Interesting developments across the NFL

It's sphincter-tightening time for owners, and would-be owners, of Peyton Manning and Chris Johnson.

The Colts brought in Kerry Collins earlier this week, ostensibly to beef up their horrid backup-QB position. But more worrisome is the prospect that Peyton's neck injury is not healing as rapidly as hoped. With little more than two weeks to go before Indy's first game, the possibility of seeing Collins under center when the regular season opens is becoming more and more likely.

As we all know, Peyton hasn't missed a start since the heyday of Beatlemania. But neck injuries present more long-term concerns than your typical knee, ankle and shoulder issues. As confident as I've been that Manning will start the season with his hands rubbing up against Jeff Saturday's crotch, it's time to seriously consider the chance that he might not. And if he missed one game, does that stretch into two or three?

Caveat draftor...

Similarly, but different, Chris Johnson's holdout continues to drag on, with no obvious end in sight. Now, these things tend to look darkest before the dawn, and then the next thing you know, everyone's shaking hands and toasting a massive new contract. But CJ2K's meeting yesterday with the Titans' GM did not yield much progress -- so we're told -- so this is another situation worth monitoring. If you have one of the top three or four picks in an early draft, you're facing the possibility of an extra bye week or two if you take CJ2K. I won't believe it till I see it; but there's a chance.

Rumors are flying that Ryan Grant is in danger of being cut by the Packers. This doesn't seem plausible, since he just restructured his contract and has been guaranteed $2.5mm for this season. I fully expect to see Grant lining up behind Aaron Rodgers in Week 1, but this could be a signal that the team is not sold on his complete recovery from last year's knee injury. I'll be bumping him down a couple notches in my next round of rankings, and boosting James Starks a bit.

In other much-less-interesting developments...Larry Johnson has been acquired by the Dolphins. Stay tuned for an announcement about his subsequent arrest or release, coming shortly.

Hola, Miami!

After a brief hiatus following the 2009 season -- thanks to the budget-cutters -- I am very pleased to announce The Fantasy Fool's return to the Miami Herald!


As a native of Coral Gables and a lifelong Dolfan -- I was a young lad in the Orange Bowl throughout the Perfect Season, and was there for The Greatest Game Ever Played (Dolphins vs. Chargers, 1981 AFC Divisional Playoff) -- I am especially proud to be back in the pages of my hometown paper.

Vamanos, South Florida Fools! And go Dolphins!

The Fool is coming! The Fool is coming!

That's right, Beantown...The Fantasy Fool has just been signed to contribute content to the Boston Globe, one of the great metro dailies in the USA (and the world, for that matter). You'll find my stuff online at Boston.com, starting next week (if not sooner).





Having worked and been "edumacated" in your fine city for three years many moons ago, it's exciting for me to finally break into the Boston market.

So here's to you, Pats fans! I can taste the chowder at Legal Seafood now...

2011 Rankings for QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs now posted

Greetings, patient Fools! I'm a day late and a dollar short in posting my first round of positional rankings. Sorry about that. It's been a busy month.

But alas, I've just posted the QBs, RBs and WRs here: http://www.scribd.com/laddbiro

(Update: TE rankings also posted 8/17 pm)

I'm aiming for posting the Ks, DEFs and Top 100 on Thurs.

As always, these lists will be updated at least weekly until a day or two before the regular season kickoff.

Enjoy!

Old faces in new places: Xtreme edition

There’s nothing unusual about offseason player movement. Big names swap teams every year. In each of the previous two seasons, roughly 20 offensive skill-position players of note changed jerseys via free agency or trades.

What’s rare is the free agent that improves his fantasy stock in the year after leaving his previous team.

In 2009, only Brett Favre, Kyle Orton, Nate Washington and Kellen Winslow measurably upgraded their fantasy production from the previous season. In 2010, the standouts were Peyton Hillis, Terrell Owens and Ben Watson. Danny Woodhead and Marshawn Lynch also found happier climes after moving in-season.

Meanwhile, following the historical trend, last year’s list of team-swapping disappointments was exhaustive, highlighted by such long-time fantasy stalwarts as Donovan McNabb, Thomas Jones, Brian Westbrook, Anquan Boldin, Brandon Marshall and Randy Moss.


This year’s lockout, of course, has spawned an unprecedented round of free-agent musical chairs. The number of fantasy-relevant players changing zip codes this season roughly doubled from recent years, and the music hasn’t stopped yet.

Who will prosper? Who will disappear? Let’s examine the most significant offseason moves, broken down by the projected impact on each player’s fantasy value in 2011.

MOVIN’ ON UP – Look for improved production from these six.
Kevin Kolb, QB, Cardinals – As the unchallenged leader in Arizona, Kolb is a lock to vault up the passer rankings this year. Just how far up is the question. Consider him a borderline fantasy starter with upside.

Reggie Bush, RB, Dolphins – After missing half of the 2010 season due to injury, a healthy Bush should fare better in Miami by default. He’ll reprise his role as a lethal passing-game weapon, but rookie Daniel Thomas was drafted to be the rushing workhorse.


Plaxico Burress, WR, Jets – Call it a shot in the dark, but I’d consider pulling the trigger on the free agent out of the Oneida Correctional Facility in the middle rounds of your draft.

Lee Evans, WR, Ravens – He’ll benefit from a more consistent QB and a better offense in Baltimore. But the improved scenery is unlikely to make him more than a desperation starter.

Chad Ochocinco, WR, Patriots – Though well past his prime, the diva will fill a void in Tom Brady’s receiving corps that could easily translate to a doubling of his four-touchdown output of 2010.

Sidney Rice, WR, Seahawks – He scored just twice in an injury-shortened 2010 campaign. But given the horrid state of QB affairs in Seattle, don’t expect a return to his stellar 2009 form.


COMIN’ BACK DOWN – These players will be hard-pressed to match last year’s results.


Ronnie Brown, RB, Eagles – His days as a starter, and wildcat impresario, are over. But he’ll be a useful handcuff to LeSean McCoy.

Cadillac Williams, RB, Rams – Will be parked behind Steven Jackson, waiting for an opportunity.

Ricky Williams, RB, Ravens – Relegated to Ray Rice insurance.

Braylon Edwards, WR, 49ers – Highly unlikely to match 904 yards and seven TDs as Alex Smith’s third or fourth target.

Derrick Mason, WR, Jets – You have to have a lot of confidence in Mark Sanchez to believe his third wideout can be a productive fantasy weapon.

Steve Smith, WR, Eagles – Once his knee heals, the former Giant will likely be the No. 3 wideout in the pecking order, unless Jeremy Maclin’s mysterious illness lingers.

Zach Miller, TE, Seahawks – He’s teased us with his potential in Oakland, but it’s hard to see him excelling in Seattle’s lackluster offense.

David Akers, K, 49ers – He was an elite kicker in Philadelphia. Don’t count on similar results on the left coast.


CALL IT A WASH – For better or worse, these players should post comparable results to last season.


Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Titans – The former Seahawk hasn’t yet adjusted to his new offense. Tennessee will likely remain a one-dimensional, run-dominant team.

Tarvaris Jackson, QB, Seahawks – He may not even hold off Charlie Whitehurst as the starter.

Donovan McNabb, QB, Vikings. Dumped by the Redskins for a sixth-round pick and a case of Schlitz, McNabb is merely holding down the fort until Christian Ponder is ready. It could be another ugly season.

Marion Barber, RB, Bears – Long past his fantasy prime, Barber will settle for Matt Forte’s leftovers.

Tim Hightower, RB, Redskins – He may begin the season as the starter in a crowded backfield, but he’ll likely fumble the job away to one of his younger understudies.

Willis McGahee, RB, Broncos – Will poach touchdowns from Knowshon Moreno instead of Rice this season.

Darren Sproles, RB, Saints – He was recruited to fill Reggie Bush’s cleats, but his opportunities will be few.

Steve Breaston, WR, Chiefs – He gets an upgrade at QB, but the ceiling is low for No. 2 wideouts in Kansas City.

Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Steelers – All but forgotten by the Jets, you’ll forget where he landed before long.

Jabar Gaffney, WR, Redskins – He had his moments in Denver. He’ll have some in Washington, too. Not enough to matter, though.

Legedu Naanee, WR, Panthers -- Vowel-blessed wideout could start opposite Steve Smith, but that job has rarely been a lucrative one.

Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Rams – If you believe, as I do, that Sam Bradford’s star is on the rise, then Sims-Walker becomes an intriguing prospect. But he needs to win a starting job first.

Roy Williams, WR, Bears – Don’t be surprised if Jay Cutler ignores him as much as Tony Romo did.

Kevin Boss, TE, Raiders -- Repeat after me: The only Oakland pass-catcher worth drafting is Jacoby Ford.

Todd Heap, TE, Cardinals -- He should be as reliable a target for Kolb as he was for Joe Flacco.

Greg Olson and Jeremy Shockey, TEs, Panthers – Both were disappointing as clear starters in better offenses last season. Sharing looks from a rookie QB can’t be good.

Olindo Mare, K, Panthers -- Moves from one lousy offense to another.

Jeff Reed, K, Seahawks – Must battle Brandon Coutu for this ho-hum job.


Tomorrow: My first round of positional rankings will be out.

Next week: A look at the Sleepers of 2011.

My Sporting News Mock Draft -- From the 10 Spot

Just wrapped up my first official mock draft of the season. This one was with my colleagues at the Sporting News' Fantasy Source. As usual, they stuck me with a crappy draft slot (10 out of 12), re-confirming what we all already knew... They fear the Fool.

I'm not happy with my overall draft, which means it's probably awesome. Here's what I was able to cobble together.

1.10 Michael Turner -- Best RB still on the board, in my opinion.

2.03 Calvin "Megatron" Johnson -- It was a toss-up with Steven Jackson, who I think is being way overlooked this season. S-Jax ended up lasting until the mid-3rd round.

3.10 Jahvid Best -- Good value here, but didn't realize till later that I had just picked a second Lion. I won't make that mistake when I'm drafting for real.

4.03 Tony Romo -- Vick, Rodgers, Brady, Rivers, Brees, Peyton all gone. Either take Romo, or play catch-up at the QB position all season.

5.10 Daniel Thomas -- Had to shore up the RB position, even though I'm light at WR. While I'm down on the rooks this year, I believe Thomas will be a true bell cow.

6.03 Stevie Johnson -- Solid WR2, though not without risk. The WR pool was fairly well drained.

7.10 Johnny Knox -- Never been a fan, but he'll be Cutler's No. 1 target, without much doubt. That's worth a 7th rounder.

8.03 Jay Cutler -- Panic pick. Huge buyer's remorse on this one. Not only am I a Cutler-hater, but I probably grabbed him way too early. Clock was ticking down, and I couldn't decide on a TE vs. WR, and, well, gagged.

9.10 Jacoby Ford -- A Raider, yes. A No. 1 WR with big upside? Yes.

10.03 Marcedes Lewis -- Finally got my TE. If he shows up like last year, he's a steal.

11.10 LaDainian Tomlinson -- The Jets say Shonn Greene will be the workhorse. I've heard that before. LT may still have a few surprises in store for us.

12.03 Plaxico Burress -- A shot in the dark.

13.10 Arrelious Benn -- If you believe the Bucs' offense is going places (and I do), the second-year wideout could be a big part of that.

14.03 Bears DST -- Meh.

15.10 Shane Vereen -- Pats have high hopes for him. So do I, now.

16.03 Nate Kaeding -- Grabbed him to start the run on kickers.

17.10 Donnie Avery -- If he's healthy, could be Bradford's top target.

There you have it. Can't say I'm proud of this one. I'll get better.

Rookie prospects even dimmer than usual

With all the hype and breathless reporting that greet rookie classes at the beginning of each NFL season, you’d think they would have a greater impact on fantasy leagues. Yet over the past two seasons, you could count the true difference-makers among the first-year players on one hand.

In 2009, Knowshon Moreno and Percy Harvin were solid, if unspectacular, fantasy contributors. Last year, Tampa Bay gave us LeGarrette Blount and Mike Williams, the only rookies worthy of a regular starting role on a fantasy contender.

The pro game is simply too fast, too complex and too long for most newcomers to master in one season. And that’s in a typical year, with a full offseason of training camps, OTAs and class time to prepare.

As we know all too well, this is no typical season; so we’d be wise to lower our expectations accordingly.

Remember that when evaluating the fantasy potential of any rookie, talent is rarely the decisive factor. More relevant is the opportunity presented to the player, which is also a multi-faceted equation.

Does the newcomer have a clear path to a starting gig? Will he join a high-powered offense, or one whose punter is its most lethal weapon? Is he healthy heading into the season, or has he missed invaluable preseason reps due to nagging injuries?

With those caveats in mind, let’s examine the members of the Class of 2011 with the best opportunities to shine in their inaugural seasons.

Mark Ingram, RB, Saints. The table is set for no rookie like the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Ingram is a battering ram with outstanding vision and sure hands, and what he lacks in speed he makes up for in tackle-busting ability. He should become an instant starter and goal-line beast in New Orleans’ high-octane offense. The oft-injured Pierre Thomas is coming off ankle surgery and is unlikely to impede the rookie’s path to stardom.

Daniel Thomas, RB, Dolphins. Until Reggie Bush landed in South Beach, Thomas had the Miami backfield all to himself. But the rookie from Kansas State was drafted to be a workhorse, not a passing-game threat like Bush. Thomas’ upside will be limited more by the Dolphins’ offensive struggles than a competition for carries.

Julio Jones, WR, Falcons. Atlanta paid dearly to draft him, so he will be given every opportunity to excel. Jones has all the tools to develop into a superstar, including an up-and-coming quarterback and a prolific offense in dire need of a dynamic complement to elite wideout Roddy White. He’d make a great fantasy WR4 or WR5, but he’ll probably be drafted too high.

Ryan Williams, RB, Cardinals. Tim Hightower is a Redskin and Beanie Wells has failed to seize the workhorse role envisioned when he was drafted in 2009. Enter Williams, a big-play threat with the potential to jumpstart the league’s worst rushing attack. Look for the rookie from Virginia Tech to share carries with Wells early on, with the balance shifting Williams’ way as the season wears on, especially if the veteran succumbs to yet another injury.

Alex Henery, K, Eagles. David Akers has been an elite fantasy kicker for years, thanks to Philly’s high-scoring offense. But he left for San Francisco in free agency, leaving the plum assignment to Henery, who set an NCAA record for career field-goal accuracy (89.5%) at Nebraska. Grab him late and reap the rewards.

A.J. Green, WR, Bengals. He has everything you want in a top-flight receiver, except an experienced quarterback to feed him the ball. Green’s combination of size (6-4, 211 pounds), quickness, crisp route running and outstanding hands will likely be squandered until Andy Dalton gets up to speed.

Look, but don’t touch

DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys. Felix Jones enters his fourth season as a tenuous starter at best. Murray, the explosive rookie from Oklahoma, will have an opportunity to seize the role over time, but a bum hamstring during training camp is doing little to dispel his injury-prone label.

Delone Carter, RB, Colts. Donald Brown will begin the season as Joseph Addai’s primary backup. Carter will likely finish the season there.

Greg Little, WR, Browns. The physically gifted wideout instantly becomes the best receiver in Cleveland. If he and Colt McCoy can develop a strong rapport, Little could offer some late-season value. More likely, he won’t be worth a roster spot until 2012.

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers. On the plus side, he will likely be the Day One starter. On the down side, well, is everything else. Carolina is in rebuilding mode (a nice way of saying they were the NFL’s worst team in 2010), and Newton arrives bereft of experience in the pro-style offense. His transition will surely be ugly at times.


Next week: We’ll dissect the fallout from the recent free agency frenzy.

Free Agent Feeding Frenzy

OK, Fools; it's on. The most important thing we can do in the next week or two is figure out who's going where, and who's staying put. I'll do my best to track the important fantasy players here, and I'll update this list as soon as I hear something official. Because you can rarely believe what you hear from owners, players and their agents, I'm going to stick to the official announcements, and try to avoid the rumor mill.

No worries...it's going to be plenty interesting even without the rumors. Here's what we know as of August 6:

WHO'S MOVING

QBs
Derek Anderson, Panthers -- Released by the Cardinals and landed in Carolina.
Jake Delhomme -- Dumped by the Browns.
Trent Edwards, Raiders -- Former Bill will push Jason Campbell.
Bruce Gradkowski, Bengals -- Former Raider has agreed to two-year deal in Cincinnati. Wouldn't be a shocker if he started the season.
Rex Grossman, Redskins -- Returns to Washington to battle for the starting job. Let the dancing in the streets of DC begin!
Matt Hasselbeck, Titans -- Released by Seahawks. Signed by Tennessee.
Tarvaris Jackson, Seahawks -- Traded from the Vikings.
Kevin Kolb, Cardinals -- As expected, Philly shipped him to Arizona for CB Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2nd-rounder in 2012.
Donovan McNabb, Vikings -- Traded from the Redskins for a 6th-round pick and a case of Schlitz.
Matt Moore -- Released by Panthers. Signed by Dolphins to two-year deal. And with that, every Dolphin fan is deflated.
Tyler Thigpen, Bills -- Signed three-year deal with Buffalo after leaving Miami.
Vince Young, Eagles -- Released by Titans. Signed one-year deal with Philly to backup Vick.


RBs
Marion Barber, Bears -- Continues the migration of Dallas castoffs to Chicago.
Ronnie Brown, Eagles -- Joins the Super Bowl-or-Bust Eagles from the Dolphins.
Reggie Bush, Dolphins -- Saints and Dolphins agreed to a trade that will send Reggie to South Beach.
Mike Hart -- Released by Colts.
Tim Hightower, Redskins -- Traded by the Cards.
Brandon Jackson, Browns -- Ryan Grant's backup now becomes Peyton Hillis' sub.
Vonta Leach, Ravens -- Will open holes for Ray Rice instead of Arian Foster this year.
LeRon McClain, Chiefs -- Signed a one-year deal to leave Baltimore for KC.
Willis McGahee, Broncos -- Released by Ravens. Will poach TDs from Knowshon Moreno instead this season.
Jerious Norwood, Rams -- Moves from Atlanta to St. Louis to back up S-Jax.
Clinton Portis -- Cut by Redskins before the lockout.
Darren Sproles, Saints -- Leaves San Diego to take over where Reggie Bush left off.
Cadillac Williams, Rams -- Suddenly, the St. Louis backfield is crowded.
Ricky Williams, Ravens -- Signs two-year deal to team with Ray Rice in Baltimore.

WRs
Devin Aromashodu, Vikings -- Moves from Bears to division rival.
Steve Breaston, Chiefs -- Heading to KC from AZ.
Plaxico Burress, Jets -- Takes his shot with the other New York team.
Chris Chambers -- Released by the Chiefs.
Jerricho Cotchery, Steelers -- Released by the Jets. He'll round out the WR corps in Pittsburgh.
Buster Davis, Bills -- Former first-round Charger pick will try to matter in Buffalo.
Braylon Edwards, 49ers -- Moves cross-country after being crowded out of the Jets lineup.
Lee Evans, Ravens -- Leaves Buffalo to become No. 2 wideout in Baltimore.
Jabar Gaffney, Redskins -- Traded from Denver to Washington.
Michael Jenkins, Vikings -- Moves from Atlanta to Minnesota.
Derrick Mason -- Released by Ravens, and signed with the Jets.
Legedu Naanee, Panthers -- Vowel-blessed wideout moves from San Diego.

Chad Ochocinco, Patriots -- Traded by the Bengals. Wow...talk about upgrading your surroundings.
Terrell Owens -- Won't return to Bengals. Hoping to find a new team willing to gamble on him, especially since he'll likely miss at least half the season with a torn ACL.
Antwaan Randle El -- Released by the Steelers.
Sidney Rice, Seahawks -- Will join old backup QB Jackson in Seattle.
Laurent Robinson, Chargers -- Packing his bags and leaving St. Louis behind.
Steve Smith, Eagles -- Injured wideout bolts from Giants to division rivals.
Mike Sims-Walker, Rams -- Cut by Jags before lockout, then signed one-year deal in St. Louis. I'm intrigued.
Brad Smith, Bills -- Perennial sleeper pick by other "gurus" signs four-year deal to move upstate.
Donte Stallworth, Redskins -- Former Raven signed with Washington.
Brandon Stokley -- Leaving Seattle, but not for Washington. He turned down the Redskins' offer because of the glut of WRs (like him, mostly over 30) they have recently amassed.
Roy Williams -- Axed by Cowboys, then signed with Bears. He'll join ex-Cowboy WR Sam Hurd there as well.

TEs
Kevin Boss, Raiders -- Former Giant will replace Zach Miller.
Alge Crumpler -- Released by New England.
Daniel Graham, Titans -- Moves from Denver.
Todd Heap, Cardinals -- Released by Ravens, and landed in Arizona.
Zach Miller, Seahawks -- Seattle won the bidding war with his old team in Oakland.
Greg Olson, Panthers -- Traded by the Bears. Carolina also signed Jeremy Shockey prior to the lockout, and just got Ben Hartsock from the Jets.
Bo Scaife, Bengals -- Former Titan could be Andy Dalton's relief valve.
Matt Spaeth, Bears -- Brought over from Pittsburgh to help fill Olson's old shoes, along with Desmond Clark.

Ks
David Akers, 49ers -- Heads to the left coast from Philly, which will roll with rookie Alex Henery.
Kris Brown -- Released by Cowboys.
Brandon Coutu, Seahawks -- Will battle with Jeff Reed for the kicking gig in Seattle.
Shayne Graham, Redskins -- Signed with Washington, then released again.
Olindo Mare, Panthers -- Moves from Seattle to Carolina.
Jeff Reed, Seahawks -- Former 49er and Steeler will compete with Coutu.


WHO'S STAYING

QBs
Alex Smith, 49ers -- Re-signed to a one-year deal.

RBs
Joseph Addai, Colts -- Agreed to contract renewal to stay in Indy.
Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants -- Stays in NY with a new four-year contract.
Cedric Benson, Bengals -- Staying in Cinci for another (losing) year.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots -- Stays put and solidifies the Pats' running attack.
Brian Leonard, Bengals -- Will stay put in Cinci as Cedric's backup.
Mewelde Moore, Steelers -- Sitting tight in Pittsburgh.
Jason Snelling, Falcons -- Will remain Burner Turner's handcuff.
DeAngelo Williams, Panthers -- Agreed to a five-year renewal with Carolina.

WRs
Michael Clayton, Giants -- Former Buc re-signs with the team that picked him up last season.
Malcom Floyd, Chargers -- Stays put in San Diego.
Santonio Holmes, Jets -- Has agreed to a massive five-year deal ($18.5 million guaranteed) to stay in the Big Apple. He's good, but not that good.
Vincent Jackson, Chargers -- Will stay in San Diego after signing non-exclusive franchise tag.
Jacoby Jones, Texans -- Agreed to terms to continue underachieving in Houston.
James Jones, Packers -- Returns to the Super Bowl champs.
Lance Moore, Saints -- Will remain in New Orleans after signing a five-year extension.
Santana Moss, Redskins -- Re-signed to a three-year deal.
Steve Smith, Panthers -- Quashed trade speculation and agreed to report to Carolina camp to play under current contract, which has 2 years remaining.

TEs
Desmond Clark, Bears -- Re-signs with Chicago, and could reclaim his starting role now that Olson is a Panther.

Ks
Connor Barth, Bucs -- Sticking with the up-and-coming club.
Mason Crosby, Packers -- Re-signed to five-year deal.
Nick Folk, Jets -- Will return to the team on a one-year deal.
Ryan Longwell, Vikings -- Agreed to multi-year deal to remain in Minnehaha.
Adam Vinatieri, Colts -- Re-signed with Indy.

WHO'S RETIRING


Marc Bulger -- Decided being a backup was no longer for him.
Kerry Collins -- 16 years of mediocrity will have to be enough.
Brett Favre -- Please. Just stay home.
Carson Palmer -- The Bengals won't trade him, so he appears ready to retire as threatened. Welcome to the big leagues, Andy Dalton.
Randy Moss -- The Freak is hanging up his cleats.

Wassup, Windy City?

Nealy lost in the hoopla over the ratification of the new CBA by the NFL owners -- and the players' refusal to be rushed into voting on the deal -- was the news that the prestigious Chicago Sun-Times has elected to carry The Fantasy Fool in its pages beginning this season.

I'm excited and honored to break into the Windy City for the first time with my weekly columns, and I'm looking forward to welcoming a new generation of Fools to the dark side.

My first column -- covering the Rookie Class of 2011 -- is slated to run in all my papers (and on this blog) on Monday, August 8. My first round of positional rankings will appear a week later.

Yes, it's time to hit the books! And this August should be even more fun than normal, with potentially 100 or more big names seeking greener pastures in free agency.

The team to watch? Tampa Bay. They have not only had two excellent draft classes in a row, but they have roughly $60 million of salary cap room that they must spend. Don't be surprised if they scoop up two or three of the top free agents right out of the box.

Offseason player movements of note

As we settle in for what could be a very long, dry spell without significant fantasy football content, I thought the best service I could offer here is to keep a running tab of the offseason movement of key players.

The following list will be updated on an as-needed basis. If you notice that I've missed anything significant, please post a comment below and I will fix it.

As of March 11, the following players have been waived, traded or left their team via free agency:

RBs
Clinton Portis -- Cut by Redskins 2/28
Tiki Barber -- Un-retired 3/8. The Giants still hold his rights, but say they'll release him once the new CBA is settled. Who'll take a shot on him at 36 remains to be seen.

WRs
Mike Sims-Walker -- Cut by Jaguars 3/4.

TEs
Daniel Graham -- Cut by Broncos 3/2.
Donald Lee -- Cut by Packers 3/2.
Jeremy Shockey -- Released by Saints 2/2. Signed by Panthers 3/3.

Unrestricted Free Agents
Thanks to my colleague, Brad Pinkerton of the Sporting News, here's a list of likely unrestricted free agents we will be watching once the new CBA is in place:

QB Matt Hasselbeck

RBs DeAngelo Williams, Ahmad Bradshaw, Michael Bush, Cedric Benson, Joseph Addai, Ronnie Brown, Darren Sproles and Cadillac Williams

WRs Sidney Rice, Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, Malcom Floyd, Steve Smith (NYG), Plaxico Burress, Mark Clayton, Jacoby Jones, James Jones, Randy Moss, Santana Moss and Terrell Owens

TEs Kevin Boss, Zach Miller (OAK)

Football Writer of the Year?

I'm pleased to report that your humble Chief Fool is one of three finalists for "Football Writer of the Year" honors from the Fantasy Sports Writers Association.

I figured I'd better crow about it now, before the winner is announced Jan. 25 in Vegas...

I was a finalist for "Best Humor Article" last year, but fell short of the prize. This year, though, I'm up for the Big Kahuna, the Top Dog, the Grande Enchilada!

It's an honor simply to be considered one of the top three writers in the business, so I'm happy just to be in the conversation.

Keep your fingers crossed, fools!

2010 Biro’s Heroes and Zeros Awards

As we are shoved, kicking and screaming, into another interminable fantasy offseason, with the specter of a possible lockout draining us of our will to live (uh, perhaps I’m speaking only for myself here), we have some unfinished business left to wrap up from the season just concluded.

After all, it’s the awards season across this great land of ours, and I can only take so much Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Lady Ga-Gag.

So let’s take a quick stroll back through 2010 to examine the players we rooted for and against and – with as much objectivity as we can muster – give credit where credit is due.

Our annual accolades (and condemnations) have but a few important criteria:

1. Consistency on a weekly basis is next to godliness.
2. Performances during the fantasy playoffs – for our purposes, NFL Weeks 14 through 16 – are given extra weight. Players who let their owners down at the worst possible time earn our eternal scorn. (Hear that, AP?)
3. Week 17 performances are disregarded since most fantasy leagues hold their championship in Week 16, per the wishes of the late, great Don Meredith.
4. As always, I’m open to your feedback on these awards, including those that cause you heartburn. Feel free to email me, and be sure to begin your message with “You’re an idiot because…”

Without further ado, I am pleased to present the 2010 Biro’s Heroes & Zeros Awards:


Most Valuable Player: Michael Vick. If you disagree with this selection, you either didn’t own him or didn’t play against him. Tom Brady was awesome, particularly down the stretch; but Vick’s rushing exploits made him Top Dog on a week-to-week basis. Runner-up: Brady.

“Peerless Price Memorial” Bust of the Year: Randy Moss. Over the last nine games of the season, the “elite” receiver accumulated a worthless seven receptions for 88 yards and no TDs. He had just four decent games prior to that (two apiece with New England and Minnesota). Brandon Gibson, Louis Murphy and about 60 other wideouts delivered more fantasy value. Runner-up: DeAngelo Williams.

Surprise of the Year: Brandon Lloyd. In his seven previous seasons, with four different teams, Lloyd cracked the Top 40 just once (2005) and consistently ranked outside the Top 80. In 2010, he was the No. 1 receiver in the land. What a country. Runner-up: Stevie Johnson.

Rookie of the Year: Mike Williams. He reached the end zone in a whopping 10 games and was among the most consistent players at any position all season. Tampa Bay’s stellar fourth-round pick ranked among the Top 12 fantasy wideouts by season’s end. Runner-up: LeGarrette Blount.

Comeback Player of the Year: Vick. No one else even comes close. Runner-up: Matt Forte.

Best Waiver Wire Acquisition: Peyton Hillis. This could also go to Vick, but let’s spread the love to the Cleveland workhorse, who scored in all but one of his first dozen games as a Brown. Hillis carried his mediocre team on his back all season, and paid the price when his battered body simply wore down. Runner-up: Vick.

Mr. Big Play: DeSean Jackson. He scored on a 31-yard run, a 65-yard punt return and on receptions of 9, 34, 45, 61, 88 and 91 yards. Since this category was created for him last year, the award will carry his name in 2011. Runner-up: Mike Wallace.


Most Devastating Injury Loss: Ryan Grant. Plenty of candidates here – including Tony Romo, Pierre Thomas, Sidney Rice, Austin Collie, Antonio Gates, Jermichael Finley and Dallas Clark – but Grant (a second or third-round fantasy pick) was lost in the opener after gaining just 45 yards. Runner-up: Frank Gore.


Steal of the Draft: Arian Foster. Depending on when you drafted, you could have nabbed the former practice squad player anywhere from the fourth to the 10th round. Either way, you were rewarded with fantasy’s top tailback. Runner-up: Darren McFadden.

Most Overrated Player: Beanie Wells. Would it surprise you to learn that Wells played in all but three games this season? Yet you would have regretted starting the injury- and fumble-prone back in all but two of them. Runner-up: Ronnie Brown.

“Thomas Jones Memorial” Most Underrated Player: Joseph Addai. Jones could arguably rule this category again, but I’m going with Addai, whose injury in Week 6 left the Colts bereft of a rushing threat, particularly from a fantasy perspective. Indy doesn’t run particularly well to begin with; but without Addai, they are pathetic. (Don’t get me started on Donald Brown…) Runner-up: Derrick Mason.

Made Chicken Salad from Chicken Scratch: Hillis. Rising above the muck and mire that is the Cleveland offense, Hillis somehow emerged as an elite performer. None of his teammates – with the occasional exception of Ben Watson – merited a spot on any fantasy roster this season; yet Hillis was in the MVP conversation until the end. Runner-up: Steven Jackson.

Biggest Postseason Disappointment: Adrian Peterson. The Giants stifled him in Week 14 (26 yards), then he was a late and unexpected scratch the following weekend due to ankle and knee injuries. He delivered in Week 16, but that was too little, too late, for too many. Runner-up: Aaron Rodgers.


Too Little Too Late: Ryan Mathews. Over the first 15 injury-plagued weeks of his rookie season, Mathews amassed just 598 yards and two TDs, while Mike Tolbert stole the show. Not exactly what you bargain for from one of your top RBs. In his final two games, a healthy Mathews racked up 222 total yards and four TDs. Gee, thanks, Ryan. Runner-up: Vincent Jackson.

Most Spectacular Bench Performance: McFadden. He deemed himself just “70 percent” recovered from a bum hammy as Week 7 approached, leading us to believe that Michael Bush would carry the load. Instead, Run DMC amassed 196 combined yards and four touchdowns against the Broncos. Runner-up: David Garrard (260 passing yards, 5 combined TDs vs. Dallas, Week 8).

Lived Up to the Hype: Foster. He burst onto the scene out of nowhere during the preseason, but we’ve all seen shooting stars flame out when the games really matter (I’m looking at you, CJ Spiller). Foster never missed a beat. Runner-up: LeSean McCoy.

Most Marginalized by Pathetic QB Play: Larry Fitzgerald. With Kurt Warner under center, Fitz was arguably the best wideout in the land, fantasy and otherwise. This year? Not so much. Runner-up: Carolina’s Steve Smith.

“Frisman Jackson Memorial” Irrational Exuberance Award: David Gettis. Star-crossed fantasy owners flocked to the rookie after his 125-yard, two-touchdown “breakout” performance in Week 7, then realized they bought a big bag of nothing when he returned to obscurity immediately thereafter. Runner-up: Seyi Ajirotutu.

Worst Sophomore Jinx: Shonn Greene. With Thomas Jones banished to KC, and “over-the-hill” LaDainian Tomlinson expected to mentor from the sidelines, Greene was considered a steal in the second or third round. Instead, LT stole his job and Greene was essentially unstartable for his owners all year. Runner-up: Michael Crabtree.

Team Bust of the Year (aka “They Are Who We Thought They Were”): Carolina Panthers. DeAngelo Williams was awful before he landed on injured reserve, and Jonathan Stewart didn’t get rolling until his second chance late in the year. Four quarterbacks combined for a whopping eight passing TDs on the season, only two of which went to the wideout formerly known as Steve Smith. Best I can tell, they don’t even employ a tight end or kicker. What a mess. Runner-up: Arizona Cardinals.

“Plaxico Burress Memorial” Bonehead of the Year: Brett Favre. He had the chance to retire on a high note, but he just had to push it. Favre’s off-field antics proved even more embarrassing than his deteriorating skills. Runner-up: Vincent Jackson.


Most Likely to Succeed in 2011: Jimmy Graham. The former college basketball star posted four touchdowns over the final three weeks of the regular season, emerging as one of Drew Brees’ most reliable red-zone targets. Jeremy Shockey’s clock in New Orleans is ticking. Runner-up: Josh Freeman.

Until next year, I’ll see you at the Fantasy Fools blog. Happy 2011!

Week 17 Heroes & Zeros

This was a terrible week to vie for a championship, but if you had to…

This was a great week to start…


Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers – Paid off his high draft status a little late, with 120 rushing yards and 3 TDs, and 3 receptions for 19 yards.
Arian Foster, RB, Texans – Seized the NFL rushing title with 180 yards and 2 TDs, plus 2 catches for 10 yards.
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers – Ran for 36 yards and 2 TDs, plus a 24-yard catch.
Brian Westbrook, RB, 49ers – Scored twice while running for 79 yards, plus a 14-yard reception.
Michael Bush, RB, Raiders – Rushed for 137 yards and a TD, and caught 4 passes for 34 yards.
Joe McKnight, RB, Jets – Rumbled for 158 rushing yards, and added 2 catches for 15 yards, while LT and Shonn Greene were inactive.

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals – Caught 11 passes for 125 yards and a score.
Jerome Simpson, WR, Bengals – Tallied a dozen catches for 123 yards and 1 TD.

Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots – Caught 6 passes for 102 yards and 1 TD.

Jets defense – Returned 2 of their 4 interceptions for TDs, added 3 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries, and held the Bills to 7 points.

This was a great week to play against…

Mark Sanchez, QB, Jets – Didn’t throw a pass on his only series.
Matt Cassel, QB, Chiefs – Passed for 115 yards and 2 INTs, without a score.
Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens – Played all game and only had 125 passing yards and 1 INT to show for it.
Sam Bradford, QB, Rams – Amassed only 155 yards and no scores, plus an INT.
Jay Cutler, QB, Bears – Threw 2 INTs without a TD, and just 168 yards.
Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers – Passed for 313 yards but no TDs, with an INT.

Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns – Wrapped up the season with a whimper, totaling just 16 yards against Pittsburgh.
Thomas Jones, RB, Chiefs – Had 17 rushing yards and lost 2 yards on his only catch.
Ahmad Bradshow, RB, Giants – Totaled 30 yards on the day.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings – Ran for 31 yards and lost 2 yards on 2 receptions.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers – Just 31 rushing yards.
Chris Ivory, RB, Saints – He only had 33 yards.
Brandon Jackson, RB, Packers – Combined for 35 yards.
Joseph Addai, RB, Colts – Just 44 rushing yards against the Titans.


Johnny Knox, WR, Bears – Posted a goose egg in the finale.
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles – Started, but held without a catch.
Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jaguars – Same for him.
Robert Meachem, WR, Saints – Mustered just one 5-yard catch.
Anquan Boldin, WR, Ravens – Concluded a sorry second half of 2010 with 2 receptions for 9 yards.
Devin Hester, WR, Bears – Just one 16-yarder.
Jason Avant, WR, Eagles – Failed to capitalize on his starting opportunity, with a 21-yard reception.

Sunday morning updates - Week 17

Good morning, Fools. I hope you had a safe and enjoyable New Year's, and you're getting ready to settle in for a day of stress-free football. You shouldn’t be playing fantasy this week, unless it’s in something like a Free for All Bowl. That's what one of my leagues does in Week 17: Everyone, including those who sat out the postseason, sets one final lineup. Highest points for the week wins five percent of the pot. It’s a great way to keep hope alive a little longer, and it gives the losers a final shot at redemption.

So, for the crazies whose championships are on the line in Week 17, or the ones playing Free for Alls, here are a few updates to help you set the best final roster.

First, let's figure out which teams have postseason berths on the line and, therefore, something meaningful to play for.


Baltimore and Pittsburgh both have a shot at the AFC North and a first-round bye. Start your Ravens and Steelers with confidence.

The Falcons are vying for the NFC’s top seed, so expect their starters to lay the hurt on the visiting Panthers, who should already have Andrew Luck’s agent on speed dial. The Saints have a shot at the division, but only if the Falcons trip up. Brees & Co. will be trying.

The Rams, Seahawks, Packers, Giants, Colts and Bucs also have playoff berths and/or positioning on the line.

Meanwhile, all bets are off with the Eagles, Chiefs and Jets, who have nothing significant at stake this weekend. The Bears will know by the time they kickoff whether they have anything on the line (doubtful, since both New Orleans and Atlanta would have to lose).

Judging by recent history, it seems safe to assume that the Pats will play to win. I wouldn’t dream of benching Tom Brady or BenJarvus Green-Ellis against the visiting Dolphins, who will be playing out of their elements, literally. The starters may not get a full workload, but they'll be in long enough to rack up the points. (LATE UPDATE: Welker is inactive, along with Branch.)

For the first time in recent memory, Peyton Manning has something to play for in Week 17. Look for another solid performance from the gunslinger and his receivers, as well as good efforts from both Joseph Addai and, yes, Dominic Rhodes.

David Garrard has been placed on injured reserve, after surgery to repair his broken hand. Trent Edwards pulls a delicious start against the Texans secondary. Consider him an intriguing sleeper play with upside.

Meanwhile, look for Rashad Jennings to put up better numbers in Houston than he did in his first start last week. MJD is out again.

The Seahawks may be forced to roll with Charlie Whitehurst at the helm when they meet the Rams for all the NFC West marbles tonight. Matt Hasselbeck will be a game-time call, due to his hip injury. Whitehurst is not a safe play by any measure, and Hasselbeck isn't much better. I like Bradford in that game, though.

Kevin Kolb should post some serious stats against the Cowboys’ sieve-like secondary. With Vick (quad) out, Kolb will use the opportunity to audition for a starting job elsewhere in 2011. You have to like Jerome Harrison and Jason Avant in this one, too.

It’s hard to expect much out of Carson Palmer on the road against the Ravens, but after his masterful performance against the Chargers’ once-solid secondary, perhaps we shouldn’t be so pessimistic. With both TO and Ochocinco out of the picture, Palmer will try again to make stars out of his up-and-coming WR corps. Which one finds the spotlight this week is anyone’s guess. My pick: Jordan Shipley.

Assuming he starts with his tender knee, Ryan Fitzpatrick should be a solid play against a Jets defense that is expected to rest its starters (including Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie) most of the game. (UPDATE: Fitz is out.)

Favre has passed his concussion tests and will be a game-time call, but I hope you're not counting on him.

Michael Bush could offer some upside despite a tough matchup on the road in Kansas City, as Darren McFadden (toe, ankle) will be a game-time call. Even if RunDMC suits up, he would not be expected to get many reps.

Don’t be surprised if rookie Joe McKnight is the Jets’ leading ball-carrier against the Bills. LT will sit this one out, while Shonn Greene may see only a handful of touches, along with the rest of New York’s key starters. McKnight is an intriguing flex play against the toothless Buffalo run defense.

Peyton Hillis (ribs) will be a game-time call but is expected to play against the Steelers; but as in recent weeks, you can’t count on much out of his battered body. Especially against that defense.

Ryan Mathews won’t have to yield goal-line touches to Mike Tolbert (neck), now that the latter is on IR. Darren Sproles will see more action today too, but Mathews is finally, belatedly, an excellent fantasy start.

Meanwhile, the Chargers should get Malcom Floyd (hamstring) and Legedu Naanee back in the starting lineup against the Broncos, who will probably be missing star CB Champ Bailey. You have to think Rivers & Company will want to wrap up their awful season by making a statement against their division rivals. Consider Rivers, Floyd and Vincent Jackson prime plays. Antonio Gates has been placed on IR.

Derek Hagan will replace Hakeem Nicks (toe) in the starting lineup in the Giants’ must-win contest at Washington. Mario Manningham is an excellent fantasy play, while Hagan should only be deployed by compulsive risk-takers.

Calvin Johnson (ankle) will be a game-time call.

Sidney Rice won’t be suiting up due to a concussion. Bernard Berrian probably will join him on the sidelines thanks to a quad injury.

Consider Jacoby Jones a solid sleeper option again, with Andre Johnson out due to a bum ankle.

Larry Fitzgerald suffered a concussion at the end of the Christmas night game against Dallas. Though his status for today's game has not been released, I can’t imagine the Cardinals risking their only superstar’s health in a meaningless finale.

Chris Ivory (hamstring) could return to action, but I like Pierre Thomas’ odds better against Tampa Bay’s weak run defense. Thomas tweaked his ankle in practice this week, but is expected to play. (UPDATE: Pierre is out.)

Marques Colston almost certainly won’t play after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee earlier this week. Robert Meachem and Lance Moore are in a great position to deliver in Colston’s absence, along with talented rookie TE Jimmy Graham.

That's it for now. Follow my tweets for what is sure to be a long list of inactives. Good luck to those with something on the line.

Nominations now open for year-end awards

Next week I will publish my year-end "Biro's Heroes & Zeros Awards" column. Your nominations are welcome for the following categories:

MVP
The “Peerless Price Memorial” Bust of the Year
Surprise of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Comeback Player of the Year
Best Waiver Wire Acquisition
Most Devastating Injury Loss
Steal of the Draft
Most Overrated
The “Thomas Jones Memorial” Most Underrated Player
Most Spectacular Bench Performance
Biggest Postseason Disappointment
Worst Sophomore Jinx
“Plaxico Burress Memorial” Bonehead of the Year
Most Likely to Succeed in 2011

There will be other categories as well (feel free to suggest one). I look forward to reading your input.

Perfect Draft: The Final Countdown

That sinking feeling I had in late August when I took Anquan Boldin near the end of the fifth round and gambled that Arian Foster would still be there on the swing-back could not have been more prescient. Not only did I miss out on fantasy’s top running back, but I lost in the first round of the playoffs by one stinking point to the jerk – I mean guy – who stole Foster out from under me.


A few days after the aforementioned draft, I refused to repeat the mistake in another league and grabbed Foster early in the fifth round. Thanks to him, and a certain electrifying quarterback I snared off the waiver wire, I now own the champion’s trophy.

But as solid as that team was, my draft was hardly perfect. I used a second-rounder on Miles Austin – who rode my bench down the stretch – and wasted later picks on Cadillac Williams, Jacoby Jones and the 49ers defense. Indeed, I’ve yet to see anyone have a “perfect” draft, so it’s comforting to know that perfection isn’t necessary to win a title.

But it sure would be nice, wouldn’t it?

That’s why I always wrap up the season by exploring what could have been had we made all the right moves during our preseason draft, with the oft-imitated, always-controversial, yet magically delicious 2010 Perfect Draft: The Final Countdown.

As usual, we operate under a few key assumptions:

1. We’re in a 10-team league using a standard scoring system that starts one quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker and one defense/special teams.
2. We are drafting from the middle (fifth) position in a zig-zag format, meaning Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson will be gone by the time we pick.
3. The preseason average draft position (ADP) of each player – according to multiple mock draft sites canvassed during early September – is used to determine the most valuable selections in each round;
4. Week 17 performances are disregarded and production during the fantasy playoffs (Weeks 14 through 16) is given extra weight, both positively and negatively; and,
5. Since all drafts play out differently, we’ll need a little luck along the way.

And finally, in the spirit of truth, justice and the American Way, our goal is nothing short of total domination and the abject humiliation of our opponents.

Now, with the fifth pick of the 2010 Fantasy Draft, we should have selected…

Round 1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers. Drafting with 20/20 hindsight allows us to make this pick. Rodgers will help us dominate the first half of the season while we wait for Michael Vick’s ribs to heal. Vick will return the favor when Rodgers suffers his late-season concussion. Drew Brees was nearly as good, but had more than double Rodgers’ interceptions. Frank Gore was on track to be the most valuable first-rounder until his season-ending hip injury in Week 12. Steven Jackson offered steady, if unspectacular, production.


Round 2. Roddy White, WR, Falcons. He delivered virtually every week, while winning our Week 7 and 10 matchups nearly single-handedly. In point-per-reception (PPR) formats, White is the hands-down pick here. Otherwise, Calvin Johnson and Greg Jennings are equally valuable.

Round 3. LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles. Tom Brady is arguably a better overall choice here, but he won’t help us much while Vick is out. Philip Rivers was stellar through Week 11, so teaming him with Gore, Jackson or another elite back from the first round works well, too. But for my money, I’ll take the steady and consistent Shady in a slight edge over Jamaal Charles, especially in PPR leagues.

Round 4. Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers. When he’s healthy, no tight end holds a candle to Gates. We’ll miss him during the playoffs, but he’ll play a key role in getting us there.

Round 5. Arian Foster, RB, Texans. The top back in Fantasyland moved up draft boards on a near-daily basis as the regular season approached, so early drafters could have secured him more cheaply. Foster was arguably the most important draft-day pick of the year.


Round 6. Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs. Aside from a slow start and a devastating late-season stretch attributable mostly to Matt Cassel’s injury, Bowe was a fantasy beast. You could make the case that Hakeem Nicks offered more value in this round, since his two lost games were due to injury (and therefore manageable).

Round 7. Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers. He won’t crack our starting lineup most weeks, but we’ll take a Top 10 fantasy receiver in the seventh round any day.

Round 8. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles. Here’s another luxury pick who will finish the season as a near-elite wideout but will arguably be the “worst” receiver on our roster. Don’t hate us because we’re perfect.

Round 9. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Jets. During the first half of the season, LT played like a young man again. We’ll rest him down the stretch (as the Jets did), but he deserves a spot on this roster.

Round 10. Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders. He’ll drive us crazy with his inconsistency, but RunDMC finally took his place among the elite fantasy RBs in 2010. Kellen Winslow is a nice backup TE option here, too.

Round 11. Steelers defense/special teams. Several units offered strong value, and could be taken much later. But why not grab the best while we can? Pittsburgh’s defense surrendered the fewest points of any team, and shared the NFL sacks lead (44).

Round 12. Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns. Here’s where we get a little wacky with our picks. Until he started breaking down in December, Hillis was among the most valuable, and dependable, fantasy players at any position. He reached the end zone in 11 out of the first 12 games. And to think he went undrafted in most leagues.

Round 13. Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jaguars. If not for a late-season surge by Jason Witten (driven by the near-sighted Jon Kitna), Lewis would be the ideal backup option to Gates. If we grab him here, we avoid the rush to claim him after the season opener.


Round 14. Brandon Lloyd, WR, Broncos. Raise your hand if you thought Lloyd would be a decent bench receiver this year, much less among the top two wideouts in the business. Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Round 15. Stevie Johnson, WR, Bills. Your friends will think you’re drunk when you call out his name. Frankly, who could blame them? Prefer BenJarvus Green-Ellis? Fine with me.

Round 16. Sebastian Janikowski, K, Raiders. Once again, owners who used an earlier pick on an “elite” kicker were out-gunned by those who waited patiently. Janikowski set the standard this year.


Round 17. Michael Vick, QB, Eagles. For the first time in, um, forever, the consensus MVP of Fantasyland went undrafted in most leagues. The only thing better than grabbing him off the waiver wire after Kevin Kolb went down in Week 1 is looking like a freaking genius for selecting him in the last round of the draft.

So…how perfect was your draft?

Coming next week: We’ll conclude the season with the 2010 Biro’s Heroes & Zeros Awards. Your nominations are welcome here. I'll post key awards categories this weekend.

Week 16 Heroes & Zeros

This was a great week to start…


Josh Freeman, QB, Buccaneers – Passed for 237 yards and 5, count ‘em, 5 TDs, and ran for 23 yards more.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers – Had a monster return, with 404 passing yards and 4 TDs, plus 26 rushing yards, without a turnover.
Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals – Proved he’s still got it, with 269 yards and 4 TDs, without a turnover.
Jay Cutler, QB, Bears – Passed for 215 yards and 3 TDs, plus an INT, and ran for a 4th score.
Matt Cassel, QB, Chiefs – Threw for 314 yards and 3 TDs, without a turnover.

Matt Forte, RB, Bears – Ran for 113 yards and a TD, and added 4 receptions for 56 yards.
Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs – Ran for 77 yards and caught 4 passes for 40 yards and 2 scores.

Johnny Knox, WR, Bears – Caught 4 passes for 92 yards and 2 TDs.
Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs – Turned 6 catches into 153 yards and 1 TD.
Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers – Caught 3 passes for 44 yards and 2 TDs.

Kellen Winslow, Jr., TE, Buccaneers – Caught 7 passes for 98 yards and 2 TDs.
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots – Caught 4 passes for 54 yards and 2 TDs.

This was a great week to play against…

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills – Tossed 3 INTs with just 251 yards and no TDs.

Mike Tolbert, RB, Chargers – Lost 2 yards before exiting with an injury.
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos – Totaled just 41 yards in the first half before his sore ribs gave up on him.
Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns – Held in check by Ray Lewis & Co., with just 35 rushing yards.
Arizona RBs – Tim Hightower totaled 29 yards, while Beanie Wells had 47.
Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants – Just 47 yards against the Pack.

Michael Turner, RB, Falcons – Limited to 48 yards on Monday night.


Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks – Only 53 yards on the day.
Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals – Ran for 52 yards and lost a fumble.
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans – His 58 yards won’t cut it in the fantasy Super Bowl.

Earl Bennett, WR, Bears – Just a 14-yard catch before he left injured.
Anquan Boldin, WR, Ravens – Another awful day with just 2 catches for 15 yards.
Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings – A 16-yard reception was all he could muster.
Seahawks WRs – Nobody had more than Ben Obomanu’s 2 catches for 18 yards.
Steve Smith, WR, Panthers – His 3 catches netted 17 yards.
Wes Welker, WR, Patriots – Got just 19 yards from 3 balls.
Marques Colston, WR, Saints – Held to 2 catches for 21 yards.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals – Caught one big, 26-yard pass.
Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jaguars – Limited to a single 31-yard catch.
DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles – Thrown to several times, but caught just 2 for 32 yards.
Hines Ward, WR, Steelers – His 3 receptions went for 38 yards.

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons – Just 2 catches for 12 yards.

I didn’t see that coming…

Correll Buckhalter, RB, Broncos – Rushed for 42 yards and a score, and added 3 catches for 50 yards and a 2nd TD.
John Kuhn, RB, Packers – Had a TD hat trick, despite just 29 combined yards.

Jerome Simpson, WR, Bengals – Caught 6 balls for 124 yards and 2 TDs, while Ochocinco and TO sat out.

Sunday morning updates - Week 16

Happy Championship Sunday, Fools! And Merry Christmas to all... I hope you had a wonderful day yesterday and you're relaxed and ready for a great day of title matchups. Congrats to all who are still playing, and to those who started Miles Austin last night (I didn't).

My lineup for the championship in one of my leagues: Vick, Foster, CJ, V-Jax, Nicks, Mike Williams (TB), Zach Miller (OAK), Chargers D/ST and Matt Bryant. Haven't started Miles in weeks, and I'm rolling with Williams over Ahmad Bradshaw in the flex spot. First time I can remember doing that. In any event, that's a pretty formidable crew if they show up, but my opponent is well-stocked as well. Should be an epic battle.

OK, let's get to the morning's news so we can make the pivotal calls for our most important starting lineups of the season...

Mark Sanchez (shoulder) and Santonio Holmes (turf toe) will start today for the Jets, but I'm worried about both of them in Soldier Field against the Bears. Snow is already coming down, but it's not expected to be a huge factor in the game.


Maurice Jones-Drew is officially OUT of today's game, according to reports. Rashad Jennings will be your lead RB today vs. the Redskins; and I expect good things from him. He could very easily be the latest in a long line of late-season fantasy heroes. If I wasn't rocking Foster and CJ today, I'd be picking up Jennings (who should already be on the bench of MJD's owners in all leagues; but isn't).

All signs point to a return to action for Joseph Addai (neck) today. Addai is my "Flier of the Week," which means he could come out of nowhere to have a big day. Then again, he might not. (That's quite a bold statement, huh?) Actually, assuming he plays, I like his chances better than most of the other gurus I've seen. The Colts have been waiting on his return for a long time, and they need him to perform well if they're going to close out the season on a high. Keep in mind, he's coming off a neck injury; not a leg/knee injury. Oakland has a terrible run defense, and Donald Brown just isn't cutting it (despite last week's fluke performance.) Mike Hart, by the way, did not travel to Oakland with the team.

Knowshon Moreno will likely give his sore ribs a go today vs. the Texans. Just don't expect a lot out of him if you start him. Hopefully a short TD run or reception to go with 50-60 yards. Just a hunch...but I betcha Tebow will be the team's leading rusher again.

Chris Ivory is 50/50 for Monday night. I think Pierre Thomas will get the bulk of the carries either way; but I wouldn't want to rely on him. He hasn't shown much since he returned from injury.

Roddy White has been doing some trash-talking about the Saints over the past week, but he's listed as questionable for the game. Don't worry about it. He'll have a chance to put his money where his Tweets are.

Andre Johnson could very well miss today's game against the Broncos. That will not only have a negative impact on Schaub, but it won't help Arian Foster either. Denver will be able to stack the line against the Texans with AJ out. That said, Denver's run defense is downright hopeless; so don't even think about benching Foster.

Rookie TE Aaron Hernandez will not play for the Pats today.

Winter weather advisory for Philly: They're expecting blizzard conditions for tonight's Eagles-Vikings matchup. So much so that the NFL is considering the possibility of postponing the game. Really? Whatever...I would never consider sitting AP, LeSean McCoy or The Most Interesting Man in Fantasyland. But I wouldn't complain if they decided to wait until the weather cleared up...especially if I was a DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin or Sidney Rice owner.

OK, that's it for now. Follow my Tweets for the late-breaking news and inactive reports. Good luck, Fools. Claim that title!

Week 16 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Michael Vick and Arian Foster, or bench Jerome Harrison and Terrance Copper? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for real help with your starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 16 of the 2010 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Matt Cassel, QB, Chiefs vs. Titans. He made it through last week’s game at the Rams without setback, and returns home for a tantalizing matchup against the Titans’ soft secondary. Cassel and Dwayne Bowe should have a field day, while Tennessee is forced to respect KC’s explosive backfield tandem.


Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks at Buccaneers. Lynch has been up-and-down in recent weeks, but he’s a great bet against the league’s 29th-ranked run defense. The Bucs have given up 369 rushing yards over the past two games.

Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys at Cardinals. Only Denver has coughed up more fantasy points to opposing rushers than Arizona. Even if Marion Barber returns, he’ll poach carries from Tashard Choice, not Jones. The featured back should roll on Christmas night.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts at Raiders. With Austin Collie out for the season, Garcon will again be Peyton Manning’s No. 2 receiver. Oakland has surrendered the third-most passing TDs in the NFL, and shut-down corner Nnamdi Asomugha will be focused on Reggie Wayne.

Mike Williams, WR, Seahawks at Buccaneers. Despite the poor quarterbacking in Seattle, a healthy Williams is still getting a remarkable number of targets. The Bucs’ pass defense is vulnerable, making Williams a great start, especially in PPR leagues. For that matter, the Bucs’ Mike Williams is a solid play against Seattle’s porous secondary, too.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Matt Schaub, Aaron Rodgers, Jon Kitna, David Garrard, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tim Tebow; RBs Mike Tolbert, LeGarrette Blount, Ryan Torain, Brian Westbrook, Ronnie Brown, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Darren McFadden, Fred Jackson, Matt Forte, Rashad Jennings (if Jones-Drew sits); WRs Vincent Jackson, Steve Johnson, Hakeem Nicks, Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Sims-Walker, Brandon Lloyd, Jacoby Ford, Jeremy Maclin, Santana Moss, Brandon Marshall.

Roll ‘em back

Eli Manning, QB, Giants at Packers. In the bone-chilling conditions of the frozen tundra, Manning will face off against the NFL’s third-ranked pass defense. He was terrific last week against the Eagles, but that followed two games in which he had just one total TD pass and three interceptions.


Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals vs. Chargers. Coming off his best game of the season, it’s tempting to let Benson ride this week. But San Diego sports the league’s second-toughest run defense, and Benson is unlikely to get much cover from Cincinnati’s depleted air attack.

Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns vs. Ravens. He has missed practice time with a knee injury and his body appears to be breaking down due to the heavy workload. Even worse, Ray Lewis has vowed that Hillis’ huge game against the Ravens in Week 3 “won’t happen again.” Cleveland’s workhorse hasn’t scored in the past three games, so it’s not crazy to consider sitting him.

Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets at Bears. He’s dealing with a turf toe injury, while Mark Sanchez has a cartilage tear in his throwing shoulder. They’re both facing the swarming Bears defense at frigid and windy Soldier Field. No thanks.

Chad Ochocinco, WR, Bengals vs. Chargers. Ocho himself says he may only take half the snaps in Sunday’s game due to painful bone spurs in his ankle. He’s a risky start against the league’s top pass defense even without the injury; and especially with Terrell Owens sidelined and unable to distract the opposing secondary.

More thumbs down: QBs Mark Sanchez, Shaun Hill, Matt Hasselbeck, Kerry Collins, Jay Cutler, Carson Palmer; RBs Maurice Jones-Drew, LaDainian Tomlinson, Tim Hightower, Pierre Thomas, Anthony Dixon, Broncos RBs, Lions RBs; WRs Malcom Floyd, Sidney Rice, Johnny Knox.

TAKING A FLIER

Joseph Addai, RB, Colts at Raiders. He’s back at practice and has been targeting a Week 16 return from his neck injury since November. If Addai plays, he should be in line for plenty of carries, including those in the red zone, as well as passes out of the backfield. Oakland’s rush defense is nothing to write home about.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…forgets to set your lineup for Saturday’s game. You’ve gotten used to the Thursday night matchups by now, but don’t let the Yuletide gaiety distract you from assigning the appropriate spots to your Cowboys and Cardinals for the Christmas night contest.