With the season opening in a little over a week, I, along with 20 million other people cannot wait to get things underway. As fall approaches fast, so does Sundays at your local watering hole or on your favorite couch with a bag of popcorn ready. While most leagues have already drafted and gotten settled in, there are a few more to get done. Either way you put it though, football is here. So, what better way than to start this first day of September with a few bold predictions for you to chew on.

I will give you fair warning. These are deep feelings I have inside of my own mind. If I were to pop in the tape of the 2010 NFL season into my brain and hit fast forward this is what I forsee. However, things don’t always pan out, but either way predictions help us to decide. They get us pumped. And while they might be bold and have you rolling on the ground with laughter because of my utter stupidity, atleast I’m putting myself on the chopping block. If you do feel the need to say something though, write us a comment below the post. Then, that way at the end of the year you can say, “I told ya so!”

1. Steve Breaston has more touchdowns than Larry Fitzgerald. Here’s the deal, we all see Fitz dropping in drafts and to be honest with you, I don’t think he’s going to have an entirely bummer of a season. Even more so though, the landscape has changed and whoever steps up to be the starter in Arizona it still because a run first offense. The stats will be more scattered and with Boldin out of town, Breaston gets more opportunities to show what he’s got. There’s not a lot of people who are super high on Stevie B, but if you can find him in 12 or 13, take a flyer. Bold Prediction: 7TDs receiving and another one in the return game.

2. Michael Turner returns to elite status. The burner is back this season ready to prove himself once again. It was a struggle last season for the Falcons, but we all know they can run on just about anybody. Now that Turner is healthy, look for him to be a top 3 back in fantasy. My list goes CJ2K, Michael Turner, and then AD. If you drafted him at 7 or 8, you will be a very happy owner this season. Bold Prediction: 1600 yards and 16TDs on the ground.

3. Boldin plays all 16 regular season games. Meaning more fantasy points for your squad. If anything, Q can make your team look sexy real fast. Not because he’s a top 5 fantasy wideout, but because of how he plays. The Ravens swooped him up to have a guy that can go over the middle and spread things out even more. Now even with Boldin’s history, I have a certain feeling he makes it through all 16 games and also is a top 10 receiver. We all see the predicitons with Flacco and I think Boldin, if he stays healthy, will benefit greatly. Bold Prediction: 80 catches, 1200 yards, and 10 TDs.

4. Chad Jackson and Steve Johnson have more catches than Lee Evans. I’ve always liked Lee as a player, but not for my fantasy team. Since coming into the league 7 years ago out of Wisconsin, I have not once thought about picking Lee Evans. He gives you the consumate type of inconsistency as a fantasy player that you just hate to see. It’s probably not all his fault either. This season, two new guys will show up in Buffalo and it won’t be their 6′5″ 220lb draft pick from two years ago either James Hardy. Bold Prediction: One of these guys leads the team in receiving while the other is not too far behind.

5. The OG Steve Smith shines in Carolina. After playing second fiddle to the other Steve Smith last season, I think Carolina Steve is out for a complete turnaround in ‘10. When he is on the field, he is the biggest playmaker they have. John Fox likes to get him the ball and with Matt Moore behind the helm, Steve Smith will make sure he gets the ball. In weeks 14-16, the most important fantasy weeks, Moore hooked up with Smith for 16 catches, 200 yards, and 3TDs. With a little more experience between the two, we could be seeing highlights all year long. Bold Prediction: 1400 yards and 12TDs.

6. Forte runs for daylight. There are a lot of predicitons that can be made this season for the Chicago Bears. To me, Cutler stays the same, Knox leads the team in receiving, and Forte has a Walter Payton type season. I have mentioned it several times in my blog about how much I like Matt Forte this season. With Mike Martz’s offensive mind incorporated into the gameplan for 2010, Forte will better Frank Gore’s stats last season and have his best season yet. Bold Prediction: over 2000 total yards from scrimmage and 15 TDs.

7. Bernard Scott leads the Bengals in rushing this season. I know I know, this one is a little bold, but it’s not out of the question. Benson has not completely shown us that he can face the rigors of an entire NFL season and Scott is one Benson injury away from taking his spot. He has all the talent and skill to be a solid back in this league and this is an offense that can definitely run the ball. Bold Prediction: Benson out by week 6, Scott rumbles for 900 yards and 8 TDs.

8. Mohammed Massaquoi becomes a great number three option for your fantasy roster. We all know he’s a sleeper to keep your eye on. That’s a given, but is he more than a top 30 kind of guy. They’re going to have to throw in Cleveland and even with that there aren’t a lot of options. Massaquoi has the size and speed to get a lot of looks in 2010. He had some solid games last season and Delhomme is definitely an upgrade. Bold Prediction: Give me 1,000 yards and 6 TDs.

9. Marion Barber will make you happy one more time. The Cowboys had a three back system last season making owners very frustrated. While Felix Jones is a threat to hit the endzone every time he touches the ball, Marion is the go to guy in the red zone. The Cowboys no doubt can move the ball and this season can very well be a reply of Barber’s ‘06 season where he went for 16 TDs in limited action. This will keep him healthy and touchdown happy all year long. Bold Prediction: 12 TDs and an better than average flex option.

10. Jabar Gaffney is a poor man’s Brandon Marshall. Well, not really when you compare the two, but he will be the number one fill-in in the Forgetting Brandon Marshall campaign. Listen, Kyle Orton isn’t the sexy, throw for 4,000 yards type of quarterback, but he is accurate and makes good decisions. Gaffney will benefit greatly in an offense he is familiar with and is my Steve Smith (NYG) candidate for 2010. Bold Prediction: Gaffney will finish in the top 15 in receiving this year.

11. All Lions will roar. That’s right! If you have Calvin, Matthew, Jahvid, or even Nate on your squad you will be happy with all of them. This team will turn the corner this year and while they will miss the playoffs, their improvements will not go unnoticed in the fantasy category. I especially like Stafford this season. Bold Prediction: Calvin will finish as the top WR, and the others will benefit.

12. Jermichael Finley will finish as the top tight end in fantasy. I’m almost positive about this one. There always seems to be plenty of balls to go around in Green Bay and they are expected to make that leap as one of the elite teams in this league. I not only like the Packers in the Super Bowl, but I also feel Jermichael Finley will be raising hell for owners who did not draft him. Bold Prediction: Similiar stats to Gates’ third year in the league. (89, 1101, and 10TD).

13. Arian Foster will finish as a top 10 back. If I am drafting this weekend, I am taking Foster ahead of Greene, Benson, and Charles and I already drafted him ahead of the PT Crusier and LeSean McCoy. This is getting to be more and more obvious. They do not like Steve Slaton in Houston. He gets demoted every day. Sure he has the talent, but you can’t turn the ball over in this league. With the rookie Tate out for the year and Slaton injury and fumble prone, things are setup for Foster to go ape sh!t. Bold Prediction: 1500 yards and atleast 10 TDs.

14. Donald Brown has a better fantasy year than Joseph Addai. Throughout Addai’s career he has dealt with little knick knack injuries here and there. He’s had both knees operated on in college and currently is dealing with a minor concussion and still some more knick knacks. The season hasn’t even started yet and while Addai is one tough cookie, I don’t see him playing an entire 16-game season. That’s where Donald Brown comes into the equation showing Colts fans why they drafted him. Bold Prediction: 1000 total yards from scrimmage and 7TDs.

15. Marcedes Lewis will be a starter on a fantasy roster. The 6-foot-6 275 tight end is another basketball body playing tight end in the NFL. While the tight end pool gets pretty deep this year, few guys will really surface the Lewis will. Mike Sims-Walker will not have the season he had last year and Garrard will find Lewis more often than not. I like him more than Celek. Bold Prediction: 8TDs

16. Dexter McCluster will shine in the Chiefs offense. He’s being used at four different positions during practice which tells me they plan to incorporate him a lot. He’s got blazing speed and very good hands. The Chiefs drafted him as a hybrid player that could be similiar to Wes Welker in the slot. In a PPR league, he’s worth a flyer in the late rounds. Bold Prediction: A second-half fantasy MVP.

17. Marshall, Marshall, Marshall. No, I am not Chris Berman giving you Marshall Faulk highlights. I’m talking about B-Marshall in South Beach. I’m buying this year. A lot of people are off on him, but who else is going to catch passes in Miami? Miami’s offense really isn’t that much different than Denver’s. I might even say that it’s probably a little better. With people eyeing the run, Brandon Marshall will maintain his numbers. Maybe not quite record-breaking like last season, but still top 10. Bold Prediction: 80 grabs, 1100 yards, and 10 TDs.

18. Percy Harvin will have a dynamite season. There’s a lot of skeptics here, but I am going to give you some reasons why. First off, we all know about Sidney Rice. And to be honest it’s not like Rice is the better player than Percy. Favre is the guy that makes everyone better. He will have to find a new best friend. A lot of people think it will be Bernard Berrian or even Javon Walker. Harvin is the most talented receiver on this team and if his migraines are a think of the past like they’re saying, expect some numbers. Bold Prediction: 1,100 yards with 10 total TDs.

19. Wes Welker doesn’t miss a beat. It’s pretty amazing to see a guy who went under the knife in February be out on the field making cuts in August in a real game. Wes Welker is unlike anybody else. You cannot bet against him and I don’t think you move him down from where he was at last year. Draft him in Round 3 and you will be a happy owner. If you can, pickup Edelman in 10 as well. Bold Prediction: 90 catches, 1200 yards, 6 TD.

20. Reggie Bush has his best season yet. A buddy of mine was talking about how fierce Reggae Bush looks when he comes out with ‘the bat’ in his hand. If I’m Coach Payton, he’s leading my team out with that bat every game. Bush has been slow to get going, but last years’ playoffs showed why he was so dominant in college. Without a three back system Bush will get more opportunities to shine. Bold Prediction: 1300 total yards, 70 catches, and 10TD.

21. Ahmad Bradshaw takes over the starting role in New York. That’s right, I have so much faith in Bradshaw and so little love for Brandon Jacobs that I am predicting that Coach Coughlin finally realizes this. Bradshaw wasn’t even healthy last year and still killed it. Unleash the beast and let the big sissy boy sit. Jacobs is crap, believe it. Bold Prediction: Bradshaw gets 70% of the carries this season.

22. LaDainian Tomlinson will prove to be a valuable flex player. Everyone says he’s done, but by the looks of it, his legs are fresh and he’s as healthy as ever. LT was a star in this league at one point in time and he’s out to prove he’s still can play at a high level. In PPR leagues, he will be a great option out of the backfield. Bold Prediction: 800 yards and 7TDs.

23. Zach Miller has a better fantasy season than Jason Witten. It sounds far fetched, but when you look at the numbers it’s actually very reasonable. You can get Witten type of talent virtually at the end of your draft. Miller had 66 grabs for over 800 yards and 3TDs last season with a quarterback that drunk off cough medicine have the time. Atleast it seemed like it. Campbell will get him the ball. Bold Prediction: Top 5 Fantasy Tight End, I’m serious!

24. DeSean Jackson lands outside of the top 15 WRs. Either you are high on him or low on him, but I’m going to tell you three reasons why Jackson will not break the top 15. New QB who will be getting used to all targets. Jeremy Maclin. And the simple fact that DeSean Jackson relies on the big plays. There won’t be as many to go around this year. Kolb is very capable and will have a solid season, but Jackson will not give you the consistency you need to win your fantasy title. Bold Prediction: Exactly what I stated above.

25. Mike Wallace is a top 15 WR. From one guy that won’t be to another guy that will take his spot. Mike Wallace has everything happening around him to make him succeed this season. The fact Roethlisberger is out for a few games  might even help him. Listen, you gotta appreciate Hines Ward for what he’s been able to do in his career, but seriously it cannot continue. He is that old and Mike Wallace is really the only downfield threat now that Santonio is gone. I like him a lot this year especially in the 7th round. Bold Prediction: Double everything he did last year.

26. Sam Bradford is a top 15 QB. I know that’s not saying much, but for a rookie it’s pretty good. You might not even have to draft him, but he will temp you to pick him up for a spot start or two. With their schedule and the fact they will be behind Bradford will be throwing and he’s got just enough moxy to have a pretty decent rookie year. Quite frankly I think he breaks rookie records. Bold Prediction: Offensive Rookie of the Year in the NFC.

27. Buster Davis will be the leading wideout in San Diego. What? That’s crazy. Did I really just write that? To be honest with you, yes I did. Listen, it’s not that far fetched. Things have to happen, but he’s got just as good a shot as anybody else. I mean, Floyd was suppose to step up last year. Naane, really? Davis has the tools to be good and with a little more direction along with some repetition, he will get there. Bold Prediction: 60 catches, 900 yards, 6TDs.

28. Michael Crabtree finishes as a top 10 wideout. If this man can stay healthy he will dominate. I was always skeptical of Crabtree until I watched him play against Texas in 2008 while he was still in college. He proved to us lats year that he has enough talent in his pinky finger to make an impact even when he hasn’t even been training with the team. With a full camp under his belt and a fresh start Crabby could be unbelievable. Bold Prediction: Jerry Rice like numbers.

29. In Seattle, Mike Williams has similiar numbers to T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Here’s a guy that was pretty much out of the league a couple years ago. This has got to be his last chance and I think he’s starting the realize that. He’s cut down to a thinner leaner body, worked on getting faster, and still has that 6′5″ frame that coaches die for. Williams was a raw talent much like Dez Bryant and Pete Carroll knows what he’s got. After leading the Seahawks in receiving this preseason he is sure to get on the field. Bold Prediction: 70 catches 800 yards, 6TD.

30. Tampa’s version of Mike Williams becomes a star. It was Arrellious Benn with the most press coming into training camp. Now, Mike Williams is the one receiving all the attention as well as the looks from QB Josh Freeman. There’s something to be said about the repoire between a QB and his WR and these two have that going. Mike Williams has a world of talent to and will be an elite receiver in this league. Bold Prediction: 75 catches, 1,000 yards, 7TD.

31. Vince Young is a top 10 QB. A lot of people don’t realize that Vince Young has the best winning percentage out of any QB in the NFL right now. When he’s on the field the Titans are in good hands. He’s gotten better from a couple years ago and his legs will always move the offense if his arm is not. Vince Young is surprisingly a pretty solid fantasy player and with 10th round value, he’s a nice backup plan. Bold Prediction: He’s top 10, that’s all I’m sayin.

32. Santana Moss has one last quality season. With Donovan McNabb at the helm and Mike Shanahan calling the shots, this could be a very prosperous season for Moss. He will have the opportunities to make plays and I have a feeling they will throw more than people think. Moss has always had the skills, but has definitely been inconsistent. This mainly was due to a quarterback who was consistently inconsistent. McNabb will provide the Skins with some veteran leadership which is worth a lot in this league. Bold Prediction: 70 catches, 1,100 yards 7TD.

Last night we had our annual Fantasy Football Draft where every year we go bigger and bigger. This time we found ourselves in a private theatre room with a gigantic projector screen and plenty of booze and food to go around. The spicy meatballs were a definite hit, but the after effects are killing me right now. It doesn’t get much better than being in a room with 11 other dudes who are on the same level of complete satisfaction as you and I mean that in the most honest way possible.

For the first time in our league history we used the FanDraft Software, which looked absolute amazing on a theatre screen. I highly recommend getting away from your normal white foam board and sharpie marker and investing the $34.99 it costs to set things up. The software still has a few kinks to go through before it is perfect, but all in all it worked out supurb.

After finally getting settled in we drew for picks and got it on. You can find me under Legend of the Fall, it’s been my name in this league for awhile now and seems to be a mainstay. Here is the run-down of our entire 12-man PPR draft from round 1 to 16.

Round One Analysis – Round One went pretty much exactly the way I felt it would go. Of course, last year’s winner drew the number one. The rich get richer. It was interesting to see Muarice Jones-Drew picked ahead of Adrian Peterson. I don’t have too much of a problem with it, but I will always have a spot in my heart for AD. Aaron Rodgers had been climbing up boards all season and at pick six it’s sexy. I wanted to kind of dictate the next couple of rounds and traded my 7th pick for the 12th so I can swipe two of the top wideouts off the board back-to-back.

Round Two Analysis – I gotta say, the Marques Colston pick was a little early, but when you got him paired up with your QB, it can be nice. I think that’s where the thought process went. I expected the WR to be gone, but QBs went as well. Peyton and Brady get swiped here which sets the tone for round three. Gotta love Mathews at 23. 

Round Three Analysis – I knew Welker was coming up fast and with the first pick of the third round, it definitely made some noise. If that knee holds up it could be huge. Schaub and Romo went fast here as the top tier of QBs were finished off. Great values with Fitz, DeAngelo, and Benson in round 3. I believe Fitz might be better than people are expecting, especially if Derek Anderson plays.

Round Four Analysis – Definitely wanted to fill out my RB chart with the top QBs off the table. I had been high on Forte all offseason and Arian Foster had been growing on me all afternoon that day so i was happy with both of those picks.I think a lot of people had strong feelings for Crabtree so Cromartie’s Kidz made his move. Once Dallas clark went though I became a little nervous that my guy wasn’t coming back around to me.

Round Five Analysis – Love, love, love Jahvid Best. Ice Cream Paint Job had a beautiful first five with CJ2K to boot. Loved the Garcon pick. I thought he might hang around into the sixth. I was a little caught off guard with Dez Bryant going so early, but I hadn’t really been high on him ever. Some people have other thoughts. I love his ceiling, but he wasn’t for me, not this year. I was sweating bullets when finally Finley hung around. I swooped without hesitation.

Round Six Analysis – Had to go Bradshaw before Jacobs, just think he is the better back. After Michael Bush broke his thumb on Saturday, can McFadden finally step up? The same guy has drafted him in our league all three years. It was a pretty standard sixth round,  but definite buzz was made when Jackson ended the round. It’s a toss up as to if he plays and definitely more of a risk than anything, but you never know.

Round Seven Analysis – The last of the middle tier running backs go in a hurry with Barber, Harrison, and Portis. Same with the wideouts. I was in a toss up here between Knox and Wallace. We’ll see which one pans out. Didn’t expect Hardesty to go that early, but love the pick. It’s good to see Derrick Mason atleast get some respect.

Round Eight Analysis – This was the round I almost wish I could go back and redo. Some unexpected things happened with QBs in the draft and Flacco was a guy I had circled. However, I went with Donald Brown’s upside thinking some of my other options would still be there on the way back around. Shiancoe might have gone a little early here.

Round Nine Analysis – My favorite sexy pick went here with Mike Williams from Tampa. We also see a few more QBs go off the board. A little early for a defense, must have been caught up in the Hard Knocks craze. Surprised Celek fell to the ninth round, very good value there. Since Williams went it was time to pull the trigger on my other sleeper wideouts.

Round Ten Analysis – Big Ben gets swiped off the board. Loved the strategy of BP Spillers going Eli and Ben back to back. Solid draft all-around on his part. Real Men still had love for Sidney Rice. I stay away from that type of stuff, but it might be worth it later in the year. Just too long of a wait for me. Love Gaffney, Britt, and Massaquoi.

Round Eleven Analysis – Welker’s owner nabs Edelman, beautiful display here by the defending champ. The frustration sets in a tad after that though as my other two QB choices fall off the board. I was lovin Stafford and I think Palmer would have been alright too. It was time to stop the holdout. Matt Ryan in the eleventh I thought was decent value.

Round Twelve Analysis – Time to back up the backs. I like how Ray Ray & J swooped Bernard Scott up just before BP could get to him a.k.a. Benson’s owner. I like Vince Young this season as well. Nate Burleson is good value here as Calvin’s savior. It’ll keep defenders honest and if Stafford has a breakout, Burleson might be a huge steal. Roy E. Williams sure has dropped off the face of ths earth.

Round Thirteen Analysis – More Defenses start to go here as usual. Interesting pick on Sam Bradford which makes three QBs in a row for Ben There Raped That. This is the guy in your league that loves rookies. Eventually he will probably be dropped, but why not take a flyer. Naane and Thomas could surprise in the A.F.C. West. I was happy to get Fred Taylor here as I almost picked him the round prior. I think he has more value than people think.

Round Fourteen Analysis – I really like the possibilities of Zach Miller this season. Good value pick in the 14th. Same goes for Laurent Robinson, especially now with Donnie Avery out and Joshua Cribbs is a sleeper that wasn’t on my list. I like it.

Round Fifteen Analysis – Everything is winding down as we hit through the lightning rounds. A couple interesting picks though with Larry Johnson and Mike Bell. Especially with Bell. His toughness can always turn into playing time which turns into points.

Round Sixteen Analysis – It’s amazing to see Kellen Winslow drop so far. I think a lot of people kind of forgot about him, but it’s incredible value for a guy that will get some quality looks. He is a soldier you know. Thought about taking Choice as well, but not that interested in third string backs.

Overall, it was another successful draft. It was definitely one of the longer ones we have had, but definitely a lot of fun. I think everybody is looking forward to getting things started. If you’re reading this, feel free to post a comment and let us know who you think had the best draft or craziest pick? Who are the winners and losers? Also, follow me on twitter @thefantasyguy if you like what you see. Cheers!

Every year there are some clever individuals out there who come up with the most awesome fantasy names on the net. They end up being over used in leagues around the nation and should be copyrighted because of their histerical humor or creative cool if you will. Here is the 2010 of the best Fantasy Football Team Nicknames…..so far.

1. Ben Rapelisberger – A play off Big Ben’s disasterous off-season.

2. Donte Drink & Drive – Mad Love for you Donte, sorry about this one.

3. Romosexual Tendencies - Especially sexy this year since he’s on the All-Mancrush Team

4. Do Yourself A Favre…And Retire - Obvious enough.

5. Calvin & Jahvs’ - Detroit’s version of Calvin and Hobbes.

6. BP Spillers – A fantastic name from one of our own 

7. Grenade Free America – Jersey Shore anybody?

8. Favre Dollar Footlong – Subway needs to get on this one.

9. Skittles…Taste Dwayne Bowe – Another one from one of the guys in ‘The League.’

10. Forgetting Brandon Marshall - Even better this year now that he’s change locations.

If you’ve got something clever to add, feel free to leave us a comment and maybe you too can be apart of the top 10.

Sometimes the most important part of the draft comes in those later rounds. When some guys in your league start to tune out, it’s time for you to tune in. There are a lot of stats out there and a lot of speculation about who are the best late-round sleepers in 2010, but there’s also a lot of contradiction. Experts all over the place go out on a limb and then another one comes up with some other scenario totally going against what the other guy said. Well, here is a list of for sure sleeper talent. If these guys stay healthy in ‘10 lookout for big numbers that you can find in the sixth round or later.

Matthew Stafford, QB, DET – He’s the No.1 draft pick of 2009. The savior to a team lost in the NFL trenches. In his second year in the league expect this guy to build on his ‘09 campaign that really wasn’t all that bad. Though he only started 10 games last season due to , Stafford was thrown into the fire early, excelling his maturation process. With the additions of Nate Burleson and Jahvid Best it adds to the weaponry tremendously, taking some of the pressure off Stafford as well as Calvin Johnson. While they are still a few guys away, they are on the up and up. Expect the Lions to be down early and throwing often with a scheme that will actually be able to move the ball. I expect 3500 yards and 26 TDs from the super soph.

Vince Young, QB, TEN – If you’re looking for an awesome value at QB because your strategy is to stock up on RB/WR early on, Vince Young will be your guy. It’s time to look past his first few years in the league. Vince Young has finally become the player the Titans drafted as the 3rd overall pick and with defensive focused on CJ2K, lookout for a breakout. Jeff Fisher is one of the most respected coaches in this league and with the ability to pass or run Vince Young will be given the reigns to a wide open offense. This means numbers. He’s not the traditional QB you look for, but his stats are actually pretty solid if you get in depth with it. Plus he’’s happy and happiness can go along way during an NFL season.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG – Apparently the secret isn’t all the way out on this guy yet. Even after a breakout campaign last season under a running back by committee approach Bradshaw is being taken 38th among running backs on average. The man rushed for nearly 800 yards last season and 7TDs and looks as if he is slowly sending Brandon Jacobs back to mop up duty in the red zone. Not to mention he wasn’t even healthy all season long. It’s almost a done deal he will be a top 25 back if healthy and you can find him in round 8. He proved to be a huge asset in the flex spot last season and while he didn’t help fantasy players in the post season, I have a feeling this year will be a different story.

Laurence Maroney, RB, NE – I know it’s New England and I know it’s Bill Belichick, but some thing has to give here. Fred Taylor is knocking on heaven’s door and do you really think a guy named Benjarvus Green-Ellis is going to outdo Maroney. I understand it was a rough season last year, but in his final eight games last season he recorded 7 TDs. With Tom Brady back to full health and an offense that can certainly move the ball, Maroney could very well be a golden egg on your roster. He will get a good shot in tonight’s preseason game to show he is capable of shouldering the load and if he does a good enough job, expect him to build off of last years finish. As long as he doesn’t fumble himself out of  job, look for over 1,000 yards and 10 TDs from a guy being taken in the 10th round.

C.J. Spiller, RB, BUF – The rookie backs are flying up the draft board this week. While Jahvid Best and Ryan Mathews find themselves in ideal situation, C.J. could very well steal the show. Who knows what will happen with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson will definitely be there to take the pressure off, but this is CJ’s job. With his speed and vision Spiller has everything you want in an NFL back. Being in Buffalo shouldn’t scare you, especially because Spiller has some of the best hands out of the rookie backs. That could be very beneficial in a PPR format. I expect 900 yards and 8TDs out of the rook who might fall to you in round 6.

Donald Brown, RB, IND – Here’s a guy with a year under his belt in what of the most explosive offensive the NFL has ever seen. There’s no doubt there will be opportunity for Brown to play a major role. He continues to fall every week in the ADP rankings for whatever reason, but he might be the scariest third-down back in the league. In PPR formats DB is an addition you can afford in round 9. We saw a similiar offense last year that won the Super Bowl with three capable backs in New Orleans. Donald Brown can play some football.

Jabar Gaffney, WR, DEN – Who is Kyle Orton going to throw to in 2010? Jabar is your answer. While Eddie Royal might be the sexier pick, Gaffney will provide the most consistency. This is an offense that throws short passes meaning a lot of balls to catch. Gaffney knows this playbook very well and has shown that this preseason. If you’re looking for a sure thing as oppose to a high risk high reward type player, Gaffney is the solid pick. Here’s a top 25 wideout being drafted as the 50th receiver taken. Go get him.

Johnny Knox, WR, CHI – The early favorite this off seaosn was Devin Aromashodu. Really, the guy had one good game last season. While DA looks to have some sort of role, Knox is a poor man’s Steve Smith (NYG). He’s a guy that is always look to on third down and has the speed to take it the distance. Knox could be a huge value in Mike Martz’s west-coast offense and now that Cutler is settled in in Chicago, Knox might be the steal of the draft in round 9.

Mohammed Massaquoi, WR, CLE – As soon as Braylon Edwards got the hell out of Dodge last season, Massaquoi was quick to step up. So much so that the Browns didn’t worry too much about the receiver position this off season. With a veteran QB at the helm that knows how to play the game, Massaquoi finds himself in a wonderful situation. In half a seaosn the standout from Georgia hit over 600 yards with 3TDs. Look for him to become Delhomme new go to guy and double those statistics.

Mike Williams, WR, TB – It’s never been a question whether this troubled college wideout had the ability. Mike Williams looks like a star. He’s 6-2, 204 pounds and runs faster with pads on. He has already surpassed fellow rookie Arrelious Benn drafted a couple rounds ahead of him on the depth chart and could easily become the Bucs leading receiver this year. Josh Freeman is better than people think and they will be throwing. If there is one guy, I want on my team that has huge upside, it’s Mike Williams.

Other guys to keep in mind: Zach Miller, TE, OAK…Marcedes Lewis, TE, JAX…Julian Edelman, WR, NE…Terrell Owens, WR, CIN…Legadu Neene, WR, SD…Laurent Robinson, WR, STL…Bernard Scott, RB, CIN…Montario Hardesty, RB, CLE

Every year there are a few top picks that make you want to just crawl into a hole. I know personally how this feels. Though hopeful every weekend that my guys would finally break out, it ended up being more of a mirage than anything. I had been playing fantasy football since I was thirteen years old and come September, I spent more time studying the ADP rather than the SAT. My track record was respectable amongst the group of guys in our respective leagues, but in fantasy football, anything can happen.

Nobody would have guessed Brandon Jacobs would follow up an 15 TD season with a complete dud. Having Calvin Johnson as my top wideout didn’t help things out either. I wanted an election recount, a fresh start. In the iconic words of Southwest Airlines, I wanted to get away. Now as the 2010 season approaches, this is that long anticipated moment that I and many other owners have been longing for. However,  just when you think you have everything gathered and you have over-analyzed your entire draft strategy, don’t let last year completely deter you. Here are a few names that might have broken your heart, but they too are getting a fresh start.

Calvin Johnson, WR, DET – Might as well start off with this one. He’s like an ex-girlfriend that is too sexy to let go. And yes, I really mean that. Being a wide receiver slut there’s nothing more I love than a 6 foot 5, 230-pound beast of a man with spider web hands and the body of a thoroughbred. And while the three-year wide receiver rule looked pretty good on paper, you gotta understand the circumstances here. The Lions have been in the gutter ever since #20 retired. A new coach plus a rookie quarterback isn’t always an easy transition either. However, things are on the up and up in Detroit. Matthew Stafford is no longer that rookie QB, a lot of buzz has been surrounding RB Jahvid Best, and Nate Burleson takes off the immense pressure of trying to get open in your bedroom with the lights off. CJ is ready to take this league by storm.

Michael Turner, RB, ATL – The Burner ripped the hearts out of fantasy owners last season. Coming into draft day he was a guy rated in everybody’s top 3. A risk-free, no doubt about it, stud. Owners were riding down stream on this guy with a cool breeze and a pina colada in hand. Then the boat flipped. The Atlanta offense sputtered, injuries were abudant, and Michael Turner checked out. This year, as the Falcons look to get back on track, Michael Turner is healthy and ready to prove that he truly is one of the top backs in this league. The upside is so huge here that I have seen him go as early as number 3 in mock drafts. Like a sour patch kid, they are sour before they are sweet. I think you know what I’m layin’ down.

Greg Jennings, WR, GB – This one might seem a little more obvious. A lot of times you would say 68 catches for over 1100 yards is a pretty solid year. However, Jennings was on average the 24th player selected in most drafts. He was a number one guy on most teams. His QB was the top fantasy QB points-wise. Too make sense of it all, Jennings was more the victim of bad luck than anything. He only caught 4 of those 30 TD passes from A-Rodge so reasonable thinking would suggest he doubles that in 2010, and if this time you’re lucky maybe more. He’s got all the tools to be a top 5 WR and this season will make you forget about last year.

Matt Forte, RB, CHI – Forte suffered from the mythical sopomore slump in ‘09. In the eyes of fantasy owners however, there was nothing mythical about it. Forte, who was top 5 in most drafts last season has probably taken the biggest drop this year out of anybody. Currently Forte is being drafted in the middle of the fourth round in average drafts for 2010 so there is definitely some love lost. Don’t let him out of your site. Forte has made it a point to prove everybody wrong, to prove his rookie season wasn’t a fluke. With Chicago implementing the fast-paced, highly complex, west coast offense of Mike Martz, the Bears can only go up from last year including Forte. I already included him in my players you can’t pass on in 2010 and if he is anything like Frank Gore last season, look out. The field will be open for Forte to run wild and his value is comparable to a golden retriever staring at a steak dinner.

Braylon Edwards, WR, NYJ – I’m not gunna lie, this might be more of a lousy sleeper pick than anything. But if I made the obvious choices then there’d be nothing interesting about this blog. It was obvious, however that Edwards was not all there last season. Whether it was getting into with Lebron James’ entourage or looking like Betty White on the field, Braylon Edwards once again disappointed. There is some sunlight here though. Braylon now finds himself in a much better situation than last season. With no more having to get used to playbooks or not knowing who is going to be throwing to him on Sundays, Edwards also will have a fresh start. We all know what he is capable of and with his counterpart out of action until week 5, Edwards could be Mark Sanchez’s go to guy, especially in the red zone. I don’t expect huge numbers, but he’s a guy that has all the capabilities of being a solid addition to your fantasy lineup. Nobody wants to bite on him, but if he falls late, it might be worth a shot.

Other guys to watch: Carolina Steve Smith is an obvious choice especially if you find him in round 4. Pierre Thomas‘ situation keeps getting better and better and without Mike Bell at the goal line, his touchdowns might double in that offense. Also, with McNabb in Washington, Santana Moss could be the story of the homeless man that made millions in 2010 and could be a very tasty pick up in round 9 or 10.

It’s getting deeper into the NFL preseason, which also means your draft is probably right around the corner. This is the biggest week as far as preseason is concerned for all players, especially ones in position battles or simply fighting to fill a roster spot. It’s the week where most #1s are left out well into the third quarter, allowing us the best possible opportunity thus far to assess our respective draft strategies.

Tonight in particular, there are a smorgasboard of games to tune into. From Houston vs. New Orleans to Minnesota vs. San Francisco there are several good matchups to watch. Below is a checklist of what to look for as well as some interesting position battles that should be of relevance. So fill up the popcorn, get that DirecTV rollin’ and do some studying tonight for if there is ever a better time to get in on some preseason action, this is it.

Redskins backfield - Does Clinton Portis still have it in him to hit the 16-game grind and how many carries does Larry Johnson and Ryan Torrain steal from him? We all know what Portis is capable of in the Shanahan system and as of right now he looks like the guy who will take most of the snaps. Your job is to decide is he worth taking in Round 7? My thoughts: It could definitely be a very nice value pick. If you remember in 2008, CP was in the same position where his stock was fairly low and he outdid expectations. Simply put: keep him on your radar.

Is Henne ready to step up? – A lot of fantasy implications for the Dolphins this season ride on the shoulders of Chad Henne. As the leader of the offense, your job is to move the ball down the field and while they have arguably the best duo of running backs in the game to help make that easier, how much of an impact will newly acquired Brandon Marshall have with Henne behind center? My thoughts: We will see a lot of Henne tonight and my guess is Tony Sparano and Co. let him loose. Watch how Henne manages the game. The sharper he is, the more confidence I have selecting Brandon Marshall in my draft.

Timeshare in KC? – There is a lot of fear as of late about Thomas Jones taking the bulk of the load between the tackles. While Jamal Charles looks to add to his breakout performance towards the end of last season, how much will TJ get in the way of that? My thoughts: No matter what, Charles is a solid pick and definitely a big play threat, which is an important quality and I think even with Jones sharing carries, the Chiefs are a team that might be playing from behind, which benefited Charles last season. Look for much of the same, but expect goal line carries to go to Jones.

Oakland wideouts – The last couple seasons, Oakland hasn’t really been fantasy relevant in the receiving category. This year, with a new QB in Jason Campbell and a more balanced offensive attack, somebody is bound to step up. Louis Murphy rose to the occassion last season while fellow rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey seemed lost. With Chaz Schilens back in the action, who is sleeper relevant to have a breakout year? My thoughts: While I am not a big fan of Raider Nation or Al Davis, I do think one of these guys will be of good value this season. The next couple of preseason games will give us good insight as to who. My money is on Schilens.

Can Brett Favre build on last season? - The biggest headline is Favre starting Sunday night in San Francisco after a short practice this week. There’s a lot of negative speculation here, but we all know what the man is capable of doing. Does the legend fill in where he left off or is this season headed for disaster? My thoughts: What’s most important is determining the value of Rice, Harvin, Berrian, and Shiancoe because the play of Brett Favre directly affects this. While Favre might have some nice value in the 7th or 8th rounds, I can’t trust him as my No. 1, but I’m definitely tuning in.

Is Stafford a fantasy sleeper? - The No.1 overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft showed sparks last season, including a 422 yard, 5TD performance. With one of the leagues most lethal weapon in Megatron and an exciting young group of talent, Stafford could be well on his way to becoming an elite level QB. My thoughts: He might still be a yera away from elite level, but I wouldn’t mind making him my backup. I also had Calvin on my squad last season and I’m giving him a free pass, because things are on the up in Detroit. He could very well be the top WR in the league this season if Stafford can perform.

First view of Big Ben – The Steelers go to the new Meadowlands tonight and Ben Roethlisberger will makes his preseason debut. After all the offseason trouble and as of now a six game suspension, Big Ben doesn’t seem to be much of a factor in 2010. However, if that suspension gets cut down and Big Ben can shake things off, we know what he is capable of. My thoughts: Big Ben will not be on my cheat sheet come draft day, but Mike Wallace will. I am interested to see the relationship between these two now that Santonio has set sail.

Rookie backs and how they stack up – The rookie running back has become more and more relevant over the past five seasons. This year, there is a decent crop with value as high as early second round. Ryan Mathews is the guy in San Diego, and C.J. Spiller already showed what he could do Thursday night. There’s a lot of buzz about Jahvid Best in camp, and the Browns hope Montario Hardesty can play a big role in their run game in 2010. My thoughts: I think all of these guys have a solid impact this season so my advice would simply be to not be afraid. Leave these guys where they are ranked and snatched them up if they fall to you. The upside looks very good.

October Gonzalez – Wife of Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez

Being from the Kansas City area we got mad love for Tony G. We also got mad love for his wife October Gonzalez. Formerly October Russell this bangin’ broad is a perfect 10 in my book.

Many of you remember the PETA ad that put her on the map last November where October and Tony posed nude to help support the animal rights. The edgy photo read “We rather go naked, then wear fur.” Amen to that. Also if you got in on the HBO Hard Knocks program from the beginning you would have been fortunate to see October in high def, when they followed the Chiefs training camp in ‘07.

Both Tony and October share a completely vegan lifestyle which is probably where she gets that body from. If you’re going tight end early this year, maybe the thought of October will make your decision a little easier. Way to lock that up Tony G!

Everyone talks about the players high on their list. The players they can’t miss this season. You hear 50 different sleepers to keep an eye on. None of that matters if you spend one of your top picks on a dud. The draft doesn’t necessarily make or break your season, but there is nothing more frustrating than having a guy on your roster that was supposed to be a lock, turn into a bust.

We all saw it last year with guys like LaDainian Tomlinson, Bryan Westbrook, and Brandon Jacobs. All three of these guys had performed well in the past and were drafted no later than the second round in ‘09. By week 4 you were scrambling to fill that void. So don’t do it to yourself this season. Here are five guys to be weary of in the first hour of your draft. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Cedric Benson, RB, CIN – CB no doubt had a break out year last season finishing as a top 10 back after rejuvenating his career in Cincy. But to be honest, how great was it. I mean, 1200 yards is pretty solid coming from a guy who was at one point close to being out of this league. However, he only had 6TDs and his value this season is much higher. He is being drafted in the late second round of drafts around 19 and 20. He could very possibly run for over 1,000 yards again and get even more goal-line carries, but he has yet to play a full season and with Bernard Scott looking to steal some carries, CB is a risky pick for your #1 RB.

Beanie Wells, RB, ARZ – Lots of folks had this guy high on their radar. In previous drafts he has gone in the late second round, but he continues to drop a couple spots every week. It’s obvious the upside is there and potentially Beanie has all the tools to be a star in this league. However, I think he is still a year away. I understand things have changed in Arizona and with an unproven Matt Leinart behind center they will look to use their ground game a lot more, but as of right now, Tim Hightower is atop the depth chart and what might be a little tough love can prove to last well into a season. Do you want to take that kind of risk on a guy who’s competition can be drafted in round 12?

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARZ – This guy has won people many-a-leagues over the past three seasons. The loyalty is there for Larry amongst fantasy circles, but things have changed in AZ. New quarterback, new system directed towards running the ball, and no more Anquan Boldin keeping defenders honest. One might think this opens up more opportunities for Fitz, and that’s a fair thought, but Kurt Warner was a fantasy legend. I see Arizona struggling to move the ball as well as they did and with a little more competition this season within their division, I don’t see Fitz as a worthy first round candidate. He is still a beast of a man and will have his days, but the draft is about keeping risks low and values high and Fitz does not fit the mold.

Brandon Marshall, WR, MIA – I have gone back and forth in regards to Marshall. He’s another guy who makes your teams sex appeal shoot out the roof and for good reason. The explanation here though is anytime a player gets in a new system there is always some changes that have to be made. The Dolphins are a run first squad who brought ‘The Wildcat’ to the NFL and while I am a big fan of Chad Henne, but I just don’t see him having enough experience to solely lead an offense. Henne will do well in this system, but he doesn’t make Marshall better than he already is. If he falls to you early in round 3, it’s a good pick, but don’t put him in your #1 WR slot.

DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI – In the fantasy world, it’s safe to say that I am a wide receiver slut. I liked to have two of the top guys within my first three picks. I also love watching DeSean Jackson on Sundays and I am not necessarily dogging him here. However, there are a few guys a like better ahead of DJ in the position he is being taken. The guy currently as an ADP of 27.5 making him the 25th player taken. Looks pretty nice paring him up with Chris Johnson and another wideout in a 12 -team league. I also like Kevin Kolb…a lot, but before I take DeSean Jackson, there’s Roddy White, Greg Jennings, and Carolina Steve Smith that I would select. With Mike Vick running on the field in the red zone and Jeremy Maclin coming into his own, there are plenty of guys to go to in Philly this year.

Well folks, the Man, the Myth, the Legend is back for his second and final season in purple. I guess we can’t say final, because we have now seen it all, but either way Brett Favre is back at practice and taking snaps.

Did you think he was really going to retire? To be honest when I first heard the news over the summer, I was sad. Of course, there was that optimism, but Brett Favre to the Vikings is like Ari Gold to Entourage. I already wrote a piece on the fantasy implications of Brett returning, but now that it is official you can go ahead and move every Viking offensive player up a notch on your board. Sidney Rice will most likely move up a round as anticipated, but the biggest jump probably comes at tight end with Visanthe Shiancoe.

We all know he had his best season yet with Favre throwing passes, but I bet you didn’t know Shiancoe was born in Birmingham, England. That’s what I thought. I know that’s pretty random, but in retrospect Shiancoe probably wasn’t even going to be relevant this season. Merely a waiver wire pickup for your bye week. He now makes that tight end position even deeper than it already is so if you miss out on the top 5, wait until ten or eleven and swoop Vissy.

Favre joined his teammates at practice Wednesday rockin shoulder pads and a red quarterback’s jersey. Obviously the biggest insentive here for Favre is the good possibility at another Super Bowl. Brett said he owed it to these guys to come back for one last hoorah after throwing a crucial interception in the NFC Championship last January. This is all good for fantasy circles abound as Favre could once again be a nice value for a #1 QB. As far as all those haters out there, give the man a break. We will never see another like Brett Favre.

Some good ‘ol Monday Night Foosball kicked off last night with a brawl between cross-town rivals for the rights to the New Meadowlands. Like usual, it was a blood bath between players and fans. Did anyone see the shoving match between Fireman Ed and that Giants fan. That right there makes it worth your dollar.

The real gruesome highlight of the game though game on the Giants last drive of the first half when Brandon Jacobs and Eli Manning collided, causing a fumble, and a second collision when Eli’s helmet went flying off his head. As Manning fell to the ground, he swiped the facemask of Jets safety Jim Leonhard, cutting is forehand. He then realized shortly thereafter than a waterfall of blood was flowing from his domepiece. Twelve stitches were needed to fill the cut and even though it looked bad at first, this could have been a devistating blow to the Giants from the looks of it.

The game started off with a Mark Sanchez interception that was nearly taken to the house by newly acquired Antrel Rolle. I missed the dynamics of the play as I was fixing my homemade B.E.L.T sandwich, but other than that first series Mark Sanchez played pretty damn well. Sanchez played the entire half going 13 for 17 for 119 yds and a gimme TD after the pick. What does this tell us about Sanchez’s fantasy value.

First of all, Sanchez has definitely gotten better. You can tell the maturity level has risen. However, his personal fantasy value will be somewhat irrelevant in my opinion, definitely a solid #2 though. With that said, the value of the players around him can be of much promise. Obviously Shonn Greene is the most prized fantasy Jet, but if Sanchez can prove to that he is ready to take his game to the next level throughout the rest of the preseason, LT becomes a factor with more carries to split and a wonderful flex in a PPR league, and all three wideouts become decent options. I especially like Santonio Holmes this year and I was impressed with Butterhands Edwards as well.

Edwards and Holmes will see good value in the draft because they will slide a couple rounds further than their current value. For Edwards, he has come off of two disappointing seasons and with Holmes being suspended for 1/4 of the fantasy season both these guys could be quality flex options if not more.

On the other side of the ball, it looked like they same ‘ol Giants. A little sluggish, a little off, and a little boring. Other then a kickass 53-yard dash from Ahmad Bradshaw, there wasn’t much to take from this one. Steve Smith didn’t suit up and Brandon Jacobs is too big to run through any kind of hole. He’s a guy that completely ruined my season last year and I hate him for this year as well. He’s annoying and if he is sitting their with Bradshaw in Round 7, I take Bradshaw. Jacobs is not even on my list this year if that tells you anything.

Who is Victor Cruz? The real highlights came in the second half from the undrafted rookie out of Masachusetts fighting to make a roster spot. The rook had 6 catches for 145yds, and count ‘em 3 touchdowns. While this guy might have assured himself a spot on atleast the practice squad, there won’t be any kind of fantasy relevance here during the regular season, but you gotta say, it was fun to watch.