Hiccups and Pickups: Week 3

FALLING DOWN

Ray Rice. Ray Rice hosting the Browns looked like the second-best RB start in Week 3. While Adrian Peterson delivered the monster game we expected, Rice totaled just 80 rushing yards and 16 receiving and was again held out of the endzone. Rice has scored just one touchdown in his last ten games, is averaging 70 yards rushing and 22 receiving through three this year, and suffered a knee injury late in the game. Owners that opted for a QB with their early-to-mid first rounder should buy themselves a beer, and Rice should sit out the Pittsburgh game this week.

Steven Jackson. Another elite back off to a ho-hum start that made things even worse for his owners by getting hurt Week 3. Initial word is that S-Jax didn't tear his groin, but the ailment should be enough to keep him out this week vs. the Seahawks, and should certainly deem him unworthy of starting lineups barring great news on Sunday morning. Backup RB Kenneth Darby makes only a decent play vs. the Seahawks' run defense, but with five RBs on the bye this week (Peterson, Charles/Jones, Barber/Jones) Jackson owners may drop one in the Wishing Well.

Steve Smith. Will we ever know just how good this guy is? Nothing new for the real Steve Smith, who traded Jake Delhomme's bum elbow for Matt Moore's, and now gets to risk his life going up for Jimmy Clausen ducks. If he had a consistent quarterback over the past decade, Steve would never have to hear people even think about thinking about who the better wideout is.

Jason Witten. Jason Witten edges out Brett Favre for the "Thank God my Bye is Week 4" Award. He'll get to rest that cabesa and heal up a little bit, and will have to work hard to keep Martellus Bennett from gaining the edge in looks Week 5.

Marques Colston. Tough couple weeks for Reggie Bush-- sending the Heisman back broke his heart, then the 49ers broke his leg. With Bush out, the opportunity was there for Marques Colston to reestablish himself as Brees' go-to option and a PPR player's dream. Instead, Colston was covered again, limited to just 25 yards on the day. While Marques has been a reliable target, he had just two 100-yard games last season, three the year before that, and hasn't been the truly explosive fantasy player he was in his first two seasons from 2006-07.

Clinton Portis. Deja vu? It took about seven years for Clinton to get old in Washington, and Redskins fans are hoping it's not a repeat. If your name is LaDainian Tomlinson, congratulations. You're the only back that was better than Portis in the '00s. If not, you probably have a lot less mileage on you than Portis. An average of 46 yards per game vs. DAL, HOU and STL isn't getting it done, and his owners should target Keiland Williams as insurance.

MERCURY RISING

Lance Moore. Lance Moore came back to fantasy with the biggest game of his career. 6/149/2 vs. ATL in Week 3 (and his '08 season of 79/928/10) is enough to take a chance on Lance in Drew Brees' offense. He'll compete with Devery Henderson for the deep looks, but with Marques drawing the most attention and Pierre running well, sustained production is not beyond the realm.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Is there anything better than Dick Enberg saying this guy's name? It's like a four-act opera in which you never knew the word Green could have that many syllables. Laurence Maroney to Denver, Kevin Faulk to IR, Fred Taylor has 2,500 lifetime carries and Sammy Morris is a spot guy. You don't have to go to Harvard to figure out that you should join the Law Firm outside Boston.

Peyton Hillis. Can this man remove Peyton from first-name status? In fantasy circles, he just might. That Hillis' career-best 144 rush yards came at Baltimore is very encouraging, and coach Mangini will have no choice but to stay with Hillis, who also grabbed 7 for 36 yards.

Dustin Keller. Two monster games in a row for Keller, who followed his 7/115/1 day vs. New England with an even bigger 6/98/2 night in Miami. Throw out his first game vs. Baltimore as an extremely tough matchup and you have a tight end that has shown the ability to take a game over. If he's your backup, you might consider trading your number one TE and giving DK the big job.

Aaron Hernandez. Listed at 6'1"/245, Hernandez is more like a huge wideout than a true tight end. Use this to your advantage and get the fastest TE-eligible player we've seen since Marques Colston rookied. Kevin Faulk's season-ending injury opens up 6-7 looks in the pass game and solidifies that the trio of Welker, Moss and Hernandez will get most of Brady's attention. Grab him as a bye-week replacement, or even just to keep him away from the rest of your league.

Counting Down the 10 Worst Sports Movies

10. Mr. 3000. Bernie Mac was a very funny man. Just not in this particular film. Let us remember him instead as a man that once voiced a character named "Fruit Juice" in the animated film 'Lil Pimp.

9. Invincible. Save an hour-plus of your time and watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Gang Gets Invincible from Season 3.

8. The Fan. A movie that probably looked great on paper but didn't translate to the screen, The Fan is the second-worst on Bobby D's resume.

7. Driven. Kip Pardue gives one of the all-time worst performances in cinematic history, sports or no sports.

6. Leatherheads. George Clooney tried to make a Coen Brothers film. Tried.

5. Invictus. Nelson Mandela is finally portrayed by real-life doppelganger Morgan Freeman, and it's the elderly, rugby superfan Mandela he gives us. Tragic.

4. For Love of the Game. Oh, for the love of...

3. Ali. Ali first lost its integrity when the man himself was at the premiere. Its authenticity is further diminished each painfully long minute, with Jon Voigt and Mario van Peebles woefully miscast as icons Howard Cosell and Malcolm X. Ron Silver as Angelo Dundee is just preposterous. With respect to Will Smith, who does transform in the role, Jada's presence further robs this biopic of any realism whatsoever. There are a number of Ali documentaries that are far more worthy of your time.

2. Two for the Money. Matthew McConaughey is an actor who isn't known for his acting. He's at his abso-worst in this 2005 clunker.

1. Any Given Sunday. All the NFL players that ever suited up wouldn't make up for the made-up teams that cost this movie its authenticity. That nearly any given actor is in Any Given Sunday also makes its suspension-of-disbelief factor about on par with Hot Tub Time Machine.

Counting Down the 20 Best Sports Films: Honorable Mention

Kingpin. Bill Murray is hilarious and Woody Harrelson and Randy Quaid are amusing in the second-best movie about a bowler.

The Big Lebowski. Am I wrong? Am I wrong? Okay then.

Fever Pitch. Jimmy Fallon actually works as the lead in a role that's as close to playing himself as he'll ever get. Though he did get a little pissed when Drew kept calling him "Adam" off-camera.

Bull Durham. Incredibly, this list of the 50 Greatest Sports Films puts Bull Durham ahead of Rocky. Too bad Ron Shelton wasn't born a decade earlier, he'd have a Best Picture Oscar over his fireplace.

Little Giants. Is it coincidence that football movies are good and baseball movies are great? And that football movies are funny and baseball movies are hilarious? This is a good football movie that's funny, extra point for being kid-friendly.

He Got Game. Spike Lee tried really hard. Maybe a little too hard, as He Got Game is at once wonderfully authentic, poorly acted and 45 minutes too long. One of the worst performances in cinematic history comes courtesy of Al Palagonia, (which must be Italian for "Pal of Spike Lee") whose turn as super-agent Dom Pagnotti is about as bad as it gets and the reason this is a movie not a film.

Kicking and Screaming. Will Ferrell is always fun to watch playing sports (Semi-Pro, Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory) but K'ing and S'ing is due a special nod for being one of the funniest PG movies to come out in the '00s. If you have soccer kids, this is a buy.

The Greatest Game Ever Played. It's not the greatest film ever made, but for golf fans, Shia is your Spider-Man. Hi, I'm Francis. Have Ouimet?

School Ties. The Dead Poets Society of the 90's, School Ties basically started the careers of Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Brendan Fraser (you're welcome) and Chris O'Donnell. Even ol' Will Hunting's boy Cole Hauser makes his debut.

Hiccups and Pickups: Week 2

FALLING DOWN

Maurice Jones-Drew. Pocket Hercules got struck by the Lightning on Sunday, gaining just 31 yards on the ground and catching one ball for 17 yards. MJD will be looking for his best Best impression this week, as the Jags host the defensively offensive Lions.

Jamaal Charles. Chiefs fans will take it, but Jamaal's owners will not. Thomas Jones got twice Jamaal's carries in Week 2, as the biggest home-run threat in the AFC West was kept in the park...by Cleveland. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis will look to get Charles more involved in the coming weeks, but at 2-0, can't exactly be criticized either.

Ryan Mathews. Ryan's ankle injury seemed like deja vu after Ryan Grant went down on opening weekend, but that he begged to get back in the game offers Mathews owners some hope. Still, Mike Tolbert looked really good and should eat into Mathews' workload once he's ready to return.

Shonn Greene. A statistical improvement over his Week 1 effort, Greene's 52 rushing yards vs. the Patriots may not have been enough to keep his starting job. LaDainian was the more effective back on Sunday, and to this point in the season has been the more prepared, reliable performer.

Greg Jennings. A game that fantasy owners salivate over often results in a stinker for the team's number one air option. The Bills were able to do one thing successfully on Sunday, which was keep Jennings off the scoreboard. He'll easily improve on his 3/31 outing this week, but Jennings is the type of team-first player that would take that statline in a winning effort every time.

MERCURY RISING

Jahvid Best. Jahvid may have had his best career game in just his second. Owners who had him benched vs. the highly rated Philly D will be chasing this effort all year long, and though he won't top 40 points with regularity, he's worth a weekly start until further notice.

Jason Snelling. Mike Turner's injury gave Snelling the Chance, and now Atlanta fans are beating their Community Chest about their loaded backfield. Though Turner seems to be fine, Snelling is his unquestioned understudy and absolutely worth picking up, especially given Turner's propensity for getting nicked up.

LeSean McCoy. LeSean was able to Run Away from the Lions all game on Sunday, to the tune of 120 yards and three touchdowns. Best guess is The Real McCoy will be in Jim Schwartz's head while he sleeps for at least a few weeks..."Another night, another dream, but always you."

DeSean Jackson. DeSean likes Michael Vick, he just doesn't like it when he calls him "dog." Either way, Jackson's game was unleashed with Vick under center, and calls for Kevin Kolb are fainter than that kid at the spelling bee.

Demaryius Thomas. Georgia Tech recruited Demaryius to replace Calvin Johnson. He did. The Broncos drafted Demaryius to replace Brandon Marshall. He will. If you need to fill a WR or a WR/RB slot, realize that GT and Denver have a lot more riding on their success than you.

Kevin Walter. There's plenty to go around when your QB throws for 497 yards. It won't be that abundant for Walter every week, but that his 11-catch performance came in a monster game for Andre is encouraging. Until Owen Daniels shows that he's a fantasy threat again, view Kevin as the number two receiving option in Houston, which is certainly worth rostering.

Brandon Pettigrew. Opening week starter Matthew Stafford seemed to prefer Tony Scheffler, but that trend reversed completely in Week 2, as replacement Shaun Hill found Pettigrew 7 times for 108 yards against the Eagles. Pettigrew is a nice guy to add if he has a different bye week than the tight end you drafted, or if you went with Jason Witten or Brent Celek and want some insurance.

NFL Preview: Week 2

Steelers @ Titans. Chris Johnson's streak of 12 straight 100-yard games will be put to the test on Sunday against a Pittsburgh D that limited Michael Turner in Week 1. But Johnson is a different breed of back and he will be relied upon heavily, so the century mark is certainly within reach. All the Titans' other offensive players get slightly downgraded for this matchup, except Rob Bironas. For the Steelers, until Big Ben gets back, just Mendenhall and Hines Ward are must-starts every week. Mike Wallace and Heath Miller are on the fringe until that time. Take the Titans in a field-goals game.

Ravens @ Bengals. Baltimore's offense should rebound from their poor showing in Week 1. The Bengals are far less stingy on D than the Jets, which should signal breakouts for Ray Rice and Joe Flacco, and simultaneous sighs of relief from their owners. Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, T.O. and C.O. will pose more of a threat to the Ravens D than the Jets, but against this hard-hitting unit, they could all be in for a long day. Baltimore wins this roadie and moves to an earned 2-0. Their Week 6 visit to New England might just determine home-field advantage in the AFC.

Vikings vs. Dolphins. Adrian Peterson will get on track in Week 2 vs. the Dolphins. The void left by Sidney Rice was a cavernous one, as evidenced by Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin's inability to make plays. The Vikings will have to go back to basics for some time until they either acquire Vincent Jackson, have Sidney Rice back from his hip injury, or both. Until then, Visanthe Shiancoe seems to be Favre's most reliable target, and if that's true, they'll be leaning heavily on AP. Take Peterson and the Minny O-line over Ronnie and Ricky.

Colts vs. Giants. This is a pride game for Peyton and a house-money game for Eli. The Texans found the formula vs. Indy last week, and the Giants will want to get Bradshaw and Jacobs going, which will take even more pressure off of lil' bro. There is no doubt that Peyton has been stewing over the Colts' Week 1 defeat, and will do whatever he can to stave off 0-2. Take Indy in another high-scoring tilt.

Patriots @ Jets. This game will be played at 4:15pm Sunday in northern New Jersey, but may as well be played on New Year's Eve at midnight...on the moon. The Jets will be desperate to not open their new building 0-2, but Tom and Randy will be juiced up just boarding the bus to Soprano-ville. The Pats win this one handily, and at 2-0, are extremely tough to move from atop the AFC East.

Chargers vs. Jaguars. The Jags look to be AFC West slayers, having dispatched the Broncos in Week 1 and taking aim at the Chargers this Sunday. The Chargers are out to prove that rain, Arrowhead and special teams were the reasons they fell to KC, and will certainly improve in two of those areas this week. Rivers, Gates, Mathews, Floyd and I am Legedu are all starts this week; for the Jags, use MJD, and only activate Garrard, Sims-Walker and Lewis if you have to.

Bears @ Cowboys. The Bears got gifted their 1-0 start and the Cowboys gifted theirs away. The significance of Tashard Choice's fumble that got returned for Washington's lone TD is twofold. First, if Dallas just took a knee they would have won 7-6. Second, the catch was one of 7 touches in the game for Choice, while Felix and MB3 only received 8 carries apiece. Tashard is useful in either back's absence, but shouldn't two lead running backs be enough to spell each other? Increased workload helps any runner get into a rhythm, and Dallas' attempts to get three guys going in one game may cost them many. For Bears fans, Jay Cutler's 372 yards in his first regular season game under offensive coordinator Mike Martz was almost as big an exhale as the one let out at the end of regulation.

Chiefs @ Browns. This is Patriots-Jets Lite. Ex-Jet Mangini's dogs host ex-Pats Scott Pioli, Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel and Matt Cassel in Week 2. There's way less salt to this matchup than the real deal, but these teams, specifically their executives and coaches, know each other well. The Chiefs will make the Chargers' inevitable uphill climb even tougher, beating out the Browns and starting out 2-0.

Texans @ Redskins. A matchup of surprising 1-0 teams, few expected Houston to top Peyton and Shanny to beat the Eagles in their openers. But here they are, Arian Foster for President and McNabb undefeated in DC. Schaub gets rolling in Week 2 and Foster provides a balanced attack that will be enough to lower Donovan's winning percentage by 500 points.

Week 1: The Fat

Skinny is out. Let's chew The Fat.

Ravens 10, Jets 9. The talking stopped and the hitting started, and the Ravens outslugged the Jets in their new-home opener 10-9. The Jets were out of synch on offense and awfully grabby on defense, resulting in 14 penalties including six that resulted in first downs for the Ravens. The Jets looked like a team that had a TV show not a training camp, and will have a very tough time not starting out 0-2 when New England rolls in on Sunday.

Texans 34, Colts 24. Arian Foster took about 231 steps toward becoming a fantasy-household name in Week 1, helping the Texans beat Peyton Manning for the first time in four years. The Colts are who we thought they were; they can throw the ball and can't stop the run, only this time they lost. Peyton topping 50 attempts is never a good sign, and as we wonder, "What about Bob" Sanders, we realize he's actually the opposite of the Bill Murray character, because he's never there.

Saints 14, Vikings 9. The Vikings' underuse of Adrian Peterson, not a lack of offensive weapons, was the reason they fell to the Saints on Thursday night. Brad Childress didn't give AP any 4th quarter carries in a game they lost by...5? The head coach gave into his Wrangler pitchman of a QB and let him sling it all second half, instead of giving the best tailback in the conference even one touch late in the game.

Bears 19, Lions 14. Chicago fans got gifted a Week 1 win, and also a glimpse of things to come from new offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Jay Cutler is now back to J-Cut after spending most of 2009 as his inept alter-ego "cuddles." The Lions not only lost a game they should have won on Calvin Johnson's clear TD, but also lost their quarterback, who's next in line at the office of Dr. James Andrews.

Dolphins 15, Bills 10. In addition to being one of the most talent-light teams in the league, the Bills have endured some of the toughest schedules over the past few seasons. The Chan Gailey era got off to a rough start, as Buffalo hosted Miami in the season opener and lost 15-10. The beauty of this rivalry was always the Dolphins hosting the first matchup and Buffalo hosting the second, usually in cold weather. Home field advantage aside, the Bills' selection of J.P. Losman over Steven Jackson in 2004 continues to haunt the beleaguered franchise.

Redskins 13, Cowboys 7. Winning despite Wade has drifted into losing because of him. Phillips' woeful gameplan cost the Cowboys a win, as his lead tailbacks totaled just eight carries apiece. Marion Barber is a bruising-style runner that can wear down defenses and Felix Jones is an absolute burner. Perhaps it's just too advanced for Wade to realize he should pound Barber early, then unleash a fresh Felix.

Seahawks 31, 49ers 6. The Pete Carroll Era is off to a flying start. The Seahawks flipped the script in their home opener, pounding the 49ers 31-6 when the experts predicted the opposite. Having gotten out of USC while the getting out was good, PC seems right at home in Seattle.

Patriots 38, Bengals 24. All systems go. Brady-to-Welker is back. Newcomers Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski and Brandon Tate have already made names for themselves. Just another Week 1 for the Patriots, who roll into the New Meadowlands with a chance to hand the Jets an 0-2 start.

Packers 27, Eagles 20. Even with the Saints winning the SuperBowl last season and the Jets acting like it, Green Bay had the most SuperBuzz heading into the '10 season. The Packers proved their backers right on Sunday by bringing down the Eagles, their quarterback, and their fans. They will have more of a challenge without Ryan Grant going forward, but if Brandon Jackson can raise his game, they should still make good on all those predictions.

Chiefs 21, Chargers 14. Since drafting LaDainian Tomlinson, the Chargers have been the main event in the AFC West. LT is gone now, and on Monday night KC sent a message that their division crown may be next. Norv will have to avoid his usual 2-3 start in order to shift the focus from players that aren't playing to those that are.

Hiccups and Pickups: Week 1

FALLING DOWN

Calvin Johnson. Megatron lost a TD, the game, and his quarterback for up to six weeks. The upside is that the ill-fated booth review may put a chip on CJ's shoulder, and the loss of some stability under center means the Lions should be down even more, and throw it deep even more.

Andre Johnson. Andre turned in a 3-catch, 30-yard performance in Week 1 vs. the Colts in a game that looked to be a shootout between Manning and Schaub. Instead, we got the official coming-out party of Arian Foster, and a "wait 'til Week 2" memo from AJ.

Frank Gore. The Seahawks stunned everyone and shut down Gore and the entire 49ers offense in Pete Carroll's debut. Gore managed just 38 yards on 17 carries, but did get looks out of the backfield, resulting in a 6/45 receiving line. The Saints are up next, and after doing a really nice job containing Adrian Peterson, Gore's breakout week may be put on hold again.

Michael Turner. Another consensus top-six running back with a dud performance in Week 1. Pittsburgh's home opener was a tough assignment for any running back, but 2.2 yards per carry must improve for owners to feel confident that Turner can be their flagbearer at tailback this season. The good news is he caught a ball.

DeSean Jackson. A tough matchup vs. the Green Bay D and losing Kevin Kolb cost Jackson a solid season debut. Michael Vick's play in Kolb's absence is reason to believe in Jackson, however, and the combination of Vick's arm strength and DeSean's speed is reason for excitement.

Matt Schaub. In NFL terms, Matt Schaub is 1-0. Don't tell that to his fantasy owners. Arian Foster's monster performance, specifically his continued ability to gain big yards throughout the game while keeping the ball away from Peyton Manning, forced the Texans to continue to pound the pavement all four quarters. In the long term, Foster's presence and demand for attention from opposing defenses will actually help Johnson get open.

Shonn Greene. The Jets missed an opportunity to motivate Greene by handing him the starting job before Hard Knocks even began filming. Instead, they should have either had an open competition, or named LaDainian the Opening Day starter at tailback. LaDainian has all the motivation he needs to play well in 2010, and showed it vs. the Ravens. Shonn Greene is a second-year player who has been given the job over one of the best all-time at the position, with nowhere near the track record. Had he started camp behind LT on the depth chart, he would have worked that much harder, and looked that much better Monday night.

MERCURY RISING

Brandon Jackson. Ryan Grant's ankle sprain opened the door for Jackson, and the erstwhile understudy was able to gain 63 yards on 18 carries vs. the stingy Philly defense. He makes a great play at Buffalo in Week 2 and an option as long as Grant is sidelined.

Legedu Naanee. The 4th-year speedster out of Boise State was Phil Rivers' most consistent target, totaling 110 yards and a TD at a rain-soaked Arrowhead on Monday night. The Chargers appear willing to never dress Vincent Jackson again, and Naanee's 2010 debut will only solidify that stance. I am Legedu. Have you picked me up yet?

Michael Vick. Michael Vick is finally at the helm of something other than a dogfighting ring or prison gang. It's the Philly offense, it's lightning fast, and you'll have to be faster than that to get him in non-waiver leagues.

Eddie Royal. In the same year that LeBron lost his crown, Eddie Royal may just regain his regal status. Brandon Marshall's departure hinted that Royal would be Kyle Orton's comfort zone this season, and Eddie's 8-catch 98-yard performance is a harbinger of the Return of the King.

Mark Clayton. Somebody has to catch the ball for St. Louis. The Rams will be down in games, and if Sam Bradford can keep himself upright, there will be yards to be had through the air. Why not Clayton?

Tony Moeake. Jamaal Charles draws a lot of attention. Thomas Jones must have an eye kept on him. Dwayne Bowe can beat teams deep and Chris Chambers is still a reliable target. Kansas City has weapons on offense, and Moeake should benefit from the most open space. The Iowa grad isn't Dallas Clark, but head Chief Scott Pioli didn't spend his third-round pick on Moeake for him to be uninvolved in the attack.

Thank You, Dean Spanos.

For NFL players, holding out for more money while under contract is often a gamble worth taking. Darrelle Revis' $46 million dollar deal would seem a positive sign for Charger holdouts Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill, but team President Dean Spanos is, for now, saying exactly the right things.

Spanos is taking the Mr. Deeds approach to two of his players, who have effectively walked into his office and demanded more money while currently under contract. He's saying no.

The Chargers have control of Jackson and McNeill, and to trade or release either player would be just another form of giving in to their demands. Instead, the team should continue to do what it's been doing; training, preparing, and cutting down to 53, all with an open invitation to either player to return to the field under their current deal, after an apology to their teammates.

The Jets giving into Revis' demands continues to set a track record of "successful" holdouts, and gives reason for other players to try it. In time the world will forget that Revis was willing to sit out an entire year because he was unhappy with the deal he signed. But if a team were to simply deactivate a player, (fining him daily to offset the lost salary), and let him sit there pouting, arms folded for the duration of his contract, he would always be known for it.

Sadly, some NFL owners are willing to supply diapers, because if they all had this philosophy, more franchises would truly be teams.

"No one or two players is above the entire team, it just doesn't work that way. What if they were here and got hurt the first game? What do you do then? Do you just give up? The ship has sailed. We're going. There are 53 guys out there. I like our 53 guys, and I like our chances. I wish they were here. They decided not to come." -Dean Spanos, Chargers President/CEO

Fantasy Football Mock: Defenses

10. Chargers. The Chargers should be very solid on both sides of the ball in 2010. They are going undrafted in some leagues, so at this point you can certainly take Dallas, Miami or Chicago and expect similar results.

9. Bengals. With the Panthers, Bucs, and Bills on the schedule, and two games against the Browns (including Week 15), Marvin Lewis' D is one to draft this year.

8. Steelers. Pittsburgh always brings it on the defensive side of the football. Offensive instability at the outset puts them at 8th, but Big Ben's return should signal the Steelers' return to the ranks of the defensive elite.

7. Saints. The Saints' combination of great offense and good defense make them a solid selection. They will get into more shootouts than the Ravens and Packers, but this is a defense that will score points.

6. Packers. The Packers' offense is better than their D, but not by much. Green Bay is gearing up for a SuperBowl year. Get on board.

5. Ravens. The Ravens' blooming offense may be the best reason to draft a defense with a strong track record over the past decade. Baltimore will be up in games, which will result in sacks and picks. They should be fine in Ed Reed's absence and dominant when he gets back.

4. Jets. Revis and Cromartie can shut down any wideout duo in the league. If the Jets can stop the run, they'll earn this spot.

3. Vikings. With a better offense than the Jets, the Vikings get the edge, as they should find themselves up in games and able to tee off on opposing quarterbacks.

2. Eagles. Philly is fast on both sides of the ball. Their defense will produce some low-scoring games and big plays in 2010.

1. 49ers. The best defensive team in the worst division in football. And they have Patrick Willis.

Fantasy Football Mock: Keepers and Sleepers

Mohamed Massaquoi, WR - CLE. Massaquoi is the unquestioned number one wideout in Cleveland, and bringing in Jake Delhomme and Colt McCoy adds a degree of depth and stability to the quarterback position for a Browns team that will be down in games.

Vincent Jackson, WR - SD. He's suspended for as many as six games, and when that suspension is up there's no guarantee he'll play for the Chargers. The upside is he may have his suspension reduced, he may get dealt, and he may just want to play football this year. In Keeper Leagues where holdovers begin in the mid-late rounds, he makes an outstanding pick.

Dexter McCluster, WR/RB - KC. Kansas City will provide a lot of fantasy points this year. By playoff time, Cassel, McCluster, Chambers, Bowe, Jones and Charles may all occupy starting slots.

Kareem Huggins, RB - TB. As the primary backup behind Cadillac Williams in Tampa, Huggins has the opportunity. After a strong training camp, he appears ready to prove he also has the talent.

Javon Ringer, RB - TEN. Chris Johnson's huge workload last year and the team's desire to get him to 2000 yards limited Ringer's involvement in the Tennessee attack in 2009. Expect Jeff Fisher to go away from CJ more this year in hopes of keeping him fresh, but if they're unable to keep him healthy, Javon and his value both explode.

Donald Brown, RB - IND. Even if Joseph Addai plays the entire year, Brown still has value in 2010. He should be more involved for a Colts offense that failed on the ground last season, and makes an even better choice in Keeper Leagues, as this is likely Addai's last year in Indy.

Golden Tate, WR - SEA. He's not a video game, but Golden T. played like he was in one while at Notre Dame. At 5'10" he's not the biggest target the Seahawks have, but he has the best ball skills of any wideout taken in this year's draft, enough to make Jimmy Clausen's college numbers look good.

Mike Williams, WR - SEA. At 26, Mike Williams gets another shot. After dumping T.J. Houshmandzadeh's salary, Pete Carroll is betting on Mike as his number one wideout. Don't do that, but consider Mike a decent project. He should get a ton of looks.

Mike Williams, WR - TB. At this point in your draft you could take a second or third option like Devery Henderson or Johnny Knox, but why not take a number one? We may be looking at another Steve Smith scenario, where the Mike Williams' location and not their talent is how they are differentiated.

Malcom Floyd, WR - SD. Vincent Jackson's absence equates to opportunity for Floyd, who will start the year as the Chargers top wideout. Antionio Gates and Ryan Mathews are the main attractions in San Diego, but don't forget about Floyd when other owners are sniffing for Aromashidu.

Fantasy Football Mock: Round 8

80. Sidney Rice, WR - MIN. If you're feeling good at this point in your draft, you may want to start looking a little down the road. Sidney Rice is an absolute beast when playing, so if he is indeed back at the midway point in the season, he could provide a real boost to teams in playoff contention.

79. Kevin Kolb, QB - PHI. At this point in his career, I'll give the slight edge to Eli Manning. Kolb finds himself in a quality system with talent all around him. He'll have every opportunity to succeed, and given the Eagles' player mix, much of that success will be through the air.

78. Eli Manning, QB - NYG. The Giants are all about the run, but their best weapons are their passcatchers this year. Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks make a great possession/deep threat combo and along with Kevin Boss, all have great RAC ability. Eli could be a starter in fantasy this year.

77. Bernard Berrian, WR - MIN. Between Sidney Rice's hip and Percy Harvin's migraines, Bernard might be the purple Donald Driver this year.

76. Jeremy Maclin, WR - PHI. The fantasy fate of all of Philly's players hinges on the success of Kolb. If he performs, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek and Maclin will be fantasy starters.

75. LaDanian Tomlinson, RB - NYJ. Ladainian falls 70 spots from where he was drafted last year, and he may produce more. He's looked good in camp for the Jets so far, and with Shonn Greene taking most of the pounding could put up a useful fantasy year. The Jets may also look to help LT add to his already monstrous career touchdown total.

74. Reggie Bush, RB - NO. Reggie edges out LT based on youth and that we haven't seen his ceiling at the pro level. Yet. This may be the year that Bush makes good on his potential as the more explosive Brian Westbrook-type of back we all expected, but don't bet more than your 8th Rounder on it.

73. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB - NYG. With oft-injured Brandon Jacobs the lead tailback in New York, Bradshaw has a decent chance of being handed the whole show at some point this season. Even if neither get hurt, Bradshaw may still find himself the number one guy by the midpoint of the year.

72. Justin Forsett, RB - SEA. In the two games that Forsett got 15 or more carries last year, he had 120+ yards. Draft him as your third running back that could become your second.

71. Clinton Portis, RB - WAS. Portis is going to slip a long way this year. His limited carries last season may mean he's charged up for the golden years of his career. Look for a bounceback, and if he's available in your 8th Round take a shot at Bo Sweets.

Fantasy Football Mock: Round 7

70. Joseph Addai, RB - IND. Addai just barely crossed 1,000 yards in his first two seasons, and just barely crossed that number in the past two seasons combined. His saving grace should be his receiving skills, but it was his 10 TD not his 336 receiving yards that saved his owners from a total bust last year. Donald Brown isn't Ray Rice, but he's a more conventional back than Addai and should be more involved in the offense, including at the stripe. Hopefully Addai has been drafted by this point.

69. Pierre Garcon, WR - IND. Even though teammates Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and Joseph Addai get taken well ahead of him, Pierre has the most game-breaking ability on the Colts. Pierre should slot in as the Colts #2 wideout, making him Peyton's #3 target with a chance for some really big plays.

68. Mike Wallace, WR - PIT. The guy plays 60 minutes. He's the speed threat in Pittsburgh's attack, and they're not as run-first as they used to be in the Steel City.

67. Matt Ryan, QB - ATL. The last of the sure-bet QBs. After Ryan goes off the board, you're looking at Palmer, Kolb, and Eli in the next tier. Matt is a cut above.

66. Dez Bryant, WR - DAL. The rookie should join Witten and Austin as another of Romo's favorite targets. The Cowboys will bring a big air attack again this year, and if Dez plays anywhere near his potential he'll be a rookie worth owning.

65. Michael Crabtree, WR - SF. Even with Frank Gore firmly entrenched as coach Singletary's number one option and Vernon Davis established as Alex Smith's number one, Crabtree will still have fantasy value this year.

64. Donald Driver, WR - GB. A graduate of Hines Ward U, Driver has been the NFC's Mr. Consistency. He's put up six straight 1,000+ seasons, has Aaron Rodgers throwing to him, and has attention-getters Jennings and Finley out there with him. Don't take Donald too early, but if you're shopping wideouts at this point, feel free to go to the well one more time.

63. Pierre Thomas, RB - NO. Thomas had one 100-yard game last year, reached the endzone six times, and owners are taking him with their fifth round pick. Let them do that, or take him if he slips and hope he's not trapped between the 20's again this season.

62. Chad Ochocinco, WR - CIN. Imagine being Carson Palmer and having to keep Chad and T.O. happy. It's too bad they can't throw two passes per play. Or can they??

61. Marion Barber, RB - DAL. MB3 hasn't been the fantasy stud he looked like a few years ago, but he has the potential to get into double-digit touchdowns while tallying 900+ yards along the way. As with almost every other backfield, Marion's value is hampered by his running mate, but gets a megaboost should Felix go down.

Fantasy Football Mock: Round 6

60. Percy Harvin, WR - MIN. When he's not having migraine headaches, Percy is the only wideout in the league capable of beating DeSean Jackson in the 100-yard dash. Sidney Rice's hip injury makes him Favre's number one receiver to start the season, and cements Harvin as the first Minnesota receiver to draft.

59. Hines Ward, WR - PIT. If you're not a risk-taker, draft Hines Ward. Over the past decade Hines has averaged 1,000 receiving yards and 7 TD. A quarterback in college, Hines has an extremely high football IQ. He's an exceptional routerunner, has always had great hands, and is still very tough to bring down. He plays hurt and still produces. He's done it as the #2 and he's done it as the #1. He's done it with Kordell Stewart. He's done it with Tommy Maddox. He's done it with Ben Roethlisberger. He's done it with Charlie Batch. He'll do it with Dennis Dixon or Byron Leftwich until Ben gets back.

58. Mike Sims-Walker, WR - JAX. Mike Sims-Walker followed in his teammate's footsteps and came from virtually out of nowhere to make two names for himself in Jacksonville. In reality, Sims-Walker was a feast-or-famine wideout who produced 7 fantasy games and 9 non-fantasy games, including 7 duds. The lack of other aerial weapons will make him a focus for secondaries in 2010, just like he was in his disappointing second half last year. A repeat is possible, but a step forward is unlikely.

57. Steve Smith, WR - NYG. Steve was the darling of New York last September, and went on to amass a Giants record 107 receptions to go with 1,220 and 7 TD. To expect a repeat of his rookie effort is unfair; it's more likely that Hakeem Nicks has the bigger year.

56. Hakeem Nicks, WR - NYG. The highest-rated Giant, Nicks' placement here says all that needs to be said of my fantasy faith in the Big Blue backfield. Eli will have to huck it up there a lot this year, and Hakeem is his biggest, most talented receiver.

55. Dwayne Bowe, WR - KC. GM Scott Pioli has created PatsWEST in KC by bringing in Charlie Weis to run the offense and Romeo Crennel to run the defense. That's two awfully big men with an awful lot to prove, and it may be Bowe that benefits most. Ex-Pat Matt Cassel all of a sudden has Bowe, Chambers, Jamaal Charles and Dexter McCluster to throw to, and Thomas Jones to protect him. Bowe is in line for a career season.

54. Brent Celek, TE - PHI. If new quarterbacks love their tight ends, Kevin Kolb may face stalking charges before this year is over. The Eagles' standout will have room to roam the middle with speed merchants Jackson and Maclin spreading the field deep. He's the last tight end worth a mid-round selection.

53. Vernon Davis, TE - SF. Vernon tied Antonio Gates' record of 13 TDs in 2010, but he's also put up three non-fantasy seasons in his four-year career. His demonstrated ability to take over a game is reason enough to gamble on Davis here.

52. Joe Flacco, QB, BAL. Flacco took huge strides in his second year, throwing 3,600 yards, 21 TD and 12 picks. With the addition of RAC-master Anquan Boldin, he should go even farther in 2010.

51. C.J. Spiller, RB - BUF. Buffalo's version of Jahvid Best comes in slightly below Detroit's rookie, but not because of his own ability. Detroit has a better quarterback in Matthew Stafford, a better down-the-field threat in Calvin Johnson and a better tight end in Brandon Pettigrew. Incumbents Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson are not the most imposing threats to Spiller's involvement, but they will get carries and help keep the rookie fresh. The Bills' head man Chan Gailey is a college coach at heart, and will try to find inventive ways of getting C.J. the ball.

Fantasy Football Mock: Round 5

50. Wes Welker, WR - NE. Coming off surgery on his torn left ACL/MCL, Welker is seeking his fourth straight 100+ catch season in four years in New England. His recovery seems ridiculously fast, and his 39-yard grab vs. St. Louis on Aug. 26th has me thinking he'll be ready to go by Sept. 12th. He may not be at full speed by Week 1, and may fall short of 100 receptions, but if he progresses steadily, could be a fantasy force in the second half.

49. Jahvid Best, RB - DET. Kevin Smith's slow return from knee surgery vaults Best's stock even higher. Oddly, the concern about Jahvid isn't his address, but his history of getting nicked up. At 5'10"/200, he's a load for a guy with his speed and elusiveness. He should be the main event in the Lions' ground game, and if he stays healthy could make a very rewarding fifth-round pick.

48. Felix Jones, RB - DAL. Felix is the gamebreaker in the Cowboys' running attack, and while he'll yield goalline carries to MB3, he has the ability to score on any play, and should be drafted for his upside.

47. Ronnie Brown, RB - MIA. Brown has had an injury-marred career, and is now coming back off a Lisfranc fracture to his foot. It's a platoon in Miami, and I'm betting on Ricky Williams putting together the more consistent season.

46. Beanie Wells, RB - AZ. Beanie was a beast down the stretch last year, and the Cards will need to run the ball with D.A. at QB. He's a big back with speed who will lose catches but not goalline carries to Tim Hightower.

45. Arian Foster, RB - HOU. Thanks to an injury to Ben Tate and Steve Slaton's stalled progress, Foster has been able to parley two strong games at the end of last season into the starting gig in Houston. Sometimes in fantasy opportunity outweighs talent, Foster is out to prove he has both.

44. Ricky Williams, RB - MIA. The more productive of Miami's two-headed monster carried owners down the stretch last year. While he's less likely to throw a touchdown than running mate Ronnie Brown, he's a better bet to stay healthy, and rack up more yardage and touchdowns again this year.

43. Tony Gonzalez, TE - ATL. Until further notice, Tony Gonzalez is still a top-tier tight end. T-Gon represents the last chance for owners who really want to differentiate themselves at the position.

42. Jermichael Finley, TE, GB. Coming into 2010 as the Packers' starting tight end has Jermike rated 4th at his position, and ahead of walking hall-of-famer Tony Gonzalez. Rodgers is accurate and can stay on his feet, which will give his biggest target time to work down the field even more this year.

41. Jason Witten, TE - DAL. After Dallas and Antonio have gone, there are only a few more options to get a draft-pick-worthy tight end. Witten is the third-best option at the position this year, is consistent and can be counted on to deliver some monster weeks. Take Romo's roomie and don't look back.

Fantasy Football Mock: Round 4

40. Matt Forte, RB - CHI. Forte went as high as 5th overall last season. Mike Martz and the offensive optimism he brings to Chicago is enough for me to gamble on Matt.

39. Knowshon Moreno, RB - DEN. A preseason off is nothing new for Knowshon, and should be no concern for fantasy owners. The most talented of Denver's tailbacks has the upside to be the highest pointgetter taken this round.

38. Dallas Clark, TE - IND. If you're in a PPR, take Dallas ahead of Gates. 100 catches by a TE last year was not something he's likely to repeat in 2010, but his games of 183 yards, 14 receptions and 3 TDs carried his owners on three different weeks last year, in addition to being extremely consistent the rest of the year. He's Peyton Manning's outlet, inlet, islet and piglet. Draft with confidence.

37. Antonio Gates, TE - SD. Totally healthy heading into 2010, and with one fewer target for Phil Rivers, Gates is one of the few tight ends that will produce like a wideout this season. Antonio has played nicked up for the better part of two seasons and has still managed to stay in fantasy lineups. Reap the benefits of a charged up Gates.

36. Jonathan Stewart, RB - CAR. The Daily Show was on in prime time last season. DeAngelo's stunt double was huge for fantasy owners gaining 200 yards and two scores Week 16 at the Giants, and his totals for the season basically match up with Williams. In the run-first Carolina system, there is room for both backs to reach single-back statlines.

35. DeSean Jackson, WR - PHI. DeSean may be the fastest player in the league. As a speed guy he'll be relying on his QB's accuracy more than some of the bigger receivers taken earlier, but if Kevin Kolb's aim is true he'll have monster games and score with the big boys.

34. Matt Schaub, QB - HOU. After Rodgers, Brees, Peyton, Brady, Rivers and Romo, there is Schaub. Throwing to Andre Johnson, he can score with any of them. If you are the type of owner that likes to feel absolutely comfortable with your QB every week, Schaub respresents one of your last chances to get one.

33. Anquan Boldin, WR - BAL. Boldin will be a dream come true for Joe Flacco. And vice-versa. With Anquan in the mix, everyone in Baltimore instantly gets more room to operate. This is an offense to get a piece of this year.

32. Steve Smith, WR - CAR. Jake Delhomme's poor performances early and his own broken arm late cost Smith his fifth straight 1000-yard year. That's remarkable consistency for a player as explosive as Smith both on and off the field. He clicked with Matt Moore last season and is the primary target in the Panthers' passing game.

31. LeSean McCoy, RB - PHI. Will LeSean and Kevin fit into Brian and Donovan's shoes? If you don't have a running back at this point, draft McCoy and get the better of the two heir apparents in Philly.

Fantasy Football Mock: Round 3

30. Shonn Greene, RB - NYJ. LT will take carries away, maybe even at the stripe. Mark Sanchez will continue to go through growing pains. Santonio Holmes is suspended four games. Revis may not be around to hand the ball back to the offense. Hard Knocks is putting a bullseye on the Jets' back. Draft Greene 30th anyway. He's that good.

29. Tony Romo, QB - DAL. Tony earns the spot below Rivers for being the anti-Rivers. He's a sign-of-the-times QB who's more likely to look up to the pressbox for approval from his girlfriend who used to be on The OC, than from his OC. Pop tarts and heinous headware aside, Romo can flat-out sling it, and has plenty of receivers to throw to.

28. Philip Rivers, QB - SD. With Rivers, it's not about the stats he'll put up for you as much as it is the stat's he won't put up. He's a quarterback you can trust implicitly, and no, he's not phased by not having Vincent Jackson. He puts up 215 and 2 TDs on his so-so weeks and should cross 300 points again this year.

27. Miles Austin, WR - DAL. Austin exploded onto the fantasy scene with a ridiculous 10/250/2 in his first career start. He kept it going, making the Pro Bowl with 1,300+ yards and 11 TDs. Dez Bryant is the future in Dallas, but Miles Austin is the right now. Look sharp; he's the blur on your TV screen.

26. Greg Jennings, WR - GB. Greg Jennings has proven himself to be one of the most consistent fantasy performers over the past three seasons and should find the endzone more in 2010. His track record earns him the spot above "Stunning" Miles Austin.

25. Marques Colston, WR - NO. You can't teach speed. You can't teach height, either. You also can't teach being 27 years old, having Drew Brees as your quarterback, other weapons drawing attention and offensive genius Sean Payton coaching you. A 7th Round pick that every NFL team passed on, no one needs to teach Marques motivation either.

24. Cedric Benson, RB - CIN. The last of the solo-act running backs' touchdown potential makes him a worthwhile pick early in the third, ahead of second-tier QBs Romo and Rivers and WRs Boldin and Colston.

23. Roddy White, WR - ATL. Matt Ryan's main man has had three straight seasons over 80 catches and 1100 yards. Roddy is one of the game's true speed demons and a legit number one wideout.

22. Jamaal Charles, RB - KC. The biggest knock on Charles is that Thomas Jones has been extremely durable over his career. Jamaal will have one of the best per-carry averages in the league again this year, and Jones' presence may mean less touches but more explosiveness.

21. Reggie Wayne, WR - IND. Coming off a 100-catch season, and with Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon, Joseph Addai and Austin Collie there to spread the field, all signs point to another stellar fantasy year for Peyton's favorite target.

Fantasy Football Mock: Round 2

20. Randy Moss, WR - NE. No Revis (so far) is good news for Moss, who is entering his 12th NFL season. At 34, Welker's presence and a fully healthy Brady will help the veteran flourish in New England once again.

19. DeAngelo Williams, RB - CAR. DeAngelo is being taken as high as 10th in a lot of leagues, and his magical 2008 is certainly evidence that he can prove worthy of that high a selection. Jonathan Stewart's presence in Carolina limits DeAngelo's value at the same time that it makes him a safe pick late in the second round. He'll have less yards and TD's, but will also take fewer hits and should therefore come in at around 1,100 yards and 10 TDs again this year.

18. Rashard Mendenhall, RB - PIT. Mendenhall is the last of the feature backs to be taken, and is a steal if he's still available at 18th overall. The lasting image of Ray Lewis breaking Mendenhall's shoulder on one of his first NFL carries in 2008 is the reason he still feels like a risk, but his 1,100+ yard performance last year has me believing enough to take him late in Round 2.

17. Tom Brady, QB - NE. Brady could be the top pointgetter in all of fantasy this year. Wes Welker has made a ridiculously fast recovery from ACL surgery and he's just two years removed from a 50 TD season. I'd take Tom and the TD's he throws to the entire Pats receiving corps over Randy Moss.

16. Brandon Marshall, WR - MIA. Brandon's 101-catch 2009 season with Kyle Orton proves that he can produce huge games regardless of who is at the helm. He may not get as many grabs in Miami's run-oriented system, but that should create big play opportunities down the field. Every team passed on "The Beast" three times when he was finally drafted by Denver 119th overall in 2006. After battling with management, he was traded for 2nd Round picks in 2010 and 2011. For a guy with a big chip on his shoulder since day one, he has even more to prove this season.

15. Calvin Johnson, WR - DET. Calvin enters his fourth year looking to take that big leap forward and it finally seems possible. With Matthew Stafford leading the Lions' youngsters Jahvid Best, Kevin Smith and Brandon Pettigrew, their offense should be much improved.

14. Ryan Grant, RB - GB. Grant has been extremely productive in his 3 years as the lead back in Green Bay. Not bad for a player who went undrafted out of Notre Dame. Take the sturdy back as a sure bet to be in on a lot of offense this year.

13. Steven Jackson, RB - STL. Steven Jackson might be the best running back in the league. It's a shame he's in St. Louis, where the Rams are forced to throw way too early way too often.

12. Ryan Mathews, RB - SD. OK, I'll bite. Some rankings have the Fresno State product as high as #8 overall. While I'm not ready to take the rookie ahead of sure bets Rodgers, Brees and Manning, his feature-back status in San Diego, and the incredible immediate success of small-school studs Marshall Faulk and LT has me believing.

11. Larry Fitzgerald, WR - AZ. With D.A. now officially the "A-number one hotshot" in the desert, Fitzy is looking at "heavy wehk." But he is up to it. He's a go-up-and-get-it guy. He's the best of 'em.