 and Tier 3 are highly debatable. There are about ten guys that are all tightly packed together. It’s all personal preference.

Wayne is still the clear No. 1 WR on one of the best offenses in the NFL. Marshall, I feel, could be the No. 1 WR this season. The Dolphins have no one to throw to and Marshall has the ability to take over games. Fitzgerald was the No. 2 ranked fantasy receiver heading into the offseason, but with the realization that Matt Leinart was his QB and now Derek Anderson will be his QB, he’s been steadily slipping down draft boards.

Tier 3 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

6. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys (Bye: 4)
7. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions (Bye: 7)
8. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons (Bye: 8 )
9. Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers (Bye: 10)
10. DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles (Bye: 8 )

If the Cowboys can get him more possession catches, rather than relying on him to make big plays only, Austin could explode.

Calvin Johnson is the most risky selection here simply because there’s no telling what the Lions will be able to do for him. Chemistry may improve between he and Stafford but we still need to see it.

White continues to be under the radar despite being eerily consistent the last three seasons (averaging 86 receptions, 1225 yards, 8 TDs). He’s coming into his prime and seems to improve every season.

Jennings has emerged in Green Bay as a stud despite an underachieving 2009 season. He can only improve upon those numbers, especially with Aaron Rodgers slinging 30+ touchdowns every year.

The unknown factor for Jackson is how well or how poorly Kevin Kolb ends up. Jackson is a game-breaker, but he had more than six receptions in only two games last year. I prefer guys who score 12 points per game every game rather than a guy who scores two one week and 30 the next.

Tier 4 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

11. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints (Bye: 10)
12. Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens (Bye: 8 )
13. Steve Smith – New York Giants (Bye: 8 )
14. Chad Ochocinco – Cincinnati Bengals (Bye: 10)
15. Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers (Bye: 6)

If the Saints weren’t so good across the board, Colston could be a top 3 WR. He only had 106 targets in 2009, good for 25th in the league. Thankfully, he catches almost everything and is a red zone target.

Projecting Boldin this high assumes one thing. He’s the man in Baltimore. This isn’t a foregone conclusion because Derrick Mason has been getting it done in the NFL for a very long time. But Boldin is the No. 1 guy and I feel he’ll get 200+ targets.

The new Steve Smith (New York’s version) is a possession guy. He’s not a home-run threat. He probably won’t score more than a half dozen touchdowns. But he’ll get a ton of receptions and yards, book it. Ochocinco enjoyed a bounce-back year. I think this is a very kind ranking, perhaps too kind. Cincinnati has developed into a run-first team with Cedric Benson and Ochocinco doesn’t go deep like he used to.

Carolina’s Smith will finish in the top 20 WRs, you just have to hope new quarterback Matt Moore can continually feed him the ball. The Panthers run it and run it some more, so it remains to be seen how many passes will be left for Smith.

Tier 5 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

16. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers (Bye: 6)
17. Wes Welker – New England Patriots (Bye: 8 )
18. Mike Sims-Walker – Jacksonville Jaguars (Bye: 5)
19. Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers (Bye: 6)

San Francisco’s offense began to flourish once Alex Smith was named quarterback. Tight end Vernon Davis benefitted most greatly, but Crabtree is certainly a potential sophomore sleeper. Welker tore ligaments in his knee and it was believed he would not play the opening weeks of the 2010 season. After an incredible recovery, Welker will play in Week 1. Being one of two players in the NFL to have 100+ receptions in the last season seasons (Brandon Marshall being the other), Welker is a great PPR option.

MSW has injury concerns and plays for a lackluster offense but has high potential. When healthy, he played great but as the season wore on, he slowed down.

Ward isn’t a sexy pick, but he’s a safe one. He set some career highs last year and is the most reliable receiver on the roster. He won’t win you your fantasy league, but he’ll certainly won’t lose it for you either.

Tier 6 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

20. Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings (Bye: 9)
21. Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants (Bye: 7)
22. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs (Bye: 4)
23. Malcolm Floyd – San Diego Chargers (Bye: 7)
24. Donald Driver – Miami Dolphins (Bye: 5)
25. Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts (Bye: 5)

At this point in the draft for receivers, we separate the men from the boys. Identifying potential and skipping the hype is the name of the game.

With Sidney Rice out the first two months of the season, Harvin should see a lot more playing time. People still may not be believers, but Harvin is more dangerous in open space than any other player in the NFL. Don’t believe me? You haven’t seen enough of him then.

What Steve Smith provides as a possession receiver, Nicks brings the same to the table after the catch. I would describe him as an angry runner who can break tackles and find daylight. Expect a breakout year from him. Bowe is a bit of a knucklehead but he’s slimmed down and I’d compare him to Brandon Marshall in talent. Can he put it all together this season? We’ll find out but the talent is there.

I’m higher on Floyd than most anyone but that’s because I have faith in Philip Rivers and the offensive system in place under Norv Turner. Floyd fits the mold of Chargers receivers in that he’s tall, a great jumper and a red-zone target. Unless you think Rivers is going to fall off the map, he’s got to get his production somewhere and Antonio Gates isn’t about to score 20 TDs, is he? Therefore, Floyd will pick up the slack, no problem.

Driver and Garcon are two guys on two opposite ends of their career in similar positions on their teams. Both are No. 2 receivers. Both are a part of great offenses with a lot of playmakers on offense. But would you rather have the aging veteran or the young upstart? There are no wrong answers in the preseason. But I’d say take Garcon. Driver had a career year while Garcon’s role is still improving in Indy.

Tier 7 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

26. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers (Bye: 5)
27. Santana Moss – Washington Redskins (Bye: 9)
28. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles (Bye: 8 )
29. Terrell Owens – Cincinnati Bengals (Bye: 6)
30. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Seattle Seahawks (Bye: 5)
31. Robert Meachem – New Orleans Saints (Bye: 10)
32. Braylon Edwards – New York Jets (Bye: 7)
33. Bernard Berrian – Minnesota Vikings (Bye: 7)

The mix of young players and veterans gets thicker.

Wallace has a ton of potential, but you’re putting a lot of faith into the Steelers’ passing offense. Sure, it seems odd that Pittsburgh would so easily walk away from Santonio Holmes, maybe they really like Wallace? He’s the future of the team at his position once Ward walks away, he’ll have to prove it to me before I draft him.

Moss peaked many years ago but it could be a final hurrah with Donovan McNabb in town. Moss is still the only established receiver on the Skins so it seems logical that McNabb could make him his No. 1 target.

Maclin is a DeSean Jackson clone and I think this works against the Eagles in some ways as both guys are good at the same sorts of things. Maclin does run better routes so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on more underneath routes, which could get him more receptions than Jackson but fewer yards.

Owens and Housh both need a big year to validate themselves late in their career. Owens has the better opportunity since he’s WR2 in Cincinnati which gives him the luxury of lining up against team’s No. 2 corner instead of No. 1. Housh was never fast and seems to have lost a step so I’m not sure what to expect. The Seahawks can’t possibly have a great offense, could they?

Edwards is a risky pick. The Jets aren’t much of a passing team and Edwards isn’t much of a catching guy. Struggles with drops, focus and consistency have dogged his career and made him a bit of a joke. Let someone else take this risk.

Berrian could see the biggest jump of any receiver in the draft over the next week. With Rice out, as previously stated, Berrian is likely the new WR1 in Minnesota. He needs to step up big and he could potentially put up at top 15 performance.

Tier 8 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

34. Vincent Jackson – San Diego Chargers (Bye: 10)
35. Santonio Holmes – New York Jets (Bye: 7)
34. Sidney Rice – Minnesota Vikings (Bye: 7)
35. Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears (Bye: 8 )
36. Kenny Britt – Tennessee Titans (Bye: 9)
37. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys (Bye: 4)
38. Steve Breaston – Arizona Cardinals (Bye: 4)
39. Lee Evans – Buffalo Bills (Bye: 7)

Jackson, Holmes, and Rice are all beasts but unfortunately, they’re all going to be out for at least a few games. Jackson is suspended for three games and could hold out longer. Holmes will miss four games and I expect him to still be the leading receiver on the Jets. Rice is out two months but he’s so good that he’ll be a huge pick-up once he is back.

Knox is the safest bet of all the receivers in Chicago. He’s quick, reliable and should be the guy in Mike Martz’s offense.

Britt is a burner and the only other big-play option in Tennessee. He showed flashes last year but needs to contribute more consistently. So for now, he’s a low WR3 or high WR4.

The Cowboys need Bryant to prove he can play this year but so far, it doesn’t sound too promising. I’d expect Bryant to get going in the second half of the season.

Breaston would a top-25 guy if Kurt Warner were still in town, but with Derek Anderson leading the way, I can’t trust him. As for Lee Evans, I feel bad for the guy. He’s so good but his team is just so bad.

Tier 9 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

40. Derrick Mason – Baltimore Ravens (Bye: 10)
41. Devin Aromashodu – Chicago Bears (Bye: 8 )
42. Chaz Schilens – Oakland Raiders (Bye: 7)
43. Chris Chambers – Kansas City Chiefs (Bye: 4)
44. Mohamed Massaquoi – Cleveland Browns (Bye: 8 )
45. Devery Henderson – New Orleans Saints (Bye: 10)
46. Julian Edelman – New England Patriots (Bye: 5)

Mason deserves better than this ranking but he’s a player where you know exactly what you’re going to get (70 receptions, 1000 yards, 5 touchdowns). His stats won’t wow you at all and his numbers could drop due to the presence of Boldin.

Aromashodu’s stock as a sleeper this season hasn’t caught fire. The thing is, somebody on the Bears is going to blow up and from what I’ve seen, he’s the most dynamic receiver they’ve got. Now, does the Bears coaching staff agree? Will they feed him the ball? It hasn’t played that way yet but he has the talent if given the opportunity.

Schilens, Chambers and Massaquoi all have the potential to outperform this ranking. It boils down to how successful will they be on offense. Oakland, Kansas City and Cleveland are all underachieving the last few years and while these guys can succeed, it’s a big gamble.

Henderson is still competing for the WR2 role on the Saints, but Meachem is the favorite. Since the Saints are so successful on offense, they rarely need to go deep (Henderson’s specialty) and take big chances to ignite a spark on offense.

Edelman had more value when it appeared Welker could miss part of the season but for now, he’s a good possession guy and considering the age of Moss and Welker, he would be a great fill-in if either of those guys go down.

Tier 10 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

47. Jabar Gaffney – Denver Broncos (Bye: 9)
48. Jacoby Jones – Houston Texans (Bye: 7)
49. Eddie Royal – Denver Broncos (Bye: 9)
50. Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Bye: 5)

Gaffney has been the No. 1 WR for Denver this offseason, but he’s done nothing in the preseason to validate that position. He’s an average receiver on a team with no established talent.

Jones has a ton of upside, but he’s competing for WR2 spot alongside Andre Johnson. Considering how much the Texans love to pass the ball, he could be a great deep sleeper and someone to keep your eye on this season.

Royal was a huge let-down in 2009 and a perfect of example of what can happen to a young player or a player under a new coaching staff. He’s good, he’s great in the open field but the Broncos don’t appear interested in using him to the best of his abilities.

Williams has surpassed his rookie teammate Arrelious Benn as the Bucs top receiver. But with quarterback Josh Freeman having a broken thumb, it doesn’t really matter. Williams has excellent raw talent, but until his offense improves, it won’t matter what he can do if he can’t produce consistently.

If there’s any wisdom I can bestow upon you fantasy knuckleheads is that running backs are a dime a dozen outside the top 20. Once you start to get into your flex option backs and reserves, the name of the game is playing the matchup. The old saying, “on any given Sunday,” it’s absolutely true.

Last season, Jamaal Charles, Rashard Mendenhall, LeSean McCoy, Jerome Harrison, Justin Forsett, Arian Foster, and others all came out of left field and supplanted their team’s starting back. You’ve got to act swiftly on the waiver wire and pick guys up with reckless abandon. Loyalty has no place in fantasy football.

One final note, some owners like to use handcuffs. Handcuffing means say you’ve got Chris Johnson, you’d also select Javon Ringer (his backup) late in the draft. I disagree with this strategy. Your roster spots are like bullets. You need every one of them available to you in battle. If Johnson is healthy, Ringer has no place on your team unless you play in a very, very deep league where you’re just hoping Johnson gets hurt so you get lucky.

(Note: Catch up on previous Fantasy Football positions here: Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers )

Rankings

Tier 1 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

1. Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans (Bye: 9)
2. Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings (Bye: 4)
3. Maurice Jones-Drew – Jacksonville Jaguars (Bye: 9)
4. Ray Rice – Baltimore Ravens (Bye: 8 )

No surprises here. CJ and AP is a toss-up, the only argument against CJ is “can he do it again?” Even if he doesn’t, he will still have a huge year. The only argument against AP is that the Vikings have more weapons and Peterson has a fumbling problem. To put it simply, if you don’t draft AP because he has a fumbling problem, you don’t know fantasy football. CJ and AP are both beasts, you should happy to have either one. MJD and Rice, it’s the same issues. The Jaguars’ offense is Jones-Drew. Rice and the Ravens have more playmakers than the Jaguars. Either guy is great and a beast in PPR leagues. MJD gets the slight nod because he’s one of the best goal-line backs in the NFL while Rice doesn’t get many goal-line opportunities.

Tier 2 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

5. Frank Gore – San Francisco 49ers (Bye: 9)
6. Steven Jackson – St. Louis Rams (Bye: 9)
7. Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons (Bye: 8 )
8. Rashard Mendenhall – Pittsburgh Steelers (Bye: 5)

It’s easy to like Gore. He’s a workhorse back, he’ll put up 30 to 40 receptions, he’s an every-down back. The problems come from a few things: He can disappear some games and he’s almost a lock to miss a couple weeks. That being said, I think he’s the best and safest pick of the bunch and that’s why he’s at No. 5. Jackson and Turner, pick your poison. Jackson is coming of off back surgery and only scored four touchdowns in 2009 while in the Rams’ putrid offense. Turner missed most of the second half last year, but when he played he was good. He gets a slight bump down in PPR leagues cause he’s not much of a receiver out of the backfield. I have Mendenhall in this tier because of his workload and lack of competition at his position. He’s the clear-cut guy in Pittsburgh although I will say, he could be this year’s Steve Slaton (late first round / early second round RB bust) if the Steelers’ line struggles.

Tier 3 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

9. DeAngelo Williams – Carolina Panthers (Bye: 6)
10. Shonn Greene – New York Jets (Bye: 7)
11. Ryan Grant – Green Bay Packers (Bye: 10)
12. Ryan Mathews – San Diego Chargers (Bye: 10)
13. Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs (Bye: 4)

Williams is only one season removed from being the best back in fantasy football. He drops to No. 9 because of his backfield teammate Jonathan Stewart. Both guys are fantastic and they’re easily the best backfield tandem in the NFL. The next four guys are all interchangeable. The New York Jets ran the ball more than anybody last year and Greene will be productive because of that. Grant plays in a great offense and is solid. He’s not a SportsCenter play of the week kind of guy but he gets the job done.

Mathews’ potential is off the charts but he’s still a rookie. I rank him here out of respect of what he can do in San Diego but that’s not a lock that he’ll accomplish it. I’d much rather have Mathews in the second half the season, once he gets a grasp of the NFL game. Charles, as I see it, has the most upside out of all these guys. He led the NFL in yards per carry. He’s simply electric and almost as fast as Chris Johnson. If he can stay healthy and carry the ball 250+ times, he’ll be playing at a high Tier 2 level as a minimum.

Tier 4 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

14. Pierre Thomas – New Orleans Saints (Bye: 10)
15. Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals (Bye: 6)
16. Cedric Benson – Cincinnati Bengals (Bye: 6)
17. LeSean McCoy – San Francisco 49ers (Bye: 8 )
18. Justin Forsett – Seattle Seahawks (Bye: 5)

The frustrating thing about these guys is that their season can go either way. They could sneak into Tier 3 production or they could slide down. Thomas struggled to stay healthy, didn’t get many red-zone touches but is the Saints’ RB1 this year. No Saints back had more than 180 carries last year which is what deters me from being as high on Thomas as others. But the Saints’ offense is one of the best in the league so they’ll be on the field plenty to give him the ball. Wells suffers from a similar fate. Last season, Tim Hightower started almost every game, stole goal-line touchdowns from him and Wells struggled with injuries. If those situations are resolved, he is at worst the No. 15 RB.

Benson is probably better than this ranking, but he just has to continue to prove himself, especially in the second half where he flamed out a bit last year. Put all that aside, I still consider him a steal due to his big role in the Bengals’ offense. McCoy is a guy with a ton of potential but I get the feeling Leonard Weaver and Mike Bell are going to steal touches from him. McCoy will likely be the Eagles’ feature back, but it comes down to how often he’ll be subbed out.

I’m higher on Forsett than most but he’s without a doubt the best running back on Seattle. Forsett finished 2009 strong and head coach Pete Carroll has already admitted that he really likes him. He’s a sleeper who you can wait on and select with confidence.

Tier 5 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

19. Jonathan Stewart – Carolina Panthers (Bye: 6)
20. Knowshon Moreno – Denver Broncos (Bye: 9)
21. Arian Foster – Houston Texans (Bye: 7)
22. Felix Jones – Dallas Cowboys (Bye: 4)
23. Joseph Addai – Indianapolis Colts (Bye: 7)
24. Ronnie Brown – Miami Dolphins (Bye: 5)

Stewart could be a starter on more than half the teams in the league. With Williams dinged up last season, Stewart led the team in carries, yards and touchdowns. Since the team gives them a 50/50 split of the carries, it is possible Stewart could jump to tier 4. I loved Moreno coming into his rookie year, enough to draft him in multiple leagues. But with running backs, they either show up right away or they’re typically a bust. Moreno rode the fence, got hurt, disappeared some games and I had enough. I ended up trading him away with little reservation. Moreno is solid when healthy, but he’s already hurt. I don’t trust him.

Houston loves to pass the ball, but I expect them to be a little more balanced with Foster in the backfield. Jones has all the potential in the world; he just needs the Cowboys to feed him the ball. If they do that, he’s got sleeper written all over him. If not, he’s going to that “wait till next year” kind of player. I do not like Addai. He has value because the Colts score so much, he’s bound to get looks in the redzone. But he’s just an absolute burden when it comes to rushing yards. I expect Donald Brown to overtake him very soon. There was a time when Ronnie Brown was the man. I remember people taking him as a second round pick after his first two seasons. But injuries and inconsistency have limited his production. If he can stay healthy and the Dolphins are able to pass the ball a bit better, Brown can beat his ranking.

Tier 6 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

25. C.J. Spiller – Buffalo Bills (Bye: 5)
26. Brandon Jacobs – New York Giants (Bye: 8 )
27. Ahmad Bradshaw – New York Giants (Bye: 8 )
28. Matt Forte – Chicago Bears (Bye: 8 )
29. Ricky Williams – Miami Dolphins (Bye: 5)
30. Jahvid Best – Detroit Lions (Bye: 7)
31. Jerome Harrison – Cleveland Browns (Bye: 8 )

We’re now at the point where you can either make yourself look like a genius or an idiot depending upon who you select.

Spiller could be rookie of the year, or he could be a total non-factor. The Bills are atrocious on offense and that’s what concerns me about him. On any other quality team, he could be amazing but he was dealt a bad hand.

Between Jacobs and Bradshaw, the Giants’ running game is up for grabs. Right now, I like Bradshaw to emerge as the guy. Jacobs has hit a career wall and I don’t expect him to ever recover.

Forte was one of the biggest disappointments in 2009 and now that he’s got Mike Martz as his offensive coordinator, I find it hard to believe he’s suddenly going to be great again in a pass-heavy offense. Ricky Williams had a great year because Ronnie Brown was nowhere to be found. If you’re expecting another big year, you should only do so if Williams is your fourth-best running back.

Best and Harrison both play in really bad offenses but have similar styles. Both are shifty and dynamic with the ball in their hands. They need their teammates to make it easier on them. Trouble here is, the Lions still have Kevin Smith who’s not exactly terrible. And the Browns don’t appear to have much confidence in Harrison. They drafted Montario Hardesty who will be making an appearance in the next tier.

Tier 7 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

32. Carnell Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Bye: 4)
33. Marion Barber – Dallas Cowboys (Bye: 4)
34. Michael Bush – Oakland Raiders (Bye: 10)
35. Darren McFadden – Oakland Raiders (Bye: 10)
36. Montario Hardesty – Cleveland Browns (Bye: 8 )
37. Clinton Portis – Washington Redskins (Bye: 9)
38. Thomas Jones – Kansas City Chiefs (Bye: 4)
39. Donald Brown – Indianapolis Colts (Bye: 7)
40. Reggie Bush – New Orleans Saints (Bye: 10)

It gets ugly fast here in Tier 7. If you’re drafting your third running back here, I feel you’re in trouble.

Williams is only good because he’s the starter. Barber needs a bounce-back year and fortunately, reports out of training camp are that he looks good. Michael Bush and McFadden need to separate themselves, because somebody has to want it more. McFadden has more talent but Bush might be the better back. Hardesty is an insurance policy but since he was a third round pick, it seems likely he’ll get a shot on the field.

Portis was awful last year and I wouldn’t waste a roster spot on him. Let someone else pray to be lucky when they take him. Jones is pushing Charles for a starting spot, but that’s only in the newspapers. Charles has more athleticism in his pinky toe than Jones has in his whole body. Jones is a backup, nothing more. Brown could replace Addai but considering he already hasn’t worries me. Reggie Bush is a bust, I put him here because people take him so early despite being so insanely inconsistent.

Tier 8 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

41. Tim Hightower – Arizona Cardinals (Bye: 6)
42. Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills (Bye: 6)
43. Laurence Maroney – New England Patriots (Bye: 5)
44. LaDainian Tomlinson – New York Jets (Bye: 7)
45. Chester Taylor – Chicago Bears (Bye: 8 )

Hightower could definitely blow this ranking out of the water, but I expect him to play second fiddle to Beanie Wells. If he starts games and gets more than 15 carries per game, he easily jumps about 20 spots.

Jackson would be higher if he were healthy, but he isn’t. He had a very respectable 2009, despite all the Bills’ troubles on offense. When he returns from injury, keep an eye on his production because I viewed him as a bit of a sleeper.

Maroney and Chester Taylor are a bit frustrating. I feel Taylor will replace Forte as Chicago’s starter by midseason. He’s a solid, consistent runner. Maroney on the other hand needs more touches as New England’s RB1. They’ve got five guys who can all be considered specialists. That’s the problem for the Patriots though. There’s no single player who can do it all like they need.

Tomlinson is going to surprise some people this year. Especially at the goal-line. Expect him to rush for only 800 yards, but at least 8 touchdowns.

Tier 9 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

46. Kevin Smith – Detroit Lions (Bye: 7)
47. Darren Sproles – San Diego Chargers (Bye: 10)
48. Correll Buckhalter – Denver Broncos (Bye: 9)
49. Steve Slaton – Houston Texans (Bye: 7)
50. Leon Washington – Seattle Seahawks (Bye: 5)

Smith isn’t as bad as some may think. He’s played for some awful Lions’ teams and missed most of last season. If he’s healthy, I think he can be a better every-down back than Jahvid Best.

On the other hand, Sproles is definitely San Diego’s RB2. He’ll get his return yardage and some third down receptions, but beyond that, there’s not a lot to be excited about.

Head to head, I think Buckhalter is the better football player than Moreno. But with both players injured, the position is a mess. Slaton has the same issue. The starter, Ben Tate, is injured which gives Slaton a shot at redemption. But realistically, Slaton has already proved himself unreliable.

Washington is here because he’s a fun, high-energy player. He’s not the best, but he wants it and it’s possible he could steal some carries away from Forsett.

These five guys will play very limited stats so make sure they only stay on your team in emergency situations.

The latest trends in the NFL favor teams that are successful passing the ball. Look no further than Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans Saints versus the Indianapolis Colts. The two teams combined for nearly 10,000 passing yards and 68 passing touchdowns during the regular season. Name the two best quarterbacks in the NFL? Most people would probably say Drew Brees and Peyton Manning.

In 2008, five teams passed for more than 4,000 yards. In 2009, that number exploded to 12. It may not last, but of those 12 passing teams, nine of them were playoff teams. So all we can really extract from this is that passing the ball appears to translate to more success.

In fantasy football, quarterbacks run deep. If you’re playing in a 10-team league, you can end up with a Brett Favre or Jay Cutler as late as round 9 or 10. It all depends on what you want: the safe bet (Brees, Manning, Aaron Rodgers) or the late upside (Joe Flacco, Kevin Kolb).

(Note: Catch up on previous Fantasy Football positions here: Running Backs, Wide Receivers )

Rankings

Tier 1

1. Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints (Bye: 10)
2. Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers (Bye: 10)
3. Peyton Manning – Indianapolis Colts (Bye: 7)

Whether you select Brees or Rodgers, there is no wrong answer as to who is best on paper. Rodgers is coming into his own and Brees has strung together terrific years consecutively. Manning, despite his tremendous reputation, has fallen off a tiny bit. His status will get him drafted this high, but it’s possible he continues to slip to Tier 2 this year.

Tier 2

4. Tony Romo – Dallas Cowboys (Bye: 4)
5. Tom Brady – New England Patriots (Bye: 5)
6. Matt Schaub – Houston Texans (Bye: 7)
7. Philip Rivers – San Diego Chargers (Bye: 10)

Romo had a big year in 2009 and despite all the Cowboys haters out there; the Cowboys have a ton of playmakers on offense which gives him the advantage in this tier. Brady had a solid year after returning from injury and I feel he’ll improve. But if you think Brady will return to his 2007 form where he threw for 50 TDs, you’re mistaken. Schaub and the Houston Texans pass the ball a lot, I mean a lot. There is some slight concern as Schaub has had a history of injury but you’ve got to go with him because he still has upside to replace Manning in Tier 1. Rivers gets a slight downgrade for me with the loss of WR Vincent Jackson for most of the season, plus he might be traded. Rivers is still one of the more underrated QBs in the league but I foresee the Chargers relying a little more on their run game.

Tier 3

8. Brett Favre – Minnesota Vikings (Bye: 4)
9. Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens (Bye: 8 )

Favre actually finished 2009 as a top 5 QB. Flacco is coming into his prime and the Ravens added dynamic playmaker WR Anquan Boldin. Favre is the safest choice. But Flacco is a sleeper pick who is dropping in drafts due to Favre coming back.

Tier 4

10. Kevin Kolb – Philadelphia Eagles (Bye: 8 )
11. Jay Cutler – Chicago Bears (Bye: 8 )
12. Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons (Bye: 8 )
13. Eli Manning – New York Giants (Bye: 8 )
14. Carson Palmer – Cincinnati Bengals (Bye: 6)

This tier is where things get complicated. Kolb is finally getting his shot in Philly, and you have to think there is a reason the Eagles want him to play now. Chicago has added Mike Martz as offensive coordinator so Cutler will be passing the ball in true gunslinger mode. “Lil” Manning has a trio of good receivers in Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham and a very inconsistent run game. Those two things together equal a more pass-reliant team. Lastly, the Bengals added Terrell Owens alongside Chad Ochocinco and no matter what you think of these guys, both were No. 1 WRs last season and one of them is going to be covered by No. 2 cornerbacks all season long. That’s called a mismatch. There is an argument for all these guys to have improved years but the Bengals, Giants and Falcons are all teams that like to establish a run game. Kolb has little experience and Cutler and the Bears looked awful last year. There is lots of risk but between these guys, but someone will blow up for a big year.

Tier 5

15. Donovan McNabb – Washington Redskins (Bye: 9)
16. Chad Henne – Miami Dolphins (Bye: 5)
17. Alex Smith – San Francisco 49ers (Bye: 9)

Here we have upside versus a career fading away. McNabb has a lot to prove this season, but he’s hasn’t put together a great fantasy season anytime recently. I’d pass on him. The Redskins receivers simply aren’t as good as the Eagles. Expectations for Henne and Smith are rising. Both are sleeper picks all across the web. Henne has Brandon Marshall to lean on and the 49ers are a consensus pick to win the NFC West.

Tier 6

18. Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers (Bye: 5)
19. Mark Sanchez – New York Jets (Bye: 7)
20. Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions (Bye: 7)
21. Matt Leinart – Arizona Cardinals (Bye: 6)
22. Matt Cassel – Kansas City Chiefs (Bye: 4)

Roethlisberger is the perfect backup QB this year if your starting QB doesn’t have his bye until after Week 6. Roethlisberger is suspended for six games and it might drop down to five. Sanchez has the least to prove of the remaining four. After all, he led his team to the AFC Championship game in his rookie year. He’s not a great fantasy QB, but he’s going to improve. As for Stafford, Leinart and Cassel, all three have big question marks. The Lions and Chiefs have struggling passing attacks with underachieving star receivers. Leinart has to fill the shoes of a Hall of Famer and it remains to be seen whether he can get it done. Your best bet is to point and pray if you’re picking amongst these guys for a backup. None of them are sure things but I like the way Sanchez and Stafford lead their teams.

Tier 7

23. David Garrard – Jacksonville Jaguars (Bye: 9)
24. Matt Hasselbeck – Seattle Seahawks (Bye: 5)
25. Jason Campbell – Oakland Raiders (Bye: 10)
26. Vince Young – Tennessee Titans (Bye: 9)
27. Kyle Orton – Denver Broncos (Bye: 9)

Ideally, you don’t want these guys unless the matchup is perfect. Garrard and Hasselbeck can be solid but they are simply game-managers. They make the easy throws and minimize mistakes. That isn’t a winning fantasy formula. Campbell, Young and Orton are all big question marks. Campbell went from bad to worse in his move from Washington to Oakland. Young lacks ideal pass accuracy but can create enough with his feet to make you sometimes forget that he’s not a great passer. Add to the fact that the Titans are going to run Chris Johnson into the ground with upwards of over 300 carries and it’s difficult to imagine Young ever having a big passing year. Orton looked good to start 2009, but with the loss of Brandon Marshall, there’s little reason to be exciting about Denver’s passing game.

Tier 8

28. Matt Moore – Carolina Panthers (Bye: 6)
29. Josh Freeman – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Bye: 4)
30. Sam Bradford – St. Louis Rams (Bye: 9)
31. Jake Delhomme – Cleveland Browns (Bye: 8 )
32. Trent Edwards – Buffalo Bills (Bye: 6)

Gluttons for punishment need only apply. These guys are awful. Moore did finish the 2009 season looking pretty good but most of his opponents had closed down shop with their place in the playoffs already set. Freeman is vital to the Bucs’ success but their offense is atrocious. He also recently suffered a thumb injury to his throwing hand, which is never good. Bradford should only be selected in keeper leagues but the Rams need so much work done on their offense that it may be a few years before he is fantasy viable. Delhomme and Edwards are only for those with a death wish, I have nothing positive to say about either. Avoid these final five guys as best you can.

What do you get when you take two charter franchises and put them in the same division with two other Midwest teams with rich football histories? You get the NFC North. This division has gone through long periods of domination. In the 80’s it was the Bears. The 90’s was the Packers. And this decade it’s been a two horse race between the Packers and the Vikings. Will this season be any different? Let’s take a look at what we know and what we need to know.

1. Minnesota Vikings- Last Season 12-4 (Lost in NFC Championship to New Orleans Saints)

What We Know: They had one of the best offenses in football highlighted by Adrian Peterson as their running back and an ancient Brett Favre as their quarterback. They had a maddening pass rush. Their offensive line got man handled but a confusing Saints defense which pummeled Favre. They also found in that game the increasing problem of Adrian Peterson hanging onto the ball. They passed on drafting a quarterback or competing in the Donovan McNabb sweepstakes.

What We Need to Know: Will Favre be back? Will he be as good as he was last year? Will Adrian Peterson get past the fumbling? Will Jarrod Allen have the kind of season he had in the first half or the second half? The fact is that this whole season comes down to Favre. If he comes back and plays close to the way he did last year this team either wins the division or gets in the Wild Card. If not, they won’t be sniffing the playoffs and could be looking up at the Bears.

Bottom Line: The Vikings will probably have Favre back but with his health always a question expect a dip from last year for the whole team.

2. Green Bay Packers – Last Season 11-5 (Lost in Opening Round to Arizona Cardinals)

What We Know: Aaron Rodgers is for real. Ryan Grant is probably not. Their defense looked much improved until Arizona torched them. This team can score a ton of points with a deep group of wide receivers. Their pass defense is their Achilles heel.

What We Need To Know: Can the Packers offensive line protect Aaron Rodgers better than they did last year? Can Rodgers equal his success from last year? Can the Packers find a legit ground game to compliment their fierce passing attack? The answers to these need to be addressed early in the season as their schedule is tough and they will need a good start. The offensive line should be helped by the draft but they will need more consistent play from their d-line to help that decimated secondary.

Bottom Line: Don’t be so quick to give the Vikings the division crown. The Packers will be tough all season.

3. Chicago Bears – Last Season 7-9 (missed playoffs)

What We Know: Cutler has about 1 more season to prove he can be a consistent top 10 guy. Their offensive line was ugly for most of last year. They brought in Mike Martz to revamp the offense but he’s working with less than good receivers. They signed Julius Peppers to big money to help the defensive line. There secondary got shredded last year by running the Cover 2 which is was missing most of the pieces needed to make it effective.

What We Need To Know: Can Cutler stop throwing the ball to the other teams? Can Peppers be the big sack king the Bears are hoping for? Can the receivers and offensive line really improve? Can Urlacher be effective at all anymore? Can they find some help in the secondary? There are a lot more questions than there are answers. This is the problem the Bears face. Jerry Angelo, Lovie Smith, and the rest of the Bears brain trust should make a quick exit if their season is a disappointment.

Bottom Line: The optimism exists in Chicago, but not a whole lot of realism.

4. Detroit Lions – Last Season 2-14 (missed playoffs)

What We Know: Matthew Stafford appeared at times to be a franchise quarterback. At other times he looked like a rookie. We know Calvin Johnson is for real. They got the best player in the draft in Suh. They had an offense that ranked 27th in points per game. We know that while they only won 2 games, they weren’t nearly the punching bags they were in their winless season.

What We Need To Know: What kind of impact will Suh make in his rookie year? Will Stafford take another step? Will Jahvid Best be the kind of running back that will help take pressure off of Johnson? Will they be able to play consistent defense? There are too many questions that rely on young players for answers. That isn’t a recipe for a great season.

Bottom Line: They will take another step forward to better than 2 wins but they are a long way from being relevant.

Preseason? Who cares!

The NFL’s preseason is under way and while it does usher in the beginning of football season, just let me ask: Who cares!?!! To quote Allen Iverson, “We talkin’ bout practice. Not a game, not a game. Practice.”

If your roommate fires up his Xbox 360 or PS3 and plays a game of Madden 11, do you run into the living room wearing your favorite team’s jersey? Do you sit with anticipation waiting to see how your team performs? Are you emotionally invested in the game? The result of your roommate’s Madden game is just as important as the result of a preseason game.

Now, if we’re talking about the importance of training camp, that’s a little different. For those NFL junkies that watch HBO’s “Hard Knocks”, you know from watching the show that it is important time for coaches to evaluate their talent.

Hundreds of guys across the country work their tail off trying to work, scratch and claw their way into their biggest dream: to play in the NFL. There is something to be admired in that. In that sense and that sense only, preseason games are interesting. Is that enough to hold my attention? Not really. While it is cool for those involved, the eventual special teamers on my favorite team are of little concern to me. I’m not a bad fan; I’m just an adult with other things going on. It’s a little unreasonable for me to care who my team’s 8th-string linebacker is and how good he might be and his long-term potential.

Don’t take it the wrong way, this is a great time of year. As August ends, the weather slowly begins to cool, the seasons transition and the leaves begin to turn from greens to yellows to oranges to reds and browns. Football season is right around the corner, both professional and college football, and the whole nation is living and dying by the success of their fantasy football teams.

But c’mon, who really cares about preseason? Name the most memorable preseason game of all time! Which quarterback has the most all time preseason touchdowns? Who knows! Take pride in not knowing. If you do know, you might care just a little bit too much.

I have one final metaphor for you. The preseason is like pre-heating the oven to make a frozen pizza. The regular season is when you’re baking the pizza, you can smell it, you can almost taste it. The playoffs are when you get to eat the pizza, the full experience, you can feel it in your bones. The Pro Bowl is when you wake up at 5 AM to take a dump because you ate an entire pizza.

It’s that simple

The NFC East is the most talked about and closely followed division in football, and with good reason. They have 4 of the NFL’s oldest teams and more storied franchises and for the better part of the last decade it has been the toughest and most competitive division in football. So let’s find out what we know about these teams and what we need to know.

1. Dallas Cowboys – Last Season 11-5 (Lost to the Minnesota Vikings in the second round)

What We Know: We know that Tony Romo got a monkey off his back by winning a playoff game and allowing the whole franchise to breathe a sigh of relief. We know that Miles Austin has emerged as a top notch receiver and that there offensive line is strong and their running game is diverse. And we know they allowed the least amount of points in the NFC. But we know Minnesota shredded them with a balanced attack.

What We Need To Know: Can the Cowboys take that next step? Can Miles Austin be as dangerous now that the NFL has a scouting report on him? Will they be able to run the ball effectively all season? Will Dez Bryant be as good as the Cowboys think he will? There isn’t a ton of holes with this team but the question is if Tony Romo is the kind of quarterback who simply compiles stats or wins big games? It’s a big question that may not have an answer that Cowboy fans will like.

Bottom Line: The Cowboys should be the class of the division but they have bigger goals to accomplish.

2. Philadelphia Eagles –Last Season 11-5 (lost in the playoffs to the Dallas Cowboys)

What We Know: The Eagles are always a tough out. They have one of the better defenses in football and no one drafts quite as well as the Eagles. We know they have one of the deeper teams at the quarterback position. We know that they traded Donovan McNabb in the offseason. We know that they have been the brides maid more times than any NFC team in the last decade.

What We Need To Know: Can Kevin Kolb be even close to the quarterback that McNabb was? Will McCoy be enough to anchor that Eagles backfield? But we can talk about what if’s forever but this whole season comes down to the play of Kolb. It was risky to trade a proven franchise quarterback and Andy Reid is praying his instincts are right.

Bottom Line: The Eagles can compete or fade quickly and it’s all on Kolb. The bet is they fade.

3. Washington Redskins- Last Season 4-12 (missed playoffs)

What We Know: They made the biggest splash this offseason by getting Donovan McNabb and bringing in head coach Mike Shanahan. They are having a big problem with defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth. They have a running back trio that if healthy can do damage. They have a receiving corps that needs help in a big way.

What We Need To Know: Will Albert Haynesworth man up and be an important part of the defense? Will McNabb be able to make something out of a weak crop of wide receivers? Are there enough pieces here for Shanahan to build a winner? No matter what the Redskins are headed in the right direction. But it’s a tough division and without your star defensive player fully on board things could get ugly quick.

Bottom Line: The Redskins are making the right moves to move up the divisional ladder but not enough to make it to the top.

4. New York Giants – Last Season 8-8 (missed playoffs)

What We Know: We know that the Giants have missed Plaxico Burress. We know that Eli Manning is still capable at playing at a high level. We know that the defensive line has been in need of some serious help. We know that there is more than enough talent on the offensive side.

What We Need To Know: Can the Giants offense stop someone? Can the Giants develop a true double coverage receiver? Can they run the ball effectively week after week? These are all questions that are ultimately going to define the Giants season but I’m not sure if they’ll be answers Giants fan will be happy with.

Bottom Line: Fans will be optimistic but that shouldn’t last very long.

When I played Madden as a kid, I would trade every good player in the NFL to my favorite team, the San Francisco 49ers. As if that weren’t already easy enough, I’d play on the easiest difficulty setting. In my little Madden world, the 49ers were unstoppable.

At that age, I never understood why people would want to spend 30 minutes playing a video game only to lose. The challenge for me was to score more points, intercept more passes, force more fumbles, and accumulate more stats. than I did in the previous game. For others, they wanted a more legitimate challenge and even game, which is understandable in hindsight.

For those kids who want to put all the best players on their favorite team, I offer you the Madden NFL 11 All-Stars: a list of the highest rated player at every position and the highest rated team.

Quarterback

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(tie) Peyton Manning (IND) & Drew Brees (NO): OVR 99

Hard to argue with either selection since they faced each other in Super Bowl XLIV with Brees and his Saints winning the Lombardi Trophy. With that in mind, maybe Brees should have a 99 and Manning gets a 98? And why hasn’t Manning been on the cover of Madden yet? Somebody get on that.

Welcome to the AFC West. This division has been a weak division for years. The Raiders have often the laughing stock of the league. The Chargers have been the resident prom kings of the division. The Broncos play spoilers and the Chiefs have gone unnoticed for quite some time. But every season brings a new hope and on that note we will look at what we know about the AFC West and what we need to know.

1. San Diego Chargers 13-3 (Lost in the playoffs to the Jets)

What We Know: This is a team that plays possum early on. They stink until week 4 or 5 then they are unstoppable. They have a top 10 quarterback and have maybe the most athletic receiving corps in football. There defense is always a tough matchup and they always seem to fall just a little short in the playoffs.

What We Need to Know: Do they have the horses to do it? There isn’t much weakness in this team but the question remains: do they have what it takes to win when it counts. Is Phillip Rivers a big game quarterback? This division is theirs for the taking but it’s the postseason that haunts this team.

Bottom Line: Meet your division winners. They hope that isn’t all they will be this year.

2. Denver Broncos – Last Season 8-8 (missed playoffs)

What We Know: Josh McDaniels really shook things up last year and looked like a genius in the first half. But then things imploded. Kyle Orton is the definition of “game manager” and they no longer have the services of All-Pro Brandon Marshall. There defense was much improved thanks to the play of Elvis Dumervil.

What We Need to Know: Can Kyle Orton be the guy you ride into the playoffs? Will they really be ok without Brandon Marshall? Will they be the team they were in the first half or the second half? I’m not sure you have seen anything with Orton to believe he’s the guy. Don’t count out the possibility of a Tim Tebow sighting this season especially if the season goes into the tank. Denver will be clamoring for it.

Bottom Line: Denver is the brides maid in this division and that isn’t saying much.

3. Oakland Raiders 5-11 (missed playoffs)

What We Know: Al Davis is one of the smartest and dumbest owners in the game all at the same time. We know that they finally wised up and booted JaMarcus Russell. We know that there defense was pretty good and that there are some offensive weapons. We know Tom Cable is a lightning rod for controversy last year but seems to have things looking up for this team.

What We Need To Know: Can Darius Heyward-Bay be the elite receive the Raiders are praying for? Can Jason Campbell become a good quarterback? Can these Raiders score more than 12 points a game? These are big question marks. Sure Campbell is an upgrade from Russell but that doesn’t mean this offense has the system to put points on the board. Al Davis had a great draft on paper, and if some of them pan out then you could find a reason to watch.

Bottom Line: The Raiders may be more watchable this year but that may not translate into more wins.

4. Kansas City Chiefs-Last Season 4-12 (missed playoffs)

What We Know: They ranked 23rd in the NFL in points per game. Matt Cassel didn’t live up to expectations last season. There defense wasn’t good either but that could be due to the fact that they didn’t move the ball well and it’s tough to play great defense on a short field. We know that they are rebuilding but that it is a process that included letting go of a weight in Larry Johnson.

What We Need To Know: Can Cassel figure out a way to be the quarterback he was for his season in New England? Who will he throw the ball too? Is Jamaal Charles the kind of running back you build your offense around? There are more than a few questions around this team and it may be a long time till this team gets themselves back into contention.

Bottom Line: This team will look to fight it out with Oakland for 3rd place…and that’s being optimistic.

Welcome to the AFC South or as we have come to know it as: The Division that Belongs to the Colts. Minus a year here or there, this is Peyton Manning’s turf and it’s going to take more than just a injury(minus a Manning injury) to overtake the Colts, but it won’t be for lack of effort.

So let’s take a look at not only what we know about these teams, but what we need to know and how the division will shake out.

1. Indianapolis Colts –Last Season 14-2 (Lost Super Bowl to the New Orleans Saints)

What We Know: They have easily one of the top 3 quarterbacks in football(if we are giving respect to Brady and Brees) and they have one of the best receiving corps in football. They were a bad throw away from winning it all last year and their defense is much improved over the last couple of years. However, their offensive line is another story.

What We Need To Know: Can their offensive line figure out a way to protect Manning? At times last year they appeared slow and aging. And can they establish a better running game? And can Bob Sanders ever stay healthy? The Colts are the team that would be horrible if number 18 wasn’t behind center but he is and you can’t discredit that.

Bottom Line: The Colts are one injury away from losing their division crown but it’s been a long time since he’s been injured so don’t bet on it.

2. Tennessee Titans – Last Season 8-8 (missed playoffs)

What We Know: Coach Jeff Fisher did his best coaching job getting this team to a .500 record after a horrible 0-6 start. We know that Vince Young lacks the skill set to make him elite but is a winner and that has to count for something. We know that Chris Johnson may have surpassed Adrian Peterson last season as the league’s premiere back. And that defense finally got it together in the last half of the season.

What We Need To Know: Can Vince Young avoid a suspension and play focused football for an entire season? That is a big if. Is the defense for real or will we see the defense that got torched on foreign soil by Tom Brady and Co. last season? And will someone emerge as the wide out the Titans are so in need of? These aren’t little questions for Tennessee. They are big questions.

Bottom Line: The Titans will make things interesting in the South, but not interesting enough to win it.

3. Houston Texans- Last Season 9-7 ( missed playoffs)

What We Know: We know that they have an offense that ranked 5th in the AFC in points scored. We know they have a defense that ranked 10th in points allowed. They have maybe the best receiver in Andre Johnson and that he isn’t happy with the money he makes. Matt Schaub might be for real after a stellar season, and Brian Cushing is really suspended for steroid use. And they are perennially the sexy pick to make into the playoffs and always fall short.

What We Need To Know: Will Johnson let a bad contract affect his play? Will Schaub be able to keep up the pace he set last season? How much will Cushing’s four game suspension affect the defense. These are real questions for a team that is middling between real contender and a team that will be rebuilding.

Bottom Line: The Texans should finish they way they always do: close but not close enough.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars- Last Season 7-9 (missed playoffs)

What We Know: This team had a record far better than there play indicated. They lack a real receiver and there is a lot of questions about whether Garrard can be the player that lead them deep in the postseason in 2007. We know that Maurice Jones-Drew is one of the best all purpose backs in the NFL but he cannot do it by himself.

We We Need To Know: When is the blow up of this team going to happen? This is not a postseason team, even with a soft schedule this season. Will they regret passing on Clausen when all is said and done? Will Delhomme figure out a way for them to rank higher than 12th in the conference in points scored? This is a team that needs to win if even to keep the fading city interest alive. It looks like that is going to be a challenge.

Bottom Line: Look for Jaguars to struggle and Del Rio to end up on the hot seat really early on.