2008 Fantasy Football RBs Rankings.

In standard fantasy football leagues, the position that makes the most impact on a roster is the running back position. There is a trend, started not too long ago, in the NFL for teams to establish a running back by committee.

With improved conditioning and sports medicine, players can play at a higher level longer, and with the influx of young talent, there are many viable running backs for teams to utilize.

This limits their touches through the season and prolongs their careers. There can be gems found in these committees if you know where to look.

With the emergence of the RBBC Running Backs aren't racking up fantasy points as they used to. That's not to say that all teams do that; each team is different, but you have to analyze their situation. With the decline of RB's fantasy points, you have an emergence of WRs.

Wide Receiver stocks have risen because teams that practice RBBC find WRs more active and open in the red zone. As such, Wide Receivers should receive higher picks than their typical 3-4-round-and-later picks they historically receive. You can still draft good running backs past the first round.
When you factor in the wide receiver run in the third round, there will be value at the running back position after round two and into round four.

We ranked the top 44 Running backs. The Entire Maniaxs’ staff compiled their own rankings assigning 44 points to a No. 1 rank down to assigning one point to a No. 44 rank. We averaged the points to determine the final ranks you’ll see below. As always, we Maniaxs take the integrity of this task seriously and no craziness occurred during the ranking process.

NOTE: These rankings are for seasonal/re-draft leagues only! They're not intended for keeper or dynasty leagues.

Updated as of 08/10/2008.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson. This ranking is normally reserved for the No. 1 pick in the draft. You want someone who will put up stud points and not burn you. He comes with consistency and a track record with plenty of multiple touchdown games. The Chargers OL finished tied for second in rushing TDs, and seventh in rushing yards last year. Tomlinson opens the season by facing soft run defenses like Carolina, Denver, Jets, Oakland, and Miami. Tomlinson is nearing 30, but has one more season left in the tank as an elite back. In the seasonal format, L.T. received all but one first place vote and still towers over the other RBs for the upcoming season.

2. Adrian Peterson. “Purple sensation” was the only other player to receive a first place vote. There is little to not like about Adrian Peterson. He is a touchdown machine, and in his first year in the league, has wrestled the bulk of the carries away from Chester Taylor. When on the field you cannot go wrong playing him. Running behind OLs Matt Birk, Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson will certainly help as the Vikings led the league in rushing yards, yards per carry, and rushing touchdowns in 2007.

In 2008, the Vikings have the sixth best SOS for RBs, a positive sign for Peterson’s owners. Two things keep Peterson from claiming the top spot in our rankings. First is consistency. He has played only one season in the NFL. We do not predict him to drop drastically in production. There is some extra risk taking a player who has had only one good season. The second concern is injuries. For the last three seasons (one NFL, and two college) Mr. Peterson has missed time due to injury. If you take AP, we advise handcuffing Chester Taylor to him for this reason.

3. Brian Westbrook. Westbrook’s age and injury concerns scare people away from him. We are telling you do not be afraid. Westbrook does not reach thirty years of age until the playoffs. Therefore, he will be reliably safe for seasonal formats. Brian also played 15 games each of the last two seasons. The addition of change of pace back Lorenzo Booker indicates Brian should remain healthy this season.

Westbrook is a rushing and receiving threat. He is also the best player on the Eagles. Westbrook should again match 1800+ all-purpose yards and 10+ touchdowns. One concern is their SOS, which is 25th in the league for RBs, but with their good OL that was good for eighth in rushing yards and second in yards per carry at 4.7 last season, Westbrook can once again excel.

4. Steven Jackson. Steven Jackson tied with Joseph Addai in our scoring system. Really, you cannot go wrong with any of our top five. Jackson gets the edge here because he rushed for just over 1,000 yards last year in only 12 games. This includes an injury depleted offensive line that should see the return of Orlando Pace.

We feel the cobbled OL is the reason for his drop in touchdown production from 16 to six. We expect that total to rise significantly in 2008 as the line gets his starters back making Jackson a good fantasy point’s generator again.

5. Joseph Addai. We see Addai’s scoring similar to last year with 1000-1200 rushing yards and 15+ TDs. He plays for one of the best offenses in the league and is a good receiving back as his 41 catches for 364 yards in ’07 will show. Do not worry about the Colts clinching too soon.

With Jacksonville competing for the division title, there will be plenty of reasons to keep him and the other Colts in the lineup. Also, for seasonal owners, tough defenses can sometimes surprise. Addai plays Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Detroit in the fantasy playoff weeks of 13, 14, and 15 respectively.

6. Clinton Portis. Clinton proved he could stay healthy last year by playing in all 16 games. He is currently hurt, but is expected to be ready to go by training camp. Clinton will get a lot of carries this season, so do not be surprised if he does not participate a lot in training camp. This will keep him fresh.

Expect Portis to have a better year than in 2007, as he should be targeted more in the west coast passing game. The Redskins are getting O-linemen Jon Jansen and Randy Thomas back from injures, a good indication that bigger running lanes are on the horizon for Portis.

7. Marion Barber. Barber will be the man in Dallas. He is still capable of a 16 TD season and posting over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. Let other people have concerns over Felix Jones stealing carries. His large contract insures he will see a lot of work this year. The addition of Jones should help keep Barber from wearing down during the season.

8. Ryan Grant. Some people will shy away from Ryan Grant because of his contract situation, Brandon Jackson doing well in OTAs, and Grant just burst on the scene out of nowhere. For the last 10 games, Grant rushed for 929 yards and scored eight TDs.

Projecting that out for a 16-game season that would be 1486 yards and 12 TDs! He is also still in Green Bay. Even with Rodgers at the helm, Green Bay still should be one of the top offenses in the NFL. We think Grant will offer great productivity at the end of round one.

9. Larry Johnson. Larry is an excellent candidate for comeback player of the year. Kansas City upgraded their offensive line in the off-season by drafting Brandon Albert. He also should see a full training camp and be ready to go at the start of the season. Herm Edwards has already stated that Larry is going to have his workload reduced this season.

Where that is normally a concern, Larry did break an NFL record for carries in a single season in 2006. It looks for Johnson’s attempts to be more in line with other backs in the NFL this season. Factor in that the Chiefs have the second best SOS for RBs in the league this year, and Johnson gets a vote of confidence to be a top-10 back once more.

10. Frank Gore. Frank is another back who had his 2007 season’s performance less than stellar because of injuries. Still, Frank is young enough to bounce back. DeShaun Foster should be a backup back only. Do not worry about a committee that will hinder Gore’s production. Gore’s receiving stats should rise with the addition of Mike Martz as OC. That will offset Martz’s tendency to pass more than he should. We still think Frank will surpass 1,000 rushing yards and 10 total TDs.

11. Brandon Jacobs. Brandon was a 1000-yard rusher despite starting only nine games and playing in 11. He is a big bruising back who, if he can stay moderately healthy, will break 1,000 yards again. After all, he plays on a N.Y. Giants team that finished fourth in rushing last season. With his size, he should get solid goal line touches. In addition, his four rushing TDs last year should be a statistical aeration.
There are a couple concerns with Brandon.

1) He is not fragile, but running people over does tend to cause injuries. For this his value will drop.

2) N.Y. Giants running back coach Jerald Ingram recently stated that the Giants would go with a running back by committe approach to utilize the various talents of their running backs and keep people healthy. That is news fantasy owners hate to hear.

Do not let injuries or splitting time deter you from drafting him. Splitting time may help him play all 16 games. He has done very well splitting time in the past. He is still going to be the Giants number one guy. Plus, he will get the goaline carries. That is essential to him having good fantasy value. That is why people loved having Marion Barber, but not Julius Jones in Dallas the last two years.

Jacobs is in a contract year and will have plenty of motivation to do well. Expect solid numbers when he plays and plan on him missing a few games.

12. Ronnie Brown. Yes, Ron Brown blew out his knee last year. Yes, it takes two years to fully recover from a knee injury. However, Brown reports to be ahead of schedule and Carson Palmer has proved you can come back from a knee injury pretty darn fast. Now Ron will need to do more with his knee and that is why he is ranked this low. Last year under Cam Cameron had Brown stayed healthy he was on pace to 2200 All-purpose yards plus 11 touchdowns. Miami would have won more than one game and Ron would be solidly entrenched as our No. six running back. Yes, Cam is gone. We assure you Bill and Tony have seen last year’s game tape and they will use Ron to all that he is capable of doing. Unless he suffers a setback, the early third round is when owners should draft Brown. If he is there after that, snatch him up and reap the rewards. Enjoy Miami’s SOS seventh rank with Brown leading the way.

13. Maurice Jones-Drew. Maurice is embroiled in a RBBC. That most likely will not change this year or next. Fred Taylor will get significant yards and Maurice will be hard pressed to gain 1,000 yards this season. Two years ago, when he almost put up 1,000 he had an inflated 5.7 yd/carry avg. This stat needs to be put into proper perspective. Since 1947 to present, only eight times has a running back attempted 166 carries or more and averaged 5.7 Yds. or better.

The most recent backs to do it were Jones-Drew in 2006 and Barry Sanders in 1997. Drew does have some increased value in that he can break the big play and should obtain 10 touchdowns. Besides, there is always the chance that Fred Taylor will get injured again. Though you might be tempted, do not make Drew your first running back. If you still are not convinced, Jerious Norwood posted a 5.95 yd/carry in a committee last year. Would you trust him to be your No. 1 running back in a seasonal league? We thought not.

14. Marshawn Lynch. Lynch missed some time (three games) with a high ankle sprain last season. Sprains normally are not recurring so his health should be fine this year. We here at Fantasy Football Maniaxs see no reason why Lynch cannot repeat last year’s numbers of 1115 YDS and seven TDs. Keep in mind though, Lynch only had three 100-yard games last year (though two in December). We believe, Lynch will improve this year (fifth in SOS) but we are not convinced you will gain any extra points from his receiving skills.


15. Willis McGahee. Speaking of Cam Cameron (think L.T. and Ronnie Brown), he is now in Baltimore. He has another fine weapon to coordinate and utilize in McGahee. McGahee comes with some injury concerns and the drafting of Ray Rice (think Michael Turner in SD) that will limit his value a bit.

What this means is McGahee will have competition to push him but he should win the starting job. Early reports also indicate Rice will also be playing the slot this year, which will help free up coverage on McGahee. Rice will also help keep McGahee fresh and that makes McGahee a great value-pick in the second round.

16. Laurence Maroney. Patriots passing games comes down to Earth, and Maroney benefits thanks also to an amicable SOS that ranks eighth this year. Oh by the way, the Patriots' O-Line is ranked No. 1 in the league. If they give their running game some consideration like they did last season in the playoffs, Maroney will be a top-10 back by season's end if new addition Lamont Jordan doen't take many snaps away from him.

17. Jamal Lewis. This aging veteran has one more year in the tank on a high-powered offense. The only concern, besides his age, is a tough 29th ranked SOS.

18. Reggie Bush. He is a multipurpose threat and McAllister is injury prone. The Saints should be going back to their 2006 playbook, and that will help Bush in some regard.

19. Michael Turner. He should be ranked higher, but is unproven as a starter. The chance to prove himself is served on a silver platter as the Falcons’ RB will enjoy a fourth best SOS this upcoming season. If the Falcons' O-Line returns to their 2006 efficiency, Turner will reap some benefits.

20. Earnest Graham. One-year wonder? Probably not. Graham is a good PPR back with a new four-year contract and no threat behind him as Warrick Dunn is 33-years old and Carnell Williams' NFL future is in jeopardy while trying to recovery from injury. Williams will begin the season on the PUP list.

21. Willie Parker. “Fast Willie” is a yardage machine that will not see the end zone often. He is rehabilitating a broken leg. Rookie Rashard Mendenhall will steal some caries and TDs from him.

22. Thomas Jones. Thirty-years old with Leon Washington breathing down his neck. Awesome OL in New York. Jones makes for a safe RB2. The acquisition of Brett Favre will make him more dangerous in the redzone, now that defenses will have to respect Favre's talent. His TDs totals should go up from last year.

23. Darren McFadden. This year’s Adrian Peterson by many. Because of Peterson's 2007 success, he will be reached for. Think early third round value. HE HAS SIGNED A CONTRACT!

His value is a double-edged sword: the Raiders ranked sixth in rushing last year, but are still a team on rebuilding mode with unproven JaMarcus Russell at the helm.

24. Selvin Young. He looks like the starter for now. Shanahanagans and Ryan Torain have to be a concern.

25. Edgerrin James. Edge has not aged well. There are still gaps in the Cards OL, but we'll take a last 1,000-yard season from him. His value rises a little in PPR leagues.

26. Len Dale White. He will get the goal line touches. He will get the yards. He will not get the receptions.

27. Julius Jones. Possible committee in Seattle, but we think it is smoke to motivate as Maurice Morris is not a fantasy household name. Jones could be the steal of the draft if he can just get mentally in shape. In his past few seasons in Dallas, he was just going thru the motions and appeared often demotivated.

28. Matt Forte. His stock rose significantly when the team released Cedric Benson. With the recent acquisition of Kevin Jones, his stock status goes back to RBBC. He will probably start, but the Ex-Lion will pilfer some of his carries if he doesn't start the season on the PUP as customary.

29. Rudi Johnson. This year, the Bengals have hinted on using a RBBC that will see Rudi, Kenny Watson (their best RB last year), Chris Perry and De De Dorsey among others. Need we say more? At best, Rudi is consistent if he gets most of the load. Draft with caution.

30. Fred Taylor. Fred will get yards. Can he stay healthy? Jones-Drew is ready to take over in Jacksonville.

31. Jonathan Stewart. Stewart is a human bowling ball. Stewart defines high risk-high reward. Again, Carolina has the No. 1 SOS for RBs in 2008.

32. DeAngelo Williams. John Fox normally does not play rookies. However, Jonathan Stewart may change his rules. Carolina's SOS is ranked first for 2008. This could be Williams' best year ever.

33. Rashard Mendenhall. He should get the TD carries in Pittsburgh's RBBC.

34. Chester Taylor. Peterson’s track record says he should get hurt. But for how long? Handcuffing is a must here.

35. Kevin Smith. Should be the opening day starter for the Detroit Lions. His 400+ carries as a senior could be a bad sign.

36. Justin Fargas. He will open the season as the Raiders starter. It will not end that way.

37. Ahman Green /Chris Brown. One should start, and starting has some value. We do not see either finishing the season as the starter for the Texans..

38. Ahmad Bradshaw. Jacobs equals injuries. Bradshaw could replace.

38 B. LaMont Jordan. Randy Moss proved last year that the Patriots can turn ex-Raiders to productive fantasy options. He will get you respectabe numbers if Maroney goes down.

39. Leon Washington. One injury away to Thomas Jones from starting for the Jets.

40. Ladell Betts. Good pass-catcher back that could see time in west coast offense. If you have the roster space, handcuff to Portis.

41. Deuce McAllister. Should start and run between the tackles. McAllister has played all 16 games only twice in seven years.

42. Felix Jones. Should play some slot and is a bye week replacement if you are desperate.

43. Ricky Williams. Puff! Puff! He is only of value if Brown starts the season on the PUP list. If not, his relief carries during games won't hold much fantasy value.

44. Jerious Norwood. Backup to Turner who could see 10-15 touches a game. One of these years, hopefully before he retires, he will be the starting back for the Falcons.

Rank/Notes	Player/Team
1	LaDainian Tomlinson SD
2	Adrian Peterson MIN
3	Brian Westbrook PHI
4	Steven Jackson STL
5	Joseph Addai IND
6	Clinton Portis WAS
7	Marion Barber DAL
8	Ryan Grant GB
9	Larry Johnson KC
10	Frank Gore SF
11	Brandon Jacobs NYG
12	Ronnie Brown↑
13	Maurice Jones-Drew JAX
14	Marshawn Lynch BUF
15	Willis McGahee BAL
16	Laurence Maroney NE
17	Jamal Lewis CLE
18	Reggie Bush NO
19	Michael Turner ATL
20	Earnest Graham TB
21	Willie Parker PIT
22	Thomas Jones JETS↑
23	Darren McFadden OAK
24	Selvin young DEN
25	Edgerrin James AZ
26	Lendale White TEN
27	Julius Jones SEA↓
28	Matt Forte CHI ↑
29	Rudi Johnson CIN
30	Fred Taylor JAX
31	Jonathan Stewart CAR
32	DeAngelo Williams CAR↓
33	Rashard Mendenhall PIT
34	Chester Taylor MIN
35	K. Smith/T. Bell DET
36	Justin Fargas OAK
37	A.Green/C.Brown HOU
38	Ahmad Bradshaw NYG
38B	LaMont Jordan NE↑
39	Leon Washington NYJ
40	Ladell Betts WAS
41	Deuce McAllister NO
42	Felix Jones DAL
43	Ricky Williams MIA
44	Jerious Norwood ATL

2008 Fantasy Football WRs Rankings

The official Maniaxs rankings are in and there are some mild surprises at the top of the list.

Again, all Maniaxs staff participated in the rankings. These rankings are of the seasonal type and will be adjusted accordingly should anything radical change around them.

A complete table/grid with 93 players is included as well as a downloadable PDF document for your draft/s at the very bottom of the article.

1 Randy Moss: Moss should have another exciting year. Look for Moss to continue his hot streak as long as Brady is his QB. They have a rapport that very few wide receivers and quarterbacks have and that is essential in making plays in the league. Moss caught a very terrifying 23 touchdowns and 1,493 yards in 2007 and was signed long term in the offseason. He’s not a bad option to pick number one overall.

2 Terrell Owens: Owens looks to reap the benefits of a fantastic year this season. Even at this age, he still shows that he has it. He was a terror against some of the better corners in the league last season so you know he has the ability to separate from corners if pressed in one-on-one coverage. Further, Owens averaged 16.7 yards a catch.

If he stays healthy he’ll start to get double teamed, but if he’s the Owens of old, he’ll break away from the coverage. Any receiver who breaks over the 1000-yard mark is incredible. He had 1,355 yards on 81 receptions. He won’t last long in the draft and it is doubtful if he’ll slip past the first round. Gobble him up while you can.

3 Reggie Wayne: With Marvin Harrison hurt throughout last season, Reggie Wayne stepped in and played marvelously. Wayne has terrific speed to get to the outside and he’s proven he can be the number one wide receiver we predicted him to be in our 2007 rankings.

He had more yards and receptions than Owens did last season, but Wayne isn’t a great WR in the red zone, only catching three passes for scores in 2007. Because Manning likes to utilize his tight ends and fullbacks in the red zone it is very difficult for the receivers to get any play much less touchdowns, however, you still have to respect Wayne for his playmaking ability.

His 1510 receiving yards weren’t a fluke. If Harrison is able to wash himself clean of the club shooting and heal from injury, Wayne will be the obvious number two receiver on the team, but he’s still worth picking high because of his younger age.

4 Braylon Edwards: For years Edwards struggled, but only because he didn’t have an efficient quarterback to throw the ball to him. Now that he has a good player in Derek Anderson tossing balls in his direction, Edwards should rise on your draft board.

His tall frame is ideal and this past season has shown that he has the ability to go up and make a play on the ball. He had 16 touchdown grabs in 2007 and that was with shaky quarterback play at the beginning of the season. Now that the quarterback position is solidified, look for Edwards to improve on his 1,289 yards and 16 TDs this season.

5 Andre Johnson: Don’t let his 851 receiving yards deceive you. He missed seven games last season, and will be a very good pick up in the 3-4 rounds if he’s there. If Schaub can stay protected long enough to make a play look for Johnson’s numbers to soar.

A consistent problem in the Texans’ organization is the fact that they’ve never protected their quarterback well, but now with Kubiak taking the reigns the focus has been on solidifying the line and they did that by drafting Duane Brown out of Virginia Tech. Did I mention Johnson has 4.32 speed? He’s a speedster and as such he’ll get some yards after the catch.

6 Larry Fitzgerald: He is the number one receiver on a not very solid passing Arizona team. Part of the problem is the Cardinals reluctance to choose a definite starting quarterback. Warner and Leinert were inconsistent and it didn’t help them any that their running game only averaged two yards per play.

He only had 10 TD receptions in 2007 season, but had 1,409 yards receiving. His counterpart, Anquan Boldin, had nine, but only had 853 yards. Boldin is more of a red zone threat than Fitzgerald, but buyer beware on Fitzgerald.

He doesn’t have the speed to break away from zone coverage and he’s not very fast coming off the line of scrimmage, but he’ll be a great number two option with his size.

7 T.J. Houshmandzadeh: He proved to be better than Chad Johnson last season, and rightfully so. This seventh-year player shows no signs of slowing down. He is the WR that is drama free, and may be the Bengals number one receiver this season again if Chad Johnson decides he wants to play.

The problem with Houshmandzadeh is that he doesn’t get a lot of yards after the catch. That number isn’t evident with his 1,143 reception yards on 112 catches, and 12 touchdowns. That will need to be corrected if he is to be an elite receiver.

8 Marques Colston: Colston started the season slowly, but picked it up after game 5. He still ended the season with 1,202 yards and 11 TDs. This season the Saints look to add former first round draft pick Robert Meachem to the line-up to play opposite Colston, but because Meachem is coming back from a knee surgery, he won’t get that many opportunities early.

Colston will still be the go-to person. He scored nine of his touchdowns in the redzone. Colston could very well become a sleeper in his third year in the league, and has the possibility to become MVP.

9 Chad Johnson: Drama-filled Chad Johnson is playing alongside T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but will be a non-factor if he keeps demanding trades. Though he had 1,400 yards receiving and eight touchdowns, he may see significant bench time and may not be as effective as he once was. Buyer beware. He could be hit-or-miss this season so if you draft him, monitor his progress the first couple weeks. Don’t be ashamed if you miss out on drafting him. There are other wide receivers to pick up his slack.

10 Wes Welker: Welker is a snake and is very hard to contain. He’s crafty, and speedy for a slot receiver. He managed to amass over 1,175 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. He also led the Patriots in receptions with 112. He is definitely a red zone threat with the craftiness to elude defenders. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to pick him up after your first few receivers or running backs are selected. He has proven that he can play with the big boys and the Dolphins are now sorry that they didn’t keep him.

11 Anquan Boldin: Playing alongside Larry Fitzgerald is no easy task, but Boldin has proven that he can. Boldin had one more touchdown than Fitzgerald, but has significantly less yards in 853. When Fitzgerald is getting the attention Boldin is often ignored, but so much the better for fantasy owners. While he won’t get you points via yards, he certainly helps in the touchdown department. Be patient with him. He may not be the household receiver name, but he can quietly get you points.

12 Plaxico Burress: Burress’s years in the league are starting to catch up with him. He only had 1,025 yards receiving and that’s not bad, but it’s not great for a number one receiver on the team. The number that should stick out is his touchdown total of 12. He didn’t have a stellar year, and part if his inconsistency this season was due to the sporadic play of Eli Manning early in the year.

13 Torry Holt: Holt only had seven touchdowns and 1,198 yards this past season and that was with three different quarterbacks. Should Bulger come back healthy Holt will have a bigger year. It helps his stock now that Isaac Bruce is no longer with the team. Holt is still Holt. He’s tough, fast, and doesn’t get injured often, but he needs to play better in the red zone to get more touchdowns. His downside is often blockers won’t block for him when he has the ball to help him get extra yards.

14 Greg Jennings: Greg Jennings is a pleasant surprise. He doesn’t have a 1,000 yard season yet, but it was so close last season when he had 920 yards. He also missed the first two games of the season. What’s so surprising about Jennings is that he had 12 touchdowns. Now that Favre is gone, Jennings will be the prime target for Rodgers (if he doesn’t get hurt). Either way, the Packers will be relying on Jennings and Driver, but look for Jennings to get the nod. Perhaps he will be a 3rd year wonder and break out. He and Colston look to be the prime targets for their respective teams and Jennings also has a chance to be considered in the MVP race.

15 Roy Williams: His numbers slipped in 2007, and he only amassed 836 yards and 5 touchdowns. Though he didn’t play the last 4 games of the season, he showed how ineffective he can be. He dropped a league-high 8 passes and can’t be relied on to provide a consistent outing each week. It is shaky to have him in your line up, and injuries are mounting up on this young player. Draft him as a #2 option.

16 Santonio Holmes: Holmes isn’t commanding much attention from defenses, but he’s shown that he can burn them. He averaged 18 yards a reception last season. That’s a very sick number when you consider he’s not that tall or fast for a receiver. He was able to gain 942 yards and 8 touchdowns. But he can get into the open lanes and has a quick first step off the line of scrimmage. He’s not a bad pick up in the later rounds, but watch for him because he may go quicker than some expect.

17. Jerricho Cotchery. With the addition of Brett Favre, he now makes our top-20. He should increase his good numbers from last year, and will be useful in the short-passing game. Over a 1,000-yard season and eight TDs could be a strong possibility.

18. Laveranues Coles. What a trade does for a team! Coles reappears in the upper part of the rankings thanks to Favre. He will be used in the deeper routes, getting you a lot of yardage. TDs will be an added bonus. He should produce the same numbers projected for Cotchery in 2008.

19. Brandon Marshall: Marshall came on the scene last season and made a good target for Jay Cutler. He netted 1,306 yards, but only seven touchdowns. He has been suspended three games by the Commissioner with the possibility of a game being taken off that. He was a borderline number two and excellent number three receiver. He probably is a solid number three receiver or excellent number four receiver now.

Also, keep in mind Marshall will be coming off an offseason injury in which he suffered by “horsing around” with his brother. The Broncos drafted a WR in Eddie Royal to help the anemic passing game, but Marshall still should be the front runner for the number one WR spot when reinstated. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to draft him later especially if you have a 4-WR set in your league. He doesn’t warrant a high draft pick, and the only reason he has the yards he has is only because there’s no one else to throw to in Denver.

20 Steve Smith: His numbers were okay, and was still able to receive over 1,000 yards, barely (1002). His speed and numbers have dropped off in recent years, but he’s still good. The Panthers suspended Steve Smith for the first two games of the regular season. We had him ranked as the 10th best receiver. He was probably an early third round pick. With this move, I would say he drops to the end of the third round or beginning of the fourth round.

He was a question mark to begin with given that Jake Delhomme was coming off Tommy John’s surgery. There are no other dependable quarterbacks to get him the ball if Delhomme goes down. Still, you can’t have a number one receiver that isn’t playing the first two weeks. That could be the difference between going 2-0 or 0-2. In a 14-game season, that is a big risk. He is still a high pick, but make sure he is no better than your second WR.

21. Marvin Harrison: This is a reach even this low, but you still have to respect Harrison for what he’s done in the past. Barring he is cleared from the shooting incident and he stays healthy, he’ll be a bona fide wide receiver. Last season he only 247 yards and 1 touchdown in 5 games. Age may be a factor this season. He’ll be 36 when the season starts so it is risky to take a chance on him. He’s good, but may not be as good this season.

22 Hines Ward: He was often overshadowed by Santonio Holmes, but Ward makes his money as the number two receiver. Though it can be argued he played the number one spot this season, his numbers didn’t show it. He still has the explosiveness and could get you a surprise touchdown or two. His 732 yards and 7 touchdowns are certainly no fluke. Limas Sweed is now with the team so there may be some questions as to Ward’s role in the offense. Pick up Ward in the later rounds and wait to see if Sweed is as advertised. If not, Ward should see significant playing time.

Below is the table containing our top-40 Fantasy Football WRs for 2008.

RANK	PLAYER
1	Randy Moss
2	Terrell Owens
3	Reggie Wayne
4	Braylon Edwards
5	Andre Johnson
6	Larry Fitzgerald
7	T.J. Houshmandzadeh
8	Marques Colston
9	Chad Johnson
10	Wes Welker
11	Anquan Boldin
12	Plaxico Burress
13	Torry Holt
14	Greg Jennings
15	Roy Williams
16	Santonio Holmes
17	Jerricho Cotchery
18	Laveranues Coles
19	Brandon Marshall
20	Steve Smith (Car)
21	Marvin Harrison
22	Hines Ward
23	Dwayne Bowe
24	Calvin Johnson
25	Roddy White
26	Chris Chambers
27	Joey Galloway
28	Donald Driver
29	Lee Evans
30	Bobby Engram
31	Santana Moss
32	Bernard Berrian
33	Kevin Curtis
34	Donte' Stallworth
35	Javon Walker
36	Patrick Crayton
37	Jerry Porter
38	Anthony Gonzalez
39	Derrick Mason
40	Nate Burleson

Now some low-end WR1 and all of the WR2 below.

RANK	PLAYER
41	Bryant Johnson
42	Isaac Bruce
42 B	Justin Gage
43	Marty Booker
44	Ernest Wilford
45	D.J. Hackett
46	David Patten
47	Reggie Brown
48	Vincent Jackson
49	Drew Bennett
50	Kevin Walter
51	Antwaan Randle El
52	James Hardy
53	Sidney Rice
54	Dennis Northcutt
55	Keary Colbert
56	Ted Ginn Jr
57	Antonio Bryant
58	Laurent Robinson
59	Roydell Williams
60	Mark Clayton
61	Mark Bradley
62	Devard Darling

To end these rankings, for deep leagues, all of the WR3 and a couple of WR4.

RANK	PLAYER
63	Jabar Gaffney
64	Sam Hurd
65	Devery Henderson
66	Limas Sweed
67	Deion Branch
68	Reche Caldwell
69	Jason Avant
70	Steve Smith (NY)
71	Andre Davis
72	Shaun McDonald
73	Brandon Stokley
74	Reggie Williams
75	Craig Davis
76	Michael Clayton
77	Muhsin Muhammad
78	James Jones
79	Brandon Jones
80	Devin Thomas
81	Arnaz Battle
82	Terry Glenn
83	Bobby Wade
84	Drew Carter
85	Roscoe Parrish
86	Bobby Jenkins
87	Darrell Jackson
88	Earl Bennett
89	Jeff Webb
90	Demetrius Williams
91	Derek Hagan
92	Devin Hester
93	Ben Obomanu

2008 Fantasy Football QBs Rankings.

Quarterbacks are faster to rank, as there is only one starter per team, usually, with a few training camp battles here and there. Those players that are on the bubble will rank lower.

The highest rankings will go to the relatively young, proven players that will count on the support from solid wide receivers. The entire Maniaxs' staff compiled their own rankings assigning 32 points to a No. 1 rank going down to assigning one point to a No. 32 rank. Then we added all the points and determined the final 2008 QB rankings.

Let me reassure you that nothing particularly crazy happened during the ranking process like ranking Tom Brady # 32. He received all but one first-place vote. Peyton Manning received all but two second-place votes. The lone occasion where Brady didn't get a first place vote, Peyton didn't take his place, Carson Palmer did.

We will have a few articles later into the offseason about Manning's declining rankings in 2008. For now, enjoy our OFFICIAL 2008 Fantasy QB seasonal (redraft) rankings. We have included the final rankings' grid/table for your ease, and a PDF link so that you can download them for your draft(s).

1. Tom Brady. The No. 1 consensus QB pick in 2008, after a career season in which he passed for 4,806 yards and was responsible for an astonishing 50 TDs. He lost Stallworth (who didn’t have a good year anyhow – 697 yards & three TDs), but Gaffney is ready to replace him. Randy Moss and Wes Welker are still there to receive his passes and solidify his top-rank. Even a 75 percent repetition of last year's numbers will warrant him the top pick at the position.

2. Peyton Manning. His good, but diminished, production of 4,040 yards (second career-lowest) and 31 scores in 2007 was shadowed only by Tom Brady’s (and a few others) exceptional season. He may fall to the second round of drafts this year, and Tony Romo might even be taken ahead of him in some of them. Peyton is still a first-tier QB by all means. His fantasy numbers may suffer because of the Colts' "cruise control" mode they adopted last year, of controlling the clock via the running game and use the aerial attack only if needed. Missing favorite target Marvin Harrison for a handful of games contributed to his "dipping" numbers.

3. Tony Romo. Last year’s sleeper, who went from posting 2,903 yards – and 19 TDs in 2006 to accumulate 4,211 yards and 36 TDs in 2007, is now ready to be a top-five selection, as long as Terrell Owens (34-years old) and Witten continue to shine.

4. Drew Brees. After a slow ’07 seasons start, he regrouped and produced as advertised. It was too late though, and fantasy owners will be scared of another ’08 slow start. Take advantage of that and fly with him. After all, he managed to produce career-highs in yards (4,428), TDs (28), YPG (276.8), and completed 67.6 percent of his passes. The fact that his main target, Marques Colston will be a “magical” 3rd-year WR next season will only increase his upside.

5. Carson Palmer. He endured an up and down ’07 season, causing his stock to fall a little. His final 2007 stats showed him throw for career-highs 4,131 yards, 575 pass attempted, 373 completed, 258.2 Ypg and five 300-yard games, but also saw him toss 20 interceptions, another career-high. Troubled WR Chris Henry (whom provided some protection for the other WRs, when eligible to play) is finally out of Cincinnati, Chad Johnson is steadily becoming a locker room distraction, and his best 2007 receiving weapon, T.J. Houshmandzadeh will be a free agent at the end of this season, raising concerns among all parties involved. However, the talent is still there for the fifth-year player to have another productive season, especially with RB Kenny Watson being efficiently involved in the receiving aspect of the Bengals’ offense. Newly acquired WR Doug Gabriel, who spent his entire career with the Oakland Raiders before missing the whole 2007 season as a free agent, should fill the void left in the WR’s depth chart by Chris Henry's release.

6. Derek Anderson. From unranked and undrafted last fantasy season after appearing only in 5 games in 2006, into a top-tier selection this year after a monster ’07 season, in which he threw for 3,787 yards and 29 TDs. The addition of Stallworth should shed some coverage off star receiver Braylon Edwards and TE Kellen Winslow, and could even catapult him up to No. 3 overall by the end of next season.

7. Ben Roethlisberger. While “Big Ben” had a quiet and normal statistical 2007 season in yards (3,154), YPG (210.3), and zero 300-yard games, he did manage to limit his picks to a career-low 11, while throwing for a career-high 32 TDs. Since touchdowns scored are every fantasy owner’s dream to rapidly accumulate points, the only red flag I see with Roethlisberger is the fact that 14 of those 32 scores came in three games, all against teams with weak pass defenses, such as the Browns (four), Broncos (four), and the Ravens (five). However, he passed for scores in every game played (15), except in that “muddy” game vs. the Dolphins on November 26. Having already developed some chemistry with “magical” 3rd-year wide out Santonio Holmes last year, a healthier Hines Ward and the new coaches’ commitment to a balanced attack (more passing), will warrant him a top-10 ranking for the first time in his five-year career.

8. Brett Favre. He finally cuts his ties with Green Bay and goes to the Jets. He will be helping the AFC East shortening the gap the formidable Patriots have created and will be challenging Tom Brady for the division's best QB title. Favre is going to find it difficult to duplicate the success he had last season. Those skill position players were custom made for his talents. He is going to have to learn new teammates and a new system. He is a year older and late getting into camp.

I would expect him to be a top ten-fantasy quarterback. We currently have him ranked number 8. I am expecting 3,600 to 3,900 yards, 22-25 touchdown passes and 14-16 interceptions. He plays the Dolphins twice, Bengals, Chiefs, 49ers, and Rams this season, so there will be plenty of chances for him to put up numbers.

His weapons? Everlasting Laveranues Coles and young stud Jerricho Cotchery will reel in the future hall of famer passes in 2008. The only concerns are that the Jets' defense is not as good as the Packers one, and won't be afforded the luxury of having extra time in the pocket as their pass rush defense is not among the best in the league either. However, Favre should post respectable numbers fantasy wise.

9. Matt Hasselbeck. Now that Seattle is a pass-first team, and until they find a good alternative for Alexander (Julius Jones doesn’t seem a good one), Matt is going to be a good fantasy option. Playing in a weak NFC West division will help grow his numbers too. Hasselbeck and his owners enjoyed a great 2007 season as he passed for a career-high 3,966 yards and 28 TDs. His Peyton-like 248 YPG was also a career-high. New QB coach Bill Lazor, who helped Jason Campbell’s development while in Washington last year, could only help Hasselbeck maintain this high rank. D.J. Hackett is no longer a Seahawk, but he hardly played enough to be sorely missed from their system this season. Veterans Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson are still efficient threats, and Ben Obomanu can turn out to be a potential breakout candidate in the WR department next year.

10. Kurt Warner. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are an excellent one-two punch for the veteran who just beat out third-year QB Matt Leinart for the starting job. Leonard Pope has shown flashes of being able to emerge as a go-to Tight End. James still has production left in the tank, although I do believe he is on the downhill slide. The Cardinals play San Francisco and Miami the first two weeks. They also play the Jets in Week 4, which did rank ninth in pass yards allowed, but doesn’t have a shutdown corner to keep up with the Cardinals receivers.

11.Marc Bulger. The injuries sustained on the OL, and his own (ribs, concussion) played a huge part in his sub-par 2007 campaign. In 12 games played last year, Bulger produced career-lows in YPG (199.3), 300-yard games (three), 58.5 completion percentage Y/A (6.3), and, mostly important, TDs (11). Long time target Isaac Bruce will be now rendering his services in San Francisco, leaving aging Torry Holt, often injured ex-Titans Drew Bennett, and TE Randy McMichael who was often utilized as a blocker more than a receiver last year, as his main pass catchers. If the Rams can field a healthy offense in 2008, including having RB Steven Jackson for the entire season, there is no reason not to believe we can see a repeat of the career-like campaign Marc had the previous year (2006) when he threw for 4,301 yards, 24 TDs, eight 300-yard games and only eight INTs.

12. Donovan McNabb. Some people were scared by his susceptibility to injuries last pre-season, but he played most of the games relatively healthy, and took some teams to the fantasy championship, including mine. That was thanks to some strong outings in the final weeks of the season where he only threw one INT (in meaningless fantasy week 17) versus six TDs. Another decent season worth a No. 10 rank is in the horizon for Donovan, who will have another year to develop his rapport with receivers Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown.

13. Eli Manning. While Eli enjoyed a decent 2007 season, in which he threw for 3,336 yards (not his career-high) and 23 TDs, the downfall to that is his 20 INTs. What makes these numbers look worse for him is the fact that he scored eight of his 23 TDs in two weeks (four each in weeks One and 17) and threw at least one interception in twelve games. In the four games when he didn’t throw a pick, he only passed for one TD or less. All of that equals to inconsistency. For fantasy purposes, consistency is key! A huge factor that plays in Eli’s favor is that he hasn’t missed a single game since taking over the starting role in 2004. Having a healthy Shockey, an insurance option in second-year TE Kevin Boss, a renewed Plaxico Burress and a strong running game to keep defenses honest will also play in his favor.

14. Matt Schaub. Last year it was Schaub's first year as a starter and great expectations that came along were just brushed away from an injury-laden season, where he missed five games and played sparingly in three others. Schaub played at full speed in only eight games in 2007 and posted 2,107 passing yards (263.3 per game). If we project those yards into a full 16 games, we have him throwing an elite-like 4,214. Missing leading wide out Andre Johnson for most of the season didn't help matters for the ex-Falcon. We feel confident about a redemption season for Schaub because of the fact that he threw 80% of his TD passes in the four games played together with Johnson. We give him a vote of confidence by ranking him just outside the top-10 in light of his potential providing he and Johnson can enjoy a full healthy season.

15. Jon Kitna. Mike Martz has left the Motor City taking his pass-happy play calling to the West coast (S. Francisco), and that could be a blessing in disguise for the 9-year veteran. Opposing corners will not salivate as much at the chance of picking his passes in 2008, but the lack of a respectable running game after the release of often-injured Kevin Jones and goal-line backup T.J. Duckett will force the Lions to throw the ball downfield quite often again. Kitna (two consecutive 4,000 plus yards seasons) is a double-edged sword for fantasy purposes. The reason for that is that he has the personnel to reel in his throws with star wide out Roy Williams and potential hall of Famer Calvin Johnson, but at the same time, this 35-year old signal caller has had only one season (2003 as a Bengal) where he threw more TDs (26) than interceptions (15).

16. Philip Rivers. Rivers has enjoyed two consecutive over 3,000-yard seasons and has thrown more TDs than INTs during that span. That is a positive in fantasy football. Last year his breakout season suffered a halt due to the nagging injury to his main target, TE Antonio Gates, and the inexperience of third-year wide out Vincent Jackson to produce as a WR1. This year, having a healthier Gates, a veteran in Chris Chambers from Week 1 and Jackson going back to his normal WR2 role, will help Rivers produce consistently. Let's not forget that Tomlinson can still catch out of the backfield and turn short screen passes into long yardage gains.

17. Jay Cutler. Cutler had a pretty nice statistical year in his second season. 297 completions in 467 attempts for 3,497 yards, 20 TDs and 14 interceptions are not bad in a second year campaign, which is usually labeled as a “Sophomore Jinx” season. He had a solid 88.1 QB rating to complement his other statistics. If he didn’t jump into superstar status in 2007, it was because he threw too many inopportune picks and the team struggled to win games. Brandon Marshall and Cutler are a dangerous duo and if they can find a consistent running game as soon as next season, the Broncos’ offense is poised to explode.

However, due to the three-game suspension inflicted to his main target, Marshall,he will struggle to start the season. I would be surprised not to see Cutler throw for 3,200-3,300 yards and 20-plus touchdowns to establish himself as the premier QB in that draft's class now that the Broncos have gotten him a bodyguard in OT Ryan Clady in the draft's first round.

18. David Garrard. Everyone talks about the Jags and their running game. People overlook their passing game. Yes, Garrard hasn’t thrown a career 300-yard game yet, but at the end of the 2007 season, he was trusted to throw the ball for scores. He netted 10 TDs and 1,179 yards in the last five games played. The addition of Ex-Raider Jerry Porter as a receiving target should prove a winner for Garrard’s development. After the elite QBs will have been drafted this summer, look at Garrard to provide some solid points on your fantasy roster. Injures to Porter and Reggie Williams to start the season decrease his value a little.

19. Jeff Garcia. Joey Galloway is getting old by WR standards but keeps posting decent numbers every year. However, he cannot do that forever and the Bucs need major help at the position. Ike Hilliard has scored a total of four TDs in the last 4 years in the league where he has missed only one game. Definitely not your dream WR2. The signing of free agent wide out Antonio Bryant who last played for the Cleveland Browns in 2006 will help Garcia's numbers next season, but too many question marks abound in the Bucs' camp at the position. Despite coach Gruden's smoke screen that predicted fifth-year often-injured Michael Clayton would have "One heck of an off-season", he still has to shake off the injury bug off his shoulders. Third-year receiver Maurice Stovall also needs to break into Tampa's lineup soon. The positives for Garcia are the dependability from RB Earnest Graham in the passing game and the above-mentioned reliability of Galloway. Another key factor that makes Garcia a good fantasy option is low INTs numbers when you consider he has only thrown six of them in 21 starts versus 23 TDs during that same time frame.

20. Jake Delhomme. The Panthers have gotten him some help in the targets department with the acquisitions of Ex-Seattle receiver D.J. Hackett and former Panther Muhsin Muhammad. Hackett has had a young career hampered by injures and figures to be a great complement to Steve Smith, the team's stud. Hackett's value skyrockets the first two weeks of the season due to the two-game suspension Smith received.

Muhammad returns to Carolina on the downside of his career after posting career numbers in his last season there in 2004, when he had 1,405 receiving yards, seven 300-yard games and scored 16 TDs, and can also be dependable as WR3. Second year WR Dwayne Jarrett could be developed rush-free with the added ammunition and can eventually serve his raw skills to Delhomme as soon as this season coming up. He, too, benefits from Smith's suspension short-term.

One major concern with Jake is that he has been hurt in each of the past two seasons where he missed three and 13 games respectively. If he can stay healthy this year, look for solid numbers and can become a nice sleeper for fantasy owners in 2008.

21. A-Rod: No, not Alex Rodriguez from the baseball Yankees, Aaron Rodgers from the football Packers. Yes, he does not have a single official NFL start under his belt, but he does inherit, however, a very potent offense that includes third year wide out Greg Jennings and RB Ryan Grant. He played well when he took over for an injured Favre versus Dallas in week 13 last season throwing for 201 yards, one score and no INTs. The Packers’ solid OL should make Rodgers a solid #2 QB with the potential to grow into more as the season progresses.

A few quick thoughts on the rest of the quarterbacks.

22. Vince Young. He has not many weapons on his stable to be consistent fantasy wise. It seems like the team keeps drafting RBs every off-season.

23. Jason Campbell. He did get some help on paper in the WR department, but in 2007, we had to wait 10 weeks to see a Washington receiver score a TD, and that was by James Thrash, of all people. If history repeats itself, it may be too late for fantasy owners to make the playoffs.

24. Tarvaris Jackson. Bernard Berrian should be an improvement from what they had last year, but the Vikings’ offense is too Peterson-dependent for him to have an outstanding year.

25. J.T. O'Sullivan. Mike Martz is in town and took Sullivan from Detroit with him. However, he's inexperienced and Martz can do no miracles with the receiving personnel currently in place.

26. JaMarcus Russell. He finally gets the starting gig and some new receivers, but it will still be his first year into the fire. If McFadden steals the show in Oakland, as suspected, he is nothing more than a fantasy back-up.

27. Trent Edwards/ J.P. Losman. We have another camp battle here to justify this low rank. Even with rookie James Hardy in the mix at wide out, Lee Evans will not be consistent enough to help either QB ascend a few spots.

28. Chad Pennington. This veteran QB goes from a training camp battle to being an immediate starter. However, he has virtually no one to throw his passes to and will be required to be a ball-control QB. Miami is busy building the franchise elevating their defense’s play and solidifying their running game.

29. Chris Redman/Matt Ryan. It will be Redman’s job to start the season but Roddy White alone won’t be sufficient to warrant a steady production. We frankly believe that the Falcons will run their offense primarily thru Michael Turner (Atlanta’s new toy) in 2008.

30. Kyle Orton. His two best receivers from 2007, Berrian and Muhammad, are no longer in Chicago. He beat out rex Grossman for the starting job, but Chicago is a running team that lacks receiving treats.

31. B. Croyle/ Damon Huard. Dwayne Bowe, aging Tony Gonzalez and the uncertainty that every position battle brings are not good factors for the two competing Chiefs’ QBs.

32. Kyle Boller. We all know that the most of the Ravens scoring comes from their defensive players and kicker Matt Stover. We kid you not!

RANK	PLAYER
1	Tom Brady
2	Peyton Manning
3	Tony Romo
4	Drew Brees
5	Carson Palmer
6	Derek Anderson
7	Ben Roethlisberger
8	Brett Favre
9	Matt Hasselbeck
10	Kurt Warner
11	Marc Bulger
12	Donovan McNabb
13	Eli Manning
14	Matt Schaub
15	Jon Kitna
16	Philip Rivers
17	Jay Cutler
18	David Garrard
19	Jeff Garcia
20	Jake Delhomme
21	Aaron Rodgers
22	Vince Young
23	Jason Campbell
24	Tarvaris Jackson
25	A.Smith/S.Hill
26	JaMarcus Russell
27	Edwards/Losman
28	Chad Pennington
29	Chris Redman/Matt Ryan
30	Kyle Orton
31	Croyle/Huard
32	Kyle Boller

2008 Fantasy Football rookies: RBs.

This year’s draft did not really have a rookie who will jump off the board like last year’s RB Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson and/or WR Anthony Gonzalez. Still, with good research of the teams’ production last year and their advances this year, there will be a few that will jump off the charts as potential gems.

For fantasy owners in seasonal leagues, it might be too early for a rookie analysis, but for the keeper and/or dynasty league player, it is never too early to start looking for talent.

Below will be the top projected players at the running back position. Some should do well this year, while others might not have potential to make an impact. The draft pick (whether high or low) will have no bearing on the success of the rookie; the player’s drive, system, team philosophy and mentoring abilities that will surround the player after the draft that will.

For example, QB Tom Brady was a compensatory 33rd pick in the sixth round in 2000 and now has three Super Bowl rings, Peyton Manning was the No. 1 overall pick in 1998 and has one Super Bowl Ring (along with some astonishing numbers).

Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 was pick 11 in Round One behind Phillip Rivers and Eli Manning. He won a Super Bowl ring before Eli Manning.

2008 Impact Running Backs

In recent years, the cut off for a first round score was 6’0” or better. Since the drafting of Maurice Jones-Drew in 2006, picked in the second round, 60th overall by Jacksonville, the first round stats have changed slightly. In this case there are only two players in this class of running backs that were 6’0” or better. The remaining prospects are all less than 6’0”.

1. Rashard Mendenhall

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers at pick 23 in the first round, he brings to the Steelers what they have not had since Jerome Bettis when he took them to the Super Bowl in 2006. He will be Willie Parker’s backup in the backfield and will be the pounder to get those goal-line yards and wear down the defense.

This is indicative of the Steelers’ smash-mouth philosophy. In order to be successful the RB needs to have a solid OL and QB to be able to allow the running game to flourish. There is no doubt that Mendenhall will have that opportunity this year.

Rashard Mendenhall will produce immediately; the Steelers run a system that in certain situations will benefit both backs in their ability to gain a good chunk of yardage. The knock on Mendenhall is that he is not expected to produce the same amount of yardage that Willie Parker will collect. Only a few rookie RBs that have came in the NFL have produced 1000 yards or greater in the first year.

With Parker set at the RB position, it is illogical that Mendenhall would out produce him the first year. Mendenhall is a very good candidate to be drafted in the middle rounds due to his abilities to continue to get better every game.

2. Jonathan Stewart

Drafted by the Carolina Panthers at pick 13 in the first round, Stewart is another pounder who will wear down defenses and may bring something that the Panthers never had in a RB.

The Panthers solidified their O-Line with the drafting of OT Jeff Otah. With QB Jake Delhomme at the helm and WR Steve Smith stretching the field, there will be opportunities for Stewart to break off long runs this year. Stewart will back up DeAngelo Williams, but in certain situations Stewart will be able to be the lead runner as defenses focus on Williams and not on Stewart.

3. Matt Forte

Drafted by the Chicago Bears at pick 13 in the second round, Forte has a solid chance to be the starter this year with the injury to Cedric Benson. The Bears, like the Steelers, are a run-first offense and have an OL that is built for the running game.

The team does have questions with the QB situation and passing game. If the Bears are able to pull it all together, Forte might be in the running for Rookie of the Year. During college, he ran for over 2,100 yards on 472 carries, averaging 4.5 yards a carry. He also had over 700 yards in receiving.

With the right guidance from the Bears' coaching staff, Forte is a player that most fantasy owners need to focus on in the middle rounds as a potential diamond in the rough.

4. Felix Jones

Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys at pick 22 in the first round, Jones comes to a team in need of a player with speed, size and vision to run specific routes. In college, Jones was the backup to Darren McFadden but analysts believe Jones is more of a complete back.

The Cowboys have been a pass-first offense with stars like WR Terrell Owens and TE Jason Witten, The need to take the pressure off QB Tony Romo will increase as the season progresses. Initially, Jones will back up Marion Barber in the backfield, but speculation is that Jones might have the opportunity to start by midseason.

5. Darren McFadden

Drafted by the Oakland Raiders at pick 4 in the first round, McFadden is a complete athlete with home-run ability. However, he comes to a team that has more holes than the clichéd Swiss cheese.

Rumors have circulated that McFadden will be used like Reggie Bush in both the slot as a receiver and in the backfield for running situations. The reason for placing him this low is that the Raiders OL and passing game is questionable at best and will be an issue for the entire season.

With the Raiders playing in the AFC West, they will play the teams in the AFC East and NFC South, which are heavy on the defensive side of the ball. McFadden may not be a candidate for Rookie of the Year if his production will not be on the same level as those on better offensive teams.

Rookie Running Backs With Potential

1. Kevin Smith

Drafted by the Detroit Lions at pick #1 in the third round, Smith has the potential to start for a team that could employ his skills. The tag on Smith is character, durability and unable to hit top-end speed as necessary at the NFL level. Smith is a player to watch during the season. If he can correct his deficiencies, he will be a value pick in the later rounds.

2. Jamaal Charles

Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs at pick 10 in the third round, Charles has the size and skills but comes to a rebuilding team. Charles will back up Larry Johnson. As the season progresses and Charles is able to develop the strength and awareness to be an every-down back, he will be worth the wait. Monitor him closely and act quickly to snatch him off the waiver wire or even draft him as Johnson's handcuff in deeper leagues.

3. Mike Hart

Drafted by the Indianapolis Colts at pick 36 in round 6, Hart was once a first round projection this year. Due to a poor workout, he fell to the Colts in the sixth round. The Colts employ a pass-first offense but with the abilities of Joseph Addai, Hart will be in the perfect situation to develop into an every-down back. This year might be a wash for Hart, but potential fantasy owners should make themselves aware of Hart’s progress.

4. Steve Slaton

Drafted by the Houston Texans at pick 26 in Round Three, Slaton comes to a team that is desperate for a running back who can hit the home run. With Head Coach Gary Kubiak coming from the Denver Broncos' organization that drafted Terrell Davis in the sixth round in 1995, Slaton is in the perfect situation to develop the running style necessary for an every-down back.

5. Tim Hightower

Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals at pick 14 in round 5, Hightower is a developmental project with a team that has Edgerrin James slowly moving out the door. The Cardinals have all the tools to have a solid run game and Hightower will be mentored under Ken Whisenhunt, who coached with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the Super Bowl run in 2005.

That team featured Jerome Bettis as the running back. Hightower will not be in the same league as Bettis was in 2005, but in time he will be able to develop the skills to replace James as the Cardinals' starter.

2008 Fantasy Football TEs Rankings.

One of the more challenging decisions in putting your fantasy team together is trying to figure out when the best time is to draft a tight end. The problem with tight ends is that most of them are not the featured target in a team’s passing game. With so few tight ends putting up starting wide-receiver-type numbers, there are only a few tight ends that warrant high fantasy draft selection.

To properly evaluate prospective tight ends for fantasy football purposes, one needs to look not only at the physical talents of the tight end, but also the quality of the offense. Vernon Davis is a perfect example.

Great size and 40-time, but he is stuck in an anemic quarterback situation with a lack of quality wide receivers around him. It still got him 509 receiving yards, which is not bad for a tight end. The problem is that he had only four touchdowns.

The separation between the good tight ends and the great tight ends is largely in the touchdown production. That is why Tony Gonzalez’s value has declined in recent years. He is still getting a lot of receptions and yards, but fewer touchdowns. In fantasy football, you usually get one point for every 10 yards receiving, as opposed to six points for one touchdown scored.

Therefore, Gonzalez and Davis lose value, because even if they have eight catches for 80 yards, they lose out to a tight end with three catches for 30 yards and one touchdown.

The production of the tight end is dependent upon a lot of factors. The most important is the same as with receivers, who is throwing him the ball? A good running back helps too, because it sells play action, which is a good way to get the ball to the tight end. If the line can block well, it gives the tight end more opportunities to run routes. Receivers are a mixed blessing.

While having receivers like Marvin Harrison has helped Dallas Clark excel over the years, his success goes to Peyton Manning’s talents and ability to spread out the ball. In Arizona, having Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin has not equated to Leonard Pope putting up huge numbers, in large part to the inconsistency they have had at signal caller, in the running game, and in the play action.

The more balance an offense has, the better the opportunity for the QB to excel. That is why Donald Lee came on in the second half of last season. He had a great QB the whole season, but the emergence of Ryan Grant made him even more difficult to cover. In 2005 and 2006, the Packers still had Favre, but struggled to run the ball. That caused Donald Lee to be nonexistent.

My general rule for determining where to draft a tight end is two-fold. I don’t like to draft a tight end much higher than the end of the third to fourth round, because while you are getting good value, you are doing it at the expense of the good running backs or wide receivers left on the board.

However, it is nice to have an excellent tight end, because you only need to carry another tight end on your roster for one other week (barring injury), which gives you more flexibility in carrying an extra QB, RB, or WR.

In the end, I want one of the top-10 guys; someone that I can play most weeks and not have to scroll the waiver wire for shots in the dark. Landing the No. 1 tight end is nice, but not a priority.

Each individual owner will come to a different conclusion about where the value is right, based on what is left on their draft board. My general rule is that if a tight end doesn’t accumulate more than 60 catches, 800 yards, and eight touchdowns (130 points) year in and year out, he probably isn’t worth drafting until at least the eight to 10th round, depending on when the run on tight ends occurs in the draft by the other owners.

Our site's writers ranked the Top Fantasy tight ends in the order listed below. Those rankings were averaged to come up with the website rankings. Here are my thoughts on the top 15 tight ends for 2008.

NOTE: These rankings are for seasonal (re-draft) leagues only.

1) Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys)—He led the league in fantasy points last year for tight ends with 96 receptions for 1,145 yards, averaging 11.9 yards per catch, and scoring seven touchdowns. Tony Romo had over 4,200 yards passing last year, and had a QB rating of 97.4. Romo’s ability to spread the ball to a number of different weapons helps keep defenses honest.

Marion Barber and Felix Jones will force defenses to respect play action and the running game. Drafting Witten at the end of round three or later should result in a good value pick. You will probably not have an opportunity to pick him after the fourth round.

2) Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers)—Gates has some injury questions from last year that some NFL analysts believe could linger into the '08-'09 season. Gates’ 2007 stats were 75 receptions for 984 yards, averaging 13.1 yards, and nine touchdowns. Gates is coming off a toe injury that could limit his production this year, an injury that would restrict his movement and limit his ability to get open.

Philip Rivers is coming off knee surgery. LaDainian Tomlinson also had knee issues to close the season. The passing and running game is suspicious with injuries to Tomlinson and Rivers. Gates would be the unanimous No. 1 if it were not for all these injury issues.

He is too good to pass up, and should also be drafted in the late third round or later, probably not lasting past the fourth round. Keep an eye on his recovery and the team’s health outlook in general, just to make sure that you are getting good value.

3) Kellen Winslow (Cleveland Browns)—He has had two consecutive 80-catch seasons and broke the 1,000 yard barrier in 2007. The only downside is that he has eight total touchdowns those two seasons. With Anderson having a good year in the offense, Braylon Edwards is becoming a top-flight receiver, and Jamal Lewis is rediscovering his legs, the Browns' offense is expected to be explosive again in 2008.

I would expect those touchdown numbers to go up. He isn’t quite in the Witten/Gates class, but is quickly approaching it. He is probably worthy of a fourth to fifth-round pick, depending on when the other two guys go.

4) Dallas Clark (Indianapolis Colts)—He has the best of both worlds; a QB in Peyton Manning that had 4,551 yards passing and a QB rating 98.7 and a RB in Joseph Addai who nearly had 1,400 combined yards and 11 touchdowns. Combined with Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, and Anthony Gonzalez, Clark doesn’t see a lot of double coverage.

The problem is that he has a lot of weapons to share touches with. While his 11 touchdowns are the stuff of dreams, his 58 receptions for 616 yards is not nearly as productive as the elite tight ends. He is still worth grabbing in the fifth round or later.

5) Tony Gonzalez (Kansas City Chiefs)—He has been the center of a struggling pass offense for the past few years now, and with the Chiefs clearly rebuilding, Gonzalez, at age 32, led the league in catches for a TE last season with 99 receptions for 1,172 yards, averaging 11.8 yards.

The downside is that he hasn’t scored more than five touchdowns since 2004. While Witten had only seven touchdowns in 2007, there is a lot more upside there with Romo than Gonzalez has with Croyle/Huard. Gonzalez is projected to land in the fifth to sixth rounds.

6) Chris Cooley (Washington Redskins)—Chris is on a team that made the playoffs in 2007, but is changing to the West-Coast Offense. Cooley had 66 receptions for 786 yards, averaging 11.9 yards, and eight touchdowns.

The West-Coast Offense utilizes the tight end, so it isn’t like Mike Martz or the Run 'n Shoot is coming to town. Jim Zorn just wasn’t able to do that in Seattle, because they had very little talent at that position. Cooley is a consistently strong performer, and as long as Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts do well, the Redskins will be able to utilize him in play-action and in the end zone. Drafting Cooley in the fifth to seventh rounds is still a good bet.

7) Jeremy Shockey (New York Giants)—Shockey had a very good season in 2007, (57 catches for 619 yards, 10.9 yards per catch, and three touchdowns) even though he was injured just before the playoffs. Kevin Boss played well in his place, and while the Giants didn’t score 35-plus points, they had a very efficient offense that carried them to road wins over Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Green Bay, as well as the Super-Bowl victory over New England.

Shockey became rumored to be on the trade block with the emergence of TE Kevin Boss. That finally came to fruition on July 21. New Orleans is his new team, where he instantly makes Drew Brees more valuable and Eric Johnson disappear from the fantasy rankings.

Shockey should have a good season with a more pass-oriented team like the Saints, provided he could stay healthy in 2008.

8) Heath Miller (Pittsburgh Steelers)—The Steelers have been known as a smash-mouth team, but they have shown an ability to move the ball in the air under first year coach Mike Tomlin. Miller is the key ingredient in run formations that can also play in single-back sets.

Miller had 47 receptions for 566 yards, averaging 12 yards, and scored seven touchdowns. He has the same problem as Clark, in that there are a lot of good offensive weapons to spread the ball to. Drafting Miller in the sixth to eighth rounds is a good bet.

9) Benjamin Watson (New England Patriots)—Watson rushed out of the gates in 2007 with 17 catches for 194 yards and five touchdowns. That would have put him on pace for 620 yards and 16 touchdowns. Then he got hurt, and even though he came back in Week Nine, he was never really the same player.

Tom Brady loves using the tight end, and is the best in the business at play- action, so Watson should see an increase in productivity in 2008, if he can stay healthy. He is always an end zone threat more than a big yardage threat due to his blocking role and Randy Moss and Wes Welker in place. He is a secondary option in the Patriots' offense. That is still good enough to go in the seventh to ninth rounds.

10) Owen Daniels (Houston Texans)—Daniels has had to stay in for run blocking and pass protection, has not had a great QB, and other than Andre Johnson, does not have a consistent target to draw coverage away downfield. Daniels had 63 catches for 768 yards, 12.2 yards per catch, and three TDs.

I’m not in love with him, but I think he has good value. Because he doesn’t have the name recognition of a Heap or Shockey, you can probably wait to draft him after the 10th round and still get good value. If Ahman Green can stay healthy or if Chris Brown is able to give the Texans a more consistent running game, teams will have to respect play-action passing.

He’s the type of player to pick if the value is right, but not to be afraid if another owner drafts him before you. Having or not having him will not make or break your fantasy season.

11) Todd Heap (Baltimore Ravens)—Heap would be much higher on the list if it were not for injury concerns and an uncertain quarterback situation. Heap had 23 receptions for 219 yards and one touchdown in six games last year. He had played in 16 games in 2005 and 2006; so don’t let the injury concerns scare you too bad.

He is only 28-years old, so it isn’t as if he is ready for the NFL retirement announcement. Heap at this point is still a draft worthy. I think his value is in the ninth to 10th round, but he may not last that long with his name recognition.

Keep in mind how tough Baltimore’s schedule is this season as well. They play Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Pittsburgh twice, Cleveland twice, Dallas, NY Giants, Philadelphia, and Washington. That is not good news with Kyle Boller at quarterback and two youngsters in the mix. If someone takes him before you, it will not be the end of the world.

12) Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49ers)—He was drafted No. 6 overall in the first round of 2006, but has yet to have a breakout season. Mike Martz has never been big on using the tight end, but will have to this season given his less-than-adequate receiver situation. The good news for Davis is that he has receiver-like 40 times and skills, which will be more attractive to Martz than his previous tight ends.

With the addition of Mike Martz and some additional mentoring, Davis could be primed for a big season. Davis had 52 receptions for 509 yards, 9.8 per catch with four TDs. Davis is another guy with name value, because of his high draft-status and 40-yard dash time, so he probably won’t be available after the ninth to 10th round.

13) Donald Lee (Green Bay Packers)—This is a player that is hard to value off of last year’s production, given the fact that Brett Favre retired. We don’t know what kind of QB Aaron Rodgers will become, no matter how good he looked in the Dallas game. If Rodgers is not as good as expected, that could hurt Grant’s production, which, in turn, will hurt play-action and Lee’s value. Keep in mind that Lee had 43 receptions for 444 yards and two touchdowns in 2005 and 2006, so there isn’t exactly a large body of work to go off of.

That was with Favre in the lineup. Last year could have been a one-year wonder for Lee. Only time will tell, though. Lee is probably someone you are looking to draft after the 10th round and is a borderline No. 1 tight end.

14) Tony Scheffler (Denver Broncos)—Some people have become a little scared about the Bronco’s offense in 2008 due to the diagnoses of Jay Cutler with Type 1 Diabetes. While something that serious is always a concern, you have to remember that he will have the best medical staff and trainers that money can buy.

I am confident the Broncos will make sure that it does not affect their offense. Scheffler is one of Cutler’s favorite targets. He had 49 catches for 549 yards, 11.2 per catch, with five TDs. While a run game by committee became a major problem last year, and they have an offense that failed to score touchdowns inside the 20; the Broncos main downfall was a run defense that could not stop anyone.

Scheffler is a good pick that may make it to the waiver wire, but will probably be picked up by fantasy owners in the 12th round or later. He is a borderline No. 1 tight end.

15) Alge Crumpler (Tennessee Titans)—He was cut in the offseason by the Atlanta Falcons. He was a key cog in the passing game while Michael Vick was at the helm, but struggled with injuries and poor QB play in 2007.

I was surprised he did not sign with Seattle, as I thought that would have been a much better fit. Crumpler comes to a team in a similar situation that the Falcons had in Vick where Vince Young is the starter. He is a very mobile QB that can get the ball down field, but is not always the most accurate passer.

The Titans’ relied on a strong defense and running game to win in 2007. They were anemic passing the ball, and Crumpler should help out in that regard, although this offense will never be confused with the '07 Patriots. Drafting Crumpler in the late rounds could give you some unexpected production, but he is probably not someone that you want as your No. 1 tight end.

RANK	PLAYER
1	Jason Witten
2	Antonio Gates
3	Kellen Winslow
4	Dallas Clark
5	Tony Gonzalez
6	Chris Cooley
7	Jeremy Shockey
8	Heath Miller
9	Ben Watson
10	Owen Daniels
11	Todd Heap
12	Vernon Davis
13	Donald Lee
14	Tony Scheffler
15	Alge Crumpler
16	L.J. Smith
17	Eric Johnson
18	Greg Olsen
19	Zach Miller
20	Ben Utecht
21	Randy McMichael
22	Leonard Pope
23	Mercedes Lewis
24	Desmond Clark
25	Kevin Boss
26	Dustin Keller
27	Alex Smith
28	Anthony Fasano
29	Robert Royal
30	John Carlson
31	Visante Shiancoe
32	Jeff King
33	Michael Gaines
34	Ben Hartsock

Fantasy Football: 2008 "magical" third-year WRs.

The NFL draft is complete and OTAs have begun. It’s time once again to start preliminary work on your fantasy draft boards.
The NFL season is 12 months long and so is fantasy football. It’s never too early to start the quest for a fantasy football championship.

The good managers are preparing their cheat cheats and reading www.fantasyfootballmaniaxs.com to prepare for their upcoming drafts. I apologize for the shameless plug.

A select few WRs have immediate impact, but for the most part, it’s that “magical” third year in the league that has traditionally shown whether a WR has what it takes to make it in the NFL.

All players have to adjust to the speed and the pace of the NFL game. Receivers traditionally take a couple years to learn their offenses, and adjust from the complexities of the college passing offense to the pro passing offense. For whatever reason, the third year is the magic year and, generally, a breakout year for young receivers.

Most years knowing this will allow you to get some steals that other owners might not consider draft worthy, a/k/a Braylon Edwards from a season ago. Other notable WR’s that blossomed during their third year include Terrell Owens, Joey Galloway, Keyshawn Johnson and Jerricho Cotchery as recently as 2006.

The problem is that probably isn’t the case this year. Most of this year’s third year receivers had solid seasons last year and will not be surprises. While year in and year out, WR is probably the deepest position in fantasy football, the same can’t be said for third- year receivers in 2008. After the top guys, there isn’t a very deep or promising class. There is only a handful that could serve your fantasy team well. Here are my rankings for the third year wide receivers.

1) Marques Colston, Saints: This isn’t one that will take people by surprise. He has already broken out and is the best fantasy option of the third-year WRs. If you don’t get your Randy Moss or Terrell Owens, he can be a solid first option at WR on your fantasy team.

As a rookie, eligible also at TE in most leagues, Colston was a waiver wire gold mine, and last season he hauled in 98 catches for 1,202 yards and 11 TDs. The Saints will get back to playing football instead of trying to be cute with Reggie Bush, so expect their offense to rebound and to again be one of the best in the league. As that happens, expect Colston to put up similar numbers this season. He has early third round value and may go even sooner depending on your league.

2) Santonio Holmes, Steelers: Holmes started to come into his own last season. Speedy and shifty, his numbers last season were similar to those of Green Bay’s Greg Jennings. Holmes had 52 catches, 942 yards and eight TDs. To me, Holmes is that hanging curve if you’re looking to hit a home run after the big guys have come off the board. Even with the addition of rookie WR Limas Sweed, I expect all of Holmes’ numbers to increase, as
he became a go-to guy for Ben Roethlisberger last season.

Rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall, should help the running game curb opposing defenses, keeping pressure off Holmes and the other Steelers’ receivers. Don’t be surprised if Holmes gets at least 65 - 70 passes for 1,100+ yards and 9 - 10 TDs. Also, don’t bite too early as you draft. Think of him as a good third option, not someone to be building your receiving corps around. He is a good fourth to fifth round pick.

3) Greg Jennings, Packers: Ridiculously good after the catch, he only had 53 catches, but turned them into 920 yards and 12 TDs. However, that was with Brett Favre at QB, and this offense is going to look much different under Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is athletic and does have a good grasp of the offense, so expect Jennings to have similar numbers in regards to receptions and yards. If he can stay healthy, there is even a good chance he’ll reach 1,000 yards for the first time this year.

But because Green Bay will run a little more, and Rodgers won’t take the same chances or make teams have as much respect for the deep ball as Favre did, I am predicting Jennings’ TD numbers to decline to the 7-10 range. He has similar value to Holmes and is still a good fourth to fifth round pick, but you may have to act quicker given his big touchdown numbers last year.

4) Brandon Marshall, Broncos: He led all second-year WRs last year with a whopping 102 catches and 1,325 yards. He also tacked on seven TDs. Good young talent with speed and size, and Denver’s No. 1 wide out, Marshall should put up solid numbers this season, but not quite what he had last year. First, he had a forearm injury that required stitches. While he will be ready for training camp, that hurt him in the OTAs and offseason workouts.

Denver should be the Denver I thought they could be last season. The Broncos released RB Travis Henry, but have some good backs in the wings. Drafting Ryan Clady will help them run the ball better. They probably won’t be playing from behind as much this year, and should also have more consistent play from its tight ends. All of these factors should bring down Marshall’s numbers some. His TDs should be about the same; expect about six or seven of those. I see the decline in his receptions (low to mid 80s) and yards (1,000 –1,100). If another owner jumps on the Marshall bandwagon and pulls the trigger in the third or fourth round, consider it a favor. He is realistically a solid fifth rounder that may be around in the sixth round.

5) Ben Obomanu, Seahawks: The top four receivers were the obvious choices. He’s a wild card in this mix.The 12 receptions, 180 yards, and one TD he had last year makes him easy to forget. He is definitely not on par with the other names. I’m going to hype him a little because he could be a fantastic steal in the later rounds or, depending on the league, on the waiver wire. Obomanu has the potential – especially in Seattle’s offense – to be a 1,000 yard 8 - 10 TD guy.

He has decent speed and size at 6’0” 206 lbs., and fits the offense fairly well. With D.J. Hackett now in Carolina and Deion Branch injured and not certain to be ready for Week One, Obomanu will see the field more in ‘08. Keep an eye on Seattle’s depth chart and WR competition in camps and in the preseason. If Obomanu can beat out Bobby Engram or Nate Burleson for a starting spot, expect good things in a pass friendly offense with a Pro Bowl QB in Matt Hasselbeck. Otherwise, barring injury to one of those others, Seattle’s #3 receiver probably isn’t worth having most weeks.

That’s the handful of impact third-year WRs. One for each finger on your hand. Keep them and the analysis in mind as you make your way toward your fantasy football draft.

In regards to the other third year receivers, they don’t require much analysis now. Their names are: Jason Avant (Phi), Devin Hester (Chi), Chad Jackson (NE), Maurice Stovall (TB), Demetrius Williams (Bal), and Travis Wilson (Cle). They are probably going to be waiver wire pickups if surprise production warrants them being picked up.

Good luck in your draft and in your fantasy season.