Mock Draft #3 is in the books

They're coming fast and furious now, folks.

Today's mock draft with the Sporting News experts was a 10-team standard (non-PPR) league.  Once again, I "randomly" ended up with the 8th overall pick.

Here's what I did with it:

Pick 1.8: Drew Brees, QB, Saints.  Last time, I selected Ryan Mathews with the same pick.  Today, he was taken #7.  Since the only WR worth a 1st rounder in my eyes (Megatron) was long gone, my choice was either Darren McFadden or my 2nd-ranked QB.  I went with Brees and, fortunately, found RunDMC waiting for me at the turn.

Pick 2.3: Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders.  The only problem with McFadden, as we all know, is his injury history.  So this is a roll of the dice, but one that could pay off handsomely.  He is clearly first-round caliber, when healthy.

Pick 3.8: Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots.  I was targeting an elite WR here, but when AJ Green and Mike Wallace were snagged right before my pick, I decided to claim last year's Fantasy MVP.  I won't have too long to wait for my WR1.

Pick 4.3: Julio Jones, WR, Falcons.  At the top of the 4th round, the electrifying sophomore could be a steal.  With his sure hands and explosiveness, there's no reason to think he can't out-pace Roddy White this season.  Not yet at elite status, he's not far off either.

Pick 5.8: Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants.  With Brandon Jacobs exiled to the West coast, Bradshaw will get the bulk of the carries in this high-scoring offense; at least until a viable backup emerges (David Wilson doesn't concern me one bit, at this point).  I love Bradshaw as a RB2, especially in the 5th round.

Pick 6.3: DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles.  Will he get his head out and return to near-elite status?  Good question.  I guess we're about to find out.  I was weighing D-Jax, Antonio Brown or Torrey Smith here; and guess what...

Pick 7.8: Torrey Smith, WR, Ravens.  I got two of the three!  Smith is one of my favorite sleepers of the 2012 season.  If he and Flacco can form a close bond, Smith could approach elite status.  No doubt, he'll be significantly more valuable than the aging Anquan Boldin, who was selected next.

Pick 8.3:  Jahvid Best, RB, Lions.  If either McFadden or Best remains healthy all year, I'll be just fine at RB.  If they both stay upright, I'm golden.

Pick 9.8: Pierre Garcon, WR, Redskins.  Never been a big fan, but he's in the best position to be RJ3's No. 1 receiving weapon.  That could make the former Colt a viable fantasy play many (but not all) weeks.

Pick 10.3: Denarius Moore, WR, Raiders.  Another of my sleeper selections, Moore should be Carson Palmer's favorite target in his sophomore campaign.  He'll be good for a spot start or three, assuming he can stay healthy.

Pick 11.8: Mikel LeShoure, RB, Lions.  Here's the deal.  I don't believe for one second that Jahvid Best will survive the entire season.  I would have taken LeShoure here whether or not Best was on the roster.  Between the two, I've got one potentially blue-chip rusher.

Pick 12.3: Nate Washington, WR, Titans.  Kenny Britt is a ding-dong, and Kendall Wright is an unseasoned rookie. That makes Washington the most reliable -- if least exciting -- receiver on the Titans.  Whatever that means.

Pick 13.8: Tim Hightower, RB, Redskins.  Not sure what possessed me to jump on Mike Shanahanigan's RB merry-go-round, but I did.  That's why they call it a mock draft.

Pick 14.3: Packers defense/special teams.  I'd been planning to pull the trigger on the Pack for the last two rounds, but nobody had selected a defense since the 49ers were taken in the middle of the 11th round.  My top-ranked unit came awfully cheap.

Pick 15.8: Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens.  Finally, the rest of the world has figured out that Flacco is over-rated as a fantasy QB.  (I've been saying it for years.)  Now, he's a steal.

Pick 16.3: Alex Green, RB, Packers.  I'm pretty convinced that he'll be the starting RB in Green Bay by mid-season.  James Starks has shown flashes, but he's also been terribly inconsistent.

Pick 17.8: John Kasay, K, Saints.  Honestly, I'm not sure if Kasay or Garrett Hartley will be New Orleans' kicker this season.  So if I chose wrong, I'll correct it in free agency.  If this were real...

There you have it.  I kinda like this team.

What do you think?

Time for another Sporting News Mock Draft

Greetings, Fools.  Can you feel it?  Fantasy season is rapidly approaching.

I know this because I just participated in my second experts draft with the good folks at Sporting News Fantasy Source.

I had the 8th overall pick (yuck) in a 12-team standard draft.  Here's what I did:

Pick 1.8 -- Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers.  Rodgers, Megatron and five other RBs were taken.  I had Mathews rated higher than MJD and Chris Johnson, who were taken higher.  In my mind, only Rodgers and Megatron justify 1st-round picks at their position.

Pick 2.5 -- Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers.  It was either an elite WR or QB here.  Passed up my shot at Brady, Cam and Stafford to take Wallace.  Might regret that, if I was actually playing this league out.

Pick 3.8 -- Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers.  Gronk and Jimmy Graham were long gone, and Gates offered more value than any WR on the board.  At this point, I was pretty much resigned to going with two 2nd-tier QBs.

Pick 4.5 -- Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers.  I love Greg Jennings, but getting Jordy a round later is a nice consolation.  Definitely wanted one of Rodgers' targets.  But in hindsight, Frank Gore was still on the board.  Should have jumped on him.

Pick 5.8 -- Darren Sproles, RB, Saints.  If he has another year like 2011, I will have a great backfield.  That's a big if, though.  It was either Sproles or Bush at this point.

Pick 6.5 -- Eli Manning, QB, Giants.  I don't think I've EVER drafted Eli for one of my teams.  Even in a mock.  But the truth is, he's a very solid fantasy QB, especially if you don't have to play him every week and can pick your spot starts.  If you think Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz are going to be great, you must like Eli's chances, too.

Pick 7.8 -- Isaac Redman, RB, Steelers.  Hard to get real excited about this pick, unless Redman really does inherit the workhorse role in Pittsburgh.  If he does, he's a heckuva RB3.

Pick 8.5 -- Denarius Moore, WR, Raiders.  The pickings at receiver are getting awfully slim.  Moore is one of my sleeper picks this season.  If he can stay healthy, Carson Palmer can make him a fantasy star.

Pick 9.8 -- Matt Schaub, QB, Texans.  Love this pick.  Frankly, don't understand how he lasted this long.  If Schaub comes back at 100%, I may start him more often than Eli.  Regardless, he's a very salty backup.

Pick 10.5 -- Lance Moore, WR, Saints.  Seems like I always draft Moore.  If I could only figure out which weeks to start him, I'd be a true genius.

Pick 11.8 -- Greg Little, WR, Browns.  I don't know...  I don't know...

Pick 12.5 -- Steelers defense/special teams.  The Packers went first, in Round 10.  Philly left the board at the end of Round 11.  What the heck...I dove in next.

Pick 13.8 -- Isaiah Pead, RB, Rams.  Wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see him starting 4-5 games this year, given S-Jax's recent fragility.

Pick 14.5 -- Jerome Simpson, WR, Vikings.  Another sleeper candidate; but will have to wait out his suspension.  No prob.  Once he's back, I'd wager that he'll be as valuable from a fantasy perspective as Percy Harvin.  Which is really more an indictment of Christian Ponder than a compliment to Simpson.

Pick 15.8 -- Alex Green, RB, Packers.  This is where I admit that I didn't really take this draft terribly seriously.

Pick 16.5 -- Mason Crosby, K, Packers.  A wise man once said you can never have too many Packers.

Pick 17.8 -- Cedric Benson, free agent.  Yeah, he'll have a job by the time the season starts.  Perhaps backing up the fragile RunDMC.  Maybe replacing an injured starter, or the suspended Marshawn Lynch.  I think I'll be glad I took a flier here.

Here's how the whole draft played out: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/mock-draft

In the end, this is all just a matter of getting tuned up for the season.  Our next mock draft is in two weeks.  We'll start our serious preseason coverage before then.

It's almost time, Fools...

Sporting News' Annual Fantasy Football Guide is here!

The best summer draft guide for fantasy football enthusiasts is now on the streets, hot off the presses.  The annual Sporting News Fantasy Source Football Guide is the only publication you need to help prepare for your draft.

Mind you, it's not the only resource you'll want to use.  Start with all the preseason coverage you'll find here on the Fantasy Fools blog, of course.  As your actual draft gets closer, it's important to make certain you have the most up-to-date info on the players and their prospects.

But the Fantasy Source guide is full of excellent advice -- including a 17-round, 12-team Mock Draft in which the Chief Fool participated from the 2-spot -- plus helpful draft tips, features on "game changers" and other key players and all the stats you can eat.

Check it out at your local grocery store, book store or wherever you find sports publications.

My first mock draft of the 2012 season

Wow...it seems like the regular season is still ages away, but I've already participated in my first mock draft of the year.  This one was for Sporting News' Annual Draft Guide, which will be in print in June.

I pulled the 2nd overall pick in the 12-team league.  It's a standard, non-PPR league with a starting lineup of 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K and 1 D/ST. 

Here's what I did:

Pick 1.2: Ray Rice, RB, Ravens.  Foster went first, and as much as I love Shady, I went with the safer option in Rice.
Pick 2.11: Greg Jennings, WR, Packers.  Elite receivers were flying off the board in this round (Megatron went 6th overall), but I loved getting Aaron Rodgers' favorite target here.  That said, as soon as Jordy Nelson was taken in the 4th round, I had some buyer's remorse.  Nelson offered much better value.
Pick 3.2: Michael Vick, QB, Eagles.  A bit of a gamble here, but Rodgers, Brees, Stafford, Brady and Cam were already gone.  I wasn't sure what I'd be left with if I didn't grab him now.
Pick 4.11: Fred Jackson, RB, Bills.  I love the value of this pick, assuming he comes back healthy.  Jackson was a beast before his injury last season, and I'll be expecting greatness again.
Pick 5.2: Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys.  I needed another receiver, and Austin was the best available (though I momentarily toyed with taking Dez; decided I didn't need a knucklehead on my squad).  Ohbytheway, Gronkowski went in the mid-3rd and Jimmy Graham in the early 4th.
Pick 6.11: Doug Martin, RB, Bucs. I was targeting a TE here, but Gates and Witten went in the two picks right before mine.  So I went with my 7th-round plan and took Martin.  Tampa Bay didn't trade up to the first round to grab a backup RB.  I expect the rookie to supplant LeGarrette Blount by Week 1.  Martin is projected as a 3-down back.
Pick 7.2: Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts.  I moaned as I made this pick, with memories of Indy's implosion still fresh on my mind.  Hopefully he'll have some Luck with his new QB.  Not a bad WR3, I suppose.
Pick 8.11: Robert Meachem, WR, Chargers.  Here's hoping he'll find some consistency with Philip Rivers.  No reason he can't vault over Malcom Floyd to be the No. 1 WR in this offense.
Pick 9.2: Matt Schaub, QB, Texans.  At this point, Schaub had dropped so far that I felt he represented too much value to overlook.  What a backup QB!
Pick 10.11: Ryan Williams, RB, Cardinals.  He was one of the hottest rookie prospects last year around this time, but then he was lost before the season even started with a major injury.  If he comes back 100%, there's no reason to think he won't challenge the even-more-injury-prone Beanie Wells for the starting job.
Pick 11.2: Owen Daniels, TE, Texans.  Pretty slim pickings among TEs at this point.  Had to take what I could get.
Pick 12.11: Sidney Rice, WR, Seahawks.  He kept sliding and sliding and sliding until I could overlook him no more.  Who knows?  He could prove to be a steal in the 12th round, if he and Matt Flynn develop some chemistry.
Pick 13.2: Steelers defense/special teams.  The Ravens were the first D/ST off the board in the 9th round, so this is pretty good value.  Wanted the Eagles, but they were snatched up a few picks before mine.
Pick 14.11: Mikel LeShoure, RB, Lions. One thing we can be pretty confident about: Jahvid Best won't make it through the season in one piece.  If LeShoure can just stay healthy, he'll be a starter in the Detroit backfield at some point.
Pick 15.2:  Mario Manningham, WR, 49ers.  This is what you call bench depth, although I wouldn't be completely shocked if he emerges as the best fantasy receiver in that offense.  Who do you like more...Crabtree?  Moss?  A rookie?
Pick 16.11:  Sam Bradford, QB, Rams.  I don't need another passer, but if he gets on a roll, he could be nice trade bait for a QB-needy rival. 
Pick 17.2: Jason Hanson, K, Lions.  Mason Crosby inexplicably went in the 14th round.  Hanson is one of several kickers available in the late-16th and 17th rounds who should be just fine.

There you have it.  I'm sure by the time we're drafting for real, I'll feel completely differently about this squad.  For now, I think it's pretty solid from top to bottom.

2012 Draft second day observations

Here are my initial thoughts on several of the players taken in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the 2012 Draft:


Ratings key: 5 - Instant Fantasy Stud
                        4 - Solid Fantasy Contributor
                        3 - Bench Depth Only
                        2 - Maybe in 2013                        

                        1 - Could Be a While


Round 2
No. 33: Brian Quick, WR, Rams.  No team needs help at receiver more than St. Louis.  Quick has a chance to be an instant starter, if he can develop some rapport quickly with Sam Bradford.  Rating: 3

No. 34: Coby Fleener, TE, Colts.  Two things going in Fleener's favor: He'll team up with his Stanford QB, Luck.  And he'll step into an offense in desperate need of another good set of hands.  That said, it's hard to see him as a consistent fantasy contributor in his rookie season.  He's not a draftable option, but it wouldn't be shocking to see him as a mid-season free agent pickup.  Rating: 2

No. 43: Stephen Hill, WR, Jets.  Hill is a true speedster, but it will take him some time to break into the lineup.   He has fantasy potential if Mark Sanchez ever takes the next step in his progression.  If Tebow takes over, though, all bets are off.  Rating: 1

No. 45: Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears.  Brandon Marshall is the only sure thing among Chicago receivers.  That means Jeffery will have a chance to contribute as soon as he's ready, especially if Johnny Knox (back) doesn't return from surgery completely ready.  Rating: 2

No. 50: Isaiah Pead, RB, Rams.  Meet S-Jax's new handcuff.  Unless the Rams' offense improves markedly, or Jackson gets hurt, that's about the extent of his value in his rookie season.  He'll make his mark mostly on special teams in his first year.  But he's worth strong consideration in keeper leagues.  Many project him to be Jackson's heir apparent. Rating: 3

No. 54: Ryan Broyles, WR, Lions.  He's coming off ACL surgery, so it's not clear when he'll even be available.  The Lions' starting receivers are also pretty secure.  Broyles is a project.  Rating: 2

No. 57: Brock Osweiler, QB, Broncos.  Will compete with Peyton Manning for the starting job in Denver.  Wait a minute.  No he won't.  Rating: 1

No. 61: LaMichael James, RB, 49ers.  The Oregon star will really have to dazzle during training camp and preseason to work his way into a legitimate role in this offense.  At best, he's a third-down back; but both Brandon Jacobs and Kendall Hunter are already lining up behind Frank Gore.  Rating: 1

No. 63: Rueben Randle, WR, Giants.  As with James, Randle has some other players to vault over before he will even have a chance to contribute.  Rating: 2

Round 3
No. 64: Dwayne Allen, TE, Colts.  Fuggetaboutit.  If any rookie TE is going to prosper in Indy, it's Fleener.  This ain't Peyton Manning's Colts (or Brady's Patriots).  Rating: 1

No. 67: Ronnie Hillman, RB, Broncos.  There's a backlog of RBs in Denver, but nobody is truly secure besides Willis McGahee.  Hillman is a small but quicker version of Knowshon Moreno.  His name could surface later in the 2012 season if injuries or mediocre play infect the Broncos' backfield.  Rating: 2

No. 68: Devier Posey, WR, Texans.  Say goodbye to the underachieving Jacoby Jones, and hello to Matt Schaub's third WR.  It's not out of the question that he could jump ahead of Kevin Walter at some point in the season.  Rating: 2

No. 69: T.J. Graham, WR, Bills.  He's a burner who will mostly serve as a kick/punt returner in his rookie season.  Considered a reach in the 3rd round.  Rating: 1

No. 75: Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks.  No thanks.  Rating: 1

No. 78: Michael Egnew, TE, Dolphins.  None of Miami's receivers are likely to be fantasy relevant in 2012.  Rating: 1

No. 83: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Bengals.  There's room in Cincinnati for another starting WR opposite A.J. Green.  Sanu will get his shot, but it's hard to imagine he'll make a meaningful impact as a rookie.  Rating: 2

No. 84: Bernard Pierce, RB, Ravens.  With Ricky Williams bidding farewell, Pierce will presumably be given every chance to be Ray Rice's primary backup.  Rating: 3

No. 88: Nick Foles, QB, Eagles.  He'll provide depth for Philly, but not for your fantasy team.  Rating: 1

No. 92: T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts.  Andrew Luck needs a fast, young receiver, and Hilton is both.  But don't expect a lot of highlights right away.  Rating: 2

Knee jerk reactions to the NFL Draft -- Round 1

As the 2012 NFL Draft unfolds, we're finally learning where the latest crop of young blood is heading.  Here's my initial, knee-jerk analysis of the fantasy prospects for the offensive skill-position players selected in the 1st round.

Ratings key: 5 - Instant Fantasy Stud
                        4 - Solid Fantasy Contributor
                        3 - Bench Depth Only
                        2 - Maybe in 2013
                        1 - Could Be a While

No. 1 -- Andrew Luck, QB, Colts.  Rookie passers going to crappy teams make lousy fantasy QBs.  Right, Cam?  I suppose if Newton can make chicken salad out of Carolina's chicken scratch, Luck has a chance to produce with veteran Reggie Wayne and, um, the others.  But Cam's rushing ability was the real difference-maker, and Luck isn't similarly blessed.  Not only is Luck not a runner, he won't have any decent RBs behind him.  Rating: 2

No. 2 -- Robert Griffin, Jr., QB, Redskins.  RG3 has a great chance to be this year's Cam Newton.  Or perhaps the next Michael Vick.  He'll have decent talent around him in Washington, and he's equally lethal as a rusher and passer.  It helps that he'll play against three division rivals with suspect secondaries.  Rating: 3

No. 3 -- Trent Richardson, RB, Browns.  The best rusher in the draft will line up behind a solid offensive line for a team that lives and dies by the run.  Jackpot!  Rating: 5

No. 5 -- Justin Blackmon, WR, Jaguars.  No matter how talented he is, a receiver can't throw the ball to himself.  Until Jacksonville puts a decent QB under center, I'll pass on Blackmon.  Rating: 2

No. 8 -- Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins.  As a life-long Miami fan, my reaction to using the 8th overall pick on a not-terribly-impressive quarterback with 19 career college starts can be summed up in two words: Damn it.  Rating: 1


No. 13 -- Michael Floyd, WR, Cardinals.  I'm already worried about confusing him with Malcom Floyd, but at least I have four months to figure it out.  Like Malcom, Michael is a big red zone target with good speed.  But Arizona's rookie won't have a QB the caliber of Philip Rivers targeting him.  Lining up opposite Larry Fitzgerald isn't exactly a ticket to fantasy stardom either.  Just ask every Cards WR not named Boldin.  Rating: 2.

No. 20 -- Kendall Wright, WR, Titans.  RG3's favorite target at Baylor won't necessarily claim a starting job in his rookie year, as long as Kenny Britt and Nate Washington are healthy.  Even if he cracks the lineup, his ceiling is fairly low in a rush-oriented offense piloted by either Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Locker.  Rating: 2.

No. 22 -- Brandon Weeden, QB, Browns.  Will be given a shot at the starting job over Colt McCoy.  Even if he wins it, though, I'm not interested this year.  Probably not for a couple of years.  Rating: 1

No. 30 -- A.J. Jenkins, WR, 49ers.  A huge surprise/reach at this spot, Jenkins definitely has speed to burn.  But the Illinois product will be competing for balls with Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham, Randy Moss and Vernon Davis.  And Alex Smith isn't exactly Tom Brady.  I don't expect to see many Jenkins highlights on the Red Zone Channel this fall.  Rating: 2.

No. 31 -- Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers.  Tampa Bay coveted Trent Richardson, but Martin is a heck of a consolation prize.  The Boise State workhorse should seize the lead role in the Bucs' mediocre backfield immediately.  He's not considered explosive, but runs tough between the tackles.  He could be a goal-line stud.  Rating: 4.

No. 32 -- David Wilson, RB, Giants.  The ACC Player of the Year is small in stature, but extremely explosive.  He's a good receiver out of the backfield and in the slot, but the Giants don't seem like the perfect fit for him.  He won't take over the departed Brandon Jacobs' power role, but rather will be more of a complementary back to Ahmad Bradshaw.  Rating: 3.

No doubt, my projections will change over the next few months.  But for now, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Offseason moves of note -- Tracking 'em as they happen

It's a long offseason, Fools. But at least the teams and players are tossing us a bone and moving around, giving us something to ponder while we await the 2012 season.

Once again, Fantasy Fools will keep a running tab of all the moves of note among offensive playmakers until Opening Weekend. We won't report the rumors, or the players that re-sign with their current teams. Just the confirmed trades and free agent signings.

Here are the moves as of August 28...


QBs
Peyton Manning, Broncos -- Set free by the Colts. Taking his talents to Denver.
Tim Tebow, Jets -- With Manning in the fold, Denver sends Tebow to New York at a major loss (in draft value).
Matt Flynn, Seahawks -- A-Rod's backup should now take over in Seattle.
David Garrard, Dolphins -- Former Jag heads to Miami. Hard to tell who's happier: Dolphins fans, or Broncos fans...
Kyle Orton, Cowboys -- Former Bronco gives Dallas a legit backup for Romo.
Jason Campbell, Bears -- Raiders' free agent signs with Chicago to backup Cutler.
Chad Henne, Jags -- Heads north from Miami to mess with Blaine Gabbert's head.
Trent Edwards, Eagles -- Former Bills starter now backs up Vick in Philly.
Charlie Whitehurst, Chargers -- Ex-Seahawk returns to San Diego to backup Rivers.
Caleb Hanie, Broncos -- Cutler's former backup now hopes Peyton's neck ain't all that...
John Beck -- Released by the Redskins after the team drafted RG3 and Kirk Cousins.
Matt Leinart, Raiders -- Signed to back up Carson Palmer after an injury kept him from backing up Schaub.
Vince Young, Bills -- Your new backup for Ryan Fitzpatrick.  My, how the mighty have fallen...

RBs
Peyton Hillis, Chiefs -- Will try to rebound in Kansas City after a miserable year in Cleveland.
Michael Bush, Bears -- Could weigh down Matt Forte's value after leaving Oakland in his dust. But RunDMC is looking better...
Joseph Addai -- The latest escapee from Indy joined a very crowded backfield in New England, and was subsequently released.
Mike Tolbert, Panthers -- Escapes from time-share with Ryan Mathews in San Diego to form three-headed monster in Carolina.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bengals -- The Law Firm has moved its practice from New England to Cincinnati.
LaDainian Tomlinson -- Allowed to walk by the Jets, then signs one-day contract with San Diego to retire as a Charger.  Farewell, future Fantasy Hall of Famer!
Ryan Grant -- Looking for a new home after Green Bay moves on without him.
Brandon Jacobs, 49ers -- Leaves Super Bowl champs to cast doubt on Frank Gore's first-round value. Ahmad Bradshaw's stock shoots up though, for now.
Justin Forsett, Texans -- Former Seahawk will be competing for the RB3 job in Houston.
Le'Ron McClain, Chargers -- Former Chief and Raven heads to San Diego to add another TD poacher to the mix.
Ronnie Brown, Chargers -- Former Dolphin and Eagle settles down, for a season, in San Diego.
Mike Goodson, Raiders -- Traded by Panthers to backup RunDMC in Oakland.
Lex Hilliard, Vikings -- Leaves Miami to backup AD.
Marion Barber III -- Former Cowboy and Bear announced his retirement.
Deji Karim, Colts -- Claimed by Indy off waivers after MJD's backup was released.

WRs
Brandon Marshall, Bears -- Traded by the Dolphins to the Bears, to be reunited with Jay Cutler -- assuming he can stay out of trouble.
Vincent Jackson, Bucs -- Left Chargers for a mongo 5-year contract with Tampa Bay.
Laurent Robinson, Jaguars -- Cashed in on his unexpected success in Dallas with a big deal from Jacksonville.
Pierre Garcon, Redskins -- Left Indy for Washington. Will instantly become RG3's top receiver.
Mario Manningham, 49ers -- No more #3 for the Giants. He could be the leading man in San Fran.
Robert Meachem, Chargers -- Left Saints for a 4-year deal with San Diego.
Josh Morgan, Redskins -- Former disappointing 49er will now disappoint as a Redskin.
Randy Moss, 49ers -- Will resume his chase for Jerry Rice's records in a 49er uniform, assuming he makes the team.
Eddie Royal, Chargers -- Heads west from Denver.
Brandon Lloyd, Patriots -- Leaves Bradford's Rams for Brady's Pats.  I'd say that's an upgrade.
Anthony Gonzalez, Patriots -- Joins the exodus from Indy, but will he ever see the field?  Answer: No.  Released by New England in late May.
Chaz Schilens, Jets -- Heads cross-country from Oakland. Will probably pull a hammy on the way.
Andre Caldwell, Broncos -- Busts out of Cinci and lands in Peyton's receiving corps.
Donte Stallworth, Patriots -- Did you know he was most recently a Redskin? What are the chances anyone will care he's a Pat?
Donnie Avery, Colts -- Injury-prone speedster leaves Titans for division rivals.
Steve Smith, Rams -- Not the Panthers' Smith, the perpetually injured version moves from his rental in Philly to St. Louis.
Lee Evans -- Blew his chance to put the Ravens in the Super Bowl and was banished to Jacksonville.  To add insult to injury, the Jags then bounced him.  This could be it.
Brandon Stokley, Broncos -- Former Giant will try to rekindle injury-plagued career with Peyton, the only QB to ever get anything out of him.
Jerome Simpson, Vikings -- Flipped out of Cincinnati after receiving 3-game suspension and landed on both feet in Minnesota.
Jabar Gaffney, Patriots -- Released by the Skins after they signed Garcon and Morgan.  Re-signed by the Patriots.
Jacoby Jones, Ravens -- Cut by the Texans.  Signed for 2 years by Baltimore.
Legedu Naanee, Dolphins -- Former Panther and Charger now will try to plant roots in Miami.
Plaxico Burress -- Shopping his services around the league; so far, finding no takers.
Mike Sims-Walker -- Released by the Jags, looking for work.
Chad Johnson -- Dumped by the Patriots. Signed with hometown club in Miami where he plans to underwhelm his way to retirement.  Domestic assault charges in August prompted his subsequent release.  So long, Ocho.
Roscoe Parrish, Raiders -- Transfers from Buffalo to San Diego.  Later picked up by Oakland.
Louis Murphy, Panthers -- Oft-injured player traded from Raiders.
Mike Williams -- Released by the Seahawks.
Braylon Edwards, Seahawks -- Once-elite receiver (for about 15 mins) lands in Seattle.  If he can't make it there, he can't make it anywhere.
Terrell Owens -- Cut by the Seahawks.  It could be all over now.
Derrick Mason -- Hanging up his cleats after perennially underrated 15-year career.

TEs
Kevin Boss, Chiefs -- Released by the Raiders and quickly signed by the Chiefs.
Martellus Bennett, Giants -- Underachieving Cowboy takes his big mouth and 2 catches-per-game to New York.
John Carlson, Vikings -- Former Seahawk will compete for scarce touches in Minnesota.
Kellen Winslow, Seahawks -- Traded by the Bucs to fellow expansion team (for the old-timers out there).
Dallas Clark, Bucs -- Released by the Colts. Looking for a landing spot.  Found it in Tampa Bay after Winslow was ejected.
Joel Dreessen, Broncos -- Ex-Texan might get a chance to shine in Denver.
Jacob Tamme, Broncos -- Joins former Indy teammate Manning in Denver. Interesting...
Leonard Pope, Steelers -- Moves on from Phoenix to backup Heath Miller. Nothing to see here...
Jack Ballard, Patriots -- Once-promising receiver cut by Giants after failing post-op physical. Claimed off waivers by New England, because they're obviously thin at the position.
Visanthe Shiancoe, Patriots -- Former Viking also moves to New England.  WTF???
Daniel Graham, Saints -- Signed by New Orleans to allow the team to unveil the vaunted two-Graham set.

Ks
Neil Rackers -- Moves from Houston to compete with Graham Gano, but lost out.  Now a F/A.
Josh Brown -- Released by the Rams after the team drafted Greg Zuerlein.  Competed with Nick Folk for the job, but came out on the losing end.
Shayne Graham, Texans -- Free agent won the competition in Houston by default after rookie Randy Bullock tore his groin (OUCH!) and went on IR.
Ryan Longwell -- Cut by the Vikings after Blair Walsh was drafted.  Will kick for food.