Let Rudi Johnson’s release from the Cincinnati Bengals hammer the point home that sure things do not exist in fantasy football. Exactly one year after fantasy owners went bonkers for his all-but-guaranteed 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns, Johnson is a constantly injured man without a team. He was replaceable, and former first round pick Chris Perry did to Johnson what he did to former starter Corey Dillon four years ago. Things change - fantasy owners must be ready to roll with the punches.

The Bengals reportedly made Johnson, who missed all four of the team’s preseason games, available via trade, but couldn’t find any takers. The 28-year old will almost certainly be picked up by another team, but it’s tough to find a situation where he’d have immediate fantasy value. What’s more likely is he plays a backup role on a team hurting for backfield depth, then maybe gets a chance down the road. Read more »

There is much difficulty in pulling the trigger on a player who is guaranteed to miss three crucial weeks of the season. So, when it was announced that Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall would have his three-game suspension reduced to one, the young wide receiver surged up rankings boards and altered the fantasy football landscape.

One of the league’s premier talents is finally being selected where his skill level dictates he should. This season’s class of wide receivers was already deep, but the added certainty for Marshall creates yet another dimension. Now, what’s left in the wide receiver pool is a group of nearly 20 players who could produce like No. 1 receivers for fantasy teams. Marshall is a legitimate No. 1 option and moves into the position’s top 10 rankings. Read more »

For the most part, the next time you see your fantasy team players in action it will be in Week One, as most starters sit in the fourth and final preseason game. So, with that said, what has the preseason action on the field, and the news off it, done for the players around the league?

Here is a brief glimpse at some of the most compelling NFL issues in the fantasy world. From star players like Peyton Manning and Steven Jackson coming back to camp, to players like Chad Johnson and Derek Anderson making news for not being on the field, we have it all covered.
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Each season, right around this time, a number players are put on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, making them ineligible to play in regular season games until Week 7. The writing is typically on the wall during training camp for these injured players, so their names don’t come as a huge surprise. Fortunately for fantasy owners, they also should have much impact, if any, on their teams this season.

Tampa Bay running back Cadillac Williams was the most significant player on the PUP list, but his inclusion doesn’t come as a surprise. Because of his lengthy rehabilitation from a PCL tear he suffered last season, 2007 dynamo Earnest Graham has been an early draft pick as the Bucs’ top running back. No fantasy owners were expecting contributions from Williams until midseason, regardless of his official standing with the NFL league office. Read more »

In this, the “year of the non-running back” in fantasy football, quarterbacks and wide receivers have been expected to play much larger roles for us than in previous seasons. Between excellent crops at both positions and the decreased work loads of NFL running backs, powerhouse fantasy backfields are becoming less and less imperative to a team’s success.

Problems are arising in this new draft theory as marquee quarterbacks battle injuries that have affected their preseason reps and conditioning. Should we be concerned about Peyton Manning (knee), Tom Brady (foot), or Matt Hasselbeck (back)? We think so, if anything because fantasy owners have placed so much faith in them to lead their teams to glory. Read more »

In fantasy, a sleeper is comprised of equal parts talent and opportunity. Some of fantasy owners’ biggest frustrations happen when young talent wastes away while veterans serve as mediocre starters. Before the season begins, it’s important to assess when and where the opportunities could come, and who’s in line to receive them.

Among those with the most immediate chance to prove himself as a fantasy contributor is Eagles rookie wideout DeSean Jackson. The Eagles’ already-thin group of receivers got even thinner when it was announced that Kevin Curtis could miss nearly half the season with a sports hernia surgery. Fellow rookie Ray Rice and Steve Slaton could also gets early opportunities because of injuries. Read more »

As is usually the case, it hasn’t taken long for the values of this year’s crop of rookies to change. Injuries and preseason performances can quickly place a first-year player on the rising or falling lists, perhaps as we overreact to their first NFL action. We’ll take a quick look at seven players whose stock is on the rise in their respective training camps.

Familiar names at familiar positions highlight a short list of could-be fantasy contributors. Just three of the seven we mention were first round picks in June, and just two - Buffalo WR James Hardy and Atlanta QB Matt Ryan - were not running backs. In terms of reality to fantasy drafts, we get further proof that situations and early opportunities dictate success more than talent does. Read more »

Anyone on Wall Street will tell you that a major key to making money is diversifying their investments - putting money into different industries, different sized companies and different markets. By purchasing stock in all of these different types of companies, the risk of each individual stock is drowned out by the collective strength of the portfolio.

The same principle applies in fantasy football. Every, single player comes with some kind of inherent risk, some obviously more so than others. Age, inexperience, injuries, size, offensive scheme, etc., etc., are all unique risks to individual players. The goal of diversifying is to eliminate all of these individual risks, which can be done by drafting complementary pieces to your team’s puzzle. Read more »

Draft day is the most exciting day of a fantasy season. While every Sunday during the season is action-packed and the playoffs are the apex of all your hard work, the draft is where you mold your roster and give your team an identity. Waiver wire selections can make a big impact, but drafting well is the first step for all championship-winning teams. It’s important to be prepared.

While each draft has a different identity, there are dilemmas that are universal to all leagues. Basic strategy - how urgently to go about filling lineup spots, when to draft a quarterback, how to determine a rookie’s value - doesn’t change. Ironing out these wrinkles before your draft begins puts you at a competitive advantage over the owners who develop their approaches on the fly. Read more »

Rookie fullback Jacob Hester proved himself a worthy backup to LaDainian Tomlinson and a threat at the goal-line, carrying 13 times for 49 yards and 2 touchdowns. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Hester made an even bigger mark when he threw his first career block.

Right now, Hester is the best bet to fill in for L.T., should an unfortunate injury occur, but may have the same kind of struggles as Rams’ hybrid halfback/fullback Brian Leonard had last season. These guys have enough size to be effective in small doses, but not enough speed or agility to be full-time backs. Read more »