Running backs attack

Week nine saw some explosive performances from quarterbacks: Kurt Warner (261 yards, five touchdowns) and Jay Cutler (369 yards, three touchdowns) as well as wide receivers: Randy Moss (6-147-1) and Larry Fitzgerald (9-127-2). But when Sunday was said and done, the running backs showed again that they own the world of fantasy football.

Think of it like this: Bengals running back Cedric Benson posted 17 fantasy points (standard scoring) by racking up 117 rushing yards and one touchdown on a staggering 34 carries. That respectable point total was topped by seven other running backs.

Michael Turner (28), DeAngelo Williams (27), Chris Johnson (27), Joseph Addai (22), Frank Gore (21), Ray Rice (18), and Maurice Jones-Drew (18) all turned in rock-solid fantasy performances that formed the foundation for what should have been a big day for owners around the world.

Turner has now rushed for 317 yards and three touchdowns over the past two weeks, while Johnson has piled up a whopping 62 fantasy points in his last two games.

Imagine what you could get for either of these guys on the open market right now.

MBP Award (Most Beastly Performance)

Kurt Warner    Quarterback    Arizona Cardinals

Warner bounced back big time from an awful week eight outing in which he completed 27 of 46 passes for 242 yards, two touchdowns and FIVE interceptions in a 34-21 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

The veteran quarterback wasted no time making amends in Chicago, throwing four first-half touchdowns in a 41-21 blowout win over the Bears. Warner finished the day 22 of 32 passing for 261 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions.

However, Warner’s stat line is not the reason he won the MBP Award this week. The savvy vet landed the coveted hardware because he played so well that Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt put Matt “Hollywood” Leinart in for a little mop-up duty. The former Heisman Trophy winner completed zero passes on one attempt.

Players on the rise

Ladell Betts RB, Washington Redskins 

Matt Bowen’s former teammate at the University of Iowa and coincidentally, the Washington Redskins, came on in relief of the injured Clinton Portis to carry the ball 15 times for 70 yards and one touchdown. Betts doesn’t have breakaway speed, but with Portis out because of with a concussion, he’s a starting running back who can contribute in the fantasy world.

Be cautious

Before you go bidding the farm to land Betts, make sure you’re aware that his next three games are against the Denver Broncos (home), Dallas Cowboys (road), and Philadelphia Eagles (road).

Kellen Winslow TE , Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

With rookie quarterback Josh Freeman making his first career start, Winslow produced a season-high 14.3 yards per reception and found the end zone for the first time in four weeks. His week nine stat line (five targets, four receptions, 57 yards, one TD) was one of the more productive outings among tight ends this weekend. As Freeman adjusts to the speed of the NFL, look for him to target his reliable TE when the pocket collapses.

Matt Hasselbeck QB, Seattle Seahawks 

An early season rib injury looked like it was going to derail Hasselbeck’s 2009 campaign, but you wouldn’t know it based on his numbers over the past two weeks. In his last two games, the veteran quarterback is averaging 289.0 passing yards with three touchdowns and just one interception. He’s completed 67.7 percent of his passes during that span, having thrown the football an eyebrow-raising 90 times. Expect Seattle’s pass-happy ways to continue with an upcoming schedule that features games at Arizona, Minnesota, St. Louis, and Houston, as well as home games vs. San Francisco and Tampa Bay.

Jeremy Maclin WR , Philadelphia Eagles

His week nine stat line (three receptions for 44 yards) was not overly impressive, but this was: Maclin was targeted a career-high nine times on Sunday night, meaning quarterback Donovan McNabb is beginning to get more comfortable with the rookie from Missouri as the two continue to work together. DeSean Jackson is still the No. 1 in Philly, but Maclin is one of the best values in fantasy at the moment.

Dallas Cowboys  D/ST

Yes, they were on this list last week, but after an impressive road victory against a tough division rival, this stock continues to climb. The Cowboys defense went into a hostile environment and held the Eagles offense to just 16 points and 297 total yards. In addition, they picked up another four sacks en route to a big time 20-16 victory.

Malcom Floyd WR, San Diego Chargers 

Just as I mentioned above with Maclin, Floyd’s week nine stat line was average at best (two receptions, 27 yards). However, he was targeted by quarterback Philip Rivers a season-high seven times;that’s a good sign.

Falling down the boards

Matt Ryan QB, Atlanta Falcons: The numbers speak for themselves:

First four games: 244.2 YPG, seven touchdowns, two interceptions, two sacks

Last four games: 201.7 YPG, six touchdowns, eight interceptions, 10 sacks

Ryan Moats RB, Houston Texans

 Moats got his big break last week at Buffalo when starting running back Steve Slaton had another case of fumble-itis. So what did Moats do in his first career start with the Texans? He fumbled the ball, that’s what. Moats carried the ball 16 times for just 38 yards (2.4 YPC), but did rack up a touchdown and 15 yards on three receptions. With the Texans heading into a bye in week 10 and no more games against the Buffalo Bills’ Swiss-cheese run defense, Moats might be out of a starting job.

Greg Jennings WR,Green Bay Packers 

PLEASE tell me you guys followed my advice last week and traded away Jennings after he blew up against the Vikings (I traded him and Tomlinson to Ken Daube of ESPN for Joseph Addai and Reggie Wayne). Jennings came out against one of the league’s worst passing defenses and laid another egg, catching just five passes for 61 yards despite seeing 10 targets. With upcoming games against the Cowboys, Steelers, Ravens, Cardinals, and Bears, there aren’t too many more favorable matchups left for Jennings in 2009.

Brian Westbrook RB ,Philadelphia Eagles 

He’s been on the shelf the past two weeks due to a concussion suffered against the Redskins on Monday night in week seven. During that time, B-West has experienced recurring headaches and has had to watch rookie running back LeSean McCoy rack up 207 total yards and one touchdown in his absence. When he’s healthy, the Eagles will certainly give him back his starting job. The question is, when will that be?

Chad Henne QB,Miami Dolphins 

After an impressive start to his career, Henne has cooled off considerably, averaging just 180.6 passing yards over his past three games while throwing only one touchdown pass with two interceptions. During that span, he’s been sacked nine times and is completing only 53.8 percent of his passes. Add in the fact that the Dolphins run the football 50.4 percent of the time (second in the NFL to the New York Jets) and you have an unreliable fantasy quarterback who could sink your team if the wildcat is working well.

The return of Monday Night Mania

“Let me get this right. I’m standing in line and you just let Screech in the club?”

“He’s on the list.”

“Show me the list. I want to see the list that lets Screech in the club.”

You know how this works.

I’m giving away a free NFP T-shirt to the person who picks the winning team in tonight’s Monday night game AND gets the closest to guessing the total number of points scored in the game.

Here’s all you need to do:

1. Leave a comment with your guess. Example: Denver and 42

If you have the winning team and are the closest to the total number of points scored, you win.

I’ll post the winner in the comments section tomorrow morning.

Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaugh

Another Sunday, another NFL weekend filled with blowouts.

The Packers, Chargers, Colts, Patriots, Jets and Bengals put up monster fantasy numbers en route to outscoring, respectively, the Browns, Chiefs, Rams, Buccaneers, Raiders and Bears 228-33. As you no doubt have already assumed, Vegas took a beating thanks to those teams.

In addition, those six winning teams combined to outgain their opponents in total yardage 2,563-1,396. Is it any surprise that the six losing squads are a combined 7-34 on the season?

These numbers just go to show you that, when in doubt, drafting and starting fantasy players from reliable offenses is the best strategy. This sounds simple enough, but several owners used first-round draft picks on Rams running back Steven Jackson. S-Jax may be ranked third in the NFL in rushing (635 yards), but he has yet to find the end zone and is ranked outside the top-10 in scoring among fantasy running backs (standard scoring rules).

MBP Award (Most Beastly Performance)

Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, Ricky Williams and Miles Austin are all very deserving, but this week’s MBP Award goes to San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis .

Davis has taken a lot of heat (especially from me) for being an underachiever since entering the league in 2006. Prior to this season, he had scored just nine touchdowns in 40 games. Man, how things have changed.

Thanks to new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, Davis is experiencing a breakout season like none other. Sunday’s performance (seven receptions for 93 yards and three touchdowns) brought the 49ers back from the dead in Houston and gave them a chance to win the game late.

Davis is currently ranked second among fantasy tight ends in scoring and is averaging an impressive 11.6 fantasy points per week. The good news is that even if quarterback Shaun Hill loses his job to former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith, it’s nothing for owners to be concerned about. All three of Davis’ touchdown receptions Sunday came from Smith.

Players on the rise

Steve Slaton    Running Back    Houston Texans

For all the haters out there, do you feel better now?

Slaton opened up his sophomore season averaging just 6.3 fantasy points and scoring zero touchdowns through his first three games. This, of course, led to my email inbox being flooded with hate mail about how Slaton was a bust and we had him ranked too high.

Four games later, the shifty rusher is back in business. Slaton has five touchdowns in his last four outings and is averaging 17.0 fantasy points per game. It should come as no surprise that Slaton went from 15.6 touches per game the first three weeks of the season to 22.2 touches the last four.

We recommended him as a great buy-low option three weeks ago in the Total Access Pass. Hopefully, many of you made a move.

Lee Evans    Wide Receiver    Buffalo Bills

With Trent Edwards at quarterback: five games, 12 receptions, 159 yards, one touchdown

With Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback: two games, 9 receptions, 143 yards, two touchdowns

In addition, Evans has been targeted 20 times since Fitzpatrick stepped under center. In the five games prior to Fitzpatrick’s arrival, Evans saw just 28 total targets.

It’s not rocket science, Buffalo. Throw the ball to you studs and let them make plays.

Joseph Addai    Running Back    Indianapolis Colts

He’s averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, but Addai’s role in the Indianapolis offense could be increasing in the coming weeks.

Rookie running back Donald Brown exited Sunday’s 42-6 win over the St. Louis Rams early due to what’s currently being called a sprained shoulder. While no timetable has been set for his return, any missed time by Brown will result in an increase in touches for Addai.

Addai has found the end zone in five of six games and is currently ranked in the top 15 in scoring among fantasy running backs. Add in the fact that he has the pleasure of playing on the same offense as Peyton Manning and you’ve got a very reliable starting running back for the remainder of the season.

A few more who continue to climb…

Hakeem Nicks    New York Giants: Four touchdowns in his last four games.

Beanie Wells    Arizona Cardinals: Posted career-highs in carries (14), yards (67) and touchdowns (1) Sunday night against the Giants. Look for his role to increase in the coming weeks.

Alex Smith    San Francisco 49ers: After tossing three touchdown passes in relief of Shaun Hill on Sunday, Smith will likely be a hot waiver-wire pickup this week for owners in deeper leagues.

Falling down the boards

Eli Manning    Quarterback    New York Giants

After throwing for nine touchdowns and just one interception from Week 2 to Week 5, Manning has cooled off considerably. The Giants signal-caller has thrown just two touchdowns to four interceptions over his past two games and is averaging a mediocre 210.5 passing yards per game during that span.

In addition, his 6.6 yards-per-attempt average in Sunday night’s loss to the Cardinals was his second-lowest YPA average in a game this season (his lowest was a 5.7 YPA average in Week 6 against the Saints). Hopefully for Eli owners and Giants fans, his poor performance wasn’t because of the wind at the Meadowlands. Those swirling gusts in northern New Jersey are only going to get worse in the coming weeks.

Greg Jennings    Wide Receiver    Green Bay Packers

In Week 1 against the Bears, Jennings caught six passes for 106 yards and one touchdown. Apparently, that was the point he decided to shut it down.

In the five games since he posted an elite wide receiver stat line, he has…flat lined (eat that, Jay-Z), catching just 16 passes for 250 yards and no touchdowns.

The problem here is coverage. Jennings is the best wideout on a very explosive Green Bay offense, so opposing defensive coordinators are rolling coverage in his direction, which is also the main reason Donald Driver has been posting some impressive numbers this year (27-479-3).

In any event, Jennings just isn’t getting the job done.

Michael Turner    Running Back    Atlanta Falcons

He found the end zone against the Cowboys on Sunday but averaged just 2.8 yards per carry and was outrushed by backup running back Jason Snelling 68-50. In addition, Snelling averaged 9.7 yards per carry.

Turner has been slow to the hole and lacks the burst and tackle-breaking ability that made him such a lethal force in fantasy leagues last season. The two big concerns for owners at this point regarding Turner are his yards-per-carry average and rushes-per-game average, both of which are down from 2008.

Turner is picking up just 3.4 yards per carry (down from 4.5 YPC in 2008) and is carrying the ball only 19.6 times per game (down from 23.5 carries in 2008).

At this point, the only thing keeping Turner afloat is the fact he’s found the end zone seven times in six games.

A few more who are dropping…

Pierre Thomas    New Orleans Saints: Was outrushed 80-30 on Sunday by Mike Bell, who handled the majority of the second-half carries against the Dolphins and was much more effective.

New York Giants D/ST: They’ve given up an average of 390.5 yards and 36.0 points over their last two games, both losses.

Cleveland Browns: They’re averaging just 7.6 points per game over their last three outings and don’t have a single viable playmaker on their offense.

Monday night mania

Since we got such a solid response from you guys last week over the free T-shirt giveaway, I’m pretty much forced into giving everyone another opportunity.

If you want a chance to win a free NFP T-shirt, it’s simple: Leave a comment in the comments section (tricky, right?) with the team that will win tonight’s game and the total number of points that will be scored.

Example: Philadelphia and 45 points.

Whoever is closest to the total points AND picks the winning team wins an NFP t-shirt.

Note: Be sure to check the comments section Tuesday afternoon because that’s where I will post the winner.

Tonight’s game: Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins

Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaugh

Another Sunday, another NFL weekend filled with blowouts.

The Packers, Chargers, Colts, Patriots, Jets and Bengals put up monster fantasy numbers en route to outscoring, respectively, the Browns, Chiefs, Rams, Buccaneers, Raiders and Bears 228-33. As you no doubt have already assumed, Vegas took a beating thanks to those teams.

In addition, those six winning teams combined to outgain their opponents in total yardage 2,563-1,396. Is it any surprise that the six losing squads are a combined 7-34 on the season?

These numbers just go to show you that, when in doubt, drafting and starting fantasy players from reliable offenses is the best strategy. This sounds simple enough, but several owners used first-round draft picks on Rams running back Steven Jackson. S-Jax may be ranked third in the NFL in rushing (635 yards), but he has yet to find the end zone and is ranked outside the top-10 in scoring among fantasy running backs (standard scoring rules).

MBP Award (Most Beastly Performance)

Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, Ricky Williams and Miles Austin are all very deserving, but this week’s MBP Award goes to San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis .

Davis has taken a lot of heat (especially from me) for being an underachiever since entering the league in 2006. Prior to this season, he had scored just nine touchdowns in 40 games. Man, how things have changed.

Thanks to new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, Davis is experiencing a breakout season like none other. Sunday’s performance (seven receptions for 93 yards and three touchdowns) brought the 49ers back from the dead in Houston and gave them a chance to win the game late.

Davis is currently ranked second among fantasy tight ends in scoring and is averaging an impressive 11.6 fantasy points per week. The good news is that even if quarterback Shaun Hill loses his job to former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith, it’s nothing for owners to be concerned about. All three of Davis’ touchdown receptions Sunday came from Smith.

Players on the rise

Steve Slaton    Running Back    Houston Texans

For all the haters out there, do you feel better now?

Slaton opened up his sophomore season averaging just 6.3 fantasy points and scoring zero touchdowns through his first three games. This, of course, led to my email inbox being flooded with hate mail about how Slaton was a bust and we had him ranked too high.

Four games later, the shifty rusher is back in business. Slaton has five touchdowns in his last four outings and is averaging 17.0 fantasy points per game. It should come as no surprise that Slaton went from 15.6 touches per game the first three weeks of the season to 22.2 touches the last four.

We recommended him as a great buy-low option three weeks ago in the Total Access Pass. Hopefully, many of you made a move.

Lee Evans    Wide Receiver    Buffalo Bills

With Trent Edwards at quarterback: five games, 12 receptions, 159 yards, one touchdown

With Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback: two games, 9 receptions, 143 yards, two touchdowns

In addition, Evans has been targeted 20 times since Fitzpatrick stepped under center. In the five games prior to Fitzpatrick’s arrival, Evans saw just 28 total targets.

It’s not rocket science, Buffalo. Throw the ball to you studs and let them make plays.

Joseph Addai    Running Back    Indianapolis Colts

He’s averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, but Addai’s role in the Indianapolis offense could be increasing in the coming weeks.

Rookie running back Donald Brown exited Sunday’s 42-6 win over the St. Louis Rams early due to what’s currently being called a sprained shoulder. While no timetable has been set for his return, any missed time by Brown will result in an increase in touches for Addai.

Addai has found the end zone in five of six games and is currently ranked in the top 15 in scoring among fantasy running backs. Add in the fact that he has the pleasure of playing on the same offense as Peyton Manning and you’ve got a very reliable starting running back for the remainder of the season.

A few more who continue to climb…

Hakeem Nicks    New York Giants: Four touchdowns in his last four games.

Beanie Wells    Arizona Cardinals: Posted career-highs in carries (14), yards (67) and touchdowns (1) Sunday night against the Giants. Look for his role to increase in the coming weeks.

Alex Smith    San Francisco 49ers: After tossing three touchdown passes in relief of Shaun Hill on Sunday, Smith will likely be a hot waiver-wire pickup this week for owners in deeper leagues.

Falling down the boards

Eli Manning    Quarterback    New York Giants

After throwing for nine touchdowns and just one interception from Week 2 to Week 5, Manning has cooled off considerably. The Giants signal-caller has thrown just two touchdowns to four interceptions over his past two games and is averaging a mediocre 210.5 passing yards per game during that span.

In addition, his 6.6 yards-per-attempt average in Sunday night’s loss to the Cardinals was his second-lowest YPA average in a game this season (his lowest was a 5.7 YPA average in Week 6 against the Saints). Hopefully for Eli owners and Giants fans, his poor performance wasn’t because of the wind at the Meadowlands. Those swirling gusts in northern New Jersey are only going to get worse in the coming weeks.

Greg Jennings    Wide Receiver    Green Bay Packers

In Week 1 against the Bears, Jennings caught six passes for 106 yards and one touchdown. Apparently, that was the point he decided to shut it down.

In the five games since he posted an elite wide receiver stat line, he has…flat lined (eat that, Jay-Z), catching just 16 passes for 250 yards and no touchdowns.

The problem here is coverage. Jennings is the best wideout on a very explosive Green Bay offense, so opposing defensive coordinators are rolling coverage in his direction, which is also the main reason Donald Driver has been posting some impressive numbers this year (27-479-3).

In any event, Jennings just isn’t getting the job done.

Michael Turner    Running Back    Atlanta Falcons

He found the end zone against the Cowboys on Sunday but averaged just 2.8 yards per carry and was outrushed by backup running back Jason Snelling 68-50. In addition, Snelling averaged 9.7 yards per carry.

Turner has been slow to the hole and lacks the burst and tackle-breaking ability that made him such a lethal force in fantasy leagues last season. The two big concerns for owners at this point regarding Turner are his yards-per-carry average and rushes-per-game average, both of which are down from 2008.

Turner is picking up just 3.4 yards per carry (down from 4.5 YPC in 2008) and is carrying the ball only 19.6 times per game (down from 23.5 carries in 2008).

At this point, the only thing keeping Turner afloat is the fact he’s found the end zone seven times in six games.

A few more who are dropping…

Pierre Thomas    New Orleans Saints: Was outrushed 80-30 on Sunday by Mike Bell, who handled the majority of the second-half carries against the Dolphins and was much more effective.

New York Giants D/ST: They’ve given up an average of 390.5 yards and 36.0 points over their last two games, both losses.

Cleveland Browns: They’re averaging just 7.6 points per game over their last three outings and don’t have a single viable playmaker on their offense.

Monday night mania

Since we got such a solid response from you guys last week over the free T-shirt giveaway, I’m pretty much forced into giving everyone another opportunity.

If you want a chance to win a free NFP T-shirt, it’s simple: Leave a comment in the comments section (tricky, right?) with the team that will win tonight’s game and the total number of points that will be scored.

Example: Philadelphia and 45 points.

Whoever is closest to the total points AND picks the winning team wins an NFP t-shirt.

Note: Be sure to check the comments section Tuesday afternoon because that’s where I will post the winner.

Tonight’s game: Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins

Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaugh

Can you believe we’re already five weeks into the NFL season?

No time for sentimental thoughts and feelings, we have work to do here at the NFP.

MBP Award (Most Beastly Performance)

Miles Austin   Wide Receiver   Dallas Cowboys

I won’t lie, I hate showing any kind of love to the Dallas Cowboys. But after Sunday’s performance, I can’t avoid giving credit where credit is due.

With much respect to Roddy White and Ahmad Bradshaw, Austin gets the nod this week for the MBP Award. The fourth-year veteran out of Monmouth (NJ) University lit up the Kansas City Chiefs’ secondary in Week Five, catching 10 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 60-yard catch and run in overtime.

More important, Austin’s big day helped struggling quarterback Tony Romo post some serious fantasy numbers (20-for-34, 351 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs) and sent the masses of fantasy die-hards to the waiver wire in the hopes of landing the next big steal of 2009.

It will be interesting to see what the Dallas coaching staff does when the high-priced Roy Williams returns to the lineup. Austin opened the season third on the depth chart (behind Williams and Patrick Crayton), but after Sunday’s outing, he just could be the big-play threat the Cowboys have been looking for.

Owners are advised to exercise some caution. While Austin’s performance was very impressive, the Chiefs rank 29th against the pass (270 yards per game) and missed several tackles that allowed Austin to pile up the yardage. Better secondaries will not allow similar performances to occur.

Their Value Is Climbing

1. Matt Hasselbeck   Quarterback   Seattle Seahawks

Hasselbeck was one of our recommended “starts” in Friday’s edition of Enter the Red Zone, and he didn’t disappoint.

The veteran quarterback returned to the starting lineup on Sunday after suffering a cracked rib in Week Two to complete 18 of 30 passes for 241 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-0 blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Look for the big numbers to continue, as Hasselbeck’s next four games come against some of the worst passing defenses in the league (Arizona, 32nd; Dallas, 28th; Detroit, 27th; Arizona, 32nd).

2. Denver Broncos Defense/Special Teams

Wow.

If you didn’t think these guys were for real heading into Week Five, you must be on the train by now.

The Broncos’ defense was outstanding Sunday, holding Tom Brady to just 215 yards passing in a 20-17 win that moved Denver to 5-0. What was more impressive was that after giving up 17 points in the first half, the defense made the necessary adjustments and didn’t allow the Patriots to score a single point over the game’s final two quarters, plus overtime.

The Broncos rank first in the NFL in fewest points allowed (8.6 average), second in sacks (16), and second in total defense (252.8 yards per game), making now the perfect time to shop this defense on the open market.

Check out Denver’s next seven games:

at San Diego, BYE, at Baltimore, Pittsburgh, at Washington, San Diego, New York Giants

It’s very rare to trade a D/ST unit straight-up, so target a big-name player who can help your team and offer this unit as part of a multi-team trade.

3. Cedric Benson   Running Back   Cincinnati Bengals

Benson became the first running back since Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs (Dec. 10, 2006) to rush for over 100 yards in a game against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Cincinnati running back is averaging 4.4 yards per carry and 14 fantasy points per week (standard scoring), forcing all of us who passed up on him in August (myself included) to kick ourselves for doubting the Bengals’ No. 1 workhorse.

Expect another big game this Sunday when the Bengals play host to the Houston Texans.

Three More Who Are Climbing

1. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants: He’s carried the ball 42 fewer times than Brandon Jacobs but has rushed for 20 more yards and scored one more touchdown. Look for Bradshaw to continue getting a healthy dose of the workload in the Big Apple.

2. Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts: Collie is likely to see a drop in value when Anthony Gonzalez returns to the lineup, but Sunday’s eight-reception, 97-yard, two-touchdown performance demonstrates that everyone on the field for the Colts gets some love.

3. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers: His seven catches in Week Five give Ward a total of 33 receptions through five games. That puts him on pace to catch 105 passes this season.

Pick Him Up!

Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles: The rookie wide receiver pretty much cemented his role in the starting lineup by hauling in six passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Falling Down the Boards

1. Jerome Harrison   Running Back   Cleveland Browns

Running back Jamal Lewis returned from a hamstring injury Sunday and picked up right where he left off, averaging less than four yards per carry (3.8) and scoring no touchdowns.

This was a very interesting approach from head coach Eric Mangini, especially since Harrison stepped into the starting lineup in Week Four against a tough Bengals defense and picked up 152 total yards while averaging 4.2 yards per carry.

In any event, it looks as if Harrison will resume the backup role while Lewis will handle the bulk of the carries.

2. The San Francisco 49ers Defense/Special Teams

Well, it was fun while it lasted.

After a red-hot start to the 2009 season, San Francisco was lit up in Week Five by the high-octane Falcons offense for 45 points and 477 total yards of offense. Every fantasy-relevant player on Atlanta’s offense put up an impressive statistical performance.

Things won’t get any easier for the Niners’ defense as their upcoming schedule looks like this:

BYE, at Houston, at Indianapolis, Tennessee, Chicago, at Green Bay

Oh yeah, they also have games against the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Eagles still on the schedule.

3. Terrell Owens & Lee Evans   Wide Receivers   Buffalo Bills

Words can’t even describe the disappointment these two have been this year. I’ll let the numbers do the talking:

Fantasy points per week: Owens (5.2), Evans (4.2)

Combined number of touchdowns: 2

Combined number of yards: 361

To put it in perspective, Miles Austin posted a 37-point fantasy day against the Chiefs (standard scoring). Evans and T.O. have COMBINED for a grand total of 48 fantasy points this season. 

Three More Who Are Falling

1. Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns: It’s not like his value was that high heading into Week Five, but any time you complete just two of 17 passes against a team like the Buffalo Bills, you’re going to take some heat.

2. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles: His eight touches on Sunday happened to be the same number that rookie running back LeSean McCoy had. Not a good sign for the aging running back.

3. Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens: He’s only had six total carries over the past two weeks and hasn’t found the end zone since Week Three. It looks like this stock is starting to tumble.

Get Rid of Him

Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs: Another miserable outing for L.J. on Sunday as he carried the ball 21 times for an unimpressive 37 yards. He still has not found the end zone and is averaging 2.4 yards per carry on the season. Put this stock in the Enron/Bernie Madoff portfolio.

Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaugh

The Week 5 schedule poses several problems for owners as some of the highest ranked fantasy players in the NFL hit their bye weeks.

With Chicago, Green Bay, New Orleans and San Diego off this weekend, four elite quarterbacks, three No. 1 wideouts and a host of talented running backs will all be sipping margaritas by the ocean; leaving a lot of us looking to our benches for help.

But the good news is that today is Friday—time for another installment of the National Football Post’s “Enter the Red Zone.”

You may not be sipping margaritas by the ocean today, but at least you’ll know that New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper leads the league in defensive personal fouls this season, with three.

You know you love it.

Let’s enter the Red Zone…

From the 20: Can we get a stop?

It’s certainly not the most appealing game of the weekend, but when the Cleveland Browns head to Buffalo to take on the Bills this Sunday, there will definitely be something worth watching in this battle for a better draft position.

Believe it or not, both teams actually rank in the top three in the NFL in a statistical category.

Done guessing? The Bills (second) and Browns (tied for second) are among the NFL leaders in five-minute drives allowed this season.

Buffalo and Cleveland each have allowed nine five-minute drives through just four games (San Diego ranks first, with 10). Give Cleveland the edge since it has allowed only two of those drives to result in touchdowns, while the Bills have allowed three.

However, when you factor in field goals, Buffalo is allowing points to be put on the board 55.6 percent of the time (five scores in nine drives), while Cleveland is allowing a score 66.7 percent of the time (six scores in nine drives).

Obscure? Yes, but at least it gives you something to watch for in an otherwise unwatchable game.

From the 19: Did you know …

That Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Barrett Ruud leads the NFL in tackles when the temperature is above 81 degrees?

Rudd has amassed 18 total tackles when the temperature climbs that high, while the Ravens’ Ray Lewis ranks 10th, with 12.

Both players rank in the top seven in total tackles through four weeks, and both are excellent IDP linebacker starts this weekend as Ruud takes on the Eagles and Lewis goes up against the Bengals.

From the 18: On legendary pace?

Through the first four weeks of the 1997 season, Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders had a total of 57 fantasy points (standard scoring). Currently, five NFL running backs have amassed a higher total through the first four weeks of the 2009 season (Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, Ronnie Brown, Maurice Jones-Drew and Willis McGahee).

Does this mean these guys will have a better fantasy season in 2009 than Sanders had in 1997? Doubtful.

Sanders may have started slowly (53 total rushing yards through the first two games), but the dude went off like a nuclear bomb by ripping off 14 straight 100-plus-yard performances.

He finished the year with 2,053 rushing yards and 305 receiving yards. Think McGahee can top that?

I almost forgot. Sanders averaged 6.1 yards per carry in 1997 and had five games in which he topped 160 yards rushing.

From the 17: Take to the skies

You still think that running the football wins games in the NFL?

NFL teams are 18-7 (.720) this season when their quarterback throws for over 300 yards.

However, don’t go running your mouth about this stat to the Panthers. Carolina is 0-1 when quarterback Jake Delhomme throws for over 300 yards.

It should come as no surprise that Delhomme is currently the 28th-ranked fantasy quarterback, right above Matt Hasselbeck and right below Byron Leftwich, two guys who haven’t even played in every game this year.

From the 16: You must protect the football

The New York Giants are currently the fourth-ranked fantasy defense and have been a nightmare to face this season, which is only one of several reasons they will dominate the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

The Giants are the best team in the NFL at converting turnovers into points. New York has turned eight turnovers (sixth) into 45 points (first), an average of 5.63 points per turnover.

Guess what? Oakland’s offense has turned the ball over nine times this year (five fumbles, four interceptions), good for the fourth-highest number of turnovers in the league.

From the 15: Notes from the Week 4 Target Report

How many of you drafted one of these guys in the first four rounds?

Name                                    Team                         Targets                Rank

Steve Smith                 New York Giants                    44                        2
Nate Burleson              Seattle Seahawks                 41                       3
Mario Manningham     New York Giants                   32                       18
Mike Sims-Walker      Jacksonville Jaguars            31                       19
Nate Washington         Tennessee Titans                31                       19

Side note: Manningham leads the NFL in receptions of 25-plus yards, with five.

From the 14: Pick ‘em No. 1

PITTSBURGH STEELERS —10½  at Detroit Lions

Detroit is a better football team this year, but that won’t matter Sunday, especially when the Steelers shut down the Lions’ running game and force backup quarterback Daunte Culpepper to win this one through the air.

From the 13: Pressure, pressure, pressure

Dwight Freeney (Indianapolis Colts) and Mario Williams (Houston Texans) lead the NFL in quarterback knockdowns, with 10½ each.

James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons (both of the Pittsburgh Steelers) lead the NFL in quarterback hurries, with six.

Elvis Dumervil (Denver Broncos) and Antwan Odom (Cincinnati Bengals) lead the NFL in sacks, with eight.

From the 12: Notes from the Red Zone Running Back Report

1. Willis McGahee has scored the most red zone touchdowns, five. Ronnie Brown and Maurice Jones-Drew are tied for second, with four each.

2. Matt Forte is tied with Ronnie Brown for the most carries inside the red zone, with 19.

3. Brandon Jacobs is averaging just 1.93 yards per carry inside the red zone.

4. Fred Jackson has carried the ball inside the red zone seven times this season for minus-1 yard.

5. Donald Brown (11), Reggie Bush (9) and Willie Parker (7) have more red zone carries than Steven Jackson (5), Steve Slaton (4) and Darren McFadden (4).

From the 11: Did you know …

That the Green Bay Packers lead the NFL in plays for negative yards?

Wisconsin’s favorite form of entertainment has racked up minus-155 yards (first) on 22 negative-yardage plays (first).

In news that should surprise absolutely no one, the Indianapolis Colts have the fewest number of negative-yardage plays, with two.

From the 10: Start ‘Em

Matt Hasselbeck   Quarterback   Seattle Seahawks

Owners in need of quarterback help for Week 5, look no further (or maybe I should say farther) than the city of Seattle.

While it’s not official, Matt Hasselbeck could be returning to the starting lineup this weekend to take on the NFL’s 31st-ranked passing defense (Jacksonville).

In Hasselbeck’s last two home October starts (it’s all about obscure stats around here), he’s thrown the ball 78 times for 557 yards and four touchdowns.

From the 9: Nothing but big things

Titans running back Chris Johnson leads the NFL in rushes of 20-plus yards, with five.

Receivers Calvin Johnson (Detroit) and Mario Manningham (N.Y. Giants) lead the NFL in receptions of 20-plus yards, with seven.

Quarterbacks Peyton Manning (Indianapolis) and Eli Manning (Giants) lead the NFL in completions of 20-plus yards, with 18.

From the 8: A brand new draft strategy

If you played in a standard scoring fantasy league that starts: 1QB, 2 RBs, 2WRs, 1 Flex (RB/WR), 1 TE, 1 D/ST and 1 kicker and you used your first nine picks on:

1. Cedric Benson
2. Fred Jackson
3. Ricky Williams
4. Ben Roethlisberger
5. Mike Sims-Walker
6. Derrick Mason
7. Vernon Davis
8. New Orleans Saints D/ST
9. Lawrence Tynes

You would be averaging 120.5 points per week.

From the 7: Sit ‘Em

Ronnie Brown   Running Back   Miami Dolphins

Starting running backs are averaging just 61.5 rushing yards per game this season against the New York Jets and their sixth-ranked run defense.

From the 6: Did you know …

That quarterbacks Kyle Orton (Denver) and Shaun Hill (San Francisco) are two of the best fourth-quarter signal callers in the NFL?

Orton ranks second (144.7) and Hill ranks third (133.7) in fourth-quarter QB rating. They have combined to throw five touchdowns and zero interceptions during the final 15 minutes of each game.

Is it any surprise that they’re a combined 7-1 as starters this season?

Eli Manning (first), Aaron Rodgers (fourth) and Peyton Manning (fifth) round out the top five.

From the 5: Did you know …

That you should not watch football on Sundays with a buddy who has little kids?

I made that mistake during the Eagles’ Week 4 bye and am now stuck with the flu because three rugrats were sticking their germ-infested hands in the dip I was eating for the better part of Sunday afternoon.

Thanks, Ed.

From the 4: Catch the football!

Yes, there’s actually a statistic that gives you a percentage by taking “catchable pass” and dividing it by “drops.”

Stop traffic, the Oakland Raiders lead the NFL in whatever the hell you want to call this statistic.

Basically, the Raiders receivers/tight ends/running backs have dropped 18.2 percent of the catchable passes being thrown their way. No surprise, they’re currently 1-3.

What is surprising is that the three teams with the fewest number of drops (Seattle, Washington, Miami) are a combined 4-8.

From the 3: Can the Patriots’ offense solve the Broncos’ defense?

Yes, the Denver Broncos’ defense is for real.

In four games, Broncos opponents have had a combined 45 offensive drives. Only six have resulted in scores (13.3 percent, first in the NFL).

Meanwhile, you should start every Pittsburgh Steeler, Dallas Cowboy and Philadelphia Eagle on your roster.

Team                 Total Drives     Scores     Percentage       Rank

Tampa Bay                45                 19               42.2                30th
Kansas City               47                 20               42.6                31st
Detroit                        46                 21               45.7               32nd

From the 2: What to watch on Monday night

The New York Jets head to Miami to take on the Dolphins on Monday night football in Week 5.

The Jets and Dolphins rank first and second, respectively, in rushes on first down this season.

The Jets have run the ball 72 times on first down, while the Dolphins have run it 71 times.

On the flip side (not including teams that have already had a bye week), Chicago has run the ball the least amount of times on first down, with just 41.

From the 1: Let’s cash in

ATLANTA FALCONS   +2½  at San Francisco 49ers

I like this pick for three reasons:

1. Atlanta is coming off a bye
2. They are getting points
3. They have an explosive offense

Enjoy the games this weekend!

Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaugh

You’ve done the research, drafted the players and set the rosters, but that doesn’t mean your work is complete.

With the first two weeks of the NFL season in the books, it’s time to start looking ahead at players who could make nice roster additions when fantasy owners get back to wheeling and dealing next week.

This is the first installment of a new column here at the NFP called The Fantasy Futures Report.

Here are five stocks that could be on the rise—and prove to be nice additions to your team.

1. Rashard Mendenhall   Running Back   Pittsburgh Steelers

Fast Willie Parker suddenly doesn’t look so fast. The Steelers rank 28th in rushing (70.5 yards per game) and have found the end zone only once via the ground. Parker has carried 27 times for just 66 yards (2.4 YPC) and no scores this season. With a suspect offensive line, Pittsburgh knows it needs to find a way to get something going on the ground.

Enter Mendenhall, the Steelers’ first-round pick from 2008. Mendenhall is averaging 6.4 yards per carry through two weeks and gives Pittsburgh a more physically imposing weapon coming out of the backfield that can run through defenders who get past the offensive line.

Next four games: at Cincinnati, San Diego, at Detroit, Cleveland

2. Pierre Garcon   Wide Receiver   Indianapolis Colts

Think about it. How many wide receivers who play with Peyton Manning fail to put up numbers? With Anthony Gonzalez possibly out the next two months, somebody in Indy needs to step up and help keep opposing defenses from rolling coverage in Reggie Wayne’s direction. Garcon could be that guy.

The second-year receiver out of Division III Mount Union caught one pass for 48 yards and a touchdown on Monday night against the Dolphins and is averaging a healthy 18.0 yards per reception on the season. Garcon may not become a regular in your starting lineup, but he’s got upside and could provide some much needed depth for owners who are thin at the wideout position.

Next four games: at Arizona, Seattle, at Tennessee, (bye), at St. Louis

3. Tashard Choice   Running Back   Dallas Cowboys

Most of you should remember this guy from last year when both Marion Barber and Felix Jones were sidelined with injuries. Choice came out of nowhere (Georgia Tech, actually) to produce some big-time fantasy numbers in 2008, including a gem at Pittsburgh in which he posted 166 total yards on the league’s top defense.

Starting running back Marion Barber is currently sidelined with a quadriceps injury and may not be able to play on Monday night against the Carolina Panthers. Even if he can go, Barber won’t be 100 percent, meaning his workload will be diminished. Since speedster Felix Jones has yet to prove he can handle full-time duties by himself, look for Choice to get back in on the action in Big D.

Next four games: Carolina, at Denver, at Kansas City, (bye), Atlanta

4. Jacoby Jones   Wide Receiver   Houston Texans

Jones is somewhat of a long shot to make your roster, but it’s better you know about him too soon rather than too late.

The fourth-year vet out of Lane caught two passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in Houston’s Week 2 shootout win over the Tennessee Titans. What’s better news for Jones is that Texans wide receiver Kevin Walter has yet to take a snap this season as he continues to battle an injured hamstring. The more time Walter misses, the more time Jones has to steal the job.

Next four games: Jacksonville, Oakland, at Arizona, at Cincinnati

5. Derek Anderson   Quarterback   Cleveland Browns

What? Why is Derek Anderson on this list?

I’ll tell you why—because Brady Quinn and the Cleveland Browns stink, that’s why.

The Browns are currently 0-2, and their prized first-round pick from 2007 is captaining an offense that currently ranks 28th in the NFL in passing. Quinn is completing only 59.1 percent of his passes, has thrown only one touchdown pass in two games and has already been sacked nine times. Oh yeah, his quarterback rating is a (not surprisingly) 66.9.

Head coach Eric Mangini can stick with Quinn all he wants, but he’s going to continue to lose games. While Anderson isn’t going to step in and lead this team to the playoffs (Joe Montana couldn’t either), he can at least throw the football down the field. There’s been no announcement that a change is coming, but you’re better off preparing for it in the event Mangini decides to make the switch.

Remember, we aren’t saying Anderson could step in and shock the world. But for those of you with big-time problems at the QB position, he may provide some help if he gets the nod.

Next four games: at Baltimore, Cincinnati, at Buffalo, at Pittsburgh

Acquire this player

Matt Forte   Running Back   Chicago Bears

To put it bluntly, Forte owners are pissed right now. Their first-round pick has yet to reach the end zone and has just 84 rushing yards through two games. But the times they are a-changing.

If the Forte owner in your league has been complaining, shut him up by making an offer. You’ll be happy to land a top-flight running back who gets to play these defenses the next six weeks: at Seattle, Detroit, bye week, at Atlanta, at Cincinnati, Cleveland

This is your last chance to get Forte on your roster. After he shreds the Seahawks this Sunday like Frank Gore did last week, Forte owners will no longer be looking to move their top pick.

Head’s up

Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch returns from suspension in Week 4. With the way Fred Jackson has been playing, will Lynch be coming back to a starting job or a place on the sideline?

My feeling is he’ll be handling a small portion of the workload. You never sit the hot hand. EVER.

Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaugh

Bold predictions and forecasts are a part of any preseason NFL discussion. With that in mind, today I present my five predictions for the upcoming fantasy season. I’m positive this is going to stir some debate, so you know where to find me if you don’t agree with what you’re about to read.

Just a reminder: The 2009 NFP Total Access Pass is launching this week. Rankings, projections, live chats, injury updates, start ‘em/sit ‘em breakdowns and much, much more. Click HERE to check it out!

Five Fantasy Predictions for 2009

1. Joe Flacco is going to be a hot waiver wire pickup

I’ve been acquiring Flacco as my QB2 in almost every fantasy draft I’ve had to this point. Why? For starters, most owners don’t even have him on their radar, meaning he can be had for an excellent price. In addition, the second-year quarterback out of Delaware is going to take the next step this season.

Flacco spent 2008 trying to do two things—avoid mistakes and give his defense good field position. His ability to function adequately in both of these areas helped the Ravens get to (and lose) the AFC championship game at Pittsburgh.

Expect offensive coordinator Cam Cameron to open up the offense more in 2009 and let Flacco take to the skies. He looked very impressive this preseason handling the blitz, moving around in the pocket and throwing the ball down the field. Baltimore hosts the lowly Chiefs in Week 1. For owners with quarterback issues entering the season, Flacco will be snagged off waivers very quickly.

2. Beanie Wells will not play 16 games

Look, I’m not saying the guy isn’t talented. I’m also not saying that he won’t be productive when he gets on the field this season for the Cardinals. All I’m doing is predicting that a guy with a history of injury problems will continue to suffer injuries.

Wells missed three games for Ohio State last year because of a right foot injury he suffered during the first week of the season against Youngstown State. He also got knocked out of the Fiesta Bowl against Texas at the end of the year with a concussion.

After getting drafted by the Cardinals in the first round, signing his contract and showing up for camp, Wells promptly sprained an ankle and missed the team’s first preseason game.

He’s a hard runner who doesn’t shy away from contact. He’s going to pound a few balls into the end zone this year for Arizona, but he won’t be playing in all 16 games.

3. Tomlinson, Hasselbeck and Ochocinco are going to make you pay for passing them up

All three players are getting older, coming back from injuries and falling down draft boards around the country. I’m sure many of you will disagree (especially on LT because that seems to be the trend this preseason), but you’re going to be kicking yourself for letting at least one of these guys get by you this past August.

I’m still not sure why everyone is so down on Tomlinson. The guy was a top-10 fantasy running back last season despite battling leg and groin injuries throughout the year. He’s now 100 percent healthy, plays on one of the league’s most explosive offenses and gets six games against the Broncos, Chiefs and Raiders.

Hasselbeck is being viewed as little more than a QB2 after appearing in only seven games last season. With newly acquired receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh lining up wide, emerging tight end John Carlson making plays over the middle and six games against the NFC West, Hass could crack the top 10 in scoring among fantasy QBs.

The Seahawks’ defense looks like it might struggle to slow down its opponents, meaning Hasselbeck and the offense will have to keep their foot on the gas for four quarters in 2009.

Ochocinco looks primed for a big season—as long as Carson Palmer can stay healthy. The wide receiver admitted he lacked focus and was in bad shape entering 2008. Combine that with a preseason shoulder injury and what you get is the statistical mess Esteban produced last year.

Remember, this guy is still looking for a long-term contract and came into camp in much better shape after spending part of the offseason boxing in an effort to get into better playing condition. The fact that he isn’t among the first 20 receivers drafted will make him a 2009 steal.

4. The Vikings will fold late and miss the playoffs

With the exception of running back Adrian Peterson, owners need to be very cautious about how dependent they become on players like Favre, Berrian, Harvin and Shiancoe.

Favre turns 40 years old in October and missed almost all of the preseason while he was debating whether to return to the NFL for a 19th season. The lack of physical conditioning is going to take its toll on the future Hall of Famer come November and December—right when the Vikings hit a very challenging stretch of games.

Minnesota’s final six contests will be a big test for Brad Childress’ bunch as the Vikes host the Bears, travel to Arizona, host Cincinnati and then hit the road to take on the Panthers and Bears before returning to the Metrodome to close out the season against the New York Giants.

Remember, Favre collapsed big time down the stretch last year for the Jets as he threw just two touchdown passes and nine interceptions while leading the Jets to a 1-4 record over their final five games.

With another year of wear and tear on his body, owners shouldn’t expect to see Favre or the Vikings in the postseason this year.

5. The Eagles defense will take a step back while the Saints defense will take a step forward

The 2009 season has not gotten off to a good start for the Philadelphia Eagles—and they haven’t even played a game yet. Last year’s No. 2-ranked fantasy defense lost longtime defense coordinator Jim Johnson to cancer and middle linebacker Stewart Bradley to a torn ACL.

What makes matters more difficult is that Philly is struggling to find Bradley’s replacement. Joe Mays was given every opportunity to win the job, yet he couldn’t produce on the field. While Omar Gaither may start the season in Bradley’s spot, the Eagles should expect opposing offenses to recognize this weakness and attack it on Sundays. I hate to say it, but the Birds are going to struggle this year.

Meanwhile, new Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is going to bring his aggressive style of defense to the Big Easy and turn around a unit that finished 2009 ranked 24th out of 32 in fantasy scoring.

The Saints looked very impressive defensively this preseason, giving up just 9.5 points per game against the Texans, Dolphins, Bengals and Raiders.

If New Orleans can get a quality pass rush from defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith, this unit will take a big step forward in 2009. Keep your eye on the waiver wire. The Saints will be a hot pickup.

Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaugh

September is finally upon us. The weather is getting cooler, tailgaters are getting their propane tanks filled and the 2009 football season is set to kick off.

With fantasy football drafts in full swing, let’s take a look at which players are climbing the boards and which ones are dropping heading into Week 1.

And for those of you who haven’t purchased the NFP Total Access Pass yet, it’s time to make a move. This is going to be your one-stop shop for fantasy domination. Injury reports, start ‘em/sit’em analyses, projections, trade talk, the “trash talk lounge” and live chats (specifically on Sunday mornings) are all part of the package.

Let’s break this down position by position…

NOTE: All ADP (average draft position) numbers are based on a 10-team league.

QUARTERBACKS

Climbing the boards

1. Jay Cutler   Chicago Bears

After a shaky first preseason game, Cutler has been coming on very strong. He’s completed 23 of 34 passes for 265 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions over his past two games (Giants, Broncos) while leading the Bears to two victories. Very impressive for a guy with an 84.3 ADP who is being selected in the ninth round. Great value.

2. Joe Flacco   Baltimore Ravens

Owners are advised to start seriously considering Flacco as a QB2 with upside. The second-year quarterback out of Delaware has looked very polished and poised this preseason, completing 40 of 61 passes for 470 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He’s being targeted in the 14th round with an ADP of 130.9. This kid has some nice upside as the Ravens are going to open up their offense more in 2009.

Falling down

1. Matt Cassel   Kansas City Chiefs

His numbers have been decent (11/19, 114 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs) but the Chiefs have struggled to move the ball (only 33 points in three games), and now word out of K.C. is that Cassel could miss the first game of the year due to an MCL sprain he suffered this past weekend against the Seahawks. We weren’t very high on Cassel coming into this season and think the Chiefs are still a couple of years and a couple of playmakers away from being a quality offense.

Keep an eye on…

1. Matt Hasselbeck   Seattle Seahawks

Very quietly, the Seattle signal-caller has been putting together a sharp and efficient preseason. Hasselbeck has completed 38 of 53 passes (71.7 percent) for 414 yards, four touchdowns and just one interception. Owners have been targeting him in the 11th round this summer, and if Hass can stay healthy, you could see him go from a QB2 to a reliable starter.

RUNNING BACKS

Climbing the boards

1. Glen Coffee   San Francisco 49ers

The rookie out of Alabama has been taking advantage of his playing time in the preseason. Coffee has picked up 230 rushing yards on 38 carries (6.1 YPC), has an ADP of 126.3 and is being targeted in the 13th round. He may not produce much in 2009, but he is a MUST HAVE handcuff for all Frank Gore owners.

2. James Davis   Cleveland Browns

We told you guys months ago that Jamal Lewis was a bad fantasy option and that he wouldn’t carry the workload in Cleveland this season. While we originally projected that running back Jerome Harrison would be the man to steal the touches, he’s been stuck riding the stationary bike this preseason while he battles injuries. Enter rookie James Davis. The former Clemson Tiger has carried the ball 19 times for 149 yards (7.8 YPC) and one touchdown and has looked very fast and explosive in the process. Four games against the Steelers and Ravens in addition to a bad team around him will limit his potential, but Davis is a nice super-sleeper option to target at the end of the draft. Owners in keeper leagues should pay close attention.

Falling down

1. Pierre Thomas   New Orleans Saints

Thomas isn’t slipping because of his skill set as much as because of the emergence of backup Mike Bell. Bell has carried 15 times in two games for 115 yards and one touchdown. The key to remember here is that Bell is not fantasy viable. He will likely be used as a role/situational player who puts up very modest numbers. However, this will cut into Thomas’ workload, which he is already sharing with pass-catching back Reggie Bush. Don’t panic yet, but be cautious about the price you’re willing to pay for one of 2009’s most popular picks. I wouldn’t look for him before the third.

Don’t forget about…

Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith (ADP: 36.7) and Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (ADP: 44.4). In our opinion, both guys are getting drafted later than they should (especially Smith), making them excellent value picks.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Climbing the boards

1. Eddie Royal   Denver Broncos

I’ve been watching a lot of the Broncos this preseason, and one thing that has been very obvious is that the offense is running through Royal. With malcontent Brandon Marshall suspended for the remainder of the preseason, Royal has been quarterback Kyle Orton’s go-to guy, catching 13 passes for 134 yards this preseason. Hey, Denver may struggle in 2009, but the Broncos are going to throw the ball. Look for Royal to have another solid year.

2. Derrick Mason   Baltimore Ravens

I’m not sure if it’s because owners aren’t sold on Joe Flacco or if they think Mason is still retired, but one thing is for sure: The Ravens No. 1 wideout is being drafted way too late. Mason is being selected in the 10th round with an ADP of 96.9. Why? The guy has caught 80-plus passes for 1,000-plus yards in five of his last six seasons. With Flacco on the rise, Mason is an excellent value pick you should grab to add depth to your lineup.

Falling down

1. Michael Crabtree   San Francisco 49ers

Some of you are probably tired of hearing me talk about Crabtree, but I will continue to drive home the point until I stop seeing guys select him in the middle rounds. STAY AWAY from Crabtree. What is there to like about this guy? He has yet to sign, practice or catch a preseason pass. And remember, that legendary touchdown pass he caught against Texas last year means squat right now. Keep this guy off your draft board.

2. The Buffalo Bills

Quarterback Trent Edwards has not looked very impressive this preseason, completing 23 of 34 passes for just 155 yards with zero touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s also been sacked five times behind a suspect offensive line that is starting two rookies (Wood, Levitre) and lost Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters. Terrell Owens and Lee Evans are ballers, but if Edwards can’t get them the football, it’s going to be a long season for the Bills.

A rookie to believe in…

1. Kenny Britt   Tennessee Titans

Luck is what happens when opportunity meets persistence. And Britt is going to get “lucky” this season. With starting wideout Nate Washington nursing a hamstring injury that could sideline him for the Titans opener, a window has been opened for the rookie out of Rutgers to crash through. Word out of Tennessee is that Britt has been looking terrific this preseason and the coaching staff is really happy with his progress. Either grab him at the end of your draft or let him fall to waivers and monitor his progress early in the season.

TIGHT ENDS

Keep a close watch on these two…

1. Jermichael Finley   Green Bay Packers

Finley is making his move for the starting job in Green Bay and has been looking very impressive this preseason by catching nine passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. This kid has good speed, reliable hands and the ability to make plays when he finds space. Don’t target him as a TE1 just yet, but he has the potential to become one of this year’s breakout players if he keeps up his current pace.

2. Jared Cook   Tennessee Titans

The rookie out of South Carolina (and one of Wes Bunting’s favorite players from the 2009 draft) has been making some plays this preseason. Cook has already caught 14 passes for 129 yards as he tries to beat out Bo Scaife and Alge Crumpler to claim the job he’s being groomed to one day take. With a rare blend of size and speed for the tight end position, Cook may not be an impact player in 2009, but he’s going to be a baller in the coming years.

Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaugh

Check out the 2009 NFP Fantasy Draft Guide!  CLICK HERE!