Fantasy Football Waiver Wire - Waiver Hounds 2010, NFL Week 15

Here are our 'pick up and play' picks for week 15 - playoff edition!

Top 2012 NFL Rookies That Will Make the Quickest Fantasy Impact

As always the NFL draft has come and gone and now its time to see which rookies will have a significant impact on fantasy football this year. At first glance the group doesn't seem as promising as usual, but if you delve a little deeper into the teams you might be surprised about the potential of this years rookie class. We've picked the top 5 rookies and even thrown a couple of sleepers in for those of you that like to take chances in the later rounds.

Julio Jones, WR - Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons traded up for Jones and for good reason, he is going to be a key piece to what is already a potent offense in Atlanta. With opposing defenses having to worry about Roddy White, Tong Gonzalez and Micheal Turner you can expect some big games out of Jones. The Alabama star is 6'4" and 200lb plus, but still has the speed to make game changing plays down the field.

Daniel Thomas, RB - Dolphins

The Dolphins have already made Thomas their starting running back for the 2011-2012 NFL season. With no other quality back on the team, you can expect him to pick up the majority of the carries. His running style fits perfectly with Miami's balanced offense, so you can expect to see some decent numbers out of Thomas. He did have nagging injuries in college but if can avoid the injury bug, you might be able to get yourself a number three back for a steal in the later rounds.

Austin Pettis, WR - Rams

Pettis was an integral part of those great Boise State teams over the past few years and should continue to be a difference maker in the very near future. The Rams were a much improved team last year without a true #1 wide receiver, so it makes sense that Pettis could develop into one of Bradford's favorite targets. Let's not forget that the Ram's play in the NFC West, which gives them 6 games against sub par teams. This fact alone potentially allows for some quality numbers throughout the season.

A.J. Green, WR - Bengals

Green is a tough pick here because no one is sure who is going to be throwing to him, with Carson Palmer more than likely done as a Bengal that leaves rookie QB Andy Dalton or Jordan Palmer. A.J. Green has the ability to be a big time receiver in the NFL but with two untested QB's throwing to him, it doesn't bode well for him. Though, if the Bengals can get any semblance of quarterback play this year, Green will be worth a good look.

Mark Ingram, RB - Saints

Ingram is another hard pick here because he will be in the mix with at least two other proven runners, Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory. He will need to show that he is substantially better than those two if he is going to get a significant amount of carries in New Orleans. On the plus side both the backs that are in front of him are very injury prone and could open the door for Ingram to be the number one guy on a proven high octane offense.

Sleepers

Shane Vereen, RB - Patriots

New England would only have one decent option at running back in Danny Woodhead if Green-Ellis leaves like expected. If Vereen's quickness and receiving skills are up to snuff, fantasy owners might see some significant numbers out of him. Then again there is always the chance the Patriots sign 3 veteran running backs and you don't see Vereen all season.

Delone Carter, RB - Colts

The Colts have decided to work on their running game this off season in order to protect Manning. Last year teams abandoned their running attack because it was simply nonexistent when they tried. By drafting an offensive line early and getting Carter in what some people consider a steal, could prove well for fantasy owners that are willing to take a chance on the rookie. With Addai looking to walk and Donald Brown not exactly putting up the numbers the Colts want, Carter is likely to see the bulk of the carries. However if Addai stays or Brown proves more consistent, he might be regulated to the 3 back, taking away any fantasy value he might have.

Kurt Pugh II is the co-founder of http://XtremeFantasyLeagues.com LLC and http://MMAXtremeFantasy.com, a U.S. based fantasy Sports Company that provides leagues in Football, MMA, Baseball, and Basketball. They offer the first ever stat based fantasy MMA leagues as well as weekly and playoff football challenges. The leagues offer some of the largest cash prizes and quickest payouts on the web. Sign up for a league now at XtremeFantasyLeagues.com and MMAXtremeFantasy.com. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Fantasy Hockey Sleeper Picks for 2011-12

If you've played fantasy hockey (or any fantasy sport) for long, you know that you don't typically win a season based on those first few rounds of picking superstars. For the most part, those picks all even out. It's the sleepers that can take an ordinary team and propel it to greatness. Finding that hidden gem, late in the draft, that finishes in the top 10 can make all the difference in the world. So what are you looking for as you scan your eye deep down the list of last year's stats? A few factors come to mind:

1. Young, rising stars who are being promoted into a bigger role. For many players, it's simply a matter of opportunity. Consider Claude Giroux last season. No one doubted the talent. He just had too many stars to leapfrog to get to 20 minutes a game. When the hole opened up, he seized it.

2. Down and back again. Some players saw a decline in recent years, due to injury or other factors. When they're set to return, they can often be overlooked and undervalued. This can also ring true for players who left to play in the KHL for a time and are now returning to the NHL.

3. Young guns who peaked early, then slid a bit. Often times, a rookie will burst out of the gate, then level off in their 2nd or 3rd season. We tend to write these players off by their fourth year, when in reality, that's just the time when we should expect them to hit their prime. Here is where you can find some real value.

GOALIES

Tuukka Rask (BOS)
Even in the midst of Thomas's superhuman season, Rask managed to find his way into 29 games last season. That shows how serious the Bruins are about getting him playing time. Add in the extended playoff run, and Boston will turn to him more and more in 2011-12. Should Thomas come down to earth, or sustain another injury, Rask will instantly propel to a top 10 option. Don't be afraid to draft him, as he'll get enough starts either way to warrant the selection.

Curtis McElhinney (PHO)
With Bryzgalov gone, the starting gig in the desert is completely up for grabs. McElhinney seems like a fair bet to edge out LaBarbera and Smith for the early starts. This one won't be decided until the first puck drops. If you're looking for a late-round gamble in a deep league desperate for goalie starts, throw McElhinney on your list.

DEFENSE

Jonathan Blum (NAS)
Blum was a first round pick in 2007, but has (and will continue to) struggled to earn top minutes on the crowded Nashville defense. He has the skills to put up big numbers. He just needs the opportunity to make it happen. He could be a good sleeper to keep an eye this season.

Alex Edler (VAN)
Edler missed the 2nd half of the season with a back injury. He returned in the playoffs, and while he didn't produce much offensively, the important thing is that he showed himself to have fully recovered. With Ehrhoff out of town, the Canucks will be counting on Edler to play top minutes. Expect 40+ points from him in 2011-12.

Ryan Whitney (EDM)
Whitney started last season on a tear, with 27 points in 35 games. A severe ankle injury ended his season prematurely. Most fantasy owners have probably forgotten about him at this point. He should be ready for the start of the season. Look for Whitney to be the lone source of hope on the Edmonton defense this season once again.

OFFENSE

Tyler Kennedy (PIT)
With all the big names that wear a sweater in Pittsburgh, it's easy to overlook the 5'11'' winger who wears #48. Penguin fans know that he's the one thing that kept the offense alive when the plague hit last spring. Kennedy has never passed on a chance to shoot the puck, and given enough time on the wing with Crosby or Malkin, he has a good shot at cracking 30 goals sometime soon.

Vincent Lecavalier (TB)
Hard to paint a $10 million dollar center as a sleeper, but his declining point totals have him falling out of sight for fantasy players. Down the stretch and into the playoffs, he looked a bit more like the Vinnie of old. He registered 17 points in the last 14 regular season games. He also played above a point a game through the long playoff run last spring.

James Neal (PIT)
Neal was a shocking disappointment upon arriving in Pittsburgh last spring. The goal scorer in Dallas suddenly went dry with the Pens. Perhaps the summer will be good for his psyche and he'll start things fresh in the fall. Should he find significant time along side Malkin and/or Crosby, the theory is he can be a lethal sniper. He should be available late in the draft and is worth a shot.

Tyler Seguin (BOS)
There's a chance that Seguin won't even make the team this fall. There's a better chance he'll be a significant fantasy factor by the end of the season. He showed flashes of brilliance in the playoffs that justify his #2 overall selection in 2010. His versatility will help his cause as well, since he can slide into the center or wing position. With Horton and Savard still reeling from concussions, it seems likely that Seguin can fill a scoring void for Boston this season.

Paul Stastny (COL)
Stastny's totals in 2010-11 were disappointing after the standard his set for himself in his first few seasons. He dropped from 79 points to 57, yet he actually scored more goals last year. His low point total will cause many owners to undervalue him at this year's draft. He could easily turn it on and crack 80 points this season. Prime sleeper candidate to target mid-draft.

A few other guys who will be undervalued based on last season's performance, but are hard to paint as "sleepers" to consider as you draft:

• Nicklas Backstrom (WAS)


• Pavel Datsyuk (DET)


• Ryan Getzlaf (ANA)


• Ilya Kovalchuk (NJ)

Visit us at http://www.landsharkhockey.com for free fantasy hockey tips, tools, and strategies.

How to Play Fantasy Football - What is the Difference Between Head to Head and Rotisserie Leagues?

One of the first questions that comes up to new fantasy players is how to play fantasy football head-to-head and rotisserie leagues. Here's some of the basics so you can make an informed decision on what is the right league for you.

In fantasy football leagues, head-to-head leagues are when you go up against a different opponent in your league every week. The manager of the team who earns the most points at the end of the week wins. Then the following week your points get reset and you do it all over again. Your league commissioner decides what grouping of total points are used for tiebreakers between two or even three teams.

When you play head-to-head match-ups the experience is really is more of a simulation of the actual NFL experience. What I mean by this is on any given game day any team could pull off an upset. This makes it a lot more enjoyable because you go from a week to week basis and you don't have to wait till nearly the end of the season for the excitement to really kick in.

At the end of the season, each team's win-loss record determines if that team goes into the fantasy football championship. The top teams go into the playoffs in a head-to-head format. Just like in the real pro-football scenario. The team that wins the final playoff wins the season's championship.

In a rotisserie league you don't have head to head games each week. Instead your team's points are accumulated over the entire regular NFL season. Whatever team has the most points at the end of the year is the winner for the season.

Now, let's just think a minute about some of the crazy stuff that happens during a regular football season. Let's say your team is having a pretty decent year, but you had one game where your quarterback threw a load of interceptions. This allowed your opposition to pound the heck out of your team and they won by a lot of points.

Well that single game could cost you the entire season. Remember, whoever has the most points at the end of the season wins the championship in rotisserie leagues. Wouldn't it just bite that your team one every game, but that one game?

With a head-to-head league how you play your fantasy football team is a lot more like the real thing. That's what I prefer to play and so have chosen an head-to-head fantasy football league.

Johnny Pope aka JohnnyNFL is a fantasy football fanatic. Get his free fantasy football top picks and tips to build your champion fantasy football team at http://johnnyNFL.com.

2011 Fantasy Baseball First Base Rankings

The auction dollar values below are based on projections for a 5X5 12 team mixed rotisserie league. This isn't a guess of how much players will go for, but rather our idea of how much your budget they'll be worth for the 2011 season taking into account the likelihood of missed games due to injuries, platoon situations, or Charlie Sheen parties. The values take into account position scarcity so each player is listed at the position he is most valuable at.

First Base "It ain't like that. See, the king stay the king, a'ight?" -D'Angelo Barksdale

1) Albert Pujols $43

Phil Hildreth: Pujols has been the king since the day he stepped into the batter's box in St. Louis and, oh by the way, he is playing for the right to make the kind of money that gets you hand fed popcorn at the super bowl on television. Are you concerned at all about contract distractions?

Herman Obando: Nope. I don't see any slowing down this year. His walk rate and strikeout rate were actually both headed the wrong direction last year, but I don't see that as a trend. He's been around for so long that we tend to forget that he just turned 31 and he has plenty of prime years ahead. He has been the model of consistency and there is no other legitimate contender for the first pick right?

PH: Maybe there is an argument to be made for Hanley Rameirez if the rumors about him wanting to steal 50 bases again are true, but I'm not going to make that argument. The list of players that will hit 40 HRs and hit.330 is just too short. In fact Pujols is the entire list.

2) Miguel Cabrera $35

HO: Here is where some concern comes in. At first glance Cabrera is a younger Pujols, but what do we make about the persistent alcohol problems? You can't say for sure that it's affected his play yet but we may be talking about a suspension if there is more legal trouble.

PH: Well this isn't the NFL and so far Cabrera has gotten off without even a wrist slap. I suspect that this isn't a new problem so he has probably been putting up numbers his whole career hung over anyways. Baseball-wise the Tigers really improved their lineup with Victor Martinez hitting behind Cabrera as opposed to the cast of characters that lead to Cabrera's career high in intentional walks last year. My advice is to talk up the drinking problems and then see if you can snag him for the discount.

3) Joey Votto $29

4) Ryan Howard. $28

5) Mark Teixeira $27

6) Prince Fielder $25

HO: A lot of people feel the urge to put Votto up with the top two at this position, but I can't quite out him there yet. But really, his short track record is the only factor holding him down at this point. The same was said about Pujols and Cabrera and they were a pleasure to own early in their career. To take that chance you'll probably have to overpay though. On the flip side, Howard needs to hit 40 HRs to justify staying in this group. Even looking past the fact that he missed almost a month last year with an ankle injury, his power numbers were unmistakably down and he doesn't have anything else to offer.

PH: I think Howard can deliver on his price here. He'll never be a top tier guy because he won't hit for average but 40 HRs is a good target for home and I expect the Phillies to rebound from their offensive funk of last year. Prince Fielder is a value alert that should be circled every draft sheet. He's a little under the radar playing in Milwaukee so he can probably be had for the cheapest price in this group.

HO: I'm not interested in Fielder at all this year. To me he is Ryan Howard on an inferior team. If you managed to be in a league without a diehard Yankees fan, Teixiera is a great target. The guy simply had a bad year and he has too much talent to repeat that performance in 2011. Simply put, Teixera has a best case scenario of hitting.320, while the upside of Howard and Fielder is still a fair sniff under.300.

7) Kevin Youkilis $21

8) Adrian Gonzalez $19

9) David Ortiz $18

HO: The Red Sox tier. The fact that these guys will hit 3-4-5 in the same lineup increases all of their values. Youkilis gets an extra bump because he's going to get 3B eligibility pretty quickly if he doesn't start the season with it. Gonzalez is going to be over-hyped because of the new ballpark/better team but maybe we should slow down a bit and remember he has only hit.300 once in his career so far. Oh yeah and there is that other thing about him coming off of shoulder surgery. The recipe of a delayed spring training after an injury in a new city has slow April written all over it.

PH: While you're not likely to get a discount on any Boston player this year, David Ortiz might be the closest thing to a good deal. He will benefit the most from the new signings and he clearly won't have the pressure of being the man anymore. He secretly pulled out a pretty decent season last year despite basically punting the entire month if April again. Be sure to note that Ortiz has no eligibility at 1B in most leagues and that he probably won't acquire it this year. We just put him here because otherwise there would be a DH list for just Ortiz and the ghost of Jim Thome.

10) Adam Dunn $16

11) Justin Morneau $15

12) Kendry Morales $13

13) Paul Konerko $13

HO: I've seen lots of praise for Adam Dunn this year, mostly because of the change in home ball parks. The change from Washington to the launching pad that is New Comisky is especially beneficial for the left-handed Dunn. Its kind of shocking to see Morneau all the way down here. The main problem is health of course but he was putting up monster numbers when he was playing, so he could be a good candidate to over perform this year. Konerko somehow had the best season of his career last year at the age of 34. It's likely that Konerko's average returns to his career range around.280 in 2011.

PH: I'm one of those singing Dunn's praise this year. Drafting well requires locking up sure things and Dunn is a known quantity. If you draft him you know that your average will suffer but that's the easiest batting category to make up late in the year. Why? Because the leader can drop just as quickly as your team moves up. I also like Morneau too. The backlash based on last year's injury has gone way too far. I think he still is an elite guy and the news out of Twins camp is that he is on track to be a full time player at least to start.

14) Carlos Lee $11

15) Billy Butler $11

16) Adam Lind $10

17) Garrett Jones $9

18) Gabby Sanchez $9

19) Derrek Lee $9

20) Ike Davis $8

HO: In this range you should be looking for potential for a breakout season rather than just a stable back up. The opinions on Adam Lind are going to vary wildly this year. Last year was bad, no question, if you are high on him its totally based on faith. The Royals seem to think that Billy Butler is about to take the next step so they locked him up for four years despite having a bunch of corner infield prospects on the way. I think all the young players in this group have an excited upside, just stay away from Lee and Lee. By the way, I have no idea why the Orioles think Derrek Lee is the answer out of the AL East basement.

PH: I think Carlos Lee is overlooked and he probably has a better shot at having a bounce back year than Lind. Carlos has a long track record of hitting.300 with 25 HRs and 100 RBIs, while Lind only has one year of high production. I also think you're too close to the Derrek Lee situation to be objective. The guy is only two years away from 35 homers. The Orioles aren't really building for the future anymore but they are going to be fun to watch with that lineup. As far as the young guys go, I'm not sure why Gabby Sanchez is up here, but I think Ike Davis has some power that he'll show a bit more of this year.

HO: The Orioles make no sense. They seem to have decided that beating the Blue Jays is the ultimate goal to shoot for. But they haven't shown the ability to build a young team either so they might as well go for it.

21) Lance Berkman $6

22) Freddie Freeman $6

23) James Loney $6

24) Luke Scott $6

25) Adam LaRouche $5

26) Carlos Pena $5

PH: Freddie Freeman is the new Jason Heyward; at least that's what the hype machine says and I'm buying it for now. I'd hope that he would work his way up to a nicer lineup spot than the 7 hole that I've seen him projected at. The Braves managed to score a lot of runs last year and the offense should be better with Dan Uggla and the aforementioned Heyward with a year's experience. I'm also looking at Berkman as an over perform candidate. I'm just doing some sloppy math here but if Pujols and Holiday both have an OBP over.400 then Berkman will almost always come to bat with runners on base.

OH: Luke Scott has been an interesting player to watch but the Orioles seem intent on crowding him out by bringing in even older players who can only play 1B or DH. Where is the love for Carlos Pena? Can you imagine a world where a player hits below.200 and then get $10 million to start for the Cubs the next season? I actually like the Cubs move as a decent buy low investment but I don't think it works for fantasy. If you find yourself desperate for HRs you might be tempted but those HRs are not going to be supported with Rs or RsBI so he really is a one category player (yes I said RsBI).

27) Matt LaPorta $3

28) Kila Ka'aihue $3

29) Aubrey Huff $2

30) Daric Barton $1

PH: I don't think I'd take any of these guys because there's not much going on. If I had a dollar to throw around here I'd think about Brett Wallace or Mitch Moreland. Those are both young guys that have everyday jobs so there is a chance that they could stand out.

OH: Why are you always bashing our rankings? The overwhelming chances are Wallace and Moreland are going to be waiver wire level players. Of course anything can happen, but it usually doesn't. When you are drafting here you probably only need a temporary fill in anyway. Both Huff or Ka'aihue are capable of going on a tear for 2 weeks that would make you happy to have themin your lineup...for those two weeks at least.

PH: That's a good point. The rankings are obviously based on percentages of likeliness but I'm always drawn to the long shot with potential.

At Fantasy Baseball U, we teach a specific fantasy baseball strategy. You can go elsewhere to get stat projections or player rankings, that is just noise. As you make your way through the ciriculum you'll see that we teach you how to ignore the noise and use it to your benefit at the same time. While others are compiling lists of the best available players, you will be crafting a team with the goal of winning categories.

Follow Phil and Herman on Twitter @PhilHildreth and @HermanObando

How to Pick a Winning Fantasy Football Team

So, you're wondering what goes into drafting a top-notch fantasy football squad huh? We'll that's surely something open to debate as that if you ask 10 different so-called experts, you'll probably get 10 different answers.

With that in mind, I have been running a fantasy league for about a decade now. While I can't tell you that I've won every time, I can assure you that my teams have consistently made the league playoff round and I have won 2 league titles. That's not too bad. That said, I'd like to offer up my strategy for building a competitive fantasy team.

Fantasy football has been around for decades. But, with the advent of the Internet, researching potential players for your team has become much, much easier and quicker. You can find the newest information online regarding injuries, suspensions, trades and just about everything else almost instantly. Take advantage of this.

1. PLAYER RANKINGS

First and foremost, you'll want to look into player rankings. One of the best ways of doing this is through a simple search on the web. I'd look for rankings done by established and reputable sources like ESPN, Sport Illustration, NFL.com, CBS Sportsline and such. But, don't rule out consulting one of the other listings that may not be among the names you're familiar with. They sometimes offer a fresh prospective that can be very useful.

2. DRAFTING

Drafts usually happen in one of two formats, live or auto. Live drafts are conducted in real time while auto drafts use your own player rankings to select your players automatically when your pick comes up in the order. Either way, a good approach is to take the player rankings you researched and select a number of players for each position that you would like to have as possible additions to your team. Create a list and use this as your intended drafting order.

Also make sure to avoid drafting too many players from the same team of teams that might have byes on the same week. You could end up with a disastrous shortage of players for a crucial match.

3. PLAYER VALUE

There are many different formulas for scoring in fantasy leagues. However, one rule generally remains the same. The players on which you should put the most emphasis are running backs. This is why most overall ranking systems that aren't done by position have a large number of running backs as the top ranking players.

Generally, you should emphasize positions in order of scoring value which from top to bottom would be running backs, quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, defenses and finally place kickers. Although some might argue it a little differently, i.e. flip quarterbacks and wide receivers or to move defenses up to third on the priority list, this should give you a pretty good indication.

4. DON'T BREAK BUT BE WILLING TO BEND - THE RULES

While generally running backs should be your first pick, it is not unheard of to choose a wide receiver or quarterback first overall. There is nothing written in stone that says you have to have every player on your potential draft list being one of the top 5 or 6 guys according to researched rankings. Look for a possible breakout star here and there. You could end up with a pleasant surprise.

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Fantasy Football Picks - How Many Quarterbacks is Too Many on the Roster?

Where you wondering how many quarterbacks you should plan for when creating your fantasy football picks? The answer is generally related to whether you are in a league that starts one or two quarterbacks and the size of your roster. Generally, the answer to this question is usually three, but you could do better with two.

Standard leagues only require one starting QB, so my question is, why would you need three? You could even think about not even keeping two? It all depends upon the situation of your team and situation of your league.

Here's what that means: You have two quarterbacks on your roster. You also have a RB and WR that you really don't think you are going to need and aren't performing well. Team A has a QB who just got injured and the other QB on his roster has a bye. If possible, you may want to sweep up the QB who is playing this week and stash him on your roster to make Team A have to choose another option for the week. This is a situation where keeping three QB's on your roster might be acceptable, but it is certainly not the norm.

Another reason you may want to consider keeping three QB's is in the event that the talent pool at the other positions isn't that great. There are leagues where you can be in a draft and by the time it gets to the final three or four rounds, there are no RB's or WR's really worthy of taking a chance on. This is a case where picking up or drafting a third QB may be beneficial, but overall, the answer is still, three is too many.

When evaluating your fantasy football picks a good backup QB is usually all you need. The only thing to keep in mind is not to draft a QB who has the same bye week as your starter. This is fruitless. You are hopefully only going to need your backup QB once a year. This is why keeping three is useless, unless there is a real good reason for it.

This is also why some people believe in the theory of only carrying one QB. A big part of this strategy is, again, who is left on the waiver wire. If there are two or three decent QB's left on the free agent market, you can just pick one up when your QB has a bye, so it might not be a bad thing to carry only one QB.

The question becomes, is your roster full of players that are better than anyone left on the free agent list? Remember, the ultimate goal in fantasy football is to build a team. You want to obtain the best players that it is possible for you to have at every position. Since there are more choices in receivers and running backs, it may not be smart to waste a roster spot on a third QB.

In leagues that start two QB's, you will almost always want to carry three QB's, although sometimes two is acceptable as well. First of all, let me point out that you should really think twice about any league that has more than 10 teams and requires two starting QB's.

There are only 32 teams in the NFL. If you have a 10 team league and everyone has to start two QB's that leaves 12. If everyone has one backup, that's 30, leaving only two starting QB's on the waiver wire. Again, making sure your QB's don't have the same bye week is absolutely crucial. This is why even in ten team leagues there will likely be a restriction placed that no team can carry more than three QB's.

Also, when you finalize your fantasy football picks, be aware of your bye weeks is critical to having a fighting chance of winning your fantasy league every week. You can see why joining a two quarterback league with more than 10 teams can become a fiasco.

So, to sum it all up for you, drafting and keeping two QB's on your roster is probably the best scenario. While there are circumstances where three could be acceptable. However, three QB's is usually a wasted slot.

Wondering just how to get started playing fantasy football? Here's 2 key strategies to making the best fantasy football picks. Sign up for my free fantasy football picks and tips at http://JohnnyNFL.com.

Making a Running Back by Committee Work For Your Fantasy Football Team

This article will explore the newest twist for fantasy football owners - the running back by committee (RBBC). In the past, most NFL teams have had one feature back who received approximately 30 carries a game. The thinking was that a runner needed that many carries to establish a rhythm and run effectively. Today's game has changed. The RBBC situation is now so common almost all teams utilize it. The thinking is that the RBBC allows backs to stay fresh. In addition, the RBBC is often implemented with a bruising power back and a quick scat back runner; a combination intended to keep the opposing defense off balance by switching up running styles.

What does this mean for fantasy football? In past years, fantasy football was completely dominated by the running back position. A good RB was a lock to touch the ball multiple times a game as well as to score more TDs than every other position. With the RBBC, that is no longer true. So what is one to do? Is it best to draft the entire committee or spread your RBs around in hopes that you draft two high performers? Lets explore the options:

The Home Run Strategy - Draft the Best RBs Regardless of RBBC Scenario
PROS : If you do not have to deal with injuries great, you have an excellent shot to win your league. You will have the most valuable player in the RBBC from different teams.
CONS: While you may have come into the season with the best RB on two different teams, if one goes down to injury you can quickly find yourself in a tough situation.

The Anti-Wall Street Risk Adverse Strategy
PROS: Here you try to draft an entire team's committee. If one of the players gets hurt you instantly have a feature back.
CONS: If there is not an injury you are stuck with part time production from two players for the season.

The Ace Rothstein Strategy - The Educated Bettor
PROS: This strategy says you draft players who are second in the committee, but play alongside another player with a history of injury. Ideally you would be to try to get one feature back and pair him with a number of #2's who have a realistic chance to step in at some point in the season.
CONS: The risk here is that the #2, never becomes a #1.

Like investing, the strategy you choose to employ should be based on your level of comfort with risk. We recommend the Ace Rothstein theory, as the #2 that becomes a #1 is often the breakout story of the year come playoff time.
Having fully explored the RBBC situation there are still a few old school running backs who dominate carries and do not need to worry about having carries or even worse goal carries stolen.

non RBBC RBs
All-Day AP
Turner the Burner
MJD
Matt Forte
S.Jackson
C.Portis
K.Smith
R.Grant

The other 24 NFL teams use some form of the RBBC. To summarize, following the Ace Rothstein theory we would target one of the eight backs listed above, then go after a WR and QB and finally look to pair your RB with a number of second string RBBC backs who run alongside an injury risk.

For more fantasy football analysis check out BleacherCreatureRotoTalk.com
Fantasy Football

Fantasy Hockey - Sharing the Crease

Drafting goalies is a risky proposition. More than any position, this choice can make or break the fate of your fantasy hockey team. One of the biggest factors you need to consider is how often a goalie is going to play. Some netminders can be counted on to get 70+ starts a season, while others will sharing the net with another man. In short, you want to avoid the split crease scenario. As Philly and others demonstrated last season, NHL teams are more likely than ever to go with a goalie system, rather than depending on one star goalie to carry the load. While that may play well in the NHL, it's a nightmare for fantasy hockey managers. So as you finalize your cheat sheets, consider how secure each goalie's starting job will be throughout the season, and make sure you select at least one workhorse for your roster.

Solid Starters

Roughly half the teams in the NHL have an undisputed #1 goalie. Barring injury or complete collapse, these guys should start 60+ games this season, so no need to be concerned here:

• Buffalo- Miller


• Montreal- Price


• New Jersey- Brodeur


• Pittsburgh- Fleury


• NY Rangers- Lundqvist


• Carolina- Ward


• Florida- Vokoun


• Detroit- Howard


• Nashville- Rinne


• Vancouver- Luongo


• Colorado- Andersson


• Calgary- Kiprusoff


• Phoenix- Bryzgalov


• Anaheim- Hiller


• Dallas- Lehtonen

Almost There

There are a handful of goalies that are almost guaranteed starters, but haven't quite locked up the job 100%.

Boston- Rask/Thomas

Rask is a sexy-bold pick for your starting goalie this fall, but don't get overconfident here. Thomas didn't exactly lose his job, as much as Rask earned it. Things could easily go the other way this time around. Thomas is making too much cash to sit idle all season long, and his no-trade says he'll be a Bruin for awhile.

Chicago- Turco / Crawford / Huet?

All signs point to a successful bounce back season for Turco as he assumes the #1 spot for the Cup champs. However, Crawford will push hard for starts, and the Huet situation hasn't technically been resolved yet. I can't see any goalie getting more than 50 games in Chicago this season.

St. Louis- Halak / Conklin

Halak should have the edge as the go-to guy in St. Louis, but the Blues have said there's no clear starter. Conklin has had a very solid career and is capable of being a #1, though he's never earned the role. Like Chicago, 50 games may be the ceiling for either guy, so grab a cowbell and simmer down on that Halak-fever.

Split Creases

Roughly one third of the teams in the league enter the season without a clear-cut number 1 goalie. There are some darn good goalies in this group, so don't write them off entirely. Just be aware that questions remain, and you should consider drafting both options as a safety net.

Ottawa- Elliot / Leclaire

Leclaire was brought in to be the #1 guy, but injuries opened the door for Elliot. Both are capable options, and both will see some net. Safer bet is Elliot, but don't forget they went back to Leclaire in the playoffs. And then there's that "other Brodeur" guy who may make a guest appearance again.

Toronto- Giguere / Gustavsson

Giguere is obviously Burke's favorite, but he's the GM, not the coach. Both men are highly skilled and injury prone. Toronto's defense is stellar and should allow both to put up solid stats, but there's just no way of getting past the playing time questions here.

Washington- Varlamov / Neuvirth

Bottom line is that I just don't see Varlamov as a long-term solution in Washington. Neuvirth will be given the chance to win the job, but don't be surprised if McPhee swings a deal for an outsider at some point this season, if neither of these men seem sufficient to bring the Cup to D.C.

Atlanta- Mason / Pavelec

Pavelec was in a great spot following the Lehtonen trade last season. He's back to singing for his supper, as the Thrashers brought in a capable starter in Chris Mason. I see this one playing out right down the middle, 50/50. And since most of those starts will be losses either way, neither goalie should crack your top 20.

Tampa Bay- Ellis / Smith

(See Atlanta)

Columbus- Mason / Garon

You've got to believe that last season was a fluke for Mason, and that he'll be back on top in 2010 (particularly if you're from Ohio). There's no long-term future in Garon. Mason will be motivated as he plays for his first big pay day. However, until he earns it back, we'll stick Mason in the split-crease heap with the rest.

Minnesota- Backstrom / Harding

The Wild have been grooming Harding for a few years now, and Backstrom's health is always a concern. Backstrom's $6m price tag suggests he'll be favored, but then again, Harding has the UFA carrot dangling out there if he can perform. Should be an interesting battle in the State of Hockey.

San Jose- Niemi / Niittymaki / Greiss?

For years now, the San Jose net was a place of comfort for fantasy owners. Draft Nabokov and have no worries. Now, what to do? 3 adequate goalies on a team that will pile up the wins, regardless of who they dress in net. This is the definition of risk-reward when it comes to goalies. As tempting at each may be, my advice is avoid the heartburn.

Los Angeles- Quick / Bernier / Ersberg?

Sure, Quick piled up 39 wins in72 games last season, so why isn't he in Category 1 you ask? Well, I get the impression he was just keeping the crease warm for Bernier. Don't forget, Quick went a couple months last winter when he couldn't buy a win. It's a good problem to have for Kings fans, but an awful dilemma for us fantasy nuts.

Anybody's Guess

Finally, there are three teams that merit their own special category, as we have no idea how the goaltending will play out over the course of this season. Best advice is to just completely ignore these options at your draft.

Philadelphia- Leighton / Boucher /???

Fantasy football offers the cop-out "Team Defense" category. Teams like the Flyers make you want to push for such an option in our game. If the last 10 years gave us anything to go on, Philly will enter the playoffs with Jose Theodore, Vesa Toskala, or Dominic Hasek as their starting man.

NY Islanders- DiPietro / Roloson

You have a young guy with an old-man's medical chart and an old guy with the stamina of a college student. Anybody's guess how this will play out. Best to steer clear.

Edmonton- Khabibulin / Gerber / Drouin-Deslaurier / Dubnyk / Ranford??? / Fuhr???

No threat of the Jennings trophy making an appearance in Oil country next spring, thanks to this goalie carousel. Just stay away.

Visit us at http://www.landsharkhockey.com for free fantasy hockey tips, tools, and strategies.

Fantasy Football For All

Monday, February 8, 2010, the day after the Super Bowl...what a great day!!! Why? Because that's when I started to prepare for the upcoming 2010 fantasy football season. Sure, I'm a football addict with a serious competitive nature, but according to all accounts, there are tens of thousands (if not more) that are just like me. How about you? Itching for some pigskin? Craving that weekly dose of smashmouth?

Fantasy football lets you call the shots. As an owner, you control player drafting, trades, etc. and, depending on how your league is set up, the financial worth of each player on a roster. I've been in quite a few leagues and formed a couple more of my own and every one is unique. From how each owner drafts a team to which specific stats carry the most weight (points), no two leagues are completely alike.

If you're just getting your feet wet with fantasy sports, I highly recommend using an online network. You can get help with how to draft (pick) a fantasy football team (roster) and how to keep track of player stats, to understanding fantasy football terms. Most online leagues will track all wins/losses, transactions, player stats, etc. so all you have to do is decide who from your roster is best suited to "start" and who should "sit" each week. Of course, this is based a lot on who your players are playing against for that week's games. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each team, their historical performance at home and on the road, during night games, coming off a bye week, etc., are all relevant factors.

Here's a few tips to remember... When drafting players, know which positions offer the most talented pool of players. For example, if you join a 16 team league and high-ranking quarterbacks are at a premium (due to your league's point structure), you may wish to select one earlier than later and use late round picks for other skill positions. Secondly, think with your head - not your heart. I can't tell you how often owners will stock their teams with "home town favorites" only to be overwhelmed by others who draft players based on performance, regardless of which NFL team they play for. Lastly, plan for bye weeks and injuries. There's nothing worse than having to pick up a quarterback because those on your roster are all off during a bye week. Now you've got to drop a player to fit the new addition to your roster (and may lose that player to someone else in your league). And injuries are inevitable. As a matter of fact, I have never gone through a season without players (yes, multiple) who had to be replaced due to injuries.

I could go on and on about strategy and mock draft guides and playoff scenarios, but you should start out by getting as much information as possible. Try www.americandiversions.com for one of the top sites providing NFL fantasy football insight and player lists. Good luck and, who knows, we might meet up on the gridiron later this season!!!!

Try www.nfl.com or www.espn.go.com for even more fantasy football options.

Week 15 2009 Fantasy Fortunes Top 50 Fantasy Football Year to End Rankings

The following rankings are based on a fantasy football player's year to end season value. If a draft or auction were to occur today this is the rank and value we place on the players based on their past performance and predicted future production. The basis for the valuations is a 10 team league starting 1 QB 2 RB 2 WR 1 TE 1 K 1 Defense with a 50% yardage and 50% TD scoring system with no points awarded for receptions. The rankings are updated every Tuesday morning, allowing players to value their teams, analyze player values for trades and plan future moves to get the most return out of your Fantasy Football players.

1 Chris Johnson Titans, RB
The love child of Jar Jar Binks and Whoopi Goldberg keeps racking up points. Great playoff schedule. $43

2 Adrian Peterson
Vikings, RB He has racked up 1519 total yards and 14 tds (tied for rushing TD lead) and apparently can grow lizard skin at will. $38

3 Maurice Jones-Drew
Jaguars, RB What Would Jones Drew? Should bring home some fantasy hardware for teams. $37

4 Ray Rice Ravens, RB
He's a top 5 guy and we get the feeling he's only scratching the surface of his potential....if only he was featured more in their offense. $35

5 Cedric Benson Bengals, RB
With his hips healthy again he should be dancing back to early season form. Almost hung a hundo on the stout Vikes run D. $28

6 Ricky Williams Miami, RB
Ever since Crockett got hurt, Tubs has taken over. Look for Miami Vice solo act Ricky "Tubs" Williams to deliver the goods championship week, against the Texans. $28

7 Steven Jackson Rams, RB

4 TD's on the year is hard to forgive. But, with 2 good playoff matchups he could redeem himself. $25

8 Larry Fitzgerald Cardinals, WR
If old man Warner can keep it together his playoff matchups look incredible..... @DET then home vs STL. Pending results of Monday Night Injury. $25

9 Ryan Grant Packers, RB
Tough 1st playoff game vs PIT. He and Packers are surging though, we are believers. $24

10 DeAngelo Williams Panthers, RB
After last years fantasy playoff run, you gotta have him in your line up. $23

11 Andre Johnson Texans,WR
He and Schaub are clicking... Rams and Dolphins make for a good playoff schedule. $22

12 Thomas Jones Jets, RB
If you seek flashy highlight reel TD replays, go elsewhere, but if you like reliable production, you've come to the right place. $21

13 Aaron Rodgers Packers,QB
Now that he is getting the playground approved 5 banana count from his O-line, he is looking better than ever. Topping the charts in most scoring formats. $21

14 Drew Brees Saints, QB
If you're a Brees owner your rooting for one of two options; Saints try to go undefeated or the start losing.... either scenario keeps him on the field. $20

15 Anquan Boldin Cardinals,WR
This won't be the last time you hear this at this site, the Cardinals fantasy playoff schedule is as good as it gets. $20

16 Randy Moss Patriots, WR
Giving body language like he's starting to check out mentally for the season, on the other hand a strong finish would not surprise us. Tough read. $19

17 Rashard Mendenhall Steelers, RB
Despite killing owners with his recent performance against CLE, he remains a strong option going forward. $19

18 DeSean Jackson Eagles, WR
Seems to be clear of the concussion. He doesn't get a ton of receptions, but 18.9 yds/catch is tops in the league (of relevant WR's)....and he returns the occasional punt for 6 as well. $19

19 Frank Gore 49ers, RB
What happened to running 3 times and then punting? Obviously, the 49ers are better off with their new pass first offense, but that is not sitting well with Gore owners. $17

20 Jamaal Charles Chiefs, RB
He's been red hot since taking over the starting role. Chiefs are not a high powered an offense, but he is getting it done on his end. $17

21 Brandon Marshall Broncos, WR
Just set the single game NFL reception record (21) and looks to be hitting his stride, rewarding owners who stuck with him. $17

22 Joesph Addai Colts, RB
Quietly having a really nice season. He has pressed the pause button on the Donald Brown era for now. $17

23 LaDainian Tomlinson Chargers, RB
He's been surprisingly consistent since coming back from injury early in the year. $16

24 Wes Welker Patriots, WR
The league leader in Receptions (105) and second in yardage (1158) gives you week in week out consistent production, any TD's are just icing on the cake. $16

25 Vincent Jackson Chargers, WR
Is to San Diego WR's what MadMen is to AMC.....both have made something completely irrelevant worth watching now. $16

26 Kurt Warner Cardinals, QB
The old man has two great matchups to bring home fantasy championships; @DET then home vs STL. $15

27 Miles Austin Cowboys,WR
Blind Melon, The Proclaimers, Chumbawumba and Hanson want to know his secret for multiple hit success. $14

28 Sidney Rice Vikings, WR
Having the prototypical wide receiver 3rd year breakout season. Expecting even bigger things next year. $14

29 Chad Ochocinco Bengals,WR
Typical streaky season for Chad OchoTweets. Faces 10th (SD) and 24th (KC) ranked pass defenses weeks 15 & 16. $14

30 Calvin Johnson Lions, WR
Looking more like a 'second tier' transforming machine to robot action figure of the 80's......Gobot in disguise! $13

31 Pierre Thomas Saints, RB
He plays Suzanne Summers in the Saints aggravating Three's Company sitcom. He is the hottest by far, yet Mike Bell in the role of the butch brunette gets far too much screen time $12

32 Matt Schaub Texans, QB
He has been a house of fire all season. Faces STL (19th) and MIA (22nd) next two weeks. $12

33 Phillip Rivers Chargers, QB
The main reason the Chargers have won 8 straight. Model of consistency; never scored more than 23 or less than 9. $11

34 Tom Brady Patriots, QB
Everyone in the AFC is rooting for a colicky Brady baby to hamper his production. $11

35 Brandon Jacobs Giants, RB
Like B Jacobs....as much as everyone likes the Cool Asian guy with the twirling kicks in Karate Kid, at the All Valley Tourney, maybe it's just time to admit he's not quite as good as we'd like him to be. $11

36 Steve Smith Giants, WR
Nothing too flashy here, just a consistent 75 yds/game and a TD mixed in every few. $10

37 Peyton Manning Colts, QB
Will you get more than 2 quarters of production out of him? If he's playing for the perfect season, we think so. $10

38 Mike Sims-Walker Jaguars, WR
Having a solid year for the Jaguar-Leopards. As long as he's healthy he could finish very strong. $9

39 Vernon Davis 49ers, TE
A monster who probably deserves to be higher. He'll be spending his off-season lobbying for equal treatment of Tight Ends. $9

40 Kevin Smith Lions, RB
Fairly consistent for such a bad offense. Hope for 8 points, anything more is gravy. $8

41 Roddy White Falcons, WR
247 yds and 2 scores in the last 4 games, not setting the world ablaze, but a strong #2 WR. $8

42 Michael Turner Falcons, RB
The Burner......if last year he was fueled by petroleum products......this year he's apparently switched to "easy bake oven" technology. $8

43 Antonio Gates Chargers, TE
Slow start, but coming on strong. He's delivered fantasy championships before, in Gates we trust. $8

44 Reggie Wayne Colts, WR
Hasn't gone over 50 yds in the last three weeks, cutting his owners deep......I'm talking like BJ Penn cutting Diego Sanchez's forehead with a head kick deep. $7

45 Marion Barber Cowboys, RB
716 yds and 4 TD's on the year....he's on the list based on potential, not for past performance. $7

46 Marques Colston Saints, WR
Marques, along with posse; Shonne, Toni, Geoff, and Alicks frequent the island of misfit name spellers. $7

47 Quinton Ganther Redskins, RB
Shined in his first start against the Raiders, now let's see how he does vs an NFL team. $7

48 Fred Jackson Bills, RB
Every other week streak means, bench next week, cash in on championship game pending your options. $7

49 Beanie Wells Cardinals, RB
Received the bulk of the carries in the Monday night game vs SF. If he continues to get the lion's share of the work, he has plenty of upside with the aforementioned AZ playoff schedule. $7

50 Greg Jennings Packers, WR
His reversal of fortune this season rivals only that of an amateur competitive eater; one minute focused and poised for a Coney Island Championship, the next he's got semi-digested wet hot dogs & buns all over his shoes. $7

http://www.FantasyFortunes.com A fantasy football site which does a weekly humor based top 50 ranking of year to end values for players in the nfl.

Fantasy Hockey Players Warnings For 2010-11

Information is key if you want to dominate your fantasy hockey draft. Here are some players with major risk factors, that you should be wary of drafting, and in some cases, you should strike him from your list completely.

Offense

Maxim Afinogenov ATL

Afinogenov signed on to play in the KHL. So you may want to avoid drafting him, eh?

David Krejci BOS

After putting up 73 points in 2008-09, Krejci had a let down last year, dipping to 52. He had a good run in the playoffs; however, off-season surgery on his wrist may slow him down at the start of the season. If he's healthy to start the season, he should rebound in fantasy value, but keep an eye on his status before you draft.

Tomas Plekanec MON

Plekanec was a fantasy star in the first half of last season, only to slow down as the year progressed. He disappeared in the playoffs, registering just 11 points in 19 games. He's been very inconsistent over his career to this point, seeing point totals of 47, 69, 39, and 70 over the past four seasons. Following that pattern, he's scheduled for a downturn.

Defense

Marc-Andre Bergeron (UFA)

Since entering the league, Bergeron has carried expectations of developing into a offensive-defenseman. While it's come in spurts, he has yet to reach any noteworthy milestones in terms of points. However, he has put up some decent goal totals the last two seasons. Assuming he resigns with Montreal (big assumption) he could get plenty of powerplay time with Markov on the shelf. Until he signs a deal, he's a risky option. He's also had a history of injury to add to his risk factor.

Denis Grebeshkov NAS

Grebeshkov signed with the KHL. So don't draft him, sucker.

Joni Pitkanen CAR

Pitkanen is one of those players that always seems to be capable of more, so you're tempted to give him one more chance. When healthy and on his game, he's a dynamic offensive player; however, 46 points is the most he's achieved in one season, which he did again last year. Playing on a rebuilding Hurricanes roster won't add to his value either, so budget for 40 points and hope for more.

Sheldon Souray EDM

Charting Souray's goal and point totals will give you a headache: over the past 5 years, he's scored 12, 26, 3, 23, and 4. A lot of that is due to injury, but you also have to consider the impact of his relationship with the Oilers right now. Souray has asked to be traded, so if he remains, how effective will he be? He's also 34 years old, which isn't a positive thing for an injury-prone defenseman. His goal potential is tempting, but proceed with caution.

Goalies

Jean-Sebastien Giguere TOR

As a team, the Maple Leafs have assembled a top notch defense. So from that perspective, drafting a Toronto goalie could be a respectable option for the first time in a decade. On the other hand, it's 50/50 on which goalie you should pick. Giguere and Gustavsson are in a dead heat for the job and will likely split the starts until one gets hot. Burke obviously likes Giguere, so he may have a slight edge, but you may want to watch training camp before making your choice. Either way, look for improved numbers from Giguere this season.

Jonas Gustavsson TOR

(See J.S. Giguere). Classic split crease scenario with two goalies apt to get injured. Whoever gets the starts should deliver good fantasy numbers, so if you draft one, you may want to pocket the other on your bench.

Ray Emery (UFA)

Still waiting to find a home...

Semyon Varlamov WAS

With Theodore leaving town, most GMs assume Varlamov is the guy. And who wouldn't want the starting goalie for the President's Trophy winning team on their roster? The problem here is that Varlamov has done very little to prove he's here to stay as the Capitals top goalie. He may be pushed this fall by Michael Neuvirth, and if neither of them can shine, don't be surprised to see Washington deal for #1. If he can keep the job, Varlamov will get his wins, but there are much safer options out there.

Visit us at http://www.landsharkhockey.com for free fantasy hockey tips, tools, and strategies.

Analyzing the Fantasy Football Impact From the 2009 Draft

2008 represented a tremendous year for rookies in terms of fantasy football. I know because I rode 2 of them (Chris Johnson and Matt Forte) to a league championship. What will the draft class of 2009 have in store for fantasy owners come this fall? Personally, I don't believe that this years class is talented as last years but time will tell. The following represent my preliminary takes regarding the 2009 draft class:
--Matthew Stafford QB (DET)

What kind of pro QB will Stafford be? Will he be like Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco or will his fate be more similar to Tim Couch or Joey Harrington? Fantasy owners likely won't have a chance to find out next season. Although Lions coach Jim Schwartz said he will keep an open mind in the battle for the top spot on the depth chart, more than likely Daunte Culpepper will be the starting QB for Detroit when they open the season against the Saints in the Superdome September, 13th. That scenario doesn't allow Stafford much of a chance to make an impact in fantasy circles. Moreover, it's hard to envision a scenario where he comes out and has any value as a rookie. Ryan and Flacco were both fifth-year seniors coming out of college and possessed much more maturity heading into the NFL than the underclassman Stafford does. Stafford's value will be limited to keeper and dynasty leagues on fantasy Draft Day.

--Knowshon Moreno RB (DEN)

Searching for 2009's top fantasy rookie? Well, look no further than Moreno. Moreno is by far the most talented running back in the 2009 class and I expect him to come right in and become the starter for the Broncos. Although, the Broncos did add several veteran RB's this past off season none of them have nearly the same talent as Moreno. I see Moreno as a No. 3 fantasy runner in 2009 with potential for more. However, because of the depth the Broncos have at the position, the former Bulldog is more likely to be seen as a viable flex starter in most drafts. Obviously, he's also a tremendous option in keeper and dynasty leagues.

--Chris "Beanie" Wells RB (AZ)

The Arizona Cardinals took the Ohio State power back with their first round selection, setting up an interesting depth chart battle this summer. Most pundits believe that Wells is the 2nd best RB prospect in the draft behind Moreno. Furthermore, Wells is a definite upgrade over Tim Hightower and I expect Wells to emerge atop the team's depth chart as a rookie leaving Hightower to serve as third-down back for the defending NFC champions. Whoever gets the goal line carries will obviously hold more fantasy value than the other but right now I see Wells as the better option in seasonal and keeper leagues. Both Wells and Moreno will have difficulty reaching the standards set by Johnson, Forte and Slaton from a year ago.

--Michael Crabtree WR (SF)

The Raiders loss is the 49ers gain. After the Raiders passed on Crabtree you know SF would eat him right up and they did. Crabtree was hailed as the top wideout in the draft, and he will undoubtedly have a chance to start as a rookie under coach Mike Singletary. The Niners are looking to be will a run-first team this year, however, so fantasy owners need to keep that in mind heading into 2009. Still, he'll still be worth a middle- to late-round pick in seasonal fantasy drafts and is quite capable of putting up some nice stats as a rookie.

--Percy Harvin WR/KR (MIN)

Percy Harvin still landed in the first round despite some "character" issues and will become a serious play maker for the Minnesota Vikings. Can you imagine the Vikings lining up Harvin and Peterson in the Wildcat? Harvin has immense speed and skills as a runner and receiver and I fully expect him to compete with Sidney Rice for the number 2 WR alongside Bernard Berrian. Due to his immense potential and explosiveness, Harvin will warrant a late-round flier in most fantasy drafts and surely will do some damage at some point for the Vikings. Moreover, Harvin instantly makes the Vikings DST even better than they were last year.

--Jeremy Maclin WR (PHI)

The Eagles finally gave Donovan McNabb some weapons. Maclin has immense speed and can stretch defenses in the vertical pass attack. Furthermore, he was an absolute steal where the Eagles got him. After watching an Eagle rookie WR make an impact last year there is nothing to say Maclin cannot do the same. Look for Maclin to be a late round pick this summer and I fully expect him to make some big plays for McNabb and the Eagles this fall.

--Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton OT (JAX)

Sure, offensive linemen aren't drafted in fantasy football, but that doesn't make them any less important to your team's success. Injuries absolutely decimated the Jaguars offensive line last season and was the predominant reason the team failed to make the playoffs after a very successful 2007 season. The Jags want to get back to Jag football so it was no surprise to see the team land both OT Eugene Monroe in Round 1 AND Eben Britton in round 2. The acquisition of both Monroe and Britton will only make Maurice Jones Drew more attractive in fantasy drafts. Look for MJD to be a top 5 pick this summer.

--Jason Smith OT (STL)

The addition Smith is a real positive for the value of RB Steven Jackson. Now it is up to Jackson to stay healthy and produce the numbers that fantasy owners have been yearning from him for years. With a new defensive minded head coach the Rams want to run the ball and feature Jackson in their backfield, and Smith's presence will be huge in making the ground attack effective. Furthermore, the Rams also added FB Mike Karney this off season. As I mentioned it is now all up to Jackson to achieve his potential. He will surely go in the first round again this year. Time will tell if he is worth it.

--Mark Sanchez QB (NYJ)

Mark Sanchez was the hottest name in the 2009 class in the days before the draft and after the Jets pursuit of Brett Favre last year it was no surprise that the Jets traded two draft picks and three players to move up and select him. Alth0ugh Sanchez has started a mere 16 games at the collegiate level, he could very well wind up starting for new coach Rex Ryan when the Jets open their season. In fact, Ryan has told the media that Sanchez will in fact compete for the top spot with Kellen Clemens. Personally, I don't see Sanchez making any noise this year as a rookie and would avoid him on draft day except in keeper and dynasty leagues.

--Kenny Britt WR (TN)

The Titans have been desperate for WR's in recent years and hope they have found their number 1 with Kenny Britt out of Rutgers. Coach Jeff Fisher told the media that he wants to get Britt onto the field as soon as possible, so don't be shocked to see him starting on opening day. The Titans also signed former Steeler Nate Washington this off season so it could be difficult for Britt to make a significant fantasy impact in what will remain a run-based offense with Chris Johnson and Lendale White. He is definitely a player to watch in the preseason, but more than likely won't have more than late-round value in seasonal formats.

--Darius Heyward-Bey WR (OAK)

Being a huge Raider fan I was upset but not at all shocked at this move. It is clear at this point that Al Davis values pure speed more than any other attribute. Was Jerry Rice fast? Is Larry Fitzgerald a burner? The answer to both of these questions is no but one was the best there ever was and one is the best presently. However, with no clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver on the Raiders roster, Heyward-Bey will warrant late-round consideration in seasonal fantasy drafts and will have ample balls thrown to him this fall. Time will tell how this all works out and Heyward-Bey and Crabtree will be forever linked.

--Donald Brown RB (IND)

Donald Brown will immediately be thrown into the mix with the Colts and that spells good news for fantasy owners who draft him this summer. I have never really been sold on Joseph Addai and I don't think the Colts are either. Although, new Head Coach Jim Caldwell told the media that Addai will remain the team's No. 1 back, owners should definitely expect a committee situation to evolve in Indy. Addai should receive more carries, but any kind of platoon hurts his value in both seasonal and keeper leagues. Addai is no more than a No. 2 back in fantasy circles. As for Brown, he'll be worth a middle- to late-round selection and is a must for anyone drafting Addai.

In summary, it will be interesting to see what kind of impact these and the entire 2009 rookie class will have on the 2009 NFL season. They have large shoes to fill on account of last year.

Cheers and Beers

Chris Limburg is the fanatical purveyor of Gothicfootball.com: A Oakland Raider/fantasy football blog that provides commentary on everything that is the NFL and fantasy football. Visit today at: [http://www.gothicfootball.com]

2009 Fantasy Football Sleepers

One of the keys to winning a fantasy football league is the ability to draft Sleepers. "Sleepers" are NFL players who are drafted in much lower rounds than their ending statistics warrant. In shopping terms, this is getting a bargain price for a valuable product. The estimated draft position is taken from the Maximum Fantasy Sports Mock Draft found on their home page. The Mock Draft was formulated using the generally accepted "standard" league configuration.

2009 Fantasy Football Sleepers

QB: Kyle Orton (Denver) - Orton was brought to Denver in the off-season trade for Jay Cutler. He is leaving an offense in Chicago that limited his passing attempts and had few receiving threats. In Denver, Coach Josh McDaniels will want to give Orton the opportunity to prove his controversial trade of Cutler was a smart move. With Brandon Marshall (maybe), Eddie Royal, Tony Sheffler, and others as his receiving options, Orton will put up fantastic numbers for the 16th QB off the board at the projected last pick of the 11th round.

RB: Derrick Ward (Tampa Bay) - Ward skipped out of New York into a situation in Tampa where the QB position is up for grabs. This scenario almost always favors the running game. While Ward was second fiddle in New York to Brandon Jacobs, he still put up a quiet 1000 yards (5.6 ypc). There is talk of a platoon situation with Earnest Graham in Tampa, but that is what is driving his draft position down. Ward will be the feature back and will receive the majority of carries throughout the year. Picking up a 1A running back in a tandem as the 30th RB off the board in the projected mid-7th round is a steal.

WR: Josh Morgan (SF) - Morgan is the true definition of a Sleeper. Isaac Bruce receives the attention due to his surprising results from last year and Michael Crabtree gets the press due to his high-profile college career, draft position and current holdout. Crabtree will sign before the season starts as it is asinine to expect Top-5 rookie money as the 10th overall pick. However, his holdout, rookie status and lingering ankle injury will cost him playing time this year and Isaac Bruce will slow down as the Niners work some youth in at the WR position. This will be Morgan. He is projected to be available at the start of the 12th round - a very nice place for a receiver that you can start every week.

TE: Ben Celek (PHIL) - Tight End is a position that is very deep and turns out Sleepers year-in and year-out. With that in mind, you can let other managers spend high draft picks on Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten and Antonio Gates. Celek turned it on at the end of 2008, especially during the playoffs. The Eagles let long-time McNabb favorite, L.J. Smith, go since they have his replacement in Celek. With Philly's plethora of wispy receivers, McNabb needs someone to make the tough catches and hold onto the ball without leaving the field on a cart. Celek will fill that role nicely as a 16th round pick.

D: San Diego Chargers - The Chargers defense gave up 347 points last year but were missing Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips for most of last year. They are back and healthy this year. The Chargers also added Larry English in the middle of the defense. The schedule is very favorable (how can it not be when playing 6 games against AFC West teams?!) and the offense will be dominant once again, which is helpful in assisting the defense with additional sacks and interceptions. The Chargers are projected as the 18th defense off the board in our fantasy football Mock Draft, which will occur in the 16th round.

K: Garrett Hartley (NO) - After the Saints came to their senses and dropped Martin Gramatica and replaced him with Hartley, Hartley promptly went 13-13 on FGs and 28-28 on extra points. While kickers rarely get much attention in the fantasy football world, any kicker that is accurate, kicks in a dome over half the year (including a road game in Atlanta) and kicks for a team that puts a load of points on the board is worthy of drafting in the very last round of your draft as your only kicker.

Bill Parsons is the owner of Maximum Fantasy Sports and a rabid fantasy sports participant. He began creating his own football and baseball fantasy leagues at the ripe old age of seven; tracking stats and standings on paper. Bill decided to create a real-time fantasy football league website that includes all of the best features and some of which have never been attempted at any other website. Maximum Fantasy Sports offers Free pools and fairly priced Private Fantasy Football leagues as well as Public Leagues with cash payouts.