Fantasy Football Draft Strategy - Getting Ready for D-Day

The NFL season is approaching fast and its time to solidify your draft strategy. If you go into the draft without a plan, there is a good chance that you will come out with a bad team. Here are some rules to keep in mind as you prepare for winning your fantasy football league.

1. Don't chase last years stars - Brady will have a great year, but he won't break the touchdown record again. Same for Randy Moss. Expect their stats to fall a bit and adjust your draft accordingly.
   
2. Play it safe in rounds 1 and 2. Get healthy guys that produce year after year.
   
3. Know your rosters and depth charts. They are easy to check at yahoo sports.
   
4. Spend time targeting players in the 6th, 7th, and 8th rounds. These can often be the players that make or break your team.
   
5. Look for good deals, but be careful not to risk too much. Hoping that Manning falls to the third round may cost you an elite QB.
   

NFC Sleeper Picks

CNNSI has released a list of NFC sleeper picks for the upcoming fantasy football season. Here are the winners from each team.

• Felix Jones, RB, Dallas Cowboys
• Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NY Giants
• DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
• Jason Campbell, QB, Washington Redskins
• Devin Hester, WR, Chicago Bears
• Kevin Smith, RB, Detroit Lions
• James Jones, WR, Green Bay Packers
• Sidney Rice, WR, Minnesota Vikings
• Laurent Robinson, WR, Atlanta Falcons
• DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers
• Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints
• Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Tim Hightower, RB, Arizona Cardinals
• Antonio Pittman, RB, St. Louis Rams
• Josh Morgan, WR, San Francisco 49ers
• Maurice Morris, RB, Seattle Seahawks
  

Fantasy Football Player on the Rise

Jerricho Cotchery is moving up my list of fantasy wide receivers in the draft. He's had 82 catches in each of the last two years in an unstable quarterback situation.

Things are different now that Brett Favre is the QB. Favre is getting more comfortable in the Jets offense and Cotchery should be his #1 target. The only thing Cotchery has been missing in his game is more touchdowns, he only had 2 last year. That should change with the TD-happy Favre throwing at him. If you get Cotchery as your #2 wideout, you've done well this year.

Preseason Week 3 Notes

Here are some of the noteworthy fantasy football headlines from week 3 of the preseason.

• Kurt Warner named starting QB for the Arizona Cardinals. Warner passed for 27 TD's last season. He could be a great mid-round steal at quarterback this year.
  
• Rookie Matt Ryan is named starting QB for the Atlanta Falcons.
  
• Darren McFadden had 40 yards on 12 carries for the Raiders. I expect McFadden to get the bulk of the carries this year for Oakland.
• Favre went 9-of-12 for 96 yards for the Jets.
• Selvin Young started for the Broncos and ran for 42 yards on 6 carries.
  

Which Running Back will Get the Most Carries in 2008

The days of running backs receiving 400+ carries in a year appears to be over. These days, teams spread the carries around more to 2 or 3 running backs in order to keep everyone fresh. LaDainian Tomlinson led the league last year with 375 carries. The year before, 3 running backs had over 400 carries. Here is Yahoo sports projected top 10 in carries for 2008.

1 L. Tomlinson SD 395
2 Jamal Lewis CLE 350
3 Clinton Portis WAS 348
4 Marion Barber DAL 347
5 Brian Westbrook PHI 342
6 Marshawn Lynch BUF 340
7 Steven Jackson STL 336
8 Joseph Addai IND 331
9 Edgerrin James ARI 330
10 Ryan Grant GB 327
10 Frank Gore SF 327

Based on this list, you should be careful not to underrate guys like Jamal Lewis and Clinton Portis. Both had great years last year and should once again be league leaders in carries.

Fantasy Football Players with Dropping Value

As the preseason continues to unfold, certain players have moved down my list for various reasons. Here are some of the players I am currently down on.

• Chad Johnson - Injured shoulder and a bad attitude may prevent Chad from getting his numbers this year. Plus, the Bengals just re-signed Chris Henry.
  
• Ronnie Brown - May be traded and could lose time to Ricky Williams.
  
• Marc Bulger - St. Louis has lost 2 offensive lineman, don't expect him to last the season.
  
• Carson Palmer - The chemistry of the Bengals seems worse than ever.
  
• Steve Smith - Suspended for fighting. Could still get his numbers, but he is a risk.
  
• Larry Johnson - I just don't like the offense in KC this year.
  
• Earnest Graham - Just lost a key blocker this week.
  
• Ryan Grant - Aaron Rodgers is no Brett Favre. This will affect the GB running game.
  
• Brandon Marshall
  

Steven Jackson Will End his Holdout

For those of you still waiting for your NFL fantasy football draft, you can now put Steven Jackson back near the top of your running back board. Jackson has ended his holdout with the St. Louis Rams. Many sites rank Steven Jackson as high as #3 on the RB board. But the holdout has caused some reservations. Adding to the uncertainty, the Rams have lost 2 offensive lineman so far in the preseason.

Time will tell whether or not the offensive line is up to the task. But you can be certain that you are drafting a healthy and happy Steven Jackson now.

Rams Lose 2 Offensive Lineman - Proceed with Caution

The St. Louis Rams have lost two offensive lineman for the season. Mark Setterstrom and tackle Brandon Gorin both suffered preseason injuries that will force them to miss the remainder of the year.

QB Marc Bulger also took a hard hit and left the game early with a minor shoulder injury. The Rams have struggled lately with their offensive line, and losing two starters this early in the season does not bode well for them. If Marc Bulger gets beat up again this year, don't expect him to last through the season.

With Steven Jackson still holding out, the Rams offense is looking pretty shaky so far. I would proceed with caution in your fantasy draft with players like Steven Jackson, Marc Bulger, and Torry Holt. They still may produce this year, but it could be risky to take them too early.

The Talented Mr. Roto's 50 Facts

The Talented Mr. Roto has published 50 facts you need to know for the upcoming fantasy football season. Here are some highlights.

• David Garrard averaged15.4 fantasy points a game last year.
  
• Carson Palmer only had 5 touchdowns over the last 5 weeks last year.
  
• Kurt Warner led the NFL in touchdown passes in the final 8 games.
  
• Drew Brees was second in red zone attempts
• Brian Westbrook led the league in total yards from scrimmage.
  
• Joseph Addai was second in the league in goal line carries.
  
• Michael Turner has only 11 receptions in 4 years.
  
• Jerricho Cotchery has increased his yardage totals for 4 straight years....and Favre is now his quarterback.
  

Fantasy Football Training Camp Injury Report

Injuries are already beginning to affect the fantasy football season. Here are some early notables.

• Bobby Engram - Out 8 weeks with a cracked right shoulder.
  
• Ahman Green - Day to day with a groin injury.
• Antonio Gates - Yet to practice with a toe injury.
• Jerry Porter - Will not return before the season due to a hamstring.
• Plaxico Burress - Practiced in pads for the 1st time (ankle).
• Braylon Edwards - Slashed his heal on a cleat in practice. Out 2 preseason games.
• Deuce McAllister - Knee rehabilitation is going well. 1st start undetermined.
  
• Willis McGahee - Set to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee - should return for regular season opener.
  
• Marvin Harrison - Knee seems to be healed.
  

ESPN.Com Live Draft Results

Here is a good tool for your draft preparation. ESPN.com live draft results gives you the average position players were selected in ESPN online fantasy football drafts. If you want to know the odds of getting TO in the second round, check out this board.

Here are some highlights:

• Tom Brady is the 4th overall pick
• Randy Moss is the 7th overall pick
• Brady, Manning, Romo, and Brees are all gone by the 25th pick
• Gates is the first TE taken at the 41st pick
• You can grab Derek Anderson with the 45th pick.
• Reggie Bush and Ronnie Brown could be great 4th round RB pickups.

Top 10 Ways to Dominate Your Fantasy Football Draft

Top 10 Ways to Dominate Your Fantasy Football Draft

1. Don't get fancy with the first 2 rounds - Pick reliable players that perform every year.
   
2. Be flexible - You don't have to take 2 running backs if there is a better player available.
3. Avoid the hype - Don't get caught taking a high-upside player too early.
4. Don't wait too long to take a QB.
   
5. Pay attention to the schedule - Easier schedules result in more points, watch the bye weeks.
   
6. Plan the first 5 rounds of your draft, then make at least 2 backup plans.
   
7. Draft a great player in round 6 or 7 - Some of my best teams resulted from great drafts in these rounds.
   
8. Get a good Tight End - Its become a more important position than it used to be.
   
9. Load up on running backs in the later rounds.
   
10. Don't draft a kicker or defense until the last 2 rounds.
    

Suspensions to Watch in Your NFL Fantasy Football Draft

This season a couple of the NFL's top players will face suspensions to start the season. Make sure to keep this in mind when deciding where to place these players on your draft board.

1. Steve Smith - (WR, Carolina Panthers) Suspended 2 weeks for fighting.
2. Brandon Marshall (WR, Denver Broncos) Suspended 3 weeks for violating NFL conduct policy.

First Round Strategies from Scott Engel

Scott Engel has written a nice article outlining a strategy for every pick in the first round. Here are his top ideal picks and top alternative picks. Clearly Engel is very high on the QB position with Tom Brady as an ideal #2 and Peyton Manning as an ideal #5. Engel also ranks Steven Jackson over the red hot Adrian Peterson, and drops Westbrook down to #7, even though he was the second highest scoring RB in my league last year. Do you agree?

1. Ideal pick: LaDainian Tomlinson
   Top alternative: Tom Brady
   
2. Ideal pick: Tom Brady
   Top alternative: Steven Jackson
3. Ideal pick: Steven Jackson
   Top alternatives: Adrian Peterson, Peyton Manning
4. Ideal pick: Adrian Peterson
   Top alternative: Peyton Manning
5. Ideal pick: Peyton Manning
   Top alternatives: Joseph Addai, Brian Westbrook.
6. Ideal pick: Joseph Addai
   Top alternative: Brian Westbrook
7. Ideal pick: Brian Westbrook
   Top alternative: Marshawn Lynch
8. Ideal pick: Marshawn Lynch
   Top alternative: Randy Moss
9. Ideal pick: Randy Moss
   Ideal alternative: This time, there really isn't one.
10. Ideal pick: Clinton Portis
    Top alternatives: Reggie Wayne, Frank Gore

Brett Favre Shakes up My Fantasy Draft Board

In case you haven't heard, Brett Favre was traded to the New York Jets today for a conditional fourth round draft pick.

In my opinion, this immediately elevates the fantasy value of the New York Jets offense. The Jets suffered last year under the leadership of Chad Pennington. Favre's ability to throw the deep ball should result in more offensive production.

Here are the players you should elevate on your list:

1. Jerricho Cotchery - 82 receptions and 1,130 yards last year in 15 games. The only blemish on his resume is a lack of touchdowns. Look for Cotchery's catches and TD's to improve under Favre.
2. Laveranues Coles - Only played 10 games last year but still had 55 receptions. If he stays healthy, he should produce.
3. Thomas Jones - Ran for 1,119 yards last year. Favre's ability to throw deep should open up a few more lanes.
   

SI NFL Fantasy Football Preview

SI has published its 2008 NFL fantasy football preview with position by position breakdowns. Here are some of the highlights of their breakdown of the running back position.

Players on the rise:

1. Michael Turner
2. LenDale White
3. Ryan Grant

Players on the Decline:

1. Willie Parker
2. DeAngelo Williams
3. Rudi Johnson

Running Back Sleeper Picks:

1. Ronnie Brown
2. Earnest Graham
3. Julius Jones

Do you agree with these picks?

Michael Turner is definitely getting a lot of attention in Atlanta. He put up strong numbers backing up LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. If he receives the bulk of the carries in Atlanta he could be a top 10 RB this year.

Ryan Grant Ends Holdout

Ryan Grant ended his holdout with the Green Bay Packers, securing a 4 year contract worth up to a reported $30 million. This secures Grants position as the starting running back for the Packers. Grant took over the RB position last year mid-season and revitalized the Packer's running game. He finished the season with 956 yards and 8 touchdowns. Look for Grant to go early in the second round in this years fantasy draft.

Top 10 Fantasy Football Handcuffs 2008

Picking a great running back handcuff can pay off big during the season if the starter goes down. Here are the top 10 running back handcuff's for 2008.

1. Chester Taylor, Minnesota Vikings
2. Chris Johnson - Tennessee Titans
   
3. Felix Jones - Dallas Cowboys
4. Kenny Watson - Cincinnati Bengals
5. Jacob Hester - San Diego Chargers
6. Brandon Jackson - Green Bay Packers
   
7. Leon Washington - New York Jets
8. Ladell Betts - Washington Redskins
9. Jerious Norwood - Atlanta Falcons
10. Dominic Rhodes - Indianapolis Colts
    

2008 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

Here are the 2008 fantasy football running back rankings. LT once again leads the pack followed by last year's breakout rooking Adrian Peterson. Here are the full rankings.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson - He's at the top until someone knocks him off. Will Peterson be that guy?
   
2. Adrian Peterson (Min)- Fantastic rookie season. Should be better if he stays healthy.
   
3. Brian Westbrook - Puts up points year after year, but doesn't get the credit he deserves.
   
4. Joseph Addai - Safe choice in the Colts offense. But will returning RB Dominique Rhodes steal carries?
   
5. Steven Jackson - Explosive when healthy.
6. Marion Barber- Should become an elite back this year.
   
7. Frank Gore- Solid but disappointing season last year.
   
8. Clinton Portis - Portis continues to produce.
   
9. Marshawn Lynch - Expected to have more receptions in his second year.
   
10. Larry Johnson - KC offense isn't what it used to be.
    
11. Ryan Grant - Will Green Bay have the same offense without Brett Favre?
    
12. Willis McGahee - 1,200 yards rushing last year in Baltimore.
    
13. Jamal Lewis- Cleveland offense came alive last year. But will the schedule hurt him this year.
    
14. Brandon Jacobs - Still has a lot of raw potential.
15. Maurice Jones-Drew- Will he be the next Westbrook?
    
16. Michael Turner- Great as a backup to LT. Should produce well in Atlanta.
    
17. Laurence Maroney - Lack of carries hurts production.
    
18. Ronnie Brown - Will need another year to recover from his knee injury.
    
19. Darren McFadden- Could be great. But don't take him too early.
    
20. Earnest Graham- Great year in Tampa Bay last year. Should get lots of carries.
    
21. Edgerrin James- Edge is still getting tough yards.
    
22. Reggie Bush- Lots of receptions, but not many yards on the ground.
    
23. Willie Parker - Rashard Mendenhall will steal carries.
    
24. Jonathan Stewart- Big back may get goal line carries.
    
25. Matt Forte- Not much competition in Chicago for Forte.
26. LenDale White - 1,100 yards last year, but Titans drafted RB Chris Johnson.
    
27. Thomas Jones- Should get the bulk of the carries.
    
28. Selvin Young- Could produce great numbers, but Denver RB's are always risky.
    
29. Kevin Smith - Smith should produce right away ahead of backup Tatum Bell.
    
30. Rudi Johnson - His days of consistency are over. But he should be healthier this year.
    

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy By Position

Deciding on a draft strategy is critical and depends largely on the position that you are choosing from. If you have the 1st pick, you almost have no choice but to pick running back, either LaDainian Tomlinson or Adrian Peterson. These are clearly the most valuable players in this year's draft. A late first-round choice may warrant selecting the best QB or WR available if all of the elite running backs have been taken.

Whatever you decide, your first pick is critical and can determine the direction of your entire draft.
My selection in my main fantasy draft this year is 8. I'll take some time here to explain some of my thoughts on strategy from this position.

The best thing about the 8th pick is that you get to turn around 5 picks later and select another high quality player. I have narrowed down 3 strategies for my top two picks below.

1. RB, RB - Picking RB, RB allows me to get two second tier running backs who will consistently produce throughout the season. Players available will include Marion Barber, Frank Gore, Larry Johnson, Marshawn Lynch, Ryan Grant, and Willis McGahee. I should easily be able to land two of these players.
   
2. RB, QB - This strategy will give me a solid second tier running back as well as an elite QB such as Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. I'll have to pick up another running back in round 3 or 4 but I'll have a top tier QB that I can count on for scoring nearly every week.
   
3. QB, WR - The final strategy is a risky one. Skip the RB position in the first 2 rounds and take the best QB and best WR available. I would be a little hesitant to have Randy Moss and Tom Brady since they are on the same team. But you would surely have a potent 1-2 punch.
   

Each of these strategies will lead to different choices with my 3rd and 4th round picks.

1. If I draft 2 running backs I'll need to grab a quality WR in round two and most likely a QB. I would love to get Drew Brees here and maybe a Steve Smith. Carson Palmer should also be a good option for QB in the 4th.
   
2. Unless there is a great running back that slips here, I would probably go WR, WR, to compliment my stud QB. WR's available should include Steve Smith, Marques Colston, Torry Holt, Chad Johnson, Plaxico Burress, and Brandon Marshall. Its possible Larry Fitzgerald could be there in the 3rd round as well.
   
3. If I go QB, WR in the first round, then I will definitely need to take RB's in 3 and 4. This is probably my least favorite draft spot of the 3 choices. Here are some of the RB's that should be available here:

• Michael Turner
• Laurence Maroney
• Ronnie Brown
• Darren McFadden
• Jonathan Stewart
• Earnest Graham
• Edgerrin James
• Reggie Bush

In rounds 5 and 6 I would work on taking an elite tight end, and then filling out the roster with my 6th pick, depending on which strategy I take. I'll most likely stock up on RB's with potential in the later rounds hoping to find a gem.

Of the 3 strategies listed above, I'm leaning towards #2. I think this allows me to have a balanced starting lineup of players who should score consistently.

Wide Receiver Rankings - 2008

This is the deepest group of quality wide receiver's in a long time. Its so deep that you can get a guy like Plaxico Burress or Chad Johnson in the fourth round of your draft. Here are my top 10 fantasy football wide receiver's for 2008.

1. Randy Moss - Set a record with 23 TD's last year. Should be the top WR again in 2008.
   
2. Terrell Owens - Lots of dropped passes, but 15 touchdowns make up for it.
   
3. Reggie Wayne - Consistent production as the Colts new #1 WR.
   
4. Braylon Edwards - Breakout year last year. Will it continue?
5. T.J. Houshmandzadeh - 112 receptions last year. Solid week to week production.
6. Andre Johnson - When he is healthy he is one of the best.
   
7. Larry Fitzgerald - Share's the spotlight with Boldin, but still had 100 receptions.
   
8. Steve Smith (Car) - Lives and dies on the health of Jake Delhomme.
   
9. Marques Colston - Saints love to throw the ball and Colston will respond with 90+ receptions this year.
   
10. Plaxico Burress - Should be healthier than last year and playing with a more confident Eli Manning.
    

Peyton Manning may play in preseason

Peyton Manning is recovering from surgery on an infected bursa sac but he may still be on track to play in the preseason according to Colts coach Tony Dungy. I would expect Manning to be near full speed by week 1 and ready to start. Draft him as if this surgery never happened.

Jeremy Shockey Traded to the New Orleans Saints

In perhaps the biggest shake-up to your fantasy football rankings since the NFL draft, the New York Giants traded TE Jeremy Shockey to the New Orleans saints for a second and fifth round pick in 2009.

Most people will be quick to rocket Shockey up their draft rankings, and rightfully so. Shockey will join a potent offense whose QB, Drew Brees, loves to throw to tight ends. I will certainly move Shockey into the the top tier along with Gates, Witten, Winslow and Gonzalez. However, keep in mind that Shockey has had a lot of injury problems and often doesn't stay healthy for 16 games. Part of this is due to his aggresive style of play. For that reason, I will most likely keep Shockey at the bottom of the top tier.

If he stays healthy though, he could become the top TE in fantasy football for 2008.

2008 Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings

Don't underestimate the value of a good tight end these days. The top 4 TE's last year produced a fairly significant point margin over TE's ranked 7th or lower in scoring. If you can get one of these guys, you have a good opportunity to create weekly matchup problems for your opponents.

1. Antonio Gates (Chargers) - The perennial top TE barely missed 1000 receiving yards last season and scored 9 TDs.
   
2. Jason Witten (Cowboys) - 96 receptions last year. You could easily argue that Witten should be the first TE taken this year.
   
3. Kellen Winslow (Browns) - Finally lived up to his potential last year.
   
4. Tony Gonzalez (Cheifs) - 99 receptions last year. Doesn't seem like he's slowing down to me.
5. Jeremy Shockey (Saints) - Brees loves TE's, but will Shockey stay healthy.
   
6. Dallas Clark (Colts) - Only 58 receptions, but made up for it with 11 touchdowns.
   
7. Chris Cooley (Redskins) - New West Coast offense in Washington may hurt his production.
   
8. Tony Scheffler (Broncos) - Finished 2007 with a strong run.
   
9. Heath Miller (Steelers) - Should continue to have solid production.
10. Vernon Davis (49ers) - Will Davis finally live up to his potential? It may depend upon the quality of QB play in San Fran.
    

Late round sleepers: Alge Crumpler (Titans), Randy McMichael (Rams)

2008 Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings

Here is the list you have been waiting for. The top 10 fantasy football kickers for 2008. The quality of your draft may depend on it.

1. Nick Folk
2. Rob Bironas
3. Stephen Gostkowski
4. Josh Brown
5. Shayne Graham
6. Nate Kaeding
7. Mason Crosby
8. Phil Dawson
9. Adam Vinatieri
10. Robbie Gould
    

Peyton Manning expected to be ready for week 1

Peyton Manning has surgery this week to remove an infected bursa sac in his knee. He is expected to miss all of training camp and most of the preseason but he should be ready for the week one Sunday night game against the Chicago bears. Keep him high on your boards. Peyton Manning does not miss games and if WR Marvin Harrison is back to full speed the Colts will score a lot of TD's. Also, look for second year WR Anthony Gonzalez to play a bigger role in the slot.

2008 Fantasy Football Defense Rankings

Looking for the best fantasy football defense to draft for you team in 2008? Check out this free fantasy football defense report and adjust your draft sheet accordingly.

1. Minnesota Vikings - Dr. Z of SI has picked Minnesota to win it all. With this defense they have a shot....but are they too old?
   
2. San Diego Chargers - 30 interceptions as a team in 2007.
3. Seattle Seahawks - 34 total team turnovers forced in 2007.
4. Green Bay Packers - Athletic linebackers should wreak havoc in the NFC central this year.
   
5. New York Giants - Defense should be riding high with confidence after dismantling the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
   
6. New England Patriots - CB Asante Samuel is gone but expect this defense to still perform consistently.
7. Dallas Cowboys - The offense is the star of this team, but the addition of Pacman...Adam Jones should help the secondary.
   
8. Chicago Bears -A healthy defense plus Devin Hester equals FF points.
   
9. Jacksonville Jaguars - Marcus Stroud is gone, but expect a solid performance still from this oversized defense.
   
10. Pittsburgh Steelers - Defense was down a bit last year. Will they rebound?
    

Will Tom Brady be the Top Fantasy QB in 2008?

Tom Brady (New England Patriots) had a record breaking year in 2007 with 50 TD passing, breaking Peyton Manning's single season record. If you had him on your team last year, you probably won a lot of games.

This year Brady is ranked as the top fantasy football quarterback by most experts, and will most likely be taken in the first round of most drafts. But is he worthy of such a high pick? Lets look at last years numbers a bit.

During the first 8 games of 2007 Tom Brady threw 30 touchdowns which works out to 60 TD's for a season. During the last 8 games Brady slowed down considerably, throwing 20 touchdowns which works out to 40 over a 16 game period.

Which Brady will we see in 2008? Most likely the 40 TD Tom Brady. After 8 games last year, defenses had a chance to adjust to the Patriots new offense. The Patriots still scored, but they were not as dominate over the last 8 games.

I would still rate Tom Brady as the #1 QB for 2008, but don't expect him to outscore Manning, Romo, and Brees by nearly as many points as last year.

Matt Ryan Signs a 6 year Contract with Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons wasted no time in signing rookie QB and top draft pick Matt Ryan to a 6 year contract worth a maximum of 72 million.

Ryan will get a lot of extra time to learn the offense by avoiding a hold-out. He's certainly a long-shot to have any significant fantasy impact this year. QB's rarely produce in there first year. But signing early should give him a greater opportunity to take over as the starting quarterback this year.

Indianapolis Awarded 2012 Superbowl

This really has no effect on fantasy football but Indianapolis was awarded the 2012 Super Bowl. It will be only the 4th time a cold-weather city has hosted a Super Bowl, joining Detroit (twice) and Minneapolis.

I grew up in Indy so this is fairly exciting news and I look forward to taking a trip there to enjoy the events.

Congrats Indy.

Julius Jones Takes Over Running Back Position for Seahawks

With the departure of Shaun Alexander, free agent Julius Jones will take over as the lead runner for the Seattle Seahawks. The 26 year old Jones is ready for a fresh start in Seattle after falling behind Marion Barber in Dallas.

Seattle also signed TJ Duckett in the offseason. Duckett had a history of stealing goal line carries early in his career, but his carries dropped significantly over the last two years after leaving the Atlanta Falcons.

Jones could be a nice option as the third option at running back this year. Seattle also signed Pro Bowl offensive guard Mike Wahle, who should help improve the renovated running game. Jones had only 588 yards and 2 touchdowns last year on 164 carries, the most unproductive season of his career.

NFL Mock Draft For Fantasy Football

Its still early, but NFL.com has posted a mock draft on 5/12/2008 that might help you get a feel for the how this year fantasy football draft may go.

Here are the results from the NFL mock draft for fantasy football. I've included 3 rounds of a 12 team draft.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson
2. Adrian Peterson
3. Tom Brady
4. Frank Gore
5. Steven Jackson
6. Brian Westbrook
7. Joseph Addai
8. Peyton Manning
9. Larry Johnson
10. Marshawn Lynch
11. Tony Romo
12. Randy Moss
13. Jamal Lewis
14. Larry Fitzgerald
15. Reggie Wayne
16. Willis McGahee
17. Marion Barber
18. Terrell Owens
19. Willie Parker
20. Clinton Portis
21. Braylon Edwards
22. Andre Johnson
23. TJ. Houshmandzadeh
24. Ryan Grant

Darren McFadden - Rookie Superstar?

Last year Adrian Peterson set the fantasy world on fire with his record breaking performance. He quickly went from rookie with upside to stud running back.

Darren McFadden may be in a situation to repeat Peterson's breakout performance this year. The Oakland Raiders ranked 6th overall in team rushing statistics last year. They can run the ball well and should provide McFadden with plenty of opportunities.

Its difficult to risk a high pick on a rookie, but McFadden has tons of upside and could produce big numbers this year.

You would have to be some sort of skinny, slow-witted, idiot to think otherwise.

Where will Shaun Alexander Go?

Shaun Alexander has quickly gone from fantasy stud to jobless running back. He's visited the Saints and the Bengals, and there is some talk that the Denver Broncos may be interested. But clearly his days as a sure-thing are over.

Nevertheless, he may still have enough gas in the tank to put up some good numbers in the right situation. Denver is always an interesting place for running backs to put up great numbers. Depending on where he ends up, I would keep an eye out for him in the draft. Most likely though, his name alone will boost his draft value and it may be difficult to get him in lower rounds.

Colts Bring Back Dominic Rhodes

The Indianapolis Colts have re-signed Dominic Rhodes to a 1 year contract. Rhodes had a rough year with the Raiders, but finished the season strong with 2 games over 100 yards. Look for him to split time again with Joseph Addai. The pair had great chemistry together during their 2006-2007 Super Bowl run.

Fantasy Football Rookie Quarterbacks 2008

Its pretty rare that a rookie quarterback comes in and makes an immediate fantasy impact. But its good to have a rough idea of what is available just in case. Here are the top rookie fantasy football quarterbacks for 2008.

1. Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons - The best chance to start in 2008 of any of the rookie QB's.
   
2. Chad Henne - Miami Dolphins - He's a project, but the Dolphins could give him a shot this year if things go south for the offense.
   
3. Brian Brohm - Green Bay Packers - Aaron Rodgers should be ready to start, but if he falters, Brohm could get some snaps.
   

Fantasy Football Rookie Wide Receivers 2008

The draft is done. Here are a few rookie wide receivers that could have an impact during the 2008 fantasy football season. There are no early rounders here, but these guys could be worth a gamble on a late round pick.

• James Hardy, Buffalo Bills - Bills need a compliment to Lee Evans. Hardy could be the guy.
  
• Devin Thomas, Washington Redskins - Big target for Jason Campbell to look for.
  
• Dexter Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - A big play guy on a team with an aging go-to WR.
  
• DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles - Still looking for a receiver to fill the void left by TO.
  

Top 5 Running Backs in the 2008 NFL Draft

The 2008 NFL draft is less than a week away. From a fantasy perspective, the draft produces very few fantasy starters in the first year. However, its important to become familiar with the top players not only for this year's gems, but for future stars as well.

Last year's draft produced a first year RB stud in Adrian Peterson. Here are the top 5 potential running back picks in the 2007 draft.

1. Darren McFadden - Arkansas
   
2. Rashard Mendenhall - Illinois
3. Jonathan Stewart - Oregon
   
4. Felix Jones - Arkansas
   
5. Jamaal Charles -Texas
   

Toughest Schedule in the NFL

The NFL 2008 schedule is out and its time to look at which teams have been dealt the worst hand. This year, the Colts and Steelers have been handed the leagues hardest schedule, while the Chargers and Patriots have the easiest. Expect the latter two teams to battle it out for home field advantage in the AFC while the Colts and Steelers struggle to win their divisions.

Here are the 2008 top 5 toughest and easiest schedules based on 2007 winning percentage.

Toughest:

1. Steelers
2. Colts
3. Jaguars
4. Vikings
5. Ravens

Easiest:

1. Patriots
2. Chargers
3. Raiders
4. Broncos
5. Saints

Super Bowl Start Time: 6:17pm on Fox

The Super Bowl kicks off this year at 6:17 pm in Arizona on Fox. Tom Petty will be playing the halftime show. Of course, you can enjoy hours of pregame coverage in advance of the game. This is the last football fix before the NFL draft so soak it all in.

This Super Bowl XLII is an NFL Fantasy Matchup

Talk about your star-studded Super Bowl matchup. Does it get much bigger than the New York Giants and the New England Patriots (maybe the Cowboys-Patriots). These two major market teams will meet one week from today in Arizona for Super Bowl XLII. Names like Brady, Moss, Manning, and Strahan will take the field for what should be a high scoring affair.

Each team features a QB-WR combo that can light up the field in a hurry. Brady and Moss had a record breaking season this year, each breaking single-season touchdown records. Manning and Plaxico Burress have been hot in the playoffs have great chemistry on the field.

A few writers are predicting a NY Giants upset. NY came close to ending the Patriots undefeated season the first time the two teams played. I think they've got a good shot to do it again in the Super Bowl.

Enjoy the last game of the year.