There's no doubt he's been frustrating, but those in keeper leagues have to recognize Calvin Johnson's special talent and act accordingly. Having a legit QB in the fold also helps.

You would think there would be more slam-dunks at the top of this position, but other than Andre Johnson (Hou, 28), Calvin Johnson (Det, 24), Reggie Wayne (Ind, 31), and Larry Fitzgerald (Ari, 27) there aren’t many obvious no-brainers. These four guys are, based on their talent (especially Calvin) and their good situations.

There are certainly some other highly desirable options like Greg Jennings (GB, 26), Roddy White (Atl, 28), and Miles Austin (Dal, 26). It may [...]]]> The WR position is a little different than the QB and RB positions in that there’s a lot more depth. You can go at 100+ deep at the position and still find viable options. Of course, with great depth will come fewer true studs, so a higher priority should be placed on the elite options at the position, the serious go-to guys. In addition, your scoring system can greatly affect the fantasy landscape at this position, and those in PPR leagues will find certain players are much more attractive than those in non-PPR leagues.

There's no doubt he's been frustrating, but those in keeper leagues have to recognize Calvin Johnson's special talent and act accordingly. Having a legit QB in the fold also helps.

You would think there would be more slam-dunks at the top of this position, but other than Andre Johnson (Hou, 28), Calvin Johnson (Det, 24), Reggie Wayne (Ind, 31), and Larry Fitzgerald (Ari, 27) there aren’t many obvious no-brainers. These four guys are, based on their talent (especially Calvin) and their good situations.

There are certainly some other highly desirable options like Greg Jennings (GB, 26), Roddy White (Atl, 28), and Miles Austin (Dal, 26). It may be premature to list a guy like Austin among the truly elite, but I think he’s the real deal, and I like his youth and the mojo he has with his QB. Jennings is in a great situation with QB Aaron Rodgers, while White’s clearly a legit #1 NFL wideout with a nice option at QB in Matt Ryan.

The next players are a notch below the guys listed above, but they’re still highly desirable. Players like Vincent Jackson (SD, 27), Brandon Marshall (Den, 26), DeSean Jackson (Phi, 23), Marques Colston (NO, 27), Randy Moss (NE, 33), and Sidney Rice (Min, 24). Moss is getting up there, but until he really falls off, you have to be encouraged with his potential. I really like Rice as an emerging stud, but he’s being held back here due to the potential issues at the QB position. Even if Brett Favre plays in 2010, Rice has got an issue in 2011 because Favre won’t be there (we think). But he’s still an excellent keeper. (Vincent) Jackson’s got some character issues, but he’s a young stud in a great situation if he stays in SD. Obviously, Marshall’s a major wildcard. Talent-wise he’s a top-5 guy, and he’s very young, but his future is up in the air, and until further notice, you worry about off-field implosions. But he’s hard to pass up based on his potential to be dominant. Also, (DeSean) Jackson’s clearly a very good prospect. It looks like the Birds will be set at the QB position for years to come, so given his explosive potential, he’s obviously a really nice option. Colston’s not a beast talent, but he’s more attractive playing with QB Drew Brees, and he’s obviously a fine keeper.

He doesn't have a set role and his QB situation could be weak in the near future, but Percy Harvin's simply too good to pass up in a keeper league

Next up we have a combination of older players still getting it done, like Chad Ochocinco (Cin, 32), Steve Smith (Car, 31), Anquan Boldin (Bal, 29), Wes Welker (NE, 29), Hines Ward (Pit, 34), and Donald Driver (GB, 35) and young guys who look very promising, like Santonio Holmes (Pit, 26), Steve Smith (NYG, 25), Michael Crabtree (SF, 22), Dwayne Bowe (KC, 25), Mike Sims-Walker (Jac, 25), Robert Meachem (NO, 25), Jeremy Maclin (Phi, 21), Percy Harvin (Min, 22), Hakeem Nicks (NYG, 22). Whom you keep from this group depends on your expectations for the short-term and the long-term. If you’re ready to seriously challenge for a title now, guys like Ochocinco, Smith, and Boldin are great options (Welker obviously is, too, but his injury situation is a major concern for now). Even Ward and Driver, although not quite as appealing as those other players, are attractive, despite their age, because they are in good situations and are still playing at a high level. I do tend to target young studs, of course, and Crabtree, Meachem, and Harvin really stand out there. Crabtree isn’t the finished produce and doesn’t have the greatest QB throwing him the ball, but he has #1 NFL wideout written all over him. Meachem’s a legit upside guy with tons of talent, and Harvin looks like a do-it-all player who could be special. Holmes, Sims-Walker, Bowe, and Maclin may not have the potential to be truly elite, but they are very solid, and young, so they are fine keepers. Holmes and Bowe are very talented, but they have some concerns due to some inconsistencies in their careers thus far – and possibly some character issues. Maclin looks like a really nice player who showed a lot as a rookie, but he does have to show he can produce on a consistent basis over the course of a full season. I also really like Nicks, so while he has a lot to prove still as well, I’m comfortable placing him in this high-end group. He has the potential to be comparable to what Boldin’s been over the last 4-5 years, which is an excellent #2 fantasy wideout who at times produces like a #1.

If you’re looking for some viable guys who can (probably) rely on for production for the short-term, Antonio Bryant (Cin, 29), Jerricho Cotchery (NYJ, 28), Braylon Edwards (NYJ, 27), Terrell Owens (FA, 36), Derrick Mason (Bal, 35), Lee Evans (Buf, 29), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Sea, 32), and Bernard Berrian (Min, 29) are decent options. I don’t feel really great about any of them, honestly, but Bryant’s talented, Cotchery underrated, and Mason is still productive. Edwards and Owens could certainly be helpful, but Edwards’ career seems to be stuck in mediocrity, and the aged Owens doesn’t even have a team as of this writing (3/29). Houshmandzadeh and Berrian are really just #3 fantasy WRs (at best) for the next 1-2 years. Evans is a good player, but he has been stifled by poor QB play. At least he’ll be the unquestioned #1 in Buffalo for the near future.

You're taking a leap of faith on an unproven player, but Devin Aromashodu showcased excellent potential and there could be a clear path to a starting job in Chicago due to his size - plus the team is high on him

I’d be more inclined to go for some of the younger options in their tier or realm of players, with guys like Pierre Garcon (Ind, 24), Kenny Britt (Ten, 21), Steve Breaston (Ari, 27), Mohamed Massaquoi (Cle, 23), Eddie Royal (Den, 24), Donnie Avery (Stl, 26), and each of the three Bear guys in the mix for starting jobs: Devin Aromashodu (Chi, 26), Devin Hester (Chi, 27), and Johnny Knox (Chi, 23). I’m high on Garcon, in part due to his talent and what he showed in 2009, but also because of his excellent situation. If he can retain a starting job on the outside (to be determined), he should only get better. Britt has elite tools and could be a nice #1 NFL wideout, but his production may be somewhat limited in Tennessee and with the erratic Vince Young under center. Breaston’s a nice player, but he has to prove he can excel on the outside – and with the shaky Matt Leinart at QB. Massaquoi looks like a solid prospect, but he’s probably best cast as a #2 for the Browns (who are looking for speed opposite him). For now, though, he’s their top guy, and he should be helpful. Royal’s obviously coming off a dreadful season, but if Brandon Marshall departs, Royal’s role should increase greatly, plus you don’t catch 90+ balls as a rookie and not be legit (unless your name is Michael Clayton, who actually caught only 80 balls as a rookie in 2004). Avery’s pretty decent, and if he can get better QB play, I can see him settling in as a really nice #2 fantasy wideout, a guy who’s routinely ranked in the low-20s for fantasy each season. As for the Bear guys, I actually like Knox the best, based on the elite potential I saw from him last year. But he might be stuck as their #3 under Martz. If that’s the case, then Aromashodu should start. I’m not down on Hester, but I feel Aromashodu, at this point, has better starter potential in that he has better size and also good speed. He projects as a starter, and if he’s starting for Mike Martz and continues to grow, he could be this year’s Miles Austin. The Bears are high on him, so I’d seriously consider him if possible. Hester’s a little hard to get a handle on. He still has excellent potential, but other than (surprisingly) showing an ability to be an effective possession guy in 2009, his overall performance left me a little flat. He’s at best a #3 fantasy wideout for the long-term. From there he could go either way. He could grow into being a viable #2, or he could fade a little and be nothing more than a fantasy backup. It really depends on what Martz and head coach Lovie Smith have planned for him, and it’s still early to know what that is.

Next up, we have some viable veterans, but guys who also have issues. Roy Williams (Dal, 28), Kevin Walter (Hou, 29), Malcom Floyd (SD, 29), Santana Moss (Was, 31), and Chris Chambers (KC, 32) are in this mix. Of these five, I probably like Floyd best for his upside, but even that’s limited on a Charger team that has two other great weapons. Walter looks decent for the next couple of years in Houston, but he’s coming off a down season. Moss can still play, but he’ll fall off soon, and injuries and poor QB play are issues. Williams has been a train wreck, and it’s not inconceivable that he’s replaced as a starter in Dallas in the next 1-2 years, so he’s shaky. Chambers is really a year-to-year guy, but he’s at least back in KC, where he has a starting job solidified.

Considering the devastating knee injury suffered by Wes Welker and a great need in NE, keeping Julian Edelman around should be a wise move if at all possible

I’d be more inclined to look at the younger guys, like Julian Edelman (NE, 24), Laurent Robinson (Stl, 25), Austin Collie (Ind, 24), Mario Manningham (NYG, 24), Mike Wallace (Pit, 24), Chaz Schilens (Oak, 24), Anthony Gonzalez (Ind, 25), Jordy Nelson (GB, 25), Josh Morgan (SF, 25), and Davone Bess (Mia, 24). None of these guys are sure things, but Edelman’s play in 2009 was promising, and the Welker injury definitely helps him. Robinson’s a major injury concern, but he showed some promising game early in 2009 and has the tools to be a nice player. Collie’s a really nice option in a PPR, even if Gonzalez re-establishes himself in Indy. Wallace may not be more than a complementary player the next 1-2 years, but he has a key role, and he showed major playmaking ability as a rookie. Nelson’s progress has been slow, but he could easily still replace Driver in 1-2 years and emerge as a really nice option in this favorable situation. Morgan’s been a disappointment, but they are still pretty committed to him as a starter in SF, and he has the ability to produce like a decent #3 for the long-term if he can continue to grow and get good QB play. Bess, in a PPR, looks like a nice guy to have around, since his role as a key receiver from the slot should be secure, even after they find 1-2 new starters on the outside. I’m not sure about Manningham with the two other solid receivers here, but he certainly did prove to be quite an explosive weapon in 2009, so there has to be a place for him. As for Gonzalez, his future is a little up in the air based on what transpired in 2009, and his slotting has been adjusted accordingly. He’s a very solid player, though, and still in a good situation.

Most of your other options are younger players, and these are guys you’re just hoping pan out because none of them seems destined to come through. Brandon Tate (NE, 22) has the tools to replace Randy Moss in New England, but he has to stay healthy. Devin Thomas (Was, 23) may get another chance in Washington, but his seemingly appealing talents have not come to the surface yet. Louis Murphy (Oak, 23) is a definite talent, but he’s not even starting yet – and it’s the Raiders. Early Doucet (Ari, 24) should be a productive slot guy for the Cards, while Deon Butler (Sea, 24) and Brandon Gibson (Stl, 23) have youth, potential, and a chance to possibly play key roles for their teams.

Also in this realm are some older players who don’t have anything in terms of juicy upside potential, but do still have some value now, such as Nate Washington (Ten, 27), Nate Burleson (Det, 29), Jason Avant (Phi, 27), Devery Henderson (NO, 28), and Mark Clayton (Bal, 28). Washington and Burleson do still start, while the other players look like mediocre #4 WRs in 2010, so they’re nothing special at this point.

Once again, this deep, it makes more sense to look to the younger guys who have a chance to emerge as contributors. Darrius Heyward-Bey (Oak, 23), Brian Hartline (Mia, 23), Andre Caldwell (Cin, 25), Lance Moore (NO, 26), Ted Ginn (Mia, 25), Jacoby Jones (Hou, 26), Earl Bennett (Chi, 23), Brian Robiskie (Cle, 22), Malcolm Kelly (Was, 23), James Jones (GB, 26), and Maurice Stovall (TB, 25) are viable. I’m not enamored with any of them, quite frankly. Heyward-Bey can fly, so you have to give him a chance, but things could not have possibly looked grimmer for him than they did in his 2009 rookie season. Ginn has talent, but he should almost be written off at this point as a wideout, so he’s worth keeping just in case a light bulb goes on for him. Caldwell and Moore are pretty decent, but have limited potential, since they’re really #3s for their respective teams. (Jacoby) Jones is probably out of luck in Houston, but he is a playmaker who can score any time he touches the ball. Bennett’s going to be “just a guy” in Chicago. Robiskie didn’t get a chance to show anything this past year, which isn’t a good sign, but he could still develop into a solid PPR guy. Stovall’s had plenty of chances, which isn’t a great sign, but he should get another one this year, and if he can develop some chemistry with young QB Josh Freeman, Stovall may have a chance to be the best of this group.

Back to some older guys who have a chance, we have Justin Gage (Ten, 29), Jabar Gaffney (Den, 29), Brandon Lloyd (Den, 29), Patrick Crayton (Dal, 31), Michael Jenkins (Atl, 28), Reggie Brown (TB, 29), and Donte Stallworth (Bal, 29). None of these guys does anything for me, but Gaffney could be a decent PPR guy this year, Lloyd could play a lot more if Brandon Marshall is gone, and Jenkins does still start. Brown may now start in Tampa, for what it’s worth (probably not much).

Those looking for a sleeper keeper in a PPR league should take a look at Jag WR Mike Thomas, who quietly caught 48 passes last year and whose role should be expanding in 2010

As for the rest of the keeper options, we’re strictly looking at long-shots, so we’re focusing in on younger players like Josh Cribbs (Cle, 27), Derrick Williams (Det, 24), Harry Douglas (Atl, 26), Mike Thomas (Jac, 23), Demetrius Williams (Bal, 27), Steve Johnson (Buf, 24), Dwayne Jarrett (Car, 24), Dexter Jackson (Car, 24), Sammie Stroughter (TB, 24), Chansi Stuckey (Cle, 26), James Hardy (Buf, 24), Limas Sweed (Pit, 26), and Danny Amendola (Stl, 24). Of this group, Williams and Thomas intrigue me the most. They may just be slot guys their whole careers, but both have potential to move into a starting role on the outside eventually. Cribbs is really tough to get a handle on, and he’s obviously worth a lot more if you include his return production into the equation. Williams is talented, but he’s been a bust for the Ravens, and it’s almost time to give up on him. Johnson is someone to keep an eye on because he’s got some size and speed, unlike Hardy, who is slow and soft. Sweed’s time in Pittsburgh may be over soon, so he might not even be worth listing. Amendola’s not a sexy name, but he could be a nice little slot guy for the Rams for years to come, which is worth noting for those in PPR leagues.

Some other youngsters worth listing are Juaquin Iglesias (Chi, 23), Jerome Simpson (Cin, 24), Lavelle Hawkins (Ten, 24), Brooks Foster (Stl, 24), Kenneth Moore (Car, 25), Johnny Lee Higgins (Oak, 27), Ramses Barden (NYG, 24), Kevin Ogletree (Dal, 23), and Patrick Turner (Mia, 23). There’s not much to get excited about here, but Hawkins could be a decent slot guy for the Titans, while Foster (who missed most of 2009 with an injury) does have the talent to be a difference-maker. Barden is a huge receiver with some intrigue, but there’s a major logjam at WR on the Giant roster, so I’m not expecting much. Turner may actually get a chance to start this year, so he’s probably higher on someone else’s list. He’s low on mine because he’s painfully slow, so we’re thinking they’ll have to find someone else. The Cowboys are pretty high on Ogletree, who appears to be about where Miles Austin was here a couple of years ago. If Roy Williams is jettisoned or phased out, Ogletree could get a shot.

And finally, we have some older guys who, at best, may be worth picking up at some point in the near future for depth – but don’t count on that for anyone here between

Josh Reed (30), Bryant Johnson (29), Brandon Stokley (34), Deion Branch (31), Brandon Jones (27), Roscoe Parrish (28), Sam Aiken (29), Kelley Washington (31), Dennis Northcutt (32), Antwaan Randle El (31), and Torry Holt (34).

That said, I still have some thoughts on what’s gone down the last 5-7 days or so, and here’s a quick review. If you’re interested, we are keeping up on all the moves each day with our 2010 Free Agent Tracker.

The Chester Taylor signing by Chicago still boggles my mind a little bit. I understand you can never have too many quality veterans like Taylor, but let me put it this way: I don’t think he would have been much better than a healthy Matt Forte behind that terrible [...]]]> It’s been a fairly quiet and pretty anticlimactic free agent period so far. The one thing I’ve learned over the years about free agency is that its impact is pretty top-heavy, and overall overrated – at least when it comes to fantasy football. There are usually 3-4 major moves that have big impacts, and there are always a few moves that appear to be under-the-radar, yet wind up being key. But for the most part, the excitement some people feel in March and April dwindles down to next to nothing come September.

That said, I still have some thoughts on what’s gone down the last 5-7 days or so, and here’s a quick review. If you’re interested, we are keeping up on all the moves each day with our 2010 Free Agent Tracker.

The Chester Taylor signing by Chicago still boggles my mind a little bit. I understand you can never have too many quality veterans like Taylor, but let me put it this way: I don’t think he would have been much better than a healthy Matt Forte behind that terrible line and on a shaky overall Bear offense last year. So considering Forte is six years under than Taylor, it makes little sense to me. Solid backup/changeup RBs are a dime a dozen in this league right now, so their money could have been better spent elsewhere.

There was a thread on our MB wondering about our somewhat conservative ranking of Jamaal Charles for keeper leagues. I love the guy, and we were talking him up all off-season in 2009, but while he’s small guy who was surprisingly effective running inside late in 2009, he is still a small guy. I was waiting to see if they added a quality “bigger back” and it appears they have in Thomas Jones. That’s a pretty major monkey wrench in the 2010 Jamaal Charles plan. Jones can still play, and he’ll certainly get carries, so Charles has to slip down to the mid-to-late 20s at the RB position. He’s still unproven, as evidenced by the team’s signing of Jones.

The addition of WR Anquan Boldin is certainly good for QB Joe Flacco. I’m pretty sold on Flacco, and I think his issues last year had a lot to do with his receiving corps, not Flacco taking a step back. I’d like to see Derrick Mason back for 1-2 more years, and that’s not a lock now, and Boldin is a pretty major injury risk, but Flacco’s long-term value is on the rise. Clearly, the team (finally) understands he needs more help.

I really like Detroit’s signing of Nate Burleson. Sure, they overpaid for him, but that’s not my concern, really. The fact is Burleson is a really nice complement to Calvin Johnson. He is an injury risk, but he’s a smooth route-runner with great hands and he’s an ideal guy in terms of taking advantage of the coverage Johnson commands. Burleson should help Calvin, and he will definitely help Matthew Stafford.

The rumors of LaDainian Tomlinson to Minnesota are starting, and this is something I brought up two weeks ago. LT is a great fit, and if he goes there you can probably lock it in that Brett Favre will return. If not Favre, then a trade for Donovan McNabb. Basically, if Tomlinson signs with the Vikings, it’s a lock that he’ll be playing with either Favre or McNabb. To put it another way, I don’t think LT will be a Viking if Tarvaris Jackson is the QB.

The Bengals need to sign either Terrell Owens or Antonio Bryant because their receiving corps is horrible right now and they’re starting to really waste an elite passer in Carson Palmer (granted, Palmer’s slipped the last couple of years).

By bringing back Kevin Walter on the heels of a down season, it’s now clear the Texans don’t have much confidence in Jacoby Jones. Oh well, on to the next young prospect with upside.

I suppose bringing Chris Chambers back was a good idea for the Chiefs, but I don’t think he’s a great answer. He’s never been very precise, and watching him play late in the season I think he just made a few big plays in garbage time, not exactly in the flow of the offense.

Granted, they were lower-end moves, but can the Steelers possibly have more talent and versatility in their receiving corps now that they have Antwaan Randle-El back and also Arnaz Battle? Their depth is excellent, and they should find ways to take advantage of both in special teams. Now all they need is the serious criminal charges against their QB to stop.

Bronco WR Brandon Lloyd may be a sleeper this year if the Broncos lose Brandon Marshall, which appears to be a formality. I don’t have a lot of trust in Lloyd or QB Kyle Orton for that matter, but I’ve always felt that Lloyd was better than anyone gave him credit for.

The addition of veteran Brandon Manumaleuna and of course the arrival of Mike Martz is not good news for Greg Olson, who might be my least favorite player in the league right now after his terribly uneven 2009 season. As it stands now, I’m really hoping I can find 12 guys at his position to rank over him for 2010.

I’m okay with the Giants’ acquisition of Antrel Rolle. I know he’s been toasted at times, but they desperately needed help, and he’s a playmaker. If that front seven can return to form, he’s going to make a lot of big plays for them.

I loved the addition of Dunta Robinson for the Falcons. Yes, he’s an injury risky, but they really needed a potential #1 corner, and Robinson is just that. Those guys don’t grow on trees, so that was a very worthwhile risk.

Also keep in mind I’m mainly covering players who are a good bet to move on to another team this offseason.

Chad Pennington – If healthy, he’d be better than all the guys in Cleveland. I’d feel a lot better about the Texan offense if he was their backup, as well. Same thing with the Giants, where he’d be an upgrade over David Carr.

Kellen Clemens – He’d make sense for the Cardinals, who of course will be forced to start Matt Leinart. It’s not inconceivable [...]]]> While working on our massive free agency preview, I kept looking into some of these free agents and coming up with teams these guys would be good fits for, so I thought I’d do a quick blog post on some potential landing spots for some of these free agent players. Projecting this stuff can be really difficult, so don’t expect many of these calls to go down as accurate – but it is fun here in late February. Also keep in mind I’m doing these projections off the top of my head based on what I know about the teams, not based on any real inside free agency information out there right now (and there’s not much).

Also keep in mind I’m mainly covering players who are a good bet to move on to another team this offseason.

Chad Pennington – If healthy, he’d be better than all the guys in Cleveland. I’d feel a lot better about the Texan offense if he was their backup, as well. Same thing with the Giants, where he’d be an upgrade over David Carr.

Kellen Clemens – He’d make sense for the Cardinals, who of course will be forced to start Matt Leinart. It’s not inconceivable that, if given a legitimate chance, he could be better than Leinart. I’d give the edge to Leinart mentally, and Clemens physically. Obviously, Leinart would have a major advantage overall should Clemens end up there.

Chester Taylor – He’d clearly be a great fit and short-term solution for the Chargers, who most likely won’t have LT back in 2010. Digging deeper, he’d be helpful for the Redskins, especially if they part ways with Clinton Portis. Digging really deep, he could be a nice player for the Texans, but his versatility wouldn’t be as valuable there with Steve Slaton there. But SD aside, Taylor may be better off staying in Minnesota.

Willie Parker – Since the Chargers will likely need a top back, you have to list San Diego here. You can’t rule out Washington if Portis is shown the door. If he is willing to accept a backup role, he could be a nice backup in Chicago. If the Falcons let Jerious Norwood walk, he could help their offense due to his (albeit diminishing) speed, but that’s a stretch with Jason Snelling there and looking like a viable #2.

Larry Johnson – He probably wants to start, and he’s obviously a bit of a jerk, which should scare some teams off. But he would make sense for the Texans, who continue to look for a “bigger back.” LJ still does have some game left. I don’t think he’s a guy who’s fallen off a cliff like Shaun Alexander did a few years ago. If Parker leaves Pittsburgh, LJ would be a viable backup there as well. And yet again, you have to consider the Redskins.

Darren Sproles – This one’s going to be interesting because based on the ridiculous amount of money he made last year, he might be one of the few key RFAs at RB who does wind up moving on. If so, he could be a good complementary player for the Falcons (if they let Norwood go). He’d make some sense for the Eagles if Brian Westbrook’s not in the mix (although he appears to be in the mix for 2010). Pittsburgh would be interesting. But he’s a really tough call for my purposes here.

Mike Bell – If the Vikes do lose Chester Taylor, then he could be a player to look at as a backup to Adrian Peterson. He doesn’t have Taylor’s versatility, but Peterson’s receiving game improved greatly in 2009. He could help Pittsburgh if Parker goes, too.

Terrell Owens – The Bengals have come up for a reason: their receiving corps stinks. He’d be a nice fit. Once again you have to bring up Baltimore. The Ravens should draft a WR early, but will that guy be able to help them right away? Owens would. Carolina would make some sense. Jacksonville’s a possibility. Miami would make sense as well. And given Wes Welker’s very shaky status for 2010, how interesting would he be in New England teamed with Randy Moss?

Antonio Bryant – As mentioned in his writeup, he just makes a lot of sense to me in Carolina opposite Steve Smith. I like the fit in a lot of ways. He would help the Ravens, that’s for sure. You can’t rule out Buffalo, since T.O. is as good as gone. He’d certainly help the Browns, but he’s been there and gone already in his career. If T.O. is a no-go in Cincy, Bryant would fit there as well. He’d be an upgrade over Bryant Johnson in Detroit, too. Jac, KC, Mia, NE, Was, and Sea could use him as well. Bryant’s appealing because he’s still fairly young and very talented, but won’t likely command a lot of money.

Kevin Walter – He makes sense for the Pats, since he’s a good inside receiver and since Welker’s status for this year is in doubt. He’d make some sense for the Chiefs as well. Denver would make some sense, too. You also can’t rule out a return to the Bengals, where he started his career.

Chris Chambers – Other than returning to the Chiefs, the Patriots could take a look at him, since they need another outside receiver. Cincy could be a decent spot for him, as would Baltimore, Carolina, Detroit, Jacksonville, and Washington.

Brandon Marshall – He’s restricted, but we could also see him moved in a trade. If so, Baltimore and Miami are the top teams to look at. You can’t rule the Bengals out, since they specialize in problem players. He did play for Mike Shanahan in Washington, and the Redskins desperately need a playmaking receiver with size. Tampa Bay would have nothing at receiver if they let Antonio Bryant go. Seattle could be a viable landing spot. Obviously, Cleveland has next to nothing at the position.

Malcom Floyd – I’ve been talking him up to Chicago for six months now, but since he’ll likely be restricted, and since the Bears found Devin Aromashodu, that doesn’t look all that viable. He’d be a nice #2 opposite Randy Moss in New England. He’d help a lot of teams looking for a #2 or even a #1, such as Mia, Bal, Cin, Car, Buf, Det, KC, Jac, and Cle. But most likely, he’s not going anywhere.

Mark Clayton – If he moves on, I could see him going to a team in dire straights at the position, like the Browns, Panthers, or Bills. KC, Car, Mia, NE, TB, and Was would make some sense.

This could finally be the year in which Ben Watson gets a chance to be a focal point of an offense

Ben Watson – He seems to be as good as gone, and I like him fitting in on the Rams. He needs a chance to be featured, and he could be there. He’d be interesting in Baltimore as well. The Browns could certainly use him. KC could certainly use him and there are some connections there.

Tony Scheffler – He appears to be on his way out as well, and he’d be an interesting “move” guy for a team, but I don’t see a ton of great fits. NE, KC, Jac, Cle, and Bal make some sense. And if I were the Texans and concerned about Owen Daniels’ recovery, I’d look at Scheffler as a nice backup plan.

When we’re talking about the best of the best at WR, we’re talking about guys like

Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Reggie Wayne, and Calvin Johnson. These guys are young, in mostly good situations, and are clearly elite, if not dominant. I’d view keeping him as a top priority, and I’d only keep a handful of RBs over them.

Chief WR Dwayne Bowe may not be a freak talent, but he is on the cusp of being considered elite and could be the next "stud" at the position, especially with his QB position upgraded this off-season.

There’s nothing wrong with the next tier of top receivers, and I also view them a studs: Greg Jennings, Roddy White, Steve Smith, Anquan Boldin, Braylon Edwards, Marques Colston, Brandon Marshall, Dwayne Bowe, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens. These guys aren’t all perfect, like Edward for example, but they are either [...]]]> It’s time to take a look at the WRs for keeper leagues. This position is tough because there’s always a huge drop-off after the true studs, and players can quickly go from being very productive to fantasy afterthoughts. That said I would place a premium on the studs at the position, especially the best of the best.

When we’re talking about the best of the best at WR, we’re talking about guys like

Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Reggie Wayne, and Calvin Johnson. These guys are young, in mostly good situations, and are clearly elite, if not dominant. I’d view keeping him as a top priority, and I’d only keep a handful of RBs over them.

Chief WR Dwayne Bowe may not be a freak talent, but he is on the cusp of being considered elite and could be the next "stud" at the position, especially with his QB position upgraded this off-season.

There’s nothing wrong with the next tier of top receivers, and I also view them a studs: Greg Jennings, Roddy White, Steve Smith, Anquan Boldin, Braylon Edwards, Marques Colston, Brandon Marshall, Dwayne Bowe, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens. These guys aren’t all perfect, like Edward for example, but they are either young and in good situations (Jennings, White, Colston, Marshall) or are proven all-time greats who should produce at least 1-2 more years (Smith, Moss, and Owens). Bowe should be in this group, even though he’s not clearly a must-have. He’s young, could be stud-like, and his situation looks promising.

After these guys you’re already dealing with some guys who would be shaky keepers in leagues that keep only 2-3 players, but in larger leagues, they are the next best things. Again, these guys are far from perfect, which makes the players mentioned above look more desirable, but these guys are viable: Roy Williams, Wes Welker, Santonio Holmes, Lee Evans, Anthony Gonzalez, Plaxico Burress, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bernard Berrian, Chad Johnson, Eddie Royal, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Bryant. How you rank these guy depends on your team needs, expectations, and also your scoring system. Welker, for example, is money in a PPR league, and a must-have. Holmes, Evans, Gonzalez, Royal, and Jackson are young, so they look like strong long-term options. Williams is the #1 now in Dallas, so you have to be encouraged, even though he’s erratic and a little shaky. Burress’ status is up in the air, of course, while guys like TJH, Berrian, and Johnson aren’t standing out now as must-haves, but should be worth hanging on to if possible.

The deeper we go down the list, the more your expectations and league setup needs to be considered. For example, if you’re content playing for the here and now, then players like Hines Ward, Santana Moss, Laveranues Coles, Torry Holt, Derrick Mason, and Donald Driver are okay choices. All of them should start in 2009 (we’ll see about Holt, though), and they can still produce. Kevin Curtis and Chris Chambers are in this realm as well, but they are a little younger than the other guys in this group. Coles and Mason look like good PPR options, and Driver’s still playing well, and I like his situation.

If you’re looking to go on the younger side, then players like Kevin Walter, Jerricho Cotchery, and Mark Clayton stand out a little as more youthful options who have value now and the potential to be relevant for 3+ years. I like Walter a lot, and I think Clayton will be more than fine with Joe Flacco and his big arm on his side. Cotchery’s no spring chicken, but he’s under 30 and should be active as his team’s only viable starter.

Bear wideout Devin Hester needs better play from his QB but his improvement is very noticeable, and the team views him as a cornerstone of their receiving corps.

If you’re more inclined to place an even higher priority on youth, then Donnie Avery, Devin Hester, and DeSean Jackson look attractive. Avery’s a playmaker who is clearly his team’s #1, and I like Hester’s development and think he could be a strong #2 fantasy wideout for years to come, provided his team’s QB play is acceptable. Jackson’s never going to be a stud, and his attitude could get in his way at some point (he’s very cocky), but he’ll be a large part of what they do in Philly, and they throw the ball in Philly more than anything else.

We’re already about 40 deep at the position, and at this point I would likely focus on youth and upside potential, and there are a lot of guys in this group who fit the part. If you’re looking to go young for the future, then look at Steve Breaston, Jordy Nelson, Devin Thomas, and Josh Morgan. Breaston would need Boldin to depart, however. I LOVE Nelson and think he’ll be very good, but not until 2010 most likely. I don’t think Morgan is truly special because he’s not a burner and his hands are shaky, but he’s definitely someone who could develop into a nice #2 fantasy wideout, as a key part of their passing game. Thomas is very intriguing. Of all the receivers drafted in 2008, he best projects as a “#1 NFL WR,” so he’s someone to consider getting now. He hasn’t shown enough to assume he’ll bust out in 2009, but by 2010 he could be ready and he has the size and speed to excel.  I view Thomas kind of like I view RB Rashard Mendenhall. If you’re willing to be patient, you could have a stud on your hands in 1-2 years.

To back up a moment, Lance Moore and Ted Ginn are young and should play a lot, so they are also viable. But we’ll see if Moore is re-signed by the Saints, and I haven’t seen enough from Ginn. He’s very talented, so worth a shot, but he might not be better than a slot receiver, and they have a pretty good one in Miami in Davone Bess.

Guys like Robert Meachem, Sidney Rice, and Domenik Hixon are also young, but they have some issues. Meachem has all the talent, but he’s been too slow off the mark, and that the team re-signed the speedy Devery Henderson may not bode well for him in ’09. If they don’t re-sign Moore, then I’d feel better. But if Moore and Henderson are in their long-term plans, that’s not good for Meachem. Rice I do likely, but he’s ultimately only a #2 NFL receiver, and I’m not sure he’s good enough to be a good one. Maybe if he played opposite a beast-like #1, but he doesn’t. Still, this deep, he’s someone to look at because as of right now he’s the #2 in Minnesota, and he should be much healthier than he was in ’08. As for Hixon, I do like him and think he’s viable, but his hands were suspect this past year, and his future role and potential is a little up in the air due to that and the situation with Burress.

Next up, there are some younger guys who have a shot to help you, but I’m not exactly enamored with any of them. Players like Nate Washington, Mark Bradley, Greg Camarillo, and Justin Gage are right now starters, so they are viable in larger leagues. I do like Camarillo a lot in a PPR league, but I’m not sure he’ll be relevant in a few years. But in a PPR league, he’s worthy of a little more love than I’m giving him here.

There are some older players this deep who have some value, but not much upside, and their roles are a little up in the air for even the next 1-2 years. Nate Burleson

Marvin Harrison, Deion Branch, Patrick Crayton, Javon Walker, Bryant Johnson, Michael Jenkins, Jerry Porter, Joey Galloway, and Bobby Engram lead the list.

If you're looking for a sleeper keeper at the WR position, look no further than Mike Walker, who is probably the team's best overall wideout right now.

But this deep, I’d rather target the younger guys with the upside potential, and there are a few of them: Mike Walker, Demetrius Williams, Brandon Jones, Davone Bess, Limas Sweed, Malcolm Kelly, Miles Austin, Marcus Smith, Malcom Floyd, and Jerome Simpson stand out. Walker could be the #1 in Jacksonville this year, actually, and while he’s not a burner, he looks solid in every other area. Willliams could still (finally) come through and emerge as a deadly downfield threat for QB Joe Flacco. Bess is a viable guy in a PPR league. Jones is a pretty good player, and now he’s a start in SF. Sweed is a work in progress, but he could still be the eventual replacement for Ward in Pittsburgh. Kelly’s a physical possession receiver who should eventually be the #2 in Washington. Austin may start in Dallas alongside Roy Williams. Smith is a dark horse starter in Baltimore, kind of an Anquan Boldin type, and Floyd is a big man who can run, so he may move on to a new team soon and start. Simpson’s been a big disappointment, but he could still replace Chad Johnson in Cincy.

We’re about 70 deep now at the position, so you obviously can’t expect much from the rest of the players listed below. But if you’re looking for depth or legit prospect in a larger keeper or dynasty league, there are some guys. It’s just when digging this deep to know which players at least have a chance to help you.

Andre Caldwell, for example may start in Cincy soon, and in fact he’s ahead of Simpson right now (although not as talented). Keenan Burton could be a factor in S. Louis, where they are hurting at the position. Chaz Schilens is someone the Raiders like, and Will Franklin could eventually be the #2 in KC. Johnny Lee Higgins is raw, but he did make some big play for the Raiders last year and is worthy this deep. Steve Johnson is a bigger receiver who saw the field for the Bills last year. And at some point, guys like Dexter Jackson (TB), Jacoby Jones (Hou), Mario Manningham (NYG), and Roy Hall (Ind) could see the field a lot for their teams. I’m not a big James Hardy fan, and T.O. in Buffalo hurts him, but he’s in the mix, as is Jason Hill, who could see more time in SF if Morgan and/or Jones disappoint for the Niners. He’s been a bust so far, but I did actually see Dwayne Jarret make a few plays for the Panthers last year, so he’s not totally a lost cause.

Otherwise, we’re looking at a ton of veteran guys who really don’t excite me, but they at least are worthy of being mentioned. Matt Jones, D.J. Hackett, Chris Henry, Reggie Williams, Reggie Brown, Devery Henderson, Michael Clayton, and Brandon Lloyd fit the bill. Jones’ career is up on the air, but he could find another home if he wants it, while Hackett does have the talent to be a solid #2, but his career has taken a turn for the worse. I actually kind of like Clayton to surprise a little the next 1-2 years, but he’s done nothing the last 2-3 years to cause any faith.

Some other options who are a little older than the guys listed above, and can’t be counted on for much more than the next 1-2 years, are Muhsin Muhammad, Amani Toomer, Drew Bennett, Brandon Stokley, Antwaan Randle El, Jabar Gaffney, Andre Davis, Josh Reed, Justin McCareins, and Bobby Wade. Most of these guys do have roles, if not starting jobs, but they don’t conjure up much excitement.

If you really need to dig deep, it's time to look at role players at the position, and we like Atlanta's Harry Douglas to make noise as a dynamic slot receiver.

There are some other younger players, but they’re either major reaches, or will have only a complementary role these next few years, so they don’t have too much value. But I do like Steve Smith, Harry Douglas, Chansi Stuckey, Early Doucet, and Earl Bennett as productive slot guys. Doucet would need Boldin to leave and Breaston to move to the #3 slot, but Doucet is a good fit as a slot guy. And while they are major reaches, Maurice Stovall, Lavelle Hawkins, and Adrian Arrington may still factor into their team’s plans.

Well, that’s over 100 players listed, and that’s enough for now. As the weeks and months go by I will tweak this list and add players who are looking more viable than they do now.

Now, it’s questionable if Dallas has a #1 WR. They obviously traded for former Lion Roy Williams last year, but his play and involvement in the offense last year in Big D was nothing short of embarrassing. I know it takes time for a new player to assimilate himself, especially when he goes to a new team midseason, but Williams was horribly worthless last year. The year before, we saw wideout Chris Chambers find a way to help the Chargers after a midseason trade, yet Williams was just slightly more valuable to the Cowboys last year than I was.

Williams has already reported for the team’s off-season conditioning program, ahead of schedule, and he will have a full off-season to work with QB Tony Romo, which will certainly help. But [...]]]> I keep thinking how 2009′s going to be an “off” season. I think it’s going to be a tricky one, and I’ll be preparing for that all off-season and preseason. With Terrell Owens released from Dallas, that’s yet another reason to be concerned about ’09 being uneven. Owens has his issues, for sure, but he can still play and put up numbers, and he was still a legit #1 for the Cowboys.

Now, it’s questionable if Dallas has a #1 WR. They obviously traded for former Lion Roy Williams last year, but his play and involvement in the offense last year in Big D was nothing short of embarrassing. I know it takes time for a new player to assimilate himself, especially when he goes to a new team midseason, but Williams was horribly worthless last year. The year before, we saw wideout Chris Chambers find a way to help the Chargers after a midseason trade, yet Williams was just slightly more valuable to the Cowboys last year than I was.

Williams has already reported for the team’s off-season conditioning program, ahead of schedule, and he will have a full off-season to work with QB Tony Romo, which will certainly help. But there’s an erratic element to his game that doesn’t sit well with me. He tends to disappear for long stretches, and I wonder if he’ll give the Cowboys what they need from their #1 spot. At times, Williams is more flash than substance. He’s obviously very talented, at least, and Dallas’ #1 receiver is really TE Jason Witten, so that does help. But Dallas’ overall receiving corps is very thin now, so Owens’ departure makes all their players a little shakier, perhaps other than Witten, who may actually catch 100 balls this year if healthy. One player to watch for those in keeper leagues is Miles Austin, who proved to be a solid deep threat in ’08 and could be a #2 WR for this team. Patrick Crayton is better off in the slot.

Like Terrell Owens or not, but QB Tony Romo's fantasy value takes a hit with T.O. being discarded in Big D.

He’s still one of the better starters, but I’m concerned now about Romo’s fantasy value in ’09. I’m thinking, if WR Anquan Boldin sticks in Arizona, that Kurt Warner’s a better pick. I may even want to rank Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers ahead of Romo. But given Romo’s status in the league, he’ll probably be drafted as the 3^rd or 4^th QB off the board, which means he’ll probably be overvalued.

It’s early, of course, and Dallas will certainly bring some guys in via the draft, free agency, or both. But while the team chemistry will improved with Owens gone, I’m not convinced their offense on the field will be good enough to meet the high expectations.